Inside I'm screaming,
begging, pleading no more
Ethan was walking in the opposite direction of the Slytherin dorms, and away from the dungeons.
"A change of plans, Harry," Ethan announced quite cheerfully. It was the first words he'd spoken at all since starting off from Gryffindor Tower. "I'm afraid that there are just too many prying eyes in that Slytherin house."
"Draco," Harry concluded for himself, although he didn't venture to voice it aloud.
"We'll just have to do this somewhere else."
Harry kept his head down and watched the ancient, grey flagstones pass by under his feet. Ethan spoke as if he were talking about a tea party or some kind of a game. But this was a game to him. A game of what, Harry still had no clue.
"Do what exactly?" he had to ask.
"You'll see," Ethan grinned, almost skipping down the deserted corridor in barely contained excitement. "It's a surprise."
Harry was grateful that the majority of students had gone to bed early in order to wake up in time to catch the train home for Christmas. He didn't want to see anyone at the moment. He didn't want to change his mind about this.
"What are you doing?" he asked himself. "Are you actually willingly walking off into a situation that could quite possibly mean your death? Was it really only a few hours ago that you were contemplating the thought of suicide?"
Harry shook his head and frowned. He didn't know what to think anymore, or how to feel. He felt overwhelmed, anxious, confused...he was drowning in questions that he had no answers for, and now not enough time to properly consider at all. He didn't want to think. He was just so tired...
He continued to stare dully at the floor, following Ethan like some kind of lost puppy with no will of its own, towards some unknown destination.
"The Great Hall?" Harry questioned, staring dubiously up at the ornate double doors standing closed in front of him.
Ethan smiled and grasped the door handles with both hands, then flung them wide open, like a king entering his throne room.
"Go on up to the front," Ethan instructed.
Harry slowly entered the dining hall and started up the long centre aisle.
Now he felt completely overwhelmed. Each step was another tick of the clock counting down to whatever it was that was going to happen here tonight.
He glanced sideways at the old worn tables and benches. So many memories etched into the scratched grain of the wood. He only had to close his eyes and he was back in first year, being sorted by Professor McGonagall in front of the entire school, and being scared to death of the whole situation. Come to think of it, most of his memories of Hogwarts had him being frightened out of his mind; Professor Quirrel and the stone, the Basilisk, petrified students, escaped convicts, Tri-Wizard Tournaments, Cedric, graveyards, Voldemort's resurrection, Dementors, the Department of Mysteries...
It was endless. It was a wonder he was still alive at all.
But those weren't the memories that stood out for him, they were mere side tales to the winding story of his life. He thought about his first train ride and meeting his first friend – his first best friend – Ron. The friendship that grew between the two boys and Hermione after the troll incident. Playing quidditch, flying, winning the cup for his house and making them proud. Playing chess and Exploding Snap, quiet evenings in front of the fire, trips to Hogsmeade, laughing, talking, crying....
Those were the memories that warmed the heart. Those were the memories he cherished.
So what had happened?
Draco.
"No," Harry thought, shaking his head. "It was never about, Draco. It has always been my own choices mapping out the course of my life, and Draco was one of those choices, a bad choice perhaps, but a choice never-the-less."
And now here he was at a cross-road. Another choice to make.
Harry wearily climbed the stairs up to the platform on which the head table stood, his head aching from all the thinking and worrying, desperate to figure out what he wanted.
He leaned his arms on the table, his head bowed and dark fringe falling forward over his closed eyes. He could hear Ethan finish the locking spells on the doors at the other end of the hall, then turn and make his way up the long aisle behind him.
Harry slowly opened his eyes and stared down at his pale hands pressed into the dark, mahogany table beneath him, his mind suddenly and surprisingly clear.
"Harry." Ethan's voice floated up to him from behind.
Harry nodded to himself and turned around.
"Do it."
"I beg your pardon?" Ethan blinked in surprise.
"Whatever you're planning on doing to me tonight, just go ahead and get it over with. Now."
"And if that involves me killing-"
"Then kill me."
A slow smile spread across Ethan's face as he stood contemplating the determined set of Harry's dark, green eyes. "I see," he replied interestedly. "I'm so pleased that you're willing to co-operate."
