"So... which time was better?" Draco teased coquettishly, arching his eyebrows at his mate. They were lying on the bed together, giggling and playing like kids re-united on the playground. The silencing charms seemed to be holding, for the moment anyway.
Memories of their first time flashed through Harry's mind in a sweet, lustful succession. He could see them undressing each other, and Draco leading him to the bed, and then they were making love and oh...
A wistful smile played at the edge of Harry's lips. "Neither. Both times were absolutely perfect. What about you?"
Draco stopped, thoughts dipping to the Room of Requirement. Of Harry perched on top of him, breaking him free in more ways than one. Of kisses and tongues and hands in all the right places. Of a blazing fire and talks of home and there was a cabinet in the corner...
Draco sat straight up in a motion so quick that Harry's head was reeling. His breath had quickened, eyes were darting around as thoughts turned to connections and then to answers.
"What is it, Draco? What's wrong?" Harry placed a delicate hand on his shoulder before he swung around sharply.
"We have to go to Dumbledore. Now." He was still distant, disconnectedly joining dots that Harry couldn't see.
"Why? Draco? What are you thinking?" He was worried now, concern elevating to fear.
"The cabinet. Do you remember the vanishing cabinet, Harry?" His voice was rushed and heated; Harry nodded as the now present pit in his stomach expanded.
"Voldemort. He doesn't need to penetrate the warding to get into the castle. He could... he could fucking get in through the cabinet!"
Harry's eyes were wide with a mixture of understanding and resolute fear. "We've got to do something, Draco."
"Come on," He grasped his hand, yanking him from the sheets. Just as he was about to stand, however, the sound of footsteps could be heard from the doorway. Their heads snapped toward the entrance, unprepared for what was to come. All at once, the door opened. Both mouths dropped at what they saw.
"I had to come, Albus. I had to." Narcissa's hands were shaking. She looked as if she might break at any moment, her entire figure fragile and maimed.
"It's ok, my dear. Take a seat." Dumbledore took his spot behind the desk; Narcissa nervously perched herself before him. She restlessly tangled her hands, then untangled them, fidgeting apprehensively.
"What did you come here to tell me, Mrs. Malfoy?" Dumbledore laced his fingers and placed them calmly on the desk. He had a way of relaxing the situation, calming the tide regardless of the size of the storm. There was a tranquil air about the room that gave Narcissa Malfoy the courage to speak.
"They're coming. Voldemort's Death Eaters. They've found a way into the castle. They want you dead, Albus. They're coming for you... and for- and for my Draco." She glanced down at her feet, as if she feared being beaten for exposing such secrets. When she did meet eyes with Albus Dumbledore, several stray tears found their places running down each cheek.
"When, my dear?" His eyes were concerned, but collected, planning his next move methodically.
"Tonight." Her voice was barely above a whisper, turning ideas into reality with the outspokenness of the word.
"Who is leading them?" Albus didn't flinch, but stroked his beard thoughtfully.
Narcissa winced, almost afraid to speak the name aloud. "My husband."
He nodded once, contemplating his own strategy. Standing up, he confidently took a step forward after making up his mind.
"Come, Narcissa. We must find the boys at once." She nodded curtly, rising from her seat.
"I'll head to the dungeons."
"That won't be necessary, my dear. Follow me. Well head to Gryffindor tower." He began striding toward the exit.
"What about Draco, sir?" Narcissa worriedly rushed in his direction.
"Not to worry, madam. I have a hunch that we won't have to look much farther for your son."
Mrs. Malfoy blushed as she trailed behind him with anticipation. After learning what she had about her son recently, there was little doubt in her mind that the old wizard was indeed correct.
"Professor!" Harry cried as the sight of the elderly man rang before him. Draco threw back the curtains, dissipating what remained of the silencing charms.
"We need to speak with you!" Draco pressed urgently, uncaring of the compromising position he'd been found in.
Beside him, several Gryffindors began to wake.
"I know, Draco. We both need to speak to one another. But first, there's someone who would like to see you." Dumbledore stepped aside to reveal Mrs. Malfoy, who in all of her concern looked as if she was about to cry.
Draco's jaw physically dropped. Harry gripped a hand around his arm protectively.
"Mother." It was hushed, a barely audible proclamation that Harry knew to mean self-doubt.
"What in the bloody- sorry Professor- what is going on here?" Ron sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes and trying to process the scene in front of him.
"Ron!" Harry almost shouted defensively, believing that he had underestimated the seriousness of the situation.
"He has a point." Draco said softly, gazing at his mother with a mixture of pain and longing.
"How did he end up in our dormitory? And what is he DOING in it?" Ron didn't seem to mind that Mrs. Malfoy was in the midst of their conversation one bit.
"You don't want him to answer that," piped Seamus, who had just rolled over to join in. Both Harry and Draco flushed crimson.
