TITLE: Coming Down – You never really know
RATING: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, if I did I'm sure I'd be richer
Authors note: *indicates thought*
Setting: Dark and stormy night
Underscore: Sinister and spooky
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
Draco looked from Lucius to Harry and then back again.
*Ahhhh shit* Something akin to hysteria began rising inside him. *Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse* Harry was looking from him to his father with a look of utter contempt on his face. Not that Draco could really blame him, considering what he was looking at. Two very blonde, very pale, very evil looking individuals.
Harry's eyes bore into Draco's with a look that sent a stab of pain at his heart. It pained Draco when he realised that Harry thought he was a traitor, maybe more so because Draco himself didn't know if he actually was. Was this something he had planned last night? Whose side was he on?
*Damn this drug. If only it'd never been given to him. It was the beginning of all my fucking problems. I was happy wallowing in my own indifference befo - *
"You fucking bastard!" Harry's voice rang loud through the room, interrupting Draco's mind mid-rant. Draco quickly weighed up the situation. Lucius behind him, wand already drawn. Harry standing in front of the couch, his wand in his back pocket. Hermione unconscious and utterly useless on the couch. Him wandless and completely defenseless.
Going with Draco's number one priority, that being survival, he raised an eyebrow in mock innocence and looked from Harry to Lucius. "What? Have I done something wrong?"
"No Draco my lad, I believe you've done something undoubtedly right, for once."
"You arsehole! To think I trusted you, Draco!"
"Well you never were the sharpest tool in the shed."
"Fuck you." Harry spat. "To think I allowed you into my home! I supported you! I…"
Draco tuned out Harry's indignant tirade and tried to think. *What the fuck am I going to do? Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.* He tried to calm down, struggling to make some sense out of his situation. Did it really matter if he betrayed Harry now? 24 hours of being almost civil to one another didn't really cancel 7 years of loathing, did it?
*I mean who am I kidding,* Draco thought bitterly. *The easiest thing for me to do would be to except what I've been taught since birth and destroy Harry; it's a goal completely within my grasp right now.* The moment Voldemort heard about this situation, Draco would be in for life. He'd become one of Vodemort's inner circle; power, riches, everything he could ever want would be his.
It wasn't as if Draco could join Harry's side just as easily. There would be mistrust everywhere. Who would trust him? A Malfoy? Who would want to work with him? Believe a single thing he said? Once Hermione woke up she would tell everyone about last night and then Harry would kill Draco himself.
Suddenly a thought hit Draco. *She doesn't have to wake up* As soon as the thought was out, he scolded himself. *Who are you kidding Draco, you could never be good. Someone who was good wouldn't consider killing someone to keep a secret.*
Unbidden, Draco's eyes traveled to Hermione's prone figure on the couch, to find her eyes open and staring straight at him. It took every ounce of his self-control to keep from crying out. Hermione eyes didn't waver; they showed no fear, no anxiety. Nothing like what he'd expected after what he'd done to her last night.
Draco felt dizzy again. Harry was still talking and Lucius was baiting him every now and then. No one else had noticed Hermione's awakening. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his head but it didn't help, and when Draco opened them again Hermione was still staring at him.
Hermione looked steadily at him and mouthed something silently, but he couldn't make out the words. Couldn't or didn't want to. Suddenly Draco was hit with a barrage of images, and was once again taken into the abyss of unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
Draco threw the girl to the ground and leaned over her, clutching her throat. No coherent thoughts ran through his mind. Just feelings, strong feelings. Ones of want and desire, but most of all hate. A very, very strong feeling of hate towards this girl. He didn't know why but he wanted to destroy her. He'd already gone as far as hurt her body.
Staring into her hazel eyes, he growled. She stared defiantly back. He didn't want that. He wanted her to look away, he wanted her to howl in pain and beg for mercy. It was what she should be doing. Every instinct in his body told him that.
He smashed his fist into her cheek, not hard, but enough so that her head cracked to the side. Distantly he heard a whoop of excitement come from around him. The girl simply turned back and stared at him.
He wavered then. This wasn't normal, it was going against instinct. Anger was giving way to uncertainty. Hazel eyes still stared directly into complete onyx. And then she began speaking, chanting in a soft low voice.
