Lessons About A Price Too High

Chapter 06 Marauders Inc. (Part I)

(A/N: As noted in the last chapter, this chapter is dedicated to Cataclysmic, HarrySlytherinson, and ScrewyLouie12)

"When dividing fractions, you simply take the…" Miranda Kirkchell's Magical Hair Shampoo 5 to 7 Sickles for… "After you've flipped it then just multip…" rag's Broom Servicing Kit 10 to 15… "Remember you have to flip, that's called taking the reciproca…" Harry's attention couldn't help but wander between Mr. Limberg's boring lecture on the division of fractions and the even more boring task of memorizingWizard Deals. Using the dualis ring while in public turned out to be a very different experience from using the ring in a private, safe environment. At least, in private when he accidently shifted between bodies whilst moving, no one would become suspicious of his odd behavior. Now, he had to concentrate even while doing the simplest tasks, like shifting in his chair or twirling his pencil.

Maybe if I had something interesting to work on I wouldn't move around so much. Thinking this was a good idea, Harry began reaching down to his backpack to get his notebook and a pen when his 'meter' ring slid across his chest (it's still on the chain). For the first time that day, Harry realized how cold it was. Of course, it was hard to notice the gradual change when the ring was lying in one place and realizing this, Harry was infinitely thankful that he had forgotten to cast a gravity charm on it to keep it still when he ran. Nothing good would come from collapsing of magical exhaustion at school and being sent to a muggle hospital where his unconsciousness couldn't be explained. Note to self: Check temperature every hour. Harry wished he could just take the ring out now to see how close to magical exhaustion he actually was but there was no way of doing that without attracting attention. Too bad there are no more breaks left today… Checking quickly with his other half, he realized that he had already reached the last chapter of the book which happened to be "Magical Cleaners and Disinfectants" Shifting back, he put both hands underneath his desk and pulled the ring off of his finger to put back on the chain. Harry tried to hold still as his limbs reacquainted themselves with what he called "realtime". He had a feeling that he would never really get used to the shift between realtime and dualtime but he did not fall flat on his face like he did the first time he pulled out. Finally, when he felt he could move without surprising himself too much, he reached down once again and grabbed his notebook and pen. He was still moving "too fast" for his brain's current orientation's liking though of course, to everyone else, he was moving at a normal speed. Time to start planning for another trip to Diagon Alley.

Harry began to jot down a list of things that he needed to do.

Go to Gringotts and open an account separate from the rest of the Potter accounts.

Find a way to deposit and withdraw money without having to go the bank everytime.

Find a way to keep in contact with Griphook without having to go the bank everytime.

Get Post Owls to deliver the packages to the selected member's homes.

Go through shops and make a list of actual prices.

……

Draco Malfoy was sprawled on the hard stone floor of his five story mansion, blood gushing out of two deep cuts in his side. His wand lay two feet away, though it might as well have been a thousand. His father's looming form came closer and closer and Draco closed his eyes dreading the curses he was about to endure. He thought back and cursed the day when he, at the unlucky age of 7, had done accidental magic in front of his father. That was the day that his childhood had ended and though, at first, he thought it was worth it to see the proud gleam in his father's eyes, he wasn't so sure anymore.

On Saturday, Harry was busy adding the finishing touches to his business project, an instantaneous catalogue ordering method. He knew it would be successful because with his method, there would be virtually no waiting time between the order being made and the item being received. I guess all those years of listening to Ron complain about post owls really paid off, he thought. There were 5 members he wanted to start out with. Fred and George Weasley, Cedric Diggory, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood. He would need charmed mirrors for all of them. These mirrors should be able to exchange text messages with the master, move items back and forth instantaneously, receive information from the master set, and respond to voice as well as touch commands. Using Will Magic, he conjured and charmed a total of 5 mirrors along with his master set, one mirror every 3 hours (he would have to pace himself to avoid magical exhaustion) and the master last. Meanwhile, he wrote his letter of invitation and created the catalogues for his master set. Categories included: Robes and Clothing for all Occasions, Potions and Ingredients, Quidditch Supplies, Magical Entertainment, and Magical Jewelry and Weapons. It was 3 am before Harry, completely exhausted, collapsed on his bed and fell asleep.

