After lunch, Harry and Ron went straight to their room. Ron plopped
down on his bed, and opened his book again. He hadn't spoken through
the whole meal. None of them had. Malfoy amused himself by kicking
Harry in the shins when Mrs. Weasley wasn't looking or paying
attention. Harry rubbed his legs, then sat down on his bed. He unpacked
his presents, and set the picture of Sirius with his parents on the
nightstand next to the bed. He sighed. He put the Pensieve under the
bed to hide it from curious eyes, then pulled out the Vera-Orb. Ron put
down his book.
"Woah, what is that? Is that like the ones we use in Divination?" Ron asked, coming over and sitting down across from Harry on the bed.
"No, it's from Moody. It's supposed to show you the truth about people."
"Let's try it out! Let's see what's going on with Malfoy!" Ron said eagerly. Harry looked into the orb like they did in class. There was nothing. He pictured Malfoy in his head, but again there was nothing.
"I'm not quite sure how to work it. Show me the truth about Draco Malfoy." he commanded. The orb sat, the white smoke inside moving around softly. Yet still it showed nothing. Ron looked disappointed.
"Rotten luck. It must be broken."
"Draco Malfoy." Harry repeated, a bit clearer.
"What?" a drawled voice asked from the doorway. Malfoy had joined them. He sat on Ron's bed.
"Nothing." Ron replied with a tone, in his voice, of annoyance. Harry tried to hide the orb under the blanket. Malfoy noticed it immediatly and stood up.
"What've you got there, Potter?" he asked and moved in for a closer look. Harry and Ron both blocked it. Malfoy pushed his way past them and picked up the orb.
"What is it?" he turned it around in his hands, watching the smoke.
"It's a seeing orb. Of course you wouldn't know, you're not in Divinations. Although, I don't blame you, it's a stupid class." Hermione answered, a-matter-of-factly from the doorway. She took it from Malfoy and looked it over.
"Exactly." Harry confirmed. He took the orb back quickly from Hermione. The last thing he wanted was one of them to discover how to use it before he did. He put it back into it's box.
"Has Trelawney actually required you to get your own?" She huffed.
"No, it's from Mad-Eye Moody. It was a Christmas present."
"Moody? Let me see it again." she said, curiously.
"No." he flat out told her.
"No? Harry, you're not still mad about earlier, are you?" she wore a hurt expression on her face.
"No, it's just until I have the chance to ask him about it, I don't think we should be messing with it."
"God, you're so dull." Malfoy left the room.
"Better go catch up with your boyfriend." Ron stammered and turned away from Hermione.
"Ugh! You two need to grow up." she stormed out of the room. Harry pulled out the Vera-Orb again.
"That was a close one." he stated. They continued to look at it, trying to unlock the mystery to using it.
"Maybe if you hold on to it and think about him." Ron suggested. He tried with no prevail. Giving up, Harry put it away. Mrs. Weasley called from the stairs, Ron got up to see what she wanted. He came back in.
"She wants me to help clean up the house. The twins accidentally caught the draperies in the den on fire. Come and get me if you figure it out." and he left the room.
Harry had gotten tired of the orb. He was alone now and wanted to use his pensieve. He got up and locked the door, then pulled it out from under his bed where he'd also stored the Vera-Orb. He also pulled out his wand. He looked into the Pensieve which was completly empty. Had he not seen Dumbledore's two years earlier, he would've thought it to be an ordinary bowl, just worn with age. He tried to remember how Dumbledore had put thoughts into it. He touched the tip of his wand to his forehead and thought about a memory. He thought about the first time he'd ridden a broom and the victory he had over Malfoy when he retrieved the Remembrall. He felt a tug to his head and his brain began to swirl the thought replayed itself backwards in his head. He began to get dizzy. The room felt as if it were spinning. He felt something pulling at his top of his spine and out through his forehead. No sooner than it had started, it stopped. A silvery whisp hung from his wand. He placed it in the bowl. He smiled. He may not be able to figure the Vera-Orb out, but he had the Pensieve down.
