Golden Protector
Chapter 3: First Day
…
Draco raised his eyebrow when he sat down in his usual spot at the Slytherin table the next morning with his auror and all the people around him shifted away from them. They were alone now in the middle of the table and had a nice bubble of space between the other students. What did he have cooties now or something?
He tried to ignore it as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Draco could see his godfather handing out the schedules down the table. He put a muffin and some bacon on his plate as he waited for his turn.
When Severus finally reached him he handed him his schedule with only a "See you in class" As a greeting. The man was never very open with his affections towards his godson. He nodded to show that he got the message.
Draco took a sip of his coffee as he looked over the schedule Severus had just handed to him.
"Where are you going to go while I'm in class?" Draco asked Garrott. The auror reached over and plucked the schedule out of his hand. "What are you doing?"
"Looking over our schedule and seeing what classes I'll have to sit through again." Garrott replied.
"You mean you're going to be following me around to all of my classes." Draco said for confirmation. "Why?" He whined.
"What if Greyback attacked you in Transfiguration and I wasn't there to protect you." Garrott stated matter a fact as he took a stripe of bacon off his plate and took a bite.
"Then McGonagall would maul him and make him sorry he was every born." Draco responded back pettily.
Draco frowned as he slid his plate out of the aurors reach and took a bite of his chocolate chip muffin in thought. He quickly finished his muffin and downed the rest of his coffee in one go. "Let's go." Draco commanded as he realized that the great hall was emptying quickly as it grew closer to class time.
He climbed over the bench and made to leave hoping that the auror would just follow after him. He heard the man huff of annoyance, as he had to leave behind his plate of food to follow his charge.
They were walking through the entrance hall on their way to the dungeons when, "Malfoy!" Could be heard being called from behind them. The sound of trainers hitting stone could be heard. Draco turned around surprised until he realized it was Potter. He ran until he reached his side. "Hi." Harry greeted.
"Ah, hi." Draco replied surprised, which he received a smile for. He could see Garrott glare at the other boy out of the corner of his eye.
"So how's it been so far? No one's been bothering you." Harry asked slightly out of breath. He must have run all the way from the Gryffindor table when he noticed I was leaving the hall.
Potter wanted to check up on me he thought to himself. "No, but no one's really had a chance to either. McGonagall's given my own room, well a room I share with Garrott." Draco revealed. "I don't have to share a room with the other 8th year Slytherin boys."
"That was nice of her." Harry replied but he seemed to be thinking of something else. Looking between the auror and me.
"Come on, we must be getting to potion's, don't want to be late." Garrott said as he put his hand on Draco's shoulder. It always seemed that the young auror was literally dragging him away from his conversations with Potter. They descended into the dungeons. Garrott was fine until he noticed the footsteps behind us.
"Why are you following us?" Garrott demanded. From what he'd heard about these two is that they couldn't stand to be in the same room as each other. Now it was like they were inseparable.
"I have potions class too." Harry Potter replied back like Garrott was an idiot. Gryffindors always had potions with Slytherins.
Garrott groaned as he tried to man handle the Malfoy boy to class. He didn't think he could stand if the chosen one was always dodging his steps.
When they entered the classroom most of the other students had already arrived.
Ron waved Harry over to the front of the class where Hermione always liked to sit but he just brushed him off.
Draco took his usual seat on the Slytherin side in the middle in the back row. He used to have Crab and Goyle sit on each side of him but that wouldn't be happening ever again he thought a little sadly. Instead he had his auror sit on his left and surprisingly he had Potter sitting on his right.
"Aren't you on the wrong side of the room?" Garrott asked. He may not have been to school for a couple years but he still knew which house sat where.
"No. I'm fine right where I am." He lent around Malfoy to shoot the auror a pointed look.
Snape entered the room with a flare of his robes. Almost dying hadn't changed him one bit. He stopped and turned once he reached the front off the class to take stock of who was present in this particular class. His eyes narrowed when he realized something.
