Disclaimer: Not mine except for some OC's.
Summary: *h/d* At Hogwarts over the summer, Harry and Draco form a forced friendship. Everything gets complicated by a mysterious bond, House Elves, Squibs, obsessed Quidditch players, dark creatures, and one fishy Evangelist.
AN: Sorry this took so long to get out. I'm not even going to bother making my usual excuses. Truth is, I just suck. I need to tell you that I have slightly changed chapter 2. I edited out an Americanism (that line about Cho Chang graduating) and changed Oliver Wood's team to Puddlemore United as mentioned in OotP.
Also, I am still getting a lot of requests from people who are wanting to read Harry Potter and the Dragon of Bad Faith. I guess I am not making myself clear but Manipulations is Harry Potter and the Dragon of Bad Faith under a different name. I just changed it after I reworked OotP into the fic. The best thing to do is forget that fic ever existed.
Thanks so much to those who reviewed so far! I love everyone one of them
This chapter is dedicated to Empress of the Eclipse who helped me work around a nasty plot hole I left in chapter one. Thanks!
I must warn you that Draco does some seemingly OOC stuff in this chapter but trust me, it will all be eventually explained.
Also...you meet even more OCs in this chapter, well one's kinda an OC but not really. *waits for the booing to subside* Sorry, they are a necessary part of the story.
And the scene at the very end seems to be confusing a lot of readers. Why this scene is important will explained soon.
Now on to the fic!
***
Snape's face was twisted into an outraged scowl, giving every impression that he was about to blow his top. However, Snape was actually quite calm and conducting a mental inventory of his potions ingredients as he ignored the screaming students before him.
"-and I would rather live in a pen full of Blast-Ended Skrewts than sleep a single night in the same room as him!"
"This is no picnic for me either, Potter!" Draco exclaimed. "As if I want to spend the summer in close quarters with you!"
Harry harrumphed and turned to Snape with pleading eyes. "Professor, surely you must see that Malfoy and I cannot room together."
"It doesn't matter what I see," Snape icily began, finally deigning to address the pair. "There can be no other arrangement. Higgins needs a single room for reasons I cannot divulge and we are not about to go to the trouble of opening another room in The Aquarium simply because you refuse to get along."
"I can sleep in Gryffindor Tower. I don't care how hot it gets," Harry frantically said.
"Gryffindor Tower is closed for the summer."
"I can camp out on the Quidditch Pitch!"
"No!" Snape roared. "You two will room together and be civil even if it takes force...hmmm." Snape sat back in his chair, his eyes narrowed with devilish amusement. "Yes, that's it."
Harry felt sick. The last time he had seen the potions professor look like that resulted in Harry being the unwilling guinea pig for the first year students' fuzz tongue potions. He had had hair coming out his mouth for a month. Draco, likewise, eyed the potion master with apprehension.
"I think you two need to learn how to get along. Therefore, at exactly 8 o'clock you will come to the potions classroom and hold a civil conversation for an hour. You will do so everyday until I am satisfied." Snape grinned at their horrified faces.
Harry desperately tried a new tactic. "Professor, I know you have a need to unfairly punish me but what about Malfoy? He's your prized pupil."
Draco's frown was briefly replaced with a triumphant smirk. "So you admit that talking to you is a punishment?"
"That's not what I meant and you know it!"
Harry and Draco began a new shouting match that was quickly ended when Snape slammed a book on his desk.
"This is exactly what I mean. Your lessons in civility begin tomorrow night. Do not be late." Snape looked up at the boys. One stared at him with ill hidden loathing and the other with resigned acceptance. Snape motioned to the door. "That is all."
"This is entirely your fault!" Draco testily said as soon as they were out of Snape's office.
"How is this my fault? You're the one who marched up here saying you could get out of this."
"Exactly. Me. No one told you to follow. I know Snape; he would have listened to me if you hadn't opened your mouth. Now, not only are we still stuck living together but we are being forced into civil conversations!" yelled Draco as he stomped away.
Harry remained in the corridor, cursing his bad luck and the man responsible for it.
"Fucking Snape..." He murmured quietly.
"Yes?" Snape asked, suddenly appearing before Harry wearing a cloak and carrying a large bag.
"Umm, hi?"
"Such foul language, if it were the school year I would deduct ten points from Gryffindor and give you a weeks' detention. But, alas, it its not and you have caught me in an uncommonly good mood so I am prepared to be lenient. As such, you will come to the potion's classroom an hour before your appointed time with Draco tomorrow night and help me label potion ingredients." Snape turned to leave. "And do try to not kill Draco in my absence. I have grown rather fond of the boy."
***
The Minor Hall was aptly named. In whole, the room had nothing of merit but for a very large round table that dominated the entire room. At the table sat Dumbledore and most of the professors Harry had come to know during his time at Hogwarts. Including Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had reluctantly left his job as an Auror to teach DADA this year as a favor to Dumbledore. Though the Ministry had cooled its efforts to take control of Hogwarts after it was revealed Voldemort had truly risen, Dumbledore was taking no chances of getting another Umbridge foisted upon the school. Several chairs away from the professors were Jeffery and Draco. Jeffery waved him over but Harry took one look at the glowering Slytherin and chose a spot as far away as possible.
Harry briefly contemplated asking Dumbledore if he could be roomed elsewhere but he knew that as Snape had said, much trouble had been gone to in housing him for the summer and Harry didn't want to be any more of a bother. He would just have to spend as much time as possible away from the room and Draco.
"Snape said it was coolest part of Hogwarts but he didn't say it was the coolest!" Jayne excitedly said as she took a seat next to Harry and interrupted his thoughts. "Our room has a waterfall!" Jayne continued and nodded to the two girls who smiled shyly at Harry from where they sat beside Jayne.
"I trust you are enjoying the rooms in The Aquarium." Dumbledore called out with a smile as he looked over the students. Jayne nodded enthusiastically as did the others. Harry merely stared and Draco grimaced.
"Good...good. They are underground, naturally. They served as classrooms, among other things, in the 1500s when Hogwarts had a magical marine life program. Of course, there were far more interesting things in the lake back then."
With that said everyone turned their attentions to the meal, which had just appeared on the table. Despite having not eaten much at the Leaving Feast, Harry's appetite was sorely lacking and he picked at his food.
"Oh!" Jayne suddenly said. "This is Hope Goodman, a Hufflepuff and Kathleen Pell, a Ravenclaw. They are both entering their fifth year. I'm sure you girls already know Harry and Draco over there as-" Jayne's voice lowered several degrees. "they are the most shag-worthy boys in Hogwarts."
Harry nearly choked and Hope and Kathleen blushed. Jeffery Higgins looked fairly put out from where he sat next to a still glowering yet smug Draco. "What about me?" He called out.
"What about you? They already know you, for god sakes you went to school together for years. But if you insist. Hope and Kathleen, meet Jeffery. Jeffery, meet Ho-"
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, yeah...you're doable, I guess." Jayne threw Jeffery a lecherous wink.
"Ha! Don't do me any favors."
Harry was mortified and hoped that none of the professors had heard the exchange. A quick glanced revealed they were deep in conversation and oblivious to the students' discussion. Fortunately, the talk drifted to other topics, namely the Aquarium rooms, and Harry felt his face resume its natural color. Any other time he might be interested in hearing how shag-worthy the students of Hogwarts found him but certainly not when Dumbledore and most of the staff were but a few feet away. Draco, who had been quiet the entire time, was the first to leave and Jayne frowned at his retreating back. "I wonder what's wrong with him?"
"Me..." Harry said bitterly. "Snape has us rooming together. Needless to say, neither one of us is pleased."
"Draco really isn't that bad, once you get past his uppity Malfoy attitude."
