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"Ginny!" Charlie's voice cried as he half ran, half fell to where she lay. She opened her eyes to see her brother hovering over her.
"Are you alright?" they both asked in unison. Charlie chuckled as he helped her to sit up.
"Considering your flight pattern, I think that me asking that question is more important," he said. Ginny smiled, but it turned to a wince as she moved to stand. The small amount of snow that had made it into the thickly canopied forest made it difficult to find purchase on the ground. Charlie muttered a quick spell and the snow disappeared. Ginny smiled her thanks as she quickly looked to see Fred, George, Bill and Ron dispelling the flames from the explosion with choruses of Aguamenti.
"Bruised, but in tact," she said. Her eyes roamed over the now-smoky area of trees. "Draco?" Charlie watched as his sister's face turned frightened. He stood and looked around the clearing. A few of the Death Eaters he and Bill had been able to catch littered the area, forever stilled. But the one person his sister asked after seemed to be on the better end, not counting the bruises, bleeding and sure pain he was likely to be in.
"Hermione's looking after him. We need to get out of here," he said, taking her arm and leading her to where Ron was standing.
"Where did that ruddy bastard get off to?" Ron growled. He flexed his wand wrist. "I'd like to show that bloody Death Eater a thing or two…" Charlie chuckled.
"I think they were all scared off by you," he teased. Ron glared at his older brother.
"That would be smart of them…" he said.
"Oh yes, right smart," Charlie responded with an exaggerated nod. Ron just huffed.
"Oh hush it," he said. Ginny wasn't paying attention to her brothers but was looking around the area again instead.
"Ron, where's Harry?" Ginny asked, holding on to her arm where it had hit the tree. It was probably broken. Ron looked out into the forest.
"He ran after one of the Death Eaters…" he said. Ginny's eyes went wide.
"And you didn't go with him? Ron, he could be running into a trap…" she said. Charlie held her shoulder as she made to go into the forest.
"Harry can take care of himself, Ginny. Besides, if there was a trap, I don't think it was for Harry," he said. Ginny's gaze immediately went to Draco. The two brothers shared a knowing look as their sister crossed the space that separated her from the blond. Hermione looked up at Ginny, blood and dirt mixing on her cheek and forehead. The bushy-haired girl gave the redhead a ghost of a smile.
"I've stopped some of the bleeding, but we need to get him back to Hogwarts. He's been beaten, Crucio-ed, and I believe there are a few other spells that have been administered that I am unaware of. Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape are his best hope," she said. Ginny nodded because she couldn't speak. Remorse and worry formed a large lump in her throat. If only she'd pushed him harder to reveal what he'd been up to… maybe she could have prevented this…
"You'd only have ended up next to him in the same state, quite probably worse," Hermione said, causing Ginny's head to snap back to look at her. The older girl didn't look up from Draco's pale form. Ginny was about to reply, but Ron knelt down next to Hermione, effectively cutting off whatever Ginny wanted to say.
"You can't do any more, 'Mione… let's get him back to the castle," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist. Hermione nodded and let Ron help her stand. Bill and Charlie joined them and lifted their wands.
"Mobilcorpus…" they said in unison. Draco's body lifted from the ground and the small group began to trek back to Hogwarts. Fred wrapped an arm around Ginny as they all walked.
"Are you going to tell us what all this is about, love?" he asked. George stepped to the other side of her.
"Yeah… why'd we almost get our bollocks hexed off for Draco bloody Malfoy?" he added. Ginny let out a deep breath and stopped walking. The twins stopped as well and turned to look at her, awaiting an answer.
"It's none of your bloody business," she said softly. Then she pushed by them and tried to catch up to the others. She felt bad for being so callous to her brothers, but dealing with the repercussions of tonight was not something she wanted to think about just yet. She had to make sure Draco was safe first.
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"Do you think he's alright? Should we go look for him?" Ron asked as he and Hermione perched on the castle stairs. Hermione scooted closer to Ron in order to block the cold wind.
"I don't know, Ron," she said. "The professors don't seem all too rushed. But this is Harry…" Ron stood up and began to pace.
"He's been out there for ages! Ever since we got Malfoy back here…" he said. Hermione clutched her cloak closer to her in the absence of Ron's body heat.
"Harry knows what he's doing. He didn't receive an Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts for not knowing how to defend himself," she noted. Ron let out a small huff, his breath visible in the frigid air.
"I know that," he said, glowering at the dark forest. "But it's dark out and it's cold out… and the forest is off limits… and…" Ron trailed off as something caught his eye.
A figure with dark hair materialized from the multitude of trees that Ron and Hermione had been studiously gazing at. Hermione stood and immediately clutched Ron's arm.
"Ron…" she said, pointing to the figure. When the person raised a hand to rub what appeared to be his forehead, it was enough confirmation and the two took off running.
