I Am Draco Malfoy-Potter
Chapter Two: Who Is Malfoy
"Where did you learn that spell?"
Draco leered at the man in front of him. Remus Lupin looked suspicion as well as intrigued as he forced the young Malfoy to sit across from him. Hermione and Ron were too busy taking care of and trying to wake up Harry.
"I don't remember." Draco replied trying once again to sound bored. This time he was having mild success despite the panic growing in him. Truthfully, Draco hadn't thought that the spell would work. He was able to produce one in the future, a sleek and beautiful wolf about the size of a full grown Alpha, but he wasn't really sure if he had the power to produce one in the past. Still he had to try for Harry. Even with Lupin there to save him, Draco wasn't going to leave Harry in anyone else's care. He had made a promise to himself and his kids that he would protect Harry and putting that responsibility on someone else left a bad taste in his mouth.
Lupin had already asked and gotten that same answer fifteen time, so he refrained from asking again despite his intense curiosity. He had heard of Malfoy's, he had gone to school with Lucius and Narcissa, but he hadn't been aware that any third year was strong enough to perform a perfect patronus. His only reason for not pushing the issue further was that Draco had used the spell to save Harry. Obviously, the young blond posed no threat to his best friend's son.
"Harry." The young witch's voice cut through the dense silence, and Malfoy moved so fast that Lupin barely saw him.
He was beside Harry in a second, supporting the unruly head of black hair with one hand and holding a bar of chocolate with the other. 'where had he gotten the chocolate?' Lupin wondered to himself as he watch the scene proceed.
"Harry? Are you alright? Here, eat this, it'll help." Draco cooed softly at Harry, holding up the chocolate to his mouth. Harry seemed not to have noticed who was supporting him as he took a bite and tried to straighten his mind.
His eyes seemed to focus on Draco's face and widen. "D-Draco?"
His first name? Harry had said his first name. Draco froze as he let the elation over take his sense. It had been so long since he had heard Harry say his name at all.
Draco's pause allowed Harry enough time to sit up on his own, smiling when Ron handed him his glasses. "Thanks mate...So." He paused "What was that?" Harry asked deciding he'd ignore the weirdness of Draco's actions for now.
Ron frowned at him and scowled at Draco when he opened his mouth to answer.
"A Dementor." Draco breathed still a little shocked. "One of the guards of Azkaban, they are why prisoners don't usually escape. It's gone now though, so you should be safe. It probably went after you because of your scar."
Harry stared at Malfoy with a face that screamed four words WHAT IS GOING ON?!
Unsurprisingly Ron's did too, but Hermione, she was looking at him as if he were a new problem she couldn't figure out. And Draco had to smile at that look. She had given him that look so many times after the night she had allowed him to cry on her shoulder. As if she was waiting for something inside him to break. This time though, she was waiting to figure out exactly what was inside him.
"I'll leave you guys to it then." Draco sighed with a small smile as he stood. "Make sure you keep eating that." He pointed at the chocolate bar in Harry's hand before making his way to the door. He was stopped though.
Ron's hand gripped his arm so hard that Draco figured it would bruise. Only one other time had Ron done this, and that time had been to question Draco on the honesty of his feelings for Harry. So as Draco stood there, he didn't even attempt to shrug Ron's hand off. This was the only way to get the red head to accept him...eventually.
"What is going on! Why are you doing all this?! Acting nice, playing this off, saving Harry? What happened to you?" Ron wasn't quite yelling but he was far from quiet. Draco however, let him calm down a bit before he even attempted to answer.
"I'm tired." Draco breathed. Feeling Ron's hold loosen. "Being the enemy. Being mean. That nasty scowl." Draco laughed to himself and turned to look at Harry and Hermione, than looked Ron in the eyes. "You've never been alone. Not on your life. All your siblings, good friends, people you can trust and have fun with, people who understand you and support you." His eyes went to Harry unconsciously. "The only people who've ever done that for me carry the Malfoy name. Maybe I want more than that."
When he felt Ron's hand fall away, Draco pulled the compartment door open and walked away, going towards the back where everyone's trunks were stored.
Back in the compartment everyone was silent. No one moved, even as the lights came back on and the train began to move once again. Not even Lupin said a word as he sat across from a standing Ron.
"What the fuck just happened..." Harry whispered under his breath.
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"Idiot, idiot, idiot!"
Draco knocked his head into the metal wall again and again, tears threatening to spill from his eyes as he replayed the last few minutes in his head.
