Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of his associates. I do however, own this version of their story and any additional original characters I may introduce during its production. I'm glad that's out of the way! Okay, general rundown of the story is that this will be an H/D slash fic with a new twist to the bonded angle. This is all in HP time. Enjoy! Don't forget to review.
Chapter One: See Me Through
"How can we be so sure that McGonagall will be able to protect us," Blaize Zabini asked as the group of Slytherins he was walking with rounded the last corner before they reached the Transfiguration wing.
Rolling her eyes, Pansy Parkinson sighed exasperatedly and repeated for the fifth time that day, "McGonagall led the Order after Dumbledore died, so she's the one who decides protection and what not."
"Yeah, but why not go to Potter himself?"
"Were you not paying any attention at lunch, in the common room, at dinner, and in History of Magic when we discussed this? Potter told us to go to McGonagall. He said that McGonagall would be the one we needed to talk to in order to be placed safely where no one could find us. Right, Draco?"
"Yes, Potter was very specific in his instructions," Draco said, his mind going over his encounter with Potter for the millionth time since the event; as he went back, he drifted from his friend's conversation and straight to his own.
Flashback: One Week Ago (I'm going to be famous for these someday)
Draco sat on one of the Astronomy Tower's many ledges admiring the stars, or at least that's what it looked like he was doing. In his hands was a crumpled letter from his father. It described his choice of whether to join a new maniacal faction or to disappear in essence. His parents had left the choice up to him, instead of forcing him into an unwanted service. Many of his friends hadn't been quite so lucky, of course, not many of their parents had been spies and fewer had been spies for the light.
It had been a small sound, just a slight scrape against the stone floor, but it had Draco to his feet and wand at the ready. He stared around the small outer enclosure, his heart bumping against his ribs in his chest frantically.
Taking a shot in the dark, so to speak, Draco said to the space in front of him, "Come out Potter, I know you're here."
He waited for what felt like hours, and was just about to call it paranoia when Potter pulled off his cloak.
"Sorry if I disturbed you Malfoy, I was just leaving when you heard me," said Harry.
"Whatever, Potter."
They were silent for a few moments before, Harry asked, "What's going on with you?"
"Why should I tell you anything Potter," Draco sneered at Harry.
Harry looked at him for a moment before he said calmly, "You look like you need to, but if you don't talk to me then at least talk to someone."
Draco stared at Harry with an unguarded expression for a bare moment before re-schooling his features. He calculated everything that Harry had said, and while one part of him was practically screaming to trust Harry, there was still that little part of him that wanted to remind him of their past hatred. Truthfully, neither of them had been particularly hostile since the end of the war. In fact, they had been paired on several assignments and managed not to blow themselves or anyone else up.
Taking Draco's silence as anger, Harry moved back towards the door saying over his shoulder at Draco, "It was just a suggestion. See you around Malfoy."
Before Harry could walk through the doorway however, Draco said, "Wait! Just wait," he paused as Harry turned to face him, green locking on grey, then said, "I've been informed that a new faction of Deatheaters is being formed, and once they have enough power behind them they are going to break the few original surviving Deatheaters out of Azkaban. They have asked several of the old families t-to join them once they free them…"
Draco had, had to stop after his voice had broken to re-gather his now wounded pride, but finally gripping what little courage he possessed, he told Harry the rest.
"I don't want to; Join them, I mean. I can't do what they'd want me to, and I'm not the only one being confronted, but I am the only one with a choice. Except my choice would likely get my family killed."
Harry appeared to mull over everything that Draco had told him before asking, "How many?"
Almost breathing a relieved sigh, Draco counted the people off as he said their names, "Myself, Pansy, Blaize, Crabbe, Goyle, and my parents," Draco said, then after a short moment added, "The main players, or as we are called in Slytherin, the Higherarchy. The younger ones in Slytherin don't really know what to do and Bulstrode and Nott are leading the new Deatheaters charge. Thankfully, most of Slytherin will more likely side with me should it come to that."
