YourSide, Their Side and the Truth by Mizzy ( )
Part X - Right Of The Middle (10.45)
Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me, this is a fan fiction, by a fan for the fans. No money has exchanged hands during its production.
They managed to stumble back to the main hall in time for dinner, mostly subdued after their first lesson with Professor Dumbledore. They had quickly realised that this would be no fast thing (this would literally take them years) but after realising the severity of the situation - Dumbledore would not have offered to teach them if it wasn't necessary – they had all decided firmly to continue with it.
Draco realised that Harry would be out of it; anything connected with his parents seemed to do that to Harry. As they slid into their seats Draco gave Harry's hand a reassuring squeeze and Harry's gaze met Draco's sharply, softening as he saw the concerned glance in his direction.
"I'm fine," Harry muttered. "Don't worry."
"I can't help it," Draco said gently.
"Oh look it's pansy Potter and his friends."
Shocked, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco looked up to see Pansy Parkinson; flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
"That would have normally been me standing there," Draco thought suddenly; horrified. "Actually you're the pansy, Pansy," the ex-Slytherin voiced softly, speaking up to ignore his treacherous thoughts.
Pansy stopped and sneered. "Oh look, did the meatball brain speak? To me? When did such foul creatures have such lack of morals!"
"You have no idea about morality," Draco sneered smoothly, getting to his feet and holding out a hand to stop Harry from rising too. "I suppose you think your parents are fantastic, for example. Loyal death eaters are they? Still in hiding because they think Voldemort's coming back?"
Pansy sniggered derisively. "At least my parents are loyal, Malfoy," she retorted.
"Proud to wear that symbol on your arm, are you?" Draco reached forward and wrenched her sleeve off her arm. She gasped and her eyes narrowed as her hands moved to clench the dark mark on her arm.
"Shove off, Malfoy, you'll all go down in the end, you and your pretty boyfriend," she scoffed.
Draco rolled his eyes and lifted up his sleeve, displaying the twisted mark on his arm which had actually started to slightly fade. He leaned forwards and shoved it in her face. "Proud of something like this?" He hissed. "Proud of something that makes you hated, makes you damned? How can you be so bloody stupid Pansy?" He stepped back and rolled down his sleeve again; ignoring the fact that the entire hall had stopped to watch the spectacle. "You know what? I'm so glad I got transferred out of Slytherin. Apart from the fact that the Sorting Hat was a little apologetic… He said sorry for putting me in that awful house in the first place when I clearly belonged in a much better house… You know why I'm glad? Because you're all no better than Voldemort himself, and we all know how he ended up. Pathetic."
With that last word Draco turned and sat back down in his seat. Pansy just stood there, looking thunder-struck.
"Well… Well… Whatever, Draco, I don't care. You're all on the wrong side, you've fallen in with the wrong crowd, and you'll pay for that," she said as she turned and swept out of the hall with Crabbe and Goyle cracking their knuckles and faithfully following her. Eventually some kind of nervous chatter broke out in the Ravenclaws and several minutes later order was restored. Harry was quite annoyed because for once the only teacher attending the evening dinner was Professor Trelawney, who hadn't even noticed the scuffle that had taken place.
"Wow!" Ron exclaimed. "You sure showed her!"
Draco blinked, still shocked that a compliment to him would come from Ron's mouth. He blushed slightly and grinned.
"I suppose you remember why you hated to be on the opposite side as me?" Draco asked with a cheeky smirk.
"We do," Hermione said ferverently.
"You know something," Harry said slowly, his eyebrows raising.
"What?" Draco asked curiously.
"She said I was pretty." With a contended smile, Harry busied himself with the food in front of him. Draco gaped then scowled.
"Right, she's going to die," he mumbled.
Harry paused and looked at the blond curiously. "What? Are you jealous?"
"Me? Oh miss-death eater wannabe Parkinson?" Draco savagely tore apart a bread roll and his face clouded.
"Hey! Relax a little!" Harry looked at Draco, frowning. "They really did get to you, didn't they?"
