Lay Me Softly Down

LAY ME SOFTLY DOWN:

Chapter 6

In the dark of night, slowly fading into morning, the students were led to the edge of the woods where Ministry limousines awaited, parked in a seemingly endless single file line along the tree line. Most of the students were drowsy with sleep, and had either thrown on their robes in a haphazard fashion, or wrapped thick Ministry issue blankets around their shoulders to keep out the sharp, bitingly cold wind.

Harry, Draco, Ron and Fred and George Weasley had all opted for the latter, and were even now making their way to the Ministry vehicles along with all the other cold and frightened Hogwarts students.

However, at least one member of the group had his thoughts turned elsewhere, possibly to a lead pipe, or a baseball bat in his father's kitchen. Still another member, or rather two, were starting to come down from their previous ButterBooze high, and were beginning to feel the effects of twin headaches starting to set in.

A fourth member was rubbing the first member's hand while the fifth member looked suspiciously at the both of them, with an intense fire lighting up his eyes. Ron looked back and forth from Harry to Draco, noticing how Harry rubbed Draco's hand while Draco stared off into the woods, seemingly lost in thought.

Something had happened while he had been busy sleeping; he had no doubt of that. Just what, he didn't know, but he intended to find out. Seeing as how he had already tried to seduce Draco, he couldn't really fault Harry for doing more of the same, but that didn't make him feel any less jealous.

Harry wasn't the type for wanting revenge, nor was he a vengeful person by nature. Ron wondered if he had found out about Draco's troubled home life, and had taken it upon himself to comfort the boy. Actually, the more he thought about it, the less jealous he became.

After what had passed between him and Draco, he knew that they would never be more than friends, and somehow, that was okay. He knew that Draco now trusted him with his life, and that he in turn would trust his with Draco.

He couldn't blame him for being afraid. He had woken up to the sight of a very angry looking Lucius Malfoy towering above Harry and Draco, looking like he wanted nothing more than to strap the both of them to a stone wall by their wrists, and then leave them there to rot. Of course, knowing Lucius Malfoy, he had probably had something a little more violent in mind.

As for Harry, when they had been on the train together, it had somehow felt wrong when they had kissed. Ron didn't know why it had, it just had. When he had been busy fooling around with Draco, he had felt fire, passion and lust, but he had felt none of those things when he had been with Harry.

Percy really hadn't been joking when he'd said that love wasn't a simple thing. He risked a quick glance in Harry's direction, and was mildly relieved by what he saw. Harry was walking side by side with Draco, with a look of concern on his face. Ron sighed, but bit his lip before it got too loud. He would definitely have to sneak in a minute with Harry as soon as he could.

From behind, the sound of heavy footfalls approached rapidly. Harry and Draco turned in unison, followed by Ron and the twins, who by now were beginning to feel like their heads had been filled with helium gas.

They were all pleasantly surprised to find Seamus and Hermione running after them, looking tired and winded, but happy at the same time. "Wait up guys!" Seamus yelled, quickly coming to a stop, followed shortly by Hermione. Both of them promptly put their hand on their knees, and bent down while trying to catch their breath.

After a moment, Hermione looked up, and walked toward Harry, Ron and Draco, and enveloped them all in what was unmistakably a bear hug, while large, snail-like tears trailed down her already shiny cheeks. "Thank Merlin! I thought I'd never see you again! Thank the stars you're all alright!"

From somewhere back by the Ministry limos, Fred and George let out identical groans of misery. "Please, not so loud." "Urgh, I think my skull just broke." Hermione reluctantly let the trio go, and then turned to the twins, looking almost like an angry Mrs. Weasley.

"I told you not to-" "Yes, yes. You've made your point!" Fred interrupted, raising his hands to massage his temples. Hermione placed her hands on her hips, and tapped one booted, glossy black foot impatiently. "No, I don't think I have. If only you two had listened to common sense, then maybe we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"The Great Queen of Nag strikes again." George muttered under his breath, while trying to support Fred, who looked like he was ready to doze off right then and there. Hermione's brow knitted, and she rose herself up to her full height. "What did you just call me?" She asked, in a decidedly threatening manner.

