Let the Darkness Take You

Let the Darkness Take You

Chapter Eight

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Draco walked miserably to Professor Snape's office. He had just received a letter from the older man, summoning Draco to him. The letter had foregone the usual niceties, and that could only mean one thing. Severus Snape was angry about something. The young boy rounded a corner and immediately ran into Harry Potter. Draco scowled and pushed past him. "Potter," he said irritably. "What are you doing down here?" The Gryffindor boy turned around and immediately started following Draco.

"Professor Snape summoned me for a detention. I know I didn't do anything this time. Does he want to speak to us again or what?"

"How the bloody hell should I know, Potter? I wasn't summoned to him. I'm going to him by myself," Draco said, deeming it necessary to lie just in case somebody was listening. "Now, do be quiet. You're giving me a splitting headache."

The two walked on in silence for a few moments before Draco realised something and stopped very abruptly, making Harry run into him. "If you've been summoned to Snape, then how come you were way back there? You completely passed up his office."

Harry blushed red and walked past Draco. "I was actually looking for you."

"Really?" Draco asked, with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Without even knowing if I'd been summoned to him or not? Interesting..."

"Shut up. Don't be too flattered." Harry stopped talking as they reached the potions dungeon and he pushed the door open and closed it after Draco walked in after him. "It's just easier to talk to him if you're around. Then he has somebody else to talk to. And why do you have to be so nasty to me all the time?"

"It's part of my nature, Harry. And besides, we really shouldn't be seen speaking to each nicely in the middle of the corridors... or have you forgotten?"

"No..."

"As much as I'd like to hear where this has to go... I do have something to speak to you two about."

Both boys whipped around and found Professor Snape standing in the doorway of his office, arms crossed over his chest and a very menacing look spread across his face. "Sorry, Professor," Harry muttered and hurried past Snape and into his office.

"Indeed. Hurry up, Draco. I haven't got all day, you know."

After all three men were seated, Snape leaned forward across his desk and looked at his students. Harry leaned back nervously in his chair and looked to Draco for support. He received none, though he noted that Draco was looking at his nails, with disinterest. "Mr. Malfoy," Snape began softly. Harry saw the blond hair boy look up with apprehension on his face. He obviously recognised that tone of voice.

"Yes, Severus?"

"Let me ask you a question... How careful do you think you and Mr. Potter have been about your sudden friendship?" He spat the last word out like it was poison on his tongue.

"To be perfectly honest, sir, I think we have been pretty good about being discreet. Harry has used his Invisibility Cloak when we've gone to Hogsmeade and we make sure not to use names when we write. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering if you had figured out that your relationship to Mr. Potter is being put under the microscope. You two are now being watched very closely."

"Who's watching us, Professor?" Harry asked.

"Who do you think, Potter?" Snape barked, making Harry press himself further into his chair. "The one person who has wanted you dead since you were one year old. He now has eyes everywhere, and I am expected to be one set of them."

"But why? We've done nothing to make ourselves seem suspicious," replied Draco defensively.

"You have done nothing, Draco…but Potter has."

"I have not! What are you talking about?"

"A letter! Written to Draco, with his name written out in full."

"What? I haven't even sent a letter to him since a couple days after I got out of the hospital wing. Why wouldn't they have been suspicious until now? It's obviously some sort of set-up."

"It is not! I duplicated the letter on my last trip to meet with the Dark Lord. I have it right here. Tell me... did you, or did you not, write this letter?" Snape slid a piece of parchment across the desk to Harry and he picked it up and read.

Draco,

Remember when I fell down the stairs and cracked my head open, and then woke up a week later to find you and Snape next to my bed? And how you and Snape told me that Sirius and Ron had come back to see me every day? Have I told you that after you left, I fell asleep and when I woke up, Sirius was sitting in a chair next to me?

