Fallen Angel
The next morning, the entire school were sat in the Great Hall, eating breakfast, except for one. Harry sat staring over at the Slytherin table towards his newest follower. "I think it's time." He said aloud.
"Time for what?" Ginny Weasley asked.
"A new start." Harry simply replied. He stood and gathered his things. Confidently, he made his way to the Slytherin table, all eyes on him. He approached Draco confidently and stood behind him, waiting to be acknowledged. Draco slowly turned, as did his friends.
"What do you want, Scarhead?" Pansy Parkinson asked cruelly.
"Something I should've accepted many years ago." He simply replied, never taking his eyes off the blond's. Harry outstretched his hand in a silent offering. "Friends?"
The Slytherin table laughed. "Friends? Honestly? After you stood him up first year? You have some nerve…"
"Pansy, enough." Draco calmly said, authority dripping in his tone. He stood up and came face to face with the Gryffindor, who never faltered, and never dropped his hand. "Friends with just me, or with all of my friends? Just you, or all of your friends?" He asked, a challenge in his eyes, but also a glint of hope.
"All of your friends, and all of mine. Consider this an apology from us all for our behaviour over the years, and as a clean slate." Harry's eyes showed his honesty, something he knew Draco could see.
Draco studied him for a moment, searching for lies and betrayal. When he found none, he spoke again, this time with a smile. "Then I accept." He took Harry's hand. "Consider this also as an apology from all of us. You're right, a clean slate is what we need." They shook hands.
"Are you mad Draco? You two hate each other."
"I don't hate him Pansy, you know I don't."
"But he hates you."
"No I don't. Not anymore." Harry replied.
"Nobody asked your opinion Potter!" She snapped. She turned back to her friend. "Do you honestly expect us to be friends with Gryffindorks?"
"Yes, Pansy, I do! I expect all of you to be friends." He addressed the whole Slytherin table now, aware of the silence in the room, and everybody listening to him. "We are heading for a war, Pansy. The time for petty rivalries between houses is over. We need to make as many friends and allies as we can. But most importantly, we need to start growing up, because we are going to get a shock in the future if we don't. And surely you can understand that this is better than the alternative."
Harry spoke up now. "Draco's right Pansy. This so-called hatred is childish. The houses were not set up as rivals. The founders were not rivals. They were friends. If there are cracks in the foundations of this side of the war, if there are weaknesses within. If we fight amongst ourselves, how are we supposed to fight the common enemy? We need to work together, but most importantly, we need to grow up. That is why I have offered my friendship to you all, our friendship to you all. The time for prejudice is over." When he finished, Harry turned to look over at his friends and found every eye in the hall watching him, watching them. He searched until he saw his two best friends. They smiled and nodded once before making their own way also.
"I'm sorry for punching you in third year Draco." Hermione apologised, offering her own hand.
Draco shook it. "And I'm sort for the way I treated you, as I'm sure everybody is, especially Pansy." Said girl shook her head in bafflement. Draco ignored her and turned to the red-head. "And Weasley, I'm sorry for the way myself, and my father, have treated your family over the years. We are distant family, what was said and done should not have happened. On behalf of myself, my father, and my house, I apologise, not just to you, but to your whole family."
"And I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you mate." He shook Draco's hand also. It was at this point that Dumbledore stood up and decided to speak.
"Well, students, this is a lesson to you all. The rivalry between Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy is famous. If they can get over it, and try to make some sort of a truce, then I'm sure we all can. Use these two boys as an example. This year I want to see all of you making an effort to get along. Like the boys said, we are heading towards a war; there is no time for petty rivalries. Unite everyone. That is all." He sat down and continued his breakfast, as did the rest of the staff. Harry, Ron and Hermione shared a look before turning back to Draco.
"Show them your Mark, show them who you are. Tell them you serve Torva, not me, Torva. Tell them I will eventually call on them and talk to them. Tell them you don't know when that is, but that it will be soon. But whatever you do, don't let on that you serve me. Do you understand?" Harry said in an urgent low whisper, loud enough so only Draco, Ron and Hermione could hear.
"I will." Draco simply answered. He nodded his head and sat back down, indicating to the three Gryffindors that they could go.
xxxxx
Later that night in the common room, the ex-Golden Trio were sat round the fire when a very angry red-head came storming over to them. "What the hell do you think you are doing Harry?"
"What do you mean Ginny?" he replied, although he knew full well what she was getting at.
"You have sided with the enemy! You made friends with Malfoy, of all people! Why would you do that? Has he done something to you?"
"Yeah Harry, why would ya' do something like that? Malfoy's a git."
"Yeah…"
"I agree…"
"He is awful Harry…"
The chorus of agreement continued until Harry lost it. "Enough!" he shouted. The room went silent. "First of all, Draco has done nothing to me. I sided with him because over the past year I have come to realise that not only are we heading towards a war, but that he is nothing like his father. I meant everything I said. We need to move past this stupid rivalry and hatred. I am tired of the fighting, I am tired of the prejudice. Draco and I used to be the biggest rivals Hogwarts has ever seen, if we can move past it and make a truce, then all of you can." He cast his eyes around the room, daring anybody to challenge him. Nobody did, though one voice did pipe up.
