Disclaimer: I do not own HP.  I repeat, I do NOT own HP.  But, of course, you lot know this, right?  If not, whack yourself repeatedly in the head with a blunt object until you do.

Chapter 19 – Strength That We Need

"Why should I believe this again?"

"Oh for cripes sake, Malfoy!" yelled Harry, pausing in his pacing to glare at the blond.  "Do you really think this is a joke?"

"Harry," growled Ethan warningly.

Harry scowled and resumed his pacing.  It was two weeks after the conversation with Hermione and he had taken her advice.  He'd gone to talk to Malfoy.

And smartly brought Ethan along with him.

Draco smirked at Harry then said to Ethan, "So I'm supposed to believe this crap about you being Professor Snape and that the three of us will end up being slaves or something of the Dark Lord."

"And he's your uncle," pointed out Harry, not pausing in his pacing.

Ethan flicked a scowl at the other dark-haired boy then nodded to Draco.

"Yes."

Draco snorted and exclaimed, "Do you two think I'm that much of an idiot?"

"Shall I really answer that?" mused Harry as he continued his pacing.  He then looked at Ethan – still pacing – and said, "Maybe you should take off his Memory Charm."

"What Memory Charm?" demanded Draco.

"For my protection," explained Ethan.  "And since you don't believe me, I suppose I have no other choice."  He whipped out his wand and pointed it at Draco.  A simple golden mote floated out and landed on the blonde's forehead, flashing white as soon as it made contact with flesh.  When the light faded, Draco was holding his hands to his forehead.

"Professor?" queried the blond, hands falling into his lap as his gray eyes stared.

Ethan nodded and Draco gasped, "Sir, I'm…"

"Sorry?  Don't be.  I thought at first reliving my teenage years would be hellish but its actually turned out quite well.  I ought to thank you for it."

Draco frowned and said, "Er…that's good."  He then shook his head and added, "This is beyond weird."

"Suggestion," commented Harry, "don't think about it."

"Thank you, Saint Potter."

"Alright, that's it.  You two get over this stupid grudge now or I'll be forced to lock you both into the traveling broom closet.  And we'll hope Filch doesn't decide to go looking for his manacles."  Ethan frowned at the both of them, who seemed to be avoiding each other's gazes.

Draco sneered, "You're not a professor anymore, sir."  The 'sir' was added as an afterthought.

Ethan frowned and said in a half-snarl, "I may no longer be your teacher but I am still your uncle."

Draco sputtered.

"I thought Potter was joking!"

Harry snorted off to the side as Ethan's frown deepened.  "No," he said after a moment.  "Your mother and I have the same father.  Or had being as he's been dead seventeen years."

"Prove it," snapped Draco.

"Your mother's favorite color is scarlet.  She drinks her tea with two sugars and a dash of honey.  She abhors opera.  She likes Muggle hard rock, particularly Black Sabbath.  She permanently dyed her hair green and silver when she was fifteen."

"You must be joking."

"Ask her."

"I'm still not convinced."

"Alright…you were born two months premature and they didn't think you'd survive.  Narcissa almost died during the birth and couldn't conceive anymore children after you.  Lucius thought you were going to die and wouldn't have cared had Narcissa not been able to bear more children.  You were in St. Mungo's for half a year before you were allowed to be taken home.  At a year and a half you managed to swallow a spoon.  By two you tried to eat one of the house-elves.  Your favorite color it blue, you like Muggle rock, and you want to dye your hair black and your eyes violet."

Draco stared at Ethan for a moment before he remarked, "Fuuuuuck."

Harry snorted and fell into a chair with a laugh.  He jokingly said, "How eloquent you are, Malfoy."

Ethan turned to scowl at Harry as Draco snapped, "Shut up, Potter!"

"Draco!" snarled Ethan, turning his scowl on him.  "Peace or the broom closet."

"Fine," sulked Draco, glaring at Harry.  The dark-haired boy returned it inch for inch.  "So when exactly is this supposed to happen?"

Ethan looked at Harry, who shrugged.

"I don't know.  Maybe next year.  We all look around seventeen in my dream but I don't know for sure."

"When," said Ethan, "is one thing we need to know.  Another is why.  I know I'll never go back.  I've seen too much death and destruction already to want more."  He then grinned at Harry and added, "And I'd rather not have Hermione kill me when she found out."

"That's a fact," remarked Harry.  He then looked at Draco and said, "What about you, Malfoy?  Are you with us or do you want to serve that imp?"

Ethan arched an eyebrow at Harry at that last remark and the green-eyed boy blinked owlishly at him.

"What?"

"Nothing.  What say you, Draco?"

The blond frowned in thought for a few moments then said softly, "Father took me to a Dark Revel just before term started.  I watched them – they – I'd rather not say."  He swallowed hard before continuing.  "He said I was going to be Marked during Christmas hols.  But I don't want that life.  Mum doesn't want it for me either."  Gray eyes flicked to Ethan as he said, "She was going to send me to live with a relative of hers so I'd be safe from Father whenever he wanted me Marked.  I guess that was you…before…"

"I know," said Ethan.

"Does she know?"

Ethan shook his head slowly, heart heavy.  "Too risky," he said.  "Lucius could find out and that'd be the end of my little game.  Voldemort would try to get me no matter the cost after that.  And I'm certain Albus wouldn't stop him."

"Dumbledore???"

"He's not as nice as you might think," growled Harry darkly.

Draco looked at Harry in surprise and gasped, "Oh, c'mon now.  You're Gryffindor's Golden Boy.  And Ethan, sir – he trusts you."

