Fallen Angel

A/N: I'm disappointed. One review, is that it? Come on, you guys can do better than that!

Sat at in the Great Hall as the first years were sorted, Harry surveyed the people gathered, starting with the staff table. McGonagall, check. Hagrid, check. Professor Slughorn, the new potions master, check. Snape, the new DADA teacher, check. That should be fun. And of course, sat at the head, Dumbledore, the old crackpot. He was looking older this year, Harry noticed. That should make it easier to deceive the old fool. As Harry was staring at him, eyes full of hatred, said wizard turned slightly to look at the Gryffindor, who had to quickly school his features into those of appraisal. When their eyes locked, Harry and Dumbledore exchanged brief nods and faint smiles, before Dumbledore turned back to the sorting. Harry's fake smile dropped immediately. His eyes strayed once more to the first years. Children as young as them should not be involved in wars like this he thought. One thing I will do is make sure they do not get hurt. He turned away and started scanning the seated students, starting with the Gryffindors. Of course, Ron and Hermione were on his side, so that wasn't a problem. Neville was loyal, as always, and starting to come out of his shell more. Crouch may have been an evil lying bastard, but at least he gave Neville more confidence. Harry could also tell that Neville had much more potential, and power, than he used, and maybe even realised. Getting him on side shouldn't be a problem. Dean too, he was loyal, so there was another one. Ginny, she would do anything for Harry. She thought of him as her big brother after all, that was, after he publicly came out as gay last year. Another feisty warrior. Seamus may be a problem. He turned against Harry last year, and was willing to listen to his mother over the Saviour. He may require time, but Harry was sure he'd get to him. Moving to Ravenclaw, where was…ah, there she was. Luna Lovegood. A very individual character whom many thought mad. But Harry saw through the eccentrics and, like Neville, saw a warrior. She was also willing to follow Harry as she never saw him as the Saviour or Chosen One. Just Harry, and that was what he liked. His eyes roamed the rest of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff before settling on Slytherin. They were his main targets. Likely to join Tom's side because of their parents influence, but if he wasn't quick enough, also likely to be manipulated onto Dumbledore's side. His main targets, however, were in the upper years, and in the upper class. Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Astoria Greengrass, Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and at the centre, the ring leader, Draco Malfoy. He was Harry's main target. Draco was headstrong, a team leader. He stood no shit from anyone, and was the most influential person in the whole of Slytherin. The undisputed Slytherin Ice Prince. He was probably worth the most to Harry. If he could get Draco on side, he would get most of Slytherin on side. Now all he needed to do was make contact with Draco. Shouldn't be a problem. Having crushes on gorgeous boys wasn't always a bad thing you know?

xxxxx

He could feel them again. Potter's eyes. He felt them on the platform, when he walked past the compartment on the train, and on the walk to the school. Draco looked over to see those emeralds staring back at him. There was something about Potter this year. He seemed more confident and surer of himself. He strode about now rather than trying to sneak around in the shadows. His minions Granger and Weasley seemed to respect him more also. They too seemed more confident. Something had happened to the three of them, Draco was sure of it. But he couldn't let himself dawdle too much on the Golden Trio. He had a task to do. How on Earth did one kill the Headmaster of Hogwarts? Even if it was Voldemort and his new followers Torva, Mastermind and Crimson Killer telling him to do it, it was still scary. The three new additions had been introduced to everyone early morning of the last day of July. They were, apparently, a sub-section of the Death Eaters, with Torva (Grim in Latin) as their leader. Torva was to be treated with the same respect as the Dark Lord, and Mastermind and Crimson Killer, and any other members of the Dead Assassins, were to be treated as equals to the Death Eaters. If Torva needed any of the Death Eaters to his bidding, they were not allowed to refuse. What worried Draco the most was the fact that the three were, apparently, spies here at the school. Clearly they were spies in Slytherin, as none from the other Houses would have willingly joined Voldemort's side. But who were they? Again, that would have to wait, Draco had more important things to think about….

xxxxx

That night, Harry, Ron and Hermione were the only ones awake in the common room. They were huddled around the fire talking.

"Did you see the way Dumbledore looked at me during the sorting ceremony?" Harry asked.

"Yes I did. There was something in his eyes. Something registered there." Hermione answered.

"Mmm, I noticed something as well. After he looked at you Harry, he seemed to become stiffer. Only very slightly, but he tensed up a bit, as if, like Hermione said, he noticed something different in you."

"Oh well, let him notice. I'll just blag it away. Anyway, Draco Malfoy. I want him on side as soon as possible so we can help him with the task Tom gave him. If I can find him on this," Harry waved a hand over the Marauder's Map as it came to life, "then I will speak to him tonight. He quite frequently wanders the halls at night, I've noticed."

"Harry be careful. Don't let your feelings for him compromise anything." Hermione warned.

"I won't Hermione. If he joins us, I'll tell him. If he doesn't, he will never know. Simple. Now, where is h…..there he is. Astronomy Tower. Wish me luck." Harry stood, closed off the Map, waved his wand across his face to transform his glasses to his mask, covered himself with his Invisibility Cloak, and set off.

xxxxx

Silence. Exactly what Draco needed to think. The Astronomy Tower provided silence and fresh air, and it was a place Draco adored, simply because of the privacy and loneliness. Suddenly, the silence was interrupted by footsteps on the stairs. Draco spun round with his wand out. "Who's there? Students should not be out of bed at this hour. Detention! Now show yourself!"

