Ok, editing all these chapters in hell on my eyes, that's for sure. But, I'd really like to get six, if not seven, up tonight. I'm going to keep working, and thanks for all your patience guys!

Disclaimer: No es mio. Lo quiero . . .

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"Lucius, I expect all is well with the boy?" The Dark Lord gazed unfeelingly at his most dedicated Death Eater, who was sitting opposite the chess board. "You did not harm him with that Slicing Spell?"

Lucius returned his stare with the cold calculating eyes of one who has become accustomed to witnessing death. "Of course not. I modified it to only cut deeply, but not

slice any vital organs. We don't want our distraction to die, do we?"

"No, that would be a fairly serious drawback in the grand scheme of things."

"Yes, it would be." Lucius moved his knight up two spaces and right one. "Check."

"You must not let your feelings for him cloud your ability to do what is best for the movement. Paternal instinct must be erased, along with all emotional ties."

"I may have sired him, but I'm not his father." Lucius challenged the Dark Lord's raised eyebrow. "Since his birth he has been an item for your use. Of the two of us, you own him more than I do."

"That is where you are blind, Lucius." Voldemort moved a bishop to block the knight. "People are not owned; they are not playthings to be dealt with lightly. As a Malfoy, you never loved, or even liked, anything enough to be bound by it. There were never any strings attached, and what mattered to you always had material value, and nothing more." No sign as to what Voldemort was feeling surfaced as Lucius took the pawn.

"Emotion complicates things. I lead a very simple life."

"Yes, you do. But your heir doesn't." Lucius' head snapped up. "Young Master Malfoy is bound to you, and although you may not realize it you are bound to him. One thing cannot be attached to another without the other being attached to it."

"I have made every effort to detach myself from him-"

"And he has made every effort to attach himself to you. It is his weakness: he wants praise, he wants to be accepted for all of his efforts. In training him for service to me, your harsh, emotionless tactics severed the steel that would have made him the most powerful advocate I would have had, and in that infinitely small crevice, a desire for acceptance trickled in and led to unchecked emotion. He used to show it in his anger, and now he shows it in his love."

"Yes, but now his weakness has turned him into our ally."

"No, not an ally. An ally cooperates willingly, knowing full well what he is walking into. Draco is a pawn, being moved around the board according to the hand that controls him, something valuable enough to be kept while needed, but disposed of once he has fulfilled his part."

"His infatuation with the Potter boy, although despicable, has helped us in finding out information that otherwise we would have never uncovered."

"Yes, Draco did turn into quite a rumor monger on that particular subject. But let me remind you Lucius, the seed of his love was the admiration of someone who possessed all the qualities that he wanted in you. Bravery, courage, passion, acceptance, the things you could possess if you would unlock your heart."

"The things that would create a large whirlwind of complication."

"Ah, but emotion creates a motive unlike any other."

"And a weakness."

"A weakness that we will use to our advantage. But please, do tell me why you are so certain that Harry Potter will befriend Draco and become as attached to him as Draco is to Harry."

"That, my Lord, is a secret that will have to wait."

"You know I don't like you keeping secrets from me. Last time that happened, people died."

"You killed them."

"Unfortunately, yes. Deaths that wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for your carelessness. We haven't quite filled the ranks yet; we do not need more attention from the Ministry than it is already giving us."

"Yes, my Lord."

"You are my most dangerous follower."

"And why is that?"

"You have no allegiance, no attraction, no reason to exist."

"Yes, I do. To rid the wizarding world of filth and impurities." He moved his queen.

"And what will you do when it is clean?"

"That will be something I'll have to decide in the future, when the time comes that only

Purebloods are left."

Voldemort placed a pawn in front of Lucius' king, then tipped it over. Lucius started.

"Checkmate."

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"I, uh, I should go..."

"Um, wait, I can explain. It's not what-"

"No, Harry, it is exactly what it looks like." Draco climbed of Harry, sweeping a few silky stands of his hair behind his ear. "She walked in on us-"

"Snogging!" Ginny gasped, stumbling backward. "I thought I heard noises, and... oh my..."

"Ginny..." Harry, face red, quickly buttoned up his pyjama top. "Look, Ginny, I'm sorry.

We shouldn't-"

"I think I need to sit down." Harry leaped off the couch, making room for her. Ginny plunked down hard, unable to look either of them in the face, and buried her head in her hands. Draco knelt in front of her and tried to take her hands in his, but she jerked away. He tried again, more firmly, caught her hands, and looked up into her eyes.

