As the group returned to the manor, Madam Longbottom gave Neville a hug before returning herself through the floo. Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle were in the study playing Exploding Snap when Ron shouted as he won. Atop Ron's head was Scabbers, the rat clinging to the redhead's hair as he pumped his fist at his victory.

Heading to sit down himself, Harry was soon joined by Hermione.

"Harry, this Life Debt thing, how serious is it?" Hermione bit her lower lip, looking a bit worried.

"Don't worry so much, Hermione. Dumbledore pointed me to a few books, and they all say the Life Debt is a form of magic meant to protect both parties. It's kind of like a bond beyond family."

Hermione nodded, thinking. "So it's like the old saying."

"Pardon?" Harry asked, curious at what saying she was thinking of.

"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb," Hermione said sagely.

"You mean, 'Blood is thicker than water', right?" Harry asked with curiosity in his voice. He'd never heard it said that way before.

"Actually, the saying was butchered in modern times. The version I said is the correct saying. Do you think it's mentioning life debts?"

Harry shook his head, "I doubt it. I mean a life debt isn't a covenant, right? So it can't be about that."

"Oh. Well, I did mean what I said there. I'm with you no matter what." Hermione beamed.

"So am I, Potter. You're stuck with me, debt or no debt." Draco butted in, wrapping his arm around Harry's shoulder with a pompous smirk.

"A-and me, Harry! I meant what I said too." Neville added in, "We're going to be friends forever!"

Harry laughed, as he nodded. "I hope so. I hope we're friends through anything life throws at us."

Ron, Crabbe and Goyle looked over, with Ron shouting as be as he could with a leaf under his tongue, "W'll b' fr'nds f'r'vr!"

That got the group bursting into giggles as they all headed over to play a group game of Exploding Snap.

That night after the group's Diagon visit, Harry flopped down into his bed next to Amber. The snake hissed, her large coils writhing under the blanket as she wrapped around Harry.

§§How was your day, Speaker?§§

Harry hissed back, resting his head on a pillow as he grabbed his robes, and dug in his pockets. §§Dumbledore told my friends' parents about the Life Debt.§§

§§I see. Isn't that a good thing?§§ Amber's tongue flicked Harry's cheek, making him laugh.

§§I suppose. We all promised to be friends forever. But I couldn't help but think about the Marauders. I wonder what happened to make Peter betray my mom and dad.§§ It made Harry uncomfortable, thinking about how the friendship that Sirius had bragged about being so close had ended up so fractured.

§§I doubt you would be able to find out without speaking to the man himself. Unless you find him, I doubt you will be able to find out why he did such a heinous act.§§ Harry sighed, but had to agree with the snake. He wouldn't be able to find out why unless he asked the man himself. *

Looking to take his mind off the subject, Harry pulled a shrunken book from the pocket of his robes, Harry flicking his wand and removing the shrinking spell. When the spell was removed, it quivered in his hand and returned to its full size. "Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pests" Amber peered over to look at the cover, giving a hiss.

§§Are you looking for more types of prey when you are a fox, Speaker?§§

Harry couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. "No, I'm just reading some books I found at Flourish and Blott's. I'll probably sleep soon." Amber nodded her head gently, before she slid herself around Harry, her head resting under his chin.

Opening the cover of the book, Harry saw a large picture of a small glittering pixie-like creature with blue skin. Under it was the title of the first chapter. "Chapter 1: Doxies and Pixies"

Harry began to read, finding the book to be a rather interesting read. Doxies, Pixies, Gremlins and more were detailed carefully, with Lockhart going into how each of them operated, how to avoid provoking them into attacking, and what to do if a large number of them were in an area.

As Harry went through the book, he found himself enjoying the light-hearted humor here and there in the book. It was very rough, obviously the work of a first-time writer, but Harry could see how this book had started it.

The end of the book came surprisingly quickly thanks to the fact that a lot of the tome was diagrams and picture representations on how to grab, remove, and cast spells to protect against each creature. It was filled with incredible and detailed pictures, showing each of the creatures, as Harry noticed a large spider-like creature at the end of the book, called Kacklebanes.

The description was rather horrifying, with the spiders being described having huge fangs hidden beneath a pair of spider mandibles, using them to make their victims unable to fight back as they webbed them and consumed their magic.

After he finished reading, Harry put down the book, but the thought of the Kacklebane made him shiver. Something about the spiderlike body and a mouthful of fanged teeth just made his body clench in fear.

§§I doubt the Malfoys will have Kacklebanes here, Speaker.§§ Amber's soothing hisses whispered into Harry's ear, her tongue flicking over his cheek. §§I think it would be best for you to get some sleep now.§§

Harry yawned. "Alright, Amber. Good night." He said softly, leaning back against his pillow and falling asleep with Amber's coils wrapped around him under his blanket.

July's days were warm and happy, with Harry and the group continuing their lessons into the middle of the month. Harry loved his time with his friends, but Lucius came in as they were working one day, stopping the group from their lessons and practice.

"Heir Potter, there is a letter for you. It seems to be quite urgent." Lucius held up a letter for Harry, who quickly took it. On the front in Petunia's handwriting was Harry's name.

"I didn't know that Aunt Petunia had an owl or some way to send letters." Harry said, surprised.

Lucius shook his head. "She did not. Thankfully, I foresaw a need for you to communicate with your guardians in times of distress, so I instructed Dobby to listen for the command of your aunt and uncle. It appears that my intuition was correct."

"I cannot thank you enough for your foresight, Lord Malfoy." Harry gave a sweeping bow. He had never considered that his Uncle and Aunt wouldn't be able to communicate with the Wizarding world. He'd have to purchase an owl for his Uncle soon.