Harry didn't know how long he sat there putting thoughts into the large bowl. By the time it started to get dark outside, the bowl was swirling with thoughts. He heard the doorhandle shake and quickly hid it under his bed. He unlocked the door to let Ron into the room. He was covered in soot, which was smudged on his face. He cleaned off and changed clothes.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"Malfoy. He purposfully knocked a whole bucket of soot and ash onto me that was on top of a table. Fred and I were cleaning under the table when he came over and knocked it onto my head before wandering off again. At least we won't have to deal with him much longer. God, what if he has to stay with us during the summer? Do you think they'll let us stay at Hogwarts in his place?" Ron collapsed onto the bed, tired and exhausted. Harry showed Ron his Pensieve, who was completly amazed by it. He swirled through the thoughts and brought up the memory of Moody bouncing Malfoy, in ferret form, off the school walls. They were doubled over laughing, when Hermione came in to tell them dinner was ready.
"Hermione, you have to see this. It's a perfect picture!" Ron gasped, holding his side which hurt from laughing so hard. Harry replayed the memory for her.
"Honestly, Harry. I don't know why you'd want to hold on to that, it was just cruel." she commented.
"You were laughing hardest of all!" Ron protested. She scoffed and left the room. Harry put it back under his bed and they followed her down to supper. Ron and Harry kept poking one another when the other tried to hide a laugh. Malfoy kept looking up at them annoyed, figuring they were keeping secrets.
"What's so funny?" he scowled quietly to them, avoiding Mrs. Weasley and Lupin's ears.
"We were going through memories of the past few years, and we were reminded again, of you being a ferret." Ron smirked, imitating Malfoy.
"Yeah, it was brilliant. That's something we'll remember to tell our children about. I'm sure it'll be all the rage when the next generation of students come through." Harry added.
"Hey did you hear about that Malfoy kid who was turned into a Ferret, twenty years ago?" Harry asked Ron, imitating a first year.
"Why yes, I read all about it in iHogwarts, A History/i!" Ron played along, acting like Hermione had her first year. Hermione shot them a look so evil, they both stopped immediatly and went back to eating, muffling their laughs between bites. Malfoy kicked Harry hard in the shins.
They ate until they couldn't fit anymore in their stomach, then headed off to bed. Malfoy had left the table early, discusted by the food and in a foul mood about being ganged up on at the dinner table. Harry and Ron slowly climbed the stairs, tiredness taking over them quickly. As they turned into the hall, they noticed a bright light shining from under their door. They rushed inside to find Malfoy hovering over the Pensieve, which he'd pulled out from under his bed. His eyes were wide as he'd watched Cedric being killed by Peter Pettigrew and the ritual that was performed giving Voldemort new life. He then watched as Harry dueled against Voldemort, hearing his own father's voice in the crowd of Death Eaters. Harry and Ron quickly pulled him away. He was a bit shooken up and sat back against the wall, as if unable to hold himself up.
"You know there is a muggle saying that goes: 'Curiousity killed the cat.' Well now you know what happened." Harry replied, he kept back his anger. How dare Malfoy peer into his memories and thoughts! Then he remembered when he'd done the same to Dumbledore. It had been curiousity, something that really couldn't have been helped. Ron poked at Malfoy, who didn't move.
"My father told me it'd been you who'd killed Diggory." he muttered, finally.
"Yeah, well your father will do anything to make Voldemort look innocent, now wouldn't he?" Harry sat down next to him. His archnemesis had now just experienced with Harry, the most horrifying memory he had. Neither of them spoke.
"You're foolish, you know." Malfoy told him.
"I'm foolish?"
"You don't get it do you? There is nothing you can do to stop Voldemort from taking over You bairly survived, and he's stronger now than he was then. Getting rid of you will be the easy now, then Dumbledore and all his pathetic followers will suffer his wrath." Malfoy smirked. He still looked weak from what he saw, but he was returning.
