A/N: Thank you to JK and Incitatus for reviewing. Glad you like the story :)
Chapter 5: ...And a chat.
Draco found himself being pulled up by Harry and Ron. He scrambled up from the floor and dusted himself off. There was a graze on his leg, but there didn't seem to be any serious injury. He noticed that Ron was holding a bow and peered over the edge, trying to see the body of the man below. He then surveyed the scene. One of the men who had arrived late appeared to have had his head hacked off with an arrowhead. Two of the others were lying on the ground with arrows jutting from their necks.
Harry had his arm on Ron's shoulder and was whispering to him.
"Nice shooting, Weasley," Wolfshead praised. Ron merely nodded, and walked back to the cave.
Ten minutes later they set off again, Wolfshead out in front. Harry and Ron were whispering together.
"That man is amazing," Ron whispered.
"I know. And he's so calm, how does he do it?" Harry whispered back.
"Fifteen years of training and practice and unwilling to be killed by the people willing to kill me," Wolfshead called back. He turned in the saddle and grinned at their dumbstruck faces. "I also have very, very good hearing!" He turned back and continued to scout for trouble. Harry and Ron spurred on their mounts and rode alongside him.
They rode in silence for a while, neither Harry or Ron wanting to voice their concerns. Their fidgeting was making Wolfshead uncomfortable, and he stopped and got off his horse.
"What's troubling you two?" he asked. They glanced at each other, neither willing to speak. "You've probably got a lot of questions, so come on, we'll have a bit of a break and I'll answer them."
"OK. First question, simple one. Why 'Wolfshead'?" asked Harry.
"Easy. Because I'm an outlaw, a wolfshead, and because I move with the stealth of a wolf. Besides, it was Lucius who gave me the nickname." Draco spat the word 'Lucius', and Harry and Ron lapsed into silence. "Well, come on, we won't ride on until you've got all the knowledge of me you want."
"Your sword. Why did it glow like that when the Melding was near?" asked Ron.
"It was enchanted by a shaman. It's been a great help to me throughout the years, it warns me whenever the Dark Forces are near." Ron nodded, then hesitated. The next questions were difficult ones and he was unsure how Draco would react. Harry nudged Ron, who cleared his throat.
"Camran Osir," he began. Wolfshead's eyes narrowed. "Was he one of the raiders or..."
"He was!" snapped Wolfshead. "Next question."
"How many people have you killed since the Fall?" asked Harry, hesitantly. Wolfshead fell silent and turned away.
"Next question."
"Why?" Wolfshead turned back to face them, and Harry noted the pain in his eyes.
"I don't want you to think badly of me."
"Draco, we've thought badly of you ever since school," Ron joked, but Wolfshead shook his head.
"No, I mean it, you'll hate me. I mean, really hate me. I hate myself."
"How many?" Harry pressed. Wolfshead mumbled something. "Sorry, I didn't catch that."
"I said, probably over a hundred, are you happy now?" Wolfshead yelled. "Fifteen of them killed my family, so that was justified. I don't know how many I assassinated, so don't ask, and I've also had a bloody great deal trying to kill me, like the bastards just now! I had to kill them to stay alive, you understand? You understand!" Wolfshead was getting hysterical now, and he strode away from the other two, taking deep breaths, trying to calm down.
"You don't know what it's like," he said finally. "To come home one day and to find your family dead. To want revenge so much that you spend fifteen years trying to find them all. To be hunted; for every one you kill another ten want revenge on you."
"But...you're a legend," said Ron helplessly.
"I didn't ask to be!" yelled Wolfshead. "You want to trade places, then fine! See if you like people staring at you, too scared to talk to you. See if you like being hunted, every day having to kill someone who's trying to hack you to pieces. See if you like never settling in one place because the locals get nervous around you, and you can't go anywhere without some horrible, constant reminder of what you've become.
"All I ever wanted was to be a normal man, a husband, a father! I didn't ask for anyone to butcher my family so I could spend the next fifteen years hunting for their killers! I certainly didn't want to be hunted! Do you know the kind of things I've faced in those fifteen years?" Ron, mouth hanging open in surprise from the verbal attack, shook his head slowly. "I have faced Meldings, like the one you saw yesterday I have faced demons sent from the Pit. But more than that...I have faced men. Men wanting revenge, men simply wanting the rewards that the Brotherhood have offered. It would be nice to think that all of them were evil men, but they weren't. Many were good, gentle men, family men, men like I used to be. Unskilled with weapons, many of them. And I had to kill them to stay alive. And the legend grew, telling how I beat fifty men in one assault, stuff like that. The truth is, it's not hard when most of them don't know one end of the sword from the other, or point the pistol the wrong way. I never wanted to be a legend. All I wanted was to be happy with my family. Now I have no family, no happiness, not even the chance to be the man I once was." Draco was sobbing now. Harry and Ron just looked at each other, unsure of how to react. Finally, Draco's sobs subsided, and he looked up at them, got on his horse and wheeled round, setting off back the way they came.
