AN: So we've decided the perspective that we're going to show for the next holiday special, but we'll leave that to you to guess (or hope for). The next holiday special chapter will be released on Thanksgiving, so all you American readers should know when to get excited, cause it's gonna be even more epic than the last special was.
Enjoy this chapter and have a wonderful rest of the week everyone!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling. Thanks
CHAPTER 15: CROOKED
The wand was now shaking in his hands as he pointed it into the darkness. His grip around it tightened, and his heartbeat quickened. The old man standing in front of him did not even look scared or worried. Rather, he looked sad…like he had failed miserably.
"Draco," he said now. "You are not a killer."
"How do you know what I am?!" Draco shot at him, hearing the trembling in his own voice but trying desperately to fight it. "You don't know what I'm capable of! You don't know what I've done!"
"Oh but I do," said the man, softly.
Down below, the fighting and the yelling was growing ever so louder. There were thumps and shouts. Draco glanced over his shoulder nervously, wondering, fearing who might have gotten killed now. Not his father…surely not his mother…they'd told him they wouldn't come here tonight. What about Severus? He might've woken up to see what all the commotion was about.
"Draco," said Dumbledore, turning his head back to him. "Years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices." Draco stared at him. "Please let me help you."
Draco's mouth opened but no sound came out of it. He could feel his own shaking arm lowering slightly, his eyes watering, and his breath hitching. It was as though someone had placed a body-binding spell on him. He had never felt quite so paralysed before—so out of control of his own actions. Perhaps it was the adrenaline rush or the rushed amount of anxiety that was overwhelming him now. Though whatever it was, Draco now knew in his heart that he could not do it. And that was the very reason he knew he had to.
"Mr. Black!"
Draco's eyes popped open. Sweating slightly, he looked around. He was sitting at his desk in Claybrook's classroom, where everyone was staring at him, including Sirius beside him. Draco's head turned here and there, and he even glanced up at the ceiling and out the windows. He was really here…not there.
"Mr. Black," said Claybrook, impatiently.
Draco's eyes snapped up at the front of the classroom.
"Uh," he said, feeling very aware of all the staring faces. "I'm sorry, what was the question?"
Claybrook raised his eyebrows. Suddenly, Lily's hand shot into the air.
"Miss Evans?" said Claybrook.
"I think what Draco means to say, professor, is that just because these creatures possess human corpses does not mean that they possess human soul or even intelligence. They are mindless creatures without the capacity to think or to reason. And that right there, is perhaps what doesn't make them very dangerous."
"Really? How so, Miss Evans?" said Claybrook, who gave Draco a look before turning back to Lily again.
"Well any villain is most frightening if you know they are aware of their actions and their intentions," said Lily. "When one is unaware of the illegality of their actions, like the inferi, it's one thing. But when they are pursuing such actions because of their illegality, that's fatal."
Claybrook pursed his lips.
"Very well then," he said, turning back to the board. "And to what degree does that make Necromancy a soulless practice in which…"
Draco sighed. He could still hear his heartbeat ringing in his ears. Perhaps that late night game of cards with Sirius hadn't been such a good idea after all.
At the end of the lesson, Draco hurried out of the classroom because Lily had already left. He pushed past people in the crowded corridors until he spotted the red hair moving up the grand staircase.
"Hey wait up!" Draco called after her. "LILY!"
She turned around, books cluttered in her hands and practically falling.
"I'm late for Arithmancy," she said.
"You didn't have to do that," he told her. "Back there in the classroom—I didn't need your help."
"I know," she said, simply.
One of the books in her hands cluttered to the floor with a loud thump and Draco bent down to pick it up. He handed it to her, but she only gave him a small smile before taking it and hurrying back up the stairs. Draco stared after her. It was so frustrating—she was so hard to read. Evans was one of those people who were just too unpredictable for their own good. It was like their game of Truth. He'd expected her to go and cry somewhere because he'd been too rude for her liking, but instead, she came back through the portrait hole ready for a whole new match. And boy was she interrogative the second time around…
He just couldn't figure her out.
"Oy, Draco!" someone shouted.
Draco looked over his shoulder and found Sirius hurrying up the steps to where he was standing.
"Everything okay?" he said, his voice lowered and his face concerned.
The mass of students was still passing up and down the steps for their next classes.
"Fine," said Draco, simply. "Why wouldn't it be?"
Sirius tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowed at Draco's.
"What?" said Draco.
"You do realize I sit next to you in Defense, right?" said Sirius. "This isn't the first time I've caught you in the middle of having some nightmare!"
"How did you—?"
"I'm not a bloody idiot, Draco!" cried Sirius.
"Will you keep your voice down?" Draco hissed at him, and both of them looked around the crowded hall.
Sirius sighed. "So what's up then?"
"Nothing!" cried Draco. "Honestly, I'm fine."
"Yeah? You don't look it, mate," said Sirius.
The crowd finally began to subside, indicating that Sirius was late for Care of Magical Creatures.
Reading Draco's mind, Sirius shook his head.
"There's no way I'm going to class now...not after what just happened back there..."
"Yeah and what exactly do you plan on telling James after when he asks why you didn't show up?" Draco shot at him. "'Oh sorry Prongs, but someone had to babysit the weakling—'"
"We don't think you're a weakling," said Sirius straightaway.
"Right," laughed Draco. "So just a nutter then."
Sirius cocked an eyebrow at him. "Well maybe..." When Draco didn't smile back, Sirius added, "Why don't I just join you for free period today?"
"And James?"
Sirius paused. "He doesn't have to know everything."
"You'll get detention for skipping class."
"Yeah, what else is new?"
Draco sighed. "I...don't know..."
"Come on," said Sirius, waving his hands. "This day is getting on my nerves and it's only third period. I've got an idea."
Sirius was right. Getting to the Three Broomsticks during the week, with the help of the Marauder's Map and James's cloak, was fairly easy and definitely doable. Once there, they were able to sneak some tables at the back without being noticed. Not many villagers were at the pub during the weekday, and Madame Rosmerta was so fond of Sirius by now that she didn't care when she saw them there.
They ordered their butterbeers and even split a cauldron cake. Draco was so sure that, once Madame Rosmerta served their drinks and went away, Sirius would begin his interrogation. But to Draco's utter surprise, Sirius didn't mention one word about what had happened back in Claybrook's classroom. On the contrary, they laughed about random things and spent a good three hours at the pub. Sure, it lifted Draco's mood considerably, but he still felt on edge. It was only when they started heading back that Draco realized he'd totally skipped his Friday afternoon Muggle Studies lesson. As if he didn't already have enough to deal with without adding more disappointment from Dumbledore to the mix...
