Descending Darkness

*Chapter One - After All This Time*

Diagon Alley 27th of June 2009

"Watch it, jerk," shouted Harry Potter, as he ran down the street. He was late to work for the 305th day in a row. I've got to stop letting this thing with Ginny distract me, he thought to himself.

And then he saw her. Her silky, red hair glistening in the soft, warm sunlight. Her beautiful arm wrapped around his waist. She smiled up at her new boyfriend and kissed him gently. Harry quickly barged past Ginny and ran as fast as he could into his shop.

"Hello, Harry," came a voice. It was his best friend, Ron.

"What do you want Ron?" Harry angrily hissed, as his friend walked up to him.

"Look, Harry," Ron began. Harry saw his hands shake a bit. "You have to let this thing with Ginny go, before it ruins your whole life."

"Look, Ron," Harry said weakly. "I thought she loved me. We were married for

God's sake. And then she leaves me for that... that..."

"Harry, you didn't really love her," Ron began. "That's why she ditched you

for Neville"

Neville...

"I loved her as much as I could," Harry mumbled, feeling tears burn as they ran down the sides of his cheeks.

"Harry, you and I both know you loved her the same way you love Hermione,"

Ron said.

"No!" Harry shouted. "Even though Ginny has stopped loving me, I will never stop loving her."

"How sweet," came a drawling voice from behind them. "Harry Potter, the great and powerful wizard that defeated the Dark Lord no less than seven years ago and now his poor, pathetic wife, Ginny Potter, has left him."

Harry slowly turned around and stared at the customer.

"So am I going to be able to get any service around here?"

The voice belonged to none other than Draco Malfoy.

*~-~*

*Earlier That Day*

Draco Darling,

I wish you a very happy Birthday. Inside the pouch tied to your owl's leg is 5 000 000 Galleons. That will support you for a few months. I miss you terribly but, sadly, your father doesn't feel that way. I believe that you are now working at the Ministry as an Unspeakable! I will be delighted to find out how you're going when I visit you at Christmas. Your father might come, but I am not sure.

Love Your Mother...

Narcissa Malfoy

Draco slowly put down the letter from his mother. He petted his owl and fed

him.

"How are you this lovely morning, Oresme?" Draco asked the magnificent bird.

The owl nipped his finger affectionately and then hooted. Draco took the small sack tied around his leg and put it in one of the many pockets of his robes.

"Oresme, please take this to 000. It's to tell him that I'm back from my last assignment." Draco told his feathered friend. His only friend...

Draco felt tears spring to his eyes as his mind drifted slowly back into the past.

*~-~*

"Draco!" Draco heard his father's cry of rage. "Come here, now, boy."

Draco quickly ran into his father's study. "Yes, Father?" he said as he

bowed.

"What is the meaning of this?" Draco heard as his father pointed to a piece of paper.

"The meaning of what Father?" Draco questioned.

"This letter," his father hissed, as he flung the piece of paper in Draco's face.

It read;

Dear Lucius

After going out with your son last night, my dearest daughter, Pansy, ran

into the dining room crying. It turns out that your son broke the betrothal

to my daughter that we agreed upon when they were both children. Didn't our

Lord want your son married to my daughter?

I hope this letter finds you well,

Franz Parkinson

"Well, Draco, what the hell were you thinking?" Lucius screamed.

"I don't want to marry Pansy," Draco mumbled.

"What did you say?" Draco heard his father hiss, his voice filled with venom.

"I don't want to marry Pansy Parkinson!" Draco shouted. "I don't love her and I don't want to become a pathetic DEATH EATER!"

"HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY LORD OR HIS FOLLOWERS!" Lucius bellowed.

WHACK!! Draco felt himself hit the wall. He looked up at his father.

Standing beside him was his mother.

"Lucius Malfoy!" he heard his mother shout. "If you ever hit Draco like that again, I will tell the Ministry about the trapdoor in the drawing room!"

His father had hit him before, why was his mother getting so worked up? Draco wondered.

"Go away, Narcissa," Lucius drawled. "That trapdoor will never open for anyone until the Dark Lord is dead!"

Draco felt someone grab his arm. It was his mother.

"Well, then, Lucius, you'd better get ready for the end of your Lord," Draco heard his mother shriek. "Because my half sister predicted that Harry Potter will defeat him on New Year's Day"

Draco felt his mother pull him out of his father's study and into his bedroom.