Ethan withdrew his wand as he spoke and stroked the pale wood reverently, cleaning it of imaginary dust. "And what brought about this sudden decision?" he asked mildly.
"The fact that my entire life has become a tangled mess of shit that I don't have the energy or even the will to deal with anymore," Harry vented passionately, voice rising with every word. "Every decision I've ever made has always affected someone or something else. Every action I take can literally mean life or death for someone else. Well, this decision only affects me, and I'm making it now. So, do it."
"Why weren't you watching him?" Draco demanded angrily, practically spitting in his fury as he took a step closer to Ron and glared into the red-head's pale face.
"I...I was," Ron spluttered defensively. "I only left to get Dumbledore, like Harry asked. I thought he'd be safe. I wasn't gone that long...I mean, he was in Gryffindor Tower for Christ's sake!"
"Did anyone see him leave?" Hermione questioned, trying to keep her voice calm and reasonable.
"I don't...I'm not sure," Ron admitted miserably. "I came straight here, I didn't talk to anyone. This is all my fault..."
"Your damn right-"
"Malfoy!" Hermione barked sharply. "You can blame Ron all you want later, right now we need to focus on finding Harry."
Draco narrowed his eyes warningly at Ron, then took a step back.
"Now," Hermione started, turning her attention back to Ron. "What did Professor Dumbledore say?"
"He's not here."
"What?" Hermione swallowed, a fearful chill suddenly crawling up her spine. "Where did he go?"
"Somewhere on business, I guess," Ron answered.
"It's just like in first year," Hermione murmured quietly. "Distract the headmaster..."
"Snape wouldn't tell me-"
"You talked to Professor Snape?" Draco cut in sharply.
"Yeah." Ron nodded, a flicker of dislike darkening his eyes. "Greasy bastard wouldn't tell me anything."
"Of course not," Draco snorted with cool superiority. "Why would he trust you with important information?"
Hermione quickly spoke up before Ron could reply. "So, Snape knows something. We need to find him and ask where the headmaster went, then get him back as soon as possible."
"We don't need that old coot," Draco said impatiently. "We know where Harry is, let's just get him back on our own."
"Where is he, then?" Ron asked.
"In the Slytherin dorms with Ethan, of course."
"How can you be so sure?" Hermione asked. "What if Ethan's already carried him off to You-Know-Who?"
"Yeah," Ron put in loudly. "Hang on, how did You-Know-Who get involved in all this?"
"Because Ethan is a Lestrange," Draco informed him distractedly, then turned to Hermione. "We need to check the Slytherin dorms first, then, if he's not there, we'll decide on what to do next. Right now, we're just wasting time arguing about it."
Draco turned and swiftly walked across the frozen ground and up the stairs to the Hogwarts entrance, Ron and Hermione following right behind him without hesitation.
The three entered the quiet hush of the Entrance Hall and made for the dungeon corridor, completely unaware in their haste of the faint, white glow emanating from the keyholes of the doors to the Great Hall and the murmur of voices within.
Draco called out the password as soon as he was in sight of the Slytherin entrance. The wall obediently slid open and Ron and Hermione were quick to scramble through as Draco practically sprinted the rest of the way down the narrow corridor and into the Slytherin common room.
The two Gryffindors barely had time to take in the cool silver and green opulence of the room, before following Draco across to an adjoining hall.
"Shh..." Draco shushed them, as they approached one of the doors, withdrawing his wand as he crept silently towards it and laid an ear to the black surface.
"Ouch!" he hissed and jumped back.
"Idiot," Hermione muttered. "Do you think Ethan's stupid enough to over-look the necessity of silencing and protection spells on his room?"
"Well, what do you suggest?" Draco snapped, rubbing his smarting ear, the burning feeling from the privacy spell already fading to a warm tingle.
"Just give me a sec." Hermione pursed her lips thoughtfully and tapped her wand against her temple.
Draco shifted restlessly as he waited.
"What about Alohamora?" Ron suggested.
"Too simple," Hermione denounced immediately.
Draco tapped his foot and silently willed the door to open.
"Ingredior."
