The World's Gone Crazy . . .
By Allanasha Ke Kiri
Chapter 36 --
If I get out of this James thought to himself as he was directed into a chair. I'm going to learn how to defend myself without my wand. I have had enough of being defenseless without it!
He may be a wizard, but so were the people he tended to fight against.
"Is this him?" One of the men asked. All James could tell, was that his hair was dark and long, and that he was the tallest of the three.
"What's your name boy?" the second one demanded. He only came up to the first's shoulder. His hair was lighter, too.
James didn't answer. Instead, he smoothed out his face to keep it from showing any of his emotions.
"I'd answer if I were you, kiddo," the woman said. She was behind him, so he couldn't see her, though he could still feel her wand poking him in the shoulder.
James felt one of his hands clench into fists. He didn't just want to sit and do nothing, but they had his wand. If he wanted the chance to get out, he'd have to be careful.
"James Medin," he said carefully.
"Good boy," the woman whispered. He could literally hear her smirk.
James didn't reply.
"This is him," the first man said.
"Didn't need you to point it out," the second said, sneer not hidden, even though James couldn't make out his features.
"Be quiet, both of you!" the woman snapped.
They silenced. Obviously, the woman was in charge. It was always nice to know who you had to be careful of.
"You never answered Albus' letter," the woman said.
James barely stopped the wince. Damn. I knew I should have sent a rejection.
It seemed like both he and Tom had miscalculated what Dumbledore would do.
"Letter?" he asked, hoping they would fall for it.
"You were seen recieving it," the second man said, voice dry.
Double damn
"I hadn't realized he wanted a reply immediately," he tried instead, slowly raising a hand to stop Nataniel from stirring. The last thing he needed right now was one of them attacking his snake.
"He's expecting one."
Damn, damn, damn. How do I get myself into these things?
"It's a lot to think over."
"He's offered safety for the Malfoy's." The woman behind him said, removing the wand from his shoulder. All he had to do was get her to move from behind him.
"I realize that, but what he does is against what I was raised to believe."
James found himself hoping that someone would hear them and come to his rescue.
Master, what is going on?
"If you don't join him, he's going after the Malfoy's. They're next on his list."
James swallowed heavily, he hadn't known that. He continued to stroke Nataniel softly, hoping he got the message to stay put.
"It's not that much of a choice, not with everything else he knows."
James jerked around to narrow his eyes at the woman; how much did she know? She just smiled in reply. James tightened his hold on Nataniel when he tried to leave his neck.
Do not move, Nataniel.
The snake froze.
"What happens if I don't want to join a side? Remain neutral?"
"That's not an option for you," The woman said, her eyes seeming to linger on the small snake. "Well," she amended. "I suppose you can try, but that wont keep the Malfoy's safe. Though why you care is beyond me. They're just pureblood supremists."
James stiffened but didn't reply. He had never thought that he'd be put into this situation. Voldemort certainly didn't try to blackmail him into joining him.
"Good luck getting to them again," James sneered.
The woman chuckled. James lost his sneer; it was never a good thing when your opponent laughed.
"We've already figured out how to get passed their wards," she whispered, her breath brushing his ear. "We're just waiting on you."
James froze. She shouldn't have told him that. If he refused, he'd be able to tell the Malfoy's as soon as he left. Of course, what if they were all already in position and just waiting for these three to return?
"You're answer, James?"
James' eyes were frozen on the floor. Could he get them to give him some time? If so, he could tell the Malfoy's, get them out of the manor, and then tell Dumbledore no. He really didn't want to follow a madman. He didn't really want to be caught up in anything to begin with. Must be his terrible luck.
"A week," James said quietly.
"What?" the first man demanded.
"Give me a week. That's all I ask. To think things over and decide if . . . if I can."
There was a pause.
"We were given permission to allow it," the woman said.
James mentally sighed in relief.
"However,"
He didn't like the sound of that.
