The Awakening

Percy looked at him, “Someone who had a change of perspective. Someone who ironically was dealt a similar situation as you were by Voldemort, which changed their perspective.”

Harry stood up feeling stronger for the moment, “Will I ever get a chance to meet this person?” He didn’t know why he wanted to meet the person after all they didn’t do anything to prevent Ron’s, Hermione’s, or any number of other deaths, but yet something told him that it was a step that he needed to take. If he was going to start healing then maybe was just the thing that he needed to do.

Percy sighed, “Harry the mole has stated that they would like to meet with you if you ever wanted, but are you sure that you are up to it?”

Harry shrugged his shoulders, “Honestly I don’t know but I have this strange need to meet this person. I don’t know if I am angry and want to punch the person or if I want to thank them, but I think that it is the right thing to do.”

Percy walked back towards him, “Harry if I agree to take you to the person, you have to keep an open mind. This person took a big chance coming to me like they did.”

“Why did they go to you and not the Order?” Harry asked out of curiosity.

“Because they didn’t know that I was working for the Order and they felt that I was safer for if the bloody bastard Voldemort ever discovered what this person was up to then they could have claimed that they were using me to get information that Voldemort wanted.” Percy shrugged, “They didn’t know until recently that I even worked for the Order either.”

Harry nodded his head in understanding. “I can only say that I will try to keep an open mind Percy, but maybe this person has more information that I need.”

Percy put the plate down on the ground, “Well we don’t need that then. We need to meet in the field outside of Portnockie. You remember that field where the Order was able to surprise about two dozen Death Eaters about two years ago?” Harry nodded his head. “I told the person that he could wait there if this is what you both wanted, otherwise I would contact the person when you were ready.”

“Should we tell the others?” Harry asked for he didn’t want worry them all again.

“Jamie knows that if we are not that I took you somewhere for a special reason, but not the reason why. She will keep Mum and Ginny from getting worried.” Percy said with a smile. “You ready?”

Harry gave Percy a half of a smile, “Not really but ok let’s go.”

Within a blink of an eye the two of them stood in the middle of a field. Percy looked at Harry, “You can still back out if you want before we go any further.”

“No, I need to do this, I think.” Harry said with as much confidence as he could.

“Okay it’s this way.” Percy said as he started to walk towards a thicket of trees at the edge of the field. Once inside the thicket where none of the field could be seen, where actually nothing could be seen other than the trees, Percy called out softly, “You here little bird?”

Harry looked around waiting for something, anything until he finally saw a figure walk out from behind a tree. The person wore a cloak with the hood up, so that Harry couldn’t see their face. After so many battles Harry had a very uneasy feeling about this whole thing, for why would the person keep their face hidden if they knew that they might be here today? The figure kept approaching them until there were only a few feet from them.

Slowly the person lowered their hood of their cloak and at first, because the person kept their head down all Harry saw was white blonde hair. Before he even looked up Harry recognized Draco Malfoy, the bloody prat. Anger seethed inside Harry for this scum was responsible for enough of the deaths that Harry witnessed and suffered, and now Percy was actually going to try to tell him that Malfoy of all people helped protect the Weasley’s.

Malfoy still had the same arrogant holy than thou bullshit attitude about him, Harry noticed. “Percy you’re kidding me right?” Harry said never taking his eyes off his adversary.

Percy put a hand on Harry’s arm, “You said that you would have an open mind.”

“That would be a first for Saint Potter.” Malfoy sneered at Percy.

“Yeah and what was in it for you to turn on Voldemort?” Harry sniped back at Malfoy for that was the only explanation that he would turn on the bastard.

“Something you might know about Saint Potter. Love.” Malfoy sneered.

Harry scoffed at that statement, “And what the bloody hell would you know about love?”

Malfoy rolled his eyes, “Apparently a lot more than you do!”

“Besides how do I know for sure that you are the mole and not out for revenge?” Harry asked.

“If I wanted to kill you Potter I could have done it the night you killed Voldemort.” Malfoy sneered.

“Right as if you were there?” Harry scoffed again. He was getting tired of this.

Malfoy walked up to Harry to where he was only mere inches from Harry’s nose. “I saw you coming out from behind that very large oak tree. I saw you lift your wand and I saw you actually use the Killing Curse before he could even turn his back, which means there might be hope yet for you Potter.” He said with a smile, “I know that you heard him talking about capturing your precious Ginny Weasley, about how he planned to torment her right in front of your eyes until you begged him to stop and then kill her anyway.”

Harry took a step back, shock and disbelief coursing through his body. “By Merlin you were the Death Eater!”

Percy took in a gulp of air, “Torture her, you didn’t tell me that.” He said as he looked at Malfoy.

Malfoy backed up a little, looking smug as if he accomplished what he wanted to do and that was to shock them both, “Yeah well I knew that Potter would need to hear something that no one else knew in order to prove that I was actually helping you out.”

“But why?” Harry asked really wondering what changed in Malfoy to make him seek out Percy.

“Because Voldemort was going to kill Dawn, only he didn’t know that she was and is my wife.” Malfoy said a little softer but still with an air of superiority. “I couldn’t let her die so I did what I had to do in order to protect her, just like you did what you had to do Potter to protect Ginny. After that I owed something to Weasley so I kept him informed about different things especially if it concerned anything with the Weasley’s.”

Harry had to admit that maybe Malfoy did have a change of perspective but it was hard to accept that he owed anything to him. “I don’t know what to say.” Harry said honestly.

“Well that would be a first.” Malfoy remarked.

“Well you haven’t changed much that is for sure.” Harry snapped back.

“I did what I had to do and repaid a debt.” Malfoy said simply.

Harry nodded his head realizing for the first time completely that there had been more to everything then he believed. However, one thing still needed to be asked. “Why didn’t you warn anyone about Ron?”

“Because I had to make a choice, maybe that isn’t something you would understand Potter, but I had to choose between saving the Weasley clan, or saving one Weasley and getting myself killed in the process. You do the math Saint Potter.” Malfoy sneered at Harry as if he hated being questioned about any of his motives.

Harry wanted to hate the prat, maybe he could have done something to save the Weasley’s and Ron. And what made Harry mad was that the bloody prat was right. For the first time in six months, someone made sense and he hated that it had to be Malfoy of all people. “I guess I owe you a thank you Malfoy.”

“Don’t sound so enthusiastic about it.” Malfoy said sarcastically.

Harry held out his hand wondering if he would even accept it. Malfoy looked down at the hand that Harry had offered then back at him. Without saying anything, he took and the two men shook hands ever so briefly. It was strange for Harry, it was as if the two were no longer adversaries but they were never going to be friends either. It was all communicated in that simple brief handshake, and it was all right with Harry. He didn’t think that he would ever be able to trust Malfoy, but at least now, they had an mutual understanding.

Harry and Percy looked at each other has Malfoy walked away. It was their signal for them to return to the Burrow. Harry felt lighter now but he still felt the guilt for surviving. Ginny was right that it was going to be with the Weasley’s help that he would start to let go of some of the guilt and start to heal. He was strong enough to face the rest of the Weasley’s now and tell them what happened, knowing that they would love him regardless. “Thank you Percy.” Harry said.

“Anything for a brother.” Percy said as he put a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Anything for a brother.”

“Lets go home.” Harry said with a smile knowing that he was really going home, a home that would always welcome him, a home that was full of love.