Chapter Four: A Helping Hand...

Draco easily followed the directions on the map and soon found himself standing next to Harry on the seventh floor of Hogwarts, opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barby. They walked back and forth three times in front of the wall, concentrating on what they needed and a door soon appeared in front of them.

They glanced at each other, both shrugging slightly. Harry reached out and opened the door, both of them looking around the hallway cautiously before entering the room.

The space they found themselves in was perfect for their needs... of course, that was its very purpose. Their intel had served them exceedingly well in this case.

"Room of Requirements," Harry mumbled to himself, studying their new environment. "Perfect."

"Quite," Draco said with a grin.

Harry looked over at his brother and noted a slight nervousness to his manner. He smirked slightly. "So tell me Drake... just what did you do that you shouldn't have?"

The room they that they were currently standing in was an enormous library. Books lined every wall from floor to ceiling. There were also newspaper archives, back issues of magazines (both Wizarding and Muggle) and maps.

"Must be every book every written..." Draco said slowly, looking around in amazement.

"Brilliant," Harry said with a grin. "You're going to have your work cut out for you, brother."

"Me?" Draco asked in surprise. "What about you?"

"Hey, everyone knows you're the smart one," Harry said with a shrug. "I'd only slow you down."

"Nice try," Draco said, his eyes narrowing. "There's no way in hell I'm letting you get out of research that easily!"

Harry sighed theatrically. "Ah well, it was worth a try."

"Right," Draco said mockingly.

They made their way across the Library to the only other set of doors. Draco pushed them open and they found themselves in another large room. It appeared to have been designed for training of all types. There were lots of mats, weapons and a corner dedicated to muggle exercise equipment.

"A muggle gym?" Draco questioned, raising his eyebrows at his brother.

Harry shrugged. "Well, we need to keep in shape, now don't we?"

"Just how much time do you think that we're going to be able to spend in here without it being noticed?"

"More as time goes on," Harry answered. He looked around the room appraisingly. He nodded as Draco indicated the three doors, one on each wall.

"Any preference?" Draco asked.

Harry shrugged. "We have to look in all of them eventually."

"'Kay," Draco said, making his way to the first door, Harry at his heels. "Well damn," he said, looking down a long, door-lined hallway.

"You can say that again," Harry said, looking at the impossibly long hallway in amazement.

"Well damn," Draco repeated.

"Funny," Harry stated, rolling his eyes.

"Thought so," Draco said with a smirk. He opened the first door to his left and found a fully outfitted apartment. He looked over to where Harry had opened the first door on his right. "Apartment?"

Harry nodded and they both moved on to the next door.

"More of the same?"

"Yeah." Harry looked at the hallway stretching out seemingly endlessly before them. "Hmm. Next hallway?"

"Sure..." They left the first hallway and entered the second, Draco still mulling over the veritable apartment building they had just left. "Harry, just how many people do you plan on bringing in here? And when you say 'take over the school' ... Do you mean that literally?"

Harry looked at Draco in surprise for a moment and then snorted. "Mainly figuratively, Drake... But you never know when it will come in handy to have a place that can provide rooms for a couple hundred people on a whim... Especially a place that few know the location of or how to get into it. I was just testing it."

"Okay," Draco said. "Makes sense. Just so long as we're not moving an army in here within the next few weeks. I want to settle in a little first. You know, have a class or two... Maybe meet a few pretty girls..." He shook his head slightly. "And Harry. I hate to tell you this, but practicality? Not your strong suit."

Harry looked puzzled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"One exceptionally long hallway?" Draco snorted. "You might want to consider branching hallways, you know... so people don't have to walk quite so far...?"

Harry looked a bit sheepish. "That would make more sense, huh? But as I said, it was just a test..."

Draco smirked at his brother and together they entered the second hallway. They each opened the first door that they came to.

"Potions lab," Harry said, closing the door behind him.

"Some sort of strategy room," Draco said, also closing his door. "Any map, book on warfare, military texts... basically anything you could need to plan a battle is in there."

They moved on to the next door.

"Weapons."

"Greenhouse."

SLAM!

When Draco spoke, his voice was carefully controlled and exceedingly calm. "Harry, would you kindly tell me why we need a Hungarian Horntail?"

