Harry emerged from his room for breakfast, intent on holding Snape to his promise to tell him more about his mother, and found the man standing next to the bare table. Confused, he asked, "No breakfast today?"
"The Headmaster has invited the present staff to join him for breakfast in the Great Hall," Snape said, "I wish for you to accompany me there. I wish to be present for your first encounter with...Professor Lupin."
"Okay," Harry agreed, a feeling of excitement tingling through him. He was going to meet a real werewolf!
"By the way, Potter," Snape said. "While I have allowed you to address me by my family name while we are here in our quarters, I must insist you address me either as Professor or Sir in front of the Headmaster, other staff, or..."
"I get it, Sir," Harry said. "I'm not stupid."
Snape raised his brow and said, "While I will reserve judgement on that issue until I see your marks for the coming term, I trust you will not forget."
Just to toy with Snape a bit, Harry asked with some amusement, "Do you think we'll ever call each other Harry and Severus?"
The man appeared to consider it a moment, then said, "That depends. Have you heard if hell will be freezing over anytime soon?"
It took Harry a second to realise the old bat had actually cracked a joke. Harry chuckled and said, "Miracles do happen sometimes."
"I'll let you know when one occurs," Snape said, "The Headmaster is waiting"
Snape turned and headed for the door, Harry still chuckling as he followed.
As they walked up to the Great Hall, Harry considered asking about his mother, but didn't want to be brushed off again, so he instead asked, "So, this new professor...him, Black, you, my parents, all were in school together. Was he a Gryffindor?"
"Yes," Snape said shortly, sighed and said, "He, your father, Black, and another boy called Peter Pettigrew, were all friends. They called themselves 'The Marauders'. All Gryffindors."
"And you, Draco's parents, his aunts, you were all Slytherins," Harry stated.
"Yes, but they were all older and ahead of me. Myself, your father and his friends along with your mother, were all yearmates," he said curtly, "Enough questions now. Do not forget that I told you of Lupin's condition in strictest confidence."
"No, Sir," Harry said, "I won't ."
Snape looked approving of the 'Sir,' which boded well for him asking more questions later. They approached the enormous doors of the Great Hall entrance, and Snape waved one open. Harry had noticed Snape and Dumbledore often did that for simple tasks, this wandless magic, and he resolved to ask about that as well. It would be a neat trick to show Ron and Hermione, if he could learn that, and would drive Hermione bonkers, him able to do something she couldn't. He snickered quietly to himself at the thought.
As they approached the large round table that had been set up, Harry noticed that although Professor Tonks, and a woman who must be Draco's aunt were there, Draco wasn't, and he wondered where he was. Hadn't he been invited along? Dumbledore greeted them both, and conjured a chair for Harry, while Snape took the remaining open one.
Harry saw Professor McGonagall had returned and was smiling at him.
"Professor," he nodded, "I..."
He was nearly startled out of his skin at a sudden screech of alarm from the odd looking woman seated next to her.
"Oh for Merlin's sake, Sybill," Professor McGonagall snapped. "Whatever was that for?"
The woman named Sybill shakily pointed a bony finger at Harry, her many bangle bracelets jingling, her eyes enormously magnified behind the thick lenses of her large round glasses.
"M-my, my Dear," she said in a quavering, whispery voice to Harry. "You are in grave danger. Grave danger indeed! I see...yes, yes...the G-grim!"
"Oh, Sybill, " Professor McGonagall said sharply, "Can we not go one meal without this nonsense? Stop alarming the poor boy!"
"Headmaster," the very odd woman said in an aggrieved voice. "I am never taken seriously..."
"Because nothing you say is..." McGonagall began.
Dumbledore raised a hand saying "Ladies! Ladies! May I remind you we have a student present?"
McGonagall shot the odd woman next to her a stern, quelling look, and said "Mr Potter, this is Professor Trelawney, our Divination teacher."
Suddenly, all Snape's objections to Divination made sense, and Harry glanced at him quickly, nearly bursting into laughter at his 'told you so' expression. He bit it back and said, "Pleased to meet you, Professor Trelawney."
"Harry Potter," Professor Trelawney said mistily, " Yes, yes, I have foreseen your arrival to my class this year."
Harry looked at Snape again, not sure what to say to that. "That's truly amazing that you have "foreseen" Mr. Potter's arrival to your class in third year," Professor McGonagall said disdainfully, "Considering he wasn't eligible to take it until third year"
"Doubly so," Snape drawled. "Since he will not be gracing your tower with his presence this or any year. Mr Potter will be taking Arithmancy instead of...Divination."
"Oh no, my Dear," Professor Trelawney said, shaking her head, causing a flurry of wild hair and scarves to flutter around her. "No, the Inner Eye doesn't lie. I have seen..."
"Perhaps your Inner Eye needs stronger spectacles," Snape snarked."I can assure you, Professor, Mr Potter has chosen Arithmancy over Divination."
"And I suppose your Inner Eye knows better, Severus?" Trelawny snipped back with a condescending smile, "Perhaps you know something I do not."
Uh-oh, Harry thought, trying not to laugh. He was enjoying this inside look at the teachers' squabbling.
"You would be surprised," Snape muttered.
"Shall we dine?" Professor Dumbledore said, clapping his hands. Suddenly the table was laden with all sorts of delicious smelling breakfast foods. Harry looked at Snape, who nodded slightly, and he began filling his plate.
