FIC: Surrender the Grey (13/30)
Jun. 1st, 2005 08:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
emmagrant01NOTE: This is the first draft of this story. The final version can be read HERE.
Title: Surrender the Grey
Author: Emma Grant
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Draco Malfoy returns to London after five years of self-imposed exile to start a new life with Harry. But will the secrets of the past destroy everything they've worked for?
Sequel to: Left My Heart. This will make much more sense if you have read that first!
Disclaimer: Not my characters, no copyright violation intended.
Length: 150,000 words
Status: COMPLETED November 2, 2005 (Posted March 2 - November 2, 2005)
Notes:
1. Please don't archive this story yet! This is the first draft, and in the next few months, it will be revised and edited. I'll post the final version on my website and a few other select archives, but in the meantime, feel free to link to this post.
2. There aren't enough words to say THANK YOU to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jedirita, hazelhawthorne, and charlotteschaos for beta-ing this story! These are some of the hardest-working betas out there, and they deserve lots of snaps for putting up with me for eight months.
3. Even though the backstory of this fic only assumes canon up through Order of the Phoenix, I stole a few cool ideas from Half Blood Prince. Cause they were cooler than mine...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
(13)
Friday, 5 March, 2004
~~~
From: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov>
To: Harry Potter <hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
Date: 5 March, 2004 08:01
Subject: (no subject)
Harry,
I just rang your office in case you got in early. Please call me as soon as you get in. I'm so very sorry about last night.
Draco
--
Draco Malfoy
Deputy Special Agent
Division of Magical and Occult Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mail: PO Box 1423-A, New York, NY, 10016, USA
Phone: (212) 314-9935
Fax: (212) 314-9871
~~~
+++
~~~
From: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov>
To: Harry Potter <hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
Date: 5 March, 2004 08:57
Subject: Hello?
Harry,
I've called your office three times and you're either not there or you aren't answering. I know I was a complete prick last night, and I'm sorry. Please let me make it up to you?
Draco
--
Draco Malfoy
Deputy Special Agent
Division of Magical and Occult Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mail: PO Box 1423-A, New York, NY, 10016, USA
Phone: (212) 314-9935
Fax: (212) 314-9871
~~~
+++
~~~
From: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov>
To: Harry Potter <hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
Date: 5 March, 2004 09:38
Subject: Call me?
Harry,
I know you're pissed at me, and you've every right to be. Please grant me the opportunity to grovel for your forgiveness in person. Can you meet me for lunch?
Draco
--
Draco Malfoy
Deputy Special Agent
Division of Magical and Occult Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mail: PO Box 1423-A, New York, NY, 10016, USA
Phone: (212) 314-9935
Fax: (212) 314-9871
~~~
+++
Draco pressed his forehead into his desk. He'd called Harry's office so many times that morning he was starting to feel like a stalker. He hadn't been able to sleep the night before and his head was pounding. His eyes had been so irritated that morning that he couldn't even manage the vision charm; he'd had to wear glasses today.
He hadn't made any progress on his work, of course. Manny had been in and out all morning, and when he was there Draco tried to look busy. He refreshed his inbox every few minutes, hoping Harry would reply. He had even dashed to the toilet and back, afraid of missing Harry's call. And he replayed the scene from the night before in his mind, over and over again.
"Hungry?" Manny asked, startling Draco from his thoughts.
"No, not really," Draco replied, refreshing his inbox once more. Nothing new appeared.
"You look like shit today," Manny remarked.
"Thanks ever so," Draco snorted.
"No, I mean it. Are you all right?"
Draco only shrugged in response. Manny stood and crossed to his desk.
"I'm going to get something to eat. Come on."
Draco groaned. "I really don't--"
"Oh, stop being so noble. Something's wrong and you need a break. I'll even buy you lunch." Manny crossed his arms over his chest and gave Draco a mock-stern look.
Draco sighed and glanced at the computer screen again. Harry hadn't called or emailed yet, and as much as Draco wanted to sit there and wait to hear from him, it was rather pathetic. He nodded and stood.
They made their way down the street to a small Indian place Manny was fond of. Draco kept waiting for Manny to ask him what was wrong, but he didn't. He just walked quietly at Draco's side, chatted inanely with him after they ordered, and said very little while he scarfed down his lamb curry. Draco mostly pushed his shrimp vindaloo around on the plate, staring at the patterns on the tablecloth.
The silence became uncomfortable. Draco sighed. "So… how are things going with Hermione?"
Manny paused mid-chew and looked up. "Pretty good," he said, and swallowed. "I mean, it's been a little quick for my comfort, but god -- she's so amazing. And her kids are sweet, and we fit so well together." He stopped and grinned. It was a moment before Draco realized it was meant to be a pun. He gave Manny a weak smile. Manny shrugged and continued: "Anyway, she's a wonderful woman. Beautiful, smart, funny -- I'm starting to think this could be for real."
"For real?" Draco asked. "How do you know?"
"I don't know," Manny replied. "But we're already so comfortable together. She makes me laugh. She makes me weak in the knees. When I think about where I'll be in a few months or a year, I think about her being there too, with Cally and Harley."
"Your mum is going to love her," Draco smiled.
"I just told my parents about her a few days ago, actually." Manny paused to take another bite of his curry. "They were starting to ask questions. I think they knew something was up."
"What did they say?"
"They were a little concerned that she has kids," Manny replied. "Mama gave me the whole speech about how children can be the ones most easily hurt in these situations. I told her it was serious, though, and that I wouldn't have started this if I didn't think it was going somewhere."
Draco paused for a moment before continuing. "If Hermione asked you to move in, what would you say?"
"What?" Manny nearly choked on his water. "Wait, do you know something I don't?"
