Disclaimer: Same as before.
A/N: There's a lot of cussing in this chapter. Read and Reivew!
CHAPTER 5
Harry rolled over in his bed. He checked his clock. 7:30. Harry groaned and rolled out of bed. He glanced over to Ron's bed, where his friends lay curled up in his blankets. He crawled over to Ron. " Ron," he hissed, " Wake up."
" What?" Ron said groggily.
" Time for breakfast and classes," Harry replied. He left Ron and gathered his stuff to take a shower. When he finished, Ron was still asleep, although most of the other boys in Harry's dorm were awake and had already left. " RON!" Harry shouted at him, " GET UP NOW!"
" Go away," Ron commanded. " I'm sleeping."
" RONALD WEASLY!" Harry bellowed again.
" Fine, fine." Ron sat up, and glanced at the clock. " HARRY!" he yelled, " Why the hell didn't you tell me it was so late!"
Harry raised an eyebrow at him and Ron added, " Never mind, I didn't say anything." Harry just shook his head, and waited on his bed as Ron dressed and packed his books. The two raced out of the room and down to the Dining room. They joined Hermione who raised an eyebrow but didn't way anything.
" What's up?" Ron asked. Hermione shrugged.
" Nothing much. Just wondering where my perfect badge is." She looked pointedly at the twins, who looked innocent.
" We don't have it." George said.
Hermione raised an eyebrow and stuck her hand over. The twins exchanged glances, and Fred pulled it out of his pocket.
Hermione snatched it. " Thank you." She looked at it suspiciously. " What did you do to it?"
" Nothing. WE didn't have time."
" I don't believe you."
" Whatever, Hermione."
Harry rolled his eyes at the stupid argument. He glanced at his watch. Standing up he said, " Come on guys, let's go. Ron, we've got Divination. See you later Hermione."
Hermione smiled at him replied, " Bye you guys."
" Bye, Hermione."
"C'mon. Let's go have Trelawney predict my death again. Maybe this time she'll original and tell me how I'll die." Harry said.
Ron brightened. " Yeah, aren't we supposed to learn how to read fortune telling cards? Hey, maybe we can just sit there playing poker instead."
Harry laughed. " Yeah, it'll drive the old fraud nuts."
***
Draco stared at his time table. Over half of his classes were with the Gryffindors. What the hell was Dumbledore thinking?! Draco sighed. This was going to suck big time.
He covered a yawn with his hand. He'd only for two hours last night. Transfiguration was damn complex. That reminded him, he needed to talk to McGonagall. He wanted to begin his private lessons as soon as possible. He looked at the teacher's table. Snape was talking to Dumbledore. Every so often, one of them would flick their eyes in Malfoy's direction. Draco hoped they were talking about good things.
He glanced down at his schedule. First he had Runes an Divination. Both were with the Gryffindors. Draco sighed. He decided to go to Runes first. After he'd turn back and go to Divination. Fun, fun. At least Runes was interesting. He wondered who would be in the class. Probbly Granger. He knew she had quit Divination. He'd didn't blame her, but that did mean he would be stuck in a class room with a know-it-all. Why was fate so cruel to him?
Something on his schedule caught Draco's attention. He stared in amazement. The teacher was Remolous Lupin. He knew that was Remus Lupin's brother. Damn it. Life did not look great. Well, at least there would be quidditch trials in a week or two. Draco was looking foreword to that, especially since Snape had promised him he'd be Captain. Draco supposed Potter would be captain for the Gryffindor's. It'd would be a very intense match against Gryffindor.
Draco admired Potter's way of flying. Sure, Draco was elegant on his broom. Potter looked like a hurling...thing. But Potter could sure fly damn fast. Draco sighed. He'd have to put a charm on his broomstick to make it fly faster. He also needed to buy the kit that went with the broom. His Hogsmeade weekend couldn't come fast enough.
Draco looked up as his owl flew in with the post. He opened his father's letter.
Draco,
Snape has told me about your private tutoring. Good.
Draco stared. Why did his father bother with stuff like that. He looked at the other letters. From his mother: ....and honey, I miss you so much......and so forth. Draco flipped through the other letters. He was surprised to see one from his twin sister. How's Hogwarts? My school sucks. I think father is finally going to let me transfer to Hogwarts. I hope so.... Draco blanched. Gweneth was going to transfer? He wondered if he was looking foreword to that. He hadn't seen his sister in a while. She had been sent to Durmstrang and sent to live with another family due to some treaty. Draco had never learned what it was about. His father did not approve of questions in that topic.
