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Chapter Text

Prologue

The feast and celebration of the people within the Great Hall was a marvel to behold and Harry was walking numbly away from them. For a moment, relief was the only thing that he could feel for it was done, finally done. And Harry ought to smile, to laugh, to shout with joy, but no—all he felt was the sense of utter blankness and the thought of; what now?

The people around where lively, celebrating what was the upshot of a won war. It was amusing really, that after the war he should revel in the sense of joy that the students at Hogwarts were outwardly showing. Students, he thought. Students at war. No matter what, it was still a sad thought. No teenager should ever experience the aftermaths of a war let alone be in one. But nevertheless, they’ll take it; after all they had won the battle.

He continued his lonely trek out towards the entrance doors of the castle, hoping to avoid the endless streams of handshakes, of hugs and the tears; both of happiness and grief. It was a mixture of emotions soaring high in the room of the Great Hall, overwhelming. But Harry guessed he couldn’t blame them, not really, nor could he really care at that moment. He just wanted to get away.

A shock of long red hair appeared before him. Eyes wide with unshed tears, she held out her hand for him.

Ginny, Harry thought. He guessed eventually he had to talk to her at some point. He was just hoping to put it off later or perhaps never at all. It was wishful thinking really, to just avoid her and disappear but he owed it to her. He had to—for Ginny… perhaps to give reassurance, a smile, a hug… a kiss. He looked at her hopeful, watery eyes and Harry thought, No. He couldn’t do that to her, would never do that to her. To give something false just to appease her. Harry honestly thought that they would give it another chance, them. He did genuinely like her, but after the battle at hand—No, if he was being honest, it was probably after that kiss that she gifted him. In the Burrow, he remembered it, oh how he did; it was amazing. It was all her feelings put in one heated gesture and Harry was thrilled at that moment and was excited and then it was… nothing.

“Harry— “Ginny sought out, hands grabbing for his and Harry smiled. Sincere, soft, and earnest. And Ginny faltered on her words, but she still held on. Harry went and enclosed her hand in both of his, giving it a gentle squeeze. He looked at her, straight in the eye and he saw those unshed tears threatening to fall down on her cheeks. But they never did, he thought in relief. That was something he loves about her.

“Go to Ron, to your mum, I’m sure they’ll looking for you.” Harry was still smiling that soft smile of his, it’s the least he could offer her. Ginny took a step, that just bit closer to him and searched for something on his face, in his eyes, anything. Eyes roamed all over him, all the intensity of her and after a moment then; she sighed. A sad thing, resigned and Harry dared hope, a hint of relief? Maybe it was a selfish thing to think but he honestly hoped there would be no bitter feelings for her. Ginny smiled up at him, beautiful.

“I guess as far as breakups go, this isn’t the most awful one.” She said with such humour and a slight grin that Harry felt his heart loosen its strings just a little a bit. He chose to ignore the shaky way she said it. “I really like you Harry, I really do.” She whispered.

Harry then gently extricated his hands from hers and pressed a kiss to her forehead. A sharp intake of breath was all he heard from Ginny and Harry felt that tiny bit of guilt for ending things with her. “Go on Ginny,” he mumbled to her and she looked at him with resolute, a slight nod before grabbing his hands for the second time, and then… she let go. She walked pass him, fast and Harry was glad that he didn’t feel her eyes on him.

He did see Hermione though, just there to his right, a look of curiosity in her eyes and Harry just knew she was buzzing to ask, to talk about it.

He gazed at her and she stopped short of taking a step towards him. But he was grateful for her, never let it be said that her wit only extends to her books. Harry offered up a smile, the last time he could manage a genuine one. And he moved on towards the broken doors of Hogwarts. He avoided much of the people loitering around him and for one moment, briefly considered taking out his cloak and just vanish. He found it unnecessary; there wasn’t many who would wander about in this part of the castle, not when there was a feast to go to. He could hear them; drunk in food and happiness and Harry just had to get away.

He sped up his pace, a determined stride to just walk across and be outside. But then as he thought he might just start running; bright blonde hair caught his attention. Harry slowed down his steps and looked, just there, to the left, leaning on a wall with chunks of debris surrounding him was Draco Malfoy. Eyes closed; head titled up as if he was feeling for a nice cool breeze. And at that moment, Harry thought he looked quite unfamiliar to him. No more was the haughty way he held himself, the proud boy who would strut in his way, but just someone—who looked tired. He vaguely registered the other Malfoys not far from them. Whispering in low voices and eyes shifting rather restlessly around them.

Harry turned to look at their son and was surprised to see he was already looking back at him. For a tense second, Harry thought he’d hear that drawling voice, all snarky and snide and spouting nasty remarks at him. But, the blonde boy to Harry’s bewilderment, gave him an exhausted, wry grin. Nothing awful, nothing nasty, just that slight upturn of his lips but no less genuine. Malfoy then inclined his head to the doors; a sort of go-ahead type of gesture and Harry merely suppressed a twitch at his own lips and he nodded at the boy in acknowledgement. The boy then returned to his brooding stance on the floor, his eyes closing once more. It was such an odd and bemusing kind of thing. Harry would dwell on that later, but now he resumed his walk to the doors and then he was finally, outside of Hogwarts halls.

It was quiet. Disturbingly so, or perhaps it was just the shock of the lack of noise and shouting that Harry thought it then. Harry looked around and vaguely wondered, has Hogwarts always felt this small?

With one glance at the looming stone walls behind him, Harry took off down the path and started walking to… to where? It was of no comfort, the absolute sheer destruction of it all. Trees upturned, broken windows and shattered glass, the statues of McGonagall strewn in haphazard ways, mutilated as a sentinel stone can be, there he saw some of the huge spiders that Hagrid was so fond off. And Harry thought, if they were there to help at all or to just wreak some unneeded havoc in search for food. He took longer and faster strides then, he desperately needed to get away. He couldn’t explain it, but it was suffocating.

Stifling and stagnant, even here out in the open with the welcome expanse of the skies, the trees, the grass—there was a shout inside the Great Hall. Uproariously loud, he froze then and drew his wand in an instant, turning around, raising it, his body tight with tension…before he stilled. Gleeful shouts dwindled down and he can hear Grawp grunting in amusement. With great effort, he turned around, wand still drawn out and Harry continued walking.

And he walked, his brisk, fast pace faltering the moment he could feel his thundering heartbeat slow to a dull pulse. He vaguely realised that he was mindlessly walking to the Black Lake. He stopped just short of the edge, where the stillness of the waters calmed him down just a bit. The grip he had on his wand was unfaltering and he loosened it for a moment when a thought occurred to him. Pocketing his wand with utmost reluctance, he drew another wand and for a moment he stared at it, rather blankly and fingers mindlessly turning the wand in his hands. And Harry for a brief second was angry, he gripped the wand hard. The Elder wand, he gritted his teeth. He didn’t want it, nor should it be wielded ever again. He gripped it tighter, feeling that hot burning rage, this wand shouldn’t even exist, it was just a testament on how the greed of wizards and witches who seek for power would lead to nothing but sheer destruction. He felt the wood give a little bit in his hands, heard a little crack of the grain and Harry with no amount of thought held on and snapped it in half.

It was laughably easy, he thought and utterly normal. Just like breaking a thick twig… just there, now two pieces of useless wood in his palms and he did let out a humourless, barren laugh. What would Ron and Hermione think? Ron would probably be livid, for he did have a certain fondness to things that was deemed great with the promise of glory, and Hermione—well she’ll probably yell at him for not thinking it through or at least go to McGonagall in hopes of deciding rationally what to do with the Elder wand and not just impulsively rendering it useless by breaking it in half. But Harry felt no remorse for it. He found his hands still shaking just a little bit for that. He blinked slow and saw how he just let the pieces fall to the ground and he could not care less.

His feet started to move, walking along the Black Lake.

Harry felt his hands tense and uselessly grip at nothing and he took out his wand again, just for something to hold on to. He had just walked a dozen or so paces before he saw movement in the waters. He whipped his head to the Lake and saw smooth gliding features going up and down the surface. Harry turned fully to the sight and vaguely processed the fins and long tails, Merpeople. Now that he was looking, he saw about two figures swimming along the waters, smooth and soundless, gliding towards him. Harry kneeled on the dewy grass and leaned just a little bit further in, greeting his unexpected company.

“Hello,” he said, wondering what they would want with him. The two merpeople broke the surface, half of their torso out in the waters and they tilted their heads at him, “sorry if I disturbed you.” He apologised and Harry wondered if they could understand him, a gentle dip of their head in acknowledgement was enough for now. But they didn’t leave just yet, just continued to stare at him expectantly and he fidgeted for a moment. “I was just passing through and—” Harry felt himself at a loss for words, he really had no idea where he was headed anyways and he said as much. “Sorry,” apologising again, slightly abashed. “I just wanted to—to be alone for a moment.” He murmured, quiet and honest.

The merpeople looked up at him in interest and Harry was just spouting nonsense at this point. He noticed that one of them, probably a male had a deep scar running down the side of his face, the other one with long dark curly hair and bright light green eyes. The mermaid looked oddly more human than Harry had remembered seeing them last, still with the greyish complexion and that eerie look but otherwise, she looked human. The merpeople considered him and then looked at each other, before diving down underwater and swimming in a rather fast pace.

Harry heaved a sigh; he sat there kneeling and contemplated leaving, to continue on his solitary trek around the Lake. When there was another disturbance in the waters, parting the still waves and there it was, gliding smoothly to him was a wooden boat, much like the ones where the first years would ride on their way up to Hogwarts. The two merpeople were pushing the boat towards him and Harry stared at them for a moment. Once the boat was near and docked within reach, he tilted his head to the side in confusion. And the merpeople paused to glance at him expectantly. “Oh,” he uttered. Straightening his posture, he tentatively stood up. “Will you let me ride it?” He asked, a rather hopeful lilt to his voice. But this was perfect, the merpeople only shot him an unimpressed look and Harry took the chance to climb and board the little boat that was gifted to him.

The rocking of the waves was a gentle comfort and Harry found himself breathing a little easier with each passing minute that he was away from the grounds. The merpeople pushed the boat towards the middle of the Lake, figuring that it was the most isolated spot that they could bring him to. Harry leaned over the edge and saw the merpeople broke the surface again as the boat stilled to a stop. “Thank you,” he breathed out and they nod in welcome before diving down and disappearing. Harry peered down at the Lake and found himself slumping down on the edge of the boat. He continued to stare and felt… nothing. He stared dully in the deep, letting the stillness be a companion to the ever present hollow that he was becoming familiar with. But what was he doing? It was over, wasn’t it? They won; they had won.

At what cost?  There was bitterness that swam in the surface of his mind. He was leaning on his elbow now, head resting against his arm, still staring at the waters and halfway lying on the boat. He felt the wand on his hand and gave it a lazy twirl. With nothing else to do, he unconsciously drew the wand up and let the tip of it graze the surface of the water, slowly drawing idle patterns on the lake. Like a little child playing. Harry felt himself get lost in the patterns that his wand was doing, his hand just doing so as it pleased.

He felt numb.

How is it that he felt this empty when he should be happy, how is it he finds himself in the middle of the Black Lake alone, seeking the comfort of the creatures of the deep where instead he should be there in the middle of the feast? Harry’s eyes felt dry and unseeing. His hand kept drawing little swirls on the Lake, the wand waving in the waters and disturbing the stillness.

There was movement under the waters then, a disruption from the merpeople. Gliding along in a sort of languid strokes, although Harry paid no mind to it. A slight glow beneath the surface and the merpeople were now actively swimming around his little boat. The wand steady in his hand and Harry’s mind flitted through the first wand that he ever wielded.

Harry’s Holly wand was still broken in his pouch, but he couldn’t bear to part with it just yet.

Harry went on with the senseless swirling of the wand in his hand, his eyes just staring at the interesting patterns. It was sort of mesmerising, as there were some odd shapes being drawn in the stillness, interrupting the waters of the Lake. The wand was light and familiar now somehow and—Oh, Harry thought, but it wasn’t his wand, was it? Not really.

Draco’s wand, he thought idly. Harry for a fleeting moment was amused at the idea that he had referred to the boy by his given name, even if it was just in his own thoughts. The waters were lulling him in a lazy haze and he just kept his ministrations of passively waving the wand in the Lake, lost in his own head; Harry was in a daze.

The glow underneath the waters was now bright and lovely and if Harry listened a little bit harder, he would hear the singing of the merpeople beneath the Black Lake. A chorus of voices, haunting and beautiful. Even above waters, the song reached the surface. They were now swimming in elegant forms around him; a sort of dance in tune with their song.

With the Hawthorn wand in Harry’s hand, he continued the mindless patterns. And Harry found himself dozing there in the middle of the Black Lake, he paid no attention to the effervescent glow of the Lake or the merpeople.

Should I return his wand?  

With a gentle pulse of the waters and an ever-brighter glow of magic; the merpeople sung high and loud, and Harry Potter found himself shutting his eyes as he drifted off in a pleasantly dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

Soft sheets and warm silk were what Draco Malfoy woke up to.

It was a slow start, him waking up. He could feel the tiredness that was lulling him back to sleep. He shifted more underneath the warm blankets and tried to just smother himself in the pillows of his bed.

Wait—

The sudden thought jerked his eyes wide open and he was awake. A bed. Draco sat up so suddenly he felt dizziness swam over him. But he was in a bed, what—He turned to look at his sides, whipping his head everywhere. This is, this was—he wasn’t supposed to be on a bed, he should be waking up in hard stone walls and rubble, and debris and fallen glass and—

He flung the silk away from him and promptly found himself on the floor with a thud. As he lay there on a heap on the floor, he felt the smooth cool marble slip from his hands as he struggled to sit up. His eyes then saw the small, thin fingers that was splayed out on the floor. Small. Trembling just a little bit, Draco furrowed his brows and lifted his hands to his face. He deftly clenched and unclenched them into fists; he must be dreaming. His eyes then wandered down to his left forearm. Pale and smooth, and—his breath hitched loud in the quiet expanse of the room.

The Dark Mark wasn’t there.

He tentatively touched shaking fingers to his pale forearm and he must be dreaming. He gripped his wrist, tightly, his fingernails digging through his skin, leaving indents there and with a jolt; realised that it was painful. He wretched his hands away and scrambled backwards, hitting the side of the bed and he could feel himself gasp loud and fast and his heart thundering in his ears. His eyes darted frantically around, but he surely must be asleep. There was no way he was seeing the intricately sculpted desk that was full of books and parchments or the moving drawings of flying dragons pinned above it. But it was impossible as he turned his head and stared at the fallen blanket that was quilted with elegant patterns of brooms and Snitches, all green and gold, because that specific blanket was replaced when it was finally deemed much too small for his tall frame and—Draco tried to steady his breaths… he tried to think.

Blinking rapidly, he remembered the hard floors of Hogwarts, he remembered slumping down on the nearest wall he could find and closing his eyes. His brows scrunched up further, had he fallen asleep there? He was awake now apparently.

Am I awake?

He stood, slow and uncertain. He took tentative steps around the bed—his old bed. He was certain that his parents had replaced that too when he was thirteen. Bare feet now dragging along the ground, his heart thundering still and non-stop. He gulped down the fear that was looming in his mind, his eyes darting everywhere, taking everything in and then he saw his reflection. There, just beside the huge double doors that adorned his bedroom was a full-length mirror, he walked towards it. And saw a boy, a child really, walking along in stride with him. Blonde hair mussed with sleep, eyes wide and pale. But it was years ago when he last saw this boy, so young.

He was a few steps away from the mirror and he raised his hand towards it as if to touch… the boy mimicking his movements and realised that it was—it is him.

Draco dashed through the doors, ripping it open and ran away from his bedroom.

He didn’t know what he was doing really, just running through the halls of the imposing figure of Malfoy Manor and oh, it is their manor that he was stumbling through. The paintings along the halls of their ancestors fast asleep and only jerking slightly as he loudly tried to get away. The cold floors were a shock to his bare feet, marble bright and gleaming through the little lamps that hung and flickered to life as he ran. The last time he was here, it was bathed in blood. The steps of strangers echoing through, robes swaying and wands drawn, imposing figures littered their halls—Death Eaters.

He stumbled through a side table, making a racket of noise as a vase shattered. Draco scrambled through it all, making a mad dash as the sound of broken porcelain turned to screams of people; hostages, dragged through in the dungeons, tortured and pleading and shrill shouts and—No  

His feet tripped on nothing this time and he found himself gasping as he pushed himself flat on a wall, gripping his heart as it was pumping unnervingly fast, his breath coming in short pants, gasping, gasping.

“Master Draco sir?”

Draco’s head snapped up at the high voice, his wild eyes landed on the small and tentative looking house elf. The elf’s eyes were wide and his hands held up in mid-air as if wanting to do something but unsure of what he should be allowed to do.

“Dobby is hearing a crash sir, so Dobby came and looking and saw the mistress’s flowers on the ground and Dobby is finding you here sir. Is everything alright sir?” Dobby asked and Draco could only sit there unseeing as he struggled to breathe. He had both his hands fisted in his shirt now and vaguely realizsed that he was trembling something fierce. “Y-young master Draco?”

But he doesn’t hear anymore. Draco’s ears were ringing, a pitch high and loud and what is happening? His hands shot to his ears as he struggled to keep the infuriating sound away and then they were clutching hard at his head. Grip tight, he curled on himself, mouth open as he gasped some more and he flinched as he heard a pop and he shook his head wildly because, no, no, no.

Has he gone mad?

“Draco dear?” A soft voice then shattered through the piercing whine in his ears and his eyes opened wide and when had he shut them? Delicate hands filtered through his hair and dainty fingers gently held his own and then he looked up. His mother kneeling on the floor in front of him, in her flowy night gown and long blonde hair strewn over her shoulders. Draco’s breath hitched as he stared at his mother’s worried face. She frowned when he doesn’t respond but only for a second and then he felt her arms slowly but surely start to envelope him. Narcissa then gently nudged him closer to her and he felt soothing hands rubbing up and down his back. She said nothing, save for the shushing, pacifying sound of hers as she sat there and just held him, calming him down. His breaths slowed, amazingly so. “There you go sweetheart,” Narcissa murmured.

After some time, Draco couldn’t tell for he was still reeling from the onslaught of panic that gripped him, but as he breathed in—held it and then—breathed out, his heart pulsed to a steady rhythm. His mother was still there, hands ever so tender and she tilted her head to look at him. She slowly stood up, wrapping her arms around him as he too was gently pulled to his feet. Draco now felt overwhelmingly numb as he followed uselessly along, his mother took them then to the nearest room.

The library was vast as ever, the fireplace lit up as they entered and she coaxed him on the sofa. Draco sat there, in the plush throw pillows and just…stared. Narcissa swept her hands through his hair, a caress on his cheeks and he blinked. “Dobby,” Narcissa called and the house elf Apparated instantly at the side. “Stay here with him, will you?” The house elf only nodded as he stared at his young master in concern. Narcissa stood and left the library with soft footsteps thudding along the floors. For a while, it was just the fire and the shifting of the elf that can be heard in the night. And Draco was probably calming down now truly, as he stared and just continued to stare. He heard the elf snap his fingers and then a soft blanket was thrown over his shoulders. He grabbed it, not really thinking and bundled himself up, nodded his head at the elf and not caring enough to give much thought as the elf gasped at the sign of thanks.

The doors opened again and he saw his mother levitating a tray along with her. She placed the tray on the coffee table in front of him, watched as his mother poured some honey in a cup of steaming milk. She stirred it then and as she carefully handed it to him; Draco could only accept the drink. She sat there beside him as he slowly sipped the slightly sweet, warm milk and let his senses become fully aware—but it had been years since he had drunk honeyed milk. Narcissa made herself comfortable as she wrapped him in a half hug as he was halfway down with his cup.

“Did you have a nightmare, sweetheart?” She softly asked, Draco stiffened slightly before nodding in one jerky movement. He avoided his mother’s gaze as he settled the empty cup on the tray. Narcissa considered him for a moment as he settled on the couches once more. As he felt his mother’s eyes on him, he tentatively raised his head and peeked at her, whatever expression he was making must be enough at the moment, or she chose to ignore it as she tugged him a little closer to her side. “Some birthday, huh?” She said in good humour.

Draco’s eyes then slid to the clock that was hanging right up on the fireplace. 12:31am. His mother hummed in contemplation as she too turned to look at the time, she regarded him with a soft smile.

This is insanity.

“Well,” she started as Draco’s mind begun to run a mile a minute. “How about we go and get your wand as a birthday present?”

---

Harry woke with a start as there was a loud pounding on the door. “Up now! It’s nearly late!”

Harry sat up in utter darkness as he struggled to comprehend his surroundings. It was very dim, Harry realised, and quite cramped. He felt around and found that he was sitting on a thin mattress with an equally thin blanket, he blinked as he looked about and blindingly patted for his glasses. Another round of rapping on the door had Harry snapping his head up as he finally settled his glasses on his face. “Are you awake boy? Up!” Harry blinked for a moment as his ears registered to whom the voice belonged to.

“Aunt Petunia?” Harry wondered, barely a murmur. The rapping on the door continued and Harry’s mind was in such a confused state that he automatically reached for the handle and opened it. There was his aunt, in her flowery dress and lacy apron with a strong scowl on her face, she put her hands on her hips.

“Honestly boy, get your lazy bum in the kitchen! I need you to look after the sausages while a dye your uniform. Well, go along now!” She spun around, heels stomping and making loud noises as she made her way to the kitchen. Harry felt his mouth drop open as he stepped out of his cupboard—but that is his cupboard, and he numbly started to walk towards the hallway. Stumbling on his feet, his legs tangled on that oversized trousers of his and he caught himself before he could fall to the ground. He then noticed the long sleeves of his shirt that was about three sizes too big for him and just stared.

He stood up straight and blinked—he’s been blinking a lot—but his hands were not that small, not anymore. The noises that were thundering down the stairs made his head jerk and his eyes caught sight of the mirror, just there hanging on the wall, it made him stop. A thin young face stared back at him; eyes wide. His jaw opening and closing in a rather fish like manner before he heard his Uncle Vernor’s booming voice waddle his way to the table for breakfast.

“What are gawking at boy? Get along now, I’m hungry!” Uncle Vernon barked at him and Harry unconsciously side stepped his uncle as he moved and made his way to the kitchen. Aunt Petunia was busying herself with wringing a nasty looking pair of clothes as she dumped the dyed water away.

Harry felt at a loss.

His mind whirled as he watched his aunt settle the now dyed uniform on a hanger to dry, his uncle sat heavily on his usual seat and then Dudley came barrelling towards the table as he sat noisily and started thumping his stick on the side of his chair.

Harry then remembered the sausages. He strode to the stove and quickly grabbed them, settling the breakfast food in a plate; he dumped them on the table where his uncle was pouring himself a cup of coffee and Dudley began to stab at a sausage. The sound of the mail slot was eerily loud in Harry’s ears. Aunt Petunia was just finishing washing her hands, a towel drying them as she snapped at him once more. “That would be the mail, well go on fetch it!”

Merlin, what is happening. Harry thought as he just nodded stiffly and went to the door. In a daze as he walked through the hallways in the familiar house of number 4 Privet Drive—and oh, he was in the house of the Dursleys—he wondered that maybe he was dreaming.

He was… he was in the Black Lake. Harry was sure of it.

He paused at the door as he stared unblinking at the pile on the doormat. With his heart starting to ram, heavy and loud; he picked up the first thing his eyes settled upon. An envelope, with that familiar seal was a letter addressed to him.

Mr. H. Potter

Harry’s hand began to tremble, but surely not—he teared the seal open and read the contents of the letter. The green ink seemed to jump at him; he read them fast, his eyes moving rapidly at the familiar words; ‘We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardly’. And there it was, the same letter from Hogwarts. His very first letter, inviting him for his first year of wizard school.

The letter was ripped away from his grasp as stubby hands begun to wave it in the air. “Dad! Dad look! Harry’s reading a letter!”

“Excuse me?” Uncle Vernon asked in confusion as Harry heard him scramble out of the table, followed by the sound of Aunt Petunia’s heels. And Harry paid no mind to all of this as his relatives fussed at the letter, reading it and shouting in outrage. But he paid no mind to it; Harry paid no mind to it, as he continued to stare at the door where the mail had slipped.

It was all a blur as the day went by and all through the night, Aunt Petunia keeping him busy and it was such a frantic day as the letter obviously disturbed them. Harry’s mind whirled here and there but in a strange sort of way, he kept doing as he was told, although he somewhat took pleasure in snarking his aunt as a form of protest in his own way and just purely out of spite. And if there happens to be a broken plate or a destroyed flower pot, Harry would simply stride all the way out of the room and leave it there for his aunt to find. She couldn’t blame him, not really, not when he never laid a finger on the delightfully breakable things.

Didn’t stop them before from locking you in your cupboard. But his aunt was twitchy and was looking at the windows often enough as if something would come bursting through. She was spooked. Serves her right.

Harry would sometimes stop in front of the mirror, he stood there where the minutes ticked by, eyes roaming all over the young boy. Him, the young boy is him. But Harry really was just moving throughout the day because he still somehow thinks that all of this, was a dream.

It was just a dream, right? He still wouldn’t acknowledge the house or anyone in his bout of rising hysteria.

His uncle then returned from work and when did nighttime had fallen? And he remembered then that he was to move to the unused bedroom upstairs. He heard Dudley shout in outrage and protested as his parents talk over him and were not having any of his tantrums at the moment.

Harry did not argue this time. He silently slipped out and away from the arguing forms of his relatives and made his way upstairs. As he went inside the room, his room, the door closed behind him ever so quiet, it clicked shut and it was just him in the dim lights of the lamp posts outside. It took him a moment, when the noise was blissfully dulled out and Harry for the first time since he had woken up in his cupboard; let his eyes see. The room was clean, but of course it was, as it always is. Aunt Petunia was stubborn in keeping things neat and tidy even in the rooms used for broken things.

As Harry truly saw the cramped room, the old bed, the window of his room that he used to stare out to and stayed for every summer in the last six years; Harry fell to his knees.

His trembling hands went to his mouth as he heard himself gasped in unsteady breaths and this had to be some nasty joke. He couldn’t be here, couldn’t possibly be for he remembered that he was at Hogwarts, fresh from a won war, alone in the middle of the Black Lake, that much he knows and—

Harry clamped down harder and he curled on himself, a whimper was heard… but it was him who made that sound. “What—what…” He rattled through his shallow breaths, voice breaking, his eyes stung. He stayed there on the wooden floors, just barely holding on as he tried so desperately to make sense of things. As the night went on, he found himself crawling to the bed and Harry just laid there, burying himself under the thin blanket and wished with all his being to wake up from this nightmare.

The letters came the next day, and the following days after that just as he remembered. His uncle ripping them to shreds and burning the rest in a fit of rage. But the letters just kept on coming, being delivered by owls in masses and Harry desperately tried to think of a way for them to stop. Harry found that it was easier to just let things go as they were, for he could not think properly in the chaos of number 4 Privet Drive.

And Harry’s only thought throughout this whole mess was, Hogwarts.

I’ve got to be there at Hogwarts.

In the meantime, he had to deal with his relatives and the letters at hand and he knew that they would surely be on their way to that dreadful place in the middle of the sea and Harry was not up for that.

On Saturday morning, Harry was restless. If he remembered correctly, they’d go on their little escape trip tomorrow and that was not happening this time, not if Harry could help it. As the letters then came in all sorts of amusing forms much to the Dursleys frustration, Harry swiftly avoided the moving bodies that were frantically shredding and tossing the letters and muttering angry retorts.

He ran to a window in their living room, opened it and started searching the skies; he hoped against hope that maybe—there.

An owl was soaring through around the house, yet another letter clutched in its talons and Harry quickly waved at the owl for it to go inside. Never let it be said that he didn’t love the feathery creatures as the owl dove inside the living room and Harry dashed upstairs to his own bedroom, the owl followed him obediently. As he burst through the door, he could hear Aunt Petunia shriek, Harry deftly scrambled for the desk, looking for a pen and the owl landed on the open window.

Harry just had the sense of leaving it open that morning for the owl’s quick escape. He snatched the letter from the owl and was just beginning to write a hasty message. “Please, tell them no more heaps of letters,” Harry said slightly out of breath. “Go to someone—Hagrid or—or professor—” There were loud steps coming from the stairs. “They won’t let me leave! Please tell someone—”

His aunt and uncle came barrelling through the door and it was a mess. The owl squawked in outrage as they tried to shoo it away. Indignant, the owl in protest started flapping its wings in wild angry swoops, then one more owl came flying through the window and the two of them flew about the room, smacking his uncle in the face and Aunt Petunia dove in the safety of her arms as the wings slapped at her too.

Feathers and shrieks where all what Harry could see and hear and then he felt the letter that was clutched in his hand get swiped down by the talons of the owl and the other owl began tugging at his sleeves. “Hey!” He yelled in protest but the owl was insistent and then there was the sound of loud ripping as a piece of fabric was torn of his shirt. With one more indignant squawk from the owls and a few more slaps to the Dursleys heads, the owls soared out of the window. Leaving feathers behind along with a rather bewildered Harry.

Sunday rolled over and Harry was dreading the day. He didn’t know if the owls even understood what he was trying to say yesterday and his attempt at a message was quickly thrown out the window—quite literally. He didn’t even remember what he was writing, just scribbled something to somehow get the owls to tell someone that the drones of letters were not in the least bit helpful in convincing the Dursleys to let him go to Hogwarts. At breakfast, there was another mail for him but just the one. Uncle Vernon shouted again in his rage and ripped the letter. That afternoon there was another, Aunt Petunia burned that one, then that night one more letter was sent to Harry but that was ripped to shreds too.

No onslaught of letters though, just the three sparsely sent ones. Harry didn’t know if he should feel relieved or not. They didn’t leave Privet Drive that night though. And Harry lay in his bed, stared out his window.

He didn’t sleep.

Monday morning, and it was a sombre affair in the kitchen. His aunt and uncle were still tense with the constant letters and was still quite cross with the owls the other day. Harry was beginning to think if he had made a mistake. Maybe he should have just let them go on their little escapade to the sea; at least there he was sure Hagrid was to come. As the day went on, with no owls or letters delivered through the mail, the Dursleys were quite in a jolly mood.

But Harry was beginning to get desperate.

Nighttime and Harry was pacing in his bedroom. Diagon Alley, he thought. He needed to go there somehow, maybe he’d chance a wizard going there and ask for help. He breathed a deep sigh and wrung his hands in his shirt.

No wand, the owls hadn’t come today. What do I do?

“Harry! Get the door!” Aunt Petunia yelled from her bedroom. Harry kept pacing, he had to do something. “Harry!” The door to his room slammed open as his aunt stomped through and she glared at him. “The door! Someone keeps making a right fuss and I need to make Dudley a snack. Go tell them off!”

She strode her way to the steps and Harry stared. Sure enough, he could hear insistent knocking coming from downstairs. His heart jumped but for whatever reason he walked slowly out his room and peeked through.

The knocking was getting rather violent now and Uncle Vernon made a rude comment from his lounge on the sitting room. Harry then quickly stepped down the stairs as his aunt yelled at him again.  

  He jumped down the last steps, Harry dared hope now, his heart pounding in excitement as he moved to sprint through the corridor, but then he found the door being torn open off its hinges. Harry dashed out of the way as the wooden door went flying, he covered his head from the splinters that sailed around and Harry was elated.

He lifted his head and there, in all his big and giant glorious form was Hagrid. Harry grinned, Hagrid squeezed himself on the entrance of the house, grumbling all the while about muggles and inappropriately small doors and to Harry’s surprise, another figure emerged from behind Hagrid.

The grin on his face fell, replaced with pure shock as black robes and a stern face were now before him. Deep, dark eyes roamed about the place before they settled on Harry. He froze there on his spot as Severus Snape glided through the doors, his steps quiet, hands behind his back and he stopped once he was stood in front of him. Harry only stared some more as Snape took him in with a calculating gaze. His imposing figure stiff as he regarded Harry.

