Undefined

Chapter 9

The Beginning

Blaise returned to the common room later that night, part of his face still bandaged and his eyes and lips swollen. Draco sat near the fire, eating an apple and allowing Pansy to stroke his leg, wondering if Weasley would ever connect the dots and figure out exactly what was going on. Ron may have the temper of a Blast-Ended Skrewt, but he was overall incredibly daft. Draco smirked and took another bite of his apple, completely convinced his secret was safe. Crabbe and Goyle flanked the chairs nearby, looking ready to spring into action, as though waiting on Draco to utter a request. The common room was full, as it always was at that hour, when Blaise cheerfully took a seat near Draco.

"So, Malfoy," Blaise said loudly, his voice carrying across the room. "Seen Potter lately?"

"No," Draco said, not looking at him.

"That's not what I saw the other night," Blaise said, his mouth curved in a devilish smile.

The room immediately grew silent.

"Oh? What did you see?" Draco asked casually.

"You and Potter paying a visit in the Rendezvous Room," Blaise said, his smile spreading.

"Interesting," Draco said calmly.

"But I'm sure it wasn't as memorable as our night in the common room."

Draco could feel every pair of eyes in the room focused on the pair of them, ears attuned to hear every single syllable that issued from their mouths.

"Say, Blaise," Draco said, taking another bite of his apple, "exactly how many girls have you shagged?"

"Loads," Blaise said, stiffening.

"Really? Tell us all about one." Draco scanned the room quickly and then smiled. "Tell us about Madeline Durant. You told me you shagged her loads of times."

"What?" Madeline, a tall red-haired girl, shrieked, standing. "We never shagged, Blaise, you filthy liar!"

Blaise slunk low in his seat, covering his face a bit with his hands.

"Interesting," Draco said, smirking and scanning the room again. "What about Susy Waters?" Draco said quickly.

"HEY!" Susy shouted. "I never shagged him!"

Blaise shrunk, if it were possible, even farther in his seat.

"Well, that's interesting as well," Draco said, taking a bite of his apple and taking time to examine it before continuing. "How about--"

"Go to hell, Malfoy," Blaise spat, and then stormed from the room.

The chatter and hiss of whispers that followed Blaise's departure assured Draco that the point was well taken, and that his reputation would remain untarnished, at least for the time being. He felt heaviness in his chest denoting the inevitable end to his charade, but he wouldn't think on that now. Or worry about it for that matter. All he would do, and could allow himself to do, was to carry on in his endeavors with Harry as quietly and as stealthily as possible. He took another bite of his apple and pushed Pansy away slightly, not wanting to feel her hands on his leg any longer.

***

"Is it true?" Harry asked the next day, as they lay in the Rendezvous Room, his hand stroking Draco's leg in the much same manner as Pansy had done the previous night.

"What?" Draco asked, realizing the amount of stimulation Harry's touch wrought.

"That Blaise said he saw us coming in here the other night?"

"Yeah," Draco said, running his hand across his forehead.

"How did he know?"

"I doubt he did; he just wanted a go at me," Draco said, hoping against hope Harry would not ask what he was about to ask.

"Why did you beat the shit out of him?"

"He's a stupid git," Draco said casually. "And I was a bit distraught following our row."

"You shouldn't do things like that," Harry said reprovingly. "It's unhealthy."

"Fancy hearing you say that, mister corner-someone-by-a-tree-and-punch-him-in-the-face."

"That was different," Harry muttered.

"Sure it was," Draco said. "We need to find another place; I can't stand this grimy room."

"We can't very well go to one of our dormitories," Harry said, shrugging.

"No," Draco said. "Too bad we can't go somewhere off grounds, really secluded."

Harry sat bolt upright and turned to Draco. "The Shrieking Shack!"

"What?" Draco said, laughing.

"I know a way to get to it from the grounds, and it's the most haunted site in Britain or whatnot, so anyone'd have to be mental to go there willingly," Harry said very fast, unable to hide his excitement. He then launched into a very rapid and very condensed explanation of the connection between the Whomping Willow and the Shrieking Shack. "I know how to get past it," Harry said. "And it's the only way to get in, what with the entrances all boarded up."

Draco looked at Harry, impressed. "That sounds feasible."

"Fancy going tomorrow?" Harry asked hopefully.

"I can't; I have something to do with the Order," Draco said vaguely.

Harry nodded but said nothing.

"Why don't you come round afterwards? I'll be in the Come and Go Room," Draco suggested, annoyed at how much he wanted Harry to agree.

"All right." Harry said. "What time?"

"Come 'round at eleven. I should be done by then."

"What do you have to do exactly?" Harry asked, a bit hesitantly.

