Beltane Night
XIV: The Stone Table
[Draco POV]
He knelt down by the river, his pale hands scooping up water up to his face. He let the water run down his face and ran his fingers through his hair before letting his fingers dance over his mask. Inside near the eye socket was a crack running down.
Draco leaned over looking at his reflection in the water, the same type of crack falling over his eyebrow down towards his eye. A scar in the wake of a curse that was thrown at him. The mask had shielded most of his face and at the end the magic had only left a small crack to let the spell hit him.
"Hurry up, we can't leave your Mother for long and it would seem we are needed with the Order," Lucius said coldly. His hands perched on top of his cane which held his wand. Draco looked up at his father and rolled his shoulders back groaning at his sore muscles.
He lifted himself up from the river side to go stand next to his father. His Dark Mark visibly clear on his pale skin was even sore. It felt like it was slowly heating up, creating an extreme discomfort.
"I need to find that girl, Father," Draco gave him a pointed look.
"You will find her—we cannot go home though yet, we can walk and talk," Lucius told his son as they were walking slowly through the forest.
Draco talked highly of the witch that he had danced with and how he had found her again in the forest. The faeries had lit up the path that led right to her. He remembered the forest being dark, except for the lights that led him to her. She had long and dark curly hair that held a white flower crown on top of her hair.
"Do you know her?" Draco asked his father suddenly, stopping in the middle of the trail.
"Why do you ask?" His father let his eyebrow raise ever so slightly.
Draco snorted and gave a look to his father, "You've yet to drill me about her and ask about who her family might be. What happened to your plan for me?" Draco asked. He had always looked up to his father, he would do anything to please him. He had done everything he could to please them. He had even gotten the damn mark that would ruin his entire future.
He knew the light side would win—Potter and his dumb friends would win and he would be put in Azkaban for a crime he didn't want to commit.
His father began walking once again, stepping over the sticks and debris that we're in their way, "I may know who she is—then again I may not. I do know who the lovely girl you were dancing with was. However, that's something you will need to think hard on. It's not my place Draco."
"How can it not be your place, you don't want me married off to some half-blood, do you?" Draco asked.
"Your mother has made it a point that you shall be with whom you want. You're lucky that Granger girl came along. You would have been with that Greengrass girl. What was her name? Astrid? Astonia? Never the less you would have been with her," Lucius concluded as they walked further towards the clearing where there was an old stone building. Within it held a stone table, one that had been used much like the knights at the round table. It was a place where magic couldn't be used to harm one another.
"So, if I can't find her—what do I do?" he asked.
"Keep your eyes open, she may be closer than you think. You have much to learn still and things are becoming increasingly difficult—it might be time to not rush into anything," Lucius said carefully.
"I may die tomorrow by the hands of Voldemort. I could die tonight—the time for not rushing is not now," Draco hissed as he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
Lucius put out his cane, stopping Draco from moving any further into the pasture.
"If you can't find her by Samhain, I will help you. I may have done questionable things in your childhood—but everything I do is for you," Lucius vowed and stuck out his hand. He watched his son slowly stick his hand out and gave a firm handshake.
"We need to apparate from here," he says as he kept a hold on his son's arm. Apparating them into the building. They entered with a large pop and soon Harry and Ron we're on Draco while Remus and Shacklebolt we're holding Lucius against the stone table. The two Death Eaters didn't struggle as the Order held them hard and started commanding the others to sweep the area.
They knew without Hermione there they had to speak for their own character, they had no one there on their behalf.
"Give them the veritaserum!" Harry yelled to Ron as he pulled Draco over onto his back and held his mouth open. Both Malfoys we're given it and forced to sit in a chair with a sticking charm on it. Their wands had been confiscated.
"Now that you have that in order," Lucius sneered at the order, "May we please get on with it Gentleman. I'm sure we have much to discuss."
"Mr. Malfoy, we're you aware that the Death Eaters we're going to crash Beltane?" Shacklebolt asked.
