Leaving the bank Diane asked, "Alright where did you want to go first?"
"Well Misha suggested a good book for Hermione so…"
"Oh Harry," Diane said in despair. "Not another book! Hermione has loads of books. Why don't you get her something else."
Harry blinked not having considered that. "Well what about a camera, so she can take pictures of Hogwarts."
"I think that is a wonderful idea."
The two spent the afternoon wandering the Alley enjoying the festive atmosphere. Harry did get a camera for Hermione and he also picked up a hat for Ron with the Chudley Cannons logo on it. He thought the colour would clash horribly with Ron's hair but he knew how much his friend liked the team. They went to Odd and Ends and picked up a nice frame for Moony. Diane convinced him to get a photo album for his own pictures. They did eventually get to Flourish and Blots where Harry convinced Diane to stay while he went to get her a present. The boy ducked out to run to Madam Malkin's and sought out the help of a shop assistant in picking out robes for Diane and Will. The assistant offered to put in a one time only sizing charm on them. This, she warned him, would only work within a certain variable. He should make sure the robes were as close to their sizes as possible.
Packing the robes away in a bag they left the Alley and Harry remembered something he wanted to do.
"Diane do you know somewhere I can get my ear pierced?"
Diane started in surprise. "Why would you want to get your ear pierced?"
"Well I found an earring in my family vault last time I was there that can help with memory and shielding your mind from legilimency. I looked it up at school and the book said that legilimency was the ability to look into another's mind. I meant to get it sone before school but I forgot."
"Mind reading?!" Diane exclaimed. "I had not idea such a thing was possible."
"According to the book I read it's not common and there are rules about invasion of privacy, especially with children, that sort of thing. I was more interested in the memory part. The earring is supposed to help with learning occulumency which is the ability to guard your mind."
"I don't know if I like the idea of you using something like that. Its sounds too much like cheating to me. I definitely don't like the idea of you getting your ear pierced." She frowned in disapproval. "Let me talk it over with Will. You can show us your earring and we'll see after our trip."
After their day at Diagon Alley, Harry collapsed in his bed exhausted but happy. For the first time in his life he was looking forward to Christmas; he had suitable presents for his friends and had a hope of getting something in return. Life was looking good.
The next day was the first day of Wills vacation and the two Grangers took Harry to Kings Cross Station to wait for Hermione. They arrived early and watched as other families arrived. When the train finally arrived the station was quite crowded.
"Mum, Daddy! Harry, you're here!" Hermione came rushing over and was swept up in a hug by her parents. When she finally detached herself from them she jumped on Harry and hugged him as well. "It's so good to see all of you!"
"Hi Harry." Harry looked past Hermione to see Neville approaching with his Gran behind him.
"Hey Neville. Enjoying Hogwarts?" Neville grinned at him.
"You bet. I'm even doing alright in my classes, though that's mostly thanks to Hermione." He gave her a grateful look.
"Oh posh." Hermione dismissed his comment. "You would have done fine either way. Hello Mrs Longbottom."
"Miss Granger, despite your protestation, I wish to thanks you for your assistance for Neville. He has made both his father and I quite proud of him."
Neville practically glowed under the praise and straightened his shoulders.
"Where's Ron?" Harry asked.
Hermione blinks at him. "Did he not tell you? Oh that boy! I told him to write you weeks ago. He and his brothers are staying at Hogwarts because his family are going to visit their son Charlie in Romania."
Neville and Mrs Longbottom bid the others a Merry Christmas and left to use the floo while Diane and Will led the way out of the station. The Grangers took the children out to dinner that night to celebrate Hermiones return.
The next couple of days before they were due to leave were spent in preparation. Harry needed a passport and they all needed winter clothes. Hermione suggested they get wizarding cloaks which could be charmed against the cold so it was back to Diagon Alley, this time with Hermione and Will in tow. Both exclaimed in wonder at the sight of the Alley in full Christmas trimmings.
Diane still had some galleons left from the other day so they were able to avoid the rush of the bank. Hermione wanted to run straight to the book store but her parents managed to drag her to Madam Malkin's.
A different shop assistant to the one that helped Harry before, came over to help them and showed them to the racks of winter cloaks. Harry and Hermione went to the smaller sizes while her parents looked over the adult racks.
Hermione choose a dark brown cloak with blue around the sleeves and hood and went to show her parents her choice. While she was gone Harry continued to thumb thought he rack. He didn't notice the other boy until he bumped into him.
"Watch it!" he snapped and Harry looked up. The new boy was his own age with striking blonds hair and pointed features which were currently marred by a frown.
"Sorry," Harry offered, and moved around to the other side of the rack. The boys frown deepened.
"That's it?!" He asked. "You bump in to me and all you can say is sorry?"
Harry looked at him in confusion. "Well sorry is an apology." He said dryly. "What more do you want?"
"Don't you know who I am?" The boy seemed outraged at Harry's seeming lack of interest.
"No, should I? Look I'm sorry I bumped into you but this is a crowded store. It's bound to happen sometime."
The other boy blinked and collected himself. "I am Draco Malfoy, my father is Lucius Malfoy. I don't think I've seen you at Hogwarts." He held out his hand.
"No I don't go to Hogwarts. I'm Harry Potter." Out of curiosity he looked down at their hands as they shook. Since arriving at the Academy magic was so common, he had mostly ignored the bonds he saw. He didn't know what they meant anyway. The cord wrapping their two hands was different to any he had seen before. It was thick though not as much as the bonds between him and Hermione. It was also no where near as bright. The strange thing was that while it mostly looked like a cord, every now and then it would flicker to give the appearance of barbed wire.
Draco did not notice the surprise on Harry's face as he was too take by his own. "Harry Potter? The Harry Potter?"
