I know how I said I wouldn't put anymore Authors notes, well I had to do this one.
Posted for Draco's birthday, I'm amazed I managed to get it done to a deadline! Though, due to this I've probably failed me assessment... Ah well. The longest to date, at 28 pages. I think I've really out done myself this time.
But as usual, this is Unbeta'd. If anyone is interested, mail me please or drop me a message on my Livejournal account.
Thank-you all who've stuck by this story, I -will- continue to write it, but I think I'm going to have a bit of a break while I work off my excess of energy in short stories. For any of you who have read my Sleeping Arrangements DM/HP fic, I've decided to make that into a series and will be posting that on my LJ as well. -I can't post them here, for rather obvious reasons.-
Thanks again to all you wonderful people who review. You are true treasures in this world.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, written purely to entertain myself and (hopefully) a few others. The world and characters belong entirely to J.K. Rowling, (OC's excluded) and I lay no claim to them whatsoever!
EDIT: (7/6/08) Fixed something I realised shouldn't have been there
Chapter Twelve: The bonds of friendship
Both boys were up early the next morning, though Draco was still awake some time before Harry even stirred and looked like he was trying to finish his homework, even if to Harry it felt more like Draco had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Well, that's what the emotions that passed into his end of the bond from Draco informed him.
As Harry made his way back toward his common room after promising to meet up with Draco to go for a run as Blitz, he couldn't help but notice that something between Draco and him had shifted subtly. Something that didn't entirely have anything to do with their bond.
Harry assumed it was probably brought about by him finally allowing Draco to read his feelings more readily. It was a matter of trust after all, even if Draco had apparently been playing some elaborate role all these years, as too his father had, Harry wasn't able to let go of past transgressions so easily. He accepted the Malfoys now, yes. He accepted that he was blood-bound to Draco and would be until one of them died or their bond severed. Harry accepted that this Draco was similar to the other Draco he knew, but that the boy was also very different.
Now all Harry had to do was accept the past.
He supposed by freeing up his end of the bond had been a start to move in the right direction and that by doing so he had revealed to Draco a part of himself that others only really saw the surface of. That he had revealed perhaps the most intimate part of himself. A move of absolute trust.
Draco had to have realised this by now, as secretive as he himself was. Even he wasn't as untrusting as Harry himself, having allowed the Gryffindor flashes of what he felt, if indeed those were intended or accidental but thinking it over, Harry knew now that those flashes couldn't have been accidents as Draco was too well practised in many things to allow something like his feelings to be revealed due to a mistake or lapse in his concentration. That would be like dropping his Occlumency shield while Voldemort was trying to probe his mind.
He was startled from his reveries when he slipped into the Gryffindor common room to find Hermione passed out on the couch evidently waiting up for him.
Oh shit, skittered through Harry's mind.
What was he going to say? He had promised he'd talk to her later that night and forgotten all about it. He felt really bad about the whole thing, he knew what she wanted to talk to him about was important. What was he going to tell her though? He was fine discussing that he considered her family or clan, as the case was and that that was the reason he could stand her touch as opposed to almost everyone else. He assumed Ron was the same but had yet to test the theory. To him Ron was a brother and so it stood to reason that Harry would be fine with Ron as he was with Hermione.
The problem lay in the excuse as to his disappearance the entire night.
He gnawed on his lips as he thought that over, reopening the cut. Maybe this worked in his favour.
"Hermione," he murmured leaning over her and shook her gently awake. "Come on Hermione wake up. Sleeping like that must be rather painful."
Slowly the girl's eyes opened blearily and she covered her mouth, yawning. Faster than Harry could blink she fixed intense chocolately eyes on him. "And just where were you all night?" She said, not sounding like she had been asleep in the least moments before. "What's the time?" She checked her watch and glared up at Harry. "Half five, Harry. Where were you?"
"Got into a fight," Harry answered, not bothering to hide the wince his back caused in reminder to said confrontation.
Hermione's eyes softened. She studied his face and seeing the cut lip stood to examine him properly. "You didn't go to Madame Pomfrey for your injuries? I take it you weren't caught by a teacher then."
"No we weren't," Harry replied, despite the girl's words being a statement. "Do you have any potions to relieve pain? I think I may really have put my back out."
"Turn around, Harry."
He turned and felt as her small hands eased his shirt up his back as she gasped. "Harry what happened?" She said, running her fingers gently over the injured back. "I know you said you got into a fight but why is your back covered in bruises?"
"It's that bad?" Harry asked and tried to look over his shoulder to see. That wasn't the wisest of moves and he winced again at the twinge that shot down his spine. "It's from the stands. I fell down a few." More like the entire set, but no need to inform Hermione of that. It was pointless anyway.
"Harry," Hermione said slowly. "Shouldn't these have healed by now? Because of your quick healing and all?"
"I totally forgot," Harry replied honestly. He frowned as he realised Draco should have reminded him though. But considering the blonde had wanted to get back to his dorm as soon as possible, maybe he had forgotten as well. "It's had all night to rest up, too."
"Maybe there is something we're missing," Hermione said with a thoughtful expression, then she waved it away. "Anyway Harry, what were you doing out there so late at night? Did you go out there just to have the fight? It could have been a trap Harry and no one would have realised until later. You're lucky only I was aware of your absence and that I knew you were safe due to the monitoring charm I placed on you."
"Hermione!" Harry gasped, shocked that he had a charm on him that let Hermione know how he was. Then he thought it over. "If that's the case, why didn't you come looking for me when I was injured?"
The girl shook her head. "It doesn't inform me of if you're injured but if you're in danger. I imagine Dumbledore may use something like it on you also. I added it to your chain," she confessed. Harry's hand instantly shot up to grasp the two charms his necklace bore. "I wanted to make sure you were safe and so Ron and I wouldn't worry if anything like this summer were to happen again. Don't be mad, Harry."
"I'm not mad," he answered honestly. He was actually kind of touched that she would do that and only partially annoyed that she had done so without informing him.
"Good," Hermione smiled, her face quickly turned serious. She slapped his hands away from where they still clutched at his chain. "But that doesn't explain why you were out all night! I may have known you weren't in any particular danger, but that doesn't mean I didn't worry about you!"
"Actually, I kinda passed out," Harry said. He watched as Hermione's face turned furious.
"You passed out?" The girl quoted back with an evident forced calm.
Inwardly Harry winced. It wasn't a lie, exactly. He had kinda passed out and blamed it on the excess energy he had been burning throughout the previous day while worrying over the Pan incident. Followed of course, by the verbal confrontation and minor struggle that come after that and lead to his current injury. Then, last but not least, his insightful meeting with Draco where he allowed the pleasant warmth and scent of their shared common room to drag him into the world of dreams.
"Harry!"
The boy gave a start when he realised he hadn't been listening to anything Hermione had been saying. He offered her a sheepish look.
"You're going to Madame Pomfrey." She announced loudly, then latched on to his hands and dragged Harry, still protesting all the way to the hospital wing. "If you passed out, there may be something wrong with your head, plus I can't heal these bruises and I don't have any pain relieving potions, though why I'm even bothering with this is beyond me," Hermione muttered. "Who were you fighting with? And why where you out at the Quidditch stands to begin with?"
"I was trying to sort some stuff out and ended up in a fight with him instead."
"You mean Malfoy?"
Harry tilted his head and peered at Hermione. Of course she'd assume it was Draco, even with the hostility between them dying slowly.
"No, actually it was Zabini."
"Really?" Hermione said. "I never thought I'd see him in any physical fight before. He seems too level headed for something like that."