"No," Draco replied, laughing for what felt like the first time that day. "I'm just wondering… if you know now that this relationship is good and you want it to be a long term thing, how do you know when to take the next step?"
"Well not now," Manny replied. "It's only been three weeks, for chrissakes. We've spent a lot of time together, and we both know we want a serious relationship, but we aren't thinking about living arrangements yet." He stared at Draco for a long moment. "Oh, I see. Something happened between you and Harry, didn't it?"
Draco slumped down in his seat. "He asked me to move in."
"Whoa," Manny said, gaping. "And what did you say?"
"I said 'no'. He wasn't terribly pleased."
"Did you say no because you don't want that, or…?"
"You know I want this, more than anything," Draco sighed. "But it's too fast. We need to get to know each other better, that sort of thing."
They were silent for a moment. Manny twisted his water glass in his hands, making patterns in the condensation on the table. Draco watched, wondering if that was the end of the conversation.
"When I asked Victoria to marry me," Manny began, "I had no idea what I was doing. I was in love with her, and the sex was great, and we were so excited to run off to DC and change the world." He paused, smiling at Draco. "So we got married after only a few months of dating. At first it was good, but it didn't take long for us to figure out it had been a mistake. We didn't know each other very well, and neither of us was really grown up enough for that relationship. So it failed miserably."
Draco nodded, listening. He had only heard bits and pieces of this story before.
"But the worst thing was that we both just gave up, you know? Neither of us wanted it enough to work for it. It was easier to walk away than to try to fix it."
"Do you regret it?"
Manny shook his head. "No, not really. It was hard, but I learned a lot. I really did love her. And there's nothing like the intimacy that comes with marriage. You don't think it will change, but it's different once you're married, even though you don't expect it to be." Manny's eyes darted up to Draco's again. "I'm sorry -- this is a bit of a sore point for you, isn't it?"
"Things are changing," Draco said with a shrug. "But I never thought it was something I'd have. For my entire life, I thought marriage was for straight people -- normal people. The best I thought I'd ever do was to have a few good friends I could fuck around with."
"I can't imagine," Manny said, pushing his plate away. "From the time I was small, I always knew I'd get married and have a family one day. I have no idea how differently I'd look at life if that weren't an option."
"Yes, well." Draco pursed his lips. "The problem is that Harry wants to run headlong into this relationship, despite the fact that this strategy hasn't worked for him before. He's still coming to terms with the whole gay thing at the same time that he's getting settled in with me. I have no idea what he's thinking, or how he'll behave in public. And of course, this is all new to me, and I'm… terrified, really." Draco flinched: He'd just told Manny far more than he'd intended, more than he had even been able to tell Harry. What was wrong with him?
Manny smiled; his voice was soft when he spoke. "I've seen the way he looks at you, you know. He cares about you. He'll wait until you're ready."
Draco looked away. "After last night, I'm not so sure."
+++
Draco's inbox was empty when he got back to the office, and Harry still wasn't answering his phone. He stared at the screen for a long moment, then got up and headed to the apparition room.
Once at the Investigative Services complex, he headed straight for Harry's office. The door was open, but no one was inside. The computer monitor was on, and several papers were strewn across the desk next to a quill still standing in the inkpot -- so Harry couldn't have been gone long.
Draco stepped inside to wait.
Ten minutes later, he was still waiting, and growing more and more frustrated by the minute. The twinge in his forehead from the smothering spell wasn't helping matters. Draco pressed his fingertips into his temples, hoping to ward it off. He was far too distracted to block the smothering spell today.
He looked up again to see that Harry's computer had finally gone into standby. He couldn't help but wonder… Draco glanced back toward the door and then crossed the room, circling behind Harry's desk. He jiggled the mouse and the screen flared to life. Harry's inbox was open on the desktop. The emails from Draco were marked "read".
Draco's heart sank. Harry was avoiding him -- it was the only explanation.
"Draco?"
He jumped a foot back and looked up. Hermione was standing in the doorway, staring at him.
"What are you doing here?"
Draco hoped he didn't appear as panicked as he felt. This didn't look good, to say the least. "I was looking for Harry."
"He's in a meeting, I think." Hermione stepped through the door, still watching Draco, a strange expression on her face. "He didn't say you were coming over."
"Yeah, well." Draco walked around the desk and stopped before Hermione. "I guess I'll just wait until he gets back."
Hermione pursed her lips. "He's in a horrible mood today. Did you two have a fight or something?"
"Sort of," Draco replied. "I was coming to apologize, actually."
To Draco's relief, Hermione smiled. "It might take more than that. What did you do, anyway?"
Draco shrugged. He didn't feel comfortable talking to Hermione about this. Manny would probably fill her in later, anyway. "Do you know when his meeting is over?"
"It'll be a while," she said. "It was called at the last minute, and it's closed door. My security clearance wasn't high enough to get in." The tone of her voice indicated she was a little bitter about that fact.
Draco nodded. "Will you tell him I was looking for him? He won't reply to my emails."
Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment. "Draco… I never thought I'd say this, but Harry needs you. Please don't give up on him. I know he's not the easiest person to have a relationship with."
"Neither am I," Draco replied.
"But he cares about you," she continued. "And I know you care about him too. Just don't give up on each other, okay?"
Draco smiled. "I don't intend to."
He walked past her and out the door, hearing her close it as he walked away. He was nearly back to the apparition room when someone called his name.
He turned to see Arnold Bass smiling at him. "Sir," Draco said.
"I've been meaning to speak with you," Bass said. "I don't suppose you have a moment now?"
"Yes, of course," Draco replied. Bass had barely even looked at Draco before. He hadn't even been sure the man knew his name.
