Finding My Wings

Tzee

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any shape or form, sadly. No profits are being made from this either, again sadly.

This Chapter is rated PG-13 for mild language and teenager-y themes :D.(Nothing too juicy yet guys…^_^)

Sorry that my Update pace has slowed dramatically, darling readers, but I'm on holiday now, so hopefully whatever thirst you have for this fic will be assuaged. Yay!

Okay! On with the show…

Chapter Six: Windows and Whimsy

HPOV

Frozen in place I sat by Gryffindor's common room fire, my fingertips and toes losing feeling . So far, the temperature was the only thing registering.

I needed to think more than anything, and it was the one thing I seemed unable to do. The whole of yesterday evening, the whole of last night, I had sat here with the intention of getting to the bottom of my unexpected conundrum. To no avail. I just couldn't crack it.

I managed to get to visualizing Draco Malfoy's name. And then his shiny hair. His nose, lips, high cheekbones. His eyes boring into me with a gaze that made my breath catch. His white, English, skin, the black uniform, the green tie. A sudden disappearance of his cloak and his fingers sliding the knot down and slipping his shirt buttons one by one, exposing inch by slow inch…

"Harry?"

I started suddenly "'Mione?"

"Wake up, Harry, have you been here all night?"

I awoke slowly, registering the bright sunlight filtering through the windows.

"Nah, I got up a little while ago, must've fallen asleep here." I lied.

"You better get yourself going," She said as she settled in to a wingback with a heavy book across her lap, "Dumbledore sent for you."

"Oh, wow, what's up?" I said as I sank into the chair next to her.

She shook her head, but proffered the parchment with the password on it,

"No Idea."

"Thanks" I stood up to leave for my dorm. On my way out, Hermione, still ensconced by the fire, held a chocolate frog out behind her.

"For you Harry, You need to eat more." She said without looking up.

I grinned. "Thanks 'Mione."

I hurried from the room, wolfing the frog down as I went.

…

Professor Dumbledore's office always felt like a different world; a different timeframe. The wooden surfaces tinted golden with mote-filed light that streamed from tall gothic windows smelt, as well as felt, like a trip into the headmaster's own whimsy.

Today I thought I was caught up in one of my own whimsy's; right there on the red velvet chaise lounge, lounging like he owned the place, was Draco sodding Malfoy. I really needed to catch up on my sleep.

"Ah, Harry," The headmaster's voice came from the semi-circular book-lined alcove that was his desk space.

" Sit, we three have much to talk about." He motioned over to my apparent hallucination of Malfoy.

So he wasn't my imagination, great, what good could possibly come from a situation with us both thrown in?

I drew up a chair and threw an absent nod in Malfoy's direction in way of a greeting. He responded in kind.

"What did you need to discuss professor?" I asked.

"Harry, he began. " I am terribly sorry to inform you that, once again, there is trouble afoot."

My expression hardened, I could feel my skin almost bubbling, as if affected by some imaginary polyjuice potion, I could feel myself slipping once again into my well-worn armor from War time. "Like always Harry, you happen to stand right in the very eye of the storm to come."

My eyes closed and frowning, I asked the headmaster what exactly posed a threat to the light this time, and what I had to do to stop it.

"Relax Potter, no one's storming into battle again." Draco's speedy comment jerked me out of the sudden battle mode.

"Mr. Malfoy is right, Harry, you are at the eye, but you are not the eye itself."

"What is?"

"I am, apparently." Drawled Draco.

DPOV

Harry Potter entered the headmaster's room with an ease that almost annoyed me- even as I reclined on a chaise as though in my mother's own kitchen. Oh well, he was in here often enough.

The headmaster addressed him from behind a toppling tower of tomes. Potter seemed only then to realize my existence, and motioned to it with a nod, which I reciprocated with. If the arrogant boy-wonder would deign to greet me in words, I would hardly afford as much effort to him.

Dumbledore painted an elaborate picture of our meeting's reason and I watched as Golden boy lost his glimmer, eyes darkening, his mood turning hard and black.

I dismissed his melodrama.

But, even so... Potter's eyes were earnest, transparent. The extent of the hurt he had suffered, cheesy as that sounded to my own ears, I understood. He didn't deserve it.

I suppose it was my realization that we were both victims of circumstance that helped me switch sides. Wonder boy, I hated to admit to my vanity, was the stronger man. He was a Gryffindor, I was a Slytherin. Under pressures of much the same kind, his character barely buckled. Mine broke.

In his fierce look now, I could plainly see the weight of the responsibility he had carried in war-time and carried still.

Wow, I thought to myself, I didn't know I cared.

"So, Professor," Potter asked, " A murder, a robbery and a mysterious magical vibe are somehow connected to Malfoy?"

"Indeed, my boy." Dumbledore answered. Harry remained nonplussed.

"Potter, " I said," The items stolen have been obscure 'ingredients' from the Department of Mysteries, a first born baby has been murdered in some sort of dark ritual, and my father's own magical signature is all over them both. He's planning something."

"Oh."

"Yes oh, Mr. Potter," the Professor chuckled, " which brings us to the crux of the matter."

" Draco may be at risk, and, as much as I trust in my protective charms over the school, I would much rather be safe than sorry, especially since young Mr. Malfoy here has not yet located his mate."

Comprehension dawned on Potter face. His pale look was much like my own when I had heard. I grinned in spite of myself.

"That's right Potter, I said with chagrin, "We're roommates."

His eyes closed and he held a completely expressionless look;

"Oh fuck, that's just great."

…...

Yay! Harry and Draco in the same dorm!(dances)

Cliché, yes, but oh what a handy plot tool… :D

REVIEW AND MAGIC SHALL DECSEND ON YOUR HEAD!