Chapter II. Reverso!

The cold wind rushed up to and past Draco and Harry as they fell, faster and faster toward the grass below. Harry frantically tried to remember a spell, ANY spell, that would save them.

One hundred meters... . Harry fumbled for his wand, the folds of his cloak whipping violently, making it difficult to find the pocket.

Fifty meters...

"Come on, dammit," he muttered, finally catching hold of the wand. But would it be in time?

Twenty-five meters...

There was a spell that would reverse the fall, put them back up on the tower. Harry had read about it, but had never used it. Revers... Rever...What was it? In a few seconds, it really wouldn't matter anyway.

Ten meters...

Harry held the wand toward the ground, keeping his other arm wrapped firmly around Draco.

"Reverso!"

A shimmering cloud burst from the tip of his wand. Harry and Draco fell into it, time and bodies coming to a complete standstill as the strange vapor enveloped them. In a blinding flash of white light the cloud vanished, and dropped the two students 5 meters to the ground below. Harry lay still for a moment, hardly daring to look up, before it truly sank in.

"We're alive," he whispered.

"Thanks a lot, Potter."

The voice was quiet, but loudly sarcastic. Harry turned to look at Draco, who was lying on his back beside him.

"I saved your life, you stupid git." Harry exclaimed. "What were you doing up on that tower in the first place?"

Draco sat up, rolling onto his knees as he leaned toward Harry.

"Did it ever occur to you, SAINT Potter, that I might not have wanted to be saved?"

For the first time Harry saw how swollen and red Draco's eyes were. Draco continued. "I should have known. I can't even off myself properly. And of course, you come along and play the hero, risking your life yet again. If you are waiting for a thank you and another award, I'm afraid you're going to keep waiting this time, Potter. Your intervention was neither asked for nor welcomed."

Harry was speechless. Of all things, he hadn't expected this. This wasn't the Draco he knew. The one who made everyone else miserable, but never himself. Where was this coming from?

"Malfoy." Harry reached out as Draco pushed himself off the ground. "I..." Harry stopped as he noticed a long, jagged scar running down the side of Draco's neck, across the shoulder his shirt had slipped from.

"Where did..." But before he could continue, Harry remembered Lucius Malfoy standing in front of him, in the den of the Manor.

He was holding a letter from Professor Snape.

"How DARE you fail your O.W.L.s!"

Harry cringed as Lucius walked toward him, but only inwardly. He knew better than to show fear, anger...anything... in front of ...his father?

Lucius leaned toward Harry. "You have become a disgrace to the Malfoy name! There was a time you were an excellent student, even if," he sneered, "you were lacking in everything else. Now, you can't even do ONE thing right." Harry stood rigid, resigned to his fate. Lucius walked slowly over to the table, picking up the letter once more.

"Severus has graciously allowed you to complete the exams again, over the summer. Perhaps," Lucius spat the words, "you need some...encouragement. Perhaps I have been neglecting my parental duties. Do you agree?"

Harry swallowed hard. He knew what he had to say.

"I SAID, DO YOU AGREE?" Lucius was inches from Harry's face.

"Yes, sir," he said meekly.

Harry moaned as the fangs of the silver snake at the tip of Lucius' cane ripped into his flesh, the blow knocking him to the floor. He would not cry out...not even after the third or fourth or fifth....

"You what, Potter? And don't touch me."

"What...?" Harry looked up to find Draco staring down at him. He was still lying on the wet ground, far below the tower.

End of Chapter II.