AN: About the Horcuxes, I really hated that plot device in canon, so now Harry will fight in the war, not go on a eight month scavenger hunt.
AN: Most of the reviews I have been getting have concerned Malfoy, my answer is simple. as Albus Dumbledore is in charge of Hogwarts, he won't be sending students to prison, he's a second chance type of guy.
Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Infirmary, Hogwarts School, Scotland, 5/25/1997, 09:30
Harry awoke to female voices chattering not far from his bed, Cracking his eyes open he saw Tracey Davis and Susan Bones chatting beside a bed on the tow across from him.
"If he stays in here much longer, one of us will have to bathe him." Tracey said with a giggle.
"There are spells for that Davis." Susan said in a scandalized tone of voice.
"Yes, but wouldn't you rather do it by hand." Tracey said suggestively.
He could clearly hear Susan giggle before she said "I would be the envy of every girl in Hogwarts if I gave the chosen one a sponge bath."
"Is that a real offer or are you two just taking the mickey?" Harry asked having enough listening to their conversation now that he knew it was about him.
Both girls shrieked and spun around faces tomato red.
Harry smirked at them before asking. "How long have I been here?"
"Since the thirteenth you great prat." Susan answered with a huff her face still quite red.
"Okay, but what's the date today?" Harry asked remembering quite clearly the day he had fought with Malfoy.
"The twenty-fifth, you've been in a sort of coma for almost two weeks." Tracey Davis answered.
Harry gasped at that answer, he had set a new record for his time spent in the hospital wing unconscious. 'Well that wasn't anything to be proud' he thought to himself.
"Well Damn." was all he could manage to say to that.
Susan was the first to get back on task and she asked "How are you feeling? Does you have any pain anywhere? She quickly picked up the clipboard on his bedside table to note down his answers.
"No pain anywhere, I actually feel great." Harry answered honestly.
"How is your vision?" Susan asked him next.
"Good I can see better than before, did you fix my glasses or something?" He asked curiously
"Your not wearing your glasses." Tracey answered as if he were dimwitted.
Harry did another double take, he had been distracted listening to them talk about bathing him and he didn't remember to grab his glasses of the bedside table.
'Well two very attractive girls talking about washing him by hand would distract most teenage males' he told himself.
Glancing first at Davis then at Susan, he really wouldn't mind that at all. They were both about the same height five and a half foot tall but we're opposite in every other way,
Tracey had a dancers figure but still had admirable feminine assets, blonde hair put up in a ponytail that complimented her tanned skin well, her eyes were a light sea green, She had a cute mischievous smile and a look in her eyes that screamed she was trouble, the good kind of trouble.
Susan on the other hand had a curvy buxom figure, with dark red hair, pale skin that had a light sprinkling of freckles and deep blue eyes. She had softer features a cute nose and plump kissable lips.
They were both wearing healers robes which were more form fitting than Hogwarts robes, and Harry didn't even realize he was staring until Davis spoke up.
"If your done oggling us Potter, would you mind answering Susan's question?" Tracey asked cutting into his thoughts with a smirk.
Harry blushed but composed himself quickly. "I'm sorry Davis, I was just thinking of that sponge bath you promised to give me." Harry said, smiling when he noticed her blush.
"What was your question Susan?" Harry asked noticing her narrowed eyes, he had taught her in the D.A and knew she wasn't a witch to get on the wrong side of.
"I asked if you feel any differently?" Susan asked again her cheeks tinged pink but her voice was steady.
"Well now that you mention it, I feel like there is a pressure that has been lifted from my chest, but I cant really describe it." Harry answered thoughtfully.
"Madam Pomfrey said when you wake and answered the questions she left for us to ask you, we were to make sure you eat your breakfast and then your free to go." Susan told him, as she summoned a tray with fruit and porridge and directed it to land gently on his bedside table.
Upon seeing the food his stomach gave a audible growl and Harry realized just how hungry he really was, He grabbed the platter and dug into his porridge with ravenous hunger.
The girls had wondered to the other side of the wing and seemed to be taking inventory of the potions stores, and let him eat in peace.
When he finished his food he rose from the bed and immediately noticed something else had changed, he was quite a bit taller than he was before the incident, he took a step and nearly face planted, he had to concentrate on his steps as he grabbed his clothes and headed to the bathroom, his stride was longer than it had been. After draining his bladder and a quick shower he started getting dressed, but his school uniform was way to small. Sighing he wrapped his Towel tightly around himself and called "Krecher".
