YourSide, Their Side and the Truth by Mizzy ( )
Part VI - Changes (6.45)
Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me, this is a fan fiction, by a fan for the fans. No money has exchanged hands during its production.
Harry yawned and stretched as he sat up in his bed sleepily. He stretched out for his glasses and slid them on, blinking sleepily. He swung his feet out from under the warm covers and instantly regretted it; the cold of the morning hitting him in a wave. Pulling a face he reached for the curtains and paused, yesterday's experiences hitting him like a cold slap.
The young wizard pulled a face and started to yank the curtains out of the way. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall had performed a highly sensitive magic sweep of the school, and all the dementors had now left. The school was safe again. Harry didn't really understand how they had got into the school in the first place. Perhaps he'd find out later. He smirked; remembering Professor McGonagall's expression when she realized they'd moved Draco's bed into the chamber Harry normally shared with Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville and how they had sworn vehemently nothing would happen.
Professor McGonagall nodded, knowing they wouldn't try anything. Both of them might get into some mischief but they always kept to their word. Besides, having the other there would keep them both calmed down. Well, as calm as possible considering what happened yesterday.
Harry stumbled wearily to the bathroom, both enjoying and feeling a little weird from all the emptiness. Professor Sprout had renounced her earlier declaration of school all day today. The other students were due back sometime early morning and lessons would begin again after lunch and a special assembly.
Harry leant forwards, removed his glasses and bent down to the sink to splash cold water on his face in an attempt to sort his muddled brain out. He leapt upwards with shock when two arms wrapped around his waist gingerly. Flushing, Harry turned in Draco's grip and smiled. Draco leaned past Harry and picked up his glasses before placing the glasses back on Harry's nose. The Harry wrinkled his nose, staying firmly put.
"Morning," Harry said, feeling a foolish grin spread across his face.
"Morning," Draco returned, winking at Harry before leaning out of the embrace to wash his face. The two stayed comparatively quiet as they brushed their teeth and finished washing themselves up in time for breakfast. Harry turned to go back to the dorm to get changed but was stopped by Draco pulling on his arm.
"Harry." Draco's tone by itself was enough to give Harry goose bumps. "About yesterday," Draco said nervously. "How did you know it was me and not a clone?"
Harry shrugged. Then bit his lip. "At the beginning… I wasn't sure… It was when he flung you to the floor I guess I just knew."
"Would you…" Draco seemed nervous. "Would you have let him kill me rather than betray your morals?"
Harry stayed silent for a moment. "Yes I would… but I think one part of me would have died too."
Draco grinned. "Good," he said finally. "That's the only answer I would have accepted, you know."
"I'd hope you'd do the same for me," Harry added. Draco looked at him as if to say Harry was, as usual, being stupid by think he wouldn't. Harry felt Draco's eyes burning into him, and he turned away; busying himself with his hair again. "Come on, or we'll be late to breakfast."
The main hall was set up again as it usually was, the four house tables set up in parallel with the four house banners waving and the ceiling bewitched again to represent the sky outside. No trace at all remained of the devastation from yesterday, but Harry remembered the near empty hall with its cavernous ceiling and stench of death and he shivered. The sky was brilliantly blue, with not a hint of clouds at all. At the teachers table there were eleven places set up, one for Hagrid who had returned earlier this morning. The half-giant saw Harry and instantaneously burst out into tears, wailing into a large red-and-white checked handkerchief. Harry rolled his eyes, shrugged at Draco and crossed over to comfort the gamekeeper and teacher.
"Come on, Hagrid, it's all right, everyone's fine," Harry comforted awkwardly; leading Hagrid back over to the table and sitting next to him and grinning when Draco followed cautiously and sat the other side of Hagrid.
"I'm just 'appy you're al'right, Harry," Hagrid sniffed, his large face screwed up.
"We're all all right, thanks to Harry," Draco said, then paused. "Hagrid, do you --" Draco looked to the floor and fiddled with his fingers before looking up fearfully at Hagrid. "Do you think you could ever find it in your heart to forgive me?"
Hagrid's eyes widened and he turned to stare at the fidgeting blond. "Whatever for?"
"For being a slimy arsed git to you and everyone for the last sixteen years of my life," Draco said softly. "I've been so horrible to everyone."
Hagrid looked like he was going to burst into tears again as he enveloped the boy in a crushing hug. Draco squeaked in shock. Harry stifled a laugh.
"Hagrid, would you mind not squashing one of our students?"
Hagrid let Draco go apologetically, a wide smile crinkling his features. "Sorry, Professor McGonagall, got a little over excited and all."