"I don't know," Draco answered honestly. "Find out some of my duties I suppose."

"If you have to kill anyone or anything, I won't like that," Harry said darkly.

"They won't have me kill anyone," Draco said. "The only one I'm meant to kill is the Dark Lord."

"Right," Harry said, his voice thick with sarcasm. "You honestly aren't that thick, are you?"

"Now what are you on about?" Draco asked, irate.

"This Order thing you're involved in is no better than those ruddy Death Eaters. All your lot wants to do is replace Voldemort with someone of their own choosing, a pure-blood or whatnot," Harry said, his face growing a bit red.

"Oh, God, Harry," Draco said, rolling his eyes. "Must we discuss this shit right now?"

"You brought it up," Harry said, crossing his arms.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did."

"No...stop it! I'm not going to fight with you like a child," Draco said, sitting up on his elbows, which caused Harry to shift along with him.

"You're no killer, Draco," Harry said, still not looking at him. "You're a prat and a bit of a bastard, but you're no killer."

"How do you know?" Draco asked, genuinely surprised and touched Harry didn't think him capable of such a horrific act. Somehow, that slight confession made Harry seem all the more intriguing and appealing.

"Because I do."

Draco lowered fully back onto the ground and pulled Harry close.

***

Draco ambled to the seventh floor the following evening, finding the door slightly ajar and Katrina lounging by the fire.

"Would you like some wine?" she asked, smiling rather seductively and holding a long- stemmed glass in her left hand.

"No," Draco said, taking a seat and ignoring her light voice and knowing smile.

"Or maybe you'd like something else," she said, leaning over and running a hand along his leg.

"Not tonight," he said briskly, shoving her hand away.

"No? Not even this?" She set the glass aside and slid onto her knees, crawling between his legs and rubbing her hand along his crotch. "I know you enjoy this."

"I said not tonight," he said, shoving her away.

"I take it you finally found a suitable outlet since the last time," she said, standing briskly. "It's just as well; we have business to discuss."

"Go on, then," Draco said.

"Now that you've agreed to join us, the next step is your preparation for battle," Katrina said.

"Meaning?" Draco said, waving his hand impatiently.

"Meaning you will be undergoing a series of rigorous training in four key areas: Legilimency, Occlumency, Potions, and of course defensive magic, sometimes called Defence Against the Dark Arts. You will also be tutored in all manners of Dark Magic known by the Dark Lord; your instruction will begin immediately and will continue until duty calls."

"You mean the battle?" Draco said. Katrina nodded. "Well, who's teaching all this?"

"Snape, of course!" she said. "Although the Dark Magic lessons will have to take place away from the castle as the necessary material is forbidden."

"Makes sense," Draco said.

"Also," Katrina continued, "you will be taught in the ways of the protection afforded by your pure-blood status."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that as a pure-blood, and descending from generations of untainted blood, you possess a magical protection unique from all other witches and wizards. It's old magic, spanning centuries back, and the blood that runs through your veins contains a defensive type of magic greater than any spell can conjure. Mentally, you have to be taught how to harness this defense and utilize it in battle. It takes a great deal of discipline and practice."

"I've never heard of that," Draco said skeptically.

"No, you wouldn't, would you? Those who possess this power are often ignorant of it. Haven't you heard of Gideon and Fabian Prewett?"

Draco shook his head.

"They were pure-bloods, but blood-traitors through and through. It took five Death Eaters to kill them."

Draco leaned back in his chair, impressed. "So when do I start?"

"Tomorrow," Katrina said, grabbing a sheaf of parchment that appeared on the table and scribbled something down. "You'll be learning defensive magic."

She passed Draco the slip of paper. "Put that in your pocket and read it when you reach Snape's office."

She stood, gathering her things. "Well I'm off, no more to do here tonight. I think that covers it."

She left without saying goodbye.

Harry arrived soon after, noticing the large bed that appeared in the corner. He sat down, eyeing it longingly. He looked very tired. "How'd it go?"

"Fine," Draco said, draining Katrina's glass. "I start defensive magic lessons tomorrow."

"You mean Defence Against the Dark Arts?"

"Whatever," Draco said, crashing onto the sofa beside Harry. "Did you know that pure-bloods supposedly possess a power unique among the wizarding world?"

"Oh?"

"Well, that's what she said. I dunno," he said, tracing an imaginary line on Harry's leg, leading straight to that part Draco found so stimulating and interesting.

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I want to," Draco said simply.

Harry looked at Draco but said nothing. Finally he spoke, "I have a fair bit of talent in Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"I know," Draco said.

"I could give you a few pointers if you'd like, sometime."

Draco grinned suggestively. "Not tonight. We have much more important things to do."