*~-~*

"Draco, sweetheart," Narcissa said softly. "You must leave this awful place before your father turns you into ...One of them"

Draco looked into his mothers eyes, "But, Mother, I'm too young to leave

home."

Draco felt his mother's warm lips on his forehead. "Draco, my darling, Draco. You are twenty-one years old now. Of course you are old enough to leave this awful place. Go to your aunt's. She'll help you more than I can."

Draco grabbed a Floo pot from the mantle of his fireplace.

"Go now, Draco. The destination is needlecraft," Narcissa told him. "I will send your luggage over there soon. I love you."

Draco hugged his mother and grabbed a fist full of powder.

"I love you, too, Mum," Draco said before he activated the Floo network. He stepped into the activated network. "Needlecraft," he calmly said, and then he was pulled away from the Manor - not knowing when, or if, he was going to return.

*~-~*

Draco felt his face as he fell out of the fireplace.

"Oh no!" came a terrified voice. "Keep away from me, Lucius Malfoy!"

Draco slowly stood up and brushed the black soot off his clothing. "I'm not Lucius Malfoy, I'm Draco," he mumbled. He opened his eyes. Standing in front of him was a plump woman with fiery red hair.

"Draco?" she questioned. "My half nephew, Draco?"

"Yes," he replied. "Your half nephew, Aunt Oresmi."

"Oh, Draco, I haven't seen you since you were six!"

"I know, Aunt Oresmi."

Then, unexpectedly, he felt his aunt hug him. Slowly he hugged her back.

"Auntie," Draco began. "Is it alright if I stay with you?"

"Yes, my darling nephew, it is," she replied. "My twin sister hardly visits me anymore, so I'd be delighted if you'd stay. That is, if you promise to work hard around here to help me since I don't have any house elves. And you don't mind living around Muggles."

Draco smiled at his Aunt. "No, I don't mind any of those things you've said," he lied.

He knew he would have to get used to doing work and living around Muggles. It's for Mother, he told himself. Living with his Aunt would be a challenge and Draco Malfoy loved a challenge.

*~-~*

No, Draco, thinking about Aunt Oresmi will just bring back painful memories.

Draco got up out of the armchair he was sitting in. He looked at the beautiful, black marble fireplace. He walked up to the fireplace and read the message on the mantle.

This fireplace remembers commemorates two very important events that happened in Oresmi Jocelyn Lovett's life. The first event was when she bought the house and made it what it is today and the second was when I, her nephew, met her when I was twenty-one years old. I, Draco Thomas Malfoy, bought this fireplace in memory of my dear Aunt who was so kind to leave the house to me. It will be mine as long as I live and I will never sell it.

Draco remembered carving these words by hand. It had taken him seven-hundred and eighty-three hours to finish. He missed his Aunt so much after his father killed her.

Oh God, Draco thought to himself. My mind's taking me back to when I found her.

I'm going back again.

*~-~*

"Auntie Oresmi!" Draco called out, hanging up his jacket. "I'm home."

Draco walked into the living room.

"Aunt Oresmi?" Draco called again. "Aunt Ores--- OH MY GOD!"

Draco looked at his aunt's body sprawled out in front of the old, white fire

place. Her red hair hung loose around her head like flames. Draco leant down

to take her pulse. She was ice cold.

"N-n-no!" Draco shouted. "You can't be dead, you just can't be.*"

Draco flung himself on top of her and began to cry like he was a fountain

"She was a good person! She went to church every Sunday! She was your best child and you killed her!" Draco shouted, pointing up at the ceiling.

Draco slumped back over her dead body and cradled her, unable to hear, over the sound of his wracking sobs, as someone else entered into the room.

*~-~*

"Murderer!" came a cry from behind Draco.

He stood up his eyes still swollen from crying and turned around. He was

standing nose to nose with Ron Weasley.

"What are you doing here, Weasley?" Draco snarled.

"I just came to invite MY AUNT to MY WEDDING!" Ron shouted. "And then I find her dead in her own living room. I know you killed her, Malfoy, and you're going to Azkaban for it!"

"HOW DARE YOU WEASLEY!" Draco shouted. He then punched Ron in the stomach and turned to face his aunt again. "How dare you say I killed her,"

Draco said, with a slightly shaken voice. "I would never hurt Oresmi. Never!"

"Never say never, Malfoy!" Ron snarled back.

"Well, Weasley, you can believe whatever you want, I'm going to bed."

*~-~*

"Draco," he heard his mother's voice say. "It's time for you to speak," Narcissa said softly, as she led Draco up to the stand.

