Chapter 3
They laid in a heap, coughing and spluttering, Draco shuddering at everything that had happened, not just the crucio. But Granger, Weasley - But most of all, Potter. It wasn't the dark lord that freaked him out. It was their - their… Bravery, their sacrifice, but most of all their…
Kindness.
No-one was kind to Draco Malfoy. Their was sometimes a student/ teacher relationship, - charity. His cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, no true friends. If it ever came to giving their lives for someone, if it ever got that committed, they were well out of it. But Potter wasn't even his friend. Even so, he still could have died just then. Died for Draco Malfoy. Died for cold, sneering, ruthless Draco Malfoy.
The Cruciatus had got to him… he was thinking right…
An arm held Draco steady as the world seemed to turn upside down for a second. No - not just one. Three. Three pairs of hands holding him steady. Even Weasley's. He noticed Ron jumped quickly back again as Draco straightened up.
"Are… you… okay?" Panted Potter, his arm on his stomach as if he had a stitch.
Draco nodded, the movement of this causing the broken skin on his neck flare painfully. "Why?" was all he could say -Why? When he had virtually killed Dumbledore, and made their lives hell for years. Well, they hadn't been especially nice either - But it wasn't that way around. Harry shook his head, still panting and then let out a bark of laughter more of relief than joy.
"All, of… Hermione's fault… I….kill you…now"
"What?" Draco asked fearfully - they saved him - just to kill him all over again? That was messed up!
"No… not you… idjit…'Mione"
Hermione gave him a half hearted slap, Harry wrestling her to the ground, Granger then kicking him in the shin with all the ferocity of a dying amoeba. Potter returned the gesture with a poke.
"Surrender now… you'll never defeat me"
"Resistance… is…futile"
Draco looked around to see if anyone was watching. He didn't want to be seen with this lot. (Hermione and Harry were now sprawled upon the grass laughing hysterically.) But then again, he was far too terrified to go on alone. Ron glared at him; every inch of him radiating mistrust and hatred.. No matter what Draco did, he was sure Weasley would never accept him. It was a fact of life.
Some things never changed.
Hermione got up, looking concerned for Draco, her eyes meeting with his so he desperately wanted to look away. She approached him.
"I can fix that up if you want…" She said, saying every word carefully as if he was holding a knife to someone's throat, or else extremely dense.
"Get away mud blood! I don't need your help"
Why the hell did I say that? Why? I like her…! She saved me!… Why are you so nasty…? No wait, Why Am I so nasty….? Oh heck I'm confused. Why the hell did I say that?
"Hang ona minute Malfoy - We saved your stinking life!" Ron shouted, outraged. "Harry could have died to save your4 poxy life! How dare you filthy…" Ron began to murmur a curse, but Hermione got there first, her wand pressed hard against his neck so he feared he might suffocate. There was a dangerous fire burning in her eyes that he could not hide from him even when he tried to close his eyes. He waited for something terrible to happen.
"DIMELVUM"
Draco closed his eyes at her cry, waiting for pain, darkness… death even…
But instead the pain went away, his neck healed. When he opened his eyes he saw that her own eyes were not filled with the anger he'd thought he'd seen; but with tears.
She ran.
Draco didn't know what to say; it wasn't fair. Draco's defence barriers went up when someone got close, with or without his consent. He was given kindness, and he threw it away…
Weasley looked furious with him. Giving the two fingered sign, before running full pelt after Hermione. Harry looked at Draco, no emotion showing on his face,
"Are you still faithful to him?" He asked, eyes unmoving.
"W-who…?" Draco said confused, and terrified.
"Voldermort. I can only take you if you leave him. If not, I promise you. He will find, you. He will hunt you. And next time, we won't be there to save you"
Draco suddenly was caught in a wave of bewilderment. He had just been thinking of escape, saving his own skin, nothing about new commitments… But if he had to choose… the way Potter put it…
"You - I leave him. I mean it, I choose you"
Draco knew what he wanted, and he didn't want pain, or death, or being abandoned anymore. He wanted friends, a loving environment. Somewhere he didn't have to impress anyone or, be afraid of being hurt. Harry surveyed him, with a flicker of doubt.
"You know Draco, I believe you"
What was wrong with that? Harry's voice was full of doubt now. What was wrong? Draco was committed, he'd follow Potter as long as there was no more pain…
"This is why I'm doubtful. You're so willing to give up one commitment, how do we know that you wont give up another. Some people move from one person to another. And another thing - I don't think you were ever one to follow someone. So I want you to know, If you join the Order - No-one leads. We're all equal. You'll have to get used to being one of the crowd"
"Please! No. I'm ready to join you! Please - I don't want this anymore, I don't want Voldermort. I want to be equal!" Draco was truly desperate.
"Would you be prepared to use the unbreakable vow"
"To stay loyal to you?" Draco panicked, he didn't want to be captive of yet another persons power…
"Didn't I tell you, no-one rules to order. No. Just a promise that you've left Voldermort and you'll never betray my, any of the orders secrets"
Draco nodded - that was fair enough.
Harry also gave a nod, and their hands came together in the vow's position. "You promise what?" Harry held his wand in preparation for the binding charms. A debt that would run in both their veins until the day they died.
"To never Betray the Orders secrets and to sever ties with the dark lord"
Harry flicked his wand, Draco feeling nervous to this new oath… but committed. Potters wand was raised as if he was just about to complete the vow, but instead got up.
"Alright, lets go catch them up"
"But… why didn't you go through with the vow…?" Draco was confused and slightly perplexed. This Draco Malfoy wasn't used to forgiveness, to kindness, all these new emotions, were… unreal. He had a long way to go. He had been ready to leave lord Voldermort forever.
"I'm not Voldermort. I'm not afraid of my friends like he is. I don't need to control my friends, dare I say it - followers"
Draco shook his head - Potter was… crazy.
But then again, he was here now, heart still beating because of him.
Harry had already started walking.
"Hey Po - Harry"
"Yeah"
"Thanks"
Harry shrugged like he couldn't care less, but he looked pleased… even triumphant.
"That's alright. Anytime, no problem. Eureka"
"Wha"
He began to walk again.
"And Harry"
"Yeah"
"I… I didn't mean to make her cry…"