How much hate
Can one man feel
When his kingdom is crumbling
How much pain
Can one man take
When his future is melting


Eyes of fire blast his brain
Cursing heaven and hell
Nothing barred just asking why
No answers to be heard
Fire eyes, curse the skies
Thanks maker for questions unanswered


Falsify, disposition died
You detest the faker
Eyes, lies
I curse the skies
Tell me something
Tell me why

Lyrics by Iced Earth "Curse the Sky"

Chapter Five

The café was warm and dark, nearly empty and filled with the strong scent of coffee and apple pie. Hermione took a seat and Ron slide into the red booth after her. Hermione ordered a coffee, and Ron, curious to find out what 'Mountain Dew' was, ordered a glass of that as well.

They were in a Muggle town, and twenty minutes early for a very important meeting. Ron slid a napkin in front of him and began to tear at it nervously.

"I don't want to do this. I don't want to put her in danger," Ron told Hermione, lacing her hand into his.

"She's the only way, Ron; she's the best chance we have into their inner circle."

"It just seems wrong to put her so directly in harms way."

"I know." Hermione nodded sympathetically and patted his arm with her free hand.

"I hate this idea."

The waiter set down their drinks, and Hermione grabbed a cream and sugar.

They sat for a while in silence, enjoying their drinks but weary of everything around them. Finally, twenty minutes later, Ginny Weasley and Keifer Pax walked through the door. They slid into the bench across from them.

"Hey," Ginny greeted.

"Hi," Hermione said, smiling slightly.

"Aiyana is not going to make it, she's about to have a breakthrough with some potion she and Rosaria are working on." Ginny took a sip of Ron's soda. "That's really good."

Ron smiled and nodded.

"She's figured out the potion?" Hermione asked hopefully.

"Yes." Ginny pulled her brother's drink in front of her.

"Good."

Harry at least would be able to have some happiness.

"So..." Ginny trailed off.

"Let's get down to business," Keifer said in a formal tone.

"You're right," Hermione agreed. "Are you sure you guys are up for this?"

Ginny nodded and Keifer laid a hand on her arm.

"We're sure," he said. "We know what we're risking and it's worth it."

"You're going to protect her right? You can't let anything happen to my little sister!"

"I'll be fine, Ron, I can handle myself," Ginny said sourly.

"I'll keep an eye on her," Keifer said assuredly, taking her hand. "I won't let anything happen to her, I promise."

"And you better keep that promise." Ron glared at him.

"Well, we have two hotel rooms set up a few miles away from their main base, and Ron and I have uncovered a bar where they do a lot of recruiting," Hermione explained.

"Then we should go settle into the hotel, do you have everything ready?" Keifer asked.

"How are you at acting, Keifer?" Ron raised an eye.

"One of the best," he replied with a hint of annoyance. "I wouldn't have signed on for this job if I couldn't handle it, we both wouldn't have."

"He's right Ron," Hermione said busily. "Now, let's deal with some other problems I'm seeing. If you have to report to us all the time, what happens if someone notices?"

"Well, Ron is my brother, so that's easy to deal with. And you don't really stand out from a crowd; I don't think anyone will recognize you as long as you're not seen by Lucius or Pettigrew, same goes for you Ron."

Hermione sighed and nodded. Everything would work out as long as they weren't noticed. Hermione and Ron were in charge of running everything behind the scenes; they would take the information Ginny and Keifer collected and get it to Aiyana. Ginny and Keifer had to somehow get themselves into the Death Eater inner circle and pretend to be one of them. That was going to be the hardest part, to get someone to trust them enough to let them in.

There was also the question of what Lucius Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew would do if they recognized Ginny as the Weasley she was. Her bright flaming hair did give it away; but they had decided that instead of changing Ginny's hair color they would go a different route. Ginny would have to say she wants out of the Order and is willing to give up information for them, Aiyana came up with a lot of false information that they could tell. It was a well thought out plan; they just had to execute it now.

"Who's paying for this anyway?" Keifer asked.

"Severus and Rosaria Snape actually," Hermione said. "It's just a safety precaution incase one of the Death Eaters decides to check on your hotel."

"They still trust Snape?" Ginny asked. "After what happened with Malfoy, I mean?"

"We have to hope they still do," Ron said.

"Don't worry, Aiyana would know if Snape was not on the inside, she has a very close eye on him, more than any of us realize," Hermione said knowingly.

"Doesn't trust him herself?" Keifer asked.

"No, she trusts him, she just knows that others do not trust so easily," she replied simply.

"Too right," Ron said malevolently. "Snape's a right bastard, no one would trust him if they didn't see what he was capable of. I don't even know how is wife puts up with that fowl greasy haired git."

"I thought he was a decent teacher," Keifer mumbled uncomfortably.

