Chapter 10

The next day, we were sorry to see Ron and Hermione go but understood their desire to be with their families on Christmas day. Having had our celebration with them the night before, it almost felt like Christmas was already over, even though it hadn't yet arrived.

Later in the day, an owl came; for me, of all people. Who would be writing to me here? I quickly removed the parchment tied to the owl's leg and it left again. Harry was looking at me curiously, and when I opened it, I recognized Draco's handwriting. His message sounded ominous, "Deandra, I need to see you right away. Please come, immediately, if at all possible. I told my family I had invited you to spend Christmas here. Draco"

I handed the letter to Harry, a frown creasing my face. I was sure Draco wouldn't send me a message like this if it weren't something serious. Harry was scowling, too, when he finished reading, and Moony, who was sitting next to him and had read it over his shoulder asked, "Draco - Draco Malfoy?" I nodded.

Harry's jaw tightened, "Are you going?" I could tell he wouldn't be pleased if I said yes, but somehow that had to be my answer.

"I have to, Harry. I know he wouldn't ask me unless it was really, really important."

Moony hesitated, then quietly told us, "When I spoke to Dumbledore yesterday he said Lucius Malfoy escaped from Azkaban."

A look of alarm fastened on Harry's face, "You can't! It could be a trap!" He was staring at me, waiting for me to back down, but I couldn't.

Finally I told them, "There's a way to do it safely." They waited in silence for me to continue. I sat there wordlessly, reluctant to reveal my secret, but knowing the time had finally come to do so. Without comment, I transformed into an owl and perched on the back of the chair in which I had been sitting. Their jaws had dropped, but Moony recovered more quickly than Harry. Perhaps he had suspected something of this kind. I changed back to human form and told them, "I can go as an owl and deliver a message to Draco, from me. Once I see his reaction and the situation, if I think it's safe, I can revert to human form. If not, I can leave and he will only think I am owl post. He doesn't know I'm an Animagus."

Harry still wasn't happy about this, but I reminded him, "It could be important for us to find out what Draco knows. Especially if Lucius Malfoy has escaped from Azkaban. I'm sure Draco won't have told his parents anything appreciable about me, least of all that I'm dating you. Maybe this is only a personal problem of Draco's, but it could be something much more. We need to find out."

Moony stood and moved to the fireplace, where he threw some powder into the fire and summoned Dumbledore. When Dumbledore's head appeared in the fire, he quickly filled him in on what was taking place. Dumbledore looked thoughtful a moment, then turned his gaze on me. "You do realize how very dangerous this could be? It's impossible to know how much Lucius Malfoy does or does not know, even if Draco did not tell him." I nodded and he added, "If you are willing to take the risk, it may indeed provide us with valuable information."

Harry started to protest, but Dumbledore raised a hand to silence him. "Harry, I understand your concerns, but Deandra's not going may prove far more dangerous in the long run. I trust her to use appropriate caution." Unwillingly, Harry nodded acceptingly.

"I should leave at once," I murmured and Dumbledore nodded. As I exited the kitchen to prepare, I heard him tell Moony, "Keep me informed of anything you hear."

Harry followed me to my room, still trying to reconcile within himself that I was going. I threw a few clothes in my bag and then sat down to write a note to Draco saying I wasn't sure I could come, but I would try to get there soon or find some way of talking to him. I folded the parchment and tied it shut, then reached in the desk drawer and removed a small wrapped package.

I stood to face Harry and said, "I was going to wait and give you this on Christmas Day, when we were alone. Go ahead and open it now, since I may not see you then. I want you to have it before I leave." He tugged the wrapping paper off and looked at the braided bracelet that fell into his hand. Softly I explained, "This is what the Muggles call a friendship bracelet, but I think Moony was right. I have fallen in love with you, Harry. If you'll wear this, whenever you look at it, I want you to know, really KNOW, that I love you. No matter where I am or what is going on around us or what circumstances life may force upon us, when you look at this, KNOW that I love you, Harry. With all my heart. Nothing doubting!"

Without a word, he slipped it on his right wrist and it shrank slightly to fit comfortably. I had put a Conforming Charm on it so it would adjust as needed to fit, without being too tight or too loose. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close. "Be careful; PLEASE be careful." And after he had held me a moment longer, he added, "I love you, too."

Much as I would have preferred to stand there all night with Harry's arms tight around me, I knew I had to be going. I pulled back and gave him a quick kiss, unable to stop a tear from sliding down my cheek. I certainly hadn't intended to declare my undying love for him as I was preparing to leave him. The holidays just got considerably bleaker for me, but I was determined we would be reunited as soon as possible.

We walked hand in hand to the upper floor where a window was left open to accommodate owl post. We held each other again, briefly, and then I transformed. Harry held out the note to me and I took it in my beak, clutched my bag of clothes and quickly flew out the window.