Draco's Companion

Harry couldn't concentrate.

After he was finished his detention he headed up to Dumbledore's office.

Harry gave the password, which hadn't been changed since the previous night, and stepped onto the moving staircase.

He reached the top and heard nothing, he was raising his hand to knock when the room suddenly filled with voices.

"Albus!" one was calling frantically. It sounded familiar. "Albus, Hurry!"

Harry heard the swishing of robes and then a distinct gasp.

"Severus, what happened?" Dumbledore said in a low voice.

Butterflies erupted in Harrys stomach and he frantically pushed the door open.

Snape was standing, he had a pained expression on his face and his eyes were oddly glassy. Dumbledore looked shocked at the door being thrown open. Harry looked down tot he floor between the men. There, ina heap of robes, was Draco.

Harry let out a strangled sort of cry and ran forward. Dumbledore stepped into his path, holding him back.

"Draco!" Harry screamed hoarsly.

"Calm down!" Snape snapped, the glassy look in his eyes gone.

Snape lifted his wand and muttered 'Enervate'; Dracos eyes cracked open and he whimpered in pain.

"Draco." Harry said again, and leaned down.

"Don't pick him up." Snape warned, "He needs healing."

"What happened, Severus?" Dumbledore asked softly, while walking to the fire to send for Madam Pomfrey.

"Something that I wasn't expecting." Snape said cryptically. "He received the Mark and was initiated this evening."

Dumbledores eyes widened. "Who?" Was all he said.

"Me." Snape said sharply, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Oh my.."Dumbledore said, looking down at Draco.

There was a rush of green flames and Madam Pomfrey came out of the fireplace. She looked down at Draco and gasped. She roughly pulled Harry out of the way and instantly began to heal him.

Harry looked over at Dumbledore and Snape, "Is someone going to tellme what happened?" He asked.

"I just did" Snape snapped.

"Well what exactly does the initiation include?" Harry asked, his voice raising.

Snape took a deep breath before replying, "The Cruciatus Curse, The Imperius Curse, and rape." he said quickly, like that would make the blow less harsh for Harry.

Harrys mouth dropped in shock.

"Rape?" he asked incredulously.

Snape nodded solemnly.

"Who-"

"That doesn't matter." Dumbledore interupted.

Harry gave him a scathing look and turned back to Snape.

"Why does he have so many broken bones?"

"Because that's the way it works." Snape said rudely. "Now don't ask hiom about any of this, it will just humiliate him."

"But I-"

"Do you want to hurt him even more?" Snape spat.

"No- I-"

"Good, Then leave it at this."

"Yes, Sir." Harry said, lowering his head.

It took Draco 20 minutes to be healed, and another 15 to refuse staying in the hospital wing.

Harry was send out of the office 5 minutes before Draco. They met up in their Common Room.

"Told you I wouldn't leave you." Draco said smugly.

Harry forced a smile.

"I seen her."

"Who?"

"Nagini."

"Oh.."

"And Umbridge."

"Oh!"

"But for Nagini, I want to kill her as soon as possible. I'm thinking that if i lead Voldemort here, then you can be waiting to finish him off. This way I don't have to kill Dumbledore."

Harry nodded and shrugged.

"I'll probably be summoned back, very soon."

"I'm going to bed." Harry said suddenly, standing up and walking away.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?" he asked, stopping with his back to Draco.

"You know I'm doing this all for you, right?"

Harry nodded. Tears that Draco couldn't see were sliding down his face.

"I love you." Draco said.

"I love you too." Harry choked out, before fleeing from the room.

****

It happened visibly during last period. Harry and Draco were sitting in Defense Against the Dark Arts, copying notes, when Draco flinched and clapped his right hand over his left forearm.

He tossed two peices of parchment at Harry and raised his hand. Umbridge looked up.

"Yes Mr. Malfoy?"

"May I go to the hospital wing? I suddenly feel sick."

Yes you may, I'll give your homework to a fellow student." She answered, her big smile stretching her face unpleasantly.

Draco gave Harry an inconspicuous smile and left the room. Harry picked up the first peice of parchment, it was rolled into a scroll and adressed to Dumbledore. The second peice was for him.

