The Last Two Standing
Chapter 4
"Think you're still at Hogwarts, Potter, slipping out in the middle of the night?"
Harry froze as Draco's familiar drawl floated out of the darkness surrounding the inn. "I don't have to answer to you, Malfoy."
"No, you never answer to anyone, do you?" Draco said, walking out of the shadows.
"I'm going to find Ron and Hermione, so just bugger off," Harry said.
Draco laughed derisively. "You think you can find your way to the Weasel's hovel all by yourself with no wand and no money? You'll lose your head before you make it out of Scotland."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Harry snarled. "Maybe you'd like to come along to watch?"
"That's not a bad idea, Potter. The entertainment value alone will be worth the aggravation of being in your august presence for an extended period of time," Draco said, falling into step with Harry as Harry turned and stalked away.
Harry snorted in disbelief. "What's your real reason for following me?"
Draco was silent for a moment, but when he finally answered, his tone lacked its usual sarcasm. "I feel naked without a wand and if immortals are going to keep coming after our heads, I want something better than a sharp piece of metal to defend myself with."
Harry nodded in agreement about the wand. "That still doesn't explain why you're following me. We're more likely to kill each other before an immortal has the chance."
"Since we have neither wands nor swords, that isn't likely," Draco said. "Besides, there's safety in numbers. Isn't that why you always have Granger and Weasley hanging on your shirttails?"
"I suppose that once you have a wand, you'll be after every immortal's head that you can find," Harry said as they continued walking. "You probably plan to become the next Dark Lord."
"Taking over the world seems like too much effort to expend for the small recompense received," Draco replied.
"Oh, you don't get your thrills torturing Muggles and Muggle-born?" Harry asked.
Harry glanced over when Draco did not answer immediately.
Finally, Draco replied. "Apparently, torture is not my forte."
Harry blinked a few times as he absorbed the meaning behind those words. "Is that why your father killed you?" Harry asked softly. "Because you wouldn't follow in his footsteps?"
Draco snorted derisively. "Couldn't follow in his footsteps," Draco corrected. "The Dark Lord was justified in ordering my removal. I was of no use to him or the cause."
"That's ridiculous," Harry said scathingly. "Better to die standing up for yourself than follow that monster."
Draco grabbed Harry's arm and jerked him around until they were face to face. "But I wasn't the one who died, was I, Potter? No, my mother is the one who paid for my lack of fortitude."
Harry started to make a snide remark about how she was just another Death Eater, but the pain in Draco's face stopped him. "How did she die?" he asked instead.
"Trying to save her worthless son from a well-deserved fate," Draco snarled, then turned and began to walk again. "A pointless attempt to stave off the inevitable conclusion of my inability to do something as simple as kill a Muggle child."
Harry hurried to catch up, shocked at Draco's self-recrimination. "She died to save you," he said gently.
"Yes, she did," Draco said sardonically. "Not that it was necessary since I CAN'T BE KILLED."
"She didn't know that," Harry said. "She did what she could to protect you because she was your mother."
Draco growled. "I am a grown man. It wasn't her place to protect me."
Before Harry could think of a response, Draco continued. "Tell me, Potter, what would the Chosen One have done?" he asked conversationally. "What if the Dark Lord held your mother's life hostage against your performance? Would you do as he commanded to save her or would you allow your failure to kill her?"
Harry tried to picture himself in such a situation, but could not. "I don't know, Malfoy. I probably would have tried to kill him and save my mother that way."
"Of course you would have, Potter. You're a Gryffindor," Draco said with a bitter laugh. "You would have fought, no matter the cost."
Harry bristled at the comment. "At least I would have done something, not like a Slytherin who just slinks away and hides."
Draco's face blanched. "I would gladly take hiding over fighting anyday. Unfortunately, Lucius knows all the best hiding places. It did not take him long to find ours and turn us over to the Dark Lord."
Harry swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. "Your father was a monster. He deserved to die."
Draco laughed quietly. "At least we agree on that."
Harry felt that he had just seen a glimpse of the life that had led Draco to that night in the Astronomy tower and he found himself unable to condemn his long-time rival. Like Harry, Draco had been given little choice in his path in life. Perhaps their newfound immortality was a chance for them both to start over without the preconceived ideas others held about them. "Maybe you're right and we should travel together. Do you think we can keep from killing each other long enough to find a wand shop?"