There was a 'pop' and his cantankerous elf appeared in front of him "Filthy half-blood master calls Kreacher?" The elf croaked out in his bullfrog like voice.
"Yes, please resize all my school robes so they fit, starting with these." Harry asked politely.
With a snap of his fingers Kreacher made the robes stretch and size themeselves to fit him.
"Thank you Kreacher, that will be all." Harry told him.
The elf disappeared with another 'pop' and Harry quickly got dressed, the clothes fit him perfectly now, he would have to remember to thank Kreacher again later.
Harry looked in the mirror and gasped at seeing his reflection, his scar was a barely noticeable white line now, that combined with his lack of glasses and his faced not having a pinched quality that it had before, made him look like a completely different person.
He stared at his reflection a little longer before he exited the bathroom and went to find his trainers, he didn't have to search long before he found them at the foot of the bed he had woke up in this morning.
Kreacher must have resized them as well because they seemed bigger than before but they fit him perfectly.
Once his trainers were laced up, he made his way to the door but was stopped by Susan, "The Headmaster wanted me to give you this before you left." she said handing him a rolled up piece of parchment.
Harry accepted the parchment with a "Thanks." before unrolling it.
Harry,
Please come to my office as soon as you leave the hospital wing. We have much to discuss.
Albus Dumbledore
P.S I have taking a liking to 'jelly slugs' lately.
Harry rolled the letter up and made his way up to the seventh floor, still trying to get used to his longer gait.
When he arrived the gargoyle leapt aside when he gave the password and made his way up the escalator like spiral stairs case.
Arriving at the Headmaster's door he raised his hand to knock but stopped when he heard Dumbledore say. "Come in Harry."
Harry entered the room and Dumbledore motioned for him to take a seat. Harry quickly obliged and waited for Dumbledore to speak.
Dumbledore scrutinized him for a moment before finally speaking. "You look well Harry, I must say you seem to have grown a lot."
"Yes I've noticed, I still have to concentrate on walking or I trip all over myself." Harry admitted with a shrug.
"You will have it down in no time my boy, I guess the first thing we should discuss is what happened between yourself and Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said leading the conversation to the reason he had called young Harry today.
"What's to tell I went in the bathroom and saw the little ferret was crying over the sink, he saw me in the mirror and started throwing spells. I sent a curse at him and he hit me with a 'killing curse'. He is in Azkaban I hope Harry?" harry asked pointedly.
"No I cannot have him sent to Azkaban, Voldemort will break his followers out soon and young Draco would most assuredly be killed." Dumbledore stated.
"Who cares the little bastard tried to kill me." Harry stated rudely.
"Language Harry, I still have hope he can be led back to the right path." Dumbledore admonished him.
Harry was listening to Dumbledore talk his anger building up, what was wrong with the headmaster were those lemon drops narcotic or something? Harry was not going to stand for the slap on the wrist method Dumbledore was going for.
"Sir are you high or something? I will settle this myself if you won't do it yourself. Malfoy is a marked Death Eater, he almost killed Ron and Katie Bell and if it wasn't for the Horcrux in my head, he would have killed me too. I am the head of his mothers house and if you think I won't toss him out of the House of Black you've got another thing coming." Harry stated angrily.
Harry had talked to Neville about pureblood customs when he found out that he had been recognized as the new head of his godfathers house. Admittedly he hadn't expected the information to be of much use but, he found out it was a useful conversation after all. He would have to remember to ask Neville how he could go about casting Draco from the Black family.
Dumbledore looked startled at what Harry had said, which part Harry didn't know but he waited for the Headmaster to speak.
"Please try and forgive Draco, he very nearly died from the spell you struck him with? Where did you learn that spell from Harry?" Dumbledore asked disappointedly.
"A book I found, it said it was property of the 'Half-Blood Prince' the book said the spell was for enemies and Malfoy definitely qualified as an enemy." Harry answered honestly.
Harry had to pause, where was this confidence coming from? Usually he clammed up and just excepted Dumbledore's decisions. He didn't feel that insecurity niggling at the back of his mind now though, and he very strongly disagreed with the man's decisions, Dumbledore's disappointed gaze didn't stir any guilt within him like it usually would, something had definitely changed.
"So you have no regrets for using that spell on Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked cutting into his thoughts.
Harry shook his head and answered, "He's still alive, so no. He came out better than I did, I've been unconscious for almost two weeks." Harry answered.
"Yes well I've put a stop to his activities inside the castle, him and his mother will be moved to a safe house. He could still change, and I wish to give him the chance to do so." Dumbledore told Harry plainly.