"Where are you going?" demanded Harry.
"I'm going back. You hate me now, there's no point carrying on." Ron rode on to catch up with him.
"No, we don't hate you. Come on, you daft 'apporth, we've got to reach the palace by tonight."
"You don't hate me?" Wolfshead was genuinely surprised. Ron grinned.
"Nah. You can be an insufferable git sometimes, but we don't hate you. Now, can you show me that thing you did with your sword? You know, when you were surrounded by those men?" Wolfshead grinned.
"I will if you tell me how you managed to kill all those men back there," he offered. Ron shrugged.
"I don't really know how. I mean, when they first came down the hill I was terrified, then I screamed and the terror just fled from me. I wasn't aware of anything, the red mist just came down and all I could think about was killing them."
"So, you're a berserker?" Ron reddened.
"I didn't say that!"
"You didn't have to. Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of, Ron. You'll be a hard man to kill. I'm glad I'm fighting with you, not against you, is all. Anyway, that thing with the sword..." Ron sighed with relief as he took up his sword, grateful for the change of subject.
*
Dusk had fallen by the time the riders reached the Nadir camp. Draco watched with jealousy as Hermione ran to greet Ron, and wished not for the first time that Ella was still alive.
"Do you want to meet the man in charge?" asked Harry, noticing the look on Draco's face. Draco merely nodded and followed Harry without a word.
Harry led Draco to the largest hut and left him there. The guard at the entrance eyed him suspiciously. Draco busied himself with admiring the decor, shields lining the walls, and some weaponry, typical warrior's hut.
At last the door at the end of the hall opened and another guard beckoned Draco in.
He strode into the room and came face to face with Dumbledore. He looked so old and frail now, but his eyes still had the determined, fighting spirit Draco had seen so many times as a boy at Hogwarts. He was amazed, he thought the old boy would have been long dead by now. He bowed.
"There is no need nor the time for such formality, Mr Malfoy," said Dumbledore, getting up and taking Draco's hand in the warrior's grip, wrist to wrist. "I called you here for a reason, and I know that there is also a chance that you will refuse the mission."
"I am not killing anyone," said Wolfshead determinedly.
"We are not asking you to," said a new voice. Severus Snape and Remus Lupin had appeared at Dumbledore's side. "Hello, Draco."
"Hello, Severus!" Severus went to Draco's side and embraced him like a brother.
"I'm sorry I haven't been in touch, Draco, but you were so hard to reach. Ella's death must have hurt you greatly."
"It did, Severus, and it doesn't matter about not being in touch. I'm just glad you're alive."
"Gentlemen, if we may concentrate on the task in hand?" asked Dumbledore. Draco nodded.
"As Severus has said, we do not wish you to kill anyone. However, the task in hand is extremely dangerous, and you have a lot of experience in surviving. You seemed like the best man for the job."
"We need you to spy on the Brotherhood," said Remus. "There is a big gathering in Ventria next week, and we believe that Voldemort will be unveiling his plans for attacking the Nadir. It also coincides with the annual Death Eater feast at the Winter Palace. There are rumours abound that he is to receive the aid of an Ipissimus. We hope that the information is false. I trust you know what an Ipissimus is." Draco had paled visibly at the news. An Ipissimus was an almighty sorcerer, capable of summoning the Demon Lord. He nodded, his mouth suddenly dry.
"As Albus has stated, this is a dangerous mission, with a high risk that you could be captured or killed," Severus continued. "Your actions there could also plunge the country almost immediately into war, especially in the event of your capture. But it is also our best chance of winning the war. Will you accept, Draco?"
"What choice do I have?" Wolfshead asked, half to himself.
"We all have choices, Mr Malfoy," replied Dumbledore. Wolfshead looked into Dumbledore's eyes. He could easily walk away from this mission, easily turn his back on the Nadir and aim for survival in a remote forest far from here.
But he also knew that he would not be able to live with the guilt, had he not tried to help. And what better revenge for the destruction of his family, than helping to eradicate the force that had killed them?
"I'll do it," Wolfshead replied. "When do I leave?"
"Your horse will be ready at first light, at the eastern gate," replied Dumbledore. "Alneith will show you to your hut."
"I'll be there." He shook hands with Lupin and Dumbledore in the warrior's grip, embraced Severus and strode out of the hut, following the young guard to his hut and began to make preparations for his mission.
Draco Malfoy, what have you let yourself in for? he wondered later that night, staring up at the ceiling as sleep eluded him once more.
