Chapter 11 The Painful Truths

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, nothing is mine. Everything belongs to JKR.

Warnings: Violence, adult language, slash-y elements (HD, naturally)

A/N: As they say; no apologies, no excuses. Many thanks to my faithful and patient readers and reviewers!

"I mean, honestly, Harry, did you have snog with the slimy git in front of everyone?"

"Hey, I really resent that, mind you. I'm right here, Weasel."

"Do I look like I care?"

"Well, if you truly want my opinion about how you look, you look like a -"

"Boys! Would you quit that already? You're making poor Harry feel uncomfortable, can't you see?"

"Can you speak a little more patronizingly, Hermione? Jeez. And you two, yes, stop that bickering. You're driving me insane and it's been just ten minutes we've been here waiting for the class to begin."

"He started it."

"He started it."

Harry stared at Draco and Ron, fuming at each other with blazing eyes, and sighed. They had been constantly in each other's throats since breakfast, which was a half an hour ago, and it seemed that there was no end in sight. Why did I ever say yes?

Draco sent a pouting look his way before shifting closer and wrapping his arm around Harry's waist possessively. Harry felt himself flush once more, very unused to this kind of affection from Draco, but if felt good nevertheless. So maybe that's way.

"Harry, do you like him more than you like me?" Ron demanded, glaring icy daggers at the Slytherin.

Harry frowned at him. "Ron, even if I am going out with Malfoy -"

"What do you mean 'if'?" came another demanding voice. "You are going out with me."

Merlin, apparently agreeing to date the sodding Slytherin also meant that it would turn Ron into a jealous brute and Draco into a whiny, possessive brat. Brilliant, just what I've been looking for.

"Knock it off," he scoffed. "I'm going to say this just this once, so I hope your ears are clean enough. Our friendship is not going to change, Ron, you are and will always be my best friend, no matter who I'm dating. There is no competition or anything between you two, got it? Malfoy, I agreed to go out with you because I, uh, like you, not because I want to listen you bickering with Ron all the time."

A sly smirk appeared onto Draco's lips. "You like me, huh?"

Harry felt his cheeks redden but held his ground unwaveringly. Maybe it's time to admit it. "Yes, Malfoy, I like you. Happy?"

Ron made gagging noises behind his back, but Harry managed to ignore them since Draco gave him one of the rare, huge smiles he so seldom used. Not a smug smirk or a leer but a real, beaming smile that lit up his whole face. "Very happy."

"Please," Ron said quickly, looking suddenly alarmed, "don't make out."

"Ronald," Hermione scolded him, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Could you even try and be happy for Harry?"

The redhead acquired a sheepish look and he grimaced, shifting his weight awkwardly from one foot to another under Hermione's hot glare. "Uh... Yeah, Harry, I'm happy you found someone. Even though it's Malfoy you found – I mean, why couldn't you stay with Seamus or something?"

Harry rolled his eyes. Now that I'm not in denial, it seems to be Ron's turn. "Things with me and Seamus were never serious enough; you know that, Ron. We were just having fun."

"But -"

"Do you mind, Weasley? Again, I'm right here, and I would like you not to continue prattling on about Potter's ex-boyfriends. If you can't remember, let me refresh your pitiful memory – I asked Potter out, which means I'm the one dating him now."

"Jealous much, Malfoy?" Harry muttered under his breath. Honestly, Draco had asked him out just this morning. Weren't they progressing a bit too fast? On the other hand, he found the Slytherin's possessive nature somewhat endearing even.

He grimaced in distaste. There's something seriously wrong with me.

Before Ron could quite literally blow up and take half of the dungeons with him, Hermione swiftly ended the would-be confrontation by asking, "Why do you keep on calling each other's by your surnames? Isn't that a bit strange, considering that you're kind of together now?"

Together... Now that's the word I would have never thought should be linked to me and Draco. Well shit, are we really boyfriends now? Oh God. I'm Draco Malfoy's boyfriend. Draco Malfoy is my boyfriend. We're in a ... relationship?

Suddenly remembering that Hermione had asked a question, Harry snapped out of his stupor and fumbled for an answer, frowning. "Well... I haven't really noticed it. It's kind of... "

"A habit," Draco supplied easily. "We've called each other Potter and Malfoy for ages."

"But you can't go on like that," Hermione commented, her tone sceptical and disapproving. "It would be so weird."

Harry shrugged. They're just names, after all. "Why not? Draco, would you like to sit with me at Potions?"

