Chapter Six - The Unexpected

It was the end of September when Harry found himself standing in front of Remus Lupin's house. He and Ron had taken their apparition test just the previous week and passed, so Harry had gone on his own.

Remus' house was much like the clothes he had always worn; old and shabby. Harry found it sad that after so many years Remus' condition forced him to live in a place that wasn't much of a step up from the Shrieking Shack that he had occupied as a child. With people like Dolores Umbridge in the Ministry, it was no wonder that most of the werewolves sided with Voldemort. Being a villain must be better than the constant discrimination that an honest werewolf would face.

Remus answered the door on the first knock.

"Harry, Come in. I'm glad you found me. I would have come to Grimmauld Place, you know."

"It's better this way. Besides, it gets me out of the house." And Harry didn't think it was quite the right time to tell him about Draco.

"I have to warn you," Remus said, leading him into the sitting room. "Tonks was here for dinner and said that she couldn't pass up a chance to see you."

Sure enough, as they entered the room Harry saw Tonks on the love seat with a big smile.

"Wotcher Harry!"

"Tonks, it's so good to see you. It's been a while."

"They keep me pretty busy these days. Haven't been 'round to the Weasley's since the wedding."

"Me either. Although we get an owl from Mrs. Weasley every day."

"She's allowed to worry."

"Harry, Tonks volunteered to stay if you want, but we'll understand if you wanted it to be just the two of us."

"No, that's great. I need all the help I can get and you two are the only ones that I would trust with it."

"Neither one of us are complete experts in what you want to know, Harry. We know how to do it, but that's not where either us have been trained."

"I just need to know. We're looking for something that may be hidden really well and I need to know if any spells have been used to hide it."

"I wish you would tell us what it is you're trying to do. We might be able to help with it."

"There are some things that nobody needs to know. It would make things more dangerous for you and us. It's why Dumbledore didn't tell anyone in the Order. He told me and allowed me to tell Ron and Hermione only. That's the way it has to stay for now. You'll have to agree that there are some things that I can't tell you."

Remus sighed. "I wish you would confide in me. I just feel like maybe you're in over your head."

"I know I am. That's why I'm here. But, Dumbledore trusted that I could do it. That's why he worked with me all year on it. I think he knew that he wouldn't be there to finish it with me."

"I want you to know that you can come to me with anything when you're ready. You're parents would kill me if I let anything happen to you."

Harry smiled. "If I'm as much like my Dad as everyone says then they should understand that I'm too stubborn to listen and they'll forgive you."

"Very well. Did you want to begin with finding hidden traces of magic or communicating with the patronus?"

"Whatever is more difficult, since I'll need to practice that more."

"You conjured a patronus as a mere third year, so that will be fairly easy. Sensing magic however is very advanced and not even covered in any portion of N.E.W.T. level education."

"It's in second year Auror training," said Tonks. "Just have to know the basics."

"First thing is, you have to be looking for it," said Remus. "Very few wizards can just sense it randomly. But you also have to remain open to magical energy." Noticing Harry's blank expression he hurried to explain. "Have you ever noticed an energy- almost a vibration in the air- at Hogwarts or Diagon Alley– anyplace with a lot of magic being used?"

"I guess. I don't notice it all year, but I do when I first get on the Hogwarts Express. I always just thought it was the excitement of going back."

"It's very subtle so you wouldn't notice it all the time. You, living in a muggle environment during the summer would feel it at first, but then your body becomes used to it again. In addition, some people are just naturally better attuned to pick it up, although it can be learned by anyone–even muggles can feel it. They have no way of knowing what it is though."

"So how do we do it?"

"Close your eyes and relax. Remember you have to be concentrating. Try not to think of anything else."

"A little like occlumency, you mean? Empty the mind?"

"A little."

"Great. We all know what an expert I was at that."

Remus chuckled. "This isn't as bad. You don't have to empty the mind, just be very calm and at ease with your surroundings. Now do it."

Harry relaxed into the chair and closed his eyes. His mind was nowhere near clear. He could feel Tonks' and Remus' eyes on him and that made him slightly uncomfortable. Then there was a light buzzing near his left ear. He resisted the urge to open his eyes.

"What is that?"

"You feel it?" asked Remus, a little surprised.

"Yeah. It feels like there's a fly near the side of my head."

"Open your eyes."

When Harry did he saw a small tea cup floating in midair. Remus had his wand pointed at it and Harry realized that the buzzing he heard was the magic of a hover charm. He didn't notice it now that his eyes were open, but it had been there.

"I did it?"

"Very good. I'm impressed. Now keep in mind that it was an active spell that was being cast right next to you, so it is easier to pick up, but for a first time and a weak charm that was still very good."

"So you mean if I was looking for traces of spells that had been cast a long time ago it would be a lot harder?"