"Potter is there a reason you're sitting back there with Malfoy." Snape asked. Everyone turned back in their seats to look.
"I've just stopped fighting the fact that you'd just pair me up with him anyway." Harry answered with a smile. He'd come to understand that the happier you were the more pissed off it made the man.
"I'm glad to see you've finally surrendered to my will." Snape said sarcastically then turned to the rest of the class. "Take your textbooks out and turn to page. 464. You will complete this potion by the end of class. I'm sure you're all old enough to follow those simple instructions without me having to hold your hand. Begin."
Malfoy being the diligent potion student he was immediately went to grab his potion textbook from his bag. Flipping through the pages to find what was actually assigned. Stopping when he found the page and deflating when he read the title. "It's just a healing salve." He said disappointed, not particularly saying it to anyone.
He pushed the text in my direction to prep the area for brewing and allowing me to see the ingredient list. Probably thinking about how I was actually a student and the auror wasn't.
"The people you are sitting with will be your potion partners for the rest of the year." Snape informed the class.
Harry smiled when he heard the auror groin in frustration. Malfoy didn't notice the silent battle going on behind him because he was already busy setting up the cauldron. "Which one of you wants to get the ingredients?" He said obliviously.
"I will." Harry volunteered happily and skipped to the ingredient cupboard; feeling the auror glare on his back.
…
Harry was disgruntled he couldn't follow Malfoy around after potions but he had care of magical creatures while the Slytherin had arithmacy from what he had overheard.
He met up with his friends after to walk to there next class together.
"What was that all about, why were you sitting with Malfoy?" Ron didn't wait to ask.
"I was examining some ones character." Harry responded.
"I thought you liked Malfoy now?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Not Malfoy, the auror with him?" Harry said in frustration. "I don't know why but there's something about him that I just don't like."
"It was like hate at first sight with you two." Ron said thoughtfully, remembering there first meeting on the train platform.
"Do you have a bad feeling about him or something?" Hermione asked as they started to ascend the stairs to the entrance hall.
"Yeah." Harry said.
They stopped because this is where they separated from Hermione. She had Arithmancy on the 6th floor while they had to go to Hagrid's hut. That gave him an idea.
"Hey Hermoine. Do you think you can watch Malfoy for me? Make sure no one picks on him or anything." Harry asked as he watched the blond ascend the stairs with his auror.
Hermoine sighed. "Whatever, Fine. I don't want to be late. I shouldn't indulge you though." She said before leaving them to go to her class.
Harry and Ron left for the large doors that led to the grounds. Wondering which magical creature they were going to have to deal with today.
…
Draco sat in the back of the Arithmacy class alone with his auror.
The class was mixed between all the houses and the two older years. Not enough people wanted to take the complicated course for it not to be. He was lost in observing the class until someone sat beside him. He turned around in surprise.
"Granger?" Draco said questionably.
"Malfoy." She replied back simply.
What could she possibly be sitting with him for? Draco asked himself. He ignored her once class started.
…
Draco felt weird as went to class to class with his auror shadow. That's what he'll call the guy from now on, at least in his mind.
Draco made a beeline back to their new quarters as soon as classes ended for the day.
He wasn't sure if it was the ex-death eater thing or the auror following him around but none of his friends or fellow classmates had approached him yet.
Saying the password he dashed across the common area and into his room, closing the door behind him without saying anything to his auror.
Flopping down on his bed in exhaustion, he put his arm over his eyes.
He knew it was going to be a very long year but this day just cemented that sentiment. Could he really survive this year he thought to himself.
…
Harry watched the door anxiously for Malfoy's entrance at dinner.
Hermione watched in annoyance as Harry made his baked potato into mashed as he played with his food instead of eating it. His fork making a scratching noise as it slid across his plate. Finally in annoyance she grabbed his wrist to stop his movement. "Harry, what's bothering you so much?"