Bass led him down the corridor to a small conference room and closed the door behind them. They sat across from each other. Bass stared at Draco in a way that unnerved him. The twinge in his temple was threatening to turn into a full-blown headache, and it set him on edge. He tried not to squirm in his chair.
"How is your investigation going?" Bass asked at last.
"Slowly, but it's moving forward," Draco replied. He wasn't sure how much detail Bass was interested in, nor how much he could safely give him.
"I understand you've made progress on the smothering spell?"
Draco nodded. "I'm sure Harry and Hermione could tell you more about it, though. I was only brought on board yesterday."
Bass smiled. "Do you think their theory is correct?"
"That the spell is generated by an individual? Yes, I do."
Bass looked thoughtful. "Why?"
Draco blinked at him. "Why? Well… It makes sense, I suppose. They have data that supports--"
"But you know something more," Bass said. "Something you haven't told them."
Draco gave him a quizzical look. "That's… Why would you think that?"
"In fact," Bass continued, "I believe you know a great deal more than you are telling any of us."
Draco smiled. "With all due respect, sir, that's ridiculous. I'm one of the lead investigators on this project. Why would I keep information from anyone?"
"Why indeed?" Bass said. "I trust that you have your reasons, though." He seemed to be studying Draco.
Draco's smile became tight. "I really must be going, sir. If there's nothing else you wish to ask me--"
"There are many questions I wish to ask you, son. Unfortunately, I doubt you would answer any of them." Bass pushed his chair back and extended his hand. Draco took it, confused about what had just happened. "Thank you for your time. I won't keep you."
Draco felt Bass's eyes on him as he left the room. He wasn't sure if he should be intrigued or alarmed, but he had the distinct impression Bass knew more than he was letting on as well.
Someone was in the apparition room and Draco had to wait until the light above the door indicated it was empty. His head throbbed so much he wasn't sure he'd be able to concentrate enough to apparate safely.
He managed, though, and was back at his own desk in a matter of minutes. He switched on his monitor and checked his inbox, just in case. There was nothing from Harry.
Draco stared at the screen for a moment, and then began to write.
~~~
From: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov<
To: Harry Potter >hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
Date: 5 March, 2004 15:52
Subject: Dinner?
Harry,
I spoke to Hermione earlier and she told me you were still upset. I know I've been an utter prick, but please let me make it up to you. I'll buy you dinner tonight -- anywhere you want to go. Just name the time and place and I'll be there.
Draco
--
Draco Malfoy
Deputy Special Agent
Division of Magical and Occult Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mail: PO Box 1423-A, New York, NY, 10016, USA
Phone: (212) 314-9935
Fax: (212) 314-9871
~~~
Draco hit send and leaned back in his chair. If Harry didn't respond to this, he wasn't sure what he would do. He should probably give him some time, a few days to get over it. Draco still wasn't convinced he'd done anything wrong; even Manny had thought Harry was pushing things a bit. But Draco wasn't above groveling.
On top of everything else, he had got very little work done that day. He was still unnerved after his encounter with Bass. The director was suspicious of Draco, that was for certain. Unfortunately, he was right to be.
Draco pressed his fingertips against his temples. His headache was beginning to lift, thankfully. He didn't know how Harry could bear to work under the smothering spell every day. Draco released his temples and snorted. That was probably why Harry had been so anxious and grumpy of late. Draco could have been a bit more understanding, under the circumstances. Instead, he had insisted they keep it up for as long as possible.
There was little he could do but wait for Harry to reply, so he might as well get some work done. He sighed and glanced at his desk. Where to begin? A parchment envelope in his inbox caught his attention. It was addressed to him; the handwriting appeared to be Tonks's. He picked it up and it unsealed itself.
~~
Draco,
Sorry I haven't been very communicative this week. Things have been difficult here and I've had to be rather cautious. I've got access to the files you wanted, but I have reason to believe I'm under surveillance whenever I leave the building. It's best if you come here to pick them up.
Use the Rollings Street entrance (access word: "Aberforth") and come to the records office on the third level. I'll meet you there at 6:00. Everyone should be gone by then.
Tonks
~~
Draco blew out a breath. Those files should contain surveillance information on many known Death Eaters. He only needed to copy them -- a duplicus spell should do it -- and he could spend the weekend reading through them, looking for clues. He hoped a pattern of some sort could be found.
Tonks was really sticking her neck out for him. He would have to do something very nice for her in return.
An hour later, he had packed a bundle of parchment for the duplicating spell into his bag and had compiled a list of suspects whose files he wanted copies of. There were 30 names in all, alphabetized and color-coded by priority. Some were people whose allegiances he knew, such as Avery and Snape, and others were people he suspected would never side with his father. Draco tucked the list into his pocket and scanned his desk.
His email inbox beeped.
Draco nearly jumped in his chair. He glanced at the screen -- sure enough, the sender of the email was marked as 'Harry Potter'. He gave his stomach a moment to settle before opening it.
~~~
From: Harry Potter <hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
To: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov>
Date: 5 March, 2004 17:03
Subject: RE: Dinner?
Meet me at Mela at 7:00.
--
Harry Potter
~~~
Draco was both relieved and concerned. Relieved because Harry had finally written him back; concerned because the email revealed nothing about Harry's state of mind. Still, it was better than nothing.
A 7:00 dinner was cutting it close, but he was fairly certain Tonks wanted him in and out of the Ministry complex as quickly as possible. He could drop the files off at his flat afterwards and walk to the restaurant.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten Indian food twice in one day. He allowed himself to smile. Harry wanted to see him, and that was a good sign.
