It was getting hard to write about the stranger without giving him a name, so I've given a made-up one. Draco calls him by his real name, so that is why he won't be calling him anything except 'Master' for a while.
Also, I needed to get Harry involved. He's been too out of the loop...
He couldn't sleep. The bed was as comfortable as ever, but right now it seemed to Harry that even if some things don't change, others inevitably do. Ron and Hermione were still furious with each other, and only spoke in taunts. Of course, there were plenty of other things to be worrying about, more serious ones; Voldemort was getting stronger, gathering more followers. And then there was the man to consider. Hell, Harry was certain that there was something he needed to know there. Although nothing had really happened, Harry knew it was only a matter of time. He still hadn't said anything to his friends or even his teachers, keeping his concerns to himself. Sure, Malfoy had been behaving oddly, but these days Harry couldn't even begin to guess whether this was because of the stranger, Voldemort, or both. This man was a new threat, yet Harry found himself strangely drawn to him. Shaking his head, Harry Potter gave up on sleep and set off for a walk in the grounds. Maybe the fresh air would help.
He noticed very little as he paced back and forth across the Quidditch pitch. The grass swished beneath his feet, but otherwise Harry was surrounded by silence and stillness. Unfortunately, this meant that the thoughts he was unable to be rid of were free to race through his mind, going round in circles and making him dizzy.
"Pleasant evening, isn't it?" Harry nearly leapt out of his skin – the dark figure now stalking towards him was all too familiar from his dreams, and Harry hoped his thoughts hadn't been too easy to read; he wouldn't put anything past this stranger.
"You know, I don't bite – not unless I'm provoked, anyway." The man smiled at Harry's evident unease, making his face seem just as striking as Harry had remembered. Harry gulped.
"Um, why are you here?" At least it was a more logical question than what he'd been thinking of asking. Harry found himself sincerely hoping the man wasn't an acomplished Legilimens.
"Actually, I was wondering if we could talk?" The man was close enough to be towering over him, and Harry found himself sinking to the ground, indicating that his companion was welcome to follow suit.
Once they were both comfortable, the man turned to Harry, holding out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Jack." Harry couldn't suppress a half-shocked laugh at the seemingly casual tone.
"Really? You know, I actually doubt that it is." The man simply smiled indulgently.
"You're right to doubt. But at least this way you have something to call me, correct? Jack isn't entirely creative, I'll admit. For our purposes however, it doesn't have to be." This sobered Harry up. He was insantly reminded of why he had been pacing the pitch in the first place, and once again realised he had a million questions. Firstly, what the hell was going on. Jack laughed at this.
"No-one really knows what's happening. Personally, I'm trying to ensure that our world isn't thrown into a place of extreme prejudice." Harry looked blank at this, but Jack was happy to elaborate. It was vital to ensnare Potter, and this was the perfect way of doing so. "Harry, if Voldemort comes into power, Muggleborns and Muggles will face persecution. But if the Order wins, it will be purebloods and our current aristocracy that will be persecuted."
"But Ron's a pureblood! His entire family is with the Order!" Jack smiled ruefully.
"It will all be perception. Do you think all Death Eaters are purebloods? Of course not. But that is how they are percieved, just as the Order is seen as being mixed blood or Muggleborn." As Harry considered this he had to admit that it rang true. The Death Eaters couldn't all be pureblood – there simply weren't enough purebloods in Britain. Yet that was indeed the perception. "Harry, I want to maintain our aristocracy, keep our ancient magical orders and traditions. Yet I believe we need to encompass new ideas, accept that mixing blood is necessary, etc. I'm not asking your sanction – we will continue to act regardless. But there is something I might need your help with, involving Ron Weasley." Harry leaned away from him in shock.
"Ron?! What do you mean?"
"Just act as though you believe his actions are true to character, even if you're unsure. Can you do that?" Harry could only nod as Jack picked himself up and strode off.
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"He beat me in bloody Potions without doing any work!" Jack continued studying his nails as his lover ranted on about the day's apparently abysmal lesson. Really, now was not the time.
"Please stop being childish. Personally, I'm happy he's agreed to co-operate. A little bit at a time, remember?" Draco stopped pacing the Room of Requirement abruptly in order to study the man stretched out across the black leather sofa. He looked divine, but Draco was in no mood to admit it.
"Yes, of course. Gain his trust, give him small innocent jobs, eventually make him our slave. I suppose you'll even marry him off or something?" Obviously frustrated with Draco's mood, Jack nevertheless tried to maintain a calm tone.
"Yes, actually. But not yet. Now come here." Noting the underlying anger to the command, Draco didn't dare refuse. He quickly moved toward the couch, and Jack pulled him down so that Draco straddled his waist.
"Since you're here – entertain me." Draco couldn't resist a freal grin. This was his favourite part of the evening.
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"Look, I know what I'm doing. Just do as I tell you and there won't be any problems! I mean, is it really so bloody difficult for you to trust someone you've bloody shared a dorm with for the past five years? I just need you to keep an eye on-"
["Malfoy, be quiet and pay attention!" barked Professor McGonagall.
Everybody looked round. Malfoy had flushed a dull pink; he looked furious as he stepped away from Crabbe, with whom he appeared to have been having a whispered argument.] p358
Yes, the ending is there for a reason. Who does Crabbe have to watch that he doesn't want to? Stay tuned (lol) :)
