Characters © J.K. Rowling.
Plot © Sami-Lee 2004.
They arrived at headquarters the next morning. Entering the old house one by one they were greeted by the shouting and screaming of Sirius's mother. Harry, Hermione and Ron ignored her; Blaise put his hands to his ears and scrunched up his nose. Draco, on the other hand couldn't help himself, he ventured over and peered behind the curtain.
"WHAT!?! FILTHY DIRTY MUDBLOOD SCUM BACK IN MY HOUSE? GET OUT! GET OUT! Wait… what's this? A Malfoy? A pureblood, Slytherin Malfoy? Can it be? At last, some SANITY!" She screeched, as Draco let the curtain go and backed away.
"My mother." Sirius jeered, appearing at his shoulder. Draco jumped. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you, come on then, upstairs." He patted Draco on the shoulder, Draco looked at him strangely for a moment before following him up the stairs and away from the screeching Mrs Black.
"Wow, she really is a Black. No offence." Draco said quickly, realising his comment may very much have hurt the good hearted, wrongly accused, very, very innocent man before him. He rubbed the back of his neck, the nervous habit he'd been able to evade since his evening with Hermione in the library. Thinking back over the night he'd spent with her, Draco remembered how it had felt being so close to her, breathing in her scent and touching her soft skin. He really did love Hermione, but he loved Harry too.
He wondered what it would be like to be that close to Harry, to feel his slightly rougher, tanned skin close to his own soft, pale body. To feel Harry's lips on his, to feel their bodies pressed together in the heat of passion…
Sirius stood in front of Draco waving a hand in front of his face. He almost walked into it and stopped walking, almost falling flat on his face. "Uhh… Sorry." He stammered. Sirius laughed and ushered Draco into his room, dropping his trunk at the foot of one of the beds. It was at that point Draco noticed there were in fact two beds in the room. "Who am I sharing with?" He asked, looking at Sirius. Sirius stepped aside and Draco's fear was confirmed.
Harry stepped into the room and dumped his own trunk at the foot of the other bed. He then turned and flopped onto the bed, brushing his hair off his face. It wasn't that Draco didn't want to share a room with Harry; he did, by all means. It was more that, while he was sharing a room with Harry, everyone would assume what was going on behind the closed door. Draco didn't want them to think he was like that, because he simply wasn't. The other reason he was worried about sharing a room with Harry, was because he thought, given the right person, he very well might be like that.
He sighed and sat down on his own bed, watching Harry, who, after a while, rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow. "What's bothering you?" He asked the blonde, who just looked at him for a few moments longer and then looked down at the bedspread he had occupied himself with the edge of. "Are you thinking that we're not going to live through this?" Harry asked him conversationally, as though he hadn't just asked Draco if he thought they were going to die.
"Not really, I was actually thinking that it's highly possible I'm going to have to fight my father." Draco sighed and leant down to rest his chin on his open palm, his elbow perched on his knee.
"Do you want to?" Harry asked, not sure whether he should or not. He got up and walked over to the bed where Draco was still perched, now with his arms crossed on top of his knees which were pulled close to him, his head on his arms, he looked just about ready to start crying. Harry had never seen this side of Draco before. He was vulnerable, he was scared and upset and alone. He was human.
"No. Of course I don't. As much as I hate him, he is my father, I guess I'm worried that, if it did come down to it and I had to fight him, I'd probably willingly kill him." Draco said. He hadn't started crying yet, but once he said that, Harry watched as a single tear ran down his cheek and fell from his chin onto his pants.
Harry sat down next to Draco and put his arms around him. The blonde boy turned and buried his face in Harry's top and Harry kissed the top of his head lightly. As Harry did so, Draco finally let go and sat limply in Harry's arms, racking with the heavy sobs that were escaping him. Harry rubbed his back softly, the way Hermione did whenever he was upset. Draco's sobs eventually began to get softer, and he looked up at Harry with a tear stained face.
