Disclaimer: I do not own them. Oh, if only. :)
*Yes, this is slash*
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The young faire prince sighed. He wanted to see Harry again so much. But something nagged at him from the pit of his stomach. There was this feeling. He could describe it as nothing other than that – a feeling – but something was amiss. Draco could only hope that this meant that the Weasleys had changed their minds and would help him find Harry.
When evening came, Draco headed over to the modest house that sat on the very edge of the village. The house itself seemed out of place, like it was slowly moving into the woods beyond, as if it wished to become a part of it. *Or like it's hiding* Draco thought to himself. As he always did, he paused a moment before knocking on the door. Their knocker was the most intriguing thing Draco had ever seen. It was a carved symbol of some sort, and it was absolutely beautiful. It looked like it combined a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake together, yet Draco could not tell where one creature began and the other ended, so magnificently crafted was this knocker. Words in an unfamiliar language surrounded the edge of the crest. He recognized nothing but one word: his own name. He could not fathom why, but for some reason, one of the words on the symbol was Draco. This perplexed him, and had always hoped to ask the Weaselys about it, but if he could only get one piece of knowledge out of them, he wanted to know how he could find Harry.
He ran his finger lightly over the snake (his favorite creature on the knocker) before firmly grasping the handle, and knocking on the door.
Ron answered almost immediately. "Back again?" he asked, a sneer evident in his voice. This perplexed the prince also. True, he troubled them often for information about Harry, but this offered no explanation for such evident hatred.
"I've come to ask again about my musician," said Draco.
"He isn't yours!" Ginny could be heard yelling from within, as Hermione simultaneously called: "Let him in, Ron."
Grudgingly, Ron stepped back from the door, allowing Draco to enter.
"We are sorry that you must tire your feet every evening, but we know nothing about what you seek," said Hermione. She did not look at Draco. The prince appreciated her loyalty, but was frustrated by her evident lying.
"And I say you do know. You know Harry. You probably know where I can find him. There is something about you," said Draco, not noticing as Ginny started.
"Something different. You are all different. I just cannot figure out why!" he exclaimed.
"Probably due to your lack of intelligence," said Ron.
"Ron-" began Hermione.
"No, madam," said Draco. "I can certainly stand up for myself." With that, he turned and looked Ron in the eye.
"I'll have you know you've got nothing on me when it comes to intelligence," he spat. Ron's face changed so that it began to resemble his hair.
"Why I ought to-"
"Ought to what?" the prince taunted. "Hit me? I'd like to see you try. You, living in your little house, hiding from the big bad world and all the monsters in it. Let me tell you – I can be one of those monsters. Never pretend like you are better than me, commoner!"
"So, you shine through after all," said Ginny, before turning and running out of the room.
The prince gasped. What on earth had just come over him? He turned and ran after Ginny, all the while, his mind still in shock. *What just happened in there?* he thought to himself. *It was like another person was inside of me, talking through me!* Draco was terrified, yet he followed Ginny to the Weasley's garden, where she turned on him.
"You have no right to talk to my brother that way!" she cried.
"I know, I apologize a thousand times, I don't know what came over me!" said Draco.
"I do," she said, coldly.
"What?" asked the prince.
"I know why you belittled my family. I know why my brother hates you. I know why you never deserve to see Harry again!" she cried.
Draco had been about to apologize again, but the mention of Harry's name stopped him short.
"You do know him!" he said.
"Of course I know him," she hissed. "He is everything any man could hope to be. And he is everything you will never have!"
"But I don't understand," he said.
"You don't deserve to have him," said Ginny.
"I realize I am not perfect. But couldn't I change? I would be anything he wanted me to be," said Draco.
"You will never change. Not in this lifetime. Nor any other, for that matter," she said, turning again to leave.
"Wait, miss, please. Tell me how I can see him – tell me so I can ask him what I must do to change! Or at least, he could tell me what I have done so that I do not deserve him," the prince cried in desolation.
"You want to know what you have done?" she sneered. "I'll show you what you have done." Ginny thrust a small hand mirror into Draco's hand.
"What is this?" he asked, his voice a whisper as he stared at the mirror. It was exquisite. It was the color of the sea after a storm, with tiny jewels sparkling along the edges. It did not belong to this world, but it seemed to the prince that it belonged with the door knocker.
"This is my mirror of Noisulli," she said, her anger still apparent. "Find your own twisted truth in the backwards illusion!" she cried.
