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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
- 31
- 32
- 33
Author's Notes: Chapter 32 is here! Once more, Eris and I would like to say "thanks" to everyone that continues to read this story. We do hope that everyone is thoroughly enjoying it, and we appreciate the comments, favorites, alerts, and communities that "Darkness" is added to. The chapter itself is emotional as a few questions are answered and a few more are created. So, until chapter 33 is here, we wish you all well and happy readings!

Chapter 32: A Chance To Be Useful

"Janus!" Harry gasped as his breath caught in his side, creating a sharp pain around his ribs.

After the conversation with Tawny, they had apparated back to the edge of the woods that surrounded Janus' home. Harry had tried to keep in stride with the older wizard, but he had fallen behind as Janus had increased his pace while Harry had pressed him with questions about Phillipe Moreaux.

Harry watched while Janus waved his wand at the back door and then briskly walked inside as the door opened. Harry's nostrils flared with aggravation as he quickly made his way to the open door and inside the home.

"Janus?" Harry called. He watched the wizard pick up a small, wrapped package that sat on the kitchen table. He walked to the table, as Janus stood reading the message that was tied to the wrapping. Several beads of sweat trickled around Harry's temples, and he swiped at the edges of his face with his fingers. Harry slammed his hand on the surface of the table. "Janus! Answer me!"

Slowly, Janus turned to face Harry and looked up from the paper in his hand. "Answers, Harry?" Janus pushed the hat off of his head and allowed it to rest behind his neck.

"Yes, answers!" Harry replied as he followed Janus toward the living room, his arms folded across his chest. "If you're going to drag me around to different places, then I deserve to know exactly why."

Janus opened the package, and held a yellow rubber duck in the palm of his hand.

"A rubber duck," Harry replied, his voice oozing with sarcasm. "You're a bit too old for taking baths with toys aren't you?"

"Cute and witty, Harry." Janus replied, smirking at the rubber duck. "But, once more, you're not seeing the big picture." Janus turned his wrist over and glanced at his watch. "Alright, I've got time to explain a few things to you."

"Time until what?" Harry demanded. "Are we going somewhere else now?"

"Not 'we' this time, just me. I've got an errand to run, but it won't be until later, and it shouldn't take too long. Now, what is it you want to know?"

Harry opened his mouth and then closed it, pondering what he most wanted to ask. Finally, he settled on, "What exactly did we learn from Tawny other than the obvious? If you want me to help you find Moreaux, then I deserve-"

"Stop there, Harry!" Janus said as he placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Before you go and finish that thought, just please sit down for a moment. Janus placed the rubber duck inside the pocket of his duster and motioned for Harry to sit on the sofa.

He sat down beside Harry on the sofa, shifting his body so that he could look directly into Harry's eyes. "First, we've confirmed that it was Moreaux. That means he's still out of Nurmenguard. The next point is to find out why, and how to stop him. Otherwise more people will be killed."

"But we're no closer!" Harry groaned. "So he's been seen in Knockturn Alley; we still don't know where he's staying."

"True. I was hoping to find him the easy way, but it's not like I don't have an ace up my sleeve, or more accurately, a duck in my pocket." Janus tapped the pocket of his coat.

"And let me guess, you're not going to tell me what the duck is for."

"Sorry, no. Top secret WTF business. If I told you, well, you know..." He winked and grinned.

Harry shook his head. "No, I don't know. I don't even know what the WTF is."

"As far as I'm concerned, it's the P.T.B. Powers that be, Harry. Yes, the WTF is the Wizarding Task Force, kind of like your Ministry of Magic. We keep wizards from abusing their powers. Mostly, agents like me stay in the states, but the WTF likes to keep an eye on the situation over here, too. I convinced my boss that I was the man for the job, and was sent here to see who fills the power vacuum you created when you defeated Voldemort."

"So you're a spy?" Harry asked.

Janus chuckled. "I prefer the term 'observer'."

"No, you don't." Harry snorted. "You like being mysterious and powerful and dramatic." After a pause he added, "You're not here to- to spy on me, are you?"

Janus tensed and took a deep, audible breath before replying. "Look, I'd be lying if I said the WTF isn't interested in knowing what kind of man you are. You defeated the most powerful dark wizard in history, and then you disappeared for all intents and purposes. You think that doesn't make people nervous? You think they don't wonder what you're up to?"

