Yay, I finished one on time this time! Thanks to those who review, the encouragement to continue is most helpful! please enjoy! ~F

Chapter Nine

Malfoy Manor

Harry had the worst time trying to sleep that night. He lay on his four-poster and stared up at the canopy ceiling for what felt like hours as hatred such as Harry had never known before boiled through him like poison.

He could see in his mind Black laughing at him through the darkness, as though somebody had pasted the man's picture over his eyes. He watched, as though somebody was playing him a piece of film, Sirius Black blasting Peter Pettigrew - who resembled Neville Longbottom - into a thousand pieces. He could hear what he thought the man's voice might sound like in a low, excited mutter. "It has happened, My Lord... the Potters have made me their Secret-Keeper," and then came another voice, laughing shrilly, the same laugh that Harry heard inside his head whenever the dementors drew near.

From the bed to his left, Harry heard the sound of rustling bed sheets and parting curtains. A few seconds later, Faykan poked his head through Harry's curtains, "Harry," he whispered, "you awake?" how his best friend knew this, Harry had no idea.

But at the same time, Harry didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment. Unfortunately, even as he rolled away to turn his back on Faykan, the other boy refused to take the hint and slid onto the bed along side Harry. Faykan cast a silencing spell around the bed, and after a few moments, finally spoke, "I have an idea what you must be thinking Harry, but you shouldn't trust what Cornelius Fudge believes is the truth. The Ministry only believes what it wants to believe, and the Professors don't know what happened that night. Not even Dumbledore knows exactly what took place."

Harry turned slowly to look at Faykan, who was sitting with his back against the headboard, staring down into his lap. "I believe," Faykan said, "that they all have made mistakes before, and that they will make them in the future. I also believe, Harry, that they are completely and utterly wrong about Sirius Black… I cannot prove it, I cannot explain it; I just know that they are wrong about him."

Faykan finally looked at Harry, and Harry saw the deep sadness that permeated from his crystal blue eyes. Sitting up, Harry eased back against his headboard, and rested his head on Faykan's shoulder, while his friend ran a hand through Harry's hair comfortingly. "I only want you to think for yourself about this Harry, don't merely rely on what others think or believe, not even me. Trust yourself above all others."

Faykan finally turned and kissed the crown of Harry's head in a show of affection, then made to slip off the bed and back to his own, but Harry stopped him, not wanting to lose the comfort that Faykan's presence represented. Faykan just nodded and allowed Harry to pull him back onto the bed. He settled down under the covers next to Harry, and Harry felt one arm snake around his waist as Faykan maneuvered into a comfortable position. Harry fell asleep listening to the rhythmic breathing and heartbeat of his best friend, relishing the odd peace that the closeness brought to him. He wasn't sure why, but at time like this it seemed that Faykan voluntarily transformed into something like an older brother for him, and it was simultaneously an odd thing as well as a needed comfort.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Hermione was up bright and early the first day of the winter holidays. She had a lot of homework to accomplish for her many classes, and she was only to use her Time-Turner for attending classes. So she had taken to waking up extra early during weekends to study and get her work finished.

She had just set out all her books, parchment, and quills when Ron came tiptoeing down the boy's staircase and motioned her to come over to him. "You have to see this," he whispered when she came over. Ron led her back up to the third year boy's dormitory, and pushed open the door slowly, he pointed over toward Harry's bed, where the curtains were drawn closed around it, unlike any of the other beds. Hermione crept over to the bed, confused and curious as to why Ron was so intent on her seeing whatever was in Harry's bed.

'This better not be a prank,' she thought as she pulled back the curtains. What she saw almost made her laugh out loud, but she managed to restrain herself.

Both Harry and Faykan were asleep in Harry's bed, Harry curled up against Faykan, who had his arms wrapped tightly around his best friend. Hermione wished she had a camera or Colin Creevey around for this moment, it was so adorable.

It was pretty obvious that Harry had been having a hard time coping with the news that he had overheard at Hogsmeade. Both Hermione and Ron had watched him the rest of that day, but his mood hadn't seemed to improve during dinner, and he went straight to bed afterward without talking to anyone. Clearly Faykan had moved to comfort his friend in the middle of the night, and by the relaxed way that Harry was sleeping, it had definitely helped.

Quietly, Hermione reclosed the curtains and rejoined Ron in the common room. He was pulling out a box of sweets that Fred and George had left for him, but looked up when Hermione sat down in front of her homework. "So, imagine my surprise when I go to wake up my best mates and find them in bed together…" he said, suppressing a small laugh.

"I think it was a very nice thing for Faykan to do, consoling Harry like that in the middle of the night." Hermione said, mentally scolding Ron for his ignorance of the kind of pain Harry must have been going through.

"Well, maybe," Ron said, returning to his Peppermint Toads, "but I can certainly say it was quite a shock at first; not something that I would have expected to find."