"So your father just happened to forget to mention to you, the most important part of Voldemort's first plan, did he?" Harry replied, cooly.
"And what might that be?"
"He was after the prophecy which would give him unbeatable strength. The weapon, that I'm sure your father was talking about constantly through out your own lifetime."
"He mentioned the weapon, but not what it was."
"I don't think even Voldemort knew entirely, himself. But the prophecy told of a boy who was born in July to parents who'd defied him three times. He had the choice between me and Neville Longbottom. He made the mistake and chose me. His fate is bound to my own, Malfoy. He marked me as an equal. Voldemort will be deafeated. He no longer has the ministry on his side. This war is just his own feeble attempt to fill that void of self worth he's had ever since his own family left him. He's pathetic, and anyone who choses to follow him is even more pathetic. So I'd watch your tongue, and choose your words carefully, if you're so worried about your own reputation in the end." Harry warned him. Malfoy had seen what Harry was capable of for the first time, and for the first time he actually looked scared of him. He got to his feet and practically ran out of the room.
"The only reason he's on our side is to save himself. He doesn't care about anyone else but himself." Harry said through gritted teeth. He got up and slammed the door shut.
"We really ought to give that Vera-Orb another try." Ron stated. Harry nodded and pulled it out from under the bed. He was so full of anger he felt he was about to burst. He'd never hated anyone as much as he despised Draco Malfoy, and he was getting extremly tired of having him about, when they couldn't tell which side he was on. As Harry thought about this, the vaperous smoke in the orb began to clear and a bright light started to shine.
"Woah." Ron backed away from it. Harry continued to focus on the orb and the thoughts in his head. Malfoy appeared with Crabbe and Goyle, they were in a forest clearing. Standing with them was Lucius Malfoy. Harry moved closer to get a better look. He watched as Voldemort burned the Dark Mark into each of their arms and had them repeat something in Latin that Harry couldn't make out, suddenly he felt as if he was being pulled in. Everything around him rushed fast, he closed his eyes. He heard voices talking all at once. The latin that'd been muttered vanished and he heard Malfoy talking with Lucius.
"This isn't right! This is sick!" he heard Draco yell.
"You will do as you're told! Your life isn't your own anymore! You're a servent of the Master! You discust me, you piece of muggle loving filth. So this is what being under Dumbledore's care has taught you! You discusts me! You'll do as your told or I'll see to your death myself! Do I make my self clear, Draco?!" the voice faded into the whispers of the conversations that filled Harry's head. He heard everything that'd been spoken in his dream of Hermione's capture. He heard them making love and her scream of passion. He heard the conversation Malfoy had had with Dumbledore on their return. He heard the fear in Draco's voice.
"My father is going to kill me, and you're telling me to continue with plan?! I can't do this! I won't do this! It'll be you who dies first, Albus Dumbledore! I'll make sure of it!" Harry felt sick to his stomach, he tried to open his eyes but everything was moving too fast. He heard Hermione again, trying to calm Malfoy down during a tutor session, explaining to him how it was okay for people to change. It was a part of growing up and finding out who you were, not what your parents wanted you to be. Professor Snape's voice suddenly boomed.
"I've been in your situation, Draco. You made the right decision, don't turn back on it. You're already a traitor in Voldemort's eyes. You have no choice but to remain with us. As long as I'm around, I'll make sure you're well protected." it faded. The rest of the voices continued to talk louder. Harry couldn't hear over them, there were screams, cries, and shouts. Harry wanted to yell out himself, but he couldn't. He couldn't move, only listen. Things started to slow down and the voices calmed themselves back into whispers. Soon the only voice he heard was Hermione's.
"You're not like them. Stop trying to be."
Harry opened his eyes. He was back in the room. Ron sat across from him, a look of fear on his face. Harry looked down at the Vera-Orb. It was back to it's orginal form. The light was gone and the white smoke swirled around inside, calming down. He quickly threw it back into it's box and shoved it under his bed.
"Harry, are you okay?" Ron squeaked.
