Chapter 3
Draco's Judgment
Harry sped down the highway on his motorcycle easily swerving past cars and trucks as if they weren't even there. Harry guessed the reason he drove so fast was that the moment the wind battered his face he could allow all the emotion in him to just flow away from his body. All the pain of losing Hermione, the guilt for failing to protect her and everyone else who depended on him, and the rage at Ron who had betrayed and murdered him. Well, at least there was some good news; his cowboy hat was charmed so that it wouldn't fall off his head while he rode his motorcycle.
"Potter? Are you even paying attention to what I'm telling you?" Harry heard Snape say on his earpiece.
"Of course." Harry said in an emotionless voice as he swerved past another car that honked his horn as Harry passed.
"Potter, just how fast are you riding that bike anyway?" Said Snape.
"Dunno. Speedometer only goes to 115." Harry said as if it made no difference to him, and it didn't.
"What do you mean it only goes to 115? Are you trying to get yourself killed again?" Snape asked a cold fury in his voice.
"Relax. It's no big deal. I never drive faster than I can see. Besides, it's all in the reflexes." Harry said dismissively. As he approached his destination, a night club on the outskirts of London. Music drifted from the place, and Harry was reminded of his sixth year of Hogwarts.
*Flashback*
Harry paced around the common room, his best friend Ron Weasley sat in one of the chairs playing chess with Neville.
"Okay. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna ask Hermione to the dance today." Harry said though it seemed more like he was convincing himself then declaring it to his friends.
"That's what you said yesterday Harry." Said Neville
"Well it's not as easy as it sounds. I mean what am I supposed to say to her? We've been friends for years now and here I am ready to risk it all just for a date to the dance." Harry said exasperated.
"You're making too big a deal out of this Harry." Said Ron. "It's not what you say; it's how you say it. Sincerity is the best policy. Take this for example: You know, usually when I meet someone I'm awkward and shy. But with you it's different. You know what I'm thinking without me having to explain it to you in fancy terms. We speak each others unspoken language… fluently. I love you." Said Ron in a surprisingly serious voice.
"Wow Ron." Started Harry. "That is the biggest load of bull shit I have ever heard in my life. No girl would ever fall for that."
"Well that's where you're wrong. That's how I got Parvarti." Ron said defensively.
"I don't see why you guys are even arguing over this. I mean who am I gonna take?" Neville said sadly.
"That's easy. Take Blaise Zabini. She's a sure thing." Said Ron passively.
A short while later Harry found himself waiting outside Hermione's last class of the day. When Hermione came out she spotted Harry and walked over to him.
"Harry what are you doing here?" Hermione questioned.
"Well I uh you see I was umm." Harry stumbled over his words as a million questions ran through his head. `Is this worth risking her friendship? Does she think of me as more than a friend? Does God exist? Who invented liquid soap and why?'
"Harry I prefer that when someone talks to me they are very clear on what they want to say. When you figure out what it is you need to speak to me about let me know." With that Hermione began to walk away. Not about to lose his last chance Harry conjured a lasso out of the end of his wand and roped Hermione and pulled back to him.
"Harry!?! What are you doing?" Hermione yelled.
"Just here me out Mione." Harry took a deep breath. "Will you go to the dance with me?" He was terrified the moment it came out but as he saw Hermione begin to smile a warmth passed through him.
"I'd love to Harry." She said warmly. "But do you think you can untie me first?"
*End Flashback*
"The Dragon's Den is owned by Malfoy. My information is that he is always there until late into the evening. If you are certain this is how you wish to proceed, then by all means go inside and shoot anything that gets in your way until you find Malfoy." Snape said sarcastically.
"That's the plan." Snarled Harry.
"I was being sarcastic Potter. What makes you think you can find Malfoy before he notices you and flees the area?" Snape replied.
"Malfoy won't even know I'm here till it's too late." Harry whispered.
***
Harry made his way through the crowd on the dance floor. Some rap song Harry couldn't recognize was playing in the background. Then Harry spotted him. One of Draco's top advisors Simon Mace. Harry recognized him from the personnel files Snape had supplied him with. He was dancing with a pretty blonde girl totally oblivious to Harry's presence. But not for long.
"Excuse me?" Harry said in a commanding voice. "I'm looking for Draco Malfoy. Do you know where I might be able find him?" Simon turned to Harry and seeing his clothing gave Harry look of disgust.
