Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Draco doesn't belong to me… (in copyright and creating terms) I share him (sob, sob) with a lot of other fan girls out there… don't kill me though!! Snape's Lingerie, Pythia, and Bea (sorry girl, keep forgetting your nick here… gomen!!), hope you enjoy this little story!
Author's Note: SL, Pythia, (yeah, you, Ms. I-hate-being-harassed-by-little-kid-named-Raissa), and Bea, enjoy! Oh yeah, to all you readers to… Review please!!! The other chapters aren't up yet… though I'm technically done with them… review and tell me if you like it so far… THEN I'll put in the next chapters…
Caput Draco
"It's tedious to stare at this gore…" Draco Malfoy thought sadly while watching his father send another house elf flying into the spiked walls.
"Draco! Come down here!"
"Yes, father," Draco slumped off the chair and ran down the spiraling staircase over to his father, Lucius Malfoy.
"Now Draco, pick any elf there and just send them into those spikes. You'll get a present from me if you're able to impale all of them," Lucius' grin was so despicable and vile that it caused the young boy to grimace uncomfortably. "What's wrong, Draco?"
"Nothing, father, nothing."
"Then get to it! I want to see all of those pathetic creatures all bloodied when I get back." And with that, he left, black robes gathering around his feet as he strode out of the dungeons of the mansion.
"Slimy git he's becoming…" Draco muttered while eyeing a house elf shiver in a cage. "This is too stupid!" he snarled as he made the elf fly out of the cage and onto a crooked spike on the wall. The little creature gave a squeak and a gurgling noise then blood poured out of its grimy body.
"Hogwarts… I'm going back to that old school where Potter, Weasely and Granger will be waiting… where I'll be waiting… to get rid of them."
The Christmas break ended with the whistling tune of the Hogwarts Express coming into the station at the school. The students that went away came down happily with brand new cloaks, ribbons, toys, wands, and bright happy faces, all except for one.
That one student came down last with his skin paler than ever, his eyes hollow but still twinkling with a past but seemingly distant memory.
His black robes were wrapped around him tightly, muffling out the prolonged winter's biting winds. His blonde hair whisked across his face as he ran to a carriage where his friends waited quietly for him—two lugging lummoxes with thick, burly coats wrapped about them.
"Oi, Draco!" Vincent Crabbe called out while nudging his seatmate awake.
"Hm," Draco regarded the startled Goyle patiently—surprisingly while climbing into the carriage. He nodded to both of them, Goyle rubbing his eyes vigorously, Crabbe yawning as the short trip across the Lake seemed to take an eternity with all the other students scrambling noisily into the carriages and taking off silently.
"Goyle, what has your father trained you?" Draco lowered his voice while looking out over the black murky waters. "You too, Crabbe."
"Err…" the two boys shuffled nervously.
"Well?" Draco's tone went sharp.
"My father sent me to another Death Eater. He didn't tell his name to me."
"What did he teach you then?"
"He let me kill muggle children…" Goyle twisted his fingers uncomfortably.
"Muggle children?" Draco flinched. Indeed, this was a lot worse than meager house elves.
"They were babies though. I only—killed a couple."
"But still… I wouldn't have expected that to happen above all things!" Draco stared into his friend's shaking eyes.
"They were—orphaned anyway," Goyle explained but his voice quivered.
"Still…" Draco shook his head then turned to Crabbe. "How 'bout you? I'm sure your father didn't send you to such a place, did he?"
"He didn't," Crabbe shook his head proudly but then his expression turned grave. "He taught me how to torture a person properly. We used—horrible things…"
"Define your statement, Vincent," Draco snapped.
"Spikes and metal springs and… and… those things—things muggles use in prisons! The ones that twist your bones or something—and—and…that horrible method!" Crabbe sputtered on carelessly.
"Crabbe, calm down!" Draco shook the huge boy. "We'll get rid of that Rotter! You'll never have to go through that ever again, understand?"
Crabbe nodded weakly as the blonde let go of him.
"Hogwarts is near," Goyle interrupted while looking out the window.
"Take a deep breath, both of you," Draco remarked. "This will be over soon. The school year, our 7th year here at Hogwarts, the school itself if possible, and yes, Potter will be over soon…"
Draco stared at the instrument he was to use on a faithful night. A large dagger that had some curved grooves in its center lay heavily in his hands. The steal glistened menacingly in the silver moonlight.
