The Weight of the World

Chapter 16 - No way out

Harry didn't know what to think about his visit with Draco. He had always hated him, but now for some reason he felt sorry for him. He knew that it was his father's fault he was the way he was. But he also knew that at some point you have to become your own person. He was living proof of that. He had lived with the Dursley's all those years and he didn't like to think that they rubbed off on him at all.

He returned to the common room and found Hermione reading the Daily Prophet.

"Harry look at this, they think that someone broke into Honeydukes. They found the cellar in shambles. There were broken boxes and smashed crates everywhere. They think a group of kids did it but it says they didn't find anyone."

Harry sat down by Hermione and put his head on her shoulder.

"I just went and saw Draco."

"Is he doing okay?" she asked.

"He looks really bad, but he'll live. He wouldn't talk to Dumbledore and when I went in and talked to him, he didn't say much to me either. He knew that they killed Snape because he was spying. I think it was his dad that did it. I don't know any other reason why he would have been there,” Harry said.

Hermione reached up and patted his head. She kept her hand on the side of his face and pulled his head more snugly against her shoulder.

"I don't think he knows what he's getting into Harry. His dad is bad news. You know Draco though; he probably thinks he's a Death Eater just because his dad is one."

"He does Hermione. I think your right. He had no idea what goes on with them. I think he found out last night and almost got himself killed. If his dad did that to him, he may not ever be able to go home,” Harry said. "Where are Ron and Meagan?"

"They went for a walk. They have been spending a lot of time together," she said.

"Yeah I know. They seem to really like each other,” Harry said.

"You look tired Harry, you didn't get any sleep last night did you?" she asked.

"I got a little, but not much. Listen Hermione, I am really sorry about the mirror last night. I know it scared everyone."

"You were just upset Harry. Everyone was. It's okay really."

Harry let out a big yawn and took off his glasses to rub his eyes.

"Lie down and take a nap. You can put your head in my lap while I finish reading the paper."

Harry didn't argue. He was really tired all of a sudden. He slid down the couch a bit so that his head was lying in Hermione's lap. She looked down at him and smiled and took his glasses off of his face and sat them on the table. She then picked the paper back up and began reading some of the articles aloud. She had one hand on the paper, and the other lightly stroking the side of Harry's face. It wasn't long before he had fallen asleep. Hermione finally noticed he was asleep when he didn't answer a question she asked him about an article she was reading with Quidditch scores. She looked down at him and smiled. She kept rubbing the side of his face with her hand. She sat there and watched him sleep for a few minutes, then picked the paper back up and continued reading it. She could hardly keep her eyes on the paper though. He looked so peaceful sleeping down there below her. Before she realized what was happening, she had sat the paper down and had leaned down to kiss him. It was a very gentle kiss on his lips. She didn't want to wake him up though. It didn't last for very long, but it seemed long to Hermione. It was the first time she had ever kissed anyone. She rose back up and glanced out the window as she heard the wind blowing outside.

"Hermione, will you do that again?" Harry asked.

She looked down to see Harry looking up at her. She smiled at him, then leaned down and kissed him again. This kiss was a bit longer, and it wasn't just her this time. Harry was kissing her back. She wanted it to last forever.

They broke apart and when they did Harry opened his eyes and a small smile crept across his face. Hermione saw this and smiled back at him.

"That was nice," she said.

Harry didn't say anything. He just nodded and smiled. His heart was racing and he felt butterflies in his stomach. He wanted to lay there forever with her running her fingers through this hair.

Harry heard the portrait open and Ron and Meagan walk in. Neither he nor Hermione made any attempt to hide the fact that his head was laying on her lap. Meagan didn't acknowledge that anything was out of the ordinary. Ron, however, had a large smile on his face as he walked straight in and sat down across from them.

"Well, we had a nice walk,” Ron said still smiling at them.

"That's nice," Hermione said looking back at him "Harry went and saw Draco this morning. He said he looked really banged up."

"Did he say what happened to him Harry?" Ron asked.

"Not really. I think one of the Death Eaters did it to him. It might have even been his father. He wouldn't talk to Dumbledore about it at all,” Harry said.

Ron looked down thinking about what Harry had said for a minute, then looked at the two of them and smiled again.

"Meagan and I are going down to the Quidditch field to fly. If you're up for it Harry, meet me down there in a little bit, although you look a bit tired,” Ron said, his smile still not leaving his face. He obviously felt a bit better at seeing his two best friends together this time.

"I might come down there in a bit Ron,” Harry said.

Ron got up and went to the dormitory to change. A few minutes later Meagan came down, then Ron, and they both left to head down to the field.

Harry didn't move the entire time. Finally he reached up and grabbed Hermione's hand that had been stroking his face. He held onto it and closed his eyes. He didn't feel the need to hide the fact that he had his head in Hermione's lap from Ron or anyone. He didn't feel the need to hide that he felt very comfortable laying there with his head in her lap, and that it felt good to hold her hand.

It wasn't very long before he had dozed off again.