They talked together for a few more hours, and finally went to breakfast without the two sleeping boys. They returned to the common room and Ron pulled out his homework, while Hermione started to study her Ancient Runes book. Finally before lunch, Harry and Faykan came downstairs, still in their pajamas and rubbing sleep from their eyes. "Morning…" Hermione said to them without looking up. She had made Ron promise to not mention that they had both seen them sleeping together during breakfast, as he was inclined to tease them about it for the rest of their natural lives.

"Harry, you look better." Ron said, and it was true. Harry was a lot calmer and much less withdrawn. Harry grumbled something unintelligible and sank onto one of the couches near the fire. Faykan stretched and pulled an armchair next to Hermione so he could look at all the work she had completed.

"Where is everyone?" said Harry.

"Gone! It's the first day of the holidays, remember?" said Ron, still watching Harry closely. "It's nearly lunchtime; I was going to come and wake you up in a minute." He threw a grin at Hermione, who scowled at him for his lack of tact. Both Harry and Faykan had flushed slightly, and for a moment Hermione had wondered what had transpired when they awoke, but she quickly cast the thought aside and focused on her book.

"Harry, listen," said Ron, exchanging a look with Hermione, "you must be really upset about what we heard yesterday. But the thing is, you mustn't go doing anything stupid."

"Like what?" said Harry. From his tone Hermione guessed that he and Faykan had already discussed something similar to this the previous night, and again she found herself grateful that the boy cared so deeply for Harry.

"Like trying to go after Black." said Ron sharply. Harry exchanged a look with Faykan, who merely shrugged and returned his attention to the pile of work Hermione had completed. After a few moments of tense silence, Harry answered, "No, I won't go looking for Black. But if he does find me, I want to find out the truth."

"The truth?" Ron said, confused. "You know the truth Harry, Black betrayed your parents to You-know-who. He practically killed them himself. Then he went to Azkaban after blowing up Pettigrew, finally escaping to come after you!"

"Perhaps," Harry responded, looking at Faykan thoughtfully, "but perhaps the truth is not what the Ministry believes." There was a silence in which Crookshanks stretched luxuriously flexing his claws. Ron's pocket quivered.

Ron looked like he was readying himself to push the argument, but Faykan interrupted, "Ron, drop it, it's nearly Christmas. Let's go visit Hagrid or something…"

"Yes, let's visit Hagrid." Harry said, sitting up.

"No!" Hermione interrupted. Why were boys so intent on doing the most dangerous things they could possibly do? "Harry, you're not supposed to leave the castle, remember?"

But none of the boys were listening to her, and sighing in resignation; Hermione went to collect her cloak and followed them out of the common room.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Albus frowned for what felt like the hundredth time in less than twenty four hours. He had been spending almost all of his free time over this holiday break pouring over many different notes and memories about Faykan Undol, struggling to find something, anything that would hint as to who he was, and much more importantly, why he was so insufferably intertwined with Harry Potter.

From what he had found thus far, it was clear to Albus; the boy was definitely a threat to his plans for Harry. Faykan contained powers that many grown wizards didn't, and he was merely a child, possibly. An animagus by age eleven if not sooner, the incident with the troll on Halloween, being a trained Occlumens, the Patronus he conjured just before the holidays started.

Faykan's power might even contend Albus' own, let alone the potential for the boy to grow more powerful. To say that Albus was worried was a major understatement. If he lost Harry from the path he had prepared for him, the entire wizarding world could crumble to dust around him. Harry was the key to defeating Voldemort; the prophecy clearly defined that, and Faykan, this boy who was closer to Harry than any other living person, could so easily upset the careful balance that Albus had placed to guide Harry to his destiny.

Turning from his long list of Faykan's abilities, Albus regarded the pensieve that contained his and many of the other teacher's memories about Mr. Undol. He bent forward, intent on examining the first time he had seen this boy, the sorting ceremony two years previous.

Albus sank into the depths of the memory, landing in the Great Hall next to his two-year-younger self, seated in the high back chair of the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Albus watched himself for a moment, remembering the calmness he had felt knowing that Harry was coming to Hogwarts that year, and that he could start influencing the boy's path more directly.

The doors to the entrance hall opened, revealing Professor McGonagall and the twin lines of first years as they filed into the hall. Albus spotted Faykan immediately, the only child who didn't look utterly terrified, walking between Harry and the Malfoy boy, chatting animatedly to the pair of them. Albus watched them intently, and noticed the fine strings of magic wafting from Faykan and encircling both boys beside him. The streams of magic were so subtle that Albus doubted anyone had even noticed that day. The boy was clearly using magic mixed with his words of encouragement to keep his friends calm during the sorting. Not necessarily worrying in and of itself, but it betrayed the power that the boy had possessed from the very beginning.

Albus watched as the Malfoy boy was called up and immediately sorted into Slytherin, and Faykan nodded to himself as young Draco moved to sit at the emerald green table. Minutes later, Harry was called and set into Gryffindor, and again the boy nodded as if it was all going as he had suspected. Although, the boy could have just been good at guessing the traits of his friends and nodded as his guesses were confirmed.

