Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Everything belongs
to J.K.R and WB and whoever is involved with the editing + publishing +
distributing of the books.
Pairings: Harry/Ginny, Draco/Hermione, Ron/OC
Rating: R (for future)
Setting: Story starts summer before 6th year.
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Harry walked back to the Gryffindor Tower so deep in thought; he didn't notice Peeves circling above his head, shouting offensive phrases at him.
~Flashback~Harry stared at Malfoy. He couldn't believe it. Draco Malfoy, Mr Boucing-Ferret, is going to work for the Order? "Sir, are you sure?" Harry asked. He knew without looking that disbelief and doubt was etched into his facial expression.
Dumbledore nodded. "Draco has been tested with the Veritaserum."
Malfoy had stood to the side with an emotionless mask on with Professor Snape behind him, his gray eyes focused on the scene before him.
"Draco's help, combined with Professor Snape's, would be invaluable to the Order. Harry, I have called you here tonight to tell you this only because I do not wish for the enmity between the two of you continue when you are fighting on the same side. I understand that in public, the act must continue in order to keep people from being suspicious, but in private, I would hope you two will be able work together."
Harry pressed his lips together and a frown appeared. Malfoy had made his friends and himself suffer for the last 5-6 years and to suddenly change his opinion about him is hard. But a sudden image of Sirius and Snape bickering over the pettiest thing flashed in his mind and he realized how childish it would seem.
He looked over at Malfoy, trying to see into the Slytherin's head, to see if there's any tricks. But Malfoy just calmly stared back.
Dumbledore chuckled, looking delighted. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Remember that, boys. Lemon drops, anyone?"
Professor Snape gave Dumbledore a look as if to decide whether or not the man was insane.
Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry and sneered. "Friend is too strong a word, don't you think, Potter? Just…consider me an ally."
"Don't worry, Malfoy, I don't want to be your friend either." Harry replied, the beginnings of a faint smile on his lips.
Walking over to stand in front of Malfoy, Harry hesitated for a moment, and then slowly, he held his right hand up.
Malfoy had also hesitated, but then he swiftly took Harry's offered hand and shook it firmly. Suddenly, their adjoined hands glowed a silver color and both stared down at their hands. Professor Snape quickly pulled Draco back, with an alarmed expression on his face. Dumbledore stood up quickly with a thoughtful expression.
"Headmaster what-" Snape trailed off when Dumbledore raised a hand for silence.
"It's okay, Severus. No harm done. Harry, Draco, don't worry about what just happened. I have an idea why that just happened but I need to double-check to be sure. For now, go back to your rooms and rest."
Harry nodded, hand still tingling from the glow.
"Potter. Your scar…its-" Malfoy just stared at Harry's forehead.
Harry quickly looked around for a mirror. Spotting one on the wall, he walked over and gaped at himself. His scar was outlined in a silver glow, shimmering and then slowly fading away until he looked normal again. Harry touched his scar and found nothing unusual. It didn't hurt at all; he didn't even realize it until Malfoy told him.
"I'm not glowing unnaturally anywhere am I?" Draco asked nervously, looking down at himself. Dumbledore smiled. "No, Draco, since you don't have a mark on you…"
It didn't make much sense but the three younger men just accepted that answer for the moment. Dumbledore discloses information in his own way, his own time. They would know the answers soon.
Draco left first; Harry wanted to say hi to Fawkes before leaving. Stroking the bird's head, Fawkes sang a few notes, making Harry smile.
"Harry, its best that no one else knows about Draco but you. As of now, only Professor Snape, you, Draco, and myself are aware of this situation. But I feel that if Miss. Granger and Mr. Weasley are informed…no harm will be done. But no one else, do you understand, Harry? The more people who know about this, the more Draco's life is at risk. I trust the three of you to keep silent about this." Dumbledore said, looking straight into Harry's eyes.
"Yes, sir. I understand." Harry said solemnly, and left.
~Flashback ends~
Nearing the portrait of the Fat Lady, Peeves cackled evilly and launched into a new song.
His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord.
For some unknown reason, Harry flushed and decided it was the memory of the embarrassment he endured on Valentine's Day back in his second year that had his heart beating a bit faster and his face heating up. "Sod off, Peeves." He grumbled at the poltergeist, who was already floating away, in hysterics.
"Fidens Animus."
He walked into the common room and saw that Ron and Hermione were finished with their work and were now playing chess to pass the time.
"Hey." He said, flopping onto a squashy couch and lying down to rest.
"Harry! What happened?" Hermione said, rushing over to sit next to his head. Ron put away the chess pieces and came over, kneeling on the floor next to Harry.
Closing his eyes, Harry told them what had happened in Dumbledore's office and also gave them Dumbledore's warning about keeping silent.
Ron looked like he wanted to smack himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming while Hermione's eyes glazed over as she got lost in her thoughts.
Harry yawned and got up. Taking his books from the table, he started up the boy's staircase. "Come on, just go sleep. We're all too tired to think about this right now."
His friends agreed and gathered their own books.
"G'night, Harry. G'night, Ron." Hermione said as she went up the girl's staircase.
"G'night, 'Mione." The boys replied.
~*~*~*~*~