Harry's eyes widened and a look of boyish pleasure crossed his face. "You're bloody kidding me! That worked?" Harry opened the door, ducking quickly to avoid the plume of smoke and fire that exited the room. "Wicked! I wonder if it's real?"

Draco grabbed Harry and pulled him backwards.

SLAM!

"Don't be a bloody moron!"

"What?" Harry asked.

Draco glared at him. "Bloody Gryffindors... Nutters, all of you! Just open the next door!"

Harry shrugged, complying willingly with his brother's request. "Charms." His voice was almost disappointed.

Draco shook his head as he opened the next door cautiously, peeking carefully into the room to assess for danger before taking a good look. "Why the hell do we need a room dedicated to Divination?"

"Hey, there are real seers in the worlds," Harry said with a shrug as he moved to the next door. "Just because we have yet to meet one doesn't mean that we won't. And if we do, we may need that room."

Draco shut the door to the Divination room and looked at Harry with bemusement. "When you prepare, you really prepare, don't you?"

Harry smirked as he too closed a door. "Hey, not all of this is me, brother. I know for a fact that you're responsible for this one." He pointed at the door that he'd just closed. "Been reading up on medieval torture devices, have we?"

Draco shrugged. "I will indeed take responsibility for that one... Might come in handy if we need to get some information out of someone..."

Harry shuddered slightly. "Shall I just leave that to you, then?"

"Indeed."

They had reached the end of the current hallway. "We can investigate the last hallway later," Harry said, looking down at his watch. "We need to get back to the main room."

Draco nodded and followed Harry to the Library. They watched the door silently, yet expectantly for a moment, and then Harry turned to Draco.

"Seriously now, Drake. What happened that has you worried?"

Draco sighed. "I took care of it, Harry. There was just a little incident when I was explaining the situation to Blaise and Pansy."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Daphne something or other, one of the other Slytherin fifth years, overheard part of the conversation. They had asked me about father and I got a little distracted... May have ranted a bit..."

Harry nodded. "Ah, yes. Well you are a bit irrational when you talk about that whole situation."

"'Irrational'? 'That whole situation'?" Draco shook his head in disbelief. "Harry, the man who raised us... as brothers mind you, set you up to die in some stupid ritual resurrection. I'm not being irrational. You're too bloody... calm about the whole damn... 'situation'!"

Harry sighed. "I have to be, Drake."

It was all he would say.

It was all he ever said, but Draco understood what he meant.

But then, they always understood one another, sometimes more than either one wanted to...

Draco knew that Harry couldn't embrace the anger and hatred the way he could. He also knew that there was a very good reason for that.

It would hurt too much.

The man Harry had looked to as a father had betrayed him. Sent him blindly into a situation with the intention of getting him killed. To dwell on it too much...

Well, Draco could do that for him. Lucius had never tried to kill him.

And that was what made the situation different for Draco. He had stumbled onto the plan and managed to get in the way of it. He hadn't been the target. That would have brought about an entirely different set of emotions... the least of which would have been anger.

The kind of emotions that Harry had to deal with every time he was faced with what he called 'the situation'. Emotions that Harry simply wasn't prepared to deal with.

So he didn't.

He was always excessively calm about the 'situation', pretending that it didn't matter to him at all.

"So, what did she overhear?" Harry asked, casually changing the subject.

"A heck of a lot more than I wanted her to," Drake said, accepting the change of subject without protest. "But as I said, I handled the situation."

The look on Draco's face made Harry a bit nervous. Drake was nothing if not inventive when it came to cover stories.

"What exactly did you say to her?"

Draco shrugged, knowing why Harry was sounding so nervous. "Not too much, actually. I just acted really upset about having to tell you that she'd overheard. Then I told her that I would have oblivated her had I the skill, but that you didn't have that restriction..."

"What!? Drake!"

Draco smirked at his brother. "Hey, she doesn't know that you're 'above' such things. Then I just told her to keep her mouth shut and you probably wouldn't do anything... Blaise and Pans seemed to buy it."

"They thought that I would oblivate someone, just for the hell of it?" Harry asked in disbelief. He'd thought that they knew him better than that... especially Pansy. "What kind of scheme do they think we're running here?"

"Taking over the school with the intent of wiping out all Death Eater scum."

Which was, in simplest terms, what the plan was.

"What else did you tell them?" The words were full of trepidation. Draco had this tendency to be a bit dramatic...

