Life Renovations
Chapter Ten
A Truce?
Malfoy Manor was an imposing sight to behold when surrounded by darkness and the thick fog of the late evening. Summer was always the time for fog, especially the kind that hovered over the ground, and was so concentrated it would be impossible to see below your knees. A new moon hung over the west wing tower, casting little light on the world below. The windows, however, were glowing from the light of lamps and torches, saving the gray stone manor from looking completely doomed, by casting a yellow glow upon the fog surrounding it.
Inside the manor, Death Eaters were occupied with various projects given to them by Voldemort. He wanted his followers to come up with ways to gain him more support and power within the Ministry, and he was doing it this way because it was Dumbledore's way, and Voldemort wanted his revenge on the old wizard. He learned he had been part of Dumbledore's plots from the beginning of his studies at Hogwarts when he was still called Tom Riddle. And with this information, the Dark Lord concluded he was chasing after the wrong wizard. Harry Potter was not the one he should fear at the moment and because Voldemort now knew about Potter being Severus' nephew and that he may no longer be loyal to Dumbledore, this opened Voldemort's mind to a plethora of ideas. Perhaps, under the right circumstances and for the right reasons, Potter may yet join his ranks. Voldemort conceded it was fortunate that Draco Malfoy had not extinguished under the killing curse he'd thrown at the boy in Potter's mind. That one incident proved to Voldemort just how powerful the two young wizards really were.
"Lucius. You've seen your son today." Voldemort spoke softly, his voice sounding strangely more human than Lucius could ever remember. He sat in a high backed chair in front of a grand black marble fireplace within Lucius' private study with Nagini curled around his chair and her head resting lazily in the Dark Lord's lap. Lucius stood off to the side, leaning against the fireplace mantel.
"Yes, My Lord. I met him earlier this evening. He was grateful for your… benevolence."
"Benevolence?" if Voldemort had an eyebrow, it would have shot up. "I would never describe myself as that. Perhaps forgiving would be better. And it is only to serve my own purposes. Do not think I have stopped my chase of him because he is your son, Lucius."
"Of course not, My Lord." Lucius knew very well the Dark Lord changed his mind because of Harry Potter, and for that he owed the young man more than he could ever give. "Should you decide to extend your hand to Potter once again, you have paved a smoother road to that goal by taking they bounty off my son's head."
"Yes, I realize this."
Voldemort went quiet for a time, thinking ahead to what Dumbledore might do in the future when he realized Voldemort was changing tactics. A thought came to him then and Voldemort smiled; a calculating smile. Perhaps he would wait before making any more plans. He would wait and see which way Potter decided to move.
"Has Parkinson had any success with his mission?"
"Yes, my Lord. As of this morning we have spies in all Ministry departments."
"All?" Voldemort sounded surprised. "Well that is good news." Nagini hissed along with her master's pleasure. Voldemort raised his hand to Lucius and the blond immediately approached. The Dark Lord took his arm, pushed his sleeve up, and then pressed his wand to the Dark Mark on Lucius' arm, calling Parkinson to him. It took only moments before Parkinson entered the study. Lucius tried very hard to keep his scowl from showing. This was his private study. Why did the Dark Lord have to conduct his meetings here when there were nearly a hundred other suitable rooms to choose from?
Parkinson strode up and knelt before Voldemort, kissing the hem of his robes, while Lucius moved to stand beside the Dark Lord's chair.
"Parkinson, is it true your daughter and Draco Malfoy are friends?" Voldemort asked, staring down at Parkinson's bowed head. Pansy's father turned his head a fraction to shoot a glance at Lucius. The blond wizard inclined his head slightly.
"Yes, my Lord. They are good friends."
"I want your daughter to contact Draco. See that she renews her friendship with him. I want reports from her on what young Potter and Malfoy are up to."
"My Lord, Pansy will gladly accept your orders but Potter and Malfoy may suspect her motives…" Voldemort leaned forward, laying a finger at the top of Parkinson's head. The Death Eater flinched as a pain burst through his head.
"She is doing nothing more than being a friend and gathering side information. There is no deception here. I want Potter to know I'm checking up on him. I want your daughter to tell Potter and Malfoy that I've instructed her to keep an eye on them for me. Do you understand?"
"Yes, My Lord. I will have my daughter owl Draco right away."
"Good. You may go." Once Parkinson was gone, Voldemort stood and faced Lucius. "What are you thinking, Lucius?"
"Potter will appreciate the move. I'm sure not many people have been up front with him about a lot of things. He's used to manipulations."
"And in doing this, am I not manipulating him?"
Lucius gazed at his Dark Lord, and thought how best to answer the question. The Dark Lord's moods fluctuated on a grand scale at times and that's putting it lightly. At times, Voldemort could expect an honest answer and would either accept or agree with said opinion, but at other times, he could get angry if not in the same opinion. Voldemort was very good at hiding his emotions, but was not the best, and Lucius was lucky enough to be able to see the tell tale signs.
"You would be, My Lord, but Potter would guess this. He will see it. But you've done it in a way that puts you both be in control, and he'll realize this too. Potter is intelligent enough, and if he doesn't see it, my son will. Being a Slytherin, he'll see how it could be an advantage to them. It's a very neutral move but at the same time it's also a direct action. Potter will have to make his own move after this. It will be interesting to see what he does next."
The Dark Lord graced Lucius with a thin smile. "Yes." Then he turned away. Come Nagini, he hissed in Parselmouth. We will retire for the night.
