Chapter 11 - A Hazy Shade of Winter
Chilly October moved to a dark November. Draco felt more comfortable than ever in the tower as the days shortened and the nights lengthened. One thing was for sure, it wasn't as bloody bright in the mornings.
Classes got more challenging, homework piled higher, study sessions longer, and stress increased as time approached quicker and quicker to NEWT tests. Most classes now held projects and thesis work for the seventh years. However, this approach only drew Harry and Draco together as they were partnered for the majority of classes they had together.
November moved to December, and through study sessions, Hogsmede weekends, chess matches, and general existing, the Golden Trio and the Prince of Slytherin became pretty close friends. There was still an insult or two, but they were meant in good fun. Draco and Ron still called each other Weasel and Ferret, but neither name had been used maliciously for some time. The fights between Harry and Draco lessened considerably, though sometimes Draco would get up in arms about something neither Harry nor Ron could figure out. Hermione only smiled knowingly, which made the two boys think she knew something they ought, or was up to something.
Increased homework and lack of time brought Pansy and Blaise to the study sessions, especially since Pansy was partnered with Hermione in Ancient Runes and Blaise shared Ron's dorm.
Everyone, teachers included, was looking forward to winter holidays, and they couldn't come quick enough. Ron and Hermione would be going to the Burrow - after breaking up, getting back together, and breaking up again. Harry never knew if they were off or on, so he treated them as if they were always on, hoping that his two bickering friends could just see what everyone else plainly saw. Blaise was going to Greece with his mother and her new husband. "I'll have to see if he ends up coming back or "mysteriously" disappears, like the last one." While the Slytherins laughed, the Gryffindors were unsure of how to take this. Draco would be spending this last Christmas with his mother, although outside the inner sanctum of the group, he was said to be visiting family in Austria. The day before the Hogwarts express was to arrive, pictures leaked out to Witch Weekly of Pansy and some boy who's face was blacked out doing some very sordid acts. She was going home to discuss her marriage contract.
Harry was the only one staying from the group.
Fortunately, Hermione and Ron were 'on again' in time for the Yule Ball. He really wasn't looking forward to laments from either of them about who to take and why one of them wouldn't just apologize. At least Ron had decent robes this year, courtesy of some unknown benefactor. Although the card saying – 'Just because you are a weasel doesn't mean you have to LOOK like one. Consider it a peace offering. Don't insult be by declining or there will be no more chess' – gave away who it was. Ron grumbled a bit, but wore them none the less.
Draco took Pansy, and they were dressed to match. Ginny went alone, as did Harry, but Hermione's observant eyes didn't fail to miss that the red-head who didn't need more punch would refill nonetheless when a tall, dark skinned, handsome ex-Slytherin made his way over to the buffet table. The boys, of course, were clueless.
As Pansy and Draco were dancing, she leaned in and whispered, "Potter sure cleans up well, doesn't he?"
Draco chuckled. "I thought you would have noticed that at Halloween."
Pansy rolled her eyes, "I was drunk at Halloween. Did you do Harry's hair again? It doesn't look as good, but it's definitely less… messy."
Draco looked over at his dorm mate. "No, he actually picked up on one of the more difficult charms I use for my hair. And then changed it. It was weird. Doesn't look bad though. He doesn't do it all the time, just for special occasions I guess; it's still a ragged mess most days."
Pansy smiled. "So you've been looking." It wasn't a question.
"Oh, shut up Pansy. No quidditch toned muscles tonight, please."
Pansy laughed. "You should dance with him."
Draco looked at Pansy as though she had just suggested he give Snape a nudie lap dance.
"What?"
"Uh, Pansy, besides to a very select few, I'm still in the closet, Harry's not gay, and I don't wish to make THAT much of a spectacle of myself."
"Whatever. And Potter is gay; he's far too much of a drama queen to not be one. Almost rivals you with your whining at the slightest provocation."
"No he's not, and I would think I'd have better gaydar than you. I'm the one who…" Draco broke off and looked somewhere else.
