FIRSTLY: I am so sorry I haven't updated for so long, I have had a really bad case of writer's block. Plus I was busy with both schools, my real one, and Virtual Hogwarts. But as a present for being so patient, here's a Long chapter for you. Please review!
***IMPORTANT***
SECONDLY: some of you might have some trouble reviewing this chapter, because the intro was deleted, making the old ch.20 19. so please log out, and then review me. if you do… next update I'll give you TWO characters to play with….
THIRDLY: I was banned temporarily from updating because my first chapter was an author note. Hence, it was deleted.
FOURTHLY: Yay! I have reached 150 reviews! But guess what? I have received my first ever bad review! And it was my 150th! I think this is a momentous occasion; the fact that someone hated it enough to use up the prodigious accolade of 150th reviewer. So well done "me", you were my 150th reviewer!
And here's what "me" said:
"it sucks Harry is not a wimp nor is he stupid as you have depicted him."
Well, next time anyone wants to say my stories "suck" then please do so with the correct grammar. I have never made Harry a wimp; merely someone with too much on their shoulders. Neither did I say he was stupid; just that he misses certain things. The smartest people in the world can miss things. But leaving that,
Thank you s:
Anniacuru: my beta, my friend, you've been there to discuss my story when my block was at its strongest. Thank you. *sends diary Ginny to you.*
Benjis VIP: Glad you like it! Sorry for the delay! *sends your choice of Draco or Harry to you, honey covered of course!*
Purebloods Rule: glad to be at your service, but how can such filth as I manage to procure Draco for you? *smirks* glad you liked it. *sends a honey covered Draco to you*
Kittylace: *eats muffins* glad you like it! But truly, would you like to split Sirius and Remus up either? Oh well. Thanks for reviewing. *sends a honey covered Remus to you.*
Taz: I know, I'll have to fix that. Thanks for reviewing me! *sends bertie botts beans*
Kia – kawaii princess: glad you love it!!! Yay! Thanks for saying it is one of your faves, I'm honoured, there are so many amazing fics out there! actually the plot won't thicken for a while, that was more of a filler chapter, but I'll make it into something important in time. Thanks for reviewing! *sends your choice of Draco or Harry to you, honey covered of course!*
Demon-rose: yup, it did. Thanks for the review! *sends a chocolate covered Draco.*
JLCollett: nope, Harry's. *smirks* naa, he can be yours for a while *sends Draco to you* thanks for the review!
Yuyin: glad you liked it! Thanks for the review! *sends your choice of Draco or Harry to you, honey covered of course!*
Spider-monkey demon: glad you like the library, I a going to have to try to fit that into the plot somewhere now… thanks for the review! *sends a honey covered Draco to you*
Kimmy15: maybe, maybe not… it all depends… wahahaha!!! Thanks for the review! *sends a honey covered Draco*
saiFong: blondie? Blondie? You refer to Draco the magnificent as Blondie? Arg!!! Good luck finding your papers, I know that feeling… here's your fix, *sends Draco to you covered in chocolate*
kairi099: I guess she just stayed lost. Oh well, I don't really know! Thanks for the review! *sends Draco to you with marshmallows*
Sammi:*glomps*Harry's fear will be explained in this chapter. The reason Draco was a she was because I was just copying my RP in virtual Hogwarts, and I guess I just missed a few. Sorry. I thought your cat was called reebok? *plays with scetchers* the chamber didn't work because the place where it would have taken him to was where the rocks fell. I don't think that the chamber will feature again. *smiles* glad you love me, either way ok! *watches Draco dance with Sammi and sends Harry as well*
Fallenangel664: perhaps, but not very soon… thanks for reviewing, glad you liked it! *sends Draco with vanilla ice-cream*
To everyone else, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please review!
Key:
An/ something written down/ prophesy
Draco thought
Harry thought
Normal
~~~ = scene / POV change.
CHAPTER 20
Over the next week, Draco did not have enough time to check out the stairs again, but he did try once or twice. The stairs stayed resolutely still, and wouldn't change to the other corridor. Damn it. He figured that Dumbledore had fixed the stairs to not move, and only slightly pitied the lonely portrait up there.
His meetings with Harry had stopped for a while too, and he was looking forwards to transfigurations, partly to see Harry, partly because he was eager to find out his form.
