Recap: Obviously, the prisoner was being violently kicked and Harry could feel her pain as if it were his own. Draco didn't leave Harry's side until he lost consciousness.

Chapter Eighteen

When Harry woke, it was to the feel of arms around his waist. He was curled up against a warm body. Trying to move, he groaned and nearly blacked out. At the noise at movement, the body behind his woke up.

"Don't try to move yet, Harry. You'll only make it worse."

In defiance he tried to straighten his body again. With a scream, everything went black.

The next time he woke, he fared a little better. Someone had laid him out and he was propped up slightly on his pillows. Carefully trying to squint, he realized that his eyes wouldn't open. Panicking, he tried harder, but that just made them hurt. Whimpering in fear and renewed pain, Harry heard a voice trying to comfort him.

"Shhh, shh. You're all right. Give me a moment and you'll be able to open your eyes."

He felt a cool, wet cloth bathing his eyelids. Slowly, he was able to open them.

He saw a blurry Draco Malfoy sitting in front of him holding a slightly pink-stained rag in one hand, and Harry's hand in the other.

"How're you feeling?" Draco asked, seeming quite concerned. Taking stock of his body, Harry managed to rasp out,

"Li' 've been h' by a bus."

Nodding, Draco offered Harry a glass of water for his throat.

"That's only to be expected."

Harry drank carefully, he really didn't want to go into a coughing fit.

"T'me?"

Draco placed the glass back on the nightstand.

"Past noon. It's Thursday."

So he'd been asleep for over forty-eight hours. Hmm, that last vision must have taken a lot out of him.

"Dumbledore's been here several times, he seems to know what happened, said so in fact. He said he knew what you had seen and that you didn't have to worry, he'd deal with it. Told Pomfrey not move you and told me we both get off classes until you're strong enough. I'm to watch you."

Harry nodded, wondering what, exactly, Dumbledore knew. Obviously, Snape (who Harry had seen there in Malfoy Manor) had told him. Now, how the hell was Harry supposed to those two?

"Here," Draco held out a small vial, "Dobby, our old house elf, brought this up. I didn't realize he was here. Father was furious when we lost him. I wasn't complaining, though; more trouble than he's worth with his quests for freedom. Did you know he's been illegally helping us out all year? Pomfrey said your throat was already healed, just sore. This ought to help with the pain. It's just an illusion, so it should work, but we can't talk for long."

Tuning out the babbling of the over-stressed Slytherin, Harry knocked back the vial and another gulp of water. Testing his voice, he began to question Draco.

"How much did you hear last night? How much do you know?"

Draco was ready.

"Harry, we don't have to talk about this now. I'm not going to force you."

He glared.

"Yes. We. do. When I have my visions, they have to be acted upon. The Occlumancy means I can tell the difference between real visions and fake, so I know this is real."

"Besides, you need to know what happened to her."

He faced Draco with such a look of pity, Draco was seriously considering leaving.

You know sometimes when you dream, you don't remember it in the morning? All right, have you ever seen something, the following morning, that reminded you? Well it was something like that for Harry. Seeing Draco, standing there, with the warm glow of reflected sun softening his face, Harry was reminded of a dream he'd had a few nights previous. In this dream, he'd simply lain with Draco, curled together as they had been that morning after Draco's third transformation. Harry realized that he really, genuinely, truly cared for Draco, and that thought scared him. Employing Occlumancy to keep these odd thoughts at bay until a more opportune moment, Harry re-focussed on the blond boy in front of him.

Draco nodded, resigned.

"Alright, I believe you." He sat back, considering his words. "I came in to hear you moaning and whimpering that, and I quote, 'it wasn't her fault'. I recognized Voldemort's voice coming from your mouth and I gathered that you were having a vision and a woman was being tortured. Voldemort was pissed at her for not telling him something and he was punishing her. He made you agree to tell someone something in exchange for not giving her to his deatheaters. You agreed and the rest was just you screaming."

Harry had gotten very pale.

"You've got it all, Malfoy. I have to fulfill my promise or…" he trailed off. Taking a deep breath he ordered "brace yourself and know that I am here when you can think again."

"Wha-"

"It was Narcissa Malfoy."

Draco just stared in shock. Throwing himself away from the bed, he cried "No! That's not possible! You're lying!" But the truth was etched in sorrow on the emerald-eyed teen's face.

"It's true. It's true. I had to watch as… But if I didn't tell you, they were going to… going to… to rape her."

Draco collapsed to the floor.

"I heard them talking, apparently Lucius ran off and left her. She failed to inform Voldemort… I don't think she was very loyal to him."

"No, she wasn't." Draco gave a weak sort of laugh from his position in the corner. "She was always less dark than my father. She loves me, I think. And I'm pretty sure she loved my father despite his cruelty. You know he's never told me that? He always says that the one thing a Malfoy heir should want most is to make his family proud. I was always supposed to pray and work for that. He never said it, though.