"Yes, well. He was actually the one who started it—" which was sort of true. Harry frowned a moment. Perhaps it wasn't.
"And what was this fight over, Harry?"
The aforementioned paused, considering what he was going to say. It made sense to tell the truth, or the partial truth, rather. As long as he stuck to as much of the truth as possible, he'd be fine.
"It was over Pan," he answered.
"Ah your Slytherin shadow," Hermione murmured with a nod. Then she looked to Harry, her expression somewhat guarded. "Don't you find it odd that Malfoy would rather fight another Slytherin over you?"
Harry wasn't certain which way to take that sentence, so he continued to stare back at her blandly.
Hermione sighed.
"It's just that, Malfoy is usually the one to start the fights with ... Pan and wins more often than not, but what I'm getting at, is that haven't you noticed that he would much rather fight with Pan than he would with you? Yet you are his enemy, the one who sent his father to prison—" Harry nearly pulled a face but was able to prevent it. "—yet he appears to hate Pan far more than he ever hated you.
"Here Pan is, trying to throw himself at you—" Harry coughed uncomfortably but Hermione ploughed on regardless. "—and is around you almost constantly and from what I've managed to catch of their rows, is that it's always over you."
Here, she peered at Harry expectantly.
And again Harry responded with a blank look.
"Honestly!" The girl huffed in what Harry felt was mounting frustration. "Don't you find that odd in the least?"
"No. Not really, Hermione," Harry answered, baffled. "I'd have thought their interactions completely normal. Malfoy, being the Ice prince of Slytherin doesn't like the fact that one of his house mates is breaking rank and going after a Gryffindor. A Gryffindor that they should all hate. It makes perfect sense to me.
"Actually, I'm surprised that the other Slytherins haven't turned on him yet." It was completely beside the point that Harry now had a fair amount of Slytherins in his growing fan base.
"I don't know, Harry," Hermione continued stubbornly. "From my point of view, Malfoy just doesn't like the fact he has a rival. So is trying to put him in his place."
Harry snorted. "He's never going to beat me, if that's what you're worried about."
"I meant Pan."
The Angelus frowned down at his friend. "What about Pan?"
Hermione made a sound of frustration. "Pan, Harry," the busy haired girl said in exasperation. "Pan is Malfoy's new rival. His rival for your attention."
There was a pregnant pause, with Hermione still staring at Harry expectantly while he continued to look at her with a uncomprehending expression. Then he burst out laughing at the absurdity of her theory. This was almost immediately followed by a realisation that laughing was a huge mistake as pain lanced up his spine.
"Hermione, that's ridiculous," he coughed violently. He knew more to the story than she did, so also had a fair idea of why Draco disliked Pan so much. Therefore, Hermione's speculation was... actually very funny. He tried to hold in his laughter, as it would only cause his sore back to hurt more.
"Laugh it up all you like," Hermione muttered, "but you won't be laughing about it later."
The young Nikolai found their chosen topic extremely disturbing and shoved away the equally unsettling thoughts it invented, instead to focused on something else he was curious about. "How often have you come across those two while they're fighting?"
"At least twice a day," Hermione responded, grudgingly. Clearly still upset that Harry had dismissed her theory to the point he thought it a great laugh. "They're often sending each other to the hospital wing. Well, Pan's in there more often than Malfoy."
"I know," Harry moaned, just thinking about it. "Pan loves informing me of each time Malfoy is sent to the infirmary. It's almost like a game to him. Sometimes I doubt he realises the seriousness of things." He neglected to voice that Draco was exactly the same. Taking great pleasure in announcing that Pan was out of commission for whatever reasons and for roughly how long.
It was surprising both boys' studies hadn't suffered.
Both Gryffindors entered the hospital wing quietly, Harry with a mild limp and Hermione supporting him when he needed it.
Surprisingly, the ward's matron was bustling about already and soon had Harry all healed up and ready to Hogsmeade with his friends. Harry and Hermione made it back to Gryffindor common room and got ready for the day, still being awake earlier than the rest of the house they just sat around in their favourite chairs talking.
"What are your thoughts on Pan, Harry?"
The Nikolai heir blinked. That was an odd question. But then, a great many of her questions and thoughts had always been peculiar. More so that morning.
"What do you mean?"
"Just what I said. What do you think of him?"
Still thinking the question somewhat bizarre, Harry tried to think of all the things that Pan represented for him. "Annoying, persistent, turns up when I really need him, but. Somewhat childish sometimes but overall a... Actually I'm not sure." He replied with a frown. "Why do you ask?"
"Do you fancy him?"
"What!?" Harry gasped. "No. I don't fancy Pan!"
"I was just asking. You know I'd accept your preferences if you did, right Harry?"
"I don't fancy Pan," Harry muttered again, feeling the need to repeat it seeing as Hermione didn't seem to have heard the first time. "If I did, I would have shagged him already and put him out of his misery."
"I... I doubt that would work, Harry," Hermione said softly. Almost like she was talking to someone on their deathbed. She opened her mouth, then shut it again. Unable or unwilling to voice her thoughts further. The girl frowned a moment.
"Just be careful of him, all right?" She managed to say.
It was Harry's turn to frown over at the girl. She had basically repeated her warning of the boy. From what Harry got of the annoying Slytherin, he didn't think he was really a concern despite both Draco and Blaise warning him off—which could be bias considering their views of the white-haired boy. But Hermione had warned him twice of Pan now. Was there something that he wasn't seeing?
He was almost afraid of asking Hermione if she was able to elaborate further. But he was a Gryffindor after all. "Care to explain?"
The girl turned to Harry and patted his shoulder. "You'll see."
Harry's frown deepened, knowing that he wasn't going to get the explanation he wanted, unless he forced it out of her. If it was potentially harmful to his health, she would have told him immediately, so it couldn't be that.
"Morning... Harry... Hermione," Ron yawned as he staggered down the stairs from the boy's dorm. He was already dressed, though his clothes were rumpled and mismatched, like he hadn't bothered to check what he was wearing. Or perhaps he'd just thrown on the closest garments to the bed.
"Good morning, Ronald," Hermione replied somewhat frostily.
"Sleep well?" Harry asked, a little confused. He knew or had his suspicions, rather, that the reason Hermione was upset was due to Ron and Lavender's growing closeness. Still, unless Ron and Lavender actually got together...
A florally scent caught Harry's nose and it wasn't Hermione who was wearing it.
Oh no he didn't, Harry mentally cringed. He knew Hermione would pick up the girl's fragrance and if she didn't already know, she was going to find out soon enough that Ron and Lavender were seeing each other. Harry had often considered what would happen if his two best friends started liking the other, he had also considered what may occur if something like this were to happen. It generally looked much like their fourth year but far worse.
And it always ended with Hermione in tears.
His thoughts were promptly severed when he was filled a sudden, blinding rage. He stumbled from his chair, head butting Ron on the way and fell over on his hands and knees, as the broke over him in waves. Then it retracted back into the little 'Draco bubble' residing in Harry's mind, where it proceeded to buzz away angrily to itself.
In retaliation, Harry forced as much annoyance as he could muster into his side of the bond, hoping it caused as much of a distraction as Draco's emotions had been.
"Harry!" Hermione cried out alarmed just as Ron bellowed a loud and pained, "Jeez, mate," Ron muttered, rubbing his sore stomach. "What was all that about, then?"
Hermione bent to help Harry up, completely ignoring the other third of their trio. "What happened? It isn't your scar, is it?" The girl asked worriedly.
