Reviewers: A gigantic thanks to TheSilverLady, who managed to inform me that I had put down Arabella Figg as a witch rather than a squib! What a terrible typo! I have managed to fix it, and I would like to congratulate her on her careful reading. =-)
Reflective Velvet: I am so glad you like your bobble-heads, give 'em a few years, and they'll be priceless! I'm trying to get this out before Friday; we'll see how I do. Have a cookie, and thanks for reviewing.
Sweet Sorrow: Snape is a pretty fun character to write, I hope you like it. Have a cookie!
Tati: I am happy you thought their conversation was believable! Thanks for reviewing, have a cookie!
TheSilverLady: Don't worry about it, I'm sorry your email was malfunctioning, sometimes the computer makes me so mad….I could just…! Anyways, thanks SO much for spotting that error I had in the previous chapter, it just goes to show that proofreading can't hurt! Have a cookie, and thanks for reviewing and reading carefully.
Usernotavailable: I know, the Umbridge torture will be fun…I loved POTC! It was a great movie. And the guys didn't hurt it either. ;)
Paranoiain2005: It must be very creative…hmmm…I'll start brainstorming…I have most of their summer vaguely planned out, which is more than I can say for most of my chapters, I usually just write them as I write them and then realize that I have so much left that it's going to need some more…but, I'm rambling now. Very pleased you like my story, have a cookie!
AoiHyou: Do you really think I wouldn't have Dursley's??? Of course they will show up! You just have to wait and see 'how' and 'when'…there will be abusiveness all around! Why don't you put me on your Author Alert list? Then if I forget to email you, you'll still get one. Thanks for reviewing, have a cookie!!
Curlytop: I wish I could find a way to satisfy everyone's viewing standards, but my formatting won't allow it! I hope this won't discourage you from enjoying the story. My theory is, 'better more spaces than none.' There are some stories that have NO paragraphs, and it drives me crazy. I will lessen the spaces as much as I can, but I can't make any guarantees. =) Glad you like the ideas, thanks for your review! Have a cookie.
Wiccan Pussykat: I will try to torture Harry more, but I do have one scene reserved just for our favorite blonde. Question? Are guys blond or blonde? There is a difference, but I can't seem to remember. If you can find it, I would be very happy! Moving on, I too, loved the line about Dumbledore! Old fool practically writes himself **sighs affectionately** OMG, I am So, SO, SO! SORRY! I can't believe I forgot to give you a cookie last chapter, so I am giving you three right now! One for this chapter, one for last chapter, and one as an apology. Enjoy! And Cherry is great…
Lyss33: Happy you enjoyed the idea, hope you like this chapter, have a cookie!
My review count seems messed up, hope I didn't miss anyone, if I did, have a cookie and thanks for reviewing!!! Also, my count for how many people have me on my favorites list is also inaccurate, thanks for those people who have put me on their list, it helps advertise my story to gain more happy readers! Not only do I LOVE the reviews, and I am also honored to see that you value this story. Thank you.
Random Quote of this Chapter:
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…or; is it murdering someone… and wearing their face as a mask?" –Mikael T.
Chapter 11: In Discovery
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Ron and Hermione were alone in the Gryffindor common room; while everyone else had gone to their first class, they had been permitted to stay to catch up on their lost hours of sleep and wait for Harry to wake up.
"Ron," Hermione sighed in exasperation, "Sit down! There's no point in pacing around the room, it won't make Harry wake up any faster."
"I know that…it's just…" Ron sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I wish we could see how he was, that vision was pretty scary last night." He confessed in a shaky voice. "I…I worry about him."
"And I don't?" Hermione raised an eyebrow in Ron's direction. "Madam Pomfrey said he should be up before tonight anyway, you'll probably see him at lunch."
"Or sooner." Harry smirked in the doorway. "Like now."
"HARRY!" Ron and Hermione squealed simultaneously and darted towards their friend.
"You're awake!" Hermione gathered him into a suffocating embrace, and Harry had to struggle to pry himself from her grip.
"I'm fine, Hermione, feeling better than ever."
"Really?" Ron asked skeptically, "You could've fooled me with those raccoon eyes of yours."
"Ha, ha, ha." Harry noted dryly. "You try running on only three hours of painless sleep."
"I'll pass." Ron smiled, "Glad you're alright, mate."
"So am I, Harry." Hermione added.
"It's good to be alright, but I DO have something that is…well… you won't like it, that's for sure."
"Try us," Ron said, "We've been your best friends for five years, what more can surprise us?"
Draco, you should come in now.
You sure?
Oh, yeah.
"What is HE doing HERE?" Ron whispered harshly, and Harry winced.
"Surprised?"
"Explain."
"You might want to sit down." Harry suggested carefully.
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"What in the bloody hell were you thinking?!?" Ron roared.
Harry and Draco were standing in one corner of the Gryffindor common room, trying to defend themselves against the Weasley's passionate tirade. When they had told Harry's friends, Hermione had fallen into a shocked and thoughtful silence, while Ron had proceeded to rampage against everything in the common room. It was fortunate that nobody else was currently in the common room. In less than a minute, pillows were leaking feathers and parchments were burning in the fireplace, before an irate Ron had finally been able to utter a breathless, "Why?"