"Wants to bugger boys?" Pansy finished, smiling.
Draco sighed. "Wants to date them. Pansy, must you be so vulgar all the time? Just one innocent conversation with you would be nice."
"But you're so cute when the pink rises above your collar and graces your cheeks, my love," she cooed, resting her head on his shoulder and looking up at him with batting eyes. Draco gave her a mock glare. "Are you going to at least ask him, at some point? Tell him at all? Even if he says no, you'll know you at least did SOMETHING."
"No."
"Oh come on, where is the bravery lions are supposed to exhibit?"
"The hat said I was a snake the first year I was here, and it didn't even have to touch my head properly. I even confronted it after it put me in Gryffindor and you know what the bloody piece of cloth tells me? Oh no, you'll fail in Gryffindor."
Pansy sighed. "Sometimes I hate your father, Draco." He looked at her offended. "He's never set a good example. You'll probably never say 'I love you' to anyone until the day you die."
"I don't love…," he started a little too loudly and looked around, softening his voice. "I don't love Potter. I may think he has a nice bum, but I would hardly classify the feeling raging inside me as love."
Pansy just looked at him sadly. "Whatever, Draco. Song's over and I need to rest my feet."
Harry looked around the classroom, surprised to see everything. Usually Dumbledore would not hold back during occlumency lessons, and so a classroom was cleared out of anything that might be damaged, or damaging.
"Professor, aren't we…" Harry started.
"For the holidays, Harry," Dumbledore interrupted, "I'd like you to read this." He passed a book to Harry.
"Fundamentals of Tauromachy? Sir, I don't under…"
"Tauromachy is the art of bullfighting found in Spain, Portugal, and much of Mexico, but it goes as far back as Ancient Rome," Dumbledore started, as he walked to a window, gazing out to the darkened school grounds. "In the…sport, the person who fights the bull is not the first to wound it. Instead, a bullfighter will study a particular bull for a great amount of time, assessing its strengths and weaknesses. Then assistants will take care of those weaknesses. If a particular bull has a strong run, one of the assistants will run into the ring, cutting the flanks of the animal, so that the muscles cannot push as hard. If a bull has a tendency to attack with the left horn, an assistant will lance its side, so that it can no longer favor the most natural attack. Finally, the neck of the bull is pierced, weakening the bull greatly before the actual bullfighter will enter the ring. A great show is made before the poor beast is finally slain."
"Sounds pretty cruel, sir. And the bullfighter isn't much of a fighter, but rather an opportunist, too cowardly to go in and do it himself."
"It is a very cruel tradition, Harry."
There was a long pause of silence, before Harry asked, "And you want me to read this because…"
Dumbledore looked sadly at Harry and sighed. "Because, my boy, it is important." Dumbledore walked to the door of the classroom. As he opened it, he said, "There will be no lessons tonight, or through the holiday. I would like you to finish that and return it to me before Christmas, please. Goodnight Harry."
"Goodnight, Professor!" Harry called to the old man's retreating form. Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair and looked at the book. Having nothing better to do, he opened it, and started reading the first chapter.
The next day was the day students would be leaving. At breakfast, post came and Draco got a letter. There was no signature, no seal.
Do whatever you must to make sure Potter says inside. He mustn't go out four days before Christmas, when the school is half staffed. Make me proud.
Make me proud, this was from his father. Students started shuffling out of the hall. He got up and ran over to the Gryffindor table. "Harry!"
"Hey Draco, excited about going home?"
"Harry," Draco started, voice lowering to a whisper. "Harry, you have to stay inside during the holiday, don't go out."
"Don't go out?" Harry asked, waving goodbye to the Weasleys and Hermione as they followed the other students out.
"You have to stay in, it's Order stuff."
"Order stuff? How do you know Order stuff? Does Dumbledore know?"
"Mr. Malfoy, we must be going now," McGonagall called.
"Coming! Just stay inside OK, there something planned, and you need to stay inside."
"Draco, I don't understand, what's…"
"Mr. Malfoy!"
