Redeemed Secrets
Rainy Altercations
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Chapter 1: lang=EN-GB>Rainy altercations
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face="Times New Roman" size=3>It was dark.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The streets beneath his feet echoed dissolutely in
sync with the falling rain that poured from the sky. One or two lights shone in
the distance like unfathomable eyes that could crack open skulls and absorb your
every thought, your every well kept secret.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He shivered.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Not because he felt cold but because his secrets
could rip the world apart.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Leaning against the rough wall of the narrow
alleyway, he quickly averted his eyes, a hand reaching up unconsciously to feel
for a fracture in his scalp. Finding none, he exhaled sharply and tried to
relax.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Tried, and soon gave up.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He wondered what he was doing here. He had not, in
actuality, expected him to show up. Not really. He had hoped though. Always
hoped.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Not expected, never expected.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He had given up on assumptions long ago when they
repetitiously had turned around to bite him in the ass. Now, he considered
everything either an advantage or disadvantage.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Hermione scolded him; she says it’s no way to
live.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He agreed.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He sighed and studied his watch, just for
something to do.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>It was a pretty watch.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He had bought it mostly because he could, and
partly because he never got to have something nice. This way, he always carried
something nice with him however superficial. Something to look at to sooth his
nerves like now;
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Silver, inlaid with finely shaped gold. The glass
made of the clearest crystal, edges perfectly rounded.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Numbers and hands both intricately worked with the
tiniest sharpened emeralds.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Numbers and hands both still showing one O’ clock
in the morning, which meant he was late.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Late by thirty minutes.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Why had he hoped?
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He turned his face up to face the night sky with
his eyes closed. The rain, soaking his hair, his skin, his robes, beating on his
eyelids like drums, seemed to be washing him away.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Until he was nothing.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Nothing but rain, skulking away through the cracks
of stone as he fell. Fell back into the ground. Until the sun gathered him up
again, high into the sky, only to fall down and be washed away once more with
the nearest storm.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>A fierce crack made his eyes pop open. In
one smooth motion his wand was drawn, and he, poised as sudden
death.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>A dark crouched figure straightened, then glided
forward.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Black robes billowing, white mask blinding.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>It stopped about ten paces away, reached up, took
off its mask and waited.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“You came,” he breathed slowly,
wondrously.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“I said I would,” replied the other, voice cold
and shrouded.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
size=3>He hesitated. “I wasn’t sure.” No
expectations. Never.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“You should have been,” bitter,
colder.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“You’re late.”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>A shrug. “We don’t precisely clock-in or out,” was
commented flatly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Why?”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“If you must know,” a sneer plastered a
smooth face, “next time, I’ll ask The Dark Lord over for tea and kindly
request a set time-schedule,” was bit out harshly. “I’m sure he will
agree instantly and be very amendable,” the other’s voice finished,
dripping poison.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“You know what I mean,” he snapped back, annoyed.
“Why?” he demanded again.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“How should I know?” was growled back cruelly,
instantly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He fixed the man before him with a stare, his
penetrating gaze incredulous.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Maybe…” the other started finally, tongue
flickering over thin cracked lips, “maybe, I’m not a monster, not the epitome of
evil you lot make me out to be.”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Silence.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Not a monster? He thought evenly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Gradually, anger, cold bodiless anger flitted
through him.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Not, evil?
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He had seen the new pictures. Gruesome horrific
pictures. Pictures, if seen, would make anyone, anyone human he amended,
want to spill out his guts.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“I saw the photos. How could they? A house full of
Muggles. Children Malfoy! Muggle children, destroyed, ruined,” he spat
harshly, “how could you?”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy’s face was like stone, all hard angels and
lines. Eyes grey as ice and as hard as polished diamonds, glittering with
malice.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He remained silent.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman">Why lang=EN-GB>had Malfoy agreed to meet?
