Disclaimer: Same as before...
A/N: I realize that my time frames were a bit off. Let me explain... Harry went home after sixth year, which is NOT HBP compatible. He decided that he was tired of being a whipping boy and did something about it. Then, he goes to Diagon Alley. All of this happens during the summer. He arrives in Diagon Alley on August 29th, 3 days before school starts. He sends Petunia away and plans to stay at the Leaky Cauldron. Dumbledore finds him. Things go from there... Hee Hee! If you have any questions please let me know... I am more than happy to answer them if I can...
And thanks to all who have reviewed! It is really inspiring! I wrote this chapter in two hours after reading your reviews... Please continue to let me know what you think... Constructive criticism is also appreciated!
One more thing, characters may seem a bit OOC, but there is a reason for it...
Manipulating Old Men
Sometimes things happen for a reason, and other times things are manipulated and made to look as if they happened for a reason. Albus Dumbledore was a master at the latter. From the day that Harry Potter was cursed by Voldemort, Albus had made it his mission to create the ultimate weapon against the evil dark lord. If this baby could survive the most powerful curse known to wizard kind, then Albus was going to use him for his own purposes. Although, it had been unfortunate when he had lost Lily and James Potter as lackeys.
Albus knew that Voldemort wasn't dead. He had already known of the evil man's attempts at creating horcruxes. He also knew that only one of those attempts had been a success. Now, he had a weapon to use against the one fool that had tried to steal his own title of "Most Powerful Wizard in a Century".
Every event in Harry's life was very well constructed and thought out. Albus knew that Sirius Black had been innocent, but he had felt that if Sirius were there to take Harry that all of his precious plans would be ruined. Sirius was a loose cannon and he had to be dealt with. So, when Peter Pettigrew had made it look as if he were blown to bits by the auror, Albus had grabbed at the chance to be rid of him.
No-one had ever survived the killing curse before, and he knew that Harry was going to be a very powerful wizard. Not to mention the fact that the prophecy Trelawny had given had clearly stated that Voldemort would mark his equal. There was no way in all of hades that Albus was going to lose his new weapon to the childish and sometimes rash Sirius Black.
Then, there was the fact that Albus had placed Harry with his muggle relatives telling the Order that it was for the boy's own protection. Albus knew very well that the muggles hated anything magical and would probably ignore the child. There were no blood protections on the house. It had been a simple matter to contort a simple anti-apparition ward making it look as if a new spell had been placed on the house.
When Harry's Hogwarts letter had been sent, Albus knew that the muggles wouldn't give it to him. He had planned for just this event and had sent Hagrid, the great oaf, to retrieve his weapon. The man was loyal as a well-loved dog, but Gods! he was stupid! Albus was expecting for Harry to come to Hogwarts just as he had done, in a state of total emotional vulnerability. He knew that if Harry had lacked love and affection for most of his life, Harry would be like putty in his hands. The boy would be craving attention. He had been right. Harry had been so unsure of himself and his place in the world that Albus was able to mold him into a loyal little puppy of the Light. He had even arranged for Molly Weasley to assist Harry at the train station causing Harry to become friends with Ronald. Hermione had been an added bonus when she had joined Harry and Ron on their "adventures". The girl was so eager to learn and please her teachers that she had willingly taken Albus's suggestions that she and Ronald report to him on Harry's doings. Harry never even suspected. For the past six years, Harry had been like a prize labrador performing tricks for his master, but something had happened at the end of his sixth year. Albus didn't know what had caused Harry to suddenly think for himself, but he knew he didn't like it. He also knew that it was going to change. Harry couldn't be allowed to think for himself. He would undoubtedly ruin all of Albus's carefully thought out plans.
Albus sighed heavily as he thought over what he would have to do to get Harry back under his thumb. He honestly believed that Harry would come back to him, apologizing and pleading for forgiveness. Albus would, of course, give it. Then all would be right with the world again. He would have his weapon back, defeat Voldemort, and be renowned as the greatest wizard of all time. Merlin wouldn't even compare to him!
