"Truth Kept Secret"
Disclaimer: Don't make money off of him like someone we all know....
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Chapter 17 "The battle has begun"
I've never thought that I'd be part of this war, that maybe Potter would finally be able to defeat Voldemort once and for all. But as my wishes have gone unanswered before, this one was no different. We have all heard the story of Potter being destined to defeat the Dark Lord, but he was just one kid. Now how could a sixteen year old defeat the great and mighty Lord Voldemort, no one knew. It was a question I have been asking myself for as long as I can remember.
Maybe, like in the past, Potter would somehow get lucky and the dark lord would fall. I know it is unlikely, but anything is better then nothing.
I thought that maybe my father would never try to drag his own son to the lowest of the low, but I was wrong about that too. I have been wrong about many other things, many that I wish I have never been wrong about. Ever since I was little I have always wanted to play the hero, and wished with all my heart that someday I would be able to stand up to the dark lord if he finally arose. Even though I wanted to face him, I wished to never have to. As I said before, everything I wish for, never comes true.
And now Potter stands in front of me with his wall of flame and stares defiantly at the dark lord, the same person I promised to myself that I'd stand up to. But I am letting Potter do the work, I know it's selfish, but it is the Malfoy way. And it is Potter's destiny and if you mess with destiny, things usually go wrong and I don't want that to happen, I want the bastard that had taken my own freedom away from me dead! I want him dead and buried three hundred feet under and never to return!
But to do that Potter would have to defeat him for me. Potter would have to stand up to him and fulfill his destiny, that is why I cannot mix. I must not mess into things that are not to be messed with.
The snake begins to talk now. Gloating how he managed to capture Potter once again. Gloating how he was to defeat the boy-who-lived and finally prove himself stronger than Potter. I stared up at him, disgust visible on my face, but I didn't even try to hide it. The dark lord gave me a glare but I didn't acknowledge it, I had to watch as Potter's fire shield began to dimmer and finally flicker out.
I saw the smirk on Voldemort's face and knew that Potter had to put all his training in that he had this year to be able to defeat the monster standing in front of us. I caught Potter as he started to slide down the wall and helped him stand on his feet.
"He cannot even control his element without becoming too weak." I heard the snake say.
I clenched my teeth and supported Potter, ignoring his protests that he could stand by himself. He probably could, but I didn't want to take my chances, I had to make sure that he did not waste his energy, but save it for the real fight that had started.
"Can you truly stand?" I asked him. Potter nodded at me and I let him go.
I watched as he staggered a bit and before I could move to help him, he stood erect and faced the dark lord. I was shocked to find his features totally different. He did not look like Potter, though you could still see the resemblance. His eyes were glowing and his aura was a strong bright blue all around him as he glared at Voldemort. I also glanced up at the dark lord and I could have sworn that I saw a flicker of fear pass through his blood red eyes before he blinked, if you could call it blinking, and the fear disappeared as easy as it appeared.
"Ready, Potter?" He smirked.
I glanced at Potter again who nodded confidently and moved towards the dark lord. I tried to stop him, but his blue shield stopped my hand and I looked up. Potter was staring right at me as if trying to tell me something. I didn't know what to do, I was clueless, something that I absolutely hate to be, but by the serious look Potter had I knew it had something to do with the Death Eaters surrounding us.
/You have to get out of here and get help. I don't know if I can stand against them all by my self. If I try to defeat Voldemort he will send some of his goons to try and kill me. I need some back up./
It startled me when his voice echoed through my head, but when I looked up again I moved my head slightly to tell him that I got the message. Potter smirked at me and nodded. He turned back to Voldemort and before I could even blink, both disappeared into thin air.
I watched with the rest of the room's occupants for any sign of the two, but there was nothing there.
"Potter!" I cried before I could stop myself. I tried to run to the place where they were standing moments ago, but I could not find any trace where they might be.
At the shout from one of the Death Eaters I quickly followed the rest of them as everyone clambered through the door to witness one of the more spectacular fights.
Outside the sky had darkened and the early morning sun was no where to be seen. There were flashes of lightning that lit up the sky and the land in front of us. There in the distance stood two lone figures one in red the other one blue. There were flashes from their shield protecting them as spell after spell was thrown from one attacker to the other. I could see Potter's form moving faster and faster until he became a blur. I knew that he was once again using his elements to help him evade some of the Dark Lord's spells.
The earth began to tremble and some of the Death eaters backed away.
/Go! Go while they're distracted!/ I heard Potter in my mind again, but I couldn't leave. The sight in front of me was fascinating.
/Draco you have to get help!/ Potter screamed at me again. I shook my head and as fast as my feet could carry me I got away from the Death Eaters. I had to get to the appiration point. I had to make sure to warn the headmaster and Potter's friends, I had to make sure Voldemort died this time for sure.
