Chapter 37- Birthday
*****Severus*****
"Harry?" Severus began delicately. He didn't want the boy to be hurt by what he had to say.
"Yes, Father?" Harry responded politely.
Best just to say it, "I- received a floo call from Mrs. Weasley that the family will be unable to join you for your birthday this year. It seems they came into some extra money and are taking a trip to see their eldest son." It seemed like with wizarding travel, the trip should have flexible timing and not be overly expensive, but it was none of his business.
"Oh. That's okay," Harry responded after a moment. "Hermione's on vacation with her parents too. It's fine though."
"Is there- anywhere you would like to go for your birthday? Away from the castle, possibly out of the country? Or anyone else you'd like to invite over?" Severus offered. Harry didn't seem to spend large amounts of time with other friends, but he was relatively social and was liked by the others in his year and his quidditch teammates as far as Severus could tell.
"Can Draco come over?" Harry asked, surprising Severus for the moment. The two boys did seem to have fun the year before, but the children didn't run in the same circles. But the association was at least as good for Draco as it was for Harry. When his godson had first come to Hogwarts, Severus had almost thought that the boy was a lost cause, already on the path to be exactly like his father. Severus had felt guilty for not spending more time with the child but… he wasn't good with children. Though Harry didn't seem to mind.
"Yes, I will do my best to arrange it," Severus said thoughtfully. "Any other requests?"
"Um- just for Tonks to be around, but I'm sure she would be."
"Of course," Severus responded. If the child had asked for a tour across Europe or Africa, Severus would have granted it. But all the boy wanted was to spend time with his father, his father's… girlfriend, and an unlikely friend of his own.
*****Harry*****
Harry examined at the pocket sneakoscope from his first friend. If it worked, it sounded like a really smart, practical idea. It sounded like it was pretty sensitive though if it went off with the Weasleys just because Fred and George were pulling some little prank. It would probably be going off in Gryffindor Tower all of the time.
Harry's dad examines the sneakoscope after Harry put it down, but he didn't comment on it. It wasn't making any noise now, at least.
Harry always liked the letters as much as most gifts anyway. He liked reading Ron tell about enjoying spending time with his older brothers and seeing some cool sights. Harry was happy for his friend. Ron had lots of great family, but Harry knew they didn't often get to spend a lot of money on something great like this, and it sounded like Ron would never forget it. There was even an enclosed clipping from the paper of the whole Weasley family dressed up and in front of a pyramid. Everyone looked really happy. Percy had his Head Boy badge pinned to his robe. Harry's dad had already shown him the picture from the paper, but it was nice for Ron to send it too.
It had been in the same paper as an article about how Lockheart was having his Order of Merlin taken away, which Harry's father seemed to enjoy even more than Harry did. Trials for the fraud were still going on, with new evidence against him coming out all the time, now that so many people were looking for it. Harry didn't ask, but he wondered if his father had anything to do with it.
Putting all that aside, Harry opened the next letter, this one from Hermione. Harry tried to be interested as she went on about the history of France. It did seem like a nice place to visit, though not as cool as cursed pyramids. Opening her present was a pleasant surprise though. He had thought that a box that size was too big for a book, even a book from Hermione. A broomstick servicing kit was perfect, especially because he had two brooms to look after, though Ron would gladly take care of the one that he rode sometimes. Harry grinned when he saw the set included a small book along with the other equipment. So the world wasn't entirely wrong.
Next, there were also more sweets from Dumbledore, including several muggle varieties that he'd seen Dudley enjoy but had never gotten to try himself. From Professor McGonagall, there was a Gryffindor blanket, and the lion moved. Harry still got so excited for wizarding things like that.
Harry grabbed for the last package in his stack, but he trusted by now that his father would have something somewhere for him too. On the messy brown package, wrapped with a lot of twine, Harry could make out Hagrid's scrawl. It looked like the shape- of a book, but Hagrid wasn't really a book type.
Harry glimpsed a bit of green leather before it growled. Growled? And then it moved. And not the interesting kind of moving like his new lion blanket did, but scuttling somehow, still half wrapped in paper.
Harry scrambled back as the thing broke the last of its wrapping. He fished out his wand, but his father was faster. A silent stunning spell from his dad and the thing was still.