Madam Pomfrey had mended all of the large cuts on Draco's head and arms. She had also mended the arm that was broken as he had been thrown across the Honeydukes cellar. He still had minor scrapes all over his face and hands, and his eye was still swollen, but for the most part he was feeling better. He slowly got out of bed and walked to one of the windows. He could see two people down at the Quidditch field flying around throwing a Quaffel back and forth. He stared around at the grounds and didn't see anyone else around. It made him feel very alone. He wanted to go home very badly, but he knew that he probably wouldn't be welcome there. He was afraid of what his dad might do to him, and even more so he was afraid of what Lord Voldemort might do to him knowing what he had done.

If Snape had in fact been a spy, and he was starting to accept the possibility that it was probably true, then he had interfered with Voldemort's orders and would probably be hurt very badly. But why would Snape do that? Why would Snape betray the Dark Lord? For a flash of a second, it crossed Draco's mind that he might be fighting for the wrong side. He gave one last look at the two people flying down at the Quidditch field, then went back to his bed and pulled the covers over his head.

Voldemort was sitting in a large thrown-like chair staring into the fireplace. He had just told his Death Eaters about Snape's betrayal and had Macnair recant the way that Snape had been killed. After he successfully spread fear into them all, he privately gave out new orders to each of them. When it came time for him to meet with Lucius Malfoy, he had more than just instructions for him.

"Lucius, Macnair has told me about what happened last night with your son."

"Yes, we dealt with him my Lord, and I can assure you that he will not give us problems again," Lucius said.

"Dealt with him? How did you deal with him? Macnair said that he had been left behind and from what I have read in the paper, it has been said no one was found down there. So that means that you don't know where he is," Voldemort said.

"Yes sir. I wanted to bring him back my Lord, but Macnair said that we were to leave him I didn't agree with him sir, but at the time we had dealt with our business and I didn't want to discuss it anymore."

"Lucius, serious mistakes were made last night. That boy should never have accompanied you. Then he interferes with my orders and now Dumbledore may have him at the school. Do you think that he might not be able to cause problems for us both if he decides to talk to Dumbledore? Dumbledore can then go to the Ministry with evidence that I have in fact returned, and then we might lose our allies in Azkaban among other things. This could set us back months Lucius."

Malfoy began to tremble as he realized what Voldemort was saying.

"My Lord, my son is loyal my Lord. He would never betray me; he would never betray you my Lord I can assure you."

"Lucius, your boy has already betrayed us both. I fear that if the Ministry now has him, the problems it may cause for you could be dire, but if Dumbledore has him."

Voldemort looked at Lucius and shook his head. When he did so Lucius felt like a pair of hands was closing around his neck.

He couldn't breathe and as he reached up to his throat to see what was obstructing him, he fell to the ground. His chest was pounding for air and his brain was begging for blood and just as he began to black out, the magic grip on his throat was released. He gasped and wiped the tears out of his eyes as well as the drool that had begun to roll down his chin from choking.

"Lucius find your boy and bring him to me," Voldemort said softly.

Lucius got to his feet still a bit dizzy from the lack of blood to his brain. He straightened his cloak and then bowed to Voldemort.

"Lucius," Voldemort said as he was walking away, "Don't fail me again."

"Yes my Lord."
Harry woke up violently with a sharp pain coming from his scar. He forced his hand, the same hand that was holding Hermione's, up to his forehead.

"Harry what's wrong?" Hermione asked.

"My scar! I had a dream. Voldemort is sending Lucius Malfoy to find Draco. I think they're going to kill him," he said while rubbing his forehead with both of their hands.

Harry got up and put his glasses back on his face.

"I need to talk to Draco," he said. "Hermione, can you go tell Dumbledore what happened? Tell him that I am going to talk to Draco. See if he can meet us there. Hopefully Draco will believe me," he said still rubbing his scar.

"I'll go right now," she said as she got up off of the couch.
Harry went back up to the Hospital Wing. Draco seemed to be asleep in his bed. Harry approached the bed slowly and then decided he should go ahead and wake him up.

"Draco, are you awake?" Harry asked loudly.

Draco didn't turn around, but he answered Harry anyway.

"What do you want now Potter?"

"Draco, I went back to our common room after I talked to you this morning. I fell asleep on the couch and I had a dream. It was about Voldemort and your father, then I woke up and my scar was hurting."

"I could care less about your dreams Potter."

"Draco, you don't understand, I woke up with my scar burning. When that happens, it's not just a dream."

Draco was silent for a few seconds.

"What did my father say in your dream Potter?"

"Voldemort said something about how your father shouldn't have taken you last night. He said something about you interfering with Macnair and his orders."

Malfoy's heart gave a jump. How could Harry have possibly known about that?

"He ordered your father to bring you to him. He said that you betrayed him and told your father that he wanted to deal with you himself. Then he..,” Harry stopped.

"He what Potter?" Draco asked quickly.

"He did something to your father to hurt him, when he finished hurting him, he told your father not to fail him again,” Harry said.

