The HP world and characters belong to JK Rowling

That afternoon, Hermione supplied Draco with tantalizing bits of information. She took out the day's Daily Prophet, and pointed out an interesting article for Draco to read. It said:

Lucius Malfoy tortured by own people.

Investigations into the untimely demise of the pureblood patriarch in Azkaban have brought to light the fact that the attackers were Death Eaters. Apparently they wanted to force Malfoy to disinherit his son and appoint the Dark Lord as heir instead. When their foul schemes failed, they got angry and most hurtfully tortured Malfoy Senior until he died.

This brings to light the fact that no one is safe from the Dark Lord's choler. Not even his right-hand man, who did nothing worse (to the Dark Lord) than being the father of a young man who opposes said Lord.

Draco read it, and passionlessly, asked Hermione, "Your opinion, Hermione?"

She answered, "This should enrage a good portion of the purebloods still loyal to him. They will not countenance what they will perceive as a profound chicanery and will definitely try to hurt him. But be careful of double agents!"

She continued, "But that is not the only piece of information that concerns you people! Read page 4."

Draco took the paper, and turned it to page 4, to read:

Weasley son tries to kill Harry Potter!

Last night, a Weasley son, Percy, appeared chained to the office of the Head Auror. He was accompanied by several memory holders, which when examined proved definitely the affiliations of the young man. It appears that this Weasley is not for the Light at all. He became a Death Eater and participated in their excesses, trying to prove his worth to his leader. Finally he decided on the scheme to kidnap Harry Potter and bring him before his Master. Using the code-name Mr. Scraggles (readers familiar with the Weasley history will shudder at the nonchalance with which young Weasley tried to associate himself with his rat Scabbers, which turned out to be Death Eater Peter Pettigrew, more on Pettigrew on page 7) Weasley prepared his ambush, which readers will be chagrined to read actually took place.

Weasley took Potter to a closely guarded spot in the Forbidden Forest, where Voldemort and 50 Death Eaters next appeared. Things appeared dim; it was, in fact, probably the direst situation Harry Potter has ever faced.

What happened next remains hazy and partakes of the quality of the surreal. Apparently a disk made of light appeared and held the attention of the DEs. Weasley however was keenly observing Potter and noticed him when he made a miraculous escape. Harry had been magically bound, his wand taken from him and stupefied, so Weasley was astonished at his escape.

He followed him closely and when it looked like Harry was out of the woods, he cast Avada Kedavra on the Boy Who Lived. Potter escaped by portkey immediately afterwards. Weasley is completely sure that he hit Potter.

The question of the day remains, where is Harry Potter? Is he OK? Is he dying somewhere? We demand that the Government do something, succor young Potter, or we'll be left alone, facing the Dark Lord without the strong support of young Potter.

Draco muttered, "Those damn betraying Weasleys! Hermione, I don't think it is safe for you anymore at the Burrow. I invite you cordially to live here, or if you so desire, you can live at Black House. The important thing is to keep you safe from marauding Weasleys!"

Hermione considered her options, and decided to stay where the action was, that is, here. She said, "But I need some papers and books I left at the Burrow."

Draco replied, "Is there some member of that dratted family you can trust, who I can also trust and will bring them here?"

Hermione fidgeted and said, "I guess the Twins. You had that awful experience with them, but they have changed."

Draco answered, "OK, I'll lend you Ham so you can write to them." Draco then proceeded to whistle, "Happy Days," whereupon Hermione looked surprised and arched an eyebrow, and commented, "Happy Days? I must say I'm surprised, Lord Malfoy!"

Draco looked cornered and said, "I like the theme. Was there anything else on the paper?"

Hermione looked contrite for a second, then said, "Yeah, look at page 7. I'm guessing you had something to do with that."

Draco looked for page 7 and read:

The tragic end of Peter Pettigrew

For many, Peter Pettigrew died many years ago at the hands of Sirius Black. However, that turns out not to be the truth at all. Pettigrew's grisly remains were found in the Department of Mysteries, along with a note by Voldemort commenting that this was how traitors died. In what seems to be an internecine power struggle, Pettigrew fell victim to his peers' schemes.

This confirms what some people always believed, that it was Pettigrew who betrayed the Potters and then Black. He was said to have spent many years as rat 'Scabbers' in the Weasley household, which has been newly confirmed through Percy Weasley's memories.

It was him who brought the Dark Lord fully back to life. It is fitting that his Lord takes his hateful life in return.