He could have handled it… "Thanks," Harry said instead.
Stepping closer, Harry could see that it was a book. The Monster Book of Monsters was the title in golden script on it green cover. Harry would have sworn that it had legs and teeth a moment ago, but everything was now tucked inside what looked like a harmless book. Harry did not find himself wanting to open the book and find out. It was a very Hagrid-like gift after all…
"I'll just… get something to put around it in case it wakes up?" Harry ran off to his room and came back with a belt
"I would be interested to know what Hagrid was thinking with such a thing," Harry's father murmured, and Harry knew he wasn't pleased. Now that it wasn't going to bite him anymore, Harry thought it was a little cool, though he wasn't sure how he'd ever trust it to stay still long enough to read it. Harry did wish that he had stunned it on his own before his father had done so. He had learned the stunning spell in their lessons, at least a bit.
When Harry had turned back around from dealing with the book, his father had produced more presents. Harry smiled. He knew that his father was less likely to forget Harry's birthday than Harry was himself, but it still gave him the warm, pleasant feeling.
"Thank you," Harry replied.
"Of course."
Harry grabbed first for the pouch that he knew would contain more pocket money. He still wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do with all the pocket money he was getting, but at least he had safe places in his room in the dungeons to keep it, since he didn't spend much of it when they went shopping.
"Thank you," Harry repeated. He knew it made his father happy to give Harry things.
Harry went next for what he knew would be a couple of books. Defense books, two of them and a- history book?
"To go along with our defense lessons," his father explained. "And it has come to my attention that history is taught rather inadequately. I thought you might find different sources more interesting."
"Thank you," Harry said again. His father always found good, though mostly practical gifts. Not that Harry needed anything at all.
Finally, Harry reached for the lumpy parcel that he couldn't identify. After opening it, he still didn't have a better idea. Strips of black fabric, and then a brown leather contraption that could- maybe fit around his arm?
"Wand holders," his father supplied. After his father said it, Harry thought he had seen Tonks wearing something similar when she came from work, but maybe bulkier on her arm. "The cloth ones will bond to your robe sleeves for typical use. They are more efficient that shoving your wand in an inner pocket. There are spells to keep wands protected from bending, falling, and from being summoned by anyone except you. The formal holster is perhaps similar to something you have seen Tonks wear?"
"Yeah, it's all wicked!" Harry said, thinking about how much faster he could have gotten his wand out if he'd had this a few minutes ago.
"Nothing that you didn't need anyway," hi father brushed it off. "Be sure to pick out some things for yourself when we next go out."
"I will," Harry chimed, though it probably wouldn't be more than a few sweets. What could he possibly need that he didn't already have?
*****Harry*****
Harry spent at least half of the morning playing -practicing- with his last gift. His father had helped him attach the holders to all of Harry's robes, and to put on the holster, so he could practice both new ways of drawing his wand quickly. Harry could already hardly believe that he usually kept his wand in his bag with his books.
By the time Draco, arrived, Harry felt pretty confident in his new skill, and welcomed something else to do.
Draco came through the floo, carefully holding his Nimbus 2001. Harry had gotten better at using the floo, but didn't think he could make it through with his broomstick without damaging it.
"Thank you for having me," Draco spoke first to Harry's father before turning to Harry. "I wish you a happy birthday, and my family extends the same greeting."
"Thank you," Harry replied, though he didn't really care what Draco's parents thought. He was glad that they had let Draco come over, and he wasn't going to question it.
"Wanna go flying?" Harry asked immediately.
"I have a gift from the Malfoy family," Draco responded, still in his stuffy adult-tone extending a book shaped package. Not that Harry had anything against books really.
Though boring looking books about history that looked more like pureblood genealogies… "Thank you," Harry replied politely.
"I will confer the thanks to my family," Draco responded, still in the clearly rehearsed voice. It was like playing him in chess- it was more fun when he got Draco to do something he hadn't memorized.
"Flying?" Harry tried again.
"If we may?" Draco asked Harry's dad.
"Of course."
Finally, Harry thought, half running to collect his broom and head towards the pitch.
"We could go visit Hagrid," Draco suggested almost as soon as they got out the doors, even though they both carried brooms.
"Er- but what about flying?" Harry asked. Though visiting Hagrid did sound just as fun. Harry supposed that Draco could be surprising sometimes.
