That evening, when all the guests had finally left, the trio gathered in the guest room that Callidus and Harry shared. They were sitting cross-legged on the excessively enormous four-poster bed, and Callidus had finally given Harry his present, which Harry had been immensely pleased with. Already, Harry seemed to be imagining the hijinks he could get up to, with both the Camouflage Potion and the Foot-silencing Potion.

"So," Callidus began, looking down at Harry's chest, "will you remove the pendant now?"

"I -" Harry placed a hand over the pendant. "Why do you want me to remove it so much anyway? It's really cool. I don't see why I should take it off."

Draco shot Callidus the most unbearably self-satisfied smile imaginable, and Callidus scowled.

Trying to ignore Draco, Callidus pinned his black eyes on Harry. "Listen. Earlier today, when you put the pendant on, you were acting strange. Everyone else was likely too far away to notice, but your pupils became constricted, and you looked extremely pallid. I sensed a really strange sort of magic from you that I can only describe as being cold, and disturbing. I'm concerned."

Harry's brows drew together and he pursed his lips. But before he could speak, Draco cut in. "That was probably just the feeling of the defensive magic."

Callidus frowned. "I wasn't trying to hurt Harry. Why would the enchantment get worked up about me? Unless it's faulty."

"It's not faulty!" Draco asserted. "I would never give something to Harry if it were faulty."

"I feel fine," Harry pointed out. "I don't even remember feeling weird earlier."

"Exactly what sort of enchantments have been put on that pendent anyway?" Callidus grilled Draco.

Draco crossed his arms, looking both defensive and irritated. "Only good enchantments. There's the main one which protects Harry from most magical attacks - I mean, it won't make him invincible or anything, and I'm not sure if it can withstand a prolonged assault, but it means that he'll be guarded from most magical surprise attacks. And there's the one that allow only Harry to touch or remove the pendent. And there's a minor enchantment that provides some protection against fire. And one that helps him to sense the direction that danger might be coming from, but to be honest, those types of enchantments can be a bit finicky. There's one that can help keep his reflexes sharp - not that Harry needs to improve his reflexes, but it seemed like a nice bonus. And I think that's it."

"Wow." Harry looked down at the dragon tooth, his eyes bright. "It can do all that?"

Draco smiled smugly. But before he could reply, Callidus spoke. "Be that as it may, I still think you should remove it. Even just for a moment. I know this sounds like an odd request, and I can't articulate why it seems important -"

Harry huffed. "Fine." He wrapped his hands around the dragon heartstring cord, and lifted the necklace over his head, dangling it mockingly in front of Callidus's face for all but two seconds before throwing it back on.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Satisfied?"

Callidus's mouth twisted downwards. No, he wasn't satisfied at all. Why had Harry gotten so attached to the necklace so quickly? Harry didn't seem like a materialistic sort of person and rarely gave a second thought about any of his things. But there was nothing more that Callidus could say without looking overly paranoid and perhaps even jealous, if Draco's amused expression was anything to go by.

With a sigh, Callidus forced himself to let the matter go, and turned to Draco. "Who created the enchantments anyway?"

"An old associate of my father's. Malfoys are extremely well connected."

"You were the one who dealt with him? Or your father?" Callidus continued to question.

Draco narrowed his eyes. "What's with these questions? Just admit that I gave him the better present, and get over it!"

"I like both of your presents equally!" Harry chirped. "Now can we please talk about something else?"

With yet another sigh, Callidus relented, not wanting to upset Harry on his birthday. There was no sense in forcing the matter. Perhaps he would try and do some research, while he had the extensive Malfoy library on hand. And he wasn't jealous that Draco had gotten Harry the better present. Not one bit.

A few days later, the three boys received their second year letters from Hogwarts. They had been spending the past few days testing out the combination of the Camouflage and Foot-silencing Potions, terrorizing the Malfoy's albino peacocks, and house-elves and basically any other living creature (aside from the senior Malfoys) that they came across. Callidus kept intending to research the subject of enchantments, but after not seeing his brother/friends for a month, it was hard to resist the call of fun. There would be plenty of time for research later, and since that first day, there had been no recurrence of strange behaviour from Harry. Yes, it was true that if he used his magical sensitivity, something felt different about Harry, but as far as he could tell, Harry was his normal, energetic self.

The trio were late down to the breakfast table, and Lucius Malfoy, who was reading the Daily Prophet arched a blond eyebrow at them. The trio said their 'good mornings,' and Draco looked slightly abashed. It was his fault that they were late - he was the one who spent twenty minutes fussing with his robes because they wouldn't 'drape right.' They sat in their usual places.

