Twist Of Fate *Muggle AU*

The Realization

Harry's POV

Seeing Malfoy for the first time in seven years threw my world completely off kilter. At first I was entranced by his gorgeous, pale complexion. His long, fine platinum blonde hair, tied up in a loose ponytail. I took in the defined, sharp features of his handsome face. It wasn't until I looked deep into his mesmerizing silver gray eyes that I realised it was, "Draco Malfoy?!" I challenged, but didn't need a response, I had no doubt it was him. Everything before me blurred out of focus.

I didn't listen to Hermione, nor Ron, and I most certainly didn't listen to Snape. But the moment I arrived at the gates of the Malfoy estate, I regretted my rash decision to track down the man who murdered my parents, Voldemort.

I was only seventeen, not even a legal adult, with a half assed plan. Track down Voldemort and.... well that was just it, and what? Kill him, turn him in, force him to admit to his heinous acts of violence and crime?

As I contemplated this I felt someone harshly snatch and twist my forearm. I tried to struggle free, and they grabbed a fistful if my hair instead. The attacker wrenched my hair to crane my neck, forcing me to look into her cold, dark brown eyes. This strange woman had wild, curly black hair. "Oh, what wittle boy do I have here?" She taunted in a mock-baby voice.

She dragged me inside by my hair, a knife at my back. Once we were inside the manor I recognized her as one of the fugitives that were on the loose and wanted for murder, along with conspiring with Voldemort. I believed her name to be Bellatrix Lestrange. "Oh lovely Cissy, look at what a brave little intruder we have here." Distantly I could hear arguing between a motherly voice, and familiar one. The motherly one begged him to stay put, but the familiar argued that he needed to make sure who it was. That's when Draco entered the room, followed by his mother, and our eyes met. His face unreadable, and hers as well.

"I think I shall take his life in order to please my master." Bellatrix purred in a sickly-sweet tone. She pushed me roughly against the wall, one large hand holding my wrists. I struggled in her grip as she moved the other hand holding the knife to my throat. I heard Draco speak up against her, it sounded like for my own safety at first. However his reasoning was for that of his cowardly, bastard of a father. My scorn for him grew.

"Draco has a point, you should wait to see if Voldemort has plans for him. I think that would please him the most." Draco's mother spoke up, Bellatrix agreed but not without subjecting me to torture first, then throwing me in the dungeon.

Draco's POV

Part of me knew this would be the reaction I got, yet part of me hoped that he had forgiven me. But why should he? I mocked him in school, I made "Harry stinks" buttons when Diggory and him were competing. I made sure him and his friends were miserable for seven years. And to make matters worse, he was in my house, being tortured by my aunt, and I couldn't do a damn thing about it.

He had almost died, if I hadn't brought my father into the equation Bellatrix would have snuffed him faster. I begged mom to help him, knowing it was bad enough my father was practically courting a murderer. If I didn't cooperate, I could have died too. If only he knew the real reason I had saved him, how selfless it was.

"Pott- Harry," I stumbled on my words then quickly picked myself up. If I couldn't help him then, I could help now. "Harry, I understand the resentment in your eyes. But please come into my office, I assure you Laurie knew what she was doing."

"I understand, how hard this will be and is for you, but she wanted us to work past our differences and get past the whole ordeal together. I promise, I'm only here professionally, nothing more." I really tried to reassure him, though he didn't seem like he was listening to a word I was saying.

I stared down at him, his still damp hair plastered on his face, letting small droplets of water fall off his chin like sweat. Though his hair was still damp, I could tell it was still as unruly as it was in school. I held back the smirk playing at my lips as to not offend him.

I hated how green and intense his eyes got when he was focused on something. They were beautiful, don't get me wrong, but the focus was on me. As much as I wanted him to be looking at me for...different reasons...it would take time, for us both.

Harry stood up, and I moved to let him pass into my office. He didn't even hesitate...

to turn and walk out the waiting area. "Shit." I mumbled to myself, pinching the bridge of my nose. This was going to be a lot harder than we both wanted it to be.

Walking back to my desk, I picked up the phone and called the only girl from Hogwarts, outside of Blaise and Pansy, who gave me a chance at redemption.

"Hello...Luna, I need a favor, do you still have Hermione's number?"