After Hermione had written a small letter and sent it with Hammersfall, Draco told her, "I'm going to speak with Harry. He must be very angry. I know I would feel completely betrayed if something like this happened to me."

He continued, "But we must do something about the public. I get the feeling people are really worried about Harry. We have to let them know he is OK. What do you suggest?"

Hermione meditated briefly and then she said, "I'd suggest a Press conference. People and reporters would be able to see Harry, maybe even build a new relationship with him, now that he's out from Dumbledore's shadow. I could schedule one, but where and when?"

Draco suggested, "It could be in the atrium of the Ministry, let's say tomorrow morning at 10:00 am? I will run it first by Harry, of course. If he objects, I'll let you know."

Then Draco took the paper and went to Harry's rooms.

As expected, Harry seethed. Harry had expected loyalty from the Weasleys, but he'd had the bitter realization that outside of the Twins, he couldn't trust a single one of them, not even Mrs. Weasley! If she knew of Ron's and Harry's bitter fights, she would surely side with her obstreperous son.

He was so angry that he started performing wild magic. The lights of the sconces flared up, the temperature seemed to go up, and things started rattling in the room.

Suddenly there was a knock, and the door swung open. Draco was there, staring intently at Harry and saying, "Just as I expected, you are angry Harry, and you have every right to be. Don't let the Weasleys draw you down, though."

He went on, "However, there is also cause for celebration. The Wizarding public is right worried about you, so much so, that Hermione and I thought you should give a press conference."

Harry answered diffidently, "A press conference. I've never had one."

Draco replied, "Then it's high time you had one. You will be able to interact with people – and reporters – freely."

Harry asked, "What will I tell them when they ask how I escaped?"

Draco answered, "Tell them the truth, just leave out the part with the lights, and about how mom and Blaise rescued me." "If they ask a question you don't want to answer, just say 'No comment' if the reporter insists just tell them it's about state secrets or something."

"And now I want you to read something in the paper that will surely cheer you up, page 7."

Harry read about Wormtail, and, as Draco expected, was buoyed by it. Draco commented, "Pettigrew got what he deserved, and you didn't have to kill him. However, you were an integral part of his ultimate fate. If Weasley hadn't kidnapped you, Wormtail would still be alive, plotting evil deeds on the world. I also want to direct your attention to the curious fact that Weasley appeared on the Head Auror's office, with his incriminating evidence, in the period of time immediately following his attempted AK of you."

Draco went on, "I submit to you that he was observed as he attacked you, and interested parties wanted to obtain revenge. Now I wonder who are these persons? If they had been regular Death Eaters, they would have simply killed him."

"No, this vengeance mode speaks of someone with a highly Byzantine consciousness. Someone who wanted him punished through the law; someone like my godfather, who knew I was there."

Harry started, "Snape? Snape had Weasley and let him escape so easily?"

Draco interrupted, "Not only Snape, I'm thinking him and Aunt Bella. They were among those who weren't mesmerized by the lights, and they could've easily observed what transpired."

Harry sat, deep in thought. He tentatively asked, "I've been meaning to ask you this question, Draco, and I will understand if you don't want to answer it. But, couldn't you have prevented Weasley from saying the curse; you know, with that spell, ermm, Imperio?

Harry looked timidly at Draco, waiting for an answer. Draco responded, "I loathe imposing my will on others, Harry. I've always believed in free will, especially when the Bond kept pushing me to do things against my will."

"So I would always balk down at using that particular curse. The reason I used it on you – and I'm not proud of this – is that I was sick and tired of me saying things and you never listening, not even for a second. I knew that if I broke you to my will, however briefly, you would understand, deep in your bones, that we are equals and would treat me with at least a modicum of respect."

"However I would say that our situation in the Forbidden Forest was indeed dire, and respect to free will aside, it was our life on the line, so, yes, I would have used that spell. Unfortunately, I need to be in a particular frame of mind to cast it. It would have taken me at least 5 seconds to prepare, and in that time he would've fired and done his deed."

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Some two hours later, the Twins made it to the Manor with a bag full of Hermione's possessions: papers, parchments, books, and diverse clothes.

They looked for Hermione, asking Crabbe and Goyle where she was. They pointed the twins to the library, where Hermione was researching ways to destroy Horcruxes.

