See prologue for warnings and disclaimer...
Moonlight and Shadows: Chapter 7
For the next few weeks, Harry and anyone else who stuck around Hogwarts (the crowd was dwindling) continued to clean various parts of the castle, with the help of the house elves. He and Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Malfoy had all agreed to stay and teach, and they gradually moved in to their new quarters by their respective classrooms. Harry was aware that Ron was staying with Hermione (he covered this with, "Urgh, you should see where Filch used to sleep– he and Kreacher probably went to the same interior decorator..."), but this didn't bother him in the slightest.
Once or twice he saw Ginny giving him sad, resigned looks, and he empathized. He really had wanted to make their relationship work as much as she had. But that was before he realized she was like his sister, like Hermione, and she could never be a lover to him.
When he did have the time to think about liking someone new, he was always disappointed with what his imagination procured for him... All he could see was a gaggle of wide-eyed, excited girls... nameless, faceless, and utterly boring. These were the girls that waited to attack him every time he left the castle, and he never paid any attention to them... they were just desperate, flighty damsels... he told himself they were only after his money and his fame, but he knew in the back of his mind that none of them would ever be good enough for him...
And once or twice his mind bought forth the elusive sliver of blonde. When this happened, Harry shook his head, reminding himself that he didn't like blondes at all... But then, his mind reasoned, it isn't really blonde... in fact, it's not even really a color... more like light, like... moonlight-ish... But then he had to shake his head again, because, of course, hair can't be moonlight.
Teaching was occupying most of his brain, however, so he had little energy to dwell on anything else. McGonagall had handed them all suggested syllabi, and told them they could deviate from it if they wished, but she advised them all to use the syllabus as a guideline for the core of their curriculum, since they were all new at teaching and could use all the help they could get. Harry could not help but to agree, as he looked at the complicated rubrics to be used for each term in each level.
To make it easiest on themselves, they'd all chosen to assign the same books they'd been assigned in their subjects, rather than having to read and research other books. Hermione had already completed her course syllabi for each year in each term, and managed to make more in case they had to deviate from they original study plan. Harry, however, was struggling to even read the textbooks he'd assigned, let alone to create lesson plans for the entire year. Ron was thoroughly enjoying teasing him about this, since of course the role of Hogwarts' Disciplinary Manager didn't require any reading.
"But it does, Ron!" Hermione said, alarmed, when Ron mentioned this at breakfast one day. "You probably have just as much reading as the two of us, actually!"
"What?" said Ron, his eyes wide.
"Ron, you've got to read all of Hogwarts' rule books and guidelines about punishments! You have to know exactly what you're looking for in rule-breaking and how you'll handle each student's behavior! This is a bigger job than just being a Prefect, Ron. You don't want to get off on the wrong foot and end up being punished yourself. In fact, as an extra precaution, you would probably want to read some of the history of punishments and rule breaking... Read about some of the cases where there were punishments gone-wrong, and then you'll see how you just can't mess up a job like this... Think of all the parents who are putting their trust in all of us to keep their kids safe! Think of–"
"Alright, alright, Hermione!" Ron yelled crossly. He looked quite downhearted for the rest of the day. He seemed to take Hermione's advice, however, because a week later he came up to Harry panting, having run all the way to Harry's room. Harry was about to go to bed, but he let Ron in anyway.
"Harry, you'll never... guess..." he panted. "These kids... they got into the... Forbidden Forest, and they were caught, and... they were actually hung by their wrists for a day! And Harry..." his eyes were wide. "Harry... that sort of shit is still legal!"
"Yeah, Ron, I know... remember Umbridge? She was going to have Filch do that to Fred and George when they were leaving. But this isn't really a surprise... the Carrows did it all of last year, you saw Neville and the rest of them. So how's this different?
Ron thought for a second, eyes narrowed. "Yeah, I guess..." he said. "I guess it isn't really different, I just passed it off then because those were evil people, so I didn't even count it as punishment... But it's still legal, Harry!" he reiterated.