And then there was the whole clan-leader thing to worry about.
"There's no way that James won't be suspicious," Draco was telling Sirius as they walked along the dark tunnel back to Hogwarts. "You weren't at Care of Magical Creatures when I had a free period and I wasn't at Muggle Studies when you had yours. He'll know we were up to something and he'll wonder why he wasn't included."
"Relax Draco," said Sirius, who was leading the way with his lit wand. "We went out for a few pick-me-ups, it's not like we planned a prank without him." He paused and made a face. "Ugh, even joking about it hurts..."
"Look I don't care about that," said Draco, impatiently. "I don't want James or any of the others knowing about...well about the nightmares."
"Draaaaacooooo," Sirius sang. "You're overreacting again. I've noticed you do that a lot; you need to chill. I've known James a little longer than you have. I got this."
Draco sighed, but definitely did not relax. The day alone felt like one huge anxiety attack that would never go away.
"These nightmares though..." Sirius began. "Do you get them often?"
Draco shrugged.
"Are they recurring ones or always something new?"
"I dunno," Draco mumbled.
"Well have you told Dumbledore about them?"
Draco paused. "Yeah, of course I have." Sirius narrowed his eyes at him. "In fact he made me see a childhood therapist when I was younger."
"Blimey, is that right?" said Sirius. "What for?"
"I was a wizard living in a muggle orphanage for many years," said Draco. "What do you think?"
Sirius laughed.
"So this therapist...what d'you talk about?"
"Uh he mostly asked questions to help me try to remember things from before the orphanage."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah but it didn't do any good. I don't remember anything at all."
"So we still don't know which of my relatives you're related to exactly," said Sirius. "Uh directly, I mean..."
"Yeah," said Draco. "Looks like it."
"I wish I'd gone to therapy as a child," Sirius mumbled.
Draco cast him a curious glance but said nothing. It had been a while since they'd talked about his family, but something told him this wasn't the right time to rehash things. There would be plenty of opportunity for that later.
When they returned to the common room, there were still ten minutes left of the last class for the day. Sirius, who had adopted a very "so what" attitude about it, lounged in front of the fireplace and took a nap until James, Remus and Peter climbed in through the portrait hole.
"Where were you lot today?" James asked, shaking Sirius awake.
"Had to cheer my buddy Draco up," said Sirius simply.
"Cheer you up?" James asked Draco.
"Yeah, haven't you heard?" said Sirius. "Draco here is lovesick over Alice."
Draco rolled his eyes.
"Not funny, Sirius," said Remus.
Peter sighed. "At least it's the weekend."
"Yeah, finally," said Sirius. "This week had to be the longest there ever was."
"So how are you doing with the whole Alice thing?" James asked, sitting next to Draco.
"I'm totally fine," said Draco, meaning it too.
"That's not the word on the street," said Sirius.
Draco stared at him. "Exactly what do you mean by that?"
"We didn't wanna tell you," said Remus, who was glaring at Sirius now. "But everyone at school's found out about the breakup."
"Yeah, and?" said Draco.
"I'll say this as delicately as I can," said James. "They think you're depressed 'cause you got dumped."
"That was the delicate way?" said Remus.
"I don't get it," said Draco. "I'm laughing all the time. How am I depressed?"
"People don't need proof," said Remus. "They just need to hear it from someone who heard it from another someone."
"It's just the way the world works," Peter added.
Draco rested his head on the couch and closed his eyes. As if there wasn't enough on his mind to worry about without added rumours...
The next day however, all became clear. Word around the school was that Draco was too depressed because the breakup with Alice made him realize he wasn't himself with her and he didn't know who he was. People everywhere were saying that he hadn't been able to satisfy Alice because—
"I'M NOT GAY!" he bellowed at James and Sirius during Quidditch practice Saturday morning, while the two bawled with laughter in the change rooms.
"Stop it, guys!" Draco repeated. "It's not funny!"
But James and Sirius weren't listening. Apparently, the rumours about Draco being gay were the joke of the century, or so they claimed.
"Oh calm down, man," said Sirius after they'd left the change rooms and headed towards the pitch. "We're just poking fun at how ridiculous all this talk is."
"Yeah, we of all people know how not gay you are," said James, patting Draco once on the shoulder before hurrying ahead to talk to his team.
"Come on," said Sirius, ushering Draco to join him in the air next to the goal hoops. "You'll be fine—just concentrate on Quidditch for the next hour, okay?"
Draco only nodded. He still couldn't believe that, after trying so hard to ease things up a little in this timeline, he'd still managed to get himself caught up in a Quidditch mess. And it was all because of Dirk Cresswell and his stupid broken arm.
On the whole, Quidditch practice that day didn't go so bad actually. Even Draco was surprised at how well he clicked with the team, especially given the fact that he was very rusty and had never even played the chaser position before.
James had the entire team practicing as often as he possibly could. But when Saturday was drawing to a close and James insisted on another practice for the evening, Draco had to put his foot down.
"I'm sorry," he kept repeating, "But I can't skip out on lessons with Dumbledore—you know that."
"But can't you just tell him that you'll do it tomorrow night or the day after?" said James, desperately, over dinner in the Great Hall.
"Yeah man, 'cause this is really important to us," said Sirius. "We've got a game coming up."
"Guys, you have another two weeks at the very least," said Remus. "Draco can't skip out on Dumbledore for something as pathetic as—"
"It is not pathetic!" cried James and Sirius together.
Remus sighed and turned to Draco. "Whatever you do, don't even think about skipping out on him."
"I won't," Draco promised.
And he had every intention to hold onto that promise. Little did the boys know just how important these weekly meetings with Dumbledore actually were…
At the end of dinner, Draco hopped to his feet and said goodbye to the Marauders, who were all headed to the Entrance Hall for the after-dinner hangout. Passing along the Gryffindor table, Draco and Alice locked eyes and nodded at each other. And then, just as suddenly, the group of girls surrounding Alice exploded into hushed whispers and giggles. Draco groaned silently. Little teenage girls really did annoy him.
When he reached Dumbledore's office, he realized how much he'd actually missed this, and how much he actually had to talk about. Although the last time they'd met for a lesson was just last weekend, it felt like years and years ago. So much, it seemed, had happened since that last meeting…Remus' full moon and the Slug Club dinner…Draco and Lily alone had had a really intense evening just a couple of nights before. And something told Draco that there would be a lot more intense evenings over the next week or two, as the October full moon drew nearer.