"Just that you would have to meet Daphne and do your little 'Potter test' before she'd be let in the 'club.'"

And there is was.

"'Potter test'?" Harry exclaimed indignantly. "Damn it Drake! You're not on about that whole 'mojo' thing again are you? It's perfectly ridiculous!"

"You are almost never wrong in your estimation of people, Harry. They tend to do exactly what you think they're going to. It really is both frightening and amazing to behold... And even you can't deny that!"

"I can and I will!" Harry exclaimed. "There is absolutely nothing even remotely special about..."

"Shut it, Potter!"

Harry stopped talking, looking at Draco in surprise. "What?"

Draco smirked. "Remind me again of what it was you said the first time you saw Professor Chambers...?"

Harry glared darkly at his brother. "I don't see how that's relevant."

"You said, 'He's a Death Eater if I ever saw one. We'll have to watch our backs this year.'"

"One time."

"The picture of Black in the paper," Draco stated matter-of-factly.

"He just didn't look like a murderer to me!" Harry exclaimed defensively.

Draco shook his head. "Harry, that is one of the scariest pictures I have ever seen. No one has ever looked more like a murderer than he did in that picture!"

"Well, I was wrong about 'Father' and 'Mother' now wasn't I?"

Those words brought a momentary end to what had been, in reality, good-natured ribbing.

"It's hardest to see in the ones closest to you," Draco said softly.

Both boys were silent for a moment, and then Draco continued as if they hadn't digressed at all. "I'm not too worried about the situation. Pansy and Blaise seem to trust her. Besides," he said slyly, unable to keep himself from getting another little dig in... all in good fun, of course. "Once you turn on the famous Potter charm, she'll do whatever you tell her to."

Harry glared at Draco again. "Drake..." he said warningly.

"Harry, you have talked yourself out of more situations than anyone has a right to. We should have been expelled from Durmstrang at least seven times in the four years we were there..."

"Lucius..." Harry started, looking a little desperate.

"We blew up the entire West Wing, Harry."

"No one was hurt..." Harry said earnestly. "At least, not unintentionally."

"How about Professor Lunaris passing you in A&D? In fact, you did better than me in that class!" Astronomy and Divination were taught together at Durmstrang, concentrating more on Astronomy, Astrology and Seers, rather than on fortunetelling.

"So?"

"So? So!? Harry, you never even went to class... and you failed every test!"

"I had a vision..." Harry insisted defensively. "A very important and accurate vision!"

"You faked a very important and accurate vision!"

Harry's eyes narrowed. "I think that's more a reflection of her gullibility rather than of any action or talent on my part."

Draco snorted. "Sure it is. Face it, brother. You are, without doubt, the luckiest, most charismatic person on the face of the planet. There's no other explanation for the trophy's, the grades or the girls. 'Cause frankly, you're not that talented, not that smart and definitely not that pretty."

"Damn it Drake!" Harry exclaimed angrily. He'd had just about all the teasing he could stand... He tossed his wand to the side and hurled himself at his brother.

Draco threw himself backwards in a controlled fall as he was hit by 70 kg of aggravated wizard.

The wrestling match was just getting interesting when a high-pitched voice interrupted them. "Master sirs! Master sirs! What is you's doing?"

The boy's paused, Harry loosening his headlock on Draco, while Draco softened the blow that he'd been aiming at his brother's gut.

"Dobby!" The boys exclaimed as one. They looked at each other and then, in unison, pushed apart. Their attempts to look contrite and sheepish failed miserably as both began to shake unashamedly with laughter.

"'Bout time you showed up," Harry said breathlessly. "It's getting close to curfew."

"Dobby is sorry, Master sirs," Dobby said contritely, looking around the room as if in need of something. "Dobby shall be punishing..."

"Knock it off, Dobby," Draco said, interrupting. "You know you're not allowed to punish yourself. Harry was just joking anyway... weren't you Harry."

"Indeed," Harry said with a grin at the House Elf. "You're actually right on time. I'm just anxious to talk to you. And to thank you for the maps and instructions. They worked perfectly."

"And this place is exactly what we needed," Draco added, indicating the room they were in.

"As is its function, Master sirs."

"Dobby," Draco said with a sigh. "What is it we told you about this whole Master Sirs thing? It's a bit annoying."

