Undefined

Chapter 29

Confronting the Enemy

Draco took his time planning his confrontation with Avery. Over the next several weeks, he made notes on specific spells he needed to master in order to carry out his plan. Never formally expelled from the Order, he decided to call a select meeting, with Avery the only attendee, and confront him alone at Spinner's End. What he would do once he faced Avery, Draco didn't know, but he doubted very much it would be bloodless. His weekends at home meant his time with Harry was even more restricted, and his obsession with Avery caused a serious strain on their relationship. Draco promised Harry everything would be better once the confrontation was over, but Harry seemed to think it would only make matters worse.

"Dumbledore said--" Harry said for the thousandth time.

"I don't care what he said. I have to do this," Draco said as usual.

"It won't do any good."

"Sure it will. I'll feel better."

"You're too thick-headed."

"So're you."

"If you'd just stop and think for a minute--"

"Shut up," Draco said impatiently. "My mind's made up."

"Fine," Harry said. "But if you go and land yourself in the hospital wing or worse, I'll kill you."

Draco smiled, but knew he would never allow Avery, of all people, to get the better of him.

After he had successfully mapped out his scheme and arranged everything in advance, Draco hung around the common room until it was completely empty and the fire burned low, his resolve so strong sleep never entered his mind. When he heard no sounds of dormitory doors opening or closing for over an hour, he quietly crept out, waiting in the shadows for the choreographed distraction he'd arranged with Peeves. He heaved a great sigh of relief when a large explosion filled the dungeon corridors, and waited with bated breath for Snape to emerge from his office. Exhaling sharply at the sound of Snape's office door swinging open and the sight of the Potions master's slender form moving through the dust and smoke, Draco deftly snuck into his office, walked deliberately to Snape's private corridors, grabbed the Portkey and landed at Spinner's End.

He found the house completely dark and empty, smelling heavy of dust, with only small patches of moonlight illuminating the room. He stood where he was for several moments, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dark, needing the advantage over Avery once he Apparated. Once his surroundings were sharp and clear, Draco muttered a spell it'd taken him weeks to master and in an instant Avery appeared, looking very winded and irritated.

"What's this?" he said, looking around in the darkness.

"It's just you and me, Avery," Draco said coldly.

Avery squinted in Draco's direction, still looking bewildered. "Draco?"

"Yes," Draco said, clutching his wand with a shaky hand.

"What's this about?"

"I was hoping you could tell me."

"What?" Avery said, his eyes clearly not yet adjusted to the darkness. "What do you mean?"

"Why did you sell my father out to the Ministry?" Draco said, his voice dripping with hate and rage.

"What?" Avery said, his eyes shifting and his movements jerky. "What are you talking about? I wouldn't--"

"LIAR!" Draco screamed, easily discerning Avery's thoughts. "You filthy liar!"

"You insolent little bastard," Avery said.

Draco raised his wand, holding the tip menacingly to Avery's chest as though daring him to move even a fraction of an inch. "You can't lie to me, Avery."

"I don't have to listen to this," Avery said, but Draco had easily disarmed him nonverbally; Avery met his eyes and his face faltered.

"Just tell me why you did it," Draco said, circling him now, "and we can put this all behind us."

Avery stared at him, but said nothing and Draco had the distinct impression that they were locked in a veritable battle of wits: whoever talked first was sure to lose. He continued to pace in circles, watching Avery's every move.

"It never would have worked," Avery finally said, the silence, punctuated by Draco's footsteps falling on the floor, clearly unnerving him. "He was after the prophecy, but no one can touch it except for Potter!"

Draco stopped. "What prophecy?"

"The prophecy the Dark Lord is desperate to attain, which we are trying to get to first."

"Why?"

"I'm not at liberty--" Avery began, but Draco thrust the tip of his wand harshly into Avery's cheek.

"I'll do it," Draco hissed, "I swear I will."

"The Dark Lord wants it," Avery said, through gritted teeth.

"Why?"

"It holds the key to how he can destroy Potter."

"How's that?" Draco said, his heart beating very fast.

"I haven't a clue, you moron! Neither does the Dark Lord; that's why he wants it."

"Where is it kept?"

"The Ministry."

"Where exactly?" Draco demanded.

"Department of Mysteries," Avery said.

"Is that where my father was when you sold him out?"

Avery said nothing, which only incensed Draco even more. "WAS IT?"

"Yes," Avery said lowly. "The Dark Lord wanted me to retrieve it; when I couldn't he punished me horribly. I told the O.S. that he was closing in on it so your father went after it, and I tipped off Ministry officials."

"YOU HAVEN'T ANSWERED MY QUESTION! WHY DID YOU DO IT?"

"You're father's a foul menace who has undermined my every dealing with the Dark Lord!" Avery suddenly bellowed, causing Draco to take a few steps back. "He's the reason I was punished so severely; he's always the reason the Dark Lord punishes me."

"That's it?" Draco growled lowly. "You had him locked up because of a personal vendetta?"

"Is it so incomprehensible," Avery said, his breathing suddenly labored and his eyes alight with fury, "to seek revenge against the very person who constantly undermines your actions and convinces the Dark Lord to punish you whenever the tiniest thing goes awry?"

"You're pathetic," Draco spat.

"You would do no different!" Avery said.

"Don't presume to know me," Draco said, circling him again.

"How very like your father you are, Draco," Avery said, his eyes following Draco's movements. "You're exceedingly cunning, arrogant and willing to sacrifice anyone or anything so long as your neck is safe!"

"AND YOU AREN'T?"