~~~
"Congratulations, you have nearly completed this project; soon you will become fully fledged animagi, like myself." McGonagall surveyed her class with satisfaction; they were bright students, who she hoped would fulfil the roles Dumbledore so fervently believed them to be capable of doing. "Today, I want you to analyse your findings in preparation for the actual transformation. I want you to fill in this parchment in reference to your books." With a flick of her wrist, she sent everyone a sheet of parchment with questions.
Draco caught both his and Harry's, and promptly held the shorter boy's one out of his reach. Ron, who was sitting behind them, went spare, but Harry carefully said, "Do you want McGonagall to give you a detention?" Draco scowled for show and dropped it into his hands. The Gryffindors tittered until McGonagall glared.
"You may only speak with your partner, and due to the project's… nature, privacy will be ensured." She waved her wand and the tables glowed red. Harry turned to Hermione to ask what was happening; all he could see where her table was supposed to be was a ball of some metallic substance. All the tables were covered in it. He called to her and everyone else loudly until Draco hit him on the head with the textbook hard.
"Shut up!" he told the frantic Harry, "don't you see?" he pointed above their table, where an orb which looked like it was made with the same stuff as the things blocking the other tables. Harry looked at him blankly. How blind and stupid can you get? Draco asked himself before realising that if Harry had grown up with muggles, then he would not have known about the security above them. "It's a privaball. All anyone can see outside of the ball's sphere is a mirrored surface. They cannot hear anything."
"Really?" Harry asked amazed, "no one knows what we're doing?"
Draco shook his head. Harry grinned and lunged at him, kissing his ferociously. I've been wanting to do that all morning!!! Draco kissed back momentarily but pushed Harry off. "Work… Do…" Harry sulked. "And how were you going to explain bruised lips to your friends later?" Draco asked smirking, and looked around, "there is no one else here…" Harry blushed, hadn't thought of that! Suspecting this to be the case, Draco smirked until Harry hit him over the head. "Hey! Watch the hair!" Draco stuck his tongue out and got his quill out. "Let's do this together. I'll write, you look up. We'll do you first. Ok, question number 1, what form does your Patronus take. That's a stag. Number two, using the chapter on Patronus, how does this animal describe you? I think we have covered this," under the question on Harry's sheet, Draco wrote in his elegant handwriting, "arrogant prat."
"Hey!" Harry yelled indignantly. Draco smirked and scratched out his answer. "Found it" Harry said and began to read the passage out for Draco to summarise.
"A Patronus is an escape from despair. It is used to ward off bad feelings, depression and the like. That said; the form it takes is special to the caster. It usually has some relevance to their nature, yadda yadda yadda." Harry skimmed over a couple of paragraphs, "a Patronus is generally an animal. This animal has a key to your character; its form is a portrayal of your actions and reactions."
"So," Draco interrupted, "the animal is a mini representation of you. What does it say about stags?"
"Stags are solitary creatures, they are powerful, and are not afraid to show it by fighting in mating season."
"Ha!" yelled Draco, "you are a precocious little cub in lion's clothing."
"They are family creatures," continued Harry, "and long for love in search of completion."
"Aw, poor Bambi has lost his parents and wants to become one," simpered Draco.
"Shut up Draco, just because some people don't like attachments doesn't mean that those who do are saps."
Harry's words hit Draco hard; on some level everyone yearned for completion, it was just his family did it through power. Love tended not to come into the equation. He stayed silent as Harry looked for stallion.
"I have told you this before, but now I don't doubt it. Stallions run with the pack, but stand out significantly. They lead the pack. Stop smirking. In Art horses, especially galloping stallions symbolise power and passion for life. They protect whom they love violently and are very possessive. Got that down?"
"Yes, but you left out, horses are the best character to have."
"Oh shut up. You don't think that. Would you really swap lives with someone and expect them to enjoy it? I wouldn't."
"Yes, but you're a perfect little angel."
"No, just a Gryffindor," Harry replied.
"And there are no decent Slytherins?" Harry gave him a look that conveyed his scepticism on that being the case. "Just because we're ambitious doesn't mean we're evil!" Draco continued, "Good is making a comeback. Now, on to three and four, subliminal thoughts. That was the gel. Yours didn't work, so look up Cai."
Harry turned red, "actually, I did get something…"
"What was it then?" Draco asked intrigued, "why did you want to hide it?"
"It was… you."
