Chapter 4: Help when in need, is a friend indeed.
Harry told the armor the password and snuck into the room. Neesm came out from behind the rocks, and said. "Hi, Harry."
"Hi, Neesm." Harry said slightly distracted.
"What's wrong?" Neesm asked, worried. Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"You know I've been reading the papers front to back and not one word about any killings. I wonder what Voldemort is doing? What is he planing?" Harry said, more to himself then to his friend. Harry walked over to the cauldron that had been simmering in the corner for the past week. Almost forgetting that Neesm was still in the room.
He jumped when Neesm said. "I don't know, but don't you go trying to find out what's up either. You've got enough to do, with out going looking for Voldemort." Harry nodded.
"I guess your right. I better wait." Harry said, as he stirred the potion. "It's almost done." He told Neesm.
"Good! That stuff stinks!" Neesm said, making a face. Harry laughed at him. He put a silencing charm on it and a the bubble head charm on it.
"Better?" Harry asked as he sat down on one of the boulders. Neesm slid up beside him.
"Much." He said, grinning. Harry looked at the Marauder's map, checking for anyone. The hall was all clear.
Suddenly a noise, sent Harry scrambling behind the boulder, with Neesm in hand. He ducked behind the boulder, and took off the spell that had made the room seem like it was outdoors, it was much easier to tell where everything was without the confusion of trees and grass.. He was hiding behind a rather large box, the room was dark.
"It looks like you'll be at the top with me now. I just hope you don't ruin it." A cold voice said.
Harry thought, he recognized that voice, but he couldn't place from where.
"I won't. You'll be proud for me, Father." A voice said. This one Harry recognized, he'd just heard it this morning in potions. It was Malfoy. Harry heard the sound of something hitting someone's body. Someone gasped and something heavy fell to the floor.
"I told you not to call me that! What if someone over heard you! You are a complete fool! Do you ever think for yourself? Your an incompetent moron! How your mother and I were ever able to keep you this long is passed me!" The voice, Harry assumed to be Malfoy's dad, said angrily. He heard another sound of something hitting a body, followed by a small whimper. The voice continued. "Look at you! Laying on the floor like a common mudblood! Get up!" He heard someone struggle to get up from the floor.
"Now I want you here the same time, same day next week. And don't screw anything up, the dark lord will be very unhappy if you are unable to make it to the next meeting. You won't run away from me this time, like you did at Diagon ally are you?" The voice asked, then paused and said. "Good! I'll see you next week." Another sound of something hitting a body, then there was a quiet whooshing sound, and silence.
Harry sat behind the boxes, trying to figure out if Malfoy was still there. He sat quiet, trying not to breathe to loudly. He looked down at Neesm, who was looking up at him. Harry shrugged his shoulders, and kept waiting. Neesm started to slid around the boxes to check if Malfoy was still there. He peeked around, looked back at Harry and nodded. Harry settled down in a more comfortable position, and waited. An hour went by, and Neesm snuck out to see what was up.
He appeared a minute later and whispered. "He's asleep." Harry nodded and stood up slowly, he kept on eye on Malfoy, who was sitting on the floor, as he headed over to where the Marauder's map lay. There was a small box, that Harry was unable to see. It felt like he was in slow motion but Harry knew that no amount of slow motion could have stopped the deafening sound. A loud crash echoed through out the room. Harry looked over at Malfoy.
His eyes had snapped open, and he was looking around wildly. Harry knew that pretty soon he would spot Harry, even in the poor light the candle emitted. Harry nearly groaned out loud, this was going to be bad.
"Who's there?" Malfoy asked, his voice nearly a whisper. Slowly Harry stood up, and faced Malfoy. Malfoy looked up at Harry, his eyes round and scared. Then suddenly that look disappeared, replaced by failure etched deep in his face. "Great." He mumbled.
"So Potter, now your going to turn me in, I presume?" He asked, tiredness laced in his tone. Harry looked down at his enemy, his robes were torn, and dirty. He had bruises forming on his face, and he could tell it hurt Malfoy just to breathe. To see Malfoy like this scared Harry, scared him enough not to say anything.
Malfoy started to get up but winced, and sat back down. "Well, aren't you going to take me in? Isn't that what the good guy is supposed to do?" He asked. Harry instead took out his wand, and pointed it at Malfoy. Malfoy looked up, fear creeping into his eyes.
"What." He started, but Harry said a healing spell quietly. Slowly the bruises disappeared, and Malfoy started to look better. He looked down at himself and moved slightly. When he found it was not painful to move, he got up.
