Title: Two Roads Diverged
Author: Beldaran1
Email: drh74@dellmail.com
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: Strong R
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, no money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Also, the poetry preceding the story is from Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken.
Spoilers: HP Books 1-4
Genre: This is a Slash (this means boy/boy loving) story so be warned!!!
Summary: What if something happened that changed the course for Harry and Draco? What if there was more to the enemy than first appeared? What if there were other outside forces that were to play a part in the conflict between Light and Dark? Hmm.
Author's Notes: I just wanted to state that while there shouldn't be any spoilers from OOTP, I have read the book and some things in this story may be colored by that knowledge. However, I will attempt to post warnings where this issue may occur.
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Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
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Part I: Summer of Change
Chapter 1
Draco Malfoy stared resolutely out of the dormered windows under the south gable of his room. His silvered eyes roamed slowly over the beautiful lush gardens of the Malfoy estate until they were drawn like a magnet to the calm reflective waters of the southern lake. The crystalline blue waters rippled gently in the breeze, beguiling the unwary to respite on its shores; the deceptive dangers lurking within its depths lying hidden and coiled, ready to strike at the least suspected moment. Much like my family.
Maybe this was why he had always been so enamored of the beautiful deadly lake; it so completely reflected the hidden dangers of his family. The world looked upon them and saw beauty, aristocracy; the quintessential wealthy pure-blooded family. Indeed, the Malfoys were the crème de la crème of all the pure-blooded families. However, what nobody appeared to see or understand was that it was all a façade. A façade that he himself had long since perfected, wearing the cold arrogant air and disdainful sneer that was the signature of a true Malfoy like armor that none could penetrate.
At this particular moment however, the poised arrogant air he had perfected belied the torment within; for Draco Malfoy was terrified and it galled him to admit such to himself. His whole life, it seemed, he'd struggled to maintain a delicate balance between the embittered camps of his parents. On one side was his mother, warm kind and loving, his safe harbor and closest friend; and on the other his father, cold calculating and demanding, his insistence on perfection and compliance never-ending and rigidly enforced. For as long as he could remember, he had struggled under the need to please both his parents and thereby maintain a semblance of family unity; had felt that it was his duty to do so. And now, with his return, he could feel that delicate balance slipping away.
Therein lay the source of his terror.
He feared the destruction of his family was close at hand. He could feel it in the air around him, he'd seen it in the barely contained glee in his father's eyes and in the imperceptible lines of strain around his mother's mouth; and the realization that there was naught he could do about it shook him to the very core of his being. Something was going to happen soon, something that would perhaps force him to choose a side and take a stand for better or worse; whether he was ready to make such a decision or not.
"Draco darling, it's so good to have you home."
His mother's words penetrated his thoughts, and turning he graced her with one of his rare genuine smiles, "Mum, it's good to see you." Walking swiftly across his room he pulled Narcissa into a quick hug and briefly reveled in the maternal warmth and love that he had sorely missed throughout the past school year.
"It is good to be home Mum and I've much to tell you, but first how are you?" Pulling back from the embrace, Draco allowed his eyes to quickly sweep over his mother, from the perfect drape of her white-blonde hair to the stylish slippers that graced her feet. To his dismay however, he could detect even more minute traces of strain and distress that threatened to break through her veneer of cool poise. "What is it Mum?" His silver eyes locked onto her troubled blue ones, "What's wrong?"
"Oh love," Narcissa sighed and pulled her little Draco into another quick hug before continuing, "I had hoped that there would be more time before I would have to tell you of the past, but events have occurred that do not allow for such dawdling and I fear that I may no longer be able to protect you."
"Tell me what Mum? Protect me? I don't understand." Draco began to question her as his imagination ran wild with speculation and supposition.
"Shh Little Dragon," Narcissa halted his flow words by placing a finger against Draco's mouth, "Come with me down to my salon and I will explain everything, I promise."
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Harry Potter quietly contemplated the passing scenery outside the passenger window of his Uncle Vernon's car, the fact that it was his Aunt Petunia driving and not his Uncle was throwing him into a bit of a quandary. Not that he minded really, in fact he was more than willing to throw himself into this little mystery as long as it kept his mind off of other more troublesome things. Like killing Cedric. His traitorous mind whispered to him.
Shuddering, Harry forced himself not to follow that line of thought down into the quagmire of guilt and self-reproach that had been plaguing him since that awful event. Though try as he might, his mind insisted on going over and over the events that had led to Cedric's death and Voldemort's return. He knew there must have been something he could have done to stop it, but he couldn't for the life of him think of what that may be.
Merlin how he hated this helpless feeling and he was just plain tired of it all.
Tired of all the pain and suffering, the uncertainty and fear; and most of all he hated that because of him more people were going to die. Harry clenched his fists and struggled not to start screaming and yelling as a sudden rage momentarily swept away the depressing thoughts that had been consuming him. Oh how he wished that he was once again standing before that evil thing, except this time he would kill the beast…with his bare hands if necessary.
