Meet Me Halfway

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and properties belongs to JK Rowling. This story contains spoiler for all Harry Potter books. Danyealle helped betaing this chapter. Thanks for her help.

Meet Me Halfway

Chapter V

“You attempts to shield you mind is pathetic,” Lucius said coldly.

Harry cursed inwardly. Now Lucius had found out about the Horcrux. Now what did he do? Although he doubted that Lucius would run to Voldemort to share the information he was really worried about what the man was going to do with the information. It was supposed to stay secret, known only to Dumbledore, Ron, Sirius and him. Well, he was going to tell Ron and Hermione later. Why was he such a pants on this Occlumency thing? If ‘d already mastered it then Lucius wouldn’t be able to pry anything out of him.

“You really are transparent,” Lucius drawled.

Harry narrowed his eyes.

“Your face shows what you’re thinking. Really, you have to master your emotions better than that. And, for your piece of mind, I have no intention to give this information to the Dark Lord. How you got the idea is beyond my imagination. But, then again, I came to conclusion that you’re a bit slow a long time ago.”

He bristled at that. Not only Lucius saw his memory but the man also dared to insult him. The nerve! “So, what are you going to do?” he snapped, glaring at Lucius.

“Nothing.” Lucius replied, looking very amused. “Do not worry about it.”

Harry snorted at that. How could he not worry about it?

“You’re here for your Occlumency lesson not for conversation.”

In the next two hours he got an intense lesson from Lucius. The man told him about the basic things to do to shield his mind against intruder. After grasping the theory, they moved to practice. Lucius was truly a slave driver although, Harry had to admit having the man for his teacher was much better than Snape.

“That’s all for today.” Lucius said. “We shall continue the lesson next week.”

“Uhm…about that…I can’t.” He mumbled out. “I have Quidditch tryouts next Saturday.”

“Next Sunday then. The sooner you master Occlumency, the better it is for both of our sakes.”

Harry agreed heartily with that, probably not much for Lucius’ part but for him. Until now, Voldemort had never tried to give him false vision or anything but it was better to be safe than to be sorry.

“Now,” Lucius continued and he was alarmed at the predatory glint that appeared on the man’s eyes. “Let’s move to other business, shall we, Princess?”

It was apparent what Lucius meant when the man sneaked his arm around Harry’s waist, pulling him closer. He had no time to voice his opinion on the matter as Lucius drew him into a hot kiss that left him breathless. It took Harry a few seconds to come to conclusion as to what he should no next. When he did, he wrapped his arms around Lucius’ neck and pulled the man down for another kiss. Well, if he was going to do this every time he met with Lucius he might as well as enjoyed it. After all, Lucius Malfoy was truly a specimen on the bed.

XXXXX

Harry opened his eyes blearily. Where was he? The bed and the covers were soft and warm against his naked body. Wait a minute! His naked body? Then everything that had happened returned to him. The Occlumency lesson and how Lucius took him into his bead. Where was the cursed man now? He grabbed the drawer next to the bed blindingly.

“You really are blind without those glasses, aren’t you?” amused voice said.
He finally found his glasses and put it on. Everything instantly became clear, including smirking Lucius Malfoy.

“Get dress,” the man ordered. “We’re going to have lunch and, after that, you can go back. We don’t want to make impression that someone has kidnapped you, do we?” with that he left.

While dressing Harry looked around him. The bedroom he was in was colored in light shade green with gold panel while the antique furniture was made from wood. It was huge obviously with windows overlooking a garden.

There was a knock on the door and voice saying. “Is Master Harry ready?”

“Yes.” He answered, opening the door and revealing Tobby.

“Master order to take Master Harry.” The house elf said.

They walked through the house and finally arrived on the dining room. Lucius was already seated on the head of the dining table. “Have a seat, Harry.” He ordered.

Harry grudgingly did as he was told. The meal was amazing and he found that he was hungry. Lucius ignored for the most of the meal and only talked when the lunch was over and he was ready to leave.

“One of the Horcruxes you’re looking for can be found inside Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault in Gringotts.” The man said suddenly.

“What?” He looked at Lucius, startled.

“She used to brag that the Dark Lord trusted her with the most important thing to guard.” Lucius stated.

But Harry didn’t have any more time to ask or to demand explanation from the man since, at that moment, his Portkey activated and sent him away.

XXXXX

Ron and Hermione didn’t question his whereabouts because he told him he would be practicing Occlumency. Hermione, glad that he would continue his studying it, let the matter drop easily while Ron, as usual, told him not to study too hard. Now, he was confused about what to do about the information Lucius gave him. Was it true? If it was, how to bring the matter to Dumbledore without raising any suspicions? Urgh! It was so complicated. He didn’t find a way to deal with it until the next day.

“Are you okay mate?” Ron questioned.

“Yeah,” he answered.

Shrugging, Ron asked. “When do you plan to hold the Quidditch tryouts?"

