A/N: Nothing much to say… Next chapter!
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Child of Prophecy, Child of Light
Nimi blinked and came to, surprisingly, in her room. Idly wondering how she got there, she sleepily got out of bed, grabbed some clean clothes, and headed into the shower. Once she was dressed, she reached for her hairbrush only to drop it in surprise. A rune was on the palm of her left hand.
It wasn't that she hadn't expected it, with what Helene had said, but she hadn't expected it to pop up so quickly. She had thought it would take a while longer, though the nurse had said they could expect changes in as soon as a few hours.
She found herself staring at it. It reminded her somewhat of Harry's, though really only in the silver color. The closest thing she could describe it as was an oddly shaped seven pointed star, with lines drawn from each point to the one across from it and a sort of starburst in the middle. She blinked a few more times before shaking her head and picking up her hairbrush. Or, rather, levitating it to herself.
When she realized what she had done, she dropped it in shock. The Wandless Magic seemed to work at least partially as a conscious wish for something, she reflected. Trying to do it on purpose this time, she managed to raise the hairbrush to her hand. Smiling, she began to brush.
Once she had finished and tied her hair into a sloppy bun, she went into her room and pulled on her robe before making her way to the informal dining room. She walked in and realized belatedly that she was the last one there. She sat down at the table, covered her mouth while she yawned, and served herself some of the food on the table as conversation picked up again.
"Yes, I know who the spy in the Order is," Harry was saying. "That's why I need to talk to the Bumblebee. That, and I think that it's about time to reveal who I am to the world, as Voldemort will probably put it together rather quickly with the informant's information and the fact that he didn't see an extra person there that could be Lord."
"Do you know who the informant is?" Sirius questioned.
"Yes, it's-" Nimi replied without thinking before looking to Harry with scared eyes. "Him?"
Harry nodded and sighed heavily. "I didn't want to believe it either, but looking over his personality I could. He would be the perfect choice, really; people don't pay him all that much attention, and he knew me pretty damn well. Obviously not as well as a lot of people, but well enough. And he is rather high up…"
"Wait a minute," Remus said slowly. "You're saying the informant is-"
Whatever he would have said was cut off as a guard poked her head in the door. "Excuse me Lord Azkaban, but an Albus Dumbledore is here- he says you requested his presece?"
Harry nodded, wiping his mouth and pulling up his hood. "I did indeed. I'll meet him in the Throone Room in five minutes; have him take the long way."
The woman smirked and nodded, striding out of the room. He could, a few seconds later, hear her voice speaking through a comm: "Alright Freddy, it's a 342. Make it the long long way." Her satisfied chuckle echoed down the hall as she continued on her way.
Harry smiled and took a last bite of toast before making to leave. Ari stopped him. "Harry, how many of us do you want with you?"
He paused; he hadn't really considered it. "Well, I assumed asll of you would come, if that's alright." He then frowned. "Where's Snape?" This question was directed to Mel, as she would be most likely to know.
"He wasn't assigned to go to the Ministry," she said softly. "Tom asked him to stay behind to brew more Potions for those Death Eaters that would be injured in the battle. He got in late, he's probably still asleep."
Harry nodded. "Let him rest then, we'll fill him in later. Well, tally ho, I suppose."
.: Azkaban Throne Room :.
Harry had just arrived and was seated on the Throne with the others in elegant chairs to his sides when Dumbledore entered. The old man looked mildly angry, and partially relieved.
"Lord Azkaban," he said, "I wish to thank you for your help after the battle. While I did tell you not to leave school grounds, I am rather grateful you did, as you were able to offer Healing services. I thank you profuselyu for this-"
"And where were you at the battle?' he questioned. "I assumed the Order of the Phoenix would be there."
"There was no way to get in without the Death Eaters being alerted and killing any prisoners they already had taken."
"Funny," Harry ssaid thoughtfully, "We managed to get in just fine, and we didn't see any prisoners."
The elder man coughed. "Yes well… may I inquire as to why you wished to see me, my Lord?"
Harry pinched the bridge of his nose, deep in thought. "Several reasons, actually. First off, there is a spy in your Order."
Dumbledore sighed. "Yes, I am aware of this."
"Are you aware of who it is?"
"No," he said, shaking his head. "If I was, they would have already been kicked out. Why?"
"Because I am."
The Headmaster's eyebrows shot up into his hair. "Really? Do you have proof?"
"I do," Harry said with an inclination of his head. "I installed several scrying spells throughout Hogwarts; he has, several times, snuck into an abandoned classroom to use the foreplace and contact his master."
