Shadows to Light – Chapter 9


I Am Here


"Those useless bastards!" Draco snarled under his breath, flinging the worthless letter across the table. It seemed that all of his contacts involved with Gringotts were hitting a dead end when dealing the Swiss branch of the Wizarding bank. He couldn't get a smidgeon of information out of any of them. He would have to use subtler ways of getting the information he needed, but that would mean leaving Grimmauld place, since demanding information by owl was clearly not the best course of action. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. The library really was the best room in this gloomy place, he had to agree with Potter on that one. But the warmth of the fire was not enough to ease the ache in his heart, or enough to cool his hatred for those fucking death eaters, who were intent on making his life hell.

He gave a derisive snort, and where would he be without Potter and his bloody hero complex? Probably groveling in his family home in France, awaiting the inevitable. The death of his mother dealt him a heavy blow, and he almost fell into the deep pit of darkness and grief which threatened to overwhelm him. If it were not for his friends - Draco shook his head, not even wanting to think about what would have happened to him without them. He had too much riding on his sanity to fall into despair. But he had felt alone, so alone, when his mother was taken from him. He had already lost Astoria, and his mother was the only one there to help him take care of his son and encourage him to follow his own path, all the while his heart healed. But he had never looked to finding another person to share his life with and help take care of Scorpius with; he had never even tried to look. And when Blaise and Pansy, his goofy amazing friends, suggested him to "get laid", in all honesty, he was hesitant to start over.

When he looked at his life now, the only other person who would be willing to step up to the challenge – and one who already had, for that matter – was Potter. But he was Boy Wonder, the Golden Child, and the last thing the man was, Draco thought, was bent. He snorted again, besides, he didn't have a snowball's chance in hell with Potter even if he did like men. He frowned as he sat up, he couldn't worry about what he could and could not have; he had other things to worry about. He picked up another letter and tore it open, not really looking forward to its contents. As he read, he gave a sly grin. This one was more promising and it was information that he could pass over to Potter on his case.

"Malfoy?"

Draco jumped in his seat and turned to see Potter leaning in the doorframe. He still had on his Auror robes, his hair was tousled and windblown. But he still looked tired, with dark circles still under his eyes despite having slept most of the night, and his skin was dull and pale. That was all the more reason for Draco doing his own research; he had his own weight to pull.

"Christ, Potter. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Potter grinned as he walked into the library, shedding his heavy robes as he went. "Of course, what else am I good for?" He flopped down in his favorite chair with a deep groan. "Where's Scorpius?"

"I told Kreacher to entertain him so I could have some peace and quiet," Draco answered.

"I can't imagine what that grumpy old elf could do to entertain anyone, but I'll take your word for it." He jerked his chin to the table covered with papers, "What's all of this?"

Draco passed the letter he had just read over to Potter, "Just a little bit of information gathering." He watched his face as he read, then Potter lifted his head with raised eyebrows.

"This is amazing! We can barely figure out where all of the Endless Sleep potions are being brewed, with all of the apothecaries in this city. And even if we do pinpoint one, we have to first get a warrant, and to get that we need a good reason in the first place. How did you get this?" Draco gave the slightest quirk of his lips, the only movement that betrayed his pleasure at being praised.

"Let's just say that I have…friends that are more than willing to divulge what they know. At a price, of course." For a moment, even Draco could hear how much he sounded like his father. He did not like it. Potter looked at him sideways.

"I feel obligated as Head Auror to demand further information, but I won't because I trust you. If you were able to pinpoint all of the apothecaries in and around Wizarding London that sold illegal potions, there's no telling what else you could to."

"Not to mention Hogwarts." Draco pointed out.

Potter frowned and referred to the list again and his eyes widened. "I shouldn't be surprised, we'll have to ask Slughorn a few questions. Even after all that's happened-," he shook his head. Draco, for one, was not surprised to see Hogwarts there. One could get anything in that old castle, if they knew where to look.

