The Reason

Chapter 21

'I don't want you to give it all up, and leave your own life collecting dust. And I don't want you to feel sorry for me; you never gave us a chance to be. And I don't need you to be by my side to tell me that everything's all right. I just wanted you to tell me the truth; you know I'd do that for you. Why are you running away? Why are you running away? 'Cause I did enough to show you that I was willing to give and sacrifice. And I was the one who was lifting you up when you thought your life had had enough. And when I get close, you turn away. There's nothing that I can do or say. So now I need you to tell me the truth; you know I'd do that for you. So why are you running away? Why are you running away? Is it me, is it you? Nothing that I can do to make you change your mind. Is it me, is it you? Nothing that I can do? Is it a waste of time? So why are you running away? Why are you running away? What is it I've got to say? So why are you running away? To make you admit you're afraid, why are you running away?' "Why are you running away?" ~ Hoobastank

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"Professor Dumbledore, I don't really see that this is necessary. If you ask me, it's better if we all just stay away from each other so that we don't arouse suspicion," Draco said irritably. He, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had all been pulled out of Transfiguration, their first class of the day, for a meeting with the Headmaster.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy, but I didn't ask you, and it's too late, anyway. Apparently you don't read the Daily Prophet, because if you did, you would realize we've already aroused enough suspicion for a front page article."

"Oh." Draco sat down dejectedly.

"So, we're doing damage control. Our story is that Harry was kidnapped by Lucius, and Draco, who has been working for us all along, contacted me. Ron and Hermione managed to find out and went to Harry's rescue as well. However, Lucius was unhinged, and when I arrived, I was forced to duel with him to save all of you. That is all you are to tell anyone. No spells, no vampires, no Honeydukes passage, nothing but the bare facts. Understood?"

They all nodded.

"You may return to class."

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"Draco, we need to talk," Harry said quietly. Hermione and Ron had gone ahead, leaving Harry and Draco alone.

"No, we really don't, Potter."

There was a flash of anguish in Harry's eyes when Draco called him 'Potter', but he covered it quickly.

"After today everyone is going to know that you're on our side, so it's not like you need to pretend to hate me anymore."

"Who's pretending?" Draco said icily, and quickened his pace, leaving Harry standing at the foot of the stairs, tears in his eyes.

Chapter 22

'Let's talk this over, it's not like we're dead. Was it something I did? Was it something You said? Don't leave me hanging in a city so dead, held up so high on such a breakable thread. You were all the things I thought I knew, and I thought we could be. You were everything, everything that I wanted. We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it. All of the memories, so close to me, just fade away. All this time you were pretending, so much for my happy ending. It's nice to know that you were there, thanks for acting like you cared, and making me feel like I was the only one. It's nice to know we had it all, thanks for watching as I fall, and letting me know we were done. You were everything, everything that I wanted. We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it. All of the memories, so close to me, just fade away. All this time you were pretending, so much for my happy ending.' "My Happy Ending" ~ Avril Lavigne

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Draco walked quickly, hoping Harry wouldn't follow him. Honestly, couldn't he take a hint? He couldn't stand it anymore; every single class, every meal, he was there, staring at Draco with those sad, hopeful eyes. And now everyone knew that something had happened, and they were all staring and whispering all the time. Without even thinking, Draco changed directions and headed for the Honeydukes passage.

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Harry caught up with Ron and Hermione, who had waited for him several classrooms away, and they were on their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts when a voice spoke up.

"Are you Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger?"

They turned around to see a girl of about their age in Ravenclaw robes looking nervously at them.

"Yes, we are. I'm Harry, the psychotic Parseltongue, and these are my best friends, the dark wizards who helped me kill a man just this morning before breakfast, and we're about to go finish off his wife," Harry snapped angrily, and immediately regretted it.

The girl's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back and attempted a weak smile.

"I'm sorry, I guess I deserved that," she said softly.

"No, you didn't! Harry's just a huge prat!" Hermione said, glaring at Harry.

"She's right, I am a prat. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I've just had a bad day."

"Why would you say you deserved it?" Hermione asked curiously.

"You don't know who I am? I'm Clare Goldbrooke - I gave the interview to the Daily Prophet. I just came to apologize. I didn't realize he was a reporter. He had been in the bar the whole time, and he looked like he was my age, and he came up and just started talking to me, asking what I had seen and what I thought happened. I thought he was just curious. And he completely twisted everything I said to make it sound more interesting. I really am very sorry. I was horrified when I saw the article."

"It's okay. They would've printed the story anyway, so at least this way they had accurate information. Really, I'm just in a bad mood today; it's not your fault at all."

"Just ignore him," Ron said comfortingly. "We already do, bad mood or not, so we're used to it," he added with a smile. "Is today your first day?"

"Yes, I'm so excited!"

"Do you like it here so far? Aside from the occasional prats you encounter?" Ron said with a sideways glare at Harry.

Clare laughed. "Yeah, it's pretty cool so far. I'm really excited about classes - especially Defense Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures; everyone says the teachers are excellent."

