Truth and Consequences

Summary: Draco's mother has died in a mysterious accident and with his father disowning him he is left to begin defending himself in a world that he has been hiding his secrets from for years

Rating: PG-13 because of angst, drama and a kissing scene

Warning: If you like Draco as a male turn back now…

Pairings: Slight between Seamus and Draco...

Chapter Two:

Potion? She was actually in the kitchen? She hadn't been in there for…years…

The portrait hole slammed open and the moment he stepped into the joint common room he let out a terrible roar.

"GERRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The sound of his voice reverberated off the walls. Nothing else could explain his feelings. The only person who had loved him and protected him was now gone. Hermione stood behind him in the portrait hole hugging herself and biting her lip, unsure of what to do. Draco picked up a lamp and hurled it across the room into the wall. He let out a choked scream that turned into a sob and he collapsed to the floor. Shoulders shaking, he cried. Hermione not knowing any other way to offer comfort stepped up and hugged him from behind. There was no resistance so she didn't move away. At that moment he seemed so small. His walls and airs were coming down. Finally there came a moment where he seemed to realize what he was doing and what was happening. Slowly he stiffened and rose away from Hermione. He wiped his face and wrapping his arms around himself he slowly wandered around the room.

There was nothing Hermione could think to do or say as she watched him.

"Draco, your mother was in the kitchen and it appears there was a potion explosion", said Dumbledore. Draco knew there was something amiss because that damn twinkle that was eternally in the old man's eyes was gone and he dreaded the next words that he knew were going to come from the old man. "When the potion exploded she was thrown into the stone wall and her neck was broken", Dumbledore continued. Draco let the information sink in for a second before asking, "Is she…okay?" Dumbledore sighed and his gaze dropped to the floor. It was apparent that he hated being the bearer of bad news. "No, Draco I'm afraid that your mother died in the accident. Mediwitches said that she died on contact and that there was no suffering". Draco could feel the tears welling up and he felt no desire to cry in front of the Headmaster. As carefully and quickly as he could he stood up and let himself out of the infirmary, much to the annoyance of Madam Pomphrey. He heard the door open just as quickly as it had shut behind him and the footsteps of Hermione fall behind him. He didn't bother to tell her to sod off, as his Malfoy personality normally would have done, but instead picked up the pace and headed for the dormitory.

Draco woke the next morning exhausted and sporting a splitting headache and was in a bit of a daze. He had woken many times during the night and tossed and turned when he did sleep. Once he shook his head to clear his mind he remembered the goings on of yesterday. He ran his hands across his chest and felt the slight rise of flesh that signaled the growth of breasts.

There was a soft knock on the door before it creaked open to reveal Hermione. She was dressed and ready for her day's classes. She folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe. "Professor Dumbledore says that you can have the day off. All your class work with be owled or given to me", she said softly. Draco still held his hand on his chest as he looked over at her. The slightest of smiles graced his porcelain features, "Thank you Hermione". She nodded and started to leave. "I guess this means I will have to start wearing shirts to bed soon, huh?" he said just loud enough for her to hear. She smiled and repressing a laugh said,"Yeah, I guess so" before heading down the stairs and out of the common room.

Across the school Professor Dumbledore sent out a letter to Lucius Malfoy. In the letter was his respectful request for a charm for Draco.

Across the country Lucius Malfoy committed his wife to her grave and gazed into the distance, following the progress of an owl that was making it's way to the spot where the elder Malfoy stood.

He sneered at the gravestone as soon as everyone else had left. The small short service had only consisted of close family, mostly hers. He had lied and said that Draco had not wanted to come to her funeral. The older Malfoy felt no regret in the death of his wife. After the birth of his 'son' any relationship that had existed between he and his wife diminished. There was nothing between them except for the occasional fuck when he was in the mood. It had been years since they had actually slept in the same room. They had put on a happy face and pretended to be a respectable loving family in the social eye but beyond that they were nothing than just people who happened to live in the same house. Narcissa was nothing more than the bearer of a child whom he had regretfully called 'son' that according to him would no longer exist within a few days'…hours if he was lucky.