"The only one I know of." Harry gave him a grin.
"Hmph." Draco snorted annoyed at the teasing. "Everyone was expecting you to be at Hogwarts with year. Where are you going to school?"
"Yes I heard that my name was called at the Sorting. I don't know why as I never accepted their invitation. I am going to the Academy of Magic."
Draco's eyes widened. "That's a good school. Better than Hogwarts. Father considered sending me to Durmstrang but Mother didn't want me to be so far away. Personally I'm glad. It's supposed to be really cold there and I hate the cold."
Harry nodded in sympathy. "I hate it too. That's why we're getting new cloaks. My foster family and I are going skiing for Christmas."
"I have lots of cloaks at home. Father has them ordered by a tailor."
Harry shot him an amused disbelieving look. This guy reminded him of Sara. Every now and then she would say something outrageously snobbish without realising it. It was never intended to be hurtful. Draco started flipping though the cloaks beside him. "So do you like the Academy?"
"Yeah it's good. There aren't many people my age though so all my friends are older than me. It's strange when I end up sharing classes with them." Harry pulled out a brown cloak with red lining and fur around the hood. Draco took one look at it and thrust it back on the pile.
"No not that one." He handed him a black one with blue lining and holes in the sides for his arms. "Try this one."
"Have you found something Harry?" Hermione came bounding over and stopped when she realised who Harry was with.
"Malfoy." She greeted stiffly.
"You guys must know each other then, going to the same school and all." Harry said looked between his foster sister and new friend.
"Yes." Hermione said, still tense. Draco was looking between Harry and Hermione in shock. Hermione turned to her parents who had followed her with their selections over their arms. "Mum, Dad this is Draco Malfoy, a Slytherin in my year. He and I often compete for the top spots in our classes. At least the ones not shared by Ravenclaw."
"Really?" Diane smiled down at the boy who still seemed in shock. "You parents must be very proud of you. Hermione is very competitive about her grades."
Draco nodded slowly. "Yes ma'am. Father was… pleased."
Diane turned to Harry. "Hand me your cloak, dear. We'll get these and then we'll have a look around the Alley. Don't be long."
As soon as the Grangers had left Draco blurted out, "You're living with Muggles?!"
Harry frowned at him. "Yes I am. I've always lived with Muggles. I didn't even know I was famous 'til I got my Academy letter."
"Draco seems to think that Muggles and Muggleborns are inferior." Hermione told him with a frown to Draco.
"They're not." Harry said with certainty before Draco could offer a scathing remark.
"Well." Draco seemed at a loss. "Your parents are the only Muggles I've ever met. I suppose they seem alright." He shot Hermione a sneer. "But then they did raise you."
"Quite right." She said, with her head high. "A sterling recommendation I should think." Harry smiled at Hermiones wit.
Draco might have replied but he spotted his father summoning him from across the store. "I shall owl you Potter. Someone needs to educate you in the finer points of wizarding society."
"Ron absolutely cannot stand that guy." Hermione said once he had left and they made to catch up with her parents. "He's an incredible snob and Ron's a little sensitive."
"He seemed really surprised that I was living with Muggles."
"Oh yes, it was a hot topic at school after the Sorting. Ron and his brothers thought it was funny as anything. Except for Percy and he's not one to gossip. A lot of people thought you had been kidnapped or killed but I think most people decided you were being trained to be some kind of wizard hit man." Harry snorted. "Yes it was all very silly. Really there were more important things to worry about then your schooling. They should have been more concerned with their own. Where are we going to next?"
It wasn't long before they were all ready for the trip. Harry sent Hedwig out with as many gifts as she could carry. She would find him in the Alps to get the rest of them. Harry was nervous about getting on the plane as he had never flown on anything larger than a broom. Hermione's assurances, using various statistics, were not as comforting as she might have hoped.
But the trip passed well and it wasn't long before Harry was looking up at snow overed peaks. Diane and Will had been there before and Will told the kids stories about previous trips to the area with his friends.
Harry was enraptured by the sight of the mountains both up and down from the road they were on. Hermione had her nose in a guide book and was looking at the tours and activities the area offered.
"Hermione," Harry quietly dragged her attention away from the pamphlets. "Just look at it." She leaned over and tried to see what he was talking about.
"What am I looking at Harry?" He sighed
"The mountains, Hermione. Aren't they wonderful? Look at the colours."
"Yes I know. There are some wonderful prints available of this area. Did you know…" Harry tuned her out and turned back to the breathtaking view.
Despite Hermiones lack of appreciation of the scenery she still managed to get could up in the enthusiasm for the holiday. Nether she not Harry had ever been skiing before and Diane had booked them in for some lessons. Hermione was nervous and insisted on telling Harry everything she had learned on the subject before the trip. Unfortunately a lot of this had included what injuries and other accidents could occur. Harry did his best to keep her calm and the instructors were obviously used to first timers fear and she was soon eagerly heading back up the beginners slope.
Before any one asks me what the cord between Harry and Draco means, it in no way ndicates a slash relationship between the two. I think Draco will have a big impact on Harry's life one way or another and right now that could go either way. Truthfull I haven't decided yet and will most likely write what comes to me at the time.
Remus hasn't been banished!! Seriously short of putting apparition wards on the whole island how could he be? He can get to London in the blink of an eye. Dumbledore has nothing to do with his living arrangements. It's purely a safety precaution. On the other hand he will most certainly NOT be joining them for Christmas. What kind of self respecting parent invites a complete stranger on holiday with them?
On another note, keep reviewing people. I'm kinda hoping to get 1000 reviews before chapter 20 and I don't know what I'll do if it don't get them. TT
Praise be to my wonderful beta Capito Celcior for all his hard work.