Summary: HP/DM slash with a side of SB/RL, RW/HG A story about music that touches the soul, friends that refuse to go away, enemies that refuse to let you starve yourself, and lovers that never wanted to love and never want to let go now that they do.

Disclaimer: I do not own or remotely have any relation to Harry Potter or J.K. Rowling, though I do have the HP books. I do not have any permission to write this, and I do so solely for my own pleasure and am not making any profit from it.

Pairings: HP/DM, SB/RL, RW/HG and others

Timeline: Fourth book onwards and the fifth never existed in my happy imaginary world.

Chapter Five

"I think that should be enough." Dumbledore managed to sound calm and composed even through the tears that ran down his aged face. He cleared his throat and fished out a large handkerchief to wipe away his tears and blow his nose before closing the window, shutting out most of the duet that played outside. A trace of the music still managed to find its way in, though: a teasing, whispered secret, as the great wizard turned around to face his audience once again.

Snape and Charlie had managed to hold their tears in, though there was a suspicious brightness to their eyes, and Snape's clenched fists were trembling slightly. Sinistra was still crying unashamedly into a handkerchief that Dumbledore supposed she had conjured, and Minerva was dabbing at her tears with another handkerchief. Arthur, who did not see the point of hiding his emotions around friends, was scrubbing at his own face with yet another handkerchief, and Hagrid was bawling into his hands.

Sirius had an arm around Remus, and both their heads were bowed. Remus had his hands clenched in his lap, and Sirius had balled the hand that wasn't bracing Remus into a fist. Dumbledore knew the song had hit them – and Snape – the hardest. After all, even though they didn't know it, there was still a strong, undeniable connection between them and the two boys out there.

He gave them another minute to get some semblance of control over themselves before he cleared his throat. "That was a very good potion, and I thank you, Severus. If we hadn't taken it, all we would have heard was a song that left us feeling inexplicably saddened. As it is… what did you feel?"

There was a heavy silence before Sinistra spoke quietly. "When the flute music first started, it swept me up into it like a tidal wave. It was intense, like a burning inferno and freezing ice, yet warm like a campfire flame and soothing like clear water… the piano music was just as powerful, but had the strength of thousand year old trees and the suppleness of youthful grass, yet also the calm of a gentle breeze with the force of a whirlwind. The entire song was haunting, and sad, and full of suppressed emotions that found an outlet… negative emotions, mostly, but also a bit of hope. It was like being in heaven, listening to a choir sing of Pandora's Box with not words, but everything that they were made of…" She sighed, a dreamy smile on her face. "There are no words to describe it."

Dumbledore smiled gently at the lyrical Astronomy professor. "That was lyrical indeed, and quite apt. Yes, the magic of these two children, triggered by a particularly stressful period of emotional breakdown, found an outlet through music."

Remus lifted his head and said hollowly, "That was Harry, wasn't it? The flutist."

Sirius's head whipped around so fast that his hair hit the side of his face; he pushed it back with a shaking hand. "You're joking, Remus, right? That can't be Harry. That's not Harry. Please, Remus…"

The werewolf looked down again. "I didn't know… I had no idea he was this bad off. He doesn't talk anymore, or laugh, and he ignores everyone, but I thought that was just… I don't know what I thought. I don't think I know much of anything anymore. How could I have not guessed, at least? How could I have not done more…"

Sirius sighed and put a hand on Remus's arm. "No," he said softly. "No, it isn't your fault. I know that, at least; I know you. If you thought something was wrong, you'd have done anything to change that." He paused, and then said hesitantly, "How… is he?"

Remus shook his head helplessly. "He's changed, Sirius. A lot. He's like a ghost of his former self… no, not even a ghost. The Harry we know is just… just gone. If you saw him… He doesn't eat much, and pushes away his friends. His grades have gone up – did you know he's now third in school? That'd be good in normal circumstances, but now it just means he's spending all his time alone. And he's so thin, and haggard…"

"Dammit!" Sirius growled, glaring at Dumbledore. "Not meaning any disrespect, headmaster, but why the hell didn't you tell me sooner? That boy's my godson!"

"If I told you, what would you have done? Rushed straight back to Hogwarts and endanger all the people involved in the missions you had and delay all the important tasks that were assigned to you?" Dumbledore replied calmly, but there was a hint of warning in his voice. "Think, Sirius!"