Draco sighed. "Just don't go outside four days before Christmas OK? Just stay inside. Please!" Draco whispered, and then ran to the doors where Minerva was beckoning him.
Draco was coddled as soon as he stepped in the door of the manor by a crying Narcissa.
"Narcissa, there's no need for dramatics."
"This could be the very last Christmas we see him for a long time, Lucius," Narcissa wailed as she squeezed the air out of her son.
"This could very well be my last Christmas if you insist on cutting off my air flow," Draco croaked as his mother's grip squeezed. Narcissa let go, fretting over her son as he gave orders to the house elves that appeared to take his luggage.
"Well, I am off again; there are things I must see to, meeting to attend." Lucius grabbed a fresh coat one of the house elves had waiting for him, as Narcissa led another to the kitchens, planning the large welcome home feast she had planned in a couple days. Lucius walked back towards the door of the manor, giving orders to house elves. "And son…" Lucius called. Draco turned, and looked to his father. Lucius slowly walked up to his son, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've made me very proud, Draco." He bent down a little and hugged Draco. Too confused by anything, Draco just stood there, unsure of what to do. Mothers hug. Fathers show love through praise. "I love you, Draco. Happy Yule." Lucius stepped back, and pat his son on the head before walking out of the front doors of the Manor. Draco was left wondering what just happened, and what did Mother say to his father to make him act so strangely.
Harry was a little lonely in his dorm room, being the only seventh year Gryffindor boy who stayed behind. There were a couple students in the tower of various years, but up in the dorm room it was too quiet; too still. He longed for Ron's jokes, or Hermione's scolding. Somehow he really missed Draco's snide remarks.
Two days before Christmas, and Harry was a little excited to hear from his friends again. He had finished the book that Dumbledore had given him, still confused as to why he was asked to read it in the first place. The stillness had troubled Harry's mind, so to keep himself busy he did his holiday homework. Today he was finished with it, and he still had at least a week until classes resumed.
He stared longingly out of the window at the snow covered grounds. He'd love to go running and playing out in the snow. He looked at the portrait hole. What was Draco talking about? Surely there was no harm going out to the quidditch field. Some flying would do him some good.
"Why isn't this blasted thing working?" a figure on the edge of the woods asked.
"I don't know, stupid kid, probably gave us a dud."
"ARG!!" the first figure yelled and threw the pencil on the ground.
"Wasn't there something… something about anti magic wards at Hogwarts?" the second asked, scratching his meaty head.
"No, stupid, it's a magic SCHOOL," the first replied shaking his head.
"OH! Its anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards! We can't portkey in just like we can't apparate; it's why we had to walk." The first figure growled in frustration. "Hey, what's that?" the second asked, pointing across the snow to a zooming figure in the sky.
"Accio BROOM!" the first shouted, pointing his wand at the zooming figure.
Next thing Harry remembered was cold underneath him. Something cold and kind of wet, and as his vision came into focus he could see the forest just a little walk away. He was outside, on the snow. Just as he moved to sit up, a large booted foot came in contact with his stomach and ribs, knocking the wind out of him. He drew his wand, which thankfully stayed in his hand in the transport, on the Death Eater above him, but as soon as his arm was raised a thick hand caught him around his wrist and then he felt a sharp pain go down his arm. Turning, he saw blood flowing quickly out of a slice that went all the way down his wand arm.
Still struggling to breathe, Harry tried to curl up, but wasn't in time enough not to catch another kick to the gut. He grappled around with his other hand, catching fabric and pulling and one Death Eater, the one with the knife, came down across his raised knee, and Harry thanked whatever power there was that everything was positioned correctly so the force brought the man's crotch down hard against his knee. In anger, the Death Eater lashed out, narrowly missing Harry's neck with the knife, but catching his collarbone hard with the sharp metal cutting Harry again.
"You fool, if you kill him the Dark Lord will kill you!"