He told me that he was sorry for acting the way he had been acting and that he didn't mean it. He even hugged me. But then before he left, he said the strangest thing. He said, ‘don't let it get you.' I have no idea what this means and it has been driving me insane. Then he left and he wasn't in classes for the next two days. I don't understand anything anymore, Draco. Because now it seems as though he hates me again. I don't know what to think. He said that he doesn't hate me. Well... on second thought, he never actually said he didn't.

I really don't know what I'd do if it weren't for you. I know we aren't that close. I know that we will probably never be friends, but what I do have with you right now, means a lot to me. Even if it is only a few jarring comments to each other here and there. You're the only person I can talk to....

Harry stopped reading and looked up at the potions master with nothing short of confusion on his face. "Professor... I swear I didn't write this. This is not even what I wrote to him the last time. What I wrote was more along the lines of, ‘M, Meet me in our room. I have something to ask you about SB. P'"

"Well, then who would be giving Voldemort false information?"

"I don't know. Truthfully... I know this sounds completely crazy... but this sounds more like the last letter I sent to my cousin Dudley. Only it's been changed around a bit. I only wrote to him last week. Except I didn't write it as though he were here when it happened. I only told him that I fell down the stairs and cracked my head open and about Sirius coming to talk to me. And... I did write that I was grateful to him, that I had somebody else to talk to, besides for the one person who could be considered my friend now."

Draco and Harry's eyes met and they held the each other's gaze for a moment before the corner of Draco's mouth lifted a bit, in what could be considered a smile. After a moment, Draco broke their gaze. "I just don't understand how they could have figured that it was Draco, who I was speaking about. I only put an M down, when I was referring to him. I promise, Professor, I didn't write this."

Snape scowled and leaned back in his chair. "Fine. No matter though. I still have procured these two pieces of parchment for you." He reached into his desk and pulled out two blank pieces of parchment and handed one to each boy. Draco and Harry looked down at them, and then at each other, and raised an eyebrow. "It's so you don't have to send owls anymore. Here, test it out, Potter. Write something on yours."

Snape handed him some ink and a quill. Harry took it and very slowly, wrote out the word, ‘hello' on his piece of parchment. He looked at it with an eyebrow still raised and then gave a start when Draco gave a small sound of surprise. He looked at Draco's piece of parchment and found that the word he had written, had appeared on Draco's. When Harry looked back to his own, it was blank once again.

"Cool," Harry muttered.

"Give me that," Draco exclaimed and ripped the quill from Harry's hand and began to write on his.

"You two will be the only people who can see what is written. So feel free to write whatever you want," Snape said with slight hesitation in his voice. Draco smiled evilly and began writing even more furiously. A few moments later, a sentence appeared on Harry's, written in a precise, neat handwriting.

You're such a bloody ponce, Potter. Why I even bother with you, is beyond me.

Harry grabbed the quill and began to write. 'Like I said once before, you can't live without me. I'm too important to you, Malfoy.'

‘You wish, Potter. You're the one who can't live without me. I'm the only friend you have.'

‘I always have Dudley. The only thing you're good for is my ego when playing Quidditch. You don't know how to handle your broom correctly.'

‘Care to teach me? After all, playing alone with your broom is never any fun.' Draco sent Harry a small pout with a look in his eyes that clearly said, ‘come hither.' Either Harry was oblivious, or he ignored it.

‘Any time, Malfoy. Name a time and place.'

‘How about tonight, in the classroom, ten o'clock.'

Harry looked down at his parchment in confusion and then looked up at Draco. "You're an idiot. I can't show you how to use your broom in the school. We need to be outside!"

Draco looked at Harry, amusement apparent on his face. His mouth was slowly turning up into a large smile. He threw his head back and started laughing. "Oh, Merlin! Potter, you are the idiot! You're so naive!"

"What?" Harry asked, completely bewildered.

"I think... and this is only a guess, since I do not know what you were talking about, and I'd like to keep it that way. Draco is making a sexual connotation," Snape said dryly.

Harry felt himself turn red and he slowly put the quill back on Snape's desk, while listening to the sound of Draco laughing. "Oh. I think I'll be going now."

"Me too," Draco said, as he wiped the tears of mirth off of his face.

