Oh yeah. In case you haven't figured it out already… I don't own Harry Potter or anybody else. I'm just borrowing the Potter-verse for a bit o' fun. All things Potter courtesy of JKR.

Chapter 10: To Be A Malfoy

I see your face with every punch I take,
and every bone I break, it's all for you.
And my worst pains are words I cannot say.
Still I will always fight on for you.

Hermione shuddered involuntarily as she watched the figures gather at the edge of the forest, like insects around a pool of water. "We must alert the Headmistress." She breathed, clinging onto Draco's arms, which were wrapped about her for dear life.

"I have a hunch she already knows." Draco was looking away from the window. There was a knock at the door just as he spoke. He left Hermione reluctantly to dress and open the door. Harry, Ron and Ginny filed in with nervous looks on their faces.

"You've seen them?" Harry asked, Draco only nodded.

"Just as you knocked. Do the professors know?" Hermione asked, entering the room in a pair of flannel pajamas and a long robe.

"I told McGonagall myself." Harry said. "I saw it all." He said, putting emphasis on the word "saw". "I think HE's here with them. I think this is it."

Just then, the mark on Draco's arm burned with a fire he'd never felt before. He jumped to his feet and clutched the offending appendage to his chest. "aah!" he cried, looking down to see trickles of blood running down his forearm and dripping from his fingertips.

"Has this ever happened before?" Hermione gasped, running into the bathroom in search of a towel. She returned with one and pressed it over his bleeding mark. Draco hissed.

"No. This is new. And I don't like it at all." Draco ground out. "They're trying to get me to show myself."

"Well, we can't just let you walk out there—" Hermione put her hands on her hips the way a mother would when she scolded a child.

She was interrupted by a booming voice that echoed through the grounds, "There is no need for violence on this day. We have only come for what is rightfully ours. Hand us over the boy and we shall leave you in peace. You have until sunrise."

"That's him. That's Voldemort." Harry said. "And he's not gonna leave until he's got me. He's not here for Draco." He slammed his fist into his hand. "We need a plan."

Ginny grinned; this obviously had been her cue. "Taken care of, Harry! I've already alerted the members—past and present—of the old DA. Some will arrive in Hogsmeade and attack from without, while those of us who are left here will rally our troops and lead the attack from within. I've been in contact with several members thanks to Fred and George—they have added several new faces to the ranks since they left. Not to mention that I've been in contact with Tonks and Lupin since we left Grimauld place this summer—so the Order—or what's left of the Order—knows what's going on, and is on their way as well. I'm sure they'll be bringing the Ministry too, if mum and dad have anything to do with it." She nodded encouragingly.

Harry grinned broadly at her. In the half of the year he'd been back at Hogwarts, he'd been so wrapped up in other things—especially things with this new, changing Draco—that he'd barely had time to focus on the fact that he'd broken up with this amazing girl who'd refused to give up on him. Harry scooped Ginny up in his arms and swung her around. "You're amazing Gin, don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise!" he said, kissing her cheeks, lips, nose, anywhere he could reach.

Ron grunted and rolled his eyes. "Great, now we have help—can we…I don't know, get a move on?"

--

The five students had defined a rank and order, and even had a rough attack plan and defense strategy down before the first of the professors made their appearance. About half an hour after Harry, Ron, and Ginny, Professors Flitwick and Mad Eye Moody along with Headmistress McGonagall knocked on the Head's door.

Draco let them in, and with one look, McGonagall knew that they had been planning. She also knew, as much as she hated to admit it, that she could not stop them from fighting. "I have come with a mere suggestion," she began. She was still dressed in her tartan dressing gown, her down in a long braid over her shoulder. "Since I know it will be impossible for me and the rest of the staff to keep you from helping us defend Hogwarts, I must insist that you only allow those who are of age to fight."

Ginny stood to her feet. "That excludes me!" she cried, "I can be of use! I helped at the Department of Mysteries and then I was only fourteen!"

"What would your mother say if I allowed her only daughter to fight in this battle?" McGonagall said her voice sad, tired. "I will not allow it, Ms. Weasley. I will, however, suggest that you be the information center between your friends here. They will need communication here—and you, with the help of that Map I know Harry still possesses, may just do some good."

"I can fight." Ginny said again, weakly.

