asgardmeridiem | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy
What: "Collecting Malfoy." Odin told Harry information that makes him think that Malfoy can be the only culprit. He's going to collect him (of course, unaware that that means that Malfoy will have to die).
When: Afternoon of Day 328
Where: Loki district.
Rating: PG-13. Will rate if it gets higher. Likely violence.

Harry is frightened for his mother.

It's a fact that unsettles him, and each time he looks at the writing on the wall, a sick, uncertain feeling rises in his stomach. There are very few people even capable of that. There aren't many from their world, after all, and he tells himself that it couldn't be anyone else. Not Ron or Luna or himself, of course, so the options become slimmer and fewer. Even if he knows Snape resents his father, he also knows that he wouldn't revel in that. For all the aspects of "control" thrown around, this crime seems almost too premeditated. If Jade did not do it on her own, Harry is not fond of believing that someone else couldn't have taken advantage of her possession.

He never pauses to admit to himself that he can't see Malfoy killing someone. Maybe another time it would occur to him, but he's too busy trying to figure out under what circumstances Snape would do it. Truthfully, Harry is too caught up in his emotions to think rapidly, and though he has spent most of the day with his mother, it's not as if he's calmed down. Harry is nothing if not single-mindedly focused on a task.

But that single-mindedness is necessary. Though it pains him, he sets out to look for Malfoy. He fears that his mother will not be safe alone, but Malfoy needs to be captured. If Harry's right, then she won't need to be protected. The culprit will be found.

When Harry spots Malfoy in Loki district, he's not surprised. It's early on in the day than they had previously agreed, but Harry thinks surprise will help—that surprise will give him the advantage he needs. He's wearing the sword he acquired a while ago and stuffed away in the event of an emergency. He figures this is an emergency, even if he does not wish to cause mortal wounds. The last thing Harry wants is to kill anyone, even Malfoy, though he doesn't deny the thought entirely; the darkness, the invasion in his mind seems to tell him that it's a very good idea. He can almost feel the blood on his hands already. It's a very appealing thought, and he's too focused on capturing Malfoy to employ any mental defenses against it. Let it twist and take shape, let it feed into the remnants of sadism hand pettiness that he has. He has to.

Harry carries the sword low as he advances from behind a column to step into Malfoy's path, eyes blazing and jaw clenched. "You have one option. You can go to Odin, or I will take you there myself."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If anything else, Draco's exhausted. He'd spent a good portion of the night looking for Jade even though she'd instructed him not to, and even though he'd kept himself busy with that somehow he'd still slipped into a sleepwalking state and woke up surrounded by broken glass, again. He almost has to congratulate himself for his consistency for continually returning to further destroy his shop, but it still didn't do much to soothe him.

He was just entering Loki district to go back to the apartment so he could clean up and try to figure out what to do now (especially after his conversation with Odin) when he heard the other boy's voice as he blocked the path. He stops suddenly, lifting his eyes up to meet Harry's while settling for a snarl.

"I don't think so, Potter," he spat out, though he took a step back anyway. "...and that's two options. Neither of which I'm taking, by the way."

"It's one option because it all ends in the same place," Harry clarifies. He notes that Malfoy doesn't look much better than him. On his part, he's gone out of the way to not look at himself in the mirror, knowing full well that his little amounts of sleep aren't doing him any favors. Though he carries a sword, his body feels sluggish, but he isn't letting that stop him.

"I told Odin I'd make certain that you got there."

"Odin?" He knows who Odin is, of course, but that doesn't sound like what he'd spoken to the god about. It's then that he notices Harry's sword, and he's backing off further. "I sincerely hope you're not actually serious." Even though he's...sort of intrigued by the idea of a physical struggle. What would Harry Potter look like with his face smeared across the sidewalk? It's a thought he should shake off, but he's threatened and he doesn't like it.

"What we spoke about was funny, actually," Harry continues. He watches Malfoy, certain that he has the upper hand. Malfoy could easily fly away, but then where would he go? Harry is very determined to find him, and he knows that there's a chance that even with flight, Malfoy might be having some difficulties. He's seen what Henry's powers are doing to him; it's reasonable to conclude that the same thing is happening to other people.

Then again, damage drain isn't one you can really test with that.

"What was on the wall. It didn't come from nowhere. There had to be a source. The person who did it." Harry's eyes don't leave Malfoy, and he raises his sword. "You have to admit. There aren't very many options."

"So I've heard," he replies, fists balling at his sides tighter as he refuses to look away. "But I believe that I had an entirely different conversation with Odin. Didn't end with any implication that I had to be turned in." He begins to back away, shifting his gaze to the sword.

"So...you may want to put that down. I'd hate to see you do something you'd regret...wouldn't want to further upset your mother, would you?"

"Leave it to you to have your own very creative understanding of what's obvious, Malfoy," Harry says. He doesn't shift the sword, only meaning it as a tool to threaten and hurt if it comes down to it, rather than one to kill. "There aren't very many ways you can interpret 'bring them here'. Unless you're mental." He does pause to tilt his head slightly, looking at Malfoy with the same malice as he has since this conversation began. "Which I'd most certainly say you might be."