"We can go later. I want to see what Hagrid wanted to show us last year."
"Yeah. I saw it, and it was pretty cool. Wanna know what it was?" Harry asked as they walked towards Hagrid's hut rather than the quidditch pitch.
"No. I want to be surprised," Draco replied, breaking out into a run.
"You know, you couldn't always come to see him during the year without me," Harry called, running to catch up. "Or asked me to go, and I would have."
Both boys stopped in front of the cabin. "It's not the same in the school year," was all Draco said, knocking on the door.
"Harry- oh, and your friend Draco. Haven't seen you in a bit, lad. What can I do ya' for today?"
Harry glanced at Draco, but the blond boy wasn't saying anything. "Thank you for the book, Hagrid," Harry said the first thing he thought of. "Er- I'm not sure how to read it without getting bitten though," Harry admitted.
"Aw, you'd figure it ou' Harry, but I'll tell ye. Just stroke it town the spine, and it'll calm righ' down."
"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry said, and gave Draco a nudge.
"I want to see the surprise you had last summer- can I?" the other boy blurted out.
"Well, sure. Wasn't plannin' on bringing them food at the momen' but they always enjoy it. Just a bit." Hagrid stepped to the side of his cabin and reached in to grab what Harry suspected was about half of a cow, though he tried not to look too close. "Come wi' me boys. I brought them out for Harry last year, but you boys are a bit older now, aren't ya? We won't go far into the forest, and if you stick with me, I'm sure your father won' mind."
Harry wasn't sure how his father would feel about them going into the forest with Hagrid, especially after that detention in first year, but Hagrid said they weren't going in far, and it was still the middle of the day. Harry turned to glance at Draco, who had been so scared in their first year, but Draco was already following Hagrid into the forest. Harry ran a few steps to catch up.
"Now," Hagrid said, coming to a clearing that wasn't very far into the forest. Harry thought that if he tried hard enough, he could still see a bit of the castle through the trees. "We just have to wait for 'em."
Draco didn't seem to wait especially patiently, and Harry thought he did look a little scared, but then, Draco didn't know what he was waiting for. Even if he knew what to expect, Harry couldn't help but gasp when the first bite was torn from the meat that Hagrid had brought.
"Woah," Draco said, taking a step closer as Harry stopped himself from taking a step back. "What is it?"
"Thestrals. They're a bit like horses with wings, but you can't see them, can you?"
Both Harry and Draco shook their heads. Draco frowned, "Can you?" he asked.
Hagrid grinned broadly, "Well, that's the right question Mister Malfoy. Sorry Harry, didn't mention this las' year, but you boys are older now, aren't ya? Are you going to be takin' Care of Magical Creatures, either of you?"
"Yes," Draco said quickly.
"Yeah, I'm planning on it too, I think," Harry said.
"Well, it hasn't exactly been announced public-aly speaking, but after my name being officially cleared las' year, after Professor Dumbledore doing a bit of extra work-" Harry wasn't sure exactly what Hagrid was talking about, but he noticed that Draco went very serious and nodded, "An' Professor Kettleburn has been wantin' to retire for a couple o' years. An' so, Professor Dumbledore offered me the position, and o' course I took it right off. Don' know if I'll be any good at it, but I'll do my best, I will. The book I gave ya' was the book fir the class. 'oped you'd take it."
"That's great, Hagrid! I'll take the class, of course. Ron and Hermione will too. Ron already wanted to, and I think Hermione wants to take everything."
"Well, that's sweet of you lot, but let me tell ya' a bit more about thestrals, eh? I reckon I've got the only tamed herd in the country, maybe in the world. They take the carriages to the train station and back couple times a year, and listen to me pretty well if I need sommat else of 'em. But, most people don' like thestrals if they know about 'em. People thought they were bad luck for years, but only if they didn't really know the creatures. Do either of ya know why that is? It's about Mr. Malfoy here's question, near about."
Both boys shook their heads, so Hagrid went on, "Cause you can only see 'em if you've seen death," Hagrid explained. Harry was silent, pondering. Like Draco mentioned, it had seemed like Hagrid could see the creatures.
"Who did you see die?" Draco asked suddenly. Harry spun to look at his companion. Draco looked down at his feet but didn't take back his question. Harry didn't think Hagrid would answer something so personal.