As he sat thinking his delusional thoughts, his eyes slipped closed of their own accord, his hands folded across his middle. After all, he was getting quite old. He deserved a nap now and then. No sooner had he dozed off than there was a loud knock on his office door. He chose to ignore it.
"Humph!" Albus groaned as his peace was shattered by a second, louder knock.
"Albus! Albus!" Minerva McGonagall shouted through the oak door. What was that man doing? Was he out? About to give up, she decided to do a quick spell to see if the headmaster was indeed in his office and trying to nap. She had caught him doing it more and more often lately, and frankly, it worried her a bit. When her spell did indicate that the man was there, she shouted again.
"Albus! It's Harry!" Minerva shouted, knowing that stressing that this was about Potter would urge the old man to let her in. The headmaster had an odd obsession with the boy. He had always been involved in every aspect of the child's life. She shook her head. Albus only acted that way about the boy because he cared deeply for him. She knew this. He had told her as much many times. She was correct in assuming that mentioning Harry's name would get the old man to let her in. As she raised her hand to knock again, the door slowly opened revealing Albus Dumbledore sitting straight in his chair, his hands folded on his desk.
"What is it, Minerva?" Albus asked gently. There was no need to be rude. No matter that she had ruined a perfectly good nap.
"Albus, it's about Harry. He's gone." Minerva stated firmly, her lips pursed in a disapproving line. How had Albus not known this? He had always known what was going on with Harry in the past.
"No, no, my dear. Harry is with his aunt shopping in London. I'm sure they will be back at Privet Drive shortly." Albus replied calmly. He knew where Harry was at. His aunt had taken him to go shopping for his school supplies, which should have seemed odd, but Albus really wasn't concerned about a teenage boy's shopping experiences. It should have occurred to him that Harry had never gone shopping with his aunt, but once again, Albus was too busy thinking of himself. Currently, the boy was... Albus's thoughts trailed off as he realized that he had no idea exactly where in London Harry had gone.
"Albus?" Minerva questioned as she noticed the startled look flash across the man's face before it was instantly gone.
"Albus, Harry's aunt returned home an hour ago without him. Tonks just flooed me to inform me of his disappearance." Minerva shared the information that she had just received from an obviously upset Nymphadora Tonks. The young auror was rather attached to Harry and when he didn't arrive home with his aunt, she thought the worst.
"He what?" Albus asked incredulously.
"He didn't return with her." Minerva answered. "Should we send someone to speak to the aunt?"
"No. I will go. Harry is my charge and I mean to see him safe." Dumbledore said.
"Yes, Albus. I will send Nymphadora and her team to meet you at Privet Drive in case you should need them." Minerva offered helpfully.
Dumbledore just nodded once and strode from his office. How dare that woman!? Who was she to imply that he, Albus Dumbledore, would need "help" from a bunch of children who played at being aurors?! He wouldn't say as much to her though. It wouldn't do for her to know his plans for Harry this year. Albus had decided that once he got Harry back under his thumb, this year would be the end of the war. He only needed the boy to draw Voldemort out, so Albus could cast the fatal curse and save the world. It was quite simple really. He just hadn't thought out how he wanted the confrontation to take place.
Once he reached the point of apparition outside of Hogwart's gates, Albus smiled. It wasn't the benign grandfatherly smile he put on for everyone else. It was the smile of an egotistical madman thinking he was about to win the greatest prize of all. How could he not? He was Albus Dumbledore, Supreme Mugwump, Headmaster of Hogwarts, and the greatest wizard of all time. With that last thought, he apparated to the Dursley's house on Privet Drive.
"Where is he Petunia? I know you know where Harry is at." Dumbledore cajoled. He would have used Legilimency on the stupid woman, but why waste his time. She was simply too afraid of him to lie.
