CHAPTER 11
On a rare occasion they ate dinner all together – Malfoy, Petunia and Harry. Aunt Petunia got earlier home that evening, looking happy, and at the table she chatted lively,
"…and Marge finally went home, she said the dog's asylum alerted her, because one of her "babies" attacked someone there, she'll have to pay a penalty, and I do so hope they make it a fairly big sum!"
Obviously Petunia still couldn't forget "bad mother and even worse of a wife".
"And Vernon looked at me and he recognized me!" she was elated. "Isn't it wonderful?"
Harry nodded absent-mindedly.
"Absolutely!" agreed Malfoy enthusiastically. "I wonder what methods Muggles use while healing such complex maladies."
"You should have attended Muggle studies while at school," grumbled Harry. He found it unnerving when his Aunt and Malfoy were on the same wavelength.
"Harry! You are wrong! I have never met a wizard as well-bred and polite as Draco here!" interfered his Aunt.
Malfoy granted him a dashing smile and wiggled his eyebrows.
"You haven't met that many wizards to decide," dared Harry.
"Oh believe me I had! And if I had the choice I would have never face some of them for the second time."
"And who forced you?" Harry was really interested. Petunia only once spoke of magic in his presence, and it hadn't been really good-humoured then.
"Boy, did you forget who your mother was? And we lived together, if I may remind you! And that git… That crooked-nosed greasy fellow…What was his name again... That strange name...He practically lived at our place. Ah, Se-ve-rus," spelled Petunia and looked at the boys.
Harry and Malfoy choked simultaneously.
"Snape?" exclaimed Draco, goggling incredulously at Mrs. Dursley.
"Ah, yes, Snape! Do you know him?"
"He was our professor in school," answered Malfoy, because Harry was too dumbfounded to be able to speak.
"He was so desperately in love with Lily."
Harry thought he didn't hear clearly.
"Aunt, please, I think I misheard – you mean that nasty bastard was in love with my mother?"
"Yes, and I thought she loved him back, at least they were great chaps, until she somehow turned to that arrogant father of yours."
Harry felt his world spin.
"How do you know?"
"He lived nearby, and they played together since they were kids, and he often came over, like I said, till that Potter somehow talked your mother into seeing him."
"Afterwards Lily often told me, that he turned into something evil, she said, just to spite her, and that they weren't friends anymore. So I wonder how he became a professor…"
"He killed Dumbledore." Harry had to put it to a stop. The idea of his mother over familiar with Snape was killing him.
It was now Aunt Petunia's turn to choke.
"What I don't get," put Malfoy in, "how could he love her? She was a mu…ggleborn!"
"So what?" exclaimed Harry indignant , "Snape himself is a half-blood."
"What?" Draco nearly spluttered his tea. "I never knew it!"
"Surely he wouldn't go boasting around such background. But come to think of it, Voldemort is a half-blood, too. His mother was a witch, it's true, she was of Slytherin ancestry, but his father was a Muggle…"
Harry got carried away before he noticed how Malfoy looked. The blond was right about to vomit.
"He's sick! Absolutely and abnormally sick!"
"And he killed his father, and all the Riddle family, still while at school, did you know it?"
"Enough barked Aunt Petunia. I don't want to hear anything about death while at table. Off you go!"
Harry trotted away, he was glad to be able to escape this conversation. It was already too much talk about Snape for one single dinner. He still couldn't stomach the idea of the greasy git loving his mother. It was too wrong and disgusting to him.
On the stairs Malfoy caught up with him.
"What Riddle family?" asked he, continuing the interrupted conversation.
"Ah sure you don't know. His true name is Tomas Marvolo Riddle. Lord Voldemort (Malfoy again looked about to vomit) is just an anagram. I thought your father told you about it."
"No I think my father isn't aware of a third of anything about his favourite master… How did you learn it all anyway?"
"One must know his enemy… But I haven't learnt everything yet," Harry knew it was the time to finish this conversation. Enough revelations for today.
"I just thought…" mused Draco aloud. "The protection of this house – is very complex, isn't it? How does it work?"
Harry eyed him suspiciously.
"O no no," waved the Slytherin off, I'm not asking about the details. It was just one thought that struck me – how comes Snape so simply gave me your address. If it had been a Fidelity Charm, he might have been the Secret Kee..."
Harry froze in his tracks abruptly, so that Draco bumped into his back.
"Wonderful, Malfoy! Just brilliant!" turning around, Harry simply hugged the blond.
Now he knew how to hide the Slytherin – Fidelius Charm, and he'll be the Secret Keeper.