Tearing open the letter, Harry quickly began to read.

Harry, something has happened to your uncle and cousin. Because of the tunnel taking longer than expected, the government decided to bring several children from the best boarding schools around the country to make paint hand prints on the tunnel before they broke through. Vernon was allowed to bring Dudley due to him being a top student in Smeltings and because your uncle is a Director in Grunnings. They wanted to bring you as well, but due to you being in a special tutoring session with your friends they decided against bothering you.

When they went this morning, I thought everything was going to be fine. A little photo shoot, and then they'd put the hand prints on the stone and return home. However, something happened. I don't know what exactly occurred, but two men came to me an hour after they left, telling me that the tunnel had collapsed.

That was fifteen minutes ago. My Dudley and my Vernon are trapped under the English Channel in a cold, dark tunnel. The media is going crazy with wild guesses, but I don't know what to do. I can't bear to lose them, not after losing Lily.

Please. There's not just your uncle and cousin down there, Harry, but there's also a dozen children your age in that tunnel along with their teachers. I beg of you. Please. Please help your aunt not become a widow. Ask Lord Malfoy; beg him if you have to. But the media says that there's no hope to drill the stone without the tunnel collapsing further; which leaves Magic as their only hope.

Petunia

Harry could see small dots of moisture on the slip of paper, its size no more than a note. It ws obvious she had a shaky hand while she wrote it, as Harry felt a knot in his throat.

"My Uncle is trapped under the English Channel!" Harry shouted, making everyone in the room suddenly jump in place from the sudden exclamation.

"Trapped under the English Channel? How'd he do that?" Ron asked, the pieces of his Wizard's Chess board having scattered everywhere as he stood up from where he and Crabbe had been playing. Lucius himself frowned next to Harry. "Indeed, was he lost at sea?"

"No sir, the muggles have been working on a tunnel from England to France that runs underneath the English Channel. Uncle Vernon was working on a drill that could carve through the stone that blocked them; they're a year behind schedule. They had brought some kids for a photo shoot, but something happened and they're trapped!"

Flamel, who had been sitting nearby, looked up. "That's horrible. Are they going to be able to get them out?"

Harry shook his head, tears forming in his eyes. "N-no sir. The reporters think there's no hope, because the tunnel rock is resistant against the muggle drills. If nothing's done, m-my uncle and cousin will die down there."

Flamel rubbed his chin, as Draco stood up. "But it's a muggle problem. Won't us magicals get in trouble if we helped them?"

Lucius frowned. "I believe so, Draco. It would be an egregious breach of the Statute of Secrecy."

The room went silent, as Harry walked forward and got down on his hands and knees, bowing before Lucius with his forehead to the floor. "Please. Lord Malfoy. I beg of your support, your assistance in such a grave matter. I ask you for your aid in rescue of my house's Regent, and in honor of the Life Debt."

The room was stunned into silence, as Harry remained kneeling at the floor. Neville and Draco's eyes were wide, as even Flamel seemed to be startled by Harry's actions. Harry wasn't quite sure why; he needed a major favor from the Lord of a Magical House; this was the correct way to ask, right?

Lucius was frozen in place. There, in front of him, was the Lord-Apparent of both the Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter and Most Noble and Ancient House of Black. For someone of such prestige to be kneeling— begging— was simply unheard of. No Lord or even Heir would put aside their pride in such a manner, yet here Harry Potter was doing such.

Ron, watching from nearby, took a deep breath and stepped forward as he saw Lucius' hesitation. "Malfoy— No, Lord Malfoy. Harry is my friend, and I do not owe him a Life Debt. But I stand by him. Even if you do not help, I will go with Harry and try to save his Uncle."

As if a dam had broken, Hermione rushed forward next. "And he'll have my help, too!"

Neville stepped forward as well, arms behind his back. "And he has my wand as well."

Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other and stepped forward, crossing their arms in a sign of unity. They moved to help Harry stand, as those green eyes looked right at the Malfoy Lord.

Draco hesitated, looking at his father. He didn't know what to do. If they were found, losing their magic would mean the end of his life as he knew it. But when he looked at Harry, the boy's tears glistening in his eyes, his son stepped forward as well.

"I, Draco Malfoy, heir of House Malfoy, pledge my support to you in this endeavor. Even if my father refuses, I will support you."

Flamel crossed his arms at the show, grinning. "Seems you're backed into a corner, Lord Malfoy. Even your Heir is willing to go against the Ministry to save the lives of those muggles, and the Life Debt is being called. What say you?"

Lucius' breath hitched. He knew this was a turning point. A true choice. As a Pureblood of the Traditionalist faction, he should simply say no, and repay the life debt another way. But this was his son, and Harry Potter, that he would have to say no to. A bead of sweat rolled down Lucius' face, as he opened his mouth.

"I will assist you, Heir Potter, in rescuing your regent."

Lucius' heart skipped a beat. He had made his choice.

Flamel clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Alright, then all of us should get ready for apparition. We'll head to Harry's home first, as we will need to know where the Tunnel's entrance is. And we'll need to do it discreetly." Flamel had a large grin on his face, as if he was excited for such an event.

As Lucius and Flamel started to organize the group, Harry placed a hand on Ron's shoulder. "Thanks, Ron."

The red-headed wizard beamed with pride.

-Author's Note-

I promise I didn't plan that cliffhanger! It's just a funny coincidence! I swear!

Sorry for the late chapter, some real life issues crept up.

If you are interested in reading early, I am looking for more betas to help my current beta, Kaminton, out. If you want to join, even if you only read it over for simple spelling mistakes, that'd still be quite a bit of help.

Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling, not me.