But Snape here, in the Dursleys house. Severus Snape, standing in front of him with that stone hard look on his face. Alive.

“Harry Potter,” Snape said in that measured tone of his and Harry could only nod dumbly.

There was a shout and heated arguing as he registered that Uncle Vernon was roaring at them. He could hear Hagrid sniping back as he brandished his umbrella threateningly. And to his right, a chocked-out sound was made and Harry turned to see his aunt; eyes locked on Snape as her mouth twisted in a nasty sneer.

There was a whipping sound and Harry then returned his gaze back to Snape and realised he had brandished his wand out. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his aunt stiffened and promptly flatten herself on the wall.

“It has come to our attention that the letters sent to you Mr. Potter, has not been… properly received at all,” Snape drawled on as his eyes still bore into Harry’s. A stiff nod and Snape squinted his eyes at him. “Me and my…associate,” he gestured to Hagrid who stood tall and menacing, towering over the Dursleys. “Decided that in light of things, we have come to escort you to Hogwarts ourselves.”

Aunt Petunia made a noise of protest and Snape was quick to point his wand in her direction. She clamped her mouth shut at that. It was one tense moment before Snape spoke again. “Mister Potter,” he addressed Harry, voice firm, “gather your things and we’ll be on our way.”

Harry opened his mouth to say something or it was probably just his jaw dropping on its own but he hastily made his way to his cupboard. Throwing the door open, he quickly found an old rucksack and jammed his things in. He never bothered to move his stuff upstairs in his bedroom. As he tied the rucksack with his meagre things, he felt someone stand behind him. Harry whipped around and found Snape eyeing the small space, his eyes went to the bag on Harry’s hand and, to Harry’s utmost horror, to the thin mattress on the floor. Snape’s eyes were hard and in that moment; he looked absolutely threatening.

“Petunia,” Snape gritted out and he stepped aside for Harry to move out of the cupboard. “A word.”

Harry timidly went to stand beside Hagrid who immediately set himself between Harry and his uncle who was raising his fists at the strangers who trespassed and destroyed his house. His aunt and Snape where somewhere in the kitchen and he could hear raised voices.

Harry would probably freak out a moment or so, the look on Snape’s face when he saw the cupboard where he’d slept was something he’d contemplate about later. But then again, their history was a rather sticky subject, but it was an odd thought that Snape was probably berating his aunt on how they let him sleep in there. Snape then came gliding through, his wand gripped tight in his hand. Aunt Petunia stood there a defiant look on her face but also looking rather fearful. Striding out the broken doors, Hagrid put a big but gentle hand on his shoulder to stir him outside.

He could hear his uncle shout obscenities at them and Hagrid snorted as he lifted his umbrella at him and a spark of red magic shot through the tip. Harry just about saw a glimpse as his uncle gave a loud scream, he grabbed his bum and a rather curly tail sprouted from it. The shrieking of Aunt Petunia was shrill and loud as Dudley too started bubbling cries.

Hagrid sniffed in satisfaction and Harry was a little surprised to see Snape gave a rather approving nod. It was slight but Hagrid stood just that bit taller and walked prouder as they stepped outside of the house. As the three of them stood there on the sidewalk, Harry thought it was the most baffling thing to behold. Snape surveyed him for a moment before addressing Hagrid. “I reckon you’ve got a handle of things.”

“No problem here professor. I shall take Harry here to the Leaky Cauldron, he’ll be right settled there in the meantime.”

“Good, I shall meet you there in a short while.” And with that, Harry watched as Snape Apparated out of Privet drive. Harry for the most part was absolutely dumbfounded as he stared at the spot where Snape had disappeared. For what it’s worth, dreaming might not be still off the table after all.

Definitely one of the weirdest things I’ve witnessed, Harry thought as he followed Hagrid down the street and in to the night.

Chapter Text

The trip to the Leaky Cauldron was as eventful as one might expect when you’re travelling with a half giant. But meeting Hagrid again was something of a great feat in Harry’s opinion, all big and loud and Harry thankfully found himself just letting the huge man talk his ears off all the way. Harry had breathed a little easier once they stood themselves outside a room in the Leaky Cauldron.

Harry was rather grateful that it was well into the night, as there were hardly any people in the Leaky Cauldron and he hid himself well behind Hagrid, he doesn’t much care for the gawking eyes when people had a glimpse of the scar on his forehead. Hagrid bid the owner a good evening as they let themselves in and found Snape standing there in the middle of the room already waiting for them. “Ah, already here professor!”

Hagrid then turned to look at Harry, but Harry was rather fond of just standing there in the doorway as the gamekeeper glanced between the two of them, it was kind of funny to see Hagrid whipped his head about looking entirely clueless as how to proceed. Snape on the other hand seemed rather comfortable in his place in the middle of the room. With an inaudible sigh Snape then spoke; “I’m guessing I should introduce myself then Mr. Potter,”

That seem to snap Hagrid out of his baffled state. “Oh! Oh yes, well then, come on Harry! There yeh go, this here is Professor Snape, he’s a professor there at Hogwarts and erm—”

Snape subtly rolled his eyes as Harry deftly dumped his pack near the bed. He then turned to Harry, “It’s a rather unfortunate first meeting Mr. Potter,” he swiftly covered the few steps between then and Harry just about forced himself not to flinch. He brandished a new letter for him, the Hogwarts seal still intact and Harry took it with a small amount of hesitation. “I’d gather it would be wise that you be escorted out of that dreadful place when a couple of owls swooped down the halls and rather insistently, started poking whoever was there.”

He then procured another envelope, this one crumpled and torn and Harry vaguely recognised his own handwriting. It must be the letter he had attempted to write on—only he did write something. There in a messy scrawl were the words; ‘help’ and ‘professor’. Harry scrunched up his face, hardly a message at all and then there was the ripped piece of fabric along with the letter as well. Hagrid huffed an angry noise as he sat heavily on a chair.  

“Those muggles, your aunt—” Snape halted as he said the words with distaste, seeming to think of what to say. “They never told you of your… parents, did they? Or of the wizarding world.” It wasn’t so much as a question and oh, but Snape was sounding rather put off and a simmering fury could be noted in his voice. Harry vaguely entertained the idea that Snape had threatened his aunt to be able to figure that out, but he wouldn’t put it past him. Harry nodded nonetheless and Snape stood upright and took a deep breath. Stiffly, he straightened himself up and there was true fury now that deigned his otherwise controlled expression.

In one quick movement he turned around, he vanished the scrap of fabric along with the torn letter as he strode purposefully out of the room. “I—wait! Professor, where do yeh think yer’ off to? Oi!” Hagrid asked in bewilderment as Snape slammed the door open—an impressive feat of wandless magic.

“To have words with Dumbledore,” he spat out and then he was gone in a flourish of black robes.

Hagrid at a loss for words, scratched his bushy beard and just sat there. It was a moment of awkward silence before Hagrid grumbled and stood up. The chair groaned and he turned to Harry, smiling. “Right then, yeh hungry?”

 A slice of meat pie and some pumpkin juice later, Hagrid then proceeded to take it upon himself to fill Harry in. And at the comfort of a rickety chair in the dining hall of the Leaky Cauldron, Harry settled himself as Hagrid droned on with a big mug of ale on his hand. Harry just let him, thoughts swimming as he finished his meal.

As the events of the past few days finally settled slowly in Harry’s mind, he laid there in bed and he found himself curling on a little tighter on the sheets. There he was, in the past, in his younger self and exhaustion creeped through Harry but found himself sleeping fitfully. Tomorrow, he thought, not at all reassuring himself and he tossed and turned in his own blankets all throughout the night.  

The sun shone through the windows and Harry was wide awake. It was early, too early as he sat there on the edge of the bed with Hagrid snoring loudly on the other side of the room. He realised that he barely said anything at all whenever the man conversed with him, but considering that he probably was and still, in a state of shock he figured it was a valid excuse for his unresponsiveness.

Hagrid stirred quite loudly and Harry put his head in his hands and sighed deeply. Alright, he told himself. Get a grip. With another deep breath he steadied himself as Hagrid rolled off in a rather undignified manner as he finally woke up.

They don’t remember. They don’t remember at all. It was a disturbing thought and Harry forced himself not to think. He’ll figure it out…eventually. But first, breakfast.

Harry managed himself to smile appropriately and talk and ask the right questions as they settled themselves for the day. At breakfast, Hagrid seemed louder and brighter as he asked about Hogwarts. “Oh, yeh love it there Harry,” he exclaimed as they finished their meal and tossed a few sickles on the table. “Just wait till yeh see the grounds! And yeh must meet Fang, lovely mutt he is—ah Professor Quirrell!”

A shiver ran down Harry’s spine. Hagrid introduced the stuttering Quirrell to him and Harry supressed the urge to grab the man’s neck and squeeze tight. How could he forget, the mumbling meek act and the shifty looks and that turban where he hid—Voldemort.

And Harry felt himself rage. He could grab Quirrell now, watch him burn and turn to ash. He did it once, with his bare hands and now it would be just too easy. He clenched his hands into fists.

As Harry gritted out replies to Quirrell and as they parted ways, Harry’s mind begun to race. But he was there in the past, wasn’t he? Meaning that Voldemort wasn’t there yet, not fully, meaning the war hasn’t happened—

Harry’s breath hitched as another realisation struck his mind; but Snape was here whole and alive; not bleeding out from the attack from Nagini, and then—then that must mean—

Sirius

He began to tremble, earlier rage gone replaced with a heart wrenching feeling of longing and hope.

He ran up to Hagrid as the half giant was ways ahead and tuned in to listen to him, arms waving about gesturing to Gringotts as they made their way to the bank. It was just as he remembered, walking inside, seeing his vault and Hagrid whispering instructions to vault seven hundred and thirteen.

Well, Harry is in the past now, isn’t he? Harry eyed the little pouch that Hagrid carefully tucked in his pockets.

Well, Harry strayed his eyes away as the goblin took them out of the vaults. Might as well.    

Harry had forgotten that Hagrid didn’t really like the ride to the Gringotts vaults. As they made their way out of the bank, looking that tad bit queasy, Hagrid excused himself and he was off to the Leaky Cauldron no doubt to settle himself from the nauseating ride.

Harry was awfully fine with that. As much as he loved to see Hagrid, he wanted to just be alone for a while. He made his way down to Diagon Alley, mind whirling nonstop. So, he somehow had gone and returned to his eleven-year-old self in the past. Bonkers, absolutely mad. Harry was admittedly denying this fact up until he had laid in bed in their room at the Leaky Cauldron, because how in Merlin’s name had he gotten himself stuck in the past?

He ought to figure this out, one way or another. As the minutes passed by, he was more and more convinced that Hogwarts is the place for answers for his accidental time leap. That and maybe he needs more research before he decided to meddle with time.   

He stopped short, haltingly so, as there he was outside of Madam Malkin’s shop. Harry for a moment just stood there, as he watched the windows to the shop flitted with all kinds of robes. But he met Draco Malfoy there.

Harry remembered it as something so trivial, something that annoyed him as he recalled how pompous the boy was as he drawled on, talking to Harry boastful as he was and it was annoying. But—but—it wasn’t the best start to an otherwise more than complicated relationship, putting it mildly. But they were kids then, none the wiser on their words and never really bothering to truly think things through.  

And in the very recesses of Harry’s mind, he couldn’t help but think that that fateful first encounter with Draco Malfoy, with all his proudness and drawling words; was his genuine attempt to maybe befriend a boy, to maybe befriend him. But Harry then let his judgement take the better of him and antagonization and hateful words brewed amongst themselves.

Perhaps now, in this twisted sort of way—perhaps.

He walked through the shop, the bells of the door jingling as he strode inside. He took a deep breath for a moment, heart pounding louder than ever, perhaps. He dared not look around him. Not just yet.

“Hogwarts dear?” He heard Madam Malkin approach and Harry merely nodded. “Go on, right this way. Got a bunch of them this time of year, honestly students come in droves. Just stand right there,” as she urged him on a stool, Harry deftly followed. She was fussing over somewhere to his right and Harry could guess which student was there precisely beside him, getting his robes fitted as well. Fabric covered his vision for a moment as a set of brand-new robes was draped over him, Madam Malkin walked past them then; disappearing in a closet cramped with brightly coloured cloths and wizard hats, muttering about sizes and measurements.

Harry gulped down sudden nerves.

Perhaps

Harry timidly looked up beside him and there; pale and blonde with robes hanging off him. It was just as he remembered, although…not at the same time. Harry raised his head further, to look more firmly at the boy. For one, the boy beside him was resolutely looking down at his shoes. Slightly hunched over himself, his hair; oddly unkept, was in his eyes and he still wasn’t looking up. It was messy and hiding half of his face, his jaw looking tight as if he were clenching his teeth. Harry didn’t know what to say, he wouldn’t look at him. Harry swallowed.

“Hello,” Harry attempted and he was surprised at how meek he sounded, how soft and there was a rather shy note in his voice. The boy stiffened for a moment and Harry could’ve sworn he saw him flinch. As the boy beside him slowly took his gaze away from his staring contest at his shoes, Harry could swear his heart was pounding harder. A hundred thoughts flitted through his mind on what to say…but as the boy turned his eyes on him, all the thoughts in Harry’s head came to a sudden grinding halt.

Grey eyes bore into him and Harry’s breath stuttered out, his heart stopped. It wasn’t just the shock of the boy finally looking at him but the intensity of steel grey and a firm glint to them that knew too much. He then took in the boy, see him fully, really see. There were bags under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept for a week. Oddly sallow, his face sharper and a certain tightness to his lips. But those eyes—Bloodshot and haunted.

Eyes that weren’t supposed to be on a boy this young. Eyes that knew more than they should, have seen more than they should… And as they bore on to Harry with a frown settling on that face, he saw his own reflected on them. Because Harry only knew too well how memories devastatingly haunted the mind. Harry’s chin began to quake, because true horrors cannot be forgotten that easily. To have witness death and destruction, there was no lie in them; those eyes that have seen war.

And at that moment, that very moment, Harry knew and his lips trembled.

“M-Malfoy?” Harry whispered breathily, hesitantly, desperately, and just that little bit hopeful. A deeper frown creased the boy’s brows but then, grey eyes widened, impossibly huge as the boy stood straighter and he recognised—Merlin he recognised—and Harry saw.

Harry with his heart thundering in his ears felt his breath hitch. A soft tapping on his shoulder made Harry flinch so hard that he lost his footing. Slipping on the stool, it crashed as he fell loudly on the floor and he was in a heap of limbs the next moment, he struggled to sit up.

“Goodness me! Are you alright dear?” He heard Madam Malkin’s voice called out to him but Harry’s arms were shaking too much as he focused on getting his feet under him. Then there were hands gripping him tight, steadily hauling him up.

“H-he’s alright, just— the quill surprised him is all.” He heard Malfoy rushed out as he hauled Harry to his feet. And Harry vaguely noticed a floating quill and paper, hovering right beside them looking abashed. As Madam Malkin made to scold the quill about bothering students, Malfoy made a show of straightening up the stool. He then heard Malfoy whisper lowly in his ear. “Potter? Is that you?”

Harry could only gulp down his breaths, he didn’t trust himself to speak at that moment as Malfoy gripped his arms once more as if to help him up, settle him right on his feet. “Potter is that really you?” Malfoy’s voice was still whispering, unsteady, anxiousness bleeding through his voice. He hastily smoothed down the robes he was wearing and then proceeded to fix Harry’s own robes as he stepped closer to him. Distressed, he snapped in a harsh desperate whisper; “Sweet Salazar, say something! Harry!”  

As if a trance was broken through him, Harry nodded in one jerky movement. And he more than felt the shuddering breath that Malfoy lets out as he was deposited back on top of the stool. Malfoy too stood on his own stool to continue with his fitting. Madame Malkin fussed over the two of them, apologising for her quill along the way and the boys just ignored her. Malfoy shifting glances here and there, most of them to Harry and Harry couldn’t help but return the gesture.

But if Malfoy was here, if he remembers then—then

All thoughts of time meddling drove to a stop as another possibility occurred to him. That maybe, he didn’t have to be here. That maybe, everything would settle its way right—were they? Were they right? — That he wouldn’t have to relive a war. They could return to their own time. But then… Sirius’ face came flitting through and Remus. Merlin, Remus.

Uncertainty was parting Harry’s heart.

In a moment of insanity, Malfoy begun to talk. “So, first time in Diagon Alley?” Harry shot him a look, eyes wide and bewilderment evident on his face.

“I— “he stuttered out but Malfoy continued on.

“It’s a bore really and annoyingly crowded. But the new broomsticks on display is worth a look, have you seen it yet?” He drawled on and a pointed look was shot to him. Harry hastily shook the stupor away from him and settled himself.

“N-no, not yet, but I have been to the Gringotts vaults a little while ago.” Harry applauded himself for sounding fairly normal. Malfoy quirked an eyebrow at that and some sort of relief seemed to show on his face as Harry continued the conversation. Harry then noticed Madam Malkin glance at them, amusement on her features and Harry turned back to Malfoy as the woman pinned the robes to their right length.

“Gringotts? My parents sometimes let me come with them there. Although I was honestly hoping to see some dragons, they say it guards the vaults.” Malfoy then swivelled to look at Madam Malkin and Harry unconsciously turned as he too looked at the woman with slight puzzlement. The woman startled at that and raised her eyebrows at them.

“Oh, don’t ask me about them Gringotts guards’ boys, it’s all rubbish talk if you ask me. Dragons, honestly.” She finished their fitting and with a wave of her wand, the robes were up and out of their arms and levitated to their racks.

Oh, honestly madam, Harry thought wildly.        

They jumped down from their stools and in a matter of minutes their robes and uniforms were packed and once the purchases were made, Malfoy sidled up beside him when the adults in the shop were turned around, paying the kids no mind. “We need to talk, now,” he said in a low voice and Harry nodded as he scrambled to take a hold of his new robes. It was astonishing really and a bit of a whiplash as Malfoy straightened up and put on a grin as he said for anyone to hear, “Have you got your books yet?” He asked and Harry had just the sense to look at him and compose his face in a somewhat neutral way, lips twitching, shaking his head before answering;

“Not yet, no.”

“Good, Flourish and Blotts is just over there. Mum has dragged father to look at some telescopes and whatever else. Mum takes a while to shop so I told them I’ll just get my books after my robes.” Malfoy gestured out to the store as he nodded his thanks to Madam Malkin. “Come on then,” he urged Harry as he pushed the doors open and Harry hefted the packages up in his arms, plastering a smile on his face and bid Madam Malkin goodbye, the seamstress waved them off, a certain fond look on her face.

They ambled their way to the bookshop. As little as they were, they were quickly swept through the crowds. People milling around shops, carrying their cauldrons and shopping bags, they paid no attention to the boys. They never lost sight of each other though, nor went their way to separate themselves. Harry couldn’t help it; he pushed his way to Malfoy’s side slightly breathless.  

“Malfoy— “Harry started but Malfoy shushed him quietly.

“Not here,” he said under his breath and as they crossed Flourish and Blotts, he once again put on a grin as they passed through the throngs of people. The shop keep was downright muttering something vulgar as he was lugging towers of books to shelf after shelf while a witch ran his ear off and a set of clearly older students were making a fuss as they hit each other with bottles of ink. They made themselves lost in the store, turning amongst the shelves, Malfoy dragged him to the stairs quick and found themselves on the upper floors. Malfoy then glanced behind them subtly, making sure no one was there. Grabbing his arm again, they found themselves in the middle of a set of tall bookshelves at the very back of the shop, hidden well away.

Malfoy then took out his wand, “Muffliato”      

For a moment they just stood there, just staring at each other. Well, Harry was staring anyway, Malfoy on the other hand was looking at him expectantly. When a minute passed and neither of them was still saying a word, Malfoy huffed and an annoyed look fell on his face. “Well?” He demanded rather harshly and Harry flinched, he scowled at the blonde boy.

“Well… what?” He asked confused and Malfoy tsked at him, starting to look agitated and oh, Harry was matching his expression very well.

“Well, what? Potter, you better start explaining right now or I swear I’ll cast a Bombarda and blow up this entire— “

“Explain what, Malfoy?!” Harry was glad that Malfoy had the sense to cast Muffliato on them because he was sure they were beyond whispering now. “You’re the one who dragged me here and now we’re hiding behind shelves of—transfiguration books! So, what—”

“Explain exactly how we’re here in Flourish and Blotts six years in the fucking past!”

“I don’t know!” Harry yelled and he hardly noticed how they were now shouting at each other’s faces. For a moment, they just stood there breathing harshly. Harry glaring defiantly at Malfoy and he could clearly see the other boy—teen? —counting in his head and attempting to calm himself.

“You don’t know?” Malfoy said steadily and Harry just released a frustrated sound.

“Yes, I don’t know! I just woke up there in that dreadful house of my aunt and saw my eleven-year-old face staring straight at me and I—” Harry was just starting to realise how panicked he sounded and clamped his mouth shut. Malfoy took a step back and assessed him, brows frowning and Harry pulled himself to his full height, trying not to squirm.

“You did something,” Malfoy stated, voice even in every way and Harry blustered indignantly.

“Pardon me, I did something?!” Harry gestured wildly, quite astounded and honestly offended at the accusation. But Malfoy was still staring at him unblinking with a thoughtful look. He frowned.

“Yes, you must have definitely done something,”

“I didn’t do anything, you git. Merlin, we’re stuck in the past, as absurd as that sounds, and you think it’s my fault! For all I know it was you that did some sort of—some sort of spell that— “

“No, it was you. It couldn’t possibly be me who did a spell for time reversion,” Malfoy cut him off and Harry was this close to throttling him.

“My fault, that we’re six years in the past? You’re here too! So, tell me why exactly that it wasn’t you who did a spell— “

“Because I was sitting in a pile of rubble, wandless at Hogwarts waiting to be thrown in Azkaban!” Malfoy growled at him and Harry stopped short at that. Malfoy was heaving, flushed in the face and he shut his eyes tight. Harry stared at him, processing what Malfoy just said. Thrown in Azkaban.

“I… “but Harry didn’t know what to say. The events in the past few days where all jumbling in his mind, his eyes immediately shot to the pale boy’s left arm but quickly glanced away. Malfoy then opened his eyes to glare at him once more but it was short lived as he heaved a deep sigh and just looked… defeated.

“What were you doing then? After?” Malfoy asked in a somewhat gentle voice and Harry swallowed as he tried to gather his thoughts.

“I—I remembered I was in the Black Lake and then… I—I don’t— “Harry stuttered out. Malfoy heaved a breath and ran a hand down his face, fingers strayed to his mouth, rubbing them and he looked to the side, thinking. Harry only fiddled with the parcel of robes in his hands.  

“Alright, alright,” Malfoy muttered more to himself before settling his gaze to Harry. “How long since you were awake?”

“Just… a couple of days ago.” Harry answered and Malfoy paled at that.

“Days ago, days. Merlin— “He breathed out in disbelief and he staggered on his feet, his package of robes clattered to the ground. Harry reached out to steady him.

“What—why—?” But Malfoy pushed him off as he put his hands on his knees. He breathed deep, seemingly to gather himself; he looked up at Harry square in the face.

“I woke up almost two months ago,” Malfoy said quietly.

Harry felt cold water wash over him. “Two months,” he whispered mouth going slack. “You’ve been here two months…” And Harry slid to the floor, hugging his package of robes close to him in a tight grip. Two months, and Harry was most certain that the boy would’ve done something by then but here he was, stuck still. Malfoy sighed and sat down beside him.

“The books in the manor are useless,” Malfoy started, “I searched and searched, anything on time travel hoping to at least to see a spell, or—a ritual or maybe even a theory, an explanation so I could figure out what to do but well…” He turned to Harry and gestured to themselves. Harry sighed deep and loud.

There was a thud then and they both startled; scrambling to their feet, they peeked through the gaps between the bookshelves. The shop keeper was dragging a heavy ladder away from a box of books, before levitating them down to the front of the shop. Malfoy then glanced at his watch and cursed. “Mum will be looking for me soon,” he muttered and looking one more time around them, he broke the spell off.

“We need to talk about this, plan something.” Harry said and Malfoy just breathed a humourless laugh at him.

“No time now, but we’ll talk.” Swiping his robes back up, he turned to move away from the shelves. Malfoy stopped then, before hastily grabbing a book without bothering to look. Harry raised an eyebrow at that. “Might look weird if anyone saw us go up here and go back down empty handed.” He waved the book as he started down the stairs, Harry kept in stride with him.

As they went down, Malfoy then went straight to the piles of books on display for the first years and raised an eyebrow at Harry. Harry rolled his eyes at him as he fished out his own list of books and started picking out what they needed for the syllabus. As they went for the cashier to check out their books, Harry made a detour to where the inks and quills were as he added them to his supplies along with rolls of parchment.

He saw Malfoy sidle up to him as he made to pick out his own writing supplies as well. “I’ll owl you, as soon as possible,” Malfoy murmured as they heaved all their books and supplies in their arms. As they headed their way for payment, arms laded with supplies the shop keep saw them and rolled his eyes irritatingly as he waved his wand and all their materials smoothly floated away from their arms and onto the counter. He began ringing them out and muttering about incompetent first years—and honestly there’s baskets there. Harry couldn’t help but smile at that while Malfoy just looked bored as the shop keep continued on wrapping their books. “Give me your address, we’ve got a month still before school starts.”

Harry nodded and started to rattle off the location of Privet Drive; “I usually stay with my relatives at Little Whinging, here I— “but Harry stopped short as Malfoy was reaching for a piece of parchment and he looked at him. “Actually, I don’t know where I’m staying.”

Malfoy raised both of his brows at that, “What?”

“I—okay well, I’m at the Leaky Cauldron at the moment with Hagrid and the last time, I went back to my relatives’ place but Snape made me pack all of my things from there so essentially— “

“Snape? What were you doing with Severus?” Malfoy asked incredulously and Harry waved him off.

“Never mind that, I’ll explain later. So essentially, I don’t expect to return to my relatives soon. They don’t like all this magic and wizard stuff you see and considering that their door got blasted off, I reckon they wouldn’t be too happy about that—”

“Wait, what?”

“My point is,” Harry cut him off, “that I don’t know what address to give for you to send an owl to.” Harry finished and Malfoy only stared disbelievingly at him. The shop keep was arguing with a couple of wizards at the other side and barking off threats to the misbehaving students at the far wall. He wrapped their remaining supplies off and rattled off their total. They both shove a couple of sickles to him and when the appropriate change was settled shooed them off and they grabbed their packages and made their way to the exit. Deliberately balancing their books and robes in their arms as they struggled with their weight.

“Fine, fine—seriously Potter,” Malfoy complained as he adjusted his hold on the packages at hand. “The Leaky Cauldron you say? I’ll send my owl this afternoon there or as soon as I get home, write back to me then. You’ll still be there I expect.”

“Probably, but here— “Harry reached down in his pocket and brandished the envelope from Hogwarts with the address of Privet Drive. “In case I did go back to the Dursleys, which I honestly doubt, that’s the address.” Malfoy grabbed the piece of paper and shoved it inside with the rest of his books.

“Harry! Harry, there yeh are!” A voice boomed from down the street and they turned to look at Hagrid lumbering up to them, holding out a cage high above for Harry to see. A beautiful snowy owl was perched inside it and Harry felt himself gasp.

“Hedwig,” Harry breathed out and his eyes prickled at the sight of his gorgeous owl. Malfoy eyed him for a second before standing straight up as Hagrid approached them.

“Happy birthday Harry!” Hagrid greeted him, all smiles as he brandished the owl at him and Harry forced the tears back and found himself smiling big and wide at Hagrid. Hagrid grinned but then noticed the boy beside him and raised his brows. “Hello there, who’ve yeh got here Harry?”

Harry shook himself as he tore his gaze away from Hedwig. “Oh, this is um— “he turned to Malfoy who was eyeing Hagrid up and down, but the blonde boy didn’t say anything. “Draco,” Harry blurted out and Malfoy—well Darco now—swivelled his head at him to stare. “A friend,” Harry said and he could see Draco looking at him with such intensity that Harry had to turn away, ignoring him as he turned back to Hagrid. “I met him in Madam Malkin’s and then we bought our books.”

“Well, hi there then! Good to see you lad.”

Harry could still feel Draco’s gaze at him and he suddenly felt nervous for some reason. But then he heard the boy shuffle beside him and turned to Hagrid to address him properly. “It’s good to meet you too, sir.” Draco said, ever so proper as he made to bow his head slightly to Hagrid in greeting. Hagrid for a moment seemed surprised at being addressed so formally and he jerked his head down in a rather funny way as he attempted to bow back to the boy. Harry grinned.

“Right well, oh give ‘em here Harry,” Hagrid only then noticed the number of parcels in Harry’s arms and graciously took them away. He carefully handed the cage to Harry as he arranged the packages in his huge hands, taking their weight with no problem. “You wouldn’t mind carrying her, would you? Need a hand there lad? Harry needs a little more shoppin’ to do, probably need to take yeh to Ollivanders’ next, but yer’ welcome to come with us ey?”

“No need for that sir, my parents are right over there and I really must be going.” Draco replied as he gestured behind them and Harry indeed saw Narcissa Malfoy promptly levitating a cauldron and there were a couple of bags floating beside her as well. Draco heaved the packages more securely in his arms and turned to leave but not before giving Harry one more odd look. “Well, see you around…Harry.” He bade them goodbye and strode his way to his mother. In the distance, Harry could see Narcissa give them a considering look as she took care of the packages in her son’s arms. She leaned over Draco, whispering, but then Draco just shrugged before throwing one last glance toward him.

Harry felt his lips tug up into a small smile as Draco waved a lazy salute at him.

Chapter Text

Harry couldn’t help but keep touching his wand as they went through his shopping list way past in the afternoon. Here it was, whole and brand new and Harry can’t help but grip it just a tad bit harder. Lunch with Hagrid was a loud and joyous occasion as he also bought Harry some ice cream after. Harry wondered if it was the same flavour as last time—It was chocolate and hazelnut this time.

They made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron, bellies full and arms even fuller with supplies that Harry was sure they couldn’t possibly hold if not for Hagrid’s endless pockets and large hands. Harry was just glad to be holding on to his wand and Hedwig’s cage. They shouldered themselves pass the doors and to Harry’s surprise, found themselves in the presence of Snape and McGonagall. The two professors stood up from their perch on the bar and made their way to them. McGonagall’s lips were pursed as she approached but settled in a much more friendly expression as she stood before Harry.

“Professors! Well Harry, looks like yer meeting half the staff at Hogwarts now. This is Professor McGonagall here another one of your teachers. She’ll be teaching yeh Transfiguration.”

Harry slightly lowered Hedwig’s cage, but it was a bit surreal seeing McGonagall here and with nothing better to say, he opted for a rather hesitant, “Hello ma’am?”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Potter. Finished your school shopping, I expect?” She asked and Harry nodded at her. Satisfied she straightened up and offered him a smile. Harry couldn’t help but smile back at her, it was really nice to see her again. “Wonderful, now as I’ve been told of your… less than welcoming accommodations—” Snape huffed at this and McGonagall glared at him. “I’ve arranged a room for your stay during the rest of the summer and—no, not here. Merlin forbid anyone who leaves a child here at the Leaky Cauldron.”

“Oh, why not?” Harry asked in genuine confusion, it was a relief that he wasn’t going back to the Dursleys but he thought the Leaky Cauldron was more than fine. He did stay there in that summer where he blew up his Aunt Marge.

“I assure you as fine as an establishment the Leaky Cauldron is,” she stared down the manager as he scowled at the professor. “That this is hardly a place for a child to stay. Let alone left in his own devices as such, here I am to escort you along with Professor Snape.”