"You know what? My greatest wish growing up was to hear him say he loved me. I can remember being six at the manor just after he fired my governess, I remember looking at the ceiling of my Slytherin colored room and thinking 'I wish Father loved me'. I was six.

"But then, this is the man who taught me all I know. Have you heard that saying 'Blood is thicker than water'?"

Harry nodded, surprised that Draco was opening up this much to him.

"Well, Lucius had a saying as well, only his was 'Money is thicker than blood'. That's what I grew up to. Harry, do you have any idea what kind of man raises his child like that? I remember, again from my all-too-brief childhood, one of the first days I decided to grow up. That was how it was for me, Harry, the world punished me like an adult and so, to-"

Harry cut in.

"And so, to escape the pain, I became one, for many things look bigger and more painful through a child's eyes."

Draco gaped.

"You knew? That is a lesson most Pureblood children learn that most other children don't have to."

Harry smiled, self mockingly, and nodded.

"I know. What was it that made you decide to grow up?"

Draco looked at the floor.

"One night, Narcissa took me out. We went for ice cream and we went shopping; I got all sorts of new toys. Lucius came to pick us up, and it was perfect. I almost thought he loved me. But then we passed a muggle play ground and I saw a dark-skinned little muggle boy pushing the swing for a little Chinese girl in a red dress. I asked Mother if we could stop so I could play with the other children…

"Father exploded. I was yelled at to the point where I was in tears, but Malfoys don't cry, so I just got yelled at some more. Mother hugged me, and father started in on her. That night, I heard him… hitting her."

Draco was crying now; just staring at the floor, crying silent tears. Harry couldn't stand to see anyone in that much pain. Ignoring his protesting limbs, he moved off the bed. Draco didn't notice.

"Since then, I've always been afraid for my mother; what if he went too far someday? Now though..." Draco choked back a sob. Harry moved carefully to the floor beside him.

"Harry." Draco said, but didn't look up. "You aren't supposed to move yet. Pomfrey will kill me."

Harry waved off the comment and leaned against the wall. Reaching out, he instinctively pulled the blond boy to his chest. Draco resisted for a moment before relaxing into the embrace.

"Even Heroes need to cry sometimes."

Finally, the Slytherin stopped fighting the sobs.

"I'm so scared. I love her, Harry, and even if Dumbledore is working on a rescue mission, she will still have been hurt. What if... what if, Harry? Without her, the only member of my family I have left is the one who disowned me."

"You'll stay with me, Draco."

But Draco didn't seem to hear him.

"You know what he's like, Harry. You've seen him. What they'll do… How can she survive?"

Harry began rubbing circles on Draco's lower back, trying to provide comfort with gestures as well as words.

"She's Narcissa bloody Malfoy and you forget she was a Black first. They're very tough; she'll find a way. Neither of those bastards will win."

After that stunning speech (which Draco again didn't seem to hear), Harry simply held Draco, letting the other boy cry his woes out against Harry's chest. As shuddering sobs wracked the small body in his arms, feelings of great sorrow and pity and… another, less-placeable emotion flowed through him. Gradually, as the sobbing stopped, a new feeling overwhelmed Harry.

Anger.

Hate.

Harry was so furious and so overcome with hatred, he could hardly draw a breath. For a moment, Harry wondered what he was hateful and angry at. And then he knew.

Malfoy.

Not Draco Malfoy, the abused angel in his arms, but that angel's father.

Lucius Malfoy was a dead man.

Holy hell, where did that thought come from!?! I referred to Draco as some sort of angel!

Friday, they stayed in; neither really felt like socializing, plus, Draco was depressed and Harry had started bleeding again (internally: Poppy doused him in potion). Dumbledore had come in and discussed Harry's vision. He said that, by the time they got to Malfoy Manor, Narcissa was back and apparently in full health. She was, however, refusing to let anyone onto her property.

There was nothing they could do; she went so far as to tell them Draco couldn't come see her either.

Some time around noon, Krum came by and decided they were going to play school. They spent most of the rest of the day "reading up on famous beings who had been 'bound' to vampires" (dozing when Krum wasn't looking). That night, Draco, not even needing to swallow his pride, dragged his blankets to Harry's room.

"'Bout time, Potter." He said when Harry opened the door wandlessly and held the covers open for Draco to crawl in beside him.

Saturday, Halloween, Harry let Ron do Quidditch practice and he and Draco (still planning to go to the Halloween feast that night) stayed in to catch up on the homework they had missed that week. Again, the irony gods make an appearance.

Now, it was about noon, and Harry was in the middle of an essay on changing humans into dangerous rodents (fanged rats, badgers, poisonous rabbits), when Draco decided he was bored. Harry re-located to his room and wandlessly locked the door when Draco began tapping his quill against the table. Harry knew from experience that it would be only a matter of minutes before Draco began complaining.

Sitting on his bed with no one to distract him, Harry began to realize that he though too much when alone.

Draco must be having a hard time of it, I'm not sure what I'd do if my parent was captured and tortured.

