Falling Into You, Chapters One to Three

Chapter One: Finding Lucius

"Bloody hell!" Harry growled to himself as he paced Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station. His uncle, Vernon Dursley, a mean, fat, pompous, horrible Muggle, took his time taking Harry to the train station and Harry had missed the Hogwarts Express.

Harry sat down on a bench, chuckling softly. He remembered the last time he had missed the train. Dobby, the Malfoys' house-elf, had kept both him and Ron from gaining access to the Hogwarts Express. Since they couldn't take the train, they took Ron's father's car instead.

That was in his second year. Now Harry was in his seventh year and he was thrilled, because he never had to set foot inside the Dursleys' household ever again.

He searched through his trunk for a piece of parchment, a quill, and some ink. He quickly jotted down a note telling Dumbledore what happened. He could just imagine what Snape would say about this.

He sent Hedwig off to Hogwarts immediately. Harry decided that the best thing that he could do was to wait to hear from Dumbledore. There was no sense in wandering around and risk getting into trouble. He'd already had enough of that in his short lifetime and with Voldemort still out there, bent on making Harry's life a living hell, he was bound to have even more trouble in the too-near future.

So Harry decided to wait on the bench on Platform 9 3/4. One of the employees passed by and asked him why he was still sitting there. Harry explained what happened and the man took pity on Harry. He brought Harry some sandwiches, sweets, and drinks, and he pointed Harry to the nearest toilet, in case Harry felt the need to heed the call of nature. Harry paid the man for the food and thanked him profusely.

Harry ate two of the sandwiches and two bars of chocolate in about five minutes. He was starving, since the Dursleys were in such a hurry to get him out of the house that he didn't have time to eat. Not that they didn't make it a point to take the longest route to King's Cross, waiting to drop Harry off at the last moment.

Once Harry's hunger was sated, he pulled out his new Advanced Potions book. He decided that if he was going to get a head start in one of his classes, it might as well be his most difficult subject, Potions.

Harry smiled at the thought of Snape fainting in shock, however unlikely that was. For once, Harry wasn't behind in any of his schoolwork. He'd made a deal with the Dursleys when he got home for the summer: he could do all his homework and let Hedwig out whenever she wanted, in exchange for Harry's solemn promise (and written word) that he wouldn't step foot in the Dursleys' house ever again. That was one promise that Harry would never break.

All in all, the summer hadn't been that bad. The Dursleys mainly ignored Harry, pretending he simply didn't exist. That was fine with Harry. He was allowed to eat whatever he wanted without hearing them complain, and he didn't have to do any chores, except to wash his own dishes and clothes. He spent all of his time either doing his schoolwork or sitting outside. As a result, he was going back to Hogwarts healthy and tanned, not too skinny and sickly-looking.

Harry spent the next four hours going through the book, looking for the potions that Professor Snape was most likely to pick for the students- the ones most difficult to make. He jotted down notes, making detailed parchments of each and every one of those potions, adding all the directions that could be found in the footnotes and appendices. He was determined to show Snape that he wasn't completely stupid when it came to creating potions.

He just hoped that it wouldn't cause his house to lose points in the long run.

Harry put away his book and supplies, stood up, stretched, and walked around a bit. He figured that it would be at least another hour before Hedwig reached Hogwarts. He knew she would beat the train to Hogwarts, since she would fly in a straight line, while the train had to make all those twists and turns, going out of the way to follow the terrain.

Harry used the toilet, ate two more sandwiches, and sat back to wait. Over an hour later, Harry had just settled on the bench again when he heard a sound come from above him, almost like a loud POP! He looked up just in time to see a naked bum heading directly for him. Startled, he leant back, since he didn't have enough time to move out of the way, and a human being, one without a stitch on, fell onto his lap. Harry yelped in pain at the impact and the bench underneath him groaned in protest.

Harry stared at the person on top of him. He could tell it was a man by the limp cock in his line of vision. Harry's gaze drifted to the face of the seemingly unconscious man and gasped in shock. He knew that face: Lucius Malfoy.

Harry quickly grabbed his wand, opened his trunk, and retrieved a robe. He used his wand to float it across the ground and transfigured it into a soft, thin mattress. He used a Levitation spell to gently lay the wounded man on the ground. Harry quickly retrieved his Invisibility Cloak and covered Lucius with it.

Harry looked around surreptitiously, wondering if anyone saw what had happened. No one else was around, so he knelt down and carefully pulled the cloak off Lucius's face.

Harry winced. The man looked absolutely dreadful. His face was black and blue, his bottom lip was split, and the right side of his face was swollen. Harry peeked further down Lucius's body and realised that the man's body was in much the same condition as his face.

Harry covered Lucius again and frowned. What could have happened to this man? Why did he just fall from the sky? Where was he? Who did this? Well, he had a good idea who did this, anyway.

Harry wanted to help him, but he didn't want to make the damage worse. He was fairly competent at Healing charms, but he thought it would be better to wait. The man was breathing steadily and didn't seem to be in danger of death.

Harry looked at the clock impatiently. Hedwig should have reached the castle by now. He hoped that a professor came soon.

His wish was granted fifteen minutes later when Severus Snape Apparated onto the platform.

Snape looked at Harry with disdain. 'Hurry up, Potter! We don't have all day,' he growled as he shrunk Harry's trunk and cage.

'Um, Sir, we have a little problem,' Harry said.

'What is it?' Snape snapped.

Harry carefully looked around and then stooped down. He pulled back the cloak to reveal the man underneath.

Snape looked at his old schoolmate in shock. 'What happened to him? What in blazes is he doing here? Is he naked?'

'I have no clue. About twenty minutes ago, he just dropped out of the sky. He was naked, beaten, and unconscious. I wanted to help him, but I was afraid that I might hurt him more than help. I don't really know the extent of his damage.'

'We must get him out of here. We'll have to take him with us.' Snape pulled out a Portkey. He grabbed Lucius's hand and held out the Portkey. 'Hold his other hand and grab the book.'

Harry paled but did as he was told. Soon he felt the familiar, nauseating tug of the Portkey. The three men tumbled into Albus Dumbledore's office. During their arrival, the cloak had shifted, so Harry covered Lucius again, giving the man his dignity, even if he was unconscious.

Dumbledore looked at the three newcomers, confused. 'What is this, Severus? Why is Lucius here, unconscious and naked?'

Severus motioned to Harry. While Harry explained what had happened to the Headmaster, Snape called for Pomfrey. Dumbledore shook his head and sighed. 'I'm guessing that his cover has been blown,' he said to Snape.

'I would have to say so, which means that we no longer have a spy within Voldemort's network.'

Harry gaped. 'Are you saying that Lucius Malfoy is- was a spy for the Order? Why didn't I know about this?' Harry asked, a bit insulted.

Pomfrey came through the fireplace and immediately set to work. Harry looked at Snape and Dumbledore, waiting for an answer, while Pomfrey assessed the injuries, to make sure it was safe to move him.

'Harry, no one but I knew, until Severus was found out. Only then did Severus find out that there was another spy. We couldn't risk Lucius's life like that.'

Harry nodded, still a bit irritated, but he understood. 'How long has he spied for you?'

'Since after the Triwizard Tournament. He realised that Voldemort was quite insane, after you had left and Voldemort was less than chipper, and the only interest that the Dark Lord had was to find you. He has a bit of an obsession when it comes to you.'

'You're telling me,' Harry mumbled. A little louder, he said, 'How did you know that you could trust him?' Harry watched as Pomfrey started healing the more urgent wounds.

'He took Veritaserum that Severus made, and I interrogated him,' Dumbledore replied.

'Well, he is not in immediate danger, but I suggest we get him to the hospital wing so I can finish healing him. I say that he probably needs at least two or three weeks bed rest. He really has been put through an ordeal,' Pomfrey said, pulling a shrunken stretcher out of her bag and resizing it. Harry ducked and then glared at Pomfrey when she nearly knocked his teeth out. 'Look out, Harry,' she muttered irritably.





'What are you going to tell Draco?' Harry asked a few moments later. 'The train will be here at any moment.' He, Dumbledore, and Snape were watching Pomfrey fuss over Lucius. Dumbledore had ordered her to place him in a private room in the hospital wing.

'Nothing for now. We'll have to wait until Lucius wakes up to see how he wants to handle this.'

'What are you talking about?' Harry asked.