"…Neharis noom parius di taglim…." His body screamed at him to close his eyes but he couldn't, he was captivated. "…Neharis wret mhees padool…" Feeling began giving way to thoughts; coherent thoughts. Realization of what he was doing set. "…hoo barisnum bahut nim."
She stopped and suddenly he felt as if a fog had been lifted from his mind, like someone had hit the lights after being in complete darkness. Hazel eyes were no longer staring into onyx; they were staring into gray.
Draco began to shake. He felt physical ill with the thought of what he'd done to Hermione, and what seconds ago he'd been planning to do. He was aware of his surroundings, aware that the crowd was holding their breath and waiting for his next move. He dragged his eyes back to hers.
"Hermione," he said in a pained voice, "I'm…"
"Shut up, Draco," Her voice was muffled by her swollen mouth so it barely registered as a whisper. "I need you to know something. I know you're under the influence of Venenum, since the spell I used wouldn't have worked otherwise. I want you to know that if I don't survive this, I forgive you."
"What?" Draco was completely confused, She forgave him, after what he'd just done to her? "Why?"
"Because I know that you wouldn't have done this if you hadn't been drugged. Because I know what happened at graduation. Because I know that there's good in you, Draco. But mostly because I know if I don't forgive you, you'll never forgive yourself. I also knew that if I died today without telling you, you'd be truly lost to us. I forgive you."
Draco stumbled backwards away from Hermione, then stood up and ran. He began to run full pelt through the woods, not caring where he was going. Just knowing he had to get away before he hurt someone else, running because he didn't deserve Hermione's kindness. From the crowd behind him he heard some calling out in surprise and others just laughing, assuming it was another one of his antics.
His father's voice boomed out. "Take the mudblood to the dungeons. Collect the dogs - according to Snape we've still got another muggle girl out in the woods for the taking." The crowd cheered and laughed at the announcement.
Draco just ran harder.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
"What did you do to Draco?"
"I didn't do anything to him. Poncy git's been doing that all fucking day."
"Just dropping unconscious? I find that highly unlikely Potter. You're trying my patience."
Draco tried to shake his head clear. Everything was very loud and the people talking were being very inconsiderate, arguing loudly like that. He opened his eyes and looked up to see his father in the exact same position as before he'd fallen unconscious. *Ahh Dad it's good to see you care.*
Taking advantage of a distracted Harry and similarly distracted Lucius, Draco chanced a glance at Hermione. She was watching him through half closed eyes, pretending to be unconscious. Did she really forgive him? It couldn't exactly be that simple, could it? Granger would use what he'd done to her as blackmail - he'd be her personal lap dog. The kind of people Draco had lived with his entire life had made forgiveness seem like a foreign concept.
"You're probably the one who drugged him in the fist place, so shouldn't you know what the side-effects are?!"
"Well I did give him a little more than the recommended dosage. Worked well enough though - it will be a pleasure to watch the Dark Lord kill you."
"And here I thought we were past petty threats, Lucius. What did you do to Hermione?"
"What did I do? I didn't do anything to Miss Granger."
*Oh no, time for me to interject*
"In fact, I'll think you'll find that you're accusing the wrong Mal…"
Draco groaned loudly and made to stand up. A glance at both men made sure he had both their attentions. He mightn't have made a choice yet but one thing was for sure; his father had admitted to being the one who drugged him. And Malfoy's didn't take insults like that lightly.
"You'll have to excuse me father for my previous unexpected departure into unconsciousness." Pure venom laced his voice. "It seems I've not been quite myself today."
"Now Draco, we have guests. It's a little inappropriate that we discuss this now."
"But Lucius, Potter's one of my closest enemies. He's practically family."
"Yes, please continue; tear each other apart if necessary. I'm certain two Malfoy's fighting will be quite a sight. You'll probably do all kinds of outrageous things, like pull each others hair." Both Draco and Lucius turned to glare at Harry who remained unfazed.
Ignoring Harry, Draco continued. "Also father, my views on what's appropriate are a little twisted at the moment. It must be a side-effect of this drug everyone delights in telling me I've been given." Draco voice dropped an octave and his eyes began to turn black. "You see it makes staying in control very, very difficult."