"Undol, Faykan!" McGonagall finally called, and the boy confidently walked forward and let her drop the Sorting Hat upon his head.

Albus moved up to kneel right in front of the child, listening to the faint murmurings of the hat. He couldn't hear anything specific, as the hat was clearly speaking inside Faykan's mind, but the boy was clearly agitated by whatever conversation he was having despite all efforts to mask his emotions. Truthfully he was indeed performing a masterful job of shrouding, Albus conceded, but if one looked close enough, the tense lines in his jaw and the way his fingers were curled into fists gave away all pretense, perfectly masked as nerves of a new first year.

"SLYTH…" the hat started to call, and Albus saw Faykan's jaw open for a mere second before clenching in unmistakable fury, which caused the hat to go silent once again. Everyone in the room stared, but none of them would see the way the boy's hands were shaking, as the boy tried to contain his rage.

Finally, after the longest time a sorting had ever taken, the hat cried out exasperatedly "Fine you stubborn boy, GRYFFINDOR!" Albus watched Faykan wrench the hat off his head in triumph, and carelessly drop it back onto the stool. Albus gaped as the boy made his way to sit by Harry; how had he not noticed it before.

Faykan was not merely the spitting image of his father… and grandfather, both of which Albus had seen at Hogwarts years ago. He was perfectly identical to both older generations! Everything, his posture, his features, everything about the boy was exactly the same as his supposed ancestors. But that was impossible, even people who looked exactly like one parent or the other had at least some features of both parents, like Harry looking exactly like James except for his mother's eyes. But not Undol, it was as if he was copied directly from his father… or… or he was his father…

Albus pulled out of the memory with a jolt, how in three years had he never considered… Of course this theory would take time for him to unravel and test and he would need Severus' help, as he had many more memories about the elder Faykan Undol from years before. If Faykan Undol had managed to cheat his death at the hands of Voldemort, it would explain why he would seek out Harry Potter. It also confirmed the dangers that Albus had, as it would suggest that the boy was manipulating Harry to his own ends in fighting Voldemort another way.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Harry gazed across the table holding the Palantír at Faykan, his eyes reflecting the swirling mists contained in the orb. Faykan had just finished his first lesson of Occlumency with Ron and Hermione, and was now preparing to do the same for Harry. Hermione had picked up the concept quickly, as usual, while Ron had taken a longer time to figure out the methods Faykan was instructing. Draco was not with them, as he had gone home for the holidays to prepare for the Yuletide celebration that Harry and Faykan were attending Christmas day, their invitations were to come later that week.

"Whenever you're ready Harry…" Faykan said soothingly. Harry took a deep breath, and cleared his mind of thoughts as Faykan had instructed them all over the last several weeks. Finally, he nodded his consent, and Faykan leaned to stare into the Palantír, "Alright then… Legilimens."

Faykan's eyes went blank just as Harry felt a cool breeze slip around his head, throwing him into a different world entirely. Memories swirled around him, his memories, free and wild through a long flat plain that felt so comfortable and normal to Harry. "We're inside your mind now." sounded a voice behind him. Turning, Harry saw Faykan standing there, gazing intently at Harry and completely ignoring the swirling bands of memory. Faykan spoke again, and his voice wavered between what Harry was used to hearing, and something that sounded much older; wiser and much deeper, "And it seems to be in the condition I expected it to be."

'Where to begin?' Harry wondered, and was surprised when his voice sounded in his mind for Faykan to hear.

"Quite simply Harry, we start with dividing off a portion of your mind… As I have done with Hermione and Ron, we simply need to shroud a portion of your mind to store the things I teach you in, leaving the rest untouched so that anyone trying to invade your mind will not become suspicious."

Faykan pulled a wand from his robes, and waved it in a complicated pattern, uttering words that Harry couldn't hear or understand. Fog started to pour out of his wand, coating a large section of the plain of Harry's mind. "Now Harry, I need you to focus on this fog bank, allow it to inhabit your mind. Accept it, and form your thoughts around it. I'll do the rest."

Harry concentrated on moving his free flying memories and thoughts to encircle Faykan's fog bank, entwining it into his own mind. The flying colors and images obeyed his every command without resistance, twisting themselves around the fog, shielding it from sight.

"Good job Harry, very well done. Even Hermione had difficulty controlling her thoughts and emotions in that manner. Next, you need to place all the memories of our lessons and whatever else you want to keep hidden within the fog bank. Finally we will together ward it to keep out intruders."

Harry did so, and watched as every memory that contained Faykan sink into the mists, along with quite a few memories of life with the Dursleys, and several events from the last two years of Hogwarts. They all meshed and swirled just beyond the bank of clouds, hidden from view.

Faykan lifted his wand again, "Tinechor i' rina tuulo' elea," he chanted, moving his wand in a six pointed pentagram, which was etched over the cloud bank in blue lights. They glowed for a moment before settling into the mist. Faykan repeated the spell again, and again, moving around the protected area in a long, slow circle.