When Voldemort was gone, Lucius sank into the chair newly vacated, his favorite chair by the way, and stared into the fire. He didn't know how things were turning out they way they were, but he had a feeling he was going to like the changes to come.
Severus walked into Harry's room and shut the door. "I will start by saying, I have never, nor will I ever be a co president of the I Hate Harry Potter Club. Furthermore, ten points from Gryffindor for describing me as a snarky, slimy, greasy bastard."
Harry, who had been leaning dejectedly against the wall, suddenly paled. "You saw that part?" Severus nodded on his way to the desk, and pulled the chair out to sit down. "I didn't mean for you to see that!"
"As I would imagine," Severus intoned as he sat back and studied his nephew.
Harry's hair was a mess, as always expected, but the look only added to his character now since his hair had grown down to nearly his shoulders. Severus suspected many people were beginning to think the same as it gave Harry a very dramatic and appealing look. His shoulders were not broad, he had a small frame, and his height was below average, but that was surely due to the malnourishment he received throughout the years. But despite all of that one could see his strong character, and though he was a bit small, he made up for it in wiry muscle, no doubt gained from playing Quidditch.
But now Harry looked tense and confused, standing there against the wall. In other words, he was looking surly. Severus understood this by the lines creasing Harry's brow, the way his eyes seemed shadowed, and his jaw was clenched tight. Harry's eyes were the only physical feature that reminded Severus of Lily. They did share many personality traits, thank Merlin! At least his nephew didn't act too much like James Potter.
It was strange looking at Potter now, thinking of him as Harry, and stranger still looking at Harry now and thinking of him as his nephew. What did he know about being an uncle? Severus knew potions and spy work. He got along with his godson because Draco knew not to expect things from him. But what was Harry expecting? Severus wanted to try, but he didn't know how. He knew how to terrorize students and most adults when he chose, but how was he supposed to act as an uncle? And he couldn't just agree and then leave it at that. He was Harry's only living blood relative and Harry was at a fragile state right now. If Severus agreed, Harry would need his support and… love. But even then, Severus knew he wouldn't give up this link they had found.
While Severus was quietly questing through the questions and answers within his head, Harry began to study him, trying to find a clue as to what the man was thinking. Severus looked relaxed, but his eyes flickered from time to time with uncertainty. Honestly, Harry didn't know what Severus wanted to talk to him about. It could be about Dumbledore or he could want to talk about the journal or it could be about this bond thing with Draco.
Harry straightened his shoulders and pushed off the wall when he realized Severus was nervous, which could only mean that he was there to talk to Harry about their relationship. Harry closed his eyes and tried to relax, and he remembered what his mother had said to him. "…Severus is going to have a hard time coming to terms with this information. He is a hard man, but despite that, his heart is very fragile… And this will take some time for him to come to terms with. It will be very hard for him, especially after what transpired the last time we spoke. I want you to promise me you'll give the wizard a chance, Harry." And he promised to try. Harry sighed and opened his eyes, and determined nothing would be said unless he started.
"I… Err, I apologize for calling you a snarky, slimy, greasy bastard, Professor." And enjoyed saying it once more. "I was in shock then, and I don't believe you've never entertained the thought of having an I Hate Harry Potter club." There was a quick tiny quirk at the corner of Severus' mouth that could have been the beginnings of a smile, before he quickly chased it away. It didn't matter; Harry was quick to catch it.
"I suppose we should be glad that I never gave into such temptation. Being a member of such a club could ruin our family relations," Severus said lightly, and was glad to see Harry's quick grin.
"You don't want to forget you know?" Harry bluntly asked, having gained some courage from their friendly banter.
"Do you?" Severus knew it wasn't fair to ask him that when Harry had asked first. Anyone could see Harry was desperate for acceptance, but as he'd said before, Severus had his own insecurities and he wasn't about to display those flaws to this young wizard, should Harry decide he wanted to forget Severus ever existed.
Harry's hands found their way to his hair, and as usual when he was in deep thought, Harry yanked at his strands or ran his fingers through, until his black hair was sticking up in all sorts of directions. When his hands fell back down to his sides, Severus held his breath.
"How could you think that, Professor? You're the only blood family I have left! We've never gotten along, but I don't see why we can't make up for that somehow. You can't be all bad if Draco likes you, and I know you could teach me so much…"
"I think…we could teach much to each other," Severus said quietly, and mentally patted himself on the back for a job well done when Harry smiled brightly back at him.
The next morning Draco, who had been awake and dressed for at least an hour, burst into Harry's room, threw open the window shutters spilling light into the room and dragged the comforter off the deeply sleeping form of his soul mate. Draco frowned disappointedly when he found Harry didn't sleep in the nude. Oh well, at least he could stare at Harry's naked back for a minute. His frown deepened when he caught sight of the healing bruises Harry had gained from Dursley. Draco sat on the edge and lightly ran his fingers over the fading bruises, and smiled when the bruising began to disappear altogether. Hooray for soul mate bonds!
"Harry. Get up. We're going shopping after we meet Pansy today." Harry murmured something and tuned over onto his back, pulling the pillow over his head as he did so. "Harry, get up! We still have to get to St. Mungo's before we can go shopping."
"G'way, git," came the mumbled reply from beneath the pillow, promptly followed by a snore.
"You're never going to get him up that way," Hermione, herself an early riser, said as she walked into the room.
"How do you suggest I do it then?"
"Let me think…." Hermione tapped her chin as she thought about the options. "Do you prefer a violent Harry reaction or a calm Harry reaction?"
