It's My Life
Harry spent the rest of that night with his father and boyfriend. Harry made himself a drink, but just the one, and hung out with the males until about 11:00 pm when Severus left. Draco stayed with Harry, not for them to have sex, but just spending the night cuddling together. Draco did have a set of casual clothes and his school robes in Harry's room, this was along with socks and underwear too. Draco knew, on Harry's rule, that if Draco spent the night during the week; he had to bring his school bag just in case they weren't up on time and needed to rush.
Draco had his showering things in a bag too, kept in Harry's bathroom. Before the two snuggled up together in Harry's bed, they made out, but nothing more. The next day began normally as classes went through like always. During Harry's class with the sixth year Gryffindor and Slytherin students, Harry went on as if there hadn't been a huge problem yesterday and Minerva was quite proud. Harry did speak to her before breakfast time to explain the situation that took place and she told him he did the right thing. So right now, Harry was with his sixth year students and there was about twenty minutes left of class.
"Professor?" Asked Lavender Brown with her hand up.
"Yes, Miss. Brown?"
"I wondered when we might get to Shields?" Lavender inquired.
"As it so happens, we're moving into those next week." Harry informed. "Let's see how much you know. Who can tell me about the Shield charm?" Harry expected as much that Hermione threw her hand up first, but then so did Pansy and Blaise. Last was Draco and Theodore. "Miss. Granger, can you enlighten us, please?" Harry asked.
"The shield charm is cast to protect the caster with a shield that blocks from other spells." Hermione said.
"That is correct, but that is not all there is to the charm…" Harry smiled. "Who can tell me what she missed?" A couple hands shot up. "Mr. Zabini," He called on.
"The shield charm is an invisible shield that reflects spells and blocks physical entities." Blaise informed.
"Excellent. What else?" Harry looked around the room. "Mr. Nott, how about you? Anything to add on the charm?"
"This shield could block and reflect a multitude of spells, such as most jinxes, hexes, and minor curses, as well as block physical forces. But it's not impenetrable, and cannot block against the Unforgivable Curses." Theodore responded.
"Yes, very good." Harry nodded. "What else? Anyone?"
"In its normal casting, the incantation is Protego." Pansy announced, and her hand was up, so Harry wasn't going to say anything that she spoke without being called upon.
"And why do you say normal casting?" Harry pushed calmly.
Draco's hand went up and Harry pointed to him. "Because the shield charm has different variations of strength and other incantations to activate the level wanted."
"That is exactly right, Mr. Malfoy." Harry informed as Draco smiled. "Who can tell me what the difficulty level of casting the normal protection is?"
Hermione's hand went up again and Harry saw no one else, so he pointed to her. "It's been said that the level is moderate, and rumored that most people can't even produce it."
"Professor Potter, I've read that there are different levels to the shield charm but there's one that doesn't have much explanation and I wondered if you might be able to tell us?" Said Parvati Patil.
"Which variation would that be?" Harry questioned.
"Protego Diabolica," Parvati said calmly. "Is that one we're going to learn?"
"No, we won't be because it's considered a-." Harry began but saw the door open as Severus came in quietly. "Professor Snape, how lovely of you to join us. What can I do for you?" Harry asked him. He always referred to Severus as Professor Snape when students were in the vicinity, to promote respect for the teachers to be called as professors.
"Forgive me, Professor Potter. I didn't know you were still in class." Severus stated.
"There's still ten minutes on my clock." Harry stated.
"Ah. I released mine early after a cauldron explosion by a second year. The room needed to be aired and cleaned." Severus said.
"I trust everyone was alright?" Harry hoped.
"Of course. I ensured everyone was shielded." Severus nodded.
"We were just discussing shields." Harry smiled. "What brings you by here?"
"I need a word with you, but it can wait until you're finished." Severus leaned against one of the window sills.
"So you were saying about the variation of the spell I asked?" Parvati inquired.
"Right, yes. Protego Diabolica is a dark charm." Harry stated.
"But if it has Protego as part of it, why would it be bad?" Millicent Bulstrode asked.
"Protego Diabolica is the incantation of a powerful dark charm that allows the user to create a protective ring of black fire around them that completely incinerates enemies of the caster who come into contact with it while leaving their allies unharmed." Harry explained. "As the example situation, let's say…Anyone allied with me who supported my ideals and goals, would be safe to cross the fire. If you were an enemy, though, say Voldemort or any of his death eaters…You'd be dead within moments."
"Woah…" Dean gasped with Seamus.
"It's very powerful, and it could be doubled as an offensive weapon because the caster could control the flames like whips. These could be deflected by your basic shield charm, but if you were burned, you would not heal with the burn healing paste. It's been said that this spell is actually a curse and it's as dangerous as Fiendfyre." Harry stated.
