The Shadows Within: A Dark Harry Potter Chronicle

The Malfoy's may not have celebrated Christmas, but nevertheless, they had a fantastic feast. Harry thought it could even rival the Hogwarts food, and Draco had told him that Hogwarts had an army of house-elves working there.

After Dinner, Mr. Malfoy stood up. He was at the head of the table, with the fire merrily crackling behind him.

"Tonight we mark the changing of the seasons. Tonight we mark change. To survive one can stay stagnant. To thrive, to be a leader and head we must be capable of change, and we must control the change"

He paused to take a sip of his brandy, his shadow dancing upon the wall.

"Tonight, we mark our emotions. We mark the emotions that make us human and give us power. We feel our hate, we feel our rage. We feel our lust, our fear, our sadness, our desire to inflict pain. We mark these because they are ours. They are ours to control. We control our emotions, they do not control us. They must be used and used properly. Tonight, we honor the parts of ourselves that we must keep in chains to be used periodically, and we thank our darker parts for our success"

He suddenly spun, his robes flying behind him and threw his glass of brandy into the fire. The glass shattered, and the flames leaped higher for a moment.

"Tonight we celebrate that which gives us power," He said, still facing the flames. "Tonight, we celebrate that which separates us from the weak. Tonight, we celebrate that which fools hide away from"

He spun around again and looked around the table.

"The rest of this night is for meditation. Think about how to be powerful"

Harry followed Draco up to their rooms. He tried to say something, but Draco quickly shushed him.

He sat on his bed thinking. Thinking about his life, and about the things he had done.

People who he respected and liked were telling him that he had been right to kill those muggles. He had always been taught that murder was categorically wrong. Lucius' words echoed in his mind

' They must be used'

He had been feeling rage when he had killed Joseph. He had felt the desire to inflict pain when he had done what he had to Mr. Roberts.

' Barely any better than animals. They need to be shown why they should fear us' . Draco's words spoke in his mind.

' They deserved it' That was Snape.

They were right, Harry realized with his mind feeling clearer than ever before. He had been right in killing those muggles. They had deserved it.

A great weight seemed to lift itself off Harry's shoulders, one he had never realized he was carrying. He wanted to laugh, the whole world seemed brighter. He had been in the right! He didn't need to carry Joseph's corpse with him. Joseph brought about his own death, and Mr. Roberts too.

Let Weasley talk about him, what did he know about hardship?

He was asleep minutes later, with a small smile on his face.

The Quidditch game was a huge amount of fun. Theo, Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, and Daphne all played, with Tracey and Pansy just watching and heckling.

Tracey and Pansy had refused to play even though it would have meant evening out the sides, but they made it work by having Harry switch teams every so often. He played as either Seeker or Chaser and found that he could really hold his own in those positions. A few times when he had been Seeker he even caught the Snitch before Draco, who had been playing for most of life, managed to.

Theo managed to convince them all to take a dip in the large pool, even though it was midwinter. Of course, the water itself was warm, but coming out of it into the frigid air was something else altogether.

"I'm going to kill you for this Theo" Daphne said, teeth chattering as she wrapped her arms around herself to try to keep warm.

"It's really not that bad Daph" Tracey shouted from the other side of the pool, "You just need to ignore the cold"

"Ignore the cold she says" Daphne grumbled, "How am I meant to go about doing that?"

"Just think of fires, and hot chocolate, and all the warm things waiting for us inside" Harry offered

"If we've got all that waiting inside, why are we out here?" She asked

"Good point," Harry said, feeling like he was going to freeze "Hey Draco, I'm heading inside to get changed"

Draco just waved them off, to busy laughing at something Crabbe had done, and Harry and Daphne headed to the house.

Harry called for Dobby, and a few minutes later he and Daphne were sitting in front of a warm fire with mugs of steaming hot chocolate.

"Thanks, Dobby," Harry said and was thus rather surprised when the house-elf burst into tears.

"Master Harry even gives thanks to Dobby, as if Dobby is worthy," The mad thing said before disappearing.

Harry looked over at Daphne bemused, but she was just chuckling.

"Draco has been saying his house-elf is loony for years. I always thought it was just him needing something to complain about" she said.