"Your school letters have arrived," Lucius Malfoy intoned. "I gather you'll be needing new supplies. I can take you to Diagon Alley on Wednesday, so be prepared." He called out for one of the house-elves, who appeared with a pop, bearing a silver platter on which the three letters sat. The boys each took their letters, unfolding and then reading them.

"It's mostly just books," Draco observed, as his eyes scanned the green-coloured ink. "From a - Gilderoy Lockhart? Father, have you heard of this fellow?"

A look of disdain crossed the elder Malfoy's face. "He's your new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. Questionable background. Dumbledore seems to be scraping the bottom of the barrel in his attempt to fill that ill-fated post. I don't know what it will take to convince those fools on the Board of Governors that Dumbledore is unfit to run an institution like Hogwarts. Most of them are blinded by his past accomplishments, and can't seem to see how he's fallen into doddering senility."

"Quite right, Father," Draco agreed, and Harry and Callidus had to do their best to refrain from rolling their eyes at the breakfast table. It wasn't too difficult because both of them were still intimidated by the cold, predatory demeanour of Lucius Malfoy.

In the days before Wednesday, Harry and Draco decided to create some sort of self-enforced training schedule on their brooms, determined that this year would be the year that they would make it onto the Slytherin Quidditch team. This mostly involved Draco shouting a lot of orders, which Harry gleefully ignored, as he performed some sort of dangerous-looking maneuver, that would make a Quidditch coach proud, and cause worried mothers to have heart palpitations. It meant that Callidus finally had the opportunity to slip away to the library and research to his heart's content. He regretted not showing Hermione the library while she had been at the manor. It would have been amusing to see her trying to repress her envy. For a brief moment, Callidus wondered if it made him a bad friend to want for Hermione to be envious, but then he just shrugged the whole matter off. While he learned a great deal of interesting things about enchantments, he learned nothing that gave him an hint about Harry's necklace. By the time Wednesday arrived, he felt that he should probably just let the whole matter go.

They travelled to Diagon Alley by floo, since Lucius Malfoy didn't want to have to apparate with three boys at once. He took them to Gringotts bank first, where the Malfoys and Harry each separately went to their own vaults to collect the gold they needed for their supplies. Callidus had no need for any galleons from his vault. He had earned enough with his potions trade over the school year to purchase the books he needed. Besides, without a real job, he didn't want to dip into his savings unless it was absolutely necessary. When Harry returned, he looked rather exhilarated from the cart ride, while the Malfoys appeared as polished and unruffled as ever.

Outside of Gringotts, Lucius Malfoy looked down on the three boys, a stern expression on his face. "There is some business I need to take care of today. You three are to meet me in an hour at Flourish and Blotts. You are to stay together and not separate. I am trusting that you are mature enough to understand these terms."

"Are you going to Knockturn Alley, father?" Draco queried. "Can't we come with you? Harry and Callidus have never been, have you?"

Lucius Malfoy narrowed his eyes, and Draco's mouth immediately snapped shut. "You will be waiting for me at Flourish and Blotts in an hour. Have I made myself clear?"

Draco muttered: "Yes, father," while Callidus and Harry said: "Yes, Mr. Malfoy."

Giving them a curt nod, Lucius Malfoy dropped them off at a nearby shop entrance which turned out to be Quality Quidditch Supplies, while he ventured off to take care of his personal business. Harry and Draco explored the store with interest, while Callidus half-heartedly trailed behind. Watching Quidditch might be interesting, but he did not have the same fanatical interest as his friends/brothers did, and he had no interest at all in flying.

"Let's go to Gambol and Japes next," Draco suggested, referring to the wizarding joke shop. When the trio entered the joke shop, they found themselves face-to-face with a bunch of similar-looking red-heads. It appeared that the Weasley family had decided to do their shopping on the same day as the trio.

"Well, well," greeted one of the Weasley twins, when they noticed the entrance of the trio.

"Look what we have here," continued the other twin.

"If it isn't our little rivals."

"We never did congratulate you on your last prank, did we?"

"How can you be so sure it was us?" Callidus drawled. Hogwarts would never be as welcoming of Slytherin pranksters as they would be of Gryffindor ones, and the trio had still been maintaining the secrecy of their actions. At least to anyone outside of Slytherin.

"What are you doing here?" Ron Weasley cut in rudely.

"I might ask you the same question," Draco countered. "Isn't your money better spent buying clothes or food? Oh wait - silly me - I assumed you could afford both, but considering how you dress, it's obvious that you can't."

"Now, now," one of the twins interjected.

"No need to be nasty. We're all friends, here, aren't we?" The twin raised mischievous red eyebrows, flashing toothy grins.

"Is that -" came a feminine voice filled with awe, "- Harry Potter?"

