Title: Bounty Hunter II: Black and White

Author: Snippy of Snippy and Snarky

Pairing: H/D, Hr/SS, (other pairings added as story continues))

Disclaimer: HP & Co NOT MINE – don't sue.

Synopsis: Note: Disregard sixth book as the first Bounty Hunter was written before it came out, and does not incorporate its plots and character arcs. The struggle between shades of grey is enough to tear a hero in two. . .

Rating: Mature, R, Adult – rated for language explicit sexual situations and violence – reader discretion is advised.

A/N's IMPORTANT: From this point on, the Harry that is currently hanging out in Slytherin will be called "Bane", as per his request. The Harry that was rescued by Snape, Hermione and Ginny will be Harry. They will both be called "Potter" from time to time. Let me know if that's too confusing.

Oh – and still looking for betas. Thanks. Peace, love and a couple of sarcastic snakes!

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Bane stood and languidly stretched, like some sort of predatory cat who had been napping in the sun. He rolled his neck and yawned, a satisfied smirk curving his luscious mouth. Draco's breath caught in his throat.

"You look like you could use a shower, my friend," Bane purred.

"Do I?" Draco tried to wet his lips, his mouth suddenly dry.

"Yeah, why don't you do that? I'll be back." Bane headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"What are you, my mother?" Bane scoffed. Draco was taken aback. Harry had never joked about mothers. "I'm going for a walk around."

"Hey, Rockstar!"

Bane turned, eyebrow raised.

"Put a shirt on, for Merlin's sake." Draco tossed him the folded green sweater from the table.

Bane grinned. Tossing the shirt into the air, he waved his left hand and when he caught it, it had been transfigured into a black dragonleather vest that matched his pants. "Thanks for the tip."

Draco watched the dark haired man stroll out of the room, his walk had changed. As a young boy, Harry had kind of trampled along. The hardened Bounty Hunter had walked with poise, but simply, with purpose and economy of motion. This man walked with a lethal grace that sent shivers down Draco's spine. There was something different about this man, but Draco couldn't put his finger on it.

With a sigh, the blond headed for a hot shower. He pictured Bane's flashing green eyes again. Maybe a cold shower. SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Hermione wandered the corridor that used to be forbidden. Echoes of her childhood burned into her brain. She, Harry and Ron screaming when they saw the three-headed dog. The Chess Room trap, when she thought Ron might be dead for a terrifying minute. She found herself in front of the room with the trap door and entered mindlessly.

There was Harry, dressed in black leather pants and a vest, standing in front of the Mirror of Erised. "Harry?"

He turned slowly, showing no surprise. "Hermione."

"What are you going? And more importantly, what are you wearing?"

"You were expecting a Hogwarts uniform?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I don't spend that much energy imagining what you're wearing," Hermione shot back, a little stung by his sarcasm.

"If you say so." He shrugged.

Hermione felt a slight blush rising to her cheeks, and suddenly missed Severus a lot. What was wrong with her? This was her best friend in the world – and he had been through a lot. So he was a little different. He had become that way to save her, and she would not hold that against him. She would just have to get used to the man he had become.

He had turned back to the mirror. "You remember what this does?"

"The Mirror of Erised? Shows your heart's desire."

"I used to come here and see me standing next to my parents."

"I know."

"When I first found out about the prophecy, that either I or Voldemort would die, I thought I was going to lose. That I would die and finally be with my parents and that's what I had seen in the mirror." He spoke without emotion.

"Oh, Harry."

"And then, after the War started, right before the Christmas Massacre, I came up here again, and I didn't see my parents anymore."

"What did you see?" Hermione was enthralled. Harry seemed to be speaking to himself, from his inner psyche, and she was fascinated to be able to listen, to have the opportunity to see into this enigma.

"Me killing Voldemort. Over and over. A thousand different ways. Each way more painful than the last." His eyes were unfocused as the words spilled out of his mouth.

"And what do you see now, Harry?"

"Now? I see me. Just me." He half turned towards her, a calm expression on his face.

Hermione reached up and smoothed his hair out of his eyes. "Maybe that means you're happy."

"Maybe." He turned back to the mirror and froze, staring at his forehead in the mirror.

"Hard to get used to that old scar being gone?" Hermione asked sympathetically.

"Yeah." He shook himself, but his eyes stayed fixed on the mirror. "Hey, would you mind giving me a few minutes alone?"

"No, not at all." She turned to go. "Dumbledore told me you agreed to play Seeker tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Harry," she said, exasperated. "The brunch, the Quidditch game – followed by a ball in your honor – any of this ringing a bell?"

"Yeah, of course." Harry nodded slowly, a slight smile curving his lips. "I'll be there."

"See you later then?" She watched as his gaze returned to the mirror, and hid a sigh.

"Bye." When the door closed, Bane's expression transformed into a deep scowl. In the mirror, his reflection had a scar. SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Ginny looked up at the sound of footsteps echoing through the Chamber. There, walking towards her as if he owned the Chamber of Secrets, was Lucius Malfoy. Her heart leapt into her throat.

"Well, well, what have we here?" Lucius leaned on his cane, his eyes sweeping the redhead at his feet. "A Weasley?"

"Ginny Weasley," She corrected, scrambling to her feet only to find herself entirely too close to Lucius.

"How did you get down here?" His eyes traveled her body once more, taking in the wrinkled skirt and low-cut top.