"Yes, much harder, but with a lot of practice I think you could do it. You can even have Ron and Hermione help you with this back at the house. Have them cast a spell near you and you, with your eyes shut, sense what it is and where. Of course the where is much easier, but with a variety of spells you can learn to feel which ones were cast, or at least what type. Dark magic, for example, has a particular feel in comparison to the average hover charm."

Harry knew that already from casting the Killing Curse on the locket, but he didn't feel Remus really needed to know that.

"I'm going to try two different spells near you. See if you can feel the difference."

Harry closed his eyes again and felt the same buzzing coming from his right.

"That was the hover charm again?"

"Yes, now concentrate. This one may be a bit harder."

Once again Harry felt a buzzing, but this time it was much fainter and coming from his left side. It only lasted a few seconds and then was gone completely.

"What was that? It was on my left."

"I'm surprised you felt that."

"Only just."

"Open your eyes." Harry did as he was told and looked for what spell had been cast. Next to him on the table was a dinner plate. "I transfigured the lamp next to you. Transfiguration isn't always as strong. It depends on how powerful the spell is and how big of an object is being transfigured. But it does leave a long-lasting trace, while the simple hover charm does not."

"So you can tell if an object has been transfigured?"

"Theoretically, yes. Although it may be difficult, especially if it's an old spell. Touch the plate. Transfiguration traces aren't felt through the air usually, but you'll feel it with your hand on the object."

Harry pressed his hand against the cool, smooth surface of the plate. Magic vibrated through the china into his body.

They worked on similar drills for the next hour. Remus warned Harry that it was much easier to feel it when they were isolated from most other magic. In a place like Hogwarts– where the castle is constantly full of magical energy– it would be difficult to feel for something specific. Any magic that he may be looking for could easily blend in with the surrounding spells. The same would go for Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, or any other wizarding community.

Always practical and careful, Remus suggested that they not go into anything else that night in order to conserve Harry's energy. They made plans to meet as often as possible to continue practicing. Harry was anxious to learn how to make his patronus communicate the way Order members did and figured it would come in handy if he had to get a message to Remus quickly.

When Harry returned to Grimmauld Place that evening Draco was sitting at the kitchen table alone, reading. As usual, he didn't look up when Harry entered the room.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like, Potter?"

"Sorry, but usually you read in the sitting room or your bedroom."

"Well I'm not tonight."

Harry rolled his eyes. He should be used to Draco's attitude by now. "Uh-huh. Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"In the sitting room."

Harry began to head for the door.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Potter."

"Oh?"

Draco sighed and turned another page in his book. "I left them in there because what they were doing was making me nauseous."

"What?"

With a huff, Draco closed his book and set it on the table a little louder than was absolutely necessary. "They're making out, if you must know." Having said that, he made a brief look of disgust and stood. "Excuse me; I think I have to go be ill again."

"Wait a minute. They were actually kissing?"

"Not just kissing. I think his tongue was looking for something in the back of her throat. I haven't seen anything so repulsive since Pansy decided to show off her new lingerie." He paused, putting a hand to his stomach. "Now I am going to be sick. Anyway, just thought I'd stay in here to warn you. No one, not even you, should be subjected to that show of indecency. Now, goodnight."

"Wait, Malfoy, I'll walk up with you."

As they passed the sitting room they heard an unmistakable giggle that made them both cringe. Well, Harry had been telling them to get to it for a while. Now that he got his way though he almost wished he hadn't. Was this going to make things weird between the three of them? He was the only one who didn't have someone, other than Malfoy, to keep him company.

"I can't believe I just heard that!" Draco moaned. "Weasley and Granger... I would have been better off letting the Dark Lord kill me!"

Harry smiled to himself, although he wasn't entirely sure how he felt about him and Malfoy being the bachelors of the house.

For the next few weeks, Ron and Hermione were attached at the hip whenever they weren't bickering as they had done for so many years. They all continued to train with Harry's new knowledge from Remus. Malfoy had begun sitting in on the training sessions, although he still didn't have his wand. He said it was merely to offer suggestions, but Harry knew it was to provoke Ron into a verbal war that always resulted in another win for the blond.

Once Harry had learned the secret of how to communicate with a patronus, they spent most of this practice time perfecting it. Harry was the only one of them who could consistently conjure one and Ron had never managed much more than a silver wisp. Hermione's otter was coming along nicely, but she insisted that it needed more work. After a day of practice Ron had a little Jack Russell Terrier running about the study. He was quite proud of himself until Malfoy started laughing in the corner.

"Fuck, if we get attacked by a Dementor Weasley's patronus can bite its ankles!"

"Shut up, Malfoy!"

"Does he catch balls and roll over too?"

"Yeah, well what's yours? A slimy snake or something?"

"I don't know. I've never done it."

"Ha!"

