A/N: As always: Thanks to all those who read this, and a special thanks to those who reviewed.
CHANGING TWILIGHT
by severnaya
Chapter 7: New Alliances
I cannot leave here, I cannot stay,
forever haunted, more than afraid.
(A.F.I. – This time imperfect)
So the day ultimately had come; the day, which would change his life more than anything else ever could; the day his father had raised him for; the day, he would surrender himself, handing his life over to the Dark Lord; the day he would become a Death Eater.
Draco Malfoy didn't feel happy nor did he feel sad about this. In fact, he didn't feel anything at all anymore. In the sixteen years of his life, he had learned that there wasn't a way to rebel against this fate. He had tried cautiously but in vain. The moment he would refuse to serve would be his dying day, and he wasn't ready to give up his life completely.
Nevertheless, as he followed his father through the dark corridors of the Manor, it seemed a bit like he would walk to his own execution. He knew he should be stronger, that he should fight back; but there was this desperate wish to live, no matter what he would have to do for it. Besides, where should he go once he would have abandoned his family and the Dark Lord? There was no place to hide, and the so called Light Side would never accept him, neither would he them. Damn it! He would just have to receive the mark, pretending to serve the Dark Lord. Being a Death Eater didn't mean he had to agree with everything, at least not to himself, there would be still possibilities to hold on to his beliefs. At least he hoped so.
They reached the throne hall where several Death Eaters were already assembled. Throne hall, ha, as if the Dark Lord was a king or something.
With a blank expression, Draco followed his father right to the front, sealing his mind. Severus had taught him a lot during the last years, but he rarely had used it until now. This was the moment where they would see how good Draco was in Occlumency. Draco knelt down in front of the Dark Lord, his eyes to the floor. "My Lord."
The Dark Lord bent over, his red eyes fixed firmly on the boy in front of him. He was young, but that was one of his worst enemies too, and being the son of Lucius Malfoy wasn't anything.
"Look at me, young Malfoy," he demanded.
Draco raised his head, locking his eyes with the red ones, trying to imagine what he would have thought if this situation had taken place some time ago.
The Dark Lord intruded Draco's mind, and Lucius watched with some concern as his Lord frowned slightly. Eventually, he broke eye contact, leaving Draco to once again look at the floor.
"You have doubts," the Dark Lord stated, and for a moment Draco thought he was caught, but then the Dark Lord went on, "doubts if you are able to fulfil my wishes. I wondered about that too. Lets see…"
The Dark Lord was just about to find a suitable way for Malfoy to proof his allegiances and abilities, when he felt another presence in the room. A sardonic smile spread out on his barely existing lips.
A few motions and orders later, two Death Eaters hauled no one less than Harry Potter in front of the Dark Lord. For a moment, he glared at him, red and green eyes fighting a silent battle, but then the look in Potter's eyes changed to forlornness and almost acceptance, knowing exactly what would come.
Draco stared at the boy beside him and had to fight to maintain his emotionless mask. Why was Potter here, again?
"How about some rounds of torture, young Malfoy," the Dark Lord interrupted his thoughts, fixing his eyes on the Slytherin. "Show us what you have learned. It shouldn't be that hard."
Draco turned to face the Gryffindor. Potter just knelt there. He didn't fight, he didn't try to escape; he just knelt there with this indifferent look in his eyes. Draco wasn't sure if Potter had just given up or if he had accepted the fate, knowing it would be pointless even to try to avoid the inevitable.
Draco placed one hand under Potter's chin, lifting his face up. His silver-grey eyes met green, and there it was. Behind the apparent capitulation and the memories of pain, Draco saw the still existing will of Harry Potter. The will and courage to withstand every torture, to hold on to his beliefs as long as there was some kind of hope left. His eyes spoke of temporarily acceptance not defeat.
Draco gulped. He couldn't tear apart from those green orbs, looking almost questioningly at him. Perhaps there was still hope, even for him.
When he heard the Dark Lord commanding him to start, he made a decision. His other hand shot forward, gripping Potter's arm firmly. The next second both disappeared, leaving shocked Death Eaters and a furious Dark Lord behind.
Draco was right; this day definitely would change his life.
***************
The two boys reappeared near the entrance to Hogwarts. The instant he could feel ground again under his feet, Harry stood up rudely, breaking the contact between the two of them.
"What the-" he began, but stopped himself immediately. God, he was angry! He was furious with Malfoy for saving him! How skewed was this?
But Harry couldn't help it, the anger grew every second, parallel to the pain in his scar. Without another word, he turned around and walked briskly up to the castle.
