Ron had slept soundly that night but was awoken early in the morning by the sound of one of his dorm mates shrieking. He sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes. He pushed open the curtains and stared at Seamus Finnegan, who seemed to be the only one awake, for a few moments before bursting into peals of laughter.
Seamus was, most decidedly, not a happy bunny. He had gotten up early, showered and brushed his teeth, he had picked out a pair of black jeans and a Gryffindor red long-sleeved shirt, thankful that sixth years had the first day of term to haggle about classes with their teachers, and was all geared up to be assertive over the Dark Veela in his dorm but also considerate, thinking it the best way to get in his favour. But curiosity had gotten the better of him.
He knew full well that Harry was innocent. Living in a dorm with him made one aware of such personal details. He had gone over to Harry's bed and listened intently to Harry's soft breathing and, before he had been able to stop himself, had reached for the curtain to move it out of his way and claim his prize.
That was when trouble struck.
He had found himself hanging upside down by the laces of neon pink ballerina shoes in which his white stocking-clad feet were squeezed painfully into. The top of the stockings were just visible to the world as the stiff but frumpy yellow cotton and white laced dress came down only to mid thigh. The dress in question was high-necked and high-backed and the lace frill on the neck of it was tickling and scratching his skin leaving a blushing red rash in its wake.
But worst of all, the most degrading thing about this foul series of unfortunate events that had befallen him the moment he had moved to jeopardise the Dark Veela's honour, had to be, beyond any doubt, that he was glowing yellow. A sickly, putrid yellow that screamed in its very essence the experience Seamus had in intimacy that most invariably contradicted what he had been telling his friends last year.
This would not be so much of a problem to remove, if Seamus were not in a full body bind and Seamus' wand were not stuck up his nose, handle first, with sunflowers and giant daisies protruding from the tip.
"Well, it's your own fault." Harry said smugly to the fuming teen swaying slightly in front of his face. "Just be lucky you were only got by the prank wards and not the anti-Fae ones, now that would have been painful."
"Get me down!" Seamus wailed.
"Promise to be a good little Fae and not jump the Dark Veela or in any way compromise his honour, physical, emotional and mental health?" Harry asked, teasing him slightly.
"Yes! Now get me down!"
Harry freed Seamus and pulled him to his feet. "Oh, and Seamus? You looked lovely."
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Draco was sat in the Slytherin common room opposite his lifelong best friend. Draco leaned back into the chair and crossed his legs, he was thankful for the time in the morning which ensured that the common room was devoid of many of its usual inhabitants.
"How did you sleep?" Blaise asked the Light Veela as he sipped at his Butterbeer.
"Well, thank you. And yourself?" Draco inquired politely.
"Perfectly." Blaise purred. "How was it? Your Inheritance, I mean, how was it?"
"Not bad," Draco answered, "I expected worse. I assume you've grown used to your accessories now?"
"I have acclimatised to the teeth, speed and strength, yes, but the additional mind powers are a bit much." Blaise, who was raised only by his mother who was, for lack of a better description, a careless parent, had never received the same schooling as Draco and as such Occlumency and Legilimency was somewhat beyond him, even with his natural flair for it as a Vampire, he would never truly master it as Draco had.
"The influx is due to your Inheritance and so I would wager that it should calm eventually, I think you'll just have to get used to it." Draco said, lying through his teeth, he knew that all that had to happen would be for Blaise to take up some simple exercises but Draco was keen for any advantage he might get.
"Did you feel the Allure of that Submissive over in Gryffindor? I couldn't pinpoint who it was but it was addictive and positively glorious in its richness." Blaise said, acquiring a far away distant and dreamy look in his eyes.
"I felt it." Draco nodded. "I know who it is and I am determined for him."
"You would oppose me, then?" Blaise asked with a warning tone evident in his voice.
"No, Zabini, the question is, 'would you oppose me?' As I know who it is with such a delectable Allure I already have a claim on them, let alone the fact that I announced it first. Aside from that, I am already in his favour, which helps me considerably."
"How?"
