Disclaimer: They ain't mine, which is why I'm poor and Harry's a virgin.



Golden Daffodils

--------- I wandered lonely as a cloud.

Part 1

Draco rubbed his arm, uncomfortably. He was fully aware that he was conscious, but he hadn't opened his eyes yet. He was trying to conclude, by his circumstances, where he had ended up. The first thing he noticed as he tried to take in his surroundings, was that he wasn't in any more pain. /So I didn't land in Hell. Well, that's a relief./

Still without opening his eyes he stretched his arms out to the sides of the small bed he was on. He determined that he was indeed alone and that no gorgeous, preferably naked, black haired Gryffindor was lying next to him. /And it's obviously not Heaven. Maybe I landed in Limbo? Terrific, just what I need. The indecision of where to put me, bloody Gods or whatever takes care of this sort of stuff./

He finally conceded to the inevitable and opened his eyes, looking around warily. He closed them with a soft groan and damned every known god, alphabetically. /It's worse than Hell. I'm in the Hogwarts infirmary. Who's wonderful idea was it for me to live? I was suppose to die, or had people forgotten that?/ A vague memory of teary green eyes and a bleeding hand grabbing his own equally bloody palm, made it's way through to the front of his mind and Draco sighed in disgust.

/Typical, bloody Gryffindor. I don't know how he did it but, Christ. He just can't help himself, can he? Always, fucking interfering without thinking, always conveniently forgetting that others have to live with the consequences. This time, literally./ He rubbed his left arm in discomfort. /And so the freak that is Draco, lives on. Marvellous. Just great. Now what?/

He opened his eyes again and sat up. Dumbledore was looking out of the window, oblivious to his movements.

"What the fuck happened?" He rasped harshly at the old man.

The headmaster jumped slightly and turned, a smile crashing on to his face.

"Draco! How wonderful to see you awake. And you appear perfectly normal, if your little outburst is anything to go by."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm so thrilled." Draco spat sarcastically. "What happened?"

"Oh, many things have happened since you lost consciousness. Your body decided it needed quite a lot of rest after that whole dying episode. You've been sleeping for almost two weeks. Happy New Year, by the way. You only just missed it, oh, we had an amazing party for it this year ...... "

"Dumbledore!" Draco's voice dropped to almost a growl. "Listen to me very carefully. What. The. Fuck. Happened?"

"And still you use such language. I hardly see how's it's necessary."

Draco did growl then, the headmaster's eyes widen in unease and he hurried on. "Tom Riddle and all the captured, former Death Eaters are in Azkaban, Lord Voldemort is effectively no more as it seems you managed to make him a complete squib permanently. You *were* dead for a few moments and Harry brought you back somehow, using the key and your connection to him. The Longbottoms are slowly settling back into society and Neville is thrilled. I do believe he quite idolises you, now."

/Great, another Gryffindor to follow me around all over the place. He'll probably join Col and Gin./ "Sev?"

"He's fine. Normally he would be sitting here at meal times and any other time he's not giving a lesson, but he was called to the Ministry to give evidence."

"Lucius?"

"Ah, er, I'm very sorry, Draco. He managed to escape during the fighting. Blaise was one of the last to see him."

/Fuck, and damn./ "Blaise?" /If we have to do this one person at a time, fine./

"He's quite well, though understandably a little lonely in the Slytherin dorms."

/Yeah, right, like he stays there, which brings me to ........./ "Jus?"

"He too, is settling back in."

"The Trio?"

"Trust me, my dear boy, everyone is quite well. Only two Auror casualties, the best result yet, and hopefully the last when it comes to Voldemort and his followers."

"Unlikely. Lucius will go after Sev. We'll have to be ready for him."

"And why would you think he'd do that?"

Draco was obviously tired of sitting on his hospital bed and got up, summoning clothes for himself to wear. "Because, Lucius will want to come after me. I just ruined his chances at ultimate power. Trust me, he's not happy about it either. He can't take me on, one on one, so he'll try to get Sev. Get some leverage over me." He rubbed his arm through the shirt.

"I see."

"Yeah right. Sure you do." Draco spat sarcastically and Dumbledore frowned.

"I don't think Poppy would be pleased to discover that you're discharging yourself from her care."

"She'll get over it. I'm hungry, it's lunch time isn't it?"

"Well, yes, but ....... " Dumbledore trailed off as Draco walked out of the room.

/Well, I lived. Great, just great. Now what the hell am I suppose to do? I never even thought past this. I was suppose to die and stay dead. Would have too if Harry hadn't ............... Wow, that had been the first time in months since I could even think his name. So many things that don't have to be done. So many rules and regulations that can be abolished now. Like, my hair, for instance./

Without even the need to look, he shattered the spell that was keeping it black and felt it return to it's original pale blonde. /Much better. I really didn't like that hair colour on me. Harry was right, it made me look like a ......... /

"You're awake?!" A voice squeaked in panic and he looked over to see Fudge.

/Well, this just gets better and better. Perhaps I did stay dead and *this* is my own personal Hell?/ "As you can see, yes, I am. Why are you here?" /This so can't be good. Anything that would make this moron come all the way to Hogwarts, just has to be bad./

Fudge mostly recovered from his shock. "I was personally waiting for you to wake up. There are a few rules you need to understand. You will still be required to give your testimony to the Ministry, despite nearly everyone else giving you glowing reviews."

Fudge rushed to catch up as Draco had started to walk again while the Minister was speaking.

"Very well. I expected I would have to." /No, I bloody well didn't. I was damn sure I was going to die. Well I did, just not permanently. Oh, shut up. I lived, get over it already./

"You are not permitted to leave the grounds of Hogwarts until the Council has determined whether or not you should be held for any war crimes. You *may* visit Hogsmeade, so long as you are under constant supervision of one of the teachers. One that is not Snape. We feel he may be too lenient towards you, before you are granted full exoneration."

"Very well." /Does condemning Death Eaters count as a war crime, I wonder? If so, I'm in a lot of trouble. Sure, they were innocent of what I accused them of, but none of them were innocent of certain other things. Hmm, I'll ask Sev when he gets back./ He rubbed his arm.

"And when you are called to appear you will be escorted from the Hogwarts' gates by Dementors to the Ministry Trial Room. And back, if it is discovered that you will need more than one sitting to report."

/Oh, great. That could take days. I wonder how the Dementors are liking the bracelets I designed for them? I expect I shall soon see for myself./ "Very well."

Fudge was obviously unnerved by the way Draco was handling the situation so calmly. "You do realise that many people are not very accepting of the idea that you were helping us from the start, don't you?"

"I *wasn't* helping you. I was working for the *Order*. As far as I could see, the Ministry wasn't doing much of anything in the fight against Voldemort."

Fudge looked quite offended. "Now see here, my dear boy ...... "

Draco spun on the spot. "I am *not* your dear boy and please don't try to justify your apparent lack of judgement to me. Now, if you don't mind, I'm hungry. If there are any other ridiculous rules to impose or subtle allegations you wish to hurl, you can find me in the Hall. Good day, Minister."

Draco stormed off and was still glaring when he entered the Great Hall. He hadn't really been hungry, but he figured it was a good enough excuse to get rid of both Dumbledore and Fudge.

"DRACO!" Three voices shouted over the noise and everyone stopped what they were doing as Blaise, Justin and Astra rushed up to the blonde. Astra nearly strangled him she was hugging his neck so much and the other two boys were talking fast.

"You're back ..... "

"Great to see you ..... "

"So much ..... "

"Your hair ..... "

"The diamond ..... "

"Guess what ..... "

"And then ..... "

Draco slowly blinked as his mind tried to keep up with the two of them. Astra finally let him go and spun around as he gasped for breath. He rubbed his left arm again.

"Honestly, you two. Shut up! Can't you see he's hungry? He looks like a skeleton, for heavens sake. Come on, Drake." She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the Slytherin table.

Maliciously, he smiled and waved to the Dursleys, who, upon finally recognising him with his blonde hair, rushed to move to the other end of the table at sat with the first years. The first years weren't happy at this arrangement..

Astra giggled. "Don't worry about them. They're going home tomorrow. Now that the threat of 'Draco Malfoy: The Evil Incarnate' is gone and all."

"Maybe they shouldn't be so sure?" He grinned and collapsed to sit at the very head of the table, well aware that the rest of the Hall was still staring at him. The two boys sat, one on either side and Astra sat next to Blaise. He grabbed up a ham sandwich and chewed some slowly, still not really being hungry despite being unconscious for so long. He forced himself to swallow it as he rubbed his inner arm on the table edge.

"So." He cleared his throat. "What's been happening? NO! No. One at a time, please, god. And please, no talk of, certain stuff that I may have had diamonds do. I couldn't handle your slobbering gratitude." He grinned at Justin and Blaise which they returned. "Stra?"

"Um, my mum's doing just great. She's getting the Order of Merlin, Second Class for her bringing down of Pettigrew. Er, I nearly blew up the dungeons yesterday with one of my attempts at potions. OH! Snape will be back tonight. He'll be glad to see that you're better."

/Am I? Hmm, oh well, never mind./ "Blay?" Draco put the sandwich down, fairly certain that they wouldn't notice that he hadn't eaten much.

Blaise looked up from whatever he was writing /Oh god, I think I can guess/ and smiled, blushing slightly. "Er, um, I got caught sneaking into the Hufflepuff dorms. Some second year who had fallen asleep in the common room, thought I was a Death Eater and screamed his head off when I accidentally woke him up. Well, technically, I guess I used to be, a Death Eater that is. Oh, nearly everyone has given their evidence to the Ministry. My trial was last week and I got off scot-free."

"Not really surprising as, all you did all day, every day, was eat, drink, sleep and whine at me to do something so you weren't so bored." Blaise grinned harder and returned to his letter. "Jus?"

"Er, my trial was uneventful, no charges. Oh, and I got a rather strong warning from Sprout about inviting people over to see me at three thirty in the morning."

Draco fought back the laughter that was rising and kept his face neutral. "Yes, well, good advise really. I'm sure it wasn't heeded in any case. Honestly, you two are pathetic."

"Aren't they just." Astra agreed as the boys blushed.

"What would you know? You didn't have to spend nearly a month with them. Those last two weeks were hell. Only reason I used the Orb anyway. Death would have been better than watching them drool over each other." The three faces had darkened somewhat at the indirect mention of his death, but brightened and went along with the joke anyway.

/Oh, Christ. I hope people don't go tiptoeing around me like I'm going to break at any moment. I don't think I could stand that. I'm not that fucking fragile. But then again, there are some things I don't want to be reminded of .......... Let's just see how we go and we'll take it from there./

"Why didn't you guys just go to the Slytherin dorms? Those things are practically empty." Draco shook his head as Astra offered him another sandwich.

"Um, Snape said the next time we did, he was charming every single mirror in the entire school to er, 'reflect' what we were doing."

Draco sniggered. "Yeah that sounds pretty much like him." He stared at the table top, slowly rubbing his arm on the edge again. /Hm, they need a book. 'What To Do In The Wizarding World When You're Dead.' You'd think the vampires would have done that by now. Then again, their idea of having fun, isn't the most appealing./

Blaise nudged him with his elbow, breaking him from his thoughts and he looked over. Blaise nodded to the space at Draco's right and the blonde slowly turned his head. And sighed. The Gryffindor Trio were on their way over. Fighting the instinct to run and hide, Draco held his head proudly as they got to him.

/I really don't want to do this./ He looked Harry in the eyes and stood up. "Hello." /Yes, bland, good, let's go with that./

-~~~-

Part 2

Ron and Hermione nodded in greeting. "Hello." Harry said, with an unreadable tone. making Draco slightly anxious. /Be strong, damn it. Strength. Damn you boy, you can do better than this./ Draco saw something flash across Harry's eyes but it was too quick for him to grasp it's meaning. /I hope that wasn't what I thought it was./

"Nice to see your hair is back to normal."

/Er, okay, pleasantries. I can do that./ "Thank you." /Yes, good, keep it short. See, you remember this, it's what you do best./ Draco told his mind to shove off. "Um, I suppose I should thank you for what you did." /Or punch some sense into you. Either one. I mean, what the hell were you thinking, you absolute fucking moron?!?!/

"You're welcome." The emotion went across green eyes again and this time Draco didn't miss it.

/PITY? He pities me? To hell with this. I don't need this shit, that's for sure./ "Yes, well, it's been absolutely smashing to talk to you all again. But I'm afraid that I have to go. Probably go lie down or something. /Technically not a lie. I probably should. Or Poppy will have my head./

Draco smiled his finest smile and walked off, trying his best not to run instead.

/All in all that didn't go too badly. Notice how you're not a sobbing ball of pain? Or bleeding? Or hexed?/

Draco muttered something out loud to his mind and it took the hint.

----------

/Where the hell is he? What's taking so long? Those fucking bastards at the Ministry are taking their god damn sweet time. What the hell are they doing? Making him mime his statement? I just wish he was back, like right now. I don't know how much longer I can take. Pity? How dare he? Oh, come on, Sev. Where are you? I need you./

It was well past eleven at night and Draco was still pacing in Sev's bedroom. That had been where he'd fled to after the confrontation in the Great Hall. He'd come to wait, and he wasn't leaving until he saw with his own eyes that Sev was okay. That and he was a quite mess himself and in desperate need to feel loved.

"PITY?" He yelled to the empty room. "How dare he? Who the fuck does he think he is? I don't need his pity, and I sure as hell didn't ask for it. I'll show him. I don't need anything! I'm just FINE!" Draco was carefully controlling his temper, not wanting to set anything on fire in this particular room.

/And had that been slight disgust in his eyes that I had seen? Well, that one I had been expecting, given the circumstances, but pity?/ Draco rubbed his face. /Okay Draco, calm down. I think you're overreacting. Damn my stubborn pride. It's not that bad, it could be worse. It could have gone so much worse./

Draco shuddered at the image of 'worse' that his mind happily supplied for him. /Oh, god no. Not that. But he wouldn't. None of them would ever dare. Doesn't mean they don't think it though. But as long as they don't say it. As long as he doesn't, I can live with that./

He could start to feel his paranoia rise up, but he pushed it down, telling himself he was being silly. /Everything will be just fine. I'll talk to him and explain everything. He'll see that I had no choice. He'll forgive me. Everything will be just fine./

He turned quickly as he heard the door being opened.

"Draco?" Sev said in confusion as he stepped in.

Draco rushed over to him and hugged him tightly, grateful that it was being returned just as strongly.

"Albus didn't tell me that you were awake. I was just going to get changed and go see you. I'm so glad you're better."

Draco sighed happily as Sev put his hand on the back of his neck. The familiar warm humming of love started in his skin, completely destroying all bad thoughts and feelings. The rush of feeling absolutely safe took over him and the blonde tried to press even closer to the taller man.

He lifted his head and smiled up, placing his hand on the side of Sev's face and concentrated returning what he could feel. Sev's eyes widen, just as they had the last time he had done this. "Is that really what you feel when I touch you?"

Draco nodded and placed his head on Sev's chest again.

"Well, I'm glad I can be of service, my Master."

