Title: Harry Potter and the Rise of the Dark Legacy

Author: enchanted nightingale

Beta Reader: pussycatadamah

Pairs: Harry/Lucius (eventually), Ron/Hermione, Neville/Ginny, Remus/Tonks

Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely use them in my plot for fun.

$Parseltongue$

Chapter 6

October 31st: Lucius' Rooms:

Harry waited as the potions took effect. He knew Lucius was bound to recover his senses sooner than he would have; the teen knew that the blonde was used to such abuse, and certainly much more. That was the only reason he was not calling Madam Pomfrey down there to tend to Lucius. That and the proud wizard would most certainly not appreciate having his private dealings with Voldemort being known for a fact; most of the staff thought he was a spy. Harry knew better. The teen knew that Lucius had yet to decide. The man was the epitome of a Slytherin, biding his time until he could see which side the war would favour; his line was older than Merlin, the teen thought, and they had not survived that long without being masterminds in their political games.

So he waited.

He was not disappointed when the man opened his silver blue eyes.

He looked lost for a while, as if he had no idea where he was.

For his part, Lucius was yet to regain full consciousness. His sight was blurry and his mind confused.

'Who do I know with long hair?' he wondered.

Then he noticed he was no longer on the hard floor he remember falling face first on.

'Bed?'

It was warm. And the covers soft against his skin, warming him and making him want to sleep.

The figure leaned over him and carefully moved some of his stray hair away from his face.

His view cleared slowly and soon he was able to see that the one taking care of him was none other than Hogwarts' teen Elf.

"H-Potter?"

"Feel better?" the teen asked immediately.

Lucius tried to sit up but his muscles were screaming at him.

Harry pushed him lightly back on the pillows and Lucius noticed he was nude under all the covers, and more importantly, so was the warm body that kept him so comfortable and warm.

"How can you live down here? The room is so full of humidity that it's colder than the corridors," the teen complained and with his Elf magic made the fire in the mantle stronger.

"What are you doing in my bed?" Lucius asked him.

Harry smiled. "Is the pain less now?"

The blonde sighed and nodded. "I've had worse."

Green eyes hardened. They reminded Lucius so much of the colour of Avada Kedavra that he shivered. When he was younger, it just looked serious, if not a bit funny seeing such a look on a child's face, but now that expression was dangerous. He was suddenly happy that he was not on the boy's 'to kill' list for the year.

"I know," Harry told him. "But I saw him tonight. It was not nothing as you claim." He gritted his teeth and fell on his back beside the blonde. He looked at the ceiling, feeling Lucius' gaze on him.

"I could feel your pain you know. He was so willing to see blood last night… I thought he would not stop," the Gryffindor whispered.

Lucius felt the smaller body next to him tremble. With a mental sigh of resignation he moved closer and hugged the teen, carefully keeping some of the covers between them.

"You think and care too much for others Harry."

Harry enjoyed the proximity and closed his eyes, leaning closer to the man.

"Not true," he replied.

"Your actions speak more than you know," Lucius told him.

"I would gladly let that bastard continue torturing the rest of them and wouldn't miss Bellatrix for the world," Harry said honestly.

Lucius smiled at that. "I doubt her own husband would miss her," he admitted. And then he added. "Maybe you are not 'Saint Potter' after all."

"Who on earth comes up with those names?" the teen complained.

"What potions did you give me?" Lucius asked him.

"You had them ready for use in the cabinet," Harry replied. "Mostly pain relieving potions."

"Thank you," the blonde honestly told him.

Harry shrugged. "You were hurt and I was worried. I had no other choice really," he admitted.

He closed his eyes and turned on his side burrowing closer to Lucius. He caressed the exposed chest, enjoying the softness, marvelling at how smooth and white the skin was.

"You should be in your own bed. I'm better now," the older wizard told him.

"Too tired," the teen mumbled.

Lucius closed his eyes. This night was too long and hard. And to be truthful, he was not all that opposed to the idea of having Harry Potter in his bed.

'We won't be doing anything,' he reasoned.

So he leaned back and closed his eyes.