The tears cried the night before had led to a sort of closure. Draco regretted the death of his mother but there was nothing more he could do but remember her. Slowly he rose from the bed and made his way to the bathroom. Softly he closed and locked the doors behind him. The tile was cool beneath his feet as he made his way to the large circular tub. He turned a few of the many taps and watched as hot water and colored suds poured into the tub. He stuck his hand into the water to test it before turning and tapping a small radio that sat on a little table beside the tub. Loud rock music immediately began to blare from it.

Carefully he slid into the tub that could have easily held five more people. Holding his breath he slid down beneath the water. There came a soft knock on the bathroom door but he was unable to hear it from under the water and through the music. Again the knock came and a voice asking, "Draco?"

Draco counted the seconds as he held his breath beneath the water. The suds floated above him and the warmth of the water soothed his tense muscles. Slowly he just let go and let his body relax as he rested in the bath.

Finally, very irritated, Hermione unlocked and opened the bathroom door. Her eyes widened as she spied Draco partially hidden beneath the bubbles under the water. His eyes were closed and bubbles occasionally issued from his mouth. "Draco!" she yelled as she rushed over to the side of the bathtub. Without hesitating she stuck her arm into the soapy water and yanked him up. He immerged sputtering water with a gasp. "Hermione!" he yelled at her, "What the bloody hell are you doing!" "I should ask you the same", she retorted. "I was taking a bath! What did you think!" he shouted, flailing his arms wildly. Hermione, completely flustered and beginning to tear, picked up a towel and threw it at his head, glaring as she did so. She glared one more time for good measure and left Draco to his own devices.

An hour later Draco emerged from the bathroom in his dressing gown and a towel thrown around his shoulders. Hermione sat in an armchair facing the fire with an agitated look on her face. Draco tried to leave as quietly as possible as to not arouse another soul spilling conversation in reaction to earlier events. One was enough for one week. He made it to the steps that led to his dormitory before she spoke up. "Do know what it looked like to me when I walked in there?" He mentally slapped himself on the forehead before turning around to face her. "Do I want to know?" he asked wincingly. "I'll tell you whether you want to or not. Your mother died only two days ago, the only person who had ever loved and protected you. And when I walked in there with you submerged in the water it looked like an attempt to follow her". The emotion levels in her voice were riding high. "Well I wasn't and I don't intend to. I'm sorry I scared you but there is life for me yet, with or without my mother", he responded hoping to end the conversation as quickly as he could. He bargained right as there was no answer from her and he wasn't about to stand around waiting for one. He turned on his heels and made his way up to the dormitory and quietly closed the door leaving Hermione to her thoughts.

He took his time dressing which was unusual for him since he normally didn't want to even look at himself. Finally he exited his rooms through the portrait hole and ignored Gene the Gory as he made his way down the corridor to the entrance hall. Setting his mind on his favorite spot by the lake he hurried through the castle ignoring everyone that he passed. The entrance hall was empty save for one person. Harry stood by the tall wooden doors that led into the great hall as if waiting for something. It felt like he was almost waiting for Draco. His spine tingled as his eyes passed over the dark haired boy. There was something magnetic in his stance that just drew Draco's gaze. Harry, feeling someone's eyes on him, turned and slightly scowled as he caught sight of Draco. He didn't move from his position as if daring Draco to come forward and move him. Draco didn't dare and made his way down to the doors. He cast one more look at Harry before sweeping out onto the path leading to the lake.

It had been four days since he had been out of the castle. He didn't care to be cooped up for so long but circumstances tended to keep him in there. It was refreshing to be outside on the grounds again. The sun was out this day, unlike the day of the Quidditch accident. The trees that bordered the lake were in bloom and the ground was littered with the petals of the flowering trees. There was a slight breeze that fluttered his robes around his ankles as he made his way to the lakeside. On the far eastern side of the lake leading up to the whomping willow there was a small grove of trees that sort of created a three-walled room. The tall oaks had large roots that created 'seats' between them. It was a place that Draco had discovered when wandering the grounds in his first year. Very few, if any, knew about the grove so it became a place that Draco went to be alone.