"I basically told him that I love him! What was I doing?! He didn't fall in love with me until fifth year, what am I thinking proclaiming my undying love for him at the beginning of our third? Fuck Harry..." Draco slammed his head one final time before sighing and going to sit on one of the stacked trunks. The only place that allowed for complete solitude had been the storage space at the back of the train, and had taken it for all it was worth.
Grabbing the Potter leather bag he searched inside until he found the small book Harry had made. When he pulled it out and enlarged it, eying the cover as if it would bite him.
He had watched Harry put it together back when Lily and Jamie were five. Harry had wanted to add more and more pictures as the years went buy, but he only got four years worth before...before...
"God damnit." Draco grit out. "I need to stop thinking. These are my memories, what have made me who I am. I need to come to grips with the fact that this isn't the future, this is my second chance!"
Draco almost laughed at himself as he noticed he was talking himself up. He had caught Harry doing it multiple times in the past and had taken to doing it himself as a habit. After all, when you live with a person for 16 years you tend to grab onto some of their habits.
With a more stable mind, Draco opened the album to the first page.
The beginning photo made him smile. It was one Harry had taken years ago, right before their seventh year ended. Right before Pansy had loured him away from the group with the false plays for an apology for trying to break him and Harry up.
The memory left a sour taste in Draco's mouth as he looked at him and Harry sharing a kiss with Ron and Hermione to his right and Neville and Luna to their left. The whole group was all smiles as Molly had taken the picture of the graduating class.
With a sigh, he flipped the page again.
The second had three pictures in it. One was of him and Harry sleeping under the tree by the Black Lake. Draco leaning against the tree and Harry's head on his lap with pale long fingers entangled in those unruly locks. The others were of their children in much the same sleeping possessions. Scorpius with Leonis and Lilian with Jamie.
He took a moment to smile at his children. Lilian and Jamie were still babies when the photos were taken, but it had Lily leaning against the crib while Jamie had his head on her small lap. Same for Scorp and Leo.
He realized just then that Harry had actually put a lot of effort into this album.
Not really feeling up for any more, Draco sighed and lifted the book preparing to shrink it again when something fell from the binding. A piece of paper.
After shrinking the book and storing it safely in his bag, Draco picked up the paper and eyed it. No names were written so he figured it'd be okay to open it and read it.
The second he did he had to stop himself from from crushing the paper in his fists.
'Dear Dragon,
I wonder when you'll find this. I know you will, I did make this specifically for you. Did you know Hermione helped me with it? She said she wanted to make sure the kids remembered her and Ron when they got old like we are. I told her I was only making it for you and she convinced me to make three more for the children. I guess they'll need it as much as you will.
There was something I wanted you to know, and that's why I'm writing this. In life and in death, in sickness and in health, in the future or the past. Nothing will keep me from you. So don't give up on me. Never let me go. You got that Dragon? Never let me go...
In a few months, I won't be around anymore. I know it seems sudden, but it isn't for me. Severus had told me of a new prophecy that called for the fall of a hero so that peace could rise where war had first began. I don't know what he means, but I wanted this to be warning for you. Dragon, I know you will miss me, just as I would have missed you had you left first, but I want you to truly understand why I suggested the birth of Scorpius and Leonis and even the twins. You need to live on strong for them. Parts of me and you are united in each of our children and in those little parts of me, you will be able to hang on. I know you will. So never let me go...I love you.'
Draco licked his lips as they suddenly felt dry. His lungs seemed to scream for him and he noticed that he hadn't taken a breath since he started reading. And was that his heart pumping out of his chest?
"You bastard. Now? You chose now of all times to send this to me? You son-of-a-bitch!" Draco's voice rose to a scream."You knew! You knew everything! That you would die, that I would lose hope! That I would.." Draco collapsed onto the ground holding his head. "You bastard."
He had promised himself and Harry that he would no longer cry, but he couldn't help breathing in deeply too keep his heart at bay. "This is a second chance." Draco repeated. "I came after you, I didn't give up on you, I never could. I'm going to save you, and myself, and our children. I'm going to do it, just lay up there and watch me you dead son-of-a-bitch."
Draco was practically yelling in the back of the train and it took a lot for him to calm down and remembered where he was. Looking around to make sure he was still alone, Draco pulled his legs up to his chest and hid his head in them. He felt like he was entitled to do this now as he was no longer an adult. He just felt so lonely right now. Nothing could be done though. Soon he'd have everything he wanted. He'd have friends (Ron and Hermione) he'd have love (Harry) and he'd have hope. Still, for right now...he was all alone.