"Yeah, so?" said Harry, perplexed that Ron would take such offense to this. "It's not like you would do any of that, so it's ok, right?" he patted Ron's arm tiredly.
"I know, but it's just... it's legal for anyone! I mean, I wouldn't do it... but anyone in a position of authority can do it! Even Prefects, for Merlin's sake!"
"Ron, calm down. Just... I don't know... change the rule or something."
Ron looked at Harry for a moment longer as though it was a lost cause, and then his eyes lit up.
"Harry!" he said suddenly, very loudly. Harry startled, surprised but amused. "Harry, that's it! I can do that now! I could probably go to McGonagall right now and have her change the rule!"
"Well... wait a few minutes, Ron, it's still one o'clock..."
"Do you think she'd listen to me, Harry?"
"Well, yeah, if you catch her when she's awake... I mean, right now she'd probably blast you out of he castle... but in the morning, sure, Ron..."
Ron didn't catch any of Harry's little jabs, he just stared into the corner of Harry's room, dazed. Harry thumped his shoulder again, hoping to wake him, and Ron turned to Harry finally.
"Right, well... g'night, Harry..." he said, still only vaguely registering Harry.
He left and Harry shook his head, amused but glad Ron was so worked up about something.
Harry could hardly believe it when there was less than a week left until the start of term. At this point, he had to decide to simply improvise on his lessons, since he had no hope for creating any class guidelines for himself. But seeing as all he ever did was improvise in his D.A. meetings, he figured the plan wasn't so bad.
All he had to do was to rack his brains about what he learned in first through third years, because all he could remember now were things he learned for the Triwizard Tournament and then the D.A. Expelliarmus was a good place to start in all of his classes, since he had a story to go along with it, and it was dead useful.
Actually, he could start out just telling stories in all of his classes... that's probably all they wanted to hear, anyway...
No, he couldn't do that. That's what got him such a poor education in Defense Against the Dark Arts in the first place... Hell, he really would just have to wing it.
Three days before students were expected to arrive, Harry was starting to get nervous. He equated it to being in charge of the whole D.A., but on a horrendously larger scale.
Professor McGonagall found him that day as he was on his way to the dungeons, to make a request of him.
"Mr. Potter, I have been spending the last few days arranging the way the new staff's duties will continue the old ones." When he looked puzzled, she continued, "For instance, I used to greet the first years for sorting, but as Headmistress I will be staying in the castle and attending to the rest of the students. I have selected Mr. Weasley to receive the first years this year."
"Oh," said Harry, unsure of how he fit into all of this, "ok."
"I will be doing the normal, bland speech about rules and rule-breaking... and," she added with a twinkle in her eye, "the new rule Mr. Weasley and I have wisely agreed upon."
Harry smiled, glad that Ron had talked to Professor McGonagall and been able to get his wish.
"However, Professor Dumbledore usually had his few choice words of welcome for all of the students, and I think it pertinent especially for this new year." She could see that Harry was anticipating what she would say to him. "You, Mr. Potter, are a very important part of our staff this year, and I would be honored to have you present the welcome speech this year." She looked expectantly at him.
"I... sure," said Harry, flattered by this. "Yeah, I'd love to."
"Thank you. I'm sure everyone will be extremely pleased." She paused to smile at him, and then continued past him.
Harry went down to the dungeons, where he was sure Malfoy would be in his room. They hadn't talked since their joint discussion with Professor McGonagall, they'd barely even looked at each other. When they had, it was to return the same challenging stare, and occasionally Malfoy would smirk and raise one eyebrow. This would always make Harry try to scowl even more challengingly, and he supposed that the whole situation was better than the two of them glaring at every opportunity.
He knocked three times at the door he'd gone to for Snape's occlumency lessons, feeling very odd about it. He had no deja vu– only a wonderment that he never expected this room to be occupied by anyone but Snape.