"I think that's the rest of the world's reaction… The news is all over the wizarding community, Harry. You're even more famous than you were before," she said; shrugging as she gracefully took her usual place.
"Oh great," Harry sighed. "Fantastic." It was obvious he was not trying to withhold any of the sarcasm.
Professor McGonagall cracked one of her rare half-smiles and turned to see the other Professors come in, all dragging Professor Dumbledore behind them. The Headteacher looked slightly disgruntled, but dropped to his seat eventually after a few stern glances from Professor Flitwick. Harry decided not to cross the tiny Charms teacher ever.
"Well, we'd better dig in," Sirius said; turning to the food that had just appeared on the table. After a small pause, everyone had dug in quite voraciously, somnolent after yesterday's events.
"Albus, are you glad we dragged you out of your office now?" Professor Sprout said, humour colouring her voice. Dumbledore smiled faintly.
"I do have thousands of owls to respond to, I really don't have the time… But I must say these sausages really are excellent," Dumbledore finished, chomping down on one of the thick pork sausages. "How are you boys dealing with this all?" He asked suddenly, his eyes boring shrewdly into Harry's own.
"We really could have done with the whole day off school," Draco murmured morosely. Harry nodded in agreement. Dumbledore frowned, confused.
"But you do have the whole day of school," he started; pausing when Professor McGonagall let out a small giggle. Harry raised his eyes at the unusual behaviour of the strict transfiguration teacher. "Minerva, have you been teasing them?"
Professor McGonagall nodded. "I thought they could do with some humour after what happened."
Harry grinned.
"Looks like it's working too," Sirius remarked dryly.
"How's Azkaban?" Professor Snape asked suddenly.
"It's good," Remus Lupin remarked from his side. Harry blinked. He hadn't noticed the werewolf among the other teachers. He must have stayed the night after yesterday.
"The giants agreed the animosity had gone on too long. They are now guarding Azkaban even more fiercely than the dementors. They've realized the people they have most to be wary of are inside the prison, so they're helping us guard it. The ministry of magic will be forced to issue a statement how they're really helping us and how they must be good after all. Which," Sirius added reflectively. "Is what we knew already."
"Good, good," Professor Snape said, semi-distracted. Harry looked up from his breakfast to see the Potions teacher's gaze linger on him, and as their gazes met, Professor Snape looked away quickly. Harry frowned slightly, but shrugged it off and listened to what Draco was saying.
"When are the rest of the students returning?" Draco asked, looking up from his bacon curiously.
"In an hour or so, which will give you plenty of time to hop off to the infirmary when you've finished your breakfast. Madam Pomfrey returned early this morning too, so there's no excuse. You are both going to be looked over," Professor McGonagall said sternly over her glasses. Harry grinned suddenly. He was glad to be back. Draco noticed the grin and cocked an eyebrow curiously.
"What's the smile for?" Draco asked, leaning close to Harry and keeping his voice low so the others wouldn't hear.
"Nothing," Harry said, the grin still clear on his face. "Everything. I'm just happy I guess."
Draco smiled back softly. "We'd better finish so we can get checked over then."
Harry pulled a face. "I suppose we'd better."
Some things really did not change.
Madam Pomfrey had carefully checked over the boys for the last twenty minutes, chiding the amount of bruises both of them had received from the tumbles they'd both taken but nothing much more. She busily handed them chocolate, a soft expression on her face.
"Well done, you two, I never thought it was possible. Reverting you-know-who… Well, I never. No-one else would have even thought of doing that! They would have just killed him!"
Harry blinked and nodded. "It had to be done. He wasn't completely evil… everyone just assumed that."
"I suppose so," Madam Pomfrey conceded, standing over them and forcing them to eat the chocolate. "And you! How did you get out of Durmstrangs!"
Draco swallowed the piece of chocolate in his mouth and blinked innocently.
"I don't know exactly, but Seamus and Dean said to say they had nothing to do with it," Draco said innocently. "Oh, and this might have been some help."
Draco reached under the Gryffindor robes he was wearing and pulled out Harry's cloak. Harry grinned as the blond returned it to him.
"Thanks," Harry said, taking back his invisibility cloak.
"I should have known those two had nothing to do with it," Madam Pomfrey said ruefully. "Although it was a good thing they didn't help you."
"Isn't it," Draco said lightly. He nodded his head towards the cloak. "I almost had a heart attack when I found that and your note saying 'This may come in handy!'."
Harry nodded. "I figured where I was I wouldn't need it and besides you'd be able to find some things out about Durmstrangs."