He steadily approached the grove of trees, admiring the gnarled wood of the ancient oaks. He was so absorbed in the minute details of his surroundings that he didn't notice the boy sitting between the roots of the trees. Draco dropped down between a set of roots, propped up his feet and pulled out a book from his inner robe pocket before he noticed someone else sitting there.

Seamus had gone rigid and was wide eyed as he watched Draco come into the grove of oak trees and make himself comfortable. Draco went just as rigid as Seamus when he noticed him. "What are you doing here?" he asked slowly. This simple question stunned Seamus more than the appearance of Draco. He had expected some snotty arrogant comment or a demand that he leave. Both boys were still in their places among the roots as Seamus desperately tried to formulate the answer Draco was waiting for. What felt like ages past and he came up with nothing great. Finally he stammered, "I was just reading", and pointed at his book beside him. Draco nodded and gave just a glimmer of a smile before turning to his own book. If his body hadn't been so tense Seamus was sure that his jaw would have fallen to the floor in astonishment. Draco was being nice.

Draco didn't have the energy or desire to be his normal self so instead of instigating he just continued on, as he would have if he were by himself. He felt Seamus' eyes boring into his skull as he tried to read his book. Finally after he had read the same paragraph over three times because he couldn't concentrate with Seamus staring like that he looked up and sighed. A small smile crept into his features as he saw the astonished look on Seamus' face. "Everything all right there?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Seamus blinked before realizing that Draco was talking to him. He blushed and looked away, "Er…sorry….I didn't mean to…" Draco wanted to laugh but felt it was inappropriate, "What? Sorry for staring at me? Are you sure everything's okay?" Seamus was taken aback. It wasn't his imagination; Draco was being nice.

"Yes! No! Everything is not alright!" The words flooded from Seamus' mouth before he could stop them and now he was scared. Scared that the niceness Draco had just displayed would vanish and that he would be hexed into the next millennia. But he was so confused in this new show of attitude from Malfoy. For the third time in the last few minutes he was astonished when Draco began to smile. The smile grew wider and spread across his face until he was laughing. "What's so funny?" Seamus demanded. He was curious as to why Draco was laughing but at the same time furious that he was laughing at all. Soon his laughter died away and Draco leaned forward to say, "You should relax a bit…don't you think? You're so tense". His voice was low and had a sultry edge to it. Again Seamus was surprised. Would the surprises of this day never end? He just sat there gaping until Draco moved forward some more. Was it Seamus just hoping, or was Draco coming onto him? Draco didn't know why but at that moment he had the over whelming need to kiss Seamus. He kept coming forward across the small space between them until he crossed into Seamus' personal space. They were just inches away from each other but Draco didn't move anymore. He was waiting for something from Seamus. Permission maybe? No he was waiting for Seamus to come to him. Seamus was only too happy to comply. The small distance between them was closed as Seamus came forward to press his lips to Draco's. This was what Draco had been waiting for. He lifted his hands to curl them into Seamus' sandy brown hair. He felt Seamus gliding his hands to wrap them around his waist. Draco opened his mouth to gently lick Seamus' lips, begging entrance. Seamus opened his mouth to accept him. Their tongues danced around battling for dominance. A moan escaped from the pair. The need for air became imperative and the kiss was cut short. Draco's normally pale skin was flushed and Seamus' chest was heaving and his hair was extremely tousled. Slowly they parted and sat back. Draco closed his eyes and licked his lips, savoring the taste of Seamus on them. He wanted to remember that for the rest of his life; his first kiss. Seamus just watched him with newfound wonderment. "I never would have thought…you of all people…" he murmured. Draco opened his eyes to look at him, "Why not me?" Seamus thought for a second, "Because…you're Malfoy" he replied as if it explained everything. And it did, Draco understood only too well. He nodded his head and gave a sad smile. He knew he should go, but not without another kiss. He leaned forward and gently kissed Seamus. This kiss was soft and chaste. Loving even. He drew back to sit on his knees and looked at Seamus. Just looked. He was reluctant to leave even though he knew he had to. His leaving was vital to everything he had left. "I have to go", he whispered. Seamus nodded and looked into his eyes," I know. And I know that even after this we can't even try to be together no matter what my heart is screaming at me right now. I know that there's something different about you Malfoy; something you're hiding. And I probably won't be the one you tell your secrets to either but remember…right now, I've seen you without your mask and I'm here for you whenever you need me". He finished off his little bit with a gentle kiss in reciprocation to the one Draco had given him.