"Draco don't you dare, the Dark Lord is on his way and I will not have you embarrass me or yourself in front of him."
"Oh yes, how could I forget, wouldn't want to look bad in front of Voldemort would we? I take it we'll just forget about what an ass you made me look like last night!"
"You remember what happened last night?" Harry exclaimed.
His gaze stayed focused on Lucius. "Not all of it, but enough to be displeased with you, father." Draco's eyes were now completely onyx. "Would you like to know how much?"
*Giving Draco superhuman strength doesn't seem like such a great plan anymore does it daddy?*
"Draco –"
"That's quite enough Lucius, Draco. I can't have either of you injuring each other now can I?"
Everyone in the room froze; no matter how many times you heard a voice like that it was still enough to make the biggest man piss himself in fear.
"I was wondering when you'd show up." Harry almost seemed to relax as he realised it was Voldemort who had entered the room. His manner practically screamed casual as he watched the Dark Lord move to stand beside Draco. As it was, it took all of Draco's will to suppress a shudder with Voldemort so close to him.
"Anxious, Harry?"
"Always."
*God he's a cocky bastard. He does realise who his talking to, doesn't he?*
Harry just smirked and Draco knew the answer. Harry didn't care, and by he's manner it would be assumed that they were very close. *I suppose if someone kept trying to kill you, you would feel less like you had to deal with formalities.*
"But things are different now Harry. You see, none of friends will be able to save you this time. No matter how fun it is when they try to hold me captive. I'm afraid this is going to last, a very long time."
"Ah but my friends didn't save me last time, and you know, I could just leave."
"And leave the mudblood behind, unconscious? I find that highly unlikely. Though I'm sure Draco would just love the chance to finish what he didn't get to last night."
The smirk was efficiently wiped off Harry's face and the air crackled with the sudden surge of power Harry's anger brought. Draco face may have been passive but his insides were screaming. He wanted more than anything to take the cowards way out and just black out again, leaving Harry to fight for his life.
Besides, Lucius and Voldemort mightn't kill Harry. And Hermione was awake, so maybe they could just Apparate out. Half of Draco's mind told him he needed to see this, whilst the other half was telling him to run like hell.
"Draco?"
"Yes my Lord?"
"I know you hate young Harry here, and for your hard work to bring him to me I wish to give you a gift."
"A gift sir?" Draco saw his father's smile widen.
"I will allow you to cast the first blow."
*Oh this would have been so much easier if I'd just knocked myself unconscious* Draco looked into his father's eyes, noticing the pride in them. It seemed his son had become something after all. But Draco's gaze flickered to Harry and the bitterness in his eyes and suddenly he couldn't bear either of their gazes. Draco's body tensed as he felt that surge of adrenaline.
He was ready.
~~~~~~~~~**** Graduation ****~~~~~~~~~~
Draco didn't move, he didn't dare. Harry had seen him. The moment he did all hope had left his eyes.
His stomach dropped. That look. Harry knew that Draco was no hero, that he wasn't coming to save the day. Draco looked away from Harry ashamed. Voldemort was going to kill him and he was just going to stand by and watch another wizard die.
All Draco wanted to do was run. That's the coward he was. He wasn't fighting for good or evil, he was just running. Away from the conflict. The pain. The choice. He wasn't even protecting his friends in the battle upstairs.
He'd seen the true face of his parents and suddenly the dark wasn't so inviting anymore. Not as Blaise Zabini, his friend, a Slytherin, stood and defied them. He'd watched Blaise fall. Choose to fight for Dumbledore be killed.
They'd be fighting up there for hours and there was no way anyone could get through in time, not even Dumbledore. It would be too late to help Harry; those who cared for him would still be fighting the Death Eaters and such upstairs.
The dungeons had seemed a good place to hide, but instead, here they were. The Dark Lord Voldemort and the great Harry Potter. Fighting to the death. And Draco was the only witness.