"Draco, no matter what happens, no matter what, I promise you that we'll be ok." Harry said defiantly, knowing that Draco thought, just as well as he did, that it was probably the corniest thing Harry Potter would ever say to him. He knew Harry couldn't promise that, and if he really meant to, there was a high chance he would break it. Draco knew that Harry was just saying it to try and make him feel better, to try and get his mind of his bastard of a father. It worked, for a while. Draco and Harry moved into a more comfortable position, so that Harry was sitting against the large, wooden bed-head and Draco was lying on his chest, wrapped in Harry's arms. Shortly after, Harry could hear the deep, rhythmic breathing that let him know Draco had fallen asleep.
The next morning, Harry woke first, and, noting the time, nudged Draco to wake him. The two boys rubbed their eyes sleepily and, turning to their trunks to retrieve their clothes got up and headed for the bathroom. They stopped at the door and looked at each other. "You go first." Harry motioned to the door groggily. Draco shook his head. Harry nodded and shoved him toward the door once more before turning back to his bed and sitting down. He sighed, he knew that he should probably be making the best of the time he had to himself without disastrous thoughts weighing on his mind – He knew that as soon as they went downstairs, Dumbledore would be revealing to everyone the plan he had for the attack they were sure was staged.
Once both of the boys had showered, dressed and complimented each other on how great they looked, they went downstairs together, their hands rubbing each other everyone now and again. Harry suddenly couldn't stand the thought of being away from Draco. He wasn't quite sure what he'd do if anything happened to either of them, not to mention Ron, Hermione, Blaise and Ginny.
They entered the kitchen and stopped when every one present turned to look at them, Draco felt his cheeks turning a striking pink, upon glancing sideways, he noticed that Harry had obtained some nice colouring as well. Dumbledore was the only one still focused on the conversation that had been taking place before the two boys entered. He cleared his throat and the majority of attention in the room turned back to him. Harry and Draco relaxed a little as Blaise, Ron and Hermione entered the room and the five of them took their seats.
Dumbledore had just finished telling everyone in the room about the prophecy. Those who already knew about it had been sitting patiently waiting for him to finish, while those who didn't know about it had been listening quite attentively until the two the prophecy centred around entered the room. "If I may kindly have your attention once more. Thankyou. Now, as I was saying – Harry and Draco will have to fight Voldemort together, what I have called you here today for, is to help us decipher the hidden meanings of this prophecy, namely how Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy can 'become one'. And also the last part about 'Harry Potter and his Twin'. Now, if I may start by saying –'
"I'm sorry to interrupt Professor, but we've already figured that out." Harry interrupted, standing up.
"That's right, sir." Said Draco, standing up next to Harry. "We know what both of those lines mean."
Dumbledore looked at the two boys for a while, as if he was studying them, or reading their minds to see if they were telling the truth. Draco felt unnerved by the headmaster's attention on him, but Harry just stood there, looking back at Dumbledore, waiting for him to speak. He did so shortly after. "Alright, let's hear it then." He said jovially. Harry smiled and turned to Draco.
Draco looked at Harry for a moment, before turning back to the headmaster, silently making sure it was ok for him to talk. The headmaster nodded slightly. Draco exhaled, then he inhaled, then he exhaled again before he turned to face the members of the Order of the Phoenix. "Well, as all of you probably know, when Harry was a baby, when he stopped You-Know-Who, it was his mother's undying love that protected him. She died protecting him, and her love created a shield. Harry and I have discovered that in order for us to become one, it means what it would mean to any other two people in love – simply being together and giving ourselves to the other - completely to the other. Only when we have given each other our hearts completely, and feel our love for each other as though it's running through our veins will we be able to access the power that the prophecy talks about – the power to defeat hatred and anger – love.
"As for the part of the prophecy that talks about us being twins, well… I think that's easier if we show you." Draco said, looking at Harry who nodded his agreement. The two boys stepped back from the table.