Dobby flushed slightly and pulled at his large ears. "Dobby is to only call you Master when in the presence of elder Malfoy's or evil ones. Dobby is sorry. This is not so easy."

"Sure it is, Dobby," Harry said kindly. "Harry and Drake. Both really easy names. Honest."

"Dobby will be trying," Dobby said uncertainly.

The boys looked at each other and shrugged. They did what they could.

"So, how are things going so far?" Draco asked.

"Hogwarts House Elves is suspicious of strangers, but they is coming to trust Dobby."

"Good," Harry said with a smile. "Drake and I really appreciate you doing this for us, Dobby."

Dobby blushed again. "It is no difficulty to be helping. Is there anything in particular that you need to be knowing?"

Harry looked over at Draco, who shook his head. "I haven't learned anything that needs to be looked into further yet. You?"

"I learned a great deal actually. Watch yourself around a Slytherin named Tracey Davis and his horde of followers. Bad news."

"According to the Gryffs?" Draco asked with a smirk.

"When they were first years, they threw a fellow first year into a room with a giant three-headed dog," Harry said, his voice matter-of-fact. "He still walks with a limp."

Draco's expression darkened, mentally replaying the day. "Weasley?"

Harry nodded. "'Father' got the Slytherins excused with nothing but a slap on the wrist... And Ron will never walk normally again."

Draco nodded, his jaw tightening. "Guess I owe him an apology then."

"Not for what Lucius did," Harry said, his voice brokering no room for argument.

"For baiting him on the train then," Draco insisted. His voice was cynical as he continued. "I guess I can understand why he didn't like my name." He was silent for a moment. "Harry... why the hell was there a giant three-headed dog in the school?"

"That is what we need Dobby to investigate for us. Apparently there was something being kept here that required a lot of protection."

"Including a giant three-headed dog?" Draco asked doubtfully.

"Apparently," Harry answered with a shrug. "Rumor has it that one of the professor's tried to steal it and died, and I quote, 'a rather horrible death'. Ginny wasn't sure what was being hidden, or how exactly the professor died..."

"Oh ho! Ginny is it?" Draco said with a smirk. Harry glared darkly at him and Draco snorted. "Which professor?"

"It is being Professor Quirrell," Dobby said, looking a bit nervous. "Defense Against Dark Arts. Dobby is hearing about him."

"Anything helpful?"

"He broke a mirror and died screaming..."

There was a pause.

"Anything less cryptic?" Draco asked.

Dobby shook his head. "Dobby will be finding out."

"Thanks Dobby," Harry said with a grin. "You're the best."

Dobby flushed. "Dobby was listening at Professor's meeting after the sorting. Master Black sir was not happy when he heard that Malfoy's be raising Harry Potter sir."

"Oh really?" Draco said with a smirk. "What did he say?"

"There was being much discussion about Harry sirs placement. They is all being very upset that Harry sir had to talk his way into Gryffingdor house. They is also discussing how you's two is related."

"Really?" Harry said, his voice full of curiosity. "Lucius would never tell us."

"You's father's grandfather," Dobby explained pointing at Harry. "Was brother to you's father's grandmother." Dobby then pointed at Draco. "Abigail Malfoy is being the only Potter ever sorted into snake house."

"See!" Draco exclaimed, backhanding Harry none too gently on the arm. "I knew you had it in you!"

"Hey, it could also explain some of those Gryff tendencies in you." Harry rubbed his arm while glaring at Draco. "And ow!"

Draco sniffed in disgust. "Don't be a baby... And I do not have any Gryffindor tendencies."

"Sure," Harry said with a smirk. He nodded for Dobby to continue.

"There is also being much talk about stupidity of Wizard Council... And everyone is wondering who you's will be fighting for."

"Wouldn't they just love to know," Draco said, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

"I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually," Harry responded dryly.

Draco looked down at his watch and swore. "We have to go, or we'll be late for curfew our first night."

Harry hurriedly grabbed his wand from the floor and pulled Draco towards the door. "'Night Dobby!"

"Goodnight Master Harry."

"Harry," Draco said, glaring at his brother in annoyance. "I'm perfectly capable of hurrying on my own." He turned to Dobby as Harry released his arm. "Goodnight Dobby."

"Goodnight Master Drake." Dobby disappeared with a slight pop.