Draco raised a brow and glanced over at Harry. "I suppose a truce would be in order, Potter, just until we can arm ourselves properly as wizards though."
"Agreed," Harry said with a small grin. They might never be friends, but a truce was a step in the right direction. Harry thought that Dumbledore would be proud of him for making the effort.
They walked in silence for a moment. Draco finally broke the spell by asking, "So, where are we going, Potter?"
"I thought we'd go to London. We can get wands in Diagon Alley and I can use the Floo at the Leaky Cauldron to visit Ron," Harry said. He did not know where any other wizarding places were.
"In that case," Draco said sardonically, pointing back the way they had come, "you might want to walk in that direction."
With a muttered curse, Harry turned around. Their truce obviously did not cover sarcastic comments.
They continued down the street in silence for a few minutes. Hearing a car coming, Harry turned and stuck his thumb out, hoping the car would stop and save them a few miles of walking.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked.
"Hitchhiking," Harry said, kicking a rock after the car as it sped past without even slowing.
"And the point of this 'hitchhiking' would be?"
"To get someone to stop and give us a ride," Harry said, sticking his thumb up once again.
Draco watched in amusement as the second car sped by. "You must be doing it wrong."
"You think you can do better?" Harry growled, wondering whatever had possessed him to think traveling with Draco would be a good idea.
~ * ~
"There's a restaurant," Harry said. "Have you got any money? I'm starving."
They had been alternating between riding (Draco seemed to have a magic thumb when it came to hitchhiking) and walking all night. Unfortunately, the few cars that were out this early did not seem inclined to stop.
"No, but I have this," Draco said, pulling a rectangular piece of plastic from his jacket pocket.
"Hey, that's Adam's," Harry said, snatching it out of Draco's hand. "You can't use someone else's credit card. That's illegal."
Draco snatched the card back and shoved it into his pocket again. "If he didn't want it borrowed, he shouldn't have left it lying about. Even a first-year Slytherin knows that much."
"Humph, 'borrowed' implies the intent to return it, Malfoy," Harry said dryly.
"Well, if your high moral standards won't allow you to use someone else's credit card, then you can go hungry," Draco said and turned purposefully toward the restaurant.
"You're a prick, Malfoy."
Draco merely grinned. "At least I won't be a hungry prick."
Harry grumbled as they entered the tavern and found a seat. He refused to meet Draco's eyes as he ordered the largest breakfast available, turning instead to stare out the window.
They waited for their meals and ate in silence. Harry could feel his whole outlook on life improving as the hollow feeling in his belly became full once again.
"I can't believe you eat so much greasy food," Draco said with a shudder. "I wonder if immortals can have heart seizures."
"I'll ask Mac if we ever see him again," Harry said around a mouthful of sausage. He looked disdainfully at the poached egg and toast that Draco was eating. "That's not enough to keep a rabbit alive."
"I'm sure that, even if your arteries aren't clogging as we speak, an immortal can still get fat," Draco said.
"We'll be walking enough to work it off," Harry said, cutting his ham into smaller pieces.
"Hmmm, you have a point." Draco reached over to snatch a slice of bacon off Harry's plate.
"Hey! That's mine."
"You've consumed more than enough fat already, Potter," Draco replied.
Glaring, Harry moved his plate out of reach, just in case Draco decided something else looked appealing, not that there was much left.
Once they were finished and the tab paid, Harry told Draco he would meet him outside and headed toward the men's room. Draco was leaning against the side of the building while he waited, when a car pulled up and he felt the familiar buzz from the day before. For a moment, he thought that Adam had caught up with them, but he did not recognize the man who stepped out of the vehicle.
Draco stiffened as the man walked over. He recognized the predatory look in the immortal's eyes. It was the same way Voldemort looked just before he cursed someone.
"I'm Phillip Browning," the man said. "Shall we take this somewhere a little less public?"
"Bugger off," Draco said. "I'm not interested in a fight."
"Oh? But I am," Browning said, and then his grin broadened. "And unless I miss my guess, you're not armed."
"You'd be a fool to do anything in front of witnesses," Draco said with a nod toward the front of the restaurant where people were coming and going.
"True, but I don't plan to be in front of witnesses when I take your head," Browning said as he stepped closer.
Draco gasped as a sharp pain erupted just above his right hip. Looking down, he saw Browning withdraw a small knife from his side. He could understand now why Travis had not attempted to fight back after he was stabbed. Draco's body refused to respond at all.