Draco's finger fondly traced the groove and he sighed, "How am I supposed to use this when I actually have no absolute intention of using it at all?"
Easy, dearest, kill or be killed, that is the rule. The sweet, tantalizing voice tickled in his ear.
Draco shook off his thoughts while tucking the dagger back in its sheath, the leather being as menacing as the instrument itself. He packed it under all his clothes and closed his trunk.
As he got up, he noticed a grayish shadow behind him. He whirled around to face the person—or thing.
"Ah… so it is you!" Draco uttered while edging forward.
The girl's hair flowed freely in the darkness, the silver strands of hair glowing eerily in the moon's glory. Her pale lips parted into a shy but sinister smile, "Yes, it is I."
"What do you wish to tell me? You know of my mission here, yes?"
"Of course I know, Master. The Dark Lord wishes you to bring the Boy-Who-Lived to him in a short time," the shadowy silhouette of the girl floated towards the blonde human. "You know, Master Malfoy, as a guardian, I cannot betray you, am I correct?"
"You are a guardian. That is self-explanatory."
The girl stifled a satisfied giggle. "Well then, Master Malfoy, do you wish of me to commune a message to our Lord?" Draco shook his head slowly. The girl's eyes sparkled slyly. "Why not? I'm sure the Dark Lord would appreciate a response."
"Love," Draco started with a soft sigh. The girl's eyes widened while Draco only widened his grin. "Yes, Love, you know the risks I go through with the Dark Lord watching my back through you. Don't hide from me."
"Master—"
"Look, the Dark Lord has not actually seen me, yes? So what I'm thinking is, if I die, he won't give a damn about my rotting corpse."
"Well—"
"And so, I'll only be a toy to Him. Meaning, I'll be useless," Draco made his way to the bedside. The girl's hair floated now only close to her body, her arm trembling at the speeding thoughts. "Therefore, I'm only something that you're guarding worthlessly."
"You are not, Master D—Malfoy!" the silhouette blurted out suddenly. "I have guarded you since birth and I won't let even the Dark Lord—my own Creator—destroy you meaninglessly like that! Master, I've watched over you for so long and you and I have communicated through thoughts and through your sight. I won't let you out of my grasp in the arms of Harry Potter."
"Touching, Love, really," the blonde smiled while stretching out his arm and beckoning the figure towards him.
"You know about our fate, Master," the lass bowed her head. "I cannot touch you, nor can you touch me."
"Hm… true… can't you try?" Draco kept his arm towards the shaking figure.
"No… I am sorry, Master."
Draco gave out a longing breath and lowered his hand. "Very well."
"Master," the voice sounded troubled. "Do be careful with what you are about to do."
"I killed before and I can—"
"You can't, Master, I'm sorry to say so but… you have only killed strangers and miniature creatures."
"Then so be it. If I die, then let us meet in the netherworld. Let us meet and roam the earth for all eternity, together. Understand?"
The silver-haired daughter of the moon nodded and made a sign across her face—her finger tracing an invisible path down from the corner of her eye down to her chest then up again to her lips then finally, she pointed to the blonde boy that sat quietly and started to fade. Draco imitated the gesture and whispered some inaudible words as the girl faded out and back into a moonbeam.
"Malfoy…" the charcoal-haired boy turned around and let out a groan of angst.
"H—Potter…" Draco squirmed privately in his soul's chamber.
"What is it?" the jade spheres studied the silver spheres shake. "What do you want from me now? Another worthless duel of yours? Where is it to be now? Oh, let me see, the portrait room, perhaps?" he spat out indignantly.
"Are you becoming one of my own, Harry?" Draco's eyes twinkled teasingly, mockingly.
Oh you little… Potter thought scornfully while clenching his fists. "I've had it up to here with you! Do you know what trouble I'm in now?! I've got so many things to do like—"
"Like searching for my Master?"
The Boy-Who-Loved paused, his eyes wide with shock, his palms moist with fear. "W—what—did you say, Malfoy?"
"You're searching for my Master, to destroy him of course," Draco almost yawned.
"I AM NOT!"