“Next week,” he answered. “I have talked with McGonagall.”

“Cool! I’m going to try for Keeper position,” Ron told them enthusiastically.

In front of them, Hermione rolled her eyes. She never understood the boy’s obsession with Quidditch and they never understood her obsession with studying so it was a fair trade off.

“Harry!”

“Katie, Leanne,” Harry greeted the newcomers, who was Katie Bell, Chaser from Gryffindor Quidditch team and Leanne, her best friend.

“Have you put up an announcement about Quidditch tryouts yet?” Katie asked.

“No. But I plan to do it later. The tryouts will be held the next Saturday.”

“Great!” Katie nodded, satisfied. “We need a good member this year. Of course, I’m going to try for Chaser position.” She declared.

“We were on the team for years together. I know how you play. Why would you join the tryouts?” Harry asked, confused.

“Hey, just because I’m on team doesn’t mean that I’m automatically in. Who knows if we could find some new talent? I have seen many great teams fail because either the old member became idle or because the captain put their friends in. Just because one person is good, we can’t assume that he is always good.” Katie explained.

Ron reddened at her words.

“Well, we have to go now,” Katie and Leanne bid them goodbye.

After breakfast, Hermione wanted to go to library, much to Ron’s chagrin. “But today is Sunday!” he argued. His protest failed as they spent almost an hour in the library with her. Then, they went back to Gryffindor common room to put up the Quidditch tryouts announcement. It was there that Katie’s words rang in his mind.

///Just because one person is good we can’t assume that he is always good.///

That’s it! “I’m going to see Dumbledore!” he said suddenly. With that he dashed away, leaving a bewildered Hermione and a betrayed Ron. “But today is Sunday!” The redhead yelled at Harry’s retreating figure. He didn’t understand why, on a holiday, one of his best friends wanted to go to the library and the other wanted to go to see the headmaster, for crying out loud.

XXXXX

“Chocolate frogs!” Harry told the gargoyle. “Bertie beans! Sugar Quill!” It didn’t move at all. He tried again. “Lemon Drops!” This time he succeeded. Wasn’t that too obvious for Dumbledore to use his favorite candy as the passwords?

“Ah, Harry. To what do I owe this pleasure? On Sunday nonetheless?’”

He flushed red at this. It was fortunate for him that Dumbledore was in his office. In his excitement he had forgotten that the headmaster probably spent his free day somewhere other than Hogwarts.

“Uhm…sorry, Professor,” he said.

“It’s fine my boy. Now, what do you wish to discuss?”

“It’s about Voldemort’s horcrux. I’m thinking that if Voldemort gave the diary to Lucius Malfoy for keeping than maybe he also entrusted his other horcrux to another Death Eater. Bellatrix Lestrange probably?” he said at last.

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. “That could happen,” the headmaster admitted. “If that is true the safest place to hide it would be her Gringotts vault.”

“But how are we going to get it?” he asked.

Dumbledore smiled. “Well, I believe we have to call Sirius for that.”


XXXXX


“You want me for what?” Sirius Black exclaimed in disbelief.

Remus, on the other hand, thought that it might work. “It could be done,” he said. “As the Head of Black family, you have the right to enter her vault since it’s her private vault and not the Lestrange’s.”

Sirius sighed. “I never thought that she would have one of Voldemort’s horcruxes. But then again, she is the most loyal Death Eater out there.”

“I doubt if she knows that it’s a Horcrux.” Harry piped in.

So, the plan was made and it was decided that Sirius would go to Gringotts to retrieve it, accompanied by Dumbledore in case that something went wrong. Harry waited anxiously for their return. He had told them all this based on the information he got from Lucius. What if the man tricked him and there was some trap inside the vault? Remus tried to calm him down but it was to no avail.
He felt that a century had passed when the fireplace in Remus’ headquarters flashed green and Dumbledore’s face appeared, telling them to go to his office. As usual Harry tripped on his way out of the fireplace.

“Sirius!” he shouted after he regained his standing. “How was it? Are you okay?”
His godfather grinned at him. “I’m fine and you were right. We found the Hufflepuff Cup there.” He gestured towards the shiny gold cup situated on the desk.

“Are we ready to destroy it?” Dumbledore asked, eyes twinkling merrily.

“Yeah,” he answered. For him the sooner they could get rid of the horcrux the better it was.

“Then I say the honor will go to you, Sirius. After all, it’s because of you we managed to retrieve it.”

Harry and Remus agreed too so Sirius took the sword of Gryffindor and stabbed the cup. A black smoke appeared, accompanied by loud shrieks then it was gone.

“Well,” his godfather said, grinning wildly. “Four down and only two are left. We’re going to kick snake face’s arse!”


Author’s Note:


Hi. It’s me again. As usual please give me reviews, okay? I know it has been quite a long time since the last time I updated. The thing is I have finished the story but I felt lazy to type it on my computer. ^ ^;;;;;