"My success rate is not as high as you think, I'm afraid. I was also looking into the Swiss branch of Gringotts, but I can't seem to get in edgeways. I'll have to explore other ways of getting the information."

"Or, you could let the Ministry handle that. The goblins may have their own laws, but they handle our money and must comply when we have a need to investigate. I really don't want you to take any unnecessary risks."

"I don't need a damn babysitter, Potter," Draco snapped. He knew he was overreacting, but those words annoyed him.

"I know you don't," he sighed and rubbed his face, a habit that Draco noticed he always did when he was really exhausted. "Look, just let me handle Gringotts, ok? Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I visited your father in Azkaban."

Whatever response Draco was going to say was lost. He said nothing. His father was never a topic of discussion, ever. He avoided even thinking of him if he could help it. It would only make him angry if he did. His father was someone he had loved unconditionally, followed his every word and copied his every move. But the embarrassment and the pain that he had put his family through for all of those years was hard to forgive. It was no telling what his mother went through, before and after Draco was born, and it was a wonder that she stayed with Lucius. But they were a pure blood family, and divorce was not an option. When a marriage is arranged by two families, it is permanent.

His love for his father ran deep, but his hatred ran deeper.

"It turns out that he was asked by the new death eaters for money to support their new cause."

Draco pursed his lips, "And he agreed, of course."

"No, actually. When he said no the first time, they went and murdered Narcissa, but still he refused, until he thought they had killed you and Scorpius."

Draco sat up straighter in the chair, "That was the reason why my mother was killed? Over money? They could have had it all if it was so fucking important to them!" He couldn't control his stupid body from its stupid shaking. He could not believe it. His mother's life was taken for that? For something as worthless as Galleons? All because of his stupid greedy ass father? "I'll fucking kill him. I swear to fucking god, I'll kill him with my bare hands."

"Draco."

He snapped his head up when he felt the warm weight of Potter's hand on his shoulder. He was more shocked at the sound of his given name than the fact that he did not notice Potter cross the distance between them and was now squatting beside him, his hand slid down from his shoulder to near his elbow. Draco stared angrily into those eyes. Those very green eyes. Beautiful eyes. He looked away. His life was a big shitty mess.

"Draco, listen to me. Lucius did what he thought was best-,"

Draco laughed bitterly, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And believe me, I've been there more than once."

Potter shook his arm, "Will you listen to me?" He ran a hand through his hair and looked impatiently at Draco. He was nervous, Draco noted with surprise. They were rarely nervous around each other. Draco shut up, he really wanted to know what he had to say. "I know that coming from me, this may mean nothing to you. And I've never had much experience with parents, but I know when people who are supposed to care for you don't give a shit about you. I can tell you with absolute certainty, that Lucius loves you. He didn't want to give them the money because he was thinking about the further shame it would bring you and Scorpius. He is aware of your efforts to clear your name and have a life for yourself; he didn't want to mess that up. Even after they murdered his wife, he still wouldn't give in. But when he found out that you and Scorpius were murdered – which I assured him had not happened and that you were safe – he thought that he was the only Malfoy left. So his pride meant nothing anymore. Please try to see what he was trying to do. I know that you must not have had a good relationship after the war, but I know that he and your mother only worried about your safety, even more so than their own."

The silence between them was vast as Draco took in his words. Draco wasn't stupid, he knew that his parents loved him. But it was so hard to see that when he had been put in such danger with the Dark Lord prowling the halls of the Manor and forced to take the Dark Mark while his father watched in stoic silence. He heard Potter sigh and begin to stand. Draco gripped his hand. "Wait."

He went back down in a squat and waited. They were both looking at their joined hands, not even occurring to them to let go of the other. Without thinking, because he knew if he thought about what he was doing he would snatch his hand away, he rubbed his thumb over Potter's knuckles. Draco took a deep breath, it was his turn to be nervous.

"Potter, I know that he loves me. But I just can't forgive him. Not yet. And especially now that I know that it was because of him that my mother is dead, and it wasn't just the article that I put out. Whatever his reasons were, they don't change the fact that she is never coming back. You have to understand, I have no family left. It's just me and Scorpius. I can't even have my friends around for risk of their lives." Draco shook his head, "It's just so hard-,"

"You have me."

