Draco- June 24th
Evening fell on the highlands of Scotland. The Crowd waited anxiously for the Tournament participants that remained in the maze to exit. Every single member of the student body from Hogwarts with two exceptions, and a contingent of students from Durmstag and Beaubatons. The headmistress of the French academy of magic sat next to Albus Dumbledore. Igor Karkaroff had disappeared into the night the evening previous. Suddenly red sparks rose from the inside of the maze and still there was no sign of the contestants emerging from inside of the maze.
Hours passed and unrest began to take hold of the assembled audience. Among them a young man with blonde hair that in the moonlight shown like the light of the moon itself and grey eyes watched with desperate hope. His lower lip being bitten as he considered the implications of what he knew. Draco Malfoy had long known that Potter was a magnet for trouble though most of it seemed linked to one wizard in particular. Draco himself had not been overly kind though there were reasons for that, and over this school year it had gotten even harder for him to ignore those reasons.
To his left Blaise Zabini sat looking more than a little bored. To his right was Pansy Parkinson who stared pug-faced at him, "ten gallons says that Potter is dead." Draco just shook his head, "the git has an uncanny amount of luck. I wouldn't count him out just yet. As much as I'd enjoy dancing on his grave, I doubt that I will have that privilege."
Theodore Nott sat quietly observing his fellow Slytherins with a neutral mask. He evaluated what he was since he sat looking at their faces. In spite of his words Draco's face showed a deep concern as to what was unfolding. The Slytherins were well aware that something was wrong with this picture everyone present knew that there was something that was wrong. Someone should have emerged by now since both Delacour and Krum, had been brought out of the maze.
Then as a flash of light came down onto the ground of the quidditch pitch. As everyone's eyes refocused on the spot where the light had struck the ground, there kneeling on the ground next to what looked to be the body was a short dark-haired youth of not even fifteen. Harry Potter had not been particularly thrilled to compete in the tournament.
There was murmuring among the audience, and slowly Minerva McGonagall began to move forward towards the young Gryffindor who remained hunched over the body. She got to him and gently helped him up and led him over to where Dumbledore stood and there was a very brief conversation. Then, McGonagall took him away and Dumbledore moved swiftly taking Flitwick and Maxime with him and the crowd began to disperse to the castle.
A cry could be heard in the still of the night as a man walked forward towards the body. Amos Digory, an older version of his son, who now lay on the ground ambled forward. He took with him a crowd of people all in robes with yellow and black and a badger emblem. They were led by spunky Susan Bones, the niece of the head of the department of magical law enforcement.
Draco, Theo, Blaise, and Pansy meanwhile began a slow march towards the dungeons. Most of the time Draco couldn't care less about what was occurring outside of his immediate family and circle, but something told him that everything was about to change. There has been an air of tension an anticipation of some kind of change, in every letter hat Draco had received from his father.
He waited until his dormmates were all asleep and then slipped into the hall. He walked in comfortable slippers and soft pajamas made of acromantula silk heading towards his godfather's quarters. Draco knocked and waited for the door to open. As it did, he was met with the tired gaze of Professor Severus Snape who complained, "What possibly not have waited until morning, Draco?" The blonde stood his ground, "may I come in? This is not the kind of conversation that we want to have overheard." The Professor rolled his eyes and gestured for the younger man to enter.
Snape's quarters were decorated simply in simple oak wood furnishings, with a fireplace that was the same for its mantle. The drapes were done in Slytherin green, and the sconces and candlestick holders were in silver much like the Slytherin common room. The scent of a variety of herbs floated on the air and normally these things were comforting for Draco and ordinarily he enjoyed his godfather's company but tonight was not normal.
Draco kept wringing his hands as he considered how to approach this conversation. Finally, he let out a breath, "Severus what happened tonight? There is no way that Diggory just dropped dead! Not and Harry Potter just happened to apparate to the outside of the maze. That means that the cup was a portkey. But I'm not sure what else played out." The shallow skinned, hooked nosed man looked at his godson, "I'm afraid Draco that which has long been anticipated has occurred. The Dark Lord has returned to a corporeal body." Draco tried to keep his face impassive but gulped as he considered the implications for himself and his friends. Looking suddenly much younger than his age Draco's mind drifted back to a conversation he had before coming to Hogwarts for his first year.
An eleven-year-old boy stood in front of his father a man of whom he was a replica in appearance. However, that was in appearance only. Draco looked at his father who had called him into his study. Lucius Malfoy looked at his sole offspring with sadness, "I saw you looking at my arm the other day and it is time for you to understand. When I was still in school my father made an alliance with a man he had gone to school with, and thought would bring momentous change to our world for the better. As the movement picked up momentum, he insisted that I be marked as one of his followers as well and spend my life in service of the cause. I cannot even begin to express how much I regret that I served in his ranks. I swear to you though Draco that I had no choice. My own father cast an imperius curse on me, in order for me to take the mark. If I had a free will I would not have, it doesn't serve my larger ambitions, and desires for our family."
Finally, Draco snapped back to the present. He looked at his godfather and searched his face for any evidence that the other man was holding something back. Finally, the blonde boy asked, "was my father there?" Severus could only nod in the affirmative as he knew what this could mean for everyone, but even more so for two boys in particular. The bond pretended to look at his watch which he wore even at night, "I have to head back to bed, I just wanted to make sure my father was alright."