"So what's up with this whole cloak and dagger business?" Ron asked, attempting to avert a major confrontation between a fire-tempered Hermione and his brothers. She looked in his direction, and blinked. "What do you mean?" She asked, apparently confused.

"All these Ministry officials walking around with their wands out, like we're all convicted murderers instead of students." Hermione looked out to the surrounding woods, and true enough, the Ministry officials were doing exactly that.

Still under the cover of darkness, with the sun not even a golden fingernail on the horizon yet, Ministry officials were clumped together in large groups, watching the students file towards the cars, and at the same time, looking over their shoulders in an alternating pattern, like some strange dance group.

A switch clicked in Hermione's head, and she knew what had happened. "Someone was murdered." She said, her voice barely above a whisper. At this, even the twins looked up. Almost involuntarily, Draco cast a quick glance over his shoulder, and squeezed Harry's hand tighter.

Ron's mouth suddenly felt too dry, and he licked his lips anxiously. "That… That can't be it!" He laughed nervously, and moved closer to his brothers. Hermione shook her head, and continued to look in the direction of the Ministry officials standing by the dark, chrome covered vehicles.

"Isn't it obvious? You see there?" She pointed to a small clearing, several hundred meters away. Ron squinted, and was barely able to make out a very large group of Ministry men in the middle of the clearing. "Yeah, I see them. So?"

She turned again, directing her full attention to Ron. "So? So?! It's Ministry procedure in situations like this! They obviously didn't come prepared for it either, although, I can't see what reason they would have had to. The murderer is obviously still loose, you see the way they're looking over their shoulders?"

Ron nodded, but didn't say anything more. There was nothing to say really. An uncomfortable silence descended upon the group, while the only sound to be heard was Seamus honking loudly into one of his numerous hankies.

"I bet it was him." Draco said quietly, a dangerous undertone sounding in his voice. Everyone jumped, surprised at the sound of Draco's soft, but powerful voice. "Him who?" Harry asked, pausing to brush a few strands of his notoriously unruly hair out of his eyes.

"Dad, that's who." Draco said, leaving no doubt as to whom he meant. Again, silence fell, leaving an uncomfortable void once again. Seamus opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a booming voice coming from the middle of the clearing.

"ATTENTION! ALL STUDENTS WILL KINDLY FORM LINES BY THE CARS! NO MORE THAN FIVE TO A CAR!" Fred and George groaned loudly, and covered their ears with their hands.

Ron looked dubious, but shrugged his shoulders in a * Guess we better do what the man says. * gesture. Ron looked back and forth from Harry to Draco, and made a quick decision. "I'll go with Hermione and Seamus. You guys and the twins can take the next car."

Harry looked up from the ground, and for just a moment, he looked straight into Ron's eyes, and gave a small nod of his head in acknowledgement. Ron returned the nod, and walked up to Harry as the others made their way towards the waiting Ministry vehicles.

"Harry we need to talk." He whispered in a voice low enough so that others would not overhear the conversation. "You got that right. Look, how about we find some place to meet after we get back to Hogwarts? Does the Entrance Hall sound good?"

Ron shook his head. "No, somewhere that's more private would be better." "I know a place." Ron and Harry looked up, slightly surprised that someone had overheard their conversation.

Draco stood behind them with one hand on a large oak tree for support. Ron looked at him for a moment before gesturing that he should continue. "There's an unused storeroom by the Prefect's Bathroom that would be a pretty good meeting spot." He said, pausing for breath before he continued.

"Just use a silencing charm and a locking charm on the door, and you should be set." He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Oh, and guys?" He said, noticing that they were still looking at him with a slightly funny expression on their faces.

"Yeah Draco?" Ron asked. "I know that it's private. You two have some things you need to talk about, and I respect that. My lips are sealed." Ron nodded, and mumbled a thank you, feeling the blood rush to his cheeks for what seemed like the hundredth time in as many days.

He had doubted Draco again, even after what had passed between them in the woods, in some way, however small, he still doubted him. "So, do you still have the pin?" Ron looked up to find Draco looking sanguine and tired, but with a trace of a smile on his lips.

