TITLE: Coming Down, 4: Sheep's Clothing
RATING: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, if I did I'm sure I'd be richer
Authors note: - *indicates thought*
-This chapter was beat out of me by my beta but thanks for the marshmallowsthey are excellent writing food!!!!!
-Thanks to everyone who reviewed, If I told you whose side Draco was really onwhere would be the suspense?! Hell, I don't even know what side his on!!!!!!
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~~~~~~~~~Graduation Flashback part 1~~~~~~~~~~
Harry fell to his knees. His breath was haggard and blood ran down from a gash in his arm. He raised his head to face Voldemort, blood mattered hair fell into his eyes, obscuring his vision. His scar was glowing as Voldemort stood over him triumphantly.
"I always wanted it to end here Harry. Graduation. It has such meaning. For your schoolmates, the ones who will live anyway." Harry's eyes glanced around him, Ron lay to his right, and he couldn't tell if he was breathing. Voldemort watched this, a grotesque smile playing across his face. "It's the first day of the rest of their lives. For you, Harry, it will be your last."
"Ah huh…" Harry coughed; talking felt like someone was stabbing him in the chest. "You've failed seven times already, what's this? Eighth time lucky?" Even though Harry was still afraid of Voldemort, his anger outweighed it. Too many friends and loved ones had been lost. He was sick of this, sick of being hunted, being frightened. *I just want this done.*
Voldemort smiled grimly at him; he'd caught that last thought. It appeared that
Harry's mental shield was growing weaker with his body.
"Crucio." Harry screamed in pain. He'd been expecting this though, and through their link he channelled the pain back to Voldemort. It was why he had relaxed the shield. He knew it had worked when the link broke. Both of them stared at each other and Harry gasped for air, trying to recover.
"Boy, I ought to..."
"What? Kill me?"
A movement in the corner caught Harry's eye. Malfoy. Draco that bastard. The Death Eaters must be holding the Aurors off successfully. No one was coming to help him - there was no hope for him now.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
"So tell me why we're still a good two kilometers from the Manor?"
"Because ever since Dad's escape from Azkaban the security measures around the house are kind of ridiculous. The barriers around the house renew themselves every two hours and if you try to apparate in uninvited you end up in Africa or something. I kind of tuned out of that conversation. I was to busy hoping he wouldn't notice all his stuff I'd wrecked while he was gone."
"You tuned out! You do realize how many Death Eaters will be on us if you forget how to get passed one of the security measures don't you!?"
"What happened to 'No harm no foul, it won't be the least bit dangerous'" Draco imitated Harry perfectly.
"Yes, it won't be the 'least bit dangerous' IF THEY DON'T KNOW WE'RE HERE!"
"Well shouting doesn't help! Listen, why can't I just go in on my own? Anyone of Malfoy blood has an automatic pass through the security systems."
"And I've told you already I can't leave you alone!" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"I knew one day my irresistible charm would come back to bite me in the ass."
"Oh you poor dear," Harry's voice was dripping in sarcasm. "I've got my orders, you know that."
"You're just saying you can't leave me because of this romantic setting. Sunset, alone in the woods..."
"…You drugged and obviously delusional." Harry face was starting to go red.
"Me drugged and obviously fragile," Draco put on his best sicky faker face. "Come on Potter you want me like a fat kid wants cake." Harry snorted. "You want me like a Weasley wants money. You want me like…" Draco tripped over a tree root in front of him, Harry's hand shot out to stop him from falling. Draco shrugged him off quickly.
"And you need me like Snape needs to wash his hair."
"I don't need anyone," snapped Draco, then continued as if he hadn't fallen. "It's you who needs me," Draco grinned at Harry mischievously. "Pity it will never happen, but what can you do? Make the best of what you have – that's what I always say."
When it became obvious Harry didn't answer because he was ignoring him, Draco continued walking, on the look out for the tell tale tutaminis stones that would mean they had arrived at the first shield of protection.
When Draco had gone home in the summer at the end of his sixth year, it had been to the news his father had escaped from Azkaban. Taking the Floo from Diagon Alley with one of their house elf's, Draco found himself in a cage down in the Manor's dungeons. His father had done it on purpose to see if the guards were working. Lucius didn't even bother to get him out till the next day.
