W&D - see previous chaps. Oh, and there's loads of swearing in this one.

A/N - Aloh, honey, I'm so glad you liked last chap! And thanks for the feedback on my review.. I meant every single word, and you are one of my bestest friends in the world too!! I love you!! *hugs Aloh tightly* Here you go, a little more of clearing ups. Oh, and I simply like Ron as a druggy!! They're both OOC here, and I just had to make them much different that the popular opinion! I like when they switch personalities. And I finally have a plot!! You'll like it but I'm not telling ya what it is.. You can try and guess, though. ;) Oh, and I can't wait for your next mail.. Whee!! J's and Alton's joy is at stake here!! *huggies* Oki, go and read now. *blows kiss*

8. Awarness is rejected

What now?

Draco had a choice, and he was utterly confused. He had no idea how to get back to Hogwarts. But even if he did, he doubted it would be the smartest idea. To crash in the Gryfindorr common room in Merlin knows which time of day? Very, very stupid idea. So he had to sit and wait. Or to find another way out somehow. Sitting was pointless, and roaming around might have some influence on his brain-work.

But it was indeed one big labirinth. And he wasn't wrong the first time - it was a sort of a sewer. In certain passages there was muddy and dirty water flowing in streaks to small holes in the tunnels. And he was more and more convinced this wasn't Hogwarts. It seemed more like a dungeon, and he of all knew there was no sewer in that part of Hogwarts. He'd been living there for six years and knew every little piece of the Slytherin headquarters.

But the place wasn't less scary. Not to Draco, of course - he grew up in a place like this. He got used to that kind of living, and even became comfortable with it. As soon as he realised this wasn't much different from his home at Hogwarts or Malfoy Manor, he started thinking more clearly. What could be so difficult he couldn't handle it? Well, the feelings could be, but this wasn't a place to involve them.

There was water. Water was flowing. Water was flowing from a certain direction. Water had to flow from something like a bathroom. Therefor, the key was to follow the source of the water. Easy and logical. All he had to do was think. This place was exactly like the.

Dear Merlin. Like the Malfoy Manor sewer.

* * *

He wasn't wrong. And he was shocked. This was something important and he had no explanation what so ever. And we have to clear some things up, Draco was never the easy type. He was more the one to wrestle, fight and never ever give up or stop. Contrary to the popular belief, he would never give up. And there was a strong and vivid Slytherin line in him - he'd do anything to achieve his goals. Anything and everything. Beyond morals. Everything. He had no limits when he wanted to do something and you could be sure he'd take any measures necessary.

But all of those who hated his guts were mostly very, very wrong. Draco *wasn't* a bad person. But they had no clue, nor they wanted to know. To everyone - if we leave some goody-good professors and Dumbledore and a few of others out of this - he was the image of all evil in the world. He never denyed it either. He pretended he was a clone of his father. And the reality was so much more. Draco fighted, Draco resisted, Draco did all he could. He learned how to act and pretend, how to fool the whole world. Everyone, especially his father, had to think he was the biggest and purest evil. He had to survive, and in the grasp of Lucius Malfoy, it was the only way.

One thing was that Lucius didn't realise he was fooled.

And yes, Draco did everything. In a way, he was the true and only heir of Salazar Slytherin, and he had no limits or boundaries or doubts about what to do. If he had to kill, he would kill without a blink of an eye. If he had to lie or to steal or to cheat, then there was no argument. He did it with pleasure, with an awkward reward of knowing he fooled and tricked the ones he did it to.

But that's not the full image. It was the image everyone knew. And the complete one was that with one small, but important detail - he never did it for a bad cause.

Whenever he killed (and believe me he did..), he killed for a better purpose. To achieve good. Whenever he did a bad thing, it was done for the side of good. And that was his personality and character, the true Draco Azriel Malfoy. What only a few knew is that he wasn't totally black, coz' nothing in life is - Draco had one higher purpose, his destiny was shadowed and unclear. But he wasn't a bad person. He was a bad person in the service of good.

