CHAPTER 3

FRIENSHIP

HARRY'S POV

It's hard to believe that an entire month has passed. In some ways this has to have been the best month of my life. First I get Sirius back, although keeping his return a secret even from Hermione and Ron has been very hard. Next I'm finally free of my nightmares and the pain from my scar. It's as if there is a shield between my mind and the link to Voldemort. This shield has made my occlumency lessons much easier. The fact that Sirius is teaching me more often than Snape makes it even better.

Then there is the strange relationship with Draco Malfoy. Outside of potions he is still a complete prat. Yet when we are in potions he is civil and almost tolerable. I think the politeness we show one another in class confuses Prof. Snape. We rarely speak in class, but when we do it is without malice and almost friendly. I also find myself sympathizing with his situation. He is the son of a Death Eater. He will be a Death Eater. I wish I could change his destiny. But I am as powerless to change his as I am to change my own.

Next there is the wonder of Cassandra. As much as I was envious of Draco at the beginning for being her boyfriend, I've come to realize he needs her. Her presence is a very positive force in his life. I know his civility is due to her influence and the fatalistic part of me wishes him some happiness no matter how brief. She brings him that happiness, even Ron can see it.

In addition to her changing Draco for the better, she has also become a friend to Hermione and me. Ron is still wary of her, but that's just because she's in Slytherin. She studies with us in the library. Whenever Draco isn't in the Great Hall at meal time, she joins us at the Gryffindor table. She has also joined the DA and taught me some relaxation techniques that help immensely with occlumency.

Finally there is the DA. We reinstated the defense club. It is a combination dueling and study group. Other than Cassandra, the additional students have mostly been fifth years. This is a sanctioned private club run by me with special permission from the headmaster and coordinated with this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, professor Shackelbolt.So far the club has met twice and both times were very productive as review mediums... okay now I'm sounding like Hermione.

As I've said this has been one incredibly exciting month. Now we sit in potions class with our finished polyjuice potions and a hair from our partner. I add Draco's silvery strand and watch the potion become metallic silver, it looks like mercury. I drink it quickly, it is surprisingly sweet. I was expecting the same bitterness as when I drank it in my second year.

I notice my sight blurring because of my glasses and then Draco says, "God Potter, you're blind!" Without thinking about it I put my glasses on his face. My green eyes blink behind my taped frames and scratched lens. They peer at me almost unnervingly, "I am certainly a handsome devil," Draco says as he finishes his evaluation of me, "But you messed my hair up." His voice sounded pouty and he reaches out his wand to taps my head. I stand still, strangely trusting him, as he mutters an incantation I've never heard. I feel my newly silvery-blond hair slick and style itself.

"And you've tamed my hair," I reply in a moment of mischief while I reach out and ruffle the black locks on his head. Green eyes glare at me indignantly as he pushes my hands away. He then tries to tame my unruly hair that he will be stuck with for the next hour. I chuckle quietly and I swear he smiles slightly.

I look over at Hermione and Cassandra. I have to blink because there are two Hermiones. One still holds a flask full of polyjuice potion; the other is reaching a gloved hand toward the first. The real Hermione smiles and drops the hair into the potion. The potion rapidly changes color until it becomes clear.

The counterfeit Hermione whispers to the real Hermione and then takes her hand. The real Hermione drinks the clear polyjuice potion and both girls are illuminated in a brilliant blue-violet light. The light fades and Cassandra now stands beside Hermione with her hand in Hermione's gloved one. A soft blue light still surrounds them as Prof. Snape speaks.

"Miss De-Winter, Miss Granger what happened?" Snape almost sounds concerned. Maybe Malfoy juice has driven me mad.

"Energy leakage, Professor," replies Cassandra with Hermione's voice.

"Neither of you are in any pain?" his voice still seems genuinely concerned.

"No sir," replies Hermione with Cassandra's voice.

"We are both fine, Professor," adds Cassandra with Hermione's voice once again.

Snape nods and then goes back to the front of the room. His voice is satin smooth as he says, "Alright class, clean up and then you are dismissed. The teachers are all aware of the fact that the polyjuice potion was used today. Any rule breaking will be removed from the house of the person you are currently impersonating and double from your own house. Class dismissed."

I clean up with Draco and ask, "Malfoy, what class are you in next?"

"Arthimancy, why?"

"I'll need my glasses back when the potion wears off."

"Oh, right," he says as he takes the glasses off and hands them to me. I am about to object when he calls out, "Cassandra, can you do that spell for my sight?"

'Hermione' looks over, points her wand and mutters a word. Silvery-blue light splashes Draco's eyes and he blinks. "Much better, thank you beautiful," he then walks over to 'Hermione'. I watch as Draco and Cassandra leave the dungeons looking like Hermione and me.

"Let's go Harry," Hermione says at my side. I nod at her and we leave. Looking at Hermione I can't help thinking how lucky Draco is to have a girlfriend as beautiful as Cassandra.

RON'S POV

I got to History of Magic early today. Well I get there early almost every day since I don't have any classes before it. I look up as the Slytherins invade the room. This class is Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, yet there are six snakes and three Hufflepuffs walking in the door. Malfoy and De-Winter sit on either side of me. I glare at Malfoy, "What are you doing here you slimy git?"

