As August drew to a close, Harry and Draco became very close. They spent nearly every waking moment in each other's consciousness, loving the fact that they could be completely unguarded with each other.
They did several near-breakdown calming sessions where the one would find some of the deepest parts of themselves and rehash it with the respective Link. That kind of trust, and devotion was felt deeply on both sides, and for once they felt that someone cared.
It bothered Draco that he still didn't know who his Link was, but they already discussed it, and he'd know when he got to Hogwarts.
Link, but why can't I know now? It makes no sense.
Dumbledore said it was for your safety and protection Drake. You'll know soon enough. Hey, you got everything for school yet? I still need like four bakazillion ingredients for Potions.
Nah, I got all my stuff sent and ordered for. What with the Snakey-wonder all but tripping himself over getting the Inner Circle position, thinking he's got an edge, finally. I can't believe Voldemort listened to my suggestion.
Don't be too energetic. I have a funny feeling he knows that Snape is spying, and just wants to keep him close.
Maybe. But I'm glad I have weight with Voldemort. That's comforting in a way you could never imagine. If I can just manage to evade having to get my friends initiated, that would be awesome. Even if they have to report, just not have to get the mark. Maybe a portkey? That's an idea….
Actually, that sounds like a great idea. That way there's no actual risk. If they choose not to go, they don't have to. So it's like whoever can better get their ass down there?
Draco laughed. Just like that.
Harry looked out of the window of Privet Drive, finding the a certain suspiscious looking car with a gaggle of red heads. He turned, gave his aunt a kiss and a hug, slapped Dudley on the back of the head as he got pummled, and bade everyone farewell.
I'm free. Final-fuckin-ly. Harry grinned, and ran over to the car and climbed in. See..Now you get the a-typical craziness of family.
Draco reveled in the excited, happy and content feeling that burst from the other side of the link. You're lucky, my friend. Have fun, and see if you can pawn me some Weasley tricks, can you? I can't step foot into that store, obviously, but I do admire the audacity and the cleverness of those two.
Seriously? I must be dreaming, a Malfoy complimenting a Weasley.
Times have changed Link. Even a Malfoy can thank and give a compliment or two. Remember what you promised.
Harry's nervousness shot up tenfold when he heard this. Yeah, yeah I know. I know I can do it, I've wanted it for so long, but I'm just afraid to take the leap, yeah?
Pish posh. It's you. Not the stupid façade you put up, yes?
I'm afraid.
You're seriously mental. You weren't scared a bit when I drank that potion a month ago, but you're getting nervous just changing your style up a bit? Some person you are, what a joke.
Draco felt a glare, and smirked himself. All right asshole. I'll do it. And you'll be drooling all the while at school. Just you wait.
Draco raised an eyebrow at that comment. My dear Link, you have simply forgotten Malfoy's do not drool. It's so unbecoming.
Harry laughed out loud, and warmth flowed through the link. "What's so funny mate?" Ron asked him, giving him a curious glance. "Nothing Ron, I was just thinking of a joke I heard recently." "Oh yeah?" "Yup." The conversation drifted to school supplies, and it turned towards Hermoine.
"Ronnikins here finally took the plunge, although I think Hermoine popped a gasket trying to get him to ask her out," came the suddenly muffled comment from Ginny. The dress robe off her face, she stuck her tounge out.
Ron just looked like he wanted to be swallowed up by a Whomping Willow. "Harry, I know you care about Hermoine, and I really didn't want you to find out about this like well…this, but we both care about eachother, and –"
"Ron, breathe. Good. Nice and slow. Why would I care about you and Hermoine dating? It's taken you two ages to get together. I'm seriously happy for you mate. How long? Why didn't you write me?"
Relief washed over Ron in waves. Seeing the reassuring and bright smile from Harry, he chippered up and began to explain that it was their one month Wednesday and even though he already got his supplies he was looking for a suitable gift for her. He looked sheepishly at Harry, "You think you can help me, mate?"
Harry laughed and nodded. "No problem. I suggest Flourish and Botts for an animated crystal figurine. Girls love those things, and they aren't heavy on your money pouch."
Ron looked at him appreciatively for a moment. "Wait. Where are you going?" Harry grinned at him mischievously and said, "I'm going on a much needed shopping trip."
Harry went to Gringott's, took out a hefty sum for the non-check stores. No less than five hundred galleons later, he roamed Diagon Alley, looking here and there, picking up some sweets for everyone at the Burrow, and rushing around trying to find his school supplies to be sent to the room at the Leaky Cauldron where he was going to stay for the last few days of freedom.
