Past Perspective

And They All Came Tumbling Down

Draco flew low and made a graceful landing. As he looked into the clearing, he was afraid he'd been mistaken about seeing anyone there. But he knew that they were probably Death Eaters, and that Death Eater protocol was to remain silent and cloaked for at least five minutes or more, depending on how secure the location was. Sure enough, five minutes later, Avery, Nott, and his father appeared out of thin air.

"Well, have you gotten them on our side yet?" Lucius said, addressing both Avery and Nott.

They looked at each other nervously for a moment. "No, sir, we have not," Nott replied.

Lucius glared daggers at them. 'If looks could kill,' thought Draco, "they would be dead, dismembered, and mutilated- about fifty bloody times over'.

"Why not?" Lucius demanded. Draco could see him struggling to keep control of his temper.

They looked at each other nervously again. This time Avery spoke. "Well, sir, we could not get into the 'home' to talk to the 'sweet ones,' and the 'bunnies' were too distrustful to let us in."

"Did you not tell them how much better they would be treated under my rule?"

"We tried, but they simply shoved us out."

"They do not have as much magic as you- you easily could have overpowered them and gotten in. Why did you not do that?" The glint in Lucius' eyes was getting harder, harsher.

Avery looked like he was about to stare at him in disbelief, but luckily for his own sake, he curbed that reaction and tried to put on a face conveying humility. "Well, sir," he said evenly, "you said not to push too hard because they get frightened and distrust very easily. We did not want to push too hard and therefore destroy any chance of getting them to join us."

Draco saw Lucius narrow his eyes. He knew his father realized that Avery and Nott had failed because of his own instruction, and not because of any fault of their own. He also knew his father's ego-it was remarkably similar to his own- and was sure that Lucius would do something to punish them. Lucius wanted them to believe that he was the supreme leader and could do nothing imperfect, and therefore the problem was always on their part.

"Silencio," Lucius whispered. Although it was almost inaudible, there was such force behind it that he could have simply mouthed the words and the spell still would have worked. He smirked; Draco knew which curse would come.

"Crucio!" The smirk turned into a satisfied grin as he watched them twitching on the ground, trying to control the screams which would not come out of their mouths. Their faces contorted with a mixture of pain from the curse and pain from trying not to show it. Draco could see how much his father enjoyed seeing them like that, and his annoyance that he had to stop. Death Eaters in St. Mungo's would not do him much good.

"I said not to push too hard, I didn't say not to push at all," he said to rebuke them. He sighed impatiently. "Never mind. I'll get someone a little more competent to do these jobs." He lifted up his sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark.

"Crouch!" he hissed in Parseltongue. He waited a moment for the snake to come out of the skull, signifying a reply, and hissed again.

"Meet me in Knockturn Ally." Of course, he didn't actually mean Knockturn Ally. That was just the code for Godric's Hollow. When he was satisfied that Crouch would be there, he rolled down his sleeve and Apparated away, not even bothering to give a parting to Nott and Avery.

Draco thought Nott and Avery would Apparate away as well, but to his surprise they just sat quietly for a few moments, and then began to speak.

"Thinks he's something, huh?" Avery said spitefully, but quietly.

"Yeah," replied Nott. "The problem is that he thinks he's Voldemort, only he's not half as talented as our Lord." He sighed and turned to look Avery in the eye. "Think we can overthrow him?"

Avery shook his head. "Not yet- we have to wait until more Death Eaters realize he's only great in his mind. We should go. This forest is not a good place to stay, it's too close to the school."

It's a bit late to be worrying about that, Draco thought.

"Agreed," said Nott. And they both Apparated out of the Forbidden Forest.

Even before they were gone, Draco stepped into the clearing and sat down, trying to make sense of what had just transpired. He assumed the 'bunnies' and 'sweet ones' were people they'd been trying to recruit, but there were so many different groups that Draco couldn't figure out which ones those names referred to.

Also, he knew that he should warn his father of Avery's and Nott's plans, but somehow, he couldn't bring himself to care about what might happen to that bastard of a person. Yes, Lucius was technically his father, but the only thing he'd ever taught Draco was how to feel superior and hide any emotion. Well, the feeling of superiority he was glad for, but he was honestly tired of his father's obsession that Draco learn to endure any pain. He decided that he could not bring himself to tell his father about the mutinous plans because he would really be much happier if Lucius were out of his life.

