One Blood
~~~~~~~~~
Harry walked slowly, exhausted, towards the Gryffindor tower having left Draco at the entrance to the Dungeons.
He was deep in thought, and wasn't looking where he was going til he walked straight into Ron and Hermione.
"Sorry." He muttered.
"Hey, Harry." Hermione said. "Where were you last night? We looked for you everywhere."
"Hmm?" Harry said, staring at the wall behind Hermione's back.
"Harry?" Ron asked, waving a hand in front of Harry's eyes.
"What, sorry?" Harry asked, startled as he broke his thoughts. "Oh... I stayed in Hagrid's cabin last night."
"Why?" Hermione frowned, concerned.
"Just needed sometime alone, you know." He replied.
"Right... Whatever." Ron said sceptically, "Well anyway, now that we've found you, Fred and George are going
to come and visit with some new stock next week. They need volunteers -"
"Victims." Muttered Hermione. Ron glared at her.
" - To test their new inventions. You in?" Ron finished.
"Yeah," Harry nodded vaguely, eyes still fixed on the wall behind Hermione's head, "I have to go now... Seeya."
And with that, he walked past them, ignoring the strange looks they gave him as they stared after him.
"What's the matter with him?" Hermione asked, brow knotted with concern and worry.
Ron grinned suddenly,
"Harry's in love!" He crowed.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"It's so obvious!"
"It is?"
"Yeah! He's walking round like Seamus did when Lavender and him got caught in that broom cupboard AND he
didn't sleep in the tower last night! Ha! Nice one, Harry!" Ron made a crude gesture and walked off grinning
down the corridor. Hermione rolled her eyes, sighed, and followed.
Harry turned the corner and stopped, leaning against the wall. Dumbledore. That's what he had to do.
He turned back and, checking first that Ron and Hermione had gone, began to run in the direction of Proffessor
Dumbledore's office.
He stopped having reached the gargoyle which marked the entrance to the stairs up to the office, having run into
various people and knocked over one very put out Dennis Creevey (who was still half the size of everyone else,
even the first years) on the way, and gasped to get his breath back.
"Cockroach cluster!" He panted.
The gargoyle stared impassively back.
Harry groaned. It had been three years since he last went up the stairs, of course the password was bound to
have changed.
"Come on!" He begged the stone figure, "Can't you just let me in? This is important!"
The gargoyle was motionless. Harry could have sworn it sneered smugly at him.
"Oh, for god's sake, let me in! I'll -" Harry took a threatening step towards it when a voice spoke from behind him.
"Threatening an inanimate object? My my, Potter, this really is a new low, even for you."
Harry spun round, red faced and saw Snape standing there.
"Snape, I need to see Proffessor Dumbledore!" Harry said.
"That's Proffessor Snape to you, and Proffessor Dumbledore is not there." Snape said, sauntering forward.
"Where is he?" Harry demanded.
"London."
"But -"
"Don't worry, when he comes back I'll let him know you wanted to see him."
"But this is urgent!"
"Of course it is, Potter." Snape sneered patronizingly, "Goodbye."
"I'm serious, Snape!" Harry shouted, "This is a matter of life and death! If you ignore this and something
happens, Dumbledore'll know who to blame!"
Snape looked taken aback at Harry's outburst.
"I'm telling you, Potter, Proffessor Dumbledore isn't here. If it's that important you'll have to tell me."
Harry paused. How could he tell Snape what had happened? At least Dumbledore would have understood.
Snape would probably expel him or pass it off as a practical joke. But then this was urgent. He had to tell
someone.
"I need to talk to Proffessor Dumbledore." He said more quietly, almost as if he was pleading.
"He isn't here. It's me or nothing." Snape said, arms folded.
"Alright then." Harry said grudgingly.
"Good. Follow me to my office." Snape turned and strode off. Harry hurried after him.
Snape had seated himself behind his desk, glaring at Harry.
"Be seated." He indicated the chair opposite himself and Harry sat nervously. "Speak."
Harry glowered at Snape and took a deep breath.
"It's Draco Malfoy." Harry said slowly, waiting for Snape's response.
"Hmm... go on."
