Disclaimer: You'd think after so many chapters they would let us stop putting these things up. I mean, you all already know I'm not J.K. Rowling, and you all already know I own nothing…so why? –Sighs.- A question for the ages… Anywho, in case you 'don't' know, I am not J.K. Rowling, and I own nothing. -Smiles sweetly.-
Chapter Summary: Draco and Harry awake with two very distinct surroundings and atmospheres...how will things turn out...? Will the next time their paths cross be for the better...or the worse?
A/N: Told you all it wouldn't be that long. –Grins.- This chapter just flowed out so easily, I couldn't withhold the temptation to get right into typing it out! (Even spent a majority of a day at school just scribbling away on a notebook. :-P ) It's my longest chapter to boot so far! –Does a dance.- Anyway, beyond that, I'm so happy you've all welcomed me back with open arms after having been absent so long, I had been worried about that, but here you all are…still supporting me…something for which I thank you all immensely. It's for all of you fans that I write. :-) Anywho, onto the next chappie! I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 31: Recuperation & Reminiscences
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No light streamed into the room…though, that was not anything new. It was rare to find true light within 'any' part of this place, the boy thought to himself. Blinking a few times, allowing his eyes to become accustomed to the darkness, he realized something. There was usually a candle lit in his room…it was pitch black in here. It was not that he was scared of the dark, because he was not; it was just…oddly out of the ordinary. Yawning a bit, he sat up on his bed - knowing it was his because the sheets and covers were their usual silk - and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. When had he fallen asleep? He was not sure… To tell the truth, he was not even certain how he got to his own room. He sure did feel rested though. The kind of rested people only get when they sleep the right amount of hours after being worn out to the max. Where had he been before he 'did' fall asleep, though? The memories of the day before were fuzzy to him…
A knock on the door brought the boy's attention away from trying to recollect memories, and to whoever had come to see him. Only his mother ever knocked, never his father, but the knock was too heavy to be a woman's. Reaching out with his mind, he attempted to hear the thoughts of the one at the door, to identify the person behind it. Hitting a mental wall that felt as solid as rock, the child drew back from it and just gazed though the darkness in the direction he knew the door to be, puzzlement on his face. Being unable to hear someone's thoughts had only happened when he had tried to hear Voldemort's thoughts, and if the person behind the door was Voldemort, he knew he would have sensed an evil aura…and Dark Lord's did not knock to enter a room…did they?
No…of course they don't… he mused, rolling his eyes at himself for even allowing himself to merely entertain the thought. Now that he thought about it, though, he had never been able to hear his Godfather's thoughts either. Other than the fact that he was always kind to him, he knew nothing internal about his Godfather Severus… Another rap at the door withdrew the boy from his reverie.
"C…Come in," he called, awaiting apprehensively to see who it was. At the words, the door handle was turned from the other side, and the door was pulled outwardly, allowing fire-light from the torches down the corridor to stream into the room. The boy reflexively squinted at the sudden intrusion of light, making the face of the person at the door hard to see…though that did not stop the person from entering the room and flicking his wand to light the few candles around the room, brightening the room up, before closing the door behind him.
"G'morning, Draco," the golden-brown haired, hazel eyed, man said, pulling out a chair from the boy's desk and seating himself without asking for consent first. The Malfoy heir just looked at the man sitting before him…he had never seen him before. What was he doing here? He was dressed in normal wizard clothes, and his face 'seemed' friendly enough, but… "Judging that you're surprise at seeing me, I suppose I've got some explaining to do," the man chuckled. "First off, introduction, yeah? …My name is Xantos." Draco nodded slowly at this, but said nothing in return.
"Secondly, I brought you up to your room last night after casting a sleeping spell on you…you seemed like you needed the rest," the man informed him.
At this enlightenment, the memories of the night before flooded back to the blonde boy in flashes. The Death Eaters meeting up, Harry Potter locked in dungeons under the Manor, him helping the boy, forming 'some' form of connection with him - Draco did not exactly want to call it a 'friendship'…for it was not that…right? No, of course not… - , them escaping Death Eaters, them arguing over whether to go back for 'Moony' or not, Potter falling though a hole, him helping Potter with some pain in his scar, him knocking Nott unconscious, him finding 'Moony's' wand and sending it to him via a thin stream of water, and him getting caught by a hazel-eyed Death Eater who…who… And there the memories ended. And here the man, who had introduced himself as Xantos, had just told him that he had cast a sleeping spell on him! But next to that, a worse thought hit him…
"You're a Death Eater!" Draco exclaimed, panic creeping unwillingly into his voice. Had he told his father he had helped Potter escape? That he had knocked Nott out? That he had given 'Moony' back his wand to fight Voldemort with?
