Draco found himself watching Potter then getting frustrated at himself. He tried to convice himself it was to know his enemy but he couldn't push away theā¦interest in the odd bruises on the other boy. The black eye was just the start as the weather turned cooler and he could see the bruises on his arms and the odd one on his face. Potter's friends were no different but Draco noticed that Potter seemed to sit with Ginny Weasley more than her brother and Granger.
He also seemed to be spending more time in the library alone. Which was where Draco spied him a week later. He sat with books around him as he rested his chin on his hand. Draco slipped down an aisle until he could see Potter's face. He had a frown on his brow and was writing in a notebook.
"Are you still here?" Weasley asked as he walked over and Potter looked up.
"Evidently," Potter replied.
"You're spending more time here than Hermione," Weasley cried as he dropped into the seat across from the other boy. "Why do you keep looking up these Runes?"
"I'm here, because your girlfriend won't help me," Potter spat and Draco paused at the tone of voice.
"She thinks that you are wasting your time," Weasley replied as he stood. "And so do I, he is gone, Harry."
Weasley stalked away and Potter just watched his friend before with a sigh he went back to the book in front of him. Draco's eyes caught on the bruise on his arm and he shifted to get a better look through the books. The bruise looked fresh and he was sure that it wasn't there yesterday.
His attention caught on a seventh-year Hufflepuff in interest as he walked towards Potter.
"Hey, Harry." The boy greeted and Potter looked up. "Are we still on for tonight?"
"Can we make it at seven?" Potter replied as he sat back in his seat. "I have a detention with Snape at six."
"How about tomorrow instead?" The Hufflepuff said. "I know that Snape's detentions can go longer than an hour."
Potter snorted, "Yeah, okay."
"See ya then," The boy said with a smile and walked off.
Potter watched him until he disappeared around the corner before looking back down at his book.
"What are you doing, Draco?"
Draco started badly and held back a yelp as he turned on Severus standing beside him. The professor gave him a smirk as Draco held a hand to his chest.
"Professor," Draco uttered.
"Startled, were you?" Severus drawled with amusement in his eyes. "Or were you too busy spying on Potter?"
"Was not!" Draco hissed and glanced over at Potter but he was just reading his book.
Severus snorted and Draco turned a glare on his godfather.
"Your mother wants to speak to you," Severus reported. "Follow me, you can use my fireplace."
Draco fell into step with the taller man as they walked out of the library and back down to the dungeons.
"What does mother want?" Draco asked, once they were in Severus's quarters.
Severus sighed and ran a hand over his limp hair and Draco tensed.
"This is a turning point, Draco." Severus warned. "This is the time to pick a side."
Draco frowned in confusion and looked at his godfather. He had known the man all his life and yet he didn't know him. The rebirth of Voldemort had changed all their lives.
"Talk to your mother, Draco." Severus told him after a few minutes of silence. "You know that I will be here to support you."
Draco looked at the older man but Severus was giving nothing away. He just waved his hand to the fireplace and Draco stepped up to the mantle. He threw the floo powder in and the fire blazed up green.
"Malfoy Manor," Draco intoned as he stepped in and disappeared.
xXx
"My dragon," Narcissa greeted Draco, when he stepped through the fireplace.
Draco fell into her arms and frowned in concern with how thin she felt. He pulled back and looked her over and could tell that she looked worn and tense. Then she smiled and Draco could see the mother he knew so well.
"Come, Draco." Narcissa encouraged. "Let's go down to the kitchen and get something to eat with our tea."
"Of course, mother." Draco said with a smile.
He fell into step with his mother as they walked through the manor and down to the kitchen. It was filled with house elves and Draco sneered at the creatures as Narcissa placed their order. They walked back out and to the parlour to have their tea.
"Is father out?" Draco asked carefully.
"Yes," Narcissa answered with a hard look in her eyes. "He thought that it would be better that I speak with you."
Draco tensed in his chair at that answer, that meant that his father thought that he would argue. Lucius was not a man that could hold his temper and Draco always seemed to push the wrong buttons.
"Draco," Narcissa started to say then stopped and looked away.
Draco reached out and grabbed his mother's hand in his and Narcissa gave him a smile. He loved his mother and knew that he would do anything for her which his father had used against him on more than one occasion. Lucius called it a weakness, Draco saw it as being human. Something that he wasn't sure that Lucius understood.
"The Dark Lord has another task for you," Narcissa said softly.
"I haven't found the cupboard yet," Draco said quickly. "Hogwarts is full of rooms full of furniture-"
"Draco," Narcissa cut in. "This is the second part of your task."
