Mistakes are mine and mine alone.

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 6.

It was the morning of the Halloween feast. As a treat, all tests were postponed meaning the students had some free time on their hands. The Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Quidditch teams were busy getting in some last minute training before the match in the afternoon. Most of the students had gone to watch, some of them were walking the grounds and a few were in the Library.

Hermione was one of them. The bushy haired Gryffindor rubbed her tired eyes, before grabbing another book. She really wished she'd kept her big mouth shut and refused to helped Harry find out anything about his mysterious 'lucky charm'.

A few chapters in and...nothing. Just like all the others. She shut the book in annoyance. Gathering up the pile, she made her way along the shelves, watching them float upwards into their rightful places...

"You must have felt it! Something's bad happened! Oh, why did Merlina spilt the Talisman in two?"

Merlina? That was Harry's friend. Hermione hugged the wall, peering round it she could just see into the Restricted Section. Dumbledore had his back to her so she couldn't see him properly. It was the other she was interested in: Professor Witwicky. The young witch was pacing along the wooden floor, her heels echoing in the small area.

"Professor Witwicky, please... I assure you the Talisman is safe. Merlina, rest her soul, knew what she was doing all those years ago. She knew the true power of the Talisman and decided to spilt it. One half she kept on her person at all times, the other..."

Witwicky sighed, "The other was lost in the final battle between King Arthur and Morgan le Faye to ensure she didn't get it. I know, Albus, I know. I'm not a member of the Order of the Witwiccans for nothing." She leaned against a table. "What I can't grasp is how the Malfoy boy managed to get his grubby mitts on it..."

"Gwen! That's no way to speak about a student."

"Sorry, Headmaster. But... I just...Harry, I get. He's a Gryffindor through and through...A real lion-heart. But, Draco...He's one of the snakes, and you know how untrusting they can be. You can't trust a snake. No matter how much you want to."

Dumbledore hummed, "Perhaps it's time for a change. Surely you've noticed small differences in Malfoy after you've paired him with Harry?"

Witwicky thought for a second, " Well... Not at first. But slowly there's been some improvement. He's less snobby, not trying to suck-up to the other Professors. The two boys seem more comfortable in each-others presence. Not on first names basis, at the moment, but they seem to have found a balance. They're working well together."

" 'Only when we work together, in perfect harmony, can there be a glimmer of hope.' "

Gwen rolled her eyes at the old Headmaster, "You stole that from Optimus."

Dumbledore stroked his beard, "I must admit, he and I are very alike."

"Is there news? Will he be coming?"

Dumbledore held up a hand, "Perhaps we should continue this in my office. I fear these walls have ears."

Hermione ducked back behind the book-case, hiding her face in a book as Witwicky hurried past her. Once she was gone, she breathed a sigh of relief and replaced the book before inching her way back across. Peering round a squeak left her lips, her brown eyes widened finding clear blue ones staring at her over half-moon glasses. "P-Professor!"

"I should deduct points for ear-wigging, Miss Granger."

"Professor, please! I didn't mean to. It's just...I over heard you mention Merlina, she was Harry's friend and Harry..."

Dumbledore rested a hand on her shoulder, "Miss Granger, I do believe this book will make your task easier." With a quick glance at the table next to them he winked and left to have a word with Madame Pince.

Hermione calmed her nerves and looked at the book she hadn't noticed before. The cover was worn leather, the title in Runes she didn't understand, the pages were of a thicker parchment than she was use to and written in metallic ink that warmed to her touch. Closing the book a hushed, "Oh!" left her lips as the strange Runes slowly turned into English. Curious, she read the title:

'The Lost Scrolls of Ancient Cybertron: The History of Transformers by Merlina Emrys.'

Her eyes popped, Merlina? It couldn't be..? She opened the back page for the authors information and photograph. She looks so young. Dumbledore must be mistaken.

Looking up, she found herself all alone, Dumbledore had gone.

She checked her watch, "Oh no! The match!"

She had been in there all afternoon.

