What If?

Chapter Five

Harry rose, awakened by the risen sun casting patterns on his face. He mentally cursed himself; he would have to remember to draw the curtains next time.

He fumbled for his glasses and put them on, partially dulling his astonishing emerald-green eyes.

Wondering what the time was, Harry remembered Draco's trick and got out his wand. He whispered "Chronos" and a different faerie appeared, although she was just as devoid of clothing as her colleague. She giggled naughtily, noticing he was only wearing boxer shorts, but told him it was "Seven thirty-four!" before disappearing again.

Not bothering to put anything else on, Harry walked through to Draco's room, and found him still asleep.

Much the same as the blonde boy had done to him yesterday, he sat on the other side of the bed and curled his legs up underneath him, studying Draco.

His hair wasn't brushed back as it was during the day; instead, it fell in an undeniably cute way into his closed eyes. He was on his side, facing towards Harry, his legs curled up under the covers and his pale arms cuddled in close to his chest.

Harry smiled. Draco looked so sweet when he was asleep. So innocent, so...unlike what he was during the day. He lifted a finger and ran it very lightly down Draco's cheek, and then lay down beside him, content to just watch Draco sleep.

~*~

"Potter!" someone demanded. "Why have I woken up to find you asleep beside me, cuddling me nonetheless?"

Harry's eyes struggled open. "Wh-what?" he asked, confused.

Draco sighed. "Harry, darling, why did I wake up just then to find you in my bed, next to me, wearing nothing but boxer shorts? Did you drug me or something last night?"

"No!" Harry said immediately. "I came in to wake you up, and I was just watching you sleep..." he trailed off.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Why are you blushing?" he asked.

"I'm not," Harry replied automatically.

"Well, it's usually considered that the whole erubescent-cheek thing is blushing," Draco said dryly.

"And you thought I had a breakfast for dictionary..." Harry muttered.

Draco just stared at him for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Harry asked, bewildered.

"You! You just said "And you thought I had a breakfast for dictionary..." Draco laughed.

"Yes, and?" Harry said, still confused. "Oh..."

"You twit," giggled Draco, throwing a pillow at him. "You'd better hope no one attacks you in the morning. You won't stand a chance!"

Harry considered this. "You're right, actually. I'm definitely not a morning person," he agreed.

"Clearly," Draco added.

"We're going to Diagon Alley today," Harry said unexpectedly.

Draco just gave him a weird look before getting up.

"Cuddles," Harry demanded.

"I beg your pardon?" Draco asked, flustered.

"I want a cuddle," he said.

"Alright then..." Draco said, obligingly kneeling back onto the bed and putting his arms around Harry. "I'm thinking that I wasn't the one drugged, you know."

"You smell nice, Draco," Harry said thoughtfully. "Like jasmine, lavender and soap."

"It definitely wasn't me..." Draco muttered. In a louder voice, he said, "That's probably because I have jasmine and lavender soap, Harry."

"It makes sense," Harry nodded, a perfectly serious expression on his face.

"Boys!" they heard from their adjoining room. "Are you up?"

Both of them hurried into the room and opened the door.

"Good morning, Narcissa," Harry greeted cordially.

"Good morning, Mother," Draco said in much the same tone. "I just woke up to find Harry asleep next to me," he added unnecessarily.

"Did you, now?" Narcissa asked, an amused glint in her eye.

Draco nodded.

"Is Harry your boyfriend, then?" she queried, humouring them.

Draco shrugged, and turned to Harry.

"Are we?" he asked. Harry just looked at him.

"I don't know?" he replied.

"Yes," Draco said to his mother. "I guess so. Harry's a very good kisser, actually."

Narcissa grinned at him.

"Are you, Harry? Well, unfortunately, I can't see for myself at the moment -" at this, Harry snorted, "as you two have to get dressed. Breakfast is in half an hour, and we're leaving in an hour for Diagon Alley."

"Yes, mother," they chorused again. Narcissa just smiled, lent down and kissed them both on the cheek.

"I must say, you two make a very cute couple. Draco, he's your first boyfriend, isn't he?"

"Second," Draco reminded her. "Blaise was my first."

"Oh, yes, the Zabini boy. He was quite nice. What about Pansy?"

Draco just shrugged. "She was getting a bit grabby," he explained. Narcissa nodded knowingly.

"That's understandable. I'll leave you two to get dressed, then. Remember - breakfast in half an hour."

Once she had left, Harry turned to Draco. "She doesn't seem to care that you're going out with a boy," he said, sounding slightly amazed.

"Why would she?" Draco asked, looking a bit confused himself.