"Alright, alright…" The Animagus sat back and glared at Dumbledore's desk. "Sorry."

Dumbledore sighed, and then smiled wearily at the group. "Shall we carry on?"

Remus took a deep breath and let it out, then said, "Harry's elements are fire and water, and the pianist is air and earth."

"Correct, and as to the identity of the pianist…?"

Snape spoke this time. "Draco Malfoy."

"Malfoy!" Sirius exploded again. "No way one of those bastards –"

"Sirius!" Dumbledore said sharply, holding Sirius's gaze while holding a warning hand up to Severus, who had started forward, a murderous look on his face. "Calm yourself. Mr Malfoy is not the person people always mistake him for. He is not his father. Although he hides it well, I have my ways to find out. You of all people should understand enough to not judge others by name."

"Draco is nothing like the dog that Lucius is," came a hard voice. Everyone turned to look at the Potions professor, surprised. "Slytherin House is not an easy place to live in. They have had to harden their hearts to survive the animosity of the rest of the school. Draco, especially, has had a difficult time, yet he trusts me implicitly, and despite knowing I am not totally faithful to Voldemort he has guarded that secret with his life. I trust him, and trust is hard to come by in… my line of work."

Professor Sinistra, surprisingly, spoke. "I have a very comfortable relationship with Draco as well; he is one of the best students in my class. I am willing to testify to what Severus has said… Draco is a good person, albeit misguided in some ways. He has also been closed off recently. It has started since fifth year." Here she looked at Remus, whose eyes had widened. "Yes, Remus, just like Harry."

Dumbledore nodded serenely at him. "Severus and Sasha have been most helpful in matters pertaining to Mr. Malfoy. Now, we shall go through the last few lines of the prophecy, yes? 'Of these, two are one of fate, but halved from hate, and so, lost. Music will bridge them, and from them the world takes shape."

He looked around at the uneasy looks on all their faces and smiled faintly. "Yes, I can see that you all understand what this means, but do not think it possible."

"They are one?" Snape said in disgust. "Potter and Draco? And because they hate each other they are now halves?"

"Halves that are lost without each other," Dumbledore agreed happily. "Very good, Severus."

"This is really quite difficult to believe, Professsor," Remus said apologetically as Snape snorted. "Their hate for each other is absolute."

"Which would explain the recent way in which they avoid each other?"

"They avoid everyone, not only each other," Snape pointed out.

"Yes, but if they hated each other so much, would they have simply… stopped?"

Silence fell at Dumbledore's words. Eventually Remus said, "Alright, even if they don't hate each other that much anymore, five years of enmity won't be erased so easily. I'm inclined to think it's more of a temporary respite."

"But when Harry an' Malfoy played, jus' now, they seemed rather okay," Hagrid said tentatively.

Dumbledore beamed at him. "Very well observed, Hagrid! It is my hope that the bond they are forging through music is enough to overcome that enmity. They don't know each other's identity, and will not ask – it is human instinct to protect what is precious to us, and having found someone who understands them so well, they will not pry, for there is a chance that it will ruin what they have just found. And hopefully as time passes they will come to accept and trust each other."

"So you're basing the fate of the world on the hope that when they find out who the other is, they won't mind because they've been playing duets in secret," Sirius said skeptically.

"And the hope that they will not simply accuse the other of hiding the truth from them and tricking them," Snape said coldly. "As is the more likely scenario."

"And the hope that Malfoy will be won over to our side by Harry, and not the other way 'round," Remus said.

At that, Snape rolled his eyes. "Mr Malfoy is not on the Dark Side, Lupin!" he snapped.

"But he's not exactly on our side, either," Remus countered.

Snape fell silent, and McGonagall took the opportunity to speak up. "It does seem quite foolish, Headmaster," she said primly.

Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, it does, doesn't it?" he said.

"It does?" the others echoed in confusion.

"Yes," Dumbledore said brightly. "Which is why I have a plan to help them along."

"I don't like this," Sirius snapped. "I won't allow Harry to befriend a Malfoy –"

Snape interrupted. "You think I like this, Black? Potter is an insufferable –"

"Silence."

