Summary: When Harry went down into the Chamber, instead of trying to save Ginny he got distracted. Amazing what one little difference can do.
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Now, dance fucker, dance
Man, he never had a chance
And no one even knew
It was really only you
...with a thousand lies, and a good disguise
Hit 'em right between the eyes
"...I will accept nothing else and if you will not help me see to it I will find someone else who will. I am sure there are many who will jump at the opportunity."
But he hadn't meant to say some of the things he said. A dam sort of burst in him after he started talking and then he was rambling and saying things he shouldn't. He caught himself in time, of course, and quickly turned it to his advantage. He'd make them want to help him. He was an heir to a pureblood family, who was being mistreated by muggles. Whose legacy was being kept from him by Albus Dumbledore. He had to make it personal for them as well. A matter of principle for their society, to which he would soon belong.
Draco's father approached him, slowly, and tilted his chin. Silver eyes bored into him and Harry realized he may have bitten off more than he could chew.
"Look me in the eye. Show me."
And then his life was quite literally flashing before his eyes. When the inside of the cupboard came into view Harry pushed the image away as hard as he could. He needed to try to control what images the Malfoy Lord saw. He needed to witness just enough to believe Harry, enough to want to help him, but not enough to use any of it against him. And he wasn't ready for anyone to know how far it went. Not yet. They wouldn't understand it. They could understand being treated less than well by muggles, they loathed muggles and the witch trials were a part of the pureblood society's thoughts regarding muggles. Why some of them turned to Voldemort. They would understand that yes but there were still many things he wasn't ready for anyone to see. There were things he couldn't deal with himself and he was there. He was a wizard and he was helpless against them and all he could see in his head were flashes of things no one was going to get to see.
He could feel Lucius pressing against his mind, trying to force the images back to one's Harry was skipping over but Harry wouldn't let him. Instead he brought forward memories of the times he'd asked Dumbledore to let him stay at Hogwarts. Harry thought of his first meeting with Hagrid and first visit to Gringotts. He thought of the hat telling him he would do well in Slytherin. He though of speaking in snake language during his and Draco's duel last year.
Then he pushed the Slytherin out.
Judging from the glitter in Lucius' eyes, much more to his liking the Dumbledore's obnoxious twinkling, Harry would say he succeeded in winning the man to his cause. Maybe not as loyally as he'd prefer, but enough for now. Tom could always see to him later if Lord Malfoy became a...problem. Harry winced. Nothing good would come from that sort of a conversation.
"What are you willing to do to carry this out Harry? Are you willing to return to that place? Are you willing to endure months or years, if necessary, worth of pain, willing to record with valuable memories Dumbledore's treachery?"
Harry nodded without hesitation. There was no question really, he'd even prefer it this way. Years worth of evidence? That would hit the old man hard.
"I will do whatever it takes. I have lived this life for twelve years, I can live with it for more."
"Good boy."
Harry had no idea why a compliment usually given to dogs pleased him so much. He really needed to psychoanalyze himself when he got the chance. He might need some kind of therapy or something.
Lord Malfoy turned on his heel to face Donovan and Nimbletack who'd remained quiet until now. "I require a pensive, a neutral alignment auror, and a contract of sponsorship drawn up."
"The chosen Sponsor?"
"Lucius Abraxas Malfoy. I will sponsor Heir Potter."
Harry stared at Lord Malfoy, trying not to grin, and forced an uncertain look on his face.
"Excuse me, Lord Malfoy, I mean this only out of curiosity, but on what grounds? I thought only family through my father could be eligible as a sponsor?"
He already knew the answer of course but he had to let the older man feel like it was his own idea. If this was going to work he would have to keep Lucius Malfoy convinced for as long as possible that while Harry was against Dumbledore and disillusioned with the Light, he was still an impressionable child who needed guidance and would be easily manipulated. He had to believe that he could get and keep The-Boy-Who-Lived under his thumb. Gaining control of him out from under Dumbledore's nose should be a prize hard for the Slytherin to resist.
The man smiled and pat Harry on the head like a favoured pet. Harry wasn't sure how to feel about that.
"But we do have a familial bond Harry," the Lord purred, "through your first companion, Draco, whom you are related to through his mother, my wife, favorite cousin of your godfather."
"But father, won't you need to have Black sign his acceptance of your position? He is technically Lord black and eligible to do so now that he isn't in Azkaban."
This was working out perfectly.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I plan to have a meeting of my own with Sirius and a mutual associate of ours." Harry paused and examined Malfoy senior. "Actually, my friend is a mutual associate of yours too. I'll take care of Black signing. You go ahead and file for sponsorship."
"Who is this mutual associate?"
Harry could feel Tom's curiosity at the emotions Harry was sending him and couldn't wait to fill the teenage Dark Lord in on what he'd done. Normally he was yelled at for doing things without asking for Tom's input but he knew the boy would be proud of how Harry turned this around. He still might get hexed though.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"You have to know Heir Potter," said Donovan, "Albus Dumbledore won't take this appointment lying down. We can hold off telling him if you wish, bt he'll be displeased and possibly suspicious either way."
"Nonsense. We'll play it off as my being an over ambitious Slytherin unable to keep my greedy little hands to myself. I cornered Potter, spoke to him about it, caught him off guard and here we are." Lucius corrected, absently.
And that was how it was done. Harry was surprised how easy it was to manipulate them into doing what he wanted. Of course it helped that he had a better understanding of the rule now, and he did get a bit swept along in the beginning there but he thought he made a smooth recovery. He would simply have to focus on his previous dislike of the man from last year when he was in a room along with Dumbledore. Harry wasn't stupid, how ever naïve might allow himself to appear to be, he knew if Lucius Malfoy could read minds, than someone like Dumbledore could too. He didn't know if he'd be able to direct Dumbledore the way he had Malfoy so it would be best to have feelings of dislike for the Slytherin ready near the surface to dissuade any curiosities. And to avoid eye contact as much as possible.
Harry glanced around then brought out the diary.
Tom.
What have you done now?
How much do you love me?
You finally did something clever instead of acting like a Gryffindor did you?
I'm going to ignore that. But guess who I've secured as my sponsor? Who also thinks it was entirely his own idea?
You didn't.
I did, actually. What do you think of that Mr. Future Dark Lord?
You little genius! I knew there was a reason I kept you around. Aside from being pretty to look at of course.
That wasn't at all creepy or insulting, thank you.
With your lace on your cuffs and your pretty hair...
I'll spray-paint the chamber pink if you don't stop. I won't mind it. I am one hundred percent comfortable with myself as a male, I can rock a pink base of operations.
And you're going to use your blood connections and Lucius' status as your sponsor to justify inviting Black to your Magickal Acknowledgement. That was your beginning intention wasn't it?
Harry smirked at the change of topic. That's right be afraid Tom, fear the atrocious colour that is pink.
Harry?
Yes. Though I probably could have gone about it a bit smarter.
Indeed. However you saw an opportunity and you seized, then you made it work. Well done all around.
I should probably also mention that Draco is now what's called my First Companion?
Yes, I know.
You got all that from seating arrangements?
Pureblood customs are subtle, complicated and utterly ridiculous.
...I noticed.