Draco then gazed into the mirror, and gasped. Images began to flash through his mind. Trains, classrooms – but he'd never gone to a school before, he'd always had tutors – a small golden ball that seemed dreadfully important – Harry! *But he and I are dueling?* - He heard words, as clear as day, but faint, as if of a dream. "You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there," said a disturbingly familiar voice. "I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," was the reply. "I'd take you on anytime on my own … tonight if you want. Wizard's duel." What on earth was a wizard's duel? "You've picked the loosing side … I warned you … when we met on the train … it's too late now." Too late for what? And what was with these trains?
He felt a great pressure as he was then pulled into the mirror. It felt as if his soul had been sucked out of his body, and transported … where? Where was he? He looked around in wonder.
The prince had found himself in a small room, which was sparsely but comfortably furnished. Long, thick curtains blocked any sunlight (or moonlight – the prince had no idea ~when~ he was either) from entering. The only light came from a few tapered candles which glowed softly in the semi-dark. There might have been a dresser of some sort pushed against the far wall, but from the light of the candles, the only thing the prince could really see was a large, plush rug, and the figures laying on it. Draco started as he noticed just who those figures were.
"Do you like me?" Harry asked.
"Of course I like you, I love you. What kind of a question is that?" asked Draco. *Is that really me? What am I wearing?* wondered the prince.
"No, I mean do you ~like~ me, as in separate from love? Separate from attraction, even," Harry persisted. *Why is he asking me such questions? Where are we?*
"Why are you asking me this? Do you think I don't?"
"I'm sorry. I guess I just get insecure sometimes."
"The Boy Who Lived? Insecure?" Draco laughed.
"Yes," said Harry. "Will you tell me why you like me?"
"You really are insecure."
"And you're mean."
"Fine, whatever you want. If you must know, I like you because of your reality."
"Don't follow," said Harry.
"Well, I wasn't finished," said Draco. "As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted," here he tossed a grin at Harry, "I like you because you aren't a phony. You believe what you want to believe, and you are your own person, despite the stereotypes and expectations. You give and give, and never think about taking. You are stronger than you think you are, braver than you appear to be, and sweeter than anyone knows. Except maybe me," he finished, with a laugh.
Harry was silent, and Draco seized the opportunity to take his hand. He snuggled up closer and closed his eyes.
"Thank you," said Harry.
"For what?" Draco asked, opening his eyes.
"For giving me something I needed with no questions asked," he said. The prince gave a small gasp when he heard Harry speak those words.
"For goodness sake, Harry. You don't have to thank me for that." He gave another small laugh before gently kissing Harry's scar, *I didn't notice a scar before* closing his eyes, and drifting off to sleep.
*He said the very words to me that I spoke to him! What strange universe is this?* the prince wondered, before he again felt the tug of the mirror. This time however, the scene before him was not so joyful.
"Just answer me one question: Why?" came the cold voice.
"I've told you before. I won't say it again." The reply was toneless.
"I want you to say it again."
"Get used to disappointment."
Harry looked absolutely infuriated. "Give me one good reason why."
Draco did not look at him as he continued to pack his bag.
"Draco, for goodness sake, will you please answer me? Look at me!" Harry commanded, grabbing his chin, and forcing Draco's head to turn.
"Let go of me," he said venomously.
"Tell me why you are leaving."
"Look. We have been over this before. Opposites attract, but they just don't fall in love," he said. He turned his head. Harry could not see the pain in his eyes.
"How can you say that? You're lying and you know it. Don't give in to what your father wants!" cried Harry.
Draco still would not look at Harry. "You belong on the side of light. I belong with the dark. The Mark is calling me, and I have to go." *Mark? I haven't any mark.*
"You can't go. Come with me into the Order instead. I know you don't want to go. Don't let your father make you into someone I know you're not!"
"Go hang out with your Muggles and Mudbloods, Potter. I've got better things to do."
With that, the prince watched himself walk out of the room, leaving Harry in tears. *Muggles? Mudbloods? Potter? His last name?*
"How could I do something like that to somebody I love?" It was not until he got a response that he realized he had asked the question out loud.
"That is something we'd all like to know," said Ginny.
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A/N~ Thank you:
DaigonAlley, Shadow (was this a *little* better?), Tasuki, who is now being tormented by her muses as well as Zo, obsequiosity (oh, indigestion, Pie) Crystal Star Guardian (again, you're too nice), mandraco (actually, he doesn't), Banjodog, thecoffeebringer and Ninsetta Tristel Sundar.