"You don't know half the things he has done. I don't even know why he is here. Probably some evil plot of Vold-"
"His father disowned him."
"What?"
"That's what he told Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle right after Christmas Break. I just happened to overhear."
Harry was not convinced. "I doubt it. Even if he was disowned, that still doesn't explain why he is here. Surely he has some other place-"
"Harry?" interrupted Dumbledore, who suddenly appeared behind Harry.
Harry started slightly and turned to address the Headmaster. "Yes, Sir?"
"When you are finished, would you please come to my office? The password is the same."
"I'm done now," said Harry, curious as to what Dumbledore wanted. He wondered if they had set a time for him to visit Privet Drive and followed Dumbledore out of the Minor Hall. The journey to the office was quick and silent. Once the two wizards were settled in, Dumbledore began to speak.
"We have arranged for you to visit Privet Drive in one week's time. Professor Snape, will be accompanying you."
"Snape? Does it have to be Snape?" Harry knew he sounded like a whining child but visiting his dead, now ghost aunt was going to be hard enough without Snape looming about.
"Professor Snape," began Dumbledore, with emphasis on the 'Professor', "is in charge of those staying at Hogwarts over the summer and therefore acts as your temporary Head of House, with all the duties that go along with it." Dumbledore exhaled and gave Harry a small smile. "You will not be all alone with Professor Snape, before you go to Privet Drive, the two of you will stop in London to pick up Hermione. She will be returning to Hogwarts for the summer to take potion lessons so that she may enter the Seventh Year's NEWTs Potions. I expect you will receive a letter from her soon, updating you of this development."
Harry was very surprised at this news. Over the last summer Hermione received notice that Pythagoras Samuels, a renowned Arithmancer, would be teaching a special advanced Arithmancy course for the Seventh Years. Since she had performed so well on her Arithmancy OWLS, Hermione was the only Sixth Year invited to take the class. Unfortunately, the course coincided with the Sixth Years NEWTs Potion class. Professor McGonagall had gone so far as to procure another Time Turner so that Hermione could take both classes, but Snape refused to allow it, saying that Hermione could not devote the time needed for NEWTS Potions if she were to take the additional advanced course. This, of course, was complete rubbish, and Hermione, Ron, and Harry were all agreed that Snape was just being a prickly bastard about the whole thing. In the end, Hermione decided to take the Arithmancy course as she intended to pursue a career in Arithmancy and could not pass up such a rare opportunity.
"And Sn-Professor Snape agreed to this?"
Dumbledore's lips almost curved with ill hidden mirth. "Professor Snape has come to realize that he may have been a bit rash in refusing her request last summer."
Harry wondered if Snape had had a bit of help in coming to this realization. However, the reasons behind Snape's complete turnabout mattered little to Harry. The summer was looking much better now that Hermione would be returning to Hogwarts. Now if only he could get out of rooming with Draco. Harry pulled a face, thinking of the boy.
"Is something wrong, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, with a look of concern. "I thought you would be pleased that Hermione was returning."
"I am! It's just...Malfoy," Harry paused and repeated to himself that he would not beg Dumbledore to house him elsewhere. But there was something he did want to ask in regards to the Slytherin. He leaned in towards the Headmaster. "Professor, I have heard...from a source, that Malfoy is here because he was disowned."
Harry broke off and looked at Dumbledore with questioning eyes. Dumbledore sat back in his chair and stared off into the distance as he contemplated his answer.
"Draco's reasons for being here are not mine to discuss. Though, perhaps, in time, if you find yourself on friendlier terms with him, he might tell you those reasons himself."
Harry's only answer to that was a look of revulsion. Friendlier terms, indeed!
"Or perhaps not," Dumbledore eventually said. "Harry, if Draco is going to be a problem for you then I suggest you avoid him as much as possible."
"That's going to be a bit difficult, rooming with him and all," mumbled Harry.
"Pardon? Did you say that you are sharing a room with Draco?" The surprise in Dumbledore's voice was evident.
"Yes...'"
Hope thundered in Harry's heart. He clearly had no clue that they were sharing a room. Unlike Snape, Dumbledore would see that it was a disastrous situation and promptly move them into separate rooms.
"Well, this is surprising," said Dumbledore as he pensively stroked his beard. Harry's dreams crashed with Dumbledore's next words. "But I am sure Professor Snape has his reasons for the arrangement."
Harry slumped in his seat, defeated.
"You know," began Dumbledore, that maddening eye twinkle present and accounted for. "Draco puts me very much in mind of a young man I once had the pleasure of knowing."
Harry couldn't imagine it to be very pleasurable to know anyone even remotely like Draco Malfoy and told Dumbledore as much.
This earned Harry a dry chuckle. "Your mother was of a similar mind, but by the beginning of her seventh year, she was madly in love with James Potter."
***
Lucius Malfoy smiled warmly at the man lounged in the chair before him and offered him a glass of brandy. Severus Snape chuckled and turned to Lucius with an amused smirk.
"You should know my tastes lie elsewhere tonight."
"Of course, but it would have been impolite not to ask."
Lucius took a sip of his own brandy and examined the flames that danced in the fireplace. After a minute of silence he said, "Everything is going as planned. I hope."
"Yes, though I must admit that I have grave doubts. If you are dead set on this course of action then I really think that you should allow me to concoct that potion I told-"
"No, there is still time. It needs to happen as naturally as it can."
Snape sighed. "Very well. I must say you Malfoys are far too sentimental."
"Perhaps." Lucius suddenly looked very solemn. "Though, just to be safe a little more interference might be in order."
"I have already arranged something. Potter will be most formidable, however."
"Yes, that's why he is needed. The Dark Lord will-the consequences of failure are unthinkable." Panic clouded Lucius' face. "Perhaps you should brew that potion after all...as a last resort."
The clock chimed that it was 6 o'clock and Lucius turned to Snape with a coy smile. "Time to dine."
"Excellent, I am feeling quite ravenous. I'm not expected back until tomorrow night so I am anticipating a long, satisfying meal."
"You should expect no less here at Malfoy Manor." Lucius lead Snape towards the door. He abruptly stopped and eyed Snape warily. "Dumbledore doesn't suspect-"
"Of course not! You should know where my loyalties lie." Snape took Lucius' arm and caressed the fabric where he knew the Dark Mark lay. He brought his gaze to Lucius' eyes and ardently continued. "Just as I know where yours lie."
***
For the second time that day Harry crashed onto a hard lacquered floor and once more cursed Snape and his ridiculous methods of transportation. Harry was not surprised that Draco was already in the room as the Slytherin had been missing ever since dinner. He was, however, surprised to see the boy draped over an ancient, decrepit grand piano furiously pounding on the keys. The sight was most strange in the eerily quiet room. Curious, Harry inched closer.
"Malfoy has finally lost his mind." Harry whispered to himself. Draco must have heard as he abruptly stopped and stared maliciously at Harry.
"I think your piano is broken," Harry said after a few seconds of silence.
Draco smirked. "No, I put a silencing spell on it so that only I can hear."
"Play that bad, do you?"
"Actually, I am quite good. Taught by the greatest wizard pianist that ever existed."
"I see." Harry plopped into a nearby chair. "Let's hear then."
"Whatever makes you think that I would grace someone like you with the magnificence that flows from my fingertips."
"Well, at least you make up for your lack of talent with a healthy dose of modesty."
Draco sneered at the retort and returned to his piano. Harry stared at him without really seeing him. He was shocked that Dumbledore would dare to compare Draco Malfoy to his father and had barely made it out of the Headmaster's office without screaming at the man. James Potter and Draco Malfoy were nothing alike. Yet, even as he told himself this, the scene from Snape's pensieve played over and over in his mind.