"Now then, " Dumbledore said, "I believe that everyone, with the exception of Mr Potter, is acquainted with everyone in one way or another. Harry, allow me to introduce your new Defence professor, Remus Lupin. I think you'll find you have something in common."
Harry was aware of the glare Snape shot across the table at Dumbledore, but turned his attention to the man in question who said pleasantly, "Harry. Remus Lupin. I was at school, along with Professor Snape, with your parents."
He nodded at Snape, who returned it with a short nod of his own. "Severus."
"Remus," Snape added pointedly.
"Pleased to meet you, Professor Lupin," Harry said, careful to keep his voice neutral.
"I believe you've already met Professor Tonks, our new Muggle Studies professor," Dumbledore said to Harry.
"Good to see you again, Sir," Harry said, smiling.
"Harry, this is my wife, Andromeda," Professor Tonks said.
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs Tonks," Harry said.
"And you as well, Harry," she said, smiling kindly, "Severus"
"Andromeda," Snape nodded, cracking the barest of smiles, "Your nephew isn't joining us this morning?"
"Draco elected to have a lie in this morning," Mrs Tonks said, and Harry noted the tenseness in her voice, though she smiled as she said it. Harry surmised that Draco must be in a strop over being told he was taking the Muggle Studies class, as Harry had been about being told he was taking Arithmancy.
Harry listened to the small talk of the teachers while he ate his breakfast, all the while aware of Professor Lupin's gaze, which alternated between himself and Snape. He didn't quite know what to do about it. If he returned it, smiled at the new professor, would that annoy Snape?
Snape had been in a fairly good mood this morning, the banter they'd shared felt like progress to Harry, and he was loath to ruin that. On the other hand, he didn't want to be rude to the man who would be his new professor and get off on the wrong foot. Not only was he dying of curiosity about the man's condition, but he desperately wanted to ask about his parents, to gain another point of view from someone who had actually known them. Still, he was wary. Snape's warnings were also on his mind. He mulled it over, turning it around in his mind, preoccupied, until it was no longer an option as suddenly he found breakfast was over. Everyone had finished, and Dumbledore was thanking everyone for their attendance.
"I have work in my lab," Snape was saying to him, "I will most likely be busy through lunchtime, so you'll be on your own today..."
"'Ere, Harry can 'ave his tea with me today," Hagrid, who was standing behind Harry now, smiled down at him. "And since the Perfessor 'as said yer not to be outside on your own, me and Fang will come fetch you. Would you like that, 'Arry?"
"Yes!", Harry said happily, then remembered Snape
"Erm, if that's alright?" he asked.
You may," Snape said, then to Hagrid, "You must also escort him back "
"I will," Hagrid nodded exuberantly. "About eleven then, eh 'Arry?"
"Brilliant! '' Harry enthused, excited to actually leave the castle without the old bat for once.
"Very well," Snape said. "In the meantime...stay out of trouble."
The raised brow told Harry he meant to stay away from Professor Lupin.
"Yes, Sir," he intoned, and after a final glance Snape swept off.
"I got some things ter do before we come fetch yer, Harry," Hagrid said, "Ill' meet yer at the front doors then, yeah?"
"Looking forward to it, Hagrid," Harry said happily, and watched him off. He glanced around, he was at loose ends until then, and wondered what to do. He didn't want to go back to his quarters, but, as much as he hated to admit it, without Draco, there wasn't much to do. With a sigh, he decided to go up to the Astronomy tower, and turned to head off in that direction.
Draco hadn't slept well after his capitulation and eventual epiphany of the night before. Things that his parents did or didn't do rarely affected him, at least he tried not to let them. So, how was it that his blood traitor aunt and her Mud… no, Muggleborn husband did with few words over their plebeian dinner?
He'd tossed and turned all night at once hating that they had made him doubt his entire existence up until now. It didn't help that he really did grudgingly like his uncle, actually more than he liked his aunt. Perhaps Muggleborns weren't the evil creatures that Father said they were. Perhaps, they didn't steal their magic as he'd been taught. Perhaps they might even have a place, a very small one, in their world.
It didn't mean he'd changed his mind about Muggles. They were clearly inferior. Just look at the ones Potter had been reared by. Not that the Golden Child had said more than a few words about them, but he didn't need to. His manners were atrocious, his clothing even worse.
He flipped on his side, girding himself to finally get out of bed after the big rumble his gut gave.
He finally sat up, tapping his foot around until he found his slippers. Once done, he stood to take care of his morning ablutions.
While he used the flossing and brushing spell, he looked in the mirror. He had dark rings under his eyes. He looked as haggard as Snape did during Gryffindor and Slytherin Potions. He would have to remedy that before he faced the day. It wouldn't do for anyone to think he had lost sleep over anything. Potter would no doubt tease him mercilessly, and his aunt would gloat quietly if she were anything like mother.
A quick glamour that he'd learnt from Pansy, and he was ready to face the world.
He entered the small kitchen in their apartment and saw that someone had ordered both tea and a bacon butty. The choice of sandwich made him believe it was his uncle. He hastily drank the tea as he stood, and took an overly large bite of the butty. He'd have to walk Big Tony soon or the mutt would make a terrible mess.
He wondered where the annoying creature was.
The outer door opened, his Aunt entered the flat leading Big Tony in. The dog barked and wagged its two tails as he was let off the leash. She gave him the same cool, appraising look his mother always did and said, "Oh, you're up."
