Disclaimer: Okay, this is my first time doing something like this. I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does... and i bow to her. Please don't sue me... i'm poor. All original characters are JK Rowlings' and they do not in any way shape or form belong to me. All i own is the plot. Ok, cool. Enjoy
Author's Note: I just wanna thank everyone who reveiwed my story so far, they make me feel so much better about my writing, and i don't feel so nervous about showing people my work now...so thank you! Keep the reveiws coming! The more reviews, the faster i update...hahahahaha...I like it...its so devious...lol. Enjoy.
Explainations
He was being followed. Malfoy was able to figure out who it was who followed him by his scent. The man wore a muggle colone that tickled Malfoy's nose. It had been following him for almost three blocks now.
Malfoy quickly turned into an alleyway and waited for the man to follow him. When he came walking around the corner Malfoy reached out and grabbed him by the front of his shirt and shoved him up against the cold brick wall, "You'd better have a good reason for following me, or I'll curse you straight to hell." he snarled bitterly. Not even back for a full day and he was already getting this bullshit.
The man's eyes widened in shock and then in fear. Never had he seen eyes so clear and cold as Malfoy's hard grey ones. There was no doubt in his mind that Malfoy would kill him if he wanted. "I was t-told to f-fallow you..."
Malfoy rolled his eyes, "A name, fool. Give me a name." he demanded, his voice deep and low, a deep rumble started to emit from deep within his chest.
"The Minister of Magic, sir, Albus Dumbledor ordered it." the man spoke softly, ashamed by the fact that he had betrayed Dumbledor so easily.
Malfoy released the man and stepped back. Dumbledor was still alive? He hadn't seen the old man in a long time. "Take me to him." he growled and shoved the man out of the alley.
He complied immediatly and headed off in the direction of the Ministry. Malfoy was suprised to see how easy the man was to break into his will. If all men were as easy to control as this one, there wouldn't be a war, he thought with a small shake to his head.
Malfoy was aware of stares and wispears as he stepped inside of the Ministry of Magic, and he was immediatly aware of the small group of four witches and wizards that had started to follow the two. Malfoy dropped his hand easily to the pocket of his robe and he firmly grasped the wand inside. He wouldn't hesitate to protect himself if necessary.
"Lennox, hold on for a second. You didn't clear your guest at the front desk." someone shouted from behind him.
Malfoy tensed up as they both froze on the spot and closed his eyes, ready to attack at a moments notice.
"Back off boys, they're with me." a strong female voice spoke firmly, in an all too familiar, no nonesense tone of voice.
Malfoy opened his eyes and looked into Hermione's hard brown eyes. He relaxed and sent her a grin.
"Go." she commanded firmly sending all four of them the look that only a woman could give, and sent the wizards and witches back to where it was they came from. They didn't want to contradict her on today of all days, when she had taken out one wizard all ready. Hermione turned her hard gaze to Lennox and Malfoy. "I know there has to be a good reason for this Lennox. I'll hear it later, you may go to my office and stay there until I get there. Mr. Malfoy, if you would follow me please?" she spoke firmly, not really asking, more ordering.
Malfoy grinned and watched as Lennox meekly obeyed without a word. "Granger." Malfoy said in greeting, "Feeling better today?"
Hermione cocked her head to the side and stared at him for a long minute before answering, "Acutally, now that I think about it, I am feeling much better, thank you. Now, I assume that you are here to see Professor Dumbledor?" she asked.
Malfoy nodded and when Hermione turned her back on him, he automatically took his place by her side, unwilling to walk behind any man or woman. He was a born leader, not a follower. 'Although,' Malfoy thought to himself, 'I might be willing to walk behind this woman. Granger has changed, no longer the goody two shoes she once was, no longer the follower, but a leader...it was attractive on her. Physically, she was a sexy woman, even the old him couldn't deny it. Sexy, but modest...he sensed that she was a woman who was comfortable with herself, but wouldn't go out of her way to flaunt herself about like most women with that kind of beauty would.
"You keep staring at me Malfoy..." Hermione murmered, turning a corner and then briskly walked up a couple flights of stairs without even a hitch in her breath.