"Should the Malfoy's appear to be leaving for an extended stay somewhere, we'll take that as a negative and attack. They wont ever leave their house. Understand?"
James nodded.
"Good. One week, James. We'll tell Albus."
For the first time, the woman moved from behind him and went to the two men. She layed a hand on something the second one pulled out, tossed him his wand, and they were gone. James didn't waste a second before tearing out of the room and racing towards the headmaster's office. If anyone asked him later, he'd tell them that he was late for a meeting. It wouldn't be questioned, everyone knew that he talked to his uncle almost nightly.
"Harry? Why--? . . . What's wrong?" Tom asked as he sped into the office.
Harry, still somewhat shaken, fell into his usual seat.
"What's wrong, Harry?"
"I was on my rounds," Harry said, closing his eyes as he explained what happened.
When he finished, he opened his eyes to see Tom pacing. "I'm sorry, Harry, I should have just let you send the denial."
"He would have just attacked the Malfoy's right away then."
"The question now," Tom said. "Is how we let the Malfoy's know without tipping off Dumbledore."
Harry shook his head, he didn't know. Sighing, he sat back and rubbed his eyes. Was it too much to ask for a quiet life?
"What do you want to do, Harry?"
He looked up to see Tom sitting once more, his eyes sad.
"I don't know," he said softly. "I don't want the Malfoy's dead, but I can't stand the thought of joining Dumbledore, not with how he is here."
They were silent awhile.
"Now see here."
Tom and Harry turned to face the portraites, specifically one Phineas Nigelus.
"You both call yourselves Slytherins, but you can't see an opportunity when it stares you in the eye."
Harry frowned at the painting.
"What opportunity?" Tom asked.
Phineas rolled his eyes. "How much easier would it be if there was a spy in his ranks?"
Harry blinked. "I can't spy."
"And why not?"
"First of all, all he'd have to do is look and he'd be able to tell. I haven't got shields yet, which you'd know, if you cared to watch our sessions."
"You will by the end of the year," Tom said softly.
"I'd screw it up," Harry said. "I can't do the whole, dual life thing. I know I'd mess up. He'd find out, and go after the Malfoy's and everything would be ruined."
"Just act like yourself. As soon as you've got you're shields up, he'll never know," was Phineas' reply.
"But spying is more than just fooling them. I'm not that observant. Spies have to be observant. And they have to be perceptive. I'm the least perceptive person you will ever meet. Er . . . Actually, Ron's less perceptive. But still, my point remains."
"Even a little information is better than nothing," Phineas said, sounding very reasonable.
"Tom!" Harry said, turning to the man. "You know that I'd mess it up."
Tom didn't reply immediately. "You could do it," he said eventually, sounding reluctant to be doing so. "You've managed to fool everyone here into believing that you are my nephew. And your observations would increase over time, as would your perceptiveness. But it would be dangerous."
"Tom, it's a rediculous idea. I couldn't do."
"It's not as rediculous as you make it out to be. With the life of the Malfoy's hanging over your head, he wouldn't suspect you," Phineas replied, sounding like he was annoyed with them.
"Tom!" Harry tried again.
"I'm not saying you have to, Harry," Tom assured him. "I'm just saying that it is an option. We have a week to find another solution."
Harry nodded.
They ignored the muttering Phineas as they went through their occlumency session. Harry was getting fairly good at clearing his head now, and knew that they'd start working on shields soon. Which he would need if he was planning on spying. . . .
No! I am not spying!
He was still slightly out of it when he returned to the common room later that night. He ignored Draco and moved to his room, never noticing the worried looks his friends gave eachother. James had no sooner flung himself face down on his bed than someone knocked on his door.
"Go 'way," he said, voice muffled by his pillows.
Whoever it was that knocked either didn't hear him, or didn't care, as they opened the door.
"You okay, James?"
Didn't care.
"Fine," he answered, face still burrowed into his pillows.
His bed tipped. "Did Snape not give you the Gillyweed?"