"You what?" Ron asked in disbelief.

"Oh, please, Ron, we don't have time for this." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Rosaria is going to be meeting us at the hotel with further information."

"Well, let's get going," Ginny said. "I'm sure we'll have a lot to discuss when we get there."

"Including rooming situations," Ron growled.

Ginny turned slightly red and Hermione looked at him.

Hermione shook her head. "Your sister is fully capable of taking care of herself."

"Thank you!" Ginny agreed.

Ron looked hurt and upset.

"We'll talk about it later," Ron mumbled. There was no way he was letting his sister stay in a hotel room with a boy, even if he and Hermione were just down the hall. He didn't even want to think about what could happen.

"Well, we'll just go get our stuff from home and we'll meet you at the hotel," Keifer said.

You two can't Apparate in here," Hermione said coarsely.

"We weren't going to," Ginny said slightly sheepishly. "We were going to go outside, come on honey."

Keifer gave a slight nod goodbye as Ginny rushed him out.

"Honey?" Ron said disgusted after they had left. "They're disgusting, and they are not sharing a room! Don't think for an instant I'm going to let that guy alone with my sister!"

Hermione sighed. "Well, if you want them to let us alone, then I suggest you be prepared to lighten up a bit, because I for one refuse to room with Ginny and Keifer also."

"I know." Ron knew he was defeated.

"Do you want to send a letter to Harry?"she asked, changing the subject. "Let him know we left safely?"

"Alright," he agreed. "Hopefully things are working out well with him. I just wish he was with us."

"He has his own things to sort out," she said knowingly. "And Aiyana didn't want him to get into something so quickly. She says she's giving him a while before she asks him for anything."

"He deserves a break." Ron pulled out a piece of parchment.

"Well, if Aiyana uncovers that potion, then he'll get one." She began to write.

--

-Noon that Morning-

-The Leaky Cauldron-

Harry entered the Leaky Cauldron and was hit by a wave of dust and alcohol. The place was generally empty except for the tall giant that was seated at a nearby table in the corner. He looked up and smiled brightly when he saw Harry, he stood and he nearly knocked the table over as he came to greet him.

"There ya are 'Arry, righ' on time. How've ya been?"

"Hey, Hagrid," Harry said through a huge hug.

The giant let him go and lead him towards his table.

"So how are ya, 'Arry?" Hagrid asked again as they sat.

"I'm okay." He shrugged. He wasn't ready to say everything yet.

"That's er good, I just got back m'self, from Romania, visiting with Charlie."

"Why?"

"Ya haven' heard?" Hagrid asked, and Harry noticed tears forming in the giants big black eyes.

"No."

"He's gone missin'," Hagrid sobbed. "Grawp's gone missin'. No one knows where he's gone, if he's been kidnapped or nothin'. I've been looking for him everywhere and Charlie thought he might've had a lead, but it was jus' another dead end."

"How long ago?" he asked, wide-eyed.

"Abou' two months ago. No one knows why he'd be gone either. And I don' see why'd he run away, me and him were getting' along really well before he disappeared. Duble- er I mean, Aiyana says that it migh' have something to do with You-Know-Who. She says He wants the giants on His side, maybe He got to Grawp. I just can't help but think something awful has happened to 'em."

"I'm sure he'll turn up," Harry said encouragingly.

"At least the ruddy Prophet hasn't said anything abou' the Giants. Though they're making a righ' big fuss about telling everyone that You-Know-Who is still alive. Death Eaters celebrating and all, I mean, can ya believe it? We all thought he was dead fer sure this time, but I guess if anyone could come back it would be him."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, it would."

"Ya sure you're okay, Harry? I've been hearing a lot of rumors going around – and bloody hell! It's true, yer scar really is gone!" Hagrid stared at him in complete disbelief and Harry shifted uncomfortably.

"Err, yeah." He nodded. "It vanished the day Voldemor-"

"-Don't say his name-"

"-You-Know-Who, was supposedly defeated."

"Blimey, Harry," Hagrid whispered. "That's quite strange. I mean, ya would think that would mean he was gone fer good, if yer scar disappeared."

"Well." Harry paused. "Actually, someone did a spell on my scar, to connect with Voldemort's death."

Hagrid twitched slightly and Harry ignored it.

"A spell, what d'ya mean?"

"Well, err," he muttered. "Draco Malfoy, he actually did the spell."

"Malfoy?" Hagrid said bewildered. "I heard something about that; Malfoy was the one to defeat him? Is that true, 'Arry? Did he really fight by your side in the end?"

"Yea. It's true."

"But he died in the process?"

Harry closed his eyes and nodded. "Yes. But...he's not dead any more."