"Ginny, no Ginny, look at me." She did. "I'm sorry. It was wrong. But can you promise me that you'll never breathe a word of this to anyone?"

"I won't tell, don't worry. It would be embarrassing for all of us." Her eyes were still wide, but Ginny had regained control of herself. "You... and Harry, you're..."

"Yes, we're together." Draco's eyes had hardened, and he became defensive. Dropping her hands, he rose to his feet, looking at Harry. Harry gave Draco a warning look, and stepped forward. "Ginny, we should all just go to bed. It's late, and we can deal with it tomorrow."

"Yea, okay." She motioned for Harry to lean forward, and she whispered in his ear. "For, the record, I don't blame you. He is very handsome." She smiled, and quietly padded down the stairs.

"Oops." Draco was still standing in next to the couch, shirt in hand.

"Yes, a lot of oops. That was fairly embarrassing."

"Yes, it was, We didn't even put on a proper show." Draco examined his chest. "My, Harry, it looks as if you hadn't eaten dinner before you got up here." Sure enough, there were bite marks all over his chest, one near his collarbone bleeding.

"Sorry. Guess I got a bit carried away." Harry examined the cut, which was right above the Draco's almost-healed wound. "You've been given quite a few scars lately, haven't you?"

"Yes, great scars I'll tell my grandchildren about. 'This one is from the time my father tried to kill me, and this one is from the time Harry Potter bit me during a fairly energetic snogging session.'"

"Alright, enough already. I'm going to bed. Are you coming?"

"In a minute. You go down, and don't wait up. I'm going to clean this off."

"How?"

"Soap and water."

"Oh, okay." Harry yawned. "G'night Draco."

"Night lover boy," Draco said in a high voice dripping with gaudy sensuality. "I'll see you

soon."

Harry rolled his eyes and walked out. Upon reaching their room, he fell noisily into bed, but couldn't fall asleep. His heart was still racing from the surprise of Ginny, not to mention Draco's intense kisses and the sensation of long, slender fingers gently stroking his sides. Harry shivered at the memory, his nerves aching for more. He had almost decided to go after Draco when the boy tip-toed in and carefully climbed in bed.

After a moment, "You're not asleep, are you?"

"No."

"Go to sleep. You need it."

"I can't. Mind's too full."

"Maybe that whole Occlumency thing will help you. Being an insomniac is not a good

thing."

"I know." A sigh. "I just can't relax, too much adrenaline."

"Come here."

"Draco, I'm already wound up enough as it is-"

"I'm not going to stimulate you-" Draco smiled at Harry's gasp, "I'm going to hold you."

"What?! Where?"

"Just come here. It's a proven fact that all humans feel more comfortable and relaxed in the arms of someone they trust." Harry scooted closer, and Draco encircled his waist, drawing him close. "Think you can sleep now?"

"I'll try."

"Don't try, do." But Harry was fast asleep, his soft exhalations tickling the base of Draco's throat. Although Harry slept soundly for hours, a good deal of time passed before Draco was able to drift off.

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"Harry, can I talk to you?" Hermione drew Harry aside after lunch the next day. "I need to ask you about something."

"Really? Usually it's the other way round." He followed her up to her room, where she closed and locked the door. "Mutus," she mumbled.

"What?"

"Charm that makes the door soundproof."

"Oh... okay. Now, what did you want to talk to me about, all alone, in your room?"

Hermione crossed her arms and looked at him sternly. "Harry Potter, do not make me hex you because of childish perviness."

"Sorry."

"Anyways." Hermione motioned for him to sit in a chair while she sat cross- legged on the bed. "I know you won't really want to hear this next part, but..."

"Is this about Draco?" Harry tensed. "I told you already, I trust him whether you two do or don't, and you can't change my mind."

"I wasn't going to." Hermione gave him a withering look. "Now will you hear me out?"

Harry rested his head in his hands and stared at her in mock attentiveness. She ignored him.

"You trust Draco, I know this, and I want to trust him. But after seeing how easy it is to fool people- Polyjuice Potion, changing appearance willingly- I'm suspicious that someone could be disguising himself as Draco to get closer to you."

"And what can we do about that?"

"There is a spell, the Veritas spell. It's a truth spell so strong and unbreakable that it is considered to be Dark magic. I've researched a bit, and it shouldn't be hard to do, but since the Ministry can sense Dark magic, we'll have to do it quickly."