"Actually, Draco. There is something that I do need to discuss with you now." Snape gave him a pointed look and Draco's face immediately paled.

"Right."

"You may go, Potter."

Harry left without another word to anybody, obviously still embarrassed at his naiveté.

The two sat in silence for a while after the door clicked shut behind Harry. Draco was fidgeting slightly in his chair and playing with his blank piece of parchment. "Keep playing with that and you'll rip it," Snape said idly.

"Right." Draco put the parchment in front of him and levelled Snape with his gaze. "So... what did you want to speak to me about?" he asked, knowing exactly what Snape wanted to say.

"I think you know. But I'll enlighten you anyhow. This is about a certain other letter that you have shown me not too long ago now. You know... the letter from Lucius."

"And what was your decision about that, sir?" Draco asked, feeling it necessary to be formal.

"Cut the ‘sir,' nonsense, Draco. I may be your professor, but I am your godfather first. I hate it when you call me that."

"Sorry, Sevy."

Snape made a disgruntled sound in the back of his throat but continued on. "I want to know, first of all, has anybody been acting strange towards you? Has anything out of the ordinary happened since you have received this letter?"

Draco thought about his encounter with the man in the dungeons, how eager he seemed to be to get him to come and have a cup of hot chocolate with him. How his anger wasn't showing when Draco had refused, wasn't showing but it could be felt in his very skin. With years of experience with Lucius, Draco was very good at knowing when people were angry, even when they didn't show it. And, the man had most definitely been angry. Draco shuddered inwardly and looked Snape in the eye.

"No, Severus. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Except for me becoming closer to Potter. That's strange. I actually don't want to fight with him all the time anymore."

"Yes. I don't know if I like it, either. When things get back to normal around here, I should think I will miss our Potter-bashing conversations."

Draco laughed and shook his head. "I think I will too. But we always have everything else to bash. Such as Weasley's lack of brains, and money. And Granger's annoying abundance of brains."

"Quite. I have a funny story to tell you about Weasley's detention that I oversaw after he threw that slug at Potter's face. But, that's for another time, I think. We're getting off topic here."

"Do we really have to get back on topic? I'd much rather talk about Weasley's misfortune. It'll give Harry a laugh later, especially since Weasley had the balls to try to beat him up. I think he's still a bit down on that."

"Weasley tried to beat him up? How come you never told me about this?"

"I have my own plans for revenge," Draco said evasively. "He'll get what's coming to him."

"I don't understand your relationship with Potter and I don't intend to. Just as long as you make sure he doesn't get himself killed. I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't fancy waking up from his ‘trance' and finding his wonder boy dead."

"He won't. We made a deal to protect each other."

Snape raised an eyebrow but didn't ask. "Now, Draco... I have come to a decision. There is really only one way to figure this out. Your father says that if you decide to change your mind about becoming a Death Eater, to write to him."

"Your point?"

"I think it's time to write to him."

"Ex... excuse me? I am not going to become a Death Eater. Kissing the hem of some twisted old sod's robes does not appeal to me!"

"I know you don't want to become a Death Eater, just as much as I don't wish to continue being one. But Lucius said that if you do wish to become one, he would send their operative in Hogwarts to you. We need to know who this man is, Draco. That'll be the first step. I promise I will protect you from anything that will put you in danger. I can't promise you that you won't need to do things that you don't want to do... but it's part of the job. Just know that you'll be doing something helpful. You'll be helping everybody out. You'll be helping Potter."

Draco scowled and stared down at his shoes for a long time. "Draco?" Snape asked quietly, after a few minutes.

"Fine. I'll write to Lucius. I'll become a Death Eater. Can I tell Harry? You know, just in case he sees the mark and thinks that I've betrayed him?"

"No!" Snape said sharply. "First and foremost, you do not tell anybody what you are doing. Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Zabini... nobody must know. Even if most Slytherins are loyal to Voldemort, we can't risk anything. If Potter does see the mark, then I will tell him what you are doing, but that is only if worse comes to worst." Draco felt himself draining of colour and knew that it must have showed because Snape was looking at him with a very concerned expression. It was very rare that the potions master ever showed any emotion towards him. And when he did, it always left Draco feeling very safe. Both of his parents had always neglected in showing any kind of concern for him his entire life.