Malfoy gives me a strange look and De-Winter smacks my head, "apologize to Harry, Ron!" Her voice was angry.

I looked at Malfoy and saw he was holding back laughter. Then I realized what was going on. "Sorry mate, I forgot you were working on the polyjuice potion in Snape's class."

"That's okay, Ron," Harry/Malfoy said, "He didn't tell us until today that we were finishing it."

Our conversation was cut off as Binns began his class. Glancing at Hermione I couldn't wait for the potion to wear off. Near the end of class Hermione started to glow. Even Binns paused in his lecture, but none of the potion students seemed worried. The glow faded and she looked normal again. Binns continued class and Harry put his glasses back on. I looked at Harry and noticed his hair was still slicked back. I decided I'd tell him after class.

DRACO'S POV

I was very glad when the potion wore off. It had been highly annoying explaining to Crabbe and Goyle what was going on. Also I really didn't like looking at Granger's face. Not that she's as ugly as she used to be but I definitely prefer Cassandra's elegant beauty to Granger's plainness, although even plain Granger is prettier than Parkinson.

We headed to lunch and talked about Saturday. It is the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year. Cassandra and I are going on our first real date. I looked at Cassandra as we fell silent and once again thought about how blessed I was, if only for a short time. I had written my mother to inform her I was dating a De-Winter. Her support was a surprise, but it also shows that this must be a temporary relationship. My mother only thinks about the new infusion of strong pure blood. According to her and father, neither the Black or Malfoy lines have married with the De-Winter line in over eight generations. I don't want to ever look at Cassandra and think that she is nothing more than breeding stock or a means to an end.

When I look in her dark eyes I still loose myself and know I will never bring her into my dark world. I will not draw her into my pain if I can prevent it. I just want a short time to be free, to love the holder of the eyes I have known in my heart all my life. It's hard to explain, but I've always known my soul mate would have eyes the exact shade of green she has. That, combined with what she is, is why I will protect her from Voldemort as best I can.

What I didn't tell my mother was that Cassandra is a mage. Cassandra told me that secret after Parkinson had tried to hex her. I almost couldn't believe that she was one of those rare, almost legendary, witches. A mage is the rarest kind of witch or wizard. A mage has control over wyld magic and can perform every spell in existence without a wand, or sometimes even the words. She demonstrated some small amount of power by transfiguring a vase into a top hat with a simple touch. After that I didn't doubt that she was a mage. She also told me that was why she wore the gloves all the time. For a short time at least I am the luckiest wizard in the world.

FLASHBACK – 8 YEARS AGO

Minister De-Winter looked up as the venerable Albus Dumbledore entered his dungeon like office at the ministry. He stood up and extended his hand in greeting, "Hello, Albus, sorry for interrupting your summer break."

"Not to worry Jared. Now what can I do for you?" Albus sat in the chair across from Jared. Jared pushed a bowl of sweets toward Albus. The elder wizard took a small yellow sphere and popped it in his mouth.

"The reason I called you is Sandy. The reason I asked you here rather than the estate is because I don't want her overhearing."

Albus interrupted, "What are these delightful yellow candies?"

"Muggle candies called Lemon drops." He watched Albus nod and then continued, "Sandy's dreams have improved thanks to your advice and she no longer talks about 'him'. But I am afraid other things are happening..."

"What is wrong, Jared?" Albus asked in a concerned paternal voice. He saw the fear in Jared's eyes and responded to it with gentleness.

"She discovered the family Heirloom. She went through it last week." His voice was nearly a sob of shame and fear.

"What?" Albus sat up in surprise. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Jared sounded defeated, "she went through last Sunday morning and returned just after sunset the same day. She says she likes it there and wants to visit again. She said that the people in Other-World understand her as no other person can or will. Cecelia and I have forbidden it, and now she won't talk to us. It's been a week since my little angel said a word to me. It scares me."

"Jared," Albus said softly, "that is the last proof you needed to confirm Cassandra is a mage. Only a mage can transverse Other-World safely and return unharmed. Unfortunately it has been written that once a mage walks there it call to their soul like a siren's song. Your best bet is to allow her to venture there, but limit her travels to once or twice a year. Also she must tell you before she journeys there and give an estimate of how long she'll be gone."

"Alright, thank you Albus. I'll do that. I'll let her go to that other place sometimes if only to keep from loosing her to its darkness."

"I'm sorry there is nothing else I can suggest. She is a mage and from what I recall at your last gather, she is very strong."

"Yes she is. In fact she enters Beauxbatons this fall."

"So soon?"

"Yes, the sooner she learns wand magic and the controls that go with it, the sooner she'll have control of her wyld magic."

"Very true, by the way, what are her current controls?"

"She does any number of relaxing muggle activities. She knits, couchettes, and weaves to calm her power. She is also taking muggle martial arts, which helps her with meditation. She will also sing or write if her needles or loom are unavailable."

"I assume she will be getting a private room at Beauxbatons?"

"Yes the headmistress was almost more insistent about that detail than Cecelia and I."

Albus nodded and said, "Well if there is nothing else, I should be going."

"Of course and thank you very much Albus," Jared stood and shook Albus' hand again.

"Not to worry. If you need to talk you know how to reach me." Albus smiled and left.