Disclaimer: You guys know the drill.

Lunawolf: Well…it'll be the same world (High Elves, Darcorn, etc) only Harry will grow up with Sev instead of on the streets. I've got three chapters of it written so far and I'm pretty happy with how its going.

ChibiGyouza: See them again? Hmm, dunno. Maybe. I already have the big battle sequence written but as I continue it seems like I'm going to have to go and change it about some. They may make a short appearance in the battle. Or beforehand.

Ezmerelda: Neville a bad guy? Oo I've never heard that one before. Aie, that does give you the heebie jeebies. And, yes, it would be fantastic if the old Neville came back full force. He'll probably only reappear gradually, though.

Nebel: You are very welcome! runs out and hugs all her wonderful OC's

Author Note: As to the chapter shortness some of you have mentioned, I only write as far as my brain thinks up for that chapter. Be it fives pages or one. If it feels like it's a good chapter ending, I end it there. Hence the sometime shortness.

Not Myself by Saerry Snape

Chapter 173 – Dragon's Return Plus Some Spying

Three days after Neville visited Arx Serpens, Draco was released from the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had told Harry and from there word had spread through Slytherin. Most of them were shocked that someone could do that to someone in their own House.

"Its just plain wrong them doing that," Harry heard Janis Palin complaining to Veronica Tabolt as the two of them were hanging up a banner they'd made. Apparently the two of them had had crushes on Draco for three years and were trying to win him by making a welcoming banner.

Apparently no one but Harry knew the blonde had a girlfriend.

"Oi, Malfoy's back!"

Every head in Serpens came up at that shout and Harry leapt up from his chair in the Hexer's Corner. Five long steps had him across the room and grabbing the still sickly looking blonde up in a bear hug.

"Le'go ye big lug!" shouted Draco laughingly, pounding on Harry's shoulder.

Harry just chuckled as he stepped back, releasing the shorter boy.

"Sorry there," he said with a shrug. "Just been worried about you."

"I can remember why," grumbled Draco as he rubbed his shoulder. He then looked up at the banner about the fireplace and laughed. "Well, well…I see I was missed after all."

"'Course you were," said Niamh as she came into the common room from the outside corridor. Mika and his little sister Mischa came in behind her, their light-colored hair littered with soot.

Mischa's dark eyes lit up at the sight of Draco and a shy smile slid across her face.

"Hi, Draco."

The blonde turned slightly to grin down at the silver-haired girl who'd adored him since she'd seen him.

"Hey, Mischa," he said warmly. "How's your arm?"

Mischa touched her left arm lightly with her right hand and replied, "Its okay. Just like it usually is."

"That's good. Now, why in Merlin's name do you have soot in your hair?"

He reached out to pick up a lock of soot-stained silver hair but had his hand knocked away by Mika. The werewolf locked his eyes with Draco's and growled, "That's none of your business, Malfoy."

"Mika," growled Harry warningly.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," grumbled the white-haired teen. "Just tell your pet ferret to keep his hands off my sister."

Harry and Mischa opened their mouths to say something but Draco beat them both to it.

"First," he said, holding up a finger, "I am not a pet. Two, that was only one time. Three, I already have a girl, thank you very much, Davids."

Mika blinked, clearly stunned.

Mischa rolled her eyes and elbowed her brother in his stomach, snapping, "Yeah, Ika, he already has a girlfriend. Where've you been?"

"Obviously not here," muttered Mika. He looked at Harry and said, "You knew?"

Harry just nodded.

"Well, I'm really out of the loop, aren't I?"

"Well," said Harry, "I don't know who it is…"

"No one does," said Draco proudly. "Secret, y'know. Till…till all this is over, at least."

"All what?" asked Veronica, looking up at Draco as though she hadn't just heard that he had a girlfriend.

Draco looked at her like she was mad.

"The war," he said matter-of-factly. "The war…"

"What did Mika and Mischa have soot in their hair for?" asked Harry an hour or so later when he flopped down next to Niamh on the couch.

"Nothing."

"Uh-huh. And I'm actually Voldemort's son."

Niamh blinked at him then she sighed and said, "Okay, okay. We were spying on Professor Daladier."

Harry cocked an eyebrow curiously at that.

"From the staffroom fireplace," finished Niamh, her cheeks flushing pink.

The second eyebrow went up to join the first.

"Stop looking at me like that!"

"Like what?" asked Harry innocently.

"Like I'm up to something!"

"Oh no, that's this look."

Harry dropped one eyebrow, narrowed his eyes, and lifted his upper lip in a sneer then looked the girl beside him up and down with a scathing glance. He then grinned, face suddenly relaxed, and said matter-of-factly, "That's looking at you like you're up to something."

Niamh glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. She then turned, her nose in the air, and spat, "Just for that, I'm not going to kiss you."

"Aw, but aren't I so cute and lovable?"

Niamh glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and tried desperately not to laugh. He was looking at her with a wonderfully pleading expression, his luminous green eyes wide and liquidy.

"Pwease?" he said.

"No."

"Pwetty pwease?"

Niamh pursed her lips, trying desperately not to laugh.

"Pwetty, pwetty pwease?"

"No."

"Awww…" said Harry, ducking his head. "Nobody luffs me…"

"Oh good God," growled Niamh, turning around and throwing her arms about his neck. She kissed him, long and hard, then leaned back with a frown. "Happy now."

"Yes, indeed," said Harry, grinning wryly down at her. "Now…what were you doing spying on my dear half-uncle?"

"Mika had this odd idea that he might have been the one who told Voldemort."

"What?!" exclaimed Harry, pushing himself backwards.

"It's a somewhat feasible idea…"

"Niamh," said Harry seriously, "my uncle may be a bastard and an idiot but he's no Dark Wizard! Death Eater's killed his mother. I don't think he'd just up and turn to Voldemort because he found out I'm his nephew."

"Then who told?"

"Didn't we already have this conversation? It doesn't matter."

"But what if what he said in class that day made someone start thinking?" asked Niamh.

Harry smiled and reached out to cup her cheek in his hands.

"It doesn't matter."

"Harry…"

"It doesn't matter," repeated Harry in a whisper as he leaned forward to kiss her.

"Mmm," mumbled Niamh as she leaned into the kiss.

But she wondered…was Harry just saying that to console her?

Did it really matter?