He laid back and let his thoughts drift. He slipped into a light doze.

:::::::::::::: Dream/Flashback:::::::::::::::

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off – "

"James! I can't leave you!"

"You have to! He's here for Harry!"

"But you'll die James! He'll kill you!"

"I know that! But I have to protect my clan!"

Quick kiss.

"I love you James."

"As I love you. Now go! I'll try to give you enough time."

"I wish –"

"I know. But wishes don't stop wars. Whatever happens, don't let him get Harry."

"I won't, James."

Last embrace.

Pounding.

"James –"

"No time!"

"I love you!"

"You are my heart, Lily. See you on the other side."

The sounds of someone stumbling from a room – a door bursting open – a cackle of high-pitched laughter –

"Is that all you've got?"

Crashing.

"Pitiful, really. You ought to give up."

"NEVER!"

Silence.

Up a stair case, doors on each side.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!!"

Sobbing.

"James, James, oh god. James!"

Stumbling. A fire roaring into life. Green flames.

"D-dumble–"

The door is blown open. They hit the wall.

HE is here.

"This is as far as you got? Are you feeling weak? Your mate is dead, you know."

A cry of anguish.

"I needn't kill you, you know. There's only one thing I'm really here for."

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"

"Stand aside, you silly girl, I grow bored. Stand aside, now."

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead–"

"I'll kill you anyway if you persist, but I want him."

"Not Harry! Please… have mercy… have mercy…."

"Mercy!?! Since when has anyone given me cause to show mercy!?! I will not! The child must die! Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!"

"Not Harry! Not Harry! Please– I'll do anything–"

"Will you? Would you serve me?"

"If it would save him!"

"But That would be foolish of me. I've killed your mate, you've only minutes to live."

"Please! You've taken my husband! Leave him! He's a child! He can't possibly do anything to you! You've taken his family, leave him his life!"

"Now that, I'm afraid I can't do."

"Please!"

" You are brave. Very foolish, but brave. I respect that. I will end your pain."

"Please!"

"Consider it a gift. You'll be seeing your blood-traitor husband soon."

Sobbing.

"Oh don't sound so sad about it, You'll be seeing him again soon."

Sobbing. A slight scramble.

"What are you doing?."

Blue light. She is whispering.

"Live."

The light turns white.

"Stop that. Stop that now! AVADA KEDAVRA!!"

Green.

"Shame. She didn't have to go. Ah well, I suppose that just leaves you and me, Harry. You know, I would have loved to have you on my side, you would have been extraordinarily powerful. But then, you can't have it all."

Silence.

"good bye, Harry Potter."

Deep breath.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A wave of green, and Harry knew nothing more.

Pounding. Pounding on the door.

"Open up, Damn you! Open up!"

Harry's eyes shoot open, there were tears trickling down his face.

"God, Harry! Open the Bloody door!

Harry stared at the ceiling. So that was how it really happened. At least he now knew.

"Please!"

He sighed. Sitting up he felt for his glasses. With them on he went to the door.

"Harry! If you don't open this door right now, I swear to Merlin –"

Draco fell in on top of the dark haired boy.

"Oh."

"Hi."

"Shit."

They just stared.

"Are you alright?"

Of course he wasn't.

"Yeah."

Guilty looks.

"I tried to wake you but you had the door locked."

"So I gather."

Silence.

"So, Dumbledore said someone was coming by. He looked worried."

"That's not good."

"No kidding."

Silence.

Banging on the portrait. The two boys stood.

Harry moved out into their common room, wiping off the tears as he went. Just before he opened the portrait, a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned to face Draco.

"Harry…"

Suddenly, the blond's mouth was touching his, just a brief brush of lips, and then they were pulling away.

"What the –"

Draco held up a hand. "I'm here if you need me." Then he reached forward, past Harry, and pushed open the portrait.

Harry, still dazed from this kiss, turned about dizzily and saw... Snape. The potions master was out of breath and his robes were more disheveled than usual.

"Yes sir?"

"Potter." He growled. "You need to come with me."

"Now? But professor –"

"Yes now!"

Harry got a sinking feeling of dread. He whispered:

"Why?"

Snape glared at him.

"Lupin's dying."

A/N: So, what do you think?

::Ducks flying objects::

Yeah, I know that was a terrible way to end it, but I've been planning that since I started writing this. Back in, like, January when I first had the Idea for this story, I planned… where is it… ah, here. I have, in my hand, one of the first sheets of paper I ever took notes on " Halloween. – Before the feast. – Harry and Draco talking. – Banging on the door – they open and find Snape there. –Says 'lupin's dying' and the chapter ends. – Must dodge pencils and other sharp objects being thrown at me as Lily best friend reads this over my shoulder."

Sorry.

I'll have the next chapter up as a Christmas present or whatever.

Please&ThankYou,

-Leif

PS: Many thanks to my wonderful new beta JJ CJ, who saw in the last chapter where I absentmindedly tried to claim that the snake was Draco's first shape rather than his fourth. Whoops.