"Well, you can tell them I'm not plotting to- how did you put it?- fill the bloody power vacuum. I don't care about that. I just want to be left alone."

"I know," Janus said softly. "I was never- it's part of why they sent me, but it's not the reason why I came here. Harry, a long time ago I made a promise to Albus that if he ever needed my help, that he could call on me and I would do all that I could."

"Dumbledore?" Harry asked.

"Yes. Albus visited me shortly after his terrible accident at the Gaunt house. It was at that moment that he told me about Severus and Draco. I was to watch you from afar, but I couldn't do anything until after you had killed Voldemort. He stressed that part in particular, because of the tasks that he had set for you. He kept saying that you had to complete them, in order to give the wizarding world a new hope. That's why I'm here, Harry. It's why I pulled several strings to get this assignment. To not only find and bring Moreaux to justice, but to also help in protecting you." Janus edged closer, put a hand on Harry's shoulder, and let it slide down his arm. He squeezed Harry's wrist briefly and then withdrew his hand, letting it rest on the cushion between them.

"I don't need your protection!" Harry sighed in frustration. "As you said, I've already killed the most powerful dark wizard in history. I'm not afraid of Phillipe Moreaux! I can help you fight him-"

"It's not your fight." Janus' jaw twitched, and his eyes tightened.

"What makes it yours?" When Janus looked away, Harry took him by the shoulder and turned him back. "Don't you dare say something clever or cryptic, and don't tell me it's a bloody secret. Not this time. You have a history with him. I want to know what it is."

Janus stared at Harry for a moment, studying the light green eyes, before he sighed deeply. "Yes, it's true that Moreaux and I do share a past together. My parent's 'accident' that I told you about, well, it wasn't so much an accident as it was a murder."

"I should have guessed," Harry murmured. "And you think it was Moreaux?"

"I know it was Moreaux. I was there. I saw it happen."

"I'm sorry," Harry said, cursing the words as they came out of his mouth. They sounded stupidly inadequate. He studied Janus' face, imaging him as a terrified seven year old boy. After scooting closer to Janus on the sofa, he asked, "How did you survive?"

"He allowed it. Letting me live after seeing what he was, what he'd done-he was leaving his mark."

"His mark. You mean a curse, or a scar?"

Janus shook his head. "I meant a metaphor, but yeah, he left scars, too." He pulled open his coat and raised his shirt, revealing a jagged line of white, puckered skin that started at his sternum and ended just above his naval.

Without thinking Harry reached forward and lightly traced the scar. Janus tensed and shrank away, as if Harry's fingertips burned. "Sorry," Harry whispered, jerking his hand back.

"That wasn't all. You see this area on my neck, here." Janus raised his right hand to the area on the side of his neck. "Thankfully, it is not so easily seen, but it's still there. As are the pain and memories that were given to me on that night."

Harry stared at the place on Janus' neck and his fingers instantly traced the lightning-shaped scar on his own forehead.

"Phillipe Moreaux made it personal that night. After he killed my parents he tore into me." Janus closed his eyes as the event played out in his memory. Upon opening his eyes, several tears rolled down his cheek, but his voice remained low and strong. "Then, after standing there watching me bleed, he attacked me like a rabid animal." Janus' hand wrapped around his throat as if trying to staunch the blood from a remembered injury. "I tried to scream, but all I could feel was his body smothering me. I could smell him, that rotting, smoke-like smell. His breath was hot, and I could feel the searing pain in my neck and the warmth of my own blood as it stained the grass below me."

"Janus…" Harry croaked. "You don't have to tell me more. I mean, if you don't want to-"

Janus shook his head. He stared straight ahead, seeming to look through Harry and seeing something else. "I don't know how long we stayed like that, but all I could think about was the old movies where you see these killer dogs, and how they kill their prey by biting down around their necks."

Not knowing what to say, Harry silently reached for Janus' hand and held it in both of his.

"Finally, he got up and stood over me, panting and dripping my own blood onto me from his mouth. I kept asking 'why?'" Janus closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Did he answer?" Harry prompted.

Janus nodded. "He said, 'The question isn't why. It's what are you going to do about it?' From that moment on, my life has been nothing like it was before. I've even felt like a stranger in my own body at times after this new world was introduced to me. Even after I went back and tried to live in my old world, it was almost impossible because nothing seemed right. That was until I met Gabriel and Anna."

