Chapter Two

When You Fall, Everyone Stands

"So what exactly are we doing here?" Harry asked.

Draco lay on a couch in the Room of Requirements. He'd given Harry instructions to meet him here with people he trusted. Ron, Hermione, Cedric and Ginny all stood with him. Pansy sat on the arm rest of the couch and Neville stood beside her, their hands intertwined.

"How was your summer, Potter?" Draco asked.

"I almost got expelled because I saved my cousin from Dementors and no one believes that Voldemort is back on the rise."

"Cool. My dad tried to kill me. I think we're even."

Harry fell silent and Ron broke the quiet. "Look, what are we doing?"

"Getting ready for battle," Draco finally said, rising up. He nodded to Pansy who let go of Neville's hand to pull out a few different editions of the Daily Prophet.

Draco read the headlines aloud, slapping them down on the stone floor as he did so.

"Boy Who Lived to Cry Wolf. Harry Potter's obsession with the defeated Dark Lord threatens Muggles. Potter refuses to accept defeat. Potter is likely to resort to drastic measures to prove he's not a liar."

"It doesn't say that," Harry said, feeling sick.

"No it doesn't," Draco admitted. "But that's what everyone is thinking."

"Look, we know where we stand," Ginny interjected, not unkindly. "We need a plan."

"Already in motion, love," he said. Harry couldn't help but notice the way Ron's fists tightened when Draco said that.

Draco slapped the final paper onto the floor and everyone crowded close to look at it. It was dated for that day.

Draco Malfoy to Resurrect the Dark Lord? The Shocking Confession of a School Boy's Attempts to Return He Who Must Not Be Named to Power.

Everyone looked at Draco who looked pleased with himself.

"Are you stupid?" Hermione demanded. "No one is going to take that seriously!"

"They already have," Draco said. "Fudge has already had five meetings with Dumbledore about getting me expelled or put in Azkaban."

"But they can't believe that!" Hermione protested.

"Why?" Ginny demanded, her voice full of fury and disbelief. "We...you already proved you're good! Why jeopardize that?" she asked.

He sobered, barely able to meet her eyes. "It had to be done."

"Explain how that is," Ron scoffed.

"The world needs a villain," he said. "No one wants to believe that Voldemort is back."

"But why you?" Ginny demanded. "Why does it have to be you?"

"Because it's easier to believe than that I'm a good guy. The world needs someone to rally against so that when Voldemort comes out of the shadows, they're ready for this fight."

"You're going to get killed," Ron pointed out. "Not that I'm complaining."

"Thanks, Weasley," Draco drawled with a smile. "But we have more important things to handle."

"OWLS," Hermione said darkly.

"Mione," Ron groaned.

"Actually she's got it," Draco said. "Has anyone noticed that we're three weeks into school and Umbridge hasn't taught us a single fucking thing?"

"She keeps 'testing' students," Neville said. "She's using some powerful spells on them. I think some of them are illegal."

"They're all illegal," Pansy said. Harry suddenly noticed that she had a bruise on her left cheek.

She caught him looking and tilted her head to hide it.

"Pansy and I can only help so much," Draco said and Harry realized how Pansy had gotten that bruise. He felt new respect for the Slytherin girl.

"We need to teach the students to fend for themselves," Hermione said grimly.

Draco fired an imaginary gun at her. "The Know-it-all's got it again," he said but there was no sarcasm or malice in his tone. "Pansy and I can teach you most of the spells. More importantly, we can teach you how to counter them," he said.

"But the others aren't going to accept your guidance," Harry guessed.

"And Potter joins the ranks of those able to point out the obvious," Draco chuckled. Harry found he was growing to tolerate if not like the snarky Slytherin. "We need to keep our involvement a secret. Because of that," he gestured to the paper, "I'm welcomed back into the Slytherin ranks but I'm getting the feeling that they don't exactly trust me."

"Can't imagine why," Ron muttered.

"We won't tell," Hermione promised.

"Secret keeper," Harry blurted.

"Russian violinist," Draco said. Everyone looked at him. "What? Potter's not the only one who can say random stuff."

"I was trying to provide an idea," Harry said. "Not vocalize my every thought."

"My bad. I'm not used to you having socially acceptable ideas."

"You're saying we should appoint a secret keeper?" Hermione guessed.

"If we get caught teaching students, it's not a big deal," Ron said. "I don't think anyone will take it lightly if you two get caught," he said, referring to Draco and Pansy.

"I'll do it," Neville said. "I'll be secret keeper."

"Neville," Pansy began.

"They could torture you," Draco pointed out.

"Draco!" Ginny hissed.

"Way to sugar coat it," Harry said wryly.

"What?" Draco protested.

"It's fine," Neville said. "I can handle torture."

Harry frowned at him. He wondered what that was about.

(A/N: Oh, I love Draco. I had so much fun with him in this chapter.