Disclaimer: As much as I would love too, I do not own anything that has been previously mentioned in the Harry Potter Books, which is very unfortunate for me.

Author's Note(s): I was thinking of writing a sequel after this. It might be a time travel because I've been reading a lot of those.


The Tale of a Dragon
Ch12: You Can't Choose Your Family, But You Can Choose Your Friends

Harry woke to the sight of a sleeping Draco. He felt relived that they were facing each other, which meant that Draco wasn't as hurt as he was before he went to sleep if he could roll over without waking up.

He remembered waiting three nights after he had seen two dots marked 'Remus Lupin' and 'Draco Malfoy' go through the tunnel towards the Whomping Willow, before he followed. During that time he hadn't spoken to anyone, making all his friends incredibly concerned.

Most of his free time while he was waiting, Harry thought about Draco and how he felt about him. There was no use denying that he was attracted to the Pureblood, and there were hidden depth to him that Harry wanted to find.

Harry went over everything in his mind that had been running through there for the past two days. He ran his hand absentmindedly through Draco's hair, untangling the parts where it had matted together with blood.

He started mumbling to himself; not noticing the blonde's eyes had opened.

"It won't work not matter how much I want it. He's probably got the dark mark by now. It'll never work. We're two different people. He's probably not interested in me anyway. I couldn't be with him even if he was because of this stupid prophecy. I can't be with anyone because of this stupid prophecy. I'm destined to live my life alone. Not like Ron or Neville or Seamus or Dean… Even Snape can get someone if he wanted too. But I cant."

Harry's eyes pricked with tears. He knew he was just working himself up, even if it was true. He had a habit of doing that.

"Harry, stop, please." Mumbled Draco, "Don't make yourself cry. Ok?"

"Sorry." Harry whispered in return. And he took a few minutes to collect himself while Draco pushed himself up into a sitting position, groaning as he moved.

Draco opened his mouth to say something, but changed his mind and closed it.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No. You were going to say something. What was it?"

"I was going to ask what you meant when you mentioned a Prophecy, but I thought it might be a bit tactless, since I wasn't supposed to hear."

"It would be, but not because of that."

"Why then"

"I've just never told anyone about it, and I don't plan too."

"Sometimes it helps to get things off your chest." Draco lifted Harry's chin so they were looking each other in the eye. Harry was still lying down with his arm wrapped around the pillow. Draco pulled his hand out from under the pillow and held it in his, squeezing it as a way of reassurance. "I don't have the Dark Mark if that helps."

Harry chuckled

"Please tell me." He asked again, but softer this time.

Harry looked at Draco's bare arm before taking a deep breath. "It goes: The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."

There was an uncomfortable silence, where Harry tried to desperately to keep from crying or storming off to throw something, and Draco absorbed all the information he had just been given.

He tried to think of something to say that wouldn't upset Harry much.

He settled on, "Fuck."

Harry looked blankly at the wall on the opposite side of the room and laughed harshly.

"Sorry Harry."

"S'ok. It's just difficult for me to have the entire fate of the Wizarding World, resting on my shoulders. That's all."

Now it was Draco's turn to laugh, though it was more of a scoff. "My father fed me some story that you have the perfect life, with lots of money, tones of friends, and guardians who love you…" He trailed off then scoffed again. "Everything I wanted, he told me you had. Don't suppose that's what your life is really like is it?"

Harry looked up at Draco "No. I have only a few true friends. Everyone else just worships me, for things I wish never happened. They're not friends. I do have a decent of money, but so do you though. And my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin... Let's just say I'd rather face Voldemort on bad day, then them on a good day."

"That bad huh?"

"Yep."

Draco shuffled down, so he was lying next to Harry and their noses were almost touching. "Can you forgive me for the way I've acted since first year. I have been grossly misinformed about you during my upbringing and was too proud to see past my father's words. For that I apologise."

"How on earth can you be so… articulate?" Draco shrugged the best he could while he was lying down and smirked. Harry smiled. "I forgive you."


Draco walked up to the castle while Harry explained some things Remus had told him. Draco listened with half an ear.

"Draco, are you listening?"

"Yeah, but I feel fine, why do I have to take it easy?"

"You have just slept so it doesn't feel too bad, but you'll be sore if you sit or lye down for too long and you'll be tired. You can also get headaches really easy. You got that."

"Yes, sir."

Harry smirked "Good."

They continued in silence while it drizzled around them. Draco pulled his new clean robe closer around him, shivering as he did. Then something occurred to him.

"Who came out as the Alpha-Male? Do you know?"

"Yep. He should have known better then to challenge a Malfoy in any form."

Draco sighed heavily. Again someone was judging him on his family's name. Harry swung around and blocked Draco's path to the castle.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Now move, it's freezing out here."

"Draco." Harry said dangerously. "Remember what you said about getting things off your chest."

Draco sighed again, "Fine. I don't like being called 'Malfoy'. It means people are judging my by my family."

"Oh. Sorry. Of course you wouldn't like being called that. What with what your father does to you and stuff."

Draco stiffened. "Yeah"

"Sorry."

"Don't apologise." Draco sidestepped around Harry and continued the walk, with the Gryffindor two steps behind him.

"It's a very touchy subject with you isn't it?" he called out. By now they were in the Entrance Hall.

Draco stopped and Harry stood next to him. Draco couldn't meet his eyes, so Harry looked at the side of Draco's head.

"Why do you care?" It was barely a whisper. "No one else ever has, so why you? Why now?"

"Honestly? I don't know. There's just something about you. I used to think it was arrogance. But after that day on the train I started thinking, maybe it was sadness. I was right too. It is sadness."

