Carpe Draconis Act V

[aoifene]

Title: Carpe Draconis
Author: Aoife Malfoy

aoifene
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Angst, Action/Adventure, Humour, Romance, Smut
Warnings: AU, Written before HBP. No HBP Spoilers. Post Hogwarts, Second War Era, Draco-centric. Slow paced fic.
Disclaimer: Property of JK Rowling. Only borrowing for my own amusement.
Beta: the lovely micolerose
Summary: Is it possible to capture a dragon when you suddenly find one within your reach?
Author's note: Scroll down for previous chapters

Act V

Patris est pars filius.

A father is part of the son.

Draco was walking aimlessly through the corridors, his mind weighed down by the conflicting thoughts that were generated by his meeting with Dumbledore. Although, it did not make choosing easier, it did lessen a tiny shred of apprehension that he was having about possibly joining that side. At least he knew without a doubt that at least one friendly face would welcome him if he ever needed their shelter. Plus he had a startling new insight into the crazy old headmaster that he was taught to hate. He found out to his complete surprise that the man was not half bad even if he did occasionally test the bounds of sane behavior. Though he may not understand Albus Dumbledore and he prayed he never did because that would definitely mean he had gone round the bend, he still respected the wizard and could forgive him slightly for his curious quirks.

He had been walking for quite some time now and so when he looked up to notice he was standing near the seventh floor, he was quite surprised. He was turning to make his way back when suddenly he heard something. A dull noise like the scraping of a shoe. Sighing in frustration and a bit of anger, he balled his fists to the side and gripped his wand. Then nonchalantly, he stepped forward, careful to be listening for the same sound as he did so. When he heard it again, he pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned casually against the stone wall beside him.

"Merlin! It's not an Invisibility and a Silencing Cloak, Potter! If you must insist on following me everywhere tonight at least silence your damnable footsteps like any half decent wizard with a semi operational brain would! I pray for your side's sake that this war does not need to be won by your stealth!" He said through clenched teeth as he continued to rub soothing circles on his forehead.

A shimmer of light later and then the figure of a violently blushing Harry Potter could be seen. Harry was mortified that he'd been caught obsessively stalking Malfoy since he finally managed a glimpse of him coming down the hallway two hours ago. But he strengthened his resolve and pushed his embarrassment and rising panic away.  "I-er-I just wanted to talk to you." He managed to stammer out, uncertain about what he was going to say but the need to say something surprisingly strong. He hadn't given up on Malfoy yet.

"Yes, of course and stalking me invisibly is so the way to do that. By all means, continue, shall I walk away now and pretend you're not there so we can continue this bizarre and idiotic Gryffindor social exercise?" 

Clenching his teeth together, Harry said tersely, "Can't you be nice for once?"

Draco scowled, even more incensed now that his time alone was intruded upon once more by the Boy Who Lived to Torture him with Stupid Questions. "Of course I can be. I am the epitome of culture and civility.' He sneered and then added, "But not to you."

Harry growled. "Why is that? Why can you be decent to everyone but me? You’ve been pretty withdrawn since sixth year and you've pretty much refrained from being 'your oh so lovely insulting self' to everyone even Hermione and Ron whom I know you've always hated a great deal. What with all that 'Die Mudblood die' and 'Pureblood traitor scum' rubbish you used to spout when we were younger. So why is that when it comes to me, it’s still 'piss off, Scarhead?' Why can't we be friends? Or at least non-threatening acquaintances?"

Draco rolled his eyes, already bored with the conversation. "I told you this already and I see no reason to repeat myself. So if you would kindly, as you so eloquently put it, 'Piss off, Scarhead!' I will go merrily on my way to plot misdeeds and nefarious undertakings since apparently your already swollen head has inflated to even more epic proportions because of my non-hating ways leading you to believe that you are more than just the number two-thousand three-hundred thirty-third person I can't stand."

Harry snorted, "I will always be more than just a person you dislike, Malfoy. You told me that yourself earlier."