I reached the end of the deserted town and while running apperated straight to Hogwarts gate. Without stopping I cast the opening spell and ran up to the castle calling for help. I didn't care who saw me as long as they heard me.
"Draco!" I turned sharply around and bumped into Severus who grunted and whatever he was going to say to me was quickly obliterated as he saw the panicked look on my face.
"Draco what is wrong?" He asked again. I couldn't answer him as the stitch in my side grew painful and I couldn't breathe properly. I slumped down to the ground and stared hopelessly up at the Potions master.
"Potter-help! Duel- Voldemort!" I gasped out. Before I could blink Severus was gone running up the stairs leaving me in the dust. I grumbled angrily and stood up to follow him, knowing exactly where he would go.
When I reached the fifth floor to where the Headmaster's office was the stitch that was still painfully in my side did not stop to hurt as I tore up moving staircases. Students passed me by and stared after me in confusion. I ignored them and finally after every agonizing step I finally reached the gargoyle. I stopped in front of it and it stared down at me. I almost groaned out, not feeling up to guessing the many sweets to get to the password.
"Just let me in already!" I yelled at it.
"Draco!" I turned around for the second time that morning and almost sighed in relief as Granger bounded up to me.
"Draco where's Harry? I thought he was with you?" She stopped and looked carefully at me and I glared back. I wanted to tell her, but my manners were long forgotten.
"Malfoy you have to tell me! Did Harry get in trouble? What happened? He was right behind us." Granger cried and I couldn't help but explain what happened when they left.
Granger's face twisted painfully when I explained and she tore away from me before I could stop her. She ran straight for the gargoyle behind me. I yelled a quick look out but instead of hitting the gargoyle face on, it moved aside and she ran up the stairs instead of waiting for them to move.
"Bloody Gryffindors." I muttered as I watched the statue move back in place. I glared up at it with distaste. Sure it trusted other students but it never trusts Slytherins! Just because we are a house where the Dark Lord was in did not mean that we were all evil. Though I have to admit that I am evil on some terms, but I can be honest and trustworthy on others. As I had to prove to Potter. I glared up at the statue one more time before sliding down the wall and sitting on the floor.
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Minutes passed and still no one came out of the office. I was getting frustrated. While they were discussing who knows what in that office, Potter's life was draining away slowly.
"Why won't you open you stupid thing?!" I growled at it. It blinked at me and stared up ahead. I got agitated. I clambered up and slammed my foot at its side. While I danced around cursing like hell, Granger, Snape and many others I realized later had appeared at the threshold and gave me weird looks. Granger and Snape were the only ones with amusement in their features. I wanted to scream and shout at them all day, but I knew I didn't have time. Plus, Malfoys don't throw fits.
Than again, I could be wrong.
"What the bloody hell took you so long?! Just because your asses are safe at school doesn't mean that Potter's is!" I yelled at them. All my frustration at the statue was reverted on them. They stared at me. No one spoke a word and I almost cursed all of them.
"You idiots they're at Riddle Manor and Potter and Voldemort are dueling till death! You want your precious Boy-Who-Lived to die? Fine with me! Otherwise if you want to save him, GET YOUR ASSES MOVING!" I was screaming and didn't even know that my voice had reached a higher pitch that even I didn't know it could go that high.
Granger tried to calm me down, but I pushed her away and ran down the hall straight out the door and apperated back to Riddle Manor.
Who knew I cared about Potter? Certainly I never cared about him before so why was I yelling at them so much? Here's why, I was born to the Malfoys and I was raised to hate people that did not like Malfoys, which is everyone. I was raised to believe everything my father told me, drilled into my mind so I would never forget it. But my father never mentioned that someone's life would die in our hands. Never mentioned that I had to follow in Malfoy style, never mentioned that I never had a choice. While I was little I found loopholes through my fathers preaching and managed to stay sane as his plans for the world were revealed to me. Sometimes as my father gloated how great and wonderful Voldemort was I managed to clench my teeth and try not to make things explode with all the anger inside me.
What was so great about killing innocent people? What was so great that my father was blood thirsty all the time? What was so great to change him in such a short time? Father followed in his father's footsteps, but when he made me follow in his I refused. I paid dearly for almost refusing the Dark Mark that night. Once long ago, my mother told me that my father was a loving husband, but after Voldemort showed up all Lucius' father's teaching came back and took control of Lucius' body and he turned into the monster I despise now.
"So Draco Malfoy finally joins us again." I froze as I heard my name mentioned, but before I could turn to see who it was I was grabbed into a grip and dragged up to the house. The Death Eater dropped me in front of my father who glared down at me with absolute hatred and I had to suppress the shudder that tried to over come me.
