CHANGING TWILIGHT
by severnaya

Chapter 11: Winter Happenings

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
(Metallica – Nothing Else Matters)

During the Christmas break, Harry repeated his visits to the Schattenwesen several times. Mostly he would meet with Morven, and he already felt like home once he was with the Schattenwesen. Morven gave him a feeling of security and being safe, which existence he nearly had forgotten during the last months. What the humans around him couldn't accomplish, the Schattenwesen could.

Even if he seemed to be alone, he could feel the Schattenwesen watching over him. Harry didn't feel monitored, though; instead it was more as if the natural shadows of the Forest had turned into protective allies, guarding him from whatever might want him harm. Harry delved around the Forest in a way he never had even thought of before. The Forbidden Forest still was a dangerous place, and Harry still was only a human who could defend himself a bit with magic, but the underlying fear he had felt during earlier visits had vanished almost completely. What he now felt was more like the excitement a child felt when it explored a vacant house, or when it was allowed to camp outside for the very first time.

The sun had vanished a while ago, ceding the Forest to the nightly shadows of early dusk. Inside the Forest, the last bit of light soon faded away, plunging it in black darkness. Harry could hear the animals of the Forest awaken and judging by the sounds many of them wouldn't mind a human as a first meal. Harry, however, could still feel the Schattenwesen around him and didn't loose the calmness and ease of mind he had established over the last days. He wouldn't dawdle, but neither would he hurry.

With steady strides, he soon reached the edge of the Forest. While it had become pitch-black between the trees, it was a bit brighter at the grounds, but still shaded enough to call it dark. Harry turned around one last time to see the Schattenwesen lingering near the border of the Forbidden Forest, almost invisible inside the darkness. He smiled slightly and lifted his left hand as a gesture to say farewell, before he turned again and walked up to the inviting lights of Hogwarts's many windows.

***************

If there had been more students around, Hogwarts certainly would spill over with rumours and assumptions about the picture one could see if the person were just wandering outside through the grounds of Hogwarts these days. Two students, one normally would only see together when fighting each other, were walking silently around the lake, too close to each other to be enemies.

During the last days the delicate truce between Harry and Draco had grown stronger than either of them had anticipated; truce became peace, peace turned into acceptance and acceptance finally transformed into friendship. The change went faster than one would think, especially when taking into consideration the type of relationship the two had had during the first five years since they had met in that shop in Diagon Alley, but both of them couldn't find a reason to fight against each other anymore. None of them would admit it right now, but both felt comforted by being in the present of the other, although neither Harry nor Draco could put into words what they felt, or find a reason why they felt the way they did.

When they past a larger rock that stood near the path, Harry quickly caught some snow in his hands, and without a warning he threw the snow at the back of Draco's head; he was, after all, still was the son and godson of Marauders.

The Slytherin stopped dead in his tracks and then turned around slowly and as gracefully as one could with snow dropping from the head.

"Harry James Potter," he said menacingly. "You hyperactive, dim-witted, immature Gryffindork! How dare you?"

Harry smiled at him from ear to ear, and without another word he threw a second snowball at Draco.

The blond ducked in the nick of time. "Just you wait!" he called out and started the counterattack. What Harry hadn't anticipated was that Draco reached for his wand, and seconds later Harry eyes widened as a seven feet high and about ten feet wide wave of snow came rushing towards him. He tried to run away, but the wave was too fast and caught him easily, burying him under several feet of loose, cold snow.

When Harry had fought his way back to the light, he saw Draco standing some feet away, his arms crossed in front of his chest, looking thoroughly pleased.

Harry grimaced sulkily. "That was mean," he told Draco, who merely raised an eyebrow. "Help me up?" Harry asked and extended one hand in the Slytherin's direction.

Draco went forward and grabbed Harry's hand, but the moment Harry's fingers engulfed his own he knew he had made a mistake. In the same instant he felt Harry pulling, and he himself landed in the snow, face first.

Draco could hear Harry laughing beside him, and this time forgetting about his wand he lunged forward, mercilessly embalming the still giggling Gryffindor with snow. Once satisfied, he let go and lay down on his back, his clothes and hair were already completely wet, there couldn't be done any more damage.

"You know," Draco said after a while, "even if we aren't enemies anymore we should keep up the competition."

The look on the Gryffindor's face was priceless. "Competition?"

"Sure. It would be more than boring without some kind of fight, wouldn't it?"

Harry thought about that for a moment. In the past years, he had always wished Malfoy would just vanish from earth. But now everything was different. Malfoy was Draco; someone he could talk to about everything if he would want to. Additionally, Draco could better imagine than anyone else what Harry had faced or would have to face, just because the way he grew up. Behind the façade of Malfoy there was Draco, a person one perhaps could even trust completely. And as a matter of fact, Draco was the only person who wouldn't treat him like a fragile puppet or ticking time bomb. Their recent snow fight had been fun. With some of the old rivalry, life would definitely be a bit more interesting; but yet.