***
The next day dawned bright and early and Draco found himself peering curiously at the light that shone from the skylight. I slept a whole night without the sleeping draught, thought Draco. Cheered by the thought he leaped from his bed and hummed a merry tune as he headed for the bathroom, his bladder aching for release. Draco learned too late that the bathroom was already occupied.
"What the-get the fuck out!" Harry indignantly shrieked as he attempted to crowd bubbles around his lower half.
"How amusing. Harry Potter taking a bubble bath like a prissy little girl."
"Just get out!"
"Believe me, I would rather watch Dumbledore shagging a House Elf then see you in all your naked glory but I have a pressing need to take a piss."
"As if I care about your needs. I was here first and I'm not leaving."
Draco shrugged. "Have it your way then."
As Draco pulled down his pajama bottoms, he could hear Harry sputtering in the background. The sound was soon drowned out by a loud trickle as Draco relieved himself. When finished, Draco gave himself the customary shake. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Harry blushing a bright red.
"Nice, isn't it." Draco gave another shake for good measure before tucking himself away. "What a shame for you, Potter, for I shall never grace you with this magnificence either."
Harry, whose face had returned to its normal color, haughtily said. "I've seen better."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Let me guess. That giant freak Hagrid? Yes, I suppose he would be quite large. No wonder you spend so much time with him."
"You bastard! How dare you imply-Hagrid is ten times the man you can ever hope to be."
"I thought we already established that."
"God, you are such a pervert!" spat Harry.
"Yes." Draco admitted with a dry smile. "But it makes life so much more interesting."
"Just get out. You've done your business, now leave."
"I'm about to. God knows I have better things to do than stay in here and look at your-" Draco leaned over the bathtub and looked into the soapy water. "What is that...4 inches?"
Harry made a strange strangled cry as Draco left the bathroom. It was with a renewed sense of self that Draco prepared for the day. He hadn't felt this way in months and things were shaping up to make a great day.
Several hours later a very bored Draco had to seriously rethink that thought as he lounged next to Jayne in the common room, watching the television. The girl grated him in every way but she was a Slytherin and that made her company far preferable to the other students who were currently invading his territory.
Draco sneaked a glance to where Harry sat; transfiguration and charms textbooks surrounded him. Every few minutes Harry would mutter a spell and aim his wand to his head. Draco suppressed a snicker. The spell he performed on Harry was directly tied to his own magic and no matter how hard Harry tried; he would be unable to lift the spell without Draco's assistance. Though Draco was sure Dumbledore could change Harry back and he was surprised the Headmaster hadn't done so already.
The day continued to drag on and Draco's ennui kicked up to a higher level. The only bright spot was when he had innocently asked Harry if it was true that the mudblood was coming back for the summer, the information given to him by Jayne. Harry would have surely hit Draco had Professor McGonagall not chosen that moment to enter the Slytherin common room to check up on the students.
Draco eventually even took to wandering the halls of Hogwarts. He entered an unfamiliar corridor with paintings of food covering the walls. He startled slightly when just a few feet away an entrance appeared and two house elves walked out. An idea popped into his head and Draco quickly slipped into the entrance before it closed.
Several house elves gathered in front of Draco as soon as he entered. In a sea of high pitched squeals he was quickly ushered to a small scrubbed wooden table. Tea and cakes soon appeared. A raised hand brought them to silence.
"I am looking for an elf named Spoony."
"Master Draco! You came to visit Spoony!" came the delighted shriek as a tiny elf rushed forward. Draco noted that she still had the straw he had given her tucked in her pocket.
"Hello. You weren't supposed to keep the straw, Miss Spoony."
Spoony's face crumbled. "Oh, bad Spoony! Bad Spoony!" she wailed as she pounded her head onto the wooden table. Draco quickly pulled her away before she hurt herself.
"I meant that they are disposable. You throw them away after one use."
"Oh..." Spoony's eyes widened and she protectively covered the straw with her hand. "Spoony could never throw a gift from Master Draco!"
Draco chuckled. "That's all right. But I have plenty if you ever need more." He then leaned in close to Spoony and cast a probing eye across the kitchen. "So tell me, which one of these lucky elves is that Munchy you told me about." A heavy blush passed Spoony's face and she shyly pointed to an elf pounding out dough at a far table. Munchy noticed their stares and puffed himself up. A noticeable swagger enhanced his gait as he went for more flour. Draco and Spoony exchanged knowing smiles.
***
Shortly before 8 o'clock Draco entered the Potions classroom to find Harry scowling at Snape.
"Ah, Potter. So eager to talk to me that you came early."
Harry scowled even harder. "You wish, Malfoy."
"I have arranged a sitting area in the back of room." Snape said from his desk. "I shall tell when the hour is up."
Draco and Harry slowly trudged to the back of the room and sat at far ends of the couch Snape had provided. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Snape called out from the front.
"You can start at any time."
Several quiet moments passed and Snape sighed. "I can wait all night. You will talk for an hour even if it's at 3 AM."
Draco knew that Snape would very well keep them here all night so he turned to Harry and with his most charming smile, quietly said.
"So, Potter. You never did tell me when that mudblood is coming back."
Harry glowered and Draco could see his hand clenching. Oh! Potter is going to get physical, thought Draco. Harry must have reconsidered as his body relaxed and he stared off into space, ignoring other boy.
"Professor!" Draco cried out. "I am trying but Potter refuses to cooperate!"
"Potter, you will talk to Draco or else your study time will be increased by an additional 5 hours a week!"
Harry sighed heavily. His shoulders slumped forward and he buried his head in his hands as though he felt the weight of the world. I suppose he does in a way, Draco thought. Poor, poor Potty. Life is so unfair isn't it?
"Hermione, Granger to you, will be back in one week," said Harry, sharply.
"Oh, but mudblood just rolls off the tongue."
Harry looked disgusted. "Your personality really stinks, Malfoy."
"I guess I should be thankful I have my good looks to get me by," Draco said flippantly.
"And you're arrogant."
"Well, its true. And for Merlin's Sake, Potter." Draco waved a hand across his lap. "You've seen the magnificence I have tucked between my legs. How can I not be cocky?"
Draco cackled madly at his own joke and Snape looked up with suspicion. After a few minutes Draco composed himself and let out relieving sigh.
"So..." Harry finally said. "How much time do we have left?"
Draco quickly looked at a clock. "Not even five minutes has passed."
"Fantastic." Harry's tone indicated it was anything but fantastic.
"So what's on your mind, Potter?"
"You...actually..."
Draco grinned. "Thinking of my...magnificence? I don't blame you. Many a-"
"Eww! No! God, you really are a pervert. I was thinking about why you are here."
"Well, Potter, you were there yourself. Professor Snape said that you and I are to hold-"
"I meant, why you are at Hogwarts...for the summer."
Draco knew exactly what Harry had meant. But as far as Draco was concerned the topic was not up for discussion and certainly not with the Wonder Boy. "Frankly, that is none of your business."
"I was told you were disowned." Harry eyes searched Draco's face as though looking for the tiniest hint of confirmation. However, Draco had his face schooled with indifference and betrayed nothing. "So what did you do?" continued Harry. What did you do to make your father so angry that he disowned his only heir?"
Draco let out a high and hollow laugh. "Don't you read the papers, Potter? My father is missing in action. I haven't seen him since his trial. So much for your little theory."
"If you expect me to believe-"
"I really don't care what you believe."
Neither boy said anything for the next few minutes. An exasperated sigh came from the front and Snape yelled, "I don't hear any talking back there!"
"Listen, Potter," said Draco as he turned to the Gryffindor. "I don't want to be here anymore than you do, so I suggest we reach a compromise."
"Are you offering me a truce?"
Draco was offended by the very idea. "Of course not. I suggest that whenever we are in Snape's presence, we pretend to be nice to each other. Then, hopefully, he will give up this ridiculous idea and we can go back to ignoring each other."
