VII.
"I am very disappointed, Harry." Professor Dumbledore said gravely, "Have I done something to frighten you?"
Harry shook his head miserably, staring into the depths of the fine, china teacup. They were sitting in the Headmaster's office which seemed more sinister than Harry had remembered. The same instruments whirled and flashed around him, but they no longer seemed harmlessly magical. Harry curled deeper in on himself and wished, oddly, that Theo was still there.
"Harry, I am concerned for you, my boy." The Headmaster continued, "You undergo a frightening potions accident and then before anyone can talk to you, Professor Snape says that you willingly left the safety of Hogwarts with Theodore Nott- a Slytherin, Harry."
Harry glanced up, eyes flashing in anger, a protest on the tip of his tongue before he collected himself. Harry shrugged again and glanced at his lap. Nott Keep was safe. Probably safer than Hogwarts with all of its defenses, at least for Harry right now. There weren't any professors there who tried to kill him or murderous voices in the walls. Plus, Theo wasn't 'just' a Slytherin.
Dumbledore sighed and set his own teacup down, "We've been worried about you Harry. Ron and Hagrid especially."
For the first time, Harry felt the stirrings of guilt and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. It wasn't that he hadn't thought of Ron and Hermione. It was just that he had been so busy- exploring the Keep, then Diagon Alley, and then the Malfoy's - it had all been so much fun. More fun than he had ever had.
"I'm sorry," He whispered and glanced up apologetically. The Professor nodded, looking slightly relieved, then stern again. Harry gnawed on the edge of his lip and wished he could take off his cape. But it felt like if he moved, he'd be in danger of the older man's wrath. Harry suddenly frowned. That didn't sound like him.
"It's alright, my boy." The Headmaster said kindly, "But we can't have you running off again until we create the cure. I know you are probably missing your bed in Gryffindor-"
"I have to go back!" Harry interrupted, his heart hammering in his chest, "I have to go back to Nott Keep!" The frown returned to the old man's face, more ferocious than ever and Harry flinched back in the chair.
"And why is that, Harry?"
Harry hesitated, biting his lip and twisting his ankles around each other. He risked a glance at the Headmaster's blue eyes and took a breath. He could trust Dumbledore. Whatever the Malfoy's said, Dumbledore had always looked out for him.
"Well, Harry?"
The story poured out then- slowly and fragmented as Harry tried to explain the necessity of his return without embarrassing Theo by revealing how poorly he had been living. But he mentioned Euphie, Theo's devotion and concern, and the need of two Notes to complete the Yule rituals. Dumbledore listened impassively. But when Harry finished, he shook his head.
"I'm sorry Harry. Young Nott's compassion is a credit to him, but I can not let you return. This is a family concern between Young and Lord Nott-"
"I am family!" Harry broke in desperately, "Right now- at least- I am a Nott. Dorothea Nott. And Theo needs me!" His heart was beginning to beat so quickly that he felt light-headed. Fear and desperation coiled around his throat. Unbeknownst to him, the curtains and rugs of the office were beginning to fray and unravel.
"Harry-" Dumbledore said warningly.
"I can spy for you!" Harry interrupted. Then froze wondering where the words- where the idea- even came from. Dumbledore's eyebrows rose impressively and he gestured to insist Harry continue.
Harry took a deep breath and told the second half of the story: the dinner with the Malfoy's, the improvised story Theo and he had concocted, the Malfoy's assumption of Dumbledore's involvement, and Lady Malfoy's sudden departure. As Harry spoke, Dumbledore's face grew more and more grave until little remained of the kindly Headmaster that Harry had always known. For a long moment, there was silence, then Dumbledore sighed.
"This complicates things more than you can know, Harry." He said flatly, "You compliment things more than you can know. However, I would be lying if I didn't say I was grateful for the forewarning."
Harry nodded and watched as Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, clearly deep in thought. Harry hoped he hadn't ruined everything, hoped that Dorothea hadn't caused too many problems. But what was he supposed to have done? Not gone with Theo? Not accepted the Malfoy's invitation to dinner? Harry went back to nibbling on his lip.
"Very well," Dumbledore leaned forward, once again the kind and genial headmaster. Only this time, Harry didn't feel much relieved. "You may return to Nott's Keep to help Young Nott complete his family ritual. But you must spend an equal amount of time in Hogwarts with your friends."