"Oh. Right." Harry was suprised Snape hadn't exploded at the name of his favourite pupil. "Umm.... I think... I think
he's having some kind of breakdown." Harry screwed his eyes shut, waiting for the yelling. It never came.
Instead, laughter filled the room. Harry opened his eyes and saw an amazing sight. Snape was leaning back in
his chair, head thrown back, laughing loudly.
"W-what?" Harry asked.
"Oh, Potter. That's the best I've heard in a long time!"
"I'm serious!"
"Next time you want to get someone expelled, come up with a better reason, Potter."
"I'm not joking, Professor!" Harry stood up and yelled.
Snape wiped his eyes and regarded Harry steadily.
"If this is a prank cooked up by you and Weasley, Potter..."
"It's not, Professor, I swear. I'm serious and I'm not lying."
"No, I don't believe you are." Snapen said after a while. "Sit down and tell me what you mean."
Harry looked down at the desk miserably and sat down once more. He knew that he'd have to tell Snape what
had happened for him to believe him.
"I've just noticed he's different now... and he doesn't insult everyone... and there's something different..." Harry
mumbled.
"Potter, you will have to tell me what has happened. Believe me, what ever you are about to say won't shock me.
I've heard it all before." Snape said sternly.
"Yeah, right you have." Harry muttered, before clearing his throat nervously and beginning. "Well..." It was
so embarrassing for Harry and he could feel himself getting red. But he was damned if he was going to show it.
"... Draco told me these things in confidence. I can't tell you."
Snape raised an internal eyebrow at Harry calling Draco by his first name, but didn't show it.
"But it was serious enough to bother Professor Dumbledore about?" Snape asked.
Harry paused. Snape was right. He had to tell someone.
"Okay, I'll tell you, but I'm warning you Snape, if you laugh, so help me I'll -"
"You're pushing it, Potter." Snape said lazily.
Harry looked at him with loathing for a moment before speaking.
"Draco and I had and argument and he kissed me." Harry took a deep breath to see what Snape's reaction
would be. Nothing. "But I found the Dark Mark on his arm." That got Snape's attention. "I'm worried about him. He
told me about... all the stuff Lucius did to him and how he's treated at home. He was crying. I wanted to tell
Professor Dumbledore because I'm worried he'll end up either insane or dead."
"You say he has the Dark Mark?" Snape asked, suddenly alert.
"He showed me." Harry said quietly.
"And you're sure it was the Dark Mark?"
"What else would it be?!"
"We must contact Dumbledore." Snape said, half to himself, half to Harry. "But if he has the Dark Mark, why are
you so keen to help him?"
"I don't know. He told me some stuff. I felt sorry for him."
"What did he tell you?"
"Stuff about Lucius. He didn't want the Mark. He told me... about what Lucius did to him..."
"And you believe him?"
"Yes." Harry replied simply.
"Where is he now?" Snape asked, taking out a piece of parchment and scribbling a message on it.
"I don't know. I left him outside the dungeons."
"You left him... What kind of state was he in?"
"He... wasn't too good." Damn, Harry thought. "I told him to go back to his common room, but..."
"But he could be anywhere." Snape said, thinking quickly. "If he is in the Slytherin common room, there will
certainly be students in there who are trained by their parents to spy. They will report back to Voldemort if Draco
is acting suspiciously. We must find him."
Harry nodded and stood with Snape, who tied the message to an owl by his desk and let it fly out of the window.
"You will search the grounds and the other buildings." Snape told Harry. "I will look for Draco with the Slytherins."
"And if I find him?" Harry asked.
"Bring him back here. Are you sure he will accompany you?" Snape asked.
"I hope so."
Snape paused, "I believe you own an invisibility cloak?"
"Yes."
"Take it with you. If you find Draco, bring him here under it. Do not risk letting anyone see you."
"Why -?" Harry began.
"Dumbledore will explain. He will be back within three hours of receiving the message I have sent."
Harry nodded and turned to leave, but Snape spoke again.
"And Potter?"
Harry turned back to Snape.
"Professor?"
"About what you said. I am in no position to judge." And with that, Snape swept out of the office to leave Harry
wondering what he meant.