"Boys, boys, calm down." Dumbledore directed his attention to the other side of the room, and Narcissa took a step toward Draco.
"I hope you'll forgive me when you learn the reason that I'm here." She was solemn, and Harry could sense the authenticity behind her words.
He nodded, giving her the unarticulated chance she desired.
"Harry. Draco." Dumbledore turned to them. "Let us go downstairs. We have important matters to discuss. The rest of you, try to go back to sleep. I do sincerely apologize for waking you."
The boys didn't speak as they watched the four leave. As soon as the door closed, they immediately gathered on Ron's bed in a makeshift huddle.
"Something must be very wrong." Neville observed, and Dean nodded.
"Why the hell else would Dumbledore come here at this forsaken hour? And what was Draco's mom doing with him?"
"Whatever the reason, we've got to figure it out." Seamus added, and Ron's face brightened.
"I've got it!" He shrieked, hopping up and scurrying to his trunk. He rummaged through the belongings, tossing a few items aside before they heard a "found em!" He returned bearing a legacy splayed between both hands.
"Bloody hell, Ron! They let you keep them!" Seamus exclaimed excitedly.
"Not exactly." Ron grinned mischievously. "I nicked them off of George before they left to open the joke shop." He strung out the pair of extendable ears for the entire group to see.
"Well, come on with it!" Dean said hurriedly, and the group rushed to the door to get started on the eavesdropping.
Carefully, Ron slipped one of the ears beneath the door and begun running thread through his fingers, adjusting the length just so as the ear dropped silently off of the ledge outside the dormitory. The group crowded uncomfortably around the remaining ear, giving Ron minor instructions as to "pull in," and "let out," the string for the best reception. What they heard next was, to put it quite simply, an earful.
"Mr. Potter. Mr. Malfoy. We have a situation on our hands."
Draco and Harry stood arm to arm facing the Headmaster and Mrs. Malfoy.
"Mrs. Malfoy has informed me that the timeline given us by your father has been changed."
Draco's eyes widened. "Sir! They can get in! Harry and I, we figured it out! We..." Something about the expression on Dumbledore's face caused Draco to lose his words, instead gulping and finishing with a worried "when?"
Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "Tonight."
"We don't have much time, boys." Narcissa's hands were open before her, instead of folded politely in her lap like that usually stayed submissively.
"You came here... to warn us?" Draco speculated, confused but warming. She nodded wildly, obviously afraid of the consequences ahead. "You know what he'll do to you, mom." His eyes were hot with tears and anger and an irrefutable desire for justice. "You think Dad cares about my well being? He'll call you a traitor!" He pointed an index finger in her direction, tears silently escaping down his cheeks.
Harry laced their fingers, and Draco turned to look at their hands before returning his gaze to his mother frightfully.
"I know, Draco. I know about Harry. About all of this." She took a step forward reassuringly. Draco's face was haunted, scared beyond his wits.
"How would you know!? How in the hell would you know, Mother!?" If she knew, he could only bet on who had told her, and the answer to that would be... lethal.
"I'm not the only one who knows, Draco. But I am the only one who's not against it." Silver irises softened as the words took meaning. She stepped toward them once more, arms extended.
"Draco." She then addressed the black haired boy before her, who was gripping her son much too tightly. "Harry."
Harry's expression was blank. He was unsure of whether to trust her after all she'd stepped aside and allowed to happen to her son. To the boy he loved so deeply. Her gaze moved back and forth between the couple.
"Nothing is worth losing you. Losing you both. You're my son, Draco, and I've been a terrible mother. I...I drew the line tonight. I won't stand idly while he hurts you. While he hurts all of us in the name of the Dark Lord." Her own tears were spilling, a trait uncharacteristic of any Black or Malfoy before her. Without a word from either, Narcissa Malfoy lunged foreword and gathered both of them into an embrace that was awkward but unexpectedly whole. Harry felt Draco relax beside him and allowed his own walls to crumble, happy to be included in this family's reunification. Draco was HIS family now, and it only made sense for Narcissa to join their circle. Especially if she was willing to sacrifice her life to keep Draco safe.
Harry smiled to himself, hugging each of them back fully. The world seemed to be giving out lots of surprises as of late.
"It is so wonderful to see you reconcile!" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in a truly delighted fashion. "I've sent a patronus to all of the teaching staff. They should be gathering their resources shortly. Now, boys. Where is this entrance you speak of?"
Simultaneously, Harry and Draco spoke: "The Room of Requirement." Harry felt Draco squeeze his hand at the sentiment.
"Narcissa." Dumbledore turned to Draco's mother, formulating. "How much time do you believe we have?"
"Not much," she spoke honestly. "They were headed to Knockturn Alley when I came to you. I unfortunately have not been told much else."