"You didn't have to do that." Malfoy grumbled. Harry was about to answer him, and not in a polite way but then he realized if he was hurt he wouldn't want Malfoy to help him out. So Harry kept quiet.
"So I take it you heard everything?" Malfoy asked Harry quietly.
"Your father escaped from Azkaban, and you've just gotten back from a meeting with Voldemort?" Harry said coolly. Malfoy looked up, flinching, when he heard Voldemort's name, but Harry continued. "And your going back to another meeting with your running-from-the-law father. And when you told him he'll be proud of you, he beat you. Now tell me if I've gotten any of this wrong. Your now close to being an official deatheater and at the it seems very close to Voldemort. Your father obviously wants you to be a deatheater like him and you are always screwing things up. And you don't fight back to him." Harry finished.
"You wouldn't understand! The only thing you've ever had to fight for is the whole 'good vs. evil' battle. And as always you win that fight! Well not everything is as black and white as in the little imaginary world you live in! I bet you've never had to face an abusive father! One who always beats you and never gives a damn about you, telling you how worthless you are. He doesn't care if I dropped dead this moment or turned into a bug. In fact, he would probably step on me himself if I turned into a bug. All he cares about is if I 'live up to the Malfoy name' or not. I bet you've never had to deal with a father who only cares about the family's reputation! Have you? I didn't think so!" Malfoy yelled angrily.
"Don't jump to conclusions like that! I know exactly what you've been through!" Harry shouted back to him.
"Yeah! I just bet those muggles you live with are just as bad as my father!" Malfoy said sarcastically.
"Oh, of course! No one can have a bad home life but you! I hate to burst that little self-pity bubble of yours but my uncle is in every way just as bad as your father! He never cared if I was to drop dead at any minute! He never stopped his beloved son from using me as his own personal punching bag! He gave him tips half the time! He'd lock me in the closet under the stairs for days at a time with out food just for saying something that happened in a dream! I was always the bad child, the bad seed! Did you know he told all the neighbors that I went to a correctional school for child criminals? Yeah! He never gave a damn about me! He only cared about what everyone else would think if they knew about my being a wizard or a freak as they so constantly love to call me! But that can't be in anyway nearly as bad as your father could it? Just because they're muggles and don't have magic to punish me with." He ranted, and he had the pleasure of watching Malfoy's face go ghost white.
"I didn't know." Malfoy said.
"Yeah I could tell." Harry replied coldly.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled. Harry took a step back in surprise. It was a first ever, open and no one forcing him to do it, apology.
Harry was quiet for a minute and Malfoy said. "It's just decisions are easy for you. Don't become a Death Eater because the Dark Lord is your archenemy and he's pure evil. Do join Dumbledore and the Aurors because you need to avenge your parents and everything the Dark Lord did to you. Every decision is easy for you. But me, I have a family who has had a long line of being involved with all sorts of Dark Arts. I can't just break away, and join another side. You have your life planed out, destroy the Dark Lord and save the world, become a hero to everyone and a household name. Some things aren't as easy as that. I don't even want to become a Death Eater. But its what my family does. I've got half my family in the Dark Lord's inner circle! I don't even know what I want to do." He finished quietly, almost a whisper.
Harry starred at him. "You don't want to be a deatheater?" He asked Malfoy, shocked.
"Your quick, Potter. Now I can see why your Dumbledore's favorite. No I don't want to be a deatheater." Malfoy said.
"Why? You've been flouncing around all these years saying how close you were to Voldemort, and now your saying you don't want to join his inner circle with the rest of your family? Now that's just a little odd to me." Harry said, acting stunned.
"It's simple. I went to that meeting today and I realized just how stupid that whole thing is. It's revolting! I don't want to become a Death Eater is because I don't want to be a slave to someone, its bad enough I have to live with my father. I saw the other Death Eaters at that ceremony. They tremble at the mention of the Dark Lord's name. They cowered at his presence. They accept his beatings and insults like dogs. Heck, they even call him 'Master'."
"I want to be my own person, have my own will. Though I do not agree with letting the muggles mix with us, as some people on your side want, I don't think killing off every wizard who has muggle blood in them will be effective. So while I may not agree with Dumbledore's side, I disagree more with the Dark Lord's side, so the reasonable choice would be to be against the Dark Lord.
"Sure, I think it's a good idea, making the wizarding race clean and pure, but it just can't be done. We're all practically related all ready, us pure- bloods, I mean. There are enough pure blooded families out there. I wouldn't object, if he wanted to start his own 'pure bloods only club', but the whole 'let me take over the world' sort of thing,' it just doesn't make sense. You can't kill all the wizards with muggle blood. Its nearly impossible and wouldn't effectively 'cleanse' the race." Malfoy rambled, talking to himself more then to Harry.