Draco stuffed the letters in his bag. He'd read the rest later. He glanced around and was surprised to see many of the other students had already left. Shit. Two minutes before class started. He grabbed his bag and ran out of the room. He pushed his way through the crowds and finally skidded to a stop at his first door. He caught his breath and walked in. To his rage and disappointment, the only seat available was next to Granger, in the front of the classroom. The teacher was motioning Draco to the seat. Draco dropped into the seat and pulled out his books and homework. Hermione ignored him. Draco turned around slowly. To his disgust, he was surrounded by Gryffindors. He glanced over to the other side of the room where the Slytherians sat. Some of them caught his eye and shrugged an apology. But Draco knew they were trying to hide their laughs. He didn't blame them much. He'd be laughing if one of them was in his position.
Remolous was calling attendance. Draco leaned back in his chair and waited. He inspected the professor. He surmised that he'd be fair but strict. They'd probably learn this year. Draco was glad. Ruins was one of his favorite subjects.
" I am Professor Remolous Lupin. Please give me all your summer homework." He walked down the rows of students collecting their homework. Everyone had done it. Professor Lupin smiled slightly. " Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect everyone to do their homework. For that, each house is awarded ten points." Draco silently thanked Snape for last night's lecture. Hopefully the Slytherians would keep on doing their homework.
" Good, the rest of this class is a lecture. On Thursday we will spend the entire time decoding. Hopefully you will enjoy that. Please take notes on this lecture as it will be important." Lupin waited while his class prepared. " Ready? Thank you. First, the history...."
***
Draco stumbled out of the classroom. The lecture had been interesting, but his hand hurt like hell. He also needed to find a seculded place to turn back in time. He slipped into an empty class room and pulled the time turner out. Carefully turning the dials, he went back two hours and fifteen minutes. He didn't have much time and he had to get out of that particular area so he wouldn't get caught by his other self. He ran out of the room and down the halls, ignoring the odd looks people shot at him. As he arrived at Trewlawny's tower, he slowly down and regained his composure. He climbed the stairs and silently caught up to Potter and Weasley.
" I can't believe we're stuck in this class with the Slytherians. Trewlawny's bad enough." Ron was saying. " God, I hope we don't have to deal with Malfoy."
Harry nodded. " At least you don't have to meet him tonight."
" I'll go with you."
" Bad idea." Draco cut in. Both Harry and Ron whipped around. Draco smiled coldly at them. " Don't even think about it."
" I'm not scared of you, Malfoy."
" That's a mistake on your part, Weasley, considering that I do have that contract. And I have Potter's blood. As a pureblood, you should know what that means."
Harryw as surprised to see Ron pale. " You wouldn't."
Draco sneered. " Believe what you will, Weasley."
Harry stared at both of them. " Will someone tell me what's going on?"
Draco shifted his eyes. " Blood, Potter, what do you think it can be used for?"
" Do I want to know?"
Draco rolled his eyes and Ron cut in, " Harry, blood can be used in a number of dark arts magic. You don't even have to be there and you can be hurt, even killed. I knew signing that was a bad idea."
Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco. " Would you do something like that."
" If your piss me off enough. Do you want to try."
" What would happen if you burned the document?"
Draco raised an eyebrow. " You'd feel fire course through your body. You'd probably run a high fever. Wouldn't die, but you would be hurt." He didn't tell Harry that the document would vanish once they'd fought that night. " Don't worry about it, Potter. Nothing bad can happen to you. Your Dumbledore's little pet." Draco pushed past both of them and continued up the stairs.
Harry and Ron exchanged looks. " Do you think he'd do something like that?" Harry asked.
Ron glared darkly at Malfoy's back. "I wouldn't doubt it." He glanced at Harry. " Don't worry about it."
"Should I go to Dumbledore?"
Ron shook his head. " No, I doubt Malfoy is capable of anything like that. Besides, he couldn't do it on Hogwarts property. There is protection. No dark magic on campus." Ron didn't realize he sounded a lot like Hermione.
Harry looked relieved. " Good. C'mon. We'll be late."
"Does it matter?"
" I'm not in the mood for a detention. We're already guaranteed detentions from Snape."
Ron nodded sadly. " Too true."
Harry leaned back in his chair as Trelawney entered the room. He noticed she still looked like an over sized grasshopper. Gross.
" Good morning, class. We will begin this morning with tarot card readings. Please turn to page 12 in your book and follow the directions. Lavender, pass out the cards. They're in the cabinet to the left." Lavender stood up at once, looking proud to be chosen. Ron gagged.