"Of course you can. Let us hope that you won't have to." McGonagall said, and turned to Draco and Harry. "Boys, this fight will center on the both of you I am afraid. They have already requested that we hand over Draco—and of course that isn't going to happen. But they will not stop and be satisfied with just him. Harry you know that He is out there, don't you? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named—"

"I know Voldemort is waiting for me to show my face, and I intend for him to see it once more before I kill him." Harry snarled. The professors, all but Moody, flinched at his use of Voldemort's name.

"Well then. I am calling a meeting immediately in the Great Hall. I suggest that all of you join me. You will be the team leaders, so to speak—and you will have professors with each of you. Harry, you and a select group will be independent. Go and do what you need to do, make your preparations, but hurry, there isn't much time." McGonagall said, motioned to the other two professors, and dashed from the Head's Common room, without a backward glance.

The head students dressed, joined the others and together they all made their way to the Great Hall.

--

Ginny was still miffed, but she agreed that she'd serve as the information center between the groups. They were to use the galleons that Hermione had charmed back in their fifth year to pass information back and forth. This would work well, since enough of the old DA still had theirs.

Draco knew that he could not lead a group as no one would trust him. He told Hermione that he would follow her as closely as possible but he would seek out his father. That was his main goal.

Once in the great Hall, McGonagall alerted the students to the imminent danger that threatened them all. She called forth Harry, Ron, Hermione and their selected few others, including Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, and appointed them as team leaders. She then told them what each team would be assigned to do—Ron and Hermione were to begin guarding the Front Gates to the School. That was the place most likely to be attacked, but it was also the place that was most likely to gain support from any Ministry or Order members showing up. Once any Aurors had arrived, Hermione and Ron and their groups were to split up, Ron headed toward the Quittich pitch Hermione toward the courtyards. Neville was to remain at the front doors of the school with his group. They would be firing long range spells at first, and then, once the inevitable breech occurred, form the first line of defense against the Death Eaters. This group would also patrol the lower floors for any wayward students who might have wandered into the danger zone or any potential threats that might come from inside the castle itself. Luna's group would take the upper floors of the Castle. She and her team were to post members along the edges of the castle and fire long range spells down at the masses. They were, essentially, sharp-shooters. Their other purpose was to guard against any intruders in the upper levels of the school. McGonagall was going to take no chances after the year before. Harry's group, consisting only of DA members, and mostly of Gryffindors, were independent, they were to wander hither and thither among the various groups and report back to Ginny any major changes or problems that would occur. They also were the stealth-team, for their primary goal was not to engage in combat—but to seek out top ranking Death Eaters. Harry himself was focusing on their leader.

Even though this plan left several openings for the Death Eaters, it closed many gaping holes the school had initially. The staff members, who were not occupied with their student led teams, were divided between scouting for allies and information gathering and front line combat.

The sixth years that were adamant that they could be put to use were asked to aid Madame Pomphrey in the Hospital Wing. Many seventh year girls opted for this position as well.

Surprisingly, there were a few Slytherins who volunteered to join the ranks, and though Harry wondered if it was only to later turn traitor, he nodded them forward. One, Daphne Greengrass approached him, "there are a few of us who still know what honor is." She said, "There are a few of us who know that Draco is a good man. You may not trust us, Harry Potter, but we have faith in you."

McGonagall spoke over the muttering, "All of those who are NOT fighting, you will follow Ms. Brown and Ms. Patil. They will take you to a safe place."

Parvati and Lavender nodded, and began to show the younger students out of the Great Hall. Ginny approached them. "You're going to the Room of Requirement aren't you?" she asked, they nodded. "I'll be there as well. Merlin I hope it'll hold us all."

--

Hermione and Ron were posted as sentinels guarding the front gates with a myriad of other sixth and seventh year students when the voice broke over the grounds again. "The sun has risen and there is no sign of the boy. We have tried this you way—now, we shall try it mine."

Suddenly, from every crevice of the forest and beyond, there came black, hooded figures, wands drawn, their tips lit with their excitement. Unforgivables were thrown before some of the students even had time to raise their shields. Hermione and Ron joined their shield together and instructed their team to fire around it. After stunning three Death Eaters, and body binding two more, Hermione decided that there wasn't enough damage being done. She waved her wand and shouted an incantation Ron had never heard before, and suddenly several large trees along the edge of the forbidden forest became mirror images of the Whomping Willow. "Alright 'Mione!" he cried watching several black cloaked figures go flying through the air.