"He's been pretty normal, although he stares at me a lot"

"What can you expect? You are really famous. Probably even creatures like him are in love with you"

Harry sipped his hot chocolate. It really was delicious.

"I'm really glad Harry, you seem to be much more yourself," Daphne said, slightly more quietly than she had been speaking before.

"Yeah, I just needed some time I guess"

"What actually happened?" She asked gently.

"I just-I overheard Weasley talking about me, and it upset me. And then I learned a bit more about how I came to live in an orphanage, and it hurt a lot"

Harry could feel the anger rising.

' Control it, like Mr. Malfoy said. Save it till it will be useful'

"What did you learn?"

"That Dumbledore does stupid things, and other people end up paying the price. It's his fault I live there Daph"

Daphne was silent, wearing a thoughtful expression.

"Well, it's only really for the summer right? Maybe you can come stay at Draco then, or even Theo or Blaise"

"What about you?" Harry said lightly

"I don't think my parents would be too pleased with me bringing a boy home for break" She said seriously, and they both laughed.

Draco, true to his word showed Harry the Malfoy family library. Like the rest of the rooms in the house, it had the Malfoy family crest painted above the door, although the library had the words 'Ex Libris' embossed just above the coat of arms.

It was awesome.

Harry immediately knew what he wanted to have in his own home one day. The bookshelves reached the high ceiling, with chairs next to them that Draco said would raise you up to the shelf you wanted with the pull of a lever. The shelves covered the walls, and there were finely embossed oak tables next to comfortable armchairs. It definitely had fewer books than the Hogwarts library but felt far more welcoming.

"That shelf and up is all books on the Dark Arts," Draco said, pointing to a shelf that was about a head or two higher than them, "Father said I could start reading them once I start Hogwarts. I haven't had much of a chance yet though"

Harry's jaw dropped. That was more than half the books in the room!

"But aren't the Dark Arts illegal?" Harry said, "I mean, cant your father get into trouble?"

"Feh. Those laws are stupid. Anyways, just owning the books isn't illegal yet. Father says they're heading in that direction though."

"Isn't he worried?"

"As if they would have the balls to raid Malfoy Manor. Anyways, father says a nice donation takes care of everything"

"Well Draco, if your father lets, shall we see some of these books?"

"Why Harry, that sounds like a fun idea. At least for once, your book plans involve someone else"

They spent hours looking at the books, pointing out the particularly gross and gruesome curses.

"Look, this one turns you inside out! The pictures are- interesting"

"And check this potion out. It says it's the potion version of the Imperius. Can only be removed with the antidote too"

"Eeew. This pulls your skin off but keeps you alive all along. Jeez, could you imagine casting that?"

"I could think of it," Harry said, thinking of Weasley and immediately feeling a bit sick at the thought.

Harry found a book on the theory of the Dark Arts and immediately started reading. It seemed to agree with what Quirrell had told him about the Dark Arts being powered by negative emotions. The author seemed to scorn other types of spells, calling them 'Pallid imitations only used by those too weak and unworthy of casting the true magic'. It was really interesting, there was a list of 'normal' spells side by side with their Dark counterparts, and the author went to great pains to show how each of the Dark spells was the more useful one. The book also had some strong words for those Wizards who cared for Muggles.

'The strong will survive, and those fools who pander to Muggles and their ilk show themselves to be unworthy of that survival'.

"Harry?" Draco said, breaking Harry's concentration

"Yeah?"

"I really think you should talk to Father. We're heading back to Hogwarts next week, and I think it's best if you talk to him sooner rather than later"

"But, what do I even say?"

"Tell him what you told me yesterday. Well, you can leave out the whole thing with Weasley, but tell him how bad it is in the orphanage. Tell him why you've been living there"

Harry thought for a moment. "Do you think I need to tell him about-about what I did?" He ended in a whisper.

Draco had a very calculating look on his face.

