Selling Your Soul to the I-Care-About-You God
A thestral, a cat, a lynx, a sun bear, an arctic hare & a husky ran through the forbidden forest at night as an owl glided along with them. They past the small lake within the forest passing some fireflies which the lynx began to chase. The husky bumped noses with the cat before catching up the sun bear who was a head of the group. The thestral stopped & turned it's head to the cat who had just stopped. The cat sat down then looked the winged horse creature with an unreadable gaze. Walking over to the cat, they lowered their head & bumped it with the feline who eagerly returned it reassuringly.
Then, they followed the group of animals as the larger kept throwing the feline a glance.
"You have got to be kidding me," Pansy snapped, slamming the Daily prophet down onto the Slytherin's table.
"S'up, love?" Jack asked, with a mouthful of food.
"Ministry Passes Educational Degree Number Three: Dolores Umbridge Appointed Hogwarts High Inquisitor!"
"Good lord. That is horrifying."
"What does it mean?" Spoons asked, concerned.
"It means, Spoonsy," Lukas said, folding the newspaper & keeping out raging Slytherin's hands, "That her extra job is to inspect the teacher & sack them if she likes."
They frowned, "Like Hagrid when he comes back? He isn't a teacher I think she would like based on how he is."
"I mean... I did hear that she hates half breeds," Blaise said.
"Oh no. I like him! Hagrid is my favorite teacher after Professor Sprout!"
"& at least he doesn't do what Grubby-Plank does with the whole gender thing!" Lukas scoffed.
"The good news though is that by the looks of things we'll be seeing our first inspection in action soon," Draco said.
"How is that a good thing?"
"McGonagall is first one we'll see."
The group smirked.
"That old toad won't know what hit her!" Alex said.
Jack pouted, "That is an insult to toads."
Potter found Draco leaning against a tree upon a moss covered root in front of the black lake, alone, with a coffee in a travel mug & a sketchbook that both seemed to be muggle made. He headed over to him, feet loudly crunching on the stones, & slowly sat next to him as he was colouring in something with oil pastels.
He eventually looked up to study the lake before returning to his page.
"Potter," He greeted, without looking up at him.
"I was looking for you," Potter said, looking at him.
"On purpose? Wow, usually we accidently find one another so that makes a change."
"I suppose it does..."
"So, how did you even find me? It's not like you would be able to go around all of Hogwarts &... I didn't see you see me go here. My friends don't even know I'm here."
"I have my sources."
"Spooky... So, why were you looking for me?"
"I need to talk to you."
"Is it important?"
"Why would I seek you out if it wasn't?"
"Fair enough... So, what is it?"
"Alright, well... As you know, Umbridge has made things difficult for everyone this year..."
Draco snorted & looked up at him just catching Potter tearing his eyes away from his hand, "Understatement of the year."
"Agreed... Anyways... So... Can- Can you keep a secret?"
Draco wetted his lips, "I have been keeping one from my father most of my life so... Yeah."
He then gulped some coffee as Potter continued.
"Well, um... Hermione, Ron & I made our own secret Defense Against The Dark Arts."
"Sounds like what you Gryffindor's would do. Go on."
"&, what we will be doing is teaching ourselves. Because, we obviously need it since Umbridge isn't going to do right."
"Obviously."
"This will help us with O.W.L.s & will help us fight in the future especially against Vol-"
"Potter. I understand why you are doing it but what I want to know is why are you telling me about it?"
"Because, we aren't doing it alone. We have recruits. Not only will we be learning ourselves but we will also be teaching others."
"Mmhm?"
"We don't have a place yet so-"
"So, you want me to find a place for you?"
"No. No. We'll do that. 'Mione will be calling us Dumbledore's army..."
"Sounds fun."
"& I was wondering... If you & your friends wanted to be a part of it? I know we already had a recruit meeting but I never got the chance to invite you &... I didn't know how the others would react."
Draco frowned at him, "You want me & my friends to join this 'Dumbledore's army'?" He asked, using air quotes.