"Right," Harry said. "Sorry 'bout that Drake. Just a bit distracted."

Draco nodded. "It's being here."

"I suppose," Harry answered. Then, seemingly out of nowhere. "We need to meet Hagrid sometime soon." They left the Room of Requirement, looking around carefully to make sure no one saw them. Once sure of this, they continued on their way.

"And who is Hagrid?" Draco asked.

"The groundskeeper," Harry said with a shrug.

"And why would we want to meet him?"

"Hey, anybody who not only owns a three-headed dog, but also names it Fluffy is someone we need to know."

"Fluffy?" Draco stated in disbelief. "He named that beast Fluffy? Someone willingly owned a three-headed dog? Named Fluffy?"

"Lucius had it destroyed."

"Of course he did," Draco said sardonically. "Couldn't hold the students responsible for their own actions..."

"Merlin forbid..."

Remus Lupin's House

Remus Lupin looked up in shock as the door to his house burst open, revealing his best friend.

"Moony!" Sirius exclaimed frantically, his expression somewhat wild.

"Padfoot?" Remus questioned, getting up from where he was seated at the kitchen table.

"He's at Hogwarts," Sirius said breathlessly. "He was with the Malfoy's, Moony! Do you believe it? That damned Wizengamut let Lucius Malfoy raise him! What the bloody hell were they thinking? Lucius Malfoy!"

"Whoa, Padfoot!" Remus exclaimed. "Slow down. What are you talking about?" And then it hit him. "Harry? They let Lucius Malfoy raise Harry?" His face darkened with anger. "They wouldn't give him to me, but they gave him to Lucius Malfoy?"

"A Death Eater over a Werewolf... Someone who chose evil, over someone who had evil done to them... Yeah, makes so much sense, huh Moony?"

There was silence in the room for a moment. There were so many questions that he wanted to ask... So many things that he wanted to rage about... So many years lost...

"What's he like Padfoot?" Remus finally asked softly.

Sirius sighed, taking a seat at the table. "I haven't talked to him yet. He was settling into his dorm and Minerva forbade me from disturbing him. Forbade me!" He paused for a moment. "Draco Malfoy came with him. They call themselves brothers. Harry is in Gryffindor..."

"Thank Merlin!" Moony interjected.

Sirius nodded. "But the Malfoy boy is a Slytherin. The hat wanted to put Harry in Slytherin... Ravenclaw was its second choice. He made it put him in Gryffindor... What does that mean?"

Remus sighed. "It means that we need to relax and not overanalyze every detail. We know so little about the situation right now, Paddy... And there's a hell of a lot more to a person than what house they happened to be placed in. There are Slytherins that didn't go dark and, as we well know, Gryffindors who did. Harry is half James and half Lily, Sirius. I refuse to believe that there is anything in this world that could turn him dark."

"I hope you're right, Moony. I just can't stand the thought... If I failed them that completely, I don't think that I could live with myself." "You did everything you could, Padfoot. We both did. There were just so many things standing in our way. And Peter..."

"Don't even say his name," Sirius said, a look of unspeakable rage crossing his face. He was far from over the act of betrayal performed by someone they had trusted so deeply. Add to that the fact that Wormtail's one act of brilliance had landed Sirius in Azkaban for 12 years... "He destroyed us," Sirius said finally. "If he's destroyed Harry I will personally break him out of Azkaban just so that I can kill him. Slowly. In the most painful way possible."

"And I will help you," Remus said softly.

Silence reigned in the room as they were both lost in thought.

"Will you come tomorrow?" Sirius asked finally.

"I'll come tonight," Remus said. "I'm sure that Albus won't object to me using one of the spare rooms."

Sirius nodded, trying desperately to keep the relief he felt at his friend's words from showing. Remus had always been a grounding force for him. Hopefully his presence would keep their first meeting with Harry from getting out of hand.

Gryffindor Tower

"I can't believe that you're studying already," Ron said, looking over Hermione's shoulder at her work. "We haven't even had our first class yet."

"O.W.L.S. are this year Ron," Hermione said, not looking up from her notebook. "And, as you well know, there's a lot to review."

"If you think that I'm going to believe that you've forgotten a single thing that you've learned in the past four years, you're sadly mistaken. I doubt that there's anything in that book that you don't already know."

