A/N: This is a bit of a transition chapter; there's not really a great deal of action, and it's fairly short. However, since I haven't posted anything in this in forever *hangs head in shame* I decided to post this chapter now instead of making it a part of the next one. Worry not, more will come later.
Changes 6 : "Arrivals"
I was rash. Maybe too rash. It just all caught up with me. The letter writing, the trip over to Harry's, his wrist, the abuse. . . I don't think I understood how they could do that to him. Even I had never wished that on him.
I tried to comprehend what he'd been going through, but it was difficult. I understood the family part, at least somewhat. I'd never been hit (although the threat of the Cruciatius curse was something that was often levied against me), but I knew what it was like to be ignored. I love Lucius and Narcissa, I really do, but they're busy and - let's face it - poor parental material. So I knew what the family bit was like. The friends part was another thing. I'd never had a true friend like he had, and I didn't know what it was like to lose one.
We'd quickly left 4 Privet Drive. All of his school supplies had been thrown into something of a multi-dimensional pocket. They're useful when you want to carry things on a broomstick. Rip the air, stick everything in the rip, close the rip and attach it to your broom. I spent the entire trip thinking and directing the broomstick, with Harry's arms locked around my waist. His prescence unnerved me a tad. Not only did I not know what to say - a very uncommon occurrence with me - but I wasn't used to flying with another person on my broom.
Finally we arrived, multi-dimensional pocket and all.
"I love Hogwarts," Potter said. He stood in the Great Hall, looking up at the blue sky of the ceiling. He spun around to emphasize his point. I couldn't help a small smile; he looked truly happy.
His moment of joy was broken when McGonagall entered the room. I saw his face pinch a bit, and remembered what he'd written in his letter: "You may have another sixth-year Slytherin." Potter might've been jaded, but it was obvious that he wasn't so jaded that he was comfortable around his head of house. Especially when - I could see it in his eyes - he would soon be betraying said head of house.
McGonagall nodded to me, rather curtly considering that I'd just brought her beloved pupil to safety. Then she walked over to Potter, face full of worry.
"Harry! What's happened? Are you alright?" He answered with a few short words. She continued her questioning, and Potter gave her the same noncommital sentences. I don't know if I'd ever seen such a blatant attempt to get out of conversation before. I was almost ready to step in and remind her what he'd been through when another person entered the room - Snape.
His eyes had a bit of that former joy upon seeing our dear old Potions professor. That fairly lit up. "Professor!"
Snape nodded to him. "Good day, Harry." He turned to me and gave the same nod. "Good day, Draco."
"Hello, Professor." I smiled at him; there's nothing like Snape's calm self when you have a flustered professor fussing about. Snape greeted McGonagall, and reminded her that Dumbledore wished to see both of us. She acquiesced, like all good Gryffindors do when you present them with the proper course of action. I discovered that trick long ago - make them think that something absolutely needs to be done, and they'll do it. Whether it's honor or righteousness or a crackheaded desire to be the brave one, they'll do it.
Snape took Potter's arm - the one I'd bandaged, I noted rather sardonically - and waved for me to follow. He led us through the halls, almost completely silent for most of the trip. He only spoke when we reached the entrance to Dumbledore's rooms.
"Harry." He received Potter's gaze. "Remember what I told you." He looked over to me, and gave me an odd smile. "And you just be good. No sarcasm."
I fairly eeped; he hadn't said anything like that to me in a long, long time. Perhaps not since second year. Then there was that smile; it was small, and curved, and positively strange. And *what* had he told Potter?
I suddenly found myself surrounded by mini-mysteries.
We turned towards the entrance. Snape whispered "bubble gum" - another nasty Muggle candy, although I remembered having a field day with this particular one and the family cat - and it opened.
:::open dat door:::
Changes 6 : "Arrivals"
I was rash. Maybe too rash. It just all caught up with me. The letter writing, the trip over to Harry's, his wrist, the abuse. . . I don't think I understood how they could do that to him. Even I had never wished that on him.
I tried to comprehend what he'd been going through, but it was difficult. I understood the family part, at least somewhat. I'd never been hit (although the threat of the Cruciatius curse was something that was often levied against me), but I knew what it was like to be ignored. I love Lucius and Narcissa, I really do, but they're busy and - let's face it - poor parental material. So I knew what the family bit was like. The friends part was another thing. I'd never had a true friend like he had, and I didn't know what it was like to lose one.
We'd quickly left 4 Privet Drive. All of his school supplies had been thrown into something of a multi-dimensional pocket. They're useful when you want to carry things on a broomstick. Rip the air, stick everything in the rip, close the rip and attach it to your broom. I spent the entire trip thinking and directing the broomstick, with Harry's arms locked around my waist. His prescence unnerved me a tad. Not only did I not know what to say - a very uncommon occurrence with me - but I wasn't used to flying with another person on my broom.
Finally we arrived, multi-dimensional pocket and all.
"I love Hogwarts," Potter said. He stood in the Great Hall, looking up at the blue sky of the ceiling. He spun around to emphasize his point. I couldn't help a small smile; he looked truly happy.
His moment of joy was broken when McGonagall entered the room. I saw his face pinch a bit, and remembered what he'd written in his letter: "You may have another sixth-year Slytherin." Potter might've been jaded, but it was obvious that he wasn't so jaded that he was comfortable around his head of house. Especially when - I could see it in his eyes - he would soon be betraying said head of house.
McGonagall nodded to me, rather curtly considering that I'd just brought her beloved pupil to safety. Then she walked over to Potter, face full of worry.
"Harry! What's happened? Are you alright?" He answered with a few short words. She continued her questioning, and Potter gave her the same noncommital sentences. I don't know if I'd ever seen such a blatant attempt to get out of conversation before. I was almost ready to step in and remind her what he'd been through when another person entered the room - Snape.
His eyes had a bit of that former joy upon seeing our dear old Potions professor. That fairly lit up. "Professor!"
Snape nodded to him. "Good day, Harry." He turned to me and gave the same nod. "Good day, Draco."
"Hello, Professor." I smiled at him; there's nothing like Snape's calm self when you have a flustered professor fussing about. Snape greeted McGonagall, and reminded her that Dumbledore wished to see both of us. She acquiesced, like all good Gryffindors do when you present them with the proper course of action. I discovered that trick long ago - make them think that something absolutely needs to be done, and they'll do it. Whether it's honor or righteousness or a crackheaded desire to be the brave one, they'll do it.
Snape took Potter's arm - the one I'd bandaged, I noted rather sardonically - and waved for me to follow. He led us through the halls, almost completely silent for most of the trip. He only spoke when we reached the entrance to Dumbledore's rooms.
"Harry." He received Potter's gaze. "Remember what I told you." He looked over to me, and gave me an odd smile. "And you just be good. No sarcasm."
I fairly eeped; he hadn't said anything like that to me in a long, long time. Perhaps not since second year. Then there was that smile; it was small, and curved, and positively strange. And *what* had he told Potter?
I suddenly found myself surrounded by mini-mysteries.
We turned towards the entrance. Snape whispered "bubble gum" - another nasty Muggle candy, although I remembered having a field day with this particular one and the family cat - and it opened.
:::open dat door:::