Title: Bad Faith
Rating: PG-13
Summary: As Draco Malfoy begins his fifth year at Hogwarts, he finds he must gain the trust of his most hated enemy. Can he end four years of bitter rivalry in only three months? Draco/Harry slash.
Disclaimer: Sadly, Draco Malfoy does not belong to me. He, along with all the other Harry Potter characters, belong to J. K. Rowling.

Notes: (Important!) For those that have previously read 'Bad Faith', please be aware that I have revised this and combined some of the chapters. While the main content has stayed the same, there are a few things that have been added, that will be important to the plot later on. Thanks for taking the time to read this and enjoy the story.

Chapter One

Draco placed the last of his school robes into his trunk, which sat at the end of his bed. Moonlight filtered through the tall narrow windows of his room, filling it with a soft glow. The next day he would board the Hogwarts Express and return to school for his fifth year. Normally he put off packing until the morning, which inevitably lead him to be late leaving for the train. Draco found it an amusing sight to watch the House Elves dash about the house trying to get one of their Masters to hold still long enough to feed them their breakfast. His father would mercilessly kick the small elves out of his path while he pulled on his robes, yelling at Draco to hurry. Then as the House Elves dragged his trunk down the stairs and out the door, his mother would grab him tightly in an embrace. He would try to pull away as she showered him in an uncharacteristic display of emotion with kisses on his cheek, while his father looked on with disgust, telling his wife to let go of their son. Finally Draco would wrench himself free of his mother and they would hurry out the door. They would then arrive at the train station just in time, but not before Draco was forced to endure a scolding from his father on the virtues of punctuality.

Deciding to save himself from such a production, Draco packed his things beforehand. Besides that, Draco found himself too anxious to sleep. He was eager to return to Hogwarts, having spent the entire summer confined to the mansion. Normally his family would travel over the summer, but that, as well as many other things, had changed with Voldemort's return to power. Draco had long learned to tread lightly around his father, never knowing when he might unwittingly anger him, but since he returned home for the summer break the atmosphere around the Malfoy manor had become almost unbearable. His father's moods swung from ecstatically happy to downright murderous so quickly that they became impossible to predict. So Draco spent most of his time locked in his room alone, studying the few darker magic books his father had given him.

He walked over to his antique oak desk and was about to pick up his schoolbooks when he felt the prickling of hairs on his neck, as though he were being watched. Reflexively his hand moved toward his pocket, where he kept his wand, while he turned. He relaxed, but only slightly, when he saw the silhouette of his father standing in the doorway.

"Draco, come with me."

His father did not wait for a response as he turned and walked down the long hallway. Not wasting time, Draco followed after him. He watched Lucius carefully as they turned down a dimly lit passageway. His long graceful strides were confident, but the constant twitching of his fingers and his quickened breath betrayed his nervousness. As they approached his personal study, the secret one, hidden behind a false wall, Draco knew the cause of his father's nervousness. Suddenly every light blond hair on Draco's body stood on end. He fought the sudden shaking feeling that wracked his body and the cold chill that followed, as though someone had walked over his grave.

A grave he would see too soon, if he allowed his fear to show. Lucius tapped his wand against the stone wall in a long intricate pattern. Draco took the time to brace himself and slow his breathing and erratic heartbeat.

Part of the wall disappeared, revealing a small entryway. Just beyond it, on the far wall, a cloaked figured stood in front a massive fireplace, though no fire burned in it. His back was turned, but Draco knew exactly whom the shadows shrouded. He had met with him once earlier in the summer, though his father claimed that they had met before. That he had, in fact, held him many times as an infant. His Father had told him this with a glint of pride in his eyes, however the thought only sent a sickening chill through Draco.

As they entered the room, the cloaked man turned to face them. Though the hood hid his scaly pallid features, the grim image of that face was burned eternally into Draco's mind. His instincts told him to run, but duty and fear of the consequences of that action kept him firmly in place.

Finally the serpent-tongued wizard turned away from Draco and fixed his gaze on the elder of the two pale blond men. "Have you told him yet?"

Lucius bowed his head respectfully and replied, "No my lord, I thought I should leave that honor to you."

The Dark Lord made a noise of acknowledgment then refocused his attention on the younger Malfoy. "Your father tells me you are eager to join the ranks of my Death Eaters."

Though the statement was not posed as a question, Draco nodded in response.

"Good, good," Voldemort hissed in a pleased voice, as he moved closer.

"I have a job for you, young Malfoy."

Draco lifted his gaze to meet that of Lord Voldemort's and looked at him questioningly.

The line that served as a mouth on his twisted face turned up in a mockery of a smile. "Call it an initiation."

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