He could see Weasley's body; was he dead? Loyal friend to the end that one, he'd probably died trying to save Harry. *That's what you get when you play the hero: death. No good deed goes unpunished.*
Voldemort flicked his wand and Harry's head snapped to the side like he'd been on the receiving end of one of Granger's famous slaps. An angry red gash appeared on Harry's cheek and he winced when he brought his hand to touch it. It was almost over now, Harry was weak, a goner, and Draco should just leave before Voldemort saw him.
Draco couldn't move, he tried to shift himself from his spot to back out the door but his eyes kept returning to Harry. Harry's bloodied face and ripped robes. Harry who was struggling to stay on his knees, using his arms to keep himself propped up. Too many emotions conflicted within him, each fighting to win. *Just leave Draco! Look at him! He doesn't stand a chance*
Then Harry stood. That stupid son of a bitch stood up. He couldn't just stay down and accept his end like a normal person. He could barely keep his legs steady enough to stay standing but he didn't care. Harry pointed his wand at Voldemort, ready to make his last stand. A hero till the end.
"Finish it."
"With pleasure, Harry."
Draco cursed Harry under his breath. That stupid irresponsible foolhardy GRYFFINDOR! Why did the boy have to be so fucking brave? But Draco knew the answer.
The only thing Harry had ever wanted to do was live. It was unjust that Harry had never been able to live properly. With a family, being loved, or at the very least without the shadow of destiny. Without Voldemort, Harry could have had a childhood. He could have had a life. It'd been all Harry had really wanted; it was obvious in his eyes whenever someone stared at his scar or pointed at him on the street. Something Harry had wanted so badly he'd die trying to get it.
Harry looked at Draco and smiled. That crazy stupid smile he always got when he was chasing the snitch. His hair was a mess, his glasses broken, but he still looked strong. His eyes were shining a sharp metallic green. Harry quirked his eyebrows at Draco in a 'Why not? If I go I may as well go with a bang' way, and at that moment Draco knew he couldn't just stand by and let Harry die.
Voldemort's entire attention was focused on Harry. He saw Voldemort's body tense as he prepared himself for the curse he was about to cast. Forgetting all about his wand, Draco ran up behind Voldemort grabbing a heavy plated iron cauldron and swung it at his head.
CRACK!
Voldemort folded like a piece of cooked spaghetti. Harry stared at him open mouthed. Draco met his eyes, terrified, of what he'd see. "Ah... that was very muggle of me."
Harry was still staring, disbelief in his eyes. There could be a troupe of naked dancing Veelas around and Draco doubted Harry would look as dumbfounded as he did now.
"I … ah..." Footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor.
"Harry! We're coming!" It was Hermione's voice. They'd broken through the Death Eaters. His parents. The enormity of what he'd just done came over Draco. With the face of a corned animal, Draco turned and fled the room.
"Wait! Why?! Draco, WHY?!"
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
Draco's body tensed. He'd felt that surge of adrenaline and he was ready to run. He looked from Voldemort to Lucius to Hermione and finally to Harry, and made a choice.
Draco straightened his back. He would not run, he was no coward. Not now and never again. He raised his wand at Harry and looked him in the eye. He looked defiantly back, braced for the impact of the curse but nothing in his eyes said he'd beg for mercy. Looking at Hermione he saw that one supposedly unconscious witch was up to something. Her body was shifting about but her eyes remained on him.
"I think you find that I am not well versed in the use of Cruciatus, My Lord." Voldemort moved closer to Draco in what he must have thought was a sign of encouragement. "You'll find My Lord, that this is the reason I was unable to finish what I began last night." At that, Draco met Hermione's eyes and she gave him a knowing glance.
"I wouldn't have thought that Lucius would allow you to be so inexperienced."
"Oh no, My Lord, it's not inexperience that troubles me." Draco was staring into Harry's eyes now, searching for acknowledgement from Harry that he understood what Draco had to do.
"Not inexperience?"
"No My Lord, you see it is simply because I didn't want to." And with that, Draco spun and screamed, "Consto Vulnero" Surprised by the curse, Voldemort was momentarily stunned. At the same moment, Hermione used Harry's wand - which she had taken from his back pocket while everyone was distracted - and yelled "Stupify" at Lucius.
Draco leapt over to Harry and Hermione and with one last look at his favourite room, they Apparated.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
Only the epilogue to go peoples.