They greeted her and told her she would make a poor prankster. Fred said, "You told us that the owl was Malfoy's, called Ham, but he hated to be called by the nickname Hammersfall. Well, I must say he is a very tolerant owl, for we called him nothing but that and he didn't budge an inch!"

Hermione fought to keep down a smile. It seems her reverse data worked.

George said, "I haven't seen Harry with all this brouhaha about Percy. Do you know where he is?"

Hermione replied, "Yes, he is here. Just ask any house elf for directions to his room."

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Harry was sitting on the bed, brooding and imagining Percy's face as he stomped all over him.

There was a knock at the door and two redheaded Twins swept into the room, hugging Harry and telling him they were sorry about their brother.

Their hugging turn heated very soon and they started kissing Harry.

Harry, however, did not want to engage in any tryst at that precise moment. He was still shaken with his kidnapping, Draco receiving the Avada Kedavra, and Percy's identity as the DE that tried to kill him and would have certainly succeeded, if not for Draco.

So Harry forcefully told the Twins, "Stop it, guys! I do not feel like it."

Fred said, "Come on Harry. You know you want our cocks in you, you're just screaming for it." He grabbed Harry's ass and put it in contact with his crotch, which sported a considerable erection.

George said, taking on Harry's limp cock and putting Harry's hand on his own burgeoning erection, "Come on, baby. Grab this cock and milk it dry, just like you want to be ridden!"

Harry fumed, grabbing his wand; he turned and cast a shield, saying, "What in the nether worlds makes you imagine that you can now dictate things to me?"

Harry irately continued, "So we fucked, and I let you put your cocks in me. That does not mean I will always be open for your advances. It doesn't mean I have to blindly follow you in sexual matters. It just meant we hit it off at that moment, sexually."

"I now realize that in your cartoonish, preconceived notions of the world, that you fucked me should forever doom me to follow your lead and turn to you like a dog in heat. Rest assured, it won't happen. Especially considering the very doubtful caliber of your family, which harbored traitors such as Percy and Ron."

"I don't see why I should trust any member of that accursed family. As for us being a 'thing,' forget it, I will choose wiser partners from now on."

"Now leave me."

Fred and George were floored. They would have never expected Harry to turn on them like that. They wanted, yearned, to plead their case, but they also knew Harry, they were aware that when his face looked that determined, there was no way to change his mind. So with a heavy heart, they left.

A little later that night, Draco was walking to the gardens, when he was joined by Pansy. She urged him to tell her what he had said to the Twins. Apparently, she'd seen the pair as they were leaving the Manor and they looked very sad and downcast.

Naturally she'd assumed they'd had a run-in with Draco, but Draco told her he hadn't seen the Twin menace at all. He'd heard they were going to visit Potter.

This got Draco to thinking: "Maybe Harry put his foot down once and for all and told the Twins off. It's high time he stops people from walking all over him!"

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

In the morning, Draco, Blaise, Hermione and the Slytherins accompanied Harry to the press conference. The reporters were already present and there was a low hum coming from all their whispering.

Harry could see Draco, who was sneering at him, with an expression that conveyed clearly, "I'm quite glad it's you and not me!" Seeing that expression, he felt his Slytherin side rise to the occasion and plot the downfall of the mighty Malfoy.

The Slytherins spread themselves, carefully looking for concealed weapons, even though the Ministry had already searched the reporters.

Then Harry, Draco, Blaise, Tonks and Hermione entered the room, and silence descended. Amelia Bones said, "Gentlemen and ladies, I give you Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived!"

Harry rose to speak and said, "Thank you ma'am. I know you have heard all about Weasley. I want to tell you what happened before. Sunday night I was returning home after a strategy session when I was ambushed. I was stupefied and next thing I know, someone's standing me up in the Forbidden Forest as I look at about 50 Death Eaters and Voldemort."

"I knew then I was as good as dead, and I only had the regret of failing to do the task that would free the Wizarding World of its bitterest enemy, Tom Riddle aka Voldemort." "I tried to prepare myself for the coming ordeal and death the best I knew how."

Harry observed the gathered reporters, and he could see how many of them still looked at Draco with distrust, how they were deeply afraid of him. He could do something to conquer that fear, that distrust, and maybe it would be for the better.

Harry continued seriously, "But then amazing things happened, the Stupefy was lifted, my wand was returned to me. The magical shackles were taken off, and a voice I thought I'd never hear again asked me if I was all right. It was the voice of Draco Malfoy."

