Draco almost didn't wear the ring to classes. Almost. He hadn't put the ring back on after the train, going through the whole sorting and opening feast with it weighing heavily in his pocket. The next morning, he was still angry about Black's taunting. He didn't know what to say to Black, whether he should still be pissed or pretend nothing had happened. He still needed the man for his information. As it turned out, he didn't have to worry about what he was going to say. Black took only a few seconds to orient to his surroundings after Draco slipped the ring on.
"I was out of line on the train." Draco stared at him in shock. He didn't think Black was capable. "I'm on edge being back at Hogwarts. I apologise." Black was standing stiffly, not looking at Draco.
"I'm sorry I told my father about Sirius." Draco couldn't believe that slipped out his mouth. He hadn't planned for it.
"It's okay we have a deal now." Draco just nodded dumbly. "We should try to get to the library later today, after class. I know of a few books that should be helpful."
And so their first day of class began and the previous one now officially fell under "let's not talk about this again" territory. His schedule had a frustrating amount of classes with Gryffindors, but otherwise Draco was excited to settle back in. The Malfoy Manor was his home, but nothing felt like Hogwarts.
Black clearly felt differently. Being on edge was not an exaggeration. He blessedly stayed quiet around his classmates, knowing Draco wouldn't appreciate the distractions. While his expression was as neutral as always, Draco sensed an intensity about how he moved around, observing everyone and everything. Draco wondered if he was uncomfortable seeing such a familiar place filled with complete strangers. In his position, Draco figured he would be.
Worst of all, Black couldn't keep his eyes off of Potter. He was trying to be subtle, but Draco found him catching glances whenever he was in proximity. The worst was during their first period, Potions. Potter, as usual, was making a dunce of himself having completely misread the instructions.
When Snape had vanished the inadequate potion, refusing to give any marks for it, Black made his first comment, "That's hardly fair. You would think being a professor might have made Snape a little more mature." Draco forced himself not to react. What had Snape been like as a student? Maybe Black would give him some dirt.
Defence was an absolute shit show. His father had let him know that the ministry was taking a stance against Hogwarts by sending a representative. Draco had expected a professional, like his father, not this hag. Draco knew he was supposed to show his support, but she was an idiot. She clearly had no experience with defence, or teaching for that matter.
Black seemed to share the sentiment, "Damn, with this curriculum, getting you an O in this class might be harder than I thought." Draco couldn't agree more, and so did the Gryffindors.
The class was going fine, until Granger had to open her mouth. She and the rest of the Gryffindors were questioning everything. Draco agreed, but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. Potter had no such reservations. He berated Professor Umbridge just as she tore back at him.
Black didn't say anything during the altercation, not even when Potter stormed out of the room to meet with McGonagall. But Draco knew him well enough that something disturbed him about the whole ordeal. Draco, on the other hand, had found it rather amusing. Anytime points were taken from Gryffinor was an entertaining sight.
After classes, Black wouldn't shut up about the damned library. "Your potions essay won't take long, we can save till tomorrow, let's go to the library" — "C'mon Draco, you know you are just as curious as I am to see what the school library has on soul magic." — "Library. Now. Clock's ticking."
Draco, still feeling guilty about the train yesterday, didn't have the heart to take off the ring. So he found himself with all the other Ravenclaws and overachievers studying in the library the first night of school. Black had guided him around calling out books to grab. It was impressive he could still remember it as well as he did.
"We will need to get into the restricted section at some point. There are bound to be more useful titles there."
"That's fine. Snape's granted it to me before. If he gets suspicious I bet I could get Umbridge to sign off. My father wouldn't tolerate less."
Their focus today was on magical cores. It was increasingly distressing to Black, that if they found a way to reattach his soul to his body, his magic might not exist any more. Apparently there was a lot of discussion on where a witch's or wizard's magic came from. Most claimed it was part of their most intimate part, the soul, but they had reason to believe differently. Black had shown no infinity towards magic, either being able to use or be affected by it.
Other theories claimed it was part of the body. But would that still hold if the body had been dead for over a decade? Black seemed inclined to believe it was part of the connection between the soul and body, but there was no guarantee it would return as expected. The books were large and dense, and Draco found himself more often than not flipping through the pages while Black read their contents over his shoulder.
Madam Pince kicked the last stragglers out of the library minutes before curfew, and while walking the empty corridors back to the common room, Black finally spilled what had been on his mind. "You need to help Harry."
"What?"