Draco rapped on the door three times and it opened at its own accord. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, head bent over a piece of parchment as his quill scratched away. At the sight of Draco, he sat up and gave him a warm smile.
"Happy to see you here again, Draco," he said.
"Watcha working on?" Draco asked, taking a seat in his usual chair.
"Oh nothing," said Dumbledore, who tapped the quill and parchment once with his wand and made both vanish.
Draco crossed his arms.
"We are here to talk about you," Dumbledore reminded him. "So, how have you been?"
"Fine," said Draco. "Um…so I went to that first Slug Club dinner thing."
Dumbledore nodded. "And how did you find it?"
"Honestly?" said Draco, hesitantly. "At first I thought it was a waste of my time, but I suppose things got interesting when I found out that Sybill Trelawney and Xenophilius Lovegood are proud members of the club."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "Were you really? And why so?"
Draco hesitated, remembering Dumbledore's wish not to be told everything. But before he could answer, Dumbledore's expression changed and he nodded.
"So you know their adult versions," he concluded. "Yes, I suppose that is very fascinating for any time traveller."
Draco frowned at the new title Dumbledore gave him, but said nothing.
"Tell me, how is young Regulus doing?"
"He's not that young," Draco mumbled, unsure of whether Dumbledore could hear him. "But he's fine. He was busy talking to this Cattermole girl the entire night."
"I wasn't asking about just the Slug Club," said Dumbledore.
"In general?" said Draco. Dumbledore nodded. "Um, I…don't really know…"
The truth was he'd been so busy with Gryffindor things lately that Slytherin (or any aspect of it) hadn't even popped into his mind. Dumbledore lowered his head so that he could look at Draco over his half-moon spectacles, in that same suspicious way he liked to do.
"Draco," he said, softly. "I understand the importance of making friends in Gryffindor and I most definitely applaud it, but I also need to make sure you understand just how important it is for you to avoid neglecting your former house."
"I'm not," said Draco, quickly. "I'm not neglecting it." Dumbledore raised his head slightly. "I…I've just been busy…I've had a lot on my mind."
"Such as?" said Dumbledore.
Draco hesitated.
"Well these meetings are partly for your extended education and partly for us to catch up, aren't they?" said Dumbledore, simply. "So do tell me, what has been on your mind?"
Draco looked around at all the portraits of headmasters and headmistresses on the walls. He then looked back at Dumbledore.
"Well I suppose you're already aware that Remus Lupin just had his full moon transformation a few nights ago," he said. Dumbledore nodded once. "I guess…I guess I was a little distracted that night. You know, thinking about where he was and what he was doing and all…"
"He didn't tell you, did he?" said Dumbledore.
"No," said Draco, quickly. "No of course not. He doesn't talk to anyone about it. I imagine that's something that you advised him, years ago…"
Dumbledore frowned.
"I mean, that's just my best guess," Draco mumbled.
"Well the other boys know," said Dumbledore after a moment's silence. "I just imagined you'd be fairly upset for being…left out, in some ways—"
"I'm not," said Draco. "I feel fine."
There was silence.
"Very well then, carry on," said Dumbledore, sitting back in his chair and crossing his own arms.
Draco shrugged. "Um...so yeah it was definitely an interesting night. I guess the next dinner will be more interesting now that I know everyone there."
"Naturally," agreed Dumbledore. "What else has been on your mind?"
Draco thought. What details of his exciting week did he feel were worth mentioning to Dumbledore? Or rather, what details would be best kept under the radar, at least for the time being? His little field trip to the Forbidden Forest was one for sure.
"Um I met Mary MacDonald," Draco offered. "And she told me about what happened with that Mulciber kid last year."
"Did she really?" said Dumbledore. "Well I'm definitely surprised that she trusted a stranger enough to tell that story."
"I'm...good with people I guess," said Draco. "I dunno but the point is that she did tell me and quite frankly I can't believe he's still at school here." Dumbledore frowned. "You're the headmaster here!"
"When you are headmaster of this school and have parents from prejudiced pureblooded families to deal with, as well as an entire board of directors, also heavily made up of those types of wizards, then we'll talk," he said, quite calmly.
Draco shrugged.
"And speaking of girls you've been talking to," said Dumbledore, a hint of a smile creeping up on his old face. "How are you doing with your recent breakup?"
Draco reddened instantly.
"Any heartache? Tears? Stories to tell?" said Dumbledore.
"Stop it," said Draco, through gritted teeth.
"Too painful to talk about?" guessed Dumbledore.
"Let's just talk about something else," Draco muttered.
Dumbledore smiled innocently, but Draco could see right through it.
"Anyway," he said, desperate to steer the conversation in another direction, "I've agreed to replace Dirk Cresswell on the Gryffindor Quidditch team just for this upcoming match."
"So I assumed," said Dumbledore.
"Y-you did?"
"When I saw young Mr. Cresswell and his broken arm, I knew it was only a matter of time before Mr. Potter asked you to take his position for the opening match."
"Well 'asked' is a bit of an understatement," Draco mumbled. "But yeah, I'm playing in two weeks."
"And are you okay with that?"
"Would I have a choice if I wasn't?"
Dumbledore frowned. "I was under the impression that you don't do anything you don't want to."
Draco looked away from him but his eyes only landed on the portrait of Phineas Nigellus just behind Dumbledore. He cringed.
"Well anyway, I'll play the match."
"So what else has happened in the last week?"
Draco thought for a second.
"Nothing much," he finally answered.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "Nothing at all?" Draco shook his head. "You can't think of anything worth mentioning? Anything whatsoever?" Again, Draco shook his head. Dumbledore sighed. "What about your little outing to Hogsmeade Village with Mr. Black?"
Draco's eyes went round. He sat up. "How did you—?"
"I've already told you once before that I know everything that goes on in my school," said Dumbledore. "Well, most things...lovely Rosmerta is a dear friend."
"But I thought she and Sirius had an understanding or whatever," said Draco.
"They may," shrugged Dumbledore. "But Rosa and I have had an understanding far longer than they have."
"So then if you knew we were sneaking out, why didn't you stop us?"
"Well," said Dumbledore, a strange sort of mischievous smile on his face now. "That's going to have to stay my secret." He paused. "How did you manage to get there without running into teachers along the way?"