Not that Lucius ever needed a reason to pick on Draco, although that particular reason was because he'd "borrowed" Lucius's best robes. A growth spurt had meant Draco was now big enough to fit into them. Narcissa had scolded her husband for being childish, something that had made Draco giggle... back in his room where his father couldn't hear him. But since then it had been insured that he was able to enter the Manor whenever he pleased. The fact that Draco wasn't just allowed to go in annoyed the hell out of him. He wanted to know what was going on in there.
Draco was starting to feel a bit dizzy again but his pride stopped him from mentioning it to Harry. He'd noticed that Harry was limping, but he hadn't complained once, even though they'd walked at least a kilometre. If it was anyone but Harry, Draco would have been complaining. Hell, if it was anyone but Harry, he would have convinced them he was in such bad shape he needed to be carried by now.
For some reason Harry put his Malfoy pride in overdrive, he didn't want to seem weak in front of him. It might have been the problems he had with Harry. He was an annoying attention seeking git, plus there was that little fact he'd been trained to hate him since birth. The fact he never seemed to complain even though people kept trying to kill him was irritating really. And it still ate him up that he'd run away in the Forbidden Forest in first year. Draco sighed, he was becoming quite good at that, running away.
He dismissed his insecurities it as a tough guy male thing and moved onto something that had been on his mind for the past hour. The more his memory returned, the more he was sure he didn't want to know what had happened.
"Harry freeze!"
Draco held his breath, Harry's foot was touching a tutaminis stone. Draco cursed. He should have been paying attention more attention. Quickly, he assessed his options. But it didn't help that Harry was giving him a look like a deer in headlights.
"Potter, if you move one inch I swear I will have your guts for garters." Draco's mind raced for the spell that would take down the outer defenses. *Pilasicus? No, that's not it. Piluscus? Palosus? Shit shit shit what am I going to do! Piliscius! That's it!*
"Piliscius!" Draco dived for the stone by Harry's foot, grabbing it in one deft roll. That had been a bit to close for comfort. *At least I didn't run away*
"Potter you're such a fucking idiot!" In true Malfoy fashion he'd decided to shift the blame onto someone else. "You do realize that you almost blew everything! I thought I told you to be careful! You're so quick to play the fucking hero you almost killed us both! Do you know what happens to anyone within a blast range of one of these stones?"
Harry looked downright shameful. Draco was practically glowing inside and it took all of his best efforts to keep the grin off his face. This was like candy.
"I'm sorry." Harry couldn't bring himself to meet Draco's eyes, "I behaved irresponsibly. It won't happen again."
"To right it won't." Draco turned from him and began walking again. He'd know discovered another favourite past time. 1) Piss Harry off. 2) Make Harry feel guilty.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
After regaining consciousness, Draco had been informed that Goyle had been badly injured during his little 'episode.' Pansy told him not to worry since his face needed some reconstruction anyway. Draco snorted, like Pugface could talk. No one really seemed to care too much, except maybe Goyle's parents. In fact, everyone seemed to have been suitably impressed with his little performance. There was even a standing ovation as he'd stalked from the room.
At the moment he was out on the lawns scolding himself for the lack of control he had shown. *What the fuck has father done to me?* Lucius knew he hated losing control; it was a trait Draco had inherited from him. His father was probably having a grand old laugh about what he'd done to Draco right now. Anger began to well up inside of him and before he knew it, he'd turned around and headed back to the party.
He mentally kicked himself and stopped. *It's what he wants, get a grip!* Draco couldn't help but admit getting his hands around Goyle's throat was the best he'd felt in a while. The mere fact he'd been stronger than Goyle was surprising enough. It might have meant a loss of control on his body, but sometimes that freedom was a wonderful thing.
In two minds about the entire thing he began to pace the lawns. He didn't want to go back to the party in case he relapsed. Gradually Draco started feeling very ill, a slow pain in his stomach turned into a feeling like someone was ripping his insides out. He dropped to the ground and panted, waited for the pain to subside.
Suddenly this drug was no longer a freedom giving wonderful thing - it was poison. His vision was becoming hazy and his mind quietened, but his hearing and sense of smell sharpened. He was starting to loose control again. Draco fought it. Slowly he began to feel normal again, normal enough to stand up anyway.
