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Chapter 3

After lying to Pomfrey that they had got in a fight, she had squawked at them, gave them some horrible green goo then sent them off to bed.

Once outside the hospital wing, they briefly met eyes then went their separate ways.

By the time he'd got to the Gryffindor tower, Harry was feeling sick again. He barely uttered the password when he heard shouts coming from within. He groaned. The Common room was packed.

"I'm going to bed," he told Ron who nodded in concern and led Hermione, who was trying to ask questions, away from him.

He had almost made it to the staircase to the boys' dorm when Claire called out.

"Come over here, Harry!" Harry shook his head and continued up the stairs. Claire joined him a moment later.

"Don't you like me, Harry?" she simpered, pouting her lips and taking Harry's Hand.

"Tomorrow Claire" he said firmly "I don't feel well." She pouted even more.

"Go, Claire"

"You owe me," she said before she left. Harry flopped into bed.

All night he had horrible dreams about Malfoy. First he could see Malfoy as a young boy, telling his mother that he wanted to be just like Lucius when he grew up. His mother had burst into tears and told him that he never ever should to be like his father.

"He is evil," she had said. Malfoy promised her.

Next he was around thirteen, when Lucius first started hitting him. Lucius had come home drunk. Draco said No to a job and Lucius had given him a black eye.

Next he was sitting alone in a huge room, trying to heal himself with magic. A letter came from the ministry about under aged magic. Malfoy tossed the letter away.

He was playing a beautiful black guitar when Lucius came, drunk again, and grabbed it. He smashed it over Malfoy's back then went next door to Malfoy's mother.

Draco was cutting himself again.

The next part was most likely this summer, Lucius had Draco on the floor and was kicking him. His mother was screaming. Finally she got away from the butler and ran and grabbed Lucius' arm. Lucius bought his other arm up and hit her across the head. She fell to the floor, sobbing.

"Selfish bitch." He snarled, turning away "the boy deserved it"

Draco slowly got to his feet, seizing an empty rum bottle from the ground; he smashed it across the back of Lucius' head. Lucius turned sharply and Draco began using his fists.

A final blow to the temple sent Lucius sprawling on the ground. Draco spat a mouthful of blood on him.

"I hate you" he said and left him there.

The next scene was in the Slytherin Common room. Crabbe and Goyle were hitting him now. (That would explain the sore shoulder) Pansy and a few others Slytherin's stood to the side, laughing cruelly

There was one last glimpse of Draco cutting himself.

Harry woke up. Sun was filtering though the window and it took him a moment to realise where he was. He lay still for a moment, trying to figure out his dream when it hit him. The gods must have kept the spell going during the night. And although he had had a solid nine-hour sleep he still felt shaky and tired.

He checked his watch. 8:30am. He was late!

He jumped out of bed and, realising there was no need to dress because he was still wearing yesterday's clothes, ran the whole way to the great hall.

There weren't many people there but Harry still found a few Gryffindors to sit with. A few moments later, Malfoy entered the hall and sat at the end of his table with Blaise Zabini.

He looked worse than Harry, which meant he had had bad dreams as well.

They only had ten minutes for breakfast before rushing off to defence against the dark arts.

"Where have you been, Harry?" Hermione asked as he sidled into line behind her.

"I slept in" he replied, watching Neville try and hex Dean. Harry rubbed his head; his scar was tingling a little bit today.

"Right ya'll. Come on in" Professor Nixon opened the door with a friendly smile.

"Ok." He said once the roll was called and the class was settled. "Take out your wands, today we will be practicing tying your enemy up. Everyone got a pair? Good now make yourself some space…" Harry stood opposite Ron with a grin on his face. After seeing Dumbledore tie up Voldemort last year, he had studied a little about it and found out that you can choose what your rope is made of by the way you position your feet. This was how Voldemort had turned the fire into a snake.

"All ready? Right, now flick your wand like so, and then shout out… Ropus Tieus!"

Nixon flicked his wand at Neville who was suddenly bound down by silver chains.

Harry let Ron go first.

"Ropus Tieus!" Ron flicked his wand and Harry felt a rough rope tie up his hands. The rope looked like a peasant with one hand had made it. And because Ron didn't know the counter spell, Harry had to untie himself by hand.

"Ready Ron?" he said finally, positioning his right foot a little to the back of his left one. Ron was frowning.

