Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

For the Want of a Nail	By : thewickednix Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 4936 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. This is made for fun, not profit.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chapter 14. Precious Things

"Your mother?" Hermione speaks up, staring at Malfoy with a strange mixture of confusion, disgust and fascination. Malfoy looks at the girl with dead eyes. "Yes."
"But she hasn't ever been under suspicion for being a Death Eater, even when Lucius was sent to Azkaban. No Dark Mark was found on her." Dumbledore objects, looking to Kingsley for confirmation. Kingsley nods slowly, looking from Malfoy to Dumbledore and back again. "That's true, we never found any proof against her. And believe me, certain people really tried." he adds, raising an eyebrow in Moody's direction.
"Oh no, Mother never took the Dark Mark. She doesn't approve of tattoos." Malfoy confirms, causing Moody to huff disbelievingly into his pocket flask. "But," Malfoy continues, taking a seat in his chair again. "She would do anything Father asks of her. Besides, how else would Father have got a wand into Azkaban?"
"But visitors aren't allowed wands either, right?" Ron asks, challenge in his voice. Malfoy sneers at him in disdain. "Obviously not, Weasley. But such mediocre checks as they do are easy for a Malfoy to bypass." A wicked grin spreads on his face as he leers at Ron. "I once smuggled in my wand, and I was only eleven."
Everyone stares at Malfoy in shock. Surprisingly, I am the first to speak. "You've been in Azkaban?" Hmm, that was probably not the question everyone was wondering about, for Hermione cuts off Malfoy's answer by shrieking: "Why would you do such a thing?!"
Malfoy just sneers at Hermione, and turns towards me. "Yes, I've been to Azkaban. Visiting aunt Bella. And," he turns to Hermione, looking very bored and annoyed by this conversation. "Not that it's any of your business, but it was a test."
"A test?" Mr Weasley asks, cautiously voicing the question that is on everyone's lips. Malfoy nods, running a hand through his hair and sighing in obvious ennui. "Yes. Father wished for me to go to school in Durmstrang, but Mother insisted on Hogwarts. The only of his decisions she ever objected to, I believe." A slight scoff escapes him.
"Anyway, Father told her he would let me attend Hogwarts, on the condition that I passed a test of his choice. This way I was to prove that I was... Malfoy enough without needing to go to Durmstrang. So," Malfoy shrugs slightly, leaning his head back in a leisurely manner. "I was to smuggle my new wand into Azkaban. And I guess it's quite obvious to say I passed." Malfoy lifts his chin, looking very pleased and proud of himself. As if he still were that eleven-year old boy who miraculously managed to trick the staff of the prison of Azkaban.
I shake the astonishment off me and turn to glance at the two Aurors. Kingsley stares at Malfoy in as much awe as everyone else, but Moody looks quite like he would like to rip the boy's head off. I wait for the outburst of the one-eyed Auror, but it is interrupted by Dumbledore's all too merry laugh.
"That's very impressive, Draco. It's good that you have informed the Aurors that they need to tighten the security in the prison." he smiles nonchalantly at Malfoy, who only raises an indulgent eyebrow in answer. Dumbledore's smile soon turns more serious, though the twinkle in his eyes never disappears. "So you're certain it was your Mother who led the breakout of Azkaban?"
Malfoy purses his mouth in disdain. "No, she did not lead the breakout. She most likely only smuggled a wand past the guards, used the Venia curse on the other prisoners, and got the wand to Father. Then he broke out my aunt and the others, while Mother probably walked silently behind him, wondering which petunias to set in the garden this summer." Steel gray eyes blaze at the Headmaster. "Father led the breakout. To my mother it was most likely just another order from Father. And like any such it had to be obeyed."
"Are you trying to say that she is to be considered innocent?" Moody spits out, getting out of his seat in such a hurry that his chair falls over. "Because that's not going to happen. She is going to Azkaban for this."