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He sighed and looked away, visibly gathering
himself.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He had not come here to argue. He had not, he told
himself firmly. He had known what Malfoy was and what he did. Long before the
first pictures were taken as evidence, and long after he became an Auror.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He had killed Snape. Hunted him down and killed
him. He had, as soon as he received status that classified him as an Auror. A
Dark Wizard catcher. Snape had been a Dark Wizard to him. One who had killed
Dumbledore, his mentor, his friend.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>So he had killed him in return.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He had thought it a fair deal. A very fair one,
until recently he learnt Snape had been a spy. A spy who had only done his
‘masters’ biding; only not the master Harry had believed.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>It still made his stomach
knot.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He could ill afford such mistakes. That’s why he
had contacted Malfoy. Because Malfoy had lowered his wand ten years ago, because
Malfoy had all but accepted Dumbledore’s offer of protection.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>No, he could not afford such a mistake
again.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He forced his eyes away from the paved street,
away from those lights that wanted to pry his head open like a crowbar, and
squared himself to face the Death Eater.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The man before him looked nothing like the boy he
remembered. The boy, who he had thought cold and cruel seemed warm and pleasant
in comparison. He was still obviously Draco Malfoy, the sheer arrogance in his
stance and the haughty way he held his head high left little doubt. But his face
had equated out, wasn’t as pointy as it used to be, had roughened and looked to
be made of adamant.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Prove it,” he told Malfoy
roughly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He had not expected Malfoy to, in all honest
truth. He had not expected Malfoy able to prove anything. How could you
not be anything but a monster doing such things? He had hoped though,
always hoped. But never expected.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>So when Malfoy looked at him calculatedly for long
seconds, nodded, reached into his dark robes, halted uncertainly, looked back up
into Harry’s eyes, gaze wavering towards Harry’s wand and back, Harry found
himself leaning forward on his toes in curiosity, motioning Malfoy to continue
impatiently, and at the same time lowering his wand arm a fraction.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman">What could he lang=EN-GB>possibly prove?
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>His eyes stared in shock, and his breath left him
in a rush of astonishment as Malfoy produced a small cup between folds of cloth.
A small cup with two finely wrought handles shining dimly in the murky shadows
of the night with a burnished gold, engraved with a small reflection of a
badger.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry stood frozen on the spot, his eyes felt as
if they were bulging out of their sockets, and he stared at Malfoy
unnervingly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy stared back at him, his face empty
seemingly unperturbed, but his tongue slivered across his lips again uneasily,
his long fingers fiddling with the white mask and wand still held in his other
hand.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Well?” he challenged Harry, voice raw, eyes
studying him intently.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Well…” Harry repeated, his voice surprisingly
firm. Not because that had been what he wanted to say but for lack of anything
else.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy started to shift when Harry did not
elaborate, his hand crumpling the mask in a white-knuckled fist. He breathed
raggedly through his nose and when Harry still kept his involuntary silence his
carefully crafted facade of stone cracked in two.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“I thought…,” he started anxiously, harrowing a
hand through white-blond wet strands of hair, as the hood of his robes fell
back, “this,” he held up Hufflepuff’s cup stiffly, “it isn’t… what… you
were looking for, is it?”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry understood.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy had agreed to meet with Harry solely
because he was in the possession of this cup.
This cup, he now
believed Harry did not need.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>It was transparent that he held no illusions of
being able to take Harry on in a duel. His wand was still along his side,
pointed to the ground; smashed against his Death Eater mask, while Harry had his
firmly up, not pointing but not entirely lowered either.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy cast around wildly as if trying to find a
solution to his problems in the hidden chasms of the alley, trying to find
something he had lost.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry had seen more like it exempt of the badger
of course, and numerous other valuable magical objects of gold and silver during
the now legendary Malfoy Manor raid. An investigation he had led four years ago.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy had very likely grown up playing with these
kinds of artefacts and drank his pumpkin juice from golden family heirlooms,
just like this one.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>At his order they had burned the manor down to the
ground.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>To Malfoy it was merely an ordinary cup again.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>A cup, Harry Potter did not need.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>What Malfoy had lost was something he had
been positive would bend Harry to his will, or at least offer some form of
protection. He had lost an advantage. An advantage he had handed over to Harry
unsuspectingly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry had been a fool not to have known that
Malfoy would only come if he would gain something. That he would come, only to
bring his own hidden agenda with him.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>What did Malfoy want?
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He finally found his voice, his mouth was dry, but
he ignored it just like he ignored Malfoy’s question.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“What is it?” he asked levelly. “An enchanted cup
that fills with wine when you tap it twice with your wand?” he mocked
contemptuously.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He knew perfectly well what it was. It was a
Horcrux. A Horcrux he had been ineffectively trying to track down for almost a
decade. His insides quivered like pudding, and he barely restrained himself from
snatching it out of Malfoy’s fingers.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry was an excellent Auror. He had learnt when
to use stealth and cunning and when to listen to his head instead of his
emotions.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy stood petrified, his faced darkened in
outrage, he opened his mouth angrily but was not given a chance to speak.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“What is this supposed to prove, Malfoy?”
he scorned, shaking his head for good measure. “Is this a bribe, am I supposed
to be impressed by trinkets?”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“This was a mistake,” interjected Malfoy savagely,
“I should never have come,” he announced to himself as much as Harry before
turning around, and striding back to the end of the alley, where he had
appeared. Cup still in hand.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Wait!” Harry exclaimed.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He realised his mistake before Malfoy had paused
to look over his shoulder, his face, a mixture of relief and presumption. He
arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow and waited.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry cursed himself a fool. An excellent
Auror?
