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Darkness Within The Light	By : crimson96 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 8759 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 25
- 26
- 27
Author's Note: Hello once more to all of our readers. Eris and I do hope that everyone is enjoying the story and we hope that youall will enjoy this chapter. It is a big change of pace from the action heavy monster that was chapter 25. Here, we slow things down a bit, as the plot continues to build. We get to touch upon a sister's lost reunion, and how their world has changed around them while also exploring Harry and Draco's relationship. Many thanks everyone for reading this story and for telling other friends and readers to check "Darkness" out. Comments are always welcome. So until chapter 27, which is being worked on now, Happy Readings!

Chapter 26: The Fading Line

"How could you?" Molly demanded, throwing her hands in the air and letting them fall to her sides. "After your father and I specifically ordered you to stay here-"

"Mrs. Weasley-" Hermione stepped toward Molly and reached out a hand, but Molly sidestepped her and then began wagging a finger.

"You! Don't 'Mrs. Weasley' me! You were supposed to be the sensible one, and instead you drag my children off with that Death Eater!" Without looking at Draco, she waved a hand in his direction.

"This isn't the time." Draco had intended to shout the words, but they came out as a sigh. He walked past Molly, deliberately bumping her shoulder with his as he did so. From the doorway of the Burrow, he called, "Potter needs help, and your son is injured, too, if you care." Hermione's Featherweight spell was beginning to wear off, and Draco staggered under Harry's weight.

Orion flapped his wings and fluttered off into the night, wisely choosing to avoid entering the Weasleys' house. Draco wished he had the same luxury. Inside, Arthur Weasley paced in the kitchen wearing striped cotton pajama pants and a lace-trimmed sleeping robe that barely reached his knees. When he saw Draco with Harry, he rushed to clear a path to the tiny living room by moving chairs out of the way. Draco stumbled along behind him and managed to reach the couch just as his muscles failed him. Harry slid limply onto the cushions, and Draco slumped to his knees beside the couch. He wiped his hands furiously on his robe, hating the sticky feel of Potter's blood almost as much as the metallic smell.

"Let me have a look." Hermione's voice came from behind Draco, and he nodded and moved out of her way, giving her room to work.

The rest of the group had made their way into the now-crowded room. While Narcissa helped Ron into a chair, Ginny and Molly traded angry words.

"A sleeping spell on your own parents!" Molly spat. "After I gave birth to you, raised you, cared for you... I never believed my own daughter would curse me!"

"It was a bloody charm, not a curse! And I wouldn't have had to do it if you weren't being an idiot!"

"So I'm an idiot for wanting to protect the children I have left? Say that again when you have children of your own, if you manage to live that long. I didn't expect you to understand, I only hoped you and Ronald loved me enough to do as your father and I asked."

"That's low, Mum!" Ginny said.

"Your mother has a right to be upset," Arthur began, looking up from his examination of Ron's ankle. "This is a serious injury-"

"Episky!" Ginny shouted, pointing her wand at Ron. "Now it's fixed. Anything else to complain about?"

"You should have left that to a healer." Arthur frowned in disapproval.

"Nah. It's fine." Ron rose to his feet and crossed the room to stand beside his sister. "Look, we snuck out, and you're upset. We get it. But we had to go. I mean, without Ginny, Phillipe Moreaux would have gotten Hermione and Mrs. Malfoy, and-"

"Phillipe Moreaux was there?" Molly wailed, clapping her hands to her cheeks.

"Yeah, but that's not the point. The point is that our parents-" he gave each of them a meaningful look "- raised us to do the right thing, even when it's wrong, er, the wrong thing if it's right, well, you know..."

"All I know is that I woke up to an empty house, not knowing if two of my children were dead or alive." Molly put up a hand to forestall any further arguments. "No more explanations or excuses. From any of you!" She fixed her glare on each of them, even including Narcissa, who responded with a cold shrug.

Draco turned back to Harry. Hermione finished her healing incantation, looked up to meet Draco's eyes, and spread her hands in an uncertain gesture.

"I thought you were supposed to be brilliant," Draco said, glaring from her to Harry's motionless face. "Your spell failed, Granger. Think of something else, something that works this time!"

Before Hermione could reply, Ginny grabbed Draco's shoulder and spun him around. "Don't you dare blame Hermione! You're the one who took him down to the dungeon, and for all I know, you're the one who closed the door. Whatever happens to Harry, it's your fault!"

Ginny's words twisted a pin inside of him. He felt the blood drain from his face and his next words came out in a hoarse whisper. "Keep your hands off me, Weasley."

"No. You deserve this." Before Draco could guess at what it was he 'deserved,' Ginny's fist connected with the injured side of his face, splitting open the cut from his father's ring and sending a fresh cascade of blood down his cheek.

As he started to draw his wand, a strong hand had closed around his forearm. He struggled to free himself, but Arthur Weasley's arms encircled him in a crushing embrace. Molly and Narcissa flanked Ginny, each of them holding an arm.

"Control your child, or I will," Narcissa said sternly.

"Your room, now!" Molly ordered, jerking her daughter's arm and shoving her toward the stairs.

With a final angry glare at Draco, Ginny ascended the stairs. Ron followed behind her, though Draco doubted he could keep his sister in check if she decided to commit any more acts of violence.

"Can I trust you not to go after Ginny?" Arthur asked, half-releasing his grip on Draco.

Draco nodded. "I don't care about her." Arthur's arms fell away from him, and he knelt once more beside Harry.

"I've done everything I can," Hermione said.

Ignoring her, Draco slapped Harry across the face, and when that got no response, he hit him again, harder. "Wake up, damn it!"

"That's not helping!" Hermione admonished.

"Draco..." Narcissa murmured. She had knelt beside him and put an arm around his shoulders, and he could smell the familiar floral notes of her perfume over the stench of blood and sweat that pervaded the room.

"Wake. Up." Draco repeated, pinching Harry this time. "Say something. Anything. Insult me. Patronize me. I don't care! I just need you to wake up, I-" his voice broke, and he swallowed hard.

