Dream Connections: Chapter 10
A Sirius Christmas Present
Harry's eyes fluttered open to light pouring through the window. "Why are my hangings drawn?" He sat up and looked blurrily for the perpetrator who had opened them and saw Ron sitting on Neville's bed, grinning.
"Ron, why are you sitting there?" Harry rubbed his eyes and got his glasses from his bedside table.
"Silly, it's Christmas! Did you think I'd just let you sleep or something? I had to rush from my quarters just to wake you, so we could open our gifts together like we always do." Ron crossed the gap to Harry's bed and sat down on the edge of it. "Let's go... gather them up and let's go to the common room. That way Hermione can be there too."
"What about Draco?" Harry stretched, still not thoroughly awake yet. "I want to see the look on his face when he opens my gift."
Ron scowled, but nodded. "Well, what are you waiting for? Send him a message and get him up here!" He jumped up from Harry's bed excitedly and headed down the stairs to the common room.
Draco grumbled to himself as he gathered his gifts. "Bloody Gryffindors, waking me up at such an ungodly hour..." He had sent word to Pansy that they were going to open gifts in Gryffindor Tower and she was waiting for him at the bottom of the steps.
"C'mon, Dray. Don't drag your feet. Harry is waiting... you know how impatient he is." Pansy smiled and gestured toward the door. "Let's go."
Draco let Pansy lead the way to the tower, since she'd been there numerous times in the past month and a half. He had yet to enter the sacred Gryffindor resting place. Frankly, he wasn't all that upset about it either. He had never had the intention of setting foot there. The thought kind of gave him the creeps. "It's gaudy and horrible isn't it, Pan?"
"What are you talking about?" Pansy glanced at him curiously.
"Gryffindor Tower, it's horrible, isn't it?" Draco gestured ahead.
"No, actually, it's quite comfortable. It's very home-like, warm, and cheerful."
"Warm? Cheerful?" Draco scowled and turned on heel. "That's it... there's no way I'm going in there now. I don't do cheerful."
"C'mon, you baby, we're here now." Pansy gestured to the portrait of the fat lady and smiled. "Homo erectum."
"That's the Gryffindor password!" Draco turned back in shock.
"Yes, now if you don't mind, I'm going inside." With that, Pansy climbed through the portrait hole, leaving Draco no choice but to follow along.
Inside, Draco looked around dazedly at all the red and gold. He saw Harry, Ron, Hermione, Seamus and Ginny all seated around the fireplace with their respective piles of presents at their feet.
"Hey, Dray." Harry looked up happily and gestured for Draco to sit beside him. "What do you think?"
Draco scowled and brushed a lock of blond hair out of his eyes. "It's far too bright in here. How can you stand it?"
Ron scowled. "It's just sunlight, Malfoy. Judging by your skin color, though, I'd guess you don't really know what that is."
"Ha ha, Weasel, good one." Malfoy stuck his tongue out at Ron and seated himself by Harry. "You're lucky Harry doesn't want me to make fun of you anymore, or you might have had to listen to one of my scathing comebacks referring to your monetarily challenged family, your excessive amount of freckles, or the resemblance of your family to a bunch of discolored rabbits."
"Draco," Harry said warningly, "leave Ron alone."
"See?" Draco crossed his arms and put his presents at his feet. "Why don't we just get this over with?"
The next hour or so was filled with laughter, surprise, gratitude, and a lot of torn wrapping paper.
"Oh, thank you so much, Harry! I love it!" Pansy put on her jewelry hastily and threw her arms around the raven-haired boy's neck. "It's perfect." She kissed his cheek gently and turned to show Hermione.
"Matches your eyes perfectly..." Draco winked at Harry and reached for his present from him. He had saved it for next to last, last being the gift from his mother.
Draco tore back the gold wrapping paper that adorned his gift. It was a small wooden box about the size of a jewelry box. He opened the box and looked inside to see a little mirror, small enough to fit in his pocket. It had a silver frame and he turned it over to see an inscription. 'I'll always be with you' – HP
"It's magic." Harry said quietly. "Sirius gave me something like it for Christmas last year, but I didn't open it until it was too late. I have the matching one. All you have to do is say my name and it'll contact my mirror and we'll be able to talk to each other."
