OLD MAGIC
Chapter 17: A Plan of Mayhem
The incident in November was forgotten in the excitement of the impending Christmas vacation though some of that enthusiasm was dampened by the increased course load the teachers had laden them with. With many a grumble, they worked hard to finish the lessons before their departures homeward.
The past weekend had been the final Quidditch game of the old year. It had been an exciting one between Gryffindor and Slytherin ending in a tie, much to everyone's surprise and many an unhappy complaint from members of both houses. But Harry wasn't one of them. He knew Draco was just as good a Seeker as he was and the pair of them much enjoyed vying against each other in friendly competition.
Draco would have loved to be able to congratulate Harry on a fantastic game played but he was forced to keep to the character he portrayed as the spoiled, rich boy with the haughty demeanor. So he could only give Harry an angry and annoyed face when the teams passed each other on their way to their lockers.
Harry's reaction was to give him a conspiratorial wink, letting Draco know the boy was just as pleased by the outcome as he was. This warmed Draco inside and allowed him to put up with the anger and bad tempers his team displayed as well as some of the nasty remarks directed at him for not doing his best to defeat their enemy.
What they were really unhappy about was their teammate's refusal to cheat. Draco fended them off with an arrogant snort and a knowing look letting them think he had a plan in mind for revenge ... which he didn't, but it did the trick of getting them off his back as they tried to guess what it might be with loud, boisterous suggestions that made him want to wince with disgust but instead, he just pretended not to hear and kept his face blank.
No way was he going to tell them why he wouldn't cheat. That would get him in hot water with his father who would have expected him to do whatever dirty deed it took to win. And, that was just something he couldn't do even to please Lucius. More importantly, that "moral" mindset would certainly get him punished or even killed by one of the zealous Death Eaters. So he was all about insuring he played the part expected of him, that of being a true believer of the dark side while holding onto his true morals and sanity. At least Harry seemed to understand that it was all an act.
Besides all that, he thought cheating was wrong as it prevented him from actually improving his own skills and, if he had cheated, it would have left a hollow sense of victory that wasn't truly earned. A lesson he wished his more evil classmates would understand but such things had been beaten out of them. This was one of those times when he wished he'd been sorted into some other house then he could just be himself.
Sighing mentally, he shoved his unhappiness deep inside and turned on the acting skills he'd learned then strode with head held high and shoulders back, haughty expression firmly plastered on his face, as he pushed his way to his locker and changed.
Not all his housemates were fooled by his air of superiority. Those that guessed his true allegiance, were actually the majority in Slytherin who didn't like the morals of their house but, like Draco, wisely knew better than to gather in a clique that wanted peace from those that purported evil intentions. Unlike other houses that could do that, they knew if they true feelings were known it could mean removal from school, or severe beatings, or even death. So like Draco, they too had to play act, but unlike poor Draco, they could and did separate themselves a little bit without being obvious about it.
As Draco rather hurriedly changed clothes then left the locker area, he sighed unhappily as he thought about how exhausting all this play acting was. The ones he had to fake it with assumed he was what he appeared to be, a snobbish aristocrat who firmly thought everything should be handed to him on a plate due to his family's position in society. But they would be shocked and disgusted to learn that image couldn't be further from the truth.
Oh, their family was an ancient bloodline, that was true, but they weren't as wealthy as everyone assumed. His father just put on airs that they were but if it weren't for his dabbling in the dark side of society they would be out on their ear long ago and their ancestral home would be up for auction. Lucius Malfoy was not as astute a business man as he claimed or thought he was. In truth, Draco was better at juggling figures and people, but, of course, he was careful not to display that skill to anyone within his family circle or that small minority of death eater associates within his house.
His mother on the other hand, was smart and cunning. Draco knew for a fact, she didn't really buy into this pure blood thing but followed because to do anything else would mean suicide. He had discovered, quite by accident, one day last summer, that she was stashing money away in an account she'd inherited from an older cousin that had loved her dearly. Even her mentally unbalanced sister, Bellatrix wasn't aware of Narcissa's sneaky tactic. Despite them still maintaining a relationship, Narcissa kept her distance since she wasn't happy about her family's involvement with the Dark Lord.
Just thinking about his aunt made Draco want to shiver. Now there was one seriously insane individual that he did his best to avoid. She plain creeped him out. If she ever learned he was shamming his allegiance to the Dark Lord, she wouldn't hesitate to kill him. So he became very adroit at playing the charade of a haughty, arrogant aristocrat and death-eater-to-be to protect himself and his mother. It didn't matter how he truly felt as he very much wanted to remain alive.