He shifts uncomfortably, shifting on the balls of his feet as he licks his lips nervously. How the hell is he going to get out of this one is anyone's guess. He mirrors the expression though, tilting his head in the opposite direction. Maybe if he keeps Harry talking, he can make a break for it.

"...might be. But I reckon everyone's a little mental lately, wouldn't you agree? I think you're just as much as I am. Who says it's not you I have to turn in?"

"Because I'd be able to stop it," he says comfortably. Maybe too comfortably. Harry is feeling very cocky at the moment. "And it'd be even easier for me to stop it, especially given that my father was involved. Jade doesn't have any special connection to him, but do you really think that I don't?" He shakes his head. "Even you would be able to stop being vile for a moment if it involved your father. Well, unless you decided to blame it on me."

On the one hand, Harry has a point. If Lucius were involved he would probably stop long enough to snap out of it. On the other hand, nothing's guaranteed at this point. Maybe he was a killer, maybe he wasn't. It didn't matter. It didn't matter if he killed James Potter or not, it was still the fact he had to outwit Harry Potter and escape with his own skin.

"Like you wouldn't kill my father if you had the chance," he snorts. As he speaks, he begins to hover in the air, only a foot or so to get a head start. "So what are you going after? Justice? Revenge? Both? I think you ought to gather more facts before trying to pin this on m. You still can't prove anything."

"No, I wouldn't," he says. "Unlike you, I don't carry pointless vendettas against people. Your mother saved my life. I wouldn't repay her that way." Except for right now, what he wants more than anything is to go directly against that. But this is different; Malfoy did kill his father. He has a feeling even Narcissa Malfoy would recognize the folly in that. She wouldn't want her son killed, because blood is thicker than anything, but she wouldn't be surprised to see him here.

After all, once again: blood is thicker than anything. Harry is meant to do this.

"I gathered all the facts I needed. Or do you think I just made up what I said to Odin? What Odin said to me?" He raises the sword, making it clear that he's ready to move fast if Malfoy tries to fly away.

"My vendettas are never pointless, Potter." He's not touching the subject about his mother though. He knows Narcissa wouldn't be proud of him right now, and he can only imagine the look Lucius would be giving him right now if he saw what was happening. He lifts his eyebrows as a challenge, something that clearly says "catch me if you can" as he hovers a little higher.

"I don't have time for this. I have things to do." And with that he turns and begins flying off, ignoring the fact that his speed isn't nearly as fast as it should be, nor are the lines as straight as he's used to. However, he's also watching Harry from the corner of his eye. If his lessons with Sophie have taught him anything, it's that he has to be prepared for a surprise attack.

Harry doesn't hesitate the moment that Malfoy moves. He doesn't vocally respond, instead turning the sword quickly to slash into Malfoy's treating leg. The way his body moves makes it obvious that he intends to dash after him, and he has enough speed, even with his fatigue, to do as much as he can. He doesn't want to lose Malfoy.

Actually, it's exactly the opposite.

He didn't turn fast enough by the time the sword slashes at his leg, and there's a yell as he suddenly crashes out of the air and lands on his feet. He's quick to back up, eyes darting back and forth between the sword and Harry's hands as he assesses how to knock the weapon loose.

"The hell's the matter with you?"

"Do you really think it's a good idea to put others at risk? Is your pride more important than other people's life? Or does your cowardice only come up when you're facing someone like Professor Dumbledore?" The words come at a rush as he advances upon Malfoy, sword aimed for his throat this time.

Harry doesn't mean to actually slash him there (as much as the thought is tempting), but he does want to pose an actual threat.

"I'm more concerned about my life</> than anything." He's definitely an actual threat, seeing how he's taking to the sky again and floating backwards out of the way. However he's moving, curling his legs closer to his body to poise himself. As soon as Harry rushes at him though he's kicking his legs forward, feet hopefully connecting with the other boy's chest to knock him off balance. With any luck Harry will drop the sword.

But that would require Draco having any kid of luck at all.

The contact is made and Harry stumbles backwards and does almost lose his grip on the sword. In fact, the only reason he doesn't is because he was holding on to it so tightly; it only being jostled is part of the connection more than anything else.

In fact, the worst part is that Malfoy even claimed that his life was more important than anyone else's. First, that strikes him as strange because of a certain text he received that one day, and secondly, it frustrates him ... and devalues Narcissa's willingness to help him. Harry's life hadn't mattered much that day, had it? He had wasted all this time being grateful for that chance to live, when it was really all about them.

Annoyed, he fixes his grip quickly as he promptly processes all of this and swings the sword at Malfoy again, this time actually aiming to hurt him. It wouldn't be the first time Harry had cut him open a bunch of times. At least it'd be on purpose.

(A sick, twisted thought, perhaps, but he doesn't deny it. He revels in it.)

