Disclaimer: I don't own HP and I don't make money from writing this fic.
After the Hagrid incident Malfoy didn't seek out Harry for days, during which time Harry reflected that perhaps their deal wouldn't turn out so bad after all - as long as Malfoy kept his language civil and continued to attempt to be a 'good guy' the results looked likely to be more amusing than anything.
At the moment, Harry was more occupied with the memories Dumbledore had shared with him, and when their next meeting would be. It had been almost two weeks since their last one, and he was beginning to wonder if Dumbledore had somehow picked up on Harry's feelings towards him. He had shared his worries with Hermione, and they had picked over the memory of the child Tom Riddle in detail, and when he mentioned that Dumbledore was yet to schedule another 'lesson' she had pointed out that he had rarely even been in the Great Hall at mealtimes recently.
He wondered where he was going; was it something to do with the Order? Now that there were more deaths and muggle tortures being reported in the Daily Prophet, Dumbledore was bound to have more responsibilities associated with the Order of the Phoenix, and it couldn't be easy juggling them with his responsibilities as headmaster. However when he emerged from his reverie to ask Hermione her opinion she was clearing up her books and as he opened his mouth she announced that she was off to the library.
Harry felt a flash of irritation at Hermione. Didn't she care about where Dumbledore was going? Before, whenever he had suspicions about something going on in or outside Hogwarts he, Ron and Hermione would pool their knowledge and talk about it constantly. But he wasn't speaking to Ron and Hermione only showed a limited amount of interest before changing the subject or heading to the library.
Hermione had been unusually preoccupied since the beginning of term, disappearing off to the library whenever she had free time, and Ron had taken to spending all his time with Seamus and Dean huddled in a corner muttering, writing up what looked like lists, and above all, ignoring Harry.
The result of this was that Harry was left quite alone when he wasn't in classes or at lunch, and even then he rarely spoke to Hermione, who at lunchtimes kept such a close eye on the Slytherin table that Harry began to get irritated at her excessive suspicion against Malfoy. Surely she didn't need to watch him eat?
Also, due to the inter-house pairing in classes, again Harry found himself separated from her, and was feeling increasingly resentful. He spent time with Neville outside of class when she wasn't around, but that too just wasn't the same as his old friends.
On Saturday morning Harry couldn't take any more. Once again Hermione had disappeared, and he'd been so bored he'd finished all his homework already. It was just after lunchtime, and he was supposed to be helping Neville with his potions homework, but finally after catching him staring over at Ron for the third time, the other boy finally exasperatedly said
"Harry, just go and talk to him!" and gathered up his homework, heading in the direction of Ginny who was reading quietly by the fire.
Bored, companionless and missing Ron's company, he headed over to the chair where he could see Seamus's tousled hair peeping over the back. As he came closer, Ron came into view. He looked curiously over their shoulders. In Dean's miniscule, loopy handwriting was an extremely long list of illegible items. In fact, the roll of parchment was hanging off the side of the table and onto the floor.
"Oy!" Seamus exclaimed suddenly, whipping around as Harry began to move towards a chair "That's confidential!" he hoisted the parchment off the floor, gathering it to his chest defensively. Ron, alerted to Harry's presence, folded his arms and glared at him.
"Sorry." Harry said "I just wanted to talk to Ron."
"Talk away!" Ron snapped, turning away.
"Um - " Harry couldn't help feeling he had already lost this battle "I wanted to apologise. I
was hoping -"
"That we could be friends again?" Ron cut in sarcastically, his expression cold "I take it you've ditched him then?"
"Ron -" Harry sighed, then attempted a diplomatic tone again "No I haven't - but can't you-"
"No I can't." Ron said shortly "Now leave. We have plans to make."
Harry didn't even bother arguing. There was no point, with Ron in this mood. He turned around sharply and left, heading for the dormitories. He couldn't decide whether to be angry or depressed. He'd been hoping to persuade Ron to join him for a fly around the grounds, perhaps a quick game of quidditch, just the two of them. He was tired of studying or sitting around with Neville. The next Gryffindor team practice was days away and he just needed to expend some energy.
When he reached his bed, he couldn't bring himself to flop down onto the mattress. It was the middle of the day and he felt incredibly tense. Making up his mind, he grabbed his broom up from against his bedpost - he was going flying, even if he had to go alone.
…ooo000ooo…
"Bugger off." Harry walked faster, clutching his broom tightly as Malfoy approached him
"I was only-"
"I don't feel like talking to you. Bugger off." Harry repeated, running down the entrance steps. For a moment there was no reply, then he heard the clatter of shoes follow him down the steps, and he wheeled on Malfoy
"Look, I'm bloody serious, alright!" he snapped
"Well fuck you," Malfoy said calmly "I'm coming anyway. We had an agreement, and I've barely bothered you at all-"
"Well this stupid agreement has cost me Ron!" Harry snapped, storming away again
"What happened?" Draco asked, jogging to keep up
"None of your -"
"Of course it's my business, if you're treating me like shit for it!"
Harry chose to remain silent.
"Wha-"
But Draco's words were swept away by the wind as Harry, unable to take anymore, leapt on his Firebolt and flew upwards, as far away from Draco as he could get.
He only had a few minutes respite; he did a lightening-fast circuit of the lake, and was just returning to the quidditch pitch area after zooming around the astronomy tower when he heard Draco's voice call out from behind him.