"My own son." Lucius said. I didn't say anything but glared up at him with same steely eyes like his.
"So much alike, but yet so different." Lucius sounded like Voldemort. I smirked knowing that how long he had spent doing dirty work for the Dark Lord he had to have picked something up.
"What are you going to do, Father? Kill me?" I asked. Lucius laughed at me and pointed up ahead.
I turned around and stood stock still as my eyes fell upon Potter and Voldemort. No spells were flying around like they had, but as I squinted my eyes I saw what they were fighting with, swords. Swords that glowed and glinted in the darkness and sent chills up my spine.
"It's only a matter of time before our Lord finally gets rid of that nuisance. The boy does not know how to use a sword." But I knew my father was wrong. Potter did know how to use the sword. His sword clashed against the Dark Lord's every time one of them attacked. For a muggle raised wizard, Potter had excellent sword skills that I knew so much about.
"So Draco, I guess since my Lord is busy and can't deal with a traitor right now I will have to deal with you." I turned a surprised look at my father and he smirked.
"It was a displeasure trying to teach you all these years. You have been one of the most stubborn people I have had to teach. I would have been proud if you turned out like me, proud that my son was our Lord's heir. That was what you were born for, what I have been trying to teach to you all these years. But you were hopeless. Hopeless as your mother was." I stared up at him.
"Was?" I couldn't let my self believe it. Had he finally gone down that road so far as to kill his own wife? A woman who loved him with all her being even though he was so cruel to her?
"Oh yes Draco. Your mother was the one keeping you away from me. She was the one who managed to erase from your mind everything that I taught you. For years I have been watching you two get closer and closer. Your mother was the disgrace of us all. She only took the Dark Mark so she could try and protect you once I handed you to the Dark Lord. But when I realized that you were going to be a disappointment I killed her the instant you want back to that bumbling fool." Father hissed at me.
I grew suddenly cold, as if every molecule of my body was suddenly plunged into ice. As if I had just lost someone so dear to me. In truth I did, but I did not want to believe it.
"You are a murderer!" I screamed at him. "You've gone so far down the dark path that you did not even realize how much she loved you! You did not even realize that she took that damn mark because of you! She wanted to be with you, you sick bastard! She loved you with all her heart, even after what you did to her! She cared for you and this is how you repay her? You murder her you sick son of a bitch!" I screamed, tears spilling from my eyes like a river.
I couldn't stop them. And I couldn't stop myself as I lunged at my father suddenly and grabbed him by the throat. I felt hands trying to pry me off of him, but I held on and squeezed more and more until I finally felt his struggling stop. I let go of him and looked at his shocked face and smiled.
"You deserve that you sick twisted fiend. You deserved what you got!" I kicked him, wanting to make him feel the pain I now felt, wanting to make him suffer more than one little choke.
I was hurting and didn't even notice when the pain hit and I fell to my knees. I didn't notice when I was dragged away and tied up. I didn't notice when the binds undid themselves and I destroyed anyone that was near me.
I didn't notice that I was free and that anyone within distance was either killed or blown away. I have never let my magic get out of hand before, not since I was very young. I did not even pay attention when hands grabbed me again and I was forced to move away with them. My body was numb and I could not feel nor hear anything around me. I let myself be dragged away from it all, I let myself be taken away from the man that was the cause of our family's grief.
The feeling suddenly came back to me and I twisted away from the comforting arm around my shoulders. I ignored the shouts of my name and ran to the clearing where I knew Potter and the Dark Lord were.
I stepped between their curses and let my shield absorb them. I let myself glare at the dark lord before turning and standing next to Potter. He looked at me strangely, but I did not say anything. I knew I had no need as Potter's eyes shone for a brief moment and he nodded sadly. I knew then that he knew how I felt. He knew how it felt to be betrayed.
"Let's end this Potter. Let's end it right now, than there will be no more pain, no nothing." Potter eyed me for a second and smiled slightly. His bloody face held no expression on it except a look of true hatred blazing in his emerald eyes. For once that hatred was not directed onto me, but at the dark lord. If the situation was not so serious I would have laughed as the dark lord visibly gulped.
Potter and I must have been a sight. Who would have ever thought that Malfoy and Potter would work together? But if we needed to get rid of the menace in this world then we needed to work together.
I conjured a sword out of thin air using my own wandless magic and along with Potter attacked the Dark Lord. Voldemort was not happy as he tried to parry both of our attacks at once. He knew that I was good, but he also knew that Potter was better. I could see it in his stride. The way he moved was like a cat sneaking around to reach its prey. And the Dark Lord was it. The Dark Lord was the prey and we were the hunters. We were once hunted by him and forced to do what we did not want to do, but now the tables have turned and we were the hunters and not the hunted.
