A/N: Hey guys! Sorry to keep you waiting. My Muse took a mini-vacation.
She's back now, but so relaxed she couldn't bring herself to hit me. Don't
worry. She'll be back to her violent self soon! It's not too long, but
the next chapter is school starting again and court. Enjoy! ~Sylvia
"Harry, he's here." Draco said from the doorway of the library. Harry looked up from his books and nodded. He gathered everything together and followed Draco up to Dumbledore's office. When he entered, he saw a man in a suit with a wizard's robe over top. "Harry, this is Mr. Connell. He's my lawyer. Mr. Connell, this is Harry Potter." Mr. Connell had a warm smile as he rose from his chair and came over to greet the two boys.
"Hello, Mr. Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you." He took Harry's hand and shook it. "Draco, good to see you again." Mr. Connell gestured towards the conjured table Dumbledore had set up for them before he left to be with Tom that morning. "Draco tells me that your guardian is in a bit of a tight spot." Harry nodded. "Perhaps I should get the whole story, Mr. Potter?" He said, taking out a notebook and looking at Harry expectantly.
"Please, just call me Harry." He told the man. "The whole story as long as I have been with him, or since the Aurors attacked our home?" Harry asked.
"As long as you have been with him, why you were with him to begin with, and why you trust him." Harry sat back and thought for a few minutes on how to word it.
"He first contacted me at the beginning of the summer. My guardians, the Dursleys, did not like me. They ignored me, and when my uncle Vernon lost his temper with me, he would lock me in my room for days on end. When I wasn't in my room, I was put to work around the house. I don't mind chores at all, but doing them one after the other, and then being yelled at for not doing them satisfactorily was just a bit much to handle. I can show you memories for that. The pensive can explain far easier than I can. My cousin Dudley took up Muggle boxing over the school year and started to hurt me badly. I didn't trust Tom, because I thought he was Voldemort, so I ignored his offer to help me. Matthew, when I wasn't seen for a few days, came to check on me. He found me in my room. I was unconscious at the time. He said that I had a few injuries and that he took me out of there. I don't remember anything until I woke up and saw a doctor. I had thought that Dumbledore had came and got me, but I didn't see him." Harry sighed. "I'm sorry. This would just be easier with the pensive. Could we do it that way?"
"Sure, if you would be more comfortable." Mr. Connell said, sitting back. So far, from what the boy had told him, he had been manipulated beyond all comprehension by this Tom character, preying on Harry's insecurities. He watched as Harry pulled out a pensive from his school bag and his wand. Harry drew several strands from his head and set them in the pensive. Harry pulled out the first time he saw Tom, the explanation, Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, back home, football, lessons with Tom, and finally Snape figuring it out and arranging to have Harry back at Hogwarts, Christmas break, Malfoy, Christmas Day, and finally the Aurors breaking into the house. Harry sighed and pushed the pensive over to the lawyer.
"Everything is there. It's just much faster this way." Draco pulled out his own pensive and started collecting his memories about his father becoming the Dark Lord while Mr. Connell took a look at Harry's memories. He was staring into the pensive for quite a while. Mr. Connell sat back away from the pensive and looked over at Harry. "I'd say that we can do something with those, Harry, if you're willing to let a court see them." Harry nodded.
"Anything to get Tom and Matthew back." He told Connell.
"I also have something that I would like you to see." Draco told Connell. He pushed his own pensive towards the lawyer and watched as he looked into the memories there. When he sat up again, he looked over to Draco.
"Do you still have the Mark?" He asked quietly. Draco nodded, clutching his left arm. "I see. I may have to ask you to show that in court." Draco nodded.
"As long as Malfoy is stopped." He answered. Connell looked at the two boys in front of him. They were both so determined to help Tom and stop the new Dark Lord. There was no doubt in his mind that Malfoy was the Dark Lord at this point. He had marked his own son, and was continuing to torture the boy through that mark. Some things in life weren't fair, and Connell was sure that these two boys were some of the most badly treated boys in the wizarding community.
"Well, boys, I have some research to do, but I do believe that we have a viable case to get Mr. Riddle cleared of all charges." He answered. "I'll contact the both of you and let you know when the trial will start." Harry stood as Connell stood and shook the man's hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Connell, for all of your help." Connell smiled at the Boy Who Lived.
"My pleasure, Harry." The man used Dumbledore's private Floo to leave the castle. Harry and Draco left Dumbledore's office and went to Gryffindor tower to grab their brooms. They had made a Quidditch match between the two of them.
"So why do you have your own lawyer, Draco?" Harry asked.
"What do you think I did while you were in the hospital wing that first night after we rescued you? I secured the wealth that was mine, and told Mr. Connell that my father would disown me, and that he could be my lawyer or deal with Malfoy. He chose me." Harry nodded as he drew on his heavy outer cloak for warmth against the January chill.
"School starts in two days." Draco muttered. Harry nodded as the two went downstairs to the common room. "I can't help but wonder what will happen then." Harry grinned over at his friend and shook his head.