He did, however, want to tell Lucius that he had overheard the conversation. He smiled to himself; oh, yes, it would be very nice to rub it in Lucius' face that his plans could have been revealed had it been someone else instead of Draco standing so near. Draco was contented for a moment, glad that his day was looking up after that disaster of a potion with Weasley.

He blinked out of his satisfied mode, immediately going back to worrying about what Weasley had heard of his thoughts, and mulling over what he himself had heard of Weasley's thoughts. He shook his head to clear it and hurried off for the Slytherin Common Room. On the way, he tried to distract himself with thinking of the nasty-but-at-the-same-time-super-sweet letter he would send to his father

* * *

Pansy sat on a semi-cushioned chair, trying to concentrate on her Potions essay, but really quite distracted by what she had heard in class. Harry had sounded quite upset, and very hurt. She was surprised because she had always seen him as the 'golden boy' who had anything he wanted simply because he'd survived a deadly attack when he was young, the hero who always came in the nick of time to save the day. She had never really thought before about the toll all of that rescuing took on him.

To add to her annoyance, she was confused about Draco. He had always maintained that Potter lapped up the attention and tried to get it by claiming that he had done great things, but Pansy was beginning to doubt that. The thoughts she had heard indicated that Harry did indeed do great things. And surely Harry Potter knew if he truly did the things he claimed better than Malfoy did. She sighed. This was getting way too complicated. Why did Snape have to put her with Potter, anyway? Draco was really the one that needed to understand him better.

And what did she feel for Draco now? She didn't know exactly. She had always admired him for his aplomb and superior air and practically panted after him, but now she wasn't so sure that his world was as right side up as she had thought. She had thought that Draco always perceived things accurately and objectively- although with Potter she allowed for some subjectivity- but now she was beginning to think that his mental feeling of superiority had blinded him to truth. On the bright side, at least now she may be able to get over Draco and move on to someone who actually liked her. She decided she would need to talk to him to be sure.

Then, as if some cosmic force had heard her need and answered immediately, Draco entered the room. He looked smug, as usual. She waved him over.

"Hey," he said breathlessly as he sat down. Pansy noticed his cheeks were bright pink.

"Where have you been?" she asked.

"Flying around the Forbidden Forest," he said casually, anticipating how she would take the news. Usually, her face would take on an expression of extreme worry. It was slightly amusing how much she worried about him when he clearly did not reciprocate, and he could really do with some amusement now.

He was disappointed, however, when she just said equally casually, "Well, as long as you know that it's forbidden for a reason," and then went back to her essay. She saw the surprise that registered in his eyes, although he quickly covered it up, and smiled inwardly. Who would have thought getting over Draco Malfoy would be more fun than actually succeeding in getting a date with him?

Pansy was pleased to see that Draco was silent for a moment, no doubt confused by her sudden change of attitude towards him. She just calmly continued writing her essay, waiting for him to make a move.

"Is that the Potions essay?" he asked.

"Mm-hm." she said.

"You were paired with Potter, right?"

She had been expecting this. She looked up at him. "Yeah, I was."

Draco smiled, obviously comfortable to get ready for a session of Potter-bashing. "So, does he think anything interesting? Or does he just mull over the many accomplishments he claims he did?"

A part of Pansy wanted to tell Draco to lay off because she thought Harry might be suicidal, but she knew that he would just laugh. Another part of her longed for the familiar Potter-bashing she and Draco had grown close over, but somehow she didn't think that that would satisfy her. She decided to agree with him and get herself out of there so she could sort out her thoughts.

"He actually did mull over his accomplishments," she replied.

"Typical Potter. Mulls over things he didn't do so he feels good."

Pansy was suddenly becoming very irritated with Draco's attitude, so she decided to give him some of her own.

"Actually, he doesn't do that," she said angrily. This time, Draco did not try to hide his surprise. Pansy decided to push him just a little more.

"And he really did do those things, you're just too jealous and pompous to believe it." With that, she gathered her things and walked decisively and quickly out of the room; leaving Malfoy wondering what the hell just happened.

After she stormed out of the Common Room, Pansy didn't really know where to go. She generally hung out with Draco and...well, she had kind of neglected her other friends. She decided on the library, because it was open until ten and hopefully she'd be able to avoid Draco by the time she went back. She was torn between her dependence on Draco and her new feelings towards Harry. She was so distracted in her thoughts that she didn't notice, as she was turning a corner, that a person was coming-

OOF! She fell backwards, her bag flying in the other direction. Lots of pieces of parchment were scattering around her, but she assumed they must belong to the person she had collided with because she didn't have loose bits of parchment. Oh, wait- the person she had collided with! She looked up to see who it was, and saw none other than 'Loony' Luna Lovegood.