"I-I don't know." Petunia stuttered. This man was suppose to take care of Harry during the school year. Why would he care if Harry were in London? The boy was old enough to go shopping alone. It was the old man's adamancy that she tell him where her nephew was that put up a red flag. Petunia may not like the magical world due to a childhood jealousy of her own sister, but she was no fool. She had seen many a witch and wizard in her lifetime, and this man was no different. Oh yes, she could feel a sense of power surrounding the man, but it was no greater than what she felt when Harry was in the room. Actually, it wasn't even as close as powerful as how it felt when Harry was there.
"Petunia, please. Harry could be in great danger!" Dumbledore insisted. He knew that Harry being in danger probably wouldn't sway her, but he could try. It was getting more difficult to deal with the woman. She wasn't giving him any information.
"I dropped him off in London as he asked me to! The boy is seventeen years old! He's plenty old enough to shop alone and take a bus home later! Are you suggesting that I have done something wrong for giving into the child's wishes for freedom?" Petunia was getting angry. She hadn't always been as caring and affectionate towards Harry, but that was because she had been blinded by jealousy. She no longer held to the delusion that her husband did. There was a magical world, and it wasn't so bad after all. She had seen so many amazing things with Harry that afternoon! It would be breathtaking to be able to share what she had seen with her own son. She wanted Dudley to understand that just because someone was different, it didn't mean that they were bad. After all, Dudley was different in his own way. There was no way she was going to betray her nephew now. He had opened her eyes, and she had liked what she had seen.
"I am not implying anything. I simply want to be sure that Harry is safe." Dumbledore bit back a sigh. He was getting nowhere with this. There must be some other way to find Harry. Now that the boy was seventeen, the ministry wouldn't be tracking his magic, but Dumbledore was. As of yet, Harry hadn't used any magic. It was just as this thought was crossing his mind, Albus felt a surge in his own mind. Could it be? Focusing on where it had come from, he was able to determine that it was indeed Harry. He had just performed a locking charm, and he was at the Leaky Cauldron! Wonderful! Now to get out of this awful, dull place.
"Thank you, Petunia. I shall bother you no more. We will find Harry, and return him to you shortly." Dumbledore said with finality having no intention whatsoever to bring Harry back here. It was because of this ignorant muggle that he had almost lost his greatest weapon in the war.
Nodding once, Dumbledore walked out of the house, signaled to Tonks and the other members of the Order she had called in, to follow, and apparated to the Leaky Cauldron.
Upon arriving at the wizarding pub, Dumbledore had sent the Order members in to investigate. He had bigger fish to fry. He immediately went up the stairs, towards the rooms for rent, to the spot where Harry had performed his locking charm. Stopping in front of the door to room 12, he sighed at how strong the spell actually was. It didn't escape his notice that the room his weapon had chosen was the same number of the house of his godfather's home. He briefly wondered if the boy had chosen this room for that reason.
Harry must have had someone else help him with the locking charm. Although he couldn't find any trace of any other magical signature outside of Harry's, Albus was sure that he'd had help. He knew that the boy would be powerful, but it was quite impossible for the boy to have created a locking charm that Albus Dumbledore couldn't break. On this thought, he headed back down the stairs.
While Dumbledore had been upstairs trying to break Harry's locking spell, Tonks and the others had spotted the table of Slytherins. Immediately they surrounded the table and began firing accusations. No, they never asked simple questions. None of the basic, "Have you seen him?" stuff for the Order of the Phoenix. They all knew that Slytherins were bad. Snape was the only exception, and only because Albus Dumbledore said so.
"What did you do with Potter?" a short, fat balding man with a graying mustache demanded.
Draco had seen Dumbledore and his minions enter the pub, but had thought nothing of it. Then it hit him why they might be there. Was Harry not suppose to be here? Draco thought to himself. He chose to ignore the fact that he had just thought of Potter as Harry. He really hadn't been surprised when the stupid fat man had began accusing them of doing something to the Boy-Who-Lived.