"Which safe house?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"Number twelve Grimmauld Place, it's the only place that can protect Draco from being tracked by his mark." Dumbledore told him easily.
Harry felt a new wave of fury rise within him and he heard glass shatter all over the office but he paid it no mind, he had never been this angry with the Headmaster, not even the night of the Sirius' death.
"You went and volunteered my property without my permission." Harry asked in a deadly calm voice.
"You did give me permission last summer Harry." Dumbledores pointed out.
"I will be seventeen in July and I will throw them both out on there asses, I don't want any Malfoy in my house." Harry told the Headmaster bluntly.
"You really must learn to forgive Harry." Dumbledore stated imploringly.
"Whatever, are we done here." Harry asked
"Not quite, while you were indisposed I was able to take care of the horcruxes. You seemed to know about the one in your scar, may I ask how you knew?" Dumbledore asked.
"When I died my mother explained why I didn't pass on, but I can't remember much else." Harry answered his mood moderately improved by the news the horcruxes were dealt with.
"I see, that is most extraordinary." Dumbledore answered sounding astonished.
"So what happens now?" Harry asked.
"Well the wards over Privet drive fell, I believe they took your brief visit to the otherside as your passing and collapsed. You will be staying with Alastor over the summer, he will be training you along with various other order members in different kinds of magic.
More immediately however you will be serving detention with Madam Pomfrey every night until the end of term." Dumbledore told him.
"You expect me to serve detention for what happened with Malfoy?" Harry asked incredulously.
"No, I expect you to serve detention for using a dark spell on another student." Dumbledore stated firmly.
"And what is Malfoy's punishment for using an unforgivable curse?" Harry asked feeling his anger returning with a vengeance.
"He will be serving detentions with Professor Snape, I am assured he will be quite miserable." Dumbledore said cheerfully.
"I think I just lost all respect for you sir, can I leave now." Harry asked
" Yes you may go Harry" said Dumbledore deeply hurt by Harry's last statement.
Dumbledore watched harry walk out of his office sadly, he took a moment to repair all the broken glass Harry's magical outburst had caused. Harry had definitely changed, beyond the obvious physical changes, he wasn't so introverted like he was the last time they spoke, and he definitely had a confidence boost. Usually the boy was very shy and easy to guide, he would have moments of anger but was easily calmed. He now seemed to be more sure of himself and didn't seem to respond well to Albus' usual methods of guiding him to the decision Albus wanted him to make.
Albus was also quite concerned that he showed no remorse for what happened to young Draco, he also showed no inclination to forgive the other boy.
Well maybe Alastor can help him develop some control over his anger. Albus' time was short so he couldn't do much to sway the boy to his way of thinking, I hope he sees that the Malfoy heir will be quite useful to him once the war is over, Draco will take over the Malfoy seat and if he is in Harry's debt there could be a lot accomplished, if they can put aside their differences and work together.
Still he had done all he could, now he would leave matters up to fate.
/A/D/W/F/
Hogwarts Great Hall, 5/25/1997
Harry entered the great Hall and strode to his normal place and plopped down, Hermione was reading in her charms book most likely going over the lesson she had just finished, when she noticed him sit down.
"Harry how are you? Why were you in the hospital wing? We weren't allowed in and Madam Pomfrey wouldn't tell us anything." Hermione blurted out in a rush.
"I'm good, I got hit with a spell that really packed a punch." Harry said with a scowl.
"What spell? Who cursed you she asked.
"I'll explain later, I'm starved." Harry told her before turning to Ron. "How's it going mate?" Harry asked Ron as he piled his plate with steak and kidney pie.
"Ips Gowin fine" Ron said through a mouth full of food.
Harry snorted and took a bite and savored it for a second, before attacking the rest of his food like a starving man.
When he finished his plate, he looked over at Ron who was just finishing his desert.
"Who's been running the practices?" Harry asked curiously.
"Katie, she's been doing quite well actually." Ron told him.
Harry nodded and stood from the bench and walked up to the head table in front of Professor McGonagall, and waited for her to notice him.
"Can I help you Mr. Potter?" she asked.
"Yes Professor, I am resigning from the quidditch team, I can't fulfil my duties due to my detentions, it wouldn't be fair to the team if I just showed up for matches." He said before setting his captain's badge on the table and walking away.
Minerva was to stunned to stop him and immediately turned to Albus, "What detentions did you assign him that he can't fulfil his duties as captain?" She demanded.
"He will be helping Poppy every evening in the hospital wing until the end of term." Albus answered simply.
