Here we go. Sorry it took me a bit but my computer completely crashed, dead, caput, chuck it out the window because it's being dumb. Ok I didn't chuck it out the window but I did find a temporary replacement, hopefully I'll get mine back in about a week and a half *sigh*. It sucks because I had nothing saved, stupid I know, but everything is gone and it makes me mad. Anyway, enough about that, I have started exploring the Memoria, so that will be a big part of this, and probably the next few chapters. The next chapter will be the event though, and they may have some action, no gaurantees though, I kinda have a general idea of what I'm going to write but other than that I fly by the seat of my pants so we'll see what happens. If James seems a bit whiny, I'm sorry and please don't hate how I introduced Remus a little early. I will explain all, I have plans, I promise. Ok, now that I ranted and raved, please read and review, I love reading them but I suck at responding. So here's a general one:
Thank you all for reading and reviewing, I really appreciate it.
There I feel better. Now on with the story.
On another note, please excuse the OOC of the Malfoy's, you'll understand, but be warned, I did say REALLY AU :D
Harry only felt slightly guilty about what he had told the boys of his dorm as he made his way down to breakfast, it wasn't a total lie, just a small white one. He had told them that with the upcoming event that Hermione had fabricated that Draco would be going also. He had told them that Dumbledore had paired them together so Draco could help him with etiquette, along with Mrs. Malfoy. The other boys had bemoaned his luck with this event and Harry had agreed with them, ignoring Ron's suspicious looks and that had seemed to appease them, for now.
He entered the Great Hall and made his way towards the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Hermione, reaching for the plate of bacon.
"Good morning Harry," she said giving him a small smile.
"Morning Mione," he said, kissing her cheek to keep up their act. He had felt some of the anger and resentment towards her for her lies disappear as the time wore on. He loved her, maybe not in the way she made everyone believe but she was always there for him, if she was sometimes annoying.
"You seem to be in a good mood," she said, her eyebrow raised.
"Things are going to be ok Mione," he said and took a biscuit to dip in the gravy.
"Morning all," Ron's voice broke in around a large yawn as he sat on the other side of Dean.
"Morning Ron," both Harry and Hermione replied and turned to their breakfast.
"Are you going to this big event that Harry's been getting ready for?" Ron asked Hermione, his mouth full of food.
"Of course," she said, trying to ignore the food showing in the other boy's mouth.
"So when is this thing?" Ron asked, shoveling more food into his mouth.
"Tomorrow," Harry replied, taking a bite of pancake.
"You don't dance," Ron replied and Hermione snickered.
"We've been working on that," she replied, wiping her mouth and standing. "Are you two coming?" she asked, picking up her bag. Harry sighed, took one more bite and stood to follow her. They made their way down to the potions classroom, both Harry and Ron dragging their feet.
"Nice to see you are on time," the Potions teacher's sarcastic voice greeted them as they entered the classroom.
"Our pleasure Professor," Harry snarked back and the older man glared. Harry had been surprised but found that lately the Potions master only glared and was sarcastic towards him.
"He's acting strange," Ron said as they sat down at one of the tables.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for talking out of turn," the voice came from the front of the class and Harry shook his head. Where Professor Snape had seemed to back off on Harry, he had become more severe on the other Gryffindor's, why, Harry wasn't sure. "Mr. Potter, you will be working with Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley you will work together," he snapped and Harry looked at the other two before picking up his bag and walking to the other boy's table.
"Potter," was the only response as Harry sat down next to Draco and Harry nodded in response, looking up as Snape waved his wand and the instructions appeared. The two boys worked through the potion, Harry wondering what he was doing there with the other boy, who had been almost silent, other than giving instructions.
"Are you going to say what you need to?" he finally asked as he was stirring the cauldron as Draco wrote down their results.
"What are you talking about?" Draco said, not looking at the other boy and Harry rolled his eyes.
"Why did Professor Snape partner us together?" Draco was silent for a long moment before turning his head to look at Harry.
"My mother and I will not be able to attend our meeting tonight," he said, turning back to his notes and Harry cocked an eyebrow.
"Really? Isn't that against the rules?" he asked, taking a close look at the bubbling cauldron.
"No," was the short response and Harry sighed. He couldn't ignore the fact that he was happy, deep down, having a night off from being with the blonde, but he was curious.
"What are you doing?" he finally asked after several long moments of silence.