Hermione looked over at Ron and smiled slightly. "That's sweet of you, if not at all accurate." She patted his cheek lightly before turning her attention back to her book.

Ron sniffed skeptically. "Sure," he said dryly. "Can't you take a break for tonight Hermione? It's the first night back. The book will still be here tomorrow. I, however..."

Hermione looked up in surprise. "Are you planning on going somewhere?"

"Classes," Ron said. "Some of which we no longer share. Plus Quiddich will start up soon, so I'll be busy practicing. It's probably our last free night for weeks. Do you really need to be studying now?"

Hermione was silent for a moment and then closed her book. She looked over at Ron and smiled. "What exactly do you have in mind, Mr. Weasley?"

Ron laughed. "Nothing naughty, Ms. Granger. My baby sister is barely ten feet away and my annoying older brothers are within spitting distance. Those activities are best reserved for broom closets."

Hermione blushed bright red, relieved that he had been whispering, so none of the other students had overheard. "Ron!"

"I was thinking more along the lines of talking."

"About what, exactly?" Hermione asked. "It's not like we need to catch up. I did spend most of the summer at your house."

Ron grinned. "Yes, it does come in handy when your girlfriend is good friends with your sister..." Hermione backhanded his arm lightly. "I actually wanted to discuss our newest addition a bit. What do you think of Harry Potter, Hermione?"

"I think that he's... an enigma," Hermione said slowly. "They both are, actually. I didn't have a chance to tell you before, but I knew who both of them were before you came into the car on the train. I reacted quite strongly to the Malfoy name... And at first I thought that he was everything that I'd expected him to be... even though Harry did say that his 'evilness had been vastly exaggerated'. But when I told them that I was muggleborn and that in these times, knowing what I do of the Malfoy's... Draco told me that he thinks V..." Hermione paused, taking a deep breath and stealing her nerve. If Draco Malfoy could say it so derisively, she could manage to force it past her lips. "He thinks Voldemort is a moron and Lucius a 'bumbling idiot'."

Ron's eyebrows raised in astonishment. "He said that?"

Hermione nodded. "And more... I believed him."

"Huh," Ron said thoughtfully.

"What do you think of them?" Hermione asked. "I mean, I saw you offer the proverbial olive branch to Harry earlier."

"I like him," Ron said with a shrug. "He's got a good sense of humor; he's irreverent but not actually disrespectful. He's just... likable." He paused thoughtfully. "But I don't quite trust him."

Hermione smiled slightly. "It is a bit early for trust, Ron. You just met him."

"I know," Ron said. "And I'm leaving it at that. We'll see where things go." He sighed slightly. "And tomorrow I'll apologize to Malfoy for being such a git on the train. In all fairness, I can't hold him responsible for what his father did."

Hermione smiled brightly at him.

"Not all people are that discerning."

Ron and Hermione looked up in surprise to find Harry standing next to the couch. Both flushed slightly, wondering how much he'd overheard.

"Sorry to eavesdrop," Harry continued hastily. "And I only caught the last thing Ron said. Honest. I just... I really appreciate it. Draco has enough to deal with, without having to answer for crimes he didn't commit... ones that he would have prevented had he been in the position. I'm glad that you're willing to see the difference between him and Lucius. You could be easily excused for not being that forgiving."

Ron flushed a deeper shade of red, all the while cursing his Weasley genes. It was no fun to constantly turn red... "Uh, well... I guess that it's the... uh, well..." He took a deep breath, attempting to get control of his embarrassment. "He's not his father..." He said finally with a slight shrug. "And I came to terms with what happened a long time ago. Sure it sucks... and every now and then, when I can't do something I should be able to, it pisses me off..." Ron shrugged again. "But your brother had nothing to do with what happened. If I can't see that... well, then there's really not much hope for me."

There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment, and then Hermione spoke. "Have a seat, Harry. Ron just managed to convince me that I should take the night off from studying..." Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise, looking over at Ron questioningly. Ron just shrugged, a bemused look on his face. "So why don't we spend some time getting to know each other?"

"Sure," Harry said, taking a seat in the chair across from them.

"Is this a private party, or can anyone join?" Ginny asked, flopping down next to Hermione.

"Of course you're welcome," Hermione said with a smile. The twins and a number of other students soon joined them. Before long, the entire group was talking and laughing, the fun only heightened when the twins began handing out candy... and students started turning into a wide assortment of odd animals...

