Chapter 8

Friend or Foe?

"Wonder where Harry is?" Ron muttered under his breath whilst opening the door of yet another compartment on the Hogwarts Express, in search of the missing Boy-Who-Lived. Not seeing Harry within, he just turned away, not even bothering to return the salutations from the occupants.

From behind, Ginny gave a nonchalant shrug. "Maybe he just wants some time alone. After his recent behavior, I wouldn't be too surprised."

Moving-on tetchily to the next compartment, Ron made no reply. "Oi, have you guys seen Harry?" Dean, Seamus, and Neville looked up from their game of Exploding-Snap, replying negative. Grumbling, Ron headed-on, hoping the next compartment would not be full of Slytherins. Ginny hung back to exchange greetings and share a few words with her boyfriend.

"Just my luck. Bloody Slytherins!" Ron sneered as the door slid open to reveal Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, and Malfoy's goons, Crabbe and Goyle. "Looking for your keeper, Weasel?" Pansy smirked. "Lost without the boy hero?"

"Why You...!"

"Ron!" Ginny arrived, in a nick of time, to haul Ron away from the compartment. "Stop it! Let's just keep looking for Harry." Nervously sneaking a glance back at the antagonistic Slytherins, she whispered furiously. "We're outnumbered, and they're spoiling for a fight, especially after what we did to them on the train-ride home last semester!" Ron just stomped angrily off, his ears glowing red from the insult.

As the door of the next compartment slid open, Ron was startled to see his other friend alone. "Hermione!"

The bushy-haired girl looked up from a heavy text in her lap, grinning, when she saw the redheaded siblings. "Hi guys." Patting the seat beside her to the younger girl, she marked her page, setting the book aside for the moment. Watching, as the siblings settle their trunks and themselves comfortably in the compartment.

"What were you reading?" The redheaded boy questioned.

"The text for this year's Defense against the Dark Arts."

"School hasn't started yet, Hermione."

Frowning, she replied crossly. "If you must know Ronald Weasley, I want to be better prepared, especially with all the... stuff... that's been... happening... lately..." Her voice faltered. Her weak gestures only indicated the depth of her troubled thoughts.

"Good idea, Hermione. Perhaps I should get started as well." Ginny found the older girl's reasoning logical. "Any recommendations?" She grinned, hoping to ease the awkward tension.

"Urgh, not me. I still say it can wait till school starts." Pulling a face, Ron changed the topic. "We'd been searching for Harry. Have you seen him?"

"Don't you know? He'd left for Hogwarts a week ago... (here, Hermione glanced about nervously as she cast a silencing spell on their compartment, lowering her voice) ...with Professor Snape. Remus, Tonks, and Moody escorted them."

"WHAT? With that... that greasy git?" His loud exclamation earned him twin glares from the girls. Then, he cast a sharp look at Hermione. "How did you know about this anyway?"

"I ran into them leaving the headquarters that day." Hermione explained.

"And he talked to you?" Ginny interjected.

"I asked; he replied." Hermione replied, trying to keep her cool composure. "Mind you, it was a very few words." She grimaced at the recollection; it was far from Harry's normal behavior, but she would take what she could get.

"I haven't seen Harry since his Order initiation, much less talked to him." Ron growled. "Why would he talk to you only? I'm his best friend too, aren't I?"

Sighing, Hermione answered. "I told you; I ran into them as they were leaving. I asked and he answered."

Ron cocked a brow. "Convenient, wasn't that?"

"Look Ron, grow up! Don't be such a prat!" Hermione was getting irritated. "I told you it was a coincidence! Get it through your thick head! Harry needs a bit more time to sort things out."

Somewhat taken aback by the outburst, Ron slunk further back into his seat.

Ginny chose this moment to intervene, before their bickering gained any further momentum. "Do you think Harry will be, erm, you know..., back to normal soon?"

"Ginny, I don't know the answer to that." The bushy-haired girl sighed wearily. "We can only wait and see."

"Still, I wonder why they left earlier though..." The redheaded girl thought aloud. Her older brother grimly nodded at that.

Hermione thoughtfully opened her book in the ensuing silence. She would keep her own counsel for now. 'There is no need for idle speculations.'

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"Have you read the paper Albus?!" Severus Snape stalked angrily into the Headmaster's office, his usually cool façade twisted in seething anger.

Dumbledore looked up from the papers scattered about his desk, locking gazes with the irate Potions Master. Blue eyes twinkling at the man's outburst. "Yes my boy, I believe I have. Interesting stuff, what Ms. Skeeter wrote for the Prophet today."