"I do believe that you and I will be the school's biggest outcasts, what with me apprenticed to the Dark Lord, and you suddenly rejected by Slytherins and friends with the Dark Lord's apprentice." Harry told him as they headed out to the Quidditch pitch. Draco shrugged.
"Bring them on!" He said cheekily. "I'll hex anyone who looks at you the wrong way." Harry laughed and tagged Malfoy, running in the direction of the pitch. "Oy!" Draco ran after him, finally catching up to him on the grass. "That was dirty, Potter." Draco growled. He reached out and tagged Harry, kicking off from the ground at the same time. Harry followed with a smirk on his face and proceeded to chase Draco through the air above the Quidditch pitch. "You'll never catch me, Potter!" Draco taunted. Draco's grin disappeared as Harry's broom neared Draco's own. Draco's eyes grew wide and he sped up a bit to avoid his friend, whose murderous glare was starting to frighten him.
They both landed an hour later. "Let's go get some dinner, you prat!" Harry said to Draco. Draco nodded and threw his arm around Harry.
"Chess afterwards." Harry smiled but shook his head. "Aw, come on."
"No, you always beat me with that funny chess set of yours." They both entered the tunnel, remembering the last time they had played chess together. Harry had lost when he couldn't stop laughing long enough to defend his pieces.
"Harry!" They both turned at the sound of the voice and were blinded by a camera flash. A few reporters came forward and started firing questions at the boys. Draco pulled Harry through the crowd, all the while taking pictures of the Boy Who Lived. They made it to the castle and locked the doors behind them.
"How did they get on the grounds?" Harry asked. Draco shrugged. He had no idea at all. "Let's get some dinner. We'll tell Dumbledore or Severus about it tonight." Harry nodded and followed Draco to the Great Hall. It was only the two of them for a while, before some of the other students came in. The pair was pretty much ignored by all of the students. Few understood them and less wanted to be around the odd pair. They talked about what life would be like when everyone around them stopped being prats and realized that petty house distinctions were only serving to creating rivalries that no one really needed in school.
The two of them talked to Severus later that night. Dumbledore was still at the Ministry, fighting about the trial. It seemed that Fudge didn't want to give the man a trial at all. He wanted anyone accused of being the Dark Lord killed on sight. Harry was convinced that the man had finally succumbed to insanity. Of course, with the high levels of stress on the man since Voldemort had returned, Harry wouldn't be at all surprised if he had gone mad.
"Sev, there were some reporters on the grounds today." Draco said after Severus had told them of Dumbledore being at the Ministry.
"Oh?" He asked, pouring both boys a glass of pumpkin juice. Harry nodded.
"Yeah. We were wondering how they got onto the grounds." Draco said, accepting his glass while nudging Harry to take his. Severus smirked and sighed.
"Wondered how long it would take you two boys to figure it out." Severus told them. Draco looked up while Harry raised an eyebrow. "You learned that from your guardians." He said to Harry.
"You're right I did. What did you mean by 'wondered how long it would take you two boys to figure it out'?" Harry demanded. Severus smiled.
"Albus had a wonderful idea of showing them exactly how normal you are, especially after spending most of the summer with the rumored 'Dark Lord'. He gave some of them a password to get onto the grounds. Don't worry, Albus trusts all of them. They are allowed to slink around here and try to catch you being normal." Harry grinned. He was amazed that Dumbledore had gone about it this way, but what better method to convince everyone that he was not an evil apprentice.
"He could have warned us." Draco mumbled. Snape smiled.
"Sorry, Draco, but Albus thought it better if they could get some candid shots of you, to make it more realistic. Just try not to be outside alone, that is all Albus asks. If they approach you, just ignore them. If they ask you any questions, just tell them you can't talk and rush off, muttering something about being late for class or Quidditch practice. Whatever you do, act like you're normal." Harry looked up.
"What's normal? I don't think that I have ever been normal." Draco laughed.
"Just act like you did this summer, without the snake." Snape told him. A slightly mischievous smile spread across Harry's face.
"That was you?" Draco said, outraged. "Do you know I can't even call your friend Hermione a mudblood any more? I can only say it in reference to past happenings." Harry smiled up at him.
"That's good. That's what the snakebite was supposed to do." Harry immediately started running when his new friend pulled out his wand. Harry managed to duck behind Severus, who somehow managed to calm Draco down. Severus told Harry to stop hiding behind him. "I'm not coming out till he puts his wand away." Harry replied.
Draco smiled and shook his head. "This is the savior of the wizarding world?" He asked rhetorically, falling back into the sofa. "We're doomed!" He announced, not seeing Harry launch himself at Draco. "Ack! Sev! Help!" Severus fell into a chair, laughing at his ward.
"You made your bed, Draco." He said between gasps. Harry and Draco wrestled around for a few minutes before Harry let Draco up.
"You win, Harry!" Draco told his friend as Harry helped him to his feet. "Man, I thought you wouldn't take offense to that." He said, wiping some non-existent dust off his robes.