"Sonorus," Draco muttered, as he pointed his wand to his throat.

Draco looked at the vast crowd. There was his mother in a beautiful, sleek, black dress. Weasley was there, cradling his new wife, Hermione. He looked over at a plump woman who was crying. 'She must be Mrs. Weasley,' Draco thought to himself.

'Woah! Who's that gorgeous guy?' Draco thought, staring at a guy standing with a small, red haired girl. He had a muscular arm around her slim waist. Draco looked at his slim waist and his muscular chest. He then looked at his face. 'Oh my god,' he thought to himself. 'It's Harry Potter.'

"Hurry up, Draco," his mother hissed.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, staring into Potter's bright green eyes.

"I knew Oresmi through my mother. My mother was her half sister, adopted before Oresmi and her twin, Molly, were born. It was a miracle for their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lovett. God rest them. I know nothing I can say will bring her back, but I'll leave you with her memory." Draco could feel the tears come to his eyes but he squeezed them back and continued. "Oresmi was a loving and kind woman. She went to church every Sunday and she taught me many things like how to recognize the sex of different birds. Oresmi loved birds and she probably loved everyone of us here."

"Except for you, murderer," Draco heard Weasley mutter. Draco ignored the comment.

It had taken him hours to get rid of Weasley. After going to bed he had awoken to sirens. It had turned out that Weasley had called Law enforcement. It had taken him hours to explain that he lived with her, without Weasley shouting crude insults.

"I miss her so much," Draco said, as tears now streamed down his cheeks. "If she was alive now I would tell her, thank you. For making so many people happy and believing in all of us. Thank you."

Draco walked off the stand and hugged his mother.

"Quietus," he mumbled, pointing his wand at his throat again.

"Oh, Mother," Draco cried, feeling more tears burn at the back of his eyes. "I shouldn't have gone to work. I can't live without her. I loved her so much."

"Shhh," Narcissa said hugging her son. "It will be all right."

"Narcissa," a hard voice rang through the air. It was Lucius.

"Hello, Father," Draco said coldly. "Why weren't you here for the proceedings?"

"Shut up, boy!" Lucius shouted, hitting him across the cheek.

Everyone went quiet.

"I'm taking your mother home," Lucius snarled. "You are not coming with us until you agree to marry Pansy."

"How many times do I have to tell you!" Draco shouted. "I will not marry Pansy. I do not love her."

"Fine, have it your way," Lucius said, holding his head high. "But you are no longer a son of mine."

"Do you want to know why I'm never going to marry Pansy, Father?" Draco asked quietly.

Lucius just nodded.

"I do not - I cannot - love girls," he answered quietly.

"You disgusting, pathetic weakling!" Lucius shouted.

Draco turned around and began to walk away. Then he felt it. His father's fist hitting his back, sending him forward.

"Leave him, Lucius," came a cold voice from the air. "Take your wife home and leave your son to the Muggles."

"Yes, my Lord," Lucius mumbled. Then he grabbed Narcissa's arm and Disapparated.

*~-~*

Draco sat down in the armchair again. He remembered walking away after the whole ordeal with his father. Draco picked up the sack full of galleons and walked out the door into the Muggle street. Draco turned around and locked the door. Oresmi gave him the house in her Voluntas.

Draco quickly walked down the street to where a portkey was kept which would take him to the Department of Mysteries.

*~-~*

"Ahh, 016.123!" exclaimed Mr. Horatio Hockingbag, Head of the Unspeakables.

"I have good news. You have been promoted!"

"To what, 000?" Draco asked his leader, hoping to be moved up a decimal or even given a new number.

"To 007.543," answered 000. "Congratulations. You've earned it, 016.123. At two o'clock it becomes official."

Draco looked at the old clock on the wall, counting off the seconds.

5...4...3...2...1...

"007.543, I have a new assignment for you," 000 said, just as the clock hand

reached zero.

"Already, sir?" Draco questioned.

"Yes, 007.543," 000 said as he threw a large file at Draco. "Here's your new assignment."

Draco grabbed the file, bowed and walked slowly out of 000's office.

"By the way 007.543," came 000's voice through the door. "All your stuff has

been moved to your new office in the 007 area."

Draco walked through the offices. Passing the 001's, 002's, 003's, 004's, 005's, and the 006's when he finally got to area 007.

A young woman walked up to him. "Ahh, you must be Draco Malfoy." Her voice was sweet and intoxicating. "007.543, I'm the Head of the 007 area. My number's 007.1"

Draco nodded to show he understood what she was saying.

