HARRY'S POV:

Flashes of his hands on my skin. His lips on mine. So warm and alive. Our bodies pulsing in time with each other, desperate to become one...

Something wasn't right, I thought. It wasn't warm anymore. I slowly woke up, shivering. The room was dark and cold, and, my heart sank, Draco was gone. My stomach did sommersaults as I scanned the room for white hair. Nothing. I moved to get out of bed, but then a pulling force on my right wrist stopped me. My hand was bound to the headboard in a magical knot. I pulled and struggled against the bind, wincing at the screaming pain in my shoulder. I searched frantically for my wand, even tried Summoning it, nothing.

"No," I groaned. "This can't be happening! Draco!" I cried out. Rage rushed through me pulling another wordless scream from my throat. I stuggled again, pulling the bind and pulling until I froze when parchment caught my eye. On Draco's pillow were two pieces of parchment and a photo. I took the parchment. One was the prophecy followed by a list written in Draco's scrawl:

1) Harry has to murder Voldemort in order to live...

2) One is meant to die before the other, whether by natural means or no...

The list continued with wild scenarios until the last line was marked with multiple dots, as if Draco continued to return to this one line, unable to mark it out.

6) What if the killing blow came from neither of them?

I set the paper down, grabbing the other one. It was a note hastily scribbled, some of the words hard to read:

Harry,

I've instructed Dobby to retrieve Granger and Weasley after I leave. They are waiting for you to wake, because I couldn't find it in my heart to allow them to see you in the state I left you in. (I could almost see the smirk on his face as he wrote that.) I don't know how I will fare saving my mother, with my being defenseless as you say, but I can assure you, Harry Potter, no matter the consequences of my endeavor, I can face them knowing that I have no regrets. Please follow your own words and make sure you have a way to survive when you come for me. Not if, when. From a snivelling Slytherin to a gallant Gryffindor, Aideu.

"Dobby!" I yelled, looking up from the letter. The elf popped into the room, holding a thin package, eyes cast downward. His arms were shaking as he held up the box.

"D-d-Dobby brought M-Master Ha-Harry P-p-Potter's package." I ignored the elf's whimpers as I snatched the package out of his hands and ripped it open the best I could with one hand. Sure enough, it was Draco's new wand. You could tell the wood was light, but a thin coat of dark blue was applied, making the color dark, but also so you could clearly see the grain. I felt the magic buzz in my hand, but instead of a pleasant warm sensation, the temperature spiked to where my first thought was to drop it. I held it firmly as it burned my palm, waiting as the burning gradually subsided, almost as if the wand realized I wasn't going to let go that easily.

"Listen, you," I heard myself saying, "Just get me out of this and I'll take you to your real owner, understand?" The wand pulsed again, then stopped. Definitely the wand of a Slytherin, I thought. I aimed the point as the base of the knot holding my other arm, muttering a Finite Incantantem before my arm was released with an explosion of pins and needles in my skin. I spared a glance at Dobby's trembling figure before rushing to the end of the bed, pulling on my pants. "Dobby," I barked. He flinched, but listened. "Get Ron and Hermoine and bring them here. When you come back, stay." He bowed low, Disapparating with a crack. I moved over to Draco's side, grabbing my shirt when the photo caught my attention. I could recognize the red hair of my mother immediately, and the glasses on my father's face. What my mind refused to process was the boy in the middle of them. The three stood, frozen. The boy smiled ahead, unaware of the two adults behind him. My parents stared at each other, ignoring the thirteen year old boy standing between them. I could tell that these were two completely different pictures fused together. The three people didn't belong together at all. I picked it up, then the entire photo changed.

When the boy reached up to ruffle his hair, I realized with astonishment that it was me. A younger version of me, face dirty and smiling in wrinkled, filthy Quidditch robes. The picture slowly started to move. My mother broke her gaze from my father, and looked at the picture-me. Picture-me looked back at our mother, amazed and confused, before a large grin broke over his face. She smiled back, with tears in her eyes, then laughed, embracing her little boy. I could feel tears stinging my eyes, too, as my father watched the embrace with a small, proud smile. The boy turned to his father, throwing his arms around him. The man let out a bark of laughter, returning the hug. When the picture finished moving, the three held each other smiling at me, my parents waving at me.

