A/N: Sorry it took so long to update… Lol, and I continue using names of well-known songs as my headlines… *ahem* I promise it won't become a habit.

A/N II: AND I continue with Blaise Zabini as a girl… My mistake, long ago, but won't correct it… SO sorry.

18. Family Portraits

The Thursday opened as rainy as the previous day. However, the melancholy weather did not stop the cheerful babbling that was carrying all over the Great Hall from the Gryffindor breakfast table. Draco glared at the direction, finding the golden trio sitting huddled together as always, next to Longbottom, Thomas and Finnegan. He snorted half audibly, finding himself a bit jealous. Not entirely because Harry shared his attention with those worthless Gryffindor mooncalves, but because he had somebody to share it in the first place. Obviously Potter wasn't as unfortunate as Draco what it came to his friends –he wasn't forced to stand the company of the two slowest goons in Hogwarts' history.

"You want some omelette, Draco?"

Draco's eyes snapped quickly from the painful view to Gregory Goyle, and he made a real effort to hold back a sigh.

"No thanks, Greg. I'm fine as it is."

"But you haven't eaten anything! Only had one cup of coffee!"

"And a cigarette earlier this morning," Draco pointed out, feeling dull.

"Your family's coming over this afternoon, right? I take it you're nervous?" put in Vincent, having great fun in digging the jam out of a muffin with his tongue.

Draco looked elsewhere, feeling disgusted. "Why should I be nervous about my family coming over, Vin?"

The both fat simpletons exchanged a look which Draco quite couldn't place.

"What?"

"Um," started Gregory, "Draco, we know certain things. About you and…" he leaned to whisper, "…We know you have been Called."

Draco looked at them with slightly amazed expression. "Now do you really?"

Vincent leaned across the table, however not completely without difficulties because of his large stomach that got in the way.

"Draco, our fathers know your father. We hear things at home. And we get information via fire talking and letters as well."

"I didn't know you two could fire talk," Draco mocked, "And I seriously didn't expect your fathers to be such dimwits as to send that kind of information written in a parchment!"

Both Crabbe and Goyle seemed to be pondering the issue, however not quickly enough to understand its importance. Draco let out the sigh he had been holding back ever since he entered the breakfast.

"Don't tell me this is an open issue in Slytherin?"

"Er, well… It kind of is. We told Pansy and she told everyone else."

Draco leaned backwards so hard that he was very lucky to be sitting next to a wall, which now evidently prevented him from collapsing on his back onto the floor.

"I can't believe this!" he whined, closing his eyes. He felt an anger, stronger than never before, intrude his chest.

I am as good as dead. If Dumbledore finds out… If Potter finds out... God…

Vincent eyed the Malfoy heir warily, "Draco? Pansy wanted us to ask you something."

"And pray, what is that!" Draco whimpered pitiably, close to hex his dorm mates into oblivion.

"How are you going to deal with the Wonder Boy after you join the Dark Lord?"

Draco opened his eyes slightly, so that they were only two narrow silvery stripes. He was gnashing his teeth. "What I do with the 'Wonder Boy', is not bloody any of your business."

"Yea, but what the Wonder Boy does with you after he finds out, now that is our business. We worry about you, Draco," Vincent said, however not sharing his attention with anything else than his cucumber porridge.

Draco didn't reply, only finished his already cold coffee.

If they would worry about me, they wouldn't be talking about this matter in the first place, those brainless fuckwits… Lord, what am I going to do now? Father's coming over this afternoon, and he probably gives me more specific information about the Dark Lord's plans. I must tell him that there's a security leak in the Crabbe and Goyle family lines. Oh, the pink fairies in hell, I can almost count the hours before this little piece of juicy information is spread all over the school. That Pansy girl just can't keep her mouth shut… First it will be Ravenclaw… then Hufflepuff… and finally Gryffindor and Saint Potter.

Draco was so furious he found it hard to breathe. Therefore he left the table, without even looking at his friends. He headed up the stairs, towards the Divination classroom where his first lesson would start in fifteen minutes.

Really, what will happen when Potter finds out? He will probably put a stop to our nice affair and hand me over to the Order. Or then again, he is such a good Gryffindor hero boy that he might as well try and make me join the Order's side. Hah! He can try!

Draco frowned. He wasn't really thinking highly about the Order of the Phoenix. He was sure that the Order would fall apart when encountering the new might of Lord Voldemort. Draco dodged a trap stair and slipped his school bag over his other shoulder.

But what if Harry Potter really doesn't even try to stop me? Now there we would have an interesting situation. First of all, he could just shrug and say good luck, see you in hell. That would mean he doesn't care a shit about me. That would mean he thinks I'm not worth anything, not good enough to fight in the Light side. The thought made Draco even angrier, if possible. Fuck you Potter! I'm as good a wizard as you, if not even better!

However, sooner than soon, Draco had a new expression over his features. A predatory smirk.

But what if my plan truly succeeds? What if Potter really falls in love with me? That isn't impossible, taken that I am such a good lover, plus I am damn good looking. Not to mention that I've got still over a week time before Hailie's birthday party. And then… I could hand him over to the Dark Lord, and the Phoenix would fall.

There was a nasty itch in Draco's chest.

Oh, don't start with me now! I've made my mind!

However the prickling didn't cease but only increased. Draco tried to forget about betraying Harry and thought about other possibilities still.

Hey, I could really become friends with the Scar-head. Yes, I really think we could manage to be friends. And there follows that I could get to convert Potter. What if I was able to make Potter join the Dark side with me?

Draco shook his head and kicked the wall, getting an annoying stripe of stone dust over his shining black leather shoe.

I'm becoming mentally ill. Soon I guess I see a little devil sitting on my shoulder, shaking with creepy, evil laughter and poking me with a fork. I must be totally insane, even thinking that Saint Potter would join the Dark Lord's side. That would be the last thing he'd ever do.