Harry frowned at being treated like little kid, it was just that bit insulting but then again, eleven, he thought. McGonagall then shooed him off to get the rest of his things. He carefully put Hedwig down and Harry ran off to their room upstairs as Hagrid was depositing his supplies at a table much to McGonagall’s chagrin. Books slammed down quite unceremoniously and her scolding voice rang all the way up, she throttled on and—Goodness’ sake, that is no way to handle a cauldron and—stop! those are ink bottles you’re squashing—

Harry opened the door to the room and immediately found his bag on top of the bed. He made to get it, checking his small collection of clothes and was about to head down when there was a tapping noise from the window. Looking up he saw a handsome looking eagle owl just hovering outside. He opened the window and the owl perched itself immediately on the sill as it held out its leg to a tiny rolled-up parchment tied to it. Harry took the letter, he unrolled the parchment and read.

Potter,

Send your reply immediately, I’ve instructed Atlas to wait for it. Use him when sending it out. Don’t keep him waiting, he’s impatient.

Draco Malfoy

Harry then turned to Atlas, the owl looking regal and proud as he stroked his head. “Sorry, I haven’t got any treats for you. But I’m not staying here at the Leaky Cauldron, would you mind following us then? I don’t really know where we’re going.” The owl squawked in reply as he flapped his wings to fly out. “Oh, and be sure not to be seen yeah?” Harry said to the owl, fluttering its wings at him looking indignant. Do I look stupid human? As if to say before flying out and Harry closed the window as he strode down the stairs.

It was one of the most bizarre things to behold as the four of them walked down the streets in Diagon Alley. McGonagall led them through and Harry took it upon himself to settle right next to her, she’d insisted anyway. Snape was behind them swiftly following along and Hagrid taking up the rear looking put off as he was now only carrying the cauldron. The rest of his supplies were shrunk down and put in a bag as McGonagall had done so. Harry subtly eyed the skies as he saw a glimpse of the eagle owl.

They went to a part in Diagon Alley were the shops look a tad bit taller and the windows looking much fancier, the stall signs were decorated in elegant script and Harry noticed that it was a little less crowded. It was also worth noting that the shops seem to feature a vast array of food and amusedly, some—or rather, a huge line of bustling looking pubs. “Here we are,” McGonagall proudly said as they stood in front of a red building, wide and about two dozen floors up. There was a sign hanging just by the heavy looking wooden doors and it read; The Golden Mug.

Snape snorted at the sign and he stared at it with a glint in his eyes when McGonagall glared at him. “Quite charming and I’m sure this place is entirely child appropriate.”

McGonagall huffed and put her hands on her hips, “I assure you it’s the best place here in Diagon Alley and I won’t hear so otherwise.”

“Settle down Minerva, no one’s questioning your taste in establishments.”

They pushed their way inside and Harry was surprised to be greeted by loud cheers and clicking of glasses. There was a long bar to their right, surrounded by round tables and chairs and radios were scattered here and there. A few people were milling about, listening intently and Harry realised that the on-going commentary was from a Quidditch match.

 “Minerva, darling there you are!” A tall witch sauntered out to them, her deep maroon robes looking strangely bright in the otherwise gold decorations of the place. Her dark skin glowed under the lights and her curly light brown hair pinned back elegantly. “It’s been ages dear! You should really stop by and have a pint.”

“Oh, the school year is on and about, busy times Yvonne, you know how it is.”

“Nonsense! You’d do well to sneak out and away from those books of yours,” Yvonne then tilted her head to look behind McGonagall and her smile turned absolutely predatory. “Severus!” She exclaimed in a sing-song voice as she gestured wildly, her arms opening wide as if to hug him. Harry raised both brows at that but Snape just looked at her with a withering stare, looking bored. Yvonne just laughed merrily and put one of her hands on her hip as she grinned.

“Annoyingly loud as ever Yvonne,” Snape said in a way of greeting and Yvonne waved a hand at him dismissively.

“And stiff and proper as ever Severus, a few rounds of Fire Whiskey should do the trick. And no, I’m not taking no for an answer, I’ll hunt you down all the way to those dungeons of yours if I have to.” She turned to Harry, smiling wide with a certain sharpness in her eyes and then leaned down slightly to him. “And this must be my guest.”

Harry startled at being addressed and he twisted to greet the witch. “Hello,” he said rather dumbly and Yvonne laughed high and giddy as she held out a hand for him, he took it then and they share a firm hand shake.

“Yes, one of the first years about to start at Hogwarts, Harry Potter.” McGonagall said, voice low and subtle as she eyed a few of the wizards looking their way. Yvonne had a twinkle in her eye but otherwise didn’t comment, she did send a pointed look at the probably eavesdropping wizards and they promptly looked away.

“Not to worry dear,” Yvonne said to Harry as she led them to a set of polished stairs in the middle of the floor. “As nosy as they are, they won’t bother you and they won’t blabber if I could help it. So, feel free to relax and enjoy your stay here.”

They climb three sets of stairs before settling on a door with nice carvings and a brass knob. Yvonne opened the door and Harry was greeted by a sea of dark golds and deep reds. There was a comfortable looking bed in the middle, pushed against the far wall. A low dresser beside it and a night stand adoring the other side, there was a desk under a huge window with a matching chair. A low table was set in the middle with a small soft looking sofa along with a matching rug. Yvonne ushered Harry in as he awed at the room and he wondered why he’d never been in this place before.

“Bathroom’s over there dear,” Yvonne said as she pointed to a door on the right side of the bed. “And if you ever need anything, just go right down to the pub—oh, stop that Minerva, the food’s being made down there. Or just give that bell a ring and I’ll be right up.” She motioned to a quaint looking bell on the low table.

Harry turned around slowly as he marvelled at the room. Definitely an upgrade to the Leaky Cauldron. Harry thought and he couldn’t help it, as much as he is fond of the place, it was impossible not to be impressed by Yvonne’s abode. Just as, he then saw McGonagall levitate the rest of his things as they were unshrunk and placed neatly on the table. Yvonne has somehow been distracted by a booming Hagrid and Snape looking oddly put off by both.

“Well then Harry, I’ll drop by from time to time and I’ll be the one to take you to King’s Cross come September 1.” McGonagall said, she took on a more assessing manner as she addressed him and Harry wondered what she could be thinking. But before his mind could delve in further, she smiled. “Although this is rather an unusual first meeting, it is a pleasure to finally meet you Mr. Potter.” She said.

Harry offered up a bright grin at her and there’s was that slight upturn on her smile. “I’ll say professor.”

A roar of laughter filled the room and they both swivelled to see Hagrid chuckling, wiping tears on his eyes as Yvonne clung herself to Snape’s arm. “I swear woman—unhand me— “

“Fire whiskey Severus! Fire whiskey!”

McGonagall made an affronted noise and she hurried when Yvonne started to drag Snape away. Hagrid waved him goodbye before he hurriedly lumbered off to follow the woman along with Snape’s oppositions disappearing down the hall. “No Yvonne, we really must be going. No really— “Harry heard McGonagall splutter our and the voices were lost as the door shut closed.

As Harry was finally alone in his room, he immediately put Hedwig’s cage down on the desk and opened it. She gallantly stretched her wings, fluttering them for a few seconds before flying about the room in a swoop and Harry grinned wide and bright at her as he then turned to open the window. He leaned out to search for Atlas but the eagle owl was already heading toward him and he landed gracefully on the window sill, tucking his wings elegantly as he stared at Harry. Harry pulled out a parchment and began to write.

Draco,

I’m still in Diagon Alley, but I’m staying at this place called The Golden Mug. Do you know where it is?

Harry

---

It was a testament to Draco’s pride that he stayed sane all those weeks after he woke up in the manor. And a blow to his ego that he found himself going mad at the moment, as he was sending letters quite regularly to Harry Potter. The little prat was a headache to write to. Draco rubbed a hand to his head, messing up his hair in frustration as he remembered the letter where Potter was explaining the insanity of his apparent rescue from his muggle relatives—What do you mean they kept you in a cupboard? All those times and no one bothered to check on you, what was Dumbledore doing, Merlin—

Draco was aghast at the information Potter had written to him and decided that they really needed to talk face to face because Draco really wanted to smack him. As his prejudices and skewed perspectives were—Draco would like to think he was way past that now—neglecting a child was in no way right in his books. That and letters didn’t really do much for their apparent time warp problem.

It’s to this that he found himself wandering down the streets to the Golden Mug. Puzzlement still very much prominent in his face as never in his life would he imagined that he’d be owling and deliberately meeting Harry Potter. And yet, here he was, a week later on his way to the Golden Mug. It was indeed strange and Draco pushed down the onslaught of thoughts as he neared closer to the building, the doors opened suddenly with a head peeking through. Dark hair and a pair of glasses turned to him, green eyes flashing as he was waved over hurriedly.

“The Golden Mug, seriously Potter. I know we’re technically of age, but might I remind you that you’re currently eleven.” He said beratingly as he slipped through the door. Harry waved him off dismissively.

“Stop it Malfoy, it’s really quite nice and the owner is absolutely delightful,” Harry muttered. “That and I can’t leave here for a second without her trailing along.”

A woman then sauntered up to them, all smiles and bright eyes gleaming, her striking set of red robes with gold trimmings flowing elegantly as she walked. “Harry dear, is this your friend that you were talking about? Welcome!”

Draco kept reminding himself to not flinch at the word. Friend. And drew up his most charming smile that he knew adults would coo over when he was this young. “Pleasure to meet you madam, Draco Malfoy.” He introduced himself and found himself stilling as the woman raised both eyebrows up.

“Well, I’ll say, definitely a pleasure Mr. Malfoy.” She held out a hand for him and he shook it firmly, smile still in place as she eyed him up. “Yvonne Weldbrim.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance miss Weldbrim,”

“Missus actually and Yvonne is fine. As much as I love my darling husband it does make a woman feel old.” She smiled at them and turned to Harry. “Well Harry, I’d love to chat but busy day ahead for the pub. I’ll bring you two lunches in a while.” With that she strode off in a wave of elegant robes. Draco gestured for Harry to lead the way and they start for the staircase.

“Really, did you have to tell her?” Draco whispered as they made their way up the flights of stairs.

“I couldn’t just sneak you in here, could I?” Harry said annoyingly before turning his head to him. “And McGonagall is apparently a close friend of hers and instructed her specifically to keep an eye on me.” He opened a door and Draco was quickly ushered inside as he looked up and down the quaint room.

“Of course, she would.” He replied as Potter made to close the door but not before looking down the halls. He heard him heave a sigh as he locked the door.

“She’s really nice and all, but I couldn’t get her to leave me alone,” Potter strode to a low table as he sunk on the fluffy rug, leaning wearily on the sofa. “She insisted on going with me when I told her I forgot to buy a trunk and the store was only three blocks away.”

Draco shook his head and just stood there rather awkwardly, Potter eyed him and quite impatiently patted the space beside him. Draco glared but relinquished anyway, he tentatively sat down putting a considerable amount of distance between them. “Salazar forbid that they don’t send you an escort while shopping. True inconvenience, don’t you thing so Potter?” His snark was completely unnecessary but he couldn’t help it.

“You better stop calling me by my last name, Draco,” Harry said, a bite to his tone. “People might ask questions if your friend keeps calling you ‘Potter’ rather disdainfully.”

“Oh, so we’re friends now are we,” Draco spat lowly and dark, he took delight when Potter flinched at that.

Friends, he thought bitterly. There was a flash of the train in his mind and an outstretched hand, words exchanged and the tight clench of a fist when the palm never met anything but the sound of refusal. Draco balled both his hands then, gripping tight as he sat there, Potter unnervingly quiet.

He was spoiled, with a doting mother who showered him with all things of comfort and a father who was quite ready to hand over anything that money could buy. But with all the things given, things were also expected of him. The lessons of stifling etiquette, the proper way of talking drilled into him when other people were present. Never falter in your words, never let them see any weakness.

Head up high, flaws are an insult to the name, don’t look anything other than a proud and proper Malfoy.

And he did, for so long he did. But in a moment, there at the train, even at the seamstress’ shop; Draco saw that little boy and thought maybe this once, he could decide something for himself. But that rejection of offered friendship had stung. Oh, it stung.

“Look D-Malfoy,” Potter stuttered out, still quiet. Draco chanced a look and it was such a sight to see Potter there on the floor hunching over himself, staring at the rug looking small. Draco heaved a deep sigh. He brought his knees up and laid his elbows there, head hanging between them. He ran a frustrated hand at the back of his neck, rubbing it wearily. He was tired.

For so long he was so damn tired.

“It doesn’t matter.” Draco muttered, letting his hand fall and he leaned his head on the sofa behind them. Looking up at the ceiling, he noticed the golden mural that adorned the dark wood. It was fascinating. He felt Potter shift beside him, Draco then rolled his head to the side and looked at him, shrugging when he lowly murmured, “Doesn’t really matter now, does it?” He turned his head toward the ceiling again, counting the swirls of gold. “Call me whatever you want, be friends if you want to. I don’t care anymore.”

If it was a lie, he doesn’t know.

Potter didn’t say anything for the longest moment and Draco was content with that. Pushing himself up he saw Potter resolutely looking on the floor, biting his lip with his arms now wrapped around his knees. “Sorry…” He heard him mumble.

Draco ran his hands down his face and breathed in deeply. “Don’t apologise for Merlin’s sake,” he looked at Potter and the boy tentatively raised his head. “Nothing to be sorry for now is there?” He said sincerely and Potter looking quite unconvinced, nodded his head nonetheless. Not wanting to dwell on that he moved on; “Now tell me, what do we do now that we find ourselves thrown in this displacement of time?”

He saw Potter visibly steel himself before looking slightly abashed. “Well, I was hoping you’d be the one to tell me.”

“Sweet Salazar, Potter— “

“Look,” Potter said firmly, turning to face him. “I apologise if I’m not helping in anyway but I really have no idea where to start.” He huffed and Draco oddly found some comfort in the annoyed look Potter was giving him. “To be honest I didn’t even think of the possibility of going back to our… erm, original time? Until I found you.”

“Wait,” Draco said sitting up and frowning deep. “You didn’t—so what, you just thought of just staying here? Potter that’s completely mental.”

“Well, why not?” Potter shot to him and Draco saw a defiant look in those green eyes, there was that glint in them, stubborn and sharp that he so despised. Potter was serious, he realised and the thought had him biting his tongue.

“Potter, you’re saying to relive the years going up to the war,” Draco said disbelievingly and quietly. “Why would you want to do that?”

Potter shifted nervously, fingers tangling on each other and twisting. He seemed to debate within himself, opening and closing his mouth until he spoke rather breathlessly. “They’re still alive at this moment, they’re still alive,” he murmured and a look of desperation glanced at his features before looking at Draco. “My godfather, he’s still in Azkaban, but he’s alive.”  

“Your godfather,” Draco mused for a moment and then the image of a poster with a deranged laughing man flitted through and with a dawning realisation he muttered, “Sirius Black.”

Potter nodded, a determined look on his face. “He doesn’t have to die this time, maybe then—maybe they don’t have to die at all. Don’t you see Draco, maybe—maybe…”

Draco leaned back on the sofa and looked at Potter steadily. That determined glint still there, adamant and unyielding. “I-I don’t know…” He was so hellbent on finding a reverse spell that had brought him here that he didn’t even entertain the idea of changing the events that led up to the war. “You’ll be messing with time here, Potter. I honestly don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“I know, and we don’t really know how we got here, so my initial thought was we go to Hogwarts. That’s the last thing I remember, that’s where I was last time. And if you think it’s true that maybe I triggered a spell then, that’s where we’ll start.”

“Alright, Hogwarts that’s—that’s a start then.” He could do that, with that in mind they settled into a lull. Draco’s mind was whirling through. Staying here, seeing and reliving all of it once more… he can’t even imagine going through all of it again. But Potter seems partially in favour of that idea and he doesn’t mention the probable consequences of time meddling. He decided to leave it at that. It was somewhat awkward just sitting there but then again it was more than what Draco was expecting between the two of them.

“How did you even manage to get your mum to leave you here?” Potter asked a while later.

Draco was glad for the change in subject. “Well, it wasn’t much honestly. Considering how I spent most of my time outside the manor these days and she doesn’t even know I was headed to the Golden Mug,” he mumbled. “She’s out shopping I think, although she was obviously reluctant in leaving me alone but taking Dobby with me seemed to satisfy her these days.”

There was a hitch of a breath and then a hand was suddenly gripping his arm tight. He looked at Potter startled. “Dobby—Dobby is here?” He asked, Draco raised both eyebrows at this but he nodded. “Is he alright? No of course, but he’s still working for your family I—”

“Wait, settle down, yeah?” Draco raised a hand to placate him, beyond bewildered and Potter breathed in deep, releasing his arm. “How do you know my father’s house elf?”

There was the unmistakable sound of guilt when Potter said; “He saved me,” a quiet, wistful mutter. “He saved me, when we were escaping… at your manor, you see… and he died for it.”

It took Draco a moment to comprehend what he said, brows scrunching in thought before his eyes widened ever so slightly. “That elf, it was Dobby.” It was all a bit of a blur, pushing away the thoughts of the manor but his mind settled on where he was little and his father shouting angrily. But he distinctly remembered his father then, ranting in outrage at how his own servant was now gone and him swearing up and down. “It was you who freed him right? Or rather had my father freed him.”

Potter scoffed in amusement and a slight grin twitched at the corner of his mouth. “Dobby was trying to help me way back then, even before. He did so rather clumsily and injured me along the way but it was all good intention on his part. I’m grateful to him.” He said and the smile turned somewhat thoughtful, Potter’s voice was sounding incredibly sad at the moment, murmuring softly. “He was miserable then, under your father’s hold. So, I thought I’d return the favour, freeing him was a brilliant idea.”

Draco then stared, Potter so lost in thought and in a sudden burst of inspiration that Draco couldn’t explain, he summoned the elf right then. “Dobby!”

A pop was heard and the elf was there in an instant. “Yes, young master Draco sir, what is Dobby doings for his master Draco today sir?”

He heard Potter gasp and a hand gripped his arm once more. He turned to Potter and found him staring at the elf with wide eyes. “Dobby, this is um—” He gestured helplessly to Potter, unsure on how to proceed. He needn’t bother though, for the elf had let out a high squeal before bowing low. His head almost touching the ground.

“Harry Potter! It is an honour sir! Dobby is terribly glad to be meeting you sir!”

“Uh—yes, this is Harry Potter,” Draco then turned to look at the boy still gripping his arm tight. “… a friend of mine.” Potter swivelled at that and that seemed to snap him out of his stupor, for a small smile was twitching its way to those lips. Draco resisted the urge to slap the boy on the head.

Dobby looked on in awe before bowing low again, this time hitting the floor and Draco winced at the thud. “Dobby is happy to be serving both master Draco and Harry Potter sir! What is Dobby doing for sirs today?”

“Well,” Draco didn’t really know how to phrase his next question, so taking a page from the boy next to him; decided that being blunt was the way to go. “Do you want to be freed, Dobby?”

The stare Potter shot at him was unnerving and he didn’t dare look back as he avoided his gaze. Instead, he opted to look at the elf, Dobby had his jaw open wide and there were tears threatening to fall on the otherwise pitiful state that the elf appeared in. “F-free Dobby sir?”

“Not that you did anything wrong,” Draco immediately blurted out, thinking that the elf had probably thought he was firing him. “It’s just that, well—you’re my father’s house elf technically and I’m sure—he isn’t very kind to you.”

Dobby was in shock for a moment before he stammered out; “M-master Lucius, is-is not a kind master to Dobby!” The elf wailed and he immediately turned to the low table and smashed his head on the side of it. Potter made a surprised sound and Draco grimaced as he grabbed the back of the elf’s pillow case to remove him from the table.

“Dobby! Stop that,” the elf stopped immediately and was now swinging in a daze. “Right, so father’s been a terrible master to you, so I figured if you’d like to be finally relieved of his employment.”

“Could you do that?” Potter asked and he considered it for a moment.

“Well, I guess I technically could,” Draco mused out loud. “But… that will be kind of hard to explain to father when I go home. Me firing his own house elf for no reason but I’ll think of something, probably.” He turned to Dobby who was gawking at them with hopeful eyes. “So, what do you say Dobby?”

“Dobby is wanting to be free of master Lucius. Dobby wants to be a free elf.” Dobby said in wonder but immediately looked horrified. “But Dobby is fine with serving master Draco sir! But if Dobby is freed, he won’ts be serving master Draco anymore!”

“Well, if you’re free then you can do whatever you want. If you want to serve me from time to time then I won’t mind.” There was an inquiring sound and he pointedly ignored Potter when he saw the boy throwing him a look, “So Dobby, you want to be free, yes?”

The elf hesitated for a moment before nodding his head, ears flapping as he did so. “Dobby wants to be free.”

“Alright then, I’ll think of something.”

A sudden knock on the door had them jumping slightly. “Dobby, hide.” Draco commanded and the elf was gone with a pop. Potter then stood up immediately and walked to the door, peering behind it. He opened it wider when he heard Yvonne’s voice.

“Hello darlings, thought I’d bring you this,” she said as she slipped through the door balancing a tray with her wand with two sets of bowls and cutlery set on it. “I hope you don’t mind some onion soup, it’s on the menu today.” She placed the tray on the low table and the scent of the enticing food filled their noses and then two glasses of pumpkin juice were set before them.

“Thank you, Yvonne, but I could’ve gone down for it.” Potter thanked her in earnest but Yvonne waved him off.

“Oh nonsense, you two go on and eat. If you want more just ring the bell Harry, dear.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Draco said but Yvonne just put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. “Erm—thank you Yvonne.” She grinned then and patted Potter in the head before making her way out the room and she closed the door behind her with a little wave to them. Potter sighed and made his way to sit beside Draco again before carefully dragging the food toward them. A pop and Dobby reappeared, he stared at the food set in front of them, frowning and looking put off.

“Dobby could haves been bringing sirs their food. Sirs didn’t haves to gets them themselves. Would sirs be wanting something else? Dobby is happy to gets it for them.”

Potter was looking amusedly at the elf, “No this is fine Dobby, thank you.”

The elf stomped his foot down, “Dobby will be serving master Draco and Harry Potter! What would sirs like?”

Draco, used to the fussing of the elf, sighed. “How about um— dessert?” he thought out loud before turning to look at Potter. “What do you want?”

Potter paused in his bowl of soup and raised an eyebrow at him, he then looked at the stubborn elf before shrugging. “Treacle tart?” He suggested and the elf nodded happily before popping out of the room. Potter chuckled softly as he started on his food, Draco with nothing better to do tucked in, it was quite delicious. “He seems quite fond of you.” Potter commented and Draco nearly chokes.

“He uh—tends to fret when I ask him to do stuff.” Potter just hummed as he ate his lunch. A moment or so later, Dobby popped by again and handed them two slices of delectable looking Treacle tarts. Before popping out, the elf stubbornly told them to call on him should they want more treats and then he was gone in a puff of smoke.

It was quiet then and Draco found it surprisingly comfortable. As they finished their lunches and was starting on the tarts, Potter shifted and murmured in a soft voice, “Thank you for that Draco.”

Draco took the fork and sliced it through the tart, taking a bite and savouring the sweet treat. “Don’t mention it, Harry.”

The bright smile that Harry sent him was just a little bit warming or it was probably just the hot meal they ate, he took another bite of the tart.

Chapter Text

Despite their plan for their apparent time travel mishap, it was relatively boring to just wait around for the day when they’ll be returning to Hogwarts. Draco still sent owls, trying to coax Harry into remembering every detail he missed since he was Awake. It seems futile though, as Harry kept stating all he remembered is being in the Black Lake. Which, alright granted it was a start but they really couldn’t do much anything other than wait.

Draco tossed his newly bought Snitch into the air before grabbing it once more before it could fly off. They were in the garden that afternoon, after Narcissa had met with a couple of friends—Ministry people really— and Draco trotted off after her much to his mother’s frustration. It was a rather uneventful trip but buying the Snitch was a good consolation for his apparent boredom, amongst other things. That and it was one of those days where his mother decided that the weather was lovely enough to be drinking tea outside the garden. His father was there, talking to one important looking wizard that he couldn’t even be bothered to remember the name of. It was rather toasty out so his mother took to changing to a simple dress rather than the standard witch’s robes, Draco on the other hand just threw his vest off and slung it on his shoulder, as he was quite comfortable with the green long-sleeved shirt he was wearing.

He threw the Snitch again, letting it flutter for a moment before catching it in his hands. The wizard bid his goodbye and then father was seeing him out to the gates of the manor with a distinct wave of dismissal thrown rather unceremoniously. The albino peacocks were strutting their way in the garden, big and proud and beautifully boasting off their feather tails.

Perfect

He threw the Snitch one more time and caught it easily. He could see Dobby serving his mother some tea and sweets and when he caught the eye of the elf, he nodded slightly at the huge birds. But his mother was a little too engrossed in a book and paid the elf no mind, so it was all and well when Dobby silently slipped away and threw some feed discreetly around them. The peacocks trotted their way as they saw the familiar seeds and a bunch of them started pecking on the offered food. Draco turned as he released the Snitch again; it swerved and Draco raced to grab it mid-air, he subtly took out his wand as he kept an eye on his parents.

“The ministry keeps hiring imbeciles and Fudge is as daft as ever.” Lucius Malfoy said as he strode to the table by his mother, Narcissa only hummed. The peacocks were flocking quite nicely around them and his parents ignored them as per usual.

Draco hid a devious grin.

“Locomotor Snitch” he whispered as he pointed his wand to the Snitch.

He saw his father sniff in disgust as he removed his outer robes and proceeded to drape them over a chair. Draco released the Snitch and with a wave of his wand; sent it zooming low and fast in the unassuming peacocks. It was a beautiful mess a of feathers by then. The birds let out a chorus of squawks as they begun to flap their wings and started to fly in every direction and his father was amusingly in the middle of them all.

“Bloody hell!” His father exclaimed as a string of birds slapped his face in lieu of the disturbance. Draco let the Snitch dive one more time to the peacocks’ agitation before releasing the spell and then the Snitch was freely flying by amongst the feathers and wings. And to Draco’s delight, the Snitch hit his father in the forehead.

“Goodness! Draco, your Snitch!” His mother shrieked as a particularly jumpy peacock hit her book away.

“Sorry mum!” Draco yelled as he made his way into the chaos, still supressing a laugh.

“Draco! I swear get that blasted thing— oof!” Three peacocks decided it was a good idea to simultaneously fly over his father’s head, their tails hitting him square in the face. “GET—! OFF—!” His father spluttered, throwing his outer robes over to the side as he tried to shoo the birds off him. The Snitch made a reappearance and Draco threw his vest, hitting his father in the face before Lucius shouted in outrage and shoved the offending garment away. Draco jumped as he threw both his hands in the air to enclose the Snitch.

He could hear his mother’s yelps as she stood up, attempting to get away from the feathers and squawks. “Rilly!” She called out and there was a pop and another one of their house elves Apparated in an instant.

“Yes, mistress? What is Rilly doing for— “But the elf’s high-pitched voice was lost as another peacock ran its way into her. His mother’s command was unheard as he chanced a glance behind his father and he grinned as he tucked the Snitch safely away. He attempted to shoo the rest of the peacocks off from his father who had drawn his wand out quite uselessly.

“Lucius! Do not hex them or I swear I’ll stuff you with these feathers— “

“I’m not hexing them Narcissa! I’m trying to stop the blasted birds!” On the other hand, Rilly was rather doing a great job at ushering the peacocks away and about, another house elf Apparated in the garden much to its confusion. “Dobby! What are you doing you utter useless— “But as his father turned to berate his own house elf, he lets out a chocked-out sound as he found the elf standing there at the side, holding Draco’s vest in his hands. Mouth wide open, Dobby looked up at them in amazement.

Draco stood there ways away, under one of their marvellous apple trees and just overall looking smug. The affronted and angry roar of his father was mixed with the offended screech of the peacocks and his mother’s voice trying to get a handle of things was loud and beautiful. There were about five house elves now in their garden, all speaking in high pitched voices and chasing the peacocks, trying to calm them down.

Music to his ears, really.

---

The owls were a pleasant distraction over Harry’s summer there at the Golden Mug. Even though it proved a tad bit unhelpful to them in figuring out the time lapse, it was… honestly quite nice, Harry thought; owling Draco. His letters were all snark and consisted of a lot of swearing and Harry found himself laughing out loud alone in his room more often than not. They only met that once unfortunately—or fortunately? They both seem to come to a tentative truce by then but there was still this air of uncertainty between them. Owling seemed to be a much better method of talking, at least they weren’t shouting at each other personally. It was a fun peaceful time there in the Golden Mug even under the watchful eye of Yvonne. With nothing better to do, he spent most of his time in his room or a table at the pub, reading his school books.

Harry liked reading he realised and can’t help but feel a pang of longing for Hermione.

The summer flew by and that’s when Harry found himself in the lounge sitting on his trunk on September 1, waiting for McGonagall to pick him up and Yvonne fussing over him. The lounge was surprisingly decorated with green couches adorned with gold accents on them and Harry thought it was a stark contrast to the reds that Yvonne had obviously preferred. Harry eyed the clock hanging by the doors and it was only an hour left before 11 am.

“Honestly Minerva, that woman. ‘I’ll be early’ she says, ‘I’ll be right there’ she says.” Yvonne grumbled as she walked back and forth between checking the doors and ordering one of her staff at the bar. Hedwig was perched in her cage, looking sideways at him and Harry cooed at her, offering her some treats that he snuck out from his breakfast that morning. There was a crash somewhere in the kitchens and Yvonne strode over barking at her cook as he yelled back at her. 11:15 am. Harry’s feet began to tap on the floor, Yvonne sauntered out and flicked her wand at one of the tables to right it. “I swear Harry, if she doesn’t arrive in the next five minutes, I’m taking you there myself.”

Harry was inclined to agree. Just then, the doors burst open and McGonagall came striding through in her formal teacher’s robes looking quite harried. Yvonne threw her hands up in the air in an exasperated gesture— Honestly Minerva, an hour late!  McGonagall swatted down her arms. “Oh—calm yourself, there’s plenty of time. Well, sort of.” She turned to Harry and he immediately jumped up from his trunk. “We’ll be Apparating to King’s Cross, don’t worry it’s quite simple.” Harry thought so otherwise although he didn’t voice it out; Apparating is still his least favourite form of transport. His trunk was shrunk and Hedwig was let out of her cage before that too was shrunk down fast and efficient. “She’ll meet you there at King’s Cross not to worry dear, come along.” It was a flurry of movements and then she was quickly hurrying out to the doors. Harry had just enough time to wave Yvonne a hasty goodbye and yelling out a thank you as he clutched his now shrunk trunk and cage, following McGonagall in her long strides down the street. “I’m terribly sorry for my apparent tardiness but the staff has been a little hectic with the start of the term is all and well, other things but no matter!”

The traps already set in place Professor? Harry thought idly, he did wonder how long it took to make a giant chess board and bewitch the chess pieces into live beings. They abruptly stopped a little way away from the crowded streets of Diagon Alley.

“Now, this here is an Apparition point,” she said as she took the shrunken trunk and cage in Harry’s arms and tucked them safely inside her robes. “I’d explain further the concepts of Apparating but I dare say we’re in a bit of a hurry but it’s quite simple. Here, take my arm Harry.” She instructed and Harry grabbed hold of her, grip tight. “Take a deep breath.”

Harry did so and within a second, he felt that familiar tug in the gut as McGonagall Apparated them out of Diagon Alley.

It was as unpleasant as ever and as they Apparated into the crowded station of King’s Cross, Harry stumbled and only barely missed the ground if not for McGonagall steadying him. “Ah well,” she shrugged and Harry shook his head to get rid of the dizzying buzz in his ears. Boarding the train, McGonagall then unshrunk his things as he climbed through the doors. “I really am sorry for the rush Harry but get yourself settled and I’ll see you at Hogwarts.” The train gave a warning whistle and McGonagall bade him a safe trip before hurrying back to the apparition point and disappearing out of sight.