It was a bright Sunday afternoon at the Burrow, well, bright everywhere except for in one room where a mysterious cloud seemed to appear. "Oye Fred! Quick! Get the rain buckets. Mum will have our hides if the carpet gets wet!" shouted a lanky red-haired boy. Fred, his twin and partner in crime leapt to his feet, grabbed a bucket, and was now frantically trying to keep up with the cloud as it circled the room. Neither of them noticed the post owl that had appeared at the window with a flat round package.

Harry sat happily outside of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Shop as he thought about the successful morning he had. The trip to Gringotts had been a breeze and Griphook had solved all of his problems by giving him a two-way magical letter box. Harry was glad that his will magic had allowed him to create instantaneous travel with multiple recipients as he couldn't imagine the horror of organizing several two-way mirrors. After all, Griphook had a whole separate office to keep all of his letter boxes. That was beside the point however, as he could now send letters, give deposits, or get withdrawals without ever having to leave his trunk. Getting the post owls was a bit harder as Harry had only 16 galleons left. He managed, however, though sadly, he was only able to hire four owls at 4 galleons each and to pass the weight specifications, had only been able to send the Weasley twins one enchanted mirror instead of two. He hoped they wouldn't mind.

Draco Malfoy stepped out of Borgin and Burkes 650 galleons poorer but with a prize that he felt was much worth the galleons spent… an unregistered invisibility cloak.

Draco had come to Diagon Alley with not much in mind except to spend his stockpiled allowance money while he could. His father had been called away to the Ministry and had "unfortunately" not been able to test him on that day's learning materials. And mother, well, mother has that "going to school" ball she has to plan. Though I don't see why, after all, we've all known for years that I could get into which ever wizarding school I chose. Draco sighed at this thought. His mother was always on about this party or another and rarely had anytime for him. Of course, it was very respectable to be invited to all of these parties and he knew that she was forging political and social bonds with what was left of the purebloods, but still, sometimes he wished that he could see more of her. He knew she loved him, that was for sure… but still… Arg… you're being a prat, he told himself, think of all of the times mother never told father about your accidental magic. Think of the reason you're not being sent to Durmstrang!

Urgg, you're being lazy! Harry thought. There are so many more things that need to be done and you're still sitting here. But even as he berated himself, Harry Potter knew that there was no way he was getting out of his seat. Perhaps it was the warm sunshine, or maybe the third ice cream sundae was just a little too much, but he really couldn't budge… not that he wanted to… But then, a flash of platinum blond caught his eye, and Harry saw someone that made him want to jump from his seat. For once, he was glad that his reactions were so much slower than his thoughts and he managed to restrain himself. An eleven year old Draco Malfoy, with no sign of the famous sneer twisting his face, was what had caught Harry's attention. It seemed like Malfoy was walking aimlessly, though, apparently he had a destination in mind as he turned left and started heading straight towards Harry. Harry's heart nearly stopped before he remembered that he and Malfoy hadn't met yet and that he was decked out in his Shifter form with no messy hair or pesky scar in sight. He tried to relax his features as Malfoy walked up and asked, "Mind if I sit here?"

Normally no Malfoy would EVER opt to sit with any other wizard or witch of unknown origins and Draco was sure that if he had been at this establishment with his father, his father would have demanded that table and chairs be transfigured for them. Today, however, his father wasn't here and Draco didn't really want to draw attention to himself. If he did, then someone nearby would surely recognize him and inform his father of his outing and the fact that he had not been at home studying like he was told. He would just have to take his chances and pray that he wasn't sitting next to some mudblood that would taint his magic and his name. "A chocolate smoothie" he said, turning to Fortescue, who had noticed his arrival. Then he turned back to the boy sitting opposite him. He looked around 11, not too tall, not too short, definitely not of English descent but not unrespectable yet. In fact, in some areas, he seemed distinctly aristocratic. All families of wealth had taught their children that a member of their line must never seem eager and move with an air of grace and calmness that befitted their station. Though his father had tried to drill this particular trait in him, Draco often found difficulty hiding his excited emotions. The boy across from him, however, was doing exactly that with a naturalness that even his father did not possess. Deciding that this boy was fit to befriend, Draco stuck out his hand and began to say, "Hullo, I'm Dra…"

"You're Draco Malfoy" It just came out. He hadn't meant to say it. It had just come out. Malfoy looked surprised, then, gave a superior sneer.Great, now you've gone and inflated his ego. It's bigger than ever before… if that's possible. "Yes, well of course you would know who I am, and you are?" Harry froze. What should I say? Though he had never been overly fond of Malfoy, he knew that Draco wasn't evil. An annoying spoilt brat with a serious jealousy problem, yes; but ultimately, not evil. I should know what evil is… "Nicolas Tan" he replied, remembering his current appearance.

