Chapter Text
It was rather bizarre to think that Draco Malfoy, Slytherin prince, had put himself willingly in this position. Looking back to it, following Potter and his gryffindors into the ministry was just stupid. No award that could had been given by Umbridge, for catching them all by himself, was worth this; not even the minimal amount of affection that his father could offer him in return... Even scarhead's ridiculous face when they'd finally expel him wasn´t worth the hassle.
It was easy enough. The others were too caught up in their nonsense plan to notice him following them with another thestral. Once they had infiltrated the ministry he just kept his distance, put a notice me not on himself just in case and moved along with them. At this point Draco was intrigued, what the hell was this important to have Potter this anxious and murderous at the same time...He just kept talking about this bloody door. Draco was intrigued indeed.
What’s most curious about the whole fucking situation was that Draco Malfoy had known that he was in love with Harry bloody Potter since the first time he had seen him at Madam Malkin’s. Even with the horrible clothes and the glasses sightly crooked... The blond boy saw him and instantly fell in love. Of course that was a disaster and it became more embarrassing when the beautiful boy refused to shake his hand on the train while defending the weasel. Draco Malfoy had always thought he was good at hiding this very problematic feeling because, since he had acknowleged its existence, he would just do his very best effort in hating Potter every morning of every single day since he was eleven. Never in his entire life had occurred to him that he would act so utterly stupid and let it be known that he loved Harry bloody Potter.
“Give me the prophesy and your friends will be... Draco? What in Salazar’s name are you doing here?”
The Malfoy heir thought about answering that he had a very stupid idea and now he was here, but his father was with aunt Bella, the rest of them were masked; this were full grown dark wizards against a group of fifteen year olds, it didn’t fucking feel fair. Trust him to get a conscience when less needed, Merlin. At this point, Potter and his lot where all staring at him like he was a Death Eater himself. So he put his most disgusting grin and spoked.
“Hello, father. I came to help, of course.”
“See, Lucius! I told you he would be an excellent addition to the ranks, look at him, he is already doing more for the cause than we did when we were at school.” It was surreal how much he hated aunt Bella sometimes. How did his angel of a mother came to have such a lunatic as a sister was, frankly, a mistery.
He looked at Potter directly in the eyes and muttered “run, now”, he frowned before offering him a small nod and a look of understanding in return. Then the prophesies were all falling and they were all running away from there together. And that’s how Draco Malfoy found himself firing spells to his own blood next to The Veil. The day just kept getting creepier and ridiculous by the minute.
He really was terrified through it all. Not that he was going to show it in front of the gryffindors, thank you very much. And of course they were all caught by full on Death Eaters. It was ridiculous. Where was the pureblood honor or whatever in fighting fifteen year olds?
“Get off my godson” The punch was immaculate. Suddenly, the fighting restarted and they asked them, the students, to stay out of it. Draco then pulled a face because, why the hell would he put himself in the middle of trained wizards, seriously. He heard Potter complain and step forward, and (against every logical attempt to keep his dignity) the blond boy caught Potter's arm and pulled him back next to him.
“Malfoy, what the hell-”
“Does that scar fuck with your brain or something? I figured you were an idiot a long time ago but suicidal, Potter?”
The dark haired boy just stood there, frowning at him, with a disbelieving look in his eyes, as if he were trying to understand him. But then they heard Sirius Black in trouble and Potter ran to him so fast, and he ran behind him of course, because fuck dignity, he would most likely be blasted off the family tapestry just from helping the blood traitors and the mudbloods anyway.
He saw his aunt, watching his cousin while he was fighting his father, with the smirk that he hated. It sent chills down his spine. And, suddenly, he knew. Potter was too focused on the fucking fight, he couldn’t see her raising her wand, vile look in her eyes.
His feet moved faster than his own thoughts. He threw himself on Sirius, pushing him away, as the green light passed right by them. An inch. Just an inch and he could've been dead. What an unslytherin thing to do, Salazar.