Students were bustling in the station, greeting friends and their families fussing over them with only the chaos of the first day of school could bring. The Weasleys were probably there at King’s Cross, he remembered Molly kindly instructing him on what to do with the barrier to get to platform 9 ¾. Him stumbling his way embarrassingly, all but the ignorance of a young boy who knew nothing about the wizarding world. And yet here he was, avoiding the crowd even though he had braced himself on meeting them again, all of his friends are there at the station and Harry had to clench his hands into fists to keep them from trembling.

The train gave another whistle of warning as it was preparing to depart. Harry took a hold of his trunk, Hedwig’s cage sitting on top of it as he heaved it across the floor of the train to find himself a compartment. He honestly didn’t know if he wanted to see them this early, not really. For all the days alone in his room that summer, he’d thought that he’ll be delighted to see his friends and housemates again. He’d see Ron and Hermione and probably Neville too. He’d be happy to see them again, he honestly would. So why is it he was dreading to see their faces?

He lugged his trunk another inch and huffed out in frustration. He’d forgotten how small his hands were and how scrawny he was. “Need a hand there?”

“Sorry, if you don’t mind— “Harry sighed in relief and when he looked up, felt his breath stop.

“Not a problem there mate,” the handle of the trunk was taken from Harry’s hands as red hair filled his vision. George Weasley starting to heave his trunk and catching the cage when it nearly toppled over. It was George, he was pretty sure of it. For all the twins’ looks and likenesses, he had come to distinguish them apart over the years with George in a random fit of thought, told him and Hermione that there was a little scar just under his jaw. A barrel roll accident that involved a disgruntled owl that he had run into, he never bothered to heal it because he thought it was a rather offensive thing to do when the owl looked so proud of it. There was suddenly a buzzing sound, loud and fierce and Harry just froze. A rhythmic pounding had joined the high buzz and Harry was starting to breathe heavily. “Oi, Fred! Help out here, would you?”

Harry took an intake of sharp breath.

As Fred sauntered up to his twin, all smiles and taking the other side of his trunk, Harry felt a numb coldness wash over him. “Blimey, you’d think they’ll find a way to just flick our things to Hogwarts. Oof—but this one’s heavy, hi there!” He turned to Harry, a wide grin adoring his face.

Fred. Fred standing there smiling along with his brother, beaming at him. Standing tall and happy and alive.

A loud bang was all Harry could hear, dust and smoke all around as bright flashes of light soared above them. There must have been a scream then and a cry loud and anguish as Percy clutched his brother in his hands, begging, pleading, as Fred lied there on the castle floors, unseeing and a permanent smile etched on his face.

Harry gasped for air. “You alright there, mate?” George asked as he turned to look at Harry fully.

“Hold on, what’s that on his forehead?” Fred said as he squinted his eyes at Harry. Harry’s eyes flitted to him but then George spoke again.

“Blimey, is that—but it is, isn’t it?” George exclaimed excitedly and Harry can’t stop seeing the pale face of his brother, stone still and their cries echoing in his ears.

“You’re Harry Potter!” Fred said and Harry’s hands trembled. Harry’s eyes maniacally darted back and forth between the twins as he swallowed down bile threatening to spill and he shook his head rapidly, taking a step back away from them.

“But you are! Harry Potter— “and Harry can’t take it anymore; he ran.

He ran away from the twins as they shouted at him and he ran shoving away students and through the tight corridor of the train. Stumbling his way, he dashed through and he had to get away. He smashed into a body and he was scrambling through just as a hand steadied him. “Oh hey, careful. You alright?”

Harry looked up wildly and no, no, no.

He wretched his arm away from Cedric Diggory, young and looking at him worriedly and—no this can’t be happening. Harry struggled to his feet as a ringing was now evident in his ears and as green light glazed over his eyes, he ran. And he ran breathing heavily as the twins’ voices yelled for him and he looked back and there they were waving at him, Cedric peeking out from his own compartment and Fred bright eyed, arms high above his head yelling at him to wait for them.

Harry slammed into another body and he struggled to get himself away as a set of hands was suddenly gripping both of his arms in a sure grip. “Harry?”

Harry gasped, sudden and loud as he turned and looked up, that voice. He gripped back tight as Draco looked at him, brows furrowed. “I—No —I can’t—they—” Harry panted as he struggled for breaths and he was shaking. Draco frowned deeper, scowling at him and his eyes glanced over Harry’s shoulder before tightening his lips in a thin line.

“Follow me,” he said lowly and Harry’s hold on him was unwavering as he was stirred all the way back to the end of the train.

And Harry at that moment, could only grip him tight.

---

Son of a bitch

Draco swiftly manoeuvred them pass the loitering students in the train, aiming for the lone compartment at the very end that he had claimed for himself. The hand gripping his left bicep was downright bruising and Draco would have admonished Harry for it if it wasn’t for the worryingly fast breaths that the boy was gasping out. In hindsight, he should’ve probably expected this kind of reaction all things considered. But then again Harry seemed to be more than a little bit composed when they met—save for when they were in Madam Malkin’s shop, he definitely saw panic in the boy’s features—and all his letters where full of sarcasm and quite honestly friendly so Draco thought that he was annoyingly handling this whole time warp well.

Draco grimaced; the first time he was Awake he had a whole meltdown. It wasn’t pretty and the night terrors were wonderfully constant. He should’ve known better, he guessed he should applaud Harry for lasting this long without having a panic attack. He just wasn’t expecting it to be in the middle of the crowded and cramped Hogwarts Express, ready to depart in a moment’s notice—on second thought, it was perfectly valid. The place was entirely stressful—But he guessed, even the boy-who-lived is no match for seeing dead talking faces.

The hands on him were shaking, “Harry,” he coaxed the boy as he opened the door to the compartment. “Harry, listen to me alright? Breathe slowly now,” he said as he tried to deposit the boy on a seat. He attempted to untangle the hands from his arm but they wouldn’t budge. This just seem to make the boy panic even more as Harry furiously shook his head. Not letting go then, alright. “Harry, just listen to me. You don’t have to let go, but listen to me,” he stopped trying for the hands and just let him hold on.

Harry amazingly, nodded at him if somewhat jerkily and Draco resisted the urge to sigh. “Harry, I need you to take big slow breaths, okay?” He paused for a response and he waited for Harry to nod again before Draco continued. “Deep breath slowly in first alright? Hold it in—then out. Good, another, I’ll do it with you just follow me alright,” Draco counted them off; in, slow—one, two, three, four—out. Another, deep breath in—one, two, three, four—out. They do this a few more times until he could see Harry loosening his grip just that bit slightly. “Alright, there you go, keep breathing.” Harry did so and the grip on his arm is no more than hands grabbing for something to hold on to. Harry shakingly looked up at him and his green eyes are just that bit wide, but he’s there nonetheless.

The relief Draco felt was rather unfamiliar to him.   

“Thank you…” Harry gasped out quietly and Draco nodded in assent. There was a slight hesitant knock on the open compartment door and Harry’s grip tightened once more. Draco supressed the need to scream but he opted for rolling his eyes subtly and twisted to look, promptly scowling at the intruders.

“Um—we’re sorry to bother you but,” it was the Weasley twins, looking that tad bit uncomfortable and beside them was the other Weasley, peeking through curiously. “His trunk was with us and…uh” this one was George? Fred?

“George and I just wanted to—drop his stuff off…” Alright, this one was Fred then. Don’t ask Draco how he knew the twins’ names; even the troublemaking twins were notorious in the Slytherin dorms.

“Uh—right,” Draco said and he went to take the trunk but Harry stopped him. He turned to him then, speaking softly. “Harry, just sit down for a moment, yeah? We’ll just get your trunk and your owl’s cage inside, alright?” He gently led the boy to a seat by the window, far from the prying eyes at the compartment door. Harry’s grip was starting to tighten again. “I won’t leave, I’ll be right here, alright? I won’t leave.” He said, reassuring the boy and long seconds pass before Harry nodded and he let go if his arm.

Draco casually spun around to the Weasley twins and grabbed hold of the cage, depositing it securely on one of the chairs beside his own where Atlas was sleeping peacefully. A few awkward shuffles and the twins had Harry’s trunk securely inside as well. They turned to peek at the boy that was resolutely staring at his shoes.

“Well, uh we’ll be leaving now.” George? Said a little bit too loudly and Draco dipped his head, nodding at them as he saw the twins outside of their compartment.

“Right, thank you,” Draco said back to them, “I suppose.” He muttered under his breath, frowning.

Fred? then took one more glance at Harry and he worried his lip. “Did we scare him?” He asked meekly.

Draco does heave a deep sigh this time as he turned to looked at Harry, his head down, fists clenched tight on his jeans as he was now looking away and out the window. At least he seemed to have calmed down now, Draco rubbed a hand on his neck. “Sort of,” he said truthfully and he looked back at the Weasleys. “Thank you for helping with his trunk. Its greatly appreciated.” He said and he found, oddly enough, that he was quite sincere.

They nodded and awkwardly stood at the doorway before one of them mumbled, “Sorry,” and then they started walking away. The other Weasley didn’t move as he tried to take a look inside the compartment.

“Is he really Harry Potter?” The younger Weasley asked in a dramatic whisper. Draco wondered if it’s considered rude to throw the empty cage at him.

“Yes, yes he is.” Draco said wearily.

A hand grabbed the younger Weasley then, harshly by the collar of his shirt before he had the chance to say anything else. “Honestly Ron,” one of his older brothers said as they hauled him bodily down to the train corridors. And then the bunch of red-heads disappeared as the sound of a compartment door slammed shut ways further down the train. A loud final whistle could be heard and soon enough, the train was pumping along its rails, making its departure from platform 9 ¾.

Draco quietly shut their own compartment door closed and he turned, Harry had his head leaning against the window glass, staring at the passing scenery. And Draco hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside him, making sure to leave as much space as he could. He let the silence wash over them as the train gained speed and he watched as the cobblestones and bricks turned to lush green meadows and trees. They don’t say anything, not for a while at least and when Draco saw Harry mostly looking bored as he stared out the window, he let himself slump on the couches of the train.

“Pansy was throwing a fit when I ditched her in a compartment with Vince and Greg,” he said as he slipped out a pouch and started counting some sickles, maybe he’d buy some sweets when the Honeydukes Express comes by. Harry looked up at him and he continued. “Didn’t really care, I don’t know why no one wants to take the back compartments. Just as well, it’s nice that you don’t have to squeeze yourself along with three other nosy brats.” He pocketed the rest of his sickles as he shifted and looked fully at Harry, “And I really didn’t want to be stuck in a cramped room with Crabbe and Goyle just yet.” He murmured.

Harry’s eyes widened as he now turned his full attention to him. “Draco… “Harry trailed off seemingly at a loss for words.

Draco smirked at him but the humour was long lost, “I ran away and locked myself in my room when their mums’ took them for a visit at the manor this summer.” He shrugged; he didn’t really know why he was telling him this but he continued on regardless. “Didn’t come out for a full whole day, my own mother was not impressed.”

Harry huffed out a laugh at this and he settled more in his seat. “This sucks,” he muttered and Draco scoffed but not unkindly.

“Absolutely dreadful,” he answered.

“I think, I kind of get why you want to go back, to our own timeline,” Harry said suddenly. “I couldn’t imagine dealing with— “he cut himself off and gestured out the doors.

There was nothing to say, not really and a moment passed before Draco spoke again. “So, Dobby has taken a liking on wearing that old vest of mine. I don’t know why, the thing’s rather old, I really should’ve bought a new one.” It was odd, why he was suddenly talking this much but there was a certain nagging at him to just fill the silence at the moment.

Harry swivelled his head to him and there was a spark of astonishment when he stared at Draco. “He’s— he’s free then? Did you really?” Harry asked excitedly, eyes wide and bright and Draco flashed him a wolfish grin as he recounted the tale of the Snitch and the manor albino peacocks.

Harry’s chuckling rather merrily when he suddenly stopped and twisted to look at Draco. “Wait, hold on,” he said and squinted at him. “You cast a charm in your manor and then there was also that muffling spell in Flourish and Blotts,”

Draco raised an eyebrow at this, not getting the point. “So?”

“How?”

Draco really isn’t getting the point in this and he was sure he was making an unimpressed stare. “With my wand Harry, come on. I know you’re not actually that stupid.”

He was smacked on the shoulder before Harry crossed his arms. “Git, underage magic is forbidden unless you forgot. So how come you’re all waving your wand and walking out here without so much as a warning from the Ministry?”

“What in Merlin’s name are you talking about?” Draco asked, honestly confused.

“The Trace Draco! I’ve been sent a warning when I accidentally blew up my aunt in third year—”

“Hold on, blew up your aunt?” Draco was even more confused at this and he decided then that he and Harry were in due of a nice long chat.

“—so why didn’t you get told off for doing underage magic?” Harry exclaimed, ignoring him.

“The Trace doesn’t work like that Harry,” he said still a bit bewildered and when Harry only stared at him blankly, Draco sighed. “Here,” he pulled out his wand and pointed it in between his eyes. “Reparo” Harry’s glasses was fixed in an instant, Harry blinked and adjusted the newly mended spectacles on his face. “The Trace only knows that magic has been done, but it cannot pinpoint exactly who did the magic at hand.”

Harry frowned at this and he opened his mouth to speak but only managing a; “What?”

“We do magic outside of school quite freely since the Trace couldn’t possibly know if it was me or my mother or father who did the spell. They just wouldn’t bother to look into it. It’s quite common in wizarding households and Diagon Alley is basically a neutral point since there are about twelve dozen of witches and wizards there performing magic all the time. So, the Trace is useless there.” Draco explained and Harry scowled deeper before spouting a rather impressive string of expletives.

“Absolute Hippogriff shit. This is completely unfair! The ministry can go and shove their wands up their—” A tapping on their window was heard and Draco saw the snowy owl flying by them, Harry continued his rant as he let Hedwig in. The owl glided through inside the compartment and perched on the other side of the couches as Harry closed the window. “Wouldn’t bother to look into a wizarding household my arse, utter dung—” Draco just sat there as Harry went on and fiddled with Hedwig’s cage and he deposited the owl on her perch.

“Hello dears, anything off the trolley?” Draco was more than happy to leave Harry on his tirade and he pushed himself up as he made his way to look at some sweets. He bought a Chocolate Frog and some pasties before turning to Harry.

“You want anything?” He asked as Harry kept muttering to himself.

“Something to feed Hedwig with,” He grumbled as he reached for his own pouch of galleons. Draco stared dully at him and the trolley-lady just shrugged as she produced a little box of biscuits and handed them to Harry. Draco blinked and as Harry swivelled his gaze to the box and up, the trolley-lady shrugged some more.

“Always had some treats stashed for the owls, although I rarely bother nowadays. Kids only has eyes for the sweets anyway. So, anything you’d like for yourself dear?”

Draco sat back on the couch as he started on his pasty and a moment later, he heard the compartment door slam shut as Harry made to sit down beside him. Hedwig was now munching happily on a biscuit and was surprised to see Atlas enjoying one too. Harry tore off the head of a Chocolate Frog as he slumped down on his seat.

Chapter Text

The night air was brisk and Harry tucked his robes closer to himself as he and Draco made their way out of the Hogwarts Express. “Honestly, I could have been doing magic all along this time and I just sat there reading Fantastic Beasts, twice.”  He complained once more and forgive him for being so cross because honestly. He looked to his right and saw Draco smoothing his robes down before joining him on the platform.

“Actually, I think it was best that you didn’t do any magic at all when you’re at the Golden Mug.” Draco said offhandedly and Harry narrowed his eyes at him.

“Why?” Harry said testily and Draco froze for a moment before looking over his shoulder, seeming to remember that they were in the middle of a crowd of bustling students before sliding up to him close enough so he could whisper in his ear.

“Our,” Draco subtly pointed between themselves, “magic maybe…perplexed at the moment because of this little trip to the past that we find ourselves in.”

Harry scowled at that before whispering back. “What do you mean?” They positioned themselves all the way to the end of the throng of first years as Hagrid’s lamp came into view.

“I got my wand a bit earlier this summer,” Draco explained. “Of course, I took no time at all on the spell castings and promptly found myself setting fire on the curtains on more than one occasion.”

“Firs’ years to me now! Come on get along, follow me! Hey there, Harry!” Hagrid waved at them when he spotted them at the very back of the group and Harry waved up in greeting.

“What do you mean? You lost control?” Harry sidled up a bit more to Draco as they continued to quietly whisper amongst themselves. The students were talking loudly and excitedly as they walked their way through the dimly lit path.

“In a sense, but I think,” Draco’s eyes glanced at him before focusing on the uneven road ahead of them. “We’re technically seventeen and our magic has been trained and honed to be able to do advanced magic beyond the average child here.” He gestured to the lot of first years as they all stopped in front of the Lake. “We’re eleven now and we’re not supposed to be able to do so much as the standard levitation spell yet and believe me when I say I was doing more than a Wingardium Leviosa.”

“So, what? We can’t do all the spells we’ve learned in the Past?” Harry asked a bit unsettled, he unconsciously felt for his wand in his pocket.

“No, that’s the problem, we could. I’ve tried it, but since we’re stuck here as children once again, our magic is more than a little confused. So, when we try for spells, it comes out in bursts and more powerful. So, we have to be really careful when we cast, especially you.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?” Harry turned to glance at him and Draco gave him a look that was a mixture of disbelief and astonishment.

“Harry, you’re one exceedingly talented and powerful wizard. And you’re more than likely to blow things off on the offhand that you decided to do a random Incendio.”

Harry stared and frowned at Draco, not knowing what to say. The compliment was a surprise even if it was done in a rather backhanded way and Harry was perturbed at that. He was saved from his thoughts by the sounds of the students exclaiming and awing in excitement as Hogwarts came into view and they started to board the boats. They walked down the path, Harry making his way to an empty boat when he heard a croak by his feet and stopped. He looked down and Draco peeked as well when a large toad made a noise and blinked its eyes at them.

“Is that— Neville’s toad?” Harry asked amusedly and Draco raised an eyebrow at that.

“Probably,” the blonde boy searched around them before spotting a teary-eyed Neville along with Hermione. Hermione. Trying to console Neville as she patted him on the shoulder. “Hey, is this your toad?”

Then Hermione looked up at them and Neville did too as Draco scooped the toad up and presented it to them, wrinkling his nose slightly as it wiggled. “Oh, Trevor!” Neville exclaimed as he took the toad away and cuddled him in his hands.

“I told you we’d find him, thank you.” Hermione said addressing Harry and Draco and it was to Harry’s delight that the boy looked unnerved by being thanked by Hermione Granger of all things. Harry elbowed him on the side and Draco scowled at him.

“Hey!” A voice interrupted them and four heads swivelled and there was Ron, sitting on a boat with a confused look on his face. “You’re Harry Potter,” he said and Hermione and Neville turned to Harry as he forced himself not to grimace. Neville stared with wide eyes and Hermione just regarded him with a curious look.

“Harry Potter?” Hermione asked and Harry resisted the urge to squirm. This was ridiculous, this was Hermione for Merlin’s sake.

“Yes, nice to meet you.” A moment of indecision before Harry thrusted his hand out to Hermione and she shook it with a wonder in her eyes.

“Hermione Granger,” Hermione said introducing herself as they shook hands.

“Wait, why are you with him then?” Ron cut through and all of them turned to look at the red-head boy, he seemed a little put-off by them staring at him but he continued talking. “You’re Malfoy, aren’t you?” He shot to the blonde beside Harry. And Harry could feel Draco stiffen slightly, before straightening himself up and a look of indifference crossed his features.

“I am,” Draco said in his most condescending tone and Harry frowned at this.

Oblivious as ever, Ron went on to speak addressing Harry then. “My brothers said so, they said that the boy you’re with was probably Lucius Malfoy’s son. So why are you with him?”

“Excuse me?” Harry probably knew where this was going but he couldn’t help but frown deeper at the boy.

“His father was a follower of You-Know-Who back then and was probably a Dark Wizard himself,” Ron ranted on scowling heavily. Neville shifted uncomfortably as he stood there clutching his toad, Hermione on the other hand, seemed to watch the exchange with rapt attention.

Harry felt Draco shift ever so slightly and when he dared a glance, he saw that the boy had his fists clenched with a cold and blank look on his face. Harry found he didn’t like that, not at all. Harry grabbed Draco’s sleeve abruptly and the blonde boy turned to him. “I know,” Harry said in response and turned to stare squarely into Draco’s eyes. “And I don’t really care.” Harry spun around and started pulling the blonde away.

In the short distance, he could hear Ron splutter in befuddlement and Hermione’s voice echoing through the night—really, that was very rude of you. They obviously know each other—

As Harry stopped, he heaved a sigh and turned to look at Draco. The boy had a look in his eyes that Harry couldn’t identify. It was a sharp assessing stare that Harry had to glance away from, he dropped his hand on the boy’s sleeve.

“That’s probably the last boat you know.” Draco drawled out, his tone was even and they both twisted to look as the boat floated to the lake. There was Ron sitting in place as he heavily frowned at a talking Hermione, Neville quietly on the side, looking unsure.

Harry sighed, “damn it.” Draco snorted softly and crossed his arms as he turned to look across the Black Lake. Harry began to search around him, thinking maybe they could find a Thestral and fly their way over the Lake, when a shifting in the water was heard. Harry darted his eyes around before spotting a lone boat a little way away on the side. Harry blinked and titled his head as he studied the boat, there was an odd sort of nagging feeling in the back of his mind. Shaking his head, he nudged the boy beside him. “There, look there’s one more.” Draco raised his eyebrows at this but before he could respond, Harry was dragging them both on the boat and then they were crossing the Lake with the Hogwarts castle looming proudly ahead of them.

They were reaching the tunnel ahead and it was blissfully quiet between the two of them. Lost in their own thoughts when there was a soft splash to Harry’s left and he shifted to look. He could’ve sworn he saw a set of fins but as he blinked, the water was still—saved for the currents that their little boat was making. The tunnel obscured his view before he could look further and in a moment, they joined the other students as the doors to Hogwarts opened with a great screech.

It was disorienting, walking down the halls of Hogwarts as a first year again. Harry thought so, as they all followed McGonagall down to the antechamber where she would address the students and lecture on about the sorting. McGonagall turned to the nervous students and as her eyes caught his, she gave him a rather imperceptible nod and Harry smiled at her. Her eyes quickly flitted to the boy beside him but she continued on as she addressed the whole lot of them and explained the sorting ceremony that was about to begin. Whispers broke out as the air of unease seem to envelop the first years but Harry just marvelled on, looking around the halls, Draco was subtly roaming his eyes as well. McGonagall left them then and the students burst into rapid talking, Harry saw Ron with Neville a few rows forward looking quite irate at Hermione when she started to rant, voice loud amongst the others as she excitedly rambled fast about all the books she’d read.

The ghosts came around them and as they passed through the walls, screams of surprise ran through the whole lot as the transparent beings floated quite jollily as they took delight in scaring the new students. “You can go to them you know?” Draco leaned close to him as he whispered. Harry shifted to face him but found Draco staring resolutely at the closed doors. “You don’t have to stick with me.”

Harry turned his head to the doors too and watched as the ghosts flew by them. “I know,” he murmured back and he nudged Draco slightly on his side. “I’m here anyway.”

The doors opened as McGonagall returned and she ordered in a loud stern voice to form a line as they were led out into the halls, and then they were walking through the big entrance of the Great Hall. They were greeted with the noise of students, already seated at their respective tables. More loud excitement then, as they eyed the first years walking down the middle and Harry was never going to like all the eyes that was looking at them. The students then quieted down as the Sorting Hat was placed on top of the stool and soon enough, it begun its song.

It was a moment of the students hooting with hurrahs as the song ended and then the sorting had begun.  

“I don’t remember it being this boring the first time around,” Harry whispered impatiently as he leaned over Draco’s shoulder who was lined up in front of him, the Great Hall applauded and some of the students stomping their feet as the hat boomed out Hufflepuff.

“Now, now, Harry, don’t be a prat. This is an important ceremony after all.” Draco said, but the amusement was there and he rolled his eyes as the hat yelled out another Hufflepuff. Harry chuckled as the hat sorted the students one by one. A few more first years were sorted and a moment later, Draco shifted a little as he turned to him and stared, a smirk quirked on his lips. “See you on the flip side, Harry.” He said and Harry’s mouth twitched as Draco spun around as his name was called out.

“Malfoy, Draco!”

Draco then sauntered up the steps and he sat down smoothly on the stool as the hat was placed on top of his head. Harry remembered the hat shouting Slytherin almost instantly the first time around and he expected nothing less. But the hat seemed to do a double take at the boy and as it settled itself on Draco’s head; it didn’t shout immediately. Harry could see Draco frowning as he turned his head up as if to look at the hat. Harry raised both his eyebrows at this, a minute passed by and nothing yet. Harry straightened up as he focused all his attention on the blonde boy on the stool. Another minute, and there were subtle whispers going around the tables. Harry frowned but before he could contemplate further, he heard the hat and he could’ve sworn it giggled before bellowing to the hall; “SLYTHERIN!”

There were loud claps among the Slytherin table accompanied by polite ones amongst the others. The hat was removed and as Draco left the stool and started toward the other Slytherins, he shot Harry a wide-eyed look. Harry raised an eyebrow at this. He kept his eyes on the blonde boy and as Draco sat down on the Slytherin side of the hall, he casted one more look over his shoulder at him.

The rest of the students were called out and Harry was still darting back and forth between looking at Draco and the sorting hat when his name was finally called out. “Potter, Harry!” The low murmurs started as the students around him began to stare as he strode to the stool.

‘Harry Potter?’

‘The boy with the glasses?’

‘That was Draco Malfoy he was talking earlier too, right?’

Ignoring all of this, Harry sat down and stole one more glance at Draco before the hat was placed on him and his vision was obscured by its brim.

“Hm?”  The hat hummed and a moment passed when nothing was said and Harry’s brows raised further. “HA!” Then there was boisterous laughter in his ears, loud and the sound shocked Harry so much that he swivelled his head up to stare at the hat, only to fumble with it and grabbing it securely when it threatened to fall off. The hat was still laughing a rowdy sort and Harry could only blink, mouth slightly agape.

Um—

“Oh Mr. Potter, I should thank you! I haven’t had a laugh this good in over a millennium!”  The hat seemed to dwindle down a bit, but it was still chuckling quite merrily. “It was quite a surprise to have sorted your friend there. I couldn’t believe it, but what are the chances of me getting to sort the two of you for the first time again!”

Harry’s eyes widened and he resisted the urge to turn in Draco’s general direction. You know sir? Who we are? Our Past?

“The thoughts of the mind tell no lies, Mr. Potter, and as such I tend to see one person’s whole being.”

Harry’s heart sped up as he addressed the hat, Then sir—

“Unfortunately, I cannot help with your apparent time predicament Mr. Potter, for I am here for the sole purpose of sorting.”

Harry sighed a bit disappointed; he guessed it was too much to hope for a hat to be able to help them. Then, this should be an easy decision.

“Is it, Mr. Potter?” The hat purred and Harry frowned at this. “Bravery in your very core, Mr. Potter and bravery you have proved then. It served you well and now you’re here being sorted again. You were so adamant of being sorted the other way, but— “He could practically hear the hat grin, “I believe you’re not so much as opposed to being placed in the house of your fellow time travelling friend.”

Harry’s eyes widened. Slytherin? Harry then thought back to the first time that he was sorted. How the hat seemed to want to place him there instead of Gryffindor, but Harry was insistent then. Slytherin being the least favourable house of the students at hand, he could only ask not to be placed there when all he heard was disdain and derision for the house. He adored Gryffindor, he was happy with his own house. But Slytherin? Harry’s mind whirled and he could now hear the murmurs louder this time and when he peered down at the Great Hall; the eyes were still staring at him. He immediately looked at the Slytherin table and away. But I don’t belong in Slytherin.

“You don’t? I beg to differ, Mr. Potter. I meant what I said even before, greatness will surely come to you with the aid of Slytherin house.”

But I don’t want greatness! Harry protested, quite stubbornly so. I want to figure out how we got into this mess! I want to fix this, I want to— I want—Harry stopped short and he breathed in deep. His mind swerved to Sirius’s grin, the soft smile on Remus.

“These things you want and these things you desire! Ambition is also within you Mr. Potter, even if you deny the thirst within you, you know what you want then—what you want to achieve in this twisted phenomenon that you find yourself in.”

Harry fell silent, he gulped down, not knowing what to say. I—he stopped, but what could he say? When the hat was blatantly telling him the things that he thought off, as he twisted and turned in his bed at night.

“You look around and find yourself yearning for something different.”

Harry swallowed again, it’s still all in his mind. The thought of saving his godfather, of saving everyone that had perished in the war. Draco wanted to reverse the apparent time lapse that they were in, but…Harry doesn’t know anymore.

Is that what you think?

“It’s what I know, Mr. Potter. The question is; what do you think?” The hat seemed a little bit too smug in his ears as Harry sighed. Then a savage form of resignation flitted in him as he gritted his teeth. “Will you stop at nothing to attain what your heart truly desires?”

Harry clenched his hands on his lap, twisting his robes in a mess and steeled himself. Yes

“Then I think we both know where you belong. Better be— “The hat laughed once more, a resounding thing and bellowed, “SLYTHERIN!”

The hall was eerily silent as the hat was removed and as he glanced up, he saw McGonagall looking quite astonished. Harry avoided her gaze as he swiftly slipped off the stool and he hurriedly made his way to the Slytherin table.

All of the eyes trained on him, they watched him meekly make his way to the Slytherin side and Harry avoided everyone’s gaze. Until he chanced a look and he caught Draco’s eyes. He found the boy staring at him, grey eyes wide in disbelief, his mouth agape and Harry flushed slightly at the attention. He slid quietly beside the blonde boy and looked up at him, Draco was still staring in astonishment. Suddenly annoyed, Harry crossed his arms at him, a little bit petulant and nudged the boy hard with his elbow. And as Draco registered the fact that Harry was apparently sitting beside him, he abruptly barked out a chuckle that ripped through the otherwise quiet hall. Draco then broke into a wide grin, beaming unabashedly before he started to laugh loud and full.

Harry thought he had never seen the boy smile and laugh this freely.

That seemed to wake the other students out of their stupor, as an older student in Slytherin started to clap rather tentatively and slowly but soon the other students was clapping along and the table was alive with the applause of Slytherins and the rest of the Great Hall followed in a somewhat uncertain way.

Harry was flushed scarlet as Draco continued laughing and was now holding his sides. “Stop it!” Harry hissed as he elbowed the boy again but this only seem to make Draco laugh harder, he threw he head backwards as he roared amongst the dwindling applause. The heat on Harry’s cheeks burned as he was sure he was still red on the face and he grabbed the plate in front of him as he started to smack Draco with it. “Will—you—stop—!” Harry gritted out in between hits and Draco threw his hands up in surrender.

“Alright! Alright, sorry— “He gasped as he avoided another hit from Harry, he wiped his eyes and was still giggling slightly as he came down from his high. Harry put the plate back down on the table and crossed his arms once more and glared.

“This is amazing,” Draco sniggered some more. “Absolutely amazing.” He turned his eyes to Harry and there was something mirthful and devious that glinted within them.

They heard McGonagall continue the sorting and if there was a slight stammer to her voice, no one seemed to notice. The Great Hall was properly distracted by now as the whispers were a constant flow of hisses and glances thrown at the Slytherin table.

“Quiet down will you,” Harry said lowly, thoroughly embarrassed at how the nearby students were gawking at both him and Draco. Draco relented and settled down but a grin was still on his face.

“You were a while there,” Draco said lowly as they tried to ignore the stares and made to watch the rest of the sorting. “I’m guessing the hat had a nice little chat with you.”

“The hat is a smug little shit. I bet he enjoyed that he got to finally sort me into Slytherin,” Harry grumbled. “It wanted to put me here the last time.” He saw Draco give him a strange look.