"Ropus Tieus!" Ron let out a muffled shriek. Harry had tied him up with a black serpent. Most of the class turned to watch.

"Potter…" Nixon had a mixture of confusion, amusement and worry spread across his face.
"It's ok" Harry said, "I've done it before"

"Harry gets it off!" Ron was going pale as the snake hissed in his ear.

"Come" Harry told it and the snake unwound itself and slithered over to Harry.

"It's quite harmless, not a drop of poison in it" the snake wound around his arm and Harry draped its head over his shoulders. Slowly, the rest of the class, including Ron, moved closer and began petting it. The snake stretched its head out to Lavender who scratched its chin cautiously.

"It is kind of cute," she said, reaching her hand over further to trace its scales.

"Ok back to the lesson. Harry, put the snake out the window." Nixon clapped his hands together and the class slowly got back into pairs.

Harry let his friend out the window where Salazar appeared out of thin air and caught it. He winked at Harry then disappeared.

For the rest of the lesson they practiced tying up certain parts of the body, like the hands and feet or hands to the feet.

When the bell finally went Harry was called back.

"Sorry about the snake, sir, I couldn't resist" Harry said, tucking his wand into his pocket.

"That's fine, Potter. If it was any threat I would have vanquished it the second it touched the red head. The reason I wanted to talk to you is because I am a member of the Order. I am also quite skilled in Occlumency. Albus has asked me to continue with your training this year, is that alright?"

"Sure. Is Tuesday ok? Quidditch starts soon and I have… other arrangements."

"Perfect. Now you best be off to potions. You don't want to get on the wrong side of Snape after yesterday." Nixon clapped Harry on the shoulder and sent him on his way.

In potions Harry took a seat behind Ron and Hermione and quietly took his stuff out.

"Potter your with Malfoy" Snape said without taking his eyes off the board.

Hermione and Ron turned and gave him sympathetic looks but Harry ignored them and moved over so Malfoy could sit down.

Snape turned from the board.

"There are your instructions. Now get to work."

Harry was adding the third ingredient when he decided to speak.

"Does it hurt, cutting yourself I mean?" Draco gave a half laugh and shook his head.

"Not as much as seeing you're mother being cut. It's also just about the only thing I'm in control of"

"I can't believe your father does that."

"And I though you were putting it on. You know, being the depressed hurt boy who lived and all."

Both boys laughed and Hermione shot Harry a worried glance.

Harry took a moment to study Malfoy. He must have had a really horrible sleep because his hair was all over the place and there were huge bags beneath his eyes and he could barely concentrate on his task.

Malfoy nodded in Claire's direction.

"I noticed you had a bit of trouble last night at dinner. Your not banging her, are you?"

Harry looked over at the girl and she blew him a kiss.

"Nah but she is a bit of a problem."

Hermione lent over to get Harry's scales.

"I organised a DA meeting for tonight, Harry. I haven't had much time to tell you," she whispered so Malfoy couldn't hear. Harry nodded. Hermione glanced at Malfoy then gave Harry a questioning look before returning to her work.

At the end of the lesson Harry was bottling the potion, which had worked quite well, when the sunlight glinted off his ring. He examined it a moment then looked at Malfoy's.

"I have a DA meeting tonight. Do you want to come?" he asked his newest friend.

"That's the one where you learn to fight the dark lord, right? Sure. Where is it?"

"Meet me in the entrance hall after dinner" Harry said quickly, he smiled then left the classroom with Claire trailing behind him.

Harry had just met Draco in the entrance hall when Dobby showed up.

"Master would like a word with you, Harry Potter and old Master." He was wringing his hands so Harry gave him a bit of chocolate before leading Malfoy to Dumbledore's office.

He was just about to knock on the door when he heard voices from within. It was Hermione.

"…Chamber of secrets, and he had a snake in class! Oh and he has a ring on his finger…"

Harry knocked.

"You may go now miss Granger."

As she was leaving, Hermione shot a terrified glance at Harry's hand. Then she noticed the rings twin on Malfoy's hand. She was about to open her mouth but Harry shut the door in her face.

"You wanted to see us, sir?"

"Harry, where did you get that ring from?" Harry shrugged, he had no idea.

"Draco, where did you get yours?"

"Um…it was a gift. I'm not sure whom from though. It was just there one Christmas" Draco glanced at Harry then at his wrist.

Dumbledore placed the pensive on the table.

