Becoming Beta

Chapter 19

Harry Potter had been following Draco Malfoy around Hogwarts all year - there was something off about him. He was different this year and Harry was determined to figure out how and why. Harry suspected it was because he was a Death Eater, although Hermione had scoffed at him for that idea. Then that curious display in Defense class happened. Ron cursed Hermione, pretty unfairly, even Harry could agree with that, but Malfoy jumped to her defense. Cursing Ron and cradling Hermione. What happened to Malfoy that he was now protective of her? It could not be because he was a Death Eater, as a Death Eater he would have been thrilled to see Hermione hurt. And why did it seem every time Harry turned around Malfoy was bigger? He was at least 15 centimeters taller than he had been at the end of the year last year, and now he looked like a lock for a rugby team, tall and built like an ox. That was new and different and couldn't be attributed to being a Death Eater. It must be due to being a werewolf, which Harry only knew about because Hermione told him.

When Hermione told him that Malfoy was not only a werewolf, but also claiming to be her mate, he was immediately suspicious. How convenient for Malfoy and the Death Eaters for Hermione to be his 'mate'. Harry didn't buy it and he couldn't believe that as smart as Hermione was, she was buying it either. The more Harry thought about it though, it made sense that Hermione was being so naive. Hermione had never really dated anyone, unless you count attending the Yule Ball with Krum. She probably thought Malfoy was being earnest, but Harry was a teenage boy. He knew how other teenage boys thought. As soon as Malfoy seduced her, he would drop her. Or even worse, pump her for information about the Order of the Phoenix and bring that information back to Voldemort. Harry couldn't allow that to happen.

He had learned a thing or two in the last six years. Instead of having a huge blow-up with Hermione, Harry decided it would be much easier to stay on friendly terms with her. It may even make it easier for him to follow Malfoy, which was a win-win in Harry's mind. He had been doing well until this last week, when he watched as Narcissa Malfoy came onto Hogwarts property via the Marauder's Map. He followed her dot as she went up the stairs to the headmaster's office where she spoke with Snape and Dumbledore.

Harry was sitting comfortably in the common room as he watched the action unfold on the map. When he saw Malfoy and his mother leave the headmaster's office together, Harry knew he had to investigate. He had his invisibility cloak shoved in his bag; he'd had it there for moments like this, for whenever he got a chance to sneak away and follow Malfoy. He left his bag by the chair, cleared the map and shoved it inside while pulling the cloak out at the same time. He ran out of the portrait hole and flew down the stairs to the Entrance Hall. He was scrambling down the last staircase to the Entrance Hall when he spotted the Malfoy's exiting the castle. Harry threw his cloak over his shoulders and followed them out the door.

He stayed back, even though he didn't think they were talking. It wouldn't do to get caught, so he kept back so he could watch from a distance. They left the grounds and disapparated away with a loud crack. Huh, Harry thought, why was Malfoy leaving school grounds?

Harry knew about the Azkaban breakout of course, maybe Malfoy was being summoned home to see his father? If he wasn't already a Death Eater as Hermione claimed, maybe he would be when he returned? And even if he wasn't a Death Eater, he still had some strange habits that weren't explained away by the lycanthropy. Why was he spending so much time in the Room of Requirement? By himself? He never went in with anyone else, so it must be a secret meeting place for him and his Death Eater junior mates. Harry had never even seen him go in with Hermione. They must be meeting elsewhere in the castle.

Malfoy had been gone for a week. He hadn't come to the Great Hall for meals since before Halloween, and he wasn't in any of the classes Harry shared with him. Harry was sure he had been summoned home to take the Dark Mark - there was no other explanation in his mind.