"I promise it'll be okay, Draco. I won't let anything happen to you."

Draco nodded, still staring at the floor. "I know. I'm more worried that it'll all be for nothing. What if Voldemort finds out where my loyalties lie before I have the chance to do anything?"

"As long as you toe the line very carefully, you'll be alright. Now, I need to talk to you about something else as well. I was wondering how your friendship with Weasley and Granger were going?"

"They aren't. They won't let me in. Apparently, just because they don't like Harry, doesn't mean their feelings towards me have changed."

"You need to keep trying. After you write to your father, go find them and try again. Don't stop. Okay?"

"Fine. Do you know what you're doing to me? First Harry, and now Weasley and Granger? You're completely sadistic."

Snape smirked. "Yes, well, you are friends with Potter now, aren't you?"

"I suppose you could say that, in a way, yes we are friends. Not friends in the way he and Weasley used to be though."

"And I doubt it will ever be that way. You've hated each other too long for anything to really form between you."

"But Severus... I haven't hated him as long as he's hated me. I liked him when I met him at Madam Malkin's. I didn't know who he was... but that's besides the point."

"But you've basically hated him since he refused your friendship, haven't you?"

"Yes. But it wasn't so bad last year. I still acted nasty towards him... but I didn't loathe him anymore."

Snape gave him a knowing look and leaned back in his chair. "Do you want to be good friends with him?"

"I think so. But I don't know if he wants to be. He'll probably just ditch me again for Weasley when this blows over."

"Well, Draco... there's only one way to find out. Offer your hand to him again. If he takes it, you're friends. It hasn't actually been said that you are, has it?"

"Not really. Not officially. He probably doesn't need to know for sure. But I do. I need to know I'm not wasting my time."

"Then I believe you have some things to do now. A letter and then three friends to make. Though I do believe one of them will be more willing than the others."

"Right. Thank you, Severus."

"Any time. Just don't tell anybody else that. My door is only open to you."

Draco smiled and nodded. His godfather was an interesting individual. Draco stood up and grabbed his parchment from the desk. "Oh, and thanks for this."

"Certainly. Now leave."

The younger man hurried out of the room, and to his dorm room. Once there, he pulled out a blank piece of parchment, quill, and ink and began to write a letter that would inevitably, change his life for the worse.

Father,

Thank you for your last letter. I'm sorry that this reply is late. I have been busy with my studies and I have been thinking over your suggestion. I have decided that I want to join you and the Dark Lord.

I'm sorry that it has taken so long for me to figure this out, but I now know that it is the right way to go. Mudbloods and Muggles have no place in our world. I think you'll be happy to know that Severus is the one who persuaded me into it. I know how you think that he is the traitor. I can assure you, that he isn't. His allegiances are very much with Lord Voldemort.

I also write to tell you that I am still staying at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays, as I have already signed up to do so. I think it will be for the best since all the professors are assigning us so much more work for us this year. I believe it is in preparation for the N.E.W.T's next year. Staying will give me access to the library. Our library at home is hardly acceptable for my study needs.

I am awaiting either a reply or for the operative inside Hogwarts to come and find me.

Your son,

Draco

Draco tied the letter to his owl, feeling like a large paperweight was sitting in the bottom of his stomach. He didn't think that anything would take away this feeling of guilt. He felt like he was betraying Harry in every way possible by becoming a Death Eater. No matter how honourable his intentions were. He was still becoming the enemy in Harry's eyes. He just knew that that was how Harry would feel about it.

Draco looked down at his enchanted parchment and decided to write a quick note to Harry. Do you mind if I come and see you tonight? I promise... no broom practice.

'Yes. Please come tonight. I'm extremely bored. I'm watching the Quidditch game on my windows. I've even coloured one team scarlet and the other green. Scarlet is winning of course. And I was so looking forward to our broom practice, Draco! Why must you let me down all the time?'