"Fine," Harry said flatly.
So for the remainder of their hour, it was with warm smiles and the gentlest of tones that Harry and Draco exchanged the most outrageous insults. Snape could only hear their soft murmurings and was none the wiser to the true nature of their conversation.
***
Thousands of miles away from Hogwarts there is a place known as the Hawthorne Hospital. It's a small privately run facility, located in downtown St. Louis, and founded in 1976 by the irascible Dr. Michael Hawthorne. Dr. Hawthorne is a hard, disciplined man who runs his nurses ragged with his manic adherence to policy and procedure. "Lives depend on it!" He would yell at them before retreating to his office and drowning his sorrows in the flask of whiskey he kept neatly concealed in a hollowed out volume of Gray's Anatomy. Even the most casual observer could see that Dr. Hawthorne was a sad wretched man, however, not even his few close friends knew how deep his misery ran.
Dr. Hawthorne was a man plagued by a childhood memory. A wondrous memory of children flying on broomsticks over a lush green field right in the middle of the snow banked mountains of northern Alaska. He had been eight years old at the time and flying across the tundra to visit his grandmother. It was then that he knew magic really existed. He never forgot and spent much time and money exploring the cold, unrelenting lands, searching for that touch of magic he had so clearly seen as a child. It seemed it was his fate to never see magic again as his hunts resulted in absolutely nothing. Dr. Hawthorne grew bitter yet the hope never died. He hid behind a veneer of science and as the years passed his quest for magic became an obsession. It was because of this obsession that Dr. Hawthorne explored every avenue of magic possible. The voodoo priests in the Caribbean, the Stonehenge in England, even the musty old shops of the arcane that sold cheap, mass-produced incense and candles. It was in such a shop that Dr. Hawthorne met the Reverend Jacob Cotterly.
The Reverend Jacob Cotterly was a fascinating silver haired man with a clipped British accent. He had listened intently to Dr. Hawthorne's incredible memory of magic over a cup of coffee in the grimy diner next to the magic shop.
"You must think I am crazy," Dr. Hawthorne had said with a rueful smile as he finished his tale.
"Not at all." was the indulgent reply. "So you are a doctor? A surgeon perhaps?"
"Yes, I am a General Surgeon."
"Excellent. I am in need of a bit of surgery. Though I am afraid the ministry doesn't pay much."
"That's unfortunate...healthcare is extremely expensive. Do you have insurance?"
"No, but I have other ways to pay."
"Such as?"
The Reverend Cotterly smiled, pulled out a wand and twirled it around his fingers. His blue eyes were lighted with amusement. "Magic."
And thus Dr. Hawthorne began his odd relationship with the Reverend. Cotterly showed him phenomenal, magical things and in return Dr. Hawthorne performed the relatively minor but totally unorthodox operation requested. A happiness unknown to Dr. Hawthorne since he was child descended over him and it was this unfamiliar good cheer that he practically skipped down the halls of his hospital to check on his extraordinary patient.
"Reverand? Are you awake?"
"Barely" Cotterly said sleepily and tried to pull himself up.
Dr. Hawthorne rushed to him and slide a pillow behind his back. "Don't try to over do it. It will be a few days before you are in top form."
"I hope the ministry can do without me. We are headed for the Ozarks next week and much preparation needs to be done."
"You are leaving St. Louis?" Dr. Hawthorne asked, disappointed.
Cotterly weakly nodded. "Yes, its my duty to spread the Word of God. I go where His Will takes me."
"I see." Dr. Hawthorne said, sadly inspecting Cotterly's medical chart.
"Don't be sad, Michael. You know I would love to stay but the End Times are fast approaching. I cannot idly sit away when there are souls to be harvested. And you Michael, you have been my personal angel. Don't think your kindness shall go unrewarded. There is a spot reserved for you in the Kingdom of Heaven."
Dr. Hawthorne smiled proudly at Cotterly as he pulled on a pair of latex gloves. "Pull up your gown. I need to inspect the incision."
Cotterly lifted his hospital gown. His entire stomach was covered in a large bandage that Dr. Hawthorne peeled away to reveal a seven-inch horizontal cut neatly stitched up. Cotterly reached down to touch it and Dr. Hawthorne pulled his hand away. "Don't touch it. You don't want to get an infection."
"It's strange. Muggle medicine is so sophisticated and yet so primitive." The Reverand said airily as Dr Hawthorne replaced his bandages.
"Muggle?"
"A muggle is a person without magic." Cotterly explained.
"Oh. Then I am a muggle."
Cotterly smiled. "I suppose."
"Well, everything is looking as it should. I'll let you get some rest now. I'm sure you are exhausted. Call the one of the night nurses if you need anything. I'll check on you in the morning."
Cotterly nodded but did not lie back down. Instead he reached into the bedside drawer and pulled out a small jagged rock that radiated a pale blue light. "I want to show you something."
"Is that...magical?" Dr. Hawthorne asked with awe, smiling at the rock.
"Oh, yes. Would you like to hold it?"
"Of course!" Dr. Hawthorne answered as he picked up the rock and stared at it in delight. "What does it do?"
"Nothing really. It's just a glowing rock."
The rock was disappointing to the touch, cold and rough, it felt like any other rock one might find along the road. But to look at the rock was an entirely different story. Its glowing depths seemed to capture and pull you in. One might stare forever into its brilliance were it not for its ever increasing intensity. The rock soon became too painful to look at and Dr. Hawthorne squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them there lay an ordinary round pebble in his palm instead of the miraculous rock.
"It's changed," Dr. Hawthorne said.
"Yes, it does that occasionally."
"Oh. How fascinating," Dr. Hawthorne hesitantly gave the rock back to Cotterly then proceeded to search his pockets. "I seem to have forgot or lost something." He said, confused.
"Hmmm." Cotterly said and looked around the room. "Oh. Perhaps this?" Cotterly held up the medical chart that Dr. Hawthorne had left on the bed.
"Thanks, that must be it." Dr. Hawthorne took the chart and headed for the door. "Do try to get some rest, Reverand."
"Actually, I am feeling quite rejuvenated. Would you send in that lovely auburn haired nurse? I believe her name is Melissa. She expressed an interest in my...work and I would just love to share the Gospel with her."
***
Thanks for reading and please take a few seconds and let me know what you thought. I especially love con crit so don't be hesitant to let me know if you had a problem with something.
And now for the reviews...
Mythistica: Thanks for the review! I had planned on telling more about Draco's situation in this chapter but decided to wait out it bit longer as I didn't think he would be so open with Harry just yet. You'll learn soon enough though.
ie-chipmonk: Thanks! Here's the next chapter. Hopefully the next one won't take so long.
Sara :Thanks for the fic! It was pretty good.
Castalia: Thanks so much! I originally planned on updating whenever possible. I actually have a lot of this already written. I am just having problems with corrupted files and computer crashes. Its just frustrating having to rewrite the same stuff over and over again.
Slice: Thanks for reviewing! The answers to your questions will be revealed eventually. Some of them very soon, others not til later. But don't worry. Harry will be looking like his old self before long.
Eadon: I'm sorry you had to wait so long! But here it is. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter.
Anata Argen-Luedal: You'll find out why Draco did that in a few chapters. I want to live in the Aquarium too! Thanks!
Shinigami061: There's even more twists coming with Aunt Petunia. You'll find out in the next chapter. :D Thanks for reviewing!
Runner: Thanks for reviewing!
mystic-damon: Thanks for the review!
Dragenphly: Thanks for the wonderful review. Don't worry I don't plan on stopping any of my stories. I just seem to keep running into problems that cause delays.
Draco's Punk Rock Chick: LOL. Thanks for the reviews. Hopefully I won't wait so long to update again.