“Huh, is that so.” The sorting then ended as Blaise Zabini was sorted into Slytherin house and the boy slid on to Harry’s other side.

“Well, that was a show, wasn’t it?” He said but not unkindly. He twisted to Harry then, a considering look on his face but Zabini just nodded his head at him. “Say, is the hat always that jolly when it sorts?” He asked the table as a bunch of third years looked at him in bewilderment.

The feast went on and after Dumbledore’s absolute nonsense of a speech, the long tables where suddenly filled with delectable dishes and the students seemed to forget the chaos of the sorting as they began to tuck in. Harry was content with that; he began plating up potatoes and roast chicken on his plate. He subtly stole a glance at the High Table and grimaced. Snape was staring at him with a contemplative look on his face and Harry grabbed the plate of peas before looking away.

Bloody Merlin, Snape’s my Head of House. Harry thought as he shoved a delicious piece of roast chicken in his mouth. “I hope Snape isn’t insufferable as he is the first time.” He murmured to Draco and the blonde tilted his head as he chanced a quick glance at the High Table and quickly ducked down before he replied to Harry.

“Don’t count on it, although I’ll never know what Severus is thinking. Last time I know, he despises you.” Draco said and Harry rolled his eyes at him. Harry took one more look at the professor when Quirrell then moved and obstructed his vision as he made to speak to the potions master, Harry promptly glanced away. He Absentmindedly rubbed his scar and pointedly stared down at his plate. If Draco noticed this, he didn’t say anything as he begun to ate.

The students were bustling with chatter as the feast ended. And soon enough, they were all making their way towards the doors of the Great Hall with the prefects ushering the lower years to follow them to their respective common rooms. Harry was bemused to say the least, as he made to follow the Slytherin prefect that was leading them down to the Dungeons. There was an unspoken agreement, as he and Draco held themselves at the very back of the line of the first years, avoiding as many ears as possible and making themselves invisible as they got lost in the throng of robes and busy bodies. Draco leaned a bit closer as he whispered amongst the buzz of talking students. “You know what Dumbledore was talking about regarding the third-floor, right?”

Harry had to remind himself that Draco had absolutely no clue on what he had been up to for the past six years, he oddly wondered what he’d think about the actual dragon that they had freed from Gringotts. “Of course,” he said impassively.

“Any chance of you sharing the absolute mystery of it all?” Draco drawled out, unimpressed and Harry rolled his eyes at him as they stopped in front of a seemingly blank wall.

“Probably,” Harry replied as the prefect turned to the wall and said the password.

“Opaleye,” the wall then seemed to split as bricks rearranged itself to make way for a heavy looking door. Harry forgot how dramatic the entrance was to the Slytherin common room and he wanted to laugh but then he remembered, that this was essentially his dormitory now. It was a bit of a struggle as they pushed themselves in, feet shuffling and bodies squeezing through the doors as the new students wanted to finally take a peek at their home for the rest of their stay at Hogwarts. And there it was, with the green fires of the hanging lanterns, the huge glass windows that reflected the waters of the Black Lake, comfy looking couches and the great fireplace flickering along. Harry deftly noticed the row of desks on one side of the room and also noticed the portrait of a big serpent hanging on top of the fireplace.

“Welcome to the Slytherin common room,” Draco muttered smugly beside him and Harry only rolled his eyes at him.

“I’ve been here before, it’s not as impressive as you think it is.” That was a bit of a lie, the Slytherin Dungeons looked much more spacious than the Gryffindor Tower, but he’ll never admit that to Draco.

“I beg your pardon?” Draco raised an impressive eyebrow at that and Harry stuttered on his thoughts as the prefect droned on about the rules and the way to the dormitories.

“Well,” Harry started and contemplated an excuse, but Draco crossed his arms and just scowled at him. As they were led to the boys’ dormitory, they hung back as Harry explained their little excursion on the dungeons and the Polyjuice fiasco that Hermione had brewed.

“Granger made Polyjuice potion? In second-year?” Draco exclaimed if a bit too loudly and Harry shushed him as the prefect left the first-year boys to their own dormitory. Harry was actually a bit glad that Draco was more impressed that Hermione brewed the potion in the girl’s bathroom, rather than them sneaking up on him and following him down to their common room. “Gryffindors, honestly.” Draco exasperated as Zabini threw open the doors and made his way inside the dorms.

The dormitory was a big rectangular room, with one big floor to ceiling window adorning one wall and a fireplace on the other side. A set of sofas were scattered surrounding it, along with an impressive looking table made of dark wood, a metal chandelier hung above them and Harry blinked at it. There were doors opened, leading to huge and wide alcoves that lined one part of the wall with sconces adorning between the expanse of one and the other, through the open doors Harry could see two sets of beds inside it. Harry turned owlishly to Draco as he took in the dormitory and the boy shot him a smug smirk.

“Right!” Zabini suddenly said to them as he stuck his head in one of the rooms. “Two beds in there and I say we toss a galleon to pick who’re we’re rooming with.” He raised his eyebrows at them and Harry twisted around to his fellow housemates—Merlin, he really was in Slytherin— Crabbe and Goyle threw a look at one another before shrugging and bidding them a good night as they trotted off to the alcove nearest the fireplace. “Or just pair up like that, no problem.” Zabini scratched his head and Draco snorted as he crossed his arms.

“Impressive feat on attempting to separate them, when they’re joined at the hip since they were babies.” Draco said and Zabini just shrugged nonplussed. Zabini then raised his eyebrows again at the rest of them and Harry awkwardly glanced at his remaining housemates. There was one other boy at the side, looking quite bored who just shrugged one shoulder uncommittedly, Harry dug in his mind and thought that the boy’s name was Nott.

“Um— “Harry said dumbly, not knowing what to do. He turned to look at Draco who was eyeing the room near the window. Zabini then eyed the two of them before he snorted loud and Harry made to look at the amused face of the boy.

“Looks like you’re with me Nott, come on then.” Zabini said to the boy with dark blonde hair as they moved to their own room, the boy only crossed his arms as he followed along.

“Honestly, my name’s Theodore you know—”

“Pleasure to be rooming with you Theo, call me Blaise.” There was an indignant sound as the two boys made to secure their own room and it was just him and Draco left in the first-years’ common room. There was a moment when the two of them didn’t say anything and Harry only shuffled on his feet. Well, I wasn’t expecting this. Harry thought as he watched Draco rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. After a moment, the blonde boy glanced at Harry and sighed.

“Come on,” he mumbled and stalked to the room near the window, Harry followed him inside. The room was wide, there were two four-poster bed adorned with dark green drapes and beddings separated by nightstands on either side of them. The dressers were pushed along the walls and their trunks were surprisingly there already. Harry marvelled as he walked his way to the bed closest to the window, this one as impressive and big as the one outside. The view of the underwater Lake was nothing short of mesmerising. There was shuffling behind him and he saw Draco claiming the bed near the wall, he pulled his wand out then and casted the sound muffling spell.

“I didn’t know the Slytherin dormitories had separate rooms,” Harry admitted as Draco started to strip his robes off and change into his pyjamas. Another wave of his wand and the doors closed, Harry nodded in approval when he heard them locking themselves and he made to change as well.

“What, Gryffindor just threw you lot in a pile?” Draco asked as he sat on his own bed, nearly sprawling as he leaned back on his arms.

“Pretty much,” Harry said as he folded his robes in a pile and hung them on a side chair. “There were five of us in one room.” He heard Draco scoff and Harry pulled himself on his bed by the window. He sat upright and threw the covers over his legs; he’d wondered if these were much plusher and softer than the one in the Gryffindor tower or he was just tired and adored the warm blankets.

“Blaise did that thing with the galleon too, the first time…” Draco said quietly, suddenly, and Harry turned to him and saw the boy staring out the window with a glazed look in his eyes. “Vince and Greg were not having any of it of course and stuck together then too. So, us three ended up tossing the galleon and Blaise roomed with Theo before then as well,” a grin was shot at Harry’s direction. “I got this room all to myself.”

Harry smiled at this and he dropped his head on his knees, thinking. “Do you really think we’ll be able to fix this?” Harry murmured to him and he doesn’t know if he meant the time displacement or his own desire of saving his godfather.

“I hope so…we need to,” Draco muttered and that glazed look was back again. “I don’t know what I’ll do if we don’t.”

They sat there, in the quiet room with only the sound of the lulling waters for company. Harry then drew his wand out, idly playing with it before his mind drifted to the conversation they’ve had going to the Black Lake. He flicked his wand in one movement and casted. “Lumos” a burst of light shone through the tip, only it was much too bright and Harry flinched throwing his other arm across his face as it glowed some more. “Knox!”  Harry hastily said. He rubbed his eyes as he attempted to drive away the spots, blinking rapidly.

“Fuck,” he heard Draco curse under his breath and saw him blinking fast as well. “You really should learn and cast some spells right now if you don’t want to catch the attention of the whole school year.”

“Might as well,” Harry said grimacing a little, he twisted to Draco who was contemplating him for a moment before holding up his wand once more.

“I’ll help you about controlling our spellcasting, if you tell me the whole mystery surrounding that third-floor.” He offered and Harry debated for a moment, just a split second before nodding resolutely.

“Alright,” he made to face Draco as the boy stood up brandishing his wand, Harry followed suit as well. There was a thud on the window and Harry spun and just about glimpsed a tail swimming away from them. Harry frowned but ignored it as his mind was already running through all the spells he knows and then he and Draco started to practise immediately. “Do you know about the Philosopher’s Stone?”

Harry talked, as lights floated around their room in bursts and glowing brightly, surely igniting through the window and illuminating the lake in a light show for the underwater creatures to see.

And even after all of his exhaustion, sleep didn’t find them that night.

Chapter Text

Draco was still flabbergasted and horrified come morning when they were making their way down to the Great Hall. “Mental, all of it. Dumbledore is as insane as they say,” he ranted on. “The great dumb ponce decided it was alright to keep the Philosopher’s Stone of all things inside the castle grounds when he suspected a deranged lunatic was out there to get it.”

“Well,” Harry started, although he was quite distracted staring at the green accents on his robes, frowning down at them with a rather puzzled look. “I gave up on understanding the plots of Dumbledore.” He tugged on one of his sleeves and hiked his bag higher on his shoulder. “I frankly, do not care anymore.”

They strode down the halls, where students were outright staring at them as they walked by. The constant whispers were starting to grate on Draco’s ears and he threw more than one glare at a passing Gryffindor who downright stopped and gawked. Harry only stared forward and resolutely tried to ignore the nosy students.

“And Quirrell?” Draco asked low as they neared the Great Hall. “Is he really— “he gulped down as Harry turned his attention to him. “Is the Dark Lord really attempting to revive himself even now?” The whisper was lost in the noise of the students and Harry shuffled closer to him.

“Yes,” Harry said darkly and glanced around as a group of Hufflepuffs passed them by, whispering as they eyed the two boys. “And keep it down, will you.” Draco swallowed sudden nerves and he breathed in deep as they made their way to breakfast. It was unnerving, that this early on the Dark Lord was active in his bouts and it was even more unsettling that he apparently found his way inside of Hogwarts this easily.

Draco’s hands were sweaty as he made to wipe them down on his robes. He looked at Harry as the boy pulled him down at the table, away from the other students as they settled themselves. It was a marvel how the boy had faced all of this in his first year and a strange new light shone as he continued to stare at Harry. Harry then twisted to look at him, seemingly to squirm a little as he grabbed a plate and started to fix himself some toast. “How did you manage all this?” Draco asked in quiet awe. “You were only a child then and still; how did you deal? With all of it?”

Harry paused to nibble on his toast, “I didn’t, not really,” he murmured. “Not thinking seemed to work.” he shot him a wry grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes and Draco decided to drop it at that.

“You’re a mystery Harry Potter,” Draco drawled as he poured himself a cup of tea. “A stupid mystery if I’ll say so myself.” Harry snorted at this. There was a scuffle at the entrance of the Great Hall, they looked up just in time to see Theo being hauled by an exasperated Blaise to a seat, he waved a good morning to them as Theo blinked blurrily. “Theo’s a right sunshine in the mornings.” Draco said as Harry waved a hesitant hand at them. It’s just then that Draco caught the eye of Pansy scowling heavily at him and he suppressed a grimace as she impatiently gestured for them to come over.

“Shouldn’t you, I don’t know sit with them?” Harry peeked over his shoulder as Draco just rolled his eyes at Pansy and dismissed her. They could hear her shout an indignant squawk. “She sounds real cross.”

“She’ll get over it. A little tantrum and then she’ll be distracted by some gossip and then forget all about it.” He made to butter himself some toast and then saw Severus striding down from the High Table, giving his Slytherins their schedules. The professor passed by them and as he handed the boys their own sheets, he took a long glance at Harry and Draco resisted the urge to snicker before promptly shutting up when Severus turned his piercing stare to him. He left them then with a flourish of his black robes.

“You know,” Harry started as he squinted at the retreating back of the potions master. “I sometimes think if he’s already figured us out.”

“That’s just Severus,” Draco said as he eyed their timetable and grimaced.

“Why? What’s our first class?” Harry asked as he turned to peer at his own sheet and slumped down as he finished his toast.

“Charms, apparently.”

Draco wanted desperately to say that their impromptu spellcasting lesson last night was a success, but even he could not deny the fact that it was going to be a standard shitshow as they sat at their classroom in time for Charms.

“Maybe I should just, set things on fire and get it over with.” Harry said dully as they made themselves scarce at the very back of the room. Isolation is becoming their favourite companion these days. The Gryffindors were there as well and Draco can’t help but notice Harry casting the occasional glance at them.

“Or maybe, you shouldn’t do the incantation at all.” Draco said as Flitwick made his appearance and climbed on his stack of books as he introduced himself to the class.

“On second thought, I can’t possibly set anything on fire, right? It’s just a levitation charm after all.” Harry tried, either trying to convince himself or Draco but it was a weak attempt considering the shifty looks he’s giving the feather that was settled on their desks. Flitwick started on the roll-call then, one by one the students deemed themselves present and Draco raised his hand as he was called.

“Well,” Draco thought for a moment, they should be alright considering. They did only practice Harry’s usual spells that night and it’s a work in progress but it wasn’t as bad as Draco would have thought. But Harry did manage to blow a lamp off its hinges when he tried for a Ventus. They heard a squeal then and turned to see Flitwick tumbled off his stack of books. Their professor righted himself up as he called Harry’s name again.

“Harry Potter!” the professor all but exclaimed and Harry slipped down his seat a little as he raised his hand in attendance.

The class went on then as Flitwick discussed the levitation charm that they’ll be doing today. He made them practice the incantation and wand movements separately and Draco had thought that’s all it was going to be when Flitwick urged them at the end of the class to try the spell themselves. Of course, none of the students did it successfully the first try as the professor was expecting and Draco was beginning to think that they would end the lesson scathe free when Granger, the overachiever that she is, started to levitate her feather.

“Oh, marvellous! Well done Miss Granger!” Flitwick gushed out as he awarded Gryffindor five points.

“But of course,” Draco drawled out lowly. “I was hoping she’d flunk this time around.” Harry elbowed him on the side.

“Shut up, she’s brilliant.” Harry hissed at him but a smile was plastered on his face. They were getting used to whispering amongst themselves and thought they were doing a pretty good job at being subtle, that is until Flitwick turned to them.

“Ah! Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter! Why don’t you try as well, hm?” And the Charms professor had a certain awe look in his eyes as he addressed them. He looked eagerly at Harry and then alright, maybe it wasn’t their whispering that made the whole class turn to them in attention.

“Um— “Harry trailed off as he looked at Draco wide-eyed.

“Go on, go on! Everybody try again as well, but this is wonderful. Go on now,” The professor was now standing in front of them quite expectantly and Draco bit his inner cheek to refrain from saying something offensive. Harry took his wand at the ready and Draco did too, after on more glance at the boy beside him, he thought to just get it over with.

“Wingardium Leviosa” Draco chanted out and for a moment he thought he was unsuccessful before the feather jumped up quick in the air as if it was a ball being tossed and it almost reached the ceiling before it whizzed down just as fast before decelerating into the appropriate hover that the charm was supposed to do.

“Well,” Flitwick blinked as he stared befuddled at the levitating feather. The rest of the class was now staring at him and Draco wanted to throw his desk at them. “Perhaps a little bit strong on the wand movement there, uh—but good job Mr. Malfoy.” Shaking his head in apparent confusion, Flitwick turned to Harry. “Now you try Mr. Potter.”

Harry snapped his gaze away from Draco’s feather as he broke the spell off, he gave Harry a little nudge before the boy lifted his wand hesitantly. “Wingardium Leviosa” Harry pointed his wand out and at first nothing happened, nothing at all and Harry blinked as he twisted to look at Draco, but then Flitwick was encouraging him once more. He could see Harry biting his lip and Draco braced himself as the boy took a deep breath and did the incantation with more power behind his voice. “Wingardium Leviosa!”

Draco knew he would succeed this time even before Harry finished his wand movement. It’s just that, Harry may have forgotten that he was supposed to be levitating the feather and instead aimed his wand ways ahead. The spell burst forth and its target was the heap of books in front of the class. The books scattered in all direction; a fast blur of leather and papers as Harry’s spell did its marvellous job. Students at the front shrieked as they ducked for cover and as the books fell with the same velocity as Draco’s feather did, they swooped down moving slower as they stopped in an impressive form of dishevelled books levitating in mid-air.

Harry slipped down his chair to hide as Flitwick spluttered, confused as ever and Draco sighed deep as he hit his head on the desk.

---

“That wasn’t such a disaster after all,” Harry tried as they made their way down the corridors of the halls towards the library. He saw Draco shook his head at him and run a hand down his face.

“Well,” Draco started, slowing down his pace as a bunch of older students passed them by and boldly pointed at them while whispering in glee. “Could be worse,” he heard Draco sigh and then lowly added; “I’m much more surprised that I lost control there considering that I’ve been doing spells all through the summer.”

They had free period then and they both agreed it was best spent in their research for their time warp problem. “Any theories?” Harry asked as they slipped through the mostly empty library. A few students scattered here and there and they found a nice hidden table in one corner.

“Maybe,” Draco dumped his bag then before turning to Harry. “I’ve never really put much thought on levitating spells then, so I haven’t been practicing those kinds of basic charms. I guess my magic hasn’t really settled down yet when I use first-year spells.”

Harry hummed in thought as he placed his bag as well on the table. “So, practice and constant use of spells to counter the bursts of magic from us, is that it?”

“Pretty much,” Draco said as he turned to look at the massive aisles of books in contemplation. “And I’m positive once our magic has gotten over the shock of the time lapse, it’ll settle down by itself.”

Harry mused this over and glanced at Draco, seeing the boy eye the rows and rows if books in frustration. “How do you even know all of this?”

“An incredible amount of observation, but mostly a whole lot of guesswork and trial and error.” Titling his head at this, Harry mulled it over in his head. As such, he was constantly astounded at how Draco managed to just take one glance at something and provide a reasonable and profound explanation.

Harry had forgotten, in the Past, Draco usually held the second top spot in their year for most of their subjects, only behind Hermione of course. His Potions ability was also something not to laugh about, he’d always seen the boy brew a perfect if not decent enough brew that it was actually annoying. As Harry loathed to admit it; he had earned his house more points in that subject than anyone in the Slytherin class combined. That and Snape really just favours his Slytherins. But that’s beside the point, he was surprisingly grateful for Draco at the moment for having the wits to actually know how to progress things, he’d have fumbled his way through this if not for him. Harry had to remind himself; Draco is meticulous and smart.

Harry too eyed the towering books of the Hogwarts Library and sighed wearily. “What do you reckon then?” He asked as Draco started to move in an aisle, scanning books too advanced for any normal first year to be looking at.

“I don’t know,” Draco said and there was that faint weariness in the boy’s voice. “Start somewhere, find something I guess.” It was there from time to time; Harry could hear it in Draco’s voice. The bone deep tiredness and that glazed look he wore when he was unknowingly staring at nothing. He had been Awake longer than Harry and from what Draco had told him, have been researching non-stop ever since. It was draining the boy; Harry could see it and a certain pang of guilt hit Harry then.

“Draco,” Harry started as the boy took a book off a shelf. Harry then took out his wand, “Muffliato” Draco frowned and then slowly turned to him fully. “Do you still think we’ll find something here, reverse the time lapse that we got lost in?” Harry blurted out and he was edging on dangerous territory, he knew it when the boy frowned deeper at this.

“We have to Harry. We’re an anomaly here and whatever happened was a mistake, you know that,” the boy’s grip on the book was tight and Harry bit his lips. “You’re still thinking about it, aren’t you?” Draco murmured to him and Harry avoided his gaze.

“I can’t stop from thinking it Draco,” he admitted. “They’re all still here, all of them. Alive, the war hasn’t happened yet and— “Harry stopped, he feels like he’s uselessly repeating himself but there was this urge to just try and convince Draco to see.

This new possibility, a new turn.        

“This is not right Harry,” Draco insisted, a desperate note in his voice. “This is a—a slip! A mistake, we’re a mistake here—”

“We’re not a mistake!” Harry exclaimed, eyes wide and Draco matched him in stride with an angry twist in his features.

“Yes, we are Harry! All of this isn’t supposed to happen! Me talking to you or you being sorted in Slytherin! What do you call all of this if not a mistake?”

“How about a second chance?” Harry shot back and he could feel the fierce stubbornness in him to just make the boy see. Draco scoffed at him.

“There’s no second chances in this Harry,” Draco turned away as he opened the book blindly, the dullness in his eyes more vivid than ever and Harry hated it. “There’s no second chances for me, not anymore.” Draco whispered. “I did what I did and dues have to be paid.”

Harry could feel his heart drop and there was a little sting burning in his eyes but he ignored it all, because—No. Harry won’t stand for that, not when he saw what Draco truly did, what he really meant. That lowering his wand was not a thing to be brushed away. He lifted his hand and made to grab the other boy’s arm; Draco flinched hard but Harry held on as he pushed the sleeve up baring his left forearm to them.

“You did, and I’ll never know why you did any of the things you’ve done.” Harry held on when Draco tried to shove his hold on him.

“Let go of me.” Draco gritted out.

Harry shook his head. “But I saw you then, in the tower,” he continued and Draco stopped at this, he could feel the slight tremble in the boy’s arm as he gazed at him. “And now, I see a chance for something else. A clean slate,” Harry stole one last glance at the boy’s forearm before releasing him and straightening up to look at the blonde boy in front of him.

Draco was staring at his forearm, a deep frown creased between his brows but that blankness in his eyes was gone, replaced with something akin to doubt and a tinge of sadness. “I— “The boy started to say but trailed off, Harry broke the spell surrounding them.

“I’ll go and take a look at some books on advanced spells, I’ll meet you at our table.” Whatever Draco planned to say was lost as Harry walked away, but Harry was on a one-track mind then. He hoped, he dared hope.

Harry never really thought he was subtle. A bit short-tempered maybe—a lot—, reckless most definitely but this is the first time that he’d truly seen how blunt he could be. He was sitting at their table in the library, having grabbed a fourth-year level spell book. Harry was intent on brushing up his arsenal of spells, but he was thoroughly distracted by the boy beside him. Draco had a piece of parchment in front of him as well as his ink bottle and quill. Harry guessed he had been thinking of taking notes on whatever he’d deem worthy of importance regarding their research for the time lapse.

But there he was, with one book in front of him staring at the first page with no intent of actually reading it and casting glances at his left forearm quite often. Harry shifted; it had been unnervingly quiet since then. At first Harry just discarded this, having thought on leaving the blonde boy to his own devices and mull things over. But after a half an hour of complete nothing, not even a sound from Draco, Harry began to feel just that little bit rueful for going off at him.

Well, it wasn’t honestly an angry spat, not really, just him trying to make a point. Harry slowly closed the book and turned to him. “Draco…” Harry didn’t really know what to say, he just thought he ought to say—something. But Draco was staring at his left forearm again, this time rubbing it dazedly. Harry gulped, “Draco?”

The boy finally looked up this time, blinking at Harry as if he had forgotten he was there. “Yes?” He said quietly and there was that blank look in his eyes again that made Harry stopped short and closed his mouth.

“I… um—” Harry glanced away and started to pack his things just to keep his hands busy. “Defence should be starting soon,” he tried and when the boy only continued to stare at him, Harry held out a hesitant hand and gently touched his shoulder. “We should…probably head to class now.”

That seem to at least register in Draco’s ears. “Right…” he mumbled and began to gather his untouched parchment along with his other things, placing them deftly in his bag. Harry watched as he stood to return the books to their proper shelves and Harry could only follow him out the library.

Defence Against the Dark Arts was as disappointing as he remembered it to be back in first year, save for the occasional prick on his scar whenever he was around Quirrell. It was irritating and it grated on Harry’s nerves. Harry ignored it mostly and to be honest, he was paying more attention to the blonde boy beside him. Stealing glimpses at Draco from time to time, but other than that, it was mostly uneventful. Draco was silent, all throughout the class and his stolen looks from the boy were lost, disregarded as the boy only stared straight ahead.

It was just as they were exiting the library once again after the day’s lessons that Harry had had enough. By some unconscious thought, they headed to the library after classes with the same results as before but this time, Draco didn’t even bother to sit at the table with him. Just stood in the middle of an aisle with a book held in his hands and Harry doubted he actually planned to open this one. It was somehow maddening and once they’d left the threshold of the library, Harry immediately took hold of Draco’s sleeve and stirred him away from the constant on-lookers that followed them throughout the day. With a single purpose in Harry’s mind, he found them an empty classroom, locking the door and quickly casting the muffling charm. Harry turned to the somewhat puzzled looking boy. He was gratified to see a reaction from him.

“I’m sorry,” Harry blurted out and Draco frowned at this but he pushed on. “I didn’t mean to—to upset you.” He didn’t know where this sudden desperation came from but he just couldn’t stand that blank look anymore.

“Harry,” Draco started, frown still on his face but Harry cut him off.

“Just, let me finish.” Harry hurried to say, taking a breath as he twisted the wand on his hand. “I know what I said, I meant it. I really do, I’m not going to take it back and I’m not likely to change my mind but,” he swallowed down a nervous lump and went on. “I am sorry for pushing you.”

Silence then inside the classroom, for a moment Draco just stared at him, not saying anything. And Harry dreaded to think if he somehow messed up this hesitant friendship that they found themselves in. Friendship. Harry would like to think that, no matter if it took them a war and a time lapse, he had this genuine want at an attempt of friendship with Draco Malfoy.    

Draco’s gaze fixed on him, those steel grey eyes searching his face and Harry stared back unflinchingly. Then with slow languid movements, Draco pulled out his left forearm and pushed the sleeves up, revealing pale skin. He ran his fingers on it in a distracted caress before wrapping tentative fingers around it. “It was disorienting at first, I didn’t know where I was. I thought I was dreaming you know.” Draco said quietly, eyes fixed on his arm. “It took me a few days of being Awake to finally acknowledge the fact the I was there, at the manor back to being a child.” He dropped his arm then and lifted his head to look at Harry. “I was desperate then, so, so desperate. I didn’t want to be there, to be walking those halls again and when I thought I had to relive it all, I knew I couldn’t. It was over Harry; it was finally over and then—I found myself at the beginning and I couldn’t.

“So, I searched the manor, up and down for books on reversal spells for this time lapse. I know it was a weak attempt, I didn’t even know how I got back there to really know where to start. I just had to get away and a month passed, then two, I was starting to give up. But then—you were there.” Draco’s gaze on him was set and honest and Harry could only listen. “You were there and you remembered and I knew I had a shot at this, of us reversing this time lapse. But then you had to go and say all those things, to say you’re prepared to live all through those years to save the people who died and it was frustrating and annoying.”

“But I have to try Draco, it’s a chance and I have to try.” Harry pleaded and to his surprise Draco gave him a smile. It was small, but it was a soft thing and terribly honest.

“I know you do and that’s just the thing. Here you are, running head first and me wanting to run away.” A breathy laugh then, a self-depreciating laugh. “I’ll never be as brave as you are Harry Potter, I don’t think I’ll ever be brave. But if somehow, you’re willing to try then— “Draco swallowed and a small glint appeared in those eyes and Harry hoped. “Then perhaps I could try too.”  

And that was enough, it was more than enough. Harry smiles.

It was such a tiny thing to be happy about. But Harry couldn’t help but feel elated, he didn’t even know why he was but it was such a giddy feeling that left him smiling as they made their way out of the empty classroom and down to the Great Hall for dinner. Draco eyed him before rolling his eyes and elbowing him on the side. Harry shoved him back and just out of pure childish spite, he stuck his tongue out. Draco twitched an eyebrow at this and Harry was pretty sure he was about to snide something about it when a frazzled looking Hermione rounded the corner with an impressive stack of books in her arms, whipping her head around wildly.

Harry didn’t really get a chance to talk to her or any of his previous friends or housemates for that matter and found himself missing her suddenly. “Hey,” he said walking towards her with a small huff from Draco as he reluctantly followed along. “You okay there?”

Hermione turned sharply at them and Harry winced a little at the crazed look in her eyes. “What,” she said slightly breathless.

“Um,” Harry hesitated for a moment, taking Hermione in. “You look a little bit, well stressed at the moment. Do you need help with anything?”

“Oh no, I was just on my way to the library again but I got lost. I mean, I found it this morning but this castle is just so huge and they really should be handing out maps to the first years. But I should really be going because flying lessons are due in a few days and I don’t know how to fly a broom and I reckon the library has an instruction manual on brooms. I need to read them fast because if I don’t, I’ll surely won’t be able to fly a broom properly and I’ll end up failing this class!” Hermione rushed out in one breath and Harry blinked at her for a moment, watching the girl pant.

“Manuals? On broomsticks?” Draco asked in a bewildered tone. “There are no instruction manuals on flying brooms. Merlin—” Draco started but Harry elbowed him on the side pointedly.

“But there must be! How would we learn on how they operate and the techniques on effectively flying— “

“That’s what the lessons are for Granger, honestly.” Harry about stomped his foot on the git if not for the on-going panic on Hermione’s face.

“What Draco means to say is,” Harry said a bit too loudly and Draco crossed his arms at him. “That the lessons will surely teach us everything we know and the professor surely is an instructor brilliant enough that you don’t need to worry.”

“But—but flying! I need to prepare myself; I need instructions. The library surely has some reading materials regarding the ethics of broomsticks handling.” Hermione sputtered out.

“I honestly don’t think you could read your way through this one.” Harry mumbled out and Hermione was close to tears that he quickly admonished, “but— I’m sure Madame Pince would help you out if you ask her Hermione, the librarian you know. And um, the library is there, just go straight and turn right.”

Hermione’s bright eyes rounded on them, obvious relief showing through. “Oh, thank you! Um, you’re Potter and Malfoy, right?”

“Oh um, yes, but call me Harry.” Harry said but she seemed well distracted as she held the books tightly in her arms and begun to run towards the library hall.

“Thank you! Both of you!” She called out as she zoomed past them.

“What is she thanking me for?” Draco asked him, completely losing track of what just happened as they stood there and watched the girl disappear before making their way to dinner. “And what in Merlin’s name is she on about manuals and brooms?”

“Oh, that’s just Hermione,” Harry mused and they were lost in the noise of the students as they entered the Great Hall. Ignoring the whispers, they managed to separate themselves far enough that they wouldn’t be bothered at all. Troublesome and annoying it is, whenever some of them would spin around from their own table and just gawk with no amount of shame. Harry was still smiling though as he ate with gusto.   

Harry was still truly mesmerised at how the waters reflected in their bedroom. He couldn’t really believe that the Slytherin dormitories were actually under the Black Lake, it was quite something to experience waking up to, with the sight of water all around him. It was quite beautiful, really. That’s what Harry was musing about as they settled into their bedroom, robes changed into their night wear and door shut closed with the muffling spell in place. Harry was standing in the room wand drawn, practising more spells but a lull held between them and Harry was staring out the window.

There was something about the moving waters that fascinated him. Draco also stood, hovering over his bed seeming to be lost in thought as he too gazed out the impressive window in their room.

