Chapter Three - Forbidden Knowledge

Getting Mr. Malfoy settled in didn't take much time at all. All of his belongings were kept in the folds and pockets of his robes. He closed the door of his guest room that Thursday night and didn't emerge again until Friday night, whence he ate some dinner and then returned to his room. He finally began a normal routine on Saturday morning, when he was the first at breakfast and cheerfully welcomed everyone to the table.

"Good morning, Mister Malfoy," Harry said, sitting down and reaching for the eggs.

"Sleep well?"

"Fine, thanks. You?"

"The best rest I've had in quite some time. Knowing that my family is safe is a great burden off my mind."

"Good morning, Harry. Lucius."

"Hi, Sirius."

"Cousin."

"Is Remus coming over today?" Harry wanted to spend more time with his former professor.

"Not until much later," Sirius said, shaking his head. "He starts his new job today."

"On a Saturday?"

"He's selling ice cream in the park. He bought the cart a few days ago. It is July, after all. It's genius, really. You're familiar with magical replication?"

"Gamp's Fourth Law."

"If you say so. If you have something, you can make more of it. So, Remus enchanted his ice cream tubs to continually replicate. He's making a killing."

"How ingenious," Mr. Malfoy said. "Quite cunning. I'm rather surprised, actually."

"I was talking about Gamp's Law with Remus the other day," Harry said. "I was explaining how I made the pillar in the sitting room."

"Perhaps that's where he got the idea?" Mr. Malfoy posed. "Once upon a time, I could have awarded points to Slytherin."

"Governors can't award points?"

"I don't believe we can. In any case, the competition for the House Cup hasn't started yet."

"Slytherin will take it again."

"I sincerely hope so."

"I look forward to seeing Harry fly again," Sirius interjected.

"Oh, Slytherin will take the Quidditch Cup too."

"Awfully confident. Some might say cocky."

"We've still got the best team at school. For one more season, at least. Most of the team is gone next year. I'm going to be the only one left."

"Then you'll be Captain," Mr. Malfoy said. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, sir. We're going to have new Beaters this year, and then I've got to replace all the Chasers and the Keeper."

"A tall order."

"It's probably going to end up being Draco, Millie, and Theo as Chasers. I have no idea who will go out for Keeper, but then I'll have to train them all to work together. There's all this pressure to hang on to the Cup," Harry continued, his tongue suddenly loose. "I don't want to be the one to lose it. Slytherin's had it for ten years. Eleven if you count this year. I don't want to be a failure."

"All great things must eventually come to an end," Sirius said. "In failure we learn and become stronger and more skilled. Experience counts. Do not be ashamed to admit that you were fairly beaten. You'll come back and take it again in seventh year. Go out in style."

"Winning is important, Harry. Whether it means rising before the sun for extra practice time or staying out past sunset to keep training. You are Slytherin. You are the best house of Hogwarts, the most cunning and creative. You have it in you to achieve great things, and if you decide you want to win the Quidditch Cup, then by Merlin, I believe you're going to figure out how to do it."

Mr. Malfoy's words boosted Harry's confidence, but Sirius' words held wisdom. As Harry thought about it, he realized that they were not incompatible. He would try with all of his skill and cleverness to win, but if he were beaten, it only meant he had to work harder and smarter.

An owl arrived at that moment. It was Shiva, the Patil family owl. He was bearing a letter, but as always would not relinquish it without being rewarded. Harry remembered what Padma had said in her first letter and held out a piece of toast. The bird snapped it up in one huge bite, cheeks bulging. He chewed several times and swallowed before opening his beak and hooting.

"More?"

Harry shoved the plate towards the owl, who began to devour the toast. He quickly untied the letter and opened it up.

Dear Harry,

I hope you're safe. I worry when I don't hear from you, and it's been a week. Please tell me you're all right. I want to know what's going on with you. Can you tell me where you are? Is anything happening, or is the Prophet all we know? Please, Harry. I've got to know.

Yours,

Padma

Well, it hadn't really been a week. Today was Saturday. He'd sent his last letter to Padma on Tuesday. She was exaggerating.

What she wanted to know, he couldn't tell her. He didn't really know much of anything that was going on aside from Mr. Malfoy's Dark Mark and the Fidelius Charm he'd cast over Malfoy Manor, which was now being used as Order Headquarters. Actually, that was fairly important information that he really shouldn't tell her or anyone else. He shouldn't even talk about it at all even with people who knew.

Harry scribbled back a reply saying that he was well and safe, no he hadn't heard anything more than was in the Daily Prophet, and that he was desolate without her.

After breakfast, Harry and Sirius went to the weight room. Mr. Malfoy declined to accompany them, citing a need to make certain communications with various people in the Wizengamot and the Ministry. War effort stuff, he assured Harry, and very boring.

"So is it as bad as you thought?" Harry asked Sirius cheekily.

Sirius laughed. "No, it's worse. What an impossible man! But yes, all things considered, he's being very cooperative. He's been a perfect gentleman so far. I can't complain about his manners. I expected him to be haughty and insulted at having to accept charity from someone he doesn't like."

"He likes you."

"Harry, he detests me. He always has."

"Maybe he detested you fourteen years ago, but that's a long time. People change. They mature. They come to new ways of thinking. So why can't you believe that Mister Malfoy has?"