Harry shook his head, trying to reassure his friend. "No, not my scar. It's just my head. For a moment there just went a bit.. erm...odd," he replied somewhat idly, his mind still elsewhere.
Well, it looked like Draco had been informed of yesterdays events and wasn't best pleased by what had happened. Harry wondered whether he should even bother warning Pan now as there was a 50/50 chance of the boy having been present when Blaise told Draco. There was also the possibility that he was standing right outside the Gryffindor portrait awaiting Harry to leave.
Hermione's eyes were fixed on Harry. Sharp, like that of a hawk. "What do you mean your head went a bit odd? Do you mean like a dizzy spell?"
"I guess," Harry shrugged.
"Have you been drinking regularly?" She continued to ask, in the voice one would use on a patient.
"Of course," Harry replied, a little annoyed.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said apologetically, obviously hearing his annoyance even if he hadn't wanted her to. "But we need to cover all the bases and since you've already been to Madame Pomfrey today..."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked, bringing everyone's attention back to him. "What happened to Harry?"
"Nothing major," Harry replied before Hermione could. "I just needed to see Madame Pomfrey for my back." He shot Hermione a look, to keep her quiet and strangely, she complied without a fuss.
"Are we going to breakfast then?" Hermione queried, sounding rather stiff. "Although I think Ronald needs to rethink his attire, he can't disappoint Lavender, after all. She'd be simply horrified if she saw he was wearing two different coloured socks!"
Ron gave Hermione an odd look, before glancing down at his feet.
"Green? These aren't my socks," Ron moaned and darted back up the stairs. Carried easily by his long legs.
"We'll save you a place!" Harry called after him, despite the fact it really wasn't needed. No one else was even awake yet.
Hermione was silent as she left the Gryffindor common room but quickly sparked to life when they were far enough away. "I can't believe him!" She muttered. "The brainless oaf! And Her! All she does..."
Harry trailed after Hermione, like a faithful puppy as she vented her frustrations, listening to her and nodding along appropriately or making affirmative noises—though he was fairly certain Hermione wasn't paying any attention to anything that he was currently doing—his face, he kept hidden in his hands.
xXx
"Hey, Harry."
Harry turned from the butterbeer in front of him and over at the voice calling him name. At first it was hard trying to locate the speaker, as the Three Broomstick was packed with students but then he saw the person and almost cringed.
"Hello, Chris," Harry replied as amicable as he was able to force himself. It was hard given he had become almost claustrophobic with all the strangers brushing past or flirting with him. Though, strangely enough, not all that many other students were, today. Instead, mostly they just stared at him, which in itself was really creepy.
He sorely wished Draco would get rid of him, since Harry hadn't seen Pan all day. And Draco would be able to sense Harry's growing irritation of the newcomer if he wasn't already able to see it from his location a few tables away from Harry's own.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all," Ron said happily, totally oblivious to Harry's unease although it didn't go unnoticed by Hermione. She frowned but remained silent for the moment.
Chris sat down, dragging with him the lanky, dark haired boy he was always seen with. The boy looked highly uncomfortable, like he wanted nothing more than to get as far away from there as possible. Like he had somewhere else he had to be.
Harry felt Draco's annoyance surge a little.
"So, what's your name?" Harry asked the other, Ravenclaw boy. Feeling the need to include him.
"Jaime Devon," the boy replied and casually shook Harry's hand.
"So what did you guys do today?" Chris interrupted the pair, he was smiling brightly but Harry could see it was a fake. He could also see that the boy was less than pleased with his friend. The Angelus briefly lowered his shield enough to read that Chris was indeed as furious as Harry had guessed and amongst other things, the boy was positively terrified.
But of what?
Harry's eye brows furrowed pensively.
"Something wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked worriedly. "Are your headaches giving you grief again? We can go back now, if they are," she offered and stood from the table.
Ron, looking highly confused, followed suit.
"It's nothing, Hermione," Harry said, waving dismissively. He turned to Chris who was still awaiting a response. "We've just done the usual, really. Restocked on things, chocolate, potions ingredients. Had a look at Zonko's but nothing beats the Weasley twins stuff, so it was pretty pointless.
"What about you?" He took a long sip of his drink as the Ravenclaw started to speak.
"Well y'know...
"What have we got here?" Drawled a voice, suddenly.
Harry didn't need to his bond telling him anything. The voice and the scent of a musk and light spicy traces was enough to give Draco away.
For a few moments Harry's thoughts derailed. Wasn't that what he had smelled the previous night? He hadn't noticed before, but obviously Draco wore cologne. A really nice one. Though he didn't think Draco used to wear one, he could have been wrong though. After all, most of the time he was with Draco, Blaise was there and his cologne was really quite strong. Still...
Dislodging the thought with a shake of his head, Harry decided to see how this would play out. Usually Pan would just threaten any and all who approached Harry and as Draco couldn't exactly do that right now, well Harry was just interested in seeing how he managed.
"Get lost, Malfoy!" Ron charged in.
Harry's head hit the table with an audible thump.
Draco glare fiercely at the redhead but his gaze quickly swivelled to the Ravenclaw.
"Decided to trip Gryffindorks into you bed now, Chrissy?"
"Piss off Malfoy," Chris growled.
"Funny, I had thought you liked them young. Isn't that what you told Flint? Didn't have big enough balls to do it when his older brother was here though, did you? No, you had to go after a child once his big brother was gone."
Harry felt disgusted and by the looks of Hermione and Ron, so did they.
"That's a lie!" Chris shouted as he stood. His seat toppled behind him. "Don't listen to him Harry. What would he know? It was probably him that likes little kids! After all his family is dark, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole lot of them..."
"Don't you dare finish that," Draco warned in a deadly whisper. "Or you won't live to regret it."
Crabbe and Goyle materialised then at Draco side, both cracking their knuckles ominously, though Draco was by far the most intimidating of the three. His silver eyes flashed with the promise of death, his lithe figure coiled eagerly in anticipation of the kill and his magical power swirling beneath a thin veil, barely concealed and begging to be let free.
It was at that moment that Harry truly realised what a danger Draco could be, if he so chose and that the boy likely was well suited as his warder.
Harry also realised that if he was going to sneak away, now was the time to do it. Subtly, the Angelus caught Hermione's eye in silent communication, then, using all the stealth he possessed, carefully edged himself from his seat and quickly slipped into the throng of people, moving about the cosy establishment. Biting his lips whenever he touched someone longer than he would have liked.
He hated leaving his friends there and hoped Ron didn't get too irritated at being ditched, at least Hermione would understand and be able to explain, or at least side track the redhead for a while. The Harry bit his lip realising maybe leaving the pair alone together wasn't the very best idea, after all. Not when this morning's little drama hadn't quite been sorted out yet.
Sighing heavily, Harry pressed on. The angry buzz of Draco quieting down into a pleasant little drone at the back of Harry's mind, offering him an unusual sort of comfort.
The streets outside were bustling but not so crowded and was a pleasant reprieve from all the noise and clutter inside. The wind a blessing as it caressed his face and filled his nose with the scent of pine and the first promises of snow.
"Harry, there you are. I've been looking for you."
"Yes, Pan?" Harry said, not bothering to turn around but instead, slowly made his way toward the outskirts of the small mountain village and toward the shrieking shack. "I thought you'd be dead by now."
The taller boy paused and frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Malfoy knows about yesterday, is what," Harry explained. "So I half expected you to be found dead lying around the school sometime later today."
Pan smiled down at Harry as he followed the other boy. "And you thought to warn me? I'm touched," he replied happily. Ignoring the fact that Harry had practically foretold his impending demise.