Hermione grinned at her stroke of brilliance and ducked behind the large stone fence as another barrage of curses flew their direction.

Ron and Hermione were being hit hard—and they weren't the only ones taking fire. Several others had fallen already. Ernie Macmillan had been the first that Hermione had seen, Kedaveraed by Theodore Nott's father. Dean had several serious looking gashes in his left side, but he was still ducked behind a large tree firing the occasional stunner or body bind at a passing Death Eater. Seamus was near him, keeping an eye on his friend, though he was bleeding from a cut just over his left eye himself.

There was a burst of white light, and suddenly, Ron and Hermione were no longer alone guarding the Gates. Tonks, pink hair and all, cursed her way through to the two of them and asked for an update. "Ginny says they're hitting the teachers hard. They seemed to know that the Gates would be a weak point because of they're narrow entrance. Even though they lead directly to the front doors of the school." Hermione updated Tonks on her latest report via magic galleon. "That's good news for the lot of you, I'd wager." She grumbled, banishing several more cloaked figures as they tumbled past her. You two were the only two without adult supervision, right? Because you know that's where we'd show up?"

Hermione and Ron nodded, not looking at the pink haired witch.

"Well, Lupin and I are here now, along with a few others from the Order. Bill and Charlie Weasley among them. I think we can hold down the fort here, if you've got somewhere better to be." Tonks winked at Hermione and Ron and then turned her attention back to the fight.

Ron and Hermione nodded, a little dumbstruck by Tonks' attitude, but directed Seamus to take Dean to the infirmary and then join Neville. The two then took what was left of their groups and split up their guards, Hermione heading around the black lake and toward the courtyards, and Ron down, past Hagrid's hut and near the Quittich pitch.

--

Draco had been careful to remain in the shadows since the fighting began. He knew all he had to do was wait—his father would find him on the battlefield. He chose his hiding place so that he would end up where Hermione was. He wanted to keep an eye on her. He worried about her when she wasn't near him and it drove him mad with anticipation until he heard the sounds of creeping footsteps. He ducked into an alcove and watched for any sign it might be his love.

Hermione took great pains in crossing the fields that separated her from the Front Gate and the courtyards. In doing so it took her much longer than she would have liked to reach her destination. When she arrived, however, she found Professor Flitwick waiting on her. He had been keeping an eye out for her, until she arrived. The tiny professor professed his gratefulness to see her in a good condition, before dashing off to join the other professors else where on the grounds.

Hermione set about assigning lookouts, treating those not wounded enough for a trip to the Infirmary, and recollecting for their next round of battle. He waited for everything to settle down before showing himself.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Protego!"

Draco dodged the spell, but Hermione had already thrown up a shield charm to block Hannah Abbot's curse. "He's on our side!" Hermione cried coming to stand between Draco and Hannah.

Hannah didn't look so sure, but she stayed her wand.

"Draco, where've you been? No one's seen you since before the Great Hall. You've all but disappeared!"

"Ginny knew where I was. Her and that blasted map." Draco grunted, but he grinned anyway. "I've been here. I'm afraid I'll be no use out on the field—I tend to attract those cloaked guys." He said.

Hermione smacked his arm. "You had me worried. I thought your father might have done you in!" Hermione cried out.

Draco made to reply, but, it was not his voice that rang out over the courtyard. "Not yet, I haven't. I tire of these games, Draco. Cast the Mudblood aside and come back and join your family. Prove yourself worthy of the Malfoy name for once in your miserable life." Lucius Malfoy stepped from the shadows with his cane in hand, looking down his nose at his child.

Draco growled, and put himself in front of Hermione. "If you are the measure of a Malfoy, Lucius, I will be happy to discard the Malfoy name." Draco's voice was low and dangerous. His wand was raised slightly; he was tense and prepared for anything.

Lucius scoffed. "Stupid boy. You really are trying to get yourself killed. And for what? That Mudblood? Is she really worth that much to you, Draco? Is she really worth losing your inheritance? Your honor? Your good name?" Malfoy Senior stepped forward and made a sweeping motion with his hand, as if laying all his cards on the table.