Harry smiled at the gesture and moved closer, bringing their bodies skin to skin. Lucius said nothing, just placed one of his arms around the Elf and relaxed.

"I don't see why you fight our connection so much," Harry whispered, knowing the other man would hear him.

"Go to sleep, Harry."

"Don't I get a kiss for goodnight after all my troubles?" the teen teased.

"Too tired to move," Lucius told him. "Should I look out for you jumping me tonight?"

"Don't worry," Harry's voice was filled with mirth. "I won't molest you in your sleep."

Lucius was too tired to say any caustic remark back at him, but a smile formed on his face.

Harry closed his own eyes, enjoying the novel experience of sleeping with another and his future mate at that.

He never noticed when he fell asleep.

Dumbledore's Office:

Severus was shaking when he appeared in the Headmaster's office. What portraits were asleep awoke and focused on the battered man. Albus rose on his feet and helped the man into a seat. Then he produced his wand and with a wave of it banished the Death Eater garb and mask, leaving him with his normal robes.

"Severus my boy, what did you get yourself into this time?" the older wizard sighed. "Winky!" he called out.

The small, female house elf popped up in the office.

"A vial of the pain relieving potion and a pepper up," he ordered the house elf.

"Yes, Dumbledore sir!" Winky bowed and with a crack she was gone.

Albus healed some of the most obvious injuries, like scratches and the gashes that were also hidden by the robes.

Another crack and Winky appeared once again with the potions the Headmaster requested.

"Thank you Winky," Dumbledore told her.

He gave the potions to Severus, relieved when the wizard relaxed and sighed in contentment.

Severus regained his senses slowly and felt the pain dull.

Albus asked Winky for brandy and the elf frowned but did as asked.

"That will be all for tonight, thank you."

The elf was in tears as she disappeared with a crack and the Headmaster served Severus a generous fill of brandy.

Severus took the glass gratefully.

"Better now Severus?" Albus asked.

The wizard drank the spirit first and then gave a short nod.

"I really hate to question you for a report tonight," Albus told him.

"It's best I get on and over with it," the spy told him.

Dumbledore nodded and motioned that he could start. Most of the portraits listened carefully as the wizard gave a full report over what took place during the meeting and what he learned afterwards about the raids. He only paused a few times to breathe deeply or drink the brandy. And Albus listened carefully.

"So Lucius was also hurt?" he finally asked.

"More than me," Severus admitted. "The Dark Lord had it in for him from the start."

"Should I send Poppy to him?" Albus asked with worry.

Snape dismissed that idea. "He has all the potions I do. If he takes them instead of just dinking himself to oblivion, and after a good night's rest, he ought to be fine tomorrow."

"He has classes after lunch," Albus said to himself.

"He'll be fine," Severus repeated. "I'll check on him in the morning."

"Then go to your rooms and rest Severus. You've had a very long night. Would you like me to cancel your morning lessons for tomorrow?"

Severus shook his head and then finished his drink.

"No. I better not give anyone any indication that something is not right. I'll get by."

Albus watched as Severus stood and left.

"Difficult times," the portrait of Armando Dippet said from the wall.

"Indeed my friend," the current headmaster replied.

November 1st...

Lucius' rooms:

Harry frowned in his sleep when he felt a chill on his back. He pulled the covers tighter around him and burrowed deeper into the mattress, not paying attention to the warmth coming from the body lying next to him in equal state of undress. Not until the wizard sleeping next to him shifted his tired and sore body closer to that of the teen. The contact they had lost some time during the night somehow woke both of them up.

The first thing the teen noticed how this was not his own room but instead it was darker and that the fire was out. With an annoyed flick of his wrist the flames in the mantle were rekindled and the Elf pressed his head deeper in the pillow.

"What are you doing in my room?" a deep male voice inquired, sleep slightly slurring the words.

The teen froze for a moment before he turned on his side and faced the handsome blonde professor that owned the quarters.

"Lucius?" Harry asked. Then his eyes widened and he sat up, the covers sliding off his pale chest and pooling around his hips. Lucius' eyes followed the trip of the covers before he forced his eyes upward.