"So that's how it is with you, is it?"

Draco jerked away as the gruff voice broke through the stillness. He whipped around to see an already graduated Marcus Flint standing between the trees with a sneer that matched Draco's usual one. "What are you doing here Flint?" Draco demanded. "Oh, just running some errands" Marcus replied as he fiddled with his wand. "Well I want you to leave", he said dangerously as he began to get up. "Oh…Sorry Mr. Malfoy…I'm afraid I can't do that". Before Draco had time to react Marcus had his wand pointed and the beginning of the killing curse had already left his lips.

"Avada…"

"No!"

"…Kedavra!"

Draco had heard the curse and the shout and found himself on his face in the dirt. A spilt second after he hit the ground green light exploded from Marcus' wand and a thud was heard from behind him. His whole body was shaking and he was afraid to turn around to find what he knew deep in his gut he would find. "Stupid fool…oh well, I won't miss this time…." He heard Marcus say. He braced himself for the nothingness that he knew would ensue as soon as the curse was uttered.

"Avada…" "Stupefy!"

Another voice sounded and Marcus collapsed to meet Draco on the ground. Draco slowly looked up to see Harry standing over him. His wand was still pointing at Marcus but he wasn't looking at him or Draco. His eyes were fixed on the still form of Seamus. Draco turned over to see him lying on his back in the exact place they had been kissing just minutes before. Tears sprung to his eyes as he looked on the one of the very few people who had accepted him, no questions asked, besides his mother, Hermione and Dumbledore. He stumbled forward to clutch at Seamus' body. He picked him up and held him to his chest. He buried his nose in Seamus' still fragrant hair. "No…" he breathed as he felt the hot tears spill down his cheeks.

"Don't cry Draco…I'm still here…"

A faint voice came from behind the boys and both Draco and Harry spun around to face Seamus. Or at least part of him. He looked the same excluding the fact that he was floating and that you could see through him. Draco let his tears slide down his face, as he looked upon this boy who had been his somewhat such a short time ago. "Why are you still here?" asked Harry somewhat boldly. "Well I heard about this great place called heaven that I can go to if I just follow the bright signs but I decided that I needed to say goodbye first. So don't worry about me having unfinished business or whatever it is that you are thinking Harry", answered Seamus. Harry smiled and Draco attempted a smile. He realized he was still holding Seamus' lifeless body in his aching arms. He looked down on his face. He could see him deteriorating already. The flush of live skin was leaving and the color of his eyes was fading. "Draco…let go of that you don't want to know where it's been. And besides, I'm not in it any more and it's okay to let it go", said Seamus who had noticed the direction of Draco's eyes. Slowly Draco parted his arms and let Seamus' body slide to the floor.

"It's time for me to go…I would hug you both but that's just physically impossible. Harry…be good. I suppose this means no more hide-and-seek, huh?" Harry laughed and shook his head at the memory of the late night game they had played in the castle when they were extremely shit-faced, as Seamus turned to Draco. "Remember to live Draco no matter what changes come in the future. Promise me that one thing. I'm not going to see you again for a long, long time and I don't want to find that you were an arse and went around being a shit for the rest of your life because I know you're better than that". Draco nodded and smiled weakly. "And one more thing Draco…" he leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "I'm really glad I got to kiss you before I died". He straightened up with a smile on his face and said, "Now get out of here…both of you", before he began to fade away with a big grin.