Draco smirked and nodded a greeting to Theodore who was emerging from their dorm room door. "He knows my dominance. You, Nott and Finnegan, the other three Dominants that surround the Submissive, have never exerted any kind of force over him. I have. Have I not to everyone? He is very aware of me and that does help."
"You won't win the physical battle it takes to get to the Submissive." Blaise snarled.
Draco's smirk only widened.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
After the escapades of that morning Harry had been feeling saucy. He knew the chances of him running into Draco that day were very high and he wanted so badly to attract the Dominant's attention. He rummaged through his wardrobe, full of the clothes that Sirius and Remus had bought him, and picked out a pair of tight leather trousers with a few spells on them to repel harmful or mischievous spells of a low level and even to prank the caster back. He also picked out a pure white pirate-like shirt, minus the frills on the cuffs, and some deerskin boots. He made a point of ruffling his hair and biting on his lips to make them fill with colour before heading off down the scenic route to Minerva McGonagall's office.
"Ah, Harry, how prudent of you to arrive so early. Come to collect your Quidditch captaincy badge, I presume?" Minerva asked, smiling pointedly at him.
"Not exactly," Harry admitted, "I'm resigning my post as Captain and Seeker."
Minerva sputtered her morning tea over her desk, too shocked to clear the quickly cooling and staining liquid from the papers.
"But why? You are the youngest player in a century, you've topped world records here in this school and… oh Harry, why are you doing this to me?"
"After the events of last summer I really understood how I need to get my head screwed on. I'm going to put all my efforts into my studies and some other extra curricular activities, I won't allow anything to happen to my loved ones and so I need to be in top mental form and physical form. I don't have the time for games." Harry explained.
"But Quidditch will keep you physically fit!" Minerva protested, jumping round her desk with an agility one would think beyond her and taking Harry by the shoulders firmly.
"Ah, yes, there is that, which is why I'm going to work one on one with the new Seeker as part of my training but I'm going to be doing real training with someone I plan to approach soon." Harry reasoned.
"So, before you resign your post, what arrangements are you making?" Minerva asked.
"Right, Ginny is going to be permanent Seeker, we need new Chasers and Beaters but I can't just pick people out on a whim so on the Saturday after next there will be try outs that I will oversee and help the new Captain to make his choices. I am relinquishing my Captaincy to Ron; he's an excellent player, has real passion for the game and he's a superb strategist, all he needs now is the authority."
"And there's nothing I can do to change your mind?"
"Not a thing." Harry grinned.
Minerva sighed and wrote down, in simpler terms, all of what Harry had said and then turned to him once more. "What lessons are you taking through?"
"Everything except Divination and History of Magic." Harry answered, smiling. "Did you see my scores?"
"Yes I did! Congratulations Harry, I am very proud of you. I expect your Godfathers doted upon you for it?" Minerva beamed.
"Yes, they did, I enjoyed it immensely." Harry smiled. "There's a new member of staff, I see, he won't be taking up the Defence post, will he?"
A slow self-satisfied smirk snuck up and stuck on Minerva's face, her thin lips twitching in effort not to giggle. "Most certainly not."
"What is it that you are hiding from me?" Harry asked her in a teasingly accusing manner.
"Professor Slughorn taught your parents. He is resuming his position as Potions Professor, whilst not a Master he is a good teacher. Professor Snape has assumed the role of Defence teacher."
"Ron," Harry said, doing his best not to laugh, "Is going to be absolutely mortified!"
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way into the Great Hall an hour after breakfast had finished to meet with the rest of their year group and their teachers. The other years all had one free period on their first day whilst the sixth years sorted out their options and timetables.
There was only one large table in the room that would seat all staff and all students. Harry and his two friends walked straight ahead and seated themselves in a large gap whilst talking about their options. Harry still hadn't told Ron about Snape's new commission as Defence Professor.
"Welcome, students, will you all please sit down and stay quiet. I have a few announcements I would like to make."
Harry stiffened slightly as he felt an Alpha presence settle next to him. He looked to his right and paused when his brilliant emerald eyes met startling silver.