The smile that spread over Draco's lips resembled a cat that had just swallowed a cream-filled canary. "Why, I'd love to, Harry."

And into the classroom they went, brushing aside Ron's groans of extreme displeasure and settled onto their seats under Snape's dark gaze that somehow seemed vaguely amused.

The first day of Harry and Draco's official relationship as boyfriends was filled with giggling students leering at them meaningfully – most people seemed to found it utterly hilarious once they had got over the initial shock – and whispering feverishly behind their hands, and Draco lost count how many times Harry had blushed. Draco himself had strutted around proudly, trying to manage his suddenly found streak of possessiveness.

After all, he had finally succeeded with his plan of keeping Harry safe and sound near him. If I had known that all it demanded was a public request, I would have done it ages ago. Now I can prove to him that we really can be more than friends.

There had been surprisingly little trouble from Harry's pack of lions. Weasley, naturally, had overreacted and still kept sneaking accusing glances towards Draco, grumbling and whining every chance he got. He's probably afraid I'll steal his place next to Harry. Draco shook his head. Ha, let him be scared, that stumbling oaf. I know that no-one could ever replace the Weasel, though I don't know what Harry sees in him, but if he doesn't know it... Well, I'm not going to tell him.

Granger had been frighteningly accepting and even encouraging. He had spied her expression just after he had asked Harry out, and she hadn't even seemed to appear that surprised, unlike her fellow classmates. Bloody know-it-alls, Draco grumbled pettily to himself. I bet she knew from the start that this would happen some day. But he had grudgingly accepted Granger's silent support, knowing she could've done quite horrible things should she had disapproved he and Harry's relationship.

The littlest Weasley had proved that already. She had hissed at him that she and Granger would tie him up, slather him with stripes of meat and unleash a dozen of wild ferrets on him if he hurt Harry in any way, and the next second, she had smiled sweetly at Harry and congratulated him.

Lunatics, the lot of them.

He hadn't told anyone about his plan – thus, even his Slytherin friends and allies were dumbfounded. Pansy had simply stared at him after Draco had sauntered back to his own table, leaving a furiously blushing Harry to handle the shocked Gryffindors drowning him with questions, and Blaise had coughed as Draco slid into his seat.

"Well. Now that was sort of totally unexpected. Not to mention melodramatic."

Draco gave a satisfied smirk. "What can I say; we Malfoys never leave things half-done."

"You could have warned us or something," Blaise grimaced. "I almost spit out everything I had in my mouth."

"Not to worry, Weasley already did that."

There were some restrained chuckles along the Slytherin table. A sign that they're not going to slaughter me in my sleep. He sneered disdainfully at that thought. Not that I'm afraid of them. Losers, the whole bunch of them.

"Well," came a low drawl from a few seats away and Draco immediately felt his hackles rise. "I hope you enjoy your fucktoy as long as you can. After all, Potter's predicted lifespan isn't that long, is it?"

Draco narrowed his eyes at the unsaid, thinly veiled threat. "Not that it's any of your business, Nott, but I'm certain he will at least outlive you, " he hissed coldly, leaning forward. "and I really don't appreciate you saying things like that. Someone might get the picture that you," he sneered, "are going to do something that will get you either Kissed or dead. I myself would prefer the latter one."

Nott's lips were pulled back into a thin smile. "Big words, Malfoy, and nothing else. But enough of this chitchat, I have to get going. Ta."

The tall boy gave Draco a mock-salute and slunk away. The remaining older Slytherins looked warily between his retreating back and Draco's expression of cold fury, but no-one else left. Nor did they show their support. Vincent and Greg would have backed me up right away. Too bad they got shipped off to Durmstrang after the last term.

He sighed.

"I really hope you know what you're doing, Draco", Pansy finally spoke up, a frown marring her face. "Being friends with Harry Potter is a completely different thing from being boyfriends with him."

"Why thank you, Pansy," Draco drawled, partly amused. "I so did not know that already."

"You know what I mean," she snapped peevishly, crossing her arms. "This is something more serious, more permanent that you should -"

"Excuse me?" Draco stared at her. "This coming from a person with a magical binding to Potter through the declaration of loyalty?"

A slight flush covered her cheeks. "Well, I really meant my part of the deal."

He reared back as if having been smacked. "And you think I don't? You think I just want to play with Potter?"

