Let the Darkness Take You

Let the Darkness Take You

Chapter Five

~~~~~

The rest of the week passed with no major incidents. Harry continued going to classes, doing homework, and most important of all, researching. He hadn’t been in contact with Professor Snape or Draco Malfoy all week, but was planning to owl Malfoy. It was starting to be quite lonely being alone all the time. It would be good to have somebody to talk to. So, Harry went to breakfast on Saturday morning, with the intent of writing to Malfoy after he was done. But his plans were quickly dashed as the Gryffindor’s Quidditch team came in and seemed to be looking around for somebody. He was extremely surprised when Katie Bell’s eyes landed on him.

"Potter!" she yelled. "We have Quidditch try-outs today and we’re deciding on a Captain. Come to the pitch with us."

Harry steeled himself for the worse and slowly followed them, catching Malfoy’s eye on the way out. He was looking curious and stood up as soon as Harry’s head turned. On the way out to the pitch, the rest of the team members were ignoring Harry as best as they could. Not that he minded. He’d rather be ignored than insulted. As soon as he stepped onto the field, he was happy. It was definitely great to be out here again; where he felt was the only place he felt he truly belonged.

He watched listlessly as Katie Bell took charge and started getting all the hopefuls in order. Harry thought that she should probably be made Captain since she was taking charge. She was also good at being bossy. The try-outs were being held for the two Beater positions, as Fred and George had graduated, and the two (remaining) Chaser positions. It seemed as though Katie wanted a reserve to train in for next year when she would be gone. Harry thought that that would be a good idea for him to do next year when he became a seventh year. Last year, Ron Weasley had become the Keeper, taking Oliver Wood’s place. He was no Wood, but he did play really well. So nobody on the team could actually complain about his placement. Harry tuned in to the last part of Katie’s speech to the hopefuls; what she said next shocked Harry, to say the least.

"There has been a slight change in the try-outs. We will not be looking for a new Seeker. The team and I have decided that replacing Potter would be a dreadful decision for the team, as he has only lost us one game. As much as we’d like him off..." here, she sent him a disdainful look, "we can’t afford it. So, if any of you have come to try out as Seeker, maybe you’d like to try out for something else? Sorry, but maybe Potter will want a reserve next year."

A group of two boys and one girl started grumbling and cast Harry looks full of hatred and stomped off the field. "You were going to replace me?" Harry said loudly. "You really hate me that much?"

"Was it that obvious?" Ron asked sarcastically.

Harry scowled at his former friend and went to sit by himself in the Quidditch stands. Soon the team joined him but they made sure not to sit right next to him. Every once in a while, he would agree or disagree with something they were saying about the players and tried not to care when they said they didn’t want his opinion, and that he should keep his mouth shut if he wanted to keep his spot on the team. So, for the better part of two hours, Harry sat quietly and was secretly glad when the decisions were made.

Seamus Finnigan and a burly fifth year by the name of Tom were made new Beaters. Lavender Brown and Ginny Weasley were the new Chasers. Harry was pretty surprised with Ginny. Ginny had never told him that she would be trying out for the team. They could have practiced together when they were friends. Harry hurried out of the stands while Katie yelled after him that the first practice would take place Monday evening. He didn’t answer but congratulated the new team members and hurried off to the castle for lunch.

Halfway through a hurried lunch so nobody would throw food at him again like they had the day before, a large, regal owl flew to him and dropped a note on his plate and quickly flew off again.

Do not open at the table!

It said on the front in an elegant scrawl that Harry did not recognise. He left the table and hurried out of the Great Hall to the library where hopefully nobody would be in his favourite spot. Luckily, it was unoccupied and he hid himself behind a couple books before opening the letter.

P,

How did try outs go? You seemed to be a little worried when you left. They didn’t kick you off the team, did they? They better not have. You’re my only challenge on the field.

I’m surprised you haven’t written to me sooner than this. At our last meeting, you seemed a little more eager to talk to somebody. Meet me in the same classroom we went to before? Midnight. Don’t get caught.