"And what of the Malfoy boy, I know for a fact he cast an unforgivable on Mr. Potter." Minerva demanded.
"I have assigned him detention every night with Severus, I have instructed him to make the detentions as miserable for him as he would make them for one of your lions." Dumbledore told her.
"Detention for attempted murder? He should have been sent with the Auror's the moment he was cleared to leave the infirmary." Minerva snapped.
"Even if I wanted to go that route there was no body, and the "prior incantato" showed he killed Voldemort. Anyway as I have already explained to you, the prison would be the most dangerous place we could possibly send him. Voldemort will break out his followers any day now." Dumbledore tried to explain.
"Well at least we could have expelled him from this school, he is clearly a danger to other students." Minerva said frustratedly.
"You want to send him home when you know full well Voldemort's base of operations is Malfoy Manor." Dumbledore asked shocked.
"Yes, better he be killed at home then harm one of my students here." She said flatly.
"We will just have to agree to disagree, I will not give up on him yet." Albums stated stubbornly.
"Well if you will excuse me I have to go appoint a new captain for the Gryffindor quidditch team, I will make Ms. Bell the new captain, someone else your charity case has almost killed this year." Minerva said acidly before she left the table to find Katie Bell.
/A/D/W/F/
Hospital Wing, 5/25/1997. 17:30
Harry arrived at the hospital wing right after dinner and went to Madam Pomfrey's office door and knocked.
"Ah Mr. Potter your right on time. Tonight I will be having you sort out these potions that just arrived from St. Mungos, the cabinet over there is clearly labeled and all you need to do is rotate the new potions to the back so the older ones get used up first, notice they all have an expiration date stamped under the label? Harry nodded. "Just make sure rhe go in the shelf with the dates that will expire sooner to the front." She instructed kindly.
Harry nodded his understanding and set to work, there were five boxes and he quickly got into sorting the potions and arranging them as she specified.
He let his mind wander while he worked, he still couldn't believe the injustice of this situation. Malfoy had struck him with a fatal curse and Dumbledore had the nerve to give him detention, after he invited the blonde bastard to stay in his godfathers home and shielded Malfoy from being prosecuted.
Harry realized that he really had lost all the respect he had for the headmaster, he was stuck at school for another month, but the way things were going he wasn't sure he would be returning next year.
He would be seventeen in July and then he could do as he wished.
Harry's brooding was interrupted by a feminine voice asking him a question.
"Since when do you work in the hospital wing Potter?" Tracey Davis asked him.
"Since tonight, I was assigned detention here every night until the end of term." Harry said as he grabbed the last vial of potion from the box he had been working on.
"Oh, what did you do?" She asked curiously.
"Put Malfoy in here." Harry answered simply and grabbed another box to continue stocking the shelves.
"Your the one who hit him with that dark cutting curse?!" Tracey asked shocked.
"Yeah well he hit me with a Killing Curse." Harry said annoyed as he started stocking nutrient potions every time he tough about it he felt angry.
Tracey was speechless, first the golden boy nearly killed the ferret and then to find out said rodent had cast an unforgivable on another the chosen one.
She had not been given the particulars of why Malfoy and Potter had ended up in the hospital wing, but now she understood, they both tried to kill each other!
"Why is Harry here?" asked Susan.
"He got detention for putting Malfoy here last week." Tracey whispered to her.
"That was him!" Susan exclaimed.
"Well Malfoy was the reason he was here to, Apparently Malfoy hit him with the killing curse." Tracey answered.
Susan just gaped at her and Davis smirked and said "And now you have the same look I had when he told me before you came in."
"All done." came Harry's voice to their right.
"Well I suppose you can-
Susan was cut off as The doors burst open and Mandy Brocklehurst came in supported by Su Li.
"What happened to her?" Susan asked concerned already drawing her wand and running diagnostic spells.
"She bought a 'wit sharpening potion' from some seventh year Gryffindor, she started vomiting five minutes later and now she's having trouble breathing." Su Li explained somewhat hysterically.
Susan gave a nod to Tracey who ran to Madam Pomfrey's office and returned with the matron very shortly after.
"She's had an allergic reaction, get me the 'anaphylaxis cure'." Poppy ordered as Harry as soon as she reached the girl and started running her wand over her.
Harry who had been standing there watching the scene play out hastened to retrieve the required potion.
Harry quickly made it over to the potions cabinet and grabbed the required potion, when he returned to the group Mandy's face had turned blue, Madam Pomfrey took the potion Harry handed her and vanished the contents into the girls stomach with practiced ease, the effects were almost immediate.