Draco snorted with laughter at the title but refused to let go of him when the taller man tried to move. "Well, really Draco. I think you're being silly." But all he did was lift the blonde up and carry him over dropping him on to the bed. "You should get some rest."

"I think I've slept enough lately. I only woke up at lunch time." Draco whined, annoyed at the loss of contact. He got a kiss on the forehead for his troubles and Sev sat down next to him.

"Seriously, how was your day?"

Draco picked idly at the blanket, causing tiny holes to start. "Oh, not too bad. It could have been worse. I, well, I just never expected to survive, you know? I'm not too sure how to be behaving. I didn't plan for any of this."

"Hmm, there were a few moments when I wasn't too sure about my own life, not that I noticed too much of that by the end of it."

"Oh, yeah. Um, I am sorry about that. The whole 'dying in your arms' thing."

"Let's not discuss that right now. Don't want to spoil the good mood I'm suddenly now in. Here."

Sev took something out of the bedside drawers and handed it over. It was a small piece of cloth wrapped with twine. Draco frowned in confusion and look at him.

"Merry Christmas, my little Draco." Sev kissed him of the forehead again as the blonde broke into a smile.

He unbound it quickly and found a small ring, undoubtedly designed to fit on someone's little finger. It held the Snape family emblem and had 'Beloved Son' engraved in tiny writing on the inside of the band. Draco's smile got wider and he threw his arms around Sev's neck forcefully. "Thank you. It's lovely. I love you."

"I love you, too."

Draco hurriedly put the ring on his right-hand's little finger and looked it happily. His smile faltered and his face grew darker. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the prophecy."

"Shh, we'll talk about that another time. And I know why you didn't anyway. You should get some sleep, and I don't care if you're not tired."

Draco nodded and laid down obediently, allowing Sev to pull the blanket up over him. He closed his eyes as Sev stroked his face and he drifted off to the feel of being loved, warming him and making him forget all his worries.

----------

He wandered through the halls absently. He hadn't been able to get back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night. He had slipped out of bed and cast a spell so that Sev wouldn't wake up until morning. So now, he walked up and down the many corridors of the school, just to give himself something to do.

"Still walking in the shadows, Draco?"

He didn't even bother to turn around. "Does it really matter where I walk?"

The headmaster fell into step with him. "Perhaps. It would all depend on *why* you walk in such a way."

"I couldn't sleep." Was all the blonde offered.

"Hmm, I see."

"You know, you keep saying that and I keep disbelieving you. Despite what you might hope and think, you *don't* know everything that goes on in this school."

"But I know what troubles you."

"It doesn't take a genius to do that. Haven't you got Gryffindors you should be helping sneak around the school? Putting them in mortal danger? Go bother someone else. I'm not in the mood for you or this right now."

"Come with me. It's time for a little tradition of ours."

Draco sighed, knowing what that meant and followed the older wizard through the halls and up a few staircases. Dumbledore stopped outside of an abandoned classroom and turned to face the blonde. "Do you know what's behind this door?"

"Yes." /What else would it be? I hate doing this./

They went in and Draco obediently went and stared into the mirror after a slight hesitation. He turned his eyes, sadly, away from what he saw.

"And what do you see this year?"

"Pretty much the same as I have every year. I don't know why you insist on me always looking at this thing."

"You've never told me, and for some reason I can never be sure of what you see. Why do you never tell me what the mirror shows you?"

"Still wanting socks, Dumbledore?" Draco said sarcastically.

Dumbledore shifted uncomfortably. "I do not wish to burden anyone with what I see."

"I know what you see."

"Oh, do you indeed?"

"You see yourself, fifty years in the past, proving that Tom Riddle was responsible for the death of that girl. And that he did it on purpose."

Dumbledore stared at him for awhile before speaking. "And why do you think I see that?"

"Because if I were you, that's what I'd want to see. Stop him before Lord Voldemort was ever truly real. Lock him up in Azkaban from that moment. But what's done is done, you really should get over it."

"Should I?"

"You can't change the past, and even if you could, you really shouldn't. Things tend to happen then, and usually you end up with an even worse world. Don't you watch television? Besides, it's not like Voldemort will be the last."

"What do you mean?"

"He wasn't the first Dark Lord that tried to rule the world, and he certainly won't be the last. Another will rise up, just hopefully not while I'm still alive. I don't think I could go through all that again."

"Another will come? You really think that?"

"That's how it goes. History will repeat itself. It always has, it always will. But enough with the clichés. I should be going. I grow tired of this mirror." /I hate hoping for what I see./

"Will you never tell me what you see?"

"I'll tell you when I get it." /God, why do I get the feeling that I know what he's going to say? How predictable does he have to be?/

"Draco? I just want you to remember one thing."

/Here it comes./

"It does not do to dwell on dreams."

Draco sighed and thought for something appropriate to say. "True, but it does not do to forget what you fight for, either. Perhaps *you* should remember that?"

"Did you fight for what you see in the mirror?"

"I wouldn't have done so if that wasn't the case. You should at least know that about me, by now."

"What? That you only do what you can for yourself?"

"No. That I only do what I can for the ones that I love. To hell with the rest of the world. It can go jump for all I care."

And with that, Draco walked out of the room and continued on, not caring where he ended up. /I hate that bloody mirror. Taunting, arrogant thing. But to be honest, I have gotten some of the things I wished for. Not as gratifying as I thought it would be, but good enough all the same./

Draco summoned a cigarette for himself and lit it up. He noticed he was slowly walking up to the top of the old Astronomy Tower. Figuring it was better than some places, he continued and went to sit on the edge, staring out at the stars, using some power to form shapes out of the smoke, to entertain himself. He shook his head in disgust as he shaped the smoke to look like Harry's face for the fourth time without meaning to.

/I have *got* to get a grip on things. I'll talk to him tomorrow and get everything sorted out. I really shouldn't go on like this. I'm sure he'll understand./ Draco couldn't quite convince himself of that one. watched as the stars slowly moved around the sky.

/I just hope he doesn't hate me./

----------

"Er, hi, Harry." Draco forced himself not to fidget as Harry looked over to him. /He doesn't look too thrilled to see me. Oh, stop being so paranoid./

"Hi." Harry said back blandly.

/Well, that wasn't the most reassuring tone./ "I think we should have a talk. Would you like to go for a walk?" /Great, and now I'm rhyming. Get a grip, Draco./

"Sure, why not."

The two boys broke away from the group of students and wandered across the grounds. Harry spoke first.

"So, are you feeling better? Fully recovered?"

"Yes, thank you. I'm doing just fine. Not bad for my second day back amongst the living. Well, I suppose it's only the second day to me."

"You were unconscious for eleven days."

"Yeah, Sev told me all about that. Apparently I scared quite a few people, with my dying act."

Harry hadn't seemed to relaxed yet and Draco was unsure about how to continue. He fought back all the panic and tried his best. "Look Harry, there are some things I needed to talk to you about. Some pretty important things really. First off, I just wanted to apologise ...... "

"No need."

"No, there is. I ....... "

"Look, Draco. I know what you're going to say. And I agree. It would be a bad idea for us to be around each other anymore."

/What? But I wasn't ......../ "No, I was ....... "

"Just let it go. So much has changed. You've changed, I've changed. You don't have to apologise for anything, you were just doing your job, and you don't have to say anything more. I've had plenty of time to think about all this and I think we should just let everything go how it is. We're both better off without the other in our lives."

Draco reeled from the conviction in the Gryffindors voice. /So much has changed? Oh, I guess he meant the thing. With Voldemort. Oh god, I had hoped so much he wouldn't do this. I should have listened to Sev. Why the hell didn't I? Because I'm too proud and arrogant for my own good. And I was as scared as all hell./ "Well, if you're sure."

"Believe me, I am."

"This is because .......... "

Harry cut him off again. "This is because, it's best."

"Well, if that's the way you want it." Draco let a little anger into his voice.

"I should go now. Good bye."

Draco flinched at the barely civil tone. "Bye."

He watched as Harry walked away.

"I love you." He whispered to the retreating back. "I'm sorry."

-~~~-

Part 3

Draco stopped outside the classroom door and sighed at his hesitation. /Come on, Draco. You can do this. It'll be really simple. You helped destroy Voldemort. How much harder could this be in comparison? .......... Bloody hell of a lot harder, that's how much. Voldemort was one thing, but this? Why do I do this to myself? You'd really think I'd learn, wouldn't you?/

He could hear Sev's voice on the other side of the closed door.

"Despite what some people think and all the rumours that have been flying around since what seems like the beginning of time, I have no wish to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. I am much more content with Potions. That is why I'm pleased to announce that someone else has been found to take over these lessons. Be careful, I wouldn't want to see any of you land in the infirmary. Well, except for maybe you, Mister Weasley."

Draco snorted, trying not to laugh out loud too much. He fiddled with his collar and rubbed his arm. It had been four days since he'd woken up and even Dumbledore had to admit that he was fully recovered. /Physically anyway./

Drawing up all the courage he could muster he opened the door and walked in. "Hey, Sev."

"Good afternoon, Draco. Good luck teaching them anything." Sev walked out and shut the door after himself loudly.

Draco turned to look at the stunned faces. Only Blaise and Justin weren't shocked, as Draco had told them both the night before. To the reaction of much squealing and hugging from both of them, which Draco had stoically tolerated. "Before we start, there are a few things I would like to clarify." Draco moved to sit on the teacher's desk. /Well, *my* desk, I guess./ "First off, Dumbledore asked me to take over the DADA classes until the end of the year and, as it was me who, er, *retired* your previous teacher, I felt it was only fair to say yes."

Still no-one said a word. Draco noticed that Hermione was very close to having her jaw drop on to her desk. Quite a feat, for him. "Secondly, no, Professor Stanton is not dead. Well, not technically anyway. She received her kiss from the Dementors the day after she, um, disappeared from here. She is currently one of them, to the best of my knowledge."

He looked around. Blaise and Justin were sitting next to each other and grinning. Due to the fact that there were pretty much no Slytherins, all the classes now held about thirty students, all of the Houses grouped together in one large class for each year.

"Thirdly, I am wearing muggle clothes because I am truly sick of robes. I've worn enough to last me a lifetime." A soft mutter of 'And taken off just as many' came suspiciously from the table Harry was sitting at. Draco gave him a distrustful look and continued on. "Dumbledore has agreed to waive the dress code for me. I hope no-one objects."

Draco was indeed wearing a black muggle shirt and black pants with his boots. When he had reluctantly checked the mirror before leaving his room, he had noticed it looked as if he was heading to a funeral, or attending his own, considering how thin he was. He had thought it rather appropriate, given the circumstances of late.

As he looked around the room, he tried not to look at Harry. Who, unfortunately for the blonde, was sitting in the very front row with Hermione, Ron and Neville. Neville, was currently staring in awe, rather than shock and Draco internally cringed. /I'll have to talk to him./

"And, before anyone asks, yes. I am perfectly capable to add and deduct points as I see fit. I can also give detentions. Any questions?"

Blaise put his hand up.

"No, you may not." Draco said without blinking and Blaise mock-sulked, crossing his arms and then grinning.

"Hermione?"

Hermione blinked and switched to class room mode. "Yes, Professor Malfoy?"

"Er, okay, one more thing. You can call me sir, professor or Draco. Please do not use the M word. I'm really sick of it." He smiled as most of the class seemed to be getting over their shock and relaxing partially. Some of them even smiled back. "Hermione? What was Sasha, oh excuse me, what was Stanton doing before she, um, *left*?"

"We were studying the hazards of Veelas and their abilities to lure."

Draco smiled and hopped off the table. "Really? Excellent. Now *them* I know about. Can I see your book please?"

Hermione happily handed it over and Draco felt the knowledge flow into his mind. He flicked to the suitable page anyway, not wanting more people than necessary to know that he didn't have to read anything at all. Harry snorted at the show and Draco, again, ignored him. He handed the text back after a suitable amount of time.

"Some of the things in your text books are incorrect, so try not to take everything it says to heart."

"YOU are our new teacher?" Ron had obviously woken up from his shock induced daze.

"Yes, and welcome back to reality."

"But, but, but ........... "

"Ron. Do you have any objections to me being your teacher?"

"Yes! For instance ....... "

"Any viable objections? Ones that you would be willingly to express to Dumbledore? He will have to be the one to talk to about this as it was he who told the Ministry to fuck off then they said he was nuts if he thought this was a good idea." Draco smirked as Ron sighed dejectedly. "Now, as I was saying, some of the information in your books is wrong. Veelas are perfectly capable of controlling their seductive abilities. Most of them just choose to not to turn it completely off. Yes?"

Hermione's hand had shot up. "*Why* don't they just turn it off or something?"

"Hermione, if you had the power to get what ever you wanted, simply by standing there, wouldn't you use it?"

"Of course I wouldn't use it. It's almost immoral. In fact, that is *very* immoral, now that I think about it."

"Perhaps, but you don't have the greedy nature that most Veelas have either. The women are brought up, constantly being told, that the world should fall at their feet and grovel. Most of them enjoy it too."

"How come male Veelas or male hybrids can't use it? Er, most of the male hybrids anyway." Hermione blushed, and Draco assumed she was remembering that time he had entranced her to a small degree.

"Some have enough to produce a small effect, but *very* few males have the ability to turn you all into slobbering messes. It hasn't been determined why this is so. Veelas themselves don't know and I certainly have no idea. Now, can anyone tell me why the charms of Veelas have such a bad name? Er, Hermione, how about we give someone else a turn?"

Hermione put her hand down sadly and a Ravenclaw raised his hand.

"Yes, Terry?"

The boy looked shocked that his name was known but went on anyway. "Um, in ancient times they were rather mean, and played up, usually causing death. Such as when they were called Sirens in Greek Mythology, who always tried to get sailors to steer their ships on to the rocks."

"Very good, and I'm assuming Stanton told you that, just as it is with Imperius, if you concentrate hard enough, you can mostly throw off the Veelas effect. You just have to manage to think of something that would be a real downer, so to speak." Neville raised his hand. "Someone or something you wouldn't want to have sex with, Neville." Draco said gently and the boy 'Oh'ed in understanding, his eyes never leaving the blonde. /Definitely need to talk to him./

"Now, throughout history, women have had more success at withstanding the Veela charm and yes, before any of you ask, Veelas are quite capable of turning their power up enough to entice women as well. As most Veelas have no interest in women, this normally is not a problem, but when you capture one against her will, she will use it to escape. Does anyone have a theory as to why women are better at ignoring them? Blaise?"

Blaise, who had been writing again, looked up in confusion. "Huh?"

"Blay, please wait until end of class to write your soppy, love letters." Blaise blushed, shoving his parchment under his book as some snickering started. Draco continued on. "Why are women better at overcoming Veela charm?"

"Er, because most chicks aren't into girl/girl stuff?"

Draco smiled. "Interestingly put, but yes, sexual orientation could be a feasible reason. Anyone else?" Draco's eyebrows went up as Neville's hand was raised again. "Yes?"

"Um, well, er, most women are more in control of their hormones? Er, apparently?"

Draco blinked slowly. "That is an excellent theory, and very accurate. Men are notorious for their lack of control in that area. Perhaps it's not very fair in some cases, but there you have it. Who here thinks they could overcome their lust?"

