Hey guys! I know it's been a long time since I've updated this, but the updates will probably be more frequent since I've joined a contest, and I will be writing for the Harry Potter fandom.
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Many Meetings

The rain beaded down the window, adding to the fog that was created by Harry's breath. His eyes were half-closed and his glasses were slipping down his nose. He knew that Bill and Fleur had many questions since he arrived. He had showed up on their doorstep with his bruised and battered companions, not to mention a dead house elf and a goblin.

His eyelids had almost closed completely, the bliss of sleep just within reach, when he was startled awake by a noise.

Tap! Tap!

Harry frowned and shoved his glasses back onto his head. Pulling his hand into his sleeve he wiped away the condensation that had collected on the window. He squinted, trying to figure out where the noise had come from. Cursing, he settled back into his chair, annoyed at the disturbance of his sleep. Merlin only knows when the last time was that he had gotten a full night's rest. Harry leaned over to switch the light off, but he saw a pair of glowing eyes staring back at him. He jumped, his hand fumbling for his wand. Once he managed to get a hold of it, he peered out of the window again.

The eyes belonged to an owl. Feeling foolish, he set his wand on the table besides him. Harry struggled with the latch for a moment before finally pushing the window open so the owl could hop in. Hooting, the owl stepped onto the windowsill and looked at Harry expectantly.

Harry retrieved the letter from the owl's leg and unrolled it.

I need your help, meet me in the woods closest to Malfoy Manor at midnight.

Harry furrowed his brows together. Who would send him such a note? Certainly not one of the Malfoys. Most of the post going in and out of Hogwarts was monitored, and besides, it would be suicide to risk going so close to that house of death. So where did the owl come from? Harry sighed, he was getting sick of having to solve puzzles. His life was nothing but a giant puzzle, though the stakes were much higher than putting mismatched pieces together.

He crumpled the note in his hand, the owl gave him a look. Harry rubbed the owls head. "Who sent you?"

His eyes stung at the memory of the one-sides conversations he would have with Hedwig while he was locked away at the Dursleys'. He glanced again at the owl and unfolded the note.

'I need your help' stuck out to Harry. He considered the risks of going to the Manor. Hermione would've said it's a trap, that he was being lured in by You-Know-Who. It probably was a trap. He noticed that happened quite frequently. He had almost made up his mind of shooing the owl away and forgetting about the whole incident, but his eyes strayed to the plea for help. Despite his fear of what had happened at the manor, in his gut he knew he had to go. The question was, should he go alone?

-
"No, Harry!" Hermione hissed. "Don't do it!"

"She's right mate," Ron put in. "Look at how many things have gone wrong the past few weeks,"

"It's an obvious trap!" Hermione exclaimed. "Who in their right minds would meet you at Malfoy Manor!"

Harry scowled. He knew they were right. It was too dangerous to go running off because some strange note told him to, they had just reached safety.

"What if someone does need help though?" Harry asked.

Hermione placed her hands on the table that was in the corner of her bedroom. "That's what they want you to think, Harry, You-Know-Who knows your weaknesses, this is one of them!"

"So saving people's lives is a weakness now, is it?" Harry growled.

Hermione cast a pleading look at Ron. "No! That's not what I meant, but Harry, you are known for, you know-"

"Playin' the hero," Ron finished. "No offense, mate, but, you do have a saving people thing,"

Ron shrugged apologetically and Harry clenched his fists. "I just- I have this feeling, okay?"

"How do you mean?" Hermione queried.

"I think this time is different, that someone needs my help,"

"Harry-"

"Yeah, I know, Hermione," Harry retorted. "Godric's Hollow,"

"Harry, listen," Ron said. "Maybe you should wait out on this one, you have enough to do, blimey, you don't even know who sent it,"

"Alright. Fine," Harry muttered. "I won't go,"

Hermione placed her pale hand on his arm. "Thank you, Harry,"

Ron gave Harry an awkward half smile before muttering some excuse about promising Bill he'd help with something.