Harry Potter had rolled out of his bed very late that morning. Therefore he was on a very good mood, laughing with his friends at everything possible. He watched as Draco Malfoy left the breakfast table earlier than any of his Slytherin friends, looking highly irritated. Harry was very careful to let his gaze fall off the gorgeous boy only after a few seconds, so that his friends wouldn't notice and start to say things like 'he's only a git' or 'forget him' or 'ignore him'.

For how could Harry Potter forget or ignore Draco Malfoy?

He couldn't.

Harry couldn't help going giddy every time Draco was nearby. The Slytherin's plain presence seemed to evoke such strong feelings nowadays that Harry was often truly afraid of them breaking his ribcage. He knew Draco Malfoy was venom that polluted his blood, making the veins bump the red liquid harder than necessary, especially in places he last would have wished. And yet he wouldn't have parted with the feeling for all his life was worth.

Harry had now accepted the fact that 'he was a little bit gay'. That there was 'only one boy he liked that way', and it was Malfoy. He still kept completely ignoring the fact that he did pay attention to other men as well, even though they did not compare to Draco at any level. He still totally shook off the fact that he hadn't checked out any single girl after the Lavender episode, and wasn't even about to. There was certainly enough to check out in once certain show-off Slytherin.

But Draco had been strangely distant this morning. Only once had he glanced at Harry's direction, and with no flirt in that gaze, either. It had been a sulky glare. And that was what made Harry now uncomfortable.

Yesterday was so much fun… I really thought I had him around my finger. He seemed to be so happy, so daring and so funny, as if he'd honestly been enjoying my company. I actually thought I was close to win this battle… Win his heart… But I guess I was wrong. He seems to be more than distant today, avoiding my stare.

"Harry, look mate, it's Lavender again! Look what she's wearing this morning!" Ron interrupted Harry's thoughts, poking his shoulder.

Harry slowly raised his eyes from the empty seat of Malfoy and took a look at the direction everybody else was gaping. There stood Lavender, in front of the teachers' table, wearing a tight white mini skirt and a small, sky-blue T-shirt with the text 'Blondes rule'. Her hair was glowing weirdly, as if she'd been adding some kind of star dust potion to it, and she tried to balance with high-heeled pink shoes.

"What in the name of Morgan is she doing?" Harry winced, grimacing with horror.

"She's going to remind us to vote," Hermione dully stated, her expression being close to that of Harry's. "She told me this morning that she's been studying new glamour charms all night. She even offered to help me with my hair."

"Don't you dare do anything to your hair, Mione," Ron huffed. "I like it the way it is."

Hermione gave him a loving smile.

Harry didn't want to watch or hear Lavender. He wondered if it was anyhow possible for somebody to humiliate the Gryffindor house more than Lavender had done only in two days.

"Ron, Hermione, do you mind if I go for a little solitary walk before our lesson starts?"

"Go ahead, mate," Ron smiled, "See you then at Hagrid's."

Harry wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and rose from the table. He walked out of the Great Hall and to the entrance hall, wrapping his cloak firmly around himself. The air outside was humid and chilly, and he didn't want it to come in touch with his body. He opened the door and ran down the long stony steps, entering the freedom of the vast Hogwarts grounds. He headed his steps towards the lake.

Slight haze rose from the dark water and Harry thought the view rather comfortable. He knelt down and touched the surface, allowing himself to drift in thought.

I wonder where my relationship with Draco is going. I really haven't been myself lately. He has changed me. He's changed be fundamentally.

Harry watched his blurred reflection from the raindrop-dotted water.

First of all, I think I don't love Ron and Hermione anymore unconditionally. I've started to search for faults in them. Doubt their motives of being my friends. And that is all Malfoy's doing. He's such a git. Wish he didn't sear my hear that mucht…

Harry huddled himself in a smaller heap. He inhaled the scent from his blouse that carried Malfoy's magic.

He has also made me question my own doings and decisions. He's made me weak. I know his father is none other than Lucius Malfoy, and that he's expected to join that ridiculous Death Eater party of Voldemort. And that is just it. I think I've started to like him so much that I don't even doom him for that. I know our relationship is purely physical and that it won't be lasting very long, which makes me kind of blind. I really don't think much about our future. Do we even have a future? At least I know I don't want to change him. He's just perfect the way he is, a heartless prick who thinks only of his own comfort and benefits.

Harry wiped his glasses that were dripping wet with the rain.

Malfoy is safe. He can't break my heart. He's reliable. He is reliable in a way that he is unquestionably unreliable.

Harry shook his head.

What the fuck am I thinking? That last thought doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

"Bee in your bonnet, Harry?"

Harry spun around so suddenly that he lost his balance and fell on his butt right at the waterline. His trousers and sleeves got drenched as he tried to support himself from not falling on his back in the lake.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," he panted, trying to haul himself up from the water. "I didn't hear you coming."

The old Headmaster smiled warmly at Harry. "I would like to have a word, Harry," he said, pointing his wand at the raven-haired Gryffindor and charming his clothes dry again. "If that is alright with you, of course."

Harry tried to smile but failed. He actually didn't want to talk to anybody right now, but Dumbledore wasn't exactly a person who to tell to sod off.

"It's okay," he muttered and folded his hands together behind his back. "What is it, Headmaster?"

"I have sensed that you have been recently struggling internally," Dumbledore said with severe tone. "I only wanted to ask you, is there anything you would wish to tell me?"

Harry raised both his brows, unaware of himself mimicking Draco Malfoy rather perfectly. "No sir. Nothing."

"Harry… It is in my knowledge that you prefer to keeping your problems inside and not telling anybody about them. But let me advice you… If there is somebody you think you could talk to…"

"Headmaster, what makes you think that I have problems?" Harry asked, a bit annoyed.

"Well, Harry… You haven't been acting like yourself lately. You have showed certain signs of… darkness… in your character."