"And the man's a walking oxymoron," Malfoy went on, "He yells at his followers to kill the mudbloods, but he himself has muggle blood in him. His father, I think. I just don't want to be in that situation. Ever. Once is enough for me. All the cemeteries and blood and darkness and torture. Plus the groveling and the abuse, its just sick."
Harry's mouth hung open, he never knew Malfoy could be so. good. Malfoy looked at Harry, and burst out laughing.
"What?" Harry snapped.
"The look on your face. I bet this complicates things a bit, Huh?" Malfoy said, when he got himself under control.
"What things?" Harry asked, getting agitated.
"Your handing me in. Us being enemies. Pick one." Malfoy said, calmly. Harry took a deep breath, and realized Malfoy was right, it did complicate things. In a big way.
"All right, I want to hear it from your own mouth. Do you still support Voldemort?" Harry asked slowly.
Malfoy gave him a look. "Why should you hear it from my mouth I've already told you." He said arrogantly. Harry did a double take, the mood change between the talking civilly Malfoy to the once again arrogant Malfoy was a quick, and complete U-turn.
"Malfoy!" Harry threatened.
Malfoy sighed, "No, I don't. I don't want anything to do with that snake of a man." He finally said.
"I--" Malfoy started. "Look I've been wanting to ask you this for a while. I could. I mean. Willyouhelpmejoinyourside?" He said quickly. He hurriedly went on, "Not because I agree with what you're fighting for, but because I'll do anything not to become a slave to that thing."
Harry was astonished, but to make sure he heard correctly he asked. "What?"
"You heard me." Malfoy snapped.
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did!"
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did!"
"No, I didn't. Beside how would you know if I heard what you said or not."
Malfoy groaned, then he took a deep breath, and said. "Will you help me join your side?"
"OK." Harry said.
"That's it? You're not going to turn me away, and go have a good laugh with your friends at my expense?" Malfoy asked, shocked.
"Nope."
"Why?" Malfoy asked, still completely bewildered.
"Because, if you must know, I always carry a Sneak-o-scope in my pocket." Harry said exasperated.
"You carry a sneak-o-scope around with you? All the time?" Malfoy asked.
"Yeah." Harry said, not understanding why Malfoy was asking.
"You are so paranoid!" He said, loudly. Then he got really quiet, really quick. "Oh crap! we've been yelling our heads off at each other. I wonder if anyone heard."
Harry laughed. "How did you find out about this place?" He asked.
Malfoy looked at him. "I heard you tell that elf on our first night, and I managed to get it out of him." Then when Harry gave him a sharp look, he hurried and said. "With a truth potion mixed in a drink I gave him. So he didn't betray you. I was just looking for a place where me and my father could portkey to safely."
Harry gave him another look and started pacing across the room and back. Malfoy walked over to a desk and perched on top of it, watching Harry pace back and forth.
After a moment Malfoy said. "If you don't stop pacing, I'm going to go insane. Its idiotic and you're making me crazy." Harry stopped and looked at him.
"I have an idea. You don't want to join Voldemort, right?" At this Malfoy nodded. "Well, what if you became a spy?" Harry asked.
"No. I don't want to go to another meeting of theirs. I don't want anything to do with the Dark Lord or his pathetic followers." Malfoy said sharply.
Harry was taken aback by Malfoy's sharp decline, but soon continued to pace. Malfoy groaned and laid back on the desk.
"All right, what if you laid low until graduation, then came out full power completely denying having any ties with the Dark Lord. Except for your father and the rest of your family. What about that?" Harry asked looking at Malfoy. Malfoy propped his head up on his hand and thought for a few seconds.
"I'm not sure. I sounds like a good idea but to my experience the plans inside your head aren't that easy to go through with once you put it in real life." Malfoy said. "But for now, unless we think of anything else, its a good idea." Malfoy paused. "Harry."
Harry smiled. "We'll do it then, Draco. But we have to talk to Dumbledore, and soon. He can help you, and its best if he knows." Harry said. There was silence as they both stopped to think.
A voice that only Harry could hear spoke. "Harry, your potion!" Harry looked around, sitting on another desk was Neesm. He smiled a thanks to him and quickly walked over to his potion. He took off the charms and stirred it cautiously. Draco came up behind him and looked over his shoulder.
"What are you brewing?" He asked, making Harry jump.
"A dreamless sleeping potion." Harry answered as he moved aside to let Draco inspect his potion.