The trio looked over and saw yet another red-head, this time a young girl, who immediately flushed a cherry red when she noticed all the eyes on her. She made an 'eep!' sound and quickly ducked away.

"Erm - may we introduce our baby sister, Ginny," the twins announced, gesturing grandly at the now-empty space.

Harry glanced at the empty space with bemusement. "Nice to meet you?"

There was another embarrassed squeak which had the twins snorting with laughter, and Ron Weasley scrunching up his face with disgust.

"She talks about you non-stop Harry," one of the twins informed them, conspiratorially.

"I'm surprised she hasn't asked you for an autograph."

"Ugh. Girls," Ron Weasley muttered under his breath, his arms crossed. "How can she still like him when he's a ruddy snake?"

Harry was fidgeting uncomfortably. He didn't like being reminded of his fame, and knowing that some little red-headed girl was not-so-secretly gushing over him did not help. Draco looked like he was trying not to laugh, and even Callidus was mildly amused.

As if sensing his embarrassment, the twins grinned. "Well."

"Worry not, little hero."

"Finer men then you have fallen to the wiles of the fairer sex." The twins words were only causing Harry's blush to worsen, so that it had spread up his ears and down his neck.

Draco looked like he was about to make a rude comment about how the youngest Weasley didn't qualify as 'fair,' and not wanting to get into a battle royal in the middle of a joke shop concerning the Weasley's honour, Callidus quickly cut in. "We should be getting to Flourish and Blotts."

The twins smirked. "All right then."

"We'll be keeping our eyes on you."

"Can't let a trio of snakes steal our glory after all." With jaunty waves, the Weasleys twins returned to their shopping, dragging their stubborn younger brother along with them by his arms.

Callidus, Harry and Draco left Gambol and Japes without purchasing anything, or truly even having the chance to look around. Draco looked rather put out by this, while Harry was still embarrassed. They decided that they would go to Sugarplum's Sweet Shop next when their attention was caught by a loud ruckus on the streets.

Draco craned his neck, trying to catch sight of what was happening "What's going on?"

There was a crowd forming, amidst shouts and shrieks. There were strange animalistic noises, and someone was crying out: "Help! Get him off! Get him off me! He's mad!" The trio weren't sure of whether to back away, or edge closer. They couldn't deny that they were curious, but the crowd was thick - especially with families shopping for Hogwarts supplies. There were sudden flashes of light as spells were being cast.

"Watch that stupefy!" An angry voice snapped. "You almost got me!"

"Stupefy! Stupefy!"

"Stop casting! It's too crowded!"

"Grab him by the arms! Help me with this!" A deep voice demanded. "Get his other one! Watch that spell!"

"Petrificus Totalis!"

"Someone call for the aurors!" A high pitched voice cried out.

"Use Incarcerous!"

"He's acting out of control! He's like an animal!" Another voice exclaimed. "What happened? He was normal before."

"Incarcerous!"

The loud cracking noise of apparition pulled the crowd's attention as uniformed aurors appeared on the scene, striding forward with a firm and calm authority. The crowd immediately parted, letting the auror's through. Callidus caught a glimpse of a man who was completely bound in ropes and pinned down on the cobblestone by two other men. The flailing man was wild-eyed and frantic, snarling and thrashing but unable to move. But then the aurors blocked everything from sight, using a stunning spell to knock the struggling man unconscious.

"Back away, please!" One of the aurors called out. "Official auror business."

Eventually, the milling crowd dispersed as the roped and unconscious man was taken away. The shoppers gossiped excitedly, all too eager to spread news of the lurid and dramatic scene. The trio listened curiously eventually gathering the pieces together. It sounded as though one of the shoppers, who had been acting perfectly normal beforehand if a bit over-chatty, suddenly snapped and started grunting and snarling, throwing his fists and attacking the people nearest to him. No one had seen any spells being cast at him, though some speculated that perhaps he was carrying a cursed object. As accustomed as people might be to magic, it wasn't every day that a man just started acting like a rabid, aggressive beast, so it was interesting news.

The twins were so intrigued to have witnessed the event almost first-hand that an hour had passed, and they belatedly realized that they needed to get to Flourish and Blotts.

"My father is going to kill me!" Draco groaned, as he tugged his brother/friends towards the bookstore. "I can't believe we forgot to keep track of the time!"

Harry stumbled after him. "Just explain what happened!"

"If he doesn't kill me first!"

The trio made their way to the bookstore, and saw Lucius Malfoy standing outside, his hand gripping the head of his walking stick, and a tightness around his eyes and jaw. His silvery eyes narrowed dangerously as they fell upon the trio who were clumsily dashing up to him. There was a banner over the bookstore window that proclaimed that there was a book signing inside, but considering the frosty look in Lucius Malfoy's eyes, the sign didn't seem important.