"But Hermione, we can't do magic outside of school. How are we supposed to do this without getting caught?"

"We'll need to perform it in a place where there is a lot of magical activity, or a place that has magical shields. Of course, we could always set up our own shields..."

"Why can't we do it when we get back to Hogwarts?"

"Are you dim?" Hermione jumped up and knelt down near Harry. "There are so many anti-Dark magic shields and security spells there that the minute the words were out of our mouths we would either be bound or killed."

"But fourth year, Moody..."

"He had permission to do those spells. Even if Dumbledore didn't put the wards back up, which I'm sure he did, the other protective spells would sense and report it. No, Hogwarts is out of the question. We have to do it before September first."

"Why can't we just use Veritaserum? Doesn't it have the same effects?"

"There is no way we could ever procure those ingredients without being sent to Azkaban. No, the truth spell is the safest way, and the hardest to trace."

Harry put his head in his hands. As much as he didn't want to go through with this, he knew that they needed to prove that Draco was completely innocent and not being controlled. His stomach lurched.

"Alright. When?"

"I have to go down to the library off Diagon Alley to look up the spells for wards, and I can do that this afternoon. Ginny wanted to go shopping anyways, and I'll ask to take her and use it as an excuse to stop in the library. Depending on what I have to get and how long it will take me to learn this, we can perform it tonight or tomorrow night, in the attic."

Harry stood up, avoiding Hermione's gaze. "This doesn't feel right. I feel like I'm betraying him."

"Draco understands mistrust, and he'll understand that we have to do this." Hermione's expression was fixed. "We're doing this, whether you like it or not."

Taken aback by her forcefulness, Harry gaped at her. "And what if Draco doesn't consent? Are you going to hex him before you perform Dark magic?"

"Harry! Do you think I would try something like that?" Shocked, Hermione froze in the center of the room, hands at her sides. "You should know better than anyone that I would never hurt anyone on purpose."

"Sorry, 'Mione, I know you don't want to hurt anyone." Harry took a deep breath before going on. "But I'm the first person Draco had ever really trusted, and what if this just returns him to how he used to be? Do you want that?" A steely hardness had come to his face, highlighting the defined lines of his jaw, which was set.

"No, Harry, I don't," she said quietly as she walked over to him. Looking up into his eyes, she realized how much he had grown and changed since she had seen him last. He had shot up, and he looked less like a boy and more like a man. He still had the same arrogant stubbornness, and the same tender love that he had always had for his friends, and almost everyone around him. But now there was something different, something that she couldn't put her finger on...

"I don't want Draco to revert back to being a snob. But Harry, I do need to know, once and for all, whether we need to be careful around him or not. Just this once, and I promise that I won't question him anymore if he's trustworthy."

Sensing that he was fighting a losing battle, Harry conceded. "Fine. I'll talk to Draco about it. But please, do not expect me to take any responsibility in this. It's your idea, and you will be the one performing it. I will only be there to make sure that Draco doesn't get hurt."

"What about Ron? Shouldn't he be there, to hear what Draco says under a truth spell?"

Harry sighed. "You know what? Anything I say at this point means absolutely nothing to you, so why are you even asking?" He stormed over to the door, yanked it open, and ran down the stairs so heavily that Hermione, mouth slack, heard each thud until he jumped off the last one into the Weasley's kitchen.

"Practicing for the elephant race?" Draco said as Harry flopped down on the couch. Ron and Draco were sitting Indian style on the ground on opposite sides of the coffee table, engaged in a heated game of Wizard's Chess. Ron was obviously winning, but Draco ignored this blatant fact and amused himself by creating dialogues between chess pieces as they slaughtered each other.

"Draco, can't you just play the game?" Ron moaned after another of Draco's scenes. "If you want to play theatre, grab a few of Ginny's old dolls and go entertain yourself."

"I know other ways to entertain myself." Draco said benignly, as if commenting on the weather. Ron, on the other hand, choked.

"If you ever do that in my house-"

"Weasley! I was talking about a good book, maybe even roasting chestnuts over an open fire. But please, feel free to explain what exciting activities you were thinking of." The innocent smile did not match the devilish look in his eyes.

"You know what? That's it. I'm out of here. Oh, and by the way, checkmate."

Harry heard Ron bolt upstairs before he turned to Draco. "That was interesting."

