Going Through the Motions

A/N: All I can say is, sorry for the long, long wait.. The reasons why it took so long are sorta long and tedious, and interesting to perhaps one or two people on the entire planet.. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter; it finally reveals something that people have been wondering. And the next chapter is already written, so it\'ll arrive in a few days.

Disclaimer: I don\'t own Harry Potter or anything connected to it; that would be JK Rowling and Scholastic Books. So don\'t sue; I\'m broke.. heh..

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Going Through the Motions
by Squall Thrawn

Chapter 9
Where Else Can I Turn?

“Harry, I just heard some Slytherins talking in the castle about you,” Seamus said, panting heavily, as he parked himself beside Harry under their usual birch tree.

“What are they saying?” asked Harry, uneasily.

“They-,” Seamus paused as a shadow fell over the pair of them. They looked up to see Draco Malfoy, smirking. “They know about you,” he finished in a whisper.

“So, what’s this rumour I’ve been hearing about you, Potter?” asked Malfoy, his sneer in full force.

Harry felt as though he had been punched in the gut. Dammit, nobody was supposed to know about it, and then a day after he came out to his closest friends, everybody knew? Then he looked at Malfoy’s triumphant smirk. The cat may have been out of the bag, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to give Malfoy the satisfaction of getting the best of him. Harry stood up slowly, forcing a carefree smile on his face.

“I guess that depends, Malfoy,” said Harry. His voice was calm, and almost amused, as he stood to face Malfoy. “Did you hear the one where I’m gay, or the rumour that says that I have a camel as a pet?” Seamus actually chuckled softly as he stood up beside Harry, though his sweaty palms betrayed his nervousness.

“The former, obviously, Potter,” said Malfoy, looking a little peeved. From the tone of his voice, he’d clearly wanted to provoke Harry, but the dark-haired boy’s matter-of-factness had thrown him off-balance. “You’re not denying it, so I guess it’s true; The Git Who Lived’s a bloody poofter!”

Seamus was suddenly in Malfoy’s face. “Do you have a problem with that, Ferret?!” challenged Seamus, angrily. Until now, Seamus had never stood up to Malfoy, but it was about Harry, after all.

“Look, Potter, you’ve got yourself a boyfriend!” jeered Malfoy.

“Seamus isn’t my boyfriend; he’s just a close friend of mine.” A pained expression came across Seamus’s face upon hearing that statement, a look that went unnoticed by either Harry or Malfoy. “It’s ok, Seamus,” said Harry, soothingly. “I’ll deal with Malfoy here.” Harry’s face hardened as he turned to Malfoy. “Now that you’ve heard what you came to hear, I think we’ll be leaving now. I doubt you have anything productive to say, anyway. Come back when you can have a nice, civilized conversation.” Harry and Seamus started walking away, but had only made it a few steps when Malfoy spoke up.

“You’ve got a spy in your house,” said Malfoy. Harry paused. The blonde’s voice had changed. Instead of being smug and hateful, Malfoy actually sounded serious.

“That’s a lie, Malfoy,” said Seamus, scowling. “No Gryffindor would ever spy on their own house; that’s what Slytherins do.”

“Think about it, you stupid Mick,” said Malfoy, the contempt back in his voice. “Potter here comes out to a couple of people, and the next day gets outed to the whole school? How else do you think they found out?!” He turned to Harry. “And you suspect it, too.”

“Malfoy…” Harry forced out. He wasn’t in the mood for a long conversation with Malfoy. “Even if it is true, why would you tell us all of this? We’re the heroes, remember? You’re a Death Eater.”

Malfoy shook his head. “You don’t understand anything about Slytherin House, do you? It has less to do with the Dark Lord than you think. When you get down to it, it’s solely about power and influence. Who has it. Who doesn’t. And what they do to gain it. And I’m sure you’ve noticed that I‘m not nearly as high up on the power structure as I used to be. So in exchange for my help in discovering your mole, you’re going to help me regain my place on the top of the pyramid.”

“And now it all becomes clear,” said Harry, wryly. “There’s the Malfoy we’ve come to loathe and hate. Why would we want you to regain any sort of influence?”