I'm not here to please. But if you insist, we'll take our brooms out for a little practice run.

‘Brilliant. (Note: If I were talking, my voice would be dripping with sarcasm right now.)'

Now who's letting who down?

‘Still all you. Why don't you come now?'

I wish I could, but I've got something else to do.

‘What's that? Or are you not allowed to say?'

I have to make friends with Weasley and Granger.

‘Oh. Good luck. You'll probably need it.'

Thanks. I have to go. I'll see you when I'm done with them, okay?

‘Okay. See you.'

Draco put his parchment down and saw all the writing disappear. He then decided to take it with him, just in case somebody decided to use it or actually figured out what it was. The Slytherin quickly got up and walked to the first place that came to his mind that where the two Gryffindors would might be. The library. When he got just outside the library doors, sure enough, Granger came out with Weasley close behind, carrying a large stack of books.

"But Hermione, you can't possibly need all of these books for one essay," Weasley was saying.

"Oh, Ron. You just don't understand how far a little extra work will take you. You have to broaden your horizons."

Weasley put the books on the floor and went to stand in front of Granger. He put his arms around her and began kissing her neck. "I can help broaden your horizons for you. It'll be fun for both of us." Granger looked annoyed at Weasley's antics and pushed him away just as she spotted Draco.

"Malfoy. Can we help you?" she said civilly.

"Actually, yes, you can help me, Hermione." Inwardly, he cringed just saying her name. It wasn't anything like saying ‘Harry.' It just didn't feel natural. The girl raised an eyebrow and stepped forward, with Weasley right beside her.

"Bugger off, Malfoy," he hissed.

"Really, Ron. There is no need for that. I'm just looking for a civil conversation here."

"What do you want? You're calling us by our first names, Malfoy."

"Good observation, Hermione."

"Why?"

"Why not? I figure that you two are worth being friends with after all. Any person who isn't friends with Potter, should be a friend of mine. We have a common goal. To make his life miserable."

"Well, it seems to me, Malfoy, that you aren't doing a very good job of it lately. That's why I threw the slug at him that one time. You hadn't done anything to him. I was just making things more interesting."

"Hmm... is that why you did that? Well, I have had some other things on my mind since the beginning of term. I couldn't really bother in torturing Potter. But now... my schedule is free and I'm finding myself to be quite bored, actually. I thought it might be a good thing to do. So... how about it?"

"You haven't exactly asked us to do anything," Hermione pointed out.

"Oh, right. Well, I was just thinking that we could you know, talk a little, break the ice between us. We can discuss why we hate him. Plans to torment him with. We could have quite a good relationship if you think about it. I am willing to overlook the fact that you two are Gryffindors."

"Oh, that's so kind of you," Ron said scathingly.

"Well, honestly, you were probably willing to overlook the fact that I'm a Slytherin if you really wanted to do this."

The two Gryffindors looked at each other and then seeming to decide upon something, looked back at the Slytherin.

"Fine. We'll overlook that fact as long as you overlook the fact that we're Gryffindors and that I am a Muggle-born."

"Deal."

"Good. We've been trying to think up a good plan since our last one didn't work very well," Ron said, wincing a little at the memory. Hermione patted his arm.

"Well, there was no lasting damage done to you. We'll have no problems in the future." Her eyes glittered mischievously. Ron groaned.

"Stop it! We're only sixteen. I'm not ready for kids!"

"I'm only kidding, Ron. You know that."

Draco rolled his eyes. That was something he didn't need to hear. "Oh, please. Just because I'm willing to be friends with you, doesn't mean I want to hear about your sex life."

"How did you know that that was what we were talking about?"

"Oh.... I heard Seamus talking about how Potter kicked Ron in the groin. Plus, you were talking about having kids. It was kind of hard to miss. I'm sorry, Ron. That has to hurt."

Again Ron winced. "Every time I think about it, it starts to hurt again. Merlin, he kicks hard."