You guys are awesome! Thank you!!
*Yes, this is slash*
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The young faire prince sighed. He wanted to see Harry again so much. But something nagged at him from the pit of his stomach. There was this feeling. He could describe it as nothing other than that – a feeling – but something was amiss. Draco could only hope that this meant that the Weasleys had changed their minds and would help him find Harry.
When evening came, Draco headed over to the modest house that sat on the very edge of the village. The house itself seemed out of place, like it was slowly moving into the woods beyond, as if it wished to become a part of it. *Or like it's hiding* Draco thought to himself. As he always did, he paused a moment before knocking on the door. Their knocker was the most intriguing thing Draco had ever seen. It was a carved symbol of some sort, and it was absolutely beautiful. It looked like it combined a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake together, yet Draco could not tell where one creature began and the other ended, so magnificently crafted was this knocker. Words in an unfamiliar language surrounded the edge of the crest. He recognized nothing but one word: his own name. He could not fathom why, but for some reason, one of the words on the symbol was Draco. This perplexed him, and had always hoped to ask the Weaselys about it, but if he could only get one piece of knowledge out of them, he wanted to know how he could find Harry.
He ran his finger lightly over the snake (his favorite creature on the knocker) before firmly grasping the handle, and knocking on the door.
Ron answered almost immediately. "Back again?" he asked, a sneer evident in his voice. This perplexed the prince also. True, he troubled them often for information about Harry, but this offered no explanation for such evident hatred.
"I've come to ask again about my musician," said Draco.
"He isn't yours!" Ginny could be heard yelling from within, as Hermione simultaneously called: "Let him in, Ron."
Grudgingly, Ron stepped back from the door, allowing Draco to enter.
"We are sorry that you must tire your feet every evening, but we know nothing about what you seek," said Hermione. She did not look at Draco. The prince appreciated her loyalty, but was frustrated by her evident lying.
"And I say you do know. You know Harry. You probably know where I can find him. There is something about you," said Draco, not noticing as Ginny started.
"Something different. You are all different. I just cannot figure out why!" he exclaimed.
"Probably due to your lack of intelligence," said Ron.
"Ron-" began Hermione.
"No, madam," said Draco. "I can certainly stand up for myself." With that, he turned and looked Ron in the eye.
"I'll have you know you've got nothing on me when it comes to intelligence," he spat. Ron's face changed so that it began to resemble his hair.
"Why I ought to-"
"Ought to what?" the prince taunted. "Hit me? I'd like to see you try. You, living in your little house, hiding from the big bad world and all the monsters in it. Let me tell you – I can be one of those monsters. Never pretend like you are better than me, commoner!"
"So, you shine through after all," said Ginny, before turning and running out of the room.
The prince gasped. What on earth had just come over him? He turned and ran after Ginny, all the while, his mind still in shock. *What just happened in there?* he thought to himself. *It was like another person was inside of me, talking through me!* Draco was terrified, yet he followed Ginny to the Weasley's garden, where she turned on him.
"You have no right to talk to my brother that way!" she cried.
"I know, I apologize a thousand times, I don't know what came over me!" said Draco.
"I do," she said, coldly.
"What?" asked the prince.
"I know why you belittled my family. I know why my brother hates you. I know why you never deserve to see Harry again!" she cried.
Draco had been about to apologize again, but the mention of Harry's name stopped him short.
"You do know him!" he said.
"Of course I know him," she hissed. "He is everything any man could hope to be. And he is everything you will never have!"
"But I don't understand," he said.
"You don't deserve to have him," said Ginny.
"I realize I am not perfect. But couldn't I change? I would be anything he wanted me to be," said Draco.
"You will never change. Not in this lifetime. Nor any other, for that matter," she said, turning again to leave.
"Wait, miss, please. Tell me how I can see him – tell me so I can ask him what I must do to change! Or at least, he could tell me what I have done so that I do not deserve him," the prince cried in desolation.
"You want to know what you have done?" she sneered. "I'll show you what you have done." Ginny thrust a small hand mirror into Draco's hand.
"What is this?" he asked, his voice a whisper as he stared at the mirror. It was exquisite. It was the color of the sea after a storm, with tiny jewels sparkling along the edges. It did not belong to this world, but it seemed to the prince that it belonged with the door knocker.
"This is my mirror of Noisulli," she said, her anger still apparent. "Find your own twisted truth in the backwards illusion!" she cried.
