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Harry exchanged a look with Lacerta, and in an instant, the two were at the foot of the brooms, standing as they were. Firebolts had only just come out to the public, and they were not only exceedingly rare to see thus far, but also exceedingly expensive; the model before them, an early, advanced model… the price had to be astronomical. It was fitting that it was Lucius and his use of nepotism that made it possible for the two to get the chance to vi—

He blinked when he noticed a hand, pale and slender, reach out and grab the broom. His eyes traced up the hand, followed the arm and eventually, settled on Lacerta's face at around the same time she pulled the broom free of its constraints. Lacerta still wore a look of complete and utter fascination, but in addition, was wonder and a look he'd seen on her many a time.

One that was typically only visible when they played Quidditch; she looked ready to compete.

"You're just going to take it?" Harry asked as he looked between her, the broom in her hand and the second one that was still in its upright position. Merlin, it was practically begging him to take it.

Lacerta cocked her head at him as one finger traced daintily the surface of the broom, admiring the shine and feel. She replied when her moment of fascination was complete, and when she did so, one of those brows of hers — plucked as it always was, he'd seen as much — arched itself. "Why wouldn't I?" she asked, "They're ours, Father's ascertained that we'll be one of very few who ever get to possess these."

"Well, until it releases in a year or two, yeah?"

At that, Lacerta brought a hand to her chest and her expression turned offended. "Goodness, no. By that time, we'll possess a new model either from this same shop or from that of a competitor. Whichever happens to be the best at the time. I'd find it queer if we held onto these exact brooms for more than a year, and unheard of if they last for three or more."

Harry couldn't imagine how spoiled Lacerta was, but he reckoned right then and there that it had to be bad, like with Dudley. But… if it wasn't hurting anybody, and it was only the two of them that'd get one, then he supposed there wasn't any harm in taking the gift the Malfoys were offering him, was there? In fact, he imagined it'd be rude not to accept what some might see as a peace offering from the Malfoys.

Narcissa doesn't exactly need to give me any, she's been very kind. Lacerta's, well, she's Lacerta still, just tamer than she used to be, Harry side-eyed the girl who'd gone back to looking the broom up and down, her eyes filled with wonder. She's pretty when she's not sneering.

"We really get to just take them, huh?" Harry asked as he slowly reached out a hand to grab hold of the broom in much the same way as she'd done.

"Wait!" Lacerta said suddenly, her voice higher-pitched as she started toward him; in an instant, Harry's hand was retracted back whence it'd come and he looked around before settling his attention on her.

It was then that he noticed she was trying her best not to laugh, her face going so far as to turn red to avoid allowing out any laughter. When her eyes made contact with his, his expression shifting into realisation, that was when Lacerta's composure was lost and out came laughter, victorious and near-mocking.

Maybe tamer wasn't quite the right word to use, Harry thought than with a huff as he shook his head. "I'll get you back for that, you know — maybe it'll be when I trounce your team this year."

Lacerta narrowed her eyes at him. From there, she folded her arms, the broom nestling in between them. "You can't truly believe you're going to beat me, can you?"

At the challenge, Harry grinned all the while he continued admiring the broom. "I don't need to think I'm going to beat you, I know I will."

"Would you care to set a wager, then?" Lacerta asked, a devious smile coming forth as her arms unfolded and her visage changed to sweet and charming in an instant; something that was oft done when she spoke with Professors.

Harry had seen that first-hand more than enough to recognise it. Thus, he looked at her with caution, waiting to hear the 'terms' she'd try and set. Well, he was mostly minding her with caution, there was still that childish giddiness that hadn't settled down since the broom had reached his sight. Merlin, even now his heart was still racing, and the broom in his hands felt like it was a dream.

"What're you thinking?" Harry eventually asked, confident in his abilities. Not only was he exceedingly confident in those abilities, but from what he remembered of their lessons back in their First Year, he reckoned he was naturally better than Lacerta had proven to be.

"When I best you in our first match, you'll do as you should have done when first we met one another," Lacerta said, her nose raised and her look, smug. Whether that was an intentional call back to their first meeting aboard the Hogwarts Express, or her simply being so confident, he couldn't quite tell.

"... Which would be?"

Lacerta deflated if only ever so slightly and for a few seconds, before her earlier look of certainty and confidence returned. "We'll accompany one another on occasion as acquaintances might do, and we'll share notes or offer assistance as needed. I'm well aware of your potioneering problem and would be amiable to the idea of tutoring you, in exchange for your notes in regards to Defense."

"Sure."

Harry didn't think he'd lose, and spending a bit more time with Lacerta wouldn't hurt him. Not since she'd changed how she acted since she'd been saved. He reckoned just about anybody might change their opinion of a person if that person saved them.

"Your terms?" Lacerta asked in return.

