Title: The Largest Task of All.

Rating: PG-13

Sequel to Family Matters

Summary: A letter a meeting and an interesting chat

A/N: This was written as 1 chapter but well… it ended up being HUGE so I split it in 2. The trademark poem is in the 2nd part.

"Dear Draco,

I shall be at Hogwarts two days before Christmas. Be ready for me coming.

Lucius Malfoy"

Draco sat and re-read the note at Breakfast the next morning after having spoken to Ron. Neither Ron nor himself had yet told Harry of their truce and Draco had no intention of telling him just yet.

Draco had now been thinking hard about how he was going to talk to his father and thinking about his father's reaction.

He was also thinking about his own standing up to Lucius and he was quietly proud of himself. He would never have done this before the summer… even a few months ago he knew he wouldn't have.

Harry was rubbing off on him he knew this and he hoped a little of himself was rubbing off on Harry.

Draco stood and walked towards his first class which was Defence against the Dark Arts. He walked with Blaise who had become a good friend of his over the past two years as Prefects. Draco and Blaise had a lot in common, she knew he was gay for quite some time her only qualm was it was a Gryffindor and Harry of all people he was seeing.

She had no intention of joining Voldemort, she was sorry that Draco had the mark burned onto his arm and had helped research how to take it off, there was no way they could see and this had upset Draco greatly and she knew it to be a main cause of his deep depression.

She had however came up with a good glamour spell that hid it and he was he said 'eternally grateful' to her.

The Slytherins had their Defence against the Dark arts Class with the Ravenclaw's as there weren't many Ravenclaw sixth years left. A lot of them had been killed the previous summer as many of the Ravenclaw sixth years had been muggleborn and had been killed when Voldemort started targeting muggle families with magical children.

Draco sat in his usual seat, his father's letter weighing heavily on his mind. Blaise looked at Draco carefully.

"Are you alright Draco?"

He nodded "Yes I'm fine."

She raised her eyebrow and was about to probe further but was cut short when their professor entered the classroom. Remus Lupin entered the class looking tired and gaunt. Today was the first day after his change and he always looked rough on these days.

"Today class we are going to concentrate on dispersing spells. It is a spell that takes off concealing spells. Can anyone tell me of any such spell?"

Terry Boot raised his hand and answered "Invisibility spells"

"Yes Terry, any others?"

Blaise raised her hand "Glamour spells."

Draco's eyes turned sharply towards Blaise. Only the Slytherins Harry, Hermione and Ron knew Draco had a Dark Mark.

Remus continued "Yes Blaise, that's the one I was after. We will cast and then un-cast simple glamour spells. Please pair yourselves up"

Blaise whispered to Draco "What the fuck are you gonna do? You cant exactly wear your cloak its too warm…"

Draco was wearing short sleeved Robes… "I know…I'll just have to refuse to do it wont I?"

Remus demonstrated both spells and then went round each pair and asked them to demonstrate both spells. He got to Blaise and Draco. "Well lets see."

"Sir, I am not comfortable having these spells placed on me." Said Draco quickly. Remus sighed.

"Do the spells Mr Malfoy."

"No"

"Why not?"

Draco shook his head "I'd rather not say."

Blaise stood watching the exchange. "Tell me why."

"I cant…"

"Then see me after class."

Draco swore under his breath, this sounded like a detention and he didn't like getting detentions.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So Mr Malfoy why you didn't want the glamour placed on you?"

Draco scowled "It wasn't the glamour I had a problem with."

Remus frowned. The spell that took it off was a filter for any glamour spells on the person, so that meant… that he already had a glamour on him.

Remus stared at the youth.

"You already have a glamour on you… why?"

Draco stepped back a few paces but Remus followed "What are you hiding?"

"Nothing" Said Draco all too quickly

Remus looked at him and sniffed the air around him, there was something he was definetly hiding. He rose his wand and pointed at Draco. "Mr Malfoy. Either you let me do this or I bind you and then do it."

Draco stood and Remus cast the spell "Reveleleo"

A warm wind passed over Draco and he closed his eyes. He was screwed.

"A Dark Mark." Said Remus quietly. Draco inhaled deeply and he opend his eyes and instead of anger and resignation he saw Remus regarding him with curiosity and wonder.

"Close the door Mr Malfoy and lock it. You and I need to have a chat."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry stood waiting for Draco, he had just come out of Transfiguration and was waiting at Hagrids Hut for him. They had Care of Magical Creatures next and he was late out. He could see most of the other Slytherins on their way down and yet Draco had still not appeared.

Millicent Bulstrode made her way towards Harry, Ron and Hermione. She looked at Harry.

"Potter, Professor Lupin kept Draco behind after class as he refused to have a revealing spell cast on him. My guess is Lupin is gonna cast it on him when he's alone. We all know what he keeps hidden so I suggest you get there quickly, Lupin trusts you."

Harry looked at Ron and Hermione who nodded for him to go and he ran towards the school.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Well Mr Malfoy?"

Draco sat in Remus' office twiddling his thumbs.

"Snape knows. He was there…"

"I see…" said Remus quietly. He wondered why Severus hadnt told the headmaster. "Why hasn't he informed Albus?"

"I asked him not to. I know Dumbledore can be tolerant, but I have never given him any reason to be tolerant of me, I infact would have given him great cause for concern… considering how I had treated Harry all these years"

"To tell you the truth Mr Malfoy I didn't think you would be one to tolerate having a 'master'. You always strike me as far too proud for that."

