Alone

Chapter 2 ~

Draco Malfoy gaped at his former headmaster.

"I'm what?" he asked, not sure if he was hearing the white haired man correctly.

"That is why you're going to get him," Albus repeated, his usual twinkle back behind his eyes.

This isn't bloody amusing! Draco shouted, in his head while he kept a cool mask on his face.

"I can't since obviously I don't know where he is and even if I did, I wouldn't. If you haven't forgotten, we did and still do hate each other guts," Draco replied. There was no way in hell that he was going to convince Harry Potter to come back. He didn't want to risk the chance of the 'Boy Who Lived' throwing a tantrum at him.

"Oh, but I believe you do know where he is," Albus continued, looking at the blond over the rim of his glasses sternly.

Why is it every time that Albus looked at him that way that Draco felt an urge to study the carpet?

"That was, uh, four years ago Albus. I'm sure he'd changed address by now," Draco insisted, not meeting the old man's eyes.

"You mean you've known where he was for four bloody years and you haven't told anyone?!" Ron exclaimed, not able to hold himself any longer. Draco raised his head and glared at the red haired man.

"I don't answer to you," Draco said in a tight controlled voice. Ron on the other hand had next to none of control over his emotions.

"Malfoy you insufferable, worthless, son-of-a-bit-" Ron started yelling.

"Mr. Weasley, please contain yourself," Albus cut in sharply. Ron closed his mouth with a snap, but continued to glare threateningly at Draco.

"Mr. Malfoy, can you at least try? Go over to the address Harry gave you and try to convince to come back," Albus urged softly.

"No," Draco refused flatly.

~~*~~

Jake groaned. He opened his eyes. His clock read six in the morning. He groaned again and rolled to one side. Suddenly the images from the previous night's dream tumbled into his brain, tripping over each other in their haste to torture Jake some more. Jake closed his eyes, willing the memories to go away, but they stubbornly refused to do his bidding.

Pushing himself out of bed Jake grumbled incoherent words before stepping into the shower and preparing himself for the day.

~~*~~

Half an hour later Jake was dressed in a black suit, ready to face the day.

"Well Stevens, you look like shit," Derek observed cheerfully.

"Ha ha ha," Jake replied sarcastically. "You are so observant why words simply fail me to describe your ability to pick up obvious things." Derek grinned, knowing full well that his friend was only so sarcastic when he was really pissed off with him or something else.

"I'm touched. Didn't know you paid attention to the performances of my amazing talents I put on especially for you," Derek replied, batting his eyelashes in what he hoped was a flattered manner. Jake snorted into his coffee, but didn't comment.

~~*~~

"How many times do I have to say it? I AM NOT GOING!" Draco shouted, his patience finally running out.

"But you're the only one they'll probably listen to," Hermione reasoned.

"And why would I care about something like that?" he drawled. Hermione threw her hands up in the air in frustration.

"You might not care about what's going to happen to the wizarding world, but I do!" she huffed angrily. Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Really? You actually care about something? Never occurred to me that someone like you could have feelings," Draco said, hoping that if he insulted her enough, she'll leave him alone.

"You're the one to talk," Ron spat at him. Draco smiled.

"Oh and now, after that refreshing opinion from you Weasley I'm going to run off and find Potter," Draco shot back smugly. It wasn't that he didn't want to save the wizarding world, but the fact that he couldn't understand why no one else could go and get Harry Potter.

I mean, it's not he's going to bite their head off or something, Draco thought as Ron's face slowly turned the colour of his hair. They had been trapped in the office for the night and dawn was starting to break out over the horizon. Draco was cranky and he wanted something, anything, soft so that he could collapse on it and sleep.

But nooooo, we have to stay here and think of ways to convince me to get Potter back. How bad can he be? Draco mused to himself, ignoring the ranting of Ron. On second thoughts, I suppose I really don't want to be in Weasley's shoes and go get him as well, Draco continued to ponder as he remembered the look of pure hurt and unforgiven-ness (A/N okay, that's not a word. So sue me! I need to make up the words, to get across the point) Harry had shot his friends before he port keyed out of there.

