Harry faultered a little when he saw Malfoy waiting outside of the dining hall after dinner. When the peircing gaze fixed on him, it didn't take much to guess that he was whom Malfoy was waiting for.
It took a bit of convincing, but he finally talked Ron and Hermoine into heading up to the tower without him, leaving him to talk to Malfoy in private.
He had to wonder if this was the end to the third of peaceful days as he followed Malfoy into a nearby empty classroom.
"So, what do you want?" he asked, trying to hide his nervousness.
Malfoy continued to stay quiet, although Harry was surprised to notice that he was fidgetting with the edge of his robe. It had always been difficult to read Malfoy's emotions, but he looked almost nervous now.
"I guess heaven doesn't forbid it, Potter. I need your help," Malfoy finally said, sounding as though the words were ripped from his chest.
Harry's brows lifted at the admission, but refained from commenting. One only had to know Malfoy for five minutes to know he was extremely proud, never mind five years. Harry wasn't about to press his luck with the truce by taking the presented opportunity to tease the other. Besides, he'd like to of thought he was better than that. He might react to Malfoy's insults, but he didn't want to start throwing the first punch.
"Look, my father likes to keep close tabs on what I'm learning. This weekend we have an appointment for me to show him the spells I've learned so far in the year. Obviously, I don't want him knowing about our present situation, and I can't exactly bring you with me," Malfoy continued after a short pause.
Harry wasn't all that surprised to hear this. The older Malfoy always seemed to know what was going on in the school, undoubtedly from connections including Draco himself. "So what do you want to talk to me about? Wouldn't it be simplest just to reschedule with your father?"
Malfoy snorted and the familiar contemptuous expression returned to his face. "Cancel with my father? And here I thought you were supposed to be smart. You have met my father, heaven't you, Potter?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Okay, so bad suggestion. At least I've made one. What bright idea's do you have?"
Malfoy selected one of the books out of the group he was carrying and let it fall onto a nearby desk. "This," he stated, opening it up to a certain page.
Harry peered at it, but didn't recognize the spell. "What is it?"
"A mind joining spell," Malfoy stated, matter-of-factly.
Harry gave him a long look. "You're joking right? You want me to cast a mind joining spell with you?"
Malfoy didn't meet his gaze. "It's a very simple spell, and easily reversable. We cast this before I leave, this way you will know what spell I need to cast and when. As soon as I get back on Sunday, we remove it. This way, my father never needs to know that anything's wrong. Then we ride out the last of the Sarcio curse and everything goes back to normal."
Harry was quiet as he digested this, his uncertainty still strong.
After his silence had stretched to almost a minute, Malfoy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I need you to trust me. I know that's asking a lot, but it is my ass on the line this time. I don't want to end up grounded until I graduate. This spell is perfectly safe. It simply allows us to talk just like we are now, except mentally."
Malfoy paused and glanced away. "I don't exactly want to do this either, but I spent most of yesterday searching through books, and this was the only solution I could find. You're known for helping those who are in need of it, Potter. Are you going to dirty up your reputation on my account?"
Harry was a little miffed at this, although he kept his temper this time. "Are you sure this is all that can be done?"
"Yes, as I said, I spent several hours searching. Since there is no reversal for Sarcio, I had to find some other solution and this is the only one. It's not like you can turn invisble and follow me home."
Actually, Harry could, thanks to his Invisiblity Cloak, but he wasn't about to reveal his possession of that to Malfoy. Besides, he didn't think he'd want to go to Draco's house.
"True, but joining minds? I don't exactly want you going around in my mind and poking about."
"I can't do anything like that. I've read up on the spell to make sure I knew all that I could about it. Basically, we can only hear what the other thinks directly to us. There's no way to enter the other's brain or anything like that."
Harry took a deep breath, considering Malfoy's words very carefully. "And this is the only option?" he finally questioned again, his voice filled with disbelief.
"The only one."