"I'm starting to," Sirius said. "It was a very gutsy thing he did, snatching you from Voldemort like he did. He says he fights to protect his family. The things he's saying about blood and kin come right out of the same pureblood attitude I grew up hearing. He hasn't changed a bit. He just seems pointed in a different direction now. It's unnerving is what it is."

"So you're saying that his reasons for fighting and his priorities aren't the same as yours, and therefore you don't trust him?"

"I think that might be it, in short. We're fighting for the greater good, and he's fighting for his own skin."

"I should think that would make him fight harder," Harry observed. "Rather than for an ideal. It's personal for me too."

Harry lifted weights with Sirius until lunch. Lunch was quiet, as they were both tired and Mr. Malfoy was not yet done with his communications. After he'd finished eating, Harry went to his room and closed the door. He put a quiet Locking Charm in place and laid down on the bed. Focusing on his animal form, Harry bent his will to the task and made the transformation. He curled up under the pillow with just his nose sticking out.

Putting a Locking Charm on his bedroom door was not something he'd ever had to do before, but they'd never had a houseguest who didn't know about the lessons before either. The only guest or visitor they ever had was Moony. Now that Mr. Malfoy was living here, it was going to be difficult to spend long periods of time in his animal form without going unnoticed.

Which was more important? Attaining full Mastery of his Animagus change or keeping that knowledge contained to as few people as possible? Harry didn't know. He trusted Mr. Malfoy completely, but he was aware that many other people did not. He loved Sirius and knew that Sirius loved him and wanted what was best for him. His opinion meant a lot to Harry. That disconnect was enough to give him pause. It might not be prudent to tell Mr. Malfoy about this talent because he simply didn't need to know.

Harry realized he should probably be talking to Sirius about this. He emerged from under the pillow and resumed his real body. He found Sirius in the library. He was deep in a book, but he looked up as Harry closed the door behind him.

"Harry," he said with delight.

"Hi, Sirius. I was thinking about something."

"What's that?"

"Mister Malfoy doesn't know I'm an Animagus. I've kept it between you, me, and Moony."

"You want to tell him?"

"It's going to be hard to keep it from him if I'm going to get it perfect. I still need to stay in my form for long periods of time."

"Right." Sirius thought for a moment. "I would rather not, but I suppose there's no fixing it. You've absolutely got to master the transformation as soon as possible."

"Really? I'm surprised to hear you say that."

"Figured I'd start ranting and raving about him?" Sirius asked with a smirk.

"Well, yes."

"I was thinking about what you said earlier about how time changes people. You're right. I missed a lot of years while I was in Azkaban."

Harry's stomach lurched. "Sirius, I didn't mean-"

"Oh, it's all right, Harry. There's no point in hiding from the truth. I missed a lot of years, and now I'm using outdated knowledge of who he is. I don't really know what he's turned into. I just have my assumptions based on what I knew then, and I've obviously been wrong about a few things. The Lucius I believed in would have stood there and let you die and then knelt to kiss his master's feet. He would have done everything in his power to serve Voldemort, but with everything he's said about family and blood - and that's Lucius and most of pureblood society to the core - I think I now see that he would have served not out of devotion but out of fear. The threat to his family would have driven him to be the best Death Eater, to keep them safe."

"Yeah," said Harry. "That's pretty much it."

"But what changed all of that was you, Harry. He saw you and knew that if you could destroy Voldemort once, you could do it again, and he saw his chance at escape. He saw you and saw hope, and he proved that by his open defiance. He must have, otherwise he would have let it happen. He took a serious gamble, and we still have yet to see if it'll pay off. This is a long play, and I respect him for having the stones to have a go at it. We're going to do it, but Lucius doesn't know that. He only has faith in us and himself. What it takes to command the faith of Lucius Malfoy, well, that must be a pretty awesome thing."

"We are going to do it."

"We are. So let's give our ally a little bit of encouragement. Help him feel better about the odds on the wager he's made."

"I never thought I'd hear you care about Mister Malfoy's feelings." Harry couldn't help but make a wisecrack. The headiness of the moment had gotten too much. Finally, these adults were starting to understand each other.

"You'd better not let on that I did. I'm having far too much fun with him to have it ruined by a little sentimentality."

"You're impossible," Harry said with a laugh.

"I know."

"I'll just be going then. Thanks. Really."

Harry found Mr. Malfoy in the dining room having a late lunch. Kreacher had prepared a heavenly-smelling French onion soup served with fresh baked rolls on the side.

"Mister Malfoy?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"I've got something I'd like to tell you."

"I'm listening."

"For the past year, I've been studying some illegal magic."

"Go on."

"It's not Dark or anything, but there are laws about it. I've been training to be an Animagus."

"Is Sirius teaching you?"

"You don't seem surprised."

"I'm not. In fact, I'd be surprised if he wasn't trying to arm you with a very useful weapon. Likewise, I knew he either intended to teach or had taught you to Apparate. I began instructing Draco on the theory over the Easter holiday last year. If I knew the first thing about being an Animagus, I would have seen to that as well."

"Oh. Well." Harry didn't know what to say. He'd expected there to be surprise.

"Does he know you've told me?"

"Yes."

"He approves?"

"Yes. Grudgingly." Harry had to add that to protect Sirius' image.

"Of course. Well, thank you. I do appreciate the trust. It means a great deal."

"Yeah, that's what we figured."

At breakfast on Sunday morning, they received a letter from Professor Snape. Theo had woken up from his induced sleep. Madam Pomfrey had declared that he could receive visitors. Professor Snape suggested that Harry and Draco might want to visit.