Draco nodded, still chewing.
"I suppose then I don't have to tell you that the dog has been walked." his aunt said, placing the leash on the hook it stayed on by the door. She traversed the sitting area to the rather large room with a bank of windows that faced north. "I think that Potter boy was a little disappointed that you weren't at breakfast with the rest of us. I think I saw him heading to the Astronomy tower if you'd like to catch up with him."
She opened the door to her studio. "Don't be late to take out Big Tony for his lunchtime walk. I have a commission I must finish, so I won't be able to do your assigned chore again."
With that, she closed the door.
Draco made a face at the dog's tongue-lolling, happy expression, swallowed and said, "I suppose if I have to go find Potter, I may as well take you too so I don't have to come back. There's no telling what Potter will want to get up to today."
Once he had finished his meal, drank the tepid tea, and banished the dishes to the kitchen sink and set them to scrub, he put Big Tony on his leash and they exited the chambers.
He wandered the halls for a while, letting the dog sniff and explore, until he found himself in front of the Astronomy tower. Not that he was seeking Potter out or anything, because he wasn't. He just lacked anything else to do.
Once up the stairs, the soft summer light warmed his face, and a slight breeze that was perfumed with the scent of grass and other foliage riffled through his hair. Potter wasn't perched between the crenellations this time for which Draco was supremely grateful. He seemed lost in thought, though, so Draco scuffed his feet on the stones and said, "Potter."
"Huh?" Harry started at the sound of his name.
"Oh, it's you," he said, turning to see Malfoy behind him. He had Big Tony with him, the crup making yippy little barking noises as he strained at his lead. "Your aunt said you were having a lie in," Harry said, trying to gauge the other boy's mood.
Draco grimaced and let go of the leash, letting the dog run to Potter. Big Tony ran to the other boy, promptly putting his front feet on Potter, licking his ear and cheek.
"I wasn't having a lie in, Potter." Draco said as he fastidiously dusted a spot on the rough hewn timbers of the floor. "I just didn't wish to… All right, I was having a lie in. It's the summer hols, it's allowed."
Harry snickered and said, "Oh, sure. A lie in. It's allowed. I just wondered if you were still pissy from yesterday, is all. You should have come to breakfast though. I met the Divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, and our new Defence teacher, Professor Remus Lupin. Best part was McGonagall having a go at Trelawney though. She clearly doesn't approve."
"Oh, meeting the staff was the highlight of the morning I'm sure, Potter." Draco said as he eased down on the floor. "You know you can push the dog away if it's annoying you with all that disgusting licking."
Muggles must have no standards if that was what they allowed animals to do. Draco gave a mock shudder. "Really, Potter, that daft animal ate some Thestral droppings yesterday."
It was quite satisfying to see Potter's look of disgust as he gently pushed the dog's front paws off his leg. Draco smirked. "He didn't really, I just made that up. What have you got planned for today? Another day of wandering the halls dragging me along?"
Harry scowled at the other boy for his stupid joke, and considered telling the prat Snape was entrusting him to help with his potion making. Malfoy, like Hermione, would be envious of something like that, regardless of it being Snape. But then he'd have to find something else to do til Hagrid came for him...and there was nothing else to do. Well, except study, and he wasn't quite that put out. He shrugged and said, "If you mean wandering the halls with you following me, sure."
Draco snorted inelegantly at Potter's comment. It would be a cold day with Hades when Draco followed Potter anywhere.
"It's too bad we can't go to the pitch." Draco said. "I could show you how to fly properly then."
Potter's look of disdain nearly made Draco laugh out loud. As it was, he had to control the tremors of laughter in his voice as he suddenly stood and said, "Let's go, Potty, surely there is something to do besides sit here amongst the pigeons."
"What?" Harry quipped. "You actually want my company, Malfoy? I'll have to let Snape know hell froze over today."
He snickered at his own inside joke, then laughed out loud at the other boy's look of revulsion.
"It's not that I crave your company, Potter, there is merely a dearth of activities when school is not in session. Certainly if any of my housemates were here, you and I would see much less of each other."
Draco picked up the dog's leash, putting the loop over his hand to secure it, and then rose. He examined his leg and buttocks to make sure he was still presentable with no dust or anything more unpleasant on his person. Potter, ever the eager one, had, of course, jumped up and was already at the door. His trousers were creased and dirty.
Draco's curiosity got the better of him and he asked without forethought, "Why hasn't Snape purchased you some actual clothes? It's not like him to tolerate such dishabille."
"I dunno," Harry said with annoyance, "is he supposed to? Why are you so hung up on my clothes anyway, Malfoy? What do you care? Ron and Hermione never did. And speaking of my housemates, if they were here, my clothes wouldn't be a bother to you, because you and I wouldn't be hanging around together. You'd be on your own, all day, every day."
He saw the stricken look come over Malfoy's face, and couldn't help feeling a bit of satisfaction, but then, and he internally kicked himself for this, he felt a bit bad at being mean. The prat deserved it. Still, Ron and Hermione weren't here, and they were stuck with one another for company, and although it galled him to admit it, Malfoy company was better than no company.
"Let's just go," he offered. "Maybe we can find Mrs Norris and sic Big Tony on her. That might be exciting, at least until Filch finds us. We can outrun him."