There were several gasps from members and a few ohh's and ahh's from others as two wolves sat before them, almost identical save for their colourings and eyes. Sirius smiled knowingly to himself and Remus clapped his friend on the shoulder, they both knew how proud Lily and James would be.
"Brilliant." Said Dumbledore, breaking up the whispering that had started to spread across the hall. "Marvellous. Well, I see you two have sorted this out. However," His tone seemed to fall, he almost sounded like he was warning them, Harry suddenly realised what Dumbledore was going to say, and truthfully, he hadn't been expecting it, the issue had slipped his mind. "You must remember that, though many of the people in this room are your friends, not everyone will be as accepting of your relationship as they are." He looked at professor Snape who seemed to be seething. He stood up straight and cleared his face of emotion as he noticed Dumbledore look at him.
"Some people will try to tell you it's wrong, they will try to split you apart and drag you down, you must not listen. Ignore them. They are not important. If what you feel feels right, then it is. But do not let the unsure thoughts of others cloud your own thoughts. Now," He clapped his hands together and turned away from Harry and Draco to address the rest of the members. "Before we start discussing what information we have on the Dark Lord's location, and what we know about his plans and our own, we need to officially welcome our five newest Order members."
Harry and Draco, who had taken their seats once Dumbledore had finished discussing the fact that their gay relationship could only cause trouble, or so it had seemed to Harry who was now rather upset, stood when Dumbledore beckoned them to, joined by Blaise, Hermione and Ron. "First may I introduce Miss Hermione Granger. Top in most of her classes and Head Girl at Hogwarts." Dumbledore said, nodding and summoning her over to where he was standing, he shook her hand she stood beside him, positively beaming.
"Next, the Keeper for the Gryffindor quidditch team, Gryffindor prefect and in the top 3 of his Defence Against the Dark Arts class, Mr. Ronald Weasley." Ron stood, walked over and shook Dumbledore's hand before standing next to Hermione. His face had gone so red he looked as though he'd dunked his head in a bowl of red paint and had gallivanted off to watch a Gryffindor quidditch match. Hermione giggled and took his hand, while his other hand waved at his mother, father and older brother Bill, who were beaming at him from around the table.
"Mr. Blaise Zabini, Chaser on the Slytherin quidditch team, and president of the seventh year charms and transfiguration clubs." Harry beamed as Blaise walked over and shook Dumbledore's hand before standing next to Hermione who gave him a quick hug. Harry felt a sudden pang of guilt in his chest, but tried to push it out of his mind as Dumbledore turned to the tall blonde next to him.
"Slytherin Seeker, president of the potions club and Slytherin prefect, Mr. Draco Malfoy." Harry patted his shoulder and winked as Draco made his way over to Dumbledore, shook his hand and stood next to Blaise. Several whispers were murmured through the group of people sitting around the table. Harry knew what they were saying, two Slytherins? In the Order of the Phoenix? Both of them sons of known death-eaters. It did seem strange, Harry had to admit, but he knew Draco and he knew Blaise and neither of them were going to betray the Order, that he was sure of. At last, Dumbledore turned to face Harry.
"President of no clubs, top of none of his classes, highly trained in Defence Against the Dark Arts, breaker of many school rules, Gryffindor Seeker, Head Boy, the Boy-Who-Lived – Mr. Harry James Potter." Dumbledore took Harry's hand as everyone in the room, Hermione, Ron, Blaise and Draco included started clapping. Harry felt himself turning almost as red as Ron as he moved to stand next to Draco. Draco beamed at him and Harry couldn't help but smile broadly back.
Dumbledore raised his hands and the room quietened down. "Now, on to more pressing matters, you five may take your seats." He nodded at them and they returned to their seats, the atmosphere in the room certainly losing any positive feelings. "We have received word that the Dark Lord is in fact in London. He has set up a headquarters not far from our own, so I advise you all to take extra caution when you are not inside this house. Sirius, you are not to leave the house, not even in your Animagi form. It's bad enough with the ministry on our backs for claiming that Voldemort will attack, the less attention we draw to ourselves, the better." He said firmly, watching Sirius as he sank down in his chair, rolled his eyes and muttered something rude under his breath.