"Here," said Luna, as she offered Pansy a hand.

"Thanks," Pansy said a bit uncertainly; she always felt disconcerted around the spacey girl.

They went to pick up their belongings, and Pansy noticed Luna sighing and resigning herself to pick up the many, many bits of parchment. The girl had offered her a hand up, the least she could do was help her get her stuff.

"Accio Parchments!" she cried, and all of the pieces zoomed neatly into her hand. "Here you go," she said, handing them to Luna. Luna, instead of looking happy, looked quite shocked. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. Just, when you Summoned the parchment, I thought you were going to scatter it even more. Oh, I mean nothing against you personally! It's just that people think I'm 'loony,' so they find it amusing to take my things and make me hunt them down." She smiled sadly, but made her statement very matter-of-factly.

Pansy almost felt bad for the girl. It was easier to see her normally now, when she was sounding like any other person.

Luna saw this, and went to head it off. "Oh, it's really not as bad as it sounds. It's like a really annoying screening system- I think of myself as lucky, even, that I get to glimpse people's true characters so quickly." She smiled that sad smile again. "I have to go. Thanks for helping me." Then she walked towards the Gryffindor tower.

Pansy looked after her for a moment, suddenly curious about her, but then decided to stick her questions in the back of her mind so she could concentrate on resolving her issue with Draco. She set off to the library once again, this time looking to make sure she did not bump into anyone. Still, she could not banish all other thoughts from her mind. She wondered to herself, 'when did life get so weird?'

* * *

'How did life get so weird?' Harry thought. He was lying in his bed, musing as usual, and getting a little bored because he had done all he wanted, so there really wasn't anything for him to do. Amazingly, he had managed to finish all of his schoolwork for the weekend, although he didn't know how on earth he had managed to focus so well. He supposed he shouldn't try and jinx it. He glanced at his watch, again surprised that it worked despite being a Muggle electronic device, and was actually glad to see it was almost ten. He'd go to sleep soon and then he wouldn't have to be bored.

Now was the time to think about what he could do to help Neville, he knew that. Just, he didn't want to have another thing to be concerned about just when he'd gotten a handle on what he already had to do. Okay, so he was concerned about Neville already, but being concerned was very different than acting on it. Because if he acted on it, then he would have a responsibility to keep doing whatever he had to do to help Neville. Suddenly, it occurred to him what he wanted: not to be responsible for anyone but himself, if just for little bit.

He was stunned for a second at the revelation, and probably would have stayed that way for a few more minutes had Ron not entered. Harry blinked and looked up.

"Hey, Ron," Harry said calmly, trying not to betray the worry in his voice. Well, there flies your chance at no responsibility, hear the nice whooshing sound it makes as it goes by, said a small voice in his head. Shut up! he said right back.

A second after Ron had come in, Harry knew something was wrong. Ron was usually running, or gave the impression that he was running in his head at least, but this time he had walked in quietly and looked subdued.

"Hey Harry," Ron replied. He slowly went and sat on his bed, then sighed. Harry was impatient, but knew that if he waited, Ron would tell him whatever was the matter.

"How'd Ginny do?" Ron asked

"Huh?" was the confused reply.

"Ginny- my little sister, flaming red hair, really spunky, remember her?- she said she tried out for the team. How'd she do?"

"Oh, she was great. Good flying, precise handling- why didn't you tell me she was good before?"

"Well, I didn't really know till recently. We just figured out why one of our brooms was always tired when us boys would get back from something." He paused and allowed a sheepish grin. "Guess we aren't the superior ones, huh?"

"Yeah." Harry echoed. Then there was silence. The conversation had been nice, and it was so similar to their regular banter, but Harry knew there was still something irking Ron.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"You know that potion we did today?" Ron paused while Harry waited patiently. "I heard some stuff that...I don't know, it makes me feel kinda weird."

"Weird how?"

"Like I'm seeing Malfoy in a different way, sort of, but I'm trying not to."

"Uh huh. What kind of way?"

Ron sighed. "Well, I used to think of him as this bastard of a git- and don't get me wrong, I still do, that's the weird part- but now I would almost feel pity for him."

"Almost?"

"If it was anyone but Malfoy, I'd feel sorry for him. I mean, what he went through must have been tough, but everyone has his choice, you know?"

"What do you mean 'what he went through?'" Harry asked. "What did you hear when you took the potion?"

