War for Peace

8

Draco screamed into the empty night. Not from fear, or from rage, but in absolute confusion at what he should do. Harry had asked him for help, but once he found the strength to move, he ran. Wrapped in nothing but a blanket, knowing not much of what had carried him here, nor what had caused him to lose his clothes, though he had a good idea what had done that. He stared angrily at the scar, terrified that it might sprout hands of it's own and strangle him to death. He stopped his watefall of confused as he realized someone had followed him here. He could hear her breathing, god it was loud.

"Why are you here Ravenclaw?" He snapped angrily. She stepped into the light and looked very angry.

"You're an idiot. I followed you." She snapped. She stepped into the light. Draco looked here dowm, she looked as though she had been through a great deal of muck and her hair was messy. "What the hell were you thinking going at the school like that?" She sniped before he could open his mouth. She took out her wand and cleaned off her robes and fixed her overall look.

"I did what?" Draco's eyes were searching the floor intently.

"Yes, you attacked the school from the looks of things." She stepped toward the bed and stopped at the foot of it. She had learned over the last weeks of spending time with Draco that she had to be weary of violating his space. It had taken her a lot of doing to become his friend, or atleast someone he could trust. She looked at him, wrapped in the blanket, shivering, skin light blue. "Draco, what were you doing?" She asked in a softer voice. She dared not approach him.

"I don't know." He said, unable to come up with anything sufficent. The thing was, as he searched his thoughts, he couldn't remember the last several hours, he only remembered waking up in Potter's arms.

"You didn't drink your potion." She lectured.

"I don't need you to tell me the obvious." Draco snapped, more angry with himself than at her. He frowned, Remus had lectured him about this, he guessed he would have to deal with professor Lupin at some point. He'd come to appriciate the man's insights and caring demeanor, but he had crossed the line again, this time wasn't just finding a meal in the forest it was attacking humans, this was unforgivable. "Listen Dyanna," He said softly. "I know you're just trying to help me, but I am in no mood for lectures." Draco looked at her with the most honest look he had ever given. "I need your help." Draco's tone was so low, that she had to read his lips almost to hear his words. It had started to rain outside.

"With what?" She asked him, approaching the bed to sit down, before heeding the body motions that told her he didn't want her any closer. She watched as he seemed to go through hundreds of thoughts at once. Judging from the look on his face, none of them were pleasant. He breathed in and out, wrapping the blanket tight around his naked body. "With what Draco?" She repeated, this time very sharp and angry. Draco breathed out and shivered violently and shook and his breath became labored.

She lost her patietence with him. "Stand up." She said sternly. "This is not a request Draco." She said as she watched him continue to sit. He looked her in the eye indignantly. "Now!" She yelled and Draco jumped to his feet. She didn't like having to get angry, but sometimes Draco could be so stubborn. She had followed him around for almost two months since the attack by greyback, in that time, she had learned alot of the once proud pureblood. She pited him, she knew he would hate that, but she couldn't help it. She walked over as he stood at the bed in Reamus' cottage and began to remove his blanket. His naked form seemed to glow, she was unfazed by it most times, but a night like tonight, where she could clearly see the deep chest scars the ran down his front, she reached out without thinking.

"Please, don't touch me." He cringed away from her and she pulled back her hand and eyed it with curiousity. After a few moments Dyanna waved her wand and clothes appeared on Draco's bed, folded neatly.

"Put those on Draco." She said softly. She gave him privacy by turning her back, but watched his shadow move along the floor as he dressed. She turned around when she saw him sit down on the bed. He was hunched over tying his shoes and his hair glowed with the dim light the way his skin had. She shook off her momentary distraction and got back to the point. "You said you needed my help?" She asked calmly. She cocked her head to the side a little trying to read Draco's emotions, but his face was blank.

"Yes, I do Dyanna." Draco drew himself up to sitting up as straight as he could. "It seems that Potter wants help with something. I have to go back home anyway, my father is likely dead, I'll have to do it anyway." He seemed to fight the words he was going to say next. The brunette haired girl made to speak, but was cut off when Draco looked up. "I'm going to help Potter, but only to my own means, the dark lord killed my mother and likely by now my father." She looked at his face, it was as if looking into a dementors face, it was where happiness died. "I will have my revenge Ravenclaw. I intend to bring Potter to my family home to see if there is indeed something of use, if not, it will be good to go with others in case." He breathed out.

"In case what?" She asked simply.