"Um… Sure I still have it. It's in my pocket I think." He said, fishing around in his robes for the right pocket. Finally, his hand closed upon the body heat warmed metal, and he removed it, and without looking at it, held it out to Draco.

Draco took it out of Ron's hand without even touching him. "Can you hold your head up for a minute?" Ron shrugged, and held up his head. As he looked up, his gaze was quickly drawn to the pin in Draco's hand. When he had given it to him the night before, he had never really looked at it, and seeing it now, he finally had a chance to truly appreciate the beauty of the thing.

The snake was silver, with very fine black lines running through it. The snake's eyes were twin emeralds that were too disgustingly large to be anything but real. The Slytherin S was outlined in small black diamonds with gold and platinum weaved together in the centre in a complex pattern.

While Ron continued to be mesmerized by the sight of the extravagant piece of jewellery, Draco began to tell him about what it was, and where it came from. "This pin came from my father's personal collection." He began, but stopped when Ron snapped his gaze over to him.

He sighed in mock exasperation, and rolled his eyes. "No, it is not Dark Arts paraphernalia, nor is it in any way remotely connected to the Dark Arts. There, are you satisfied?"

Ron nodded, but kept quiet for fear that Draco would decide not to tell him what he knew about the strangely beautiful, yet deadly looking object. Draco cleared his throat, and continued speaking. "As I was saying, it's from father's collection, and he gave it to me as a Birthday present on my 11^th Birthday, the year we started Hogwarts. As a matter of fact, it's the only birthday present he's ever given me. He doesn't believe in Birthdays, he says they promote happiness and well being."

Draco paused to take a deep breath before continuing. Ron stood transfixed, both by the object, and what Draco was telling him. "When he gave it to me, he told me a philosophy of his. In his own twisted way, I think he did it out of love, but I think it applies to you too Ron."

"There is much honour and more sense in having succeeded with what was left, making something with the damned forty acres and a muddy mule, but you have to be able to see that. No one will tell you."

Ron let out a quiet whoosh! of air from his lips. For a while, there was nothing to be heard, except for the far off cry of "Move along! Move along!" From some yeasty looking Ministry official.

"Well?" Draco asked, looking intently at Ron for the response he was obviously expecting. Ron said the first thing that came to mind. "Wow, that's really deep man, I mean really deep."

Draco smiled a thin smile, and patted Ron on the shoulder. Then without another word, he reached up and firmly pinned the snake onto the collar of Ron's robes. It was not terribly heavy, just heavy enough so that he would know it was there.

"When someone calls you down, or says you can't do anything right, just remember that. You can do anything you want Ron, and to hell with anyone who says otherwise." Ron stood where he was, rendered speechless by Draco's words. He opened his mouth, struggling to find the right words to say.

Before he could manage to though, Draco softly placed one pale hand over his mouth, and shook his head. "It's okay Ron, you don't have to say anything. Just remember what I said." He removed his hand from Ron's mouth, and lowered his hand to his side. "And Ron?"

"Yeah Draco?" Ron asked, feeling more embarrassed then ever by Draco's candour and generosity towards him. Draco leaned close so that his lips were almost touching Ron's ear. "You're the best pal a guy could have, but if you tell anyone I said that, you'll find yourself with jelly legs before you can blink."

As Draco pulled away, Ron could not help but laugh at Draco's joke. Soon, Draco and Harry, who were laughing quite hard into their cupped palms, joined him. Still laughing, they made their way to the Ministry Limousines.

Once they arrived at their destination, they found the same yeasty looking Ministry man that Ron had seen before arguing heatedly with Seamus and the twins. "And I say again, there is no bloody way that you four are riding in the same car! Now move along or I'll be forced to stun the lot of you!"

"Excuse me? What will you do to them?" The unidentified Ministry man turned on heel to find Draco at his frostiest. He had pulled himself to his full 5'2 height, and had crossed his arms in front of his chest. But what was even more surprising was the Malfoy drawl that had suddenly returned. It was almost like Draco had left, and a completely different boy had shrugged into his skin.

