A Winter Wish

Sunday, December 19

Later that day, Draco was still wondering what was wrong with Potter when he entered the Great Hall. With only one foot into the room, a familiar voice started calling out his name. Startled, Draco looked up to the source of the voice to see Harry Potter waving at him.

"Draco! You can sit here!" Harry smiled at the Slytherin.

Draco gave Harry a curious look as if to say, "what are you up to?" but he did walk over to the grinning Gryffindor.

"Hi!" Harry greeted the still standing Draco.

Draco simply examined the seat across from Harry. He looked under the seat and under the table as well.

"What are you doing?" Harry arched his eyebrow.

"What did you do to the seat?" Draco asked accusingly.

"What? Why would I do anything to the seat?"

"Why else would you call me over, Pottyhead?"

"Maybe I just called you over so you could sit down across from me."

The blonde shot Harry a scrutinizing glance. Still unsure, Draco took the seat next to the one Harry wanted him to sit in. Harry rolled his eyes before moving to the seat in front of the other boy while earning another scrutinizing glance.

"Are you feeling all right? Maybe your scar is finally getting to that idiotic brain of yours."

Harry shot Draco a glare. "Why's it so hard for you to accept the fact that I just wanted to sit with you?"

"Because you are Harry Potter, the epitome of all things good while I am Draco Malfoy, the epitome of all things evil."

"Is that how you see us? Nothing more than symbols of good and evil?"

"No, that's how everyone else in the wizarding world sees us." Draco suddenly didn't feel so hungry. He stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"If you don't mind, I'd rather not discuss my plans of the evening with you, Scarface." And with that, Draco left the Great Hall. If he looked back, he would have caught the look of disappointment on Harry Potter's face.

Draco stopped just outside the Great Hall. He could turn right and go to the dungeons where he'd be alone, but he didn't feel like being cooped up in the drafty rooms. Instead, he turned left, and stepped outside into the cool winter air. He walked towards the lake and looked out onto its mirroring surface. He saw his face, expressionless. 'The child of darkness…'

Then, another face appeared next to the blonde; one very similar to his own.

Draco sighed. "Hello father."

"Draco." Lucius Malfoy nodded. He muttered a spell, causing the broom in his hand to shrink so he could place it in his pocket. Draco turned around and faced him.

"What are you doing here? I thought you and mother were off somewhere…making plans."

"Do not question me, boy." Lucius said, ominously. Draco looked down at his shoes and did not say anything else. "The Dark Lord has taken an interest in you, Draco. He knows of the abilities that you possess and you could be great as his minion. I have come here now to take you to him so you can receive your dark mark and take your place beside the Dark Lord." Draco looked back up at his father, his face in a sneer. Lucius either didn't notice or he didn't care. "Go fetch your broom. We go now."

"No." Draco said, calmly.

"What? You dare defy me? Insolent boy, go fetch your broom now." Lucius glared at his only heir.

"I said, 'No' father." Draco glared back with the same intensity. "I don't want to be a minion of the dark side. I don't want to be like you and hide behind someone. I want to use my powers how I want and when I want. I-"

Lucius slapped Draco hard across the cheek, effectively silencing the Slytherin. "If you are not with us, you are against us." He said calmly. The older Malfoy drew out his wand and before Draco could reach for his own, Lucius put a binding spell on him. Draco stared at his father, unable to move and afraid of what his father would do next. "One less wizard to worry about…" And with that, Lucius Malfoy pulled his only son up by the collar and tossed him into the icy waters of the lake. Lucius pulled out his broom and flew away in the direction of Hogsmead.

Unable to swim for his life, Draco sank into the lake struggling to hold his breath as long as he could. The water pricked at his skin like thousands of needles. All he could see was the memory of his father's glare and sneer before hitting the lake. 'This is it…I'm going to die…goodbye mother…goodbye Hogwarts…goodbye Harry.' The image of the Boy-Who-Lived flashed before his eyes. His green eyes twinkling behind his glasses, his hair still uncontrollable, and his glorious smile. Draco felt his lungs begin to burn for air. His vision began to blur and darken.

But then, something else fell into the water. Draco felt something tugging at his arm, pulling him to the surface. When they finally reached it, Draco gasped for air. The something or someone that saved him, continued to pull him towards the shore and because he was still under his father's spell, Draco could not look at his savior. His rescuer dragged him out of the water, gasping for air since their actions had worn them out. A spell was muttered and Draco was freed from his bindings.

"Draco? Are you all right?" a familiar voice called to him, panting between words.

Draco turned around and his silver eyes met with green eyes filled with worry. "H…Harry?" Draco panted. Harry smiled at the sound of the Slytherin's voice. That was the last thing Draco remembered before passing out.

---

"Draco…" his father called to him. "Join us…" Lucius reached out his hand to his son. Behind him were fellow Death Eaters, including his mother and Crabbe and Goyle.

"Come with us, Draco…" the Death Eaters said, reaching for him.

"It's in your blood, Draco. You are a Malfoy. You are destined to be one of us." Lucius said.

"One of us, one of us." The Death Eaters chorused together.

"No!" Draco spun around only to face the Dark Lord himself with Peter Pettigrew whimpering beside him.

"Join us." Voldemort boomed.

From behind, Draco felt hands on his robes. Numerous hands, pulling at him, trying to force him to join the dark side.

"Join us, join us." They chorused.

"No! Never!" Draco tried to pull away but they continued to grab him. "No! Let me go! I'll never join you! Never! NO!"

---

"NO!" Draco bolted up from where lay. He scanned the room. It was dark but he could tell that he was in the hospital wing of the school.

"Shhh…" soothed a voice from beside him.

Draco's head shot towards the voice. "Who's there?" Draco's voice was filled with warning.

"Calm down. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."

"Who are you?" Draco demanded.

"Harry Potter."

Draco blinked. "Potter? What?" he stammered.

"After you left, I decided to fly around on my broom on the Quidditch pitch. When I got outside, I saw your father throw you into the lake and fly off so I dove in after you. Don't you remember?"

Draco remembered. He was then aware of something in his hand radiating warmth. 'I'm holding Harry's hand…' Draco thought although he didn't release it.

"Get some sleep, Draco." Harry squeezed Draco's hand in his. "You need to rest now." Draco relaxed in his bed before he fell into a dreamless sleep.

Author's Notes/Disclaimer: I don't the characters of Harry Potter although it'd be nice to own Draco. Heh.

This chapter isn't too long but at least it's longer than the first one, eh? Maybe the chapters will get longer as I progress. I don't know. Questions? Comments? Review!