With a malicious grin, Browning pulled Draco's arm over his shoulder and dragged him behind the building and into the woods beyond, while Draco struggled to stay on his feet.
~ * ~
Harry exited the tavern and, feeling a buzz to the left, headed around the building to find Draco. He was just in time to see a man drag his traveling companion into the woods. Fearing the worst, Harry picked up a metal pipe lying on the ground and quickly followed the two men.
Unfortunately, Harry had forgotten that the immortal was able to feel his presence as well and the man was waiting for him when he burst through the trees. Draco lay on the ground and, although he did not appear to be responsive, at least his head was still attached.
"Thought you'd take me while I was weak from the quickening, didn't you?" Browning said. Then noticing the pipe Harry was carrying, he started to laugh. "Don't tell me … a pair of newborns without a weapon between you. How sweet!"
"Never underestimate your opponent," Harry said as he hefted the pipe into a defensive position.
"Since you are new to our world, allow me to instruct you in a bit of immortal etiquette," Browning said as he and Harry circled each other. "When engaging in a fight, it is proper to introduce yourself. I'm Phillip Browning, and you are?"
"Harry Potter," Harry replied tersely and then began hissing in Parseltongue.
Confused at the odd sounds the teen was making, Browning approached cautiously. He and Harry circled each other warily for a moment, and then Browning suddenly began flailing about as a snake dropped out of an overhanging tree and landed on his head.
Draco watched blearily from the ground as Harry tried to get close enough to the immortal to use the pipe he carried without the man's wildly swinging weapon hitting him. Focusing as best he could, Draco yelled, "Accio Sword!"
Seizing the opportunity Draco had provided, Harry swung the pipe, knocking the immortal to the ground, unconscious.
With a relieved sigh, Harry thanked the snake then stumbled over to check on Draco.
"Bloody hell, Malfoy, what happened?" Harry asked in concern when he saw Draco's blood-soaked shirt.
"Note to self; don't Accio sharp objects while unable to dodge them," Draco hissed as he pushed himself into a sitting position. He was too embarrassed to mention the first knife wound that had incapacitated him.
"Think you can walk? We need to get out of here before he comes around."
Nodding, Draco made it to his feet and looked around the clearing. "Neat trick with the snake, Potter," he said. "I'm impressed."
Harry found himself grinning. That was the first time Draco had ever seemed honestly impressed with anything Harry had done. "Thanks," he said simply.
Draco winced as his body throbbed with each step he took. "You've got to finish him, Potter," he said, looking at the immortal lying on the ground. "If you don't, he'll be after us again before we can get very far and there may not be a cooperative snake around to help next time."
"You can't be serious. He's unconscious," Harry objected. "I can't kill someone who's helpless like that."
"That wouldn't have stopped him," Draco said sourly. "I'd do it myself, but I'm not sure which of him to aim at." He probed gingerly at a lump on the back of his head.
Harry swallowed hard. The logical part of him said that Draco was right, but his conscience just would not agree.
"Bloody Gryffindor morals," Draco grumbled when it became apparent that Harry was not going to do anything. "At least get the sword, Potter."
Harry nodded and retrieved the weapon.
Both teens turned as Browning groaned, indicating his imminent return to consciousness.
"Give it here, Potter, I'll do it," Draco said in a resigned tone. He took the sword and stumbled a few steps toward Browning before Harry stopped him.
"In your state, he'd probably end up like Nearly-Headless Nick," Harry said and retrieved the sword. He knew Draco was right. Browning was no better than the Death Eaters. He would have killed Draco without a qualm. It was a matter of self-defense.
Steeling himself, Harry brought the sword up and swung. The groaning stopped.
Draco stumbled away as Harry's first quickening sought him out.
~ * ~
"I can't believe that prat stole my credit card," Methos fumed as he joined MacLeod and Joe for breakfast.
"Harry's gone too," MacLeod said. "You don't think Draco went after him?"
"It wouldn't surprise me," Joe said. "The way those two fought, I'd be surprised to find they both still have their heads."
Methos opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, MacLeod jumped to his feet and sprinted out the front door. Joe and Methos exchanged puzzled looks.
"Any idea what that was about?" Joe asked.
"An early morning run?" Methos suggested.
"Should we go after him?"
Before Methos could answer, MacLeod walked back into the building swearing under his breath.
"What's got your feathers ruffled?" Joe asked.
"Lucius," MacLeod growled. "I saw that blond head of his go by, but he disappeared before I could catch up with him."