Draco nodded slowly. "Just like you three would hurt me before… Well…" he trailed off uncomfortably, not meeting Harry's eyes.
Harry's eyes shone with compassion. "Oh god, Draco, I didn't know I was hurting you… I guess I forgot you were only human too…"
"I suppose I did a good job of hiding it," Draco said distantly.
"Hey," Harry commanded. His tone made Draco's eyes fly to his face. Draco looked at his love, memorizing again the compelling features. "That's the past. This is now. I like the now better. But it's up to you."
Draco smiled softly. "I like now too."
"I guess what Harry's trying to say is that you don't need to conflict with anyone again. You got us to stand up for you," Hermione said, nodding.
"Right!" Ron said. "The inseparable four definitely!"
Draco paused, then grinned devilishly. "Oh I do hope we aren't completely inseparable I might need Harry for some… private business."
"What kind of private business?" Ron asked before realising and clamping his mouth shut with his hands. "Forget I asked," he groaned, bashing his head off the table while Harry felt his face going redder than Hagrid when he was drunk. That made the raven-haired boy remember something sharply.
"Hagrid!" He said softly.
"Well that's fairly random," Draco said uncertainly. Harry waved his arms.
"He's in the meeting with the other professors," he explained.
"Right, he told us in Care of Magical Creatures," Ron explained. "When you and 'Mione were dealing with the Griffin."
"Oh. Right," Hermione said; faintly annoyed. "Did he tell you what the meetings about?
Harry shook his head. "No."
"Hey guys!"
Managing to interrupt them again, Seamus and Dean dropped down in the seats opposite from them, followed by the two Hufflepuffs Ernie and Hannah.
"Hello," Ernie and Hannah managed at the same time.
Ron managed a giggle. "Oh. Hey, what were you two up to a couple of weeks ago when we didn't see you wandering around after night?"
Ernie laughed shortly. "We'll tell you if you tell us what you were doing," he joked, obviously not expecting the others to tell him.
"We went to see Professor Black about Peter Pettigrew," Draco said, shrugging.
Ernie's mouth dropped open and Hannah laughed. "Now we have to tell them," Hannah said, covering her mouth up with her hand and giggling as Ernie glared at her.
"We were setting up a surprise for someone, and don't ask me to be more descriptive than that because you weren't with us," Ernie said, grouchily.
"So, anyway," Dean said, trying to break up the slightly tense atmosphere. "What do you think the teachers are meeting about?"
"I think it's about Azkaban," Ron suggested. "Just having giants guarding all those ex-death eaters, gives me the shivers."
"I heard it was about the music down near the Ravenclaw dorms," Seamus offered, keeping his wand well away from any food.
"It wouldn't be," Harry commented off-handedly; nibbling at the bread roll. Then he seemed to realise he'd said too much and bit his lip.
"Harry! Does our esteemed legend know something he's not telling us?" Seamus teased. Harry pulled a face.
"Just leave it," he said; his tone slightly wavering. "It's not about that."
Ron, Hermione and Draco exchanged a glance over Harry's head and finally just shrugged.
"Maybe it's about Peter," Draco suggested.
"Or maybe it's just a regular staff meeting," Hermione suggested dryly. "They do have them every month."
"Oh, yeah, forgot about those" Ron said, starting to grin. "Remember when we had to remind Professor Sinistra that she was supposed to be in that aforementioned meeting last month?"
Draco looked up. "What happened?"
"We got Seamus to try a waking up spell," Dean said.
Seamus started to blush furiously.
"What did you do?" Draco asked Seamus curiously.
"Set fire to her robes," the Irish boy said morosely.
An outsider might have thought the Gryffindor table had suddenly erupted. Certainly the laughter didn't stop for a long, long time that night and it woke Professor Trelawney who crossly stalked over and told them to keep it quiet else the spirits might not like it; so she sent all eight of them up to their dormitories to think about what they had done.
They had barely made it into the common room, Ernie and Hannah disappearing at the Gryffindor portal, before they all started giggling again and they collapsed in front of the fire, holding their sides.
"Did you see her face?" Ron laughed, taking deep breaths to try and calm down. "Oh man!"