Harry ran through the Hall with the invisibility cloak wrapped around him. He'd tried all the places he could think
of inside; the library, the astronomy tower, the owlery. Even the kitchens. Draco had to be somewhere in the
grounds. What worried Harry was what he'd be doing out there.
Harry ran out of the front doors and out into the grounds. He stopped and looked around desperately. He took in
all the places Draco could be. The Forbidden Forest, the greenhouses, Hagrid's cabin.... he could be anywhere.
Then Harry's eyes rested on something shining in the sunlight; something silver down by the lake. Against the
glare of the sun, he squinted to see what it was that lay on the ground. His breath caught in his throat.
Draco.
"Shit, shit, shit." Harry muttered to himself and began to run towards the prone figure.
Harry reached Draco and flung himself on the ground beside him.
"Draco!" Harry hissed urgently.
Darco lifted his head and looked around. He jumped in shock and moved away when he saw Harry's
disembodied hand move from under the invisibility cloak.
"Harry? That you?"
"Of course it's me, you idiot!" Harry breathed in relief. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I was about to ask you the same question."
Harry grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him under the cloak.
"I meant," Harry hissed, "What do you think you're doing lying by the lake looking as if you've... well..."
"Killed myself?" Asked Draco cheerfully. "I thought about it."
"Why didn't you?"
"Seemed a shame to ruin your day as well as mine."
"How thoughtful of you." Harry stood up and pulled Draco to his feet. "Come on we have to get back to the castle.
Snape's waiting."
"What for?"
"Us."
"Why?"
Harry took a deep breath.
"I told him."
"You WHAT?!" Draco yelled, only to have Harry clamp a hand over his mouth. It didn't do to have bodyless voices
all over the place.
"I had to. I think it's serious. Dumbledore's coming back."
"You think what's serious?" Draco asked, "Why did you have to tell Snape anything?!"
"Because of this. One minute you've completely broken down, the next you're happier than I've ever seen you.
Then all of a sudden you fly off the handle..."
"And you wonder WHY?" Draco shouted. "I TRUSTED you!"
"I'm sorry, Draco. I had to tell someone! I couldn't just let you go on like this!" Harry took a step forward and
touched Draco's cheek gently. "There's something wrong with you, and Snape knows there is. Dumbledore
knows something, I'm sure of it."
Draco moved away and turned his face away from Harry.
"You had no right to tell him."
"I know, and I'm sorry. But something's wrong. And now that Snape knows, he's going to find you sooner or
later... Come back with me?"
"Oh alright." Draco snapped. He turned to flounce out from under the cloak, but got tangled in it and turned back
to Harry, narrowing his eyes. "I'm warning you, Potter..."
"Oh, go on." Harry said exasperatedly. He pushed Draco up the hill towards the buildings.
Dumbledore's Office
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry and Draco nocked on the door of Dumbledore's office and heard the command 'come in, come in'. They
pushed the door open and walked in.
Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, a thoughtful expression on his face. Snape stopped his pacing
round the room when the two entered and turned to face them.
"Sit down, boys." Dumbledore said, indicating the two chairs by the desk.
Harry glanced at Draco, who nodded, and they sat.
"Now, boys. I understand that there have been some... developments... Please, explain." Dumbledore pressed
the tips of his fingers together and waited for Harry and Draco to speak.
Harry didn't know what Dumbledore wanted to know so he sat without talking, waiting for Draco to begin.
"Please understand that I cannot help you unless you tell me what is wrong." Dumbledore said kindly.
Draco scowled at Harry and opened his mouth to reply angrily but there was suddenly a crash as the door to
the office flew open, soliciting an outraged squawk from Fawkes.
"Lucius," Dumbledore said pleasantly as a figure shaking with rage stood in the doorway, "How nice to see you.
Won't you sit down?"
"No thank you, Albus. I'd just like to talk to my son." Lucius Malfoy said coldly. "Alone."
"Certainly, but could you wait a few minutes until we're finished?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"No I could not." Lucius snapped. "Now, Draco. Come with me."
Harry glanced at Draco and to his horror saw that Draco's hands were shaking. Whether from fear or anger,
Harry couldn't tell. Harry looked up at Draco's face and caught him looking at him. Harry gave Draco a look that
said 'I don't know'.