The Potions Master slammed the newspaper clutched tightly in his hands on the table in response. An ink bottle toppled over in the wake of the man's anger, startling a previously dozing Fawkes with an undignified squawk. "No, not that! The muggle papers. Headlines on the special afternoon edition, in fact!"

The old wizard's cheery mood immediately dissipated. "Muggle papers?"

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"You ready to face the lot?"

"Do I have a choice?" The blond scowled. "You should improve your language use. It's positively lacking." Earning himself a green glare for his efforts. ''Oh well, it's your choice, though Severus would insist sooner or later. He's fastidious about stuff like that."

"Why?"

"Proper upbringing and all, I suppose." The blond contemplated. "Though I think his upbringing had loads to do with it as well." He gave a vague shrug.

"You've changed the topic."

"I'm Slytherin; what can I say?" He answered petulantly.

"Prat."

"Gryffindor brat."

A shared grin.

"Think we can shock the school?"

"Perhaps. Though most likely you'll get in trouble with the Weasel and Weaselette." An anticipatory look. "That'll be a sight."

"Humph." The dark-haired youth fumed slightly. "Trust you to crow about that."

"Of course. I take what l can get." He looked smug. "Careful there or you'll start looking like Severus. Wouldn't want to send Weasel into a catatonic state now, would you?" He smirked.

"Prat."

"Get some new vocabulary, boy wonder."

"Aarrgh!"

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The headmaster's smile disappeared. With Voldemort's resurrection two years ago, he had foreseen troubled times ahead. "It has started then?" Under his orders, Arabella Figg had been keeping a close eye on the muggle news, especially since the incident at the Ministry of Magic. No doubt she would be owling shortly about this latest happening.

"Five muggles killed at King's Cross today." The austere Potions Master summarized. "Struck by a bolt of lightning when it was clear out."

"You think Voldemort is picking up the pace of his attacks?" He stroked his beard contemplatively.

"What else could it be? We have no doubts of his agenda. "

Albus looked gravely at his companion. "It seems rather random."

"They're Death Eaters! Besides, the Dark Lord is hardly the sanest wizard alive." The astute wizard was riled. "For Merlin's sake, Albus! We don't know what the Dark Lord is planning exactly. We have no way of obtaining insider information now."

"True, but muggles were killed when so many of the wizarding population were about..." The old wizard puzzled.

"Wait! Wizarding population?" He raised a brow questioningly.

''My dear boy, have you forgotten? The students return today." The barmy old coot chided the dark wizard. "The Hogwarts Express left King's Cross this morning."

The acerbic Head of Slytherin sat heavily down in an armchair. His impassioned façade morphed into one that of an unadulterated look of horror. "Circe! He's targeting the families of muggleborn students."

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"You think we're late?"

"Can you be more oblivious to the time? If we don't hurry, we won't be ready when they arrive." He scowled at the blond. "Why'd you need that much time to primp anyway? What are you, a girl?"

"I'm a Malfoy. Image is important." Looking somewhat snobbishly at his compatriot. "Didn't your family teach you that? I expect most families would."

"Don't mention my family." The emerald-eyed youth groused, mood rapidly deteriorating. "Just drop it Mal... Draco."

"Sore topic huh?"

"More than... oomph!" Harry walked into a solid obstacle in his path, and promptly fell. "Ouch."

"Err..." the Malfoy heir was inarticulate.

"Here, let me help you up." The wizard proffered a hand to help the youth up. "You're not hurt, are you?" Taking a cursory glance over the young wizard, mentally pegging them as upper level students.

"No... No." Harry finally looked up at the man who ran him down. "Err, thanks."

"Ah, Mr. Potter." The older wizard noticed the lightning bolt scar. "I was wondering when I might meet you."

"Erm, pardon me, but who are you?" The tactless youth asked. The older wizard had a familiar air about his person, but Harry was sure he'd never met the man before. "I don't believe we've met?"

From behind the Boy-who-Lived, Draco carefully observed the exchange. He could not quite put his finger on it, but his instincts were seldom wrong. 'This wizard is dangerous.' He noted the strange glint in the wizard's eyes even with his countenance seemingly open and friendly.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Extending a hand to the youth before him. "Faindri Noom. The new Defense against the Dark Arts professor." He shook Harry's hand briefly. Looking further behind, at the other youth. "And you are?"

"Draco Malfoy." Shaking the proffered hand briefly, eyes widening slightly as he felt the tightly restrained flow of magic.

