Yo! I literally just finished writing this chapter, and since you guys are so awesome, I'm posting it now instead of waiting until after I finish eating dinner. I'm serious, my plate of food is sitting right next to me. Anyway, thank you to all readers so far!

"What caused this sudden truce, Pot...Harry?" asked Draco rather suddenly, abruptly breaking the strangely comfortable silence that had fallen some minutes before.

Harry sighed as the betrayal returned to the forefront of his mind. "Draco, do you know what compulsions are? I have a suspicion, but I'd like to know for sure." Once again he found himself reminded about just how little he truly knew about this world and its ways, even after having been part of it for the past few years. He was definitely going to have to change that soon. Or at least attempt to.

A look of alarm crossed over Neville's face though, and Draco frowned. Harry wasn't looking at Luna, so he couldn't see her expression, but he wouldn't have been surprised to see her upset by the implication too.

"Compulsion charms can be considered similar to the Imperius curse," said Draco slowly, "but they can only be cast by particularly powerful wizards. Basically, you're implanting a...suggestion in a person's mind, causing them to think, feel, or act in a specific manner."

Now Harry frowned. "So if someone put a compulsion on me to hate, say, anything Dark-?"

"Then you would act and feel and think that you hated anything and everything Dark, even if that wasn't actually true."

"Can they be broken or something?"

"A spell cast by the same wizard, or one of equal or more power can break a compulsion, otherwise they wear off after a certain amount of time," said Draco. "The longest a compulsion can last is six months, and once that time is up, they begin to wear off on their own, and have to be recast."

Harry's frown deepened. "Is there any way to tell whether a compulsion's been cast on you?" he asked curiously, wincing ever so slightly as he felt a sharp sting in his mending wrist.

"There's a spell," replied Draco. "I don't know it though. But I know it creates a list of not only the compulsions on you at the time, but all the ones cast on you in the past."

"I see," muttered Harry, falling into thought. He needed some way to break the compulsions Dumbledore was going to place on him after the feast. "Do you know anyone who does know this spell? Someone you really trust and is in the castle?"

"Professor Snape," said Draco immediately.

Harry sighed again. While he didn't hate the man, Harry didn't quite trust him yet. Though, for whatever strange reason, he knew he could trust Draco, and if the blond trusted the Potions Master, then he could at least give it a shot, right? What was the worst that could happen? Either he would be handed over to Voldemort, who would probably kill him, or he would be taken to Dumbledore, who would just place more stupid spells on him and continue to send him back to the Dursleys, who would also probably kill him. It was the same thing either way, wasn't it? Though being killed by the Dark Lord was definitely less humiliating than being killed by his Muggle relatives.

"What happens when a person under compulsions finds out about said compulsions?" he asked finally.

Draco seemed to hesitate for a moment, but whether that was because he wasn't sure of the answer, or just didn't know how to explain it, Harry didn't know. "Normally, their magic begins to fight against them, and pretty violently too. It always ends in one of two ways though. Either the compulsions break, or they don't. I've noticed that people who have weaker magic can't seem to break them though."

There was another long pause. The indecisive drizzle from earlier had strengthened into a pouring rain, and lightning flashed in the distance, coming closer with every passing minute as the storm cell approached the train.

"Dumbledore is going to be placing compulsions on me after the feast," said Harry finally. "Apparently he's been doing it for a while, but I don't recall it at all, leading me to believe he's been Obliviating me too, probably since first year."

Luna's fingers stilled in his hair for a moment-the only sign she was displeased by what she had just heard. Draco gaped and Neville just stared in shock.

"Why?" said Neville, his brow furrowed as he struggled to understand.

"Honestly?" said Harry, glancing over at him briefly before focusing on the dark sky, "I'm not sure." He recounted the conversation he had overheard Ron and Hermione having, then said, "I guess maybe I was getting too rebellious or something? Though if this has been happening since first year, I've no idea what I could have done to get him to place compulsions on me and and wipe my memories in the first place."

"Dumbledore is a master manipulator," said Draco with a small frown. "I was warned against him more than once before beginning first year. Him doing this doesn't really shock me. And as for Weasley and Granger, frankly, I'm surprised, even though I know I shouldn't be."

Neville seemed shocked too, but his face was scrunched up in confusion, signalling that he was in deep thought. Neither he nor Luna said anything, but Luna didn't seem to be very pleased either, though the only thing that gave that away was that her blue eyes were fully focused.

Thinking over what Ron and Hermione had said, Harry chuckled lightly, and when he received confused looks, decided to explain. "I really should have seen this coming. I mean-" he broke off, trying to figure out where to start and what to say. "When a Muggleborn gets their Hogwarts letter, they send someone to help them, right?"

The other three nodded. This was common sense-information that everyone knew.

"In some ways, I could count as a Muggleborn, at least in the regard that I knew nothing about magic. Yet Hagrid was the one sent to help me."

"Wait," Draco interrupted, "they sent Hagrid to get you? Is that why he was the one with you at Diagon Alley?"

