A/N: What, an update? What is this craziness? Sorry, I know it's been forever. If you read any of my other stories, there should be an update on all of them, hopefully, within the next month, including a second update on this story…if all goes as planned which RL doesn't always allow for. However, I shall do my best. Thanks for reading lovelies!
Chapter 10
The next morning, because of their excitement and consequential late night the night previous, Harry and Draco didn't wake up until Narcissa came in to get them at 8. Harry was the first up as he, with a yawn and stretch, made his way to the connected bathroom. Draco just rolled into the spot that Harry had freed and buried his head under the covers in the warm spot of the sheets where Harry's torso had been laying. Narcissa grinned and pulled the covers down off his head. "Come on, little dragon, you need to get ready to board the train."
His head poked out, still half hidden under the pillow Harry had used. "Train?"
"It's September 1st, dear, you leave for Hogwarts today," she reminded him softly.
He sprung out of bed, still half asleep, but excited nonetheless, and dashed off toward the bathroom with a slightly tipsy gait.
Narcissa laughed lightly at Harry's shout as Draco, still not fully coherent, jumped in the shower with him still in there. With a shake of her head, she pulled out the boy's uniforms and laid them on the bed. "Hurry downstairs boys, I want us to have breakfast together before you leave," she called to them through the cracked bathroom door. She heard their affirmative answers then left the room.
Harry was the first of the two down. He plopped into his seat with a pout and began to serve himself a plate of french toast.
Draco came down a few minutes later, tie around his neck, but not tied, skidding into the room in just his socks. "Come on, Ry, give me a break!"
He just glared and grabbed the bowl of fruit.
"What's going on boys?" Lucius asked.
Harry didn't look up, so they looked to Draco for the answers.
"I got in the shower with him by accident and he is mad because he thinks I took all the water."
"I rinsed my hair in the sink!" Harry snapped. "You said you were cold when you weren't directly underneath the spray and wouldn't move to let me finish rinsing my hair completely. Of course I'm mad, Draco."
He huffed and sat beside Harry, taking the bowl of fruit that the raven had dished up for him and beginning to eat. "Then we're just going to have to get a bigger shower then, aren't we."
Sirius, Severus, and Lucius all choked on their drinks as Narcissa's cheeks tinged pink and Remus hid his face behind the newspaper saying, "I am so not touching that one."
Lucius cleared his throat and commented first, "Or, you could shower one at a time."
Draco looked at him confused. "Why? It's not like we have different parts or anything. And there are plenty of pictures of us bathing together in the past, like, even up to last year. It's not like it's a big deal or anything."
"For my sanity, please just shower alone," Lucius pleaded. He didn't want to think about his son and godson in a compromising position, let alone have it talked about so casually.
Draco just shrugged and turned back to Harry. "I promise next time that I won't hog the water. And you can totally steal all the blankets tonight and I won't even complain."
The raven sighed. "Yes, you will. But I might do it anyway." He passed Draco a cup of grape juice. "Just let me be mad for a bit, then we'll be fine, just like always."
"Good," he turned back to his food. "I don't like it when we are fighting, and I know you don't either."
Severus cleared his throat and changed the topic. "Are you all packed for the train ride? I know you think one of us will just Floo home if you forget anything, but it isn't going to happen."
"Yes, Uncle Sev," Draco said easily. "We made a packing list and had Mum check it and everything. The trunks are packed and ready to be taken to school. Are you still going to take them with you so we don't have to mess with them on the train?"
He nodded. "If that is what you wish."
Harry shook his head in the affirmative this time. "Yes. We will wear our robes through the Floo and we each have our backpacks with stuff to do in them."
"Harry, do you have your potion?" Remus asked, knowing that he got motion sick through most modes of transportation.
"Yes. And Draco has a spare, just in case."
"We each have a spare sweater -"
"And snacks -"
"And some coin in case we want one of the treats off the trolley," Draco grinned.
"And my blanket for when we nap," Harry grinned sheepishly. They'd taken long trips before, though never by train, and, without fail, they always ended up asleep no more than two hours into the trip no matter when they had gone to sleep the night before or when they had gotten up that morning. He found it rather annoying as he actually loved to see the different sights as they traveled, but, at the same time, he couldn't deny he loved falling asleep in their usual position: Draco leaning against the window or wall or side of whatever it was they were riding in, and his head in Draco's lap.
"Oh!" Severus remembered something he had intended to ask before. "I want you to try an experiment today. Harry, you're always the first to fall asleep. Don't bother to do anything different. Draco, try and avoid sleep for as long as you can after he falls asleep. You both seem to sleep and wake within no more than 30 minutes of each other, but normally we don't mind because it works, try to see if it has something to do with your soul bond or if it has just been coincidence for the last 11 or so years."
"We have not," both 11-year-olds protested, mostly to go against what they were being told. It was highly likely that something like that happened. Their eyes met, though Harry looked away quickly, still annoyed with Draco.
"Really?" Lucius drawled. He, too, had noticed the same thing, but had never thought of it beyond that. "Are you sure that you haven't?"