All mouths snapped shut, and eyes turned to Dumbledore. He stood looking down at them, disappointment and anger clear in his face. "The reason I called all of you here is because you are important to either Harry or Draco, and when they find out who the other is they will be confused. They will ask for opinions and reassurance from those they care about, and that includes you all here, and you will support them. To do otherwise is to break them apart, and then we will not have their combined power on our side, which will result in a very high chance then that we will lose this war and the world fall under Voldemort. Do you not understand? Your petty rivalries and prejudices are nothing in the face of the horrors that await us if the bond between Harry and Draco should fail."

The men before him looked properly chastised, and the Headmaster sighed, weary. "I wish that I did not have to interfere with their relationship, and let it properly grow. However we do not have the luxury of time, and so I have decided to hasten the process. At the start of this year, I have arranged for every class to have two houses in it, and for the Slytherins and Gryffindors to have Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, Astronomy and Care of Magical Creatures together. I want you to pair Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, and Pansy Parkinson with Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, so that they will have to partner each person in the other house at least once."

"Headmaster, are you trying to instigate war in our classes? They'll kill each other in five minutes flat!" Snape protested heatedly. "Not Draco and Potter, perhaps, but the rest of them are as lively as ever – and even then if Draco and Potter stay together long enough they'll end up fighting as well."

"But inter-house fights have practically disappeared nowadays, have they not?" Dumbledore replied mildly.

"Yes, they have, and I like it that way! Pair them together and you'll have bloodshed!"

The twinkle was back in the Headmaster's eyes again. "We shall see. Now, I also want you to give a part of your research to them as a project. Any research you need help with, assign it to these groups. Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, and Mr. Potter are the top three students in the school, and I believe they will do the job remarkably well. This way your load will be lightened. I suggest you inform the Gryffindors of the importance of their research, as an incentive. After all, it's for the protection of Hogwarts. I am not sure if we can trust the Slytherins as much yet, I am sorry to say, Severus, as they have not given me enough reason to do so. But I hope time will change that."

Snape nodded reluctantly.

"Good. Tonight has been a revelation for us all, and I do hope you take my words to heart. Tell no one, not a soul, of what we have discussed. Thank you all for coming. Off to bed, now!"

Just as everyone was rising to their feet, he added, "And watch out for sunrise, if possible. The after-effects of the constellations will leave its mark on the dawn sky, and I'm sure the sight will be most worthwhile."

One by one, everybody left, discussing matters in hot whispers, except Sirius and Remus. "Headmaster, I'd like to request to stay until tomorrow morning. I want to see Harry, see if I can talk to him, and make him talk to me. I'll go immediately after, I swear! Just let me see him before I go out on yet another mission," Sirius said pleadingly.

"Of course, Sirius. But not later than nine, or there will be problems," Dumbledore cautioned. "I think it best if you see me early in the morning before you go."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Sirius left, talking in low tones with Remus. Dumbledore noticed how their shoulders were pressed unconsciously together, and allowed himself a tired smile. This was one relationship that did not need external help, and he would delight in watching it grow.

Finally, the room was empty once again. Fawkes, settled on his perch, ruffled his wings sleepily, then tucked his head under them and slept. Dumbledore sat there, hands folded in front of him, lost deep in thought. His mind was full of worries, and one stood out prominently.

There was one last line of the prophecy that he did not mention to the others – partly because he did not fully understand it, and partly because of the parts he did understand. He didn't want to spoil the more hopeful parts of the prophecy for those people just now – they had been through so much, and now there was hope, how could he bear to dash it? Better to let one person worry than so many more.

Basking in the now barely audible melody, the great wizard, feeling so very, very tired, closed his eyes; and the voice that never went away, the voice that lurked deep in his worn heart, the voice that taunted him with its mocking whispers and laughter, the voice that laughed gleefully at the dark fate that was so clearly written in the last line… he closed his eyes, and listened to that voice whisper that line over and over again, even as the gentle shine of dawn broke through the night sky.

But they will walk in shadow, haunted by a ghost from the past. For the guardians might guard against the dark, but who will guard the guardians?

Next chap: A nice chewy bit (though I do mean only a bit) of Sirius/Remus, quite a bit of muleheaded!Harry, and chaos in the classroom. Snape's classroom.

Please review!

And I swear I'll update the next chapter in a week. I'm sorry for the lateness of this one! But the first few weeks of school have been terribly hectic.

Ashen Skies
"…listening to a choir sing of Pandora's Box."