"I'll think of something, we've got time," Harry said with a shrug, his attention almost completely returned to the broom. "I'll have to thank your Father later… do you know what he'd like?"

Lacerta seemed baffled, initially. Her hands went so far as to lose the grip she'd had on the broom for a split-second, but she regained control of the item easily enough as her expression of shock eventually gave way to intrigue near the time she answered. "I suppose I could share what my father enjoys," Lacerta responded before she paused, her eyes filled to the brim with thoughts, and then she spoke again, "Might I ask if my mother put this idea in your mind?"

Harry shook his head. "She didn't."

"Oh."

Silence.

Lacerta was looking at him rather than the broom, he could see as much from out of the corner of his eye. Every few seconds she'd break her gaze on him only to return it, that went on five, maybe six times until the voices of Lucius and the man he'd been speaking with grew louder.

"I see you've managed to locate the brooms," Lucius' voice said, deep and drawling as he looked betwixt the two teenagers.

Lacerta fixed her father with the sweetest look then, and when she moved forward to hug him, formal and sweet-acting, Harry had to hide his laughter. It was so unlike nearly every interaction he'd ever had with her, enough so that sweet wouldn't be within the first ten, Merlin, not even the first one-hundred descriptors he'd use when talking about her.

I suppose I see why she's as spoiled as she is.

With that new broom in hand, Harry supposed he couldn't truly complain all that much, and thus, he simply waited until the embrace between father and daughter was over before he shook hands with the man. It was a brief interaction, fleeting like all happenings between Lucius and Harry, but this time, it wasn't quite as tense.

Harry hoped time might bridge much of the tension between them, but past happenings… he'd have to be forgiven if he wouldn't ever completely trust the man.


Nearly thirty minutes later, the trio emerged from the shop in which they'd secured their new brooms, and another thirty seconds from there, they found themselves on the main street of Diagon Alley. There were numerous branches that led down various other alleys, some busier, nicer looking, or in some instances, more dangerous looking than others.

It was of no surprise that people, regardless of where Harry and the Malfoys went, greeted Lucius. Some, Harry wouldn't have expected to know Lucius whilst others simply made sense on just about every level. If a bloke looked older than thirty, or if a person looked like they might work at the Ministry, the chances of them greeting Lucius were especially high.

"Where to next, Father?" Lacerta inquired as they continued their leisurely pace down Diagon Alley, the three only just passing Gringotts.

Harry hadn't been beyond Gringotts on the right in quite some time, and past a certain point, he'd never gone down it. He supposed the same could be said of just about every side alley they passed as well as the left side of Gringotts, where Diagon Alley also continued. In general, there was so much of the wizarding world he'd yet to explore, it was maddening to think about.

"I had thought we might acquire your mother a present," Lucius raised a hand as if to quiet Lacerta down, but Harry hadn't even noticed she'd been about to speak; her lips had only just parted. Lucius' ability to predict her was pretty impressive. "You needn't worry about your Hogwarts supplies, nor Harry's, for that matter. I've set people to work so as to ensure the both of you have all that you need, supplemental and tertiary options included, of course."

At that, Harry supposed the man deserved a second round of thanks, strange and awkward as that might be.

"Thank you."

"Thank you, Father."

Harry's was courteous as one could be, and Lacerta's tone was girlish and softer-sounding than when it was nought but the pair of them. Lucius seemed pleased by the responses, Harry supposed, if the man's pompous smile was anything to go by.

"Lacerta!"

In an instant, both his head and Lacerta's turned in the direction of the voice, for each was familiar with it. Lacerta's expression, naturally, was one of joy and happiness upon hearing the voice of her friend. Harry's, meanwhile, turned scowl-like as the figure of Pansy Parkinson, joined with three others behind her, made their way over to where the trio stood.

I wonder how she'll handle this, Harry thought, amused, but hiding it as he stopped to stand beside Lucius, the man looking uninterested as he reached for his satchel.

"You're looking lovely," Pansy said once she no longer had the need to spell to speak to Lacerta. Her hands reached out to adjust the top of Lacerta's blouse and then her eyes sought out just about every inch of the former's body. "Healthy, too. Your letters have reached us all before you ask, but you'll have to forgive a friend for worrying."

Lacerta had a smile form at Pansy's words. "I needn't forgive you for anything, Pansy," and then came the awkward moment that Harry hoped wouldn't be necessary as each and every pair of snake-like — in his mind — eyes settled on him.

He certainly felt like the odd one out, so to say.

"Potter," Pansy greeted, her face turning stoic and infinitely more serious than it'd previously been. "What's he doing with you, Lacerta?" the girl asked, confusion evident on her face and in her tone of voice.

As for those behind her, Zabini, Greengrass and Bulstrode, two looked uninterested, and one, impatient. He imagined Bulstrode would never truly look comfortable so long as she was in a conversation. The girl always looked out of her element whensoever anybody went to speak with her. As for Zabini and Greengrass, the pair of them were seemingly interested in precious little so long as he could recall.