"It's not as if I couldn't do it. It's not exactly on the school curriculum and Potter's got my wand under lock and key, so I guess we won't settle this. But I'm sure mine is better than a little yippy dog."

"Enough of this, boys. Harry, it's your turn to do supper. We'll clean up in here."

"Any special requests?"

"Poison for Mafoy's dinner?"

"Ron!"

Harry laughed and opened the door.

"I'm going with Potter. At least his patronus has the decency to run you down in one go, rather than pissing on your shoes. Besides, if I have to see you two groping each other one more time I'm going to end up in the mental hospital."

Cooking with Malfoy. Something Harry surely never thought he would be doing. But then, Harry never thought he would be living in the same house with the blond either. Draco often helped with dishes or other chores when he was asked to, but the first week he stayed with them they had discovered that he couldn't cook and they had never assigned him a kitchen day. Truth be told, Harry and Hermione did all the cooking anyway, as someone was always on hand to help Ron muddle through even the simplest dishes.

"The onion is ready."

Harry glanced at the cutting board. "They look... precise. I suppose that's why you're so good in potions, because you know the difference between slice, dice and chop?"

"That helps, but mostly I just pay attention to what I'm doing and listen to the teacher."

"Well, I suppose that's where I go wrong. It's not like it's much different than cooking, but I just don't like it."

"Cooking or potions?"

"Both."

"But you're so good at cooking."

Harry glanced at him and Draco blushed and looked back at the onions.

"Well, you are. One would think that it was something you enjoy."

"I'm good at it because if I wasn't then my aunt and uncle would have one more thing to yell at me for. But I hate it because I always had to do it. And I suppose that's why I never like potions. That and the professor hated me and my father and wanted me dead."

"You did all right last year."

"I, er, had help. Sort of."

"Yeah. Well, I just can't cook because I've never done it. That's what we had house elves for. I was far too busy learning foreign languages and music."

"Music?"

"Mother made me take piano lessons, but I was never any good at it, which Father was happy about. He often said that music was for effeminate boys who lived with their mothers forever and told me that I should spend more time on Quidditch and magical training and less on 'womanly obsessions.' Unfortunately for him, it was the only one of my mother's obsessions that didn't take. I inherited her addiction to expensive clothes, wine and parties."

"Well, you certainly got your superiority complex from him."

Draco thought about it for a moment.

"You know, I think I'm going to take that as a compliment. It's that kind of confidence that has made him a respected authority figure. But Father and I are really quite different, no matter how much we look alike. I wonder sometimes if he minds at all."

"Why would he? I'm sure he didn't expect you to be exactly like him."

"It's not just that. He wouldn't... Well, you know my father. I think he expects impossible things sometimes."

Harry wasn't sure how to say what he was thinking. Lucius Malfoy was a cruel man and had tried to kill Harry on more than one occasion, but he was still Draco's father and there would always be a connection between father and son. He didn't want to upset Draco and create problems in the house by saying what he really thought of Lucius Malfoy.

"Is he going to hate that you're here helping me?"

Draco took a long breath while he contemplated his answer. "He couldn't still want to follow the Dark Lord after everything that's happened. I'm sure, if he were out of Azkaban, he would do the same thing. Switching sides is logical. No matter his views, there's no loyalty among the Death Eaters. He expects loyalty from them, but gives none in return. Father would agree."

"I just..." Harry sighed. "I hope you're right, but he may not be as ready to leave the side that he's been on for over twenty years."

Draco glared. "He will be on the side of his family," he bit out. "He may have done some horrible things before, but that doesn't mean he wasn't a good father."

"I'm sorry. It wasn't my place to say anything."

They were silent for several minutes. Harry wished he hadn't said anything. It wasn't any of his business anyway and he really didn't want to make things awkward between them when they were just starting to really get along. Suddenly he changed the subject.

"So, do you want to learn to cook?"

"You giving lessons?"

"Ron and Hermione have been cooking together anyway. We can change the rules so we'll cook one night and they cook the next. Maybe it won't be so bad if there's someone helping me."

"Anything to spend less time around the happy couple."

Harry opened his mouth to reply when he was cut off by a scratching sound at the window. Both boys looked to see a brown owl hovering outside.

"That's not a familiar owl. Not the Weasleys anyway. And it doesn't look like Tonks' either."

Harry pulled out his wand as he opened the window, looking for signs of someone lingering outside. The owl went straight to Draco and he untied the letter.

"Oh my..."

"What is it? It's for you?"

Draco wordlessly handed the note to Harry.

Draco,

Despite the rumors about her disappearance, your mother is safe. I was able to hide her away before they came for her... She cannot come to see you for obvious reasons, but she wanted you to know she was safe and will find you after the war.

S.S.

Harry looked back up at the blond, who still seemed to be in complete shock.

"Well, that was unexpected."