Draco's Companion

/N- I know some of you are probably getting frusterated with the slow-motion of this story right now, and I'm sorry, I'm leaving again tommorow, but I'm going to post at least one more chapter before then. I'm sorry, but..ya know..when reality kicks in, you've gotta do what ya gotta do.

Nekoboy-If i could update faster I would, It's just I don't have a computer at my trailer, and no way to get the internet on my laptop..sorry.

RRW-Wow, thank you so so so so much, you really saved my ass on that last chapter. So thank you thank you thank you.

Thrnbrooke- You'll see:D

Soria- Thank you for pointing that out for me, seriously. I think my skills are waning:P or maybe it's just cuz i've been outta the loop for so long. Who knows? And thanks:D It makes me happy to know that:D

Shadowama- Most of your questions will be coming out in the next chapter. Not this one though. Well prolly not about Rita quite yet, but thats soon. The locket, I'm hoping for next chapter.

K enjoy everyone!!!


Chapter Thirty-Eight: Sneaks

Harry was kept in the hospital wing for the entire evening, and Draco was shooed out before Harry had a chance to ask him about his meeting with Snape.

So Harry lay awake late into the night, his mind working furiously about what had happened. He really didn't want to go to Snape for help, so he decided that he was going to work his Occlumency by himself. He wasn't exactly sure how to place Snape, Draco and Harry had believed that Snape was always working for Voldemort, but Dumbledore seemed adamant in the fact that Snape wasn't a Death Eater.

Harry longed to talk to Draco to see how their talk went. Not that it made a big difference anymore anyway, seeing as how Draco was also missing the trip this coming saturday.

He was shocked out of his thoughts when he heard a loud crashing noise from just outside his curtains. He pulled himself higher on his bed, so he was sitting on his pillows, the farther away from the noise, the better.

'Am I just being paranoid?' He thought to himself quickly, while feeling his nerves get the best of him.

It sounded like there were a few voices outside his curtains now, whispering quickly to each other, and that's when Harry heard the easily distinguished voice of Draco. He sighed in relief and hopped quietly off of his bed, approaching his curtains. He pulled them back and three figures stopped dead in their tracks. One had gleaming blonde hair, and his face split into a grin, One had bushy hair, and she was looking very guilty about something. The last one had fiery red hair, and he was trying his hardest to look innocent.

"What are you guys doing?" Harry whispered to them.

"Coming to see you about something." Hermione answered, "But we can't get caught. Especially Ron and I."

Harry pulled a confused look.

"We're not supposed to be hanging out with you, remember." Hermione pointed out.

"Right. Sorry."

"How's your head?" Draco asked.

"It's better now, if only my thoughts would stop. I can't sleep. What time is it?"

Hermione cast a tempus.

"Three thirty." She answered off-handedly.

"Why are you all still awake?" Harry asked in awe.

"Because we had plans to meet up and come talk to you. Something weird happened at dinner." Draco told him.

"Like what?"

"Well. Everyone was just sitting there minding their own business, when Umbridge just burst into the hall unexpectedly. She was mad. Really mad, and not just at the students. She looked psycho." Draco said.

"Okay.." Harry said, not really getting the point.

"She pointed her finger right at Dumbledore and started yelling about how he was undermining her authority." Hermione said.

"Yeah, because he cancelled alot of the detentions she has been giving out, telling her that she has been using her authority too much, and handing out punishments for silly reasons." Ron said, finally saying something.

"Well, she wasn't impressed at all. I think she even called Professor McGonagall some uncalled for names." Hermione said seriously.

"But the part that really got me," Draco started. "Was that she was clutching her left forearm, almost like she was in pain."

Now this statement made Harry look at Draco knowingly.

"You didn't tell us that." Hermione said, referring to her and Ron.

"Well, what does that mean?" Ron asked curiously.

"Well Death Eaters marks are right here." Draco said, pointing to a spot just underneath his elbow crease on the inside of his forearm.

"No." Harry said, he didn't want to believe that.

"I don't know, Harry. She was livid."

"Well why would her being livid at Dumbledore have anything to do with being a death eater?" Harry questioned.

"Maybe Dumbledore is on to her." Ron said excitedly.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Ron, you always have it out for our teachers. I highly doubt Dumbledore would let a Death Eater work at his school." Hermione said, defending her beloved teachers.

Harry and Draco exchanged meaningful looks again.

"What?" Hermione asked, after watching their interaction.