"The game? Not really. Ron's much better at chess than I am."

"No, the fact that you both could actually play chess without losing limbs." Harry scooted off the couch and sat on the floor next to Draco, purposely letting one arm rest the other boy's. "More than I expected this early in the truce."

"Well, we have a reason. We both want to be friends with you, and we don't want to stress you out about it, so we decided to put our differences aside and be peaceful even if it kills us."

"Ron said that?"

"In shorter and less eloquent sentences, of course, but that was the basic idea." Draco looped his arm around Harry's, entwining their fingers. "If it makes you happy, we can do it."

Harry smiled, resting his head on Draco's shoulder. "Thanks. I really owe you one this time."

"Wanna go repay your debt?"

"There are still people here!"

"Harry? Draco? Hermione and I are off to Diagon Alley." Ginny bounced down the stairs, Hermione on her heels. They were greeted by Draco lounging lazily on the couch, Harry leaning against the couch at Draco's feet.

"I'm coming too!" shouted Ron as he hurtled down the stairs.

"Any idea when you'll be back?" Harry hopped up and followed them into the kitchen, where Ginny readied the Floo Powder.

"A few hours. It shouldn't take us too long, but you know Hermione and libraries. She could turn fifty before she realized a day had passed." Hermione gave Ginny a mock-disapproving glare, then flashed her a smile, which vanished when she looked at Harry.

Ron looked puzzled, but just rolled his eyes. Her back turned, Ginny took no notice and, grabbing her handful, stepped into the fireplace. "See ya soon!" She vanished in a blaze of green fire, as did Ron a moment later. Hermione was about to do the same, but...

"Wait." She turned at the sound of Harry's voice.

"Do what you have to do." Harry had taken on the appearance of someone who had elected to clean out chamber pots instead of play Quidditch, and Hermione gave him a quick hug before she disappeared in a cloud of hazy green smoke.

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"You get more creative every time we snog," panted Draco as he rolled off of Harry. "I never would have thought of that."

"I just try to keep you coming back for more." Harry looped his arm around Draco's bare chest, pinning him to the bed. "Seems to work, doesn't it?"

"Oh, I'd come back even if you did the same thing every time." Draco toyed with the strings of Harry's pyjama pants. He pulled the strings loose, and was about to pull something else when Harry stopped him.

"No."

"Please? I'm a horny sixteen year old. Just indulge me this once!"

"Yea, just this time, and next time, and the time after that..."

"So there's going to be a time?"

"Sometime."

"When's that?"

"Not now." Harry pulled himself on top of Draco. "I like you a lot, I really do, but not yet."

"Ruin a perfectly good snog session by giving me this joyous bit of information." Draco struggled to get out from Harry but only created friction that made his nerves flare with pleasure.

"Speaking of bad news..." Harry sat on Draco's stomach, straddling his waist. "There is no way you are going to like what I'm about to say. I know it."

"So don't say it." Draco took Harry's hands in his. "No news is good news, right?"

"Yea, but this is news you need to hear." "Spill it."

"Hermione wants to put a spell on you so that she can interrogate you and you'll tell the truth and then she says she can trust you if you say good things," Harry said in one breath.

"The world's worst un-punctuated sentence." Draco leaned back on his elbows and looked up at Harry. "Anyways, I know which spell she's talking about. The Veritas spell- a Dark Arts spell created by Salazar Slytherin so that he could always double-check his sources for the correct information. Lucius used to put it on me all the time when he thought I was lying. Not the most comfy spell, but very effective."

Harry was shocked. He hadn't put it past Lucius to use Dark magic on his son, but hearing the actual words fall so casually from Draco's lips were shocking. Harry felt the familiar pang of hurt that stung him whenever Draco mentioned the torturous life he had led for sixteen years, and he felt so guilty about not being able to do anything about it.

"Earth to Harry James Potter... could you please get off my bladder? I have to pee."

"What, oh, yea, sorry." Harry shifted off and lay on his back on the bed, the sheets of which were now very tangled. "So, you're okay with this whole thing?" he asked Draco when he returned.

"No. I'm not okay with the fact that the only way people will trust me is through using magical proof, but I can't change that. Granger and Weasley need proof, I understand. And if this is what will convince then that I'm clean, then so be it." Draco stretched out next to Harry, his delicate hands tracing the lineaments of Harry's face. With a sigh, "I just wish I was more trustworthy than this."