"Well he won't calm the fuck down!" The uninjured Death Eater's hand came down around Harry's neck, squeezing, and drawing up the boy's shoulders, he slammed Harry back down. Harry blacked out when his head came in contact with a rock on the ground.
Lucius narrowed his eyes at the large man who stood in the doorway. "You're late," he hissed. "Where's Goyle?"
Crabbe smiled broadly as he entered the room. "We've got a present for the Dark Lord!"
Before Lucius could ask any further, Goyle stepped in through the door, dragging an unconscious, very badly beaten and bloody Harry Potter by the arm. Goyle shoved the boy in, and walked back out, and all that Lucius could do was stare at Harry.
This was NOT good.
Lucius heard the footsteps as they left from behind the door to fetch Voldemort. Vincent Crabbe Sr. sat on a nearby chair to wait for his Lord. Lucius and Severus shared a nervous look.
Severus tightened his lips. Well, that was unexpected.
Lucius looked around. No, this wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to stay inside. What are we going to do? I have to do something.
Eyebrows lowered. Calm down Lucius, we'll think of something.
A bat of an eye, I have to do something, Severus, he'll die if I don't and then we'll all be bloody fucked.
Severus raised an eyebrow, Don't jump to conclusions just yet Lucius, we don't know what's going to happen.
Eyes widened, The boy is weak. Voldemort won't make the mistake of playing with him this time.
A slight tilt of the head. You don't know that.
Lucius looked at Severus intensely. Yes I do, he told me a week ago, but I didn't think it would happen; I told Draco to tell the boy to stay inside. He didn't trust you with that information.
Eyes look worriedly around, Well, what are we supposed to do, the only way out is the door, and we're surrounded by Death Eaters. The room is warded against apparition. He looked calmly over the room. In the various corners and shadows stood about twenty Death Eaters.
Lucius looked down quickly as he took something out of his pocket. I have this. It's only good once, it can carry only one person, but it will get him out of here and into the Manor. Narcissa will be able to care for him after.
Severus stared into Lucius' eyes, You can't do this, let me, I'll take the fall.
Beside them Harry moaned. He shifted in pain, and the gash on his collarbone bled more freely.
A small shake of the head, Won't work, he'll be transported to MY manor, there's no way you'd be able to convince them you could have broken through and then both of us will be blamed.
Lips tightened, Nobody has your position Lucius. Voldemort doesn't trust me with the information as he does you. We'll be fucked if you take the blame.
Eyes stare, devoid of emotion, Not if you're the one to turn me in.
Hackles raise, No.
Eyes look down, You have to.
Eyes narrow, NO Lucius, I won't.
Lucius looked straight into Severus' eyes. That one look made Severus catch his breath from intimidation. You have to.
Both men looked at their feet.
Severus sighed. You know what this means?
Lucius nodded his head so slightly Severus barely caught it.
He cocked his head to the side faintly, And Narcissa and Draco?
Lucius could hear footsteps down the hall behind the door. He looked briefly at Severus and then away, They'll know to run. You won't have to warn them. They'll be gone before he reaches the Manor. There will be no trace by the time he's able to take down the wards. They won't look back.
A slight frown, and sadness pooled from behind Severus' eyes. You know I love you Lucius, you're the best friend a man can ask for.
The handle from the door turned and Lucius looked into Severus' eyes. He acknowledged that statement, and in that moment several things happened at once. Lucius rushed to Harry Potter, and put something in his hand. His other hand dove into the pockets of his robe as he activated the coin that would warn Narcissa and Draco. Just before the boy vanished, being whisked away by the portkey, the door had opened to reveal Voldemort. He had been there the split second before the boy had disappeared, and before Snape could loose his nerve, he drew his wand, trained it on Lucius, and yelled, "BLOOD TRAITOR!"
Nobody moved, but all eyes were focused on Lucius as he stayed bent to the ground from where he had transported Harry. Everyone could hear the deep breaths of Voldemort, as he stared at where the boy was, and was no longer.
"What is going on here?" Voldemort hissed low and dangerously. Nobody moved, nobody spoke. "I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!"