"Don't deny it, boy. I know where to find him. If you tell any of the teachers, let's just say, I've got the lives of the Mudblood and the Redhead's lives on hold. There's just a tiny string to cut to let them lose into Death's realm. Not to mention, I've got yours," Draco smirked smartly, noticing the quick tremble that went through his target's body. This was what he was waiting for.
"What is it you—you want Malfoy?" Harry Potter's voice sounded drab and empty.
"Nothing, really," this time, the blonde did yawn, much to Potter's surprise and fear. "I just wanted to inform you since your researching the Oh-So-Great-Library didn't work out so well. Well, that's that, I guess." He turned and started to walk of coolly but a whimper made him pause.
"Hm… so you're crying?"
"I repeat, Malfoy, I AM NOT!"
"So why do you make such pathetic sounds?"
The raven-haired boy tightened his fists and stomped back into his dormitory as the Slytherin boy laughed softly to himself. Part One was going well…
"So you succeeded in the first task, I see."
"Love, you just enjoy popping up, don't you?" Draco smiled over at the familiar girl that stood next to him at the bottom of the stairs into the Slytherin common room.
"It's better than what others do."
"So why is it you come here, so late?" Draco questioned the spirit while taking a seat close to the fading fire.
"Master—no, Draco, you really must be careful of the Dark Lord. He won't—he won't need you after you bring the Boy-Who-Lived to Him."
"I know."
"But—but Draco!" the girl's white eyes shook miserably.
Draco's only simper was mild—a habit—but caused some bond's tie to be cut through. He saw a tiny stream of crystal-clear liquid run down the fair face of his ladylove. He tried to speak, to explain but the girl was gone.
"Tis the night of Doom!" Draco undressed himself after those in his dormitory room had gone out to do some mischief. He opened his trunk and brought out some folded black robes with a tiny emblem on the collar—a skull and snake. He slipped them on but before the collar reached over his head, he paused and took it off.
"The moon shines softly tonight," he remarked blankly while staring outside at the gibbous moon. "A little bit too softly…" he uttered carelessly while continuing to dress himself.
The heavy velvet robes fit comfortably around his supple body. His blonde hair shaded his eyes but left enough room for him to see. Silently, he took out the dagger and its sheath and tucked it into his belt gingerly. He glanced quickly at the moon outside, his thoughts so mixed, he had a notion that he saw a familiar face in the moon's afterglow of wonder. Afterwards, he slipped noiselessly out of the dormitory, out of the common room, out into the darkness that enveloped him like a chamber—a dungeon.
The charcoal-haired boy jumped back in surprise while gripping his light wand tightly. The jade spheres shook in their cages as the black-robed thing crept towards him.
"W—who are you?!"
"What you desire most."
"W—what?!" the raven-haired boy stepped back fearfully.
"Stupefy."
"NO!" the jade spheres stopped ominously and the flesh cages closed. The body fell to the floor, glasses falling with a clank, a soft sigh echoing in his ears.
"I'm really sorry about this, Potter…"
After the cloaked blonde dragged the Boy-Who-Lived outside, out of the Hogwarts' grounds, he sat down on the grass, pondering on the muted horror he saw.
Be careful, dearest… a voice echoed softly, worriedly.
"I know, I know," Draco grumbled while staring at the living organism that lay meekly in front of him. He grimaced when he heard the gentle footfalls of some robes in the bushes.
"Ah, perfect, my son, perfect!" the hissing but clear voice sounded like a menace in Draco's ears.
"Will we leave now, father?" Draco stood up.
"Yes. The Master is waiting at our mansion. But wait, where are the other two?"
"No one told me to bring his companions!" Draco retorted while dropped Harry's arm.
Lucius Malfoy gave a grunt then turned away. "Get the others then. I will fetch you on the next gibbous moon, understand?"
"Yes father," Draco nodded as his elder disappeared into the darkness he came from. Old geezer… he bit his lip bitterly and dragged back the raven-haired boy.
"Eurch… where am I?" Harry stiffly scratched his messy black hair, now more messy and strangely having the pungent aroma of…grass.
"Harry, you're going to be late for breakfast if you don't hurry," a familiar voice snapped the charcoal-haired boy awake. "We'll be waiting for you downstairs already."