"Are you feeling alright? Are you in pain? Sore? Should I-"

Seeing the teen was not about to stop his rant any time soon, Lucius gave him a short kiss on the lips that appropriately shut him up.

The older wizard pulled back when he felt the warmth that came from the young Elf, ignoring both his protesting muscles and his common sense.

"You took care of me," the blonde stated when Harry was startled into silence.

The teen nodded.

Lucius took time to remember the previous night. Even after ingesting all those vials, his senses had been dulled and perhaps allowing the teen to spend the night had not been the smartest move; especially since they were both naked under the covers. Still, he appreciated the fact that other than his own flesh and blood, Draco, he was also cared for by another.

He opted to answer the teen and then worry about later.

"Just sore Harry." He paused. "You saw what happened."

The Elf cringed but nodded all the same. "He's lost it."

'I doubt he was ever sane,' Lucius thought privately. It was a common occurrence after all to be met with cases of insanity in old pure blooded families, his sister in law being the perfect example.

"Never mind that, how about eating something?" He searched for his wand on his night stand. Upon finding it he cast a 'Tempus' and saw it was well past nine o'clock. "Breakfast is long overdue."

"Agh, you're an early riser," Harry groaned and fell back on the soft mattress.

Lucius chuckled as the teen glared him and then turned around in search of something. Giving up he summoned a robe from his closet. He winced when he stood, his muscles still strained. He briefly thought a shot of fire-whiskey would do the trick but decided against it when his son's disappointed face popped in his mind.

Harry cracked an eye open and watched unabashedly as the man threw the covers off him and stood from the bed. Green eyes stared the broad, muscled shoulders and back, the narrow hips, the firm buttocks. He almost groaned when the black silk robe hid that wonderful view from his eyes.

'Damn,' Harry groaned mentally.

Lucius felt eyes on his back and frown, turning around he saw the Elf blushing, turning his head away, his long hair hiding his bashful expression.

The older wizard smirked openly; the boy was cute in his bed, his black hair framing his face, that slender and pale body and those pointy ears peeking out from the curtain of hair.

"You need to get up. It's a school day and you have already missed breakfast and the first lesson," Lucius told him.

Harry pushed his long locks behind his ears, but they kept falling over his eyes. "What day is today?"

"Thursday," Lucius replied.

The teen thought about it. "The first two periods are Charms," he replied with a shrug. "I already know the non-verbal summoning spell."

"Potter…" Lucius warned.

"You can't make me," the teen replied childishly. "I spent hours in Voldemort's mind," he ignored Lucius' flinch, "watched him torture you, felt your pain, stayed awake to care for you most of the night and on top of all that I have Potions of all things this morning; nothing you say can get me out of this bed."

Lucius wanted to groan. This was worse than Draco's tantrums.

Deciding on another route he walked over to Harry's side of the bed and leaned over the teen, kissing him softly on the lips.

Harry was startled by the initiative but afterwards he wrapped his hands around Lucius' neck and arched up.

Lucius enjoyed the youthful body rubbing against him and leaned closer to Harry while deepening the kiss. He briefly wondered how he had never noticed before how sweet the teen tasted.

'Sweet like grapes,' he said in his mind.

Harry pulled Lucius closer, opening his mouth to the wizard, enjoying that expert tongue that drove him crazy. It was unlike anything he had ever felt. Kissing Lucius was different to any other kiss he had. This admittedly was not much as Cho was hardly an experience, but it was still one of his best moments.

The blonde wizard enjoyed the sweet taste of the teen and the warmth of the naked skin that reached him through the coolness of his robe. With his tongue he prodded Harry's, gaining access to his mouth and eliciting a loud moan from him. It spurred the man on as it stirred heat in the pit of his stomach that spread south as the teen kept making delightful noises. Lucius pushed the young wizard back on the mattress and covered him with his body, aligning their bodies perfectly.

The Elf placed his hand inside the silk robe, caressing the smooth, firm chest. Lucius moaned in appreciation as the garment was slid off his shoulders and balanced precariously on his hips. Harry had their torsos touch, which spurred the wizard on.

