Fire and Ice
Chapter Seven
An Undeniable Comfort

Never really thought we would make it,
We be thinking about what could have been,
But we've had a record summer, can't turn it down, oh,
Now I don't wanna see the end begin

Hermione could sense it, the mixed emotions, she had always prided herself on empathy. Mrs Weasley was hiding beneath the busy, fussing mother mask, running around asking whose textbook this was, and who left that sock there. Ginny was her usual silent self, which Hermione could have guessed. She'd grown more quiet since Malfoy arrived. Hermione was surprised with the speed that everyone – with the exception of Ron – had warmed to him, but she know that Ginny was hardly going to become best friends with him after the ease with which he had grown close to Harry.

Ron continued to cast suspicious glances at Malfoy every five seconds, something that Hermione was both fond of, and annoyed by. She would admit she hardly trusted him, but she knew what a terrible liar that Malfoy was – even if he was a conniving Slytherin brat – and didn't think he could keep appearances up that long. Despite herself, she also had to admit that the relationship he had with Harry, whilst it could hardly be called 'normal', was... somewhat natural. It wasn't forced, and even if Harry trusted people too easily, he wasn't stupid.

Not that she trusted him though.

He was currently sitting in the kitchen toying idly with his porridge, more focused on his third cup of coffee. Hermione looked around the kitchen – despite knowing that she hadn't left anything there, her bag was already fully packed in the hallway beside Malfoy's – and took the time to examine him. He didn't notice of course, he seemed to be deep in thought, and hence totally oblivious to his surroundings. He was dressed in his Muggle attire – Hermione was torn between jealousy and disgust when she realised that his once again too tight jeans were Yves Saint Laurent this time – and his hair was looking more soft than normal, as opposed to carefully kept in place. Hermione supposed that he was attractive. His skin might be too pale, and his features too sharp, but should she not know him, she would regard him as a good looking guy. She knew that behind that though, were pure blood ideals, and if not an evil, a nasty personality. For some reason though, when she saw him with Harry, he was less nasty, and more... She couldn't describe it. The nastiness was still there of course, he could never be described as nice, but he seemed less spiteful. She sighed, and he glanced up at her, and frowned. She shook her head. Harry might trust him, but she definitely didn't.

She left the kitchen before he had time to say something and walked into Harry in the hallway. He startled, and jumped back a step, before gently shaking his head back and forth and smiling at her. "I really need to start paying attention when I'm walking around." he muttered, and then smiled at Hermione. "You're packed and ready in good time I noticed. I just finished up. I expect Mrs Weasley will find something else I need to fit in there though."

Then there was Harry. He was playing helpful and organised this morning. Finding things for people, and generally being useful. He was anxious though. Hermione thought there were various reasons for this. She knew one stood over the rest though.

Their return to Hogwarts held such uncertain consequence for him. She could tell that he had grown more attached to Malfoy than he cared to admit, let alone realised. Harry rarely let his guard down, and when he did, he let it down altogether. He might not know it yet, but he was not only fond of Malfoy, but he trusted him, in the worst sense of the word. He had put everything in the past aside, and allowed him a completely fresh start. Hermione supposed that Harry had more reason to like this boy than the rest of them did – Malfoy hardly made an effort to get anyone else to like him – and she could hardly help but stress about the outcome of this. She might not know Malfoy that well, but she noticed the sideways glances he gave Harry, and that he was visibly more relaxed around him than he was away from him, and this only succeeded in confusing her more. The whole situation would be made a lot easier if she could just know that when they got back to Hogwarts, things were going to go back to the way they were before this whole thing. She was convinced that wasn't the case though. How they were going to manage to keep this up, with the new pressure on their fragile relationship from their houses though, she didn't know. She knew that losing Malfoy was going to hurt Harry, but despite this, she couldn't help but desperately wish that this would be the case.


Harry's stomach was doing nervous somersaults inside him as they drove toward the station. He sat between Ginny and Malfoy in the back seat, being driven by Lupin, who looked increasingly annoyed at the black dog that continually nudged at his hand with his wet nose.

"Sirius." Lupin said sharply, as he changed gears. "If you don't stop that right now, I'm stopping this car, and you're going to have to find your own way home."

