Chapter 2: Trust Me

The door opened faster than Harry expected. Uncle Vernon came in half dazed from sleep, but still awake enough to be annoyed.

"What are you doing in here boy?" His face seemed to pucker naturally.

Harry stood quickly. He could just feel Michelle's body with the side of his foot.

"Nothing. I thought I heard something outside. I got up to check and I tripped over my feet."

"Heard something? It wasn't one of those blasted owls was it..." Uncle Vernon moved towards the window.

Harry cut him off before he stepped on Michelle. "No. It wasn't an owl. I think it was just a car backfiring or something."

Harry tried to look as innocent as possible. He needed his uncle to leave so he could talk to Michelle. Uncle Vernon studied Harry's expression. He looked around the room. Not seeing anything related to magic nearby made him relax. He glared once more at his nephew.

"Get to bed Potter. One more sound out of you and you'll regret the day you came here to live with us."

It was all Harry could do to keep his mouth shut after such a comment. He had regretted that day most of his life.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon." Harry spoke through a clenched mouth.

Satisfied that he was once again lord and master, Vernon sniffed loudly and left. Harry shut the door, but didn't move till he heard his uncle return to his own room.

"Are you okay?" he watched as Michelle sat up and pulled the cloak off of her.

"I think so." She stood slowly before going to sit on the bed.

Harry took the cloak from her hands and shoved it under his pillow. "That must have been a bad one."

"Yeah, sorry about nearly sucking your lungs out..."

Harry waited for her to continue. Instead, she just stared back.

"So...?"

"Hunh?" She was distracted.

"What did you see?"

Michelle thought for a moment. She couldn't tell him just yet. He would go through the roof--whether it would be with joy or anger she wasn't sure exactly.

"I need to go home." She got up and moved to the center of the room.

"Why?" Harry was obviously annoyed.

"I need to go over this one before I say anything. I want to make sure I've got it right." She reached out and touched his arm as he came to her. "I can tell you that I didn't see anything involving you or Ron or Hermione. Can you meet me tomorrow?"

Reluctantly, Harry nodded.

"Same place as usual?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah. How's 2 o'clock?"

"I'll be there."

Michelle looked at his face...he was still annoyed. She went up on her toes and kissed him softly.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Michelle stepped back to have more room.

Harry sighed and opened his mouth to ask her more, but she apperated before he got the chance.

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Michelle sent out an owl to Dumbledore as soon as she returned home. She crawled into bed, falling asleep only because she was already exhausted. Waking around noon, she took a quick shower and got dressed. An owl arrived while she was eating.

It was a response from the headmaster. He didn't have much to say other than he wanted to be kept informed. He would obviously help if needed, but she would have to handle most of the task herself. Michelle frowned at the letter. She knew being a Seer meant taking responsibility for your visions, but this was a big one. One she didn't want to mess up. Worry began to fill her head as she finished getting ready. She was surprised when she glanced at the clock and saw it was almost 2pm.

She threw some things into her book bag and apperated. In a matter of seconds, she was behind a grove of trees. Harry had suggested this small wooden area just outside of town. When school had let out for the summer, Harry had wanted to see her more than just once or twice in London. He was afraid the Dursleys would give birth to a herd of cattle if she just showed up at his house. He could reach the outside of town by bus and meet her here without drawing too much ire from his relatives.

Michelle glanced around and spotted Harry leaning against a nearby tree, his back to her.

"Harry..." she called out.

He turned and gave her a small smile. "I was starting to worry."

"I'm only a couple of minutes late." Michelle led the way to their favorite spot.

Harry sat down first. His long legs stretched out in front of him, Michelle noticed he was tapping his feet together nervously. She joined him on the ground making sure she was facing him.

"Before I start, a quick recap--I have no choice in the visions I get. I also don't get to choose who the vision is about."

"I know...they just come to you. What was this one about?"

Michelle spoke cautiously, "I saw Draco Malfoy. In about a week, he'll be dead."She looked at Harry anxiously.