I watch Malfoy in fear, waiting for his attempt to protect his mother. Malfoy sighs again, looking slightly down his nose at Moody. "Calm down, I know she is guilty. But we can't send her to Azkaban."
"What?!" Ron and Moody roar at the same time, both being silenced by a very stern look from Mrs Weasley. Malfoy just snorts and looks over to Dumbledore. "As at least the Headmaster probably realises, there is a very high probability that Father is in contact with Mother regularly. She won't get those messages in Azkaban."
"But Draco," Kingsley begins with a furrowed brow. "We've been monitoring Mrs Malfoy's mail since the breakout, and have found absolutely nothing even remotely suspicious." Malfoy only sneers back, an arrogant smile on his thin lips. "You wouldn't, would you?"
That is too much for Moody, who draws his want in rage. "Now you insolent little-"
"Moody!"
Before I have time to realise what I am doing, I find myself standing in front of the Auror, staring down at the wand pointed between my eyes. Moody's face is red with anger and surprise, but suddenly those emotions are tinged with fright. I look over my shoulder to see what Moody is staring at, and find Malfoy standing right behind me. He looks past me at Moody, his whole body rigid and shaking in suppressed rage. His eyes are wide and stone hard, and his mouth is wrought into a sneer, exposing long, white fangs.
"Potter, move." he murmurs quietly, not even looking at me. Before I have time to move my feet, somebody pulls me backwards, leaving me to stare at Malfoy and Moody in shock. Malfoy takes a step forward so that he is staring right down at Moody's wand. "So, what are you waiting for?" His voice is full of challenge and insolence,an I can see Moody shake with restraint.
"Alastor, that is enough." Dumbledore's voice comes from somewhere, but neither one seems to notice. Malfoy only leans further forward, his challenging sneer widening, baring more of those lethal teeth. "You want to curse me, feel free to do so. You want to kill me, be my guest. I am at your mercy." He stretches out his arms, never breaking eye contact with Moody.
I don't know how long we stand there, watching this bizarre, frightening scene; Moody pointing his wand at Malfoy who is just standing there, waiting, in the middle of the floor. Finally though, Mr Weasley seems to realise something needs to be done. He walk slowly up to Moody, grabbing the Aurors hand and lowering it slowly. "Alastor, enough."
Moody cast one last hateful glance at Malfoy before putting his wand back into his pocket and walking back to his chair. Malfoy watches him go, lowering his arms slowly. When Moody has taken his seat their eyes meet again, and Malfoy's face turns suddenly serious. "I know you don't trust me. I know you don't like me, god forbid. But as one of the most successful Aurors in Britain you must realise that we need to find those Death Eaters. As soon as possible. And the fastest way is through my mother."
Moody stares at Malfoy for a long moment, and finally averts his eyes in what can only be interpreted as agreement. Malfoy nods curtly before too walking back to his own chair at the other end of the room.
"Good," Dumbledore smiles, eyes twinkling worse than ever when turning towards Malfoy. "So what do you have in mind?"
Staring silently out the window for a minute, Malfoy turns to the Headmaster. �I will interrogate her, then she will be sent to Azkaban." He leans back into the chair, voice clear and light as if he were talking about the weather. I stare at him, my gut aching when thinking that someone can speak like that about their own mother, evil as she may be.
"Shouldn't someone qualified be the one to do the interrogation?" Hermione pipes up, gaining agreeing nods and mumbles from the others. Only Dumbledore shakes his head. "She has been interrogated before. I think if someone is going to get any information out of her, it is Draco." He gains a grateful nod from Malfoy, and smiles before he continues. "But someone else will have to supervise it. Kingsley, would you do the honours?" he asks the dark man. Kinglsey looks surprised, but agrees nevertheless. "Of course I will, but I doubt she will give up any information with me there."
Before Dumbledore has time to answer, Malfoy turns to Kingley. "Of course you would be under a concealment charm, so she wouldn't see you."