"When I was 'bout your age, well, second year, my da got real sick. Professor Dumbledore let me go home for a bit an' take care of 'im till he died, and then I came back. I saw him pass. Hogwarts has been my home since then. Professor Dumbledore had this cabin built for me so I could stay on the grounds in the summer. Bit of a loop hole really, 'cause he hired me on as games keeper, or assistant at firs'. An' I stayed here after I got chucked out of school," Hagrid said to Harry's surprise.
Hagrid was expelled? Harry opened his mouth to ask what had happened, but closed it again. Maybe he could find out from someone else and not have to ask his large friend. Harry was sure his father would know.
Draco didn't seem surprised by the news.
Hagrid continued, "I was already big enough to do most any work that was needed on the grounds, and I liked the work. So, yea' I saw my da' die, and later som' other people during the war too. Couple o' friends, good people. Some people think that jus' seein' the death was enough to see the thestrals, but I think you really gotta understand it. I think some o' the thestrals have always been in the forest, and I didn' start seeing them until a while, maybe few months after me da' passed. Then I started trainin' them."
"Thank you," Draco murmured. "For telling me."
"Not' a problem, Mister Malfoy. An' you can come visit me and see 'em- well, not see 'em I s-pose- whenever you wan'. If you reach over here, you can pet one." Hagrid offered, stroking an invisible beast. Draco stepped forward and did so, as did Harry. "Wish I could ride one, really. They're strong, but I'm too big for 'em. I did ride 'em a couple o' times when I was startin' ter train 'em when I wasn' any older'n you. Lot bigger though, even then."
Draco opened his mouth and Harry could tell the other boy was going to ask something, but shut his mouth again. "Thank you for showing us, Professor Hagrid," he said instead. That got Hagrid flustered and as happy as Harry had ever seen him. "Harry, ready to go flying?" the boy asked.
"Yeah, sure," Harry agreed, and Hagrid walked them the small way's out of the forest before going back in himself after their goodbyes and Harry's promise to visit again soon. The boys flew for quite a while, and Draco didn't say anything more, and Harry was silent as well. They just flew, no competing or quidditch drills this time. Harry wondered what Wood would think of them flying together. Just in case, Harry wouldn't mention it.
Draco seemed to be thinking a lot as they finally walked back to the castle. Harry didn't know how late it was, with the summer days so long, but he was hungry.
"Hey Tonks," Harry said, spotting the witch as he entered their rooms.
"Hey Tonks," Draco said a moment later.
"Hey, boys," Tonks responded. "We wondered when you'd show up."
"Milly has brought us dinner," Harry's dad informed them.
"Great," Harry responded.
"No, no, my present first," Tonks insisted.
"You- didn't have to get me anything," Harry said, though he'd known she would. She always got him something.
Harry tore open the package quickly until he held a red swim suit, and some red folded plastic, as far as he could figure.
"It's a raft," Tonk explained. "A key part of water relaxation. Muggles do lots of things right."
"Thanks, Tonks," Harry responded, giving her a tight hug. It was like the skates. She really wanted him to learn stuff and have fun.
"You're welcome, kiddo. Now, I believe we heard something about dinner?"
Harry felt like he spoke the most through dinner, which was unusual from him. "…And it's pretty creepy to watch the food just disappear, but still cool," Harry finished everything he could think to say about the thestrals. He didn't want to mention what Draco had asked Hagrid or what Hagrid had said. "Oh, and Hagrid said people could ride them, but I didn't ask to try."
"You're quiet, Draco. Did you have fun?" Tonks asked.
"I like visiting Hagrid," Draco said in response, which wasn't exactly saying he had fun.
"Is… everything alright, Draco?" Harry's father asked quietly. Why wouldn't Draco be alright?
"How can you tell if you're a metamorphmagus?" Harry's friend asked instead.
"Oh, Draco, I should have thought to ask earlier, us being blood related and all. Come over here. You want to test?"
"Yes, please," Draco said.
"Now, I warn you, most people who have the ability can't do as much with it as you expect. My mum can do a little- change her hair and nails mostly. Severus can too." Draco whipped his head around to Harry's father. Harry realized that Draco probably didn't know that. Harry didn't even think about it much, because his father never used it.