Draco repressed the urge to roll his eyes. Potter was so juvenile sometimes. It was just another thing that proved his point about Muggles being so far behind wizarding culture. "Surely you can think of something else, such as exploring the castle for unused rooms or actually studying ahead for a change so that you don't embarrass your guardian. I happen to know Severus is a stickler for his charges' academic performance. Really, Potter."
"Embarrass my guardian," Harry snorted. "That's rich coming from you, Malfoy. Your uncle asks you for help, and you act like he's asking you to do murder. All because you're afraid to get your prissy little pureblood hands dirty. You think he won't be embarrassed to have his prat of a nephew in his class? If Snape is embarrassed by me, at least he can claim we're unrelated."
Like Uncle Vernon often did with Harry, he thought ruefully. Still, Draco's uncle and Uncle Vernon hardly compared. Professor Tonks was human. Harry wasn't so sure about Uncle Vernon.
Draco didn't know when Potter had stepped forward, with his fists clenched, and eyes narrowed. Draco leaned in as he said through gritted teeth, "At least I know that there is an end to my stay with my uncle. If Severus decides you are too much trouble, who will take the poor little orphan boy in? No one wants to be burdened with you, Potter."
Draco felt ill as the vitriol spilled out. He didn't know how this meeting had gone so wrong. He opened his mouth, wanting to apologise, wanting to take back what he said, but he couldn't utter a sound. He took a shaking breath, willing the sudden hot tears he felt building away. They fell anyway.
Harry stood there, momentarily shaken at the anger in the other boy's words, and then shocked to see tears spilling down his face. He quickly looked away, not knowing what to do. How did it come to this? Alright, he and Malfoy weren't exactly friends, but...this... and it happened so fast! He took a shaky breath and mumbled "Don't...Malfoy...it's alright...just...c'mon..."
Draco covered his eyes with his arm, a thing he used to do when he was younger. He used his sleeve to wipe his tears away and then gave a huff of laughter. "You really do have the need to save people, 's… something I'm not used to."
Lowering his arm, he kept his gaze cast downward and stepped away from the other boy towards the door.
"Please pardon my…" He shrugged and waved a hand, unable to give voice to what he wanted to say. "I had a difficult evening last night, and I'm afraid I didn't sleep well."
"It's alright," Harry said, relieved to see the other boy rally. He followed Draco down the steps to the lower corridor, Big Tony trailing after them. Harry took up the crup's lead once down, and they set off.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Harry asked halfheartedly, not really expecting a response. "Is it about your uncle telling you you have to take Muggle Studies? I mean, I want to, but I can see where you wouldn't. Don't feel bad though. Snape is making me take Arithmancy. He won't let me go to Hogsmeade if I don't. He tried to stop me playing Quidditch if I didn't, but I don't need his permission for that." Harry stopped, aware he was not only talking too much, but that he'd also let out something personal.
"He's my guardian now, so he can do that," he added, and told himself to shut up now.
A sudden hysterical laugh bubbled up Draco's throat. "My aunt told me she'd take my broom for not taking Muggle Studies. It's like they have a manual of things to say to force us to do things."
"Snape wasn't going to give me flying time last night because I was four minutes late to supper last night!" Harry said, shaking his head, "To be fair, after I told him why I was late, he took it back, but still. So...you're taking Muggle Studies then? I mean, I want to but if I didn't, and the choice was that or my broom, there'd be no question. Can't play Quidditch without a broom."
"What do you think, Potter?" Draco felt his face grow warm, and a small smile hovered around his lips."Of course, I'm taking the class. I couldn't let the entire school down by depriving them of the best Seeker on any team."
They had reached the gallery that was adjacent to the stair that would either take them upwards or across the cavernous hallway, depending on its mood or whatever it was that made the stairs move. He finally looked at the other boy, an idea coming to him. "Let's let the stairs provide us direction."
Harry followed Draco up the staircase, grabbing the bannister as it began to swing across the hallway.
"Best seeker on any team?" he scoffed. "You wish, Malfoy. I'll be bursting that bubble for you once the season starts!"
"Ha, bloody, ha! Potter." Draco watched as the staircase brought them to a little used hallway on the third floor. He stepped off. "I wonder if this is still off limits."
Harry, who knew exactly why it had been off limits, said, "I don't think so. I'm sure Snape would have said something if it was."
He looked at the heavy door Hermione had spelled open, and remembered the three headed dog that Hagrid had called "Fluffy"
Only Hagrid would call a monster like that "Fluffy" he thought fondly. Thinking of Hagrid, he glanced at his watch, and saw it was a quarter of eleven. "Erm, Malfoy,' he said, "I need to get down to the Entrance Hall. Hagrid is coming to fetch me for tea at eleven."
Draco looked about the corridor. It looked just like any other corridor in the school, but it did seem to have Potter a little spooked. He resolved to come back to it later, just to see what it was, but for now he'd stick with Potter. He did seem to know some interesting things about the school, things that weren't in the books.
"I need to take the mongrel for a walk. I'll walk there with you."
Why Potter wanted to spend time with the great oaf was another mystery. He'd been fond of the obvious half blood since they had started school, remembering the detention he'd served for tattling on Potter after he spied on him. Draco had learnt his lesson and had made his warfare on Potter less conspicuous to the teaching staff.
He stopped walking down the stairway, letting Potter draw ahead. What did this summer sojourn mean about their often heated rivalry? Was he seriously thinking in terms of not quite friendship in conjunction with Potter?