Eventually he brought himself to look at Harry. His emerald-green eyes were shining with concern, guilt and understanding. Not pity, as Draco had expected.


Harry sat the Gryffindor Common Room during his free period. Draco had made him realize that he was rather lucky that Ron and Hermione cared about him and his wellbeing, and that he had been rather unfair to them.

He had a book open over his legs. It was 'Ways of the Werewolf: Everything You Need to Know by Anonymous'. The page that was open displayed step by step instructions on how to brew the Wolfsbane Potion. It looked complicated, and Hermione would have much more of a chance to brew it properly then Harry.

As if on cue, the portrait swung open so Hermione and Ron could come in the room. They both looked rather flustered, with wrinkled robes and red, swollen lips.

Harry smirked since there was no need to ask where they were (it was obvious enough), he got straight to the point.

"Sit." He motioned to the couch in front of him in a friendly manner. They sat comfortable next to each other. Harry put the book down an the ground face down, so they couldn't see the title.

"I want to apologise for my behaviour this year as well as last year." He shifted in his chair. "I guess it's taken me a long time to get over Sirius's death. But there's been other things I've had on my mind that haven't made it any easier."

"We know there have been Harry."

"We just don't know what they are."

Hermione Shot Ron a look. "And for all you know Ronald, there might be an excellent reason why."

She looked To Harry for confirmation, and he gave it to her with a simple nod.

"I'm ready to tell you know though" He added. With a deep breath he repeated the prophecy and everything else that was said in Dumbledore's office the night Sirius died.

After everything had been said there was the worst silence Harry had ever heard. "Say something. Please. Anything." He begged quietly.

Hermione suddenly burst into tears and buried her head in her hands. Ron was still too stunned to speak or comfort his girlfriend.

Finally Ron's shocked expression contorted onto one of anger.

"Stupid Fucking Kreacher" He spat.


Not much happened during the next month. The full moon came and went and everyone had been too busy packing for the Christmas Holidays to notice his second disappearance from the grounds. Only Harry noticed, but Draco had a suspicion that Blaize was starting to suspect something.

Draco waved his wand and everything he needed flew straight to his trunk. He closed it with shaking hands and fumbled with the lock. It wasn't just because of the full moon, but from knowing that his initiation into the ranks of the Death Eaters was right around the corner.

He had received another note from the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord. It had mentioned that he would have to help Hermione pack, and that he had to steal her address.

Somehow he had managed to do just that. He had found her address on an application form to a magical university that she had partially filled out.

It had given him a horrible, gut wrenching feeling as he'd sent it off. But (though the would never admit it) he was scared of the Death Eaters, Voldemort and, probably more then anything else, he was scared of his father. So he had to do it.

His mother, on the other hand, he could stand. She didn't have any maternal instincts, but at least she fed him and gave him potions when he was ill. Unlike his father who's theory was that if Draco was left to deal with it without help, then he'd be stronger afterwards.

As the train arrived at Kings Cross, another feeling washed over Draco and he made less of an effort to suppress this one then the others.

'I hope Harry's going to be ok.'

The invisible carriage carrying Draco neared the mansion, and stopped half way up the driveway. The door opened on it's own and Lucius stood in the doorway. Draco stepped down and looked at his father, straight backed.

"Father."

"Draco." They locked eyes with each other. Then Lucius raised his hand and Draco flinched noticeably, expecting to be hit. Lucius glared at his son as if debating wether he should bring his hand across Draco's face, as punishment for being so weak. Instead he continued what he was doing and reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.

"Your orders, to prove yourself. Make sure they're carried out properly. I will not have a failure in the family."

Draco got back in the carriage and unfolded the paper. His hands were shaking again.

In the box under the chair you are sitting on is a Death Eater's robe. The driver will take you to an address where you will put the robe on and proceed into the house and kill the two adults inside.

It is the Grangers' house, and the adults will be Mr and Mrs Granger.

A while ago you were asked to befriend Hermione. This was so she wouldn't be suspicious when you helped her pack.

After you killed her parents, you are to go outside then state the incantation 'Morsmordre'. Then get back into the carriage.

Make sure no one sees your face, make sure you don't drop your wand, Make Sure They Are Properly Dead. You are under no circumstances to tell anyone about what happened at that house.

Draco felt like he was going to be sick. He managed to tell the driver to stop and to stumble out before he doubled over and was violently ill behind a bush next to the road. He felt a bit better but still didn't trust his stomach for the rest of the journey.

The Grangers' place was a nice house with a beautiful garden. Draco snuck around the back, hidden in the darkness of the night, and entered through the kitchen door.

A woman was in the kitchen washing the dishes, and Draco raised his wand and swallowed. To cast an unforgivable you have to mean was you want to do. Draco had to want to kill Hermione's mother with every fibre in his body, if he was to do this successfully.

He decided to want to not be killed by his father with every fibre of his body instead. And to not be killed, he would have to kill… twice.

"Avada Kedavra!" The woman fell.

There were footsteps coming from the other room and Draco flattened himself against the wall in the shadows, breathing heavily behind his mask.

A man came running in and stopped when he saw his wife. He knelt beside her and took her pulse. He let out a dry sob as Draco emerged from the shadows.

"Avada Kedavra!" The man fell.

Draco ran, casting Morsmordre over his shoulder as he got in the carriage. This time he didn't even think of stopping the driver before throwing up what was left of his stomach's contents.


Another Authors Note: Do tell me what you think of a sequel. And if you want it to be Time Travel or not, because I need to know what you alllike. It might not be for a while because I'm really bad at ending storys so this one might just keep on going and going and going...