Disclaimer: Everyone is JK Rowling's, I'm just borrowing them. I promise I'll not hurt them. And I have no money, I'm a poor University student.

Warnings: a little bit of slash like Harry kissing Draco and Snape kissing… I won't tell… :)

This is the betaed version…, so big thanks for my wonderful beta, Pottergirl!

Midnight meetings

Chapter Two

Harry was sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs in the Gryffindor common room, staring out of the window at the Whomping Willow. He, Ron and Hermione were arguing about Malfoy, but they'd come to the conclusion that they just couldn't understand a thing.

Things like that just didn't happen to evil, cunning Malfoy, Hogwarts' biggest evil prat after Voldemort and Malfoy Sr. It was just not the way of things. They were more than a little baffled.

"I've never seen him in a meeting before." said Harry. "And I'm sure I've seen as many meetings as there were. And no-one ever said a word about Malfoy. I mean Draco Malfoy. I don't think he is a Death Eater. At least now."

"And what's the deal with Lockhart?" asked Ron. "He seemed like he knew what he was doing…"

"Didn't you know?" asked a very impatient Hermione. "After it was confirmed that he wouldn't have all his memories back, he agreed with Dumbledore to undergo auror training."

"No, really? Why the heck would Dumbledore give a chance to anybody like this?!" asked a very angry Ron, and a very angry Ron was a very bad thing. And very dangerous. "He would have left Ginny there, dying! He wanted to curse us, forget everything! I would never give a wand to a man like that!"

Hermione snuggled back in her chair, away from Ron's flapping arms.

"Well, for your information, he remembers almost nothing, that's why it is so important to receive only good training and not be taught to be a coward again. And don't you forget that Professor Dumbledore gives second chances as he sees it fit. He is a great man; he knows what he's doing. I'm sure it was a wise idea. Having a completely faithful auror is a very good thing, not to mention that now we can be sure that he hides nothing."

"Well, when you put it that way…" Ron scratched his nose and smiled. "I'm sure he got that sneaky git and dragged him all the way to Hogwarts. I would give anything to see him struggling and crying like a baby for father to help him. Harry, do you think he would go to Azkaban?"

Harry shivered. Memories of Sirius' bewildered eyes swam in his head. No, never Azkaban.

"No. I don't think he deserves something as horrible as that. Voldemort, yes. Death Eaters too, but Malfoy… he didn't have time to commit any crimes horrible enough to go there. No, I really don't think so…"

Ron lowered his head.

"Yeah mate, you're right again. But I sure wish the slimy git would be punished…"

Harry looked out of the window again, Ron's voice fading into a distant murmur. He was thinking about Malfoy. He had seen the faces of the teachers; he had seen the face of Lockhart. He had the nagging feeling that something was not all right with their answer. Lockhart wasn't clutching him like some dangerous person who would kill you anytime, more like a fragile doll, or a hurt puppy. Yes, that was the only problem. But if Malfoy wasn't dangerous, if he wasn't…

"I'll go and see what's happening!" He said and stood up abruptly.

"But Harry, you can't! It is too late to roam the halls. Somebody will catch you. And you don't want detentions and house point deductions on the first day, do you?"

"Invisibility cloak, remember?" He whispered, and he was gone, searching his packages for his cloak. He got back in no time, cloak secured around him. He stood close to Ron and whispered in his ear. "Help me, will you? Just open the portrait hole, please."

Ron turned to Hermione. "Did you hear that, Herm?" He talked loudly, a little too loud, so everybody in the common room could hear. "There is some scratching coming from the portrait hole. Maybe it's Neville or his frog trying to get in..."

"Yes, I hear it too. You better go and see." said Hermione.

Harry got out easily. The halls were empty; the only movement was caused by the moonlight as the wind played on the trees around the castle like on harps. The silvery light made the strange statues come alive if only just moments, and Harry wished for a ghost to come by and cheer him up. At least ghosts were something he knew, and now he really didn't need anymore problems. He hadn't had any 'nightmares' caused by the link to Voldemort, but it didn't mean that Voldemort hadn't planned something. He just wished that he would see any living being, it didn't matter who, just not those strange and unnerving twisted figures he saw reflected on the walls or in the hallways.