Summary: *h/d* At Hogwarts over the summer, Harry and Draco form a forced friendship. Everything gets complicated by a mysterious bond, House Elves, Squibs, obsessed Quidditch players, dark creatures, and one fishy Evangelist.
AN: Sorry this took so long to get out. I'm not even going to bother making my usual excuses. Truth is, I just suck. I need to tell you that I have slightly changed chapter 2. I edited out an Americanism (that line about Cho Chang graduating) and changed Oliver Wood's team to Puddlemore United as mentioned in OotP.
Also, I am still getting a lot of requests from people who are wanting to read Harry Potter and the Dragon of Bad Faith. I guess I am not making myself clear but Manipulations is Harry Potter and the Dragon of Bad Faith under a different name. I just changed it after I reworked OotP into the fic. The best thing to do is forget that fic ever existed.
Thanks so much to those who reviewed so far! I love everyone one of them
This chapter is dedicated to Empress of the Eclipse who helped me work around a nasty plot hole I left in chapter one. Thanks!
I must warn you that Draco does some seemingly OOC stuff in this chapter but trust me, it will all be eventually explained.
Also...you meet even more OCs in this chapter, well one's kinda an OC but not really. *waits for the booing to subside* Sorry, they are a necessary part of the story.
And the scene at the very end seems to be confusing a lot of readers. Why this scene is important will explained soon.
Now on to the fic!
***
Snape's face was twisted into an outraged scowl, giving every impression that he was about to blow his top. However, Snape was actually quite calm and conducting a mental inventory of his potions ingredients as he ignored the screaming students before him.
"-and I would rather live in a pen full of Blast-Ended Skrewts than sleep a single night in the same room as him!"
"This is no picnic for me either, Potter!" Draco exclaimed. "As if I want to spend the summer in close quarters with you!"
Harry harrumphed and turned to Snape with pleading eyes. "Professor, surely you must see that Malfoy and I cannot room together."
"It doesn't matter what I see," Snape icily began, finally deigning to address the pair. "There can be no other arrangement. Higgins needs a single room for reasons I cannot divulge and we are not about to go to the trouble of opening another room in The Aquarium simply because you refuse to get along."
"I can sleep in Gryffindor Tower. I don't care how hot it gets," Harry frantically said.
"Gryffindor Tower is closed for the summer."
"I can camp out on the Quidditch Pitch!"
"No!" Snape roared. "You two will room together and be civil even if it takes force...hmmm." Snape sat back in his chair, his eyes narrowed with devilish amusement. "Yes, that's it."
Harry felt sick. The last time he had seen the potions professor look like that resulted in Harry being the unwilling guinea pig for the first year students' fuzz tongue potions. He had had hair coming out his mouth for a month. Draco, likewise, eyed the potion master with apprehension.
"I think you two need to learn how to get along. Therefore, at exactly 8 o'clock you will come to the potions classroom and hold a civil conversation for an hour. You will do so everyday until I am satisfied." Snape grinned at their horrified faces.
Harry desperately tried a new tactic. "Professor, I know you have a need to unfairly punish me but what about Malfoy? He's your prized pupil."
Draco's frown was briefly replaced with a triumphant smirk. "So you admit that talking to you is a punishment?"
"That's not what I meant and you know it!"
Harry and Draco began a new shouting match that was quickly ended when Snape slammed a book on his desk.
"This is exactly what I mean. Your lessons in civility begin tomorrow night. Do not be late." Snape looked up at the boys. One stared at him with ill hidden loathing and the other with resigned acceptance. Snape motioned to the door. "That is all."
"This is entirely your fault!" Draco testily said as soon as they were out of Snape's office.
"How is this my fault? You're the one who marched up here saying you could get out of this."
"Exactly. Me. No one told you to follow. I know Snape; he would have listened to me if you hadn't opened your mouth. Now, not only are we still stuck living together but we are being forced into civil conversations!" yelled Draco as he stomped away.
Harry remained in the corridor, cursing his bad luck and the man responsible for it.
"Fucking Snape..." He murmured quietly.
"Yes?" Snape asked, suddenly appearing before Harry wearing a cloak and carrying a large bag.
"Umm, hi?"
"Such foul language, if it were the school year I would deduct ten points from Gryffindor and give you a weeks' detention. But, alas, it its not and you have caught me in an uncommonly good mood so I am prepared to be lenient. As such, you will come to the potion's classroom an hour before your appointed time with Draco tomorrow night and help me label potion ingredients." Snape turned to leave. "And do try to not kill Draco in my absence. I have grown rather fond of the boy."
***
The Minor Hall was aptly named. In whole, the room had nothing of merit but for a very large round table that dominated the entire room. At the table sat Dumbledore and most of the professors Harry had come to know during his time at Hogwarts. Including Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had reluctantly left his job as an Auror to teach DADA this year as a favor to Dumbledore. Though the Ministry had cooled its efforts to take control of Hogwarts after it was revealed Voldemort had truly risen, Dumbledore was taking no chances of getting another Umbridge foisted upon the school. Several chairs away from the professors were Jeffery and Draco. Jeffery waved him over but Harry took one look at the glowering Slytherin and chose a spot as far away as possible.
Harry briefly contemplated asking Dumbledore if he could be roomed elsewhere but he knew that as Snape had said, much trouble had been gone to in housing him for the summer and Harry didn't want to be any more of a bother. He would just have to spend as much time as possible away from the room and Draco.
"Snape said it was coolest part of Hogwarts but he didn't say it was the coolest!" Jayne excitedly said as she took a seat next to Harry and interrupted his thoughts. "Our room has a waterfall!" Jayne continued and nodded to the two girls who smiled shyly at Harry from where they sat beside Jayne.
"I trust you are enjoying the rooms in The Aquarium." Dumbledore called out with a smile as he looked over the students. Jayne nodded enthusiastically as did the others. Harry merely stared and Draco grimaced.
"Good...good. They are underground, naturally. They served as classrooms, among other things, in the 1500s when Hogwarts had a magical marine life program. Of course, there were far more interesting things in the lake back then."
With that said everyone turned their attentions to the meal, which had just appeared on the table. Despite having not eaten much at the Leaving Feast, Harry's appetite was sorely lacking and he picked at his food.
"Oh!" Jayne suddenly said. "This is Hope Goodman, a Hufflepuff and Kathleen Pell, a Ravenclaw. They are both entering their fifth year. I'm sure you girls already know Harry and Draco over there as-" Jayne's voice lowered several degrees. "they are the most shag-worthy boys in Hogwarts."
Harry nearly choked and Hope and Kathleen blushed. Jeffery Higgins looked fairly put out from where he sat next to a still glowering yet smug Draco. "What about me?" He called out.
"What about you? They already know you, for god sakes you went to school together for years. But if you insist. Hope and Kathleen, meet Jeffery. Jeffery, meet Ho-"
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, yeah...you're doable, I guess." Jayne threw Jeffery a lecherous wink.
"Ha! Don't do me any favors."
Harry was mortified and hoped that none of the professors had heard the exchange. A quick glanced revealed they were deep in conversation and oblivious to the students' discussion. Fortunately, the talk drifted to other topics, namely the Aquarium rooms, and Harry felt his face resume its natural color. Any other time he might be interested in hearing how shag-worthy the students of Hogwarts found him but certainly not when Dumbledore and most of the staff were but a few feet away. Draco, who had been quiet the entire time, was the first to leave and Jayne frowned at his retreating back. "I wonder what's wrong with him?"
"Me..." Harry said bitterly. "Snape has us rooming together. Needless to say, neither one of us is pleased."
"Draco really isn't that bad, once you get past his uppity Malfoy attitude."
"You don't know half the things he has done. I don't even know why he is here. Probably some evil plot of Vold-"
"His father disowned him."
