Disclaimer: In chapter one.
Chapter 3: Flashes of Silver
That night Harry attended his first required meal. He sat in his assigned seat pushing his food around the plate he had received from the House elves. The yearly house sorting was interrupted by the loud bang of the Great Hall doors slamming against the wall. Two cloaked strangers stood in the doorway. An excited chatter erupted in the hall as the two strangers proceeded to the Staff table.
The taller man inclined his head in greeting and said, "Forgive us, Headmaster Dumbledore. We were forced to stop for some. . . dinner." Although their heads were covered with cloaks, Harry believed that the man who was speaking had a huge grin on his face.
"That's fine," Dumbledore said forgivingly, a smile plastered on his wrinkly face. "We were just sorting the students." He gestured for the stranger to take a seat at the Head table. The taller man bowed his head and walked over to the empty teaching seat. The shorter cloaked figure, whom Harry thought was probably his son, followed obediently until he stood directly behind his friend.
"Draconis, wouldn't you like to sit down?" whispered the tall man. "You know that you don't have to stand behind me."
"I feel safer next to you." Draconis whispered his left arm coming up to scratch the right in a nervous manner.. Even though it was whispered, Harry still heard. The gossip coming from the students in the Great Hall started again with vigor. Could their new professor have a young lover? Harry noticed that when the noise reached a deafening roar all at once, Draconis flinched and the Professor said something to him.
"Silence," ordered Dumbledore. "Minerva, you may continue with the sorting." She began the sorting again. Harry promptly went back to pushing food around. When she finished, the hat and stool were removed.
"Do you want him to be sorted?" Dumbledore inquired.
"No, he will stay in a room off mine until he finds his mate. Then, he will need his own rooms. Since he will not belong in any house, I promise to effectively end any wrongdoing of his."
"Very well." Dumbledore looked around the room noticing the sea of satiated students and all the smiling faces. "Another year has began. What mysteries this year will unravel is yet to be seen. However, I would like to extend a warm welcome to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Xavier Croix and his. . . .um..apprentice, Draconis. Draconis will be attending classes with the seventh year and is to be treated with respect. You would do well to leave him alone." This speech was accompanied by a stern gaze that promised an appropriate punishment for the rule breakers.
Harry approached the Head Table with his plate in hand. He was to show Madame Pomphrey that he had eaten before he would be allowed permission to leave.
Approaching the Head table slowly, he heard the new professor and Dumbledore discussing food issues. 'Why would they need to worry about that at Hogwarts?' Harry wondered.
"My little one prefers O food, while I myself have no preference. This won't be a problem, will it? He will need to eat, at least once a day. You will be able to find the donors, won't you?"
"I assure you that this will not be a problem. We will find the necessary things."
"We shall retire than." They left, the shorter man, Draconis, trailing slightly behind.
"Madame Pomphrey?" She turned and smiled at him. He held out his plate and she nodded her head. He could leave now. He began walking towards the door.
"Harry, my boy." Dumbledore called. Harry turned, he didn't care what this man had to say. "You'll be happy to hear that I've found a psychologist for you. Your first meeting will be tomorrow, Friday at seven. Don't be late. You will meet them here."
"I won't, Headmaster. I'll work really hard too. I want to be better." Harry left the Hall, his last image of a Headmaster with his eyes glistening from his made up bullshit. He couldn't believe Dumbledore would do anything without his consent, especially after everything Harry had done for him. He realized Voldemort and Dumbledore weren't that different after all.
Harry entered the common room. Ron and Hermione were making out in the corner. It was obvious that they wouldn't want to talk to him right now. He decided to get a shower. Hopping into the warm cascading water, he started shaving. He felt a sting and looked at his razor. He smiled sadistically, and removed the blade. Hoping the nurse wouldn't notice, Harry began making cuts, small miniscule cuts. However, he couldn't control himself. The cuts became longer and deeper. He finished his shower, and carefully secured his razor back in place. He climbed into bed.
The next morning, he borrowed, without permission, some concealer from a girl. He put them on his cuts and checked in with Pomphrey. She checked his body carefully and asked about the cut on his cheek. He told her the truth. His razor slipped while he was shaving.