"Try living with that reputation." Harry told him. Severus sent both boys off to bed in Gryffindor tower.
"I'll see you both in the morning." He told them. He watched as the two walked down the hallway, playfully hitting each other. "Like two lion cubs, those two." He caught what he said and hit his forehead in exasperation. "He's going to be resorted to Gryffindor, I'm sure of it!" He growled to himself before he went to bed, the headmaster's plan of resorting Draco for his own safety going round in his head. "Bloody Gryffindors!"
"Harry!" Draco said, springing onto Harry's bed. "Wake up!" Harry sat up out of his nightmare and looked around. It was only he and Draco in the room, no born again Death Eaters, and thank Merlin no Malfoy. He looked over to Draco. "Sorry I jumped on you, but it was the only way you would wake up." Harry took a deep breath.
"Thanks, Draco. How's your arm?" He asked, rubbing his scar.
"Not a twinge. He must be focusing on you." Harry shrugged. "Harry, why do you think Malfoy became the Dark Lord?" Harry shook his head. He reached out and took a sip from the glass of water that was always near his bed. He didn't feel like talking much right now. "I have an idea." Harry looked up at him. "I could be wrong, but it's worth a shot, anyway."
"What is it, Draco?" Draco made himself comfortable at the foot of the bed while Harry moved to make room for him.
"Well, I was thinking." Draco started.
"Amazing." Harry said, managing to get a fair amount of awe into his voice. A pillow hit his face.
"Prat! Anyway, I think that when Tom became Tom, the evil that is Voldemort just left his body and found someone willing to accept it." Harry stared at him.
"Evil just doesn't act like that, Draco." He said. Draco sighed.
"You really were raised by Muggles, weren't you?" He asked rhetorically. "Why do think Light and Dark Wizards exist, Harry?" Draco said, moving forward as though to make his point. "Light and Dark maintains a balance, Harry. When there is someone who is completely Good, then there is someone completely Evil." Draco explained.
"So you're saying that I'm completely Good?" Harry asked. Draco nodded.
"That's why you're needed to fight Voldemort. That's why he still exists after Tom no longer accepted him. Voldemort needed to find someone Dark enough to accept him, and he found it in Malfoy." Draco explained slowly, waiting for Harry to understand it. "That's why you have the same wand. You are exact opposites of each other." Harry sat back. It was so simple when Draco explained it that way.
"So why is he after me?" He asked.
Draco grinned at Harry. "He's after you because you are his exact opposite. Exact opposites always cancel each other out." Harry paled.
"What do you mean?" He demanded.
"Well, when the two of you fight, you're going to match each other." Harry groaned. He really didn't want to fight the Dark Lord. He hated the thought of it. Draco saw his friend's distress. "Come on. Get dressed. It's time to convince the rest of the world that you're just a normal kid." Harry groaned and tossed a pillow at Draco. Draco tossed it back and ducked when it was returned. "Breakfast." Draco said, leaving Harry to get dressed.
Both boys went down the stairs and headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast. Draco gave a playful punch at Harry's shoulder. A flash went off behind them, but both ignored it. Harry returned it, and another flash went off. "Do they have invisibility cloaks?" Harry wondered. Draco shrugged and opened the doors.
"Don't look now, but there's two to our right." Draco whispered. "Act normal." Harry nodded and smiled towards Draco. The two bantered back and forth during breakfast and managed to give some good photo opportunities to the lurking reporters.
"This is a public relations nightmare. I have to act normal." Harry whispered, causing Draco to spurt some pumpkin juice out of his mouth. Harry froze for about a second before laughing. The two boys somehow managed to finish their breakfast before heading down to the dungeons to beg Severus to come out to the Quidditch pitch with them so they could get in some seeker practice. Severus rolled his eyes with a small grin and grabbed a potions book to keep himself occupied while the boys risked life and limb while hurtling towards the ground.
"Catch me if you can, Potter!" Draco shouted at Harry when he kicked off from the ground and took off into the air. Severus's book lasted all of five minutes when the boys started practicing Wronski Feints. Severus dropped his book at the sight of Draco speeding towards the ground. He stood and held his breath until Draco pulled up.
"Good timing, Draco!" Harry shouted from the air.
"Do not do it again!" Severus bellowed at the two boys. Both of them turned to Severus in surprise. What had they done wrong? Harry shrugged at Draco, who only turned to Severus in confusion. Draco flew over to the stands and hovered near Severus.
"Don't do what again?" Draco asked.
"That- that- thing you just did with the diving towards the ground." Severus explained.
"The Wronski feint?" Draco asked. "Sev, that's a perfectly legal and safe move in the Seeker position." Draco tried to explain.
"I don't care. I think my heart stopped." Severus told him, unconsciously clutching his chest as he sank to the bench beneath him. Draco shook his head and returned to Harry.
"He doesn't want us to do anymore Wronski Feints." Draco told Harry. Harry shrugged and released the snitch again, both boys setting off after it with all the enthusiasm they could manage without the Wronski Feints. Severus called down Draco and Harry to lunch, while the reporters took photographs of the pair with their teacher.
