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Beauty in Perfection; Stand By Me	By : PaulaS Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 2360 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
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"   " indicates speech

'    ' indicates thoughts

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Beauty in Perfection; Stand by Me

by imLittleLily

Chapter Three

Draco's POV . . .

Draco Malfoy stood in front of his mirror
gazing at his reflection and thinking. 'I can't believe that I have finally
gotten some of the stress I've carried lately off my chest tonight when I had
that brief talk with Harry. Look at your reflection Dray; you look like you have
been hit with a bloody bludger. Hot shower may help, go for it man.'

Draco stood in the steamy shower stall of
his bathroom and just let the rivets of hot water massage the kinks out of his
tired body. He found himself wondering if Potter had told the rest of his circle
the news yet. At any rate if the news got back to Dumbledore he would be sure to
call Draco to his office and give him a lecture about keeping the Order's
secrets. Draco needed to figure out what to say about that. He didn't think that
the issue of Harry�s elemental gifts was strictly Order business. Especially
since he had discovered Harry was already working to gain control of his gifts.
This information had been kept from Dumbledore by Harry. It seems as though
Harry didn't have the absolute trust in the old codger that everyone seemed to
think. Maybe the rumors were true that the Golden boy had turned down membership
in the Order. The question in Draco's mind was when had the schism begun and
just how deep did it go? It seemed as if it had been there at least since the
beginning of sixth year. 'AH . . .' he thought, 'the death of Sirius Black and the
prophecy; that is probably when it all started. Watcher duties didn't actually
start till Sept. 1st and much had apparently been set into place by that time.'

'Argh! This isn't helping!'
Draco scolded himself in his thoughts, 'Clear your mind
. . . so many thoughts . . . Harry . . . standing in the shadows . . .beautiful.
Why is it that now all I want to do is forget the way his emerald eyes looked
when the moon reflected off of the ice stalagmites,' Draco's thoughts were
interrupted by a feral groan coming from deep within his being. ' . . . everything about his face glowing with an intensity that rivals the moon
itself.' The visual memory of Harry finally won out.

He groaned and finally
allowed the resulting thoughts from that vision of Harry to come freely. 'You have felt this way for six months now Dray, this is no time to
weaken to its pull; don't give in to hormones now. Right now we must focus on
the task at hand. Helping him work with fire by practicing it with determination
and focus. Hopefully Belenus will put in an appearance soon. We really don't
have much time left.' A sigh escaped from his mouth as he leaned his hands
against the shower's tiles. He closed his eyes and allowed the musical
sound and feel of the water cascade over him.

As Draco stood there contemplating fire
and ice, he was suddenly overcome with flashing visions of Death Eaters
attacking a Muggle neighborhood. The atrocities performed caused his body to
tremble and fall to the floor of the shower stall as his eyes rolled back into
his head. He had seen this many times before; however, that did not change his
physical and mental reactions. Draco lay on the wet floor covered with goose
bumps and blood from where he cut his head on the tile as he fell.

"Draco . . . how long do you need when you
take a shower?" Yelled Zabini after putting his head around the door. "Draco?"

No answer.

"Dra. . . damn!" Zabini swore when he
saw Draco on the shower floor, "Justin get Greg and Vince now. Draco come on,
wake up man. We gotta get you outta here." Zabini was torn between shaking Draco
and whining in fear but he realized he needed to stay calm. He did not like it
when he found his friend like this. He turned the cold water off and conjured a
warm blanket for Draco. "Wake up, Draco . . ." It was usually a bad sign when
they were unable to bring him out of one of his visions. His friend's eyes were
closed but very active behind the closed lids.

Blaise shook his head as he thought, 'What
the hell is going on around here anyway? Something big must be in the works.'
He looked up when Vince finally came in
and said, "Crabbe, thank Merlin, I
can't get him to come around. The water was still turned on and was cold, when I
found him; that must mean he was out for a while. He has been in here for close
to an hour." Zabini told Draco's lumbering right hand man when he finally
arrived.

"Let's get him into his bed so that he'll
at least be warmer." Justin's comment was meant to cover-up his issues of
thinking of Draco as the beautiful Slytherin.

"I already put a warming charm on the
blanket when I conjured it," smirked Zabini. "Get your mind out of the gutter,
Justin. This is no time to allow your flagrant, out there for everyone to see,
hormones dictate your mind. You would think that hanging around Slytherins you
would pick up some of our bloody traits. Subtlety?"

