Chapter 14
Bond length
Month: 3
Week: 0
Day: 1
Stage: comfortably
The Halloween feast was now in full swing. Instead of showing a clear night sky as was displayed outside, the glass ceiling displayed a storming night, a full moon shining down- a thousand bats spreading across the sky. A lightning bolt would crack once in a while, shaking the room with a loud thunder. Inside, the bewitching was even more spectacular. A cruel cackle could randomly be heard every few minutes, echoing off various walls in the great hall, The sound of rustling chains occupied by footsteps would usually follow. A random Demonic spirit would jump scare various students at house tables, seeming to know exactly when they were at their most vulnerable.
Draco saw Harry at the Gryffindor table, enjoying his third pumpkin pastie. He seemed to be in a deep conversation with the Weaslette. Draco begun to brood, a woman tossing her hair back once or twice was passable, but this is the eighth time! Not to mentioned that Gretchen; the who has on more than one occasion; flirted with Harry found her place on Harry's other side. Draco's teeth begun to grind as he slowly walked over to the lions den.
"Potter" he snarled,
"Malfoy" He mumbled, taking yet another bite of his pastie.
"We need to talk!"
"I don't want too!" It was a lie. Harry wanted too... or more specifically the bond wanted too... but, Harry much like Malfoy was stubborn.
"You know we have to talk sometime!"
"Fuck off Malfoy" Harry tried to stand to get up, only to find himself slammed back into his seat undignified, he arose again, only to be slammed back down. Harry sighed in defeat.
"It's not much fun is it?" Draco giggled.
"Look Malfoy! You've haven't bothered us all year! Here I was thinking you had started to actually grow up! I guess I was wrong. Now fucking end the jinx and go back to exile where you belong!" Ginny expressed
"Oh! You think I am doing this Weasley? I'm flattered you think I am that talented but, no. This is done by Harry"
"Oh, fuck off Malfoy! Do you really think we are that draft! "
"Ginny..." Harry cut in
"Yeah! You're are nothing but a wannabe death eater. So weak and submissive. The littlest Malfoy who can't seem to think for himself... must always follow what dear old daddy says" snarled Gretchen.
"Gretchen..." Harry tried to cut it.
"Yeah! Malfoy! Fuck off! Do us all a favor! go perform the killing curse of yourself" Ron added from across Harry, this caused Sheamus to take a swipe, which caused Dean... and before long a rippled had erupted. All of Gryffindor was taking a shot, trying to find some sort of penance for the last five years. Each shot fired at Draco added more and more tension to the already strained bond
"Stop!" Roared Harry, who was now on his feet, gasping for breath next to a panting Draco. Both boys lost several shades of white.
A black orb left Draco chest and met with the white one that left Harry's causing an almighty crash. A tangled rope of white and black light now linked the boys together.
"Oh, my!" Shrieked Hermione
"No, no! No! Fucking no" stormed Ron, his hands waving in the air.
"It was Draco!" Ginny began to weep
"The Golden Boy and the Slytherin Prince are bonded! This is brilliant! Never in my wildest fantasies would I of dreamed that up" yelled Blaise from across the great hall.
"Do you know what the rope means Blaise? It means it means it's two for one!" Pansy exclaimed. "Do us a favor Draco! Don't mean the lovers spat! I like to know that you and Potter will never be more than 10 feet away from each other"
"Come Potter!" Snarled Draco, stomping out of the great hall. Harry barely had enough time to comprehend what had happened, let alone form a retaliation, before he was yanked from the great hall, with every step Draco took.
They arrived at Draco's dorm. Draco waved his hand into the portal indicating that Harry should enter. Harry, however, rolled his eyes and crossed his arms "I still don't want to talk to you"
"Whatever" Draco took one foot into his dorm, spun to face Harry and slowly he took 8 more. On the tenth step, Harry was forced into the dorm opening. Draco took another step and with that Harry was in. The door behind him snapping shut.
"At least you can tell me what THIS is" Harry snapped as he waved to the space between them.
