DISCLAIMER: Nothing is mine; all this fantastic universe and characters belong to the amazing J.K. Rowling.
Both boys were utterly confused to say the least, this woman appeared from nowhere, speaking quietly as if there weren't Death Eaters practically everywhere, as if there wasn't a war and a crazy Dark Lord running after them trying to kill them, and, to make things even more strange, this gorgeous lady knew their names and Harry's predicament. True, he didn't have the faintest idea of how to vanquish the Dark Lord but it wasn't that obvious, was it?, after all, the bloody prophecy didn't say a word about the methods and nobody was kind enough to tell him what it took, to finally defeat Voldemort, to make things worse this stranger wanted something in exchange for the uncalled-for help and there was no way for Harry to know if this 'kind' woman really wanted to help him instead of trying to lure him into a trap, instinctively Harry took a step back, while Draco stood right in his place without any expression in his face, as usually.
"You're right in being afraid of me Harry Potter, but this time this is not a trap, young one" she said as if reading Harry's thoughts, "you know as well as I do that you are going to commit suicide if you dare to face Voldemort right now, you don't have a plan and you don't have any idea of how to kill him, probably the only thing you can do if you go back right know to face Voldemort, is to trust in your stupid courage and I'm afraid this time it won't help you" her tone was so full of self confidence, and she was right, Harry thought, it was clear that if Malfoy haven't drag him into the forest he would be as well as dead right now. The training, the researching, was useless for him right now. His own strong magic was no match for Voldemort's. He desperately needed more time, time to think about what he was going to do and fulfill everyone's expectations.
"That's right Harry, Draco has just saved your life, you're in his debt and it's also true that you both needed more time to prepare yourselves for this encounter" this time Harry was near to a heart attack, how could she possibly know what he was thinking!! A soft laughter came from her lips "Telepathy my dear boy!, but right now I swear to you I can't answer all your questions and I know that you have a lot of them. He's getting closer and if you don't accept my help quickly maybe there will be no tomorrow for the Wizarding World, there will be no tomorrow for your loved ones. Of course there is a price to pay from both of you, nothing comes free, but just think about it young one, you can save the lives of thousands, nobody else will die because of you" her voice at that point was mesmerizing and Harry was being dragged away "you would put an end to this nightmare, your friends will be free to do whatever they want with their lives and your parent's and Sirius's deaths won't be useless, I want to help you" the last part was nothing but a whisper, a caress to Harry's ears.
Draco couldn't take it any longer, he knew Potter was scared beyond belief with the whole situation, in fact Draco was close to begin panicking himself as soon as he confirmed that wonder boy was as clueless as himself about what would be the plan for killing Lord Voldemort, but he knew that it was useless to panic and it would be worse to show that feeling, in fact the mere thought of showing any kind of feeling was useless. This was the perfect opportunity to fulfill the Prophecy, to defeat Voldemort and his minions, to redeem himself. "OK Potter, if you keep considering what to do I will personally kill you" came Draco's harsh voice "what are you thinking you freak? It is clear that we need help, is clear that you can't do this alone and is clear that we have nothing to lose at this point" Draco was furious but his voice was as cold as usually "I will do anything to get rid of this maniac, you should do the same, start acting like the hero everybody think you are, start acting like a man, you're no longer a kid!"
Harry's sad eyes looked at Draco Malfoy and although he knew the price to pay for the very needed help wouldn't be cheap, he also knew that this time Malfoy was right, again. It was worth the try, for his friends, for Hermione and Ron that were his family, for all the people that showed him their support, for Dumbledore who have done almost everything in his power to protect him, for his parents and Sirius who died trying to protect him, and for his precious Ginny, because she deserved to live peacefully and to be happy with or without Harry.