Draco snarled as he remembered that asinine conversation he had with the bespectacled Prat Who Lived and the subsequent lapse of sanity that had taken place shortly after. Why is it that this boy always managed to make him look and act like an imbecile? He clenched his fists. What was it about this shoddy classless half-blood that made him feel like no matter what he did he would never be worth even a tenth of the Wizarding World’s resident savior? Ever since he met Potter, he had felt like he was trapped yet again underneath another shadow. It was bad enough that he was constantly overlooked and ignored as others seek past him and onto his father but to have the same thing happen over and over again with this mere slip of a boy? He shook with mortification and anger. He had actually forgotten about that little episode and would have gladly kept it that way but here was a living breathing, not to mention, infuriating reminder of that exchange. And it snapped the already tenuous hold he had on his patience, his temper ignited and it was enough to spur him into violence. Growling like a cornered animal, he balled his fists and drove one into the Gryffindor's gut. Harry, for his part, was too surprised by the Slytherin's unexpected reaction that all he could do was take the brunt of the hit and stagger backwards. He promptly saw stars as Draco drove his knee into Harry's jaw, making his head hit the stone wall soundly.

Seizing his wand and holding it up painfully against the taller boy's jugular, Draco growled ferociously. "You don't know me, Potter and you never will. No matter which side of the war I manage to fall on. It makes no difference. I will always be your enemy. Stop trying to change that!"

Harry groaned and Draco intensified the pressure he was putting on his captive's esophagus. "Don't try to 'save me' either. I am not one of your pathetic little pet projects! I will do as I please just like I have always done and if I am to be a Death Eater then so be it!"

Harry coughed a bit as his throat tried to lessen the pressure that was being put upon it. "So that's it? You're just going to follow dear old daddy's footsteps and become a Death Eater? Do you even know what that means, you stupid pillock? It means the end to your arrogant spoiled ways of doing as you please because then you'd have pledged your life to do Voldemort's every bidding, bowing and kissing the hem of his robes. It means having to murder people, Malfoy! Fathers, sons, daughters, wives and babies whose only sin was to be born to the wrong family. It means that one day I will be expected to fight and ultimately kill Voldemort's followers and when I do, Malfoy, when I finally have to use magic to harm rather than protect, I-I don't want it to be you."

Draco made a frustrated noise at the back of his throat as he pushed away from the Gryffindor. "Well too bad, St. Potty, because I have no such qualms about it! Stay away from me. I don't need your help or your insipid advice about my career options! And even if I find myself indeed trapped and helpless, I can very well save myself!"

Incensed by Malfoy’s sheer superciliousness, Harry managed to find the strength to lunge at his captor and they both tumbled painfully down the hard ground. Using this momentum, Harry pinned the surprised Slytherin down securely. “You, arrogant bastard! You have no idea what it’s like! You think it’s just something you can easily walk away from? Just a ‘No, thank you, Voldemort, the robes would clash with my skin’ and you’re free to go? He’ll come for you! He’ll make you beg. He’ll own you!” Harry spat furiously, angered that the smug wanker was just brushing off his warnings.

Equally enraged, Draco replied. “I know that, you fucking twit! Who do you think my father is? You have no right to preach to me about this no matter what you have seen in your oh so tragic orphaned life! You couldn’t possibly understand because you are from a different world. You are kept in a place where everything is bright, good and simple. Where smoldering temptation does not exist and doesn’t hiss at your ear every day promising great things. Where everything is black and white and there is no room for grey. Where your choices do not require a sacrifice.” Draco panted angrily as he glowered up at the self righteous idiot. “You live in a world where this choice is easy and that is why I won’t ever listen to anything you have to say!”

Time seemed to stand still as both boys were riveted in their place. Harry dared not even breathe too loudly so afraid was he to break the charged silence that followed Draco’s emotional proclamation and for one bittersweet moment Harry Potter caught a glimpse of how it was to be Draco Malfoy.