Snape answered impatiently, 'Draco doesn't know that Lucius is a spy for Dumbledore. If he were to see him now, he may think that we did this. We don't want him erroneously running to Voldemort. Lucius is trying to keep his son from that madman.'

Harry nodded his understanding, ignoring the glare his professor threw his way, the one patented to say 'idiot.' Then, without knowing what compelled him to do so, he asked, 'Can I come to visit him?'

Pomfrey looked surprised at the request, but she nodded. 'You can come tomorrow, after classes. He should be awake by then. But until then I want you out, all of you. You can see him tomorrow. Tonight, all he will do is sleep. Now go,' Pomfrey said, gently shoving them out the door.

'Potter, you can go to Gryffindor house,' Snape said. 'I trust you won't get into any trouble before the Feast?'

'I can't make any promises,' Harry said, flashing a cheeky grin at his professor.

As Snape's eyes narrowed into slits and he opened his mouth, Dumbledore said, 'Severus, the school year hasn't started just yet, so you can't take points away.'

Snape snapped his mouth shut and glared at both Harry and the Headmaster. 'No matter,' he finally said. 'I'm sure Potter will be losing points soon enough.'

Harry made a face and rolled his eyes. Snape would always be Snape, no matter what. Then Harry smiled a bit when he thought of his professor reeling from shock when he found out that Harry wasn't the incompetent idiot that Snape thought he was.

'What are you smiling at, Potter?' Snape snapped.

'Nothing,' Harry called over his shoulder as he walked down the hallway. He forgot about his Potions professor and instead, his thoughts drifted to the man lying in the hospital wing.

Harry was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Lucius Malfoy was a spy. Lucius Malfoy, the man that allowed Tom Riddle's diary to wreak havoc on the school by releasing a basilisk to kill Muggle-born witches and wizards. He had also happily stood by and watched Voldemort torture Harry. The one man that he always thought was worse than Snape was now on their side. It was almost unreal.

And why had he, Harry, asked to go to visit him? What had possessed him to ask such a thing? What would be the point in going? Neither man liked each other. They had drastically different viewpoints on life and humanity.

But then again, Harry mused as he stepped in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, they were on the same side, at least for now, and Harry couldn't help but wonder what the Slytherin was really like. It also didn't hurt that the man was bloody gorgeous.

Harry looked up at the Fat Lady and grinned. 'Prefect Harry Potter reporting for duty,' he said brightly, giving the Fat Lady a mock salute.

The Fat Lady smiled at Harry. She had been expecting him. 'The password is "dragon scales,"' she told him, opening the portrait and allowing him inside.

'Thanks,' he said, stepping inside the common room. He ran quickly up to his dormitory, which he would shared with Ron Weasley, his best friend, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan, and Dean Thomas. When Harry got upstairs, he found his badge on the bedside table. Lavender Brown was the girl's Prefect, and Hermione, of course, was Head Girl this year. Harry wasn't sure who was Head Boy.

Harry found that his things had been brought up and tucked neatly away in their proper places. Harry went to the wardrobe and pulled out his robes, making a mental note to owl Madam Malkin's and order a new set of robes to replace the ones he left on Platform 9 3/4.

Harry shoved his Invisibility Cloak into his trunk and quickly pulled on his robes. He fastened his Prefect badge to the front of his robes and looked in the mirror. He tried, unsuccessfully, to tame his wild hair, gave up after a few moments, and then headed back down the stairwell.

He walked out of the Tower, waving to the Fat Lady, and headed toward the Great Hall. The students should have arrived by now, and he didn't want to miss the Sorting Ceremony.

While he walked, he thought some more about Lucius. He thought that maybe his desire to visit the man had to do with the thought that Lucius would be all alone in the hospital wing. Being found out as a spy would cause an ample amount of complications to Lucius Malfoy's life, and Harry thought that he might not like to be alone, worrying about what was going on. Harry didn't know why he cared, or if he were being stupid, thinking that Lucius would want to see him, but he figured if the Slytherin really didn't want him there, he would just tell Harry to leave.

As Harry suspected, the students were already in the Great Hall, chatting happily amongst themselves. Not all of the professors were present, so Harry figured that there were a few minutes to go before the Ceremony. He quickly made his way through the crowd and found Hermione and Ron sitting toward the end of the table, near the High Table.

Harry quickly sat down in the seat that they had saved for him. He smiled at both of them. 'Hi, Hermione, Ron.'

'Harry!' Hermione said shrilly. 'Where were you? You missed the train, and we had no idea if you were coming, or if something happened. We were so worried!'

Harry laughed and pulled her into a hug. 'I'm fine, Hermione. The Dursleys were late dropping me off at the station.'

'Undoubtedly done on purpose,' Ron said. 'It's good to see you, mate! It's too bad Dumbledore wouldn't let you come visit us this summer.'

'Well, you know what that's all about,' Harry muttered.

'You-Know-Who,' Ron said, frowning. 'What are we going to do about him?'

Harry smirked. 'We? You'd do better to get out of the line of fire. Voldemort wants me. Anyone else is just the icing on the cake. I do hope we find a way to stop him this year. I don't have any desire to hide from the world, once I'm done at Hogwarts. I would like to have my own life.'

'That's not funny,' Hermione muttered. 'And you know we'll help you in any way we can.'

'I know you will, but I don't want either of you hurt. I think we may have more of a chance of figuring it out this year,' Harry said, thinking of Lucius. That was another reason Harry was interested in talking to him. He wanted to know if Lucius had any ideas or suggestions on how to kill Voldemort, or at least incapacitate the Dark Lord, enough to make sure he never caused a problem again.

Ron looked like he was about to say something, but just then Professors Snape and Dumbledore sat down, and Professor McGonagall brought the first years in. Any further conversation would have to wait until later.

Harry sighed and watched as the first years nervously awaited the Sorting Ceremony. He smiled as he remembered how nervous he had been, not knowing what was required of him. He also remembered the panicky feeling he had when he thought that the Sorting Hat wouldn't be able to choose a house for him. His fears had been unfounded, as the fears of many of these first years were always unfounded.

As the Sorting Hat went into its rhyming poem, Harry's mind drifted back to the man lying in the hospital wing. The questions that had been plaguing him earlier resurfaced, and he really didn't know what to make of all that had happened today.

One thing he knew for sure… His seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was going to be long and interesting.





Chapter Two: Visiting Lucius


Harry groaned as the alarm went off right next to his ear. He reached over, feeling for the clock that was sitting on the bedside table. Finding it, he promptly picked it up and threw it against the wall. He smiled satisfactorily when he heard it shatter.

Just as he turned over to go back to sleep, he felt a hand rest upon his shoulder and roughly started shaking him.

'Harry, wake up,' Ron mumbled. He yawned as he continued shaking his friend awake.

'Don't want to,' Harry muttered, shrugging off his friend's hand and burying his face underneath his pillow.

'You have to,' Ron yawned. 'Hermione will be waiting for us.' Ron pulled the pillow off Harry's head and glared at him. It wasn't effective, since he could barely keep his eyes open.

'Why should that bother me? She's not my girlfriend,' Harry retorted, reaching for the pillow.

Ron kept the pillow out of reach. 'Yeah, but you're a Prefect. Unless you want a twenty-minute lecture about why Prefects should be punctual, I suggest you get up.' Ron tossed the pillow at the foot of Harry's bed and sleepily stumbled to the wardrobe. 'I don't like it any better than you do, mate.'

Harry groaned and kicked off the bedclothes. He and Ron really shouldn't have stayed up half the night talking, but Ron had wanted to tell Harry all about his trip to Romania, to see his brother, Charlie.

Ron and his entire family went, and Ron's oldest brother, Bill, joined them. They had spent two weeks in Romania, and Ron had had fun. Charlie Weasley was the Dragon Keeper at the Romanian Dragon Reserve, and the family had been able to go to the Reserve and see Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback that Hagrid had hatched from an egg in Harry's first year.

Ron had been a bit sad to see the dragon, especially since he knew that Hagrid would have loved a report on his beloved pet. Hagrid had died in Harry's fifth year, as a result of an attack on Hogsmeade, and things hadn't been the same at Hogwarts since then. Harry figured that the people at the school didn't realise how much Hagrid had been a part of life at the school. There were some things, some people, that just couldn't be replaced, and Hagrid was one of them.

Harry had told him all the boring details of his stay at the Dursleys' home, and he told him about being late to the train station. He also told Ron that he had got a head start on Potions, and how he'd love to make Snape die from shock.