"Harry! Harry did you see me?" A mud covered Ginny threw herself into Harry's arms and hugged him tight. "I caught the Snitch in record time! Not as fast as you, of course, but still..."

"G-Ginny? I can't breathe!" He shoved her away, "That's better. Anyway, well done winning the match, Ginny. I have to-"

"No, you don't! You're not going anywhere near Malfoy today. It's Halloween and you're spending it with us. Right, Ron?"

Ron sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, "She's got a point. Ever since we've been paired up, you've spent every moment with the git. We've missed you, mate."

Harry sighed deeply, "Not you too! So we've been spending a lot of time together, so what? Draco and I want to make this inter-house thing work. He's not that bad when you get to know him." Ron and Ginny stared at him opened mouthed. "What?"

"You...

"You called him 'Draco'. "

Harry frowned, "Well, yeah. That's his name."

"I quite like it when you say it, Pot...Harry." Harry felt his face grow hot. Looking over his shoulder he found Mal- Draco standing behind him, a soft smile gracing his lips. "Seems only fair I do the same. Right?"

Harry grinned. Ginny, however, was having none of it. "I thought I warned you earlier. Bog off, Malfoy. Harry doesn't want anything to do with you after you stole his pendent."

Ron glanced over, "You never told me that."

Harry shrugged. Reaching into his shirt, he pulled out the thick chain and showed everybody the shiny charm on the end of it, "He gave it back. And before you say anything, I have checked it for jinxes and it's clear."

"But...That's not the point. He stole it! It's a breach of trust..."

"Ginny! That's enough!" He half-yelled. Ginny slammed her mouth shut so fast her teeth clicked. He turned to Draco, "Thanks for returning it, Draco. Is there something we can do for you?"

Draco smiled, "A message from the Heads of Houses. They've agreed the dress code for the feast. For the younger years: school uniform no robes and elder years: casual dress, school robes. Prefects, Head Boys and Girls must wear badges...At all times. "

"I do." Ron puffed out his chest, his silver P badge lopsided under the Gryffindor crest. He grinned, "Hey, no uniform! What a result!"

"Oh, this is great! I've got just the thing to wear." Ginny started rambling about her new outfit to anyone nearby, while Ron shook his head sadly. Harry tried not to do the same.

"Well, I'll be off then. See you later, Harry?"

Harry bit the inside of his cheek, which he knew was bright red, toyed with the chain around his neck, "Yeah. See you later, Draco."

Draco nodded and left, his hand reaching inside his collar for his half of the charm. He was staring at it so intensely that he smacked into Hermione. The young witch's eyes homed-in on the pendent and then up to Malfoy's face. The fair-haired wizard was looking at the over-size tome in her arms, and the name on the front. With a tiny smirk he placed a finger to his lips, winked and walked away.

Later that evening...

The feast had arrived. The Hall looked amazing: the pumpkins Ron, Neville and the rest of the boys had gathered had been restored to their original sizes (some larger thanks to the Slytherins). Now scooped out, they were carved with all sorts of spooky designs and were floating amongst the candles above all the tables. The paper chains that Harry and Draco helped to put up were now homes to small skeleton cut-out, that played and danced in the dips, each wearing a different Halloween out-fit.

Over in a corner, a section of the Hall had been roped off. The younger students were with the girls playing the party games. Hermione and Jeanie were running Pin the Boo on the Ghost, the others were trying to stop the young ones drowning themselves bobbing for apples or smacking their friends in the face while hitting the floating spider and bat piñatas.

The Hall was filled with the gentle hustle and bustle of chatter and laughter until the doors burst open and two second years rushed in screaming, "The beast! We saw the beast!"

The Hall went quiet. Dumbledore and the other teachers stood from the top table. Professor Sprout was most unimpressed at her House and told them so by deducting 10 points from both on the spot.

"Children." Dumbledore calmly walked up to them, placing a hand on their shoulders, "Am I to understand, that after expressing that no student was to enter the Forbidden Forest, you went anyway?"

"No, Sir!"

"Honestly, Sir. We didn't. We saw it just past the barriers, it was looking at the school."