Draco staggered along a path that led to the back of the Manor. His body was feeling all tingly, not too unpleasant but a weird sensation nonetheless. He heard sobs coming from behind a wall. There was also a quite voice talking nonsensical things but it was soothing to listen to. When the sobs quietened curiosity got the better of Draco and he looked behind the wall.
He saw a cage and recognised it as the one Lucius usually kept the hunting dogs in. Inside was a man and a little girl who must have been his daughter, both obviously muggles. They were both cowering in fear from the dark figure in black robes. The cage door was opened and Draco realised the soothing voice was coming from the man in black robes. The voice was familiar to Draco and suddenly it hit him.
"Evening Professor." Startled, Severus Snape jumped and faced him, wand drawn.
"Draco, you know it's just Severus now." Snape didn't lower the wand.
"Would they be part of the entertainment this evening, Severus?" *Snape is either calming them down for two reasons. One, he wants to lure them into a false sense of security, or two he's trying to help them escape.* The second reason was obviously the most likely since Draco was absolutely certain Snape was a spy. Even after the things he'd done to prove himself to Voldemort again. Besides the more scared they were the better really.
Draco watched the muggle man in close fascination. He'd never really seen one so close up before. Sweat shone on his face and he whimpered as Draco came closer. *I could take the stone from the wall and bludgeon his head in before he even moved* Draco shook himself, the drug was steadily working its way back into control of him and it felt so nice to just give in to the simpleness of those emotions. Hate. Power
"Yes Draco, they would be, apparently there's going to be quite a show." Though his face remained impassive, it was obvious Snape's mind was running a million miles an hour, trying to find a plausible excuse. The tingling in his body intensified, sending shivers down his spine. Before Snape could open his mouth again, Draco ripped the cage door off its hinges and threw it across the lawns. Snape's eyes went wide.
"Guess that means they chose the performer already then Draco."
"Yes, it appears they did." The tingling sensation had disappeared but blood now pounded in Draco's ears. He was sweating with the effort to maintain control. Snape was beginning to look nervous despite his best efforts since he knew perfectly well what Draco suspected him of. Snape also knew he was dead accurate, so when Draco shoved the little girl into his arms, Snape looked at him shocked.
"Get her out of here."
"Have you lost your mind, Draco?! Where am I supposed to take her?"
"Don't play dumb with me Severus," Draco was practically growling at him, Snape's drew in a sharp breath. "Get her to where you're supposed to take her. Tell them I wanted to turn it into a hunt and knocked you down before you could protest." If Draco hadn't been so distracted by the changes occurring in his body he would have had the great satisfaction of seeing Snape totally and completely dumbfounded.
"We can say they managed to slip away because I passed out again." Draco was panting now with the effort to keep control of his body. "You've got to go quickly so you have enough time to come back for him!" Draco stabbed his fingers at the cowering man.
"Draco why are you doing this?"
"Because I can't just stand by and let myself hurt them! I can't control it Severus and this girl looks barely 8 for Merlin's sake!"
"This will change everything Draco, you can't just do it whenever you choose to feel like having a conscious." The world was starting to spin. Draco dug his fingers into his palm and concentrated on the pain to focus himself.
"I've made my choice Severus, I plan on doing this from now on whenever I can not just whenever I choose, and you can tell that to Dumbledore when you make your report. Now go quickly I don't know if I can hold on much longer."
With a whispered word, Snape bound the girl to himself and Apparated.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
"You know you could at least wait until I get a camera before you pass out
again."
Draco grumbled on the ground a bit before getting up. Harry caught some of Draco's words. "Prat … if I had father's can I'd … then we'd see who laughing."
"Honestly Malfoy, this is getting a bit trying."
"It's not like I'm in control of it." Draco started smoothing down his clothes and brushing off the dirt. The blackouts were so unexpected that Draco had rolled down the hill a bit before Harry could get to him. Of course Harry didn't actually tell Draco this but he may have guessed when he woke up to the sound of Harry's laughter.
"Do you have a mirror?"
"A mirror?" He gave Draco a disbelieving look.
"Yes, well while it's obvious you've never used one, occasionally some of us like to check how we look."
"What? Do you have to check for regrowth or something?"
