Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year! =)
For the next week the school was filled with gossip over Lucius Malfoy's demise and the confrontation he had had with Harry and Draco. There were even rumors that they had killed Lucius themselves. Sick of once again being gossiped about, Harry had been spending more time in Snape's quarters. Draco too. They were both tired of being stared and pointed at. In his room, Harry was lounging on his bed, flipping through the latest Quidditch journal when Draco plopped down next to him.
"Look at this latest move Galvin Gudgeon did," Harry said, his eyes still on the journal. When Draco didn't say anything he glanced up. Draco was staring at him intensely. "What?"
"We need to talk," Draco said.
Harry sighed. "What did I do wrong?"
Draco blinked in surprise.
"I know that tone of voice," Harry said wryly. "You and dad have it down pat."
"Huh," Draco scratched his chin. "I didn't realize." He shrugged before his expression turned more serious. "Listen, about you pushing me out of the way of Pettigrew's curse -"
"No."
"No what?"
"I'm not going to apologize for it or say I wouldn't do it again." Harry said flatly.
Draco's face darkened. "You can't always sacrifice yourself, Harry. I could of handled being hit with that spell."
"I don't care, you don't deserve to be hurt!"
"And you do?" Draco challenged.
Harry opened his mouth but then hesitated. "I...don't know." he said quietly.
Draco leaned forward. "Then I'll tell you. You don't. Do you understand? You don't deserve to be hurt. You've never deserved to be hurt."
"I just couldn't stand there and let you get injured or worse," Harry said after a moment.
"I feel the same." Draco responded. "Now, repeat after me. I don't deserve to be hurt."
Harry sighed. "Draco -"
"Repeat it."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I don't deserve to be hurt."
"Say it like you mean it," Draco said in exasperation.
Harry hid a grin. "I don't deserve to be hurt." He said more seriously.
Draco nodded and smiled. "Good. See? Now you just have to believe it."
"I'll try," Harry told his brother.
/
Draco poured himself more pumpkin juice, ignoring the whispers from some of his peers as he ate his breakfast. Several of them had actually had the gall to demand he describe his father's death, as if it were any of their business. Others, like Theo and Pansy, kept calling him a traitor but they were easily ignored. He couldn't care less what they thought of him.
"Professor Fletcher is quitting." Daphne said as she buttered her toast.
"He's not quitting, he only planned to be here for a couple of months," Draco said in a bored voice. His eyes wandered to the Gryffindor table where Harry was sitting, chatting with Neville. His brother looked content so no one must be giving him any trouble. "Dumbledore needed time to find a permanent Defence teacher." He continued.
"How about Lockhart again? " Blaise laughed. "Beware the pixies!"
"Yeah, he'd be a great choice if he wasn't locked up in the loony bin." Theo smirked.
"Nice." Daphne rolls eyes. "You're a really compassionate person."
"He brought it on himself," Draco shrugged. He'd thought Lockhart was an idiot his second year but after finding out he had tried to obliviate Harry, he loathed the man. Seemed fitting to him that now Lockhart didn't even remember his own name.
"So who is going to be the new Defence professor?" Pansy asked, narrowing her eyes at Draco.
"Don't know." Draco said.
"Maybe our honorary Slytherin can ask his dad if he knows," Pansy said sarcastically.
"Shut up, Parkinson," Draco snapped.
Pansy's eyes darkened.
"Don't bother talking to him, Pansy. He's a traitor," Theo muttered. "Even killed his own father, a loyal follower of – mmphfff!" He gestured to his mouth, which was now sewn shut.
Draco put away his wand. "So what topic are you choosing for your Transfiguration essay?" He politely asked Daphne and Blaise, who were smirking at Theo.
/
Harry was summoned to the Headmaster's office right after breakfast. After Neville insisted on walking him to gargoyle, Harry went up the moving staircase and knocked on Dumbledore's door.
"Come in!"
Harry opened the door and entered. "You wanted to see me, Headmaster?"
"Yes, my boy," Dumbledore beamed. "I thought you would want to speak with the new Defence professor. Well, sort of new." he chuckled.
Harry was confused until he saw Remus standing by the window. He brightened but quickly remembered that Remus might be angry with him for Sirius. "Hi Remus. Er, I mean Professor Lupin." He said a little nervously.
Remus smiled warmly at him. "You can call me Remus, Harry. Just not in class." He said teasingly.
"I'll leave you two to talk for a few minutes," Dumbledore said before leaving the room.
"Um, so how are you?" Harry asked awkwardly.
"I'm doing okay. It's been hard but I'm sure you understand."
"I'm so sorry," Harry whispered.
"Don't be, Harry. I know it wasn't your fault." Remus hesitated. "So I must admit, I was surprised to hear about the blood adoption."
"I know it seems weird but Snape and Draco became my family over the summer. I was in a really dark place and they, well, they saved me." Harry said honestly.
"It is odd but as long as they treating you right..."
"They are. They take good care of me." Harry assured him. "I know Sirius would probably be..um.."
"Appalled?" Remus suggested with a small smile.
Harry nodded ruefully.