His eyes widened as he looked to Potter once again. Could he dare believe what he had heard? Could he even consider what Potter meant when he said that? No. It was just him being a sappy Gryffindor, nothing more. Nevertheless, his heart was pounding in his chest and he dared to hope.

"What?" he breathed. He couldn't seem to catch his breath. Draco felt Potter squeeze his hand.

"You're not alone, Draco. I will do any and everything to help you. And not because it's my job, but because it's something I want to do."

Draco shook his head, he couldn't seem to get rid of the denial. "But why me?" He knew that he had asked this before, but he really needed to know again. "You know what I've done, you know what I am. For you to even consider to want to help me-," he stopped when a flash of anger glinted in Potter's eyes.

"Does it matter to me what you were? Do you think this-," he turned Draco's arm over so the stark reminder of his past, his shame, was visible and glaring in his face, "-will stop me from doing what I feel is right? Yes, you've made some mistakes, major mistakes. But what I see is a man who is devoted to his life and a man who will do anything for his family. And nothing you or anyone else will say is going to stop me."

Draco couldn't breathe, "Potter what are saying? Stop you from what?"

He watched as Potter stood and leaned over him, "Stop me from wanting you or from liking you. Please, let me be more than an Auror to you, or more than our stupid rivalry. Draco, will you let me in?"

He closed his eyes and finally accepted Potter's words. He finally realized that his friends were right, he did need someone in his life and if Potter was offering, hell, how could he say no? Whether he would get laid or not was another matter, but for now this was enough. He knew that this was exactly what he needed. He took a deep breath and thought, fuck it. He pulled Potter closer by the hand and leaned forward to meet his lips. They were welcoming and soft. The sigh of relief from Potter made Draco smile, he couldn't help it. They pulled apart and Potter ran his hand through his hair again.

"Wow, Potter. Do I make you that nervous? You're like a blushing Hufflepuff on her first date." He tried hiding his grin, but failed.

"Oh, fuck off." Potter chuckled. But after a moment he rubbed the back of his neck and couldn't seem to look Draco in the eye. "So, are we a thing?" Potter hesitated, still nervous. All of that Gryffindor courage went right out the window. Draco rolled his eyes. Potter could ask the most awkward questions in the world sometimes.

"Yes, Potter. We are a 'thing' as you put it. I'm willing to see how this will go. I never thought that you would like men, though. I was sure that women were your only cup of tea."

"Oh, no. I've known for a while now that I like men. It was one of the many reasons me and Ginny broke it off."

"Speaking of her, are we going to tell her? And what are we going to tell Scorpius, or Al and James for that matter." Draco wouldn't dare tell his friends, they would rub their 'I told you so's in his face for at least the rest of the year, if not for the rest of his life. He knew that they would find out eventually, and he dreaded the day.

"Let's hold off on telling her for right now." Potter answered. "She only accepted you being here just yesterday. I would rather wait until you are not an official case anymore before we tell people. Ron and Hermione will figure things out without me having to say anything, though. But we will have to be careful around the kids."

Draco snorted, "We'll see how long that lasts." He looked down to the desk still covered with papers and correspondents, "What are we going to do about Slughorn? It's one of the only leads we have now."

Potter too looked at the mess on his desk, "I'll have to go to Hogwarts. But not during the week. It's better to go on the weekend when the children are not in class."

"I'm coming with you," Draco said. It was his intention all along and he wasn't going to back down. He was the one to discover that Slughorn was brewing potions he knew he wasn't supposed to in the first place.

Harry sighed. "Malfoy-,"

"I know more about potions than you do, and we can bring the kids too. And Hogwarts is one of the safest places we could be. We could even say hello to McGonagall." The last person Draco wanted to see was her. But he would say whatever it took to get on Potter's soft side, even if it meant swallowing his pride.

