A/N: hello! some of you were wondering why Harry was-well, not very "Harry-like" in the first chapter...the answer to that is that Harry (as well as the rest of the DA) have been extremely hardened by war. Everyone has changed. This doesnt mean Harry has lost his "softer" side. He is merely tired and frustrated. This has put him on edge. I mean, you would be too if there was an extremely powerful being after you:) Alright, now that that is settled, on with the story. and FYI, i probably wont be able to update except on the days when i am not working. They wont be regular but i will try to be as consistent as possible with my updates! Anyway, enjoy the second chapter!!!

Better Than Me

Chapter Two: Regret

Draco woke up quite suddenly. He didnt know how long he had been asleep. He only knew that he had been yelling and struggling for what seemed like a number of hours after he had found out that Potter had his mother. He had been crying for help so much he had literally passed out, his head simply resting on the table that he had been shackled to. No one had come to see him. He felt lost. Potter had caught him and all he could do was laugh at the irony of the situation. Here he was, caught by the very man he didnt want to seek help from. Oh, how the gods above were smiling down upon him this evening...or perhaps it was day? He wasnt sure. The tent blocked out any light that could be seen from below.

His stomach gave a lurch. How long had it been that he had a decent meal? Well, 'decent' wasnt really the right word. He hadnt had a decent meal since he had run from Hogwarts. A good meal though? Probably since leaving Snape. Draco sighed. He had to find a way out of this mess.

The tent entrance opened.

"I brought you some porridge."

"Granger?"

Hermione looked worn herself. Her hair had grown considerably since he had last seen her. Back then, it had been shoulder length. Now, it fell it dark tendrils down her back, almost reaching her waist. The bushiness was gone, probably because it had been weighed down by the hair growth. It fell in light waves down her back. Her eyes looked darker too. Not quite the cinnamon color they had once been, but now more like a dark chocolate. She seemed sad somehow.

"Eat. You'll need your strength."

"What time is it?"

"It's morning. Probably around nine or so. I'm not sure" She pointed to her wrists.

"No watch."

Draco gave her a slight nod.

"How long has Potter been leading you? Is this just Dumbledore's Army here? Or are there more Dark Wizard catcher's out there?"

"Sorry Malfoy. You wont be getting answers out of me. You'll need to cooperate with Harry first. Then perhaps you'll find some answers that you seek. But just so you know, your mother is safe. She hasnt been harmed. She's more leverage than anything."

Draco smiled. He knew she was a pawn in all of this. Whatever this was.

He was about to ask how he were to eat if he were shackled until Ron came in and put him in a lower body binding hex and handcuffed his feet to the chair so he couldnt try to get away. He could now move his arms, but not anything else. Granger gave him a spoon and some water.

"Sorry, it's not that great. But we have to work with what we have. Harry should be here in a minute. Goodbye."

Hermione left. He was now alone. Ron had not even looked his way when he was making sure he wouldnt escape. Not that he really could now. Not with all those wizards outside. He was quite sure there were guards outside the tent as well.

Harry came into the tent as he was finishing his porridge. Granger was right, the meal had been absolutely horrid. But, he was starving and wasnt going to complain.

"Well..." Harry looked at him expectantly.

"Well what?" Draco stared back.

"Have you thought about what we discussed last night?"

"Not really. I was yelling my head off last night until i passed out. It wasnt like you couldnt hear me."

Harry sneered.

"True."

"Granger told me."

"Told you what exactly?"

"That you hadnt harmed my mother. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Potter, you could have simply killed her...Why didnt you?"

Harry chuckled.

"Because I'm not you, your father, or Voldemort. I'm not that cruel."

"Who says i am anything like them?"

"Please Draco, you've got the Dark Mark, that's all I need to know."

"Then you know very little."

"Whatever. I didnt come to chat. I want you to tell me where Snape is."

Draco scoffed.

"Last I seen of him, he was asleep in a cave somewhere in Ireland. I honestly dont know anything esle."

Harry studied him. Stared at him quite hard, sizing him up. It was quite unnerving.

"Look, Potter i know i dont look my usually impeccable self, but quit staring you poof."

"You'd like that wouldnt you?"

"I'm not gay!"

"That's not what i was implying."

"Then what...?"

"I simply mean you'd like me to treat you like some god or something. You'd like to be looked at just because you're a Malfoy. Revered or something."

Draco laughed.

"Oh my God, you've got to be joking...this coming from the boy who lived? Everyone's sacred hero?"

"I'm not anything of the sort! I didnt ask for this, you know that!"

"Why are you keeping me here!? You know i dont know anything. At least let me see my mother!"

"No!"

"Potter, when i get out of this..."

"You'll what exactly? Kill me!? Dont forget! You dont even know how to conjure a proper patronus, Malfoy! Dont forget who's the one in charge here!"

Draco chuckled.

"Potter, you're leading a useless war. You might have your people behind you but you arent gaining anything by having me here!"

"Oh...?"

"Yes, oh. You forget who fled! I didnt kill your precious Dumbledore! Snape did that, remember?!"

"SHUT UP!!! I KNOW PERFECTLY WELL WHO DID IT!"

Harry was practically kissing Draco he was so close to him. Draco could see the sweat glistening off his pores.

"What is going on in here!??!" Hermione had entered the tent with her arms cross and her eyebrows furrowed.

"Nothing." Harry had stood up and crossed the tent.

"It doesnt sound like nothing, Harry."

"Sorry, things got out of hand."

Draco laughed. "Listening to the mudblood are we? Are you the leader, or is she? Some chosen one you are...taking orders from a mudblood!"

Potter pulled out his wand and shoved it practically inside Malfoy's throat. It was choking him.

"Call her that ONE MORE TIME, and so help me God..."

"Harry...no! It's not worth it. We NEED him!" Hermione was tugging at Harry's arms.

Potter was on the verge of hyperventelating he was breathing so hard.

"Excuse me..." Potter left with a huff.

Hermione turned toward Draco after watching Harry leave.

"Malfoy...if you're going to be an ass, at least take into consideration he is trying to help this world. That includes you!"

"Right...oh yes, i keep forgetting..." Draco rolled his eyes.

Granger sat down and sighed.

"How long?"

"How long what?"

Draco looked at Granger quite seriously.

"How long have you been at this?"

"Why should i give you any answers...you just insulted me for the millionth time! Maybe i should have let him curse you!"

"HOW LONG GRANGER!?"

"For about six months now. After you and Snape left...He-Harry didnt return to school. Ron and I wanted to be there for him. And of course, the rest of the DA found out. They wanted to help too. You know, anything they could do and all that." Granger wiped her eyes.

Draco looked up at the so-called ceiling. He let out a long breath.

"I really dont know anything else." He said softly.

"I figured as much. Why else would we have caught you by yourself with nothing on you."

"Why does he have my mother?"

"Once you both calm down, maybe i'll talk to him into giving you some answers. But there will be considerations to those answers."

"Why are so you fucking cryptic?"

"It's not my place to say. There is only one person who can help you. And you just aren't willing to help him. Harry is a much better person, man,wizard than any of us realize."

"Oh my god, i've just figured it out."

"You're sleeping with him!"

"What!?"

"You are, arent you!?"

"And just where the hell did you deduce that Malfoy!?"

"It's quite obvious. Probably one of the reasons you and Weasel havent even exchanged a glance."

"You've only been here for a few hours! How the hell would you know that!?"

"Again, obvious..."

Ron came in the tent.

"Come on Hermione. Harry wants a word with you."

"Bind him again."

Ron nodded and muttered the hex leaving Draco in his wake.

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