"Father, I should stay here and talk to Professor Dumbledore." Draco began.
"Come, Draco." Lucius said.
"But, Father..." Draco said with something sounding like desperation.
"Draco!" Lucius said sharply.
Draco's head bowed. To Harry it looked horribly like defeat.
"Yes, Father."
Lucius turned sharply and walked out. Draco stood up slowly and followed, head bowed, not even looking at
Harry or the others.
As soon as the door snapped shut, Harry jumped up.
"You're just going to let him go?!" He yelled. "Do you know what that, that ...bastard did to him?!"
"I don't believe I do, Harry, as neither you nor Draco was willing to tell me." Dumbledore said calmly. "And as
Draco's father, Lucius is perfectly allowed to talk to his son."
"But it was him that gave Draco the Dark Mark!" Harry hissed.
Dumbledore looked up, his eyes now grave.
"Well, why didn't you say so?" Dumbledore asked. "Was the Mark willingly accepted on Draco's part?"
"Of course not!" Harry exclaimed.
"We must find them." Dumbledore said. "Severus, check the dungeons. Harry, you go back to the Gryffindor
tower. And stay there."
"No, sir. I'm helping." Harry said firmly.
"Do as the headmaster says, Potter." Snape said, stepping out of the shadows from behind Harry, "Stay out of
the way."
"But -" Harry began to protest.
"No buts, Harry." Dumbledore said. "Now, please, go back to the Common Room."
Harry looked from Snape to Dumbledore, then sighed and walked out.
An Empty Classroom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What did you want, Father?" Draco said, hoping he sounded braver than he felt.
"Not a very pleasant welcome for your Father, boy." Lucius said coldly.
"Sorry."
"Are you well?"
"Yes." Draco glared at Lucius. He was tempted to add 'what do you care anyway?'.
"I'm glad."
"Why did you come here, Father?" Draco asked impatiently.
"This morning I received a very interesting letter from Pansy Parkinson." Lucius said, turning to face Draco, cold
rage glittering menacingly in his eyes.
"Oh yes?"
"How DARE you." Lucius hissed, stepping forward.
"What?" Draco asked, puzzled.
"Don't play the fool with me, boy!" Lucius shouted, "You are a disgrace to your family! You have betrayed your
lord! Worst still, you are a freak of nature!"
"Wha - " Draco tried to speak but his father struck him across his cheek and he staggered backwords, clutching
his face and bleeding lip.
"You have obviously renounced your legacy as one of our lord's servants, and you have turned out to be..." Lucius
shuddered, "An oddity, an obsenity."
"What do you mean?!" Draco gasped.
"You and the Potter boy!" Lucius roared, "You told him everything about yourself! And do not deny it, Pansy heard
you herself! And it is a good job she did so. I am here to take you home."
Draco paused for a moment to allow this information to sink in.
"But I don't want to go to the mansion!" Draco yelled, "This is my home, here at Hogwarts! I won't leave!"
"You will do as you are told, boy! Our lord has something very interesting to show you."
Out in the corridor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry walked down the corridor and cursed, kicking the wall.
How could Dumbledore let Lucius take Draco?
He had to find Draco. If Lucius had done anything to Draco, he would...
"This is my home, here at Hogwarts! I won't leave!"
Harry heard Draco shout from a nearby classroom. He spun round and ran in the direction of the room.
He burst through the door and saw Draco clutching his face, his lip bleeding, and Lucius standing over him, red
in the face with rage.
Harry looked from Draco to Lucius and back again to Draco who looked imploringly and pathetically at Harry, as
if begging him to do something.
Harry launched himself at Lucius, rage blinding him.
He hit the tall blond man hard across the chin, but Lucius barely flinched. Instead, he struck Harry on the back of
his head, sending Harry reeling towards Draco, who caught him to stop him falling.
"Fool!" Lucius hissed at Harry. "You have now presented me with an even better situation. What would my lord
find better than Draco delivered to him than both Draco AND Harry Potter."
"Father, don't do this!" Draco begged, a hand on Harry's arm, "Let Harry go, it's nothing to do with him!"
"Shut up!" Lucius commanded. "You are coming with me and there is nothing you can do about it!"