"I'll say we did," Draco said softly.
"We?" Harry prompted curiously.
Draco grinned sheepishly. "Let's just say, thanks to this, Ron doesn't hate me so much, Seamus and Dean know a couple of extra tricks and now I'm getting extra tutoring from Hermione. Morganna knows my grades need it. Your friends aren't half bad," he finished reflectively, nibbling at the last square of chocolate. Sticking his tongue out, Harry ate his last chunk of chocolate and looked around.
"Madam Pomfrey, we've finished our chocolate," Harry called, looking around for her. "Can we go already?"
The homely matron bustled over to them and frowned. She reached into her apron pocket and put two more bars of chocolate on the bed next to them.
"They're your last ones, eat them up now," Madam Pomfrey instructed before returning to her small cauldron which was bubbling merrily in the corner. Draco pulled a face as he reached for the chocolate.
"If I eat much more of this I'm going to throw up," Draco announced loudly.
Twenty minutes later and Draco's complaint had unfortunately come true. The ex-Slytherin sat numbly on the end of the bed, looking paler than usual while Harry rubbed his back.
"See, I told you," he said sourly to Madam Pomfrey. Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips.
"If you hadn't gobbled it down like that you wouldn't have brought it back," she said finally with a sniff.
"Can we go now?" Draco asked, with a whine in his voice only he seemed to be able to put across so plainly. "The air will do me good," he added.
Madam Pomfrey frowned. "All right. Professor Dumbledore said something about meeting him in the main hall or something. Perhaps you'd better go there."
Harry nodded and kept by Draco's side as Draco got to his feet.
"And you can take your robes off too, I don't want you overheating yourselves… It's not a school day, no-one else will be wearing them," Madam Pomfrey said sternly. "Leave them here, I'll have them taken up to your room."
Harry nodded and struggled out of his robes, leaving him in his slightly baggy jeans and t-shirt before helping Draco out with his.
"I just threw up, I'm not an invalid," Draco sniffed indignantly. Harry rolled his eyes to the ceiling and tossed the two robes into the corner before pulling the other boy to the door before Madam Pomfrey could order them to do anything else.
Draco persuaded Harry to let them go the outside route, still feeling queasy from throwing up before. They walked in comparative silence, enjoying the silence of the gardens between the two buildings. Somewhere in the middle of the walk both of them had moved closer together, instinctively and without even thinking about it.
"Draco-" he started; but the other boy lifted up his hands brushing his fingers over the other's lips.
"Shush," Draco commanded softly, reaching out one arm to pull the other boy closer. Harry found himself being mesmerized by the deep grey eyes locked with his own and was about to protest more when Draco's lips brushing against his own. Harry's eyes widened slightly before slanting and he pulled away slightly to lock eyes with Draco again. They remained locked like that for almost a whole minute before Harry brushed his hand against Draco's cheek for a second. Draco closed his eyes briefly; his skin tingled from the contact. Harry started finding it hard to breathe or concentrate as the face with the grey eyes closed forwards on him and Draco's lips met with his own once more. It was a lot gentler than the first kiss on the cold night, where Draco had pushed the other boy to the ground in self disgust. This time there was no more pushing away. Electric shocks seemed to course through both of them as the kiss was gently deepened. Arms reached for the other and soon the kiss was almost savage; two bodies pulled up against each other as they fiercely joined together for a few desperate moments.
The annoying need for oxygen forced them finally apart and Harry found it hard to speak. Draco put it the best way, Harry thought.
"Wow," Draco murmured faintly.
"Wow indeed," Harry echoed softly.
"Hall," Draco added and Harry broke away, a stubborn blush inhabiting his pale features.
"We need go to the hall," Harry added firmly, his expression wide and almost-vacant. "Damn," he added thoughtfully.
Draco laughed, a clear gentle laugh that touched Harry strangely. Grey eyes sparkled thoughtfully. "Come on," he repeated, grabbing Harry's hand and tugging him after him. "Don't want to keep Dumbledore waiting do we?"
Harry shook his head in mock horror. "No! I dread to think what he'd do!"
It was curiously silent as the two boys re-entered the school, no longer hand-in-hand but still close to each other. Harry approached the hall first; frowning.
"That's weird, the door's usually open," Harry noted raising his eyebrows in confusion.
"Maybe the wind pushed it shut," Draco suggested. Harry blinked and turned back to the door. He pushed it open carefully and it swung open. Harry was hit with a tremendous sound of clapping and cheering. In shock, Draco stepped forwards to join Harry and craned his neck to see the sight. All four houses were assembled in the hall, sitting on their trunks and carrying bags under their arms, but all clapping and hollering at the top of their voices.
