Disclaimer: Same as before.
A/N: I am happy to say that these chapters are getting longer. Huzzah! Hope you enjoy this one as well. This is when things start to get interesting.
CHAPTER 6
The incident between Draco and Harry was not mentioned. Both had not forgotten, but neither wanted to bring it up between themselves or their friends. Both suffered in silence. Both were worried about the quidditch trials that week. Gryffindor tomorrow. Slytherian the next. Then Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Harry had already been named Gryffindor captain, Draco Slytherian's captain, Cho Ravenclaw's captain, and Finory was Hufflepuff's . Tension was high. Gryffindor and Slytherian were neck to neck in the House Cup, and both could not lose to the other.
The work load was finally getting to Draco. He always had dark circles around his eyes, even though he was alert as ever. Nothing slipped past him. He had noted Potter's worried face. The two of them had avoided conversation and eye contact. They had both showed up at the wizard's duel that night, but both had agreed to put it off. Neither was up to fighting that night. Draco had a feeling that they'd be fighting each other a lot in the future.
Draco sighed and leaned back in his chair. He was going over the lists of Slytherians trying out for the team. Slytherian had all the positions open except Seeker and Keeper. That meant Draco could actually go for skill that year. He knew that the Slytherian keeper was superb. He wondered who would replace Oliver Wood on the Gryffindor team. He doubted that person could live up to Wood's talent. That boy had been damned good. In fact, the entire Gryffindor team had been good since Harry had joined.
Draco rolled his head and put the papers away in his bag. He pulled out his potions homework and began. It was easy stuff and didn't take Draco too long. He glanced at his watch and was surprised to see that he'd missed dinner. Going over the lists must have taken longer than he thought. He swore and decided to go ask the house elves for food. He put away his books and stored them in his room. He slipped our of the Slytherian common room and down through the dungeons. He wondered where everyone was. He realized it might be a good idea to go to the Great Hall. He changed his direction and headed down the halls toward the Great Hall. He stopped at the doors and peaked through since they weren't shut all the way. He saw that everyone was still seated. The food had disappeared. They were also listening to a very serious looking Dumbledore. Draco gulped and tried to slide into the unnoticed. But the doors creaked and all heads whipped around to look at him. Draco gulped and froze. He looked up at the staff table. Dumbledore said nothing. Snape caught his eye and raised an eyebrow slightly. McGonagall looked annoyed. Draco looked back to Dumbledore, who motioned him to sit down. Draco slipped into a seat beside Noll at the Slytherian table. Everyone slowly turned away to look back at Dumbledore. Noll flashed Draco a quick grin. Draco shrugged and looked up at Dumbledore.
" Well. As I was saying, there are a great many parents who are worried about their children's safety at Hogwarts. The minister has decided that each of you must be questioned under a truth spell. I do not approve of this. In fact, I'd avoid it if I could. However, I cannot. Voldemort has spies everywhere. Although Hogwarts has a certain amount of protection, there are some dark magic spells that can pass through the barriers. I think Slytherian had something to do with this long ago. I cannot change it, as no law at Hogwarts can be changed. Starting tonight, each child will be questioned. WE will start with the Slytherian house tonight and then continue with Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. The heads of the houses will help. Thank you. Will the Slytherians please stay. Snape, McGonagall, Sprout, and David, please stay. Everyone else is excused. Good night."
The rest of the school trudged out of the room. Draco exchanged quick glances with Noll. This was not good news. Snape appeared at Draco's side.
"Why the hell were you late? Do you know how bad that looked?"
Draco sighed. " I spent more time going over the quidditch lists then I realized. I thought I had time to finish my potions homework, but obviously I didn't. I didn't notice the time until after I'd finished the homework you assigned. Sorry, Professor."
Snape shook his head. "Do you know how bad it would have looked if you hadn't been here?"
"Very bad?"
Snape nodded. " They would have automatically accused you. It's going to be bad as it is already."
"I thought it was illegal to use truth potions."
Snape scowled. " Fudge got the stupid idiots to say yes. It's legal for Dumbledore to use the potion for this stupid thing."