Draco immediately grinned and rubbed his hands together. "A violent reaction should be fun." He sat down on the desk chair and prepared to watch the show. He began by curiously watching as Hermione smirked at him and walked over to the desk. She used her wand to levitate the desk onto its side before moving behind it. "What are you doing?"
"You should take cover." Hermione then raised her wand and pointed it at the slumbering form on the bed.
"Why would I want to take cover?"
Hermione smiled and cast her spell. "Aguamenti." A jet of ice-cold water shot out of the end of her wand, sailed across the room and drenched Harry and his sheets. Immediately after casting the spell, Hermione ducked and took cover behind the desk.
"Stupefy!" Harry barked after bolting upright in bed, his wand gripped tightly in his hand. Draco dropped to the ground just in time to see Harry's spell shoot past where his head had been seconds before.
"Bloody hell, Hermione! You could have warned me!" Draco yelled from the ground. Hermione peeked over the edge of the desk to see Harry was still sitting up but now his wand lay in his lap, his eyes blearily opening and closing, trying to clear the sleep away.
"I did! I told you to take cover!" She replied after righting the desk back to its original position.
"You could have been more specific!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Harry yelled, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms.
"Did I mention the violent way is usually not the best because Harry wakes up in a bad mood?"
"No, Granger. You failed to mention that part."
Harry stood up and scratched the back of his head. "Wah time's it?"
"It's nearly nine in the morning, Harry. Hurry up and get dressed so we can go."
"What's got you so excited, Draco?" he walked towards the bathroom, raising his arms over his head to stretch as he did so. Hermione snorted when Draco, who had opened his mouth to answer, had to wipe his mouth with his sleeve to keep the drool from running down his chin as Harry's back muscles began to ripple as he stretched.
"Um… Er…" Draco remained speechless until the bathroom door shut in his face. "Shopping! We're going shopping, Harry!"
The door was pulled open again. "But I don't want to go shopping. I don't need anything," Harry whined.
"Really, Harry." Draco shook his head as if disappointed in a little child. "Don't be ridiculous. Of course you need things. You need a new wardrobe for starters, and a-"
"I don't need a new wardrobe, Draco." Harry leant against the bathroom doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. Draco licked his lips at the sight of Harry's bare chest, and then his eyes traveled down where Harry's pajama bottoms were riding really low on his hips.
See something you like?
"You do need a new wardrobe," Draco continued after giving Harry a heavy mental caress, causing Harry to blush. "And I'll tell you why. First, you are a pureblood, Harry. You need to dress like it. I'm not going to compromise on this. And I don't care if you think I sound like a snob…"
Harry started coughing. "Yes…you do!" he tried to camouflage his words with the coughing, but he could clearly be heard. Draco went on as if he didn't hear him, be he was already thinking of ways to get back at Harry for that.
"If you want to know everything about our world, to completely become a member of the magical society, then you need to act like you want it. I'm not saying get rid of your muggle clothes, I quite like your arse in jeans, but if you want to be taken seriously by other members of society, you need to look the part. And I refuse to be seen with you when you look like a beggar, Harry."
Harry chuckled, "all right, Draco. You made your point. I do need new robes." Then he looked over at his best friend. "You as well, Hermione."
"What?" she croaked.
"We'll need you, Hermione. You're my friend and let's face it, my brains. I wouldn't have passed most of my classes if it weren't for you. Draco and I need you, and we all need to blend into the political hierarchy if we want to get anywhere." Draco beamed at his soul mate's logic, and forgot the comment about him thinking Draco was a snob.
"I understand what you're saying, I really do. But how do you expect to get people behind you when one of your council is a muggleborn?"
"Ooh, I like how you think!" Draco praised, flashing Hermione a rarely given smile. "Part of Harry's Council. I like it! It sounds so much better than Death Eater."
"We're getting a little ahead of ourselves, aren't we guys?" he asked amused. "Besides, it wouldn't be my council, Draco. If it's a council we have, which seems a little far-fetched, it will be our council. I told you, we're in this together, all the way."
Hermione felt like a Peeping Tom as she stood there and witnessed between Harry and Draco the most emotional, heart-racing gaze she'd ever seen. All that anger and frustration they'd had for each other as boys had changed into an explosive passionate love as they were becoming men, and it could clearly be seen as they looked at each other. As intelligent as she was, Hermione couldn't believe she had never realized before what it was that drew the two together time and again.
Hermione shifted uncomfortably under the weight of such a moment, and her movements seemed to bring the wizards back to the world around them.
Draco cleared his throat and said softly, "and about you being muggleborn, I shouldn't worry too much about that. People already know Hermione Granger as Harry Potter's best friend. They know your muggleborn, but you've already proven yourself worthy to be considered a magical influence. It would be stupid to disregard your power just because your parents are muggles."
"Draco, I…" Hermione looked ready to faint. Such praise from Draco Malfoy was unheard of. When she looked at him and found he was smiling reassuringly, she burst into tears and threw her arms around him. "You don't know how much it means to hear you say that, Draco. I'm completely speechless."
"I doubt that," Harry muttered, then grinned with mischief at Draco and shut himself in the bathroom again, locking the door unless Draco gets the idea that he wanted company.
You're really not going to leave me out here with Hermione like this, are you? That's cruel, Harry. I thought you forgave me for being a prat to you all those times before. This isn't funny, Harry!
Harry wasn't really ignoring Draco, but he did think it was funny, and spent most of his shower time laughing under the hot water.
"Hermione, calm down. I was only telling the truth. Besides, you're my friend now. Why wouldn't I say those things?" he thought she'd calmed down but as soon as he said that, she started bawling again. Draco assumed it was all those repressed emotions showing up after she'd gotten rid of Weasley. She deserved better anyway, just as long as she used that better man to cry on instead of him.