Upon seeing Draco, the man's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, and his face drained of all colour. Harry watched, thoroughly amused, as he practically stumbled over himself trying to find the right words to say. * I guess there are some advantages to being Lucius Malfoy's son. * Harry thought, impressed at how quickly Draco had asserted control of the situation.

Finally, the man seemed to find the presence of mind to speak. "You're L-Lucius M-Malfoy's son, aren't you?" He asked, looking as if he would rather not know the answer. Draco gave an exaggerated sigh, and shook his head.

"My, my, you are the smart one, aren't you?" He drawled, spitting every word out as if it disgusted him to say it. "Maybe you'll learn your ABC's next. I'm sure that would be such an accomplishment for someone as intelligent as yourself."

The man opened his mouth to speak again, but Draco cut him to the punch. "What's your name and position?" He asked, his voice as sharp and demanding as Professor McGonagall demanding to know where a late homework assignment was.

The man pulled himself up, sucked in his considerable gut, and brought his heels together smartly. "James Horace Stillsworth, Auror Second Class!" He rattled off, staring straight ahead as if afraid to look Draco in the eye.

By now, the twins and Seamus were laughing quite loudly, while Harry, Ron and Hermione stood together with their mouths hanging open in large O's of surprise. Draco paused for a moment, the began to pace in short, smart strides in front of a very frightened looking James Horace Stillsworth.

Draco yawned loudly, as if he were quickly tiring of speaking with the man, and brought himself to a stop mere inches in front of the wary looking man. "Listen closely James, because I'm only going to say this once."

James nodded rapidly, like a dog seeking approval from his master. By now, tears were crawling down Seamus and the twin's faces from the sheer force of their laughter. "Good, if you wish to remain an Auror Second Class, you will not under any circumstances insult, yell or in any way speak down to my friends. Is that clear?"

"Yes Sir." James said very quietly. Large beads of swat were now beginning to accumulate on his brow, and were proceeding to trail their way down his face. Draco leaned even closer, so that their noses were almost touching. "What's that? I don't think I heard you? Care to speak up?"

"SIR, YES SIR!" James Horace Stillsworth barked, apparently quite eager to keep his job. Satisfied, Draco unclasped his hands from behind his back. "Thank you James, I'm glad we understand each other. Now what was all the trouble about?" He asked, arching one icy blonde eyebrow in a curious manner.

"I was just telling the kind gentlemen and lady that the girls are to ride in separate cars, and that I'm under strict orders from Minister Fudge himself to put all the Weasleys in one car for their protection." "I see," Draco said, making it quite clear from his body language how un-plussed he was by these rules.

"Well James Horace Stillsworth, you can-" "Show us to our cars." Hermione interrupted, smiling widely. Draco turned to look at Hermione, silently asking *why?* without even having to say a word.

Before Hermione could respond, he was lead decisively away by Fred and George, sandwiching him in between their bodies before he had time to protest. He squirmed, trying in vain to wrest himself from their firm grips.

"Let me back! I'm not done with that salad dodger yet! Let me go!" When the twins decided that they had reached a safe enough distance, they released their slim blonde captive, only to have him try to escape once again.

Fred grabbed him before he could even take a step. "Wow, wow, slow down pal." Fred said in a soft, but commanding voice. Finally, Draco ceased his struggles. "What the hell did you do that for?! I had everything under control!" Draco spat vehemently.

George giggled in spite of himself. "Hey Fred, I think our little buddy here needs a hug!" Fred quickly caught on, and winked back at George. Without another word, the two red heads sandwiched Draco in a group hug, and planted two large wet kisses on his cheeks.

After they pulled away, Draco was strangely silent, with a funny little smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I think he enjoyed that." George remarked with a casual air. This brought Draco out of his daze. In a flash, he was wiping his cheeks, and muttering what might have been "Yucky twins" under his breath.

Fred couldn't resist, and promptly ruffled Draco's corn-silk golden hair. After a while of this, George put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "That's good Fred. Any more, and he'll be sulky for the rest of the week."