~~~~~~~~~
Harry walked slowly, exhausted, towards the Gryffindor tower having left Draco at the entrance to the Dungeons.
He was deep in thought, and wasn't looking where he was going til he walked straight into Ron and Hermione.
"Sorry." He muttered.
"Hey, Harry." Hermione said. "Where were you last night? We looked for you everywhere."
"Hmm?" Harry said, staring at the wall behind Hermione's back.
"Harry?" Ron asked, waving a hand in front of Harry's eyes.
"What, sorry?" Harry asked, startled as he broke his thoughts. "Oh... I stayed in Hagrid's cabin last night."
"Why?" Hermione frowned, concerned.
"Just needed sometime alone, you know." He replied.
"Right... Whatever." Ron said sceptically, "Well anyway, now that we've found you, Fred and George are going
to come and visit with some new stock next week. They need volunteers -"
"Victims." Muttered Hermione. Ron glared at her.
" - To test their new inventions. You in?" Ron finished.
"Yeah," Harry nodded vaguely, eyes still fixed on the wall behind Hermione's head, "I have to go now... Seeya."
And with that, he walked past them, ignoring the strange looks they gave him as they stared after him.
"What's the matter with him?" Hermione asked, brow knotted with concern and worry.
Ron grinned suddenly,
"Harry's in love!" He crowed.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"It's so obvious!"
"It is?"
"Yeah! He's walking round like Seamus did when Lavender and him got caught in that broom cupboard AND he
didn't sleep in the tower last night! Ha! Nice one, Harry!" Ron made a crude gesture and walked off grinning
down the corridor. Hermione rolled her eyes, sighed, and followed.
Harry turned the corner and stopped, leaning against the wall. Dumbledore. That's what he had to do.
He turned back and, checking first that Ron and Hermione had gone, began to run in the direction of Proffessor
Dumbledore's office.
He stopped having reached the gargoyle which marked the entrance to the stairs up to the office, having run into
various people and knocked over one very put out Dennis Creevey (who was still half the size of everyone else,
even the first years) on the way, and gasped to get his breath back.
"Cockroach cluster!" He panted.
The gargoyle stared impassively back.
Harry groaned. It had been three years since he last went up the stairs, of course the password was bound to
have changed.
"Come on!" He begged the stone figure, "Can't you just let me in? This is important!"
The gargoyle was motionless. Harry could have sworn it sneered smugly at him.
"Oh, for god's sake, let me in! I'll -" Harry took a threatening step towards it when a voice spoke from behind him.
"Threatening an inanimate object? My my, Potter, this really is a new low, even for you."
Harry spun round, red faced and saw Snape standing there.
"Snape, I need to see Proffessor Dumbledore!" Harry said.
"That's Proffessor Snape to you, and Proffessor Dumbledore is not there." Snape said, sauntering forward.
"Where is he?" Harry demanded.
"London."
"But -"
"Don't worry, when he comes back I'll let him know you wanted to see him."
"But this is urgent!"
"Of course it is, Potter." Snape sneered patronizingly, "Goodbye."
"I'm serious, Snape!" Harry shouted, "This is a matter of life and death! If you ignore this and something
happens, Dumbledore'll know who to blame!"
Snape looked taken aback at Harry's outburst.
"I'm telling you, Potter, Proffessor Dumbledore isn't here. If it's that important you'll have to tell me."
Harry paused. How could he tell Snape what had happened? At least Dumbledore would have understood.
Snape would probably expel him or pass it off as a practical joke. But then this was urgent. He had to tell
someone.
"I need to talk to Proffessor Dumbledore." He said more quietly, almost as if he was pleading.
"He isn't here. It's me or nothing." Snape said, arms folded.
"Alright then." Harry said grudgingly.
"Good. Follow me to my office." Snape turned and strode off. Harry hurried after him.
Snape had seated himself behind his desk, glaring at Harry.
"Be seated." He indicated the chair opposite himself and Harry sat nervously. "Speak."
Harry glowered at Snape and took a deep breath.
"It's Draco Malfoy." Harry said slowly, waiting for Snape's response.
"Hmm... go on."