Harry absorbed this information chewing on his bottom lip slightly in thought; Seeming to be considering several ideas. Draco was therefore surprised when Harry suddenly grabbed his arm motioning him out of the Astronomy tower, while throwing his invisibility cloak over them.
End Flashback (I wasn't originally going to end it there.)
"-aco? Draco!"
Pansy's voice in his ear broke through Draco's memory, and turning to her he asked in a very snappish tone, "What?!"
Rolling her eyes at him Pansy said, "We've been asking you for McGonagall's password for the past five minutes."
Shrugging at Pansy, Draco turned to the gargoyle and said, "Dumbledore's Army."
The gargoyle sprang aside allowing them onto the rising stone steps. When they reached the heavy door of McGonagall's office, Draco knocked three times slowly before walking inside followed closely by Pansy, Blaize, Vince, and Greg.
Shutting the door behind them, they turned as one to face Professor McGonagall.
"Good evening, Professor," Draco said taking charge of the conversation.
"I wish that were so Mr. Malfoy, but if your information is correct then there are more dangerous times ahead," McGonagall said gravely.
"I see that you've spoken with Potter," Draco said, arching an eyebrow.
"Harry, and yes he has informed me as to the nature of your inquiry. Keep in mind that after tonight you will both be on the same side Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall's expression was stern, and rather stubborn.
"I apologize for my rudeness Professor, old habits."
"Indeed. Given the circumstances, it was decided by the Order that you will reside here at Hogwarts during the summer where you will have the utmost protection. Arrangements have also been made for your parents. They should arrive here at the same time as yourselves."
"How exactly are we going to come back," Blaize asked.
"A portkey will be given to you shortly, which you will activate once you have reached a compartment on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow. A set of portkeys have already been sent to your parent's home Mr. Malfoy."
"Which Order member made the portkeys," Pansy asked, believing like the rest of them that it was probably the Auror, Kingsley.
"Technically, he was never a member of the order, although I among others believe he should have been," she said her eyes almost twinkling.
'Most come with the job,' Draco thought.
Dropping the issue of the portkeys for the moment, Greg asked, "Professor, how many people know about us?"
"The senior Order members, myself, Fred and George Weasley, you lot, Harry, and Ms. Granger," she said, the twinkling never leaving her eyes.
"Why would those two know," Crabbe said, surprised.
"They know Mr. Crabbe because they are the ones who suggested that you remain here."
"If the Golden Couple hadn't said anything, then where would we be," Pansy asked, her tone a cautious curiousness.
"You would have been placed at a safe house with minimal supervision and surveillance."
Arching his eyebrow again Draco said, "So in other words, had they not said anything we could've been easily dispatched by parties unknown."
"Some Order members would've deemed such placement appropriate; however, Mr. Potter with the help of Ms. Granger persuaded them otherwise."
"So we're either stuck with people who don't care whether we live or die, or with people who definitely want us dead," Greg surmised.
"Not entirely Mr. Goyle or I can assure you, you wouldn't be here right now," she said, her eyes shifting toward the door.
"Expecting someone, Professor," Blaize asked.
"Your portkeys were supposed to have arrived by now, but schoolwork or something akin to it is making him run a little late this evening."
"A student made them?!"
All of the Slytherins wore similar expressions of shock. Portkeys were considered extremely advanced magic since they required a great deal of knowledge of the area that you were being portkeyed to.
"Yes, one of my more advanced students has been working quite diligently on them. In fact, you know-"
McGonagall was cut off as the door burst open after a brief knock just before Harry Potter dashed into the room, the door slamming shut behind him.
Harry bent double at the waist panting as he said, "So-Sorry I'm l-late. Emer-Emergency in Gryffindor; had t-to be dealt with."
"What emergency Harry," McGonagall asked the twinkling brighter than before.