D

Harry didn’t need to think for more than a second before he remembered what classroom Malfoy was talking about. He was speaking about the classroom that Malfoy had brought Harry dinner in last time. Harry quickly took out the piece of parchment and quill he had brought with him to breakfast that morning and started a reply.

M,

I’ll tell you about try-outs later. I am still on the team though, so you don’t need to worry about not getting your arse kicked at least once this year!

I actually meant to write to you sooner than today but I’ve been busy with classes, homework and my extra research ‘project.’ I was going to write to you after breakfast... but then Katie called to me. But anyway... I’ll see you at midnight tonight. Maybe you should be telling yourself not to get caught. I won’t get caught. I’m invisible by night.

H

Harry smirked and as he folded up his the letter, and quickly ran off to the Owlery to send the note by school owl, since Hedwig had yet to return from her trip to Dudley’s school, Smeltings. After the owl flew down to the bottom windows of the castle, Harry turned around and went back to his dormitory to finally look at the book he had checked out when Ginny was still helping him research. As he was walking through the Entrance Hall, somebody ploughed into him from behind. Professor Snape stopped for a moment and sneered. "Five points from Gryffindor. Stop standing in the middle of the hallway. Get a move on." With that, Snape continued on his way. Snape seemed to be clutching his inner left wrist. The Professor ran out the door and towards Hogsmeade, leaving a worried Harry in his wake. The Dark Lord was obviously calling for him.

Harry dragged himself up the many flights of stairs, and to his bed, and pulled the curtains closed around him, and pulled out the book. It was titled Useless Potions. ‘Oh, great!’ Harry thought, exasperated. How was a book of useless potions going to help him? That was really spectacular. He threw the book to the foot of the bed and lay down. His eyelids began to become heavy with sleep and soon he had drifted off into the world of dreams.

Harry walked into a well-lit, cavernous room. Every sound that was made, echoed through it. It was very extravagantly decorated with a large dark green carpet and a large candelabra hanging from the ceiling. There were books lining one wall and large portraits lining another wall that also held one of the two doors to the chamber; a wooden door. One of two in the room. The second was the one Harry, himself had just entered. Sitting in a throne-like chair, was a being that made Harry’s stomach writhe in disgust.

Lord Voldemort.

"Bring him in!" he yelled.

Harry found himself looking towards the door that he had not come in through. Two hooded Death Eaters with their hoods pulled up, were dragging a man in between them. He too, had a hood pulled over his head so that Harry couldn’t identify him. "And why has he been brought to me today?"

"He has been fighting the Imperius, my Lord. He has been trying to go to somebody for help."

"Well... are you really that incompetent? Why not put it back on him instead of wasting my time? Crucio!"

The Death Eater that had spoken fell to the ground, writhing in pain. The curse was lifted and was recast on the second Death Eater, where he too, fell to the ground, screaming.

"And as for you, young sir. You dare to fight me even while under the Imperius? You will pay. Crucio!" The man that was already on the floor, began screaming in pain. Faintly, Harry felt his scar begin to burn. The curse was lifted from the man and Harry cringed at the look Voldemort was giving the prisoner.

"Imperio. Now... will you obey my orders from now on?"

"Yes, my Lord," the man stated automatically.

"Will you serve me for as long as I see fit?"

"Yes, my Lord. I am but your humble servant."

Harry screwed up his eyes in confusion. That voice.... it sounded so familiar. But who was it? Take your hood down! Take your hood down! he chanted inside his head. But his command was not listened to. The Death Eaters laboriously got up from the floor and dragged the man back out. Merely seconds after they left, Snape walked in, looking extremely calm, despite the situation. He bowed before Voldemort and kissed the hem of his robes.

"My Lord. You have summoned me?"

"Yes. And you’ll do well to get here faster next time."

Harry saw Snape cringe a little, as if waiting for the Cruciatus. "Please forgive me, Master. I was in the middle of watching over a detention of a Hufflepuff when you summoned me. It’s hard to get rid of the little buggers. And as I have to go quite a way to get to the Apparition field in Hogsmeade... it took longer than I should have. But I’ll try harder next time, my Lord."