"All right... I'll accept your help, no matter what the cost will be, if you say that you can help me to do this, to finally defeat Voldemort I will do whatever you have in mind, just lets hurry up, I can feel him, he's very close, there's no more time" his voice was plain and dull "And you Malfoy, you can go back to help the others, I appreciate your help here and if I survive I will be in your debt... but if I die just please tell Ginny... tell Ginny that I... that I... died loving her, and please do everything in your power to keep her safe" his feelings were almost choking him, his desire to be with Ginny was overwhelming, he wanted to marry her most than anything, he wanted to have a bunch of redheads kids with green eyes, he wanted to see them grow and attend to Hogwarts, but maybe he was not meant to, the chances that he got killed in this battle were huge and perhaps Malfoy would survive. The thought didn't make Harry happy but he knew that the ferret cared for Ginny, he knew that they had some sort of relationship before Ginny finally realized that she loved Harry and he was sure that if needed, Malfoy would take care of her.
"Now is official, you're insane Potter. Why should I take care of the little weasel? What is she to me? Do you really expect me to be after her all my damn life?"
"I'm not asking you to marry her Malfoy. I just want you to keep her safe, I know that if I die you will do it"
Draco was about to hex Harry into oblivion, how on earth did he dare to request that very thing from him? Potter knew he cared deeply for Ginny, he knew he was beyond mad knowing that Harry and Ginny were together, beyond jealous, beyond arrogant to ever confess it, and what infuriated him the most was that if Potter died in fact, Draco would do anything in his power to keep Ginny safe, no matter how, after all he considered it his duty. But what infuriated Draco most was that Harry was perfectly aware the he stole Ginny away from Draco and still had the nerve to ask him to take care of her.
Draco's steel gray eyes were clouded with frustration, he knew that his life could have been very different if Potter wouldn't have ruined his relationship with Ginny. Now it was impossible to save anything he could possible have had with her, even if Saint Potter died, Ginny would never be his again and Potter would die as a hero.
Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted, "I'm afraid Harry that Mr. Malfoy here can't leave to help your friends, you will need him." Harry was taken aback, he expected to fulfill his destiny alone not with Malfoy at his side, besides he was sick worry about Ginny, he was not thinking clearly. "Both of you are wizards with enormous power and you need to combine your efforts to kill your common enemy. I know you hate each other with a passion, but I also know that you have managed to work together and in that way, together, is where your greatest strength resides and you both know it."
Each one recognized the strength in the other. Draco knew for certain that as much as he hated the boy-who-bloody-lived, he was indeed a powerful wizard, a clever one, no matter that at his age he was still annoyingly naïve. Harry knew that Malfoy was a dangerous creature, who knew almost every dark spell and how to manage it, he was cunning and manipulative, always the perfect Slytherin, but Harry also knew that for reasons unknown to him, Malfoy decided to join the light side and to share his knowledge to their cause, and so far his contribution have been of great help, forgetting the fact that the ferret had just saved Harry's life.
"You both need each other this time. We're running out of time so here's the plan: Voldemort can't kill me, no matter what he tries or how hard he tries" at this point she was smiling seductively "we are old acquaintances, and I'm sure he will be delighted to see me again. You both will hide behind that tree while I have a little conversation with our Dark Lord, I'm sure you will realize when he is weak enough for you to come out and perform the killing curse holding the same wand, Draco's strength will transfer to your incantation Harry, and your combined power will be enough to kill Voldemort. It does sound as a very easy thing to do, and it is really easy if you're concentrated in the motive you share for killing him, and I believe that such motive has a name: Ginevra Weasley" Harry trembled and Draco sneered "Sorry, but you will have to deal with that fact, you both care deeply for her no matter how different your feelings are, and that is the key to combine your powers"
Draco was looking murderous at the time, any reminder or Harry's love for Ginny was enough to infuriate him. Harry couldn't stop himself to clench his fists at the thought of Malfoy and Ginny, he looked at Draco. They were almost the same height, even though Draco's body was more muscular than Harry's. Draco's pale blonde hair was loose and at his chin level and his eyes were very well guarded, hate shining in their very depths.
"Make sure to say the incantation at the same time and don't think of anything else at that moment, otherwise this won't work and I assure you that if Voldemort survives I personally will take care of your precious Ginevra's death" she said with a very malevolent smile "Do we have a deal boys?".
Harry and Draco looked at each other, there was not the time not the place to discuss their feelings for Ginny, they both knew that there was no option but to work together in order to save her, they both nodded at the same time "We have a deal" And the fate of all the Wizarding World was sealed with those simple worlds.