"Not my first choice, Weasel, I can assure you." Draco attempted to regain some of his former composure, smoothing his hair and robes and standing up straight from his previous position crouched in the corner. "Not Potter's either-"
"Like Hell!" Ron yelled, launching himself over the back of the couch and attacking Draco's face with renewed vigor. "Get OUT of my best friend's head, you mind-controlling, Death Eater wannabe freak!"
Get your dog the hell off of me, Potter!
"Ron!" Harry shouted to no avail, pulling on the back of the red-head's robes. "It's not his fault!"
"He's had it in for you all along; he wants to take you to You-Know-Who!"
By then, Hermione had joined in the scuffle with the three boys; pulling on Ron's robes, while attempting to slow the flow of blood from Draco's nose, and yelling at Harry to explain himself before someone got hurt.
Tell him, Potter!
He won't bloody listen, damnit!
Ron's fist caught Draco in the stomach, and he gasped before sinking to the ground. Harry had been standing behind Ron, trying to catch his arms in a failed attempt to slow the attack. As Ron raised his arm to strike the Malfoy again, his elbow caught Harry in the face with a sickening slamming noise. The raven-haired Gryffindor staggered away in pain, vision slightly clouded from the unexpected attack.
"Shit!" Hermione shouted in an uncharacteristic way, "Ron! Look what you did!"
Ron had felt his elbow connect, and he turned around to see Harry moaning in distress, stumbling towards an armchair. "Oh, Merlin! Harry, why the hell were you standing there?"
"Trying to stop-" Harry didn't finish his sentence or his trip to the armchair, as he passed out cold before he could take another step.
Ron leapt forward and caught Harry before he could whack his head on the wooden coffee table. "Hermione!" His voice rose in panic. "Help him!"
"I can't! But Madam Pomfrey can. Hold on!" And without another word, she dashed out the door towards the infirmary. Maybe it was against her better judgment to leave three quarreling boys alone in the room, but she figured two were down for the count. And all rational thought had left her head.
"Harry?" Ron asked softly, cradling his friend's head in his arms. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt anyone."
"Like hell you didn't, Weasel." Draco muttered, and the last thing Ron saw was the Slytherin's fist sailing point-blank towards his face.
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"Welcome back, Severus." The potions professor groaned miserably as he opened his eyes to a concerned Albus Dumbledore.
"Headmaster," He gasped in greeting, "Would you mind?" He gestured slightly towards a pitcher of water on the nightstand near his bed.
"Certainly, my boy." The aged wizard assisted Snape in sitting up before handing him a glass of water. The other man's hand shook slightly, and water spilled over the edge of the cup. Dumbledore leaned forward to grab it, but Snape determinedly held on tight.
"I won't drown in it, Albus." He growled, "I'm not some pathetic first-year Gryffindor."
"Indeed, you aren't." Dumbledore smiled at him sadly. "But I still worry."
"We have had this discussion before. Perhaps it is best if I simply summarize the night, before retiring to my office." Snape suggested.
"You know Poppy would never allow you to hear the end of it if you left here early." Dumbledore answered him simply. "And neither, for that matter, would I."
Snape huffed and sat against his pillows with a melancholy look. "The Dark Lord knows all about the incident with Draco Malfoy, he punished everyone for it. Lucius is out for his son's blood."
"I am aware of this, Harry witnessed everything."
At this statement, Snape jerked up in bed, "He did?"
"Yes, it was quite unfortunate for him, very painful. However, we did learn some very valuable information because of it."
"Which is?" Snape asked after the older man paused.
"Messrs Potter and Malfoy share a very unique bond."
He proceeded to explain the situation.
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"Well, Moony?"
"They are coming around right now, Padfoot, have patience."
"Harry?"
"Hermione, he's coming to."
Harry moaned and struggled to open his eyes. His face was burning and his eyelids felt heavy with exhaustion and pain. He tried to open his mouth, only to find that it felt like it was stuffed full of cotton balls. "Where ab I?" he whispered, flexing his jaw.
"Your dormitory," Hermione explained, "We didn't want to take you all the way to the infirmary for passing out. You've only been out a few minutes."
"Aargh," Ron groaned from the opposite bed. "I'll kill you, Malfoy."
Remus and Sirius exchanged smiles.
"Whad're you two doing 'ere?" Harry mumbled slowly.
"Hermione happened to run into us on her way to see Madam Pomfrey, and we figured you'd rather have us attend to the whole thing instead of dragging the old bag into it."
"Sirius!" Hermione and Remus admonished. The guilty look on Padfoot's face made Harry laugh.
"Ouch, don't my face is killing me!" He begged.
"Where is he?" Ron growled. The red-head was sporting a fantastic shiner over his right eye.
"Draco is talking things out with his friend…Blaise was it?" Remus turned to his fellow marauder.
"Uh-huh. Zabini." Sirius answered, "He said something about not wanting a repeat of this afternoon's performance."
