Chapter 21

/damn that imbecile!/ Dumbledore thought as left for the great hall; lunch was about to begin. /damn him and that brat to hell!/

What would Argus do? What did he mean? Dumbledore couldn't understand it.

Why would he go against their cause? Once upon a time, it was Filch who had introduced him to Lucius. Lucius had given them everything and this is how he betrayed him!?

It didn't matter, he would get his...

Dumbledore happened to glance out a passing window. /what is she doing outside?!/


Harry slithered into the dungeons where he knew Ethan would be waiting for him.

"Potter?" he heard as he transformed into his normal self. Clothes intact, thanks to the complete animagus spell.

"How did it go?" he asked, scanning the room, as he should have done ahead of time.

"Torture, as I'm sure you knew. You're an animagus?" Harry just stared at him before Ethan shrugged and fell onto the nearest couch.

"I ran into some trouble and I need you to do it again."

"Fine."

"'Fine'? That's it? No 'what am I doing'? No 'this could get me in trouble'?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow at him. "What did you expect? For someone who is so Slytherin you should have known better."

Harry shrugged before dropping on the couch opposite of the other boy, as he had done so many times before. "Even Draco questions."

"He's your lover. He wants to protect you, whether he knows it or not."

"Yeah."

"By the way, what is wrong with Draco. You never did explain it to me." He looked surprisingly curious.

"That, among other things was your fault. I was going to tell you."

"And how was it my fault?"

"Millicent."

"Figures..." He sighed before sinking further into the chair.

Harry smirked. "What do you think is wrong with Draco?"

"How should I know? That why I'm asking you, moron."

"Your girlfriend rubbing off on you?"

"I wish she was." He ran his fingers through his hair. "She still refuses to talk to me."

"So sorry." Not really, as she could be a real bitch, but if Ethan liked her... "But about Draco, he-" but he was interrupted when the door slammed open.

Draco -no- Malfoy was standing there. /how did he find me?/ "What are you doing here?"

"Harry can I speak with you? Please!?" Harry saw the pleading look on the other boys face. While he still didn't trust him, there was no way he could trust him, he did feel a twinge of sympathy. Just a twinge, really.

"Why not?" Harry shrugged and pushed himself up, reluctantly.

"Thank you!" The impostor latched onto him, but Harry quickly pushed him off.

"Not now. I'm still mad at you."

Crestfallen, he just nodded and went out the door with Harry following him.

"See you later." he heard Ethan say and he closed the door behind him.

"Yeah." he muttered to himself.



(flashback)

Draco had no idea what to do, as he lay there pondering to himself. He could stay here and face Blaise's wrath, though how he deserved it, or he could do... Something else? Could he lie to Harry, put all the blame on Granger? No, Blaise could tell him the truth that than Draco would be in an even worse predicament than he already was.

Maybe he should tell Harry. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad if he heard about what had happened straight from him...

He had to get out...

But Draco knew that he was fooling himself. Harry would kill him for this, or at least as good as dead. And Harry would be devastated... but would that be better than him not knowing?

(end flashback)


"Once again, Draco, what do you want." Harry folded his arms across his chest as he leaned against the bedpost of his bed.

"I want to say sorry."

"Anything else." Harry wasn't going to go easy on him, even if he didn't want to give it away that he knew that he wasn't the real Draco.

"I don't know what else to say!" he said, tears forming. Harry almost believed they were real. "I don't know how to make you believe me! I'm sorry for ignoring you." /...I don't want to die.../

"Then why did you continue, even when you knew you hurt me."

"I didn't know what else to do!" He slumped on the floor in front of him, really crying this time. Harry jerked his head at the person in surprise. Was he really saying that or was it still and act?

"I didn't know..."

/I will not die.../ was the only thought as the boy launched himself at Harry.


Draco didn't know what to expect when he entered Hogwarts, definitely not Dumbledore welcoming him in as if he hadn't left.