Draco didn't know what to say so he awkwardly hugged Hermione to him and listened to her sniffles. He thanked all the stars in heaven when Severus walked into the room. Before anything could be said, Draco had somehow transferred Hermione into his godfather's arms, laughed at Severus' stricken look, and ran out of the room. He felt no guilt at all throwing the Gryffindor witch at his godfather, though he knew he would pay dearly for it later. Probably from both of them. Hermione would surely be completely embarrassed now.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I guess I scared him." Hermione blushed and quickly wiped her eyes when she realized who was holding onto her. Strangely, she felt no urgent need to move away from the Potions Master.
"That seems to happen often, Miss Granger." Severus slowly pulled away from her. "You've scared me on numerous occasions."
Hermione gasped, and took a few steps back. "Professor! That was a joke!"
"A poor one, but yes, it was a joke."
Hermione was nearly in an apoplectic state. She'd just had Draco Malfoy claim her as a friend and tell her she was just as good as any pureblood, and now Severus Snape was joking with her. What was she supposed to do, if not freak out?
"Did you finish the journal, Miss Granger?"
Hermione stared blankly at him for a moment; her mind trying to catch up to the subject change, as she was still stuck thinking about alternative universes and its peoples. "Oh yes! Just a moment. I'll go get it." Hermione raced back to her room to collect the journal, and on the way back, managed to collect her thoughts on what she'd read within the book. Silently, she handed the journal back to Severus and met his steady gaze.
"Have you been convinced of Dumbledore's deception?" his voice whispered to her in silk waves. Hermione barely managed to control the tremors. She chewed on her bottom lip for a minute, before nodding sadly.
"I never imagined he could do such things. And there's more, isn't there, Professor? More you haven't told Harry yet."
Severus nodded, but didn't go on with that topic as the shower stopped running. He didn't want Harry to overhear.
"Please tell him soon, Professor. It's his trust we need to work on rebuilding. Keeping things from him will only make it worse."
"I am aware of that. I do not wish to cause my nephew any more reasons to distrust me."
"Thank you, Professor." Hermione smiled brightly at him, and he had to check himself from touching her hair.
"Miss Granger, in the future, you may call me Severus, unless we are at Hogwarts. Would that please you?" he didn't know why he asked, didn't know why he wanted her to call him by his first name, but was pleased when the young witch looked delighted by his request.
"I would like that!" There was silence, as the Potions Master and the Gryffindor witch looked at each other uncertainly. "Make sure to see that Draco and Harry keep out of trouble on your outing today, Miss Granger."
Hermione nodded. "They will behave themselves or else find their faces at the end of my wand," she said sternly. Severus allowed a small smile to slip. He'd seen her in action; he believed Hermione meant what she said.
"Good. We shall see each other soon, Miss Granger." Severus turned towards the door.
"Oh, um…Severus?" she called to him in a small voice. He turned back to her, his black robes billowing out in an artful gracefulness that caused Hermione a moment of jealousy. She wanted to know how she could get her robes to do that. When Severus was looking at her with those intense obsidian eyes, she found she couldn't look him in the eye when she made her request, so instead she kept her gaze firmly on his left shoulder.
"I was wondering…. Er…that is…you could call me Hermione when we're not at school. But only if you want to… you don't have-"
"Hermione," he purred, enjoying the witch's jump of surprise. When she was looking him in the eye, he smiled and then turned to leave again. Hermione walked over to the desk chair and sank down into it, her knees shaking wildly.
"What was all that, Hermione?" Draco asked in the same drawl Severus had used to say her name. He grinned when she covered her burning face with her hands.
"What was all what?" Harry asked, coming out of the bathroom, drying his dripping hair with a towel. He had another towel tied around his waist. Hermione rolled her eyes. Honestly, just because the bloke was gay and she was his best friend, didn't mean she was comfortable seeing him in nothing but a towel. But Harry had never been shy about his body, which was a wonder after all the abuse he'd been through. Draco, on the other hand, was highly appreciative of the picture Harry made and was advancing towards Harry like a stalking tiger. Seeing this, and observing how oblivious Harry seemed to be, Hermione grabbed Draco's arm before he reached his prey and began pulling the Slytherin to the door.
"Never mind, Harry. Get dressed. There's a lot to do today." She pushed Draco out into the hall. "We'll wait for you downstairs."
"Right, Hermione. Be down in a minute." He waved back at her as she shut the door.
"Now then, let's get some breakfast, Draco."
"Fine," Draco grumbled.
They went downstairs and picked a table at the back of the tavern, ordering light breakfasts. The food had just been delivered when Harry slid into the booth next to Draco and began buttering a roll.
"Where's Gin?" he asked.
"Oh, the twins came to fetch her back home last night under Mrs. Weasley's orders. Ginny guessed Ron had something to do with that. He must have made up a story and told it to his mum. The twins say she was fit to be tied."
"If Ron spoke to her, Mrs. Weasley probably thinks I tried to sacrifice her daughter for some evil purpose."
"Don't worry. Ginny will set her right."
"Yes, and hopefully she'll set Weasel right as well," Draco growled. Harry laid a hand on Draco's arm, and the Slytherin let go of his momentary anger. Then he felt Harry's sudden apprehension.
"What is it, Harry?"
"Hermione, we're meeting Pansy Parkinson after St. Mungo's. Will you be able to get along with her?"