"Well that was rude!"
Harry gritted his teeth and turned about. Draco was zooming behind him on his Nimbus and grinning at him, that was enough to make Harry disconcerted, but then a quaffle was suddenly zooming straight for his head, and he quickly grabbed it out of the air.
"What do you think you're-"
"Oh lighten up Potter and chuck it back!"
Harry shot the quaffle straight at Malfoy's forehead as hard as he could. Unfortunately it was caught securely.
"So," Malfoy said, throwing the quaffle again "What happened with Weasley?"
Harry didn't answer
"Oh come one, it's a simple ques-"
"Nothing happened! It's none of your business! " he threw the quaffle as far as he could in the opposite direction of Malfoy, and watched smugly as the Slytherin raced over to retrieve it.
"Fine then." he said calmly when he returned "What else do you want to talk about?"
Harry ignored him and flew away, but Malfoy was soon on his tail.
"So what do you think Gryffindor's chances are in the match against Huffelp-argh!"
Harry had suddenly swerved around, and Malfoy had nearly fallen off his broom trying to avoid getting hit.
"Malfoy." he spat, squeezing his eyes shut tightly in the effort to refrain from shouting. "Just. Leave. Me. Alone."
BOOF.
"Aah - what the -!" Harry's eyes flew open and his hand flew to his forehead where something had struck him hard. He glared at Malfoy, who was hovering a few feet away, glaring right back at him. Between them, the Quaffle, which Malfoy had bounced off his forehead, slowly sank through the air, down towards the pitch.
"I'm just trying to have a civil conversation!" Malfoy snapped "Why are you such an arrogant bastard? You're not keeping to our deal!"
"I'm an arrogant -?"
"Not once have you approached me! You're supposed to be helping me, but not only are you refusing to, you're being unreasonably rude to me every time-"
"You're not exactly being pleasant either!"
"Oh yeah?" Malfoy snarled "And what have I done then?"
Harry hesitated and Malfoy sneered triumphantly
"See! So far I've approached you in public twice, and not only that, but I even made an effort with that Hagrid beast! What have you done?"
"Why can't you approach me when I'm in a good mood? Haven't I made it obvious I want to be alone?"
"Oh well I'm so sorry! I hadn't realised you expected me to be a mind reader!"
There was a long silence as Harry realised that Malfoy really had done nothing to deserve his rudeness. At least, not recently.
"Alright then, I'm sorry!" he snapped "But next time can we organise this, instead of you just turning up?"
"Fine." Malfoy snapped "When then?"
"I dunno. Do I have to decide now? Tomorrow then, same time." he improvised quickly, seeing Malfoy's mouth open to protest.
"Fine." Malfoy turned on his broom an sped to the ground and Harry watched him until he emerged from stowing his broom in the changing rooms, then followed him and immediately changed the password on Malfoy's broom locker to parsnips using the piece of parchment Draco had given him, which he probably didn't even remember now.
…ooo000ooo…
Hermione headed to the library, filled with anticipation. Sometimes she couldn't believe she had spent six years of her life wrapped up in Harry and Ron's problems. She did feel guilty about avoiding joining Harry for stewing sessions over his feelings for Dumbledore, but she couldn't help wanting to be selfish for once now that she had found some happiness. She was also glad that so far she had managed to avoid both Ron and talking or meeting with Malfoy completely. She felt guilty that she had told Harry point blank that she wouldn't have anything to do with Malfoy; now he seemed too uncomfortable to even bring up the subject with her, but truth be told she wasn't even interested in how their meetings had gone, but she did know that it hadn't gone well so far, and she only hoped that Harry would come to his senses soon.
She quickly smothered the idea that occurred to her; that if Harry was in trouble she was making it hard for him to talk to her about it.
She was avoiding Ron because she was afraid of him finding out about Theo, especially after his reaction to the Malfoy situation. Part of her wanted to shout it from the rooftops to make Ron jealous; Yes, I have a Slytherin friend. What are you going to do about it, it's not as if you've acted interested in me at all!
She quashed the slither of worry that had been burrowing inside her mind since the conversation between Harry and Malfoy. It wasn't just that Theo was a Slytherin, but that his father wanted him to be a Death Eater when he was of age. Did Theo know, if he didn't see his father in person anymore? He must do, she reasoned, if Malfoy knows.
Why hadn't he told her then? Because he had no intention of following his father's path? Or was that just wishful thinking? But then again he was spending a lot of time with Hermione, and that wasn't exactly something a prospective Death Eater would do.
Unfortunately this wasn't something she could just ask him about, she didn't know him well enough to talk about what would probably be a sensitive subject. For now she'd just have to go with her instincts and just be careful.
Part of her kept pointing out that after this business with Theo she could hardly fault Harry for making peace with Malfoy, but this was different. Draco's father actually lived with him and Draco had always made a show of supporting his father's political views, and not only that but Malfoy had been personally extremely nasty to herself, Harry and Ron.
Theo on the other hand had never sought out trouble or aired pro-Voldemort or anti-muggle views, in fact he demonstrated the opposite just by being so friendly with her. He couldn't choose his father, nor could he help what house he was in.
In any case, she brought her mind back to its initial worry, she couldn't exactly gloat about a friend, even if it would upset Ron. She had developed deeper feelings for Theo and hoped he felt the same, but she couldn't really justify excitedly telling everyone she had a new friend, even if she wanted to. She would sound incredibly pathetic, even for her.