"May I, Sirius? Please?"

"Certainly. We'll go when we've done eating, if that's all right?"

"Thank you."

Harry sent a quick owl off to Draco, telling him of the plan. He watched Regal wing away towards Wiltshire and was amazed to see Arlette coming within moments. It was far too soon for Regal to have arrived and Draco to have written a return letter.

Draco's message contained no indication that he had received Harry's letter. He reiterated what Professor Snape had said and suggested that Harry join him up at school to visit with Theo.

Sirius and Harry Apparated to just outside the gates of the castle grounds and quickly stepped inside. The dizzying sensation lasted less and less every time he used that mode of transportation. Rather like he'd gotten used to using the Floo, he was gradually becoming accustomed to Apparition. It certainly was convenient.

In the hospital wing, Theo still looked awful. Ugly yellow bruises had sprung up all over his face and arms, but at least his eyes were open.

"Hey, Theo," Harry said gently. "How do you feel, mate?"

Theo didn't answer. He gave a half-shrug.

"Madam taking good care of you?"

Theo nodded once.

"Good, good. Glad to hear it. We're all really worried about you, you know."

Theo said nothing.

"Did Madam say how much longer you've got to stay in bed?"

Theo shook his head slightly.

"I see. Well, get plenty of rest then. Nobody wants to spend summer holiday in the hospital wing."

Theo blinked twice and closed his eyes. Within a few minutes, his breathing evened out. He was asleep.

Draco entered the hospital wing. "I thought he was awake," he whispered.

"He was. Didn't say much though."

"I hope he's up and about soon. I want to talk Quidditch with him. Need to find out if he's going to be ready for trials."

"I doubt it."

"He's going to have to deal with it all sooner or later. Somehow. It might as well be through sport. At least he wouldn't be writing awful poetry and junk."

They sat there with him for several hours. Harry had brought his Potions text and spent his time reading for his homework assignment. Sirius opened a book entitled Raising a Teenage Wizard in the Modern Era. Draco also brought homework; he was braving Professor Sinistra's Astronomy assignment.

Professor Snape stopped by eventually. He exchanged greetings with everyone.

"Did he say anything to you?"

"No, not really."

"Anything?"

"Actually, not at all. He just sort of nodded his head a bit."

"It was the same for me. Ah well. He will speak when he wants to."

Theo did not wake up, and eventually it was time for lunch. In the Great Hall they sat at the Slytherin table and dined on the fare put together by the overeager house elves, who were delighted to have students to wait upon again. Even Sirius was deemed a student by the elves.

After lunch, Sirius said, "If you want to see Theo again, you should go now. It's time we were going."

Harry was reluctant to leave, but he knew Sirius was right. He could hardly stop everything to watch Theo sleep.

"May I come back tomorrow?"

"Yes, but it will have to be after the lesson."

The lesson! Harry had forgotten they were starting Apparition lessons tomorrow morning.

"First thing after breakfast. Draco, don't be late." Sirius leaned down and whispered something in his ear.

"Thank you, cousin. Will you be coming to get me?"

"Yes."

"Severus, have you given any thought to whom you might appoint as the new prefects come the fall?"

Dumbledore's question was mildly posed, but Severus heard the real question: Did he intend to appoint Harry Potter as a prefect?

"Much, Headmaster, as I do every year." To imply that he hadn't thought about prefects was vaguely insulting. "I have settled on Mister Potter and Miss Parkinson."

"Harry? Really?" Why Dumbledore pretended to be surprised, Severus could not say.

"You disagree?" Severus threw as much edge as he dared into his tone. Surely it was nothing less than the brink of madness to even consider not making Harry Potter a prefect.

"I didn't say that, Severus. He is a capable student, no doubts there, but surely Mister Nott has achieved more academic success."

"Marks are not the only thing that should be considered. Or perhaps it would be wiser to make Marks the only thing to be considered."

Dumbledore caught the verbal capitalization. "You believe many of the children will take the Dark Mark?"

"He sought followers from his House in the last war," Severus reminded. "There is no reason to believe he will give up a successful tactic unless forced to."

"And you think Harry can be that force?"

"He is already a leader amongst them," Severus pointed out. "He has risen above his peer circle, displacing Lucius Malfoy's own son. He has attracted some of the younger students as well. He is easily one of the most popular boys."

"But are they true friends?"

Severus bristled. "Headmaster, I would advise you to take that question back."

"Slytherins cluster to power and influence, Severus."

"Do not presume to instruct me in the ways of Slytherin behaviour. Slytherins align with others as needed in order to achieve goals. What are friends other than those who have voluntarily aligned themselves?"

"Friendships cannot be based on the notion that someone might be useful in the future."

"Of course they can. One should pick friends that they believe will be there for them in times of trouble. My point is that Harry is already a leader to them, whether they are fair weather friends or not. By making him a prefect, he gains official authority. Slytherins respect authority. If the others become accustomed to him in this capacity, they will be more inclined to follow him when he stands up against Voldemort. Were Harry not in Slytherin, one might be tempted to write off the entire House as Death Eaters. Merlin knows I hear enough of it in the corridors. Every Slytherin that Harry convinces to defect is not only one more soul we gain for the Light, but one less mind working for the Dark. This is invaluable. The more we can splinter Voldemort's ranks, the better."