Harry traced the back of Janus' hand with his fingers, thinking of the picture in the basement of the three young wizards and of Janus' story about Gabriel.

He, uh, learned something from me, but he didn't want to learn how to control it... Having to kill someone you shared your life, your heart, and your soul with ...

"It was Moreaux's legacy, the darkness he left inside of me, that put them in danger. It was my past coming back to haunt me, and I knew I had to stop it before I became just like Moreaux." Janus looked down at his hand, seeing it cradled between Harry's hands. "And now once again, history is repeating itself. Except this time I won't let those that I care about be placed in harm's way." Janus brought his other hand and placed it on top of Harry's. "That means you, Harry."

"No, Janus. I can help you. I can fight for you," Harry pleaded, tightening his grip on Janus' hands.

"I'm sorry, Harry, but we both know what it's like to grow up by the hand of someone else other than our true parents. We both know what it's like to be marked for life. You've found your vengeance, but I haven't."

"Janus, please, if all you want is vengeance, it's not worth it!" Harry got up from the sofa, his eyes filling with tears. "Look what killing Voldemort has done for me! Look how my life is! Just about everyone that I'm friends with has died, or has had someone die fighting for me," Harry sobbed as he turned on the spot and began to weep openly.

Janus rose and walked over to Harry, gently touching his arms as the tears exploded from Harry's eyes. "I hate him, Janus. Voldemort! I hate him! It's not fair that he's dead, and I have to be alive and go through all of this pain!"

Slowly, Janus eased Harry around and allowed the young wizard to melt into his chest. He softly stroked Harry's hair as the emotions and sobs came from the Gryffindor. "I know, Harry. I know," he whispered into Harry's ear. "But, I need for you to be strong for me." He edged closer to the couch and sat down, pulling Harry with him.

"And that's all I'm asking!" Harry's arms were still around Janus, and he could feel one of Janus' hands slowly stroking his back. He rested his forehead against Janus' jaw, noticing the skin felt like sandpaper from the day's accumulation of stubble. He wondered what he was doing, and where this would lead. His feelings for Janus were strange and new, not quite what he felt for Draco, and not quite what he had felt for Sirius or Remus, but something in between. "I want to be strong for you, to fight for you. I don't- I don't want to lose you, too."

"You won't." Janus' arms tightened momentarily, and he tucked his chin over the top of Harry's head. "Look, I didn't tell you all of this to worry you or to get you to-" He sighed heavily. "Just have a little faith, ok? Before you know it, you can help me celebrate my victory. We'll go down the Silver Wolf, tell Tawny the good news... It'll be over. For all of us."

Harry shook his head, unable to share Janus' optimism. "Why didn't you tell me all of this in the first place? Why the secrets?"

Janus shrugged. "I am sorry, Harry. I guess when I've been doing what I have for the last ten years, keeping secrets just becomes habit. Plus, seeing you and Draco together was the last thing that I was expecting."

"Yeah, you and everyone else," Harry replied.

"Yes." Janus chuckled. "After what Dumbledore told me about Draco, I wasn't exactly thrilled to see you and him joined at the hip."

"Well, you don't have to see that anymore," Harry said bitterly.

"Good. Seeing you with Draco, it was like watching a kid play with matches. And lighter fluid. And his dad's welding torch. While sitting on a bale of hay."

"Draco isn't dangerous. If you ask him, you're the one who's dodgy." Harry lowered one hand and squeezed Janus' knee.

"He's not wrong." Janus moved his hand to Harry's shoulder and pushed him away until they were far enough apart to look each other in the eye. "One thing I have to know before I leave... Do you still love Draco?"

Harry flinched and felt a surge of irritation. For Janus, of all people, to be getting jealous was absurd. "I-" he began.

"It's important," Janus prompted.

"We're not getting back together! He made that clear. He's too afraid of what everyone thinks-"

"That's not what I'm asking!" Janus growled. "Answer the question."

Harry deeply sighed. "Yes! I always will. I can't just make myself stop, I-"

Janus nodded. "That's all I needed to know. It means I have to protect him, too."

"From what?" Harry asked, alarmed.

"From anything." Janus stood, taking Harry by the elbows and pulling him to his feet as well. "It's about time for me to leave on that errand, and no, I'm not going to meet Moreaux tonight, and no, you can't come with me."