Harry felt a great sense of satisfaction from the horrified look on Draco's face. Recovering quickly Draco swept his cloak over his shoulder and looked down his nose at Harry.
"My mother is a natural blonde. My father is a natural blonde and I will never, NEVER need to check my 'roots.' And if you ever let a comment like that slip again, I will crucio you!" Draco promptly turned and stormed off in the direction of the Manner.
"Peroxide a bad gift idea for Christmas then?" Harry called after him, not bothering to hide his laughter.
"Go play with yourself, Scarhead!" Draco threw over his shoulder.
"Volunteering, Ferret Boy?"
"This is not one of your perverted wet dreams Potter!"
"Oh go brush your hair Pretty Boy!"
Draco flew around, he was making a little strangling noise, "Pretty Boy?" he choked out
Harry laughed so hard he had to support himself on a tree. A piece of bark flew past his face, it seemed Draco didn't appreciate his laughter.
Another kilometre and a lot of jokes at each other's expenses later, they stood at the edge of the woods, 300 meters away from the Malfoy Manor.
Harry whistled. "Impressive."
Draco raised his eyebrow. "What were you expecting? The Burrow?"
Harry grinned. Draco had actually managed to develop a bit of a sense of humour while they were walking. It would help if he wasn't so damn moody though. One minute he'd be really distant and snappy and the next he'd be completely normal.
Draco drew his wand and tapped the tree Harry was leaning on three times. Harry jumped away in surprise as the bark broke away from the tree revealing a doorway and steps leading both downwards. He shot Draco a questioning look.
"Cubby house. It's connected to a series of secret passages than run all through the Manor. I know them like the back of my hand, I used to play in them as a child."
Cautiously Harry followed Draco down the steps into a large room decorated in silver and green. There was a couch and a rug, even some bean bags, all immaculately clean but comfortable looking. He saw a toy racing broom up on one shelf and lots of dragon figurines. Heaps of dragons, including some stuffed animals. Harry almost giggled, Draco owned stuffed animals.
Harry casually strolled round the room, noticing the detailed map of the entire Malfoy grounds, including the tunnel system, etched onto a large table. Little battalions of moving figurines like wizard chess pieces were set on top. Currently green had taken most of the grounds and was holding the red under siege in the house. *It fucking figures, Draco gets an underground compound and I get a cupboard.*
Draco led him down a series of twisting tunnels, stopping whenever they could hear a noise on the other side of the wall. "You've got to be careful how loud you are," whispered Draco. "Anything that makes a sound louder than a rat can be heard by the alarms when we enter the dungeons. Try not to breathe too loudly."
"Malfoy, have you ever seen the movie Mission Impossible?"
Draco looked puzzled. "No, why?"
"Never mind." Draco rolled his eyes and opened the door a crack but quickly shut it and gasped. "Oh shit!"
"What?"
"Hermione's in there."
"WHAT?!"
"Shut the fuck up, Potter! " said Draco in a furious whisper. "What good will we be to her if we end up in there? Remember, not a fucking sound."
Draco opened the door and they crept in quietly and Harry stiffened when he saw what was before them. A ragged looking Hermione was in a cage on the furthest wall. Her clothes were ripped and her face dirty with mud and blood. She lay unconscious on the floor breathing harshly.
As graceful as a cat Draco moved to the cage and began to work on the spells surrounding it. Harry tried not to focus at some of the instruments on the walls, some looked very sharp and pointy. He impatiently shuffled his feet but stopped when Draco glared at him. *Right too loud* He needed to get to Hermione; she looked so fragile and in desperate need of a medi-witch. The door to the cage clicked and swung open. Taking it as the signal, Harry moved into the cage and swept Hermione into his arms. She whimpered slightly but remained unconscious.
Draco swept out of the room into the tunnels, Harry followed behind them. He quickly lost count of the twists and turns they made. Draco stumbled into the wall and Harry ran into his back.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, come on we need to get out of here ASAP." Harry frowned but continued after Draco, it wasn't long before they were back in what Harry had dubbed the 'Dragon's Den'. Draco tripped over his own feet but stopped himself from falling by grabbing the couch.
"Malfoy?"
"I'm fine, come on we NEED to get out of here."
"Why?" Draco staggered to the stairs and began to climb up them "Draco? Why?"