"Thanks, Harry. It's great. I love it." Draco kissed Harry softly. "Don't worry, we're going to get Sirius really soon... tomorrow night even."
Harry perked up a little at that and glanced around at everyone. Nobody had any gifts left to open, except for Malfoy. "So, are you going to open the one from your mum now?" He pointed at the package near Draco's feet.
"I suppose." Draco lifted the gift and carefully removed its wrapping. Inside were a short note, a small plaque, and a ring box. Draco glanced over the note quickly before taking a good look at the plaque. "It's all about my inheritance. I don't understand. Father disowned me. Why would mum give me this stuff?"
"Let me see, Draco." Hermione reached over to take the note from him. After reading it herself, she looked up smugly. "Now hand me that box and the plaque." She opened the box, and inspected both the ring and the plaque.
Draco leaned toward her, trying to see what she had apparently discovered. "So, do you know what's going on or not?" He was slightly irritated that she could figure it out and he couldn't.
"She is showing you that you aren't exactly disowned. This plaque is a part of your family tree." Hermione handed the plaque back to Draco in order to let him inspect it.
"You mean it shows a part of his family history?" Harry looked a bit puzzled. "He already knows about that."
"No, Harry. It is an actual part of his family tree. Old wizarding families have a tree on the main family property that is instilled with the magic core of that family. That plaque was made from the wood of that tree. It's a part of his father's branch to be exact." Hermione curiously had managed to look both smug and disapproving at the same time.
"Oh yeah, I know all about that." Ron grinned happily in relief that he finally knew more about something than Draco. "Once that plaque has been made, there's no real erasing you from the family. Of course, they can disown you, but not entirely. You still have all the benefits and curses of being a Malfoy. You know, stuff that applies to Malfoys by blood."
"Hmm, I know what you're talking about now." Draco said thoughtfully. "I also know what my mum is really trying to say. She is reminding me that she is now barren. She can't have anymore children and my dad is going to want to continue the line. The ring bears the Malfoy family crest. It is passed to the heir of the family at his coming of age party. For me, it would have been a few days ago." He gazed thoughtfully out one of the windows before his eye caught something. There was something flying straight for the window... an owl. He groaned piteously as he recognized precisely which owl was headed toward him.
Draco rose shakily and walked toward the window, gathering the stares of the rest of the common room occupants. Opening the window, he extended an arm for the regal looking hawk owl to perch on. He removed the letter from the owl's leg and watched as it soared out the window, obviously expecting no response letter. Draco, rather nervous as to what his father could possibly have to say to him, returned to his seat at Harry's side to read the letter.
"Draco
It has come to my attention that Narcissa has disobeyed my direct orders and remained in contact with you. I am to understand that she has additionally provided you with your coming of age gift. I have been deliberately undermined in the entire situation regarding your dismissal from this household and that does not bode well with me.
In light of your reception of said gift, I am reluctant but determined to extend my apology to you for your inconvenience during the time of your exile. I realize that you are a clever child and have undoubtedly figured out my predicament. You, however unsatisfactory, are my only heir and thus I am resigned to accept you, albeit begrudgingly.
I have contacted Severus, whom I know you have been staying with, and have arranged for your return immediately after the term's conclusion. Enjoy what you have remaining of your so-called freedom from my "reign of terror" as Narcissa has so aptly taken to calling it. As my heir, it is to be known that you are to behave according to my will henceforth and refrain from causing myself and the family name any more embarrassment. This extends to sexual preference, as I am certain you already know. I have had my doubts about you from the beginning and will seek to ensure that you will also produce an heir. Therefore, your previous engagement to Miss Parkinson has been reinstated.
Lucius"
Draco stood abruptly and shoved the letter in Pansy's direction. "Would you look at that? It's his way of apologizing, can you believe it? Honestly, as though I have no choice. He has forgotten that I am stubborn and I will not allow him to control me any longer. I am of age and he has no power over me. Someone give me a quill and some parchment." Draco looked around expectantly and was frustrated to see everyone staring slack-jawed at his outburst. "Harry, snap out of it. Get me some parchment and a quill. I need to send a response."