"Pathetic," he whispered to Harry. Harry made a face and nodded.
Lavender handed the cards to Ron. Harry noticed with disgust she was flirting with him. To his amusement, Ron didn't even notice. He smirked.
"What's up?" Ron muttered.
"Nothing."
Ron shot him a look but didn't press the issue. Ron shuffled the cards while reading his book. He read a passage and smirked. He read out loud to Harry, " If you are a male and you chose the Lady, you are gay." Ron rolled his eyes. " Or maybe you're just unlucky. Ever thought about that?"
Harry grinned. "Pass the cards out Ron. Let's see if I'm gay or if I want to have sex with a girl. Or maybe I'm bi. "
Ron shot him a peculiar look. " But we know you are."
Harry punched him. Ron grinned and fanned out the cards. " Pick nine cards. Keep them in order."
Harry nodded and picked them out. "Good," Ron said. He put the cards in a H shape on the table. " Here we go." He flipped a card over. " This card indicates you will have a short life."
Ron looked worried about it. Harry rolled his eyes.
" Bull shit. I plan on living a good long life."
Ron gave him the same peculiar look as before. " You might not have a choice."
Harry shrugged. " I will. I'm not going to do something that will let Voldemort kill me. Or anyone else, for that matter."
Ron shrugged and flipped over another card. He smirked. " The chariot. Focus all your resources on attaining what is most important, one step at a time. Pull together disparate forces to create a semblance of order. Discipline, especially self-discipline." Ron grinned at Harry. " Lucky, aren't you." He flipped over another. "The lovers. Intensity. Choices in relationships. Devotion to whatever or whoever is sacred in one's heart. Sexuality as expression. Physical love."
" HEY!"
Ron laughed while Seamus and Dean leaned over. " Harry." Dean said in a shocked voice.
Harry glared at them. " Just finish, ok Ron? And no making up anything."
" I wasn't!"
"Sure."
"Fine, don't believe me." Ron flipped over another card. " Hey, this goes with the other one. The three of Swords. Heartbreak, but the need for greater communication is a way of resolving this. A problem that is shared is a problem that is halved. The need to confide and unburden oneself. Comforting a friend or loved on in a time of need." He looked at Harry. " You know, you do seem to be getting bad fortunes." He turned over another card. " Nine of Wands. Break down your barriers only when you fell that the other person can be trusted. Establish this first and foremost. Six of Wands. Victory. The turning of the tide. The seemingly stronger enemy suddenly routed. A strong sense of accomplishment. Time for oneself to be given a pat on the back. Seven of Coins. Hard work. Persevere in order to attain the harvest. Continued application; rededication of effort; refusal to give up. Dedication to one's role in the Great Work." Ron smirked. " Great Work indeed."
Harry groaned. " Can we stop? This is horrible. None of it had better come true."
Ron shrugged and flipped over another card. "Nope. Three more. Page of Swords. Don't rush into the battle, either one's own battle or other people's. Oaths, commitments, promise; possible difficulties in fulfilling these. Observing without mentally censoring what one sees." He glanced up at Harry. " See, you shouldn't go tonight."
" Shut up and continue," Harry said through clenched teeth.
His best friend flipped over the 8th card. " A reversed Judgement. In the grip of obsessive forces. Feeling that one is a pawn in a game played by the gods." He turned of the last card. " The moon. Things are not as they may seem at first glance. There are deeper reasons for what happens. Strange connections between people -beyond their own understanding."
Harry forced a grin at Ron. " My turn to do you."
Ron backed off. " I don't think so."
" Come on, Ron. It'll be fun."
" No way."
Harry shrugged. " Fine, have it your way." He stood up suddenly. " When Trelawney asks where I am, tell her I felt ill." With that he rushed out of the room, leaving a confused Ron behind.
***
Draco saw Harry rush out of the room. He frowned and glanced at Ron, who was still staring at the door. Draco rolled his eyes. God, why were the Weasleys so stupid?! " I'll be back in a bit, Noll." His friend nodded, his intelligent eyes noting everything. Draco wasn't worried. Noll knew better than to say anything.
Draco ran out of the room and slid down the stairs. He saw Harry disappear around the corner. Draco ran after him. He skidded around the corner and glanced wildly around. Where the hell had Potter disappeared to? He spotted a figure disappearing into the forbidden forest. God, Potter, what the hell are you thinking?