Draco waited for his mother to continue but she just looked at the table. He clenched his hand around hers, drawing her attention back to him. He could see the sadness and something else in her eyes.
"What is it mother?" Draco questioned.
"Your second task is to kill Albus Dumbledore by the end of the school year," Narcissa uttered.
Draco sat there in shock as a coldness rushed through him.
"What!" Draco squeaked. "How am I supposed to do that?"
"Talk to Severus," Narcissa told him with conviction in her voice. "He will explain it all."
Draco sat back in his seat in shock as his mother looked at him sadly.
"I am so sorry, my dragon." Narcissa whispered. "This is not the life that I would have picked for you."
"But it is one that my father has," Draco hissed then regretted his words as a tear slipped down his mother's face.
Draco quickly got up from his seat and took his mother in a hug. It wasn't her fault; his father had set them on this road.
xXx
Draco felt cold as he sat on a large boulder at the edge of the Great Lake. His mother's words running through his head. He was supposed to find that cupboard so that he could let death eaters into the school. He was then supposed to kill Albus Dumbledore and if he failed then Severus Snape would finish the job. He just felt cold at the thought, even with his godfather's support.
"Did you give up spying on me at the library?"
Draco startled and looked over to see Potter standing there looking out over the lake. It would be so easy to blame the Gryffindor for all his problems. It was his fault that the madman was back and he now faced the task of killing a man. Of letting in murders into the school for an unknown task. He shivered and hugged himself at the thought. Potter looked at him then, his eyes running over him.
"Reality settling in?" Potter questioned softly.
"What would you know!" Draco hissed as he jumped off the boulder.
He landed smoothly and turned on the other boy as he clenched his hands into fists.
"What would you know!" Draco yelled again as he stalked towards Potter.
"Plenty," Potter replied mildly as he let his hands rest near his sides.
"You know nothing!" Draco snarled as he got in the other boy's face.
He was a head taller than Potter as he glared down into those green eyes. He bunched his fists up and before he knew it, he threw a punch at the smaller man. Potter didn't move out of his way, he just turned with the blow. The fight went out of Draco as he stood there, slightly shaking. Potter turned his face back towards him, he'd split his lip and Draco could see a red mark on his cheek.
"Feel better?" Potter asked as he stood there. "Or do you want to throw another punch?"
Draco stepped back sharply as he flicked his hand. He hadn't expected the sting of his knuckles. He glared at Potter as his eyes caught on the blood on his lip. Potter just held his hands out to his sides.
"Go on," Potter encouraged. "That was barely a punch."
Draco growled and grabbed the other boy's shirt and swung him around before slamming his back into a tree. He got into Potter's face, the other boy not even fighting back.
"This is your fault!" Draco hissed.
"I get that feeling," Potter replied evenly.
Draco snarled and pulled Potter forward before slamming him back again. Potter grunted at the impact but didn't fight back. Draco let him go before swinging his fist into Potter's face. The boy went down hard on the ground and Draco stood above him and sneered. He pulled his foot back then stopped. Instead, he crouched down and picked up Potter's glasses. The other boy looked up at him with slightly out of focus eyes.
He held the glasses out and Potter sat up on the ground.
"Here," Draco offered as he held the glasses.
Potter grabbed them and slipped them onto his face.
"What would be my fault this time?" Potter asked, tonelessly.
"Why do you want people to inflict pain on you?" Draco countered and Potter flinched. "The scrapes on your knuckles prove that you've been fighting with someone."
"You, right then." Potter snapped.
"No," Draco countered as he stood up. "You could have stopped me, I saw the way that you fought with Blaise."
Draco held his hand out and Potter looked at it blankly. Draco wiggled his fingers and Potter snarled and pulled himself to his feet and stood there. Draco could already see the bruise coming up on the other boy's face.
"You were the one to punch me," Potter retorted. "What was that about?"
Draco looked away and rubbed his stinging knuckles.
"Malfoy?"
"I can't say," Draco grumbled under his breath.
"Due to a spell?" Potter asked and Draco looked at him sharply. "I have very good hearing."
"Makes up for your bad eye sight," Draco remarked with a sneer.
Potter surprised him by laughing and Draco stared at him. He'd just let his frustrations out on the other boy and yet he was laughing. Which made Draco wonder about Potter's sanity.
"Something like that," Potter stated and crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you done now?"
"Beating you up?" Draco drawled and Potter quirked his lips up. "Yes."
"Well," Potter said. "Have a good afternoon then."
