Changing Sides

Disclaimer: Don't own. Never have. Never will.

On with the story, which yet, I continue to write even though I get no reviews.

Chapter 6: Of Malfoy's and Maladies

Harry was looking for Malfoy. He knocked on Malfoy's door and when he got no answer, he went inside. Malfoy's room was much like his, almost identical except for the different colors corresponding with their houses at Hogwarts. There was a book on his perfectly made bed. Harry looked at it.

"Patronus Charm," he said aloud. He looked around realizing that he had just said that aloud. Malfoy was learning about Patronuses? Well, he was teaching himself apparently because this was quite advanced magic. Harry figured he shouldn't be in Malfoy's room much longer so he took the book and quickly left to go back to his own room.

Harry went to the door in the center of the hallway which was his own. He went inside and put the book on his bed which was unmade. He saw Malfoy out on his balcony holding some sort of bow?

"Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Oh, Potter. Just practicing," Malfoy said and put his arrow case over his shoulder along with his bow.

"Practicing? You aren't even out of arrows," Harry observed.

"It's enchanted to never run out," Malfoy replied as he stepped into the bedroom. He put down the arrows and turned to Harry. "I give up, Potter."

"Give up what?" Harry asked.

"Oh, don't play dumb. I've been trying to figure it out for a while. That letter you sent to Granger was so pointless, it wasn't even worth sending, I don't know why I let you send it. But then I realized something, you must've hidden a secret message in it. I don't know how because I read it over and there was nothing suspicious about it," Malfoy explained.

"What are you accusing me of?" Harry asked innocently.

"Sending secret messages!" Malfoy answered harshly. "I don't suppose that has any meaning to you?!" Malfoy pointed towards the window.

Harry strode cautiously to the window. He looked out into the air and over by the forest where Malfoy had disapparated before. Glowing, in bright gold letters, Harry could make out the words: Snuffles was here.

"Well, that's odd," Harry said smiling. Malfoy did not see because Harry was still facing out and away from Malfoy.

"Potter, I know it was Granger and Weasel," Malfoy said.

"They don't even know where I am," Harry protested returning to the room.

"Oh, believe me, they know and they would be smart to not return," Malfoy warned.

"Return... wha–. Ron and Hermione, here? But... but, how?" Harry asked.

"Don't ask me, I was looking out and then I see something red, and it's Weasel's hair and I stared him down, freaked him out, shot some arrows at them, showed off my amazing aim," Malfoy explained.

Harry rounded on Malfoy. "You shot at them?" he demanded angrily.

"No, well, maybe. I shot two arrows at Granger to show her how good of aim I have," Malfoy said.

"Did you hit her?" Harry asked.

"No."

"Good."

There was a knock on Harry's door and it swung open revealing Lucius Malfoy. "Come, Potter. It's time for a little lesson about wandless magic," he said.

"May I participate as a spectator, Father?" Malfoy asked.

Lucius gave a slight nod and withdrew from the room.

Harry sighed and picked up his wand and Malfoy followed him.

"This way, Potter," Lucius said from down the hallway.

Harry knew where he was going. He had been here almost two weeks, only six more weeks until the summer ended and he almost knew his way around. He wandered around quite frequently and he knew Lucius was taking him to the Dueling Room and he knew where that was too.

When they arrived, Harry tucked his wand in his belt and got up on the platform like he always did but Lucius did not get up on the platform, like he always did.

"Draco, get up there," Lucius ordered.

"Me? But Father..." Draco stammered.

"Now!"

Draco Malfoy did not need to be told twice. He got up on the platform and unlike Harry, he kept his wand out.

"Well, go on Draco. Shoot something at him, something he can block of course, not too unfriendly. We have been working on blocking," Lucius said.

"Rictusempra!" Malfoy yelled.

Harry thought about protecting himself. Only about protecting himself. He put out his hands and was thinking of the shield charm the whole time.

The purplish light hit what seemed to be an invisible barrier in front of Harry's hands and it bounced back towards Malfoy. Malfoy also cast a shield charm and the spell bounced off of that, causing Lucius to duck and swear at his son and hit the wall where it stopped.