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Harry sat in Defense Against the Dark Arts later that day, staring unseeingly at Professor Lupin as he listened to what they would need to know for their exams.

"Harry, help!"

Harry's head snapped up, and he looked wildly around the room, certain someone was playing a joke on him, not daring to hope that...

"Harry, it's me, Draco. I need your help."

"Harry, is there something wrong?" Professor Lupin asked gently.

"Yes, Professor, I think I'm going to be sick. May I go see Madam Pomfrey?"

"Yes, Harry," Professor Lupin said with a barely concealed sigh.

As Harry gathered his things, he caught Hermione's eye and mouthed, "Draco - in trouble."

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Draco had been walking along the street to the Hog's Head when he had been ambushed. Goyle, Wormtail, and a Death Eater he couldn't identify, all dressed in cloaks that concealed their faces, had descended on him.

"Draco, my dear boy, you didn't really think that the Dark Lord would let such a traitor as you live, did you?" Goyle asked, his voice sending shivers down Draco's spine. Goyle may not have been very intelligent, but he was very cruel and vindictive.

"Your father was the Dark Lord's most treasured servant, and because of you, he's dead. Your own father, Draco; I just don't understand it."

"Well, I'd love to explain it to you, but I really should get back to school," Draco said coldly.

"Oh, I don't think you need to worry about school anymore," Wormtail said with a little giggle.

"We decided we don't want the Potter boy. At least not yet, anyway. First, you'll become a vampire, just like your father. After all, his power is in your blood, whether you accept it or not. Then, you will lure the Potter boy to us, and he'll come, because for some strange reason, he cares for you very deeply, that much is obvious. And you will sire him. A wonderful plan, isn't it?"

Draco called out to Harry then, not sure it would even work, but knowing he had to try. He sighed with relief when he heard Harry's voice inside his head once again.

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"Where are you, Draco?"

"Outside Honeydukes. I think they're taking me to the Shrieking Shack."

"Who's they?"

"Goyle, Wormtail, and one other Death Eater. Wait, Harry, you're not planning to come after me, are you? When I said help, I meant tell Dumbledore, and he can come help me."

"Too late. I'm already halfway through the passage, and if I told Dumbledore, they might have killed you by the time we get there. Besides, if Dumbledore finds out that you left school willingly, you'll be in some deep shit. So, what the hell happened, anyway?"

"I snuck out of school, just to spend the day at Hogsmeade and have some fun, and the second I stepped outside, they were there. I'm sorry, Harry."

"It's fine. Listen, I'm going to try and get to the Shrieking Shack before you, okay?"

Harry Apparated in to the Shrieking Shack just in time. He had just taken up residence in a remote corner when the door burst open.

"But master, do we have to do it here?" Wormtail whined. "I nearly died the last time I was here."

"Shut up!" the third Death Eater roared, and Harry knew in an instant who it was. It was Voldemort - the pain in his scar never lied.

"If you don't quit complaining, I'll feed you to the Potter boy when he completes the transformation!" Wormtail was silent.

Draco entered next, followed by Goyle. Once they were all inside, Harry took a deep breath and threw off the Invisibility Cloak.

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Voldemort started laughing, a cold, high-pitched laugh that sent chills down Draco's spine.

"Well done, boys. I suppose this means your mental connection is still intact. Lucius was always the most devoted, but not necessarily the most competent servant I had. But this works perfectly."

"No, it doesn't," Harry said coldly. "You needed Draco alone first for this to work. As it is, he's practically as strong as you, and now that I'm here, we're unbeatable. You've never even been able to overpower me alone. I've never been able to overpower you, either, though. So, I have a proposition. We both have something that the other wants, so I suggest a trade."

"I know what you want, but what could you possibly have that I want?"

"You forget so quickly? How unlike you. The prophecy. You give me Draco, and I give you the prophecy," Harry said calmly.

"Don't be silly, boy, that was destroyed in the Ministry of Magic the night Bella killed your mangy pet dog."

To anyone who didn't know him, the words would have appeared to have no effect on Harry, but Draco saw him tense, and felt the rage surging through Harry. Harry took a deep breath, knowing he had to stay calm; Voldemort was trying to bait him, and make him slip up.

"The physical copy was destroyed, yes. But the person who heard the prophecy the night it was made still lives. This person has kindly shared the prophecy with me. If you let Draco go, I will tell you."

"Am I to trust you?" Voldemort sneered. "How do I know that the second I release your lover, you won't make a run for it?"

"Where would I go?" Harry asked, his voice dripping with condescension. "You and your thugs are blocking the only exit. Besides, you want the Prophecy and we both know it. So cut the crap and let Draco go."

"Fine. Release him."

"But, master," Goyle protested.

"Do you want to join Lucius?" Voldemort snapped.

Goyle released Draco, who walked unsteadily over to Harry.

"Apparate to Honeydukes," Harry thought urgently at him, and the second Draco reached Harry, they were gone, disappearing into thin air.