+++++
Draco decided to apparate home and change clothes before heading to the Ministry. He picked out a shirt that Harry had always liked -- it was dark grey and clingy, made of an expensive silk-like magical cloth. The first time he'd worn it, Harry had asked him to keep it on while they had sex, saying he like the way it felt against his skin. Draco grinned at the memory.
He cast a glamour charm on himself before heading out the front door with his bag of parchment. Public transport was the safest way to travel to the Ministry's main complex, since the apparition wards around it were very sensitive. It was best if no one knew he'd been there.
The Underground was crowded with Muggles heading home from work, and it was easy enough for Draco to blend in. He thought about Harry while he waited for the train, as he sat squashed in a crowded car, and while people rushed off and on around him. He thought about the pain he'd seen in Harry's eyes last night. He thought about the sincere tone with which he'd asked Draco to move in. He thought about the way Harry's hand had shook when he gave Draco the key.
The key that was probably under the sofa in his flat at this very moment. Draco frowned. He should have found it before he left. It would probably mean a lot to Harry if he carried it with him. He'd have to pick it up on the way back.
He changed trains at Embankment, already rehearsing what he'd say to Harry tonight. It was time to confide everything, he had decided. All of his secrets, even the ones he'd sworn never to tell Manny. He would come clean, and he would tell Harry how much he loved him, and then he would let Harry decide what to do. Harry could take him as is, or he could break it off.
Draco wasn't sure what he would do in the second case, but he didn't want to dwell on it. Harry would understand. Harry would forgive him. He simply had to do.
There was no room to sit on the next train, so he stood near the door, holding a rail and pretending to read the adverts. Perhaps he shouldn't tell Harry he loved him. Maybe it would seem insincere after everything else. On the other hand, it was how Draco honestly felt -- and he wasn't going to keep anything from Harry anymore.
It was drizzling when he surfaced to the street again. He made his way to the entrance Tonks had described, trying to be cautious while not appearing suspicious. He had once come through this entrance with his father late at night when he was a small boy. It had been very exciting to be out on an errand with Lucius, and he'd tried his best to be quiet and good. There was a nice lady there who had watched him while Lucius disappeared to talk to someone important. She had given him sweets and smiled at him, telling him how pretty he was. He could still remember the scent of her perfume.
A vacant storefront marked the entrance. He stood before the doorway and pressed his hand against the glass. He looked up and down the street before saying, "Aberforth." The glass shimmered, and he stepped right through it. He felt his glamour charm melt away as he did; the Ministry's wards were set to dissolve them as a security measure.
He found himself in a vacant entry hall. There was a desk at which he assumed an administrative assistant sat during the day, but it was empty now. He walked down the dimly lit corridor to a stairwell and descended to the third level, assuming it would attract less attention than using the lifts. He followed the signs to the records office, winding his way deeper and deeper into the Ministry complex.
He finally turned a corner and saw Tonks pacing back and forth by a water cooler. Her hair was short and brown, with light streaks in it. It made her look a bit mad.
"Hi," he said, smiling at her.
"You're late," she hissed, folding her arms over her chest. She looked rather agitated. Draco felt a wave of anxiety pass through him for the first time since he'd come in.
"Sorry," he said. "Traffic."
"Let's go," she said, nodding her head towards a door at the end of the corridor: the records office.
"Thanks," Draco said, elbowing her as they walked. "I really owe you one."
Tonks looked away, saying nothing.
"Are you all right?" Draco asked.
She paused, touching his arm. "Are you sure about this, Draco? It's not too late to turn around and leave." There was something strange in her eyes, something he couldn't place.
"I'm here," he shrugged. "This information should be very useful. I'm really close to learning what happened as it is." She nodded, her expression fading. He frowned at her. "Is something wrong?"
She started walking again. "No. It's just been a crazy week, and all this sneaking about has got me in a bit of hot water."
"Really?" Draco asked. He gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry."
Tonks stared firmly at the floor. "But I've just made a little deal that will let me keep my job." She paused outside the records office door. "Here we are. Don't dawdle in there, now."
Draco smiled at her. "Thanks, Tonks. I mean it."
"Draco," she began, then paused. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more to help you."
He gave her a quizzical look. The expression on her face was unreadable, though.
He turned the doorknob and opened the door. The room was dark, so he retrieved his wand and said, "Lumos."
The door closed behind him, the lights came on, and no fewer than four wands were pointed directly at him. His wand flew from his hand before he could react -- someone across the room had cast a quick disarming charm.
A split second passed before he was able to process what was happening. Five people were standing before him, each pointing a wand at his chest. They were dressed in robes decorated with an insignia he didn't recognize, and all of them were glaring at him.
In the center of the group was Cho Chang. She stepped forward, twirling Draco's wand easily in her free hand. "Draco Malfoy, you are hereby placed under arrest. If you resist, we will use force."
Draco could only stare at her for a long moment. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out on the first try. "On what charges?" he managed at last.
Cho's smile was cold. "Charges enough to ensure you'll remain in Azkaban for the rest of your life. Treason against the government. Conspiring with known Death Eaters. Murder."
Draco gaped at her. Treason and conspiracy were probably fair charges, but murder? He allowed himself to glare at her. "This is ridiculous! Who have I allegedly murdered?"
Cho stared at him for a long moment before replying. "Ronald Weasley."
Draco felt his breath leave him in one great rush. There were a hundred things he wanted to say, but his tongue simply wouldn't work. A voice in the back of his head told him to remain quiet, and so he did.
He didn't protest when a binding spell was cast on him. He didn't struggle when he was roughly turned and walked down the hallway. Tonks was nowhere in sight, and he pushed thoughts of her out of his mind, not wanting to think about how she had betrayed his trust -- or about what a fool he had been.
Ten minutes later, he was sitting in a holding cell in the lowest levels of the Ministry. Alone.