The Dark Lord had to pay for the pain he inflicted on us. Had to pay for pushing my father down that road, had to pay for making me into what I am. And he would die an agonizing death for making my father kill my mother and in turn I killed him.
"Draco, go back to the Order at the house and tell them about the Death Eaters still trapped inside the house." I heard Potter hiss at me as we stood back to back in front of Voldemort. The Dark Lord sneered at us and raised his hand.
"You are not to get away that easily, Malfoy. I have felt your father's Mark begin to dull and I knew that something happened. I did not know that you liked killing." I knew he was taunting me, but I couldn't help but take the bait.
I lunged at him even as Potter tried to hold me back, I broke away from him and with a snarl jumped at the dark lord. My sword came down on his, inches away from his head. A blow that would have splinched him had he not been paying attention. We battled with everything we had in us. I knew that he was exhausted fighting Potter with his magic and used it against him. He blocked it with the shield spell from his sword and attacked me. I parried him blow by blow, wondering why it was so easy to predict him.
I heard Potter yell something and I quickly side stepped and rolled away on the ground as the sword point stood in the place where my stomach was seconds before. I nodded at Potter, He smirked at me and nodded in satisfaction. I glared at him and he laughed.
"He's coming again Draco." He said through his chuckles.
Damn was he enjoying himself. I cursed as I dodged another blow on my right. Potter was leaning against one of the tombstones watching in amusement as I dealt with Snake Face.
Voldemort was getting frustrated and I knew it. He was annoyed that he could not find a fault in me nor in Potter as the boy was unscathed except for the blood on his face.
I twisted around the sword and with one swift movement my own sword connected with flesh. I froze in my steps and glanced down as the man fell onto his knees. He stared up at me wondering how could I defeat him.
"You are strong Malfoy. You and Potter make a great team." He laughed slightly and I stared at him. Where the hell was this conversation going to?
"You would have fared well at my side as my heir. Potter refused long ago and you refused me as well." I watched as he stabbed his sword into the ground and leaned on it, pushing himself to a standing position. He held his hand over his stomach, blood was gushing from the wound, but it wasn't blood, it looked so much different then blood. Blood was a deep red, his blood was black, pure black.
"You should have given up on us when you found out that we are stronger than people you have screwed before." I said.
"Mark my word, boy, this is not the end, nor will it ever be. There are ways of bringing a wizards into control from the other and I will find a way. If I don't then I will kill both of you."
Before I could stop him, he moved away faster then I could blink and Potter and I found ourselves standing in front of the house staring into distance as the Order began cleaning up the mess that Potter and I made.
"He will be back you know." Potter said beside me.
I glared at him with an expression that clearly stated 'duh'. He laughed at me and hugged Granger as she sprinted from the house straight into his arms, yelling and congratulating him at the same time.
I stood in silence waiting for the yelling to stop and soon found myself in the same hug Potter had received. I stiffened as she hugged me, yelling at me and reminding me how careless we both were. Potter laughed beside her and I wanted nothing else but to make him shut his trap. "Hey Potter, how did you get that blood all over your face? I don't see any marks on you." I said as Granger finally let go and walked to tend to Potter's forehead.
"Its the scar, it bleeds when he's near these days. Like he said, our connection is too strong."
"Oh Harry why couldn't you leave with the rest of us when we left this dreadful place the first time?"
"I tried Hermione, but they cut off the flow and I was stuck here." Potter said.
Potter turned towards me again, his forehead bandaged in a white gauze and he smiled. Not a smirk but a true smile. Friendly even.
"You weren't bad out there Malfoy, thanks for stepping in, I needed a rest."
"You're welcome, just don't expect me to come and save your sorry ass every time we're in a situation like that one."
"Sure, sure." Potter smiled.
"Come on you two, we have to get back to Hogwarts and let the Order take care of things here. Harry, Dumbledore wants you in his office when we get back."
Potter nodded his head at Granger and with a wave of his hand fire formed around us and the next time I blinked we were in the middle of the Great Hall.
Potter laughed at my unease as the rest of the student body stared at us.
"Enjoy your new found fame, Draco." than at the top of his voice he announced. "Draco Malfoy has saved my sorry ass by coming to my rescue, feel free to harass him for any details"
Before I could pommel him he had disappeared along with Granger.
"I'll get you back Potter." I muttered as the whole school gathered around me, not even caring that I was a Malfoy and would bite their heads off if they approached me.
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A/N: Wow....umm thanks to EVERYONE who REVIEWED. I guess a little threat nowadays really works. Well thanks for the many reviews I received for the last chapter. Hopefully I'll get as much this chapter. 'Winks.'