Harry sighed. "Sorry." He dropped the fork when he realized what he'd been doing. Hermione let go of his wrist then. "Malfoy just hasn't showed up to dinner yet."
Hermoine sighed at her best friend's fixation on the Slytherin boy. "I'm sure he's just taking dinner in his new rooms. He's probably tired of people staring at him." She shrugged her shoulders as she reassured her friend.
"You're probably right." Harry agreed with a shake of his head. "Where do you think the rooms are?" He asked not really expecting an answer. Mindlessly picking up his fork again and continuing to mash his potato. Hermione frowned in frustration.
"Hey are you going to eat that?" Ron asked as soon as he basically licked his plate clean.
Harry looked down at his plate and sighed in disgust at his actions. "No, you can have it." He pushed the plate towards his gluttonous best friend. "I'm going to bed." Standing up and leaving the table.
"But you haven't eaten anything?" Hermione called after him but when she received no response she turned back to her boyfriend as he was shoving the now mashed bake potato into his mouth. "Really Ron, I know your mother taught you better table manners than that." Harry could hear as he left.
…
Harry opened his trunk at the base of his bed.
He leaned on his knees. Shifting though the clothes and important items he'd placed in it. He made a sound of accomplishment when his hand found the thick blank parchment of the Marauder's map.
"I swear I'm up to no good." The marauders names appeared across the parchment. He unfolded the parchment to see all of Hogwarts uncoil before him.
Searching through all the names he looked for Malfoy.
The Slytherin wasn't anywhere in the dungeons surprisingly. Why couldn't he just make it easy for him? He decided to go by floor to look for the blond. Scanning first floor he didn't spot him anywhere so he moved on.
"There you are." Harry said to himself in accomplishment. He could see Draco Malfoy written in what appeared as a personal chamber on the second floor. There were a couple rooms together with only one marked exit.
The boy wasn't moving at all, it was like he was asleep. It was probably his new bedroom. The map didn't show furniture so there was most likely a bed under the boy. Harry was glad to see the auror's name Nathanial Garrott on the other side of the quarters far away from Malfoy.
Harry debated with himself. Fingering his invisibility cloak he got to thinking. Should he go down there? He asked himself. He stopped debating though when he remembered something. The quarters were most likely guarded by a portrait and he didn't have the password.
He could knock but the auror would most likely be the one who answered.
Sighing in disappointment. "Oh well. At least I know where he's rooming now." Harry said to himself. Tapping his wand against the parchment and saying "mischief managed."
o0o
Draco ate his English muffin and bacon with a relish at breakfast the next morning. He'd ended up falling asleep without dinner last night. For once he went for food first instead of coffee.
There was still a bubble around them.
Draco was disappointed. Shooting a look over at his supposed friends. They snapped their eyes away from him to avoid eye contact. Pansy was a bitch at the best of times so he wasn't surprised by her behavior but he was disappointed in Blaize.
Blaize was his best friend. The boy had never had to choose a side in the war and had stayed neutral through it all. He hoped that he wouldn't care what others would think and actually talk to him.
He was snapped back when his auror had stolen a stripe of bacon off his plate again."Why do you keep stealing my food?" Draco snapped. He never liked anyone touching his food. You never knew where their hands had been.
"Testing to make sure it isn't poisoned." Garrott answered before reaching like he was going to go for his coffee next. Draco snatched the mug away so fast he almost sloshed the hot liquid all over himself. Food was one thing but no one touched his coffee.
"No one's trying to kill me. Greyback just wants to kidnap me for some nefarious reason." Draco responded with a glare.
"You never know, someone might." Garrott said. "Your families made a lot of enemies in this war on both sides. Someone just might think it would be a pleasant idea to take out the Malfoy heir."
Draco's heart leapt in his chest. "You're not supposed to scare me." He said accusingly.