When he'd finished, Faykan looked over the defenses nodding to himself. "And finally, as an extra precaution," he pointed his wand at himself, "kirma en' amin yamen' vee' vakha." Faykan glowed bright gold, and a perfect copy of himself stepped forward into the mist, leaving another Faykan standing where he was, smiling to himself.

"What was that?" Harry asked, surprised.

"Just a nasty surprise if anyone manages to break into this vault of memories, I've done the same with both Ron and Hermione, as I will with Draco after the holiday."

Harry nodded, still slightly confused. He understood part of what Faykan had done, finally reaching a point where he could listen and comprehend elvish, but there were still many words that eluded him as to their meaning. Harry wasn't completely sure if it was a good idea for Faykan to place parts of himself in four different people, however real they were or not.

Once again, Faykan turned and smiled at him knowingly, "Don't fret Harry, the Guardians will only activate if they are needed, therefore they won't drain me of my power or concentration unless you all are mentally attacked simultaneously, which is highly unlikely to happen…"

And at once, Faykan vanished from Harry's mind like a brush of wind. Harry came back to himself, still sitting across the table from Faykan as his eyes refocused and he pulled away from the Palantír. "Well, that's three out of four. We'll be able to start the advance lessons after the break I think." Faykan said turning to look at Ron and Hermione, who were still practicing dueling spells on the other side of the room.

"Now you three need to remember to continue practicing clearing your minds, nightly would be the best, and consciously move new memories that you want protected into the mist vaults. It will do us no good if you don't actively use them…" he said with a small chuckle.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Sirius paced the inside of the Shrieking Shack, waiting for Mr. Undol to arrive. He had sent Crookshanks to deliver a message to the Gryffindor boy, telling him that Sirius wanted to speak with him, and how to reach the Shack from the grounds.

That was nearly an hour ago, and Sirius was starting to lose his patience. The Shack groaned as he walked across a weakened plank for what seemed like the hundredth time. His mind traveled back to Peter, still hiding comfortable in Gryffindor Tower, so close to Harry, and his blood boiled. The traitor! How dare he be so close to James' son! How dare he betray his friends and then crawl into the perfect place to finish what he had started! Sirius kicked a chair, sending it crashing against the wall in pieces.

"Whatever the chair did, I'm sure it's sorry…" drawled a voice from the doorway. Sirius whipped around, but it was only Faykan. The boy seemed to posses uncanny abilities at stealth when he wanted to. "So," the boy continued, sitting on the moth eaten bed in the corner of the room, "what did you wish to speak with me about."

"Where were you, I sent that note hours ago," Sirius asked, suspiciously. He still didn't trust this boy completely, even with his statement of trust in Sirius.

"I was with Harry and our friends, teaching them skills to keep us all safe, Sirius." The boy responded coolly, as if they were discussing the weather.

"Ah," said Sirius, calming down at the mention of Harry, "Well, I wanted to talk about Harry to be honest." He paused, watching the boy for any sign of distrust at the mention of Sirius wanting to know about Harry. He was aware that the Ministry thought he had escaped Azkaban to kill his godson, and he was appalled that they would think that, but then again, it was the Ministry. Coming to the wrong conclusion was their specialty.

Sirius was pleasantly surprised when Faykan didn't react to his request, but merely started talking about how Harry was, who his friends were, and their adventures the last two years at Hogwarts.

"I saw Harry play Quidditch earlier," commented Sirius, "How is his broom after that accident with the dementors?"

"Destroyed," Faykan said dully, "he hasn't thought about replacing it yet, ever since we snuck into Hogsmeade and he overheard the Minister accusing you of murdering your best friends, that shook him up and I don't think he's thought about his broom since."

Sirius deflated, he hadn't wanted Harry to find out about him in such a manner, "Does he hate me?" he asked quietly. "Not entirely," the boy responded, and Sirius perked up slightly. "I convinced him to use his own judgment and not to rely on what the Ministry or anyone else for that matter has to say." Sirius smiled for the first time since he escaped from Azkaban, Harry didn't hate him entirely, there was a chance for him to fulfill his charge to James and take care of Harry as his godfather.

"I know what I need to do, and I need your help Faykan." Sirius said suddenly. "I want you to draft an unsigned letter to Diagon Alley, purchasing the newest, best broom as a gift to Harry, I'll use the gold from the black estate account, and there should be more than enough there. Have it delivered by owl to him on Christmas."

Faykan grinned, and pulled out parchment for them to draft the letter. As they wrote out the request for the broom, Faykan said, "I wish you would tell me the truth as to why you are here, if it's not to watch over Harry. There's something, or someone that you are clearly after. I can tell. I wish you would trust me, I could be of so much help to you."

"I can't," Sirius said. He would not involve this young boy in his quest for vengeance, "it is a task for me alone."

"Very well, Sirius, but know that I am here if you change your mind." Faykan said in a slightly defeated tone. With that the boy turned and made his way down the stairs, the letter clutched tightly in his hands.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

On Christmas morning, Harry was woken by Ron throwing his pillow at him.

"Oy! Presents!"