A hand shot up. "Um, sir? Professor Stanton said her request to have a Veela visit for us to try, was denied. They still aren't happy about the whole Quidditch thing. So the one that normally turns up about this time of year, isn't coming just like the last three years."

"That's fine Ernie, we don't need one." Everyone barring Blaise, Justin and the Trio looked confused. Harry sighed dramatically and leant on the table, clearly trying to show how bored he was. Draco decided that ignoring him was still the best option.

/Especially after that last comment. I'm sure that was him./ "For those of you who aren't aware, Lucius and Narcissa, yes, my blood parents, were both half Veela. Technically, I am too. Due to certain circumstances, I am perfectly capable of enticing anyone I wish to."

Ron snorted with laughter and disbelief. Draco looked over and smiled. "Thank you for volunteering, Ron. Please come up to the front." At first, all Ron did was look stunned, but he got to his feet and marched arrogantly to the front of the room. Draco looked around. "Hermione? Would you like to see how you'd go?"

She obligingly joined her redheaded boyfriend at the front. "Um, we're not going to actually try and do anything to you are we? It's just well, the last time you did this, I had this need to touch you and that was only a small amount so, ... "

"Never fear. I'm placing a barrier between you two and myself. You won't be able to reach me. I'm also placing a sort of protection bubble around the both of you. I don't want you attacking each other if you suddenly consider the other a form of competition for my attentions. It has happened in the past. I will be hitting you as hard as I can, so brace yourselves. At this level it can sometimes tap into your primitive side, you may do some very irrational things. Ready?"

The two nodded and Draco briefly closed his eyes. Ron and Hermione's bodies jerked, as if their knees were giving out and Draco opened his eyes. "I have also contained the magic so that none of you watching, will be affected. Now, I have it on so strong, they probably aren't going to be trying to win me over by claims of them having wealth beyond imagination, or whatever. It is also an amazingly effective interrogation technique. Observe."

Draco, smiling sweetly, turned back to Hermione, who was trying to claw her way through the barrier. "Hello Hermione." Hermione growled. "How is your day going?" Another growl. "Now, now. I'm not going to let you near me until you talk nicely."

"My ........ day ........ is .......... bad." Hermione panted out as if English wasn't her first language.

"And why is that?"

"Can't ........... touch." She silently scratched her nails down the invisible barrier.

"Now I'll ask her something, she normally wouldn't answer. Um, something not mortifying, for when she's better, I don't want her attempting to hex me into oblivion for asking about her virginity or something. Hermione? Er, oh bugger it. I can't think of anything. I'm really sorry about this. Are you a virgin?"

"No." She gasped out, still trying to reach him.

Draco turned back to the rest of the class, most of whom were snickering. "As you can see, Ron isn't faring much better." Ron was beating on the barrier in rage at not being able to reach the blonde. The snickering got worse. "Please don't laugh. By the end of this lesson, you will all have done this." The laughing slowly trickled off.

"Ron, are you a virgin?"

"Yes." The redhead managed to spit out.

Draco's eyes widened in shock as even the Gryffindors started to laugh. "Um, well, that was unexpected."

Suddenly Hermione gasped and dragged herself away from Draco hurriedly. "Oh my god! That is so embarrassing. I hate it when you do that. I can't believe you asked me that. Oh god."

"Congratulations. Miss Granger has successfully knocked it away." Draco sighed and looked at Ron. "Are you even trying?"

"Er, Draco? I'm still feeling a little funny?"

"Perfectly normal, Hermione. Don't worry about it. It's sort of like an aftershock. It'll pass soon and you'll return to only having eyes for this one here." He gestured to Ron who was sobbing in frustration and leaning on the barrier. "Or at least, that's what most of us probably thought *before* I started with the questions." Hermione blushed, but she was smiling softly.

A few more minutes later Ron finally beat it and lay panting on the floor. "Don't ever ... do that ... again. Oh god ..... my mind needs a shower. A very cold shower, preferably using acid to clean it up a little. I'm going to be having nightmares for years. I can't believe some of the things ....... "

"In your own time, Mister Weasley. I mean, whenever you're ready to get up off the floor and stop whining about your life, please feel free to do so." Draco smirked as Ron dragged himself up and slouched back to his desk. "Now, who's ready for some real fun? Hermione? Ron? You two may sit this one out, I suggest you move to the back of the room."

Ron muttered 'thank god' and Draco smiled, continuing on. "Please move all of your personal possessions to the sides of the room. I am about to put you all, barring our two example cases, under my influence. The first to break it, wins their house twenty points. The last four remaining affected, will have to clean the room after it's over. Trust me, the room will be trashed."

Ten minutes later, the room was indeed wrecked and fifteen students were still clawing at the barrier as Draco sat calmly on his desk, smoking and reading something Sev had left behind.

"DRACO!" Sev stormed into the room. "We can hear your class all the way down in the dungeons! What on earth ............... oh for, are you doing that stupid Veela thing again?"

"Class, as you can see Professor Snape is completely unaffected, due to his firm belief of me as a, er, relative. Please note that if you already care strongly for the person, in a non-sexual way, it is highly unlikely that you will be overwhelmed with the need to fuck them senseless."

Sev looked around at the dishevelled room. "Who won?"

"Blaise, closely followed by Harry and then Neville. But I don't think the others had it very fair. Blaise has had practice at it. Neville actually did amazingly well, considering he's usually somewhat bad at concentration." Neville grinned at the odd compliment and Draco smiled back at him.

"You are going to be cleaning this up, aren't you?" Sev said suspiciously.

"Nope, four of these lucky few are." Draco motioned to the remaining mob, which was now down to seven.

"You just want to be adored, don't you?" Sev said playfully, though it sounded perfectly serious to everyone else.

"Perhaps, perhaps." Draco smiled gently. /All depends on who it is./

"Try to have your next lesson conducted in a manner that is a little less exuberant. Miss Hyland is already bad enough at brewing her potions without having to wonder whether or not your class is trying to kill you." Draco nodded, smiling powerfully, causing the, now six, students to almost drool on to their shoes and Sev walked out, shaking his head in amusement.

-~~~-

Part 4

Draco rushed to catch up to Harry after the class was over. "Harry. Harry, wait up, will you?"

The Gryffindor spun around, scowling. "What now?"

Draco stopped in shock at the outright hostility on the other boy's face, but shook it off quickly and walked up to him. "Er, want to go for a walk?" /Don't stutter, don't waver, don't show him you're bleeding. Pull yourself together, for Christ's sake./

"I thought we agreed to avoid each other?"

/Well, fuck you too. Jesus, friendly guy, isn't he?/ "Well technically, only you did. But this is serious."

"I see no reason for us to spend anymore time than absolutely necessary, together. It's bad enough we now have to be in a class together."

/Just ignore it, just ignore it./ "Um, the connection." Draco said softly as a group of second years walked past, staring at the two boys in varying levels of awe. Both boys ignored them.

"What of it?"

"Well, we, er, have to break it. You resealed it when you brought me back. So, now we have to break it again."

"No."

"Er, sorry, what?"

"I said 'No', I have my reasons for keeping it."

"Care to share them?"

"I don't care to share anything with you."

"Well, you're sharing the connection with me."

"I have plans for it. Plans, that do not include you. I've discovered some rather useful things about it. But thankfully, I don't need your help, for any over them."

Draco frowned at him. "Did you bring me back to life, purely to be an arsehole towards me?"

"Perhaps, why do you care as to why I did it?"

"Well, it is *my* life."

"Yeah, and you owe it all to me."

/Yeah, thanks a fucking bunch, for that too./ "I don't think I owe you anything. I've saved you a hundred times. So you saved me once, big deal."

"I wasn't already dead at any of those times."

"Oh, well, I'm *so* sorry, next time I'll wait until you are." Draco spat, feeling his anger rising. By this time, Ron and Hermione had started to literally back away, just in case either boy did something rash to the other or anyone else in the vicinity.

"There won't be a next time. You know, all of these attempts on my life never happened before you turned up. Except for the first one."

"Oh, come on. You're not going to start pinning them all on me, are you? They started up again because you came back to the Wizarding world."

"I'll damn well blame who ever I want!"

"Are you going to let me break it or not?" Draco's patience was nearly gone.

"Or not, now fuck off."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said, Fuck. Off." Harry spoke, as if trying to explain something to a small child. "Did dying make you deaf?"

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mister Potter." Draco said blandly. "Try to show a little respect to your professors."

"Respect? To someone like you? To someone who has ......... " Harry trailed off and shut his mouth with a snap.

Draco bristled at the unspoken words. /Now, now. He might not have been going to say what you think he was going to./ The blonde held on to that thought tightly. "I will be speaking to Dumbledore about this. He'll get you to do it. He'll convince you to break it, despite whatever your plans are."

"Don't bet on it. Now, if you'll excuse me, *professor*." Harry said the last word with sarcasm, and turned away, walking towards the staircase that led to his dorms. Ron followed in silence.

/And I love the guy because .......... ?/ Draco stared after the two boys, frowning slightly. He looked to Hermione who just shrugged. "I don't know. He's been sort of like that since you two spoke at the old Astronomy Tower. Then he just got worse. Um, I wanted to thank you, for everything you've done."

"Please don't."

"Oh, okay. Um, I have to go, bye."

"Yeah, bye." Draco said absently, keeping his emotions in check. He rubbed his arm.

"Oh, and Draco?"

"Mmm?"

"I think you'll make a wonderful teacher." She smiled sincerely.

He sent a half-smile of his own back. "Thanks.

----------

"How was you first lesson?" Sev walked in and kissed him on the forehead as he was making his quills dance on the desk top.

"Fine." Draco said distractedly. He made the quills dance faster.

"Then what's bothering you?"

"Why do you think there is anything bothering me?"

"Because the last time you did this," Sev caught the quills gently and placed them down. "Was when you found out that Harry was going to be accepted into the Triwizard Tournament and go up against a dragon."

"He did that one really well didn't he?" Draco said slowly.

"Personally, I was surprised that the dragon left her eggs under any condition. He's certainly not that annoying. I wonder what made her fly up? And so soon? I've seen dragons sit on their eggs with wizards throwing hex after hex at them. Not even a blink of an eye. I wonder what go to that one?"

Draco smiled softly at the desk, remembering that day well. "No idea. I guess it was just the Gryffindor charm."

"Indeed." Sev said dryly. "After all, it's impossible to communicate with a dragon, unless you have dragon blood in your veins. So we certainly can't accuse him of doing that."

"Very true. And who on earth has dragon blood these days?" Draco said playfully, remembering the silent but very heated argument he'd had with that dragon, after she had hurt Harry's arm.

Sev sat down and gently lifted Draco's face. "What's wrong?"

Draco looked away again. "He hates me. I mean he *really* hates me. But, oh, I don't know. I ... I ... I guess I'm just trying to readjust to everything, you know? It's a little weird. I spent what seemed like forever, knowing I was going to die." Draco smiled softly at Sev. "And then wham. I wake up and get told I'm alive."

"Surely that's cause for celebration?"

"Yeah, surely." Draco said tentatively.

"Draco, please. Just tell me." Sev said softly and then cradled his face with both hands.

Draco smiled as all his problems seemed to dissolve at the touch. Nothing ever bothered him when that warm feeling started. /Just like a drug, only beautiful. No nasty side effects either./

"Draco?"

He looked into Sev's worried eyes.

"It's just that .......... well, it's just that I was supposed to die. Part of me was looking forward to my death."

"WHAT?"

"No, no, not looking forward, those aren't the right words. I just, I just justified a lot of what I did, by telling myself that soon it wouldn't matter."

"I don't understand."

"Knowing that I was going to die, was sometimes the only way I could get through the day. It was the only way I could bring myself ....... to initiate certain things. And then to cope with them, afterwards." Draco said softly, averting his eyes. "I was suppose to die."

"Oh." Sev said gently. "I see." And Draco knew that he did.

Silence stretched between the two of them.

"Is that the reason you're still not eating properly?" Sev looked as if he was unsure that he should push the topic further.

"Don't I?"

"Please don't play word games with me. I get enough of that from Dumbledore."

"Sorry." Draco dragged his face away from Sev's hands and stood up. "I should get back to the dorms. Make sure Blaise and Justin aren't making out on my bed. Or worse."

"Draco ........ "

"Just, please, not now. I need time. We all do." Draco leant over and kissed him on the cheek. "Good night."

"Good night."

Draco shut the door after himself quietly.

----------

Draco collapsed on to his bed. He'd magically altered it, making it the same size as the ones in his other two rooms. The one at Malfoy Castle and the one at Snape Manor. He'd gotten sick of rolling off this one, as he had the first two nights of being alive and conscious again. /I never used to toss and turn that much./ He rubbed his arm again and undid his sleeve button, pushing it up to stare at the pale unmarred skin.

The skin where his Dark Mark had used to be. There wasn't even a faint shadow to show where it had once been, but he knew, from memory, exactly where it was missing from.

/This just feels so wrong. I thought I'd get used to it not being there, but I haven't. The flames don't flicker anymore and it just feels so wrong./

He pushed his sleeve down as Blaise and Justin walked in.

"Hey Drake." They said in unison.

"Hey guys, how do you think I went?"

"Your lesson was cool. It's gonna be so great having you as our teacher." Justin dropped down to lie next to him as Blaise sat at the end of the bed.

"Well, at least someone's happy about it." Draco said, not letting them know exactly how upset he was about the whole Harry thing.

"Look, it's really simple and you already know it. It's like a fact of life. Gryffindors ... Are ... Insane." Draco snorted at Blaise's comment. "Just don't let him get to you. He'll get over whatever the hell it is and things will be just fine. He can't live without you forever."

"Of course he can. And he's stubborn enough to try it, too." /Besides, I've got a feeling, he won't be able to get over what's bothering him. I can't blame him really. I definitely should have listened to Sev on this one./

"Well, I don't think so." Justin sat up and loomed over Draco's outstretched body. "We was pretty wrecked after you supposedly left. And he looked devastated at your death. I think he just needs some time. You know, to get over you being mean to him and everything."

"I had to be."

"Yeah, I know, and he'll work that out. He'll come around, you'll see."

"Mmm." Draco turned to lie on his side. "And what are you two going to be doing tonight? Do I need to move to Albania to avoid the noise?"

Justin blushed as Blaise sniggered. "I don't think that's necessary."

"You know, Drakie?" Justin ran his hand down Draco's face. "The offer to join is still open, if you get bored."

Draco smiled at the warmth that Justin's friendship made on his skin. He was well aware that, while they didn't 'love' love him, they certainly didn't mind the idea of him joining in. He gently removed Justin's hand and smiled arrogantly. "No thank you, threesomes with commoners such as yourselves, aren't my thing and for god's sake, stop calling me that."

"But it's so cute? Why can't I?"

"Because I said so. And, as you both know .... You do, what I say ..... " Draco trailed off and waited for them to finished it themselves.

"When I say it!" The two boys said together and the three of them snickered.

"You fucking terrified me, that first night." Justin said, sulking slightly. "I thought I was as good as dead. I was so scared."

