*** I don't own anything relating to Harry Potter. All recognizable characters belong to the original author, JK Rowling.***

Conversation 4 part C: Meeting Malfoy

...continued...

"That next summer saw the fruition of Voldemort's plan to discredit me. We also had to deal with Umbridge at Hogwarts. I don't even think Snape liked her which is surprising because he sided with most anything that resulted in me getting in trouble. At least there was some revenge having her carried off by the centaurs." Harry said thinking back to that blissful moment of payback.

"That year is when we got introduced to the Order of the Phoenix. I also had a bit of an adolescent tantrum, they were keeping me out of the loop."

"A bit pretentious don't you think Potter?" Malfoy interceded with laughter in his tone.

"It was frustrating back then. Nobody would tell me anything, though I felt entitled to know. For all those years I'd always been in the middle of everything, I didn't take well to being left out. They wouldn't induct me into the Order."

"So you had to go and make your own secret society for good? Really Potter, seems kind of dictatorial for you."

"It was Hermione's idea to start the whole thing. You won't believe me but it was just a way to supplement Umbridge's severely lacking lessons. But yes, in the end what we had was own secret society of students, Dumbledore's Army. You're a terrible git for leading Umbridge to us, you know that."

"Haha, well that was too easy. Father always had high connections in the Ministry and it never hurts to be close to people in high places. Some of our best days as Slytherins were lived under her reign."

"Well your house was the only one enjoying it. It was a strange year to say the least. Later that year Voldemort baited me to the ministry where we were met by the Death Eaters only to realize it was all a trap and I had to watch as another person I loved died," he finished dejectedly remembering his godfather Sirius.

"How the hell did you get away with so much? That was one thing we never found out, most thought you apparated away," interjected Draco quickly not wanting to delve too quickly in his family's involvement in Potter's sufferings.

"Hermione would thrash Hogwarts, A History at your face for insinuating such a thing," Harry joked, practically hearing Hermione's response in his head. "She'd probably quote word for word something or other about not being able to apparate in or out of Hogwarts grounds. But to the point, we flew there, on thestrals" he finished knowing how ludicrous it all sounded.

"Why did you even go Potter? How did they manage to bait you? I mean you practically ran into their arms?" Draco finished frustration evident. It was so absurd that his plan even worked but to walk willingly to his enemy's hands, what had motivated him to do such a stupid thing. He'd heard about it later when he himself was inducted as a Death Eater.

Harry was reeling, more things he had to explain and weren't widely known. "Did you know about my connection with Voldemort?" he asked hoping to gauge how much he had to reveal.

"We knew, but that was mostly knowing that there was a connection, we didn't really know how it worked," Draco said hating his past for having to reveal himself as a 'we' when he referred to Death Eaters.

"Well basically it was a mental connection. At first it started with a slight twinge at my scar that escalated to pain emanating from my scar. That connection grew with time and soon, under duress I could get glimpses of what was going on at Voldemort's end. Not just images but also his general moods and that was what led to that night at the ministry. He knew how much Sirius meant to me as the only parent figure I had, and baited me by showing him being held at the ministry. And then of course I got into my stupid hero complex and had to dash out and walk right into the trap. I'd say I don't blame myself anymore for his death but that isn't completely true."

"Fifth year was when the nightmares started and I mean that literally. I'd always get these dreams, flashes, images of doors and corridors. It was Voldemort using the connection to show me to the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry. Mind you this is all going down at the same time I had to deal with Umbridge and the whole Wizarding world branding me as an attention-seeking liar. It wasn't easy."

As Draco heard his class mate he noticed that phrase repeated once more. If Potter's life story needed a title, that would be it, 'It wasn't easy.' It seemed to be the central theme on which his life was scripted.

Harry carried on, unaware of Draco's musings.

"From the images I knew there was something there he wanted that the Order was guarding. One night I got images of one of the protectors being attacked. It turned out it wasn't just a dream, it had happened. So when later on in the year I saw images of Sirius being tortured and held at the ministry, I didn't think to double guess it.

