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Chapter four
At heart´s command
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As many times before, Harry quietly ran up the stairs all the way to Buckbeak´s attic.
The entire last school year, Hagrid had been secretly looking after the Hippogriff at Hogwarts, naturally with the headmaster´s permission. Dumbledore arranged everything necessary, though he was apparently a little casual as came to keeping the beast there. On the beginning of summer, Buckbeak returned to the Grimmauld Place on his own, which rather startled everyone. They could only hope that no one had seen him on the way.
Harry did not care for that, though. It felt like Buckbeak followed him whenever he went and he appreciated it. He was glad that every time he got into a bad mood, he could run to him and tell him about everything that was bothering him. They had become very close already during the last holidays and now Buckbeak welcomed him as a friend every single time. The young wizard did not even have to bow to him anymore.
Also this time, the beast greeted him with a friendly squeal, and with mild reluctance, Harry pulled a dead mouse out of a paper bag. The pest had got caught in the trap in the dark cellar of the house. It was a savoury for Buckbeak.
The setting sun could be seen through the open overhanging skylight. Harry sighed. He would like to just fly through, so that he could detach himself from gloomy thoughts that were constantly suffocating him, even for a little while.
Buckbeak, as if sensing his low mood, stomped to get Harry's attention and nodding his massive head outwards, while winking mischievously at him. Harry smiled. He understood what the wise animal meant. Buckbeak would also certainly like to fly around in daylight. However, they did not let him go anywhere during the day. It was too risky.
Then Harry remembered that out of boredom he started learning useful spells that he had found in a certain book down in the library. And he had already tested an Invisibility charm. On himself, of course, so the question was whether he would be able to make Buckbeak invisible as well.
He shrugged. Well, it should not hurt to try.
He pulled out his wand and ran with it over Buckbeak from head to tail. Nothing happened for a while, but then the animal gradually started to disappear until Harry could not see him at all.
He quietly cheered. Right away, he used the same spell on himself, hid his wand and clawed his way up to the animal´s back. Although he felt a little guilty that he was going out without letting anyone know, he shrugged it off. He would be careful and what could happen when he was invisible?
Harry settled down more comfortably, held on tight and did not even have to incite Buckbeak. Sensing that Harry was seated properly, the Hippogriff took off on his own and soared gracefully into the reddish sky.
Harry happily let the wind blow over his face and hair and left his bad mood somewhere down there. Buckbeak rose even higher, making Harry observe all those tiny houses, streets and parks below them, with his mind free of any worries…
/
He did not know how long he and Buckbeak had been flying around, but when he realized that it was almost dark and the city started to lighten up with tens of street lamps, he decided to hurry back. Someone might have noticed that Buckbeak did not make the usual noise.
A gentle nudge was enough for the Hippogriff to head in the direction of Blacks´ house. Harry was not able to think about it as of his own, or Lupin´s or even Angela´s yet.
Within five minutes, they landed in the attic and Harry had cancelled the Invisibility charm while still on Buckbeak´s back. He hopped off and patted him gratefully: "Thank you," he whispered to the animal´s ear.
Buckbeak nodded his head, but then turned it toward the door and snapped his beak. Harry whirled around to find Remus there, with arms folded, stomping his right foot over the floor. His shoulders sagged guiltily under Lupin's reproachful gaze.
"So," Remus said. "I'm glad you're back and all right. But now, please tell me why you didn't let me know about your little trip?"
Harry raised his head defiantly. "Would you let me go?" he asked.
Lupin paused for a moment, and then slowly shook his head.
"You know we're all worried about you," he tried to justify.
"Yeah, I know," Harry hummed. "I can't stick my nose out of here without an escort. How would you feel in my place?"
Lupin rather did not answer. They both slowly headed out into the hallway.
"Where did you learn that Invisibility charm?" Remus asked quietly as they descended the stairs.
"In the library," Harry replied.
"On your own?" the former professor looked at him in astonishment.