Ron had disappointed her; not once had he sought her out, he still had barely spoken to her this term. So what if she hadn't made an effort to talk? Neither did he, and up until now it was always she who had made an effort to make Ron like her! He couldn't even be bothered to ask her to the Yule Ball in fourth year, not even as a friend! He had left her as a clearly undesirable last resort and had never made it up to her. He had actually dared to do even worse, souring her relationship with Victor. This still upset her, even if she had always known she and Victor would never be a lasting item. They were just too different.
"Hi Hermione!"
She felt a grin spread over her face when she heard her name being called as she entered the library. She hurried over to the usual corner desk that she shared with Theo.
"Hi Theo!" she said enthusiastically as she took her seat "How are you?"
"Great!" he replied with a wide grin "And look what I have for you!" he ducked down under the desk to retrieve his book bag, his wispy flyaway curls bobbing and floating mysteriously as he moved.
"Wizarding novels!" he proclaimed, laying a short stack of books in front of Hermione, who stifled a squeal "I remembered you saying how hard it was to find any decent ones, so I asked mother to send me some of my favourites for you. I think she's added a few of her favourites too." he added ruefully as Hermione began leafing through a book with a cover depicting a swooning witch in the arms of a muscular warlock.
"Oh wow! Theo this is…" she trailed off as she lifted another book out of the pile "J.K. Rowling? That name sounds familiar…"
"Well anyway," Theo continued "Keep those books as long as you want, I hardly ever read them anymore."
"Theo, this is really good of you! Thank you so much, I can't wait to get reading!" Her pulse was actually racing - was that a copy of the wizard version of King Arthur? It would be so fascinating to find out the way wizards depicted Merlin!
"It's no trouble," Theo's mismatched eyes danced with suppressed laughter at her eager face "but I hope you can hold on long enough to give me a hand with my ancient runes homework?"
…ooo000ooo…
On Thursday evening after dinner, Harry received a rather vicious-looking eagle owl with a letter written in elegant handwriting clutched in it's beak as he entered his dormitory. He cautiously retrieved the note and backed away hurriedly as the eagle owl squawked and flapped its wings.
Potter,
Urquhart (our captain) has organised a Slytherin team practise tonight, so I need to postpone our meeting until 8pm at least. Can you still make it?
Draco Malfoy
Harry thought about telling Malfoy that eight o'clock was too late, and they would have to meet tomorrow night, or perhaps even this weekend as he was far too busy. Then he remembered he had Quidditch practice for the Hufflepuff match every night until Saturday and in the end decided to get it all over with quickly and scribbled a grudging 'yes' on the back of the parchment. He attached it to the owl, minding his fingers and stepped back again as it took off with one last aggressive squawk.
He took his time with his dinner, not looking forward to the detention that he had to get through before he met Malfoy down at the pitch. Hermione once again gulped down her dinner and sped off to the library in a rush, and Harry saw Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherin team leave for the pitch not long after. He supposed the new captain, Urquhart or whatever his name was, must be quite enthusiastic, because none of the team seemed to have finished eating, and all looked rather grumpy at leaving their dinner half finished.
He was just starting on his rhubarb crumble and custard when someone slammed into the seat beside him, and the entire Gryffindor table hushed. Harry looked up, wondering if Snape had descended and was shocked to see Malfoy there looking sweaty, out of breath, and most of all, furious.
"I can't get my broom!" Malfoy whispered furiously, staring around at all the Gryffindors, his face suddenly growing pinker. Harry suspected he hadn't realised that he had just sat down at the Gryffindor table, so intent on rushing over to speak to Harry.
"Oh. Yeah, I changed the password." Harry remembered
"Now?" Malfoy muttered, looking intimidated as the Gryffindors glared at him "Why didn't you tell me! I just had to run from the pitch! I told Urquhart I'd forgotten the password - you idiot! And now look, you've made me make a fool of myself, coming here!"
Harry grinned. He enjoyed having something over on Malfoy.
"Shall I come down and get your broom for you?"
"Potter!" Malfoy growled "Just tell me the password!"
"We had a deal." Harry said cheerfully, watching Colin Creevey raising his camera to immortalise the moment on film.
"Potter!" Malfoy looked desperate, already half out of his seat again in order to get away from the hostile Gryffindors "Please!" he muttered
"What was that, Malfoy?" Harry said loudly, holding his hand up to his ear. Now the nearby Hufflepuff table was also silent, having heard Harry's voice and noticing the silence around him.
Malfoy look mutinous, but then after a moment, he spoke through gritted teeth.
"Please."
Some of the nearby Gryffindors tittered, but the Hufflepuffs all looked mystified. Harry gestured over to them
"I don't think the Hufflepuffs heard y-"
"I said PLEASE!" Malfoy snapped, and then all the Hufflepuffs burst into laughter as the Gryffindors clapped and cheered and a camera flashed.
"Parsnips." Harry said calmly to Malfoy
"Parsnips?!" Malfoy said incredulously, his hands curling into fists.
"That's right."
Malfoy stood up roughly, muttering viciously and stalked off.
Harry had fully expected Malfoy to refuse to meet him after practise after what he had done at dinner, but to his surprise, he walked over to meet Harry in the stands as the rest of the Slytherins left the pitch, staring curiously after him, and few of them jeering at Harry.