"And that is all the time we have for today. We'll pick up more from today's lesson tomorrow." He said. "Oh, and your homework is to read the rest of the chapter we started today. There will be a test tomorrow!" Harry informed. As students began to pack up and leave, Severus walked over to his son.
"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Finnegan, and Mr. Thomas…You are not to leave just yet. Neither are you, Mr. Malfoy." He said calmly. The rest cleared out and the four Harry named off came to stand in front of him. "I believe you three have something to say to Mr. Malfoy." Harry folded his arms over one another.
"We're sorry about yesterday. We didn't attack you, but-," Dean started.
"We didn't get help either, or try to stop Ron." Seamus added.
"It was wrong. And you didn't deserve it." Dean said next.
"And it won't ever happen again." Seamus nodded.
"We hope that you'll forgive us, Draco…" The two said together.
"Apology accepted…" Draco told them.
"You two can go," Harry motioned with his head towards the door. Dean and Seamus turned and hurried out of the room. "Mr. Weasley…"
"I'm…Sorry for attacking you, Mal-," Ron stopped, feeling small under the gaze of both Harry and Severus standing there. "Draco." Ron corrected himself. "It was wrong of me. I don't have any excuses to give as to why. I was angry. Angry, jealous, and I behaved terribly over Harry becoming a teacher and then Gryffindor's head of house. I don't even know why, he's always pushing the limits of what he can do. Nothing he does should surprise or get to me anymore. I just…Felt like too much was changing and that I was losing my best friend. And when I saw you…I just lost it because I wanted to blame you." Ron paused.
"I wanted to blame everything on someone, on you because from the second fifth year started, I noticed how close you two were. The train station, the sudden resorting…The trouble with Dumbledore, Harry coming out as gay…I felt like Harry was changing and I wanted to blame you, and even Professor Snape. I thought you guys were doing something to him. The only thing you were doing was protecting him, being a good friend. Like I should have. It was wrong. And stupid. I acted like a child, irrationally, and emotionally. And I took it out on you…I could have seriously hurt you. I-I'm sorry. I am, sincerely, sorry and I hope you'll be able to forgive me." Ron bowed his head apologetically.
Harry wished he could say he was surprised at the confession, but he wasn't. Harry knew that Ron reacted out of feeling like Harry changed. Maybe he had, but not in that kind of way. Harry was still himself and just a lot had happened in the past year. Harry understood the perspective, but that didn't give Ron the right to just attack the first person he saw and decide he's the one who took my best friend so I have to stop him.
"I may not particularly like you, Ronald, but I've played nice and respected you out of respect for Harry. Both when we were just friends and even being in a relationship. The only reason I didn't hex you to hell and back yesterday was for him because I know that despite being angry as ever at you for how you've treated him since things came out…He still cares about you. I'd never make Harry choose between his friends and his boyfriend, that's why I never attacked you back when I had every right." Draco informed.
"I didn't even tell him what you did, I knew I could have reported it to him as he's both a teacher, your head of house, and my boyfriend. But I didn't because I figured there was already enough of a rift that any more might break it completely. So I just went back to my common room, it was my friends who basically dragged me to Harry and once he'd seen…I couldn't very well lie. Not that I ever would." Draco said.
"As you just said, you should know when Harry sets his mind to something, nothing stops him." Draco added after a moment. "Yes, much has changed in Harry's life…But despite all that, Harry himself has never changed." He remarked. "There have been things I didn't get told either. I didn't know about Uncle Sev planning to blood adopt Harry until the next morning after it happened when Dobby came to Malfoy Manor to say he couldn't wake Harry or Sev up. I didn't know Harry was studying for two months to take his NEWTs early. I found out at the same time as you." The blond remarked.
"During the announcement Headmistress McGonagall made. But the difference is that instead of letting it get to me that something so huge took place…I understood it was Harry's life and he can do what he wants with it. At the end of the day, I'm just happy to be part of his life as a friend and boyfriend. I'm just happy he's happy and no one else is trying to control him. So no matter what, I will always support his desires, his dreams, his choices." Draco revealed.
"I can't understand why you wouldn't be the first person on that support train. You were Harry's first friend on the train…The boy you met is the same Harry standing here now. Aside from height and looking like a mixed mutt from being blood adopted twice…Is he any different?" Ron shook his head. "Then pull your head out of your arse and understand that Harry hasn't changed. You're just an insecure fool. Harry is one of the bravest, smartest, most loyal people you'll ever know. He doesn't abandon people, but he will absolutely let them choose to walk out of his life." Draco paused.