Harry's head jerked as he came to himself. Yet, he still had to stare for a moment. He was not quite used to this side of Draco anymore, having grown accustomed to the sweet, caring, rather sissy-like side of him. He rose, however, and went to get the things for Draco, returning a moment later.
"Thank you, Harry." Draco smiled reassuringly at Harry, as though having sensed Harry's previous thoughts. He then sat at one of the desks to write. Pausing momentarily to think, he wrote simply "I refuse" and folded it up. "Alright, now that that is taken care of. Let's talk about going to get Sirius tonight. I will take this to the Owlery after dinner."
Draco obviously didn't have to tell Harry twice. Jumping excitedly, Harry broke out in a little victory dance, chanting "We're getting Sirius tonight."
"You need help, kid." Draco shook his head, laughing at Harry's antics.
"Remind me again why I am sneaking out of Hogwarts to go free somebody I don't even know from the grips of death?" Pansy shuddered against the cold, pulling her cloak tightly around her.
Pansy, Draco, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were making their way swiftly and as close to silently as possible across Hogwarts's grounds toward the Forbidden Forest. The group was huddled together pressing against the biting wind that howled past as they pressed forward.
"Simply because I asked you to" Draco smiled, his teeth chattering, "and you love me."
"Oh, and you're so bloody lucky for that, Dray." Pansy frowned and looked around suspiciously. "Where are we going, by the way?"
"Into the Forbidden Forest of course," Harry turned slightly to see Pansy's horror stricken face. "How else would we get to the Thestrals?"
Hearing this, Pansy stopped in her tracks. Overcome with surprise mingled with fear, she just couldn't bring herself to continue toward that kind of thing. Of all the ways to get to the Ministry of Magic, they were going to ride Thestrals. "Oh no, I'm not getting on one of those things. I can't even see them."
"Well, consider yourself among the lucky then, Pansy." Ginny huffed as she trudged back a few steps to pull Pansy forward. "When we mount them, just close your eyes and don't open them no matter what happens."
Pansy continued to walk, albeit stiffly, toward the forest, clutching Ginny as if she were the anchor holding her to solid ground. She swallowed a lump that had taken up residence in her throat and blinked back the tears that apprehension had brought to her eyes.
When they reached the clearing in the woods that Harry knew the Thestrals were kept in, he guided Pansy toward the closest one and boosted her up. Pansy clenched her jaw and shut her eyes resolutely. Ginny mounted behind her, wrapping her arms tightly around her. Ron and Hermione mounted another, leaving Harry and Draco to ride on another.
"Here we go." Harry whispered excitedly. The last time he had made a trip like this one, it had been under terrible circumstances. This time, however, he was in a much lighter mood and thoroughly enjoyed the flight. Watching the villages pass underneath, Harry delighted in the feeling of flight.
When at last they reached the vandalized telephone box that marked the entrance to the Ministry of Magic, Harry was so excited that he could barely contain himself. More than once Draco was forced to pinch him as he wiggled about resuming his earlier chant.
The group piled into the cramped telephone box and Harry, nearest the receiver, dialed 62442 and the now familiar cool female voice of the Ministry's lifts greeted them.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."
"Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, and Hermione Granger... we're here to rescue Sirius Black from the Department of Mysteries." Harry piped up, watching the look of horror on Draco's face. "Hey, I don't think it really tells anyone. We didn't catch any heat about it the last time."
"Thank you," the voice answered instead of Draco, "Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes."
It then went into its usual bit about being searched and registering their wands at the security desk. Harry wasn't paying it a bit of attention though. He had forgotten that the last time, the security guard wasn't there. He had no idea what would happen this time.
As though reading his mind, Hermione suddenly began to speak... "Hold still everyone. I have this covered." She pulled out her wand and cast a disillusionment charm over them.
Relieved, Harry spoke again to the lift, which hadn't budged a bit. "Okay, we will. Now, take us down."
The lift moved slowly down and as it reached the atrium, Harry signaled for the group to be silent. The security guard at the desk looked curiously at the lift as it opened without anyone in it. He didn't seem bothered enough to move from his seat, however, and shrugged it off. He tapped his foot casually on the floor and watched the gold fountain in the center of the atrium spout water into its surrounding pool.
Harry thought absentmindedly of how bored that guard must have been. He pushed the security guard out of his head as he started down the hallway toward the lifts.