"I think so, Harry. It's up to you, but it would be best. If he understands just how bad it is there, he can help you, Harry. But he needs to know"

"I don't want him to think badly of me. To think of me as a murderer"

Draco gave a laugh. "Harry, I promise you this: My father will not think badly of you for killing a Muggle. Would you think badly of someone who slaughters a pig? It's the same thing"

"Pigs can't think Draco! Pigs don't have feelings and-"

"And Muggles can barely think, compared to Wizards. How can they? They're missing out on half of the world because they don't have magic, how can they really think? You've seen their science, it's all nonsense! We do things every single day that they have proven are impossible. They're like monkeys Harry"

"You're right Draco," Harry said, not wanting an argument, "It's just, they're humans too"

"If they're humans, then we aren't, Harry"

Harry knocked on Mr. Malfoy's study door. He was feeling quite apprehensive about this, to be honest. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy had been nothing but kind and generous to him-Draco even told him they were going to buy him a New Year's gift- But still, to open himself up so much was not like him. He had told Draco, but he had plenty of time to become close enough to Draco that he felt like he could trust him. He knew he could trust Mr. Malfoy, but knowing something and feeling it in his heart were not quite the same thing.

"Enter" came Mr. Malfoy's voice from inside the room. Heart thudding in his chest, Harry stepped into the room.

"Ah, Harry. Draco said you wanted to speak with me. Please, sit down"

Harry sat, squirming a little. His stomach felt like a bucket of snakes.

' Why did I agree to this?'

' Because you wanted to stop living in secrecy. That's what you told Draco, anyways'

"How can I help you, Harry?"

"Draco said I should talk to you, sir. I've been having some issues, and he said you might be able to help"

Mr. Malfoy raised an eyebrow at this, then said

"Well, I may be able to. Tell me what's been going on please"

"Uh, you know I was raised in a muggle orphanage?"

Mr. Malfoy's brow knotted, as he gave a small nod.

"It's uh, a horrible place sir. I've been bullied my whole life. They always used to pick on me and mock me, because things that made no sense to them happened around me. I know now that I was doing magic, but I didn't then, and I was scared of what was happening and alone, and-"

Harry's throat clenched up. All his instincts were shouting at him not to show weakness, not to trust, but he ignored them and plunged onwards, voice crackling.

"They made my life a misery. Every day, every night something else would happen. They beat me up loads of times, and when I got older and the magic came more often it just got worse"

Harry stopped as Mr. Malfoy opened his mouth

"How do you mean, worse?"

"The beatings got worse sir. More often and-and-and they beat me harder. They broke my leg. They made sure anyone new to the orphanage knew not to sit next to me. They-they would steal my books, and tear out pages from the middle"

"And no-one stopped this?"

"No-one knew, not really. They all knew that something was going on, but didn't really care enough to do anything about it. Too many other kids to look after"

Mr. Malfoy gave a muttered "Muggle scum", and Harry carried on.

"I was adopted once. They brought me back, they were scared of me"

"Harry, Muggles know nothing. Of course, they were afraid of you. As a child, you had more power than they did"

"I know that now sir, but back then I didn't. I just knew that there was something wrong with me and that was why-"Harry cut off, wiping his tears away.

' NO WEAKNESS! NO TRUST! HE WON'T HELP, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WEAK'

"The one kid, Joseph. He was the worst. And I-I-I killed him" Harry said, muttering by the end.

He was looking down, and so didn't see the way Mr. Malfoy's eyes widened, and a look of shock briefly crossed his immaculate face. It was quickly replaced by his blank expression, but it had been there.

"You-"

"I killed him, sir. I just wanted him to fall down the stairs and die, and he did"

There was a pause.

' Here it comes. I'm going to get kicked out of his house, maybe he'll call the police, Aurors I mean, and then-'

"Well done," Mr. Malfoy said softly.

Harry looked up so sharply he thought he heard his neck creak.

"What?" He whispered

"Well done, Harry. You rid yourself of an enemy. From how you describe him, this child was less deserving of life than the average muggle. He brought his fate upon himself. So I say to you, Harry. Well done"

Harry was shocked, not just by what the man had said but by the sincerity evident in his voice as well.

"I, I" and then he was crying too hard to speak. Embarrassed, he tried to stifle it, but he couldn't. Like a river bursting free of a dam so his tears flowed out torrentially.