"That's an extremely difficult potion to make. How did you do it?" He asked, as he settled down on the nearest desk. Draco suddenly screamed and bolted away from the desk.
"What is wrong?" Harry asked, worried. Then he recognized what desk Draco had sat on. Harry groaned as Draco pointed a shaky finger at the desk.
"There is something on that desk. It moved!" Draco loudly whispered. Harry rolled his eyes and walked over to the desk.
Neesm groaned and said. "He squashed my tale!"
Harry laughed and took out his wand. He did a healing spell and said. "Is that better?"
Before Neesm could answer, Draco yelled. "What are you doing?" Harry sighed and picked up Neesm, he carried him over to where Draco could see. His eyes grew big and he took a step back.
"That's a s-snake!" He whispered.
"Are you afraid of snakes, Draco?" Harry asked suddenly. In response Draco took another step back. Harry started laughing hysterically. "This is rich!" He managed to say between his laughter. He laughed so hard, tears ran down his cheeks.
"Potter, if you value your life you'd shut up right now!" Draco warned as he took another step back. Harry's laughs calmed down into giggles, as he tried to get a grip on himself, but the moment he tried to speak he was off again.
"I'm so." Burst of laughter. ".sorry, but." Laughter. "this is just so." Peals of laughter. ".priceless! You afraid." Laughter. "of snakes!" Harry was once again laughing hysterically, as Draco said.
"Its not my fault! My father always put me in the cellar when I was bad and it was full of snakes! Then that snake at the Dark Lord's meeting was just creepy!" Draco said, trying to redeem his dignity. Harry calmed his laughter down as the real reason they were both in the same classroom and talking civilly, hit him.
Harry got himself under control as Draco asked. "Why do you have a snake? I thought that was the Dark Lord's symbol." Harry looked down at Neesm, who was watching him.
Slowly the snake nodded, startled, Harry asked. "You mean tell him? How do I know he won't blab to the whole school?"
"Your sneak-o-scope, besides you are allowed to tell one person." The he hurried on when Harry looked at him sharply. "But its only allowed to be the person you trust the most."
"I don't trust him the most, lets just not tell him." Harry said to Neesm. Then he looked up at Draco's horrified face. "I have a snake because he won't blab all of my secrets and he's stuck by me through out it all. Besides he's easy to talk to. Your not going to tell anyone, are you? I don't want anyone to start thinking I'm the Slytherin heir again." Harry stopped, Draco was now cracking up. "What?" He asked, bewildered.
"I remember that!" Draco gasped through his laughter. Harry looked at him with one eyebrow raised.
He placed Neesm around his neck and walked over to his potion. He stirred it a little and said to Neesm. "It's done." Harry looked over his shoulder at the still laughing Draco. "What is your problem?" Harry said, slightly amused by the laughing lunatic before him.
Draco took one look at Harry and was off again. Harry rolled his eyes and pulled out a small bottle, he poured the potion in it to the top and gently placed the lid on it. He turned back to Draco, and checked his watch.
"Oh crap! Its past nine! Our curfew!" Harry said, worriedly. Draco immediately stopped laughing, and looked slightly worried. "We've got to go. Do you want to meet here tomorrow, same time? It will be easier to tell Dumbledore if we've got a plan first."
"We've already got a plan." Draco pointed out.
"That's just a basis. We need something to show Dumbledore that we're serious about this and." He trailed off. "When's your birthday?" He asked suddenly.
Draco looked at him oddly. "December twenty second. Why?"
"Because we'll also need a plan to get you out of the dark mark. Your father is going to make you get it correct?" Draco nodded. "All right, so lets meet here tomorrow and set up a plan and if its not too late we'll go to Dumbledore."
"OK, good." Draco said as they made their way to the door. Draco looked over at Harry and pointed to his neck. Harry looked down and meet the smiling face of Neesm. "I almost forgot. Thanks." He said as he put Neesm down. He looked up at Draco, who was watching him with an odd look on his face.
"What?" Harry asked, trying to figure him out.
"You were talking in parselmouth." He pointed out.
Harry laughed awkwardly. "Oh, I just said, thanks for reminding me, I almost forgot." Draco looked at him with an eyebrow raised.
"Right, anyway I'll see you tomorrow." He said as he put an invisibility charm on him, and opened the door.
"Night." Harry told the empty air as he slid his invisibility cloak, which he always carried him when he went 'running'.
"Night!" Draco's voice floated back as he made his way down the hall. Harry went in the opposite direction, thinking about how weird it was that Draco and he were being friendly towards each other. Its strange how fate just works it self out. Harry thought as he made his way up to the Gryffindor tower.