"Ron?" Harry rubbed his eyes to take away the blur.
"Yes, Harry?" the redheaded boy looked at him with concern. "Ew! Harry! Why on earth are you smelling like grass?!"
"What?!" Harry's eyes became wide-awake. He took his shirt and sniffed it then gave out a groan of displeasure. "You're right…"
"Harry, take a bath. You better hurry up though!"
"Yeah, I will!" Harry jumped out of bed and hurriedly took out some clothes from his trunk and raced to the bathroom.
"Hm… I wonder why his glasses are slightly cracked too," Ron shrugged and toddled over to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"My glasses?" Harry vaguely remembered a dark figure confronting him last night. After that, everything went black though images flashes strangely and disorderly through his mind.
"Yeah, look at them. There's a small crack in the curve," the bushy brown-haired girl remarked while pointed to the frame with her spoon. "Do you want me to fix them?"
"No, wait," Harry took off the round frames and stared at the small crack that was quite visible. "What on earth…"
"So you don't know what happened?" said Ron while chewing his toast.
"No."
"Maybe a house elf broke it!" Fred Weasley blurted out. His twin chuckled quietly beside him.
"It could be!" Ron brightened but he noticed Hermione's eyes with icicles in them and silenced himself.
"Honestly!" Hermione pouted while putting down some fruit.
"Oh, come off it, Hermione!" the others continued eating, trying to make the poor girl jealous of their quickly filling stomachs.
"Humph!" Hermione stuck out her tongue then shook her head. A smile spread across her lips.
"Ha! We got you!" Fred and George waved their hands proudly.
"How did my glasses get cracked?" Harry pondered while this was going on.
"Harry? I think I should fix that," Hermione pointed again at the damaged specs.
"But—very well," Harry nodded.
"Oculus reparo." Hermione said after taking out her wand. The cracks on the glass suddenly started to disappear and she smiled satisfyingly. "There you go!"
"I have a week to go…"
Master… the Dark Lord wants the boy as soon as possible.
"I know, Love, I know…"
Love? What is that?
"Please!" Draco cried out furiously while slamming his Potions book shut. His mind felt strangely empty after that. "Love?" he looked around consciously, dreadfully.
He stood up, the book falling to the stone floor.
"I'm sorry!" Draco called out but not echoing voice returned. "Come back!"
What is 'sorry', Master?
Draco's eyes shivered and welled up with tears…
The blonde boy stumbled through the halls and stairways. He finally reached the portrait of a great big, fat lady in a pink dress. Her snores were soft but were still snores.
"Ego credere." Draco uttered and the fat lady came around with a yawn. The large portrait opened up to a warmly lit room.
"What the—" Harry, Ron and Hermione stood up in alarm, their wands out and steadily pointed to the intruder.
"MALFOY?!" the three nearly dropped their wands in utter shock.
"Potter… Harry… please—listen!" Draco fell out of the portrait hole, into the Gryffindor common room, the door creaking its way to being closed behind him.
"Listen to what?" Ron shouted furiously.
"How did you know the password?!" Hermione yelled angrily.
One thought: Neville.
"Oh gods… Neville told you, by mistake, didn't he?" Ron rolled his eyes.
"No…" Draco shook his head while falling to his knees, totally out of breath.
"What's wrong with you, Malfoy?!" Harry walked towards the pitiful-looking boy on his knees. "No Slytherin would dare enter the Gryffindor Tower!"
"So what?!" Draco roared.
Apparently, the other three were taken aback.
"You—must listen to my—story first!" Draco panted while clutching his chest.
Master, no!
I must!
"Why?"
They won't accept it anyway!
They will!
"Because—you'll die if you don't!
MASTER!
"What do you mean?!" Harry stepped backwards.
"Are you threatening us?" Ron narrowed his eyes.
"No!" Draco tried to straighten up. "Please—listen! It's for your lives!"
MASTER!!
Listen, if you are my guardian, you'd know my thoughts! Therefore, leave me be for now for I'm saving you from eternal slavery as well!
"Our—lives?" Ron stared perplexedly.
"Malfoy, tell us then, of your so-called story," Harry voiced bravely though also frightened.
Master…
Do this for me! Do this for both of us!
