Chapter 7

Harry stopped as he stepped into the room and his eyes fell on the last person that he would expect at this place, the person he didn't ever want to see again.

"Peter Pettigrew!"

The little man jumped at Harry's exclamation and turned around. His face was pale and he had a bit of a worn out look in his eyes. But he looked healthy and still had this silver hand Voldemort had given to him when the Dark Lord had been reborn, a magic hand to replace his own that he had cut off.

A doing that still made Harry sick when he thought about it.

Just barely was Harry aware of Malfoy who stepped in beside him or of the other people in the room. All he saw was Pettigrew, Ron's former rat, the Animagus. And he felt a sudden burst of anger build up in him.

As if it had its own mind, his hand searched for his wand. And he wanted the wand not to protect himself.

He wanted it to kill.

A soft hand caught his. "Calm down, love," whispered Malfoy's voice into his ear. Warm breath tingled his neck and with a shudder Harry tore his gaze away from Pettigrew.

Malfoy smirked, as the shorter boy looked at him a bit dazzled, and squeezed his hand a bit. Then he looked at Voldemort's servant and Harry shuddered again as he saw a hate in the silver eyes, far greater than his own.

"Look what we have here." Malfoy snarled. "Long time no see, Ratty."

Harry turned his attention back to Pettigrew and saw how he flinched as Malfoy's gaze hit him. Though he didn't look away. Pettigrew's eyes observed their bodies, and as his stare reached Harry's stomach he flinched again.

It was obvious that he hadn't expected that.

But who would?

"Now, now. Calm down, Mr Malfoy," a new voice said. With a soft smile on his lips Professor Dumbledore appeared behind Pettigrew and sat on a bench. He smiled at Harry and Harry felt his anger burning down, returning the smile.

"Professor." He said with a relieved sigh. "You are back."

Dumbledore nodded and his smile turned into an amused one as he let his eyes roam over Harry and Draco, too. On their entwined hands his eyes stayed a bit longer. "I'm sorry that I couldn't be here as you arrived, but I see that you weren't that lonely. Must I congratulate?"

Harry felt a fierce blush creeping up his face. "It's not what it seem to be, Professor." He tried to free his hand from Malfoy's.

Dumbledore lifted an eyebrow. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Harry." He said with an amused twinkle in his eyes. "But isn't that the old Malfoy's family sign that I see on your stomach? As far as I know that means what I think it means."

Harry opened his mouth to protest, but as his gaze fell on Sirius the words wouldn't come out. His godfather was standing just a few feet from him, leaning against the wall and his whole body seemed to be strained like a string. And his dark eyes were locked on Malfoy's figure.

Harry shuddered. He had thought the hate in Malfoy's eyes as he had looked at Pettigrew had been great. But the pure hate he saw in Sirius' eyes was….

"This is really a surprise. Who would have thought that?" Dumbledore turned around to Pettigrew, and Harry tore his gaze away from his godfather. Shortly he met Dumbledore's eyes. There were a calmness and understanding in them that told Harry that the Headmaster had noticed Sirius' state.

But it was obvious that he didn't want to talk about it with Pettigrew here.

"Don't you think it's a surprise, Peter?" Dumbledore addressed the short man. "The two boys who had been fighting on different sides for so long suddenly are joined on the same side. And the two best wizards, I must add. How much stronger will they get, now when they are bound together? What do you think?"

Harry was sure he missed something important in Dumbledore's speech. Pettigrew was getting paler with every word the Headmaster said. And why did Dumbledore suddenly sounded so smug?

He looked at Malfoy and saw the same look in his eyes.

Even Snape had it. The dark clad Potions Master stood behind him and Malfoy and watched it all.

What was going on?

And what was Pettigrew doing in Hogwarts?

"I…..I don't think Voldemort will like this." Pettigrew stuttered with a scared voice, speaking with Malfoy. "The great Dark Lord is very displeased with your family's dishonoured behaviour. But he said, when Lucius wants to come back, he will be welcomed if he has a good explanation for his doing. And of course, his family, too. "

Malfoy narrowed his eyes and Harry felt him tense up because he still was so close. "I'm not going to come back to that pathetic old man, nor will my father. Tell him that. The Malfoys won't help him anymore. We have our own Goal now. "He let Harry's hand go and moved towards Pettigrew, slowly.

