Chapter Three: Lost Friends
Two days later, far from Scotland, in a country riddled with dark secrets, a lone black owl soared towards a single lit window in a dark, imposing manor house. A solitary figure sat, reclined, on a sofa of deep forest green and mahogany. His slim, pale fingers rested against the stem of a crystal goblet set on a dark mahogany side table etched with silver leafing. His head was bent to the book resting in his lap as he focused his entire being on translating the ancient script. A sharp tapping against the window jolted him from his studies and piercing gray eyes sought out the interruption. Though he knew the sound well, it was not what he was accustomed to hearing anymore. Not since he cut himself off from his old life. Now, only two ever wrote to him, and only two ever visited. His godfather, and his best friend, more like a brother than anything.
He gestured with his wand and the window slid soundlessly open. The black owl slipped in and imperiously held out his leg with the parchment scroll tied securely to it. The young man, older in wisdom than in years, untied the letter and sent the owl off to be fed and watered in the owlery. With a feeling of trepidation, he unrolled the scroll and slowly read the contents. Then read them again. After the third reading of the letter, he rang a discreet bell and a house-elf appeared.
"Tippy, I want you to pack for a month for me. I will need cold weather clothes, as well as a few casual robes for warmer spells. I want my silver lined cloak left out for traveling, and a plain black one packed as well. One set of dress robes should be sufficient. Understand?"
"Yes Master. Tippy pack now for you."
With a bow, the elf disappeared down the darkened corridors of the Manor.
Harry sat at the Head Table, at the very end next to Neville. He wasn't paying his old schoolmate any attention, though, as his mind was on far more confusing, and agreeable, things. Namely, one Severus Snape. His attention, however, was immediately grabbed by the opening of the doors that led into the Entrance Hall from the Great Hall as a cloaked and hooded figure strolled haughtily through. He knew that walk, that arrogant air. And dammit! He knew that cloak! He bought it himself for the young man, purposely done in Slytherin green and lined with silver silk. He stood swiftly, moving around the table with the grace of a large cat to intercept the newcomer.
The two stopped precisely five steps apart and glared at each other, as if they've done this countless times.
"Potter." The newcomer snarled with a hint of a sneer twisting his lips.
"Malfoy." Harry growled back, even as Draco Malfoy dropped his hood.
Then, without another word to each other, they moved in tandem towards the doors that Draco had so recently come through, leaving a table full of gaping faces, with the notable exception of one expressionless mask.
They climbed the stairs up to Harry's suite of rooms, although the raven haired man had yet to use them, talking softly.
"I received a rather interesting letter from Uncle Sev yesterday, so naturally I had to come and see if it was true." Draco remarked.
Harry raised a questioning brow at the blond.
"He said that you had come back to teach. What happened with the Aurors? Weren't good enough for the famous Harry Potter?" The comment, though seemingly cruel, was in all actuality a customary part of their repertoire.
"I was sick of it. Sick of the fighting, the blood shed, rounding up remaining Death Eaters." Harry grinned at this point. "Trying to find the remarkably reclusive Draco Malfoy, Death Eater Extraordinare."
"What made you finally decide to take the old coot up on his offer of teaching here? The last time he asked you, if I remember correctly, you gave him such a forceful no that I never thought he'd ask again."
Harry sighed at this. "I wasn't going to, but he wore me down. And now that I'm here..." he trailed off with a glance back from where they had come.
Draco nodded his understanding. One of the main reasons his friend had not wanted to return to Hogwarts was Severus. The other being the memories.
"How have you been coping, then? He hasn't said anything, has he?"
"No. Not that I expect him to, at any rate."
"He cares for you, you know." Draco said in a quiet voice that carried no further than the man beside him.
"Sure he does. And he's just being contrary about it, right?" A wry smile, a dry voice.
A snort. "He wouldn't be Severus Snape if he wasn't contrary, now would he?"
They arrived at the rooms prepared for Harry and entered after a muttered password. After they seated themselves on the sofa in front of the cold fireplace, and Harry had ordered drinks from a house-elf, they resumed their conversation.
"So, what else did he say in his letter?"
"Just that you won't stay here overnight, and that you seem more distant and withdrawn than ever."
"I stay at 'Mione's place in Hogsmeade. I just can't stay here right now. It's too soon."
"Stay tonight. I'll stay with you, keep the memories at bay."
Harry gave a weary smile to his friend, but didn't answer. As the hour grew late, and darkness had fallen long ago, he found himself drifting off. Draco lit a fire and carefully moved from away from Harry so as not to disturb him yet. He took a pinch of powder from the mantle above the fireplace and threw it into the flicker flames. When they turned green, he stuck his head in them and called out "Hermione Granger!"
Her head appeared in the fire before him, and he informed, in a very patented Malfoy way, that Harry was staying the night at Hogwarts, and that he would be with him. She seemed worried and relieved at this news. He took her relief for what it was, that Harry was finally facing his past, instead of what he would have taken it for a few years ago. Then he would have assumed that she just wanted her house to herself again, but now he knew better. So he merely asked that she send some clothes up for Harry, then closed the firecall.
After moving Harry into the bedroom, the sleepy man rousing only enough to stumble along behind him, he lent Harry a pair of his pajamas and changed into another pair himself, before falling exhausted into bed beside his 'brother'. He had a long interview to conduct with his godfather in the morning, and he planned on being well rested and fed for it.
A/N: I know. Really short, and mostly filler. Had to introduce Draco somehow, tho, didn't I? I do apologize for the lateness of this chapter. Between real life, and my muses running away together, well... You know how it is.
Thanks to all my reviewers! You guys really mean a lot to me.
ResQgal ~ Yes! Damn Sev. But he's got his own demons to beat
back first.
Savage Damsel ~ I can't wait for your next story, then. Let
me know when it's been posted. Here's Draco for you.
Corgi1 ~ Thanks!
Mystic Moon6 ~ Here you are.
Mikee ~ Thanks! Cheer up, because here's more. I'm really
glad you liked the last chapter, tho, as it's my personal favorite so far.
Thanks for the compliments on Sev, too. He's really happy with that, although
he wouldn't ever admit it. *grins*
Saturnine the Possesive ~ *hands a moist towelette to you
for the foam* Thanks. I read your review to my mom, squealing in delight.
Come to think of it, I read Mikee's the same way. I love you guys. All
of you, really. Thanks for sticking with me.