“Maybe because I’m not nearly as pro-Dark Lord as before, and you’re much better off having me in charge than the people who are right now,” Malfoy shot back. “I’m not asking for a response right now. Just think about it.” Malfoy started walking away from them. “Oh, and regardless of what you decide, I’d keep the buggers guessing. Don’t let them think they’ve got to you.”

The two Gryffindors stood there watching in disbelief as the Slytherin disappeared into the castle.

“I have to say… that’s the last thing I would have ever expected Malfoy to say,” said Seamus, shocked. Harry nodded, his mind somewhere else entirely. “I guess it must have been the raccoon listening to our conversation,” continued Seamus. “He must have been the one that told the Slytherins. I mean, I told Dean he wasn’t to be trusted; but of course he didn’t listen to me.” Just then, a large raccoon, its teeth razor-sharp and its fur fire engine red, jumped down from a tree branch and leapt at Harry’s face.

With a start, Harry woke up under the branches of the birch tree. After a whole week of classes and all of the drama that had been taking place, his exhaustion had gotten the better of him. Looking up, he saw a familiar figure approaching.

“Oh, hey, Seamus! There you are,” said Harry, a grin across his face. Hagrid had let him leave early from N.E.W.T.S. Care of Magical Creatures class. Harry had immediately jumped at the chance; Ron was in the class too, and things were still tense between the Boy-Who-Lived, his former best friend, and his pretend boyfriend.

“Hi, Harry,” said Seamus weakly, looking down at the dark-haired boy. Harry privately frowned. Ever since last night, right after Harry had had his heart to heart with Hermione, there was something different about Seamus. Instead of being the one who couldn’t keep his hands off Harry, Seamus had switched to the exact opposite. He only held hands with Harry when Harry initiated contact, and he usually pulled away whenever he could. And the most telling sign to Harry that something was wrong: whenever he looked at the Irish boy, Seamus’s face and eyes always looked as if he was either just finished crying or was on the verge of starting again. And Harry had a sneaking suspicion that all the angst was because of him and his bloody stupid idea.

“C’mere,” said Harry, gesturing to Seamus. “I just had the strangest dream.”

Seamus hesitated for a moment, before sitting down to Harry. They were close, but not quite touching. “What did you dream about, Harry?”

“Well, do you remember when Malfoy came up to us on Sunday morning?” asked Harry. Seamus nodded. “My dream played out the exact same way as it happened in real life… But then, you said that the informant was a raccoon. Which promptly jumped down and attacked me. Oh, and he was bright red. Isn’t that screwed up?”

Seamus blinked at Harry, shaking his head. “Do I even want to know where that idea came from? At least I know why you dreamt about Malfoy, though. That bloody meeting on Saturday’s on your mind.”

Harry caught Seamus’s look of disapproval. “I know that you don’t support my going along with Malfoy’s plan. In fact, I’d rather not do it, myself.”

“Then why would you deal with the berk?” asked Seamus, some of the old fire back in his eyes. “You’re better than him, Harry. Don’t let him pull you into his power struggle, assuming he wasn’t just lying his arse off about the whole thing.”

“I said I didn’t like the idea,” said Harry, shaking his head. “But I have to go through with it, all the same. Hermione and Ginny haven’t come up with anything, and I don’t think they’re going to. Malfoy’s the only one who knows what is going on in Slytherin House, anyway. Anything he tells us, even if it is slanted, is more than we know right now.” Harry shrugged. “Also.. I get the feeling that he’s telling us at least a partial truth. Malfoy has changed; I’m just not sure yet how he’s changed.”

“Well, put me down for an ‘I Told You So’ if this turns out badly,” Seamus growled. “But I’m still backing you up, Harry.” A painful smile crossed his face as he looked into Harry’s eyes. “I’d back you up even if you weren’t my pretend boyfriend.” Seamus broke eye contact and looked out at the lake, as his eyes threatened to tear up again.

“Seamus, about this pretend boyfriend thing,” said Harry, diffidently. “I’ve been…”

“Hey, Harry!” A yell came across the lawn, and the two Gryffindors turned to see Hermione and Ginny approach them.