Harry simply nodded. "Yeah. Now, it's not like I've got anything against him, but I don't think I'd send a prejudiced ex-student who was expelled in their third year, to explain the workings of the Wizarding world to an oblivious eleven year old."

"An eleven year old who just happened to have parents who were killed by not only a Slytherin, but the same Slytherin who caused Hagrid's expulsion," Luna pointed out. While her voice was calm, it was not as serene as usual, signalling that she already knew what Harry was going to explain. Or at least seemed to understand where he was going with it.

"That's what I mean when I say prejudiced," said Harry with a sigh. "Hagrid made sure to tell me that the man who killed my parents was a Slytherin." He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then went on. "And then there's the platform. Hagrid just happened to forget to tell me how to get onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters? How does that just happen?"

Draco frowned. "How did you get onto the platform then? Because I know you were on the train."

Harry looked over at him, the lightning from outside flashing in his eyes, creating a rather eerie look. "Actually, I was going to ask you that. How do you guys normally get onto the platform?"

"I usually Side-Along Apparate with Gran, right onto the platform," replied Neville, confusion clear on his face.

"Daddy and I do the same," agreed Luna, "but sometimes we go through the barrier anyway. It helps keep away Nargles you know."

Draco stared at Luna incredulously for a moment, before being able to actually answer Harry himself. "We normally Apparate as well," he said. "Though if we're going in a bigger group, say with some of my friends as well, we end up taking a Portkey. I've only been through the barrier once, and that was just because Mother stated everyone should experience it at least one time."

Harry inclined his head. "So you agree that it would be odd for a Pureblood family to go through the barrier at King's Cross?"

There was a chorus of, "Yes," through the compartment.

"I thought so."

"What are you talking about, Harry?" said Neville.

"The Weasleys were the ones to show me how to get through the barrier," Harry explained. "When I got to King's Cross, I realized I hadn't been told how to get onto the platform. I'd never even heard of it in the first place. When I asked someone, they just stared at me like I was an idiot, granted, it was a Muggle." He sighed, wincing a little at the pins and needles sensation in his slowly mending wrist.

"Then I heard someone talking, loudly at that, about Muggles. It was Molly Weasley, along with Percy, the twins, Ron, and Ginny. Mrs Weasley was asking what the platform number was. It didn't seem odd to me at all at the time, since I was desperate to get to the train, but only recently I realized how strange it truly was. In my first year, Bill and Charlie had already graduated and left, Percy was in his fifth year, the twins their third, not to mention Mrs Weasley had attended Hogwarts herself many years before. Why would she be asking her children what the platform's number was?"

"Couldn't she just have been making sure Ron knew?" asked Neville.

"That was what I thought at first," Harry agreed, "but even Ron should have known the platform number by then, because of his older brothers. And besides, they were all magical, so they should have been able to get onto the platform directly, without going through the barrier. And on top of all that, Mrs Weasley's walking through King's Cross, practically screaming about Platform Nine and Three Quarters, and Muggles? Trust me when I say that there were a lot of Muggles staring at them."

"You're thinking that they were planted," said Luna.

When Draco and Neville stared on in confusion, Harry chuckled lightly, glad his friend had understood. It didn't take Draco much longer to pick up what they were talking about, but Neville still seemed unsure.

Deciding to explain, Harry focused on his Housemate. "I think Dumbledore told Hagrid not to tell me how to get onto the platform. I also think he planted the Weasleys there, with the intention of me overhearing them and asking them what to do."

Neville frowned. "But, why would he do that?"

Harry smiled bitterly. "Is there a family out there more Light than the Weasleys? Because if there is, I've never heard of them. Hell, do you want to know why I turned your hand of friendship down on that train ride, Draco?"

"Why?"

"Because Ron told me that every Slytherin was evil. I'd been told that my parents' killer had been in Slytherin, so it made sense to my naive mind, and back when we first met in Madam Malkin's, you told me you wanted to be sorted into Slytherin."

"Oh," was all Draco was really able to say, clearly understanding. "What are you going to do about the compulsions?" he asked after a moment.

Harry closed his eyes as he fell into thought. "I was thinking," he said slowly, eyes still shut, "that I could meet you, Draco, somewhere at eleven, well after the feast. You could take me to see Snape, and he can take care of the compulsions."

"That's all fine and well," said Draco, "but if the old man places those compulsions on you, there's a chance he'll Obliviate you as well. Would you even remember to meet with me, let alone be civil about it?"

Harry smiled a little, and opened his eyes again. "That's where Luna will come in." From her lap, he focused on her face. "The compulsions won't allow me to forget that we're friends. I would talk to you regardless. Just before eleven, you'll come to Gryffindor Tower." Now he looked at Neville. "Nev, you'll come to me to tell me that Luna's waiting outside the Tower for me, which will give me a valid reason to leave. I don't know what Ron and Hermione will be doing at that time, so it's mainly for the benefit for others."

Draco seemed to have understood the plan. "So Lovegood will bring you to me, telling you to trust me. Since you trust her, you'll listen, even though you may be a little reluctant."