The subterfuge he was forced to play was causing him serious strain and he feared ulcers were forming in his poor stomach from worrying about being discovered. In bed at night, he dreamed of a better life with good friends, like Harry, instead of constantly pretending that he was a good little snake who was only stringing Potter along until the right moment when he could bring the boy down. So far that farce was working.
It was a dangerous game but one his father had taught him how to play since he was barely six years old, although that worthy would be furious to learn his lessons were being used against him instead of furthering Lucius' ambitions.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
As Christmas vacation loomed, Harry's sharp, knowing eyes, could see Malfoy's growing worry, fear, and unhappines about the upcoming holiday. Though the snotty mask was firmly in place, Harry saw through it to the very scared little boy behind it. He had a fair idea why and wished he could provide the blonde with an alternative option than going home.
It weighed on him so much that he decided to discuss the matter with Snape and Hagrid just two days before Christmas break.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
A hot steaming cup of chocolate, the delicious sweet scent rising to his nose, waited for him on the thick, scared wooden table in Hagrid's warm and comfortable hut when Harry arrived Thursday afternoon after classes had ended for the day. He sighed in relief as he wrapped frozen fingers, gratefully, around the hot mug. He took a tentative sip, not wanting to burn his tongue.
"There now me lad. Warm yourself before telling me what brings you to me home with such a worried frown on your face," Hagrid said, closing the door behind the boy then heading to his own large chair and huge cup of cocoa waiting for him.
Harry did as he was bade, feeling the warmth take the chill from his bones. Sighing with pleasure, he drank a healthy amount before setting the cup down and addressing his foster father.
"I'm worried about Draco. I have a bad feeling his Christmas will be filled with not so enjoyable things."
Hagrid frowned down at his mug in thought. He didn't need an explanation of what fears Harry was alluding to. He and the others were well aware of what nastiness the elder Malfoy was planning for his only heir this year and what other unsavory things the man wanted his son involved in.
"Afraid you're right to be concerned, Harry. Word has reached me that the boy's father is planning something that will put a stain on the holidays for many folk and that he will certainly force his son to participate in."
"Then we must find some way to keep Draco at Hogwarts or somewhere else he'll be safe!" Harry exclaimed, anxiety written on his face.
The half-giant leaned back in his chair, eyes troubled. "I don't know how we could do that, Harry, without raising his father's suspicions and causing the boy more grief and pain."
"There must be some way to keep him safe," Harry insisted. "I was going to ask Professor Snape if you had no suggestions."
"Oh Aye, he just might have one at that but he's a very busy man right now ..."
"I know which is why I normally talk to him when we're all in bed but we have very little time to set up a plan before we all leave."
"Aye, you be right. Then we must summon him now."
"I know he wont be happy about that but ... " not completing his sentence, Harry leapt from his seat and headed for the door. Flinging it open, he raised his wand and concentrated. In seconds, he summoned the ethereal white stag that was his Patronus and told it to have Professor Snape come to Hagrid's cabin immediately. It bobbed its head then leaped away toward the castle, it's feet not touching the ground. Satisfied, Harry stepped back and closed the door to keep the heat in while they waited.
Since starting at Hogwarts, he'd learned calling a Patronus wasn't taught until third year. He thought that irresponsible as first years needed such a protection early on to keep them safe from all the dangers inherent to having a dark lord around. He was rather glad Hagrid had felt he should know this and taught him just before he began at Hogwarts.
"That was well done, Harry. Now all we can do is wait," Hagrid said warmly as the boy sat back down to finish his cocoa. Harry smiled with pleasure at the compliment and relaxed in the warmth of the cabin.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
It was a half hour before Professor Snape could safely get away. He trudged through the snow toward the cabin grumbling rather irately to himself. He had far too many things to get done before the students left and begrudged any time away. The door opened just as he reached it and was gestured inside by a silent Harry Potter.
Snape eyed the boy with a raised eyebrow, wondering why he was here, but said nothing as he took a seat and gratefully accepted a cup of cocoa.
The hot drink warmed his slender fingers and his cold middle. The two waited politely for him to drink and get warmer.
Setting the rather large mug on the table again, Snape eyed them with a hint of annoyance in his dark eyes. "What was so important you felt the need to drag me away right now?"