Harry didn't get the answer because Draco came tumbling down the stairs. He'd blacked out, again.
RATING: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, if I did I'm sure I'd be richer
Authors note: - *indicates thought*
-This chapter was beat out of me by my beta but thanks for the marshmallowsthey are excellent writing food!!!!!
-Thanks to everyone who reviewed, If I told you whose side Draco was really onwhere would be the suspense?! Hell, I don't even know what side his on!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~Graduation Flashback part 1~~~~~~~~~~
Harry fell to his knees. His breath was haggard and blood ran down from a gash in his arm. He raised his head to face Voldemort, blood mattered hair fell into his eyes, obscuring his vision. His scar was glowing as Voldemort stood over him triumphantly.
"I always wanted it to end here Harry. Graduation. It has such meaning. For your schoolmates, the ones who will live anyway." Harry's eyes glanced around him, Ron lay to his right, and he couldn't tell if he was breathing. Voldemort watched this, a grotesque smile playing across his face. "It's the first day of the rest of their lives. For you, Harry, it will be your last."
"Ah huh…" Harry coughed; talking felt like someone was stabbing him in the chest. "You've failed seven times already, what's this? Eighth time lucky?" Even though Harry was still afraid of Voldemort, his anger outweighed it. Too many friends and loved ones had been lost. He was sick of this, sick of being hunted, being frightened. *I just want this done.*
Voldemort smiled grimly at him; he'd caught that last thought. It appeared that
Harry's mental shield was growing weaker with his body.
"Crucio." Harry screamed in pain. He'd been expecting this though, and through their link he channelled the pain back to Voldemort. It was why he had relaxed the shield. He knew it had worked when the link broke. Both of them stared at each other and Harry gasped for air, trying to recover.
"Boy, I ought to..."
"What? Kill me?"
A movement in the corner caught Harry's eye. Malfoy. Draco that bastard. The Death Eaters must be holding the Aurors off successfully. No one was coming to help him - there was no hope for him now.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
"So tell me why we're still a good two kilometers from the Manor?"
"Because ever since Dad's escape from Azkaban the security measures around the house are kind of ridiculous. The barriers around the house renew themselves every two hours and if you try to apparate in uninvited you end up in Africa or something. I kind of tuned out of that conversation. I was to busy hoping he wouldn't notice all his stuff I'd wrecked while he was gone."
"You tuned out! You do realize how many Death Eaters will be on us if you forget how to get passed one of the security measures don't you!?"
"What happened to 'No harm no foul, it won't be the least bit dangerous'" Draco imitated Harry perfectly.
"Yes, it won't be the 'least bit dangerous' IF THEY DON'T KNOW WE'RE HERE!"
"Well shouting doesn't help! Listen, why can't I just go in on my own? Anyone of Malfoy blood has an automatic pass through the security systems."
"And I've told you already I can't leave you alone!" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"I knew one day my irresistible charm would come back to bite me in the ass."
"Oh you poor dear," Harry's voice was dripping in sarcasm. "I've got my orders, you know that."
"You're just saying you can't leave me because of this romantic setting. Sunset, alone in the woods..."
"…You drugged and obviously delusional." Harry face was starting to go red.
"Me drugged and obviously fragile," Draco put on his best sicky faker face. "Come on Potter you want me like a fat kid wants cake." Harry snorted. "You want me like a Weasley wants money. You want me like…" Draco tripped over a tree root in front of him, Harry's hand shot out to stop him from falling. Draco shrugged him off quickly.
"And you need me like Snape needs to wash his hair."
"I don't need anyone," snapped Draco, then continued as if he hadn't fallen. "It's you who needs me," Draco grinned at Harry mischievously. "Pity it will never happen, but what can you do? Make the best of what you have – that's what I always say."
When it became obvious Harry didn't answer because he was ignoring him, Draco continued walking, on the look out for the tell tale tutaminis stones that would mean they had arrived at the first shield of protection.
When Draco had gone home in the summer at the end of his sixth year, it had been to the news his father had escaped from Azkaban. Taking the Floo from Diagon Alley with one of their house elf's, Draco found himself in a cage down in the Manor's dungeons. His father had done it on purpose to see if the guards were working. Lucius didn't even bother to get him out till the next day.