"In case the place is being watched, I don't want to be caught just yet by anyone." Draco said, floored that this idiot girl didn't get it. "And you'll be coming with us." Draco looked her straight in the eye. She just nodded. She had a life debt to him after all. She wouldn't let that go unpaid.
~~~~~~~~~~

"How did you think to ask me to look this up Harry?" Hermione asked and sat down on the sofa in the common room, a large book open in her hands. Harry attempted to read over her shoulder, his eyes met the text and shook his head, there was just no way he'd read that at all.

"No idea." He lied. "Just a hunch." She looked at him and shrugged. She returned to her book and searched the text. Ron was unintrested. He was on his stomach proped up on his elbows playing chess with himself. Harry wished more than anything that he could distract himself as easily as Ron, but now, an extra wrinkle in his quest invovled Malfoy, though it didn't seem so bad, which was weird.

"Well, it seems that spontaneous transformations have been documented, but they are rare." Hermione read without looking up to make sure anyone was paying attention. "They usually are connected to trauma of some kind. The book doesn't get terribly specific on it." She turned a few pages. "It's also a sign of mental instability, like multiple personality disorder in our world." She contiuned. "Harry, do you think Draco is a spontaneous tranformation?" Hermione asked, staring directly into his eyes.

"I am not sure, but it didn't make sense that once he was seperated from the moonlight that he should still be transformed." Harry said, really making sure that he didn't reveal that he had heard dumbledore in his head earlier. He couldn't help that his mind trailed to Malfoy. How angry the boy looked as he ran from the compound after realizing where he was. Harry didn't know what he was feeling about him, but it sure wasn't hate. He thought of what Draco had done to Greyback, then of his actions in the tower. Draco's horrified face as Snape killed Dumbledore. 'Whatever your past, you must put it behind you' Dumbledore's words rang in his head.

They sat in silence, each in their own thoughts. Ron was still playing chess. Hermione, still engrossed in her book looked abosolutely unreachable. Harry however wanted to go for a walk and stood up to leave and walk toward Hagrid's, but halted as a blonde entered the common room, a brunette close at his heels.

"Potter, I have decided to help you." Draco snapped, with a unreadable expression. The girl he had with him stood slightly shorter than he, but definitely seemed angry to Harry.

"What caused the change of heart Malfoy?" Harry smirked in disgust.

"My home is likely to be watched, with both of my parents," Draco blanked his expression, but Harry thought he saw it twist in sudden pain, even if just a split second. "Indesposed at the moment." Draco bit down on the inside of his cheek, causing his eyes to water. "listen, do you want my help or not?" Draco asked, his irritation now pretty clear for everyone to hear.

"Yeah," Harry sighed, "I want to get this out of the way soon though, I have things I need to do."

Draco huffed. "Almighty Potter, your wish is my command." Draco bowed in mocking. Dyanna made to hit him, but stopped. She didn't want his indignant cries of foul treatment and she also wasn't in the mood for anymore delays. "Tonight fine?" Draco said bitterly.

"That's workable. Who is all invited?" Harry asked looking around the room.

"It's just me, you and miss Ravenclaw here." Draco said.

Dyanna slugged him in the ribs. "Damn you. I have a name you twit!"

Draco rubbed his side. "Yes, Yes, I am fairly sure you do." Draco glared at her.

~~~~~~~~~

"Is everyone ready?" Harry asked. He looked at the other two campanions he would have for this journey. They both nodded. Draco's expression blank, Dyanna's unsure of what she was doing. They all touched the port key. The next thing they saw was the large gate to Malfoy Manor. Draco and Dyanna both had cast charms to prevent most detection. Harry's lack of knowlege of the subject seemed to make Draco very very, giddy.

"We've got a half-hour tops." Dyanna hissed, "Then, we gotta get out right away. Remmeber, most of the stuff has likely been tagged by the ministery, so please, don't take anything Potter." Draco grinned.

"My my, I might find use for you after all. Dyanna." Malfoy smirked at Harry.

Draco lead the way since it was his home. Harry was impressed, though he'd never admit it. Draco's home was huge and on a grand scale, it would be damn close to grandest. He whistled, then realized what he had done, cursed himself harshly.

"Like what you see Potter?" Malfoy quiped sweetly, causing Harry to choke on the words waiting in retort. Malfoy laughed, seeing Harry's discomfort. Draco had avoided coming to his father's study until the last possible moments. He knew what his father had told him last year in a letter. 'If I am ever killed or your mother is and I am unable to reach you, I want you to do what we talked about.' The words were so violently vivid, he found himself unable to focus as he walked up to the door to the study.

"Don't touch anything." Malfoy hissed as he located his father's secret compartment behind a stationary portrait of the manor. He retrieved the bottle of memory strands from it, closed it and looked around to locate the stone basin. He was regreting every second he was there, or more, that anyone else was there. This was between him and his father. He swallowed hard as he poured out the contents into a stone basin he found in a cupboard by his father's desk.