"I see. What happened?"

One of the boys looked at his feet, "We...We didn't mean to. We were scared!"

Dumbledore crouched to his level. "Go on."

"I...I cast a stunning spell on it, and my friend got it in the chest. It roared and we ran. We're sorry!"

"It's alright. You did the right thing in telling us. Back to your House now." The boys headed to Hufflepuff were some of the others quickly huddle round to comfort them. Dumbledore stood. "Students, your attention, please. In light of this news, I'm afraid that celebrations will have to wait for another day." The Hall let out a collective groan. "I am sorry. Now, can the Head Boy and Girl of each House please escort the younger years to their common rooms while the Head of Houses and the advanced years meet me in the Courtyard."

Once in the Courtyard the elder years were given different areas to search. While the others went to the Green Houses, Boat House and Quidditch Pitch, Harry's year was heading into the Forbidden Forest, to repair the barriers. They would be in their pairs but the Heads of House would be patrolling the out-skirts: if they got into trouble they were to send up red sparks from their wands and they would be quick to help.

Harry and Draco stayed close together as the group separated, heading down the many paths of the Forest. Soon the mists were dancing around the hems of their school robes forcing them to cast hasty 'Lumos' spells to avoid tripping over their feet.

They past a large rocky formation, Draco stopped seeing an entryway and motioned to Harry to help check it out. The two boys walked slowly forward, wands high. Harry's foot caught on a branch, the crack was loud in the lonely woods. Draco shot him a glare that quickly turn into alarm as, from the dark depths of the small dwelling, a looming figure emerged with glowing red eyes.

Harry stopped dead. His heart going crazy. It was the same armoured creature that attacked the holiday village. He gripped his wand tighter as the being came into full view.

A large weapon mounted on its arm glowed orange as it scanned the two, small humans below. The inside of it HUD suddenly blinked as a new energy source was detected. One it had been searching for. One it was very familiar with.

Energon.

With a hum, the giant lowered its weapon, changing it back into a hand. Its visor opened revealing its face, its eyes switched from deadly red to crystal blue. It stood there...waiting.

Harry, sensing it wasn't going to attack, slowly lowered his wand.

Draco grabbed the sleeve of his robes, "What do you think you're doing?" He hissed, staring up at the giant metal being in front of them. "Didn't you see that big weapon coming out of its arm, pointing right at us?"

"I did." Harry replied calmly. "And I also saw it put it away. If it wanted to hurt us it would have done so already." He pried Draco's fingers from his robes before slowly stepping forward. The giant growled in warning looking between the small humans and then down to the little sticks in their hands. A painful whine left it's throat and it stumbled back, laying a hand on its dented chest plate. "No. No, wait. Wait!" Harry quickly tucked his wand away and raise his, now empty, hands. "It's OK. Friends." The Gryffindor glanced over his shoulder. Draco still had his wand out, ready to attack. "Wand away, Malfoy."

"What? No way. Nuh-uh. No..." As the Slytherin stared up at the beast, into the glowing orbs of sapphire, the strangest thing happened. A wave of calm washed over him and before he knew it, his hand had lowered and his wand pocketed. "...way?" He blinked, "Huh? How'd it do that?"

Harry smirked at him, "Magic?" He offered, earning him a frown. "OK. Maybe not." Harry turned back to the yellow being. "Hello." He said kindly. "I'm Harry." He tapped his chest, then jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "And this is Draco."

"What are you doing?"

"It's called being nice, Malfoy." Harry looked up at the metal beast. "Um...Do...Do you have a name?"

Draco scoffed, "Eloquent as always, Potter."

"Shut it..." The rest of Harry's sentence was cut off by loud steps coming their way. A low hum made both Harry and Draco gasp, finding themselves up close to the being. "Uh...Hi?"

The being crouched down to their level. It was silent and then came the steady crackling sound of a radio. Harry and Draco's mouths dropped opened in shock as the being spoke for the first time,

"My...Name is...Bumblebee."

Yeah! Meet-up at last. Whoop!