"I also advice you five to be with an adult member of the order at all times. Do not leave HQ unless it is absolutely necessary. Do you understand?" The five of them nodded silently, it was certainly turning out to be a lot less exciting than they thought it would be. "We have inside sources telling us that Voldemort has an attack planned on the school on the first day back in the new-year. He still has many death-eaters supporting him, so we must be careful who we trust." Dumbledore took a seat, not looking at anyone as he spoke the last sentence. Several heads turned to look at Blaise and Draco. Draco caught the headmaster's eye.
"May I speak?" Dumbledore nodded and Draco stood, facing the members. "I know the majority of you think that Blaise and I can't be trusted because of who our fathers are. You're wrong. Our fathers have basically disowned us; they've disappeared. I don't how much you actually know about my father. When I was a child, he used to beat me. No matter how pathetic his excuse, every single day, he would hit me as hard as he fr… as hard as he could." Harry noticed that Draco had clenched his fists, he closed his eyes, Harry could see how hard this was for Draco, he just hoped that everyone else could, too. "My father didn't care about anything or anyone but Voldemort. I know that, just like I know that Voldemort is evil and has to be stopped. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to stop him; to do whatever it takes to stop him getting Harry."
No one in the room spoke as Draco sat down. None of the members looked at him either. He sat down next to Harry and stared at the table. Harry looked at Blaise, who put his hand on Draco's back to try and console him, but Draco shrugged him off. It was all Harry could do to just sit and watch him stand abruptly, knocking over his chair and storming from the room. Hermione, with a sad glance at Harry, got up and followed him. Blaise and Ron followed at a slower pace, leaving Harry at the table as the rest of the members started to disperse.
When most of the members were gone, Lupin and Sirius joined Harry, who was seated at the table staring mindlessly at the wood. Sirius put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "It'll be ok, enough of us trust him. We know what Lucius was like, Draco will be ok with us." He wasn't as sure as he sounded, Harry knew, but he smiled weakly up at Sirius in thanks anyhow.
"It's not Draco I'm worried about. Well, it is… but it's everyone else as well." Harry said, still looking dejectedly at the table. He sighed and then looked at Sirius and Remus. "I can't see how we're going to get through this." He said, pulling a long chain out from under his shirt and fingering the lion and snake, which were wrapped around each other. It glowed for a moment before Harry put it back inside his shirt.
"It's getting late, Harry, you should get to bed, I believe Moody is going to run you five through some advanced training tomorrow." Harry's head snapped up.
"He's what?" He asked, dazed. "Wait a minute, there are only 3 days until the start of term, we have 3 days to try and get ready for a war between good and evil?" Harry stared at Lupin in disbelief, "3 days?!" Harry let his head fall against the wooden table with a thud. "Now I know we're doomed." He said, his voice muffled from his close proximity to the table. Sirius let his hand slip under Harry's forehead and bring it away from the table.
"No point giving yourself a headache now, you're bound to have one by dinner time tomorrow." Sirius said, glancing at Remus, who nodded. "At least if it's anything like the training he gave us when we first joined the order." He added as an after thought, hinting that it might not be so bad. Harry smiled at them, then stood and made to leave the room. He stopped when he felt Lupin's hand on his arm.
"It'll be ok, Harry. You're more powerful than you know." Harry looked at him for a moment before he walked away. This was it, in three days they'd be going into war. Like soldiers, marched in to be killed off one by one. He was scared, more scared than he'd ever been in his life before. He cared too much for his friends, his friends who were more like his family than they'd ever know. He didn't know what he'd do if a single thing happened to any one of them. Ron, Hermione, Blaise, Ginny, Fred, George, Neville, Seamus, Dean… Draco. He walked slowly up the stairs and to the room he was sharing with Draco. He entered quietly in case Draco was asleep, but once he was inside the room he saw that there was no need.