Then the old man had the nerve to demand why he was outside Hogwarts borders. He was the one who expelled him! /there goes my plan of sneaking in.../

"I needed to get a breath of fresh air." Why not play along. If the man thought he had been there than he had been there. He wasn't about to argue.

Dumbledore looked bemused for a second. "Very well. But don't stay out here long. You still have work to do."

"I know." Would Dumbledore buy that? He must have because he was already entering the castle.

"Bastard," he muttered to himself. He decided to stay outside for another minute or so. It was torture, knowing what would happen when he went in. but he knew that he couldn't avoid it.

/stop kicking yourself! It happened./ Almost happened /There's nothing you can do about it.../

Resigned, he walked into the castle. He went to where he knew Harry was most likely to be. It was still dinner time and he doubted that Harry would join the others, wanting alone time.

Draco stopped for a second, in the corridor. /it's ironic/ Draco thought, /he knew Harry so well, loved him enough to do anything for him, yet he could still do this.../ He felt tears come to his eyes, but quickly wiped them away. Harry would not see him broken, no matter if he felt that way. He would try to be strong.

But the first thing he saw when he entered to room made him forget that.

He couldn't possibly be strong as he watched Harry kissing someone that looked just like him.

Harry looked up at him. "Draco."


Harry had no idea what to do as the other boy pressed into him, kissing him with a passion. /as if his life depends on it.../

He heard a moan but it wasn't coming from either one of them.

Harry managed to break free just enough to turn his head. It had come from the door. He felt himself go stiff with shock when he saw who it was.

"Draco."

"What?" The boy who had been holding him tightly looked momentarily confused before noticing where his eyes where directed.

"Who... are you? What are you doing here? With my body!" Draco gasped. He felt himself coming close to hyperventilating.

"You aren't supposed to be here!" the other boy yelled. "She was supposed to keep you away." This last part was whispered.

"What are you on about!?" Harry finally forced himself away from his intruder. He quickly ran over to Draco, trying to calm him. He wondered how much of that had Draco seen. "Breathe, Draco. Breathe." He ran his hand gently along the other boys back.

"He isn't supposed to be here!" The other boy panicked and raised his wand towards them.

"No." Right before the spell could be said Draco cried out petrificus totalus. Harry watched as the other boy fell face first to the floor.

After a moment of staring at the other, Harry realized that Draco was clinging to him.

/Draco!/ It had finally hit him. Draco was here... "Draco!" He looked down at the boy, but he just clinged to Harry harder.

/I won't let go... He can't leave me!/

/Leave him?/ Draco didn't realize that he had spoke out loud. "Draco!" He pulled him back and shook him a little. "Why would I leave you?!" This was all happening so very fast. Draco was there!

Draco stared at him, grey eyes wide. Still breathing heavily he shook his head. "Nothing." He couldn't do it. It would hurt Harry to much.

Harry held him close. He could wait until later. Whatever it was it didn't matter now that Draco was there. With him.


Nagini crept silently into the dungeons. That was where Weasly stayed now that her father had more important things to worry about. Severus still wasn't doing any better, but he wasn't any worse off than he had been either. But hopefully not for long.

She by deatheaters that had been posted by Malfoy before he disappeared.

Disappeared.

/Damn it!/ He wasn't supposed to be gone... She hadn't wanted for him to leave!

She stupefied and obliviated the guards as she passed, including the one holding the cell keys; she didn't feel like having them slow her down.

"Knock knock, Weasel." She knocked hard on bars for effect.

"Whoever that is, I'll kill you..." a raspy voice came from the darkened corner of the cell.

/they've outdone themselves./ she thought as she worked the key in the lock. The deatheater had chained him by the wrist from the ceiling of the dungeons. The deatheaters hated the boy just as much as her father, Severus, and the rest of her brother's friends. All that hate aimed at one person. Her father possibly hated this boy more than he hated his own tormentor.