Harry laughed as Neville Longbottom changed back into himself amidst a colorful molting of feathers. "Where did you two get those things?"

The twins looked at each other and shrugged. "Made them," they said as one.

"Brilliant!" He said, ignoring Hermione's slightly disapproving look. "I have a feeling that we have much to discuss in the near future Gentlemen..."

The twins looked at each other again. "Sure," George said.

"What exactly?" Fred asked, clearly curious.

Harry smirked. "Let's just say that I appreciate a good prank... and I have a whole lot of people that owe me more than a little payback..."

The twins smiled. "Ah, a cause that we can get behind," Fred said with a grin.

"How exciting," George said with an identical grin.

"Time for lights out," Hermione said, pointedly ignoring the conversation between Harry and the twins. She got to her feet, clapping her hands. "Dorms everyone."

"This whole prefect thing is going to her head," Fred said, shaking his head sadly.

"To think, enforcing lights out," George said, mimicking his brother.

"Even Percy wouldn't have done such a thing."

Ron slapped them both, none too gently, on the backs of their heads. "You know darn well he tried," he said, smirking slightly as the twins looked at him reproachfully. "But we also know that he's nowhere near as scary as my girlfriend."

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.

"It's a compliment, Hermione," Ginny said with a grin. "Remember who our mother is."

Hermione blushed slightly, conceding Ginny's point. Ron grinned at her. "Dorms everyone!"

There was some grumbling, but the younger students were soon on their way up the stairs. Lights out was later for everyone fourth year and up.

"I think I'll be headed up too," Harry said, getting to his feet and stretching. He didn't notice the appreciative glances that this action garnered from the female population of the room. Ginny and Hermione did however and they exchanged an amused look. "It's been a long day."

"Goodnight Harry," Hermione said. This sentiment was echoed and Harry waved before heading up the stairs to the fifth year dorms. He found that his trunk was sitting at the end of one of the beds and that everything that needed to be unpacked had been. He also had a feeling that he knew which House Elf had been at work in the room. The smile on his face faded slightly as he caught sight of a package at the end of his bed.

"What the..." He said, picking up the package and turning it over in his hands.

"What was that?" Ron asked as he entered the room.

Harry shrugged. "I just found this on my bed." He looked askance at the garishly colored Christmas paper. "I think someone has their season's confused."

Ron grinned. "Well, I highly doubt that it'll explode if you open it, so why don't you see what's inside?"

" Why not?" Harry said sardonically. He opened the package carefully and gaped in surprise as he pulled the shimmering cloak from its packaging. "Holy..."

Ron's eyes widened in surprise. "Is that...?"

"An invisibility cloak," Harry said softly. He picked up the note that had fallen to the floor and quickly read it.

Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time that it was returned to you. Use it well.

A Very Merry Christmas to you

Harry recognized Professor Dumbledore's writing immediately. What he couldn't quite grasp was the fact that the cloak in his hand had once belonged to James Potter.

"It was my father's," he said, his voice faint.

"Blimey..." Ron said. He was silent for a moment, not quite sure what to say. "Who sent it to you?"

"The Headmaster," Harry said. "It looks like... well, he probably was planning on giving it to me Christmas of my first year, only..."

"You never showed up," Ron finished for him. "It's a brilliant gift though, huh? Especially since it was your father's..."

"Yeah," Harry said softly, still staring down at the cloak in his hand. "Brilliant..."

Next Morning, Great Hall...

Harry entered the Great Hall with a group of Gryffindors. His eyes quickly scanned the room, soon coming to rest on his brother and his friends at the Slytherin table. He waved at them with a grin before following Hermione, Ron and Ginny to the Gryffindor table.

They loaded up their plates and were soon tucking into their breakfast. Harry was once again pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. "I could get used to this," he muttered softly.

"What?" Ron asked.

Harry grinned. "Hogwarts food... Much better than Durmstrang's!"

Ron grinned as well. "I seem to remember that being a comment I heard quite often during the Tri-Wizard Tournament."

"Viktor had mentioned it," Harry said, his eyes sparkling slightly. "But I didn't really believe him until now." He was rather surprised at the mixed look of anger and embarrassment that flashed over Ron's face.