"If he was aware, do you think we'd be here? We'd be at their headquarters," Draco retorted with a huff.
"Now Draco, don't be rude. I had no prior knowledge of them coming to the party. I tortured them in my basement a few nights before and it seemed they decided it was the perfect time to get revenge on my family and I," Lucius said.
"You tortured them?" Draco questioned.
"It was the only way to find out who had destroyed Miss Grangers shop—you and your mother are so fond of her. I have to protect whatever you two invest your time in," Lucius was straining his voice.
"You went after them because of Hermione?" Harry asked in shock.
"Of course he did," Draco snapped.
"What are the Death Eaters up to?" Remus asked.
"I believe I," Snape drawled, "can answer that." He walked in from another room and took his seat at the stone table.
"Then please, enlighten us," Remus growled. He had never liked Snape and everyone knew of it. Just as everyone who was older—knew of his infatuation with their best friend's wife. They were never welcoming of Snape until Dumbledore had spoken on his behalf.
"It would seem they have everything they need almost for Voldemort, to rise again—"
"How is that possible?" Tonks shouted as everyone began to mumble to themselves.
"If you wouldn't interrupt. All they need is the blood of the boy. They tried once and fail—they will not fail again," Snape eyed Harry.
"They want Harry? We'll protect him though—they've always wanted Harry," Ron spluttered.
"If you had let me finish, I might be able to provide an explanation—"Lucius spat sourly at the rest of the crowd of Orders. He had a higher distain for them now more than ever, the lot was filled with Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors and few Ravenclaws. Always so ready to run straight into battle without thinking of the consequences of their actions.
"What have you got to say Lucius," Arthur addressed him.
"I talked with them and they appeared to be innocent of Miss Granger's book store, however they have been seeing one of your own sneaking around in Knockturn alley. They won't say who—but he must be working with them. You would be wise to limit your contact with others and how much everyone, even here, knows." Lucius held his head up high with pride. He had done something that even the Order couldn't do. They were too cowardly and too good to sink so low as to torture for information.
"One of our own?" Ron raged and slammed his fists on the table.
Harry began, "calm down Ron, we don't know for sure—"
"This tosser is making us look at ourselves, when we should be looking more towards them and his wife! Can you believe that any of us would hurt Mione!" Ron asked.
"We wouldn't, but if someone was under the imperius or worse polyjuiced, something could happen. We'll figure it out though," Harry told him. He placed his hand on his friends shoulder, pushing him down into his seat once again.
"You clearly still have no manners, Weasley," Draco sneered.
"He's right though—Hello Lucius," Andromeda spoke softly after apparating into the room with a light pop.
"Andromeda," he bowed his head lightly.
"Bellatrix insisted that she was being fed information from our insiders. Someone in this room is not who they seem. It cannot be the Malfoys—she still claims that they love the Dark Lord even if they are blood traitors to her now. Snape is not a known Order Member either. It's someone we would have never thought of," Andromeda sighed.
"Until we can do anything, we should not be talking—I'm dismissing you all. Arthur, Lucius, Remus, and Andromeda—you will be coming with me," Shacklebolt ordered and walked out of the room and towards another. Tonks followed suit after Remus had waited for her and they entered the room together, there was no way she was being left out of anything.
"Unstick me Potter," Draco asked. He had kept his voice under control—there was no sneer there.
"Fine," he lifted his wand and Draco was able to go free. He lifted himself off of the chair and stretched out his legs before reaching for his wand. He kept to himself while Potter and Weasley were talking and whispering to themselves before Potter started to walk over towards him with an out stretched hand.
"What's this?" He asked.
"You told me first year that I should shake your hand and make friends with you, this isn't an offer a friendship, but a truce would be nice. Not just for us and the Order, but for Mione's sake too. How about it?" Harry asked.
"A truce with you or with the Weasel too?"