Fred nodded, and reluctantly removed his fine, freckled hand from Draco's hair. "See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Draco didn't respond, but instead struck his best pouty face, and jutted his chin towards the ground.

He couldn't keep this face for long though, and soon the faade dissolved into the three of them laughing long and hard. When they had recovered, Draco asked them the question that had been on his mind.

"Why'd you do that? I was handling him just fine by myself." Fred and George looked at each other for a moment, and an unspoken message passed between them, a message which Draco could not read, which was a rare thing for him, as he had grown up reading people with an uncanny animal cunning that few possessed, and even fewer mastered.

At the same time, both the twins shrugged. "It's okay Draco, we don't mind going in a separate car." "Yeah Draco, we can look after ourselves. And besides, it might be better if you and Harry had some time alone to talk."

Draco made a pouty face again. "But you guys are the coolest. Why can't we go together? I thought you'd appreciate it." Fred and George exchanged a concerned glance. "You should've been a Weasley Draco." Fred nodded sagely. "Amen to that brother."

"Trust me guys, you don't know how much I wish I was." Draco said, so quietly that it was almost a whisper. Fred and George fell silent, as the meaning of what Draco had said dawned on them.

"Hey guys! We're ready to go now!" Yelled Hermione, from some distance away. Once they had caught up with the group, Draco sidled up by Hermione, and whispered in her ear. "What did you tell him?" She gave him a small smile. "Nothing important. Seamus and me have a car. Fred, George and Ron have one, and you and Harry get the next one."

Draco raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "Are you trying to set us up?" This time she didn't smile back. "Look Draco, I'm not going to say yes, and I'm not going to say no, but there's something I have to tell you."

"Oh, I see." Draco said, nonplussed at what he knew was coming. She was dumping him, no doubt about it. "You're dumping me, aren't you?" He asked, keeping his face deadpan. A pained look came across Hermione's face. "It wouldn't work out between us Draco, we're just too different. You understand why I have to do this, don't you?"

Draco stuffed his hands in his pockets, and sighed resignedly. "I guess I do. Just answer me one thing." Hermione gave him the pained look again. "Yes Draco?" "You didn't dump me for Seamus, did you?"

Hermione let loose a loud volley of laughter. "Dump you for Seamus?! Ha! Ha! That's rich! No Draco, I didn't dump you for Seamus. Unfortunately, he's gayer than dear old Uncle Bob's tie rack. Last night he couldn't shut up about Ron for five minutes. It really gets on your nerves after a while."

"Straight guys seem to be in short supply, huh Hermione?" Hermione laughed again as she rubbed some sleep out of the corner of her eye. "You got that right. But there's always school if I never find a guy."

At this, Draco looked a little sad. "Hey, I hope you do find someone, I really do." "Thanks Draco, you're one in a million." He hugged her tight, and patted her reassuringly on the back. "Hey you two! Let's get a move on! Enough with the mush affair already!" Yelled Ron from the door of one of the limos.

Draco shrugged, as if to say: * I guess we should get going. * And walked up beside Harry. Hermione gave them both a last wave, and then she was gone. All around them the soft buzz of chatter slowly dissipated, and the slamming of limo doors began as Ministry men called out the names of their occupants.

Draco quickly followed Harry into the car, and sank back against the plush cabaret coloured seats. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, smelling the pine trees and the lightly scented upholstery of the car.

Minutes passed without either boy speaking, and then, wordlessly, Harry placed a hand on Draco's head, and wrapped the other around his waist. "Draco…" Harry said softly, gently pressing the other boy against him.

"Harry please, can it wait until we get back to school? I'm exhausted." Harry didn't respond, he just wrapped his other arm around Draco, and pressed closer to him. "That's okay by me Draco, that's okay by me." Draco sighed contentedly, and was just about to fall asleep when the car door slammed shut violently.

Jolted out of their sleep, both boys looked up to find the cold face of Lucius Malfoy staring at them through the tinted glass window. "Have a good trip boys." He said with a sneer, the right corner of his lips curling up in a gesture of disgust.

Harry jumped involuntarily. This was going to be a long year. He didn't know how right he was.