Chapter 6: Persuasion

"Draco, I would like to speak to your father alone. Perhaps you and the Seer should go for a walk." Narcissa's eyes shifted from Michelle's to her son's.

"Yes Mother..." Draco stood and lead Michelle into the hallway closing the door behind them.

Michelle went straight to Draco's room. She grabbed her backpack then grabbed Draco by the arm.

"We don't have much time..." Michelle pulled him with her into the hall and down the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Draco yanked himself free and stopped.

"I think the better question is where are WE going..."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lucius took a seat opposite his wife.

"This Seer, is she the one you were telling me about?" Narcissa hissed the words at him.

"I believe she is. Rumors have been running about that a new Seer is responsible for delaying the Dark Lord's plan. Trelawney has been detained by Dumbledore so no one we could speak to knows what actually happened at Azkaban. Miss Larson is a new Seer who will be teaching at Hogwarts. It seems likely she is the one responsible for the setback."

"When did you speak to her?"

"I saw her in The Leaky Cauldron. I suggested she needed a safe place to hide. We wouldn't want Lord Voldemort getting his hands on her would we?"

"Shall we tell the others?"

"We don't want to do anything to make Dumbledore suspicious. She will stay here where we can keep an eye on her. I want to know why she has come to us." Lucius stretched out his hand to touch his wife's.

Narcissa's fingers intertwined with his. She smiled faintly.

"I will tolerate her presence for the moment." Narcissa stood and came over to her husband. She carefully sat herself down onto his lap, letting go of his hand to brush her fingers through his hair. "Once we have gotten the truth from her, she is mine to deal with...understood." She tugged his hair to make her point.

He smiled up at her. "Anything thing for you my love..." He lifted his chin and kissed her, a wicked laugh filtering through his throat.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Michelle lead Draco through the front door. She moved quickly over the lawn towards the wooded area she'd seen from Draco's window. Once they were out of view, she paused to catch her breath.

"I have a feeling your mother is going to throw me out of here soon. I need you to listen to me."

Draco sat at the base of a tree and stretched out his legs. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at her. Still, he was listening so Michelle figured she could put up with his attitude for the time being.

"I know we have never gotten along. But, you have to trust me. If you try and sneak your way into the Death Eater meeting or gathering or whatever it is, you will be killed. I know you already have a plan in your head on how to get there."

"And what is this plan in my head?"

"Stonehenge."

Draco tensed up.

"It's where they are going to meet. Even without a portkey for yourself, being in Wiltshire makes it easier for you to get there on your own."

Michelle watched his expression and as he got angrier, she knew he believed her.

"You're going to fly partway on your broom and walk the rest. I know you've been sneaking into your father's things. You know what sort of spells and charms they use to hide their location. You are going to be able to get close to them. It won't do much good, because they are going to kill you."

"Even if any of what you are saying is true, my father would not let anything happen to me."

"He doesn't know it's you. You come out of hiding without announcing yourself. They kill you instantly."

"So, in order to live, I have to be sure and not go to this meeting."

Michelle relaxed a fraction, maybe she was finally getting through to him. "Yes. Don't go to the meeting."

"But, you also say they kill me because they don't know who I am."

"Right..." Michelle's hope was dashed quickly.

"Fine. I'll get permission to be there. Problem solved." Draco stood up and headed back to the house.

"Shit." Michelle took off after him. She walked quickly to keep up with his pace. "Draco, I got the impression you have to be invited to this sort of meeting. You might get into trouble talking to your father."

"Since when do you care if I get into trouble?"

"Draco, I'm just going to say it. Even if you tell your father, there's no guarantee that you'll be okay. You can't go to the meeting and you can't ask permission to be there."

"What are you going to do to stop me?" He spun on his heel and Michelle ran into him.

Michelle rubbed her nose after it slammed into his chest. She backed away unsure how to answer. She really didn't know what she was going to do.

"What ever I have to do." Michelle tried to sound like she had a plan.

"Of course. And, you have to do something don't you...because you're a Seer."

"Yes."

"It has nothing to do with me." Draco mumbled before walking on.

He had a wounded expression on his face. Michelle ran ahead and turned to face him. She walked backward as she spoke.

"It has everything to do with you." Michelle stole a glance to her side and noticed they were approaching the house. "I'm here because I'm trying to keep you from being killed."

"You're here because it's your job."

She grabbed his shoulders and forced him to stop.

"MY JOB! This is not MY JOB! This is who I am. This is who I chose to be. I have been given this strange ability, which right now is a complete pain in the ass. And, like it or not, I'm going to help you." Michelle realized she was holding onto his shoulders so hard her arms were shaking. She let go, pulling her arms up to her chest protectively. "Sorry, I didn't mean to accost you. I just wanted you to listen."

"You've made your point." Draco said quietly.

"I have?" Michelle's ears perked up. "So, you won't go to the meeting?"

"I won't go to the meeting."

"And you won't go to your father?"

"I won't go to my father." He sounded listless as he answered.

Michelle frowned. He gave in too easily. "The meeting is in a couple of days right?"

Draco nodded.

"Why don't you come to London with me? We can hang out. That way I can be sure that you won't be going and getting yourself killed."

"Come to London...with you?" Draco regarded her cautiously. She sounded sincere enough. He was just about to answer her when his mother's voice was carried across the lawn. Narcissa was calling them back inside.

Draco called out to her. He began walking towards the door.

"You better come inside. I think I can convince Mother that you need to head for home."

"Maybe I should just run for it now."

"You wouldn't make it to the gate." Draco tilted his head to the left and Michelle finally noticed Worth shadowing them.

They reached the front door. Draco held it open as Michelle hesitated.

"I can do this." He smiled, a glint igniting his eye, "Now it's your turn to believe me."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

a/n I hope I have my geography right. I refered to the HP Lexicon to get the location of the Malfoy's place. Once again, I haven't written the next chapter before putting this one up, but since Flying Purple Cat reviewed and said her birthday was on Thursday, I decided to post early. Happy B-day! Also, thanks to Call-Sugarhigh-Police, rockbaby67, and FPC for the reading and reviewing! There's not a lot of you, but you're faithful which I greatly appreciate!