Draco's smile got wider. "I know. It was so much fun. You certainly relieved the boredom for awhile."

"Yeah." Blaise chimed in. "You were practically convulsing in fear."

Draco and Blaise both dissolved into chuckles as Justin crossed his arms moodily. "Bastards." he playfully hit Draco in the arm and stuck his tongue out at his boyfriend.

Blaise's response to that was to kiss the offered tongue and a small smile crossed Justin's face. Draco groaned. "Argh, okay, okay, I'm going to Albania, now."

"You don't want to watch?"

"Seen it all before. On my bed, as well. I hope the house-elves at the castle, clean it well." Both boys slapped him lightly at that and he smiled. "Honestly, why don't you just both move into the sixth year dorms, those things are empty. Stra's the oldest after Blaise and I and she's only a fourth year."

"Yeah right, like Snape would let us." Justin said, rolling his eyes.

Draco faked a yawn. "I'll tell him tomorrow. He'll agree to it."

"No he won't." Blaise added.

"Of course he will. This is me, remember? I'm great at those sort of things. Especially with poor old Sev. He just can't say no to me." /Though now I wish he could. I'll bet he does too./

"You're such a spoilt brat." They both said at the same time.

"Damn straight, now fuck off and go fuck. I need some sleep." He lied, knowing he wouldn't sleep for ages, until he finally fell into exhaustion.

"You really should go to dinner."

"I'm not hungry." Draco said truthfully. /Even just the idea of food, makes me feel ill./ "I'll have something tomorrow." He knew that one was a lie.

They nodded, showing with their eyes that they were not believing him in the slightest, but left the room anyway after Blaise grabbed something out of his drawers. Undoubtedly heading for the sixth year dorms. "Night Drake."

"Yeah, night."

He stared at the ceiling, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep and thought over the last few years of his life. He finally broke out of thought as he realised he was rubbing his arm again.

Deciding to relieve the discomfort in the only way he knew how, he sat up and summoned his wand to his hand. /No-one has to know that I've done this. It's just to make it feel right. It doesn't mean anything. I'm not obsessive./ He placed the tip of his wand on his arm and his lips started to move without any sound.

He spent nearly an hour, altering and perfecting his new mark and looked at it curiously when he was finally satisfied that it was done. His arm finally felt as it should, as the new flames flickered over his pale skin. It wasn't exact, but it was what he considered perfect. He much preferred it this way. Mildly contented with his work and it's results, he lay back down, closing his eyes and he forced himself to drift off into a restless sleep.

/I hate my dreams./

-~~~-

Part 5

The last of the third years wandered out of the classroom, chatting excitedly about the lesson they had just finished.

"Er, Professor Draco, sir?"

Draco looked up from what he was writing and smiled softly at Neville Longbottom, who had his head just poking out from around the door. "When I asked you to call me, professor, sir or Draco, I never said you had to call me all three, Neville. Come on in. Can I help you? Er, you haven't come here to ooze gratitude at me, have you?"

A look of indecision crossed the boy's face but then he shook his head as he came further into the room. Draco let out a sigh of relief. "Thank god. Cause, it'd be real weird and everything, you know? That and I had ulterior motives when I brought your parents back to the real world, so it's not like I'm a saint."

"I, um, just came to ask about that, not shower you with gratitude. Despite how much you actually do deserve it." Draco rolled his eyes as Neville hurried on. "I know why you fixed my dad, he knew the old secret Auror signal to send up, the one they don't even tell the new Aurors about. But my mother? I don't understand that one. And I'm not in anyway displeased, so don't get me wrong, but why did you cure her?"

"I'd like to say, 'because it wouldn't be fair to bring one back without the other' and even though I did think that, that wasn't the reason. Have a seat." Draco motioned with his hand and Neville sat down hurriedly, smiling thankfully. "I did it, basically because I had to. Are you sure you want to hear this?"

Neville nodded furiously and Draco took a calming breath. "Your father's mind was very badly damaged, they both were. Shattered, I guess you could say. Everything was mixed up, and in the wrong place. All their thoughts and memories weren't connected properly. That's what I had to do. Rebuild everything from scratch. I had to catalogue all their memories and then reorder them. Then rebuild their thought processors. Anyway, soon into it, I realised that I'd need both of them, not just your father."

"But why?"

"They were different, um, your father, Frank, was tortured for much longer. Consequently, some of his mind wasn't just shattered, but blank or seriously flawed. Like a badly scratched CD, that you can't play. I had to use your mother's memories to help fill in some of the blanks, so that he could function properly, without so much chaos going on in his head."

Draco looked at Neville. The boy was practically falling off his chair, listening to every word. "It wasn't easy. I had to take her memories, and tamper with them, until I could basically get it to form what would have been his point of view. Then, simulate how he would have felt, based on his values and behaviour. That meant I had to copy the memories to my own mind, flip them and then transfer them to Frank. It took quite awhile."

"Was it painful?" Neville inched his chair closer, looking concerned.

"It wasn't pain, more like disorientation. A dull ache that throbbed, confusing me and very draining, even in short periods of time. Having memories that you know aren't yours, ............... mind bending."

"Do you still have them?"

"I have the memory of seeing them, but not actually the memories themselves. It was too unsettling so I didn't just copy them to your father, I forced the whole thing on to him. Dangerous, I know, but thankfully everything seems to have worked out well. How are they by the way?"

Neville's face perked up and Draco had to smile. "Oh, they're just fine. Both are a little, um, off, still but they're settling in. They asked about you every day. Wanting to know if you'd woken up yet. They're staying at Hogsmeade for awhile, they want to come see you as soon as you've settled back in yourself."

"I don't deserve thanks you know. I was only doing what I had to do. I needed that signal for the big battle. The one that never happened. Well, never happened when we had planned for it, anyway."

"Of course you deserve ...... "

"NO! I'm going to tell you this once and once only, so please listen. I am *not* a hero. I just did what I had to do. Please don't thank me. I don't deserve it and I certainly haven't earned any of this awe and respect that people keep trying to force upon me."

Draco stood up, collecting his books and then his face softened as he saw the bewildered look on Neville's face. "I'm not a hero, Neville. I've done too many other things, horrific things, to be called that. Things I can't even admit to myself. Good day. Don't forget your assignment that's due on Friday."

He walked out, leaving the Gryffindor to stare at the door in wonder.

----------

Draco slid into the large bath and let the large blue bubbles he had chosen, to come up to his face. He was in the teacher's bathroom, which was even more impressive than the one assigned to the Prefects. And the beautiful thing about this one was you could place a small metallic disc into an indent in the wall from the inside and the other teachers would know it was occupied, that the person inside was wishing to be left alone.

Draco shuddered at the thought of any of the other teachers doing things that would demand privacy. A brief image of Flitwick slipped past his futile attempts at mentally blocking such things. /Ew. Like I'm not mentally scarred enough by this time. Thanks ever so much brain. I just appreciate it immensely. Now rack off, I'm here to try and escape you. I have a lesson in three hours. Oh god, fourth years. Well at least I can pick on Stra./

He ran his hands, covered in small green bubbles, from his forehead to the back of his head. Magically restraining all the thoughts that had been plaguing him in the last few days and he sighed as all his troubles seemed to slowly dissolve. /Ignorance truly is bliss./

The spell worked it way through, repressing his least favourite memories. He was well aware that it was dangerous to mess with his own mind, but he was desperate for relief from his inner turmoil. Large parts of his childhood suddenly didn't exist as far as he could tell, but he wasn't panicked. The spell always took into account the panic that is felt when people realise they can't remember certain things. It basically made a mental link, a warning to the effect of 'You don't want to know. You've repressed it.' and that was all that Draco needed to know, to leave it alone.

What disturbed and worried him the most was that, out of over the seventeen years he had been alive, he could barely squeeze everything left into just under three. The last almost completely happy memory he had was the day before he had found out that Voldemort wished for him to return, on a permanent basis. The entire time between leaving Harry's bed that night, the day before sixth year had finished and him meeting Sev in his rooms after waking up, was almost completely blank with the warning written in larger than normal writing. The only thing that was in that time period was a couple of brief meetings he had with Sev.

He sighed and let his head drift under the two different layers of bubbles and then under the water. /God I wish I could keep this spell on all the time. It's not nearly as bad as knowing that something is wrong, instead of knowing exactly what's wrong. Just don't have to deal with anything./

Unfortunately for Draco, keeping this spell on would severely disorientate him out in the real world. As most of his life was blocked from recollection he could normally only focus on a small task, to avoid confusion and frustration. Which was why he only used it at bath times. But sometimes he wished that the spell would also take away the memory of how to break it. Just so he'd have an excuse to leave it on indefinitely.

He resurfaced and just lay there, head on the fluffy water-proof cushion in the pool side, head rest with his body floating lazily on the surface, knowing that this was, for some reason, a good time, a calmer time, therefore enjoying it. He drifted into a light doze.

A small noise broke him from his tranquil drifting and he looked around. He was just about to greet the new comer brightly when an alarm sounded inside his mind loudly. It was telling him that he had to disconnect the memory block before proceeding.

Confused, he did what it asked quickly and internally groaned as all his memories were once again accessible. His uninvited visitor was staring at him in surprise. "Ten points from Gryffindor, for being where you aren't suppose to be and for interrupting me, Mister Potter. Please leave." He was happy that his voice stayed chiefly bland, with only slight annoyance as it's base emotion.

Harry scowled and walked forwards as Draco checked his watch. /Half an hour before class anyway. Damn./

"What are *you* doing here?"

"I'm a teacher. Or hadn't you noticed?"

Harry snorted with sarcastic amusement and Draco resisted the urge to get up and punch him. /Arrogant, insolent prick. NO! No, don't think that thought further./

"Why are the bubbles only green and blue?"

/Because I'm obsessed./ "Because I like those colours. Do you have a problem with that?"

"I might."

"I'm paralysed with not giving a damn. Now get out before I issue you a detention."

Harry merely continued walking around the room. "What's wrong with all the mirrors?"

Mirrors did indeed cover most of the wall space of the large room. /Apparently the founders had been very fond of their reflections./ All of the mirrors currently showed either a rain-forest scene with birds flying around, or a quiet stream, the water running over rocks gently, causing an almost inaudible, trickling noise. "Nothing, they're fine." Draco said shortly.

He had changed them himself soon after walking into the room, as he found he couldn't bring himself to look at his own reflection. It had gotten so bad, he'd almost run out. He couldn't explain the feeling in his stomach whenever he'd tried to raise his eyes. His loathing of mirrors had steadily been getting stronger since his awakening. He told himself it was because he couldn't stand to see how thin he'd gotten and that he would be fine once he put some weight back on.

He didn't look exceptionally unhealthy but he knew he was much thinner than before. He ignored the rational thought of that he'd have to actually eat if he wanted to put weight on. He once again sulked at the fact that putting weight on by using magic, usually led to very bad consequences. He refused to acknowledge what he had seen the last time he'd viewed his reflection, a few days ago.

"What the hell do you do if you want to look at yourself?"

Harry broke Draco from his thinking and the blonde glared, adding a touch of condescension to his voice. "Well, obviously you change them back to being reflective. Now, get out."

"No. Dumbledore himself gave me the password, so I could get some quiet time."

/Good old fucking Dumbledore. Why am I not surprised?/

"Don't you have a class soon anyway, *professor*?"

Sighing, Draco decided to give this one up. He got his footing on the steps and hoisted himself out of the water. He didn't miss the fact that Harry suddenly looked away from his naked, bubble-clad form and he smirked, throwing the finger at the Gryffindor's back.

The gesture went unnoticed, no mirrors to reflect it to the Gryffindor. He was grateful for this fact when he realised it meant that Harry couldn't see the mark on his left arm. He quickly cast a concealment charm and his arm appeared unmarred again.

"You really love parading around, don't you?" Harry's voice conveyed exactly how sickened he was at Draco's blunt actions. "Quite the little exhibitionist."

The blonde cringed and then forced himself to appear proud and confident. He found it was getting harder and harder to slip into his well worn routine of arrogance, but he hadn't totally lost his touch yet. "Why should I cover up? There's nothing here that you haven't begged to see before. Gone all virtuous, have you?" Was his snide reply.

Harry didn't answer. Draco grabbed up his towel and started to dry himself off. "The great Harry Potter, attempting to be as white as snow as the Daily Prophet makes him out to be, huh? How laughable. You never complained about my body before. Clothes or no clothes."

"Things change. People wise up."

"What? Are you trying to tell me that you think you have? Please. Don't insult my intelligence."

"I'll just pick something else from the long list, huh?"

Draco raised an eyebrow haughtily. "Still a child I see. When will you grow up Mister Potter?"

"I already did, or haven't you noticed the fact that I can't stand to look at you anymore?"

Draco finished drying himself and magicked his clothes back on. He walked over to the Gryffindor and refused to acknowledge the look of disdain on Harry's face he saw when the Gryffindor turned his head slightly. The other boy backed off as he sensed that Draco was getting closer.

"What's the matter, Harry? Don't want me to touch you? Don't want your true emotions betrayed, huh?"

"I wouldn't think you'd *want* to experience disgust and loathing."

Draco tilted his head to the side. "Is that what I'd feel?" He asked thoughtfully.

"It's what *I'd* feel." Harry spat back, turning to fully face the blonde again. "If you think I want you touching me, after everything that's happened, think again. You were right, it wasn't love and I couldn't care less what you do now. Just don't touch me."

Draco cast a spell that put a strong leash on his emotions. "Couldn't care less? You seemed pretty upset when I died, from what I remember and from what I've heard since." /And it was love you prat, I lied./

"I've had plenty of time to think about things. I'm not as gullible as I once was. You can't flutter your pretty blue eyes at me anymore and expect me to grovel at your feet."

"And why would I want you anywhere near me or my feet? But at least you still think my eyes are pretty." Draco, tired of hearing all the things Harry wasn't saying, turned and started to leave the room. But he didn't miss the cringe Harry made when he realised what he'd said about Draco's eyes. "Don't be late for your next class, Mister Potter. Good day."

"Get fucked."

It was only a whisper, but Draco heard it. "Another ten points from Gryffindor." He retrieved his disc and shut the door after himself, softly.

-~~~-

Part 6

Draco as good as ran from the room when his last lesson for the day was through. He even managed to get out before any of the students which was amazing as this year's sixth years were well known for their rapid departures from classrooms. More so than any other class Hogwarts had this year. They were always rushing somewhere, something about tricks to play and people to aggravate.

They had grasped the fact that school would be over for them soon and were making the best of the time they had left, with gusto.

Draco personally believed it to be largely the fault of Ginny and Colin. From what he had been told, those two had played up more that year than the Weasley twins. Or to be truthful, more than the Weasley twins had ever. But the teachers, most of them anyway, had always let them slide as they saw it was just a way for Gin to take her mind off of her mother's disappearance. Sev, of course, had said that treating her differently would only cause harm in the long run, so the two had been perfect angels around him, knowing they couldn't get away with anything.