"How will that work?" asks suddenly Tonks, furrowing her brow at Malfoy. "My mother always told me there are strict security charms on the Malfoy Mansion, alerting the family of any uninvited visitors. How will Kingsley get in without your mother noticing it?"
A wicked smile spreads over Malfoy's features, as at a child knowing a secret. "That is true." he sneers at the purple haired witch before turning to inspect his own nails nonchalantly. "But you see, dear cousin, the head of the household can take away those security charms without anyone else noticing. And when Father was sent to Azkaban, it was not Mother who inherited the estate."
"It was not?" Hermione stares at Malfoy. The blonde only snorts. "Of course not. Only when there is no other option do women in the Malfoy line inherit. When Father was imprisoned, everything was passed on to me."
"So," I begin, turning Malfoy's attention towards me. "Even though Lucius is now out of Azkaban, you own everything?"
"Yes." he nods, his intense stare making me sway. Luckily he soon turns away, addressing Kingsley again. "I can just remove the charm for however long it takes, and Mother will never know anyone else was there."
"That sounds very good, Draco." the Headmaster praises, though no one else seems to agree. Kingsley, Mr Weasley, Lupin and Tonks look grave-serious, while Mrs Weasley and Hermione just look worried. Moody and Ron on the other hand look like they would rather die than trust Malfoy and his plan. "What do you say, could we be ready for this to take place within a week's time?" Dumbledore asks Malfoy in that well-known way that makes it sound like one has a choice while it's obvious that they don't.
Malfoy nods once. "Yes, I don't believe that will be a problem." When no one objects and Dumbledore just smiles, Malfoy looks around the room. "If you all excuse me, I will retire now and do some research."
And he hurries past us to the door, his jaw as tense as I have ever seen it. I look after him until he closes the doors behind him. I turn back, trying to listen to what Dumbledore and Kingsley are saying about the protection of Muggles during the war. But somehow I always find my thoughts winding back to Malfoy, what he is doing. How he is doing. I can't shake the feeling that I should go to him, but I can't just leave the meeting to look after Malfoy.

Besides, he wouldn't want you anyway.

I tell my conscience to stuff it, just in time to realise that everyone is leaving. Absentmindedly saying goodbye to Moody, Dumbledore, Kingsley and Tonks, I still can't stop wondering about Malfoy.
"Now, off to bed with the three of you. It's late." Mrs Weasley commands, ignoring Ron's objections. "Harry, would you be so kind as to show Remus where he can sleep?"
"Of course, Mrs Weasley." I nod and smile at Remus. Bidding the others goodnight, I lead Remus towards the South Wing.
"The real guestrooms yet unvacated are actually in the West Wing, but that's where Malfoy spends most his time. I figured you wouldn't feel too easy sleeping there." I grin at Remus as we pass the dining room and the kitchen. "The kitchen is here as you can see, so Malfoy rarely comes to the South Wing." Not after today, at least, I add to myself, knowing that it's true. He most likely won't talk to me at all now since Hermione and Ron are here to stay. Especially since I didn't tell him about the breakout from Azkaban.
"You seem to get along pretty well." Remus suddenly says, smiling softly at me. I take a fast intake of breath. "What do you mean?" I play indifferent. Poorly.
"Well, I had been under the impression that you two were something of arch enemies at school," He chuckles slightly. "But now I see very little of that. Draco seems to hold an enormous hostility towards the entire world. Towards everyone except you." I snort. Ridiculous. We have reached the bedroom, and I stop by the door, grabbing the wall in relief to have something to hold on to.
God, I wish I could believe Remus.
I shake my head slowly, snickering softly. "You are mistaken. Malfoy no more likes me than a rat likes arsenic." I try to keep my voice steady, but Remus doesn't look convinced. He opens the door to the bedroom, but remains on the threshold, smiling. "Don't dismiss it so easily, Harry. That boy has had a hard life, and his current situation is making it no easier." he says, so serious I almost feel self-conscious. "I hope you can let go of whatever grudges you hold against him, because I can see that you have grown to like him too. You wouldn't have stepped in front of Moody like that if you hadn't." Remus smiles widely, and I can only wish that he doesn't notice the blush creeping over my nose.