"Harry!" Ron cried as he and Hermione rushed to where their friend had emerged out of the forest. The Boy-Who-Lived looked tired, his robes were dirty, his cloak and Gryffindor scarf were missing, and he had dirt smudged over his face. Ron slipped out of his cloak and handed it to a slightly shaking Harry.
"What happened?" Hermione asked, horror at his appearance evident in her voice. Harry bundled into Ron's cloak gratefully and they all turned to walk back into the castle.
"There were three Death Eaters escaping. I got two of them… I think the third was Malfoy…" he said. The other two were quiet as they absorbed the news.
"McGonagall is having a fit wondering where you are. Hagrid's been going on for the better part of an hour about how Voldemort's got you," Ron said in slight exaggeration, rubbing his hands together to keep them warm. Harry stopped walking just inside the courtyard doors.
"Well, he's partially right. Voldemort was in the forest," Harry told the two of them. Ron and Hermione's eyes went wide.
"He was there?" Ron asked. "How is it we got away, then?" Harry's lips tightened.
"He wasn't meant to be there…" he said. Ron frowned in confusion.
"What the bloody hell does…" he started, but Hermione cut him off as an insight hit her.
"Lucius Malfoy!" she said. Ron turned to look at her.
"What's he got to do with anything?" he asked. She put a hand to her chin in thought.
"If Voldemort was there, but wasn't supposed to be… Lucius Malfoy has got an agenda all his own, it would appear. There's dissension in the ranks," she said. Ron perked up at that.
"That's good then," he said happily. But that emotion slipped off as he looked between his two friends. "Right?"
"If Draco is not allied with his father's plans, Snape is surely protecting him," Hermione concluded. Harry nodded.
"And if he is under Snape's protection, which means Dumbledore's as well, then how did he end up in the forest tonight?" he asked. Ron scoffed.
"Slytherins… traitors the lot of 'em," he muttered. Hermione smiled.
"Ron's right," she said. The redhead looked pleased by her statement.
"Of course I'm right. We've dealt with those snakes for seven years…" he said.
"What I meant is that if Draco wasn't planning on being there, someone made sure that he was. The only question is, who?" she pointed out.
"Goyle?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head.
"He and Zabini have been Draco's shadow for the past month or so. I don't think it's them," she said.
"Crabbe," Ron said with distaste. "He's the one that's been missing lately…"
"And he's been with Warrington's group," Harry added. "Now that I think about it, that whole lot's been a bit shifty as of late…" Ron nodded.
"Bloody Slytherins," he said. "And Malfoy's been getting thick with them in the past week…"
"Why do you think that is? If he isn't part of the plan, why get involved with that bunch again?" Hermione asked. Harry frowned.
"We really can't say one way of the other if Malfoy is to be trusted at all not to join the Death Eaters," he said. Ron nodded, but Hermione let out a frustrated sigh.
"Harry, you've got to see past this hatred of Malfoy," she said. Ron let out a snort.
"Why do that? It's not as if it isn't true," he said. Hermione rounded on the redhead.
"I'm not saying to stop hating him, Ronald. I'm just saying to look past the hate and be objective on the situation. And besides, should we trust you to be anything but a hot-tempered, over-protective, self-conscious, under-achieving buffoon?" she asked hotly. Ron frowned, but he was at a loss for words. Harry couldn't hold back the snicker at the way his friend's jaw opened and closed as he attempted to find an appropriate comeback. Hermione's chin lifted as her point was made.
"Thought so…" she said and then turned back to the Boy-Who-Lived with a look.
"Hermione's got a point. We need to find out Malfoy's true intentions before we can do anything," Harry said, albeit reluctantly. It was hard to break seven years of assuming the worst. He looked at Ron, who seemed to be on the same train of thought as Harry.
"Maybe Ginny will know," Hermione said wisely. Harry's head snapped up to look at his friend. She just looked at him. It was enough to tell him the true state of things. There was a small ache in his chest, but it had to be ignored for the moment.
"Why would Ginny know anything about Malfoy?" Ron asked in his usually belligerent manner. Hermione let out a sigh and Harry took an unconscious step away from what was going to be a very angry Ron Weasley.
"Ron…" Hermione started, but everything else she could of said was in her look as she stared at the redhead. Ron stared back, trying to figure out what her silence was telling him. Then, it came to him. With a groan, he threw up his hands and turned from his girlfriend.
"You have got to be bloody well kidding me!" he cried.
"Ginny's going to kill you…" Harry muttered to Hermione as they both watched Ron pace in front of them and rant about the evils of blond ferrets.
"I figure I just saved her the trouble of being murdered… plus, we will all eventually need to know what's going on with Malfoy anyway. It'll save Ron the rage later. When it comes down to it, he'll only be a cranky git… not a murderous one," she said back. Harry smiled.