"Very good, Potter. How about another one Draco?" Lucius asked.

"Expelliarmus!" Malfoy shouted.

Harry put up his hands again. He thought of this like fighting a boggart. You had to think about something pleasant. He was thinking about those three words that were all that was really getting him through the day. Snuffles was here. That made his day, Ron and Hermione had managed to get here, get seen, but at least only by Malfoy. What if it wasn't Malfoy? What if it had been Lucius or one of the death eaters that had seen them? What if it had been Voldemort? Instead of shooting arrows, he would've shot Killing Curses and unlike an arrow which just injures, a Killing Curse kills.

Suddenly, Harry flew backwards and hit the wall and slid down it.

"Potter!" Lucius growled.

"Sorry, I lost concentration," Harry said sitting up. He got back onto the platform and got ready.

But seriously, what if it wasn't Malfoy? Can Malfoy even be trusted? Who knows if he hasn't already told half the Manor that Harry sent a letter and that someone sent him a secret message? This time, Harry didn't even hear Malfoy say a spell. The last thing Harry remembered seeing was the two streaks of light flying towards him and he was trying to get to his wand but he didn't get there in time.

Harry was opening his eyes and he sat up. He was in his room and on his bed. He saw Malfoy sitting at his desk with the book that he had taken from his room earlier that day. What day was it anyway? Oh, his head hurt. A lot.

Malfoy suddenly saw Harry sitting up. He darted from the room shouting, "Father! Father! He's awake!"

Suddenly there was a popping noise and Harry jumped, startled.

There was a small house elf standing next to his bed holding a tray.

"Hello Mister Potter," the house elf said. "I am Kaya the house elf. I has potions for you, sir." The elf stretched out her small hand holding a potions bottle. "Drink this, sir."

"Is it poison?" Harry asked although he knew the question sounded stupid the minute he said it.

"Of course not sir, it will help your broken bones, sir," Kaya responded.

"Broken bones?" Harry asked. "Where? Which ones?"

"Mister Potter has broken his ribs but I am helping to fix it. You has a concussion also. You have been asleep for almost one hundred and ninety two hours," Kaya answered.

"How many days is that?" Harry asked.

"Eight, sir."

"Eight?! I've been out for eight days?"

"Oh, yes sir. Young Master Malfoy has informed me what had happened," the house elf said. "I shall tell you. You were working on your wandless magic in the Dueling Room with Young Master Malfoy and other Master Malfoy. You were doing quite well until you lost concentration, Young Master Malfoy took the opportunity to hit you with two spells, one being a stunning spell and a blasting curse."

"Blasting Curse!" Harry shouted. "I could've died!"

"Yes, you were nearly there, but I brought you back Mister Potter," Kaya said.

"Er, well thank you, Kaya," Harry said.

"I was also asked to inform you Mister Potter, that Young Master Malfoy has given me permission to obey anything that you command of me," Kaya said bowing. She jumped up onto the bed and dropped her voice to a whisper. "I also will inform you, that us house elves keep our own secrets that wizards cannot know unless we choose to tell them, even if they command it. It is old elfish magic."

"What are you saying?" Harry asked.

"I'm saying that one of my fellow elf friends has asked me to make the Elfin Bind which means that only I and another have a secret but during the formation of the Bind, we decided one person to tell," Kaya answered.

"Um, I'm still lost," Harry replied.

The little house elf laughed. "I'm sorry Mister Potter. Let me be very clear when I say this. I have been trying to tell you that I have a message."

"A message? What does it say?"

"The message was, 'If you need anything at all, just call,'" the elf said.

"Who sent the message?" Harry asked curiously.

"My friend Dobby did. Now please drink your potion." The elf snapped her fingers and she was gone.

Another chapter comes to a close. I'm still seeing a lack of reviews and I do wonder why I even update. And don't worry, I'm not going to write about every thing that happens during the summer since Harry really does the same thing each day with the Malfoys, they are just trying to bring up his skill level. Harry is going back to school soon but how far will Voldemort let him roam? Review!!

Current Word Count: 10931

—Elizabeth