Hagrid nodded at Harry. The boy quickly explained his concerns about Draco, finishing with, "We hoped you might have a possible solution."
The dour professor's eyes widened in surprise then narrowed in thought. Leaning back in his chair he sighed. "I too have been worried about my Godson. I know more than you do what Lucius plans are and I've been racking my brain for a solution to remove the boy as well. But none has come to me that wouldn't get the boy brutally punished or even killed."
Harry's face fell. "There must be something ... wait ..." a sudden idea came to him. It was just wild enough to work. "What if we have him kidnapped and taken into the forest?"
Hagrid and Snape gaped at him. The professor was the first to recover. "No...absolutely not!"
"Why not?"
"Because then Minister Fudge would send a force into the forest and many innocent forest dwellers could be hurt," Snape flatly asserted.
Harry made an impatient gesture. "No they wouldn't. All the forest dwellers are under cover for winter now. The minister's men would be floundering around in the deep snow and finding nothing of them."
"He's right, Severus," Hagrid cut in before Snape could speak. His expression was thoughtful when he continued, "You know our enclave be some considerable distance from Hogwarts. And Wizarding society has never discovered where we be over these many centuries." He snorted, "And they still wont find us no matter how many agents they send out. Harry may have the right idea."
"But you'll be giving that secret away to a wizard," Snape reminded him, still concerned about this idea.
"Nah, young Draco will be blindfolded and then kept at my home for the holidays. Let the aurors search as long as they like. When the holidays end, we'll bring him back and concoct some plausible story that covers his time away. He'll have to be roughed up a bit to make his story good but I think the boy will have no trouble accepting that as a trade for having a bit of Christmas cheer this year," Hagrid said, sitting back and looking pleased. He liked this idea very much. Taking a possible victim of the enemy from their grasp was perfect revenge, he thought, smiling through his beard.
Frowning, Snape thought through the idea for some minutes, looking for problems. But finally, he sighed, and nodded. "I can see more advantages to this wild and dangerous idea than those against it. So no objections from me except perhaps, a request for myself ..." He eyed them both.
Confused, Harry asked, "That would be..."
"That I too disappear. The dark lord's minions will want me to aid in the search for Draco and I don't fancy being caught between them and the aurors because there is no way we wont run into each other. Plus the issues I'll have to deal with when Lucius shows up as well. No, for all this to work, I can't be here long after Draco is spirited away. And I can't disappear immediately since it is important I lay the ground work for this stunt to work and give the hunters a plausible direction to take and who they would be chasing. Then I would need an exceptional reason for my absence fairly close after."
A wicked smiled tugged at Harry's lips and his eyes were full of mischief. "Then you'll just have to be kidnapped as well..."
"Wha ... now wait a minute..." Snape sputtered.
Harry held up his hand and Snape subsided still frowning. "If we have you kidnapped a few days after Draco, it will make the threat from the forest more frightening and keep all the searchers, both aurors and death eaters running scared and worried about who would be next. It might even succeed in causing them to run into each other," he laughed, "...which isn't bad as it allows more of the death eaters to be taken into custody. The added advantage is it will allow you a vacation of your own, professor, then when you reappear, you'll be able to add your account to Draco's when he's returned, keeping him from suffering his father's wrath. The downside, however, is the forbidden forest will be doubly restricted and watched but that's not a real problem for the old ones."
Snape and Hagrid sat silent for some minutes thinking over Harry's plan.
Shaking his head, Snape could only smile. "You are a very devious young man, Harry Potter."
"Why thank you." Harry beamed at the compliment.
"I've not had a vacation in many years. I think I'm overdue," Snape added, his smile reaching his eyes as it rarely did. He found he very much looked forward to this unexpected break from the constant vigilance of Voldemort's minions. He could use the time to trade with the forest dwellers for some of the herbs he was needing as well.
"Then all that's left is to have Draco kidnapped. Any ideas?" Harry asked, excitement twinkling in his green eyes.
"Hmm, since you've come up with the scheme itself, I reckon it's up to Professor Snape and I to figure that out. Best you not know Harry then you can act appropriately surprised," Hagrid advised.
"Oh, you're right. Then I'll leave it to you two and be on my way back to the castle. See you both in the forest later." With that Harry rose, put his mug in the sink, and with a cheeky smile, he was out the door, shutting it behind him before running up the hill to Hogwarts.