Harry reached for his glasses and put them on, squinting through the semi-darkness to the foot of his bed, where a small heap of parcels had appeared. Ron and Faykan were already ripping the paper off his own presents.

"Another sweater from Mum... maroon again... see if you two got one."

Harry and Faykan had. Mrs. Weasley had sent Harry a scarlet sweater with the Gryffindor lion knitted on the front, and Faykan a deep blue one with a silver eagle, also a dozen home-baked mince pies, some Christmas cake, and a box of nut brittle each. As Harry moved all these things aside, he saw a long, thin package lying underneath.

"What's that?" said Ron, looking over, a freshly unwrapped pair of maroon socks in his hand.

"Dunno..."

Harry ripped the parcel open and gasped as a magnificent, gleaming broomstick rolled out onto his bedspread. Ron dropped his socks and jumped off his bed for a closer look.

"I don't believe it," he said hoarsely.

It was a Firebolt, identical to the dream broom he, Faykan, and Draco had seen in Diagon Alley. Its handle glittered as he picked it up. He could feel it vibrating and let go; it hung in midair, unsupported, at exactly the right height for him to mount it. His eyes moved from the golden registration number at the top of the handle, right down to the perfectly smooth, streamlined birch twigs that made up the tail.

"Who sent it to you?" said Ron in a hushed voice.

"Look and see if there's a card," said Harry.

Ron ripped apart the Firebolt's wrappings.

"Nothing! Blimey, who'd spend that much on you?"

"Well," said Harry, feeling stunned, "I'm betting it wasn't the Dursleys."

Ron suggested that it was Dumbledore, but Harry shot the idea down, knowing that the old wizard wouldn't spend that much money on a student. Faykan sat quietly on his bed, smiling at Harry and Ron's excitement over the broom, which caught Harry as odd. Faykan usually would have said something by now if he wasn't hiding something.

"Do you know anything about this Fay?" Harry asked.

Faykan raised his eyebrows in surprise, "No, not a clue Harry." he said unconvincingly. Harry smiled, and chose not to press at his best friend's obvious lie.

"What're you three talking about?"

Hermione had just come in, wearing her dressing gown and carrying Crookshanks, who was looking very grumpy, with a string of tinsel tied around his neck.

"Don't bring him in here!" said Ron, hurriedly snatching Scabbers from the depths of his bed and stowing him in his pajama pocket.

But Hermione wasn't listening. She dropped Crookshanks onto Seamus' empty bed and stared, open-mouthed, at the Firebolt.

"Oh, Harry! Who sent you that?" she asked.

"No idea." said Harry, despite his suspicions. "There wasn't a card or anything with it."

To his great surprise, Hermione did not appear either excited or intrigued by the news. On the contrary, her face fell, and she bit her lip.

"What's the matter with you?" said Ron.

"I don't know," said Hermione slowly, "but it's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, this is supposed to be quite a good broom, isn't it?"

Ron sighed exasperatedly.

"It's the best broom there is, Hermione," he said.

"So it must've been really expensive..." she continued.

"Probably cost more than all the Slytherins' brooms put together," said Ron happily.

"Well... who'd send Harry something as expensive as that, and not even tell him they'd sent it?" said Hermione. Harry shot a glance at Faykan, who hadn't reacted at all to Hermione's statement.

"Who cares?" said Ron impatiently. "Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?"

"I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" said Hermione shrilly.

Harry, Faykan, and Ron looked at her.

"What d'you think Harry's going to do with it… sweep the floor?" said Ron.

But before Hermione could answer, Crookshanks sprang from Seamus' bed, right at Ron's chest.

"GET. HIM. OUT. OF. HERE!" Ron bellowed as Crookshanks' claws ripped his pajamas and Scabbers attempted a wild escape over his shoulder. Ron seized Scabbers by the tail and aimed a misjudged kick at Crookshanks that hit the trunk at the end of Harry's bed, knocking it over and causing Ron to hop up and down, howling with pain.

Crookshanks' fur suddenly stood on end. A shrill, tint, whistling was filling the room. The Pocket Sneakoscope had become dislodged from Harry's socks and was whirling and gleaming on the floor.

"I forgot about that!" Harry said, bending down and picking up the Sneakoscope. It whirled and whistled in his palm. Crookshanks was hissing and spitting at it.

"You'd better take that cat out of here, Hermione," said Ron furiously, sitting on Harry's bed nursing his toe.

"Can't you shut that thing up?" Faykan added to Harry as Hermione strode out of the room, Crookshanks' yellow eyes still fixed maliciously on Ron.

Harry stuffed the Sneakoscope back inside the socks and threw it back into his trunk. All that could be heard now were Ron's stifled moans of pain and rage. Scabbers was huddled in Ron's hands. It had been a while since Harry had seen him out of Ron's pocket, and he was unpleasantly surprised to see that Scabbers, once so fat, was now very skinny; patches of fur seemed to have fallen out too

"He's not looking too good, is he?" Faykan commented.