A foreigner… but I expected that, thought Draco, but not a mudblood, not with that aristocratic drawl. "And wha…" he began to say, but Nicolas beat him to it. "What are you planning to do today?" "Planning to spend all of this money," Draco said, pointing to the money sack at his waist. Nicolas raised his eyebrows. "Risky, risky… and how do you know I'm not a thief planning to run off with all of your gold?" Was this idiot daft? Draco thought. Everyone knew that every Malfoy pouch had extensive antitheft charms on them. Maybe he's joking... Once again, before Draco was able to comment, Nicolas began speaking again. "Besides, why spend it all now? It isn't befitting of a Malfoy to look as if he were never going to come back." So he was joking. A little quip to lighten the mood before he got to the point. Though Malfoys were never supposed to be anything but calm, collected, and superior at any outing or social event, Draco knew that other pureblood families valued a quick wit and sense of humor… providing that it was in right company. Draco decided there was no point in making up a lie. In all likelihood, he would never see Nicolas again. Foreign families never sent their sons to Hogwarts. Besides, nothing he said or did here would reach the ears of his father. Draco had never had a friend or even met anyone that wasn't directly under his father's thumb. This was refreshing. "Well, I rarely have the time to leave the mansion with all of the extra lessons I have to take to keep up the Malfoy standard... well, you know what it's like."

Yes, Harry did know what it was like. Not that he had ever been forced to study to match up to his name. Kill a dark lord more like it… But really, he supposed it wasn't all that different. This was the first decent conversation that he had ever had with Malfoy and after all, the boy wasn't being a complete prat. But then again, I'm not the "oh-so-glorious" Potter. All in all, he was discovering more about the blond boy than he ever knew. "Father says I should be finished with the second-year material by end-of-summer," Malfoy continued. "So I know there will be no more time to leave the manor after this." Malfoy looks, almost wistful… Harry thought. I refused Malfoy's friendship in the first-year and never got to know him as a person. Suddenly, he felt a twinge of guilt. He had judged Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherin House on a first impression and gossip from the other first years. He was as guilty as the Death Eaters he was trying to condemn in that point. A determination filled Harry then, if he couldn't befriend Malfoy as himself, he'd befriend him as Nicolas Tan. I'll be as close a friend as Malfoys are allowed to have, he promised himself as he wandlessly changed the name George Weasley intoDraco Malfoy.

Nicolas got steadily to his feet and Draco felt a twinge of disappointment as he watched. He was finding his first 'real' conversation quite enjoyable. "Leaving so soon?" he teased, letting go of all pretenses. Nicolas grinned and turned with a flourish. "I'm afraid I must leave you Draco, with an adieu and farewell." Draco laughed openly at this, enjoying the exaggerated etiquette. He had hated those lessons as well. He was planning to reply with something witty and equally amusing, but Nicolas had already put on his cloak and was beginning to walk away. Then, turning around, he pulled a strange looking package from his pocket and laid it on the table. "I would keep some galleons with you this time when you get back to the manor," he said, winking. "Oh, and by the way, call me Shifter." Draco could only stare at the retreating back of his…friend? as he walked off.

(A/N: I wasn't planning to split this chapter into two parts but it was just taking so long to write. I was kind of disappointed with HBP and it threw me off track.)

LadyNymph

Kristina

I got both of your reviews. I guess ffnet was just a little slow that day.

Rasgara

Lady Gallatea Ravenclaw

Gman5

Hope12

I'm really glad you've enjoyed my story so far. You've been with me from the beginning and I really appreciate that.

Marquerida

I've read a lot of fan fictions where 'angry!Harry' just takes charge and butts Dumbledore out of the way but it never seemed very realistic to me. Doesn't it make more sense that even if Harry were going to go against Dumbledore openly that he would need a couple years to acquaint himself with the public and give them a stronger impression that isn't so easily swayed? (Though I think witches and wizards are very easily swayed… kind of like sheep)

Ron does know and Harry will find out but 'in the past' (the first time) Harry never finds out which is why it's going to be such a shock for him this time.

I don't know what I'm going to do with Ron yet but I'm trying not to make him out as evil because so little people start out that way.

To all of the reviewers who didn't get personal replies, thank you for reviewing. More comments are welcome.