"Morning." Draco greeted the Dark Veela, taking a moment to rake his eyes over Harry's body.
"Good morning." Harry replied, not at all embarrassed by the way his voice took on a softer shyer tone when in the presence of such a domineering character.
"Interesting choice of clothing." Draco intoned, nodding to the white of Harry's shirt, "Suits you."
Harry smiled and preened under the praise. "I like how you've grown your hair. It suits you a lot."
Draco smirked and pointedly brushed a strand of his straight, light blonde, chin length tresses out of his face. "It's about to begin."
Harry nodded and looked forward in the direction of the teachers obediently. He made no protest when he felt Draco's left leg lean on his. He understood it as an unspoken gesture to the other three Dominants dotted around the table; I lay a Potential Claim on this Submissive – back off.
Severus Snape scowled at Draco's lack of control. Draco's pureblood upbringing should be enough for him to resist his instincts and not stoop to gobbling up the first Submissive that came near him. Though the Potions Master had to admit that the Potter boy had certainly cleaned up over the summer, he was still an arrogant, stupid, talent-less little snot.
"There is a new Hogwarts Professor who joined today, his name is Professor Slughorn, he taught here over twenty years ago as Potions Professor and now he is back resuming his post. Professor and Potions Master Severus Snape has reluctantly agreed to leave his commission as Potions Professor and stand as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." Minerva said, chuckling to herself at the horrified looks on the faces of many Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws.
"In a few moments," She continued, "You will be given a piece of parchment, a quill and an ink well to share between two. On the parchment you will write your full name, your House, the subjects you would like to take forward and the results you received in your OWL's for that particular subject. You must take at least three forward. Those of you who do not have the required grades to be in four lessons or have no will to take four forward will be leaving. The required grades for each subject are:
Transfiguration – E
Potions – O
Charms – E
Defence Against the Dark Arts – O
Herbology – E
Astronomy - E
Arithmancy – E
Ancient Runes – E
Divination – E
Care of Magical Creatures – O
Muggle Studies – E
History of Magic – E
The boundaries are not negotiable. Begin."
Harry giggled at Ron's sigh of relief and reached for his parchment. He took his quill and turned to Draco then inclined his head questioningly. He smiled as Draco moved the ink well between them and then dipped his quill in.
"What are you keeping?" Draco asked.
"Everything I did last year except Divination and History. I have the grades but they don't interest me at all, it's a waste of time studying them. You?"
"Almost everything. I got straight Os except for an E in Muggle Studies, but I'm dropping that anyway. I got two distinctions in Potions." Draco answered.
"Congratulations," Harry beamed, "I got two in Defence. What do you make of Slughorn?"
"He's fat, ugly, has a receding hairline, taught my grandfather and is an exceptionally brilliant Potions procurer, but not good enough for a Mastery. He's no Severus though."
"Thank goodness." Harry said before he could stop himself.
Draco laughed and set down his quill before wandlessly and wordlessly conjuring a backrest and leaning on it. He smirked as Harry did the same and then accepted Harry's conjured drinks gratefully.
"Harry, how long have you been able to do such things?" Hermione asked, as she watched the exchange between her best friend and worst enemy. She had attempted similar things with a wand and had not got the same results.
"For a while now. Pumpkin juice?"
"Yes, thank you."
Ron, not realising that the back rests had been conjured by the students and thinking that they were there automatically, stretched loudly and rested his hands at the back of his head. He leaned back and was unable to stop the look of shocked terror that crossed his face as he went further back than he was supposed to and landed painfully on the floor with his legs in the air.
"Oh shut up, Harry!" Ron grumbled as he pulled himself back onto the chair, inwardly cursing his best friend as the Dark Veela laughed into his hand beside their blonde nemesis who was also smirking superiorly.
"What were you doing on the floor, Weasley?" The snarling, biting tone of Severus Snape bit out.
"I fell, sir." Ron intoned, scowling.
"Why?"
"It was an accident, sir."
Severus sneered and stalked forward a little more. He glared at Harry and stared openly at Draco's hand that was resting on Harry's knee.
"Your father will hear of this behaviour, Draco." Severus snarled.