Remus broke into a smile. "Well, yeah. But only because he never trusted Severus."
"Do you?" Harry asked curiously.
"I trust Albus and he has trusted Severus for a long time. So yes, I do. I did not like how he used to treat you but I never believed he would do you true harm." Remus responded.
"But Sirius did." Harry said quietly.
"Sirius was still stuck in the past and couldn't get past a school boy grudge," Remus sighed. "All those years in Azkaban really affected him. I think he would have seen reason if he hadn't had to hide out, stuck alone most of the time."
"I miss him." Harry said softly.
"He loved you. All he wanted was for you to be safe and happy."
"I'm happy," Harry smiled.
"Good."
"I'm really glad you're back teaching." Harry said.
"Me too. Actually, I wanted to ask you if you would help me with one of the lessons for class."
"Yeah?" Harry asked with interest.
"I will be covering Dementors," Remus said with a wry smile. "The Patronus charm isn't usually taught as most students would not able to achieve it but I thought you could show the class yours. I believe you taught it in your defence club?"
Harry nodded. "Not everyone managed it but about seven people achieved it. Of course, we didn't have a real Dementor to work with."
"Well, I certainly won't be hiring one for class," Remus said teasingly. "A boggart will do. Will you demonstrate for the class?"
"Sure." Harry said happily.
Suddenly the door opened and Dumbledore entered, an amused look on his face. "As you can see, he is perfectly fine." He said over his shoulder.
Harry blinked in confusion until his dad entered.
"Are you all right?" Snape asked, glancing suspiciously at Remus before focusing on his son.
"I'm fine," Harry assured him.
"I had heard the Headmaster sent for you," Snape said.
"I told you, Severus. I thought Harry would like to see Remus and speak with him."
"And it could not have waited until after his classes?" Snape huffed.
"I'm sorry Severus, I suppose I was excited to have Remus back working here and knew Harry would be happy about it as well." Dumbledore said.
Snape gazed at Harry. "You're sure you're okay?"
"Yes," Harry said, knowing his dad was worried how seeing Remus would affect him. Especially after that letter Remus had sent during the summer.
"I suppose I should welcome you back," Snape said to Remus with resignation.
Remus looked at him in amusement. "I'm happy to be back. And congratulations to you, Severus, on the adoption."
Snape inclined his head. "Thank you." He put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "I believe you have Herbology right now."
"Well, since I've already missed part of it -" Harry said hopefully.
"There's enough time for you to join your class and catch up on today's lecture," Snape said firmly as he gently guided Harry out of the office.
"See you later, Remus," Harry said before he was ushered out of the room.
Remus watched them go thoughtfully. "I must say, I had my doubts when I heard about the blood adoption. But Severus really seems to care for Harry."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, he does." He said, a sad look coming into his eyes. Remus didn't notice and began talking about future lessons he was considering for his classes while Dumbledore moved a piece of parchment that sat on his desk out of view. He didn't want anyone to see it and question what a horcrux was, after all. Not yet. It wasn't time yet. But it would be soon.
/
After classes, Harry and Draco went outside to fly over the pitch and toss a Quaffle around.
"I haven't learned the Patronus charm," Draco admitted as he swooped to catch the Quaffle. "I've read about it but I haven't been able to do it yet."
"What? I know something you don't?" Harry asked in mock surprise as he caught the ball.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Like how I knew the Serpensortia spell as a second year and you didn't." He smirked.
"Touche," Harry drawled.
"I'm eager to learn it. At least, I hope I can. I know many adults aren't even able to." Draco said as he waited for Harry to throw the ball.
"You will." Harry said confidently. Draco was a strong wizard. "You just need a really happy memory." He threw the ball right at Draco's face, causing his brother to scowl as he caught it just in time.
"Funny, Harry," Draco said as his brother laughed. "So, what was your happy memory?"
"Finding out I was a wizard and would get to leave the Dursley's." Harry answered as he began doing flips in the air.
Draco frowned at the reminder of the Dursley's. "Yeah, that would do it," he muttered, remembering how horrible they were. "So Remus was nice to you?"
"Yeah, he didn't act like he blamed me for Sirius's death," Harry said.
"As he shouldn't," Draco said.
/
"Today we shall go over the Patronus Charm." Remus said to the class. "When done correctly, it will invoke a kind of anti-Dementor. This will act like a shield between the Dementor and yourself. You must focus on a single, happy memory. One strong enough that it will hold against the Dementor, which can only feed on despair. Patronus's are a positive energy, it will repel the Dementor. There are two types of Patronus's, who can tell me what they are?" Remus looked around the room. "Miss Granger?"
"Corporeal and incorporeal. Corporeal is a Patronus with a particular form and incorporeal have no particular shape and are not as strong as the corporeal Patronus." Hermione answered.
"Correct. Not many witches and wizards can produce a corporeal Patronus, it is very difficult to do." Remus said. "Although I do know some of you are able to do it, thanks to a certain student teaching you. Harry, will you come up here?"
Harry went up to the front and faced the trunk that was sitting up there. He knew the boggart was in there and he took a deep breath.
"Ready?" Remus asked.