"And what does that exactly mean?" Harry asked. He was beginning to be very doubtful towards Dumbledore now. This was namely the first conversation between them two when Dumbledore hadn't tried to answer his questions with another question, but been strictly worried and forthcoming.

"I have heard that you have found a way of spending your spare time without your usual friends. You have treated some of your housemates very unfairly, and you have been fighting awfully often nowadays. Halloween was exceptionally weird with you sitting all by yourself at the table and ignoring everybody else. That is not like you, Harry. You have become more distant than before. You have also avoided me. Harry… These all observations bring me back to my first question. Is there anything you wish to tell me? Anything at all?"

Harry bit his lip and shifted. "It's nothing but usual teenager stuff, really, Headmaster. I… I have found someone."

"Indeed?" Dumbledore's eyes began to twinkle.

Harry made a great effort not to grin. "I thought you knew everything that was going on in the castle, sir."

"That is a common belief, I must admit. But wouldn't it be awful if it was true?"

Harry now genuinely smiled. "Suppose it would."

"May I ask if this new relationship that you were talking about… Has that been the reason to your unusual behaviour?"

"We have had a rough start, sir," Harry tried to think what else he could say without completely exposing his relationship to the clever older wizard. "And I think I've been a little insecure with my own… sexual orientation."

"Ah," was all the Headmaster could produce.

"What I mean to say, sir, is that my relationship has been of a rather interesting kind, and that has caused my odd behaviour."

There was a look of curiosity in Dumbledore's eyes, but it was suppressed quickly. "Then I guess I can be restful, Harry. I am glad that the explanation was this simple. I was merely worried that your scar might have been smarting again."

"No sir, it is nothing like that," Harry replied hastily. He would have wanted to add that, even if it would have been the case, he wouldn't necessarily have told Dumbledore anyway.  "Er, this is just something I need to take care on my own. Some personal stuff with… with my boyfriend."

The annoying twinkle was back in the Headmaster's gaze. "You do that, my lad, you do that."

Harry smiled and turned to look at the lake. Albus Dumbledore understood the hint and headed back towards the castle.

The whole forenoon drifted by rather non-eventfully. Care of Magical creatures brought Harry to think of Draco yet again, when Hagrid continued with the Hydra nestlings he'd bought from a stranger in Hog's Head. Draco likewise spent the whole Divination class thinking about Harry, completely disobeying Trelawney, not giving one look at the crystal ball. Herbology and Transfiguration, which the Gryffindors shared with the Slytherins, went over with Draco trying his best to ignore Harry for emotional and self-protective reasons, and Harry trying his best to get Draco's attention, craving for acknowledgement. Other than that, there was nothing happening that should be mentioned –except for one thing.

There was a great improvement in the general appearance of the students -if not counted Draco Malfoy, of course. He couldn't possibly have been better-looking than what he already always was. But as to the Nearly Everybody Else… They had done their hair extra carefully, were wearing their best outfits, and were trying to get their fellow students to admire them. Harry found this all showing off ridiculous, and the most ridiculous of them all were Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. They had obviously found a completely new level of using glamour charms.

"Who are you going to vote, Harry?" asked Neville in Herbology.

"Well, I didn't think of voting at all, Neville," Harry replied, smoothing the nearly full-grown gillyweed in his bowl.

"But you must put your cross on the ballot parchment! They're going to draw lots and two of the voters will win a trip to Ilfracombe!"

"Ilfracombe?"

"It's the resort town on the northern coast of Devon, Harry," Hermione informed with her usual know-it-all tone. "There was an infamous attack of a Welch Green Dragon on Muggles on a beach in 1032. They were barely saved by Tilly Toke, Order of Merlin First Class, who wiped the Muggles' memories afterwards."

"Okay," Harry shrugged. "So what's the fun in that? The attack was like seventy years ago. There's nothing to watch anymore, now is there?"

"Well, that depends," grinned Ron, "I hear the beach is excellent! And there are many girls in bikini…"

"Ron, the trip will take place in September, and it's definitely too cold for any girl to be on the beach in bikini then," Hermione snapped, her voice a bit stern.

Harry simpered and Ron glared.

"So Neville, who are you going to vote, then?" Harry asked, trying politely to continue the subject at hand.

Neville smiled in a way Harry thought was naively enthusiastic. "I think Ginny is very pretty."

Ron glared even more, however not saying anything.

"And who is your choice for the best-looking guy, then?" Harry encouraged his classmate.
Neville looked a bit insecure. "Well, don't you think Dean's rather good-looking, Harry? I mean, he's really in shape and he's also a Gryffindor."

"Yes, he's very fit indeed," Harry grinned, smiling at Dean's direction, finding his dorm-mate once again rather hot in his camouflaged blouse. Then Harry shifted his eyes towards the Slytherin group and found a pair of jealous-looking grey eyes. He grinned even wider. "Dean is certainly in the top five," he added audibly enough for Draco to overhear.

The grey eyes turned away, sulking.

"Ron, how about you?" Neville wanted to know.

"Hm, I think it's rather obvious that I'm going to vote my two best friends," Ron smiled. "Hermione and Harry."

"What is with you all Gryffindors, voting only your own housemates?" asked Tracey Davies, who passed by Neville and Ron, in order to go to the salt water well. "Inbreeded species, the Gryffindor lion is."

"Mind your attitude, Davies," Ron huffed. "The fact that every Slytherin is so damn ugly is only one of the many reasons we don't even consider voting them."

"Every Slytherin ugly?" Tracey turned around, her eyes trailing towards Harry. She smiled prettily and asked, almost winking her eye, "Do you think that, as well, Potter?"

Harry flushed. He really didn't like to answer that question. Therefore he decided to 'accidentally' drop his gillyweed bowl, which allowed him to escape the situation under the table. He didn't hear how Draco sniggered with Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle. He didn't see the puzzled look on Hermione, Neville and Ron's face. He just flushed.