"Ah, good," Draco said elegantly, "It saves me from writing a letter to him myself then, do give him my regards, won't you?"
Severus sneered again and cast an outraged glare at his young Godson.
"He looks furious." Harry stated, unable to stop himself from grinning.
"He's just jealous," Draco jested, "He wants you for himself."
Harry knew it was a joke but he shuddered nonetheless.
"What possessed you to take Divination in the first place?" Draco asked.
"I didn't know what it was and I saw someone else write it down so I copied." Harry shrugged. "It's a bit pathetic, I know, and if I'd actually bothered to consult someone I could have ended up taking something interesting, like Ancient Runes."
"It is a good subject, I've immersed myself in it quite a bit and, not to be vain, but I have very extensive knowledge of it, more so than what the teachers teach by far." Draco said. "I can teach you the basics if you'd like?"
"That would be wonderful, thank you." Harry smiled. "Are you sure you don't mind, though, I mean you have a lot on your plate as it is. You're doing three more subjects than I am."
"Its fine, Harry, I don't mind at all. It will be good for me too anyway, like revision. Actually, you might want to come along too, Hermione, it is going to be beneficial to us." Draco said.
"That's very kind of you Draco, I would love to attend." Hermione beamed, ecstatic with the new warmth between two of the Golden Trio and the Ice Prince of Slytherin.
"I'm dropping out of Quidditch." Harry said. "I'm resigning as Captain too."
"Ah, well if you are, I am too," Draco said, "The only reason I joined up on the team was to show off and best you anyway, if you're going then there's no competition."
Harry smiled. "Look, McGonagall's got into an argument with Crabbe and Goyle."
"They got straight A's," Draco explained, "They're getting kicked out of school. I told them this would happen and that they were wasting their time and money on the provisions for this term, but they wouldn't have it."
"When do the people who cannot stay leave for home?" Hermione asked.
"Today, after dinner. They'll stay for dinner; they will be mentioned there and then they will be loaded into the boats and floated to the train. They will not get off at Platform 9 and ¾ though. They will unload at the Ministry and either be assigned Apprenticeships or Manual jobs or they will be made to sign a register to say they're thick, more or less non-hireable but are allowed to pass over the Restrictions for Underage Use of Magic."
"But if they can't get a job, what will they do?" Harry asked, now worried for some of his year mates.
"This might disgust some people, but if it weren't to happen then these people would not survive. The Pureblood families often take in Butlers and Maids and such things that assist the House Elves and sleep in their Chambers. Some also become Wet Nurses and Nannies, with the proper training, of course. They then become a kind of possession to the Pureblood family that they serve and have no life beyond that service.
"However, there are those that either lose their place in the Pureblood household or are turned away in the beginning. For them, the only way to survive is through crime and prostitution. It's not going to be easy for those who don't get Apprenticeships or Manuals at the Ministry."
"That's terrible." Harry said sadly. "Is there nothing anyone can do for them if they are turned away by the Purebloods?"
"Every so often there's a Lord Pureblood who is very generous both financially and with his time. He will dedicate time and money into re-housing and re-educating these poor mishaps so that they actually stand a chance of survival." Draco said.
"There are no women or Muggle-borns that do this?" Hermione asked, somewhat annoyed.
"The Muggle-borns don't have the money. When you convert Pounds Sterling into Wizarding currency you lose out a lot. You might want to change one thousand Pounds and end up with three hundred Galleons that might rent you a small flat for about six weeks. That is how Gringotts really exploits Muggle-borns and that is why I suggest you get a financial advisor, Hermione, to argue your case. I think that's what Theodore Nott is going into if you want to approach him; he's a decent man and keen to make customers before he even begins, he won't turn you away.
"As for the Lady Purebloods, they cannot do much without their husband's consent. A man has so much authority over his wife that he may as well have adopted her. If she wants to help someone she must approach him first and argue the case of the Unfortunate, then if he says no, it's no and that is final. If he agrees to helping it is his money and his time that go into the helping of the Unfortunate and it is his face in the Press, the wife just hangs on his arm, so to speak.