“Did the Grindylows ever bothered you by aggressively knocking on the glass?” Harry suddenly asked.

“Not even, the merpeople had a handle on them quite nicely.” Draco mused as he sat down on the floor, leaning back on his hands as he did so, watching the waters flow. Harry joined him with nothing better to do, he was sure he was making progress on settling his magic then, a break sounded nice. It was minutes of comfortable silence and Harry revelled in the peace and quiet. It was such, that he had this moment to truly relax and he savoured it.

“Instruction manuals, honestly,” Draco muttered under his breath, Harry gently nudged him on the side.

“Don’t be mean, it’s her way of understanding things. Books are her first love after all.” Harry said, the silence resumed then before he saw Draco tilt his head to the side as if in thought.

“Speaking of flying,” Draco drawled and he rolled his head to look at Harry, a wolfish smirk was plastered on his face. “I seem to remember you being recruited on the Quidditch team thanks to the little stunt I pulled in the Past.” Harry raised an eyebrow at him and rolled his eyes at the smug look Draco was giving him.

“Yes, you arrogant git. And no don’t even think of throwing Neville’s Remembrall this time. That was really mean of you.”       

“Come now Harry, now that you’re in Slytherin, I’m quite sure Flint would be besides himself if you’d play Seeker.” Draco drawled.

“Stop it, no more of tormenting my friends’ stuff for your amusement and we don’t even know if I’ll be on the Quidditch team this time. If you’re forgetting, Snape’s my head of house now. I doubt he’d be much more forgiving than McGonagall.” Draco only hummed at this but when Harry twisted to look at him fully, there was that mischievous glint in his eye as he regarded Harry.

“Well, we’ll never know unless we give it a shot, no?”

“Stop that and what about you, huh? You’re Slytherin’s Seeker.” Harry argued, the scheming look on Draco’s face was a bit unnerving and Harry resisted the urge to whack him with his wand.

“Please, I’d rather play Chaser if I could help it,”

“Chaser? But you were made Seeker in second-year. Why didn’t you try out for Chaser then if that was what you wanted?”

“I did try out for Chaser. I’m a much more decent Chaser than Seeker anyway. But the Seeker line up was a complete disaster. But then Flint, the big idiot, had this brilliant idea for me to try out for Seeker, seeing how fast I was compared to the other brutes and when I’m the only one who managed to catch the Snitch; he handed me the position right then.” Draco grumbled, ranting out his frustrations.

“Still, no stunts this time Draco.” Harry was still a bit wary of the sly look on the blonde boy and he crossed his arms at him. Draco scoffed at this and tilted his head as he looked at him, a grin plastered on his features.

“No promises, but I’ll try” Draco said.

A shadow flew by them and they both twisted to eye the window. They caught a glimpse of a long green tail swimming by and it disappeared further down and deeper into the depths. Harry sighed as he saw he had his wand drawn unconsciously and peeked that Draco had his own wand up too. Lowering it down slowly, Harry opted to lose himself in his own thoughts.

“I wasn’t lying you know,” Harry murmured quietly, when Draco made a questioning hum, he shifted to look at him. “I don’t remember really—anything. Except for I was on a boat in the Black Lake then— “he paused, brows scrunching up in thought. “A boat…” Draco leaned forward to him; a query lost in the silence of the room. Harry shook his head, “But I’ll try to remember, I’ll try and then if—when we find how we got here and if there is a reverse spell for all of this then—then…”

“Then we’ll talk,” Draco finished for him and it was gentle and reassuring. Harry found himself nodding minutely and there they were, sitting on the floor with the waves of the Lake idly lulling by, a wordless agreement settled between them.

Chapter Text

Taking first-year lessons again were as boring as Harry had thought they would be. History of Magic was as dull as ever, Herbology was interesting enough for them but Harry was eyeing the Devil’s Snare with contempt as Sprout lectured about how the plant would likely strangle its victims. They never talk about Astronomy, with the rigid way Draco held himself as they looked at their telescopes, it was worth not mentioning, if ever at all.

Transfiguration classes were a bit more exciting, if not amusing.

They were sat in pairs—he and Draco immediately found the furthest desk at the back of the classroom and quietly listened as the lesson went on. And then as they were presented their matches to be turned into needles, Harry only stared at it warily. “Any notes on Transfiguration spells?”

“Nothing useful, aside from just do it.” Draco grumbled and Harry suppressed a grimace as McGonagall was checking each desk for their progress. She eyed them and Harry suppressed the urge to shrink down on his seat because she was sure to be heading their way then. “Would you mind casting an Incendio to set the matches on fire?”

“Settle down Potter, I don’t actually want to end up in detention.” They both shut up as McGonagall neared their desk and Harry stiffened as she laid her eyes on him. McGonagall merely indicated the match with a tilt and Harry bit his cheek. Well, here goes nothing, Harry thought as he lifted his wand and pointed it at the match. And well— the match turned into a needle and Harry blinked in surprise. “Oh,” he exclaimed as he stared at the now needle on his desk, he turned towards Draco who was leaning forward to look more closely at Harry’s work.

“Well,” McGonagall said as she examined the needle. “Impressive feat Mr. Potter, I don’t suppose you’ve done much Transfiguration before?”

“Not at all Professor,” Harry immediately said and he could feel Draco’s feet kick him under the table.

“Figured as much,” the professor eyed the needle once more before turning her stern look at Draco, “your turn Mr. Malfoy, let’s see how well you do.”

Harry could guess Draco would very much like to roll his eyes, but he did lift his wand and attempted to transform the match. A flick of his wand and in a second, the match did transform into a needle, but not before their desk suddenly shimmered and was then transformed into a shiny metal that Harry was pretty sure was silver. Draco’s eyes widened as he paused for a moment and then slowly tucked his wand away, McGonagall only blinked at the now silver desk.

“I must say quite remarkable, Mr. Malfoy,” she said as she rapped her knuckles on the desk, “I’d say you have a natural talent for the art of Transfiguration.” She eyed Draco at the top of her glasses and Harry resisted the need to squirm for him. She then tapped her wand on the desk and it returned to its original form of dark wood. “Accidental magic, notwithstanding.” She regarded them with a look before awarding Slytherin five points before walking away.

“That woman is too sharp for her own good,” Draco whispered when the other students began to pack their stuff and head for the door.

“Tell me about it,” Harry muttered as they hurried their way out of the classroom.

“Mr. Potter,” McGonagall called and Harry turned to her as she beckoned him to her teacher’s desk, Draco looking a tad bit apprehensive shrugged and told him he’ll be outside as he left Harry to fend for himself. “How is your week of classes treating you?” She said as he walked in front of her.

“Quite fine professor, it was fun going to the greenhouses when we had Herbology.” Harry replied, a smile gracing his face. McGonagall, to her credit, smiled too.

“Good, good,” then she seemed to consider him for a moment and Harry held himself still as he fixed his smile, cheeks starting to strain. “A curious question, Mr. Potter if I may,” she said suddenly, “and please don’t take this the wrong way, just if you’ll kindly indulge this prodding old woman.”

Harry’s fingers twitched where he held the strap of his bag, he suddenly felt nervous but nodded nonetheless. “Of course, professor.”

A beat, before McGonagall asked evenly; “How did you happen to befriend Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter?”

Harry’s smile fell almost instantly but he quickly forced a look that he hoped was puzzlement in the pretence of his childish façade. “He was getting his robes fitted at the same time as me, ma’am,” Harry said, “and then he showed me where to buy our books and I guess we just stuck together then.” Not a lie, but not the full truth either.

McGonagall eyed him for an anxious second before giving him a smile that he now finds genuine, Harry’s lips curled and he found his smile become that bit wider. “I see, very well then. Now go along Mr. Potter. I’m sure you’ve kept Mr. Malfoy waiting long enough,” she dismissed him and Harry nodded his goodbyes before making his way to the door. “And Mr. Potter,” he stopped as the professor called for him again, he twisted to look and saw a gentle smile on her face. “I meant no offence. I’d like to make that clear, please send my regards to Mr. Malfoy. It is truly great to see you making friends Harry.”

Harry walked away as she returned to the stack of papers on her desk. He was quickly out in the hallway and found Draco leaning right outside the doors, jerking his head to the corridor whilst raising an eyebrow at him. They hastily made their retreat. “You heard all of that?” Harry asked and Draco nodded his assent as he looked over his shoulder.

“Too sharp for her own good, I tell you.” Draco said and Harry just shrugged.

“At least, she seemed to blame your impressive talent for Transfiguration on accidental magic, no?” Harry taunted just a little bit, raising his own eyebrow and Draco elbowed him on the side, hard.

“Shut up, Harry.”

Friday rolled by and Harry has half a mind to just skip Potions all together. They were at the Great Hall attempting at breakfast but Harry was just glaring at his timetable and his bowl of porridge.

“Stop mulling and get over it. Severus hasn’t said a word to you ever since you’ve sorted into Slytherin.” Draco said as he spread some jam on his toast.

“That’s just it, he’s bound to lash out at some point.” Harry replied. The sound of flapping wings disturbed the students and then there was the usual flock of owls diving through the Great Hall as they delivered letters and packages with eager hoots. Or it was because the feathered creatures kept eyeing the food on the tables. Hedwig landed in front of him as she deposited a letter for him to take with a tilt of her head, Harry fed her some bacon before cooing at her. He opened the letter and read that it was from Hagrid, the very same one that invited him for tea after their classes. “Hey, come with me to Hagrid for tea.” He abruptly said to Draco as he scribbled a reply for Hedwig to carry off to the half giant.

“Why would I do that?” Draco asked as Atlas landed then, delivering a letter along with a package.

“Because he’s my friend and he’s invited me for tea, so it’s only polite to go. Come on, you’ll meet Fang he’s Hagrid’s boarhound.”

“Bold of you to assume I’ll be tempted to agree with the idea of meeting the mutt.” Draco said distractedly as he read his letter, he stroked Atlas’s head for a moment before feeding him a treat. Harry rolled his eyes as Draco tore into the parcel. He returned then to his porridge and was pouring himself some pumpkin juice when a box was slid in front of him and he blinked at it before looking at Draco.

“What’s this?” He asked as he eyed the shiny green packaging.

“Sweets, from my mother. She sent you one as well.” Draco said as he began to open one himself. A soft look crossed his features as he made to pick one elegantly decorated truffle.

“She sent me sweets?” Harry asked, surprised and he opened his own to see some delectable looking chocolates and as Harry leaned a little closer, he was mildly surprised to smell berries as well. “Why?”

Draco paused on drinking his tea, the side-eye he gave Harry was a little bit suspicious. “Well,” he started, hesitating for a moment. “She saw you in Diagon Alley right? And she may have been a little bit persistent on whom I’ve been writing to this summer.” He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking abashed. Harry wondered if that was a nervous habit of his.

“Sure…” Harry said, still not getting how that would make Draco’s mother send him chocolates.

“And… I may have written to her about you—you know being sorted in Slytherin and all, and how we’ve ended up as roommates— “A slight flush was on his cheeks and was positively turning away from him, Harry on the other hand felt his lips tug into a smile. “And apparently, Pansy babbled to her mum about how she’s being ignored and that we’re always together these days.”

“You wrote about me to your mum?” Harry teased; a full-on grin plastered on his face. Draco flushed a little bit more at that and shoved his shoulder but Harry only giggled at this. “Much appreciated, tell your mum I said thank you.” Harry slid the box closer to him and picked one rounded chocolate with a nicely drizzled sauce. Harry momentarily forgot his apprehension on their Potions class as he savoured the hint of strawberry in the chocolates.

Harry shouldn’t be nervous as he is then. After all, his apparent dislike for Snape and the constant scepticisms about the Potions Master was flattened at once when he got lost in the man’s memories within the pensive. Snape did despise him, he did. But the reasons for those were much more complicated than Harry thought. But he could admit that there was now this unbridled deep respect for the potions master that Harry couldn’t dredge up his usual scorn.

Harry’s leg was bouncing up and down and Draco had to kick him more than once for him to stop when they sat down for Potions. Not a moment too soon, Severus Snape came gliding into the room, all of his menacing form and look off indifference pointed directly at the students. Hid dark eyes immediately landed on him and Draco and Harry straightened a bit more on his seat, noticing Draco sitting upright as well.

The little speech of Snape at the start of the class had the students’ attention focused entirely on him. The roll-call was a little nerve wrecking, Harry could see the students shift and glance at each other looking stumped at their Potions’ professor. “Ah, Harry Potter.” Snape called out as he landed on Harry’s name. Harry braced himself for the oncoming jab that he remembered, but Snape merely regarded him for a moment before continuing on.

Harry had his eyebrows raised at that and when he turned to look at Draco, the boy was a little perplexed as well, but he just shook his head at Harry in a slight manner and Harry compelled himself to look at the front of the classroom. No dig at the apparent fame professor?

“Most of the dunderheads that I teach are beyond incompetent and loathsome that I take offence at their dishonour on the subtle art of potion making.” Snape started as he strode forward to the front of the classroom. “Let’s see here then. I ask you this; powdered root of asphodel is then added to an infusion of wormwood, what do I hope to achieve?” The professor suddenly asked and it’s just typical of him to put the students on the spot. Of course, none of the students raised their hands. Save for Hermione who immediately shot hers up, making Neville flinch beside her. Snape then turned to the students before barking out; “Potter,”

Harry, even though he somehow expected this, was startled at the sharp tone and Snape snapped his eyes to him. “Um…” He thought for a moment. In all fairness, Harry was not entirely lying when he’d admitted to reading some of his books last summer. Including, Magical Drafts and Potions. “A—sleeping potion—” Harry scrambled for the words and he saw Draco swivel his head at him with eyebrows raised high.  

Snape—Harry could see, had a little twitch to his brow. “Quite right,” Snape slowly said. “Would you happen to know the name of this said sleeping potion?”

“A draught,” Harry thought for another minute before straightening up on his desk and looking directly at Snape. “Draught of Living Death.” Harry said surely and his eyes shifted a moment to Draco before hastily adding, “Sir.”

“Correct,” Snape drawled out, a considering hum was heard then before he started down the line of desks. “Now tell me; if I wanted for you to find me a bezoar, where would you look?” Hermione’s hand raised again at once but Snape ignored it of course. Snape’s back was turned away from Harry and Draco though, and it was just a bewildering thing to see Draco shaking his head slightly to his right and realised, that he was signalling Hermione to put her hand down. Hermione, to her benefit, seemed to notice this and her hand faltered a bit. Snape immediately spun to his and Draco’s table then, “Potter?”

Harry wanted to laugh; it was thanks to the half-blood Prince’s book that he even knew what a bezoar is. Just as, he could feel the rigidness on Draco beside him. He sometimes does that, whenever something reminded him of the Past that he particularly wanted to bury forever. The wine Slughorn had poured him and Ron flashed into Harry’s mind. And Harry could only move his leg a little bit to nudge Draco from his stiff posture, an attempt to comfort. “Bezoar, it would rescue you from poisons,” Harry blurted out.

“Yes, but only most poisons Potter, not all.” Snape corrected him then. “And its apparent location when it needs to be found?” Snape pressed on and there was this slight glint in his eye, but then it was gone. Regardless, Harry saw it and there was a jolt of pride when he had answered Snape correctly. He could also feel Draco starting to relax a bit.

“A goat sir,” Harry was pretty sure it was. He thought for a moment, before adding. “A bezoar could be found in the stomach of a goat.”

“That is correct,” Snape was now standing in front of their desk, looming over them and regarding him with a strange look. His eyes seem to flit to Draco for a second then, another curious look and Harry noticed Hermione putting down her hand in a rather sulky way. “And the difference between wolfsbane and a monkshood?”

Remus suddenly flashed into Harry’s mind and he had to push down the image, if only to focus on the present. “Difference—there is no… difference?” It came out as a question rather, but he was pretty sure it was of the same plant. He chanced a glance at Draco and a small smile was tugging at his face as he turned to look at Snape, so Harry nodded his head firmly before stating; “Nothing, there is no difference between the two plants—sir” He hastily added.

Snape drew his back up straight before giving him an imperceptible nod. “And what is the other name for the aforementioned plant,” Snape then tilted his chin up before asking, to Harry’s surprise; Draco. “Mr. Malfoy?”

“Aconite, professor.” Draco replied immediately, not at all intimidated by their Potions’ professor at all. If even, there was a hint of amusement as he said this and there was that languid smirk now.

“Five points to Slytherin,” Snape turned away from them, making a show of gliding his way to the front before brandishing his wand. “For answering your professor’s questions sufficiently.” He then ordered the students to write all the information down before waving his wand and the door to the ingredients room opened. He could hear the students scramble for their parchments, but Harry was feeling rather smug as he took out his ink and Draco bumped his shoulder in a playful shove.

“A bit dramatic of him, no?” Harry whispered when they were paired up and now was brewing the assigned potion. It was a familiar sight, to be watching as the other students groan in frustration as they threw their ingredients in. Harry was honestly glad that he had been paired up with Draco—not that there was any choice in that, really. And Harry was absolutely fine with that, the boy was annoyingly proficient at potions.

“What did you expect of Severus,” Draco said as he made to bottle up their potion, they were the first ones to finish among the pairs. “He takes potions very seriously, if you hadn’t noticed.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” Harry replied with a roll of his eyes. But then he had a sudden thought and he paused for a second before nudging Draco, who was writing down their names to label the potion. “Hey, wasn’t there something that happened in the Past in this potions’ class?”

Draco stopped for a moment, tilting his head in thought. He then stood up straight as he glanced at the table next to them. “Longbottom,” Draco uttered as Harry’s eyes widened as he remembered the disaster of the melted cauldron and they turned to see Neville, about to make the same mistake again. He heard Draco choke a little and Harry searched for Snape; he was at the front of the classroom, berating one of the other Gryffindors. Harry then threw one of their stoppers at Hermione to get her attention. It hit her on the head with a little plonk and she startled before glaring at them. But then she paused, noticing their frantic gestures to her partner and when she turned to look, a soft shriek was heard as she made to pull Neville away before he had a chance to put the porcupine quills.

Draco shook his head at them in relief and made his way to the front to submit their completed potion to Snape. Harry sighed as he started clearing their worktable, before a loud yelp was heard and the rest of the class turned just as a black smoke began to emit from Seamus Finnigan’s spot, who was partnered along with Ron. Snape barked something nasty at the two Gryffindors before vanishing their cauldron altogether.

Harry winced as the Gryffindors lost points for nearly setting the classroom on fire.

---

They had their flying lessons that afternoon and Draco was smiling just a bit too smugly for Harry not to notice. They were lining up at an open grassy land and Harry was squinting at him suspiciously. Draco only smiled wider at him.

“Whatever you’re planning; stop.” Harry said to him as they waited for the Gryffindors and the other Slytherins.

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.” He drawled to Harry. Draco in his defence, didn’t really know if Harry would end up in the Quidditch team this time. Regardless, it seems a right missed opportunity if he didn’t scheme a slight impromptu flying across the pitch. Harry crossed his arms at him as Granger strode up to them and stood at Harry’s other side, she scowled down at the brooms by the ground.

Madam Hooch came then, all fierce and piercing eyes training on the students as she did a quick introduction before barking firm orders at the first years. Draco placed his hand outward over the broom by the ground. “Up!” He said and the broom immediately went to his hand. It was a familiar feeling, being able to hold a broom and Draco longed for the feeling of flying again in the winds. The image if fire and his own screams flashed for a second before shaking his head quickly, getting rid of the unwanted memory. Harry saw him and a worried look crossed his features before Draco flashed him a smile. It didn’t seem quite genuine he supposed, for Harry kept looking at him. He only glanced down at Harry’s own broomstick before the boy sighed, saying ‘Up’ as well. Draco had to roll his eyes at how the broom flew up in a millisecond.

“Up! Up!” Granger was having no such success it seemed and when Draco peeked; the broom still lay flatly on the ground. “UP!” She yelled out in frustration before stomping her foot on the ground.

“That’s alright Hermione,” Harry tried to placate her but she seemed close to tears. “Just, calm down for a minute— “

“But I can’t do it!” She whined and the tremble in her chin is a little bit alarming. Harry turned to him then, at a loss, but he surely knows how to handle a crying, Granger. Maybe not, Draco thought as Harry fumbled for something to say.

“Look Hermione—”

“I’m going to fail! The broom won’t obey me at all! What do I do?” She spun to them sharply, a wild look in her eyes. Draco run a hand down his face and sighed deeply. Children.

“Granger, the broomsticks are enchanted, not sentient.” Draco pinched the bridge of his nose and had to remind himself that snapping at an apparent toddler is beneath him. “Just will the broom with your command.”

“But—but…” Granger stammered out as she looked down at her own broomstick tearfully.

“Look,” He heard Harry say in a placating tone. “Just calm down and try again. Don’t be scared, just one firm ‘up’.”

Granger hastily wiped her sleeve over her eyes before taking a deep breath, stretching her arm out. “Up,” she said meekly, when the broom didn’t move still, she turned in panic to them.

“That’s alright one more time,” Harry said encouragingly. Granger scowled but turned her attention to the broom, straightening herself, she called out in a loud steady tone;

“Up!” The broom this time floated about an inch and she widened her eyes before repeating the word firmly. “Up!” It was halfway through and off the ground and then Granger commanded one last time. “Up!” The broom flew up to her hand in an unsteady levitate but she held it in her hand nonetheless.

Finally, Draco thought as Harry smiled at her and she but all beamed at them and Draco shifted rather uncomfortably. Being thanked by Granger is beyond odd and Draco still found it unsettling. Harry then bumped his shoulder to him.

“Well, would you look at that,” he said in an undertone and when Draco turned to him, there was a soft amused smile lingering on his face. Draco merely rolled his eyes at him.

“Yes, yes, the little child has grabbed the broom. You should be proud.”

By then, Hooch was once again barking out orders and instructing them to mount their brooms. It was a little bit hilarious and disconcerting as Longbottom kicked off far too early off the ground and he was feet in the air by then. Draco remembered it, but expecting the event and then watching it happen is just a tad bit jarring.

“Longbottom! What do you think you’re doing, come down!” Draco watched as the boy flew up higher and Harry had a pinched look as he for sure, was seeing in the Past when the boy ultimately fell off. And just that, Longbottom did a little flair as he fumbled before slipping off his broom and then he was on the ground with a crack. Draco winced slightly as the boy groaned and then Hooch was there, helping the boy up. “You’re alright boy, not to worry, just a broken wrist.” She then turned sharply to the rest of them as they began to walk away, no doubt heading for the Hospital Wing. “All of you, stay where you are! No one will move or even think of attempting to try out those brooms without my say so!”

They watched as they turned the corner and out of their sight. Draco hid a smirk as he loftily glanced at the ground and there it was; the Remembrall. “Draco, I swear. Do not do anything or I’m whacking you with this broom.” Harry hissed as he strode up close to him, Draco grinned as he picked up the Remembrall and inspected it.

“Whatever are you talking about, Harry?” He said lazily.

“Hey! That’s Neville’s Remembrall! Give it back!” They heard the Weasley shout at them and everyone turned as they all glanced at him rather curiously.

“I’m well aware Weasel, “Draco drawled.

“Weasley!”

Draco rolled his eyes. “Whatever, and calm your knickers, will you? I’ve no interest in Longbottom’s Remembrall.” He said and Harry stared at him unflinchingly. “Here you go,” he then tossed the Remembrall at the Weasley who squawked and dropped his broom as he fumbled before catching the small glass orb.

“What are you up to?” Harry said quite lowly and only for him to hear, squinting his eyes at Draco in suspicion.

A savage grin broke out from his features as he looked directly at Harry. “You know Harry,” he said quite loudly, gathering the attention of the other students. “It’s such a shame to be just standing here when we finally got to handle brooms,” he lightly flung the broom up and grabbed its handle more firmly. “How about a little tour of the Quidditch pitch while we’re at it?”

“Draco,” Harry said in a reprimanding tone and Draco still had that devious glint in his eyes.

“No! No way. Madam Hooch said to stay here or you’ll both be in trouble!” Granger shot out at them, waving a finger in a way a parent would when admonishing their child. Draco ignored her.

“You said you liked flying right?” Draco continued, he reached for his pocket then. “And I seem to remember you had a certain fondness for Snitches.” He brandished his own Snitch at him, gleaming bright. Harry only raised an eyebrow at this before Draco winked at him.

“Where’d you get a Snitch?” It was Blaise who asked that and he could see the boy was looking quite amusedly at them.

“I bought it last summer,” Draco replied as he tossed the Snitch in the air before catching it in his hand. He then turned to Harry who was now crossing his arms, a frown on his face. “Come now Harry,” he taunted as he tossed the Snitch back and forth in his hands. “A game of catch the Snitch. Whoever catches it first, wins.” A wicked smile was plastered on his face and it was such a familiar thing, as Harry was now squarely facing him. Jaw set firm, Harry narrowed his eyes. “Hmm, you haven’t lost your touch now, have you Potter?” But this was familiar territory and Draco delighted as a glint glimmered in Harry’s eyes.

Granger was just about raging at them, “Both of you stop—”

“Fine,” Harry suddenly said and Draco raised an eyebrow at him. They’ve firmly caught the attention of all the students there and the rest of the Slytherins were murmuring with interest. “But it seems a bit boring if we’re just catching the Snitch, Malfoy. I seem to remember that you wanted to play Chaser.” Harry tilted his head. “I also propose a game of scoring more goals for the other to be declare the winner.”

“Interesting proposition Harry, but you might be forgetting that there is no Quaffle in sight,” Draco said but Harry had a thoughtful expression on his face.

“I also seem to remember seeing the Quidditch shed, right about— “Harry grinned as he pointed to a wooden barn stood just ways away from them. “There, I’m sure they won’t mind if we borrow a Quaffle for a little friendly competition.” They could hear Granger splutter in indignation but they ignored her as he stared Harry down.

“You also seem to be forgetting that there’s only two of us, or unless someone else wants to join our little game,” Draco turned to the rest of the first-years who only shuffled in their feet. Blaise on the other hand, seemed thoroughly entertained at this but made no move in joining them. Harry huffed an annoyed sound at this.

“Alright, fine! One game of catching the Snitch,” Harry exclaimed with that determined glint in him as he mounted his broom. Draco’s grin was wide as he made to mount his own broomstick. “You’re on, Draco.” There were excited murmurs now as Draco stretched his hand out and then; the Snitch was released.

“Race you then Harry,” Draco shot at him, pushing off the ground and he was off.

It was such a feeling— flying. Draco remembered how much he adored being up in the air, with the wind running wild as he zoomed past and the sky seemingly in his reach as they go higher and higher. The brisk air was exhilarating and Draco found himself breathing in and smiling big and wild. Harry then darted up beside him and when Draco looked, it was like a shock to the senses. Harry was grinning bright at him as he gripped his own broom, hair in disarray as he made a swoop to the left and Draco couldn’t help the shout of delight that came from him as he made the chase.

For a moment it was just them, flying in the air. A senseless race as they rode their brooms. They’d forgotten the Snitch, and they couldn’t care any less at the moment.

Just then, a gush of wind blew by them and there were another set of brooms on either side of the boys. Draco jolted as they slowed down a little to look who had prowled their way into their little game of flight. “Hey there! Name’s George, we’ve forgotten to introduce ourselves then. And that over there is Fred,” George Weasley was all smiles as he gestured to his twin who was flying on Harry’s other side.

“And we couldn’t help but hear your little disposition of deviancy and couldn’t resist to just idle by so,” Fred Weasley brandished a Quaffle in his hands and Draco raised an eyebrow at them in question.

“And what are we, if not accommodating to the needs of young upstarting fellow deviants,” George Weasley then pointed somewhere on the ground and Draco fully lifted both his brows so high in puzzlement. There, below them were floating broomsticks, pairs of them standing horizontally with a significant space in between in what Draco could only guess to be the approximation of the Quidditch goal hoops. It was low, barely a few feet off the ground but even more surprising were the Slytherins and a few Gryffindors who were levitating the broomsticks, partnering up and positioning a few feet apart from the other pairs.

Draco could just about recognise Theo and Pansy as one of the pairs and he was pretty sure that those were Millicent and Greg too, the other pair were Gryffindors and then there was Blaise. Who was also riding his own broom in front of the make-shift goals, waving excitedly at them. Draco guessed he was playing Keeper.

“So, what do you think, gents? Fancy a tiny bit of interhouse competition?” Fred Weasley asked and Draco turned to Harry who was looking back and forth between the twins, a little wide-eyed. Draco threw him a worried look but as Harry glanced back to him, the smile he shot was a genuine sort of devious. Draco grinned and as he turned to the twins, they were already throwing the Quaffle between them.

Now, Draco couldn’t have that now, could he?

He shot forward as the Quaffle sailed the air, catching it before it could land on the hands of the twins. Dashing down towards the goals, he made to score and the Quaffle soared through in the middle of two broomsticks. He flew up again and saw one of the twins gather the Quaffle as he tossed it to his brother. They threw it amongst themselves attempting to score but Draco swooped down in a form of interception as he grabbed the Quaffle again. One of the twins chased him attempting to shake the Quaffle out of his hands but he dodged sharply and then aimed for the goals, he scored one more time. The twins scored back and then they were tossing the Quaffle in fast moves, Harry then surprisingly stole the Quaffle from them and Draco shot off for the goal, hand up, to signal Harry for a pass. Harry did, but the pass was a little low and Draco darted off the ground to catch it and swerved upright, he flew fast and shot the Quaffle through the goal.  

“Blimey kid!” One of the twins exclaimed as they were gearing up for another play, but then the Snitch made an appearance.

It whizzed past in front of Draco and that’s when he knew. That this time, it was Harry’s turn to fly.

Harry darted fast between the twins and Draco smiled as he made himself to land on the ground, he spun around to watch the Seeker. Harry was a blur of Slytherin robes as he tailed the snitch and it was a marvel. The Snitch was a golden blot but Harry’s eyes seem dead set on it as he flew with unrelenting speed. And Draco found himself strangely fixated, as Harry, small as he were in that moment, glowed in the afternoon sun as he reached out his hand to catch the Snitch. But it suddenly darted down, and Harry was on it not a second long, diving after the Snitch in one fell swoop. A quick thing, as he was nearing the ground and Draco felt his breath hitch as Harry manoeuvred his broom suddenly and he pulled hard upwards.

Harry then took a lap, slowing down and there it was in his hand, raising it up high, was the Snitch. Draco grinned as Harry made to land and the boy stumbled into him as he mounted of his broom. Harry was all wide smiles and he was giggling uncontrollably as he grabbed Draco. And Draco was laughing too, he steadied Harry in his arms, straightening themselves up, he could see Harry wiping his eyes as he grinned.

“Mad. Absolutely mad you are, Draco Malfoy,” Harry panted out as he gathered himself, showing off the Snitch to him. Draco crossed his arms, but he couldn’t help throwing him a smug smirk. Then, he was aware of the applause and whistles all around them and saw that the first years were surrounding them with awe in their faces, the levitating broomsticks now down and in their respective students’ hands.

The twins were there, landing on their brooms as well with matching mischievous grins and somewhat looking impressed. “Bloody hell, you two are unbelievable.”

“Quite,” A new voice tore through, startling them and Draco and Harry found themselves twisting around to face Severus. The students immediately scrambled away and hastily formed their lines once again on the pitch, as if that would be enough to dissuade the potions’ master in pointing his attention to the misbehaving students. But Severus only glided through the pitch, his gaze intent on Harry and then eyeing Draco. “I suggest you all right yourselves and pretend to behave before Madam Hooch decides to make her reappearance.” He turned his look at the students, he gave them one more meaningful look before spinning on his heel, “Potter, with me now.”

And Harry sighed in defeat as he threw Draco his Snitch. “You’re a right prat, you are,” Harry mumbled, Draco shot him a grin.