But still, this day Draco beat them all to the door and muttered a hurried goodbye. He rushed to his room and collapsed on to the bed. Blaise's things were no where to be seen as he had commandeered the sixth year room of the Slytherin dorms, as Draco had suggested. Draco wasn't too sure why he had turned down Dumbledore's offer of the DADA Professor's rooms, but he secretly believed so that he would be as closer to Sev as possible.

That and the fact that he had *some* fond memories of this room.

/Hexing Goyle to bound from bed to bed until he lost his balance and crashed into the wardrobe. Straight through the solid oak wardrobe door. Now, *that* had been fun. Helping Crabbe to carry an unconscious Goyle to infirmary on the other hand ....... Oh well, I guess it was worth it./

It confused Draco. While he certainly had never had any (not even mildly friendly) feelings to his old keepers, the one's who reported to their own fathers on a daily basis of what they'd seen and heard that Draco had been up to, their fathers in turn contacting Lucius, he still felt guilty about how things had worked out for them. In the six years he'd shared a room with them, he'd learnt to tolerate them.

/Damned if I know how, though. Insufferable prats that they were. Only time they were even remotely interesting was when they weren't even them./ Draco smiled at the memory of when Ron and Harry had, undoubtedly using Polyjuice, turned themselves into looking like the two, now powerless and incarcerated, morons.

/Trying to work out if I was the Heir of Slytherin, no doubt. Oh please, give me some credit. If I was, I sure has hell wouldn't have told those idiots./ Draco looked around the nearly empty room. /On the up side of having most of the people I went to school with gone, Pansy isn't knocking on the door every five minutes, asking me if I like her hair this way, or that way, or any fucking way. Seriously, there was something exceptionally wrong with that girl./

In fact it was very silent in the dorms. /Blaise is probably off somewhere with that Hufflepuff of his. Um, let's see, first years have class, the three second years are in the library and Stra's out on the Quidditch field. What the hell is she doing out there on her own?/ Draco contemplated going to check it out but gave it up in favour of going through his trunk to find his magically altered bottle of Tequila. /Damn Sev for getting me on this stuff./

He poured himself a glass and ran the conversation he'd had with Harry in the bathroom through his head. He'd done that pretty much the entire two lessons he'd taught after that meeting, fourth years, followed by the sixth years, his mouth on auto-pilot, talking of the things they were covering. At least he hoped he had. Even now he couldn't remember what they were, but none of the students had corrected him as to what they were studying so he hoped to god he'd been relevant and coherent.

~~~~~~~~~~

"It would be a bad idea for us to be around each other anymore."

"Respect? To someone like you? To someone who has ......... "

"If you think I want you touching me, after everything that's happened ..... "

"Get fucked."

~~~~~~~~~~

/Well, right back at you, Mister Harry Fucking Potter./ Draco noticed that the bottle was now about half empty, he wasn't worried. He also had taken to drinking it straight from the bottle. This didn't concern him in the least. He was drinking alone. And that thought just made him more depressed. /Not exactly a motivation to stop drinking. But still drinking alone. Ah, it's a vicious circle. God, I gotta lay off the clichés./ He took another swig from the bottle and lay back staring up at his canopy.

/I should go to dinner and at least pretend to eat. Nah, not good to pretend to eat on a drunk stomach./ He softly snorted and took another drink. /Where and when the hell did my life go so wrong? This is all Voldemort's fault. Damn him to hell. If it wasn't for him I never would have been born. I'll have to go see him, sort a few things out. When I get dragged off for my trial I'll take a little detour. I *have* to see him./

"Bloody Voldemort." Draco slurred unsteadily as he sat up and nearly fell off the bed. Sighing, he put down the now empty bottle and looked over at the full length mirror that had been ordered for, to shut Pansy up when she had complained bitterly that she could never see herself properly when she was visiting. Draco's response had at first been 'Why would you want to?' quickly followed by 'Then don't visit at all.'

That had earned him a week of her ignoring him. A week he had spent, thinking up other things that would make her go away, but still let him remain in his 'I'm a Malfoy, fuck off' character.

But in the end, Crabbe and Goyle had both asked their fathers for the mirror, to keep her quiet. Draco didn't know why it was still here. He blinked drunkenly at it. It was completely black, something that Blaise had decided not to query after Draco had given him a look.

He couldn't see his reflection but he could imagine what it looked like. A thin, pale, blonde boy who looked as if he mostly covered in black ink. Ink that seemed to move around his body, sometimes, it would cover his face and hands, or sometimes if would move to his stomach. That had been what he'd seen the last time he looked at his reflection.

He knew perfectly well, that it had only been his imagination, but he couldn't help but wonder if others could see it too. If they looked hard enough. /Maybe Harry did? Who knows what that boy can do, he's very strong./