Pansy cringed a little but refused to back down. "Let's face it, Draco. Have you ever had a real, serious relationship? No? Just having fun, right?" She smiled her small, sad smile as Draco found himself completely speechless. "So, I hope you know what you're doing."

"But I do, Pansy," he said quietly, mustering every drop of honesty he could find into his voice. If there was something he really meant, something he didn't regret at all – it was asking Harry out. "I really do."

She eyed him quietly for a moment, obviously deep in thought, before eventually inclining her head. "Fine, Draco. Do as you wish, I'm behind you one hundred percent."

And with that, he had won over her and Blaise's approval. He didn't need it, not really, but it felt good to have his friends backing him up.

But that incident with Nott -

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Draco blinked in confusion. "Sorry, what?"

Harry, walking beside him as they were treading towards the library to spend their free hour studying for Potions - Draco had insisted - gave the blonde a crooked grin. "A Muggle saying; penny for your thoughts is another way of asking what are you thinking of."

"But why would you want a penny when you could have a galleon?" Draco frowned, snorting haughtily. That makes no sense whatsoever. "What I've been telling you, Muggles are crazy."

Harry just chuckled amusedly and shook his head. Draco found himself quite enjoying the sound of his carefree laughter – and compared to the anguish screams from the night before, it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.

"Tell me, Draco, have you ever known a Muggle? Really known?"

Draco narrowed his eyes at his companion scornfully. "Of course not. Why would have I wanted to do that? They're just some primitive cavemen who insist on staying that way."

He knew he sounded arrogant and prejudiced but who was he to deny his true nature? It was the way he had been always been, and even though he didn't agree to Voldemort's ideals of brutally destroying the Muggle world and everything associated with it, he also didn't care to consort with Muggles. Draco knew that it sounded like racism; the prejudice among Muggles that divided people by their skin colour, but really – Draco didn't care about whether someone was light skinned or not. It was the magical powers that mattered, and since Muggles didn't have even an ounce of magic, they were beneath him. Simple enough.

The look Harry was giving gave a heavy impression that it wasn't quite that simple. "Primitive cavemen with some very useful inventions, though" Draco amended. "Did you know that no magical hair styling products are as effective as the Muggle stuff?"

Harry raised an amused eyebrow. "Really? I have to say I didn't know that."

Eyeing Harry's wild hair distastefully, Draco gave a solemn nod. "Yes, I can imagine that. Tell me, do you use any hair care products?"

"Er... " Harry appeared a little flustered, running a hand through his perpetually messy hair. "I use... shampoo?"

Draco looked at him expectantly. "And a conditioner, followed by a protective balm and perhaps some styling mousse?"

"Er... " the Gryffindor said again oh-so-elegantly, "no?"

No?

"Good heavens, Harry," Draco barked with genuine shock. "From this moment forward, I'm appointing myself as your hair carer with the authority of being your boyfriend."

To his confusion, Harry suddenly stumbled a bit, nearly colliding with the unyielding wall. "Potter, what the... "

"Sorry," came the breathless reply and Harry straightened himself. A faint flush was steadfastly spreading across his cheeks. "I'm just not - used to it yet, you know."

"Not used to what? People talking about your hair? You must be used to it, with the rest nest it resembles at the moment."

Harry shook his head, shooting a shy yet a little shaky grin at the blonde. "No, you git. Not used to hearing you're my... boyfriend."

"Oh." Draco blinked. "Well... I guess you'll just have to get accustomed to it, then."

"Yeah."

They made the rest of the short journey to the library in surprisingly companionable silence and settled down around a small, round table near the rather large Potions section. Draco ordered Harry to get the appropriate books while the blonde fished out pieces of parchment and set them onto the table.

He ignored the hushed whispers coming from the tables from the other side of the numerous shelves. Honestly, how long are they going to get into the gossip-mode every time they see me and Harry together?

Harry returned in a moment, his arms full of books Draco thought were worth seizing to get Harry successfully comprehend the complex homework Snape had assigned. I will make Harry get the best scores in Potions, he had wowed to himself during Potions after watching Harry's frustrated struggle with simplest potions they were making. After all, I can't possibly be shown in public with someone who fails the subject where I excel. It would be utterly atrocious.

"Draco," Harry suddenly spoke and Draco looked up to see Harry gazing at him thoughtfully instead of going through the intro of the first book. The blonde raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Yes, Harry?"

Harry chewed on his bottom lip before hesitantly asking, "Why did you ask me out?"