"Well done," he said. Hermione grinned even though she kept her eyes on Ron, who was still stalking about.
"I know my Ron," she said. When she realized what she'd said, she blushed slightly, causing Harry to snicker.
"I think I'll leave you two…" he said. Hermione looked over at him.
"To warn Ginny?" she asked. Harry let out a sigh.
"I was going to go talk to her about Malfoy, but I suppose I'll have to warn her," he said. Hermione laid a comforting hand on his arm.
"You know the Weasley temper… and since the twins and Bill and Charlie are here… Ron'll be sure to break the news not so quietly," she reminded him.
"Hopefully, they haven't gotten a hold of her yet, otherwise I doubt she'll tell me anything," he said. Hermione smiled.
"Best hurry then," she said before turning back to a still ranting Ron. With a roll of her eyes, she shooed Harry away. "I'll take care of this one…"
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A little bit later…
Ginny watched as they made Draco's unconscious form comfortable in the infirmary bed, and Harry watched Ginny. Finally, when her curiosity and concern were satisfied and she knew Draco would be okay under the watchful eyes of Madame Pomfrey, she turned to make her way out of the hospital wing.
"I've headed off your brothers for the time being," Harry's voice startled her. Ginny spun around to look at him.
"Harry…" she breathed. "I didn't know you were here." Harry smiled wryly.
"I know you didn't," he said.
"And how, exactly, did you manage routing everyone?" she asked, a small smile on her face. Harry shrugged.
"They all caught me in the Gryffindor common room as I was looking for you. I told them that you needed to be checked over by Madame Pomfrey and that McGonagall wanted to speak with you after," he said. Ginny smirked.
"They thought my health and well-being was more important that the Weasley Inquisition?" she asked. "Mark the day on the calendar, Harry…" She heard Harry chuckle, but she'd turned back to look in the infirmary door. Draco lay still in the bed as Madame Pomfrey fussed over him.
"You can go in, you know," Harry noted. Ginny shook her head.
"No. He wouldn't want me there right now," she said. Harry looked at her curiously and struck up the nerve to ask a question that had been weighing on him for a while now.
"What's happened between you and him?" he asked. Ginny's eyes widened when she realized that she'd inadvertently admitted to something.
"What do you mean?" she asked. Harry smiled.
"I'm not entirely stupid," he said. His head hadn't been, anyway. His heart was another matter. Ginny smiled back, albeit unsurely.
"You're not stupid, Harry. You're far from it, to be said right," she said.
"Alright then… despite what you may think, I'm not entirely unobservant," he said. Ginny laughed at the pointed statement. Everyone had thought Harry completely unconcerned at Ginny's infatuation of him years before. It felt good to know that he had, in fact, seen her back then, even if those emotions were all in the past for her.
"Oh, Harry. I don't think you're unobservant. Now Ron… he's an entirely different herd of hippogriffs," she said with a wry twist to her lips. Harry immediately recognized the look as one of Malfoy's favorites. The shrewd look on his face caused Ginny to go slightly pink and turn from him.
"You've spent a lot of time with him, haven't you?" Harry asked.
"What makes you say that?" Ginny asked. Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the continued avoidance.
"Something went wrong, didn't it?" Harry pushed on. He was surprised when Ginny actually turned back to look at him.
"Maybe I have spent a little time with him and maybe something did go wrong," she admitted. She crossed her arms and looked sadly to the floor. Harry let out a disappointed breath.
"You're in love with him," Harry noted. A myriad of expressions worked their way through Ginny's eyes as she avoided his gaze.
"Harry…" she started. Harry held up his hand.
"I know, Gin," he told her. It looked like Ginny didn't know what else to say. A lot of people expected her to be in love with Harry forever. To an extent, Harry was sure even Draco Malfoy himself expected it. Her family certainly wanted a happy ending with the Boy-Who-Lived officially a part of the Weasley clan. But Harry knew that time had passed.
"It's dangerous to be anywhere near him right now, Ginny," Harry continued, looking to the ground. They both knew that it was just as unsafe to be anywhere near Harry as well.
"I know that, Harry," Ginny said softly. She turned to look back in the infirmary door. "I know that loving him is probably the biggest mistake of my life – even over writing in that bloody diary…" Harry's eyes drifted to where hers were focused. Never before had he ever thought that the Prince of Slytherin could be capable or worthy of being loved. Especially by someone like Ginny.
It was strange, to say the least, to see Draco Malfoy so vulnerable. He lay unaware of the world around him and quite susceptible to seven years of bitter revenge that had surely built against him throughout the school. For Harry, the bitterness, the raging hatred… it was all still there, but the sight of the bruising, bleeding and brokenness of someone who was usually such a presence let empathy and pity seep in. Ginny turned to look at the Boy-Who-Lived, her brown eyes holding a sorrowful gaze that told him she knew how Harry felt. About her and about Draco.