"Well, in the Muggle world," Harry said a bit reluctantly, "people look down on other people liking members of the same gender."

"Really? That's silly," Draco replied carelessly. "I like you, why does it matter if you're a boy or a girl? Besides, you're pretty cute," he added, grinning. Harry relaxed slightly and smirked back.

"You're not too bad yourself."

~*~

"Where do you want to go first, boys?" Narcissa asked them both.

"Could we go to Gringott's, please?" Harry asked politely.

"Certainly, Harry," Narcissa replied. "Do you have your vault key?"

"Um..." Harry mumbled, searching in his pockets for it. "Draco, where did I put it?"

"In your inside pocket," Draco replied, pulling open Harry's robes and taking out the key. "Here."

"Thank you," Harry said gratefully. Draco just rolled his eyes and mumbled something about disorganization.

"Is there anything you particularly need today, Harry, Draco?" Narcissa asked, smiling at their antics.

"I need new robes," Harry said immediately. "Mine are too short now."

"And I need another copy of "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them," Draco added. "I think Sally-Anne stole mine."

Harry snickered. "Typical, Draco," he teased. "You're such a womaniser that she probably wanted it as a memento of you."

Narcissa laughed, but Draco just looked confused. "What's a womaniser?" he asked. "Is it some kind of Muggle thing?"

Harry just sighed, planted his hands in the small of the other boy's back and gave him a gentle push towards Gringott's.

"Don't worry," he said firmly.

"But..." Draco whined.

"Leave it, Draco dear," Narcissa said, backing Harry up. "It's quite complex."

"Are you implying I'm unintelligent?" Draco demanded petulantly. "Because I'm not. I pulled up my grades, just as Father asked me to, and now I'm the top in all of my classes! Except for Potions, and that's only because Harry's top in that."

"I wasn't implying you were unintelligent, dear," Narcissa sighed.

"Then why won't you tell me?" Draco moaned.

By then, they had reached one of the desks at Gringott's.

Harry stared in amazement at the tellers. "What are they?" he whispered to Draco.

"I'll tell you if you tell me what a womaniser is," Draco replied triumphantly.

At this, it was Narcissa's turn to roll her eyes.

"They're goblins, Harry," she said.

"Mum!" Draco cried. "That's not fair!"

Narcissa just grinned at him.

"What's the vault number, Harry?" she asked.

"I don't know," Harry replied thoughtfully. "Last time, when I came here with Hagrid, he just asked to go to Harry Potter's vault."

"Alright, then," Narcissa responded, her brow slightly furrowed.

The goblin looked up at them in a bored manner as they reached his desks.

"How can I help you?" he asked, his voice much similar to his manner.

"We'd like to go to Harry Potter's vault, please," Narcissa replied confidently. "And the Malfoy vault."

"You have the keys?" the goblin questioned. Narcissa nodded, and with a click of the teller's fingers, another goblin came running up.

"Griphook," the first goblin said in a commanding tone, "take these three to the Malfoy vault and the Potter vault."

"I had you the first time we came here!" Harry blurted out.

Griphook smiled wanly at him.

"Yes, I remember you, Harry Potter. Although, why you're..." he began, interrupted by the other goblin.

"Griphook, remember your place. Be quiet and take them to their vaults," he said sternly.

He nodded and motioned for him to follow them.

~*~

"Professor Quirrell," Lucius Malfoy said courteously, nodding his head towards the man.

"Lucius," Quirrell replied just as formally. "Why do you wish to speak with the Dark Lord?"

A look of fitful glee passed over Malfoy's face.

"I have the Potter boy," he said maliciously, coldly, cruelly.

Quirrell started, before regaining his composure. "Where is he?" he demanded.

"In Diagon Alley," Lucius responded.

"Wha-" Quirrell began. Lucius held up a hand and silenced him.

"I have the necessities," he replied calmly, holding up a small vial of red blood. "I drugged him last night, and cut the crook of his arm to retrieve the blood necessary to revive our Lord. He is none the wiser."

Professor Quirrell began to unwrap his turban. Once the material was fully unravelled, he turned around slowly to face Lucius, who immediately kneeled down and bowed his head.
"My Lord," he murmured.

"You have done well, Lucius," the man hissed. His eyes were red, and pupils like cat slits were evident. His face was pale, too pale, bordering on white. He had many scars around his eyes, along his forehead and down his cheeks.

"He must not know that I am again risen, Lucius," Lord Voldemort hissed.

"Certainly not, my Lord. He would tell that old fool Dumbledore the first chance he had."