"And why, pray tell, would you think that Potter came here?" Draco drawled, leaning back comfortably in his chair. In reality, he was pulling his wand from the hidden sheath in his dragon hide boot. Blaise caught on to what Draco was doing, and he also relaxed in his chair, slumping slightly. If anyone had bothered to look, they would easily have noticed what the two boys were up to. Which, if they had been in different company, would have gotten them killed. Everyone knew that Slytherins simply did not slump. Especially when those Slytherins were a Malfoy and a Zabini.
Pansy, and the girl sitting with them, noticed Draco and Blaise's actions. Pansy decided to try to take some of the notice off the two boys by making a scene, which was something else Slytherins did not do, except in times of absolute need. She judged that now could possibly be one of those times. She only hoped that Lucius would keep Potter outside for a bit. It just wouldn't do for him to come traipsing in now.
"Excuse me, you overgrown snorlack! I don't know who you think you are coming in here and disrupting our peaceful luncheon! I am appalled at your behavior, you stupid muggle loving cretin!" Pansy shouted, standing proudly. She fought to keep the blush off her face. She knew she sounded like a petulant child, but it was the best she could do at the moment.
"Sit down, girl!" Shacklebolt growled. He pointed his wand at Pansy, which did nothing to help his situation. It only infuriated the girl.
"I have a name you bumbling idiot! I am Pansy Parkinson and if you don't remove that blasted stick from my face, you will not live to regret it." Pansy replied in a deadly quiet voice.
Draco knew that the stupid man had gone too far. You just didn't tell Pansy what to do. She didn't take too well to authority sometimes. Especially when that authority had no right to behave the way he was towards her. Besides the fact that she was the last of the Innocence. The Innocence were a group of witches who had taken it upon themselves to remove the most threatening dark wizards from the world. They had had a large part in helping Dumbledore defeat Grindelwald, although the old man would deny that he had received aid from anyone. She would be a great asset in aiding Potter with defeating the Dark Lord. It was too bad that she was the last. All of the others had already been brutally murdered. It was still unknown if it had been Voldemort who had done it. Pansy had survived due to the fact that she had insisted on her anonymity. It wouldn't have helped anyone if her father knew of her association, being that he was a Deatheater.
"I said sit down!" Shacklebolt took a step toward the very irate Slytherin when all of a sudden his wand was no longer in his hand.
Pansy laughed in his face as the other girl, no one had noticed her until now, held Shacklebolt's wand in her hand and was twirling it playfully.
"It is you who should be sitting down." she said in a very soft musical voice. Every single person in that pub sat down right where they were standing. For some reason, none of them found reason not to do as the enchanting blue eyed beauty requested.
Draco looked over at his cousin. She truly was a veela of the highest regard. He had only inherited part of the veela traits, and only in small doses at that. He could use the veela charm on those around him, but he hadn't quite perfected it yet. His cousin, Amalie, had no such qualms. It came naturally to her. She was over half veela, and had been raised by fully bonded parents.
Draco's parents weren't both veela. His father was only half and his mother wasn't even Lucius's bonded. Draco knew nothing about the special potion and spell that had allowed his father and his mate to create a child. He only knew that his father had been taken from his mate. It would come as a great surprise to the Slytherin Prince when his father revealed who his mate truly was.
"Thank you." Amalie smiled innocently.
She hadn't expected her visit to see her favorite cousin to be quite so exciting. She hadn't seen Uncle Lucius and Draco for at least six years, not since Draco had been a first year at Hogwarts. She had begged her parents to allow her to attend the same school as Draco, but they had been adamant that Britain wasn't safe. It was quite sad at how right they had truly been.
So, Amalie had received her education at an American school in Salem. She had only been allowed to visit this summer because Lucius had requested her assistance in helping Draco to find his mate. Amalie, being more veela than Draco, knew more about the signs involved when one spotted their mate. She hadn't found her own yet, but she was well trained to notice the signs. She hoped, that while helping her cousin, she might find her own lifelong mate. She was also starting to get the "itchy" feeling that Draco had spoken of to her.