Harry brightened. This was brilliant, but Professor Dumbledore fixed him with a sharp gaze, all traces of the kind headmaster once more forgotten.
"Be careful Harry. You are entering a den of vipers who do not wish you well. I can only help and protect you if you tell me everything that happens."
Harry nodded quickly, eager to be out of the room. Headmaster Dumbledore held Harry's gaze for another long moment, then nodded and summoned Professor McGonagall to take Harry to Gryffindor Tower.
. . . . . . .
"Bloody hell," Ron repeated for the fifth time in as many minutes. "You're wearing a dress."
"You've said that already," He snapped and regretted it when Ron flinched back. Harry fidgeted uncomfortably on the edge of the worn armchair. Gryffindor Tower was not as he remembered it. Or, maybe it was, but Harry was just noticing new details. It was too warm, or he was finally dressed properly for winter and now found the fire excessive. The rugs and chairs were worn with years of use. The tapestries on the wall were faded and non-magical. Still, he wanted to go examine the wall hanging and see if it was magical, but if the magic had just faded. Harry resisted the urge. Ron was already staring at him like he had grown too many heads and Harry knew any more unusual behavior would be too much for his friend to handle.
"You really don't sound like him," The redhead muttered, then leaned forward to peer into Harry's face. Harry leaned back, "Or look like him."
"I'm not-" Harry hesitated, "- me. Right now. I mean, I am still me. But not." He didn't know how to explain it, but Ron's frank astonishment and disbelief were not helping. They lapsed into silence again with Ron sneaking bewildered glances at Harry's new face and Harry glancing about the common room, thankfully free of people over the holiday. What would it be like when school began again? All the Gryffindors who knew him as Harry, staring at him and whispering and mentioning how he wasn't acting like Harry Potter. He already knew he didn't act like how everyone believed the boy who lived should act.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked as the silence stretched out too long. Ron brightened at the change of subject.
"Oh- they had to take her to St. Mungo's!"
Harry gasped in horror- "What! Why? Is she ok?" Visions of horrible transformations built from a childhood of catching glimpses of late-night b-rated horror movies flashed through his mind. Had Hermione disintegrated into a blob of flesh? Or been possessed? Or slowly having her life force sucked away?
"Oh yeah." Ron reassured her blithely, "Madame Pomphrey couldn't reverse the enchantment. Something Hermione did with the polyjuice made it more permanent than normal- which is why you're stuck like that too. Good thing I got it right with Crabbe! Can you imagine if I was stuck like that forever?"
Ron broke into laughter while Harry remained frozen in worry. This had been his idea to break into the common room and find out of the Heir of Slytherin. That seemed so stupid and short-sighted now. They could have just asked Draco. Or looked up a family tree and see if the Malfoy's came from the Slytherin line. Now, Harry was Dorothea and Hermione was in the hospital. And why? Because he had wanted to save the day.
Harry vowed to think through his plans more carefully in the future. He didn't want any more friends to be hurt because of him.
"I think we should-" Harry began when a knock at the common room door echoed through the room. Both second years froze and looked at each other. Then Ron shrugged and hopped off the couch. Harry didn't miss the look of relief that crossed his face at the distraction.
"Probably someone forgot the password." He ran down the corridor and out of Harry's sight. Harry frowned at the fire. Ron was acting oddly - clearly uncomfortable to be around Harry in a new body. But had Harry really changed that much? He found the length of knotted ribbon in his pocket- the product of his first connection to his wand- and squeezed it gratefully. A knot of tension disappeared from between his shoulder blades.
"Malfoy! What are you doing here? No- you can't come in-" Ron's angry shout echoed through the common room and Harry leaped to his feet and flew down the hallway. There, craning his neck around Ron's thin frame was Draco Malfoy. When the Slytherin boy saw Harry, his face relaxed and he took a step back.
"Out of the way Weasley. I'm here to speak to Dorothea."
"Doro-what what?" Ron sputtered, but before Ron could possibly ruin his cover, Harry stepped neatly around Ron and into the hallway. He shot Ron an apologetic look over his shoulder.