"More secrets," Harry complained. He let his hands move to Janus' waist and slide around to the small of his back, under the duster but outside of his shirt. The closeness felt amazing, and he didn't want it to end. He leaned close to Janus, noticing how their equal height made their bodies align perfectly. "When you get back, I'll be waiting," he promised, flushing when he realized how lame that sounded. "I mean, not just because of the wards. It's because this is where I want to be right now. With you."

"Actually..." Janus trailed off, letting the word hang in the air. He used one hand to hold onto Harry's left elbow and the other to reach into his pocket and retrieve his wand. Before Harry could take another breath, the warm, exciting sensation of holding Janus was replaced by the nauseating disorientation of apparition.

"The Burrow?" Harry asked as he released Janus and spun on the spot after the two had apparated beside Arthur Weasley's workshop. "What are we doing here?"

Janus wheeled around to face Harry. "It's…for your own good, Harry."

"But...the Weasley's?" Harry asked raising his hand toward the looming home. "What about me placing them in danger by being here?"

A slight edge crept into Janus' voice. "That's a risk that I'll have to take."

"Your risk?" Harry asked as he closed the space between the two, so close that their noses almost touched. "And what about me? What about my risk? What of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's risk?"

Janus stepped back as he raised his hand up to stop Harry's temper. "Harry, please, I don't need an argument from you right now. Just trust me. It's safer for you here. This is where you're staying until the trial."

"Funny. That's what you said about your house when you were dragging me and Draco there."

"Yeah, that was before." Janus scratched at the back of his head.

"Before what? Your little sleepwalking episode? You said my bedroom was warded. Was that another lie?"

"The wards only work if you stay in your own bedroom," Janus snapped. "Were you planning on doing that? Look, that's not even the point. It's not what I'd do in my sleep that worries me. I'm not a saint, Harry. I'm not going to kiss you on the cheek and tell you I could never take advantage of you. If you had stayed tonight-"

"I know what would have happened!" Harry interrupted.

"Then you know why you're staying here. Look, if you need me, I mean, if you need my help, you can send an owl to my contact. Arthur knows the address. If it's an emergency, you can apparate to the house as long as you don't try to land inside the wards."

"Fine!" Harry huffed as he walked past Janus, intentionally brushing into him with his shoulder.

Janus sighed and began walking toward the Burrow as the kitchen door opened. Arthur and Molly Weasley hurried out to greet their guests, wands at the ready.

"Janus? Merlin's Beard! Our sneak-o-scope alerted us to someone outside. We didn't expect it to be you and Harry!" Arthur Weasley said as he quickly shook hands with Janus, then Harry.

"Arthur. I'm sorry to approach you and Molly like this, but I need to leave Harry here."

Arthur Weasley leaned left, then right and turned his head in a wide arc, frowning. "Where's Draco? Isn't he with you and Harry?"

"He's safe right now," Janus assured him. "I need to speak to you inside, Arthur."

"Of course, please come in," Arthur extended his hand toward the Burrow and clapped Janus on the shoulder as they advanced toward the open door.

Molly Weasley had already led Harry inside the kitchen, and Janus paused in the doorway, watching as Ron came bounding down the stairs taking them two at a time.

"Harry!" Ron shouted as he embraced Harry in a bear hug, and continued on until Molly forced her youngest son to let go.

"Ron!" Molly sassed. "Give Harry some air." Ron stepped back, apologizing while Harry assured him that all was well. Ron quickly glanced from Harry to Janus, and back to Harry, noticing Harry's small nod of the head.

"Ron," Arthur said, "take Harry and get him settled in, son."

"Yes, Dad." Ron said. "Come on, Harry."

Janus watched as both young wizards made their way upstairs, but not before catching a look from Harry that showed his dissatisfaction at Janus' decision. Janus quickly forced the thought out of his mind as he began to speak to Arthur and Molly Weasley.

"Again, I'm sorry, but I had no other place to bring Harry." Janus began, but was stopped by Arthur Weasley.

"Harry is a part of our family. He is always welcome here," Arthur stated. "What's this all about, Janus?"

The dark shadow passed over Janus' eyes as he answered. "Moreaux." He paused, slightly shifting his weight from each leg as the Weasley's awaited his answer. "I…I have reliable information about him, or at least how to find him."

"The Ministry is doing-" Arthur began.

