Ch. 1: No, I Suppose You're Right
"Very well, if that is your choice Draco," Lucius Malfoy said quietly, his icy blue eyes fixed on those of his son coldly. He steepled his slender fingers and rested the tips on his chin. "But you do realize that if you don't see things my way, you don't see them at all, understood?"
Draco crossed his legs and nodded. "I understand father, do what you have to do."
The elder blond lifted a perfectly sculpted eyebrow and shook his head ever-so slightly. "I am disappointed in you Draco. The Dark Lord and I were very much awaiting your induction. Why exactly have you chosen not to join?"
Draco pursed his lips and rested his hands in his lap.
"I have told you father, I don't agree with the way he does things."
"So you are with that muggle-loving Dumbledore on this?"
"No, I choose to remain neutral." At this Lucius picked up his wand and tapped his lower lip thoughtfully.
"I am really sorry about this son," he said lightly, rising to make his way over to the younger blond.
Draco kept his eyes trained carefully on his father, not daring to flinch. "No you aren't," he said defiantly before returning his gaze to where his father had halted; right in front of him.
Lucius knelt down smoothly and tilted his head to the side. "Yes, I suppose you are right, I'm not." He smiled cruelly and raised his wand. "Pupilus Destructo," he said in an icy tone, making a small 'x' in the air with the tip of his ebony wand.
A searing pain trickled through Draco's eyeballs and he pressed his eyelids closed tightly, willing away the intense pain and tears. He would not let his father see him cry. He opened his eyes once again only to be greeted with total darkness.
He heard his father say, "Get out Draco. I never want to see you again. I don't care where you go, I don't care what you do, and I don't care about you. You are officially disowned. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal, Lucius," Draco spat through gritted teeth, not daring to let his father see him express pain. He stood as gracefully as was allowed and felt his way out of the room. Outside the office he felt his mother's hand place a bag in his hands. "Mum?"
When she spoke her voice held no emotion. "Here are a few clothes. Just keep walking straight to the door. Make sure you use your ears. Good luck my son."
Draco nodded and walked cautiously to the door, pulling it shut behind him. He blinked fiercely, trying to wipe away the pain. Tears began to run down his cheeks and he concentrated on his wanted destination. "Diagon Alley," he whispered as he pointed his wand at his temple. He disappeared in a gust of smoke, hopefully speeding to his destination.
When he had finally halted his movement he cautiously walked straight forward until he reached a hard, rather damp surface; a wall. He sank down against it and lay the bag down beside him. He brought a hand up to his cheeks and touched the dampness. Not tears at all, blood.
At the mere thought of the red liquid coating his face the blond passed out, oblivious to the fact that someone snatched his bag. He could care less. He was alone.
"Mr. Potter, may I have a word?" Albus Dumbledore's head called from the fireplace in the living room of number twelve, Grimmauld Place. Harry looked up from his homework and nodded.
"Sure professor, what's wrong? Do the Order need to meet here again because they are all more than welcome. I'm sure Remus would love an excuse to clean again."
Dumbledore chuckled and shook his head. "No, nothing like that. I need you to do something for me. It has come to my attention that Draco Malfoy has been called upon to join the ranks of the Death Eaters before his seventh and final term begins this year."
Harry raised his eyebrows. None of this information came as a shock to the sixteen-year old. He had always assumed that Draco would jump at the chance to become a Death Eater. "Sir?"
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "However, Severus has informed me that he has turned down the Mark and has been officially disowned by his parents."
Harry opened his mouth then closed it again, completely shocked. "M-Malfoy switched sides? You mean - he isn't evil?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in the emerald firelight. "We aren't certain which side he is on. What I want you to do is go to Diagon Alley and look for him. That is the most likely place to begin your search. Am I correct in assuming that you have enough room to accommodate Mr. Malfoy for the remainder of the summer?"
Harry's face fell considerably. "S-stay here? With me? Can I invite Ron and Hermione as well?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Of course, of course, he'll need new friends to keep him away from the children of Death Eaters in Slytherin. A new sleeping arrangement will need to be made as well. Listen, I have a meeting in a few minutes so I need to be on my way. I need you to go this afternoon as soon as possible, as Severus said he disappeared from the Manor two days ago."
Harry closed his History of Magic book and stood. "Okay sir. I'll go now, right after I call Ron and Hermione."
Dumbledore nodded in the flames and said, "Alright Harry. Oh, and one more minor detail."
Harry paused in pulling on his trainers and looked up. "What is it sir?"
Dumbledore made a face and sighed. "Mr. Malfoy is blind. Good day."
The old man had disappeared before Harry had even registered the information.
Blind? Malfoy was blind. It made sense the more Harry thought about it. He walked quite a ways, the cool breeze helping clear his mind. Of course Draco's father would do something drastic to his son for refusing the Mark, but who would have thought he would do something so...lasting. The Crucio curse was to be expected, but not this, not something so...primitive. Despite the fact that Harry despised the youngest Malfoy he found himself feeling sorry for him. Despite all that the Dursleys had done to him they had never done something to him that had left a scar. Never done something just to do it.
He finally realized that he wasn't going to be able to walk all the way to the Leaky Cauldron and he put his wand into the air with his right hand. Almost instantly a violently purple triple-decker bus appeared and he climbed aboard, relishing in the fact that neither Stan nor Ernie were operating the bus. He muttered his destination and settled into a rather overstuffed armchair.
"Malfoy? Malfoy, is that you?" Harry stepped hesitantly into the darkened alley between Diagon and Knockturn. There was a small lump huddled against the wall with a shock of slightly soiled platinum blond hair.
Harry hesitantly drew closer and lifted the boy's face with one finger. He seemed to be unconscious, dried blood on his cheeks and around his eyes. Harry's throat tightened at the sight of his nemesis in such a state of helplessness. Draco always struck him as the sort of person who freaked out if he got black ink on his black robes. Yet here he was, blood caked on his face in chocolate-coloured sheets, hair dirty even by Harry's standards.
The Slytherin's eyes fluttered open, and Harry was hit with a disturbing sight. They swam with blood and across them lay two freshly-carved scars in the shape of an 'x'. He blinked away some of the blood and he noticed that, although he had always thought Draco's eyes were a cold, colourless grey, that there were flecks of baby blue scattered throughout. Flecks of blue, and now, blood red.
The Gryffindor lifted the Slytherin into his arms, surprised by how light he was. Draco's head lulled up against Harry's chest and he whimpered lightly. Harry made his way as quickly as his extra burden would allow back to the Leaky Cauldron. Cutting through a rather large crowd he made it back to the solitary flooing fireplace.
With some difficulty he tossed a handful of the white powder into the flames and called out, "Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place." Looking down to make certain Draco was still unconscious Harry tightened his grip on the teen, closing his own eyes tightly as they began to spin, rather uncomfortably at that.
Thanks for brionyjae for the beta!