Amalie's parents knew how hard it was on a young veela to find their mate. It had taken them many years. and quite a few discussions, which ended with them begging their parents for approval before they were allowed to be bonded. It was because of their own experiences that they had agreed to Amalie coming to Britain to help Draco.
Obviously, Draco hadn't needed help. Amalie smiled to herself as she watched her cousin and his friends stand quickly when the old man who had preceded this ridiculous group of people into the pub came down the stairs. Draco could handle himself. She would just sit back and watch. Maybe she would learn a thing or two that her parents had warned her about.
Draco sighed and stood up when he spotted the dotty, old fool Dumbledore. He just knew this was going to get worse. Any minute Potter and Lucius would walk through that door, hopefully together, and old Dumby was going to have a conniption fit. He couldn't help the smirk that found its way to his face at the stupid, old man's expression when he saw everyone, but the Slytherins, sitting wherever they pleased. There were people sitting on the floor, on the bar, some were even precariously balanced on top of each other. It was quite the amusing sight. Dumbledore apparently didn't agree.
"What is going on here?!" Albus asked in astonishment. "What have you little heathens done to these people? Get up, all of you!" He simply could not believe his eyes. There were people everywhere. Literally, everywhere. Everyone, but the Slytherins, looked like complete fools. He was especially irritated at the fact that nine of those people were suppose to be his army. What happened here?
At Dumbledore's outburst, Tonks jumped to her feet followed slowly by the other members of the Order. They weren't quite sure why they were being yelled at though. They were just doing as the pretty little girl asked them.
"Sir, why are you angry? We were only doing as we were asked." Tonks stated confusedly.
"As you were asked? Who asked you to make total fools of yourself?" Draco piped up showing off all the glory of his patented Malfoy smirk. He just couldn't stop himself. They made it too easy with their stupidity.
"Mr. Malfoy, I suggest you have a seat, and explain to me where Mr. Potter has gone." Dumbledore tried, using his authority as headmaster to frighten the boy, but realized a little too late that it had the opposite effect.
This child was a menace. He should have removed the boy from Hogwarts years ago. The only reason he hadn't done so was because the Malfoy brat had unknowingly pushed Harry closer to the headmaster and his plans. It didn't help that the castle, herself, hadn't allowed it. That still puzzled Albus a bit. Why wouldn't Hogwarts want all potential dark wizards gone? And Draco Malfoy was definitely the most potential dark wizard since Tom Riddle.
"And I suggest that you leave me be. I don't know what's happened to your precious Potty! Perhaps he's realized what a bumbling old fool you are and wanted his freedom!" Draco said in a low growl as he drew his wand on Dumbledore. Draco had always wondered why Potter had allowed himself to be manipulated so easily. Did the Gryffindor even realize what was going on? Probably not, Draco thought as he smirked to himself. Potter was, after all, a bloody Gryffindor.
Not one to be outdone, Albus drew his own wand and pointed it at Draco.
"I am quite sure, Mr. Malfoy, that you are making a very grave mistake." Dumbledore replied, no trace of a twinkle in sight.
He was tiring of this boy's game. Albus doubted very seriously that the Malfoy heir knew where Harry was at, but it was quite enjoyable to threaten a future Deatheater. Regardless of what everyone in the wizarding world believed, Albus hated the Slytherins. He would have done away with them long ago had he been able. The only reason he kept Snape around was to get information from him about Voldemort. He really didn't care if the man died or not, but if he was dead then he would have to find some other stupid snake to take his place. And honestly, Albus just didn't have the patience any longer.
It was this scene that Harry walked into after his little chat with Lucius Malfoy. Needless to say, he was furious.
Harry and his somewhat unwilling companions found themselves in a small clearing of trees. Harry assumed he had somehow apparated them to the Forbidden Forest. Why in Isis's name he would bring them here, he truly didn't know. What he did know was that Dumbledore had gone too far. Placing a tracking charm on him? What? Did the fool believe him to be an idiot. Harry sighed as he realized that's exactly what Albus Dumbledore thought him to be. A reckless, idiotic puppet. Well, Harry was determined that things were going to change.