Only, that would truly make him a murderer; a monster no better than the evil slain.
With that thought, all of his rage fled and he once again found himself slipping into a dark suffocating depression. His shoulders slumped in defeat and his hands rested limply in his lap. I'm so tired. He couldn't remember a time when he had felt so completely and utterly drained, even breathing felt like a laborious chore.
He was so engrossed in his own problems that Harry failed to notice the concerned and worried looks his Aunt kept shooting in his direction. Even if he had noticed he would have only put it off as his Aunt's typical fear of wizards, especially since she was alone with one and his Uncle wasn't there to protect her. As it was, he didn't notice and probably would have remained oblivious, except his Aunt Petunia decided to breach the leaden silence that permeated the car and speak.
"Harry, you're probably wondering why I picked you up instead of Vernon." Petunia spoke softly, the worry she felt for her nephew putting an unintended edge to her words. She was terribly afraid for Harry, and the dejected and depressed air that surrounded him only added to that fear.
When it became obvious that he hadn't heard a world she'd said and wasn't going to answer her, Petunia raised her voice and again attempted to get her nephew's attention, "Harry!"
"What!" Startled, Harry jerked around in his seat and stared at his Aunt. He unconsciously pressed his hand to his chest as the suddenness of her intrusion into his thoughts caused his heart to race. "W-w-what," he repeated in a befuddled manner.
"Oh Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." Petunia apologized. She felt perfectly awful seeing her nephew in such a state and knowing that she was the cause.
"Huh?" Harry managed to get out after several attempts of opening and closing his mouth in utter confusion. His Aunt apologized to him, appeared to be worried about him, and was looking at him with remorse clearly reflected in her eyes. This was the same woman who rarely if ever spoke to him with anything but complete disdain and who was one of the key factors in the misery that was his non-existent childhood. "Huh?"
Petunia sighed and turned back to face the road as she approached the turnoff to Privet Drive, she quickly reviewed and rejected several ways to go about doing what she must before finally taking the bull by the horn and getting on with it.
"Harry," she began softly, "I know that you're confused by what must seem like a sudden change in my attitude towards you, but there is a lot that you don't know and if you'll only give me a chance I promise to explain everything." Petunia paused a moment as she turned into #4 and put the car in park.
Turning to face her nephew, she took in the closed wary expression on his face and had to repress the urge to reach out to him as she continued, "I arranged for Vernon and Dudley to be away for the summer because their presence would only be a hindrance and would more than likely be a source of danger to you; especially now that Voldemort has returned."
At Harry's shocked gasp she gave in to the urge and reached over to gently grasp his hand in her own, "Yes Harry, I know about the Dark Lord, I've always known."
"B-b-but you…and magic…and…and…" Harry struggled to wrap his mind around the maelstrom of thoughts and emotions that were overwhelming his exhausted ability to cope.
"This is a lot take in Harry," Petunia gave his hand a sympathetic squeeze, "so why don't we go in and I'll make us a pitcher of lemonade and we'll go out back to the garden and I'll tell you about your mom and dad and the destruction of a friendship that led to death and betrayal."
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"Come, sit with me Draco."
Draco paused a moment inside the entrance to his mother's Solarium and let the warmth of the sunny room wash over him before complying with her wishes and taking his customary seat next to her on the winged-back sofa. This was his favorite place in all of Malfoy Manor, he had spent many a day in this room letting his imagination take wondrous flights of fancy as he listened to Narcissa tell one story of courageous heroes after another; he'd especially loved the ones about dragons. Here was also the place were he'd share his deepest dreams and wishes and his darkest fears and uncertainties.
He could always count on his mother to listen to him with an open mind and without judgment. And now he would do no less for her. "I'm ready Mum, for whatever you have to tell me."
Narcissa carefully regarded her son and couldn't help but feel proud of the young man sitting beside her, she knew he was afraid of what their talk may reveal; and yet here he was waiting patiently for her to begin however she chose. Reaching over she took a hold of one of his hands and momentarily wished he was still the little boy who used to lay with his head in her lap and listen for hours as she spun fairytales for him, before shaking off such wistful thoughts. "It began many years ago my Little Dragon, when I was just a little girl, six to be exact. I meet these two wonderful little girls who were to become the greatest friends I would ever hope to have."
Reaching over with her free hand, Narcissa picked up one of the framed photographs she had brought out for this occasion and passed it over to her son. "See, this picture was taken of us a few years after we meet. They had come to visit me at your Great Grandmother Black's estate and she had this photograph commissioned."