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy was not going anywhere. If he really wanted
to Apparate away he would have done so instantly without the preamble. Harry
would have sooner killed Malfoy when his back had been turned if he really had
no need for him. Going by the relief faint but still visible on Malfoy’s face,
he had known that as well and taken the risk anyway.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“I want that cup,” he admitted, forcing his voice
to be casual and light. He was annoyed, especially with himself for falling for
Malfoy’s trickery. But he was not about to worsen the situation by letting him
know just how bad he wanted it.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Bewilderment bloomed on Malfoy’s face quickly
wiped away by a sense of triumph. Obviously he had truly believed the cup to be
worthless. Now, he cradled it in his arms, pressed it against his chest tightly
and narrowed his eyes warily at Harry as if he expected him to attack him
physically and wrestle it away from him by force.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Not just a trinket, is it,” Malfoy deduced
slowly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“No,” he conceded coolly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“You need it.” A pleased little smile played on
his lips.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3> “It could save me some time, but I can find
another,” he lied. He had become used to lying.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy’s smile evaporated at once. “You’re lying,”
he hissed through his teeth.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry shrugged as if losing interest. “Whatever
Malfoy, if you really want to go, go.” He waved his hand in dismissal. “I won’t
stop you. I had not expected much from you.”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He turned to lean against the wall, taking his
eyes off of Malfoy as if he had found something more important to stare at, then
muttered, “Not a monster, really,” under his breath, while shaking his head
again in consternation.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He felt Malfoy stiffen next to him while the rain
continued to batter down on them relentlessly and felt the coldness finally
seeping into his bones slowly as his soaked robes clung to his
skin.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He fetched a piece of parchment from his cloak,
ignoring the drops of rain that immediately started to blur the ink and
pretended to study it. His stomach fluttered queasily, heart racing like a
hammer smashing his ribs but Malfoy had not so much as moved a toe. He did not
know what he would do if Malfoy were to move, if he were to actually leave. He
could not afford a mistake like Snape. If there was to be any hope, he
needed Malfoy. Maybe as much as he needed that cup.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Over ten years he had found two. Only two
Horcruxes.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Over ten years Voldemort had send his ever growing
rank of Death Eaters to terrorize the Wizarding World. Only prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />
hands and feet desperately. Barely.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry had made sure of it.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>If the Ministry had fallen, if the people had lost
that glimmer of suppositious hope everything would have fallen.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Fallen to shambles.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>People were afraid.
all over the country had come seeking sanctuary. Most had been sent away.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>One city could only hold so many.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He had been young and naïve, had been terribly
angry with the world after the Tower incident. That’s how he referred to it
these days. The incident that had triggered many others.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He had never thought it would be easy. Nothing had
ever been easy for him. But after he had stumbled upon two Horcruxes within the
first year following his retirement as a Hogwarts student, he had become so sure
of himself. Too sure.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He saw Malfoy considering him from the corner of
his eyes. He still hadn’t moved. Not a toe. Harry compelled himself to be more
relaxed, focussed all his concentration on breathing evenly as he continued to
stare at the flimsy paper in his hand.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3> “What’s that?” Was asked after a
while.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“What is what?” he inquired back, voice made
absent.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“What you are reading, Potter,” Malfoy
snapped, irritated.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“None of your business is what it is,” he answered
coolly, staring unseeingly at last weeks groceries list. “Weren’t you leaving?”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Only the sound of rain followed and a crackling
thunder somewhere in the distance.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Another minute passed.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Look at me Potter,” growled Malfoy, his
voice trembling with frustration.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry turned to look at him.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Say if…,” Malfoy began, pausing to wet his lips.
A bad habit he needed to rid himself of. “Say if I were
to…perhaps…maybe…give you this cup,” he continued hesitantly, “what would
you give me … in return?” Malfoy finished, staring at Harry
fixedly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“That depends on what you want,” he answered
slowly. “I do not need that cup.” His eyes flickered from Malfoy’s
face to the Horcrux and back. “But you on the other hand-” He pointed his
finger at Malfoy sharply, emphasising his point. “-seem to desperately need
something,” he continued, ignoring the angry strangled noise Malfoy made
in his throat. “What is it that you need,
Malfoy?”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy stood shaking. Shaking with rage. He looked
as if he were about to have apoplexy.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“I… don’t need anything from you,” he whispered
softly, cuttingly, more effective than if he had shouted. “You are the
one that asked me to come. You. Asked.