"Harry? May I look into you mind? I need to know its not connected to Voldemort as Hermione seems to think it is" Harry shrugged so Dumbledore pulled a long strand of silver magic from Harry's temple and placed it in the swirling liquids.

He prodded it a few times the figures began to rise from its depths. It was strange to watch the scene from above. The gods stood calmly, holding their hands together while both Malfoy and Harry were clutching their foreheads. Then there was a closer shot of Harry looking at the ring and in the background Malfoy was throwing up.

Suddenly the vision changed to Harry's dreams it was the one were Draco hit Lucius back;

"Selfish bitch." He snarled, turning away "the boy deserved it"

Draco slowly got to his feet, seizing an empty rum bottle from the ground; he smashed it across the back of Lucius' head. Lucius turned sharply and Draco began using his fists.

A final blow to the temple sent Lucius sprawling on the ground. Draco spat a mouthful of blood on him.

"I hate you" he said and left him there.

The image faded away leaving Dumbledore frowning more than before.

Draco was looking at his hands; his eyes were glazed over.

"Draco? May I tap into your mind please?" Malfoy hesitated then nodded.

Dumbledore took a strand of silver from his temple and put it in the pensive.

It swirled for a moment then an image of Malfoy sitting at the end of his bed came up. Goyle came into the picture and summoned Malfoy into the common room where Crabbe surprised him with a punch in the stomach. Malfoy doubled over in pain as Goyle put in his share.

"His nose!" Pansy said, pointing excitedly. Crabbe did the honour.

"That's from your dad," he said, taking another swing. Blaise entered the room.

"Hey what the hell are you doing? Fuck off!"

"What ever, Zabini!" Pansy shrieked, clapping as Goyle hit Malfoy to the floor.

Blaise stepped forward, grabbed the bully by the neck and sent his fist into his stomach. Crabbe and Goyle backed off.

"Those marks on your arm wont make you stronger. Now fuck off!" Crabbe and Goyle staggered away. Pansy gave Blaise the finger and followed them. Blaise helped Malfoy to his feet and gave him a tissue for his bleeding nose.

The image dissolved then reappeared as Harry in the Atrium of the ministry of magic.

Voldemort vanished.

"Stay where you are, Harry!" Dumbledore bellowed. Then suddenly Harry was clutching his head, pulling his own hair out and screaming. Suddenly it stopped and he looked up. His eyes were no longer green but Red, red like Voldemort's eyes. He scar was bleeding too but he took no notice.

"Kill me now, Dumbledore…"

Harry/Voldemort took a few steps forward and Dumbledore seemed quite unsure what to do.

"If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy…"

At that moment Harry's mind took over and he grabbed his head again. Voldemort appeared behind him, Screaming and holding his own head, just like Harry. Then Harry collapsed. Voldemort bought himself together enough to collect Bellatrix and get out.

The image faded once again.

Draco had his head in his hands but Harry was staring straight at Dumbledore, who seemed just as disturbed as Malfoy.

"Would you have killed me?" Harry took his eyes to the swirling silver substance then back to Dumbledore who didn't answer him. Instead he was watching Malfoy.

"Draco. If anything like this happens again I want you to come to me instantly. Ok?"

Malfoy could only nod. Dumbledore then turned to Harry who was trying to recall that night in his own mind.

"Harry, I want you to stay far away from Crabbe and Goyle. And please, no more snakes in class, its scaring your friends. You can go now. Look after yourself, and mister Malfoy. And no, I wouldn't have killed you. There may be things worse than death but death is also the cowards way out."

Logical enough. Harry stood up and grabbed Malfoy by the robes and dragged him outside.

"At least you didn't feel it" Harry told him and led him to the room of requirement.

When they reached the room they found that all members were present plus a few more then last year. Everyone looked up when they entered.

Harry could have sworn he heard a whoosh of wind as all jaws in the room dropped.

"Harry" Hermione snarled as Harry dropped an exhausted Malfoy on a beanbag. "Can I talk to you?" she pulled Harry into the centre of the crowd.

"Harry what has gotten into you?" she hissed, hitting Harry's chest. Her fist bounced of harmlessly. "Do you even know who that is? I'm really worried, Harry. First you're in the chamber of secrets, then there's snakes in class now you've got a possible death eater sitting in on our meeting!" Harry looked over at Malfoy who had his eyes closed. He was shaking slightly.

"Lets just say I trust him. Now whose up for Patronus!"

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