"Hey, keep that down, someone just might hear you," Xantos grinned, eyes alight with mirth. Draco merely gaped at him. "If you're worried about me having informed the rest of the Death Eater's, mainly Lucius, or the Dark Lord…relax. I've kept your mini revolt against your father's view of things to myself."
"You…you have?" Draco inquired, disbelief etched into his words, though the boy noticeably relaxed. Xantos nodded. "…Why?"
Sitting back in his chair, the man dubbed by Voldemort as Serpent, pocketed his wand lazily, brought his hands up behind his head, laced them, and rested his head against them. "It would've been as much in my worst interest, as it would've been yours," he replied simply. "Other than that, there's no other answer."
"So…you're not upset? You know what I did, and you aren't mad the Dark Lord didn't get Potter?" Draco inquired, incredulous as to this being true. What kind of Death Eater 'was' Xantos, anyway?
"Hehe…naw, I rebelled against 'my' folks from time to time, so a few times here and there for you is normal, you're a kid…can't be mad at you for acting like one. As to being upset the Dark Lord didn't get his wish? I'm sure he'll get it sooner or later. Yesterday…just wasn't the day. These things take time and planning, as I've told him, but he's just impatient," Xantos sighed, shaking his head sadly before shifting his gaze up to the ceiling.
Xantos was an odd one that was for sure. That much Draco could surmise. Was he truly someone loyal to the Death Eater cause…or not? His words were confusing to the answer. But he was open to Draco…maybe too much so…although he still kept his mind securely barred from outsiders.
"…Why are you here?"
Slowly looking down at the boy sitting up on the bed, Xantos released a slow breath before saying, "I was wondering when you'd get around to asking me that…" Bringing his hands down and setting them on the chair's arm-rests he replied, "A good many Death Eaters were sent to Azkaban last night thanks to Dumbledore, his Order, and some Aurors…" Draco visibly tensed…he knew of that place. "Among them…your father was sent also."
A mix of emotions swept through the Malfoy heir, relief and immense sadness at the same time. "…Oh…" he whispered.
"The Dark Lord is already devising a plan to get them out, but without his true body I doubt it'll be accomplished anytime soon. He knew this as well, and seeing as how the Dark Lord has high expectations for you, being the next in line of the Malfoy's, who've been loyal to him since Merlin knows when, he inquired with Snape to see if the man could come up here from time to time keep up the home schooling you're father had been doing with you."
"Is he going to?" Draco asked, hoping so, much preferring his Godfather to the harsh ways his father taught.
"Sadly, no..." Xantos replied, though the look on his face said he was not that sorry at all. "With teaching at Hogwarts he wouldn't be able to, so…'I' opted for the job."
"You?" Draco said, surprised.
"Yep. Other than working on my orders from the Dark Lord having to do with Potter, I've got nothing better to do. And what I saw last night about you intrigued me quite a bit…" Xantos said, the beginnings of a grin starting to form on his lips.
He knows… Draco thought to himself anxiously, he knows about my powers…
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A faint light streamed into the Hogwarts Hospital Wing, the beginnings of dawn entering the spacious area. Groaning softly, 6-year-old Harry Potter turned from his side position on the hospital bed, to his back and blinked open his eyes before rubbing the sleep from them as he yawned. The world was blurry. Where were his glasses? Reaching for the nightstand next to his bed, his hands found what they were looking for, and he slipped the objects onto his face, bringing to world into a clearer, crisper focus. Sitting up, the raven-haired boy glanced around the room to find a sleeping Remus on the bed next to him, and a dozing Sirius on a chair at the foot of the space between their two beds. A heartwarming smile spread across Harry's face. It had not been a dream, he was with Moony and Padfoot again. …His family.
Removing his covers he scooted off the bed as quietly as he could, passed a glance at his Godfather, feeling a yearning to just crawl into his lap and cuddle against him, but he pushed it aside. His desire to check on Moony was greater. Climbing as quietly and as softly as he could onto his second Guardian's bed, he removed the blankets a bit, saw bandages here and there, but nothing that looked life-threatening. Sighing with relief, emerald eyes trailed to the werewolf's face to find amber orbs staring back at him. A light yelp escaped his lips, as he fell from his knees to his bum, surprised at finding the previously sleeping man to be awake.