"I'm sorry, Harry," she said simply before turning and starting down the hallway. She could feel Harry's eyes on her as she walked away from him.
Any other day, she would have tried to make him feel better or to make him feel as if his burden was a little lighter. But she needed to see Professor Dumbledore, and she needed to see him without an escort.
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Hogwarts Infirmary…
"Malfoy…" Potter's hated voice said as Draco's eyes opened. The blond boy gave Harry a disgusted look.
"Yours is not the deformed face one wants to see when waking," he drawled as he sat up. Harry shook his head.
"You never quit, do you?" he asked. Draco's eyebrow went up as he pulled the sheets closer to him.
"Quit at what?" he asked. Harry smiled.
"Your switch is permanently stuck at that of miserable, loathsome sod," he said. Draco smirked before he could catch himself.
"Better than permanently being a bloody saint," he said. The two boys fell silent, not knowing what else to say to each other besides insults. "I suppose I should be thanking you…" All that came was the supposition. Harry shifted on his feet.
"It's not me you should be thanking," he said. Draco's brow arched again.
"The Boy-Who-Lived not taking credit for his righteous actions? Even if it was saving a Death Eater?" he asked sarcastically. Harry let out a breath.
"You'd get along famously with my cousin Dudley, Malfoy…" he said. Gray eyes widened.
"Oy… don't you dare compare me to your Muggle relatives, Potter," he said.
"You can't have the monopoly on insults and general nastiness, despite how hard you try. As I said, Malfoy, it's not me you need to thank. But why she'd help you after everything is beyond me," Harry retorted dryly. Malfoy frowned. She? Then it all came back. Ginny standing up to his father and nearly getting herself killed in the process. He sat back against the pillow with a deep breath of his own.
"Told you, did she?" he asked, not sure how he felt about her disclosing their relationship to the boy who replaced him. Harry watched the blond closely. There was a subtle shifting of emotions across the usually so emotionless Slytherin. It had been the same array of emotions that had crossed Ginny's face when Harry had bluntly asked her what had gone on between her and the blond boy.
"She didn't tell me much of anything. I'm wondering if, maybe, you should," he said. Draco scoffed.
"Playing at mind medi-wizard are you now, Potter?" he asked. "Failing so miserably at everything else?" Harry snorted.
"You wish…" he answered the boy's acid questions. Draco didn't want to talk to the other boy any longer, so he crossed his arms and turned to look out the window hoping it would be enough to dismiss any unwanted conversation. Things were so muddled now and he wanted to be alone in order to come to terms with it.
"She loves you, you know," Harry's voice persisted in annoying him. Draco visibly tensed as the words registered.
"Who loves who, Potter? Methinks you've gone mental…" he said, his head turning slowly to look at Harry. The dark-haired boy just stared at Draco.
"You know bloody well who I'm talking about. Ginny loves you and that is why you are alive right now and without a Mark on your arm…" he gritted out. Draco's hand snapped to his left wrist. When he'd realized what he'd done, his eyes turned steely as he glared at Harry.
"Oh, and you know so much about this how?" he sneered. Harry averted his eyes. Draco nodded once in understanding.
"I know because I watch," was what the Boy-Who-Lived answered.
"Right…" the blond said. "Because you love her…" There was a half-smirk on his face, almost like he was laughing at himself, not just Harry.
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "But I'm not the only one." Harry decided that was enough. He and the Slytherin Prince had been in each other's company for more than five minutes and there hadn't been any blows or hexes thrown. He'd rather not take the chance and turned to walk out of the infirmary. Draco waited until Harry was part of the way out of the door.
"Our love will end up getting her killed, no matter whom she chooses in the end," he said. Harry turned to see the other boy staring intently at him. He only stared back.
"I know that the risk is there. But I suspect you knew that already," Harry said finally. "And I don't think it changes anything for either one of us… Besides, in the end, we could all be dead." Draco didn't say anything and Harry continued on his way. Harry had left something unsaid, but it had come across plain as day when Harry had stared back at him. There was no choice for her… The unstated thought almost floated through the empty room.
But Draco wasn't alone for long.
"In literature, as in love, we are astonished at the choice made by other people," Dumbledore's voice echoed through the room. "I always forget who said that…" Draco looked over to the headmaster in shock.
"Excuse me?" he asked as the old wizard approached his bed. Dumbledore tapped the book in his hand.
"Just reminiscing over some of what I've learned in my many years," he said with a small smile. Draco resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"And what has it got to do with me?" Draco asked.