Harry found himself grinning as Hermione and Ron clambered over everyone to launch themselves at him.
"It's all true, isn't it," Ron said wonderingly, clapping his friend on the back before looking at Draco. "You two defeated him."
Draco nodded. "It was mostly Harry," he said, struggling to make himself heard over the thunderous noise. Ron shrugged and pulled both of the two boys into a hug which Hermione joined.
"I'm so glad you're both all right, I was so worried," Hermione whispered.
"So was I!" Harry admitted, with a laugh.
"Come on, you two!"
Harry and Draco looked up to see Crabbe and Goyle standing there with Seamus and Dean and both of the boys frowned - confused for the moment before they were grabbed and hoisted onto the boys' shoulders.
"What the hell are you doing!"
"Put me down!" Draco added; his face pale.
"Ah, shove it Malfoy," Seamus said reflectively. "Seeker got a problem with heights? Never!"
Draco pulled a face as he was deposited on the floor next to the Gryffindor table and Harry was put down a moment later. Both of them couldn't help smiling in the euphoria of the applause. Seconds later, the two boys were almost drowned under a sea of students; hugging them, clapping them and cheering their heads off.
"Calm down!" Professor McGonagall rapped her knuckles against one of the tables.
"Let them celebrate," Dumbledore said quietly to the frowning Professor. "Heaven knows we've had precious little to celebrate over the last sixteen years."
The cheering continued for a full minute after that. Harry thought he was going to have to go back to Madam Pomfrey to deal with the bruises from all the people that had clapped his back. Still excited, all the Hogwarts students clambered back to their seats when Dumbledore rose to his feet. Silence fell and Harry and Draco took two of the free spaces next to Hermione and Ron.
"Yes, all the rumours you've been hearing are true," Dumbledore said, lifting up a hand to stop the few cheers that had started up again. "Voldemort was here… And he is now in Azkaban… repenting for all he has done. It just goes to show that there is good in everyone."
"Even Professor Snape!" Someone catcalled. Professor Snape smiled thinly, mentally reminding himself to make it hard on the Ravenclaws for the rest of the term.
"Yes, yes, even Professor Snape," Dumbledore relented, smiling at the venomous look Snape directed at him. "Well, I think we will all be grateful for Harry and Draco's help in subduing our lifelong nemesis, but I must remind you to be respectful of them. They're still human, and I'm guessing still want to be treated as such."
There were a few murmurs and all heads were nodding, even amongst the Slytherins.
"However," Dumbledore added. "The world is still not yet safe. One of Voldemort's more powerful henchmen has escaped, and there are still death eaters loyal to the Dark side out there. I would remind you all still to be careful and keep up your practice and studies to the highest level. Dark powers and the Dark Arts still exist, and you may be amongst those who must fight against them."
There was a heavy silence amongst all the students, broken embarrassingly by a few hoots from some of the owls owned by students.
"But for now, we have reason enough for celebration, and for this fact the house elves have been up since early hours preparing a feast!" Students turned, surprised by the plates that had appeared in front of them piled with foods and different sweets and drinks. "Please enjoy yourself while you can! And remember, lessons start again tomorrow!"
There were a few groans then a lot of clattering as the starving students started attacking the feast.
Harry had possibly never felt so happy. He helped himself to some of the food next to him, all the while trying to answer the questions people from all sides were plastering them with. Thankfully Draco was trying to answer as many of them as he could for him.
"Wish I'd had these memories yesterday," Harry reflected into a mouthful of pastry. "More fun to plaster Voldemort and his death eaters with."
At Hermione and Rons' confused expressions Harry tried to explain.
"Something about the confrontation yesterday… I was broadcasting my thoughts and emotions all over the place. Quite embarrassing actually."
Draco grinned. "I know I heard one or two of them in fact," he said innocently, smirking abruptly at Harry's expression.
"I'm not sure I'm going to get quite used to you going out for a long time," Ron admitted, nibbling at a beef burger and surveying the two with a candid expression on his face.
"We're not," Harry said with a shrug at his friend, before focussing on his pie again.
"What?" Draco and Ron asked at the same time.
"We're not going out." Harry looked up from his plate. "What? Why are you staring at me like I've grown two extra heads and turned into Fluffy?"
"Well I'd like to know what the hell we were doing earlier if we're not going out." Draco folded his arms and narrowed his eyes petulantly.