Hermione heaved a loud sigh. "I didn't want to do this, but... Renervate."

The spell made Harry's body jerk, and his eyelids fluttered before flinging open. His head raised and then fell back on the pillow with a thud. One of his hands flailed until Draco caught it and squeezed.

"You're... alive," Harry breathed.

"Thanks to Mother." Draco jerked his chin toward Narcissa, who shook her head.

"Thank your resourceful friend." Narcissa placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Without her, I would perhaps still be captive."

"Ron? Ginny?" Harry strained to raise his head up again, and his eyes darted around the room.

Hermione answered before anyone else could think of an apt quip. "They're fine. It's you I'm still worried about. We should take you to a proper healer-"

"No! There would be too many questions." Harry shook his head slightly, and his hand tightened on Draco's. "Draco and Narcissa need to lie low until the trial. Besides, I'm alright." He used Draco's hand to pull himself up, but fell back before Draco could help him to his feet.

"But you're not!" Hermione protested.

"Just help me to bed. Please, Hermione, no more arguing." Harry sat up again, and this time Draco reached a hand behind his back before he could fall. Shaking her head in resignation, Hermione moved to prop him up on the left side while Draco remained on his right.

Seeing Harry awake, Molly broke away from the hushed conversation she had held with Arthur and rushed to greet Harry, kissing his cheeks and murmuring a mixture of platitudes and rebukes.

"You overwhelm him," Narcissa said. She moved behind Harry and helped Draco and Hermione steer him toward the stairs, away from Molly's attentions.

"I worried for him as much as for my own children," Molly protested.

"But you do not understand what he has survived." Narcissa released Harry and positioned herself at the bottom of the staircase, preventing Molly from following Harry, Hermione, and Draco up the stairs.

By the time they reached the twins' room, Draco and Hermione were half-dragging, half-carrying Harry. He moaned softly as they positioned him on one of the beds, then fell silent.

"It was only the spell keeping him awake then?" Draco asked.

Hermione nodded as she pulled off Harry's shoes and proceeded to take the blanket from the empty bed and spread it over him. When she had finished smoothing the blanket, she stepped in front of Draco, standing toe-to-toe with him. Wisps of hair fanned out around her head, and her face was smeared with blood and dirt.

She raised one hand toward Draco's face and reached for her wand with the other. "You're hurt, too."

Draco snorted and brushed her hand away. "Yes, Weasley has a better arm than you. But you don't have to-" His protest came too late. She was already saying the spell.

He probed the newly healed skin on his cheek, wondering if he would still have the scar he deserved, or if she had erased his last physical reminder of his father. At least Ginny wouldn't have the satisfaction of seeing the bruise she had no doubt given him.

"Sorry about Ginny." Hermione grimaced as she wiped the blood from her fingers onto her robe. "She's just-"

"She's right!" Draco said bitterly. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have let this happen to him."

"You didn't let it happen. I was there, at least at the beginning. Lucius trapped you! You can't blame yourself. I don't, and I know Harry won't, either."

"That only makes it worse!" Draco spun in search of something to kick before deciding that any sudden impacts might disturb Harry, which he couldn't risk. "Just go, Granger. Find someone else to feel sorry for."

"Fine. And you're welcome, by the way." She pivoted and stalked out of the room. A moment later, her head peeked around the edge of the door, and she said, "I assume I can trust you to call for me if Harry needs help."

Draco nodded, and this time he locked the door behind her when she left.

Once he was relatively sure no one would disturb him, he sat down on the edge of the bed and bent close to Harry so that their faces almost touched. He could hear Harry's breathing, which was shallow, but regular, almost as if he were sleeping normally. Carefully, he removed Harry's glasses, which had miraculously stayed in place, folded them, and put them on the shelf above the bed.

"Of all the things you've put me through, Potter, this is the worst." Using the tip of his index finger, he brushed the hair away from Harry's forehead and lightly traced the bolt-shaped scar there. "When I thought you were gone, all I could think was that this is so like you to leave me after I just found out that all the feelings I have, you have, too. And now you're torturing me worse than my father ever did."

His muscles went rigid for a moment as a wave of frustration coursed through him. When the rage dissipated, something else replaced it, something that drove him to touch his brow to Harry's and then move down until his forehead rested on the bridge of Harry's nose.

"I'm going to make you a promise," he whispered. "No matter what happens, I will never put you in danger again."

Harry remained still, his breathing the only reassurance that he was still alive. Draco swung his legs up onto the bed, half-hoping that the motion would jolt Harry awake and half-glad when it didn't. This way, there would be no questions, no teasing, no temptation to cross the fading line he had set for himself. He turned on his side in order to fit on the narrow bunk, squeezing between Harry and the wall. His left arm slid under Harry's neck, and his right hand flattened over Harry's heart so that Draco could feel the rise and fall of his chest.

When Harry woke, his eyelids felt like sandpaper, and the inside of his mouth tasted rancid. His ears rang with a high-pitched, mosquito-like whine. The chore of sitting up proved too much for him as muscles he hadn't realized he had cried in protest. Before he could flop back on the bed, however, gentle hands were on his shoulders. He forced his eyes open and found himself looking into a pair of slate-blue orbs.

"Narcissa." He croaked the name, hoping he had kept the disappointment out of his voice. He remembered half-waking and feeling Draco's body next to his, but it must have been part of a dream.

"You expected someone else." Her mouth twisted into a tiny smile. "Draco is with Arthur Weasley in the kitchen. He only agreed to answer Arthur's questions when I promised to watch over you."

"Then he was here." Harry smiled to himself, and even that small movement hurt. Gritting his teeth, he raised an arm for Narcissa to take, and she helped him to his feet. His head throbbed, and he envisioned it swelling and shrinking like that of an old-fashioned cartoon character.

"I could hardly pry him from you." Narcissa took Harry's glasses from the shelf above the bed and put them in his right hand, still holding onto his left arm.