Draco made this, I realized. A sob ripped out of my mouth as I held the picture in my hands. That sneaky, snarky little git made this for me. He couldn't give me my parents, but he could give me the closest thing he could. What could have been...This could very well be a real picture my parents and I would have taken after one of my many Quidditch matches. The love in their eyes would have been this genuine. The smile on my face would have been that bright. Draco took the time to create one of the best gifts anyone, anywhere could have possibly given me. Me with my family...

The door opened with a loud bang, causing me to jump. Hermoine rushed into the room, alarmed to see me alone, crying. "Harry!" she gasped. She kneeled in front of me, wiping the tears from my cheeks like a mother comforting a child. "What happened?" I opened my mouth to speak, but another slight sob escaped. Ron stayed by the door with Dobby, shifting his feet awkwardly. Hermoine held me until the tears died and I was able to speak again.

"Draco," I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "He left."

"For Malfoy Manor?" she offered. I nodded.

"He's going after his mother." Panic surged through me, making me stand up and pace nervously. "We have to go, Hermoine. We have to go get him."

"We know, mate." Ron spoke up. All eyes turned to him. "Dobby told us that the git asked us to call the Order of the Pheonix before we come out here. Lupin, Moody, and everyone are already at the Burrow, waiting for our signal. Dobby offered to Apparate us through the wards, the same as he did with Draco. I figured that you would want us to be the first through." I nodded again. Hermoine took a seat on the edge of the bed, looking through the notes left by Draco. The room was in silence, until Ron cleared his throat. "So, um, you two are together now?" Both Hermoine and I looked at him with shocked confusion. Ron spared a small smile. "I was just wondering because I highly doubt Draco's underwear would have Dudley written on the waistband," he mused, kicking the pair by his foot. My face blazed red, as Hermoine pointedly looked away. I chose to ignore it when she subtly slid to the foot of the bed. He sat at Draco's workbench, "We'll wait for you to finish getting dressed and we'll go. Draco isn't going to receive a warm welcome when they find out he's alive." I gathered my things and locked myself in the bathroom, not overlooking the fact that Ron has just willingly use Draco's first name.

DRACO'S POV:

The pain in my head wouldn't subside. It was like I was repeatedly banging my head into the wall. The bleeding cut on my forehead had dried, making it itchy. My shoulders were in agony, being chained to the wall like a dog. I again cursed myself for being such an Gryffindorish idiot. When I finally found my mother, she was in her rooms, locked away as she was in my visions. What I didn't realize was that she was now being guarded, ready to be forcibly taken to the Dark Lord when she emerged. They spotted me instantly. Why I didn't grab Harry's Invisibility Cloak was beyond me. I tried to make a run for it, but a Stunning Spell caught my back sending me flying into a wall, thus, the cut. The last thing I remember before blacking out was my mother standing over me, eyes wide with horror.

"Drakey," I shuddered. Merlin, I hate that nickname! I looked up to see my aunt Bellatrix standing a few feet away from me. My father stood next to her, his face cold. I groaned. She cackled, reminding me of deranged crow. "You're alive. How," she paused, making a show of playing with the wand they took away from me, Harry's wand, "quaint. And with the Boy-Who-Lived's wand, no less. How did you come across this prize?" I shrugged, keeping my lips sealed. My father stepped foward. Cold, blue eyes met mine, willing ice to thicken under my skin. I shivered. His smirk was that of a Malfoy.

"My son," he said it like the words were bitter in his mouth. "You have returned, but to what end? You seemed eager to elude your captors." He reached into his robe pocket. I could hear blood rushing through my ears. The cut on my forehead started dripping again. "Do you happen to have something to hide, my son?" I stayed silent. A flash of silver was all I saw before his cane struck me, my mouth filling with blood. "Where were you hiding? Surely a fake death so intricately played out came from the mind of a Death Eater's son." I winced, spitting blood on his shoes. "Very well." He pulled his wand from his cane, aiming it at my forehead. The spell struck me like a blow. "Imperio."