She smiled at him, "Just be more careful next time, okay?" She cleared him to leave. She went into her office and proceeded to write in his chart of his progress.
Down at breakfast, Harry helped himself to a single piece of toast. He decided to see how little he could eat before they would say anything. The mysterious Draconis entered the Great Hall. His hood casting shadows on his face, but one thing was definite. His hair was a golden. . .blonde. Harry fell out of his seat.
Blood. Lots of Blood. The dagger. An unfortunate boy. Blonde Hair. Killing himse--
"You need to be more careful. Are you okay? Looks like I gave you quite a startle." Harry could see the whiteness of his teeth. "My name is Draconis."
"Hi. My name is Harry Potter." He couldn't take his eyes off the blonde hair. His hair was a beautiful light golden blonde. His thoughts began to wander. 'Voldemort is going to kill him.'
"Draconis, stop bothering that boy." That was the new professor, right? He wasn't sure. He couldn't think with Draco standing this close to him.
He gripped Draconis's hands. "Please don't go. He's going to kill you." Harry grabbed him and pulled him against his body. "He's going to kill you, we have to run!"
'Is he sobbing? Why isn't he letting me go? Help.' An uncomfortable look appeared on Draconis's face. He looked over at his mentor, hoping that he would make this weird feeling go away.
"Draconis, let's go. You can help me prepare for today's lesson." Draconis pulled himself from Harry's grasp. He walked away with his mentor. Harry told Madame Pomphrey he wasn't hungry and left early for potions class.
'I should have dropped Potions. I really hate that git.' Harry sighed. He looked up when he noticed a pair of shoes stop right in front of him. It was Draconis. 'Great. How do I explain my episode in the Hall?'
"Is this seat taken?" Harry shook his head no. Draconis sat down. "It seems that you had something quite bad happen to you. I'm here if you need someone to talk to." The bell rang and class was to begin. Snape stormed into the classroom making his dramatic entrance.
"We will be brewing the short-term short process veritaserum today. Partners are: Goyle with Parkinson, Crabbe with Zabini. . ." It was obvious who was being favored. "Potter…," said a loathing Snape. ". . .with Draconis." Directions are on the board. You may begin.
"Do you even know who I am?" demanded Harry, restarting the conversation. Why would he trust someone he didn't know with his secrets.
"You are Harry Potter, the person." Draconis responded. He set up the cauldron and prepared a small fire under its base.
"To you, maybe," sulked Harry. "I'm the golden boy, or the savior to everyone else. I want to be just Harry." Harry got up, and left to retrieve the required ingredients.
"You are just Harry." Draconis said to the retreating figure. "Soon you will believe that." Harry returned and they began to make the potion
"Look, I'm sorry about this morning. I don't know what came over me."
"It's fine." They didn't talk during the rest of the period. Harry was the one to cut up everything. They both scooped their finished potion into some vials and stuck one on Snape's desk. Hiding the others in their robes. Harry hid a long silver object in his robes also, slipping it in when no one would notice.
"Are you taking defense?" Harry curiously asked.
"Yes, I have it next."
"Me too."
"I'll walk you, if you want?" Draconis was nervous for some reason. He knew that if Harry were to see his face with his hood lowered, he would be recognized as the "defenseless boy." He had been dead, and was brought back to life by his mentor, Xavier Croix. Voldemort had murdered Xavier's mate to enlist him as a loyal follower. He had. When a vampire loses their mate, they lose everything. He knew that in roughly two months his own soul would search and by then, he would need to have mastered his vampirism.
"Alright, I should wait for Ron and Hermione. It doesn't matter though, they have been ignoring me for each other. Let's just go." Draconis let out the breath he hadn't known he was holding.
They walked quickly and quietly to Defense class. The Professor was already there, seated at his desk. Draconis picked the first seat, dead center in the middle. Harry sat beside him.
The bell rang. "Welcome to my class. I would like to start of by saying that my name is Xavier Croix. Please call me Xavier as professor makes me sound old." He smirked when he had elicited chuckles out of a few girls. "Today is a test day. I've made up a test that will pinpoint a person's weaknesses. This is important because then when we have the individual study, together we can configure how the easiest way to exploit the weakness would be, and how to overcome said weakness. Once you are finished with this test, you are free to go. However for homework, please read the Chapter on silent spells. Then write some pros and cons of verbal versus silent spells.