Harry put his glasses on and let himself be led from the room, embarrassed that he needed Narcissa's help to stand, but sure he would be even more humiliated if he let go of her and tumbled down the stairs as a result. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, he shook off her arm and made his way to the kitchen, where Arthur and Draco sat opposite each other.

"- couldn't tell," Draco was saying. "I saw something under the chandelier, but it could have been anyone. I was focused on other things at the time." He glanced up at Harry. "I see you've remembered how to walk. That's good, because I wasn't going to carry you again."

"Again?" Harry repeated, vaguely aware of how dull he sounded. People's voices sounded as if they came from the other end of a long tunnel, and they echoed in his head as if it were some great, empty chamber. He tried to picture Draco carrying him and couldn't.

"You were injured badly," Arthur explained. "I don't know how much you remember, but Draco brought you here last night."

Harry sank into one of the chairs next to Arthur, while Narcissa hovered behind her son. "The last thing I remember is Lucius throwing me against the wall." Harry rubbed at the back of his head, marveling at the fact his skull was now intact. "He was going to kill us both. I thought-" he closed his eyes, reliving the moment and feeling his muscles tense and his heart race. He looked at Draco, unable to finish his thought out loud. I thought I had failed you.

"I know," Arthur said quietly. "Draco told me about the confrontation in the dungeon." He leaned forward on the table, frowning up at Narcissa. "It appears matters at Malfoy Manor were not as you described them when I visited."

Narcissa lowered her eyes, and her hands tensed on Draco's shoulders, making him wince.

"If you had told me the truth," Arthur continued, "I could have had a team of Aurors at Malfoy Manor and our children would not have risked their lives to rescue you."

"Had I told you the truth, Phillipe Moreaux would have struck me dead on the spot, and likely you with me. He was in the room with us, beneath an invisibility cloak- Lucius' means of ensuring my cooperation. Still, if I had known that my Draco lived, I might have chanced it." Narcissa stroked the back of Draco's hair and bent to kiss the top of his head before he batted her away.

"None of that matters!" Draco snapped. "My father is dead, along with Moreaux. Potter can tell the Wizengamot that I killed Father in self-defense. We can all move forward."

Narcissa sighed and sank into the chair next to Draco. "Draco, Lucius lives. After you left, I was unable to complete the act. Ginny Weasley helped me to bind Lucius in the dungeon with several hexes and charms, and then we came to join you."

"Unable to..." Draco shook his head in disgust. "After everything he's done to you, after he tried to kill me, after he nearly killed Potter, how could you? What is his life worth to you?"

"He gave me you," Narcissa replied. "And when we were reunited, it was as if I had been given yet another gift. I could not-"

"Clearly Potter isn't the only one who's had his wits knocked out of him," Draco muttered. "I'm alive in spite of Father, and now because of you I'm still in danger. We all are, and he'll know where to find us." He glanced around the room as if expecting Lucius to pop out from under an invisibility cloak at any moment.

"No." Arthur shook his head firmly and repeated, "No. I'll pay a visit to the ministry today and have a team there to collect Lucius."

"And he'll talk!" Draco flushed and looked down at his hands. "He'll say... things about me, what I did, what I said..." He glanced at Narcissa. "If I had known you didn't have the guts to kill him, I would have done it myself before I left."

Harry reached across the table to cover Draco's hands with his. "He attacked us, not the other way around. We were only there to find your mother. If he says otherwise, it will be my word against his. Anything else he says... Does it matter?"

Before Draco could answer, Narcissa made a dismissive noise and flicked her hand as if swatting a fly. "Anything he says will be the ramblings of a mad man, nothing more."

Arthur nodded agreement and rose from the table. "Molly is making arrangements for you, Narcissa. Draco, Harry, I've contacted a friend who can provide a safe place to stay until the trial. I need to go to the ministry now, but Ron, Hermione, and Ginny are outside working in the garden, and the Burrow is set with enough wards and charms to make Gringots jealous." Smiling reassuringly, he grabbed a pinch of flu powder and disappeared into the hearth.

"So he's kicking us out," Draco said, glaring at the fireplace.

"You hate it here," Harry reminded him.

"I hated it at your filthy house, too! I hate running more. And I hate worrying about you. About both of you." Draco pulled his hands away from Harry's and pointed to Harry, then Narcissa.

"Worrying, running, when have either of us ever known anything else?" Harry asked softly.

"It's not fair!" Draco struck the table with a fist and then rose to his feet. "I thought all of this was over. I should go back and finish it myself-"

"Then you'll have let him win. You'll have let him make you a murderer," Harry said.

Narcissa met his eyes and nodded agreement.

"Gryffindor logic!" Draco snorted and stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

"You have such patience with him," Narcissa said, her mouth turning up in that same odd little smile she had shown earlier.

"Only because I'm not well enough to curse him or strangle him." Harry pinched the bridge of his nose in a futile attempt to alleviate the pain. "I don't know how you stood him for eighteen years."

She shrugged. "My task was easier than yours; I think you will be stuck with him far longer."

"I doubt it. Once the trial is over and I've cleared his name, he'll be able to run, and I won't give him the satisfaction of chasing him."

"If you believe that, Draco has not been as honest with you as he has with me."

The door of the Burrow swung open, admitting Molly Weasley, who continued to hold the door open as if expecting someone to follow her through. The woman wore a set of dishwater-gray robes that were even more dreadful than those she had lent to Narcissa. The fabric looked like something that belonged on a house elf, and Narcissa made a mental note to send the Weasleys a decent sum of gold to thank them for lodging her and Draco.

"Harry!" Molly greeted, flashing him a smile before acknowledging Narcissa and Draco with a less enthusiastic nod. "Narcissa, Draco. I'm glad you're all here. Well, come in, come in, no one's going to bite." Molly said the last few words over her shoulder as she looked through the open doorway.

Draco, standing at the window, had a better view of the door, and his face lit up with recognition when he saw whoever was on the other side. When the person stepped in, Narcissa gasped, thinking for a brief moment that she looked upon a ghost. The visitor had the same dark hair and thin, aquiline features as Bellatrix, but the resemblance ended there. Bellatrix's hair and robes had never been so neat, and she was the last person Narcissa would expect to see clutching a fluffy, pale blue blanket.