"Yes."
"Do your friends know about this?"
"No. But, since everyone is being taught by me. I have the right to choose people for myself right?"
"I suppose so."
"So, what do you say?"
"I'll have to ask them about it & I shall need to think about it. It does sound fun though. Also quite useful... But. You really need to warn your friends. Remember, most of the school dislikes us Slytherins so surprising them like this might make you lose trust from them. We are associated with you-know-who after all. As much as we don't want to be..."
"Don't worry I will & this will be also a good thing when it works out. People will see that it isn't the case that you & your friends are interested in joining the him & his deatheaters."
Draco hummed while swallowing more coffee before he spoke again, "So, any ideas for where you'll teach? Remember you don't want us caught on the first week."
"Er... An unused classroom."
"Probably a bad idea," He began, returning to his art, "She'd find us out on our second week at the most. Filch is head over heels for her so he will stop at nothing to please her. Plus, controlling all those people? You'll need an isolated place where you can practice undetected."
Potter sighed, "Well, I guess I'll figure it out."
"Alright, progress!"
"What?"
"No, not you! The bloody drawing!"
"Oh..."
Draco huffed out a laugh.
"Another thing..."
"Yeah?"
"If you do join, we want you to sign your name."
"Oh Merlin, I'm not selling my soul am I?"
"No. It's an enchanted piece of parchment. Hermione did it. It's just so we know who knows about about it."
"I see. That's fine. I don't mind."
"Great."
"Anything else?"
"Cho apparently kept looking at me."
"I mean, weren't you the one talking?"
"I-No- Yes! I was. But with the way Hermione put it, it was more of a..."
"Goo goo eyes?"
"No one calls it that but yes. That."
"Heh, who knows Potter? You'll probably get your first kiss sooner than you thought."
"Who says I haven't already?"
"It would of been on the Daily Prophet."
"Oh, har har."
Draco grinned as he switched colours.
"What about you?"
The blond frowned, "I dunno if you'd want that, Potter."
"No, not that... Have you had yours yet?"
"Nope. Blaise says apparently that drunk kiss we had during a game of truth or dare doesn't count. But, I bet you he's saying that because he doesn't want to make Lukas feel like he's unfaithful."
"Aren't you underaged?"
"Pureblood wizards drink at birth. British children also do that."
"I was unaware of the culture."
"Get on the times."
Draco looked up at him with a grin making Potter laugh.
"We had to approve the Slytherin team?!" Pansy squawked at Jack, who nodded nervously then took a step back in fear.
"Gryffindor had it worse. They had to go to Dumbledore because she refused," Lukas said, looking at the titles on the books.
"How would you know that?" jack asked.
"Who do you think is helping Alex & one of the twins bang one another."
"They wha-!"
"Hush, Pans. We are gonna get kicked out of the library," Blaise said, before helping his boyfriend with a book on a high shelf.
"Seriously? I'm not that short, am I?"
"This cannot go on! I am going to lose it if she... Potter?"
Draco turned himself to see Potter standing by the entrance of the aisle looking out of place.
"I'm not gonna ask how you found us. Because, trust me, I know why," Lukas said, glaring at Pansy as he took the book from Blaise.
She pouted.
"Can we talk?" The Gryffindor asked, as his eyes glued to the blond.
Draco nodded & handed Spoons his book then followed him to another aisle that was empty.
"Have you asked them yet?" Potter asked, quietly once the blond leaned against a desk.
He shook his head as his eyes stared off to the entrance of the aisle, "Not yet. They've been too hyped up about Umbridge," Then he looked at the Gryffindor, "Is it true your quidditch team had to go to Dumbledore to get the approval?"
He nodded, "Yes. Angelina was pissed off. How's you find out?"
"Lukas is getting to know the twins a lot more."
"Why?"
"Don't ask."
"Alright..."
"Is that all you wanted to say to me?"
"No. Draco, we think it's possible Umbridge might of caught wind of what we are doing."
"How?"