"The man that tortured you?" Methos asked. "Do you think he followed you?"
"I wouldn't doubt it," MacLeod said. "He seemed determined to learn our 'secret'."
"Do you think he saw the boys with us last night?" Joe asked. "He's already tried to kill Harry and Draco once."
MacLeod frowned. "We have to warn them."
"I can put the watchers on the lookout for them," Joe said. "But if they found a ride last night, they could be back in England by now."
"Well, I know how to find at least one of them," Methos said, pulling out his phone. "That is, if he's used that credit card he stole from me."
~ * ~
As they returned to the street, Harry looked critically at Draco's blood soaked shirt and pants." We need to get some clothes," he said. "No one's going to give a ride to someone who looks like an axe murderer."
Draco grimaced as he glanced down at his clothes. Fortunately, his coat hid the worst of it, as long as the person was not standing too close. "You'll have to do it, Potter. There'd be too many questions if anyone sees me like this." He pulled out the 'borrowed' credit card and handed it to Harry.
Harry grimaced at the thought of putting more charges on Adam's card, but he consoled himself by promising to pay the man back as soon as he was able.
They stopped at a petrol station and Draco went to the men's room to wait while Harry went to find some clothes at a nearby shop. While he waited, Draco attempted to clean off the worst of the blood that had dried on his stomach and the dirt on his face and hands. He tensed when he felt the approach of an immortal, and then relaxed when Harry called out for him to open the door.
"Don't tell me that was all you could find?" Draco asked in distaste as Harry pulled a black t-shirt from the bag.
Harry grinned and held it up. "I thought it was perfect for you," he said as he displayed the 'Fcuk It!' logo across the front.
Grumbling at Harry's choice of attire, Draco quickly stripped off the bloodstained clothes and changed into the t-shirt and jeans Harry had bought. "At least no one I know will see me like this."
"A fate worse than death," Harry agreed solemnly. "Listen, I was thinking-"
"Really? Shall I notify the Prophet? Surely this is a historic occasion."
Harry noticed the slight smile on Draco's lips and waved the comment off. "Anyway… I asked the girl at the store where the nearest train station was and she said we're only about ten miles from one. If we can catch the train there, we should be in London by this afternoon."
"And this thought couldn't have occurred to you last night before we walked halfway across Scotland?" Draco asked.
"Last night I didn't know we had any money," Harry replied, pulling the credit card out and waving it in front of Draco's face.
Draco snorted. "Perhaps you should try thinking more often." He threw the ruined clothes in the bin and the teens made their way back to the road. "Especially the next time you're compelled to run after an immortal armed with nothing but a pipe."
"I saved your arse, didn't I?" Harry said smugly.
"Only after I summoned the sword," Draco replied with his customary smirk.
"Who would have guessed that a Slytherin and a Gryffindor could work together without killing each other," Harry mused.
"Slytherins are opportunists, Potter," Draco replied. "We do whatever is in our own best interest, even if that means working with a Gryffindor."
Harry nodded in amusement. Draco would never admit that they had done well together. "Do you think we'll run into more of them?"
"Eventually," Draco said. "They'll keep coming until there is only one left."
"Mac did mention some sort of prize for the last one standing," Harry said as they walked. "I suppose you'll go after the prize once we have wands again."
"On the contrary," Draco smirked. "I plan to sit back, relax and let the other immortals kill each other off. Then all I have to do is take the one left." Draco's smirk turned into a full grin as he added, "If I'm fortunate, that will be you."
"Well, I'm tired of killing," Harry said. "Once I have a wand, I don't plan to fight anyone unless I have to." He gave Draco a sidelong glace. "Not that I would mind if you and I were facing each other at the end. You, I could take."
Draco laughed; a genuine laugh that Harry had never heard from his rival before. "I think that would be most appropriate, Potter. You and I, the last ones standing, winner takes the prize."
"Someone else may get one of us before then," Harry said reasonably.
"Then we'll just have to watch each other's backs," Draco replied hotly. "I'm not having my final battle denied me by one of those sword-carrying Muggle idiots."
Harry had to chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Bitter rivals vowing to protect each other just so they could battle it out at the end. "Alright, Malfoy, I promise to watch your back until we're the last two standing," he said, holding out his hand to seal the deal.
Draco smirked and took Harry's hand in his. "Agreed, Potter. I promise to do my best to keep you alive until we are the last two immortals left."