"It's stress!" said Ron. "He'd be fine if that big stupid furball left him alone!"

Harry just shook his head sadly, the problems with Crookshanks and Scabbers were not going to end pleasantly, he just knew it somehow…

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Severus watched as the 'Gryffindor Golden Quartet' entered the Great Hall for lunch. He silently cast the Lynx Eye spell that Dumbledore recommended he try the next time he saw the four children, and raised his eyebrows in surprise at what he saw. The auras of the four children were peculiar, well; Grangers and Weasleys were rather ordinary, Potter's was as the Headmaster had orchestrated it to be, powerful yet limited, a block on him accessing his full potential until the right moment that he would need it.

But Undol… the deep blue aura radiated off him like fire, spreading across the room to touch everything he encountered, and if Severus wasn't mistaken, there were connections from Undol to his three friends, linking the boy to them. The connections to Weasley and Granger were thin and new, but Potter's was strong and powerful, connecting the two boy's hearts and minds. Severus glanced at Albus, who nodded once, signaling that he too saw this strangeness. They would indeed be discussing this later.

"Merry Christmas!" said Dumbledore as Potter, Undol, Weasley, and Granger approached the single table in the center of the room. "As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the House tables... Sit down, sit down!"

The four children sat together at the far side of the table. Aside from the four Gryffindors, Severus, and Albus, there were present Minerva McGonagall, Pomona Sprout, Filius Flitwick, Argus Filch, and two terrified first years.

"Crackers!" said Dumbledore enthusiastically, offering the end of a large silver noisemakers to Severus, who sighed but took it reluctantly and tugged. With a bang like a gunshot, the cracker flew apart to reveal a large, pointed witch's hat topped with a stuffed vulture. Severus was instantly reminded of the boggart incident, and glared at the hat, shoving it toward Albus, who swapped it for his own immediately. Potter and Weasley sniggered slightly and Severus glared at them.

"Dig in!" Albus advised the table, beaming around.

Severus took the time while digging into his plate of turkey and mash to study the interaction between the Headmaster and Undol. Albus was clearly trying to probe Undol and the other Gryffindors' minds, and with the Lynx Eye spell active, Severus could see the strands of Legilimens flying over the table at the four third years. The rebounded off Undol, as Severus expected, but pierced Potter, Weasley, and Granger easily. The strands wavered around in their minds for a few moments, and then withdrew, and Albus frowned. Something was amiss, clearly, or Albus would have just smiled with those damn twinkles in his eyes as he normally did when he had siphoned something from a mind.

Just as Severus was about to try himself to see what agitated the Headmaster, the doors of the Great Hall opened again. It was Sybill Trelawney, gliding toward them as though levitating. She had put on a green sequined dress in honor of the occasion, making her look more than ever like a glittering, oversized dragonfly.

"Sybill, this is a pleasant surprise!" said Dumbledore, standing up, eager for the distraction of his failed attempt at Legilimens.

"I have been crystal gazing, Headmaster," said Sybill in her mistiest, most faraway fake voice, "and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and coming to join you. Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness..." Severus rolled his eyes to Minerva, who smiled thinly.

"Certainly, certainly," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "Let me draw you up a chair…"

And he did indeed draw a chair in midair with his wand, which revolved for a few seconds before falling with a thud, right in between Severus and Minerva, who both frowned. Sybill made no move to sit, but let out a soft scream as her eyes moved around the table.

"I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!" she said

"We'll risk it, Sybill," said Minerva impatiently. "Do sit down, the turkeys getting stone cold."

Sybill hesitated, and then lowered herself into the empty chair, eyes shut and mouth clenched tight, as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit the table. Minerva poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen.

"Tripe, Sybill?"

The Divination teacher ignored her. Eyes open again, she looked around once more and said, "But where is dear Professor Lupin?"

"I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again." said Dumbledore, indicating that everybody should start serving themselves. "Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day."

Sybill and Minerva started to snipe at each other about how the Divination teacher should have known about Professor Lupin's illness beforehand, Sybill retaliating with her same idiocy about her knowing, but choosing to ask for the sake of everyone else. Severus shook his head, irritated that he had to work with the woman, when Albus addressed him about the Wolfsbane potion that he had been brewing for Lupin all year.

Severus confirmed that yes he had indeed given Lupin the potion for this cycle of the moon, without actually mentioning those facts because of ignorant students and teachers around them. Only Albus, Severus, Minerva, Filius, and Pomona knew that Lupin was indeed a werewolf. Although Severus suspected that Undol and Granger might be putting the pieces together since he set the essay in the Defense class earlier that term.

Potter and Weasley remained oblivious as usual, however. Severus was very disappointed with the boy, he had all the intelligence of his mother, but the brashness of his father clouded his judgment far too often… thankfully he had Undol, Draco, and Granger to guide him, when he bothered to listen to them at least.

Finally, lunch started to come to a close, and Undol rose from the table, followed by Potter and Weasley, clearly to return to Gryffindor Tower and prepare for their evening invitation to Malfoy Manor. Severus had received their invitation in the mail, along with a portkey, which resembled a Christmas bell with the Malfoy crest embossed on the side.