"Harry. Potter. You know, skinny kid with messy hair. He's just about your age." Draco rolled his eyes. "He needs help. He is clearly not doing well. Everyone is lying to him. Didn't you see how his housemates were looking at him?" Draco hadn't. "They looked scared, like Harry would jump them at any second and Harry looked like death warmed over. And I bet that bitch Umbridge has something truly evil in mind for his detentions. You need to help him."
"I know we've established that you are already mad, but I am not helping Potter. The Dark Lord is going to off him soon enough, so what if he gets bullied a bit in the meantime?"
"Are you so callous?"
"No, I'm realistic. I'm a Slytherin."
"Since when did Slytherin mean heartless?"
"I'm acting in self-preservation."
Black was frustrated. "I'll teach you how to cast unforgivables." That had been something Draco had asked almost everyday the last week of summer.
"You'll have to do better than that."
"Fine. What do you want?"
Draco took a second to respond, how important was this to Black? He might as well try his luck. "I want to be the Black heir."
"How do you suppose I get you that?"
"Tell me how to find the house ring." Anyone who possessed a house ring, could lay claim over the house. Including any property and vaults. Draco would be getting the Malfoy ring when his father died. He could only imagine the power that came with the Black name.
"Well, I certainly don't have it anymore."
"Well, then I am not helping Potter."
Regulus clenched his jaw, "I was the intended heir after Sirius was disowned. After my father died, I obtained the ring. I have no idea what became of it when I died, but I doubt Sirius ever took it up. He would rather die than have that on his hand. The power probably passed to whoever had the most Black blood, Sirius, unfortunately for him, in lieu of the ringship."
"So can you tell me how to find the ring and name me heir?" Draco could hardly believe Black was entertaining this.
"Probably. I know how to use house magic, Kreacher might also help."
Draco grinned, "Tell me then!"
"Not yet. I will consider if you actually help the boy."
"What am I supposed to do? It's not like I'm about to start kissing his arse in class."
Regulus snorted. "Wouldn't that be a sight. No, I wouldn't expect that. You will not tease him. You will not call him a liar. You'll befriend Umbridge, I am thinking maybe you can take over the detentions."
Draco considered. "That's it? And you'll make me heir?" Black nodded. "How long do I have to help him?"
"Until I deem fit," It was Draco's turn to snort, "or until you graduate. Whichever is first."
Draco considered, but really the choice was easy.
"You have yourself a deal."
Draco was in herbology when things started to go wrong again. They were repotting an assortment of plants they'd be responsible for throughout the year. Zabini was stripping his hands off his many rings when he noticed Black's ring.
"That's quite the interesting ring. I don't remember you wearing it last year."
"It's new. And quite powerful." He held the back of his hand up so Zabini could see. His statement had caught the attention of others standing nearby.
"Draco," Black warned.
"What does it do?" Zabini asked, leaning in to get a better view.
"Family secret," Draco smirked.
"Stop talking about it Draco." Black sounded serious, but Draco craved moments like these. A chance to show off what being a Malfoy was like. He slid the ring off and tilted it so Zabini could see the runes carved on the inside. He nodded appreciatively. When Draco slid the ring back on, Black appeared standing still and his eyebrows drawn together.
"Wait, I want to see!" Pansy demanded from further down the bench. Draco paused considering.
"Draco!" Black yelled. Draco felt powerful being able to get such a rise out of Black.
"Fine, but don't put it on, it'll curse anyone but me."
He passed the ring down the table, Pansy held it wearily, "Creepy." She passed it to Tracey Davis who said, "It is rather beautiful. And these runes!"
Not wanting anyone to look too in depth, Draco held out his hand for Davis to return it. This time when Draco put the ring on, Black was pissed.
"Don't fucking do that again."
"Hey, I didn't get to see it!" Daphne Greengrass complained. She had been sitting on the opposite side of him.
Draco refused to look at Black, as he removed the ring again. He was probably taking this a little too far. Zabini snickered at him.
"Is this why you wear all those rings, Zabini? Like all the attention?"
"It's fashion. Excuse me if you don't have an eye for it."
Greengrass passed the ring back after a brief glance, she hadn't taken ancient runes and was probably greatly disappointed by the plain band. Instead of wearing the ring, he put it back in his pocket, not wanting to incur Black's wrath in the middle of herbology. Surely would Black understood wanting to flaunt a bit right?
That ended up false hope since when he finally put the ring on hours later, alone, and in his dormitory, Black appeared and immediately shouted at him, "That ring is not a trophy for you to peacock around! What if one of your friends puts it on? What if they steal it?"