"I'm sorry, professor, but that's gonna have to stay my secret," said Draco, but Dumbledore's smile only widened.
"Before we get on with our lesson for the evening, I do have one small detail about your story that I need to clarify," he said. Draco frowned. "Earlier, you mentioned the name Harry Potter. You said he grows up to become the Boy Who Lived."
"Y-yeah that's right," said Draco, who couldn't believe his ears. Dumbledore was actually talking about it for once!
"I suppose I'm just being merely curious in asking who the boy's mother was...or is..or will be..."
Draco's face changed. "That's what you're curious about?! There's so much I want to tell you—that I'm practically dying to tell you—but all you care about is who James Potter is gonna knock up?!"
"Please, Draco, not in my office," said Dumbledore. "Don't forget, I am still your headmaster."
"But sir—"
"Just answer the question."
Draco sighed. "Lily Evans."
Dumbledore fell silent.
"I know that's hard to believe," Draco started. "But she and James will get married in a few years and they'll have this kid who'll become the Boy Who Lived after Voldemort decides to come after them."
"Decides to?" said Dumbledore.
"Well there is this whole prophecy thing that I sort of need to tell you about but you refuse to listen, so..."
"Very well then," said Dumbledore. "Let us get started with our lesson."
Draco sighed. He had been so close! Honestly, when was this paranoia going to come to an end? It was ridiculous.
"You have successfully learned the Patronus Charm," Dumbledore began, "For which, by the way, I congratulate you. A job well done." Draco nodded once. "But now there is something else I am interested in teaching you."
"What is it?"
"A kind of magic that is thought to be very controversial by many..."
Draco frowned.
"You mentioned to me once that you have learned occlumency," Dumbledore continued. "And occlumency is definitely a useful tool for knowing in defense against the dark arts. But this magic...will be like the opposite of defense." Draco stared at him. "However, under the circumstances, I feel that it is necessary for you to learn this magic. I feel that, however dangerous it may be, it will be necessary with time."
"Dangerous?" said Draco.
"Taught to the wrong person, this type of magic can be destructive," said Dumbledore. "It can ruin lives and people. It can fuel that little beast that lives in each of us...the beast that thrives on power and dominance."
"D-destructive?"
"But whilst you are under my supervision, I feel sure that there is no danger in teaching you this type of magic," Dumbledore said. "After all, the time will come when you will need it. I'm sure of it."
"What is it?"
Dumbledore frowned for a second, as though deep in thought, and then said, "Legilimency."
The irony in Dumbledore wanting to teach Draco Legilimency, after Draco had used that very excuse as an alibi for Severus, was incredible. And yet, Draco found himself actually feeling quite nervous about this plan. Sure, Dumbledore trusted him enough to teach him this kind of dark magic, but Draco wasn't sure he trusted himself with it at all.
He didn't dare say this to Dumbledore however. He just nodded blankly and listened as Dumbledore went on about how imperative it was for Draco to tell him as soon as he started having thoughts about using Legilimency for other purposes, or, as he'd worded it, for "personal experiments". Maybe this wasn't the best idea.
"Now the first step in knowing Legilimency is understanding how the human mind works," said Dumbledore. "It is not simply a matter of point your wand and shoot the spell."
Draco nodded, throat too tight to speak. How on earth was he supposed to remain calm during this, when the corrosive thought of why the hell Dumbledore knew Legilimency in the first place, was haunting his mind? There was no reason that he could think of now, for Dumbledore to be learned in this type of dark magic...unless there were things about his past that Draco didn't know...he'd of course heard the story of how Dumbledore had once defeated the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. But what was the other side of that particular story?
By the end of the lesson, Draco had not taken in a single word of what Dumbledore had said about Legilimency. However, he had managed to talk himself out of confronting Dumbledore tonight, which given the circumstances, was actually very hard to do.
When Draco returned to the common room after the lesson he found all 4 Marauders sound asleep in their beds, something that was definitely an unusual occurrence. But Draco himself was not tired and so he grabbed a book from his bedside table and crept back down the stairs.
The common room was fairly empty, with only a few students scattered here and there, silently reading or chitchatting about normal things. Most of the crowd tonight was made up of older students, between fifth and seventh year. But without the Marauders there, it was actually fairly quiet.
Draco sat in an armchair near one of the windows and flipped Hogwarts: A History open to the last page he'd been on, where the book discussed on-grounds apparition.
"No witch or wizard to walk the halls of Hogwarts is capable of performing apparition, as the grounds are charmed to block all networks. The headmaster or headmistress is the only one that is an exception of that rule, for security purposes. However, students who turn of age whilst still at school are permitted to take apparition lessons beforehand. Instructors appear at the school to perform said lessons and at the end of the year there is an examination that occurs. Those who succeed are then able to perform apparition on their own time."
Draco frowned. So the boys were all going to be turning seventeen this year, which meant that the apparition lessons would be coming very soon. Well, at least he had learned and mastered it back in his own timeline. This was one less thing to worry about. But his age...technically, he was already seventeen. But did that mean that when he left Hogwarts here, he would be able to perform magic without problems from the ministry?
Draco picked up a pen from the table nearest him and underlined the word 'apparition' in the book, before folding down the corner of the page. He would definitely have to remember to ask Dumbledore about this at their next meeting.
"Hey," said Mary, taking a seat on the armchair next to Draco's.
Draco started.
"What are you...?"
"I take it you didn't notice me sitting over there when you came in," she said, nodding at one of the couches on the other end of the common room. "What are you up to?"
Draco closed the book so that Mary could see its title.
"Ah," she said, her eyes on it. "So is it true that she's fairly close with Dumbledore?"
"Who?"
"Bathilda Bagshot," said Mary, nodding at the book once.
Draco looked down at it and then back up at her. "You've read it too then?"
Mary gave him a look. "Well of course I've read it. I think everyone who's in school now has read it."
Draco leaned forwards. "Why?"
"It's fairly new...and a bestseller," said Mary, confused.
"Oh," said Draco, leaning back again. "Right. Of course it is."
Mary smiled weakly. "It's only been around a couple of years now, but I heard she'd said in an interview that she'd planned on writing it for a long time."
"So what are you doing now?" said Draco, desperate to mask his confusion.
Mary held up a notebook and a thick book. "Overdue Charms homework."
"Need some help?"
"That's okay, you don't have to do that," said Mary, leaning against the armchair and closing her eyes. "I'll just get Lily to look it over after."