RATING: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, if I did I'm sure I'd be richer
Authors note: *indicates thought*
Setting: Dark and stormy night
Underscore: Sinister and spooky
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
Draco looked from Lucius to Harry and then back again.
*Ahhhh shit* Something akin to hysteria began rising inside him. *Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse* Harry was looking from him to his father with a look of utter contempt on his face. Not that Draco could really blame him, considering what he was looking at. Two very blonde, very pale, very evil looking individuals.
Harry's eyes bore into Draco's with a look that sent a stab of pain at his heart. It pained Draco when he realised that Harry thought he was a traitor, maybe more so because Draco himself didn't know if he actually was. Was this something he had planned last night? Whose side was he on?
*Damn this drug. If only it'd never been given to him. It was the beginning of all my fucking problems. I was happy wallowing in my own indifference befo - *
"You fucking bastard!" Harry's voice rang loud through the room, interrupting Draco's mind mid-rant. Draco quickly weighed up the situation. Lucius behind him, wand already drawn. Harry standing in front of the couch, his wand in his back pocket. Hermione unconscious and utterly useless on the couch. Him wandless and completely defenseless.
Going with Draco's number one priority, that being survival, he raised an eyebrow in mock innocence and looked from Harry to Lucius. "What? Have I done something wrong?"
"No Draco my lad, I believe you've done something undoubtedly right, for once."
"You arsehole! To think I trusted you, Draco!"
"Well you never were the sharpest tool in the shed."
"Fuck you." Harry spat. "To think I allowed you into my home! I supported you! I…"
Draco tuned out Harry's indignant tirade and tried to think. *What the fuck am I going to do? Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.* He tried to calm down, struggling to make some sense out of his situation. Did it really matter if he betrayed Harry now? 24 hours of being almost civil to one another didn't really cancel 7 years of loathing, did it?
*I mean who am I kidding,* Draco thought bitterly. *The easiest thing for me to do would be to except what I've been taught since birth and destroy Harry; it's a goal completely within my grasp right now.* The moment Voldemort heard about this situation, Draco would be in for life. He'd become one of Vodemort's inner circle; power, riches, everything he could ever want would be his.
It wasn't as if Draco could join Harry's side just as easily. There would be mistrust everywhere. Who would trust him? A Malfoy? Who would want to work with him? Believe a single thing he said? Once Hermione woke up she would tell everyone about last night and then Harry would kill Draco himself.
Suddenly a thought hit Draco. *She doesn't have to wake up* As soon as the thought was out, he scolded himself. *Who are you kidding Draco, you could never be good. Someone who was good wouldn't consider killing someone to keep a secret.*
Unbidden, Draco's eyes traveled to Hermione's prone figure on the couch, to find her eyes open and staring straight at him. It took every ounce of his self-control to keep from crying out. Hermione eyes didn't waver; they showed no fear, no anxiety. Nothing like what he'd expected after what he'd done to her last night.
Draco felt dizzy again. Harry was still talking and Lucius was baiting him every now and then. No one else had noticed Hermione's awakening. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his head but it didn't help, and when Draco opened them again Hermione was still staring at him.
Hermione looked steadily at him and mouthed something silently, but he couldn't make out the words. Couldn't or didn't want to. Suddenly Draco was hit with a barrage of images, and was once again taken into the abyss of unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
Draco threw the girl to the ground and leaned over her, clutching her throat. No coherent thoughts ran through his mind. Just feelings, strong feelings. Ones of want and desire, but most of all hate. A very, very strong feeling of hate towards this girl. He didn't know why but he wanted to destroy her. He'd already gone as far as hurt her body.
Staring into her hazel eyes, he growled. She stared defiantly back. He didn't want that. He wanted her to look away, he wanted her to howl in pain and beg for mercy. It was what she should be doing. Every instinct in his body told him that.
He smashed his fist into her cheek, not hard, but enough so that her head cracked to the side. Distantly he heard a whoop of excitement come from around him. The girl simply turned back and stared at him.
He wavered then. This wasn't normal, it was going against instinct. Anger was giving way to uncertainty. Hazel eyes still stared directly into complete onyx. And then she began speaking, chanting in a soft low voice.