"Just telling the truth." Garrott said with a laugh at his expense.
"Let's just get to class." Draco grumbled as he grabbed his bag and strode for the doors of the great hall.
…
Draco took his seat in the back of the charms classroom to not draw attention to him self. He wasn't going to make the same mistake again of sitting in the middle of the room. This was one of the few classes that only featured 8th year students, since the room was small enough.
He watched as all the other students took their seats with their friends. Including his own while he was stuck with just his auror for company. Draco was snapped out of his trance when someone sat down beside him. Looking up in surprise it died when he saw it was Potter again. What could he want now?
"Why weren't you at dinner last night?" Potter asked like they were friends who had agreed to meet for a meal and he hadn't shown. Pulling his book and quills out making it seem like he was planning on staying for the duration of class.
"Fell asleep." Draco answered simply; caught off guard by the other boy's camaraderie towards him.
Professor Flitwick had to clear his throat to gain the attention of the class. "Welcome to 8th year charms. This is the first and only time it will be taught." The whole class looked around at each other in understanding, remembering the war.
"Since most of you went through the usual 7th year charm curriculum already this course will be comprised of learning additional advanced spells that are usually reserved for people who want to start a charms internship to join a field that heavily require the spell skill set. Today we will be concentrating on the anti-theft charm to warm up for the year before we move into more complicated spells. Please take out your wands and we will begin." Flitwick instructed. "You will take out an item and place it on your desk, your table partner will then try and steal it then vise versa."
Draco reached into his robe where he usually kept his wand without even thinking about it. He was surprised for a second to find nothing before remembering why. Turning to his auror he asked with wounded pride. "Do you think I can get my wand back?"
"Right." Garrott exclaimed in a tone of voice revealing he had totally forgot. "But only for the class period." The auror reached into his own robe and pulled out his charges wand and handed it to him.
Draco could feel as his magic reconnected to his wand. The hawthorn wand with a unicorn hair core felt so familiar in his hands. It made him feel drowsy and electrified at the same time. Made him just want to curl up with it and never let it go again. Contentment started seeping through his system. He smiled to himself as his fingertips tingled.
"You aren't going to actually only give him his wand for classes are you?" Potter asked his auror snappily.
"I'm under orders to since Malfoy is still under parole." Garrott defended his reasoning.
'Why did they always end up fighting?' Draco asked himself as he observed the two. Drifting off into his own mind.
"That isn't right! A wizard feels dis-jointed when they're separated from their wands for too long." Harry yelled back. Thinking about when his wand was broken when they were looking for horcruxes.
Draco turned to look at the other boy. Potter made a valid point. If this were how he was going to feel every time he was reconnected with his wand he'd probably be useless in classes.
"Rules are rules." Garrott replied snottily to Potter like he enjoyed denying him.
"Mr. Potter you are supposed to be performing the anti-theft charm, not arguing with aurors. 10 points from Gryffindor. Get to work." Flitwick reprimanded the golden boy.
Draco slid further down his seat as to hide himself when their table received looks from the entire class. Attention was just exactly what he was trying to avoid. 'Thanks a lot Potter' he thought.
.
They packed up their books once the class was dismissed.
"What do you have next?" Harry asked. He knew he had his next class was mixed and didn't include an Slytherins so he was curious where Malfoy was going.
"Stupid muggle studies." Draco complained with a frown. He'd avoided taking the class every year. His father always said it was useless and he could be spending his time on much better things. It was mandatory for all pure bloods to take the class now to better understand the culture.
"It isn't that bad at all. You just go over technology and watch movies." Harry thought the blond was being dramatic about having to take the class.
"What's a moo-v?" Draco asked perplexed.
"Yeah you need the class." Harry patted the Slytherin's shoulder sympathetically. It was weird to realize that the boy being raised in the wizarding world didn't about a bout a lot of things that he just assumed all people did.