Lucius threw the covers off of the teen's body and took a few minutes to admire the naked youth in all his glory. It caused him satisfaction to see Harry's member half hard already, pressing against his hip. He kissed Harry again, more urgently and the Elf moaned loudly and pulled Lucius closer, so only the silk robe separated their lower bodies.

Harry gasped, enjoying the contact

He used his knee to spread Harry's creamy legs apart and pressed his groin against the teen's, his own growing erection rubbing against Harry's; said wizard gasped and thrust against Lucius, enjoying the pleasure the action caused.

Lucius pulled away from the kiss, and trailed the teen's neck. He nipped the tender skin, and then bit lightly, enjoying the mewling sound that came from the youth beneath him.

Harry reached behind Lucius' head and pulled him back up for another heated kiss.

The older wizard run his right palm along Harry's naked arm, then down his side, settling it on his firm hip.

Harry felt the heat of the palm burning against his skin.

Lucius kissed him again, this time more aggressively and the teen moaned in his passion.

Neither heard the door open, nor the heavy footsteps that came from the study area. Only when the bedroom door was thrown open it bounced against the stone wall the pair broke their kiss and Lucius used his body and the abandoned covers to shield the teen's nude body.

In the door step stood the frozen form of the Potions Master of Hogwarts. His coal like eyes stayed on the two figures on the bed for as long as it was necessary to send his body into shock. Then he closed them, turned around mechanically and out of the room. He seemed to have recovered some since his deep voice reached them where the couple remained frozen on the bed.

"Couldn't you keep your hands to yourselves the both of you? Put some clothes on for Mordred's sake!"

Harry groaned in embarrassment and his flushed face in Lucius' neck.

The blonde wizard petted his head absently and sighed. Severus was his best friend, his only friend, but his timing was terrible. It brought a smile on his usually stern face.

"Lucius?" Harry questioned.

When the man started laughing, the teen looked fascinated, seeing him like this.

From the study Severus heard both Lucius' laughter and the teen saying 'He's lost it!'; it brought a rare smile to his face.

'Maybe the mental trauma will be worth it,' the dark haired spy thought.

Lucius was the first to leave the bedroom, mostly dressed save for the robes. He saw Severus on the couch near the second fireplace. The man had already conjured a bottle of elf-made cognac and served himself. He glared Lucius when he exited the room.

"Is Potter dressed?" he asked immediately.

Lucius nodded and joined him on the couch.

"He's just putting on his glamour."

"Good. He's already missed breakfast. If Albus' eyes twinkled any longer I would have hit him," Severus told him.

Lucius snorted.

Harry exited the bedroom that very moment. He paused upon seeing his Potions Professor. Snape sneered at him and went back to his early drink.

On the other hand Lucius stood and walked over to him. Harry fought the urge to pounce; he would not give Snape another reason to torment him. Lucius seemed to sense this because he kept back from touching him.

It was an awkward silence that followed.

"Er, right. I better go," Harry whispered for Lucius, but it was loud in the silence.

The blonde wizard nodded. He could ignore Severus' snort, but he did not have enough nerve to kiss the Gryffindor in front of the other Slytherin. So he kept his hands and other parts to himself watching Harry leave. In the last minute he thought to stop Harry for a kiss, just to get a taste, but the steady look Severus was giving him deterred him from any such decision.

"Not a word," Lucius half threatened half warned when the door was tightly shut behind Harry.

"Of course not," Severus drawled. "What is there to say when I have caught you naked in bed with one of the school's students?"

Lucius glowered at him but his friend laughed.

"I'm glad one of us finds this amusing," he muttered.

"I have to get my kicks somehow," Severus told him with and evil smirk.

The blonde groaned; it was going to be a very long year.

Great Hall:

There was a buzz that day at lunch that there was not during breakfast. The 'Daily Prophet' had not been delivered early in the morning like usual. Instead it had not been delivered at all, which was a sign of something going wrong on its own. Then, when the owls came rushing inside during lunch period, it was enough to make the whole Hall chatter in dread. Surely nothing good would come out from all this.

Hermione waited impatiently for her owl, trying to ignore the gasps of surprise and terror that came from those who had received the paper.