Harry knelt down beside Draco and gazed at Seamus. A moment passed by when there was a peace between the two rivals. Finally, "We should go", whispered Harry. He stood up and dusted the almost non-existent dirt off his robes before offering Draco a hand. Gratefully Draco accepted it and stood up. Harry pointed his wand at Seamus' lifeless body and muttered "Wingardium Leviosa". Gradually the body rose in the air and Harry began to direct from the grove and towards the castle. Reluctantly Draco followed with Marcus' stunned body.

The fastest way to Dumbledore was straight through the castle but it was also the most trafficked part of the castle. The whispers started the second they started through the entry hall. Eyes watched as the two boys marched through the castle with the two still bodies hovering before them. The rumors started as soon as the boys were out of sight of the whispering lips and watchful eyes.

Harry led them right to a statue of an extremely ugly gargoyle and without missing a beat spoke the password and strode right into Dumbledore's office.

The old man sat behind his desk going through some forms from the ministry of magic. He looked up at the door when he heard the enchanted gargoyle move and the staircase start moving in the fashion of a muggle escalator. He wasn't expecting anyone at the moment but when one was headmaster of a school of young witches and wizards one must become accustomed to people coming and going throughout the day. He watched solemnly as the door to his office opened and Harry Potter entered directing the floating body of Seamus ahead of him. He was surprised to see that a certain Draco Malfoy followed with an equally floating Marcus Flint. This was so unexpected that he was actually at a loss for words. He knew that Draco Malfoy had a very unique situation but to have him coming in with his rival and two injured students was quite another issue. The floating boys were directed to the long wall that was accommodated with a bright purple couch. Seamus was gently lowered onto the couch while the older Slytherin was abruptly dropped onto the stone floor.

Dumbledore quickly stood and strode to the fireplace. He pulled down an ornate Egyptian urn from the mantle and poured out a hand full of floo power which was quickly thrown in. The fire sparked and turned green. "Poppy!" he hollered into the flame. The head of the school nurse immediately appeared in the fireplace with an annoyed look plastered on her face. "We have a bit of a situation Poppy and we need some assistance", he told her. She looked around the room until her eyes fell onto the still bodies of Finnegan and Flint and the downcast faces of Malfoy and Potter. With a quick nod she agreed and her head vanished from the fireplace.

Just as her face disappeared the office door slammed open to reveal Professor McGonagall followed closely by Professor Snape. They each took a place behind the chairs where the two boys had taken seats in front of Dumbledore's desk and now waited for the inevitable "What happened?"

Dumbledore took his seat again behind his broad desk and asked them quietly, "What happened?"

Harry related his story first. He told of seeing Draco leave the castle and seeing Marcus Flint follow shortly after. Curiosity had gotten the better of Harry and he had followed the Slytherins out onto the grounds. He saw Draco disappear into a grove oaf tree. Flint drew his wand and followed. With the experience Harry had he knew that when a wizard sneaks up on another with a drawn wand the outcome isn't normally good. He considered leaving Draco to the devices of Flint but finally decided that he should go help. By the time he made it to the grove of trees Flint had his wand pointed at Draco and had the first part of the killing curse out of his mouth. He stupefied him and then saw the dead body of Seamus Finnegan. He told them about Seamus saying goodbye before leaving to…where ever it is that ghosts go to.