"You are." Harry nibbled lightly on the tip of Draco's ring finger. "Some people are just too dense to see it."

"At least someone believes that."

"Does it really matter what anyone else thinks?"

"No." Draco smiled as Harry sucked on his finger. "You manage to look totally innocent when you do that."

"It's a talent I have."

"Do you have any other talents?" Draco turned on his side to face Harry, his hand doodling patterns on Harry's bare stomach. "Care to share any of them?"

"Not right now." Harry slid off the bed and pulled his shirt back on. "The others should be back any minute, and we don't want to get caught again, do we?"

"As long as I'm with you, I really don't care."

"You're being sappy."

"I meant it though." Looking down into Draco's eyes, Harry saw the earnest truthfulness inside, and he sat down, cupping Draco's chin in his hand.

"I know you did." He crushed Draco's upturned mouth to his, the dizzying heat of their kiss spreading throughout his body like wildfire. Harry was just about to climb back onto the bed with Draco when they heard voices downstairs.

"They're back." Draco propped himself up on his elbows, still lying on his stomach. "We should probably go say hello."

"Yea, and you should probably get a shirt on."

"But you pay more attention to me when I'm half naked!" Draco pouted.

"Just think of how much attention you'd get if you walked around stark naked." Harry smiled coyly, splaying one hand over Draco's chest and pushing him off the bed. Draco landed on the floor with a satisfying thud, scowling.

"I was getting up."

"No you weren't."

"Harry, why are you in your pyjama pants? And Malfoy, why are you on the floor, shirtless?" Ron strode into the room and threw a couple packages on his bed. "You two might wanna be careful–It's starting to look like you're more than friends."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Draco growled, standing up and shrugging into a sweatshirt so oversized that it barely hung on his shoulders. "This isn't mine."

"No, it's Bill's old one. You can wear it though." Ron scowled. "And why do you think I would be turned on by gay sex?"

"You're into Granger."

Ron had grabbed the front of Draco's sweatshirt and pulled him off the ground until Draco was looking into his eyes. Draco had to stand on the very tips of his toes to avoid being strangled, since Ron was a good six inches taller than him.

"No matter what, don't you ever bring Hermione into this."

"You're a bit touchy when it comes to the subject of her, you know."

"Hmm, I wonder why. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out." Ron let go of the sweatshirt and Draco stumbled back a few steps, massaging his chest where Ron had scraped him while grabbing the shirt.

Harry's eyes widened. "So something is going on?"

"No. Wish it was, though." Ron tinged pink, but kept his head high. "She hasn't said anything yet, and I... It's too hard to ask her about it."

"About what?" Harry's eyes were sparkling now.

"About us! About being more than friends, about how she feels about me... Why am I saying all this with Malfoy in the room?"

"I have no idea." Draco shrugged, smiling. "But please, do go on. I'm quite interested."

"Fuck you."

"Actually, I'd rather fuck-"

"DON'T FINISH THAT THOUGHT!" Ron yelled. "I do NOT want to know who you'd sleep with."

"Your loss, someone else's gain." Draco smirked. "But Granger would probably love to hear who you have on your Most Worthy of Sleeping With list."

"I swear, if you tell her..."

"Please, you two are bickering again."

Before they could retort there was a knock on the door and Fred and George popped in.

"Back from the shop," said George as he flopped down next to Harry. "What's up?"

"Ron was just telling us all about-"

"-His trip to Diagon Alley." Harry cut Draco off, eyes flashing. Draco grinned innocently. "Anyways, what did you get, Ron?"

"Nothing much, just a bunch of parchment and quills. Anything new with the store?" he asked, hastily changing the subject.

"Well, we did invent something new..." started George.

"And we'll be testing it out tomorrow night," finished Fred. "And I have a feeling that you all will like this one. Puts a new spin on an old game."

"You'll get to help test it, too, as long as you don't say anything to Mum about it."

George had a mischievous look in his eyes and a smile to match. "Hermione and Ginny can come, too, but if Mum finds out she'll kill us."

"What is it?" asked Harry, excited.

"You'll find out tomorrow night." Fred and George left the room grinning, leaving the other three boys confused and anxious.

"Wonder what it could be. Do you think it'll explode?" Ron half frowned. "I don't want to get blown up."

"They've already made things that blow up. If they're this excited about it, it must be something new." Harry shrugged. "Whatever it is, I hope you Mum doesn't get wind of it."