"Yes. See that you do. I’ll let it go this time, Severus. I do know how insufferable Hufflepuffs are. You’re just lucky that it wasn’t a Gryffindor. It probably would have been even more difficult."

"It would have," Snape agreed. Harry silently disagreed. Any Gryffindor in their right mind would have been out of that room faster than Snape could have taken away points. Nobody he knew would want to be in the same room alone with Snape. Except perhaps Malfoy. But he was different. Most definitely different.

"I called you here to see how things are going at Hogwarts. I hear that young Potter is having a time of it, most of all. How are his friends, anyhow?"

"They have completely cut ties with Potter. They seem to hate him with almost the same ferocity that you do, sir. As do the rest of the school."

"Quite. Then the plan is going perfectly so far. I assume he has absolutely no one to turn to now?"

"As far as I know, my Lord. I do not pay much attention to the boy."

"Yes, yes. That’s right. You never got along with his father either, did you, Severus? It was because of his Mudblood wife, was it not?" he asked maliciously. Again, Snape cringed. Harry could only guess why.

"James Potter was an insufferable, know-it-all prat. I couldn’t stand looking at his face. It had nothing to do with Evans."

"Then... you didn’t love her?" Snape’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down a couple times.

"No, my Lord. I could never love a low-life Mudblood."

Voldemort studied him and stood up. "You may get up now, Severus. You know I do not need you to bow to me for so long. And... you had better be telling me the truth. I have very valuable sources that tell me that you loved her. For your own sake, are you telling the truth?"

A slight pause. "Yes."

"Very well. I want you to keep a closer watch on Potter. If there is anybody helping him... be sure to inform me."

"Yes, Master. If I may ask, what exactly are you doing to everybody at Hogwarts? It has worked amazingly well. Even Dumbledore is showing signs of hating Potter."

"Indeed? Well, that shows how a little trust can get you into so much trouble. Well, Severus... I can tell you that I have gained a new follower and he is stationed inside Hogwarts. This time it is working even better."

"Who is it?" Snape asked with a little too much curiosity in his voice. Voldemort looked down on him with suspiciousness.

"Too many questions, Severus. Crucio!"

Snape fell to the floor in pain. The Dark Lord finally lifted the curse. "I changed my mind. Next time, you will not take so long in getting to me. Crucio!" Again, Snape started screaming while the pain in Harry’s scar became more intense. "And just for a reminder as to who you are working for... Crucio!" Harry felt himself screaming as this last curse was held longer and with more power holding it. When the curse was lifted, Snape was left panting and ashen-faced on the floor. Voldemort stepped over him and walked out of the room.

Harry sat bolt upright in bed, breathing hard, and with his scar burning in with intense pain. His curtains flew open and a bewildered Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville were looking at him.

"Oh, it was only you. Too bad nobody was killing you," said Seamus.

"Shut up, Seamus!" Harry exploded. "For all you know, I could have just Seen somebody dying. Death isn’t funny. You guys are complete morons. Get out of my way!"

Harry quickly got up and rummaged in his trunk for his Invisibility Cloak. By the looks of the sky outside, he had missed dinner and it was probably after curfew. The other boys had gone back down to the Common room by this time so Harry pulled his Invisibility Cloak out and wrapped it around himself. He ran out of the Portrait Hole, not caring if anybody saw it opening and closing by itself. He ran all the way to the dungeons and into Snape’s office. Malfoy looked up, startled, as the door seemingly opened up by it’s own volition.

"What the..." he said startled.

Harry pulled the cloak from around himself, still panting from his run and put his hands on his knees. "It’s me," he panted.

"What are you doing here? It’s only ten. And why weren’t you at dinner?"

"Fell asleep. You’re here because you know where he went, don’t you?"

"Yes. How do you know?"

"I saw him leave and then... I just Saw him."

"What? Where? Is he okay?"

"No, Malfoy. I Saw him. I don’t know where he is right now."

A look of comprehension flitted across his face. "You’re... a Seer?"

