Harry was quiet as he and Ron left Dumbledore's office and as they walked out of the building that served as their current Base of Operations. Never did they stay in one place too long for fear of being discovered by the Death Eaters. In past it wasn't really a problem -- the Death Eaters didn't know their opponents had a mobile Base of Operations and had concentrated on Hogwarts. It was the common belief back then that Hogwarts was the one place that You-Know-Who wouldn't dare to tread because of Dumbledore's influence there. It was the one logical place that they would place their Headquarters there and in the past it was true -- they did run every assignment, every attack and counter-attack from the school. But later when they found having one place that every witch and wizard know as the Headquarters was a bit foolhardy and a bit too obvious, they decided a movable base would be for the best. Still, they did nothing of rebuffing the idea that their headquarters was at Hogwarts.
For nearly three years did it work until one day when the Death Eaters suddenly ceased trying to breach the school and attacked the mobile Base of Operations... They took heavy causalities that day -- nearly 22 wizards, witches were killed in the attack, the single highest number people killed at one time by the Death Eaters. It took them weeks to regroup, but they never really got over it. They moved on, yes, but never did they forget the carnage that Death Eaters left behind, each vowing to bring down Voldemort, with their life if need be.
As Ron walked with Harry side by side, he couldn't help thinking about the bombshells Dumbledoor had dropped on the two of them that morning. He shook his head in disbelief. Though he knew it everything Dumbledore had told them was true -- Dumbledore wouldn't lie -- he still had a hard time believing it to be true. Draco Malfoy, the highest ranking Death Eater, the killer of hundreds of people, the most hated Wizard, after You-Know-Who, of all time was the Grey Dragon?! The Grey Dragon who was reputed as one of the most valuable assets to the Light, had foiled countless devious plans concocted by You-Know-Who and saved so many people? How could they be one in the same?
How could he kill some wizards, witches and Muggles and...save others at the same time?
It just doesn't make sense and thinking about it was making my head spin. The smart thing to do was just avoid it, accept that Malfoy is the Grey Dragon and that he need help, but the would be the easy way out. To deny what Malfoy had done in the past would be blasphemy to all those he had killed, but in the mists of all that slaughter, he also saved so many... Many people could claim that they owed their lives to the Grey Dragon.
When the stories of the Grey Dragon first popped up when they were at Hogwarts, the stories mainly talked of plans foiled by the Grey Dragon. There was no actual rescuing where it involved the Gregon directly. People claimed to have been saved by them, but they were never taken seriously.
After a few years of saying "The Grey Dragon", the people got tried of the long name and compacted it to just "Gregon". In only a short amount of time, everybody started to calling him Gregon.
People around the world started to wonder if the Gregon was real or not, if his exploits were as they had heard. Factions started to form, one who believed and the other that disbelieved. Those who believed argued that each tale that spoke of the Gregon popped up right after the deed was done. Those who didn't believe countered that reasoning first by saying that it was just coincidence and after too large of a number of such stories appeared to be able to ignore, amended their reasoning by saying it was some overzealous Wizard or Witch who was perpetuating the stories.
But the truth of it was that there was no concrete proof that he existed or that he didn't. Each side tried to make their point, tried to convert others of the opposing side to their side, but was all they did.
Since the stories emerged into the public conscious, it allow an escape from the war between You-Know-Who and the side of the Light. The Gregon gave the people hope again -- even to those who didn't exactly believed for they also, deep down wished it could be true. The arguments between the two sides of the issue also gave the people something else to think about the war the was claiming so many lives on both sides of the conflict. The war, which has been going on for close to a decade has claimed over half of the Wizarding community.
It was never a very heated debate. Usually both sides would state different reasons for believing the way the did and when they found themselves stalemated, they usually disbanded, thinking the other side was nuts not to see it the way they did.
Between Harry, Ron and Hermione it was the same way. Ron argued for, Harry against and Hermione undecided until the time comes with concrete proof of his existence or not. Some nights when they were wearied from the fighting, the death and the heartache, they would debate the existence of the Gregon.
Ron quirked a small grin remembering the conversations they had in the past. Now that he thought about it, it was pretty lame, a feeble attempt of blocking out the hardships that seemed to want to choke them. But they did have fun and that was the most important thing.
He glanced at his silent friend beside him. Furrowing his forehead in worry, he contemplated about Harry. He had been overly quiet during the PreOp when usually he was the most vocal -- making sure everything had been covered so there would be no accidental death occurring, but this time he only made the smallest comments, his thoughts to himself. And now, when usually he would be excited at the prospect of thwarting Vol..Volde...Voldemort, he's as silent as a church mouse.
"Harry...are you okay?"
Harry glanced up abruptly and his eyes registered Ron hovering by his side. For a moment there he had been lost in his own thoughts, but from the silence on the walk away from their Base of Operations, he wasn't the only one who was woolgathering. But I doubt he was thinking about the same thing I am, Harry thought acerbically.
He could hardly concentration during the Pre Operation, his thoughts already starting to drift towards a certain silver haired Death Eater.