Malfoy followed her easily, matching her long stride with his own. "I haven't seen you in a while, Granger, give me a break. You look amazing, by the way."
"Thanks...I think..." Hermione shook her head and knocked on Professor Dumbledor's door then turned to face him, "Alright, this is Professor Dumbledor's office. I'm pretty sure he's expecting you. News travels faster than sound around here." she told him with a small smile playing upon her lips.
Malfoy's grey eyes were glued to Hermione's hand, which was swollen and slightly bloody. "Did that happen today?" he spoke softly, gruffly as he reached down with his own hands and very gently brought her hand up for a closer inspection. "What happened?"
More than a little un nerved by Malfoy's touch, it took her a couple seconds to fully comprehend and understand what he was saying. "Ahhh...I hit a guy." she murmered, her own eyes taking Malfoy in, unbelieving of his...kind behaviour. "The one who set me up last night."
Malfoy's eyes snapped up to hers and he could feel a deep dark rage build up inside of him, "Where is he?" he growled.
Hermione's eyes widened in suprise and she frowned, "On his way to Azkaban."
A small, discreet cough interuptted the two. They looked up and saw Dumbledor staring at the both of them with apparent amuzement in his kind blue eyes. "Draco Malfoy, its good to see you alive and well." he smiled and put a friendly arm around Malfoy, then one around Hermione, "You might as well come in as well, dear. You're going to hound me about this conversation anyway."
Hermione turned slightly pink and took a seat in the chair she was in not even two hours ago. "I would not have 'hounded' you, Professor, I merely would have asked you what you and Mr. Malfoy talked about." she told him firmly.
Malfoy and Dumbledor laughed at her embarassed expression.
"Alright, so, I'm curious. Just where have you been, Draco?" Dumbledor asked once they were all settled in and all nicities were done and over with. "Four and a half years is a long time to be in hiding."
Malfoy shrugged, "I decided to take some time for myself," he spoke truthfully, choosing not to elaborate on details that didn't concern anyone. "Away from everyone, I needed to find myself."
Dumbledor leaned back in his chair and observed Malfoy with a carefully trained eye. "And you have found yourself?"
Malfoy nodded, "I'm my own man, I make my own way in life." he spoke carefully, aware that every word was being carefully noted and logged away inside Dumbledor's rather tricky and mischievious brain for later use.
Dumbledor nodded, seemingly satisfied with Malfoy's response. "Have you decided where it is your loyalties lay?" he asked curiously.
Malfoy tensed up, knowing this question was coming, had been dreading the question for the past four and a half years of his life. But he wasn't afraid anymore. Like he just said, he was his own man. "I'm not choosing a side." he said firmly.
"What! How come? You must know all the attrocities that Voldemort and his followers do to innocent people!" Hermione spoke for the first time since they first walked in.
Draco nodded, "I do, I know better than most. My father was a Death Eater, as you are well aware. I've seen more attrocities than anyone could ever imagine. I've also seen the side of 'good' and it isn't any better. People are still being killed, innocents slaughtered, wizards and witches sending other witches and wizards off to Azkaban where they will get they're soul sucked out for fighting what they believe in. Everyone on either side believes that they're side is the right one to be on. Everyone one on each side is equally deluded. They fight for power, kill for life and dominance over the other. Each side will distroy anyone who doesn't choose a side," he explained, finally voicing his opinion to people who might actually have the brains to listen to what he was talking about. "Is it so wrong to just want to live? I have no desire for the power my father once craved, I have no desire to risk my neck for a cause that is not my own. In my whole life I think only once have I been truely understood. And that was by the sorting hat. He placed me in Slytherin not only because he was trying to protect me from my father, but he knew that Slytherin would help me develop the skills that i would need to survive. I was givin everything thing i needed. It made my mind sharper, I became a stronger leader, a stronger man in turn. It showed me how not to live. It took six years before i finally figured it out."
Malfoy looked from Granger to Dumbledor, trying to figure out what each of them were thinking. How would they react? Would they be able to understand? Would they accept him? His decisions?