After that he confidently walked to the outer reaches of Diagon Alley, near the Hog's Head, as he was there before. He went right down a little side street, and he found what he was waiting for, Merlin's Beard.
At first glance, this store looked perfectly respectable. Stepping in, Harry Potter noticed something. He loved it. And he loved it. The store was wall to wall black, part hookah bar, part hair salon, part fashion venue. It was summed up in Harry's mind, lovely.
Drake, I love it here! I would be down here all the time! Geeze, now I understand why you guard it. It takes a certain type of person to appreciate it, I suppose. I'm definitely coming back soon.
I'm glad you like it. Remember, the woman's name is Kiona. She'll be surprised at first, but just say you were referred by a friend.
Will do!
An twenty-something ish woman was rummaging around in the back, and as the bell attached to the door jingled, she shouted out, "Be just a minute!"
Tripping over herself to get out into the front with a bemused look on her face she straightened slightly and smiled as she flicked her glance to his scar. "Harry Potter! What a surprise?" She asked questioningly. "My dear I think you're a little lost. If you turn around, you just take a left out – "
Harry interrupted her, "I'm sorry, Kiona but I was referred here by a friend. You are the lucky lady I'm looking for. I've heard you were the best. And that's exactly what I want."
Her eyes widened amazed. "Oh my…oh my little heart." She pushed her pure white spiked bangs out of her face and her ice blue eyes blinked again. She leaned over and pinched Harry, to his surprise and his yelp of indignation reassured her that she wasn't indeed dreaming.
Harry grinned and laughed. "Surprised?" "Dear Merlin yes. What would you like?" "Well, your undivided attention for a few hours, and all your merchandise so I can make you a very rich lady." She laughed, still shocked and searched his face for some kind of jest. Coming up empty, she looked back, amazed again. "Merlin, you're serious aren't you?" "Very. How about we start with my hair?" "No. First we start with those gorgeous greens."
"Honestly Harry, I've always wondered why you have these incredibly stupid glasses. A simple eye correction spell would be so easy." She chastised him as she basically, for all intensive purposes locked down the store. She turned on him and a swish and a flick later, his eyes were as good as new. He slipped his glasses into his pocket, intending to keep them for sentimental value.
She all but dragged him into the chair, and threw out a wide arrange of styles, colors, and effects including this crazy color-changing mohawk. He laughed and thought about it, and decided simply to let his hair fall straight down, instead of crazily, where he could easily tussle it to give it a sexy bedroom effect. She grinned at him and after ten or so minutes of haggling, he allowed her to give him small organized spikes, even though he despised them.
"What the bloody hell am I going to do with them? They're going to be constantly poking me in the eye in quidditch" he complained. She laughed "Oh stop. You look feckin' edible in them. And who said fashion wasn't painless?" He groaned and followed her to the clothing racks.
"All I want is some leather. Some respectable, some not so respectable. Think you can handle it Ki?" She arched her eyebrow at her new nickname. "Hunny, I could handle you before you were even thought of." "You're only four years older than me." "Just proves how powerful I truly am." "Whatever metal head." "Same to you scar head."
Selecting some nice Italian leather pants, respectable, loose fitting yet alluring, and some tight dragon-hide numbers, he laughed as she made him try on the fishnet. "Kiona, come on..there's no way." "Oh yes way. That and a sheer shirt. You're getting it." "Fineeee." Harry whined. He looked at himself critcally in the mirror.
"Now that I think about it, can you give me red tips? I'd be able to live with myself and my emo hair if you did that." Kiona laughed and as she was preparing the dye, he notice a small little posterboard with different earrings and hoops and studs. He looked at it carefully, and decided on something. "Hey Ki? Do you do custom metal work?" She peeked over the top of his head to meet his eyes. "Yeaasssss, why?"
He explained what he wanted, and she looked thoughtful. "You sure? These things take weeks to heal and if you're asking what you're asking, it'll be a bitch to take out." He looked at her and laughed. "Lay it on me lady." So as she was pasted on the dye and muttered some incantations about his head, she threw him a few antique animated bracelets along with some other various "normal" metal bracelets.