Harry, however, didn't mention anything about Lucius Malfoy or the circumstances surrounding the man. Dumbledore had asked him to keep it a secret, and Harry didn't intend to break that promise. Aside from the fact that Ron would be highly sceptical about Lucius's allegiance, Harry was sure that Ron would use a full Body-Bind on him and ship him off to St. Mungo's if he thought that Harry was actually looking forward to talking to Lucius Malfoy.

If situations were reversed, Harry thought he might do the same, but Harry really was looking forward to seeing what the man had to say for himself. Lucius Malfoy had caused big problems for Harry in his second year, and since the basilisk almost killed Harry, he thought he was at least owed a few answers. Harry reasoned that there was nothing strange about that.

Telling Ron was out of the question for the time being, as well as Hermione. His two best friends were joined at the hip, or elsewhere in that particular vicinity, and what one knew, the other knew. Hermione was better at keeping things quiet, but if Ron got wind that she was hiding something, he knew exactly which buttons to push to get Hermione to spill all that she knew. Then Hermione would reason that telling Ron really was all for the best. Harry had learnt never to tell them anything he didn't want the other to know.

As Harry pulled his robes out, he tried to figure out how he was going to get away from the snogging duo. Only last night, Hermione had solemnly vowed that she and Ron were going to spend more time with Harry this year (last year, the two spent most of their time alone, forgetting Harry often), and she vowed that this new resolution was going to start that very moment.

Harry had to resist the urge to bang his head against the table. The one time he actually wanted to be left alone, and his friends decide that it's time to resurrect their old friendship. After watching the two feed each other bits of pastries while they were sitting in the common room, Harry wished that he was back in sixth year. At least then, Harry wouldn't have to watch.

'Hurry up, mate! Hermione will be waiting!' Ron said, rushing out the door, on his way to the bathroom.

'Yeah, yeah,' Harry mumbled. He picked up his toothbrush, and yawning widely and rather loudly, he trudged out the door.





Harry grimaced when he looked at his timetable. 'Do we really have to start with Advanced Potions?' he muttered. 'Of all the classes to start out with.'

'I'm with you, mate,' Ron said scowling. 'I was hoping we'd have Care of Magical Creatures, or Muggle Studies.'

'No such luck,' Harry said. 'Care of Magical Creatures isn't until tomorrow. We have Transfiguration next, and then after lunch, I have Arithmancy.'

'That's when I have Muggle Studies,' Ron said. 'After that, we have Ancient Runes.'

Hermione sighed contentedly, putting her timetable away. 'Well, let's get going. We don't want to be late for Professor Snape's class. You know how testy he gets when we're late.'

'That, and he'd just love to take points away from me,' Harry said, thinking of yesterday afternoon. He'd be surprised if Snape didn't take away the exact amount of points he had intended to take away yesterday, while they had been standing in the corridor outside the hospital wing.





Harry stepped out of Potions and breathed a sigh of relief. Class was over and he'd made it out alive. He didn't think he would, when Snape had grudgingly, through gritted teeth, awarded him five points for being one of only three to make the truth serum perfectly. Harry thought that, just for a moment, Snape was going to crack all of his teeth, but the Potions master had released his torment on his own teeth and left Harry's presence abruptly.

Ron had wanted to gloat, but one look from Harry and Hermione made him rethink that. After all, Hermione had pointed out in a deadly whisper, Ron didn't want to be hanging from the Whomping Willow by his entrails, which happened to be the best case scenario if Ron decided to rub Snape's nose into the fact that Harry's potion was perfect.

Transfiguration was the next class of the day, and they were turning their stools into poodles. Most of the class had done fairly well, except for Neville, who had turned his into a small alligator, which kept snapping at the poodles, trying to eat them, and Seamus, who turned his into a half-poodle, half-stool.

Lunch and afternoon classes went by without a problem arising, and Harry was glad for it, when late afternoon came and classes were done for the day. As he, Hermione and Ron were walking down the corridor, Harry was trying to think of a proper excuse to get away. He'd been thinking of it all day long, but he couldn't come up with one.

As they rounded the corner and stopped in front of Hermione's door, Harry realised that he really didn't need one. He took one look at his two best friends and realised that they really wanted some time to themselves. Harry happily said goodbye and ran for it, before the other two knew what was happening.

He stopped at Gryffindor Tower to drop off his bag. He took out his History of Magic book, in case his visit was an utter disaster. If Lucius wasn't able or really didn't want company, Harry figured he could always find a quiet spot outside or in the library to read. As he was coming back down the stairs and into the common room, a blinding flash erupted his way.

Harry tried to blink the vision back into his eyes. 'Hi, Colin,' Harry muttered, knowing all too well what that blinding flash was.

'Hiya, Harry! How was your summer? Did you do anything interesting? Did you get to go anywhere? My parents, Dennis and I went to-'

'Look, Colin,' Harry said, interrupting the annoying sixth year boy, 'I really have to go. I have to go see one of the professors right now. I'll be back later.'

'Oh, okay, Harry! I'll catch up with you later!' Colin yelled as Harry quickly left the Tower.

Harry shook his head. It amazed him that even after all this time, Colin was still the same annoying little git that had tagged along behind him in his second year. Harry had hoped that Colin would grow out of it by now, but it looked like Harry was doomed to his presence until the end of the year. If Harry were lucky, he'd never set eyes on the annoying little twit again.

Harry crossed the rest of the castle with no interruptions, thankfully, and he was able to make it to the hospital wing. He waved at Pomfrey, who was sitting in her office, and he walked to the back of the wing, to the room that Lucius Malfoy was staying in.

Harry opened the door to the private room and looked in. He smiled slightly when he saw that Lucius was asleep. He seemed to be resting peacefully.

Harry thought about leaving, but then he changed his mind. He didn't really feel like going back to the Gryffindor common room and listening to Ron and Hermione badger him about his whereabouts. This was one time he wished that Prefects had a private room. Then he wouldn't have to share with the others, and he could have a bit of peace and quiet.

Harry stepped into the room and quietly closed the door behind him, not wanting to wake up the blond. He sat in the chair by the bed and quietly opened his History of Magic book and started reading about the witches and wizards of ancient Greece.

About an hour later, Harry looked up startled, as a hoarse voice asked, 'Potter, what are you doing here?'

Harry smiled slightly at the man in the bed. 'Hello, Mr Malfoy. I just came by to keep you company. You were sleeping, and I didn't want to disturb you.'

'How did you know that I was here? I thought that the only ones who knew were Albus, Severus, and that mediwitch…'

'Madam Pomfrey,' Harry said. 'No, I knew you were here. After all, you fell on top of me.'

'What are you talking about?' Lucius asked, trying to sit up. He winced in pain, and Harry quickly got up and helped him.

Harry placed a pillow behind Lucius's back and tried to make him more comfortable. Then he sat back down and said, 'Thanks to my family, I was late for the Hogwarts Express. I sent my owl to Dumbledore, to inform him that I was waiting on Platform 9 3/4, and then I was waiting. About twenty minutes before Professor Snape came for me, you fell out of the sky and landed right on my lap. It was a bit painful, let me tell you. I've never had a full grown man fall on top of me before.'

'Oh.'

Harry looked at Lucius, expecting a bit more. When nothing seemed to be forthcoming, Harry said, 'So, what were you doing, falling out of the sky like that? I mean, that was a bloody long drop. If you hadn't landed on me, there's no telling what kind of damage could have been inflicted on you.'

'Worried, are you, Potter? I would think that you'd be happy. I mean, a Death Eater such as myself, nearly dying. I would have thought that you'd be glad to see me die.'

Harry frowned. 'Why in the world would I be happy to see that? The only thing that I want to see dead is Voldemort, but since he's not really human, nor animal for that matter, I don't have a problem with that. You, however, are human, and as much as your previous associations disgust me, I do not wish to see you dead.'

'Previous associations, Potter? What makes you think that I won't go straight back to Lord Voldemort after I'm fully healed,' Lucius asked as arrogantly as he could muster, which wasn't much, considering the pain he was in.

Harry smiled slightly again. 'I know you're a spy for the Order, and I know that your cover has been blown.'

'I see,' Lucius said, the wind somewhat taken out of his proverbial sails. 'I take it that Albus told you.'

'Of course. Professor Snape came to get me and we brought you back. You were looking dreadful.'

'Why thank you, Mr Potter. As if I care what you think,' Lucius sneered.