"What is it?" Ron demanded.

She swallowed hard, her hands trembling.

"There was another attack," his girlfriend told him.

"Where?" Neville asked urgently.

"Against Amelia Bones and a few other members of the government and the Wizengamot," Hermione explained.

They eyed the Hufflepuff table where Suzan Bones was seated. She looked pale and shook like a leaf. Her friends and house mates were trying to calm her down. Her own Head of House, Pomona Sprout, came down from the High table and took her aside, comforting the sobbing girl.

"Did anyone we know die?" Ginny asked quietly. The request was morbid, but the question was on their minds.

Hermione scanned the rest of the front page quickly, and then moved on the next pages her eyes moving rapidly.

"Well?" Neville asked, dreading the answer.

"Four dead," Hermione concluded. "One of the Aurors that protected Amelia Bones, two Muggle's that happened to pass by when Paul Clearwater, the second in command after Head of the Auror Department, as well as Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head of the Department were attacked."

"Clearwater?" Ginny frowned. "Like Percy's Penelope?"

"Her father," Hermione replied. "He was hurt by one of the cutting curses and he was admitted to St. Mungo's."

"The fourth?" Neville asked.

Hermione swallowed. "During the attack on Auror John Dawlish's residence. He was also an Order member. His daughter was killed," Hermione's voice cracked. "-at the age of eighteen months old."

Ron pushed the plate away from him in disgust.

After that everyone was subdued for the rest of the day.

Gryffindor Tower:

Ron was sprawled on a sofa in front of the fireplace. Hermione was reading a book, sitting at his feet on a nice conjured pillow. Neville and Ginny were discussing in hushed tones near them but far enough so that Ron was unable to hear them. He eyed the Quidditch magazine he had tossed aside only moments before. He was bored and only Harry was likely to rectify that. He missed having his friend in the tower. They spoke less nowadays, played less chess and explosive snap, and generally they hung around less. It was nice to have Hermione with him, and he enjoyed their time as a couple, but he missed the other teen that had come to be a brother to him.

'Speak of the devil,' Ron thought as Harry entered from the portrait hole, greeting a few of the other house mates that passed him, nodding at Seamus and Dean by the window, before slipping on the sofa next to Ron.

Ailill was alread there, waiting for Harry. The teen greeted his teacher, grateful to meet with the Elf; there were plenty of things to be discussed aside from his progress in Aura reading. So far he could switch into what he had dubbed as 'aura vision' and could identify the colours easily enough when the intent was specific. For example he easily recognized the brown and grey hues in the auras of the objects in Hogwarts. He could tell when the ghosts were about to approach him and he had been able to dodge Peeves whenever the poltergeist was about to make mischief and get him into trouble. The dark pink aura that surrounded the poltergeist when mischief got into his mind was easy to spot and Harry knew to avoid him. He had also escaped pranks by a few seventh year Slytherin's.

It was fun practicing his Aura sensing ability. He had even got Hermione to help him. Whenever the witch tried a spell he tried sensing it, getting the feeling of the aura it held. So far he was doing well. He knew almost every spell they had been taught so far by its aura. When in the DA classes he knew how to avoid stray spells by recognizing their aura and side-stepping them just in time. Dark gold was for stunning curses and spells and he knew how to deflect them without much thought as well as the lemony yellow of stinging hexes and other such spells taught.

With time he could also see the bright gold web that covered the grounds of Hogwarts until a few feet inside the Forbidden Forest where the wards ended.

He could also pin point exactly where the non human staff was. He was able to recognize some of the people in the castle by aura alone. So far the most distinguishable were Sprout, due to her connection with Herbology, Madam Pomfrey for her healing abilities, Trelawney for her admittedly miniscule divination abilities and Dumbledore himself who had a strong aura in a mix of turquoise, blue and pink.

He could also tell whether Hagrid, who had Giant blood, was in the castle, teaching or at his home, same for the centaurs and Ailill, although with his teacher it was vague and not always accurate. When asked, Ailill had told him he was used to masking his presence as most Elves and that Harry would also be taught, though not before he got his other abilities under control.