It was a very grey day, although not nearly as vivid a grey as Draco Malfoy's eyes at that precise moment when his family arrived in the Hogwarts grounds. Draco was waiting for his father and mother at Hogwarts' main entrance, standing in a proud poise. Lucius walked the steps up to him and smiled graciously.

"You look good, Draco," Lucius said as his greeting.

Draco looked smug. "So do you, father."

"Dragon, darling, I have missed you!" Narcissa Malfoy sang from behind her husband's back. "Come, let me see you!"

Narcissa was beaming. She was as beautiful as ever, slowly ascending the steps with a two-year-old child in her arms. Draco went over and placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

"Mother."

"Draco! Dracodracodraco!"

Draco looked surprised and met the huge shiny eyes of his little sister. "Hailie? You've learned to say my name?"

The child giggled and clapped her tiny hands. "Draco!"

"She repeats nearly everything she hears, nowadays," Narcissa told, "She is learning quickly."

"Which annoys me exceedingly sometimes," Lucius put in. "Especially when we have guests and she decides to learn words not yet meant for her knowledge."

"I understand," Draco's mouth twisted with hilarity. He could almost hear his little sister shouting words like 'Death Eater', 'Killing curse' or 'Dark Master' in public areas.

"Shall we get inside already?" inquired Lucius, looking at some third-year Hufflepuff students with distaste, making them flinch and escape. "I'd rather have a cup of tea."

"Of course, father," Draco guided his family inside the huge oak doors.

Harry Potter was watching the Malfoys' arrival with Ron and Hermione, standing in a shadowy corner in front of the staircase that led down to the Slytherin dungeons. Ron whispered that he had never seen such amount of silvery-white hair, paleness and snobbery before. Harry only smiled, thinking that Draco really was a younger version of Lucius Malfoy, even though he had her mother's nose and naturally black eyelashes. Harry imagined that if he ever would have a future with Draco, Lucius was exactly what Draco would look like when being forty-five. And even though Lucius was a total badass Death Eater, he was still awfully handsome. Smiling weirdly, Harry kept on observing the Malfoys.

"Professor Snape was kind enough to let us use his private lounge while we need to talk," Lucius smiled his creepy smile while walking towards the dungeons. "However, Narcissa my love, I think this conversation isn't yet meant for Hailie's ears."

The beautiful woman understood what his husband was saying, and turned her gaze towards a group of three sixth-year Slytherin girls hanging by a windowsill. They all were looking at the visitors in awe.

"Could you girls keep an eye on Draco's little sister for a while for me?" Narcissa asked Pansy Parkinson, giving her a brilliant smile of a half Veela.

"Most certainly, milady," Pansy squealed, with obvious delight and admiration.

"We would do anything for you," Millicent echoed, also dazzled by the attraction of Draco's mother.

Narcissa smiled. "I'm glad to hear Draco has good and thoughtful friends in his house, such as you."

Pansy went to sit on the windowsill and Narcissa gave Hailie in her arms. Almost instantly, a horrible yell echoed around the aisle and Hailie started to cry. And even in less time than instantly, Lucius Malfoy turned on his heels and strode over, taking Hailie's little face between his fingers and scowling at her daughter.

"Stop that whining right now, Hailie! Malfoys never cry."

The little girl silenced in a second, looking at her father with her huge, grey eyes. Harry, Hermione and Ron exchanged meaningful looks in the shadows where they were standing. They couldn't quite say if the two-year-old really understood what her father had said, or if she just reacted to the cold way Lucius was looking at her.

"He's a monster," Hermione whispered, "I almost can understand why Draco grew up so horrible, now."

Harry flinched at the mention of Draco's name, but didn't say anything. Instead, he watched as Lucius guided his only son out of view down in the dungeons.

"Now, remember what your father said, Hailie," Narcissa quickly embraced the girl's cheek, also turning to leave. "I will be back in thirty minutes."

Hailie Anguis merely glared, her mien darkening with every step Narcissa took away from her. And when her mother was completely out of sight, the little Malfoy audibly growled and started to writhe out of Pansy's arms.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Pansy tried to keep the girl steady. "Calm down, Hailie! Mommy will be back in no time!"

However, the attempts to restrain the little monster were futile. Hailie started to yell with fury and kick around, and Pansy was forced to hand her over to Millicent. Millicent was horrified, since she had never in her life held a child in her arms, and her horror deepened when she received a bite on her upper arm from the Malfoy heir.

"You take her!" Millicent shrieked and hauled Hailie in Blaise Zabini's lap. Blaise received a slap over the cheek and went almost deaf with Hailie's loud protest yells.

Ron, Hermione and Harry giggled in their corner. "Lucius taught her well. She really isn't crying."

Blaise got very quickly annoyed with Draco's sister and yanked her back to Millicent. Millicent tried to roll her back to Pansy, who had, however, escaped the battle zone.

"Give her to that Granger girl," Pansy pouted when noticing the group of Gryffindors standing nearby. "Bet she can handle her!"

Harry and Ron roared with laughter as Millicent came and nearly threw the biting and kicking and yelling girl in Hermione's arms. Hermione, instead, was pale with horror.

"What if the Malfoys return and find their precious princess in the arms of a Mud-blood?" she exclaimed, trying to make Harry hear her comment through the noise Hailie was making. "I really don't want to get hexed by Lucius. Besides, this girl is scraping my arms and kicking my stomach very hard."

Ron only giggled, thinking how the Malfoy family would be displeased to find their child in a Muggle-born's arms. Harry, however, understood the situation a little better, and offered to take the girl. Hermione was more than ready to oblige, and not entirely unlike Millicent, she threw Hailie as far away from herself as possible. Harry caught her swiftly and positioned her over his right flank, making her legs spread on either side of his hips, just the way he'd seen Narcissa carry her. Then he raised his free hand to wipe some soft tendrils away from her eyes and smiled at her.