Draco walked to the mirror and patted it. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who's the fairest whore of all." He giggled and lay down again.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Don't get me wrong my *Lord*. I don't consider myself your equal. But I am *certainly* not your whore."

~~~~~~~~~~

/HA. Yeah right./ "I deserve a fucking Academy Award for some of the shit I pulled off. Always so fucking unappreciated. Don't deserve thanks but god, a little credit would be nice. Fucking Ministry." He announced to the empty room. He sighed gratefully as the magically enhanced alcohol finally reached a certain level and he passed out.

----------

Draco woke up and instantly recognised the side effects to drinking. Muttering a strong pain-killer spell, he lay on his bed, waiting for the hangover to subdue itself. This was the thing he hated the most about being so powerful. He had no excuse to simply enjoy the feeling of his brain trying to pound it's way out of his skull. He tried to remember what day it was and groaned softly, realising it was Friday, therefore the only class he had to teach was the seventh years, between lunch and dinner.

/Why the fuck do lessons have to be so god damn long? Maybe I should go claim stupidity at Dumbledore and see if I can get Sev to teach them instead. I could teach fourth year potions. That's simple./

Draco sighed. He knew how much Sev disliked teaching DADA. Too many bad memories. Draco ignored that fact that his weren't the best either and gave into the inevitable, sitting up slowly. He glared at Pansy's old mirror. It made a curious noise and cracked in three places. Draco blinked slowly. /Wow, and subconscious wins again./ He walked over and looked it over curiously. He traced some of the spider web cracks thoughtfully and watched as they closed up.

The mirror, being completely whole and fixed again sat there. Draco had the absurd idea it was silently challenging him to change it back and look at his reflection. He scowled and put his fist through it. Literally. He'd punched it so hard he'd even pushed through the wood behind the glass.

Sulking at his weakness he dragged his hand back out and watched gloomily as his tattered skin healed itself.

/Come on Dray, this isn't helping anyone, besides, gotta go to class again./

"Drake?" Blaise's head was stuck out from behind the door.

"Yeah?"

"Dumbledore wants you in his office, he said it was sort of important."

Draco sighed and got up. "Yeah, okay. See ya in class."

"Bye."

He slowly made his ways to the headmaster's office and groaned loudly at the scene that met him. Sev and Dumbledore were sitting with Harry and Sirius Black. "What now?" He said, dropping into the last empty chair.

Dumbledore smiled and Draco resisted the urge to slap it off. "Sirius has just been telling me that he has some objections to you teaching."

Draco stifled a genuine yawn. "I'm sure many people will and probably already do. Am I to endure every session like this when they turn up to bitch and moan?"

"I told Dumbledore that he must be mad, to do this." Sirius said.

Draco was surprised to hear that the Animagus was mostly keeping his anger in check. "That's what the Ministry said."

"And what do you say?"

"I just do my job."

"To let someone like you, mingle with the students? It's unheard of."

Draco felt Sev tense up and he rested his hand on the elder man's arm, shaking his head lightly. "Enjoying your freedom Sirius? I heard you were found innocent of your previous charges."

"You're going to take the credit for that?" Harry spat. "I hardly see how you should."

"I think I can at least take the credit for the fact that he's still alive." Draco looked to Black. "Despite how many times he tried to get himself killed.

Black's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I remember the help you gave me when I was captured the second time. You handed me over to that lunatic with the knives."

Draco failed at repressing his smile. "That was Sev. He used Polyjuice. And the knives were just for show. It's not like he actually cut you." Draco shot a look at Sev. "Did you?"

Black had stiffened at the professor's name and looked in shock at Sev, who was staring straight at Dumbledore, also failing at not looking amused. Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Yes, well, Sirius, I scarcely can see how you'd have any objections to Draco teaching. He was very good to you, even if you didn't know it."

"GOOD? He handed me over to Snape for god's sake!"

"And he never laid a finger on you. You escaped the next day. I don't see why you are complaining." Draco said softly. His eyes had gone slightly odd and he kept his head down as he thought over what he had to do to distract Voldemort while Blaise and Sandra had gotten them out of the castle. Sev placed his hand on the back of Draco neck and the blonde looked up at him, smiling.

"Yes, but Dumbledore ..... "

"No, Sirius. I have thought over this long and hard. Draco will make an excellent teacher."

"He hasn't even graduated from school himself! How can he teach?"

"Yes I have."

Sirius looked at him suspiciously. "You graduated? How?"

"It doesn't concern you. And besides, even if I hadn't. I'd still know more about the Dark Arts than you." Draco stood up. "If we are quite finished, I have a lesson to plan for. Good day to you all."

Draco made it to the door before Sirius spoke again. "I intend to be at your trial. It should be interesting to see how you can talk your way out everything while under Veritaserum."

"It's not a trial, it's a hearing." Draco knew full well that many Ministry officials wanted to nail him to the wall for whatever they could find. Sort of like 'Get the remaining Malfoy' and that it was more likely going to be a very public and intensely harsh interrogation rather than a reporting session, but he let it go. "I guess I shall see you there."

-~~~-

Part 7

Draco sighed and waved his hand, shutting the door after the last student had left the classroom. Putting his elbows on the desk, he dropped his face into his hands. "Argh, I'm in hell." He'd just spent two hours ignoring the snide comments that were whispered by Harry and Ron, while still trying to conduct a lesson on leprechauns.

Everyone else were on their way to dinner, but Draco couldn't stomach even the idea, let alone the food. He knew he should, he'd seen the increasingly worried looks from Sev. And even a couple from Blaise and Justin. Dumbledore had tried to talk him into at least showing up for the meals, last week, just after the talk he'd had with Sirius. For once, Dumbledore had failed, Draco had waved him off saying he should go bother the first years if he wanted to control anyone's actions.

/I should never have agreed to this job. But at least I get to stay close to Sev. Besides, what else was I going to do? I wish I'd stayed dead./

Draco hadn't yet discovered the contentment he had expected to feel once he didn't have to plan every move he made or calculate the impact of every word he said. He had been doing that for most of his life and now that he didn't have to, he found he was almost at a loss.

Lucius was still on the loose, but that didn't concern him very much at the moment. He was trying to work out what he intended to do when the school year was over. /It would be unheard of to try for a second year as the DADA professor./ He laughed softly and got up off his desk, lighting a cigarette. /Maybe the job is cursed? Maybe I'll end up killing myself or something to get away from it? After all, can't let the reputation die now, can I? Anyway, I don't think I could stand it for a whole year, it's so boring to teach. I'm going out of my skull./

He wandered towards the main entrance, meaning to roam the grounds for awhile to clear his head. He passed Ginny and Colin, in the corridor, who were whispering secretively with each other and waved. They grinned and waved back.

He walked the grounds, not looking where he was going until he came to a stop, just outside of Hagrid's hut. He sat on the porch and after awhile, Fang came out and sat next to him. The bloodhound was looking really bad. Draco placed his hand on Fang's head and closed his eyes.

(Hey there, Fang.) It wasn't the easiest thing in the world to talk to a dog. Draco mostly just had to radiate emotions and show pictures of what he meant, but he found that Fang, unlike other dogs he'd met, was rather good at communicating. /Better than some. Better than Crabbe and Goyle./ He smiled.

(Master.) Fang thought back at him.

(I know, I know. He'll be back soon. I promise to find a way to get him better.)

(Lonely.)

(Shh, shh, I know. He's still in the infirmary. Dumbledore won't let them send him to St Mungos. I'll make him better, I promise. I'll find a way.) He showed a picture of Hagrid opening his eyes.

(Cold.)

Draco checked Fang's bedding and found that it wasn't in the best shape. He quickly summoned up a better blanket from the house-elves storeroom and replaced it.

(Better?) He got a lick and Draco took that as a yes. (You're getting very thin. You should eat more, Fang. Or people will worry.) He sent an image of Fang eating a large meal.

(No food.)

Draco looked at the large bowl of food in the doorway then sent a questioning look to the canine.

(You have plenty of food.)

Fang seemed confused for a second as he tried to think of how to convey what he meant to the nice human. (No want food.)

The boy smiled and gave the dog a hug. (I know the feeling.) He sent the feeling of understanding.

Fang lay down and placed his head in the boy's lap, closing his eyes. Draco gently stroked his head as the two just sat there in silence.

----------

Draco wished Fang a good night and headed over to the Quidditch field, summoning his broom on the way. It was very dark by this time and he guessed it to be somewhere around eleven at night. He'd spent a lot of time sitting with Fang, trying to think of a way to get the information he needed to fix Hagrid and reassuring the dog that the loveable half giant would be back before the next winter.

He wasn't sure if he could keep that promise, but he was definitely going to try.

His Thunderbolt floated beside him obediently as he walked onto the field. He hadn't flown in a long time but he was fairly sure he hadn't forgotten how. He mounted his broom and rose into the air. /I wonder if this counts as leaving Hogwarts' grounds?/ He snickered and just zoomed for awhile trying out some old tricks and then inventing a few. He always felt calmer in the air but it's not like he could just leave all his problems on the ground. No matter how much he wished for that, it didn't work.

He got his broom to level out and slowly drift. He carefully flipped himself around and laid his back down on it staring up at the stars as he hovered slowly from one side of the pitch to the other. The lights in the school helped him keep his bearings and he just watched as the sky rotated above him.

Until something slammed into him so hard, he only just caught his broom with one hand and swung himself back up to sit on it. He glared.

"Why am I not fucking surprised? Ten points off for trying to kill me and another twenty off for not being in your dorm, Mister Potter. Unless Dumbledore has said you may go wandering around when ever you like. Not that you ever seemed to need permission before." His brain told him he was babbling and he told it to shove off.

"No harm in me being here."

"Except that it's against the rules."

"Like you said, I don't care about that."

"That would probably be why you always have to keep evading death."

"I saw you from the common room."

"And you thought you'd turn up to say hi. How lovely of you. Fuck off, I don't want your company."

"Then you'd better leave. I don't see why I should be the one to go."

"Just go away."

The two boys sat staring at each other darkly, and Draco had an amusing flashback to first year when he had Neville's Remembrall. Nothing was said until Draco made a noise of annoyance. "Are you deaf as well as stupid? I said go away."

"Stupid?"

"Most people would consider trying to take me on as stupid." Draco said smugly. He smirked at the look of rage that ignited.

"I'm stronger than I once was." "Yes, and you have me to thank for that. I still have better control than you have though."

"Since when could you fly so well, you could do it on your back?"

"What business is it of yours?"

"How well *can* you fly?"

"Well enough. Now go back to your dorm."

"I've never seen anyone who could do that."

"Yes, but you were raised a muggle. I'm sure many can." Draco knew for a fact that only seventeen people in history had ever been reported to be able to fly like that. And nine of them had died by losing their balance and falling off at one time.

"You must use stabilising magic." Harry said, as if thinking about it.

"Must I?" Draco said dryly, not wanting to let on that he actually didn't have to.

Harry's eyes narrowed in suspicion and Draco sighed. He had a bad feeling over where this was heading.

"If you can fly so well, how come you've never beaten me at Quidditch?"

/Damn. Sometimes I hate being right./ "Why do you think?"

"Don't play word games with me. Why?"

"You always caught the snitch first."

"That's still a fucking word game. Christ Draco, can you just speak simply for once?"

"Oh, so *now* I'm Draco?"

"Shut up. Did you used to let me win?"

Draco hurriedly tried to think of a way to get out of this without lying. "You have such low faith in your self to think that?"

"DON'T FUCKING DO THAT! Did you used to let me win? Yes or no?"

Draco remained silent.

"That first ever game we played together, when the snitch was right above your head? You knew it was there didn't you?"

Draco still kept his mouth shut.

"You could hear it couldn't you?" No response. "COULDN'T YOU?"

"Yes," Draco said softly. "Hell, I could almost smell it. And you took your time noticing it too."

He could feel the Gryffindor get even more furious. Harry spoke through clenched teeth. "Would you like to tell me why the fuck you used to do that?"

"Not particularly, no." Draco kept his voice low and calm, not wanting to set the other boy off.

"Fucking do it anyway."

"It would've looked bad if I could beat the boy who destroyed Voldemort. It also would have made you look a little less wonderful. I knew that one day Voldemort would find a way to come back. People had to believe in you. They had to believe that you were strong. Because when he came back, everyone would have looked to you for help. To finish him off for good this time."

Draco hadn't taken his eyes off the other boy, just in case Harry suddenly lunged for his throat or something. "Also, I felt sorry for you. I wanted you to think you could do something better than me. I liked you. And while it wasn't acceptable for you to like me at the time, I wanted to do something for you."

"So all those years, you let me win?" Harry's voice had dropped to a dangerous level.

"I just didn't try as hard as I could have. Not quite the same as just straight out letting you beat me."

They just looked at each other for a long time before Harry turned his Firebolt around and sped off, back towards the school. Draco had the very distinct impression that war had just been declared. He sighed and waited for a few minutes before heading back himself.

----------

Draco rummaged around inside his large trunk until he found what he was looking for. He dug out the Mirror of Murcisued and sat down on his bed. He opened a small box on his bedside table and took out a single strand of black hair. He undid the clasp to the small compartment at the bottom of the mirror's handle and placed the hair inside, shutting it in securely.

"Show me." He whispered softly and the dark green murkiness of the mirror's glass brightened to show inside the Gryffindor seventh year boy's dormitory. Harry was sitting on his bed scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment.

/Battle plans, no doubt. Never infuriate a Gryffindor. That should be a rule of life./ Draco thought back to when Ron had tipped Centaur's blood all over him after a nasty encounter. The blood had hummed on his skin pleasantly, recognising that he was, in a small way, partly centaur, but had still stained. Dumbledore had told Draco that he shouldn't quickly remove the stain to avoid suspicion.

Firenze had remained mostly silent as Draco explained the whole story. The Centaur had then told him that pink was not his colour and that perhaps he should try blue next time. Draco had laughed at the Centaur's attempt at a joke and told the Centaurion prince to shove off and leave him alone, confusing the Centaur no end to why he was being so rudely dismissed. That had led to a large discussion on 'Human Sayings'.

Breaking himself from his thoughts, Draco picked up a piece of paper himself and commanded the words 'Find out if Centaurs' told of situation. Talk to Firenze anyway. Pay respects to Alaric.' to appear. He returned his attention to the mirror.

Harry had just finished writing whatever it had been and shoved the parchment under his pillow. His bedside light was extinguished and the Gryffindor yanked his shirt off, over his head. Even in the dim lighting the Gryffindor was perfectly visible and Draco had to frown in confusion as he saw that Harry was still wearing the rose pendant.

Harry got into bed and Draco waited until he was sure the black haired boy was asleep. The blonde closed his eyes and searched for the gardens at Snape Manor. In his mind he saw where it was and found what he was looking for. He carefully moved it and he opened his eyes to look at the image again. Harry lay on his bed, chest rising with his breathing and on the pillow next to the one he was using was a beautiful yellow daffodil.

"Vanish." He whispered to the mirror and the image returned to a dark gloominess. He put it back in his trunk and lay down to at least try to get some sleep for himself. /It's really scary, how powerful I've become. Doing that didn't even make me tired./ He shut his eyes and cast a sleeping spell on himself.

-~~~-

Part 8

"You do realise that you've completely destroyed my shirt don't you? I mean look at it!" Draco got no response other than a guilty look. He continued pacing his dorm room shaking the aforementioned shirt. He held it out to assess the entirety of the damage and then turned again.

"What were you thinking? I only have four shirts that aren't green and silver and this one is completely ruined! I have a class to teach today and now I have to track down a house-elf to get another shirt. I doubt the second years would appreciate me coming to class shirtless." Draco stopped in mid pace and thought for a second. "Well, not *all* of them, anyway."

He looked at his shirt and sighed. "I should never have let you move in! I knew it was a bad idea, I should have gone with my instincts. Where on earth did you find fluorescent purple ink anyway? Students aren't even supposed to own ink that isn't black or red." He paced a little more. "Sev said this was silly, and he was right. I hate it when he's right and I'm wrong." He shook the shirt. "Look at these bite marks! And the drool!"

Fang hopped up on the large bed and lay down, his head between his paws, looking mournful.

"Don't try that look with me. I practically invented that look." He smiled and sat down next to the large beast. "Oh, all right, I'll make you a deal. I: get you a dog toy, You: leave my wardrobe alone." Large, sloppy lick to the face and Draco rolled his eyes, wiping his face dry with the already devastated shirt. "I don't suppose it's not like I can't afford another one anyway."

He held up the key to the Malfoy vault at Gringott's and smiled. He had taken to wearing it on a gold chain around his neck since his recovery. "Lucius really should look after his possessions better. Can you imagine? I found this, just lying on his desk. Oh, all right, it was *in* his desk. Locked up within a safe that had seventeen exceedingly difficult and rather dangerous spells protecting it, but still, he may as well have left it lying on his desk, for all the time it took me to open it."

He eventually just borrowed one of Blaise's black shirts from the next dorm and headed off to class, patting Fang as he left. He walked to class the whole way playing with the shirt. Blaise was much bigger than him and it hung loosely until he gave up trying to arrange it on his body and magically shrunk it to fit properly.

About halfway through his lesson though, Dumbledore came in, looking a little annoyed. "I'm very sorry to disturbed you Draco, but, er, it's time for you to meet with the Ministry."

The class fell completely silent, as rumours about what they were going to do to him had been circulating for weeks now. Draco stopped himself from laughing as one of the more sensitive young girls from his 'fan club', burst into tears. Despite Harry and Ron's best efforts to make everyone realise what an evil arsehole he was, a very large majority of the students all thought he was wonderful.

He had smiled when he'd found out it was mostly due to the fact he was good looking, and not because of his help with the bringing down of Voldemort. /Kids ....... what can you do?/

"Very well. Class, I think we can leave it there today anyway. Read up on the next chapter and write down any questions you might have. I *might* be able to actually find a real vampire to bring in for the next lesson I can attend." He smirked at the squeals of excitement and fear.

He started to follow Dumbledore to the gates.

"Draco? Don't you think they're a little too young to actually *meet* a vampire?"

"Rubbish and besides, it's all in context. They're learning about them."

"They're aren't suppose to until the fourth year."

"Yeah, but we've already covered everything else for the year. I'm only teaching them about the lesser vampires. Not the fully blown powerful ones."

"Already covered everything else?"

"I gave them an exam and everything." Draco shrugged. "They're good kids, they study hard."

"I wonder if that's because you've promised to lend your Thunderbolt for one week, to who ever gets the highest mark at the end of the year? Do you think that's a good idea?"

"If they break it, I'll just buy another one. It really seems to motivate the younger kids. The older kids are easy, I don't have to even think of turning the charm on for most of them."

Dumbledore let that one slide. "Thunderbolts are very expensive."

"Yeah. And I'm very rich. It all evens out in the end."

Dumbledore sighed and they reached the gates where two Dementors stood with Minister Fudge. Draco cast the dampening spell and smirked as he saw the orange metallic bracelets on each of the Dementors' right arms. Every now and then they flashed to show that they were working properly.

"Dumbledore. Mister Malfoy. Shall we?" The Minister said nervously. He still wasn't very comfortable around Draco.

"Sev?" Draco said to Dumbledore.

"Professor Snape is already there." Fudge said in his superior tone. It would have been more effective if he hadn't cringed when Draco looked at him.

"Very well. Let's go." /Let's get this over with./

The small party Apparated to the entrance of the Trial room.

"If you could just wait here Mister Malfoy. There are things we must attend to. You will be called for shortly."

Draco took a seat and the Dementors closed in on him, one standing on either side. Coldness washed over him but he wasn't concerned. The spell that dampened the affect was very powerful so they were next to useless with him. But the whispers of his dredged up memories, did get to him, which was why he liked to talk when Dementors were around. But he always kept his voice calm and his speech slow, not wanting anyone passing to think he was worried.

He summoned a cigarette for himself and mockingly offered one to each of the Dementors. They didn't even turn towards him and he snorted.

"Don't suppose either of you use to work for me, huh?" Draco knew full well that if they did, they wouldn't know it, or be able to communicate it. "Pity, I wanted a coffee." More silence as Draco smoked slowly. "Chatty lot aren't you? Enjoying your new jewellery? I designed them you know?"

Draco had spent every spare moment he had, for months, designing the bracelets that were now used to control and punish them. Dumbledore had warned Fudge that the Dementors would desert the Ministry in favour of following Voldemort, and the headmaster had been right.

So Draco had proposed his idea of the bracelets. Wizards were punished by being put in Azkaban, to be around the Dementors but you couldn't very well do that. Dementors had no affect on others of their kind. The bracelet when worn and activated made for an artificial Patronus, using unicorn blood and dragonheart. Therefore the Dementors were always in a state of discomfort.

You could also use the bracelets to control what they did and where they went. It was a very effective form of punishment which, Draco was happy to see, caused them displeasure.

"I spent forever testing prototypes on the Dementors at the Castle. I hope you appreciate that." He tossed his cigarette on to the floor and ground it out with his boot, lighting up another.

----------

Draco was very bored. And very annoyed. Quite an amazing thing to pull off, being bored and annoyed at the same time. It felt as he was getting pulled one way and then abruptly pushed towards the other.

The Council had requested he give his side of the events of the night that Voldemort fell. He'd started at when Lucius and Pettigrew had brought their captives in. The story must have been something they had heard a hundred times from everyone else. His voice recounted everything automatically. That was why he was bored.

The Gryffindor Trio were in the stands. He couldn't see them but he could feel they were standing near where Dumbledore and Sev sat. Just behind Blaise and Justin. The Trio were probably personally invited by Dumbledore. That was why he was annoyed.

He finally got to the part when he died and stop talking. The Veritaserum had left an awful taste in his mouth and he was rubbing his tongue on his teeth to get rid of it.

"And what did you do to Voldemort, prior to your death?" The officials that were chosen to conduct the 'meeting' hadn't even informed him of who they were but he recognised the one who had spoken as Aldson.

"I used the Orb ..... "

"NO! The others testified to an orange light and then a red light, from you to Tom Riddle."

Draco rolled his eyes, wondering if he should tell them to fuck off and go read a book once in a while. "The orange light was absorbed into his skin. It makes him immune to the Dementor's kiss. I'm sure you've noticed that they can't suck his soul out."

"And why did you take it upon yourself to do that?"

"I wanted him to suffer in Azkaban first. The magic will fail on the day he is set to die. I personally set that day. That's in about four hundred and ninety nine years, if you're interested. I thought it was nowhere near a suitable amount of time for some of the things he's done, but still. Should for some reason civilisation come crashing down before that time is up or anything else comes into the way of the original plan, the magic will automatically fail and the Dementors may have him."

The Council members all shared looks that plainly said 'We have to get something on this one, he's too strong' and Draco restrained the urge to punch them all in the face. /Gutless morons./

"And the red stream of magic?" Fudge finally broke the silence.

"Inside all wizards, witches, squibs and most muggles, lies the capacity to hold magic. It's sort of like a receptacle. If you don't have it, you will never be able to perform magic. That's how you get muggle-borns. The magic lies dormant from generation to generation and then, for some unknown reason, it becomes active. A muggle-born is made."

Draco paused to make sure they were all listening. "Not everyone has one and the human body and soul can survive quite well without it. Just before I died, I destroyed Voldemort's completely. Tom Riddle will never be able to perform magic again. No matter what he tries. I did that as a safety mechanism, just in case he got any ideas of trying to rise up yet again."

There were murmurs all around the room as people discussed this. Fudge banged on his desk for silence. Draco knew that they were annoyed. They certainly couldn't lock him up for removing the threat of Voldemort forever, without resorting to outright killing him. He looked over to where Mister and Mrs Weasley sat and Molly waved enthusiastically.

/If they try to pin anything bad on me, she'll raise hell. Dear, sweet Molly. I'm so glad I got to meet her, I just wish it had been under better circumstances. Then again, she might not have liked me under any normal conditions./ He smiled and waved back.

"Are you paying attention?" Fudge asked, obviously irritated.

"Are you? It's already been explained to you on numerous occasions that I was working as a spy. But I still get the feeling you're just itching to put me away for something."

This was ignored by the Council as they flicked through papers. Aldson sat forward again. "Harry Potter testified to many times when you came to him and gloated about certain events."

