I do not own Harry Potter or Big Trouble in Little China

Chapter 24

Hogwarts

Three weeks later

Considering these last few months have been somewhat uneventful, many of the students found them drifting back to some semblance of a normal life. The excitement of the new teachers and class structure for DADA though was one of the few things though that they have yet to not like.

And even now still talk about, but with pride instead of complaints now upon many a bruised cheek and cut lip.

When the initial bruises and banged up bones started showing up regularly among the students, some of the parents whose children complained were upset. But surprisingly, many of them did not. Especially among the Slytherins, they did not like it at first, but then when of all people Lucius Malfoy observed a class, as he was on the board of governors, something changed.

It was silenced as he could see the merits of their training. It was exceptional as Hogwarts students as young as 11 were working on their movements in dodging and attack with Akiko and Dewu at least once a week. With Remus they were learning spells and for those classes that Harry was aiding in?

They learned how to work the two together as he demonstrated that day in the Great Hall. Most wizards in the west could apparate and then fire. But to do it in tandem was extremely hard as it was difficult and taxing on their bodies.

But with the control and fighting they were learning from the two muggles, it was apparently possible. He allowed the classes to continue as they were.

That was weeks ago now and Draco Malfoy found himself curious as he saw his year mate sitting by the lake with his familiar. With that golden snake sliding across his shoulders, Draco Malfoy could not help but wonder how he was supposed to approach the savior of the Wizarding world. His own father wanting him to be friends with this youth, the blonde admits to himself that he desires it as well.

But more then likely not for the reasons his father wants. Still he was faced with having to figure out how to get through one large obstacle.

His mother's cousin, hence his own...a man named Sirius Orion Black. Whenever he came close to attempting to try and talk to Harry, it was like the man had a built in sixth sense. It was uncanny on how he knew whenever he was starting to approach the black haired youth, he would appear as if by magic.

"You know you can talk to me rather then just watch. I hid my godfather's map."

Startled as it seems Harry knew he was there, the blonde couldn't help but step forward. Putting on that familiar proud Malfoy stance, the Snake approached the man on the ground, but found himself stopped as the golden snake rose up and hissed.

"Do forgive Li Lei; she is a bit overprotective at times." Harry said quietly as he glared at the back of the reptile's head. Hissing a response to the glare she knows she is getting, she slithers back to her Master and just remains on guard along his lap and shoulders. His hands rubbing her scales with a bottle of some kind of oil, that makes them shine.

"Care to help?"

Confusion evident on his features, the blond just stands there. Giving a shrug as he does not get an answer Harry picks the bottle up again and after tipping some oil within it, rubs onto the scales of the snake whose eyes open and close with pleasure.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?"

Resisting the urge to snap back at him for that sarcastic remark, Draco just continues to watch. Eventually he realized that the youth in front of him, was polishing the scales of his familiar.

"Why do you do it? Can't you have someone else do it? I mean there are house elves for that."

Now a real puzzled look crossing his features, Harry looks at the blonde boy with a look of curiosity. "Why should I have someone else take care of something that's mine? My dad always says that if you can't take care of your things yourself, then they are not really yours to begin with."

For the first time, Draco found himself at a loss for words. He could not honestly argue against that statement. It was something that when he would stay with his godfather, when his parents went away, he would have to do. Severus Snape despite being his father's friend was vastly different from Lucius Malfoy.

He insisted that Draco whenever he stayed with him, must clean his own room, and take care of his own things. Although the elder Malfoy would argue, ironically enough Narcissa would stomp her foot on his and force him to shut up.

When it came to business and many other items outside the home, Lucius ruled with an iron fist. On the inside though it was all Narcissa, even with the house elves, she had them drilled to a perfection that even now was still fantastic.

She was the main reason why he had pulled the little beings away from his Dark Lord according to his father. Narcissa had the elves drilled in their jobs down to perfection. They cleaned the house pretty much save for the bedroom that was their son's. Draco of course was petulant when he found she was taking away his personal elf.

But then when he couldn't count on it doing the work, as it always done. Like at Severus's home, when he visited. Draco was forced to take care of things himself. It did give him as Harry said knowledge that what he took care of.

Was his...and Draco could not help but take pride in it. Like with the broomsticks his dad brought last year for the entire Slytherin team. Sure it was to show up the Gryffindors whom had been taunting the Snakes with their win from the previous school year of the house cup.

But he had taken pride in the one that was his. As others had the Hogwarts elves polish and take care of their brooms, he clearly remembers asking Madame Hooch to allow him to do his own. The Flying Instructor and referee was delighted to allow him and in his own way. It made him fly better or at least so he thought and that's what counted.

Taking a spare rag, Draco finds himself taking the oil from Harry who offered it to him. The sweet smelling liquid in his hands he tipped a little bit onto the cloth. Li Lei seeing an extra set of hands slithers her body partially onto Draco's lap and hissed what could be termed as a thank you towards him.

"Why are you oiling your snake anyhow?"

"If I didn't she would have dry and cracked skin and not only that, she would probably kind of kill me." Harry replied as he rubbed Li Lei's chin with a slightly oily finger. "But mostly if you know anything about snakes, despite the fact they shed their skin every so often, as they grow. It doesn't just all come off at once. The oil helps Li Lei ease through it without feeling like her scales are being shorn off as she endures. Besides she loves it, gives us an excuse sometimes to just be alone right girl?"

The snake nodded her head as she hissed in pleasure. Draco and Harry work side by side on the golden reptile that preened with all the attention her Master and this other was giving her, Finally after another hour or so of being done, the snake was shrunk down to a size more easily carried which was of course around 7 feet long.

By that time though, Draco and Harry both had been surrounded by other students from all four houses and of all ages. Among them Ron Weasely of course, both he and Draco sported black eyes as an age old feud between them started again.

With the blame and the reminder that it was Ron's fault with his callous words, which the girl died their first year, the fight between them became inevitable. But not a fist flew or a word was said between them.

Without even blinking as he oiled Harry had promptly placed the rag he was using down, and socked both of them one right after the other.

That shut both of them up as neither one had expected it. Of course when they attempted to retaliate both had gotten thrown a couple of feet by Harry using some maneuver mixed with his magical abilities. Li Lei definitely upset as her oiling had been going quite smoothly until then had made a hissing sound of irritation.

With the snake letting her Master know she was getting agitated, the golden reptile had caused Harry to glare at the two argumentative teens with anger.

"You make me stop oiling her again; I swear I will let her beat the crap out of the both of you."

Looking at Harry and the way his stance is, both spare a look at Li Lei to find the snake was indeed ready to strike at a moment's notice. The hissing getting louder as her eyes swirled with annoyance. Both instantly quiet down as something about his words seems to ring true.

Especially as she slithers high and up to the point she matches height with her Master.

So they remained silent and only spoke to each other when needed to. In the end though what surprised them both, those last twenty minutes was Harry handing Ron a rag as well.

The red headed boy surprised Harry simply looked at him with a bright smile.

"My dad always says that even if you don't like something, if you don't treat it with something akin to kindness and respect. You will find that Karma is going to bite you in the ass."

The hidden message in those words was not missed by many surrounding them. Only time would tell if either one of the boys it was directed to listened.