Hey, just wanted to first give a shout out to Less Wrong, and whoever runs The Methods or Rationality webpage. Just wanted to say thank you for adding Dark Lord Material to the list of fanfictions. I wasn't expecting that. Though I'm sure you people do it for every fanfiction for Methods or Rationality, but still its a cool of you to do that. So... THANK YOU!

Anyway, here are chapter.

Thanks Theonebutcher for the name of the book.

Chapter Eight

The Pact

To avoid having to deal with the now not so frightened student body of Hogwarts, Harry left the Great Hall earlier than he usually would have. Greenhouse One was not located within the castle and only a complete idiot would get lost finding it, especially after spending over a semester at Hogwarts. Otherwise, Harry might have used that excuse and purposely arrived late for class just to further put off the host of overly curious students who would not be so easily deterred to interview him.

Harry arrived at Greenhouse one early, early enough that even Professor Sprout had not arrived to prepare the day's lesson. The Greenhouse was locked, so he couldn't even go in there and pretend to be doing something productive. Instead he plopped down on the ground and pulled out 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi' and began sifting through it, not really taking anything in. He'd already read the book entirely twice and it wasn't because he enjoyed it ever so much. He had rushed through it so quickly the first time he hardly remembered a word of it, not that he'd ever admit that to Hermione.

Hermione… He was more than a little concerned with what she would try to get him out of detention. At least he could trust that she wouldn't do anything too drastic. She was a rule abiding student after all… uh maybe not anymore.

The sounds of someone approaching caught Harry's attention and without thinking he looked up from 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi'. Draco Malfoy and his two goons were making their way towards the Greenhouse, the first from Slytherin to arrive that day. At a gesture from Draco, Crabbe and Goyle stopped, crossed their arms, and frowned menacingly at nobody.

Draco continued to Harry, who watched his approach with an expression that made it clear he didn't want to be talked to right now. Draco didn't even pause, just blundered over to Harry, drew out his wand, and said, "Quietus."

"What do you want?" Harry said, none too kindly.

Draco frowned, but other than that gave no more notice of Harry's tone. "We need to talk."

"We're talking," Harry said irritably and looked back down at his book.

"I mean privately."

"No one's around."

"Look, Potter, this is important," something in Draco's tone gave Harry pause, but he did not look up from his book nor did he reply. "Meet me-"

"No," Harry said cutting him off. Despite Harry's mood, his inner Slytherin hissed at him.

What are you doing? This is a Malfoy, not some over egger Gryffindor, or skimpy Hufflpuff. Apologize!

Bugger off! Harry said. Such was his state that he couldn't even be civil with his own imaginary personalities.

"No?" Draco repeated, and Harry, knowing Draco quite well, picked up the edge of annoyance.

"I don't have time," Harry said curtly.

"Then make time," Draco hissed, losing civility himself. "This is important."

"Just tell me now, no one's around."

"I can't just-" Draco took a breath. He bent over, placing a hand on the Greenhouse wall that Harry was propped up against. He leaned over Harry in a threatening manner and if anyone had been watching they would know that the scone of Malfoy was not just having a little chat with The Boy Who Lived before class. Luckily, no one was around, and when Draco next spoke Harry did look up. "It's about our pact," Draco whispered unnecessary.

Harry blinked, and slowly closed his book. He hadn't been expecting that topic to resurface anytime soon.

"What do you mean?" Harry said slowly.

"We can't talk here," Draco said and tried to give a time and meeting place again, but Harry cut him off.

"I'm sorry, Draco, but we have to talk here. I literally do not have the time to meet with you, so please make it quick." Harry said, just barely keeping his annoyance from his voice. It didn't come out apologetic, but at least he was no longer snapping at the hair of Malfoy.

Draco observed him a moment, still poised above, before removing his hand from the wall and squatted down in front of Harry. "Look," he whispered. "Father and I have a chance to unseat Dumbledore and if you want in I'd considered part of our pact fulfilled."

Alarm bells went off in Harry's head, blowing away his former sleep deprived bad mood. This was important and not something Harry could just back out of. If Lucius Malfoy was planning to kill Dumbledore…

"I haven't seen any evidence that shows the Headmaster did what he did," Harry whispered, forgetting that the action was completely unnecessary.

Draco's lip curled. "I thought you took our friendship seriously."

"I do," Harry insisted. "But, Draco, this is-"

"Important, yeah, I told you. Look, Harry, I'm fulfilling my part of the pact. I've started to at least try to restore Slytherin's name. What have you done? Have you put any effort at all into finding evidence? I'm sure it wouldn't be hard for you and your muggle science to find something."

That hurt. Part of Harry knew Draco was trying to manipulate him, or at least suspected he was, but it still hurt and it worked. Harry felt guilty. He really hadn't put any effort into looking up evidence on Dumbledore, and if he did value Draco's friendship he would have at least done that much.

Harry met Draco's disappointed look and he knew that Draco knew he hadn't and it just made him feel worse.

And for some reason Harry thought of Charles Horton Cooley theory 'The Looking Glass Self' which explains how a person's conception of self arises through considering our relationship to others. The theory develops from how we think we appear to others, how we think others judge us, and last how the first two make us feel. It involves perception and effect, the perception of how others see us and the effect of others judgment on us.

Even with this rationalization, Harry still felt guilty.

"Alright, but it's-" Harry began, but Goyle's shout "People coming!" cut him off, and Draco abruptly rose and strode casually over to Crabbe and Goyle.

The more eager Ravenclaw students arrived and Harry noted that Hermione was not among them, which gave him more cause for worry. Noticing the Ravenclaws had spotted him, Harry opened his book once more and made a point of ignoring them. Professor Sprout shortly showed up and opened the Greenhouse, after ten or so minutes the rest of the class arrived, well everyone besides Hermione and Padma, Daphne and Tracy.

The Professors lips pursed together when it was time for class and the girls still weren't there. And just as Harry was about to make an excuse to go look for them, the four girls stumbled into the room, almost one on top of the other and completely out of breath.

"Sorry," Padma panted.

"That's twenty points from Ravenclaw, and twenty points from Slytherin and should I learn you girls were starting trouble it'll be more than that," Professor Sprout said. There was a flicker of something in her facial expression, but it was gone and Harry was too distracted to think much of it.

The girls glanced at Hermione, but said nothing and took their usual seats.

Hermione offered no explanation or apology. She simply took a spot beside Harry, (eyeing down the poor Ravenclaw who'd been previously sitting next to him.)

As Professor Sprout started the lesson, Hermione whispered "Quietus," which surprised Harry, though at this point he really should have learned better. She turned to him and whispered. "We need to talk."

Harry stared at her.