* * *

Aside from that, his main characteristics were pretty simple - hard- working, intelligent, ironic, sarcastic, pig-headed, often nervous, cunning, honest and pretty immoral. He was not easily intimidated. So it seemed. The truth is he was more than once scared to death, but he hid it. He was very strong in a metal meaning, and his physical side wasn't a cough either. He was strong and agile despite his height - besides, he grew a lot since their 4th year. He was now only few cm lower than Potter. Of course, Ron was always the highest. One thing that never changed. But Draco wasn't the small skinny kid they knew, but a great athlete looking, graceful teen.

And the point of this little story was to show Drake's main character line - almost impossible to confuse. When it did happen, it was his worst appearance ever. He hated being confused, because then he had no control what so ever in his hands. And since the tragedy, he didn't have one bit of control and was getting more and more puzzled by each moment that passed.

So maybe you'll understand it clearer why all this was so shocking for him. He was utterly confused and he hated it. He had no explanation how the hell did he get into the Malfoy Manor and that was currently his biggest problem. He remembered this sewer well, although he was only 7 when he was last brought here. His unpleasant father had an even more unpleasant technique of punishing him for the things that were wrong in Lucius' opinion. Things like smiling or crying or showing emotion or whining or being happy. He was cruel and had cruel punishments. And one of his favorites was to lock Draco down here and leave him for a couple of hours. Or days. And the little boy used to scream and cry out of fright for all of those hours. Untill he realised the only chance he gets out of there is to be as calm and cold as a stone.

Draco Malfoy was being created.

It stuck in his memory, and he was surprised he didn't realise it sooner. How could he even let that slip out of his mind? He swore to himself he will always remember so he always has a reminder of what the Dark side does to a one.

* * *

He did as he said. Followed the water. And finally he was pretty sure he was going in the right direction - the hall became wider and he sensed some fresher air. He felt goosebumps but ignored them. Yes, he hasn't been in the Manor for 3 years now. So what? It's his home, no matter how it seemed. So why the hell was he so nervous? Well, except his father and his servants who might kill him, that is. Since he's grown, Lucius gave permission to his butlers to perform the Forbidden Curses on his son too. And that was, least to say, hell.

Suddenly, he was face to face with a dead end. He was sure he was following the right path, and then this. But he wasn't wrong in one thing - the water was coming out of a tube. Of course. It had to be a wrong way. It's always a wrong way.

But above the tube there were again those weird symbols. So it had to be another passage. The one that opens the way to the rest of the Manor.

He pressed the surface and it did move, this time sending him to unconsciousness..

* * *

..and he suddenly felt a hard hit. The carpet was soft, but he fell in a totally wrong angle. His head hurt like mad, but it was just pain. He got used to it a very, very long time ago.

He opened one eye but all he could see was a red carpet. He closed his eyes again and sighed, preparing himself to get up. Then suddenly he rose to his feet in a blink of an eye.

Holy shit!! The carpet was red! What happened to the dark green one?

The walls weren't stone grey either. They had warm, earthy colors. And the curtains.. Guess three times. Yes, the curtains were gold and red. And there was the same fireplace in Gryfindorr common room that first led him to the Malfoy sewer.

Holy fuck. Draco wanted to keep all what happened to Ron a secret. Now he realised there were even bigger secrets no one knew about. And these yet had to be discovered. Seems not only others had no idea what was happening to Ron, but Draco also didn't.

And at that exact same moment, the door to the common room burst open. And there was Draco's current worst problem. A very, very furious Boy-Who-Lived- And-Was-About-To-Kill-The-Bloody-Malfoy.

* * *

Draco sighed. This was the last thing he needed, to be faced with his mortal enemy in this freakin position. And he had a funny feeling he was about to get beaten up.

Harry approached him in a few steps, grabbed him by his robes and pulled up. In return he received a knee between his legs, which made him gasp in pain. It didn't take him long, though, before he grabbed Draco again and slammed him into the wall, taking all the breath out of his lungs. The fact he almost broke his neck and arm a minute ago didn't quite help, and Draco exhaled in exhaustion.

Potter was a bit taken aback with this lack of resistance, and he loosened his grip on Draco. Draco closed his eyes and silently sighed. His small back hurt like hell again. An old wound caused almost ten years ago that never healed. If only anyone knew how bad it was, especially when kicked. He wanted to scream, but that would be too big embarassement even for him. He had no strenght to do it either, so he just sighed in pain.