"We don't know. But, Hermione knows it wasn't someone at the meeting because she had charmed the parchment to show us who it was. Everyone is innocent."
"You don't think it's me, do you?"
"No. I know it wasn't you."
"Do you think someone overheard? Or you weren't as sneaky as you thought."
"Maybe..."
"I see..," Draco said, silver eyes trailing away thoughtfully.
"Do you still want to do this?"
"I do... But, I am not putting them at risk of been found out. Unless you find somewhere I know we will not be found. I wont ask them. I am not even going to mention it at all. Umbridge could get their parents fired... Except Lukas, but I am not letting him go through that type of detention again after we finish this one. I can't. You saw how he was."
"I did. & I understand."
"So have you told them?"
"Yes... I've told Hermione & Ron"
"&?"
"They don't like it but they are willing to give you & your friends a chance. I pulled the 'you are stereotyping them' card so that got 'Mione in, instantly. As for Ron, he was a lot harder to convince. He thinks you had been the one to make Crabb & Goyle tease him, even after I said it wasn't. However, I told him about the whole detention as well as how you've been helping the order."
"You told him everything?"
"Not about your back or about your father's treatment of you. Nothing personal. Just said you have been, in secret, helping them & I managed to get Sirius to confirm it."
"Oh. Great, I guess... So, he knows."
"Yep. & he does not like it. He wants you out."
"I told you that I won't leave."
"I know. I know. Still... He also asked me to ask you if you read the letter."
"What letter?"
"He sent you a letter. With Remus' owl."
"The- Oh!"
Draco pulled the envelope out of his pocket, "It must of been this one. I forgot about it."
"Read it. Sirius told me it's important."
"I'll read it tonight."
"You'll probably forget again."
"Alright. Alright. Hold on."
The blond opened the letter & began to read it. When he finished, he looked up at Potter confused.
"This was sent when we were in the owlery."
"Uh huh?"
"You didn't know about my situation at that time... In fact, you didn't even know about the whole me knowing about the Order."
"Yeah, I didn't... Why-"
"How did he know?"
"What?"
"In this letter, S- Padfoot is asking me to live with him. Asking me to stop being a hero & get myself out of there. That my mother can handle herself. &, me & my friends should go into hiding."
"Probably because he was in the same situation as you & as was Andi, whoever she is. I know they're related but that's all."
"She must of told him... Tonks must of..."
"Why are you..-"
"To get Tonks to trust me when we met I took Veritaserum. I told her everything. She must of told her mother & she must of told him."
"Draco..."
"She promised not to say anything."
"She must of been worried. Sirius & your aunt are still family. You are the same as them in the family they probably want to help you."
"I don't want-"
"Draco, you are in a dangerous situation. Understand? You are 15! Your father is an ass & you are living under the same roof as the man who killed my parents as well as countless of others."
"& you? You're 15 too. You want to fight this war. You've been through a lot worse than I have. How is me doing this any worse?"
"Because, I didn't choose to be involved. Voldemort is after me for something I did... No... What my mother did to protect me when I was a baby. I didn't choose any of this. I don't want to. But, how am I just to sit there & let people fight a man, then probably die, who is after me?"
Draco hugged himself & shook his head looking as if he was in pain, "My friends are doing this too. Pansy & Blaise... They won't leave no matter how much I ask them to. I can't let them do this alone. I won't. They don't have someone like Si-Padfoot & Andi to help them."
"I'm sure they will help them if it means you'll also leave to keep yourself safe."
"How do I even convince them to leave?"
"I'm sure Lukas can help you with Blaise."
"& Pansy?"
"Is there anyone she will listen to?"
"No."
"Then, we'll just have to figure it out. At this moment, focus on getting yourself & Blaise out."
"Why do you care so much?"
The Gryffindor frowned & looked at him as if he was unsure himself.
"You don't know... I-I see..."
"No, I just- I care because I see you as my friend now. I care because you are suffering & you are helping people even though they don't care about your safety. I care because Sirius cares. I just care about you."
For once, Draco was speechless.