Chapter Three
IMPORTANT: (MUST READ) This is another Round Robin being written on Slytherin Mafia's yahoo group. With their permission, I put this up on here for other people to read and give ideas. This will be updated weekly or whenever the next person puts their chapter up. I do not actually write in either Round Robin. I'm the coordinator for both Round Robins. Any reviews will be passed on to them and replies will be the same. Please R&R. Thanks. IMPORTANT: (MUST READ)
We don't own HP/GW (goes off to pout)
Draco stretched as the train pulled into the station. He glanced across to where Harry was still sleeping, the book on family rituals Hermione had discovered clutched tight in his arms. He'd been reading and re-reading the chapter Hermione had book marked for him and practically had the thing memorized. He grinned softly at the slightly shorter boy before standing to head to the loo. As he did so, he couldn't help but think about the events of a month ago.
GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP – Flashback - GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP
Draco scowled as he pushed a sniffling Hufflepuff girl out the way and finally made it to where Hermione had been keeping watch on the far side of the maze. His father had warned him, warned him that something was happening – that there were rumours of something big being planned. Uncle Sev had warned him too… told the three of them how his dark mark was getting clearer, how the Dark Lord was regaining strength. They should have taken more precautions… they should have…
"Draco!"
Draco twisted to the left just in time to see Hermione's white face as she pushed her way through the panicking crowd towards him. He changed direction, meeting her halfway and pulling her to his side.
She was breathing hard, her eyes wide with fear. "We have to find Professor Snape or Professor McGonagall. I just saw Harry being led away by Mad-Eye!"
Draco swallowed. Although they hadn't found any proof that Harry was right - Harry had stuck by his belief that Mad-Eye was the spy in the first place. He'd insisted that Hermione at least always waited for him after class if Moody asked him to stay behind and the three of them had spent more than a few hours in the library researching everything he knew about the man – trying to find something that would prove this Mad-Eye was the fake. There was no way Harry would ever have gone with the man alone anywhere if he was in his right mind.
"McGonagall was one of the first down on the pitch. I don't know where Uncle Sev is but he's probably there too…"
GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP – End Flashback - GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP
It had taken him and Hermione three minutes to find Professor McGonagall who had been talking to Professor Dumbledore – and that was with the help of the twins. The pair had spotted them trying to force their way through the crowd and used their added height to get them through the crush quicker.
They had almost been too slow.
Draco would never forget the sight of Mad-Eye standing over a defiant Harry – even if it had only been for a second before the blast from the door caught him. He didn't think he'd ever been that grateful to Dumbledore at that moment. Even if the man did take every opportunity to ignore his contributions and make him out to be an attention seeking brat, he'd probably saved his best friends life if the words coming through the door were any indication.
He would have to ask Remus if he minded teaching them more defense magic over the holidays. Harry and Hermione knew a lot – and they all practiced what they knew – but books weren't a good enough substitute for a decent teacher and Remus was an excellent one.
Decision made, he slipped out the compartment quietly, not noticing Harry waking up as he did so. Behind him, the messy haired boy smiled as he watched his friend leave. Draco always tried so hard to keep an eye out for the two of them, acting as if no one ever went after him, but Harry wasn't stupid. He knew all about the trouble the blonde boy had in Slytherin House – particularly during his first year. To Harry it was just more proof that Draco was a real friend. No one who wasn't really his friend would go through all that trouble for him.
GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP – Flashback - GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP
Harry winced as the pepper up potion burned its way down his throat. He remembered the taste from when he was seven and had caught a cold after Dudley had pushed him into a snowdrift. It served its purpose though and he was able to think clearly… realizing at last which office he was in.
"You! I knew you were the spy!"
Mad-Eye – or rather whoever it was disguised as Mad-Eye - sneered at him. "Very good Potter. You always were a clever boy… no doubt being around that mud-blood Granger rubbed off on you…"
He raised his wand, the tip sending out red coloured sparks and stepped closer, wooden leg tapping on the floor. "Just imagine how much my Master will reward me when he finds out I… I killed the Boy-Who-Lived!"
Harry glared up at the man. He'd only have one chance… If he miss timed his attack…
"Stupefy!"
The door burst into shards under the force of the spell and Mad-Eye went flying across the room into the wall. In the new opening, Professors Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall stood, wands out and armed with just behind them the pale faces of Hermione, Draco and the Weasley Twins. Something in Harry relaxed at the sight. His friends were here. Uncle Sev, Aunt Minnie… he would be ok. It was over.
GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP – End Flashback - GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP
He was jolted out of his memories when the door opened revealing Hermione. She smiled at him and Harry grinned back at his first friend. Checking on the jar she'd had before, Harry glanced at it curiously before shrugging it off. Hermione would tell them what she was working on when she was ready. He could wait until then.
"Good sleep?"
Harry nodded, rolling his eye as he did so. Hermione could be as much of a mother hen as Draco at times. "Fine. No nightmares either."
She beamed at him, and Harry snorted softly before standing up and putting the book he'd been holding away in his trunk where it would be safe. He didn't want anyone seeing it and guessing what they were planning. With Voldemort back there was too much of a chance that they would be used against him. Old Snake Face would love any excuse to have a go at him…
He really hadn't liked being called Mouldy Voldy.
Book safely away he settled back into his seat and closed his eyes. They still had at least another four hours before they arrived back at Kings Cross Station. Once there, he and Hermione would meet the Malfoys and the Grangers and then head back home. Harry would head home with the grangers for tea and would be dropped back at the Dursleys later.
It was an arrangement that suited everyone and meant he had to spend less time with his aunt, uncle and cousin. He wondered what Mrs. Granger had cooked for them this time. It would definitely be good – while not quite as brilliant a chef as Dobby she certainly knew her stuff. Smiling to himself, Harry drifted off, his dreams of apple crumble quickly changing to another memory…
One that would hopefully get him away from the Dursleys forever…
GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP – Flashback - GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP
Harry slumped back against his pillows as Dumbledore disappeared. Draco sat next to him on the bed, picking up the goblet carefully. The twins looked at each other before sighing.
"We'll go head off Rona and Mum, Harry."
"We probably won't be able to keep them away for long, but…"
"…you should be asleep by then."
Harry gave them a grateful look before turning to his best friends. The three looked at each other as the door closed softly behind the pair.
"So Hermione… what was that bang for?"
She shook her head, and gave a small smile. "It's not important right now. But you… there's something bothering you."
Harry bit his lip before looking up with worried eyes. "Someone would have told me if I wasn't an only child right? Sirius or Moony or Sev? Someone?"
Draco frowned. "'Course. Even if they'd died… they should have been mentioned in the stories that Padfoot and Talon keep telling us."
"So why did my parents tell me to get back to Hogwarts and my brothers?"
Hermione blinked. "Brothers?"
Harry nodded. "Apparently I have two older twin brothers who are supposed to be with me."
Draco scowled. "If you have two brothers then there was no reason for you to stay with the Dursleys! You could have stayed with anyone and still had that blood protection!" His eyes widened and fixed on Harry sparkling. "If we can find them, Mum and Dad can adopt you!"
Harry's eyes sparkled as he exchanged looks with Hermione. "I bet Fudge would agree easily too…"
Hermione stood quickly; shoving a glass jar she'd got from somewhere deep into her bag. "I'll head to the library see if I can find some books with good spells in. Maybe something that checks for tampering with memories too… I can't believe that they'd never have told you about them so they mustn't know."
Harry nodded, fighting the urge to yawn as exhaustion crept back over him. Draco caught it and gave him that look. "Here. Drink your potion. We've got a month until we're due back. That'll give us plenty of time to research. For now, you need sleep."
GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP – End Flashback - GWxHPxGWxHPxGWxHP
Narcissa Malfoy blinked as she looked down at the trembling house elf in front of her. Next to it, Dobby looked up at her hopefully, his small arm wrapped tightly around the elf's shoulders. Draco and his friends had all written to her, telling her about what had happened last month and then she and her husband had questioned Severus extensively on what he knew as well. Still… she hadn't expected the elf in question to turn up in her back garden like this.
"Very well Winky. You may stay with us for a short time. I know one family that would very much like to have you working for them."
Winky blinked up at her – bat like ears perking up slightly in hope. "Winky is very grateful to the good Mistress!"
Narcissa nodded her head, a small smile growing on her lips as she remembered a short hurried letter. "I'm glad. Now remember, you will be staying here with Dobby most of the time. The only heir of the family I am thinking of lives with muggles so you can't stay there. But Harry needs someone to keep an eye out for him and from what I've heard… you'll be perfect for the job."
Winky nodded, dipping a deep curtsey before Narcissa signaled Dobby to show the small elf where her new room would be. The two disappeared with a crack, almost covering the sound of her husband appareling into the spot behind the garden shed that they kept for just that purpose.
Knowing that the back garden was well sheltered from the eyes of nosy neighbors the couple indulged in a brief kiss. He was back slightly early, so they had a good half an hour before they would have to leave to drive up to London for the kids. She tilted her head back for a second kiss before both her and her husband felt the wards flare.
There were muggles knocking at the door.