Draco followed Severus and Harry down to the dungeons, chatting with Harry about the plausibility of Wronski Feints being allowed at the next Quidditch game. Draco stumbled on the stairs the same time as Harry, clutching his forearm. Harry glanced around for reporters, and seeing none, raised a hand to his forehead as he steadied Draco. Severus supported Draco the rest of the way to his room and settled the boy on the couch. "He's very angry." Harry told Severus, who only nodded and started pouring pain potions down the throats of Harry and Draco. Harry sighed as his pain slowly started to disappear. One look at Draco told Harry that the boy was feeling relieved as well.
"Let's get some lunch into the two of you. After that, you're both staying here away from prying eyes." Harry nodded, as he didn't want to have to act normal when his forehead felt like it would split open. Severus ordered lunch for the three of them from the house elves while Harry nudged his friend. Draco opened his eyes.
"You okay?" Draco nodded.
"You?" Harry smiled.
"Never better." Draco shook his head.
"Hero complex." Draco muttered as Snape called them to the table. Harry followed his friend and relaxed at lunch with his professor, all three debating about which subject was better, defense or potions. Harry finally conceded that while you could stop someone from killing you, you could only use potions to extract revenge without getting caught.
The Dark Lord was pacing in his study, repeatedly sending the summons to his son. He had thrown the Daily Prophet across the room and incinerated it when he had seen that the home he had sent Aurors to raid had only been the home of Tom Riddle. It was the boy who had finally caused the Dark Lord's temper to snap. The fact that Harry Potter was masquerading as Tom Riddle's nephew had not helped his house elves to escape the Cruciatus curse. Luckily, he had remembered to lift the curse before madness set in. He wouldn't want mad house elves running about the manor. He pressed his wand to his forearm and summoned the death eaters. Tonight, there would be a raid. It was time that the wizarding world knew the Dark Lord was back, and there was nothing they could do to stop him.
Reviews:
Necromancer13: Thanks for your review! I'll include some more subjects next time. I just wanted to show what Harry could do with some solid encouragement.
FireFaerie: Not at all. Michael Riddle does not know the name of Dumbledore, or he shouldn't. Tom never mentions him unless it's in reference to Harry's safety. He would not tell his nephew of him. He would assume that Dumbledore was a professor if anything else. Thanks for reviewing!
Trallgorda: Thanks sis! I'll fix that. Shameless plug! Read my sister's story by searching her pen name. It's really good if you like Teen Titans!
Prd2bAmerican18: Thanks! Hope this wasn't too long of a wait.
RebelBrat: Thanks for reviewing! Time will tell.
Koekeishiya: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like it. Time will tell!
RillieDeAnnPotter5569: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. I'm afraid you'll have to wait to find out what happens.
SheWolfe7: Thanks! Don't worry. The Slytherin in Harry will continue to come out. He's very manipulative when he wants to be. I agree. Malfoy needs to be taken out.
HoshiHikari4ever: Everyone is confused about who this man is that Harry has been staying with. No one, including Fudge, knows what is going on. Ron and Hermione are still very young, compared to Harry, and are easily led by the opinions of others. Just wait and see what happens on that front. I don't think Lupin has showed up at all, or if he will. I don't think he's in my story. Maybe he'll come in later. Look for him then. You are absolutely right. Must defend Tom! Thanks for your awesome review!
I can't find the snitch: Did I ever tell you that I love your name? It's so cute and funny. Thank you for the wonderful compliment. I'm glad you're enjoying my story.
Otaku freak: Don't worry. It's not in this chapter, but something will happen with Ron and Hermione. Thanks for the awesome review!
Andrea10: OUCH! Don't worry. She is still going to be hitting me about the head. Next chapter should be within the week.
Kashke: Don't worry. They're going to talk to Harry. Fireworks and chaos! Thanks for the wonderful review!
Hermionegreen: Thanks for your continued support. I'm glad you like me so much. Draco and Harry work well together, don't they? Thanks for reviewing.
Suzanne of Dragon's Breath: Thanks for reviewing, Sue! The code might come in later, when Draco and Harry are bored.
Eav: Thanks for reviewing. Glad you like it! Another chapter is coming soon!
Violet2: Glad you like it. I saw your email. I hope you received mine. Good luck on the books Thanks for your review!
Nphipps: Thanks! I'm overwhelmed with the response I've received.
Jbfritz: Thank you! Next chapter soon.
EriEka127: Sorry to keep you in suspense! Next chapter should be soon!
The Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Thank you! Er, you're not my reaper, are you? You know, my name says Shadowsylvia, but I don't think I'm the kind of shadow you're looking for! Lol Thanks for reviewing!
Rachel A. Prongs: Thanks! Glad you liked it. Next chappie soon!
Numba1: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Next chappie soon!
SilverFated: Glad you liked it. Don't worry. The next chapter is soon!