Chapter 5: ...And a chat.
Draco found himself being pulled up by Harry and Ron. He scrambled up from the floor and dusted himself off. There was a graze on his leg, but there didn't seem to be any serious injury. He noticed that Ron was holding a bow and peered over the edge, trying to see the body of the man below. He then surveyed the scene. One of the men who had arrived late appeared to have had his head hacked off with an arrowhead. Two of the others were lying on the ground with arrows jutting from their necks.
Harry had his arm on Ron's shoulder and was whispering to him.
"Nice shooting, Weasley," Wolfshead praised. Ron merely nodded, and walked back to the cave.
Ten minutes later they set off again, Wolfshead out in front. Harry and Ron were whispering together.
"That man is amazing," Ron whispered.
"I know. And he's so calm, how does he do it?" Harry whispered back.
"Fifteen years of training and practice and unwilling to be killed by the people willing to kill me," Wolfshead called back. He turned in the saddle and grinned at their dumbstruck faces. "I also have very, very good hearing!" He turned back and continued to scout for trouble. Harry and Ron spurred on their mounts and rode alongside him.
They rode in silence for a while, neither Harry or Ron wanting to voice their concerns. Their fidgeting was making Wolfshead uncomfortable, and he stopped and got off his horse.
"What's troubling you two?" he asked. They glanced at each other, neither willing to speak. "You've probably got a lot of questions, so come on, we'll have a bit of a break and I'll answer them."
"OK. First question, simple one. Why 'Wolfshead'?" asked Harry.
"Easy. Because I'm an outlaw, a wolfshead, and because I move with the stealth of a wolf. Besides, it was Lucius who gave me the nickname." Draco spat the word 'Lucius', and Harry and Ron lapsed into silence. "Well, come on, we won't ride on until you've got all the knowledge of me you want."
"Your sword. Why did it glow like that when the Melding was near?" asked Ron.
"It was enchanted by a shaman. It's been a great help to me throughout the years, it warns me whenever the Dark Forces are near." Ron nodded, then hesitated. The next questions were difficult ones and he was unsure how Draco would react. Harry nudged Ron, who cleared his throat.
"Camran Osir," he began. Wolfshead's eyes narrowed. "Was he one of the raiders or..."
"He was!" snapped Wolfshead. "Next question."
"How many people have you killed since the Fall?" asked Harry, hesitantly. Wolfshead fell silent and turned away.
"Next question."
"Why?" Wolfshead turned back to face them, and Harry noted the pain in his eyes.
"I don't want you to think badly of me."
"Draco, we've thought badly of you ever since school," Ron joked, but Wolfshead shook his head.
"No, I mean it, you'll hate me. I mean, really hate me. I hate myself."
"How many?" Harry pressed. Wolfshead mumbled something. "Sorry, I didn't catch that."
"I said, probably over a hundred, are you happy now?" Wolfshead yelled. "Fifteen of them killed my family, so that was justified. I don't know how many I assassinated, so don't ask, and I've also had a bloody great deal trying to kill me, like the bastards just now! I had to kill them to stay alive, you understand? You understand!" Wolfshead was getting hysterical now, and he strode away from the other two, taking deep breaths, trying to calm down.
"You don't know what it's like," he said finally. "To come home one day and to find your family dead. To want revenge so much that you spend fifteen years trying to find them all. To be hunted; for every one you kill another ten want revenge on you."
"But...you're a legend," said Ron helplessly.
"I didn't ask to be!" yelled Wolfshead. "You want to trade places, then fine! See if you like people staring at you, too scared to talk to you. See if you like being hunted, every day having to kill someone who's trying to hack you to pieces. See if you like never settling in one place because the locals get nervous around you, and you can't go anywhere without some horrible, constant reminder of what you've become.
"All I ever wanted was to be a normal man, a husband, a father! I didn't ask for anyone to butcher my family so I could spend the next fifteen years hunting for their killers! I certainly didn't want to be hunted! Do you know the kind of things I've faced in those fifteen years?" Ron, mouth hanging open in surprise from the verbal attack, shook his head slowly. "I have faced Meldings, like the one you saw yesterday I have faced demons sent from the Pit. But more than that...I have faced men. Men wanting revenge, men simply wanting the rewards that the Brotherhood have offered. It would be nice to think that all of them were evil men, but they weren't. Many were good, gentle men, family men, men like I used to be. Unskilled with weapons, many of them. And I had to kill them to stay alive. And the legend grew, telling how I beat fifty men in one assault, stuff like that. The truth is, it's not hard when most of them don't know one end of the sword from the other, or point the pistol the wrong way. I never wanted to be a legend. All I wanted was to be happy with my family. Now I have no family, no happiness, not even the chance to be the man I once was." Draco was sobbing now. Harry and Ron just looked at each other, unsure of how to react. Finally, Draco's sobs subsided, and he looked up at them, got on his horse and wheeled round, setting off back the way they came.