Harry smirked. 'I suggest you try not to look menacing until you feel better. Right now, all you're doing is looking rather pathetic.'

'Why are you here, Potter?' Lucius snapped.

'I told you. I came by to keep you company. I know how boring it can get in here, and I thought we could talk, since no one besides Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Madam Pomfrey, and I know that you're here.'

'Oh, very well. I can see that you're not going to leave, and I can't very well throw you out in my current condition. What do you wish to speak to me about?'

'I want to know what changed your mind about Voldemort.'

Lucius smirked. 'Didn't Dumbledore already tell you that? I'm sure that he couldn't keep his mouth shut when you asked. You are his favourite little pet, are you not?'

'I hardly think so, but that's not the point, now is it? Yes, he did tell me that you realised that Voldemort was insane and that you wanted to protect Draco, but he didn't give me any details.'

'What makes you think there are any details?'

'Because a man like you doesn't do anything without having gone through every single step, discovering whether or not it's prudent for you to take a course of action.'

'Very well thought out, Mr Potter. Then you should also know that a man like me does not divulge any information about himself unless it is absolutely prudent that he do so.'

'Yes, that thought did cross my mind,' Harry admitted. 'I had to try, though.'

'Of course, Potter. I would be shocked if you hadn't. Tell me, did you see my son last night?'

Harry nodded. 'Yes, and today. I have Ancient Runes with Malfoy…er, Draco.'

'Did he look well?' Lucius asked, trying not to let his concern for his son show.

Harry nodded. 'The same as always,' he replied dryly.

Harry really wasn't surprised when he saw something akin to relief cross Lucius's face, before the usual cold, haughty demeanour snapped back into position. Harry had already figured out that Lucius must love his son very much, since he risked his life in order to save Draco from whatever fate Voldemort had chosen for the young Malfoy.

Harry was about to say something else, but Madam Pomfrey walked through the door, a tray of food in her hands. 'Mr Potter, it's close to dinner. You really should go and wash up. Mr Malfoy will be taking a sleeping draught after his dinner, and he won't be having anymore visitors tonight.'

Harry stood up. 'I'll see you tomorrow, after class,' Harry said. He left, not waiting for a reply.





The next day went the same as the first. Harry's first class was with Slytherin, the Care of Magical Creatures class.

Harry enjoyed the class with the centaurs (Firenze had kindly agreed to help the professor), but the class wasn't the same without Hagrid in charge. Harry would willingly suffer through the creatures that Hagrid thought were cute, if it meant that they would have the half-giant come back to life.

After History of Magic with the world's most boring teacher, Professor Binns, Harry dropped his books off in his room. When he came back downstairs, he found Ron and Hermione waiting for him.

'Want to play chess, Harry?' Ron asked, watching his friend closely. Ron and Hermione had noticed that Harry had been preoccupied since the moment they saw him in the Great Hall two nights ago.

'No, I need to go out for a bit. I'll be back before dinner.' Harry tried to walk around his friends, but they stood their ground.

'Where are you going?' Hermione asked.

'Yeah, Harry. We might want to go with you,' Ron added.

Harry groaned inwardly. He knew they'd be interrogating him, but he didn't think it would happen so soon. 'You can't. Look, Dumbledore knows what I'm doing, and it's perfectly safe, but it's a secret. I promised Dumbledore that I wouldn't say a word to anyone.'

'That never stopped you before,' Ron muttered.

'Yes, it has, but you just didn't realise it. Look, someone else is involved, and I can't risk Dumbledore's disappointment. I need him to know that he can trust me. I'm hoping you'll understand.'

'Of course we do, Harry,' Hermione assured him, clapping a hand over Ron's mouth, shutting up his protests. 'Go on. We'll see you at dinner.'

Harry ran out while Hermione had a choke hold on his stubborn best friend. 'Thanks, Hermione!' he yelled as he passed through the entrance of Gryffindor Tower and out into the corridor.





Harry knocked on the door and then let himself in. 'Hi, Mr Mal-… Oh, I didn't know you were here,' Harry said, looking at the other two men in the room.

'Come in, Harry. We were just discussing the events of Lucius's arrival,' Professor Dumbledore said brightly, motioning for Harry to take a seat.

'Thank you, sir,' Harry said, taking the seat next to Professor Snape and ignoring the glare sent his way by the Potions master.

'As you were saying, Lucius,' Dumbledore said.

Lucius went on, after giving Harry an inquisitive once-over. 'As I said, I was ambushed. Voldemort knew that there was a spy among him, since all of the information passed to you was only given to the inner circle. He'd decided that a dinner party would be the perfect place to find out who was faithful and who were sympathetic to you, Albus. He spiked all the drinks with Veritaserum, and he carefully asked questions to each of us. None of use noticed that we'd been dosed with the truth serum until he got around to Pettigrew, who openly admitted his repulsion of the Dark Lord, and how much he hated being Voldemort's whore.'

Harry looked at Lucius in horror. 'Oh, disgusting. I don't know who to feel sorrier for.'

Lucius eyed Harry, confused by his words. 'I would think you would feel sorry for Pettigrew.'

Harry snorted. 'That bastard killed my parents. Oh, I know that Voldemort used the Avada Kadavra curse, but it was Pettigrew who betrayed my parents. He's the one that got them killed. If it weren't for him, they'd be alive and Sirius wouldn't be hiding from the authorities.'

'True enough. As I was saying, it wasn't until then that we knew what was going on, but we couldn't very well get up and leave. That would be a red flag to Voldemort, telling him exactly who was loyal and who was not, or at the very least, who had something to hide. It was our hope that whatever questions he had, they wouldn't be ones that would incriminate us in whatever he was searching for. The others may have been worried about secrets or blunders, but I knew what he was looking for. He was looking for the traitor, the one that had come over to your side, Albus.'

Dumbledore nodded. 'What happened?'

Lucius continued. 'He saved me for last, since I was the one he suspected the least. There were several with secrets of varying degrees of embarrassment, and some are going to pay for doubting the Dark Lord, but when he discovered that it was I that was the spy, he was livid. I honesty thought I would not live to see the next day, but he had other plans for me. He used everything and everyone in his possession to torture and humiliate me. He had his Death Eaters beat me until I was nearly senseless, and then Voldemort raped me several times. But by the time that happened, I was unconscious, so I never felt a thing. He told me when I came to, and that mediwitch of yours, Pomfrey, confirmed it. After I awoke, Voldemort took great pleasure in draining me of power, and then he ordered one of the Death Eaters to drop me somewhere where I could be found, in a place that was particularly bustling with wizards, so that you would receive his message.'

'That I no longer had someone spying on him, that he was free to do as he pleased,' Dumbledore said. 'I'm truly surprised that he allowed you to live.'

'Perhaps he thought I wouldn't. He sent me with Crabbe, and he's not particularly bright. I don't think I was dropped too terribly far, since I didn't do more damage to Potter and myself, but I'm not sure why he chose that particular place.'

Harry frowned. 'I don't either. Besides me, there were only a few wizards left, cleaning the platform and staying to make sure that someone came to get me.'

Snape sighed. 'After spending time with Crabbe and Goyle, and teaching their imbecilic sons, I find that it's best to never ask why they do anything that they do. I've never seen a family that thick in my life. The level of stupidity that they aspire to truly astounds me.'

Harry snickered. 'Yes, they are thick,' he said, remembering in his second year when he and Ron had placed two cupcakes filled with a Sleeping Draught on a banister. Crabbe and Goyle had picked them up and eaten them, allowing Harry and Ron to take their place beside Draco Malfoy and interrogate him about the Chamber of Secrets, thanks to Hermione's well-brewed Polyjuice Potion.

Snape glared at Harry, but he turned his attention to more important matters. 'This means that we have no idea what Voldemort is planning. What do you suggest now, Albus?'

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he smiled brightly at Snape. 'We defeat him.'

'Oh, that's brilliant,' Snape retorted. 'And how do you think we should go about doing that?'

Dumbledore looked to Harry, waiting for him to answer the question.

Harry made a face. He remembered well his discussions with Dumbledore over the last two years. 'We find a way to use my bond with Voldemort.'

'What? The curse scar? I hardly think that would help. No, you're talking about the blood bond, aren't you?' Snape mused.

Harry nodded. 'Professor Dumbledore told me that we would probably have to use the bond to defeat Voldemort, but I was still too young then, and I didn't know enough.'

'And now?' Lucius asked, watching Harry closely.