To Everyone Else: Thanks for reading my story. I hope you liked it. If you wouldn't mind, could you just drop me a little review. I don't know if anything is wrong if I'm not told! Thank you! ~Sylvia
"Harry, he's here." Draco said from the doorway of the library. Harry looked up from his books and nodded. He gathered everything together and followed Draco up to Dumbledore's office. When he entered, he saw a man in a suit with a wizard's robe over top. "Harry, this is Mr. Connell. He's my lawyer. Mr. Connell, this is Harry Potter." Mr. Connell had a warm smile as he rose from his chair and came over to greet the two boys.
"Hello, Mr. Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you." He took Harry's hand and shook it. "Draco, good to see you again." Mr. Connell gestured towards the conjured table Dumbledore had set up for them before he left to be with Tom that morning. "Draco tells me that your guardian is in a bit of a tight spot." Harry nodded. "Perhaps I should get the whole story, Mr. Potter?" He said, taking out a notebook and looking at Harry expectantly.
"Please, just call me Harry." He told the man. "The whole story as long as I have been with him, or since the Aurors attacked our home?" Harry asked.
"As long as you have been with him, why you were with him to begin with, and why you trust him." Harry sat back and thought for a few minutes on how to word it.
"He first contacted me at the beginning of the summer. My guardians, the Dursleys, did not like me. They ignored me, and when my uncle Vernon lost his temper with me, he would lock me in my room for days on end. When I wasn't in my room, I was put to work around the house. I don't mind chores at all, but doing them one after the other, and then being yelled at for not doing them satisfactorily was just a bit much to handle. I can show you memories for that. The pensive can explain far easier than I can. My cousin Dudley took up Muggle boxing over the school year and started to hurt me badly. I didn't trust Tom, because I thought he was Voldemort, so I ignored his offer to help me. Matthew, when I wasn't seen for a few days, came to check on me. He found me in my room. I was unconscious at the time. He said that I had a few injuries and that he took me out of there. I don't remember anything until I woke up and saw a doctor. I had thought that Dumbledore had came and got me, but I didn't see him." Harry sighed. "I'm sorry. This would just be easier with the pensive. Could we do it that way?"
"Sure, if you would be more comfortable." Mr. Connell said, sitting back. So far, from what the boy had told him, he had been manipulated beyond all comprehension by this Tom character, preying on Harry's insecurities. He watched as Harry pulled out a pensive from his school bag and his wand. Harry drew several strands from his head and set them in the pensive. Harry pulled out the first time he saw Tom, the explanation, Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, back home, football, lessons with Tom, and finally Snape figuring it out and arranging to have Harry back at Hogwarts, Christmas break, Malfoy, Christmas Day, and finally the Aurors breaking into the house. Harry sighed and pushed the pensive over to the lawyer.
"Everything is there. It's just much faster this way." Draco pulled out his own pensive and started collecting his memories about his father becoming the Dark Lord while Mr. Connell took a look at Harry's memories. He was staring into the pensive for quite a while. Mr. Connell sat back away from the pensive and looked over at Harry. "I'd say that we can do something with those, Harry, if you're willing to let a court see them." Harry nodded.
"Anything to get Tom and Matthew back." He told Connell.
"I also have something that I would like you to see." Draco told Connell. He pushed his own pensive towards the lawyer and watched as he looked into the memories there. When he sat up again, he looked over to Draco.
"Do you still have the Mark?" He asked quietly. Draco nodded, clutching his left arm. "I see. I may have to ask you to show that in court." Draco nodded.
"As long as Malfoy is stopped." He answered. Connell looked at the two boys in front of him. They were both so determined to help Tom and stop the new Dark Lord. There was no doubt in his mind that Malfoy was the Dark Lord at this point. He had marked his own son, and was continuing to torture the boy through that mark. Some things in life weren't fair, and Connell was sure that these two boys were some of the most badly treated boys in the wizarding community.
"Well, boys, I have some research to do, but I do believe that we have a viable case to get Mr. Riddle cleared of all charges." He answered. "I'll contact the both of you and let you know when the trial will start." Harry stood as Connell stood and shook the man's hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Connell, for all of your help." Connell smiled at the Boy Who Lived.
"My pleasure, Harry." The man used Dumbledore's private Floo to leave the castle. Harry and Draco left Dumbledore's office and went to Gryffindor tower to grab their brooms. They had made a Quidditch match between the two of them.
"So why do you have your own lawyer, Draco?" Harry asked.
"What do you think I did while you were in the hospital wing that first night after we rescued you? I secured the wealth that was mine, and told Mr. Connell that my father would disown me, and that he could be my lawyer or deal with Malfoy. He chose me." Harry nodded as he drew on his heavy outer cloak for warmth against the January chill.
"School starts in two days." Draco muttered. Harry nodded as the two went downstairs to the common room. "I can't help but wonder what will happen then." Harry grinned over at his friend and shook his head.
"I do believe that you and I will be the school's biggest outcasts, what with me apprenticed to the Dark Lord, and you suddenly rejected by Slytherins and friends with the Dark Lord's apprentice." Harry told him as they headed out to the Quidditch pitch. Draco shrugged.