"Many wives of Pureblood men have their own set of Chambers which they use, unless their husband calls them to his room for the night. They are there to spurt off an heir and to be a decoration on him at social events. They're supposed to be professional speakers and highly intelligent so they don't embarrass them. It's a very boring existence to be a Pureblood wife
"Of course many other Purebloods don't agree with that. They make alliances with their wives and recognise that a woman is more than just a pretty face and a well crafted tongue. Examples of people with that mind are the Malfoys, the Blacks, the Notts and the Zabinis. A few examples of the anti-gender-equality families are the Snapes, the Parkinsons, the Crabbes and the Goyles."
"Are the unfair ways dying out at all?" Hermione asked.
"Not with the ring leaders, no. Some of them are even extreme enough to degrade women to such an extent that they whore off their daughters, sisters, wives and mothers at social gatherings and force them into submission in a sexual manner when there appears to be a smell of dissention." Draco replied.
"That's horrible." Harry sighed. "Is there no way of helping them?"
"By marrying them." Draco shrugged. "But then you put your own life and your own family at risk. If you, by chance, have a daughter by your new wife then your daughter will face the same fate as your wife and there's nothing you can do about it. There is actually a law, a very old law deep in the archives of the Ministry that is unchallenged that states that a woman belongs to her father, grandfathers, brothers, brother-in-laws, nephews and sons that gives these Purebloods the right to do what they do."
"Can't we repeal the law?" Harry asked.
"My father is trying to gather support for it; he needs a lot of people in high social standing to do so. Unfortunately, there are two very popular people who agree with that law and have more support between the two of them than my father and they won't let it fall. Cornelius Fudge and Albus Dumbledore. If it weren't for Dippet assigning McGonagall as Deputy when he left and made Albus Headmaster then she would not have that position, Flitwick would have had it. As it is, Dumbledore doesn't have the authority to remove her from that position so he just acts happy about it."
"Well, this makes me glad I don't stand a chance with Pureblooded men, I wouldn't know who supports the law and who doesn't and might wind up in a very difficult situation." Hermione said, sipping on her Pumpkin Juice
"Actually, Hermione, a lot of Pureblooded families like to marry Half-bloods and Muggle-borns with great potential and I heard talk that you are very valued amongst some families." Draco supplied, smirking and winding an arm around Harry's waist.
Hermione blushed and flustered. "You must be joking! Well, I'd only marry for love and not money or social standing or anything like that."
Draco inclined his head respectively and began a game of footsie under the table with Harry.
Harry had to bite his lip to stop from giggling as the fidgeting he and Draco were doing throughout the game became noticeable. They hadn't noticed the people getting up and leaving because they were so caught up in each other, neither did they notice Blaise Zabini walking over with a scowl on his face.
"Draco." Blaise greeted his friend. "So, Potter, we're going to be in all the same lessons this year, looking forward to it?"
"I beg pardon, but, I don't know who you are." Harry said truthfully.
Draco shook with a silent giggle.
"Blaise Zabini, member of the Slytherin House, it is a pleasure to meet you." Blaise said, reaching down and taking Harry's hand to lift it and kiss his knuckles.
Harry blushed and felt his Veela nature conflicting with itself; on one hand, it loved Draco's dominance and was glowing under the attention he was receiving but on the other hand this new dominant had come along, dark and smooth like liquid midnight with the potential to own Harry.
Draco almost growled and lunged for the Vampire, but was stopped when the figure of Theodore Nott walked forward and stood in between Blaise and the three seated teens.
"Miss Granger, I don't mean to be rude, but I couldn't help overhearing your discussion with Draco earlier and have taken note of his suggestion. Would you like to take a walk around the grounds and I'll see what I can do for you?"
Hermione grinned broadly and nodded. She took his hand and stood up. She was about to leave when Ron grabbed her belt and yelled over her shoulder, "Oi! I'm coming too!"
Draco shot Theodore a grateful look and then pulled the Dark Veela close to him.
"The grounds must look lovely right now, what with the rain having refreshed the green of the grass and the trees. I believe it isn't pouring right now though, if you feel like going out flying?" Draco asked Harry.