Taking the picture, Draco turned it over so that he could see it. In the photo three little girls were sitting in a green meadow looking down at the handful of yellow flowers the little girl in the middle was holding and all that you could see were the tops of their heads. The little girl on the left had long shimmering white-blond hair and Draco assumed that this was his mother, the little girl in the middle had glossy curly brown hair, and the little girl on the right had wavy flaming red hair. After admiring the yellow flowers the three little girls looked up into the camera and smiled brilliantly before the brown haired girl threw the flowers up into the air and the three fell back onto the ground in a giggling tangle of arms and legs before sitting up in their original position as the picture repeated itself.
Stunned, Draco watched the photo repeat itself and once again when the little girls smiled into camera he felt like he'd been pole-axed. It wasn't the crystal blue eyes of his mother or the warm brown eyes of the little girl in the middle that was the cause of his reaction; it was the brilliant green eyes of the red headed girl that made him feel like he had been gobsmacked. He knew of only one other person that had such brilliant entrancing green eyes, his nemesis Harry Potter.
"Mum?" Draco tore his eyes away from the photograph and looked at his mother, all of the questions he was having a hard time articulating clearly reflected in his silver eyes.
"Yes love, that's Lily Evans and her little sister Petunia; and from the moment we met we were inseparable." Narcissa gently took the photograph back from her son and smiled fondly at the three innocent little girls forever cavorting in the east meadow of her Grandmother's estate. "Lil and Tuni were more like sisters to me than friends, especially since your Aunt Bella rarely had time for me and absolutely refused to spend the summers with Grandmother Black."
"And oh the trouble the three of us would get into," Narcissa's smile grew as she reminisced about the happier times of her childhood, "especially during the summer when Sirius was also staying with Grandmother along with his rowdy little prankster friends James, Remus, Lucius, and Severus." Here she paused as Draco's gasp of shock brought her out of her reflections of the past.
"No, no, that's impossible!" Draco shook his head in denial. There was no way his father had ever been friends with Black, Lupin, and Potter, no way in hell! Lucius was forever condemning the three Gryffindors as scoundrels and muggle lovers of the worst sort.
"No Draco, not impossible," Narcissa grinned as she thought about some of the escapades they had gotten into, "those five boys were just as inseparable as we three girls were; indeed, they even called themselves the Brotherhood of Marauding Boys. And Merlin didn't they try their level best to drive us nutters!"
Chuckling softly, Narcissa picked up the two remaining photos she had brought down and handed one to Draco. "You see, this photograph was taken at the Leaky Cauldron right before we attended Hogwart's for the first time, except for Tuni of course as she wasn't a witch like Lil. Still, we always made sure to include her in all of our gatherings and special occasions; she was one of us and that was all that mattered."
Draco took the photo, and there before his eyes was the proof that his mind still shouted was impossible. His father stood smiling brightly into the camera with one arm flung around Potter's shoulders and the other flung around Black's, next to Potter stood Professor Snape with a goofy grin on his face, and on the other side of Black was a smiling Professor Lupin. Sitting in front of the guys was his mother, the girl he now recognized as Petunia, and Lily Evans, they too were smiling excitedly into the camera.
"This is just incredible Mum." Draco whispered as he carefully reached out his hand and traced the happy smiling faces gazing up at him. He couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong to turn these happy children into bitter enemies. "What happened to them? What caused them to stop being friends and hate each other?"
"I could tell you that we grew up Little Dragon," Narcissa sadly looked down at the last remaining photograph before handing it over to Draco, "that we let silly House rivalries and opposing political views pull us apart, but that wouldn't really be the truth."
Draco regarded this last photograph and could instantly see the difference. Whereas you could almost feel the happiness and camaraderie in the previous photo, in this one you could almost cut the tension with a knife. They were all sitting around a table in what looked to be the Leaky Cauldron and none of them were smiling. Professor Lupin sat at one end of the table and next to him was Black and then Potter, next to Potter was Lily and he had arm around her waist, next to Lily was Petunia who was holding her hand and on the other side of Petunia was his mother who was also holding one of Petunia's hands. Next to his mother sat his father who had his arm looped thru hers, and on the other side of his father sat Professor Snape. They were all glaring into the camera except for his mother, Petunia, and Lily who had sad worried expressions on their faces.
"What is the truth then Mum, what happened?" Looking up from the photo Draco watched in alarm as a single tear slid down his mother's face, "Mum?"
"Shh love, don't worry about me." Narcissa quickly wiped away the evidence of the single tear and smiled gently at her worried son, "It's just that it's hard to remember how happy we once were knowing how awful it all turned out, and looking at that photograph really brings it all home. We were sixteen, Tuni fourteen, when that photograph was taken; and that was the last time we would all be together with any semblance of friendship among us."
"And to answer your question Draco, Tom Riddle is what happened."
To Be Continued…..
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Well, that's it for now. I should have Chapter 2 of Part I up sometime this week!
Here's a sneak peek at what's coming up: The continuation of Narcissa's convo w/Draco, Harry and Petunia have a conversation of there own, Lucius makes an appearance, and Harry's scar???????
Let me know what you think…love it…hate it…please leave feedback!
Thank You.