"His?"
"Yes. The informant is Percival Ignatius Weasley."
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Draco Malfoy looked over his shoulder as he made his way through Hogsmeade. Despite the calm exterior, he was panicking. He had no idea why he had done it. He had been raised to be a Death Eater, it had been his life's goal. Perhaps it had been Lestrange's trial, the pleasure in her voice as she spoke of torture and death. Maybe it was because of the self-righteous words he always heard, especially from Potter; maybe they were finally making an impact. Maybe it was on finding out that he had an Aunt that he never knew about that had been tortured in his basement for years. He wasn't really sure on anything but that it was something.
When his father had asked him, it was his first thought to say yes. He had been so shocked to find himself saying no, running from the room… he couldn't turn to Dumbledore, that much was sure. The man was as bad as Voldmort in his own ways. While Voldemort was a hypocrite trying to wipe out his own kind, Dumbledore was only interested in power and fame. They were truly two sides of the same coin.
Why was he supposed to hate Muggles and Muggleorns so much anyways? The idea had been brewing in his head for a few years, but squashed down by his hatred of Granger; he really didn't see why she was a Gryffindor. But, weren't all people people, whether or not they had magic or were pure of blood? Maybe, maybe not. That was why he was so confused.
Dumbledore, Voldemort, Potter, and the Lord Azkaban. All were halfbloods. What he would consider the four most powerful wizards of the age, and none of them were pure of blood. Surprisingly, he didn't know of any amazingly powerful witched, but he had seen the Nimi girl in dueling claqss, and she seemed pretty good. Same with Luna and, as much as he hated to admit it, his arch-rival Hermione Granger.
Perhaps she was why he had continued to hate Muggleborns so much. Not because she was a know-it-all bitch, but because his father greatly disliked it when she beat him in grades, which was all of the time. And when his father greatly disliked something to do with Draco, he tended to take his anger out on Draco in the form of pain.
His thoughts were in a jumble, but one thing remained clear to him. He could not turn to the 'Light' or the 'Dark', and there was only one thing for him to do- he must go to the 'Grey'. He only hoped that the Lord Azkaban would not turn him away.
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Albus Dumbledore stared at the young man in front of him. "Percival Weasley?"
Harry nodded. "Indeed. Of course, he's only been communicating from Hogwarts just after Order meetings… I understand that he joined the Order about four months ago?"
Dumbledore nodded, still shocked. "Yes… yes he did… Percy Weasley, I never would have thought…" He shook his head. "Well, I shall take care of that immediately. You said you had something else to talk to me about however?"
A bell rang and an oddly familiar boy tumbled out of the firecplace, sputtering. When he looked up, Harry held in a gasp. Malfoy. The boy looked as shocked to see Dumbledore as Harry was to see him. "P-Professor sir! I- I was coming to see the Lord Akzaban…"
"Why don't you wait outside," Dumbledore said kindly. "We had something to finish discussing."
Harry had no idea why he said what he said next- he supposed it had something to do with the odd feeling of wrongness in his stomach. "No, he can hear this to- it'll be out in the Wizarding World by this afternoon." He could feel the stares of his surrogate family behind him, and he sent a brief thought to Nimi. .:Do you feel it to:.
In a split-second, her response came. .:I do. I understand, and we can explain to the others later. I think it has something to do with the True Sight, but I'm not sure.:. He sent her a mental nod before continuing.
"What I am about to reveal will prove that I did, indeed, lie to you Albus Dumbledore. Not without good reason, but a lie nonetheless. You see, Harry Potter is not dead. He cannot be, because I am Harry Potter." He pulled off his hood, and all of a sudden, his load seemed somewhat lighter. Yes, there was a Dark Wizard after his blood, yes the Wizarding World had turned their backs on him, yes there was this bond with Nimi, and yes there was the mystery of him catching the prophecy the night before, but he no longer had to hide his face. He could be who he was without fear of retribution, and the world could just go screw themselves.
Dumbledore looked at him in shock, as did Draco… but there was something behind the other boy's. Dissapointment, perhaps? As odd as it sounded, he was almost sure that that was the case. He shook his head slightly, though, and turned his attention back to Dumbledore. "I have nothing to say to you other than that my friends and I are going to be studying and will wish to take the NEWT's by the end of this week so that we can graduate early. Gooday, Headmaster."