Malfoy wasn't answering, so Harry knocked again. He wondered vaguely whether Malfoy was able to see outside his door somehow and was not answering simply because it was Harry. He raised his hand to knock again when he heard footsteps rounding the corner at the end of the corridor. Malfoy came into view, and stopped when he saw Harry. Harry turned to face him, and Malfoy came farther forward.
"And what did you want?" he said.
"I want your dumb mouth shut," and before Malfoy could reply, "There's one place we forgot to fix up in the castle, and I thought you could come and help."
"You still really think I have nothing better to do than to help your sorry–"
"It's the Room of Requirement, Malfoy," Harry interrupted, and Malfoy was silent. Harry's heart was beating rather fast... he hadn't really forgotten about the room, but he was putting it off and fearing the worst about it. But he'd decided that he had to know what had happened to it, and he'd also decided that Malfoy was the person to go with him. Not knowing how Malfoy would take this was killing him. Malfoy's face was impassive and Harry halfway thought he might hit him.
Malfoy was staring at the floor and not moving his mouth at all, but Harry was just barely able to make out the quiet "yeah" that came out. Harry was relieved, and resolved to make this go as quickly as possible.
"Good. Then let's go." He walked on down the corridor past Malfoy.
"Now?" came Malfoy's voice. Harry turned around, annoyed.
"Oh, I forgot... you have something better to do."
Malfoy scowled and followed Harry. They had to go through the entire castle– from the dungeons to the seventh floor– and Harry was sure they'd meet someone they knew. He wasn't sure how he'd handle this if it happened, and was considering having Malfoy put on his Invisibility Cloak. That would be cruel, however, so the only thing to do was to act like everything was normal. If they met anyone–
"Ashamed to be with me, Potter?" Malfoy must have seen him glancing around.
"Only as ashamed as you are to be with me, Malfoy." Malfoy laughed.
"Oh, well... you must not be ashamed at all, then. I am simply honored and delighted to be graced with your presence... who wouldn't be, when walking alongside the Chosen One?" His words dripped with dry sarcasm.
"Shove off Malfoy, you didn't have to come with me. If I wasn't–"
"Ah, boys!" came a voice from behind them in the hallway. It was Professor McGonagall. They turned so she could catch up with them. "You're just the pair I wanted to see," she said. Harry noted Malfoy's displeasure a her use of the phrase "the pair." They greeted her and she looked between the two of them. Harry thought it looked like she wanted to say something, but she must have decided against it, for she continued with her reason for stopping them.
"I have just spoken to Miss Granger, Mr. Longbottom, and Mr. Weasley. I didn't realize until just now that of course, you would all be wanted and needing to go to Diagon Alley." Harry and Draco looked at her, puzzled. "For clothes," she elaborated. "And whatever else you might need. With only three days left until term begins, I thought it would be wisest for you all to take this opportunity to go."
"What... now?" said Malfoy.
"Why, yes, Mr. Malfoy, unless you have anything better to do?" answered Professor McGonagall. Harry could barely contain any laughter, and Malfoy must have known it, because he scowled at Harry.
"No... I can... do it tonight..." he said.
"Good. Then the other three are waiting in the Great Hall; you may all walk down to Hogsmeade and apparate from there. I'm trusting you without any supervision, as adults, and I expect you all back for dinner." She nodded at them, signaling that they were to leave, and walked off. Malfoy frowned.
"Ah well..." said Harry. "It's always better at night anyway..."
"What is?"
"You know... wandering around the castle looking for the Room of Requirement..."
Malfoy raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything, and Harry knew he probably felt the same way. They met the others in the Great Hall, all of whom narrowed their eyes at Malfoy. He glared right back at them, and Harry rolled his eyes.