"Potter? Where are we?" Blaise asked curiously. He was looking up and could see a brilliantly blue sky above them. All around them were large, overgrown trees. Some of them looked quite menacing. A howl could be heard in the distance, and snuffling sounds were coming from the not so distant area. There was soft, spongy grass under their feet, in which Blaise had an overwhelming urge to run barefoot. Being a true Slytherin, he fought down the urge to be a child and carefree, as he always had fought it down, and looked to Potter for an answer.
"I think I know where we are." Draco said nervously. "It looks a bit different in the light." For some reason, that log over there by the edge of the clearing looked quite familiar. As did the silvery stain on the ground in front of it. Taking in the surrounding trees carefully and seeing the dirt path that led away from the clearing, Draco suppressed a shudder. This was the clearing that he and Potter had seen the dark lord drinking blood from a wounded unicorn.
"Potter, do you know where we are?" Pansy asked, somewhat alarmed at the look of fear that she'd seen pass over Draco's face. Whatever he was remembering about this place wasn't a good thing.
"Mr. Potter?" Lucius asked softly. He had come to, instantly, when they had landed in Potter's room at the Leaky Cauldron. He looked around himself and realized exactly where they were at. He only hoped that they could get out of here fast enough. It wouldn't do for them to run into a certain dark lord intent on killing the one person who could probably save them all.
"Huh?" Harry mumbled as he shook his head. He was also remembering his first year when he and Malfoy had seen Voldemort for the first time. This place was almost beautiful in the light, except for the dark taint that he could see surrounding them. This clearing had been used recently to perform some kind of dark magic. Harry could see the sickly green afterbursts left by the killing curse. Especially, over by that log. He walked closer to it when a pale hand grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"You don't want to go over there." Draco whispered. He was still haunted by nightmares from that night in first year. It didn't help him to know that his father had described this exact spot as the dark lord's favorite for his meetings. Once again, Draco tried to suppress a shudder, but he knew he didn't quite succeed.
"No, I don't. But, I have to." Harry replied quietly.
Harry felt the slight shiver from Draco. He knew what the other boy was thinking, and he felt the same. He also knew that he would never get past that moment of fear in his life if he didn't confront it openly.
Harry had always been afraid, but after the past six years, he had learned that to be afraid was to be vulnerable. That was why Dumbledore had so easily ran his life. That was why the Dursley's had treated him so badly. That was why Ron and Hermione thought he was weak. That was why Malfoy had always teased him, or so that was why he thought Malfoy had treated him that way. Malfoy knew the truth, but he wasn't sharing, yet. Fear had ruled his life for so long, Harry knew he had to overcome it. One thing at a time. Sirius had told him that. Take one thing at a time. If he hadn't learned anything else from his godfather, he had learned that.
"I won't be a slave to my fear anymore. All I've done has been to allow everyone else to run my life. Well, I'm fed up with Dumbledore. I'm fed up with the ministry. I'm fed up with my so-called 'friends'. Traitors more like it, I think. It's time I faced my old fears and got over it." Harry said aloud. He knew the Slytherins would respect his wishes. They were well known for conquering what they were afraid of and moving past it.
With that being said, Harry walked over to the spot where a silvery stain still marred the ground after six years of weather and whatnot else. He knelt on the spot where he remembered the unicorn to have been and bowed his head. He was paying his last respects to innocence. It had been that night that he had truly lost his own.
Draco watched Potter approach the silver stain and couldn't help but admire his courage. There had been times over the last six years he, himself, had wished for the courage of Potter. The other teen didn't worry about the consequences of his reckless actions. It was as if he knew he was going to die young and refused to be held down by that. That's why Draco had always wondered why Dumbledore had such a strong hold on the teen. Draco decided that he too needed to put away childish fears and move on. As these thoughts came to his mind, he really wasn't surprised to find himself already standing at Potter's side. Not daring to look at his father, Draco Malfoy knelt on the damp earth next to his future.