"Dinner," was all he got and the other boy refused to reveal anything else. Once the class was over, Harry bottled the potion and walked to Snape's desk and placed the bottle there. Snape picked it up and eyed it carefully, then shooting Harry a nasty look, turned away. Harry turned back to his desk to find Draco gone and everything cleaned up. Sighing, Harry packed away his things and walked towards his waiting friends to head to their next class.
Later that night, after everyone else had gone to bed, Harry had locked himself in the bathroom, the Memoria with him, his blankets there to keep him warm. He sat against the far wall, away from the door and stared down at the glass ball. He had put this off for a few days now, not sure he was ready to see what Lucius Malfoy had left him. Sighing, he made himself more comfortable and placed his hands on either side of the glass and stared at the swirling mist. He sat staring at it for a long moment, nothing happening and he sighed, sitting back and blinking.
As soon as he did so he looked around and found himself not in the boys bathroom in Hogwarts. Instead he found himself standing outside of a large house, a younger boy with white hair about five years old and two older people and he realized with a start he was looking at young Lucius Malfoy. Turning when the large doors opened, he found himself face to face with his grandparents, knowing this from the pictures of his father and family.
"Lord and Lady Malfoy, please come in," Sophia Potter said, standing aside and opening the door wider so they could enter and Harry found himself pulled along. The feeling was like floating, he did not have to actually walk to move and a bit disconcerting.
"Thank you," Lord Lucius replied and the entered the house and found a young boy, about four years old standing next to Harry's grandfather.
"Lord Lucius, you know my husband," Sophia said and the two men shook hands, "and this is James, our son," she said and Harry watched as his father hid behind his father's legs.
"It is nice to meet you, James," Lord Malfoy said, smiling down at the boy. "Harold, how are you?" he asked, addressing the older Potter and Harry's grandfather smiled back, shaking his hand.
"Very well, it's good to see you again Abraxas," was the reply.
"And you, Harold, I would like you to meet my son, Lucius," Abraxas replied and pulled Lucius forward.
"Hello Lucius," Harold replied, shaking the younger man's hand. "James," he said turning to his own son, "this is Lucius." The smaller black haired boy stayed clinging to his father's pant leg as he stared at the blond child.
The scene dissolved in front of him found himself going through several stages of their growing older, nothing that stood out, just different holidays and birthdays. There was one scene where Lucius seemed eleven and James ten and they were at what looked like Malfoy Manor, the large forest that surrounded the manor in front of them. The look on the adult's faces were anxious, worried, Lucius stood apart from them and was staring into the woods.
"What happened Lucius?" Abraxas asked and the young boy turned to his father.
"We were playing a game, I believe he got lost," was the cool reply.
"Any idea where he went?" Sophia asked and Lucius shrugged before turning to stare into the woods again.
"He could be anywhere, these woods surround us for miles." They were all silent for a long moment before Abraxas turned to his son.
"Lucius," he said and Lucius nodded as if understanding what he meant.
"I'll find him," he said, nodding to the Potter's before moving towards the woods, his pace picking up until he was running, once he reached the woods, his form changed into a large white wolf. Harry stared down at the wolf who was now sniffing the air and the ground, looking for a scent. Suddenly his head perked up and he turned sharply to the left and started running. He stopped every once in a while, sniffing the air and ground, tipping his head to the side as if to listen. Finally Lucius came to a large incline that led to a ravine, his head cocked and after a moment, Harry heard it too, a low whimper. Lucius paced back and forth atop the ravine, looking for a way down. Harry also looked but could not find any way himself and was surprised when Lucius jumped down the steep side and tried to keep himself from falling. He made it halfway down before he tripped and rolled the rest of the way, Harry wincing every time he hit something. He finally landed in a heap at the bottom and lay still.
"Lucius?" a cautious voice asked and Harry turned to find his father making his way towards the wolf, limping heavily on his left foot. He finally made it to the other boy and shook his shoulder. "Lucius?" was the scared question and with nothing better to do than wait for the other boy, curled himself around the unconscious wolf.
It wasn't long after that the wolf started to stir, standing gently, he stumbled a bit before looking down at the other boy and changing back into his human form.
"James are you all right?" he asked, bending down to examine the smaller form.
"I hurt my foot," was the plaintive reply and Lucius bent down and pulled off James' shoe and sock, hissing at the swollen appendage.
"I do not believe it is broken," he said, looking at the other boy, reassurance shining from his eyes.
"It still hurts," James said, biting his lip.