Harry told the armor the password and snuck into the room. Neesm came out from behind the rocks, and said. "Hi, Harry."
"Hi, Neesm." Harry said slightly distracted.
"What's wrong?" Neesm asked, worried. Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"You know I've been reading the papers front to back and not one word about any killings. I wonder what Voldemort is doing? What is he planing?" Harry said, more to himself then to his friend. Harry walked over to the cauldron that had been simmering in the corner for the past week. Almost forgetting that Neesm was still in the room.
He jumped when Neesm said. "I don't know, but don't you go trying to find out what's up either. You've got enough to do, with out going looking for Voldemort." Harry nodded.
"I guess your right. I better wait." Harry said, as he stirred the potion. "It's almost done." He told Neesm.
"Good! That stuff stinks!" Neesm said, making a face. Harry laughed at him. He put a silencing charm on it and a the bubble head charm on it.
"Better?" Harry asked as he sat down on one of the boulders. Neesm slid up beside him.
"Much." He said, grinning. Harry looked at the Marauder's map, checking for anyone. The hall was all clear.
Suddenly a noise, sent Harry scrambling behind the boulder, with Neesm in hand. He ducked behind the boulder, and took off the spell that had made the room seem like it was outdoors, it was much easier to tell where everything was without the confusion of trees and grass.. He was hiding behind a rather large box, the room was dark.
"It looks like you'll be at the top with me now. I just hope you don't ruin it." A cold voice said.
Harry thought, he recognized that voice, but he couldn't place from where.
"I won't. You'll be proud for me, Father." A voice said. This one Harry recognized, he'd just heard it this morning in potions. It was Malfoy. Harry heard the sound of something hitting someone's body. Someone gasped and something heavy fell to the floor.
"I told you not to call me that! What if someone over heard you! You are a complete fool! Do you ever think for yourself? Your an incompetent moron! How your mother and I were ever able to keep you this long is passed me!" The voice, Harry assumed to be Malfoy's dad, said angrily. He heard another sound of something hitting a body, followed by a small whimper. The voice continued. "Look at you! Laying on the floor like a common mudblood! Get up!" He heard someone struggle to get up from the floor.
"Now I want you here the same time, same day next week. And don't screw anything up, the dark lord will be very unhappy if you are unable to make it to the next meeting. You won't run away from me this time, like you did at Diagon ally are you?" The voice asked, then paused and said. "Good! I'll see you next week." Another sound of something hitting a body, then there was a quiet whooshing sound, and silence.
Harry sat behind the boxes, trying to figure out if Malfoy was still there. He sat quiet, trying not to breathe to loudly. He looked down at Neesm, who was looking up at him. Harry shrugged his shoulders, and kept waiting. Neesm started to slid around the boxes to check if Malfoy was still there. He peeked around, looked back at Harry and nodded. Harry settled down in a more comfortable position, and waited. An hour went by, and Neesm snuck out to see what was up.
He appeared a minute later and whispered. "He's asleep." Harry nodded and stood up slowly, he kept on eye on Malfoy, who was sitting on the floor, as he headed over to where the Marauder's map lay. There was a small box, that Harry was unable to see. It felt like he was in slow motion but Harry knew that no amount of slow motion could have stopped the deafening sound. A loud crash echoed through out the room. Harry looked over at Malfoy.
His eyes had snapped open, and he was looking around wildly. Harry knew that pretty soon he would spot Harry, even in the poor light the candle emitted. Harry nearly groaned out loud, this was going to be bad.
"Who's there?" Malfoy asked, his voice nearly a whisper. Slowly Harry stood up, and faced Malfoy. Malfoy looked up at Harry, his eyes round and scared. Then suddenly that look disappeared, replaced by failure etched deep in his face. "Great." He mumbled.
"So Potter, now your going to turn me in, I presume?" He asked, tiredness laced in his tone. Harry looked down at his enemy, his robes were torn, and dirty. He had bruises forming on his face, and he could tell it hurt Malfoy just to breathe. To see Malfoy like this scared Harry, scared him enough not to say anything.
Malfoy started to get up but winced, and sat back down. "Well, aren't you going to take me in? Isn't that what the good guy is supposed to do?" He asked. Harry instead took out his wand, and pointed it at Malfoy. Malfoy looked up, fear creeping into his eyes.
"What." He started, but Harry said a healing spell quietly. Slowly the bruises disappeared, and Malfoy started to look better. He looked down at himself and moved slightly. When he found it was not painful to move, he got up.