Harry shrugged. "It's only fair I give you a decent warning in advance. It'll save you from being killed and Malfoy from being thrown into Azkaban for the murder of a student."
Pan's enthusiasm dwindled a little.
He peered out over the boundaries to the isolated shack that was located on the equally lonely little hill.
"What is it about that place that is so interesting to people?" Pan asked curiously. "I know they claim it's haunted but any sensible person would know how true that really was. I mean, our school is technically haunted."
Harry had to agree.
"The shrieking shack isn't haunted," Harry conceded. "Anyway, was there anything in particular you were wanting?"
"You know you shouldn't be alone," Pan replied. "Besides, I wanted to show you this." And he pulled out a small crystalline vial. It was filled with an almost pulsating blood-red fluid that glittered beautifully when it caught the light. "It's a love potion," Pan stated.
Harry paled and glanced at it more warily.
"Don't worry, Harry," Pan grinned toothily, "your kind are immune to such things as are we. I was just wanting to have a little fun with it, is all. Even if technically we are immune to them, they are still wicked aphrodisiacs. "
Slowly Harry nodded, only mildly relieved.
"I have to admit, Draconis did a brilliant job of distracting that Ravenbore, what's-his-name?"
"Chris," Harry offered absently. "You saw that?"
"Obviously," Pan rolled his eyes. "I just lost you while you were trying to dodge everyone on the way out of the place. It was just a fluke that I came this way as opposed to the other route I had been planning. Anyway, want to walk back? I have plans I need to put into place with this stuff."
There was a devilish light in his eyes that made Harry feel sorry for whoever was to be the victim of his prank. The look was something akin to what one of the twins would pull when up to something exceptionally devious.
Yes, Harry felt extremely sorry for whoever the target was.
He turned abruptly, staring into the distance as he felt Draco drawing nearer.
"Pan, I think you should go," Harry warned. "Draco's on his way."
But the other boy shook his head. His snowy locks swaying as he did so. "I'm not leaving you alone, regardless of any threat to my health. Besides, I think it's about time we had this confrontation, don't you?"
Harry peered at the other boy, his emerald-eyes wide. "You're mad," Harry declared.
The wolfish grin Pan flashed the prince only helped confirm Harry's observations on the other boy.
"Perhaps," Pan shrugged carelessly. "Perhaps not. There are few certainties in this world. Though I am fortunate to know of one." He pressed forward but Harry, having a slight indication of where their conversation was headed, threw up his hand and pushed the other boy away before their lips could meet in a third kiss.
Then, Harry ducked as a curse whizzed past him, scorching the ends of his hair and setting the tree behind him alight with green flame.
"Oi! Watch it!" Harry exclaimed, as Draco appeared then, in his line of sight. Blaise bringing up the rear, looking tired and a tad regretful.
The blonde appeared contrite for almost a whole two seconds before he launched himself at Pan. Both fell to the ground with an oomf! And began rolling around in the fallen autumn leaves and pine needles. Each trying to get a good hold of the other as they scrambled around throwing hits and trying to gain the upper hand.
"I think we should stop this before it gets out of hand," Harry said as Blaise strode over.
The latter glanced over at Harry then to the tree that was quietly smouldering away in a pretty green flame. Casually, Blaise extinguished the fire and shook his head.
"I've told you, haven't I?" Draco growled low in his throat and punched Pan in the nose, resulting in a beautiful spray of blood that was really quite distracting. "Stay away from him! He is bonded to me. Don't interfere where you don't belong!"
Pan struggled beneath Draco, apparently having great difficulty in trying to throw him off.
"I'm not getting between them," Blaise said, taking a step back and giving Harry a look which stated doing so was suicidal.
"But they're not even using their full strength," Harry pointed out. His head tipped sideways as a stray spark fell past.
"Even if they aren't," Blaise stated, "I'm not getting in between them. Not unless Malfoy decides he wants to tear Torrez's head clean from his shoulders. Perhaps not even then. It's
his right to do what he feels necessary to keep you safe and to deal with Torrez's disobedience."
"Get off me!" Pan hissed.
Harry's attention snapped back to the fight. And it was the first time Harry had actually seen Pan really angry. Somehow, he hadn't really been able to picture it before now.
Pan slammed his fist into Draco's stomach causing the blonde to grunt but he didn't relinquish his position as he held Pan down and punched him again in the face. "I should have been his bonded, not you! I know you're aware that if it weren't for my mother, I'd hold his warder bond and you'd have nothing!"
This, however only seemed to rile Draco further. "What do you know?!" He hissed and kneed Pan in the groin. Harry and Blaise winced in sympathy. The blonde then proceeded to ram his fists repetitively into his cousin's face and body.
All around the four young vampires, magic sparked and hissed. Were it not for the surrounding trees which sheltered them, Harry knew everyone would have seen the light display. As it was, he wasn't entirely sure that even now others wouldn't.
It had to be stopped, Harry decided resolutely. Even though the fight hadn't been going on that long, he could feel everything that Draco did. His unrestrained anger and uncertainty, his fear. Harry was also privileged with the gift of feeling all of Draco's physical aches and it was making the Angelus slightly ill, as the little Draco in his mind throbbed with pain.
But to top it all off, he felt incredibly sorry for Pan. Pitied him. The boy was clearly getting the worst of it and he hadn't really done anything yet to warrant Draco's obvious hatred. Well, Harry internally amended, nothing that I know about anyway.
Most of all, perhaps the most surprising was that he also felt immensely saddened as he watched the two cousins trying to harm the other. If what Pan had said before was true, and that they had at one point considered the other a brother, this was simply awful and he didn't think he could bear seeing them continue further. Draco was the Prince of the Invidians, so he should rightfully have the respect of his people, but Pan was... Well that didn't matter.
He had thought that he'd have liked to see Pan being more respectful and not so... well, bothersome but not at the price of his pride, which he would most definitely lose if he lost to Draco now and likewise, Draco his own if he lost to the other.
"You will stay away from Potter, or else," Draco hissed in a voice that was very close to becoming a growl.
Pan was fighting back with very little success as he was the one trapped beneath the other. However a stray shot flew out and cut Draco's lip. "Or you'll what?" Pan smirked back. "What would the great Draconis do?"
In retaliation, Draco seized his cousin by the hair and slammed his head painfully into the ground, strangely reminiscent of Harry's encounter with Vulcan. It was then Harry noted in almost horror that Draco's claws had lengthened and knew instinctively what he was about to do.
"I'll kill you," the Invidian prince declared without emotion, his hand drawn back and ready to strike. This frighteningly, made Pan's smirk widen almost madly.
"Stop!" Harry ordered as Pan murmured simultaneously, "Then I concede."
The following stillness was unnerving. More so since Harry was uncertain what was going to happen next. Neither of the boys had moved from their previous position. Pan was a mess of leaves and dirt and blood. His mouth swollen, little crimson rivulets streaming from his nose into the warm cavern. This, disturbingly, distracted Harry a great deal.
But not quite as much as the image of Draco did. He, much like Pan, was sporting a swollen mouth, split and leaking tiny droplets of blood.
Harry quickly glanced away.
"I concede," Pan said again, his body going limp. Worriedly, Harry pulled Draco from the other, in case the trapped boy repeated exactly what Harry had done while in the same position. Draco, too appeared wary and easily accepted Harry's help. It seemed however, that their suspicions weren't needed as Pan lay quite still on the forest ground. Harry wasn't sure what to make of it.