Draco ran towards the forest. Knowing Potter he'd get himself killed. Draco was not about to let that happen. He needed Potter alive if he wanted to impress Voldemort. Draco slowed down and checked around. None of the teachers were around. He followed Harry's tracks into the forest. To his amazement, Potter was sitting on Draco's favorite rock in the forest. It was in a little area with a pool. Draco used to come there often when he wanted to get away from everyone. It was a good place to reflect upon his thoughts.
"Potter-"
"Fuck off, Malfoy."
"Damn it, Potter. Listen to me."
Harry raised his head. " Why the fucking hell should I listen to you, Malfoy?"
" Because I'm trying to help you, you asshole."
Harry stared. " Why the hell would you try to help me? I'm not that stupid, Malfoy."
"Potter, you just ran out of a room with absolutely no reason."
Harry stood, his eyes flashing. "You know what, Malfoy? I had every reason to get out of there."
"You can't take your friends laughing at you?"
Harry looked away and walked over to pool's edge. " No, Malfoy. I can't take the crap of those tarot cards."
It was now Draco's to stare. " Potter, that stuff is bull shit. Give me a break."
Harry glared. "Shut the fuck up, Malfoy."
"Why?"
" Do you know how irritating that is?"
" No."
Harry flicked him off.
Draco shrugged. " Tell me."
Harry stared. " Why the hell would I do that. I hate you, you hate me."
Draco smile bitterly for a second. " They always said you know where you stand with an old enemy."
Harry narrowed his eyes and then relented. " Did you hear the fortunes Ron was saying?" At Draco's nod, Harry continued. " It's all true." At Draco's skeptical face, Harry glared. " See, you don't believe me."
Draco shrugged. " Continue."
Harry closed his eyes. " It all fits with my nightmares. Fighting against Voldemort and winning. The only thing that doesn't fit in is my death. I think I'm to die after Voldemort's dead. I also think it's supposed to be someone I trust." He opened his eyes. "See the problem?" Not a flicker of emotion crossed Draco's face. Harry paused a second and then continued. The love part. It's all true."
Draco shrugged. " You're going to pieces because of that? You're more of a weakling than I thought. I thought you'd be a worthy opponent tonight. I was mistaken." His ice grey eyes were filled with contempt. He turned away.
Harry stared after him and yelled. " FINE! BE THAT FUCKING WAY, MALFOY! I DON'T GIVE A DAMN. BELIEVE I'M A COWARD. SEE IF I CARE. YOU'RE A BASTARD AND YOU KNOW IT. I HATE YOU! I HATE THIS WHOLE WORLD! I HATE MY FUTURE. BUT I COULD RUIN THAT IN A SECOND. I COULD WALK OF A CLIFF AND LEAVE THE REST OF YOU TO DEAL WITH VOLDEMORT. SEE IF I GIVE A DAMN!" Harry fell down the ground sobbing.
Draco turned around slowly. He was rather pleased. This was going exactly the way he wanted. Potter was going to trust him. Draco smirked to himself. Potter would be dead before long. But until then, Draco had to keep him alive.
" Potter, stop crying. It's weak. It's childish. It's selfish."
Harry continued to sob.
" Potter, I think I'm missing something. I completly doubt that you'd go to pieces because of that fortune."
Harry said through sobs. " Did you...did you see their faces? They thought...it was...was... funny. They don't understand I could see all their deaths in front of my eyes at that second. Dean, beaten to death. Seamus, he went under the Crucio curse-totally lost it and cut his wrists. Ron, oh god. Just like Cedric. Ron, he was killed trying to protect me. Killed with the killing curse. Killed with just two words. Avada Kedava. Damn it. Damn Voldemort to Hell. Fuck the world. FUCK VOLDEMORT!"
Draco gulped. " Who else did you see?"
Harry looked up at him with haunted eyes. "I saw the love of my life dead in my arms. I saw you alone and lost. I saw your father beating- "
"Stop it," Draco rasped out.
Harry laughed bitterly. " Isn't enough to drive a person insane. Do you understand now Malfoy? No, how could you. You don't see the deaths of your friends in front of you. You don't see the lives lost because of you."
"Stop it, Potter."
" Damn it, Malfoy. You don't see your parents being killed. You don't see Voldemort laughing, standing over them. You won't see the pain. You'll live an easy life. You'll never have to work to live. You'll never have to live in Hell. FUCK YOU, MALFOY! WHY IS YOUR LIFE SO DAMN EASY!"
