Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (if I would, he would have come out to Draco in the 3rd year), and I do not make any money from these writings.
Harry wasn't entirely sure he liked how things had turned out this summer. Scratch that, he was sure he didn't like it. After Dumbledore and Voldemort's epic fight in the Ministry, the old wizard sent for him and told him that it was now up to the younger people to fight the war, which meant he would have to face Voldemort. He expected that much even though he hoped that it wouldn't come to this for at least a few years. He was fifteen for heaven's sake. What would you expect from a fifteen year old boy? Raging hormones, a few stupid actions, problems with parents (oh wait, that wasn't a problem for Harry, he was an orphan) and not some "saving the world" thing. Yeah, because the ones that usually save the world are teenagers.
The fact that he was supposed to save the wizarding world was a given. To do that he'd have to train really hard and since he was still underage, and because the ministry still stuck to it's foolish rules, he'd have to do it in a pureblood family residence. He assumed that he would be going to the Burrow to learn from the Weasley family, but Dumbledore had different plans. Plans that stunned Harry the first time he heard them. He had to study advanced magic with the Malfoys. Yes, the Malfoys, the family that played the role of Voldemort's right hand. What no one knew was that years ago, the Malfoys had pledged loyalty to Dumbledore in secret, and had been playing the part of rich evil bastards since. Harry couldn't believe it when Dumbledore finally revealed the truth about the family's deception. They had made his life hell, caused so much pain over the years, especially Draco, and they didn't even bother telling him it was all an act, a very convincing, very hurtful one, but still an act. Nevertheless, they could have told him. This knowledge didn't change the way he felt about them though. Nothing could, not after what they had done. Even now, they were still a bunch of slimy, ass-kissing snakes with their pureblood mania that they tried to shove down everyone else's throats. He still loathed them, especially Draco, but if Dumbledore trusted them, he could at least give them a shot.
So, Harry was to be sent off to one of the castles the family owned in Sweden for his summer holiday. Some place called Kalmar. Dumbledore thought it wouldn't be such a good idea for the Malfoy's to stay in Britain with Harry Potter, the boy who lived as their guest and thus recommended the castle near the sea so Harry would be able to learn to control the elements as well during his stay and since the sea was one of the most difficult ones to control, the Kalmar castle presented itself as a perfect choice.
After the Hogwarts Express dropped him at the platform 9 and ¾, a nice man in his thirties came to him and told him to follow him without asking questions and to chat pleasantly with him not to arouse suspicion. He introduced himself as Gregor Dimsleyevich, butler of the Malfoy's (it was customary to have butlers in Swedish area instead of the house elves) and guided him to the empty office where he Disapparated with him, Apparating again in the middle of the bridge which connected the castle's island to the land.
Harry was mesmerized by the castle's beautiful and majestic appearance, taking in all the posture that this castle emitted, the four low elemental towers that constructed his form, the wall that still stood proudly around this renaissance castle, the tower which overlooked all the area around the castle and noticed several hooded men dressed in dark green robes, that walked around the castle, guarding it.
"Don't the Muggles notice the guards around the castle," he asked the butler.
"No, the Muggles don't see magical things and beings," said Gregor. "Besides, they have been charmed, so if any of the Muggles happens to look at them, all they see is are either gardeners taking care of the castle surroundings or actors. And you know Muggles usually think magic doesn't exist at all rather than to accept that there is something in this world that they cannot measure."
"I see," Harry added. "How about the tourists?"
"The castle has been closed to the public under the pretence of restorations and will remain closed for all the time of your stay here," he added and winked. "And besides, we can't have them seeing the magically enlarged portions of the castle, let alone any of the actual magic you'll be doing during your training. We should hurry; we don't want you to be late for your first session. "I guess so," Harry smiled sourly and allowed himself to be led in through several security systems placed on the bridge by Gregor. Once inside, the first thing to notice was a familiar snake cane banging on the floor as the man walked towards him, long-well kept blonde hair and an expression on the face that didn't quite match with the one that was stored in his memory. The usual aristocratic expression had been replaced with a warm smile, which shocked Harry because he never believed that the man was capable of smiling. He extended his hand to Harry and welcomed him.
