DISCLAIMER: THE BOOK BELONGS TO J. I HAVE ONLY BORROWED BOTH CHARACTERS AND PLOTLINE.

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CHAPTER 39

"It's really late Harry; maybe we should call it quits tonight." Draco yawned sleepily.

"One last time Dray…this is so difficult to comprehend, tell me again what do they mean by a 'Licensed' ward?" Harry asked trying to keep his eyes open, feeling rather lightheaded and tired.

"A 'Licensed' ward is like the ward I used to protect our potion the last year. They are made especially to protect family homes and its members. It is unique in that only the caster himself or his progeny bear the knowledge to undoing it. Sometimes these wards are sold for a price, allowing outsiders to learn its secrets, but it is very rarely done. And unfortunately, you and I need to know a little about Runes and Arithmancy if we plan on creating such wards."

"This is so frustrating!" Harry moaned his head falling on to the thick tome in front of him, "We've worked for nearly two months now and have learnt like three or four spells and those too are so weak."

Draco looked at him tiredly and said "I think we need some kind of mentor or teacher to at least give us some guidelines, right now we're really struggling to even understand the magic."

"What do we do then Dray? You know nobody, who'd help and I, I have thought about getting Sirius or Lupin involved, but they are my Godfathers that makes them duty-bound to inform my parents and mum is dead set against me fighting, so it rules them out completely" he said sounding defeated.

"Tell you what we'll sleep on it and think of something by tomorrow it's useless continuing like this" Draco said getting up and stretching, He was just about to put away the books that had been lying around in his bag when he heard a loud almost deafening pop in the silence of the night.

"Dobby if you do that once more without some kind of warning, I'm not going to let you see Harry again for a week," Draco said his hand on his wand.

"Dobby is sorry to have scared Master Draco, Dobby will punish himself" said the elf and was about to make good on his word when Draco stopped him while sighing, really he thought the elf was so dramatic.

Looking scared at his master Dobby looked down and said in a whisper "Dobby has been a bad elf; Dobby has broken the rules set by master."

Now looking more alert and stern Draco asked Dobby "Which rules did you break Dobby?"

The elf chanced a pathetic look at Harry and turned back to Draco, "Dobby was going to the market to buy the week's supplies, as it was Dobby's turn to do so, when I's crashed into a tall man in dark blue and bronze robes. Dobby is apologizing and trying to leave, when the man caught Dobby and asked Dobby if I was your house elf."

"I's not knowing what to do and struggled to run away because Master always says never to talk to strangers who ask about the house. I's really tried Master, but he held Dobby tightly and told Dobby that he has something very important to give to you Master Draco and Master Harry." Dobby said looking pleading and miserable.

"I's start to hit myself, when he stopped me and told me if I gave you what he wanted to give you, it would save your lives and the lives of many others, he said you would understand what it meant and that you must really think about it."

He looked at Harry and started to cry "I…I's really want to protect Master Harry and Master Draco so I's ta…taking it and bringing it you" so saying he produced a bent envelope from beneath his pillowcase covering and held it out for Draco to see.

The envelope was a deep blue, bearing the seal of two crossed wands in a bronze color and the words above it 'Belldane Academy of Magical Defence'.

Draco did not take the letter and continued looking at the house-elf saying "Dobby I've told you many times that taking things from strangers you don't know is dangerous, you really have been a bad elf."

Dobby was whimpering and had grabbed the handle on the door, was about to smash his head into it when Harry stood up and stopped him "Dray, let it go. He only did it to help us, didn't you Dobby?" He asked looking at the penitent elf.

Nodding piteously Dobby proffered the letter once again to Harry and this time Harry took it. Examining the beautiful seal Harry opened the envelope with trepidation waiting for it to explode or something. Draco had come to stand behind him and was peering over his should also curious about its contents.

Pulling out a letter that was written in thick yellowing parchment, Harry opened up the folds and revealed its contents. It bore a crest similar to seal on the envelope in a shimmering bronze and beneath it were the words;

'Nullum bellum suscipi a civitate optima, nisi aut pro fide, aut pro salute'

"War is never undertaken by an Ideal State, except in defense of its honor, or it's Safety" Harry translated. Reading further he saw the letter had been addressed to both him and Draco,

Dear Messrs. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter,

It is quite a relief to be able to finally send this letter to you. We have known for some time now that you seek help for studying the true art of defense; you need to look no farther than what we have to offer you.

Your names have been put down since birth in our school register and accordingly you will be given the choice to study in it for no less than one year. I cannot ease you of your suspicions about the truth of my words but nevertheless I assure you that it is all true.

As it is you are very young to be given an entrance, but the school chooses the time when it deems you ready. Should you choose to join our school sign your name in the letter in the space below and it will be automatically entered in the register.

Further information will be given to you in a few weeks' time in the form of a brochure. If you enter your name, then you will have become students at the 'Belldane school of Magical Defense' for a year starting the next year itself.

Your parents will be informed that you will be attending the Beauxbaton's school for an exchange program instead of the actual location. You will be able to return to Hogwarts for the next school year.

Your utmost discretion is requested; please do not reveal the contents of this letter to anyone outside yourselves.

Choose wisely.

Yours Truly,

Janus Mendez,

Headmaster.

Harry and Draco turned to look at each other stunned, this letter held the answer to their problems. Only thing was its origin was very dodgy. Neither of them had heard of such a school before and it seemed too perfect to be true.

Looking at Dobby, Draco asked "Do you remember the face of the man who gave you this letter or anything about him for that matter?"

Dobby shook his head sadly and said the man's cloak had hid his face well. But the man had given a name, he had asked Dobby to call him Fletcher Garret.

Never having heard of that name before Draco looked at Harry and asked already knowing the answer

"What do you plan on doing?"

"I plan to give it a week at least and search for anything mentioned about it in other books. But I won't lie to you Dray, I see this as gift and most probably by then end of the week I would have signed my name.

Draco nodded he had expected no different "I need more time Harry, I have a lot to consider, I'm not even sure about taking such an active role in this war. I despise the Dark Lord but am disillusioned by Dumbledore as well, let me think this through before I make any decision."

Harry nodded; it was a sound decision, one that showed that Draco was being precautious. Really one after another strange things were being revealed to them. Looking at Dobby who had been waiting patiently for them, he smiled and thanked the now blushing elf.