257
Chapter 35 – Helping Harry
Ron stood in the kitchen with a parchment in his hand. In silence he read:
Weasley,
I know you have no reason to believe what I am about to tell you, but for Harry's sake, I hope you choose to at least give me an opportunity to lead you to him.
You wouldn't know him. He has been completely broken. He remembers nothing of his former life. He has blocked everything. I have begun trying to get him to remember, but I don't have much time. In fact, I have no time at all.
I have no reason to believe that I will survive this. I know that you want to kill me; and frankly you have good reason. Harry wants to kill me as well, but not for turning him over to my father. He doesn't remember that. No, Harry wants to kill me as a rival for my father's affection, if you can believe it, and if my father gets word of my actions, I won't live out the day. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to die, but my desire for self-preservation has been over-ridden by seeing what Harry has become.
I am not going to try to explain it. Words fail. Suffice it to say that when he is returned to you, you will probably have to keep him prisoner, to prevent him from returning to my father.
As a show of good faith, I will tell you of a strike by the Death Eaters that Lucius has put Harry in charge of. Tomorrow morning, there will be an attack on the Manor. We are instructed to do anything, in our considerable power, to bring back everyone that is there. Get Miki out. Send him to the home or back to the Burrow, anywhere away from the Manor. I would appreciate it if you would get Moira out as well. You should know by now, that she had nothing to do with any of this and is probably heart-broken.
I have been attempting to get into Harry's sphere of influence. It isn't easy. Let me tell you a little of what you will be facing concerning Harry. First, he was psychologically and physically tortured, to the point that any normal human being would have broken. But, we are talking about Harry here. He would not give up that sense of self that is so important. He had a reason to fight. He was fighting for his family. This went on for weeks and still he wouldn't budge.
The thing that finally broke him was Lucius having one of the Death Eaters impersonate Ginny by using Polyjuice Potion. 'Ginny' then proceeded to place him under the Cruciatus Curse for killing Miki. His mind couldn't take another thing.
As soon as he broke, Lucius began to treat him kindly. He clothed him, fed him, and gave him all that he had been lacking in the previous weeks during the torture sessions. Harry rarely if ever saw him during those weeks, and when he finally cracked, Lucius was there with comfort. He looks at my father as his rescuer. Harry Potter worships Lucius Malfoy. But it even goes beyond that. Every day that passes, Harry goes deeper into his own world where Lucius is his god. To give you and example Weasley, I saw him endure the Cruciatus Curse with barely a whimper because he thought it would be disrespectful to my father to give in to screams when he deserved the punishment; which he didn't.
Some of these things that I am telling you are second hand information as I was not there, others I witnessed first hand.
To show you that I am serious about getting Harry out, during the attack tomorrow morning, I will have Harry on the ridge about ½ mile south of the Manor. The two of us will be alone. You can wear his invisibility cloak, or cast a disillusionment charm or any of a number of things that will make you more comfortable with the situation. I suggest that you bring Aurors in, because it will take that to capture and keep Harry safe. One more thing, if I were you, I wouldn't have Ginny there. It will definitely set him off. Having Harry back is going to be as difficult on her as not having him back. In fact my suggestion is that you not even show her this letter. But it is your choice, of course.
Now, I know that no manner of communication will convince you that I am doing this for Harry's good. You'll just have to trust me. But for the love of Merlin, Weasley, get him out!
DM
Ron re-read the letter 3 more times before he moved out of the kitchen. He went to the room where Dumbledore was staying and knocked on the closed door.
"Come in, Mr. Weasley. I've been expecting you."
Ron didn't even take the time to wonder why the Professor knew that he was coming to talk to him. "Professor, I got a letter."
"Yes, Mr. Weasley; I got one too."
"Then what do you make of it?"
"I believe, Mr. Weasley, that Harry is going to be returned to us."
"How can we trust Malfoy, Professor?"
"The real question is how can we not?"
"Then we are going to proceed as if this is true?"
"We will, of course, take precautions.