He looked at each one and saw two that he really enjoyed and couldn't decide. Kiona simply plucked them both off of the tray and threw the silver one with green at him. "I'll throw one in for free. Just because of the remarkable PR you're going to give me." He grinned and looked at the small snake he held in his hand. "Um…how do you activate it Ki?" She snickered and said, "Do what you do best, baby." He looked down at the snake and hissed at it experimentally. Hello? Wake up pleassse? A silver head rose slightly. What isss it you wantssss? Harry grinned and continued to talk. Well I would likessss to knowsss your name. / It isssss Naskaa, master. / Harry smiled, pleased. Nice to meet you Naskaa, my name is Harry. You don't have to call me massster, okay/ Okay. Ssshall I go with you, Harry? Harry nodded and watched as the snake slithered up his arm, lengthening and widening as it got closer to his neck whilst it wrapped around his neck and settled contentedly, occasionally flicking it's silver tongue.
Kiona returned awhile later and looked at him. "This shouldn't hurt badly, and any soreness or discomfort can be allievated with this stuff. She handed him a bottle of all purpose disinfectant, cleaner, and pain reliever. Satisfied, he looked at her and smiled. "Ready?" She sneered at him, "Of course I am." He laughed and held still as she marked his ear in several places. "Is this okay?" "Perfect."
She prepared for a few minutes and said, "Now you don't have to worry about this one being activated and moving. This is a simple animation spell, no complex rarities and most likely illegal animal soul integrations like in the fabulous antique necklace you're sporting. It's completely innate. Only the head and the tail moves around. Got it?" "Got it." "Good. Now hold still." In a relatively painless process, Harry's piercing was complete.
He peered at it in a hovering mirror, and he knew this what he was dreaming about. The piercing was sort of complex. The slightly swaying tail jutted about a quarter of a centimeter past his right earlobe, going through to the back of his ear on the outer rim where the earlobe stopped and cartilage starts, only to loop back over his ear entirely at the beginning of the natural curve inwards to his head. There it snaked above the curve only to pierce to the back again and abruptly to appear at the point just before his ear and head connected. There, the body led down to the head of the snake where it flicked his tongue passively almost bored as his diamond eyes glittered menacingly.
"Wicked." Kiona breathed appreciatively and high-fived him. "Do you mind?" As she held up her digital camera. "Not at all" he smiled. She took several pictures and looked thoughtful, only to mutter and have several large black and whites of his ear and randomly threw them on the wall along with a hodge podge of other piercings.
"Come my pet. Let us smoke." She dragged him onto some lush black cushions and offered some expresso with a vanilla cherry combination tobacco on the house. He started, when she laughed and told him, "Wizards filter out the harmful effects of tobacco. Go ahead. Smoke away." Harry did and he rather enjoyed it.
She sent him with bag upon bag which was minimized and stuffed into his pocket, and dressed in his newest attire he felt like a completely different person. A solely wicked person.
Can I see you NOW? You sound like you know you're hot.
Nope. You'll see me when you see me.
Stubborn Git.
Yep! That's me! Ronald Weasley, the stubborn git.
Ugh. Don't even joke.
Harry laughed as he walked into the infamous Weasley joke shop. He paused when he looked at Fred and then Fred stopped and nudged George as he muttered under his breath, "Watch that one. He might have light fingers."
Harry was shocked and more than a little amused they didn't recognize him right away. After all, he did grow like six inches or so, and he filled out. So they had no idea now, after he just so recently changed his appearance. He sauntered up to the counter and leaned on it. "Now, why, on earth would I do such a thing, when I set this dump up?"
Fred peered at him closely, "Harry? Bloody hell!! It is you!" After a few claps on the back and a secret tour of the facilities, they led him upstairs to their flat. Modestly turned out, it seemed that Fred and George were doing well for themselves. A bottle of firewhiskey was brought out and shots were served. After a few they sat around and laughed at nothing in particular, as is the custom when you become slightly inebriated. "Harry, you look fucking shaggable." George slurred out. Harry looked surprised but laughed. "That was the look I was going for." He hiccupped and laughed some more, but as the hour got late he helped the pair prepare dinner and had a relaxed and fun time. He declined a stay over, but hiked back up to his hotel room after snagging an icecream from a roadside vendor.
He plopped unceremoniously on the bed after unloading all his packages and tossing out his old rags, only to keep a few for sensible purposes. Although he did keep each and every one of Molly's jumpers. Those weren't rags, they were precious. Hedwig came to him and nipped his finger for not bringing her bacon, only to get her gob stuffed shut with a new owl treat, she ruffled her feathers indignation, but settled down on Harry's knee to enjoy it none-the-less.
Merlin, I am tired.
Oh shut your gob you wanker. Night Link
Night Malfoy.