The three held their breath as Hermione touched her wand to the door and whispered the curse breaker.
Nothing.
Ron reached his hand for the knob.
"No, don't!" Hermione hissed, grabbing his arm. "It didn't work. You might set off an alarm or something by touching it while it's still active."
She dropped his arm and returned to studying the door with furrowed concentration.
"This is stupid," Draco finally announced, throwing his hands in the air. "I'm going to get Professor Snape."
"Are you crazy?" Ron exclaimed, forgetting to keep his voice down. "He'll kill us for being in here. And it's past curfew!"
"Not if I explain everything to him," Draco said. "He needs to know about Ethan. We're going to need his involvement sooner-or-later anyway."
"I wish Dumbledore was here," Ron pouted, turning away.
"Are you really going to tell Snape everything?" Hermione asked, pointedly.
Draco returned her gaze with practiced indifference. "I don't know. Maybe. I can trust him."
Ron snorted, but refrained from comment.
"Stay here and keep trying the door," Draco instructed. "I'll be back soon."
Draco turned and started when he saw Crabbe and Goyle standing at the end of the hallway in their pyjamas, identical looks of vacant confusion on their faces.
"We thought we heard your voice," Crabbe started uncertainly. "We were waiting for you to come back..."
"Where were you?" Goyle asked curiously, staring openly at Ron and Hermione.
"I'll explain later," Draco said, walking towards them. "There's a bit of an emergency and I need your help. I have to fetch Professor Snape and bring him here. Could you two stand guard and make sure that no one comes down here and disturbs these two Gryffindors?"
"Of course," Goyle agreed immediately, never one to question his long-time friend and leader.
"I knew I could count on you two." Draco flashed them a quick, grateful smile, then slipped past into the common room and towards the exit.
Crabbe and Goyle smiled, glowing with pride at Draco's words, while stationing themselves near a nervous looking Ron and Hermione.
"Shall we get back to work on the door, then?" Ron said, uneasily.
"Right." Hermione turned her attention back to the locked door, determined to try every curse breaking spell she knew.
Draco hurried towards Snape's office, located only a few corridors away, and banged on his door.
"Mr Malfoy," Snape greeted in surprise, looking as if he had been rushing around his quarters just before opening the door.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"If you make it quick," Snape answered shortly. "Filch can't seem to gain access to the Great Hall right now, and I have to go help that useless squib out."
"Well, er..." Draco hesitated, his courage failing him. "Uh, over the summer...I, uh..."
"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Snape exclaimed in exasperation. "Come with me and explain along the way."
"Yes, sir," Draco replied in embarrassment.
The blond fell into step beside his head of house and stared hard at the ground as they set off at a brisk pace for the dining hall, Snape all the while muttering about blithering idiots, and Draco wasn't sure whether his professor was talking about him or Filch.
"I need your help," Draco found himself suddenly blurting out.
"Indeed?"
"It has to do with, Potter – I mean, Harry."
"I see." Snape nodded. "What about the little hero?"
"Don't call him that," Draco frowned. "He's in trouble, at least, I think he is."
"That boy's always in trouble, but I can only assume you mean something out of the ordinary."
"Yes. It has to do with that new kid, Ethan Fiori."
Snape stopped abruptly and turned to face Draco, his face suddenly very serious. "What about him?"
Draco blinked in surprise, faltering slightly in his response. "I...I found something out about him. About his family."
"Well?"
"He's a Lestrange," Draco rushed out. "I know it sounds ludicrous-"
"No, I believe you," Snape interrupted. He turned away, frowning. "Of course, why didn't I see it before? Rabastan's son. I warned Albus about that boy..."
"Where is the headmaster?" Draco inquired.
Snape jerked his head around, as if only just noticing that Draco was still there. "He's away on business."
"But-"
"Come along," Snape abruptly cut across him and began walking away.
Draco quickly caught up, confusion clouding his grey eyes. Snape had always told him anything he had ever wanted or needed to know, unless he had good reason not to, even if it was about the Order or the Dark Lord.
The two walked the rest of the journey to the Great Hall in tight-lipped silence, Draco still trying to find the words to tell his professor about the strange occurrences of the last few months and how it all involved Harry Potter and himself.