"I believe you Harry. I always have done. If you say he is a different person, then I believe you. I will try and make friends with him also." Neville Longbottom, the once shy and retiring young boy, now coming out of his shell, spoke up. He got up and walked over to Harry. "I believe you." He nodded, before turning to stand at his friend's side. "And you lot should too. When has Harry ever lied to us? We are Gryffindors. We are lions in a den, we work together. We are brave, yet if you decide to ignore Harry, then you are all cowards. Cowards that are scared of the outcome. Don't be a coward, be a Gryffindor."
"Thank you Neville. I appreciate it."
"Always Harry. I will always stand by your side."
"Thank you." Harry turned back to his friends and they gave him a quick nod, one he reciprocated. He then turned back to Neville. "Come with us. We want to tell you something."
The four of them went to the boys' dorm, where Hermione cast several locking and silencing charms. Neville sat down on his bed, Ron next to him. Hermione sat on the bed opposite, Dean's, and Harry stood in front of him.
"Right, Neville, we need to tell you something, but you must promise us you will not tell anyone. I also need you to promise me you won't interrupt."
"I promise."
"Good. Now then, what we are going to tell you may come as shock, but you need to trust us." Harry took a deep breath. "We have changed allegiance. We no longer work for Dumbledore. We in fact work for no-one. We have formed a group, well, it's probably best if we show you rather than tell you. You ready?" At his friends' nod, he waved his wand and cast the silent spell, revealing his mask and cloak. The three then proceeded to lift their sleeve and show the other boy their Marks. Neville's eyes widened in shock.
"Are those the…" He started.
"The Dark Mark? A version of it, yes. This is what we wanted to tell you. We serve no-one though, you have to remember that. Over the past years, I have come to the realisation that Dumbledore is a manipulative bastard who uses people as pawns, especially me, to get what he wants. It is because of him that Sirius died just before the summer. No more will I serve him, no more will I be his pet." He spat the last word and started pacing, removing his effects in the process. "My aim, our aim, is to bring him down. If that means siding with Tom for the time being, then so be it. However, when the time comes, I will turn against Tom, and I will kill him also. Then, I shall rise to the top, and make the changes that need to be made. I am gathering recruits. As you have already seen, Hermione and Ron are my side. Last night, Draco got marked also…"
"Is that why you made friends with him?"
"Partly, yes. And what did I say about interrupting?"
"Sorry Harry."
"It's not a problem. But yes, Hermione, Ron and Draco are all my followers and are all branded. My question to you is this: will you join me also? You do not have to give an answer yet, but when I call a meeting with several potential candidates, and tell them the truth also, I will expect my answer from you then."
"I can give you my answer now Harry. You are the only one who has stood up for me, well, I say the only one, Ron and Hermione too but never mind. You stood up for me and over the years you have given me the courage to be who I should be. I will side with you Harry, and I will fight with you."
Harry smiled. "Thank you Neville, that means a lot. You will not be marked yet. I want to do it as a mass marking."
"That's fine. I suppose you want me to keep it a secret also."
"Yes please. Do all the members of the DA still have their coins with them do you know?"
Hermione answered this time. "Yes. They never go anywhere without them, just in case."
"Good. They'll come in handy to gather everybody. And Draco is gathering the Slytherins, so we have no problem there…" He trailed off as Aquila flew into the dorm, landing on his shoulder. He took the letter without a word and the bird flew off, clearly not needing to wait for a reply. Harry opened the letter, read it, and pocketed it.
"What is it Harry?" Ron asked.
"Just Draco. He wants to meet me tonight, alone. He wants me to go to his room."
"I presume you're going?"
"Of course. You know I am."
"Why does he want to see you Harry?" Neville asked bravely, preparing himself for any backlash from his new leader.
"No need to sound so scared Neville, I'm not going to hurt you. And he didn't say. I think it may be to do with the Mark. That isn't really something you can discuss over a letter, in case it is intercepted."
"Fair point. When does he want to meet?"
"Whenever I'm ready." Harry replied as he started gathering his cloak. "No point in keeping him waiting. Neville, say nothing about this to anyone, do you understand?"
"Of course."
"Good." They made their way back down to the common room. The room fell silent as Harry entered, with everybody trying to avoid his gaze. "What?" he demanded. Nobody said a word. He shook his head in frustration, muttering a "see you later" to his friends as he left. Once out the door, the common room erupted into noise again.
"What is he playing at Hermione?" Ginny asked as she sat down next to her friend and her brother.
"Who?"
"Harry. Why would he suddenly make friends with the ferret?"
"I think that's obvious now Ginny. The time for fighting is over."
"Yes, as he's already said. But I still don't get it."
"Listen, little sister, Harry is doing what he needs to to help win the war. And he's right, fighting between ourselves is pointless."
"And you, Ron! Have you forgotten all the shit he and his father have been throwing our way, our family's way, for years? Not once has Malfoy shown us any kindness, and I've lost count of how many times you've nearly been in a fight with him. Have you forgotten all that?"
Ron shook his head. "No Ginny. I've just grown up. You should too."
Ginny sat open mouthed for a moment in shock, before storming off to her room, leaving a bad atmosphere behind her. Once the slamming of her dorm door was heard, Neville went and sat in her place.
"That went well." With one sentence, the atmosphere was destroyed as the three on the sofa burst into laughter.
A/N: Gonna cut the chapter there, otherwise I'll never stop! :D