"I am nothing without her. And I am everything without you. I don't need your money! I don't need your name! And I don't want whatever it is you consider honor! You are damned father, and I will not follow in your footsteps!" Draco screamed whipping his wand up in a great arc, the tip flaring with bright white light, Lucius drew his own wand from his cane and the two began to circle one another. Draco pushed Hermione back behind a large statue of a Centaur and it was from there she watched, terrified, as the love of her life, and his own father stared at one another with death in their eyes.

"You are a disgrace!" Lucius shouted, flinging the cruciatus at his son. "And you are no son of mine!"

"I'd rather be the son of the Devil himself!" Draco cried back, dodging the cursed red streak and firing off a brilliant blue one of his own.

"I'm glad you said that, boy, because you'll be meeting him shortly!" Lucius' usually calm demeanor was shattered by his son's aggression. He obviously had not been prepared for the sheer brutality of Draco's attack against him.

"You first!" Draco yelled back, crying out "sectumsempra!" three times without taking a breath. The third one landed across Lucius's chest and side.

"Severus finally taught you something useful I see." Lucius panted, switching his wand from his right hand to his left. "But you have yet to defeat me!"

They continued in this way, slowly circling one another, back and forth, ducking around large statues of Centaurs and wizards and other magical creatures wielding weapons and wands and books… every now and again a spell would miss and stone would rain down on Hermione, and she wished only to hear Draco's taunting voice to know that he was alive.

The battle waged between father and son wore in the both of them. Where Draco had youth on his side, Lucius had experience. Draco was hit with spells more often than not, and it was becoming more and more difficult to get a hit on Malfoy Senior.

"Crucio!" Lucius yelled, finally, and Hermione was horrified to hear Draco's scream. "This is over, son" Lucius snarled, dragging out the affectionate term to the point of disgusted sarcasm. "When I finish you, I'll have my way with your Mudblood—I simply must know what made you change your mind after all—and then I'll kill her as well. You always were a foolish boy. Never worthy of the Malfoy name."

Draco spat blood from his mouth and glared up at his father. "It is time…" he panted, "that someone takes back the honor… that once WAS the Malfoy name." He snarled an angry hiss at his father. "I claim not my lineage, but the name as my own. I will drag it from the darkness you have put it under and make it great as it once was!"

Lucius hissed back at Draco, his lips curled back showing perfect white teeth, "good—"

Draco beat him to the punch, lifting his wand, swiftly he banished his father across the courtyard, where the tall blond man was impaled on the spear of a Centaur frozen in time. "Riddance." He finished. Wiping blood from his face. He didn't look at the man again.

Draco looked about him and saw for the first time the huddled faces that crept from the crevices to look at him. Hermione peeked out from behind the statue he'd pushed her behind, and then dashed forward to him, using what little knowledge she had in the healing arts to help him with his wounds. "Oh Draco—Oh Draco I thought I lost you!" she was crying, over and over.

Draco took her head in his hands and kissed her cheeks pleading with her to stop crying. "No time for that now, love. This is one small hurdle. I hear the Aurors have arrived? Maybe there are more Ministry members here now too—we need to find Harry." Draco cooed as he wiped Hermione's face dry. Draco stood, pulling Hermione up beside him and looked around the court yard. Several faces had changed, he noticed.

One boy approached him. "Draco Malfoy. I have misjudged you." He offered his hand. "My name is Alain Aimes. Ravenclaw. You're a good man."

Draco accepted Alain's hand with a small smile and a nod of his head.

Hermione smiled, but it faltered when she felt her coin grow hot against her thigh. Pulling it from her jeans pocket, she read the message, "Draco, we have to go. It's Harry. He's going after—" She didn't need to say another word.

Draco nodded, and took her hand.

"The rest of you stay here, Flitwick is on his way back now. You along with him will make your way back to the castle and join Luna, Neville and the others. There are Death Eaters in the walls of Hogwarts now. It will be your duty to hunt them down. Your groups will probably reform once you get there—but stay safe. I hope to see each and every one of you when this is all over." Hermione said, looking at each face in turn. She nodded at her fellow students and then turned with her hand in Draco's and they made their way toward the Forbidden Forest. Harry and Ron were already waiting for them.

Voldemort was waiting too.

Author's Notes:

This is the first…half… of the fight… It was getting a little long, so I figured I'd cut it in two. Besides, there was a lot of preliminary stuff to get out of the way first. It's hard to just …have a battle, lol. There's a lot of work that goes into it!

Anyway, coming up next, the confrontation with MoldyShorts! Stay tuned!