Draco frowned, closing the book he was currently reading in one swift movement. "Why did I ask you out? Because, Harry, I wanted to. I wanted you to see that this could work, that we could be more than just friends. The truth is that I like" -Draco was proud of himself for not stumbling over that word- "you, Harry, and I want you to be happy. I know there's some kind of connection between us, even my mother has noticed it, and I'd like to explore it." He daringly brushed his hand against Harry's. "We could be great together, Harry, if you'd just open up to me."

Draco didn't know if his speech was very efficient or impressive, but he meant everything he had said – and that was a lot coming from a Malfoy. Sometimes I scare even myself.

"Wow, Draco," Harry murmured softly, looking slightly taken aback. Draco hoped it was a good sign. "That... that's really... "

"Impressive?" Draco lightly suggested. "Fantabulous? Very matured? So brilliant is outshines the sun itself?"

An easy half-grin appeared onto Harry's lips. "All those combined sounds pretty good to me."

Draco smiled back, allowing himself a real, genuine smile once more. "I'm glad to hear that. I really want to try what can become of us."

Harry leaned a bit closer, his knees bumping against Draco's. Draco's breath hitched at the sudden contact. "That's fine by me. Let's see what happens, but just... let's take is slow, okay?"

Slow? You're rubbing yourself against me, Draco thought almost hysterically, how is that slow?

Well... Maybe Harry wasn't really rubbing himself against Draco's leg, but for Draco, it sure felt like it. His mouth felt uncomfortably dry all the sudden and all he could think about how close Harry was – Harry's leg was constantly brushing against Draco's knee, almost teasingly, and his arm was resting nearly on top of Draco's on the table. The pure warmth radiating from the Gryffindor was slowly but surely driving Draco nuts.

He found himself deeply distracted by Harry's lips – deliciously red and pouty – and was vividly reminded by the time he had briefly kissed the Gryffindor. He could actually feel those lips on him again, the wiry body pressing against him - rough, yet so soft at the same time, with the sweet lingering taste of chocolate -

"So, do you think the sopohorous beans should be sliced or crushed when making the Draught of Living Dead?"

Draco blinked, looking up from those lips to the vibrant eyes gazing at him questioningly with a hint of curiosity. "What?"

"The sopohorous beans," Harry repeated slowly. "Crushed or sliced?"

"The... " Draco cleared his throat, dropping his hand casually onto his lap between his legs. Damn it. "The beans should be crushed with the blade of your knife to get the best results."

"Ah, okay." Harry frowned, leaning a little closer to peer into Draco's eyes. "You look a little flushed. Are you feeling okay?"

The faint hint of Harry's scent invaded Draco's nose and he inhaled deeply, feeling light-headed as all the blood seemed to evacuate from his brain. The blonde suppressed a groan. "Harry," he growled low in his throat, "kiss me."

For his credit, Harry didn't freeze up or start stammering. Quite surprisingly, the Gryffindor merely blinked, then yanked Draco closer without even a hint of hesitation and smashed his lips against Draco's. Holy Merlin. I've finally gone to heaven.

Draco buried his hands into Harry' unruly hair as he deepened the somewhat unexpected but very welcomed kiss and pulled him flush against his body, leaving no air between them. The way their bodies moulded together felt natural, like it was meant to be. Harry moaned into Draco's mouth, gently tugging his bottom lip with his teeth.

There were bold hands wandering around Draco's arse and the blonde let out a strangled sound that was smoothly swallowed by the everlasting kiss. Fucking hell, where did Harry learn to kiss like that? Oh yes, he did date Finnegan for a – a sudden twirl of tongue in his mouth made all thoughts of Finnegan vanish like magic and Draco all but pushed Harry against the table in order to ravish him completely. Harry responded eagerly, half-lit eyes glowing with lust as he sneaked his hands under Draco's robes.

Draco gasped, throwing his head back at the feeling of warm hands effortlessly slipping past into trousers; a stack of books crashed heavily onto the floor as he gripped the table for support. It didn't occur to them that they were making out in a library until Madame Pince's shrill voice cut through the passion-laced air like a whip.

"If someone just dropped their books, they are to pick them up immediately or be faced with a life-long ban from the library!"

Both boys froze, Harry's hands still shoved in Draco's pants and their lips locked together as if their glued. Before any angry librarians could round the corner and witness two students getting it on on one of her library tables, Harry and Draco hastily separated and straightened their clothes to resemble even some kind of order. Harry swooped down to pluck the books from the floor.