A tiny hand and then a face peeked out from the blanket. Narcissa was torn between a sense of revulsion at the reminder of her niece's union with a werewolf and a maternal imperative to touch that tiny hand. As she wrestled with her own reactions, Draco surprised her by crossing the room and greeting Andromeda, even letting her put her free arm across his shoulders in a brief hug.

"If you would..." Andromeda smiled at Draco and held out the blanket-wrapped infant.

"Of course." Smiling, Lucius apparently forgotten, Draco took the bundle and sat down in the chair across from Narcissa, next to Harry. "Mother, this is Teddy Lupin."

"I had guessed," Narcissa murmured. The infant looked healthy and well-formed, its wide, slate-blue eyes blinking curiously at her, its head matted with pale gold curls. She didn't know what she had expected the creature to look like- a hairy atrocity with wolf fangs, perhaps- but she certainly hadn't expected it to look so much like Draco had at that age.

"He's a metamorphmagus," Draco said proudly, as if explaining the enchantments on some new magical toy. "Watch him long enough, and he'll change his appearance."

"I'm sure he will," she replied absently. Teddy had wrapped his hand around Draco's index finger and was bending it toward his round, pink mouth. "Careful, Draco! Put him down now, or give him to Harry." She stood and backed away, watching in frustration as Draco rolled his eyes and continued to hold the werewolf's son.

Andromeda's laugh made Narcissa's face heat, and she spun to face her sister.

"He's not infected," Andromeda assured her. "Do you think I would put my own nephew at risk?"

"I do not know what you would do!" Narcissa snapped. Her flush deepened. She was embarrassing herself, but it was because she was caught off-balance, and wearing Molly Weasley's robes, no less! "So this-" Narcissa gestured to Andromeda, but spoke to Molly. "This is the arrangement you have made for me?"

Molly shrugged. "I thought you would prefer to stay with family. Arthur can't hide you from the ministry, not here, and there won't be enough room for you to stay with the boys."

"I can offer you a safe place to stay until the trial," Andromeda agreed. "Molly explained everything about Lucius-"

"And you've come to gloat? Have you come to tell me how my choice of husbands was far worse than yours, how Ted gave you nothing but pride, while Lucius is my shame, and will shame me still more when I am dragged before the Wizengamot to answer for his crimes? He is worse than a Muggle-born, worse even than a werewolf! Is that what you're here to tell me?"

"Clearly, I don't need to. Narcissa, I can put the past behind me. For their sake, if not yours or mine." She waved a hand at Draco, who had scooted his chair out from the table and now balanced Teddy on his knee.

Narcissa bit her lip, considering the prospect of accepting charity from the sister she had scorned for so many years. Molly and Andromeda both remained silent, so that the only sounds in the room came from the kitchen table.

"-always wanted a little brother," Draco was saying, "so I could teach him how to do things properly, make sure he doesn't turn into a slob like you." He gave the dirty collar of Harry's robe a meaningful flick and then reached up to muss Harry's already disheveled hair.

"More like someone to follow you around and pay attention to you." Harry snorted and swatted Draco's hand away. "If you think I'm letting my godson grow up to be a Slytherin, you're mental."

"You'd hate that, wouldn't you? I think I'll bring him one of my school ties next time I visit." Draco grinned and shifted Teddy on his lap.

Narcissa had become so entranced watching the boys that she nearly jumped when Andromeda put a hand on her shoulder. "They were enemies once," Andromeda muttered. "Now, they are something else. If Draco and Harry can grow so close in so little time, surely we can tolerate each other for just a few days. Or is your son so much stronger than you?"

Narcissa shrugged and sidestepped away from Andromeda's touch. Her sister's words struck a nerve, but she had regained enough composure not to answer the barb with more vitriol of her own. "I never said we could not tolerate each other, I was only surprised that you would have me." Her eyes stung as she said that, and she bit her lip to keep from saying more. It would not do to have a torrent of tearful reminiscences come flooding out in front of Draco, Molly Weasley, and Harry Potter.

"Then it's decided!" Molly clapped her hands, interrupting the moment and saving Narcissa from having to say anything more. She beamed around the room, looking almost offensively pleased at the thought of being rid of Narcissa. "You'll be comfortable there, I'm sure, but if you need anything- anything!- send an owl."

"We'll be fine," Andromeda assured Molly as she collected a squirming, reluctant Teddy from Draco.

"All of us will be fine," Narcissa added on impulse. "I want Draco to come with me." She thrust her chin out, daring anyone to argue.

Molly cringed. "I told Arthur you would say that."

"I should go," Draco said.

"No-" Harry began at the same time Molly said, "Think this through."

"What if Lucius has another minion sent after you?" Molly continued. "What if Phillipe Moreaux wasn't the only one? If that person finds both of you together, he'll have an easy job, won't he? If he only finds one of you, he'll try to use you as bait to catch the other. That's what Lucius has done before."

"Nonsense!" Narcissa waved her left hand in a dismissive gesture and reached for Draco with her right.

"No," Draco sighed, frowning. "She's probably right. And after what I said to Father, it's me, well, it's us-" he glanced at Harry "- that he wants dead more than you. I'd only put you in more danger. Go with Andromeda."

Narcissa closed her eyes and felt a tear slither down her cheek. "I was so sure I had lost you that now I can hardly bear to be apart from you. Draco, you are my reason for being, I-"

"Mother! Stop it." Draco groaned. "It's only for a few days, and then we have the rest of our lives."

Narcissa dabbed at her eyes with the back of her sleeve and glanced at Andromeda, foolishly embarrassed that her older sister might be watching her cry and thinking her weak. "Yes, of course. The rest of our lives." She managed to look away from her son long enough to lock eyes with Harry. "Take care of him."