"Hello, young Mr. Potter. Or perhaps it would be better for me to call you Harry now. Welcome to our summer residence."
Harry shook hands with him; still stunned at the fact how good of an actor Lucius must be if he was able to put a façade of an evil right hand on with such mastery.
"Narcissa?" the man called for his wife, which immediately emerged from one of the rooms, connected to the parlour, decorated in a light emerald colour. "Come here and meet Harry, Harry, this is my wife Narcissa, I don't believe the two of you have ever had a chance to formally meet."
"Hi, Harry!" she shyly approached him and hugged him. "I am so sorry we had to act like that to you, but it was for the worlds good, you know."
"Yeah, um… thank you, Mrs. Malfoy," he added, his voice muffled under the unexpectedly strong woman's arms.
"Please, call me Sissy. It's what friends call me. Well, those who know our secret, that is," she added.
"Harry, I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have to get down to business," Lucius cut in gently, but decisively. "I know that some of the things we did, were not innocent. For that, I am truly sorry. I know that it won't be an easy task for you to try to accept us as we are after all those years, but please try your best."
"I'll try Mr. Mal... I mean Lucius. You know you could have told me it was an act, you would have spared me a lot of suffering," Harry answered with a bit of bitterness in his words.
"I know we could have," said Lucius. "But I'm sorry; you're not a good actor. There was a risk you'd give that out if you knew what was really happening. Even if it was unintentional. Sorry, Harry."
"It's ok, I know what you mean."
"So, back to business. You know why you came here for, right?" asked Lucius, waiting for Harry to nod. "You are to study elemental wandless magic and you're going to do it with me. It is one of the most difficult types of magic and it requires of you to be a Malfoy. However, since you aren't, it would be impossible for you to do it normally-but you have an enormous talent. So in order to achieve it, you have to live as a Malfoy, think as a Malfoy, act as a Malfoy to feel the elements the way we do it. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Next, you will train with Sissy, she's a charms master." Narcissa waved at Harry and smiled when her name was mentioned. "And last, but not least, you'll have to learn to become an Animagus."
That is where Harry cut in: "What? You're kidding me, right? It's impossible to do it in such a short time!"
"Nothing is impossible for a Malfoy. Remember that," Lucius added. "This part of training will be done by Gregor. He is primarily our butler, but he's also our friend and a powerful wizard. And you'll get some assistance from Professor McGonagall as well."
"Okay, I'll try my best, but this is a lot to take in at once."
"One more thing," added Lucius. "You'll do it under two conditions. One, you must never reveal this secret and what you've learned in here under the Secrecy Oath until you face the Dark Lord."
"What's the second condition?" asked Harry.
"Your partner in training will be Draco; he's the best match for you. You'll spend a lot of time with him and to help you think like a Malfoy, you'll share a room with him."
"You can't be serious, he's a total git to me. He'll never agree to it!" Harry objected.
Lucius smiled at him and said: "Remember, it was all an act, give him a chance. And now you'd better go upstairs, shower and get ready for dinner; Draco will be joining us for dessert because he still hassomething to attend to. Gregor, would you be as kind as to show Harry his room?" he directed his attention to the butler.
"Of course, Sir," Gregor nodded. "Harry, come with me."
"Ok, I'll see you later then," Harry turned to Narcissa and Lucius. "This a lot to take in, I don't know if it will ever seem normal, but I'll try." he smiled and walked after Gregor upstairs.
"You'll get used to it. They are a great bunch of people, they just weren't allowed to show it before," added the young man. "Here you are, shower is that way," he showed a door on the other side of the room. "Take your time."
"Thank you, Gregor. I'll see you later then," he added, noticing for the first time how big the room was how filled with spellbooks, clothes and ornaments it was. And at the centre of it-a big spacious bed with –surprisingly- RED bedding. He threw himself on the bed, kicking his shoes off and thought to himself that maybe it isn't such a bad thing to be a Malfoy. Not at all.
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Comments&Reviews: Highly encouraged
Disclamer: I don't own any of the characters (only those I created, like one of the characters in this chapter), and I will try not to alter their personalities too much and leave them as J. created them to some extent. I also do not make any money from writing this.
BETA: belgarion63
Originally posted on y-gallery, http://yaoi./view/520447/