It seemed something had shifted in their strained relations when Potter had offered some kind of solace. Draco would have to think more on this, especially when school started and they each had their own group of friends to interact with.
Potter looked back at him, and Draco started to move again.
Malfoy seemed to be pondering something, and Harry considered telling him about Fluffy, but then he'd have to explain it all...no, better not. He still didn't completely trust Malfoy, and it was better not to give him any possible ammunition. He admitted to himself though, that their dynamic seemed to have changed somewhat. Malfoy was still a gigantic prat, but he was a bit more tolerable these days. He wondered if that would carry over into the new term once they were back in their own houses with their own friends?
They reached the Entrance Hall, and Harry glanced at his watch again. Five minutes to spare. He could feel excitement welling up at getting outside without the shadow of Snape for once, and couldn't help smiling. It faded though, as he caught sight of Malfoy standing there, an uncertain look on his face. Bugger, Harry thought, feeling an annoying twinge of guilt at leaving him on his own. Well, he reasoned with himself, he had Big Tony to walk, he wasn't entirely on his own. And Draco could go out on his own, he could even get his broom and go to the pitch if he wanted. Harry wasn't his keeper after all. He glanced at the other boy again, seeing the rather lost look on his pointy little face. Crap! he thought, sighing inwardly.
"Malfoy," he said, "d'you wanna come have tea with us?"
Draco was taken aback for a moment. Had he given any indication that he wanted to spend more time with Potter or his unkempt friend?
He heard the lie in his thoughts as he considered his response. Things might change when school started, but Draco almost hoped they wouldn't. Potter was… not what he had expected or was used to. He nodded, "Yes, thank you, if it won't be an imposition on…Hagrid."
Wait, what?! Harry thought with surprise. No veiled insults? No disparaging his choice of friends? What was this simple, polite acceptance?
"No," he said, "Hagrid won't mind." Malfoy better not be planning some half-baked prank, he thought, frowning. Best be sure. "You do realise we're going down to his hut, right? This isn't fancy finger foods served by elves, you know. Just simple lunch."
"I do get the concept of tea, Potter." Draco said. What did Potter think he was going to do to the great oaf? He outweighed Draco at least thirty to one. Perhaps Severus was right in insisting Potter take Arithmancy if his grasp of odds were so bad.
"Yeah, Malfoy, tea, but not like you're used to...well, sometimes not like I'm used to either," he admitted grudgingly, thinking about the teeth shattering rock cakes. "But Hagrid is my friend, so...just...be nice. Please."
His retort to Potter's comment died on his lips as the gameskeeper swept into the foyer from outside, bringing with him the smell of wet dog, fresh air, and something darker and earthier. He noted the joy on his face at seeing Potter fade as his gaze skittered over Draco himself. He'd had little interaction with the half-blood, but knew the few times he and his fellow Slytherins had been in his presence, Draco had been less than decorous.
He nodded his greeting, and stood back, waiting for Potter to broach the subject of his attendance at what was obviously a private invitation.
"Arright there, 'Arry?" Hagrid nodded at him. Harry saw the change in Hagrid's expression when he caught sight of his companion.
"Never better," he replied, then added, "Erm, Hagrid, Draco here is on his own in the castle like me, so I invited him to join us for tea. You don't mind, do you?"
"Er..no, no! 'Course not! Not if yer wantin' him ter come!" The big man blustered, shaking his head, "Nice ter see you boys getting along. Pleased ter have ya..er..Draco."
Harry smiled warmly at Hagrid, then at Draco.
Draco hung back as they made their way out and onto the large swath of grass that lay between the castle proper and the gamekeeper's hut, feeling wrongfooted and out of sorts. Harry and Hagrid chatted as Draco dawdled until the gameskeeper asked Draco over his shoulder, "So, what classes 're yeh takin' this year, young Malfoy?"
Draco kept from grimacing as he answered, "You know, the core classes, and Arithmancy… and Muggle studies."
"I seem ter remember your Da takin' that when he was here." Hagrid said.
Surely the man was mistaken. Why would Father, of all people, take that? He had so many questions. He gave a tight smile. "Oh, he never told me."
"Oh, yeah." Hagrid said, "It were quite a scandal, what wi' yer grandda being on t'board and all, tryin' to abolish the class altogether. You should ask 'im… erm… yer auntie 'bout it."
"Oh, I will, sir." Draco said.
At that Hagrid turned back to Potter and prattled on until they came to his cottage. Outside the door, a huge black dog lay, his head between his front paws, ears down dejectedly. As soon as Big Tony saw him, he started barking frantically, going on his hind feet, front paws scrabbling at the air.
"Sorry." Draco said, as he bent down and tried to calm the little monster. "I should just…"
"Don' mind Fang. 'E won't 'urt yer little crup."
The beast stood up and lumbered over to Big Tony. For a heart-stopping minute Draco feared the little dog, that was smaller than Fang's head, would be the larger dog's lunch. But, the crup immediately calmed down and both dogs began sniffing each other, tails wagging lazily. Big Tony seemed most interested in first sniffing and then licking Fang's face and then other, unseemly parts of the larger dog.
"Y'see? They're fast friends." Hagrid said as he opened the door. "Step on in, boys."
Harry headed in after casting a glance back at Draco. He almost laughed out loud at the other boy's obvious struggle to keep his expression straight as he stepped inside and looked around.