It was a believable enough reason and one he hoped that Severus would buy. The Potions Master was tired and so did not attempt to press any farther although he suspected that Draco was not telling the truth. So, he responded to the implied reason, "your father is fine for now." Then, Draco made his way back to the dorm and considered what his options could be going forward. He had no desire to serve the self-styled Dark Lord. He never had, in spite of what he knew others might assume. And normally Draco would be happy to leave it at that especially after Potter had rejected his hand of friendship in their first year. Instead, Harry Potter had chosen to ally himself with Weasley. He knew that Nott had similar considerations during their initial trip to the school, but once Harry rejected Draco Theo had decided against approaching Potter himself. Since Potter and Weasley had maintained a degree of distance since the naming of the champions even after Weasley apologized for who knows what, it was time for he and Nott to take a different approach to allying themselves with Potter. That bore consideration for both of them, whom as children of the Dark Lord's inner circle would be expected to serve and forced to meet him and be marked if they did not find some way out of the roles that had been selected for them before they were conceived should this event occur.
The following morning as the sun shone in the sky and likewise over the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, a great cloud hung over the Slytherin table. Dumbledore stood from his seat at the center of the staff table and spoke openly, "I would be remiss in my duties as Headmaster if I did not tell you that the end of the tournament was indeed a great tragedy. Indeed, no doubt many of you feel Mr. Digory's loss quite keenly. He was a shining example of the best of Hufflepuff house. He was kind and hardworking. Even in the midst of that though we mourn someone who was a friend and a classmate, we must be ever more vigilant. For he didn't just die in the tournament but was killed by none other than Lord Voldemort. Sadly, Professor Moody is not going to be available to continue defense against the dark arts classes this term. Therefore, that period will become a free period for extra studies. "
With those announcements students filed back to their dorms and then began another day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. By the time that the day ended it was still sunny out, but the Slytherins were content to return to the confines of what might be safest place for them after recent events.
It was then that Draco found that he was surrounded by Blaise who lounged on the end of Draco's bed, leaning just over the edge, Pansy to take a seat by the window which Draco's bed was nearest to, and Theo who stood choose to sit on his own bed which was next to Draco's. It started harmless enough, they were just discussing the day's announcements, when Draco brought up his idea, "I think it's time to try again to befriend Potter." Theo just raised an eyebrow as if unsure if Draco was serious while Blaise rolled his eyes, "yeah it's not like your about to be on different sides of a war or anything." Draco sneered at the dark-skinned boy, "Shut up Blaise, you have no room to talk, being that you're on no side of the war." Blaise chuckled, while Pansy scoffed, "I also properly fear the Dark Lord, but also don't mind Potter. As long as no one comes after me and my mom, I couldn't care less."
After that brilliant conversation Draco slouched down on his bed and began to work on a letter that he had written many times in his head but never tried to put onto paper. He would then make his way to the owlery after supper.
The letter was one that he had written in his head many times over the years in preparation for this event. He was well aware of what the return of the Dark Lord would mean for him and a number of others in his peer group. If he wanted to avoid his father's fate and be able to pursue his own goals, he needed to find a way out and fast. So, Draco Malfoy found himself preparing to eat crow metaphorically speaking. His body rigid and sore from the force of will that he was asserting so that his writing would not be as shaky. Even so, that did not guarantee that the letters appearance would be pristine.
Potter,
As I write this, I know that you may have trouble with believing the content contained in this letter. I am aware I write this letter that the Dark Lord has in fact returned as many feared. It is important to let you know that all though looking back I understand that I went about trying to impress and befriend you in the wrong way, the motive was exactly that. The offer that I made that first day was genuine.
In an attempt to show you that I am in fact a potentially valuable friend and ally in the upcoming war please understand the significance of the information I am about to pass on to you. I know that Weasley told you that he didn't believe that my father had been under the imperious curse. He was wrong and still is. I know this because my father and I discussed that very thing before I came to Hogwarts. My own grandfather, Abraxas Malfoy, put him under the curse in order to force his compliance in taking the mark. Grandfather was one of the original followers, in fact, he was the Dark Lord's roommate when they were in school. Nott's father was another of the original followers.
I sit here nervous as to your response. Please know that we are facing greater danger than you can believe. For I know why the Dark Lord did not die that night. We can help you destroy him permanently if you're willing to ally yourself with us. That is that I speak for Theo, Myself and Pansy as my betrothed. There may be others who would be interested as well.
This was not the fate and path that my father had wished to tread. Nor is it the path that I wish to tread. Do I think that it should be that muggleborns are introduced to our ways before joining us here in school yes. That is quite different from where the future lies if we do not stop the Dark Lord. In exchange for my help and friendship and potentially bringing others to your side in the coming war I would only ask for safety and protection. A number of others and I would be stuck forced to serve against our wills otherwise.
Draco Lucius Malfoy
The letter was then rolled and placed in his robe pocket so that he could take it to the owlery to send in hopes that Potter would respond amicably. So, the blonde began the long and arduous trek up to the owlery where he could utilize one of the school owls in order to maintain anonymity.