Mukuro234 : It's not that I like cliffies, it's that I like torturing my readers, niark, niark ! No I'm just joking, actually I was thinking I might as well post the chapter so as to spare you all from waiting ^^

Dolceconbrio: It's true that the Slytherins might have given in a little too fast…As for a reason, is the one I gave not enough? I thought it explained quite well….*.* I'll try and think about it -_-

bluedragonstorm: Yes, I thought it could be nice to have Harry make up with his former team (minus Ron and Ginny) and maybe Bill and Charlie Weasley as well (though Charlie wasn't really scared or anything in the first place). I think Percy is too stuck up to accept Harry though…And like you said, I don't think Arthur and Molly would just forget about protecting their family and be all smiles with Harry again…About the Slytherin team, I could see Malfoy as a Chaser…what do you think?

Padfootette: I was thinking of doing that, so thank you for supporting the idea I didn't voice ^^ You're such a great reviewer!

vernieklein: Would you mind sharing the reason why you think Harry shouldn't befriend any Gryffindors? I'm interested in knowing since you seem to be the only person who said something like that for now ^^ And since I'm trying to gather people's opinion to choose the best continuation to this story, I'd like to fully understand your opinion if that's alright. As for the Slytherin Team, I don't know about open arms but I'm thinking about it more and more.

SuperSaiyanTeemo: This chapter is dedicated to you! A Draco appearance!

Sakihinata: Thanks for your reviews! If there's something you really want to convey but can't: write in French! I won't hold it against you ^^ I'm sorry I didn't do a proper confrontation...but there will be more in the future.

And a giant thank you to my other reviewers: Iyawolfwhite, charm13insomnia, The World in Black and White, Buzzy B, MAFITA, Gea Mari, and MaiKanon (I'm sorry I can't answer, I don't want to spoil the story! -_-)

Draco Malfoy was marching through the corridors with the aura of an unapproachable king around him. He had just spent most of his day with his mother, whose visit had been a rather pleasant surprise. Not many people knew this but the Slytherin Prince held much love for his mother. He had placed on her, not only the love that was due to her as the woman who had given birth to him but also the amount that should have been given to his father. Draco Malfoy hated his father. He seemed to remember vaguely that he had once loved him, when he was very young, but the love had died quickly. So he had given his angel-like mother double the amount of love to make up for it. He had been happy to see her.

He had to wonder if her visit was merely for pleasure however. Years of devoting an unconditional affection to the woman had made him quite sharp in matters concerning her. That day she had looked concerned, worried even. Of course he had pretended he didn't see, the numerous inquisitive glance she sent his way when she thought he wasn't looking, the questions she had seemed on the verge of asking before deciding to stay quiet and more importantly, that ever so slight widening of her eyes as she her gaze lingered a second too long on Harry Potter.

Draco Malfoy had grown suspicious. A sly little thought had slithered into his mind: his mother knew something she wasn't telling him. His mother didn't trust him with that secret. She didn't trust him.

In no time, the young Slytherin's practical and logical side had countered the attack. It was probably that particular phenomenon he had had the occasion to observe since the beginning of the year. It had, of course, everything to do with Harry Potter. What didn't?

Ever since he had come back to Hogwarts, looking gorgeous, which he only admitted the boy was because he knew how to appreciate beauty no matter the gender, and with new powers at his disposal, Harry Potter had had a strange effect on those close to him. He terrified most of the student body. That was a fact that did not to be proven. But there was also something else. He had first noticed it when the fight had broken out in the Great Hall between the Potter Boy and the Weasel. As the raven haired teen transformed into a wolf jumping forward to protect those children like they were his own, his green eyes flashing with a wild rage, he had felt awed. There had been a surge of respect and - dare he admit it? – longing for that raw strength and those unrestrained emotions. He remembered thinking in that instant that the black wolf was freedom.