“You too, Mr. Malfoy,” He heard Severus said and Draco’s eyes widened as he turned at the professor who stood a few paces away, waiting for them. He threw Harry a look of bewilderment but the boy had his eyebrows up only shrugging before following Severus, Draco reluctantly started off too. “Those two, Weasleys,” Severus’s sharp voice cut through and they saw that the twins were starting to sneak away before they slowly turned their heads to the professor. “As I loathe to not be taking points off from Gryffindor, but this matter is out of my hands at the current moment. For your head of house seems to be on her way to do an impressive form of reprimand as we speak.”

“What in Merlin’s beard is happening here?!” McGonagall then came stomping her way across the grounds and they saw the twins’ flinch. Severus strode off and Draco and Harry made to follow as they heard McGonagall go off at the twins shrilly—Absolutely appalled at exhorting students, younger than you! I might add! And—no! Don’t try to wiggle your way out of this, Mr. Weasley—do not attempt to fly off!

They walked back into the castle halls and while Draco is sure that they’re not completely in trouble—maybe? He couldn’t help but think that perhaps, that little stunt might actually land them in detention. Severus said nothing as he continued to lead them down the halls and Harry was shooting glances at him in question. Draco could only shrug in answer, he wasn’t sure at all what Severus was thinking. They stopped at a door, and with firm knocks, Severus waited with his hands behind his back.

“Ah, Professor Snape, a surprise visit, no? To what do I owe the pleasure then, Severus?” The Charms professor asked as he opened the door.

“Do pardon the interruption Filius, but I need a quick word with Marcus Flint,” Severus said and Harry shot him a look behind the professor and Draco just about grinned.

“Mr. Flint?” Flitwick disappeared as he went to call for the requested student. Not a minute passed when the Slytherin Quidditch captain came out of the door and raised his eyebrows at Severus, he eyed the two first-years behind him but paid them no mind.

“Professor Snape,” Flint greeted, a question creasing his forehead.

“Not to worry Mr. Flint, I simply want to inquire about the Slytherin Quidditch team,” Severus started and Draco refused to show any amount of glee as he glanced at Harry. “You are thinking of replacing the current Slytherin Seeker, is that correct?”

“Yes professor,” Flint replied, confusion over his face. Severus then turned to the side so that he wasn’t blocking them anymore. Harry shifted a bit closer to Draco and he could see the slight-wide eyed look Harry was giving them.

“Due to a rather… spontaneous display at the first-years’ flying session this afternoon, it is made to my interest that Mr. Potter here,” Severus inclined his head to Harry, “should be endorsed to try-out for the Seeker position in your Quidditch team.”

At this, Flint’s eyebrows rose in an impressive manner, “Is that so professor?” He said as he made to look at Harry in contemplation.

“Quite so,” Severus cooly said and Draco’s mouth did twitch at this but when he caught the professor’s eyes, he schooled his expression quickly. “Also,” Severus started again, returning his gaze to Flint. “Do make sure Mr. Malfoy appears at the Quidditch try-outs as well. I do seem to recall that there is an open spot for potential Chasers.” Draco nearly chocked at that and he swung his head to Severus but the professor was wearing his usual mask of indifference.

If possible, Flint’s eyebrows rose a little higher before he eyed the two first-years, crossing his arms and tilting his head. “Huh,” he started, “yes… We do need one new Chaser for this year’s new Quidditch season.” Flint considered them something curious and then he turned to look at Severus. Severus gave a firm nod and Flint nodded back in understanding before turning to them. “Quidditch try-outs are this Sunday afternoon, I’ll see you lot there.” And with another nod to Severus, he was dismissed.

Severus turned to walk away and Draco for the life of him, is a little more than floored. He turned to Harry who was gaping just a little bit. With nothing better to do, he followed Severus along the corridor with Harry in tow.

“Erm, Se-professor?” Draco called a little uncertain and Severus just gave him a look before focusing straight ahead.

“Do remember to be subtle next time you two get such extraneous ideas, I expect more from my Slytherins.” He regarded them with a bored expression. “I’ll send word to the headmaster. If you do qualify for the Quidditch team, I’d rather it not be a shock to the rest of the heads of houses, as tempting as that might sound. Now, do me a favour and stop trotting along behind me and go to your classes.” And with that, he left with his robes billowing out behind.

He and Harry skidded to a halt; they stayed in the middle of the corridor just watching as Severus disappeared. For a moment, Draco was at a loss and he slowly turned to Harry. “Did—did Severus just told Flint that I’ll be trying out for Chaser?”

“Snape really just recommended me for Seeker, as Slytherin’s Seeker,” Harry was still in awe and in shock. In hindsight, the boy hadn’t probably expected that from Severus considering in the Past that the professor’s sole purpose was to take off points from him.

“This is bizarre,” Draco mumbled as he made to stir Harry away and back to the pitch to return the brooms that they were still holding. “You don’t suppose this messes too much in the time lapse that we’re in?” He asked lowly.

“Well, too late to think about messing with time now.”

“You two are absolute nutters! Daft and brutes of a boys you are!” Draco and Harry had found themselves on their way to Hagrid, bearing his mother’s sweets as Harry had warned him that Hagrid’s rock cakes were quite, inedible. To Draco’s dismay and to Harry’s amusement, they were also now at the end of Granger’s tirade. “What were you thinking? Going off and flying when we were specifically told not to! What happened with Professor Snape? Did you two get it trouble? Detention? Were both of you expelled?!”

“Oh sure, we’re both expelled. That’s why we’re taking a leisurely stroll to meet a boarhound,” Draco said dryly as Harry tried not to laugh at Granger’s aghast expression.

“Expelled??” Granger almost shrieks and Draco would find it funny if it weren’t absolutely annoying.

“No Hermione, we’re not expelled. Professor Snape just wanted to talk to us.” Harry replied.

“Really? You’re staying at Hogwarts? Then detention?”

Draco sighed deep and rubbed his brows, “Granger, why are you even here? It’s highly unlikely that a Gryffindor would hang out with a bunch of Slytherins entirely on the prospect of pleasantries.” He snapped, attempting to shoo the girl off.

“Apparently, to make stupid boys see sense!” Granger huffed, crossing her arms and turning her nose up in the air as she stomped ahead of them.

He saw Harry stifling more of his laughter as he watched Granger walk briskly while Draco just frowned. “You know, making her leave is a lot easier in the Past.” He mumbled.

“Who knows, maybe you’re just starting to grow on her,” Harry snickered at his appalled expression but he just smacked his arm lightly. “Stop it, she obviously wants to make friends with us.”

“And she thinks a lecture is the way for us to invite her for tea?”

“It’s her way of showing affection,” Harry said fondly as they neared Hagrid’s hut with Granger in front of the door waiting for them.

“Whose Hagrid anyway? And is it alright for us to wander off this far?” Granger asked them.

“There’s a nice path right there leading to the Great Hall, Granger,” Draco tried once more to make the girl leave.

“Hermione, and I’d rather like to meet Hagrid. So, Harry, who is this Hagrid?” Hermione eagerly asked and Draco just crossed his arms as Harry knocked on the door.

“One minute there!” There was barking coming from the inside and then the door was opening with the half-giant holding back the boarhound. “Fang! Settle down will yeh!”

“Hi Hagrid,” Harry said as he shot a grin.

“Hello Harry! And yer’ Draco, right? Good to see you lad! Come in, come in,” They were ushered inside and soon enough, were sitting on a huge round table with mugs of hot tea. The boarhound, Fang, had taken a liking to sitting on a side couch and was constantly bumping his nose on Draco’s robes. Draco, to his annoyance had to push the dog away more times than he’d like, while Harry smiled wide as he moved to pet the boarhound fondly. “So, this young lady here is also a friend of yers’, ey? Nice to meet yeh!”

“Hermione Granger, sir. And its lovely to meet you.” Granger said.

“A bit of a stretch when you’re just here to scold us, Granger.” Draco piped up with less heat than he intended to and Harry elbowed him as he pulled out his mother’s box of sweets.

“It’s Hermione and I’m perfectly in the right to tell you boys off for breaking the rules via broomsticks!”

“Broomsticks? Breaking rules? What yeh talkin’ about?” Hagrid asked as he sat down heavily on his wooden chair and Granger immediately told the half-giant about the flying lessons that afternoon with great big gestures.

Draco rolled his eyes as he settled to drink his tea. He heard a shuffle and saw Harry subtly push a newspaper in front of him, tapping the headline. Draco felt a shudder as the words ‘Gringotts Break-in’ jumped out in bold letters. The look Harry gave him was meaningful as he took the paper away and Draco could only provide a subtle nod.

It was madness. But a nagging thought mixed its way to his mind; an interest in the Philosopher’s Stone and the real possibility of it being stolen.

For what felt like in a while, the need for searching a reversal spell for the time lapse is a dull thump as he and Harry shared a knowing look on top of their mugs.

Chapter Text

Draco was honestly grateful for his friends. In the Past, they were seen as his lackeys who readily bowed down to his bidding and they were fine with that. He didn’t really ask them to—not really. But with his display of constant antagonization, it was to their amusement in finding that he really did tickle the Gryffindor’s ire, and it was a much more fun way in spending their time if only to see the row that he and Harry would eventually display for the whole year to see.

Draco rubbed the back of his neck as said Gryffindor, former Gryffindor— he reminded himself. It was still relatively strange to see him within the Slytherin dorms. Harry, himself would often stare at the mirror in his dresser, the green and Slytherin crest was still a bizarre thing to behold in the boy’s uniform. And at the moment, Harry had his head leaning on his hand as he blearily poked at his scrambled eggs that Sunday breakfast at the Great Hall.

“I should’ve warned you that they could be particularly persistent in gathering information. Especially if we’re actively trying not to tell,” Draco murmured to him as he fixed himself a plate. Their dormmates had grilled them all throughout the weekend. Their little stunt was the latest gossip in the Slytherin first year dorms and they had made their sole goal to be nosy as possible on what happened when Severus had called for them.

“Oh really, I haven’t noticed.” Harry sleepily said and Draco thought he was trying for a snarking tone but it was lost amidst a yawn. “It’s just… it seems so trivial now. How their so keen on the idea of a petty little stunt.” Harry muttered as he made a bite for his eggs. “We certainly didn’t kick up a fuss before, right?”

Draco scoffed, “Feeling a little old, Harry?” He pulled out a parchment then, alongside with his latest steal; Beasts and Beings. The book that he had commandeered from the library had an astounding lack of information on selkies or any underwater beings for that matter. He’d thought that perhaps looking into the creatures in the Black Lake would give them significant information on their search for a reversal spell. It was proving to be a futile thought though, the merpeople were a mysterious bunch and he doubted those who could speak Mermish would likely be successful in interrogating the underwater creatures.

Or maybe he was just grasping at straws here. He’d doubted the merpeople would appreciate being blamed for their time displacement problem. But then again, it was either them or the giant squid.

He crumpled the parchment, stuffing it in his pockets for him to burn in the fireplace. Useless.  Harry saw this and gave him a small tired smile. He shifted a little closer then as he made a reach for a pot of tea, “I think I saw a book on water dwelling beasts near the restricted section,” Harry tried, “and perhaps, we should also take a look on Ancient Runes?”

Draco sighed deep and ran a hand down his face. “Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking next, perhaps a book on time turners as well.” It was draining, combing through the library every chance they’ve got in the hopes of stumbling upon a text on time travel. It was such an obscure subject in the wizarding world that the sparse texts were no more than assumptions and only preached on the dangers of messing with time.

He and Harry were way past that now and he was slowly losing his drive.

“I’m sorry…” He heard Harry say and as he glanced up the boy had that downcast look on him.

“Stop it, stop apologising,” and Harry really shouldn’t, he knew that the boy wouldn’t bother to look for a reversal spell if he could help it. But he was still there with Draco, scrutinising every bit of information that they could find. He smirked at Harry then, “and I applaud you for even giving Ancient Runes a thought. I’d guessed you’d prefer to burn the books if only to spite the complexity of the subject.”

Harry huffed a laugh, then the table shook slightly when a body abruptly sat across from them. They both looked up, finding Blaise with his arms crossed over his torso.

“You two are downright sneaky, you know? It took me twenty minutes to wake Theo up just to get down here to the Great Hall,” Blaise complained and then Theo came stumbling through, hitting Blaise on the back of his head as he flopped down beside him.

“And I hate you for waking me this early on a Sunday just so you could continue grilling them,” Theo grumbled as he poked around for some pastries.

“Rude! And don’t pretend you aren’t as curious as me when you spent last night throwing a fit when they wouldn’t talk.” Blaise pointed out but Theo only grouched as he stabbed a sausage.

“Good morning Blaise, Theo,” Draco said in the flattest voice he could manage.

“Hey guys, morning,” Draco resisted the urge to flinch as Vince and Greg came bounding towards them next, taking a seat beside Blaise. He’d been doing a good job on composing himself every time he had talked to Vince, but he still couldn’t help but clench a fist under the table to keep himself from shaking. Harry’s arm deliberately brushed against his and he felt his rising tension ebb away slightly.

“You’re up early,” Draco managed as the two boys began to pile bacon and eggs on their plates.

“Blaise was being very loud and woke us up too. So, we decided an early breakfast sounds wonderful at the moment.” Greg glared at Blaise slightly before looking at the table. “Where’s the butter?”

“Here,” Harry said as he passed the butter dish over.

“Cheers,”

“Yes, yes, we’re all here bright and early. Now if you all don’t mind,” Blaise clapped his hands before turning his attention to Harry. “Dear Harry, I beg of you to actually provide facts after the exciting event that had happened on our flying lessons.”

“Bold of you to assume that I’ll tattle that easily,” Harry countered and Draco snickered at that.

“Of course not, but I’m still pissed at you two,” Pansy then appeared as she sat on the other side of Draco and he groaned loudly. She smacked him on the shoulder hard and Draco really wasn’t in the mood for this, he frowned at her when she just puffed her cheeks in exasperation. “You two are being tight-lipped about all of this and I will not be the last one to know fresh gossip in this school.”

“This is way too early,” Draco groaned once more and Harry inclined his head to agree.

“We levitated the brooms for you!” Blaise exclaimed in his midst of grabbing some toasts.

“We didn’t ask for you to do that now, did we?”  Draco shot back as he started to eat.

“But it was fun though,” Harry piped out beside him.

“Thank you! At least someone’s grateful, we got in trouble for you two for Merlin’s sake.” Blaise pointed out as Theo told him off for yelling in his ear.

“Really, you got in trouble,” Draco said, impassiveness dripping alongside his sarcasm and Harry smirked at the rest of them.

“Well, McGonagall was angrier at the Weasley twins at the moment so she mostly ignored us,” Pansy mused.

“But! We lost house points for it.” Blaise waved his fork around them. “So, we insist that you tell us the details on Snape’s punishment.”

“Draco won’t tell because he’s stubborn like that,” Pansy started and she craned her neck to look at Harry. “But Harry, is there some way that you’d possibly tell us?” There was that shrewd sweetness in her tone and Draco snorted at this before Pansy turned to glare at him.

“Oh sure,” Harry said as he drunk his tea, “Snape’s right over there, should I call him over here then?” Draco laughed at the grimaces the rest of them made. He finished his breakfast then wiping his mouth with a napkin as he packed his bag.

“You done there Harry?” Draco asked as he made to stand up, ignoring the protests of the rest of the Slytherins.

“Yep, the library then?” Harry stood and he chuckled when Blaise attempted to hurl a goblet at them with Theo punching him on the shoulder, telling him to get his own goblet to throw.

---

They managed to shake off the Slytherins for the day and now Harry finds himself walking along the Quidditch pitch for the try-outs. “You know, it is quite funny to see Blaise try so hard to sneak up on us.”

“It’s a talent of his, he probably knows more information on the students than anyone in the whole of Slytherin.” The stands were empty but there were a few students already there on the grounds and the whole Quidditch team of Slytherins in their flying gear. Marcus Flint saw them and he jogged along to reach them.

“You’re both here, good,” Flint greeted and ushered them both to line along with the other students, all older and broader than them, casting curious looks. “Terence!”

Harry vaguely remembered him, Higgs, the Slytherin Seeker he had faced when he was in his first year in the Past, the boy walked over when he was called and he raised his eyebrow at Harry. “Is this my replacement then?”

Harry refused to be intimidated, after all he had beaten the boy already. “Maybe, but first we need to actually make sure that the runt knows how to fly.” Flint then barked out orders to the milling students to form a line. “You too Malfoy, the Chasers’ try outs will begin after the Seeker’s”

Draco nodded at this but not before shooting Harry a grin, he then jogged over to the line of potential Chasers. Higgs snorted, but he handed over an extra broomstick, “Well then, let’s see what you got.”

“Alright Potter, you’re the only one trying out for Seeker so this is how we’ll do this,” Flint dug in the nearby trunk and brandished out the Snitch “I release the Snitch, you try and catch it as fast as you can and after that you’ll compete with Terence here, understood?”

“Sure,” Harry said as he made to mount his broom, Higgs had walked over beside Flint to watch.

“On my mark then,” Flint counted off and when the Snitch was released, Harry was off the ground in an instant. It took him less than a minute in catching the Snitch and when he presented it to Flint the guy was blinking at him dumbly. “Huh,” he uttered before casting a look at Higgs who had his mouth open. “One more time,” Flint said and Harry shrugged at this, suppressing a smirk. When the Snitch was released, he took off again. It probably took him less time for the second round and when he landed with the Snitch in his palm, Flint crossed his arms looking impressed and a grin on his face.

“Should I even try?” He heard Higgs say but he mounted his broom nonetheless.

“He still has to beat you Terence,” The both of them stood side by side then, on equal position on the pitch, and Flint walked a few feet away from them before raising the Snitch in his hand. “You know the drill gents, go on,” He released the Snitch and the two of them whizzed past Flint as they started on their hunt for the golden ball.

Harry doesn’t exactly have a concrete memory of Higgs’ Quidditch ability, but he thought that Draco was miles better than him at Seeking. He was sloppy in his turns and jerky at most, he flew fast but not fast enough as a Seeker and Harry was already diving for the Snitch when Higgs was still looking at the opposite direction. Harry caught the Snitch once again and he landed to the sound of applause from the other students and the rest of the Quidditch team.

“Bloody hell mate,” he heard Higgs say at once when he landed and Flint came stomping his way with a huge grin, dark eyes sparkling with excitement. “No argument here, I’ll gladly be a reserved player if you could fly like that for the rest of the season.”

“The Slytherin Seeker is now Harry Potter!” Flint announced to the rest and the applause rounded up once more. Harry grinned wide at the players and he handed the Snitch back to Flint who stored it in its box.

Harry strode over to where the potential Chasers were waiting and stood beside Draco who had a pleased smirk in place. “Should’ve just handed you the position then,” he whispered to Harry when Flint started to set up the pitch for the Chaser try-outs.

“Well, they had to see if I could fly now, did they,” Harry rolled his eyes as he mocked Flint’s words. Then he scrunched up his face and turned to Draco. “Merlin, this is the Slytherin Quidditch team. I am not about to play dirty.”

Draco blinked at him before scoffing out a laugh. “Of course, ever the fair Gryffindor Harry,” but Draco’s smirk was still in place. “Besides, Flint only plays dirty when he knows there’s no chance of winning.”

“Alright! Listen here, up there on the hoops is our Keeper, Miles will defend every one of your shots as if he were playing in a real game. I’ll be up there along with Adrian as Chasers too; your job is to score five goals each. The one who scores most will be the team Chaser!” Then, brooms were handed out and they were off the ground with Flint calling out the first student to try out. A fourth year, looking big and heavy and then the Chaser try-outs started.

It was… honestly terrible; the first student nearly collided with the hoops three times and dropped the Quaffle almost every time it landed on his hands. The second one was a sixth year and he at least scored two goals before he crashed with the Keeper and they had the other team members rush to them before they could fall on the ground.

“Merlin’s balls,” Harry grimaced as the next boy slipped of the broom and lost his grip, the others grabbing a hold of his shirt to keep him on the broom.

“I dare anyone to watch the Slytherin try-outs and complain on why we cheat so much,” Draco mused as the third-year boy threw the Quaffle and hit Adrian Pucey on the face.

“It’s still wrong to cheat you know,” Harry said as he winced when the Quaffle hit the ring of the hoop and rebounded to whack the Keeper on the head.

“Flint will argue its ‘strategic planning on utilising the team’s individual talents’,” Draco quipped as the third-year landed back on the ground, tripping over his feet. They could see Flint scrubbing his face down with both of his hands as he growled out a yell. “Malfoy! Get over here!”

Draco grinned wide then at Harry before mounting his broom to get in position and flying off to the rest of the Slytherin Chasers.

With all the years he had played against Draco as Seeker, he knew the blonde was quick and admittedly seemed more in tune with his broom than the rest of the players. Of course, he was also a Seeker then and he doesn’t really know how well he’ll do as a Chaser. The little game of theirs with the Weasley twins were a blur as the adrenaline pushed him on to really focus on the boy.

And Harry absolutely adored flying, the feeling when he kicked off the ground and sailing through the air was a delight, he’d never thought of feeling that unbridled joy again. It almost felt like the first time again when he truly rode a broomstick and flown freely. He savoured the moment, thoroughly distracted as he revelled in the winds pushing him forward. But now he was on the ground, attentively watching Draco play his game.

And the damn bastard is bloody good.

His movements were fast and precise, Harry could see the Seeker reflexes in him as he intercepted the Quaffle and scored a goal. His turning smooth and his was throwing with ridiculous accuracy that Harry could only watch in awe as he played the Quaffle back and forth with the other Chasers, gliding past them in one fell swoop to throw the ball into the hoop.

Harry on the ground kept his eyes on the fast blurry form of Draco as the blonde scored goal after goal with ease. And he could see it, the lightness in his body, the glint in his eyes as he flew around the pitch with nothing holding him back. He looked free, up there in the air, he was grinning bright as he soared.

The last goal was made and Draco landed gracefully on the ground, panting as he did, and Harry rushed over to him in amazement. “That was— “Harry was at a loss for words as Draco stood up straight and wiped his face with his sleeve.

“I told you I was a decent Chaser, well… better than Seeking anyway.” ‘Decent’ was much too modest in Harry’s opinion.

“Bloody fucking hell,” Flint came flying down in front of them, followed by the rest of the Slytherin team. He only now registered the loud applause and whoops from the rest of the students there. “The new Slytherin Chaser everyone! Draco Malfoy!” He laughed disbelievingly and he crouched down to put his hands on his knees, staring at them with a manic glee as he grinned wide. “I owe Snape so much for this.”

The rest of the team were laughing as well as they made to congratulate the newest team members. Then there was the sound of thudding footsteps and Harry turned to see Blaise running towards them in full throttle with Theo and Pansy fast on his heels.

“You, sly pricks! Snape made you try out for the Quidditch team!” Blaise roared out as he reached them. And Harry laughed, unabashed and loud before Draco was laughing along with him.

---

The air was rigid, there was a certain stillness to the fields below him. He was riding his broom, flying high in the great expanse, but there was no joy this time, he wondered then…why? He could see the three hoops, standing tall and oddly cold as it was reflected with a moving light. The light flickered, casting slight shadows on the metal and then—Fire?

There were walls around him, tall and oppressing walls that surrounded the empty room. Only, the room wasn’t empty now… was it? He could see chairs stacking up high in impossible towers. Objects strewn around, discarded and unused for a long time. The air was hot and the smell of burning wood filled his nose, the light harshly shone on a wardrobe and then… it was fire all around him.

Flames surrounded them, in torrents of waves and hot tendrils waiting to catch them alive. He heard a gasp and the broom he was on flew desperately away as he flattened himself to move faster, faster— There were screaming, him—No, fly away, away!  A deafening screech and the flames roared and jaws opened up revealing sharp teeth, gnashing, laughing and laughing—

The screaming was loud, and the fire was near. The door! Where is it? Leave!  It was hot, it was burning, burning, the screams—

Draco!

Draco woke up with a loud gasp.

He bolted upright, scrambling around for his wand, he whipped it up and pointed it at the source of the sound. He saw Harry as he panted heavily, the boy was standing a few steps away from his bed, green eyes wide, staring at him. One of his hands were up in a hesitant, placating gesture while the other he saw, was holding his own wand. The wand was held loosely so and Draco struggled to breathe fully in his haze of sleep. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Harry, he told himself, and as he opened his eyes once again, he saw the reflection of the lulling waters of the Black Lake. Slytherin dormitory, his mind supplied as he made to wipe the dripping sweat of his forehead.

“Draco?” He heard him say. “You…you were moving in your sleep and…” Harry took a halting step forward, looking unsure.

“Thrashing around you mean,” Draco muttered wearily as he threw the blankets away and forced his legs over the side of the bed. He sat there, his rapidly beating heart loud in his ears and he breathe in deep and slow. For a few moments there was silence, only his breathing was heard, mixing along with Harry’s own. He sighed. “Sorry…” he mumbled and when he finally looked up, Harry was still staring at him. “Did I wake you?” He quietly asked as he moved to wipe his chin and Harry tilted his head at him, an indecisive look crossed his features before he walked the few steps over to his bed and sat down beside him.

“Not really sleeping much these days anyway,” Harry said and Draco huffed out at that. They lapsed into silence once more and he saw Harry glanced at him before settling his eyes at the window. The waters lulled peacefully, a calming image to his otherwise frantic thoughts. “The times I only ever slept peacefully was when I was in the Gryffindor dormitory,” Harry quietly said and Draco turned to look at him. “It was only then that I felt like I could truly sleep, the beds were warm and comfortable, and it was true… I slept without a worry but… the nightmares would come then, memories…” he trailed off.

Draco stared and the faraway look in Harry’s eyes was a strange sort. He wondered if he looked the same when he got lost in his own thoughts. “The first time I was Awake, I ran into the manor halls in a panic,” he said. “I didn’t know where I was, I didn’t know what was happening. I only wanted to get away; I was probably having a fit then when Dobby found me huddled on the floor and then my mother came,” Harry looked to him and Draco tried for a smirk, he wasn’t fooling anyone but Harry made a small smile nonetheless. “The first week, I’d wake up every night. I gave up eventually and started roaming the halls, to the manor library more often than not and that’s where Dobby would pop out. I don’t know what I actually did to make him fuss every time he found me in some corner of the manor. But there he was, with a tray of hot drinks and some biscuits.”

A soft wry laugh was Harry’s reply and the tension in Draco’s body was starting to ebb away as he talked. It had been almost two weeks since the Quidditch try-outs and Flint was a relentless captain; training four times a week and drilling every formation on his team members. It’s just as well, training was a great distraction then and he was honestly enjoying being able to just fly again.

“Do you remember? What you were dreaming about?” Harry quietly asked and Draco turned to look away from him.

“I don’t know,” he replied, eyes glazing over and focusing on nothing. “I was flying on a broom.” He ignored the slight hitch on Harry’s breath.

The minutes passed slowly as they said nothing. No words shared, they weren’t needed, not really. And they watched as the reflection of the waters continued to sway on the floors of their room. Draco then casted a Tergeo on him to clean of the sweat from his body, Harry suddenly stood up and spun on his heels to turn to him.

“Come on, I want to practise more spells,” he said as he moved to the space in between their beds. Draco raised an eyebrow, but stood up as well.

“Any spell in mind then?” He asked.

“Shield charms,” Harry replied instantly, a slight grin on his face.

Draco raised both his eyebrows at this and crossed his arms. “What, you want me to hit you with an Expelliarmus then?” Harry just shrugged his shoulders but he took position nonetheless and Draco sighed.

Then a sudden thought came to him and he peered at the door behind them. A grin slowly came to his mouth as he made a gesture for Harry to follow. Harry frowned at him before walking over. “What?” He asked and Draco only headed to the door, unlocking it so.

“Follow me,” he said as he checked the first-year common room and found it blessedly empty as expected. He quickly slid on his boots and grabbed a coat and he impatiently motioned for Harry to hurry up. Harry did as well, his own shoes in place and scowling some more as he slipped his arms through his jacket. They then creeped their way out of their dorms and down the stairs to the Slytherin common room.

Draco peeked, the fire was still blazing and he could spy one student on one of the couches. Harry stood beside him and he nudged him in question. Draco only stepped out on the landing and the student raised his head and drew his eyebrows high at them. Draco then recognised Miles Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper and he nodded his head in greeting. The older boy greeted back and raised an inquiring brow at them, Draco shrugged before eyeing the door and Miles only tapped his wrist. Draco turned to the clock, hanging right on top of the serpent portrait by the fireplace and saw that it was past midnight. He nodded at Miles and the older boy gave them a stern look before shrugging. He then began to pick up his books and a parchment before stretching his arms and then he was leaving the common room and the Keeper was gone, no doubt retreating to his own dorms.

“Did he just blatantly ignored us as we’re obviously trying to sneak out?” Harry whispered as they made for the door.

“One thing you must know about us Slytherins is we don’t tell on each other.” Draco replied as they slipped out the doors and onto the dungeon halls. He quickly made a sweep to make sure they were alone and casting a Lumos, he turned to the left and started leading Harry down the corridor. “Follow me,”

“Dare I ask where?” Harry sidled up next to him as he scanned the halls down.

“You’ll see,” walking in even steps, he counted the turns and on the fifth corridor, he turned right and continued walking straight. They were deeper in the dungeons now and as he searched for the walls, he then stopped in front of a dark heavy looking door. He tried the knob; it was locked as he’d expected. Extinguishing the spell, he then pointed his wand at the lock before Harry uttered his own Lumos and light was there as he quickly casted, “Alohamora.”

A soft click was heard and he pushed the door open, revealing a long tunnel ahead. Walking in, he heard Harry follow him and making sure that the door was closed, casted a Lumos once more to join Harry’s light. “This is ominous,” Harry whispered and Draco smirked at him. It was quite a walk before Draco saw the stone archway and he grinned wide. It led into an open room, with scattered desks and old bookshelves, one side was adorned with three high windows, showing the waters of the lake and as they stepped inside, he saw Harry was wide-eyed, looking a bit perplexed.

“Do the students know about this room?” Harry asked as he walked around.

“Only the Slytherins do, obviously. But the first-years surely won’t know about it,” Draco walked to the centre of the room to take in the space and nodded in satisfaction.

“Won’t Snape come searching the grounds then? Surely, he knows about the not-secret passage of the Slytherins.” Harry inquired dubiously as he walked towards Draco, quirking an eyebrow at him.

“Oh, sure. He definitely knows this one, but he won’t really pry. I told you, Slytherins don’t tell on each other.” Draco grinned wide then before stepping up and facing Harry squarely. “Fact about the dungeons; the walls are especially tough enough to handle any wayward defensive spells that any troublesome student might incidentally cast.”

“And the windows?” Harry indicated his head at the tall glass windows and Draco gave him an unimpressed look.

“Really Harry, we’ve been throwing spells back and forth in our own room. Of course, their enchanted to hold and repel spells, we’re under the Lake.” He then gestured to the room in a wide dramatic form before taking a haughty bow. “Well then,” Draco straightened up and just barely saw Harry rolling his eyes. Draco drew up his wand, a smirk playing at his lips. “Shall we?”

Harry then grinned, an excited glint in his eyes. They walked over to the middle of the room, steps thudding loud and echoing through the walls. They faced each other, each sporting an expression that could only be described as wicked glee. Standing straight up, shoulders squared, wands at the ready; they simultaneously bowed low, Harry was chuckling slightly once they finished their bow. Facing the other, the earlier tension in Draco’s form was long gone and the excitement was palpable in the hidden room of the dungeons.

“Now this is a real wizard’s duel,” Harry said and Draco grinned wide as they stepped away and took position. The sound of spells being casted was the only thing to be heard, lights flashing bright in all forms of colours and the whipping of wands was a familiar thing to both Draco and Harry. Harry laughed as he threw a shield to deflect a spell and Draco couldn’t help a chuckle of his own.

The room was alive that night, all thoughts of fire was gone, instead it was replaced by their laughs as they set the room ablaze with their spells and without an inch of restraint.