Snape stopped in the Entrance Hall and told Draco to stay out while he spoke to Filch, who was standing with Mrs Norris by the large double doors to the dining hall.
Draco watched as Snape spoke quietly to the old caretaker, keeping his dark, narrowed eyes all-the-while on the locked doors beside him.
Snape finally sent Filch away with an impatient wave of his hand, then frowned as he leaned down to inspect the strange white glow coming from the keyholes of the tall doors.
Filch stalked past Draco on his way out, the two sneering at each other with mutual dislike.
"Sir?" Draco spoke tentatively, moving towards Snape.
"Stay back," Snape ordered, holding one hand up to still him.
"What is it?"
"The doors have been magically sealed," Snape explained. "By Dark magic...very weak Dark magic."
"Weak?"
"A spell a first year could've performed easily, even Longbottom."
Severus turned his head and tilted his ear towards the door.
"Is there someone in there?" Draco whispered.
Snape shushed him with a wave of his hand.
Draco chewed his bottom lip and quietly sidled forward.
"I thought I told you to stay back," Snape said, without looking up.
"But I might be able to help..."
Snape finally turned his gaze towards him. "How?"
"I think this might have something to do with, Ethan."
"I only hear one voice in there, and it happens to belong to Harry Potter."
Draco rushed forwards, heedless of his professor's death glare, and pressed his ear against the door.
Snape straightened up and crossed his arms over his chest, regarding his young pupil suspiciously. "You'd better tell me everything, Draco."
Draco could make out Harry's voice within the large hall on the other side of the door, but could not decipher what he was saying. He took a deep breath and stepped back. He needed to do this – for Harry.
He looked up at the only adult he trusted in the whole world and forced himself to speak. "I'm in love with Harry Potter."
"And?"
Draco gaped. "And? That's all you have to say – 'and'?"
"I was already aware of your ill-fated relationship with Mr Potter long before it became public knowledge. I've even spoken to your father-"
"My father?" Draco exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, and I explained to him about your little plan to gain the boy's trust and use it against him."
Draco's jaw only dropped further. "You...covered for me?"
"Against my better judgement, yes."
"Thank you, sir," Draco said in quiet gratitude. "But, how did you know that that's not really what I was planning?"
"I know you too well, Draco," Snape explained with a smirk. "You think you're hiding your emotions, but you still have these unguarded moments once in awhile in which you are as easy to read as Mr Potter himself. Although, he's been something of a mystery lately."
Draco nodded. "He's in trouble. Ethan is...hurting him and he's hiding it from everyone."
"I can't imagine Potter simply taking abuse from anyone-"
"It's my fault," Draco admitted miserably. "I abandoned him. I hurt him..."
"That doesn't mean Potter should just go around letting people take advantage of him. You're hardly the one to blame in this, Draco. He's behaving in a weak, self-pitying way, exactly what I've come to expect from him. Don't blame yourself for his poor orphan complexes."
"You don't know him!" Draco exclaimed angrily. "You don't know what he's gone through, you only know what you hear from others and the papers. He's not the self-absorbed celebrity that you think he is. He has a lot to deal with, not just this thing with Ethan and myself, but with the Dark Lord and the pressures of the wizarding world, and he never complains. You don't know the real him at all!"
Snape scowled. "Thanks to that undignified tirade on the merits of Harry Potter, we have now alerted whoever's inside of our presence."
Draco's hand shot to his mouth and he turned wide eyes towards the double doors of the Great Hall, the voices inside now completely quiet.
"Don't move," Snape warned in a hushed voice.
Draco was about to whisper back that he needed to get out his wand, but suddenly the doors flew open with an explosion of light and sound, throwing both Draco and Snape to the floor with great force.
Snape hit the ground, then immediately jumped into action; his black robe swirling around him as he leapt back to his feet and grabbed up his wand, then turned to kneel and point it at whoever was standing in the doorway.
Unfortunately, Ethan was just that much faster and already had his wand pointed at Draco's head.
"I suggest that you drop your wand and step back professor," Ethan smirked. "Or your little protégé here is going to be dust in a matter of seconds."