Sirius for his part, whined and settled into his seat, but continued to stare at Lupin, who kept his eyes focused on the road. The pair had argued about Sirius coming today. Lupin seemed to care a lot more than Harry expected he would have. Normally when he and Sirius argued, it was over stupid things, and ending with Lupin closing his eyes, taking a deep breath, and shaking his head, before leaving and muttering to himself. Sirius normally looked pleased with this, and was surprisingly cheerful following their disagreements. This morning though, Lupin had been insistent, and raised his voice with Sirius – but still backed down of course. Harry supposed that Lupin was a bit protective of Sirius given that he was his last remaining friend and all, but Harry was still confused with the fact that Lupin felt the need to argue so hard about it.

Malfoy was sitting beside him, quiet, but smirking to himself, and snickering at the exchanges between the two adults in the front. Harry frowned at him, and when Malfoy noticed, he smirked wider and shook his head, looking out the window. Harry felt the tight feeling in his chest grow more painful as they approached the station. He looked over at Malfoy, who was biting his lip hard enough to betray the mask of cool apathy he was wearing.

Lupin nervously parked, and winced when he nudged the car beside him, and looked over his shoulder and noticed a line of white paint of the other car's bumper, and looked around quickly, and when there was no one too close, he muttered a spell and the paint vanished, and then he pulled the handbrake up.

"Alright. Sirius, don't even think about changing back, you three, no magic, blend in, don't attract any kind of suspicion. That's mostly aimed at you Draco. We need to get through this station and onto the platform as quickly as we can manage. You're all aware that we're sending you a day early to be extra cautious, but we can't rule out that they'll be expecting that."

"I could give Malfoy my cloak professor?" Harry interjected, feeling completely useless as Lupin panicked.

He looked thoughtfully between them, as if trying to decide who was in more danger, before he nodded. "You're right. They don't know that we have Draco with us, so it makes the most sense to hide him. Okay. Give him that first, and then we'll get out."

Harry reached into his bag, and pulled the cloak out from the bottom, handing it to Malfoy, and rolling his eyes when the boy's face lit up with excitement.

"And please watch the doors on those cars." He piped in as Ginny threw her door open and squealed when it scraped along the other car. Lupin quickly performed the same charm, and then got out much more carefully, Sirius bounding over and following him out. Malfoy disappeared from view and followed Harry out Ginny's door, Harry hesitating in closing it much longer than necessary for fear of hitting the boy. Lupin was carrying two trunks, without struggling, Harry and Ginny both pulling theirs behind them with some effort until they found trolleys.

Harry could feel Malfoy pressed to his side for a long while, and when they found the trolleys, the pressure quickly vanished, and Harry was almost frightened until he felt his trolley grow heavier. He rolled his eyes at the childish boy, and followed Lupin and Ginny toward the barrier. Lupin walked between them, Sirius having sat on Ginny's trunk and sitting quietly as she pushed him along. "Alright, Sirius, you go through first. If it looks dangerous, come straight back, and change form and we're apparating back to Grimmauld place. If you're not back in 30 seconds, then Ginny follows, then the boys, then myself. Are we clear?" he whispered.

He was answered with three nods, and a very quiet "Yes." from Harry's trolley. Lupin's eyes widened in surprise and then smiled to himself, and shook his head.

Harry's heart rate was accelerating as they grew closer and closer to the barrier. Sirius bounded off ahead of them and charged through. They stopped just shy of it, and Lupin checked his watch and pretended to be paying attention to the sign of incoming trains, and then nudged Ginny forward, and she jumped and then pushed her trolley through, Harry following straight after, hearing the quiet – but very girlish – squeak of fear from in front of him.

The platform was empty bar the steam from the train, and Sirius who was running around the place, Harry not able to tell if it was a result of nerves or excitement. Lupin followed through, checking his watch. "Alright, we're a bit early, the others should be here in just a few minutes. No doubt some kind of problem slowed them down." he said, with a sigh of relief and a smile. "You three, toward the train please. Let's not dally about."

"Professor, do you know if the other Slytherins are coming now?"

"I do believe that Professor Snape is taking them himself, there should be little or no danger in them getting to school." he said in a matter of fact way. "Now don't take that cloak off until you get on the train. Now go please. Stick to the first carriage."

Ginny hurried along ahead of the boys, Harry struggling more to push his trolley given the extra weight. He stopped when Sirius bounded toward him, and nuzzled at his leg, Harry assuming this was his way of saying goodbye, and scratching him behind the ears.