Mandy's color started returning to her face and her breathing eased up then she vomited all over the floor and started breathing somewhat normally again, though she still looked very ill.
"Potter clean that up please." Pomfrey said as she guided the girl to a bed followed by the other three girls.
Sighing Harry pointed his wand at the puddle of sick and thought 'evanesco'. He hadn't actually expected the spell to work, Harry hadn't had much luck with non-verbal spells this year, but the vomit vanished leaving a shining floor in the place the puddle of sick had been before.
Looking over at the group he saw Pomfrey, Susan and Davis huddled around Mandy but Su Li just stood there frozen.
Grabbing a 'calming draft' from the cabinet, he walked over to the girl and said "Drink this, it will make you feel better." and placed the vial in her hand.
She remained frozen in place so he took the bottle back and uncorked it before placing it in front of her lips and she slowly opened her mouth and drank down the potion.
The girl visibly relaxed and her shoulders seem to droop.
"Thank you." She said softly before hurrying over to her friends bedside.
"Well done Potter, you handled that like a pro." Tracey said coming up beside him.
"Thanks, I just figured she had went into shock or something." Harry admited.
"Indeed Mr. Potter, I suppose while your serving detention here, you can learn to heal." Poppy said from behind them making him jump.
"Okay, but the only healing spell I know is 'episkey' and I've only performed that a few times." Harry admitted nervously.
"You'll do fine dear, just take a copy of basic healing spells with you when you leave, and I'll start you working on the practice dummies next Monday." She told him before going back to check on Mandy.
Susan came over and looked at Harry with a mischievous glint in her eye. "I told Mandy the hospital offers sponge baths to their patients now, and she is demanding the boy-who-lived get her all squeaky clean." Susan said with a smirk.
Harry blushed but none the less asked "Are you serious?"
Tracey snorted but Susan answered "No you prat, honestly boys really do have a one track mind." Tracey nodded her head in agreement.
Harry scowled at the both of them who had broke into a fit of giggles, and wandered over to the bookshelf by Madam Pomfrey's office door and took one of the copies of 'Basic Healing Spells' and started reading the preface.
The rest of the night passed fairly quickly and Madam Pomfrey dismissed them all ten minutes before curfew.
"See you tomorrow, Potter." Davis said making here way to her common room.
"Goodnight Tracey." Harry called to her back.
He then turned to Susan " Goodnight Susan." He told her with a smile.
"Goodnight Harry, I'll see you tomorrow evening." She said smiling at him before following Tracey down the main staircase.
Taking a second to glance at her retreating bum he made his way up the stairs towards Gryffindor tower.
When he arrived he gave the password, which luckily hadn't changed in the last two weeks, and wondered into the common room.
The noise level was almost overwhelming but he tuned it out and wandered over to a couch by the fire where Ron and Hermione were sitting.
Hermione had her nose hurried in an Arithmancy text and seemed engrossed in whatever it was she was reading, Ron on the other hand was holding a quidditch magazine open in his lap but was watching Hermione read and would only occasionally glance at his magazine.
Harry sitting down got both of their attention, and they both looked up at him
"Harry did you really quit the quidditch team." Ron asked as if the very idea was absurd.
"Yeah I had to, I have detention every night until the end of term. I'm helping out in the hospital wing" Harry said showing them the book he had been assigned to read by Madam Pomfrey.
'She's teaching you healing?" Asked Hermione with interest.
"Yes she said she would start me out practicing the spells in this book next Monday, on a practice Dummy." Harry told them.
He might actually enjoy this detention after all, he could definitely see the appeal in being able to fix broke bones, and heal gashes. He would definitely learn all he could from Madam Pomfrey.
"That's good, healing magic is a very good skill to learn." Hermione said enviously.
"But why did you quit the team, you could have just set the practices in the morning?" Ron asked.
"I got enough on my plate as it is, I don't want to have to worry about quidditch as well." Harry answered honestly.
"But you are the best seeker in school, we're sure to lose the cup now." Ron lamented.
"Nonsense, your sister is very good, I saw her play last year." Harry said dismissively.
"I hope your right, McGonagall made Katie captain today at lunch." Ron told him.
"Good it should have been hers to begin with, this is her last year, and she started the same year I did." Harry said happily.
"Thanks Harry that means a lot." Said a smiling Katie Bell who had just walked up to him.
"Well it's true, you know way more about chaser formations and tactics than I ever did. I only had to "Catch the snitch or die trying." Harry said making air quotes around Oliver Woods famous order in his second year.