James reached into his robe pocket and pulled it out the, until then, forgotten Gillyweed.
"So what's wrong?"
James just shook his head. He couldn't tell them.
"James?"
James sighed, rolling over to look up into Draco's concerned eyes.
"I'm fine, Draco. Just tired."
Draco was silent a moment, his eyes searching, before he nodded. "Alright."
He stood up, but, before he could go further, James shot forward and grabbed his arm. Draco turned a confused gaze at him. James looked down, unsure why he'd done that.
No, actually, he knew why. He didn't want to be alone, and if Draco left, he would be. As Head Boy, he had his own room.
"Stay?" he asked, quietly. "I . . . don't want to be alone right now."
Draco's eyes took on that searching look again, but he nodded slowly. James released his arm. Draco stepped back and quickly took off his robe. James watched as Draco bent down to remove his shoes before taking off his own.
Then, Draco was back on the bed and they were laying down. James, wanting some physical contact, put his arms around Draco and layed his head on the blond's chest. He noticed, then, that he was still shaking. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. James closed his eyes when Draco's arms rose to wrap around him, one of them stroking his hair.
He knew what he had to do. It wasn't like he really had a choice. He knew it, Dumbledore knew it, even Tom and Phineas knew it, but it didn't mean he had to like it.
"James?"
James just shook his head, burrowing his head farther into Draco's chest. Draco's arms tightened around him. It was then that he realized that he was crying.
Draco wasn't sure what to do. He hadn't expected this when he'd followed James to his room. He felt as helpless as he had just after Dumbledore's attack, when James had broken down.
What happened this time? he asked himself, worried.
It took a lot to make James so . . . broken. Draco wanted to fix him so desperately, but he couldn't do that without learning what was wrong. Unfortunately, James had already made it clear that he wasn't going to talk about it. Tightening his already tight hold on the brunette, he promised himself that he'd be there when James needed him. Whether it was to talk to, or to just hold him, Draco would be there.
After all, wasn't that what lov--
Draco blinked, his eyes widening at the thought. Love? His eyes lowered to James, still silently crying into his chest. One of his hands continued to run over James head, never stopping its soothing motion. His snake lay curled around his neck, hissing something; probably trying to sooth him. That was the second time he'd thought it, and the first time, he'd almost said it.
Did he love the boy? The strong, confidant, brave, smart, insecure, James Medin? Draco's eyes returned to the ceiling. Was it possible? He'd hadn't thought of it before. Could he, Draco Malfoy, love James Medin?
He knew for a fact that he liked the bloke, but did he love him? Draco stiffled a sigh and glanced back down at his boyfriend. James had fallen asleep, head still against his chest, arms pinning him to the bed. James looked so small like that, like he needed someone to protect him from the horrors of the world. He looked like he would break, but Draco knew better. James wasn't weak. He was the strongest person Draco knew. He'd even gotten them away from Dumbledore.
Draco was comfortable there, on James' bed, with James curled around him. He could get used to this, he realized with a start. He wouldn't mind falling asleep with the other boy, or waking up to him every morning.
"I love you," he whispered, trying it out. It just flowed off his tongue, as if it were the most natural thing to say. "I love you, James Medin."
(Peaks out of closet) Don't hate me! What do you think? Like it? Hate it? Let me know.
Also, I'm not sure how big of a role this is going to play in the story. It all depends on what you guys want. We're getting near the part that I don't have planned out. This is just something that came to me. (shrug)
What do you think about Draco and his sudden realization? Personally, I think that Draco would realize it sooner than Harry/James would, what with how long it took him to even realize that he like the bloke. :) We'll have Harry/James figuring it out soon enough. I'll see about adding some Harry/James - Emily interaction into the next chapter . . . hopefully it will fit into the story line. It depends . . .
Anyway, feedback is good. It lets me know what I'm doing right, and what needs to change, and it can make me a better writer. :)
Hope you enjoyed.
Allanasha Ke Kiri