"Sirius, they have to get on the train, come over here please."

Sirius whined, but did as he was told, trotting over to Lupin and sitting by his side. Malfoy snickered again and Harry frowned at him before pushing him toward the train, waving back to Lupin and Sirius.

He stopped at the edge of the platform. "Get off now, you're sitting on our luggage, you can carry yours on yourself though."

Malfoy groaned, and Harry noticed the trunk that Lupin had placed there when Harry got the trolley move – seemingly of its own accord – and get on the train. Harry picked up his own, and with a final wave, boarded the train. He walked through the carriage and noticed Ginny sitting with her trunk above her, and frowned and looked in. "Is Malfoy not here?"

She shook her head, and he frowned, telling her he'd be back, before he saw Malfoy sitting further up the carriage. He walked in and frowned at him. "You walked right past Ginny you know?"

"I know." he told Harry simply. "But realistically, we can only fit three trunks and four people in one area, and with five of us, that won't work. Weasley and Granger can sit with her, we can stay here."

Harry was tempted to complain, but figured that it was difficult to argue with a stubborn brat, particularly when he was using logic, and sighed, sitting across from the smug blonde.

"I can't wait to see my new room." Malfoy said gleefully, as he relaxed into his seat, comfortably aware that Harry wasn't leaving. "It's going to be fabulous. You'll be stuck in your dorm, and I will have a whoooooole room to myself. Being rewarded for rebellion. Who'd have thought it."

Harry shook his head at the grinning boy. "By the way, why were you so amused by Sirius and Lupin? I don't get it."

He chuckled darkly. "It's pretty clear you don't get it. I don't understand how you can't, but it's fairly obvious that's the case. Silly oblivious Gryffindors."

Harry frowned at him, but Malfoy said no more when he pressed it so he dropped the issue, sufficiently more confused than he started. They sat in comfortable silence for a while until the train started to move, and Harry looked around. "Does that mean the others got here?"

"Assumably." Malfoy said, casually inspecting his nails. "They would have sat with girl Weasley, like I said."

"Her name is Ginny."

"Girl Weasley is the same thing in principle." Malfoy retorted, and then smiled dazzling at Harry. "Besides, don't pretend you're not going to have a better time with me."

Harry didn't say anything. Half because he didn't want to feed Malfoy's ego, and half because he didn't want to admit that to himself. "Whatever. Let's play exploding snap."


Night was smothering the sky as Harry looked through the window whilst Malfoy tried to turn his transfiguration essay into an origami frog ("It's Muggle transfiguration: turning lame things, into awesome things.") and he was slightly surprised that no one had followed him to his compartment with Malfoy. He was expecting a disapproving lecture when he got off the train, but he supposed he deserved that. A triumphant "ha!" from across the compartment informed him that Malfoy was successful in his 'transfiguration', and he looked over, to see Malfoy bouncing it across the seat, smirking to himself.

Harry shook his head and smiled at the childish behaviour, deciding he'd best not inform him of the hell he was undoubtedly going to get from McGonagall who wouldn't see the humour like he did. He glanced back out the window and could see the dimly lit castle in the distance, but the unseasonal mist that shrouded the landscape made the image unclear.

"So what happens when we return to Hogwarts?" Draco's tone was both casual and apathetic when he asked the question that had been plaguing Harry's mind constantly.

For fear of showing how bothered by this he actually was, Harry smirked at him. "Well Malfoy, it's a school, we learn. Depending on the subjects you picked, you learn different things. Occasionally there are social activities-"

"Stop being a prat Potter, you know what I mean."

Harry stayed silent for a moment, knowing what he meant, but not knowing how to approach the answer. On one hand the fact that Malfoy was asking this meant that it was a matter he had thought about it, and possibly – Harry didn't want to get his hopes up – that he was having the same kind of worries that Harry was having. On the other hand, he might be trying to let Harry know that their friendship had been just a holiday thing, trying not to make a bad situation worse, and that now they were returning to school, he had real friends, Slytherin friends, and that didn't leave any room for him.

"Well, you obviously didn't listen to me telling you to stop being a prat, I suppose I will get used to you not listening to me though."

It took a minute for Harry to digest his words. "Is that... is that your way of saying that-"

"Stop talking." Malfoy cut across him. "Let's play another game of snap before we get there."