"And how is the Tri-Wizard Champion doing?" Ginny asked, smirking knowingly at her brother.

"Fine," Harry said slowly, looking a little confused. "What...?"

"It's nothing," Ron said quickly, silently berating himself. Of course, Harry would know Viktor Krum...

"Oh no!" Harry said as an alarming realization took hold. Viktor had mentioned... Harry looked from Ron to Hermione and back again. "I didn't realize..."

"Please drop it," Hermione said, flushing bright red. "Ginny! Knock it off!" She exclaimed, elbowing the younger girl, who couldn't seem to control her laughter.

"I can't help it!" Ginny said. "The look on Ron's face..."

"Consider it dropped," Harry said hastily. "Umm..." He wracked his brain frantically for another topic of conversation. Thankfully, Hermione provided one.

"Hmm... Professor Lupin..." She said, looking at the head table thoughtfully. "I wonder what he's doing here."

Harry couldn't help it. He smirked. "It is a school Hermione... That's generally where you find professors..." Hermione glared at him and Harry shrugged, a boyishly innocent look on his face. "What does he teach?"

"Nothing anymore," Ron said. "He was our third year Defense Professor. The only good one we've had. He resigned when the greasy git told everyone he's a werewolf."

Harry raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Oh?"

"Yeah, there's some feud that goes back to their school days, has something to do with Sirius Black..."

"Really Ron," Hermione scolded. "Wherever did you come up with that? And why do you insist on calling Professor Snape 'the greasy git'?"

"Sirius," Ron said simply.

Hermione sniffed. "The answer to both questions, I suppose?" Ron shrugged, smirking slightly. "Why your parents let you spend so much time..."

"He is a Professor now, 'Mione..."

Hermione sighed. "Whatever was Dumbledore thinking?"

Harry laughed. "I take it you don't approve of Professor Black, Hermione?"

"That's not exactly it," Hermione said slowly. "It's just..."

"You just haven't forgiven him for..."

"Ron!" Hermione interrupted, looking at Harry nervously.

"Well, you haven't," Ron insisted. He turned to Harry. "You see..."

"Ronald Weasley!" Hermione exclaimed, getting to her feet, her face dark with anger.

"Oops," Ron said, looking at her apologetically. "Now Hermione..."

"Don't 'Now Hermione' me Ron! You promised!"

"I'm sorry?"

Hermione sniffed in disgust and then grabbed her books, stalking out of the Great Hall.

"It would work better if it sounded more sincere and less like a question," Ginny offered from Ron's left. "Also, breaking any promise is bad... breaking that promise is... worse."

"I really don't get why she's so upset. It wasn't that bad."

Harry laughed. "What are you two talking about? And why is Hermione so mad?"

Ron sighed. "We'll just have to let Sirius tell you...if he even wants that story told himself... Regardless, it'll hurt me less if I leave it to him..." He stood up, grabbing another piece of toast. "C'mon, I'll show you the way to Potions."

Harry nodded and got to his feet. He followed Ron towards the door.

"Mr. Potter?"

Harry and Ron stopped, both looking over at the Headmaster. "Yes, Headmaster?" Harry said politely.

Dumbledore smiled benignly at him. "If you would be so kind as to come to my office after your last class today, it would be greatly appreciated. There is much that we need to discuss. I would also appreciate it if your brother were to come as well."

It was phrased as a request, but Harry knew that it was anything but. "Of course, Headmaster," he said courteously. "I'll let Drake know."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter."

Harry nodded and turned once again to the doors out of the Great Hall. He and Ron were about to leave when Dumbledore spoke again.

"Mr. Potter?"

Harry looked back at the Headmaster, a questioning look on his face.

"Good luck in Potions."

There was a twinkle in the old man's eyes and Harry was well aware of the cause. He wasn't worried however, as he'd been well informed about Snape's prejudices and partiality. "No need to be concerned, Headmaster," he said nonchalantly. "I happen to be quite good at Potions..." He paused, smirking mischievously. He winked conspiratorially at Ron. "Besides, after dealing with Lucius' snits for thirteen years, handling Professor Snape's melodramatic posturing should be easy."

Ron snorted in an attempt to hold back a laugh and Professor Dumbledore's eyes widened in shock, as once again Harry took him completely by surprise.

By the time he'd regained his composure, Harry and Ron were already gone.