Dumbledore mused on this. "I had thought to not attract more attention to the boy. It can be no easy thing, knowing that the wizard who murdered your parents is on the loose again. Why must we add to that burden? He has got plenty enough to worry about without the obligations of a prefect. Why not just make him Quidditch Captain as well?"

"A splendid idea, and one I'm sure he will be grateful to you for suggesting."

"Severus!"

"A small joke, Albus. Potter's captaincy will have to wait until next year."

"I suppose you are allowed to jest, Severus. You have convinced me. Harry shall be a prefect. It is the political thing to do." Dumbledore considered for a moment. "It's actually rather cunning. Quite sly. One might almost say 'very Slytherin'."

Severus politely inclined his head. "I am the Head," he commented.

"With good cause. Who is the other new prefect going to be?"

"Pansy Parkinson. She's the leader of the girls, so it's expected. There is no need to rock the boat by introducing a new element into their power play."

"Is everything political to you, Severus?"

"Everything is political, Albus. Miss Parkinson has aligned herself with Harry, so giving her the authority reinforces him as well."

"Can she be trusted?" he asked bluntly.

"Yes. I saw how she rallied for Harry during the Triwizard Tournament. Her father was also never a Death Eater, so far as I am aware. Her influence is considerable."

"There are many children whose fathers weren't Death Eaters," Dumbledore replied, "but what about uncles, cousins, and so on? Surely this will carry some influence."

"Some. But Harry can strongly make the case, more strongly, perhaps, than anyone else could, that there is another choice."

Monday morning after breakfast, Sirius left Grimmauld Place and returned with Draco. They all adjourned to the duelling room on the second floor. Sirius let Mr. Malfoy do the talking.

"Now then, the normal Ministry approved course of Apparition instruction runs for twelve weeks, meeting every Saturday. If we were to start now, you would finish in October. That is unacceptable. We have six weeks. I expect you both to master the technique. What I ask is difficult. The expectation is high, but you are Slytherins. You will train hard. You will rise to this challenge.

"The important things to remember when Apparating are the three D's! Destination, Determination, Deliberation!

"Step one: fix your mind firmly upon the desired destination. To Apparate someplace, you must know it. You must have been there yourself in person or have had it so well described to you that you can envision it. Photographs can help establish this mental picture, but Apparating to someplace you have never physically visited is still more risky than normal. You will be attempting to reach the circles I have drawn."

Well, that was easy enough. It wasn't hard to visualize a place when you could see it. In time they would move on to Apparating to places they couldn't see, but this was a good place to start.

"Step two: focus your determination to occupy the visualised space. Let your yearning to enter it flood from your mind to every particle of your body! There is nothing of more importance than for you to cease to be where you are and to be where you envision. It must be done!"

Motivation. Harry had that in droves. Before Hogwarts, he'd once Apparated himself on to the roof of the school to get away from Dudley and his gang. Explaining that one had been impossible.

"Step three: turn on the spot, feeling your way into nothingness, moving with deliberation. Slip effortlessly into the ether. Travel the pathways of magic. Step sideways through space and time."

Yeah, just like that. Harry tried not to snort at how utterly useless the directions were. He sighed. Well, here goes.

Harry spun on the spot, lost his balance and promptly fell over. Draco laughed at him, but he fared no better.

The second attempt was no better than the first. The third was just as bad. The fourth was rubbish.

"Can we add a fourth D?" Harry asked.

"What would that be?"

"Demonstration?"

Mr. Malfoy stepped forwards, turned gracefully on the spot with his arms outstretched and vanished in a swirl of robes, reappearing at the back of the Hall. "Remember the three D's," he said, "and try again. One — two — three."

They made absolutely no progress during that first lesson. Harry and Draco both managed to fall down quite a bit, but they managed not to laugh too much about it.

"Keep working," Mr. Malfoy said encouragingly. "You almost had it."

"Lucius, it's time to take a break."

"Soon, Cousin, soon."

"It's been an hour."

"Has it, now?"

"It has. They're tired. They need a short rest. They've been working hard."

"Yes, they have. Very well. Ten minutes, boys. Get a drink of water."

Kreacher brought goblets of ice water, which Harry and Draco gratefully slurped down. This was hot work. They were both sweating profusely.

"Another D," Harry said between gulps. "Dehydration."

"That's funny. This is brutal."

"No kidding." Harry had thought Animagus training was rough.

"All right, boys, on your feet."

"That was never ten minutes," Draco protested.

"It was."

"It wasn't."

"I'm not going to argue about this. I say it was ten minutes. Keep it up and the next ten minutes will be even shorter."

"Hey!"

"Now concentrate on your destination."

Apparition lessons continued until lunch. They got breaks when they were too tired to go on, but they never seemed to last long enough.

Harry nearly fell asleep on his sandwich. Draco sat with his elbow in the salad for almost five minutes. They were exhausted, and they hadn't accomplished anything. They were going to do this every day? Until they could do it perfectly? Masters of Apparition before starting fifth year? It seemed ludicrous, but they would try. It wasn't as though they had a lot of other things going on.

Remus returned to the house for lunch. He hadn't made many sales that morning, and he was in a bit of a irritable mood.

"There's a great many clouds out today, so the weather is not very warm. I've seen few people out, and even fewer were interested in buying ice cream."

"Rum luck, Remus," Harry said.

"I'm not even going back out today. Hopefully there'll be better weather tomorrow. This can't keep up. I've got to make the rent."

"Hey, Remus?" Sirius said.

"Yes, Sirius?"