Sybill gasped when Faykan rose however; making all four Gryffindors freeze in surprise. "My poor dear," she moaned, "Such a crime that you shall be the first to die of us thirteen, you have such potential with the gifts of the Inner Eye." She dabbed at her eye with her napkin, while Minerva scoffed, "I highly doubt Mr. Undol will simply drop dead soon Sybill, unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the entrance hall."

Everyone at the table, Sybill and Severus excluded, laughed at that.

Potter asked if Granger was going to join them, but she declined, and the three Gryffindor boys exited, and from the lack of screams, did not meet a bloody and untimely end from any axe wielding murderer.

Hours later, Severus waited in the entrance hall as Undol and Potter made their way down the marble staircase, both wearing dress robes for the Malfoy Yuletide party. Severus said nothing, but simply held out the bell, and after the two boys touched it, they were whisked away by the familiar tug behind their navels.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Draco stood calmly beside his parents in the front foyer, awaiting the first batch of guests to arrive. Aside from Harry and Faykan, most to all of the remaining guests were Draco's Slytherin classmates and their families, friends of Lucius', or important Ministry officials that had been invited because of their political positions.

Draco was turning to sit down when the sound of feet hitting the marble floor reached his ears. He turned back to find Faykan, Harry, and his godfather walking forward from the portkey arrival point. Harry was wearing the emerald green dress robes that he and Faykan had picked for him in Diagon Alley earlier that year, while Faykan's were silver with sapphires sown into the material. Severus wore his typical black robes, but they were fresh ones that Draco new he kept for these kinds of occasions.

Both Severus and Faykan bowed in turn to Lucius and Narcissa, and Harry shook hands with Lucius. Narcissa however, pulled Harry into a small hug, and Draco heard her whisper in his hear, "Welcome cousin." Harry raised his eyebrows, and Draco saw Faykan smile as he watched the two interact.

"Draco," Lucius said formally, "Please take your godfather and our honored guests to the ball room and entertain them while your mother and I await our other visitors."

"Yes Father." Draco replied, and he turned to lead his two best friends and his godfather away just as other families started to arrive.

As they walked, Harry told Draco all about the Firebolt that he was sent for Christmas, and how Hermione had gone and told Professor McGonagall about it, who confiscated it to be checked for hexes and jinxes because of Sirius Black. Draco watched as his godfather refrained from attempting to tell Harry off. When they reached the ball room, Severus moved quickly to the other side of the room, as far away from Harry and Faykan as possible, but Draco and his friends were distracted from their Potion Master's behavior by the steady flow of other guests that were lead by house elves.

Most of the new arrivals either sent quick glances at the two Gryffindor boys, or ignored them completely. Theodore Nott and his father openly glared at Harry, but Nott Sr. watched Faykan with what Draco thought was a mix of admiration and fear. Theodore simply smirked at him. Lucius and Narcissa appeared finally, Lucius talking to Cornelius Fudge and a short stout woman with the face of a toad, who was wearing bright pink robes. Draco heard Faykan exhale slightly as Lucius directed this woman and Fudge over to where they all stood.

"Ah and here's Mr. Potter." said Fudge, reaching out to shake Harry's hand, "Yes, you don't know what a fright it gave the Ministry when you just up and vanished this summer. Right after Black's escape. Whole Ministry up in arms until Dumbledore reassured us that you were merely taken to a safer location. Charming man Dumbledore… Oh this is Dolores Umbridge, Senor Undersecretary to the Minister." Fudge added, gesturing to the witch in pink beside him. Umbridge merely eyed Harry with a cold calculating gaze, making no move to shake his offered hand. It made Draco rather nervous. But finally Lucius pulled the Minister away, and the toad faced Undersecretary followed.

Faykan narrowed his eyes at their retreating forms, "Curious how close the Minister is with your father, isn't it Draco?" he said with a touch of sarcasm. Draco frowned; it was true that his father did have rather close ties to the Minister. Given what he had tried to do last year, Draco could only imagine what else Lucius could attempt to have happen.

His thoughts were interrupted as the small orchestra started up a waltz, and Daphne Greengrass came over to ask him to dance. Allowing her to pull him away to the dance floor, Draco snuck back a look at his friends, who were currently also being coaxed into dancing, Harry by Narcissa and Faykan by Ms. Zabini, Blaise's rather attractive mother.

Draco caught Harry's eye as they saw Mr. Nott waltz across the floor with Mr. Yaxley. Harry's expression was priceless, but thankfully Draco's mother bent down and whispered in his ear that in pureblood society, dancing was permitted between partners of either gender. Generally it didn't happen often among the married couples, but single adults, children, or pairs of people who merely wanted to hold a private conversation found it more agreeable than standing in a dark corner hoping no one was trying to eavesdrop.

