Traditions Before Freedom

(A few weeks later…)

It was a Hogsmeade weekend and Harry had been looking forward to meeting Draco, in secret, to spend the day together. The blond had been preoccupied with the situation with his sister and he hoped he could help the boy relax.

At breakfast, his hopes were dashed when Hedwig flew in bringing a letter. It was from Draco and he had been informed of some Lord Malfoy business that he had to take care of since the title had been passed to him when Lucius was incarcerated.

At the bottom of the missive, Draco had written in his fancy script: I hope my actions make you proud of me. It is the only way. Love, Draco Malfoy.

Harry was always proud of Draco, since he stopped being a prat unless keeping up appearances for the other students. Why would this Lord business make Draco write that? What is the only way? The green eyed wizard scanned the crowd and he could see the bulky figures of Crabbe and Goyle but the blond Slytherin was not sitting at the table.

Luckily he had his invisibility cloak with him so he slipped it on in the entrance hall to follow the Slytherins to Hogsmeade. For students who were normally cautious with what they say, Harry heard a lot more than he intended.

"Where is Draco?" Pansy Parkinson asked.

"He is taking his father's place," Blaise Zabini replied.

"That is right. He is now Lord Malfoy."

"Among other things. He has heard of this new slave that the Dark Lord has and would like to try her out. He wishes to join to appease the Dark Lord with what his father had fouled up over the years. No one would suspect a Hogwarts student being a marked Death Eater."

Harry stopped in his tracks and allowed the Slytherin students to leave. As soon as it was clear, he whipped off the cloak and ran back to the castle. He pushed past the younger students and ran to the gargoyle statue in front of the Headmaster's office.

"Bernie Botts. Rum balls. Pasties. Headmaster, it is an emergency. Please open up," Harry yelled.

The stairs appeared and Harry bounded up them as quick as he could. He barged through the door and interrupted Severus and Albus talking.

"Potter, you are supposed to knock before entering," Severus drawled.

"Draco Malfoy is going to join the Death Eaters. He says it is the only way to get Evangeline back."

"How do you know, Potter?"

"Part of it he told me and part I overheard from Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini."

"Why would Mr. Malfoy tell you?" Albus asked.

"He had to cancel plans we had today. We cannot stay here while he is throwing his life away."

"Severus, go and see if you can stop Mr. Malfoy from joining. We will find another way to retrieve Ms. Downes. Now, Harry, please start at the beginning and enlighten me of your friendship with Mr. Malfoy."

Harry did not want anyone to know of his relationship with Draco but he had to tell because then the Headmaster would have to believe him. He sighed and after the Potions Master left, he started with how they had put aside their differences after the Boy Who Lived had snogged the Slytherin senseless.