And a miracle it was. Hailie stopped screaming and smiled back.

If Colin Creevey would have been close by with his camera, it would've been his lucky day. All the girls around Harry and Hailie had similar expressions of awe and anxiety, their jaws hanging close to the floor with surprise. Ron's expression was also priceless, with its petrified state of pale horror.

But as it was, Harry saw none of this. He was only concentrated in the pretty blonde child in his arms, who reminded him quite amazingly of Draco. Hailie's eyes were perhaps slightly darker shade of grey, and her hair still partly consisted of baby wisps, but the resemblance was still clearly there.

"Hello, Hailie Malfoy," Harry grinned, receiving a delighted giggle from the girl. "My name is Harry Potter."

The child smiled so widely Harry thought she could easily outshine the sun. "Arry!"

"Yes, I'm Harry."

Hailie giggled again and lifted her tiny hands over Harry's cheeks. She fiddled with his fingers for a moment and then grabbed Harry's eyeglasses.

"You don't like them either?" Harry asked, not paying attention to who was listening.

Hailie threw the glasses on the floor with all the force a two-year-old could possess and they actually went broken.

"Harry, be careful with her!" Ron stuttered, still somewhat shaken with the fact that his best mate was carrying Draco Malfoy's sister, and fondly so.

"Don't mind repairing those glasses, Mione," Harry said, smiling at Hermione who had picked the frames up in order to do another 'oculus reparo' on them. "Just let them. I don't need them anymore. I think I see my life more clearly without them."

Hermione and Ron only stared at their best friend in shock.

Snape's lounge was surprisingly decorated with no other colours than black and Slytherin green. Draco vaguely thought that his favourite Professor was actually rather dull forty-year-old chap with nothing in his person to evoke interest, if not his awful, daily and mostly-without-reason scowls. Lucius conjured a silencing charm around them and elegantly slid his serpent-gripped wand back into the long, black cane it was hidden in.

"I do not have much time, my son. There's an army of over four hundred soldiers, waiting on the Isle of Skye, Cuillin ridge, more precisely in the shelter of Gars-bheinn. It was well hidden until there was a security leak we haven't yet placed. The Dark Lord now needs to hurry up with his schedule, and I must run."

"I understand, father," Draco said, thinking if he should mention that the security leaks were most likely the senior Crabbe and Goyle.

"Let's get straight to the matter at hand," Lucius continued. "You did understand from my letter that your initiation shall be taking place in the end of the next week, I presume?"

"Aye, I did. I was just wondering why it is happening this early. I know I'm nearly fully trained, but my school is still continuing. I thought I had the time to graduate first."

"You shall graduate, my son. This has nothing to do with that. Actually, your first mission shall be taking place in here, inside the walls of this castle."

"Are you going to attack Hogwarts, father?" Draco asked, successfully trying not to sound worried. "Do I need to find a way to destroy the wards or something?"

"Yes, attacking Hogwarts is our eventual plan," replied Lucius, taking a bite from a croissant. "But you need not to worry about that just yet. Our Master has other plans for you."

"Of course."

"Now tell me Draco… How's Harry Potter doing these days?"

Draco looked a little disturbed by this question but succeeded to answer dispassionately enough. "He's become an awfully good wizard during these last two years of education, and I expect he's received also some considerable amount of private training from our former DADA Professor, Remus Lupin. He can be a tough bite when the Dark Lord decides to attack. We mustn't forget that Potter's already won the Dark Lord four times, and is not willing to lose this time, either."

The corner of Lucius' mouth twisted into a little sneer. "That is what I am here to talk to you about, my son. We need you to take care of that Potter boy."

Draco looked beyond amazed. "Me? Whatever for? I couldn't…"

"Listen to what I have to say, son," Lucius interrupted, rather impatiently. "You don't need to kill him. But, the Dark Lord believes that he cannot personally surprise Mr. Potter because of that weird scar-hurting thing. Therefore he needs a minion who will not evoke suspicion, but who is also nearly as powerful as Potter and can use his magic satisfactorily enough against the Wonder Boy. Therefore, the Dark Lord needs you, Draco. He wants you to shake Potter's personal life. He needs you to keep him busy, not thinking about the war. He wants you to try to make Potter's suspicions target on yourself instead of him. Keep Potter confused."

"Keep him confused…?"

"In general opinion, you are yet too young to be a Death Eater, Draco. That gives you the air of innocence, despite the fact that you and Potter have been arguing lately so often. The general opinion is that you've been brainwashed by your horrible parents to treat Mr. Potter awfully. The professors are thinking it is just a childish act of a badly guided teenager boy. Which, I know, it is not. I did ask you to befriend with Potter in the beginning, didn't I? The hatred you've created towards him, is solely your own doing, Draco."

"I know."

Lucius laughed. "It is rather amusing, though, the way you continue feeding your anger. I receive at least four reports in a week from Snape about how appallingly you have once again been behaving."

"You do?"

Lucius waved his hand dismissively and simpered. "I never care. I wouldn't punish you for something like that. Potter deserves at least somebody to hate him."

Draco snorted and conjured both his father and himself two cigarettes from his trouser pocket.

"Father, if I may say so… I don't quite follow the Dark Lord's reason here. This whole plan sounds very… badly founded. Very stupid. How can he expect me to succeed in blowing up Potter's perfect little life?"

"Well, yes, it is probably the worst idea he's ever had," Lucius said nonchalantly, taking a draft from his cigarette. "But I have actually no real choice in the matter of telling you these orders. Do you honestly think I'd wish my only son to tamper with Potter?"

"Well, what the hell do I need to do to make the Hero Boy confused? Jinx his head off? For fuck's sake, there's but a week time! And he's not that easily crushed, you know! He's strong!"

"Yes, well, the Dark Lord expects you to do your best. This isn't the first time he requests impossible things from his servants," Lucius sounded bored.

"And tell me, what happens if I don't succeed?"