"This is an extended Truce from all of us—you know there's going to be a war. Don't be daft, you know we'll win and I don't think Mione wants to see your family on the wrong side of it.
Draco nodded his head for a few seconds and stared off at the table once more, he knew that the war would rage on and there was no way that Voldemort would come close to winning. His side would be the only one that lost and magical blood would be spilled everywhere.
He stuck out his hand and took Potter hand in his own, gripping it tight they shook on it, "deal, but I'll tell you what I told your little bushy haired friend. I'm not the good guy—there's no more room for good guys. I'll do my part for what I'm supposed to do and that is all. I don't want to be a war hero—just keep my family alive," He admitted.
"Never expected anything less," Harry let out a sigh of release.
"I'm still calling you Potter though," Draco pointed out.
"Same to you, Malfoy," Harry nodded and they dropped each other's hands. It was an unexpected truce from them. They would never be friends—not the way they could have been if Harry had shaken his hand in first year, but then this whole war wouldn't be happening and people like Hermione wouldn't be around.
"Did you get that bird you wanted?" Draco asked softly.
"Ginny? Yeah, I asked her to marry me actually—she's going to be Mrs. Potter," Harry said excitedly. It didn't matter that he was talking to Draco, he was just glad to be talking about Ginny.
"Poor girl, she won't be able to go anywhere now with that last name—"Draco laughed.
"Who did you get Malfoy?" Ron hissed.
"Don't know, I'm looking for her though—that's for sure. Witch was bloody brilliant and I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. Father knows who she is, but I guess it's my job to find her," He drawled on as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked up at the stone ceiling. He recalled the night and dances that they had shared. He was already smitten and he barely knew her name—there was just something about her.
"What about you Ron?" Harry asked, not to leave his friend out of it.
"I don't want to say," He grumbled.
Draco laughed at that, "didn't kill the stag—did you?"
"I got Lavender you Git. The silly bint won't leave me alone after this, thinks we're perfect for one another I bet. Mione is going to be so disappointed," Ron sighed.
"Hermione? Why would she be disappointed?" Draco asked with a furrowed brow.
"She wanted to get together with me, I know it!" Ron insisted.
Harry shook his head and put his hand on his friend's shoulder once again in attempt to calm him down, it never worked though with his Weasley Temper. "She'll be happy with whoever she finds Ron. You know you've had a thing for Lavender since fourth year. Might as well just admit it to yourself Mate," Harry said happily.
"You know I like her though," Ron whined.
"You can like two birds and only pick one," Draco said.
Harry nodded his head, "Exactly!"
"Just go grab our Coin's and let's get out of here. I'm sure mum would appreciate us being home," Ron sighed and pushed Harry towards the table. Ron grabbed the coin on the left and after Harry picked up the other, he looked back at Draco before disappearing.
"What in the bloody fuck was that?" Ron shouted.
"Father!" Draco yelled out and soon the rest of the order was walking back into the room and when they saw Harry missing they began to scream and ask what happened.
"We don't know—the coin, it must have been a port key!" Draco concluded. His eyes had gone wide and his breath had stopped. They would think he did it or worse that there was actually someone there who was plotting against them. He could only hope he was really on the right side.
"Is this true, Ron?" Remus asked. Tonks was behind him rubbing his back as he was getting flustered.
"Yeh, he was here one moment and the next he was gone. I don't know where he could have went—we have to find him!" Ron panicked.
Draco locked eyes with his father before nodding his head once and quickly covered his hand over his forearm. It was starting to heat up even worse than before. They were going to be summoned very shortly.
"We'll go back to the Manor—talk to Molly and the girls. They might know where he is," Remus ordered them and soon they began to apparate back towards the Manner. The only thing that they all knew, was that this was the start of the next Wizarding War.
A/N: We're getting there. This will probably end at the Battle of Hogwarts-so you'll know after the next chapter some of the major key events that will happen each chapter that lead up right to the Battle.