Snape only gripped his wand tighter. "I doubt you have the skill or the power necessary to perform any of the Unforgivables, let alone the killing curse."
Ethan's smile disappeared and his right eye twitched. "What would you know about power? I know who you really work for, you're just another one of the Dark Lord's slaves."
"And your not?"
Ethan's smile returned. "No, I'm not. But, when I do become one of his members, I will be treated with the greatest respect and honour. I won't be just another mask in the crowd."
"And why not? Your dad is," Snape shot back.
"My dad is a fool," Ethan proclaimed with contempt. "I will be much more important than he ever was."
"And why is that?" Snape asked, vying for time.
"Because I will do what no other Death Eater, or even Voldemort himself, has been able to do," Ethan grinned with superiority. "I will deliver them Harry Potter's dead body on a silver platter."
Draco growled and made to stand, but stopped when Ethan wiggled his wand warningly at him.
"I'm afraid I can't let that happen," Snape informed him coolly.
"But it isn't my choice," Ethan explained. "Harry has already made his decision, and he has agreed to let me have my way."
"That's a lie!" Draco cried.
Ethan only laughed.
"The headmaster-" Snape started.
"Will not be back any time soon," Ethan interrupted calmly, turning to look at him. "For some one who you proclaim to be unskilful in the ways of magic, I sure can manipulate the best of you with ease. Now, hand over your wand."
Ethan walked forwards and reached for Snape's wand.
"You sent the headmaster away?" Snape asked, trying to distract the boy from Draco, who was beginning to move along the floor towards them.
"Yes, he should be approaching the trap now." Ethan plucked the wand from his hand.
Snape stood quickly. Ethan whipped his wand up to point at the tall professor, Snape's own wand pointed behind him at, Draco.
"You're lying."
"And if I'm not?" Ethan challenged.
Snape's lips pressed themselves into a thin line as he considered the fully composed boy in front of him.
"If you want to go after Dumbledore and save him, then you had better leave right now."
"And leave you here alone in the school with Harry Potter? I think not."
"Go professor," Draco commanded, staring hard at Ethan.
"Mr Malfoy, I am not leaving you-"
"Go!" Draco yelled, then leapt to his feet and threw his entire body at Ethan. Ethan, who still had his wand directed at Severus, was caught off-guard and fell back with Draco into the Great Hall.
The doors swung shut automatically as soon as the boys had passed over the threshold, slamming together with a deafening bang.
Snape was left gaping at the sealed doors from the other side. He clenched his hands with angry frustration, wishing that he hadn't given up his wand, then turned and headed for Dumbledore's office and the only source within Hogwarts with access to the Floo Network.
Draco felt the breath knocked from his body as he landed heavily on the stone floor with Ethan on top. Ethan recovered from the sudden attack and withdrew his wand to hold it to Draco's throat. Draco opened his eyes, breathing heavily.
Ethan had a manic glint in his eyes as he shuffled backwards and slowly got to his feet, all the while holding his wand on Draco. He picked up Snape's wand, which he had accidentally dropped during the scuffle, and dropped it into his cloak pocket.
"So," Ethan panted, eyes still gleaming. "You solved that little problem."
"What problem?" Draco asked, rising to rest his weight on his elbows.
"Of what to do with that nosy potions professor. I only expected you to come here tonight, and maybe those pesky Gryffindors, but now it's just you and me – exactly what I wanted. And I always get what I want."
"What did you want me for?"
"I just wanted you to make sure that you knew that it was Harry's decision to die tonight, and that I didn't do it against his will."
"Fuck you," Draco growled. "You just wanted someone to witness your sick triumph over Harry Potter, and it's not his decision if you fucking confuse the hell out of him and beat him into submission."
Ethan only smiled more. "You're right. Doesn't mean that I won't still kill him, though."
"You're not going to get anywhere near him," Draco threatened.
"Get up," Ethan ordered, still smiling. "Then you can see him."
Draco slowly stood and glanced around the room. "Where is he?"
"Come along, Malfoy." Ethan marched Draco in front of him towards the platform at the end of the hall, his wand pointed at the blonde's unprotected back.
