Per usual with me, once I get new source material, the fics start accumulating in my head. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was prime feeding ground for fic. So below is some fic based off of HBP, needless to say, spoilers abound. Spoiler here, spoiler there...etc. etc. Rather strictly canon based-no odd or twisted parings to be seen here-as I am occasionally up for the challenge. All are unbeta'd and minorly editied...they're a bit sketchy but I like them. And nothing inappropreate for children...this time! ;)

Concering Draco and Narcissa and the pledge to Voldemort.

Destiny & Duty

Draco knew what was coming. He was being summoned to the side of the Dark Lord to be given the chance to redeem his family. Heir of Malfoy and last decent wizard with Black blood flowing through his veins, Draco knew what was required of him as he stood before his mirror getting ready. He ran a hand down his smooth black robes and eyed his hair carefully in the glass. This was to be the most important meeting of his life and he was going to go in prepared.

Suddenly his reflection was not the only one peering out of the glass. A composed, pale face with stricken eyes was peering back at him, one that looked much like his own, only more feminine.

"You cannot do this Draco."

He did not turn to face her when he replied coldly, "I have to."

"No, you do not," Narcissa said, her voice strong but with a tremble entering it. "You are sixteen-too young for this Draco. Much too young."

Draco turned to face her, rather than eyeing her in the mirror. Why did she have to do this? Couldn't his mother understand. "It is my job to ensure our place in the Dark Lord's circle when He crushes Potter, Dumbledore and all that side with them. If I do not, we will be crushed as well. The Malfoy's will not crumble under the current trajedy, nor will they be crushed by anyone-especially not the man who we have given our upmost devotion to."

"Draco-"

"It is what father would want me to do." And while his father had managed to get caught and placed in Azkaban, Draco was still well aware of what was expected of him. He would not only make his father proud but be even better at it all than his father had been. Besides, his father was not responsible for the other idiots who had accompanied him and messed all of it up. "I have always known since the Dark Lord returned that I would one day take my place among his most trusted. Due to recent circumstances, it is going to come sooner rather than later."

His mother's composure disappeared, her calm face changing into one that was not distinguishable due to a miriad of emotions crossing it. "I will not lose you too!" she shouted at him. "Losing your father was not enough was it? Do not ask me to stand aside Draco! The Dark Lord wants revenge for the incident at the Ministry. You know that. You know he means to punish your father by ruining us all."

"I mean to redeem us in his eyes, Mother. If I get close enough I might even be able to convince him to spare Father. I will see him returned to you and us to our proper place in society once He takes over, I swear. Now, pull yourself together," Draco ordered in a tone he had heard his father use often to cover his fear. If the Dark Lord found out how his mother felt about this, how she wanted him to disregard a summons... It would not go well for any of them. "He will be here soon."

His mother nodded and stepped out of the doorway without a word. He went to shut the door behind her when he heard his aunt's voice. "It is an honor, sister."

"To you. I won't lose Draco, Bella."

"I would be careful, Cissy. The Dark Lord is not a man to cross."

"I know where my loyalties lie," his mother could be heard saying in an imperious voice. Then her heels clicked steadily on the floor as she walked off to her private chambers.

"Good," Bellatrix could be heard saying after her.

Draco could hear her footsteps echoing away as well, but he was not as appeased as his aunt had been. There had been something in her tone. It did not help that she had never taken the Mark. It was true that she had done work for the Dark Lord, but it had all been due to his father's orders. It was possible that she was helping Father and helping his master as a byproduct.

Even if that were the case, he did not see why this was any different. He needed to do what he had to for the Dark Lord, for his family. If her loyalties lay with him and Father, then she would do as the Dark Lord said in order to see them get to where they needed to be again. For his part, Draco would do what the Dark Lord requested and she would see, all would be right in their world.



And for my second piece a little projection of what I feel will occur for Harry in book seven...because I'm that anxious for the book now.

Reason to Survive

Harry sat out by the river that they had camped next to for the night, looking out into the wide darkness. The sound of the river that they were camped near, of the wind rustling the trees, the way it felt on his face almost was enough to make the evening just another peaceful night, not one where the least bit of inattention could cost not only his life but that of his best friends.

He was on look out duty while Ron and Hermione slept in the tent behind him. Harry wondered if they realized he knew full well that they were sharing a sleeping bag right now and had it charmed so that exactly when Harry was supposed to switch with Ron they’d wake up and move apart so he wouldn’t know. He knew they were thinking of his feelings, but he was not going to be the one to deny them that bit of happiness, so long as it did not distract them from their mission.

Four horcruxes had been destroyed, only three left and then Voldemort himself. With any luck it wouldn’t be long now and when the final moment came he would do what he had to do.