"Harry James Potter, do I look like Ronald to you? Of course I can get along with Parkinson. I can get along with anyone once they've seen reason. I'll just have to make her see reason, one way or another."
"And Parkinson?" Harry asked of Draco. The blond waved his hand in the air as if it was unimportant.
"Pansy reminds me a little of you, Hermione. I'm sure you two have way too much in common for my tastes. And Pansy was always neutral when it came to muggleborns. She's attracted to power and skill, like most Slytherins, and how they can best work for her. She's a true Slytherin. She'll know becoming friends with you, Hermione, would be in her best interests. But like Hermione said, Pansy will need to see this first. She'll need to see reason. I can't guarantee her behavior before that happens though. She can be a bit… overbearing."
"I'm not sure I want to be friends with somebody who will only see me because of what I can do and not who I am."
"But Hermione, with you it's one in the same. You're brilliant in every way!"
"Harry, please. You're embarrassing me."
"Yes, Harry. Cease the disgusting praise and finish your breakfast," Draco drawled, then continued to drink his tea.
From the Leaky Cauldron, the three Flooed to St. Mungo's. After dusting off their clothes, they headed directly to the front desk where a witch with braids wrapped around her head like snakes sat behind it reading Witch Weekly.
"Excuse me, miss?" Harry said once they reached the desk. "Where do I go to get my eyesight fixed?"
The witch peered at him curiously, her gaze traveling across his face, and Harry braced himself for the inevitable. She spotted his scar. "Oh! Um, let me see…" She dropped her magazine and dragged her long red fingernail down a list written on parchment stuck to the desk. "Here it is! Fourth floor, west wing. Sign in with the Healer at the desk and explain why you're there."
"Thank you," Harry replied. Just as he was turning, the witch reached out to touch his arm.
"Wait, are you really Harry Potter?"
Harry frowned at her hand, suddenly feeling the overwhelming need to ask her what the hell she thought she was doing by touching him and wanting to shake her hand off as quickly as possible. Draco's pale hand passed his line of vision and he watched in a detached sort of way as the blond slapped her hand away from his arm before advancing towards her by leaning over the desk. And then the growling started, and it grew in volume until most of the people waiting in the reception area started to look towards the group at the desk, most thinking they would see a vicious animal readying for an attack.
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, catching on to the problem. She jumped forward and pulled Draco back by the arm. "Yes he is. Good day!" Then she wrapped her arm around a very tense Draco's waist and steered him clear of the front desk, towards the lifts. She was thankful when the lift door immediately opened, and they were alone when the door slid shut.
"Draco? What was that? It looked like you wanted to rip her throat out…. and the snarls coming from you were ferocious!"
Draco smirked. "I'm a ferocious person, Hermione."
Harry laughed, catching Hermione's attention, and she noted the faraway look as he gazed at Draco. "And you, Harry! Why were you just standing there? You must have seen the way Draco was acting. Aren't you the least bit concerned?"
"Not as much as I should be. I can't really explain, but all I can do is watch. I feel his need to protect and I want to let him and I do nothing because he's wrapped me up in a safe cocoon. I stay there because it's so much better than the real world!" Harry was nearly yelling by the time he finished. The lift doors opened and they all stepped out.
"An explanation eludes me as well." Draco reached for Harry's hand, and soothed the brunet as their fingers laced together. "It only happens if I'm really angry or if Harry is approached wrong in any way. My mind stays focused on only one thing: protecting Harry at all costs."
They walked under an archway, where a plaque hung welcoming visitors to the fourth floor west wing.
"Aren't you concerned?"
"Of course I'm concerned. Anyone would be if they started exhibiting traits strongly resembling wild animals."
Arriving at their destination, they each signed in and Harry explained why he was there. They were promptly shown into a windowless room with a single bed and stool, and told to wait there for the next available Healer. At once, Draco started pacing. The more he worried, the more he paced.
"Draco, will you please stop pacing? You're giving me a headache." Hermione sat on the stool and began rubbing her temples, trying to keep the growing headache at bay.
"Maybe you should think this over some more. The procedure used will not be entirely void of danger."
"I'm only getting my vision corrected, Draco. Stop worrying."
Draco scowled at the door. "Did they fail to notice your name on the sign-in parchment? Why are we still waiting?" Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes at him.
"Good morning!" exclaimed a young woman as she came in and shut the door behind her. She was a slightly plump lady with a kind smile and sparkling brown eyes. Her brown hair was pulled back into a severe bun that seemed to be too old a style for someone her age. Smiling, she approached the bed with a floating tray following behind her.
"Good morning," Hermione replied, immediately liking the woman.
"Morning, Healer," Harry mumbled, suddenly becoming apprehensive about being in the hospital. He'd never voluntarily gone to the hospital for something, but every time he needed a Healer it was because he had been in some insane accident. His nerves spiked when he saw the witch pull out her wand. Draco moved next to the bed, placed a warm hand against the back of Harry's neck, and glared coldly at the witch.
"Well then, let's see. My name is Healer Bluemoon, and you are…" the Healer looked at the parchment in her hand and scanned the contents. "Harry Potter. Here to get corrective vision, are we?"
"Yes, that's right," Harry replied. Healer Bluemoon nodded and turned to the tray where three dark red vials of potions sat. Healer Bluemoon picked the first one up and started to shake it. Harry was infinitely relieved the Healer didn't go barmy over him once she'd read his name.
"You do know what you're doing, don't you?" drawled Draco, staring the Healer down.
She turned to him and flashed a smile before turning back to the tray and picking the second vial up to shake. "Of course. I've done this procedure many times. I am the HIC, after all."