"You didn't have to do that." Malfoy grumbled. Harry was about to answer him, and not in a polite way but then he realized if he was hurt he wouldn't want Malfoy to help him out. So Harry kept quiet.
"So I take it you heard everything?" Malfoy asked Harry quietly.
"Your father escaped from Azkaban, and you've just gotten back from a meeting with Voldemort?" Harry said coolly. Malfoy looked up, flinching, when he heard Voldemort's name, but Harry continued. "And your going back to another meeting with your running-from-the-law father. And when you told him he'll be proud of you, he beat you. Now tell me if I've gotten any of this wrong. Your now close to being an official deatheater and at the it seems very close to Voldemort. Your father obviously wants you to be a deatheater like him and you are always screwing things up. And you don't fight back to him." Harry finished.
"You wouldn't understand! The only thing you've ever had to fight for is the whole 'good vs. evil' battle. And as always you win that fight! Well not everything is as black and white as in the little imaginary world you live in! I bet you've never had to face an abusive father! One who always beats you and never gives a damn about you, telling you how worthless you are. He doesn't care if I dropped dead this moment or turned into a bug. In fact, he would probably step on me himself if I turned into a bug. All he cares about is if I 'live up to the Malfoy name' or not. I bet you've never had to deal with a father who only cares about the family's reputation! Have you? I didn't think so!" Malfoy yelled angrily.
"Don't jump to conclusions like that! I know exactly what you've been through!" Harry shouted back to him.
"Yeah! I just bet those muggles you live with are just as bad as my father!" Malfoy said sarcastically.
"Oh, of course! No one can have a bad home life but you! I hate to burst that little self-pity bubble of yours but my uncle is in every way just as bad as your father! He never cared if I was to drop dead at any minute! He never stopped his beloved son from using me as his own personal punching bag! He gave him tips half the time! He'd lock me in the closet under the stairs for days at a time with out food just for saying something that happened in a dream! I was always the bad child, the bad seed! Did you know he told all the neighbors that I went to a correctional school for child criminals? Yeah! He never gave a damn about me! He only cared about what everyone else would think if they knew about my being a wizard or a freak as they so constantly love to call me! But that can't be in anyway nearly as bad as your father could it? Just because they're muggles and don't have magic to punish me with." He ranted, and he had the pleasure of watching Malfoy's face go ghost white.
"I didn't know." Malfoy said.
"Yeah I could tell." Harry replied coldly.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled. Harry took a step back in surprise. It was a first ever, open and no one forcing him to do it, apology.
Harry was quiet for a minute and Malfoy said. "It's just decisions are easy for you. Don't become a Death Eater because the Dark Lord is your archenemy and he's pure evil. Do join Dumbledore and the Aurors because you need to avenge your parents and everything the Dark Lord did to you. Every decision is easy for you. But me, I have a family who has had a long line of being involved with all sorts of Dark Arts. I can't just break away, and join another side. You have your life planed out, destroy the Dark Lord and save the world, become a hero to everyone and a household name. Some things aren't as easy as that. I don't even want to become a Death Eater. But its what my family does. I've got half my family in the Dark Lord's inner circle! I don't even know what I want to do." He finished quietly, almost a whisper.
Harry starred at him. "You don't want to be a deatheater?" He asked Malfoy, shocked.
"Your quick, Potter. Now I can see why your Dumbledore's favorite. No I don't want to be a deatheater." Malfoy said.
"Why? You've been flouncing around all these years saying how close you were to Voldemort, and now your saying you don't want to join his inner circle with the rest of your family? Now that's just a little odd to me." Harry said, acting stunned.
"It's simple. I went to that meeting today and I realized just how stupid that whole thing is. It's revolting! I don't want to become a Death Eater is because I don't want to be a slave to someone, its bad enough I have to live with my father. I saw the other Death Eaters at that ceremony. They tremble at the mention of the Dark Lord's name. They cowered at his presence. They accept his beatings and insults like dogs. Heck, they even call him 'Master'."
"I want to be my own person, have my own will. Though I do not agree with letting the muggles mix with us, as some people on your side want, I don't think killing off every wizard who has muggle blood in them will be effective. So while I may not agree with Dumbledore's side, I disagree more with the Dark Lord's side, so the reasonable choice would be to be against the Dark Lord.
"Sure, I think it's a good idea, making the wizarding race clean and pure, but it just can't be done. We're all practically related all ready, us pure- bloods, I mean. There are enough pure blooded families out there. I wouldn't object, if he wanted to start his own 'pure bloods only club', but the whole 'let me take over the world' sort of thing,' it just doesn't make sense. You can't kill all the wizards with muggle blood. Its nearly impossible and wouldn't effectively 'cleanse' the race." Malfoy rambled, talking to himself more then to Harry.