Hagrid frowned and lowered a mug he was about to drink out of. "Not dead any more? What do ya mean?"

"I brought him back."

"Ya what?"

"He's alive, and staying at my house, actually." He slowly looked up at the giant.

"How did ya bring him back? I mean, why-"

"Ron and Hermione discovered a spell to bring him back," Harry said, trying to sort out the very confused Hagrid.

The last time Hagrid had talked to him he had hated Draco.

"I did it, because err well…" Harry trailed off, everyone he had told so far had had a lot of different reactions, most of which weren't exactly pleasant. "Because I love him."

Hagrid started to choke on his drink, and his eyes bulged. "Ya what?"

Harry didn't say anything, waiting for the Giant to say everything that came to mind.

"Ya, ya, love Malfoy?" Hagrid asked. "Blimey, 'Arry, I..."

"You don't have to say anything, Hagrid. Or understand it, no one really does," he said softly.

"I-" Hagrid blinked a few times. "He's staying with ya?"

Harry nodded. Hagrid didn't need to know about the whole mess that had been started by Draco's return.

They lapsed into silence, and Hagrid ordered another drink. They talked more about Grawp and the many places Hagrid had traveled, but they didn't bring up Draco again, but Harry's mind was always on the boy.

--

-Later-

-The Runic House-

"I-I," Draco repeated.

Harry held his breath; he couldn't believe that Draco had actually kissed him back. He had been almost…hungry for him. What did that mean?

Draco stood up very quickly but Harry was faster, he moved in front of the door and blocked the exit. He wasn't letting him escape so easily, he needed to know what he felt about him, if there was hope.

"Move," Draco hissed.

"No, we have to talk about this."

"If you don't move," Draco said through clenched teeth, his eyes furious. "Then I'll make you."

"Please, Draco."

"Fuck you," Draco rammed a hand into Harry's stomach and Harry almost collapsed to the ground, but caught himself.

Harry summoned up his strength now pissed off and hurt. "Or fuck you if that's how you want it!" he shouted at him.

Draco's eyes widened it horror. "What did you just say?" The blonde moved back a few steps away from Harry.

"Well, do you want me, or don't you? I'm sick of wanting you and not being able to have you! Just tell me how you feel, anything!" Harry then fell silent, regretting losing his temper. Draco didn't remember, he had to remember that. He was just so fed up with being treated like nothing.

Draco's gray eyes watched Harry in bewilderment, and then he shook his head.

"I don't know!" he countered. "I have no idea how I feel about any of this!"

Harry sighed, and then decided he needed to leave. He stormed out of the door, and heard Draco's footsteps behind him.

"You can't walk away from me!" Draco's voice followed him.

Harry stopped and frowned, did Draco actually want to talk about it? Harry swerved around and nearly crashed into him.

"Oh, so you can walk away from me, but I can't from you?"

Draco looked furious but shrugged. "Yes, that's exactly it. You don't turn your back on a Malfoy."

Harry wanted to turn around just to make a point, but found he couldn't when he was staring into the boy's cruel eyes.

"Tell me what's the matter," Harry's voice softened. "Why were you cr-"

"-I'm fine, I don't want to talk about it," Draco said, he seemed determined to not think about it any more.

"Maybe you need to talk about it." Draco wasn't a crier, not much of one anyway.

"I said I don't want to talk about it."

Knock, Knock. Harry's and Draco's eyes both darted to the living room.

"Who's there?" Harry called, giving Draco an annoyed glare and went to answer the door.

"Aiyana," the woman's voice answered.

Harry opened the door and found Aiyana standing there, her blue eyes sparkling and a smile on her face.

"Did I come at a bad time?" she asked.

"No, it's fine, come in," he said.

She entered and nodded to Draco in greeting.

"Hm," Draco muttered and then sat down on the couch.

"Did you receive my letter, erm Minister?" Harry asked her.

They sat on the couch, and Aiyana's smile was still soft across her face even though the atmosphere didn't warrant it.

"Yes, I did. She folded her hands in her lap. "That is another reason I came to you so soon. I'm very concerned about what it might mean."

"That makes three of us," Draco growled, sitting up from his seat.

The raven-haired boy's eyes fell onto Draco with curiosity. He had included him in that sentence, strange...

"Have there been any more incidences?" Aiyana asked calmly.

"Yes," Draco answered after a moment.

Harry frowned and questioned him with a look, but the other boy kept his unwavering gaze on Aiyana.

"When?" Harry asked him.

"Shortly before you got home, when I was at my house." Draco shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh," Harry said. Whatever had driven Draco to tears must have happened there.

"Can you tell me what happened, specifically?" Aiyana asked.