Avery's face fell into a dark, twisted smile. "It would have happened to one of us anyway; better it was that lying, sniveling, two-faced bastard. How he tolerates you and your whore of a mother I'll never know--"

Avery suddenly fell to the floor, screaming in agony as Draco unintentionally cast the Cruciatus curse. He nearly stopped, but then let Avery suffer a little longer, feeling intensely satisfied with the fact that he, Draco, was the one causing Avery so much pain and suffering. His smile widened as Avery's screams grew more terrible and shrill, his hands clawing at his face in unendurable agony.

That's enough, said a voice in his head. Though it was his own, he couldn't comprehend where it had originated. He lifted the curse instantly, watching as Avery writhed on the ground miserably, trying to collect his senses.

"Is that the best you can do?" Avery panted. "I've had worse than that."

Draco turned and kicked him hard in the stomach, pinning his neck down on the ground with the sole of his shoe.

"I could do worse," he hissed, "but you're not worth it."

He pressed down further on Avery's neck, felt a slight crack, and then released.

"You can't change it," Avery gasped, his voice hoarse. "It's done."

"You'd better hope it changes," Draco said, turning to him. "Or I'll kill you."

"Never make a promise you can't keep," Avery said, choking out a laugh.

"Why do we care about the prophecy if it only involves Potter?" Draco asked, ceasing his pacing.

"Whatever matters most to the Dark Lord, matters most to us," Avery said, finally sitting up. "I thought you would have figured as much."

"Fuck you. And don't think I'm through with you," he said threateningly, and grabbed the Portkey.

Draco marched straight to Dumbledore's office once he returned, remnants of dust and smoke still lingering in the dungeon corridors. He found the barrier free to the Headmaster's office and the door open as he ascended the stairs.

"I need to talk to you," Draco said immediately.

"Do have a seat," Dumbledore said, motioning towards an empty chair. "We were just talking about you."

Snape stood next to the Headmaster, arms folded, mouth and eyes slit in fury. "How very unfortunate you found it necessary to sneak into my private quarters to arrange a private meeting with Avery."

"You never would've let me in," Draco said, sitting down and adjusting his robes.

"That is irrelevant!" Snape yelled, but Draco raised his hand impatiently.

"Who cares about all that! What about this prophecy the Dark Lord's after?"

"Ah, that," Dumbledore said conversationally. "Yes, we are aware of its existence."

"So, I reckon you're also aware Potter's the only one that can touch it?" Draco said, lounging back in the chair. "And that it holds the key to how the Dark Lord can top him?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said lowly.

"Well, what are you doing about it?" Draco said, impatient. "We can't let him get it."

"We have taken certain precautions," Dumbledore said.

"And if they aren't enough?"

"What exactly did Avery disclose to you?" Dumbledore asked in a patient voice that Draco found exceedingly annoying.

"That the prophecy is stored in the Department of Mysteries, that The Dark Lord is after it because it's the key to how he can kill Harry, and that he framed my father. Now, answer my question," Draco said, equally as patient.

"Headmaster," Snape began, looking very put out.

Dumbledore raised his hand to silence Snape. "You have every right to an answer, Draco, but I am afraid I cannot provide one at this time. Even the oldest and wisest cannot predict every future consequence."

"But it's his life!" Draco said. "You can't just sit on your hands--"

"I assure you that we are not sitting idly by. Severus has been teaching Harry Occlumency for months now..."

"Yeah, well, did Severus tell you he hasn't taught Harry for ages?" Draco said, crossing his arms.

Dumbledore's face fell as he turned to Snape, who did not meet Dumbledore's eye. "Is that true, Severus?"

"Yes," Snape admitted.

"I must admit I am very disappointed," Dumbledore said, his voice stern.

"I've been teaching him," Draco said, not caring that Snape was there, not caring if the whole world knew at that point, "and I can't say he's been practicing every night, but he's better."

Dumbledore turned to Draco, his face soft and his eyes full of warmth. "Have you?"

"Yes," Draco said. "He said he'd been having trouble and that Snape was more of a hindrance than a help. How did you not know all this?"

"It's in Harry's best interest that we have as little contact as possible given the state of things," Dumbledore said vaguely.

"Are you sure it's not in your best interest?" Draco said boldly. "I mean, if The Dark Lord's up to something big like this, shouldn't you be more directly involved, sir?"

Dumbledore looked at him, his face quite expressionless, until a small smile lined his lips. "You are quite perceptive, Draco."

"It's only logical," Draco said, shrugging. "If you are the greatest wizard alive, maybe you should act like it."

"Draco," Snape said warningly.

"Severus, this is between me and Draco," Dumbledore said to Snape, then turned back to Draco. "What else?"

"He's in Harry's head, isn't he?" Draco said, already knowing the answer.

"Yes," Dumbledore said.

"That's why you had him taking Occlumency."

"Yes," Dumbledore said.

"And Voldemort's going to manipulate him mentally to get him to the prophecy," Draco reasoned aloud. "And Harry's so noble and thick he'll fall for it."

"That need not be an issue as long as Harry keeps up with Occlumency."

Draco laughed. "Don't kid yourself; he won't stick with it. I'll make him do it, that's all. I'll force him to do it."

"You can't force him," Snape said dispassionately.

"Right, like you can have any say in this," Draco snapped.

"All you can do is your very best to impart on Harry the importance of the matter," Dumbledore said. "Stay with him, Draco, above anything else; he needs you now more than ever."

Draco nodded, and having nothing else to share with the Headmaster, stood and left his office, hearing Dumbledore quietly rebuke Snape as the door clicked shut behind him.