Gilded Soul

Chapter 12 Malfoy Charm

Harry lay in the Slytherin dormitory waiting for Draco to return. His mind was reeling from the events of the past few hours. His leg was still throbbing, but he found that as long as he kept it very still, he could think past the pain. He only hoped that someone didn’t come snooping and find him here completely helpless.

Even though he had spent the last few hours being attacked by an illusion of Voldemort, broken his leg, and woken up in the Slytherin dorm room, all he could focus on was that kiss. His heart beat faster just thinking about it. It had taken him completely by surprise, not just that it happened, but also how much his body had reacted to the kiss. He was in for it now, thoroughly smitten with a Slytherin. All he could hope for now was that Draco felt the same way about him.

Harry’s thoughts drifted to the dream maze. It was an odd occurrence, and it worried him that even Dumbledore seemed stumped by the fact that Draco and Harry seemed to dream their way into it. Another issue was the fact that this was the second time he had awoken in Draco’s bed. Did he sleep walk there? If so, it was only a matter of time before he was caught and that wouldn’t bode well for either of them.

The thing that worried him most however, was the fact that he felt Voldemort there with him in the last dream. He couldn’t be certain; because the maze was constantly playing tricks on his mind, but he could swear he felt him, in the way he would sometimes when Voldemort projected into his head. It filled him with a nauseating sense of foreboding. He would have to discuss it with Hermione and Draco.

Harry heard a noise and went silent, holding his breath and listening to see if he could tell who it was. After a moment a platinum blonde head stuck through the curtain and grinned at him. Harry exhaled as relief swept over him. “Took you long enough.” He said with a smile.

Draco rolled his eyes. “Just wait till I tell you what happened, but first, let’s get you out of enemy territory.”

Harry nodded enthusiastically, and before he could say anything else, Draco flung the invisibility cloak over his body. A quick muttered spell had Harry floating through the air, and he clamped his jaw shut to hold back the pain from his leg.

“I’m really sorry if this hurts, but we have to get you to Pomfrey.” Draco whispered once they were out into the corridor.

“I know you wouldn’t hurt me on purpose.” Harry whispered back.

--

They made it to the hospital wing with very few obstacles. At one point Harry was floating about eight feet in the air when Draco had to lift him over several students rushing to class. Once outside the entrance, Draco removed the cloak and carried Harry the rest of the way. He kissed Harry quickly on the forehead and smiled at Harry’s responding grin.

As soon as he opened the door they were greeted with a concerned looking Madame Pomfrey. She ushered them to the closest bed and Draco carefully laid him down.

“Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, it seems you two keep coming across one another injured.” She looked at them both suspiciously. “Does either of you care to tell me how this happened?”

“I fell down the stairs.”

“He fell down the stairs.” They each replied simultaneously and grinned at one another. The look on Madame Pomfrey’s face showed she didn’t believe them for one second, but she didn’t press the issue.

“I’ll take it from here Mr. Malfoy, you can go to class.” Draco nodded and with a wink to Harry he left the hospital ward and headed for Potions.

--

Draco was late to class, and this elicited a sneer from Professor Snape, and ten points from Slytherin. Draco went straight to work on the Wolfsbane potion and took extra notes for Harry.

As he stirred the bubbling green potion his thoughts drifted to that of the green eyed Gryffindor he found himself so suddenly fond of. For a sheer second, Draco had though Harry was dead, when he found him in the maze. The idea had wrenched his heart in two, like nothing he had ever thought he could feel. A close second was when he thought Harry had rejected him this morning. Then suddenly everything flipped around and Draco was happier then he had ever been pressed against Harry’s body and kissing him deeply.

Is this love? Draco quickly shook off the thought. What Draco loved could be easily held against him. This much Voldemort proved by holding his mother captive with threats to her life should Draco not do exactly as he asked. He wouldn’t let that happen to Harry. Though if he really thought about it, it was already happening. At some point, Harry would have to face him, and it was a very distinct possibility that Harry would die.

The thought made Draco feel empty and depressed, as if it had already happened.

Draco was pulled from his thoughts as students around him began to pack up. Looking at the clock he realized it was time to go, so he put away his notes and packed away his own things.

“Before you go,” Snape began, “you need to put a stasis spell on your potions. As this is the last day before you leave for holiday, it is needed so that the potion remains viable.”

There was a collective muttering of stasis spells, and Snape walked around the class making certain they had been cast correctly. He approached Draco’s desk last. “Mr. Malfoy, I’ll need to see you after class.” Draco only nodded and Snape made his way back to his desk.