Gradually, the beaten Invidian sat up and fixed an intense look of displeasure at Draco. "I will back down for the time being, until a time in which Harry asks that I no longer have to do so or," the boy's cool green eyes froze over, "that I believe you have acted wrongly in or against him."
Draco's own eyes shone in challenge but appeared to accept the conditions of this withdraw. "That won't be necessary," he intone cockily.
Pan turned his head away. "We'll see, Draco."
Blaise stepped in then, his wand drawn. Harry glanced between the three Invidians, utterly confused by the goings on. He had thought that this was over and now, it seemed it had barely begun.
"What's going on?" He asked, mildly alarmed by the tenor of his voice.
For the meantime, at least, no one else noticed.
The dark haired Slytherin turned to him briefly. "Torrez has just offered up a temporary truce and pledge of fealty to Malfoy,"
"My loyalties lie with Harry, now and always," glared Pan hatefully. "You had better remember that in your wording or I won't agree to anything you say."
"What are you doing?" Harry asked, still not sure what was happening.
"A wizard's oath," Pan replied with a grimace. "I've agreed to a wizards oath, if only to
keep that one from harping at me constantly."
"I'll give you harping," Draco growled and pulled his wand from his sleeve.
"Enough! You two, stop it," Harry cut in exasperated. He stood between the glaring cousins to keep them from another fight. "Pan has conceded defeat, at least until a time in which he finds you incompetent or acting wrongly when it comes to my protection. I think you could at least be a little less antagonistic."
Draco looked at Harry with an expression of complete incredulity. "You want me to be less antagonistic? Toward him?"
"You still haven't given me an exact reason to distrust him," Harry pointed out, fairly. "You've only told me that I should and so far, from what I've gathered of your interactions today, he has told me nothing but the complete truth. So why shouldn't I trust him?"
Careful to avoid Blaise's eyes, Harry imitated the expectant look Hermione had used on him earlier and fixed it firmly upon Draco. The blonde's face blanked although he was exceedingly frustrated and angry, though Harry wasn't certain of who his feelings were aimed at, just that they were there, buzzing away beneath an artfully arranged façade of indifference. In fact were it not for their bond, Harry knew he wouldn't be able to tell what the other boy was thinking at all.
"It's... complicated," Draco answered, eventually with what Harry took as an internal wince.
"Then until you feel the need to tell me why he should me forced into a Wizards oath, I think his promise should hold over."
Harry knew that what he was doing was reckless, a wizard's oath would be the best way to protect himself against anything Pan may do to him in the future. However, he already had enough foresight to see some potential dangers in the boy being under the oath and thought he would much rather take his chances.
Draco looked almost horrified. "Potter, you can't trust him?"
"Not entirely, no," Harry admitted. "But enough to hope he won't kill me in my sleep or hurt me, while you're still around at least. Besides, I can call for your help if ever I need it, seeing as our bond is now open again." Surreptitiously, he peered at Pan trying to read him, but the boy didn't react in anyway he could see.
"So it's decided," Harry said and pushed Pan ahead of himself, back towards the school. "Pan will behave, though continue to watch over me and report back to you. How does that sound?"
Pan made a sound of protest but was cuffed across the head. "Would you prefer being under the Oath?" Harry asked. He received a small shake of the head. "Well then, this works out better. Doesn't it?"
"Potter," growled an irate Draco, "you can't do that."
"I can and I will," Harry retorted as Draco came up by his side, wearing a very dark look indeed. "Until you're willing to inform me of why I should stay clear of Pan, we are going to try this my way."
"Potter," Draco tried again.
Harry thought he may have a way of getting both cousins to comply. It was a long shot in the dark, but Harry hoped his guess would be right. If Pan really had wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, even just the slightest bit, he wouldn't want to disrespect the man his father had served faithfully until the very end. Likewise, seeing as Draco was held in high regards of Harry's Aunt, he wouldn't want to been viewed in a negative light by her.
"Any objections and I will be having an interesting chat with my uncle and aunty." The Angelus watched as the other boys absorbed his words and reacted. Pan blanched dramatically while Draco look mutinous, though the emotions thrumming along their bond informed Harry that the boy was feeling rather put out, as well as something else that passed for what Harry deemed as admiration, though he couldn't be sure. Following this was an icy and reluctant acceptance.
Even if it hadn't been intended, a resolution had finally come about and while not entirely satisfactory, at least for now it would do.
xXx
Hermione and Ron returned to Gryffindor tower not quite half an hour after Harry himself, both were a little withdrawn, which made Harry think that something had happened between them but it seemed nothing of the sort occurred. If only it had been something as simple as that. But for Harry, nothing was simple.
For most of the afternoon the three ensconced themselves in Harry's room and settled in for a few games of chess and simple conversation. Hermione for the most part revising over some homework she had completed a week previous.
Ron glanced up at Harry suddenly, a look of determination on his face as he ordered his bishop's move. "You'd tell me if there was something wrong, wouldn't you?" he said.
"Yeah," Harry agreed bemused. "Why d'you ask?"
But Ron just nodded his head. "You know I'd support you, no matter what right? It may take me a bit to get my head around it, but I'd be there for you."
Harry gazed at his best friend of the past five years in no little confusion, he turned to see Hermione focussing completely on her homework, though he could tell she was listening in intently. "Ron, what are you trying to get at?"
"Look," Ron said instead, not quite meeting Harry's gaze. "Are you into blokes?"
"What!?" Exclaimed Harry, he stood abruptly, knocking the chest set awry and spilling the
various angry and protesting pieces across the floor and his own bed. "What on earth—"
"It's all right! I'm fine with that now, I just thought you would have told me. You know, me being your best mate and all. But Zabini? A Slytherin? I know he's neutral, so I guess that isn't so bad but Harry, a Slytherin!?"
Harry who had sunk back to his place on the bed, ignoring the indignant screeches of his little army bit his lip as he gazed evenly at Ron. The red head was breathing heavily, like he had ran to the Quidditch pitch and back again without pause. And to think so few hours ago he and Hermione were having a conversation similar to this.
What, did he have a huge sign floating above his head proclaiming he was gay? True he wasn't sure if he was gay, never considered it before as he had been busy or interested in girls, but still...
"Ron, I'm not gay and certainly not with Zabini," Harry said seriously.
Hermione stayed suspiciously quiet.
Sighing Ron's determined look increased. "Harry you don't need to lie to me. Can you honestly say, on all our years of friendship that you and Zabini aren't together."
"I swear, Ron," Harry said immediately and with great feeling. "We're not together. We're not interesting in the other in that away at all. I don't fancy Zabini and I'm unsure how that conclusion was drawn."
"I saw you together," Ron said almost mournfully, like it was the worst thing his eyes had ever laid on. "I saw you and Zabini together."
Harry frowned, growing somewhat angry now. "And what were we doing?"
"You were talking and then you went off and he followed you. You tell me what you were doing." Ron sounded like he wanted to believe Harry, but wasn't sure what to believe. He looked somewhat cross and lost.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Harry wanted to laugh hysterically. This was the third person to query his sexual orientation and the second to have it linked with Blaise in some way. He was angry, yes, that his best friend didn't trust him anymore but this, it was ridiculous. "I'm not going out with Zabini," Harry stated firmly. "He has been tutoring me," which wasn't entirely a lie, "Haven't you noticed my grades in Potions?"
The potions tutoring was Draco, actually, but let Ron assume what he would.
"And Runes, he's been helping me with that as well." Which also wasn't entirely false.
"Why didn't you go to Hermione? She would have helped you," Ron pressed, obviously not liking that Harry would turn to a Slytherin for anything besides a fight.