"What?"
"That's what he told Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle right after Christmas Break. I just happened to overhear."
Harry was not convinced. "I doubt it. Even if he was disowned, that still doesn't explain why he is here. Surely he has some other place-"
"Harry?" interrupted Dumbledore, who suddenly appeared behind Harry.
Harry started slightly and turned to address the Headmaster. "Yes, Sir?"
"When you are finished, would you please come to my office? The password is the same."
"I'm done now," said Harry, curious as to what Dumbledore wanted. He wondered if they had set a time for him to visit Privet Drive and followed Dumbledore out of the Minor Hall. The journey to the office was quick and silent. Once the two wizards were settled in, Dumbledore began to speak.
"We have arranged for you to visit Privet Drive in one week's time. Professor Snape, will be accompanying you."
"Snape? Does it have to be Snape?" Harry knew he sounded like a whining child but visiting his dead, now ghost aunt was going to be hard enough without Snape looming about.
"Professor Snape," began Dumbledore, with emphasis on the 'Professor', "is in charge of those staying at Hogwarts over the summer and therefore acts as your temporary Head of House, with all the duties that go along with it." Dumbledore exhaled and gave Harry a small smile. "You will not be all alone with Professor Snape, before you go to Privet Drive, the two of you will stop in London to pick up Hermione. She will be returning to Hogwarts for the summer to take potion lessons so that she may enter the Seventh Year's NEWTs Potions. I expect you will receive a letter from her soon, updating you of this development."
Harry was very surprised at this news. Over the last summer Hermione received notice that Pythagoras Samuels, a renowned Arithmancer, would be teaching a special advanced Arithmancy course for the Seventh Years. Since she had performed so well on her Arithmancy OWLS, Hermione was the only Sixth Year invited to take the class. Unfortunately, the course coincided with the Sixth Years NEWTs Potion class. Professor McGonagall had gone so far as to procure another Time Turner so that Hermione could take both classes, but Snape refused to allow it, saying that Hermione could not devote the time needed for NEWTS Potions if she were to take the additional advanced course. This, of course, was complete rubbish, and Hermione, Ron, and Harry were all agreed that Snape was just being a prickly bastard about the whole thing. In the end, Hermione decided to take the Arithmancy course as she intended to pursue a career in Arithmancy and could not pass up such a rare opportunity.
"And Sn-Professor Snape agreed to this?"
Dumbledore's lips almost curved with ill hidden mirth. "Professor Snape has come to realize that he may have been a bit rash in refusing her request last summer."
Harry wondered if Snape had had a bit of help in coming to this realization. However, the reasons behind Snape's complete turnabout mattered little to Harry. The summer was looking much better now that Hermione would be returning to Hogwarts. Now if only he could get out of rooming with Draco. Harry pulled a face, thinking of the boy.
"Is something wrong, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, with a look of concern. "I thought you would be pleased that Hermione was returning."
"I am! It's just...Malfoy," Harry paused and repeated to himself that he would not beg Dumbledore to house him elsewhere. But there was something he did want to ask in regards to the Slytherin. He leaned in towards the Headmaster. "Professor, I have heard...from a source, that Malfoy is here because he was disowned."
Harry broke off and looked at Dumbledore with questioning eyes. Dumbledore sat back in his chair and stared off into the distance as he contemplated his answer.
"Draco's reasons for being here are not mine to discuss. Though, perhaps, in time, if you find yourself on friendlier terms with him, he might tell you those reasons himself."
Harry's only answer to that was a look of revulsion. Friendlier terms, indeed!
"Or perhaps not," Dumbledore eventually said. "Harry, if Draco is going to be a problem for you then I suggest you avoid him as much as possible."
"That's going to be a bit difficult, rooming with him and all," mumbled Harry.
"Pardon? Did you say that you are sharing a room with Draco?" The surprise in Dumbledore's voice was evident.
"Yes...'"
Hope thundered in Harry's heart. He clearly had no clue that they were sharing a room. Unlike Snape, Dumbledore would see that it was a disastrous situation and promptly move them into separate rooms.
"Well, this is surprising," said Dumbledore as he pensively stroked his beard. Harry's dreams crashed with Dumbledore's next words. "But I am sure Professor Snape has his reasons for the arrangement."
Harry slumped in his seat, defeated.
"You know," began Dumbledore, that maddening eye twinkle present and accounted for. "Draco puts me very much in mind of a young man I once had the pleasure of knowing."
Harry couldn't imagine it to be very pleasurable to know anyone even remotely like Draco Malfoy and told Dumbledore as much.
This earned Harry a dry chuckle. "Your mother was of a similar mind, but by the beginning of her seventh year, she was madly in love with James Potter."
***
Lucius Malfoy smiled warmly at the man lounged in the chair before him and offered him a glass of brandy. Severus Snape chuckled and turned to Lucius with an amused smirk.
"You should know my tastes lie elsewhere tonight."
"Of course, but it would have been impolite not to ask."
Lucius took a sip of his own brandy and examined the flames that danced in the fireplace. After a minute of silence he said, "Everything is going as planned. I hope."
"Yes, though I must admit that I have grave doubts. If you are dead set on this course of action then I really think that you should allow me to concoct that potion I told-"
"No, there is still time. It needs to happen as naturally as it can."
Snape sighed. "Very well. I must say you Malfoys are far too sentimental."
"Perhaps." Lucius suddenly looked very solemn. "Though, just to be safe a little more interference might be in order."
"I have already arranged something. Potter will be most formidable, however."
"Yes, that's why he is needed. The Dark Lord will-the consequences of failure are unthinkable." Panic clouded Lucius' face. "Perhaps you should brew that potion after all...as a last resort."
The clock chimed that it was 6 o'clock and Lucius turned to Snape with a coy smile. "Time to dine."
"Excellent, I am feeling quite ravenous. I'm not expected back until tomorrow night so I am anticipating a long, satisfying meal."
"You should expect no less here at Malfoy Manor." Lucius lead Snape towards the door. He abruptly stopped and eyed Snape warily. "Dumbledore doesn't suspect-"
"Of course not! You should know where my loyalties lie." Snape took Lucius' arm and caressed the fabric where he knew the Dark Mark lay. He brought his gaze to Lucius' eyes and ardently continued. "Just as I know where yours lie."
***
For the second time that day Harry crashed onto a hard lacquered floor and once more cursed Snape and his ridiculous methods of transportation. Harry was not surprised that Draco was already in the room as the Slytherin had been missing ever since dinner. He was, however, surprised to see the boy draped over an ancient, decrepit grand piano furiously pounding on the keys. The sight was most strange in the eerily quiet room. Curious, Harry inched closer.
"Malfoy has finally lost his mind." Harry whispered to himself. Draco must have heard as he abruptly stopped and stared maliciously at Harry.
"I think your piano is broken," Harry said after a few seconds of silence.
Draco smirked. "No, I put a silencing spell on it so that only I can hear."
"Play that bad, do you?"
"Actually, I am quite good. Taught by the greatest wizard pianist that ever existed."
"I see." Harry plopped into a nearby chair. "Let's hear then."
"Whatever makes you think that I would grace someone like you with the magnificence that flows from my fingertips."
"Well, at least you make up for your lack of talent with a healthy dose of modesty."
Draco sneered at the retort and returned to his piano. Harry stared at him without really seeing him. He was shocked that Dumbledore would dare to compare Draco Malfoy to his father and had barely made it out of the Headmaster's office without screaming at the man. James Potter and Draco Malfoy were nothing alike. Yet, even as he told himself this, the scene from Snape's pensieve played over and over in his mind.