"Bring them on!" He said cheekily. "I'll hex anyone who looks at you the wrong way." Harry laughed and tagged Malfoy, running in the direction of the pitch. "Oy!" Draco ran after him, finally catching up to him on the grass. "That was dirty, Potter." Draco growled. He reached out and tagged Harry, kicking off from the ground at the same time. Harry followed with a smirk on his face and proceeded to chase Draco through the air above the Quidditch pitch. "You'll never catch me, Potter!" Draco taunted. Draco's grin disappeared as Harry's broom neared Draco's own. Draco's eyes grew wide and he sped up a bit to avoid his friend, whose murderous glare was starting to frighten him.
They both landed an hour later. "Let's go get some dinner, you prat!" Harry said to Draco. Draco nodded and threw his arm around Harry.
"Chess afterwards." Harry smiled but shook his head. "Aw, come on."
"No, you always beat me with that funny chess set of yours." They both entered the tunnel, remembering the last time they had played chess together. Harry had lost when he couldn't stop laughing long enough to defend his pieces.
"Harry!" They both turned at the sound of the voice and were blinded by a camera flash. A few reporters came forward and started firing questions at the boys. Draco pulled Harry through the crowd, all the while taking pictures of the Boy Who Lived. They made it to the castle and locked the doors behind them.
"How did they get on the grounds?" Harry asked. Draco shrugged. He had no idea at all. "Let's get some dinner. We'll tell Dumbledore or Severus about it tonight." Harry nodded and followed Draco to the Great Hall. It was only the two of them for a while, before some of the other students came in. The pair was pretty much ignored by all of the students. Few understood them and less wanted to be around the odd pair. They talked about what life would be like when everyone around them stopped being prats and realized that petty house distinctions were only serving to creating rivalries that no one really needed in school.
The two of them talked to Severus later that night. Dumbledore was still at the Ministry, fighting about the trial. It seemed that Fudge didn't want to give the man a trial at all. He wanted anyone accused of being the Dark Lord killed on sight. Harry was convinced that the man had finally succumbed to insanity. Of course, with the high levels of stress on the man since Voldemort had returned, Harry wouldn't be at all surprised if he had gone mad.
"Sev, there were some reporters on the grounds today." Draco said after Severus had told them of Dumbledore being at the Ministry.
"Oh?" He asked, pouring both boys a glass of pumpkin juice. Harry nodded.
"Yeah. We were wondering how they got onto the grounds." Draco said, accepting his glass while nudging Harry to take his. Severus smirked and sighed.
"Wondered how long it would take you two boys to figure it out." Severus told them. Draco looked up while Harry raised an eyebrow. "You learned that from your guardians." He said to Harry.
"You're right I did. What did you mean by 'wondered how long it would take you two boys to figure it out'?" Harry demanded. Severus smiled.
"Albus had a wonderful idea of showing them exactly how normal you are, especially after spending most of the summer with the rumored 'Dark Lord'. He gave some of them a password to get onto the grounds. Don't worry, Albus trusts all of them. They are allowed to slink around here and try to catch you being normal." Harry grinned. He was amazed that Dumbledore had gone about it this way, but what better method to convince everyone that he was not an evil apprentice.
"He could have warned us." Draco mumbled. Snape smiled.
"Sorry, Draco, but Albus thought it better if they could get some candid shots of you, to make it more realistic. Just try not to be outside alone, that is all Albus asks. If they approach you, just ignore them. If they ask you any questions, just tell them you can't talk and rush off, muttering something about being late for class or Quidditch practice. Whatever you do, act like you're normal." Harry looked up.
"What's normal? I don't think that I have ever been normal." Draco laughed.
"Just act like you did this summer, without the snake." Snape told him. A slightly mischievous smile spread across Harry's face.
"That was you?" Draco said, outraged. "Do you know I can't even call your friend Hermione a mudblood any more? I can only say it in reference to past happenings." Harry smiled up at him.
"That's good. That's what the snakebite was supposed to do." Harry immediately started running when his new friend pulled out his wand. Harry managed to duck behind Severus, who somehow managed to calm Draco down. Severus told Harry to stop hiding behind him. "I'm not coming out till he puts his wand away." Harry replied.
Draco smiled and shook his head. "This is the savior of the wizarding world?" He asked rhetorically, falling back into the sofa. "We're doomed!" He announced, not seeing Harry launch himself at Draco. "Ack! Sev! Help!" Severus fell into a chair, laughing at his ward.
"You made your bed, Draco." He said between gasps. Harry and Draco wrestled around for a few minutes before Harry let Draco up.
"You win, Harry!" Draco told his friend as Harry helped him to his feet. "Man, I thought you wouldn't take offense to that." He said, wiping some non-existent dust off his robes.
"Try living with that reputation." Harry told him. Severus sent both boys off to bed in Gryffindor tower.