"Wait, Harry-"
"You losty all right to call me that when you betrayed me," he said calmly. "And yes, I understand the Veritaserum, but you were pushing for my guilt before that. Besides, that was just the straw that broke the camel's back. You will do anything and sacrifice anything to destroy Voldemort, and I cannot abide by that. What you do with your life is your business, but throwing away others' is not. Goodbye, Headmaster. Remus, Sirius, would you kindly show him out?" The two looked unhappily at him, no doubt wanting to see what happened with Draco, but nodded, and pulled the stock-still Dumbledore out of the room with little resistance from the old man.
Once the doors had shut, Harry turned to Draco. "Now, Mr. Malfoy. What can I do for you?"
Draco reddened slightly. "Er… well… Look, Potter- Lord Azkaban- I know we've never really been on the best of terms, and yes I was a bigoted git, and I'm not sure if I still am or not… not really sure of anything anymore…" the last bit was muffled, "But I came here to ask for the Lord Azkaban's help. I highly doubt you'll give it to me, now that I know who you are, but… I'm in a bit of a dilemma."
"How so?" Harry asked, eyebrow raised.
Malfoy Jr. sighed. "The thing is… a few days ago, my father came to me and asked me to join the Dark Lord's ranks… and I turned him down."
Mel moved to rise, but Ari tugged her down. Both looked an odd cross between thoughtful and angry. "He never did join his father," Ari said calmly. "That is the truth. He never did anything to us, we never saw him around."
Harry nodded. "He is telling the truth. I told Dumbledore before Sirus and Remus and I went to rescue you that I have a slight talent at Legilimancy; that's true." .:Did you get that too:. Harry asked Nimi. .:Because I just realized that Helene didn't mention it:.
.:I probably did; it would probably fall under inheriting your abilities, not your magical talents, as that's more a technique than anything else.:.
.:True:. "As it is, I can tell you that Mr. Malfoy is telling the truth; he did turn down his father's offer." He looked to Draco. "What I'm not sure of is why."
Malfoy smiled weakly. "Me either. I do know that Voldemort's a bloody halfblood hypocrite-" here Mel began to choke and cough and Ari had to pound her on the back "-and that I could never trust Dumbledore. Really, that means that unless I stay neutral, my only option in this war is joining you. And sweeing as how I'll probably end up dead if I stay neutral, I'd like to formally request your protection."
.:What do you think:.
She paused for a moment before replying to him. .:I think that he'd make a good ally. I wouldn't place him on your Council, but maybe induct him into the Order of the Patroni and have him for advice there. Use some sort of Blood Contract though, just in case. Have him stay in the Living Wing with guards outside.:.
.:To protect him, or protect us:. It was a weak attempt at humor, but her response was anything but.
.:Whichever needs protecting.:.
Harry mentally nodded to her once more before looking to Mel and Ari. "Are you two alright with this? He'd be staying in the Living Wing, with guards," they looked at him knowingly at this, "And be under an High Azkabanian Blood Oath before being told anything."
Both nodded, and Mel spoke. "Yes. I won't hold him responsible for his father;s crimes, much as I'd like to. But if he makes one wrong move, he's screwed." Ari nodded once more, and Malfoy visibly gulped.
Harry nodded. "Very well then. What's your middle name?"
Draco looked confused, but nonetheless answered "Morgan. Named for Morgaine LeFay, actually."
Harry nodded, forcing down a smirk. "Draco Morgan Malfoy, I hereby grant you protection and shelter for the remainder fo this war and however long is deemed necessary by me, Harry James Potter, Lord of Caer Azkaban and the Druid Isles, afterwards. Do you accept?"
A smile broke across the other boy's face for the first time in the conversation. "I most assuredly do, Lord Azkaban. Thank you."
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Albus Dumbledore sighed as he adressed the quiickly called Order. "It has come to my attention that there is a spy in our midst… And I know who it is."
A red haired man gulped. "Who is it, Professor?"
The man sighed, looking older than ever. "You, Percy."
And amidst Molly's waterworks, ther Order's hysteria, and the other Weasleys' denial, Percy Weasley smiled. He had accomplished his duty. His Master would reward him greatly.
A/N: Interesting fact about my version of Draco- in the original idea of HVSC, he turned down Voldemort's offer in about the eleventh chapter and was put in the cell with Mel and Ari. Decided to change it, though. Also would like to say that I don't agree with Draco on Hermione- in canon, she's my favorite character. In this fic though, she's horrid, as much as I hate to admit it. :)
Two chapters and an Epilogue left!
Aerin
