A/N: (looks back over the last two chapters) You know, this was originally supposed to be a one shot. Then when I posted it, I had an idea that made it a two-shot. Now I've got three chapters… (sigh) Let's see if I can keep it that way…

Also – my thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the associated characters/places/things. This fanfic is meant for entertainment only and no profit is being made, so… don't sue, please.

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IMPORTANT A/N: If you have not read the expanded version of chapter 2, go back and read it now! This chapter will make more sense if you do!

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Draco stood in front of the cell, watching as the redheaded body in front of him shivered and cried out. He had had Crabbe and Goyle, under strict instructions not to harm Draco's new toy, strip his prize to shirt and trousers and search it for any hidden surprises. Now Draco was just watching the effects of the curse he'd chosen to use on the still unconscious body, waiting for the curse to wear off and his victim to wake.

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(FLASHBACK)

"Rise," a cold voice ordered. Draco rose gracefully to his feet, keeping his head bowed. "Why are you here, young Malfoy?"

"My lord, I have thought of a way to get your followers past the wards of Hogwarts."

"Explain."

"You know of the portkey I use to attend to my duties as head of the Malfoy family, my lord?" At the irritated affirmative, he hurried on. "It is keyed to only myself, but my thought was that a linked portkey could be created using it, my lord, allowing your followers to use it to get through the wards."

"A linked portkey using an already existing portkey as a base?" Voldemort seemed to drift off in thought, and Draco was hard pressed to remember to breathe. Linked portkeys were only used with a pair of two ordinary items, so that the user of one could arrive wherever the base portkey was rather than a set location. To link an ordinary item with a portkey was unheard of, but if it was possible it should give the linked portkeys the same protections.

"Very clever." Draco gave a silent sigh of relief. "I reward cleverness in my followers. What do you desire?"

"Ronald Weasley, my lord."

"You want Potter's sidekick and not Potter himself?" There was a dangerous undertone to those words.

"Yes, my lord. I hate Potter far more than I hate Weasley, my lord, but Potter is yours. I would never dream of even attempting to take that which is yours, my lord."

There was a pause, as if the Dark Lord were evaluating the truth of his words. Finally, he said, "I am pleased by your loyalty, young Malfoy. After the link has been created, you will return to Hogwarts and act normally. At the beginning of dinner tomorrow, you shall leave the portkey on the floor or the Great Hall, along the wall by the doors. During the battle, you will capture Potter and his friends. When the anti-apparition wards have been brought down, you will bring them here. Understood?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Good. You will then receive my mark and take your place in my inner circle. Should you fail…"

"Yes, my lord. Should I fail, I shall accept my punishment as what I deserve."

A twisted parody of a smile appeared on those thin lips. "You know your place. I am pleased." Draco bowed in acknowledgement.

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Draco acted as normally as he could that day, which wasn't that hard – it was a Monday, so he had to concentrate on classes. The one exception he made to that was the occasional glance towards Potter. He knew the other boy had caught him at it, but the one time their eyes had met, he'd forced a slight blush onto his cheeks and torn his gaze away.

The Death Eaters and the Dark Lord arrived half way through dinner. In the ensuing chaos, Draco managed to make his way across the hall, and slid around behind the table Potter and company were using as cover. Their wands immediately pointed towards him.

"Wait!" he cried before any of them could hex him, careful not to point his wand at any of them. "I'm not a Death Eater!" He shoved up his sleeve, baring his left arm as proof. "I'm on your side. I want to help you."

Potter and the others stared at him warily, but didn't attack him, a good sign.

"Why?" The other Gryffindors looked at their Golden Boy in surprise, but seemed willing to follow his lead.

"I… That is…" Draco trailed off and averted his gaze. Quickly thinking of his mother, he concentrated on his affection for her. It wasn't at all romantic, but it would do, so he let it show in his eyes. He brought his head back up so he could look at Potter again. The green eyes were still staring at him. Draco let him get a good look at the affection and slight desperation in his eyes before looking away again, another forced blush on his cheeks.

Surprisingly enough, the supposed meaning behind his actions wasn't lost on any of the usually dense Gryffindors. Draco heard an exclamation from the Weasel and gasps from the rest, but all he cared about was Potter's reaction. If he could fool Potter, the rest would accept it.

The seconds ticked by, and still no reaction from the prat. C'mon, Potter, buy it already! He thought, annoyed. The he felt a hand settle on his shoulder. His head shot up, and he allowed his hope past his mask.

Potter was looking at him almost gently. In a tone that matched his expression, he said, "We'll talk more about this later."

Draco nodded eagerly, letting his happiness shine through but carefully keeping his triumph and malicious glee to himself. Potter squeezed his shoulder lightly, and they all turned back to the battle.

Trusting idiots, Draco thought to himself, keeping the smirk off his face through sheer force of will. He quickly stunned Potter, Weasel, and the Mudblood, erecting a shield to protect him and his three captives from the hexes and spells sent towards them.

Unconcerned about the rest getting through his shield with those simple, weak spells, Draco turned his attention to the ring on his finger. The emerald was glowing – the anti-apparition wards were down. Sending a malicious grin in the direction of the watching Gryffindors, he grabbed hold of his three captives, concentrated, and apparated away.

(END FLASHBACK)

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The Dark Lord had found out about what he'd done with Potter and, thankfully, been amused by it. There were definitely times when he was glad for the man's insanity – Lucius hadn't been able to do anything about what his son had done despite his displeasure. Of course, the confrontation with Potter had been rather amusing…

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(FLASHBACK)

"Ennervate," Draco said calmly, then stepped back.

Potter's eyes popped open, took in the fact that he was lying on the floor of Voldemort's throne room in front the Dark Lord himself, and widened to an almost impossible size. He struggled to his feet, and Voldemort let him.

"How the hell did you manage this, Tom?" the boy snarled angrily, glaring at the seated man.

Voldemort's response was to calmly raise his wand and intone, "Crucio." The Golden Boy writhed on the ground, screaming, for several minutes before the spell was lifted. As he lay there panting for breath, the Dark Lord fixed him with a red-eyed glare. "You will refer to me as Lord Voldemort."

Potter glared at him, but saved his breath to force himself back onto his feet.

A gleam of humor entered Voldemort's eyes and voice. "As for how I 'managed this,' as you put it…" He motioned sharply to Draco.

Stepping forward so Potter would have a better view, the Malfoy heir reached up and took off his mask and smirked.

The Gryffindor stared incredulously at the boy he had thought was on his side. "I thought…" Then it seemed to sink in. "You bastard!" he shrieked.

Draco gave a casual shrug and said almost flippantly, "What can I say, Potter? You were a bad lay." The gobsmacked look on the other boy's face was priceless.

Draco had never before heard his new master laugh quite so loudly.

(END FLASHBACK)

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The blonde was broken out of his musings as the redhead in front of him came out of his curse induced nightmares. Gazing at the panting, shivering mass in front of him, Draco felt his smirk return to his face, this time with a certain predatory air to it.

Time to play.