Harry straightened up with a sly smile gracing his features saying in a monotone, " 'The HPFC believe that it is high-time that the greatest hero of them all move out of his grieving brood for the fallen, and choose someone with which he may share his life.' Least that's the drivel that Ginny attempted to feed me."
"Ah, I see, and the 'Hero's' answer," she asked, a smile fighting with her current expression.
"Let's just say that half of Gryffindor is currently picking their jaws off the ground, while the other half is probably still glaring at Ginny," Harry said a true smile lighting up his features.
For the first time since their conversation that night, Draco really looked at Harry. His hair was still a dark disheveled mess, but his taste had definitely approved. He was wearing comfortable looking black trousers and an emerald green fitted pullover. His glasses had long disappeared since after the war, and his bright viridian eyes were emphasized by long black lashes. Harry still wasn't much taller than a fourth year, and his seeker's build did nothing to dissuade the assumption of youth. His skin had a nice tan to it which contrasted nicely with the rest of him.
Draco was pulled from his examination by McGonagall's voice saying, "I'll leave them to you, Mr. Potter. I need to go and assess the damage in Gryffindor."
McGonagall was out of the room within moments leaving the group alone.
"So, 'Greatest Hero of Them All,' what happened to make you late," Pansy asked with a slight smirk.
"Ginny got the Harry Potter Fan Club to back her in her attempts to… Had did Neville put that? To tie me down and shag me silly," Harry said a smirk of his own glinting mischievously on his face.
"I never thought I'd say this, but I'd never trade for your life Potter," Blaize said with an open expression on his bronze face.
"I doubt many would Zabini," Harry said, then asked in a more serious tone, "Did she tell you anything, that we didn't plan on?"
"No, you had her practically scripted," Vince said.
"I do have one question for you though," Draco said with a blank expression on his face.
With a concerned look, Harry asked, "What?"
"Did you really make the portkeys for us?"
Harry suddenly looked a bit uncomfortable after that, but after a few minutes of being stared at, Harry blushed as he said, "I had help learning how to do the charm."
At this, Draco smirked, "But you still made them yourself, correct?"
Harry nodded blush spreading to his whole face as he pulled several chained objects from around his neck, and began passing them out to each of the Slytherins.
"Okay, the password to activate them is 'Lions and Snakes.' Once activated, they should bring you straight back here; just make sure that you are in a compartment before activating them, or if there is some sort of emergency… Maybe you should just try to meet up with Hermione and I on the train."
Pansy's brow furrowed, "Why?"
"We'll be staying here this summer as well with my Aunt and cousin. Plus I'm a little tired; not really up to making two more portkeys."
Draco looked at Harry calculatingly, and said, "What would we get out of it?"
Harry stared directly into Draco's eyes before answering, "If you want it; Friendship."
"Why now?"
"Because we aren't little firsties anymore, and I'm getting tired of pretending to hate you."
Draco didn't move, and just like that night, Harry took it to mean that Draco was angry. He turned from the group and began packing the few possessions he'd brought with him.
Draco didn't give him a chance to leave, however, he held out his hand towards Harry's back and said, "Draco Malfoy."
Harry whipped around so fast that Draco was afraid he would have whiplash just from watching it. He waited as Harry stared surprised at his offered hand.
Nodding his head, Harry clasped Draco's hand, and said, "Harry Potter."
The others Slytherins looked at each other during Harry and Draco's interaction and thanks to non-verbal communication two things were decided. One, there was definitely something more there than either of them would probably ever let on to, and Two…
"Does your offer of friendship stand for just Draco or for all of us," Blaize asked.
Harry and Draco had sprung apart at Blaize's voice, but Harry clearly answered, "All of you."
So one by one, the rest of the Slytherins copied Draco's actions. Once they were done, Harry grabbed his bag from behind him, and walked towards the door sending a breath-taking smile back at them.
"Tomorrow."
The Slytherins nodded their assent, and Harry was gone. Shortly after, the Slytherins left as well.