Potter turned and before Draco could say a word he strolled off. Draco was left on the pebbled beach with his mouth gapping. Draco then remember that he was a Malfoy and shut his mouth closed with a snap.
xXx
Draco was heading back to the common room when he heard a slight shuffle and he stopped. No one should be around, since it was past curfew. He looked around the hall and noticed a door of one of the classrooms open. He crept closer but didn't hear anything as he peered around the doorframe and looked into the room. He paused when he saw someone crouched down, against the wall, with their hands over their heads. Draco stepped closer then recognised the student.
"Potter?" Draco said softly.
The other boy slowly removed his hands and squinted up at Draco with red eyes as he rested his head back on the wall behind him. Draco rushed forward as concern bolted through him. Potter was paper white which just made his bloodshot eyes stand out even more. He could tell that it wasn't tears that were making his eyes red as Potter squeezed them closed.
"Potter?" Draco repeated as he crouched down before him. "What happened?"
"Snape," Potter whispered, his voice hoarse.
"You want me to get Snape?" Draco asked with a frown.
"No," Potter groaned and cupped his head again. "Came from there."
Draco reached out a hand then stopped as he looked Potter over. He wasn't sure what Severus had done, but Potter didn't look good.
"I'm getting Severus," Draco announced as he stood.
Potter just lifted his head and rested it back on the stone wall and Draco paused.
"Do not move," Draco ordered.
"Don't think that's possible," Potter grumbled.
Draco rushed out of the room and down the hall to Severus's rooms and knocked loudly. Severus appeared quickly and looked at him with a frown.
"Draco?" Severus questioned.
"Potter," Draco said in a rush.
Severus quickly stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him.
"Where is he?" Severus demanded.
Draco led the way back to the classroom and was only slightly surprised that Potter was still there. Severus quickly knelt before him as Draco hung back.
"Potter," Severus snapped.
Potter was slow to open his eyes and look at him. Severus cursed as he pulled his wand. Potter flinched back slightly and Severus paused before reaching out and grasping his chin. Draco could tell that Potter was having problems focusing on them as Severus slipped his glasses off.
"You should have said something," Severus grumbled.
"He likes pain," Draco remarked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Not mental pain," Potter retorted and Severus snorted.
"Tilt your head back and close your eyes," Severus ordered.
Surprisingly, Potter followed Snape's directions and that hinted to Draco how he felt. Severus placed his wand tip to Potter's left temple and the boy flinched before relaxing back.
"What happened?" Draco asked into the silence. "What were you doing before?"
"Legilimency," Severus answered. "I would assume that I touched on a memory that was buried deep in Potter's mind. Would you care to enlighten me on what that was?"
"No," Potter replied.
"It would help so that I don't touch on it again," Severus expanded.
"Would rather that you didn't go in there at all," Potter muttered as he slitted his eyes open.
"You wanted to restart these lessons. If you could learn to shield your mind, Potter." Severus snapped. "I wouldn't have to!"
"Severus," Draco warned and his godfather glanced over at him.
"I was trying," Potter grumbled then winced and shut his eyes tightly with a groan.
Severus pulled his wand back and reached into his robes and pulled out his potion's pouch. He slipped one out and held it out.
"Potter," Severus said gently. "Pain potion."
Potter just reached up and grabbed his head and Severus lowered his hand. They waited the Gryffindor out before Potter lowered his hands and peered at them with red tinted eyes. He reached out and Severus placed the potion into it. The two Slytherins shared a look as Potter knocked the potion back before letting his head rest against the wall again.
"He can't make it to the hospital wing," Draco pointed out. "Or the tower."
Severus nodded sharply as the pain potion worked and Potter relaxed back into the wall. Draco was sure that if they left him there that Potter would fall asleep that way.
"I'm unsure what that memory was," Severus admitted. "However, it was one that he must have had buried very deep."
"Traumatic?" Draco inquired.
"Most likely."
"The Dark Lord?"
Severus paused with a frown and Draco felt that concern go up a notch.
"There's a room down here that Potter can use tonight," Severus said into the silence. "Potter, can you get up?"
Potter slowly blinked his eyes open and tried to focus on them as Draco stepped forward. He crouched down and Potter didn't react as he grabbed his arm.
"Come on," Draco encouraged.
They got Potter on his feet but he wasn't steady as he swayed there. Draco eyed him off before slipping under his arm and taking some of his weight.
"If you tell anyone about this," Draco hissed and those red eyes looked at him. "You will have physical pain to go with the metal pain you are feeling."
"Noted," Potter agreed.
"In fact, Potter." Draco grumbled. "Don't mention this again."
Potter just nodded against him and that gave Draco an indicator of how he felt. He shared a look with Severus as they made their way down the hallway slowly. Potter was hurting and badly even with the pain potion. Severus tapped his wand against a door and pushed it open to find a guest room.