"I have found the prophecy, Lucius," he hissed. "I know where it is. In the Department of Mysteries. Once I regain my body, we will find it."

"Of course, master," Lucius replied.

"We will keep in touch with you, Lucius, when it is time for the rebirth. Give Quirrell the vial; he will give it to Professor Snape, who will keep it safely."

"Yes, master," Lucius said, his head still bowed.

"Quirrell!" Voldemort commanded.

Professor Quirrell turned to face Lucius and began to rewrap his turban.

"Congratulations, Lucius," he said, a little half-smile on his face. Malfoy stood and smirked back at Quirrell.

"Thank you, Quirrell."

~*~

The cart hurtled through the tunnels, going deeper and deeper underground to the Malfoy vault. Harry had gotten a few Galleons out of his own vault; he wanted to buy the Malfoys and Draco presents, as well as all of his other friends from school. He couldn't wait to see them; Harry didn't realise how much he had missed all of his new friends.

The cart came to a sudden stop. Harry breathed a sigh of relief, and noticed the other two doing the same. He looked up at the arch framing the entrance to the Malfoy vault. In intricate letters along the top was scribed, in Gaelic: "Saibhreas dò cumhacht."

Draco noticed where Harry was looking.

"It means, "Wealth is power", Harry," Draco explained.

"You speak Latin?" Harry asked.

"It's Gaelic, and French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish," Draco confirmed. Harry gaped.

"You're eleven, Draco, and you can speak seven languages?!"

"Yes. I was taught from a very young age."

Harry just shook his head in amazement. He opened his mouth, about to say something, when Narcissa collapsed next to him.

"Oh my God," Draco breathed.

Griphook sprang to her side.

"She has fainted," he said hurriedly, before letting out a low, long whistle.

Within moments, another six goblins had reached him.

"What do you need us for?" the leader asked.

"Take this woman to St. Mungo's," Griphook ordered. "Her name is Narcissa Malfoy. Her aura is not well - the Healer will realise that it is a dark shade of grey. Quickly!"

The goblins all lifted Mrs. Malfoy up, before disappearing with a loud and resounding "Crack!". Griphook turned to the two boys, Draco looking particularly pale.

"I am afraid that your mother, Mr. Malfoy, is very unwell. It seems she is under the Imperius curse; that is the only reason her aura would be that shade. Do either of you know who would place her under this spell?" he asked.

"My father," Draco replied immediately.

"Lucius Malfoy?" Griphook questioned. Draco nodded.

Musing, Griphook seemed lost in thought. Finally, he said "Back into the cart, boys, and I'll take you to St. Mungo's to be with Mrs. Malfoy. I can assure you she will be fine, for the most part; however, do not tell your father yet that we know she was under the influence of this spell. Tell him she merely fainted in the Gringott's vaults."

Draco hopped into the cart, closely followed by Harry. They sped back up the tunnels, and Harry felt decidedly queasy when they finally stopped.

"Harry," Draco whispered. "Harry, do you think she'll be okay?"

"She'll be fine, Draco," Harry said, rubbing a hand comfortingly in circles on Draco's back. He nodded and held Harry's hand in a death grip, so hard his knuckles were turning white. Harry winced slightly, but just stroked his thumb absently over the back of the blonde boy's hand.

"Why would Father put her under Imperio?" Draco asked, more to himself than anyone else as they walked out into Diagon Alley.

"I don't know, Draco. Maybe your mother knows something about the Death Eaters that she shouldn't?" Harry replied.

Draco shushed him.

She knows everything anyway. And I know for certain that she hasn't been acting under Imperius recently. I noticed this morning, and part of last night that she was acting fairly strangely.

What do you mean, strangely?

Slightly absent, if you know what I mean. This morning, when she came to see if I was up, she seemed normal, but other than that, she's been very blank.

I hadn't noticed, Harry admitted.

Oh, you wouldn't, Draco replied offhandedly. You haven't been around her for anywhere near as long as what I have.

True, Harry responded.

~*~

"Severus," Quirrell said, striding into the Potions Master's office.

"Yes, Professor?" Severus Snape asked politely.

"You are a supporter of the Dark Lord, are you not?"

Remembering his and Dumbledore's plan, Snape nodded without a fraction of hesitation.

"Undoubtedly," he replied. "Why do you ask?"

"I need you to keep something safe for me. Surely you know that he needs the blood of the Potter boy to raise him again?" Quirrell asked.

"Yes, of course," Snape replied. "But there's no way he could have gotten it."