"And to think I decided to feel a bit sorry for you." She sneered. "I suppose you don't want these." she held the keys up to his face.

"Hand them over!" His eyes darted towards the keys as soon as they were brought to his face.

"No. I don't trust you any more than I trust anyone else around here. Just because I'm furious with Severus, my father, and even Harry, it doesn't mean I'm going to let you go scot-free. I have something else in mind. It's probably better than you deserve, but as I said, I feel a bit sorry for you."

"Then what are you doing here, bitch." he muttered. /anyone related to Voldemort can't be trusted…/

"Watch who you call a bitch, Weasel. That's a very fitting nickname, by the way." She pushed her scarlet hair behind her ear and smirked. "Has no-one ever told you not to bite the hand that feeds you?"

"Whatever you're doing here just do it and leave, 'cause I'm not listening anymore." Ron turned his head away. He couldn't believed that he had even listened this long. Anything she said would be lies...

"Fine. Your wish is my command. Consider this my good deed of the year," she said sarcastically.

/wh-/

"Annus Obliviate."


Harry held Draco close to him for several minutes, until the unconscious body began to stir.

"Who is he," Harry heard Draco whisper. He didn't understand why Draco was suddenly acting so meek. He was not acting at all like himself. That thought only brought more confusion to Harry's mind.

"Harry?"

"I don't know." The answer came out more clipped than he had wanted, causing Draco to wince slightly. Harry had been about to apologise when the other boy moved again. "We should probably do something about him," he said, considering if he really wanted to leave Draco's embrace or take care of this enemy.

"We should." Almost in a daze, Draco righted himself only to slouch uncertainly to the other boy. /Two of me?/ Draco thought as he examined him. It really did look like him. Exactly like him. "Who are you?" he said quietly to himself. "Why are you after Harry?" This time it had slightly more conviction. Who was this other person, that would parade in his body, kiss his Harry?! His Harry.

Draco laughed to himself causing Harry to look at him curiously.

He wasn't his Harry. Harry would probably leave him if he knew that he almost slept with Granger. /I can't even control my own body's functions./ So much for the famous Malfoy control, like ice.

"What's wrong Draco?" He wanted for him to stop being weird! First this impostor comes and tries to take Draco's place, than the one who he thought was the real Draco wasn't acting like himself at all... Harry swore silently to himself, slowly becoming infuriated. If Dumbledore was behind this... He had had enough of that old man's meddling!

"Nothing." /I suppose I should probably get used to having Harry not want me, again.../ "We really should find out who this is." Draco said nothing else as he cast a spell to tie the unconscious boy to the nearest empty chair. "Do you have any veritaserum?"

Taken back by Draco's sudden coldness, he nodded. "Severus left some in his potions cabinet."

"Get it. Please," he added on afterthought. Draco couldn't help it. He really didn't want to make Harry leave him, at least until he simply couldn't hide anymore.

"Yes." Harry's voice came out slightly sarcastic, causing Draco to wince. Harry left the spot where he had been standing, still slightly incensed. /I can't take this anymore!/

After waiting a moment for Harry to leave, Draco slowly approached the other boy, who had begun to moan. He was waking up. "Hurry!" he called behind him.

"I'm still looking!" came the reply.

Truthfully, Harry had found it right where he thought it was. He was just biding his time so he could think.

Moaning slightly, after a few minuets he picked himself up off the floor. He wasn't going to be fooled again.


"Tell me how or I will kill you, bastard! You will stop looking like me! You will leave my Harry alone!" Harry heard Draco hiss from the small potions closet. /huh, he must have revived him/

"I don't want your Harry!" the voice growled. "I don't want anything to do with him; I don't even like him. I hate him, in fact. But, I don't want to die because of my feelings. I thought I did, but I don't."

"Why do you hate him?" Silence.

::smack!!:: "I asked you a question. What. Do. You. Want. With. Harry." the tone of Draco's voice sent chills down Harry's spine. It reminded him of Lucius, as cold as it was. "Answer me!"