"…Neharis noom parius di taglim…." His body screamed at him to close his eyes but he couldn't, he was captivated. "…Neharis wret mhees padool…" Feeling began giving way to thoughts; coherent thoughts. Realization of what he was doing set. "…hoo barisnum bahut nim."
She stopped and suddenly he felt as if a fog had been lifted from his mind, like someone had hit the lights after being in complete darkness. Hazel eyes were no longer staring into onyx; they were staring into gray.
Draco began to shake. He felt physical ill with the thought of what he'd done to Hermione, and what seconds ago he'd been planning to do. He was aware of his surroundings, aware that the crowd was holding their breath and waiting for his next move. He dragged his eyes back to hers.
"Hermione," he said in a pained voice, "I'm…"
"Shut up, Draco," Her voice was muffled by her swollen mouth so it barely registered as a whisper. "I need you to know something. I know you're under the influence of Venenum, since the spell I used wouldn't have worked otherwise. I want you to know that if I don't survive this, I forgive you."
"What?" Draco was completely confused, She forgave him, after what he'd just done to her? "Why?"
"Because I know that you wouldn't have done this if you hadn't been drugged. Because I know what happened at graduation. Because I know that there's good in you, Draco. But mostly because I know if I don't forgive you, you'll never forgive yourself. I also knew that if I died today without telling you, you'd be truly lost to us. I forgive you."
Draco stumbled backwards away from Hermione, then stood up and ran. He began to run full pelt through the woods, not caring where he was going. Just knowing he had to get away before he hurt someone else, running because he didn't deserve Hermione's kindness. From the crowd behind him he heard some calling out in surprise and others just laughing, assuming it was another one of his antics.
His father's voice boomed out. "Take the mudblood to the dungeons. Collect the dogs - according to Snape we've still got another muggle girl out in the woods for the taking." The crowd cheered and laughed at the announcement.
Draco just ran harder.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
"What did you do to Draco?"
"I didn't do anything to him. Poncy git's been doing that all fucking day."
"Just dropping unconscious? I find that highly unlikely Potter. You're trying my patience."
Draco tried to shake his head clear. Everything was very loud and the people talking were being very inconsiderate, arguing loudly like that. He opened his eyes and looked up to see his father in the exact same position as before he'd fallen unconscious. *Ahh Dad it's good to see you care.*
Taking advantage of a distracted Harry and similarly distracted Lucius, Draco chanced a glance at Hermione. She was watching him through half closed eyes, pretending to be unconscious. Did she really forgive him? It couldn't exactly be that simple, could it? Granger would use what he'd done to her as blackmail - he'd be her personal lap dog. The kind of people Draco had lived with his entire life had made forgiveness seem like a foreign concept.
"You're probably the one who drugged him in the fist place, so shouldn't you know what the side-effects are?!"
"Well I did give him a little more than the recommended dosage. Worked well enough though - it will be a pleasure to watch the Dark Lord kill you."
"And here I thought we were past petty threats, Lucius. What did you do to Hermione?"
"What did I do? I didn't do anything to Miss Granger."
*Oh no, time for me to interject*
"In fact, I'll think you'll find that you're accusing the wrong Mal…"
Draco groaned loudly and made to stand up. A glance at both men made sure he had both their attentions. He mightn't have made a choice yet but one thing was for sure; his father had admitted to being the one who drugged him. And Malfoy's didn't take insults like that lightly.
"You'll have to excuse me father for my previous unexpected departure into unconsciousness." Pure venom laced his voice. "It seems I've not been quite myself today."
"Now Draco, we have guests. It's a little inappropriate that we discuss this now."
"But Lucius, Potter's one of my closest enemies. He's practically family."
"Yes, please continue; tear each other apart if necessary. I'm certain two Malfoy's fighting will be quite a sight. You'll probably do all kinds of outrageous things, like pull each others hair." Both Draco and Lucius turned to glare at Harry who remained unfazed.
Ignoring Harry, Draco continued. "Also father, my views on what's appropriate are a little twisted at the moment. It must be a side-effect of this drug everyone delights in telling me I've been given." Draco voice dropped an octave and his eyes began to turn black. "You see it makes staying in control very, very difficult."