"Yeah, did you hear that?"
"Hear what? Harry, you were in some sort of trance. I couldn't get you out of it. You went pale and stiff. I was about to go get Lupin when you snapped out of it. What happened?"
"He's on our side, Ron. Hermione was right."
"Woah, what is that? Is that like the ones we use in Divination?" Ron asked, coming over and sitting down across from Harry on the bed.
"No, it's from Moody. It's supposed to show you the truth about people."
"Let's try it out! Let's see what's going on with Malfoy!" Ron said eagerly. Harry looked into the orb like they did in class. There was nothing. He pictured Malfoy in his head, but again there was nothing.
"I'm not quite sure how to work it. Show me the truth about Draco Malfoy." he commanded. The orb sat, the white smoke inside moving around softly. Yet still it showed nothing. Ron looked disappointed.
"Rotten luck. It must be broken."
"Draco Malfoy." Harry repeated, a bit clearer.
"What?" a drawled voice asked from the doorway. Malfoy had joined them. He sat on Ron's bed.
"Nothing." Ron replied with a tone, in his voice, of annoyance. Harry tried to hide the orb under the blanket. Malfoy noticed it immediatly and stood up.
"What've you got there, Potter?" he asked and moved in for a closer look. Harry and Ron both blocked it. Malfoy pushed his way past them and picked up the orb.
"What is it?" he turned it around in his hands, watching the smoke.
"It's a seeing orb. Of course you wouldn't know, you're not in Divinations. Although, I don't blame you, it's a stupid class." Hermione answered, a-matter-of-factly from the doorway. She took it from Malfoy and looked it over.
"Exactly." Harry confirmed. He took the orb back quickly from Hermione. The last thing he wanted was one of them to discover how to use it before he did. He put it back into it's box.
"Has Trelawney actually required you to get your own?" She huffed.
"No, it's from Mad-Eye Moody. It was a Christmas present."
"Moody? Let me see it again." she said, curiously.
"No." he flat out told her.
"No? Harry, you're not still mad about earlier, are you?" she wore a hurt expression on her face.
"No, it's just until I have the chance to ask him about it, I don't think we should be messing with it."
"God, you're so dull." Malfoy left the room.
"Better go catch up with your boyfriend." Ron stammered and turned away from Hermione.
"Ugh! You two need to grow up." she stormed out of the room. Harry pulled out the Vera-Orb again.
"That was a close one." he stated. They continued to look at it, trying to unlock the mystery to using it.
"Maybe if you hold on to it and think about him." Ron suggested. He tried with no prevail. Giving up, Harry put it away. Mrs. Weasley called from the stairs, Ron got up to see what she wanted. He came back in.
"She wants me to help clean up the house. The twins accidentally caught the draperies in the den on fire. Come and get me if you figure it out." and he left the room.
Harry had gotten tired of the orb. He was alone now and wanted to use his pensieve. He got up and locked the door, then pulled it out from under his bed where he'd also stored the Vera-Orb. He also pulled out his wand. He looked into the Pensieve which was completly empty. Had he not seen Dumbledore's two years earlier, he would've thought it to be an ordinary bowl, just worn with age. He tried to remember how Dumbledore had put thoughts into it. He touched the tip of his wand to his forehead and thought about a memory. He thought about the first time he'd ridden a broom and the victory he had over Malfoy when he retrieved the Remembrall. He felt a tug to his head and his brain began to swirl the thought replayed itself backwards in his head. He began to get dizzy. The room felt as if it were spinning. He felt something pulling at his top of his spine and out through his forehead. No sooner than it had started, it stopped. A silvery whisp hung from his wand. He placed it in the bowl. He smiled. He may not be able to figure the Vera-Orb out, but he had the Pensieve down.
