Pour Combattre Soif et Aime To Fight desire & love

"Father, I don't understand. Why do I have to court Potter again?"

The younger of the two Malfoys was utterly bemused, his pale and pointed face scrunched with disbelief and outrage.

Malfoy Senior on the other hand seemed completely unperturbed, staring out the window of the vast Malfoy estate, a slight smirk of amusement playing on his lips.

"Draco, do you have no idea why I ask this of you?" Lucius' son shook his head almost defiantly, those grey eyes narrowed in suspicion.

The young man's father turned around so that he could look at his son. "Potter is loyal and steadfast and honorable, but he is also easily controlled by his emotions.

Love is his weakness Draco. The boy will soon be swayed by the belief that you want him, and you will gain his trust." Draco stared at his father as if the man had lost his mind…well, no, that wasn't quite true.

This was how Lucius Malfoy always acted. The man didn't request things, he demanded them. And what Lucius Malfoy wanted, Lucius Malfoy got.

Thousands of reasons why this was a bad idea were churning in Draco's head. However, Draco was a Malfoy through and through, and the only words out of his mouth were,

"Yes Father. I understand."

"What? Albus, you cannot be serious! Draco Malfoy has petioned to court Harry Potter?" Severus Snape was seething, his body literally trembling with suppressed rage.

Albus Dumbledore was sucking on a lemon drop calmly, his left eyebrow cocked.

"Severus, this display is quite touching. Since when did you develop such an attachment to Harry?" Snape flinched as if he had been stung by an annoying bee.

"I have absolutely no 'attachment' to the insufferable brat, Albus. But surely you must realize how dangerous this is? I have no illusions about the reason behind this;

Lucius plans to claim the boy as his prize to present to the Dark Lord!" Dumbledore simply inclined his head.

"Yes, I believe he does." Snape stared at Dumbledore for a moment and when the old man continued to simply suck at his lemon drop, Snape growled low in his throat.

"Well, surely you must have a plan. An idea, a…something. Or is the boy who lived to become a virgin sacrifice?"

"Of course I have a plan, Severus. Someone else must court the boy." Snape nodded briskly.

"Of course. Who?" There was suddenly a twinkle in Dumbledore's eye that Snape did not particularly like.

"You, Severus." For a moment Snape could not even find the words to express his disapproval. Finally he spat out,

"Forgive me, Headmaster, but for a moment I thought I heard you say you wanted me to court the boy." Dumbledore smiled broadly, confirming Snape's fears.

"You heard me correctly, dear boy. I do not trust anyone else with such a precarious situation." Snape shook his head, falling into a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk.

"Albus, I cannot the stand the boy and he cannot stand me. How on Earth will this work?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"Severus, do you truly believe Harry will choose Draco Malfoy over you?" Snape had no argument there.

No matter how much Potter hated him, he was sure the boy hated Draco even more. Mutely Snape shook his head. "Besides," continued Dumbledore,

"I believe this will be beneficial for both you and Harry. Perhaps the two of you will come to better understand each other." Snape highly doubted this, but he didn't argue.

Despite was he himself told people, Snape did not hate Harry Potter enough to send the young man to his death.

"Very well, Albus. I will do it, for you." Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled merrily, as of course he had known all along that Snape would agree to it.