"This will be the last time." He sighed as the tears started flowing down his cheeks. "I promise Harry."
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Hermione eyed the door of the compartment almost anxiously. The feeling in her stomach was that of a worried mother, and it scared her a bit that Draco had gotten this kind of reaction from her. Professor R. J. Lupin had left not long after Draco.
"Do you think we should go after him?" She asked turning away from the door for the first time since Malfoy had left.
Ron sat beside her numbly, looking out the window like a man in deep thought or deep aggravation. He'd seen the look on Malfoy's face. The desperate look, the lonely look. He's seen it in Harry's eyes, in Hermione's and even on his own when he was over looked by his family. It had made his gut wrench almost violently. Malfoy looked...well Ron didn't really know how to explain it. The one thing he did know, was that no matter how much he tried to, he couldn't bring himself to believe that Malfoy was pretending.
"Don't bother." He grumbled distractedly. Malfoy had him all confused now. He didn't know whether to label Malfoy as an enemy or...a friend?
"Maybe we should go after him..." Harry's eyes, like Hermione's, seemed to constantly end up on the door and it was frustrating him. Malfoy wasn't just different, it was like he completely changed his personality. Who ever Malfoy was this year, Harry didn't know exactly what to think about him.
"He seemed different." Hermione tried to sound conversational but it came out as curious. She probably shouldn't have even tried.
"Not different. It's like he's not...Malfoy." Ron answered annoyed. He shouldn't be feeling pity for Malfoy, he shouldn't be feeling anything for the git.
"I noticed that too." Harry chimed in, deep in thought himself. "Something about his eyes, the way he carries himself, the way he moves and talking. His whole person has changed. Can someone even pretend to completely turn around like that?"
"No." Hermione answered nodding to herself. "Change doesn't happen like that. Even if it did, it would have to be present in the mind for a long while before it actually takes place. Just last year he was still a complete prant so what would lead him to this sudden..."
"Friendly disposition?" Harry answered with a laugh.
Hermione smiled at him. "Exactly. Do you think we have to watch out for him?"
"He's not up to something." Ron sighed. "What could he possibly gain by being nice to us? By saving Harry? Our trust? Information? Nothing I can think of is worth making friendly with us if he truly did hate us."
Hermione and Harry looked at Ron with surprise.
"Mate, don't ever do that again." Harry smiled suddenly. "You sound scary when you make sense."
Ron glared at him holding back from sticking his tongue out, though he gave in when Harry started laughing. Hermione on the other hand was thinking. Ron had a point. Malfoy had only one thing to gain by doing all this. Friends. Maybe that's all he actually wanted.
"So what should we do about him?" Harry asked hesitantly.
Harry could help but notice how light he felt, even after the episode with the dementor. Whether it was Malfoy's doing or not he wasn't really sure. Draco...Harry reminded himself. If he's gone make some attempt at civility, so would Harry.
"Maybe we should just watch where this goes?" Ron suggested with a frown. "I'm still not put to throwing blind faith at a Malfoy, we all know who his father is."
Harry frowned. "What does his father have to do with this?"
Ron looked confused by his question. "His father is a Death Eater Harry. Even if You-Know-Who is weak, you never know what his followers would do for revenge."
Harry glared at Ron a bit. "He's not his father Ron."
Ron's mouth opened in shock and then closed with a click. "Are you standing up for Malfoy?"
"He saved my life." Harry pointed out.
"So did I! During first year, and I was there second year-" Ron had stood now to tower over Harry but the smaller male stood too cutting him off.
"You didn't save me Ron. We may have faced things together, but you never risked your life-" Harry stopped as the remembered the live chess-match during first year. "Damn..." Harry breathed.
Ron's eyes hardened and he crossed his arms over his chest to keep from hitting his best friend. "Yeah." He huffed. "Damn. You're so caught up on being the hero, on being the most important person, that you don't remember all the people who suffered to make you look good."
"Ron!" Hermione finally found a place to step in and she took it as she placed a hand on Ron's chest and turned to Harry.
"He didn't mean it Harry." She tried to sooth but was denied as Harry walked out he door in silence, his head held down.
"Harr-" He shut the door on her face before taking off to a run to the back of the train.
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Draco didn't hear the door open. All he heard were the shuffling of feet as someone came closer to the spot on the floor where he sat.