Dumbledore had spoke of abuse and mistreatment by his parents and spoke about some of the things that Malfoy had done as the Gregon -- not that he needed to. Though he didn't believe, he had heard most of the stories, just like everybody else. It wasn't something you could avoid very easily.
Ron didn't seem to care about Malfoy's rotten childhood and the problem was the that he did. It shouldn't care how Malfoy's early life was, he should feel anything but pity for the miserable sod, but he did. And that scared him the most.
He had expected understanding -- his abuse at the hands of his parents would certainly explain the sarcastic facade, using biting comments to hurt others to mask the hurt he was feeling inside. It would even explain why Malfoy would want to join on their side even. But it wasn't understanding alone that he felt. If anything the understanding was tinted with confusion and bewilderment, but then was anything involving Malfoy was never simple.
When he heard that the Gregon existed, he had felt surprise and shock, but that quickly dispersed and he accepted it, just like any good soldier. Being the war so long, one accepts the odd and question the normal. But when he heard it was Draco Malfoy, he couldn't accept. How can I accept the figure exists and not the person behind the figure? he questioned, not understanding anything. He knew Ron was most likely facing the same thing, if not more so. The Gregon was his hero and to think that his most hated enemy is really the Gregon has got be a bit shocking.
Who was he kidding? It has got to be a lot shocking. He wasn't as dazzled as Ron was about the Gregon and he was feeling like he was hit by a truck.
He moaned softly, bring a hand to his face to rub his eyes. He had been addled too long and it was showing. Knowing he had to answer Ron's question sooner or later, he sighed and gave his friend a small smile. "I'm fine."
The disbelief on Ron's face told him that he didn't believe his admission and he tried to reassure him. "I really am, seriously. I'm just a little tired that's all," he countered lamely. He really didn't feel up to explaining his feelings to his best friend, no matter what people say about talking. Talking will not help ease his soul, talking wasn't going to help and when are people are going to get he didn't want to talk?!
He glanced at Ron. He still didn't believe that he was okay and Harry groaned under his breath. He recognized that expression. He wasn't going to stop until Harry gives up and explains.
He went through his options: he could either tell Ron about his turbulent emotions or he could change the subject and hope that Ron would get the point that he didn't want to talk. Either way, he'll probably end up telling Ron about his feelings, something he rather not get into. How am I supposed to talk to him about my feelings when I'm not sure of them myself?
"It's just this Malfoy thing, you know?" Harry began, skillfully change the subject only a millimeter, but just enough to take it off his personal feelings. Thankfully Ron nodded, accepting the change without even knowing about it.
"It's got me a bit jumbled. Do you remember the attack few years back, against Ambassador Schen's children?"
Ron nodded. That one would never be forgotten. Death Eaters, lead by Draco Malfoy himself kidnapped the Israeli Muggle Ambassador to the United States' children. Nasty people of work they wrought on the eldest child, a taste of things to come. For years Voldemort had tried to disrupt the Muggle world though a variety of political and commercial adventures. With many of the most powerful nations having a capitalist society and he having some of the most powerful -- and richest Wizarding families in both Wizard and Muggle standards -- working for him it was easy to manipulate the world.
The Schen Almost-Tragedy as it was called now was one of those ventures. The idea was to disrupt US relations with Israel, causing an almost Domino Effect with the rest of the Middle East. They had kidnapped her children, held them in the guise of American Nationalist and tried to get her to break relations off. Of course she would never follow through and initially she didn't crumble to the threat, but after... Ron shuddered, remembering what they had done to her child. Eviscerated, dismembered and disfigured her and then took pictures of the end result. All this in front of the two younger kids, one who was only four years old.
After Schen saw the pictures it was understandable she cracked. A blubbering mess she was, but she managed to get herself together to comply to the Death Eaters' demands in order to save her children. What she didn't know was that the pictures were being released to Semitic Extremists who were begging something as juicy as the Schen children kidnapping to justify their anger. Though the Islamic people and the Jewish people have been at odds, no one could ignore the horror they felt at the acts perpetrated by the men they thought to be Americans. It started the Domino Effect, each little country, outraged by the act of violence broke relations, cutting off trade. Most of the Westerners didn't pass judgment against the US though -- they were still cowering from the US' powerful arms.
With the Middle East cut off from the US, the American's went through an oil shortage and they started to drill in Alaska, despite the environmentalists' concerns. They needed oil and they needed it fast. The shortage did have something good benefit from it. Without oil, people started to search harder for a replacement and that eventually led to the discovery of Nocardi, an environmentally safe fuel source, cutting down the level of Carbon Dioxide by over 95%. Nocardi is now being used by most of the developed nations of the world.
But the reason why the incident was now being refereed as the Schen Almost-Tragedy was the fact that the other two children survived, a little worse for wear, but alive. They had saved them, thanks for a tip from the Gregon about the whereabouts of the kids. They killed the Death-Eaters -- not Malfoy, he wasn't there when they attacked, but now it makes sense that he would be smart enough not be -- and saved the children. They were American Wizards as the children were being held in the Oszarks. That helped relations a bit, Americans rescuing kidnapped kids by supposed Americans. Over time, things returned to normal -- the US being too powerful to be ignored and to be on the bad side for too long.