"HIC?" Harry inquired.
"Healer in Charge," Hermione supplied.
"Oh." Well apparently someone had told someone about Harry's presence. He didn't think it was a coincidence to be assigned the Healer In Charge. But still, at least she wasn't fawning over him.
"I only want to make sure you read the name right, and you understand who you're about to point your wand at."
"Draco…" Harry muttered.
"What? I just thought Healer Pinkmoon should know the consequences in case something goes wrong…"
"Draco!"
"It's not Pinkmoon, Draco. Her name is Bluemoon," Hermione muttered.
"Don't worry about it, Mr. Potter. I'm sure he's only nervous," Bluemoon replied, smiling a pretty smile at them all. She looked very amused by Draco's antics and silent threats.
"Malfoys never get nervous…" As Draco was speaking, Harry and Hermione turned to each other and mimed the words along with him. Hermione snickered when Draco glared at them.
"All right, Mr. Potter. Take this and drink it as soon as the lights go out. Once you've drunk all three vials, I will use my wand for the next part of the procedure. Sound good?" Harry took the potion vial and stared at it. At least they were small bottles, since he had to drink three.
"Erm, two questions?"
"Go on, then. Ask away."
"Why are you going to turn the lights off? Aren't you supposed to be able to see what you're doing?" he asked. Draco and Hermione nodded, as they were curious about that as well.
"It's the spell; the healing spell can't be used unless there is darkness. I suppose you could think of it like when muggles go into a dark room to develop pictures. The pictures would be ruined if they were exposed to light during development. Do you understand what I mean?"
Harry and Hermione nodded, while Draco looked blank. We'll explain it to you later, Draco.
"But how can you see what you're doing?" Hermione wanted to know.
"I've put a temporary charm on my eyes to see in the dark. It works quite well. And what is your other question, Mr. Potter?"
"Can you make sure my eyes stay green?" Harry blushed when the Healer smiled at him, showing off two dimples at the corners of her mouth.
"Of course I can! Believe me; I would not want to be responsible for damaging those very pretty eyes of yours. Now, are you ready to drink?"
Harry nodded and watched as Healer Bluemoon swished her wand and doused the lights. Harry gulped down the first vial and shuddered at the awful taste of garbage. Ugh! Bluemoon handed him the other vial and he took it, repeating the action once more after that.
"Now stay still and I'll just perform the spell."
Harry felt the need to move away from the voice, but he dug his fingers into the mattress to keep from moving. He couldn't see her at all and that made him nervous.
I can see her. It's all right. She at least looks like she knows what she's doing. Hold still.
How are you able to see her?
I don't know.
Healer Bluemoon began to chant something under her breath, and a soft purple light left the tip of her wand and traveled to surround Harry's eyes. "Just relax, Mr. Potter. It will be over in a minute."
"I don't feel anything."
"Nothing at all? That's odd. You should be feeling something, at the most a ticklish sensation."
"Nope, nothing."
Healer Bluemoon said nothing until the purple light disappeared "All right. It's done." She put the lights back on and stepped back. "Is your vision better?" she asked, smiling and obviously expecting to hear she'd been successful.
Harry bit his lip as his eyes travelled around the room. "No. I still can't see clearly."
"Well that's just impossible! It had to have worked. I assure you, Mr. Potter, I've done this hundreds of times."
"Hold your tongue," Hermione hissed to Draco when she saw him prepare to verbally assault the mystified Healer.
"Tests will be needed. Lie down, Mr. Potter and we'll see what the problem is."
Harry did as he was told and Healer Bluemoon conducted her tests. Hermione was the best at keeping Draco in order, Harry noticed with amusement. She deliberately pulled Draco into a debate she knew could last all day. By the time the Healer was finished, she was looking at him completely perplexed.
"This has never happened before. I'm afraid I won't be able to fix your eyes. Something is prohibiting treatment. A magical barrier protecting your body from being tampered with in any way."
Harry got off the bed, shaking his head. "That figures. Thanks anyway."
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you, Mr. Potter."
"It's really all right. I have a feeling this will resolve itself soon." He smiled to reassure her that he really wasn't troubled because she looked disappointed that she couldn't help him.
"You're really not upset are you, Harry?" Hermione asked on the way down in the lift.
"No. It just makes sense that this has to do with the bond. I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens."
"You two are being awfully nonchalant about this whole bond thing."
Harry shrugged.
"I know Severus knows more about it then he's saying, and when he's ready he'll tell us. I don't think it's anything life threatening, so I see no point in worrying about it now. Besides, we did have plans to visit Severus' library," Draco explained, knowing Harry felt the same way. "I only wish we could visit the Malfoy Manor library. I know for a fact we'd find something there with useful information."
"Why can't we?"
"I'd rather not say here out in the open."
"Ah." So that's where Voldemort liked to hang out. Harry grinned, an idea popping into his head.
They returned to the Leaky Cauldron to wait for Pansy's arrival. In the time that followed, Harry learned Draco could be annoying when he had to wait before going on a shopping spree. He'd annoyed Hermione so much that she finally snapped and cast the silencing spell on him.
"There, that's better." She smiled at a glaring Draco and tucked her wand away. Harry knew better then to let on that he was grateful to Hermione, so he shut those thoughts tight away from his mind. Draco glared at his soul mate when he realized Harry had no intention of taking the spell off.
You are so dead, Potter!
Fuck, I can still here you…you better not start about the shopping, Draco. Parkinson will be here soon and then we'll go.
Seriously, Harry. Remove the spell right now.