"I'll see you both in the morning." He told them. He watched as the two walked down the hallway, playfully hitting each other. "Like two lion cubs, those two." He caught what he said and hit his forehead in exasperation. "He's going to be resorted to Gryffindor, I'm sure of it!" He growled to himself before he went to bed, the headmaster's plan of resorting Draco for his own safety going round in his head. "Bloody Gryffindors!"
"Harry!" Draco said, springing onto Harry's bed. "Wake up!" Harry sat up out of his nightmare and looked around. It was only he and Draco in the room, no born again Death Eaters, and thank Merlin no Malfoy. He looked over to Draco. "Sorry I jumped on you, but it was the only way you would wake up." Harry took a deep breath.
"Thanks, Draco. How's your arm?" He asked, rubbing his scar.
"Not a twinge. He must be focusing on you." Harry shrugged. "Harry, why do you think Malfoy became the Dark Lord?" Harry shook his head. He reached out and took a sip from the glass of water that was always near his bed. He didn't feel like talking much right now. "I have an idea." Harry looked up at him. "I could be wrong, but it's worth a shot, anyway."
"What is it, Draco?" Draco made himself comfortable at the foot of the bed while Harry moved to make room for him.
"Well, I was thinking." Draco started.
"Amazing." Harry said, managing to get a fair amount of awe into his voice. A pillow hit his face.
"Prat! Anyway, I think that when Tom became Tom, the evil that is Voldemort just left his body and found someone willing to accept it." Harry stared at him.
"Evil just doesn't act like that, Draco." He said. Draco sighed.
"You really were raised by Muggles, weren't you?" He asked rhetorically. "Why do think Light and Dark Wizards exist, Harry?" Draco said, moving forward as though to make his point. "Light and Dark maintains a balance, Harry. When there is someone who is completely Good, then there is someone completely Evil." Draco explained.
"So you're saying that I'm completely Good?" Harry asked. Draco nodded.
"That's why you're needed to fight Voldemort. That's why he still exists after Tom no longer accepted him. Voldemort needed to find someone Dark enough to accept him, and he found it in Malfoy." Draco explained slowly, waiting for Harry to understand it. "That's why you have the same wand. You are exact opposites of each other." Harry sat back. It was so simple when Draco explained it that way.
"So why is he after me?" He asked.
Draco grinned at Harry. "He's after you because you are his exact opposite. Exact opposites always cancel each other out." Harry paled.
"What do you mean?" He demanded.
"Well, when the two of you fight, you're going to match each other." Harry groaned. He really didn't want to fight the Dark Lord. He hated the thought of it. Draco saw his friend's distress. "Come on. Get dressed. It's time to convince the rest of the world that you're just a normal kid." Harry groaned and tossed a pillow at Draco. Draco tossed it back and ducked when it was returned. "Breakfast." Draco said, leaving Harry to get dressed.
Both boys went down the stairs and headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast. Draco gave a playful punch at Harry's shoulder. A flash went off behind them, but both ignored it. Harry returned it, and another flash went off. "Do they have invisibility cloaks?" Harry wondered. Draco shrugged and opened the doors.
"Don't look now, but there's two to our right." Draco whispered. "Act normal." Harry nodded and smiled towards Draco. The two bantered back and forth during breakfast and managed to give some good photo opportunities to the lurking reporters.
"This is a public relations nightmare. I have to act normal." Harry whispered, causing Draco to spurt some pumpkin juice out of his mouth. Harry froze for about a second before laughing. The two boys somehow managed to finish their breakfast before heading down to the dungeons to beg Severus to come out to the Quidditch pitch with them so they could get in some seeker practice. Severus rolled his eyes with a small grin and grabbed a potions book to keep himself occupied while the boys risked life and limb while hurtling towards the ground.
"Catch me if you can, Potter!" Draco shouted at Harry when he kicked off from the ground and took off into the air. Severus's book lasted all of five minutes when the boys started practicing Wronski Feints. Severus dropped his book at the sight of Draco speeding towards the ground. He stood and held his breath until Draco pulled up.
"Good timing, Draco!" Harry shouted from the air.
"Do not do it again!" Severus bellowed at the two boys. Both of them turned to Severus in surprise. What had they done wrong? Harry shrugged at Draco, who only turned to Severus in confusion. Draco flew over to the stands and hovered near Severus.
"Don't do what again?" Draco asked.
"That- that- thing you just did with the diving towards the ground." Severus explained.
"The Wronski feint?" Draco asked. "Sev, that's a perfectly legal and safe move in the Seeker position." Draco tried to explain.
"I don't care. I think my heart stopped." Severus told him, unconsciously clutching his chest as he sank to the bench beneath him. Draco shook his head and returned to Harry.
"He doesn't want us to do anymore Wronski Feints." Draco told Harry. Harry shrugged and released the snitch again, both boys setting off after it with all the enthusiasm they could manage without the Wronski Feints. Severus called down Draco and Harry to lunch, while the reporters took photographs of the pair with their teacher.