"Plenty, as I'm sure you already know, Draco," the headmaster said. With a flick of his wand, a chair pulled itself to the side of Draco's bed and the old wizard sat.
"I don't seem to know anything anymore," Draco said bitterly as he looked away from Dumbledore and out the window next to him.
"It was brave of you, what you attempted to do, Draco," the headmaster said. Draco's head snapped around to stare at him, astonished.
"How's that again?" he asked, not knowing what to do with the praise. Dumbledore smiled.
"It may not have been very intelligent, but it was brave all the same," he said, crossing his hands over the book in his lap. Draco sneered, but refrained from saying the nasty things that sat at the tip of his tongue.
"How would you know what I was attempting to do?" he asked instead. There was another twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes as he looked at Draco.
"I may be an old man, my boy, but that does not mean I do not have my ways about things," he said. There was a moment, a small, almost insignificant moment that Draco was curious as to what ways the headmaster would employ. But then Draco realized he wasn't all that sure he wanted to know. Instead, he decided to hit upon the subject he was sure they were both circling around.
"I am not Potter, you know. I am not going to save the world for you," he said.
"Is there a reason that you feel yourself unsuited to such a task?" Dumbledore asked curiously. Draco was silent for a long moment as a list of reasons ran through his head. But there was one thing he could say that would be universal and hopefully put the argument to rest.
"I am Slytherin…" Draco said, looking away from the headmaster and feeling it was enough explanation. Dumbledore smiled another of his many smiles.
"You know, I was almost a Slytherin," he said, a mischievous enough twinkle in his eye to make Draco believe it was true. "It is very rarely known that Tom Riddle was almost a Ravenclaw for all of his cleverness. Even Harry Potter was almost a Slytherin…" Draco's head snapped around to stare at the old wizard. Dumbledore only continued to smile.
"You, Draco, could have made a brilliant Gryffindor."
"How's that?" Draco asked, a sneer in his voice.
"You could have easily been among the most brave, the most honorable. But it was your father's influence that led you to the most cunning and the most ruthless. I am not saying one way is better than the other. I am just saying that there is so much potential in you. I don't think you realize how much." Draco stared at the headmaster. He'd never heard such words said to him before. The encouragement and the faith in Dumbledore's voice… those positive words were usually reserved for the likes of Potter. Not a Slytherin, and certainly not a Malfoy. Dumbledore shook his head a Draco stayed silent.
"No, you are not fully aware of your abilities. But the Dark Lord is. It was why he ordered your father to kill you. Even if Lucius had given you the Dark Mark, you would not have been allowed to live," the professor said. Draco smirked.
"Not up for a bit of competition, now is he?" he asked. Dumbledore smiled.
"Tom Riddle has never stood up against competition well. He was always jealous of those who bested him and greedy for the power to best them in return… It is that resentment and that anger that turned him into what he is this day," he said giving Draco a meaningful look. The blond had the grace to look slightly abashed.
"I know my mistakes, Professor. I am fully aware of where lesson and logic diverge," he said. The headmaster nodded.
"I know you do, Draco. And I am sorry for the things it took for you to understand the difference. But I am not altruistic enough to not be thankful for it as well," he said. Draco nodded. He understood because he felt the exact same way. That summer between fifth and sixth year had provided enough lessons for Malfoy propaganda to take a back seat and Draco's own logic to kick in. He'd witnessed why his father was the feared right hand of Lord Voldemort. And he witnessed what would happen to the world should Voldemort win this war - to Muggles and wizards alike. The Death Eaters were so blind in their subservience that they did not realize the doom they were walking into with smiles on their faces and a self-importance that didn't exist.
"It was horrible… all the blood, all the screaming… all the children…" Draco said with a hard swallow. "I don't want to be a part of that. I still hear their screams in my head, and I still see all of that blood when I close my eyes. I can't live with that." Dumbledore's eyes were solemn as he reached a comforting had to Draco's shoulder.
"I am sorry for it," the headmaster said. Draco shook the arm off and gave the old wizard as near to a glare as he was willing to try.
"What are you sorry for? Me having to see and be a part of that? Or are your more sorry for the death, destruction and fear of your beloved Muggles?" he asked, his lip turning up into a sneer. Dumbledore, as patient as ever, just let Draco's anger flare up and blow itself out.
"I am sorry that such suffering exists in the world," he said. Draco, not knowing what to say that wouldn't sound callous and insensitive, stayed silent. He may not want to be a part of what Albus Dumbledore represented, but that did not mean he did not respect the wizard.
"Voldemort grows stronger and he plots even as we sit here," Dumbledore said. Draco scoffed.
"Then shouldn't you be sequestered away with your Boy Wonder plotting as well?" Draco asked. "If Voldemort's getting so much stronger, the longer you sit here, the more time you're wasting." Dumbledore smiled.