"Only when it comes to Voldemort. I See it as it’s happening, usually while I’m asleep."

Malfoy stepped forward and shook Harry’s shoulders roughly. "What did you See? Tell me! Is he all right?"

"Stop it! I think so. I don’t know. Voldemort put the Cruciatus on him three times."

A look of undisguised horror crossed Malfoy’s face. He immediately ran to Snape’s stores and took out a bottle of deep blue potion. Harry thought that this was the most emotion the boy had ever displayed in front of him before. He hadn’t known Malfoy was capable of it. "Potter... go into Severus’s chambers and get some blankets and warm wet cloths."

"But, I don’t know where his chambers are." Malfoy walked impatiently to the back of the office and spread his hand on a spot in the wall and pushed. His hand seemed to sink into the stone, as if it was made out of goo. He then spoke a password that Harry couldn’t make out. The wall opened and revealed a sitting room in Slytherin colours. After being pushed by Malfoy, Harry hurried in and gathered three heavy blankets and charmed three cloths to stay warm and wet. Malfoy immediately took the blankets from him into the sitting room and made the couch into a bed. There, the two sat in silence.

"So... what do we do now?" Harry asked after a few moments.

"We wait."

"Right. I hate this part."

"So, do I. Potter... how do I know I can trust you with this? You’re not just winding me up are you?"

"How do I know I can trust you?" Harry shot back.

"Touchée."

"That’s what I thought. Did you want to meet me tonight just to talk about nothing or to talk about what we’re doing?"

"Whichever way the conversation went, I suppose. I did want to ask you about the try-outs, though."

"Oh... well, apparently, they had been talking about replacing me, but then they decided that I was too good to lose, so they decided to just stick with me. Nice of them, huh?" he asked sarcastically.

"Quite. So you’re certain that nobody else likes you?"

"Positive. The only person I know of is... you." Harry smirked as Malfoy groaned and leaned back into the couch.

"Get off it, Potter."

"Oh come on! You really aren’t harbouring some deep, undying love for me? You don’t want to be my friend? You don’t want to snog my brains out?" Harry laughed loudly as Malfoy turned a light shade of pink and threw a pillow in Harry’s general direction but missed completely, by at least three feet.

"It’s no wonder you’re not a Chaser. You’d be terrible. Not that you’re any better at a Seeker."

"Shut it, Potter. You’re pushing your luck here."

Harry smiled softly and settled into his chair. "I was just joking. No need to get all worked up." Malfoy gave him a look that clearly said, ‘Try it again and you’re dead.’ He then turned his head and stared determinedly into the fire that he had started, as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. Harry couldn’t help but to continue smiling as he looked at the Slytherin boy. The firelight danced across his good-looking aristocratic features, lighting up his silver eyes. The hair on his head was slightly dishevelled from pushing his head into the couch and some stray hairs were falling into his face. His cheeks were still flushed a pink colour and he had a half amused, half angry look on his face.

Harry couldn’t help but think that Malfoy looked quite attractive at the moment.

He shook his head mentally and shut his eyes tight. This is Malfoy, Harry. Think of something else, right now! When he opened his eyes, it was to find Malfoy staring at him.

"Something the matter, Potter?"

"No. I’ve just got a bit of a headache."

…Which wasn’t a complete lie. His scar was burning a little. "Want me to get you something for it?" asked Draco.

"No, thanks. It’s nothing really that you can help."

"A simple headache potion will help. Trust me."

"No really. It’s just my scar. It burns during and after my Voldemort dreams.. There’s nothing for it. I’m used to it, really. It’s been worse."

"How worse?"

"Er… - well, when I come face-to-face with Voldemort, it feels like my head is about to split open. During the third task, I had to throw up because it was so bad."

"Hmm. I never knew. I mean, I heard that that happened to you. But I thought it was just something Rita Skeeter made up."

"No, she saw it happen in Divination."

Malfoy got up and opened the door to Snape’s office. "Where are you going?" Harry called.

"Hold on. I’ll be right back."