Harry's eyes lit up like the stars at night and he jumped to his feet. "Yes, that would be wonderful!"
"We shall see you when classes start, Blaise, I'm sure we'll all enjoy them." Draco nodded to his friend and led Harry out of the Hall towards the Slytherin dorms.
Each person, except maybe the two Dominants and their enlightened friends, were left staring at the entrance that three Gryffindors and two Slytherins had left through wondering what on Merlin's good green earth was going on.
"We can get my broom first," Draco said, "Then I'll fly us up to your dorm room window for you to get yours."
Harry nodded his assent and respectfully busied himself with the paintings on the wall as Draco spoke the password to open the door to the Slytherin common rooms. His eyes locked onto a portrait of Salazar Slytherin who was busy staring at him with a calculating gaze.
"Hello," Harry said in Parseltongue. "You are the great Lord Slytherin, are you not?"
"I am. What would you want with me, young Speaker?" The portrait asked.
"I was actually wondering what it is I could do for you. You are peering at me intently and I wondered how I could be of assistance."
"There are things you need to know, Speaker. My Heir has overstepped the mark and someone must right it. You have the Tongue of Serpents within your mouth, you are a Lord of Snakes, you are equal to my Heir and you must make him remember his place, must you not, Harry Potter?"
"They say it is my destiny." Harry agreed. "But Tom once said to me that Parseltongue cannot save me from the deadly gaze of a Basilisk. He implied that his Inheritance to the Tongue of Serpents was far more powerful than my own."
"And you believed him?" The Lord asked, chuckling slightly. "My Heir has named himself thus through his blood, but I may appoint a new one if I will. Each is equal to one another. There is only power and death that gives one superiority over the other. We shall converse again, young Speaker."
Harry shot a bewildered look to the picture as Salazar Slytherin marched out of it and into another without another word. He turned towards Draco who was waiting patiently and smirking slightly as he leaned against the door, evaluating Harry shamelessly.
"You should have been in Slytherin."
"I literally should have." Harry agreed. "But my mind had been poisoned against it therefore causing me to stop the Hat from putting me where I belonged and forcing it to put me elsewhere; it chose Gryffindor."
Draco stared at Harry in shock for a few moments before he collected himself. "I like that," He said, "That sort of certainty about where and when and who you are. That you managed to force the Sorting Hat against his first decision only adds to the onion like layers of mystery that surround you."
Harry laughed and followed Draco through a heavy oak door to their dorm. He stood by Draco's bed as the Light Veela rummaged around for his Nimbus 2001. He looked towards the dorm room door as it was pushed open and a dark haired someone marched angrily inside.
Pansy Parkinson was having a bad day. She had woken up late, was only eligible to study four subjects, three of which she absolutely detested, she was sure that Draco was avoiding her and she had seen him lead Potter into his dorm.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy! What do you think you are doing leading a wretch like this into our domain? Your father will hear of this, I assure you!" She spat.
"By the looks of it, Draco, you're never going to have to write to your father for the rest of your life." Harry said, struggling against the laughter bubbling up in his stomach.
"I know." Draco said smirking. "Do give my mother my love, would you Parkinson? Now I think you ought to leave before your father hears of how you stormed into a man's territory and demanded answers of him and threatened him. That is most paradoxical to what a woman should behave like."
Pansy bristled and stood down. "That will not be necessary, Draco, just be sure you remember what our parents plan for us."
"You mean what your father plans for you." Draco contradicted her. "Mine has higher designs for me than marrying into the floor beneath the Dark Lord's feet. You know the Malfoys do not suffer such lowly actions."
Pansy glared and spun on her heel, crashing into the door as she threw it open and stomped out of the common room into the corridor, looking murderous and searching for some young Hufflepuff to torture.
"She's got quite a temper, that one, she's deluded too." Harry stated.
Draco laughed and pushed open the window. "She gets like that and often needs reminding that she's not a part of my life, at least not in the way she wants to be. Ready?"