Harry was surprised to feel another body kneeling close to his own. He could feel the fear and reluctance as Malfoy approached, but he also felt it fade away as the other boy knelt next to him. Not thinking about his actions, Harry turned to Malfoy and looked him in the eye. Seeing nothing, but honest sincerity in Malfoy's actions, Harry did something he never thought he'd do. Harry Potter offered his hand in friendship to Draco Malfoy.
Draco held back the gasp that threatened to escape his throat as he looked into Potter's eyes. He couldn't help but be drawn into the depths of the stunning green orbs. He felt as if Potter were looking for something, and then the green eyed god had found it. When Potter held out his hand, Draco knew in his heart that this was his chance at redemption. He smiled a small, genuine smile and reached out and took Potter's hand.
When that pale, fragile looking hand gripped his strongly, Harry knew he had made the right choice. He smiled back at Malfoy and squeezed his hand slightly. For the life of him, Harry still couldn't look away from those deep, enticing silver orbs. Now that he thought about it a bit, Malfoy's eyes weren't silver nor grey. They were the most amazing shade of lace agate that Harry had ever seen.
"Ahem, excuse me." Lucius felt like a prat interrupting Draco and his new found friend?, but he knew that they had to be going or something nasty could happen. This was the same clearing that the dark lord preferred to use for his Deatheater meetings. Lucius knew the psycho kept wards all around the place. What he couldn't understand was how Potter had apparated? through them. He still wasn't sure if what the child had done was apparition or something completely different. It didn't have the same sucking-you-through-a-small-tube feeling, but they had definitely gone from there to here. Maybe Potter had discovered a way to apparate minus the odd discomfort. Regardless, Lucius knew it was time to go. He could feel the presence of dark magic and suspected that Potter could too.
"Yes, Father?" Draco asked as he stood up dusting the dirt and leaves from his robe.
"We need to be leaving this place. It isn't safe here." Lucius said, looking directly at Potter. He knew the boy had realized what happened here. He just hoped that he wouldn't hate Draco for his father's heinous deeds.
"Yeah, I feel weird here." Blaise said. He hadn't spoken before, content to watch Draco and Potter. He knew that Draco had always had a thing for the black haired Gryffindor. He just wished that things had happened differently. He'd tried to convince Draco to actually court the boy instead of provoking him. Like all Malfoys before him, and probably all after him, Draco had ignored what his best friend had suggested.
"Me, too" Pansy said, glancing around them worriedly.
"Yes, Uncle, we should go." Amalie said. "I feel something approaching. It is neither human nor beast."
Lucius would not ignore his niece. She had an uncanny ability to tell when danger was approaching.
"Draco?" Harry questioned softly. He had used his first name. It felt so right rolling off his tongue. He decided to say it again.
"Draco." Harry said more firmly, a shy smile on his flushed face.
"Harry?" Draco asked quietly in return. He was also testing out how the name sounded to him. Deciding he liked the effect it had, he also said it again.
"Harry."
"Draco, Potter, we must go." Lucius said urgently. He was gripping his left arm trying hard not to let his pain show.
Harry noticed the strain in the elder Malfoy's tone and once again, they were encased in a silver mist.
"How do you do this?" Pansy asked in awe.
"I don't know." Harry replied with a grin, and they were gone.
Voldemort apparated into his favorite clearing just as the group had been surrounded by the mist. What the bloody hell was that? Thinking it was the lost soul of the unicorn he had defiled six years ago, Lord Voldemort, really Tom Riddle, decided it was time to start holding his meetings elsewhere. But, for now this would have to do.
Voldemort waved his wand creating a throne out of brush and brambles. He then called his faithful followers to him. Counting to ten, he waited. He was pleased when nineteen simultaneous pops displayed their loyalty to their master. Immediately, each Deatheater dropped to their knees and bowed before their lord. He waited one more moment. There were two missing. Glancing around the semi-circle of bowing heads, Voldemort hissed loudly. His two most faithful were not here. This was quite displeasing.