They got off the train, and headed to a carriage, Hermione clearly giving him her 'We'll-talk-later' look, before getting on the carriage. Harry looked over to Malfoy who was looking at the Thestrals in horror.

"Have they... always been there?"

Harry bit his lip. Malfoy must have seen someone die in the holidays. He hadn't even thought about the awful things that he might have seen, that could have happened whilst he was there. Harry nodded, and Malfoy shuddered, and stepped onto the carriage ahead of Harry. Knowing there was nothing he could do, Harry followed.

The trip to the school was tense and silent, and Harry wondered about what was going to happen when they were to have dinner, and almost laughed at the thought, before he felt the general mood of everyone close in on him a little tighter, and decided against it.

The school was eerily quiet, and Harry realised he missed the noisy bustle of the castle. Around this time people were finishing classes, heading to dinner, lazing around in the grounds together, but everything was empty. He realised that this was of course because there was no one around, but it was none the less unnerving.

Hermione forgot herself, and that she was angry at Harry and walked pressed against his right side, whilst the body heat radiating toward his left side told him that Draco had stepped closer to him.

The doors to the entrance hall were open and waiting for them, and the sound of their footsteps echoed through the castle as they walked out of time.

Harry stopped and everyone stopped abruptly with him. "Does anyone actually know where we are going?"

He was answered with silence, and he sighed. "Well. Great Hall then I suppose?" he received nods in agreeance, and they walked on, the emptiness of the castle still pressing down upon them. He rather thought that it made more sense for someone to meet them when they arrived rather than let them all wander the castle aimlessly. He was now feeling like an utter berk and hoping beyond hope that someone was going to pop up with some kind of instruction on what they were supposed to be doing.

They reached the Great Hall which was, as expected, empty. Harry sighed.

"F-" he stopped himself. "Let's not bother with this." he reworded. "Let's just go to our dorms and-"

"I don't know where mine iiiis." Malfoy whined, and Harry sighed.

"Okay. You three go to the common room, and I'll help Malfoy find his room."

Hermione looked as if she wanted to protest, but Ron being quick to agree – Harry thought it was a little rude just how quickly this was, though he figured Malfoy was hardly going to be offended – she instead followed the two Weasleys, freezing Harry with a look that clearly told him he could still expect the lecture.

Malfoy grinned to himself, and started walking through the halls with a new air of confidence. "Alright. First thing is first, to Hogsmede we go!"

"What do you mean!"

"I have not been to Hogsmede in forever. I would like a firewhiskey and a visit to Honeydukes. Of course, they are closed, but the proper payment can be left on the counter."

"Ummm. Malfoy-"

"Yes I know about your shortcut Potter, how did you find it in the first place by the way?"

Harry hesitated. "The Weasley twins showed me."

"Ahhh. Once again, evidence on how I am superior to you. I had to find it for myself." Harry laughed, Draco grinning wickedly, as they made their way to the statue of the one eyed witch.

Harry felt awful creeping through the Honeydukes cellar after close, but pushed it aside and crept through with Malfoy, who looked more excited than a child as he began walking around and picking out candy – Harry was surprised by the amount he wanted to buy considering he was so concerned with his figure – and then making a list on the parchment by the counter, placing his coins on top of it, before getting a bag and emptying his basket into it, and leaving the shop, Harry following after him.

"Well that was efficient."

"I was not wasting any time between getting in there and getting these delicious frogs." Draco said proudly, tearing open a Peppermint Frog with his teeth. "God I have missed their chocolate. No one else can match it."

Harry rolled his eyes, and shook his head. "So where did you say we were going now?"

"Well the Three Broomsticks I suppose. I want a drink."

"Are you like, an alcoholic or something?" Harry asked, grinning.

"Not in the slightest Potter. I said a drink, not 'let's get drunk!', you berk."

Draco pushed open the door, and adopted his most charming smile. "Rosmerta! I'm back! Did you miss me?"

She shook her head, but couldn't hold back the smile that escaped the corners of her lips. "I didn't think school went back until tomorrow?"

"Well, I had to come back early for you of course! I couldn't have our reunion spoiled by the presence of dozens of immature children-"

"The usual?" she asked with a glint in her eye, as he sighed.