Not that Lucius ever needed a reason to pick on Draco, although that particular reason was because he'd "borrowed" Lucius's best robes. A growth spurt had meant Draco was now big enough to fit into them. Narcissa had scolded her husband for being childish, something that had made Draco giggle... back in his room where his father couldn't hear him. But since then it had been insured that he was able to enter the Manor whenever he pleased. The fact that Draco wasn't just allowed to go in annoyed the hell out of him. He wanted to know what was going on in there.
Draco was starting to feel a bit dizzy again but his pride stopped him from mentioning it to Harry. He'd noticed that Harry was limping, but he hadn't complained once, even though they'd walked at least a kilometre. If it was anyone but Harry, Draco would have been complaining. Hell, if it was anyone but Harry, he would have convinced them he was in such bad shape he needed to be carried by now.
For some reason Harry put his Malfoy pride in overdrive, he didn't want to seem weak in front of him. It might have been the problems he had with Harry. He was an annoying attention seeking git, plus there was that little fact he'd been trained to hate him since birth. The fact he never seemed to complain even though people kept trying to kill him was irritating really. And it still ate him up that he'd run away in the Forbidden Forest in first year. Draco sighed, he was becoming quite good at that, running away.
He dismissed his insecurities it as a tough guy male thing and moved onto something that had been on his mind for the past hour. The more his memory returned, the more he was sure he didn't want to know what had happened.
"Harry freeze!"
Draco held his breath, Harry's foot was touching a tutaminis stone. Draco cursed. He should have been paying attention more attention. Quickly, he assessed his options. But it didn't help that Harry was giving him a look like a deer in headlights.
"Potter, if you move one inch I swear I will have your guts for garters." Draco's mind raced for the spell that would take down the outer defenses. *Pilasicus? No, that's not it. Piluscus? Palosus? Shit shit shit what am I going to do! Piliscius! That's it!*
"Piliscius!" Draco dived for the stone by Harry's foot, grabbing it in one deft roll. That had been a bit to close for comfort. *At least I didn't run away*
"Potter you're such a fucking idiot!" In true Malfoy fashion he'd decided to shift the blame onto someone else. "You do realize that you almost blew everything! I thought I told you to be careful! You're so quick to play the fucking hero you almost killed us both! Do you know what happens to anyone within a blast range of one of these stones?"
Harry looked downright shameful. Draco was practically glowing inside and it took all of his best efforts to keep the grin off his face. This was like candy.
"I'm sorry." Harry couldn't bring himself to meet Draco's eyes, "I behaved irresponsibly. It won't happen again."
"To right it won't." Draco turned from him and began walking again. He'd know discovered another favourite past time. 1) Piss Harry off. 2) Make Harry feel guilty.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
After regaining consciousness, Draco had been informed that Goyle had been badly injured during his little 'episode.' Pansy told him not to worry since his face needed some reconstruction anyway. Draco snorted, like Pugface could talk. No one really seemed to care too much, except maybe Goyle's parents. In fact, everyone seemed to have been suitably impressed with his little performance. There was even a standing ovation as he'd stalked from the room.
At the moment he was out on the lawns scolding himself for the lack of control he had shown. *What the fuck has father done to me?* Lucius knew he hated losing control; it was a trait Draco had inherited from him. His father was probably having a grand old laugh about what he'd done to Draco right now. Anger began to well up inside of him and before he knew it, he'd turned around and headed back to the party.
He mentally kicked himself and stopped. *It's what he wants, get a grip!* Draco couldn't help but admit getting his hands around Goyle's throat was the best he'd felt in a while. The mere fact he'd been stronger than Goyle was surprising enough. It might have meant a loss of control on his body, but sometimes that freedom was a wonderful thing.
In two minds about the entire thing he began to pace the lawns. He didn't want to go back to the party in case he relapsed. Gradually Draco started feeling very ill, a slow pain in his stomach turned into a feeling like someone was ripping his insides out. He dropped to the ground and panted, waited for the pain to subside.
Suddenly this drug was no longer a freedom giving wonderful thing - it was poison. His vision was becoming hazy and his mind quietened, but his hearing and sense of smell sharpened. He was starting to loose control again. Draco fought it. Slowly he began to feel normal again, normal enough to stand up anyway.