Justin winced, but then shrugged in
reaction. He thought to himself, 'Yeah, like you don't think the same thing I was thinking. Now who
needs subtlety?' They levitated the Slytherin Ice Prince into his
bed and made sure he was tucked in warmly.

When Draco woke he found himself in bed
with the hangings around his large bed closed. He didn't remember how he got
there. He gasped suddenly when his mind went back to his latest vision. 'Bloody
hell! What time is it?' He pulled the hanging around his bed aside to see his
clock glimmering in the darkness, 3:49 am. He took a deep breath and lifted the
covers to get up when he realized he wasn't even wearing the usual silk boxers,
his only attire when he slept. 'Bloody hell, again,' he thought, 'how did I get here?'

Draco dressed and went to his desk to
write a note to a friend that no one in their right Slytherin mind would ever
suspect him of having.


D.


Please take your family and leave. Use information you already have.

        I will contact you later with
specifics.


Safe Journey,


Icekat


P.S. The fire burns well.

'That should cover it.' Draco thought as
he decided that
he would take the missive up to the owlery immediately, he could use a good run
as it was. After exiting his room, he shifted into Icekat and began his workout.
He went up to the owlery as fast as his four paws could carry him arriving with
a flash of teeth in a grin when he saw the reaction of the few owls that had
spent the night there instead of going out hunting or delivering mail. He
transformed and whistled for his favorite eagle owl, Horus, who floated down to
see his friend with a screech. "Hey boy," Draco crooned, "Please take this
urgent message to D. He will not be expecting you this time but I'm sure he will
be grateful for the visit. Safe journey, my friend."

Draco made a point of stopping by the
headmaster�s office on his way back down to the dungeons to give Professor
Dumbledore an update. Maybe he would be able to save some of the other Muggles.
Little kids, Muggle or not should not have to die that way.

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Breakfast Without the Prince . . .

Vincent Crabbe looked up from gathering
his books for the morning's classes just in time to see Draco walk into the
common room. Draco was apparently running late this morning because he wasn't
even dressed for class. "You better hurry, Dray, at this rate you are going to
miss breakfast."

"Been there already." Draco grinned, "I
left you some, in case you're worried."

Crabbe gave one of those grunt/chuckles
that he was famous for. "I'm not worried. We all know you eat like a bird in the
morning."

"Maybe it has something to do with his
whole Best-Looking-Slytherin-Prince look, Crabbe." Smirked Pansy in her high
bitchy voice. "We all know he must watch his figure." Her hands reached out for
him as though they were magnets attracted to another magnet.

'UGH! I think not Parkinson.' Draco
thought as he stepped out of her range. "Not now,
Pansy. As Vince already pointed out, I'm running late and need to go. I'm sure
the two of you can enjoy breakfast without my gorgeous self present. Catch you
up later." As he turned away a flip of the hair in her direction told Vince to
keep a close eye on Pansy. He would speak with the others about the new
information later, after Potions would have to do.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Potions . . . Twenty Points From
Gryffindor . . .

Outside the Potions classroom the students
were gathered for N.E.W.T. level Potions. The last to arrive were the Gryffindors;
Potter, Granger and Longbottom. Draco Malfoy watched as they approached in the
reflection of Pansy's pocket mirror while she was primping. He waited. On
approach his elbow bumped into Pansy, who began to fall backwards. Zabini
reached to grab her arm to prevent injury and cover for Draco as he bumped into
Potter. Confusion and mass muddle in the hallway ensued. Message passed, mission
accomplished.

Professor Snape opened the classroom door and came
out with his trade mark glare plastered on his face. "Potter, what are
you doing now!? Twenty points from Gryffindor for creating so much noise in the
hall between classes. Inside everyone, now."

Harry walked into the classroom with
Neville and found his seat in the middle of the room. He had always sat in the
back of the room with Ron in previous years; not anymore, Ron had decided to
switch to basic healing this last year of school. He and Neville had been paired
up by Professor Snape with hopes creating disasters in class. So far this plan
of Snape's had failed. Both Harry and Neville worked diligently together on
their assignments thus far they were passing potions. This may have had
something to do with their serious application to all of their studies since the
incident in the Department of Mysteries back in fifth year.

Harry waited until the rest of the class
had started on today's assignment and Neville had gone to the cupboard to get
the required ingredients to open the message from Draco. It was art. That is to
say that there was an image of two panthers; one black, one white in the center
of a beautiful courtyard under a waning moon. The strokes that made up the
fountain contained a figure 8 within its pattern. He looked up and saw Draco
with his sneer in place. Harry pushed his glasses up over his forehead and
rubbed the bridge of his nose all the while nodding acceptance of the scheduled
meeting.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Draco's Dorm Room . . .