"This ain't Halloween pal, and I'm not tellin you anything." Simon then went to ignore Harry and return his attention to the girl he was dancing with when Harry tapped him on the shoulder.
"If you don't tell me where Malfoy is I'm gonna have to hurt you." Harry said dangerously.
Simon turned to Harry once more and opened his coat revealing his wand held in a holster.
"You really want to fight me?" He said arrogantly.
In the blink of an eye Harry grabbed the wand and jabbed Simon in the nose with the handle sending him to the floor with a broken nose. Harry then lifted Simon by the hair till he was eye level with Harry. "Where. Is. Malfoy? I won't ask again." Harry snarled. Simon pointed toward a private booth on the second floor. Harry unceremoniously dropped Simon to the floor.
Harry quickly moved toward the stairway that led to the second floor. When he made it to the second floor he found himself in a large room. Four bodyguards waited at one end, behind them was a door that Harry was sure would lead to Malfoy's booth.
"Don't suppose you guys would be willing to walk away and let me kill your boss huh? Harry asked as he pulled a cigar out of his pocket and lit it. The bodyguards merely spread out preparing to attack. "Didn't think so." Harry breathed out a cloud of smoke.
The bodyguards moved toward Harry as one. Simultaneously Harry rushed them reaching the first guard as he prepared to fire a curse. Harry jabbed him in the throat, as he fell to the ground choking Harry placed his arm across the second guard's chest and twisted flipping the guard over his side into the floor. Harry then ducked a curse sent by the third guard and pulled him in front of a killing curse sent by fourth guard. Before the third guard hit the floor Harry grabbed the fourth guard by the throat and snapped his neck.
Harry straightened his jacket and took another breathe from his cigar. The entire fight had taken ten seconds, now all that was left here was Draco. Harry pushed the doors open and found Malfoy with his back to Harry.
"Did you finish off the intruder?" Malfoy asked thinking Harry was one of his guards.
"Not quite. I thought I'd give them a break." Harry said with a smirk.
Draco turned and saw Harry standing in front of him. Without hesitating Malfoy drew his wand, "AVADA KEDAVRA!!" he roared sending the killing curse at Harry. Harry didn't even attempt to avoid the curse. He merely let it splash across him as if it were water. Malfoy could only stare in disbelief.
"Sorry Malfoy you can't kill what's already dead." Harry said with a grin. He then drew his guns and promptly shot Malfoy in the knees. Malfoy screamed in pain dropping his wand and clutching his knees.
"Who the hell are you?" Malfoy said his voice quivering with a mixture of fear and pain.
"What's wrong? You don't recognize your old school rival?" Harry whispered.
Horror spread across Malfoy's pale face, "No. I-It can't be. Y-Y-Your dead." Malfoy stuttered.
"Yeah, I thought we already covered that part." Harry said grimly.
"What do you want?" Malfoy asked.
Harry then produced what looked like a piece of clay and a digital watch head from one of his pockets. "This Malfoy, is C-4. Normally, it's used to cause a very large explosion. This particular one has been magically amplified; basically it should take out this entire room. We used it plenty during the war. So you should also know what this detonator is used for." Harry said as he placed the detonator on the C-4. Harry then set the timer and threw it against the wall where it stuck about three feet above Malfoy's head.
"I need some information Malfoy answer truthfully and I'll let you go." Harry pulled Hermione's bracelet from his coat pocket. "Tell me the names of everyone who was involved with Hermione's death." Harry said quietly.
"I had nothing to do with that. I know nothing of it." Malfoy said very quickly.
"Fine then Malfoy. I can wait. The timer is set to about three minutes from now. I got all the time in the world. You don't, but I do." Harry said crossing his arms.
Malfoy looked at the bomb then back to Harry. "Okay I'll talk. It was Neville and the Dog Stars. They were the team assigned to take care of Granger."
"Any one else I should know about Ferret Boy?" Harry said his eye narrowed at Malfoy.
"Yeah, Victor was present as well. Said he had something to resolve with her." Malfoy said.
"I see." Harry said coldly. He then turned to walk out of the room.
"Wait!!! You said if I told you what you wanted to know you'd let me go." Malfoy yelled desperately.
"I lied."
Harry walked out of the room as Malfoy screamed only to have his scream cut short by a loud explosion that shattered all the glass in the club. People screamed and ran. Harry calmly walked out of the club and got on his bike. "One down." he whispered to himself.
Next: Dog Stars
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