Chapter 7: Bad Ideas
"You have got to be kidding me." Snape moaned. He, along with Buffy and Dumbledore had come in to see Draco just as he was finishing his grand scheme. After shooing a disapproving Madame Pomphrey around to tend to other patients, they had heard the plan in its entirety and were currently debating its merits. "It's far too dangerous, not to mention based on assumptions we have no way of proving." He shook his greasy head. "Absolutely not."
Buffy frowned. "I think we could work this. I mean, we'd be able to keep in touch with her, and she's already resistant to Unforgivable Curses. She could pull this off; she just needs to keep her head."
Snape glared. "Are you suggesting we sacrifice a significant power resource on a few utterances that come from the Dark Lord, no less?" he growled. "Typical American. Let's just go charging right into battle, damn the consequences!" He threw up his hands in effect, much to Buffy's annoyance.
"So let's just waste this opportunity." she cried sarcastically. "Let's just wait and maybe he'll make it easy on us and just knock on the front door! God, you can't wait for a safe opening every time." Buffy folded her arms and glared daggers at the Potions professor.
Snape looked ready to kill. "Perhaps it's escaped your miniscule attention span, Ms. Summers, but Voldemort is a very bad man. Am I putting this in terms you can understand?" he asked sarcastically. "Think about it: he may be trying to use her as bait. He'll lure us away from Hogwart's, where we're protected, to Riddle House, where he would control the battle. And it looks like we're falling for it."
"But what if this is reliable information?" she asked. "It would be stupid not to take advantage of it."
"And it would be stupid to walk straight into a trap."
"Coward."
"Moron."
"Traitor."
"Fool."
Dumbledore stepped in between the two feuding faculty members. "What I believe is lacking from this dialogue is Miss Weasley's opinion." he said wisely. "After all, she would be the one risking her life, among other things, if she were to go through with the plan."
All heads turned to Ginny, who was lost in thought. "Hunh?" she said, responding to her name. "What'd I miss?"
Snape groaned as Buffy stepped in. "Do you think Sp-Draco's plan is too risky?" she asked, blushing slightly at her verbal slip. "You aren't our only shot here, but it would be a great opportunity to learn what makes him tick, what he's planning, maybe mess with his head a bit."
Ginny furrowed her brow slightly in confusion but let it pass. "I don't know." she said softly. "You're both right - it's risky but it might also work out." She turned to Draco, who was watching Snape and Buffy with a knowing smirk. "But I think we've forgotten the whole reason we're here. What's wrong with Malfoy?"
Dumbledore stepped out from between Buffy and Snape and stationed himself at Draco's right hand. "Mr. Malfoy, do you have any idea what may be causing your odd behaviour?" he asked gently.
Draco shook his head. "No idea, professor. I just know that ever since my father was arrested, I've been getting headaches and losing time." He looked at Harry, who refused to meet his gaze. "And apparently, I've been acting extremely out of character."
Dumbledore noted this and continued. "Perhaps we need your head of house. Severus, how long would it take you to brew a memory enhancing potion?"
Snape considered his favourite student. "I confiscated one this afternoon before second year Double Potions." he said. "I made the two offenders taste it as punishment, and they actually remembered the instructions in class." He reached in, pulled out a medium sized flask of pink goo, and handed it to Draco. "I believe the expression is "bottoms up", Mr. Malfoy."
Draco looked hesitantly down at the concoction. "Those students didn't happen to grow extra heads or anything, did they?" he asked uncertainly.
Snape scoffed. "Of course not. It wore off in less than an hour anyway."
Harry bit his lip and then leaned over. "It can't be worse than turning into a ferret." he said hopefully, earning him a glare from the Slytherin.
"If I do, I'll make it my top priority to scratch your eyes out, Potter." he snapped. Then, taking a deep breath, he swallowed a mouthful of the liquid. "Hmm...spearmint." he remarked, licking his lips.
Dumbledore took the flask and set it down on the nightstand. "Now, tell us what you can remember Mr. Malfoy." he probed gently.
Draco closed his eyes, and began trance-like babbling of the first memories that came into view. "I'm four. I'm walking in the gardens back home. I like the roses best; they're so red and pretty. I think I'll pick some for mommy. Oh, there's daddy. Maybe he'll like some roses too. Hey! I spent a long time picking those! Don't throw them down on the ground!" Draco winced. "Now he's walking away. Said no son of his was going to grow up queer. What does that mean?"
Everyone present shared disgusted looks.
Dumbledore leaned down close to Draco's ear. "Why don't you try and focus on the memory that can explain your current condition, Mr. Malfoy." he led gently.
Draco's eyes fluttered behind his closed eyes for a second before coming to rest. "I'm ten and I've just gotten onto the Hogwart's train, but Father wants to tell me something. I can't be trusted to befriend Harry so he'll have to do it." Draco furrowed his brow, eyes still closed. "He's scaring me. I don't want to look him in the eye but he grabs my chin. I can feel his wand poking my chest and it hurts but he doesn't seem to care. What does Imperius mean? I don't understand, Father." Suddenly, Draco squared his shoulders. "I feel important now, like no one can stop me. Crabbe and Goyle are flanking me. They seem to know how important I am, too. I'm talking to Harry, but I don't like his reaction. I feel angry but I understand. I wouldn't want to be my friend right now either. But I'm still talking...I can't stop. I don't want to say these things. What's going on? Why can't I stop?" Draco began violently twitching. "I have...to...get it....off...of me....Why am I...saying...those...things? Doesn't anyone see this isn't me?" His breath now came in short, panicky gasps and he was rocking back and forth quite emphatically.
The rest of the group looked at each other, horrified. Thinking quickly, Dumbledore put his hand on Draco's shoulder. "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. You've done quite well."
Draco's eyes snapped open. "Oh, Merlin." he whispered. He turned to Harry, who was staring open-mouthed at his former nemesis. "I'm so sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to...I just..."
Harry blinked and came out of his stupor. "It's okay." he whispered, still unable to tear his gaze away. "It's okay..."
Snape's mouth set into a hard line. "I knew Lucius was a bastard but to use a curse like that on your own son, for years on end, it's barbaric."
Ginny shook her head in mute horror. "I guess this proves you're reliable." she said quietly.
Dumbledore sighed. "I think the best course of action is to have Mr. Malfoy remain here in the infirmary, away from other Slytherins who may take offence to his new-found freedom. Unless you object, of course."
Draco closed his eyes. "Of course, Headmaster." he muttered, staring blankly ahead.
Sensing it would be best to leave quietly, the teachers quickly filed out. Harry and Ginny were about to leave when Draco grabbed Harry's hand. "Stay?" he asked pitifully.
"Of course." Harry murmured.
Ginny took Draco's other hand. "I'll keep this a secret if you want me to." she offered, smiling slightly.
Draco paled. "Ron." he groaned. "And Hermoine. I've been so awful to them too." He put his head down against his knees.
Harry smiled. "I can have all of Gryffindor house come down and you can apologize to them all, one by one." he joked, but got no response. "Or I can just keep my mouth shut." He squeezed Draco's hand gently. "But I'll still be here."
"I'll go up to bed now, and tell everyone that you two have landed yourselves in the infirmary again." Ginny offered. "Believe me: no one will ask any questions. Good night."
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