There was silence. Draco looked around the common room—really looked this time—and finally saw the great number of Hogwarts: A History copies that were scattered about the room. Every table seemed to have one lying around. He hadn't noticed it before. Maybe that's why Remus was always walking around with the book. Draco had started to wonder why the kid had never read it before. Granger was always boasting about it back in their first year, so if Mary was right, then the book had only just come out recently.
"Lily always helps you with homework, huh?" Draco said to Mary, whose eyes were still closed.
"Not always," she said, "But she's fairly good at it..."
"Does she always, like, study or something?"
Mary frowned. "Lily loves learning in general. She's not really a book nerd or anything. She just loves taking in new information. I've always admired that about her, but I personally don't fancy sitting around and reading all day long."
"Yeah."
"Why do you ask?"
Draco opened the book up again. "Just wondering...I've seen her helping you, Alice, even Frank...just wondered how come she knows enough to be able to help older students..."
"Well, that's Lily for you," sighed Mary. "I bet you know enough to help the older students too."
"Why?" said Draco, immediately.
Mary raised her eyebrows at him. "Weren't you raised by Dumbledore?"
"Oh right, yeah..."
Mary stared at him for a few long seconds and then reopened her homework and proceeded with it. Draco watched her from the corner of his eye, careful to flip the pages of his own book every few minutes to make it look like he was actually reading. There was something—he couldn't pinpoint it exactly—that reminded him of his mother. Maybe it was just the blonde hair. But Mary obviously had a kinder face. Somehow though, Draco felt really angry at Mulciber for playing that dirty trick on her, even if he hadn't been around to see it. He couldn't explain this protectiveness he felt over her or even over Alice or Lily.
Of course, he knew what Dumbledore would say if he came to him with this.
"You're starting to appreciate Gryffindor House, that's all."
Yeah, right.
If his parents could see him now, they'd probably be sent straight to their graves.
The rest of the weekend was fairly calm. All James or Sirius could talk about now, it seemed, was Quidditch. The Quidditch match. Beating Ravenclaw.
Sirius started taking Draco out for mini flying lessons every night after classes. He didn't really call them lessons, but that's what they were, essentially. Draco didn't mind though. He liked spending time with Sirius and being up in the air, despite how awful the school broom that he'd borrowed was. Every day that they went out, he thought it would be the day he'd finally ask Sirius about his family and maybe get some answers too. But each time, Draco decided against it. He didn't want to ruin the mood by bringing it up. But he knew that eventually he'd have to.
As the week went by, Draco realized two important things, one of which was sort of sweet while the other was definitely unnerving. The rumours about him and Alice had grown ever so worse, making it impossible for him to concentrate on anything while he ate in the Great Hall. Alice however, seemed a little ticked off by these rumours too. Either that, or she felt bad about breaking up with Draco. Whatever the reason, on Thursday morning she marched up to a giggling group of fifth year girls sitting at the Gryffindor Table in the Great Hall, and said, "I broke up with Draco because he always wanted to snog me and my lips were already getting chapped." The girls all fell silent. "He's actually a fantastic kisser, I just felt really jealous because girls were all over him and I didn't have more time to spend with him."
"Yeah, right," laughed one of the girls. "And we're supposed to believe that?"
Alice shrugged. "Hey, believe whatever you'd like, but it's the truth." She glanced at Draco, sitting on the other end of the table, and then back at the girls. "He broke my heart."
And then, she marched back out of the Great Hall.
James let out a low whistle.
"Why, Mr. Black, you bad, bad boy," said Sirius.
Draco grinned. He had no idea why Alice had done that, but he would surely thank her later.
After that little trick, the rumours came to a halt almost at once. It was amazing how well that had worked.
The second, more unnerving thing that was bothering Draco, was Lily. She had stopped being annoying. In fact, she was less bossy now. Her looks weren't accusatory anymore. She was actually being very unusually kind, and something told Draco that he didn't like this at all.
"I know, James, but I'm really trying!" Peter was now saying. "Honestly!"
"Try harder, Pete, I know you can do it," said James.
"What are they talking about?" Draco whispered to Remus, but his question was answered by Sirius before Remus even realized Draco had asked it.
"We all believe you can do it," Sirius told Peter. "Well Draco still has yet to learn it but I'm sure you'll know it well by the time he even gets around to studying it."
"Studying what?" said Draco.
"Oh cut it out," said James. "Sirius already told us."
"Told you what?" said Draco, impatiently.
"Told you that we all know how to do the Patronus Charm," said Sirius, rolling his eyes.
"But—"
"You know, you really should learn it sometime," said James.
Draco's eyes landed on Remus, who only gave him a slight shrug and then looked back down at his plate.
During Draco's free period on the following Monday afternoon, just five days before the opening Quidditch match, Draco made his way to the seventh floor corridor to meet up with Severus. He realized that it had been a while since they'd done that, and that perhaps Dumbledore was right when he'd said that Draco was neglecting Slytherin house altogether. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd talked to Regulus, not to even mention Severus. But when Draco reached the seventh floor corridor just opposite the entrance to the Room of Requirement, he was astounded to find that Severus was not sitting there, cross-legged with a book in his lap like always. In fact, Severus failed to show up even fifteen minutes after Draco had sat down to wait for him. It was only about half-way through the free period, when Draco had already decided to get some homework done, that Severus finally showed up.
"Where've you been?" Draco demanded as he sat next to him.
"Where have I been?" said Severus. "Where have you been all week?"
"Busy," said Draco.
"Same here," said Severus.
"Oh yeah, doing what?" said Draco.
Severus sighed. "Okay so I guess I can tell you." Draco waited. "Mulciber and the guys had this idea that we could all try out. We're basically gonna learn apparition on our own."
"You're what?!"
"Shhh!" hissed Severus. He looked around the corridor to make sure they were alone. "The lessons are supposed to start later this year anyway...and we're all gonna be seventeen by then so might as well get a head start n—"
"Sev, you can't!" Draco cried.
Again, Severus shushed him.
"You've...you've never done apparition before!" Draco whispered furiously. "You can't just up and teach it to yourself! It's not a joke!"
"Oh calm do—"
"NO, SEV!" hissed Draco. "I've read about it. Apparition can go terribly wrong if you're not careful and if you're not taught by a certified instructor. Ever heard of splinching?!"
"Will you calm the fuck down?!" Severus hissed. Draco started at how much he sounded like him. "Everything will be alright! This is a group effort, it's not like I'm going at this alone. Besides, it's all good fun."