"Hope he has more luck than I did," Harry whispered.
"Yeah, Harry," Ron turned to his friend, "Do tell."
Harry opened his mouth to attempt to persuade his friends one more time that he hadn't completely lost his mind.
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Blaise shook his head, very slowly. "Stop fooling around, Drake." He smiled, as if he finally understood a joke. "It's not that funny."
"Blaise, listen to me." Draco gulped involuntarily. "I can hear Potter in my head, I wasn't lying."
Blaise turned pale. "Who knows?"
"Well, Dumbledore…Potter, of course…oh, and Potter's friends, Granger and Weasley."
"They believe it?"
"It's from the Cruciatus Curse that Umbridge cast. A… a side-affect if you will."
"And last night?" Blaise asked cautiously, "you felt him hurting? How?"
"I…I can't tell you." Draco said quietly. Now, he knew the fireworks would start.
"Can't tell me?" Blaise echoed hollowly. "You can't tell me?"
"It's not that I don't want to tell y-"
"Don't give me that shit, Malfoy." Draco winced at the use of his last name. Especially since nobody knew better than Blaise how much Draco resented his family. "I've told you everything about my whole damn life, my whole damn family! We are in this together!"
"I am sworn to-"
"Don't you dare interrupt me! We've talked about everything! I've told you everything I am scared of; and I listened to your fears, too! We are in this TOGETHER!" He screamed the last word aloud, causing the other boy to visibly wince. Draco was upset that his best friend could not understand what he was meant to do.
"I can't tell you." Tears were beginning to form within the blond Slytherin's eyes. "I really, really wish I could."
"Then I have nothing else to say to you." And Blaise turned and walked out the door.
Alone in the hall closet, Draco let the tears fall.
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"Where will Draco be staying this summer?"
"I have arranged lodging with Arabella Figg."
"Do you think this wise? Having him near Potter? They both are high-security targets right now."
"A few reasons, one being that I do not know how a separation would affect their mind link, secondly, having them together makes it easier to transport them in case of an emergency, and because Voldemort has yet to find Harry's relatives house, I find it unlikely that he will find Draco there. I have put up sufficient wards around Arabella's property."
"I am sure Draco will have a fantastic time." Snape sneered sarcastically.
"Arabella is a fine woman; I believe there is no better place for Draco to reeducate his mind."
"Unless we sent him to live with Muggles." Snape almost smiled at that thought.
"Indeed," Dumbledore chuckled quietly. "Now, I do not think that wise."
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"You've been excused from classes today," Ron told his friend after he had finished explaining the situation again. Remus and Sirius had left to give the three some privacy, and Ron kept beating around the bush.
"That's nice, Ron. Have you heard a word I've said?" Harry asked him shortly.
"Yes, I have." Ron answered coldly, "And if you ask me, I say it's a stupid idea, and you should stop it."
"We can't." Harry explained to him, "We are stuck like this, unless we find some kind of cure."
"I don't think it can be cured." Hermione told him. "I think we just need to run some tests to figure out your range and level of intensity during transmit."
"That's what Dumbledore said, too." Harry told her. "Tomorrow."
"Well, glad to see that's settled!" Ron laughed harshly, "Glad to see this whole thing is figured out while I've been unconscious!" Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes towards each other.
"Ron, I've been unconscious longer than you have." Harry told him, hiding his impatience. He paused and turned to Hermione. "Would you let us talk alone for a minute?"
Hermione smiled, understanding that the two needed to discuss this new bump in their friendship. Graciously, she turned towards the door and left the room.
"Ron-" Harry started.
"What do you think of Hermione?" Ron asked bluntly.
Harry blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I think I like her." Ron told him quickly, "As-well-you know."
"More than a friend?" Harry suggested.
"Well-yes, actually." Ron answered him shyly, "Are you mad?"
Harry shook his head, laughing. "No, I-" Then he seemed to remember why they were having this discussion in the first place. He turned serious. "Ron, that was completely random! The topic is me and Draco!"
He knew immediately he had made a mistake, when Ron turned a dangerously pink color. "Draco?" He asked sweetly. "Is that what we are calling him now?"
Harry sighed in exasperation, "You don't understand!"
"NO, I understand perfectly well! I thought you would understand how I feel about Hermione and you and I could talk about it! But now I see how wrong I was. All you can focus on is yourself and your problems!" Ron blurted out angrily. "I know why you aren't jealous of Hermione and I either, seeing as how you seem to favor Draco so much." He immediately regretted the words, as Harry's head dropped into his hands, his face burning. "Oh," Ron gasped at the realization. "You like him!" he accused in a slightly hurt voice.
"It's not that, Ron!" Harry answered him tiredly. "I am just so confused, and you aren't helping!"
"YOU are confusing ME!" Ron squeaked. "Suddenly, it's 'Draco this' and 'Draco that,' what am I supposed to do? Just because the guy saved you from Umbridge, it doesn't mean you two are suddenly soul mates!"
"Apparently," Harry answered him bitterly, "It does."
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END OF CHAPTER 11:
OoOh! Conflict! Yay! Review!