Chapter 3: Si supieras...

"Harry," a voice called from somewhere. Was it Malfoy again? "Harry, wake up or you won't have time to eat." Ah, no, only Ron. Harry opened one eye, not welcoming the morning light.

"How much time do I have?"

"About twenty minutes, if you want time to eat and get your schedule. So"-

"Wake me up in fifteen." Harry closed his eyes again, and felt as if he hadn't even fallen asleep last night. He groggily thought back to his dreams, thinking they had something to do with Malfoy-

Harry's eyes opened wide and he propped himself up on one arm. Malfoy spoke with Harry while Harry was sleeping. Malfoy was missing and maybe dead, most likely dead, and needed Harry to help him figuring out what was happening. "Ron?"

Ron looked over his shoulder to his friend while putting on his robe. "Yeah, mate?"

"Are you supposed to see all spirits? Or do some stay invisible?"

Ron looked slightly uncomfortable. "I dunno…I suppose…you'd see all of them, wouldn't you? But then…aren't there supposed to be lots of different kinds of ghosts? I… I don't know. Why?"

Harry shrugged while looking away, and, unbeknownst to him, straight at Draco. "Just wondering." Ron shrugged as well and walked out of the room, warning his friend once more of the time.

Harry sighed deeply before getting out of bed. He still felt incredibly tired. He looked around the room, as if he might spot Draco lurking in the shadows. "Are you here now, Malfoy?" Draco didn't see any need to try responding to the boy, and merely watched, as Harry got ready for his first day back at school. This preparation was something the blonde might never do again- Draco felt incredibly angry all of a sudden, and more grounded than he'd felt in the early- or late, depending on how one saw it- hours before anybody started waking up.

It was during these hours that Draco feared he might just float off, which seemed very possible now. However, he soon got hold of himself, grabbing on to the carpet as a quite literal anchor. Those hours were the strangest he'd experienced, including witnessing, for the first time, as a small group of house elves scurried around the room, cleaning up after the Gryffindor students. This had deeply startled Draco; for never had he seen house elves do this. In fact, he was quite sure that not many living humans had.

Harry was walking out of the dormitory and into the common room, and soon made his way out into the corridor that would take him to the Great Hall. Draco followed in Harry's footsteps, not quite sure why it amused him so to walk soundlessly, less than an arm-length away from the dark-haired boy.

At the Gryffindor table, Harry took a seat next to Hermione. "Good morning Harry," she said jovially. Everybody could see that she was bubbling with excitement. "We're about to get our schedules. Here, have some toast." Hermione paused. "Do you feel alright, Harry? You look kind of pale."

Harry shrugged. "I didn't get much sleep last night, I guess."

Hermione nodded with understanding. "It took the longest time for me to fall asleep, too. I kept thinking about those students they've said are missing. I never really thought that soon enough…" Hermione lowered her voice, as if afraid somebody would overhear her. "I suppose Voldemort's really making himself known, now."

Harry looked off, and Draco could see the pained look on his face. The dark-haired boy unnoticeably shook his head and turned back to Hermione and Ron. "Ron, did anything happen over the summer? Anything small that wouldn't have made it to the papers?"

Ron shook his head. "Since the ministry finally admitted to V-Voldemort having risen, they've mentioned even the smallest thing." Harry nodded, looking off. "Have you stopped having your dreams?" Ron asked in a shushed voice.

"Yes, actually. Every once in a while, I still have dreams about the…the veil…" Draco looked at Harry as he spoke, and saw his green eyes close. What veil was Harry speaking of? "And…and Sirius…" Harry still had his eyes closed.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said sympathetically. She placed a hand on his shoulder, wanting to show that she'd be there for him. Draco did know about Sirius, though; it was with this that a scene flashed back into Draco's mind.

It'd been a few weeks into the summer, and Draco's house was quiet. He'd been walking around, trying to think of something other than his father stuck in Azkaban, when he heard whispering in one of the many rooms. That's it, he'd thought, mother's finally gone nutters. He hesitantly opened the door a crack, and was startled to see a dark-haired woman standing over his mother.

At first he wasn't sure if he should make a move to defend his mother, but he then realized that it was indeed his aunt Bellatrix. He wasn't really sure if Bellatrix was his aunt, but he'd always been told to call her that. His mother was sitting regally in an armchair, acting for her sake as if her world weren't slowly crumbling, her head tilted up as she listened thoughtfully to what Bellatrix was telling her. She nodded every now and then, and sometimes Malfoy could here what the woman was saying.

"But do not worry, Narcissa, for you must trust in the Dark Lord's plans."

"What happened in the Ministry, Bellatrix. Do not deny me this information."

Bellatrix paused before responding. "Let it suffice to say that our dear relative Sirius has been disposed of, and now the Black name can become the pure, unsullied thing it once was. However, the Dark Lord was…not satisfied with the outcome, for the Potter boy broke the prophecy before any of us could here it. Now do not ask anymore, my dear Narcissa. The less you know, the less trouble you pose for the Dark Lord."

Narcissa's face went blank, and she nodded. "Goodbye then, Bellatrix." Bellatrix nodded her head as she straightened her back. She then Disapparated, leaving Narcissa to crumple ever so slightly in her chair. Draco could here a sigh escape her lips, and he knew how hard this all was for her. "You can come in, Draco dear," she said quietly, looking through the crack of the door.