"Ready," Harry said. Remus opened the trunk and a Dementor floated out, heading straight towards him.
Harry pointed his wand at it, focusing on the day of his adoption. The happiest day of his life, the day he finally got a family of his own. "Expecto Patronum!" he yelled. A brilliant glowing stag leaped out and the Dementor retreated back into the trunk. The stag then walked to Harry and nuzzled at his hand.
Harry grinned at it before it disappeared.
"That was brilliant!" Goyle exclaimed.
"Wish I could have managed to do it," Dean said with a sigh.
"I want to learn that!" Daphne said excitedly.
"A stag, big deal," Theo scoffed.
Draco turned to him. "Let's see you do one." he snapped.
Theo flushed. "I don't know how." he countered.
"That was pretty impressive," Pansy admitted reluctantly.
"If Potter can learn it, so can we," Theo scowled.
"Harry learned this his third year," Remus said casually, hiding a grin at the shocked expressions of most of the Slytherins faces. "Now, who would like to give it a try?"
Dean, Theo, Pansy and Daphne tried to master the charm. Only Daphne was finally able to produce the slightest faint glow.
"Did you see that? I did something," Daphne said gleefully.
"Barely," Theo muttered.
"More than you, Nott," Blaise smirked.
"Mr. Malfoy? Would you like to try?" Remus asked.
"Sure," Draco said, getting up. He faced the boggart, bracing himself as he figured it would take the form of his father. However, when it emerged, it turned into Harry. A dead Harry, who lay on the ground with lifeless eyes. "No," he whispered in horror. He didn't hear the gasps from the other students.
"Draco, think of a happy memory!" Harry called.
Draco pointed his wand at the image but faltered.
Remus cast his own and boggart went back into the trunk. "Are you okay?" he was shaky himself, seeing a dead Harry like that...
"Yeah," Draco swallowed and glanced at Harry. Losing his brother and best friend was indeed his worst fear. He had thought it was Lucius, and it had been in the past but now it was losing Harry.
"You can do it," Harry encouraged, ignoring how shaken he was by seeing himself dead on the floor. "Happiest memory. Focus on it with everything you have."
Draco nodded. "I'm ready to try again," he said to Remus.
This time when the dead Harry appeared, Draco focused on when the adoption spell included him, naming him Harry's brother. Family. "Expecto Patronum!"
A silvery cobra burst out of his wand, causing the class to gasp in awe.
"Well done!" Remus beamed.
"That was awesome!" Harry said to Draco as his brother sat back down next to him. "A cobra. Should have known," he teased.
Draco grinned. He felt proud of himself. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"Wait until dad hears about it," Harry grinned back.
"Dad," Ron mumbled.
Harry turned in his chair. "Yes, my dad," he snapped at him. "Get over it already Ron. You don't want to be friends anymore? Fine with me. But shut up with the snide comments, all right?"
Ron opened his mouth but after Hermione nudged him, he shut it. "Yeah, all right," he sighed. "Listen, I just -" he paused and shook his head, turning away.
Harry turned his back on him. He was so over Ron's attitude.
Remus called up the students who Harry had taught the charm to show their own Patronus. The class watched in fascination as Hermione showed off her otter, Ron his jack russell, and Seamus his fox.
"Aww, what a cute puppy," Lavender Brown cooed as Ron's Patronus trotted around.
"It's not a puppy," Ron protested. He glared when Draco snickered. "I'm surprised yours wasn't a ferret." he smirked.
Draco scowled in response.
"Too bad yours wasn't a Acromantula," Harry said casually. "Oh wait, that was your fear."
"Don't like spiders, huh?" Draco slowly grinned.
As class was dismissed, Draco pointed his wand at Ron's book-bag. "Aranearum," he whispered. He grinned at Harry's curious look. As they walked out of class, they heard Ron give a shriek. Harry turned to see Ron throw his book-bag to the ground, a bunch of tiny spiders crawling out. "That was mean of you," Harry laughed.
Draco shrugged, a smirk on his face. "I suppose it was a tad petty of me."
Harry snickered. "Nah, it was funny." And Ron deserved it if he was going to keep being a prat. "Congratulations on your Patronus. I'm really proud of you."
"Yeah?" Draco had a pleased look on his face. "Thanks." His smile faded. "Sorry about my boggart. That must have been pretty shocking to yourself like that."
"It was." Harry admitted. "I'm sorry you worry about me like that."
"You're my brother, of course I worry," Draco said.
"Am I too much of a burden for you yet?" Harry asked, only half jokingly.
"No." Draco stopped walking and faced Harry. "You're not a burden. You're my brother and my friend. I worry because I know the danger you're in."
Harry was silent for a moment. It was still so surreal sometimes, that he had a family that cared about him and worried for him. "Thank you, Draco." he said quietly.
Draco sighed and crossed his arms. "Repeat after me. I do not deserve to be hurt and I am not a burden."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on!"
"Say it," Draco stared at him.
Harry sighed. "I do not deserve to be hurt and I am not a burden. Happy?"
"I will be when you believe it," Draco said simply.
TBC: