Disclaimer: As always, Harry Potter is the property of J.K Rowling, I own nothing and make nothing.

Authors Note 1:

Sorry for missing my Wednesday schedule last week. That's two in a row; once July comes I will have no issues meeting the schedule, I will not promise anything for next week, since i have exams on Monday and Wednesday. After that, I promise I'll be on time with my uploads.

Authors Note 2:

Thank you to my betas James Marx and mineng101 for their work on this story.

Recommendations:

Travel Secrets Series (First, Second, Third) by E4mj.

Paradoxical Parallels by HistoryOnRepeat.

The Son of Lord Voldemort by Shopaholic1369.

They Shook Hands by Dethryl.

The Downward Spiral Series: Harry Potter and The Homecoming, Harry Potter and Salazar's Legacy, Harry Potter and The Year Of Broken Chains, Harry Potter and The Return of The Lost, Harry Potter and The Dirge of Hope, Harry Potter and The End of War by BolshevikMuppet99.

The Rarest Soul of All by DZ2.

Harry Potter and The Serpent Chronicles Book 1 The Prince of Slytherin by ACI100.

Review Answers:

DZ2: Don't forget my friend, those favours are only if he chooses to accept her tantalizing offer. As for Rosier… I won't say you're right, but I won't say you're wrong either:)

BBryant: You are echoing my arguments against Harry taking on Grace, but some people just do not have the mental capacity for civil debates. I am glad you are enjoying the story my friend, and I have a feeling you may enjoy this chapter. Also, in terms of other stories, Reluctant Champion should be updated this week and A Dangerous Riddle the week after. I have exams from tomorrow to next Thursday, so finding time to update all of my stories has been quite difficult.

MagneticDucky: I'm not saying you're right, but I'm not saying you're wrong either:) You'll find out very soon.

TheOnlyKing: I think you're getting dark and evil confused. I think you may be looking for an evil Harry, not a dark one. I've said before he won't truly be evil, but he will be dark.

Davies96: The more I write, the more I think your assessment of Harry's character is extremely accurate.

"Speech"

'Internal Dialogue'

Parseltongue

Memories

Chapter 14: Reactions and Resistance.

The next morning came quickly for Harry. He usually had trouble falling asleep but that was no issue that night. His dreams were plagued with possible answers to the mystery of the trapdoor and constant scenes of three headed beasts in dark corridors, but he couldn't complain, for as soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out like a light. The adrenalin had left him, leaving behind nothing but an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion which seemed to physically weigh him down.

Harry was usually a morning person, but this morning was the exception. For the first time since the start of school, Harry was not the first one in the common room. He was far from the last, but he slept a solid hour later than usual, and still felt like death warmed over when he reluctantly dragged himself out from under his covers and regretfully started the day.

The first thing he was greeted with when he entered the common room was Malfoy talking in hushed whispers with Crabbe and Goyle. Harry was sure that Malfoy had expected to wake up supremely smug, but Harry had certainly pulled a fast one on him, though he was certain Malfoy did not yet know the extent of what he was in for on this day.

"Potter?" Greeted Malfoy, obviously surprised. "Backed out of the duel I see?"

Harry smirked at him. "Why Malfoy, there's no need to talk about yourself, or are you just being hypocritical?" Malfoy flushed red and made to cut in, but Harry cut him off. "For your information, Malfoy, I showed up on time and duelled Weasley, since even a low class Gryffindor seemed to have more class and honour than the Malfoy heir. In case you were wondering, I won. It was actually quite easy. I'd be happy to fulfill our challenge if you're interested?"

Malfoy was clearly seething that his plan had backfired so spectacularly. He looked around them, clearly making sure that no one was there before he leaned into Harry. "Give it to me, Potter! I know you have it, this isn't a joke, it's gone too far. You talk about class and honour and then you go and pull that-"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Answered Harry with the air of someone who was completely oblivious.

"Yes you do!" Countered Malfoy. "No one else has the stones to steal it, and you're a lot of things, but a coward isn't one of them."

"Someone stole something of yours? Shame, it clearly wasn't your hair care potions, as your hair is as pristine as ever."

Malfoy made to bite back a remark when Harry saw a head of blonde hair standing by the portrait whole, and a set of blue eyes gazing at him intently. "I must be off." Said Harry, mock bowing to Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. "I believe it is common politeness to never keep a lady waiting. Good day to you sir, and I hope you have luck retrieving whatever was stolen from you, Malfoy."

And with the heir of somebody who was in a very good mood, Harry strode over to meet up with his first ever friend.

"Did he notice?" Lilian asked him immediately.

Harry smirked. "Oh yes, he's noticed; he seems quite upset about it as well. He seems to suspect me, but I can't for the life of me think why."

Rosier giggled at Harry's tone and the implications of his statements. "We have Charms and Defense today, right?" She asked him.

"Correct." Confirmed Harry as they entered the Great Hall. When they took their seats, Rosier made to say something else but Harry held a finger to his lips as he saw Malfoy entering, signaling for her to stay quiet.

All around them, people seemed to be buzzing. The Gryffindor hourglass, which had had as many stones as the Slytherin one the night before, was now near empty, and it seemed as if the lions had lost at least thirty points. The chatter at the Slytherin table quieted rather quickly though as Draco took his seat, for at that moment, Professor McGonagall stood from the high table and made her way towards the Slytherin one, looking rather grim. "Mr. Malfoy," she addressed Draco, her tone unmistakably cold and deadly serious, "if you would follow me please?"

"Where are you taking me?" Asked Draco sceptically. "I haven't even started breakfast."

"Do not play dumb, Malfoy." She snapped. "Come with me to the headmaster's office please."

Malfoy looked thoroughly perplexed, Crabbe and Goyle shot him questioning glances but he merely shrugged cluelessly back at them, indicating he had no better idea than they did.

…..

Draco followed Professor McGonagall out of the hall and up the marble stairs onto the seventh floor. "Professor, what is this about?" Asked Malfoy, trying to sound as polite as he could in the situation.

"Do not play foolish, Mr. Malfoy!" She snapped at him. "The offences you have committed are disgusting, you will be very lucky if you are not expelled."

"But I didn't-"

"I do not wish to hear it, save your explanation for the headmaster." They came to a stop in front of a stone gargoyle that looked regal and ancient. "Lemon drop." Intoned Professor McGonagall, Draco couldn't help but notice that she said the word with a fair amount of exasperation, he also had to mentally concede that he had no idea what a lemon drop was.

Draco followed his Transfiguration professor up a long, spiral staircase until they reached an ornate wooden door. Professor McGonagall knocked three times and pushed the door open without permission. Draco froze as he entered the room. Standing there in the room were three men. The first of which was his head of house, Professor Snape, this was both a comfort and a worry for Draco, a comfort because Snape always looked out for any in his house, but a worry since he would not be here if whatever this was about wasn't serious. The other two men scared him far more however. Sitting behind a large oak desk was the man he had heard so much about for as long as he could remember. Wearing a set of lime green robes today, his long silvery beard sparkling in the sunlight flowing through the office window was the man whom his father not so fondly referred to as 'the senile old coot', and the rest of the world hailed as the greatest wizard since Merlin, Albus Dumbledore. The third man in the room gave him the same feelings as Professor Snape, though they were amplified ten fold, though he was relieved to see him, for now, no matter what happened, they would do nothing serious to him.

"Father?" Asked Draco, sounding rather uncertain.

"Hello, Draco." Lucius Malfoy greeted his son, though his tone was marginally colder than Draco was accustomed to.

"Father, whatever they're accusing me of I didn't do. I don't even know why I'm here. I-"

"Hold your tongue, Draco." Said Lucius. He did not raise his voice, but it did grow several tones colder. Draco fell quiet and Lucius looked towards Dumbledore. "Well, Albus, I believe it is time for you to explain why you called upon me so urgently this morning, particularly if it has anything to do with my son."

"I am afraid it has everything to do with your son, Lucius." Said Dumbledore, and the familiar twinkle in his eye was noticeably absent as he gazed upon the younger of the two Malfoy's in the room. The old wizard reached into a drawer of his desk and pulled out a dark looking wand that caused Draco to breathe a sigh of relief. He made to step forward and reclaim the wand he had lost, but the look in the headmaster's eyes stopped him dead in his tracks. "You recognize this wand then, I take it?" Asked Dumbledore, his voice still calm, betraying no emotion.

Draco nodded. "Yes sir, it's mine."

"Is it now?" Asked Dumbledore, sounding disappointed in Draco's answer. "Well then, Mr. Malfoy, I am afraid you have a lot to answer for. Let us begin, did you or did you not attack Mr. Ronald Weasley and Mr. Seamus Finnigan last night in the trophy room?"

"What?"

…..

Back in the Great Hall, the Slytherin table and from what Harry could tell, all of the others had burst into furious chatter as soon as Malfoy had been led from the hall. The speculation was widespread, but one theme seemed to be fairly common, the Malfoy heir was in trouble.

Near the far end of the Slytherin table, one green eyed youth sat there, unable to contain the vicious smirk that crossed his face as he looked upon his blonde companion. "I did say it would work." He said plainly. "I believe that is Potter one, Malfoy zero."

…..

Flashback to The Previous Night

Harry chuckled, drawing a confused look from Lillian. "Lillian, my friend," the words still sounded foreign to Harry, though he did not pause on them, "you are very behind in the game if you think I'll be fighting two people at once."

"What do you mean?" Asked Lillian, clearly confused.

Harry smirked at her. "Malfoy has absolutely no intention of showing up to this duel. He would not risk his reputation, especially as I've already proven to be far more capable than him in class. He knows that Weasley will rush in blindly no matter what, and he still views me as a Gryffindor, so he thinks I'll do the same. That will be his downfall."

Lillian looked as if the light bulb had just gone on in her mind. "I'm an idiot." She murmured under her breath before returning her attention to the conversation. "He's probably already tipped off Filch, or Snape or someone else and is hoping to get you both in detention, or worse."

"Now you're catching on." Said Harry with a smirk.

"So we're not going then?"

"Oh no, we're going."

"What? But I thought you just said-"

"Just because Malfoy has laid the trap doesn't mean I'm not planning on beating him at his own game."

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Asked Lillian.

"The short version is, beat Weasley before Filch gets there and get him caught. The long version, well, that's where our slippery friend comes into the equation."

"What do you mean?" Asked Lillian, sounding confused.

"All in good time Lillian, all in good time."

About an hour later, Harry made his way quietly up to the Slytherin first years dormitory. As he expected, all of the others were fast asleep, including Malfoy and his cronies. 'This is too easy.`Harry thought to himself, figuring that if nothing else, this would teach Malfoy to be far less naive in the house of the cunning.

As quietly as he could, Harry stepped up beside Malfoy's bed. The ponce had his wand literally laying out on his bedside table, as if no one would ever dream of touching his possession. Harry actually sighed. "Draco, Draco." He murmured, half exasperated half amused by the boy's sheer arrogance and stupidity.

Harry scooped up the wand and made his way down to the common room, Malfoy's wand in hand, now he was ready to duel.

End Flashback

…..

"What did you do?" Asked Lillian, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Harry.

"Sabotaged our house in order to knock the ponce down a few pegs." Harry answered honestly.

"What do you mean?" Asked Lillian, still clearly confused.

Harry smirked. "Well, Slytherin is probably about to be last in the house championship, but Malfoy is about to get the shock of a lifetime when he is accused of brutally attacking Ronald Weasley and Seamus Finnigan in the trophy room three hours after curfew, and damaging several priceless and timeless moments of Hogwarts history."

Lillian gaped at him, clearly gobsmacked by the news he had just delivered to her. "How?" She asked, clearly not able to articulate her words.

"How did I turn the tables on Malfoy so easily when he never even showed up?" He smiled at her. "Well, to be honest, the arrogant brat made it way too easy. Would you believe he sleeps with his wand on his bedside table, the nerve of him." Harry shook his head chidingly, trying and failing not to smile at the entire situation.

"Hold on?" Asked Rosier, a look of dawning comprehension crossing her face. "So you're telling me that the wand that you fought Weasley with last night, the wand that you threw on the ground-"

"Was the exclusive property of Draco Abraxas Malfoy."

Lillian's jaw hit the floor as she gazed openly at Harry in a manner that suggested she was seeing him for the first time. "That's cruel." She said, but her tone sounded awed, not accusing. "You, Harry Potter, are a genius, a cruel one, but a genius nonetheless."

Harry smiled at her, basking in the first compliment he had ever received from a friend, he had to admit, though not a compassionate person by any means, it felt good to be liked, and it felt even better to be admired. "Why thank you, Lillian. You are too kind."

….

"What is the meaning of this, Dumbledore?" Asked Lucius, his voice still calm, but a clear undertone laced with venom had entered his speech now. "You had better have a good reason for accusing my son of such actions."

"I am afraid that I have several, Lucius." Said Dumbledore quietly, though his eyes had not left Draco. "Last night there was an incident in the trophy room. Mr. Filch was tipped off that there may be a disturbance in the trophy room at midnight. When he went to investigate, he found what was either a very one sided duel, or an attack. Mr. Ronald Weasley received a broken nose, and a rather horrible case of boils. Mr. Finnigan, also a first year Gryffindor, was found under the effects of the petrification curse, and also had a mild concussion; likely from hitting his head on the way down to the ground." He then sighed. "Though I value the health of my students above nearly all else, I am afraid that may not be the most vital part of the offence." He pierced Malfoy with that blue eyed stare of his, and Draco had the unpleasant feeling of being x rayed. "Nearly two dozen plaques and trophies were damaged last night. The oldest dating back to 1347. These are all priceless artifacts, and important parts of the illustrious history of our school, and the perpetrator will be severely punished if he or she is to be caught."

"As disgusting as these acts are," cut in Lucius, looking rather grim now, "why, Dumbledore, do you suspect my son as the perpetrator?"

"The answer lies in my hand, Lucius." Said Dumbledore sadly, holding Draco's wand up to the light. "Upon further investigation, Mr. Filch found this wand at the scene of the crime; it was on the ground right next to Mr. Weasley as a matter of fact. Adding to the significance of the find," continued Dumbledore, "when Mr. Filch entered the room, he saw two figures fleeing, though he could not identify them." He then looked at Draco once more, sadly this time. "I am afraid that your son has already admitted to possessing this wand, Lucius. I will have to severely punish him, and I fear the heads of house may vote on expulsion."

"But it wasn't me!" Exclaimed Draco desperately. "Father, you have to believe me! I went to bed at 10, and when I woke up my wand was gone! I must have dropped it or something!"

"Draco," said Lucius carefully, "were you at any point, in the trophy room yesterday; could you perhaps have dropped your wand while you were there?"

The look Lucius was sending Draco told him that there was only one acceptable answer. "Yes, father, me, Crabbe and Goyle were there, I wanted to see if you had any trophies to your name."

"Ah yes, only too natural; I assume you did find the potions award that I won as a seventh year?"

"Yes father."

"Well," said Lucius, whirling around to face the headmaster, "there you have it Dumbledore-"

"Lucius," Dumbledore cut him off softly, "there is still more." From the pocket of his emaculate robes, Dumbledore withdrew his own wand, even darker than Malfoy's, and a fair bit longer. He touched the tip of his wand to the tip of the other and said, "Priori Incantatem." Suddenly, whisks of smoke began to emerge from Draco's wand. The first showed the smoky figure of a boy go stiff as a board and fall straight backwards. Others showed trophies being launched through the air, a boy being disarmed, being hit with a boil hex. "Finite Incantatem." Intoned Dumbledore quietly, ending the spell. "Well Lucius, do we still wish to continue the charade?"

"Are you going to expel my son then, Dumbledore?"

"I am afraid it is not my decision, Lucius. I must put it to a vote of the heads of house."

"I thought you believed in second chances, Albus." Said Lucius, his voice still one of controlled calm.

"I am afraid I have little choice." Said Dumbledore sadly. "He has destroyed Hogwarts property, unless he can prove he wasn't there-"

"What if he were to give up his accomplice for a lesser sentence." Everyone looked to the corner where Snape had spoken for the first time, his voice was emotionless, but inquiring, his sharp, dark eyes focused entirely on the headmaster. "I believe Mr. Filch identified the accomplice as a female, did he not headmaster?"

"He did." Conceded Dumbledore.

"Well!" Snapped Lucius. "Is that agreeable, Dumbledore? My son will give up his accomplice in return for a lesser sentence."

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Very well, Lucius, if Draco is willing, I see far more benefit in catching both perpetrators than simply punishing one harshly." Dumbledore turned to face Draco. "Well, Mr. Malfoy, who was it that accompanied you to the trophy room last night?"

"I-I-"

"May I speak to my son, Dumbledore?" Asked Lucius. "I must make him understand that this is far more important than foolish loyalties."

"Very well, Lucius." Said Dumbledore. Lucius gripped Draco's arm tightly and led him out of the office and to the bottom of the spiral staircase. There, he spent several minutes casting privacy charms before finally, he turned on his son and heir.

"Draco, you will not be punished no matter the answer. Did you, or did you not commit the crimes you are being accused of?"

"No!" Said Draco. "I honestly had my wand stolen in the dead of the night."

Lucius looked murderous. "A frame job then, and one that was very well done."

"It was Potter!" Snapped Malfoy, unable to contain himself any longer.

"I doubt very much that it was the work of a first year?" Said Lucius carefully.

"It was him, I know it! We were all supposed to duel, me, Potter, and Weasley, but I didn't show up, I wanted to get them caught. Potter said he duelled Weasley, he must have done it with my wand!"

Lucius seemed to think on it for a moment before nodding. "Very well, it does seem to add up. Keep a close eye on the Potter heir while you are here Draco, and try not to make an enemy out of him so early. He shows potential for great things down the line. Now, do you know who his accomplice was?

"Yes… I know that Rosier was supposed to be his second."

"Rosier?" Asked Lucius, seeming surprised. "Lilian Rosier, daughter of Evan and Flora Rosier?"

"Yeah, she's taken a liking to him. He got her stupid necklace back from Weasley."

"Do not speak disparagingly of family Heirlooms, it is extremely disrespectful and low class. I will not have my heir saying such things. Well, that won't do. You can not turn in the Rosier's daughter."

"What? Why not?"

"I am old friends with Evan, it would strain that friendship very much if my heir were to turn in his daughter for the attack of a blood traitor." He thought about it. "Who are the other first year females in Slytherin?"

"Daphne Greengrass."

"Absolutely not." Said Malfoy with authority. "I will not oppose the Greengrass family, our neutrality serves me well."

"Millicent Bulstrode."

"Another old friend, Karactakus Bulstrode."

"Pansy-"

"Ah yes, the young Ms. Parkinson, is that all?"

"Davis, Tracy I think."

"Who?"

"Tracy Davis. Small girl, dirty blonde hair, green eyes?"

"A mudblood?" Asked Lucius, sounding incredulous.

"She says she's a pureblood."

"Naturally she would." Said Lucius, a gleam coming into his eye now. "Well Draco, a no name family and a potential pureblood pretender; I think we have found your little accomplice."

…..

Dumbledore sighed heavily as he sent Ms. Davis back to her dorm in tears, a very grim looking Minerva McGonagall standing alongside, Severus was gone, having escorted the distraught girl. Her and Malfoy had both lost Slytherin House 50 points each, Ms. Davis had received a month of detention, while Malfoy would be serving his until Christmas.

"Is there nothing you can do, Albus?" Asked Minerva sadly as she watched the crying girl leave. "Surely you don't think Ms. Davis was the accomplice?"

"No." Answered Dumbledore heavily. "Nor do I believe Mr. Malfoy was the perpetrator."

"What?" Asked Minerva, scandalized by that statement.

"Do I have your word, Minerva, that nothing I am about to tell you leaves this room? Even amongst the faculty?"

"Of course."

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "When I sent you to collect young Mr. Malfoy for me, I received a most disturbing and enlightening correspondence from St. Mungo's."

"St. Mungo's?" Asked Minerva, clearly confused. "But why were you in contact with St. Mungo's?"

"Mr. Weasley woke up this morning in fits of hysteria. Screaming about things that only he could see. More particularly, spiders." Dumbledore's voice was low now as he spoke. "Poppy tried to apply a Calming Draught but it had little effect." Minerva gasped, having not been let in on this little secret. "He was transported to St. Mungo's for further investigation and treatment moments later. It was done quietly and discreetly. The only ones made aware were myself and Poppy, as well as Arthur and Molly. I was planning to tell you if the situation called for it, but as it came up, I see no reason to keep you in the dark."

"So," began Minerva with some trepidation, "what did St. Mungo's have to say on the matter?"

"They told me that Mr. Weasley had suffered severe psychic trauma, though they could not detect the source of which it came from. The only thing they were reasonably confident in ruling out was the use of a potion. They say he should be back to Hogwarts by Monday, but it is a most disturbing development."

"And a first year could never have pulled it off." Minerva said softly.

"Precisely why I am certain Mr. Malfoy is innocent." Said Dumbledore. "My hands were tied however. It is my duty as the headmaster to enforce punishment upon rule breakers. It was my hope that by confronting Mr. Malfoy personally, he would shed some light on who may have truly been the culprit. Unfortunately, Lucius never really gave him that opportunity."

"But he had to be here?" Questioned Minerva.

Dumbledore chuckled darkly. "You have my complete confidence Minerva that had he not, Lucius Malfoy would have been nowhere near this castle. He has far too much influence over Hogwarts already, it was regretful that I had to give him more."

"So the culprit just got away then?"

"It seems that way. Mr. Malfoy admitted to the offence; which means I had to lay down a punishment. With the seeming culprit already caught, it would look rather suspicious if I inquired further."

"Would you like me to discreetly investigate? Perhaps see if I can pick up on anything."

"Please do Minerva, though, with all do respect, I think Severus doing the same is far more likely to yield the desired result."

"Yes," said Minerva tartly, "you're probably right, but I will do my best nonetheless."

"I would expect nothing less of you, Minerva." Said Dumbledore with a smile.

"Are you going to join us at breakfast, Albus?"

"No," said Dumbledore heavily, "unfortunately you will all have to forgive my absence, I have a rather serious bit of business that needs to be attended to."

"The stone?" Asked Minerva.

"Yes." Said Dumbledore simply, though he showed no prospect of elaborating. Sensing that her audience was over, Minerva stood from her chair and made her way out of the door, her mind running at a million miles an hour.

Dumbledore sighed as she left, and pulled a letter towards him that had appeared on his desk from out of thin air.

Dumbledore,

Please note that this letter will self destruct upon completion, so read and re-read carefully.

There is no law expressly forbidding you taking temporary possession of the object; but you would meet heavy resistance if you did not do it subtly. I believe the object could be extracted and brought to Hogwarts, but it would take a large amount of subtlety, and I would not expect it to happen anytime sooner than the Christmas Holidays.

I must warn you again the potential danger of the object in question; and quite frankly, I think it has no place within a thousand yard radius of children, but do as you must.

I will update you on any further developments.

Best wishes,

?

Dumbledore sighed heavily, though despite the gravity of the situation, he could not help but smirk. 'Oh Saul,' he thought with a smile, 'how the unspeakables have changed you. As if I do not know who is writing to me.'

As if the creature could read his thoughts, something that the old sorcerer had long ago decided it probably could, Fawkes let out a low trill of agreement. Dumbledore chuckled, but then sighed. "Soon, my friend," he said softly, "soon the trap will be in place, and we need only hope that Tom has grown no less arrogant in the past ten years. And judging by the recent attack on Mr. Weasley, I would say that he has not."