"Take him through to the bedroom," Severus ordered.
Draco helped Potter through to the bedroom and eased him down onto the side of the bed. Potter just sat there and looked like he wasn't sure where he was.
"Potter?" Draco questioned and those eyes slowly looked up. "Right there?"
Potter just groaned as he laid back on the bed with his legs still hanging over the side and placed his arm over his eyes. Draco walked into the main room and looked at Severus and the potions that he'd laid out on the table.
"Legilimency can do that?" Draco questioned and Severus sighed. "He is completely out of it. That never happened when you were teaching me."
"Yes," Severus replied. "Potter is good at hiding how he is feeling and is having trouble shielding his mind. I would say that I touched on a few memories that he didn't want me to see. It's a good thing that you found him."
"What happens now?" Draco asked as he glanced back to the open bedroom door.
"You can go back to your common room," Severus told him as he laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'll take care of this."
Draco glanced back towards the bedroom and felt something in the pit of his stomach before he turned back to his godfather. The potion master raised an eyebrow in question and Draco nodded. He trusted the man more than anyone in his life but that still didn't quell feeling in his stomach.
xXx
Potter wasn't in classes for the next few days and Draco grew concerned but his trust in Severus held. Three days after Draco found Potter in that room, he picked up on the soft sounds of a guitar. He smiled with a skip in his step as he headed towards the classroom. He closed the door softly behind him before turning and taking in the sight of Potter sitting there. He had a book open in front of him as he picked away on his guitar.
Potter glanced up at him before going back to the book and Draco settled on to the top of a desk and watched him. He had a pencil behind his ear and he would pick away at a few notes before starting over again. It was a little jarring and scrapped on his nerves when Potter played the wrong note. Then Potter paused and started over again. Draco was impressed with how quickly he learnt the song. He was sure that the other boy had only just started to learn the song.
"Do I have to find a better classroom to hide in?" Potter asked as his fingers danced over the strings as he moved onto a song he knew. "Learning a new song, never sounds great to others."
Draco snorted and looked Potter over. He looked tired and his face was a little pale but his eyes were sharp. He wondered what type of memory could lay the other boy out so much but he knew that Potter wouldn't tell him.
"Is that a new book?" Draco asked.
"Yes," Potter replied as he set his guitar aside and picked the book up. "Arrived this morning."
"Muggle?" Draco asked as he read the title on the book. "Red Hot Chilli Peppers?"
"Yes, muggle band." Potter answered.
"What about wizarding bands?" Draco questioned and Potter grimaced.
"They all use some type of spell," Potter remarked. "Takes the fun out of it."
Draco snorted as he stood from the table and Potter watched him.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Potter questioned and Draco shrugged.
"When I work it out, Potter." Draco replied as he walked towards the door to the classroom. "I'll let you know."
Potter's chuckle followed him out of the door.
xXx
"What are your plans, Draco?" Severus asked as he placed his drink down on the table.
"I don't know," Draco admitted. "I still haven't been able to find that cupboard and I only have until the end of the school year, Severus!"
"That is still a while off, Draco." Severus reminded him. "Christmas break is in a couple of weeks."
Draco nodded as he slumped back in his chair and looked at his godfather.
"What do you think of Dumbledore?" Draco asked in interest. "You have worked with him a long time."
Severus's jaw clenched, he'd thrown him with his question and Draco got a real hint of Snape's feelings. Then the mask came over his face.
"I agreed to an unbreakable vow," Severus intoned. "My feelings are irrelevant."
Draco hoped that he never covered himself with that kind of coldness. Like his father and others, a protection against his own feelings.
"Do you like him?" Draco pressed and Severus's jaw clenched again.
"I respect him," Severus answered vaguely.
"What happens after he's gone?"
"I don't know, Draco."
They fell into silence, if the death eaters got the upper hand, everything that Draco knew would end. The fact that Dumbledore knew what was coming gave him some type of hope that he would have plans in place. Draco paused his thoughts and wondered when he'd started to think of it from the other side of the fence. When did, what he'd learned at his father's knee, stop making sense to him. He had a feeling that Potter was to blame for that as well.
"What about, Potter?" Draco asked and Severus's mask slipped slightly.
"Hope that he isn't here when the time comes," Severus replied simply.
Draco felt his gut clench at that and he thought about how many purebloods were at the school and those empty classrooms.
"There are more empty rooms than purebloods at this school," Draco whispered.
"What are you talking about?" Severus demanded.
"When the founders started this school," Draco expanded. "There were more students back then than there are now."
"What does-"
"If we only took in purebloods," Draco continued. "Then that is a third of what the founders started with a thousand years ago."