Harry didn't know how long he sat there putting thoughts into the large bowl. By the time it started to get dark outside, the bowl was swirling with thoughts. He heard the doorhandle shake and quickly hid it under his bed. He unlocked the door to let Ron into the room. He was covered in soot, which was smudged on his face. He cleaned off and changed clothes.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"Malfoy. He purposfully knocked a whole bucket of soot and ash onto me that was on top of a table. Fred and I were cleaning under the table when he came over and knocked it onto my head before wandering off again. At least we won't have to deal with him much longer. God, what if he has to stay with us during the summer? Do you think they'll let us stay at Hogwarts in his place?" Ron collapsed onto the bed, tired and exhausted. Harry showed Ron his Pensieve, who was completly amazed by it. He swirled through the thoughts and brought up the memory of Moody bouncing Malfoy, in ferret form, off the school walls. They were doubled over laughing, when Hermione came in to tell them dinner was ready.
"Hermione, you have to see this. It's a perfect picture!" Ron gasped, holding his side which hurt from laughing so hard. Harry replayed the memory for her.
"Honestly, Harry. I don't know why you'd want to hold on to that, it was just cruel." she commented.
"You were laughing hardest of all!" Ron protested. She scoffed and left the room. Harry put it back under his bed and they followed her down to supper. Ron and Harry kept poking one another when the other tried to hide a laugh. Malfoy kept looking up at them annoyed, figuring they were keeping secrets.
"What's so funny?" he scowled quietly to them, avoiding Mrs. Weasley and Lupin's ears.
"We were going through memories of the past few years, and we were reminded again, of you being a ferret." Ron smirked, imitating Malfoy.
"Yeah, it was brilliant. That's something we'll remember to tell our children about. I'm sure it'll be all the rage when the next generation of students come through." Harry added.
"Hey did you hear about that Malfoy kid who was turned into a Ferret, twenty years ago?" Harry asked Ron, imitating a first year.
"Why yes, I read all about it in iHogwarts, A History/i!" Ron played along, acting like Hermione had her first year. Hermione shot them a look so evil, they both stopped immediatly and went back to eating, muffling their laughs between bites. Malfoy kicked Harry hard in the shins.
They ate until they couldn't fit anymore in their stomach, then headed off to bed. Malfoy had left the table early, discusted by the food and in a foul mood about being ganged up on at the dinner table. Harry and Ron slowly climbed the stairs, tiredness taking over them quickly. As they turned into the hall, they noticed a bright light shining from under their door. They rushed inside to find Malfoy hovering over the Pensieve, which he'd pulled out from under his bed. His eyes were wide as he'd watched Cedric being killed by Peter Pettigrew and the ritual that was performed giving Voldemort new life. He then watched as Harry dueled against Voldemort, hearing his own father's voice in the crowd of Death Eaters. Harry and Ron quickly pulled him away. He was a bit shooken up and sat back against the wall, as if unable to hold himself up.
"You know there is a muggle saying that goes: 'Curiousity killed the cat.' Well now you know what happened." Harry replied, he kept back his anger. How dare Malfoy peer into his memories and thoughts! Then he remembered when he'd done the same to Dumbledore. It had been curiousity, something that really couldn't have been helped. Ron poked at Malfoy, who didn't move.
"My father told me it'd been you who'd killed Diggory." he muttered, finally.
"Yeah, well your father will do anything to make Voldemort look innocent, now wouldn't he?" Harry sat down next to him. His archnemesis had now just experienced with Harry, the most horrifying memory he had. Neither of them spoke.
"You're foolish, you know." Malfoy told him.
"I'm foolish?"
"You don't get it do you? There is nothing you can do to stop Voldemort from taking over You bairly survived, and he's stronger now than he was then. Getting rid of you will be the easy now, then Dumbledore and all his pathetic followers will suffer his wrath." Malfoy smirked. He still looked weak from what he saw, but he was returning.
"So your father just happened to forget to mention to you, the most important part of Voldemort's first plan, did he?" Harry replied, cooly.
"And what might that be?"
"He was after the prophecy which would give him unbeatable strength. The weapon, that I'm sure your father was talking about constantly through out your own lifetime."