Go to part 14
Title: Surrender the Grey
Author: Emma Grant
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Draco Malfoy returns to London after five years of self-imposed exile to start a new life with Harry. But will the secrets of the past destroy everything they've worked for?
Sequel to: Left My Heart. This will make much more sense if you have read that first!
Disclaimer: Not my characters, no copyright violation intended.
Length: 150,000 words
Status: COMPLETED November 2, 2005 (Posted March 2 - November 2, 2005)
Notes:
1. Please don't archive this story yet! This is the first draft, and in the next few months, it will be revised and edited. I'll post the final version on my website and a few other select archives, but in the meantime, feel free to link to this post.
2. There aren't enough words to say THANK YOU to
jedirita, hazelhawthorne, and charlotteschaos for beta-ing this story! These are some of the hardest-working betas out there, and they deserve lots of snaps for putting up with me for eight months.3. Even though the backstory of this fic only assumes canon up through Order of the Phoenix, I stole a few cool ideas from Half Blood Prince. Cause they were cooler than mine...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
(13)
Friday, 5 March, 2004
~~~
From: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov>
To: Harry Potter <hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
Date: 5 March, 2004 08:01
Subject: (no subject)
Harry,
I just rang your office in case you got in early. Please call me as soon as you get in. I'm so very sorry about last night.
Draco
--
Draco Malfoy
Deputy Special Agent
Division of Magical and Occult Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mail: PO Box 1423-A, New York, NY, 10016, USA
Phone: (212) 314-9935
Fax: (212) 314-9871
~~~
+++
~~~
From: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov>
To: Harry Potter <hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
Date: 5 March, 2004 08:57
Subject: Hello?
Harry,
I've called your office three times and you're either not there or you aren't answering. I know I was a complete prick last night, and I'm sorry. Please let me make it up to you?
Draco
--
Draco Malfoy
Deputy Special Agent
Division of Magical and Occult Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mail: PO Box 1423-A, New York, NY, 10016, USA
Phone: (212) 314-9935
Fax: (212) 314-9871
~~~
+++
~~~
From: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov>
To: Harry Potter <hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
Date: 5 March, 2004 09:38
Subject: Call me?
Harry,
I know you're pissed at me, and you've every right to be. Please grant me the opportunity to grovel for your forgiveness in person. Can you meet me for lunch?
Draco
--
Draco Malfoy
Deputy Special Agent
Division of Magical and Occult Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mail: PO Box 1423-A, New York, NY, 10016, USA
Phone: (212) 314-9935
Fax: (212) 314-9871
~~~
+++
Draco pressed his forehead into his desk. He'd called Harry's office so many times that morning he was starting to feel like a stalker. He hadn't been able to sleep the night before and his head was pounding. His eyes had been so irritated that morning that he couldn't even manage the vision charm; he'd had to wear glasses today.
He hadn't made any progress on his work, of course. Manny had been in and out all morning, and when he was there Draco tried to look busy. He refreshed his inbox every few minutes, hoping Harry would reply. He had even dashed to the toilet and back, afraid of missing Harry's call. And he replayed the scene from the night before in his mind, over and over again.
"Hungry?" Manny asked, startling Draco from his thoughts.
"No, not really," Draco replied, refreshing his inbox once more. Nothing new appeared.
"You look like shit today," Manny remarked.
"Thanks ever so," Draco snorted.
"No, I mean it. Are you all right?"
Draco only shrugged in response. Manny stood and crossed to his desk.
"I'm going to get something to eat. Come on."
Draco groaned. "I really don't--"
"Oh, stop being so noble. Something's wrong and you need a break. I'll even buy you lunch." Manny crossed his arms over his chest and gave Draco a mock-stern look.
Draco sighed and glanced at the computer screen again. Harry hadn't called or emailed yet, and as much as Draco wanted to sit there and wait to hear from him, it was rather pathetic. He nodded and stood.
They made their way down the street to a small Indian place Manny was fond of. Draco kept waiting for Manny to ask him what was wrong, but he didn't. He just walked quietly at Draco's side, chatted inanely with him after they ordered, and said very little while he scarfed down his lamb curry. Draco mostly pushed his shrimp vindaloo around on the plate, staring at the patterns on the tablecloth.
The silence became uncomfortable. Draco sighed. "So… how are things going with Hermione?"
Manny paused mid-chew and looked up. "Pretty good," he said, and swallowed. "I mean, it's been a little quick for my comfort, but god -- she's so amazing. And her kids are sweet, and we fit so well together." He stopped and grinned. It was a moment before Draco realized it was meant to be a pun. He gave Manny a weak smile. Manny shrugged and continued: "Anyway, she's a wonderful woman. Beautiful, smart, funny -- I'm starting to think this could be for real."
"For real?" Draco asked. "How do you know?"
"I don't know," Manny replied. "But we're already so comfortable together. She makes me laugh. She makes me weak in the knees. When I think about where I'll be in a few months or a year, I think about her being there too, with Cally and Harley."
"Your mum is going to love her," Draco smiled.
"I just told my parents about her a few days ago, actually." Manny paused to take another bite of his curry. "They were starting to ask questions. I think they knew something was up."
"What did they say?"
"They were a little concerned that she has kids," Manny replied. "Mama gave me the whole speech about how children can be the ones most easily hurt in these situations. I told her it was serious, though, and that I wouldn't have started this if I didn't think it was going somewhere."
Draco paused for a moment before continuing. "If Hermione asked you to move in, what would you say?"
"What?" Manny nearly choked on his water. "Wait, do you know something I don't?"
"No," Draco replied, laughing for what felt like the first time that day. "I'm just wondering… if you know now that this relationship is good and you want it to be a long term thing, how do you know when to take the next step?"