"Where are you going?" demanded Harry.
"I'm going back. You hate me now, there's no point carrying on." Ron rode on to catch up with him.
"No, we don't hate you. Come on, you daft 'apporth, we've got to reach the palace by tonight."
"You don't hate me?" Wolfshead was genuinely surprised. Ron grinned.
"Nah. You can be an insufferable git sometimes, but we don't hate you. Now, can you show me that thing you did with your sword? You know, when you were surrounded by those men?" Wolfshead grinned.
"I will if you tell me how you managed to kill all those men back there," he offered. Ron shrugged.
"I don't really know how. I mean, when they first came down the hill I was terrified, then I screamed and the terror just fled from me. I wasn't aware of anything, the red mist just came down and all I could think about was killing them."
"So, you're a berserker?" Ron reddened.
"I didn't say that!"
"You didn't have to. Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of, Ron. You'll be a hard man to kill. I'm glad I'm fighting with you, not against you, is all. Anyway, that thing with the sword..." Ron sighed with relief as he took up his sword, grateful for the change of subject.
*
Dusk had fallen by the time the riders reached the Nadir camp. Draco watched with jealousy as Hermione ran to greet Ron, and wished not for the first time that Ella was still alive.
"Do you want to meet the man in charge?" asked Harry, noticing the look on Draco's face. Draco merely nodded and followed Harry without a word.
Harry led Draco to the largest hut and left him there. The guard at the entrance eyed him suspiciously. Draco busied himself with admiring the decor, shields lining the walls, and some weaponry, typical warrior's hut.
At last the door at the end of the hall opened and another guard beckoned Draco in.
He strode into the room and came face to face with Dumbledore. He looked so old and frail now, but his eyes still had the determined, fighting spirit Draco had seen so many times as a boy at Hogwarts. He was amazed, he thought the old boy would have been long dead by now. He bowed.
"There is no need nor the time for such formality, Mr Malfoy," said Dumbledore, getting up and taking Draco's hand in the warrior's grip, wrist to wrist. "I called you here for a reason, and I know that there is also a chance that you will refuse the mission."
"I am not killing anyone," said Wolfshead determinedly.
"We are not asking you to," said a new voice. Severus Snape and Remus Lupin had appeared at Dumbledore's side. "Hello, Draco."
"Hello, Severus!" Severus went to Draco's side and embraced him like a brother.
"I'm sorry I haven't been in touch, Draco, but you were so hard to reach. Ella's death must have hurt you greatly."
"It did, Severus, and it doesn't matter about not being in touch. I'm just glad you're alive."
"Gentlemen, if we may concentrate on the task in hand?" asked Dumbledore. Draco nodded.
"As Severus has said, we do not wish you to kill anyone. However, the task in hand is extremely dangerous, and you have a lot of experience in surviving. You seemed like the best man for the job."
"We need you to spy on the Brotherhood," said Remus. "There is a big gathering in Ventria next week, and we believe that Voldemort will be unveiling his plans for attacking the Nadir. It also coincides with the annual Death Eater feast at the Winter Palace. There are rumours abound that he is to receive the aid of an Ipissimus. We hope that the information is false. I trust you know what an Ipissimus is." Draco had paled visibly at the news. An Ipissimus was an almighty sorcerer, capable of summoning the Demon Lord. He nodded, his mouth suddenly dry.
"As Albus has stated, this is a dangerous mission, with a high risk that you could be captured or killed," Severus continued. "Your actions there could also plunge the country almost immediately into war, especially in the event of your capture. But it is also our best chance of winning the war. Will you accept, Draco?"
"What choice do I have?" Wolfshead asked, half to himself.
"We all have choices, Mr Malfoy," replied Dumbledore. Wolfshead looked into Dumbledore's eyes. He could easily walk away from this mission, easily turn his back on the Nadir and aim for survival in a remote forest far from here.
But he also knew that he would not be able to live with the guilt, had he not tried to help. And what better revenge for the destruction of his family, than helping to eradicate the force that had killed them?
"I'll do it," Wolfshead replied. "When do I leave?"
"Your horse will be ready at first light, at the eastern gate," replied Dumbledore. "Alneith will show you to your hut."
"I'll be there." He shook hands with Lupin and Dumbledore in the warrior's grip, embraced Severus and strode out of the hut, following the young guard to his hut and began to make preparations for his mission.
Draco Malfoy, what have you let yourself in for? he wondered later that night, staring up at the ceiling as sleep eluded him once more.