Potter sighed, "Fine, but Ron is coming with us. I'll feel better with more Aurors around."


"Potter, this isn't the way to the school."

Harry grinned at Ron, "I know."

The six of them were walking from Hogsmead and getting closer and closer to the Forbidden Forest. But that was not where Harry was taking them, of course. Even though he knew that the forest was way safer than it was before the war, and he would love to visit the centaurs. But he didn't want to hear Draco complain any more than he was already. Besides, where they were going was sure to make him mad. As they got closer to the familiar hut, his heart began to beat with excitement. He hadn't seen Hagrid for a while now and felt rather guilty for not coming back to the school more often. He was the perfect person to leave the children with while they went into the dungeons to talk to Slughorn.

Harry and Ron were ahead of the others. The little ones were chatting loudly about what they had gotten from Honeydukes and munching on plenty of candy to keep them occupied for a good while. Draco brought up the rear.

"No."

They turned to see that Draco had stopped walking and was staring angrily at the hut. "Potter, we are not going to see that oaf."

"You don't have to go there, but that is where the children are going until we finish our business with Slughorn." He rolled his eyes as Draco moved in front of Scorpius as if to shield him.

"They are not! He is a clear danger to the students, a liability to the school." Draco said.

"Just because you were mauled by a Hippogriff doesn't mean he's a liability. It means you're a dum-,"

Harry cut in before Ron could finish that, "Draco, come on. Don't scare them. They'll be fine. You insisted to come anyway, you could stay with them and Hagrid if that's what you prefer."

Harry tried not to laugh as Draco scowled at them, apparently giving it serous thought. Finally, he sighed and waved a hand. "Alright, alright. I see your point. Let's just get this over with." So, they continued and met with Hagrid. Surprisingly, Draco did not make as big of a fuss as they thought he would and everything went smoothly. They met with the Headmistress and McGonagall agreed to let them speak to the potions teacher. This time, Draco led the way down to the dungeons and to what was once Snape's office. Harry's heart clenched as memories of his former professor came unbidden. No one knew of the secrets that Snape had told him, not even Ron and Hermione knew the details. He didn't doubt that they would understand. He just wanted to cherish the truth of what Snape had shared with him. Harry snapped to attention as Draco knocked on the door. A long moment passed before the door opened. The man that stood behind the door hadn't changed much since they were still in school. He was still pudgy and a tad bit nervous, the only difference was that there seemed to be less hair on the top of his head. Slughorn stared at the three of them. The smile on his face seemed to be frozen in place. Harry put on his own best smile to try to put the man at ease.

"Hello, Professor. We were wondering if we might have a word?"

Still, he said nothing and Harry was starting to wonder if it was a mistake for all three of them to be there. They must have looked formidable, Harry and Ron in their Auror robes and Draco looking just as imposing with his haughty posture.

After a moment, the older man seemed to have found his voice and waved them in, "Of course, my dear boys! Of course! Come in, come in." He stepped aside and let the three of them pass. The room was still the same as Harry had remembered it when he had come there in his Slug Club days. That was his least favorite year. "Would any of you care for a cup of tea? I know I have some more cups around here somewhere." He continued to mutter to himself as he shuffled around the room then to the back and out again. Harry almost felt bad for making him so flustered, but they had a job to do.

Draco spoke before he had a chance to. "Professor, we don't want any tea. We need you to answer a few questions." The tone in Draco's voice made Slughorn freeze and turn around very slowly. Harry laid his hand on his wand. There was something strange about this whole thing and he didn't like it.

Slughorn blinked, "Questions? About what, my dear boy?" He stood there holding two teacups in his hands and that strange smile was still plastered on his face.

"Has anyone come to you requesting your services? Someone from outside the school?" Ron asked.

"Services?" Slughorn asked slowly, as if the mere word was strange and foreign.

All three of them frowned. Then Harry said, "Yes. Has anyone asked you to make any potions for them? Potions that they are unable to get anywhere else because they're not sold to the public?"