***
The next day dawned bright and early and Draco found himself peering curiously at the light that shone from the skylight. I slept a whole night without the sleeping draught, thought Draco. Cheered by the thought he leaped from his bed and hummed a merry tune as he headed for the bathroom, his bladder aching for release. Draco learned too late that the bathroom was already occupied.
"What the-get the fuck out!" Harry indignantly shrieked as he attempted to crowd bubbles around his lower half.
"How amusing. Harry Potter taking a bubble bath like a prissy little girl."
"Just get out!"
"Believe me, I would rather watch Dumbledore shagging a House Elf then see you in all your naked glory but I have a pressing need to take a piss."
"As if I care about your needs. I was here first and I'm not leaving."
Draco shrugged. "Have it your way then."
As Draco pulled down his pajama bottoms, he could hear Harry sputtering in the background. The sound was soon drowned out by a loud trickle as Draco relieved himself. When finished, Draco gave himself the customary shake. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Harry blushing a bright red.
"Nice, isn't it." Draco gave another shake for good measure before tucking himself away. "What a shame for you, Potter, for I shall never grace you with this magnificence either."
Harry, whose face had returned to its normal color, haughtily said. "I've seen better."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Let me guess. That giant freak Hagrid? Yes, I suppose he would be quite large. No wonder you spend so much time with him."
"You bastard! How dare you imply-Hagrid is ten times the man you can ever hope to be."
"I thought we already established that."
"God, you are such a pervert!" spat Harry.
"Yes." Draco admitted with a dry smile. "But it makes life so much more interesting."
"Just get out. You've done your business, now leave."
"I'm about to. God knows I have better things to do than stay in here and look at your-" Draco leaned over the bathtub and looked into the soapy water. "What is that...4 inches?"
Harry made a strange strangled cry as Draco left the bathroom. It was with a renewed sense of self that Draco prepared for the day. He hadn't felt this way in months and things were shaping up to make a great day.
Several hours later a very bored Draco had to seriously rethink that thought as he lounged next to Jayne in the common room, watching the television. The girl grated him in every way but she was a Slytherin and that made her company far preferable to the other students who were currently invading his territory.
Draco sneaked a glance to where Harry sat; transfiguration and charms textbooks surrounded him. Every few minutes Harry would mutter a spell and aim his wand to his head. Draco suppressed a snicker. The spell he performed on Harry was directly tied to his own magic and no matter how hard Harry tried; he would be unable to lift the spell without Draco's assistance. Though Draco was sure Dumbledore could change Harry back and he was surprised the Headmaster hadn't done so already.
The day continued to drag on and Draco's ennui kicked up to a higher level. The only bright spot was when he had innocently asked Harry if it was true that the mudblood was coming back for the summer, the information given to him by Jayne. Harry would have surely hit Draco had Professor McGonagall not chosen that moment to enter the Slytherin common room to check up on the students.
Draco eventually even took to wandering the halls of Hogwarts. He entered an unfamiliar corridor with paintings of food covering the walls. He startled slightly when just a few feet away an entrance appeared and two house elves walked out. An idea popped into his head and Draco quickly slipped into the entrance before it closed.
Several house elves gathered in front of Draco as soon as he entered. In a sea of high pitched squeals he was quickly ushered to a small scrubbed wooden table. Tea and cakes soon appeared. A raised hand brought them to silence.
"I am looking for an elf named Spoony."
"Master Draco! You came to visit Spoony!" came the delighted shriek as a tiny elf rushed forward. Draco noted that she still had the straw he had given her tucked in her pocket.
"Hello. You weren't supposed to keep the straw, Miss Spoony."
Spoony's face crumbled. "Oh, bad Spoony! Bad Spoony!" she wailed as she pounded her head onto the wooden table. Draco quickly pulled her away before she hurt herself.
"I meant that they are disposable. You throw them away after one use."
"Oh..." Spoony's eyes widened and she protectively covered the straw with her hand. "Spoony could never throw a gift from Master Draco!"
Draco chuckled. "That's all right. But I have plenty if you ever need more." He then leaned in close to Spoony and cast a probing eye across the kitchen. "So tell me, which one of these lucky elves is that Munchy you told me about." A heavy blush passed Spoony's face and she shyly pointed to an elf pounding out dough at a far table. Munchy noticed their stares and puffed himself up. A noticeable swagger enhanced his gait as he went for more flour. Draco and Spoony exchanged knowing smiles.
***
Shortly before 8 o'clock Draco entered the Potions classroom to find Harry scowling at Snape.
"Ah, Potter. So eager to talk to me that you came early."
Harry scowled even harder. "You wish, Malfoy."
"I have arranged a sitting area in the back of room." Snape said from his desk. "I shall tell when the hour is up."
Draco and Harry slowly trudged to the back of the room and sat at far ends of the couch Snape had provided. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Snape called out from the front.
"You can start at any time."
Several quiet moments passed and Snape sighed. "I can wait all night. You will talk for an hour even if it's at 3 AM."
Draco knew that Snape would very well keep them here all night so he turned to Harry and with his most charming smile, quietly said.
"So, Potter. You never did tell me when that mudblood is coming back."
Harry glowered and Draco could see his hand clenching. Oh! Potter is going to get physical, thought Draco. Harry must have reconsidered as his body relaxed and he stared off into space, ignoring other boy.
"Professor!" Draco cried out. "I am trying but Potter refuses to cooperate!"
"Potter, you will talk to Draco or else your study time will be increased by an additional 5 hours a week!"
Harry sighed heavily. His shoulders slumped forward and he buried his head in his hands as though he felt the weight of the world. I suppose he does in a way, Draco thought. Poor, poor Potty. Life is so unfair isn't it?
"Hermione, Granger to you, will be back in one week," said Harry, sharply.
"Oh, but mudblood just rolls off the tongue."
Harry looked disgusted. "Your personality really stinks, Malfoy."
"I guess I should be thankful I have my good looks to get me by," Draco said flippantly.
"And you're arrogant."
"Well, its true. And for Merlin's Sake, Potter." Draco waved a hand across his lap. "You've seen the magnificence I have tucked between my legs. How can I not be cocky?"
Draco cackled madly at his own joke and Snape looked up with suspicion. After a few minutes Draco composed himself and let out relieving sigh.
"So..." Harry finally said. "How much time do we have left?"
Draco quickly looked at a clock. "Not even five minutes has passed."
"Fantastic." Harry's tone indicated it was anything but fantastic.
"So what's on your mind, Potter?"
"You...actually..."
Draco grinned. "Thinking of my...magnificence? I don't blame you. Many a-"
"Eww! No! God, you really are a pervert. I was thinking about why you are here."
"Well, Potter, you were there yourself. Professor Snape said that you and I are to hold-"
"I meant, why you are at Hogwarts...for the summer."
Draco knew exactly what Harry had meant. But as far as Draco was concerned the topic was not up for discussion and certainly not with the Wonder Boy. "Frankly, that is none of your business."
"I was told you were disowned." Harry eyes searched Draco's face as though looking for the tiniest hint of confirmation. However, Draco had his face schooled with indifference and betrayed nothing. "So what did you do?" continued Harry. What did you do to make your father so angry that he disowned his only heir?"
Draco let out a high and hollow laugh. "Don't you read the papers, Potter? My father is missing in action. I haven't seen him since his trial. So much for your little theory."
"If you expect me to believe-"
"I really don't care what you believe."
Neither boy said anything for the next few minutes. An exasperated sigh came from the front and Snape yelled, "I don't hear any talking back there!"
"Listen, Potter," said Draco as he turned to the Gryffindor. "I don't want to be here anymore than you do, so I suggest we reach a compromise."
"Are you offering me a truce?"
Draco was offended by the very idea. "Of course not. I suggest that whenever we are in Snape's presence, we pretend to be nice to each other. Then, hopefully, he will give up this ridiculous idea and we can go back to ignoring each other."
"Fine," Harry said flatly.
So for the remainder of their hour, it was with warm smiles and the gentlest of tones that Harry and Draco exchanged the most outrageous insults. Snape could only hear their soft murmurings and was none the wiser to the true nature of their conversation.
***
Thousands of miles away from Hogwarts there is a place known as the Hawthorne Hospital. It's a small privately run facility, located in downtown St. Louis, and founded in 1976 by the irascible Dr. Michael Hawthorne. Dr. Hawthorne is a hard, disciplined man who runs his nurses ragged with his manic adherence to policy and procedure. "Lives depend on it!" He would yell at them before retreating to his office and drowning his sorrows in the flask of whiskey he kept neatly concealed in a hollowed out volume of Gray's Anatomy. Even the most casual observer could see that Dr. Hawthorne was a sad wretched man, however, not even his few close friends knew how deep his misery ran.
Dr. Hawthorne was a man plagued by a childhood memory. A wondrous memory of children flying on broomsticks over a lush green field right in the middle of the snow banked mountains of northern Alaska. He had been eight years old at the time and flying across the tundra to visit his grandmother. It was then that he knew magic really existed. He never forgot and spent much time and money exploring the cold, unrelenting lands, searching for that touch of magic he had so clearly seen as a child. It seemed it was his fate to never see magic again as his hunts resulted in absolutely nothing. Dr. Hawthorne grew bitter yet the hope never died. He hid behind a veneer of science and as the years passed his quest for magic became an obsession. It was because of this obsession that Dr. Hawthorne explored every avenue of magic possible. The voodoo priests in the Caribbean, the Stonehenge in England, even the musty old shops of the arcane that sold cheap, mass-produced incense and candles. It was in such a shop that Dr. Hawthorne met the Reverend Jacob Cotterly.
The Reverend Jacob Cotterly was a fascinating silver haired man with a clipped British accent. He had listened intently to Dr. Hawthorne's incredible memory of magic over a cup of coffee in the grimy diner next to the magic shop.
"You must think I am crazy," Dr. Hawthorne had said with a rueful smile as he finished his tale.
"Not at all." was the indulgent reply. "So you are a doctor? A surgeon perhaps?"
"Yes, I am a General Surgeon."
"Excellent. I am in need of a bit of surgery. Though I am afraid the ministry doesn't pay much."
"That's unfortunate...healthcare is extremely expensive. Do you have insurance?"
"No, but I have other ways to pay."
"Such as?"
The Reverend Cotterly smiled, pulled out a wand and twirled it around his fingers. His blue eyes were lighted with amusement. "Magic."
And thus Dr. Hawthorne began his odd relationship with the Reverend. Cotterly showed him phenomenal, magical things and in return Dr. Hawthorne performed the relatively minor but totally unorthodox operation requested. A happiness unknown to Dr. Hawthorne since he was child descended over him and it was this unfamiliar good cheer that he practically skipped down the halls of his hospital to check on his extraordinary patient.
"Reverand? Are you awake?"
"Barely" Cotterly said sleepily and tried to pull himself up.
Dr. Hawthorne rushed to him and slide a pillow behind his back. "Don't try to over do it. It will be a few days before you are in top form."
"I hope the ministry can do without me. We are headed for the Ozarks next week and much preparation needs to be done."
"You are leaving St. Louis?" Dr. Hawthorne asked, disappointed.
Cotterly weakly nodded. "Yes, its my duty to spread the Word of God. I go where His Will takes me."
"I see." Dr. Hawthorne said, sadly inspecting Cotterly's medical chart.
"Don't be sad, Michael. You know I would love to stay but the End Times are fast approaching. I cannot idly sit away when there are souls to be harvested. And you Michael, you have been my personal angel. Don't think your kindness shall go unrewarded. There is a spot reserved for you in the Kingdom of Heaven."
Dr. Hawthorne smiled proudly at Cotterly as he pulled on a pair of latex gloves. "Pull up your gown. I need to inspect the incision."
Cotterly lifted his hospital gown. His entire stomach was covered in a large bandage that Dr. Hawthorne peeled away to reveal a seven-inch horizontal cut neatly stitched up. Cotterly reached down to touch it and Dr. Hawthorne pulled his hand away. "Don't touch it. You don't want to get an infection."
"It's strange. Muggle medicine is so sophisticated and yet so primitive." The Reverand said airily as Dr Hawthorne replaced his bandages.
"Muggle?"
"A muggle is a person without magic." Cotterly explained.
"Oh. Then I am a muggle."
Cotterly smiled. "I suppose."
"Well, everything is looking as it should. I'll let you get some rest now. I'm sure you are exhausted. Call the one of the night nurses if you need anything. I'll check on you in the morning."
Cotterly nodded but did not lie back down. Instead he reached into the bedside drawer and pulled out a small jagged rock that radiated a pale blue light. "I want to show you something."
"Is that...magical?" Dr. Hawthorne asked with awe, smiling at the rock.
"Oh, yes. Would you like to hold it?"
"Of course!" Dr. Hawthorne answered as he picked up the rock and stared at it in delight. "What does it do?"
"Nothing really. It's just a glowing rock."
The rock was disappointing to the touch, cold and rough, it felt like any other rock one might find along the road. But to look at the rock was an entirely different story. Its glowing depths seemed to capture and pull you in. One might stare forever into its brilliance were it not for its ever increasing intensity. The rock soon became too painful to look at and Dr. Hawthorne squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them there lay an ordinary round pebble in his palm instead of the miraculous rock.
"It's changed," Dr. Hawthorne said.
"Yes, it does that occasionally."
"Oh. How fascinating," Dr. Hawthorne hesitantly gave the rock back to Cotterly then proceeded to search his pockets. "I seem to have forgot or lost something." He said, confused.
"Hmmm." Cotterly said and looked around the room. "Oh. Perhaps this?" Cotterly held up the medical chart that Dr. Hawthorne had left on the bed.
"Thanks, that must be it." Dr. Hawthorne took the chart and headed for the door. "Do try to get some rest, Reverand."
"Actually, I am feeling quite rejuvenated. Would you send in that lovely auburn haired nurse? I believe her name is Melissa. She expressed an interest in my...work and I would just love to share the Gospel with her."
***
Thanks for reading and please take a few seconds and let me know what you thought. I especially love con crit so don't be hesitant to let me know if you had a problem with something.
And now for the reviews...
Mythistica: Thanks for the review! I had planned on telling more about Draco's situation in this chapter but decided to wait out it bit longer as I didn't think he would be so open with Harry just yet. You'll learn soon enough though.
ie-chipmonk: Thanks! Here's the next chapter. Hopefully the next one won't take so long.
Sara :Thanks for the fic! It was pretty good.
Castalia: Thanks so much! I originally planned on updating whenever possible. I actually have a lot of this already written. I am just having problems with corrupted files and computer crashes. Its just frustrating having to rewrite the same stuff over and over again.
Slice: Thanks for reviewing! The answers to your questions will be revealed eventually. Some of them very soon, others not til later. But don't worry. Harry will be looking like his old self before long.
Eadon: I'm sorry you had to wait so long! But here it is. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter.
Anata Argen-Luedal: You'll find out why Draco did that in a few chapters. I want to live in the Aquarium too! Thanks!
Shinigami061: There's even more twists coming with Aunt Petunia. You'll find out in the next chapter. :D Thanks for reviewing!
Runner: Thanks for reviewing!
mystic-damon: Thanks for the review!
Dragenphly: Thanks for the wonderful review. Don't worry I don't plan on stopping any of my stories. I just seem to keep running into problems that cause delays.
Draco's Punk Rock Chick: LOL. Thanks for the reviews. Hopefully I won't wait so long to update again.