'I am older, and stronger, and thanks to much extracurricular studying, I'm more powerful and I can control that power better. Now all we have to do is figure out a way to use this bond against him.'

Lucius thought for a moment. 'Well, the first thing we need to do is research every aspect of magic that uses blood. We need to get into Malfoy Manor. There is a secret room that no one knows about but I. Not even Narcissa knows about it, nor does Draco.'

'What's in there?' Harry asked curiously. Now that he was actually in on some planning, Harry was more than ready to take the Dark Lord down.

'There are some spell books and some potion books that might be of use. Most are Dark Arts, but there are quite a few that are not, but that's not the issue here. There are approximately eight hundred books in there. There are also scores of magical artefacts in there as well. We need to get them out of there before someone decides to investigate the house thoroughly.'

'How do I get in there?' Snape asked, volunteering himself for the mission.

'You're not going in there alone, Severus,' Dumbledore warned. 'I'm not allowing you to walk in there without someone to back you up. I'll send for Remus. He'll be an adequate partner.'

Snape glared at Dumbledore, as if he'd dearly love it if the old wizard dropped dead. 'I am not going on any mission with that werewolf!'

Harry glared at Snape. 'God, Snape, get over it already! If you're going to continue this pathetic feud with Remus and Sirius, then you might as well hand Hogwarts over to Voldemort right now!'

'How dare you talk to me that way!' Snape said icily.

'Now, Severus, Harry does have a point. Right now we can't afford to be divided on this. We need every ally that we can get. Most of the vampires, many giants, the Dementors, and several werewolves are on Voldemort's side because of mistreatment by the Ministry. We have to stick together on this.'

Lucius nodded. 'Severus, I don't like it any better than you do, but Albus is correct. When we've destroyed the bastard, then you can abhor the sight of the two mutts. Until then, as much as it pains me to say it, we need them.'

Snape scowled deeply, but he had to admit to himself that they did have a small point. 'Very well, but I still demand punishment for Potter's rudeness!'

'What do you suggest, Severus?' Dumbledore asked, smiling at the Potions master.

'Detention all weekend. He can help me go through those books that we're obtaining from Malfoy Manor. Oh yes, and twenty points from Gryffindor for just being himself.'

Harry glared at Snape but didn't say anything.

Dumbledore smiled brightly. 'Well, that's all settled then! I think I'll go and contact Remus. Oh yes! What do you wish to do about Draco, Lucius?'

Lucius shook his head. 'I will, of course, tell him the truth, but for right now, I think it would be best if I waited until I was stronger to deal with him. Give me a few more days, before I tell him. Until then, don't tell him about me. I doubt Narcissa will contact him.'

Albus nodded. 'Get some rest, Lucius.'

Snape also got up and left, after giving Lucius a slight nod, leaving Harry and Lucius alone.

Lucius turned to Harry and smirked. 'Are you always so popular with Severus?'

Harry grinned and shook his head. 'That was one of our good confrontations, actually. Usually there's a lot more yelling, and a great deal of humiliation, for me anyway.'

'Perhaps he's getting soft in his old age,' Lucius quipped.

Harry snickered. 'He's not old. He's just in a perpetual bad mood that lessens from time to time.'

Lucius smirked. 'That's an interesting theory.'

'I've had years to think about it,' Harry replied. 'Can I ask you something that I've been wondering about? I've wondered the same thing about Professor Snape, but you seem less likely to kill me, at least at the moment.'

'You may ask, but I can't guarantee an answer,' Lucius told him.

Harry looked at him curiously. 'Why did you become a Death Eater? I mean the truth, not the standard 'I hate the Muggle-borns.' What was the appeal?'

'Why is it so important that you know?' Lucius asked.

'Because, I want to know why an otherwise intelligent wizard would want to follow someone like Voldemort. I mean, even if I was against the Muggle-borns coming into Hogwarts or I was against all Muggles, which I'm not, I still wouldn't join him. Let's face it…even on a good day, Voldemort is about as sane as a werewolf on Charlie.'

'Excuse me?' Lucius said, completely confused.

'Oh, yes. I forgot. "Charlie" is Muggle slang for cocaine, a Muggle drug. Too much of it tends to make people unhinged.'

'I see. Then your description of Voldemort would be quite accurate, I assure you. Though I must say, he wasn't always as "unhinged" as he is now. If you really care to know, I will tell you.'

Harry nodded. 'I want to know why you joined. I want to know what the attraction was.'

Lucius thought for a moment. 'There is the usual. I am Slytherin, and a pureblood. I was raised to know that Muggle-born and half-blood witches and wizards are lesser than purebloods are. They are not as powerful as we are.'

'All right, that makes no sense whatsoever. Voldemort himself is Muggle-born, and I am a half-blood by your calculations, since my mother was a Muggle-born witch.'

'Ah, but you both have special circumstances behind your existences. Both of you are descendants of two extraordinarily powerful wizards, and your father and his mother were powerful purebloods, who for some reason, decided to marry below their station.'

Harry thought about it, but he didn't say anything.

Lucius went on. 'Voldemort started gathering followers before I entered school, in the same year as your father, his friends, and Severus. He gathered many of the pureblood Slytherins to his cause, those that believed that the wizarding world would be a much better place, a more powerful place, if the magic weren't thinned out by Muggle bloodlines.

'There is also the factor of power. Many wizards and witches joined Voldemort because he could offer them power and money. All Slytherins were attracted to Voldemort by their greed, and many from the other houses, though most of them were not found out after the Dark Lord fell the first time. But they were of little consequence, since they were in the lesser circles of Voldemort's minions.'

'That's all very well,' Harry said, 'but I want to know why you joined. What did you want from him that you couldn't get anywhere else?'

Lucius glared. 'If you will shut up and let me tell this in my own way, I will get to the answer to your question!' When Harry sat back and said nothing, Lucius went on. 'All of these things I was raised to believe were acceptable, and would make my life richer. More than that, I did, and still do, believe that Muggle-borns are more detrimental than people like Dumbledore wish to believe. That helped me to decide that following Voldemort would be acceptable, especially since my father had already shown his support. My father did not openly become a Death Eater, but he was faithful to the Dark Lord, and he went on many missions for him.'

'Is that why you became a Death Eater?'

'Yes, for the most part. But the fact was that I still had doubts. I saw some of the things that Voldemort was doing, to our own kind, to those that were purebloods. They were what we needed, yet he was torturing and killing them, because they would not follow him. Because of that, I almost did not join the Dark Lord.'

'What happened? I mean, something must have happened to you, for you to decide that following Voldemort would be better than following someone like Dumbledore.'

Lucius laughed bitterly. 'Yes, there was, though you yourself will not want to hear about it. Trust me, it would be best if you did not know. We wouldn't want to ruin that pretty little image that you have in your head when it comes to your father, the great James Potter,' Lucius said icily.

'What about my father? What does he have to do with this?' Harry asked sharply. 'I do have a right to know.'

'I warn you again, this you will not want to know. I suggest you drop the discussion.'

'No. If you have something to say against my father, I want to know what it is,' Harry said indignantly.

'Very well. Don't say that I didn't warn you. It was in our sixth year, after the Shrieking Shack incident with Severus. Gryffindor and Slytherin had the Quidditch Final that day, and I was the Keeper. I had been hit with a rather nasty Bludger, and I had been taken to the hospital wing. Gryffindor won that game, and they had celebrated. Apparently, your father and his cohorts had gone to Hogsmeade, though I don't know how, and procured a rather substantial amount of butterbeer and firewhiskey. While they were celebrating, Pomfrey was mending me.'

Lucius closed his eyes, lost in the memory of that day. 'It was after midnight when I decided that I no longer wanted to stay in the hospital wing. I was weak, and I shouldn't have left, I fully admit that right now. I started making my way down to the dungeons. I was almost to the Slytherin common room when I heard someone calling my name. I turned around, but there was nobody there. I turned back around and started walking again, but then I felt someone put their hand over my mouth.'

Lucius smirked, his eyes still closed. 'I remember well that day. I wouldn't even scream like a woman to save myself. It just wasn't proper. I tried to fight whomever it was off, but there was no use in doing so. I was far too weak, and my attacker seemed to have hands everywhere. He, for I knew that my assailant was no woman, dragged me down a corridor that was very dark, with only a smattering of light. It was then that I realised what he was going to do to me, and that my attacker was not alone.'

'Who was the attacker?' Harry asked dully.