Draco grinned inwardly. Nothing more than the bastard deserved. "Oh, he'll get his comeuppance. Come on, let's go somewhere and talk."

Draco motioned for them to follow, and so Ron picked up the forgotten books, took Hermione's hand and followed the Slytherin into a deserted room. Two hours later, Draco walked out with a very smug grin on his face. Hanging out with the two Gryffindors had just given him a completely different plan for his revenge on Ron Weasley. Draco watched his two enemies, with ill-disguised hatred, walk back to the Gryffindor tower, talking excitably about their plans for Harry. It was just a good thing that the two never looked back. Once they were out of sight, Draco turned around and headed for the room that Harry was currently waiting for him in. After spending, what seemed like two extremely long hours with Granger and Weasley, Harry was looking like a welcome retreat. He ran to the door and stopped before it to catch his breath and muttered the password, which was still Gryferin. Harry turned to look at him from the couch and his face immediately lit up.

"Draco! It's about time you get here!"

Draco smiled and sat next to the Gryffindor. He couldn't help but feel his spirits lift upon seeing Harry's face light up like that. Maybe becoming a Death Eater wouldn't be so bad after all, as long as he kept his priorities straight and reminded himself that he was doing it for Harry. Draco stopped in his thoughts. Since when had he been doing anything for Harry? Wasn't it all supposed to be for Light side? It wasn't for Harry, it was for the Light, Draco convinced himself. He looked at his companion and smiled again.

"I know what you mean. That was the longest two hours of my entire life. I don't know how you could want to be friends with those two."

"They've been nothing but wonderful to me before all this. They're my only family. That's how," Harry said quietly.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I never really..."

"No, you have nothing to apologise for," Harry interrupted. He then looked over Draco. "What happened to the Malfoy that I can't stand? The Malfoy that makes terrible comments every other sentence that comes out?"

"Do you want that back?"

"I don't know. What happened?"

"It's not like I've changed completely."

"I know. But you're different."

"Some things change you. People change you. Priorities change you. I know that I've had a lot of time to figure out where my own lie, and it's most definitely not where they were before Voldemort rose again."

"I've noticed. So... how did it go with Ron and Hermione?"

"They fell for it. I don't really know what changed their minds, but they did. And they told me some interesting things."

"Like what?"

"Can we just save it for another time?"

"Sure. You want to get your arse kicked in Exploding Snap! again?"

"Yeah. I haven't had a good arse kicking in a long time."

"Well, be prepared because this will be the worse you've had in a long time."

Draco watched amused as Harry sprung off of the couch and went to rummage in his trunk for his cards. Yes, it would do no good in telling Harry what his friends had to say about him. It would only cause him more unwanted pain and confusion.

***

The last two weeks before the Christmas holidays flew by. Draco would visit Harry every night, from after dinner until at least midnight. His Slytherin friends were wondering what was going on with him but he just waved them off with a different excuse every night. Out of their respect for him, they left it at that. On the night before everybody would leave for the Christmas holidays, Draco was sitting in his dorm writing meaningless banter between him and Harry on their parchment. A loud knock at his door made him stuff it under his pillow and lay on his back as if he had been doing nothing.

"What do you want?" he yelled irritably.

Vincent Crabbe blundered in with an envelope in his hands. "An owl just dropped this off in the Common room for you. It's from your father."

Draco grabbed it out of his hands. "Thank you." He began to open it but noticed that Crabbe was still standing stupidly in the door. "What? I'm not going to read it out loud to you! Get out of here!"

"Sorry," he mumbled and closed the door behind him.

"Bumbling fool."

Draco,

It is about time you have made your decision. I knew you wouldn't let me down with this, son. As much as I am disappointed that you are not coming home for the holidays, I am also glad. This will give our operative the time to speak with you and make arrangements. I understand that there are very few people staying so it will be easy for the both of you.

The snake that you requested in the your last letter I just received from you yesterday, will be delivered to you via owl post in a few days. Would you care to explain why you want a snake? Or is this another one of your big secrets?

