The Nature Of A Man

Disclaimer: The usual. The characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling and this work represents a poor fumbling attempt at a Harry Potter story. I really wasn't sure where the story was going but it's rated PG-13 just in case. Read and review. You like it or you don't, just drop me a line at jadewing@hotmail.com if you want to rant or praise longer. I don't really know what you guys are going to think about the story. Thanks to all those who have reviewed and said nice things – however true or not they may be. I still think it needs work. Um, it might get really crappy in the future so bear with me.

The Hogwarts train left the station exactly on time a few days later as it had always been on time. Mrs. Weasley had packed for Harry a thermos of Sleeping Draught with the instructions to "take one drop every few nights, dear, for a good night's sleep. Not more, mind. One drop every few nights is just enough to let you sleep better." Harry, Ron and Hermione had just settled in when Neville burst in on them, looking excited.

                "Did you three hear?" he asked them, his voice quivering.

                "About what, Neville?" Hermione asked.

                "Some of the Slytherins have left Hogwarts." This announced happily. Slytherins were one of Neville's greatest tormentors. Well, other than Snape, of course. He sighed. "If only Professor Snape was gone too. I'd probably faint."

                "Do you know who's gone and who's stayed?" Ron asked interestedly. Harry had shared the events of that day at Flourish and Blotts but Ron had announced that he'd rather go naked than be nice to Malfoy. Hermione had her reservations, of course, but she had agreed that being annoyed with Malfoy was simply too much bother anyway. She resolved to ignore him instead. Still, they agreed to Harry being nice to him. At any rate, it was an excellent way to avoid Snape's malice.

                Neville frowned thoughtfully. "Oh dear. I hope I remember. Let's see, there was Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Mullicent … err … can't really remember."

                "How about Malfoy?" Harry asked.

                Neville shook his head. "Nope, he's still staying on. I've got to go and spread the news." And with that, he was out of their compartment, the door slamming shut after him.

                "I wonder why they left Hogwarts," Hermione said slowly.

                "Isn't it obvious? Now that You-Know-Who is back in power, they're all going back to him." Ron scowled. "Wonder why that git Malfoy is still here."

                "Bu there's been no sign of Voldemort at all," Hermione interjected. "No news at all." She frowned. "Unless Malfoy is here for some reason. But who would he tell?" As if on cue, both her gaze and Ron's drifted towards Harry.

                "What?" Harry looked at both of them.

                "You did plan to be nice to Malfoy this year." Hermione gave him a meaningful look.

                "So? What's that got to do with anything?"

                "You can get into his confidence and pump him for information. After all, his father is working for You – I mean, V-voldemort. – so he'd know about those plans," Ron told him with an overly exaggerated patient look on his face, a sort of "let's explain to him slowly" sort of look.

                "What?!" Harry exclaimed. "You're bonkers, the both of you. I was just trying to get him to stop bugging us! I'm certainly not going to be friends with him!"

                "But you're not really being friends with him," Ron pointed out. "You're just doing it for any information on the plan."

                Hermione was shaking her head. "You know, Ron, I don't think this is such a good idea. It doesn't seem very nice."

                Indignantly, Ron asked her, "Hermione, do you want to stop You – I mean, Voldemort?"

                She nodded.

                "Then this is the only way."

                Reluctantly, she agreed. "Well, all right. But only if Harry agrees."

                "Harry will, right?" Ron looked at him questioningly. After a moment, he nodded. Ron heaved a sigh of relief. "There, it's set then."

                A little gloomily, Harry thought about the plan during the train ride to Hogwarts. It sounded very much like being a spy and nasty shit that he was, even Malfoy didn't really deserve it … but if it could save lives, who was he to argue with the means to an end? All in all, it didn't seem like an auspicious start to a new year at Hogwarts.