"Find everything to be in order?" the light brown-haired man inquired, amusement evident in his tone and eyes. Harry smiled and nodded, tears threatening to enter his eyes, but he fought them back.
"Moony!" he exclaimed, crawling over and laying down next to the man. Remus wrapped his arms around the child and held him there, comfortingly. "I'm glad you're okay…" Remus smiled softly, kissed the top of Harry's tuft of black hair, and replied,
"I'm glad you're okay, too…I was so worried about you…" Harry looked up at his guardian, knowledge of what the man said visible in his emerald orbs…he had sensed it back there at the manor. "…I'm sorry…I didn't get you out of there faster. At least before…before…"
Harry knew Moony was talking about everything that had happened after he had fallen into the circular chamber, and he put a finger up to the werewolf's lips, silencing him. "You did a lot for me, Moony…you did great."
The emotion building up in the werewolf was quite apparent to the Potter heir. The boy's words moved the man. Digging his face in Harry's hair, he hugged the boy against him, and whispered, "…I love you, Harry."
"…I love you, too…Uncle Moony."
And in that same position the two fell asleep, Harry having dubbed his second guardian the title of 'Uncle'. A word he had refrained from using whenever possible, the memories painful. But Moony had been worth the title. After all, he had been much more of a brother to his dad than Uncle Vernon had 'ever' been to his mom. And last night…last night Harry believed the man had proved to him how a 'true' uncle was meant to act…meant to be…
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"Heh...it certainly did confirm my suspicions. There was no way Potter could've escaped his cell on his own. The electricity voltage was too high...and the only people who could've undone the spell were in the chamber that I was in. ...So when we got wind of his escape, I started to think of the ways it could've happened. There was only one logical explanation, no matter how mental the idea sounded. Earth counteracts electricity pretty well. And with that in mind, I tried to think of anyone I'd forgotten...someone that might've still been in the house that could've possibly suited my theory." A grin.
"...And at the most oddest moment...you came to mind...and all the pieces fell into place. The age was right, the position in the manor was right, and the signs were right. Hehe...if it hadn't been for that moment when I had just apparated outside the manor, when it had hit me...who knows? Things might've turned out different. I might've stayed out there and fought Dumbledore's Order members... The Dark Lord might've gotten Potter... But time was of the essence...I had to get to you before another Death Eater did..." He allowed his words to float off, for Draco to contemplate them for a second. "As things turned out...I 'wasn't' the first to find you. Which was probably because I took a moment to talk with Black..." His last sentence was directed more to himself than to Draco. "But you did a good enough job dealing with Nott, I saw," he chuckled amusedly.
Yep...that sealed it. He was trapped. This Xantos had enough on him to…to get him kicked off the Malfoy family tree! To be labeled a…a…a blood traitor! The worst of the worst! Oh, if he ever regretted helping Potter out, it was now. Why would he do something so incredibly stupid? And on top of all that, he had 'no' idea how his family would react to him having powers outside those of a regular wizard. But then, he did have to remind himself that Xantos 'had' said he had not told anyone… He had said that to do so would have been in both their bad interests…
Can I trust his words? …Trust 'him'?
"No reason to seem so blue, I kept your little 'gifts' to myself... I didn't, and don't, exactly think its time to let out that the other Elemental has been uncovered… And that he's a Malfoy, no less," Xantos grinned.
"An Elemental?" Draco repeated, a bemused expression on his face.
"It's what kind of wizard you are…well…you and 'Potter' are…" he explained.
So he could not even be called a wizard! He was an Elemental! How would his father take 'that'? And his mother absolutely hated anything out of the wizarding ordinary. And if he lost 'her' kindness, he would lose everything that mattered. Ugh…ever since Potter...everything was just going farther and farther down hill! How much more till rock bottom was there?
"Hehe, don't jump to conclusions," Xantos smirked, reading into Draco's expression. "Your father would be ecstatic at the news...to say the least...and the Dark Lord would be…more than pleased, I guess I should say, to have found one half the coin right under his nose. But…it's not time for any of them to know."
The fact that his 'Elemental' powers would not anger his father at all, comforted the blonde slightly. He was in the clear on that one. Now he would only get killed if his father ever found out how exactly Potter was able to ultimately escape. If Xantos kept to his word about not telling, then maybe helping Potter had not been 'that' horrible…
"Why can't they know?" Draco inquired curiously, removing his blankets and swinging his legs over the side of his bed so that they would dangle there.