'Your father, of course. James Potter and Sirius Black. Both of them were drunk on butterbeer and firewhiskey, and they'd decided to go out and explore the castle. They accidentally ran into me and decided to have a little fun. I don't know if they intended on doing what they did, an incident that I will spare you the details of, but they did. Afterwards, they left me there, and it was Severus who found me, on one of his late-night walks. Severus suffers from insomnia. He always has.'

Harry looked at Lucius coldly. 'Why should I believe you? Professor Dumbledore would have never tolerated-'

'I never told Dumbledore! By then, all of Slytherin knew that Dumbledore could not be trusted with their welfare. He cared not for our house! We had to rely on ourselves. The only one who knew was Severus.'

'I don't believe you!' Harry yelled, furious that Lucius would lie about his father like that.

'You don't have to believe me. You asked what pushed Severus and me over the edge. Well, Albus was the catalyst. Your father raped me, while his mutt held me down, yes, but it was not that which made me decide. It was the indifference of Albus Dumbledore. It was Albus's concern for every house but Slytherin.'

'I don't believe it,' Harry whispered furiously.

'Go and ask Severus if you wish, but you will find the same answers that you have found here. I don't care what you think. I'm happy to be the one to show you that your father was not the angel that you thought him to be.'

Harry glared at the blond sitting so calmly on the bed and turned abruptly. He stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.





Chapter Three: Understanding Lucius


Harry spent the next three days letting Lucius's words fester in his mind and in his heart. He couldn't believe that his father would do such a thing. He couldn't believe that his father would rape someone.

After three days spent worrying over what Lucius had told him, Harry decided that if he was going to get the truth, he had to go to Snape. He knew that Snape would tell him the truth. Even if he was an utter bastard, the man had never lied to him. Snape had always told Harry the truth as he saw it. Harry knew that Snape wouldn't lie to him about something as important as this, especially now, with Voldemort lurking nearby, amassing his army and getting ready to pounce.

Harry decided that the best time to ask would be after Snape's last class of the day, when Snape would be more inclined to answer without the threat of more students on the horizon.

Harry's Advanced Potions class was in the morning, which meant he had to wait all day to find Snape alone. Harry managed to get through his class without any mishaps and without fouling up his potion, even though his mind kept drifting back to his conversation with Lucius.

As soon as Harry's last class was over, he told Hermione and Ron that he needed to go down into the dungeons and speak with Snape about the next day's detention. They looked at him sympathetically, but he didn't wait around to hear Hermione's words of encouragement, or Ron's derogatory statements concerning the Potions master. He ran down into the dungeons and as soon as he was sure there were no lingering students, he walked into the classroom.

Harry slowly walked up to his professor's desk. 'Professor Snape, can I have a word with you?'

'What do you want, Potter? Isn't it bad enough that you annoy me with your presence during classes? Do you have to do so on my free time?'

'Sorry, sir, but this is really important.'

'Well, since it can't wait until tomorrow's detention, out with it!' Snape snapped, glaring at Harry.

'It's about something that Mr Malfoy said, about my father. I couldn't believe what he told me, so he told me to come and speak with you.'

Snape raised an eyebrow. 'I see that Lucius told you about your father's…attentions.'

Harry winced at the innuendo and nodded. 'Can you tell me what happened, what you remember? I need to know.'

Snape sneered evilly. 'I can do better than that, Potter. Come with me.'

Harry followed Snape out of the Potions classroom and into his office. 'Inside, Potter,' Snape ordered.

Harry quickly went inside and sat down. He watched as his professor opened the glass door of one of the bookshelves. Snape pulled out a shallow, large bowl and placed it on the desk, in front of Harry.

'I assume you know what this is, Potter?'

Harry nodded. 'It's a Pensieve. I saw one in the Headmaster's office when I was in my fourth year.'

'Do you know how this works?'

Harry nodded. 'I didn't know what it was, and I accidentally fell into Professor Dumbledore's memories of the Death Eater trials,' he answered truthfully.

Snape snorted. 'I trust you didn't get into trouble either,' he remarked.

Harry shook his head. 'Professor Dumbledore said that it was his fault that he didn't put it away properly. Fudge and Moody had come to the office, and they interrupted him while he was placing memories in the Pensieve.'

Snape smirked and waved his wand over the Pensieve, searching for the proper memory. 'Look,' he ordered.

Harry leant over the silvery, swirling substance that made up Snape's memories. Harry took a deep breath and leant over further, touching the surface with his nose.

He felt the not unfamiliar pull of the Pensieve, and he fell through the freezing emptiness and landed inside a dimly lit corridor. He looked around and saw Snape, a much younger Snape, standing a few feet away from him, his wand lighting the mostly-dark corridor.

Snape quietly walked towards something that had caught his attention. Harry listened carefully, following his young professor silently. He could hear the moans and sobs that Snape had heard.

They turned the corner and Harry watched as Snape ran to the semi-naked form lying on the floor, shaking.

'Lucius! What happened? Are you all right?' Snape asked frantically. Harry was surprised to see how concerned Snape was. Obviously, the two had been good friends while they were in school. Harry wondered if they were still good friends.

Lucius sat up slowly, wincing. Harry's jaw dropped when he realised that Lucius had been crying. Of course, he had heard the sobs, but he never once associated them with Lucius when he saw who it was.

Lucius allowed Severus to carefully wrap his arms around him. He leant into the touch, laying his head on the dark-haired wizard's shoulder. 'I hurt all over, Severus,' he whispered hoarsely.

'What happened?' Snape asked.

'I didn't want to stay in the hospital wing. I wanted to come back to Slytherin. I was almost to the common room, when I heard something. I looked, but there was nothing. I started walking down the corridor again. Next thing I knew, someone grabbed me and pulled me down here.'

'Who was it?' Snape asked, his voice soft, but every syllable was dripping with fury.

'It was James Potter and Sirius Black. They were drunk. Black held me down while Potter…raped me.' The last two words came out in such a low whisper that Harry didn't even hear them, but he could read Lucius's lips.

He needn't have even watched Lucius, because Snape growled, 'That bastard Potter raped you? How dare he think to touch you! He'll pay for this.'

'I don't know what to do,' Lucius whispered tiredly. 'I'm so tired, I can't even think straight.'

Snape snorted. 'It's not like we can go to Dumbledore. He'll just take Potter's side. He didn't allow Black to be punished for nearly causing my death. What would he care if his golden child raped a Slytherin.'

'Take me to our room,' Lucius said, pulling back and looking into Snape's eyes. 'I want to go to sleep, and I want you to hold me, please.'

Harry stared in shock at the affection the two young men obviously held for each other. They would do anything for each other, because they were friends, because they were housemates. Harry seriously doubted that Ron would ever do something like that for him.

Snape nodded and kissed Lucius briefly. 'I'll take care of you, my friend. I know several Healing spells that Father taught me as a child. He said that I must always be prepared to help those of our house, because Slytherins can only trust in each other.'

Lucius nodded and accepted Snape's help to get up off the floor. Snape took off his robes and gave them to Lucius.

Harry watched as the two walked back to the Slytherin common room. As soon as the door closed, he felt himself being pulled out of the memory.

Harry sat back on the chair, a bit dizzy. Whether it was from the trip into the Pensieve or if it was from the revelations, he didn't know. After a long moment, he looked up at Snape, who was regarding him curiously. 'I didn't know.'

Snape sighed. 'No one knew. Only Lucius and I knew. Telling Dumbledore, or anyone else, was not an option for us. There are other memories, memories after this one, where Lucius relays to me all that he remembered about the attack, but I'll spare you the details. But know this. Your father was the one who raped Lucius, and Black helped. My animosity for your father and Black comes from much more than what happened in the Shrieking Shack. I got over that long ago. But what they did to Lucius, that was unforgivable.'

Harry nodded. 'I know. I'm sorry that it happened. I know that's useless to you and I can't change anything, but I hate that this happened.'

Snape nodded. 'I'm sure of that, Potter. I'd like to be able to say that desecrating your father's memory, or what you thought your father to be, wasn't pleasurable, but I'd be lying. I think it's time that you knew what your father and his mutt were capable of. Be careful around Black. I'd hate to see you come to the same end as Lucius.'

Harry didn't think that Sirius would really hurt him, but he couldn't very well argue with Snape's warning. He knew that Snape said it not really to hurt him, even though it stung, but to keep him from harm. Harry nodded and stood up. 'Thank you for telling me the truth, or rather showing it to me. I needed to know.'