"I've tried remember, and no offence Hermione," Harry offered the quiet girl, "but it didn't work. I just couldn't retain the information as easily. Her style of teaching is more like a
lecturer, while Zabini explains things on a level that I can grasp easily." Of course, Harry hadn't given much time for Hermione to actually teach him anything this year, so he wasn't sure if her teaching methods would still be as ineffective as they had been the previous years.
Slowly Ron seemed to deflate, though he still had a somewhat bitter expression. "But a Slytherin? Why a Slytherin?" He muttered and shook his head. A weak grin gradually breaking out on his lightly freckled face. "Sorry that I thought you and him where... you know. But when I saw you two it just looked that way and I.. I thought you'd tell me something important like that... and well, since the beginning of term you've been vanishing an awful lot... I just..."
The Angelus looked at his friend. The boy was right, he had been running off a far amount since the beginning of term. But more often as of late. He sighed, feeling far more guilty now that Ron had pointed it out to him.
"Look, I know I've been kinda absent a lot, recently," Harry muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But between being tutored and going for runs as Blitz, I haven't really had time for you guys and I'm sorry about that. But now that you've kindly pointed that out to me," Harry said with a wry grin, "I promise I won't run off too often and make you feel abandoned."
"Good to hear it," Ron grinned and clapped Harry hard on the back.
Harry was certain he heard Hermione softly mutter, 'Boys,' under her breath. He ignored it though and grinned back at Ron.
"Looks like we'll have to start again," Harry sighed—he had been winning for once—and began picking up the scattered chess pieces.
"I guess we should try stopping the rumour going around that you're secretly shagging Zabini out in the Quidditch stands, then."
Horrified, Harry glanced over at Ron. "What?"
"I'm not sure who started it, but apparently they saw you two out there..." He stopped clearly noticing Harry's colouring draining from his face.
When had that happened? Was that what the noise had been when Blaise and he were talking? A student prowling about the school? His back still twinged at the memory, it had only been the previous night after all but how had anyone seen them arguing and mistake it as that?
He was doomed.
Harry could see the headlines now and they definitely weren't pretty.
"You know," Ron commented, observing Harry carefully. "You've gone awfully pale. What were you doing with Zabini out in the stands if he's meant to be your tutor?"
Harry was supremely surprised by Ron's statement. Hadn't Ron usually been the most
oblivious when it came to things going on around him? Perhaps that had something to do with his hereditas. Maybe it helped make him far more aware? But then, the situation in general was still quite unbelievable.
"A fight actually," Harry said dismissively, waving his hand in an absent manner. He had more pressing concerns to deal with. "Who else knows?"
"Not many at the moment, but you know how the gossip grapevine at Hogwarts works. It's only a matter of time. Unless Torrez puts a stop to it somehow. I thought you'd notice that people had gone back to just staring at you and no longer actually... y'know, offering anything."
Harry grimaced but shook his head. "I had thought that was all Pan's doing."
"So had I, at first," Ron conceded with a shrug.
"Lets just hope it all blows over fairly quickly and everyone moves on to something else. I really don't want that hung over my head."
"You and me both, mate."
xXx
The rest of the afternoon passed in a peaceful manner before Harry announced that he was going for a run as Blitz. Neither Ron nor Hermione begrudged him a chance to stretch his animagus' legs, both knew how much trouble it caused him to keep the minx quiet if kept shut away for too long and neither would be able to accompany him. Still, he felt bad for having to leave them after his earlier promise to Ron.
Quietly, Harry slipped away and into the thicket that Draco, Blaise and himself used for their transformations. Both Slytherins were already there, as was usual. Draco was leaning against the nearest tree, arms crossed and appearing bored. Blaise was coolly examining his manicured nails.
Upon sight of him, Draco's eyes light up and Harry felt the vague sense of the boy being pleased.
"We weren't sure if you'd show," Blaise answered Harry's unasked question.
"Right," Harry replied, bemused. Why wouldn't they?
"Probably because we didn't exactly part on the best of terms," Draco stated, clearly reading and interpreting Harry's emotions correctly.
"Right," Harry said again.
For a moment, Harry actually studied Draco to see how well his healing had gone and wasn't surprised in the least to see the blonde bore not a scratch. It was also then that Harry bothered to check Draco's attire and was mildly disappointed to discover that the boy was wearing his robes. "You know," Harry said glancing at Draco, "the clothes you wore last night suit you far more than your robes."
He completely missed the slight flush which infused the blonde's cheeks and the smugly superior look Blaise tossed at said blonde.
"Now," he said, interrupting the awkward moment without knowing it. "How long do we have?"
"A few hours until dinner," Blaise supplied, tone smug. Harry looked at him oddly.
"Right well." Without thought, he slipped into his animal form and stalked toward the end of the den's boundaries. Instinctually, he cocked his head to the side as his nose caught scent of something foreign and unwanted.
He was abruptly assaulted with the maddening urge to seek out the source of revulsion and wrongness and shot off into the surrounding bush. He knew Draco and Blaise got annoyed whenever he did it, but knew they also understood that it was in his animal's nature to be frisky and bolt at any given opportunity, especially when it had been confined to his human form for sometimes a week or more. Besides, as long as they didn't know he was off hunting, he would be fine.
'Blitz, get back here!' Called Draco feeling as annoyed as he sounded. But the scent drew Harry on until he knew that whatever he was seeking was growing extremely close.
'Later,' he replied. 'I'm off to have some fun.'
After several moments following the scent, Harry was unable to determine the direction his prey had gone as the scent was everywhere. The feeling of wrongness and evil assailed him, far stronger than ever before. It was almost like he was drowning.
The minx was about to turn back, when his fur suddenly stood on end and a low growl was torn from his throat.
He couldn't see what the threat was but knew it was somewhere close and observing him quietly. Whatever it was, Harry wanted it dead. All of his instincts screamed for him to sink his claws and teeth into it and tear it apart but another part, a smaller part told him to find Draco. Harry however, ignored that voice and decided to draw whatever it was out of hiding.
But first things first, he very carefully masked his end of the bond to Draco. The last thing he needed was Draco coming along when Harry wanted to do this alone. If questioned on it later, he could tell the blonde that his hunting instincts had kicked in.
He brushed the thought aside, having had far more pressing matters to deal with.
I know you're here, he thought trying to catch sight of anything that may give away his observers location. But no such luck.
Harry paced restlessly around, not sure whether he should change back into his human form or not. He was certain that only one being was watching him, but he didn't trust the fact that said being may not approach him once he transformed. And instead may run off with the information that Harry was an illegal animagus and use it again him.
He didn't have long to consider this however, before he could do much more than yelp, some invisible force picked him up and threw him against the nearest large tree trunk. He collided with it resulting in a sickening thud.
"Well, would you look at that," a voice purred abruptly. "What's a lost little minx doing in a dark, dangerous forest like this? And what gorgeous emerald eyes you have. Inherited from your mother, yes?"
So his identity was known, but by how many others? Harry's vision swam dangerously, as he tried to clear it and glare back at the figure before him. He knew what he was looking at as soon as his eyes glimpsed the other and now that he had time to actually focus on his instincts, he now knew why he was so hell bent on wanting the opposing figure dead.
The creature peering back at him, looked completely normal and could easily be mistaken as human but the scent was enough of a give away as well as the golden eyes. He was one of the clanless. A Gensvacare vampire.