"Well not now," Manny replied. "It's only been three weeks, for chrissakes. We've spent a lot of time together, and we both know we want a serious relationship, but we aren't thinking about living arrangements yet." He stared at Draco for a long moment. "Oh, I see. Something happened between you and Harry, didn't it?"
Draco slumped down in his seat. "He asked me to move in."
"Whoa," Manny said, gaping. "And what did you say?"
"I said 'no'. He wasn't terribly pleased."
"Did you say no because you don't want that, or…?"
"You know I want this, more than anything," Draco sighed. "But it's too fast. We need to get to know each other better, that sort of thing."
They were silent for a moment. Manny twisted his water glass in his hands, making patterns in the condensation on the table. Draco watched, wondering if that was the end of the conversation.
"When I asked Victoria to marry me," Manny began, "I had no idea what I was doing. I was in love with her, and the sex was great, and we were so excited to run off to DC and change the world." He paused, smiling at Draco. "So we got married after only a few months of dating. At first it was good, but it didn't take long for us to figure out it had been a mistake. We didn't know each other very well, and neither of us was really grown up enough for that relationship. So it failed miserably."
Draco nodded, listening. He had only heard bits and pieces of this story before.
"But the worst thing was that we both just gave up, you know? Neither of us wanted it enough to work for it. It was easier to walk away than to try to fix it."
"Do you regret it?"
Manny shook his head. "No, not really. It was hard, but I learned a lot. I really did love her. And there's nothing like the intimacy that comes with marriage. You don't think it will change, but it's different once you're married, even though you don't expect it to be." Manny's eyes darted up to Draco's again. "I'm sorry -- this is a bit of a sore point for you, isn't it?"
"Things are changing," Draco said with a shrug. "But I never thought it was something I'd have. For my entire life, I thought marriage was for straight people -- normal people. The best I thought I'd ever do was to have a few good friends I could fuck around with."
"I can't imagine," Manny said, pushing his plate away. "From the time I was small, I always knew I'd get married and have a family one day. I have no idea how differently I'd look at life if that weren't an option."
"Yes, well." Draco pursed his lips. "The problem is that Harry wants to run headlong into this relationship, despite the fact that this strategy hasn't worked for him before. He's still coming to terms with the whole gay thing at the same time that he's getting settled in with me. I have no idea what he's thinking, or how he'll behave in public. And of course, this is all new to me, and I'm… terrified, really." Draco flinched: He'd just told Manny far more than he'd intended, more than he had even been able to tell Harry. What was wrong with him?
Manny smiled; his voice was soft when he spoke. "I've seen the way he looks at you, you know. He cares about you. He'll wait until you're ready."
Draco looked away. "After last night, I'm not so sure."
+++
Draco's inbox was empty when he got back to the office, and Harry still wasn't answering his phone. He stared at the screen for a long moment, then got up and headed to the apparition room.
Once at the Investigative Services complex, he headed straight for Harry's office. The door was open, but no one was inside. The computer monitor was on, and several papers were strewn across the desk next to a quill still standing in the inkpot -- so Harry couldn't have been gone long.
Draco stepped inside to wait.
Ten minutes later, he was still waiting, and growing more and more frustrated by the minute. The twinge in his forehead from the smothering spell wasn't helping matters. Draco pressed his fingertips into his temples, hoping to ward it off. He was far too distracted to block the smothering spell today.
He looked up again to see that Harry's computer had finally gone into standby. He couldn't help but wonder… Draco glanced back toward the door and then crossed the room, circling behind Harry's desk. He jiggled the mouse and the screen flared to life. Harry's inbox was open on the desktop. The emails from Draco were marked "read".
Draco's heart sank. Harry was avoiding him -- it was the only explanation.
"Draco?"
He jumped a foot back and looked up. Hermione was standing in the doorway, staring at him.
"What are you doing here?"
Draco hoped he didn't appear as panicked as he felt. This didn't look good, to say the least. "I was looking for Harry."
"He's in a meeting, I think." Hermione stepped through the door, still watching Draco, a strange expression on her face. "He didn't say you were coming over."
"Yeah, well." Draco walked around the desk and stopped before Hermione. "I guess I'll just wait until he gets back."
Hermione pursed her lips. "He's in a horrible mood today. Did you two have a fight or something?"
"Sort of," Draco replied. "I was coming to apologize, actually."
To Draco's relief, Hermione smiled. "It might take more than that. What did you do, anyway?"
Draco shrugged. He didn't feel comfortable talking to Hermione about this. Manny would probably fill her in later, anyway. "Do you know when his meeting is over?"
"It'll be a while," she said. "It was called at the last minute, and it's closed door. My security clearance wasn't high enough to get in." The tone of her voice indicated she was a little bitter about that fact.
Draco nodded. "Will you tell him I was looking for him? He won't reply to my emails."
Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment. "Draco… I never thought I'd say this, but Harry needs you. Please don't give up on him. I know he's not the easiest person to have a relationship with."
"Neither am I," Draco replied.
"But he cares about you," she continued. "And I know you care about him too. Just don't give up on each other, okay?"
Draco smiled. "I don't intend to."
He walked past her and out the door, hearing her close it as he walked away. He was nearly back to the apparition room when someone called his name.
He turned to see Arnold Bass smiling at him. "Sir," Draco said.
"I've been meaning to speak with you," Bass said. "I don't suppose you have a moment now?"
"Yes, of course," Draco replied. Bass had barely even looked at Draco before. He hadn't even been sure the man knew his name.
Bass led him down the corridor to a small conference room and closed the door behind them. They sat across from each other. Bass stared at Draco in a way that unnerved him. The twinge in his temple was threatening to turn into a full-blown headache, and it set him on edge. He tried not to squirm in his chair.