Snape nodded. 'I will always tell you the truth, Potter, even if you don't want to hear it. I never thought that keeping the truth from you was acceptable.'

'Thank you,' Harry said.

'Oh, and Potter, I don't think that I need to warn you to keep this quiet, but I will hand you over to Voldemort myself if you breathe a word of this to anyone, if you speak about this to anyone except Lucius and me.'

'I know, sir. I'll see you later. You and Remus are still going to the manor tonight, aren't you?'

Snape nodded. 'We're leaving at seven-thirty. If you want to see Lupin, meet me here at seven-twenty. You can stay in my chambers, provided you touch nothing, and wait for us there. Afterwards, you can spend a few moments with the werewolf.'

Harry smiled at his professor. 'Thank you, Professor. I'll see you tonight.'





As soon as he left Snape's office, Harry went immediately to the hospital wing. He waved at Madam Pomfrey, who was smoothing the bedclothes over a sleeping boy that Harry recognised as one of the Quidditch players from Hufflepuff. The boy's arm was in a sling, so Harry figured that he'd broken it somehow.

Harry slowly approached the door to Lucius's rooms. He took a deep breath and knocked lightly. He waited a moment, knowing Lucius wouldn't answer but giving the man some time to make himself presentable, and opened the door.

Harry closed the door behind him. When he found the courage to look up, he saw that Lucius was staring at him curiously. 'Hi,' Harry said, feeling pathetic that he couldn't find a better opening.

Lucius smirked. 'Hello, Mr Potter. I never thought I'd see you again, at least not willingly. What brings you here?'

Harry sighed and sat down in the chair next to the bed. 'I just came from Professor Snape's office. He showed me his Pensieve. He showed me the memory of him finding you on the night that my father raped you. I'm sorry.'

'What are you sorry for, Potter?' Lucius asked curiously.

Harry was surprised to find that Lucius wasn't angry or bitter. He could detect no animosity, no resentment. When he looked up, Lucius gave Harry a small, rare smile. Harry couldn't help but to return the smile. 'For everything, really. I didn't want to believe you, but deep down, I think I knew that you weren't lying. I think that's why I was really angry. I didn't want to believe that my father was capable of doing something so horrible, even if he was drunk.'

'And what else? That hardly constitutes "everything",' Lucius said.

'I hate it that you felt like you couldn't go to the Headmaster. You should have been able to do that. That's what he's here for, and yet, you couldn't go to him. I know that you couldn't, and I understand it better now. How could you go to him, complaining that my father raped you, when Professor Dumbledore wouldn't punish Sirius for nearly killing Professor Snape.'

'Yes, well, we from Slytherin always knew that we couldn't trust Professor Dumbledore to look out for our best interests. I don't think Severus and I fully distrusted the Headmaster until Sirius Black nearly killed Severus and received no punishment. I remember how devastated Severus was when he found out that the Marauders weren't going to be reprimanded for their actions. Oh, yes, Black got detention, and thirty points were taken from Gryffindor, but is that all Severus's life was worth? But as I said before, the rape that James Potter inflicted upon me was the breaking point. We figured that Voldemort could give us more than Dumbledore could, and we trusted Voldemort more than we trusted our dear Headmaster.'

Harry nodded. 'I know. I don't think I could have trusted him in your position either. I also don't think that Slytherin could trust him fully now. Sometimes I wonder about him, but he's better than Voldemort any day.'

Lucius snorted. 'That, Mr Potter, I completely agree with.'

Harry smiled. 'I'm also sorry about what my father did. I hate that he did it. I wish that I could change things, but I can't. But you must understand that I am not my father, and I'm not my godfather. I never would do anything like they did to you. As much as Draco and I dislike each other, hate each other, in fact, I would never look to harm him, not like that. A hex here and there, yes. Rape or anything such as that, no.'

'I never thought you would, Mr Potter. If I did, you would not be welcome here, nor would you be living if I thought you would follow in your father's footsteps by harming my son. My son may annoy me most of the time, but he is my son, and I do love him. I will protect him with my very life.'

'And you very nearly did,' Harry replied. 'You could have died. You became a spy in order to keep him from a madman, and you were almost killed for it. He's a very lucky person,' Harry said wistfully.

'What about you, Mr Potter? What about those Muggles you lived with? Surely they gave in to your every whim.'

Harry laughed bitterly. 'You sound like Professor Snape. He always thought that as well. Well, I hate to disappoint you, but my family, the only family that I have, hates me with a passion that can put Professor Snape's animosity toward me to shame. They despise me. They think I'm a freak of nature. They'd just as soon see me dead as talk to me. They made me sleep in a cupboard under the stairs until I was nearly eleven. The only reason they moved me into my cousin's second bedroom was because they feared that wizards were watching the house.'

Lucius looked at him with surprise. 'I can't believe that they would treat a wizard like you in such a way! Those idiotic Muggles, they deserve to die!'

Harry glared at him. 'They don't deserve to die, though a little torment might do them good. But that's for me to decide. They're my family, and I'm the one that they mistreated. If there is any retribution, it is mine and mine alone.'

'Have it your way, Potter, but if you want any help, I happen to be quite adept at Muggle torture,' Lucius offered.

Harry rolled his eyes. 'Yes, I remember Voldemort's speech in the cemetery. I'll keep that in mind. You know, there's a lot more that I want to talk to you about, but right now I'm starving. You must be hungry as well. I think I'll go and get us some dinner. That is, if you don't mind having dinner with me.'

Lucius shrugged. 'If you'd rather eat in here than in the Great Hall, your company would not be unwelcome. It's terribly dull in this room, and I've read all the books that Severus brought me.'

'I'm going to his chambers tonight, to see Remus Lupin. I'll tell him to bring you some more books to read. I'll go get dinner now.'





Harry left the hospital wing at seven o'clock, when Pomfrey threw him out, saying that Lucius was still weak and needed his rest. When he closed the door, he took one last look at Lucius, who was glaring and complaining at Pomfrey as she fussed over him. It was rather amusing and oddly endearing that the mediwitch wasn't fazed at all by Lucius's threats, which could be validated by his rather dark past.

Harry wound his way to the dungeons, in no particular hurry. He still had twenty minutes before he had to meet Snape. He waved at the portraits that called to him as he went down the stairs, and he spoke briefly to the Fat Lady, who was visiting one of her many friends in the castle. The Fat Lady informed him that Hermione and Ron had been looking for him.

He stood in front of Snape's door at around a quarter past seven. He knocked on the door.

Snape opened the door abruptly. 'Early, I see. Very good. Lupin is already here, so we can go to Malfoy Manor early. Follow me.'

Harry followed Snape further into the dungeons, to a part that Harry had never explored before. They stopped in front of a painting of an older man, with green eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. His hair was long, but he was without facial hair. He eyed Harry suspiciously, as if wondering why someone like him was invading his presence. By the man's side was a rather large and inquisitive serpent.

'Who is that?' Harry asked curiously.

'That, Potter, is Salazar Slytherin. He's guarded my rooms since I've been here.'

'Oh! I've never seen a picture of him,' Harry said, stepping closer to get a better view of the painting. The snake hissed, so Harry hissed back, answering the snake.

'Potter, what are you doing?' Snape asked.

'The snake wanted to know who I was, so I told him,' Harry answered. When he looked up, he was surprised to see that Slytherin was smiling slightly at him. Harry smiled back and waved.

'Oh, Merlin's balls,' Snape muttered. 'I've got a mission to do. I don't have time for you to start a conversation with a snake. If you wish, you can come back and talk to it after Lupin and I are finished. Until then, 'Edro.'

The door silently opened and Snape half-pushed Harry through the opening. Harry stumbled inside and after catching himself before he fell, he looked around.

The room was surprisingly cosy. It was fairly large and airy, and the fire burning brightly gave off warmth that chased away the usual dungeon frigidity. Snape's bed was by the far wall, and a sofa and two comfortable looking chairs were closer to the fire. There was a small table between the bed and the sofa, and it was scattered with parchments and journals.

Snape also had a desk near the door, and the wall to Harry's left was completely lined with bookshelves. The only break in the line was a door that Harry figured led to Snape's bathroom.

Throughout the room there was no smattering of green or silver, with the exception of a single small Slytherin banner that hung above Snape's desk. The colour of the room was neutral, with a bit of blue here and there. This surprised Harry greatly, but he was glad the room was so inviting, even if the owner wasn't.