"Voldemort was in the forest tonight," Dumbledore said. Draco's eyes widened. The headmaster smiled at the boy's shock. "He was there, but he was forced to flee before he could make himself known…"
"Why was he there in the first place? It was my father's plan," Draco noted. The headmaster nodded.
"That it was, my boy. Your father himself wishes for the Dark Lord's reign. But there are others who covet your father's place," he said. Draco's eyes darkened.
"Warrington," he said. Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes. He wishes to see your father dead by Voldemort's hand. But he's been waiting for your father to kill you," he said.
"Why wait?" Draco asked. Dumbledore couldn't help but smile.
"As I said, you would have made a great Gryffindor. Impetuousness happens to be a trait of ours. Whereas, taking the simplest way out is a trait of the Slytherin House. Warrington would rather your father kill you than dirty his own hands. Voldemort wishes you dead and it is your father's mistake that you are not. Cole Warrington is merely biding his time," the headmaster said.
"It is good to know that I have one of the most powerful wizards in the world and my father after me," he muttered more to himself than anything.
"At Hogwarts, you will remain safe. That is my promise to you, Draco," Dumbledore said. Draco remained silent for a moment.
"Why are you doing this? I did nothing for you. I will do nothing for you," Draco said, shifting in the uncomfortable hospital bed.
"You are here, under my protection because you did nothing," Dumbledore said. "Because your name is Malfoy, all saw a Mark on your arm, a mask on your face and black the color of your robes… including yourself whether you realized it or not…" All but one had left you to it… The thought floated between the two, but remained unspoken.
"But you are also a Black, Draco. Let us not forget that," Dumbledore said. "I foresaw it coming to such an end, my boy. Such warring blood in such a strong young man. You will be a powerful wizard one day… a rival in strength to our own Harry Potter."
"I don't want to rival Harry Potter in anything anymore," Draco said suddenly, his eyes tired and his pale form slipping lower in the bed. "I'm tired of having to prove myself to everyone…" Dumbledore smiled knowingly.
"You've proven more than you would ever imagine but just saying those words, Draco," he said in his soft manner. The blond haired boy looked up to him, seeming younger than his seventeen years.
"You're not going to try to recruit me?" he asked the headmaster. Dumbledore smiled again and shook his head.
"No, Draco. It's enough for me to know that you will fight for what is yours," he said. Draco looked down at his hands.
"I have nothing, Professor," he said quietly. Dumbledore put a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"You have your life, Draco. You have your beliefs and you have your future. Those hopes alone make a man wealthier beyond their dreams. You may have been thrust into a world in which you are unaccustomed to, but it is this chance that will test you and make you into the wizard you were meant to become, the wizard I know you can become. It will make you aware of strengths you never knew you had. That, Draco, is not nothing," Dumbledore said. The two sat in an unfamiliar, amiable silence and Draco shifted on the bed and looking to his hands.
"How is…" he started, but immediately closed his mouth. Dumbledore smiled again.
"Miss Weasley is fine, Draco. She is quite concerned for your well-being, but she is fine," the headmaster said. He said it in such a way that had Draco looking up at him. Professor Dumbledore had known. He'd know all these years... and he'd been able to recognize it before Draco even knew it had been there. The headmaster set a hand on the teenager's shoulder and gave it a reassuring pat.
"It is often said that we choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them. I forget who said that… but what is meant, Draco, is that our path is laid before us the moment we are born. Where that path leads, no one will know until they reach the conclusion. But the choices we make while continuing the journey will lead us to a future as yet unwritten," Dumbledore said in his normal, cryptic way. Draco let the words absorb into his brain. Maybe all of this would be worth it in the end… Then the blond shook his head. He couldn't let himself think of hope just yet. There were more trials ahead, and hope would only cloud his mind.
"What… what happened after…" he started. The old wizard smiled.
"Your father and Voldemort were both forced to flee… the power, love and loyalty of all together proved too strong for them alone," Dumbledore said with a happy twinkle in his eye. But it was soon extinguished. "But Voldemort will return. And he will return sooner than we could possibly anticipate with all his supporters. But we will be ready…"
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Dumbledore's Office...
"Are you telling me that my children – all of my children..." Molly Weasley started.
"Not Percy..." Fred and George piped up causing their mother to turn a heavy glare on them. They immediate slouched in their seats in an attempt to hide.
"... marched without care into the Forbidden Forest and tried to take on a group of Death Eaters on their own?" Molly finished. Professor McGonagall stood regal in Dumbledore's stead as she confirmed Mrs. Weasley's high-pitched question.
"They did not try, Molly. They did take on the Death Eaters... and did an admirable job of it, if I may say so," the professor said. Bill and Charlie smirked and Fred and George sat up straighter in their chairs.