Harry nodded and stepped forward. He sat sideways on the broom and held onto Draco for support as the blonde took off into the air. He watched the windows and the trees pass by as Draco rose slowly up the castle, spinning them round slightly so Harry got to soak in the view. Harry was glistening under the special treatment and rewarded the Light Veela by cuddling close to him and holding onto him tightly with his head resting on Draco's chest as a sign of absolute trust in him to keep him safe.
"We're outside Gryffindor Tower, Harry, which one is your dorm?" Draco asked.
Harry turned his head to look at the view. "That one." He pointed and wandlessly opened the window.
Draco hovered inside for a moment whilst he helped Harry off the broom, fully aware that Harry needed no help but enjoying making a fuss of the Dark Veela. He looked around at the room and smirked.
"Let me guess, the one with the still picture beside it is Dean Thomas', the one with the unmade bed and dirty underwear around it is Weasley's, the one with that Venus plant beside it is Longbottoms, the one with the little figurines of the Irish Quidditch Team lazing about is Finnegan's and the neat, tidy and warded one is yours?"
Harry nodded and smiled. He reached for his trunk and pulled it onto his bed. He flipped it open and beckoned Draco forward.
"Come onto my bed and draw the curtains, I have something I want to show you."
"Ooh, saucy." Draco joked, wiggling his eyebrows.
Harry laughed and pulled out the map, cloak and the Firebolt. He set the Firebolt aside and settled down on the bed.
"Surely you know what this is?" Harry asked, holding up the cloak.
Draco nodded. "But I don't know why you've got out that old crappy bit of parchment."
Harry scowled at the Light Veela. "This bit of parchment is an object of brilliance. It, along with the cloak, is my birthright three times over. Have you ever heard of the Marauders?"
"Yes," Draco answered, "There's that silly old rhyme that accompanies their name:
Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs,
Would scour the grounds all day long,
Their pranks would both amuse and tickle us,
Especially when cast on poor old Snivellus,
For seven years they brought tears of bliss,
But now they have gone and none can top this.
Or so the rhyme goes."
Harry grinned, "I can honestly say I've never heard it. But I'll have to recite it to Moony and Padfoot, I'm sure they'd be thrilled to know they're in a song."
"You know them?" Draco asked.
Harry nodded. "You remember Professor Lupin, don't you?"
"Yes, the Werewolf Defence teacher, perhaps one of the best teachers we've ever had." Draco answered.
"He is Moony, and is my second Godfather. You know of Peter Pettigrew? Yes, I thought you might, he is Wormtail and in Azkaban, he framed Padfoot, Sirius Black, and got him locked up for twelve years. Wormtail framed Padfoot, my first Godfather, for the betrayal of Prongs, James Potter, my father."
"No way." Draco laughed. "Amazing. You have legendary blood, Harry."
Harry giggled and nodded.
"Just one thing though, who is Snivellus?"
"You don't want to know, you really don't." Harry said, but at Draco's persistent look he relented. "It's Severus Snape. Sirius gave him that name… or insult, rather. I don't like it. Its one thing that makes me feel a bit ashamed actually, because, yes they were pranksters and they made people laugh but every joke has to have a butt. That was usually Severus. They bullied him. My mother, Lily Evans, a Muggle-born, tried to make them leave him alone countless times but I guess that was a blow to his pride, that a Muggle-born and a woman no less, was fighting his corner so he'd call her Mudblood and such and that just made things worse."
Draco enveloped Harry in his arms. "I'm sure Severus doesn't hold it against you." He said soothingly.
"He does," Harry whispered, "Every time he insults me he insults my father or one of my Godfathers too. I don't think he can help it. Their treatment of him has left him wounded and so he needs to retaliate and I'm the closest thing to all three of them so I take the heat for it. I don't blame him, Draco, I can't, it's horrible to be bullied and I feel like I owe him something. I walk around in James Potter's image with those caring eyes of my mother and that must hurt him deeply because his torments are still all around him all the time. How can I begrudge him that?"