Harry seemed to accept the explanation, as he returned to making sure he didn't step on Narcissa's feet, which wasn't necessary, as Draco knew his mother was an expert dancer, and could move her feet out of the way before Harry could realize that he was about to step on her. Draco spun his head, only idly listening to Daphne's chatter, and watched Faykan maneuver expertly across the floor with the dark skinned Ms. Zabini.

They were talking softy to each other, probably exchanging pleasantries and other neutral conversation topics, while Blaise watched them as he danced with Daphne's younger sister Astoria. The song ended, and Draco guided Daphne back to a seat by the groups of other people who had not danced yet, and noticed Theo Nott speaking with his father in hushed whispers, but he was dragged away again by Pansy Parkinson, who practically demanded that he danced with her.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Severus watched with a scowl as the second song started up. He had refused Mrs. Greengrass's invitation to dance, owning to him being a chaperone. He took a small measure of pride that that title at least excused him of needing to actively participate in the revelry, as would have been expected if he was an invitee. From the side of the room, he watched his two charges as they danced with several other young people and their parents. Potter seemed only slightly uncomfortable with the pureblood ideas of acceptable dancing, but was doing remarkable for his first actual ball. Undol, not surprisingly, was moving across the room with all the grace that one of his powers could create.

Silently, Severus cast the Lynx Eye spell on himself again, urged to observe the boy's magic at work once more. The bright aura surged and flowed around Undol, feeling around to everything near him while not lingering in one place too long. The only permanent connection that Severus could see was to Potter, the line of magic combining the blue and green auras into a bright gold.

Severus was not the only one watching Undol, he noticed. At one of the small tables of refreshments, he overheard Theodore Nott and his father muttering quietly. "I see what you tried to describe to me last year, Theo." Mr. Nott said to his son, "That boy is definitely far more powerful than anyone imagines. His magic practically sings as it flies off his body."

Severus remembered that the Nott family had the unusual trait of being able to naturally see powerful magical auras.

Theodore smirked as he watched Undol offer to dance with Potter for the third song, "His abilities are wasted with his infatuation with Potter." he sneered, "Perhaps I should be more forceful with my… ah… invitations."

Nott Sr. smiled wickedly at his son, "Perhaps you should Theo. Why don't you start with breaking them up here and stealing some of Mr. Undol's time for yourself?"

Theodore narrowed his eyes as he moved off toward to where Potter and Undol were dancing.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Harry was, despite some of the awkwardness during the first few dances, starting to enjoy himself as he was led through the fourth waltz of the night by Faykan. He was still unsure about the whole idea of men dancing with other men, but seeing how everyone was perfectly fine with it, he decided not to make a fuss. Not that he was uncomfortable dancing with his best friend; it just was something he had never considered being raised by the bigoted Dursleys.

Faykan was just telling Harry about Ms. Zabini and her interest in him, mentioning that she might be the safest person in the room next to Draco, having only a train of dead husbands she had conveniently outlived, when someone tapped Harry roughly on the shoulder.

Turning, Harry came face to face with Theodore Nott, who sneered down at him while playing with one of the rings on his fingers. "May I cut in?" he said coldly, taking Faykan's hand before Harry could object, and forcefully pulling the smaller boy away before picking up the dance, with him leading. Faykan clearly wasn't pleased with the situation, especially with Nott holding him just a bit close for comfort, using his superior height to force Faykan to follow.

Draco came up beside Harry and took his hand, picking up where Harry had left off with Faykan. They turned slightly so they could both watch Nott and Faykan, Draco with the same frown that Harry wore. "Any reason you can think of that would explain why he wants Faykan to be with him all of a sudden?" Draco asked.

Harry shook his head, at a loss of what had just happened. Looking back at the other dancing pair, he could make out through the crowd that Nott was definitely talking to Faykan, but his friend was clearly not interested in the conversation, and was only refraining from pulling away because of the scene it would create with all the other people so close.

Harry couldn't have been gladder when that song finally ended, and Faykan was able to escape Nott and return to them. "What was that about?" Harry asked him immediately, but Faykan merely shook his head, utterly refusing to discuss the event. Harry was about to press harder when the cold voice of Professor Snape sounded behind them, "Despite the wonderful time you both seem to be having, it is finally time to return to the castle. You will both follow me now."

Draco waved as Harry passed, and they were bowed out by Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, who continued the party after they turned back from the front foyer and Harry stepped through the fireplace behind Faykan, spinning in the network back to Hogwarts.

tinechor i' rina tuulo' elea : shield the memory from sight

kirma en' amin yamen' vee' vakha : part of myself place as guardian

Potential Spoilers Ahead, You Have Been Warned!

Very little changed for this chapter, aside from some pieces in the Albus section to more appropriately showcase that he was concerned for Harry's safety in addition to his plan, rather than literally controlling Harry and portraying himself as more villainous than I had intended. Otherwise, limited to paragraph separation and some minor grammatical changes for clarity. idea wise this is one of my favorite chapters oof my own ideas in book 3, outside the LotR sections, as it showcases some differences in the muggle world at the time with the Wizarding one. Thanks again for those who read and review, talk to you next time! ~F