Neither smiled or laughed all that much, favouring cold exteriors the likes of which he wasn't really sure how to handle; everybody in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tended to be far more open.

Looking back at Lacerta and away from the Slytherins, Harry took note of the look on her face. Momentarily, for the first few seconds at the very least, she looked unsure of how she should respond to her friend's question. It was, evidently, very challenging for her to explain her shift in opinion.

At least, he'd thought as much.

Lacerta leaned in close to Pansy, whispering as soon as her mouth was near the other girl's ear. Harry, naturally, tried not to listen to her hushed words as they exited her mouth, but Lacerta and Pansy weren't quite as quiet as one might suspect from the house of the cunning. Thus, he picked out a few words, sometimes, whole fragments of sentences.

"... rumours at…"

Pansy nodded and said something of her own, indistinguishable as it proved to be for him.

"... rumours… happened, had he not…" Lacerta stopped to take a conspiratorial look around, and then she resumed whence she'd presumably left off. "... guardianship, with the… Headmaster… I couldn't believe it either… staying with us."

Finally, when Lacerta finished, both girls turned to look at him. There was silence, their stares beginning to turn awkward, and then, Pansy seemed to make up her mind as she looked him up and down, speaking a few seconds later. "You saved her?"

It was a quiet question, one he doubted her friends had overheard as they lingered a few feet further back.

Harry nodded in response. He didn't feel the need to verbalise it, not after Lacerta had probably said much the same, more or less. Merlin, he'd never actually liked the aftermath of his actions, but he couldn't help himself — if somebody was in trouble and he was in a position to help that person, he had to. It was a no-brainer of a decision.

"I suppose you're not as horrible as we've always said, for what it's worth," Pansy offered, looking back at Lacerta, and then at Harry again. "You've got my… apologies, for our past interactions."

Weird, isn't she? Harry thought, the girl, like many of the other Purebloods, was old-timey and overly formal. "It's alright. Water under the bridge, yeah?"

He hoped the smile that followed his words was convincing. The thought of the current conversation continuing was painful, to say the least.

Again, Pansy looked to Lacerta after those words from Harry, and as Lacerta had previously done, she nodded once, and in such a way that it was barely noticeable. Luckily for Harry, he'd been reading her since early. He wasn't sure why Pansy thought she needed Lacerta's approval a second time, much less the first, but he waited patiently for Parkinson to speak as she'd been doing.

It wasn't like he could up and leave of his own volition, nor would he want to come off as rude. Least of all when Lucius had done him a courtesy he hadn't needed to, and after Lacerta had been making such an effort to be courteous to him. It was still so strange, but he'd readily admit if asked, the new normal was far superior to that of the old one.

"I'm pleased to hear that," Pansy eventually said, the girl finally grabbing hold of her vocabulary and using it. "I suppose we'll see one another soon, aboard the Express—" Pansy's tone dropped to a hush then, her last words meant only for her ears and Harry's "— Lacerta's probably thanked you, just as I'm sure her family has. You have my thanks as well."

Now that, Harry would admit, was surprising. He'd seen Pansy and Lacerta together many a time all throughout his years at Hogwarts, but he'd always thought of Pansy in much the same way as Crabbe or Goyle, or admittedly, Zabini and Bulstrode; that meaning as just a bunch of lackeys that did as she bid them to.

Aside from Crabbe and Goyle, maybe he'd need to rethink his opinions of Lacerta's friends… or probably not. He'd spend time with her, but that didn't mean they'd be around all that much. Merlin, he could already picture Hermione and Ron, and how difficult they'd be when they saw him spending his free time with Lacerta.

"Yeah, of course," Harry said as he managed a small smile for Pansy, one that he would have passed over to the others too, were they looking his way. "See you on the train, Parkinson."

Content and now in the know, Pansy took her leave whilst the Malfoys plus Harry continued their trip.

Harry, all the while, thinking of how strange the Slytherins were.


August 31, 1993

"It's our final day of summer break, how dreadful," Lacerta all but whined as she reclined in a chair near where he was sitting, her feet coming to rest atop old tomes. A few seconds later, her eyes were closed as the sound of the rain hitting the glass of the window made the both of them feel tired.

It was the calming rhythm and soft, incessant noise.

"It'll only be some small number of months before we have our next summer break," Harry pointed out with a grin, knowing how Lacerta would huff.

Sure enough, as he'd thought, she did so. "You could have made mention of the Yule break — don't think for a moment you'll not be joining us here. I'd not have it said that the Malfoy hospitality is lacking, least of all to those who deserve it most."

Harry couldn't help but shake his head, a fond look rather than a sour, disbelieving one coming to rest on his face.

