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Sustinet

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"Alright everyone, gather around," Draco said as he set up the camera.

Daphne and Harry stood together as she held their three-month old son in her arms. Harry put a hand around her shoulder, holding her protectively as she looked at him and smiled.

"Where is Astoria?" Daphne said looking at the house behind them when they saw her come out while holding a baby about as old as Harry and Daphne's son.

"Sorry," Astoria said sounding a little out of breath. "Scorpius was a bit fussy about his dress. Are we ready love?" she asked looking at Draco who made sure that the camera was set perfectly for the picture.

"We are...now," he said as he set the timer. "Alright, get ready." He joined the three as they stood together looking at the camera. "Say cheese!"

Daphne woke up and realised she was dreaming. It seemed so real, though. She felt content and happy standing in that lawn with Harry and their son James along with Astoria, Draco and their son Scorpius.

"Daphne?" She came out of her thoughts when she heard Tracey call her. She got up and removed the curtains from around her bed. "It's weird for you to sleep this late," Tracey said. "Come on. Breakfast started ten minutes ago."

Nodding, she got off the bed and headed for the bathroom as Tracey waited for her to get ready.

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It was late night and curfew had just started. Snape was in Dumbledore's office where they were talking about Harry.

"So, what do you think?" asked the potions' master. "I have never seen anything like it. Even if he had the whole summer to practice, and even if he had help from Greengrasses and Black – like you say – it's almost impossible for Potter to learn so much about occlumency in just a few weeks."

Dumbledore stayed quiet so Snape waited patiently. He knew how the old wizard was – he took his time before saying anything that was a little more than complicated. "You and I both know that Harry is a gifted wizard," he said finally. "It's that potential of his that allows him to learn things faster than others, that is, if he puts his mind to it. That would explain why he was able to learn so much about occlumency in such a short amount of time. If I said that I was surprised, then I would be lying. There have been wizards – powerful ones – whose magic allowed them to learn of skills that don't come easily to other magicals. It's rare and uncommon, but not unheard of. And it's the same with Harry."

"Have you talked to him yet?" Snape asked. "It has been a week since the new term began."

"I will," said the old wizard. "I just have to come up with an excuse. I think he has already stopped to trust me to a certain degree. I don't want to risk losing the remaining of his trust on me. I need him."

"I don't think he has any trust left for you," Snape said. "He went behind your back to get his emancipation just so he could get Black a trial. If that wasn't enough he also allied himself with the Longbottoms and Greengrasses. If he had any trust left for you, he wouldn't have done any of that and Black would've still stayed in Azkaban like you wanted. You will have to change your strategy, if you want to ensure that Potter doesn't die at the dark lord's hands."

Dumbledore said nothing. He knew Snape was right. However, he couldn't bring himself to think that Harry no longer trusted him. Maybe he will talk to the boy tomorrow. However, Mundungus Fletcher, Dumbledore's eyes and ears in the criminal world of Magical Britain, had informed him of a possible break-in attempt by the death eaters on the hall of prophecies so the old wizard knew that his focus for tomorrow would be there. He had already stationed some of the Order members to guard the level where the Department of Mysteries was but considering the fact that Voldemort would personally have to come for the prophecy meant that Dumbledore would have to be there as well.

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On the other side of the castle Draco Malfoy was making his way up the astronomy tower. Daphne had asked him to meet her there as he wondered what for. It had to be something serious or else she wouldn't have chosen the place or time.

When he arrived at the top though, he was surprised to see Harry there as well. Draco simply looked at Daphne for an explanation but she said nothing. However, judging from her expression, he knew that she felt guilty for not telling him that Harry would be there too. So Draco looked at him instead. "What is it?" he said now knowing full well that it wasn't Daphne who had called him there.

Harry simply reached for his pocket and took out a folded piece of paper which he then handed to Draco. The Slytherin looked confused as he opened and read what was written in it. They were phrases – like a poem – when his eyes widened in shock as he realized what it was.

"Judging from your look I'd say you know what that is," Harry said. Somehow he wasn't surprised that Draco knew about the prophecy.

"What are you plotting, Potter?" Draco asked.

"Nothing," Harry said before pausing for a moment. "Voldemort wants to know the full prophecy, so that is what I am giving to him, through you of course. I know you can get that to him."

Draco wondered what Harry's plan here was. "Letting the dark lord know about the complete prophecy doesn't give you any advantage against him," he said. "So why would you risk doing so?"