"'Ave a seat, boys," Hagrid rumbled, and they both slid into the enormous chairs around the equally enormous table. Hagrid set his huge crockery mugs full of steaming tea all around, took his own seat, and whisked off the cloth cover of the lunch he had ready on the table. Huge slabs of brown bread, a steaming pot of what looked like stew, and a plate of fruits and cheeses.
"Nothin' fancy, just lunch," Hagrid said.
"Looks great, Hagrid," Harry said brightly, "did you make it?"
"Nah, not terday," Hagrid said to Harry's silent relief, "been too busy plantin' me garden, an...making plans."
Harry caught the barely concealed look of excitement on his large friend's friendly face, and asked, "Plans for what?"
Hagrid ladled out bowls of fragrant stew, and said, "Aye, I been busy, so good on the elves up ter the kitchen fer our tea."
Harry looked at Draco, then back at Hagrid, who was now grinning fit to burst.
"You're hiding something, Hagrid," Harry said with a laugh.
"Go on, tuck in," Hagrid motioned. "Oh orright, may as well let the kneazle outta the bag."
Draco took a bite of his stew using the overly large spoon next to his bowl. It was delicious as always. "Thank you for the meal, Hagrid, this is delicious."
He took a small sip of the tea, despite Potter's frantic shaking of his head, and almost choked. It was black and so astringent it could have been used to peel paint off a wall.
"It's good to see yeh both 'ave an appetite." Hagrid said,his face breaking into a large smile behind the mountain of beard. Draco didn't dare look closer at the man though, because he appeared to have something living in it.
Draco shot Potter a frantic look, and looked pointedly at the movement in the half blood's hair.
"What've you got there in your beard, Hagrid?" Harry frowned, ignoring the small kick Malfoy gave him under the table.
"Well, that's part of it, ain't it?" Hagrid chuckled, and burrowed into his bushy beard with one massive hand. When he uncurled his thick fingers, there sat a fat, round little creature, with a sort of duck's bill and bright, beady little eyes.
"Is that a rat?" Malfoy blurted out warily, and Harry again nearly laughed out loud at the look on his face.
"No, it ain't no rat," Hagrid said, " this "ere's a baby niffler. I been raisin' 'im meself, for a class."
"Who's class?" Harry asked, then added hesitantly, "it isn't for...potion ingredients, is it?"
"A course not!" Hagrid exclaimed looking offended, "yer think I'd do sech a thing? Yer think yer da..er...yer guardian would do sech a thing?"
Harry heard Draco's snicker at Hagrid's mistake and kicked him harder than Draco had kicked him, making him shut his mouth and frown mightily.
"What class, Hagrid?" Harry said with annoyance.
'Well…, Perfesser Dumbledore has asked me ter be the new Care o' Magical Creatures teacher, ain't he?" Hagrid said proudly, tucking the baby niffler back into his beard. "An if yer wantin ter know more about this here little one, yer gonna have ter take me class now, won't yer."
Draco was intrigued. Not that he thought the gameskeeper would be an adequate teacher, but Draco had always had a fascination with magical creatures, especially since Father had replaced their priceless flock of Caladriae with the annoying peacocks. He still resented losing the beautiful animals, who had provided him with companionship as a lonely young child, but Father couldn't stand them, so they went. Draco wondered how he might be able to take Magical Creatures with the class load he already had.
He asked, almost choking on the last word, "How often will the class meet, Sir?"
"Well, that would be two times a week in yer year, ain't it?" Hagrid said, "yer gonna take it? Harry, ye gonna take me class? Right interestin' stuff I got planned fer it. Most of 'em outside."
Harry noted the hopeful tone in Hagrid's voice. He glanced over at Malfoy, who seemed to have a suspiciously eager look on his face. Harry was momentarily annoyed at himself for immediately thinking the worst of Draco, after all, he'd been nothing but polite so far. Still, he hadn't been exactly nice to Hagrid in the past, and Harry couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Better take the class just in case Malfoy was up to something. Besides, Hagrid was his friend, and was obviously counting on Harry to take it, and Harry wanted to support him and help him do well.
"Of course, Hagrid," he said enthusiastically. "It sounds like a really fun class. You're going to be brilliant at it too, with all you know about magical creatures. I'm looking forward to it."
Hagrid beamed back at him, and Harry felt good to make him happy.
They finished the meal with Harry and Hagrid speaking familiarly of things that Draco knew from afar in the previous years. Once done, Hagrid patted his stomach, and said, "That were a right nice stew. Le' me get you both some rock cakes fer afters. I just baked 'em this morning."
The half blood stood, and puttered around the kitchen. Harry said, sotto voce, "Don't try to eat them. If you can, let them fall to the floor, Fang loves them."
Hagrid returned with two large brown lumps on saucers and plopped them down in front of each boy. "There y'are."
Harry deftly palmed his, and Draco followed suit. The thing was dense and truly hard as a rock. It smelled of spices and apples, and Draco was reminded of the cakes his mother served in the autumn for tea. Suddenly he was sad and manfully covered his emotions with a blank expression. He missed his mother terribly.
Potter looked at him sharply, but said nothing, then a soft thunk sounded at their feet and both dogs jumped up. Draco stood, letting his own cake fall from emotion numbed fingers.
"Ready ter go, boys?" Hagrid asked as Harry also stood, "don' mean ter rush yer an all, but I got work ter do. I jus' wanted a natter wth ye, before school starts back up, an a nice catch up it's been!"