"Is that you inviting me over for Yule already?"

Lacerta looked affronted. "Me?" she shook her head rather rapidly, sending flying her hair, long and untied as it was. "I'm simply extending the formal invitation that my parents should have done already. Think of it as formalities, even if you prefer to avoid Pureblood traditions — don't think for a minute our rivalry is over, Potter."

There it is, Harry thought with a bit of a grin. I was beginning to think this wasn't Lacerta at all.

"I told you already, yeah? I'll beat you on the pitch," Harry laughed when she huffed, and then he swallowed; he'd not thought so before her change in attitude, but she really was quite pretty. He swallowed, looked at the article before him, and then addressed her. "Speaking of, aren't you going to read this with me? We won't be able to get another Quidditch catalogue for a while."

"You read, I'll look at the pictures therein, just make sure you hold them up high enough," Lacerta laughed a second after she'd spoken. "My apologies, I was thinking about when we were younger — I was taller then, remember?"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You're not anymore."

"But I was."

Harry shrugged. "You were," he liked the past tense. "Lunch? While we're looking through the catalogue."

Lacerta was amiable to the idea and called forth a house elf, Sunny. Shortly thereafter, the two teenagers had plates of food by their sides whilst Harry read and showcased the article for Lacerta. The latter was sat up in a chair, receiving a massage from some trinket that rubbed at her shoulders all the while she ate, demure and proper-like.

This time, he'd allow her that without any comment. It was the last day of summer, right? He reckoned he'd allow her to have a bit of time getting spoiled — he certainly wouldn't be continuing massage duties.

"How Muggle," Lacerta said, a cringe flashing across her face as she reached for a glass of wine.

Well, not wine, he supposed. It was a special one of elf-make that supposedly brought comfort, warmth and the feeling of light-heartedness. One would have to be cautious when using it too, he'd heard.

"I've noticed a lot of things the Wizarding World and Muggles have in common," Harry said. "If I could make a theatre, I think I'd become one of the wealthiest wizards of all time."

"Theatre? We've plenty of those already if you knew where to look," Lacerta said with a roll of her eyes. "Look at that — a gold-coated Quidditch set. How decadent."

"How expensive," Harry corrected as he flipped the page. He'd not be tempting Lacerta to buy that and waste her Galleons, Merlin, some things were barmy. "I'm surprised your family doesn't have a pitch here, you know. If you like flying as much as you do and Quidditch to boot, I would have thought Lucius would have one built."

"Here? Never. It'd mean I'd need to invite others over, and having that many guests without the adequate means to watch where they might go… it would spell trouble, most certainly," Lacerta paused, her head tilting to one side with her hair, long as it was, nearly falling into the glass of wine she left propped on her thigh. "If one were to make a pitch beyond, in the fields that we own and complete with buildings and stands, maybe then it'd be worthwhile. Mayhaps we could even host games for the Ministry or have private showings of teams."

I've made a monster, I have, Harry thought as he watched Lacerta's mind at work. He wasn't lying when he could claim to see the literal Galleons over her eyes. Oops.

"I'll take 10 per cent for having the idea," Harry joked.

Lacerta snorted, and then, flipped the page much like he'd done. That continue until it gradually grew darker, the sun setting and the moon rising, and a second meal shared; Harry wouldn't have thought he'd ever spend his final day of summer in the company of Lacerta, but, he had.

The strangest thing was the lack of an uncomfortable energy. It'd been prominent early, and the two still acted strangely, awkwardly, around one another, but there wasn't that underlying dislike that'd been formerly prominent.

And to think, all of this had happened since he'd made the rash decision to save her.


September 1, 1993

"Just for a moment. I'd like to formally introduce you to the others as I would've done had you accepted my invitation some time ago," Lacerta asked — pleaded — as the two stood in the corridor aboard the Hogwarts Express.

Harry, meanwhile, wasn't all that convinced. There was something about meeting with all of those Slytherins aboard the Express that felt strange. It was probably memories, a myriad of them, about how they acted. On the other hand, he supposed Zabini and Greengrass hadn't ever been all that horrible. Bulstrode either, though she wasn't as innocent as the two of them.

"You'll let me bring you over to Ron and 'Mione after, yeah?" Harry asked as a thought clicked in his mind; if he'd meet her close 'acquaintances', then she could reintroduce herself to his.

Seemed fair enough in his mind.

Lacerta's hands fell to her hips. "I've met them previously."

Harry looked at Lacerta with an incredulous expression on his face. She had to understand what he meant by having him bring her over to his friends, you know, the people she'd belittled and made snide remarks about dozens, if not hundreds of times before.

"I'll meet yours if you come with me after. That's the deal," Harry said, stubborn.

She was just about to respond when somebody else spoke, cutting her off and drawing the attention of both her and Harry.

"What're you two doing together?"