"You're not ready for them to," Xantos replied, as if it were completely obvious. "I've no doubt that you've advanced yourself some, but not nearly enough for the Dark Lord's purposes. He'll want to put you straight to his use, and the magical strain would undoubtedly kill you."
The Malfoy heir blinked a few times at this, processing the information. So, the Dark Lord wanted to have what ever it was he was capable of… But…how did Xantos know all of this? And was he keeping Draco's secret, coming to get him last night, and vouching to come here to continue his home schooled teaching, all for Draco's benefit? To look out for him? The natural Slytherin in him told him the Death Eater before him 'had' to have some ulterior motives to his actions.
"So…"
"So…being as studied as I am in the subject, I'm also going to train you in your Elemental magic, as well as basic primary school things," Xantos stated, as easily as if it was something he offered to do for people every day. Draco's mouth almost dropped, but he was swiftly able to catch it. Xantos was going to do this under everyone's noses? How could he train him without telling the Dark Lord of his powers?
"But the Dark Lord will read into your—" A laugh from the man sitting in front of him cut his sentence off, earning Xantos an odd look.
"If the Dark Lord could read into half of me, I would've been dead 'years' ago," he grinned.
What was that supposed to mean?? Draco was even more confused as to what kind of Death Eater Xantos was. Who willingly revealed stuff like that to people??
"Let's not take that the wrong way now," Xantos said, grin becoming nothing more than a smile. "I am loyal…if I'm nothing else…I am that." These words were said earnestly.
Draco found his resistance to withhold his trust from the man dwindling. Xantos was a likable person…in a very weird, roundabout way. But before he placed himself into this new teacher's hands, answered questions to things he had never told anyone in his family or outside it, he would have to test something…and ask a few questions of his own.
"What if…I told?" the young Malfoy inquired innocently enough, though mischief sparkled in his silver grey orbs. Xantos' expression became almost immediately serious as he gazed at Draco pensively for a few seconds. Sighing and shaking his head, he replied,
"I suppose that'd be a choice you would have to make for yourself. In the end, though, magical exhaustion would be your death…heh…and I'd come out with maybe a few Crucio's, which, mind you, 'would' be painful." Hazel eyes scanned the large bedroom, walls and floor - like the rest of the manor - made of stone, before his gaze landed on the emerald green silk bed sheets where the Malfoy heir sat. The man noted with slight disdain the Slytherin-like color, before returning his gaze and attention to the calculative young blonde.
"But do you want the truth? ...I highly doubt you'll utter a word of my training you in Elemental magic to anyone," Xantos said, grin returning.
"What makes you say that?" Draco asked, the trademark Malfoy sneer revealing itself.
"I can teach you things no one else can…things that would take you years and years to learn on your own."
Draco contemplated the man's words for a few moments…and decided he would never really know unless he gave Xantos the opportunity. And his father 'did' always say that when opportunity knocked, you were supposed to drag it kicking and screaming inside…
Xantos saw the answer he wanted on the boy's face long before the words had been voiced aloud.
"…Alright…" Draco sighed, resigned. He guessed he finally had hit rock bottom. Well…at least there was no where else to go but up, right? …Right?
Down casting his gaze to his hands, Draco stared at them for a bit before a thought entered his head and he snapped his silver grey gaze back to Xantos.
"…Are you a pure-blood?"
The man smirked and nodded.
"What's your surname?"
"That one…will have to wait a bit…"
Draco looked at him, wondering why the man could not answer such a simple question.
"Fine…is my mother alright with this? With what she knows about this?"
Xantos shrugged, "She said she didn't mind. It's not everyday that a spell smith is in her house. And she does want your schooling to continue, even though she's hardly ever home thanks to trips, sooo…"
"You're a spell smith?" the boy repeated, as if it had been the only thing he'd heard.
"...Yep."
"Hmm…" He'd heard of them, and their rarity, but had never met one. No wonder the Dark Lord finds him useful… "I see…"
"So…trust me yet?
"…A little…I guess…"
"Better than not at all, I suppose." Xantos chuckled.
"Are there more of us?"
"More of what?"
"More Elementals than just Potter and I."
"Oh….no, just two every thousand years or so," the man sighed sadly.
"Is that why the Dark Lord wanted Potter?"
"Well…it certainly was 'one' of his reasons…" Draco nodded thoughtfully at this.
"And…he wants me too…?"