"I don't expect anything," Draco maintained, though Harry thought it was a lie.
Tonks had changed herself, to the way she often looked, except her short hair was bright yellow this time. Harry already knew what she was doing, of course. "Okay, Draco, take my hands," Tonks instructed, and Draco quickly complied. "Now, I'm going to change back, and you tell me if you feel anything, okay?" Tonks changed back to her normal self.
"Your- hands moved lower like you got shorter…" Draco offered uncertainly.
"But anything magical?" Tonks asked softly. Harry knew she didn't think he had it.
"No," Draco murmured and dropped her hands.
"One more try," Tonks said, holding hands out again. This time, her hair was pink.
"Anything?" Tonks asked a moment later, after she changed back to her normal self.
"Nothing. That's alright," Draco shrugged.
"Sorry Draco," Tonks said, bringing him into a quick hug that Draco seemed to find uncomfortable but didn't protest. Tonks was big on hugs.
"That's alright. May Harry and I be excused, Uncle Severus?"
"Are- you okay?" Harry asked when both boys were inside Harry's room.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I didn't really expect it to work anyway. It was really halfway just to change the subject."
"Why?" Harry asked.
Draco stared at him. Harry guessed it was a pretty dumb question if Draco didn't want to talk about it. "How about some wizard's chess?" Draco suggested after a moment.
"Sure," Harry agreed, willing to let whatever it was drop.
*****Severus*****
"Is Draco going to be okay?" Dora asked him after Harry's door had closed.
"He'll be fine," Severus replied, though he did stare where the boys had been sitting.
"Good," she said, winding her arms up around Severus's neck, leaning her head into his shoulder and breathing deeply. She leaned into him more heavily than usual.
"Long day?" Severus asked.
"And bo-ring. They talk all about honor and serving the populous in the auror department, but really it's mostly paper work."
"I do prefer not thinking of you in constant danger," Severus smiled.
Dora opened her mouth for some comeback that was silenced when a lynx patronus whipped through the room into sight.
A deep male voice that Severus didn't recognize spoke, "Tonks, I need you with me at headquarters now. Everyone is called in," before the thing disappeared.
"I- have to go," Dora spoke needlessly. "That's my mentor, Kingsley. It-must be important, because he knew about my plans tonight."
She spoke about him at her work? That- didn't bear thinking on for the moment. He- knew that she was trained, capable, but he didn't like the idea of his witch going off into unknown danger. His witch? He- tried not to think in such possessive term that he knew Dora would object to vehemently but...
"I'll be fine," Dora said in a forced casual tone. "I was just saying that work was boring. Probably someone incorrectly filed something and they want to threaten to fire us all."
*****Severus****
Severus wasn't even surprised when the boy crept out of Harry's room that night. It was a welcome distraction from dwelling on whatever Dora might be doing, and Severus had been waiting for it, after the way the boy had been acting at dinner. "Draco, you know you can talk to me when it's not past your bed time, right?"
"I know, but- can I talk now, Uncle Severus?" the boy asked. He was still a child, just a bit past thirteen.
"Of course, Draco."
"So… you know how last time I was here we talked about good and bad muggles, and good and bad wizards, right?"
"Yes, Draco. Blood status has nothing to do with a person's character."
"Is my dad a bad wizard?" the boy asked in a rush.
"Why do you ask that, Draco?" Severus asked, shocked by the suggestion though he didn't let it show. He had thought that the boy was sheltered from most everything his father did.
"Because I think he caused whatever happened last year. Because he visited Hogwarts when the Weasley girl went missing. And he tried to get Professor Dumbledore thrown out of Hogwarts, and Hagrid put in Azkaban, when anyone who's ever talked to Hagrid would know he wouldn't hurt anyone."
"And- and I heard a while ago about how Hagrid was expelled the last time it was opened, but he didn't do anything then either, I'm sure. And if my father somehow caused the recent attacks at Hogwarts, then all of the muggle-borns could have been hurt or – killed, like a girl was last time. And Ginny isn't even a muggle-born, and that didn't matter either and- and if he did it then he's a- bad wizard… then I'm- maybe scared to be at home."