"Well," Draco said, sounding rather out of breath. "That was fun."

Harry, his lips still swollen and irresistibly red, grinned, placing the books back onto the table. "We should do it again soon."

Draco gave him a saucy wink. "Most definitely, Harry dear. Merlin, I never knew you were such a good kisser. I should have ravished you ages ago."

"Now I don't know whether to feel flattered or scared." Harry laughed, his eyes twinkling with mirth. He waggled his eyebrows. "But that ravishing part sounds good. Looking forward to it."

Under all the Gryffindorish shit there's a real, flirting minx underneath, Draco thought, a little awed. Merlin, I never would've guessed. And he's all mine.

He smiled.

"Mother," Draco said cordially, standing tall and proud beside Harry as Narcissa regarded them gently from the sofa. Draco had decided he should introduce Harry like old pureblooded families demanded and had dragged the somewhat fidgeting Gryffindor to his mother's rooms after dinner. "I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Harry James from the Potters."

She smiled softly at Harry. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Harry. I welcome you to the house of Malfoys."

"Uh... " Harry stammered, looking like he had no idea what to say or do. Poor boy. I really need to teach him some pureblooded customs. "Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Malfoy."

"Please," she insisted, "call me Narcissa. You have earned it, young Harry."

Harry blinked. "Er... Thanks, Mrs – Narcissa."

"You seem surprised?"

Now the Gryffindor blushed, ducking his head a little at Narcissa's amused tone. "No, it's not like that. It's just... "

Narcissa raised an eyebrow. "You expected me to behave like I detested your very existence? Perhaps seriously disapprove of your relationship?"

Harry shrugged, an embarrassed smile flashing briefly on his lips. Draco was rather pleased to notice that he had gripped the blonde's hand under the protection of their robes as they were sitting next to each other on the sofa. "Something like that, maybe, yeah."

"Oh, you silly boy." She shook her head, blond elegant curls flowing over her shoulder. "Despite my status as the Lady Malfoy, I do not hold grudges against schoolboys whose only crime has been to survive and I do not share the Dark Lord's desire for world domination." Offering a gentle smile to show that she wasn't being accusative, she went on. "Do you think the Headmaster would have granted me access to Hogwarts should I be a Death Eater?"

"I guess not," Harry mumbled. "I'm sorry for, uh, letting you think I thought like that."

Narcissa reached a hand to pat Harry's knee. He raised his head slightly to look into her silvery eyes. "There's nothing wrong with being cautious, Harry, especially for you. You don't have to apologize for that."

Harry gave a hesitant smile, and Draco could see that he was feeling just a little overwhelmed by her gentle demeanour. People really expect her to be evil. He stifled a cackle. I bet she loves it.

"So, do you boys have any plans for today?"

Mm, I could cart Harry into my rooms and finally have my wicked ways with him. Merlin, I want to taste those lips again, to feel his hands...Quickly attempting to banish the lustful thoughts in the presence of his mother, Draco cleared his throat. His trousers seemed a size too small suddenly.

"No special plans for today, mother, but I think we should pay a visit to Hogsmeade on Saturday." He glanced at Harry to confirm it, trying hard not to stare at his lips. "Or what do you think, Harry?"

"That sounds nice," Harry said softly. "I haven't been to Hogsmeade for ages."

"I was also thinking of purchasing some clothing," Draco carried on, keeping his voice as innocent as possible. "Since I can't go to the Manor and pick up my things."

His mother nodded while Harry acquired a somewhat suspicious glint in his eyes. "A good idea, my dragon. Are you thinking of assisting young Harry to get his wardrobe rearranged? Not that there's something wrong with your clothes," she smoothly reassured Harry, who was gazing his worn cardigan forlornly, "but if Draco offers you his services, I really recommend it. Draco knows quite a lot about clothing and appearances."

Thank you mother, Draco silently crowed as Harry looked uncertainly between the two Malfoys ganging up on him. "I'd really like that. I promise, Harry, it won't be that horrible."

"Well... " Harry fingered the fabric of his cardigan, twisting it protectively. "Just don't throw any of my old clothing away, okay?"

Draco beamed at him. Yes! "Oh I wouldn't dream of it."

Harry's eyes narrowed and Draco hastened to put on his innocent face. "Fine, Draco. Just this once, you may choose some clothes for me."

Some clothing? Try every piece of clothing they have in stores. You, Harry James Potter, are going to be the most fashionable wizard Hogwarts has ever known. Well, after me, of course. "It's a deal."