…..

Harry did not return until late that night, well past curfew as a matter of fact. Malfoy had received about 4 months worth of detention, and lost about fifty points, but Harry was not planning on Davis getting caught in their crossfire, and for some reason it bothered him. Part of it was obviously because Malfoy had managed to spin the situation on him, something that Harry did not appreciate, as he had expected his masterplan to go off without a hitch. Part of it, he also suspected, had to do with Lillian.

Malfoy knew all to well who his true accomplice had been, and Harry's plan could have lost him his one true friend, even if he was not quite sure what he thought about that yet. More disturbing still was why he hadn't turned her in.

And then there was Tracy. Harry felt a kind of attachment to the girl. Not because they were friends, but because Harry had tried to help her, and now, a week later, she had gotten caught up in his crossfire with the Malfoy heir. There was also the whole issue that she was innocent, and though this did not bother him on a personal level, he knew what it felt like to be blamed for something you didn't do; and in his mind, there was absolutely nothing worse.

It was well after curfew when Harry entered the common room. To his surprise, there was one person still awake and alert. "Hello Lillian." Said Harry as he took a seat beside her, snapping her out of her Charms homework.

"Hello Harry." She responded somewhat distractedly. "Where have you been all night?"

"In the library." He answered truthfully.

"You and studying." She murmured under her breath, shaking her head.

"Not studying, thinking." He corrected.

"About?"

"Davis and Malfoy."

"Oh," she said softly, "I was thinking about that as well."

"And?" Harry pressed.

"I was trying to think about why he wouldn't have just turned me in. I mean, he seemed pretty cross with me yesterday."

Harry nodded. "Yes, that was rather interesting. Any ideas?"

"Yes, his father."

"Go on."

"Well, our families aren't officially allied, but our fathers go way back. I thought his father may have told Draco not to turn me in or something."

Harry didn't speak for several minutes, anger was boiling under the surface as the scenario started to play itself out in his head. Finally he asked, "If a child is in danger of being expelled, is the parent required to be at school?"

Lillian thought for a moment before answering. "I don't think they're required to be, but they're certainly given the opportunity to come."

"Bastard." Cursed Harry under his breath, burying his face in his hands.

"What?" She asked, sounding scandalized.

"Malfoy had nothing to do with it, well, not Jr. at least. Lucius Malfoy must have been here. He must've told his son to admit to it. Maybe he even traded in an accomplice for a lesser punishment. It makes sense. He turned in the one female who doesn't come from a prominent family, and Lucius would have known just by her name if she was pureblood or not, or at least suspected."

"So you think Lucius Malfoy got Draco out of expulsion and dragged Davis down with him because she's not from a prominent family?"

"I'm certain of it." Said Harry with conviction.

"So what do we do?"

"Nothing." Harry answered. Lillian looked at him incredulously and he sighed. "We're Slytherins, Rosier, we're not a bunch of vigilante Gryffindors out for justice. I tried to take advantage of a situation to get Malfoy out of the way. It didn't work, well… at least not completely. So now, we do nothing, unless another opportunity presents itself, or unless the ponce forces our hands."

"And if that time comes? And what about Weasley? Surely he'll turn us in?"

Harry smirked, but there was no happiness in the motion. It was vicious, and promised pain and agony. "Then I will make sure that daddy dearest can do nothing to save his precious child. And as for Weasley, he will stay quiet, that is, unless he is drastically more stupid than I give him credit for."

…..

Authors Endnote:

Well, things are beginning to pick up around here. I know I promised the answer on Quidditch this chapter, but it will have to wait until the next one, as this went a bit longer than I thought it would.

So, Draco walked head first into the trap, but daddy dearest always knows best. Now, with both sides knowing the others opening moves, how will their dynamic progress from here?

Keep reading to find out!

Next chapter, the final resolution on Quidditch, (I promise) a suspicious friend who is looking for answers, and Draco's next move in the dangerous dance.