"Are you really happy at that flat of yours?"

"Moderately. Why do you ask?"

"I was thinking you might take a room here. With the war on, it's a lot safer. I'll admit you won't be able to bring girls back here, but some sacrifices must be made."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that."

"Remus, one should always worry about that."

"I suppose we could always go to her place."

"Could you, Remus?" Harry asked pointedly. "Whose place? Have you got some girl you haven't been telling us about?"

"As a matter of fact, I have seen a particular young lady on several occasions."

"Who is the unlucky girl?" Sirius teased.

"Oh no, we are not going through this again. After what you did to James when he realized how bad he had it for Lily but wouldn't say anything, I will hex you if you even try to figure it out before I decide to say something."

Sirius just laughed. Harry was also curious who Remus' mystery girl could be, but he respected the man's privacy enough to wait for a proper introduction.

"But this moving in business is not a bad idea."

"It's a lot safer here than out there. I worry about you, old friend."

"Sentimentality, Sirius? In front of the Slytherin?"

"The Slytherin has a name," Mr. Malfoy said pointedly. Sirius and Remus ignored him.

"Bother that. More to the point, why shouldn't you move in here?"

"No reason, now that you mention it. Then it's settled."

"Do you help moving anything?"

"I am very accomplished at it by now, Sirius. Thank you."

Remus went and emptied his flat that very day. He brought with him just the one small suitcase held together with a considerable amount of knotted string.

After lunch, Sirius took Harry and Draco up to Hogwarts to see Theo again. He was awake, which made Draco very happy.

"Hey, mate, good to see you looking so well." Theo looked horrible. "So I've been thinking, this year is the last year for Warrington, Pucey, and Montague. If we want to step up next year, we should go to all the team practices, do all the same stuff. Then we can get the benefit of Bletchley's experience, because Harry's going to be the captain in sixth year, and we all know he's going to be rubbish at it."

Draco shot Harry a quick glance to indicate he was only kidding.

A brief smile twitched at the corners of Theo's mouth. It faded within seconds.

"So if you're going to fly with me, you need to get well soon. Eat all your vegetables, and do exactly what Madam tells you."

Theo nodded once. He turned his eyes to Harry. The brown irises were like a cracked mirror, revealing the soul beneath. He said nothing, and Harry was helpless to look away until weariness gradually caused his eyelids to close. Harry shivered.

It wouldn't take long for Theo's physical hurts to be healed. Curing the wounds of the spirit would take far more time. He might not even want to play Quidditch anymore.

Harry and Draco stayed, watching Theo sleep for an hour or so. Sirius entered and sat down next to the bed.

"How is he?"

"No change. He's been asleep for a bit. He was awake earlier."

Theo did not wake again, but his sleep was troubled by nightmares. Though he thrashed and flailed, he did not cry out. Draco slipped out to get Madam Pomfrey.

The matronly nurse quieted Theo's fit with a wave of her wand.

"Theodore," she said with authority. "Wake up, Theodore."

Theo's eyes flew open. He stared directly at her. She handed him the flask she carried.

"Drink," she commanded.

Theo obediently swallowed the potion and handed back the flask.

"Now sleep."

Theo closed his eyes again, and now his rest was quiet.

"Dreamless Sleep," she murmured, patting the flask with satisfaction. "Works every time. You lot might as well depart. He won't be waking any time soon."

It was quite the arrangement: four men in a house with only a house elf to cook and clean for them. All of the silver tableware was put away in boxes, replaced with even more ostentatious gold. It wouldn't do to poison Remus.

"Trying to impress me, Sirius?" Mr. Malfoy asked at dinner that night.

"You? Hardly, but my good and dear friend Remus does have a certain allergy to silver, and as there was no other kind of flatware in the house, this is what we have. I don't want to impress anyone. If I did, I wouldn't have discarded the china with the family crest."

"You threw out the family china? You mustn't tell Narcissa."

"Oh, she hated it as much as we all did back when we were children."

"She loves family history."

"The fine china coming out meant dressing up. It meant we had to be on best behaviour. It meant no teasing."

"You set a fine table, Sirius. Your hospitality has been most cordial. I am contented. The only want I lack for is the presence of my lady wife, but then, with her at my side, no other wants have a hold on me."

Mrs. Malfoy was staying in the family home to maintain order as chaos descended upon it. The Order of the Phoenix had set up shop in the east wing of the mansion.

Sirius and Remus mimed throwing up behind Mr. Malfoy's back. Harry tried not to grin. It was incredibly juvenile, but it wasn't outright antagonistic. A scant year had passed since they'd been constantly at each other with vicious words. Now one side was making good-natured fun of the other. It was quite the improvement.

All in all, Harry thought it quite remarkable that the reconciliation was going so smoothly. Now they were working together to plan Harry's birthday, which was only two weeks away. Sirius and Remus dragged Mr. Malfoy out of bed every morning at earlier and earlier hours, finally waking him up twenty-three minutes after he went to bed, and he shouted most furiously at them. Then Sirius and Remus had collapsed into laughter before dodging Stinging Hexes inexpertly aimed by the irate Lucius.

That was another strange thing happening. Sirius and Remus called Mr. Malfoy by his given name so much, Harry occasionally found himself thinking of his best friend's father as "Lucius". It was always unsettling when it happened, which fortunately wasn't often.