Don't bungle up this meeting, Draco.

Lucius

Draco folded up the letter and smiled. He had written to his father two days ago, requesting a small snake. Of course, his father would never know why. Although the thought of becoming a Death Eater didn't appeal to him very well, the snake did. So, Draco was in a very good mood. He pulled the parchment back out and ignored the notes from Harry that were asking where he was.

I'm coming to see you now.

‘Okay, but I warn you... I'm really tired. I might be asleep by the time you get here.'

No problem. You might regret it though.

‘You better not do anything to me.'

I make promises to nobody.

‘Whatever. Just come before I fall asleep.'

I'll be there in ten minutes.

Draco didn't wait to see if there was a reply. He put the parchment on the bottom of his trunk and hurried out of his dorm and into the Common room. "Hey, Draccey!" Draco shivered.

"Pansy. What do you want?"

"Come sit with us! You never hang out with us anymore."

"That's because I have better things to do." He started walking towards the wall that served as a door, but Pansy pulled him to the couch and made him sit.

"You're not getting away that easy, Draccey."

"Pansy... how many times do I have to tell you, not to call me that. My name is Drac -O."

Pansy moved towards him and linked her arm in Draco's. "You know you secretly like it, Draccey," she purred in his ear.

"Get off me," Draco snarled as he pushed her off. Blaise Zabini started to snicker but was silenced when Draco sent a glare his way. "Now, what's so important that it couldn't wait for later?"

"We were talking about the Dark Lord," Blaise informed him. "My father told me that they have a plan in action to get Potter. Whether to kill or recruit him, I wouldn't know. Hopefully to kill him. He definitely deserves it. Don't you think, Draco?"

"Hmm..."

"I've been speaking with my parents as well. I'm trying to become a Death Eater," said Pansy proudly. "When do you think you'll become one, Draco?"

"I don't know. You really need a life if that's all you think about. Why not concentrate on school for now and then on becoming a Death Eater?"

"You're one to talk, Draco," grunted Goyle.

"What do you mean?" Draco said sharply.

"My father told me that you're making arrangements through your father to become one. Apparently, you're to become one after the Christmas holidays."

Draco clenched his jaw tightly as all his friends gasped and started to congratulate him. "Obviously, your father has been given incorrect information. And even if he had been given the truth, the Dark Lord should kill him for telling anybody. It's not safe to be divulging that sort of information to anybody... even if you do plan on becoming a Death Eater, Goyle. Your father deserves a slow, painful death. Now if you'll excuse me, I have somebody to meet."

Draco stood up before anybody could stop him. He could feel their eyes boring into the back of his head as he left, but he didn't care. How could they just sit around and talk about one of their classmates' demise? Even before he became friends with Potter, he never wanted to partake in those discussions. If he had, it was all for show. But now, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Damn Potter to hell for making him soft. Draco walked moodily to Harry's private room, not caring if Filch or Mrs. Norris caught him for being out after curfew. He made it there quickly and went inside. And sure enough, Harry was lying on the top of his covers on the bed, fast asleep. Draco smiled a little and walked towards him, watching his chest rise and fall in a rhythmic pattern. Oh, this would be too much fun. Maybe it would do good for Draco to sleep on the couch tonight, just to see Harry's surprised expression when he woke up in the morning.

He sat next to Harry on the bed and looked at him, considering what his move would be. But as he started to pull out his wand, Harry started to stir and muttering, ‘no,' over and over again. He started to thrash about more wildly and Draco was punched in the stomach by him. "Stupid bugger," he muttered. He put his hand out and laid it on Harry's cheek, hoping that it would calm him down. "Shh, it's just a dream, Harry." The thrashing stopped but he was still muttering, ‘no.' Harry's eyes snapped open. Draco gasped and slid back on the bed. Harry's eyes were no longer the bright shade of green that they normally were. They were now so white, that they blended in with the whites of his eyes. The only colour was his black pupil, which was an unusual large shape.

He sat up on the bed and stared at Draco before smiling. It sent shivers down his spine.