That night the Wood Elf tested his abilities again. It irked Harry a bit, but he also understood the reason behind all the practice. He often had trouble concentrating when it was needed and at other times focusing too much on some of the details in such a degree that he lost touch with reality.

"It could prove fatal in a battle against the death eater or Voldemort," Ailill had reprimanded him.

The Dark Elf scratched his nose without lifting the blindfold that the other Elf had tied over his eyes.

"I know," Harry said with a sigh.

"Again," Ailill replied and the teen sensed the intention behind the next spell fired at him and turned to his left, avoiding the Trip Jinx.

He was not given time to recover as Ailill sent a barrage of spells after him next. Harry avoided the first five, but the sixth, a stinging hex, grazed his arm, and then the stunner finished him off.

Ailill was smiling at him when Harry wrenched the blindfold away.

"You are getting better but you have ways to go yet."

The teen sighed tiredly. "Why should I be blinded?"

"In a tactical move the enemy will render your sight inactive and then you would be killed off easily. I am familiar with wizard magic and I am capable of practicing it. I know that the 'Nox' spell can turn day into night, there's also the 'Peruvian dark powder' easily available and able to create darkness unable to penetrate even with 'Lumos' or disperse before a span of fifteen minutes has passed."

"I get it," Harry said then, putting the blindfold back on.

"Good, this time don't just block or avoid me; try to also land a hit on me. Ready? Expeliarmus!" Ailill said.

Harry was quick on his feet and hands, throwing off the spell and sending a stunner at his teacher's way.

When he was struck by a hex he cursed and got ready again. He had a feeling it would be a long night.

November 5th...

Potions:

Harry entered the dungeon classroom with Hermione at his side. While he no longer feared any type of retribution from the Slytherin's present, he was far from comfortable when in the presence of the Head of House for Slytherin. Snape had been giving him that knowing smirk turned sneer all week and it was driving him crazy.

He left his school bag on his working stool, Hermione taking the seat to his right. Then Draco Malfoy plopped on the seat to his left with an exaggerated sigh.

Both Gryffindor's gave him incredulous looks.

Then Blaise Zabini took a seat behind Hermione and Daphne Greengrass on his left.

Harry raised an eyebrow at this.

"What?" Blaise demanded. "It was either here or with the Ravenclaw's and Padma Patil hates my guts now because I said something against her much loved theory of Yann Parzifal."

While the rest looked incredulous, Hermione grew excited. "You mean the wizard who developed the theory of opposition."

"For the rest of us normal people?" Harry asked.

"You are not normal," Hermione told him.

"Pretend he is," Malfoy cut in.

"The short version," Harry added.

Hermione huffed and glared her friend but soon gave in.

"How opposites in magical powers interact; it is how most counter spells are created even nowadays."

"See? Easy and short and no headaches," Harry smiled at her.

"Prat," Hermione muttered.

Snape entered the classroom and all noise ceased. Harry fought the urge to gulp.

The professor waved his wand and sentences and instructions appeared on the board.

"This is the recipe for a contraceptive potion. When ingested by male or female it prevents unwanted teenage pregnancies. Write it down. You do not need a partner for this potion."

Harry could feel his ears burn in embarrassment when Snape looked at him and wished he could disappear.

"Next, we will begin on lust potions," Snape added. "Those will be your essay for next lesson. At least a foot long."

Harry groaned and kept his eyes lowered. Next to him, Hermione wondered why they learned potions that were usually part of the curriculum and Harry was certain that he would never be left to live it down if Snape had a say in it, which he did.

Room of Requirement:

Harry arrived just in time for yet another of his lessons with Ailill. He almost smiled that he no longer had to call the Elf 'Elder Frideswide' whenever he had to address him. After reading all those books he understood the reason for addressing Elders with such respect, it was the way Elfin society was formed. While he could get away with calling him Ailill in private, nothing would protect him if he slipped up and not addressed his teacher with the proper title. In an Elfin community, the teacher had the right to hit or smack around their wayward pupils. In Harry's case, Ailill had told him there was no use for such formality because Ailill himself abhorred the stiff rules and behaviour as well as the way humans had with their young.