And he was captivated. He had been stuck on the image of the sullen and spoiled pointy-faced git who had taunted him for years that now that he was faced with reality, the realization quite rightly bit him in the arse. Gone was the mocking brat of old, instead he saw this lost young man who reminded him quite strongly of himself. And then another realization dawned on him that perhaps the reason why this boy seemed so different was that because he wasn’t looking at Malfoy any more. For the first time since the day he met him, Harry felt he was finally catching a glimpse of Draco.

Disgusted at himself for letting Potter get to him yet again and having divulge so much of himself, Draco closed his eyes to avoid looking at the twit who was still pining him to the ground. Gritting his teeth when he noticed that the silly arse wasn’t letting him up anytime soon, he decided to take matters into his own hands and pushed the boy, only to find the lumbering idiot to be immovable. “Get off!” He grunted as he once again made to push Potter off when he noticed something peculiar. The git’s face was looming alarmingly closer than was absolutely proper and necessary!

Entranced and more than a little dumbfounded by his epiphany, Harry didn’t notice he was leaning unconsciously closer to that enigmatic face until…

THUMP!

Harry blinked blearily as he tried to gather his wits about him. He raised his aching head just in time to see that trademark shock of blond hair hurriedly disappear around the corner. Groaning, he rubbed his sore head, he cursed Malfoy for hexing him so hard. Honestly! He was going to get off him in a second! It wasn’t as if he was enjoying that wiry body beneath his, squirming and writhing under him as the blond tried to roll the pressing weight off himself. He wasn’t intrigued at all by the flush that stained the boy’s pale cheeks that crept all the way down his neck until it disappeared into the Slytherin’s crisp white shirt. Harry blushed red at his thoughts. Really, it wasn’t that at all…

---------------------

The next day had Draco staring gloomily at his plate. He had arrived early for breakfast, hoping to avoid as much people as he could but he was dismayed when he found the Great Hall already teeming with students although the professors were still absent. However, it did make sense since this would be the one of their last meals of the year at Hogwarts. He looked around surreptitiously as he studied the people around him.

Sickeningly happy faces were everywhere and wherever he looked he could see girls hugging each other, promising to owl everyday after graduation (He snorted. After a year they would probably forget each other's names.), lovers kissing passionately (He looked away in disgust. Honestly, some people have no shame.) and boys slapping each other's back merrily (He rolled his eyes. How juvenile.) He had barely swallowed his urge to scream. Did somebody cast an Obliviation spell on everyone? Have they all forgotten that there was a war going on and when they leave the safety of these castle walls they're as good as dead? How can they be so disgustingly happy knowing that today was the day they say goodbye to their childhood? That today was the last day they get to be seventeen? Did they forget that tomorrow some people would be thrown into a war they never wanted nor cared for? That tomorrow these people that they were hugging, kissing and back slapping might end up dead?

Draco shook his head in disgust. Fools all of them! Now he knew why every Slytherin seemingly ended up joining the other side, the members of the light were all simpering idiots! A figure caught his eye and what he saw made him feel a tiny bit better. At least Potter seemed to know for he looked exactly like how Draco felt. Utterly wretched. The Golden Boy knew the importance of this day and it made him rescind slightly (just slightly, mind.) his opinion of the light side. At least their appointed leader wasn't as stupid as the rest of them.

Shaking his head, he tried to rid himself of thoughts about the prat, the incident from last night still fresh in his mind. Honestly what the hell was that ninny trying to do? Potter probably wanted to unsettle him enough to attack him when he let his guard down. Or better yet it might have been another ploy of the Savior of the Wizarding World to persuade him into switching sides. Draco snorted. At least he looked as bad as Draco felt. A twinge of vindictive smugness squeezed his heart; the bastard must also still be feeling the sting of his refusal. Ha! Take that, you stupid self righteous knob! He thought with glee.