Idly Harry wondered where Draco and Blaise had gotten to but didn't focus on that fact for long, as his attention locked on that for the being before him. He allowed the scent to crash upon him, adjusted his senses to his surroundings, absorbing the waves of malevolence that the other gave off, feeling his fangs lengthen as his Angelus instincts stirred below the surface. A longing that verged on near perverse filling him completely.
"Harry Potter. Yes, I know who you are. Didn't your mother ever tell you not to go off into dark forests, alone?" The vampire paused then laughed menacingly. "Oh my bad, I forgot our lord killed her."
Abruptly, Harry lunged forward and snapped his jaws at the vampire's neck. It appeared such a move was predicted though and the vampire danced nimbly away. "Now, now Harry don't be like that, I am going to be your new keeper after all, until the dark lord comes to claim you. He should be most pleased with my accomplishment. Who knew going for a stroll today would bring such luck?"
New keeper? The thought caused a thread of fear to blossom.
"Do you have anything to say? No? Pity."
The man bent toward Harry, ensuring the minx was secured tightly by his hidden bonds before he grinned maliciously, his eyes bore into Harry's and the Angelus began to shudder. A soft, almost beautiful thrum filled the air and turned Harry's veins to ice as the other tried to coax him into surrendering his mind.
Come on Harry... give in... submit to me... Harry...
So that was what it felt like to be under another's enthrallment? It was just too bad for the Gensvacare that Harry was immune.
Almost lazily Harry blanked his expression and dulled his eyes, recalling what Draco had looked like. He allowed his tensed muscles to relax and become compliant as the vampire's beautiful, chaotic and hateful song fill his head.
The Gensvacare frowned down at him a moment and Harry lowered his head in complete obsequiousness, unsure exactly what he was supposed to do. The other vampire's expression grew smug. "Took you long enough, but even you wouldn't be able to fight off my enthrallment for long." He ran a hand over Harry's soft, creamy fur.
Harry only just controlled himself from whipping around to tear the other's hand off, but he managed. If barely.
"I think I'll have you call me master. What do you say to that? Still not up to conversation? That's a shame, I hear you can be quite witty. Ah well."
The vampire seemed to like listening to himself ramble on. Harry pondered if that was possibly due to him have no other company. His musings were cut off abruptly when he felt a spike of worry from Draco. The blonde was back somewhere where Harry had first run into the vampire. He had to have scented both and realised it was fresh.
Not yet, damn it, Harry cursed mentally.
Abruptly Harry's invisible bindings were released and a collar was fitted snugly to his neck.
"So everyone knows who you belong to," the vampire said with a smile.
The statement caused Harry to seethe. He didn't belong to the vampire and the very thought of if made his blood boil. Before either could blink an eye, Harry pounced on the other, claws sinking into soft flesh and teeth tearing through ligaments and cartilage but his grip wasn't well aimed and he was ripped off.
"I should have known," the vampire spat angrily, a hand clutching at his damaged shoulder. "I knew that had been far too easy. You are well known for cocking up my lord's plans, after all."
He slashed Harry across the shoulder and neck, causing the minx yowl out in pain. This caused a stillness in Harry's bond. He cursed inwardly as he then felt Draco's temper rise and his rapid approach. But Harry wanted the kill to himself.
In a manoeuvre neither foresaw, Harry abruptly changed back, his nails lengthened into claws. He caught the vampire under the throat and tore open his neck. The Gensvacare stumbled back as black blood spurted from his ruined throat, even as he tried to lessen the bleeding, but Harry wouldn't allow it. With a viciousness he didn't know was in him, he ripped the weakening hands away and latched on to the willowy neck, his slender hands snapped the bone with one precise movement and he pulled away, blood dripping from his claws.
The vampire collapsed and didn't move again but even that didn't satisfy the Nikolai heir. With a grace Harry shouldn't possess, he plucked the Gensvacare's blackened heart from it's cage and just peered back at his kill without emotion.
It was too easy.
Far too easy. He realised detachedly.
To kill, to take another life and Harry felt absolutely nothing for it. No remorse not even a satisfaction. The only feeling that he could really claim was a sense of calmness that had suddenly cloaked him. A sense that he had done what was needed.
Was that what it felt like being a killer?
Deciding he didn't want to think about it anymore, Harry transformed back into Blitz and made his way back to his thicket, ignoring as Draco and Blaise called for him to stop. It was evident both had come upon the Gensvacare's mangled corpse. They'd also quite possibly scented Harry's own blood as well and were worried and likely pissed. Well, Draco was highly annoyed, as was usual. Livid, too as Harry predicted and also extremely concerned.
Which reminded him. He released his end of the bond and continued back to the trio's den.
Harry didn't quite make it to the thicket, however, as he was suddenly pounced on from behind and pinned to the hard ground.
'Get off of me, Ice.'
He was ignored as the nixie leant in to sniff at his bloody shoulder, then pressed his muzzle firmly into Harry's neck and growled, 'Why didn't you wait for us?' Draco countered. 'Why didn't you call for backup?'
'Because I knew I could handle it.'
'That's not the point, Blitz,' Draco hissed.
Squirming around, Harry tried to toss Draco from his back but was unable to do so and instead ended up flat on his back. At least that way he could glare up at the other boy. "Get. Off," he ground out.
"Not until you get it through your thick skull that there is a reason I am bound to you," Draco replied evenly, even as he readjusted his position to effectively trap Harry. "I'm here for your protection. We're partners, until one of us dies or our bond is severed. You will not be running off alone and if you get into any kind of situation, you call me. That's why I'm here."
"Fine," Harry sighed in defeat, though his eyes narrowed on the blonde.
Draco paused, blinked then leaned in closer. "Potter, why are you wearing a collar?"
It was then both seemed to realise they were back in human form and that Draco still had Harry pinned, there faces inches apart. This would look incredibly wrong for anyone who happened upon them.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Which is apparently what Blaise thought.
"No," Harry said turning his head to face the newcomer as Draco slowly stood. "Malfoy was trying to drill into me the importance of pack hunting."
"Sure that's the only thing he was trying to drill into you?" Blaise pressed with a smirk.
Harry levelled a glare on the new arrival, the effect was ruined by the slight colour suffusing his cheeks a soft rose shade.
"Drag your mind from the gutter, Zabini," Draco snapped, his eyes were chips of ice. Then he was stalking off toward the school.
Harry stood calmly and brushed off the bits of forest attached to his clothes as he ignored Blaise completely. His neck and shoulder were still bleeding and didn't look like it was going to stop. Almost absently he ran his hand through the warm crimson liquid.
"Is there a reason I'm not healing as I should?" He asked Blaise, startling the boy.
"Not that I know of," Blaise admitted after a pause. "Maybe Malfoy does?"
"Malfoy is off in a strop now because of your insinuation," Harry pointed out calmly. "I doubt he'll be wanting to talk to either of us for a while."
And he was angry too. No furious seemed more fitting to what the Slytherin was feeling. It was tinged with annoyance and a touch of embarrassment.
"Ah well, what can you do?"
"Perhaps keep inaccurate observations to yourself?"
"Hey," Blaise cried defensively, arms raised as though to ward off a physical attack. "It didn't look inaccurate to me."
"Just don't say anything to him, in fact keep all observations that may be detrimental to your health to yourself. At the moment he is extremely angry, although some of that is likely my doing, you I'm afraid wouldn't stand a chance against him right now. So I'd avoid him if I were you," Harry warned and began fiddling with the collar around his neck.
"Advice noted."
Harry hissed when the collar stung him and he allowed his hands to fall away. "Good," he said to Blaise, absently. "Now can you help get this thing off?"