" Damn," Draco swore silently. He knew that over half of the Slytherians were connected to Voldemort. Hopefully they'd only be kicked out if they were already death eaters. None of them were death eaters yet. Not even any of the sixth or seventh years.
Dumbledore motioned for silence, which came instantly. " We will split you into five groups. Each of the professors will question a group. Professor Snape will take the first and second years. Professor Sprout the third. Professor David will question the fourth. I will take the fifth and seventh. Professor McGonagall will question the sixth years."
The Slytherians moved toward their appointed teachers. Draco moved with Noll near Dumbledore. They were joined by the rest of the fifth and seventh years. Dumbledore eyes held no amusement. " Line up. First the fifth years and then the 7th years." They moved into a line. Draco was at the end of the fifth years, next to Noll.
Noll grinned at him. " How does our team look?"
Draco shrugged. " I don't know yet. Good, probably. Hopefully better than the Gryffindors."
" Do you have time with all the extra studies you're doing? The extra classes, the tutoring, now the captain-which means tactics and strategy, and if you add extra practices..."
Draco shrugged. " I'll manage."
"With the time turner?"
Draco bit his lip and nodded. "Even though I'm technically not allowed to use it except for classes."
Noll grinned. " Like you ever followed the rules any way. You're almost as bad as the Weasley twins."
Draco shook his head. " Nah, I'm better. I don't get caught. Well, most of the time."
Noll raised an eyebrow and turned around in line. Draco glanced around. He noticed that all of the professors were putting the Slytherians into two groups after they finished questioning each one. Draco did not want to know why. His line was moving quite quickly, and soon he was at Dumbledore. He glanced to where Noll was standing. Noll eyes were slitted. Draco quickly turned back to Dumbledore."
" Draco Malfoy." A quill beside him wrote down Draco's name. Draco gulped. Dumbledore handed him a glass with a clear liquid inside. " Drink." Draco drained the glass in one gulp. A funny feeling came over him. " You are now under the a grade three truth potion. State your name and age."
" Draco Malfoy. Age 15."
"Good. Now, have you met Voldemort."
"Yes,"
" Are you a death eater?"
"No."
"Are your parents in league with Voldemort?"
"My father is."
" Does he plan for you to join Voldemort's ranks?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"On my 16th birthday."
"Do you want to become a death eater?"
Draco didn't answer. He was kneeling on the floor, fighting the spell. His face was contored. Dumbledore stared down at him for a moment and then motioned him to the group Noll was standing in. Draco stumbled over and Noll grabbed him. "Sit down before you faint," his friend hissed. Draco mumbled some inaudible reply. Noll pushed a glass of water into his hand. Draco swallowed the water quickly and made a face.
"Do you know how bad that tastes after the stupid potion."
Noll nodded. " But it helps."
Draco nodded and gave himself a tremendous headache. "Damn."
Noll frowned. " What's with these groups?"
Draco didn't reply. Noll shot him a glance. " Draco."
"Shut up, Noll. I've got a headache."
Noll rolled his eyes at the understatement and promptly started to talk to some other 5th year. Draco was glad. He didn't want to know what his father would say if he found out what his son had said. Draco leaned back against the wall. Life was not pleasant.
Dumbledore and the rest of the professors soon finished questioning. " Slytherians, you may now leave."
Draco stood up shakily and dragged his feet out of the Great Hall. He walked slowly with the rest of the Slytherians to their common room. No one was talking much. Draco walked up to his room. He opened the door and walked in. His room had millions of dragon objects, since Draco's name meant dragon.
He lay down on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. He was exhausted from trying to fight the truth spell. The spell only hurt if it was fought. Draco had used his entire strength. He had avoided one question and had managed to lie once. Or at least not tell the entire truth.
He had told Dumbledore he wasn't a death eater. Technically that was true, but he was in the service of the Dark Lord. He did have a job to finish. A job that included bringing Potter to his father. Draco swore viciously. His father. He tore out of his room and up to the owlery. Damn it. His father would expect a letter. He quickly penned a note and found his owl.
" To my father, Coruvs. Hurry."
He watched the owl sore out of sight into the starlit sky. He lowered his eyes to stare down at his feet. Life was going to be hell the next couple of weeks.