‘Great,’ thought Harry to himself. ‘I finally get the courage to have a serious talk with Seamus, and these two have to show up.’

“Hey, girls,” said Harry, aloud. “How were your classes?” Hermione had chosen not to take Care of Magical Creatures anymore; her plate was full enough with N.E.W.T.S. Arithmancy and N.E.W.T.S. Ancient Runes.

“Fine, Harry,” said Hermione, smiling. “I think I’m going to enjoy my classes this year.” Her voice turned serious. “What time is our meeting with Malfoy?”

“Saturday night, under the Whomping Willow,” replied Harry. “We can use the Marauder’s Map to avoid Filch.”

“I still think this is a bad idea,” said Seamus, grimacing.

=====

“You took your bloody time, Malfoy,” growled Harry, scowling at the approaching blonde figure. “It was your idea to meet after all; you’d think you would at least be on time.”

“I had to dodge Filch,” Malfoy shot back, sneering. Then his sneer turned into a feral grin. “Honestly didn’t expect you to agree to meet with me; figured you didn’t trust me at all. Seems you’re full of surprises, Potter.”

“I don’t trust you, Malfoy,” Harry replied. “Even if we forget everything that’s happened in the last five years, and that’s a lot to forget; I still don’t trust you. You’re playing a cagey game right now. Plotting against a few Slytherins with the help of a few Gryffindors? You’re a devious one; definitely too devious to be trusted right now.” Harry shrugged. “But at this point, I’m willing to at least listen to you. I want to know what game you’re trying to play.”

Malfoy snorted. “You sure don’t waste any time getting to the point, do you?” He shook his head. “I’m not going to name names, though. Those, you don’t get until we have an agreement. I’m not going to give you any specifics you could use to ferret out your mole, then have you just turn your backs on me and not help.”

“What makes you think Harry would help you out, no matter what you tell us?” asked Hermione.

“Because Potter here is such a goody two-shoes,” said Malfoy, smiling thinly. “No matter how much he might have changed, it’s against his nature to do anything resembling betrayal.”

“That may be true, Malfoy,” said Harry, “but I’m not agreeing to anything if I don’t know your motives. So how is it that you seem to have lost all of your clout and prestige?”

“As a matter of fact, it’s your fault, Potter,” spat out Malfoy. “After what happened in the Department of Mysteries. My father was humiliated, sent off to Azkaban like a common criminal, and completely disgraced in the eyes of the wizarding world.”

“I thought all the Death Eaters escaped Azkaban,” interjected Seamus. “So your father’s not there anymore, is he?”

Malfoy looked at Seamus with contempt. “Well, of course he escaped, you stupid Mick. With the Dementors gone, my father and the rest of the Dark Lord’s followers had no problems getting out. That’s not the point.”

“Then what is the point, Malfoy?” asked Harry. “You’re not telling us anything we don’t know already.”

“Keep your precious boyfriend’s mouth shut and I’ll tell you,” Malfoy snapped back. “I may have asked for your help, but I sure as hell didn’t ask for your attitude. And I’m not risking what power and prestige I have left, just to deal with the Git-Who-Lived’s lackeys.”

“You’re right, Malfoy, you didn’t ask for our attitude,” Harry said coldly. “And we didn’t ask for yours. Want to end this little meeting, and cancel this arrangement? Fine. We’ll walk. But I think you stand to lose more from that, than we do. So here’s our first agreement: you treat my friends and I with more respect than you are right now, and we’ll do the same. Deal?” Harry put out his hand for Malfoy to shake. The blonde looked at the hand as if it was a poisonous snake at first, and then reluctantly shook it. “Please, continue your story. I caused you to lose your power… how?”

“Because of what happened to my father,” said Malfoy, still growling. “As his only son, I wielded as much power in Slytherin as I did, because my father was the undisputed leader of the Death Eaters during the Dark Lord’s... absence. And while my father was in prison, briefly, an opportunistic rival of his took over control.”

“How did he do that?” questioned Hermione. “I thought your father had an iron grip over the other Death Eaters.”