He heard the first noises as he neared the hospital wing. Low murmurs, not close enough to understand them, but close enough to identify it as Snape and Filch. He turned around the corner and slowed down, and nearly stepped on the tail of Mrs Norris. The cat noticed him, huge, yellow eyes staring at him, unblinking. And Argus Filch turned around, looking at his directions.

"There is somebody." The man stated, scowling. "But I don't see anything. Do you see something, Snape?"

And of course, Snape smiled a very disturbing smile which made Harry's skin crawl.

"It's Potter. He has an invisibility cloak. Come out, Potter, you've earned yourself a month's worth of detention. Really, wandering around the halls in the middle of the night, against the Headmasters orders, not to mention the school rules… It is really pointless, Potter. Take that stupid cloak off yourself and take it like a man."

Harry began sweating. Maybe if he could get back to the Tower soon enough he would be able to deny it… But what if the man gave him veritaserum? Was it possible…?

That was when the door to the hospital wing opened and Dumbledore stepped out. Snape literally jumped and moved swiftly forward.

"Albus, I've spotted Mr. Potter wandering the hall against your strict orders, and I have gave him a month's detention, but I think he should be--"

"Thank you, Severus. Harry, please take off that cloak." The face was hard, but the eyes were twinkling. Harry took the cloak off. "Harry, I'm really disappointed that you didn't take my orders seriously. And I think the detentions you received were in need. You must learn to understand that you should do what we, your teachers, say to do. And, as we need somebody to take care of Mr. Malfoy in his weak state, I think you are perfect to take the task." He motioned Harry to come closer, and he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, directing him trough the door, still speaking. "You see, Mr. Malfoy has been under the Imperius curse almost for five years now. His father wanted to be sure that his boy would obey his every wish and of course placed in the house he was 'meant for'. But now, as Mr. Lockhart got him out before he was initiated into the Death Eaters, we have broken the curse, and he has several problems."

Harry's head was swarming with images of Draco, and he couldn't understand these turn of events. Draco, evil, spiteful Draco, was nothing more than a lie Lucius Malfoy made his son carry out. The Draco Malfoy he got to know was not real. It wasn't really the boy he hated but the curse, and in the process he surely had hurt the other boy's feeling at not recognizing that it was not him, with the things he said…

He was shaken out of his thoughts by the hand tightening on his shoulder.

"You shouldn't blame yourself, Harry. You were not able to recognize it, even I wasn't able to. And I blame myself for it. I can just hope that he wasn't hurt too badly in the process. It could be that the spell was so strong, that the mind took it as the real Draco, and the real one was destroyed. But we hope that it didn't happen. You see… A very unique House elf came in one hour ago and confirmed that 'Master Draco' has fought with the curse one time. He has sent that particular House elf to you to warn you against something that happened in your second year." He looked at Harry with waiting eyes.

"Dobby!" Harry shouted and instantly regretted it as he received a very annoyed and very angry glare from Madame Pomfrey. He looked at the old man apologetically. "I mean Dobby said he came because… he came. He didn't say if he was sent or not…"

"Yes, I see. I think Mr. Malfoy was able to fight with the curse that time. Let's just hope that he will be able to take back what is his this time…"

Harry was directed then to a bed in the corner, immaculate white sheets giving out a flowery scent as they were tucked around a small, fragile figure by Madame Pomfrey.

"He needs rest, Professor Dumbledore!" The woman hissed, angry at not having piece and quiet.

"He will just take a few moments, Poppy." Said the old man and ushered the dark-haired boy closer.

The first thing Harry saw was the top of a very blond head, hair messy and dried blood still visible in some places. Then he saw the white, almost transparent skin of a soft but too skinny skull, ash-blonde eyelashes were resting, high cheekbones standing out, mouth puckered, lips pushed together and nearly turned down.

A small, white, blue-veined hand poked out under the covers and Harry touched it, fascinated with its fragility and its warmth. Small, thin fingers trembled in his, and curled around, clinging to him weakly in such desperation, Harry wanted to shy away. It was a strange feeling, like touching a small puppet, a tiny cat in the basket as he did with one of the cats Mrs Figg had. It was a baby, eyes shut, trembling in the tiniest legs, Harry had to be careful not to hurt the small thing. It was the same with this hand. The veins were full with warm blood, Harry could feel the pulse, low but still there, he could feel the life in it, tired, hurt but still bent on living, on surviving. He cradled the hand in both of his and didn't think, just lowered his face and kissing it, feeling the softness and the surreality of the situation.

TBC

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