"Because right now there are a bunch of Order members patrolling the hall of prophecies under Dumbledore's orders and they will clearly die when Voldemort shows up in the Department of Mysteries along with the death eaters to get his hands on the prophecy," Harry said. "All I want to do is prevent any unnecessary bloodshed, if I can help it. Besides, from what I think, it is pointless for Voldemort to not know about the prophecy in its entirety. Incomplete information is always dangerous an even more so when it concerns Voldemort."

"And why would I listen to you?" Draco asked. "Why would I pass along this piece of paper to the dark lord?"

"Because I know that your father will be among the death eaters who will be sent to retrieve the prophecy," Harry said. "If this break-in happens he could get hurt or worse, die, by the hands of the Order members. However, if Voldemort knows the full prophecy then there won't be any break-in happening and everyone will be safe."

Draco's jaw tightened over Harry mentioning his father. However, he kept his cool. "How do I believe that what you have written in this paper is correct?" he asked raising the piece of paper in his hand. Draco knew about the prophecy's existence but he didn't know what it said exactly.

Harry slowly took out his wand and raised it above his head. "I swear on my life that I have written in that piece of paper the correct and complete prophecy, whose subjects are myself and Voldemort." He then flicked his wand and its tip glowed a warm white. "Do you believe me now? If I was lying then the magical oath would've killed me."

Draco was shocked. However, he now believed Harry so he pressed his lips before slowly folding the paper and keeping it in his pocket. "What makes you think that the dark lord will stop the break-in even after he gets this information?" he asked.

"I don't," Harry said. "But it's worth a try, if it can prevent unnecessary loss of life. Besides, we can try one more thing that will make Voldemort believe you even more."

"What is it?" Draco asked.

It was an hour later when he and Daphne entered the dungeons. There was no one in the Slytherin common room. She looked at him and saw that Draco looked conflicted. "What is it?" she asked.

"I know you won't tell me, but did Potter really come up with that idea?" he asked.

Her mind went back to the memories of the dream which she had last night where Daphne saw Draco and Harry laughing and talking together as they were getting ready for the picture. They looked like old friends. There seemed no possible way that it could have been possible but somehow thinking about that dream made her feel like she could trust Draco.

"It was my father's idea," she said a minute later. "The whole point is to buy time, as much as possible. Right now Voldemort thinks that the prophecy speaks of Harry defeating him, because he only knows the first half of it. If he knew that it is uncertain as to who would win between the two, he won't come after Harry as aggressively as he is right now."

"Considering how powerful he is, the dark lord will think that he can easily beat Potter," Draco said understanding. Daphne nodded in agreement. "Can he?" he said a moment later as he looked at her. "Can Potter win against the dark lord?"

Daphne didn't miss the slight tone of desperation in Draco's voice. She also didn't miss the hint of fear in his words either and it was the first time she had seen him like that. "I...don't know," she said slowly. "That is why we want to buy as much time as possible so Harry can train."

"Yeah, forget training," Draco said. "With Umbridge here he can't even cast a simple spell. I had told father to convince that oaf Fudge to remove the frog-face from Hogwarts but the minister is hell-bent on getting after Dumbledore."

"Does he...Fudge believe that Voldemort is back?" Daphne asked.

"No," Draco said. "The man is too worried about his position as the minister that even if he sees the dark lord in front of him, he won't believe it if it means that he could keep his position."

"What about you?" she asked slowly this time.

"What about me?" Draco responded dryly.

"It's easy to assume that Voldemort has your father, along with other death eaters, running around doing his bidding. Are you...Is your family safe?" she asked.

He looked away without saying anything which gave Daphne her answer. She saw the pain in Draco's eyes. It was as if he wanted to cry or scream it all out but he held it in as he tightened his jaw and pressed his lips. Daphne slowly held his hand which made him look at her. She once again thought about the dream she had, remembering Draco's smiling face while he set-up the camera before joining them for the picture.

A single tear drop left her eye as she looked at the Draco standing in front of her. She had known him since they were small kids. He was her first friend and right now he and his family were in trouble because of Voldemort. She couldn't just do nothing.

Draco looked at her and smiled slightly, before placing his hands on her shoulders. "You worry too much," he said slowly. "My family and I will be fine. You be safe." With that he turned around and left for his dorm. Daphne watched him go as she wiped her tears before leaving for her dorm as well.

Neither of them noticed Theo hiding behind the darkened corner as he slowly came out and looked at the stairs which lead to the girls' dormitories.

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Thanks for reading...