"This is the bond trying to mend its self. For some reason, it got the idea that its progress was in danger"
"I was told that the bond would only progress to whatever stage it could. You said yourself that parents only got to stage eight"
"I said that after stage six the bond will only progress as much as it can. It needs to reach to at least lust and when it fears it can't... it does shit like this"
"You started it!"
"What? By telling you the truth? Dumbledore is not as good as he acts!"
"You are a fucking liar Malfoy!"
"Think Potter! Do you really think the bond will allow me to say something just to hurt you?"
Harry opened his mouth and closed it again. "You've told me a fuck off at least twice the past four days"
"No! That was you!"
"Clearly it's not a powerful as you thought"
"Or clearly you were saying that out of anger and not retaliation"
Harry stared at Draco, his anger decreasing
"I just can't imagine how anything you are saying could possibly be true. He's always been so kind"
"Kind!? Kind!? My dad is under his sanctuary bond. And you know what he makes him do? He makes his spy! How on earth is that kind?"
"Why did you join him then? If you don't like him so much?"
"Because his end goal is pure... it is his execution that is a little questionable"
suddenly A knock came from the portrait door. Snape walked in uninvited.
"It seems you two have caused quite a bit of a stir among the student body this evening"
"Where is father?" Snapped Draco. Eyes blasting.
"Where he needs to be"
"And where is that?"
"Next to the dark lord. I believe he is putting The Halloween plan together as we speak"
"Does he really knew then?" Harry piped up.
"Sorry?"
"About Voldemort using this holidays as a power trip!"
Snape cocked an eyebrow and sighed. He made his way to the white leather couch.
"Yes. He has known Tom for a long time, Potter. We both had a feeling this holiday was going to hold some negative significance for him"
"Why didn't he tell me!" Roared Harry. Tears rolling down his eyes.
"Because Potter... You are still a child and believe me! You still very much act like one!"
"I am involved in this war!"
"so is every single creature in the magical world"
"But, I am the one that has to kill him"
"Not Yet! and until that time comes you are a child and you will be told as much you need too"
Harry paused. He's breathing starting to increase.
"What about the stone? In first year?"
Snape put his hands on his brow and looked at his son with a over exaggerated sigh.
"You told him, I guess?" He asked Draco
"So, it's true then? He set everything up!"
"Dumbledore knew Quirrell did a sanctuary bond with the dark lord, the moment he stepped foot on these ground. He also knew that Voldemortlt used the bond too his advantage. However, Potter, we have been though a war before! I can assure you we knew what we were doing! the ministry was called and they arrested that stuttering fool and kept him captive before he even taught his first class."
"But... I was in his class!"
"No potter! You were in Dumbeldores class. He is quite skilled at glamour charms you know"
"But... Why?"
"This was a low attempt to resurrection... the host never last more then 6 months. If people found out that the dark lord was back, even to some degree then the world would of become hysterical"
"So what was he trying test? using the challenges guarding the stone?..."
"Think Potter! That was not what I was testing"
Harry crossed his arms and cocked his eyes brow
"How many times that year were you told, do not get stone! Leave It be! Blah! Blah! Blah! The test was to see if you attempt to get the stone at all. Everything else was just a happy coincidence"
"My love, he wanted to see if you would do what you were told, or if you would do what was right" added Draco
"And second year?"
" He was making sure that when the war started you would want to fight. So, the entire year was spent showing you, in a Juvenal way - what voldermolt was capitable off"
"He almost killed Ginny"
"I can't believe that someone this daft is going to marry my son. Potter... what is the life expectancy of a bloody basilisk?"
Harry shrug his shoulders
"About 100 years" Draco answered
"So, how Potter was the basilisk still alive tens of thousands of years after Salazar's death?"
"Hibernation?"
This left Snape speechless...
"A 10,000 year Hibernation Potter? That is the most ridiculous this I have ever heard!"
"How then?"
"It didn't! That snake died centuries years ago! You were shown one of Hogwarts memories!"
"No, it was real!"