Or what if I don't want to succeed?

"You know what happens, Draco," Narcissa spoke for the first time, looking strikingly pretty even when worried. "He'll cast a Cruciatus on you. A very powerful one. You've seen it in action many times, and know how it can hurt."

Lucius smiled painfully, obviously remembering the feeling. "Indeed, using the Unforgivables is the Dark Lord's style."

Draco swallowed. "Alright… Tell me what I need to do after I get under Potter's skin. Do I then get to jinx him headless?"

"No, that would be non-effective plus you might fail. No… You must not only get under his skin, but you also must find Potter's weak spot and destroy his spirit by attacking him from that direction. When his raison d'être is destroyed, he will be destroyed internally as well."

Draco suddenly noticed he wasn't breathing and rapidly took a couple of shallow inhales.

Shit… Didn't Potter just say last Halloween that his weak spot is me? ME! And he must have spoken the truth, as well. He was under Veritaserum, even if it was a diluted dose…

Draco forced himself to inhale a third time.

Must I destroy myself in order to destroy him? Must I destroy the both of us?

"But I've got only a week…"

"Irrelevant. Let us just hope that you will somehow be able to bring Mr. Potter at the Manor when your initiation takes place. Things will be getting a rather exciting turn then," Lucius simpered.

"At the Manor?" Draco knew he looked distracted, and made an effort to sit in a more composed position.

"Yes. Once Potter is a wreck, you must find a way to bring his spiritless person in front of our Master. He will be continuing from there. He will be attending Hailie's birthday party next week, and will make you one of his servants –if you succeed in this first task he's given to you."

Draco carefully encountered his father's eyes that were so much like his own. "I will try my best, father. I don't want to let him down. Although I think this is a very decrepit plan of a very decrepit mind."

Both Lucius and Narcissa exchanged amused expressions. They were very proud of their son, and were highly amused the way the young man thought Lord Voldemort wasn't anymore in the best of his understanding.

They were interrupted then by a Malfoy house-elf that came stuttering inside, telling that little Hailie Anguis was now in the arms of the terrible Harry Potter. Narcissa ran from her chair in panic, but Lucius caught her hand.

"Darling, I think Draco should take care of this particular situation," he smiled wickedly.

Harry was walking back and forth along the aisle in front of the Slytherin staircase, blabbering non-sensible gibberish with the girl in his arms. He completely ignored Hermione and Ron, who were watching him in a horrified daze. They highly disapproved that Harry would hold a Malfoy, even if it was a little girl. But since neither of them nor none of the Slytherin girls were ready to take the watch, Harry was let to continue with his doings.

"You are a very pretty girl, did you know that?" Harry asked the smiling child, playing with the soft white tendrils that fell like slightly curling silk down the girl's back. "But you really should behave yourself. You cannot kick and bite people. Hasn't your daddy told you that?"

"Daddy!" Hailie repeated, rather loudly.

Harry was amused to receive several terrified-to-death glances from his observers. Especially Ron looked like he'd have sat on a hedgehog, simultaneously eating those slugs he once upon a time had vomited in Hagrid's cabin, after a very embarrassing scene of unsuccessfully hexing Draco Malfoy. Harry understood that they thought Hailie had called him her father, and giggled along with the girl.

"You are really funny, Hailie. Did you know that?"

"Potter!"

Harry recognized the voice immediately. It belonged to Draco Malfoy, none other. He slowly turned around and saw the blonde Slytherin approaching. Millicent and Pansy immediately followed their leader, apologizing weakly that they couldn't keep their promise to his mother.

"Malfoy," Harry replied, still somewhat sniggering. "Good day to you too."

"I see you've become friends with my little sister," Draco drawled with his usual style, stepping right in front of the Gryffindor, looking somewhat menacing.

Harry took Hailie from the armpits and gave her to Draco, smiling still. "She broke my glasses. I take it she didn't like them either."

Draco tried not to smile back, however still his mouth curled. "We Malfoys like it classy. She's got her brother's eye."

"Draco!" Hailie giggled. "Draco and Arry!"

Harry flushed and Draco snorted.

"Draco and Harry, eh?" Draco grinned at the little toddler that was now giving wet kisses on his cheek. "Did Harry treat you well, ladybug?"

"Arry is good," was the firm answer. "He is no good." Hailie pointed her finger towards Ron.

Draco scowled at the direction of Ronald Weasley. This woke Ron from his odd trance and the redhead strode over to them, Hermione following suit.

"Harry, come on, let's go," Ron said silently. "Malfoy, it's not Harry's fault that your little monster of a sister was in his arms. It was Pansy and Millicent's doing. So sod off and punish your own housemates with your company."

"Weasel, can't you see we're for once trying to have a civilized conversation with Potter here," Draco cast icicles at Ron with his eyes. "So don't interfere."

Hermione huffed at Ron's side, lifting her hazel eyes murderously at Draco. "Civilized conversation? How can you talk about civilized conversation, being everything but civilized yourself, Malfoy? Calling Harry's friends Mud-bloods or Weasels is not exactly that refined a habit, you know."

Draco raised an elegant right brow and Hailie repeated the word 'Mud-blood' very happily.

"Granger, for the sake of your own sanity, I hope you don't put your nose into this. You don't have to know it all, now do you?"

"Malfoy…" Harry glared.

Hermione merely looked confused, once again that day. Ron eyed both Harry and Malfoy warily. Harry knew this look and decided not to give Ron any more reason to be suspicious.

"Malfoy you sod, don't talk that way to my friends. Ron, Hermione… Let's go to the dinner."

Harry gave Draco a very meaningful look and turned on his heels. Ron grinned victoriously at the Slytherins, hauling Hermione under his arm and following his best mate. Draco looked like an angry scorpion, ready to poison everyone who would come near him.

"Draco and Arry!" giggled Hailie.

Millicent, Pansy and Blaise tittered.