"Malfoy are you listening to me?" Ron shouted. Draco shot him a look at anger.

"No how can I possibly hear you. After all you are standing right next to me and bellowing into my ear," Draco replied sarcastically. Ron glared at him and was about to go into one of his ravings when Albus held up his hands.

"Ron please, give Draco some space," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Draco and Ron both turned and glared at the headmaster, clearly finding nothing at all amusing with this.

"Draco please go and fetch Harry for us. I know you don't want to, but there is no one else, not after we treated him," Albus added, with sadness. Draco mentally rolled his eyes.

Not the guilt thing, he thought.

Oh for crying out loud Draco, just go and get Potter, how hard can it be? The cranky part of him asked.

But I don't want to, the I'm-used-to-getting-what-I-want-and-you-can't-make-me-do-that bit of himself answered.

Well you don't want to be stuck in here forever do you? The first voice asked.

No, but I don't want to go to America and get Potter either.

Wimp.

Take that back! I'm not a wimp!

Yes you are.

If I'm a wimp then that makes you a-

Shut up! Draco's brain told them. Draco pulled himself out of his internal conflict and looked around the room. Everyone was looking at him with hopeful expressions. He sighed in defeat.

"Fine," he answered. The room burst into cheers. "But-" Draco sneered inwardly as the room stopped cheering abruptly and looked at him with foreboding.

"- if I die, then I'll come back and haunt you till you die yourselves."

With that somewhat pathetic threat made Draco stood up and stalked out of the room.

~~*~~

Jake ran his hand through his black hair with auburn streaks for the thousandth time that day. Placing his hand back on the table, Jake noted that it was covered with hair gel.

Great, he thought sulkily while simultaneously sticking a 'kick me' sign on Michael Baxter's back. When Michael turned back to him, Jake's face was a picture of perfect innocence. This of course made the brown haired man suspicious.

"Alright Stevens, what did you do?' he asked coldly. Jake feigned innocence.

"Me?" he asked, pointing to himself. Michael snorted.

"Who else?" he asked. Jake grinned mischievously.

"Well you could've meant Derek or Jane over there. Or maybe even," Jake dropped his voice at this point, almost whispering as if sharing something sacred with the person he hated the most. Much to his own dismay, Michael found himself lowering to hear what Jake was going to say.

"Or maybe even," Jake paused here and looked around as if checking for eavesdroppers. "Santa Clause."

Michael pushed himself up in disgust and blushed as Jake burst out laughing.

"You are impossible Jake Nicholas Stevens!" Michael exclaimed angrily before stomping out of the office and into the hall. Jake covered his mouth with his hand as he watched people stifle laughter and point to Michael's back. Jake lowered his head into his arms and laughed, his shoulders shaking.

~~*~~

That night Jake and Derek were sitting down and about to enjoy a late night movie when the doorbell rang. Jake suddenly felt cold. He had a bad feeling bout this as if he didn't want to know when was behind door.

Don't be stupid Stevens, Jake thought to himself as he looked pointedly at Derek, his eyes saying, well go on, and get the damn door. Derek snorted.

"I'm not getting off my arse to get the door. It's probably your old girlfriend. What was her name again? Jennifer? Patricia? And how long did she last? Two weeks? Surely a record," Derek drawled on, ignoring the looks Jake sent his way.

"Oh, just shut up! I'll go get the bloody door," Jake said irritably as he stood up and made his way to the door.

Opening it, Jake Nicholas Stevens froze.

In the doorway stood a man. He was twenty something by the looks of it and had pale blond hair. His silver eyes roamed the room before settling on Jake. Jake cursed inwardly.

He hadn't seen this man in four years, but there was no doubt who he was.

Draco Malfoy.