The test papers were handed out. Harry looked at his paper. The first question materialized.
1.What is your full name? Harry James Potter
2.What do you fear most? Blonde hair
3.Why? Because I let him die.
4. Who died? Draco Malfoy
5.How could you have prevented his death? I could have killed Voldemort faster.
6.How did Draco die? He had the spell Imperio cast on him and then was forced to slit his own wrists.
7.Have you ever tried hurting yourself? Yes.
8.Do you still continue to? No.
Harry lied. No one needed to know the truth. No one cared enough for it to matter. A sad, sinister smile appeared on his face. He was definitely not the Harry from before the war. He was alone with the blood of many innocents coating his hands for the rest of his life.
9.Why? Because this is my punishment. I deserve this.
10.Do you want to die for your sins? . . .Yes, I really do.
Sign your name on the line
Harry tried several times but found that no matter how many times he attempted it, his name would fade into the parchment whenever it was written. Shrugging, he got up from his chair, handed the parchment to his teacher, and left. Right before leaving, he looked back into the room and realized nobody else noticed. Silver eyes watched him leave.
Draco's Test:
1.What is your full name? Draconis
2.What do you fear most? Myself
3.Why? Because I am not human
4.Is that so important? Yes
5.Why? Because my father thinks so.
6.Do you live with your father? No, I live with my sire.
7.Are you happy with your life? My undead one, yes.
8.Then his opinion shouldn't matter, right? I agree
Sign your name on the line
Draconis
The rest of the class turned in their tests and went to lunch. Harry, once again showed his barely eaten food to Madame Pomphrey. After being given criticism for how little he had eaten, he thanked her and promised to eat more at dinner. He had Charms, Transfiguration, and Divination after lunch with Draconis
Harry attended supper, but he remained behind afterwards. "Headmaster, where is my. . .therapist?" Harry asked.
"Hello, Harry. I'm sorry I'm late. I had to grab your test and get a dagger from Severus."
"Xavier?" Harry questioned. "I don't understand."
"Yes, Harry. He is highly qualified and offered to help. You will be meeting with him every other day until a solution is found."
"Headmaster. All I ask is that he report to me to be checked for new cuts and that tomorrow he be excused for all the meals."
"Very well." Dumbledore turned to Harry. "This is your last chance young man. We expect a great many things from you. Don't let us down. Have a good session." Dumbledore left, humming a show tune on the way out.
:"Shall we go to my office?" Xavier and Harry began walking towards Xavier's rooms. Xavier kept attempting to strike up a conversation with Harry, however, it was one sided since Harry had taken to ignoring him.
Xavier opened the portrait, and Harry stepped through. The room was lavishly decorated. He was looking around when he saw a blonde head with piercing gray eyes step out of the shadows.
"I was just on my way out. Will we be dining tonight? I'm becoming hungry." Draconis walked towards the door, aware that Harry was staring at him. Harry's gaze didn't leave the back of Draconis's head until well after he lifted his hood into place and his hair was covered. 'Draconis is an exact replica of Draco Malfoy.'
"Anyway," Xavier said bringing about an abrupt halt to his thought process. "Seeing as how we will be getting to know each other closely, I want to tell you that I don't tolerate liars. I will be completely honest with you, so likewise, I want honesty from you. I won't keep secrets. I hope one day you trust me and you won't. First off, I'm a vampire. I can smell blood and know if you have open wounds. You do. When was the last time you cut?"
"Today," meekly replied Harry.
"Why?"
"Because I need to."
Xavier sighed in impatience. "What did you use to cut yourself?"
"A knife in potions."
"I'm going to be frank, Harry. I won't tell Dumbledore that you've cut. Instead, if you do, I'll be giving you something even more unpleasant. You don't want to have to sit through all the detentions I would give. Not to mention what you would be doing in them."
"I can't help it, though. I failed him. He died because of me," sobbed Harry. "He reminds me of him, you know. Same arrogant attitude. Same hair, face, hands, and body."
"Should I send Draconis away, perhaps to a different school?"
"No, you can't! Please. He's all I have left now." Harry broke down.