"Oh. Right." Harry was suprised Snape hadn't exploded at the name of his favourite pupil. "Umm.... I think... I think
he's having some kind of breakdown." Harry screwed his eyes shut, waiting for the yelling. It never came.
Instead, laughter filled the room. Harry opened his eyes and saw an amazing sight. Snape was leaning back in
his chair, head thrown back, laughing loudly.
"W-what?" Harry asked.
"Oh, Potter. That's the best I've heard in a long time!"
"I'm serious!"
"Next time you want to get someone expelled, come up with a better reason, Potter."
"I'm not joking, Professor!" Harry stood up and yelled.
Snape wiped his eyes and regarded Harry steadily.
"If this is a prank cooked up by you and Weasley, Potter..."
"It's not, Professor, I swear. I'm serious and I'm not lying."
"No, I don't believe you are." Snapen said after a while. "Sit down and tell me what you mean."
Harry looked down at the desk miserably and sat down once more. He knew that he'd have to tell Snape what
had happened for him to believe him.
"I've just noticed he's different now... and he doesn't insult everyone... and there's something different..." Harry
mumbled.
"Potter, you will have to tell me what has happened. Believe me, what ever you are about to say won't shock me.
I've heard it all before." Snape said sternly.
"Yeah, right you have." Harry muttered, before clearing his throat nervously and beginning. "Well..." It was
so embarrassing for Harry and he could feel himself getting red. But he was damned if he was going to show it.
"... Draco told me these things in confidence. I can't tell you."
Snape raised an internal eyebrow at Harry calling Draco by his first name, but didn't show it.
"But it was serious enough to bother Professor Dumbledore about?" Snape asked.
Harry paused. Snape was right. He had to tell someone.
"Okay, I'll tell you, but I'm warning you Snape, if you laugh, so help me I'll -"
"You're pushing it, Potter." Snape said lazily.
Harry looked at him with loathing for a moment before speaking.
"Draco and I had and argument and he kissed me." Harry took a deep breath to see what Snape's reaction
would be. Nothing. "But I found the Dark Mark on his arm." That got Snape's attention. "I'm worried about him. He
told me about... all the stuff Lucius did to him and how he's treated at home. He was crying. I wanted to tell
Professor Dumbledore because I'm worried he'll end up either insane or dead."
"You say he has the Dark Mark?" Snape asked, suddenly alert.
"He showed me." Harry said quietly.
"And you're sure it was the Dark Mark?"
"What else would it be?!"
"We must contact Dumbledore." Snape said, half to himself, half to Harry. "But if he has the Dark Mark, why are
you so keen to help him?"
"I don't know. He told me some stuff. I felt sorry for him."
"What did he tell you?"
"Stuff about Lucius. He didn't want the Mark. He told me... about what Lucius did to him..."
"And you believe him?"
"Yes." Harry replied simply.
"Where is he now?" Snape asked, taking out a piece of parchment and scribbling a message on it.
"I don't know. I left him outside the dungeons."
"You left him... What kind of state was he in?"
"He... wasn't too good." Damn, Harry thought. "I told him to go back to his common room, but..."
"But he could be anywhere." Snape said, thinking quickly. "If he is in the Slytherin common room, there will
certainly be students in there who are trained by their parents to spy. They will report back to Voldemort if Draco
is acting suspiciously. We must find him."
Harry nodded and stood with Snape, who tied the message to an owl by his desk and let it fly out of the window.
"You will search the grounds and the other buildings." Snape told Harry. "I will look for Draco with the Slytherins."
"And if I find him?" Harry asked.
"Bring him back here. Are you sure he will accompany you?" Snape asked.
"I hope so."
Snape paused, "I believe you own an invisibility cloak?"
"Yes."
"Take it with you. If you find Draco, bring him here under it. Do not risk letting anyone see you."
"Why -?" Harry began.
"Dumbledore will explain. He will be back within three hours of receiving the message I have sent."
Harry nodded and turned to leave, but Snape spoke again.
"And Potter?"
Harry turned back to Snape.
"Professor?"
"About what you said. I am in no position to judge." And with that, Snape swept out of the office to leave Harry
wondering what he meant.