It's an act. Everything about this is an act and it's the only thing that's going to possibly get him out of this alive. Still, he's using Harry's temporary stumbling to put some distance between them. He doesn't get enough distance though before that sword comes swinging at him again, grazing him as he loses control of his flight and hits the ground on his back. He remains motionless for a moment, winded from the impact of the straight, hard drop. His eyes never leave that sword though.

This is awful. This is straight up awful and he's severely regretting not having any means of defending himself now.

Harry is quick to stand over Malfoy and drag the tip of the sword down the front of his torso. The pressure is there, but it's obvious that he wants nothing more than to cause him pain—even though he could easily kill him right now, that isn't on Harry's mind. No, it's just the opposite. For a moment, he looks almost fascinated as the sword draws downward and stops at his stomach, lips pursed and eyes seeming like they're imagining the sword dipping in and draining more blood from Malfoy, even if he's not taking the actual actions.

"I didn't come here to kill you," he says finally, but he still looks hungry for hurting Malfoy further. "So when I lift this sword, we'll walk to the castle together. Or do you want to bleed more?" The last bit is asked almost ... too curiously.

Out of instinct he's drawing in a deep breath and sucking in his stomach to try and avoid the blade. He knows if he breathes out that sword's going to possibly pierce his skin. He's already been on the wrong end of a rage-filled Potter before. He's not in the mood to be sliced up again.

On the other hand, he's not going to go quietly either. Definitely not for Potter. He narrows his eyes and lifts his head to stare him down. "What's it matter? I would have thought you've had your fill of my blood already. You don't think I noticed how petrified you were in the bathroom? Pathetic."

"Things change."

(No, they haven't. They've never changed. The last thing Harry wants is this, but he ignores that voice. The days have made it harder to be that person, to hold on to that self.)

"Besides, I remember what you sent me, Malfoy. You wished you died that day, didn't you?" His words are meandering and lacking caution—and still curious, oh so curious, like a child playing with a toy. "So you're lying now. You're not concerned about anything. You just don't know what to do. It's typical for you. If you can't boast, you make it up. Badly." Harry lowers the sword to ensure it's pressing against Malfoy. His eyebrows knit together curiously.

The look on his face makes it pretty clear that he's been busted and that he knows Potter knows. He'd almost forgotten about that tiny mistake, but here it was rubbing itself in his face again. He squirms uncomfortably under the pressure of the blade, trying not to move too much as he frantically grapples for an answer. He could, in theory, try for another kick. Would Potter expect that? Probably.

"Things change," he repeats in a mocking sort of tone. With that he goes for the kick anyway, trying to bring his feet to the back of Potter's knees to knock him to the side. If he can just get up, he's bolting. Flying's not necessary.

The kick itself is successful, and it's enough to make Harry stumble backward to give Malfoy enough time to stand. He considers doing something harsh, to take his hold on the sword and slam it down into Malfoy's leg to hold him in place. He considers, but he doesn't do it, the typically dominant part finally kicking in and controlling his urges (but he can still picture the blood pooling around the sword, the thought almost makes him smile).

It's enough time for him to not only stand but to back off, spotting a fallen tree branch a short distance away. It wasn't a sword, and honestly it wasn't going to be much of a defense, but it was better than nothing. He makes a break for the branch, swiping it up off the ground before holding it in front of him for defense.

"You're wasting your time." His voice may have been shaking a bit, but his grip on the branch is strong. He debates the possibility of just jabbing the jagged branch into Potter's stomach. Hadn't Jade mentioned she was afraid of impaling him the other night? What was so wrong about impaling someone? It was probably charitable if anything.

"So you want all that blood on your hands, is that it?" Harry shakes his head and tries to find his bearings. Why is he so tired? Why is it that he's barely slept? He walks toward Malfoy, sword firmly slotted back into place. "I suppose you wanted to catch up with your father. Everyone here ... they're only Muggles to you. People to hurt and cast away. Is that right?"

And that, somehow that causes something inside of him to snap as he snarls and lifts the branch like a lance. "I'm nothing like my father." He doesn't even hesitate suddenly charging forward, fulling intent on stabbing the branch through Potter's stomach. He wanted him to be the bad guy? Fine. He'll be the bad guy. Of course running is a bit difficult thanks to the wound Potter inflicted on his leg earlier, but he's got speed on is side.

Harry actually pauses to blink because he thinks he's hallucinating. In fact, the fact that Malfoy is suddenly rushing him with a stick is enough to kill his anger and his focus to be aware of the fact that Malfoy is trying to ... kill him with a stick. As Malfoy nears him, he absently slices his sword toward the stick so it doesn't poke him (why, he doesn't know, because it's unnecessary), and then lowers the sword.

"You ... are aware that you weren't carrying a blade, right?" It seems important to ask.

And there goes the top half of his makeshift weapon. He actually pauses to stare at Potter, narrowing his eyes further before snorting.

"Yes, I'm aware. You didn't exactly give me time to prepare myself before you went completely mental." But he's keeping his distance, thinking of how he can talk his way around this. "You could always drop yours. Make this an even fight."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only