A moment of silence passed between Harry and Hermione. Sighing, the girl stood up. "Well, um, I'm going to go find Luna,"

Harry nodded. "Right, you do that,"

-
The house was quiet. Harry crept down the stairs, backpack in hand, his Invisibility Cloak draped around him. He quickly darted outside and onto the sandy beach. He glanced back up at the house. The logical part of him knew this was a bad idea. The fact that he was going to be in walking distance from Malfoy Manor scared him. Despite their escape, he never wanted to go back. He was seconds away from being in the hands of Voldemort. Not to mention, she was there. Bellatrix Lestrange. Anger rose in Harry's gut. First Sirius and now Dobby. How many more of his friends was she going to kill? Darkness clouded his eyes for a moment. He had no words to express how much he hated her.

He shook his head. There was no point working himself up now. He took a few calming breaths then apparated away with a crack.

-
Harry shivered as he appeared in a cluster of trees. The darkness engulfed him, the moon being clouded over by eery fog. He wrapped his Invisibility Cloak even tighter around him, his wand at the ready. He took several steps forward, when he heard a snap.

He froze for a moment before realizing he had broken a twig. Scolding himself for his carelessness he began inching forward again. He stumbled blindly through the cold, regretting his decision to risk this venture.

A distance away he heard a voice. "Potter? Are you here?"

Harry frowned at the voice. It sounded almost like...Harry shook his head. It couldn't be Draco Malfoy! He took a few more steps and finally caught a glimpse of the speaker. He had to blink a few times to make sure he was seeing properly. It couldn't be....

"Draco?" Harry called out.

The youngest Malfoy turned on his heel. "Potter,"

Harry gripped his cloak tightly, not daring to reveal his location yet. "What do you want, Malfoy?"

Draco looked in the direction of the voice, nervously, he answered. "I only want to talk,"

"Like I'd believe you,"

Draco sighed, tucking his wand into his pocket. "Please, I need your help,"

Harry was surprised at how weak Draco's voice sounded. He glanced at the pale boy, lowering his wand slightly. Draco did indeed look weak. Tired, worn out, Harry would even say scared. He closed his eyes briefly, then raised his hands to the clasp of the cloak. "Don't make me regret this,"

Harry stepped forward, fully visible. Draco started, but composed himself. "I know who I am, what I've become, and I know you hate me,"

Harry frowned, of all the things to come out of Draco Malfoy's mouth this was the least expected. However, he stayed silent and let him continue. "I-I never wanted...this, what my life has become,

"He's in my house, my parents are afraid of him, I'm afraid of him," Draco was trembling. "But I'm done being afraid,"

A million questions were going through Harry's head. The 'He' was Voldemort, that was obvious enough, but what could Draco possibly mean by his last utterance.

Draco looked at Harry pleadingly. "I have no right to ask this of you, but, I'm done. With him, my family, my life. I-I can't do this anymore,"

Draco jerked his left arm forward, pulling back the sleeve, revealing the Dark Mark that was etched into his skin. "I want to get rid of it, I can't bear what I've become,"

Harry stared at Draco Malfoy, the fog spinning between them. He toyed with the idea that Draco was merely stalling for time, before Voldemort and his Death Eaters could show up. But, Harry thought, Draco couldn't be this good of an actor. Harry could feel the fear emanating from the boy. Harry took a deep breath, then raised his head and locked his gaze upon Malfoy's.

"What do you want me to do?"

Draco shut his eyes, obvious relief flooding his face. "I want to join you,"

Harry bit his tongue. "Why?"

"What they're doing is-is, it's sick," Draco muttered, glancing around nervously. "I can't stand what I've become, what I've done,"

"How can I be sure you're telling the truth," Harry demanded. "If you haven't noticed, we haven't been braiding each other's hair for seven years,"

Draco gave him a glare, reminding Harry of their days at Hogwarts. He grinned in spite of himself. Draco scowled. "This isn't funny, Potter,"

Harry chuckled and nodded. "Alright, but, you haven't answered the question,"

"I swear on my mother's life that I'm telling the truth,"

Harry blinked. "You better be, Malfoy,"

Draco looked up at him. "So, can I join you?"

Harry exhaled, and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I hate to say it, but I believe you,"

Something broke within Draco, his eyes glossing over. He swiped at them briefly and glared at Harry again. He opened his mouth to say something but footsteps sounded a few yards off. "You have to go,"

Without a word, Harry nodded and turned sharply, apparating into the mist.

Word Count: 1685

I hope you guys liked this!