A/N: Hey, sorry for the late update, but it's spring break now! Whoopee! I have finally succeeded in writing a nine page chapter (good?). I actually feel content about this. If there's anything awkward or confusing please tell me. Thank you for reading.

Chapter 8: Deadly Masquerade (Part 2)

Swirls and more swirls of twisted images of brightly colored garments circled and dazed the dancing couples of the Raven Hall Banquet. Illuminating the hall with soft, miniature blue diamonds, the starlit sky was merely an artificial replacement of nature, though it served its purpose well; if people looked long enough at the tiny orbs, they would have thought they blinked, like tiny fleeting fairies. Draco was such one as Harry dipped him and his partner's pinned hair skimmed the brazen floor. At that moment, his brown eyes searched the sky for some reason why he pitted himself beneath his rival, gave in to his nemesis.

For seconds, Draco stared hard at the still stars. The moment he chose to avert his attention, from the corners of his eyes, they blinked, as if answering his puzzling mind.

With the haunting reeds of the violins coming to its climax and Draco was pulled back into position, he realized what was happening to him. The music began to pick up pace and the slow rhythm of the dancers took pursuit. However, the change took Draco by surprise, being the one who usually led the lady; he didn't do too well with his new role. Draco's ankles accidentally crossed paths as Harry turned him.

He gave a small yelp just loud enough for his partner to raise a brow. "Watch where you step."

Draco rolled his eyes, "No 'be careful' or 'Are you alright?' Some gentleman you are."

Harry took his hands and positioned them once more. He replied with amusement in his voice, "Well, you aren't exactly a lady yourself."

Draco glared at him, "Thanks to your Polyjuice potion."

"Brilliant wasn't it?"

"That's what Granger said…Turning into your opposite sex isn't the most exciting thing in the world," Draco stated flatly. "To do it willingly, I'd say you'd have to be a little mad."

Harry listened, never taking his eyes off the brunette, "And what would that make you?"

Draco scoffed, "A victim of some sick wizard." He stared at Harry, wondering why he kept staring at him like that. Then he turned his head away. "Quit spinning me so fast. I feel nauseas."

Harry slowed down, but only slightly and just enough so Draco wouldn't complain.

The brunette looked everywhere but his partner's face. The people around them were much more interesting anyways… "So tell me exactly why you created a potion that changes a person's gender?" Giving him a chance, giving him a chance…

"Experimenting."

"That's a little immoral."

"It's for my own purposes."

Draco arched his brows. "You know how wrong that sounds?"

"Alright," said Harry. "It's a disguise."

"For missions I assume."

"Yes, that would be how Zabini was captured."

"Really now?"

"You doubt me? Of course he couldn't resist a lady's charms."

Draco was silent. "I didn't see you on the Daily Prophet."

"It's disclosed information."

"So why would you make me take this potion?" Draco questioned, once again looking away, searching for a certain body. "To be your date? Is that it? Or is it some kind of joke to embarrass me?" and as he asked, Draco couldn't help but notice Harry's grip tighten around his waist, pulling him closer to his body. "Cause if that's true, I'm not sorry I'm like this," and Draco distanced himself more from Harry, regaining his previous comfortable zone.

Harry waited for him to explain but found that Draco didn't plan to elaborate. He steered his head towards Draco's direction and spotted Hermione. She was closely linked to Ron and the both of them looked very much in love.

Harry, looked at them for a while, then, "You know you have no chance."

Draco appeared perplex as he looked back at Harry, then he smiled mischievously. "With this body I won't."

"Either way, she's out of your league."

"You haven't answered my questions."

Questions? Right, his questions…Harry pondered.

"If this was created for a disguise, then certainly you have reason for me being here like this or you're just a loser who's in desperate need of a temporary partner. Well, which is it?"

To Draco's surprise, he waited patiently for his answer – even anticipating what would come out. If it had any relation connecting to the Voldemort then he wouldn't stand for it.

Harry remained to stare at Draco as he began to speak. "You want to know the honest truth?" To Draco, his eyes appeared to be the same as their first encounter, cold as steel and unruly like the depths of jungle. To be able to have the power to threaten or change that vast kingdom would take guts and a fire. However, it seemed as if Draco hardly influenced Harry and his face remained expressionless.

…if it was something nice, something that would make him see more of Harry then what he already saw, he probably couldn't take it either.

"No, never mind…" Draco quickly confirmed and writhed himself away. He realized he wanted Harry's recognition, an approval of some kind. Though how could he? He himself led their Headmaster to death…

He thought it was better off not knowing anything at all.

And just as he escaped, just as he escaped...Harry grabbed his arm and forced him to turn back, annoyance written all over his face. People continued to move all around them, circling them, like a tribal dance. "When you ask a question, you wait for it to be answered."

"I said never mind, alright? You dolt!" snapped Draco. "Or didn't you hear?"

"I heard and I want to answer you."

Draco tore his arm away. "Well, if it's something about revenge, forget about it I don't need to hear anymore about that crap."

Harry frowned quizzically and it persisted as he said darkly, "What revenge? What do you mean by again? I have never mentioned your involvement in anything."

"His death!" Draco stormed. "You can't deny you hate me for that!" The brunette glared fiercely at him, teeth gritted, his mind clearly frustrated; his heart tearing up.

I didn't want to do it…

Harry was silent as if he heard Draco's tiny voice.

Give him a chance? Give him a chance?! How can I when he just reopened what I closed? How can he answer my questions without contempt from the past?...Why the bloody hell do I CARE?

Draco walked away; mindlessly grunting out apologies as he pushed passed couples after couples towards the hallway out. How to get home wasn't on his mind, the fact if he had a home to go to was definitely, being questioned.