"If I told you that there is darkness in me, waiting to get out, would you stop it?"

"What?"

"It's waiting to get out and there's nothing that I can do. Don't you think I'll work well on the Dark side, Draco?"

"Um... not really, no."

But his words fell on deaf ears. Harry's eyes fell closed and he laid back down on the bed, asleep before his head was down. Draco swallowed deeply and stood up, backing away slowly from the other boy. He started to stir again and opened his eyes. When he looked at Draco, his eyes were green again and he smiled at his friend. It once again sent shivers down Draco's spine, but for a completely different reason.

"I fell asleep. How long have you been here?"

"Ten minutes?" Draco replied, trying desperately to keep his voice calm. But his facial expression must have showed the confusion, surprise, and fear on his face because Harry looked at him concerned and got off the bed.

"Are you okay? Did something happen? You look like you've seen.... well, a ghost."

"I see ghosts all the time, actually."

"I know. It's a Muggle expression. I didn't know what else to say. Okay, it looks like... like you've just seen Voldemort!" he exclaimed triumphantly.

"I don't know what I just saw," he confessed.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. I don't think I feel very well. I'll just go back to my Common room."

"Just stay here if you don't feel well. Do you actually think you'll feel different if you go back there?"

"Well, no. But my bed is there. I have to go."

Draco didn't waste any time with running out of the room. He did feel kind of bad when he caught the hurt look on Harry's face, but he had to go and see Professor Snape. This was most definitely something that would do well in discussing with him. As he was running through the entrance hall, he ran straight into Snape, who was coming out of a side door.

"Mr. Malfoy. What are you doing out after curfew?"

"Potter," he panted. "Need to speak with you, right now."

"Come to my office," Snape said curtly. Draco followed in the long strides of his potions professor and was soon in his office. "Now, what has happened?"

"I don't know. I went to see him and when I got there, he was asleep."

"Which most people tend to do at midnight."

"Well, I didn't think that that was unusual. He told me that he might fall asleep by the time I got there. But he started dreaming when I was there and was thrashing about and muttering, ‘no' the whole time. I tried to calm him down and after he stopped thrashing, he opened his eyes...."

"Which also happens when a person wakes up," Snape interrupted.

"Just shut up! I'm not done." Snape raised an eyebrow but motioned for him to continue. "His eyes weren't green anymore. They were completely white, except for his pupils. He looked at me and said something along the lines of, ‘would you stop the darkness that is fighting to get out of me?' I asked him what he was talking about. And he said that there was darkness in him, fighting to get out and that there was nothing he could do. He asked me if I thought he would work well on the Dark side. I said no, but he fell asleep again. He woke up a minute later and his eyes were normal again and he started to make normal conversation again. I told him I wasn't feeling well, after he asked what was wrong. That's when I ran out of there to find you."

Snape got out of his chair and began pacing the room. Draco watched him walk back and forth and then stand with a hand on the mantle of the fireplace. "Somebody is in his head," he said suddenly.

"Excuse me?"

"Somebody is in his head, brainwashing him, I think. Voldemort hasn't stopped at anything before. I know of somebody who was brainwashed and the same thing happened to them that you just described to me."

"Do you know how to stop it?"

"Only if I find the person who is doing it. But I have to be absolutely certain about that. Otherwise, it could mean my exposure. Has anything else of this nature happened before?"

"Well, he had a dream before when I was with him one time. He was yelling ‘no' and then started yelling, ‘yes, let it take you,' something like that."

"How long ago was that?"

"Around Halloween I think. Severus, why wouldn't Voldemort just use the Imperius on Harry? It seems a whole lot easier."

"Potter can fight the Imperius. It would be a waste of time."

"He can fight it?"

"Yes. He gets it from his father. He could do it as well. Only really strong minds can do so and Potters have always been powerful wizards with strong minds."

"Well... what's going to happen if we can't stop him from being brainwashed?"

Snape sighed, and levelled a grave stare on Draco. "We'll have another Dark Lord in the making."