He didn't feel like he had enough energy to even lift his head so he stayed as he was, not caring if one person saw him like this. All he'd have to do was deny it. After all people respected him out of fear in this time-line, so it wouldn't be hard when someone else's words went up against his.
"Draco?"
That voice shot energy through his bones like a stunning spell and his head rose so fast that it hit one of the trunks behind him.
"Argh!" He held his head as he tried to rub the pain away.
Harry didn't seem to even pay attention to what had happened, and Draco could see it in his eyes. Harry was debating whether or not it would be a good idea to come join him. As lonely as Draco was, he would have been more than happy to have Harry sit with him.
"Would you like to take a seat, it's hurting my neck to keep looking up at you." Draco managed to make is sound friendly and he even smiled at himself for it. He'd stopped crying a while ago and the distraction that Harry presented was more than a saving grace. He was sure Harry hadn't come after him or he would have been here a while ago, so something must have happened in the compartment for Harry to want to be away from his friends.
Harry's internal conflict seemed to work in Draco's favor. He took the seat beside Draco with a heavy sigh.
"Let me guess," Draco smiled. "Ron said something you didn't like and things went down hill?"
Harry looked at him weirdly and Draco had to hold his laughter. Being alone with Harry was so elating. Especially after the crying and the loneliness and the album. This was his second chance, he needed to make the most out of it.
"Ron?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow and a slight smile.
Shit, Draco forgot to call him Weasley. His panic didn't go unnoticed it seemed, as Harry burst out laughing, probably enjoying the look on his face. The little-
"Oh shut it. Slip of the tongue." Draco glared half-heartedly, not wanting that smile or that laugh to ever go away again. For the first time since the death of his greatest love, Draco felt the hole in his heart begin to fill and the pain that had constantly remained seemed to slowly be fading.
It took a little while for Harry to calm down and the silence to surround them as they sat there together.
For Draco it was a much needed silence. He needed to think about everything he was feeling. This Harry had so much in common with the Harry he had married, but they weren't the same at all. He didn't think it was such a bad thing. It would help him keep his head about the two different time-lines he kept in his memories.
For Harry, it was awkward. Malfoy—Draco, had changed far beyond anything Harry was able to understand. Just sitting here with Mal-Draco was odd and only slightly uncomfortable. Something in Harry kept him from denying that he enjoyed it though. This new Draco's smile and his way of talking. Harry liked them, as weird as that sounded to him, he wanted to find out more about this Draco. So it seemed like the perfect place to start.
"What happened?"
Draco's head turned to Harry suddenly as the Gryffindor spoke. Confusion was plain on his face and Harry found himself smiling at the easy show of emotions on a Slytherin's face. Draco wasn't hiding his heart like he usually did. That soothed Harry a little more.
"This summer. What happened this summer for you to change like this?"
Something that caught Draco off guard was the fact that Harry sounded more curious than suspicious. Still, he couldn't answer the question honestly, now could he?
"I got a taste of what real friendship feels like." Draco answered simply as Harry's eyes searched his face. "And then I lost it."
Harry grimaced like someone who knew what that felt. While Draco was sure Harry had a pretty good idea, he didn't yet truly understand. And Draco would happily keep it like that.
"I'm sorry." Harry said it under his breath, as if he knew it wouldn't help but needed to say it anyways, and Draco was grateful for it, because at least it was honest.
"Don't be. Wasn't anyone's fault really. I just realized some things may be more important than-"
"You don't need to explain. I understand." Harry smiled, realizing how hard it was for Draco to keep talking.
"I have no doubt you do." Draco smiled. "A while ago, I didn't though. I was actually quite surprised when you neglected my offer of friendship the second time we met." Shaking his head, Draco looked at Harry's eyes. "I'm glad you did what you did though. Helped me see the kind of person I was."
Harry was slightly stunned at the deceleration and another internal conflict took place. Whether or not he should believe what Draco is telling him.
Bolting up to a standing possession, Harry turned on his heals and stood right in front of Draco, who looked just as confused as Harry felt. Still, he also felt that this was the right thing to do.
"So lets try this again, shall we?" Harry smiled holding out his hand. "My name is Harry Potter."
Draco's grin was something Harry never thought he would ever see. Pure happiness.
"Draco Malfoy." The blond answered grabbing onto Harry's hand and using it to pull himself up.
"It's nice to meet you Draco."
And there is was. There was his true second chance.