Now it was Draco's turn to blush.

Harry walked round the corner. Then he abruptly turned around, took out his wand and returned to the Slytherin aisle, casting a spell towards Malfoy. It was a sort of silvery dart, in the form of a miniature wraithlike bird. It flew around Draco's head and then plunged inside, vanishing. The quicksilver eyes met the emerald for split second in understanding, before their owners went in their separate ways.

The evening fell. Draco was playing a chess match with Zabini in their common area. However, he made his moves in a disinterested manner, his thoughts dwelling on the things he'd heard from his father that day.

The Malfoy family hadn't stayed but two hours, and most of the time they'd been talking about the war in Professor Snape's lounge. Draco had received some more information about Lord Voldemorts army and movements, and was now aware that the deadly group consisted of several magical beasts, among which could be found thirty-two Chaos Hyrda's, a group of twenty Giants, two Black Dragons of the race of Hungarian Horntail, five White Dragons from the snowfields of Lapland, and also a very rare thing –a half-grown nestling of a Basilisk. There were, of course, also several other beasts in that group, but Draco was now too tired to remember them all.

"Something bothering you babe?" asked Blaise, worriedly looking at Draco. "Is it about Potter?"

Draco bit his lower lip. He didn't quite know how to put his thoughts in words.

"Blaise… I know that you know that I'm becoming a Death Eater. Okay, that sounded very stupid. But anyway… Pansy probably has told everybody in this room. And becoming a Death Eater... Well, it has been my aim through all my life. But, that future prospect really fights with me being in intimate terms with Potter, if you know what I mean."

Blaise rose up and circled the table, sitting on the handrail of Draco's armchair, twining her arms around him. "That's what we've been worried about, Pansy, Mary-Ann and me. We think you and Potter fit well together. All that animosity changed to a fiery passion… One rarely sees such a perfect relationship."

"We don't have a relationship with Potter," Draco corrected. "We are just having fun."

Blaise hid an amused and disbelieving smile. "Sure you are. You can't make it serious because of the world that expects so much different things from you both."

Draco raised his eyes at her, looking at her oddly. "Blaise… I think I never should've gotten involved with Potter in the first place. He's purely perilous to my mind. I thought I could control him, but look what's happening. He's getting round me, Blaise. He's making me… question my choices."

Blaise smoothed Draco's locks and pressed their foreheads together. "I bet you are making him question his choices, as well."

It was eleven in the evening. Draco leaned on the wall right outside the Gryffindor common room entrance, next to the Fat Lady. The painting was giving him scolding glares and huffs, every now and then telling him to bugger off, every other second asking him what he was doing there. Some first and second year Gryffindors passed by, shocked to see the famous Slytherin leader so close to their dorms. They whispered the password to the painting so silently that the Fat Lady needed to bend down to hear them. As the portrait swung open to let the youngsters in, another person came out.

"Already here, Malfoy? Good."

Draco looked offended. "I understand you sent that Messenger Spell so that we could talk. But what I don't understand, is why the hell do we need to meet here of all places, in the hallway of the fucking Gryffindor tower where everybody can see us."

"Calm down, precious," Harry grinned. "I want to shake the tower a bit. It's gone drowsy. Only imagine what a storm of whispers and wonders there now is in our common room."

"Very funny, but how come I'm not laughing?"

"Don't worry, you will be."

Harry took Draco from the upper arm and hauled him closer. Then he winded his Invisibility Cloak around them both.
"We're going to have a wild fuck now," he informed. "Because you've been a dick today, ignoring me."

"I have not," Draco pouted.

"Have too," Harry snarled.

"Potter…"

"Tell me Malfoy… Do you still want me to learn how to love you?" Harry hoarsely whispered, leaning closer to the Slytherin and trailing a path of soft, hot breaths down Draco's cheek.

Draco shivered as the breaths ended up fondling his neck.

"By loving me, Potter, you are going to destroy yourself and everything you believe in. I know trouble."

"Tell me something new," Harry purred. "Just let me know if you still want my love. Because I recently found out I could actually give it to you."

Draco swallowed and closed his eyes, feeling close to euphoric as Harry slid arms around his waist and pulled him near.

What the fuck should I say? Draco breathed rapidly. Of course I want him to love me! But my motives are twisted. I need his love for two purposes. Fist, I need it for myself. But I also need it for the Dark Lord, for the betrayal. Potter really puts me in a difficult situation. Draco bit his tongue. This is just what I meant. Potter, making me question my choices.

Harry smoothed Draco's lips with a thumb, a searching look in his bright eyes.

Oh yes… I want him to love me so much… So very much… The whole of him should be mine… and mine alone…

"Potter, it is not wise of you to love me," Draco finally managed to croak.

"It's not wise of me to fuck you either," Harry reminded rather unaffected.

"Good point," Draco admitted.

Harry captured Draco's lips, sucking them like they were the most delicious candy he'd ever tasted. "Come on… I want to fuck you in the Gryffindor common room."

"WHAT?"

"Hush…" Harry closed Draco's lips with his finger. "We're under the Invisibility Cloak. Nobody will see us."

"Yeah but they'll hear us! Besides, I think I can't…" Draco began to protest, going pale.

"But I can. And I want. And this was not a request," Harry hissed, taking Malfoy from the neck and kissing him roughly. "You can keep your mouth shut if you don't want anybody to hear us, you twit."

And before Draco could do anything to protest, Harry had hauled him in front of the Fat Lady, spoken the password and dragged him inside.

The common room indeed was full of fuss. The youngest students were enthusiastically telling the older ones that they'd seen none other than Draco Malfoy leaning onto the wall in front of their portrait hole, and received shocked and curious inquiries in return. What had Malfoy looked like? Had he said anything? What had he been wearing? Did he do anything? Did he have his wand out? How was his hair done? The list of questions saw no end.

Harry sniggered silently and guided Draco near the chess table in the corner. Then he pinned the Slytherin against himself and yanked his trousers down.