/Like a cat/ Harry thought as he found his eyes again caught with the elegant moves of Malfoy's body. /A cat that had spotted his prey/

Malfoy passed Dumbledore and Harry was surprised, as the Headmaster didn't make a move to stop the Slytherin.

"So, will you bring my message to the old man?" Malfoy purred. He stopped before Pettigrew, who was shaking like mad. He tried to back away, but Malfoy's hand shot up and grasped the collar of his shirt, holding him in place. And then he bowed forward and whispered something that Harry couldn't hear, but from the paleness of Pettigrew's face and the fear in his eyes, Harry could think what Malfoy had done.

But what was going on here?

Cautiously Harry took a few steps back, until he stood beside Snape.

"Professor? Professor, what is Pettigrew doing here?"

Snape sneered. "This little rat has brought us a message from his Master." He whispered, his eyes still on Pettigrew. "The Dark Lord wants us to surrender to him, then he will not kill every one of us. And then, of course, he wants us to become his slaves."

Harry shuddered. Voldemort was very self-confident when he sent his Deatheater with such a message to Hogwarts.

"I think it is time you leave." Dumbledore said. On his lips was still that amused smile, but his eyes were hard, showing that he wouldn't accept any objection... "You have our answer for your Lord, so you can leave Hogwarts at once. Serverus, would you please show Mr Pettigrew the door."

Snape nodded. For a moment Pettigrew seemed to want to protest, but then he let out a sigh and hurried past the Headmaster and Malfoy.

Harry looked up as he approached him. He looked into the brown eyes of one of his fathers friend when they all had been here on this school, together.

/He was one of the best friends of my father/ He thought /And to save his own live he betrayed that friendship. Why did I hold Professor Lupin and Sirius back as they wanted to kill him? If they killed him, Voldemort wouldn't be alive. Cedric would be alive/

But this question he had asked by the end of the fourth school year.

Harry wasn't aware that he was crying, until Pettigrew stopped beside him and raised a hand to catch a single tear, rolling down his cheek. Harry jerked his head away as he felt Pettigrew's finger on his skin. Wide-eyed he stared at the man, who wasn't so much taller than him. But before he could voice a single word, an angry low growl broke the silence and a hand shot past Harry, gripping Pettigrew around the neck. "Don't you dare touching my godson, traitor," Sirius snarled. "You don't have the right even to look at him. Do you hear me?"

Pettigrew nodded, trembling in fear as he looked at the enraged Sirius. He gasped a little as Sirius closed his hands a bit more, cutting his ability to breathe. Sweat began to appear on his face.

Harry stared blankly at his Godfather.

Should he hold him back?

Should he……..

"Let him go, Sirius. It will bring nothing to kill him." Dumbledore said calmly. "Let him go back to his Lord."

With a deep wounded sigh Sirius let Pettigrew out of his grip. The shorter man threw a last frightened look at him before hurrying out of the room.

Snape nodded his agreement to the Headmaster's asking look and followed Pettigrew. Harry was sure it was to see that the Death Eater really left Hogwarts and without leaving unpleasant presents.

As the door closed behind Snape, Dumbledore sighed and fell back on the bench heavily. Never had Harry seen the old Headmaster so tired. It frightened him.

"Professor? Are you alright?"

Dumbledore smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Harry. I'm okay. Just a little tired from my long journey. It hadn't been easy to visit all our teachers on their holidays."

Dumbledore visited Hogwarts teachers?

"Why?" Harry asked puzzled. He looked at Sirius. His godfather was still staring at the closed door, a silent hate in his eyes. Harry sighed. It seemed that Sirius' hate for his former friend was greater than his own.

"I had a very good reason to speak with them, Harry." Dumbledore shook his head. "It is sad, but I must tell you that not everyone believes that Voldemort is back. They think you killed Cedric Diggory, by accident." Harry winced. "Some believe us, but they fear Voldemort too much to come back to Hogwarts, because they know that this school will be the centre of the fight against the Dark Lord."