But when the wolf had been on the verge of crushing the Weasel's throat, Draco Malfoy had felt a forgotten instinct awaken, one that he couldn't explain. He had felt suddenly that it was his duty to make sure the beast didn't go too far. His was the one that had to restrain him. He had opened his mouth, mentally screaming the Gryffindor's name. He had never gotten to say anything, as the wolf had suddenly stopped. Had Potter regained his senses? It didn't seem so.

Then he had followed the wolf and the first years down in the dungeons and it happened, that phenomenon. He had stopped a few steps away from the group and had wondered what he should do as the wolf didn't seem too keen on letting him any closer. But then, the animal had come forward and after sniffing his hand, he'd licked it and barked, well, almost happily. That was already quite strange. But what was even stranger was that he, the Slytherin Prince and Harry Potter's arch nemesis, had felt a bubble of warmth explode in his chest. He'd been happy, and he had even been amused by the wolf later!

Thankfully he wasn't he only one who had become a victim of the phenomenon. Most of Slytherins had worn genuine smiles when they started acknowledging him as one of their own. Oh, they tried to say they were just trying to get in his good books, but Draco Malfoy knew better than that. Harry Potter just had this effect on people. He was warm, kind and before you knew it you were addicted. One just had to look at Blaise. The Italian could barely spend an hour without craving the former Gryffindor's presence. It was painfully obvious, that Potter was doing something to them all to make them feel warm, happy and content. Yet it seemed he was the only who saw it, the only one who resisted it. Even Potter himself didn't seem to notice the influence he had on people but then he had always been a bit of an idiot so maybe it wasn't so surprising.

After that incident which had enlightened him as to the true danger posed by Potter, he had been careful to avoid the boy as much as possible. Unfortunately, that had meant reducing the time spent with Blaise. He had been good friends with the Italian and regretted that he had to put distance between them but it was the only alternative. Blaise spent most of his time with Potter these days, and Draco refused to get closer to the raven haired than necessary. He refused to be subjected to that…that…thing he did.

He wouldn't let himself be fooled by that warmth. He wouldn't offer himself to that blinding light, because his instinct told him that it wouldn't last. Just like the sun disappears at night after offering its warmth all day long, that light would end disappearing. Yes, if he gave himself away so naïvely it would be painful. Because surely, he would be betrayed.

Harry was lying on his bed, eyes half-closed and arms stretched. He spent a few minutes blissfully thinking about nothing and incidentally escaping reality. The harshness of the world soon caught up to him though, and he turned around burying his face into his pillow. As he clung onto the pillow as if it was his lifeline, the events of a few hours before came back to him.

He had managed to sit through the entire march despite feeling like running away more than once. He had used his time wisely and had managed to observe Narcissa Malfoy without anyone getting suspicious. Of course, observing her was pretty useless on its own, but at least he was now absolutely sure that she was indeed the woman of his dreams. That was to say his 'mother'. However, staring at her face didn't give him the answers he sought and he was very conscious of that fact. Therefore, as soon as the match had ended he had tried to corner the blond woman, so as to talk to her alone.

Harry sighed heavily. The heavens, gods, his ancestors or whatever was up there was surely against him, because Mrs Malfoy had managed to evade him for a good part of the day and when she was around, Blaise would be nagging the raven haired about one thing or an another and thus Harry would miss his chance. Thinking about the attempts to talk to Mrs Malfoy which had failed because of the Italian, Harry felt resentment rise in him.

At long last, the green eyed boy had managed to meet the blond woman. Or rather he had followed her when she left and managed to catch her in the deserted Entrance Hall. He had greeted her with utmost politeness but she…she had looked at him haughtily, sneered and turned her back on him without a word! He had been so utterly shocked that he had stood gaping for ten minutes after she disappeared out of the castle.

Without a doubt, this had been the worst day of his life! What could be more traumatising for a child than seeing his own mother give him the cold shoulder and act as if he was a complete stranger? Really, just thinking about it made him feel like crying. He wouldn't though, he was after all, a prideful, though traumatised, man/wolf/thing.