Draco scanned the eerily quiet hall as he walked, conscious of Ethan's presence and the wand directed at him from behind. He squinted as he neared the front and gasped in horror at what he saw.
Harry was tied to the headmaster's chair, metal wire with sharp barbs attached were wrapped tightly around his wrists, ankles, and waist. The concealing charm had obviously been lifted, and amid the old bruises and cuts were fresh wounds, blood oozing thickly from them and dripping onto the floor. His head was bowed and his eyes closed.
Draco cried out and ran forward, not caring whether Ethan was going to curse him or not.
Luckily, Ethan only smiled as the scene unfolded in front of him.
Draco jumped onto the platform and ran to Harry's side.
"Harry," he croaked, tears welling up in his eyes as he saw at close range the damage that had been caused to his once care-free and beautiful boyfriend. "God, what has he done to you?"
He desperately wanted to touch Harry's face, but there wasn't a spot on him that would allow him to caress without inflicting pain.
"Harry? Please open your eyes, love. It's, Draco."
Ethan continued to watch with interest, his wand now lowered to his side, revelling in the obvious emotional pain.
Draco continued to murmur words of love and comfort into Harry's ear, begging the Gryffindor to wake and open his eyes, or to respond in some way.
Harry finally moaned very quietly, slowly resurfacing into consciousness. He squeezed his eyes closed even harder at the sudden onslaught of pain throbbing throughout every part of his body.
"Harry?" Draco pressed, edging closer, his breath ghosting across Harry's face.
Harry heard the voice as if in a far away dream and sighed as the warm air brushed across his skin. He recognized the voice, it was familiar, but couldn't remember who it belonged to. It sounded safe. It was comfort. The voice wanted to protect him, love him.
"Harry, its Draco. Please open your eyes."
Draco.
Harry's eyes snapped open in realization. He looked up into a pair of concerned silver eyes and gasped.
"No," he uttered faintly. "No,no,no,no,no...."
"Shh, Harry," Draco soothed. "It's okay. I'm here to help."
Harry could only stare in shock and continue to mumble quietly to himself.
Ethan sat down on the end of the Ravenclaw table and leaned forward onto his knees to watch in pleasure. The two other people in the room completely oblivious to his presence.
"Harry, calm down," Draco continued, trying to snap Harry out of his trance.
Harry stopped talking. Suddenly, it all came back to him and he remembered where he was, what he was doing there, and who was currently in front of him.
"Harry?"
Harry swallowed and avoided the blonde's worried gaze. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here because I care about you."
Harry almost laughed out loud. Draco was mocking him. Draco didn't care about him.
Harry looked past the Slytherin and into the amused brown eyes of Ethan.
"I told you we had to wait for another guest before the party started," Ethan grinned.
"Why did you want him here?" Harry asked, ignoring Draco's close proximity.
"Because it makes it more fun. Who says three's a crowd?"
"I don't want him here."
"Oh, don't be such a party pooper," Ethan admonished pleasantly. He stood up and walked towards the two, humming a little waltz as he approached. "Shall we get to the main event?"
Draco straightened up and glared.
"I think Harry's a bit anxious to get to it, isn't he?" Ethan smiled.
"Fine, let him stay," Harry said, uncaringly. "Just do it already."
"No." Draco kneeled beside Harry's chair and looked into his impassive face earnestly. "Please, Harry. Just say you don't want him to kill you and he won't do it. Will you?"
Draco glanced to Ethan and he nodded.
Harry turned towards Draco and searched that achingly familiar face. "But I want him to," he said quietly.
"No, Harry." Draco's voice broke as he shook his head, tears now falling from his eyes. "I won't let him. You can't die. I want you to stay here...with me."
"No, you don't," Harry smiled faintly. "You will be better off without me, everyone will be. You'll see. Have you forgotten about the past already? You didn't want me, you still don't, you've just forgotten."
"I remember, Harry, I haven't forgotten. But I made a mistake back then, and I'm so sorry. I know I'll never make it up to you, but I want to try, and even if you don't want to be with me, you still need to live. Other people need you, too."
Harry sighed and shook his head. "No. They don't need me, because I don't care anymore. Don't you see? I don't care. They would be so disappointed in me. I only manage to disappoint everyone...or get other people killed. This is the only solution."