Harry nodded to Narcissa and then grinned when he noticed the disgusted look on Draco's face. "I'll be sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

Molly opened the front door, and Narcissa let herself be led from the house and into the garden. The sudden brightness made her eyes ache, and she raised a hand to shield them. Something brushed past her ankle, and she looked down to see a gnome streak by. Once safely out of reach, the creature turned around to taunt her, shouting meaningless expletives and waving what appeared to be a small green and yellow scepter. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was a daffodil plucked from Molly's flowerbed. Having finished its tirade, the gnome brought the stem to its mouth and bit down, letting the flower drop to the ground.

"Come, let's go home now." Andromeda looped her arm through Narcissa's, and a few excruciating seconds later, they stood in the presumably gnomeless garden of an immaculate cottage.

The purple paper airplane soared through the large atrium and past the sparkling fountain, reaching the lift just before the gated doors clanged shut. Restricted to such a confined space, the memo circled like a predator above the witches and wizards who stood listening to the polite female voice as the lift stopped with each level. The purple airplane zoomed around as the gates opened, allowing the memo the freedom to continue its journey. It flew down a long corridor, narrowly avoiding crashing into several wizards and dodging other interdepartmental memos along the way until it finally flew into a small office room.

The paper memo flew in front of the wizard, trying to pull his attention from the parchments that he held in his hand. Growing frustrated at not being read, the memo gained speed as it banked hard in the air and launched forward, crashing into the parchments that the man held and causing them to scatter onto the floor.

"What the…?" the wizard exclaimed as he glanced around for the cause of the mess. His eyes came upon the folded purple airplane that lay buzzing on the desk. "Merlin's beard, ruddy little thing has a mind of its own. What new features will those lads in Development come up with next?"

Arthur unfolded the memo and read with careful deliberation. "Damn!" he exclaimed and wadded the memo into a crumpled ball. Arthur Weasley tossed it over his shoulder, and into the corner, slightly off target of the wastebasket.

He took his glasses off and tossed them onto the scattered parchments that lay across his desk. Massaging the bridge of his nose, Arthur leaned back in his chair and let his mind reflect on the events of the past twenty-four hours.

It's all so different now. Arthur thought. I hardly know where to begin with it all. Harry and Draco Malfoy, friends, and possibly more than that. Narcissa Malfoy staying at my home without Molly cursing them. Narcissa! Just a few months ago her sister tried to kill my Ginny. Death Eaters missing or being killed. Lucius Malfoy, Phillipe Moreaux! Draco and Narcissa wanted by the Ministry, and here I am giving them safe harbor for as long as I can.

Arthur increased the pressure on his nose as his mind tried to grasp the overwhelming reality of the situation.

On the floor next to the waste bin, the discarded memo un-crumpled itself, refolded itself into a battered approximation of a plane, and launched into the air above the desk, hovering for a moment above Arthur Weasley, as if looking down on the man and pitying him. It then turned and haphazardly flew through the open door, passing the large man who stood beside it.

His long turquoise robes flowed across his large, muscular body as he looked back at the damaged memo crashing into the walls of the hallway. A slight chuckle escaped the man as he focused his attention upon Arthur Weasley who sat in his chair, his head leaned back and his fingers vigorously massaging the area between his eyes.

"Working hard, I see," Kingsley said as he smiled in greeting.

Arthur quickly opened his eyes, and saw the massive wizard standing in the doorway of his office. "Ah Kingsley, please do come in. Oh, yes just taking a break from reading all of these reports," Arthur said as he extended his hand toward the chair in front of his desk.

Kingsley smiled and nodded as he sat down, placing his right knee over his left and lacing his fingers together.

"Tea?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, thank you. Earl Grey, please."

Arthur waved his wand and two cups and saucers appeared upon the desk. "I see that becoming Minister has not changed your palate any," Arthur smiled as he took a sip of the hot, refreshing tea.

Kingsley smiled over the rim of his cup. "No, there are certain things that a man never changes. His taste in tea being one of those things."

"I heartily agree. Molly is always trying to get us to sample some new brand of tea, but I always insist on staying with what we have always had. Why bother with changing something if it is already perfect, eh?"

Kingsley did not answer Arthur's question, but instead nodded his head and took another sip of tea. "So, what brings you all the way down here, or did you come here just to have a cup of tea with me?" Arthur asked as he placed the saucer onto the desk.

"I do have a few things that I would like to speak to you about, Arthur," Kingsley said as he placed the tea upon the desk. Arthur could feel the muscles in the back of his neck tighten at these words, but his face remained calm and friendly. "You don't mind do you?"

Arthur quickly smiled. "Of course not."

Kingsley nodded in approval. Reaching for his wand, he waved it over his shoulder without turning to look at the door. The office door closed and locked shut, keeping away all disturbances that could potentially intrude upon this conversation.

"Very good," Kingsley's deep voice boomed.

Before the Minister's next words, Arthur's mind raced to the thoughts that he had before arriving at the Ministry this morning. He knew that this conversation was going to happen, and he was thankful for his proactive decisions that he had taken the night before after everyone had arrived back from Malfoy Manor.

"First, before I began," Kingsley said as he rested his elbows upon the arms of the chair and once again laced his fingers together. "I want you to ignore the fact that I am the Minister of Magic. I would ask that you view me simply as Kingsley Shacklebolt, the man that you have known for years."

Arthur steepled his own fingers in front of him as he focused on Kingsley. "Alright."

"Arthur," Kingsley began, "I have a very difficult task of piecing together what exactly happened at Malfoy Manor."

"I know of only what has been reported, Kingsley. I wasn't there. The only thing that I could tell you is what I have read in the reports."

Kingsley deeply sighed before speaking. "I have confirmed sources stating that you were seen going into Malfoy Manor the day before the incident. Not only that, but you took a team of Aurors as well," Kingsley's voice slightly became deeper with the statement. "Now, I would like to know…simply, why?"

Arthur did not allow his gaze to waver, instead focusing all of his concentration on the dark black eyes of Kingsley Shacklebolt. "You of all people should know, Kingsley, that the Malfoys and my family have had our share of issues with one another. Yes, I did go there prior to the event. I went with the intentions of speaking to Lucius and Narcissa, in vain hope that we could somehow find a common ground to try and put the past behind us. You could say that I went there with an olive branch in hand."