Severus paused and looked at him with a frown.
"Don't let your father hear you talking like that," Severus warned and Draco nodded. "Now, we need to plan."
xXx
It was the first day back from holidays and Draco was happy to see the castle. He looked around the Great Hall as he caught up with friends then frowned when he didn't see Potter at the Gryffindor table. He felt a bolt of concern run through him at that. Did something happen? Did they move Potter somewhere else? He found that he couldn't pay attention through dinner and he quickly left his friends behind. He went for a walk around the classrooms that Potter used to hide in.
When he came up empty handed, he made his way towards the hospital wing. He almost jumped out of his skin when Severus grabbed his arm and pulled him into a room. He pulled himself loose as his heart raced.
"You scared me!" Draco hissed.
"You were looking for Potter," Severus stated. "I saw you watching the Gryffindor table. Why?"
"He wasn't there," Draco defended. "Where is he?"
Severus looked away and Draco felt his stomach drop.
"What happened?" Draco questioned.
"Two days ago," Severus said tonelessly. "He was found in one of the classrooms on the third floor. The Headmaster had been concerned when he'd stopped showing up for meals."
"What happened?" Draco repeated, then uttered without thought. "He didn't try to commit suicide?"
Severus looked at him head on and Draco met his eyes. Now that the words were out there, he wasn't taking them back.
"No," Severus replied. "But someone came close to doing it for him."
Draco felt a chill run through him.
"Who?" Draco demanded. "There wouldn't have been that many people here?"
"Potter hasn't said," Severus told him. "He won't tell us and we don't think that it was a student staying here."
"There was a seventh-year that would meet with him," Draco blurted out. "It could have been him!"
"Who?" Severus questioned with a frown.
"I don't know his name," Draco replied. "He's in Hufflepuff."
"It's not him," Severus stated. "That is Robert Hellsing, he's been teaching Potter hand to hand. This person got the jump on him and there was no skill in the way that he was attacked and no magic was used. Whoever it was used only their physical strength against him and he didn't go down without a fight. We believe that there were more than one."
"Can I see him?" Draco requested.
Severus looked him over for a few long minutes before nodding. He stalked to the door to the room and out into the hallway. They walked in silence to the hospital wing and Severus led Draco to one of the private rooms in the back. He knocked on the door before he entered. Draco stepped in then stopped. Potter lay in the bed with his back to the door but Draco could see the cuts and bruises on his skin.
Draco crept around the bed and looked down at Potter's sleeping face. He was sure that he was under a potion as he took in the state of the other boy. He'd taken a beating alright. Without thought, he brushed some of Potter's shaggy hair back from his face and took in the discolouration along his jaw and face. He was sure that magic had set any bones that had been broken but that wouldn't help with the bruising and muscle strain.
"Draco," Severus whispered and he looked at his godfather. "This cannot end well."
Draco nodded, he knew that. He looked back down at Potter and felt rage pulse through him. Someone had tried to kill him, Severus didn't lighten or exaggerate his words. Someone had come into the school and almost killed the man before him. Instead of feeling happy about that; Draco wanted to hunt down that person and return what had been done to Potter.
Draco stepped back sharply from the bed at the thought. At what point had those thoughts changed? At what point did he see Potter differently?
'Stay in your own little pureblood world,' Potter's words floated back to him.
"Were Potter's friends told?" Draco asked in interest.
"Yes," Severus replied tensely.
"They're not here," Draco pressed.
"No, they are not," Severus agreed. "They came to see him, then left."
Draco looked around the bare room, there was nothing of Potter's in the room. His friends had brought nothing down to him.
"Draco," Severus called and he looked at his godfather. "We have a mission to complete."
"Does he have to die?" Draco whispered. "There must be another way."
"He's already dying," Severus hissed as he stepped closer to the bed. "He wants his death to have been worth it!"
Draco looked down at Potter as Severus stepped around the bed and grabbed his shoulder. His grip was tight as he shook his shoulder slightly.
"We have plans in place," Severus said reluctantly and Draco looked at him. "We just have to get the timing right. This matter with Potter threw us."
Draco nodded, he trusted his godfather more than anyone in his life. He just hoped that he would save him from having to kill a man. He looked up into that stern face and those hard black eyes.
"Can you do it?" Draco uttered.
Severus blew out a breath and Draco saw a little more of the man before him in that slight expression.
"We have no choice," Severus told him. "Our lives are twisted together with the death of Albus Dumbledore."
Draco shivered at those words and looked down at Harry Potter before him. It wasn't only Dumbledore they were entwined with. He reached out and touched Potter's face while Severus held his shoulder in support.