He sighed as he neared the wall and leaned to rest, watching the banquet's success. There were so many people around here he knew, yet he didn't knew at the same time. Everyone was different, except for Harry maybe. Draco bit his lip. I wonder if she's here…

As he mused over his previous argument, Draco's ears pricked up at the solid thuds of dress shoes coming his way, slow, heavy, and long strides. He frowned knowing full well they weren't Harry's who walked lightly and quickly. There was familiarity in it, familiarity back in the Death Eater's headquarters. Usually, when he was down, sitting alone somewhere, someone was always there waiting to make him feel more terrible.

The shadow stooped over him and Draco finally looked up, his heart thumping hard against his chest and his eyes bewildered.

"Was the floor that interesting, Malfoy?" Zabini asked sarcastically. "You were staring at the ground pretty intently back there."

"…What are you doing here?"

Zabini bent over and kissed Draco's cheek. "I missed this body of yours…but I guess you wouldn't know what I'm talking about. I heard you'd be here, so I took a peek in the guestbook nights ago – just to be sure."

Draco shoved him away. "Potter used this body, not me. How'd you know who I was?"

Zabini frowned at the rejection; his eyes were a mixed emotion of affection and at the same time, hatred. "Don't you remember? Pansy and her trio helped me escape. Why wouldn't she tell me what her ex-lover was up to? Why wouldn't she tell me why my capturer was with you? You who betrayed our society, our master. Naturally of course, I'd like to visit my former comrade."

Draco gritted his teeth, 'You're no comrade of mine! You tormented me."

Zabini leered in closer, pressing his body against Draco's, breathing on his neck then whispering into his ear, "Only because you were everyone's favorite. You were the strongest in our society, but emotionally…" Zabini bit the tip of his ear and Draco could feel his legs giving in, "you were the weakest. Oh, I just wanted you to be prepared for what would come next. For example...your parent's death?"

Someone had said they were unfaithful to the Lord…that's why they were brought in to be questioned, for me to be questioned…

"You-?!"

Zabini closed his mouth over with his and ran his fingers through Draco's brown hair, sighing deeply. He desired more than just this kiss; he wanted the body and the soul that he never truly claimed. No matter how much Zabini wished to extend that kiss, he couldn't and it only lasted a brief moment be fore he decided to get back down to business. He released Draco and looked down at him, "You were much easier than Potter."

"I'll kill you…!" Draco choked out crumbling to the floor. "I'll kill you!"

"Well, those aren't the eyes of a murderer," Zabini stated crouching down. He lifted Draco's chin with is his right hand and they stared at each other. "These eyes tell me they belong to a coward." And he dropped him. "I'll warn you, the Dark Lord is after you. Tonight, he'll send you a messenger. I'm just here as an acquaintance. If you're foolish enough, you go tell your protector I was here, but that's only if you can escape me."

Gulping down all his attempted sobs and putting his fears aside, Draco flung out at him with a clenched fist. Zabini stopped it however, as it came towards his face. He smirked, "How does it feel to be completely powerless?"

Draco burned with a fierce desire to beat the shit out of his oppressor. Being forced to be protected by his arch nemesis was low enough; being called powerless again broke the wall between him and Zabini. He was tired of being powerless. Draco was surprised no one saw them, but he bashed Zabini as much as he could – mostly with is heels. He slugged him across the face, canned him and as he bent double over in pain, Draco hiked up his dress and sprinted through the crowd frantically. He decided.

In order to construct his revenge, he'd need Harry. No matter the reasons.

Draco turned his head to find if Zabini was following him. He wasn't and as he turned back, he wasn't quite so sure how to react. Reeling his head forward, a pair of brown eyes met with his and a ghost like figure disrupted Draco's shoulder as he followed through his run. Jet black hair passed him, sweeping him softly across his own cheek. Once again, he craned his neck towards her and unmistaken ably it was Pansy, but she vanished into the crowd. It all took but one look to find that she already knew him.

Oh God...if she's here then – Draco searched the ceiling, the balconies, and the dancers among the crowd. Panic began to rise in him and he shoved people away. These people are in danger if Pansy and her crew are here...

Potter? Potter where are you?! Draco asked in his mind. He let his mind freely go and if Harry could hear his voice among this throng, then the better. Potter-!

A hand appeared and stopped the brunette in his tracks.

"Oomph!" Draco gasped.

"I can hear you once. No need to call me the second time."

"Potter-"

Harry sighed, "Yes, I heard you. Stop calling me that," he said bitterly. "Zabini and the Escapists Trio are here."

Draco furrowed his brow. "How'd you know?"

"Coincidence Malfoy," Harry replied sarcastically. "Honestly, why would you be here then if I didn't know?"

"I was bait?!"

"That wasn't so hard was it?"

He fucking kissed me. Draco thought stunned. Toyed with me. Played with my emotions. And confused me over you.

Harry turned his head left and right, his back facing Draco and for unknown reasons, he felt betrayed again. He was beginning to trust and that forming bond had broken apart yet again.

"If you've known this then you know that He has sent a messenger for me tonight."

"Really? I guess he must have arrived already."

"Where?"

Harry scoffed. "Can't you even spot your own favorite professor?" Harry asked smirking.

Draco's ears pricked at the tone of Harry's voice and slowly, his heart stopped dead, his face drowning in horror as he realized the man before him was in fact not Harry at all, but - another acquaintance of Draco's.

Harry loomed over Draco as the boy whispered his name, "Professor Snape…"

"That's right," he said smirking. "I am the messenger and tonight, I guarantee you won't escape unharmed."

Draco snapped out of his daze when Harry/Snape raised an arm over his head, bringing a cape to hover over him. Draco spun around and screamed, but his voice was muffled by the orchestra play and soon he was swallowed up in the ebony cloth.

From the distance, Harry stared above the massive crowd and frowned. He thought he heard his name…