She giggled and then said "I only came over here to tell you I am sorry to hear you resigned, McGonagall explained why though. I will make sure to win us the cup." Katie said the last part wirh determination.
"Harry smiled at her "I am sure you will, you lot won last year with two awful beaters and a keeper that had choked two games in a row. I am sure Gryffindor will win the cup again this year." Harry told her confidently.
She nodded and wandered back to her friends, Harry turned around to see Ron glaring at him his ears had gone red.
"Thanks a lot mate." Ron said venomously.
"What, you finally got your head in the game at the end, and now you play just fine." Harry said confused at Ron's reaction, he was just being honest.
"What did you do to get that many detentions?" Hermione asked, trying to change the subject before Ron started an argument.
"I got in a fight with Malfoy in the sixth floor boys bathroom about two weeks ago, I walked in the bathroom and found him crying and being comforted by Moaning Myrtle, he saw me in the mirror and started throwing spells at me, he cast a Killing curse that hit me in the face and I cast a 'sectumsempra' which hit him in the chest. We were both badly injured, and he spent almost a week in the hospital." Harry explained the events succinctly.
"So that's who Moaning Myrtle was talking about, the boy she said was crying in the bathroom when we saw her a couple of weeks ago, Malfoy the crybaby!" Ron exclaimed happily.
"Yeah I hadn't thought of that But your probably right." Harry chuckled remembering the event now that Ron brought it up.
"Wait did you say you were hit by a killing curse?" Hermione asked looking alarmed.
"Yeah I died for a bit there, but" Harry quickly cast a 'muffliato' and then continued speaking "but Voldemort left a piece of his soul in my scar that Halloween night back in nineteen eighty-one, and that saved me from dying, and now my connection with Voldemort is gone." Harry told his friends who looked quite shocked at this revelation.
"That's awful what did Malfoy get for casting a spell like that on you?" Ron asked.
"Detention with Snape, which is complete bollocks" Harry said irritated at the thought of Malfoy getting away with casting a spell like that.
"What is a 'sectumsempra" curse? Hermione asked suddenly changing the subject from Malfoy.
"It's a dark cutting spell apparently., it sliced Malfoy up pretty good from what I saw before his spell struck me and everything went black." Harry answered.
"Where did you learn a spell like that?" Hermione asked shocked at Harry's attitude towards dark magic.
"The Half-Blood Prince, it was one of those spells written in the margins." Harry said simply.
"I told you that book was bad news." She snapped.
"You did say that multiple times, every time my potion came out better than yours in fact." Harry agreed.
"This isn't funny Harry, what if you had killed him?" Hermione asked.
"Then I would have got more detentions than I already have." harry answered.
"What are you talking about, you would be arrested, not get detentions." She said as though he were mentally deficient.
"Yeah, did you miss the part where I said I was hit by the killing curse? Dumbledore hasn't sent Malfoy to prison yet has he?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"Well you should get rid of that book, it's obviously dangerous.' She demanded of him.
"Not a chance Hermione, I find the potion alterations quite useful." Harry told her flatly.
Ron meanwhile sat watching their building argument like a tennis match, he seemed to want to be left out of this and just enjoy someone else getting catching Hermione's Ire.
"If you don't get rid it, I will tell Professor McGonagall about that book!" Hermione threatened.
"You mean like the Firebolt, where you went behind my back and ran to McGonagall and got it confiscated for over a month. Do what you must Hermione, I've already made a copy." Harry said starting to get really irritated, though he had copied down the spells and the revised potion recipes, he did not want to lose the original, he might have to find a place to hide it.
"Why are you being so ridiculous, you could really hurt someone with the information in that book." She practically screamed.
"Like your ranking in our potions class?" Harry snapped at her.
Her face turned a bright red and she snarled " This has nothing to do with you cheating in potions class!"
""You really need to work on your jealousy, we've been having to suffer through it all year, first my potions book and then Ron getting together with Lavender. Maybe your the one with the problem." Harry told her flatly.
"I don't think I'm the problem, something has changed about you has changed, I don't know that I want to be around you right now." Hermione said in a quiet voice, she gathered her stuff up and left up the girls staircase.
"Can you believe her?" harry asked Ron who had stayed quiet up until now'
"You where a little rough on her she's only trying to help." Ron said hesitantly.
"She has been a nightmare this year. I don't need her going behind my back and trying to force her opinion on me." Harry stated flatly.