Draco started a bit, then straightened his back and entered the room. "So they don't know yet," he asked his mother.

"No, my darling, not yet."

"And father"-

"It would be best if you kept your mind clear of such things. You never know who might be listening in." Draco nodded, placing a hand on his mother's shoulder for a moment.

The blonde now looked down at Harry noting his eyes were now open, but it seemed he was trying to hide behind his fringe.

"Harry?" Hermione was looking at her friend questioningly. "Here's your schedule."

"Oh, thanks," he said, still not meeting his friends' eyes. "I'm not very hungry. I think I'm…going to get to class before everybody starts leaving."

Ron and Hermione looked concerned for their friend. They knew he had a tendency to keep things inside, but it couldn't be good for him. Outside of the hall, Harry leaned against a wall, relieved to be alone. Well, maybe not so alone. "Draco?" Still Draco didn't answer, and Harry felt a bit of doubt- Maybe Draco was just part of his dreams, like Sirius and Cedric. Harry let out a long sigh and looked at his schedule for the first time.

The first class he had was Defense Against the Dark Arts, so he started slowly making his way to the room. He knew that Tonks was supposed to eventually become one of the many teachers lined up for this year's Defense teacher, but for now she was off on some mission, so there'd be a surrogate for the surrogate professor. He remembered the last time he'd seen her, Tonks had been prepared to 'have some questions answered', going incognito with dark red hair and sunglasses. Her "beaux's" arm was linked with her own, and he'd looked dotingly at her as she detached herself to walk closer to Harry.

"Be good for me, Harry," she'd said playfully, giving him a small peck on the cheek. "I'll be seeing you at school in a few months." She'd winked and then Disapparated, leaving a blushing Harry to go back to the Dursleys halfway through the summer.

In the entrance to the classroom, Harry paused. He heard somebody humming. The door suddenly flew open, and Harry jumped back. "Oh, I'm sorry, dear! Are you here for the class? I'm terribly excited, aren't you? I do hope I perform well as a teacher."

"Er, hello," Harry replied slowly, not sure what else he could say. Before him stood a slightly plump looking woman, with completely round cheeks due to the widest smile Harry had ever seen. She had somewhat graying hair, and shining eyes. Draco thought he'd seen her before…maybe in the Ministry.

"Come in, dear, take a seat." She ushered Harry into the room, beaming as he took a seat in the middle of the class. "Don't like to be in the front, do we," she said jokingly. Harry shrugged, still unsure of how to take this woman. "What's your name, dear," she asked Harry, taking a seat next to him as if she had nowhere she'd rather be at the moment.

"Harry Potter," he replied, giving her a small smile. Her eyes glanced at and acknowledged the scar on his forehead, partly hidden behind his bangs, and a line of worry appeared on her own forehead.

"My, how did I not notice? Oh dear, you are such a trooper," she said shakily, her eyes brimming with tears. Harry had the notion he should feel slightly alarmed, and knew to be alarmed when he found his head dramatically pulled to rest on his new professor's shoulder. "It's alright, Harry dear, no need to hold in those horrible feelings that must be building up inside of you. Just let them out for Aunt Prunella."

Now Draco knew where he'd seen this woman before. She did work in the ministry- in the Department of International Magical Cooperation…she was the one they'd call on to settle conflicts. Draco could see it now: two old men crying on "Aunt Prunella's" shoulders as they spoke of their woes concerning the other.

By now more students had started walking down the corridors, so it was with an encouraging smile that Aunt Prunella left Harry. While she was off greeting other students that entered, Harry shook his head and reminded himself to tell Ron this story when they had a class together. Draco was amused by this whole act to say the least, and knew that had he been in a real body… Draco was left with a grounding jolt, and rather than try to continue these thoughts he looked around the room that was slowly being filled with students.

Eventually Aunt Prunella stood before the students, beaming at each one before speaking. "Hello, children, my name is Prunella Smith, but please do call me Prunella. It makes everything so much more personal, and I don't want to be just another professor. I want to be your friend." She finished this small speech with an enthusiastic nod and smile, and handed out a piece of parchment to the students with questions written on it.

"Seeing as this is an advanced defense class against the Dark Arts," she continued, "I should hope all of you are in here because you want to be. I will only be your teacher for a month or so, until another can take my place. So that I can get to know you better in this small amount of time, please answer the following questions."

Harry looked down at the parchment in front of him, with Draco looking over his shoulder. "What are your aspirations in life? How does this class fit into it?" Harry and Draco thought these questions were rather fitting. Both pairs of eyes continued to scan down the page. "How can I better support you? Do you sometimes feel the need for someone to help you tend to your emotions?" Harry gave a sigh, shaking his head, unaware that Draco was doing the same behind him.

"Oh goodness," Harry whispered under his breath, and Draco did the same. For the rest of the period, Harry answered the somewhat personal questions, trying to be as vague as he could, feeling strangely as if somebody were watching him.

A/N: Woo..this chapter was longer than the others. But...did anything really get accomplished? Reviews egg along all my wonderful muses, so go ahead and drop one! Criticisms (is that how you spell it? o...o;;), excessive amounts of doting...it's all welcome!