"Yeah," Harry raised an eyebrow. "Why are you surprised?"
"Well… Not so surprised at all… Aren't you hungry?"
"That I am," he confirmed.
"Come then. Tonks brought the pizza."
"That's great!" Harry beamed at the idea of a fragrant Italian delicacy.
"Do I still cook so badly?" Lupin realized from his reaction.
"Um, well… Sorry, but most of the time – yes," he admitted in an apologetic tone.
"We shall have a woman here for this," Remus muttered as they entered the kitchen.
Noticing them, Kreacher crawled into its lair with a hiss.
"And who would you imagine?" asked Harry, corners of his mouth twitching. "Tonks can't cook either."
"Who's talking about Nymphadora here?" Lupin bristled, placing the open box on the table.
"No one," Harry replied innocently, quickly stuffing a piece of still-steaming pizza into his mouth.
"Listen, Harry," Remus said after a moment during which they were both chewing. "How well do you know this Angela Rosier?"
Something stuck in Harry´s throat and he started coughing.
"Why do you ask?" he answered with a question after he was able to speak again.
"Well, it's just that since this house belongs to her now too, I'd like to know something about her. She doesn't talk much about herself."
"Hmm," Harry hummed.
"That's all you can tell me about her?" Remus asked rather teasingly.
"Not sure what I should say… What was she even doing here?"
"She just stopped by. Nothing can be said against that, she has a right to it, just as the two of us.''
"Sure," Harry replied, looking down at the table.
"I don't think you two know each other just from common school lessons," Remus tried again.
Harry finally looked at him: "What makes you think that?"
"Only a blind person wouldn't have noticed how you two looked at each other back then. And the morning after you were terribly distracted."
"Really?"
Lupin just nodded. Harry finished the slice of pizza and looked intently into Remus' honest face. The kind werewolf was almost like one of his family. He was definitely closer to him than Aunt Petunia was. Maybe, he could confide in him at least and stop suffocating all of that inside himself.
"Well…" he began uncertainly. "We were dating."
"I thought so," nodded Lupin. "She´s very pretty."
"Yeah, that she is," he agreed with a sigh.
"What happened?"
Harry hesitated: "It's hard to explain. She did something what hurt me a lot. She had already explained it and we somehow reconciled, but… We just can't be together."
"Well, Dumbledore mentioned to me privately that she is helping us fight against Voldemort," Lupin noted. "Does that have anything to do with it?"
Harry just nodded dejectedly.
"You still like her, don't you?" his companion asked understandingly.
"Sorry, Remus, but I really don't want to discuss my feelings for Angela…"
"I see…"
There was a deafening silence in the kitchen for a moment. Harry suddenly raised his head.
"But keep all this to yourself, okay?"
"That goes without saying, Harry," Lupin assured him. "I'm glad you confided in me."
Harry smiled sadly. Then he remembered what he had heard in the hall when Angela ran away.
"Remus, how come Angela can apparate freely, when she hasn't passed her exams yet?" he asked curiously.
Lupin narrowed his eyes: "Well, I asked her that and… How much do you really know about her?"
"Enough. Certainly more than you," Harry replied, actually surprised he was able to keep his voice calm.
"She hinted to me that she had to learn it secretly to be accepted for something."
"So, it's part of the training then…" Harry realized.
"What training?" Lupin wondered.
Harry just waved his question off though. "Never mind, don't worry about it," and started to chew the next slice of pizza.
"When will she be seventeen anyway?" Lupin tried to find out more in another way.
Harry eyed him suspiciously: "If I remember well, then in September, why?"
"It's just that I've seen her do magic a few times outside of school and apparently – the Ministry is not aware of that."
"Hmm, that's a bit weird," Harry mused, realizing he was lucky that the Order´s headquarters was protected against any Trace Charms. "Then ask her next time."
"Why me?" Lupin protested.
"You care and what to know," he replied.
Lupin just shook his head as Harry bent to his dinner again.
Of the two of us, I'm certainly not the one who cares about Angela Rosier, he thought.