"Potter, come here." Malfoy spoke. "If there's anything that will help you it will be in here." Draco's pulse raced as Harry approached. He didn't fear potter, but he feared perhaps what he might see. He cursed because he knew there was no time to have second thoughts. He cursed in a whisper and swallowed hard. Once Harry was beside him, he looked at his other guest. "Dyanna, keep watch if you please." He turned back to the basin and stirred the contents of the basin. They were off.

At first, Harry wasn't sure they had gone anywhere. They looked as if they had never left the study, but then, he realized the lack of color as his eye's adjusted to a young blonde man sitting in the chair, holding a baby. He didn't look at Draco, but he could tell that the boy was mortified that Harry was going to see this. Despite feeling his own objection to this obviously very private memory, he could not bring himself to look away. Then young Lucius spoke softly to the baby in his arms.

"I am so sorry Draco, I seem to have brought you into a dangerous world." Lucius sighed and Harry noticed the agony in the man's face. "I wish so many things had not been done now, I didn't know how much you could change me Draco." Lucius smiled sadly as the baby in his arms shifted and let out a playful squeal. "I want to apologize now, it seems my ideals have caught up to me, son. I hope one day, if I raised you right, you can forgive me for what I will have to do." Harry looked at his feet as Lucius leaned down and kissed the baby's forhead. Harry was very uncomfortable.

The next memory was also in the study. Draco must have been eight or nine, it was hard to tell. Harry watched in horror as Lucius stood over his son, yelling something about playing with a muggle girl. The younger Draco looked as though he might protest, but then Harry was even more horrified. He watched in helplessness as Lucius raised his wand. "Crucio!" Lucius barked, without thinking and Harry nearly gagged as he watched Draco's body twist in violent convulsions. He saw the look of terror in the boy's eyes. They seemed to beg him for help. He watched the boy's mouth move in attempt to scream but no sound came out. Harry didn't even want to look at Malfoy standing next to him.

Then the scene washed away and they were in a kitchen. Lucius was at a window as Narcissa worked angrily at the sink.

"You could have killed him Lucius!" She yelled, breaking a dish.

"I know," Lucius said in a shamed whisper. "I didn't mean-"

"You sure as hell did!" She cut him off. "An unforgivable? On your own son!"

Harry watched as Lucius face sank and he didn't make an attempt to react. He was squiming. He wanted to do anything to stop seeing this, he didn't like knowing these things, it was like stealing someonne's right to keep these things private. He felt worse because of all the feelings of hostility towards Malfoy, he couldn't escape those desperate eyes. Draco had crumpled to his knees unable to respond in any form to the memories in front of him. Harry reached out a hand.

"Please don't touch me." Draco said in a low whisper and for some reason, it pained Harry to hear that. Draco's voice was raw with emotion, he watched the boy on his knees, trying to stop his feelings from betraying him. Harry started to feel his panic, but gladly was distracted when a new memory washed in.

They were back in the study again. Draco was around the same age as the last memory. He was in the chair leaning against his father's shoulder. Harry watched Lucius' pained expression as he held Draco gently to him. "I am sorry for earlier son, I shouldn't have done that." Harry noticed that Draco had slapped his hands over his ears. Tears of rage flowed from the boy's eyes. Harry watched the memory, but found that his heart seemed to ache violently to comfort his long time enemy.

"It's ok dad, I did a bad thing. I deserved it." Young Draco said. Harry let out a wheeze of pain.

"No son, it's not bad, it's just not a good idea, I can't really explain right now, but I promise, someday." Draco rested against his father. "Draco, do you remember what I told you about Harry Potter?" Harry was stunned to hear his name and for a single moment, stopped being overwhelmed by his emotions.

"Yes." The boy said obidiently. Lucius reached onto the table. "Do you remember why we need to help him?" Lucius said asked softly. Draco nodded. Harry's eyes went wide. Lucius had picked up a locket and rested it against his son. "Can you keep this some place safe?" Lucius looked into his son's eyes.

"Yes." Draco held it in his hand. "What is it?"

"A weapon of sorts." Lucius said, then noticing the confused look on his son's face seemed to recant his last statment. "Well, not exactly, but it will help Potter defeat The Dark Lord someday."

Harry was in absolute shock, he watched as the memory faded and the study came back into full view. Draco was still lost in what he had seen. Harry knelt down. "Where is it Draco?" He whispered, "The locket, where is it?" Harry almost touched his shoulder, the boy recoiled angrily and looked up.

"I don-" Draco's mouth stopped moving and his eye's went wide.

"It's right here." Harry knew that voice. It belonged to none other, than Lucius Malfoy.

End Chapter eight
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A/N: So with my other story complete, my cousin wants me to work on this one. I sort of think it needs a bit of a rewrite. What did you guys think of this chapter? Please review and let me know if you like it. Also, look forward to a new chapter in my post DH story. It's weird to type DH and not mean Draco/Harry, isn't it? :-)