"And the man's a walking oxymoron," Malfoy went on, "He yells at his followers to kill the mudbloods, but he himself has muggle blood in him. His father, I think. I just don't want to be in that situation. Ever. Once is enough for me. All the cemeteries and blood and darkness and torture. Plus the groveling and the abuse, its just sick."
Harry's mouth hung open, he never knew Malfoy could be so. good. Malfoy looked at Harry, and burst out laughing.
"What?" Harry snapped.
"The look on your face. I bet this complicates things a bit, Huh?" Malfoy said, when he got himself under control.
"What things?" Harry asked, getting agitated.
"Your handing me in. Us being enemies. Pick one." Malfoy said, calmly. Harry took a deep breath, and realized Malfoy was right, it did complicate things. In a big way.
"All right, I want to hear it from your own mouth. Do you still support Voldemort?" Harry asked slowly.
Malfoy gave him a look. "Why should you hear it from my mouth I've already told you." He said arrogantly. Harry did a double take, the mood change between the talking civilly Malfoy to the once again arrogant Malfoy was a quick, and complete U-turn.
"Malfoy!" Harry threatened.
Malfoy sighed, "No, I don't. I don't want anything to do with that snake of a man." He finally said.
"I--" Malfoy started. "Look I've been wanting to ask you this for a while. I could. I mean. Willyouhelpmejoinyourside?" He said quickly. He hurriedly went on, "Not because I agree with what you're fighting for, but because I'll do anything not to become a slave to that thing."
Harry was astonished, but to make sure he heard correctly he asked. "What?"
"You heard me." Malfoy snapped.
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did!"
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did!"
"No, I didn't. Beside how would you know if I heard what you said or not."
Malfoy groaned, then he took a deep breath, and said. "Will you help me join your side?"
"OK." Harry said.
"That's it? You're not going to turn me away, and go have a good laugh with your friends at my expense?" Malfoy asked, shocked.
"Nope."
"Why?" Malfoy asked, still completely bewildered.
"Because, if you must know, I always carry a Sneak-o-scope in my pocket." Harry said exasperated.
"You carry a sneak-o-scope around with you? All the time?" Malfoy asked.
"Yeah." Harry said, not understanding why Malfoy was asking.
"You are so paranoid!" He said, loudly. Then he got really quiet, really quick. "Oh crap! we've been yelling our heads off at each other. I wonder if anyone heard."
Harry laughed. "How did you find out about this place?" He asked.
Malfoy looked at him. "I heard you tell that elf on our first night, and I managed to get it out of him." Then when Harry gave him a sharp look, he hurried and said. "With a truth potion mixed in a drink I gave him. So he didn't betray you. I was just looking for a place where me and my father could portkey to safely."
Harry gave him another look and started pacing across the room and back. Malfoy walked over to a desk and perched on top of it, watching Harry pace back and forth.
After a moment Malfoy said. "If you don't stop pacing, I'm going to go insane. Its idiotic and you're making me crazy." Harry stopped and looked at him.
"I have an idea. You don't want to join Voldemort, right?" At this Malfoy nodded. "Well, what if you became a spy?" Harry asked.
"No. I don't want to go to another meeting of theirs. I don't want anything to do with the Dark Lord or his pathetic followers." Malfoy said sharply.
Harry was taken aback by Malfoy's sharp decline, but soon continued to pace. Malfoy groaned and laid back on the desk.
"All right, what if you laid low until graduation, then came out full power completely denying having any ties with the Dark Lord. Except for your father and the rest of your family. What about that?" Harry asked looking at Malfoy. Malfoy propped his head up on his hand and thought for a few seconds.
"I'm not sure. I sounds like a good idea but to my experience the plans inside your head aren't that easy to go through with once you put it in real life." Malfoy said. "But for now, unless we think of anything else, its a good idea." Malfoy paused. "Harry."
Harry smiled. "We'll do it then, Draco. But we have to talk to Dumbledore, and soon. He can help you, and its best if he knows." Harry said. There was silence as they both stopped to think.
A voice that only Harry could hear spoke. "Harry, your potion!" Harry looked around, sitting on another desk was Neesm. He smiled a thanks to him and quickly walked over to his potion. He took off the charms and stirred it cautiously. Draco came up behind him and looked over his shoulder.
"What are you brewing?" He asked, making Harry jump.
"A dreamless sleeping potion." Harry answered as he moved aside to let Draco inspect his potion.