"Calm down, they wouldn't dare cross me."
"Calm down? He didn't make the ring for it to get passed around to just anyone! It's be-"
"He?"
Black realised his error. "I -" Draco hadn't heard him stammer before.
"Are you bent?"
Black eyes flashed, "So what if I am? Does it change anything between us?"
"It's a pretty big piece to leave out! Are you just playing nice cause you want to get in my trousers? Watch me in the showers?"
"No! Why the hell would you think that?"
"Why shouldn't I? My father says your type is dangerous. I wouldn't be caught dead with another man!"
Black growled, "A man loved me enough to create a ring that would save me from literally dying because he didn't want to live without me. I'd take that any day over whatever arrangement your mother has planned for you."
Draco flushed. "Don't speak to me again about it. I can't have it rubbing off on me."
"Rubbing off? Pretty sure you are or you aren't. That fact that you are nervous about it says quite a bit, don't you agree?"
Draco decided that wasn't worth a response and ripped the ring off for the night. Was Black really worth the trouble of having him around? Knowing his preferences made Draco uncomfortable, but the longer he thought about it the more he knew that he couldn't give up the ring. They had too many deals to uphold. Maybe they could just add this to the "don't talk about" list. He slept uneasily that night, feeling exposed despite being under layers on blankets.
The next day it became apparent how hard it was going to be to hold up his deal with Black concerning Potter. The prophet published a rather nasty piece about how Potter was a threat to the student population. Thankfully, Black wasn't around to hear Draco's comments that morning. Draco could just limit his remarks about Potter when he wasn't wearing the ring. What Black didn't know wouldn't hurt him, he used that as an excuse to keep the ring off.
The whole ordeal from the previous night weighed heavily on Draco's thoughts throughout the day. He wanted to be the Black Heir. He wanted to be a Death Eater. The longer he waited to put back on the ring, the harder each of those would become. Draco found himself missing how Black treated him. His classmates were just that, classmates. They were acquaintances and tools. His job was to impress them, not to play nice. Black was different. He didn't need to impress Black.
But Black was gay, and Draco couldn't change that fact. Black also had a way to make his words sting, making him feel more disarmed than his father's curses. Again it was something Draco wouldn't be able to change. He kept debating internally. Black was still one of the smartest people he'd met, and had the ability to make Draco powerful. At the end of day, he made his decision. He found an empty classroom, and put on the ring.
Black quickly oriented himself to his new surroundings. Draco spoke before he could. "I found that charm book you mentioned about checking for magic signatures, I am looking for the incantation now to see if it can be used on the ring." He held the title out for Black to see.
If Black was surprised by Draco's actions, he didn't show it. "Good." Both were quiet for some time while Draco flipped through the book.
"We can't go on like this if we are at each other's throats every hour." Draco swallowed, but didn't respond.
"I'll be honest, I really thought that when you were the one to wear my ring that this was going to be a nightmare. That you would be too ignorant and uncaring." Draco bit his tongue sensing Black had more to say. "I was wrong though. You are quite capable and you remind me of myself. You are just trying to survive, I can't fault you for that. But we can't continue like this. How did we make it through the summer without all this animosity?"
Draco felt conflicted at the confession. He reminded Black of himself? Given recent events, Draco wasn't sure if that was a good thing, "For one, you didn't snap at me for everything you disagree with. And on that matter, you disagree with a lot more."
"I think it's less that I disagree more, but we didn't talk about much other than getting my soul back and you getting your OWLs."
"Then let's just focus on our research."
"No, let's make another deal. I'll hold my tongue when you are around others. I won't mention my past relationships. You don't take off the ring unless I know and agree to it."
"You'll never let me take it off! Surprisingly, sometimes I need space from you." Draco bit out sarcastically.
"Everytime you take off the ring, a part of me worries if it'll be the last time. It's cruel when you do it on a whim." Guilt started to seep in then.
"I didn't put you in the ring, it doesn't feel like my problem."
"But the ring is yours now and I want to live. Our previous deal still stands, just wear it most of the day."
"Fine."
"Good." They both turned back to the book.
"We also need to figure out how to schmooze up to that professor. You think words are enough? Or should we get her some god awful pink tea cosy?" Black's voice was teasing, but Draco knew that he was forcing it to play nice. Draco grimaced at his attempt of levity, but found himself feeling lighter than he had in days anyway.