"This way to your new office," she said pointing to her right. She led him into a large room. "This is your new office 007.543."

Draco looked around his office. All of his photographs of his mum were there. It looked exactly as his old one had, except roomier, and it had a...

A large, grey screen was placed in front of his desk. It looked like... It

couldn't be a...

"Um... 007.1?" he questioned. "Why do I have a Prospectus in my office?"

"007.543, all offices from 010 to 000 are required to have one at all times." She replied hastily. "007.543, I'd better let you get on with your new assignment. Oh, and Draco, have a happy 28th birthday," she said, winking, then walking out of his office.

I had better take a look at my assignment then, he thought, peering down at the paper.

*~-~*

NAME: Harry Potter

AGE: 27 (28 in July)

DOB: 31st of July 1981

BIO: Harry Potter is one of the most famous wizards of our time. Defeating Lord Voldemort on the 1st of January 2001.

MISSION: Your mission is to guard him through the day, watch over him at his Quidditch practices and stay with him until he goes home at night. WARNING: If he is attacked by Death Eaters at any point you will have to stay with him all the time.

007.543, you will have to be demoted if Harry Potter disappears when you are with him.

*~-~*

Draco told 007.1 he was starting his assignment right away.

He walked to the Department of Mysteries Fireplace looking at the pictures of Harry Potter scowling at him. Quickly, Draco flooed himself into Diagon Alley.

He ran down the street to Harry Potter's shop and stepped inside.

Everything was red! Standing in the middle of the shop was Harry Potter having a screaming match with none other than Ron Weasley.

"No!" Harry shouted. "Even though Ginny has stopped loving me, I will never stop loving her."

"How sweet," came a drawling voice from behind them. "Harry Potter, the great and powerful wizard that defeated the Dark Lord no less than seven years ago and now his poor, pathetic wife, Ginny Potter, has left him."

Harry slowly turned around and stared.

"So am I going to be able to get any service around here?"

*~-~*

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry said, quickly forgetting his argument with

Ron.

"Relax, Potter, I want two things." Draco replied walking towards him.

Wow, he looks different. Really different. Harry felt his eyes flick down Malfoy's body then back up. 'Wait a minute, did I just check out Malfoy? Yes! No I couldn't have. Yes, you did, and boy, is he gorgeous!'

Harry started to get worried - he couldn't be attracted to Malfoy. It was impossible.

Well you have been attracted to a guy before this. Who? Colin...

After Cho had left him for Roger Davies and after Hermione had left him for Ron, he had let Colin into his life. He slowly warmed up to Colin and allowed himself to like him and then to even love him. Then, after one unforgettable evening, Colin had left him. Then Ginny was there. Oh, Ginny...

"So anyway, Potter, first of all ..." The sound of Malfoy's voice suddenly

snapped Harry back to reality.

"I'm here to buy a broom," Draco drawled again. "And not one of those crap Firebolt 9100's. I would like a Gold-lightning."

"Malfoy," Ron snarled, "you do realise that a Gold-lightning is the broom Harry invented."

Malfoy sneered. "Weasley, I want the best broom for my birthday and Potter's is the best!"

"Oh, poor Draco," Ron said, his voice full of sarcasm. "No one loves him so he has to buy his own birthday presents."

"At least I can afford presents." Malfoy began. "Anyway, my mother gave me money for a birthday present because she's with my father."

Harry quickly found his newest Gold-lightning and patted Draco on the back.

Harry and Malfoy locked eyes with each other.

'Draco has the most incredible grey eyes. So it's Draco now? No, it's Malfoy. Malfoy! Draco. Oh what the hell. Draco!'

"What else did you want, Draco?" Harry said softly.

Ron stared at Harry and gave him a what's with the whole 'Draco' thing? look.

"Well, Harry," Draco began, as Ron stared even harder.

Suddenly Draco pulled himself up to attention. "Agent 007.543 of the Department of Mysteries at your service, Mr. Harry Potter," Draco said, quickly and loudly. "I have been assigned to guard you through the day, watch over you at your Quidditch practices and stay with you until you go home at night."

Harry just stared at him.

"You're an Unspeakable?" Ron shouted out in surprise.

"Yeah, so?" Draco said sounding bored.

"But, you're such a bast..." Ron began.

"Ron, just shut up!" Harry shouted, elbowing him in the stomach. "Come on, Draco, I have Quidditch practice now."

Harry then quickly Apparated to the London Quidditch pitch.