A thick fog filled my mind, clawing at me, pulling me into its abyss. I shut my eyes tightly, fighting the fog's tendrils with all my stregnth. It pulled and pulled, and I fought hard to stay in control. I couldn't lose it, not now. "Bella," I heard my father's voice snap. Next thing I knew, pain surged through me. It felt like a fire made of broken glass surged through my insides, making me spasm, screams echoing in the dungeon. The fog gained stregnth, completely enveloping me until I felt the tethers of my mind snap. I still felt the pain, but I couldn't move. Couldn't scream. Couldn't control my body at all. "Stop!" The pain stopped. I felt my eyes open and then saw my father, my body coiled waiting for a command. He took a small vial and uncorked it, holding it to my lips. "Drink."

No, my mind screamed. NO! Draco, don't do it. The liquid was as tasteless as water as I swallowed it, unable to stop. The Veritaserum surged through my system, cancelling out the Imperius Curse, but the curse's purpose was fulfilled. I felt control over my body again, groaning and gasping. I fought again as every truth in my mind fought for attention. It felt as if I wanted to scream them.

"Why did you fake your death, Draco?" Father asked, calmly.

"Because I lost my mark." The words fell out in a rush. I could see the two Death Eaters bristle. Bellatrix rushed around behind me, checking my forearm, gasping.

"The mark's gone, Lucius."

"As established by the truth coming out of Draco's mouth, Bella." The words were dry and I would have chuckled if he didn't fire off another question. "What happened to your mark?"

"It was killing me. It was starving me, giving me nightmares, and draining my life. In school, we were told to become magical creatures. I became a pheonix and I died. I rose from the ashes, and when I became human again, my mark was gone." I shut my lips tightly, trying to keep them shut with my teeth, but all that was accomplishing was more blood in my mouth.

"Why hide, Draco?"

I bit down harder, fighting the words building in my throat. My mouth was overflowing, and for a dark moment, I wished that I would drown on my blood before I spoke. The relief of opening my mouth was completely blown to Hell by me talking, "I knew if the Dark Lord found out I lost the mark, he would hurt my mother." A sharp intake of breath was the only sound for a while. I spat out more blood, panting with effort.

"Who was helping you hide, Draco?"

My body bucked in the chains, the truth rushing through me, clawing its way out. I reached over as far as I could, gathering my shirt in my mouth. My body fought, bucking and thrashing under the strain of the Veritaserum. My blood was boiling with the need to just talk. My wrists ached as they jerked in the chains. My knees was scraped raw from kneeling on the stone floor. I screamed in frustration as my body fought to betray me...to betray him. Tears of shame sprang to my eyes as I felt myself losing the battle. I imagined Harry's eyes looking into mine, willing his stregnth to me. I imagined him telling me to hold on a little longer. The Veritaserum would wear off eventually. The image helped me hold on a moment longer, before my body buckled, forcing my mouth away from my makeshift gag.

"HARRY POTTER!" The name was cried out, loud and long. Its echoes off the stone walls hit my ears like physical blows. I was crumpled on the floor, exhaustion making every limb feel like lead. Sobs were the only sound in the room as I writhed in shame. "Sorry!" I sobbed. "I'm so sorry!"

"Apologies will not sway the Dark Lord, Drakey." Bellatrix sneered. I looked up at her, and hate was the only emotion I felt.

"I hate that nickname, you bitch! And my apologies were not for that snake-faced maniac!" I started screaming again as my father left, leaving Bellatrix behind to torture me, using Harry's wand.

HARRY'S POV:

The hole in the wards, surprisingly enough, was over the small pond on the very edge of the Malfoy's land. The sight of the pond gave me chills. If l closed my eyes, I could still see the red swirls of Issy's blood.

"Harry," Ron hissed. I jumped, his brown eyes watching me concerned. "You still with us, mate?" I nodded. Dobby stood in front of us, shifting from one foot to another. "Go back to the Burrow and bring the rest through. Tell them to wait an hour before they start throwing spells. Got it?" Dobby nodded, disappearing with a crack.

Their eyes followed me as I led them towards the large mansion. When we reached the back wall, I unfolded my Invisibility Cloak. Relieved, but also horrified, that Draco didn't take it. Draco getting caught at this point was almost inevitable. Whether or not he's dead, I will just have to hold my breath and hope for the best.

Hermoine and Ron struggled to fit with me under the cloak, but once we were safely covered, we edged to the front of the house. Two Death Eaters were guarding the front door, talking. It was impossible to tell who was who with their masks.

"This is the fourth bloody night this week, Rowle!" The first one exclaimed. "If I wanted to do nothing but stand here and stare at nothing, I would have gone to Azkaban!"

"Quiet, Nott!" Rowle snapped. "The Dark Lord is shooting curses left and right already! Ever since we found that Malfoy brat!" I felt the three of us tense at the news of Draco. Hermoine raised her wand, pointing it at Nott. Ron moved to stop her, but she froze him with a glare. He sighed, throwing up a quick Silencing Charm around us. I saw her lips form the word 'Imperio'. Nott's body sagged.

"Ask him what happened to the Malfoy boy." I heard Hermoine whisper. Nott turned to Rowle.

"Say, what did happen to that Malfoy boy?" Rowle looked at him, confused, then shrugged.

"From what I know, he was locked up. His father and Lestrange went to see him. Next thing I know, he's squealing like a woman." Ron quickly grabbed my shoulders as I started to charge towards them. My vision blurred with rage.

"Let me go!" I hissed. Ron's grip tightened, bumping us into Hermoine. She broke her gaze on the Death Eaters, which lifted the curse off Nott. Nott shook his head, dumbly, resuming his position. Rowle stiffened, taking out his wand.

"Harry! Ronald, stop! They'll spot us!" Hermoine pleaded. Ron put so much weight on my shoulders, it forced me down to my knees. My knee caught on the fabric of the cloak, pulling it off of Ron and Hermoine.

"Hey!" Rowle yelled. Nott, too, turned and saw them, before running into the mansion, yelling for reinforcements. Ron and Hermoine shared a brief look, then took off running. Rowle pursued them, sending curse after curse at them. I raised my wand ready to throw a spell, but Hermoine stopped, aiming her wand straight at me.

"Petrificus Tempus Totalus!" The spell zoomed past Rowle, and slammed into me. My entire body froze instantly, completely hidden under the cloak. I watched helplessly as Rowle sent a Stunning Spell straight for Hermoine's chest, then at Ron's back. They both collapsed to the ground, unconcious, and I still watched as Death Eaters dragged them into the mansion. They slammed the massive doors shut, leaving only Rowle outside, still guarding. My mind ran around and around with rage. I wanted nothing more right now than to unfreeze and punch Rowle in the face, then to find Draco.

I didn't even realize that torture was a possibility. And with Bellatrix no doubt? I felt sick to my stomach, thinking of Neville's parents. What if Draco wasn't strong enough? What if he cracks before I could find him? Rowle paced back and forth in front of the door, completely unaware that I was only feet away from him, in an emotional whirlwind.

After a while, the stiffness in my limbs started to ease. I could feel the wand in my grasp again. I was thankful I wasn't able to speak, because the extreme burning sensation in my hand where the wand was fighting off the curse would have made me scream if I could. I fought to glare at the wand as it, for the lack of a better word, seethed. When the curse finally lifted, I dropped the wand. An angry red welt went straight across my palm where blisters were starting to form. I picked it up in my other hand, struggling to hold it steady.

"Imperio," I whispered, aiming Draco's wand at Rowle. He started to shake from head to toe, trying to fight off the curse but soon it took hold, his form sagging. "I want you to open the door and lead me to Draco Malfoy." He nodded and turned to lead me into the Manor.

Death Eaters ignored us as I followed him, hidden, down to the dungeons. He led me into the heavily warded room, closing the door behind us. I looked around the dark room, muttering a quick Lumos, and ran deep into the cold stone room. Rowle followed, waiting for my next order, when I caught a flash of white hair out of the corner of my eye. I flung off the cloak running over to him. Draco was chained in a small alcove, lying awkwardly on the ground with his back to me. I stopped, scared to approach him when I saw that his shirt was tattered and bloodstained. I swallowed audibly, and slowly walked up to him, taking care to avoid the puddle of blood gathering under him.

"Draco?" I whispered. He whimpered, eyes closed. He curled in on himself, then cringed in pain. "Draco," I said louder. He shook.

"Please," he moaned. "Leave me alone." His voice was thick with pain. I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to gag. I should have been here sooner. I should have known-I shook it off. Now wasn't the time. I had to get Draco out of here.

"You!" I called, pointing at Rowle. "Release him." He stiffened, fighting the command, but couldn't help himself as he waved his wand, causing the chains around Draco's wrist to snap open. Draco groaned loudly as his arms fell to the ground. I caught him under his shoulders, dragging him away from the blood. He curled in on himself as I held him. "Rowle!" He stiffened. "Go outside to the back of the house and wait for the other Wizards to grab you." He turned and left the room, leaving me and Draco alone.