"Look, I'll make this real simple for everyone. I have never killed anyone. All the people who were punished for disloyalty were guilty of many crimes. No muggle was ever killed during my reign as Dux Obscura. I reported all important information back as soon as I could. I arranged every single escape from Malfoy Castle and usually I was the one it fell to when we needed to distract Voldemort at the time. I did everything I could for the Order. I barely ate, I barely slept. I almost single-handedly organised the large Auror attack that never came because of the Ministry's ineptitude at keeping things quiet. I worked my arse off restoring Frank Longbottom so that we could get the code from him. And what do I get for all of this? An interrogation and treatment as if I was Voldemort himself."

Draco had kept his voice bland throughout his entire speech and he was very proud of that fact. /All I want is just to punch them for a bit. I hate this shit./ "Even if you do find something to pin on me, what then? Even if it's only something that you might have to fabricate? What are you doing to do? Dementors have very little effect, and you can't possibly hold me. I'm too strong, I'd just get out, at any rate. So, do me a favour, go fuck around with someone else."

-~~~-

Part 9

/Well, that seems to have worked rather well./ The Council had fallen silent, each of them shooting looks at the other members. Molly and the Longbottoms had applauded at his statement, along with a few others who he couldn't see too well due to the lights that were mostly shining in his eyes. He had the strong feeling that Sev would have been amused. /I just wish I could see him./ He peered at the general area of where the people from Hogwarts sat. /Bloody Dumbledore. I don't see why the Trio had to be here./

"We, er," Fudge made the first move and Draco had to give him a little credit. "We are well aware that you had assisted in the final fight against him. Be that as it may, we need to get an understanding of the situation leading up to that."

"You're just looking for someone to hang. The Order did all the work and you're starting to realise that the public are giving us all the credit too. The Ministry had it's chance three years ago when Dumbledore confronted you about all this, Fudge. You turned him down. You were the ones who basically stood to one side as the Dementors turned on you. You were the ones who put you hands over your eyes and just wished for it all to go away. Well it didn't. You have to fight for things like that. If you wanted freedom and peace so god damn much, you should have helped."

"The Ministry of Magic allowed the Aurors ....... "

"EVEN IF YOU HADN'T," Draco yelled to be heard over Fudge and then dropped his voice when the Minister had stopped speaking. "The Aurors would have done so anyway. Whether you like it or not, most Aurors believe themselves to work for the public, *not* the Ministry. They would have joined at our side regardless of whether or not you gave them your blessings."

"What was your relationship with Voldemort?"

Draco internally flinched. He had known they would bring this up. "I was his Dux Obscura."

"Do not avoid the question. We need to understand the situation. Several things have been brought to light in the recent interrogations."

"I was the leader of the Death Eaters."

"Was the relationship you had with Voldemort of a sexual nature at times?"

"Surely you would gotten any information like that from him."

"WAS IT?" Fudge rose to his feet.

Draco narrowed his eyes and the Minister quickly sat down again. "Yes, of which you were already well aware." More murmurs around the room and Draco rolled his eyes sullenly.

"During his private interrogation he said all manner of things about you. We shall be allowing you to defend yourself against allegations he has made."

"Giving someone a blowjob is now a criminal offence?" Draco asked dryly. Someone, who sounded suspiciously a lot like Hermione, let out a loud laugh from one of the top balconies.

"He claims you told him you loved him. And that you must have merely turned against him when you believed it to be all over. That you were only trying to save yourself. Is that true?"

"No. And if he thinks that, then he's an idiot. I hardly call having Dumbledore and four children tied up and defenceless as being 'all over'."

"But you did tell him that you loved him?"

"No."

"Bring forward more Veritaserum!"

"I'm an still under the influence of the last dose." /Arrogant prick./

"Bring forward more anyway. We want to make absolutely sure."

The small bottle was brought out and he allowed the drops to be put into his mouth. He swallowed quickly, not liking the scorching sensation it made on his tongue.

"Did you ever tell him that you loved him?"

"No."

The Council looked at each other and turned pages. "We have it written that he claimed you did. He was under Veritaserum at the time. Perhaps *you* have some way of disabling it?"

"I'm sure I could if I tried but there's no need." Draco realised a little too late that wasn't the best thing to say. He mentally kicked himself. /Great, just great. Could you please focus on what's happening and forget that Harry is here listening./

"It would certainly explain many things if you could." Fudge looked overjoyed and Draco sighed.

/Better give them something./ "There were times I led him to believe that I cared for him, but I never actually told him that I loved him." /Well technically one time I did, but that doesn't count./

"He reported that you actually said the words during a compromising moment, just before the events the led to his downfall."

/Bloody Voldemort, trying to drag me down with him? Well he can fucking well think again./ "That time does not count."

"And why not?"

"At the time, I believed him to be someone else."

Fudge's smile widened, obviously thinking he had Draco trapped in some elaborate lie, or mistruth. "And why would you think something that?"

"When I first knew that I was to remain at Malfoy Castle on a permanent basis, I took some things into consideration."

"Please, do go on." Fudge sat back, visibly relaxing as the audience started to mutter amongst themselves again.

"Very well." Draco took a calming breath and thought carefully how to continue. His pride was at stake with this one. /I'll be damned if I'll let Harry beat me on this one. There's no need to keep kicking when someone's down. And no need for me to give him the chance to./

"I was well aware of the fact that Voldemort found me attractive. I also had some vague ideas of what Lucius did while he was playing the part of the Dux. Many months before I knew I was to take his place, I hacked into his mind. I also hacked into Voldemort's. That was not something I had done before as I knew he would probably sense it. He did. But I managed to convince him that I was doing it for his sake."

"What do you mean?"

"I was looking for what Voldemort liked to do in the sexual sense." Draco forced himself not to scrunch his face up at the memories of what he had found. "When he felt my presence in his mind I merely told him it was so I could please him when I came into power. Fortunately, he bought it."

"And what has this got to do with you saying you loved him?"

"Have a little patience. You asked for me to explain and I am."

"Proceed." Fudge still had on his arrogant look and Draco willed away the desire to set him on fire. Or turn him into something as disgusting as he already was.

"Realising what would be expected of me, I placed myself under some very powerful spells."

Fudge's smile flickered slightly and he sat forward. "Explain yourself."

"There were more than one."

"Recount them all."

"Firstly, I charmed my skin." Draco paused, knowing it would be annoying.

"Stop with the short sentences and explain your actions in full."

Draco smirked to see that Fudge was certainly getting irritated. "I charmed my skin, so that whenever Voldemort would touch me I would get aroused. It helped with the illusion that I actually gave a damn." He almost spat the last part out. "I charmed my eyes to show another face whenever I was aroused and then I charmed my mind to make myself believe that it was someone else. Therefore anything I may have said when my body was consumed with lust was not directed at Voldemort."

Fudge's smile was gone again. "Who was it directed at?"

"What do you mean?" Draco stalled for time, to work out how to word his reply.

"You claim you saw the face of another while aroused, and that a mind charm made it possible for you to believe that was the person you were really with?"

"Yes, during the actual acts were fine. It was before and after that were sickening enough to make your stomach churn." Some of the spectators laughed softly while the rest winced.

"Whose face did you see?"

"It was a face that I created. It was not the face of anyone that I have actually known." /Thank god I took *something* into consideration when I started this./

"So you claim that when you said you loved him, you meant you loved the face?"

"In my mind, I loved the person who the face belongs to, whoever that may have been. That was who I was saying it to."

"So you're claiming here today that you did not hold such feelings for Voldemort?"

"The only feelings I held for him were disgust and hatred. In the time I spent with him I couldn't even bring myself to like him, despite that fact that he was very fond of me. Or at least he was fond of the person he thought I was."

"And you know this how?"

"I could feel it when he touched me."

Aldson took over from Fudge who looked as mad as hell by now. "Yes, Harry Potter and certain others did say something of you stating to be able to acknowledge emotions whenever people touched you. Why did you never mention this to us before?"

"Would you have believed me?"

"When you first came to us about the idea of putting Lucius Malfoy away for certain things, you were asked to tell us about yourself. Why did you keep this from us?"

"I felt it was not essential. It held no importance to the matters at hand."

"I think we should be the ones to decide what is important or not."

"Well *I* think you just want to study me like I'm some obscene creature. You aren't interested in anything other than cataloguing what I can do. So you feel safer? More prepared to take me on if the need arose? Or maybe to use me whenever you suddenly have some nasty little problem? Is that it? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I don't work for you, and I never will."

"We are only ..... "

"You're *only* grasping at straws, at the very least. Please do not insult my intelligence by saying this is anything else. I have done nothing you can hold me on, so you may as well desist with the witch-hunting. I've done nothing but help, in whatever way I could."

"And the time you broke in the Gryffindor Tower and tried to slit Harry Potter's throat?"

The audience really went off with that one. Draco shot a glare to where he knew Harry was sitting. "I was *not* trying to slit his throat."

"Really? Then what were you doing?"

"I was going to invoke the Erosian Ritual." Draco smiled as this obviously went right over the officials' heads. But he had sensed that a few over the elder wizards present had tensed up at the name. He could literally feel Dumbledore's shocked gaze.

"And what is that?" Fudge snapped.

"It's a ritual." Draco smiled maliciously.

"What does it do, you infernal brat!"

"There's no need to be so rude." Draco said lazily.

"Answer, before we call the Dementors."

"Be careful, we wouldn't want the world's pride and joy passing out."

"What do you mean?"

"Why, didn't you know?" Draco said mockingly. "The precious Harry Potter is in the stands. Right there." He pointed to the dark balcony where the Hogwarts people sat. /Knock me off my broom will we, Honey? I don't think so./

"What would the ritual do?" Fudge was almost back to yelling.

"It would only have kept him safe. It was a complex protection spell. But he woke up and I was distracted. I couldn't complete it. May I go now?"

"We have other matters, such as ..... "

"Such as, your attempt here to try and discredit me with the public may or may not work. I don't know, but I do know that I have broken no laws and instead of trying to imprison me it would be more appropriate if you got down on your knees and licked my shoes."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You owe me. You owe me a lot. I'm growing tired of listening to you struggle to find something damning. I shall not be saying anything more." Draco sat down on the concrete floor, giving his legs a rest.

"You will answer our questions."

Draco kept his mouth shut.

"If you will not co-operate, we will have no choice but to detain you."

Still no reply from the blonde.

"We could always turn our investigation on to Professor Snape." Fudge spat viciously.

Draco's eyes flashed with anger and the papers in Fudge's hands, ignited.

The Minister panicked, throwing the burning papers towards the centre of the auditorium and away from himself and his desk. Many spectators laughed and he tried to regain his composure. "We shall discuss these matters in length." The Council rose and walked out as the audience loudly and excitedly discussed everything that had come to pass.

Draco noticed Molly and Arthur Weasley talking hurriedly with one of the Aurors. The other man smiled and opened the gate allowing Molly to come in from the bleachers. She rushed over and crushed Draco in her arms.

Draco smiled, returned the hug and tried to keep up with her 'mile a minute' talking. The lights were turned away from his eyes to light the whole arena. He could now just see the Trio and smirked at the look of annoyance on Ron's face.

-~~~-

Part 10

"Hello, Tom." Draco said with mock cheer as he walked into the small cell. "How have you been? Enjoying purgatory?" He knew he really shouldn't be doing this, especially since the Veritaserum hadn't worn off yet. He also knew it would probably be his best chance to get to Voldemort.

Riddle snarled as he looked up to see Draco. "What are you doing here? Getting locked up as well." A nasty smile spread across his face.

"Sorry to disappoint you but no. Just thought I'd pay a little visit."

"Does Fudge know you're here?"

"It'll just be our little secret for the moment. Enjoying a powerless life? Made any friends with the Dementors? They did used to love you so." Draco's smirk got wider.

"Fuck you."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Gee, no thanks. I think I'd rather give Fudge a blowjob. And *that's* saying something." Draco kicked Riddle down the bench slightly, making room and sat down himself. "What have you been up to? Plotting and planning? You may as well give it all up. You'll never perform magic again. So there's no point in bothering."

"Fuck off."

"Now really Tom, is that anyway to speak to me? After everything we've been through? After everything we've shared?" He said in his best sickly sweet voice. /I went through hell and beyond. I'm still in beyond mode. I think I'm owed a bit in return./

"Were you always such a depraved lunatic? Or is this a recent development?" Riddle spat distastefully.

Draco forced a smile. "You tell me. You made me after all."

"I should have broken you."

"I would have loved to see you try. You might have been much more powerful than me, but I was still pretty good. And I know a few tricks that you don't."

"I doubt that."

"Oh really?" An almost crazed smile swept across Draco's face. "Bet your life?"

"Drop fucking dead."

Draco smiled sweetly. "I've already done that."

"Encore." Voldemort growled out.

"I'm sorry. I don't do requests." Draco said slowly. "You'll have to speak to my manager." He looked Riddle over carefully. "Pity, you seem well, physically, in any case.

"Why are you here?"

"Surely you should ask yourself that question. All this," Draco gestured to the room, "All because daddy didn't love you and left you in an orphanage? Yeah well, my father didn't love me, I got over it. You don't see me out to destroy the universe."

"I don't see you doing much of anything? Planning to waste your life, when you could have been a god? You should have stayed with me. You're a fool. Was it worth it? Was it worth everything that you gave up .... "

"What? What the hell could you have offered me?"

"Immortality! Power beyond your dreams! You're a fool to have thrown all that away."

Draco glared. "Power? I *have* power. I already have too much. I never asked for any of this and I had to give up too much to get it as it was. And who the FUCK would want to live forever? Life is all well and good for a short time, but forever? What would I have done with all that time? I get bored on Saturday nights for god's sake. What would I do with an endless Saturday night?"

"We could have ruled the world!"

"News flash asshole! I don't fucking *want* to rule the world." Draco gave a mock shudder. "All that responsibility."

"You're a fool."

"You've said that twice already. And tell me, exactly what would you have done? Okay, fine, you take over the world, then what?"

"I could have made it for who it was meant to be, the wizards. Those disgusting muggles, wandering around, doing nothing to make the world greater. A waste of oxygen, every single one of them."

"I don't think they'd agree."

"To hell with what they think. What do they do? All that results from them is that we have to hide. What kind of a life is that?"

"I've hidden for most of my life, one way or the other, what difference does it make?"

"We should be free to do as we please. Muggles should bow down to us, worship us."

"We're wizards, not gods."

"But we could have been. We could have ruled them all, made the world as it should have been, it was our destiny. But you? You give it all up, and for what? I doubt the Ministry are showering you with gratitude."

"Well, on that one, you're right. The certainly aren't, but at least people don't have to cower in the dark and check over their shoulders at every moment. Some too afraid to leave, some too afraid to stay. Others doing both. Life is a lot more safer with you no longer being a threat."

"Don't be too sure."

Draco smiled. "Oh trust me, that was one thing I was *very* careful about. You're not even a squib, just another muggle. Just like your father."

Riddle glared. "Why are you here?"

Draco's smile disappeared. "I've come to a conclusion. After everything I had to stomach, in order to be the Dux and do my job, everything you put me through." Draco leant over and looked Riddle directly in the eye. "You. Fucking. Owe. Me."

A snort of laughter was his response. He growled, causing Riddle to look concerned. "What's the matter, Tom? Not use to being terrified by the simplest thing? Got so use to being practically immortal you've forgotten fear? Well, too fucking bad, because you really *should* fear me. You ruined my life, before I even had one, and now you're going to do what you can to make it better."

"Am I?" Riddle attempted to sound superior but his voice wavered.

"You can *never* make up to me what you did, but you can help with some things."

"And if I don't want to help?"

Draco gave a short, cruel laugh. "And you got the impression that you had a choice, from where exactly? Certainly not from me. Just hold still, this will only hurt for an eternity."

Draco stretched his hands out towards Riddle, who leapt away from him. "Keep your hands off me." Fear was definitely laced in that voice.

Draco scowled, snarling softly and the bench on either side of his body ignited into violent flames. "Oh. So NOW you fucking well don't want to touch me? Brilliant fucking timing, I must say. Couldn't you have decided that one, months ago? Well too bad. You wanted me? YOU GOT ME! And everything that comes with me."

Draco had stood up and closed in on Riddle as he spoke and now he slammed his hands to the sides of Riddle's head. The elder wizard's eyes flew open to full width and he screamed as Draco's hands glowed a murky purple colour. Unluckily for Riddle he didn't even have a chance to breathe so he passed out from lack of oxygen.

Draco threw the elder wizard into the back wall and smiled spitefully while forcing the other man to regain consciousness. "It's been lovely chatting to you, but I have to go. I shouldn't think I'll ever need to see you again so this will be our last meeting. How sad." His voice grated out. "Goodbye. Enjoy eternal suffering."

Draco got to the doorway. "Oh, by the way, whatever memories haunt you when the Dementors close in, god how I hope that some have to do with me." He walked out and reset the containment spell that was across Riddle's doorway.

He could hear Riddle calling for the Minister before he'd even left the corridor.

----------

He finally spotted Sev in the large milling of people and hurried up, pushing his way through rudely, his hand searching for the other's larger one when he finally reached his target.

Sev looked around at the touch and smiled. "Where have you been?"

The large Veritaserum dose was still affecting him, so he knew he had to be careful. "I had to go talk to someone." Draco tried to ignore the fact that everyone was staring at him but it wasn't easy. He pressed closer to Sev as Dumbledore walked up with the Hogwarts' students.

"Ah, Draco, there you are. We've been looking for you."

"Dumbledore." Draco said in cold greeting, giving a nod. He gestured to the Gryffindor Trio. "And they are here because .......... ?"

"Oh, they wished to see the proceedings, I saw no harm in them being here." Dumbledore replied cheerfully.

"Kindly ask them to mind their own business next time." Draco frowned slightly at Harry, who returned the look at full force. "I believe I already spoke to you about that, Dumbledore? Only Blaise and Justin were to come, if they desired to."

"Well, yes, but like I said, where is the harm?"

"I will happily show you the harm when we return to Hogwarts, if you wish." Draco flexed his hand meaningfully at Dumbledore.

The headmaster's cheer dissipated quickly. "There's no need for such threats. I was only ...."

"Interfering! What a surprise. I've already told you Dumbledore, I have a small amount of respect for you, but I don't like you. I never will, so *don't* push it. Sev, I want to go."

"We still haven't heard the verdict."

"I already know what it will be." Draco shifted uncomfortably. "They're going to recommend I remain at Hogwarts until further investigations are completed."

"You don't know if that's what they'll do." Dumbledore waved his hand in dismissal of the idea.

"Oh yes I do. Just watch. They're going to try and find *something* they can get on me. But they won't. I was too careful, they won't uncover a thing."

"Pity." Harry muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. Ron nodded in agreement while Hermione rolled her eyes. Draco ignored the two Gryffindor boys.

Blaise wrapped his arm around Draco's shoulders. "Let's just stick around for a bit, we may as well hear what they have to say."

Draco sighed and forced a smile for his friends' sakes. "Very well."

Draco looked up as his hand was tugged. Sev handed over a letter which he read quietly.

~

D

Having some slight problems with my brazen ward. Please make other arrangements with Dumbledore. Would be much easier to care for at Hogwarts. We will be arriving in one week, on Tuesday.

Good luck with the Ministry. They're all conceited, incompetent dickheads anyway. Want me to hurt them?

L

~

Draco smirked and handed the letter over to Dumbledore, for him to read. The headmaster sighed. "It wouldn't be the best idea. There's no-one to look after her while you're at your lessons."

"Who?" Harry asked trying to read the letter.

Dumbledore folded it up and passed it back to Draco. "What would she do while you were busy?"

"Who?" Harry and Ron said together.

"Have a little faith Dumbledore. I have a feeling that will sort itself out in a day or two. I have the perfect minder, practically lined up. He'll look after her just fine."

"Who?" All three Gryffindors students chorused.

Draco shot them an annoyed look. "Is that all you can say? Mind your own business, for once." He turned and tugged on Sev's hand. "I'm going for a cigarette, could you send a reply back?"

Sev glared at the word cigarette. "Very well. I myself am looking forward to seeing her again. It's been at least three years. Will she remember me?"

"Who?" This time Blaise had joined in with the Gryffindors.

Draco was already pulling out his smokes and he looked up with a grin. "Oh, I don't think she'll ever forget that day when you set your hand on fire." He said playfully.

Sev shifted slightly. "Yes ....... well ....... You'll probably still have to re-introduce me to her. Or she'll be wary."

"Who?" The Trio and Blaise looked at Justin, who hadn't joined in.

"What?" He asked defensively. "They obviously aren't going to tell us. There's no need for me to join in."

Draco walked off shaking his head in mild amusement. He wandered into an unused room and summoned up a chair, hoping that no-one had been sitting on it in the next room. /I really should check before I do that./ He collapsed into it and enjoyed the tranquillity that the crowed cafeteria hadn't offered. /I'd completely forgotten about Remus. I really need to sit down and write out a plan for the rest of the school year./

He sighed, recognising that even though Voldemort had gone, not much had changed in how he made his way through life. /Still planning, still faking, still acting. I thought I'd promised myself that I wouldn't do that when it was all over? Then again, I don't have much choice now, do I? Bloody Harry./

He sighed as he heard the door open softly. /Gee, who could that be, I wonder?/ "What now, Mister Potter?"

"They might find something, you know?"

"I doubt it, I was too careful. They won't find a thing, I'm too good at this."

"So there is something, they just have to look for it?"

"No. There isn't anything they could charge me with." Draco turned his head to look at the Gryffindor. "I never broke any laws. I won't, or more to the point can't, lie and say that I didn't bend any, but I never broke any. I know how to play this game." He looked away to stare at the wall. "I've been playing it most of my life."

"I'll be honest. I don't want them to find anything to charge you with."

Draco looked back. "But?"

"But I still don't like having to be around you."

"Then why do you keep hunting me out? Can't you just say that you'll stay away, and then actually do it?" /Why do you keep doing this to me? Annoying brat./

"I just keep getting too many questions."

"Ah, you and your questions. Always wanting to know every tiny thing. Can't you just be happy thing the big questions answered?" He dropped his smoke to the floor and extinguished with his boot.

A loud noise came from beyond the door and Draco stood. "Well, if you'll excuse me, that's my cue to return to the Council."

He walked past and Harry got out of his way before they could touch.

-~~~-

Part 11

The seventh year boy's room in the Slytherin dorms was peaceful. The house- elves had arranged everything and tidied up in preparation for it's one human occupant to return from the Ministry. Dobby had been very specific on how everything had to be. Even Fang's bed had been cleaned and readied, despite the fact that the canine usually wandered the halls or the grounds during the day.

Fang was normally out, and Blaise had taken the sixth year dorms, where he usually got a visitor. So truly, the whole room could be considered as belonging solely to Draco.

Draco's door flew open and smashed into the wall violently, causing it to crack in the middle and dent the wall quite well. Then the wood of the door caught fire, as did the carpet and some of the bed sheets. Draco himself walked through the doorway a short time after that, being followed by an anxious Blaise and a concerned Justin.

"It'll be okay." Said the concerned Justin while stamping out some of the carpet fire and then brushing the smouldering flakes off his shirt, left over from when Draco had been struggling to make sure he didn't set his friends on fire as well.

"Yeah. They can't do it forever." Blaise joined in. "Besides, I thought you were expecting this?"

"That doesn't mean I have to like it! Trapped! In Hogwarts! Indefinitely! Just what I always fucking wanted. I wonder how they knew?" Draco spat sarcastically as he collapsed on to his bed and waved his hand, putting out all the flames that had sprung up. Justin's shirt was still smoking a little.

"At least you'll be close to Snape." Blaise tentatively sat down next to him and let Justin crawl into his lap. "Besides, you've been here since you woke up anyway."

"Blay, there is a *huge* difference in staying here and knowing that you're not allowed to leave. They could drag their 'further investigations' on for years! Imagine that? Untold years being here stuck here and having to listening to Dumbledore whining that I should eat more."

"Well you should. Eat more, that is." Justin said hotly as he dragged his ruined shirt off and threw it to the floor. "And besides, you said yourself that it was stupid of them to do a blood work analysis to determine whether or not you had tampered with the Veritaserum. That should be some comfort."

Draco smiled, remembering how angry Fudge had looked when the test came back confirming he hadn't done anything to interfere with it. Many of the spectators had visibly relaxed. The Council had seen that their plan to at least discredit him in the eyes of the public had backfired and made many of them, actually warm towards him.

Molly had been absolutely thrilled and it had been pretty much almost impossible to stop her laughter at the expressions of gloom on the Council member's faces.

"Idiots. Do they actually think anyone would have done that, knowing full well there were checks that could be carried out? You would have to be a fool to do something like that."