And Harry was staring at him in a mix of rage and wonder and worry. Amazing how many emotions that boy had all at once. Draco thought the raven haired dynamite was about to kill him, and he just stood there, holding him so he doesn't fall. This was the first time since *that* morning that they've met, but all Malfoy could think of was not to pass out.

«My God. What the hell happened to you?..»

Draco blinked and rose an eyebrow in what seemed an honest confusion.

«Lay off, Potter. Kill me or beat me up or do whatever you came for. I'd be more than pleased to kick your ass, but since I'm already drained out, all I can say is go ahead.»

«You'd like that, wouldn't you? You'd like to die. You'd like to be with him again.»

Draco's mouth fell open. He was utterly incapable to speak.

«I would too.»

«You're hallucinating, Potter. Who the fuck are you talking about?»

«Well what do you think?»

Draco went pale and he felt cold sweat wetting his shirt, but he couldn't help it.

«There's nothing to know.»

«You were with Ron.»

«I did no such..»

«Cut the drama, Malfoy.»

He suddenly let go of him in fury, but Draco expected something like that, and with all the efforts he could sum up he stayed on his legs. He couldn't even recognize himself anymore. When the fuck did he turn into this pitful pile of junk?

Harry was walking up and down the room, obviously calming himself down. It seemed to Draco his life was suddenly made out of never-ending questions. It was really tiring, too. He stood there with sparkling eyes. If there was going to be another fight, verbal or physical, he had to win. Verbally, somehow yes, but he was in worst physical shape.. With a wand though..

«I bet you're now going through every possibility of dueling. Surprise, surprise, but I don't attack those incapable of fighting.»

Draco felt the (pure) blood in his veines boiling again. It was true, and it hurt like hell.

«Sodd off, you wizard wannabe. Just leave it at this point, alright?!»

«Ouch. Well, sorry, but you're not in a position to order or to choose.»

«Oh. Swell. So, are you gonna torture me or flame me or what?»

Harry turned on his heels and shot his arch-enemy a glare full of rage and fire. And there was another special twinkle to it, something undetermined. Like a mix of curiousity and sympathy. But it was still a look that could turn you into ashes there and then.

«Ok, Malfoy. I guess there's no easy way into this. So I'm just gonna say it. I hate you from all the depths of my heart.»

«Charming. But we knew already that big heroic heart of yours has more hate than it could handle.»

«Shut it. As I said, every little piece of me wants nothing but to kill you. For good. And I don't deny it, I hold you responsable for Ron's death. I always have and always will..»

He didn't notice how Draco startled at these words. Or maybe he was just pretending.

«..But my mistake, if we can call it that, was I thought you killed him.. Then again, who knows. Knowing you, you probably did. And currently, I am using every atom of my body to keep myself from strangling you. But there are higher causes here and I can't let something like you interrupt them.»

«First smart one today. No, wait.. First smart one *ever*.»

Harry rolled his eyes, just like in the good, old times. «For holy Christ, shut up for once!!»

Draco looked up on him from the floor he was sitting on, legs crossed, like a hurt animal. But his eyes were the thing that displayed all of his emotions. For the first time in Harry's presence, he didn't use his shell. No boundaries, no pretending. And it was the first time Harry ever saw *anything* in Malfoy. It surprised him, almost made him pass out. He wasn't prepared to deal with this Malfoy he saw for the first time.

«Alright. Now explain yourself. What the fuck was this little parade for?»

«I told you already. Ron.»

Yes, he knew. Ron. He was aware, during all the time spent with Ron, how much he cared for his best friend. But he also knew that same Potter hated his guts. And here comes in another info on Draco. He never really hated Harry Potter. Not at first. He didn't have a reason. He always hated Voldemort and was happy if there were *any* attempts on removing him.. But with time he indeed came to hate the raven-haired boy. Because he was so stupid. He was so God-damned blind. And naive. Everyone always thought Ron was the naive one but the truth couldn't be more opposite. Ron was clever and intelligent, he had a rare abillity to see through a one and not to dismiss. He tried and he cared. And Harry wasn't much of a man. He let his emotions rule too much. Not like in Ron's case, who was so explosive he could burst in five minutes, but he was stubborn.

And above all, he was so blind. He never noticed. True, Draco was a perfect actor. But he never noticed he didn't hate him. He never realised who's on whose side.