"He wants the second Elemental, as well, yes. In this case you…but he doesn't know that."
Draco nodded understandingly.
"Where...is the Dark Lord now?"
"An answer I'm not at liberty to tell. Just know that he's fine where he is, planning, locating a new suitable host with Greyback's help, and probably giving Pettigrew his punishment for hightailing it out of here early." Draco sighed at this. He had hoped for an answer...
"You know, you've asked me quite a bit." Xantos voiced aloud the thought. "…Mind if I ask you a few things now?" The Malfoy heir hesitated for a second...before nodding.
"What can you do with your powers up till now? I know you've got water and earth as your two main ones, because Potter has fire and air, but I don't know which of the two is your dominant one...and what other abilities you may be capable of." Leaning forward, resting his arms on his knees, allowing his hands to hang in the space between his knees, he gave his full and undivided attention to the blonde boy.
This was information he needed to know in order to understand the boy's capabilities, limits, and in which direction to start the training. The fact that the subject of Elementals and their abilities fascinated him was in small comparison to his other reasons for asking these questions… Even though he could not prevent his hazel orbs from coming ablaze with interest.
Draco sighed, having expected such a question. Taking a deep breath, to ready himself, the Malfoy heir began to talk. And a conversation ensued…a bond formed…the sort that forms between two strangers who reveal intimate secrets to one another. And a turning point would occur from this conversation outward that, though time, would change the outcome of many things to come…
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"Sirius…"
Said black-haired Animagus mumbled in his sleep at the, what seemed, far away calling of his name. His only major reaction was to move into a more comfortable position and to continue on catching up on the sleep he had missed out on while hunting his friend and Godson down.
"Mr. Black." A few more grumbles.
"Mr. Black, if you want me to 'cure' you of your sleeping disorder, I'd be more than ha—" A load groan responded to this, cutting the school nurse off.
Blearily opening his bluish-grey eyes, Sirius Black came face to face with one Madam Pomfrey. Jumping up with surprise, he immediately realized her proximity to him, stumbled backwards onto the chair he had been dozing in, knocked it backwards as well, and fell with it to the floor.
"…Oww…"
"You alright down there, Siri?" came Remus's unmistakable voice, his delight evident. A mix between a groan and a growl emitted from Sirius's position before he replied through gritted teeth,
"Why, yes, oh considerate Moony." Pushing himself off the fallen chair, he gingerly stood, only to be greeted with the sight of Madam Pomfrey covering her laughter with a hand, Harry sitting on Remus' lap covering his laughter – poorly - with both hands, and Remus just grinning at him as if saying – more than a little facetiously - , 'Brilliant job, Mr. Padfoot.'
"Oh, I see how it is. I see a plan executed when I see one," the black-haired man glared.
"Or…when it…knocks you to the floor!" Harry said with difficulty through bouts of laughter, before breaking out into giggles, leaning against Remus for support so as to not tumble over. Sirius looked about ready to tackle the boy and tickle him to death.
"Now, now, Mr. Black…no violence. These two are my patients and I can't allow any roughhousing." Sirius glanced at Pomfrey, lost his nerve from the look she was giving him, and picked up the fallen chair with a defeated sigh.
After Harry's giggling died down to nothing, the nurse picked up two empty potion vials from the night stand and said, looking over at Sirius, "It wasn't 'all' a joke, you know. You 'did' need to get up. Anyway," she sighed walking over towards her office before turning back. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Lupin have finished taking their potions for the day, and Dumbledore told me to tell you all that he would like to see you whenever Remus and Harry felt up for the walk to his office." Her message given, she nodded to the two older wizards, gave Harry a fleeting smile, and turned before bustling into her office.
Remus looked over at Sirius, asking his friend with his look 'why Dumbledore would want to speak with them a second time.' Sirius shrugged in response, just as curious as to the reason. The aged wizard had already gotten Remus's story of the events of last night, and the night before when he and Harry had been captured. The two occupants of the bed watched as Sirius took a seat in the chair he had previously knocked over. Pensive silence reigned in the room, mainly in part by the two older wizards. Harry was just content, happy to be back. He occasionally wondered if Voldemort and his Death Eaters would come back for him…but in this moment, with both his guardians, the thoughts were left at the back of his mind.
"Prongslet…" Sirius said, looking over at the youth, a thoughtful look on his face that said he had just realized something. "…is it just me…or does Moony seem like he's hogging you?"