He said nothing.

"I saw how it's going to happen and I think I can keep him from dying."

"Are you sure that's what you're supposed to do?" He asked quietly.

Michelle was a little surprised. She knew Harry and Malfoy couldn't stand each other, but when it came down to it, she never believed Harry would wish Draco dead. Punished, yes. Maimed, probably. But, not dead.

"Yes. His death is an accident. Well, sort of an accident. I just know it's not supposed to happen."

"How does it happen?"

"Malfoy is going to be at a meeting of Death Eaters. I think he's trying to join up, but I get the impression he's supposed to be asked rather than demand to be a part of the group. He sneaks in and is mistaken for someone else and killed before anyone knows it's him."

Harry's eyes grew darker, "Is his father there? Does he see it happen?"

"I seem to remember sensing him there more than actually seeing him."

"He didn't flinch when Cedric died. It would serve him right to watch his own son be killed."

"Harry, you better than anyone, know how horrible such a sight is...how could you wish for it to happen?"

"How could I not? Malfoy has done nothing but terrorize and try to hurt the people I care about. His father is a Death Eater responsible for who knows how many deaths. How can you expect me to care about what happens to either of them?"

Michelle stood angrily and took a few steps away from Harry.

"I expect you to care because you're a better person than the both of them." She spun on her heel and began walking. She could hear Harry stand up and come after her. Michelle walked quickly towards a clearing ahead. She yelled over her shoulder.

"Has it ever occured to you that helping someone you hate is just as important as helping someone you care about?" She almost tripped as Harry caught up to her and grabbed her arm.

"What do you mean?" He turned her so he could see her face. She was angry and disappointed in him.

"When you save the world, Harry, you save the bad people as well as the good. You can never know when helping someone will come back to help you."

Harry let out a harsh, short laugh. "You're saying Malfoy would help me if I needed it?"

"No, I'm saying sometimes people change if they are shown a good reason to do it and are given the chance." She threw a glance at his hand, still wrapped around her arm. He let go and was ashamed to see there was an imprint of his fingers on her skin.

Michelle watched as Harry's expression softened. They hadn't really fought before. Some minor arguments here and there, but nothing this potentially big.

Harry's head hurt. He knew he sounded like a jerk, but he wasn't going to lie and say he had no reservations about her helping Draco. He just wished Michelle could understand.

She bent her head to look at her watch. She was supposed to be checking in with Dumbledore soon.

"I have to go." Her voice was quiet and betrayed her lingering concern over Harry's part of the conversation.

"Michelle, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't be happy about you helping Malfoy. I'm sorry I grabbed your arm so hard. I'm sorry...well, I'm sure there was probably something else in there I should be sorry for..."

He carefully wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him. She didn't resist, but he could feel the tension in her body. She was still upset with him.

Michelle pulled away enough to tilt her head up. Her eyes met his and a weak smile slipped from her lips.

"Well, this sucked more than I thought it would." She leaned against him, her head against his chest as it rose and fell. Disentangling herself from his grasp, she stepped away.

"Harry, I love you...you know that."

"I know you do..."

"I have to do something. I think you also know that."

Harry nodded reluctantly.

"I'll send an owl when I get there and I'll keep you posted on how things are going."

"Wait, you're going to see him?" Harry's voice rose, more concerned than before.

"It'll be difficult to help him from my place."

"But, what if he tries to hurt you...what if his father..."

"Harry, people know where I am going. Very powerful people...I'll be fine."

"I don't know..."

She smiled. "Trust me."

Then she was gone.

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A/N: So, the plan was the next chapter had to be written before posting this one.That plan has just gone astray so it might be a little longer than a week before Ch. 3 gets here. I'll be curious to know what you two (so far) think about this chapter. Oh, FPC, I could only get 1 chapter for your Christmas Box stories...the main page says 10 chapters were posted, but only 1 could be found. You might want to check on that. I'll look again soon. Happy Holidays FPC and rockbaby67!