Ron only nodded, having learned years earlier that heeding Professor Albus Dumbledore was always a good idea.
Ron convinced Ginny to get Moira out of the house for an excursion. "Both of you need a break Gin. Go stay at a hotel, sit in the Jacuzzi, take Moira with you. I know that you are strong Sis, but Moira is a basket case. She thinks that we all blame her. She hasn't eaten or slept since this started. That's not good for the baby. Get some potions for her so that she can rest. Dreamless Sleep comes to mind. You are her only real friend, you know. She misses Malfoy as much as you miss Harry, Merlin knows why, but there you are. Will you do it? Can you put aside your worry for Harry for a while and help a friend in need? You know that we will be here in case anything happens."
"But…"
"Please, Gin, I'm worried about both of you."
She sighed deeply. She studied the pleading look on Ron's face and sighed again. "All right, but if anything happens…"
"We will all be here."
She nodded. "Maybe, I'll take Miki with me. He could use a break too. He is so worried about his daddy."
He opened up his arms and she walked into them. "That's a good idea, baby sis."
After Ginny, Moira and Miki left, Ron found Dumbledore in the library having a long discussion with Tavish.
Ron bowed respectfully to the ghost. "Milord.' Then turned to the Professor. "Sir, the girls and Miki are gone."
"Well done, Mr. Weasley. You are probably the only one who could have managed it. The Aurors should start arriving soon. We are taking Mr. Malfoy at his word and having as many people there as we can manage."
"It might frighten Harry, sir. Do you think we should?"
"Mr. Weasley, in the beginning, everything is going to frighten Harry. I'm afraid it can not be avoided. There will also be several Medi-Wizards there to help. I believe, our Mr. Potter, will be in good hands. I have informed the remaining residents of the house of the situation and asked them to return to their homes, to be recalled when we have Harry secure. Should there be a break through in our forces, and Death Eaters get into the Manor, there will be nobody here to attack; except for trained Auror's that is. I think that there will be some US Special Forces here as well."
"You've thought of everything sir."
Dumbledore placed a hand in the pocket of his robes and pulled out a tin. "Lemon drop, Mr. Weasley?"
Ron smiled. "I believe I will, Professor."
&
The attack came at six a.m. but the attacking Death Eaters found the wards around the Manor had been strengthened. Spell after spell hit the protective shield, but ricocheted harmlessly off.
Just before the strike, Draco had lured Harry to the ridge, with the story that they should block all possible escape routes. "It would be just like those sniveling wretches to try to run away, rather than stay and fight.
Harry hadn't said anything as they walked toward the ridge, away from the fighting. As he walked, he studied Draco.
After a while, Draco chuckled a bit. "What is it, Harry?" He didn't look at him, afraid that somehow his plan would show on his face.
"You are different, somehow. What has changed?"
Draco walked in silence for about a minute, then shrugged. "Would you believe me if I told you that I am jealous of you?"
Harry stopped and looked at him, but all he saw was Draco's retreating back. "No, I wouldn't."
Draco shrugged again. "Your choice, of course; but I am. I'm jealous of your relationship with my father, first and foremost. I have been trying to get him to treat me like he treats you since I was a child. He loves you, you know, Harry, in his way, I suppose."
Once again Harry stopped and stared, then ran to catch up. "Do you really think so?"
"Of course. I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true."
Harry was quiet for a while, the spoke with a bit of irony in his voice. "Then you are luring me up here to kill me." It was a statement of fact not a question. "You will not win, Draco."
Draco chuckled. "No Harry, I don't want you dead."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Then what is it?"
They had reached the point that Draco had appointed, then turned to Harry. "I want you safe. You don't realize it, but my father is a maniac, Harry, and you are so wrapped up in hero worship that you can't see it. You are just too…good, for the likes of him."