"Umm…" Harry said, looking up at Remus briefly before looking back at Sirius, who was pouting. Making a move to get up from Remus' lap, Harry was quickly stopped, two arms wrapping around his middle and a chin resting on his head.
"Why would he want to spend time with someone who 'isn't' his favorite?" Remus asked, amber eyes glinting mischievously. Harry's eyes widened and Sirius' mouth dropped in mock betrayal.
"Are…are you trying to imply the thought that Mr. Prongslet might just like 'you' better than he likes 'me', Mr. Moony?" Sirius inquired dangerously, though his bluish-grey eyes were playful. Harry opened and closed his mouth, trying - and failing - to come up with something to say to the two.
"But of course, Mr. Padfoot. Any bright person would be able to see that fact."
At that, Sirius whipped out his wand, Remus following suit, as the black-haired man stood from his chair.
"W-Wait, don't! I like both of you the same!" Harry cried, a franticness for the truth to be known before a battle began evident in his voice. The emerald eyed boy rapidly scrambled out of Remus' arms, stood on the bed between them, and glanced between them with pleading eyes.
"…Who likes us both the same?" Sirius asked, grinning, as if not having heard properly.
"I do!"
"Who??" Remus asked, a smile forming on his face as he too feigned being mildly deaf.
"…Prongslet does!" Harry replied, wondering if this was the answer the two men wanted.
"Who??" Sirius asked, as though confused. Harry looked between the two for a few seconds, baffled, before it hit him.
Taking a breath, he said slowly, with a little more calmness, "…Mr. Prongslet…" He paused here; thinking briefly before continuing with, "…likes Mr. Padfoot and Mr. Moony…the same."
Soft smiles stole their way across the faces of the two men as they gradually lowered their wands. "Aw, kiddo! We know you do!" Sirius said, pocketing his wand before picking the boy up and sitting down on the chair with him on his lap. "We were just messing with you."
"Oh…" Harry chuckled sheepishly, glancing over at Remus who nodded, smiling as well.
"Well…I guess we better head on over. You two feel up to it?"
"Yeah," Remus replied with a sigh, and Harry nodded in agreement.
"Those potions Missus Pomfrey gave us were really good, right Uncle Moony?"
Remus chuckled and nodded as Sirius looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. The amber-eyed werewolf merely smiled and shrugged, he was not planning on questioning the boy on the new nickname. He liked it.
A good ten minutes later found Harry and Remus dressed into regular clothes rather than hospital ones, and ready for leaving the wing.
"That whole Pomfrey thing was underhanded, Remus," Sirius informed his friend pensively, as though the small prank had been eating at him, as the three exited and headed for Dumbledore's office. Sirius was holding Harry's right hand, and Remus was holding the boy's left as they walked down the hall. "I was asleep, you know a healer being so close to me gives me no sense of comfort, and you 'still' put her up to it."
"You really do love to make things that happen to you seem like the end of the world, don't you?" Remus asked, looking over at the black-haired man with an inquisitive look.
"...No...of course not! And you know what Remi? Through all these years I've come to realize just how mischievous you actually are. Everyone else thinks you're this completely kind-hearted, considerate person, who would rather pick up a book than partake in a good Marauder-ish prank...and granted, you are a lot of that...but if they knew even just 'a little bit' of the stuff about you that I know, they'd see how you really are. If Dumbledore hadn't made you Prefect, our last three years at Hogwarts would've been even 'better'."
Remus sighed and shook his head, and deciding to change the subject, he inquired, "Think Pomfrey will let us leave her care today?"
"Even after that intense healing magic she did on you yesterday, and that invigoration potion this morning, I doubt she'll dub you ready to leave 'today'…Prongslet, maybe, but not you." The black-haired animagus replied, knowing Remus had changed the subject, but letting it slide.
"If it were you in her care, you'd be out today with or without her permission," the werewolf stated knowingly.
"Yeah…most likely, but you're not me." Remus rolled his eyes at this and the three continued on their way.
Hogwarts Castle was oddly empty for a nice spring Saturday…but that was most likely thanks to the fact that it was Hogsmeade day and most of the students were out and about at the town, or in their common rooms. After a few flights of stairs, and a lot more walking, the three arrived at the statue that led to Dumbledore's office. As if knowing they were to arrive, the statue stepped aside, without even making the visitors name off random sweets to figure out the password. Ascending the stairs, Sirius knocked on the door with the door knocker a few times, and they waited. Not a few seconds later the door opened and the three entered.
"Come in, come in," came Dumbledore's amiable voice from his desk.