"Harry! I found the spells! Oh, good everyone's here," Hermione said as she dashed into the room and closed the door. "Now, you've told Draco about it?"

"Apparently he's already familiar with the spell." Harry felt the awful twisting in his stomach again. "Says that he... learned it at the manor."

"No, Harry, I experienced it at the manor." Draco looked to Hermione. "My dad used to use it on me whenever he thought I was lying."

"So you know that it'll hurt you?"

"What!?" cried Harry, jumping up. "It's painful?"

"Yes, it feels like someone is trying to turn you inside out and every word is ripped from your flesh until the spell is taken off," explained Draco. "If left on too long, it can seriously harm people. If it was actually a well-known spell, it would be grouped with the Unforgivables."

"There is no way you are putting that spell on him!" Harry protested. "It could be more dangerous than we think!"

"What else do you suggest?" retorted Hermione, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Why don't you just try trusting people the old-fashioned way? Why does everything have to be about books and spells and proof?"

"Because we need to know, Harry!" interrupted Ron, defending Hermione. "She's right, we need to hear the truth from his own lips!"

"Anyone care to hear what I have to say?" Draco was laying lengthwise on the bed, his hands behind his head. He continued without waiting for an answer. "I have no objections to being put under this spell-"

"But Draco-"

"Shut up, Harry." Draco glared at him. "I have no objections to being put under this spell, but I do have a few requests. One," he said, ticking each off on his fingers, "Do not purposely leave the spell on for excessive amounts of time, as this will result in many problems for the rest of you, most in the form of hexes or jinxes. Two, do not ask idiotic and unnecessary questions."

"Such as?" prompted Ron.

"Such as your question, Weasley. I'd think the blatantly obvious immature things you could force me to admit to while under that spell would be clear to even someone as thick as yourself."

Harry had sat down on the bed, his face in his hands. They're going to hurt him again, he thought. They're going to make him relive those horrible memories of his life back at the manor, and they'll hurt him.

"Harry!" exploded Ron, "It's just Malfoy! Why are you freaking out over this?"

"Just Malfoy?" Harry repeated quietly, his voice steely. "Just Malfoy? Ron, I'd think you'd have a little more respect for people than that!" he shouted, having crescendoed.

"Ron! Harry! Stop it!" Hermione jumped between them, pleading. "Ron, that wasn't a very tactful thing to say. Harry, you need to stop acting like this is the end of the world! It is just a spell, but unfortunately it causes pain. So does the Cruciatus Curse, and you've lived through that. We're not going to hurt Draco, we're just going to question him."

"And since when have you taken to calling him Draco?" questioned Ron.

"It's been his name since he was born, I don't see why I can't use it." Hermione rounded on Ron, arms crossed. "And I don't see what would be so bad about you learning to use it, either, especially if you're trying to become friends."

"Actually, it was my name before I was born." Draco's tone disregarded the heated fight taking place in front of him, and he acted like he was repeating an interesting fact he had picked up from some remote place. "Lucius specifically wanted this name because it means 'Dragon' in Latin."

"Ah, once again the reptile thread of your life resurfaces," Ron drawled sarcastically. "But Hermione! He's always been Malfoy, always will be Malfoy-"

"Well, it is my last name, what a coincidence," Draco muttered under his breath. Harry choked back a laugh.

"You three are impossible!" Hermione yelled, hands on her hips. "Whatever is wrong, I'm locking you all in this room until you figure it out. I'll come back before midnight to unlock the door. Meet me in the attic, we'll perform the spell, and we can go to bed."

Shocked, the boys froze, immobile, as she stormed out of the room and shut the door.

They heard her magically lock the door, then her footsteps faded from hearing.

"But what about food?" Ron wondered, devastated. "I'm starving."

"For God's sake, get your mind off your stomach for once." Draco was still lying on the bed, but now looked agitated. "I cannot believe she did this."

"I can. We deserve it." Ron and Draco glared at Harry. "Well we do! Look at us!"

"Yea, we've all been prats." They fell silent.

After a while, Harry looked up. "What's on your mind, Ron? You look lost in thought."

"Oh yes, he would be lost, since he doesn't go there very often," Draco said bitterly.

"Just because you don't like being stuck in here doesn't mean you can take it out on me!"

yelled Ron.

"This sucks."

"No, really, Malfoy."