Crabbe, the fool that he was, stated the obvious. "Erm… Lucius made Harry disappear."
Voldemort's angry gaze turned onto Vincent, and before the man had time to shrink back, a Cruciatus Curse was shrieked. Lucius didn't look up, not even as Vincent screamed in agony, not even as Voldemort approached. He knew Severus' wand was still trained on him.
"Lucius, explain yourself," Voldemort said much too calmly.
It was now that Lucius turned his face up, and met Voldemort's eye; something no Death Eater did. He didn't say anything.
Voldemort took a step back and raised his hands to rub his temples as he closed his eyes. The hands traveled back along his bald scalp and rested there. Slowly, a chuckle started to rise from his chest. It started out as an expulsion of air through his nostrils, and turned into a low cackle in his throat. It was probably the most insane anyone had ever heard him, and it WAS frightening.
Quick as a snake's strike, one hand shifted from his head to strike out at Lucius' throat, picking him up and shoving him up against the wall. Voldemort held him there, glaring at Lucius' face. "What have you done, Lucius?"
Now Lucius spoke. "You're a mad man, Tom," he croaked. "Where once your beliefs and actions were understandable – protect the wizarding world from the muggles – now all your energy is spent tracking and watching a mere BOY! THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT IN A LEADER?" Lucius yelled to the people around him. "Some man beyond his time, OFF his rocker, AND DEFEATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN BY A BOY? YOU NO LONGER STAND FOR THE PUREBLOOD WAY, SO BENT ON GETTING REVENGE OVER A CHILD! A CHILD! You're nothing but a…" and the rest of his words were cut off as Snape jabbed his wand into Lucius' throat hard, making the words cut off as it constricted to allow air around the blow. Crabbe and Goyel took each of Lucius' arms and held him up as Voldemort let go, turning his back on the blonde man. He rubbed his jaw and snickered, his face twisted into a cruel expression.
Before anyone else could react, Voldemort whisked around, wand drawn, and shouted "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
And Severus Snape watched as the man he held in such regard, his best friend, mate from the first year he attended Hogwarts, slumped forward, his lifeless eyes shiny as glass.
It wasn't wards or alarms, or traps that woke the Headmaster from a deep sleep, but instead a phoenix song. From the moment his eyes popped open he knew exactly what was going on. Pajamas and all, he sprung up from his comfortable bed, and ran to his fireplace. He only had a moment to grab a bit of floo before shouting "GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM."
He came running out of the lion's fire place, and up the steps to the top floor of the tower. Flinging the door open he saw the room was empty. He ran back down to the common room, where several students looked at him with frightened eyes.
"Harry Potter, does anyone know where he is?"
"He was going to go flying sir, for a few minutes he said." It was all the student was able to get out before Dumbledore dashed out the portrait hole.
It took only moments before all of the professors were awake and in the Headmaster's office, trying to come up with some plan to find Harry Potter. A peck at the window drew everyone's attention, and everyone saw the snowy white owl whose leg tufts were covered with blood, something clutched in her talons. Minerva ran to let Hedwig in, and in she flew depositing a bloody wand onto the Headmaster's desk.
"Hedwig, where did you find this?"
With a screech, the snowy owl flew back outside, and all of the professors ran down to the great hall out the front doors, looking for the bird. Another screech caught their attention, and they went running toward where the lake met the Forbidden Forest. There is where they saw the amount of blood.
"Oh sweet Merlin," Minerva gasped as she held onto Professor Vector for stability.
"I see death, all around, it swirls in bright colors. I saw death in Mr. Potter's cards when I did a reading for him before going to bed," Sybill moaned.
"He's got to be around here somewhere!" Flitwick shouted, looking around for any signs of movement.
Similar comments were uttered by the rest of the teachers. They all quieted when Dumbledore turned to speak to them all.