"How can you know this Potter? Is this some trick Dumbledore told you to pull?"

"Draco I told you. I see things sometimes. It has something to do with my scar. Voldemort and I are connected by it somehow. I see things that he does sometimes."

"So why are you telling me this Potter? You trying to get me to say something against my father?"

"I'm just trying to warn you Draco. If I were you, I wouldn't go back home. Just stay here for the summer and let things cool down. Dumbledore won't have any problems with you staying here."

"I am so glad you are worried about me Potter. I'll sleep better at night because of it really."

Harry didn't know what to say. He hated Draco, he always had, but he hated Voldemort even more. He knew that if Draco went back home that Voldemort would probably kill him.

"Potter, please just leave me alone."

Harry looked at Draco for a second, and then walked out of the room.

Draco had a million things going through his head. How could Harry have known what happened last night unless he was telling the truth about that dream? And if the dream was true, Voldemort was in fact looking for him. He wouldn't kill him would he? His dad wouldn't let Voldemort kill him would he? He thought about it again. Death would probably be better than being tortured. Surely his father wouldn't just hand him over to Voldemort.

"Of course he would, father almost let me die last night,” He told himself.

He was deep in thought when Dumbledore walked into the hospital wing. He was just a few feet from his bed before he noticed him.

"Hello Draco. How are we feeling this morning?"

"I'm fine Professor."

"Harry said the he had been up here to talk with you."

"Yes sir. I don't know what you expect me to tell you though. I was there when Professor Snape was killed. I won't tell you who did it, but it wasn't my father."

"Very well Draco. Can you tell me who hurt you?"

"It was the same man who killed Professor Snape."

"A Death Eater?" Dumbledore asked.

Draco kept looking at him but didn't answer.

"I just want to know whether last nights events had anything to do with Voldemort,” Dumbledore said.

"Yes, it was,” Draco said. "I think Potter already knows who it was. He had some sort of dream about it."

"I know Draco; he also told me that your father is seeking your presence. Should I alert him and let him know that you are safe?" Dumbledore asked him.

"I don't think he cares Professor. And no, if you will, I would rather you not let anyone know that I'm here."

Dumbledore looked Draco over a bit and could sense his fear.

"Draco, I know you were very fond of Professor Snape and I am sure that you, like many of us, are mourning his passing," Dumbledore said as he walked over to the window to look down at the Quidditch field.

"I'd like to tell you a story if you have a second Draco."

Draco didn't say anything so Dumbledore took it for a yes.

"Years ago a very bright wizard from a powerful family came here to go to school. His family had a very old and very bad history of dark magic. I accepted him anyway, knowing that people should not be judged based on what their family has done. This wizard was very advanced, more so in his first year, than some of the fourth or fifth years students. I sometimes worried that as he got older and became more powerful, he might pick the path of his family which would clearly be the wrong path. The road was very bumpy for him, and after he was done here at school, he became mixed up in the dark arts and seemingly was headed for the same fate as many of the others in his family had suffered. It was just when I thought he was beyond helping, that he came to see me. He had told me that he had been involved in some terrible things, and that even though he had figured he would likely be killed by the dark wizards or put into Azkaban by the Ministry, he wanted to make things right. He was given a second chance by both the Ministry and me. I gave him a job here as a teacher and he continued to work to make up for his mistakes. He gave his life fighting for not what his family or friends believed in, but what he himself believed to be right. It wasn't a decision that I, or anyone else, could have made for him. It's a decision that we all have to make in the end Draco."

Dumbledore turned around to leave and stopped as he got to the door. "You know you are welcome here. You can stay here as long as you like Draco. Madam Pomfrey said you only have to stay here in this wing one more night. After that you can stay in your dorm room."

Draco watched Dumbledore walk out of the room and then looked at the floor. He knew that Dumbledore had been talking about Professor Snape. He didn't have any idea what he was going to do now. He couldn't stay here at the school much longer, and he obviously couldn't go home. He was too afraid of what Voldemort would do to him and he knew that his father wouldn't protect him.

Draco tried a few times to sleep that night, but his mind was too troubled. He knew he couldn't call Crabbe or Goyle, and he really didn't have any other friends that he could go to. He wanted to get out of that hospital room and maybe go someplace else where he could think. He found his clothes and put them on slowly, trying not to aggravate his hurt ribs. After that, he quietly left the Hospital Wing and began to walk. He had nowhere to go, no one to turn to, and he refused to take help from the people who were offering it to him. Before he knew it, he was at the top of the Astronomy tower. He lay down on the floor and looked up at the stars. In a matter of a few minutes he slowly got back up and gazed down at the grounds of the castle. He wasn't going to let Voldemort torture him. He wasn't going to let his father turn him over to the Dark Lord. He wasn't going to look Dumbledore and Potter in the eye and admit that they were right. He slowly crept up to the side of the tower and leaned over the edge next to one of the large telescopes. He stared up at the stars one more time, and then gazed over the grounds of Hogwarts. A few tears were now leaking down his face.

He then slowly let himself slip over the side and fall to the ground.