Harry glanced around the room in fascination and they entered it. He had never seen a place with more things…so many trinkets and objects that did many different things. There were pictures on the wall that all seemed to stare at him with the same fascination he was staring at them with. And on a perch not too far from where the headmaster sat was the most beautiful bird Harry had ever laid eyes on.
"Wow…" he whispered softly to himself.
"Oh!" Dumbledore smiled, trailing Harry's awestruck gaze to the phoenix. "Do you like him Harry? That is Fawks, a phoenix. They are rare, loyal birds that can do a large variety of useful things."
"He's…very pretty," Harry said, smiling shyly as he looked over at the elder wizard. Dumbledore smiled back in response, before motioning to the three chairs that were situated in front of his desk. Sitting down, Harry in the chair between his two guardians, the three visitors to the headmaster's office gave their full attention the man.
"I do suppose you're all wondering why I asked for you to come up here…" Dumbledore began, looking at the three. "...Well, I do have some important information for you, and then…" His kind gaze landed on Harry. "…I have some question that I'd like to ask young Mr. Potter, here." Sirius and Remus shared a glance at this over their charge's head before returning their attention to Dumbledore.
"The first news that I must give you, is that there is yet to be a need to move you all from the house you are currently situated in. Severus has informed me that the Death Eater's only knew Remus and Harry's location thanks to magic being preformed in the town. For all they know, it could've been a town the two were passing through. They do not know the location of the house, and the fact that it is a good few miles from the actual town is very good." He paused here, taking a few brief seconds to gather his thoughts in order before continuing. "As a precautionary measure, however, Alastor is reinforcing the protection spells and charms on your house as we speak."
Sirius and Remus nodded, grateful. Harry, though, wallowed in the fact that it was 'his' fault that he and Remus had been caught. If he had not preformed elemental magic on an open street, where no charms had been cast to block the tracking of the magic, the events of the past two nights would have never happened. Remus would have never gotten hurt… Noticing the turmoil on the boy's countenance, Dumbledore said comfortingly,
"No reason to feel bad, my boy. You did not know the consequences of your actions, and so no fault can be placed on you. I'm sure this accident won't happen again." Harry shook his head 'no', he would definitely be more careful next time now that he knew. He felt a little better thanks to the headmaster's words, but his guilt was still there.
"I attempted to explain to Cornelius earlier this morning about who was behind the attack and kidnap of Harry and Remus…though he refused to believe the part about Voldemort. I suppose until Voldemort decides to show himself to the 'entire' wizarding world, the man won't accept the fact that he is still out there," Dumbledore sighed sadly, knowing that at the moment though, nothing could be done. Sirius clenched his fists on the arm rest of his chair but said nothing, voicing his anger to Dumbledore about the Prime Minister of Magic's denseness would assist in nothing.
"Other than these two things, I have nothing new to tell you apart from what we discussed last night. And now we shall move onto the main reason I called the three of you here…" Centering his attention and blue gaze on Harry, he said, "My boy…if you would not mind too terribly…I would very much like to know your version of the going-ons of the past two nights."
Harry was a little caught off guard by being asked this; he had expected maybe to be asked this later by his Godfather or Uncle Moony…but by Mr. Dumbles? Looking between his two guardians, who looked as though a question was answered for them and who seemed curious as to Harry's story as well, the boy sighed softly, looking down at his feet. How much could he say? His whole story involved Draco…a Malfoy. He had seen nothing wrong with it in the moment, but he knew that Padfoot and Moony did not like the Malfoy's…and he knew why. So…could he talk about Draco? Was that a right thing to do? He supposed truth was best… He just hoped his guardians did not get upset with him afterwards…
"Well…erm…" He glanced briefly up at Dumbledore, who was waiting patiently, before looking down at his feet. "I woke up in…some kind of a jail," he began, continuing to look at his feet. "It was dark…really, really dark… And I felt funny, like my brain was all cloudy… I couldn't do any magic in there...I didn't know why, so I was scared." His voice had steadily been growing softer, but then he finally trailed his gaze to Dumbledore's, blue meeting emerald. "But then someone just…talked to me," he said, a little stronger now. "Talked to me…in my head."
"In your head?" Sirius repeated, worry for his Godson's sanity etched on his face.