"Harry,
Be ready in Dumbledores office about two hours after I'm summoned.
I love you.
Draco."

Harry didn't take anymore notes through the rest of the class, and when the bell rang, he was the first to exit.

Hermione and Ron caught up to him quickly.

"Draco said he wanted us to accompany you to Dumbledores office."

"Okay"

"Oh, guess what!" Hermione said excitedly.

"What?"

"I found out how Rita Skeeter was learning everything."

"How?" Harry asked in awe.

"She's an unregistered Animagus!" She said pulling out a jar with a beetle in it. "I've put an unbreakable charm on the Jar so she can't transform. As soon as all of this is finished, I'm giving her to Dumbledore. He will know what to do with her."

"Brilliant" Harry said. Ron was staring at Hermione in a dazed sort of way. Harry stuffed his knuckles into his mouth to cover his snickers.

They gave the password, and went up to Dumbledores office. Hermione knocked, and when they entered Harry walked directly to Dumbledore and gave him the scroll. Dumbledore read through it once, and thenr ead it aloud.

"Professor Dumbledore:

I have decided that I am going to kill Nagini today, and lead Voldemortback to your office with me. I expect harry to be ready to strike him instantly. This was I will now have to murder you, and I won't be seen as a murderer my whole life. The only thing I intend on killing is Voldemorts dirty snake. I know this is quicker than any of you expected, but after the things I went through last night, I hate this man with all of my heart. I want to see him dead. I'm sorry that I didn't inform any of you about this, but I wasn't prepared to be talked out of it.
Please make sure Harry knows how much I love him. I would die without him by my side. Please tell him that Sir..just in case.

Draco Malfoy."

"You've got a very great catch, Harry. Very corageous.

Harry nodded, trembling slightly.

"Sir, I don't know if I'm ready." Harry said, finally admitting his fear.

Dumbledore walked over toa shelf and lifted Gryffindors sword from it.

"I know you're a Slytherin, but I think this will help you."

He placed the sword in a gaping Harry's hands.

"We're here for you too, Harry!" Hermione said.

"Yea mate. We won't let you down." Ron added.

Harry gave them a nervous smile, and sat down to wait.


*************************************************

There was a knock at the front door.

"That'll be Ron and Hermione" Harry said, pulling a bottle of champagne from beneath the counter and casting a spell to keep it perfectly cold. He put it on the dinner table.

Draco smiled and walked out of the dining room to answer the front door.

Draco led the guests back to Harry, who gave them a warm smile.

"I think dinner's almost ready." He announced while hugging Hermione, and giving Ron a healthy clap on the back.

"It's been ages" Draco observed while they all took their seats.

"We seen you two months ago!" Hermione replied, placing a napkin across her lap and smiling.

"Well, that seems like ages to me." Draco said.

They were twenty now, and all four of them were best friends. Hermione and Ron tried to visit them regularly at Malfoy Manor. It was proving to be difficult, with the way Harry and Draco vacationed, and Ron and Hermione worked. Defeating Voldemort brought them together like nothing else could.

Rita was sent to Azkaban for six months after Hermione ratted her out. She died within the first three weeks.

Dumbledore stayed alive long enough to vouch for Draco and Snapes Dark Marks. He got his affairs into order before the poisen had completely overtaken his body. He went happily.

Umbridge was killed by Death Eaters, they all thought she had something to do with Voldemorts murder.

Snape had just managed to escape, and was now living with Harry and Draco at Malfoy Manor, although he kept mainly to himself.

The remaining Death Eaters were thrown into Azkaban. Alot of people would want Draco and Snape dead, even over Harry, Hermione and Ron.

Scooby,Draco and Harrys elf, started carrying out dishes of food to serve.

Draco, Harry, Ron and Hermiones laughter rang throughout the manor.

----The End----

A/N- okay, I tried sooo hard to keep that happy lol. I hope it was alright, I'm more down with sad endings, myself, but I didn't think that would be very fair.

I hope everyone enjoyed it and I really want to thank all of those faithful readers.
My next story has already been started, and I have began to post it. I'm suggesting you read it, it's going to be pretty crazy.

Well, thanks again.

Shannon xoxox