"It's not fun," Draco said.
He really didn't like the idea of Severus hanging around those boys who liked breaking the rules just for the fun of it. Yeah, the Marauders also did that, but their rule-breaking wasn't dangerous. Most of the time.
Well it wasn't harming anyone. Most of the time.
Okay, so it was no different than what the Marauders did all the time. But somehow, Draco felt even more bothered by this than he did by the Marauders.
"So that's what you've been doing," he said. "You've been practicing apparition with your friends."
"Yeah," said Severus. "They're not really my friends though."
"Oh?"
"Nah, they're more like...acquaintances."
There was silence.
"We're friends though, right?" said Draco.
Severus looked up at him.
"Yeah," he said, slowly, though he sounded very unsure of himself. "Yeah, we are."
"Good," said Draco.
On Wednesday morning, three days before the match, Draco and the Marauders woke early to have breakfast in the Great Hall. Only a few other students were already there. The entire morning, James and Sirius were fairly quiet, both of them eating like hungry wolves. Remus explained this as "pre-game jitters". Apparently, those two just needed a lot of time to themselves before a really big game...time to collect themselves, to gain focus, etc. Draco didn't really understand it, but then again, he'd never been that obsessed with Quidditch. He'd been more after the way it made him look in front of his teammates and his friends. The sport itself was never something he actually lost sleep over.
Students began to pour in to the Great Hall as the Marauders sat there, each of them concentrated on something different. When Lily and Mary arrived, both of them met Draco's eyes and smiled. But there was something very distinct there...something that got Draco more nervous than he'd been, probably in all of the last month and a half. The smile that Mary gave him and the smile that Lily gave him were very, very different. Mary's smile was friendlier, kinder, and more genuine. It spoke to Draco. It told him that she was very grateful he'd shown her his scar to make her feel better. It told him that the two of them being friends would make her very happy.
Lily's smile, on the other hand, told Draco very different things. It was friendly, kind and genuine, sure. It was also flirtatious, obvious, and even suggestive. It was the kind of smile that girls practiced in front of their mirrors when they were alone. It was definitely not the kind of smile that they awarded their fathers or their brothers. And seeing that smile on Lily's face, directed at him, Draco, was very unsettling.
He gulped nervously as the two girls passed by and sat several seats away from him and the Marauders. Thankfully, James was too invested in that morning's Prophet to even notice the two girls. And Severus wasn't in the Great Hall yet. And Remus was also busy with the Prophet, so Draco was saved this once. Just this once. But if this continued to occur in the future...
After breakfast, Remus and Peter said goodbye to the boys, all of whom had a free period this morning. But since James and Sirius were in their own little bubbles this week, they opted for a quiet study period in the library, which Draco was perfectly fine with. He followed them there and together they occupied a little table in the corner where they got their books out and buried themselves in mountains of notes. Draco was pretty much ahead in all of his classes so he just got Hogwarts: A History out again and examined the page where he'd left off, where it talked about the Legend of the Chamber of Secrets. He wondered now, as he examined the title plastered on the page, how James would've handled the situation that Harry Potter was placed in, back in second year. Something told Draco that not only would James have gone in to save that Weasley girl, but that he would've insisted that he go alone. James liked being the hero who can do things without help. Draco could easily sense that about him. Sirius however, was exactly the opposite. He liked the attention but he also liked having someone with him to enjoy it. Draco supposed that must be a reaction from whatever horrible things Sirius had gone through in his childhood. It had now extended to adult life, to the point where he didn't want to do anything alone. He always needed people by his side. This could work to his advantage...or it could ruin him.
Sirius noticed Draco watching him now and raised his eyebrows in question. Draco quickly shook his head and looked away. His eyes fell on Alice, whom he hadn't noticed was also sitting in the library. But sitting right next to her, to Draco's surprise, was Frank. He had his hand in hers, but the two were talking about something with very serious looks on their faces. It almost looked like Frank was assuring her of something...assuring her or comforting her. Either way, at least they were talking, and that was certainly something.
Draco's mind jumped back to Lily and he grew anxious again. Why the hell was she giving him looks like that now? What on earth had he done to make her stop hating him and go in the other direction completely? Well, that is, if he was even reading this right...It was certainly possible that he'd misread her smile. Oh who was he kidding, he was an expert at these sorts of things. That smile definitely meant what he thought it meant. But why was everything going crooked now? What was he doing wrong?
After their free period, the boys went to Charms only to find out that Peter had been sidelined by the actual stomach flu and was in the hospital wing now. So, during lunch, the boys all went straight there, only to be kicked out by Madame Pomfrey.
"He is highly contagious now!" she told them before slamming the door in their faces.
James sighed. "Might as well...we can't get sick this close to the match."
"Damn right we can't," said Sirius.
Remus didn't look too happy about leaving Peter in the hospital by himself, but only Draco seemed to notice.
"He'll be fine," he assured him as they made their way back to the Great Hall. "After all, he's Peter."
"My point exactly," said Remus.
"Hey," said Draco. "No judging, Moony!"
Remus laughed. "Yeah, you're right."
"So," said Draco, keeping his voice low so that James and Sirius, who were walking just ahead, wouldn't hear. "Why didn't you tell them? About me and the Patronus?"
Remus was silent for a moment.
"I suppose I thought it was something you'd like to tell them yourself," he finally answered. "It's not my secret to tell, you know?"
"It's not really a secret," Draco muttered.
"Well nonetheless, it's none of my business," said Remus.
Draco frowned at him. He really was impressed with him. He was far more mature beyond his years...and definitely nothing like the rest of the Marauders. James and Sirius were still kids at heart, and Peter too...but Remus was already a man.
Later that day, Draco and Remus went ahead to their midnight Astronomy lesson without Peter. James and Sirius were too busy in their 'concentration bubbles' (or whatever they were called) to even notice the two boys leaving the common room. And suddenly, Draco realized that this was the first time in days that he had Remus all to himself. And when opportunity knocks...
"Look at the bright side of things," he said now, as the two walked along the corridors with their star charts under their arms. "At least you're not sick anymore."
"Yeah, I suppose," said Remus.
"You actually got better fairly quickly so maybe he will too," Draco went on.
He could hear Lily now, scolding him for breaking the promise that he'd made. Whatever.
"You know, I never did ask you what your mum was sick with," Draco said, conversationally.
"Oh it was just some virus," said Remus. "She's fine now."
"It's amazing how you both got better at the same time," said Draco. "Almost like it was a miracle or something."
