The Boy Who Wanted to Live

Ashes Ashes We all Fall Down.

Harry watched his new pet- who he decided to name Clarence- with interest as the adults talked in hushed voices in Madame Pomfrey's office. A sound outside the room in the hallway made Harry look up at the door in concern.
"I said let me go!" Harry heard more grunts and a yell of pain from outside the door.
He quickly placed the top back on the box and placed it on the end of the bed with his other gifts. Harry quietly got off the creaky furniture and ran towards the door. He pushed it open and saw blonde hair dissapearing around a corner.
"Draco," he breathed softly.
Harry ran down the hallway after the struggling boy, not noticing the cold on his feet. It didnt matter that he was cold. It didnt matter that he had left his wand behind in his haste. It didnt matter that Newt was going to walk out of that office to find Harry gone. It didnt matter that Harry didnt know who he was about to fight. All that mattered to Harry was that his friend was in trouble.
'Draco won't let you save him,' a small voice said in his head. 'He hates you too much,'
"He's my friend," Harry mumbled while pushing himself to run down the stairs faster.
The man was dragging Draco deeper into the dungeons than Harry had ever gone before. Draco thrashed in the man's arms, trying to bite at the hand that was firmly clamped over his mouth. Grey eyes flashed in Harry's direction as the young Malfoy squirmed. Draco stilled for a second as he saw Harry stop a few feet behind them. Grey eyes glared at green ones and Harry glared back.
"Stupid fucking kid," the man was saying as he struggled to hold Draco and open a door that led deeper into the castle.
Draco looked at Harry as if to say "What are you waiting for? Stupefy him!"
Harry gestured to his empty hands and shrugged with wide eyes. Draco's silver eyes opened wide in realisation and fear.
Quirell put Draco down and pointed his wand at the boy.
"Hey! Cheese brain!" Harry yelled from behind Quirell "LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
Quirell turned with a frown to look at the new voice. Draco, glad for the distraction stomped on Quirells foot as hard as he could with his good leg. Quirell let out a shout of pain and held his foot in surprise. Draco pushed past the man and surprising himself and Harry grabbed onto the younger boy's arm and dragged him down the hall. Harry ran as well holding onto Draco tightly.
"What," Harry gasped as they ran "Happened,"
"If I had time," Draco panted back and starting to climb the stairs "I'd tell you!"
Harry looked back with concern and pushed his legs faster. Draco limped at his side and was fast slowing down.
"Come on we've got to go!" Harry said, wrappin his arm around Draco's waist and lifting him up slightly.
Draco panted heavily and gasped as he stepped on his burnt leg which was now spewing pus with every step.
"I can't do it, Potter," he said, looking back at where Quirell was chasing them "Leave me. You go,"
"No way," Harry said, letting go of his friend "You go. I will buy you time,"
"Wha-" Draco was cut off by Quirell appearing from arround a corner.
"Go, Draco!" Harry yelled, pushing Draco up the stairs "Go!"
Draco hesitated and looked at Harry with shock.
"But-"
"Go! I will be right behind you!"
Harry caught Draco's eye and compelled him to go away.
Draco looked between Quirrel and Harry and nodded, before turning to struggle his way up the stairs. Harry turned back to look at the teacher with hatred.
"You leave Draco alone!" Harry repeated.
"You don't understand what's going on here, Potter," Quirrel said with a slight chuckle, "There are things at play here that you can't comprehend,"
"You're here for the stone," Harry said bluntly, feeling his brain start to go numb.
Quirell paused surprised that Harry knew anything about it.
"Yes," Quirell said, looking into the bright green eyes.
"You want to bring back Voldemort," Harry said, stepping forward "You want to start a 'revolution'"
"Yes, Harry," Quirell said.
"You want to start a war," Harry said, hoping Draco could find a teacher.
"No," Quirell said "Not start one. I want to end a war, Harry."
A soft hiss of a voice came from under the giant turbin and Harry jumped slightly. The pain from his scar returned and Harry felt dizzy suddenly.
"Let me talk to the boy," a voice hissed.
"Master you are not strong enough," Quirell said to the voice.
"I am strong enough for this,"
Harry watched as Quirell unwrapped the turbin and turned around.
'Don't be stupid, Harry,' a voice in his head said 'This is your chance to run'
But Harry did not run. He did not move. He just stood and watched as a scaly face was revealed on the back of Quirell's bald head.
"Harry Potter," the snake faced man said.
Orange-red eyes glared into Harry's and Harry winced as his memories attacked him. A woman screaming. A man at his crib. Orange eyes. Black skin. Dust. Harry closed his eyes and let out a painful whimper as he clamped a hand on his scar to dull the pain that was drilling into him on that spot.
"Voldemort," Harry gasped softly, opening his eyes to look at the man.
"That is right, Harry," Voldemort said, softly.
"You leave Draco alone," Harry said, his voice shaking a little.
"You do not understand, Harry," Voldemort said "Draco has something important, something vital us if we want to win the war. Too long we have hid from the muggles. Too long have we let them have power over us,"
Harry looked around for some way out if this situation.
"With me Harry," Voldemort said softly "You will be safe; With me you will never return to be a slave to the muggles,"
Harry paused and looked at the orange eyes.
"How did you-?" Harry asked.
"I can see your pain, Harry Potter. Orphaned as an infant and left on your aunts door like a newspaper." Voldemort tutted softly at the tears that pricked Harry's eyes "I know, my boy. I know how they hurt you and yet no one cares. Newt Scammander took you in and yet Dumbledore wants to send you back,"
"How did you know that?" Harry said, tears sliding down his cheeks.
"You are not the first child Albus Dumbledore has hurt on his quest for power," Voldemort said,  Quirell taking a step towards Harry "You are brave Harry Potter. Your parents were too. Tell me, Harry, would you like to see them again? Happy?"
Harry swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded.
"If you join me Harry Potter, we can end this war. If you join me we can save lives. If you join me there will never be another wizard child put in a muggle home again. Join me Harry and we can make your parents proud,"
'Harry,' Proffesor Sprout's voice said in his head 'Remember what I told you, Harry,'
"Join me, Harry Potter and we can bring them back," Voldemort continued.
'Harry, they aren't coming back,'
"YOU LIAR!" Harry shouted angrily.
"Kill him!" Voldemort commanded.
Quirell turned and grabbed Harry by the throat. Harry gasped and fell backwards onto the stairs and whimpered as the man's grip tightened. His vision went foggy and Harry grabbed onto the hand that pinned him. Smoke rose from the man's hand as Harry tugged it off of him. Quirell pulled back in pain and looked at where the child's eyes were darkening to black.
"What is this dark magic?" Quirell asked as his hand turned grey and fell to ash.
"You fool! Kill him!" Voldemort yelled angrily.
Quirell tried to grab Harry again but the boy held up a hand and stopped him. Gold shone from the veins on Quirells body before his blood turned to sludge and he began to crumble.
"Do not touch the boy," A deep voice came from Harry's mouth amd echoed around the room.
Quirell stared in horror before his eyes turned grey and he crumbled to ash. Harry collapsed on the steps and panted heavily. His eyes turned back to green and he heard some footsteps running down the stairs from behind him. A grey spirit of Voldemort rose from the dust and Harry watched it as it rushed throughout his body, stopping in the black ring on his finger. Harry fainted on the steps and groaned in pain as the ring attached itself to Harry's skin.