Harry pursed his lips. Even though he wasn't associated with Voldemort anymore he certaintly didn't want to go around telling secrets of the Death Eaters. Silence ensued.

"What is it?" Ron asked, now looking slightly worried.

"Well.." Draco began. He also seemed weary of saying something.

Ron's mouth opened. "Who?" He asked.

Harry and Draco looked at each other again. Then Harry looked to Hermione, she was staring at them both intently, and Ron was leaning forward slightly, as though he couldn't wait to hear information about a corrupt teacher.

Draco cleared his throat. "Well Dumbledore is positive that he isn't a Death Eater, but we had seen him at quite a few meetings."

"Well who the bloody hell is it?" Ron asked, almost shaking in anticipation.

"Snape." Draco said quickly, practically spitting the word out.

Ron's eyes took on a glazed, dreamy expression, and then his snapped to Hermione.

"I told you!" He said loudly.

"Shhh.." Harry said, looking around quickly. He was the only patient in here tonight, but Madam Pomfreys quarters were just at the other side of the wing.

"Well I highly doubt there are any Death Eaters working in our school." Hermione said stubbornly.

"But they seen him Hermione!" Ron exclaimed.

A light caught Harry's eye, Madam Pomfrey was awake.

"Shit." he said quietly, "You guys have got to go. Quickly." He said, pointing towards her room.

Draco leaned forward and captured Harrys mouth in a quick kiss and he whispered "I love you." before he turned and led the other two out of the room.

Hermione watched with curiosity. Ron pointedly looked away.

*****
Madam Pomfrey came over to his bed. Harry presumed that she was peering down at him, but he had his eyes softly closed, and he was breathing in deep even breaths. Her presence was felt for a minute or two, and then she left. The moment Harry heard her door close he opened his eyes. His thoughts now rushing in again.

Could Umbridge be a Death Eater? It seemed doubtful, she came from the ministry for God sakes, ministry witches just aren't Death Eaters.

Harry continued his struggle for sleep for at least another hour, and sleep finally washed over him.

His eyes snapped open a few hours later. Madam Pomfrey had just prodded him awake, she checked him over one last time and sighed.

"Well, off you go to breakfast then." She said reluctantly.

Harry jumped off and literally ran from the room.

*****

Harry entered the Great Hall and sat down beside Draco.

"Dumbeldore switched my detentions. I only have two now. He said it wasn't fair to give me a weeks worth of detention for doing the right thing and hauling you off to the Hospital Wing. They are friday night and saturday night."

"Brilliant." Harry said. He was just reaching for some jam when Hedwig and Hermes flew down and landed in front of the two in a similar fashion.

They looked at each other. The only ones who had ever mailed them was Narcissa.

Harry took his letter, and Draco followed suit. The owls took off immediately.

**
Harry,

I am sorry to inform you that I have already destroyed the ring, but I would like you to come to my office at 6 O'clock sharp this evening. Bring your wand.

Professor Dumbledore.

P.S- Droobles.
**

"Mine says the exact same thing." Draco said peering at Harrys letter.

"Why would he destroy it without us?" Harry asked in a hushed tone. "He said he wanted us to learn..."

"Maybe the pressure is on?" Draco answered just as quietly.

Harry looked up at the head table and noticed that Dumbledore was not sitting in his seat.

He quirked an eyebrow and Draco and bit into his toast.

***

The school day went unnaturally quick for the boys, they couldn't wait to get to Dumbledores office that evening so they could start learning how to destroy horcruxes. Harry and Draco hadn't seen Dumbledore at any of the meals that day, they were even looking around for him in the hallways between classes. They had decided that they were going to speak to Dumbledore about Professor Umbridge, before he got into any talks about horcruxes. They were going to tell him their suspicions of her being a death eater, and how they think she is out to get them.

Finally, dinner had just ended, and the boys walked up to Dumbledores office.

When they were outside of the stone gargoyle Harry said 'Droobles' and the gargoyle lept aside, admitting them to the spiral staircase. They rode to the top in tight circles, and when they had stopped moving Harry reached forward to knock. Before he had even touched the wood Dumbledores voice rang through the door.

"Come on in." He said. Draco and Harrys eyes met in wonderance.

Harry pushed the door opened and went through, Draco was following closely behind. As soon as Harry seen Dumbledore he noticed that his right hand and forearm was black and burnt.

Harry's eyes widened, and Draco followed his gaze.

All thoughts of Professor Umbridge flew out of his head when his eyes clapped onto that deformed arm.

"Sir! What happened to your arm?" Harry asked in alarm.