Dumbledore nodded. At that moment, the portrait hole opened to reveal Minerva McGonagall with a stern but worried look upon her face.
"Albus, I got your message. What else needs to be done?" Her skin was pulled especially tight over her forehead; brow creased with anxiousness.
"If you would please gather the students into the Great Hall, Minerva. It will be safer that way."
"Yes, of course. I will collaborate with the other Heads of Houses." With that, she exited the portrait hole with the intent of returning shortly.
"We're not going to the Great Hall, are we?" Neville was the first to speak, the group still huddled intently around the extendable ear.
"Hell no." Seamus and Dean answered identically, giving a mischievous grin and a nod at the profound bond they shared.
"Let's get the coins," Ron stated, an idea forming from his red head. "I saw Hermione spell them once. I bet I can do it again. We've got to warn the rest of the Army."
They each retrieved their galleons, and Ron held his at arm length while pointing his wand concentratedly. His eyes were narrowed, squinting with a focus harder than he'd ever given. The vein on the middle of his head was popping profusely; his lip curled as he attempted to direct his magical energy. The others shared an anticipatory glance, wondering if Ron would be able to pull off Hermione's spell.
When the etchings began to illuminate into a fiery red that blended and molded to form a message, their faces relaxed. Upon each coin were the burnt, glowing traces of the words "Death Eaters have infiltrated. Meet on the 7th floor. What we've been training for."
Soon after, the other galleons began to reflect the same writing. There were excited grins exchanged among the group, Seamus giving Ron a curt pat on the back for his success.
"You did it, mate!" Neville beamed proudly, placing his coin into the pocket of his pajamas. Ron appeared happier in this moment than he'd been in weeks. Things were finally turning around, it seemed. They'd just have to make it through tonight.
"This way, this way! Prefects, keep your houses together! Everyone into the Great Hall at once!" McGonagall's voice boomed throughout the corridor as hordes of students descended staircases and flooded the halls of the castle.
"Ravenclaw, stay together! Keep tight, we don't want to lose anyone!" Professor Flitwick's chorus of instruction could be heard beneath McGonnagal's. The only head of house who was not directing their students was Severus Snape, who appeared to be eerily absent. Nonetheless, the Slytherins were in toe, bustling and pushing past the others with concern for their own safety.
No one had been informed of the reason for their gathering, but rumors were flying faster than the most recent Firebolt model.
"It's the Slytherins! They've got something to do with it!" Accused an exasperated Hufflepuff, who was immediately elbowed by Theodore Nott.
"Don't you think if we had any part in this we wouldn't be pushing past the rest of you!?"
Similar confrontations erupted among the other houses, everyone quick to point fingers but inherently clueless.
Stories ranged from Dumbledore being killed by a werewolf to the Slytherins summoning back the ghost of Grindelwald to take over the school. Meanwhile, everyone shuffled into the Hall and was placed at their respective tables.
In all of the commotion, no one seemed to notice the inconspicuous disappearance of several Hogwarts students. There were many missing from the Gryffindor table, along with a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Even more surprising was the absence of several Slytherins, whose location for the moment was unknown.
"Okay, guys, now!" Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville were trailing the rest of the Gryffindors on the path to the Great Hall. Ron was apparently leading them, and the idea was intoxicating. He'd always dreamed of being a hero, and this was his opportunity. For himself. For Harry. And, most importantly, for a certain bushy-haired girl he'd had a crush on for far too long.
The quartet ducked behind a nearby corridor, thankfully missed by none of the others. Emotions were running high, a spirit of chaos possessing the preoccupied crowd ahead. Ron peered around the stone wall, grateful to see the remaining Gryffindors disperse into the Great Hall without a blink in their direction. He heaved a sigh of relief.
"Okay. I nicked Harry's invisibility cloak from his trunk. Neville and Dean will take the cloak; Seamus and I will lead. Don't fall behind." Soon after, Neville and Dean had disappeared beneath the sheer fabric.
"Hey guys," Ron remarked as he checked the hall one last time for any stragglers. "Have you seen Hermione?"
The crowd was bustling, pushing and shoving toward the entrance to the Great Hall. Hermione clutched her pocket tightly, clinging to her galleon with purpose. Things were chaotic, and she noticed several physical altercations break amongst the students that attracted the attention of the other prefects. Perfect, she noted, and took the opportunity to shove through the sea of black robes in the opposite direction. She knew of a back staircase, one that wasn't so far and was mildly concealed that would lead her to the 7th floor.
She'd kept her eyes peeled for Ron and the others to no avail. Even Ginny was mysteriously absent, and she wondered if she'd bailed sooner. And where in the world was Harry? Draco? Were they together? For their own sakes, she hoped so. For the moment, she would be just fine her on her own.
