Complementary

Title: Complementary
Author: rotschopf
Type: FPS
Pairing: Lucius Malfoy/ Harry Potter
Disclaimer: nope, still not mine; pity, though...
WARNING: If you haven\'t read Book 5 this story is not for you.
Note: Please review. It\'s my first HP story and I want to know if I do a good job or not.
Note2: Thx to all of you who have reviewed and rated the story. I keeps firing my muse. I\'d still write if you didn\'t, though 8-)
Note3: 10 points to the one who finds the quote from Babylon 5. *grins madly*

~o0o~

Chapter 4: Surprisingly Enough

~o0o~

Harry starred at his name. It was surprisingly personal. Granted, he has adressed the elder Malfoy in the same informal manner in his short note. But still it was pleasingly comfortable that he obviously wasn\'t averse to return the favour.

\"Do you know from whom this is, Harry?\" Hermione had appeared behind him and looked at the role of parchment.

\"I have a vague idea. But I\'m not sure.\"

\"Well, do tell.\"

Harry looked at his friends. He wasn\'t sure if he should reveal yet what he knew. How should he explain something he didn\'t understand for himself? Why had he written the note to Malfoy? To someone he thought wouldn\'t hesitate to hex him to hell and back?

\"I can\'t tell you. I\'m sorry.\"

\"But you always tell us everything,\" Ron complained. \"Is it from your girlfriend?\"

Harry had to laugh. \"Shut up, Ron. You know I don\'t have a girlfriend.\"

\"Who did send you the letter, then?\" Hermione refused to let the matter go so easily.

\"Hermione, I already said I can\'t tell you. Yet. I will. But not now.\" He left his sulking friends to their homewok and ran upstairs to Ron\'s bedroom. He sat on the bed, carfully stripping off the black velvet ribbon. What would his answer be? To never write him again? To tell him how foolish he behaved? He took a deep breath and unrolled the parchment. Again, the elegant handwriting. The very personal manner he was adressed by a man who he considered an enemy.

xxx

My dear Harry,

what a surprise that your owl shall find me before Draco\'s. A pleasant surprise. You are the very least person who I would have reckoned to send me a personal note. But still, it touches me that a loathed enemy shall send me comfort where my own kind cannot provide it any longer.

But I must say, Harry, I\'m afraid you don\'t know what you are talking about. Perhaps you might know that I didn\'t kill my beloved in such a brutal and disgusting manner. But I am very sure you cannot even begin to imagine what stands behind this abomination. I don\'t even understand it myself.

I also don\'t understand why I have the urge to tell you all this. There was barely anything but animosity between us. Yet, you write me a very personal note. Adress me in the most intimate manner. My first name. Words have meaning and names have power. The universe begun with a word, you know? But which came first: the word or the thought behind the word? You can\'t create language without thought... and you can\'t conceive a thought without language. So which created the other and, thus, created the universe?

Yes, I have become quite thoughtful in this enforced solitude. I realised a lot of things here. Alone. Alone with me and my thoughts. I was furious in the beginning. I could not wait to see the day I would execute my revenge. Patience was never one of my true virtues. I could execute it, yes. But never really feeling it.

I wonder why you have send me your note, Harry. And I wonder what you will do with your new-found knowledge about me. Perhaps you will tell your friends - if I choose to believe my beloved Dragon. He tells me you share everything with them. Why not share this piece of information? As small as it may seem.

Yet I know you most likely will share my letter you your friends I will utter my request. Watch out for my beloved Dragon lest may harm come to him. I have sent him to Hogwarts the night Narcissa was violated. But I am not longer there to protect him. I know you both hate each other with a passion. He may even wish death upon you for you revealed my identity and thus being somehow responsible for my current situation.

I do not blame you for that, Harry. I may even respect you that you again have managed to evade the claws of Lord Voldemort. Again something that happens if one is left alone with his own thoughts. You begin to think and rethink and think again. I haven\'t changed, Harry. I\'m more of a Malfoy than ever before. I hope indeed that Tom Riddle crosses my path again, for I will happily quench my thirst for revenge, then.

Consider my request, Harry. And mayhap you also consider to send me an answer.

Yours sincirely,
Lucius

xxx

Harry exhaled a breath he didn\'t know he\'d been holding, staring down at the parchment. All sorts of emotions were coursing through him, hatred or animosity not being among them. Happiness because Lucius had answered in an almost kind manner. Rage because he thought him not capable of understanding. Curious why he was told all thoses things by the elder wizard. Determination not to share this letter with his friends. Almost giddy because Lucius wanted an answer.

This was perhaps the most important part. Lucius willwillingly agreed to an ongoing correspondence. Harry was not naive enough to believe he could possibly turn Lucius to their side. But neutrality seemed to be a very seizable goal.

And surprisingly enough - he very much looked forward to it.

~o0o~

Harry had only come downstairs again when it was time to leave for Diagon Alley. Hermione stared at him, having her arms crossed in front of her chest. Ron just looked hurt.

\"Look, Harry,\" Hermione began. \"It\'s okay if you have someone special in your life. But that doesn\'t mean you need to shut us out.\"

Harry almost laughed. They still thought he had a secret lover somewhere and didn\'t want to share the news with them. \"Listen, both of you. I do not have a girlfriend.\"

\"Then a boyfriend?\" Ron suggested.

\"What? No! I don\'t have a boyfriend either. Honestly, I would\'ve told you something like that.\"

\"What is it then? Why can\'t you just tell us? I mean, it\'s not like we goe going to spread what you\'re telling us.\"

\"Ron, I know that. And I can\'t tell you because I was asked not to.\" Harry realised that it wasn\'t a lie after all. Lucius hadn\'t asked him directly, though. \"I will tell you. In time. I promise.\"

Hermione nodded. \"Just tell me it wasn\'t bad news.\"

Harry grinned. \"No, not bad news. Not at all.\"

~o0o~

They had finished buying their school supplies and decided to pay Fred and George a visit. It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, but still the streets where humming with somthing close to anxiousness. The Wizarding World had finally subdued to the imminent threat of Voldemort\'s return. Everyone was on guard, looking over their shoulders as if they expected the Dark Lord to pop up behind them and curse them. Known Slytherins were openly avoided, which made it quite easy for Harry to run into two of his most loathed people.

\"Watch your feet, Potter,\" the blond Slytherin, Harry\'s nemesis, snarled. \"I might take it as a personal attack. That, at least, would provide me with sufficient reason to hex you into oblivion.\"

Harry almost snickered. Malfoy did not need to be watched out for by him. His second least favourite person, Professor Snape, seemed to be perfectly capable of watching out for his favourite student. \"Bugger off, Malfoy. You haven\'t managed to scare me back on school with your empty threats. Unless you have turned into a seconu-Knu-Know-Who... Go home.\"

Malfoy reached for his wand, but Snape kept him back. \"I\'d watch my mouth if I were you, Mr Potter. Gryffindor can\'t afford to lose to many points, now, can they?\"

Hermione frowned. \"You cannot take points away, Professor. The term hasn\'t started yet.\"

\"And who\'d be asking you, Mrs Granger? Always the little know-it-all. Get lost before I turn a blind eye on Mr Malfoys actions.\"

Ron opened his mouth for a retort, but Harry ellbowed him into his side. \"Good day to you, then,\" Harry said with a bright smile that didn\'t reach his eyes. He deliberatley sauntered down the street, only hearing half of the insults Malfoy was throwing after him. Surprisingly enough - he couldn\'t care less for once.

~o0o~

tbc...