"As headmaster, Dumbledore has control of Hogwarts herself. He organised for you to go through that memory. He wanted to see what you would do"
"He almost killed Ginny! He petrified the muggle borns!"
"It was a memory Potter! I can assure you that everyone was perfectly safe!"
By this time Harry had his hands in his hair and was pacing. His breathing ruggard. Tears were forming in his eyes.
"If you are quite done Potter!" Snape said. His eyes now fixed on Draco
"I have to leave to join your father. I wanted reassurance Draco that you will behave!"
"Don't I always?"
"Debatable . As of late"
Snape got up, brushed his robes. "You both are due for a meeting with professor Slughorn and professor mcgonagall"
"Why?" Snapped Draco
"Well since you now have to a 10ft teather, we figured it would be a good idea to re - evaluate your schedules"
"Isn't that Dumbledores job?" Harry asked, distaste dripping from his tongue.
"Yes. Well, he's a bit busy tonight."
"Why Slughorn? He is a Random picking" asked Harry again.
"Slughorn was the Slythren head of house before Dad... and since dad will be ... engaged.."
Harry sighed. "Alright. "
Harry's heart dropped when he finally read the paper Monday morning at breakfast. The minister of magic had been murdered along side 72 ministry workers - including 12 male Heirs. The photo attached to the article showed several masked death eaters throwing several curses to unarmed ministry workers. "Shit" mumbled Harry.
"And you are engaged to one of those Harry" mumbled Ron, biting into chocolate toast.
"Ron!" Snapped Herminoe
"He is "
"Do you really think Dumbeldore would allow that? Draco probably had to take some sort of sanctuary bond... actually... " she put her book down and stared at Harry "that would explain why he's not longer with Slythren".
"Is it true Harry?"
"You don't have to worry about Draco, Ron"
"So, it's Draco now is it?"
"Please, Ron. Don't make this any harder then it already is"
Ron sighed and crossed his arms.
"I don't think like it Harry"
"I know".
As if on cue, Draco glided over to Gryffindor table in a aristocratic manner. He peaked Harry on his cheek before handing him a piece of parchment.
Monday
9:00-10:00 : charms (R&G)
10:00-11:00: transfiguration (R&G)
11:00-11:30 : morning tea
11:30-12:30 : DADA (S&R)
12:30- 2:00 : lunch
2:00-3:00: history (G&H)
3:00-400 : potions (Newt)
Tuesday
9:00-10:00 : DADA (S&R)
10:00-11:00: history (S&R)
11:00-11:30 : morning tea
11:30-12:30 : Arithmancy (newt)
12:30- 2:00 : lunch
2:00-3:00: transfiguration (G&R)
3:00-400 : charms (G&R)
400-600 Gryffindor qudditch practice
Wednesday
9:00-10:00 : DADA (S&R)
10:00-11:00: history (S&R)
11:00-11:30 : morning tea
11:30-12:30 : Alchemy
12:30- 2:00 : lunch
2:00-3:00: herbology (G&S)
3:00-400 : Arithmancy (newt)
Thursday
9:00-10:00 herbology (G&S)
10:00-11:00: transfiguration (R&G)
11:00-11:30 : morning tea
11:30-12:30 : charms (R&G)
12:30- 2:00 : lunch
2:00-3:00: Apparition
3:00-400 : potions (newt)
Friday
9:00-10:00 : alchemy
10:00-11:00: Arithmancy (newt)
11:00-11:30 : morning tea
11:30-12:30 : Apparition
12:30- 2:00 : lunch
2:00-3:00: herbology (G&S)
3:00-400 : potions (newt)
400-600 Gryffindor qudditch practice
Sat - 400-600 Gryffindor Quidditch practice
It was clear in Charms that morning that Draco despised any class that wasn't on his original schedule. This was evident by the smart aleck comments that would often pass his lips, the green paper balls that he would often fling at random Gryffindors and the near constant sighs.
By Tuesday all of Gryffindor was sick of it... but Friday, so was Harry.