Ron bit his lip, seeming to deliberate whether to tell Harry or not. Harry was, to tell the truth, a little insulted, but decided it really wasn't important to concentrate on that one thing. "Okay, I'll tell you. Just, promise not to tell people, alright?"

"Sure."

"OK. I don't know the details of what happened, but I know his father was awful to him his whole life, and still is, and I think that's why he grew up to be such a jerk. Like, he had to be tough and show his father that he was, or his father would think of him as weak and put some painful spells on him."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. Well, I think so. See, it started that he was talking- or thinking, or whatever- about the 'annoying Weasleys' and what his father would say if he knew what poor Draco had to put up with (Ron made a face and used a sarcastic tone at that). Then he said that he'd actually rather not hear his father speak at all, because it was usually to criticize him for some weakness or other, and Draco was sick of being put down all of the time. Then he contrasted that treatment with my mother's, saying how she's so gushing and silly, but I think he sounded a little wistful, you know? Like he wished his mother was gushing and silly just to show that she cared about him." Ron paused for a moment.

"Wow," Harry said. "I kind of suspected something like that. I mean, I met Lucius only for a few minutes and I could tell he was an awful person. I couldn't imagine living with him, having him as a father..." Harry shuddered. "It does explain why he always has to put down you and Ginny. Not that that excuses-"

"Ginny! Oh, man, I almost forgot- he said something about Ginny! That's right, the bastard actually thought about my little sister, can you believe the nerve?" Ron's ears and face were quickly turning a flaming red, and his breathing came more heavily, like he was panting just to keep himself from exploding. "He said something like 'I'm tired annoying the little Weasley. I mean, with the older one, there's just so much wrong with him to criticize.'- what does he know anyway, huh?"

But then, he said, 'The little Weasley is rather attractive and decently smart, and she's definitely got some attitude to fight back. It does bother me a little to criticize someone who really has nothing to criticize- I hate it when it's done to me.' Who would've thought Malfoy would have a conscience? But still, about my sister!" Ron was still fuming.

Harry, on the other hand, was thinking. If Malfoy really thought this, there was hope for him yet. He smiled- a tiny smile, but a real one. Hope. He hadn't felt that in a long time. And to think, it had come because of Malfoy. Irony of ironies.

"Harry? Why are you smiling? This is not good news! You know what, I think I'm going to go have a talk with him," Ron said, and he got up to leave.

"Ron, don't, that'll just make it worse, if there is even anything there. I don't think he said it very seriously, but you're missing the important thing here: Malfoy is thinking of doing something decent for the right reasons."

"Oh," Ron said. With a slightly shocked look on his face, he sat down softly on the bed once more. "You're right, he really is."

The boys sat silently like that for a long while, just pondering.

* * *

Ginny was running form the library, practically bounding towards the dormitory. She was so happy that she'd finally get to play Quiddich on a real team, with all of the violence and shoving. She smiled to herself- most people would be appalled or scared by it, but to her it just made the game more fun.

She was so preoccupied that she didn't realize she'd gone past the staircase she needed and was heading toward the dungeons instead. She turned around and suddenly her face was no more than five inches away from Draco Malfoy's.

"Ah!" she cried, more from surprise than fear. "What are you doing?"

"You mean, what am I doing on the way to my common room? I can see why you asked, it's just so odd," he said sarcastically. "What are you doing here, little Miss Weasley?"

"Miss? Wow you're actually being civil today. Maybe there's hope for you yet, " she said wryly. "I was going to my dorm but went too far, and I turned around to go back when I came face to face with you- literally." Her tone was not a happy one. "Why were you so close to me?"

Draco's breath caught for a millisecond- her direct questioning caught him off guard- but he quickly covered himself. "I wasn't trying to be, trust me. I was just walking faster than you and when you stopped suddenly I almost crashed into you."

Ginny looked at him warily. After studying him for a moment appraisingly, she said, "Mmm-hmm. I'm going up now." She then brushed past him and was about to turn the corner when she paused for a moment and turned, eyes shooting straight to his.

"Try not to 'almost crash' into me on the way up." With that, she walked off daintily.

Draco looked after her for a moment, then shook himself and continued walking towards his dorm. What a rude girl. He deserved more leeway than that. It wasn't his fault he'd been so distracted, it was Pansy's. He could not seem to get what she said out of his head.

But later, when he was lying in his bed, there was another thing he could not get out of his head. A certain sassy twinkle in two brown eyes with tiny dark flecks right before they turned a corner, just out of sight.