Disclaimer: Don't make money off of him like someone we all know....
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Chapter 17 "The battle has begun"
I've never thought that I'd be part of this war, that maybe Potter would finally be able to defeat Voldemort once and for all. But as my wishes have gone unanswered before, this one was no different. We have all heard the story of Potter being destined to defeat the Dark Lord, but he was just one kid. Now how could a sixteen year old defeat the great and mighty Lord Voldemort, no one knew. It was a question I have been asking myself for as long as I can remember.
Maybe, like in the past, Potter would somehow get lucky and the dark lord would fall. I know it is unlikely, but anything is better then nothing.
I thought that maybe my father would never try to drag his own son to the lowest of the low, but I was wrong about that too. I have been wrong about many other things, many that I wish I have never been wrong about. Ever since I was little I have always wanted to play the hero, and wished with all my heart that someday I would be able to stand up to the dark lord if he finally arose. Even though I wanted to face him, I wished to never have to. As I said before, everything I wish for, never comes true.
And now Potter stands in front of me with his wall of flame and stares defiantly at the dark lord, the same person I promised to myself that I'd stand up to. But I am letting Potter do the work, I know it's selfish, but it is the Malfoy way. And it is Potter's destiny and if you mess with destiny, things usually go wrong and I don't want that to happen, I want the bastard that had taken my own freedom away from me dead! I want him dead and buried three hundred feet under and never to return!
But to do that Potter would have to defeat him for me. Potter would have to stand up to him and fulfill his destiny, that is why I cannot mix. I must not mess into things that are not to be messed with.
The snake begins to talk now. Gloating how he managed to capture Potter once again. Gloating how he was to defeat the boy-who-lived and finally prove himself stronger than Potter. I stared up at him, disgust visible on my face, but I didn't even try to hide it. The dark lord gave me a glare but I didn't acknowledge it, I had to watch as Potter's fire shield began to dimmer and finally flicker out.
I saw the smirk on Voldemort's face and knew that Potter had to put all his training in that he had this year to be able to defeat the monster standing in front of us. I caught Potter as he started to slide down the wall and helped him stand on his feet.
"He cannot even control his element without becoming too weak." I heard the snake say.
I clenched my teeth and supported Potter, ignoring his protests that he could stand by himself. He probably could, but I didn't want to take my chances, I had to make sure that he did not waste his energy, but save it for the real fight that had started.
"Can you truly stand?" I asked him. Potter nodded at me and I let him go.
I watched as he staggered a bit and before I could move to help him, he stood erect and faced the dark lord. I was shocked to find his features totally different. He did not look like Potter, though you could still see the resemblance. His eyes were glowing and his aura was a strong bright blue all around him as he glared at Voldemort. I also glanced up at the dark lord and I could have sworn that I saw a flicker of fear pass through his blood red eyes before he blinked, if you could call it blinking, and the fear disappeared as easy as it appeared.
"Ready, Potter?" He smirked.
I glanced at Potter again who nodded confidently and moved towards the dark lord. I tried to stop him, but his blue shield stopped my hand and I looked up. Potter was staring right at me as if trying to tell me something. I didn't know what to do, I was clueless, something that I absolutely hate to be, but by the serious look Potter had I knew it had something to do with the Death Eaters surrounding us.
/You have to get out of here and get help. I don't know if I can stand against them all by my self. If I try to defeat Voldemort he will send some of his goons to try and kill me. I need some back up./
It startled me when his voice echoed through my head, but when I looked up again I moved my head slightly to tell him that I got the message. Potter smirked at me and nodded. He turned back to Voldemort and before I could even blink, both disappeared into thin air.
I watched with the rest of the room's occupants for any sign of the two, but there was nothing there.
"Potter!" I cried before I could stop myself. I tried to run to the place where they were standing moments ago, but I could not find any trace where they might be.
At the shout from one of the Death Eaters I quickly followed the rest of them as everyone clambered through the door to witness one of the more spectacular fights.
Outside the sky had darkened and the early morning sun was no where to be seen. There were flashes of lightning that lit up the sky and the land in front of us. There in the distance stood two lone figures one in red the other one blue. There were flashes from their shield protecting them as spell after spell was thrown from one attacker to the other. I could see Potter's form moving faster and faster until he became a blur. I knew that he was once again using his elements to help him evade some of the Dark Lord's spells.
The earth began to tremble and some of the Death eaters backed away.
/Go! Go while they're distracted!/ I heard Potter in my mind again, but I couldn't leave. The sight in front of me was fascinating.
/Draco you have to get help!/ Potter screamed at me again. I shook my head and as fast as my feet could carry me I got away from the Death Eaters. I had to get to the appiration point. I had to make sure to warn the headmaster and Potter's friends, I had to make sure Voldemort died this time for sure.