"You acted exactly as he expected you to. So if he took over your mind, couldn't have tortured you or invaded your mind?" Draco asked trying to come to terms with this new information.

Harry smiled. Love, he remembered Dumbledore's choice word to explain why Voldemort could no longer take over his mind. He went with an easier explanation without going into terms of souls, "he couldn't stand being in my head while I was grieving as I was, it was an emotional state that he couldn't stand being near."

After a lengthy pause the conversation moved on to heavier topics. This was getting to the crux of the matter, the rest had been mere wading pools, they were now diving in deep to things they thought would never have to be revisited. To the darkest days they went.

"And now we get to sixth year whereas you mentioned I practically stalked you although I was right in the end. I surprise myself sometimes with how good my instincts are," Harry stated alluding to Malfoy's status as Death Eater at the time.

"Yes although I wouldn't recommend it as a career, the stalking, it was too obvious at times," Draco said avoiding the main point making light of the circumstances.

"But nonetheless, I had my reasons to be suspicious although most of that was laced with my previous hatred to you," he could only honestly state waiting for Draco to take the hint that it was he who now had some confessing to do.

"Alright Potter, don't need to be so subtle, it looks like my time has come to confess my side of the story about that year. I never wanted the Dark Mark but here it is," he said placing his own hand over his left forearm. "I found myself trapped in a situation I couldn't handle and couldn't find a way out of. Most people maybe would have sought-after a way out but I was in way too deep. My whole family, my home, it was all right in the middle of Voldemort's grasp. I took the mark to keep my family alive. When I finally realized what my family had been a part of all those years there was no room but for obedience. You were fighting your own battles and I had to deal with the backlash of Voldemort not getting what he wanted. You don't want to be at either end, by the way." Draco was breathing harder. It'd felt overwhelming allowing these words that rang true out in the open. He continued uninterrupted.

"I took the Mark and at first I was in denial and foolish enough not to mind, never really knowing what it entailed. I'd held on to my childish ideas about blood and status but when the truth of the cause was revealed I couldn't turn back. At first part of me hoped to restore my father's blunder at the ministry and get back on good standing but I was deluding myself, there was no good standing in the Dark Lord's eyes. My sheltered and privileged life had come to an end. Then he gave me that task, which in itself was almost the end. To be told to kill or be killed is something I'd never wish upon my worst enemy, which funnily enough was once you," he finished hoping to end it with a happier note.

"Dumbledore and Snape knew all along," Harry said finding it the only thing he could bring himself to say.

"I never did find out, was Snape really on your side?" he asked wanting to know if his godfather was more than he let on.

"Yes, he was double-double crossing or something like that," he finished his absurd sentence.

"I don't know how he did it. To be able to be that convincing, not many could lie like that. Honestly being around Voldemort a long time wasn't an easy experience."

A silence grew around them, Harry was contemplating Snape's unmatched bravery and Malfoy was still contemplating his part in this important part of Wizarding history.

"That curse by the way, where did you learn it, I thought it kind of dark for you Potter."

"You can thank Snape for that one. A curse of his own invention. I ended up with his old Potions book. That's how I did so well in Slughorn's class. I followed his instructions. I was obsessed with that book, he wrote everything down. That one was written on the sideline, it said 'for enemies', so I took the suggestion. Although, I regretted it the moment I saw what it did."

"Don't be too sorry Potter, I maybe didn't deserve it for what I'd done to you but I did deserve it for a vast number of thing I had done or was planning to do."

"So this brings us to our 6th year. Most of the events of that year you're aware of. The Ministry finally admitted that Voldemort had once again risen to power. It wasn't a busy year as far as my normal activity of rule breaking. It was a year mostly dedicated to preparing mentally to face Voldemort. The year ended with the timely death of Dumbledore," Harry finished knowing Malfoy would wonder at his choice of words.