"Make sure this thing doesn't fall off us," he quietly whispered to Draco, making the stiff-with-horror Slytherin keep the hems of the Invisibility Cloak. "It's your job to keep it around us while I make love to you."

Draco let out a little whimper when he felt Harry's finger intrude himself. "Potter, I don't think this is a good idea…" he tried to say in undertone.

"Shut up, Malfoy," was the only silent reply before another finger found its way in.

It was definitely the most interesting shag Draco had ever had. Leaning against the chess table with his arms, having Potter making his way to him from the back, they were both fully able to see and hear at least twenty Gryffindor students around, including Hermione and Ron.

"Imagine their faces if the Cloak would fall off," Harry breathed in Draco's ear at some point of their act.

Draco only concentrated in suffocating his moans of ecstacy. Indeed, the Invisibility Cloak hid them perfectly from view. But the situation was still dangerous enough to add some extra adrenaline into their veins. And this wasn't a bad thing at all. Namely, for the first time in his life, Draco Malfoy allowed himself to have an orgasm when having somebody fucking him.

"I do want you to love me… Harry…"

Later, Harry slumbered in his bed, smiling broadly in the darkness. It was nearly one in the morning, but he still hadn't gotten any sleep. He was so much in love.

"Harry?"

Harry jumped at least a half meter in the air when hearing Ron's voice next to his ear.

"Ron? What the fuck…? I mean, what's the matter?" he tried to sound sleepy.

Ron cast a soft Lumos spell around them two and sat in the other end of Harry's four-poster, leaning his forehead on one of the pillars.

"Hermione and I aren't really doing that well, Harry."

Harry wondered if he should tell Ron that he already knew, but then thought the better of it.

"Um, don't you think you're a bit overreacting to what Malfoy said yesterday, Ron?"

"It's not just Malfoy, Harry. It's… Well… I've made some observations myself, too. And besides, even you couldn't deny that yesterday when Malfoy…"

"Ron! Forget about Malfoy already. What you must understand, is that Hermione loves you very much. If there's something that's bothering her, then why don't you just ask her?"

Ron looked worried. "She has this weird look in her eyes every time I go near her. It's kind of scary. And we haven't kissed since Halloween. Not really kissed, I mean."

"I know," Harry spurted out, before he could help himself. "Er, I mean, I haven't seen you two snogging for a long time."

"You think it's because of me, Harry? Should I do something differently?"

Harry's green eyes bore in Ron's blue ones. "What if you would just go over to the girls' dormitory and kiss her?"

"But… But… I think I… Harry, I think I am a really bad kisser."

"Why would you think something like that?" Harry asked, "I am sure Hermione wants you to just kiss her, despite any possible lack of competence. She loves you. She wants to be close to you."

"You know, mate, you can almost make me believe that you're right."

"Why almost?" Harry smiled.

Ron smiled back. "Because I really think I suck at kissing. And I'd like to have some practise. But that's completely impossible, now isn't it. Hermione would kill me if I practised with another girl."

"Then why don't you practise with another boy?" Harry asked, half joking.

"What? Are you serious! That's… That's…" Ron looked horrified.

"Disgusting?"

"No! That's just… weird, isn't it?"

"How come weird?" Harry asked, not remembering that he had thought similarly himself, only two weeks ago.

"Well… I am not a homophobic, if that's what you're asking, having Percy and Bill in my own family. But I've just… I've never thought about kissing another boy, myself."

Harry grinned. "It's not that bad, actually."

Ron's eyes dilated with surprise as he looked at Harry. "You're gay?"

"Only a little," Harry flushed.

"Now what the crap is that? You can't be 'only a little' gay. It's like, you either are, or you are not," Ron looked cunning.

"Don't worry, Ronnekins, I am not sexually interested in you or any of my other roommates," Harry said, blushing. "You're safe from me."

"Yes… You're interested in that Someone Else, and now I'm beginning to understand that 'she' is actually a 'he'!" Ron couldn't help grinning victoriously.

"You don't need to yell, Ron," Harry noted, embarrassed. "It's not like everybody would understand."

"I know. Percy's gone trough a hell," Ron twisted his mouth.

"So… You won't doom me for being… a faggot?"

Ron did as much as give Harry a warm hug. "Of course not. But let's not tell anybody else around here… If this spreads around, you'll be certain to have a rough time with Malfoy bullying you even more than he already does."

Harry suppressed a frantic series of snorts.

"So… Were you just suggesting that I could practise with you, mate?" Ron's blue eyes held a gleam of hilarity.

"I didn't suggest anything, but now that you mention it… I see no objection, if you wish to do so," Harry grinned.

"But what would Hermione say?" Ron looked suddenly nervous and worried.

"Don't you mind her," Harry replied, remembering again the Ginny Issue. "It's not like I'm asking you to marry me or anything. We're just practising kissing."

Ron gave a relieved sigh. "Okay. But just this one time."

"Just this one," Harry gave a laugh. "Don't be afraid."

Ron then leaned forwards and, before Harry had actually even clearly understood what they had just agreed, Harry felt new kind of lips over his mouth. Ron's kiss was perhaps too wet and definitely too eager to his taste.

"Ron, calm down," Harry pushed Ron apart. "It's not like you'd need to suffocate someone while doing it, or anything. Let me show you."

Harry imagined Draco in front of his eyes and closed the distance between him and Ron again. After some eight seconds, he stopped, only to find Ron sitting rigidly and mouth open in front of him.

"What?"

Ron closed his mouth and flushed. "Er, em, eh… I just… Must say… Whoever it then is you're seeing, he's very lucky to have you as a boyfriend. You're an amazing kisser."

"Yes, he's very lucky," Harry concurred, simpering. "But I'm lucky as well. After all, he's the one who taught me. Now get back to your own bed, you silly sod, and try to get some sleep."

…TBC…