"They moved off to the woods, and not but a few hundred feet away, the anti-apparition wards are thin; non-existent in some places. Severus was called away for a meeting this evening. They wouldn't kill Harry; Voldemort will wish it himself." Dumbledore started walking back to the castle. "We'll have to sit and wait. Severus is there, along with a couple other spies for the Order. They won't let anything happen to Harry." He didn't say any more but instead headed back to his office.
The Heads checked on their students, and then joined the other professors in the Headmaster's office and waited. Nobody dare spoke, knowing the Order was looking into finding Harry as quickly as possible, waiting for some sort of news. Dumbledore's head hung gravely as he waited. The feeling of powerlessness was overwhelming. An hour went by, and then another.
Suddenly, Dumbledore looked up, and past his door.
"Poppy, come with me. I want you all to wait here, I will be back shortly," he said as he rushed down his stairwell.
They stopped in front of a very well known statue, and Dumbledore waited, eyes narrowed. He didn't have to wait long. It slid to the side, and from the light of a wand, he could see Narcissa Malfoy. She stepped aside and out stumbled Draco, covered in blood, but it wasn't his own. In his arms he held an unconscious Harry, who looked incredibly worse for wear.
"Oh dear Merlin," Poppy whispered, as Draco set Harry gently on the stone floor. She looked him over.
"His arm was dislocated, and his ankle is broken," Draco offered.
"We tried to mend him enough to stop the bleeding," Narcissa whispered.
After an initial analysis, Poppy took Harry and sped quickly to the hospital wing.
"Are you two alright? Nothing broken or hurt?" Dumbledore asked. Both shook their heads no. "Good," he sighed in relief. "If you will please follow me, I have some questions."
When the three entered the Headmaster's office, they were immediately flooded with questions by all the professors. Dumbledore quieted them with a hand.
"Harry Potter has been found. He has suffered extensive injury. He is in the hospital wing with Poppy, but her initial tests show that although he is in pain, he will do just fine. Most of his injuries can be healed with potions, the rest with time. Please return to your quarters, I will update you with more information in the morning. Thank you all for your help and concern."
It was when the three were alone that Dumbledore finally let out a sigh and sat wearily behind his desk. The Malfoys sat in chair on the other side, Narcissa desperately trying to hold onto her sanity.
"If you wouldn't mind, could you please tell me what you know?"
"Draco and I were sitting down to dinner. Suddenly all of the alarms went off in the mansion and these tokens… Lucius gave us tokens to let us know if something went wrong, to let us know when we needed to run. They were activated. Draco and I ran to the safe room where the portal to Hogsmeade is, the one you put there. That's when we found him. He was so… broken, Dumbledore. I couldn't even imagine what happened. Draco and I stopped to tend to the worst of his injuries, but we didn't have time to do much else. Once in Hogsmeade… there were Death Eaters everywhere, throwing curses and hexes. Draco knew where to go, and we went down into the cellar of one of the shops and through a tunnel, and ended up here. Professor, what's going on…" Narcissa sobbed.
Before he could answer, grinding was heard behind them as the stairway shifted, and in stumbled Severus. "Lucius is dead," he gasped, as he fell to the floor panting for air as great soundless sobs shook him.
Draco could hear his mother's wailing sobs but was aware of little else. He felt when the Headmaster laid a hand on his cheek, getting his attention. Draco turned his eyes up to the grizzled man. "Draco, I think it would be better if you went to your dorm and had some rest. Dobby will show you the way." And he was vaguely aware of a small hand grasping his and leading him away. When they were in the seventh year dorms, Dobby popped out and Draco just stood there, too numb to move.
His eyes wandered, and he caught a reflection of himself in the mirror, covered in blood. Looking down at his hands he could see the dirt and blood drying and bile started to rise in his throat. Running to the lavatory he was able to reach a toilet before the contents of his stomach emptied.
Rising, he walked silently over to the showers and turned them on full. Stepping in clothing and all he leaned back against the wall of the shower, and slid down to a sit. Draco Malfoy sat in the shower, fully clothed, staring at nothing for what seemed like forever. The water ran cold, and he didn't even seem to notice.