Being ready was not something Harry worried about. Dumbledore had been right, he wanted to see Voldemort destroyed. For his parents, for Sirius, for Dumbledore, for Ginny, for Neville, for everyone whose lives had been touched and marred by his mark. There were too many to count, especially now that they were a year and a half into the war. And while he remembered why he needed to see Voldemort destroyed, it was the reason he was fighting to survive that occasionally eluded him.

Nights like tonight it was too easy to sleep into the darkness. There were so many losses that had been sustained, to him especially, to those he cared about. There were moments where he was absolutely sure that this, this hunting and destroying to rid the world of the greatest evil it had ever seen was what he was meant for, which left him wondering what waited for him on the other side. Once he finished this fight, who was he.

It was in these dark moments that Harry had to call upon the happy memories that he had. Any time he had flown on a broom or played quidditch. Summering at the Burrow was a particular favorite; playing quid ditch, hanging out with Ron, Ginny and Hemrione, eating a meal made by Mrs. Weasley, listening to Mr. Weasley prattle on about whatever muggle invention had him intrigued that day. The knowledge that he had given the money to Fred and George so they could bring a little more fun into the world, and that they were succeeding very well. Time spent relaxing with Ron and Hermione. Going to Hogwarts and all of the good moments that had happened there.

The thing that kept him going, the one thing that would be his true reward when they finished was Ginny. It was odd how sitting out in the dark of night, in the cold, wet weather he could call up her smell, the flowery smell that was Ginny. The memory of the few weeks they’d been together, how right and wonderful it had been and seemed.

It really had been like another person’s life. Someone who understood him and loved him and had fun with him. There was a light in her, a fire, that managed to spark a little in him. It was why when his mood was the darkest, he missed her the most. He just wanted her there to put his arms around her, have her body leaning against his and just exist.

When it was over, finally over, that’s what he’d do-Find her, hold her, tell her all those things he probably should have but hadn’t been certain of before.

He almost hadn’t left her.

Dumbledore’s funeral it had been a definite thing. He was going to do it, he had to do it, there were no questions and Ginny knew it. She’d just looked up at him with that fierce, stony look and had agreed to let go. How she’d managed it he would most likely never know. It had been a little while later, at Bill and Fleur’s wedding that he’d found himself questioning his decision.

“May I have this dance?”

Harry looked down at the redheaded girl before him in her pale gold robes. He had barely been able to keep his eyes off of her all day. Instead of watching the madly in love bride and groom exchange words he‘d been watching the older of the bridesmaids, hearing the words echo in his ears, thinking of things he had no right to be thinking. “Ginny-I…”

She continued to smile at him simply. He wondered if anything at all had changed. “Please.”

“Gin…we discussed…you know…I…” he stuttered. He couldn’t do this. It had been hard enough to convince himself that he would simply walk away when he had been sitting amongst the Weasley family, with her standing before him, asking to be held…it was something else.

Her face took on a more serious look and her smile was twisted, like it had been at Dumbledore‘s funeral. “I know Harry, nothing’s changed. I’m just asking for one dance before you leave.”

It all sounded so simple, but it felt like a landmine. If he took her in his arms and held her, would he really be able to let go again. But he found himself saying “Okay,” all the same.

Harry didn’t really know how to dance, which had been part of Parvati’s problem with him at the Yule Ball. It didn’t seem to matter with Ginny, where he just held her and moved a little. He didn’t hear the words of the soft melodic song, but instead focused on the young woman in his arms. She felt the same, smelled the same as the last time he had held her. He was certain her lips would be the same as he had left them but he was not going to cross that line, he’d never leave.

“Maybe when it’s all over, we can do this again.”

It was a nice dream, but…“I can’t make any promises.”

“You’ll come back,” she said it simply, easily, as if it were a fact. Men older than he with more experience were dead, there were no guarantees.

“Ginny, you don’t know-”

“I do.” There was now a steely thread mixed with the ultimate faith in her eyes. “I know who we’re dealing with Harry, I know.” The words, ‘I’m the only person you know whose been possessed by him’ echoed through his head before she smiled, “Besides, you’ve never watched yourself when you’re in full battle mode, I have. You’ll win.”

“Your faith-”

“Will always be with you. Along with a few other bits of me.” The song ended but they’d stopped dancing in the middle of the floor a few bars earlier. “So go, and just…if you can, come back. Mum will ply you with food and jumpers and you and Ron can play chess, and maybe we’ll get to dance again. I’ll see you soon Harry,” she finished simply and pressed her lips to his cheek.

With that she slipped out of his arms and was gone across the dance floor.

Harry shook himself out of the memory and focused on the woods. He checked his watch, he’d only been distracted for a moment but a moment was enough time to lose one’s life. He focused on the woods, clearing his mind of all thoughts and feelings. He needed to be focused on the mission, on keeping Voldemort from knowing anything.

But when it was all over there was a meal he needed to get to and a girl he needed to hold.


Hope you enjoy. If you haven't read the book, I highly suggest it. Good stuff.