"Dobby," Draco snapped his fingers
summoning the house elf.

"Yes, sir?

"Tea and butterbeer for five this evening,
Dobby."

"Yes, sir." With a snap Dobby was gone
only to return moments later with a tray of tea, snacks and butterbeer. "Will
that be all for you this evening?"

"Yes, Dobby." Dobby left with another soft
pop.

"Ok, listen up everyone." Draco said,
"We have a lot to
cover tonight so we should get started. Tonight�s agenda is important because in
the last Order meeting we received intelligence that Tom plans to attack on
Yule."

"Draco,"
Justin arched a dark brow at the
Slytherin Prince, "I realize that I'm from Hufflepuff, but I still wonder about the ethics of you sharing this info with
all of us. Shouldn't you be concerned about what Dumbledore will have to say if
he finds out?" Justin asked Draco in an insistent tone.

"Justin, as a Hufflepuff," Draco
drawled, "you should
realize that this information is vital to the survival of this establishment.
Hogwarts must survive. I know that you understand the basic strategy that
we are working on simply because you yourself have furnished so much of the
information for our plan. What I don't understand," he arched a brow at Justin,
"perhaps because I am in
Slytherin, is why you would question us when we know that you are just as
cunning and ambitious as the rest of us. If you weren't Muggleborn you would
have most likely been sorted here in Slytherin." Draco frowned as he
finished saying this to Justin and then turned his attention to the others in
the chamber.

"Ok, Back to the plan," Draco said, "we must answer
to a higher power here if we are to survive. Dumbledore has his own sense of
experience and cunning; however, he is wrapped up in his manipulations of
Potter, even his refusal to work with Potter's elemental gifts is based into
that very manipulation which is grounded only in fear of the unknown.
That fear can only result in the creation of Dumbledore's own form of darkness.
At this time we must realize that it is better to light a match, than to curse
the darkness. (a/n1) We must move forward. I have already begun the process of
reaching Potter and uniting our two factions. I have a meeting set up for
tonight in the courtyard at 8:00."

"How is it that he knows where the
courtyard is, Draco?" Blaise wanted to know.

Draco answered him, "He found me when I went there Harvest
Moon night to summon the Warriors. He heard everything. He now knows that I have
been his Watcher since my 16th birthday, that we are a group, and of our special
training. This is actually an advantage to us because I was concerned about how
to approach him with the info of the pending attack. Dumbledore seems to want to
tell him at a later time. Probably closer to Yule."

Vince asked Draco, "When you summoned the
Warriors, what did they say should be done about Dumbledore?"

Draco shrugged and answered, "The Warriors will contact Potter in their
own unique way. His training will begin at that time. They understand the
urgency, as a matter of fact they seemed displeased that Harry hasn't received
his training yet. They did not specify what they would do about the headmaster.
Perhaps their personal plans won't factor Dumbledore into the end game. We all
know that it will come down to Potter and Voldemort. It is our job to ensure
Potter's success."

Greg Goyle nodded at that last statement
then asked, "What are we going to do about Pansy?"

He was the one who had been assigned to watch her when
Vince finished his duty shift earlier that day. "She is beginning to ask
questions about your disappearances and she even heard about your vision this
morning. To top that, she bullied a second year into telling her about your
delivery of Luna Lovegood to the infirmary this morning after she had a vision.
And what is up with that anyway, two people with visions in one day? What is
going on?"

Draco sighed. "I had a vision of a
Muggle
community being attacked. It concerned our sparring partner. I have already
dispatched a warning. Luna's vision was of the final battle. Unfortunately she
was in the hall when it happened and since she has no control over the situation
she started talking about Potter and me. She was requesting that I help Potter.
As to solving any problem regarding anything Luna said; simply remind Pansy that
we all think of her as Loony Lovegood. She doesn't need to know that we
understand and give credence to any of her visions. Pansy will jump on her
bandwagon of bigotry and ride with it. If you must bring me into to the
equation, just tell her I was merely 'cleaning' the hall of the disturbance."

"Now that that is out of the way,"
Draco turned to Justin and asked him, "Justin,
have you had any luck with recruiting Mandy Brocklehurst? As much as I wish this
would end at Yule, we are in need of at least one more healer within our ranks.
It is my understanding she wishes to be a mediwitch when she leaves Hogwarts. I
have also heard that she receives high marks in her healing classes. The
Weasleys simply will not be enough."