"Who could forget?" Ron joked, not liking the seriousness of the conversation.
"Then you remember how Malfoy caused it. It took us two weeks to find where the Death Eaters were holed up and even then we had to have the Gregon -- Malfoy himself! -- to tell us where they were!" Harry's voice was steadily getting higher and higher and by the end of the dialogue, he had stopped walking and was waving his hands.
"How could he do something like that! He instigated the damn thing and he turns around and ends the bloody event, like a savior! What game is he playing? Why?!" Harry raged, turning away and growling his frustration. "I just don't get it!"
Ron stood silent. This was the most emotion he had seen Harry allow himself to indulge in for a while and it was fitting that it was because of Malfoy. The stupid bastard always had a way of getting under their skin and even after nearly ten years of being absent in their lives, he still was as frustrating as ever.
"I don't know, Harry," Ron responded quietly. "Maybe you can ask him when we get him out tomorrow."
Harry stilled and turned back to face Ron. He gave him a hesitant smile, but it was a sincere one. "Thanks."
The little word thrilled him. Harry wasn't just thanking Ron for the suggestion, he was thanking him for so much more. "You're welcome," Ron answered in return. "Don't mention it." He gave Harry a nod of his head, showing him he did understand.
"It'll be odd though. The Forgitius potion..." Harry trailed off. Smirking, he mused out loud, "I wonder how he'll be like?"
"Malfoy?" Ron asked as they started walking again. He shrugged. "Who knows. Probably as arrogant as ever. He was a horrible prick even back then. Why would he change?"
Silently Harry agreed with Ron's assessment. "But knowing how the Dark Lord operates, he's probably scared out of his mind." Thinking about an abused, tortured Draco tugged on his heart and he had to swallow the pity he felt for the man.
"Like I said, I don't. You ask me, I think Malfoy would land on his feet. He'll adjust. It is one of his more better traits."
Harry thoughts were drifting again, trying to remember what had happened when Draco was 12 as he would only have memories up to that point. It would be before Voldemort's rising but after the Sorcerer's Stone debacle. The Gryffindors would have usurped the House Cup from the Slytherins as well...
He wouldn't know his father is dead, Harry thought with a jolt. The death of Lucius Malfoy certainly wasn't current but he was still alive back then. Harry could only imagine the helplessness Draco would be feeling if he found out his father was dead all of a sudden. It was given that he would ask for his father during this time, probably after he had gotten over the shock of being in a grown man's body.
He wouldn't recognize us, Harry thought suddenly. Draco would still think of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley to be 12 year olds, just like himself, not grown up men. Chewing on his lip, he hoped that wasn't going to complicate things when they finally reach him.
"Harry!"
Harry was suddenly brought back to himself as he realized Ron was trying to speak to him. "Sorry," he spoke sheepishly. "I wasn't paying attention."
Ron rolled his eyes. "No, really?" He sighed. "What I was saying was the Hermione's been at my back, telling me she hasn't seen you for a while."
"I've been busy!"
"I know and she knows too. Ever since she's gotten that job with the Ministry and us with Dumbledore, we've been moving apart. She wants you over for dinner, to rehash old times."
It had been a long time since he last saw Herm... He nodded and asked, "What time?"
"How's about tomorrow? Right before the rescue. I mean who knows if we're coming back?"
Harry stared. Did he just say what I think he said? Deciding to ignore it, he told Ron that tomorrow was a good time. It would be nice to have us all back together again...
A/N: This is the second time I've tried to get this up and hopefully it worked. Doing it as a .doc document really isn't the best since I can't get it to do italics and such.
I'm sorry I took so long to post a new part, but this part was a bit stubborn. Hopefully (have you noticed I love the word "hopefully"?) the next part is more forthcoming.
I finally have a beta reader and she (at least I think it's a she...) pointed out that Dumbledore was spelled D-O-R-E and not D-O-O-R as I had it. I soon as I can, I'll get the betaed parts up of the other previous chapters. Thanks, Red Dragon Order!
I hope this chapter wasn't too long winded... It's not one of my bests and I really don't like it much.
Red Danish: *blushes* Oh my... Wow. I don't think I'm worth that praise though... I'm still not sure what you mean by originality, but thanks! But the Harry/Draco cliched stories are kinda nice... Most of them have their own little quirks that makes them enjoyable... And I'm not sure if I don't fall into the cliched category just yet... There's a chance that I might be a little cliched -- but not to the point that Draco is a blubbering idiot who needs Harry to survive. I may like to read those stories (well some of them), but MY Draco ain't like that.
Amaiko: *raises eyebrows* F*cking awesome? Well I don't think it's that good, but thanks! None of my stories has ever been called that before. :)
Luca: Hope this helps. And thanks for the review!
Wow... these are getting long... Just a few notes: Red Danish, you said something about cliched fics and I mentioned up there that it might be. I just want to let all you out there who are out there and reading this fic that this is not going to be BAM! Kiss and then declarations. It's going to be a bit slow and gradual. I believe they need time to discover their love and to realize that it's there. I do believe in true love and I think their love is one that will last 'til the end of time... Woah... that does sound cliche. Next part due next week. Until then!