"Arthur, please!" Janus pleaded, holding his hand up to stop Arthur. "For all we know, the Ministry could be responsible for him! You both read the Prophet! You know about the witch that was murdered. I spoke-"

"Janus!" Molly scolded, wagging her finger at him. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "You must be more careful. The Ministry knows about you, and if Moreaux is somehow connected to them, then it places you at a considerable danger."

"I know that, Molly, but there is another part to it all," Janus said as he interlinked his fingers. "Lucius Malfoy!" He whispered.

Molly Weasley gasped as Arthur mouthed the name. "Are you sure?" Arthur asked aloud after Janus nodded to his question. "That does complicate things."

"Lucius will get what's coming to him, but the Minister must know about Moreaux's connection with him." Janus pulled the floppy hat over his head, as he strode to the door. "Take care of Harry for me. Make sure he gets to the trial."

"What of Draco and Narcissa?" Molly Weasley stepped forward to stand beside her husband as Janus stepped out the door.

"They're safe with Andromeda." He turned to walk away, but was stopped by a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"Janus!" Arthur said. "If it's Moreaux that you're going after, then remember this. Before setting out on revenge, you first dig two graves."

"One way or another, Arthur, he will pay for everything that he's done," Janus whispered as he stepped away from Arthur.

"Avenging your parents won't bring them back," Arthur replied, his blue eyes staring into Janus.

"The dead don't care about vengeance, but I do."

"And in doing so you become exactly what Moreaux is. How disappointed Remus would be with you."

"You're wrong, Arthur," Janus backed away, shaking his head. He pictured a photo of his parents, simultaneously recalling what he could of their real faces. He remembered his first night back in Britain, when he had met Yuri at the Silver Wolf and had watched Tawny dance with Jett. "Evil flourishes when good men do nothing. Remus would want me to fight. Goodbye, Arthur. Goodbye, Molly."

"Remus would have found a different way," Arthur said as he watched Janus spin out of sight.

Ron paused at the top of the stairs and put a finger to his lips to silence Harry. Voices drifted up the stairwell, but Harry couldn't make out the individual words. Ron shook his head in frustration and grimaced. "Mum and Dad confiscated the extendable ears," he explained. "And they've learned that you can't hear what goes on in the living room from up here, so they don't talk in the kitchen anymore."

"It doesn't matter. Janus won't be any more honest with Arthur or Molly than he was with me." Harry turned his back on the stairwell and made his way to the twins' room, Ron following behind him.

"Is that why you're back?" Ron asked, taking a seat on the bunk underneath the window while Harry perched on the opposite bed. "Not that it's not good to see you."

"I-" Before Harry could begin its explanation, the door swung open, revealing Hermione and Ginny. The broad grin on Hermione's face made Ginny's scowl look even darker in comparison.

Harry stood, briefly embraced Hermione, and nodded to Ginny as he did so.

Ginny swept her eyes over the room and raised an eyebrow. "Where's your partner in crime, Harry?" she asked.

"She's referring to that awful article in the Daily Prophet," Hermione added, shooting Ginny a look of disapproval. "It was pure gossip, and I doubt anyone even read it—"

"I did," Harry said quietly.

"So, where is he?" Ginny leaned on the door jamb.

"With Andromeda. It's where he'll stay until after the trial, then I suppose it's back to Malfoy Manor for him and Grimmauld place for me."

"Not surprising." Ginny's mouth twitched as if she were trying not to smile.

"He could come to his senses," Hermione said brightly.

Ron laughed. "Are you kidding? It's Malfoy we're talking about. He doesn't have any senses to come to. Harry's better off without him!"

"There are more important things to worry about!" Harry snapped. He was torn between defending Draco and agreeing with Ron, and neither idea would be productive, especially not with Ginny in the room. When Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all fixed their eyes on him, he continued, "Janus and I have proof Moreaux is alive. He killed a girl in Knockturn Alley, and we spoke to her friend. She described him perfectly. So did the apothecary."

Ginny cursed, paced back into the hall, returned to the doorway, and pounded her fist against the door jamb, swearing again. "I should have finished the job!"

"Yeah, but how could we have known?" Ron asked. "That chandelier must have weighed a ton!"

"We should have taken him to the Ministry," Hermione said quietly. "The girl he killed- if we knew more about her, we might be able to guess who he's working for now that Lucius is locked away."