He sat on his bed. Speaking of which, he should start showing some interest in what an 'Athrù' was. It could be useful to know all the downsides to his condition, before they ruined his life, he was already depressed anyway. Whatever he could learn wouldn't make him sink any lower, since he had already reached the bottom…

Another heavy sigh later, the boy was on his feet. Where should he go first? He really didn't want to go and see Blaise. He blamed the Italian boy for everything that had happened. Not because he was at fault, but because Harry needed someone to blame and Blaise was conveniently there.

So then who? Well, now that he thought about it, there was only one person he knew who had knowledge in useless and/or uncommon things. Yes, surely Luna Lovegood would have the answers to all his problems.

Decision made, Harry left his room and walked through the Common Room. He blatantly ignored Blaise who called out to him as he walked by, leaving the other boy stunned, and left the Slytherin dormitories. As soon as he left the shelter of the common room he changed into his wolf form. He had found out that Mrs Norris was positively terrified of the black wolf and used it to sneak out after hours. It wasn't past curfew yet, but it couldn't hurt to be on the safe side of things. Plus that way he could use his sense of smell to find Luna more quickly.

It turned out that the young girl was outside and more precisely by the lake with none other than Neville. Overjoyed by the sight of his two friends sitting side by side, the black wolf bounded between them and licked both their cheeks.

"Don't do that." growled Neville, playfully swatting the wolf's head.

Luna merrily laughed while Harry stepped back and turned into a human being again. He sat next to Luna, as close to the girl as possible so as to get as much warmth as he could.

"So cold, I should have brought a cloak." he muttered teeth chattering. "But I didn't think you'd be outside, insane you are…"

"You were looking for us?" asked Neville surprised.

"Hmm, well Luna really." admitted Harry apologetically. "I had something I wanted to ask."

The blond girl turned her dreamy gaze to him as if telling to ask away.

"Do you know what an Athrù is?"

The young Ravenclaw became thoughtful.

"An Athrù…? Somehow I think I've heard that name before but…"

"You don't remember." completed the raven haired boy with obvious disappointment.

"If it's about the Athrù, I know a thing or two." said Neville, taking his two friends by surprise.

"You do?" asked Harry with a mix of hope and disbelief.

"Even I have some knowledge about some things you know…" muttered Neville darkly.

"No, sorry, I didn't mean it like that." said Harry quickly. "I just thought that they were really uncommon so not many people would know about them."

Neville's face softened a bit.

"Well, they are uncommon and it's true that nearly nobody remembers them anymore, but my grandmother happens to be very fond of old legends, so I hear about all her newest discoveries." explained Neville.

"Can you tell me about that legend? What does it say?" asked Harry urgently, unconsciously leaning towards the other boy in his excitement.

Neville nodded and took a moment to gather his memories.

"I don't know much, but from what my grandmother told me, they were a very old and wise race. Some say that they were animals who could turn into humans, others that they were humans who turned into animals and other who thought that they were both at the same time. The only thing they all agreed on was that Athrùs were often extremely beautiful beings and were wiser than any other race as they passed their wisdom through blood to next generations." the young Gryffindor paused. "Then for some reason or other they disappeared completely, and their existence became a mere legend."

Harry frowned.

"When you say 'pass their wisdom through blood'…?" he asked just a tad worried.

"Sorry I really don't know." said Neville with an apologetic and maybe slightly mocking smile. "Those things never were my thing so I didn't pay much attention. I'll ask my grandmother though."

"Thanks. That would help." said the green eyed boy.

"What makes me curious is the 'extremely beautiful' part." said Luna thoughtfully. "Could it be that Harry isn't a real Athrù? Or maybe he's a half…"

"Oy!"

"Now Luna, I said 'often extremely beautiful', meaning they aren't all that way. Harry's just one of those unfortunate ones who're just average in looks!"

"Traitors! I'll remember this!" said Harry jumping to his feet trying to look furious but not quite succeeding.

Unable to hide his smile, he quickly turned around and proceeded to walk back towards the castle.

"Where are you going?" called back Neville sounding gleeful.

"Library." barked back the raven haired boy angrily, though there was a fond smile on his face, not that those two would know.