"That's an extremely difficult potion to make. How did you do it?" He asked, as he settled down on the nearest desk. Draco suddenly screamed and bolted away from the desk.
"What is wrong?" Harry asked, worried. Then he recognized what desk Draco had sat on. Harry groaned as Draco pointed a shaky finger at the desk.
"There is something on that desk. It moved!" Draco loudly whispered. Harry rolled his eyes and walked over to the desk.
Neesm groaned and said. "He squashed my tale!"
Harry laughed and took out his wand. He did a healing spell and said. "Is that better?"
Before Neesm could answer, Draco yelled. "What are you doing?" Harry sighed and picked up Neesm, he carried him over to where Draco could see. His eyes grew big and he took a step back.
"That's a s-snake!" He whispered.
"Are you afraid of snakes, Draco?" Harry asked suddenly. In response Draco took another step back. Harry started laughing hysterically. "This is rich!" He managed to say between his laughter. He laughed so hard, tears ran down his cheeks.
"Potter, if you value your life you'd shut up right now!" Draco warned as he took another step back. Harry's laughs calmed down into giggles, as he tried to get a grip on himself, but the moment he tried to speak he was off again.
"I'm so." Burst of laughter. ".sorry, but." Laughter. "this is just so." Peals of laughter. ".priceless! You afraid." Laughter. "of snakes!" Harry was once again laughing hysterically, as Draco said.
"Its not my fault! My father always put me in the cellar when I was bad and it was full of snakes! Then that snake at the Dark Lord's meeting was just creepy!" Draco said, trying to redeem his dignity. Harry calmed his laughter down as the real reason they were both in the same classroom and talking civilly, hit him.
Harry got himself under control as Draco asked. "Why do you have a snake? I thought that was the Dark Lord's symbol." Harry looked down at Neesm, who was watching him.
Slowly the snake nodded, startled, Harry asked. "You mean tell him? How do I know he won't blab to the whole school?"
"Your sneak-o-scope, besides you are allowed to tell one person." The he hurried on when Harry looked at him sharply. "But its only allowed to be the person you trust the most."
"I don't trust him the most, lets just not tell him." Harry said to Neesm. Then he looked up at Draco's horrified face. "I have a snake because he won't blab all of my secrets and he's stuck by me through out it all. Besides he's easy to talk to. Your not going to tell anyone, are you? I don't want anyone to start thinking I'm the Slytherin heir again." Harry stopped, Draco was now cracking up. "What?" He asked, bewildered.
"I remember that!" Draco gasped through his laughter. Harry looked at him with one eyebrow raised.
He placed Neesm around his neck and walked over to his potion. He stirred it a little and said to Neesm. "It's done." Harry looked over his shoulder at the still laughing Draco. "What is your problem?" Harry said, slightly amused by the laughing lunatic before him.
Draco took one look at Harry and was off again. Harry rolled his eyes and pulled out a small bottle, he poured the potion in it to the top and gently placed the lid on it. He turned back to Draco, and checked his watch.
"Oh crap! Its past nine! Our curfew!" Harry said, worriedly. Draco immediately stopped laughing, and looked slightly worried. "We've got to go. Do you want to meet here tomorrow, same time? It will be easier to tell Dumbledore if we've got a plan first."
"We've already got a plan." Draco pointed out.
"That's just a basis. We need something to show Dumbledore that we're serious about this and." He trailed off. "When's your birthday?" He asked suddenly.
Draco looked at him oddly. "December twenty second. Why?"
"Because we'll also need a plan to get you out of the dark mark. Your father is going to make you get it correct?" Draco nodded. "All right, so lets meet here tomorrow and set up a plan and if its not too late we'll go to Dumbledore."
"OK, good." Draco said as they made their way to the door. Draco looked over at Harry and pointed to his neck. Harry looked down and meet the smiling face of Neesm. "I almost forgot. Thanks." He said as he put Neesm down. He looked up at Draco, who was watching him with an odd look on his face.
"What?" Harry asked, trying to figure him out.
"You were talking in parselmouth." He pointed out.
Harry laughed awkwardly. "Oh, I just said, thanks for reminding me, I almost forgot." Draco looked at him with an eyebrow raised.
"Right, anyway I'll see you tomorrow." He said as he put an invisibility charm on him, and opened the door.
"Night." Harry told the empty air as he slid his invisibility cloak, which he always carried him when he went 'running'.
"Night!" Draco's voice floated back as he made his way down the hall. Harry went in the opposite direction, thinking about how weird it was that Draco and he were being friendly towards each other. Its strange how fate just works it self out. Harry thought as he made his way up to the Gryffindor tower.