Draco looked up "I didn't go willingly you can ask Harry on that one…"

"A vision?"

"Yes… If you didn't think I would have a Dark Mark then why were you so intent on taking the glamour off me?"

Remus looked at him "I thought Lucius might have hurt you."

Draco couldn't help the surprise that crossed his features. "You were worried about me?"

"Yes Mr Malfoy I was worried about you… I know that must sound strange to you but I do worry when a student like yourself, who usually doesn't mind doing things like this plays up. Was the only logical explanation I could see."

Draco nodded. "Professor Lupin, while my father may do many things, he has never harmed me."

"Not even after you're abrupt 'coming out' as it were?" Draco looked thoughtful for a moment and replied "He's been strange… I didn't expect the reaction he gave me."

Remus nodded. "Well, Mr Malfoy, you do know of course I'll have to take this information to Professor Dumbledore?"

Draco looked up at him and sighed "I know…"

At that point the door burst open and Harry stood. "Professor, sir…" He looked at Draco and saw the glamour had been removed and the Dark mark stood on his arm. He was about to launch into the reason Draco had the mark when Lupin raised his hand. "Its quite alright Harry. Mr Malfoy and I have had a rather interesting chat havent we?" Draco nodded "Well Mr Malfoy, you are already late for Care of Magical creatures, you should go and send my apologies to Hagrid."

"I will sir."

Lupin watched as Draco moved towards Harry and put an arm round him and Harry smiled. He watched the two move off and was reminded strangley of James and Lily when they were young and in love.

They looked so happy to be in each others presence. It was simply breathtaking to see.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Mr Malfoy,

Please could you come to my office tonight after dinner. Password is Sour Plum.

Albus Dumbledore."

Harry read the note and Draco remarked "He always has the strangest passwords."

Harry smiled "Dumbledore has rather a sweet tooth. Ever noticed that if he is ever late for a meal he only picks at the main course and then eats far too much pudding?… He always offers me sherbit Lemons."

Draco smiled and then got up from his chair. "Im finished dinner, im going to go now." He kissed Harry on the mouth and Harry smiled warmly.

Draco made his way to Dumbledore's office and he gave the password and made his way up the stairs.

He knocked on the door and Dumbledore called "Come in."

Draco opend the door and went into the room. He had only ever been in this room to be greeted by the headmaster upon getting his Prefect Duties. And to be told in the same office of the death of his grandmother.

Lucius Malfoy had been hit hard by his mothers death but had never spoken to Draco about Draco's grandfather but he knew his father and grandfather didn't always see eye to eye.

Dumbledore motioned for Draco to sit in a chair before him and he peered over his halfmoon specticles at the boy and Draco felt rather like a child in this man's presence.

"Well Mr Malfoy… I knew someone in the school had been initiated into Voldemorts ranks. Severus told me someone had been but that he had been sworn to secrecy and the person in question was not a threat."

Draco didn't say a word, merely let the headmaster continue.

"I, however, unlike Remus Lupin, am not surprised that it is you."

Draco looked down and Dumbledore frowned.

"At first I was worried, I see that you have captured the heart of Harry Potter. I must admit that I thought it a way for you to hand him over to Voldemort, but I have been watching you together and I see that no, indeed you do love him. I have a feeling that there is even more depth to the feeling than even you two realise."

Draco looked up and Dumbledore was looking at him with the same calm expression he had when he came in.

"Im sorry sir… If I dissapointed you.."

Dumbledore shook his head and stood and came round to Draco's side. "Draco, may I see your dark mark?"

Draco closed his eyes and nodded and lifted the sleve of his arm. Dumbledore intoned the spell and lifted Draco's arm gently inspecting the mark.

The mark looked slightly distorted and he frowned remembering the terrible scene Harry had shown him through use of a pensieve, the Death Eather initiate that so clearly did not want to be initiated.

"You were the person that was forced Voldemorts mark upon you?"

Draco looked at Dumbledore "Yes."

"Lucius Malfoy has sent a letter to me asking if he can come here for a day or two next week to speak with you… Are you aware of this?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell me the purpose of this meeting?"

Draco sighed "He wants to know why… me and Harry"

Dumbledore nodded "Draco… Your father may seem cold… but I shall give you this piece of advice. A father who cannot accept his son's choices in life, has no right to call himself a father."

Draco frowned but the tone of this statement made it clear that this was the end of the meeting.

TBC

Thank You To

Dragonbrat: *blush* hardly go read Dracavia or Frances then you shall know greatness!

Mistal Abyss Water Fairy: LOL oh well when you look at it like that

Christina: *blush* thanks

Queen Li:  1) Thank you 2) It is entirley your fault 3) Yes you do rule all, except strongbadia. 4) YES YOU CALLED ME FONE BUDDY! 5) I so don't rule

Phoebe: **blushes** yes I wrote all the poetry myself, ITS NOT THAT GOOD how many times do I have to say it!? LOL

Malfoy Snogger: Sorry I took so long to update, this was a bit of a trial to get ff,net and my PC to behave long enough in tandem. So here ya go

Lil HP fan: Thanks!

Megs: **BLUSHES** Erm…well… umm… **blush** can I get back to you?

Crazy Bitch: Good god…thank you… **redder than she thought possible** thanks a bunch…

Well

That's all and I'll update in about 3 – 4 days depending on time

Caio

Dragonsbane