"At least you don't have to take wizard society." Harry complained back. They added a new course after the war that was required for all muggle raised students to take too just so it would be fair.
"I was home schooled in it before I even came to Hogwarts. If you are going to stay in the wizarding world and get a job, there are rules and etiquette that you need to know." Draco replied snottily. "At least what you're learning is useful later in your life. When am I going to use my knowledge of muggle society?" He asked.
"If you ever want to pass as a muggle." Harry replied thinking about all the wizards he'd seen trying to look like a muggle and failing horribly. He thought about how Lucius had actually raised Malfoy. "Just curious, have you ever left the wizarding world before?"
"No." Draco replied sharply. "Why would I ever want to?"
"If you've never left the wizarding world how do you know you wouldn't like the muggle world?" Harry asked.
"I've got to go or I'll be late." Draco said as an excuse to leave. He felt uncomfortable with this topic of conversation. He didn't like how muggle born wizards looked at him like he was mentally incompetent when he didn't know what a telephone was.
…
Harry stormed into the Gryffindor common room. Seeing his friends by the fire he went to join them. Slumping into one of the plush chairs. He hadn't been able to get it out of his head all day.
"Something wrong mate?" Ron asked, reading his friends dejected body language.
"Hermione, do you know what the ministry's rules for wizards on parole for wands are?" Harry asked, ignoring his best friend's question.
"Yes, why." Hermione asked as she put the book down she had been reading. Feeling like this conversation would require all of her attention.
"Malfoy's only allowed his wand during classes and I wanted to see if I could get that changed." Harry answered.
"Of course, Malfoy." Ron mumbled to himself. Thinking how everything out of his friend's mouth lately seemed to be about the git. It was only the first day of school and he was already tired of it.
"I don't think you can. Usually on wizard on parole is only allowed a ministry wand that is only strong enough to perform cleaning charms so he's lucky to even be allowed any use of his regular wand." Hermione answered.
"Isn't it bad to sparsely use your magic like that?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Yes, it's really bad. The less you use your magic the weaker it becomes. It's my opinion that the ministry made this rule on purpose, to keep the wizard weak so that they can't pose a threat to society anymore." Hermione explained.
Harry was horrified to hear that. "That's completely barbaric." Ron gave him a weird look when he said that. It was official; he was turning into Hermione. "I don't think he was given a ministry wand though."
"You could request he be allowed one of those so he can keep his strength up." Hermione suggested kindly.
"I think I know just who to talk to." Harry exclaimed deep in thought.
…
The halls were pretty empty since it was late in the evening. Harry knocked on the Defence of the Dark arts class room. A deep voice told him he could enter. He turned the handle and pushed the door open. He could see that the large classroom was lite by only one candle on the professor's desk that the man was using to mark papers by.
"Kingsley, do you think I can talk to you about something?" Harry asked the long term auror. He knew the man through the order of the phoenix so he felt comfortable with asking him for this.
"Come in, take a seat." Kingsley suggested, placing his papers aside to show that he had his full attention. "What is it?"
Harry took a seat on the other side of the desk from the large man. "I was wondering if a wizard on parole who's allowed use of his own wand only when supervised can also possibly get one of the ministry issued wands?"
"Which wizard are we talking about?" Kingsley asked while rubbing his chin. He was pretty sure who the boy was talking about. He'd seen them sit together during his class.
"Well, Malfoy actually." Harry admitted.
"Are you sure he doesn't already have one?" The Kingsley asked. He didn't want to put the request in only be told that it was already done.
Harry thought hard about if he'd ever seen the blonde using another wand other than his own. He focused on the fact that it was mostly used for cleaning spells. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't. I've seen him spill something and him clean it by hand."
"It's usually part of parole to be issued one but if it was over looked, I can request Mr. Malfoy be sent one." Kingsley agreed.
"That would be great." Harry thanked the man. Standing up once he got what he came for.
…TBC
*The awkward trying to get to know someone time.