Arthur stopped momentarily, awaiting Kingsley to say something, but he simply motioned for Arthur to continue. "Molly said that I was a damned fool for even trying, but after going through everything at Hogwarts and seeing his family, as they were in the Great Hall on that night, I felt like I had to try. You-Know-Who was dead, and I hoped that I could reach a sensible part of him or Narcissa."

"Why the Aurors?" Kingsley asked.

"Simply as a form of protection, if needed." Arthur said. "Strength in numbers. Now a question for you. Who do you have that is spying on me? And more importantly, why?"

Kingsley waved his hand at Arthur. "I assure you, Arthur, that I have no spies that are watching your every movement, nor that of your family. However, I cannot release the information of how I know that you visited Malfoy Manor. That is strictly confidential."

"You ask me to be open and honest with you, yet you cannot be the same with me. That's not very fair is it, Minister?"

"Arthur, please. Do not make this any worse than it already is."

"And what exactly is 'this'?" Arthur asked as he scooted closer to the edge of his chair. "Explain, Kingsley."

"I know, once again from my source, that two of your children along with the Granger girl, Draco Malfoy, and of all people, Harry Potter went to Malfoy Manor. Afterwards, there was a series of explosions and windows shattering. Upon my visit to the manor, I found that the Malfoy living room had been destroyed. Then we went downstairs into a cellar and found, of all people, Lucius Malfoy. He was disarmed, unconscious, and magically bound so that he could not move."

Arthur winced, imagining the extent of the damage that Ginny must have done. "There are still Death Eaters that are unaccounted for who hold a grudge against Lucius Malfoy and his family. Surely, you are not saying that my children, along with Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, have created an alliance with Draco Malfoy and attacked Lucius Malfoy? That is preposterous!"

"Maybe so, but it still does not explain why they were there, and why they were seen leaving in the company of Narcissa and Draco Malfoy, both of whom are wanted by the Ministry of Magic. And the question remains- where are Draco and Narcissa now?"

Arthur's mind raced back to his childhood days of being caught in the middle of a lie. Another bead of sweat rolled down the back of his head as he ignored the tickling feeling that it left upon him. "So you are accusing me and my family of conspiring with a Death Eater, aiding upon an attack of said Death Eater, and finally harboring Death Eaters?" Arthur asked as he counted off the charges on his fingers.

"No." Kingsley shook his head. "Nobody is charging you or your family with anything, Arthur. I am a man of fairness. However, let me be perfectly clear. If you do have some association with the Malfoys, I urge you to distance yourself from them immediately."

"Really, Kingsley? So much for giving people second chances and being fair. What is so important about the Malfoy family that you must have a trial against them? What about other families who had a member that was a Death Eater? Why aren't they already on trial, if this is to be the way of you administration?"

"You question me, Arthur. You don't like my methods," Kingsley responded, banging his fist upon the arm of the chair and causing it to rattle. "Yet they will guarantee swift results. My predecessors did not have the boldness to take such a stance. With Voldemort gone, we must make a new life in which wizards will not even fathom trying to create a force as he did. Our world would not be able to survive a third war!"

"So that is what this is all about. Power? Making yourself into such a force that everyone will be afraid to oppose anything that you say? That's not the way of a leader, Kingsley, it's a dictatorship. It's just as bad as Volde…damn! It's just as bad as him!"

Kingsley titled his chin upward and glared across the desk at Arthur. "And what about your methods?" Arthur continued. "What if some wizards and witches are trying to connect with those that were on You -Know-Who's side? What if they are trying to see them in a different light? What if the dark wizards, or their families have seen the error of their ways and are trying to reach for help? What are you going to do, accuse us all of conspiracy against your reign and of trying to start a new dark world?"

"Nonsense, Arthur!" Kingsley raised a dark eyebrow. "If any dark wizards wish to come forward and change their ways, then they will be allowed to do so. If they continue to hide, like rats, then they will be caught and punished for their actions."

"And how will you go about punishing them?" Arthur asked. "Will your actions be governed by mercy or by prejudice?"

Kingsley rose out of his chair and leaned forward so that, for a moment, Arthur almost feared the minister would reach across the desk and strike him.

Arthur held up both hands in a placating gesture. "I spoke in haste. Please, let's not be upset." Arthur gestured toward the chair. "After all, we are friends merely having a conversation with one another."

Several seconds of silence followed as both men eyed one another across the desk. Arthur scooted his chair closer to the desk. I do have a question for you, Kinglsey."

"Yes?"

"Former Death Eaters and their families seem to be dying at an unusual rate, and in unexpected ways. Some people speculate that it can't be coincidence. What do you have to say about that?"

"What's this, Arthur? Are you taking a page from Rita Skeeter's journal?"

Kingsley said smiling and raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not joking, Kingsley. I want your answer," Arthur grimly responded. "It is not something that would be looked upon in a positive manner if it were known that a certain regime handled matters in this way."

"I can only tell you that it has not come from me. Be assured that I do have investigators that are looking into the matter. Once I know something, then we will proceed with it, but until then I can only wait and see."

"And in the mean time, people continue to die," Arthur said softly.

"People are always dying, Arthur." For a moment, Kingsley's expression darkened and his shoulders slumped. He stood, quickly regaining his composure and resuming his usual polite smile. "I must be going," Kingsley said as he got up from the chair. "You have two hours to clear your family from any involvement with the Malfoys, if you and your family are involved with them. However, I think we both know the answer to that, don't we?

Kingsley sighed deeply. "Arthur, please believe me. It was the least that I could do for a friend in delaying the investigative team from searching your home first. Do what you have to do; otherwise the penalties will be severe against you and your family."

Arthur sat there and blankly watched as Kingsley opened the door and left the office. He quickly jumped out of his chair and fastened the traveling cloak around his neck. He knew exactly what he had to do.

Kingsley briskly walked back to his office, ignoring many of the greetings from the witches and wizards in the corridors and the lift. His thoughts were clearly focused on how Arthur Weasley and his family could have become involved with the Malfoys.

"Potter," he grumbled to himself as he sat down behind his desk. "Of all of the people who I was trying to avoid, you were at the top of the list. You have been through enough hardship in your young life to rival that of any aged wizard." He shuffled a stack of papers on his desk while still speaking out loud to himself. "I just don't understand the connection between you, the Malfoys, and the Weasleys. Why are you involved at all, Potter?"

Kingsley tossed the papers down and reached into the drawer for his bottle of firewhiskey. He turned the bottle up and drank heavily from it.

"They say that the first thing in a man that dissolves in alcohol is his dignity," a voice came from the room.

Shacklebolt slammed the bottle down onto the desk, causing it to shatter in his large hand. "For a man who speaks of dignity, you're the kettle calling the pot black," Kingsley growled. "Enough of your fun and games, Moreaux, show yourself."

"Isn't it perplexing to have to lie to those whom you call your best friends, all for your greater good? How do you enjoy dealing with the devil, Minister?" Phillipe gracefully unwrapped the invisibility cloak from around his body, tossing it casually to the floor and allowing his dark curls to fall to his shoulders. "I will have that drink now, if you don't mind."

Without taking his gaze from the man standing in his office, Kingsley reached into the drawer and brought out a fresh bottle of firewhiskey. He tossed the bottle across the room to Phillipe who uncorked it with his bare teeth.

"For a supposed dead man, you sure do get around," Kingsley grumbled. "I thought I made it explicit that you were never to meet with me here in my office."

Phillipe shrugged. "It's as good as any place."

"Do you realize what would happen if someone saw you inside the Minstry?"

Phillipe shrugged again as he drank more of the firewhiskey. "That's not my problem is it now, Minister?"

"No, it's mine!" Kingsley growled. "So why are you here?"

Phillipe sat down in the chair in front of Kingsley's desk. He swiped the nameplate from the desk and scoffed at the craftsmanship. "Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt." He returned the nameplate and propped his dirty boots onto the edge of the desk while leaning the chair back on two legs.

"You look worse for wear, Phillipe. What happened- finally lost a duel?" Kingsley said as he sat back in his chair and forced himself to study Phillipe's features. He noticed many more cuts and bruises on the man's face, along with several fresh blood stains on his ragged robes.

Phillipe gave a bark-like laugh that reminded Kingsley of Sirius Black. "It's really, bloody funny that you mention that. I was out doing my job that you wanted me to do. You remember our little arrangement about You-Know-Who at You-Know-When? Seems that I am at Malfoy Manor doing what I am supposed to be doing, being old pals with Lucius and all, when you decide to send a little hit team out to find me."

"A hit team?" Kingsley laughed. "If I were to send such a team, it would not be composed of children. No, you have yourself to blame for their actions."

"Not bloody likely, Minister! I don't appreciate being set up like that."

Kingsley scoffed. "Well what are you complaining about? You're still alive. I would have thought that you would be proud, seeing as you accomplished something that Voldemort never could."

Phillipe spat on the floor. "Bloody Voldemort! I had the little reds beaten, even with their help from that brown haired witch, and from Narcissa. It took four of them to slow me down!"

"I know. I saw your handiwork when I visited Malfoy Manor earlier. A room completely destroyed. And speaking of destroying, you are doing that to my credibility. What were you doing in London killing Muggles? I've had a hell of a time apologizing to the Muggle Prime Minister and cleaning up your mess. You are only to kill those wizards or witches that you are assigned to."

Phillipe raised a dark haired eyebrow. "They got in my way of completing the job."

"What job?" Kingsley shouted as he slowly rose from his chair. "You work for me. You still have your assignment, and you will carry it out professionally."

"And now you have given me the perfect opportunity to do so, by detaining Lucius. I'm as eager to finish this as you are. I have more important matters to attend to."

"I don't know who else you are working for, but it ends right now!" Kingsley drew his wand and pointed it across the desk at Phillipe's chest.

Phillipe ignored Kingsley and turned the bottle of firewhiskey up.

"I found you once, and brought you in. I can always do it again. Do not cross my path, Moreaux."

Phillipe eased the chair down onto all four legs, and tossed the empty bottle to Kingsley. "Alright, I will finish our little agreement and help to get rid of one final migraine for you. Lucius will die, as you order. I give you this warning. You had better make sure that Potter and his little friends do not cross my path again. They are still alive because I allowed it." Phillipe fastened the cloak around his neck. "Thanks for the drink, Minister. I am off to touch up the preparations for Lucius' final departure. My own little advice to you, when our contract is over with, know that I'm up for the highest bidder. Pray that they don't have a price on your head."

"Are you so eager to return to prison?" Kingsley asked. "Think carefully about the contracts you choose or you may be writing your own ticket to Nurmenguard."

Phillipe smiled, showing his yellow, rotting teeth. "I think not, Minister."

He spun out of sight leaving Kingsley to his thoughts.

Molly Weasley stood next to the large, white kitchen sink carefully scrubbing the brown potatoes that were to be eaten for dinner later that evening. She hummed a little tune as she worked, using her fingernails to scrape the dirt out of each dimple. Each freshly scrubbed tuber was a small triumph, and she grinned at the thought of not having to serve dinner to Narcissa Malfoy. It was not that Narcissa had been a poor guest, exactly. She had mouthed appropriate pleasantries, eaten what was put before her, and complained much less than her son, but every so often the woman's cold smile would slip, and Molly could see the disdain Narcissa had for her humble surroundings. Narcissa's presence had made Molly feel like a child again, as if she were riding her mother's hand-me-down broom and hoping no one would notice her sagging stockings or her worn robes.

Now, Narcissa was safely lodged with her sister, and before long, Arthur's mysterious helper would take Draco, too. Harry would go with him, which saddened Molly, but at least Ginny would stop sulking, and Molly and Arthur would no longer have to keep their wands ready in anticipation of Draco's next temper tantrum. Home would be home again, with no living reminders of the moment she most wanted to forget.