"Sure," said Remus, turning the corner.
"It's amazing how you didn't catch her virus or she didn't catch your flu," Draco went on.
Remus stopped in the corridor to look at him.
"What are you saying, Draco?" he said.
"I'm just saying it's all amazing," said Draco, innocently. "Almost too coincidental for my taste, but..."
Remus narrowed his at Draco, but was silent for a long time. Draco was just starting to think that maybe it had been a mistake to mention any of it now, when Remus said, very quietly, "There is nothing wrong with coincidences."
"True," said Draco. "I don't mind coincidences." Remus' face relaxed. "However, I personally think that there is a very fine line between coincidence and truth."
"Meaning what?" said Remus, whose nervous energy Draco could now sense very clearly.
"Meaning that sometimes you just gotta have a little bit of faith in people, Moony," said Draco. "We're not all monsters. We don't all think the same. And people...they can surprise you."
And with these his final words, he led the way to the Astronomy Tower in silence.
The next day, both boys pretended that their little conversation from the night before hadn't happened at all. It was better not to mention it to the rest of the Marauders. Less drama that way. But still, Draco hoped that he'd gotten the message across...that Remus would soon realize that he could in fact trust him.
Peter was released from the hospital wing around midday. Apparently, it had just been one of those 24-hour flu things. Feeling all better, he persuaded the boys to come with him to Hagrid's after class to thank him. Apparently, the giant had come to visit him with cauldron cakes or something like that. And even though Madame Pomfrey had forbidden Peter from even touching them, he was still very grateful. Draco of course excused himself from this visit to Hagrid's and went to the Great Hall instead. Several students were sitting there, chatting about day-to-day things or doing homework or playing Wizard's Chess. But the only person Draco was interested in seeing there was Regulus. Without hesitation, he walked right up to the Slytherin table, several heads turning as he went, and stopped just before Regulus, who looked up from the Daily Prophet.
"Oh, hey Draco," he said. "What's up?"
"Let's go for a walk," said Draco, nodding at the Great Hall Entrance.
Regulus instantly closed up the books surrounding him and packed them away. He then followed Draco out of the Great Hall, students' heads still turning as they went.
They ended up outside, in the somewhat chilly air beside the lake's shore.
"What's going on?" Regulus asked as they walked.
Draco shrugged. "We haven't spoken in a while, I just thought we'd catch up."
"Uh, sure," said Regulus. "What did you wanna talk about?"
"I dunno," said Draco. "Um...how are classes going?"
"Good," said Regulus.
"Just good?"
"Um...really good."
Draco laughed.
"Claybrook's class is obviously my favourite, but Slughorn's comes next."
"Oh yeah? You like Potions?"
"It's alright," Regulus shrugged.
"What are you thinking of pursuing?"
"I dunno yet, to be honest...we haven't had career advice appointments yet so I still have time to think about it."
Draco nodded.
"Have you started studying for the OWLs yet?"
"Yeah right," laughed Regulus.
Draco also laughed.
"Well what about that Cattermole girl?"
Regulus made a face. "What about her?"
"Who is she?" said Draco, trying to mask his interest in the subject.
"She's the Slytherin Prefect in my year," said Regulus.
"No," said Draco. "I meant, who is she to you?"
"Waddaya mean?" exclaimed Regulus.
"Oh quit playing dumb with me," said Draco. "I saw the way you looked at her during Slughorn's dinner party. I have eyes, you know."
"Was it really that obvious?" Regulus said, quietly.
"I think the only person it wasn't obvious to was probably that Trelawney girl."
"Draco, don't tease!" said Regulus.
Draco only laughed again.
They walked along the shore's line some more and then stopped to sit on the sand.
"It's really chilly out here, we should head back," Regulus said, shivering.
"Soon," Draco promised. "I wanna enjoy the fresh air for a bit."
Actually, he just wanted to ask Regulus what he'd been dying to ask Sirius all this time. Maybe this Black would handle the question a little differently.
"Okay," said Regulus suddenly. "Out with it."
Draco frowned. "Out with what?"
"Whatever it is you really wanna ask me," said Regulus. "I know you didn't just pull me all the way out here to talk about school and girls, so spill."
Draco sighed.
"If I tried asking Sirius this, he'd probably come out here, dig a hole, and bury himself in it." Regulus waited. "So I'm gonna ask you...to...to tell me about your parents."
Regulus frowned. "What for?"
"I wanna know who they are," said Draco, truthfully. "I'm...I'm curious."
"But—"
"Oh will you just tell me?"
Regulus raised his eyebrows at Draco, but the frown was gone now. There were a few seconds of silence as he watched the water on the beach and Draco watched him. Then, Regulus began.
"My parents are Orion and Walburga Black. They are among the richest members of our family because lots of things have been passed down to them. Every kid in the Black family basically has this inheritance that awaits them. Sirius and I have one too...one for each of us, I mean. I'm pretty sure Kreacher is gonna be part of my inheritance."
It took Draco a minute to understand.
"The house elf," he finally said. Regulus nodded. "Why you?"
"I'm closest with him, I suppose," he answered. "Anyway, our parents always told us stories of our ancestors—they wanted us to know our family history well. I guess it was their way of making sure that we took after those who they admired the most."
"But Sirius was a disappointment, I imagine," Draco added.
Regulus nodded.
"He wasn't alone though."
"He wasn't?"
"No, our cousin Andy has also received a lot of hate from our family."
"Oh right," said Draco. "Yeah, Sirius has mentioned her once or twice."
"To this day, she's his favourite cousin. She graduated way before I even started at Hogwarts."
"Where is she now?"
"Who knows," Regulus shrugged. "Personally, I don't really know her well."
"What about Bellatrix?" said Draco.
Regulus looked at him.
"What's your relationship with her?" Draco clarified.
"I...she's my cousin..." Regulus said.
"I wasn't asking if you've snogged her—I'm asking what you think of her."
There was silence.
"I mean I like her," Regulus began. "She's actually pretty cool once you get to know her...and she's taught me a few spells...and she looks out for me."
"I only met her the one time and she seemed scary as hell," said Draco.
Regulus smiled weakly. "You just have to get to know her better, that's all."
Draco paused, his eyes on a large boulder nearby. "What about Narcissa?"
"Who, Bella's sister?" said Regulus.
"Yeah, what do you think of her?"
"I mean I don't really know her as well," Regulus admitted. "She seems a little more chill than Bella but Andy is the calmest of the three."
