1,479Title: The Black Star
Author: AileenDickinson
Summary: His godfather is dead and Harry decides that it's time to cut the strings from the old twinkle eyed puppeteer, start revealing his secrets and live his life as he wanted to. There's a new star in the Black tapestry. Indipendent! Smart! Powerful!Harry - Character bashing- slash-
Pairings: Harry/Draco
Genre: Romance, Adventure
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Warnings: There will be Character bashing, mainly Dumbledore/Ron/Hermione/Ginny/Molly Bashing!
Slash pairing(s ?) . Don't like, don't read.
Author Notes: First of all, I would like to remind you that I'm Italian and there is a possibility that you will find spelling mistakes or the occasional wrong word, I will do my best to write correctly and double check.
Now, onto the story, I know that many love the old headmaster but personally I don't like him very much. Dumbledore will not be evil, but the greater good often makes him lose contact with reality and forget the difference between people and pawns, and the fact that everybody looks up to him like he can do no wrong does not help. Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Molly are another matter.
For those who follow my other story, Love of Legend, I'd like to say that I did not abandon the story. I found a bit of a writer's block, maybe it's because I have too many things I want to write about and no idea how to. I hope that maybe writing something else for awhile will help me.
§ The Black Star §
-Chapter 1-
Two days had passed since that horrible night. The night he lost his most precious person. The only real family he had. Sirius was gone, killed by Bellatrix and thrown into the veil, and now he didn't know what to do with himself anymore.
Harry couldn't sleep, because every time he closed his eyes the smiling face of his godfather would appear in his mind and nightmares would haunt him; he couldn't force himself to eat either and the presence of people around him only made him claustrophobic and irritable.
The lack of food and sleep was starting to show with his sickly pale skin and dark circles around his eyes. He was probably making his friends worry with his behavior but he didn't care at the moment.
He needed to be alone, to know he was free to do as he wished, to have time to mourn.
It was already late night but he was wide awake and restless. He decided that a walk on the grounds would do him some good. He grabbed his cloak from his trunk and left the dormitories without waking his year mates.
The corridors were deserted, illuminated only by the light of the moon and the rare torch here and there; the portraits were sleeping (or snoring in some cases). There was no need for him to take the hidden passages seeing that not even the professors were patrolling at the time, but he wanted to be outside as soon as possible.
Finally stepping outside the great doors he took a big breath of the fresh night air. He could already feel his body relaxing a little.
Harry had so many things swimming round in his head, he didn't even know where to start.
Sirius…
No, that was too painful. He had to think about something else. The summer. Yeah. That was a relatively safe topic. Dumbledore was sure going to send him back to the Dursleys, like every year. He wasn't looking forward to it at all. Two months being the muggles slave, with little food, beatings and no magic. The past years he had been rescued from there around mid holidays to go stay with the Weasleys or spend it at Grimmauld Place with his godfather..
Sirius… who wasn't there anymore.
Shaking his head, trying to keep his thoughts from wandering, he started walking again. He didn't even notice he had stopped.
There was no way in hell he was spending the summer in Privet Drive. He hated being there, as much as his relatives hated him, if not more. And he had the feeling that this year the old headmaster would force him to stay there all summer. No chance.
Going against Dumbles wishes was risky and he had to do things fast and carefully if he wanted to have a possibility but he was more than willing to try.
He knew what he had to do, Sirius had explained it to him more than once along with the reasons not to trust the man. He regretted not believing his godfather fully until it was too late.
If only he had listened to Sirius, instead of being so pathetically naïve, and done as he told him, maybe..
Maybe Sirius would be alive…
Wiping the traitorous tears that slipped from his eyes he promised himself that he would take to heart everything the man told him during their times together. He would not let himself be manipulated anymore and would live his life to the fullest. He would achieve his dreams, find love, have a family of his own.
Looking towards his right he could see the intimidating sight of the forbidden forest. A run sounded good right now.
With a little grin tugging the corners of his mouth, the first in many months, he broke into a run. Depressing thoughts and problems could wait a few hours. Right now he wanted to feel the chilly night air and nothing else.
Staring at the canopy of his four poster bed, Draco Malfoy couldn't help but sigh and think about how much life sucks.
Yeah, he was rich, he was a pureblood, he was absolutely handsome and powerful but like still sucked.
He was tired of his life, of the constant mask he had to keep because of his Malfoy persona, of spewing ideals and comments he didn't like let alone believe in like the good little parrot his father made him.
Most of all, he was tired of being scared to sleep in his own home. Since the return of the Dark Lord, his manor had become the man's, if he could even be called a man, headquarters.
Death eaters coming and going as they pleased, and that Thing ordering everyone around like it was his home. His eyes hardened in rage, narrowing to icy slits and his fists tightened at his sides around the silky sheets.
He took a deep breath. Better not get started on his thoughts on that Thing, because he refused to call him a human being let alone his Lord, or he knew he would likely not finish for a while.
