A/n- thanks to Dubhesigrid, Linda, cmtaylor531, Natural-181, FairyPrincessWithATwist, WaitingForAnAbsolution, ThePrincessWolf and Emilee for reviewing the previous chapter which took a very long time to write. To the rest of you: … slackers!!!!
Disclaimer: Uh- ?
Summary: It may be that Draco is no longer safe among Slytherins…
The Other Side of Fate
It started as a small nagging sensation at the back of Draco's mind. He would turn, irritated, and stare at the empty desk across the room. Gradually, his focus would return to his work. Yet, somehow, the fact that Gregory Goyle had not returned the day classes had resumed weighed heavily on Malfoy's mind.
He wanted to confront Zabini about it. But then, he didn't.
That would prove he was still on speaking terms with the other boy and might lead to Blaise becoming suspicious.
He wanted to write to his father. But then, he didn't.
That would lead to his father becoming suspicious.
But by the second night, whereas Goyle had still not returned, Draco felt a tad more then the occasional nagging worry.
"Professor?"
Draco saw the man before him stiffen over his stack of papers, his greasy hair bent so low that it threatened to track across the fresh ink filled parchment draped over the end of the table. Shadows from the windows cast an eerie black gloom.
"Professor-" Draco tried to sound sincere, something he wasn't too sure he was capable of. He saw Hermione shift her bag uncomfortably upon her shoulder. She gave him an encouraging look,
The pair watched Snape look up at them as they stood in the doorway. His face was carefully blank.
Draco dropped his hand from the open door and moved into the candle light that spilled from Snape's desk. Hermione hung back in the doorway.
"The classroom door was open, Sir." He stated blankly, weary of the oddly piercing look he was receiving. Malfoy saw the man's gaze flicker towards Hermione before snapping back. "I wanted to ask you a question, Professor."
Snape's quill, suspended in mid air, fell back down into its ink well as the papers were pushed back.
"What," The man hissed. "Can I do for you, Draco?" The name sounded like a curse.
Draco looked away and he saw out of the corner of his vision a smile growing on Snape's face.
Was he enjoying this?
"Goyle-"
"Ah, yes."
Draco looked back to see Snape stand from his chair and fell silent. Glancing back at Hermione, he saw she was staring at the ground.
Ever since Draco had his whole head of hair practically ripped out in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione had been particularly silent in the class. It was abnormal for her not to talk such, but Malfoy had the distinct impression her lack of participation was in silent protest against the way he had been treated.
The class, thus after, had become silent; none of the other students ever knew any of the answers Snape posed.
"…with his mother."
Draco looked back at Snape, his eyes wide. "What?" He said, snapped really, unintentionally.
"I said, Mr. Malfoy" And now the man was becoming annoyed. Draco tried to focus, not look at the vials of green ooze on the walls- or the dead animals. "Mr. Goyle has come down with a particular illness; he is in St. Mungo's as of late, with his mother."
Malfoy's jaw dropped open.
"But that's impossible-"
"Why is that impossible, Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco stared stupidly at Snape. He couldn't think of an answer, but he knew, he knew. Goyle was not sick in any way. Malfoy had a sinking feeling that Blaise had found out what he had asked Goyle to do. What if he was dead?
Something cold and ice-like filled Draco's lungs.
What if he was dead?
"Now, if there is anything else I can help you or Miss. Granger with?"
Hermione shook her head, reaching to pull on Draco's sleeve, but he shrugged her off.
"Professor?" Snape looked up as he seated himself again, his greasy hair shielding his eyes. A rage built up within Malfoy; something wasn't right and he couldn't stand not knowing anymore "If my father does anything-"
"Why would I have any idea what your father is doing, Malfoy?" Snape's voice reverberated around the room, menacing. A sneer curled the man's lips, but it was laughter that Snape held back.
Draco's protest died feebly within his throat.
"I-." Malfoy mumbled, moving out of the room. As he backed into the landing outside the Professor's office, Snape flicked his wand and the door slammed shut. At the loud bang, Hermione had jumped.
"I told you it was useless to come here." She whispered, afraid that saying anything would sent Draco off. "Let's just go back to the Common Room." She laid her hand on his shoulder, tugging, but Malfoy didn't want to move- he wanted to stay and prove… something…
After a moment, Hermione gave a shuttering breath and Draco woke up from his thoughts.
"Sorry."
As they reached the hallway, they stopped as a group of Hufflepuff girls walked by, chattering wildly.
"I'm sorry about Goyle." At her words, Malfoy winced, looked away. Did she assume he was gone too? "Are we going to the Common Room?"
Draco touched her lips with his thumb. "I have to get something from the room, come with me? It's not far." But at his words, he knew- and saw- the fault in his logic. How could she come with him? The Slytherin Common Room?
Hermione looked torn.
To Draco's surprise, she nodded. At the worry in her eyes he felt guilt, but he knew she could have said no.
The dungeons were well lit at night, the torches in the walls sending black curls of smoke to the ceiling- the vapor disappearing magically into nothingness.
"It's so cold here."
"Always is." Malfoy replied, running a hand through his blonde-white hair. "We're under the lake, you know, that's why all the lights are green when you get inside. Usually we just cover the windows."
Hermione grinned. "So that's why you're so pale." She poked him beneath the ribs. Draco, glad for the darkness, was able to hide what color appeared on his cheeks.
"Wish I had the invisibility cloak." Hermione murmured offhandedly. "But… you gave that back a few weeks ago, didn't you?" Malfoy nodded.