"Andy...?" said Draco.
"She's their oldest sister," said Regulus.
Draco's eyes widened. His mother had never, ever, ever mentioned having another sister. What else had she neglected to mention?! Jeez, his family was way more twisted than he'd thought.
"Go on," he said to Regulus now.
"Um," said Regulus. "Yeah, I only really know Bellatrix out of the three. Narcissa has only been around for dinner a few times and it was when I was much younger. I haven't seen her in ages."
"Wasn't she here at Hogwarts not that long ago?" said Draco.
"She graduated shortly after I started," said Regulus. He then frowned. "How did you even know who Narcissa was?"
Draco shrugged. "Your cousin must've told me during my interrogation that first week."
"Oh."
"Hey can I ask you something?" Regulus waited. "That day in the library...the first time I talked to you...why did you say you weren't supposed to be seen talking to me?"
"Oh...that..." said Regulus. "That was just...I mean, it..." he sighed, realizing there was no way out of this one. "That was just something stupid."
"Who told you to stay away from me?" Draco asked.
"Wilkes," Regulus whispered after a moment's silence.
"Who is Wilkes?"
"He's...he's that seventh year Slytherin...you know, that I—"
"—that you and the rest of your gang always follow around," Draco finished. "Yeah, I wanna meet this kid who tried to keep me away from my cousin."
"No, you don't," said Regulus, instantly. "I'm serious, Draco. This guy is not one you want to mess with."
"I'm not one anyone wants to mess with," Draco corrected him, but Regulus only shook his head.
"Promise me you won't put up a fight with him. Promise me, Draco!"
"Alright, alright, I promise!" said Draco. Regulus' face relaxed slightly. Draco smirked at him. "I didn't know that you cared this much. I'm touched."
Regulus rolled his eyes at him.
The very next day, Draco arrived in the Great Hall for breakfast without the Marauders. He spotted what he'd come there early for, and then marched right up to the Slytherin table. He could see Regulus growing pale now as Draco stopped before the Slytherin gang. They all turned their heads to look up at him, and Severus frowned.
"Hello there," Draco said to the group at large.
"May we help you?" Crouch Junior asked, his eyes on his cereal bowl.
"I'm looking for Wilkes," said Draco, who saw at least two faces there that he didn't recognise.
His eyes landed on Severus, who mouthed at him, "What are you doing?!" Draco only nodded at him and waited. One of the older-looking boys at the table cleared his throat.
"That is me," he said, with a voice of importance.
Draco looked him up and down. "You're Wilkes?"
The boy's eyebrows raised slightly.
"That's right," he said. "And you are?"
"I'm Draco Black," said Draco. "And if I ever hear that you forbid anyone from talking to me, I will scratch your eyes out."
Avery's, Rosier's, Junior's, Mulciber's, Regulus', and Severus' jaws all dropped. Instantly. But Draco's eyes were only on this Wilkes bloke, who was glaring at him now. Yet somehow, Draco did not feel a hint of fear.
"I mean it," he added.
And without waiting for a response, he left.
He didn't end up telling the Marauders about his short exchange with the Slytherin Gang leader that morning. Draco had already decided for himself that they didn't need to know about that. But Regulus wasn't taking it as lightly. He confronted Draco about it the next day during Draco's free period. Regulus had excused himself from class to go to the washroom but he found Draco in the Great Hall and marched up to him furiously.
"Why did you do it?!" he hissed.
"To prove a point," Draco told him.
"Yeah, to get me into trouble!" Regulus cried. "He knows now that I told you—"
"And just let him try doing something to you," said Draco. "Look, I needed to get the message across, loud and clear."
"What message?"
"That I am not afraid of anyone," Draco said, simply. "And now that your pal Wilkes knows that, he won't try anything." He paused. "You really should find yourself some new friends, Reg."
But Regulus only gaped at him.
"What are you lot still doing up?" Draco asked once he'd returned to the common room Friday night from a very long study session at the library, and found the Marauders in their usual spot by the fireplace.
"Too excited to sleep, man," said James, who looked rather pleased.
"Tomorrow's gonna be a good day," said Peter.
"And if it's not," said Remus, "You boys won't go into full-on depression mode, will you? It's only the opening match."
"You bet your studious arse we will," said Sirius. "You said it yourself, Moony. It's the opening match. Everyone always remembers the opening match and the closing match. No one cares what happens in between."
"That's true," said Draco, sitting down. "You guys will come to watch, right?"
"Yeah of course!" said Remus. "Peter and I always sit at the very front."
"Yeah and this time, you guys have three people to cheer on," said Sirius.
"Don't forget about Frank," said James, defensively.
"I didn't forget Frank!" said Sirius.
"We're there to cheer on the whole team," said Remus.
Draco's eyes landed on the yellow form on the coffee table and he frowned. Noticing, Peter picked it up and held it for him to see.
"First Hogsmeade visit of the year," he said. "You're gonna love it there."
"Yeah, Draco's never been," said Sirius, "We'll have to show him around."
He winked at Draco and James laughed.
"Well this time, you'll actually get to really see the place," Remus told Draco.
"Yeah, instead of the tunnels that lead to it," said Sirius.
"Right," said Draco. "When's the visit?"
"Sunday," said Remus. "So day after tomorrow. Will you...uh, I mean do you have some kind of permission to visit?"
Sirius let out a bark-like laugh. "His guardian is headmaster of this fricking school. Of course he has permission."
"Well I don't know what kind of arrangement they have between the two of them!" Remus defended. "And neither do you, Sirius."
"Guys," said Peter, but no one heard him.
"Honestly, you're supposed to be smart, Moony!" cried Sirius.
"And you're supposed to be cool, Padfoot, but I guess that ship has sailed."
Sirius' jaw dropped, but Remus and Peter only laughed. James sighed happily and leaned back against the couch again.
"It's gonna be a really good day," he said.
"I'm still cool, OKAY?" said Sirius, glaring at Remus.
Draco laughed. His friends were so wonderfully weird, that he couldn't believe he'd actually gone all this time without knowing them.
Fun fact for you all...if you go back on previous chapters, you'll notice that all the characters' school schedules are always constant and correct. Every day of the week has been worked out for each of the Marauders, Draco, Sev and Lily. Yep. We went that far. So if you're worried that we're neglecting some details, don't be. We LITERALLY worked everything down to the last detail.
Just go and marvel over that awesome fact while you wait for the update, which should be ready within the next week or so... and don't forget to review!