"You aren't your father, Harry, you have the good parts from him, like your sense of humour, but you are no bully." Draco said determinedly. "And what's more, you're almost a Pureblood, because your mother was a Witch, even if Muggle-born so you're more than most Half-bloods, and you're male. That is just by wizarding standards. You, being a Veela have equitatus cruor."
Harry smiled and picked up the piece of parchment. "Moony, Padfoot and Prongs made this, Wormtail just knew the Password, it's a map of Hogwarts, all the secret passageways and hidden entrances and where they lead. Everything is there; you just need to know how to use it.
I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Draco watched, mesmerised, as ink appeared all over the parchment and spread like lines of water gliding down panes of glass.
"Messrs Moony, Padfoot, Prongs and Pronglet (Bambi) Proudly Present the Marauders Map." He read.
"Oh dear," Harry said, genuinely surprised, "Sirius and Remus must have changed it. They have erased Peter from the memory of the map and put me there instead."
"Bambi?"
"Short for Bambolini, it means Doll, in Latin. Bill Weasley made a comment and then, naturally, trouble ensued from it." Harry said.
"Is that really Dumbledore pacing in his office?" Draco asked in amazement.
"Yes," Harry answered, "Sometimes I like to sit up at night watching the goings on of the castle. Our resident Potions Master knows of the existence of this map and I think the caretaker knows what it is but can't prove it and I'm sure Albus Dumbledore knows about it. Oh, well that's new."
Draco looked down at the map and noticed red writing appear beneath Dumbledore. The red was a Gryffindor red, Draco noted idly, and was in stark contrast to the standard black ink of the map and the faded yellowish ancient hue that the parchment itself had required over time.
'Albus Dumbledore' it read in black ink.
'Pacing, talking to portraits, fuming about Minerva McGonagall hiding something about Harry Potter' it read below in red ink.
"Must be about me dropping Quidditch." Harry shrugged.
"Why isn't it showing what anyone else is doing?" Draco asked.
"I don't know," Harry answered, "Dumbledore's red ink only came up when we said his name, so let's just try it on someone else. Severus Snape."
'Severus "Snivellus" Snape' it read in black ink.
'Scowling, stalking around his private rooms, being his usual bastard self, preparing what to write about Draco Malfoy to Lucius Malfoy.' It read below in red ink.
"Map, can you perhaps tell me what he has come up with so far?"
Below the red ink came Slytherin green ink which read: 'No. But it can be said that Snivellus has written 'Dear Lucius' and that is all'
Harry laughed and wiped the map. "I can see Sirius and Remus humour in there."
Draco smiled and pushed at the curtains. He stared, shocked, at the sudden image of Seamus Finnegan hanging upside down in knee high black boots, a black leather mini skirt and a tight pink top with the expanse of skin visible glowing yellow. From his ear his wand stuck out with little pink paper hearts shooting out the end.
"You never learn, do you Seamus?"
Seamus glared at them. "Get me down Harry!"
"No, not this time," Harry refused him, "You'll have to wait until someone else comes along to free you."
"I knew he was in there! I was doing it for your own good! I saw you shut the curtains and I thought he might attack you or you might defile yourself."
Harry shifted uncomfortably, clearly unsure of whether or not to believe it.
"Veritas." Draco mumbled, staring intently at the Fae. He watched as the Fae's face reddened before scowling. "He lied, Harry, it might be true that he saw me here and came in to have a look but his intentions were not so noble as he would have you to believe."
Harry glared at the Fae. "Votum ut relaxo vesica."
Seamus' eyes went wide and his struggles increased ten fold. "Harry! Please let me down! I'm sorry!"
Harry bit his lip. "Should I let him go?"
Draco shook his head. "Someone will be along soon. I'd say just release the body bind."
"Finite Petrificus."
Harry picked up his broom then and followed Draco to the window. They took off together towards the Forbidden Forest and spent the rest of that afternoon gliding above the lake and weaving between the trees, immersing themselves deeply in the comfort and enjoyment of one another's company, the wind around their bodies and the freedom of their hearts and minds.
AN: The spell Harry used on Seamus basically made him want to go toilet >.>
Equitatus Cruor - Superior Blood