"Look, guys..." he started. All four of them looked at him with a silent dare to defend Malfoy, and Harry almost faltered. But this was stupid– Malfoy was an annoying git. But he wasn't a Death Eater. He's not an enemy, thought Harry, and he knew that was the bottom line. "Malfoy's still here. He's still at Hogwarts, and he's not in Azkaban. And that says something, doesn't it?" No one responded. They know it's true, of course... Finally they all just turned and headed out of the Hall down the road to Hogsmeade. Malfoy was behind Harry, and he knew he was going to trip him... any second now...
"Oomph," he said, hitting the ground. Malfoy laughed.
"Too bad your balance isn't as nice as your words, Potter..." he said, striding by Harry carelessly. Everyone else was ahead of them, and they had noticed nothing. Harry got up quickly.
"You know, Malfoy?" he called and started walking behind him. "I think you're getting to be the predicable one."
"Oh yeah? Knew I was going to do that, then? Why didn't you stop me?"
"If I'd stopped you, you'd never have gotten the satisfaction and I would have never gotten that compliment," he said, catching up. Malfoy just squinted and shook his head.
They were all silent getting down to Hogsmeade, and they turned on the spot and apparated to the Leaky Cauldron immediately. Harry couldn't help but remember the last time they'd done that... and Hermione was Bellatrix Lestrange... he caught her eye and knew she was thinking the same thing. Tom, the barman, was definitely more enthusiastic about seeing the real trio, however. But before he could bestow too much praise on them (Harry was wary of Malfoy's reaction to the attention), they made their way to the brick wall and knocked on it for their entrance.
Harry was amazed at the change in Diagon Alley. It was almost how he remembered it the first time he'd ever set foot there, with Hagrid– colorful, cheerful, and spirited. He beamed at Florean Fortescue's newly reopened shop and Ollivander's. Harry wasn't paying attention, and almost didn't follow the others up the stone steps of Gringott's. Malfoy kicked him in the ankle, however, and he looked up at the building he had recently left on a dragon. He looked and Ron and Hermione, both of whom were also smiling up at the building.
None of them were certain of how their entrance into Gringott's would go over, since they really had neglected to return a treasure from a vault that wasn't theirs. But the two goblins guarding the doors (which had long since been repaired perfectly) beamed at them. They all sidled up to the counters, requesting their keys, except for Malfoy, who hung back. Harry looked back at him, and he shook his head. He quickly got his key and went over to Malfoy, crossing his arms.
"What, Potter?" he spat.
"You know what, Malfoy. Get your key."
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's none of your bloody business!"
"Fine, then I'll share with you."
"What makes you think–"
"Just do it! You can pay me back later, and you don't even have to tell me what the bloody hell is going on. Deal?" Harry walked off without waiting for an answer, to where the other three had watched this conversation held in stage-whispers. He knew Malfoy would follow, and he knew he would let Harry share some of his gold... and in the back of his mind, Harry also knew that one day Malfoy would tell him what was going on with him.
He got out at least twice as much gold as he really needed, but inconspicuously, and when they emerged from the underground, he surreptitiously gave Malfoy half of it.
"Just don't spend it in Knockturn Alley," he smirked. Malfoy glowered.
He realized a minute later that he hadn't even counted what he'd given him, but he surprised himself by not worrying about it. He could be set for life even with donating to charity, so he really couldn't care less.
"Wait a minute," said Hermione suddenly, when they got out of their cart. "Malfoy, we skipped your vault, why didn't you–"
"You really think I need to go to a vault, Granger? My parents give me more money in a week than could be hidden in your hair," he answered, and walked off toward the doors. Harry scowled at his back. He couldn't help thinking that even Malfoy's insults were slipping a little bit, and the last part was simply a downright lie. They all walked after Malfoy and caught up with him, heading first to Madame Malkin's for robes and regular clothes. Ron, Hermione, and Neville all went right in, but Malfoy hung back. Harry knew why, and rolled his eyes.
"Yes, she'll remember you, Malfoy. But it's not like you're giving her your money anyway. Just don't talk this time," he said before Malfoy could say anything. Harry went in and Malfoy followed slowly. Sure enough, Madame Malkin's eyes widened when she saw Malfoy, and she looked like she might order him out, but her eyes landed on Harry, and she was extraordinarily compliant from then on.