--

Harry opened his eyes; having drifted off to sleep after taking the potion Madame Pomfrey gave him to heal his leg. It was bound with cloth and a splint to keep it from bending, and it already started to feel better.

The door to the hospital wing opened, but instead of the healer he had expected, the doorway revealed Dumbledore. Harry shifted uncomfortably as Dumbledore made his way over, shaking his head. “This is your idea of being careful?” He asked, pulling up a chair so he was sitting eye level with Harry.

Harry shrugged, slightly embarrassed. “It wasn’t on purpose.”

Dumbledore shook his head again. “That much is obvious.” His piercing blue eyes watched Harry with concern. “I take it you have completed the first trial?”

Harry nodded. “Draco too.”

Dumbledore nodded. “Yes, I saw him in a hurry to get to class, and then Poppy came and told me of your predicament.” The Headmaster was quiet for a moment, but soon continued. “At least it’s only a broken leg, but Harry I must implore you to be more careful. The maze is going to continue to get more difficult.”

Harry looked confused for a moment. “Can’t you just tell us what to watch out for? I mean you made the maze right?”

The Headmaster nodded solemnly. “I did, yes, a long time ago. The maze is constructed with a very ancient magic, and it is not a prize it protects in the center, but something very dangerous that should never be wielded.”

“What is it?” Harry asked curiously.

Dumbledore lifted his hand as if to hold back the question. “I would like to tell you, Harry, but I am bound to an unbreakable vow not to speak of it.”

Harry sighed sulkily. “Can you tell me anything about it? Why am I dreaming about it? Why is Draco?”

Dumbledore held up his hand again to the barrage of questions and chuckled, the soft twinkle returning to his brilliant blue eyes. “Patience Harry. Of course I will tell you what I can.”

Harry smiled and sat back to listen to the Headmaster speak.

As I said before, the maze is constructed of very powerful and very old magic. I didn’t create it alone completely alone. I had the help of some of the original Order members.”

Harry’s face lit up but Dumbledore interrupted his happiness. “No Harry, not your parents. There was an Order of the Phoenix before they joined. However, your grandparents were part of the original Order.” He paused for a moment, seemingly thinking something important.

Harry tried no to rush him, but the suspense was killing him. “In fact, during the time of the maze creation, Abraxas Malfoy, Draco’s grandfather, was a part of the Order. He later turned out to be a spy for Voldemort.” Dumbledore mused. “Thinking it over, I believe you and Draco may be the last living decedents of the original Order that assisted me with the maze… curious.”

“Is that how we’re linked then? How we share the same dream?” Harry asked excitedly.

“It could very well be, my boy.” Dumbledore answered. “What worries me is what may be causing it. You see the maze is different for each person who enters it. It is also designed so that no single person can complete it alone, and as I’m sure you can already tell, there must be a certain level of trust between the people who enter the maze, and that trust is tested and must hold throughout, or you both could lose your lives to it.”

“Can I ask you something?” Harry asked tentatively, not quite sure how to explain it even if he got permission.

“Of coarse, Harry.” Dumbledore chuckled.

“Does the maze… was the maze created because of Voldemort?” Harry asked finally.

The Headmaster smiled, but it was a sad smile. “Very clever, Harry. Very clever. I cannot answer that question without breaking the vow, but suffice it to say, you are on the right track. Why do you ask?”

“Well, in the first task, it was an illusion of him that tried to kill me.” Harry replied.

Dumbledore nodded. “That’s to be expected. The first task being about mastering your fear, it only makes sense that you would fear Voldemort.”

Harry nodded. “I thought so as well, but even after the illusion of him dissipated, I could still feel him. The same way as when he projected his thoughts into my head.”

Dumbledore went quiet and still. “I see.” He said after a few moments. “This is all very troubling; I fear he may be the one projecting you both into the maze. He wants what is at the center, and he wants one of you to retrieve it for him.”

“But why? He couldn’t possibly think I would let him have something he wanted. Especially not after last year at the Ministry.” Harry said dumbfounded.

Dumbledore shook his head. “No Harry, I doubt very much that he is relying on you to give it to him. He probably thinks that if you remove it from the maze, he could get the item, or…”

“Or what?” Harry persisted.

“Or, there is always Draco. He still believes Draco to be loyal to him.” Dumbledore said at last.

“But he’s not!” Harry shouted. “Draco’s not like his father.”

Dumbledore put a calming hand on Harry’s shoulder, and stood up to leave. “Just be careful, Harry. Many have fallen pray to the Malfoy charm, only to be hurt in the end.”

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