The group piled once more into a lift, this one with much more space and awaited their descent as Harry pushed the button marked '9'. Harry groaned as the lift noisily made its way to the Department of Mysteries. He wondered vaguely if the noise would have piqued the guard's interest any more than the empty entrance lift. Either way, he figured there wasn't much of a point in worrying about it now.
When the lift lady's voice announced their arrival at the Department of Mysteries, the gang trooped out toward the plain black door. Hermione took the lead and opened the door hurriedly, ushering everyone into the circular room the door lead to. Before shutting the door, she uttered "Flagrate" and a red X appeared, shimmering on the door. She shut the door silently behind her and watched as the room rotated.
"Where the hell are we supposed to go?" Draco muttered more to himself than anything.
"Relax. Ron, I know this might bring up some pretty horrific memories for you, but we're going to go the way we did the first time we were here." Harry gave a glance in Ron's direction, before gazing across the room dimly lit by the blue flamed candles. He walked purposefully straight across the room and opened the door there.
Ron shuddered as he saw the tank of brains that had attacked him less than a year before. It's alright, Harry, we all have bad memories of this place. Let's just press on and try to make some more pleasant ones.
Everyone ignored the slightly puzzled faces of Draco and Pansy, who were luckily absent from the last visit. No one was willing to talk about what had happened and Draco and Pansy were happy, for once, to be out of the loop.
"No need to mark this door, Hermione. It will only confuse us as we try to get out." Harry turned to face the circular room again. "I'm just glad that they actually made this simple by having the rooms move the same way all the time."
When the door shut behind him, and the room spun once again. Harry led the group directly across the room again, taking a deep breath as he opened the door. The door opened to a familiar, dimly lit, rectangular room that was quite like and amphitheater.
Everyone seemed to hold their breath as they walked toward the raised dais in the middle of the sunken center of the room. They gathered nervously in front of the archway with the tattered black veil and waited.
Draco stepped forward, closer to the veil, and pulled a folded bit of parchment from his pocket. He cleared his voice, suddenly feeling the pressure of what he was attempting to do. "I hope you won't be too disappointed if I don't have this quite right... I'm sure it will work though." He felt Harry place a hand on his arm reassuringly.
All too soon the hand was removed, however, and Draco once again stood shakily before the veil. He eyed the parchment in his hand warily before unfolding it. Aloud he read, "Nee bevaht ondlu oh senod sawt ahw. Nees erof nueru tufah tae deht. Tfe levaht ondlu ohsk calbs uiris. Tfeh tefil rae deht wonod nu."
The veil rustled as the group waited on bated breath. However, they waited in vain. The veil produced nothing more than the normal whisper. Draco muttered under his breath before turning to face Harry. "Look," he whispered, "the whole thing is clichéd. I know that. I have one more here. I knew it had to be said backward."
Harry nodded mutely. Ron spoke softly though. "It's kinda like the mirror of Erised then?"
Harry nodded again and motioned to Draco who looked as though he were going to try again. "I just had to figure out whether to say each line backward but in order or completely backward." Draco rubbed his chin anxiously. "Since that one didn't work, I'm going to try it the other way."
Everyone held their breath once again as Draco recited "Tfeh tefil rae deht wonod nu. Tfe levaht ondlu ohsk calbs uiris. Nees erof nueru tufah tae deht. Nee bevaht ondlu oh senod sawt ahw."
Author's Note: I know, I know... It's a horrible place to leave this, but I just felt like this chapter deserved a cliff hanger. Will Sirius come out of the veil or will Draco have set him up for a major disappointment? Either way, how will this affect their relationship? I'm sorry this chapter has been a loooooooong time coming, and I have no excuses. You all might go a little easier on me though if I tell you my wonderful news... I'm engaged. So, yeah, I've been spending lots of time with my significant other. Rest assured, I am STILL going to finish this. Big ups, once again, to my wonderful friend, beta reader, and roommate, N.C. PsyChick, my little sister, and now my fiancé. Don't forget to review wonderful people.
xMysticSecretx: I'll need your email address if you want the NC-17 version of the last chapter… Oh, and you're lucky I was almost done with this chapter. It had been a year since I last updated.