Harry glanced at his watch and was surprised to see it was already half one.
"We're ready, Hagrid," he said " thanks for having us. We had a good time and lunch was great."
He glanced over at Draco, who had a strange look on his face. as Hagrid cleared off the tea mugs, he muttered, "Alright?"
"Of course, Potter." Draco answered only a little shakily before he could make the right tone of teasing derision come to his words, "I've had tea before."
Potter gave a loud huff of sound between a laugh and a scoff, but said nothing more. Picking up Big Tony's leash, he made it outside the door and into the patch of plants. He waited patiently for Potter to exit. The door shut for a moment, and Draco's attention was arrested by a large black dog, a mix between a wolfhound and a Dane, that sat at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It seemed to be watching him with eyes that shone with uncommon intelligence. Strangely, Big Tony paid the beast no heed, and contented himself with sniffing the infant pumpkins emerging from under the dried husks of the flowers that formed them.
Draco took a step towards the large beast which looked strangely like the Grim that he'd read about in one of his mother's bestiaries. She did love her mediaeval manuscripts.
The dog barked once, a strangely solemn sound and then it faded back into the forest from whence it obviously came. Draco wondered if it would be one of Hagrid's lessons. He hoped so. Grims were great portents of dark magic or death.
Draco would love to know what this one meant living so close to Hogwarts.
Harry emerged with Hagrid to find Draco looking off towards the forest with interest. He followed his gaze, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. They set off, with Fang loping alongside Big Tony, tongue out, drooling as they went. Harry turned back to Hagrid and said, "Thanks for walking us back, Hagrid. I know it's a bother. I think Snape's a bit paranoid. I mean, this is Hogwarts after all. It's not as if just anybody can walk right in."
"Ain't no bother, Harry," Hagrid said, "Always better be safe then sorry, ain't it? 'Sides, yer got a knack about ye fer drawin'...well, better ter be safe, innit?"
Harry laughed and said, "Cheers, Hagrid."
"Yer gotta admit, Harry, ol' Snape, he's got a point, what with Black on the loose," Hagrid said reasonably.
"Yeah, but he's only got a few minutes after supper to take me down to the pitch so I can fly! Sometimes he can't spare the time. I know he's busy stocking the infirmary potions, but it's not fair!"
"Yer have all the flyin time yer wantin' once Quidditch gets ter goin"," Hagrid said, "yeh ain't goin' ter ferget how 'tween now an then, are yeh?"
"I suppose not ," Harry said glumly.
When they reached the Entrance Hall, Hagrid said "Orright now. I gots ter see Madam Pomfrey fer sumpin', so I'll leave yeh here. Mind yer business now, an don't get up ter no mischief. I'll see you soon."
They watched him clomp up the stairs and disappear, then Harry turned to Draco and said, "Now what? It's only quarter of two."
"We could go to the pitch and fly around for a bit." Draco said. "I mean, Severus didn't say I couldn't be your escort, did he?"
Potter looked at him for a moment doubtfully before he said, "We'd have to fetch our brooms and put Big Tony up, and if Snape doesn't tell me you can't…"
Draco felt his smile widen. "I know just the spell. Mother taught it to me just before… Anyway, I knew it, but she made me learn the proper way this summer."
He dropped Big Tony's leash, held his wand aloft in one hand with his other hand raised. He moved his wand as he said, "Accio Tony's leash!"
The leather tether seemed to just appear in Draco's hand and the dog started barking at it. He dropped the leash again. "Now you try."
It took the other boy seven tries to get it right. Draco was grudgingly impressed. It had taken him more times than that, but he'd never let Potter know that. After he had accomplished the spell a few more times, Draco said, "Stay right here, and you can summon it while I put the mutt away and fetch my own broom."
When Draco returned to the Entrance Hall, Harry was waiting, proudly holding his broom.
"Did it," he said, silently vowing to never let Draco know it took him five tries before his Firebolt came flying up the stairs leading to the dungeons.
They left out the front doors, and Harry felt a thrill of excitement at the freedom he felt to finally be outside without an adult dogging his steps. He was so happy he let out a loud whoop of joy that echoed across the grounds, startling a flock of birds into flight from a nearby stand of bushes. It made him laugh, and then laugh harder at Draco rolling his eyes at his antics.
"Infant," the blond boy muttered as he did, but Harry let it go. Nothing was going to spoil his happiness right now.
"C'mon, Malfoy, don't be such a tight-arse. Let loose for once. I promise I won't tell anyone!" he laughed, elbowing the other boy playfully.
Draco considered Potter for a moment and then said, "You certainly have an uncommon fixation on my arse, Potter."
With that, he mounted his broom and zoomed off to the pitch, yelling, "Catch me, if you can!"
Harry immediately hopped on his own broom and took off after him, pulling alongside him seconds later.
"You were saying, Malfoy?" he chortled, reaching over to tap the other boy's shoulder before zooming off. He shouted back over his shoulder, laughing giddily."You're it!"
They zoomed around the pitch, playing tag and laughing maniacally for a bit, before coming to a stop, both wild-eyed and wind blown. They hovered a few feet above the ground, and Harry said happily, "That was brilliant!"
"I'll show you brilliant, Potter." Draco said and he executed a swift, upward, aerial swing on his broom that seemed to take him to just below the clouds before he nosedived towards the pitch. He brought the broom horizontal to ground, barrel rolling across the surface before he executed another swift ascent. He shouted, "Try that for size!"