"The only one that skived out was that slimy Malfoy," Charlie grumbled. Molly turned to her children.
"Why on earth would you do such a thing?" she asked. Bill met his mother's angry gaze.
"We thought Ginny was in trouble," he said. Charlie nudged him and gave his older brother a glare. Fred and George caught on.
"Oy, why are Ginny and Ron spared this?" George asked. "It was all Ginny's idea..." Fred nodded in agreement as he leaned over to his brother.
"Methinks a Bogey Bomb in their beds will teach them their lesson..." Fred sat up straight and shut his mouth as Molly Weasley's eyes narrowed.
"Worry you not, George, Fred. There will be howlers abound," she said. The four Weasley children present winced at the deadly calm in her voice.
"Look what you've done," Charlie whispered to Bill. The older brother just shrugged.
"She'll deserve every second of it pulling a daft stunt like that. Mum doesn't even know the half of it. And all to help a bloody Malfoy for Merlin's sake. I'll have to take her to task for that later..." he said. Charlie eyed their mother.
"If Mum doesn't take her to task first..." he said as he watched the Weasley matriarch grab the nearest twin by the ear and stand him up. Both Bill and Charlie reached up unconsciously to rub their own ears. Their mother then pointed to the door of Dumbledore's office and began to march her children out.
"Mum, I've got to meet Fleur..." Bill started, but was cut off.
"Fleur will have to wait, William. I have a few more choice words for the lot of you when we get back to the Burrow. I'm sure your father will have something to say as well," she said.
"But Mum..." he started, but Molly pointed a finger at him.
"I don't care how old you are or give a flying fig about how you're going to be married. In fact, since Fleur is going to be part of the family, it may be wise to include her on the discussion," she said, a thoughtful look on her face. Bill swallowed hard. 'Discussion' was no where near the term of what things would be at the Burrow if his beautiful Fleur was included. The woman could rant and rave in French for hours. Even Charlie had a look of panic on his face at the inclusion of his sister-in-law-to-be.
The moment of apprehension was broken as the twins broke into snickers. Bill frowned before he cuffed the both of them on the head as they made their way out the door.
"Professor Dumbledore will want to bring the Order together soon," Professor McGongall called to Molly. The other woman acknowledged the statement with a nod as she watched her children step into the stairway.
"Don't you worry, Minerva. The Weasleys will all be there," she said.
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Infirmary...
"You should be asleep," a feminine voice startled Draco from staring out the dark window. He turned to see Ginny standing in the infirmary door.
"I was, for a while," he said before turning to look back out the window.
"You've done a good job of fooling everyone," she commented. Draco gave a non-committal sound.
"I've had to do a good job. The only sure bet of those who will stand by me are Goyle and Zabini. They are loyal to me to the end. I hadn't known about Crabbe until he betrayed me to his father, who in turn informed my father. And Pansy… she'd have had the Dark Mark at birth if they'd allowed it. Along with most every other bleeding Slytherin. To survive my common room, everyone had to think I was going with my father. You included, since everyone that mattered seemed to know about us," he said. Ginny didn't move from where she stood, but her eyes roamed his lanky body, making sure he was truly all in one piece.
"What about the other Slytherins? The ones that think as you do?" she asked. Draco continued to look out at the dark night.
"They're as good as dead," he said simply. Ginny was startled by his frank answer.
"Surely Dumbledore…" she started. Draco let out a quick, humorless laugh.
"Dumbledore can't save everyone. Not from the Dark Lord," he said, finally. Ginny stepped further into the room.
"So, what exactly were you trying to do, Draco?" she asked. "Besides getting yourself killed…"
"I was trying to kill my father," he said softly. He still didn't look at her.
"Is that all?" she asked. Draco turned stormy eyes to her.
"It was all that mattered at the moment. I can't say what I would have done after if I'd accomplished it," he said darkly. Ginny approached the bed and sat down on it.
"What is it you want most, Draco? What is it you are so bent at trying to get?" she asked.
"My freedom…" he said simply. "I am not free to enjoy anything, I am not free to love anything… I am not free to live as I wish or believe as I wish…" With a sigh, Draco pushed himself up off the bed and stood. He stood at the window, his back to Ginny.
"I am tired of having death hang over my head. Not just the threat of my own, but of everyone and everything. Over the past two years I have thought of everything I have been taught, everything that has been an integral part of my life and I have weeded out what I don't believe in," he said, then he turned to look at her. "I am not good. I don't have your ideals and I certainly don't believe in everything you are willing to die for. Do I believe that wizard kind is better than anything Muggle? Yes. But I am not evil. I am not willing to stand by and watch as perfectly innocent people are slaughtered in their homes. I am not willing to watch as children are burned alive or made to watch as their parents and siblings are tortured…" His voice had become hoarse and when he turned to give her a glimpse of his profile, she could see he had been transported to another time.