"Yeah… He said he had been able to do it for a while. That he could think his thoughts to people, and hear their thoughts. It was really weird, but I got used to it after a while," Harry said, looking over at his Godfather before looking back at Dumbledore, who nodded for him to continue. "...He...told me that I wasn't safe, and that he was going to help me get out. He found some keys and unlocked the door to the big room I was in. He opened my jail door just fine...even though it had shocked 'me' when I had tried."
Pausing for a moment, he pondered over what had happened next, quickly remembered, then proceeded onward. "I dunno why, but everybody's feeling in the place hit me all at the same time...it hurt so much that I could barely think. He helped me control how opened and closed my power was...and then these two guys came. He and I ran and were able to get into some secret tunnel he had known about. We crawled around for a while, him taking me the way out…but then I remembered Uncle Moony. I...I couldn't leave without him...so…"
"So you went back…" Dumbledore finished, with a soft smile. Harry hesitated a moment before nodding. Remus felt like telling the boy that he had not had to do that in the slightest...but knew that you could not change how a person was on the inside…and that with or without Remus' input on the subject, Harry would pick the same choice time and time again.
"Yeah…he didn't think it was a good idea, but I did it anyway. We went through a different tunnel, me going first this time. This one made a lot of noise...but we kept going. And then I fell through while trying to look down this one hole…" Dumbledore nodded, Remus having informed him of when this had occurred. "A lot happened then that I don't remember that good…it all happened really fast. But my scar hurt, worse than my head had when I had gotten out of the jail. But the boy who had helped me earlier helped me then, too. ...He...erm...blocked the pain somehow...and then someone was telling Voldemort about you guys. He was scary and wasn't happy…" Dumbledore smiled at this.
"Then a whole bunch of the Death Eaters left, and it was just Moony, me, Voldemort, and…" He gulped. "Fenrir…" His gaze fell to his feet again for a few seconds before he finally looked back up. "Voldemort wanted to do something with my arm, but…I wouldn't let him. So he…" Harry broke off here…the memory of the spell too painful to recount…
"Uncle Moony saved me, though." He said after a pregnant silence, uncomfortable, looking swiftly over at Remus with an appreciative smile before looking back at the headmaster. "But then Voldemort...put the spell on Uncle Moony. I was… so mad…I didn't want the same hurt to be on him too…so I broke the spell off with fire…and said that I would listen… Then the ground shook some and Voldemort and Fenrir came and...were about to do what ever it was...when Uncle Moony got his wand back… Then the pain in my scar came back too..." He closed his eyes briefly at the painfilled memory, before opening them once more.
"I don't know what happened to the boy who helped me…but he hasn't talked to me again since then…" He stopped here, knowing that they knew the rest of the story. Taking a deep breath, he released it slowly; glad he had gotten the story out. It felt alleviating to not have it all to himself.
"Interesting…very interesting…" Dumbledore said, more to himself than to Harry. Other than on the topic of Harry having heard a voice, Sirius and Remus had remained quiet, listening attentively to everything the boy had said…Remus doing his best to keep himself in check, and Sirius gritting his teeth angrily for the better part of it all. How he wished he had been there earlier!
"Now, Harry, about this boy… what did you sense about him?" the elder wizard inquired curiously.
Harry thought the question over for a few minutes, trying to find a way to form the answer he was to give. "It was weird…he was…a lot like me…but he was totally different, too..."
Dumbledore nodded pensively, before asking, "Would you mind one last question, my boy?" The emerald-eyed child shook his head no.
"…What was his name?"
Harry opened his mouth, but his voice cut off, so he closed it again. Here it was, the question he had dreaded would be asked... They were going to know now…and the outcome was undeterminable… Taking a shuddering, steadying breath, he replied softly,
"…Draco… his name was Draco Malfoy…"
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A/N: A cliffhanger? Kinda sorta? Naw…no 'kinda sorta' about it, is there? –Sighs defeatedly.- Anywho, how will the name be taken? Guess you'll have to wait for the next chapter for that one… :-) Thanks so much for your continued support through reviews, and I hope this long chapter quenched the gap somewhat of my absence. I shall do my best to update again soon, though with midterms, it might not be for a few more weeks than 'this' update was. But never fear! –Grins.-
And now onto this chapter's 'Curiosity Filler'
"Do you all think J.K.R did good putting Remus with Tonks in the books? Or do you think he should've been paired with another already introduced character, or a new one?"
Personally, I've always thought she was a little young for him, but my friend thinks that they're great together. –Shrugs.- I guess its all just a matter of opinion. –Sighs.-
Well, anyway, byes for now! Till next time…
-Chloe
A.K.A – Japanime1