"Ah, the scion of the House of Malfoy." Eyes piercing as he looked over the blond youth. "I can't believe I didn't spot the similarities earlier." Looking from one youth to the other. "I didn't think the Hogwarts Express had arrived yet?"

"Err, we're here earlier at the Headmaster's request."

"A project to complete, right Harry?" The blond nudged the other youth for support.

"Yeah."

"That's interesting." Noom quirked a brow. "The headmaster must have forgotten to notify the faculty of your presence."

"The headmaster only informed the relevant faculty members, Noom." The Potions Master interrupted the tête-à-tête in the corridors with his timely arrival. "Messers Malfoy and Potter, the Headmaster awaits." With a curt nod at the new DADA professor, he swept off with both youths trailing behind him. As they rounded a corner, the dark wizard noted the eyes of the newly appointed professor trained on the boy wonder. He mentally catalogued that tidbit for later review.

Faindri Noom watched steadily as Harry left his range of vision.

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"What was that all about?" The stern Potions Master questioned his two charges once they were out of earshot from the new faculty member. "A project? Headmaster's request? Care to explain?" His brow arched.

"We ran into the new DADA professor on our way to the Great Hall. Literally." The blond cautiously explained to his Godfather. "He recognized Pot... er, Harry, introduced himself, and questioned our being here at Hogwarts before the Express arrived."

"We didn't know how to explain without revealing any important information he might not have been aware of, so..." The dark-haired boy took up.

"The both of you make an interesting team... when you choose to work together." The stoic wizard commented. "You back-up each other well enough." He grimaced. "I should have to keep a closer eye on you both for any connived mischief."

Both his boys grinned at the subtle compliment.

Turning the conversation back to the topic of the new professor, the Head of Slytherin cautioned. "Faindri Noom is dangerous. Cunning and opportunistic, he was well-versed in quite a variety of spells in his day. I doubt if that has changed." Looking solemnly at both his charges, he advised. "Do not let him catch either of you unawares. We have no actual proof of his allegiances, thus I want you both on your guards around him." Locking gazes first with emerald, then silver-grey, he finished. "Try to stick within observable distances with each other; cover each other's back. It should be easier with Dumbledore's new arrangements for you both." At twin nods of acquiesce, he led the way through to the Great Hall with a dramatic swirl of black robes.

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"Oh, do stop fidgeting, Ron!"

"I can't help it. Who knows what the greasy git has done to Harry." The redhead exclaimed up-righteously. "Harry must have been hexed or under a curse to have left willingly with the greasy git!"

"I can't believe what you're saying, Ronald Weasley! Listen to yourself." Hermione huffed in irritation. "Dumbledore trusts the Professor. It is good enough for everyone else, including Harry. Why can't you just let the matter be?"

"She's right, you know." Ginny added her own opinion. "Professor Snape had been tutoring Harry at the headquarters, and they seemed to have finally started getting along." Staring out the window of the carriage, she continued in a softer tone. "I don't know about you, Ron, but I am glad that Harry is slowly healing and putting Sirius' death behind him. Even if his choice of companionship or confidant is not one of us or someone we totally approve of."

"Well, I don't approve of that bastard, that's what!" Ron retorted. "Why can't it be anyone else?"

"Because it's Harry's choice." Hermione cut off Ron before he could continue shooting his mouth off. "And you'll do well to remember that. You'll risk his friendship if you can't accept his choice."

"I'm his best friend, Hermione! It's supposed to be me that he can talk to! "

"Can you relate to his loss then? Do you know how to get rid of his nightmares?" The bushy-haired girl shot back. "I suggest you observe Harry carefully before you say all those stuff to him. You might end up regretting otherwise!"

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"Ah, my boys, you are prompt. I trust Severus had no trouble locating you both?" The wizened headmaster peered at the youths over his half-moon spectacles, eyes twinkling.

"No sir." The blond replied as Harry shook his head.

"I have a piece of news for the both of you." Looking towards the figure of the prim deputy head mistress, he continued. "After much discussion among your Heads of Houses, we have decided to room the both of you together for this school year." Holding up his hand to forestall any comments, he elaborated. "Now, before you protest, let me explain the reasoning for such a move."

Ticking-off his fingers, he spoke. "Firstly, this allows you both interact with each other, outside the scrutiny from the rest of your housemates. Secondly, this makes it easier for you both to interact with Severus, and by extension, the Order. Thirdly, this will provide you both better protections from anyone with ill-intents. Fourthly, it will make additional training easier to arrange. And finally, you will have some reprieve from curious dorm-mates if you get any nightmares." The last reason was for Harry's greater benefit. "Now, any protests?"

"Erm, not since you put it that way, Headmaster." The Malfoy heir agreed.

"No, professor." The boy-who-lived agreed as well.

"Excellent." Dumbledore clapped his hands. "I shall leave Minerva to give you both your new schedules. Severus will answer your questions if you have any." And with that, the esteemed old wizard left whistling merrily.

After fixing their new schedules with professor McGonagall, they turned to their Godfather.

"There will be no petty squabbles or rivalries. If anyone wants to visit either of you at your new quarters, I want the other to be around, and I expect to be notified beforehand for permission." He spoke grimly. "It is for your own protection." Pointing to a table positioned inconspicuously to a side of the Hall, he continued. "That will be your new table for inter-house relations, an idea of the Headmaster's. The both of you will take your meals there and your friends may join you. It is spell-shielded. Now that Draco has openly declared his side, we can expect some disturbances." Looking at both his Godsons. "Let us hope they are minor and few between."

At his grim pronouncement, they took their seats at their new table to await the arrival of the rest of their schoolmates.

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Hermione, Ron and Ginny entered the Great Hall together, following the rest of their Gryffindor year-mates.

"Where's Harry?" Ron started searching for Harry as soon as he entered.

Noticing someone waving at them, Hermione took a closer look. She gasped. "It's Harry!"

"Wha...? Where?" Ron was confused. "He's not at the Gryffindor table, Hermione."

"No, he isn't." The bushy-haired girl seemed slightly disorientated. Following her gaze, Ginny and Ron simultaneously found the missing Golden Gryffindor – seated at a side table, and with Draco Malfoy no less!

As the Hall started to quiet down, the three Gryffindors rushed to get seated before the sorting began. Paying attention with only half a mind on the Sorting Hat's song and the subsequent new students, Hermione started second-guessing the presence of one Slytherin ferret sharing the same table with her best friend without palpable animosity. She wondered why they had been granted new seating arrangements, and was barely restraining her curiosity.

Ron paid the Sorting Hat no heed, and for once, he even ignored the growls of hunger from his stomach. Periodically glaring at the slimy Slytherin that dared to share a table with his best friend, Ron allowed himself to speculate on the whys and how of the matter. He was determined that the first chance he gets, he'll demand from Harry why he was betraying their friendship with that ferret!

Eyeing the duo at the solitary table, Ginny shifted uneasily in her seat. She could sense her brother's fiery temperament rapidly mounting. The fact that Malfoy would share a table amicably with Harry surely meant that something big – and likely important – had happened to affect that change. She wondered if the change was something she could readily accept. Looking down the table, she noted most of the Gryffindors displaying barefaced curiosity at the sight afforded to them, and a few rumors already started spreading. Whatever the case, she hoped that they could contain the rumors before they got out of hand. Turning her attention to the Slytherin table, she noted most of the upper years held speculative looks in their features though their mouths were clammed tight.

From the High Table, three pairs of eyes individually assessed the escalating tensions. Then, Dumbledore stood up.

THE END

Helloooooo Springfield... err... never mind. Hi, it's Gekisou, one half of the dynamic duo who has brought you this fanfic, sponsored by... no one in particular. Anyway, as you can see with this new chapter, Azer and I have gone into a more linear style of story writing. We had a lot more communication in the making of the chapter and we hope you'll continue to enjoy it. With that out of the way, let's head on to the reviews.

Pi: Bush's rather unique speaking patterns aside, irregardless is a double-negative. When you say, "He will ruthlessly cut down anyone in his way, irregardless of lineage," you are saying that Voldemort will cut down anyone in his way with regard to lineage. Irregardless isn't a word. Good chapter though... I can't wait to see how Draco and Harry get along.

Gekisou: You and me both. A Slytherin and a Gryffindor, who would have thought it.

Lynn-50670: I love this story! It is so good. It reminds me of something that I just can't place. It's funny 'cuz I never would have imagined the whole Snape-is-his-godfather thing, but I could see it happening now. What was Dumbledore gonna say to Snape about Phoenixes? Update soon!

Gekisou: Heh, yeah, we did the whole godfather thing just to be different from the other hundreds of fics that say Snape is Harry's father. Heh.

Phire Phoenix: this cliffie is absolutely evil!

Gekisou: What are you talking about? All our cliffies are equally evil. :P

OK! That's it for this chapter. Do keep those reviews coming. After 8 chapters and only 39 reviews (half of which belong to Athenakitty), Azer and I feel like "where's the appreciation?" So please, R & R. See ya next time!