/
It took Draco only half an hour of brisk walking to reach the house of Daria's grandparents. Now, he was pacing in front of the small gate, wondering what had brought him here. He vanished from the family residence immediately after breakfast. He could no longer bear the endless chatter about his expected engagement.
He stared indecisively at the smaller house with the carefully maintained front yard, debating whether to ring the bell or run away. His reason kept scolding him all the way, but his heart was pulling and pushing him to go. He missed the pretty Gryffindor so much that he could not stand it.
In the end, his heart won. He opened the gate and took a few steps to the simple front door. Reason, however, stopped his finger an inch away from the doorbell button.
What do you think you're doing? came his scathing inner voice.
Draco frowned. He was just going to ask one beautiful girl out and instead, he should be arguing with himself? The invisible voice gave out a sickening giggle.
Are you all right in the head? She's a Mudblood! Turn around and get out now, you idiot.
No. He really wanted to see her. It was not a momentary fling or passing of senses for him. Daria got under his skin enough that he would be willing to take a little risk for her.
However, his cynical mind did not want to give him peace: Are you going to hide somewhere under a bridge or in a cellar? And how are you going to explain it to her, huh? Daria, darling, I'm sorry, but we can only meet in the dark, because no one...
"Shut up," Draco growled in a low voice.
The voice strangely fell silent, and at that exact moment the door opened and Daria appeared in it with a smile on her face, carrying strange shoes with wheels instead of usual soles.
Both Draco and Daria froze completely. The girl´s eyes widened in surprise.
"Draco…?" she gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, hello… I… it's… well, I came and…" Draco stuttered for the first time in his life and wanted to slap himself for that.
Daria looked at him dumbfounded.
"I wanted to see you," he blurted out at last.
She smiled slightly. That was better, now he just had to sweat the rest of himself out.
"And I want to ask if you have time."
"Well, I…" Daria looked down at her roller skates. "I just wanted to go for a ride, so I have, of course," she babbled incoherently.
"So… Could I take you out for some ice cream?" Draco offered tensely. "I still have some Muggle money left from the last time."
Daria was all rattled. Draco Malfoy was asking her out!
"I'll be happy to go," she replied with a bright smile.
Well done, Draco! We need some fanfare! his inner voice cheered up unexpectedly.
"Just wait a minute, okay?" Daria requested, closing the door.
She threw her skates aside and called toward the kitchen that she would be back for lunch.
"Why so late?" Grandma asked, peeking out from the kitchen. At that moment, however, the door behind Daria already clicked shut.
Draco went down to the sidewalk and Daria sat down on the steps to put on her sandals. She was wearing a denim skirt and tank top.
"You look good," Draco could not help but comment it aloud, with his gaze fixed on her smooth legs.
Daria stood up. "Thank you," she brightened up, flattered.
Draco opened the gate and they both walked out on the street.
"So, what is the nearest good sweet-shop you know? I´m not so familiar with this district," Draco shrugged apologetically.
"It's not far," remembered Daria. "Near the park."
"Sounds good," Draco nodded and slowly started to walk forward. It took him a good ten steps before he mustered himself enough to extend his hand to hers. However, his uncertainty was unnecessary – Daria squeezed his hand back with a wide smile.
Neither of them saw Mrs Merrill's inquiring look behind the curtain, with which she accompanied them until they were out of her sight.
/
It was one of the most beautiful days, Draco Malfoy had ever experienced. In company of witty and attractive Daria, with ice cream in hand, among Muggle tourists and unknown Londoners, he felt as comfortable and safe as he hadn't in a long time.
The summer sun was shining in the sky and they were carefree while walking through the streets of the city, happy just to be in each other's presence. They had a lot to talk about, and when they happened to fall silent, it was not an awkward silence, but a pleasant reconciliation.
From the suburbs of London, where Daria's home was currently located, they made their way through the parks and alleys to the oldest parts – the City of Westminster and the City of London.