"She was-" Harry bit his tongue before saying "nobody" and finished "- a performer at the Silver Wolf pub. Janus thinks Moreaux killed her on his own time, not for a job."

Ginny frowned. "He couldn't know that, unless he knows more about Moreaux than he's letting on."

"It's his personal vendetta," Harry explained. "Phillipe Moreaux killed Janus' parents, and he's been obsessed with him ever since. You could say Moreaux is the one person Janus is connected to."

"Is that why he sent you back here?" Hermione asked.

Harry shrugged. "I'm tired of trying to figure out why Janus does anything! He keeps a secret potions dungeon in his cellar, he climbed out a broken window in his bedroom, he got a rubber ducky in the mail, and when I ask him questions, he tells stories about having a sleep disorder or working as an agent for the WTF!"

"What's a sleep disorder?" Ginny asked at the same time Ron said "What's a rubber ducky?" and Hermione murmured, "So he's the American equivalent of an auror, then."

Caught up in the moment, Harry continued, "He's got enough protection wards to make a paranoid lunatic happy, right down to his stupid coat and hat, he hates Draco, he lectures me like he's a bloody guru, then just when I thought we were... friends, he leaves to go on a fool's errand."

"Sounds like an interesting four days," Ron observed, his tone carefully neutral.

"That's not the word for it!" Harry leaned back against the wall, feeling suddenly exhausted. "I just wish he would let me help! Moreaux tried to kill me, too—"

"He's tried to kill everyone in this room," Ginny interrupted. "Did your friend go to the Ministry with the news from Knockturn Alley?"

Harry shrugged again and threw up his hands. "He's been exchanging letters with someone he calls his 'Ministry contact,' but I don't think he trusts the Ministry. He says someone let Moreaux out of Nurmenguard."

"Maybe Janus did," Ginny offered. "If he's as crazy as you say he is..."

"I didn't say he was crazy!" Harry raised his hands and shook his head. "And he would never do something like that."

"So all we know is that Moreaux is alive," Hermione summarized. "And you can be sure he knows where to find us."

"I hope he does," Ginny said with venom. "There are six of us in this house and no Malfoys to get in the way this time."

"Yeah, all the same," Ron mused. "I think I'd rather Janus caught up to him first. I kind of like our house in one piece."

"I kind of like Janus in one piece," Harry countered.

"You don't think he's powerful enough to beat Moreaux, do you?" Hermione asked.

"That depends. How do you fight a dark wizard with a rubber duck?"

"Draco."

At the sound of his name, Draco startled, dropping the book he'd been reading. It was a boring book, anyway, having belonged to Nymphadora. The story revolved around a misfit teenager with a group of equally inept friends, and it involved equal parts whining and battling ultimate evil. He had continued turning the pages only because he kept hoping that ultimate evil would get in a blow here or there, and he wasn't at all disappointed to be interrupted.

After folding the corner to mark his place, he looked up to see his mother in the doorway of the den. "Someone is here to see you," she said.

"Someone?" Draco felt his mouth go dry, and his stomach jumped inside him as if he were riding a broomstick that had just taken a sudden plunge. It had to be Harry, and even though he didn't want to see the Gryffindor today, or ever, he found himself slipping past his mother and racing to the front door.

When he saw who was leaning in the doorway, he muttered a curse under his breath. "You- I should have guessed!"

"Nice to see you again, Draco!" Janus grinned and pushed back the brim of his hat. "Your aunt here-" he jerked a thumb at Andromeda, who stood nearby, "- she says I can borrow you for a while this evening."

"I'm not hers to loan out!" Draco snarled.

"Too bad, because Harry really wants to see you." Janus sighed theatrically.

"I'm sure he does." Draco snorted and tossed a lock of hair out of his eyes. He waited, expecting Janus to turn around and leave, but the man folded his arms and leaned on the door jamb. After a long, irritating silence, Draco said, "Why?"

"Dunno." Janus shrugged. "But it seemed pretty important."

"For the love of Merlin, Draco!" Andromeda crossed the room, put her hand in the middle of his back and pushed him toward Janus so that he stumbled forward. "Go! Do what you like after the trial. If you want to be a fool then, I'll say nothing of it. But now, now you need Harry!"

"And I used to wonder why they put you in Slytherin." Janus winked at Andromeda, who scowled.