"Draco…" Ginny started, but he turned completely to look at her and stopped her.
"It would probably be best if you let me be, Ginny. Go home to your family, to your brothers. You're safer there. Go home to Potter…" he said. He turned away from her once more, and she realized that he did so in order to keep her from seeing his icy mask crack. She'd walked away from him once before and it had torn her heart out. Only now did she realize that it had done the same to him. There was no bloody way in hell she was going to walk away now.
"I can't leave you be, Draco, no matter how much you may want me to do so. I can't because I love you," she said softly. He didn't turn around, but she could see his muscles tense. Ginny took a step closer, then another, and another until she was an arm-length away. She reached out a hand and it had barely touched his shoulder when he finally spun around, eyes blazing.
"Don't…" he hissed, gripping her wrist to keep it away from him. His hold on her was almost bruising, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she just continued to watch him. It took a moment for Draco to realize how he was holding her. His fingers loosened slightly and he fell to his knees, a pained look on his face. Draco was silent as he reached out and drew her closer to him. His arms went around her waist and he pressed his cheek into her stomach. Ginny's hands softly caressed his shoulders and her fingers toyed with the short hairs at the back of his neck.
He clung to her and she relished his need for her. After those dark days of missing him, it felt good to have his arms around her again. She was startled as she felt a wetness seep into the cotton of her t-shirt. Rather than call attention to it, which he wouldn't thank her for, she just held him closer. His arms tightened as the weight of the strain and anguish he'd felt over the past few weeks and this last showdown with his father finally broke Draco's icy façade. Ginny stayed silent as the Prince of Slytherin cried.
After a few moments, Draco's shoulder's relaxed and the fierce clutching around her middle became an embrace. There were another few moments of silence before he finally stood. His face was dry as he held her away from him and looked at her. One of her hands reached up to lay against his cheek.
"I'm sorry, Draco," she said.
"For what?" he asked. Ginny looked away from him and dropped her hand.
"For not trusting you," she said. Draco couldn't help but chuckle.
"And what were you supposed to trust?" he asked. When she looked up at him, he reached his hands up to cup her face. "I'm a Slytherin and you're a Gryffindor. I'm a Malfoy and you're a Weasley. What in that inspires trust?" Ginny shook her head.
"None of that matters," she said. Draco closed his eyes and let his hands skim down her sides.
"I know that now," he said. "I just don't know what to do now. I had it all planned. I'd face my father, kill him, refuse the Dark Mark, go into hiding…" Ginny reached up and squeezed his hand.
"And then what?" she asked. Draco gave her a self-depreciating smile.
"I never said it was a brilliantly full-proof plan," he said. Ginny couldn't have loved him more than she did in that very moment. She smiled back at him in understanding.
"We can get through this. There will be a way… I survived; you survived…" she said. Draco's grip on her arms tightened slightly.
"I survived because you stood by me, you silly girl. I've never had that before in my life and you almost got yourself killed," he said, his voice cracking slightly. She smiled as his eyes clouded over for a second. Then, she stepped closer to him and hugged him around his waist.
"But I didn't. And my family stood by you as well. They will continue to stand by you," she said.
He wrapped his arms around her, knowing full well that it wasn't love for him that had forced the Dark Lord to flee. It was the love the Weasleys felt for this girl. It was the loyalty that her family provided. And since she… loved… him, that loyalty was grudgingly extended to him as well. It was enough. For now, it would be enough. A clearing of the throat caused both Ginny and Draco to turn towards the door.
Minerva McGonagall looked upon the two teenagers with her usually stoic face, but beneath that she was surprised at the unashamed embrace. When she'd lamented the state of House Unity and inner-house relations, Professors Dumbledore and Snape would often get a look in their eyes and one of them would say something along the lines of it going better than expected. Now, she understood some of that confidence. Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley would have been a pairing that she never would have believed if she hadn't just seen it with her own two eyes. If they could get along in this light, then she couldn't see how others couldn't get along in the getting along sense.
"Miss Weasley, curfew has passed. I'll give you a few minutes to say good-night," she said in her normal terse manner before sweeping out of the room. Draco looked down at Ginny and she grinned up at him.
"I guess this is goodnight," she said. He leaned down and kissed her quickly before she could leave without one. But rather than run, she lingered over the kiss and held him closer. Without a mind that her Head of House was standing just outside the door, he wrapped his arms around her. They would have to treasure these moments when they could get them. Because they both knew that Voldemort would strike soon, and when he did, everything would be blown to hell.
We all had delusions in our head
We all had our minds made up for us
We all had to believe in something
So we did
We all had our reasons to be there
We all had a thing or two to learn
We all needed something to cling to
So we did
-Alanis Morissette, 'Forgiven'
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