A commotion at the back of the room drew everyone's attention as the heavy doors of the Great Hall opened with a bang. Lucius Malfoy, dressed in all his refined glory and looking like he never spent a day in Azkaban, stood proudly by the doorway. Once he was sure every single eye in the room was looking at him, he began to make his way to the Slytherin table, his cold eyes affixed on his only son as he ignored everyone else.

"What's he doing here?" Ron gasped loudly as Lucius made his way past the Gryffindor table where the Golden Trio sat. "Isn't he supposed to be in Azkaban where he belongs?" He commented brashly, his freckled face burning red with anger.

Lucius stopped as Ron's question reached his ears. He turned gracefully towards the trio, his eyes narrowing in disgust. "Red hair, freckled face, ratty robes and subhuman intelligence. Another Weasley, I presume? Why your must parents procreate like bunnies for I always seem to have the misfortune of encountering one of you wherever I go."

Ron growled low in his throat and made to lunge at the insufferable ponce but Harry's grip on his arm would not relent. "Let me at him, Harry. It's the last day of school and I don't think I'd get expelled for decking an escaped criminal!"

"Ah, but haven't you heard, Weasley? The Ministry has given me not only a full pardon but also an apology for my wrongful imprisonment." Lucius smirked evilly, enjoying the further reddening on the Weasley boy's face and the hardening gaze of the Boy Who Lived.

"That's not possible." Harry spoke up for the first time since the elder Malfoy had arrived. "You were captured along with the other Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. I saw you working for Voldemort!" he shouted, his anger rising with each word.

"Ah but you forget that the Dark Lord has a very strong penchant for the use of Imperius on poor innocent individuals such as myself." Lucius drawled with a nasty smile.

"Liar! That's not true! I saw you!" Harry bellowed in outrage.

 Lucius sneered as he once again turned his back on them. "Obviously, they believe otherwise."

 Bastard! Harry growled. He couldn't believe it! The Ministry has failed the Wizarding World again! How could they believe Lucius' lies?

Draco paled when he saw his father framed in the door way. Shit! This can't be happening! He thought desperately as he stared in horror as his father made his way to him. He had thought that he would be spared at least a few days before finding a solution to his dilemma but now his hand was being forced. Damn Potter! The one thing he was good for and he mucked it up! It figures that the fucking Golden Boy would fail even in this endeavor! Draco cursed Potter in his mind none too kindly. It was the only time that the Boy Wonder proved to be useful and he botched it! Now he was going to be forcefully marked earlier than planned. Bloody Hell! Get a fucking grip, Draco! He berated himself inwardly. It wouldn't do to loose his cool now after all this time, especially in front of his father who would surely strike him dead if there was even a suspicion that Draco had doubts about his nefarious future. Scanning the Head Table, he cursed inwardly when he saw that it was empty. What a day for the headmaster to indulge in a little lie in! He could really use the old wizard's help right now because after the conversation he had with him last night, he knew the man would help stall Lucius in someway. Think, Draco, think! He chided himself when he saw that his father was being detained by the Golden Trio. He looked longingly at the exit doors. How he wished he could run back to his dorms and never come out but that would lead to an even more painful and slower death as it would disgrace the Malfoy name and brand him as a coward so it was out of the question. Besides he had to face his father sooner or later and it seems that the latter had come to pass.

He was now at the fork in the road and it was time for his path to be chosen.

Perrectum.

Exinde:

Act VI

Prius:

Act IV
Act III
Act II
Act I

AN: Thank you to all the fans of this arc! I really needed that kick in the arse! LOL Still do actually since it's the only way to keep me going! :) 

Love it? Hate it? Comments are love!

Comments

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

Superb dialogue from Lucius and such a put down for Ron. I can barely imagine the weight that must be on Draco's shoulders at this moment. *crosses fingers for him*

[aoifene.livejournal.com]

*grins* I'm glad you liked my Lucius. This chapter and the next one was the first time I ever even attempted to write him so I'm glad you think he's IC.