"Sorry Ron, I didn't get a chance to tell you, but I met up with Malfoy and his parents in Diagon Alley today. Did I leave something in the restaurant?" He asked Draco. It had been so dark and Harry had received so many new things today, that he wouldn't be surprised if he had left a package or glove or something behind. But Draco shook his head and sent Ron a distracting glare.
"It's private," He said, holding out an arm grandly. Harry stared at it stupidly until Malfoy asked, "Would you walk with me, Miss Nott?" Harry blinked, sent Ron an apologetic glance and then threaded his hand through Draco's arm like he had seen Lady Malfoy do with her husband. As Draco led them away, his head raised ridiculously high, Harry heard Ron's strangled sound of surprise.
"What do you want?" She asked Draco once they had turned the corner and the portrait had disappeared. One dinner did not erase a year of rivalry and mean comments towards Hermione. But he had agreed to spy on Draco and the Malfoy's in order to be able to go back home. Well, to Nott Keep.
"Why did you call him Ron?" Malfoy demanded, dropping his arm. "How do you even know him?"
Harry thought quickly, "Ron and Hermione were the ones who found me when I first arrived here." He said- it wasn't a complete lie. They had been the first people who befriended him. Draco nodded but still scowled.
"You should call them Granger and Weasley," He informed Harry loftily. "You've only been introduced to them once and it's important for people like us to keep up the proper and respectful distance. You only call someone by their first name when you are good friends."
"You called me Dorothea," Harry pointed out and was amused to see Draco blush and look away awkwardly.
"Well, I hope we can be good friends," Draco mumbled, "The Notts are a good family and we did have dinner and Theo- Oh! Are you ok?"
He suddenly rounded on Harry and stared deep into his eyes as though able to discern the depths of Harry's thoughts from such a glance. Harry nodded uncertainly and Draco let out a breath of relief.
"Oh good. Theo fire called us, absolutely frantic, saying that Dumbledore had stolen you away. Again! So Mother promised to get in touch with me and have me come to check on you, which was no easy task, let me tell you. I had to think to myself- if I was Dumbledore where would I put the lost Nott daughter. Well, it couldn't be the dungeons, because he hates Slytherin. So I sent Crabbe to Ravenclaw and Greg to Hufflepuff and I-"
"Draco." Harry interrupted sharply. It was late and exhaustion was beginning to creep into his bones. "What happened to Theo?"
"Oh- nothing. He was just worried. But, I have found you and you are ok. So now I will go call Mother and tell her that you are alright, so she can tell Theo that you are alright." Draco took a deep breath as he finally reached the end of his explanation. Guilt began gnawing at Harry's stomach again. Of course, Theo had been terrified. Harry was rather warmed that the other boy had pulled whatever strings he had to in order to make sure Harry was alright.
"Thank you," Harry told Draco simply and Draco beamed, "Please tell your mother to tell Theo that I am alright and that I'll be able to return to the Keep for Yule."
Draco looked shocked, "Not tonight?"
"I don't think so," Harry shook his head sadly. It was strange, but he was already wanting to see his unicorn tapestries again. And what if Theo had another nightmare? Harry looked up in surprise as Draco grabbed his wrist and began dragging him down the hall. "Where are you taking me?"
"Slytherin dorms," Draco said succinctly. "None of the girls are there, but I'm sure you can use Pansy's bed. I'll explain everything to her so she won't mind."
"I think Dumbledore wants me to spend the night in the Gryffindor dorms." He whispered and shuddered suddenly. It was late and he had had a very busy, very exhausting day. He wanted to go to bed but didn't know which one to go to. His old one in the boy's dorm was familiar, but it would be so awkward with Ron there making comments and none of his clothes would fit or feel as good as the dress he wore now. But if he went to the girl's dorm he'd be sleeping in someone else's bed or Hermione's which would almost be worse than sleeping in the Slytherin girl's dorm.
"Hey- hey- don't cry," Draco said worriedly, and Harry found to his amazement that tears were beginning to stream down his cheeks. He covered his face in his hands and tried to fight back a sob. To his amazement, he felt Draco's arms wrap hesitantly around him and pat his back. To his greater amazement, Harry found himself leaning into Draco's shoulder to sob miserably.
"I just want to go home." He cried and wasn't sure where he meant.
. . . . . . .
A/N: Thank you all for reading this story! Let me know what you think!
Updated: 9/19- explanation of how Draco found Harry per question from the guest reviewer.