A few moments later, Malfoy did returned and with a vial of orange liquid. "Don’t ask. Just drink," he ordered.

"I’m not drinking that. I have no idea what it is," Harry said, defiantly.

"It’ll help the burning. Just drink!"

"No way. I don’t trust you that much yet."

Malfoy sighed, exasperated and pushed Harry’s head into the back of the chair, touching his scar in the process. Which, much to Harry’s surprise, felt like it had a hot brand pressed to it. He let out a cry of pain and Malfoy stepped back in shock.

"What’d I do?"

"I don’t know." He touched his scar gingerly and it erupted into pain. As soon as he pulled his finger back, the pain dulled considerably. "It’s sensitive to touch now, I guess. You just touched it."

"Sorry. But, just drink this. It’ll help."

"I still don’t trust you."

This time when Malfoy pushed Harry’s head into the back of the chair, he made sure not to touch the scar. And he tried to pour the liquid forceably down Harry’s throat. Harry pursed his lips together. "Mgeth yawiay," he mumbled with his mouth closed. He started to struggle as Malfoy started become less gentle.

"Just drink it! It’ll help, you great sod!" Harry just shook his head back and forth violently. Malfoy surprised him into paralysis when he straddled Harry’s lap and pinned him completely to the chair. "Open up! Here comes the broomstick!" Draco said in a singsong voice, as if he were speaking to a child. He finally managed to pry Harry’s mouth open and pour it in, which he choked on and swallowed instinctively.

"Damn you, Malfoy," he managed after it was all down.

"Yes. Damn me for making the pain go away."

Much to Harry’s surprise, the pain was almost gone. He touched his scar and only felt a little pain. "I know what I’m doing. I am at the top of our potions class for a reason you know."

"Can you blame me for not trusting you?"

"I guess not. But still. I was trying to help you." Harry pried his left arm out from under Malfoy’s weight and put it on the arm of the chair so that it could wake up again. When he looked up again, Malfoy was looking at him strangely.

"What?"

"Nothing."

And that’s when the position that they were in really hit Harry. Malfoy was straddling his lap right now. Harry swallowed hard and looked away from Malfoy’s eyes. Malfoy seemed to realise the situation because he quickly got up and went to sit on the couch. Harry immediately felt the loss of heat the other body brought to him... even if it had been a very compromising situation, to say the least.

Malfoy’s cheeks were stained pink again. Harry couldn’t help but think that it was very endearing. Awkward silence fell upon them and Harry searched for something that would take the attention away from what just happened. "Thanks for that. The burning is gone now." The Slytherin just grunted in reply. Both boys continued to stare into the fire.

"So, is this where you planned on this conversation going tonight when we met? Awkward silence? Because if I had known it would come to this, I wouldn’t have come down here at all, even with knowing what Snape had just gone through," said Harry, mischievously.

"No, you wouldn’t have. You wouldn’t have been able to live with yourself…. and awkward silences aren’t that bad."

"Whatever you say. I’d rather be talking than not. So, talk."

"What do you think we’re doing now?"

"Speaking about something extremely boring, that’s what we’re doing."

"Well, I’m sorry I can’t entertain you more right now. I’m kind of waiting for a man who has just endured the Cruciatus curse three times. Probably on your account, I may add."

Harry’s face visibly paled. It was true. It was his fault. Snape had been trying to get information out of Voldemort and it had set him off. It was his fault. "I... I never wanted him to get hurt," he said quietly. "I didn’t ask for anybody’s help."

"Well, you damn well got it!" Malfoy exploded and jumped up to start pacing the room.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t want this," Harry whispered. But it fell on deaf ears. Malfoy was now storming about in a rage. It was so sudden that Harry was taken slightly aback and felt kind of scared of the manic glint that was coming over the Slytherin’s silver eyes.

"Damn it, Potter. Can’t you go one year without getting into some sort of trouble? And when you get into that trouble, can’t you leave people out of it? I’m starting to think that whoever is casting this spell on Hogwarts is doing everybody a favour. They aren’t in danger because now Voldemort will think that they hate you, so you aren’t friends."