"Did I not tell you to meet me here over an hour ago?" Lucius Malfoy questioned darkly, his voice level and yet filled with an unspoken sort of threat.

Draco's head was bowed, and it was strange for Callidus to see his friend so subdued. "I apologize father."

"Someone was going berserk on the streets!" Harry interjected, hating to see Draco being chastised. "There were aurors and everything!"

"Pardon?" Lucius Malfoy turned to examine Harry, and his grip on his walking stick tightened.

"There was some guy who started attacking people out of nowhere," Harry babbled. "People were casting spells, and shouting, and trying to stop him, and I think they had to physically pin him down, and eventually, they managed to bind him him, and the aurors came and took him away."

Rather than looking surprised, the elder Malfoy looked even tenser. In fact, if Callidus had to guess, he would have said that the man was angry. But why? Was he still upset at Draco? It wasn't as though any of them could predict such a thing would happen.

"Father?" Draco's voice was small and hesitant, as the trio awaited Lucius Malfoy's response.

"Thank Merlin you three are safe," the elder Malfoy intoned, sounding not particularly thankful. It was as though he only spoke the words because they were what was expected in the situation. However, he did not appear to be upset with Draco any longer. Rather, Lucius Malfoy became preoccupied with his own thoughts, and the trio might as well have not existed.

They were herded into Flourish and Blotts was which packed. Inside the store, they caught sight of a familiar bushy head of hair. It looked as if Hermione had chosen the same day to buy her school supplies.

"Hermione," Callidus called out, but she did not appear to hear him.

"Hermione!" Harry's voice carried a bit better, and Hermione turned around, giving them a wide smile and a wave when she saw them. There were several books clutched against her chest. The trio pushed their way towards her.

"Who's giving the signing today?" Callidus asked.

"You didn't see the big sign outside? Oh - it's really too bad you weren't here earlier. You missed his big speech!" she gushed, looking and sounding far too excited.

"Whose big speech?" Harry questioned.

"Gilderoy Lockhart's! He's incredible!"

The trio shared a look. "He's here?" Callidus queried. The trio looked around the store, but Lockhart must have been sitting down to do his signings because they could not see him.

"Of course he's here!" Hermione replied, starry-eyed. "I'm just waiting in line to get my books signed. I'm ever so glad that we'll be learning from his wonderful books this year."

"Er -" Harry eyed the crowd uneasily. "Well, I think we just want to get our books and get out of here."

"Yes, this is ridiculous." Draco looked at the people around him with an expression of slight disgust, as though someone unsavoury might accidently touch him or something.

"You'd like to meet him, wouldn't you, Callidus?" Hermione's expression was hopeful. "I know you'd respect a well-written author."

"I believe I'll pass," Callidus answered. "We'll be seeing him in class anyway."

Hermione gave him a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

"He'll be teaching at Hogwarts. Didn't you know?"

Hermione's eyes lit up with bright awe. "Truly? This is wonderful! I can't believe it!"

"Yes well - thus our lack of desire to stand around, getting our course books signed," Callidus concluded.

Hermione pouted but seemed to get over her disappointment quickly. "Oh. Well, all right."

As the trio collected the books that they needed, they heard some of the bookstore's patrons talking about the scene that had occurred on the street.

An arrogant voice declared: "Why, if only I had known of it! I would have taken care of that blackguard in a jiffy! He wouldn't have stood a chance against me!"

There was a collective sigh that seemed to go around the room - especially among the women. Callidus could have sworn that he even saw some of them fluttering their eyelashes. It was decidedly odd.

"I could have used one or two of my signature spells on him!" The voice continued to brag. "That way, no innocent bystanders would have been hurt, and the aurors wouldn't have even been needed! Besides my smile - which as many of you know, has won Witch Weekly's Most Charming-Smile Award five times in a row - is known to be good for calming down hysterical crowds."

"That isn't our future-professor, is it?" Harry questioned. "He sound like -" Harry tried to search for the best word to describe the idiocy that they were being subjected to.

"A complete pillock, is what he sounds like," Draco muttered. "My father is right. Dumbledore really is scraping the bottom of the barrel."

"Let's get out of here," Callidus suggested. "I don't think this store is big enough for all us and that man's ego."

As rapidly as possible, the trio found all the books they needed, and by the time they had all paid, they were glad to leave not only the bookstore, but Diagon Alley. It had been a highly eventful day.

A/N: Ginny... lol. And Gilderoy! This chapter was fun to write :D

Thank you for the reviews! I hope you don't mind if I don't answer questions - especially since many would be spoilers