And that's why he really started hating him. But Ron loved him. And he knew Potter loved Ron as much, if not more, and he respected it. Probably more than anything else involving other relations. And he knew that if anything, Potter would do everything and anything for his best friend. Even if he was dead.

Didn't that make him the best ally possible, if it came to that?.. Neglecting the mutual hate, of course, but if it came to the point he was forced to say or do something.. Incriminating, then Potty would be suitable enough.

Well, if he didn't get killed by the same guy.

«Malfoy!!»

«Eh?..»

«What the fuck's wrong with you? Nevermind.. I'm telling you for the 3rd time. Ron.»

«Yeah.. Ron..»

«What the hell was that supposed to mean?»

«What do you think?» The turned tables, but the same irony and sarcasm.

«It's true then. It's really true..»

Draco blinked a few times. This couldn't be. Those just *couldn't* be tears, could they?!

He rose shakily from the floor, his eyes never leaving Harry's side. He wasn't wrong. Those were tears. Potter was sitting on the end of the couch, face burried in hands, and he was crying.

«..How.. No.. I don't.. I don't believe you!.. I.. No.. How.. She told me but I.. I didn't wanna believe it.. He.. How could he..»

«How could he fall for his enemy? For *your* enemy?»

Harry rose his head, eyes full of shock. Two whole sentences said without a bit of sarcasm. And he instantly knew this wasn't some act. This was the first time he was sure about it, he was sure Draco wasn't pretending.

«You don't need to answer it. I know what you'd say.»

«SHUT UP!! Just shut it!! What the hell is this supposed to mean?! Don't think you KNEW him coz' you DIDN'T!! Don't even try it!! You probably seduced him or put a spell on him or you black-mailed him or you.. GOD!! I HATE YOU!! How could you do this to him?!? It's certainly *your* fault somehow he's dead!! I thought you killed him, and I obviously wasn't wrong!!»

And that's when he stopped. Draco's jaw was clenched, his fist too, and there was such hurt in his eyes you could drown in it. In the sadness, in those big, silver eyes.

«..*I* didn't know him?.. You couldn't be more wrong.. You don't know a thing..»

«How dare you?!»

«I DARE!! You knew nothing about him since the 5th year!! Do you know what was his favorite ice-cream?»

Harry opened his mouth, but soon closed them too in confusion.

«You don't. White chocolate with rice. Do you know what was his favorite smell? Beep again. Vanilla and sandal wood. Favorite song? Dreamer. Potter, you knew nothing! I.. I..»

Ok, so he cried like a baby for the past few days. But this would be too much even for him - to cry in front of someone else! And especially if that someone is Potter himself. So he just turned around. He'll never cry in front of anyone. What else to say but inheritage of the Malfoy blood?

«I *knew* him. Think what you like. Do what you like. It doesn't matter anymore. Not anymore. Not now he's not here. Now you might as well here some things. Because by the time you call out for someone to come, I'll be far away.»

He turned around again, looking more pale, but more intimidating than ever, to Potter, who was sitting there frozen.

«You don't know half the story. And I swore to myself no one will find out. Least of all you. There's too big of a risk you'll tell someone. But see here, I thought I knew the cause of his suicide. And I thought myself I was to blame. So I don't blame *you* for thinking it. It simply hurts as hell. But see, maybe it's not entirely my fault. It seems there was more to this one death, meaningless and little and irrelevant to the most of the wizarding world, than *anyone* in that same world could imagine! But I will find out what exactly happened, or I'll die trying. That's the only sense left I can think of. And you can shove it up your sore queer ass if you don't like it, but the things are way they are. Yes, Ron was IN LOVE with your arch-enemy!! GET OVER IT!! You don't know anything!! You didn't know HIM, least of all ME!!»

With that he approached the door and grabbed the knob furiously. But he turned around once again and growled.

«And you say I used him ever again, and I swear I'll send you to hell. I swear it. I would *never* harm him.»

After that, Harry was numb for the rest of the world. All he could do was sit and think and not believe it. This was too much information, emotion, acknowledges. More than anyone could handle, especially all at once. He stared at the closed door. Holy fucking fuck.

Draco Malfoy was a good person?!