"I still think you should have been nicer about how you told her your reasons for keeping the book." Ron said stubbornly.
Harry actually snorted and looked at Ron incredulously "Your telling me to me nicer to her, you who's bad manner's has caused countless numbers of fights and nearly got her killed in our first year." harry stated exasperatedly.
Ron scowled "Why did you go and bring that up, You know Hermione's right you have changed. Your a complete arsehole now" Ron stated angrily.
"Whatever I'm going to bed, I've had enough crap for one day." Harry said tiredly.
Harry got up from the couch and made his way up to his room, then collapsed in his four poster bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillows, leaving Ron fuming alone on the couch in the common room.
/A/D/W/F/
D.A.D.A Classroom, 6/26/1997, 17:45
Draco Malfoy entered his head of house's office and saw that Snape hadn't arrived yet, so he took a seat at a random desk.
He was still fuming over being drug out of the common room by a seventh year prefect, he had skipped every assigned detention this year, and planned to continue the practice.
The prefect had dragged him bodily all the way up to the Defense classroom and pushed him through the door to wait for his professor.
This year had started out well but it quickly went to shit once he realized how difficult repairing a centuries old magical item really was.
His backup plans had both caught the wrong person and he kind of wished Weasley had been sharing that bottle of mead with Granger and took care of two problems at once. He had hoped Slughorn would have given the bottle to Dumbledore like he claimed to when he purchased it from Rosmerta, honestly Draco was quite surprised no one had put together that both the necklace and the mead were passed off to other people in the three broomsticks.
Draco had had a very awful Yule, the dark lord was very unhappy he hadn't succeeded in his mission, Draco had felt the sting of the 'cruciatus curse' for over an hour.
Then when he returned to school, he struggled for the last five months to repair the cabinet.
He knew he was getting close, but he was still afraid he was going to fail, there were times when it was all to much and he would break down and cry in that bathroom, and Potter just happened to walk in at one of those moments of vulnerability.
He was embarrassed to be caught in such a vulnerable state and he had attacked, he remembered thinking that this whole mess his family was in was all because of Potter and he cast the Killing curse, before he could see it strike his chest exploded in agony and his blood sprayed the floor the pain was so intense he barely remembered hitting the floor before everything went black.
When he had awoken he was shocked to learn Potter had survived his 'killing curse,' truth be told he was shocked that he had survived that spell Potter hit him with.
He had cast the 'Killing curse' before, the dark lord required him to prove he could kill, before he could take the mark.
He had been led into the throne room and the Dark Lord had told the group of gathered death eaters "It was time for him to prove his devotion"
His aunt led a muggle man who was bound and gagged into the room and he was ordered to kill the muggle.
He still remembered the rush he felt when he cast the spell and the man collapsed like a puppet with his strings cut.
How Potter survived that was a mystery, but as far as he was concerned they were even, they both nearly killed each other.
According to Pomfrey the spell he was struck with cut into his bones and he had to have three rib bones and half of his sternum vanished and regrow. His chest still hurt when he raised his arms and the matron had warned he would have pain in the area the curse struck for months.
The real problem he had was after he left the infirmary, he had went straight to the 'room of hidden thing's and found the cabinet he had been working towards repairing was gone and all that remain was a stretch of blackened floor and a pile of ashes and charred wood.
Draco's musings were disturbed when the door to his godfathers office opening and the man himself stepped out.
"You have already missed six of these detentions Draco. My patience is growing thin." Snape said in a dangerous tone.
"I've had more important things to deal with than wasting my time in detention." Draco said with a drawl.
"Like what, casting unforgivable curses at the most high profile student at Hogwarts or sifting through the remains of that vanishing cabinet you were repairing? Snape asked sarcastically.
"How do you know about that? " Draco asked through gritted teeth.
"Well after you attempted to murder Potter, the Headmaster looked into what you have been up to this year. He found out about your plan to bring death eaters into the castle through an old cabinet and destroyed it." Snape said simply.
Draco paled at that revelation, Dumbledore had stumbled on to his mission somehow, he was going to be killed along with his mother!
"How did he find out about me using the room of hidden things or anything else for that matter?" Draco asked in a shaky voice.
"He is the one in control of this castle, he controls the wards, he has the paintings and house elves to spy for him. It didn't take him much effort to sniff out what you were up to." Snape answered like Draco was a small child.
Draco scowled at the condescending tone Snape used and asked bluntly. "So now what do I do? My mission still must be completed by the end of term."
"You will do nothing, I will finish your task. You are not returning to Malfoy Manor. Arrangements have been made to move you to a safe house at the end of term." Snape stated flatly.