"Draco don't you dare, the Dark Lord is on his way and I will not have you embarrass me or yourself in front of him."
"Oh yes, how could I forget, wouldn't want to look bad in front of Voldemort would we? I take it we'll just forget about what an ass you made me look like last night!"
"You remember what happened last night?" Harry exclaimed.
His gaze stayed focused on Lucius. "Not all of it, but enough to be displeased with you, father." Draco's eyes were now completely onyx. "Would you like to know how much?"
*Giving Draco superhuman strength doesn't seem like such a great plan anymore does it daddy?*
"Draco –"
"That's quite enough Lucius, Draco. I can't have either of you injuring each other now can I?"
Everyone in the room froze; no matter how many times you heard a voice like that it was still enough to make the biggest man piss himself in fear.
"I was wondering when you'd show up." Harry almost seemed to relax as he realised it was Voldemort who had entered the room. His manner practically screamed casual as he watched the Dark Lord move to stand beside Draco. As it was, it took all of Draco's will to suppress a shudder with Voldemort so close to him.
"Anxious, Harry?"
"Always."
*God he's a cocky bastard. He does realise who his talking to, doesn't he?*
Harry just smirked and Draco knew the answer. Harry didn't care, and by he's manner it would be assumed that they were very close. *I suppose if someone kept trying to kill you, you would feel less like you had to deal with formalities.*
"But things are different now Harry. You see, none of friends will be able to save you this time. No matter how fun it is when they try to hold me captive. I'm afraid this is going to last, a very long time."
"Ah but my friends didn't save me last time, and you know, I could just leave."
"And leave the mudblood behind, unconscious? I find that highly unlikely. Though I'm sure Draco would just love the chance to finish what he didn't get to last night."
The smirk was efficiently wiped off Harry's face and the air crackled with the sudden surge of power Harry's anger brought. Draco face may have been passive but his insides were screaming. He wanted more than anything to take the cowards way out and just black out again, leaving Harry to fight for his life.
Besides, Lucius and Voldemort mightn't kill Harry. And Hermione was awake, so maybe they could just Apparate out. Half of Draco's mind told him he needed to see this, whilst the other half was telling him to run like hell.
"Draco?"
"Yes my Lord?"
"I know you hate young Harry here, and for your hard work to bring him to me I wish to give you a gift."
"A gift sir?" Draco saw his father's smile widen.
"I will allow you to cast the first blow."
*Oh this would have been so much easier if I'd just knocked myself unconscious* Draco looked into his father's eyes, noticing the pride in them. It seemed his son had become something after all. But Draco's gaze flickered to Harry and the bitterness in his eyes and suddenly he couldn't bear either of their gazes. Draco's body tensed as he felt that surge of adrenaline.
He was ready.
~~~~~~~~~**** Graduation ****~~~~~~~~~~
Draco didn't move, he didn't dare. Harry had seen him. The moment he did all hope had left his eyes.
His stomach dropped. That look. Harry knew that Draco was no hero, that he wasn't coming to save the day. Draco looked away from Harry ashamed. Voldemort was going to kill him and he was just going to stand by and watch another wizard die.
All Draco wanted to do was run. That's the coward he was. He wasn't fighting for good or evil, he was just running. Away from the conflict. The pain. The choice. He wasn't even protecting his friends in the battle upstairs.
He'd seen the true face of his parents and suddenly the dark wasn't so inviting anymore. Not as Blaise Zabini, his friend, a Slytherin, stood and defied them. He'd watched Blaise fall. Choose to fight for Dumbledore be killed.
They'd be fighting up there for hours and there was no way anyone could get through in time, not even Dumbledore. It would be too late to help Harry; those who cared for him would still be fighting the Death Eaters and such upstairs.
The dungeons had seemed a good place to hide, but instead, here they were. The Dark Lord Voldemort and the great Harry Potter. Fighting to the death. And Draco was the only witness.