Also surprisingly, Malfoy didn't appear angry at Harry any longer. Instead he asked him;
"Are we even now?"
"Even? For what?"
"For everything I've ever done to annoy you. That you didn't get me back for already anyway."
Harry shrugged "Whatever. It was funny, anyway."
Malfoy didn't even look annoyed. "How was your detention with Snape?"
"Horrible." Harry growled. As he had just spent an hour of disecting frogs for Snape's personal stores, he was twice as touchy at the slightest mention of the professor. The only positive way of looking at it was that he had a break from cleaning with Filch, who had come down with Dragon Pox earlier in the week.
"Are you going to tell me what happened with you and Weasley yesterday then?" Malfoy asked, standing and moving towards the pitch
"What's up with you?" Harry asked suspiciously "You aren't even annoyed about what I did."
Malfoy shrugged "I asked Pansy what I should do yesterday. I told her how you're always angry at me, and she said I just needed to let you get it out of your system."
"Er - right." Harry wasn't sure what to say, so he just followed Malfoy over to the kit box which the Slytherins had left on the field. Since when was Pansy Parkinson an expert on the way his mind worked? And more importantly, how much of Malfoy's plan did she know?
"Which is why we won't be messing around with a quaffle today!" Malfoy said enthusiastically, bending to open the kit box and chucking Harry a beater's bat. He took one for himself, and when Harry returned from the changing rooms with his Firebolt, he was standing by the kit box, repeatedly batting away both the bludgers.
For around twenty minutes, Harry and Malfoy sped around the pitch, beating bludgers at one another. Harry welcomed the opportunity to hurt Malfoy, and wondered if Draco thought that Harry felt more at ease now that they were doing something they both enjoyed together - even if it involved hurting each other. Finally, battered and bruised, they eventually returned to tamely tossing the quaffle back and forth and Harry gave in after the fifth time Malfoy repeated his question and told him about what had happened with Ron. After all, he had to give something if he wanted Malfoy to trust him.
"Ron's not talking to me. At all."
"Oh. Because of the fight in the library?" Malfoy questioned.
Harry nodded, lobbing the quaffle.
"Just because you agreed to our deal?"
"Yeah. But mostly because I didn't take his side."
"Well," snorted Malfoy "I don't see why that's a shock."
"You watch your mouth!" Harry snapped
"Only saying," Malfoy continued "He's hardly an epitome of reasoned argument." he passed back the quaffle.
Despite his continued loyalty to Ron, Harry had to force away a grin as he caught it
For a while he and Malfoy simply flew around the pitch, passing the quaffle back and forth.
"Say," said Malfoy finally when they both were flying around in complete darkness "Do you fancy comparing Seeker abilities?"
Harry didn't bother stifling a snort
"No offence Malfoy, but I could beat you any day, even in the dark."
Malfoy rolled his eyes "And everyone says you're so humble!"
"At least they don't call me vain!" Harry shot back
"Nothing wrong with wanting to look good!" Malfoy replied good-naturedly "I would have thought you'd understand that now - I heard Finnigan complaining that you spend ages doing your hair every morning!"
"Shut it." Harry replied, and they both sped down to the ball box to release the snitch. They stood for a while, giving the snitch a chance to get away.
"This isn't so bad, is it?" Malfoy enquired, giving Harry a sidelong glance
"I'd rather be with Ron, truthfully." Harry replied
"And I'd rather be with Pansy," Draco said, then frowned "No I wouldn't. Never mind. But that wasn't what I asked."
"What's wrong with Pansy?" Harry asked, ignoring the question again
Draco gave him a knowing glance "You know girls," he said mysteriously "There's some times when they're better avoided."
"Er-right." Harry said, mystified
Draco looked amused "You have no idea what I'm on about, do you?"
Harry felt irritated at Malfoy "No I don't." he snapped
"Aren't there times when Hermione gets a bit … what's the word I'm looking for… nagging, tetchy, irritating?" at Harry's confused glance, he exasperatedly added "Certain times of the month?"
"Oh." Harry said, embarrassed.
"Well you've seen Pansy," Draco continued, still smirking slightly at Harry's slowness "Clingy, bitchy, demanding?"
"Yeah." Harry said cautiously, confused at Malfoy's attitude towards his own girlfriend
"Well at times like this, it's even worse. 'Draco!'" he suddenly broke into a high pitched voice, making Harry jump slightly "Draco! Why didn't you sit beside me at dinner? Where were you? Who were you with? What colour socks were you wearing?"
Harry stared at Malfoy, taken aback.
"And then," Draco continued "She - ah well you've seen her at it, who hasn't? She drapes herself all over me as usual." Draco was now using rather violet hand gestures "Doesn't care where we are. In the common room, in the hall - even in bloody Flitwick's class once! And I can't shift her - not when she's like that, I'll get an earful in front of everyone!"
Malfoy lapsed into silence, shaking his head. Suddenly he became aware of the silent reception he was receiving. He turned to see Harry shaking with silent laughter.
"What?" he demanded, his cheeks getting a slight pink tinge
"Do -do-" Harry rocked back and forth, buckled with laughter "Do that - that voice again!"
"Fuck off." Malfoy muttered, embarrassed and hopped on his Nimbus, taking off and disappearing into the night. Harry remained, chuckling to himself as he mounted his Firebolt.