There could be no mistaking him during Apparition lessons, however. There he was most definitely Professor Malfoy and in charge of their training. He was unrelenting in his drive to see that both Harry and Draco became master Apparators. After a week of training for several hours a day, neither boy had managed to move so much as an inch.

"You are not concentrating hard enough," Mr. Malfoy thundered. "I was Apparating to places I couldn't see by the time I'd had a week of study. This is unacceptable. Apparate into those circles! Do it!"

There was a horrible screech of pain. Draco had moved into his designated circle, but he'd left his legs behind. He sat staring at the bloody stumps in shock.

Sirius and Mr. Malfoy converged on him; there was a great bang and a puff of purple smoke, which cleared to reveal Draco sobbing, reunited with his legs but looking horrified.

"Splinching, or the separation of random body parts, occurs when the mind is insufficiently determined. You must concentrate continually upon your destination, and move, without haste, but with deliberation."

Draco's Splinching was the most interesting thing that had happened so far in their training - that is, until it happened to Harry himself!

He was tired, frustrated, and eager to have the lesson over with. Harry looked at the circle, sighed, turned, and with a flash, his left hand was wrenched away by the forces of magic.

Harry stared down at the stump of his arm. There was no blood spurting from the hideous wound like he expected. Yellow bones stuck out, with the red meat of the muscles clinging. He tried to move.

The pain slammed into him with the unforgiving nature of an iron hammer. He screamed, ripping his throat raw with the agony.

Then Sirius and Mr. Malfoy were there. With a tremendous bang and another puff of purple smoke, Harry's hand was restored to him. He clutched it to his chest and began to sob.

"That's enough for today," Sirius said. "We'll try again tomorrow."

"Agreed, Sirius," Mr. Malfoy said. "Perhaps their focus will be improved."

Grateful to be free, Harry and Draco hurried off to Harry's room.

"What an awful feeling," Harry said.

"No kidding," Draco agreed. "I could still sort of feel my legs, but I couldn't make them move at all."

"I was fine until I tried to move my hand," Harry remembered. "Then the pain hit me."

Draco shuddered. "I never want to go through that again."

"Me either, but look at Professor Moody. He's had to deal with losing limbs."

"That magic eye is very tally," Draco admitted. "I wouldn't mind one of those. Imagine the sorts of things you could see."

"I'd rather not need it, thanks."

"Oh, of course! But if you had to. Believe me, Harry, I've considered the sorts of nasty things that might happen to me during this war."

"And you're still with me."

"Terrified for my skin, but yes. V- v-"

"Come on, Draco," Harry said encouragingly. His best mate still hadn't managed to say Voldemort's name, though he had managed to stop flinching when it was spoken.

"Voldemort," Draco said quickly and quietly. "He'll do nasty things to me regardless of if I serve him or oppose him. So I might as well stand up and fight."

"Glad to have you, mate," Harry replied. "I wouldn't want to have to fight you."

He changed the subject. "So who do you think the prefects are going to be?"

"Obviously I hope it's me," Draco said. "Prefects can award or deduct points and can assign detention. Think of how handy it would be to be able to take points off of the Weasel if he got too annoying."

"Five points from Gryffindor!" Harry said, trying out the sound of it. It sounded good. "Detention, Weasley! With Professor Snape!"

Professor Snape, his Head of House, would probably frown on using his power too liberally, although it would most likely be because he had to supervise.

"Ten points to Slytherin!" Draco sounded even better.

Harry hoped he would have many opportunities to say all of those things. Assuming he was a prefect, of course. It all hinged on that. Harry tried to tell himself that he shouldn't get his hopes up. If he built himself a fantasy world based on the unproven assumption, it would be crushing when it all came crashing down around his ears. Best to just wait and see if a badge came with his Hogwarts letter and be pleasantly surprised.

Ah, who was he kidding? He wanted to be a prefect in the worst way. Prefects were the best of the best in Slytherin. It was recognition of skill and talent, diligent study, and exemplifying the traits Salazar Slytherin had valued.

Harry was at the top of several of his classes. He'd always done very well in Defence Against the Dark Arts and Potions, in third year he'd become the ace at Arithmancy, and in fourth year he'd developed an amazing facility with Transfiguration. He'd not only survived the Triwizard Tournament, but he'd won the thing with a combination of technically illegal magic and countless hours spent ducking, dodging, and duelling. He was Slytherin's star Seeker. He had unquestionably distinguished himself far beyond surviving the Killing Curse as a baby, done deeds on his own.

Was it so wrong of him to desire what anyone else in that position would desire? Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff was a Seeker, team captain, a prefect, a Triwizard Champion, and was likely going to be Head Boy. It was a hefty list of accomplishments. Harry had actually won the Triwizard Tournament. Harry had led his Quidditch team to victory for three years. Neither was something Diggory could say. Harry was likely going to be named Quidditch Captain next year, but he wanted to be a prefect too. His dad had been a Quidditch star, but his mum had been a prefect.

If Voldemort had never gone after my parents, I'd have grown up unimportant. Nobody would have entered me into the Triwizard Tournament, but I'm sure I'd still be learning my unofficial lessons. Dad and Sirius are both Animagi; they probably would have started me as soon as I could walk. I might have known how to Apparate before going to school.

He'd still be just as smart as he was now. Maybe his study habits would be a bit worse. Harry thought about Sirius for a moment. Yes, definitely worse study habits. Though maybe his mum would be stricter in that regard.

