Disclaimer. See in Part One.

Hidden Bridges
Ryoko Porter

Part Six

'A man should never put on his best trousers when he goes out to battle for freedom and truth.'
Hendrik Isben

The room was hot and dark, perfect for the scaly creature that wrapped itself around the legs of the chair her master sat in. The chair, a simple one of dark wood and read cushions. The master, a man of evil regality. His darkness filling the room with terror.

'I feel a magic presence that I have never felt before,' Voldemort served quietly to himself. 'It seems somehow close to me. Malfoy, I want you to check it out,' the evil man ordered.

Lucius Malfoy was upon his knee respectfully and nodded his understanding. 'My lord, where may I find this person?'

'At the school, you will take two hundred and fifty men with you to storm the castle. Destroy the wizard!' Voldemort then td hid his expression to one of slyness. 'I want you also to bring back your son. I don't trust him. I know that boys of that age will make hard decisions based on whomever they are sharing their bed with currently. There is too much chance for corruption in that place. You will bring him here, and we will make him one of us.'

'Yes my lord,' Malfoy bowed a bit deeper and then turned make the plans.



Harry watched as his two Gryffindor friends entered the Great Hall. Ron turned to look at him hesitantly, but Harry just waved him off. It was true they had cause for worry though; he had stayed behind with Malfoy.

Harry had seen Draco not far outside the Great Hall as he was heading to breakfast. After the interaction from the day before, he could not ignore his want for private communication. And there was no better time.

'So, what is this about Potter?' Draco asked with no malice in his voice. He seemed still barely into consciousness, yet willing to speak civilly.

'I want to know why you wanted the memory of my fear,' Harry stated quietly.

Draco smiled a knowing smile as he hummed his pleasure at the question. Staring straight into the green eyes watching him closely. Lifting his hand to caress the side of Harry's face, there was a serine aura about them both.

And a smile from three people that watched in secret.



BOOM!

Suddenly a loud blast shook the castle around Harry and Draco. Castle walls, rock fell around them. Screaming could be heard distantly, though they knew it to be near. The smell of fire and dust filled the air. And the scent of evil spells filled the consciousness.

Harry had frozen at the explosion, but Draco had acted without thought. Spinning Harry around and then pushing him face first into the wall behind them. He then pushed his own body against Harry's back, protecting him from the chaos.

Finally everything began to slowly calm, and the dust fell to settle. Draco cautiously pulled away from the ebony hair that he had buried his face in for protection. Then sensing the safety, he pulled his hand from where he'd covered Harry's nose and mouth. Both boys didn't move anymore, but gasped in air raggedly. They had been in shock, and now were trying to recover.

Slowly after recovering a bit, Draco pulled away and let Harry turn around. He still leaned against the wall with one hand though, and it was nestled right beside Harry's head. 'Fuck, you all right?' he asked Harry, still breathing slightly heavy.

Harry nodded his answer, but as he opened his mouth to answer verbally, he was interrupted.

'HARRY!' a cry came from the other side of the hall. Harry immediately recognized it as Luna and started to search for her. Draco too, searched for the girl with his eyes. Upon seeing her, he called to Harry and they started over. They had to climb over a smoldering stack of rubble, neither wanting to disturb the possibly dangerous things by moving them.

'Luna!' Harry cried in relief as he saw her. He quickly rushed the last bit to her, with Draco following more slowly.

'Oh thank the gods, Harry you're all right!' she cried her own relief, though more shakily. 'My foot is stuck.' The two boys turned to see her left foot under a pile of broken wood and the chandelier that had been above her.

'Least it's only your foot,' Draco commented in a sort of weak comforting.



Having finally found a passage out of the rubble, the three students made there way out of the gapping hole in the side of Hogwarts. Luna was between the two boys, being held up as she held up her injured foot. Smoke and dust was mixed with sunlight, making it hard to see.

'CRUCIO!'

Everything stopped suddenly. A horrible torn voice scream filled the air. And Harry and Luna were pulled down as Draco fell to his knees. Harry fumbled trying to get his wand as he continued supporting Luna. The two watched as Draco's body spasmed in the pain. His eyes were wide in a sort of shock, and blood started to pour from his mouth.

'Draco, whatever were you doing with these mudbloods?' Lucius Malfoy drawled as he continued the spell. He was oddly serine as he tortured his son, and smiled at the obvious breaking of his son.

End of Part 6.

AN. Mwah-ha-ha-ha! I did a cliffhanger! But in next installment of Hidden Bridges, Julian's identity will be reveled! Though it slightly amazes me that no one's figured it out, if one REALLY thought about the clues it's pretty clear. Or maybe I just watch Law&Order too much, and am used to cryptic clues. So please remember to review, I'd like some more feedback.
Ryoko Porter