Harry undid the spell and endured ten minutes of Draco's death stare before Hermione distracted them from the uneasy silence.
"Look, there's Parkinson. And…is that Zabini?"
"Blaise is here too?" Draco asked, his mood immediately lightened by the prospect of seeing his two best friends. Hermione looked to Harry to see if he looked as apprehensive as she felt. She hadn't been expecting two Slytherins and had only prepared to face down one. What kind of day were they going to have in the company of people who had supposedly hated her and Harry for years.
Harry was frowning, glaring hard at Zabini as the wizard approached their table. His mouth parted slightly and Hermione spotted two sharp points peeking out from under his upper lip. She realized he was baring his teeth like a creature would do when feeling threatened or when they wanted to make sure their property stays claimed.
"Harry!" She whispered and shook his arm. He looked at her and the haziness in his eyes started to disappear. "They're just friends. Don't worry."
Harry's teeth shrank back to their original size, and he slumped back into his seat. "Thanks Hermione."
She just smiled and patted his hand. Draco had gotten up to meet his friends, who were passing the bar. Once Pansy and Blaise caught sight of their friend approaching, they stopped and let him come to them.
Draco noted their narrowed eyes and thin lipped frowns and sighed. They were mad. "Pansy, Blaise." He stopped in front of them and waited. Blaise arched a brow at him and then looked over at the table at Harry before turning back to Draco, a knowing gleam in his eyes. Draco returned with a smirk.
"Draco, how good it is to see you again. Because at one point we thought you were dead, you know. Yes we thought you were dead! And then we find that you aren't dead, you aren't going to end up dead anytime soon, and worst of all, you've bonded yourself to Harry Potter." Pansy said every word slowly, and it was obviously said in forced cheerfulness. Draco quirked an eyebrow at Blaise.
"She's been working on her anger management over the summer. It's been working for the most part."
"Ah. That explains the lack of Howlers."
"I demand an explanation, Draco!" Pansy shrieked, causing both boys to flinch. "Right now!"
"Calm down, Pansy. Let's go sit down and maybe I'll answer your questions."
"You will answer my questions," she insisted as she and Blaise followed after their friend.
"Yes, Pansy dear." He smirked when Pansy hissed at him.
You didn't tell me Zabini would be coming.
Harry, I didn't know.
Right. And it looks like they didn't know Hermione and I would be here either. Draco glanced at his friends who were so surprised that it showed on their faces. And then as one Blaise and Pansy turned furious eyes on him.
"Draco, why didn't you tell Parkinson we'd be here? That's not really fair to them. At least we knew Parkinson was going to be here." Harry reproached his soul mate, and Draco merely shrugged. The other two Slytherins were now looking at Harry in surprise. Blaise was able to recover first.
"Er…that's all right, Potter. We know who to blame," Blaise responded and then winked at Hermione as he sat next to her. Pansy took the seat next to Draco and began drumming her sharp nails against the table. Nothing was being said, and it was driving Harry crazy.
This is awkward, Draco. You have to do something!
Fine, if you insist…
I do!
"My lovely counterpart over there," Draco said, standing up and pointing to Harry, "doesn't like this uncomfortable silence and can bear it no longer, so now I suggest we go shopping."
"That's a great idea, Draco! Shopping!" Hermione beamed at him, shocking the other Slytherins once again with her familiar attitude with Draco, and they watched speechless as Draco held out his arm for Hermione, who took it and then they were walking in animated discussion, out of the Leaky Cauldron to the back where the entrance to Diagon Alley was located.
Harry slowly stood up from the table, watching his soul mate and best friend disappear. Parkinson and Zabini took a position on either side of him and stared after Draco as well.
"I can't believe he just left me with you," Harry said.
"I can't believe Draco just left with Granger on his arm, and they were both smiling," Blaise spoke in awe.
"Well I can't believe our Draco just called Potter his lovely counterpart! It's not all true, is it? What's being said about you two bonded? It can't be. I thought my father was trying to be funny!" She sounded outraged, her voice gaining volume by the second, as if Harry was the worst thing that could ever happen to Draco. "This is just ridiculous! Draco is used to having the best. Why would he choose to bond with-"
"He loves me," Harry whispered.
Pansy laughed a cruel mocking laugh. "Oh please! Spare me, Potter! He would never love someone like you! My darling Draco has standards after all! You are nothing but-"
"Pansy, stop it!" Blaise snapped, keeping his eyes on Potter. The Gryffindor was clearly being affected by what she was saying. Blaise had never seen Potter look insecure or so vulnerable as he did right now, and it looked like he was shrinking in on himself. Potter's green eyes were flicking right and left like he wanted to run, and when Blaise raised a hand, Potter flinched back.
"Hey, Potter? What's wrong with you?" Pansy demanded, taking a step towards him, who in turn began backing up.
"Back off, Pansy!" Blaise quietly hissed at her. "Can't you see he's scared?"
Pansy wasn't seeing this. She only saw Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived; the arrogant jerk who liked to badmouth Slytherins. She couldn't imagine her words would have any effect on him. But she was wrong, he was affected, because the words were coming from Draco's best friend, and as a result her shots were hitting Harry hard enough to hurt. And he suddenly felt very alone…
"Pansy, not now…"
Pansy turned to her friend. "What are you on about, Blaise?"
Harry took off then, running up the staircase, taking three stairs at a time. When he got to his room, he slammed the door shut and locked it. He pressed his back against the door and slid down to the floor. Downstairs, Blaise and Pansy heard a door slam.