Draco staggered along a path that led to the back of the Manor. His body was feeling all tingly, not too unpleasant but a weird sensation nonetheless. He heard sobs coming from behind a wall. There was also a quite voice talking nonsensical things but it was soothing to listen to. When the sobs quietened curiosity got the better of Draco and he looked behind the wall.
He saw a cage and recognised it as the one Lucius usually kept the hunting dogs in. Inside was a man and a little girl who must have been his daughter, both obviously muggles. They were both cowering in fear from the dark figure in black robes. The cage door was opened and Draco realised the soothing voice was coming from the man in black robes. The voice was familiar to Draco and suddenly it hit him.
"Evening Professor." Startled, Severus Snape jumped and faced him, wand drawn.
"Draco, you know it's just Severus now." Snape didn't lower the wand.
"Would they be part of the entertainment this evening, Severus?" *Snape is either calming them down for two reasons. One, he wants to lure them into a false sense of security, or two he's trying to help them escape.* The second reason was obviously the most likely since Draco was absolutely certain Snape was a spy. Even after the things he'd done to prove himself to Voldemort again. Besides the more scared they were the better really.
Draco watched the muggle man in close fascination. He'd never really seen one so close up before. Sweat shone on his face and he whimpered as Draco came closer. *I could take the stone from the wall and bludgeon his head in before he even moved* Draco shook himself, the drug was steadily working its way back into control of him and it felt so nice to just give in to the simpleness of those emotions. Hate. Power
"Yes Draco, they would be, apparently there's going to be quite a show." Though his face remained impassive, it was obvious Snape's mind was running a million miles an hour, trying to find a plausible excuse. The tingling in his body intensified, sending shivers down his spine. Before Snape could open his mouth again, Draco ripped the cage door off its hinges and threw it across the lawns. Snape's eyes went wide.
"Guess that means they chose the performer already then Draco."
"Yes, it appears they did." The tingling sensation had disappeared but blood now pounded in Draco's ears. He was sweating with the effort to maintain control. Snape was beginning to look nervous despite his best efforts since he knew perfectly well what Draco suspected him of. Snape also knew he was dead accurate, so when Draco shoved the little girl into his arms, Snape looked at him shocked.
"Get her out of here."
"Have you lost your mind, Draco?! Where am I supposed to take her?"
"Don't play dumb with me Severus," Draco was practically growling at him, Snape's drew in a sharp breath. "Get her to where you're supposed to take her. Tell them I wanted to turn it into a hunt and knocked you down before you could protest." If Draco hadn't been so distracted by the changes occurring in his body he would have had the great satisfaction of seeing Snape totally and completely dumbfounded.
"We can say they managed to slip away because I passed out again." Draco was panting now with the effort to keep control of his body. "You've got to go quickly so you have enough time to come back for him!" Draco stabbed his fingers at the cowering man.
"Draco why are you doing this?"
"Because I can't just stand by and let myself hurt them! I can't control it Severus and this girl looks barely 8 for Merlin's sake!"
"This will change everything Draco, you can't just do it whenever you choose to feel like having a conscious." The world was starting to spin. Draco dug his fingers into his palm and concentrated on the pain to focus himself.
"I've made my choice Severus, I plan on doing this from now on whenever I can not just whenever I choose, and you can tell that to Dumbledore when you make your report. Now go quickly I don't know if I can hold on much longer."
With a whispered word, Snape bound the girl to himself and Apparated.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
"You know you could at least wait until I get a camera before you pass out
again."
Draco grumbled on the ground a bit before getting up. Harry caught some of Draco's words. "Prat … if I had father's can I'd … then we'd see who laughing."
"Honestly Malfoy, this is getting a bit trying."
"It's not like I'm in control of it." Draco started smoothing down his clothes and brushing off the dirt. The blackouts were so unexpected that Draco had rolled down the hill a bit before Harry could get to him. Of course Harry didn't actually tell Draco this but he may have guessed when he woke up to the sound of Harry's laughter.
"Do you have a mirror?"
"A mirror?" He gave Draco a disbelieving look.
"Yes, well while it's obvious you've never used one, occasionally some of us like to check how we look."
"What? Do you have to check for regrowth or something?"
Harry felt a great sense of satisfaction from the horrified look on Draco's face. Recovering quickly Draco swept his cloak over his shoulder and looked down his nose at Harry.