"Not anymore," said Ethan with a frown.  "We both seem to be out of Albus' good graces."

"You I can believe, sir – sort of – but Potter?  You're pulling my leg."

Harry looked at Ethan and asked, "Shall I show him?"

Ethan frowned then slowly nodded.

"Show me what?" asked Draco.

Harry chuckled and ducked his head as he took his glasses off.

"Y'know what Voldemort's eyes look like, don't you, Malfoy?"

"Yeah, so – HOLY SHIT!"

Harry smirked, the green of his eyes swirling about the slitted pupil, and said, "Boo."

"Holy fuck," breathed Draco.  "How…?"

"Dumbledore," spat Harry bitterly.  "Some sort of spell that slowly kills an Heir of Slytherin.  If they survive, however…boom – snake eyes."

"Y-you're an Heir of Slytherin?"

"Yeah, life's a bitch, ain't it?  I get all the nice jobs."

"Merlin…"

"Y'know what, Ethan?"

"Mmm?"

"We ought to introduce him to Salazar."

Ethan frowned and said, "Harry, you haven't been talking to him again, have you?  Wasn't that how you got in trouble in the first place?"

"I've got it under control.  Dumbledore should have never let me know he had those recording things down there."

"You got it?"

"With a little help from Dusa.  She's a master at finding things.  I destroyed every one she found."

"How'd you get in?  The entrance is sealed…"

"Not the one in the entrance hall."

"Ah…"

"Excuse me," interrupted Draco, "but what in all nine hells are you two babbling about?"

Harry smirked and leaned forward saying, "Do you remember the Chamber of Secrets, Malfoy?"

"Yeah.  And those eyes of yours are really creepy."

"Thanks.  Now remember the Yule Ball last year?"

Draco nodded.  "Yes, Father came after Ethan."

"Right.  Well, while Hermione and Ginny were providing an ample distraction ("They did that?" gasped Draco), Ethan and I hightailed it for the Chamber.  Of course, we got spotted along the way and then the Death Eater's decided to follow us down.  So we ran and hid in the inner chamber, where I fought the basilisk second year.  And lo and behold – we discover I'm an Heir of Slytherin courtesy of Salazar himself."

"Waitaminute.  Slytherin himself?"

"Well, it's a statue," said Ethan.

"A talking statue," corrected Harry with an annoying grin.

"This is too weird."

"Y'get used to it," said Harry, leaning back in his chair, arms folded behind his head.

"So what if I go around telling people you're the Heir of Slytherin?"

The green of Harry's eyes swirled and darkened as he replied, "You'll be in quite a lot of trouble."

"From who?" sneered Draco.

"Me."

"And myself," said Ethan.  "This is no game, Draco.  Voldemort is after all three of us – and from what Harry saw – he intends to make us his new servants.  We've completely lost Albus' help and I fear the only reason he hasn't sent Harry and I packing is that he fears Voldemort getting us."

"We do have McGonagall," said Harry, eyes swirling back to their normal hue.

Draco's lip curled.  "McGonagall?"

"Minerva is on our side, Draco," explained Ethan.  As the blond stared at him, he snapped, "And don't look at me like that.  Is it so amazing that she and I are – were friends?"

"Well – er – yes.  Sort of like you and Potter when I think about it."

"Oh, he's not so bad," said Harry with a smile.  "Except for the fact that he snores."

"I do not!" hissed Ethan.

"Yeah.  Y'do."

"When?"

"When you're asleep, idiot.  When else do people snore?"

Ethan glared at Harry then glanced at his watch.

"I'm afraid we have to bring this little meeting to an end.  Lunch is about over and Harry and I have Charms in about five minutes."

"Alright," said Draco in a rather nervous tone.  "Er, Ethan…sir?"

Ethan rolled his eyes and grumbled, "Just Ethan, Draco.  Severus Snape is dead."  With that he turned away and left the room, dropping the Anti-Eavesdropping Charm he'd put up.  Draco started to follow him but Harry caught the other boy's shoulder in firm grip.

"Let go of me, Potter!" snapped Draco, spinning to face the other boy with fist upraised.

But he met the swirling snake eyes and froze, gaping.  After a moment he shook himself and said, "Again, those eyes of yours are creepy."

Harry smiled grimly and growled, "Thanks."  He then nodded after Ethan and said, "Don't follow him.  He may not look it but he's taking all of this hard."

"When did you become a shrink, Potter?"

"How do you know about shrink's, Malfoy?"

Draco flushed and Harry grinned.

"Ah-ha," said the dark-haired boy.  "Checking out Muggle's are we?  Interesting."

Draco jerked his shoulder out from under Harry's hand and snapped, "Its my business!"

Harry held up his hands and said, "Easy.  I think it's a good thing."

"Oh really?" sneered Draco as the dark-haired boy started to head towards the half-closed door.

"Yeah."

"Why's that?"

The other boy paused at the door to slip his glasses back on.  When he looked back at Draco, it was with normal green eyes behind a pair of dark frames.  But Draco knew that a pair of snake-slitted eyes that swirled between green and black lay behind that illusion.

Harry smiled slightly and replied, "Show's you're human."  As he turned to leave, Draco cried out.

"Potter!"

"Mmm?"

"Why's he having a hard time?"

Harry sighed and stared darkly at the blonde.  He then said, "How would you feel if you had to pretend to be someone else and could never be yourself again?"  With that he left, leaving Draco in the unused classroom to mull that over.