"She looked like she was going to catch on fire," Dean Thomas remarked, pulling out a scrap of parchment from behind one of the cushions and getting Harry to summon a quill (after the Triwizard Tournament Harry's summoning charm had always been the best of all of theirs, even Hermione's) he started to scribble down on the piece of parchment later. A couple of minutes later, and giving them just enough time to calm down, Dean turned round the piece of parchment revealing a hilarious caricature of the bug-eyed Divination teacher.
"I guess she's still mad at me for quitting her subject," Harry said reflectively. "But it's not much good for what I guess I want to do in the future."
"What do you want to do?" Draco asked curiously as he let Harry snuggle up to him. Harry took full advantage of the situation and lay his head on the blond's shoulder.
"I quite liked the idea of being an auror," Harry admitted. "Until I wondered if I could become a teacher."
"That would be cool!" Ron exclaimed. "Teach Defence Against the Dark Arts!"
Harry pulled a face. "The job is cursed!"
"Not in every school," Draco offered. "The post at Durmstrangs has been occupied by the same teacher for eight years."
Hermione nodded. "It's just Hogwarts that is cursed," she said with a solemn face.
"You actually think it's cursed?" Seamus asked in surprise.
"Two times is a coincidence, but five years running?" Ron exclaimed. "No way is that not cursed!"
"That's one thing I was going to ask though," Harry said suddenly. "How did you get on at Durmstrangs? And how did you get out of it to come to the battle?"
Draco laughed. "It was up to the twins, actually. I'd ordered this really nifty Charms thing from them a while back, and it's a bit like the Marauder's Map. It's Charmed for any 'untraceable' location."
Harry blinked, awed.
"It only works if you're actually in the place, though," Hermione said ruefully.
"But it's still pretty cool," Seamus said, nodding. "And they've managed to infuse a little of our personality into it. Anyone trying to read it incorrectly will get a mouthful of abuse!"
"Cool," Dean commented. "You still got it?"
Draco shrugged. "What do you think?"
Dean grinned. "Remind me never to get on your bad side," he said, laughing.
"Anyway, the rest of the story?" Harry demanded. Draco laughed a little.
"Well, with the help of your cloak, which you very nicely left for our use, we managed to distract the trolls guarding the very outmost exit with a lot of food. You see, with the cloak we made it into the kitchen, which was hidden, and persuaded the house elves to cook for us. Actually, we used Hermione as bait here. We told them that SPEW was a very popular organization out here, and if they helped us then we might be able to make it a little less popular. So we got me out and Fred managed to steal a broomstick of Viktor Krum, while Hermione distracted him in their library –" (at this point in the narration Hermione blushed vividly and Ron scowled) "-and so I flew here as fast as I could and when I landed on the outside greens, Wormtail must have found me. Something hit me on the head really hard and then Voldemort must have done something because then I was in the main hall." Draco took a deep breath, flustered. "Then you know the rest."
"So how's Krum?" Harry asked suddenly.
"Right that's I'm going to bed," Ron said suddenly, springing up and just stalking off. Hermione watched him go uncertainly. When she turned back to answer Harry's glance her gaze was troubled.
"He's fine. He understood me breaking it off," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.
"You broke it off with him?" Dean asked; horrified. "But that's Viktor Krum!"
Hermione shrugged. "Turns out he was of the uh…" She searched for the right way. "Uh… Same persuasion as Harry and Draco."
Seamus' eyes opened and Draco and Harry started to laugh. Dean didn't get it.
"What do you mean?" He asked; frowning.
"For heaven's sake!" Hermione snapped irritably. "He's gay!"
"Oh right…" Dean said. Then his mouth dropped open. "Oh!"
"Exactly," Hermione said, folding her arms.
"Sorry," Dean apologised softly.
Hermione stared before smiling. "Thanks."
Harry yawned suddenly, stretching as he left Draco's shoulder.
"I'm tired," he said sleepily. He got to his feet and Draco followed him almost reflexively.
"We'll follow you up later," Seamus said, sharing a look with Dean, who wasn't tired either.