"Me?" Draco was flabbergasted, how could he be Harry's inner being?
"Yup," Harry replied, blush becoming more prominent as he tried to hide behind the book.
"This is rich!" Draco laughed at the Wizarding world's hero having such a connection with himself. "But what does it mean?"
Harry looked for the chapter, after a while, when his blush had died down slightly, he looked up and asked, "Would the phrase 'thought manifestations' explain the goo?"
"Yes," replied Draco bluntly, "now, get on with it."
Harry began to readout the passage, "the manifestation of your thoughts is a key to your drive; the reasons for your actions. The creature" I resent that! Draco thought, but didn't interrupt. "…is usually an animal but may be a person. In this case, it simply means that thy have a strong presence in the caster's mind at the time. It appears especially if the caster is trying to stop or block memories or thoughts of that person coming unbidden and unwanted to their mind at that point in time."
"Can't stop thinking about me?" Draco smirked.
"You were looking at me!"
"Oh, and I've never done that before," Draco replied snidely.
"That is all the book says, I'll look for Cai."
Draco lost his drawl, and adopted a tone similar to Trelawney and her predictions, "I sense a change in subject here!"
Harry carried on regardless, "kitten… kitten… got it. Suggests a playfulness of character, though not innocence. These people have been to town and painted it red. Kittens do however, need to be cared for."
"I do not!" Draco sulked, lips forming a sweet pout, which Harry was almost sidetracked with, but he persevered.
"…and like to live in the lap of luxury, waited on hand and foot."
"I have become accustomed to it," said Draco, with the haughtiness of his youth.
"And you say I'm conceited? Bloody hell. What's the next question?"
"Fear," Draco read out, "analyse the form your Bogart took, refer to page 42."
Harry turned to 42 and began to read, "fear… nothing truly defines your character more than your innermost fear. Your psyche is explained by what you would give anything for it not to happen, or not to meet it. Given that it is something that the person will avoid at all costs, knowing this about someone will give you a great advantage if you ever were against him or her for some reason. Hmm, I think this book was written by a Slytherin. Let's do yours first. It was your father."
"I'm not afraid of that pillock." Draco sneered, a coldness penetrating his previously warmish voice.
"Then what are you afraid of?" asked Harry tentatively, not wanting to get Draco more angry.
Draco became quieter. "becoming him. My whole life I have been raised to idolise him and his master." Draco spat on the ground, the gesture more significant by the aristocratic background that Draco had come from. "They have wanted me for their cause for years. Actually, they haven't, it was just expected that I would willingly become a slave. Even by the honour-abiding Gryffins! Well, I hold my heritage with more respect than my father does! he has destroyed our picture, making it a name unworthy for the dirt on the ground. I want respect; the name 'Malfoy' should be able to give me that heedless of my actions! I live in the house of a stranger, one who has usurped my ancestry. My mother, she loves me, but was too afraid to do what was necessary to protect her child until it was too late."
Silence descended the table at Draco's words. Harry wanted to say something, but nothing see4med to be appropriate. A consolation would be ineffectual and pointless, as Draco seemed to be over it. A sob story of his own would be immature, and carrying swiftly on would lighten the matter, as if it were nothing.
"Enough about it," Draco said brusquely, closing the matter. "What are you afraid of, Harry?"
Recognising his name, Harry was brought out of his stupor, and tried to remember his Bogart self and its characterizations. "Weakness." Harry concluded after much thought, "I'm afraid that I won't be able to help someone, I won't be able to prevent another death. I won't be able to let people rely on me. I need to help, I need to win, people, wizards, need me."
After this little speech, Draco threw his hands in the air and cried out indignantly, "Hecate, help him!" he turned to Harry, "can you hear yourself? You sound like something under the power of Dumbledore! They don't need you! You are just a scapegoat!" Harry moved to protest, but Draco wouldn't let him get a word in edgeways. "It's not your fault. The whole human race in existence does not rely on your shoulders! You're just a child! Hell, we all are! Dumbledore's 'army' is using you for its own interests! You're only seventeen!"
Harry was touched by the care in Draco's tone as he yelled at him. He disagreed, but did not say so. He moved to touch his shoulder, but Draco angrily batted his arm away. "read the inner eye chapter." He said coldly.
"It's not my fault! They chose me; not the other way round! Do you think I like…"
"read the chapter." Draco cut him off icily. Harry gave up, and looked for the required pages.
"your inner being is your soul's residence, so to speak. It is generally scenery, or an element of some kind, perhaps a candle, or a puddle, suggesting fire or water. These elements have influence on everything else. They also indicate your demeanour. The meaning behind them however is unique, so the meaning must be discovered by the people themselves, and not dictated by a book. That's helpful."
He turned to Draco, who was lost in thought. Draco's face suddenly lightened, and as a great revelation, he said, "fire."
"Sorry?"
"You. When Voldemort spoke to me, there were salamanders and they were writhing in a carpet of flames. If a candle is a normal person's power, then you are a master."
Harry was shocked by Draco's words. Mainly because he had complimented him straight out, without insulting him. "What does it mean though?" he asked.
Draco's irritation returned at full force, and he asked Harry, "Do I have to do everything?"
"You seem to be the one with the most knowledge about it."
"Honestly," Draco exclaimed, before moving the parchment aside and faced Harry. "I'll indulge your stupidity. Fire shows ardour, passion, you are swept up by your emotions and that almost always leads you to do something rash. Stupid Gryffindor." He concluded affectionately.
"So, emotions rule my behaviour and my power?"
"It is controllable, with time… your fire was consisted though; it had no flares. You can tame an unchanging fire." Said Draco, remembering one of their first civil conversations; civil being: not brandishing wands and/or fighting.
Harry thought about that night, he was there to figure out the prophesy about silver and green. Draco had smirked, walking away as he replied to Harry, and Harry had realised that his eyes were silver, and not grey. "That's it!" he cried, brain finally clicking, "You're silver, your eyes, the hat! Green… that's me! He told us to be friends!"
"Are you telling me," Draco sneered, "that it took you this long to figure this out? Voldemort should be ashamed, being beaten by you so many times. But anyway, do me again; I want to know my power source." Draco moved his chair so he was directly facing Harry. He caught Harry's eyes and kept it.
Harry shifted uncomfortably; Draco's gaze often did that to him. He tried to concentrate but it was more Draco observing him than the other way round. "Stop it," he grumbled, "I need to concentrate."
"Get on with it."
Harry looked into Draco's eyes, once again, once again the pools of silver that they were that night. So beautiful… Harry gave into his instincts and dived into the depths. Harry lost the view of the room, and the rest of Draco; he only saw shifting silver. It was clearing, and Harry strained his eyes to look, turning to see behind him also.
He saw water, clear and still, there were no animals here whatsoever, nor plants. Harry had an overwhelming desire to jump in, but the quiet was foreboding and ominous. The silence hung in the atmosphere, stifling Harry's thoughts. Too quiet… Harry suddenly heard a roar. He looked over to where he thought the noise was and took a step back. He saw rocks and water cascading over them. It was a waterfall…
The noise was deafening, and water droplets were obscuring his vision. He walked towards the spray, hands outstretched. Water drenched his hand, but Harry couldn't feel the water, it was more like electricity. With each droplet in the mist, Harry felt a jolt, not a painful one, but one with enough force to feel in the numbing sensation that was engulfing Harry. Harry shut his eyes in disbelief, and when he opened them, he saw Draco looking at him with worry.
"What did you see?" he asked Harry, annoyed that his voice showed so much emotion.
Harry was dazed; his vision was more intense than what Draco had said his was like. Draco had not been able to move. It was like a dream, and Harry told him about it. "It was a dream, I saw water, a waterfall, the water shocked me, but I wanted to sleep. I wanted the water to stop poking me and carry me away…"
Draco listened amazed, in awe of the depth Harry had managed to go into Draco's mind. He was more than a little peeved that he couldn't reach that depth in Harry, but put that down to Harry having an evil door attendant. "The water, I guess that was my element, but it shocked you, adding electricity into the mix. Your fire, it was a carpet, meaning ground. I guess we compliment each other, earth: electricity, water: fire.
The water was ambiguous; not necessarily water, but it seemed water. I think this means that the façade of calmness is my power. People are angered by my tranquillity, and therefore become careless. It also shows control; I can mask my emotions, whereas you thrive on them."
He looked down on the now full sheet. "I guess that's it." He put away his books, rolled up the parchments, and left the sphere. Harry watched him enter the teacher's one to hand in the scrolls and he left the room. Harry followed him quickly, amazed by how deep Draco could understand such things.