Draco stared after Potter's retreating form, feeling his Malfoy pride cracking. What the hell! What was that about? Potter almost looked angry with his eyes burning dangerously, nearly like those of the Dark Lord could.
Well, that definitely didn't turn out how he had thought.
***************
After classes the next day, Draco Malfoy was wandering through a deserted hallway. He needed space alone to think and to comprehend what he really had done the day ago. He understood the sheer magnitude of his decision, but if truth be told still wasn't aware of it completely.
Only yesterday night, he got a letter from his father promising pain and a serious conversation in the not too distant future. His father wasn't about threatening him openly, Draco not only demeaned him, but also let down his whole family. However, everything Lucius could do to him could only be pleasant in comparison to what the Dark Lord would do once he got his hands on him. One didn't just betray the Dark Lord and lived on as if nothing had happened.
In retrospect, Draco didn't know what made him think he could get away with this. He must have been completely mental!
He certainly hadn't thought of the other Death Eaters' children in Slytherin and the other houses when he Apparated away with Potter. They wouldn't act openly but Draco knew that even Hogwarts wasn't really safe anymore, not for him.
Well, perhaps Severus could give him some advice. After all, they were more or less in the same position now.
In that moment, he heard footsteps behind him and then a voice he would recognize everywhere.
"Malfoy!"
***************
During the whole day, Harry had watched Malfoy, trying to figure out the blond Slytherin. He, kind of, saved his life, and Harry was aware of what situation the other boy must be in now, especially considering whom he denied, but it was still Draco Malfoy. It just didn't fit. What in the nine levels of hell urged Malfoy, of all things, to rescue him directly in front of Voldemort?
It wasn't only that Harry didn't understand Malfoy's reasons but rather his own behaviour once they were save. He didn't even thank him.
After the last class, and after hours of pondering what to say, Harry followed Malfoy through the old corridors without attracting attention, thankful of his new knowledge of several secret passageways and short cuts. Once he was sure they were alone, he stepped out of his last hideout and called him.
"Malfoy!"
***************
Malfoy turned around, staring into the emerald eyes of Potter. For a moment, they both stood there, watching each other without a word.
At first sight Potter seemed quite his usual self, but Draco knew his long-time rival well enough to notice and understand the small signs, which could tell the careful observer a lot more about the Boy Who Lived than he would let anyone know intentionally. His abilities to hide his true feelings and intentions had increased lately, but he still was far away to match a master of masks, like a Malfoy. Behind the calm surface, Draco knew, Potter wasn't calm at all.
Under the composed and stern grey eyes, Harry became even tenser than he already was. Damn, no matter what he did, this is still Draco Malfoy! Where is hate and self-control when you need it?
"I…" Harry finally began, letting his eyes wander to the floor. Everything he previously thought of already forgotten. "I wanted to thank you for, uh, for getting me out of there, and…" he gulped, eyes darting back to the boy in front of him, "apologize for how I treated you afterwards. I wasn't quite myself." He almost laughed mentally at this.
Malfoy didn't say anything even though Harry looked at him expectantly. The latter began feeling rather stupid, standing there like a first year, licking his lips nervously.
"Well, so, uh, thank you and I'm sorry," he babbled when he was sure Malfoy wouldn't answer. Then he turned around, even forgetting that he wanted to ask Malfoy why he did it but willing to leave the place as quickly as possible, before humiliation could strike even stronger than now.
Draco stared at Potter's retreating back. Normally, he would have taunted the Gryffindor but recent events and the still present haunted look prevented him from doing so. Instead, he called after him.
"Potter!"
The raven-haired turned again, and the not so golden boy of Gryffindor and the soon to be ex Slytherin Prince once again looked at each other as they did hundredths of times before and yet something was different.
"How often?" Draco eventually mouthed the question, which was burning in his mind.
Now it was Harry's part not to answer but the sad, almost desperate, look in his eyes were enough for Draco.
There they were. Former enemies; two counterparts like black and white, Light and Dark; born at the wrong time and the wrong place; unsure of how to go on now.
***************
TBC
A/N:
Please forgive me for letting you wait and for the length of this chapter. I know its rather short. I told you before there would come a very short chapter. It was just the best place to stop.
I don't like to say it and I suppose you don't like to read it, but I guess the next updates will take several weeks as well. I have some ideas but difficulties to get there, and I don't want to rush and then take chapters out again to change them afterwards as I don't like that at all. I hope you will understand. I'm doing my best and believe me, I want to write and get the story on.
I'm thankful and happy about every review so take the time you would have spent reading if this was longer to write me something ;-) I will answer to everyone.
See you soon hopefully
Sev