"Harry," Ailill called out from the corner. He was holding what looked like wooden swords, the stuff kids would use to play.

"Good, you're here. Now we will start."

"Start with what exactly?" Harry asked.

Ailill threw him a sword.

The teen caught it but the grip was awkward.

"Have you ever held a sword before?" Ailill asked.

Harry grimaced. "I was twelve when I used the Gryffindor sword to kill a Basilisk."

Ailill smiled. "How did it go?"

"I almost died. Fawkes was there to save me," Harry replied.

"So?"

"Pure dumb luck," the Dark Elf groused and Ailill laughed.

"Well then, I think it is time for you to learn how to fight properly."

"Will it hurt?" Harry asked.

The glint of mischief in Ailill's eyes was a dead giveaway and Harry groaned.

Next morning:

Hermione was concerned at how much Harry was wincing that morning. He seemed unable to sit down properly and he winced when someone bumped into him or when Seamus heartily patted/ smacked him on the back.

"Harry? Are you okay? What's wrong?" she asked.

"He is a sadist," Harry said miserably.

"Who?"

"Ailill."

"What happened mate?" Ron asked.

"We started sword-fighting," Harry told them.

"Fencing?" Hermione guessed.

"No. Some Elfin technique. He said humans fight like monkeys," Harry mumbled the last part.

"Hey!" both his friends protested.

"His words," Harry said hurriedly.

"So what's the problem today?" Neville asked as he sat across from Harry.

"Pompous gits," Hermione said sweetly.

"Snape?" Neville tried.

"Not him, for once," Ron said.

"You have to be more specific then," Neville told him.

"My teacher, Ailill," Harry said. "We started sword-fighting and I'm hurting all over."

His friend snickered.

"It's not funny! He wiped the floor with me! and then told me my lessons were to continue every night from now on!"

"Poor Harry," Hermione teased.

"Monkey," Harry said back.

She glared and threw a muffin at him.

Harry caught it easily, he was not the youngest seeker in a century for nothing, and bit into it triumphantly while Hermione huffed and the other two teens laughed.

That night...

Hogwarts Corridors:

Draco was wandering the halls in his late night patrol of the corridors.

'I hate being a prefect,' he thought with vengeance.

Sure, the use of separate bathrooms and knowing all the passwords, taking points and giving detentions were wonderful privileges, but what use were they when he could not catch an extra hour of sleep and was forced to wander the dreary halls at nights? He had already come across McGonagall once, Snape twice and Filch five times. The caretaker seemed to be everywhere!

'At least I have yet to see Peeves,' he thought grudgingly. The poltergeist was the bane of every student's existent at night. While he could get the Bloody Baron to put the darn thing in its place, he would prefer not to have dung-bombs thrown at him, or worse, drenched in cold water in this weather.

He dragged his feet, willing to just get this over with.

As he neared the northern tower he slowed down. He knew that normally this part of the castle was empty and Filch was the one to usually patrol these parts. Relieved, Draco turned and started walking back to the dungeons, thinking about his warm bed when he heard something.

With a frown he stopped and went back. Lurking in the shadows he listened carefully at the laughter and the joyful voices.

"…tomorrow," a female voice said clearly. Her voice grew closer and clearer, a sure sign that she and whoever else was with her were coming closer to where he was, or that he was approaching them. He frowned. He had not known anyone was living in this side of the castle. And it was far from Gryffindor territory so he was a bit surprised when he recognized the female voice.

'Granger?' Draco wondered, recognizing the voice. 'Figures Potter and the other two are up to something.'

"Goodnight Harry," the girl was heard calling and then Weasley.

'Potter doesn't stay in Gryffindor?' Draco though with no little surprise. 'Why did I not hear about this?'

He walked closer and peeked around the corner. Sure enough there was Granger and Weasley walking out of a portrait hole waiving back at a tall, lean figure with long raven black hair, white skin and…

'Bloody hell! Are those pointy ears?' Draco wondered.

His grey eyes widened.

'No fucking way!'

end of chapter

November 2nd...

Room of Requirement: