Chapter Eight: For Your Tears of Joy
Harry sat in front of the hearth in the Gryffindor common room. His glasses set on the side table next to him, eyes staring into the flames. He hadn't returned to his bed after making arrangements with Malfoy to meet Dumbledore in the morning and sending a note to the headmaster. Harry's mind was still reeling from the previous day's shocking events. Despite the earth's gravitational shift, he felt good. Like a burden had been lifted and he was resolved to keep the momentum going. Sunlight was now creeping through the windows of Tower and he could hear the student bustling about in their rooms. After speaking with Malfoy, Snape, Dumbledore, then Malfoy again, one would think he should have been tired, but he wasn't. There was no way he could have slept with all the chaos causing thoughts in his head.
They left the Room or Requirement together after agreeing plans for the morning had been made. Harry didn't want to wait any longer that absolutely necessary, seeing as how Draco was running out of time and Voldemort was growing impatient. Walking silently with Malfoy, Harry realized was strangely comfortable. When they came to the Portrait of the Fat Lady Malfoy turned to bid Him a good evening. He looked exhausted, worn out and too thin Harry noticed.
"I guess I'll see you in a few hours," He said with a small smile. Harry returned the smile with one of his own.
"Yeah, see you then. G'night Draco."
"Goodnight…Harry."
It was such a normal farewell, but for them it was something that would have seemed impossible only a few days ago. Today would be a rough day for everyone involved. Harry didn't think it was best to tell Ron and Hermione about Draco just yet. For all Harry knew, Draco might not even show up. That thought didn't sit well with Harry so he chased it away with a reminder that they were going to have to trust each other now.
"Harry?" That would be Ginny's voice he thought as he rubbed his eyes and put glasses back on his face. It was so strange to think only a few days ago he spent all his time thinking of her and how to get her attention and if he should, date his best mate's little sister. Since she had broken up with Dean Thomas he noticed her efforts to sit close enough to touch him and kiss him on the cheek or send him flirty looks from across the room. Poor timing for a relationship he thought. There are bigger things to think about right now. Besides, the soon I defeat Voldemort, the soon I can have a normal life…or die trying. He sighed as she plopped down on the couch next to him.
"Morning Gin. You're up early." She linked her arm around his and kissed him on the cheek.
"Good morning yourself and it's nearly time for breakfast. Have you been out here all night?"
"It was a late night or early morning, take your pick." Ginny bristled slightly at the comment. She didn't want to think about what could have had him out so late. "So you're going to Hogsmeade today right?"
"Dean and I had planned on going together before we split up. I'd hoped you would save me from going alone, so if you're asking me I accept." Harry could tell by her tone that she was in no way joking. Good thing he had plans of his own or it would have been an awkward situation.
"Actually, Gin, I can't go into Hogsmeade today. I have prior commitments with the Headmaster. Another time, okay?"
"You're not going with us today?" Ron said groggily as he came down the dormitory stairs. "I thought you talked to Dumbledore last night?" Harry rolled his eyes at his friend. Remembering he wasn't supposed to say anything to the girls about where he was Ron mentally slapped himself and sent Harry an apologetic look.
"I did see him last night but some things came up and we had to wait until morning to work them out. You guys go on without me and don't forget to bring me some Bertie Bott's from Honeydukes. I should go shower and change." With that said he pulled away from Ginny before she could give him another kiss in front of Ron and headed for his room.
Harry bathed and dressed quickly, not bothering an attempt to fix his wild child hair. He re-entered the common room several minutes later to find Ron waiting for him.
"'Mione and Ginny are scheming something awful," Ron gave his friend a weary look. "They keep whispering and giggling. It's not safe to be around them when they're like that. Just look at Lavender and the Patil twins. Not three days ago Lavender went from giggly to leaving bruises on my ear drums. Just be careful mate, that's all I'm saying." Harry laughed at Ron's antics and told him he'd be cautious.
Breakfast was a rushed affair seeing as how the entire student body wanted to get out of the castle and to the village as fast as they could. Harry did everything in his power not to look in the general direction of the Slytherin table. He had done a good job until the post arrived. Hermione brought her and Ginny's conversation to halt, while she examined her addition of the Daily Prophet. That freed her up to observe the Great Hall, in particular Pansy Parkinson who apparently was staring openly at the Gryffindor Trio.
"What the hell is Pug-face staring at?" Ginny commented snidely while sending the girl a scowl. Harry quickly looked up at Ginny's reference and sure enough Pansy Parkinson was staring straight back at Harry. As soon as he met her gaze she winked at him and returned to her plate as if she had never been staring in the first place. No one seemed to catch on to the blond girl's gesture. Not even Ginny. However, it had Harry slightly nervous. What the hell? He glanced over to where Malfoy usually sat, his place was empty. Harry's mind began to race and he could only guess where the blond boy had gotten too. If he bails on me this morning I'll kill him, he thought.
After breakfast the Great Hall emptied as the students headed out to the carriages that would take them to Hogsmeade, just as planned. Harry wished his friends a quick farewell then preceded to the Headmaster's office. He was met outside by Professor Snape. Oh that's just what the doctor ordered. One heavy dose of Snape on the weekend with a side snarky commentary via the malcontent Potions Master himself. Who invited him anyway?
"Potter."
"Professor?"
Snape muttered the password and the Gargoyle sprang to life, leaping aside, allowing them to access to the office. Snapes billowing robes fluttering about his person. Harry astutely followed the professor. I wonder if he's ever considered theater? Harry drew a deep breath before knocking on the door. The entered together finding Draco and the headmaster in deep conversation.
hpdm
The meeting went well and it seemed like everything was in order. Harry sat down with Snape, Draco, across from the Headmaster and discussed the details of the 'Draco' development. Draco had offered to take Veritaserum, but with two master legitimens in the room they felt it would have been pointless to waste the potion.
Draco gave Dumbledore his solemn vow to do everything he could to assist the Order so long as they helped his mother. Harry was not surprised when Draco said that he wanted the "Confidence of both Dumbledore and the Order nitwits that he was steadfast in his Guarantee". While Harry took the comment in stride as the obnoxious Malfoy arrogance, the older men were shaken by the comment. Draco had said the previous night that he wasn't going to stand for any mistrust on the part of Order members disgruntled about the 'deflection'. What had Harry dumbfounded was the gravity of the request. Dumbledore sat contemplating the idea for several moments before turning to Harry.
"Do you understand what Mr. Malfoy is requesting, Harry?" He asked stroking his long white beard.
"Requesting? Oh…er, I suppose not. I mean we talked about this last night. He doesn't want the others to look down on him for the past. I told him we could start over and I'm not going to hold liable for the past. Is that what you mean?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled relentlessly behind his half moon spectacles as a smile donned his face. Snape looked highly uncomfortable but remained quite none the less.
"Harry, my boy, Mr. Malfoy is making a formal request to swear an oath to you called the Guarantir Vow. It's like an Unbreakable Vow but the consequence for the breaking of his oath would not be death, but loss of his magic. To some extent, for a Pureblood witch or wizard, the vow is Superior because the outcome is considered more shameless than death." Dumbledore explained looking solemn.
"What! He doesn't have to do that. His word should be good enough for the rest of them if it was good enough for you!" Harry was scandalized. The idea of Malfoy swearing a vow to him was almost comical, but the very notion of anyone losing their magic made Harry's stomach turn. What the hell was Malfoy thinking proposing something like that?!
"Unfortunately for Draco, it won't be that simple for most people." Snape confirmed from his chair. "The vow would protect Draco from accusers from the Ministry, but as for what other people think…I highly doubt they will be willing to put aside the judgments they hold, or will hold, against him. As much as it pains me to say this, it would be beneficial to have him under the Vow."
Harry turned to Draco whose head was held high in true Malfoy fashion. Such a Slytherin arse. "So what you're telling me as that I'll be protecting Malfoy from prison, and he'll have to be loyal to me?" Harry smirked.
"Loyal to a point Potter, not to a fault! The Guarantir Vow only reacts to malicious actions intent to cause you harm, or disobeying a direct condition of the vow." He finished quietly. Draco's cheeks had a tinted a shade of humble pink, telling Harry how embarrassed he was. "What?" Malfoy started noticing Harry's stare. It made his stomach clench again. Was it honestly upsetting him to see Malfoy uncomfortable or was the pressure getting to him? He shook the thoughts from his head and back to the discussion at hand.
"Alright, I'll accept that. But I want to know all about this Vow and come to an understanding with you about these conditions before we swear to it. Is that reasonable?" Looking to all three men for confirmation. They agreed to give the boys the next few hours to work out the details and Dumbledore would seal the Vow before the students returned from Hogsmeade.
The rest of the meeting Harry's mind was trying to focus on what was being said but found questions popping into his head like a house elf ready to do a quick sweep of his cranium. What am I going to tell Ron and Mione? What on earth would make him want to have a Vow like that on himself? Would I be that desperate to save my own mum if the tables were turned? Focus Harry!
Dumbledore had contacted Bill Weasley, much to Draco's distress, to help with the removing of the torque on Mrs. Malfoy's arm. He'd be arriving later that day. Snape and Dumbledore had recognized the torque on Draco's arm as Egyptian and very old. Bill surmised as much from the description he'd been given and was hopeful that the power behind the torque binding Mrs. Malfoy could be slowly dispersed through a new technique they were using at Gringotts. Bill would have to remove it by force after that but it would not have enough magic in it to cause her any great damage, most likely a small burn that would leave a light scar.
With all that in order they turned their attention to Draco's mission. That was where things had gone unexpectedly. Dumbledore believed that Draco's mission would have to look like it was fulfilled so not to lose Snape as their spy in Voldemort's ranks. As soon as Mrs. Malfoy's torque was removed Snape was going to make sure the mission was completed and Draco was unfortunately going to already be in the custody of one Harry Potter. That was about the time Harry's brain went fuzzy. They were staging the Headmaster's death …right? If Draco's mission was to kill Dumbledore and it needs to be a success, than…that would mean, what exactly?
Harry left the Headmaster's office in a state of shock, flanked by one scowling potions master and an extremely nervous blonde. Voices around him were speaking but not registering in his brain at the proper rate of conversation.
"Potter!"
That would be Snape, Harry thought. Someone was shaking his shoulder and waving their hand in front of his face. That would be Malfoy. Whoa he has delicate hands. Probably uses a lot moisturizer to keep the calluses from Quidditch at bay. It's too bad he isn't playing this year. I miss the petty, yet amusingly competitive, banter during games. We're going to take the cup from them this year. I wonder why he isn't playing…Oh Yeah! He's been in the Room of Requirement trying to kill Dumbledore! The bloody prat!
With that final thought, Harry's haze seemed to evaporate and he saw the 'prat' standing in front of him shaking him and calling his name. Without a moment of hesitation Harry pulled back and punched Malfoy square in the face. Draco was sent tumbling backwards, landing hard on the stone floor behind him. Ha! Take that you bloody prat!
"Damn it Potter!" Snape screeched. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Draco, get up! Both of you this way, now!" Snape opened a door to a near, unused classroom as Draco held his hand over his left eye. Harry stood looking at Draco for a moment before identifying the look of confusion on the downed boy's face. Ooops!
"Note taken," Draco quipped rising from the floor,"Never stand in front of a befuddled Gryffindor."
"Oh my god Draco! I'm sorry…I don't what came over me…or where that came from!" Harry started. Draco rolled his eyes at him.
"I guess I've deserved that at some point. Shall we call it even? Or should I keep my guard up?"
