Disclaimer: Do Not own...
Neh, a present for Ebony0Hatake cause I owed her it from so long ago. Love you Hunny Bunn!
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Though it wasn't odd for Dumbledore to call Harry away from his daily routine at Hogwarts, it did come as a shock when he personally came to Harry's 'Defense Against The Dark Arts' class to summon him. An even bigger shock came when Draco's name was called as well.
Harry smelled trouble immediately.
The hallway was eerily silent without the busy shuffling of students to liven it and the only comfort Harry and Draco found was the scuffing sound their shoes made as they trailed behind the stronger wizard. Although neither dared to speak up Harry quietly nudged Draco's arm and shot him a confused face, but the blond merely shrugged his shoulders in a way that clearly implied, 'I don't know what the hell's going on either'.
"Don't be so high strung boys." Dumbledore's deep voice vibrated through the silent hall, disrupting its stale slumber and startling the two boys. They had reached his quarters and Dumbledore was now patiently holding the door open for them. Draco was the first to enter the room, striding in confidently. Harry exhaled a strained sigh before following.
'This can't be good.....' he thought as he watched Dumbledore close the door after him, smiling mischievously.
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"W-what?"
"It has come to my attention that there is scheming afoot." Dumbledore was sitting behind his large wooden desk, hands folded neatly in front of him. He shot Harry a critical look. "You are in grave danger Mr. Potter."
"I sort of got that general impression." Harry replied, still visibly startled by the sudden news. "But, if you don't mind my asking, who exactly is 'scheming'?"
"We can't really say whom for certain," Dumbledore began. "but we do believe it to be the work of dark wizards."
"Dark wizards." Harry echoed feebly. What did he do to deserve a death sentence?
"I know this is a lot of information to take in at once," Dumbledore had risen from his desk to pat Harry on the shoulder in an attempt to reassure him. "but there's no need to be frightened. We've arranged for transportation to take you to a safe house where they will watch over you until we can guarantee your safety."
"Hold on a second." Draco interrupted, impatiently. "So these dark wizards are trying to kill Potter, sad stuff, but what does any of this have to do with me?"
"It has plenty to do with you Mr. Malfoy." The elderly wizard smiled menacingly causing both of the young wizards to lean away from its intensity. "You will be one of the two bodyguards that will be escorting Mr. Potter to the safe house."
"What?!" Draco recoiled in his seat, flabbergasted. Harry wasn't doing too well either, frozen in place he could only stare at Dumbledore in shock. Of all the wizards in Hogwarts he had to pick Draco, his worst enemy and highly top-secret boyfriend.
Though neither boy told anyone of their relationship, except for Hermione who had found out via snooping around, Harry couldn't help but wonder if the gray-haired wizard was up to something.
"Do these arrangements displease you Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore's voice was seething with undertones.
'Please say yes!' Harry thought frantically, hoping that his thoughts would miraculously reach Draco. 'Say, yes, these arrangements displease me! I demand to be replaced!'
"Yes, it does!" Draco wailed, jumping from his seat for emphasis and Harry couldn't help but sigh in relief. "I'm not about to risk MY life so four eyes over here can sit pretty and unscathed!" Harry bit his tongue at the petty insult; he was getting his desired response so there was no need to complain.
"Hmmm, really?" Dumbledore didn't seem the least bit worried about Draco's outburst, in fact, he looked somewhat pleased with himself. As if he predicted this reaction all along. "I'd have thought you'd jump at the chance to prove your strength to us Draco Malfoy. In fact, if you had agreed to my terms I would have rewarded you and your house greatly…" he trailed off casually, leaving Draco to his wild imagination.
"R-reward?" the blonde stuttered softly and Harry groan. He had him, Dumbledore had Draco by the underpants and was pulling him into an atomic wedgie that would leave him blind and cripple.
"Why of course. You didn't think I'd ask so much of you without offering you some sort of contribution."
Harry knew he needed to strike now before Draco was completely lost. "Don't listen to him!" he hisses, grabbing the other boy's wrist and shaking it vigorously.
"What kind of contribution are we talking about?" Draco asked, completely ignoring the pulling on his wrist.
"Well, of course a personal reward for yourself and a good amount of points to the Slytherin House…"
Harry was getting desperate. "You could get killed!"
But it was useless as the blonde continued to ignore him, too enthralled by the sweet deal being presented to him, like a starving man with a buffet lay before him, and Draco was so very hungry. "How many points?"
That was it. That was all it took for Dumbledore to smirk his spine chilling smirk that told Harry he had lost this battle. "Let's just say that Slytherin won't have any trouble attaining the cup this year… and they will have you to thank for that."
'Damn, he's good.' the young wizard thought as listened to Draco's breathing hitch and watched as his eyes dilated.
"I'd be a hero to Slytherin…" he whispered softly, looking utterly shell-shocked.
Dumbledore had to bring a hand to his face to cover the grin playing at his lips. "That you would be Mr. Malfoy. Now, if I may inquire once again, will you be one of the bodyguards that escorts and protects Mr. Potter?" Harry could practically feel the waves of giddy victory coming off the older wizard and he knew this was the end.
"I-I accept!"
"Well, that's good," a new voice rumbled behind them, causing both young wizards to gasp and swivel around in their chairs. "and here I thought I was going to have to drag you kicking and screaming."
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