"No." Harry said to no one in particular, still grinning "This really isn't so bad."
…ooo000ooo…
Dear Mr Potter,
Regarding your parents last will and testament, unfortunately we are unable to send you a copy of the documents without proof of your identity as these are highly confidential documents to be viewed only by those named in the will or with the express permission of the Ministry of Magic. Usually we ask that your proof is in the form of your Gringotts key. In your case you may do so by including your magical signature. (This may be done by pointing your wand at the parchment and speaking 'signo'.)
As per your request for confidentiality, we require your permission to request the return of the key from Professor Dumbledore.
This should also answer your second request. If you intend to take your financial matters into your own hands, we recommend that you look over a summary of your assets. This can be obtained by request by owl, again you should either enclose your key as proof of identity, or if you require the information sooner, again you may use your magical signature.
If you would like Gringotts to reclaim your key on your behalf, please include permission in your next owl. We will, of course, not give out any personal information to Professor Dumbledore. The letter we will send will only contain a short request that he return your vault key to Gringotts. There will be no additional information in the letter. You may request that your key be sent by post if you include your magical signature as proof of identity in your letter.
It is Gringotts' duty to inform you that if Professor Dumbledore had taken your key from you without your permission, or is keeping it against your will, you would be within your rights to raise a legal case. In this instance, you may contact us for a list of recommended lawyers.
Thank you for your custom,
Burtlakk Grimstone
Head Goblin, Gringotts
Harry read the letter twice before he thought about its contents. His first thought was surprise that he might be able to sue Dumbledore. Of course, he hadn't asked for his key back, so he supposed it wasn't being kept from him against his will.
He sucked on the end of his quill before writing a reply.
Dear Mr Grimstone,
Thank you for replying to my letter. I give my permission for Gringotts to reclaim my key. I have included my magical signature. Please do go ahead and forward the documents to me.
Your sincerely,
Harry Potter
He pointed his wand at the parchment.
"Signo."
The parchment turned a bright white for a second, then faded back to it's usual yellow.
…ooo000ooo…
After the match against Hufflepuff that Saturday, Harry met up with Malfoy on the Quidditch pitch several more times in the next two weeks, both boys having decided it was the easiest and least intrusive way to spend time together as well as good practice for their next matches. Harry found himself both dreading and looking forward to the sessions. With Hermione constantly holed up in the library, and Ron making mysterious plans with Dean and Seamus, he wasn't getting in either of their ways by being at the quidditch pitch, and it also meant that he finally had something to do other than study alone in the common room. However Harry found himself searching his memory after each time, furiously trying to figure out how to deal with Draco next time. Had Harry said too much? So far, nothing that should have remained secret had been mentioned, but Harry was constantly on guard, determined not to let Malfoy under his defences. They discussed nothing apart from trivial goings-on around the school, classes and Quidditch. Malfoy spoke of his friends occasionally, but Harry only brought up Ron and Hermione to impress on Malfoy the sacrifice he was making when he could be spending time with Hermione, or that he might still be friends with Ron if it weren't for him.
That they only met down at the quidditch pitch also meant he hadn't yet had to make up excuses for his new flying partner to the other Gryffindors. The cold November weather usually ensured that the only other visitors to the quidditch pitch were the house teams practising for their upcoming matches. Although gaining Dumbledore's attention was exactly the reason Malfoy was with Harry in the first place, the Slytherin was quite happy keeping things quiet for now; they needed to be certain that things would work out before letting the rest of the school into things, even with the excuse of spying on Harry.
Although a part of Harry knew that the sooner Malfoy followed through with his promise to announce his new loyalties to the school, the sooner he could stop worrying about people seeing them together, he also didn't like the idea of having to spend time with Malfoy publicly. He was sure he would face questions from the other Gryffindors and possibly even hostility, even if it would look like it was Harry who had tamed Malfoy, not the other way round. Malfoy wasn't worth that, and despite the fact that he had discovered that he could be a laugh at times, he couldn't bear the thought that he might be left entirely without friends or allies apart from Draco Malfoy. I bet that's part of his plan…Harry found himself thinking more than once as he pondered this eventuality.
Apart from his pitiful voice impressions, Draco could be a remarkable actor and an impressive liar when he really put his mind to it, skills which worried Harry somewhat when he stopped to consider it. When he was extremely angry, worried or upset, Malfoy's face would remain completely blank, a skill that Harry wished he had too.
However Harry soon found himself distracted from the Malfoy situation when the reason for Ron's furtive planning suddenly came to light.
"Pssst! Harry!"
The lights in the Gryffindor common room had been dimmed due to the late hour, and Harry was dozing in the armchair closest to the fire. He was extraordinarily comfortable and felt a twinge of annoyance as the whisper came again.
"Harry!"
He opened his eyes blearily, reaching up to rub his eyes and adjust his glasses which had been slipping off the end of his nose.
"Hermione?" he croaked
"Sshh!" she hissed, dropping into the armchair beside his "I don't think Ron's seen me come over."
"What is it?" he whispered, sitting up and yawning.
"It's Ron!" her voice was low and furious "He's up to something!"
"Really?" Harry replied dryly "And there I thought all that muttering and note-taking in corners with Dean and Seamus was something completely innocent. Oh by the way-"
"Don't talk like that!" she interrupted sharply "You sound just like Malfoy!"
