Harry Potter and the Flaming Ring

Chapter One: Draco's Choice

Just so everybody knows, this chapter is actually a prequel to where the story will actually start. This chapter tells of what would happen if Dumbledore lived.

Snape's eyes were filled with deep loathing and hatred as he raised his wand.

"Avada Kedavra!" he shouted.

But at the same time Harry heard another, younger voice shout "No!"

Harry looked as Draco Malfoy leaped in front of Dumbledore and took the blow from the spell right into his chest. In a brief moment Harry saw Draco's usually cold and heartless eyes fill up with terror and sadness. A moment later he fell backwards off the Astronomy tower.

Harry froze in horror and brief amazement. That couldn't have just happened, he thought. Draco Malfoy…dead? Dying to protect a man whom Harry had always thought he had hated? But he was too shocked and appalled to think anymore.

He looked on at all the others who had just witnessed the event. Dumbledore looked amazed and shocked just like Harry. The siblings Amycus and Alecto looked utterly bewildered and confused. The tall Death Eater in the back had an expressionless face. Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf, was looking rather amused, which Harry thought was very odd. But then again, anyone who thought human flesh was appetizing was very odd indeed.

But what frightened Harry the most was Snape's face. Snape still had a face of hatred but now it was matched with one of disgust. He gritted his teeth and shook his head. Then he raised his wand again as if Draco's death was only a minor inconvienence.

But then when Snape was ready to take aim again, Dumbledore was standing up and ready to match him. Dumbledore had his wand out and he was looking very much like his old strong self, though Harry could definitely tell the poison he had drank earlier had sapped some of his strength. But still Harry saw with immense relief, he still had on a determined and ready face.

"So this is where your loyalties lie Severus," Dumbledore then spoke with great force. Harry could tell that he was very angry over Snape's actions and the unnecessary death of a student, even if the student had been planning to kill him.

Snape then shot another angry look at Dumbledore and shouted "THE DARK LORD IS MY MASTER! HE WILL WIN THIS WAR!"

Snape then said more quietly but still full of hatred "And you Dumbledore, you will fall. I may have failed here tonight because of that idiot boy but I will return, mark my words."

Then with one final look of hatred from Snape, he shot from the tower back into the castle followed by the Death Eaters. Except Fenrir Greyback.

Instead Fenrir pulled out his own wand and said "Snape might be too cowardly to take you on Dumbledore. But I am not!" he said with an evil grin.

Dumbledore tried to reason with him. "No Fenrir. I admire your courage greatly but I will not fight you. There is no need for more death this night. Now go catch up with your friends before they leave you behind."

Fenrir just laughed and quickly shot a curse at Dumbledore. Dumbledore easily blocked it with a flick of his wand. Dumbledore then tried to reason with him again but Fenrir started aggressively shooting random curses and hexes at Dumbledore.

"Fight me like a man!" Fenrir shouted. But Dumbledore just kept moving closer towards him and he kept having to back away.

Harry wished the spell that Dumbledore placed on him would unfreeze so he could join in and help. He felt annoyed that Dumbledore felt that Harry needed to be restrained like this. But he was still overwhelmed by Draco's decision to sacrifice himself for Dumbledore's sake. He just couldn't see how it was possible.

As the battle continued, Fenrir was still throwing curses and Dumbledore was blocking them while adding a few of his own spells. Harry actually now saw how dangerously close Fenrir was to the edge of the tower and wondered if Fenrir realized this. If he kept backing up, he would eventually fall off!

Then suddenly Fenrir was on the edge of the tower and panicked. He stopped shooting curses at Dumbledore for a brief moment to look down.

Dumbledore pleaded with him "Fenrir, please. There is still time to back down. Just admit your defeat and-"

But Dumbledore didn't get to finish his sentence when Fenrir roared "YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL DUMBLEDORE? I AM FENRIR GREYBACK, GREATEST WEREWOLF THAT-"

But Harry never got to hear what happened next because at that very moment, Fenrir lost balance and a second later, fell off the tower. Harry could see the terror in the werewolf's eyes and for a brief second felt pity for him.

Dumbledore stood at the edge looking down and shaking his head, sorrowfully for a few moments then walked back over to the spot where Harry still sat, frozen. Dumbledore pointed his wand at the exact spot where Harry was and unfroze him.

Harry immediately took off the Invisibility Cloak and looked at Dumbledore. He didn't know what to say first, he was so shocked from the recent events.

Harry blurted out "Snape… but Malfoy…how could…"

But Dumbledore shushed him and said "Calm down Harry and think clearly." After a few moments Dumbledore said "Now, was it you want to say?"

Harry had a million questions and things to say but started with what he thought was the most obvious. "Shouldn't we hurry? We might still be able to catch Snape?"

Dumbledore shook his head and looked out into the distant sky, as if searching for something. "No Harry, by now Snape and the Death Eaters will be a long way from here. But what bothers me is how Snape turned on me…"

Then Dumbledore muttered quietly to himself "Perhaps, I am too trusting of people."