On Friday morning, the booklists for the upcoming school year arrived. The envelope was thicker and heavier than normal. Harry started as something fell out. It was a silver badge. He picked it up and ran his fingers over the engraved letters. Prefect. He was a prefect.

His mum had been a prefect. She'd be proud of him. So would his dad, but his mum would be delighted that he was following in her steps. Maybe he would also be Head Boy some day like his dad had been. His mum had been Head Girl.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I have selected you to be a prefect. You are a fine example of all that a Slytherin should be. You are studious and skillful. You are clever and creative. You are a natural leader, and others follow the strength of your personality. You are also a political choice. I believe it is best to give you actual authority to reinforce your unofficial influence. Nevertheless, being a prefect is an important responsibility, and I will continue to expect only the best of you. Know that you have my utmost confidence.

Most sincerely,

Professor Severus Snape

Head of Slytherin House

Harry looked up at Sirius.

"I'm a prefect."

"Congratulations, Harry!" Sirius looked like he might burst. "Oh, I'm proud of you!"

"Well done, Harry," Remus said. "Your parents would be pleased."

Harry beamed.

"Congratulations, Harry," Mr. Malfoy said. "You are an excellent choice."

If Mr. Malfoy was disappointed that Draco hadn't been chosen, he didn't let it show. Elan had been a prefect, and Draco was expected to trod the same path. Draco wanted to succeed in other ways, like on the Quidditch pitch, but being prefect would have been nice.

"Remember that you are responsible for enforcing the rules now. It does not do to break them. You will quickly erode your own authority."

"We must have a special dinner tonight," Sirius declared. "Talk to Kreacher after breakfast, Harry, and tell him what you want to eat."

"I will." He grinned somewhat foolishly. "I'm so happy."

"Did you get your booklist?"

The booklist had only a few things listed. Not many of his classes were changing texts. There was the usual revision to The Standard Book of Spells. They were currently on Grade 5. There were also two books related to Defence Against the Dark Arts.

Countering the Curse by Geoffrey Odnol

Dark Creatures and How To Kill Them by Izzy Scamander

"Yes. When can we go to Diagon Alley?"

"I think we can arrange for tomorrow."

"Can I tell Padma? I'd really like to see her."

"If she can be trusted not to blab?"

"Padma knows how to stay quiet. Thanks, Sirius."

"A young man deserves a snog once in awhile," Sirius declared. "Even if there is a war on and grave threats to his safety."

"We have to go out anyway."

"Yes," Sirius said, not sounding happy about it. "Which is the only reason I'm agreeing to this. You're not going to be alone. Get that idea right out of your head. Your date will be in public, and myself and Remus will be there to keep an eye on things."

"Chaperones?" Harry was dismayed. How was he supposed to smooch his girlfriend with all eyes on him?

"It's as good a word as any."

Harry grumbled about it all day, but he wrote a letter to Padma inviting her and Parvati on a double date with him and Draco at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. Her return owl, received just before lunch, contained an acceptance.

The trip to Diagon Alley was conducted with some form of secrecy. Sirius turned Harry's black hair blonde. They could do nothing about the scar, of course, but Harry looked so radically different that it hardly mattered. Considering his altered appearance in the mirror, Harry thought he looked quite Swedish.

Harry didn't need to visit Gringott's. Sirius had a bulging moneypouch that he opened to pay for everything. Harry still found it a bit odd to let his guardian take care of him, but it was sort of nice to not think about money.

They visited Flourish and Blott's for their books. Harry thumbed through the Defence books and was pleased to see that they contained lots of incantations. Whomever was teaching Defence this year had good taste in literature.

A quick trip to the Apothecary was needed to replenish Potions ingredients. Harry picked up a few phials of salamander blood as well. He didn't know what he might have chance to use them for, but it seemed like a good idea to be prepared, and the price was too good to pass up.

In Madam Malkin's, Harry got fitted for new robes. His robes from last year were now too small for him. Harry had finally gotten used to the idea that he was entitled to have clothes that fit him decently. For years he'd had to contend with fat Dudley's cast-offs, but no more. Now he dressed finely in robes that were well-made, but seldom ostentatious.

Their shopping for school completed, it was time for the double date with the twins. The boys were the first to arrive at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. They ordered cool drinks to fight the heat of the day and waited. At a few minutes past the hour, the girls walked in. Harry and Draco stood up as Padma and Parvati approached their table. Both girls accepted a brief peck on the lips before allowing the boys to pull out their chairs.

"So how have you been, 'Vati?" Draco said.

"I've been rather irritated," the Gryffindor said, getting right to the point. "Something weird happened before school let out. Suddenly you don't have time for me and nobody on the train even knew where you were. I haven't seen my boyfriend for nearly three weeks. He barely responds to his post, and when he does condescend to see me, it has to be in the middle of the day, in public, with chaperones? Oh yes, I see Professor Lupin trying to be inconspicuous in the far corner. So why don't you tell me how you've been and what's going on?"

"There's nothing going on," Draco replied. "Nothing, that is, unless you count the evillest Dark wizard in a century finally coming back. He tried to kill my best mate, Parvati. You don't think I've been rightfully distracted by the idea that he might kill me too?"

"You-Know-Who would never kill Slytherins," Parvati scoffed. "Don't you all secretly follow him or something?"

Harry's temper flared. Draco, however, spoke first. "Never. Whether what he says about blood and Muggles echoes what we think or not, the Dark Lord is a madman. We do not approve of his tactics, for many reasons. Don't you ever again suggest that we are all good little miniature Death Eaters."