Harry got a note from the Order telling he should be prepared to depart a few days before his birthday, so Draco had to leave earlier, though even Aunt Petunia suggested him to stay. But as she herself had to go into hiding, it was impossible for Draco to stay. It was arranged, that Lupin will come to perform the Fidelius, and bring Draco to Grimmauld Place. Though Harry didn't tell Draco the details. The Slytherin obviously didn't want to think about the departure. He enjoyed being himself too much.
'What am I to you?"
The question, out of the blue, took Harry by surprise. He wasn't sure he could answer the question just yet.
"If you are not quite sure, I will help. Soon I will leave you, right?"
Harry could only nod.
"Let's say… we won't see each other till you win."
"But... if we have to?" Harry suggested.
Draco mused. "If it is the case let's pretend that we are just on civil terms."
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but Draco stopped him with a gesture.
"And if... if during that time – I hope it won't take you too long, Potter, can I trust you on that? Well, if during that time you will sometimes think about me… If after it ends you would want to come back to me to tell me it's over in person – I'll be waiting. Just…" And he waved off, lacking for words.
Harry closed his eyes in comprehension. "And if… and if…" it did taste terrible on his tongue, but he made himself squeeze it out, "if IT wins?"
Draco stared into his terrifyingly dramatic green eyes and said, "Don't worry, then anything won't matter anymore."
A ring at the door burst the shocked silence.
"Done."
Lupin lowered his wand. The Fidelius Charm had been cast. "Now only Harry will know your whereabouts."
"Right", said Harry. "You will go here," he reached a piece of paper with Grimmauld Place's address on it. "The house has a Fidelius on itself, but there are rather many people who know the location. Snape among them. But if I get the meaning of Fidelius right, no one will able to find you there until I tell them you are there. Besides," Harry paused slightly, looking at Malfoy intently, "It will probably, maybe reinforce it's old protections when untainted blood flows in." He looked at Lupin questioningly.
The man agreed, "This is likely, the house has so much blood magic in it. He maybe will even be able to remove all those hexes we weren't able to get rid of."
"Oh, if it's really the case – Malfoy, would you mind a little favour, be so kind, remove that darn portrait of that old screeching hag!"
"Why," chuckled Lupin, "She'd probably be delighted to have a pureblood ancestor of the ancient house of Black for a visit."
"House of Black?" Malfoy finally realized. "You mean the house of my grandaunt?"
"I think yes, she must be your grandaunt…" nodded Harry.
Malfoy paled somewhat, trying to hide his shock, "And what if… what if Aunt Bellatrix comes there? She'd dreamed to own the house for ages…"
"Sorry to disturb your panic, Malfoy, but Sirius left the house to me, and by every magical law of succession it is mine, and that bitch might just piss off."
"You didn't ever say that you own a house. Why are we stuck in this hole then?"
"Because it gives me extra protection, even stronger than Fidelius, blood protection, what I hope the Black house will give you."
"Boys, enough discussion, time to say good-bye", interrupted Lupin. "We are short of time, Tonks and I have other appointments today…You've got two more minutes," having said that, he tactfully retreated to the kitchen.
"Why can't I go with you?" tried Draco one last time.
"I thought we discussed it already?"
"Still… why?"
"I don't want you to get hurt."
"But I don't care if I get hurt!"
"But I CARE! I hate it that people by my side die. I haven't saved you all that times so you'd be able to get yourself killed by following me!"
"But you will take Weasley and Granger with you anyway!"
"It's different. We three are in the same boat anyway. It cannot be helped. "
"Why cannot I join you?"
"Because they are used to risking their lives, and I don't want you to get used to it too. Besides, I want someone to stay behind and wait for me. Someone whom I could return to."
That sounded pretty much like a confession.
"Fine. I'll be waiting," said Draco solemnly and kissed the Gryffindor, sealing the promise.
"And… about your coming birthday, Harry," fidgeted Draco. "Many happy returns!"
Harry nodded his understanding. He saw the deep meaning of those three simple, overused, mostly empty words.
Draco gave him a firm generous hug. When he stepped back, Harry involuntary followed him, trying to capture his lips one more time.
"Tut, tut, tut, Potter," stopping him in mid-motion with the palm across his chest, Malfoy chid, "Next kiss from me you will get only after you've defeated the Damned Lord."
To stunned Harry's face he explained, "You need more motivation, don't you?"
Harry turned crimson and tried to avoid looking at Lupin, who came back to the room and did his best to hide a soft chuckle.
"Time," put the former professor in softly.
Draco gave Harry's hand another firm squeeze, and turned to leave. Harry was too busy fighting upcoming tears to say anything.
Draco left towards the obscure future.
The next day, Harry would follow his own path.