Slughorn suddenly turned away from them and set down the cups, he went over to fiddle with the kettle on the hearth. "I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you are talking about. Now, if you will excuse me I have hundreds of papers that need to be marked."

Harry was about to open his mouth when Draco tilted his head ever so slightly and whispered. "Potter, I think he's been cursed."

"Cursed!" Ron said, loud.

Slughorn's head whipped around. His eyes were panicked and wild and he looked as if he didn't know what to do next. Harry kept an eye on him.

"Idiot!" Draco hissed at Ron and glared. "Yes, he is under the Imperious curse. I know the signs." They shared a look and Harry immediately understood. Draco's time living in the same house as Voldemort had exposed him to many things that someone his age should not have had to experience. For a moment, Harry felt stupid for not noticing that Slughorn's strange behavior was due to an Unforgivable since he was the Head Auror among them, but he quickly brushed that thought aside. He always understood that one person couldn't see everything. It was better to work with other people who had different perceptions and perspectives, in order to see a situation from all angles. He nodded to Draco.

"I am able to break the curse, but I won't be able to see who cast it." Harry said. "I will also be able to remember the magical signature that is around and controlling Professor Slughorn. Ron, I need you to bring McGonagall and Madame Pomphry here to take care of him after I do this." Ron was already out the door before Harry finished talking. But it was fine, Ron understood what he was thinking more than half the time.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Draco yelled. Harry turned in time to see Slughorn's face hit the carpeted stone floor, then he looked at Draco who shrugged. "He was coming closer. I don't want to take any chances since he knows that we're on to him. He was likely trying to fight the curse so as not to attack us."

Harry turned to Slughorn and raised his wand and began the chant. The counter curse was long and took a lot of energy to perform, so he was thankful to Draco for immobilizing him. When he heard Draco's voice join his own, he almost lost his place in surprise, but managed to keep going without messing it up. He had to admit, it was way easier to perform the spell if there were two people doing it. All at once, a bright flash of blazing orange light burst from their wands and engulfed Slughorn. They both grimaced as they heard terrible screams coming from him, but they knew that the one controlling him was feeling the same agony. They would know that the curse had been broken.

Just as quickly, the light faded and the screams came to an abrupt stop. Slughorn laid unconscious on the rug. Their ragged breathing was loud in Harry's ears. "How do you know the counter curse?" Harry asked.

Draco gave him an incredulous look. "How do you think the Aurors know it?"

Harry stared at him, confused. But before he could ask further, he heard brisk footsteps coming down the hall. Madame Pomphry made a noise before rushing over to their fallen professor. McGonagall's face was hard as she took in the situation. She gave a long look at Draco before turning to Harry.

"I will need a full explanation of this. There are already security measures being taken to ensure that no one comes that is not authorized to do so."

Harry nodded, "Good, though we do not know if he met these people here at the school or if he met them elsewhere. We will have to bring him in for questioning after he has recovered in the hospital. And we will make sure that his life won't be in danger due to us breaking the Unforgivable. We don't know if the person who cast it will try something else."

Her lips were pursed, but she nodded. "Very well. Please speak with me in my office and tell me the full extent of the threat. I intend for this school to be safe at all costs. You too, Mr. Malfoy." She added after a moment before sweeping out of the room.

Harry turned to his best friend. "Ron, could you stay with Madame Pomphry? You can assign any Aurors you want to guard Professor Slughorn when he gets to St. Mungo's. Then we can do whatever else that needs to be done afterwards."

Harry and Draco left to follow McGonagall. During that long walk through the school, Harry couldn't forget the cold presence that had controlled his former professor. The person's magic was not familiar to him, but it was very dark and he would never forget it. He glanced at Draco and saw the grimace on his face. There was someone out there who would be angry. Harry could only hope that that anger would somehow make them slip up and easier to find.


A/N - Thank you once again for reading. I know it was almost two months, but I got the chapter up! Yay! Feel free to leave a review if you want, I don't mind. This chapter's title if from "Always" by KSE. It is one of my all time favorites from them. I will update as soon as I can!