"Don't hurt Harry again. You did it during the tournament, you did it when you said he didn't have any family and you did it by attacking me. If you hurt him again, it's not my godfather that you'll have to be worried about. It's me. Are we clear?"
"Yes…" Ron nodded.
"Then I'll forgive you. Just this once. Nothing personal, of course, but you don't get third chances with me." Draco revealed.
"Understood." Ron replied. "Harry…I'm sorry to you too. I've been a right git to you…A terrible friend. I don't know why you keep giving me chances…But I'm sorry for everything. The comments, attacking Draco, the disrespect to you as a teacher…I'm sorry and it won't happen again."
"It will at some point because that's just how you are, Ron, and I've accepted that. I understand it's just part of who you are and that's okay. We all have something that sets us off and we handle it differently. We cope our own way. Yours is to get mad or upset, jealous even…Then walk away." Harry told him calmly as Ron sighed.
"I keep giving you chances because I'm not the one making you leave. It's your choice and at the end of the day, I have to respect that and support it. I know you never mean it, you just think you do. So when you decide that you were wrong, and come crawling back, the door is always open because I always forgive you because you're my best friend and practically my brother…And I love you no matter what, stupid." Harry told him.
"You really are my best friend, mate." Ron stated.
"I know." Harry nodded. "And you still have detention with me tonight and tomorrow. I can't give you special treatment just because you apologized to Draco and me. What you did was still against school rules and dangerous. You have to face the consequences of your decisions at the time." Ron nodded, understanding. "Now, off with you or you will end up late to your next class." He shooed them away.
"Yes, sir," Draco and Ron said. Ron was first to turn and leave. Harry gave Draco a light kiss on the cheek before the blonde rushed off to leave the classroom.
"You handled that very well." Severus complimented. "I don't know if I would keep forgiving the bad behavior whenever something goes bad…But still, very well done, my boy."
"He's my best friend and he's an idiot sometimes, but I love him like family. I know you loved my mum romantically, but weren't you hurt to lose her. A loss you never got over, not just because she died but also had lost a friend too." Harry mentioned. "I'd be a mess without Ron. Even if he remained alive and safe, losing him as a friend would hurt a lot. As you said, let the people who want to be in your life, be there."
"Yes, Ron leaves sometimes…But he always comes back. And I've been told that when you truly love something or someone…You have to let them go. If they come back, it's meant to be, if not, they were never yours. Ron keeps coming back, so he's meant to be in my life…It's just a very complicated relationship." He chuckled.
"I suppose so." Severus agreed.
"Now, what did you want to talk to me about? I've got a free period until 3:00 pm." Harry mentioned while getting his papers together.
"I noticed it when Draco and I were in your office last night; there's something dark in there, Harry. It has me worried that you're in danger…" Severus admitted.
"I haven't been warned through my rings." Harry told him. "I'm alright."
"Do you not sense it?" Severus asked.
"No." Harry admitted. "But I'm fine, Dad. I promise. It's probably just a reactive aura to the room itself. How many un-pure teachers have inhabited this space over the years? Not Remus, of course, and Lockhart was an idiot, but totally wanted and tried to obliviate Ron and I down in the chamber."
"Perhaps, just…Be careful, please? If anything feels off, let me know. I know you're a master in defense, but…I'm your father…I feel like it's my job to protect you." Severus stated.
"I'd never take that job from you." Harry said. "I'm good, Dad. You know I'd tell you if I wasn't."
"Good boy. I'll leave you to your work now and see you at dinner." Severus gave his son a one-armed hug and then let go to exit the room.
Harry rounded up his things and went into his office, setting his papers down on the desk and taking a seat. Harry relaxed a few moments, thinking about what Severus said. The dark he felt was coming from whatever was in that box he got from Albus. Harry still hadn't figured out what it was and somehow, didn't have the heart to open and find out yet. There was too much going on with being a teacher and the drama he just dealt with. Harry wondered if the other teachers dealt with this, or was he special because he was so young.
Harry needed to figure out why that box was so dark, perhaps whatever was inside. Harry also needed to figure out why Dumbledore would even leave him stuff. The diary, some mysterious dark box, the wand? It didn't make sense. Maybe Harry should bring it up to his father? He might be a master of defense, but things of dark magic might be out of his area. For now, Harry needed to put it out of his mind. It wasn't anything he couldn't worry about over the two week break for the Christmas holiday.
Harry relaxed himself and grabbed the folder of things he'd spend this next hour grading. Harry summoned himself a glass and poured some water over ice and took a sip. Harry took a deep breath and set the glass down on his coaster before grabbing his quill and began looking over the first document.