The Fealty of Draco Malfoy

"I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight."

Exhausted they moved to the Great Hall where the injured and dead were being gathered. Harry moved sluggishly through the room, Draco, Hermione, and Ron at his side. A few people jolted up from their seats when they saw Draco but no one said anything to him.

They moved past DA Members and met with the rest of the Weasleys. Ron rushed forward quickly followed by Hermione. They were all gathered around the prone form of Fred. Molly Weasley engulfed Ron and Hermione in a crushing hug. Harry veered away from them with a pained look on his face. Draco followed.

Draco didn’t say anything. He knew Harry felt guilty. Harry moved sluggishly through the halls of the castle. Debris strewn everywhere, survivors were quiet in their search of the rubble. Draco walked side by side with Harry as they reached the Headmaster’s office. Once they entered  Harry looked to Dumbledore’s portrait. Beside that one was one of of Severus Snape. Dumbledore’s eyes weren’t the normal sparkling blue. Both portraits pinned Draco where he was.

“Draco?” Snape questioned cautiously, “What are you doing here?”

“Severus… I swore fealty to Harry Potter,” his eyes welled up with unshed tears, “You died.”

“Ah,” Snape looked away. Harry held the bottle of memories out.

“You were very brave. I’m going to look at these now,” Harry said pulling out the pensieve from it’s cupboard. Draco watched Harry lean over. Someone cleared their throat. Looking up he found Dumbledore looking at him.

“Thank you, Mr. Malfoy,” Dumbledore smiled softly. Draco looked down at Harry again.

“I’m sorry, sir,”

“I understand. You are making up for it now,” Dumbledore replied gently, “You’d best tell him,”

Draco started, “Excuse me?”

“Tonight… I am afraid he will meet his end,” Dumbledore watched Draco’s face pale.

“You don’t think he’ll survive?”

“What he is finding out right now is that he is a horcrux,”

Draco wasn’t sure what to do with himself, “No, he can’t be…”

“I believe it was an unintended consequence of magic gone ary. Harry’s scar is indeed a horcrux. Riddle must be the one to destroy it,”

Draco stood shocked for a long moment. NO! Harry can’t die. He’s supposed to win! This is wrong. There has to be some way…

“This is why you must tell him tonight,” Dumbledore looked at Draco sadly.

“Tell him what?” Draco asked in monotone.

“That you love him, my boy,”

Draco’s mouth went dry. Love him? I don’t - He looked up at Dumbledore, who gave him a knowing smile. Harry raised out of the pensieve reeling.

Wild eyes landed on Dumbledore, “I’m a-” Harry started but shifted to look at Draco. He moved forward and clutched at Draco’s forearms, “Horcrux. I’m a horcrux. He has to be the one to do it…” Harry looked so sad in that moment. Draco pulled Harry into an embrace.

“Is there anything we can do?” Draco asked nearly pleading. Harry shook his head and nuzzled his face into the crook of Draco’s neck. A tear leaked from Draco’s eye.

“I have to go,” Harry mumbled while gently pulling away. Draco didn’t let him pull too far away by cupping the back of Harry’s head

“No, you’re supposed to finish him… not just walk to your own death!” Draco felt himself get angry. Harry smiled and shook his head.

“This is the only way,” Harry put a hand on Draco’s cheek and wiped away the tear making its way down his face, “Go take a look for yourself if you need to. Just make sure the snake is killed… then he’s just a man.”

Harry pulled away, nodding to Dumbledore’s portrait and making his way down the stairs. Dumbledore’s portrait peered at Draco over his half moon spectacles. Draco didn’t know what to do. After a moment’s hesitation he hurried down the stairs after Harry.