"Yes, exactly. Do you all agree?"

"Of course, Harry," said Neville.

"Good." Green eyes fell shut once more. "Even after the compulsions are broken, I'll be doing some acting. Can't let Ron and Hermione, and most importantly, Dumbledore, know that something's changed. But I'd like to keep our new...friendship out in the open, Draco, if you're alright with that."

Draco, mind whirling, agreed without even thinking about it. Not very Slytherin, no, but he was curious to see what Po-Harry was going to do. "I think I'll head back to my compartment now," he said after a moment. Giving a rather stiff looking nod, Draco took down the privacy spells and left the compartment.

When the Slytherin was gone, Harry untangled Luna's fingers from his hair, and pushed himself up so he was sitting down instead. "There's something you're hiding from me, Neville, isn't there?" he said abruptly.

Neville started, then hesitated. "I-it's just, I overheard something back in June, after-well, after the Ministry incident, but I thought it may have just been an inside joke or something. Now though, now I'm not really sure."

"What is it?"

"I-I think Ginny's planning on feeding you a love potion."

Harry's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Is that so?" he intoned slowly. "Explain, please."

Neville gave a rather jerky looking nod, surprised at how...different Harry was suddenly being. All these betrayals must have been affecting him more than they realized. "You were still in the hospital wing," he said, "and were asleep. I was-I was worried, and I wanted to make sure you were okay, so I came to see you. Hermione was in her own bed, and Ron and Ginny were with her. They were talking, saying how they needed to make sure you fell in love with Ginny, how you weren't paying enough attention to her. Then they were saying that maybe they should just start feeding you love potions. They said they would give you until October, and if you still didn't seem to be interested in Ginny..." he trailed off nervously.

Harry leaned back in his seat and pulled off his glasses to rub at his eyes. "I should have expected that," he muttered. "Thanks for letting me know, Nev."

"Yeah, no problem," said Neville, still looking rather hesitant. But he was watching his friend closely now, and seemed to be thinking about something. "Hey, Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you hear you parents' will yet?"

Replacing his glasses, Harry opened his eyes. "No, I haven't. Why?"

Neville frowned. "So your magical guardian didn't take you to hear it when you were eleven?"

Harry just blinked in confusion. "No, and what's a magical guardian?"

"You-you don't know?"

Harry shook his head, a frown of his own appearing on his face. "I don't know much about the Wizarding World at all," he admitted, "beyond what we learn at Hogwarts. What exactly is a magical guardian?"

"Well, normally your parents are your magical guardians, but Muggleborns and, well, orphans need to have a designated guardian, either because their parents are Muggles or dead. Usually parents leave the name of future guardians, like godparents, in their wills. Gran's my magical guardian, for example, because my parents, while still alive, are, well..." He broke off, then went on.

"The Headmaster or Headmistress automatically becomes the magical guardian of any Muggleborns and orphans-unless they have another one, and they're supposed to fill in the Muggle guardians with everything that's happening. I'll use Hermione as another example. She's a Muggleborn, which means the Headmaster is her magical guardian, but he's been making sure her parents are aware of what's been going on, which is required by the law."

Harry froze, immediately realizing what that meant. Dumbledore was his magical guardian! He had to be! He was an orphan, and though Sirius had been his godfather, he hadn't really ever been able to do anything legal for him except sign his Hogsmeade form...which Dumbledore had been the one to accept! The old man had never told him this. Had never even once mentioned... "If the Headmaster is my magical guardian, was he supposed to make sure I heard my parents' will?"

Neville and Luna, both nodded immediately, though it was the other Gryffindor who answered verbally. "When you turned eleven, he, not Hagrid should have been the one to not only tell you about this world, but accompany you to Diagon Alley, mainly because you had the legal right, even at that age, to hear about your parents. He could have sent a proxy, but that person should have done the same thing. Clearly that wasn't the case."

"Sirius was my godfather though."

"Yes," Neville agreed, "and that would have also made him your magical guardian, but because he was sent to Azkaban, that made him unable to remain your guardian. If he had ever been claimed innocent, then that decision would have been reversed, making him your guardian again." He sighed. "This is why you need to hear your parents' will. They may have decided on more guardians for you, other than your godfather."

Harry ran his fingers through his hair, noting his mending wrist wasn't hurting as much any more. "Merlin, okay, so is Dumbledore going to remain my guardian until I turn seventeen?"

"Actually...if you claim your Lordship, then you'll be considered of age, and won't need a guardian any more."

Now Harry just looked confused. "Lordship?"

Neville frowned. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you don't know about this either." He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Gran's got this book about all this Pureblood stuff, I'll ask her if you can borrow it. It'll be easier than me trying to explain everything anyway. I had to read the same book, and it's got a lot of information."

"I'd appreciate that, Nev."

"Of course."

There was a momentary silence where the three teens all watched the rain hit the compartment window. Lightning continued to flash outside, and the booming thunder echoed almost eerily...

I promise the first letter will be in the next chapter! Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!