Harry ran through the Hall with the invisibility cloak wrapped around him. He'd tried all the places he could think
of inside; the library, the astronomy tower, the owlery. Even the kitchens. Draco had to be somewhere in the
grounds. What worried Harry was what he'd be doing out there.
Harry ran out of the front doors and out into the grounds. He stopped and looked around desperately. He took in
all the places Draco could be. The Forbidden Forest, the greenhouses, Hagrid's cabin.... he could be anywhere.
Then Harry's eyes rested on something shining in the sunlight; something silver down by the lake. Against the
glare of the sun, he squinted to see what it was that lay on the ground. His breath caught in his throat.
Draco.
"Shit, shit, shit." Harry muttered to himself and began to run towards the prone figure.
Harry reached Draco and flung himself on the ground beside him.
"Draco!" Harry hissed urgently.
Darco lifted his head and looked around. He jumped in shock and moved away when he saw Harry's
disembodied hand move from under the invisibility cloak.
"Harry? That you?"
"Of course it's me, you idiot!" Harry breathed in relief. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I was about to ask you the same question."
Harry grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him under the cloak.
"I meant," Harry hissed, "What do you think you're doing lying by the lake looking as if you've... well..."
"Killed myself?" Asked Draco cheerfully. "I thought about it."
"Why didn't you?"
"Seemed a shame to ruin your day as well as mine."
"How thoughtful of you." Harry stood up and pulled Draco to his feet. "Come on we have to get back to the castle.
Snape's waiting."
"What for?"
"Us."
"Why?"
Harry took a deep breath.
"I told him."
"You WHAT?!" Draco yelled, only to have Harry clamp a hand over his mouth. It didn't do to have bodyless voices
all over the place.
"I had to. I think it's serious. Dumbledore's coming back."
"You think what's serious?" Draco asked, "Why did you have to tell Snape anything?!"
"Because of this. One minute you've completely broken down, the next you're happier than I've ever seen you.
Then all of a sudden you fly off the handle..."
"And you wonder WHY?" Draco shouted. "I TRUSTED you!"
"I'm sorry, Draco. I had to tell someone! I couldn't just let you go on like this!" Harry took a step forward and
touched Draco's cheek gently. "There's something wrong with you, and Snape knows there is. Dumbledore
knows something, I'm sure of it."
Draco moved away and turned his face away from Harry.
"You had no right to tell him."
"I know, and I'm sorry. But something's wrong. And now that Snape knows, he's going to find you sooner or
later... Come back with me?"
"Oh alright." Draco snapped. He turned to flounce out from under the cloak, but got tangled in it and turned back
to Harry, narrowing his eyes. "I'm warning you, Potter..."
"Oh, go on." Harry said exasperatedly. He pushed Draco up the hill towards the buildings.
Dumbledore's Office
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry and Draco nocked on the door of Dumbledore's office and heard the command 'come in, come in'. They
pushed the door open and walked in.
Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, a thoughtful expression on his face. Snape stopped his pacing
round the room when the two entered and turned to face them.
"Sit down, boys." Dumbledore said, indicating the two chairs by the desk.
Harry glanced at Draco, who nodded, and they sat.
"Now, boys. I understand that there have been some... developments... Please, explain." Dumbledore pressed
the tips of his fingers together and waited for Harry and Draco to speak.
Harry didn't know what Dumbledore wanted to know so he sat without talking, waiting for Draco to begin.
"Please understand that I cannot help you unless you tell me what is wrong." Dumbledore said kindly.
Draco scowled at Harry and opened his mouth to reply angrily but there was suddenly a crash as the door to
the office flew open, soliciting an outraged squawk from Fawkes.
"Lucius," Dumbledore said pleasantly as a figure shaking with rage stood in the doorway, "How nice to see you.
Won't you sit down?"
"No thank you, Albus. I'd just like to talk to my son." Lucius Malfoy said coldly. "Alone."
"Certainly, but could you wait a few minutes until we're finished?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"No I could not." Lucius snapped. "Now, Draco. Come with me."
Harry glanced at Draco and to his horror saw that Draco's hands were shaking. Whether from fear or anger,
Harry couldn't tell. Harry looked up at Draco's face and caught him looking at him. Harry gave Draco a look that
said 'I don't know'.