"How is your investigation going?" Bass asked at last.
"Slowly, but it's moving forward," Draco replied. He wasn't sure how much detail Bass was interested in, nor how much he could safely give him.
"I understand you've made progress on the smothering spell?"
Draco nodded. "I'm sure Harry and Hermione could tell you more about it, though. I was only brought on board yesterday."
Bass smiled. "Do you think their theory is correct?"
"That the spell is generated by an individual? Yes, I do."
Bass looked thoughtful. "Why?"
Draco blinked at him. "Why? Well… It makes sense, I suppose. They have data that supports--"
"But you know something more," Bass said. "Something you haven't told them."
Draco gave him a quizzical look. "That's… Why would you think that?"
"In fact," Bass continued, "I believe you know a great deal more than you are telling any of us."
Draco smiled. "With all due respect, sir, that's ridiculous. I'm one of the lead investigators on this project. Why would I keep information from anyone?"
"Why indeed?" Bass said. "I trust that you have your reasons, though." He seemed to be studying Draco.
Draco's smile became tight. "I really must be going, sir. If there's nothing else you wish to ask me--"
"There are many questions I wish to ask you, son. Unfortunately, I doubt you would answer any of them." Bass pushed his chair back and extended his hand. Draco took it, confused about what had just happened. "Thank you for your time. I won't keep you."
Draco felt Bass's eyes on him as he left the room. He wasn't sure if he should be intrigued or alarmed, but he had the distinct impression Bass knew more than he was letting on as well.
Someone was in the apparition room and Draco had to wait until the light above the door indicated it was empty. His head throbbed so much he wasn't sure he'd be able to concentrate enough to apparate safely.
He managed, though, and was back at his own desk in a matter of minutes. He switched on his monitor and checked his inbox, just in case. There was nothing from Harry.
Draco stared at the screen for a moment, and then began to write.
~~~
From: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov<
To: Harry Potter >hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
Date: 5 March, 2004 15:52
Subject: Dinner?
Harry,
I spoke to Hermione earlier and she told me you were still upset. I know I've been an utter prick, but please let me make it up to you. I'll buy you dinner tonight -- anywhere you want to go. Just name the time and place and I'll be there.
Draco
--
Draco Malfoy
Deputy Special Agent
Division of Magical and Occult Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mail: PO Box 1423-A, New York, NY, 10016, USA
Phone: (212) 314-9935
Fax: (212) 314-9871
~~~
Draco hit send and leaned back in his chair. If Harry didn't respond to this, he wasn't sure what he would do. He should probably give him some time, a few days to get over it. Draco still wasn't convinced he'd done anything wrong; even Manny had thought Harry was pushing things a bit. But Draco wasn't above groveling.
On top of everything else, he had got very little work done that day. He was still unnerved after his encounter with Bass. The director was suspicious of Draco, that was for certain. Unfortunately, he was right to be.
Draco pressed his fingertips against his temples. His headache was beginning to lift, thankfully. He didn't know how Harry could bear to work under the smothering spell every day. Draco released his temples and snorted. That was probably why Harry had been so anxious and grumpy of late. Draco could have been a bit more understanding, under the circumstances. Instead, he had insisted they keep it up for as long as possible.
There was little he could do but wait for Harry to reply, so he might as well get some work done. He sighed and glanced at his desk. Where to begin? A parchment envelope in his inbox caught his attention. It was addressed to him; the handwriting appeared to be Tonks's. He picked it up and it unsealed itself.
~~
Draco,
Sorry I haven't been very communicative this week. Things have been difficult here and I've had to be rather cautious. I've got access to the files you wanted, but I have reason to believe I'm under surveillance whenever I leave the building. It's best if you come here to pick them up.
Use the Rollings Street entrance (access word: "Aberforth") and come to the records office on the third level. I'll meet you there at 6:00. Everyone should be gone by then.
Tonks
~~
Draco blew out a breath. Those files should contain surveillance information on many known Death Eaters. He only needed to copy them -- a duplicus spell should do it -- and he could spend the weekend reading through them, looking for clues. He hoped a pattern of some sort could be found.
Tonks was really sticking her neck out for him. He would have to do something very nice for her in return.
An hour later, he had packed a bundle of parchment for the duplicating spell into his bag and had compiled a list of suspects whose files he wanted copies of. There were 30 names in all, alphabetized and color-coded by priority. Some were people whose allegiances he knew, such as Avery and Snape, and others were people he suspected would never side with his father. Draco tucked the list into his pocket and scanned his desk.
His email inbox beeped.
Draco nearly jumped in his chair. He glanced at the screen -- sure enough, the sender of the email was marked as 'Harry Potter'. He gave his stomach a moment to settle before opening it.
~~~
From: Harry Potter <hpotter@merlin.gov.uk>
To: Draco Malfoy <d.malfoy@beowulf.fbi.gov>
Date: 5 March, 2004 17:03
Subject: RE: Dinner?
Meet me at Mela at 7:00.
--
Harry Potter
~~~
Draco was both relieved and concerned. Relieved because Harry had finally written him back; concerned because the email revealed nothing about Harry's state of mind. Still, it was better than nothing.
A 7:00 dinner was cutting it close, but he was fairly certain Tonks wanted him in and out of the Ministry complex as quickly as possible. He could drop the files off at his flat afterwards and walk to the restaurant.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten Indian food twice in one day. He allowed himself to smile. Harry wanted to see him, and that was a good sign.
+++++
Draco decided to apparate home and change clothes before heading to the Ministry. He picked out a shirt that Harry had always liked -- it was dark grey and clingy, made of an expensive silk-like magical cloth. The first time he'd worn it, Harry had asked him to keep it on while they had sex, saying he like the way it felt against his skin. Draco grinned at the memory.