"He mentioned the weapon, but not what it was."
"I don't think even Voldemort knew entirely, himself. But the prophecy told of a boy who was born in July to parents who'd defied him three times. He had the choice between me and Neville Longbottom. He made the mistake and chose me. His fate is bound to my own, Malfoy. He marked me as an equal. Voldemort will be deafeated. He no longer has the ministry on his side. This war is just his own feeble attempt to fill that void of self worth he's had ever since his own family left him. He's pathetic, and anyone who choses to follow him is even more pathetic. So I'd watch your tongue, and choose your words carefully, if you're so worried about your own reputation in the end." Harry warned him. Malfoy had seen what Harry was capable of for the first time, and for the first time he actually looked scared of him. He got to his feet and practically ran out of the room.
"The only reason he's on our side is to save himself. He doesn't care about anyone else but himself." Harry said through gritted teeth. He got up and slammed the door shut.
"We really ought to give that Vera-Orb another try." Ron stated. Harry nodded and pulled it out from under the bed. He was so full of anger he felt he was about to burst. He'd never hated anyone as much as he despised Draco Malfoy, and he was getting extremly tired of having him about, when they couldn't tell which side he was on. As Harry thought about this, the vaperous smoke in the orb began to clear and a bright light started to shine.
"Woah." Ron backed away from it. Harry continued to focus on the orb and the thoughts in his head. Malfoy appeared with Crabbe and Goyle, they were in a forest clearing. Standing with them was Lucius Malfoy. Harry moved closer to get a better look. He watched as Voldemort burned the Dark Mark into each of their arms and had them repeat something in Latin that Harry couldn't make out, suddenly he felt as if he was being pulled in. Everything around him rushed fast, he closed his eyes. He heard voices talking all at once. The latin that'd been muttered vanished and he heard Malfoy talking with Lucius.
"This isn't right! This is sick!" he heard Draco yell.
"You will do as you're told! Your life isn't your own anymore! You're a servent of the Master! You discust me, you piece of muggle loving filth. So this is what being under Dumbledore's care has taught you! You discusts me! You'll do as your told or I'll see to your death myself! Do I make my self clear, Draco?!" the voice faded into the whispers of the conversations that filled Harry's head. He heard everything that'd been spoken in his dream of Hermione's capture. He heard them making love and her scream of passion. He heard the conversation Malfoy had had with Dumbledore on their return. He heard the fear in Draco's voice.
"My father is going to kill me, and you're telling me to continue with plan?! I can't do this! I won't do this! It'll be you who dies first, Albus Dumbledore! I'll make sure of it!" Harry felt sick to his stomach, he tried to open his eyes but everything was moving too fast. He heard Hermione again, trying to calm Malfoy down during a tutor session, explaining to him how it was okay for people to change. It was a part of growing up and finding out who you were, not what your parents wanted you to be. Professor Snape's voice suddenly boomed.
"I've been in your situation, Draco. You made the right decision, don't turn back on it. You're already a traitor in Voldemort's eyes. You have no choice but to remain with us. As long as I'm around, I'll make sure you're well protected." it faded. The rest of the voices continued to talk louder. Harry couldn't hear over them, there were screams, cries, and shouts. Harry wanted to yell out himself, but he couldn't. He couldn't move, only listen. Things started to slow down and the voices calmed themselves back into whispers. Soon the only voice he heard was Hermione's.
"You're not like them. Stop trying to be."
Harry opened his eyes. He was back in the room. Ron sat across from him, a look of fear on his face. Harry looked down at the Vera-Orb. It was back to it's orginal form. The light was gone and the white smoke swirled around inside, calming down. He quickly threw it back into it's box and shoved it under his bed.
"Harry, are you okay?" Ron squeaked.
"Yeah, did you hear that?"
"Hear what? Harry, you were in some sort of trance. I couldn't get you out of it. You went pale and stiff. I was about to go get Lupin when you snapped out of it. What happened?"
"He's on our side, Ron. Hermione was right."