"To know that one mustn't be a genius." Malfoy snorted. "But when they think they are safe in their little houses, they are more stupid than I thought. There is no safe place."

"They aren't stupid. They are scared" Sirius turned around. The hate disappeared from his eyes, leaving just a little anger. "They don't want to believe. And with the report from our Minister in the newspaper, where he says loud and clear that Voldemort isn't back, they mustn't believe. They can continue their peaceful lives."

"Until Voldemort appears and kills them. Only then they will believe it. But then it will be too late." Malfoy's voice was calm, despite the sarcasm of his words. "It's always this way. They don't want to hear the warnings, although the truth nearly jumps in their faces."

Harry stared at Dumbledore. Suddenly he felt very cold. He didn't hear the words of his godfather or from Malfoy. All he heard were Dumbledore's words, again and again.

/They think you killed Cedric/

Would all think that he killed Cedric?

He remembered the stares he had received at the end of the tournament. Surely there had been many who had thought that he killed Cedric to win. What would they think now, after the Minister had said that it was a lie that Voldemort hadn't come back?

Surely they would think that he was the heir of Voldemort, that he used Dark Magic.

"Harry?" Warm arms embraced him, pressing him against a body. Harry sighed as the soft scent of herbs reached his nose and leaned shortly into the safety of the hug.

Strange. How could something feel so good, from someone who had been his rival for so long?

This was getting very surreal.

He sighed again and broke gently free from Malfoy's arms. "What will we do now, Professor?" He asked, turning towards the Headmaster, but not before he sent Malfoy a little smile.

The blond Slytherin held his gaze a few seconds, before he returned the smile and took a step back.

Dumbledore smiled gently at them both and Harry couldn't help but blush. "Don't worry, Harry. It will be hard with so many teachers not returning to Hogwarts, but it's not impossible. Many that you know will come back and for those who won't come, there are replacements. For example, Professor Lupin. He has agreed to teach again. And of course Sirius."

Harry was startled. "Sirius?" He turned around and looked disbelieving at his godfather.

Sirius smiled for the first time since he had entered the room. "Yes, I will teach. Don't look so surprised." He raised a hand, as Harry wanted to protest. "And before you say anything, let me inform you that I will not teach as Sirius Black."

Harry closed his open mouth. Not as Sirius Black?

He gave himself a mental slap. Of course. The Polyjuice Potion.

"You don't have to worry, Harry. Sirius will not get caught." Dumbledore smiled at Sirius. "And though he had played many tricks when he was in school, I'm sure he will be a good teacher." The smile vanished, replaced by a thoughtful and serious look. "What we can be sure of is that it really begins. The war against Voldemort. There is no way to avoid this. And there is no doubt that not all your schoolmates will return, Harry. Some parents will not send their children here."

Harry closed his eyes. Not all would return. Would his friends?

Would Seamus come back, Dean or Neville?

And. the fight against Lord Voldemort.

"Do you think we have a chance?" Harry asked quietly.

He remembered his fights with the Dark Lord.

In the first year, when Voldemort had possessed Professor Quirell's body.

In the second year, when he had saved Ginny Weasley from Tom, Voldemort's younger self.

And then, the short meeting last year, when he had been forced to see how Voldemort got his body back, with the help of Peter Pettigrew.

But when he thought about it. in every of this encounters he hadn't fought alone. It hadn't been his doing alone to win against Voldemort every time.

There had been so many who had helped him.

The sacrifice and love of his mother, Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, his parents.

A terrifying thought came to him. What would happen when they would expect him, to fight Voldemort again?

He wasn't an idiot. He knew that now, with Voldemort back with his old power, he wouldn't stand a chance against him. The Dark Lord had years and years more of experience. "A chance is always there, Harry." Dumbledore said, as if reading his thoughts. He placed a soothing hand on Harry's shoulder. "And we only lose when we give up early. But I think it is time to tell you why I ordered you here. Here to Hogwarts and here in the middle of the night. Then you can go to bed again."

Softly he urged Harry to sit down. "So, Harry. Surely you asked yourself why I did send you back to your relatives time and time again, even when they didn't treat you well. I had a very good reason." Dumbledore continued, before Harry could do more than to nod. "There is magic much older than the one you know. Like the one your mother summoned, when she died for you. I, too, used such magic to protect you, Harry. I."