*~-~*

"Harry! You're late again," Harry heard Oliver Wood's voice shout.

"Hi, Oliver," Harry mumbled in reply.

"How have you been, Harry?" Oliver said cheerfully. "Draco Malfoy? What the fuck are you doing here?"

Harry turned and saw Draco standing right behind him, his blond hair glistening in the sun.

"Wood, I'm here on business," Draco answered slowly, "with the Department of Mysteries."

"Oh," Oliver said, eyeing Draco's new Gold-lightning. "Just sit over there, then, and don't get in the way."

Harry watched Draco walk over to a group of people who had come to watch them train.

"Okay, team, we're playing the Chudley Cannons next game. They have four brilliant players playing with them. Fred, George, Ronald and Ginny Weasley...." Oliver started trailing off when he saw Harry's expression. "Harry, do you think that you will be okay at the game?"

Harry nodded.

"Okay, team let's get flying," Oliver ordered, sending the four Quidditch balls up into the air.

*~-~*

Draco sat down between a young witch with long, brunette hair and a man about his age with strawberry-blond hair.

"Do you mind? I was saving that seat for my husband," said the young lady, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"Look, lady," Draco replied angrily. "I'm here on business. So I can sit anywhere I want since I have to be here."

"Fine, then," the lady said as she crossed her arms.

Draco ignored her and watched Harry. 'Why did he call me by my first name back at the shop?' he asked himself as he studied Harry. His body hadn't changed one bit since the funeral. He still had the same muscular body. And his eyes... Oh, look at his beautiful eyes.

"Oh, my God!" shouted the man next to him, speaking for the first time.

"Harry's fallen off his broom!"

Without thinking, Draco grabbed his brand new broom and mounted. In one swift move, he pushed himself off the ground and sped towards Harry with ease.

'Please don't let him die. Oh, God, please don't let him,' Draco thought. He

stretched out his arms and caught Harry with only one thought - get him safely to the ground. Draco slowly landed, holding Harry in his arms.

"Nice save, Malfoy," Wood called. "Team I don't think he'll be able to play on Saturday."

"But, Oliver, that's in four days," one of the chasers called out.

"No, Malfoy, take him home," Oliver commanded Draco.

"But, Wood, I don't know where he lives," Draco protested.

"Then take him to your place then," Oliver shouted in reply. "I don't care where he goes. He just needs rest."

"Yes, Wood," Draco said, his eyes trailing Harry's muscular body slumped in his arms.

Draco slowly carried Harry across the pitch into the Muggle world.

*~-~*

"Ginny..." Harry mumbled as he awoke from a blissful dream.

Harry sat up to find himself on a white couch in front of an inky black fireplace.

"What???" Harry shouted in surprise. "Where am I?"

Harry waited for a reply then called out again.

"Oh, shut up, Potter!" came a tired voice from another room.

Draco walked into the room where Harry was.

"Oh, you're awake," Draco said, sounding surprised and disappointed. "Just when I was going to smother you with a pillow."

Draco was wearing silky black pyjamas with silver stitching on the hem.

'Wow, he looks sooo sexy! No! Well... Yes! He looks amazing!'

Harry gasped at what he was thinking.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Draco said with concern.

"N-n-nothing," Harry stammered. "Where am I, Draco?" Harry said trying to change the topic.

"You're at La Casa Di Malfoy," Draco said, grinning at Harry's confused expression. "It's Italian for The House Of Malfoy, you git."

"Oh," Harry said softly, feeling stupid.

"Move over, you lazy git," Draco said, pushing Harry over.

Harry moved over and Draco sat down next to him.

"Um, happy birthday Draco?" Harry said, hoping he hadn't been asleep for too long.

"Thanks, Harry," Draco replied, grinning at him. "You still remember that it's my birthday today."

Harry nodded looking around the room, his eyes landing on a deck of cards with WARNING: use at your own risk in-printed on it.

"Draco, what are those cards over there?" Harry asked trying to keep his voice casual.

"Those are chance cards." Draco said. "I got them from Goyle for my 17th birthday."

Harry nodded remembering the cards from when they had played spin the bottle

after the 7th year dance. He remembered the bottle landing on him and he had drawn the most disgusting card...

"Harry," Draco said laughing. "Do you remember when we played spin the bottle and you had to kiss Snape!"

Harry blushed bright red and began to laugh with him.

"Yeah, Draco, I remember," Harry said, still laughing. "I got detention till the end of the year!"

"Harry?"

"Yes, Draco?"

"Do you want to play again?"