Draco then gazed into the mirror, and gasped. Images began to flash through his mind. Trains, classrooms – but he'd never gone to a school before, he'd always had tutors – a small golden ball that seemed dreadfully important – Harry! *But he and I are dueling?* - He heard words, as clear as day, but faint, as if of a dream. "You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there," said a disturbingly familiar voice. "I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," was the reply. "I'd take you on anytime on my own … tonight if you want. Wizard's duel." What on earth was a wizard's duel? "You've picked the loosing side … I warned you … when we met on the train … it's too late now." Too late for what? And what was with these trains?
He felt a great pressure as he was then pulled into the mirror. It felt as if his soul had been sucked out of his body, and transported … where? Where was he? He looked around in wonder.
The prince had found himself in a small room, which was sparsely but comfortably furnished. Long, thick curtains blocked any sunlight (or moonlight – the prince had no idea ~when~ he was either) from entering. The only light came from a few tapered candles which glowed softly in the semi-dark. There might have been a dresser of some sort pushed against the far wall, but from the light of the candles, the only thing the prince could really see was a large, plush rug, and the figures laying on it. Draco started as he noticed just who those figures were.
"Do you like me?" Harry asked.
"Of course I like you, I love you. What kind of a question is that?" asked Draco. *Is that really me? What am I wearing?* wondered the prince.
"No, I mean do you ~like~ me, as in separate from love? Separate from attraction, even," Harry persisted. *Why is he asking me such questions? Where are we?*
"Why are you asking me this? Do you think I don't?"
"I'm sorry. I guess I just get insecure sometimes."
"The Boy Who Lived? Insecure?" Draco laughed.
"Yes," said Harry. "Will you tell me why you like me?"
"You really are insecure."
"And you're mean."
"Fine, whatever you want. If you must know, I like you because of your reality."
"Don't follow," said Harry.
"Well, I wasn't finished," said Draco. "As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted," here he tossed a grin at Harry, "I like you because you aren't a phony. You believe what you want to believe, and you are your own person, despite the stereotypes and expectations. You give and give, and never think about taking. You are stronger than you think you are, braver than you appear to be, and sweeter than anyone knows. Except maybe me," he finished, with a laugh.
Harry was silent, and Draco seized the opportunity to take his hand. He snuggled up closer and closed his eyes.
"Thank you," said Harry.
"For what?" Draco asked, opening his eyes.
"For giving me something I needed with no questions asked," he said. The prince gave a small gasp when he heard Harry speak those words.
"For goodness sake, Harry. You don't have to thank me for that." He gave another small laugh before gently kissing Harry's scar, *I didn't notice a scar before* closing his eyes, and drifting off to sleep.
*He said the very words to me that I spoke to him! What strange universe is this?* the prince wondered, before he again felt the tug of the mirror. This time however, the scene before him was not so joyful.
"Just answer me one question: Why?" came the cold voice.
"I've told you before. I won't say it again." The reply was toneless.
"I want you to say it again."
"Get used to disappointment."
Harry looked absolutely infuriated. "Give me one good reason why."
Draco did not look at him as he continued to pack his bag.
"Draco, for goodness sake, will you please answer me? Look at me!" Harry commanded, grabbing his chin, and forcing Draco's head to turn.
"Let go of me," he said venomously.
"Tell me why you are leaving."
"Look. We have been over this before. Opposites attract, but they just don't fall in love," he said. He turned his head. Harry could not see the pain in his eyes.
"How can you say that? You're lying and you know it. Don't give in to what your father wants!" cried Harry.
Draco still would not look at Harry. "You belong on the side of light. I belong with the dark. The Mark is calling me, and I have to go." *Mark? I haven't any mark.*
"You can't go. Come with me into the Order instead. I know you don't want to go. Don't let your father make you into someone I know you're not!"
"Go hang out with your Muggles and Mudbloods, Potter. I've got better things to do."
With that, the prince watched himself walk out of the room, leaving Harry in tears. *Muggles? Mudbloods? Potter? His last name?*
"How could I do something like that to somebody I love?" It was not until he got a response that he realized he had asked the question out loud.
"That is something we'd all like to know," said Ginny.
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A/N~ Thank you:
DaigonAlley, Shadow (was this a *little* better?), Tasuki, who is now being tormented by her muses as well as Zo, obsequiosity (oh, indigestion, Pie) Crystal Star Guardian (again, you're too nice), mandraco (actually, he doesn't), Banjodog, thecoffeebringer and Ninsetta Tristel Sundar.
You guys are awesome! Thank you!!