Harry drew his wand and pointed it at his rival. "You would dare speak of my Master, like that, to me? Do you have a death wish, Draco? I can't believe that you would…"
But Draco interrupted him by a wave of his hand. "I know that you don't remember it, Harry, but we were once friends. But I did something unforgivable to you and that ended. Do I regret it? Yes, I do. Can I do anything about it? There again I would have to answer, yes."
Draco turned his back on Harry and walked a few steps away. Harry, you can't continue like this. Lucius will destroy you. He is already half-way there. You have a family that loves you, and a life that is the envy of every wizard in the world. Go back to it. Relearn it if you have too, but do it."
Harry felt the anti-Apparating spell hit him at the same time as six Aurors surrounded him. He screamed at Draco. "You are a traitor!"
Harry struggled to get away from the six men surrounding him.
Draco smiled sadly. "Yes, I am. To everybody. Harry, stop struggling and go with them, they won't hurt you. They are only here to help.
Harry started struggling mindlessly as the entire group disappeared. The last thing that Draco heard was a strangled scream of frustration.
Draco walked over and sat down on the edge of the ridge absently throwing small rocks down the steep slopes.
Ron walked over and sat next to him. "That was a good thing you did, you know."
"Is everyone safe?"
"Yes."
"And Harry. Is he…"
"They are taking him to a hospital in California. There is a Healer there that can help him."
"And Moira, is she…all right?"
"She misses you, but she will be fine. Ginny took her and Miki out of the Manor last night."
He stood up and brushed his robes off. "Well, I suppose…"
Ron didn't look up at Malfoy when he stood up. "Come back with us."
"What? Have you gone around the bend?" He chuckled humorlessly. "I like my skin right where it is, thank you very much. Ginny would skin me alive."
Now Ron stood and looked directly at Malfoy. "You're right, she would. At least for now. She is going to have a difficult time of it for a long while. No, what I meant was, that Dumbledore has a place for you, at Hogwarts. It is well hidden, and the last place in the world that anyone, including Lucius, would look for you."
He snorted. "What am I, the local charity case?"
"Get over yourself Malfoy. You did a good thing. Dumbledore wants to give you a chance at something different. Take it or leave it, but I would consider the alternatives. You asked me to trust you in that letter you sent. Now, I am asking you the same thing."
Draco seemed to consider Ron's proposition. "A hidden place at Hogwarts?"
Ron laughed. "With all the potion making you could want."
Draco made a face. "Hate potion making."
Ron's look was incredulous. "Wait a minute, What? You hate potions?"
Draco chuckled again, but this time with genuine humor. "Can't stand it."
"But your grades…
"Barely passable."
"You're having me on."
"Longbottom was better than I was."
"All right, now I know you're having me on."
"Nope."
"Huh, live and learn."
Draco laughed. "Except potions."
Ron chuckled. "Yeah, except potions. So, what's it to be Malfoy?"
"It would be like voluntarily, walking into a prison cell."
"I can't deny that, up to a point."
"What do you mean, up to a point?"
"Well, you know Dumbledore, He always has a few tricks up his sleeve. I wouldn't put it past him to hide you right under the very noses of the Wizengamot."
Malfoy looked at him slyly. "You know I could call the Death Eaters here right now, and they would take you to my father."
Ron laughed. "Then we'd have to go through this whole thing again when you return me to my home.
Draco graced Ron with that familiar Malfoy smirk. "I don't know about that, Weasley. I wouldn't feel the same compulsion to get you out."
"You aren't going to do that."
"What makes you so sure, Weasley?"
"One, if you were going to, you would have done it already; and two, the Death Eaters are probably all rounded up by now."
"I figured as much." Draco shook his head in disbelief. "These are the best that my father had and they would have a hard time finding their noses to pick." He sighed, "So Weasley, who ever thought that you and I would have so much in common. We both hurt him; and we are both scrambling to make it up to him."
Ron looked out over the cliff and admired the greenery for a while. "Yeah."
They were quiet for a while, as they took in the peaceful scenery. Then Ron turned back to Malfoy. "Oh, did I mention that Dumbledore said, that if Moira wanted to come with you, that…"
"Let's go."