"Oh, don't be so stupid!" Draco exclaimed. "Don't you see what this would mean to the entire wizarding world? This isn't the only answer. You're being selfish. You're taking the easy way out."
"You think this is easy?" Harry shouted, starting to get angry. "This is all your fault, so if you want someone to blame then look no further than yourself, Malfoy."
Draco ignored the pain of Harry's accusation and kept trying to provoke the boy, to get him to feel something, anything.
"Yes, this is the easy way out. You're just giving up and letting Voldemort win. You think that once you're gone people won't die? Harry, the hope of defeating Voldemort will die with you."
"Is that why you want to save me?" Harry asked, suddenly quiet again.
Draco sighed and kneeled back down. "No. I want to save you because I love you."
Harry felt a tiny spark of hope ignite in his poor, scarred heart. "You do?"
Ethan frowned. "I think that's enough talking now."
"Yes, I love you and I want to be with you. But most of all I just want you to be happy again. I want to make things right again, Harry."
"I want to be happy," Harry whispered, longingly. "I don't know how anymore..."
"I'll help you," Draco promised. "Just live first, okay? The rest will come."
Harry started to smile, his eyes filling with warmth and hope again. The feeling so foreign that Harry marvelled at long it had been since he had felt hopeful of anything in his life.
"I won't let you down this time," Draco vowed, making sure Harry knew that he meant every word he was saying.
"Stop it!" Ethan shouted.
"Draco..." Harry breathed, tears blurring his vision. The pain fading away into the background as he looked upon Draco's determined face; those silvery grey eyes shining with what could only be called love.
Ethan growled in annoyance and raised his wand. "Stupefy!"
A bolt of red light shot out of his wand and hit Draco square in the back.
Draco cried out and fell forward onto the floor.
"Draco!" Harry exclaimed, staring down at his unconscious body.
Ethan flicked his wand and levitated Draco's body over the head table and down to the floor in front of the platform.
"What are you doing?" Harry demanded, struggling against his bonds, which only caused the barbs to dig deeper into his flesh.
"Just thought I'd practice on him first, before getting to you."
Harry almost sobbed in frustration as he could only sit and watch Ethan lay the body down and stand over Draco with a concentrated expression. Ethan set aside his wand and removed a large dagger from his belt.
"What is that for?" Harry gasped. "Why aren't you using your wand?"
"It's much more fun this way," Ethan smiled, stroking the blade. "More hands on. I always use it."
"This isn't your fist time," Harry concluded hollowly.
"Of course not," Ethan said, proudly.
Draco stirred on the floor and blearily opened his eyes.
"Ah, Mr Malfoy," Ethan greeted happily. "I did so want you to be awake for this."
"How many others have you killed?" Harry asked, trying to distract him.
"Only two, so you should feel blessed."
Harry felt sick at being so easily tricked by such a psychotic madman. And now it was his fault that Draco was going to die, too.
"Wait!" Harry cried. "Don't kill him. Kill me instead."
"No!" Draco protested hoarsely.
Ethan paused. "Hmm...well, I did want Malfoy to witness your death. It has a certain poetic justice to it."
"No!" Draco shouted again. "Leave him alone. I don't care what happens to me."
"Ugh!" Ethan rolled his eyes. "You two are so fucking noble, it's making me sick."
Harry held his breath as Ethan seemed to consider his options.
"Alright," he decided. "Harry, I believe you get the honour."
Ethan pointed his wand at Draco, and the same cords holding Harry in place snaked from the end and wrapped themselves around his wrists and ankles. He couldn't move an inch and bit his lip to keep from crying out as the barbs sunk into his skin.
Ethan smirked at Draco's immobile form, then stepped across him and up to the head table.
"Harry!" Draco cried out. "Don't do it!"
Harry let out a shuddered breath and held his tears at bay. He would not cry now, he wouldn't let Ethan get the satisfaction.
"Are you ready, Harry?" Ethan asked, coming to stand in front of the table, holding his precious knife in one hand.
"Yes." Harry nodded firmly.