He cast a glamour charm on himself before heading out the front door with his bag of parchment. Public transport was the safest way to travel to the Ministry's main complex, since the apparition wards around it were very sensitive. It was best if no one knew he'd been there.
The Underground was crowded with Muggles heading home from work, and it was easy enough for Draco to blend in. He thought about Harry while he waited for the train, as he sat squashed in a crowded car, and while people rushed off and on around him. He thought about the pain he'd seen in Harry's eyes last night. He thought about the sincere tone with which he'd asked Draco to move in. He thought about the way Harry's hand had shook when he gave Draco the key.
The key that was probably under the sofa in his flat at this very moment. Draco frowned. He should have found it before he left. It would probably mean a lot to Harry if he carried it with him. He'd have to pick it up on the way back.
He changed trains at Embankment, already rehearsing what he'd say to Harry tonight. It was time to confide everything, he had decided. All of his secrets, even the ones he'd sworn never to tell Manny. He would come clean, and he would tell Harry how much he loved him, and then he would let Harry decide what to do. Harry could take him as is, or he could break it off.
Draco wasn't sure what he would do in the second case, but he didn't want to dwell on it. Harry would understand. Harry would forgive him. He simply had to do.
There was no room to sit on the next train, so he stood near the door, holding a rail and pretending to read the adverts. Perhaps he shouldn't tell Harry he loved him. Maybe it would seem insincere after everything else. On the other hand, it was how Draco honestly felt -- and he wasn't going to keep anything from Harry anymore.
It was drizzling when he surfaced to the street again. He made his way to the entrance Tonks had described, trying to be cautious while not appearing suspicious. He had once come through this entrance with his father late at night when he was a small boy. It had been very exciting to be out on an errand with Lucius, and he'd tried his best to be quiet and good. There was a nice lady there who had watched him while Lucius disappeared to talk to someone important. She had given him sweets and smiled at him, telling him how pretty he was. He could still remember the scent of her perfume.
A vacant storefront marked the entrance. He stood before the doorway and pressed his hand against the glass. He looked up and down the street before saying, "Aberforth." The glass shimmered, and he stepped right through it. He felt his glamour charm melt away as he did; the Ministry's wards were set to dissolve them as a security measure.
He found himself in a vacant entry hall. There was a desk at which he assumed an administrative assistant sat during the day, but it was empty now. He walked down the dimly lit corridor to a stairwell and descended to the third level, assuming it would attract less attention than using the lifts. He followed the signs to the records office, winding his way deeper and deeper into the Ministry complex.
He finally turned a corner and saw Tonks pacing back and forth by a water cooler. Her hair was short and brown, with light streaks in it. It made her look a bit mad.
"Hi," he said, smiling at her.
"You're late," she hissed, folding her arms over her chest. She looked rather agitated. Draco felt a wave of anxiety pass through him for the first time since he'd come in.
"Sorry," he said. "Traffic."
"Let's go," she said, nodding her head towards a door at the end of the corridor: the records office.
"Thanks," Draco said, elbowing her as they walked. "I really owe you one."
Tonks looked away, saying nothing.
"Are you all right?" Draco asked.
She paused, touching his arm. "Are you sure about this, Draco? It's not too late to turn around and leave." There was something strange in her eyes, something he couldn't place.
"I'm here," he shrugged. "This information should be very useful. I'm really close to learning what happened as it is." She nodded, her expression fading. He frowned at her. "Is something wrong?"
She started walking again. "No. It's just been a crazy week, and all this sneaking about has got me in a bit of hot water."
"Really?" Draco asked. He gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry."
Tonks stared firmly at the floor. "But I've just made a little deal that will let me keep my job." She paused outside the records office door. "Here we are. Don't dawdle in there, now."
Draco smiled at her. "Thanks, Tonks. I mean it."
"Draco," she began, then paused. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more to help you."
He gave her a quizzical look. The expression on her face was unreadable, though.
He turned the doorknob and opened the door. The room was dark, so he retrieved his wand and said, "Lumos."
The door closed behind him, the lights came on, and no fewer than four wands were pointed directly at him. His wand flew from his hand before he could react -- someone across the room had cast a quick disarming charm.
A split second passed before he was able to process what was happening. Five people were standing before him, each pointing a wand at his chest. They were dressed in robes decorated with an insignia he didn't recognize, and all of them were glaring at him.
In the center of the group was Cho Chang. She stepped forward, twirling Draco's wand easily in her free hand. "Draco Malfoy, you are hereby placed under arrest. If you resist, we will use force."
Draco could only stare at her for a long moment. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out on the first try. "On what charges?" he managed at last.
Cho's smile was cold. "Charges enough to ensure you'll remain in Azkaban for the rest of your life. Treason against the government. Conspiring with known Death Eaters. Murder."
Draco gaped at her. Treason and conspiracy were probably fair charges, but murder? He allowed himself to glare at her. "This is ridiculous! Who have I allegedly murdered?"
Cho stared at him for a long moment before replying. "Ronald Weasley."
Draco felt his breath leave him in one great rush. There were a hundred things he wanted to say, but his tongue simply wouldn't work. A voice in the back of his head told him to remain quiet, and so he did.
He didn't protest when a binding spell was cast on him. He didn't struggle when he was roughly turned and walked down the hallway. Tonks was nowhere in sight, and he pushed thoughts of her out of his mind, not wanting to think about how she had betrayed his trust -- or about what a fool he had been.
Ten minutes later, he was sitting in a holding cell in the lowest levels of the Ministry. Alone.
Go to part 14
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Date: 2005-06-02 05:51 pm (UTC)