Harry smiled at Remus, who was sitting on the sofa, waiting for Snape. 'Hi, Remus,' Harry said, sitting by the werewolf.

'Hello, Harry. I trust you've been well lately?' Remus asked, his concern obvious.

Harry nodded. 'I'm fine. This summer wasn't so terrible, and I never have to go back to see the Dursleys ever again.'

Snape glared at the two men impatiently. 'You two can play catch up later, when you are out of my presence. In the meantime, I believe that we have a mission to complete, Lupin,' he snapped, heading toward the fireplace. He turned and faced Harry. 'Potter, I expect to find my room exactly as I left it. You may look at a book if you wish, but leave my desk alone. The bathroom is through that door,' he said, pointing to the door between the bookshelves.

Harry nodded. 'I'll behave. Oh, and before I forget, Mr Malfoy said he needed more books. He's read the ones you brought him already.'

Snape nodded. 'I'll take Lucius some more reading material after I come back. He can help us look through these books. Behave yourself or I'll hex you.'

Harry nodded obediently, repressing the urge to stick his tongue out at his professor.

Snape glared his direction one last time and then threw the Floo powder into the fire. 'Hogsmeade,' he said, stepping into the fire and vanishing.

Remus smiled at Harry. 'I'll be back as soon as I can.' Remus followed Snape to Hogsmeade, leaving Harry by himself.

Harry got up and spent the next fifteen minutes perusing the shelves for something to read. There were a lot of interesting books on the shelves, and surprisingly, only a few shelves were devoted to potion books. Harry figured that they were some of Snape's rarer and more expensive books. He wisely stayed away from those and picked up Snape's copy of Hogwarts: A History. He figured that it would pass the time, until his professor and Remus came back.

Around ten minutes later, Harry jumped when someone opened the door. He looked up to see Professor Dumbledore standing in the doorway. 'Hello, Harry. You have a visitor.'

Harry watched the big, shaggy dog trot into the room. He looked up at Dumbledore, who smiled and left, closing the door behind him. Harry watched as Sirius immediately transformed, returning to his human form.

Sirius sat down next to Harry and smiled. 'Hi, Harry. It's been a long time.'

Harry gave Sirius a strained smile. 'Hello, Sirius. How have you been? You look…well.'

Sirius smiled and sat back. 'I've been great. Staying with Remus has been good for me. It's kept me from starving to death.'

'That's good,' Harry said. 'What else have you been doing?' he asked, trying to keep the conversation light. Harry honestly thought that he'd have more time to absorb and come to terms with what his father and his godfather had done. Even though the incident happened so long ago, it was new and fresh knowledge to Harry, and he hated it.

'Oh, I've been doing some missions for Albus, but mostly I've been regaining my strength and my memories. I've started to remember things from long ago, things that the Dementors had drained from me. I mean, the memories were there, if a bit hazy, but they meant nothing because the emotions were gone. But the emotions have been coming back, now that I've had time to really concentrate on them.'

'That's good,' Harry said. He chanced a look at Sirius and saw that his godfather's eyes weren't as hollow and lifeless as they used to be. 'What else?' he asked, looking away, fighting the urge to move as far away from Sirius as possible.

'I've been reading, and I've been practising magic again. Albus was able to get me a replacement wand.'

'That's good.'

'Harry, is there something wrong? You're acting strangely.'

Harry shook his head. 'Why would there be anything wrong?'

Sirius shrugged. 'You just seem uncomfortable. Did I do something that's bothering you?'

Harry frowned. 'What could you have possibly done?' he asked rather loudly. Sirius's mention of old memories had irritated Harry, who really didn't want to deal with his godfather right now. He was getting angrier as the seconds ticked by, and he didn't know what to do.

'I don't know, but I seem to have made you angry. What did I do?' Sirius asked, reaching over towards Harry.

Harry flinched involuntarily and moved away. He quickly stood up and went to replace the book on the shelf. 'You know, Sirius, I'm not feeling too terribly well. I think I'm going to call it a night.'

'I thought you were going to wait for Remus? I wanted to spend some time with you.'

Harry shook his head. 'I really don't want to stay. I'd rather go to bed. You should go. I doubt that Professor Snape would appreciate you being in his room all alone,' Harry said, walking toward the door.

Sirius jumped up and walked up behind Harry. He grabbed his godson's arm, ignoring Harry's flinch. 'There is something you're not telling me, and I demand to know. Now out with it.'

Harry glared up at his godfather. 'I know, Sirius. I know what you and my father did,' Harry spat out.

'What are you talking about?' Sirius asked, genuinely confused.

'Your sixth year, the Gryffindor-Slytherin Final. Lucius Malfoy was injured and Gryffindor won the Cup. I know what you and my father did to him, later that night. I know that you held Lucius Malfoy down while my father raped him. I know, Sirius,' Harry whispered in a low, menacing voice. If Snape had heard him, he would have been proud.

Sirius visibly paled. 'How did you find out about that? How could you…'

'It doesn't matter how I found out! You and my father hurt Lucius Malfoy in a way that no one should ever be harmed! How could you?' Harry screamed, ripping his arm away from his godfather. 'And don't touch me!'

'Harry, you've got to understand. We were really drunk that night. We weren't really in our right minds. I felt horrible about it the next day, but it was only Lucius Malfoy. He's done much worse than that in his lifetime, I can assure you.'

'I'm sure he has, but that's not the issue, is it? I expect him to have horrible things in his past, but I never expected that you and my father could do something as terrible as this, though why I doubted your part in it, I don't know. After what you did to Snape, it shouldn't really surprise me. What I can't understand is how you could have such a cold heart. How could you do something like that?'

'Harry, I-'

Harry cut him off. 'You know, Sirius, I really don't care right now. I had wanted some time to deal with what I found out before I saw you, but that didn't happen. Right now, all I want to do is sit here, alone, and wait for Remus. Could you please leave? When I want to talk to you again, I'll let you know. Don't contact me until then.'

Sirius looked at Harry pleadingly. 'Please, Harry, let me try to explain.'

Harry shook his head. 'There's nothing that you can say right now. I don't want to hear it. Please just go.'

Sirius let out a defeated sigh and pushed open the painting. 'I'm really sorry, Harry. If it's any consolation, what I did then, I would never do now. I'm not the same person anymore.'

'That may be, but right now, I really don't care,' Harry said. As soon as Sirius transformed and stepped out the door, Harry pulled the painting back into place.





Harry looked up as Snape and Remus walked back into the room. 'Did it go well?' Harry asked quietly.

Remus nodded. 'There were no difficulties. No one knew we were there. In fact, there was no one at the Manor. We were able to take all the items from that room, and items from some of the other secret rooms that Severus knew about.'

'That's great,' Harry said distractedly.

Remus frowned. 'What's wrong, Harry? You act like your best friend died.' Remus looked around. 'I thought Sirius was going to come and see you.'

'He did,' Harry said dully, gazing at Snape pointedly.

Snape got the message. 'No doubt Black did something completely inappropriate. No matter, however. I'd much rather he not enter my rooms, especially when I'm not here.'

'He didn't stay long,' Harry said. 'When do you want me to come for detention, Professor?'

'Come directly after breakfast. We have many books to search through, and the earlier we start, the better.'

Harry nodded and turned to Remus. 'Are you going to stay, or are you going home now?'

'I have to leave. Albus has another mission for me, and for Sirius. In fact, I can't stay any longer. I wish I could have spoken with you for longer, Harry, but we took so long at the manor that it used up all my time.'

'That's fine. I'm knackered anyway. I'll see you again, though.'

'Of course you will. Get some rest,' Remus said, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezing tightly.

Harry watched Remus finish emptying his pockets of small boxes, and then with a wave, he left Snape's rooms.

Snape turned to Harry as soon as the door was closed. 'I take it you had it out with your godfather?'

Harry nodded. 'He knew something was wrong, and he wouldn't leave it alone. He remembered what he'd done. I told him to leave me alone until I contacted him.'

'And what did the great Sirius Black have to say for himself?' Snape sneered.

'He said that if what had happened then happened today, then he never would have done what he did.'

'Do you believe him?'

Harry shrugged. 'I honestly don't know. All I know is that right now, I can't stand to be around him. I'm too angry, at him and my father, but my father is dead. I can't very well tell him off.'

Snape nodded. 'Go get some sleep, Potter. Tomorrow morning will come early, especially if you're going to spend half the night brooding.'

Harry smiled slightly. 'Goodnight, Professor.'