Harry ignored this, unwilling to get into an argument so late at night. "Anyway," he continued "I wanted to ask you what a magical signature was."
Hermione paused to frown while she consulted her inner library. "Every witch and wizard has a different magical signature." she began "It's like a magical alternative to DNA, although magical people have that too - I suppose they overlook it because a muggle discovered it." she sniffed disapprovingly "Anyway, a lot of legal documents ask for you to include your magical signature as well as a signed signature, as proof of identity, because no one else can copy it. Why do you want to know?"
"Gringotts wanted me to include a magical signature before they would send me my parents will."
"Well that makes sense." she nodded approvingly "They usually ask for your key, but as you don't have one your magical signature would be the only other option. They'd have to compare the signature with the one that the ministry hold to detect underage magic. It's a lot more bother for them, but as you don't have your key…"
"Right…I just wondered because I'd never heard of it before. Anyway, sorry - you were talking about Ron?
"Oh yes -" she leant forward eagerly "well he asked me how to do a secrecy charm this morning - where were you all day by the way, I couldn't find you anywhere?"
"Flying with Malfoy."
"At lunch and all evening?"
"No, we had lunch together by the lake." Harry replied, ignoring the odd look Hermione was giving him. "But anyway, why would Ron need a secrecy spell?"
"I don't know Harry but it worries me. He's been acting like Fred and George do when they're planning something - but more serious." she stopped to look at him seriously "He wanted me to teach him how to bind a secrecy spell to a piece of parchment."
"What?"
"Exactly, why would he want that? I've been thinking about it all day and I just can't think of what he could be planning."
"Can't you just ask him? I mean, you two are still talking, aren't you?"
Hermione looked uncomfortable "We were, but then I refused to tell him how to do the spell unless he told me how-"
"So you and Ron aren't talking either now." Harry sighed
"Who said that?" said a new voice suddenly, and Harry and Hermione flinched violently. They turned around to find Ron eyeing them suspiciously.
"Bit jumpy, aren't you?" he said, looking between them with narrowed eyes "Why were you saying we weren't talking?" Ron asked Hermione.
"Because I wouldn't show you how to do that spell." she said uncertainly, frowning when a smugly triumphant smirk appeared on his face.
"Well I found another way, so never mind. Here you go." Ron held out two slips of folded parchment to them.
"What will happen if I touch that?" Harry eyed his suspiciously.
"Nothing. Unless you try to talk about what's on it to a teacher. Then you'll sprout tentacles and talk and write in Mermish for the next eight hours, and you know what that sounds like." Ron looked extremely proud about this "Also, Mermish doesn't actually have a written form so it'll make it very hard for anyone to figure out what you're trying to tell them."
"Ron!" Hermione gasped "You can't put that kind of curse on someone without their knowledge, it's not right! What's this about?"
"Just a bit of harmless fun." Ron shrugged "And you're both invited, so what's the problem?"
"What's the -!?" Hermione started in a shrill voice, but Harry waved for silence.
"Does this mean we're talking now?" he said flatly.
Ron shrugged, turning "I don't know." he said, staring at Harry for a moment before turning and walking away.
Harry stared at his ex-friend's retreating back for a moment before a pinch from Hermione jolted him back to his senses.
"Harry," she waved her piece of parchment at him, her expression upset "read it!"
"Is it dangerous?" he said cautiously, looking at his parchment which was still sitting on the arm of the chair where Ron had left it.
"Just read it or I won't be able to talk to you about it!"
Reluctantly, Harry picked it up and felt it tingle against his fingers. He unfolded it and began to read.
Ron Weasley invites you to attend the first ever All-Hogwarts party!
Be at the room opposite the tapestry of the dancing trolls on the seventh floor on the last Friday of this month.
Your arrival time is:
7.48 pm
(This is a student-only event I won't be held responsible for anything that may or may not happen to anyone who tries to alert an adult to the party.)
"A party?" Harry said, disbelievingly
"How can he!" Hermione was hissing angrily "This is breaking about a million school rules! I can't believe he-"
"Forget that!" Harry said urgently "He's handing these out to the whole of Hogwarts! Everyone will know about the room of requirement!"
"I don't think they will Harry," Hermione frowned, re-reading the invitation "I don't think he'll show them how to use the room, they'll just think it's a room they've never noticed before."
"Well I've finished my detentions, so at least I'll actually be able to go." Harry said, feeling cheerful. He hadn't thought he could take another day of spending his evenings scrubbing floors and dusting cobwebs.
"Harry! That's not the point! And I'm not sure that we should even go." Hermione said indignantly "Ron could be expelled if a teacher finds out about this!"
"We should go." Harry said firmly, raising a hand in anticipation of Hermione's objection "No listen, I need to make up with Ron and ignoring an invitation to his party is not a good way to start. But anyway - don't you think it'll be kind of obvious what's going on, once the whole school gets up from dinner and heads to the seventh floor?"
"No …" Hermione replied, pointing to her parchment "We've been given different arrival times - see, mine's 7.49 pm. I bet all the arrivals are staggered so that it won't be too noticeable.
"But why?" he wondered out loud "Why would he even want to do something like this?"
…ooo000ooo…
It was a rather windy evening, and the sky was beginning to grow dark, when Draco first mentioned making their 'friendship' public knowledge.