"Fuck, Pansy! Do you have any idea how mad Draco is about to be? Weren't you paying attention to your father? The Dark Lord said Draco and Potter have a soul mate bond-"
"Rubbish! I bet Potter has always wanted Draco and has given him a love potion."
"Pansy, you're usually smarter than this. I think we should go find Potter and-" Blaise suddenly found his robes in the grip of a snarling silver eyed Slytherin.
"What the fuck did you do to him?" Draco demanded. "What did you say?"
"Calm down, Draco. I simply told Potter the truth. You couldn't possibly want someone like him…"
"You told him what?" Draco asked slowly, letting go of Blaise's robes to turn on Pansy.
"Draco, why are you acting so peculiar? I think you need to get checked out by a Healer. Potter may have given you a love potion."
"Pansy…" Blaise warned.
"Hush, Blaise! Really, Draco. It's the only thing I can think of…."
"If you've done any more damage, Pansy…I swear I may not forgive you." With that, Draco turned and bounded up the stairs.
Blaise turned to his friend. "Pansy, you really did it this time. I recognized the signs on Potter. You really may have done some damage."
"Signs? Damage? What are you talking about?"
"Potter's been abused."
Harry pulled his knees up to his chest and dropped his forehead to his knees. He just needed to calm down, that was all. It was just words a stupid Slytherin said. She didn't know anything. Draco wanted him; Harry knew it for a fact. But back there, he'd felt so alone and he'd gotten scared…it flashed him back to the nightmares he'd endured during the magical coma. Only now he really did have someone standing in front of him, telling him he wasn't worth it. His mind had frozen and he hadn't even thought about asking for Draco through their bond.
"Harry, it's me. Open the door."
Harry raised his head and frowned. Another reason why he hadn't called Draco; because he had just left him with Zabini and Parkinson, and because Harry felt he may have overreacted and was embarrassed.
"Harry, I'm sorry. Will you let me in?"
Harry sighed and got to his feet; he ran his fingers through his hair and took a calming breath before opening the door. As soon as Draco saw him, he had Harry in his arms, nearly squeezing the life out of him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you alone with the wolves."
Harry's laugh was a bit shaky, but it was a laugh just the same, and Draco was relieved to see Harry was all right.
"Wolves? How do you like that, Blaise? We're wolves now!" Pansy whispered to Blaise from their peeping spot in the hallway.
"Look at them, Pans," Blaise murmured seriously. "I don't think it's a love potion."
Draco was cradling Harry's face in his hands, his thumbs caressing over Harry's cheeks. It was the look in their eyes that convinced Blaise it was real, whatever it was between the two young wizards.
"We're both idiots sometimes, Draco."
"Yeah, I guess so." Draco bent down, kissing Harry softly, deeply; keeping Harry wrapped tightly in his arms.
Pansy pressed her hand to her chest and took a shaky breath. "Oh Merlin… Blaise, have you ever seen Draco like that before?"
"No one has, I bet."
"Parkinson, Zabini? May I have a word, please?" Hermione asked from where she stood at the top of the stairs. With one last look into the room, the astonished Slytherins turned and walked towards Hermione.
"Listen, I want to make this clear and I don't want to have to repeat myself. Understand?" Hermione said in a hard voice, her tone looking for no arguments. The Slytherin's nodded, amused. "Harry and Draco are soul mates, and they share a soul mate bond, which means whether we like it or not, they are together now. Consequently the three of us will be seeing quite a lot of each other I would imagine, and I just thought, for our friends' sakes, we should have a truce." Hermione ended by holding her hand out to the Slytherins.
Pansy wrinkled her nose at the outstretched hand, but Blaise shrugged and was about to take Hermione up on the offer, when Pansy slapped his hand away. "Why should we agree, Granger? What's in it for us?" it was a reasonable question for a Slytherin, and Hermione had been expecting it. She stepped forward, and smirked in Pansy's face.
"I'll tell you what's in it for you. Your continued good health."
"Are you threatening me, Granger?"
"Why yes I am, Parkinson. How very good of you to notice. If you hurt Harry in any way, shape, or form I'll practice every pain inducing spell I know on you," Hermione finished with a hard edge and glared at the Slytherin witch.
"I'm convinced!" Blaise said as he scooped Hermione's hand up in his to shake.
"Blaise here, and you're Hermione. Nice to meet you!"
Hermione smiled, but her gaze never left Parkinson. The Slytherin opened and closed her mouth several times, unable at first, to think what to say. Finally she straightened up, her narrow eyes brightened, and she swept some of her short black hair away from her face.
"That was a very Slytherin way of getting what you want. Perhaps we can talk." Hermione was shocked when Parkinson proceeded to lace her arm with Hermione's and began pulling the Gryffindor down the stairs. "Come, Hermione. Shopping we will go and discuss this newest truce between Slytherin and Gryffindor."
Harry and Draco stepped out of the room just in time to hear the last part, and see the top of the girls' heads disappear to the floor below. Blaise turned to look at Draco and Harry.
"I believe I've just been completely surprised by a Gryffindor. There's more to Gryffs than meets the eye."
"No, just Harry's Gryffs," Draco said as he slung an arm around Harry's shoulders and they headed downstairs to join the girls.
"And what about Harry?" Blaise caught Harry's surprised movement when he said the other wizard's name, and he turned to grin at the Gryffindor.
"Yeah, what about me? Are you saying there's not more to me than meets the eye?"
"Course I'm not saying that. You're more Slytherin than anything… when you're not being an idiot." Harry smiled and relaxed under Draco's arm, once again content with the world, for the time being anyway.