"Never the romantic, were you. All business. Yes, make it two."

Her eyes widened in surprise when she noticed Harry who was standing to the side, and raised an eyebrow, choosing not to say anything. "Very well. I'll overlook the fact that you're under age shall I?"

"She's a good woman." Draco said fondly, causing Harry to laugh, if slightly nervously.

She returned with two glasses of firewhiskey, sparing the boys a last confused glance, before leaving them.

"Not too long here, I do rather want to find my room. This is going to be-"

"Yes, I know, exclusive parties, envy of the school, etcetera, etcetera ."

Draco frowned. "I can't believe you said that. You are dismissing my good fortune. I do not appreciate that Potter." he took a long drink, and glared at him. "It's jealousy, I know it."

"Of course Malfoy, I am jealous of everything about you, from your pasty complexion, to your-"

"I am NOT pasty!" he spat, slamming his glass on the counter, with such force that it spilled over. "Just because I have an untainted fair skin, with no bloody scars all over me making me– Potter, this is not funny."

Harry continued to laugh. "Your argument, is shocking." he told him with a tone of finality, continuing on his drink, and then looked expectantly at Malfoy. "Hurry up, I don't want to be here all night."


"This is goooorgeous." Malfoy breathed, walking around the room as though in a trance. "Please tell me now that you're jealous."

Harry had to admit, he was slightly. They made it back to the castle, but ran into Dumbledore in the entrance hall, and Draco quickly lied that they had been looking around the castle to no avail for the last hour. With a twinkle in his eyes, Dumbledore gave them directions to quarters that Malfoy and the Slytherins would be occupying, and advised them to speak with the house elves in regards to their dinner. Malfoy did in fact have his own room, and a large one at that. It was furnished in dark emerald green, and had its own fireplace, already flickering away in front of the two arm chairs.

"This is divine. The common room is just as suave. There will definitely be awesome parties. I am extremely pleased with this."

Harry rolled his eyes, and settled into one of the arm chairs. "Shall we go and get dinner then?"

"From where?" Draco puzzled. "I think that the two of us sitting alone in the Dining Hall would be just a bit odd."

"Err. The kitchens perhaps?"

"What? We can go there!"

Harry sighed. "Come on then."


"This is so cool!" Draco said, sitting cross legged on the bench, a feat which Harry found himself impressed that he was able to accomplish in such tight jeans. "Why have I never been told about this, all these years-"

"You wouldn't fit in those jeans if someone had Malfoy."

He glared at Harry, and then returned to his gleeful look. "Whatever. I don't even care about your petty insults, Potter. This is too exciting for you to be able to ruin it."

"Also because, you most definitely have me to thank for it, am I right?"

"Of course not. In my infinite genius I would have discovered it on my own at some stage, I have no doubt."

Harry rolled his eyes, and smiled whilst watching Draco's expressions change. He thought vaguely, that it really was too easy to get along with this boy. Draco looked up, and returned the smile, before he remembered himself, and quickly reverted back to his excitement at the kitchens. Harry checked his watch, and thought that perhaps they should go back soon. He decided to wait to inform Draco of this though. Harry knew well enough that children threw tantrums when you took them from the candy store and he figured this was close enough to the analogy.


"That was amazing." Draco said, as they walked back toward his room. "Seriously, life is going to be good from here on. I won't even have to cater my own parties-"

"Malfoy. You've made it clear how impressed you are, I get it." Harry told him, grinning.

"Whatever." Draco said, pausing at the door, and whispering the password, and winking at Harry when he rolled his eyes. "Can't have you knowing the secret, can I?"

Harry followed him in and took a seat on the armchair by the fire. "This really is a very nice room."

"I know, right? Snape promised me that he would make sure we had a good one, and we do." He looked around with a grin on his face. "Fantastic. No small ones whining about noise either, or worse, being the noise, and infinite study room, and just." Draco smiled contentedly. He looked around at the doors that lead into each of their rooms, and the bathroom, and frowned. "Though I do not look forward to having to share a bathroom with Pansy and Blaise. Blaise was bad enough, but Pansy-"

Harry tuned him out, and settled into the couch more comfortably, eyelids drooping sleepily. The fire was warm, they'd made it back to Hogwarts safely, and as Draco's incessant babble washed over him, he thought, that for the first time in ages, he was just genuinely happy.