"Father, I should stay here and talk to Professor Dumbledore." Draco began.
"Come, Draco." Lucius said.
"But, Father..." Draco said with something sounding like desperation.
"Draco!" Lucius said sharply.
Draco's head bowed. To Harry it looked horribly like defeat.
"Yes, Father."
Lucius turned sharply and walked out. Draco stood up slowly and followed, head bowed, not even looking at
Harry or the others.
As soon as the door snapped shut, Harry jumped up.
"You're just going to let him go?!" He yelled. "Do you know what that, that ...bastard did to him?!"
"I don't believe I do, Harry, as neither you nor Draco was willing to tell me." Dumbledore said calmly. "And as
Draco's father, Lucius is perfectly allowed to talk to his son."
"But it was him that gave Draco the Dark Mark!" Harry hissed.
Dumbledore looked up, his eyes now grave.
"Well, why didn't you say so?" Dumbledore asked. "Was the Mark willingly accepted on Draco's part?"
"Of course not!" Harry exclaimed.
"We must find them." Dumbledore said. "Severus, check the dungeons. Harry, you go back to the Gryffindor
tower. And stay there."
"No, sir. I'm helping." Harry said firmly.
"Do as the headmaster says, Potter." Snape said, stepping out of the shadows from behind Harry, "Stay out of
the way."
"But -" Harry began to protest.
"No buts, Harry." Dumbledore said. "Now, please, go back to the Common Room."
Harry looked from Snape to Dumbledore, then sighed and walked out.
An Empty Classroom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What did you want, Father?" Draco said, hoping he sounded braver than he felt.
"Not a very pleasant welcome for your Father, boy." Lucius said coldly.
"Sorry."
"Are you well?"
"Yes." Draco glared at Lucius. He was tempted to add 'what do you care anyway?'.
"I'm glad."
"Why did you come here, Father?" Draco asked impatiently.
"This morning I received a very interesting letter from Pansy Parkinson." Lucius said, turning to face Draco, cold
rage glittering menacingly in his eyes.
"Oh yes?"
"How DARE you." Lucius hissed, stepping forward.
"What?" Draco asked, puzzled.
"Don't play the fool with me, boy!" Lucius shouted, "You are a disgrace to your family! You have betrayed your
lord! Worst still, you are a freak of nature!"
"Wha - " Draco tried to speak but his father struck him across his cheek and he staggered backwords, clutching
his face and bleeding lip.
"You have obviously renounced your legacy as one of our lord's servants, and you have turned out to be..." Lucius
shuddered, "An oddity, an obsenity."
"What do you mean?!" Draco gasped.
"You and the Potter boy!" Lucius roared, "You told him everything about yourself! And do not deny it, Pansy heard
you herself! And it is a good job she did so. I am here to take you home."
Draco paused for a moment to allow this information to sink in.
"But I don't want to go to the mansion!" Draco yelled, "This is my home, here at Hogwarts! I won't leave!"
"You will do as you are told, boy! Our lord has something very interesting to show you."
Out in the corridor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry walked down the corridor and cursed, kicking the wall.
How could Dumbledore let Lucius take Draco?
He had to find Draco. If Lucius had done anything to Draco, he would...
"This is my home, here at Hogwarts! I won't leave!"
Harry heard Draco shout from a nearby classroom. He spun round and ran in the direction of the room.
He burst through the door and saw Draco clutching his face, his lip bleeding, and Lucius standing over him, red
in the face with rage.
Harry looked from Draco to Lucius and back again to Draco who looked imploringly and pathetically at Harry, as
if begging him to do something.
Harry launched himself at Lucius, rage blinding him.
He hit the tall blond man hard across the chin, but Lucius barely flinched. Instead, he struck Harry on the back of
his head, sending Harry reeling towards Draco, who caught him to stop him falling.
"Fool!" Lucius hissed at Harry. "You have now presented me with an even better situation. What would my lord
find better than Draco delivered to him than both Draco AND Harry Potter."
"Father, don't do this!" Draco begged, a hand on Harry's arm, "Let Harry go, it's nothing to do with him!"
"Shut up!" Lucius commanded. "You are coming with me and there is nothing you can do about it!"