The vehemence in Draco's voice surprised even Harry. It was a nice bit of spin, to say that Voldemort's opinions on blood and Muggles happened to agree with Slytherin, rather than all Slytherins agreed with the Dark Lord. It was like saying that all squares were rectangles, but not all rectangles were squares.

"Draco's right," Harry said. "Obviously not all Slytherins are Death Eaters. Like me, for example. I'm a Slytherin, but you wouldn't catch me worshiping Voldemort." The girls winced as he said the verboten name. "I'm not scared of his name either. He killed my parents and tried to kill me. Twice. I've sworn to avenge them."

"I'm going to help him," Draco said flatly.

"How are you going to do that?" Parvati asked.

"Well, I don't rightly know yet."

"See, that's what I don't believe. You are a Slytherin. Slytherins always have a plan. You've decided to do this great thing. How did you plan to do it?"

"You don't develop a plan to defeat a Dark Lord in a fortnight, Parvati," Draco objected. "These things take time."

"So what've you got so far?"

"Study hard and earn a dozen OWLs."

"Are you serious?"

"Absolutely. We're not even qualified wizards yet. Who would trust us to do anything? We've got to finish school, take the NEWTs, and then probably join the Aurors or something."

"You, Draco Malfoy, join the Aurors?" Padma interjected, sounding extremely skeptical.

"I admit, it's not the most common idea, but it does have a certain merit to it."

"There's something going on," Parvati declared. "You're not likely to wait six years before doing anything."

"There's nothing going on," Draco denied.

"Draco, I'm not stupid. Tell me what's going on!"

"There's nothing going on! Harry, is there anything going on?"

"No, there's nothing going on." Harry couldn't understand why they were being so insistent. First Padma had pressed him in her letters, and now both sisters were grilling the boys for information.

"See, Parvati? There's nothing going on."

"Stop that, Malfoy!"

"What, being right?" Draco scoffed. "Forget it."

"No, forget you, Malfoy!" Parvati practically spat. "You were an interesting enough diversion, but I'm through with you."

Draco laughed sharply. "Through with me? Get a fresh grasp on reality, Patil. I only asked you out because I wanted to irritate Parkinson. Merlin knows that worked fantastically. It was a lot of fun conspiring with you in that regard. I think you enjoyed that aspect of it more than me. I, on the other hand, much preferred the snogging."

"You slime, Malfoy!" Parvati and Padma hissed together.

Harry shot Padma a dirty look, but she didn't notice. At the moment, she was a mirror of Parvati, disgust and loathing plain on her face. He barely recognized the gentle girl with whom he'd had so much fun.

Draco laughed again. "Oh, you're pretty enough, Parvati, but I decided to ask you out because I wanted to rub it in Weasley's face that I could get what he couldn't."

Parvati abruptly seemed unsure of herself. "Harry said you were smitten with me."

"Harry?" Draco suddenly sounded confused.

"The only reason I went out with you is because I owed Harry a favour. He called it in to make sure I said yes when you asked me to the Yule Ball."

"Did he now?" Draco drawled, not glancing at Harry at all. "Well, thanks, old chum. I do appreciate that."

"Think nothing of it, my good man," Harry said, also affecting somewhat of a pompous drawl. Draco was his oldest friend, and there was little Harry wouldn't do for him.

Padma kicked his ankle under the table, and he glared at her. She glared right back, and Harry felt his anger kindle. Anyone hitting him conjured memories of his abuse at the hands of the Muggles.

"Oooh!" Parvati fumed. "You're not supposed to thank him!"

"Hoping I'd be angry? I'm quite honoured that Harry called in a favour on my behalf. He could have waited another few years until your hips finish filling out and then asked you to perform the Dance of the Seven Veils for him. I would have, if you'd owed me."

"I pray I never have to owe you a favour."

Draco laughed again. "Never fear, Parvati. I won't seek that. Much."

"Your crudity makes me sick," Padma declared. "I thought you were supposed to be civilized."

"I've had enough of breathing the same air as you, Malfoy," Parvati declared, standing up. "Good bye. Come on, Padma."

Padma also stood up. She glanced at Harry. "I can't go out with you anymore, Harry. Your best mate is too much of an evil git."

Harry's temper flared. "Then go! Thanks for the snogging. I was just about finished with you anyway."

Hurt flashed in Padma's eyes, and she turned away. The sisters hurried out of the shoppe. The boys sat in empty silence for a moment.

"Good riddance," Draco pronounced. "Pain in the arse, right?"

"Yeah."

Girls were downright dizzying. Harry still felt himself hovering above the table, disconnected from the scene. What had happened to their nice ice cream date? He'd been looking forward to finally having another date with his girlfriend, and now he was broken up. What had he missed?

"We don't need to put up with that. Did they ever think that we couldn't tell them even if we knew what was going on?"

"We could have explained that."

"Could have, but then we'd have to explain why we would even know there was something going on. Lots of awkward questions all around."

"True."

Harry felt strangely liberated. He'd been wondering how he was going to keep everything from Padma. The more Harry thought about it, the more he realized just how pushy Padma had been in trying to get him to tell her what was going on. She knew he was involved somehow, but that was all she knew. She wanted to know more. Now he didn't have to worry about it.

Remus and Sirius came over.

"I take it things didn't go well," Remus said casually.

"Not according to plan, anyway," Draco said. "Let's get out of here."