There was a loud hubbub of voices, which didn't calm down until Madame Bones stridently called for order.

A reporter for the Quibbler wanted to hear about Draco's daring rescue. Draco got up to answer, shooting glares at Harry, promising swift retribution.

Draco proved true to his ability to quickly think on his feet, if also engaging in rather Byzantine flights of fancy.

He said, "It might come to some as a surprise that Harry and I have become closer. Well, we have. Recognizing his value to the Light side, I put a spell on Harry that would alert me if he was in danger and would lead me to that place." "Sunday night, the spell activated. There were few members of Loyal Slytherins present, so I decided to go retrieve Harry by myself. First though, I took some insurance in the form of letting know a band of rogue vampires where I would be, so they would be ready to show up and maybe distract the Dark Lord."

He continued, "Wearing a family heirloom, an Invisibility Cloak belonging to the Malfoys," here Draco shot Harry a cat-ate-the-canary look, "I made my way to the Forbidden Forest. I got there in time to free Harry and we made our leisurely way out of that congregation of madmen."

A reporter for the Daily Prophet asked, "Tell us about Weasley's attack!"

Harry answered, "As we were leaving that place, Weasley ambushed and surprised us, and he fired that Avada Kedavra directly at me!"

The reporter countered, "But you are here!"

Harry replied, "When Weasley fired that curse, he must have thought I was done for. That was almost the case. I was using a portkey that would take me out of there, but the Killing Curse arrived before I could escape."

"That I survived that curse, that I stand before you today, is due to one simple thing: the will of a person to overcome evil, to protect what is good, the will to stand up and be counted!

"No one had ever done that for me, so I didn't know how I escaped until I felt his weight descend upon my shoulders. Knowing full well what the Killing Curse does, he threw himself between the Curse and me, willing to give his life for me. He performed the ultimate sacrifice, that we might succeed someday!"

"In doing so, he has proved that death does not conquer all, for it cannot overcome faith, and trust, and courage."

"Gentlemen, I give you my savior: Draco Malfoy!"

Harry started clapping and soon most of the reporters were clapping and shouting as well. The photographers wanted to take endless series of shots of the two. Lots of questions were asked and shouted. Finally things calmed down.

A reporter for the Quibbler asked, "Lord Malfoy, you survived a Killing Curse?"

Draco answered affirmatively.

The reporter asked, "Do you have a scar like Mr. Potter's?"

Draco looked at Harry and was taken aback by the gleeful look in his eyes. Before he could answer, Harry did, "Yes, he does! Show them your scar, Draco!"

Draco fumed; still, there was nothing to do but roll with the punches. He took off his robes and his black jersey sweater. Then opened up his button down shirt and took it off, and finally let them look at his chest and his new scar, right below his right nipple, a lightning-bolt.

Draco could see that many of the reporters were more interested in his chiseled chest and taut abs than in the scar. He could see Blaise, and Harry, fuming and glaring daggers at the reporters.

Finally he allowed three photographers to take photos of his scar, whereupon both Blaise and Harry glared daggers at him.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

When they got back to the Manor, Draco suddenly grabbed Tonks's hand and took her to the office, where they proceeded to have a tête-à-tête.

Blaise and Pansy seemed alarmed by this development, and that interested Harry and Hermione. Blaise seemed intent on blaming it all on Millicent Bulstrode, saying, "Damn, that dratted Millie! If things turn bad she'll have me to answer to!"

Pansy seemed equally alarmed. She was trying to wring her hands, unobtrusively.

Finally Hermione could not take this anymore and said loudly, "Could you please tell us what is going on? It only seems to me that Draco and Tonks are talking. Presumably they can have a nice friendship."

Blaise countered, "You weren't here to hear Millie, Hermione. When Draco and Tonks were angry with each other, Millie took it upon herself to tell him that his political maneuvers were just grown-up pranks, that he'd never outgrown the Black fondness for pranks, and that if he could recruit Tonks to his mode of thinking, that she'd be an asset with her Auror training and Metamorphmagus abilities."

Hermione replied, "I still don't see what's so wrong about it."

Blaise answered, "Hermione, picture one of Draco's plans, only now with Tonks's exuberance, energy, Metamorphmagus abilities in the mix. They could well decide to take on the world, and neither of them likes to listen to reason!"

Hermione reflected, and presently said, "Oh Merlin, we're doomed!"

Blaise agreed sourly, "Exactly."

tbc