"I never though a beacon like Dumbledore could be brought down. I was there by the way," Harry finished finally being able to look up at Draco's expression. He met somber eyes, with evidence that those days also haunted him.

"I thought I could do it, I thought the fear of my own family's demise would in the end be enough to motivate me but no, it doesn't work like that." Draco began his part of this story.

"For most of that year I busied my mind with planning, I thought that if I just focused on the small, I'd forget the big picture I was working for. Those were some of my darkest days but also where I learned who I was. It figures you'd be there too," Draco finished with some light returning to his eyes.

"Yeah I was there, we'd just gotten back, but of course you knew he'd left that day didn't you?"

"Yes, I'd been watching Dumbledore for a while, I knew he'd left to Hogsmeade that afternoon. My plan was set in motion, I no longer had an excuse not to execute it and I was under a lot of pressure to move on with it. So I did, hoping at every turn that it would fail, that we'd be found out but also hoping we wouldn't. It's a strange force, self-preservation. And I watched and waited, there at the Astronomy Tower as you arrived although at the time I thought he was alone. Your Army of do-gooders intercepted us, trying to stop us, figures you'd have some of your own prepared. But still my plan worked, I had Dumbledore there, wand-less and at my mercy. I saw those knowing eyes and knew I'd never be able to go through with it. For a second I thought of taking his offer, of accepting his protection but that moment came and passed. Snape came and carried out what my family deemed me too weak to do. I still don't know how you say he was yours after that," Draco looked on frustrated seeming to realize there was so much he never really understood.

"What happened after that?" Harry asked wanting to know more of how the other side reveled in the consequences of that night.

Draco looked on but conceded an answer, "the general consensus that night was of success but I was still personally deemed a failure, my life was spared because the planning had been so well carried out but my family was still in shaky ground."

A small pause ensued while Draco found the words to continue retelling how his life ended in hell.

"That summer began my sentence in prison. My home became a headquarters of sorts for the Dark Lord. When September came along, I wasn't at Platform 9 3/4. Mostly because I couldn't stand the mere thought of having everyone there see me and see the person who killed Dumbledore. I didn't issue the curse but by my hand he saw his end."

"You didn't kill Dumbledore," Harry deadpanned. He had little regrets but one of them was inadvertently letting Draco carry this unnecessary burden with him. He'd reveal it all to him but for now they need more of the story to set the necessary backdrop.

"You don't need to do that. I know my part and have learned to live with it. Not every action is an excuse to deliver your noble gestures Potter," Draco answered still not completely understanding.

"I'm not sprinkling you with my good deeds, it's the truth, I'll reveal it further on in our story" Harry simply stated with no ounce of dishonesty in his features.

Draco looked on and considered what more they had to delve into. The moment grew into another long pause. Harry trying to gather his thoughts and Malfoy trying wonder at the excuse that Potter could provide to absolve him from blame.

This second pause was even longer than the first but they couldn't stop. Not now when there was much revealed and even more yet to find out. The hardest trials and their worst days left to be opened once more.

" And so we arrive to the beginning of the end, what should have been our seventh year but which neither of us was present to witness," Harry began.

"With Dumbledore gone, the Order was really on the ropes. We knew the Ministry was losing its footing and soon would be under Voldemort's reign. It was a tough summer. I knew from the day of Dumbledore's funeral that I would not be returning to Hogwarts."

Draco interrupted here unable to wait for the topic to start up and deciding to prompt Potter into what he wanted to hear. "What did you do, nobody knew where you three went but everyone assumed you just went into hiding."

"Is that what everyone assumes?"

"Well no, word from the trials after it all ended was that you were doing research and looking for some sort of weapon to defeat the Dark Lord," Draco replied.

"Ok so that's a citizen's reply but what did an ex Death Eater hear about those missing days?" Harry asked noticing a small grimace at the mention of his past title.

