AN: Sorry this took so long. Blame school. J Thanks to the wonderful readers who reviewed this and emailed me. I love you! Hope you enjoy this chapter and please review!

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Chapter 9: A Reluctant Hero

Draco woke for the second time in the small room, this time with the feeling that someone was watching him. He raised his head and looked around. Sure enough, Voldemort and a handful of Death Eaters were standing around him.

            "Ah. The brat has awoken." Voldemort hissed. "Lucius, you should do better to keep your spawn in check." Draco looked towards his father. He showed no remorse or sadness for what had happened to his son. "Now, Draco. I realize that something has been going on. Whether you have pledged loyalties elsewhere or are just conflicted with yourself, I do not know. There are always ways to find that out of course. Severus is particularly crafty with Veritaserum, aren't you Severus?" Snape nodded and Draco thought he might be sick. "However, I don't think we have reached these extremes yet. That beating served the reminder that you are mine."

            His dark eyes swept across the room for a moment as if daring anyone to challenge the statement. The Death Eaters looked on with reverence, none breaking the silence that had taken over the room. Voldemort continued, "You belong to me Draco and that will never change. I hold the key to your soul in my cloak pocket. Let him go!" He bellowed.

            Draco's father muttered a spell and Draco found himself in a heap on the floor. "Get up, you imbecile!" His father said as he kicked him to hurry the process. Draco felt tears sting his eyes. His father…his own, but no this wasn't the time to think about that. Don't let them know they hurt you. Draco chanted in his mind. Don't show weakness.

            "Now Draco," Voldemort began in the same sickly sweet tone he had used before. "I suggest you get back on the right path. Stay on the course, Draco. I always find out. The next time your loyalties waiver I will not be so generous and merciful." Draco felt fear stab his heart. Ashamed, he looked away from the rest of the Death Eaters. "Get out of my sight, you filth." Voldemort said to him.

            Draco ran from the room while the rest of the Death Eaters laughed. He knew he must have looked foolish, but for once he didn't care what people thought about him. He ran and ran as fast as he could until he reached a point at which he could Apparate into Hogsmeade. When he finally reached the castle, the thought came to him that he didn't know what he was going to tell Dumbledore.

            He had to lie. That he was sure of. Draco knew that if he told Dumbledore the truth, Voldemort would find out and many people's lives would be in danger with the Veritaserum that he had been threatened with. Draco wasn't sure that Snape could pull off some sort of fake Veritaserum to give him and he wasn't willing to try. However, he had been at the Manor for over a day, and he still had to say something…something that Dumbledore would believe.

            His mind raced, reaching grabbing at anything that could be considered feasible. "An attack!" Draco shouted aloud to no one. He could say they had been planning an attack and after while of debating they realized that it wouldn't work and so they had abandoned the idea. Perfect! Draco congratulated his mind at coming up with something so believable in such a short period of time.

            He began running again, eager to reach Dumbledore's office before the details of the fib had seeped away. Giving the password, and leaping up the stairs two at a time, Draco reached Dumbledore's office very out of breath. Dumbledore stood at once.

            "Mr. Malfoy! You're safe! What happened?" He waited for a moment as Draco tried breathing at a normal pace. When he had finally regained the ability of speech, he began to tell his tale.

            "I was with Voldemort and the Death Eaters the whole time. We were talking about an attack, but then we realized that it wouldn't work so…we just had to drop the plan." Somehow the lie didn't sound as good spoken aloud as it did in his head.

            Dumbledore looked confused. "What was the attack? Where was it supposed to happen? When?"

            Draco thought for a moment, hoping it wasn't too obvious that he wasn't telling the truth. "It was going to be a plot to get to Potter." Harry. Draco added silently. Harry Potter.

            Dumbledore sighed, long and heavy. Draco could not tell what the man was thinking. "Interesting." He said finally, after studying Draco for a few minutes. "Severus Snape has a different story."

            Draco almost smacked himself in the head. How could he have forgotten? He wasn't the only spy that Dumbledore had working for him. And now Dumbledore would know what a coward he was. Draco tore his gaze from Dumbledore's eyes, ashamed of his cowardice. "I'm sorry sir," were the only words he could muster.

            "Sit down Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said pointing to a seat in front of his desk. Draco complied and was surprised to see that Dumbledore's eyes were not filled with regret and disappointment, but amusement.

            "I'm going to tell you a story about another reluctant hero." Dumbledore said. Draco almost rolled his eyes. If this is another bloody Potter story…"A long time ago, before you existed, before any of the students in this school existed, there was another Dark Lord. Do you know whom I speak of, Draco?"

            "Grindelwald." Draco said instantly. He rarely listened in Professor Binns' class, but one couldn't help but pick up on a few names.

            Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, Grindelwald. He began a slow reign, getting others to share his views and opinions, and then blaming others for the problems of the world. He even aligned himself with a Muggle so he could control both worlds. Soon he had an army behind him and it was feared that he would never be stopped. Students were being drafted as soon as they left Hogwarts. Even older wizards were going to join in the fight. A middle-aged man found himself in the draft and he was called into battle. Despite his easy ascent into the higher ranks of the military, this wizard still despised the fighting. He was not a fan of war and conflict. But he found that he was leader amongst his people and he did what he had to do; ultimately contributing to the defeat of Grindelwald in 1945." He finished. "Sometimes the reluctant heroes are the best kind." Dumbledore winked and Draco found himself smiling despite the seriousness of the situation.

            "Sir, may I ask, who was the wizard?" Draco asked, though he already suspected the answer.

            "He was a man by the name of Albus Dumbledore." His eyes twinkled as he remembered the past. "The most reluctant hero that I was ever lucky enough to come across!" Suddenly, Dumbledore's expression grew serious. "And now, Draco, it is your turn.

            Draco nodded and felt inexplicable courage well up in his heart. He left without saying a word, suddenly feeling like he could do anything. Besides it had a nice ring to it, Draco Malfoy: Reluctant Hero.

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