"I can't do that, he will kill my mother if I don't return!" Draco practically shouted.
Snape shook his head, he was very glad he had put up privacy wards around his classroom. He looked at Draco and then replied "Your mother has already left Malfoy Manor, she is currently residing in the safehouse we are sending you to. The Dark Lord will kill you the moment you enter your home, mission completed or not." Snape told him seriously.
"So I have to go into hiding either way?" Draco asked angrily.
"Yes, if you are not under powerful wards you can be found through your mark. You are not of age yet so you will do as your told." Snape said with a tone of finality.
"Why is the old fool helping me anyway? He must know what my mission was." Draco asked with a hint of curiosity.
"Of course he knew, I informed him of your task last June. He wanted you to occupy yourself plotting his demise and ultimately fail." Snape answered
"Why didn't he stop me then?" Draco asked confused.
"Because he knew more than just your life hung in the balance, he intends me to kill him." Snape answered.
"Why would he let you kill him?" Draco blurted out.
"Because he is already dying, Haven't you noticed his hand?," Snape asked.
"Okay, lets say I decided to go with you, where is this safe house anyway?" Draco demanded.
"I can't tell you that, I am not the secret keeper. But rest assured it has extremely powerful wards. Now for you detention we will be working on refilling my potions stores. I haven't been brewing much this year so when we find ingredients that are about to expire we will be making healing potions out of them." Snape explained.
"Fine lets get on with it." Draco sighed.
Snape nodded and led a resigned Draco from the classroom down to his old potions ingredients store room that was down the hall from the potions classroom.
Draco started carrying out his task not knowing whether to be relieved or furious that he had been side lined from the war. He supposed he should just go with it for now and hope he didn't ever have to face the dark lord for fleeing from his duties.
/A/D/W/F/
Gryffindor Boys Dormitory, 6/27/1997, 07:30
Harry awoke feeling well rested and he stretched lazily, yesterday he didn't have any classes and he was quite looking forward to another free day (well until after dinner).
He was starting to get used to working in the infirmary and learning what to expect. Last night they had two seventh years Hufflepuffs who where practicing human transfiguration that were stuck with antlers on there head and a fifth year Ravenclaw who went into fits of hysterics over her upcoming O.W.L's, Madam Pomfret had assured him this sort of thing happens almost every year before exams.
Hermione and Ron were both avoiding him, and before the incident in the bathroom he would have felt bad about that, he had noticed he had been acting different since then, like he didn't have a filter between his thoughts and his mouth.
It was very freeing to be honest, he used to bite his tongue and hold in his opinion to protect his friends feelings. Now he just said what he was really thinking, he even remembered he had done the same during his conversation with Dumbledore the other day.
Shaking those thoughts away, he rose from his bed and took care of his morning needs, then got dressed and exited the dorm.
He was on his way down the seventh floor corridor heading to the main staircase when he saw him Malfoy was walking towards the room of requirement and Harry acted without thought.
Drawing his wand he cast a silent summoning charm on Malfoy's wand, the wand was ripped from Malfoy's sleeve and soared into Harry's hand.
Malfoy stopped and spun around seeing Harry closing the gap between them. His eyes widened in fear.
"Pott-
Was as far as Malfoy got before Harry struck him in the face with his fist, Malfoy hit the ground his hand covering his eye.
"You tried to kill me, don't think it will be forgotten so easily. I know where you will be staying when Snape sneaks you out of here, so you had best sleep with one eye open." Harry growled before tossing Malfoy's wand down the hall and walking back the way he came from.
He knew he couldn't hurt Malfoy to bad while he was in school, but that didn't mean he couldn't fuck with his head. He made his way to the staircase and headed down to breakfast, feeling quite a bit better.
/A/D/W/F/
Draco had never been terrified of Potter before, but that confrontation had him shaking, Potter had disarmed him and had him completely at his mercy. Potter clearly held a grudge and what's worse was he seemed to be a lot different than he was in the last confrontation they had.
Potter clearly had a reason to kill him, but something was holding him back, for now. Draco could see that going to the safe house was not in his best interest and he would not put himself in a place Potter could get to him anytime he wished.
No he had a couple thousand gallons in his trunk, he would pack up leave this afternoon, He would then go to the Malfoy property in France, it was protected by strong wards and he would be safe there.
With his mind made up he headed to his common room to prepare for his journey. He knew how to aparate now even if he wasn't liscensed, so all he had to do was make it to the gates of Hogwarts.