They looked at each other for a few minutes in silence, communicating with their eyes. "Okay, maybe you're right," Draco said, the pair of them fully agreeing on something for the first time that morning.
"Just try it out," Narcissa told them as she stood. "Now, it's time to say our goodbyes before we head to the station." While they were more affectionate in public than they were in the memories Draco had told them when they were 17, none of them were really comfortable showing negative emotions in public, even Sirius and Remus, and, while they were all happy that the boys were going to be at Hogwarts, they were still going to miss the boys something fierce and Narcissa was trying to avoid crying in public. "Now, come and give me a hug."
Even before she had her words finished, two sets of thin arms had thrown themselves around her waist and were squeezing her tightly. Narcissa wrapped an arm around each of their backs and placed kisses on top of their heads. "You boys be good, alright? I don't want to get any letters from your teachers unless it is saying how spectacular you are."
"Yes, Momma," Draco muttered as Harry nodded into her ribcage.
"Good boys," she pulled back and knelt in front of them. With a quick silencing charm, she grinned at them, "Good, now, Lucius, Sirius, Remus, and I have bet on which house you are going to, so do me a favor and be sorted into Ravenclaw, alright?"
"Sev isn't betting?" Harry asked confused.
"We decided he couldn't bet because he is Head of Slytherin."
"Oh, that makes sense. We'll see what happens, Momma," Draco said before kissing her cheek.
Harry wrapped his arms around her neck for another hug. "I'm gonna miss you," he whispered in her ear, his voice thick with unshed tears.
"I'm going to miss you, too, little love. Watch out for Draco and make sure he does the same for you."
He nodded, still not releasing her. "What if we are sorted in separate houses? What if he's in Slytherin and I'm in Gryffindor all alone?"
"We will still love you regardless and you will see each other every other night in Dragon Quarters. You can still be friends, no matter which house you are in."
"Promise?"
"I promise." She pulled back. "Go give, Uncle Luc a hug. It's almost time to head out."
He wiped his eyes roughly with the back of his hand then turned and dashed over to Lucius who easily scooped him into a tight hug, holding him completely off the ground.
Narcissa turned back to Draco and pulled him into another hug. "Take care of yourself and of Harry, alright my dragon?"
"Of course, Momma." He hugged her tight. "I promise to write all the time, too, at least twice a week."
"I know you will, love. Have lots of fun, too, okay? And try not to get in too much trouble. Severus is your professor now and I expect you both to respect him as such and not give him too much grief."
"Of course, Momma."
"And I want you to do your absolute best in all of your subjects, even the ones you don't like. And keep up with your studies in the subjects that we were studying at home."
Draco laughed. "I know, Momma. We'll be good and do our homework and try not to get annoyed by the people who aren't as smart as us."
Narcissa tapped the back of his head in warning. "And be nice to everyone, regardless of their level of intelligence." She kissed his cheek. "Go give your father a hug, it is almost time to go."
Draco turned to hug his father (Harry had already been passed into Sirius's arms as he wasn't going to see the Auror as often as he was used to and was going to miss him as well) and squeaked slightly as he was lifted off his feet. He was quite a bit taller than Harry and wasn't picked up or toted around nearly as often as the other boy was, so it was an unusual experience for him.
"I'm going to miss you, Dragon."
"I'll miss you, too, Dad,"
They were quiet for a minute. "Try not to give Severus too much trouble. I know you both will do me proud."
"We'll be good as we always are, Dad. I'll write to you tonight to let you know what house we are in."
"Good, let me know for sure that you are in Slytherin."
Draco laughed. "I know all about your wager. Mum told me to make sure we're in Ravenclaw."
Harry overheard that comment and giggled. "Siri just made me promise that we are in Gryffindor."
Draco looked over at Remus. "What did you bet on? Hufflepuff?"
"Goodness no. Neither of you like people enough to do well in that house. I expect that you'll be sorted into different houses, throw a fit, and sleep in our quarters every night."
The 11-year-olds scoffed. "It's not going to happen," they growled, squirming back down to the ground, Harry automatically seeking out Draco's side as the older boy wrapped a protective arm around his shoulders.
"It is still a possibility," Remus said diplomatically. "This is not a bet I wish to win, I am simply throwing out the option."
"Good." Both boys hugged him. "We will see you lots at school. I like the tutoring center," Harry said honestly.
"I know, you will."
Severus also knelt down to give them a quick hug. "Remus and I need to go to make it to the meeting on time, but we will see you this evening. Don't do anything to get in trouble before the semester even begins, okay?"
"We promise," they chorused before stepping back to allow the two men to head back to the faculty meeting at Hogwarts.
A moment after they left, Narcissa sighed. "Alright, it's time to go to the Platform. Sirius, you Floo ahead to make sure nothing is wrong. If we don't hear from you within the minute, I will follow with Draco then Lucius and Harry will bring up the rear."
"Of course, Cissy. See you in a minute," Sirius said with a minor salute before stepping into the green flames and Flooing away.
When he didn't immediately appear, Narcissa stepped into the Floo with Draco by her side. She kept a hand on his shoulder and, with a quick word on her part, Flooed away. Lucius picked Harry up and swung him to his back before following his wife and son.