She stopped her scrubbing for a moment as her mind flashed back to the moment where she had uttered the words that would kill Bellatrix Lestrange. Molly could not help but feel emotional as she remembered her exact feelings in those precious moments, and the sight of the green curse penetrating her opponent. For a brief second she remembered thinking that the curse had not worked as Bellatrix had begun to laugh in disbelief. She had been forced to do it, even though killing went against the fiber of her being. Still, having the woman's sister and nephew in her home had intensified the guilt. She wondered if they knew the truth and had wrestled with herself about whether or not to ask. Finally, she had decided to let the past lie undisturbed.

Snapping herself out of her thoughts, Molly Weasley shook her head and began to wash the other potatoes that lay in the sink. "Funny, isn't it all? How life can lead you one way and then turn everything upside down." She glanced over her shoulder at Harry who sat at the table, looking lost in his own thoughts as he rolled a potato back and forth with his hand.

The kitchen fireplace roared to life as Arthur Weasley leaped out and into the small kitchen, like a nimble cat.

"Mr. Weasley!" Harry said. The potato rolled to the floor, forgotten.

"Arthur?" Molly turned from the sink and searched Arthur's face, noting his expression of near-panic

"No time to explain, Molly!" He placed both of his sooty hands on Harry's shoulders. "Where is Draco, Harry?"

Harry craned his neck toward the staircase. "He's upstairs. Why? What's the matter?"

"No time for questions, Harry! Just get Draco and gather your things together, quickly!" Harry hurried upstairs, and then Arthur and Molly heard the bedroom door shut. They listened as muffled voices came from above along with the sound of hurried footsteps.

"Arthur, please tell me what is going on?" Molly asked as she laid her hand upon his arm. Arthur turned and cupped her hand with both of his.

"Sit down, Molly. Things may be worse than I originally feared." They sat down at the kitchen table, Arthur still holding his wife's hand.

"I fear that we may not be able to completely trust Kingsley, dear."

"Arthur, no…" Molly exclaimed as she clutched her free hand to her bosom.

Arthur silently shook his head and continued. "He stopped by my office today. I knew that it was going to happen. It was simply a matter of when. What I didn't expect were some of the answers and the overall feel that I got from him."

"Arthur you don't mean to say-"

"That Kingsley is starting to be like You-Know-Who, or Fudge, or Scrimgeour? No. I understand that he has his duties being Minister and all, but I don't agree with his methods."

Arthur paused as he raised Molly's hand to his lips and lightly kissed it before continuing. "I fear, dear, that by trying to help those who need help, that we might have placed ourselves in harm's way."

"What do you mean, Arthur?" Molly questioned. "Surely Kingsley will not do anything to us. He is part of the Order!"

Arthur again shook his head and frowned. "No, Molly. I knew that when I saw the memos that were beginning to form, once Kingsley took control, that he was going to begin changing everything, for what he calls 'the greater good'. Death Eaters and their families are the prime targets along with people and families that were associated with You-Know-Who." He sighed deeply before going on. "Now, it appears that paranoia is taking hold, and they are investigating people or families that have any connection at all with a Death Eater."

Molly gasped loudly as a look of shock spread across her face. "Arthur! Do you mean to say that they suspect us of…?"

Arthur nodded grimly. "Which is why Harry and Draco must leave immediately. Kingsley did give me notice that the investigation members will be here very shortly. He delayed them just long enough for me to come home and take care of things. If Draco is found under our roof, the penalty would be…well he didn't say, but I can fathom that it would be most severe."

"What about your arrangement for Harry and Draco?"

"Before I left the Ministry I sent an urgent owl to him, asking him to come to the Burrow immediately. He should be here soon."

"I still cannot believe that Kingsley would do such a thing! What about what Harry and Draco told us about London and about what happened at Malfoy Manor?"

"Kingsley is aware that Ron and Ginny went with Hermione, Harry, and Draco to Malfoy Manor. Somehow they were seen entering the grounds there. All I can think of is there is a spy or someone is watching the Malfoy's place every day to see if anyone goes there. That's how he knew that I had went there."

"How could Kingsley do something like that?"

"He's desperate, afraid of being weak, afraid of seeing the world plunged into a third war. It's too early to draw conclusions about what he will or won't do, but I fear..." Arthur waved a hand and flashed a false, reassuring smile. "No matter. Draco will be safe as Harry will be with him. I can continue to observe the ministry."

The heavy sound of footsteps on the stairs interrupted Arthur's speech. Molly wondered what he had planned to say, but finding out would have to wait.

"What's going on here? Tired of my being here in your little house already?" Draco sneered as Harry elbowed him in the ribs.

"Shut up, Draco! This is serious."

Arthur got up from the table and walked over to both young wizards. He placed his hand upon Harry's shoulder and lightly upon Draco's, as the latter dipped his shoulder down to avoid Arthur's touch. Harry noticed Draco squirming and shot him another angry look.

"You are ridiculous sometimes! You know that?" Harry said as he swung his knapsack into Draco's shoulders.

"Potter!" Draco growled.

Arthur raised a hand in a gesture for silence. "I don't have much time to explain, both of you. The situation is this. Due to the Ministry looking for you, Draco, and for your mother, it is best that you not stay in one place too long; at least until the trial. Hopefully, once that is over with, both your names will be cleared and things can become more stable."

Draco scoffed as he muttered, "Stable."

Arthur sighed and continued. "As I speak, there are Ministry officials on their way here. Should they find you here, they would take you away and we would be charged with aiding and abetting Death Eaters. I will not allow that to happen to you, or to my family. I have taken the liberty of calling upon someone that I do trust to keep you out of sight until the trial."

"Who is that, Mr. Weasley?" Harry asked.

"Probably some-" Draco started before stopping in mid-sentence.

A solid knock came from the front door. Arthur stepped over to the window. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to the glass and tilting his head for a better look at whoever stood on the front stoop.

Turning back toward Harry, Draco, and Molly, Arthur exhaled. "He's here."
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Darkness Within The Light