"Harry," Draco sobbed brokenly, hearing the quiet resignation in Harry's voice. He needed to make Harry angry again, he needed to make him feel something so that he would want to live through this...
But what could he say?
"Harry!" Draco suddenly yelled with urgency. "Ethan has killed before."
"I know," Harry responded dully. "Two others."
Ethan wiped the dagger blade on his cloak, cleaning the gleaming silver.
"Do you know who?" Draco continued.
"No..."
"He murdered Remus Lupin, Harry. One of them was, Lupin."
Harry felt his body run cold, his eyes wide in frozen disbelief. He turned glazed eyes towards Ethan and couldn't even speak.
Ethan smiled and shrugged. "I guess you should've come with me to Hogsmeade that day."
He was stunned. He couldn't move...couldn't breathe...
"Sorry about that, Harry," Ethan shrugged nonchalantly. "I needed to weaken your emotions and he was the closest thing to a parent that you had, so..."
Harry felt the disbelief leave him, and suddenly a red hot rage burned strong throughout his entire body. The pain disappeared completely and he turned sparkling emerald eyes towards Ethan.
Ethan took a step back, but then smiled and took his knife in hand. "Say goodbye, Harry."
Harry could feel the magic building in his body, flowing out to his finger-tips and sparking in the air around him. Anger as he had never felt before was fuelling his desire to break free.
Ethan frowned as the lights in the Hall dimmed and flickered.
Draco waited with baited breath, lying motionless on the floor and unable to see what was happening above him. He could feel the collective magic stirring in the air, and knew that it belonged to Harry. It felt familiar, and very, very powerful.
Harry clenched his hands into fists and glared at Ethan with pure, unadulterated hate.
Ethan gripped the dagger determinedly and strode toward Harry.
But he never reached him.
An sudden blast erupted from Harry and engulfed the entire room with shockingly, bright light. The torches went out and a gust of wind rushed through the room and swirled around the three occupants. Green sparks flashed and crackled. The tables and benches shook and vibrated, the very stones rumbled, and dust fell from the walls. The enchanted ceiling above went pitch black, the stars usually reflected there at night were snuffed out, the moon gone. A rushing sound filled the room, increasing in pitch until it was almost unbearable.
Then it was over.
The torches re-ignited and the stars returned to twinkle above in the ceiling. The Hall became deathly quiet, as if someone had suddenly turned down the sound.
Draco cautiously opened his eyes and looked around. Everything looked the same, but he couldn't see the top of the platform where Harry was.
"Harry?" he called out, desperately hoping that he was alright.
There was a quiet thud and then suddenly Harry was there beside him, kneeling next to him and using Ethan's dagger to cut him free.
"Harry," Draco breathed out in relief. He shook the cut wire from himself and sat up.
Harry stood up and the dagger fell from his fingers, clattering onto the stone floor. "I did it," he marvelled.
Draco smiled and stood up. He looked towards the platform and saw that Ethan had been knocked unconscious, and was sprawled in a very awkward looking position on the floor.
"He's still alive," Draco mused.
Harry nodded, his body beginning to tremble.
"What the hell happened, Harry?" Draco asked curiously, turning to face him. "Harry?"
Harry swallowed and felt his vision fade as he began to crumple to the floor.
"Harry!" Draco exclaimed, quickly grabbing him to keep him from falling.
Harry's eyes closed and his breathing slowed down as he fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
Draco exhaled in relief and swung Harry's light body up into his arms. He looked down at the sleeping boy with the lightening bolt scar and knew that he was holding some one very special, and that this time he wouldn't let him go. He pressed his lips to Harry's forehead and tenderly kissed the famous mark. Harry's skin was warm beneath his lips and he noticed that Harry smiled in his sleep at the gentle contact.
A pounding on the Great Hall doors broke the trance and Draco looked up to see Snape, Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, McGonagall, Crabbe and Goyle, and what looked like all of Gryffindor, come rushing into the room.
He sighed wearily, thinking about the very long and complicated explanation he was now going to have to go through.
He looked down again at Harry's peaceful face, suddenly envying his unconscious state.
"Draco! What happened? Where's Ethan? Is Harry okay?"
Draco sighed and took a deep, steadying breath.