He had bigger problems to think about now. Problems he didn't know how to avoid.
Like not taking the fucking dark mark.
He had already received a letter from his aunt the previous morning.
His Lord expected him to take the mark during the summer since he was now sixteen. He was not to disappoint their Lord. He was to redeem the Malfoy name to his Lord. Come and grovel at the feet of this sick creature and rejoice in the torture he awards you!
A little voice in his head reminded him, sarcastically, in the same sickenly sweet voice his aunt Bellatrix used to taunt her victims.
Merlin, he hated the woman. Why couldn't the dementors accidentally kill her during her stay in Azkaban?! It wasn't like someone would have missed her, quite the contrary.
If that wasn't enough, he knew that Severus secretly wanted him to ask Dumbledore for help. He had hinted as much during their talk a few hours ago, not subtle at all. He knew from that alone that the man was really worried for him and wanted to help him, to keep him safe but he wasn't sure if that was the right way.
He always suspected his godfather to really be a spy for the old man, but never thought much about it. What he knew was that while Dumbledore could be an answer to his dark mark problem, he didn't trust the man and didn't want to be used as a pawn in his mad schemes.
He closed his eyes, trying to relax. It was not like he would magically find a solution like that after all. He needed to plan, and decide just how much was he willing to sacrifice to come out of this situation.
Sitting up he decided to go to the lake, maybe he would be able to sleep after a bit of fresh air.
Running in the forest always managed to calm him, just like he expected. No wonder his father, godfather and Remus liked so much their monthly nights in there, he thought with a smile. Well, maybe Remus not so much seeing how much in pain he was afterwards, but Moony sure did.
Slowing to a walk he headed towards the lake, intent of laying down for a while to rest. Maybe he could sleep under the stars, much better than Ron's snoring and Seamus mutterings.
Finally relaxed he went to his special spot. It was just a patch of grass under a great tree near the rocks that delimited the lake, but it was surrounded by bushes and tall grass that meant privacy. Being Harry Potter, he loved any place where he could be alone and somewhat hidden. Sometimes things got so bad that he needed to come to his special spot just to be able to hear his own thoughts, he really didn't like much noise and definitely hated being on the spotlight.
His little corner of heaven, or as close as he could get on the Hogwarts grounds, was waiting for him, with his silence and calming atmosphere.
What he didn't expect was to find a lone figure seated there.
He let his eyes roam all over the person. He could see the way his platinum blond hair shined in the moon light and his fair skin seemed made of alabaster.
He knew that the other male was attractive, he couldn't deny it, but seeing him like that made something tingle in his chest.
Harry knew he should probably go back to the tower, if Malfoy found him he could be in trouble. Well, not school related trouble, Dumbledore liked too much to play favorites, but certain things were best kept secrets, like what he was doing now.
Just when he was going to turn back on his steps, something caught his eye.
Was that a tear? Why would Malfoy be crying?
He looks so lost...
He thought that sitting by the lake would calm him, instead he only managed to start crying. At least there was no one to see him and humiliate him.
He knew that what he really needed was someone he could talk to, but he didn't particularly trust his friends to talk about the dark mark right now, seeing that they too were expected to take it during the summer or Christmas break. Telling them would mean asking of their allegiances and risking Voldemort finding out of his plans, that would mean a hell of a lot of pain or death. Well maybe not death, he was the Malfoy heir. No heir, no money. He could even lose his friends, which would happen anyway if they were loyal to the snake bastard, but there was a possibility that talking to them he could convince them not to take the mark.
Ugh, I'm getting a headache…
His godfather, while usually neutral and unbiased, was too intent in getting him to plead protection to Dumbledore, as if he would beg anyone let alone the old coot. So he was alone. And he didn't know what to do.
Hearing some noise coming from his right, he hastily wiped away his tears off his face hoping whomever it was wouldn't come to him. The fact that to his right there was only the forest didn't register with him, so when he turned around he freezed.
There, coming from between the bushes there was a gigantic cat!
The big feline, with fur as black as night and shining green eyes, moved towards him with long elegant strides, the powerful muscles catching his eyes with every step.
Draco knew that he should move- or maybe play dead?- He knew that the possibilities of finding a panther in England or in the forbidden forest were nonexistent. He knew he was utterly screwed because he stupidly left his wand on his bed.
At least he wouldn't have to worry about the dark mark, he would soon be cat food. Maybe the majestic creature would kill him fast and painlessly before enjoying his meal.
The panther was now lightly growling. The sound, though soft resonated in the night, sending shivers over his spine. His eyes widened seeing the animal leaping in the air intent of pouncing on him.
That's it.. I'm going to die…
The only thing he regretted was not having the chance to steal at least a kiss from his long time crush.
Har..
He closed his eyes tightly knowing what was to come.
That was the first chapter.. Review to let me know what do you think of it. Advice and constructice criticism is welcome, just keep it polite please and I don't want any flames.
The next chapter should be up in four days, a week at most; as I'm in the process of writing it.