"Honestly, the Dark Lord had a habit of keeping his plans close to him. He hardly let even his inner circle into his inner workings. The others and most of the inner circle arrogantly thought that you went into hiding to save your own skin. Personally I suspected you were up to something more irritatingly noble. You didn't seem like the type to run from his problems," Draco finished leaving his once schoolmate baffled at the blunt honesty he employed in those few sentences.

"I always had some resentment towards Dumbledore, mostly because he like to keep secrets, I never liked being kept out. There are threads of truth in each of those things you mentioned but nobody but Ron, Hermione and I know what really transpired during those months or what our mission was. I didn't notice until much later but I too got into that habit of keeping things close the heart. I promised to be truthful and I will but realize that there are reasons why I didn't want the whole Wizarding public to know all the details."

"This sounds serious, am I going to have to vow secrecy to find out?" Draco wondered out loud.

"No, I don't think that will be necessary once you hear it all," Harry said.

"So what is the big secret, if you don't mind my asking. You seem to enjoy building up this suspense and I hope it's worth it," Draco said trying to again maneuver the conservation to a lighter tone after so much somberness.

"Ok so this is probably new to you but in 6th year I took special classes with Dumbledore," Harry began, deciding that this was the best place to start.

"I knew you spent an abnormally large amount of time with him, more so than a headmaster is expected to, I figured there was something he was preparing you for. I told you I had to keep an eye out for him," Draco said surprising Harry.

"Right, well in those classes Dumbledore hoped to sufficiently prepare me to face Voldemort."

"He taught you to duel?," Draco said with hints of excitement at the prospect of being tutored by one of the best.

"I thought that at first, but no. Most of the time we were standing before a pensieve. It was geared to get me to understand better my opponent. The memories he showed me changed the way I saw Voldemort and helped me understand him and in a way helped me defeat him."

"That doesn't sound nearly as exciting," Draco cut in again.

"It wasn't at first but I understood the importance. The memories Dumbledore was able gather were a feat in it in themselves. He showed me Voldemort's most complete story including his origins when he was still referred to as Tom M. Riddle. I found out about his mother, grandfather and uncle, forgotten and destitute but living and clinging onto the only thing they had left, their ideals and pride at being descendants of Salazar Slytherin. Dumbledore showed me how he came to guess that his mother poisoned a muggle she fell for with a love potion and how that resulted in Tom Riddles' birth. How his mother grew remorseful at holding him against his will and having to suffer his abandonment soon after she released him from the love potion. He told me of his mother's death soon after his birth and Riddle's path into and orphanage."

Draco listened on, half believing what he was hearing. Potter was right, things looked so much different under this lighting. He felt twinges of frustration of not ever knowing who it was his family had sacrificed so much for. His head was still buzzing but he needed to hear more so he signaled for him to continue.

"He showed me his personal meeting and his first impression of meeting the boy who would soon arrive at Hogwarts. He said he was weary of the boy but at that moment did not suspect that he would grow to be one of the most feared wizards in the history of the magical world."

"He then told me-", this was it, Harry was having a hard time getting it all into words, but they were the ones that really mattered. Draco did a good job and left him the silence necessary to do this, seeing that the next words might turn his world on its head.

"He then told me a theory, a theory as to why Voldemort was able to escape death after our first encounter."

"Did you guys really just go out on a theory?" Draco said unbelieving, unable to fully wrap his head around the fact that it was only a theory.

"Well it was Dumbledore's guess, and his ideas usually prove right," Harry said with some mirth replaying another old conversation with the old headmaster.

"But yes, at that time it was merely guess work, very well placed conjectures, and heavily researched theories. It was murky work but his ideas, I repeat, were usually right."

Harry took yet another pause.

"We've sat here for three hours Potter, and you have yet to say something really world shattering, I'm sure whatever you have to say-"

"Have you ever heard of a Horcrux?" Harry interjected deciding to plunge right in. The time for double guessing was passed.

...to be continued...

-(still more to come... hang in there)