In fact, the owners of every shop they went into were happy to serve all of them. Most even gave them a discount, and when they stopped in Fortescue's last, he gave them all free ice cream. Malfoy ate his moodily, but Harry was too fed up with him and too happy to be alive to be bothered.
Their last stop was in Ollivander's, where the wandmaker greeted them all like old friends, and beamed at them. He was looking healthier than when they had last seen him, Harry was glad to see.
"How is your wand, Mr. Potter? I thought sure you would have me make a new one?"
"No, I... I fixed it," Harry said, not wanting to mention the Elder Wand.
"Ah," said Ollivander, and Harry knew he'd deduced what wand he'd used. "And Mr. Malfoy? Your wand still in working order?" Malfoy merely nodded. Of course, thought Harry. The last time he saw Ollivander was in his own cellar, probably being tortured...
"So," Harry said, wishing to spare Malfoy any words. "You're well, then?"
"Oh yes, Mr. Potter. And always in debt to you and your friends," he nodded to Ron and Hermione. They left the shop shortly, and slowly made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron.
"Everyone done, then?" Hermione sighed, looking around the crowded street. They all nodded a bit.
"What, no trips to Knockturn Alley this time, Malfoy?" said Ron. Harry could sense that he had been dying to mention Knockturn Alley all day. Malfoy sneered.
"Not unless you want me to kick your arse down it, Weasley."
"Alright, alright," said Hermione quickly. "Let's just get back to the castle."
They apparated and started walking back to Hogwarts in silence, until Harry remembered something.
"Oh Merlin..." he said, and stopped walking. The others came around him.
"What'd you forget, Harry?" asked Neville.
"Teddy!" answered Harry loudly. "Teddy!"
"What's that, your stuffed bear?" Malfoy said, perplexed.
"I need to see him!" Harry disregarded Malfoy. "Merlin, I'd forgotten... that can't be good, can it? I've forgotten my own godson?"
"Godson?!" Malfoy choked. Harry ignored this as well.
"Harry, its fine," consoled Hermione. "You can't do anything right now anyway, it's a mother he needs right now... he's with Tonks' mom, she's caring for him perfectly, I'm sure. And anyway..." she paused, and sighed. "He's in better hands right now than you were when your parents died. Right, Harry?" Harry stared at her. "I'll bet McGonagall would let you go see him tomorrow, though."
"Yeah, just think, Harry," said Ron. "His hair will probably be a whole new colour tomorrow!" Harry couldn't help but laugh, and they continued up the road.
"Wow, Potter, what was that?" Malfoy jeered. "Motherly instincts coming through there?" Harry ignored him. "Who in their right mind would make you a godfather?!" he asked, still laughing.
"Drop it, Malfoy," said Harry, and Malfoy actually did.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A/N: OH MY GAWD. You guys are fantastic! I am now writing furiously... and on that note... heh heh... just think what comes in the next chapter!!!
Thank you for loving this... oh, and I think that any typos on Chapters 6 and 7 were because I was on this REALLY crappy laptop. I did edit them, so if I'm persistently spelling something wrong, please tell me.
OH, and I just HAVE to tell you all this... last night I had this crazy dream where Voldemort actually came to my house! He was going to rape me and kill me, and I tried to get away in my car... but he suddenly could drive! And then I remembered in the dream that he flew, so suddenly he was just flying over my car. And THEN, I was back at my house and a few other people I knew were there. We all had rabbits, so we decided to take the rabbits for walks (Oo). WEIRD. And I think if I were a witch I would be Muggle-born, because my parents obviously were muggles. They thought Voldemort was actually a great guy. GAH!
Anyway, I just thought I should tell you that... i know it's VERY interesting... (not). ok ok ok! Now I'm writing Chapter 8!
Ok come on. THREE more reviews. To make it an even 30? PLEASE?!