Giving the password, Malfoy peered inside the Common Room.
"Blaise? Pansy? Crabbe!"
Hermione looked a tad uncomfortable; no one answered to the names Draco had called. He knew they liked to loiter around the Slytherin table in the Great Hall and he and Hermione had gone strait after dinner to Snape's classroom. The Slytherins weren't back yet.
Draco motioned for Hermione to follow him.
"This is exceedingly creepy, Draco."
Malfoy smirked and nodded to the couch. Hermione sat askew on one of the arms. Reaching down, she picked up a Slytherin goblet on the table. The silver was pure and green stones shone from the rim. Shivering, she looked into the fire, glancing around once to see Draco disappear down a short step to his dorm.
After a moment, Hermione slid down to lay on the couch, her heart pounding with the fear and- strangely pleasant- feeling of being caught.
A yell- a strangled sound- erupted from the dark. Hermione jolted; her wand out as she jumped up. The goblet fell onto the ground and spun in a lazy circle on the rug.
"Draco!" She called, fear seeping into her words. But it was Malfoy who staggered up the steps, his bag he had gotten under one arm, a piece of paper in his hands.
The terror in his gaze as he reached her, as he took her hand, frightened Hermione badly. She never imagined Draco as one to be scared- childishly competitive and a sore looser, yes- terrified, no.
"We have to see Potter."
"Wh-" Hermione started, but Draco pulled her out of the room.
.o.o.o.o.
Draco,
Your mother and I wanted to give you our sincere encouragement concerning your next attempt. I know it has been hard, son, but you will prevail; for your mother, for the Dark Lord, for me. Your last attempt fell unexpectedly on Katie Bell- this mistake cannot be repeated! Do not force us to help you directly. Perform better, Draco, for the Dark Lord grows impatient.
-LM
Harry lowered the letter, Ron leaning back from his position over his shoulder; they looked across the Gryffindor table to see Draco slumped forward, his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands.
"These two are the only letters you've gotten?" Malfoy had given Harry the first one he'd received.
Draco nodded mutely. Hermione reached around and traced long lined down Malfoy's back between his shoulder blades out of comfort.
"And what you've told us, about Goyle and Zabini and your father and everything, that's all?"
Another nod.
Harry let a breath rush out of his lungs. Ron looked smug.
"I told you Malfoy cursed Katie."
Draco looked up, disbelieving, his mouth open and his eyes wide. He couldn't come up with a comeback of any kind.
"Ron…" Hermione started, her voice soothingly calm. "It wasn't Draco."
The redhead sniffed. "Well, it was suppose to be, wasn't it? Lucius must have thought it was, didn't he? Who would impersonate Malfoy for Merlin's sake?"
"Zabini." Draco choked out, his throat constricted.
Harry shook his head. "If what you said about Zabini finding out about Goyle is true, and considering how much he hates you, I doubt that Blaise would miss the opportunity to take your place and not be vocal about it. If Blaise had been carrying out Draco's orders, he would have told everyone- including Malfoy's father. Why would your father, if he knew, feign ignorance if Blaise was doing your job?"
The world tilted under Draco and he felt as if he was going to be sick. "He wouldn't, that's the problem. Whoever is doing these things knows my orders and is doing them without the Dark Lord or my father's knowledge."
"Why?" Hermione questioned. "Why would anyone do that?"
Ron grimaced. "Probably going to take the credit, wouldn't he? Reveal that he instead of Malfoy got 'the target'." The boy paused momentarily. "Who is 'the target' anyway?"
Everyone looked at Harry who shook his head again. "I don't know." He glanced at the grandfather clock standing against the wall.
Eleven-thirty.
Draco followed his gaze and became a tad frantic. "I don't know what I'm going to do." His heart was thudding uncomfortably. "I don't- what if- what if I'm attacked?" Everyone looked at him. "What if I'm sleeping and Blaise really does want the glory? What if he kills me? What am I going to do?" Hermione made a small noise beside him.
Ron bent down and whispered something to Harry who concealed, badly, a startled look. After a moment of consideration, Harry put down both of the letters, the ink sparkling up at the four.
"You should stay." He said simply.
Draco dropped his hands to his knees, dropped his gaze. Harry continued.
"You can stay in this Common Room; I'm not going to have you get killed- any of you three. All I need to do is destroy the remaining three Horcruxes with Dumbledore then school should be out and the Order will..." He didn't finish but flourished his hands to imitate some elaborate plan.
"You can have the couch." Ron said simply, contempt mixed with what sounded like pity in his voice.
If Draco want so preoccupied, he's have told the Weasel off. He was enjoying watching Malfoy worry like this- some sick retribution.
"I don't… how…" Malfoy started but stopped short, unable to express his thanks and worry that his house would all but assassinate him for staying with the Gryffindors.
As if reading his thoughts, Harry continued. "I'll have Dobby bring up your things and place an empty trunk in its place; he'll tell the other House-Elves to keep your bed space looking lived-in."
Shakily, Draco extended a hand to Harry's, shaking it awkwardly. "Thank you, Potter…Weasley."
Harry smiled that brilliantly winning smile.
"We'll figure this out, Malfoy, don't worry."
Draco tried to match the smile, but failed.
A/n- sorry for the shotness of the chapter, but chapter 10 was always going to be short, it was planned that way. The next one will be a little short too, but after that, expect LONG chapters.
About next Sunday….
Er- I'm going to Hawaii until next Monday, soooo one update will be skipped.
Just wanted to let you know,
Review!