~~~~~

"You're a fool."

~~~~~

/Yes, I most certainly am, but not for the reasons you gave, arsehole. Hope you burn Voldemort, I just hope you burn./ Draco sighed tiredly and rubbed his face. He looked up when he felt someone touching him. Justin was stroking his arm. He felt fear and concern lacing his skin where the hand went. "I'm fine, thanks. Stop fussing over me, I'm not a child."

Justin shook his head slightly. "We're worried about you."

"Well don't be."

"No, I think we should. You've been so, ..... different lately. Ever since you woke up .... "

"I haven't done anything."

"Exactly." Blaise said with conviction. "You don't do a lot of things that you should. For example, you don't eat. You don't sleep unless you forced yourself. You're so thin and even paler than you should be. How long are you going to keep this up? How long *can* you keep this up? You must be running low on stubbornness. Just face it, you really need to talk to him."

Draco sat up a little straighter and lifted his head. "No, I certainly don't need to do anything of the sort."

"Don't try and pull that snob act with us. It won't work." Justin said gently. "Now, I haven't known you very well for as long as Blaise has, but I can see that it's killing you on the inside. Maybe if you just tried to reason with him? You already know that he loved you once. Maybe if you just told him that ....... "

"NO!" Draco closed his eyes and took a breath. "Look, he was right, it's better this way."

"How is it better if you walk around being so god damn miserable?" Blaise said angrily.

"It just is. NO!" Draco held his hand up to stop the protests. "He was right, this is how it has to be. I just have to get used to it, that's all."

Blaise nudged Justin, making him stand up and followed suit. "It's funny, I've thought you a lot of things in the past at one time or another, but the word 'coward' never came to mind." He started to drag his boyfriend out of the room. "I've never known you to give up so easily." He spat angrily, closing the door after them.

The blonde sighed sadly, knowing they'd come back the next day and apologise. /They're just trying to anger me into proving them wrong. Well I can't. Believe me, giving up wasn't the easy option./ Draco lay back down on his bed and stared at the canopy. /Hardest thing I've ever had to do./

He summoned the Mirror of Murcisued and flicked it on. It showed Harry sitting with Ron and grinning about something. He smiled softly as his fingers traced the outline of the Gryffindor's face.

/Hope is over-rated anyway./

----------

"You're not happy, Draco." Sev said gently as he walked up to the desk.

Draco frowned in annoyance. "I do wish people would stop stating the blindingly obvious. It gets very tiring after awhile."

"You know I hate to see you like this, and I wish you would talk to me about it."

"I'm getting along aren't I? Isn't that enough?"

"Not really, no." Sev got a chair and moved it so he could sit at Draco's desk as well. "You know he still loves you."

Draco looked up, his face showing exactly how tired and sad he was for once. "Do I? I mean, I know he used to." He looked back to the papers he was marking. "But people change." He smiled sadly. "God, he used to love me so much, and now he can barely look at me. I did that." He took a deep breath. "I hurt him so much."

"You didn't have a choice."

"Yeah, maybe not then. But I could have stayed away from him. I could have made it so he still disliked me, when I had to leave."

"Why didn't you?"

He frowned again. "You know why."

"Refresh my memory."

"I'd rather I didn't. I'm trying to forget."

"Forgetting about it won't happen, and even if it would, you probably shouldn't try."

"Just drop it Sev, I'm not in the mood." He rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"Very well, can we discuss something else?"

Draco shrugged. "If you wish."

"What are these?" Sev took two small, black boxes out of his pocket. They looked a lot like Muggle Jewellery boxes that you got from fancy stores.

Draco stiffened at the sight of them. "Why do you have them?"

"I went through the stuff you left behind while you were away. I was missing you. And then I came across these."

"If I recall correctly, I locked them up securely."

"Yes, but if *I* recall correctly, you usually always set the spells so that they wouldn't affect me. You sometimes did that without realising."

Draco sighed, knowing that was probably what had happened. "I'd almost completely forgotten about them. I made them when I was ten." He stretched his hand out for them and Sev obligingly passed them over. Draco opened both and set them on the desk into front of himself.

A ring sat in each box and the glinted up at him cheerfully. He smiled softly. "I didn't even know why I was making them. I never thought I'd fall in love. I thought love was for people who deserved it." He smiled grimly. "I didn't think that I did."

Each ring had a large, round ruby as it's centre with a ring of emerald circling it. The band was made out of gold and silver that intertwined all the way around. He picked up the one that was meant for him to wear and looked hard into the jewels.

The image of a lion's head turned to look at him from the ruby and the snake that was in the emerald shifted a little, as if awakening. The snake slid around the ring of emerald in a protective manner, showing it was guarding the lion.

"I didn't even understand the meaning of that at the time." Draco said softly.

He tilted the ring so he could read the inscription on the inside of the band. The word 'Harry' was engraved into the combined silver and gold. He smiled a little harder, remembering the first time he'd seen that there.

"You'd never told me of them before?" Sev said quietly.

Draco looked up, startled. He'd forgotten he wasn't alone. /Jesus fucking age Christ, Draco, get a grip./ "It wasn't important. I made them before I came to Hogwarts. I'd read of them in one of Lucius' books. They are meant to show you things. Things that sometimes you wouldn't have recognised."

"Did you make them to show your protection of Harry?"

Draco shook his head slowly. "No. Well, if I did, I didn't know it at the time. The rings never used to have the lion or the snake. I didn't do that." He placed it back in the box gently and closed it up.

"What do you mean? You didn't do what? You didn't put the images there?"

"No, I didn't put them there but that's not what I meant. The names were what shocked me. I didn't write Harry's name there. One day it was ........ just *there*. I used to look at them every week and I just noticed that his name appeared on the band." Draco shrugged, trying to show he didn't understand much of it either. "And mine was on the other one. I stopped always looking at them after that. It scared me a little."

"So the ring was telling you it belonged to him?"

Draco smiled and looked up. "No." He held it up and then stared at it in confusion. /I could have sworn I put it away./ He looked at the box which was now open again. /I really should pay more attention. I need some sleep./

"So the ring doesn't belong to him?" Sev frowned in confusion. "Then why is his name there?"

Draco slipped the ring on to the ring finger on his right hand. "This is the ring I'm suppose to wear. The one that says 'Harry'. It doesn't say that because it's supposed to be given to him. The ring was trying to tell me that *I* belonged to him."

They sat in silence as Draco looked at it, glittering on his finger, next to the one Sev had given him. /And I do belong to him. I guess I always have in a manner of speaking. But things are different now. Very different. And even though I don't like it, there's only one thing I have to do now. I have to stay away from him./

He adjusted the ring so that it was straight and closed the box, leaving it on.

/After all, that's the only way I can protect him, now. I have to protect him from me./

To Be Continued.