"Just shut up!" Harry screamed. "Maybe this person is doing me a favour. But the person is working for Voldemort. I can’t help that he has some sort of sick tendency to bring everybody I love into it. And you know what? .... I don’t think it is my fault!"

"Like hell it isn’t!"

Secretly, Harry agreed with him still, but he just didn’t want to hear it. Malfoy didn’t know when to shut up. "Snape doesn’t even like me and he was just tortured for it."

"That’s because he was trying to help your sorry arse!"

"No, Malfoy... he’s helping out the Light side. Not just me. As are you. It just so happens that I am going to be helped in the process. If you really are on this side, then I suggest you quit your bitching."

Apparently, Harry had stumbled across a very good argument because Malfoy just stared. Harry was spared any more remarks from him because at that moment, Snape stumbled into the room. Both boys ran to him, and guided him over to the couch and helped to lay him down.

"I heard... somebody yelling," Snape muttered.

"There isn’t anybody yelling, Severus. Put your head down and open your mouth."

The potions professor complied and opened his dry lips, and Malfoy administered the blue potion. Snape opened his eyes blurrily and stared squinted at Malfoy. "You look... you look exactly like Draco."

"Yes. Shh. Just rest." He started to look around frantically. "Potter. Where did you put those warm cloths?"

"I... I don’t know."

"You’re hopeless."

"Don’t get up, I’ll get some more," Harry said quickly as Malfoy stood. Both boys ended up going into the bathroom.

"Stupid bastard," Draco muttered. "Did you see how disoriented he is? That stupid bastard must have put all his power into it. Three times, Potter! Full blown, too. I can’t even imagine...." he trailed off and stood staring blankly at the wall. Harry gently laid a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

"He’ll be all right. I’m sure he’s been through this before. He’s a strong man. We better get back out there."

Malfoy came out of his trance and met Harry’s eyes. He tried to look away but found that he was captivated. The other boy moved towards him and placed his hand on Harry’s side. It was as if all time stopped. All Harry could hear was his own rapid breathing and the beating of his heart. The light touch felt so warm on his side. Harry liked it.

"You’re right. Thank you," Malfoy said softly, with a slight strain as if it were difficult to utter those words aloud. "I... I want to talk to you again later. Not tonight... but later. I promise I won’t attack you this time. I was out of line. I am on the Light side." He offered Harry a lopsided smile that lit his eyes. "Even if I have to help you out, I’ll do it."

He removed his hand and walked out of the bathroom. Time sped up again but Harry only stood motionless and placed his own hand on the still-warm spot that Malfoy’s hand had just vacated. He let out a long breath that he hadn’t even realised that he had been holding. His heart rate was only just beginning to slow down.

God... why did he feel like this? Why was Draco Malfoy making him feel like this?

He shook the thoughts for the time being and walked back out into the sitting room. Malfoy had covered Snape with two blankets, and was tenderly wiping his forehead with a warm cloth. His long black hair had been pushed off back from his sweaty face and set to the side, and he stared up at the ceiling, with a vacant look in his eyes.

"Just hold in there, Sev. You’ll be all right. You still have to help Harry and me."

The words were spoken so softly that Harry hardly heard them. But he did. And Malfoy had just said his name. It sounded so good coming out of his mouth, almost as if he had never heard the name before in his life, and found it to be the most beautiful name. Maybe it was how he said it, or just the way his voice sounded when he said it. Or maybe it was just the person.

Harry walked to the door, completely unnoticed by the other two occupants of the room. His last glimpse of the two was of Malfoy, unnecessarily brushing Snape’s hair out of his face. It made Harry wonder. Are the two really that close because of the friendship that Snape shares with the Malfoy père? Or was there some other reason? Whatever it was... they both seemed to genuinely care about each other, even if Snape did have a weird way of showing it. Of course, nothing about the man could be considered normal. But maybe there was.… something… that Harry couldn’t see. Something only Draco Malfoy was allowed the privilege of seeing. Severus Snape was an interesting individual. It was at that moment that Harry decided that Draco Malfoy was a very lucky person.