Harry- June 27th
Theodore Nott followed Draco the following night as he ventured to the astronomy tower. Pansy trailing behind them. As they approached the dark-haired boy Theo assessed the boy many considered the savior of the wizarding world. As the trio approached, he noticed the other boy turning around to assess him in turn. Draco took the lead and began with formal introductions even though they had all been in school together for years it was a courtesy, "Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott meet Harry Potter. Harry Potter meet Pansy my betrothed, and Theodore Nott." The raven-haired boy nodded, "are they amenable to the terms that we discussed previously?" Draco replied quickly, "yes on our magic we so swear." Each took turns reciting the vow and one by one the light of their wands signaled that an unbreakable vow was made.
That done Harry smiled for the first time in forty-eight hours. His green eyes shown with curiosity, and he asked, "last time we met you hinted at the fact that you were aware of my living situation away from school. What do you know?" Theo looked at the blonde and said, "Draco and I have been raised to be observant and ambitious. We know enough to know that your behavior around food, the way that you are jumpy and nervous when someone touches or gets too close to you and the condition of your appearance is all connected."
Pansy jumped in, " we may not know the specifics of where and by whom, but we can tell that it an unpleasant situation. No one was ever able to find out what happened to you until you were on the train, and a few people reported sightings, but it was all just rumor." The petite dark-haired girl was barely taller than Harry and stayed next to the blonde boy as though she was attached to Draco at the hip. Draco continued for her, you've never really told anyone what was happening or where you were living. We would like to help however that is necessary that you let us in on that information."
Harry took a deep breath he didn't know if very many people could have made those connections, and even fewer knew anything about his home life. All that Ron knew was from the one adventure summer before the second year where they broke him out of his room. Finally, he looked at each of them, "This can't leave us it is incredibly embarrassing really. I was placed at my mum's sister's house. They aren't exactly the nicest people, and they hate magic and well me." The trio nodded, before finally Draco said, "continue, please we can probably guess the rest of that anyhow." Harry sighed, "They beat me okay, I was treated a lot like your father treated your old house elf."
Draco turned red in embarrassment, " I hated the way father behaved towards him. Mum always said that you had to take diligent care and be kind to them, the symbiotic relationship between them and us demands it and in turn they take care of us. The sad thing is Dobby was one of the better ones." That got a raised eyebrow from Harry. The blonde boy chuckled, "Have you never wondered why Dobby suddenly was acting to prevent you from being in danger? A house elf can't act against its master. It can however take and act on orders from the heir." Harry stared, even in the midst of all of their pettiness Draco had ordered Dobby to try and keep him safe from the whole incident second year.
Harry was astounded, "Why would you act to help me when we weren't exactly friends?" Draco chuckled, "there is a lot that has been kept from you it seems more than I may have thought. Mum was really disappointed that you rejected my offer first year. Your grandmother was a Black, the same as my mum. We're cousins, in fact mum and I might be the closest living magical relatives you have."
The group began considering various locations and guardianship challenges that may have to occur. Malfoy Manor was out as the Dark Lord was currently commanding the residence of the family. Which when mentioned Draco scowled. Nott Castle was also out of the question due to Theo's psychopathic father being unpredictable. Finally, the group concluded that a trip to Gringotts would be necessary. They needed more information on what had become of Harry's inheritance who it was that was responsible for overseeing Harry's care.
That lead to Harry asking, "You mentioned knowing how Voldemort was able to come back. How is that even possible? Isn't death like final even for our kind?" Theo shook his head in the negative, "There are ways. Granted these ways are foul and beyond reason and there are profound consequences to them." Draco jumped in, "They are soul containers. The diary was one. I'm fairly sure that there are more, or he would not have been able to be resurrected." Theo nodded in agreement, "According to father he was obsessed with the founders, especially Slytherin claiming that he was the sole remaining heir of Salazar. It makes sense that he used important objects that people would be hesitant to destroy. "As the group broke up for the night and went their separate ways each of them were smiling as they were at least one step closer to developing a plan. Creeping the corridors they each made their way to their individual beds.
As the days rapidly moved towards summer Harry dreaded getting onto the train. It was as he sat at the memorial, they were holding at the for Cedric that Harry began to consider once more the implications of everything that had taken place. Dumbledore stood at the podium. The house tables having been stored away temporarily so that the memorial could be held. All of the students sat in the quiet of the mourning. The sun may as well have not been out for all of the cold and gloom that had settled over the student body.
The wizened old wizard proclaimed, "As you all know Cedric Diggory was exceptionally hardworking, and fair-minded. Therefore, you have every right to know how he died. The ministry does not wish for me to tell you this, but I believe not to would be an insult to his memory. Lord Voldemort murdered Cedric Diggory. Dark times are ahead, and we will soon be forced to choose between what is right and what is easy."
The student body somberly traipsed off from there to begin the journey to the train for the return to their homes for the summer. As they walked along the road to the platform at Hogsmeade Harry began to explain what he had learned about how Voldemort had survived each encounter only to succeed in resurrecting this this last week. He kept his eyes forward as he walked talking amicably with his two best friends, "So, it's come to my attention that Voldemort managed to stay alive so long because of the fact that he created soul containers."
Hermione considered this information, "and this was brought to your attention how?" Harry sighed, "it was brought to my attention by a group of Slytherins who aren't thrilled about the idea of the Dark Lord being back." Harry was trying not to have to deal with Ron's reaction to the idea that they would need to work with Malfoy. Know that his reaction would not be pretty. Hermione on the other hand continued processing the situation, "which Slytherins and did they know how many souls' containers Voldemort made?"