"He took you from me."

"What are you talking about? Who are you; how do you know me?!"

"Wouldn't you like to know? Everyone thinks I'm gone and they forget about all me. I'm nobody. I have always been nobody."

"Quit feeling sorry yourself. You're not the only one in pain..."

/what is Draco talking about?/

"Harry!" Harry jerked, banging his head against the door. "What was that? Is there any veritaserum left?"

"Nothing! I've got it." Quickly Harry glanced around the potions closet. It was on the far shelf; he quickly grabbed two and went back to the outside room.

"Here." He tossed Draco one. "Take it."

"What?!" Draco's brow furrowed as he gaped at Harry.

"Please. Just take it; I have to be sure," Harry pleaded.

Slowly Draco uncorked the vile and swallowed its contents. /I own you more than this, Harry/ After drinking it down, he handed it back to Harry empty.

"Thank you," Harry almost whispered; his eyes started to tear. What if this wasn't Draco? "Now, what is your name?" Harry asked as the first tear fell.

"Draco Augustus Malfoy." Draco couldn't help it as he walked forward to wipe the tear away. "I almost slept with Hermione, Harry." There, he said it.

Harry looked like he had been slapped. His eyes widened as he backed away from Draco. /...What?! Why would he?!/ He had never imagined that this could... Draco and Hermione.

"He said he almost slept with her idiot! Even I know that he wouldn't do that. I've seen how sweet he is on you. It's sick how much he's changed himself! Draco lowered himself to be with you, Potter.

"What are you talking about?!" Harry spat. He realized that he was shaking.

"He didn't sleep with her. He wouldn't. Unfortunately." The last part was muttered.

"How do you know all this? For the last time, who the hell are you?!" Harry was almost screaming at this point. It felt like his heart was about to come out of chest. He couldn't breathe! He felt Draco trying to help him, and pushed him away.

It was all too much! He never thought that it would be this painful to loose him...

/Harry.../ Draco watched him, worried, as Harry struggled to steady his breathing. He wanted so much to help to help him, but Harry wouldn't let him come near him.

"Give me the veritaserum, Draco. I'll tell all, if you and Harry keep me safe from Dumbledore and your father."

Draco's eyes jerked to the ones identical to his own. Dumbledore and Lucius?

"Why would you-"

"Quit asking questions and do it. Give it to me. I need for you to be able to believe me." the boys silver eyes glared back at him. "Now."

Draco look back over to Harry; he was holding it. Harry was now sitting on the floor openly glaring at the both of them. His breathing was still heavy, but didn't look like he would pass out anymore. Harry kicked to vial towards him, sneering. "Take it."

"Harry, I-"

"Give it to him." Harry looked away, refusing to diect his gaze back to Draco.

/it's all my fault/ Clinching his teeth, Draco uncorked the vial and thrust it to the impostor's lips, making sure that he drank it all.

After a few minutes of silence, he spoke. "So, are you going to ask me now?" he asked slyly.

"Ask you what?"

"Whatever you want. You know what the question is."

Yes, Draco did. "Who are you?"

The boy smirked. "My name is-"


"Are you sure, Hermione? I've known Draco for a long time; I don't think-"

"Yes, I'm sure, Blaise. I overheard him talking to someone in his room. He's still on his father's side. He lied to us all." Her chocolate eyes bored into his. Would he believe her?

"But-"

"You didn't think he would have it in him to hurt me either, now did you." Hermione reached her hand up to bring his face closer to her's. "You love me, don't you." their lips touched with a kiss.

"Of course."

"What about the other's that came before me?" she whispered.

"I don't care about them; I never have and they know that."

Hermione smiled. "You can be a real bastard when you want to be, you know that?"

He pulled her closer to him. "But, that's over now."

"Do you want it to be?"

"I only want to be you. I can barely wait until our wedding, I love you so much."

"What wedding?"


Chapter 20
Chapter 22