I reached the end of the deserted town and while running apperated straight to Hogwarts gate. Without stopping I cast the opening spell and ran up to the castle calling for help. I didn't care who saw me as long as they heard me.
"Draco!" I turned sharply around and bumped into Severus who grunted and whatever he was going to say to me was quickly obliterated as he saw the panicked look on my face.
"Draco what is wrong?" He asked again. I couldn't answer him as the stitch in my side grew painful and I couldn't breathe properly. I slumped down to the ground and stared hopelessly up at the Potions master.
"Potter-help! Duel- Voldemort!" I gasped out. Before I could blink Severus was gone running up the stairs leaving me in the dust. I grumbled angrily and stood up to follow him, knowing exactly where he would go.
When I reached the fifth floor to where the Headmaster's office was the stitch that was still painfully in my side did not stop to hurt as I tore up moving staircases. Students passed me by and stared after me in confusion. I ignored them and finally after every agonizing step I finally reached the gargoyle. I stopped in front of it and it stared down at me. I almost groaned out, not feeling up to guessing the many sweets to get to the password.
"Just let me in already!" I yelled at it.
"Draco!" I turned around for the second time that morning and almost sighed in relief as Granger bounded up to me.
"Draco where's Harry? I thought he was with you?" She stopped and looked carefully at me and I glared back. I wanted to tell her, but my manners were long forgotten.
"Malfoy you have to tell me! Did Harry get in trouble? What happened? He was right behind us." Granger cried and I couldn't help but explain what happened when they left.
Granger's face twisted painfully when I explained and she tore away from me before I could stop her. She ran straight for the gargoyle behind me. I yelled a quick look out but instead of hitting the gargoyle face on, it moved aside and she ran up the stairs instead of waiting for them to move.
"Bloody Gryffindors." I muttered as I watched the statue move back in place. I glared up at it with distaste. Sure it trusted other students but it never trusts Slytherins! Just because we are a house where the Dark Lord was in did not mean that we were all evil. Though I have to admit that I am evil on some terms, but I can be honest and trustworthy on others. As I had to prove to Potter. I glared up at the statue one more time before sliding down the wall and sitting on the floor.
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Minutes passed and still no one came out of the office. I was getting frustrated. While they were discussing who knows what in that office, Potter's life was draining away slowly.
"Why won't you open you stupid thing?!" I growled at it. It blinked at me and stared up ahead. I got agitated. I clambered up and slammed my foot at its side. While I danced around cursing like hell, Granger, Snape and many others I realized later had appeared at the threshold and gave me weird looks. Granger and Snape were the only ones with amusement in their features. I wanted to scream and shout at them all day, but I knew I didn't have time. Plus, Malfoys don't throw fits.
Than again, I could be wrong.
"What the bloody hell took you so long?! Just because your asses are safe at school doesn't mean that Potter's is!" I yelled at them. All my frustration at the statue was reverted on them. They stared at me. No one spoke a word and I almost cursed all of them.
"You idiots they're at Riddle Manor and Potter and Voldemort are dueling till death! You want your precious Boy-Who-Lived to die? Fine with me! Otherwise if you want to save him, GET YOUR ASSES MOVING!" I was screaming and didn't even know that my voice had reached a higher pitch that even I didn't know it could go that high.
Granger tried to calm me down, but I pushed her away and ran down the hall straight out the door and apperated back to Riddle Manor.
Who knew I cared about Potter? Certainly I never cared about him before so why was I yelling at them so much? Here's why, I was born to the Malfoys and I was raised to hate people that did not like Malfoys, which is everyone. I was raised to believe everything my father told me, drilled into my mind so I would never forget it. But my father never mentioned that someone's life would die in our hands. Never mentioned that I had to follow in Malfoy style, never mentioned that I never had a choice. While I was little I found loopholes through my fathers preaching and managed to stay sane as his plans for the world were revealed to me. Sometimes as my father gloated how great and wonderful Voldemort was I managed to clench my teeth and try not to make things explode with all the anger inside me.
What was so great about killing innocent people? What was so great that my father was blood thirsty all the time? What was so great to change him in such a short time? Father followed in his father's footsteps, but when he made me follow in his I refused. I paid dearly for almost refusing the Dark Mark that night. Once long ago, my mother told me that my father was a loving husband, but after Voldemort showed up all Lucius' father's teaching came back and took control of Lucius' body and he turned into the monster I despise now.
"So Draco Malfoy finally joins us again." I froze as I heard my name mentioned, but before I could turn to see who it was I was grabbed into a grip and dragged up to the house. The Death Eater dropped me in front of my father who glared down at me with absolute hatred and I had to suppress the shudder that tried to over come me.