Draco lost his control. " Fuck you, Potter. You think my life is easy? Why don't we switch positions. You know nothing. You know nothing about disappointment. You know nothing of real life. You're still living in your fake world, Potter. You always will." Harry paled visibly. Draco continued. " Damnit. You think my life's easy? Why don't you try living it? See the treatment I get. See the horror of my life. Fuck you, Potter. Your life is simple compared to mine. You've got Dumbledore protecting. And Black. Yes, I know all about him. That's what happens when your father's a fucking death eater. You think I like that? Wake up, Potter. My father would kill me if the Dark Lord demanded it. That's how screwed up my life is. You like that? Would you like your father breathing down your neck to succeed or else he'll kill you? Would you, Potter. No, no you wouldn't. I don't either, but I've dealt with that my entire. If Weasley died, would you cry? Yes, and you'd be allowed to. If my mother died, father would kill me for crying. Crying's weak, Potter. That's what he believes. When I was only three I cried because he wouldn't buy me another ice cream cone when I dropped mine. He whipped me for that. I was only three for Christ's sake. Only three years old and already damned to hell. Do you know how much dark magic I know? It'd scare the crap out of you. I could do so much to you because of that document. Weasley doesn't think I'm that advanced. Well, he's wrong. I've been been learning dark magic since I was five. Can you believe that, Potter. Of course you can. It's Draco Malfoy. Bad boy. Jerk, the idiot, the nimrod. The fucking asshole who's going to become a death eater on his 16 birthday, whether or not he wants to. Hey Potter, how would you like it if you were forced to become a death eater, huh? You're a Gryffindor, duh. You'd hate. But I'm just a lousy Slytherian. I'm evil. Pure horror. You hate me, don't you. So does your entire house, along with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Am I surprised. No, not really. I'd probably hate myself too if I were you. But I'm not you, thank god. I'm not a Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. I'd kill myself if I was a Hufflepuff. You already know that. I told you that long ago. When we first met."
" Stop, Malfoy."
" Don't like learning new things, do you Potter?"
" Shut up Malfoy."
" You think your special, don't you. Guess what, Potter. You're not. You think that you defeated the Dark Lord. You didn't. It was your mother. You had nothing to do with it. I've seen pictures of you when you were a baby. You were an ugly child. It was your mother that loved you. You had absolutely nothing to do with it. Your nothing. You think your wonderful because you've escaped Voldemort so many times. It was always luck. The first was your mother. You were lucky she was there. The second was Dumbledore. The third was Fawkes. The fourth was the dead spirits. You're lucky. Cedric wasn't as lucky. He was killed outright. So were so many others because they weren't as lucky as you've been. One day, Potter, you won't be as lucky. You'll make a mistake and think you can defeat the Dark Lord. That day you won't be lucky. You'll end up dead by his hands like the rest of us. Who knows. He might even brand you with the death mark to signify his death eaters. Wouldn't that be ironic. You'd die in his service. Just as I will. Just as so many before me have. I know I'll die in his service, Potter. He'll be the reason of my death. I won't die from old age. I probably won't live past thirty. Happy thoughts. Aren't they, Potter. Yes, they are. I love having happy thoughts. Here are some more. I hate you. I hate Dumbldore. I hate Gryffindors. I hate Ravenclaws. I hate Hufflepuffs. I hate most of the Slytherians. I hate my father. I hate Voldemort. I hate his followers. I hate this entire world. Happy enough, Potter. No, I don't think so. Try this. Imangine your father beating you every time he can. Imagine hearing your father say Crucio. Imangine the pain and the torture. And his only reply to your pain his it is for you own good. Is that happy enough, Potter?"
" Malfoy-"
" Is it, Potter. Is it happy enough?"
" Malfoy-"
" Damn it, Potter. I want an answer. Give me a fucking answer."
" Draco-"
" FUCK, POTTER! WHY WON'T YOU GIVE ME AN ANSWER! ALL I WANT IS AN ANSWER."
" No you don't. You don't want my answer. You want an answer to all your problems. I can't give you any. I hate you. You hate me. That's how our lives are. Simple. Uncomplicated."
Draco stared at him. " Why do we hate each other?"
" Because you're a Slytherian. Because you're a jerk. Because you're filled with the pureblood crap. Because...because...just because."
Draco shook his head slowly. "Why am I asking? I'm a fool. It could no other way. Forget everything I said, Potter. Barely any of it was true." With that he turned and walked away, leaving a confused Harry behind. A Harry wondering what to do. A Harry wondering why he'd said what he had. A Harry wondering why Draco had followed him in the first place. A Harry who had many unanswered questions.