During their long walk, Daria called her grandmother to inform her that she was staying at Angela's and would not be coming back until the afternoon. She also laughed amused by Draco´s confusion over the functionality of the phone booth. Draco himself preferred not to think about what his mother was up to during his absence at home.
They completely forgot about time. They went to see the Westminster Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, where they unsuccessfully tried to make the guard laugh, the House of Parliament with Big Ben and took a tourist boat on the Thames, which sailed with them to Tower Bridge. They also took a tour of the Tower with stifled laughter, and then Daria let Draco talk her into apparating to a park that was near the oldest bridge in London.
As Daria shook off the unpleasant feeling from her first Apparition, they cautiously peeked out of the bushes and made their way to the bridge. Many tourists walked along it and looked with interest at the works of street painters. They stopped in the middle of London Bridge and Daria peered over the stone railing. Draco approached her from behind and placed his hands on hers.
Daria leaned against him contentedly. They were silent, not in need to speak at that moment. They watched the flowing surface of the river and enjoyed those beautiful and unique moments. They had been suffocating their loving feelings for each other for a long time. At that moment, they both did not care about anyone else; the main thing was that they were together.
They did not know how long they stood there motionless like that. People who passed by and noticed them always smiled slightly.
After some time, Daria's gaze fell on her watch and she got a little fright. Sighing, she broke out of Draco's embrace.
"It's half past six already. We should go," she said quietly.
Draco just nodded and took her hand gently again. They were about to head back to the park to apparate, when they were stopped by one of the painters, who had been sitting nearby the whole time.
"Excuse me, but would you like to look at something?" an elderly man with a friendly face addressed them.
Draco frowned, but Daria looked at him with interest. The master tore a piece of paper from his sketchbook and turned it toward them. They were both left staring in amazement at the artfully sketched drawing of the two of them by the railing.
"You looked so happy I couldn't resist," the painter explained with a smile. "Take it if you want."
Daria absently reached for the drawing and a smile spread across her face. Then she started searching her pockets for some change.
"No, not that," protested the painter when he realized that. "Keep it for free. I don't want your money. Young people have few of them," he added and winked.
"Thank you," Daria replied. "Very much. Goodbye."
"Bye," Draco greeted absently as well. He was still staring at the drawing.
The man nodded his head, and they continued their journey off the bridge. Draco took the drawing from Daria and looked at it thoughtfully. It was apt. The painter captured on paper exactly what they were feeling at that moment.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" said Daria.
"Yeah, it is," Draco agreed, handing it back to her. "But hide it well, please. And don't show it to anyone."
Daria was about to ask why, but then she realized the possible danger from it herself and she just nodded. She folded it carefully and put it in the back pocket of her skirt. Then they hid in the park behind the thickest bush and Draco apparated with Daria in tow as close as possible to her house, where he could be sure no one would see them.
With each step they took, their spirits dropped. They remained standing in front of the gate once again.
"I had a great time, Draco," Daria said quietly.
"Likewise," he nodded curtly.
Only in that moment Dari realized that she had not seen that terrifying coldness in his eyes for all day.
"Hmm… Will you come to see me again?" she asked carefully.
"I'd love to," Draco nodded and grabbed her other hand as well.
There was silence for a moment. Finally, Daria made up her mind.
"Have you ever been to the movies? In the cinema?" she asked, shaking a little.
"I know what it is, but no," Draco replied.
"Well, would you like to go to on Saturday?" suggested Daria, almost afraid to hope.
"Sure," Draco nodded right away. "I just don't know how I'll last those two days until Saturday..."
Relieved and happy, Daria reached up and kissed him, before she could lose the courage to do so. Draco immediately took advantage of this and kissed her back in such a way that it left Daria breathless for a moment.
"Well, bye on Saturday at seven," she breathed out happily and almost self-denyingly slipped behind the gate. She blew him a kiss at the door and Draco caught it with a smile. Finally, the door closed behind her, and Draco not very enthusiastically headed home.