"She's right." Narcissa's voice came from his left, and Draco soon found himself in the center of a triangle formed by his mother, his aunt, and Janus. "Without his help..." She spread her hands and looked down at them, shaking her head.

"As if he would let me go to Azkaban just because I- because we- because we're not- He wouldn't let something like that matter. He's too bloody noble for that! He probably couldn't live with himself if he did." Draco sneered, imagining Harry on his knees, weeping with regret.

"You don't think so?" Janus tilted his head to one side as if considering a surprising proposition. "You might be right. I guess you do know Harry pretty well."

"He's a Gryffindor. I don't have to know him; they're all the same."

"And you're a Death Eater. Seems someone like Harry would want someone like you behind bars where he couldn't do any more damage than he already has. Unless, of course, he has a reason not to." Janus fingered his chin.

"So he sent you here to blackmail me?" Draco demanded.

"No!" Janus shook his head forcefully. "No. He just- he's been in bad shape since you left."

"Really? Because I've been enjoying myself here." Draco raised both arms in an expansive gesture.

Andromeda laughed, and Narcissa put a hand over her mouth, though Draco could tell by her eyes that she was covering a smile. The two sisters shared a look across the room, and then Andromeda raised an eyebrow while Narcissa shook her head.

"You've been impossible!" Andromeda growled. "Cissy won't say it, of course, but I will. You might as well be in Azkaban already with how you act! All you can talk about is Harry, and do we need to discuss this morning?"

"No," Draco murmured at the same time Narcissa said, "It's true, Draco, you have been out of sorts, lately, not yourself at all. You hardly touched your dinner last night, and-"

"Alright! I'll go!" Draco shouted, throwing up his hands. Ashamed at having conceded defeat, he added, "But only if I get my wand back when I leave."

"Fair enough," Janus agreed. He looked from Andromeda to Narcissa and said solemnly, "I'll have him back in one piece. You have my word."

Andromeda snorted. "Keep him if you like."

"Andromeda!" Narcissa protested.

Draco pushed past Janus and was halfway down the walkway when he heard the front door close, cutting off the sound of Narcissa and Andromeda's banter. The two seemed to be making up for the lost time they had spent disowning each other, and cheerful ribbing made Draco sick. It was almost like staying at the Burrow. He jumped when Janus grabbed his arm, although of course he had been expecting it.

"Hold on tight!" Janus warned, flourishing his wand.

A moment later, they stood under a street lamp at the mouth of a narrow alley between two brick buildings. Draco staggered in a circle, trying to get his bearings. The place looked somewhat familiar, although nothing like Janus' house or the village nearby.

"Where are we?" he demanded. "And where's Potter?"

"We're where we need to be. And Harry is safe. He's at the Burrow." Janus moved to stand between Draco and the opening of the alley. With the streetlight shining from behind him, he was nothing more than a dark silhouette. A breeze ruffled the tails of his duster so that they swirled like the robes of a dementor.

"I knew this was some trick-" Draco began.

"No, you didn't. Incarcero." Janus pointed his wand, and Draco stumbled as conjured ropes jerked his wrists behind his back and encircled his ankles.

Draco fell on his side, his head hitting the concrete hard enough to bring tears to his eyes. Flopping like a worm, he managed to rise to his knees and shuffle toward the wall, which he leaned against in order to regain his feet.

"What have you done with Potter?" Draco demanded. He rubbed his bonds furiously against the rough brick.

Janus stepped back into the alley so that the light hit him from the side and Draco could make out his face. "Nothing. I told you, he's at the Burrow."

"I don't believe you!" Draco threw himself forward, hoping to knock Janus to the ground. If he could manage to separate the man from his wand, he might have a chance.

Unfazed, Janus sidestepped Draco and caught him by the arm as he fell forward. "Careful, now! I wouldn't want to deliver bruised merchandise."

"What is it you want with me? If it's money, I'm the heir to Malfoy Manor! I can match any offer. My father has enough in Gringots to-"

"It's not money." Janus reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, yellow object which he tossed back and forth between his hands. "I'm giving you something no one else has, Draco- a chance to be useful."

Draco stared at the yellow object, wondering if it was some sort of weapon. He reeled, struggling to keep his balance as his feet started to go numb under him. "And what if I don't want to be useful?"

"Doesn't much matter what you want; that's how it works when you're the one tied up."