Life was not supposed to be so complicated and difficult for a child barely thirteen, "Your father was one of my oldest friends. There were many years when I would have died for him, and believed that he would do the same for me. Maybe he even would have. I do believe that he loves you very much, Draco, and would do anything to protect you. I am sure that you do not need to fear living in your own home, understood?" Severus waited until his godson slowly nodded. "However, your father has done many, terrible things, and I expect you will not conform to that part of his life. I am trusting you a great deal when I tell you that he was the cause of the danger at Hogwarts last year."
"I knew it!" Draco let out. "And he was really mean to Dobby, and when he found out I let Dobby go he-" the boy stopped.
"You freed the house elf?" Severus prompted, trying to make the boy continue. There was something there. "How did your father respond, Draco?"
"He said he was sorry afterwards. He said he'd buy me a new broom, a Firebolt even, but I didn't want it. I don't know why I didn't want it, but I wouldn't let him get me one for that. I didn't want to think about it when I flew, I guess. Mother was really mad at him. But it was just a slap," Draco said the last bit softly. Severus wondered if the boy realized he had been rubbing his face. "It didn't really even hurt much. He called me stupid for letting the house elf get freed. He believed me when I said I freed the elf by accident, but I didn't, really. Father was hurting Dobby a lot, and I asked if Dobby wanted to be freed, and he did, so I set him free."
"Draco, has your father ever hit you before?"
"No, and he hasn't again. I really think he won't even. Sometimes even good people make mistakes. Except I know that he's not a good person, so how can I trust him? I know you're a- good person. And Hagrid is too, even if he's weird. And- maybe even Professor Dumbledore."
It would be a difficult situation, if he felt he actually had to step in. The Malfoys were not some muggles that he could make cower with a few tricks. "Draco, your father has quite a bit of standing in our world, and I don't want to make life more difficult for you. But Draco, you can write me if you ever feel scared. And if it gets bad and you want to floo over here, you can any time. I'm going to add you to the floo access just like I did for Harry and Dora- Miss Tonks, okay? We're the only ones besides Professor Dumbledore that can get into my quarters."
"Thank you, Uncle Severus," the boy muttered, small smile coming out.
"Of course, child, now get some sleep. Harry will doubtless want to run around tomorrow, and you shall be too tired."
"I'll be fine. Goodnight," the boy said, smiling a bit again.
*****Severus*****
"Hey," Dora said, stepping through his floo. He might have still been awake worried about her, which seemed pointless when he had no reason to think she would come back to Hogwarts that night. What did it mean that she had? "The rest of my evening was shit. How was yours? Is Harry asleep?"
"I have a feeling that I'd rather hear about yours. And yes, Harry is bed and-" Severus waved his wand a bit, "Both boys are still asleep."
"Well, you won't actually want to hear about my evening. But, I figure better from me than from the newspaper tomorrow. Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban."
Severus couldn't even speak for a few moments. The worst memories he had of Black came flooding back to his mind. "How?" he finally asked.
"Nobody knows, or they wouldn't be so terrified. It doesn't help that the Azkaban guards aren't exactly chatty. Never heard one talk, and I don't want to. I think the ministry gathered all the aurors just so the higher ups could get to scream. Nothing productive was really done except sending a bulletin to the papers and to the muggles as well. They'll have a telly alert about how he's dangerous and to not approach him. That should start tomorrow, and they'll have it in the Prophet of course. There making a team to find him, pulling some people off other teams to find him. I'm- going to try to get put on it. I think I can, because Kingsley's on the short list to lead it."
"That's a big decision," Severus said slowly. She'd know if she could handle the pressure. It was something he would want to do in her position. "But I would want to do the same."
She smiled just a fraction. "I- just want to help. The Dementors did say at least one thing. Black's been muttering in his sleep for the last week. He's said 'He's at Hogwarts,' Severus, and I'm going to do whatever I can to help keep Harry safe. It is- assumed that Harry's who Black was talking about…"
Of course it was Harry. Everyone was always out to get his son, it seemed. Why would he expect anything to change? "Thank you for telling me. I'll-have to speak to Harry about it."
"They're talking about additional auror patrols around Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and more security for Hogwarts once the kids come back in September."
Good. "Good." Of course Severus would have to make sure that September wasn't too late to help Harry… What was he supposed to do?
A/N: This chapter was hard to get out for some reason. Please let me know what you thought!