Blaise looked at Harry questioningly and blinked.
"Harry, why are you wearing a collar?"
Harry glowered and the question was ignored.
xXx
The next few hours passed without event. Blaise took Harry's advice and avoided Draco like the plague and Draco avoided both Harry and Blaise. Until that is, Harry received a small note in his soup at dinner.
He glared at the small origami frog doing laps in the liquid and pulled it free. He had been enjoying his soup, too.
"What you got there, Harry?" Dean asked as he leant over to see what it was.
"Origami frog," Harry replied and revealed the wiggling paper frog to his fellow house mate. Annoyed that whenever it moved it would splash soup on him and Draco's barely concealed glee only helped cultivate Harry's growing irritation.
"Why d'you put that in your soup?" Seamus asked.
It seemed everyone turned to look at the Irish boy, their stares were flat and bored right into him.
"It fell in," Harry said as he dried the frog and slipped it into his pocket. "I've been trying my hand at origami. It must have gotten loose or something because I could have sworn it was in my bag before."
Harry knew his lie was well received until his gaze fell upon Hermione. Her eyes were narrowed and she was eying his pocket with suspicion, then far more troublingly she looked right at Draco. He would have to answer to her later. He just knew it.
As his own note the previous day had stated, Draco's was the same.
Meet me in our room at eleven.
That gave Harry a few hours to play a few more games of chess with Ron and satisfy all of Hermione's questions before he slipped out.
xXx
The room was as it had been the previous night when Harry arrived and again Draco as always, already there and standing to the side of the fireplace. His face thoughtful. Harry was happy to see he had taken the advice about the clothing.
"Hey, Malfoy," Harry said and somehow sprawled elegantly in his favourite sofa.
Blaise, Harry noted wasn't there so Draco was obviously still angry at him.
"Look," Draco said, skipping the pleasantries. "As I wasn't able to finish what I was saying earlier due to our interruption... I- Don't you ever bloody do that again!" He barked suddenly, "I mean it, Potter, you are to come to me for anything you have trouble with, all right? I may not be able to help much on the surface of things, unless in a situation like this afternoons."
He seemed to be growing more infuriated by the second, while Harry became nonplussed.
"Do you realise how..." Harry was having a hard time trying to determine exactly what Draco was feeling. Prominently, there was anger. It was almost always there, it seemed. Something that felt like dread and embarrassment but the worst feeling was what Harry took as helplessness.
He was really worried, Harry mused thoughtfully as well as shocked. And not for the prince but me.
"You don't need to explain," Harry said, as it was obvious the boy was going to have difficulties saying what he felt.
Draco gave Harry a hard look and proceeded.
"First I felt your fear and then found scattered scent traces of that Gensvacare with yours. To top it off, you closed your end of our bond off again and fought alone. What would you have done if it incapacitated you? I wouldn't have been able to find you because the bond was closed. Merlin! I don't think you truly understand what could happen to you.
"Not only are you The blasted-boy-who-lived, you're an Angelus. Nikolai heir and Crown prince. Now, while most other creatures out there won't know what you are, your luck isn't going to hold out forever and someone will eventually discover your weaknesses and exploit them! It's this reason that I've been assigned to you, to make sure things like that don't happen but how can I do that when you bloody well hare off on you're own!?"
"I'm not some child who needs a baby sitter!" Harry snapped, growing angry himself at being treated like a child. He stood and glared at the other boy who was observing him just as heated. "I know how to take care of myself. I've been doing it for years and despite what Snape thinks, it wasn't just sheer dumb luck!" Only partially.
"And today, Potter?" Draco sneered. Looking every bit like the Draco Malfoy Harry had grown to dislike.
"Another hurdle my life throws in on occasion to make it more interesting," Harry quipped, absently his fingers grazed his tender neck.
Draco's eyes fixed on the movement in an instant and promptly seized Harry's shirt and pushed it aside to reveal the large slash. It was healing, albeit far more slowly than it should have been.
Draco's eyes narrowed.
"How long has this been going on?" He asked, voice softening slightly but still infused with a touch of anger. "I know your back was injured yesterday but that's understandable given your wings are sealed in. Have you had any other injuries that don't heal almost immediately?"
Draco's constant mood swings were bound to be the end of Harry, that or they'd drive him mental eventually. Harry wondered if Blaise had picked up on the boy's almost bipolar tendencies and reasoned he probably had.
Harry tried to glance at his injury where the blonde's fingers were softly brushing the edges but was unable to. Sighing, he replied, "No. Haven't really hurt myself lately and despite what you may believe, I harbour no masochistic tendencies."
Draco snorted. "I'll have Zabini look into it," he said and relinquished his hold.
The sudden loss of contact had Harry feeling mildly dazed but he managed to seat himself just fine and watched as Draco paced back and forth in front of him instead. The blonde appeared to be having an internal struggle and his emotions didn't help Harry in trying to fathom out what was wrong.
"Why don't you trust me?" Draco asked and Harry was terribly offended but Draco cut him off before a word was said. "Damn it Potter, just listen."
Harry's mouth snapped close with an angry click.
"You may claim to trust me," he gave Harry a quelling look when it appeared the Gryffindor was about to interrupt, "but I don't you think you do completely. Or you at least don't trust my judgement."
"And you trust mine?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Potter, look where your misplaced trust has landed you in the past," Draco retorted without heat.
This helped deflate Harry only a little. "I don't trust Pan entirely," he said knowing where all this was coming from and wanting their discussion on him over as soon as possible. "But I'm willing to give him the benefit out the doubt. Until he proves he can't be trusted, and I do trust you..." he said, uncomfortably. "I wouldn't let you read my emotions like a book if I didn't, but you can't expect me to just agree to what you say, either."
Draco nodded faintly, although Harry got the impression that the feeling was mutual.
"Then we'll agree to disagree on this matter," the blonde said, looking and feeling incredibly bitter about it. He continued to pace in front of Harry and seemed to be gathering his courage or perhaps he was trying to form proper sentences. Either way, Harry knew that the blonde was struggling with what he really wanted to say and despite the fact that at another time, Harry would have loved nothing more than an opportunity to get one up on Draco for his lack of eloquence, he found the blonde's sudden problem somewhat endearing. Not that he'd ever tell Draco that. He didn't think the Slytherin would be too terribly pleased.
With that in mind, Harry thought to end the other boy's suffering.
"Let me guess, you want to be friends?"
The blonde's expression turned wary, almost like he was expecting Harry to mock him or perhaps laugh out right. "That's right," he said with an equal caution. Then he held out his hand for Harry to take.
The gesture was not lost on either.
It was the same yet different Draco Malfoy who was offering his hand to Harry in friendship and despite many misgivings, Harry didn't think he could decline the blonde's hand again without feeling bad about it. He knew the Draco he had met that day on the train was mostly an act and that the Draco who stood before him now was the real thing but that wasn't just it. Harry didn't think he would be able to crush that small light of hope within the blondes grey eyes without being affected.
Easily, Harry stood as he accepted the proffered hand in his smaller but no less stronger one. He only just registered the surprise that flickered through the bond he shared with the Malfoy heir. Until that moment, Harry hadn't realised exactly how badly Draco had wanted his friendship and was almost shocked himself by the sudden delight that blossomed in the Slytherin and thrummed along their bond back to him.
It was then that Harry noticed Draco was actually smiling. The first honest smile Harry had ever seen him give.
It was devastating.
The Gryffindor countered with a radiant smile of his own and steadily shook the hand clasping his firmly.
"Friends," he said, still smiling.