“He did,” grumbled Malfoy, “but his position’s been shaky ever since the Lestranges and the others broke out of Azkaban last year. It’s hard to compete against people who went to Azkaban in support of the Dark Lord. And that fiasco in the Department of Mysteries sealed my father’s fate; one of his rivals managed to blame the failure there squarely on him, and my father wasn’t there to defend himself.”

“And since he’s an escapee, he can’t access his estate or money,” Harry mused to himself.

“Exactly, Potter,” said Malfoy. “So everything that made him top lieutenant is inaccessible, and his rival and his followers are doing everything they can to keep the Dark Lord’s favour. Such as having their children try to ruin your life as much as possible.” Malfoy shook his head ruefully. “Which, granted, is exactly what my father had me doing when I was in charge of Slytherin. Of course, they only have a vague idea on how to actually do it right. Regardless, they’re the power in Slytherin House right now, and I can’t do anything about it because everybody else in the House is trying too hard to suck up to them. And with Crabbe and Goyle pulled out of school to help their fathers, any attempt I made by myself to regain control would be squashed quicker than you could say ‘Quidditch’.”

“Well, I’ve followed what you’ve said so far, Malfoy,” said Harry, very intrigued by this time. “So let’s get to the part where you explain why we’d want you back in charge of Slytherin House.”

“Because, like I told you last week, I don’t support the Dark Lord nearly as much as I used to,” said Malfoy, a serious look on his face.

“You’re switching sides?” asked Seamus, shocked. “I don’t believe it.”

“Yeah, well, don’t think I’m doing this for idealistic reasons,” said Malfoy, dryly. “I’m in this purely for myself.”

“I don’t think I expected any different, Malfoy,” returned Harry, just as dryly. “I think I’ve figured it out already, but let’s hear how you came to this decision.”

“Bottom line is, I’ve got a greater chance at power if I support your side,” said Malfoy. “Even though I still don’t really like you, Potter.” Malfoy shook his head. “Frankly, I don’t see my father getting his power back, and I’d rather ally myself with you than kneel to Pansy and Blaise for the rest of my life.”

“Blaise Zabini?” asked Harry. “Is he one of the current leaders of Slytherin?”

Malfoy looked furious that he had slipped. “One of them, yes, Potter. Not the only one, though. And the only name you’re getting until I have your oath that you’ll help me.”

“You still need that?” asked Harry, looking a little surprised. “Of course I’ll help you, Malfoy.”

“Harry!” exclaimed Hermione. “Just like that, Malfoy feeds you a bogus line, and you fall for it?”

Harry turned to the bushy-haired girl. “You don’t believe him?” asked Harry, his eyebrow raised. “I mean, it all does seem to fit, after all, ‘Mione.”

“Well, of course it does,” Hermione snapped back. “You said yourself; the slimy git’s too devious to be trusted. Of course, he’s going to give you a story that seems to fit. And after everything that’s happened between the two of you. I’m surprised you’d have so much as a civil word to say to Malfoy here.”

Harry shrugged. “I can’t let the past prevent me from doing what I must in the present.” He gestured towards Malfoy. “And right now, we need Malfoy’s help if we’re going to throw Voldemort’s influence off of Hogwarts. And I’d prefer the possibility that he’s on our side to the alternative: simply leaving Slytherin House in the hands of people desperate to hurt me and the people I care about.” Harry shrugged again. “Besides, after five years, I think I understand Malfoy better than anyone else in Slytherin.”

Hermione began to open her mouth, and then closed it abruptly. She sighed, and shook her head. “I don’t agree with your decision, Harry. I have no use for Malfoy here, and I don’t see myself ever helping him out in any way, shape, or form. But I understand why you made this decision, and I will support you.”

“I’m with you, Harry, all the way,” Seamus said in a quiet voice. “And I’m willing to help you destroy Pansy and Blaise’s power. They’ve hurt me, and I want to return the favour. Even if that means putting Malfoy back in power.”

“Well, there it is, Malfoy,” said Harry, turning back to the blonde. “It looks like we have an agreement. You agree to name names, find our Gryffindor mole, and we’ll help you bring down Pansy, Blaise, and the others.”

Malfoy grinned. “Looks like we’ve got interesting times ahead of us.” He stuck out his hand, which Harry shook.

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Plz read and review, so that I can add the next chapter