Draco sat on his bed, a piece of parchment in front of him, Hermione on one side, Ron next to her and Blaise on his other side. He picked up the parchment and handed it to Harry. He read it slowly.
On this eve of January 4th we pledge to stand by one another, to trust one another, to be there for one another and to love one another. We pledge to fight beside each other, but not die beside each other. We will live on, we will be strong, we will never give in. Never. We will win.
They had all signed the bottom.
Harry read and reread the parchment three times before he looked at his four friends sitting on the bed before him. Then he smiled and jumped onto the bed, enveloping all his friends into a big group hug. The five of them stayed still, locked together in their embrace for several minutes.
Harry let go first, and sat back to look at his four friends. "Nothing is going to happen to us." He said aloud as he picked up the quill and signed the bottom of the parchment also. He could feel the tears behind his eyes threatening to fall. He wouldn't let them. He hugged each of his friends as they left the room, and the last of all he moved to sit on the bed next to Draco. Draco pulled him down into a hug and the two boys stayed as they were, laying in each other's arms until they fell asleep.
The next morning, the five of them were up at 6 am, showered, dressed and lined up in the large empty living room on the bottom floor of the house. Moody stood before them. "Right." He growled, and Blaise and Draco both swallowed nervously. Draco seemed absolutely terrified of Moody, even though he knew it wasn't the same man who had transformed him into a ferret three years ago. "First things first, Dumbledore has told me that the five of you are unregistered Animagi, is this correct?" They responded with a loud "Yes, sir." And Moody nodded approvingly.
"Alright then, one by one I want you to show me your form, starting with you, Mr. Weasley." Hermione had helped Ron with his potion and his transformation, and there was soon a little red fox sitting where Ron had been standing. Next, a little brown fox where Hermione had been standing, then a clouded leopard where Blaise had been. Harry had to hold back a giggle as the little white ferret appeared on the floor and finally the beautiful black leopard appeared in Harry's place. Once they had all transformed back, Moody turned to Harry and Draco. "And your second forms are the wolves, correct?" Both boys nodded. "Ok, no need for a demonstration of that. I wonder though, Harry, what would happen if you thought of both animals while trying to transform. Just a thought. Now, seeing as you're all seventh years, you know the basic defensive spells, so we're going to work on something a little harder. You will need full concentration."
The five of them stood still, listening and watching while Moody showed them stronger, more complicated blocking spells and dodging spells, several new jinxes and a few charms that may help in battle. Once they'd perfected the majority of these, it was still late morning, and Moody was impressed. "Ok, well, you're doing a lot better than expected. Maybe we can move onto the more advanced magic. War magic. Of course, when muggles fight a war they have firearms, guns, bombs and what have you. But wizards don't bother with all that petty nonsense, we use magic to fight, of course. Now, I'm not talking the unforgivables. No, no, just some regular little blasting spells and whatnot. Now, take a copy of this spell book each, that's it, and you'll see that it's full of fighting spells."
Harry took the copy of the book Moody was handing him, it didn't have a title, or an author, or a table of contents, nor did it have page numbers. The writing on each page was handwritten, small and very neat. On each page Harry saw a single incantation, followed by a short description of what each spell did. He looked down at the first spell.
Occumbo Mortuus
Though not totally killing it's victim, the occumbo mortuus spell will leave the victim in such a state that he or she will not be able to move or think for several days or weeks, basically, it leaves it's victim in a coma-like state.
He flicked toward the back of the book, and stopped when he saw something that caught his eye. Something that made him think they did have a chance at winning the war, Something that made him think that if the situation called for it, he could kill.
Intentio Pro Pectus Pectoris
The closest spell to the killing curse as a wizard can get without being thrown into Azkaban. Though it does leave it's victim dead, the victim can be revived if done so within 24 hours of being hit by the spell. This spell is classified as defensive magic by the Ministry of Magical Law Enforcement.
The incantation itself translates back to 'Aim for the Heart.'