It was a soft light that Harry saw when his eyes opened. He could feel a bed underneath him, and a dull thud of pain in his shoulder and ankle. Sitting up, Harry took a look around. He was in the hospital wing, but couldn't remember quite how he got there. Everything seemed like a fuzzy dream.
He shifted so that his feet dangled off the edge, and slid slowly until they touched the ground. He could feel a little pain in his ankle as though he had twisted it, but other than that and his muscles being sore in his shoulder he seemed to be fine.
"Madam Pomphrey?" he called.
No answer. He walked carefully out of the room to the main entry room. He checked Pomphrey's office. There was nobody around. Surely he felt well enough that he could go back to his dorm, right?
He scribbled a quick note to the nurse so that she wouldn't worry, and made his way carefully outside and to the tower.
He was quite surprised when he saw Draco sitting by the fire in the Common Room.
"Did I miss Christmas? How long have I been out?"
"A couple days," Draco replied, not bothering to look at him.
"Is…is everything OK?" Harry asked, hesitantly.
"Do you remember anything?"
Harry thought. "I was flying…," he started.
Draco's angry gaze flicked over to Harry. "You were flying? FLYING?? Outside? WHAT DID I TELL YOU!"
Harry was taken aback by Draco's vehemence. "Geez, Draco, it was just a quick flight, I was tired of being inside. If there was any real danger, Dumbledore would have known about it."
"You fucking idiot. Maybe Dumbledore didn't know because we couldn't tell him. Maybe he didn't know because if we told him, it would give away who his spies were!"
"I'd think if you could tell me to stay in you could tell Dumbledore something…"
"NO! That was the point, we couldn't tell him, and there wasn't time!!"
"Stop yelling at me Draco!" Harry yelled at the blonde, "How was I supposed to know anything was going to happen?"
"My father's dead because of you, you ungrateful little shite." Draco yelled back. Harry took a step back, shocked. "If you had stayed out of the way, this would have never happened. WHY HARRY? Why can't you just stay put? Why do you have to put your muddy hands in everyone's business mucking everything up? THERE WAS A PLAN." Draco started to get a little purple in the face from all the shouting. "But no! Saint Potter must always be in the spotlight. Saint Potter must be the center of attention. Look at me, I'm a poor boy, with no parents and must make up for my inadequacies by constantly putting myself in danger so people will pay ATTENTION to me!"
"You don't know anything Malfoy! There was a plan? Sure there was a plan – TO GET ME KILLED. Your dad probably even planned it all. Lure me out, beat me senseless so that his spineless excuse he calls a master could kill me without even working for it. Tell me Malfoy – were you in on it too? Are you just as cowardly as Voldemort, you Death Eater wanna-be, or is it just your father that licks the boots for the scum of the Earth for a mere morsel of power?"
"SHUT UP, POTTER!"
"MAKE ME, MALFOY!"
Draco, livid at this point, shoved Harry up against the wall with his hand tight around Harry's neck. Harry was a little afraid of what the other boy might do. Never had he seen Draco this angry before; it was getting a little hard to breathe. Draco raised a hand as if to punch, and Harry closed his eyes, anticipating the blow.
What he had not anticipated was lips crushing down on his, angrily and so furious it almost hurt. Harry's eyes flew open, and all he could see was a very red, handsome face, close to his. Draco's eyes were closed, fist still raised for a punch. Teeth scraped, crushing his lips painfully against his own teeth, and Harry gasped from the pain. Instantly, Draco's eyes opened, widened, and he flung himself away from Harry as though the other boy were on fire. Eyes widened even more as Harry reached up to wipe away a bit of blood that sprang from a cut on his lip.
Both boys stood frozen, just staring at each other. Neither was breathing, afraid that it would shatter the moment, making time move again and thus the need to deal with the words said and the actions taken. Finally, Draco cocked an eyebrow, let out a squeak, and fled the room, leaving Harry to stare into space, wondering what the hell just happened.
A/N: If you kill me... you'll never know what happens...squeaks like a little mouse and runs away