"Potter." Malfoy called as he touched down with the last bludger - once again they'd been dodging them for the last forty minutes, as well as pelting them at each other
"What?" Harry placed his bat back into the kit box and held his hand out for Draco to pass him his.
"I was thinking, maybe we should start talking a little in corridors, and in class?"
Harry considered this as he wrestled a bludger into its harness. He had expected this of course, but that didn't mean he had to look forward to it. The sooner it came out that he and Malfoy were friends, the sooner Malfoy could publicly denounce Voldemort, and then other people would be trust him more, and Harry would be a step further on the way to helping Malfoy out of his mess, because if people associated with the 'light' side were nicer to Draco, the more likely he was to be enticed to join it for real.
He didn't feel completely comfortable around Malfoy yet, and that was a good thing, but the question was, could he act as if they were friends? And did he want to? He couldn't stop his worry of being left with Malfoy as his only and not-quite friend surfacing, but quickly tried to dismiss it. I'm only making excuses. I can't help him more until he's told everyone he's against Voldemort, and this is the only way it's going to happen.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked finally "I mean, you'll have to be careful. I won't condone you bullying people in front of me. It'll make me look bad, and no one would believe we were friends if I let you-"
"I'm not an idiot Potter, I think I can control my evil urges." Malfoy snorted, helping Harry buckle in the second bludger "So, what do you think then?"
"Okay…" he said slowly, unable to ignore the sense of foreboding that he was going to regret this "Any particular day, or - ?" he looked up at Draco questioningly
"Well, the first time people are going to talk, so we probably need to plan that." Draco straightened, letting Harry buckle the kit box shut, then reached down to grab a handle "But, after that I don't see why we shouldn't just start saying 'Hi' when we pass in the corridors."
Harry nodded, thinking as they carried the kit box back to the broom shed. It would be hard, at first, because people wouldn't understand why he was acting chummy with someone like Malfoy. And he couldn't help but wonder how this was going to affect things with Ron. He sighed. Ron wasn't his problem anymore, if he didn't want to make up, there was nothing he could do about it. He just had to hope that everyone else wouldn't follow his ex-friend's lead.
Stop thinking that!
"How about Herbology?" Harry suggested "We could walk down after lunch tomorrow?"
"Excellent." Draco nodded in approval "Should we work together?"
"Maybe not just yet." Harry said, not wanting to suddenly cut himself off from the rest of his house; no one would go near him in class if he was working with Malfoy. "It's a bit soon. Maybe another week."
…ooo000ooo…
It turned out that talking to Draco, between classes at least, didn't cause as much stir as Harry had expected.
The first time, as Malfoy had brazenly shouted "Hi Potter!" with a wave and a rather wooden smile in the midst of sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins, he'd left a wake of shocked students behind him, and Harry had hurried ahead after him to avoid the stares and whispers. The Slytherins looked particularly scandalised. Harry half wished they'd decided to work together in class; instead he had to put up with an endless barrage of questions from the other sixth year Gryffindors - all except Ron, who sat as far away from Harry as physically possible, studiously ignoring the commotion. Harry dropped hints about 'keeping an eye on the enemy' and they quietened down considerably, and across the greenhouse, he could see Draco answering similar questions. He could tell when he'd re-planted his own story of 'spying', because that was the moment that the Slytherins went back to their usual behaviour - shooting Harry disdainful, smug glares, and muttering among themselves.
Apart from that though, the most reaction they got was the confused stares of the younger students who knew of Harry and Malfoy's rivalry, and even then they didn't seem particularly interested.
However that was not true for certain students, namely the female ones. The news that the richest male student in Hogwarts were now on amicable terms with the most famous one was riveting news for almost every female student, and judging by the way they followed Harry and Draco in flocks between classes, they were eager for further gossip on the subject. Unbeknown to Harry, who didn't follow the trends that circulated in female circles, Draco had long been famed more for his looks and dark glamour than for his money, and Harry himself had shot up the list of those 'eligible' for the 'top spot', since his makeover. That the two figureheads for the opposing sides of Dark and Light were no longer enemies (indeed, some dared to whisper 'friends') was fuel for the fantasies for many girls, not the least Romilda Vane, who fast became the primary cause of Harry avoiding spending time in the Gryffindor common room alone. Harry had also taken to avoiding lingering in doorways or arches as, typical to the fast approaching holiday season, sprigs of mistletoe kept appearing above his head.
It was when Harry and Draco began talking and speaking in class the following week when the most amusing reactions occurred. Professor Sprout did a double take when she saw Harry assisting Draco subdue his Snargaluff stump, and Professor McGonagall actually clutched the table for support when Draco nodded cheerfully at Harry when he came in to deliver a note from Professor Sinistra.
In Defence however, Harry and Draco decided it was for the best to keep their new relationship quiet in that particular class, lest Harry be placed beside someone more unpleasant, like Pansy (although Harry didn't mention to Malfoy that was who he had in mind). Malfoy wasn't quite fast enough to hide his guilty expression when Harry told him he thought the Slytherin was just agreeing with him so that he wouldn't have to sit next to Ron or Hermione. Snape took to descending on Harry in class and asking the most ridiculously difficult questions. Harry was reasonably proud at being able to answer all of the NEWT-level questions; but this was the point where Snape began asking things which were so advanced that, shockingly, even Hermione's hand didn't even fly up in the air to answer some of them. At first, Harry was glad to see that Malfoy refrained from sniggering along with the rest of the Slytherins when this happened, and even maintained a blank expression.