Justin grinned. "She was all set to run to
Dumbledore to join the Order; that is before I told her it is necessary to have
a special dispensation to get in before graduation. I then mentioned that with
her grades and any 'volunteer' work for students during a time of crisis would
serve to boost her chances of getting into the training program at St. Mungos. I
also mentioned that in a crisis she would be working by Pomfrey's side. She is
planning on talking to the nurse after her next healing class."

"Well done, Justin. Also, thanks for being
a liaison between the other houses for us. Vince, do you have anything further
to report?"

"Not at this time, Dray." As he said this
he noticed that Draco's usual immaculate self seemed to be tired.

"Ok, then we are done here for now."
Draco said as he stood, "I have
to get ready for my meeting with Potter. I'll let you know tomorrow how that
goes and whether or not Belenus has begun his training." Draco wanted to change;
he didn't want to wear school robes out to his meeting with Harry.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Two Cats & a Courtyard . . .

Draco stood before his mirror
contemplating his black jeans and black tee with a silver dragon on the back
shoulder coming over onto the left side of his chest. He had found the shirt in
a Muggle shop over the summer after an intense workout with D. He would always
think about that day because he had had to hide in the fitting room when Potter
came into the store looking to buy new jeans. Draco smirked at his reflection
because he had been mad at himself for hiding in the back but didn't want Potter
to find him in the Muggle store. He would have had questions about finding the
pureblood in Muggleville. Tonight he would have to face some of those questions.

A knock sounded at the door. Draco opened
it with every intention of stepping out and leaving for his destination. He had
thrown a cloak over his Muggle clothing. He came face to face with Pansy. She
seemed to be frowning at him but he wasn't interested in her facial expression
at the moment. "What is it now, Pansy?" Draco asked after placing a personal
ward on his door.

"Ohhh, Dray, you look soo good. Where are
you off to?" She cooed as she ran her fingers up his sleeve.

"Nowhere you would be interested in. If
you wanted to talk about the Potions assignment, you should have come by after
lunch. As it is, I'm on my way out . . ."

Pansy leaned in and spoke in what she
thought was a sexy voice, "And I see you don't want to tell where
you are going again, Dray. How many times do you think I will put up with
you walking away from our date without telling your father?" She
stepped closer trying to kiss his neck.

Draco did not want to meet Potter smelling
of Pansy's offensive perfume. He reached his hand over and squeezed her hand as
he pulled it away from his sleeve. "We don't have a date, Pansy. I'm late."

"Draco! Oh . . . there you are, why are you
taking so long?" Zabini stepped up to them and then his eyes fell onto Pansy who
he had previously not seen. "AHH yes, well . . ." he said with a look to Draco,
"are you ready?"

Draco nodded and walked away with Zabini.
Once they reached the common room Draco said, "Thanks, can you make yourself
scarce for awhile?"

"Sure, no problem." They exited the common
room together; after the portal closed Zabini went to the right, Draco to the
left.

He really hated being late. He took
the stairs three at a time and stopped at the wall. 'I hope he waited,' he
thought then said the password, "Shadow Phoenix's Kat." He stepped through into
his favorite spot at Hogwarts and turned to be sure the entry was secure,
"Destination Secure." He felt the piercing gaze on his back before
he turned around.

The moonlit courtyard was peaceful in its
own unique beauty.

Draco turned slowly to see the piercing
emerald eyes of a sleek black panther. His breath hitched. 'Merlin!' He spread
his hands to indicate that he had no weapon; then Draco raised his hands to the
clasp on his cloak. He wanted to remove the essence of Pansy's presence from the
evening. He lay the folded cloak on the bench and turned to the beautiful animal
before him.

With a tip of his head, a soft breath and
closure of his eyes he shifted into Icekat to show Potter that he trusted him.
Now if only Potter would return that trust.

TBC

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Wow, this came out longer than I expected. I had hoped
to be further along with Harry/Draco by now; next chapter, I promise.

A/N (1) " . . . better to light a match, than to curse
the darkness." is quote from a very old Law & Order that I thought would
fit here.

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~ ~ ~

Harry Potter and Related Indicia (c) 2001
Warner Bros. "Harry Potter", and all other proper names from the Harry Potter
book series are trademarks of Joanne Kathleen Rowling
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"Harry Potter" films is
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Beauty in Perfection; Stand By Me