As I remain silent, Remus continues. "Friendship is a rare thing to find, Harry, and is at times like these more valuable than ever. Try to remember that." he smiles and enters the room. "Goodnight."
The door shuts with a thud. "Goodnight." I answer the empty corridor, wondering about everything just said. Remus is right, even though he has no idea of all that has happened. I should be able to let go of old grudges. I think we did for a while, Malfoy and I. But how can I do that now, with my old life breathing down my neck? With Hermione and Ron here, reminding me of it every day? I can't just give up the past, not with them here.
But I can't give up the present either. I can't give up all those talks with Malfoy. Those talks that yet so subtle, are so irreplaceable. I can't give up all those hours in the library. All those books I pretended to read just to be near him, all that time I spent just waiting for him to grow accustomed to my presence. I can't give it up.
I run to the West Wing.

___________________________________________________________________

He is not in the library. I guess he must be in pretty messed up, then. I walk upstairs to his bedroom and knock on the door. Once. Twice. Nothing.
"Malfoy, if you're in there, please open the door." I focus my ears to search for his voice, for steps, for a single sound indicating he is in there. I measure my options for a moment. I could just leave him alone now and talk to him tomorrow. But if I wait until tomorrow, he might get angrier still during the night. Besides it'll be hard to escape from Ron and Hermione during the day.
I knock again, harder this time. "Malfoy, please open up. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the breakout. Can't we even talk about this?" Eventually I get angry, and common courtesy be damned I open the door without permission. When I enter though, I can't see Malfoy anywhere. But the window is open, and I walk towards it. Standing up on the windowsill, I manage to peek over the roof edge to see the ember of a cigarette glowing in the dark.
"Malfoy, I know you're up there. Please come down. I need to talk to you." I plead.
"Just go away, Potter. I don't have the energy to listen to you right now." Malfoy answers, his voice low but filled with wrath. I sigh, but am too stubborn not to try again. "Please Malfoy. I know you're angry with me, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the breakout. But seriously, it didn't seem like such a big deal, and I-"
I get no further before I am violently pushed in through the window, landing quite painfully on my back on the floor. Malfoy is crouching on the ledge, staring at me with flaming eyes, his jaw clenching fervently. "It didn't seem like a big deal, did it?" he hisses, so snake-like I wonder if it isn't Parseltongue. "Well guess what, Potter?" he continues, barefoot stepping down from the windowsill and walking slowly over to me.
"It was a big deal. It was vital information concerning the war. Concerning my family!" Malfoy snarls, a beastly sound echoing in the room. He squats down in front of me, exposing his fangs, and for the first time I'm actually afraid of him. "Have you any idea of how stupid I felt, hearing about this?" He leans closer, and I shudder.
"I am already despised by most of the people who were in that room. And now I had to stand there and look like an utter fool, realising that you didn't even trust me with that small piece of information. How did you think that felt?" he growls, leaning over my legs onto his arms . I lean up on my elbows, staring at the vampire above me. Malfoy stares down at the floor for a second before he turns back to meet my gaze.
"I realise that you may not like me all too much, but at least I thought you trusted me more than most. But I guess I was wrong to think that you could let go of old grudges enough to see past them." His voice breaks at the last word, and the snarls sound more like sobs now. I lie paralyzed, staring at the blonde above me for I don't know how long, unable to move or speak.
Eventually Malfoy seems to think I won't answer because his accusations are all true, and he moves to pull away. Then suddenly I find my body, and before I realise what I'm doing I have reached out and tugged Malfoy's face towards mine, pressing my lips to his.
- 13
- 14
- 15
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For the Want of a Nail