Potter did the same, only his final ascent was done with a series of spiralling barrel rolls and a cheeky flick of the broom's twigs at the end. At the end of that showboating move he smiled cheekily at Draco. The blond boy said in an eerie mimic of Snape's voice, "Ten points from Gryffindor for cheek, Potter."
They spent the rest of the afternoon trying even more death defying moves until Potter noticed that the sun had sunk and the shadows were long on the field. He brought his broom to a halt, stepped off and with a stricken look, he muttered, "What time is it?"
Harry pulled back his sleeve to look at his watch, groaned loudly and said,"C'mon, we have to go. It's gone six already. Hopefully Snape is still in his lab, or I'm dead!"
"What? How can it be six already?" Draco laughed, adding, "time flies, eh, Potty?"
"It's not funny, Draco," Harry said seriously, "Snape was going to take away my fly time for being four minutes late the other day. You know how he is about lateness."
True, Draco thought, his Head of House was somewhat of a stickler on that subject. He shouldered his broom and followed Potter as they began the trek back up to the castle.
"Don't your aunt and uncle care if you miss supper?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I'm sure my aunt will have something to say about it," Draco shrugged, "but I don't have a curfew, and I'm allowed out on my own."
"Yeah, about that," Harry said. "Wands crossed Snape is still busy with his potions, and we needn't mention anything if no one asks, yeah?"
"Do you think I'm stupid, Potter?" Draco said disdainfully, " no point in inviting trouble!"
A rustling sound from a clump of large bushes a ways off drew Harry's attention away from his companion. A huge, rough looking black dog emerged partway, eyeing them warily. Harry stopped suddenly, staring at it, and it stared right back, unnerving him.
"Draco!" he whispered loudly. The other boy stopped, turning around, and caught sight of the beast. "That's not one of Hagrid's."
"It's a Grim, I think, or a Barghest," Draco said, just as quietly, watching the dog watch them. "I saw it earlier, when we were leaving Hagrid's after lunch. I don't know why it's here though."
The beast made no move toward them, just stood there watching them intently.
"The Divination teacher, Trelawney, mentioned a Grim at breakfast," Harry said, "McGonagall said it was nonsense, but..."
"Father says she's a fraud," Draco scoffed quietly. "I think it's a Barghest. A Grim usually sticks to churchyards and graveyards to guard them from desecration. They're supposed to be portents of death, only visible to those who are about to die, so unless we're both about to expire, it isn't a Grim. I think it's a Barghest, which are associated with dark magic, but almost both good and bad omens. Or, you know, it's a just a stray that wandered in. Either way, let's go. It's getting darker, and I'm getting hungry."
Harry took a last look at the menacing beast. It just sat there looking back, panting slightly, then suddenly gave a sharp yip and disappeared back into the bushes it came from. Harry could hear it moving further into the brush, and muttered "That was weird. It just...sat there, staring at us."
"It's probably just some mongrel stray," Draco said as they began walking again, "Hogsmeade isn't too far off, probably just wandered in through the forest. That's where it came out of when I saw it before. Maybe the Creature teacher will take it in and feed it, and his own mongrel will slobber all over it like it did Big Tony."
Harry chuckled at that. Fang had nearly drenched Big Tony.
"They did seem to get on well," Harry said.
"No manners, either one of them," Draco said, "I should let Hagrid have the mutt...only my mutt of a cousin would lose her mind, I suppose."
"Where is she?" Harry asked.
"Auror training, although how someone as clumsy as she is was accepted is a mystery for the ages," Draco said with a shake of his head.
They reached the massive entrance doors, each of them grasping an iron handle, as Harry asked, "Is she much old..."
His words died on his lips as the doors swung open to reveal Snape and the Tonks' standing inside the Entrance Hall. Harry gulped audibly. Snape had his arms crossed, a thunderous expression on his pale face, his black eyes boring holes right through Harry's. He was in the shit now he knew, and was too petrified to even breathe. Snape silently unfolded his arms, extending one out, and Harry handed over his broom without question. He'd be lucky if Snape didn't skin him alive right here.
"No need to ask where you've been," Mrs. Tonks said, the disapproval heavy in her voice.
"We were just having some fun..." Draco began, but was cut off by Snape hissing sharply.
"Silence!"
He crossed his arms again and turned his gaze to Draco, saying in that scary classroom voice "Were school in session, you would be scraping cauldrons until your fingers bled, Mr Malfoy. As it is not, you will only have to face the wrath of your aunt and uncle.'
"You, on the other hand, " he said, returning his gaze to Harry. "Are not so fortunate."
With that, he turned in a flurry of black robes and strode off toward the stairs leading down to the dungeons. Harry gulped again and silently followed, certain he was facing his own doom.
Caladrius, (pl. Caladriae) was a bird with snow-white plumage that lived in the house of the king. According to tradition, it had the power to absorb disease from a sick person. It would then fly away, dispelling the illness and curing the sick person — and itself — in the process. Another tradition that predicted the fate of the patient was known in the following way: If the bird looked into the patient's face they would live; if it looked away they would die. When it drew out the illness it would fly up to the sun, where the disease would be incinerated. The manner in which it gave its prognosis represented how Christ turned his face away from unrepentant sinners. For those who repent he turned his face towards them, forgiving them.