"What is that thing?" Draco jerked his chin toward the bright yellow object and then glanced behind him, hoping to see someone, anyone, coming toward the alley. If he could stall Janus long enough, maybe someone would see them and call for help.

"Portkey," Janus said cheerfully. He held up the object in his left hand and waved it near Draco's face.

Upon closer inspection, Draco could see that the thing was vaguely bird shaped with beady black eyes and a painted orange bill.

"Yes, but what is it?" Draco asked.

Janus cocked his head, frowning as if puzzled. "You mean you've never seen a rubber ducky?"

"A rubber what?"

"You know, Bert and Ernie, singing in the tub, mom's way of convincing little kids that baths are fun?" Janus turned the bird to face himself and then pointed its beak at Draco once more.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Draco hopped backwards, placing himself directly under the streetlight where he would be most visible to anyone passing by.

"You wizard kids and your deprived childhoods!" Janus squeezed the toy, eliciting an unpleasant squeak that startled Draco and made him jump back. He would have fallen, if Janus hadn't reached out to catch him by the elbow again.

"Where does the portkey go?" Draco wriggled, trying to break free of Janus' grip, but as before, the man had freakish strength.

"You'll see. Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, but first this package needs a little wrapping." Janus let go of Draco, took a few steps back, and drew his wand, still holding the obnoxious squeaking bird in his other hand. He pointed the wand at Draco, murmured a quiet incantation, and Draco shivered as a tingling sensation swept from his scalp to his toenails.

"What did you do to me?"

"Made it so I don't have to watch you blubbering." Janus walked around Draco in a circle, nodding to himself in satisfaction.

"I'm not crying," Draco spat. "I'm not afraid of you. All you ever do is make idle threats. If you wanted me dead, or worse, you would have done it by now." He had the nagging feeling that something in his lower field of vision was wrong, and he glanced down to find that he could see the pavement through his feet. In fact, his entire body was missing, or more accurately, cloaked in an invisibility spell.

"Huh. Maybe you do have me pegged." Janus moved to stand behind Draco and seized his bound wrists. "You're right; I'm not going to hurt you."

"Then let me go!" Draco thrashed his head back, hoping to slam it into Janus' face. He jerked his arms, and when that failed, he let his knees buckle and fell forward, bringing Janus down on top of him. His face scraped the pavement, stinging and bringing forth the scent of blood. As he fought to throw Janus off of him, he screamed for help, not caring that his voice rose in pitch so that he sounded like a little girl. If he could just get free, the invisibility spell would work in his favor. Even hopping on his bound feet, he could keep Janus guessing. He continued to shout, alternating between curses and wordless shrieks.

"That's enough of that," Janus murmured. "Silencio!"

Draco drew a breath so deep his lungs felt as if they would burst and let out a scream that burned his throat with its force. No sound came out, and even as he gasped for breath afterward, there was silence.

Janus wrenched himself to his feet, pulling Draco with him. He looped one of his arms through Draco's, ignoring Draco's continued struggle. Raising the yellow duck in his free hand, he said, "For what it's worth, Malfoy, not even you deserve this."

The world blurred. Draco felt like a caught fish being reeled in by an invisible hook. Before he could draw enough breath for another silent scream, the world was still again, as well as dim and cold. They were in some sort of chamber with a high ceiling and dark walls. He craned his neck and saw a set of stone steps leading up to a dais with a crumbling stone archway.

"You're going to—" Draco began before remembering that Janus had silenced him. "Didn't want to hear my last words, did you?" He braced himself, expecting to be dragged up the stairs and shoved through the archway. He could hear a faint whispering coming from the other side. Was it Voldemort, howling at him for his failure? Aunt Bella laughing at him? Crabbe cursing Draco for letting him die in the Room of Requirement? He wondered if they were able to watch him from the afterlife, if they had seen him with Harry. At least the shame couldn't kill him once he was on the other side.

The sound of slow, shuffling footsteps came from behind him, accompanied by a metallic rattle. Janus held Draco by the wrists and spun him around, gripping harder when Draco saw who had made the sounds. The sight spurred him to a frantic, futile struggle.

"Back empty handed?" Lucius said, sneering at Janus. "It's a pity. I was going to tell you exactly where Moreaux is staying."

"I keep my promises," Janus said flatly. "Homenum revelio."
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Darkness Within The Light