"Nott! Where are Lucius and Severus?" Voldemort hissed loudly.
Nott scrambled forward on his knees to answer his lord. Not daring to look up, he mumbled something incoherently.
"What was that you idiot?" Voldemort asked menacingly.
"Lord, I do not know." Nott said a little louder.
"Crucio." Voldemort said casually. "I suggest you find out. You have ten minutes." He needn't say more. Voldemort smirked as he watched Nott scramble to his feet and disapparate with a pop.
"Now, my most loyal on with business. We will be attacking Diagon Alley at the first of the year. You all know what you must do. Now, do it!" Voldemort said in a cold tone before disapparating away.
The Deatheaters climbed to their feet and one by one they were gone. They only had three months to prepare. Several had last minute affairs to put in order, and most just wanted a chance to see their families before it would be too late.
The most amazing thing happened when Harry apparated his little group the last time. They all ended up in different places. Harry found himself standing in his room at the Leaky Cauldron. He looked around and realized that the others were no longer with him. Where were they? What had happened? He was beginning to get frantic when there was a soft knock on his door. Unsure whether or not to answer, he drew his wand and a purple haze surrounded him. Deciding that it might be one of the Slytherins he called out.
"Come in!"
The door slowly opened to reveal Severus Snape. He smirked slightly as he saw Potter in a dueling stance, his wand drawn, and a curse already on his lips.
"Potter, please do not finish that." Severus said quietly.
Harry looked at the man standing in front of him and was a bit surprised at what he saw. Snape didn't look quite the same. His hair was shiny and clean. He was wearing robes of the deepest saphire that Harry had ever seen. Snape's eyes were shining brightly, and he did something Harry had never seen him do before. He smiled. Snape just smiled at me! Harry was floored.
"Er-Sir?" Harry questioned. Was this really Snape? It had to be someone using Polyjuice. Once more on his guard, Harry never lowered his wand.
"Potter, it is admirable that you should be so diligently aware of your surroundings, but please lower your wand." Severus said politely. He was here for a reason and saw no reason to cause undue trouble.
"Professor, I would be happy to do as you ask, except for the fact that I believe you to be an imposter." Harry replied just as politely. There was no way this was Snape.
"Mr. Potter, I can prove who I am."Snape replied, amusement dancing in his usually cold black eyes.
"Then do it before I hex you into next week!" Harry was starting to get an itchy feeling in his feet. Something was telling him he should go, but first he had to deal with this imposter.
"I know who you are, and where you come from." Severus stated softly. He was wishing that he'd come here as his usual self. Why the hell did he let Lucius make him get all dressed up just to talk to Potter? Damn you, Lucius! The things Severus would do for those he cared about. He let that thought fade away before staring deeply into Potter's eyes.
"It won't work." Harry said. "Legillemency doesn't work on me anymore. I'm not quite sure why though."
"I can tell you why you silly boy. I wasn't attempting to read your mind, Potter. I was simply trying to show you that I am being sincere." Severus was getting twitchy now. He knew that the Order was still out looking for Potter and the others he had whisked away with him. He had to get the boy to come with him to Malfoy Manor where he would be safe.
"So tell me."
"I need you to come with me to Malfoy Manor. It isn't safe here. The headmaster is not going to give up on his search for you. Come with me." Severus scowled as he realized that he had finished his last sentence in a pleading tone. He really needed to get out of here, and if Potter wouldn't come willingly, Snape was going to make him go.
"Oh, okay." Harry said easily. "Let's go."
Severus stared in awe as Harry Potter was caught up in a swirling mist and was suddenly gone. Why hadn't he simply said that from the start? It would have made this meeting a lot easier. He was still a bit surprised about how easily Potter had agreed to go. Maybe it was the child's heritage? He grinned widely, stretching facial muscles he forgot he had, and apparated away to where his bonded was waiting.