Harry looked at him and saw that there was great sadness in his face. Harry had never seen Dumbledore like this. It was really an odd moment for Harry so he kept quiet.

Then Dumbledore spoke up. "Well, Harry I'd like you to go wait in my office for me while I go ask Professor Slughorn if perhaps he could cure me from this poison and, ahem, help me tend to the bodies."

Harry stepped into Dumbledore's office a few minutes later. He had passed several members of the Order of the Phoenix who had obviously been fighting the Death Eaters. He stopped only briefly to talk to them until Dumbledore hurried him along.

Harry had noticed that Bill looked like he had gotten seriously hurt. He hoped anything that he would be okay, especially with his wedding in a couple months. He also thought he saw a couple other bodies on the floor, one whom he sincerely hoped was not Neville but by the looks of it he couldn't be sure.

Harry waited in Dumbledore's office for what felt like forever, contemplating what had happened. Harry had always known Draco as his worst rival at school and now he knew that he had actually helped the Death Eaters into the school. What could have happened? What had changed inside him to make him risk his life for the very man he had been plotting to assassinate? Harry would never have guessed Draco to risk his life for anybody, even his girlfriend Pansy Parkinson. Perhaps there was a trace of good and nobility in Draco, Harry thought.

Harry also noticed Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix whom Harry had grown very fond of. He noticed that Fawkes seemed sad tonight and his colors weren't as bright either. Harry shared Fawkes' pain. It had been a very long and treacherous night.

Eventually, Dumbledore stepped into his office and motioned for Harry to take a seat. Harry sat and noticed that Dumbledore looked much healthier than he had.

As if reading his mind, Dumbledore said "I am afraid I might have underestimated Horace's potion skills before. He whipped me up an antidote in the blink of an eye."

Then Dumbledore settled down into his seat and Harry saw he looked much more serious now.

Dumbledore began to speak and Harry noticed a bunch of the portraits opening their eyes and even heard one remark "Bout time you got back Dumbledore."

"First of all, I must apologize for putting you through this Harry. I know you've been through a lot but well, it's never easy to see death. No matter who it is." Dumbledore spoke in his wise voice Harry was so used to hearing.

"I must say, I never expected Severus to turn on me Harry. I feel I have made a grave mistake in trusting him." Dumbledore continued sadly.

"He is a man of lies, Severus is. But what surprises me more, is the fellow student of yours Draco Malfoy. He sacrificed himself for an old, withered man like me. I owe him my life."

Harry could see tears in Dumbledore's eyes as he said this. Harry took this chance to speak up. "I'm sorry Professor. I actually knew him well and…err…he was a good student. Very brave and kind."

Dumbledore smiled at Harry and said "You're not a good liar Harry. But, it doesn't matter. I believe I knew Draco even better than you. I knew he was plotting against me. Right after the poison that your friend Mr. Weasley drank I figured it out. But I never knew Draco was capable of such massive plots. The Vanishing Cabinets…I really never saw it coming."

"Now Harry, don't worry about your friends who helped the Order in the battle. They are all quite fine; except for Bill who I am afraid got bitten by a werewolf. You can visit him later if you like. But first Harry, you must have many questions. What would you wish to know?"

Harry thought and asked what was on top of his mind. "Sir, what are you going to do about Snape? Track him down?"

Dumbledore replied "Ah, no Harry I'm afraid not. He will be back to Voldemort by now. However, I doubt his master will be pleased that he failed to kill me, or any of the Order for that matter. But Snape was always a clever student. The Half-Blood Prince he used to call himself."

Half-Blood Prince, Harry thought. He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. The thought made him sick that all year he had been taking advice from Lord Voldemort's right-hand man. He made a mental note to get rid of that book first chance he got.

Dumbledore then asked "Any more questions Harry?"

Harry shook his head. He felt as if he knew enough. At least for now.

Dumbledore then stood up and tried to give a little smile. "Well then, you can go visit your friends in the hospital wing. Don't worry, you won't get any trouble from Filch. I'm sorry to say that once he saw the Death Eaters he hid himself in the broom closet."

Harry nodded and got up to leave. Then he asked "Will there be a funeral sir?"

Dumbledore glanced at Harry and said "Yes, of course Harry. I'll make arrangements to his father in Azkaban to be escorted here. But then, where they decide to bury him is their choice. We will have a ceremony though."

Harry then nodded once more and said "Thanks Professor,"

He walked to the door and it wasn't until his hand was on the doorknob that Dumbledore called "Oh, by the way Harry. The Horcrux we found in the cave was a fake. I'm not sure what this means yet…"

He glanced at Dumbledore who looked very troubled and confused. He waved his good-bye and Dumbledore tried to smile back. Harry then stepped onto the staircase that would lead down from Dumbledore's office. So many things had happened, but really what he wanted more than anything in the world was to see Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.

Okay, so please review and tell me how you liked it. Keep in mind, that this was only the introduction. The real story begins next chapter. And I can assure you, it gets even better.