"Oh yes there is," Quirrell said triumphantly, pulling out the small stoppered vial of blood. Snape gaped.

"How...when...?" he asked. Quirrell smirked. It wasn't often that the calm and composed Potions Master was at loss for words; in fact, he was one of the most eloquent people Lord Voldemort had the good fortune to meet. He served the Dark Lord well, having joined at only sixteen, and was able to brew any potion needed for his great cause. Yes, Severus would never betray him, and it would be good to have an advocate within the walls of Hogwarts.

"Harry is living at the Malfoy's. Lucius' son, Draco, befriended the boy and offered him a place to stay, as the Muggles he was previously living with were, apparently, terrible."

"Yes, I knew that, but how did Lucius manage to get the boy to bleed for him?"

"He was drugged," Quirrell explained succinctly. "Now, I need you to keep this safe. Put as many charms and hexes on it as you wish, but no one bar yourself and I are allowed to know of this, Severus."

"Of course, Quirrell," Snape replied. The other Professor handed him the vial and closed his fingers around it.

"We will be in power again very soon, Severus. The Dark Lord will reign! All those who stand against him will die!" Quirrell cried, a maniacal glint in his eye. Severus just nodded coolly, and turned back to his work. Quirrell left and closed the door behind him.

Snape stood. "Honestly, how stupid is he?" he muttered to himself. Once he was sure on his enchanted map that Professor Quirrell was back in his office, he stood and made his way up to the Headmaster's office, the vial safely in his pocket.

"Chocolate bullets," he said under his breath when he reached the gargoyle. It moved, creaking, out of the way and Severus stepped onto the moving staircase.

Professor Dumbledore looked up.

"Severus!" he cried. "What a wonderful surprise!"

"Albus, this is no time for small talk," Snape replied curtly.

"Would you like some tea, then?" Dumbledore asked mildly. Severus nodded his consent and sat down. Once he had received his cup, he placed it beside him and drew out the vial.

"Lucius managed to get Harry's blood," he said. Dumbledore nodded sadly.

"Yes, I was afraid that might happen," the bearded wizard replied. "You know what to do, however?"

"Obviously," Severus replied. "Who's shall we use?"

"Mine?" Dumbledore offered, holding out his arm. Taking out a dagger and identical vial, Snape quickly slashed the Headmaster's arm. Albus didn't even flinch. Once the second vial was full, he stoppered it and handed over Harry's blood.

"What will you do with it, Albus?" he asked once he had healed his cut.

"Throw it away, of course," Dumbledore replied cheerfully.

~*~

How much further to St. Mungo's? Harry asked.

It's just at the end of this street. See that white glass door over there? It's the entrance.

Oh, okay.

"Here we are, Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter. Do give your mother my best wishes, Draco," Griphook said slightly anxiously.

"Certainly, sir," Draco replied smoothly. "Thank you for escorting us. Good day to you."

Griphook nodded and bowed, turning to go back to Gringott's. They stepped through the door and immediately found themselves in a busy reception of any normal hospital. They waited in the line, and when they got to the front, the medi-witch looked up at them with much the same expression as the teller at Gringott's.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Narcissa Malfoy, please," Draco said cordially.

"Certainly. She's on floor five," the witch said, smiling at Draco's lovely polite manners.

Draco turned and began to make his way to the staircase, motioning for Harry to follow him. He did, and soon they were both running up the stairs.

"What floor's this?" Harry panted.

"Um...five, come on," Draco replied, just as out of breath as Harry. They went up to one of the Healers and Draco asked in his charmingly polite adult-voice, "Excuse me, miss, but would you be able to show me Narcissa Malfoy's room? I'm her son, Draco, and this is my friend, Harry Potter, who is living with us."

The young witch's eyes immediately flicked up to Harry's fringe, and by the looks of things, she saw the scar.

"Of course, young Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter. This way, if you will," she responded. Draco smiled up at her.

"Thank you very much, miss," he said. Harry just coughed, attempting feebly to cover a snicker. Draco accidentally stomped on Harry's foot and followed the medi-witch to his mother's room.

"Here you are, boys," she said warmly when they reached a room with a nameplate next to the door that said "Mrs. N. Malfoy". Draco thanked her again and opened the door.

"Mum!" he whispered, running over to her bed.

"Hello, Draco dearest," Narcissa said. "I'm terribly sorry about that. Harry, darling, come in and close the door, would you?"

Harry obliged.

"Now," she said in a much more business-like tone. "There's something you boys need to know."

"Yes, mother?" Draco asked anxiously.

"It's about Harry," Narcissa said slowly. "People are trying to kill him."