"Draco?" He didn't respond. "Draco, it's me. It's Harry. Remember?" He shook his head, whimpering. My heart sank, and I grew desperate. "It's Harry, remember? We met in first year. You wanted to be my friend, but I blew you off. We hated each other for five years, but then you got the Dark Mark," he sobbed, covering his face. "...to save your mother. You had an older sister named Issy."

"Issy!" he sobbed. "Issy, Harry, Mother, I'm so sorry! I couldn't fight it! They made me tell! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He hid his face, sobbing hysterically. His fingers clawed into his scalp and he started rocking back and forth, getting louder. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I sighed, thinking what would Hermoine do. When Ron and I would panic, she would snap us out of it. I stood, aiming Draco's own wand at him.

"I'm sorry, too." I said before sending a Stinging Jinx at him. He yelped, jumping to his feet, cradling his arm. His eyes flew open to glare at me.

"What the bloody hell was that for, Potter?!" he snapped. All he got in reply was a large sigh of relief, before I embraced him. He froze, then slowly wrapped his arms around me. "Merlin, I thought I was hallucinating!"

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, Draco." He pulled away, gathering his composure. He started to straighten his shirt, but no matter how he turned it, it showed shallow cuts decorating his chest. "Oh, Draco." I started forward, but his glare stopped me.

"I could've had worse, Harry. You know that." His face was set in determination, but I could see in his eyes exactly how close the worst had come. My hands ached to hold him and never let go, to get him out of here and keep him safe, but I knew if I tried I would get jinxed seven ways to Sunday. "Harry, we have to get my mother."

"And Ron and Hermoine." I added. He huffed and rolled his eyes.

"Of course, them too. If they got caught, they're going to be taken straight to You-Know-Who." He paused, his face paling. "Harry, if they're here, that makes me look like the one who-"

"Drakey!" Bellatrix screeched. We jumped, then ran to the far end of the room, hiding behind one of the large columns. "Drakey, the Dark Lord would like to speak with you." We saw her look into the alcove, then she shrieked. She pulled out her wand, but then I realized it was my wand. I glared at Draco and he shook his head.

He took my arm and pulled me back further in the shadows. I opened my mouth to speak, but he pressed a finger to my lips, shaking his head. He then made a sweeping motion with his arms, bringing them together over his head. My brows furrowed in confusion. He silently huffed. He did it again, this time mouthing words. A chill ran through me when I understood the word 'cloak'. I looked around franctically and fought not to curse. I left it by the alcove, inches away from Bellatrix's feet. Draco followed my gaze and when he saw it, he did gasp. Bellatrix's head whipped around and a ugly smile crept on her face.

"Drakey, where are you hiding my little serpent?" she called in a sing-song voice. I held up my wand, willing my heart to calm down, and that damn wand to stop burning my bloody hand! I hissed in pain. Draco looked at me, then the wand, and I shook my head. Don't ask, I wanted to say. The Death Eater was coming closer, thankfully without noticing the cloak. Then looking at the cloak, I had an idea.

I shoved the wand into Draco's hand, briefly noticing the burning subsiding to a warm throb. Before he could protest, I pushed him towards the cloak, and I ran. Bellatrix shrieked as I ran past her and out of the dungeon.

"Potter!" She yelled, giggling. Spells sped past me, the air around me smelled acrid, like burning skin and hair. We ran past bewildered Death Eaters, but I soon felt more spells coming toward me. I ran deep into the Manor, weaving between more and more Death Eaters, until I finally had to stop. They surrounded me, laughing darkly. Bellatrix came through the fray, smiling and waving my wand tauntingly. "No Expelliarmus, Potter?"

I stood straighter, forming my face into what I hoped was Draco's smirk. "No, Bella. The only reason I'm here with you is because you are easy to manipulate. How will the Dark Lord react when he finds out his little pet lost Draco Malfoy?" Her face twisted into a outraged sneer.

"Seize him!" She screeched, higher and louder than neccessary. Black robes closed in around me, and dozens of hands grabbed me roughly. They dragged me away to the main ballroom, but I just smiled when I saw the front door open and a shimmer of invisible cloth, before it closed.