"I might too," Hermione admitted, pushing herself up gently. Harry flashed his friend a glance, her eyes were quite misty. She smiled an 'I'm OK, really!'smile in his direction before leaving to go up to the girl's dorms. "Night boys," she added faintly.
"Come on," Harry said, tugging at Draco's hand. Seamus and Dean sniggered and Draco decided to ignore it as he followed Harry up the stairs.
As he entered the circular room the six boys shared Harry noticed Ron wasn't asleep but had his curtains drawn around his bed, indicating he didn't want to be disturbed.
"Come on," Harry said softly, tugging at Draco's hand. Draco stared at him uncomprehendingly as Harry pulled him towards his own bed. Pushing the startled boy down onto the bed, Draco watched wordlessly as Harry closed the curtains and sat down on the bed next to him.
"Professor McGonagall trusted us not to do anything," Draco whispered quickly.
Harry grinned mischievously. "We're not allowed to sleep? As in close our eyes and maybe dream?"
"Oh. Oh…" Draco suddenly got the idea. "Hang on, let me get changed for bed, then I'll be back." Harry pulled a face and Draco leant quickly up and captured his lips gently. He pulled away as Harry grinned. "I'll be back," he repeated quietly.
"Good," Harry said, his eyes sparkling.
Two minutes later and Draco nervously pushed his way past the curtains to see Harry already snuggled in the bed, glasses on bedroom table. Blushing furiously, he pulled the covers off gently and slid under the covers gingerly.
"Here, this will work better if we lie like this," Harry commanded gently, moving to spoon around Draco. The blond blushed and wriggled into Harry's embrace further.
"I love you," Draco said softly, closing his eyes and surrendering himself to sleep and it wasn't long until his quiet regular breathing let them both drift away to sleep.
Draco opened one eye. He felt warm arms wrapped around his waist and something tickling his neck. Moving gently he turned around in the embrace to see Harry grinning at him.
"Morning," Harry whispered, a silly grin on his face. Draco grinned.
"We'd better get up," he said gently. Harry pulled a face.
"I guess we have to," Harry agreed. Draco started to pull away from the bed but Harry grabbed his wrist and stole a quick kiss from him before pulling a face.
"What is it?" Draco asked, concerned.
"Something's going to happen today," Harry admitted gently. "It's something I asked Professor Figgs about at the end of the lesson… She agreed to help me with it… I want you to know, don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Trust me."
Draco's eyes widened and he looked at Harry, concerned. "Are you sure?"
Harry nodded.
"Then I trust you," Draco said softly. He pulled out of the bed and shivered. Pouting, Harry scrambled over the bed and hugged Draco abruptly. The blond laughed.
"Let me be, I'll never get dressed if you do that much longer!" Draco grinned and tried to escape.
"And you say that like it's a bad thing!" Harry laughed and let him go. "Get on with you!"
Draco rolled his eyes and disappeared to get dressed.
Draco didn't ay anything but he quietly watched Harry all day. The raven-haired boy was quite edgy all day and after he had come back from seeing Professor Figgs again before lunch time he was literally shaking.
"You don't have to do whatever it is if you don't want to, I'm sure it can wait," Draco said finally as he watched Harry play with his food mindlessly.
"Hmm? Oh no… I suppose now… Yes… I'll be OK, all right? I'll be fine," he reaffirmed strongly.
Draco nodded. "I trust you."
Harry nodded, swallowed and got to his feet; approaching the teacher's table softly.
Ron suddenly noticed Harry's disappearance and looked around; seeing Harry approaching the teachers table (all the Professors were there today) he turned to Draco sharply.
"What's he doing?" Ron hadn't exactly got over his sudden mood from yesterday.
"I don't know," Draco replied, his voice low and troubled. "But whatever it is, he seems to think it's the right thing and for that I'm going to support him."
Ron blinked a few times before turning to watch his friend approach the front and talk to Professor Dumbledore. The wizened teacher nodded gravely.
Suddenly Harry's voice rung out; firm and strong.