"Harry! Consorting with the enemy. I'm thoroughly ashamed of you," Hermione admonished, trying to keep a straight face and failing miserably. Harry had the decency to blush, and Draco looked a little annoyed with himself.
"Too much information there!" Ron pretended to throw up under the table and re-emerged with a smile.
"I am right though, Draco. You haven't asked me out," Harry said philosophically. Draco's mouth opened. Then shut. And opened again. And shut.
"I'd stop the goldfish impressions and ask him before he gets mad at you," Hermione advised the blond in a loud stage whisper. Draco pulled a wry face.
"Thanks for the advice, Granger." Draco sniffed outlandishly to protest against the situation. "Fine! Harry, will you go out with me?"
Harry choked on his drink. Going bright red, he covered his mouth with his hand and laughed silently.
"You didn't expect me to ask?" Leaning back, Draco rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Idiotic Gryffindors!"
"I'm going to take this chance to remind you that you are a Gryffindor," Harry said primly, tearing up a bread roll with his hands and laughing.
"Exactly. I know Gryffindors are idiotic from a personal experience." Draco stuck his tongue out at Harry.
"You really are an asshat, Malfoy," Harry said eventually, flicking a pea at Draco's head. Draco frowned and threw a bread bun at Harry's head. Unfortunately it bounced off the young wizard, sailed through the air and hit Lisa Turpin squarely in the head. She turned around, eyes narrowed, and quickly threw a peach back across to the Gryffindor table.
It wasn't long after that until the whole of the hall was filled with flying food; the Gryffindors - naturally – winning it by a long shot.
The Gryffindors returned as pack laughing about the food fight. Ron still had the remains of a bowl of crisps in his hair and most of them had some kind of stain down their t-shirts (the entire school was out of uniform considering school wasn't on.) Harry began to feel thankful towards Madam Pomfrey for making sure they kept their robes off. The common room was still full of people late at night, despite the fact Professor McGonagall had been up to their common room several times already – probably disturbed by the raucous sound – to warn them to go to bed because they had lessons in the morning. Harry, Draco, Hermione, Seamus, Dean and Neville had grabbed the isolated couch furthest away from the fireplace. It might be the coldest sofa, but it was the most private place in the common room. Harry yawned and Draco wrapped an arm unconsciously around his new boyfriend's shoulders.
Harry, of course, had said "yes" in the middle of the food fight, much to Draco's relief.
"I have a question," Harry said suddenly, in the middle of a rather abrupt silence. They'd been discussing Quidditch, and Seamus had just shot down Dean rather rapidly in a discussion about the Appleby Arrows versus West Ham United. "You mentioned something about Polyjuice potion and your father pretending to be me earlier and coming into the Slytherin dorm?"
Draco nodded. "But I knew it wasn't you…"
"That's what I wanted to know, how did you know it wasn't me?"
Draco paused for a second, pulling a face at Seamus. The Irish boy grinned lopsidedly. "I knew it wasn't you… Because… Because you said I couldn't have a second chance."
Harry raised his eyebrows.
Draco shrugged. "I completely understand why you thought that letter was from me. It was rather clever of him. He must have known you'd probably never seen my handwriting…"
"That makes sense," Dean commented sleepily. "And the first bit was definitely right, Harry. You're the type to give people a second chance."
"Like you gave Tom Marvolo Riddle," Ron added softly.
"That's who you are, Harry, you give people the opportunity to change," Hermione said simply.
Harry blinked, then slowly smiled. "Change can be bad," he said doubtfully.
"Some changes can be good," Draco said, moving his other spare hand to grasp Harry's.
Ron, Seamus and Dean pretended to throw up and Draco pulled a face.
"Eurgh, just don't, please." Draco looked like he was going to be literally sick.
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Madam Pomfrey overdosed him with chocolate," Harry explained. "Let's just say the results were disgusting."
Neville pulled a face too. "She overdoes it with the chocolate sometimes."
"Some changes can be weird," Ron reflective. "I dunno, I just don't think I really was expecting you two to get together. Even though Draco is, I suppose, an almost decent person."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Thanks Weasley. I think you're an almost decent person too."
"I guess it's almost the work hard, play hard concept…" Hermione interposed quickly to avoid an argument. "Those who fight the hardest love the hardest. It's an appropriate cliché."
There was silence as the new information was digested before Seamus broke in, grinning cheekily.
"Does that include you and Ron too, Hermione?" He asked slyly. Hermione blushed and Ron started protesting furiously. Harry tentatively leaned closer to Draco and was surprised but contended to feel an arm slip around his waist.
Yes, it seemed Hermione was right. As usual. Some changes were good.