"I know, Professor." Harry interrupted the Headmaster. He smiled lopsidedly. "You cast a spell that would not allow Voldemort to hurt me, while I'm with my Uncle and my Aunt. I heard him say it. I don't know anymore if it were in a dream or at the cemetery. But I know it. What I don't know is why you brought me here before the end of the holidays."

Dumbledore nodded, but Harry saw a single spark of anger in his eyes as he mentioned the graveyard. It was obvious that not Harry alone had failed to forget it.

Not that he could ever forget it.

"Then you know why I did what I did. And I hope that you don't have bad feelings for me because of this. Then for the reason why I sent for you to come to Hogwarts." Dumbledore gestured to the door. "You know that Professor Snape spies Voldemort out for us, don't you?"

Harry nodded. That surprise he would never forget.

"Now, because Voldemort had acquired some of your blood, the magic I cast around you and your relatives is forfeited. It doesn't protect you anymore. And Serverus has heard a rumour that Voldemort wanted to attack your home and to avoid this I ordered you here. Here at Hogwarts you're safe. And as I see, more safe than I thought you would be."

Under Harry's surprised gaze, Dumbledore stretched out a hand and shortly touched the snake on his stomach.

"I knew that Mr Malfoy would try something on you, but that he would do this. What a surprise."

Harry goggled at the Headmaster. He had known about Malfoy's intention?

And what did he mean with his words that he now was safer than before?

"You knew!" Sirius yelled, disbelieving, at the Headmaster. "You knew what Malfoy planned and you didn't hold him back! How could you let this happen? How could you let Harry."

"You don't need to scream." Malfoy interrupted calmly. With glittering silver eyes he stepped beside Harry and looked at Sirius. "We all can hear quite good."

"I can understand why you are so anxious and angry, Sirius." Dumbledore said, his hand on Malfoy's arm to stop him. "But as you heard, I didn't know what Mr Malfoy would try. It wasn't my right to forbid him something. And now we can't do anything about it. Once a magic bond is placed it can't be removed. You know that. But," Dumbledore rose from the bench, a tired smile on his lips, "It's late. We should all go to bed and find some more sleep. Good night, boys."

He nodded to Harry and Malfoy, before he placed a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Come, Sirius, help me to my room. I'm a bit exhausted."

Sirius opened his mouth to protest, but one look at Dumbledore's calm face made him swallow his words. Sending an angry glare to Malfoy, he left the room with Dumbledore, his hands supporting the Headmaster on his way.

Harry watched them leave, feeling a slight fear creeping up in him. Dumbledore had always been so strong since he knew him, but now.

"He looks tired, doesn't he?" Malfoy said beside him. As Harry lifted his eyes in question, he smiled. "Did you think I wouldn't notice it? I'm not walking around with blinders. After all, he said that it himself, so it is no secret."

Harry sighed. "I just thought he. I don't know." Standing up he looked at his belly, at the tattoo. /I just couldn't believe that even Dumbledore couldn't help me. But he said it. A magic bound can't be removed/

Harry gasped as another thought suddenly jumped in his mind. "We didn't tell the Headmaster about the stranger in our room!"

He rushed to the door - Dumbledore had to know about the stranger - but as he made a few steps, Malfoy's hand grasped his wrist and pulled him backwards, making Harry stumble into him.

"What are you doing?" Harry yelled and frowned as Malfoy slung his arms around his waist, holding him in place. "We must tell Dumbledore. What if the wards around Hogwarts aren't in place anymore?"

"Don't panic, love. The wards are okay. Dumbledore would feel it if something was wrong with them." Malfoy took Harry's wrist and pulling the shorter boy with him, he walked to the door. "Now come, we must find a bit more sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day for us."

Surprised, Harry looked at the blond Slytherin. /A long day/ "What do you mean?"

Opening the door, Malfoy turned his head to Harry. A wide smirk was planted on his face. "I mean that we will go to Diagon Alley. There we will meet my parents, too."

Harry stared at him in shock, not able to utter a single word as Malfoy dragged him back to their room.