"My own son." Lucius said. I didn't say anything but glared up at him with same steely eyes like his.
"So much alike, but yet so different." Lucius sounded like Voldemort. I smirked knowing that how long he had spent doing dirty work for the Dark Lord he had to have picked something up.
"What are you going to do, Father? Kill me?" I asked. Lucius laughed at me and pointed up ahead.
I turned around and stood stock still as my eyes fell upon Potter and Voldemort. No spells were flying around like they had, but as I squinted my eyes I saw what they were fighting with, swords. Swords that glowed and glinted in the darkness and sent chills up my spine.
"It's only a matter of time before our Lord finally gets rid of that nuisance. The boy does not know how to use a sword." But I knew my father was wrong. Potter did know how to use the sword. His sword clashed against the Dark Lord's every time one of them attacked. For a muggle raised wizard, Potter had excellent sword skills that I knew so much about.
"So Draco, I guess since my Lord is busy and can't deal with a traitor right now I will have to deal with you." I turned a surprised look at my father and he smirked.
"It was a displeasure trying to teach you all these years. You have been one of the most stubborn people I have had to teach. I would have been proud if you turned out like me, proud that my son was our Lord's heir. That was what you were born for, what I have been trying to teach to you all these years. But you were hopeless. Hopeless as your mother was." I stared up at him.
"Was?" I couldn't let my self believe it. Had he finally gone down that road so far as to kill his own wife? A woman who loved him with all her being even though he was so cruel to her?
"Oh yes Draco. Your mother was the one keeping you away from me. She was the one who managed to erase from your mind everything that I taught you. For years I have been watching you two get closer and closer. Your mother was the disgrace of us all. She only took the Dark Mark so she could try and protect you once I handed you to the Dark Lord. But when I realized that you were going to be a disappointment I killed her the instant you want back to that bumbling fool." Father hissed at me.
I grew suddenly cold, as if every molecule of my body was suddenly plunged into ice. As if I had just lost someone so dear to me. In truth I did, but I did not want to believe it.
"You are a murderer!" I screamed at him. "You've gone so far down the dark path that you did not even realize how much she loved you! You did not even realize that she took that damn mark because of you! She wanted to be with you, you sick bastard! She loved you with all her heart, even after what you did to her! She cared for you and this is how you repay her? You murder her you sick son of a bitch!" I screamed, tears spilling from my eyes like a river.
I couldn't stop them. And I couldn't stop myself as I lunged at my father suddenly and grabbed him by the throat. I felt hands trying to pry me off of him, but I held on and squeezed more and more until I finally felt his struggling stop. I let go of him and looked at his shocked face and smiled.
"You deserve that you sick twisted fiend. You deserved what you got!" I kicked him, wanting to make him feel the pain I now felt, wanting to make him suffer more than one little choke.
I was hurting and didn't even notice when the pain hit and I fell to my knees. I didn't notice when I was dragged away and tied up. I didn't notice when the binds undid themselves and I destroyed anyone that was near me.
I didn't notice that I was free and that anyone within distance was either killed or blown away. I have never let my magic get out of hand before, not since I was very young. I did not even pay attention when hands grabbed me again and I was forced to move away with them. My body was numb and I could not feel nor hear anything around me. I let myself be dragged away from it all, I let myself be taken away from the man that was the cause of our family's grief.
The feeling suddenly came back to me and I twisted away from the comforting arm around my shoulders. I ignored the shouts of my name and ran to the clearing where I knew Potter and the Dark Lord were.
I stepped between their curses and let my shield absorb them. I let myself glare at the dark lord before turning and standing next to Potter. He looked at me strangely, but I did not say anything. I knew I had no need as Potter's eyes shone for a brief moment and he nodded sadly. I knew then that he knew how I felt. He knew how it felt to be betrayed.
"Let's end this Potter. Let's end it right now, than there will be no more pain, no nothing." Potter eyed me for a second and smiled slightly. His bloody face held no expression on it except a look of true hatred blazing in his emerald eyes. For once that hatred was not directed onto me, but at the dark lord. If the situation was not so serious I would have laughed as the dark lord visibly gulped.
Potter and I must have been a sight. Who would have ever thought that Malfoy and Potter would work together? But if we needed to get rid of the menace in this world then we needed to work together.
I conjured a sword out of thin air using my own wandless magic and along with Potter attacked the Dark Lord. Voldemort was not happy as he tried to parry both of our attacks at once. He knew that I was good, but he also knew that Potter was better. I could see it in his stride. The way he moved was like a cat sneaking around to reach its prey. And the Dark Lord was it. The Dark Lord was the prey and we were the hunters. We were once hunted by him and forced to do what we did not want to do, but now the tables have turned and we were the hunters and not the hunted.