"Maybe we should actually try to sort this all out." Ron and Draco glared at Harry again. "What else can we do? We have almost five hours before Hermione lets us out, why don't we just get this over with once and for all?"

"Oh, alright. I cannot believe I am doing this," whined Draco as he sat on Ron's bed, and Ron pulled a chair between the beds, forming a triangle.

"So... how do we start?" Ron shifted uncomfortably. "I can't think of a way to start this without sounding like one of those cheesy American radio psychotherapists."

"I have a starting place," offered Harry. "Draco, yesterday outside the Quidditch shop, you said that your friends don't know who you really are. What was that all about?"

Draco gazed out the window for a long moment before he faced Ron and Harry again. "Do you really want to know? Honestly, it's not pretty."

"Would he have asked if he didn't want to know?" Ron said, exasperated. "Just go on."

"Alright, but you heard the disclaimer." Draco shrugged. "My childhood wasn't exactly a picnic in the park. Lucius was always dealing in Death Eater business and meeting people everywhere, so he wasn't home much. When he was, though, it was as if I had died and gone straight to Hell.

"I've said before that Lucius wasn't the greatest father. He used to beat me. My mum never knew; whenever he was finished he would wave his wand and all the bruises, cuts, and blood would disappear, leaving just the pain and the memories." He ran his hands through his hair, gray eyes wet with unshed tears. "There were other ways he tortured me, 'teaching' me spells and hexes, jinxes, the like. He used a whip once or twice, the Cruciatus Curse a couple of times, and Imperius to make me hurt myself. After awhile I became used to it, and I was able to get through it knowing that if I could survive those few days Lucius was home, I could then go back to living without fear until he showed up again. Dobby would administer spells and charms to lessen the pain, but they couldn't be very strong, otherwise Lucius would know I was being cared for."

Tears were now rolling unchecked down his cheeks, and both Harry and Ron were staring at him in shock. Instantly Harry had launched himself across the small space and had his arms around the sobbing figure, silently running his fingers though Draco's hair, trying to comfort him. Ron slowly shuffled over and sat on the other side of Draco, putting one arm around his shoulders. The shuddering sobs racked through the crying boy for a few minutes before he calmed himself.

"I'm acting like I have PMS, aren't I?" he said, voice quavering.

"Yea, you are," Ron admitted gently, with a smile. "But right now, you of all people have an excuse."

Harry sat holding Draco tightly, and not letting go. He felt the warm salty tears slide down the neck of his shirt and pool somewhere near is stomach, creating a wet river down the front of his shirt. He was numb. He had always hated Lucius, from the first day he met him in Flourish and Blotts. Now that hatred was multiplied a good hundred fold, if not more.

Draco looked up at Harry, slowly pulling away. "I'm alright now," he said, wiping the last tears off his cheeks. "I'll be okay."

"That explains why you've been so horrible to us for the past five years," thought Ron audibly. "Your dad hated us, so you had to follow suit so you wouldn't be beaten to a bloody pulp."

"Well, when you say it so turgidly it makes complete sense." Draco gave a half smile as Ron raised an eyebrow at him. "Just because I'm getting along with you now doesn't mean I can't be sarcastic."

"Yea, no matter how good you are to him, he just keeps the satire flowing," supplemented Harry as he checked his watch. "Oh goody. Thirty minutes down, two hundred and seventy to go."

"I'm hungry." Draco frowned. "Hermione really should have left us some food."

"Think I could get away with banging on the floor of Fred and George's room until they bring us stuff?"

"Who would you be banging?"

"Malfoy, that is sick, twisted, and wrong!" gasped Ron through laughter. Harry had

collapsed on the bed, laughing so hard that he was practically suffocating.

"Alright, alright. But seriously, I'm hungry." Ron stood on the bed and started hitting the ceiling with an open palm. "Oy! Fred! George! You up there?"

"We're going to be down there in your room when the ceiling collapses because your banging on it so hard!" came Fred's muffled voice from upstairs. His words sent Harry and Draco into another fit of laughter. "What's the matter with you three? Aren't you coming down for supper?"

"We can't! Hermione locked us in here. After you finish, do you think you could apparate in here with something to eat?"

Both twins apparated into the room at the same time. "Why'd she stick you three together? I thought she didn't like blood," inquired George.

"She's being a-"

"Watch it Malfoy..."