Potter. I don’t need anything!” he breathed harshly. “Least of all from
you.”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry rolled is eyes. His onetime school nemesis
words had banished all doubt away from him. Malfoy definitely wanted something,
but what? What could he possibly have to give that Malfoy wanted.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“If you say so, Malfoy,” he said wearily, “i’ve
changed my mind about this meeting, you may go, I wont arrest you,” he finished
offhandedly before turning back to look at the list in his hand that was now
completely illegible.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman">Malfoy would not go. He
wouldn’t, he tried to tell himself
feverishly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“How generous of you,” was spat in
response.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry only nodded without looking back up.
Pretended he had forgotten Malfoy’s every existence.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Alight, alright!” Malfoy cried out bitterly some
moments later. Something in his voice made Harry glance at him.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy stood back straight, shoulders rigid and a
face pale as milk. His long blond hair stuck to his face in lumps, giving him
the appearance of a drowned cat. The mask he had been holding in his hand was
now unrecognisably rumpled and he was still shaking.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>His face looked as if he had taken a bite out of a
lemon; a vein near his temple throbbed dangerously as he closed his eyes and
exhaled deeply, fighting some internal battle.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Shock held Harry in its grasp when he saw the look
in Malfoy’s eyes as they shot open wide.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“What I want in return for this cup,” Malfoy began
in a pained voice, “what I need, Potter is you to give my...” he
swallowed, as if his next words were frenetically struggling to stay in, “my…my
mother Potter, I need you to take my mother to London,” he finished in a
rush.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry was dumbstruck, thrown completely off
balance by Malfoy’s words and eyes. He would have expected anything. Anything
but this.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Your mother,” he repeated numbly, “bring her to
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy dipped his head in a jerky nod.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Me,” he started again, “bring your
mother, as in Narcissa Malfoy… to
he was sure he had not misheard.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Yes,” Malfoy hissed, as if the admission burned
his tongue and brought him in a state of near death.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Harry stared at him blankly.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Protection, Potter,” his mouth curling in
disgust as he spat both words. “In return for this cup I need you to get my
mother out.”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Out of what!” Harry demanded sceptically. “Did
she find Voldemort’s hospitality unsatisfactory?” he galled, abandoning his cool
composure. He snorted loudly then added, “Not the perfect host she had imagined
him to be?
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The skin around Malfoy’s eyes tightened in strain,
to his surprise Malfoy’s cheeks reddened slightly and there went his tongue
again brushing his lips. “That is one way to put it,” he said quietly.” His
voice firmed before he asked, “In return for the cup will you do it, Potter?”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Narrowing his eyes to suspicious slits he answered
brusquely, “No. I will not bring Death Eaters into
think I am a complete fool? I will not risk innocent people, cup or no cup.”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He did not mean it; he would risk people if it
meant saving more. Too many years had passed for him to still believe he could
save everyone.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He would bring ten Narcissa Malfoy’s into
to. A thousand. If only he could be sure…
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“What ever game you are playing at Malfoy, it is
not going to work.”
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“It is not a game!” Malfoy’s voice exploded in
frustration. “She is not a Death Eater, do you hear me Potter! She’s nothing
like my father,” he bit out.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“She is… nothing like…like me,” he finished, voice
barely above a whisper.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Malfoy’s angry face crumpled suddenly, his
shoulders slumped dejectedly, the look on his face was pleading and his lustrous
eyes pooled with torment. “Please,” he stammered weakly, “you must…you must get
her out; she needs to go to
in his arm thrust out ahead of him.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Take it, please…here, you have to take it,” he
said to Harry, his jaw set in a determined line.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He didn’t know why he agreed. Maybe it was the
beseeching look on Malfoy’s face as he locked eyes with him. Maybe it was the
cold of the metal cup he had sought for so long that was pressed into his palm,
or maybe it was because he realised he didn’t have any other choice.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Whatever the reason, he soon found that ‘why’ was
not important. The outcome to that question would eventually lead to the same
conclusion;
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>In ten years he had found three. He had the cup,
destroyed the locket and the harp. That left one, only one more to destroy.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He sighed wearily, letting his head rest against
the icy stone of the alleyway, he closed his eyes.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>It had not even been necessary for him to ask his
question. Malfoy had unknowingly provided him with the answer by the name of
Narcissa Malfoy. Malfoy would do anything for Narcissa Malfoy.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Anything.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He would make sure of it.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“I am not a monster!” Malfoy had told him before
he had Apparated away.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>But he had not replied
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Only the rain had.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Nothing but the rain, skulking away through the
cracks of stone as it fell. Fell back into the ground. Until the sun gathered it
up again, high into the sky, only to fall down eventually and be washed
away once more with the nearest storm.
face="Times New Roman" size=3>
face="Times New Roman" size=3>A storm that would come fast and frightening,
carrying secrets that would rip the world apart.
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