“Did you just save my life? You are Cissy’s boy, aren’t you?”
Draco blinked. It was surreal to think that he was actually in front of Sirius of all people- That he was actually talking to him. And maybe the words that came out of his mouth would've been different if it weren't for the fact that his cousin forced him to duck in order to evade a curse that had been sent their way.
“We need help. Now. Cover for me.”
And then he was running towards the veil. It was a stupid idea, for sure. He had read it in a book at the Manor, really bloody stupid and dangerous blood magic. Theo would kill him if he knew (specially considering that he had called him stupid back when he had mentioned it in fourth year). Whatever, it was break rules or die, the end justified the means. He casted a diffindo in his hand and spilled the blood all in front of the arc. He could hear his father utterly furious, he probably was aware of what he was doing, not that it would stop him though.
Everything went cold, time just stopped. It was then, when he heard the voice of death.
“Who calls for me?”
Her voice was enchanting, like a muse of darkness. He fought the impulse to walk through the veil to meet her in the peaceful afterlife.
“Draco Lucius Malfoy, I have a very urgent request, your Highness”
“You are young”
“I am”
“What is the request, boy?”
“I need a life that has been taken by someone other than you. To fix what has been corrupted.” Because it had been corrupted. The mere presence of Sirius here, fighting with his life to keep Potter safe was the utter proof of it-
“I see your desire at heart and I understand what you are asking for but I must warn you, boy: it will cost you.”
He almost backed out then. She was going to ask for something awful, because to alter the balance of nature, compromises must be made. He knew that.
“Whatever it takes.” He responded, trying to keep his voice from quivering.
“You shall have two years to get the heart you crave for, otherwise you will come to join me in my realm. The love that flourishes in your heart will take your life.” How utterly predictable, Potter was going to be the one who kills him in the end.
“I accept.”
A blinding light came from the veil while the curtains just opened themselves. Time started to run again, the lights of the spells continued, the screams of his father became more severe, and James Fleamont Potter walked through the arc of death into the realm of the living.
“Lucius?”
“His son actually. If you have a wand you can point it to my lovely family so we can not die today though.”
They heard Sirius laugh and saw him and starting to fight, more forcefully than before, Draco noticed. Potter just stood there, frozen in place, while everyone else fought like there was no tomorrow.
They must’ve heard the minister arrive because the Death Eaters apparated away in the middle of the fight. This was the moment when Draco remembered that he had just made a blood deal with Death herself and that was very much illegal, like Azkaban for life don’t matter the age of the ofender illegal.
“I need to run now.”
He started going to the door, trying to remember in which floor were they so he could get away from that place quickly as possible, when he felt someone grabbing his arm.
“Wait, kid. Where are you going?”
“Mr. Potter, I’m really glad that what I did worked and you are alive but if you don’t let me get away from here right this instant I will stupefy you. I’m going to end up in Azkaban if I don’t-”
“I don’t know what you are talking about, nobody saw anything besides Jamie walking through that thing.” His cousin spoke, determined, then he turn around to the rest of them, all shocked faces. “Right?”
It was Professor Lupin who nodded and spoke first. “Yes, of course. Nobody saw.” The adults all agreed with them. Potter and the rest of his lot just nodded, probably didn’t understand what the hell he had done.
“Is this permanent?”
It was the tone in his voice that made Draco flinch before a wave of guilt washed over him. All the times he spent making fun of Potter for not having parents came to his mind right there. This boy was looking at him, asking if he had just done a cruel thing like bring his father back from the dead just for it to be taken away in a short amount of time.
“It’s permanent ,Potter. I’m not that awful.” He paused for a moment, thinking about if he should tell them or not, but his narrow piercing green eyes where looking at him, trying to find proof. “I made a deal with Her, it’s permanent”
“Her?” How the weasel never knew anything, even though he was a pureblood, always surprised him.
“Death.” He answered.