Draco followed Severus and Harry down to the dungeons, chatting with Harry about the plausibility of Wronski Feints being allowed at the next Quidditch game. Draco stumbled on the stairs the same time as Harry, clutching his forearm. Harry glanced around for reporters, and seeing none, raised a hand to his forehead as he steadied Draco. Severus supported Draco the rest of the way to his room and settled the boy on the couch. "He's very angry." Harry told Severus, who only nodded and started pouring pain potions down the throats of Harry and Draco. Harry sighed as his pain slowly started to disappear. One look at Draco told Harry that the boy was feeling relieved as well.
"Let's get some lunch into the two of you. After that, you're both staying here away from prying eyes." Harry nodded, as he didn't want to have to act normal when his forehead felt like it would split open. Severus ordered lunch for the three of them from the house elves while Harry nudged his friend. Draco opened his eyes.
"You okay?" Draco nodded.
"You?" Harry smiled.
"Never better." Draco shook his head.
"Hero complex." Draco muttered as Snape called them to the table. Harry followed his friend and relaxed at lunch with his professor, all three debating about which subject was better, defense or potions. Harry finally conceded that while you could stop someone from killing you, you could only use potions to extract revenge without getting caught.
The Dark Lord was pacing in his study, repeatedly sending the summons to his son. He had thrown the Daily Prophet across the room and incinerated it when he had seen that the home he had sent Aurors to raid had only been the home of Tom Riddle. It was the boy who had finally caused the Dark Lord's temper to snap. The fact that Harry Potter was masquerading as Tom Riddle's nephew had not helped his house elves to escape the Cruciatus curse. Luckily, he had remembered to lift the curse before madness set in. He wouldn't want mad house elves running about the manor. He pressed his wand to his forearm and summoned the death eaters. Tonight, there would be a raid. It was time that the wizarding world knew the Dark Lord was back, and there was nothing they could do to stop him.
Reviews:
Necromancer13: Thanks for your review! I'll include some more subjects next time. I just wanted to show what Harry could do with some solid encouragement.
FireFaerie: Not at all. Michael Riddle does not know the name of Dumbledore, or he shouldn't. Tom never mentions him unless it's in reference to Harry's safety. He would not tell his nephew of him. He would assume that Dumbledore was a professor if anything else. Thanks for reviewing!
Trallgorda: Thanks sis! I'll fix that. Shameless plug! Read my sister's story by searching her pen name. It's really good if you like Teen Titans!
Prd2bAmerican18: Thanks! Hope this wasn't too long of a wait.
RebelBrat: Thanks for reviewing! Time will tell.
Koekeishiya: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like it. Time will tell!
RillieDeAnnPotter5569: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. I'm afraid you'll have to wait to find out what happens.
SheWolfe7: Thanks! Don't worry. The Slytherin in Harry will continue to come out. He's very manipulative when he wants to be. I agree. Malfoy needs to be taken out.
HoshiHikari4ever: Everyone is confused about who this man is that Harry has been staying with. No one, including Fudge, knows what is going on. Ron and Hermione are still very young, compared to Harry, and are easily led by the opinions of others. Just wait and see what happens on that front. I don't think Lupin has showed up at all, or if he will. I don't think he's in my story. Maybe he'll come in later. Look for him then. You are absolutely right. Must defend Tom! Thanks for your awesome review!
I can't find the snitch: Did I ever tell you that I love your name? It's so cute and funny. Thank you for the wonderful compliment. I'm glad you're enjoying my story.
Otaku freak: Don't worry. It's not in this chapter, but something will happen with Ron and Hermione. Thanks for the awesome review!
Andrea10: OUCH! Don't worry. She is still going to be hitting me about the head. Next chapter should be within the week.
Kashke: Don't worry. They're going to talk to Harry. Fireworks and chaos! Thanks for the wonderful review!
Hermionegreen: Thanks for your continued support. I'm glad you like me so much. Draco and Harry work well together, don't they? Thanks for reviewing.
Suzanne of Dragon's Breath: Thanks for reviewing, Sue! The code might come in later, when Draco and Harry are bored.
Eav: Thanks for reviewing. Glad you like it! Another chapter is coming soon!
Violet2: Glad you like it. I saw your email. I hope you received mine. Good luck on the books Thanks for your review!
Nphipps: Thanks! I'm overwhelmed with the response I've received.
Jbfritz: Thank you! Next chapter soon.
EriEka127: Sorry to keep you in suspense! Next chapter should be soon!
The Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Thank you! Er, you're not my reaper, are you? You know, my name says Shadowsylvia, but I don't think I'm the kind of shadow you're looking for! Lol Thanks for reviewing!
Rachel A. Prongs: Thanks! Glad you liked it. Next chappie soon!
Numba1: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Next chappie soon!
SilverFated: Glad you liked it. Don't worry. The next chapter is soon!
To Everyone Else: Thanks for reading my story. I hope you liked it. If you wouldn't mind, could you just drop me a little review. I don't know if anything is wrong if I'm not told! Thank you! ~Sylvia