"My mother is a natural blonde. My father is a natural blonde and I will never, NEVER need to check my 'roots.' And if you ever let a comment like that slip again, I will crucio you!" Draco promptly turned and stormed off in the direction of the Manner.
"Peroxide a bad gift idea for Christmas then?" Harry called after him, not bothering to hide his laughter.
"Go play with yourself, Scarhead!" Draco threw over his shoulder.
"Volunteering, Ferret Boy?"
"This is not one of your perverted wet dreams Potter!"
"Oh go brush your hair Pretty Boy!"
Draco flew around, he was making a little strangling noise, "Pretty Boy?" he choked out
Harry laughed so hard he had to support himself on a tree. A piece of bark flew past his face, it seemed Draco didn't appreciate his laughter.
Another kilometre and a lot of jokes at each other's expenses later, they stood at the edge of the woods, 300 meters away from the Malfoy Manor.
Harry whistled. "Impressive."
Draco raised his eyebrow. "What were you expecting? The Burrow?"
Harry grinned. Draco had actually managed to develop a bit of a sense of humour while they were walking. It would help if he wasn't so damn moody though. One minute he'd be really distant and snappy and the next he'd be completely normal.
Draco drew his wand and tapped the tree Harry was leaning on three times. Harry jumped away in surprise as the bark broke away from the tree revealing a doorway and steps leading both downwards. He shot Draco a questioning look.
"Cubby house. It's connected to a series of secret passages than run all through the Manor. I know them like the back of my hand, I used to play in them as a child."
Cautiously Harry followed Draco down the steps into a large room decorated in silver and green. There was a couch and a rug, even some bean bags, all immaculately clean but comfortable looking. He saw a toy racing broom up on one shelf and lots of dragon figurines. Heaps of dragons, including some stuffed animals. Harry almost giggled, Draco owned stuffed animals.
Harry casually strolled round the room, noticing the detailed map of the entire Malfoy grounds, including the tunnel system, etched onto a large table. Little battalions of moving figurines like wizard chess pieces were set on top. Currently green had taken most of the grounds and was holding the red under siege in the house. *It fucking figures, Draco gets an underground compound and I get a cupboard.*
Draco led him down a series of twisting tunnels, stopping whenever they could hear a noise on the other side of the wall. "You've got to be careful how loud you are," whispered Draco. "Anything that makes a sound louder than a rat can be heard by the alarms when we enter the dungeons. Try not to breathe too loudly."
"Malfoy, have you ever seen the movie Mission Impossible?"
Draco looked puzzled. "No, why?"
"Never mind." Draco rolled his eyes and opened the door a crack but quickly shut it and gasped. "Oh shit!"
"What?"
"Hermione's in there."
"WHAT?!"
"Shut the fuck up, Potter! " said Draco in a furious whisper. "What good will we be to her if we end up in there? Remember, not a fucking sound."
Draco opened the door and they crept in quietly and Harry stiffened when he saw what was before them. A ragged looking Hermione was in a cage on the furthest wall. Her clothes were ripped and her face dirty with mud and blood. She lay unconscious on the floor breathing harshly.
As graceful as a cat Draco moved to the cage and began to work on the spells surrounding it. Harry tried not to focus at some of the instruments on the walls, some looked very sharp and pointy. He impatiently shuffled his feet but stopped when Draco glared at him. *Right too loud* He needed to get to Hermione; she looked so fragile and in desperate need of a medi-witch. The door to the cage clicked and swung open. Taking it as the signal, Harry moved into the cage and swept Hermione into his arms. She whimpered slightly but remained unconscious.
Draco swept out of the room into the tunnels, Harry followed behind them. He quickly lost count of the twists and turns they made. Draco stumbled into the wall and Harry ran into his back.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, come on we need to get out of here ASAP." Harry frowned but continued after Draco, it wasn't long before they were back in what Harry had dubbed the 'Dragon's Den'. Draco tripped over his own feet but stopped himself from falling by grabbing the couch.
"Malfoy?"
"I'm fine, come on we NEED to get out of here."
"Why?" Draco staggered to the stairs and began to climb up them "Draco? Why?"
Harry didn't get the answer because Draco came tumbling down the stairs. He'd blacked out, again.