"I'd like to talk to you all… I have a few things to say…"
Curiously, the hall quietened down.
"But first…" Harry continued. "First I have to take this…"
There were a few gasps as a small vial was produced.
"Veritaserum," Professor Snape suddenly hissed.
"Makes you tell the truth," Hermione hissed, explaining its purpose to everyone in hearing distance.
"You've been in my stores again, Potter," Professor Snape growled, snarling. Harry turned, eyes blazing to face the Professor. Professor Figgs intervened before anything too bad could be said.
"I gave it to him, Severus," she said, her tone harsh. Harry nodded gently and before anyone could stop him swallowed some of it swiftly. Suddenly something in him changed. His throat tightened up and he went pale. Falling forwards slowly, he clenched his fists and began to speak.
"This is the truth, it's the only thing I can say. Voldemort was possessed by something, Peter's only the host. We should be protecting Azkaban better, it's all a ploy! You have to know this, although some of you will be denying it. Professor Snape I can say with all honesty that I personally have never ever been in your private potions cupboard! And I have to tell you all a true story. Last year, at the Triwizard's Tournament, the cup was turned into a Portkey. Cedric… he got there first but wouldn't take it. He wanted me to take it but the idiot I am let me talk him into both taking it. At the instant we touched him we were transported to somewhere and this voice said "Kill the spare" and I have never been so freaking scared or upset in my life… They didn't mean me, they meant Cedric and I realized then it was all my bloody fault I was indirectly responsible for his death! Voldemort used Wormtail's hand as part of a Dark spell to bring himself back to full strength and that was when I knew he was being controlled… No-one did that made people do that… No-one could be that evil."
Coughing, Harry scrunched up his eyes finding it hard to talk with the effects of the potion still active.
"I don't know why you think he's all gone… And if Voldemort has truly gone than there will be a replacement, as whatever it is will choose to go to a different host as Wormtail is a mistake. I foolishly let that rat live…I guess the reason I'm doing this is to warn you all you can't be so complacent you have to realise he's there and they're ready to do anything at all to win! We can't let them win…"
Struggling to cough he clenched his fists. "And I want you to all know how sorry I am for letting Cedric die like that and I know I'm not worth him at all… I'm no-one… But there's just one more thing you need to know, I should tell you… There are among us death-eaters. Students amongst us branded to the Dark side… You have to know it's wrong. You have to stop this. You can't be killers like They want you to be! You shouldn't be scared to go against your upbringing to do what's right! When I was… Last year… Against Voldemort as I saw him return, as he used my blood to return all his latest spells reversed… I saw Cedric again and everyone he murdered and knew at that moment I had helped him return my blood had helped him return… This latest skirmish was a victory yes but it wasn't the end of the battle…" He took one last deep breath. "And one more thing?" He turned and faced Professor Snape. "Don't blame me for something you weren't brave enough to do."
Tears appeared on Harry's cheeks and eventually the potion stopped him from being able to breathe and he collapsed; cheeks red as he struggled to breathe. With a strangled cry Hagrid leapt from his seat and picked up the now-unconscious boy.
"See? See what you all done? You all disgust me, making him think he was worthless, you make me sick! You oughta listen to him he knows what he's talking about!" In complete disdain the half-giant turned and stalked off with Harry over his shoulder.
The entire place was an uproar. Snape was spluttering wildly and students were openly crying.
"He never said," Cho was heard repeating over on the Ravenclaw. "Oh he never said, we all just assumed…" She looked like she was going to be sick.
Draco stood there, thunderstruck. He hadn't realised how deeply Cedric's death had affected Harry and he, too, felt completely sick.
"Oh Harry I'm sorry," he said under his breath. Ron grasped the blond's shoulder firmly; just nodding his understanding.
"I think we all underestimated what happened," Ron said softly, casting a glance up at the teacher's table where Professor Snape had finally subdued and was looking increasingly like most of the students, like he was going to be sick.
"He was right, everything he said though," Hermione said softly. "We were fools to think he might have been totally gone for once."
"I think we were all fools where this was all concerned," Draco said darkly, his eyes narrowing.