After a few minutes of chatting about school and other neutral subjects, Harry had to leave since he had promised Granger to practise Transfiguration with her. "I'll see you later, Draco. It was nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Malfoy. Narcissa, I mean."

She gave him a generous smile. "Likewise, Harry, likewise."

The door closed softly behind Harry and he was gone. Narcissa shifted her weight on the couch. "He really is a lovely boy, Draco. Congratulations. A bit... Muggle-like, but he's a good person."

"I know, mother. Thank you." It's not like it was a surprise to you, you practically told me to ask him out. "Any news from father?"

From the sombre look washing over her features, Draco knew instantly that something had happened. "What is it, mother? Did something happen?"

"A day after I arrived here," Narcissa said, her voice steady with just a hint of anxiety, "the Dark Lord decided he should punish Lucius for allowing me to, so to speak, side with Dumbledore."

Draco clenched his jaw. "What happened?"

"He used an ancient dagger." She looked away for a moment, something painful flashing in her eyes. "Plunged it straight into Lucius' stomach. But he'll live; don't worry, Draco. He'll live."

Swallowing, Draco gave a curt nod. Chills ran down his spine. "Is he at St. Mungo's?"

"No. House elves are taking care of him at the Manor. I wish I could join them but I do not dare to enter the Manor again. I left all that behind when I decided to come to Hogwarts. It is like declaring loyalty to Dumbledore himself."

But you are on Dumbledore's side, right?

As if sensing Draco's silent question, Narcissa smiled her soft smile. "I am a proud member of the Blacks and the Malfoys, my dragon. I bow to no-one. I do not take orders from anyone. But... I am on Harry Potter's side. He is the one who is going to end all this and he is who has the most to offer. He has a soul of light and a heart of gold." She sighed wistfully. "I used to disrespect those qualities in a person before. Now I know that it is Harry Potter who is holding the wizarding world in balance; his goodness will conquer all evil once he is ready to accept that power."

Draco stared at her. "Mother, you sound like a ... mix of a Hufflepuff and a Dumbledore. Are you feeling alright?"

She chuckled. "Oh, Draco. I know you're a bright boy under all that silly prejudice. Maybe going out with Harry Potter opens your eyes for good," she added as an afterthought. Draco frowned but refrained from replying. "But, to return to our previous topic... Your father is going to be perfectly fine after a few more days of rest."

"But for how long?" he softly asked. "Voldemort will punish him just a bit too severely once, and that's all that it needs. Malfoys have become disposable for him."

His mother was looking a little pale, yet she possessed an air of calmness as she answered, "Lucius is a clever, strong man, Draco. He will find his way out soon enough."

"And what, join Dumbledore?" Draco snorted. Yeah, right. "Admit it, mother. There is no place for a reformed Malfoy in this world."

"Be that as it may," Narcissa intoned gently. "We Malfoys will survive between the two sides. We do not need them as much they need us."

We do need Harry's side. We do need him and his side behind us so that we could have a chance against Voldemort. As much as Draco would like to be neutral, he knew he would stand beside Harry no matter what would become out of their relationship. And it's not just about being on the winning side. For once in my life, I want to do something that's right.

And as Draco came to realize and accept that, a strange sense of serenity washed over him like a smoothing blanket drawn over his shoulders. If it was his destiny to perish during the war, he would die as a happy man. He would know that he had done the right choice between right and wrong.

The road of redemption was long and rocky, but Draco was hell-bent on finishing that journey.

If not for me, for Harry.

After saying good night to his mother, Draco thought of Lucius. Lying there in the dark Mansion, alone and injured. Oh how the patriarch of the Malfoy line has fallen, he couldn't help but ironically jibe. I hate to say it but he knew what was coming for him. Draco sighed, sticking his hands deep inside his trousers pockets. What a family I have.

He briefly wondered how long his father had been hurt. Didn't mother say that it had happened when she had arrived to Hogwarts? The night I visited Harry in the infirmary. Suddenly, a flashback from that terrible night echoed before his eyes without his will – Harry, screaming his voice hoarse, holding his stomach as if someone had -

Draco froze.

As if someone had... stabbed him. Launched a knife into his stomach.

No. No, it couldn't be.

Draco felt his insides turn into pure ice.

Harry couldn't be seeing what my father is going through. Seeing and feeling?

He barely avoided being sick all over the floor.