The Dark Lord had to pay for the pain he inflicted on us. Had to pay for pushing my father down that road, had to pay for making me into what I am. And he would die an agonizing death for making my father kill my mother and in turn I killed him.
"Draco, go back to the Order at the house and tell them about the Death Eaters still trapped inside the house." I heard Potter hiss at me as we stood back to back in front of Voldemort. The Dark Lord sneered at us and raised his hand.
"You are not to get away that easily, Malfoy. I have felt your father's Mark begin to dull and I knew that something happened. I did not know that you liked killing." I knew he was taunting me, but I couldn't help but take the bait.
I lunged at him even as Potter tried to hold me back, I broke away from him and with a snarl jumped at the dark lord. My sword came down on his, inches away from his head. A blow that would have splinched him had he not been paying attention. We battled with everything we had in us. I knew that he was exhausted fighting Potter with his magic and used it against him. He blocked it with the shield spell from his sword and attacked me. I parried him blow by blow, wondering why it was so easy to predict him.
I heard Potter yell something and I quickly side stepped and rolled away on the ground as the sword point stood in the place where my stomach was seconds before. I nodded at Potter, He smirked at me and nodded in satisfaction. I glared at him and he laughed.
"He's coming again Draco." He said through his chuckles.
Damn was he enjoying himself. I cursed as I dodged another blow on my right. Potter was leaning against one of the tombstones watching in amusement as I dealt with Snake Face.
Voldemort was getting frustrated and I knew it. He was annoyed that he could not find a fault in me nor in Potter as the boy was unscathed except for the blood on his face.
I twisted around the sword and with one swift movement my own sword connected with flesh. I froze in my steps and glanced down as the man fell onto his knees. He stared up at me wondering how could I defeat him.
"You are strong Malfoy. You and Potter make a great team." He laughed slightly and I stared at him. Where the hell was this conversation going to?
"You would have fared well at my side as my heir. Potter refused long ago and you refused me as well." I watched as he stabbed his sword into the ground and leaned on it, pushing himself to a standing position. He held his hand over his stomach, blood was gushing from the wound, but it wasn't blood, it looked so much different then blood. Blood was a deep red, his blood was black, pure black.
"You should have given up on us when you found out that we are stronger than people you have screwed before." I said.
"Mark my word, boy, this is not the end, nor will it ever be. There are ways of bringing a wizards into control from the other and I will find a way. If I don't then I will kill both of you."
Before I could stop him, he moved away faster then I could blink and Potter and I found ourselves standing in front of the house staring into distance as the Order began cleaning up the mess that Potter and I made.
"He will be back you know." Potter said beside me.
I glared at him with an expression that clearly stated 'duh'. He laughed at me and hugged Granger as she sprinted from the house straight into his arms, yelling and congratulating him at the same time.
I stood in silence waiting for the yelling to stop and soon found myself in the same hug Potter had received. I stiffened as she hugged me, yelling at me and reminding me how careless we both were. Potter laughed beside her and I wanted nothing else but to make him shut his trap. "Hey Potter, how did you get that blood all over your face? I don't see any marks on you." I said as Granger finally let go and walked to tend to Potter's forehead.
"Its the scar, it bleeds when he's near these days. Like he said, our connection is too strong."
"Oh Harry why couldn't you leave with the rest of us when we left this dreadful place the first time?"
"I tried Hermione, but they cut off the flow and I was stuck here." Potter said.
Potter turned towards me again, his forehead bandaged in a white gauze and he smiled. Not a smirk but a true smile. Friendly even.
"You weren't bad out there Malfoy, thanks for stepping in, I needed a rest."
"You're welcome, just don't expect me to come and save your sorry ass every time we're in a situation like that one."
"Sure, sure." Potter smiled.
"Come on you two, we have to get back to Hogwarts and let the Order take care of things here. Harry, Dumbledore wants you in his office when we get back."
Potter nodded his head at Granger and with a wave of his hand fire formed around us and the next time I blinked we were in the middle of the Great Hall.
Potter laughed at my unease as the rest of the student body stared at us.
"Enjoy your new found fame, Draco." than at the top of his voice he announced. "Draco Malfoy has saved my sorry ass by coming to my rescue, feel free to harass him for any details"
Before I could pommel him he had disappeared along with Granger.
"I'll get you back Potter." I muttered as the whole school gathered around me, not even caring that I was a Malfoy and would bite their heads off if they approached me.
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A/N: Wow....umm thanks to EVERYONE who REVIEWED. I guess a little threat nowadays really works. Well thanks for the many reviews I received for the last chapter. Hopefully I'll get as much this chapter. 'Winks.'