"Moderator?" finished Draco with an innocent smile. "She thinks that if we're stuck together for five hours, we'll figure out what makes everyone mad, sad, depressed, angry, horny..."

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Draco, but I am not staying in the same room as you if you're horny." Ron's eyes had widened considerably in alarm, and he was inching towards his

brothers.

"We'll nick you some food, no problem," said Fred. "One condition, though- no matter what, you have to come to our little get-together tomorrow night."

"Deal. Now go get food. I'm hungry," said Ron impatiently.

"Yes, Master." With a salute, they vanished, leaving three rumbling stomachs and wondering minds to return to the question session their hunger had interrupted. "Okay, Draco, my turn to ask a question." Ron had sobered, no sign of a grin on his face. "What made you change?"

"What?"

"For five years you torture and torment Harry, Hermione, and me. Then all of a sudden, you and Harry are great friends and he's trying to get us to trust you. What happened in the few weeks from the end of summer term to the night your father attacked you? How can you go from hate to friendship do quickly?"

"Ron, I never hated any of you. I was jealous of what you three have, and will always have, a bond that no one can break. And no matter how hard anyone tries, they can't become part of the circle that you three form." Draco finished a bit awkwardly, blushing.

"Jealous? You?"

"I'm not the only one. Ginny, too. And a lot of other people at Hogwarts. We all want to have friends like you, friends that would stand by us no matter what, and even die for us. You and Hermione would lay your lives on the line for Harry, and he would do likewise for both of you. Not everyone can find someone who loves them enough to do that. I can't," he answered, avoiding Harry's gaze.

"But why us? Why Harry?"

"I was raised to believe that the only way to get anywhere in life was to take what you needed without bothering with rules or emotions. But Harry, he made me feel that there was a reason to fight for good, that giving was more powerful than taking. He believes in me more than I believe in myself, and he was he first person to ever do that." By now Draco was a deep red, and he hid his face from both Harry and Ron.

I cannot believe I'm saying this in front of them, he thought to himself. There is no way I will be able to face them after this.

"I never realized that people thought of us as a clique," Harry said to Ron, bewildered.

"Is it considered a clique with only three people?" Ron asked. "Mal- Draco, you okay? You don't look so good."

All that was heard from Draco was a muffled grunt, since his face was in his hands.

"Oh, don't be embarrassed. At least you told the truth."

"Malfoys don't lie. And usually we don't voice our emotions or thoughts to anyone, ever."

"But you're not a normal Malfoy, are you?" prodded Harry. "If you were, we'd turn you into a slug again."

"Now that was a disgusting experience. I was almost covered in as much slime as I used to use on my hair back in first and second year. I had really bad fashion sense then..."

"As compared to now?" said Harry, cocking an eyebrow. He grinned devilishly. "I have to admit, though, the loose hair is so much better. Doesn't make you look like you have a large stick up your ass." Plus, it's more fun to play with when we're snogging, he added mentally.

"Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived to Appraise Hairstyles," said Ron.

Just then, there was a loud POP and Fred and George had appeared with armloads of foods, ranging from appetizers to desserts. The three famished boys attacked with vigor, emptying the twins' arms in seconds.

"We owe you loads," managed Ron around a mouthful of chicken.

"Yes, you do," agreed Fred cheerfully. "Tomorrow night, you'll repay the debt."

They vanished.

"Should I be worried about their sexual orientation?" voiced an anxious Draco. "'Tomorrow night you'll repay your debt...'"

"Dunno with those two. They could be up to anything."

An evil smile spread over Draco's face, but he said nothing.

"So where were we? Oh, right, food..."

………………………………...........................................................................................

"Okay, time's up!" Hermione whispered as she unlocked the door at midnight. "Did you work things out?"

"Yup," yawned Draco. "So can I go to sleep now?"

"No, we have to go do the spell." She lead the group as they tiptoed up to the attic.

"Looks like someone actually came in here recently. There's footsteps everywhere! Mum must have been looking for something," Ron observed through a wide yawn.

Harry and Draco glanced at each other and smiled knowingly.

"Draco, sit down on the couch and make yourself comfortable. I'm going to put the wards up." Hermione walked around the perimeter of the room, muttering constantly. She performed the muting spell on the door, then faced Draco.

"Are you ready?"

Harry sat down next to Draco and took Draco's right hand in his left.

"Ready," he replied, his voice hard.

Hermione slowly raised her wand and pointed it at Draco's chest.

"Veritas."