"I—I came back here from—Christmas break to—to get rid of you…" Draco started immediately after he was seated. His perspiration made his back feel clammy and his breath was ice-cold though chokingly hot.
"Get rid of me?" Harry mumbled through tightened lips.
"Why?" Ron and Hermione winced.
"B—because… my Master is Lord Voldemort… but… I'm a traitor now."
"Malfoy…" Harry sat across the table, shocked.
"I can't tell you the whole story. But this I can tell you: I am to bring you, the Boy-Who-Lived to my Master, in my own house, my home. I am to deliver you to Him, to be killed, whether I die in the process or not will not matter because… because of what I have done tonight. My father will kill me and so will He," Draco paused, catching his breath. "My guardian communes with me from time to time, bringing and sending news to and from Voldemort. We are both branded traitors and I can't risk her—my guardian's life as well as mine."
"So what are you trying to say?" Ron interrupted. "So now, you're a traitor to You-Know-Who—Voldemort and you're asking us to what?"
"Help you? Help you deliver Harry?" Hermione added suspiciously.
"What I, myself, is planning, is that you come with me—all of you three—to my mansion in a week's time. I will help you try to block or divert Voldemort's curses and spells against you. If ever you need help…" he paused, "my father and my former Master do not know I am a traitor—yet—so when I bring you there, I will help you if anything goes wrong. Please, listen, I know it's hard for you three to listen to me of all people, but…" his eyes panged with fear and longing.
"But what?"
"You can't risk us leaving?" Ron shook his head sarcastically.
"No…" Draco replied gently, patiently. "My guardian—is a she… and… I—she's my best friend. I don't want to lose her to my former Master."
Hermione let out a sigh.
"Touchy, Malfoy, touchy… you swear on your bloody soul that that is true?" Ron eyed the boy distrustfully.
"He's telling the truth, Ron. I know it," Harry brought up.
"You actually believe this git?"
"I do, actually believe this git. Malfoy's not lying. I remember that dream."
"It wasn't a dream, Harry," Draco intervened.
"What?" Harry stared. "So you hit me with that spell?!"
"I'm sorry! It was my father's command!" Draco divulged.
"Fine… but… one more question: how did you know the password?" Harry looked straight into the silver spheres that still shook.
"My guardian," was the reply.
"Best friends, alright!" Ron muttered courtly.
"So what do we do?" Hermione sat down while Ron got his turn with blocking Draco's spells.
"Before we go to my house, you'll have to appear unconscious first," Draco replied while sending green sparks towards Ron who blocked them fairly.
"But how? We can't take a sleeping potion. You said that you dragged Harry out of the grounds of Hogwarts and waited for your father. But how will it be with us?"
"A simple charm. But the thing is, you have to act unconscious."
"That's simple for me but how about Ron?" Hermione giggled. Ron got distracted and let out a sound of complaint but then he missed Draco's attack and was sent flying into one of the cushioned walls.
"Err…"
"Ouch! Bloody hell of you to do that when I'm distracted!" Ron muttered while getting to his feet and glaring at the blonde.
"Voldemort will do that, Ron," Draco remarked coolly, emotionlessly.
"He is right," Hermione gripped her hand when she said this.
"But how will we get back?"
"I'll give you a map of my house. There is are fireplaces in the bedrooms, the living room and the dining room. Pick."
"Living room?" Ron grimaced at the thought of entering an enemy's abode.
"Ron, do realize that house elves and Lucius could be there," Hermione stated clearly.
"True…" Draco nodded.
"Dining room?" Harry asked.
"Wait, that means—we're using Floo Powder?!" Ron cried out.
"Can you apparate?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Err…no…" Ron lowered his head and flushed.
"So how 'bout the dining room?" Hermione continued.
"Hold on, when you mean bedrooms, there are locks, right?" Harry intervened.
"Yes."
"Bedrooms then. Then someone could hold the door still and steady while we get out."
"It's risky, Harry," Draco looked away to the moonbeams peeking into the windows. "But… it's the best one. In the dining room, there are dangerous objects there on display."
"Bedrooms?!" Ron rubbed his head.
"No choice, Ron," Hermione said sourly.
"This will go through in 2 days," Draco uttered sadly. The others affirmed in understanding.
FINI.