"What kind of competition are you thinking about?" Even if Harry felt as if he could trust the Slytherin, one could never be sure. There were a lot of nasty things Draco could and would do without hesitation if he considered them reasonable, and the dividing line between wrong and right lay extremely low.

"A bet about the outcome of the next Quidditch match," the blond said. He had rolled to the side, propped up by his left arm, and looked straight into Harry's eyes. The Gryffindor watched Draco carefully, trying to find any hidden meaning. "There will be the Slytherin-Ravenclaw match at the end of January," Draco went on. "I say Slytherin wins, of course. You can take Ravenclaw."

"What would be the stake?"

Draco started grinning slightly. "Whoever wins has a wish the other must fulfil."

"Are you nuts?"

"Scared, Potter?" Draco asked innocently but with a provocative smile on his face.

"You wish," Harry answered, and knowing this could be the stupidest thing he ever did, he agreed.

***************

Things were going well. Harry was not only on friendly terms with Draco, but was quite sure that he had found a true friend in him. When he wasn't with the Slytherin, he would visit Morven as much as he could without attracting too much attention. Life was peaceful and quiet; but life wasn't fair, and soon the peaceful atmosphere was about to be disturbed.

It was four days before the rest of the studentbody would return to Hogwarts. The students that had stayed over the holidays and the professors were sitting at one of the large tables in the Great Hall having lunch. Professor Flitwick had bewitched the Christmas trees, which now were covered with snow, matching the trees outside. During the last days it had snowed almost constantly, and Hagrid was the only one who could walk outside without difficulties or using some spell to melt the snow or blow it away.

Some of the professors were talking quietly, as did some students, but on the whole it was by far more tranquil than the hall normally would be. Harry and Draco sat side by side in complete silence. The first time the two of them had entered the Great Hall together they had got more than one curious and confused look. Even Dumbledore had seemed surprised. Still, no one approached the unusual pair, and neither Harry nor Draco bothered to explain their recent friendship.

Harry was just about to drink his pumpkin juice when a stabbing pain in his chest made him cry out. Inhaling sharply, he grabbed the front of his cloth with one hand, while the other clung tightly to the edge of the table, making his knuckles stand out white against the rest of his skin. Harry bent forward, his eyes firmly shut, trying to get a hold of himself.

Dumbledore had stood up immediately and had nearly reached Harry when the Gryffindor opened his eyes and lifted his head a bit. Draco, sitting directly beside Harry, could see that the other's eyes weren't focused on the table, but instead it looked as if Harry would listen to something inside of him.

Dumbledore was just about to touch Harry when the student abruptly stood up. Without noticing anyone around him, Harry stormed out of the Great Hall. It took them some seconds, but then Dumbledore, Snape, and a bit behind them, Madam Pomfrey chased after Harry. Draco wanted to go too but was held back by McGonagall.

Inside his fogged mind, Harry could only think one word: Morven. He knew something had happened to the Schattenwesen. He could feel it. And this thought alone occupied his mind. He didn't perceive any of the persons around him, nor the halls he passed, but was just moving blindly through the familiar place. His world existed only of the knowledge that he had to move on. Sounds wouldn't reach him and walls morphed into something insubstantial, of which in retrospect he couldn't say if it was black or white. His subconscious noted the shift in the temperature and somewhere in his mind Harry knew he had left the castle. Once outside, he fought his way through the deep snow without even noticing the effort it took, heading straight to the Forbidden Forrest. He didn't even bother thinking about where he was going. In fact, he wasn't thinking at all, unable to form a coherent thought. His world only consisted of one aim: reaching Morven. Harry had given control to his instincts, completely trusting that they would lead him to the Schattenwesen.

About five minutes later, and drenched from top to bottom, he reached his destination and stopped dead. His vision cleared but he still didn't notice the other three people arriving behind him. Harry's eyes were fixed on the sight in front of him; everything else was an unimportant blur. Morven was lying only some feet away on the ground. The snow around the Schattenwesen was coloured in a dark grey tone with a hint of red; unmistakably blood.

Harry sank down on his knees, shaking all over. Carefully he touched Morven. The moment his fingers came in contact with the Schattenwesen, pictures started to appear in front of his eyes. Men in dark robes; some firing spells others chanting something in an unrecognisable language… Another man, also wearing black, came forward, carrying something in his hands… Harry could feel Morven's fear. He hadn't even known until now that Schattenwesen could be afraid. The man came nearer and Harry recognized him. The red eyes were flashing before the man reached out, penetrating the Schattenwesen with the artefact he was carrying. The pain stopped the images, leaving Harry staring at the broken form of Morven. The physical pain of the Schattenwesen mixed with his own psychical.