A figure stepped out of the shadows. He wore black robes to the floor, and a black mask covering his eyes. Torva. Torva was in the school.

"Really Draco, you would give me a detention? I hardly doubt that."

"Torva. My apologies." Draco pocketed his wand. "I didn't know it would be you. What are you doing here? Surely it is dangerous showing your face here?"

"Dangerous, maybe. But completely necessary. You see, Draco, I have a proposition for you. As you know, I was there the night the Dark Lord gave you your task, but I also know he did not brand you. If you let him do so, you will be tied to him forever, with no freedom. However, you join me, and you will not be stuck in such servitude. You will of course have your own free will, but I have a feeling you would still do as you are told for me. If you wear my Mark, you will be one of us, and I promise you, it will not hurt anywhere as much. I will give you assistance with your task, and together, we will see the fall of the old crackpot Dumbledore. When the Light and Dark fall, you will be lifted high. Together, we shall rule. What? Did you think I was completely on Tom's side? No, never. He has caused too much heartbreak in my life. I just want to make a huge change in the Wizarding World, and if that means siding with him for now, I will. After the final Battle, I shall defeat him, and we shall rule Draco, that I promise you. All you have to do is join me."

"Who are you first? Tell me who you are." Draco demanded.

"Fine. I shall reveal myself. I will also answer any questions you have." Torva raised his wand and waved it across his own face. The Mask shrunk to reveal the person underneath.

"Potter? What the hell are you doing? Why would you of all people want to join the Dark Lord?"

"Like I said, I have suffered a great loss at Tom's hand Draco, but I have suffered more at the hands of Dumbledore. It is because of his manipulation that my parents are dead. It is because of him my godfather was wrongly accused of their murder and thrown into Azkaban. Because of him, I suffered abuse at the hands of my Aunt, Uncle and cousin, my so-called family and guardians. Because of him, my godfather, the only real tie I had to my parents, is dead. No more. No more will he manipulate me and think he can control me. I am my own person."

"That means Mastermind and Crimson Killer are Granger and Weasley."

"Very good Draco."

"Do not patronise me! You said you wanted to make a change in the Wizarding World?" Draco pointed out.

"That I did," Harry responded, slowly stepping closer to the other boy. "I do want to make a change. There is too much corruption and unfairness in this world. Purebloods believe themselves to be better and superior to wizards and witches with half as much magical blood in their veins or less. Witches and wizards who are probably far better people than they are. This supremacy the Purebloods feel they have over them is just a load of bullshit. It is behaviour and beliefs like that that led to the first War, and it is leading towards another. It isn't fair. People should be treated the same, and I want to make it so they are. The same applies to creatures and hybrids. Werewolves, centaurs, anything that can live a civilised life without risking exposure to the rest of the world should be given the same chances. As for the corruption in the world, well, your father knows all about that. Back-handed, dirty money passed into corrupted dirty hands so that he can get the kind of result that he wants. I won't be allowing that either. Everybody should have the same sort of chances in life and favouritism should not be given to the person who can offer the highest amount. I will admit, your father's methods of, persuasion, may be very useful when it comes to taking down the Ministry, but once we have won, and the new laws will be made, he will not be able to get away with his dirty ways so easily."

"Are you saying you would throw my father into prison?" Draco demanded.

"No. I'm purely saying that he shall be given a warning when the new laws come into force. I will also make sure that he is cleared of all charges regarding him being a Death Eater when he is arrested. Because he will be, Draco, and I won't be able to stop it. Every Death Eater will be. If I show favouritism towards him by allowing him to stay free, then we will be back to square one. Do you see what I am saying?"

"I do. But it doesn't mean I believe you."

Harry stepped up close to the other boy and looked him square in the eye. "Trust me Draco. The whole Malfoy family, including you, are an incredibly powerful force in this World. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and out of Azkaban, I assure you."

Draco saw the truth radiating through the Gryffindor's eyes. "Either way, I won't join you that easy. Don't forget, we have hated each other for many years now. I am not just going to willingly jump over to your side, no matter what side you are on. You need to prove yourself to me Potter. Prove to me that you have changed, and that you are serious about this, and I might consider it."

"Fine. If it's proof you want, I'll prove it to you. I'll be waiting Draco." With that, Harry strode across the floor and down the stairs, throwing his cloak over him as he did, leaving Draco to contemplate.

"It's Malfoy, Potter!" he shouted after him. This new revelation now left Draco in an even more compromised position. Not only did he have his task, but now he had to decide just which side he wanted to be join. He had already contemplated asking Potter for help, but that was when he thought the Boy Wonder was on Dumbledore's side. But now, he knew that he was in fact on a side of his own, leaning slightly towards the Dark Lord to get what he wanted. Potter had promised him greatness, and he had promised him help with the task. But most importantly, Potter had guaranteed him and his family safety. But he had a reputation to uphold in the school. What would people start to think if he started becoming friends with Potter? What would his friends think? Yeah, he was gay, as was Potter, but wouldn't that give the wrong impression? Decisions, decisions…

xxxxx