"I'm sure it does," Lucius replied, looking up at the near-shear walls that surrounded them. "I do not believe it would be wise for you to walk, do you think you can ride?" James grinned and nodded his head enthusiastically and Lucius smiled a bit before changing back into his wolf form and lying down, letting James climb onto his back. Lucius grunted a bit as James adjusted himself on his back, pulling some of his fur in the process but finally settled, holding onto his fur and gripping with his legs. Harry wasn't surprised that his father could fit so well, even though he expected Lucius to only be eleven, in wolf form the animal's head came nearly to his collar bone.
They walked their way out, James eventually falling forward gently and seeming to fall asleep but Lucius kept walking, letting his charge sleep. Near dawn, they walked up a small incline to find themselves back at Malfoy Manor, the adults still waiting. When they saw Lucius and James they rushed forward and took the sleeping boy from his back. Harry watched as Lucius collapsed back into his human form, not having the strength to keep himself up anymore. Abraxas moved forward and picked up his son, though he was almost as big as the older man and turned towards the house.
"You did well son," he said quietly and Lucius smiled a bit, before closing his eyes.
"Is James all right?" he suddenly asked around a large yawn.
"He's just fine," Harold said, walking towards them, "thank you Lucius," he said, laying a hand on the boys arm but said boy was already asleep.
The scene dissolved around him again and next Harry found himself in Ollivander's where Lucius was being fit for his first wand.
"Why can't I get one now?" James asked, watching as Lucius went through several wands.
"You will get one next year sweetheart," Sophia replied and watched as the wand in Lucius' hand started to spark.
"Very good Mr. Malfoy," Mr. Ollivander said, taking the wand from the boy and placing it in a box. "Seven inches, oak with a Hippogriff feather inside, very good indeed," he said, handing the box over once they had paid. "We'll see you next year, Mr. Potter," he called as they left and James waved. From there he watched them go through the shops, Madam Malkin's, purchasing their books and finally stopped by Quality Quidditch Supplies, both boys staring at the newest broom.
"I'm going to be a Seeker," James said, his face pressed against the glass.
"I'm sure you will be," Lucius replied, ruffling his hair, "you will be able to fly loops around the competition."
"You think so?" James asked, eyes wide and Lucius grinned.
"Of course, you already do it with me," he said, pulling the younger boy away towards Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor where he bought them both ice cream.
The scene dissolved again and Harry found himself at Platform 9 ¾ watching as the Potter's and Malfoy's said goodbye to Lucius. James seemed to hold on a bit longer to his best friend before the whistle blew, signaling time for him to go. Lucius ruffled James' hair and grinned down at him, promising to write every day before boarding the train. He found an empty compartment and went to the window immediately to say his last goodbyes. Once the train started moving, he sat down and leaned against the seat, pulling out a book to read. Several minutes into the ride, the door to the compartment opened and a tall gangly boy stood there, looking around nervously his clothes looking worn and tired.
"Can I help you?" Lucius asked, closing his book with a finger to mark his page and the other boy swallowed.
"Do you mind if I sit here? There really isn't anywhere else," the shy response came and Lucius nodded, indicating the seat across from him.
"Please do," he said and the boy sat down on the edge of the seat, seeming very nervous as if something were going to jump out at him at any moment. "My name is Lucius Malfoy," Lucius finally said, and the other boy jumped.
"Oh, uh my name is Remus, Remus Lupin," he replied and reluctantly took Lucius' hand. Harry stared at the younger version of Remus Lupin in surprise, he thought he had been the same age as his father.
"Nice to meet you Remus," Lucius said, setting his book aside. "If you don't mind me asking, aren't you a bit young to be going to Hogwarts?" Remus stared at him for a moment, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.
"I don't mind, I know I'm young, I'm only ten," was the quiet response and Lucius raised an eyebrow. "They thought it would be safer for me to go to Hogwarts a year early." Harry could tell that Lucius wanted to ask questions but he thought it improper.
"Have you been to Hogwarts before?" Lucius asked and Remus shook his head, "well then, we have something in common," he said, smiling and Remus gave a hesitant smile back.
The scene started to dissolve when suddenly he felt something jerk him back, much like how a portkey made him feel and found himself in the boys bathroom again. He gripped his head painfully as a headache pounded itself against his temples.
"Who's in there?" a voice called and Harry looked towards the door, recognizing Dean's voice. Unsteadily, he stood up and covered the Memoria with his invisibility cloak and made his way to the door. He unlocked and opened it enough for the other boy to rush in, giving him strange look, one that he ignored and went to his bed. He looked at the clock and found it to be nearing four a.m. and blinked. He hadn't realized he had been in the Memoria that long. Sighing, he placed the Memoria in his trunk before changing and climbing into bed, falling asleep almost immediately.