Dumbledore and the others watched transfixed, as Harry knelt down beside the creature. It was clear that the Schattenwesen was something important to him. The moment Harry touched the Schattenwesen they could feel a strange power erupting between them, adjoining Harry with the mystical creature.

They seem to be connected stronger than we assumed, Dumbledore thought.

Harry's breathing was irregular, as if he himself was hurt. Dumbledore stepped forward carefully but stopped again when Harry started to whisper.

"Harry?" he asked tentatively, but the boy didn't seem to notice him at all.

"No," they could hear him say, shaking his head slightly. "No, no, NO!" With the last word, Harry started to scream. First, it sounded human, like somebody keening about the loss of a loved one; but then his sorrowful cry changed. Harry threw his head back, a movement that reminded the others of a howling wolf, and the sound erupting from his throat transformed into something they couldn't describe. Harry's now unearthly cry went directly through their bones, forcing them to put their hands over their ears, but they still were unable to stop the utter emotions that ravaged through their minds.

The power around Harry and the Schattenwesen increased, and Dumbledore had to retreat. Finally, Harry fell silent again. Still without paying regard to the other humans, Harry took hold of Morven and went deeper into the Forest. Dumbledore and Snape immediately tried to follow, but were stopped by an invisible barrier.

Unable to reach Harry, they returned to the castle heavy-hearted.

It was turning dark when Dumbledore relieved Professor McGonagall and began his part of the shift of waiting for Harry. But Harry didn't return that day, neither the next.

***************

Sheer worry let forget Draco most of his upbringing and the matters he had been taught, when he pestered his godfather in his attempt to get answers over and over again. He wanted to know where Harry was, wanted to know what had happened; but the man just blocked him out up to a point where the Potions master didn't even paused if Draco stood in his way.

Frustrated, Draco let go of this path. Luckily, there were other teachers who weren't so adept in hiding information as Snape was. After deciding on following Professor McGonagall, who by now looked as if worried sick, it only took some hours until he could eavesdrop on a discussion.

"I don't understand why Albus isn't looking for the boy," Madam Pomfrey said in a hushed voice. The two witches were walking through one of the corridors in the direction of the infirmary, and both looked rather fraught.

"Neither do I, Poppy," McGonagall answered equally whispering. "He is completely assured that Mr Potter will return by himself, but what if he doesn't? What if he tries IT again?"

"I was there, Minerva, and I tell you, young Mr Potter didn't look any near of being able to cope with the situation on his own. We have to find him."

Draco couldn't hear more, though, as the professors entered the hospital ward in which he couldn't follow unnoticed.

Draco wasn't sure if this conversation had helped him in any way. He now was assured that something bad had happened to Harry, but about that he had been certain beforehand. He also wondered why none of the other students seemed to worry about Harry missing meals, not even the Gryffindor second year. Draco, undoubtedly, would have noticed his absence, even if he weren't on friendly terms with him. Perhaps he wouldn't have cared, but no doubt, he would have noticed, wouldn't he?

Draco stopped outside the oak doors, looking across the Forbidden Forest. The traces of Harry and the three adults racing behind him were still visible. Where are you, Harry? He asked himself. What is happening to you now?

***************

Two days had passed since Harry had fled out of the Great Hall. Draco was once again sitting on the stone steps in front of the oak doors, letting his eyes roaming the grounds for any sign of Harry.

It was late in the morning when he spotted the dark shadow against the white of the snow. Draco stood up and went down the few steps but stopped there, waiting for Harry to come.

The Gryffindor looked far worse than the day he had left. He appeared worn out, and Draco was sure he hadn't eaten in those days he was missing.

Harry came to a halt directly in front of Draco and looked at him wearily.

"Hey," Draco said.

"Hey," Harry replied.

Draco wanted to ask question over question. He wanted to know what had happen, where Harry had been, what he had done, and why he had this determination in his tired eyes. But instead he said, "Go to bed. I'll tell Dumbledore that you're back."

Harry looked at him gratefully and with a nod entered the castle, swaying slightly.

***************

TBC…

A/N:
A BIG THANKYOU goes to those who put Changing Twilight to their favourites or story alerts, you really made my day: xXxLuna-the-ChosenxXx, stkatie00, Poseida Lunar, Nagini Potter, RinBaby and Emmeraude. Additionally special thanks goes to moriah93ohio, Poseida Lunar, crazybibliophile and harrylover101 for your kind reviews. I so enjoy getting feedback.

Once again I'm sorry for the delay. I hope you're satisfied with this chapter. Please let me know any comments, thoughts, wishes, fears etc. that you have, there're still some gaping holes in the plot ahead (although I decided on how it will end^^) and I'm thankful for everything that might get my imagination and inspiration back to work. So, pluck up courage and leave a review; I and other readers will appreciate it much!