Dumbledore sat the whole time behind his desk with his fingers in a steeple before his lips. His eyes still had that twinkle in them throughout the entire story even when Harry told about the death of Seamus. Draco had the urge to walk over and slap that damn twinkle away. How could someone be that placid as something like this is going on? When Harry was done Dumbledore indicated that Draco should tell his side of the story. "There's nothing else to tell sir…Potter pretty much got it all", Draco said. That damn twinkle twinkled and Dumbledore pressed on, "Well surely something happened while you were in the grove with Mr. Finnegan before Harry arrived". Now Harry was watching him expectantly waiting for the details that he didn't have. Dumbledore looked at Draco pointedly, wordlessly telling him to spit it out. His face tinged pink as he hung his head and murmured, "while Seamus and I were in the grove we kissed…and then Marcus showed up". Dumbledore chuckled like it was actually funny but Harry wore a completely incredulous look on his face. "You what!" he demanded like he hadn't heard the first time. "Thank you Harry I think that will be all for this evening", interrupted Dumbledore, "But thank you very much for jumping in and saving Draco". Harry glared at Dumbledore before reluctantly standing up and letting himself out of the office.

The old man turned back to Draco and looked him over as if sizing him up. "Draco I wanted to tell you that I owled your father yesterday after your visit to the hospital wing. And unfortunately he declined in sending me a charm to stop the growth," said Dumbledore while opening a desk drawer and pulling out a neatly folded piece of parchment. Draco rolled his eyes before answering, "Did you actually expect him to send a bloody charm? I seriously doubt he was expecting me to be alive for you to perform it on anyway. Don't you see? Marcus was supposed to kill me. He was most likely put up to it by my father. Probably paid a hefty sum for it as well, accompanied by many threats to the family I'm sure. See if I'm dead there is no need for a charm, is there?" Dumbledore sat back in his chair with an amused smile on his lips and that damnable twinkle absolutely sparkling in his eyes. "So what do you propose we do, Draco?" he asked. Draco's mind had already jumped ahead to the possibilities that he had but he kept coming back to one. He stood up and began to pace back and forth in front of Dumbledore's desk. Minutes passed and the teachers were silent as they watched the mind of Draco working furiously. Finally he stopped and slammed his fist down on Dumbledore's desk. The old man didn't so much as blink but the twinkle was still evident. Draco then sighed and sank into his chair once again. "We have to go on without the charms and potions. I have to become a girl. Become what I was born to be…" His voice trailed off with the thought before barreling on. "Completely. I mean walk, talk, sit, stand, look like a girl. My father will soon find out that Marcus failed and others will be sent after me. My father doesn't let anyone marked for death live. Ever. He's almost as bad as Voldemort. But the key is that all of them will be looking for a boy. A blonde haired boy. So I will just become the opposite of what they are looking for". Dumbledore's little smile grew as he nodded along with the words that were spilling forth from Draco. Finally Draco sat back down in the chair and sighed. "Yes this is what we will do", he said in a finalizing manner. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled when Draco said this. "Are you sure this is what you want to do Draco? There are other possibilities I'm sure", he said slightly seriously because he liked the idea of Draco becoming what he was but he wanted it to be Draco's best choice before they went through with it. Draco thought for a second before nodding, "Yes this is the right thing to do".

Almost as soon as the words left his lips the door to Dumbledore's office banged open to reveal the nurse. She nodded at Professor Snape and McGonagall before quickly making her way over to the still bodies of Seamus and Marcus. Tenderly she pressed her fingers to Marcus's pulse point and then on Seamus'. "Albus!" she gasped, as she felt no pulse beneath her fingertips, "Finnegan is dead!"

An hour later Draco emerged from Dumbledore's office with mixed feelings. He was about to become what he had spent his whole life avoiding. Somehow this was extremely relieving but incredibly terrifying all at once. He took a breath and set his jaw, preparing himself for the next step. "Decision is fifty percent of doing, so I'm already half way there", he said before purposefully striding down the stairs and across the castle to his dormitory.

Behind him a shadow moved and followed him down the corridor and across the school.

Author's Note: In all honesty I'm just flyin by the seat of my pants with this one. It started just as a drabble and has kinda expanded so progress with be excruciatingly slow...my apologies

Disclaimer: This story contains characters, locations, and other random things created and/or owned by J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing, Scholastic, Inc., etc. Since no money is being made, no infringement is intended. Section 102(b) of the U.S. Copyright Act states that copyright protection does not extend to ideas, procedures, concepts, principles or discoveries, but the actual words used to express those things.