Draco nodded. "I...I appeared back in the same place where I blacked out before, no time had passed, and the Founders asked me what I wanted to know about. I didn't get to ask much, because Bellatrix Lestrange showed up. It seemed like I had run into her before because all the Founders told her to leave me alone, but she told me someone wanted to talk to me, so I went with her...and..."

There was a moment of silence as Draco trailed off and stared into empty space thinking.

"...and?" Harry pressed.

"And then I blacked out again," Draco said quickly. "I awoke right outside the door to my Mother's study. She was talking with an old friend, and I thought they might notice me, so I immediately Apparated back here."

He's lying, Harry thought. Something happened with the person who wanted to meet him.

"Are you telling me, Mr. Malfoy, that you can't remember anything that happened there either?" Aiyana asked.

"I can't remember a thing."

Aiyana reached into her ruby robes and pulled out a small vile filled with a strange blue and red liquid.

"Rosaria Snape and I put this together for you, to help you remember here on this level of existence, but I'm afraid that it won't help you remember what happened in the other," she said softly.

"How long does it take to work?" Harry asked before Draco could.

"It could be a few hours to a few days, I have never tested it before. But it may make you very sleepy and, erm, may cause you to act upon impulses," Aiyana said.

"Great," Draco drawled. "Just what I need." He took the vile from Aiyana. "Do I need to take it with anything?"

"No, you may drink it now if you wish." Aiyana watched him, her eyes calculating. "If you experience anything odd or any extremities of any sort, you are to contact me immediately, do you understand?"

Draco nodded, and uncorked the vile, smelling it carefully. "That's revolting!"

Aiyana chuckled and the two watched Draco wearily down the liquid in one gulp. He shook his head in disgust and licked his teeth.

"Minister," Harry asked, his eyes still on Draco.

"Yes, Harry?" Aiyana asked.

He forced his eyes off, and turned to Aiyana. "Where did you send Ron and Hermione to?"

"I sent them to collect information," she replied calmly. "I'm afraid there's not much more I can tell you, Harry. But, I assure you they are safe for the time being."

He wasn't assured by the comment. "How do you know?"

"Severus Snape and I have made a few arrangements, and as long as my identity is kept safely undisclosed then we still have an advantage."

Harry frowned worriedly, for the one thought that crossed his mind was, 'Voldemort knows.' The night Draco had almost defeated him, the boy had practically told him Dumbledore had bested him, and that he was still very much alive. He had pointed her out...Voldemort knew.

"What is it, Harry?" Aiyana asked.

"I think he knows."

Aiyana frowned. "What, dare I say, are you talking about?"

"Draco told him you were still alive, during the battle. I think he figured it out."

Aiyana's eyes flashed in a panic of fear that Harry rarely saw in them, and she stood up.

"Oh, my," Aiyana said under her breath. "Thank you, Harry, for your hospitality, but I have to check on a few things. Severus could be in a lot of trouble if what you say is true."

Harry nodded, and Aiyana quickly Apparated, and then Harry frowned, how did Aiyana know where his house was? Had Ron and Hermione told her?

--

Draco felt a little queasy, but nothing he couldn't handle. Aiyana's words about Snape scared him though, he trusted Snape, and they had been through a lot. In a sense, he was a father to him as Lucius Malfoy never could be.

"Do you think Snape will be alright?" Draco asked, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

"I'm sure Aiyana will sort everything out," Harry answered. The boy's eyes watched him, and they narrowed almost accusingly. "What happened after you followed Bellatrix?"

"What?" Draco pretended to be confused.

"You know perfectly well what," Harry snapped. "You lied; you didn't wake up then, what happened?"

"How many times do I have to say it, Potter? I don't want to talk about it."

"Who saw you? Your father?"

"N-n-no, my father's not dead."

"He's what? But at the battle...he...you..."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Draco said coldly. "I just know that he isn't dead, because my mum was talking about him."

"Brilliant," he said sarcastically. "We're all screwed."

Draco suddenly felt like he had been dumped into a bucket of ice water, he shivered violently, and Harry rushed over to him.

Drraco wanted to scream at him to get away, but the room seemed to spin.

No, I will not pass out again! He hated the feeling of complete loss of control. He didn't want to face his Uncle. He wouldn't, couldn't.

Draco groaned and placed a hand on his head.

"You alright?" Harry placed a hand on his head.

"Nah-uh," Draco shook his head violently, which only made the sensation of the world spinning worse. "I feel dizzy."

"You're freezing. Lay down, I'll get some blankets."

Harry rushed off, and Draco leaned across the couch, shivering. The room was fading in and out, and he couldn't bare to keep his eyes open any longer...

--

A/N:

Please R&R. More Draco/Harry goodness to come, I promise. Also some surprises to come. Hope you enjoyed. I'll probably update next when we start October break, just one week away! Yay. Well, thanks for reading.