' I thought I was over this! Why can I not talk about this without crying?'

Mr. Malfoy waited patiently for Harry to finish his tears. To Harry, with his cheeks burning with shame, it felt like hours had passed. It had actually only been a few minutes, minutes that gave Mr. Malfoy important time to think.

"Harry, let me tell you something. My late father, Abraxas Malfoy became enamored with a muggle science. The science of evolution. As you were raised amongst them, I will assume you are conversant with it?"

This was not quite what Harry had expected.

"I think so. How humans were originally apes?"

"Quite so. My father believed, as do I, that wizards and witches are a step beyond muggles on the evolutionary tree. We are no longer the same species as them. An interesting thing about evolution-The weak die off, and the strong survive."

Harry thought about that a little.

' Is he saying that-'

"Muggles, Harry, do not deserve to survive if they cannot fight for it. Survival of the fittest, and we are more fit. You are not a murderer, Harry. You put down a rabid beast. You should feel proud"

' Well, first let me stop crying when I talk about it, and then we'll see about being proud'

"In fact, at one point Muggle hunting was a common and perfectly lawful sport. Alas, our recent governments do not care for such pastimes"

There were a few minutes of silence while Harry thought best about what he wanted to say. Mr. Malfoy broke it first.

"Is that all you wished to speak to me about, Harry?"

"No, sir. I found out, that the reason I have been brought up in an orphanage is because Dumbledore was too incompetent to get me to a family who would care for me. He tried leaving me on my muggle aunt and uncles doorstep, but they gave me to the orphanage. When he met me at the orphanage, he told me a whole story about how I was put there to protect me from Death Eaters, but it was really just because he made a stupid move first"

"Albus Dumbledore often does such things. He will try to cover it all up and make himself seem to be the best thing to happen to wizardkind. Would you like me to act on this? To try to bring him to trial? It will not be easy, but it may satisfy your desire for vengeance"

' Do I want vengeance on him? I don't even know'

"No sir, thank you though. Draco actually mentioned that possibility a few days ago, and I thought about it, but I don't want it"

"Why not?"

"It would be all over the newspapers and radio. People already look at me as their savior, I don't want them looking at me with pity"

"That is-Understandable"

"Thank you, sir. What I do want though, is to no longer have to go back to those muggles. I want to put myself up for adoption, but I don't know how"

Mr. Malfoy looked extremely thoughtful for a few minutes before speaking.

"Harry, adoption in the wizarding world is a very difficult procedure. I can't speak as an expert, but from what I have heard it is a very rare and complex thing to do. It would give you the same issues of the media, being that it is so rarely done"

"Really?"

"Indeed. I only know of one case of Wizarding adoption that has occurred in recent years, and even that got a report in the Prophet. If something like that, involving you to occur, it would be front-page news"

"So what can I do, sir? I can't go back to those Muggles"

"No, you can't. I am not promising anything, not before I know more, but I will do some discreet research. Perhaps Narcissa and I may be able to-informally adopt you if you will" Mr. Malfoy said, still looking lost in thought. "Yes, that could work. You would spend your summers here, no need to change any legal documents. Your vault could stay under your control. Yes, that could definitely work". Looking at Harry, he gave a small smile "I think Draco would quite enjoy that"

Harry's heart skipped a beat.

' The Malfoys are willing to take me in! They want me!'

"Really sir? You would be willing to do that for me?"

"Harry, please. I would be honored to do that for you. I could not, with a clean conscience allow you to rot amongst the Muggles. You have far too much potential for that"

"Thank you, sir, thank you so much"

Harry started walking out of the room when Mr. Malfoy's voice halted him.

"Harry. When we are in my home, you may call me Lucius. Good night"

Harry lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep was far, far away from him this night. He was wanted! Someone wanted to take him in! Not just anyone, but the Malfoy's, one of the most respected and important wizarding families was willing to take him in. When he finally drifted off to sleep, he dreamt of living with a family who cared for him.

After Harry had left his study, Lucius stared at the closed door for a few moments, before shaking his head a little and summoning a glass of firewhiskey to his hand. He took a sip and chuckled under his breath.

"Who would have thought?"