The first time that Harry wondered if he was actually making headway with Malfoy occurred when the Slytherin began to scribble the answers to some of Snape's harder questions on the corner of his parchment for Harry to read. It didn't matter that these were usually answers to questions associated with dark magic, Harry was still left confused that Malfoy would help him against a professor who was a Death Eater, particularly Snape who he'd always tried to impress. Was Malfoy actually starting to like him, or was he still trying to win Harry over?
He managed to explain it away, reasoning that perhaps Malfoy was hoping Snape would notice and report back to Voldemort that he was making friends with Harry. Harry pinched himself, he had been feeling unduly grateful towards someone who was deceiving him - he couldn't let Malfoy fool him.
However he was left reeling when, one day during a particularly taxing class where Snape shot increasingly difficult and confusingly worded questions mingled with insults to Harry's father, Malfoy quietly commented"I don't know how you stand it. He really is a fucking slimy bastard towards you."
Harry could only stare in shock. Malfoy was shaking his head in disgust as he watched Snape lecture. He didn't sound as if his words were fabricated.
In contrast to DADA, Harry particularly enjoyed Potions these days. Slughorn beamed whenever he saw Malfoy and Harry together, apparently as the ex-head of Slytherin house, he had always desired more inter-house friendship. Also, Harry found Draco a great help when it came to catching up on potions - it was apparently Draco's best subject, and clearly Professor Snape had been more helpful towards his own house.
"I don't see why you can't sit with us." Pansy sniffed sulkily, looking disdainfully down her nose at Harry, before rounding on Draco again. Harry hid a smirk; something similar happened in every class they shared. Pansy was clingier than the giant squid when Hagrid hadn't fed it in a while, and he had started to notice the tell-tale signs of Draco's irritation.
When Pansy first approached Draco, he would usually ignore her; she would then proceed to 'drape herself' over him, whether it was a hand around his waist or full-scale sitting on his lap and snogging him. Harry would hurriedly turn away when this happened, feeling very uncomfortable.
Most of the time, Draco would shrug her off, unless she looked particularly moody. When this happened, he would start to fidget, his jaw jutting out sulkily as she continued talking or stroking his hair, or whatever she was doing. At his most annoyed, Harry had seen Draco tilting back in his chair, drumming his fingers on his desk and grinding his teeth furiously as Pansy wittered on about her dress for some upcoming family event, an arm around his neck.
"Why are you going out with her?" Harry asked bluntly one afternoon as they walked to potions. Pansy had just flounced off in a huff when Draco told her he didn't know or particularly care what colour robes he would be wearing on her birthday "I mean, you obviously can't stand her. You don't even pretend you like her half the time."
"We're engaged." Draco shrugged "And Pansy's alright. She's just irritating in public."
"You're engaged?" Harry was shocked.
"We're not formally engaged. It just means our parents expect us to marry when we leave school." Draco replied in a bored voice.
"So it's like an arranged marriage then?" Harry was surprised "That's a bit old fashioned. It must be awful. No offence." he added quickly; perhaps Malfoy did love Pansy, somewhere very deep inside.
"None taken. Welcome to pureblood society." Draco gave him a wry smile "But it's not so bad. Me and Pans are great friends, I'm just not a fan of her public persona."
"What? So she's acting when she's being irritating?"
"In a way…" Draco struggled to explain "She's grown used to acting like a bimbo. It's just how… how her mother taught her to act. Wisdom isn't supposed to be attractive in women, I suppose."
"But obviously you prefer it." Harry said, and Draco laughed.
"Of course. Pansy can be nice when she's not being … well to be honest, most of the time she's a snarky bitch, but we do actually get along when she's not trying so hard to be my girlfriend."
Draco sighed as they entered the Potions classroom. He rounded on Harry as they sank into their seats.
"Have you ever wanted to give Granger a good snog?"
"What - no!"
"Exactly!" Draco snapped a finger in Harry's face "She's a friend. Can't do it, it's like kissing your sister. Me and Pans are best friends, and sure we've experimented in the past, but I've grown out of it."
"No wonder she's so … irritating." Harry said "If you won't even kiss her."
"Oh she feels the same I'm sure." Draco said offhandedly "I mean, she's shagging Nott at the moment I think."
"She - Nott!?" Harry spluttered
"Yeah," Draco continued "It's fine, I don't mind. We've never done that together anyway, it'd feel weird. We date other people for that sort of stuff. Me and Pans are just a show."
As Harry continued to look confused he explained kindly
"It's pureblood society, Potter. Like I said, it's all a show."
Thought provoking question:
Regulus Black. Give a brief summary of what you think his life was like.
Personally I think that Sirius was so busy trying to be a rebel that he left his little brother under a huge amount of pressure to be a 'real' Black. His brother was younger, and no doubt was still young enough to want to please his parents. Was there ever affection between the brothers? What do you think happened when Sirius came home from his first year at Hogwarts? I picture little Regulus trying to be a good son, and being hurt and frightened as Sirius lashes out at him for being a 'Dark Wizard'. After that a chasm would grow between the two, and maybe Regulus never wanted to be evil, but felt he had no place on the side of light. Do you think James and the Marauders bullied him like they did Snape?
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