He could see Weasley's body; was he dead? Loyal friend to the end that one, he'd probably died trying to save Harry. *That's what you get when you play the hero: death. No good deed goes unpunished.*
Voldemort flicked his wand and Harry's head snapped to the side like he'd been on the receiving end of one of Granger's famous slaps. An angry red gash appeared on Harry's cheek and he winced when he brought his hand to touch it. It was almost over now, Harry was weak, a goner, and Draco should just leave before Voldemort saw him.
Draco couldn't move, he tried to shift himself from his spot to back out the door but his eyes kept returning to Harry. Harry's bloodied face and ripped robes. Harry who was struggling to stay on his knees, using his arms to keep himself propped up. Too many emotions conflicted within him, each fighting to win. *Just leave Draco! Look at him! He doesn't stand a chance*
Then Harry stood. That stupid son of a bitch stood up. He couldn't just stay down and accept his end like a normal person. He could barely keep his legs steady enough to stay standing but he didn't care. Harry pointed his wand at Voldemort, ready to make his last stand. A hero till the end.
"Finish it."
"With pleasure, Harry."
Draco cursed Harry under his breath. That stupid irresponsible foolhardy GRYFFINDOR! Why did the boy have to be so fucking brave? But Draco knew the answer.
The only thing Harry had ever wanted to do was live. It was unjust that Harry had never been able to live properly. With a family, being loved, or at the very least without the shadow of destiny. Without Voldemort, Harry could have had a childhood. He could have had a life. It'd been all Harry had really wanted; it was obvious in his eyes whenever someone stared at his scar or pointed at him on the street. Something Harry had wanted so badly he'd die trying to get it.
Harry looked at Draco and smiled. That crazy stupid smile he always got when he was chasing the snitch. His hair was a mess, his glasses broken, but he still looked strong. His eyes were shining a sharp metallic green. Harry quirked his eyebrows at Draco in a 'Why not? If I go I may as well go with a bang' way, and at that moment Draco knew he couldn't just stand by and let Harry die.
Voldemort's entire attention was focused on Harry. He saw Voldemort's body tense as he prepared himself for the curse he was about to cast. Forgetting all about his wand, Draco ran up behind Voldemort grabbing a heavy plated iron cauldron and swung it at his head.
CRACK!
Voldemort folded like a piece of cooked spaghetti. Harry stared at him open mouthed. Draco met his eyes, terrified, of what he'd see. "Ah... that was very muggle of me."
Harry was still staring, disbelief in his eyes. There could be a troupe of naked dancing Veelas around and Draco doubted Harry would look as dumbfounded as he did now.
"I … ah..." Footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor.
"Harry! We're coming!" It was Hermione's voice. They'd broken through the Death Eaters. His parents. The enormity of what he'd just done came over Draco. With the face of a corned animal, Draco turned and fled the room.
"Wait! Why?! Draco, WHY?!"
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
Draco's body tensed. He'd felt that surge of adrenaline and he was ready to run. He looked from Voldemort to Lucius to Hermione and finally to Harry, and made a choice.
Draco straightened his back. He would not run, he was no coward. Not now and never again. He raised his wand at Harry and looked him in the eye. He looked defiantly back, braced for the impact of the curse but nothing in his eyes said he'd beg for mercy. Looking at Hermione he saw that one supposedly unconscious witch was up to something. Her body was shifting about but her eyes remained on him.
"I think you find that I am not well versed in the use of Cruciatus, My Lord." Voldemort moved closer to Draco in what he must have thought was a sign of encouragement. "You'll find My Lord, that this is the reason I was unable to finish what I began last night." At that, Draco met Hermione's eyes and she gave him a knowing glance.
"I wouldn't have thought that Lucius would allow you to be so inexperienced."
"Oh no, My Lord, it's not inexperience that troubles me." Draco was staring into Harry's eyes now, searching for acknowledgement from Harry that he understood what Draco had to do.
"Not inexperience?"
"No My Lord, you see it is simply because I didn't want to." And with that, Draco spun and screamed, "Consto Vulnero" Surprised by the curse, Voldemort was momentarily stunned. At the same moment, Hermione used Harry's wand - which she had taken from his back pocket while everyone was distracted - and yelled "Stupify" at Lucius.
Draco leapt over to Harry and Hermione and with one last look at his favourite room, they Apparated.
~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~
Only the epilogue to go peoples.