"Walked."

"And what is a fine former Gryffindor like yourself doing in the Chamber of Secrets?" He inquired, towering over her, daring her to take a step back.

"Saying goodbye to . . . an old friend, not that it's any of your business."

"I see." His voice intimated that he saw more than she wanted him to. His knowing expression was creating a pit of anxiety in her stomach. "Well, are you quite finished?"

"I'm sorry, aren't you supposed to be dead?" Ginny was slowly regaining her ability to think, feeling like she had been in a trance for several hours.

"Rumors that have been greatly exaggerated," he offered.

"Apparently."

"Ginny, I don't want to leave you down here."

"Does Harry know you're here?"

"That's a more complicated question than you know." Lucius smiled. "Come to dinner with me."

"Excuse me?!"

"You look famished. And it's not good for a young girl to hang around in damp dungeons all day. Besides, we have a mutual friend who died." Lucius' eyes pierced into hers. He leaned down, his silky blond hair brushing her cheek. His lips touched her ear as he whispered, "You and I both know that I'm the only one who understands what you're feeling now, who won't hate you for it."

Ginny shivered, but refused to examine the way she was feeling. She just nodded and let Lucius put his arm around her and lead her out of the Chamber. SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Harry Potter stood up, walking away from the lake without looking back. Tomorrow, there would be a gala – starting with some kind of fancy brunch, then an afternoon Quidditch game (that Harry had agreed to play seeker for), and then a formal dinner and ball. Dumbledore had warned Harry that he would have to make speeches and participate, pretend everything was alright. It seemed so pointless. He wasn't much for putting on a show just to make people feel better, but he was too tired to fight right now.

Everything seemed to be a distance, like he wasn't really here. Hogwarts seemed like some kind of dream, a nightmare from which he couldn't wake.

Harry wrapped his arms around himself, the rough wool of his black sweater chafing his arms. His hand automatically searched for the werewolf tooth necklace, but he had lost it in the final battle. Well, what he had thought was the final battle.

As he entered the Great Hall, he saw Hermione sitting at the Head Table, sifting through some papers. They were probably the plans for the party.

"Hey there." He sat down across from her.

"Hey – you changed." She eyed his jeans and sweater, which seemed to suit him much better.

"Physically or mentally?" He asked, wryly.

Hermione smiled. "I know what you mean."

"So, where's Snape?" He eyed her warily.

"Setting up an apartment for us in Ravenclaw." She smiled. "You haven't seen Ginny have you?"

Harry shook his head. "So how are 'things' going with you two?"

"You really want to know?"

Harry fought a shudder. "I don't want details! Just – are you happy? Is this what you wanted? Have you recovered from your temporary insanity?"

"Harry!" She swatted at him playfully. He ducked her, and from the way he moved, she knew he had to fight the instinct to counterattack. She swallowed hard. "I'm happy, Harry."

"Good."

"What about you? Are you happy . . . ?" She felt ridiculous. She was looking at him and could see he wasn't happy. "Do you miss Draco?"

Harry gazed at her without expression. "I don't like not knowing where he is.'

"That's not exactly the same thing."

"No, but it's truthful."

"Maybe he'll show up tomorrow." She leaned forward, bracing her chin on her hand. "It's like him to take off to be alone and show back up with no explanation."

"You know him that well?"

"Captivity in someone's basement gives you a whole new perspective on intimacy," She said darkly. For a second, she seemed to be lost in thought, but shook herself out of it. "Besides, spy or not, there's not a lot of love for Malfoy's anymore."

"Yeah, well, I'm sure he'll turn up."

"Like a bad knut, Potter." Draco's voice sounded behind them. "Miss me?"

Hermione watched as a rush of relief swept Harry. He didn't smile, but he froze for a second, then gave Draco the upward nod that men seemed to exchange in greeting. She stood and gathered her things.

"Well, I better go check on Severus, make sure our whole apartment isn't decorated in black . . . talk to you tomorrow!" Hermione rushed out of the room.

Harry looked up at Draco. "So, there's going to be a Quidditch match tomorrow."

"I can honestly say I never expected that to be the first words out of your mouth to me."

"I was hoping to get the chance to kick your ass – wanna play seeker?"

"Against you?" Draco smirked. "Any day."

Harry nodded.

"Aren't you going to ask me where I've been?"

"No."

"Well. I'm staying in Slytherin. I'm – the only one there."

"The only one still alive, you mean." Harry felt a slight sense of satisfaction at that thought and it disgusted him.

An image of his father flashed in Draco's mind. "Yeah."

A moment of silence stretched between them. Draco cleared his throat. "So, you're in Gryffindor?"

"Seemed appropriate." Harry shifted uncomfortably. "Might be teaching Dark Arts this fall. Defense against, that is."

"Wow. So they're really reopening Hogwarts." When Harry only nodded silently, Draco perched on the table in front of him. "Cheer up, Hero. You made it. You're alive."

"Could've fooled me."

"Wouldn't be the first time," Draco drawled. "You seemed happier before the fight was over."

"I'm . . . more than tired. Weary." Harry passed a hand over his face.

Draco settled himself next to Harry, edging close enough that their shoulders touched. They sat in a more comfortable silence for a long time.

Unbeknownst to them, Bane stood in the shadows of the room, watching. An idea began to form in his mind. Yes, this could work. . .