Chapter Text

Harry was beginning to think it was becoming a habit of theirs, walking down to the Great Hall very early and heading to their usual spot at the end of the Slytherin table. They didn’t have to, Harry thought back through their late-night excursion to the duelling room in the dungeon—in his mind, he named it the duelling room— you’d think they’d have a lie in on a weekend but here they were, bright and early respectively. Harry also thought that Draco might just be doing it on purpose to piss Blaise off.

They don’t sleep most nights, not really. At times, when one of them would wake up in a fit of haze and images of the Past, they would usually end up going through the spells on their arsenal. Sometimes, they’d just talk, about nothing and unimportant things. Quidditch mostly being their chosen topic or their lessons and complaining about doing essays again. Draco seldom talks about the time lapse, and it’s with a pang of guilt that always shocks Harry whenever he would see the boy stare blankly at their window.

Harry didn’t know what to do, he could see Draco looking more and more distressed as the books they pile on their table become nothing short of useless.

Harry fixed himself a plate for breakfast, pushing down the errant thoughts that lingered. “How long do you think it would take Blaise to come stomping through the Great Hall this time?”

“Honesty, he’s nosier now than I remember.” Draco grumbled as he began to fork some omelettes.

“It’s a bit funny, although you’d expect they’d settle down when they’d finally found out that our ‘punishment’ was actually Quidditch try-outs.” Harry commented as he began to eat his breakfast.

“Not Blaise, Pansy has calmed down but only because its Quidditch.”

“Well, I don’t know about you but I’d prefer Blaise’s loud affronted noises that the constant stares of the student body.” Harry grumbled. A group of older Hufflepuff girls milled about and as Draco turned to look at them, they giggled and went to their own table. “Honestly,”

“I can’t tell if they’re staring because you’re Harry Potter or because someone leaked the Slytherin Quidditch try-outs.” Draco squinted his eyes at the girls before turning back to his breakfast.

“Does it really matter? It’s still annoying and if they’re talking about Quidditch, they’re going to be staring at you too.” Harry said as he ate some bacon and poured himself some pumpkin juice.

“They’re already staring at me regardless, probably because I’m always seen with you.” Draco muttered as he finished his omelette and bit into an apple.

“Why Draco, do you mean to tell me you despise being the centre of attention?” Harry teased and Draco only rolled his eyes at him. Harry snickered as he returned to his food.

The sound of flapping wings was soon heard and Harry turned to see Hedwig accompanied by another official looking owl, holding a package and were flying straight to him. Harry’s heart leapt as he recognised the shape of the parcel. “No way,” He muttered, eyes wide and Draco looked up just in time for the package to land into Harry’s outstretched hands.

“When did you order your Nimbus?” Draco asked as he eyed the package excitedly.

“I didn’t,” Harry said in awe as he twisted the package, feeling the wood beneath the wrapping paper. Draco raised an eyebrow.

“But, didn’t you buy your own broomstick in the Past?” Draco whispered to him.

“I never bought my Nimbus then. It was McGonagall who gave me my Nimbus.” Harry whispered back staring at Draco with awe. As much as he liked to think that the Transfiguration professor was the one who had gifted him this broom; he very much doubt that it was McGonagall again this time. Draco’s eyebrows shot up at this but before he could say anything else, another set of wings were headed their way.

It was Atlas this time, looking disgruntled as he was forced to share the parcel, he squawked loudly while holding the package with his talons along with a brown barn owl. A letter was held in his beak then, and he dropped that first on the table in front of Draco before handing him a similar shaped parcel. “What?” Draco frowned down at it.

“Your broom?” Harry tried but was intrigued at how Draco was looking perplexedly at the package. Hedwig nipped at his ear before stealing his leftover bacon on his plate. He absent-mindedly stroked her head, Atlas landed then looking important, while the other owls flew overhead and left in a flurry of wings as they were no doubt headed for the owlery. Atlas just stared at Draco expectantly while he turned the parcel over in his hands.

Draco distractedly fed Atlas a fresh piece of bacon and went for the letter beside his plate. “I didn’t make my father buy me a broom this time around. I was a bit too preoccupied with, well… other stuff.” He inclined his head at Harry’s direction and Harry rolled his eyes at him. Draco opened the letter and began to read; it was a bit comical to watch as his eyes widened significantly before he was turning to Harry. “Didn’t yours arrive with a letter too? Or perhaps a note?”

Harry raised both eyebrows, but searched the package nonetheless. And he did, he found a small note stuck to the paper, he ripped it off quickly before reading, Draco leaning over to take a peek and read as well.

Do restrain yourself from opening the package in the Great Hall

Harry frowned at the short note and he turned it over but found none more. Flipping the paper over again he stared at the hand writing; it was neat and spindly and Harry tilted his head to the side, noting on how familiar it looked.

“It’s from Severus,” Draco said lowly, disbelief showing through his voice `and Harry swivelled to him; surprise written all over his face.

“Snape?” Harry asked voice rising in pitch before he looked around, embarrassed and seeming to caught himself. “How’d you know it was from Snape?” He inquired in a much quieter tone but no less bewildered. Honestly bewildered.

Draco waved the letter in his hand before presenting it to Harry for him to read.

Dearest Draco,

It was such a lovely surprise when you told me you’d qualify for the Quidditch team. Although, do forgive me if I didn’t believe you at first, your father surely thought it was just a ploy for you to get a broomstick of your own. But when you wrote that Harry was also in the Quidditch team, I took it upon myself to owl Severus and inquire about this.

And to my delight, he did confirm that he had recommended you both for the Quidditch try-outs and landed the position of Chaser and Seeker. I’m so proud of you darling and I thought I’d send this little gift to you for you to use in the upcoming games.

It took me a while to convince Severus that Harry ought to have the best equipment as well and not resolve in using those old brooms that Hogwarts lends the students, terrible.

Regardless, please tell Harry to enjoy his new broomstick and you have fun with yours. The shop keep said that these ones were the best brooms currently in the market. I wish you luck on your games.

Love,

Mum

P.S.

Tell congratulations to Harry for me and send him my love.

Harry had to re-read the letter a second time before turning an astounded look at Draco. “Snape really did? Did he really buy me a broomstick?”

“I’ve no idea,” Draco mused, twirling his own package in his hands. The Great Hall was slowly filling up with bleary-eyed students, lazily walking by and only powered by the prospect of breakfast. Harry saw Draco eye the doors of the Great Hall. “What’d you say?” He said as he gestured at the packages in their hands. Harry nodded fervently and they scrambled for their things as they made to leave.

“Thank you, Hedwig,” Harry said to his owl as she flapped her wings and took off, he saw Draco stroke Atlas before the eagle owl ruffled his feathers smugly and made to leave with a wide display of his wings as both of their owls flew away, intending to join the rest of their fellow messengers in the owlery.

They rushed through the doors, avoiding the prying eyes of the students and Harry clutched the parcel in excitement. “I can’t believe it. I don’t believe Snape would actually buy me a broomstick,” Harry huffed out as they made their way back to the dungeons.

“Well, should we ask Severus?” There was a smirk on Draco’s face as he said this and Harry pushed him as they turned down the hall. “What? He’s just right there at the dungeons, I’d reckon it would be a nice wakeup call if you came knocking and brandishing the broomstick—”

“Draco, I swear—” but Harry was cut off as he nearly collided with someone and he righted himself before turning to apologise. “Sorry,”

“Bit of a hurry there lads,” the voice of Hooch made Harry look up in surprise. She smiled at them and then she caught sight of the packages in their arms and raised an eyebrow. “Ah. Well,” Harry had to suppress the need to hide the broomstick behind his back and had to remind himself that he was technically, an adult. “Seems like you lot had some gifts delivered this morning,” she said as she gestured at the packages with a knowing look and Draco eyed her warily before handing his own wrapped broom in her expecting hand. “Settle down boys, I know about the brooms. I’m the one who approved of their use after all.”

Harry raised both his eyebrows at this and he heard Draco made a little ‘huh’ sound beside him. “Indeed, madam?”

“Indeed Mr. Potter,” Hooch distractedly replied as she weighed the broom in her hands before nodding in approval. She handed the broom back to Draco before asking, “Might I ask, what is the model of those broomsticks then?”

“The best in the market,” Draco replied with an air of pure smugness that Harry had to elbow him on the ribs, but Hooch merely chuckled heartily.

“But of course, your head of house certainly doesn’t do things in halves,”

“Quite right, Rolanda,” they all turned around to see Snape striding down the hall. “Not terrorising students this early in the morning, are you?”

“No more than you Severus,” Hooch shot back immediately but there was a playful grin that had found its way to her features, “and you’re a slippery sort, aren’t you Severus? Sneaking these lads into the Quidditch team.” Harry saw Hooch throw them a conspiratorial wink and he smiled.

“There was an opportunity and I took it upon myself to take said opportunity in great strides,” Snape answered and he eyed the both of them down. He felt Draco nudge him on the side and Harry glared at him.

“Well, we shall see how this little stunt of yours pulls through. Although, seeing the Slytherin’s training sessions; I couldn’t find it in me to complain,” a slight twitch in her lips before she turned to address them one more time. “Let’s see how you boys fare in an actual game.” She nodded her head in acknowledgement and then she was off, no doubt aiming for the Great Hall.  

A soft huff was heard from the Potions Master and when Harry turned to him, it was met with the usual mask of indifference. Snape then inclined his head briefly in the direction of the dungeons and Harry turned to look at Draco before the blonde rolled his eyes and proceeded to drag him by the arm.

They burst through the Slytherin common room, broomsticks in hand and wordlessly agreeing to open the packages in their dormitory. “I won’t believe my mum actually bought me a Nimbus unless I see it,” Draco muttered to him and Harry saw the excitement in the boy’s features and he couldn’t help but grin. Only, their path was blocked by an exasperated looking Blaise who crossed his arms at the sight of them.

“Really now, I’m honestly offended that you two always leave early for breakfast just to escape from me,” Blaise pouted and Harry rolled his eyes at him.

“Not everything’s about you Blaise,” Draco said moving to side step Blaise only for Theo to show up beside him.

“Leave those two alone Blaise. If they want to scheme by getting up early, I see no need to stop them.”

“We just actually want to eat without having to push our way through dozens of students.” Harry replied, which—okay, it was half true. But he’s not going to say that being early meant fewer audiences and therefore, he and Draco could relatively talk more freely without glancing over their shoulders. Draco tugged on his arm impatiently and Harry batted his hand away as they made to pass their dormmates.

Blaise then, blocked their path once more. “Hold on a minute,” he said as he narrowed his eyes at them before zooming in on the parcels. “Those are broomsticks,” Blaise said a bit too loudly and they glanced up to see him eyeing the packages on their hands like a hawk, wide eyes shining.

“Oh, come on,” Harry heard Draco mutter under his breath.

“You’ve bought broomsticks? Both of you?” Theo sidled up closer, interest suddenly peaked and Harry sighed.

“Yes. Now if you’ll excuse us, we want to open our packages in our rooms, thank you.” Harry said but Blaise shot his eyes between them and Harry thought it was a lost cause.

“But why not open them here?”

“Because we like to open them peacefully. Now, if you don’t mind—” Draco started for the stairs again but he was cut off by the two boys who were now eyeing the packages with a glint.

“Now. Open them now please,” Theo blurted out and Blaise nodded his head in agreement.

Harry sighed, pulling Draco’s sleeve before the blonde could push his way through. “Draco, let’s just open them here. They won’t stop anyway.” And then they were pulled along to the couches, accompanied all the while with Draco’s muttering. The paper was torn off rather quickly and before Harry knew it, he was staring at a brand-new Nimbus 2000.

And there it was, the shiny polished wood and the slick design of the Nimbus that he remembered flying on for the first time. It was with awe that he held it again in his hands and even more with wonder when he thought that Snape might actually be the one to get him this broom. He turned his head to look at Draco and the boy was marvelling at his own broomstick. Also a Nimbus much like Harry’s own, and the smile that crept up Draco’s face was wide. He turned to Harry then, smiling bright and Harry can’t help but grin. Blaise was positively jumping up and down and Theo was talking excitedly, gushing over the broomsticks.

“Good morning boys,” They all twisted and saw Miles Bletchley appear in the common room. A lazy form in his gait, but then all the apparent sleepiness was gone from the Keeper when a loud gasp escaped from him as he saw the two Nimbus brooms.

Harry barely suppressed a laugh as he heard Draco swore beside him but it was lost in the midst of the excited shout from Bletchley and they just admitted defeat as they were treated to the eager shouts of the Keeper.

It was honestly funny, when Pansy came down a few minutes later to find the common room filled with rowdy rapid talking and the whole Quidditch team gesturing wildly while in the midst of the first-year boys. Harry sat down on the sofa making himself comfortable and Draco soon dropped down beside him, an annoyed look on his features. Nudging him on the shoulder, they shared a look before Draco shook his head and Harry only smiled.

---

With all his bravado and pompous gloating in the Past, it had become second nature to Draco to know what to say to make people listen and exaggerate the truths that he had observed from the people around him and use that information to provoke ire to his eternal pleasure. Of course, he had to first learn the facts and then push it to its limit, which would certainly go for show and then the whole student body would murmur in whispers and hushed gossip.

As of now, Draco absolutely despised the nosy gossiping students who’d look their way and he would very much like to rip into the truly shameless ones who’d openly gawk and talk with no apparent respect for subtlety. And then, there was this absolute daft girl who outright asked Harry if she could see his scar more closely while reaching out her hand to his forehead. Draco nearly hexed the girl and he was pretty sure Harry was about to use Expelliarmus on her if not for McGonagall admonishing the stupid nitwit.

That aside, Draco now loathes how Hogwarts thrived with rumours about Harry and by default, him. It wasn’t so much as it bothered him, more so on how annoying it could be every time they so much as walk inside the Great Hall together just to eat some lunch. He was just glad that Harry seemed to ignore them so proficiently that he was usually the one who’d pull Draco away from the gaggle of gossiping students.

They were on their way to the library now, or yet, again. Draco thought they ought to just sleep there with how frequent they would visit the library. “How do you even understand these runes? I’m pretty sure that these two are honestly the same.” Harry said as he squinted at a page.

“They’re not,” Draco replied as he took a peek, seeing that it was a list of the most basic runes.

“How do you even know?” Harry huffed out as he slammed the book shut in frustration.

“I took Ancient Runes as my elective, Harry” Draco then took out Ancient Runes Made Easy and handed that one to Harry.

“Why would you even take that subject? It’s absolutely mental,” Harry took the book then, skimming through the pages and frowning.

“It’s a little bit of work, but it’s not that hard.” Draco didn’t mind a bit of reading; he liked the challenge and took it upon himself to translate every bit of scripture correctly. Research and reading were something he liked to do. Reading, Draco thought, a whole lot of good that is now. He sighed, it’s been almost two months that they’ve been here in Hogwarts, two months and nothing.

They were officially grasping at straws. Draco at least knew that the Black Lake was a key point in the time lapse but on the why and how is a complete blank. The Lake wasn’t exactly magical, he didn’t particularly know about the underwater beings that live in the Black Lake, but that’s just because the library had so little information on the beasts.

He felt Harry nudging him gently on the shoulder and he snapped away from his thoughts and looked up. Green eyes looked at him, worried and earnest and Draco only sighed on more time before quirking an eyebrow. “If you apologise again, I’ll hit you with this tome.”

“No, I was just going to say that Hermione’s there,” Harry said with a slight smile and true enough, Granger was rushing her way to the library, head buried in a book as always. “Hi Hermione,”

Draco rolled his eyes. It was inevitable really, with how the girl was always seen around the library if not inside spending hours reading on books. She had probably beaten them in the hours that she spent being in there, and he and Harry have been in the library a lot. As it is, Draco was roped into being an unwilling study partner by Harry along with an eager Granger. The girl glanced up from what looked like The Standard Book of Spells – Grade 3, Granger then approached them, the book still in hand. “Hello Harry, Draco. Have you finished that Transfiguration essay that McGonagall assigned us? I did and I was just going over for some revisions.”

“We did actually, we’ve done the essay last night.” Harry was all smiles at her and Draco resisted to remind Harry that they were supposedly doing more research for the time lapse and not be roped into talking about school essays.

“Oh, that’s wonderful, we could do our revisions together.”

“No offence Granger, but we’re only here to return some books,” Draco said, but Granger just waved her hand at him in dismissal.

“Please, we all know that you two will eventually claim a desk in the library anyway, so might as well sit and do some homework.”

There was loud chattering as a few students walked by and then Weasley and Longbottom came to a sudden stop when they saw the three of them and turned to look. Weasley eyed Granger with a look of disdain before setting his eyes on him and Harry. “What, you’re hanging out with the Slytherins now,” he wrinkled his nose and Draco rolled his eyes at him while he heard Harry sigh.

“That is none of your business. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be doing my homework now, unlike some people.” Granger said in a haughty tone. Longbottom on the other hand, was whipping his head between them with wide eyes.

“Oh, the bloody know-it-all that you are! Couldn’t find someone to read your boring books with you so you ended up being mates with the Slytherins.”

“At least they know how to do their own homework and actually knows how to cast spells you prick!” Granger shot back and he could see Harry’s jaw drop beside him. But Draco’s lips were twitching just a little bit, because hey, it was honestly funny. And alright then, it wasn’t like Granger was swearing something awful but he did remember Harry telling him to tone it down with the insults—Merlin, they’re eleven so stop it with the language Draco, seriously. Draco rolled his eyes at this; it wasn’t like Harry was toning down his swears anyway.

They saw Weasley turn red in the face and started stomping towards Granger when Longbottom blocked his way. “Ron!”

“Why that little stuck-up—”

“Stop it, Ron! You’re overreacting,” Longbottom said and Weasley spluttered at him.

“Neville! Did you hear what she said? She just insulted me and she’s hanging out with the snakes!” Weasley exclaimed and Longbottom turned a look at them, a curious expression flitted on his features before timidly walking towards them.

“I heard from Hermione that you two saved our potion a few weeks ago,” Longbottom said and Draco raised his eyebrow at this but nodded his head when it looked like Harry was still busy gawking at Hermione. “Right, so thank you.” Longbottom quickly squeaked out and ducked his head before turning to Weasley and pulling him away, with the boy shouting with rage.

“Well, that was very amusing, wasn’t it?” They swivelled their heads at the sudden voice only to see Pansy hovering by the library entrance with a smirk on her face. “I thought I heard you two out here. I was just about to ask if you’d join me for homework,” she then turned to Granger with an interest. “You’re Granger, right? I’m just finishing up my own essay and I heard some bit about revisions?” Granger had a high flush on her cheeks as Pansy bodily dragged her along.

Draco saw Harry visibly shake his head before he slowly turned to look at him. They started off towards to the two girls and made a stop to return their books at hand. “Well, and here I thought they’d hit it off from the get go.” Draco murmured towards Harry once Madam Pince shooed them off.

“No… Ron was really pissed at her way back in first-year. And to be honest, I was also a bit annoyed by her, she could be a handful sometimes.” Harry admitted with a sheepish look.

“I’ll say, it really was funny though,” Draco mused and Harry only glared at him.

“Don’t start, I’m blaming you for her newfound interest in insulting people.”

“Harry, dare I mention that I wasn’t the one who was muttering about ‘nosy pricks’ the other day while Granger was walking down the Great Hall with us?” Draco replied and Harry only crossed his arms at this. “You know, we should probably just sit with the children this time instead of hovering along the Restricted section.” After all, they did just leave Granger in the hands of Pansy. Harry grumbled all the way to the desk where they found the girls sitting side-by-side, much to their surprise. And as they sat down in front of them, they were ignored in lieu of Pansy’s on-going commentary about the Quidditch stunt and annoying boys.

“Honestly though, it was like they haven’t seen a broomstick before. They were gushing over the Nimbuses all day long.” Pansy huffed and Granger, although looking quite unsure at the sudden company, replied nonetheless.

“Well, I don’t really get the appeal of brooms at all. And I honestly don’t get this Quidditch game that everyone’s talking about.” Granger replied and Draco could see Pansy give her a considering look. It was a moment before Draco paused in his search for a parchment and he looked up to see Harry eye Pansy intently.

“Hm, you’re muggleborn, are you not?” Pansy asked in a carefully measured tone.

“Muggleborn?” Granger asked tentatively and Draco sat still. He was sure this could end up with one of them spouting some very unsavoury words.

“It’s what we call witches and wizards who are from non-wizarding families.” Pansy replied easily.

“Oh, you mean how my parents don’t do magic at all?” Granger asked and Pansy nodded. Harry was watching the interaction with a sharp focus. “Well sure, I suppose. I’m the first witch in my family after all.”

Pansy stared at her with a bit of apprehension, but then she shrugged her shoulders and held out her hand. “I believe I forgot to introduce myself; Pansy Parkinson.”

“Oh, Hermione Granger,” Granger took the offered hand and Draco just about sighed in relief. He glanced at Harry who was blinking wildly at the two but he could see the slight twitch in his mouth as Pansy greeted Granger before continuing on their conversation.

“So, Quidditch. Allow me to teach you about the wizarding world’s insufferable fascination with the sport.”

So then, they sat there with Pansy explaining all about Quidditch with the occasional looks of annoyance at how he and Harry are apparently to blame for the constant noise in the common room. Draco eyed them before returning in his hunt for a parchment and wondered if it was worth it to take more notes about the time lapse and slip a book from the Restricted section. He felt Harry sidle up to him slightly and he lowered his head as the boy spoke.

“I think they’re getting along quite well.” He heard Harry whisper and just that, it was quite bewildering but Draco thought so too.

Draco never really thought much about the festivities than donned the halls with decorations. He remembered in the Past that he found it rather dull and unnecessarily gaudy. But at Halloween night, he couldn’t help but stare at the lanterns and carved pumpkins that levitated above the Great Hall. He’d forgotten, how bright these halls could be, how the rows of tables were starting to fill with excited noise and the aweing of the first-years as they stared when bats seem to fly overhead. He and Harry came early in the Great Hall as always, the tables were filled with delicious looking roasts and mashed potatoes and bowls of sweets scattered around. He could see Harry gazing around as well, a somewhat longing look in his eyes. Some of the ghosts filtered through, even they seemed jolly and giddy as they joined in with the feast.

“It’s so weird, seeing the Great Hall like this again,” he heard Harry say. And Draco could only nod jerkily as he forced another forkful of roast potatoes in his mouth. He saw Harry do the same, eating rather distractedly but they were not in a hurry, not this time. Harry glanced over his shoulder once more, eyeing the Gryffindor table before turning back to his plate and heaving an impatient sigh.

“Granger’s not at the table yet?” Draco whispered lowly and Harry shook his head. The noise was loud and the students were happily chattering amongst themselves as the Great Hall was filled. But Harry had told him about the troll and Draco was sneaking looks at the doors unconsciously. “She could be just running late you know. Perhaps in the library again?” Draco tried but Harry was glancing nervously at the tables. The Great Hall was now in full swing for the Halloween feast, Harry took another bite of his roast and forced it down with a gulp of water.

“I don’t know, but if she’s in the bathroom again I swear Ron and I are going to have words.” Harry said as he pushed his half empty plate away.

“How stupid can he be to make a girl cry and lock herself in the bathroom,” Draco said then, for the most part of that morning; they trailed along Granger and kept an eye on her whenever they shared classes with the Gryffindors. Nothing really occurred between her and Weasley, there were a few glares and huffs but it was mostly insignificant and nothing that would warrant Granger a tearful trip to the bathrooms.

The thing was, being in a different house meant different schedules and this irritated Harry to no end as they tried to walk with Granger in between classes. But to no avail; they had lost her the whole afternoon. They did check the bathrooms before heading for the Great Hall, but they heard no one there and they deemed to leave before someone questioned them on why two boys were lingering around the girl’s toilets.

The loud scraping of the plates was loud and laughter was heard all over the tables, it truly was a feast in all forms. Harry began tapping his foot on the ground and Draco moved a little closer to him as he eyed the High Table. The professors were all in high spirits as they passed a jug of what Draco assumed was Sherry wine. “Hermione for Merlin’s sake,” Harry muttered, frustrated.

“Should we go looking now?” Draco asked while Harry swivelled more on his seat in search for Granger.

“Yes, probably—” Harry then stopped short as he scowled while leaning over to look again at the Gryffindor table. “Ron’s not there.”

“What?” Draco looked over his shoulder too, seeing some red-heads in the bunch but seeing that the younger Weasley was in fact, nowhere. “Did you see him come to the feast at all?”

“He was sitting beside Seamus, I’m sure of it,” Harry took one more look around. “Shit,”

Suddenly, the loud thundering footsteps of Quirrell came dashing through the doors and Draco swore loudly before Harry was immediately dragging him up from their seats. “T-TROLL! A troll is loose in the dungeons!” They heard the stuttering professor yell loudly and they were just about halfway across the Great Hall when the students erupted into horrified shrieks. Bodies scrambled off their seats and the sound of shoes thudding amongst each other, scampering and heading for the doors in a stampede.

Harry had to grip his arm tightly as they were shoved away and students were barrelling through them. Draco managed to take a hold of his hand before Dumbledore boomed at the Great Hall, his enhanced voice ordering for the students to settle down. A lull in the chaos and they deftly squeezed themselves lowly among the taller students as they rushed to the doors. A quick word from Dumbledore had the prefects moving in quick succession, herding the younger students so they could lead them to their common rooms.

A throng of students were now steadily streaming out and Draco gripped Harry tighter as they sneaked past through and away from the mess of bodies. They finally separated themselves and wasted no time in hurtling down the corridors, weaving their way through and Harry was still gripping him in a firm hold. “Shit, shit, shit,” Harry muttered loudly as they ran.

“Really now, children the lot of them,” Draco panted out as he pushed Harry to turn in a hallway. “Aw, fuck,” Draco skidded to a halt as a strong pungent scent hit them and Harry had to hold onto him as to not tumble down, but he too, put his other arm in front of his face as he gagged. “The smell!”

“The troll! It’s near, come on!” Grabbing his sleeve, they ran as fast as they could. Harry brandished his wand from his pocket and Draco drew his as well, and as they thudded down the hall, there was a sudden ear-splitting angry roar and the sound of stones breaking. They sped up faster just as two high shrieks split down the halls, they found the door leading to the girl’s bathroom wide open and they heard the troll inside wreaking havoc along with the considerably panicked shouts of Weasley and Granger.

As they ran inside, they saw that the troll had managed to smash a few sinks and the doors to the cubicles were destroyed. Draco had never encountered a troll before, but one thing that he knows now, is that it was big and ugly. Weasley was holding Granger tightly by the arm and they were both pressed against the far wall just as the troll screamed once more and held the club high above to strike. “Relashio!”  Harry had shouted and the troll dropped the club with a heavy thud as it fell to the ground.

“Depulso!”  Draco casted, hitting the troll as it was whipping around in confusion and the troll stumbled backwards with the force of the spell before roaring; its attention was now focused on them. He heard Harry cast an Arresto Momentum on the troll as it stepped forward to them, the troll halted, steps slowing but this seemed to make it trip on its legs, flailing for a while before losing its balance, making it crash on its side and the troll hit the walls, breaking more stones and sprinkling debris. “Get down, both of you!” He yelled at Weasley and Granger as the two was staring wide-eyed at them.

The troll was effectively angry now as it started using its arms to flail around for something to hit. Weasley and Granger both ducked lower to the ground as the troll swung widely, Weasley wrapping his arms around Granger in an attempt to shield her.

Harry then levitated a large piece of broken pipe and whipped it directly at the troll’s head, it hit it hard and the troll wobbled dangerously so. Draco saw the abandoned club on the ground, he then casted a Locomotor making the heavy looking wood float high above before slamming it towards the troll. The troll swayed for a moment before its eyes rolled up and it dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.

For a few minutes, no one said anything or even moved. They all eyed the troll but when it seemed like it was fully rendered unconscious, Draco heaved a heavy sigh and turned to look at Harry. Harry glanced back at him before taking a step and kicking the troll. When it didn’t move, Harry breathed out and looked at Granger and Weasley. “Are you guys alright?”

Weasley nodded dumbly still staring in shock at them as he and Granger unsteadily got to their feet. Just then, the sound of rushing footsteps was heard and Draco swore as he took a peek to find the lot of the professors coming towards them. No doubt the noise alerted them and he quickly stepped up beside Harry. “Harry, Severus and McGonagall are here, Quirrell’s with them.” He hissed and Harry turned to look over his shoulder before grabbing his sleeve.

“It’s alright, we won’t be in trouble—well, I think not.” Harry muttered as he eyed Weasley and Granger who were darting looks between them and the troll. McGonagall reached them first followed by Severus whose eyes immediately locked on them. He seemed to pause for a split second before turning to the still troll on the floor and started to inspect it.

“By Merlin’s beard! What are you two doing here?” McGonagall looked appalled as Quirrell appeared by the doors and gasped as he clutched at the walls to steady himself. “Students were all instructed to head to their common rooms!”

“P-professor McGonagall please, they saved us.” They heard Granger say and McGonagall finally swivelled her gaze at her two Gryffindors.

“Miss Granger! Mr. Weasley!”

“It was my fault you see, I heard about the troll and—” But Weasley turned to her in shock as he butted in to cut Granger off.

“What? No! It wasn’t her fault,” Weasley started but then he seemed to notice that he was still gripping tightly to Granger and he flushed red before releasing her suddenly and turning to McGonagall. "W-we—I went to find Hermione, to apologise. I said something and upset her.” Weasley appeared to shrink under McGonagall’s stare but he continued on, “Neville said she was in the bathroom, but then the troll came in and then Potter and Malfoy ran in and started using spells and saved us.”

McGonagall quickly focused on him and Harry, an eyebrow raised. “Spells?” She sharply asked.

Draco inwardly cringed at that; how would you explain a first-year student casting the Banishing spell? “The levitation spell professor.” Harry suddenly said, “I floated the pipe over there to try and knock the troll out and then Draco levitated the club and dropped it on the troll’s head.” McGonagall eyed them both suspiciously.

“The pipe wasn’t heavy enough you see,” Draco added which earned him a jab in the ribs from Harry.

“It does seem that the troll is effectively disposed of, Minerva,” Severus said standing up and throwing them a quick look before turning to McGonagall.

“And how did you two managed to find yourselves here? You were all explicitly ordered to go to your dormitory,” McGonagall put her hands on her hips and Severus merely raised an eyebrow.

“I find it quite uncommon that Slytherins wander down these halls. After all, their common room is in fact in the dungeons.” Severus said cooly and Draco had to resist the urge to burst out laughing. McGonagall glared at Severus, sniffing and turning her face away. “Although, I do seem intrigued as to why you two ended up in the bathrooms no less.”

“Harry wanted to look for Hermione,” Draco blurted out, looking steadily at the professors and he could feel Harry’s gaze on him, “we wanted to ask her something about our essays.”

“But she wasn’t at the feast,” Harry took over then, straightening himself before throwing the same unwavering look at Severus and McGonagall. “We were going to head to the library then, but we did hear from someone that she might be around here somewhere. We were already on our way when we heard about the troll, we didn’t expect the troll to be in the bathrooms though.”

“And you thought it deemed wise to take on a mountain troll all by yourselves?” McGonagall snapped back at them.

“They’re Hermione’s friends professor,” Weasley said meekly, “they probably wanted to help her.”

McGonagall was still frowning and she seemed intent on scolding them but Granger was suddenly speaking. “Thank you. Thank you, Harry, Draco.”

McGonagall eyed all of the students present before she heaved an exasperated sigh and pinched her eyebrows. “Very well then, I will be talking to you both, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley. If you’re otherwise unharmed then you are to go to the Gryffindor common rooms immediately. As for you, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy,” she turned her gaze to them. “It was a very irresponsible thing for you two to do, but I’ll leave the telling off for the both of you to your head of house. But—” She held herself high as she regarded them. “I believe some house points is deserving, five points for you Mr. Potter and another five for Mr. Malfoy. After all, it is quite impressive that you two managed to take on a troll, even if it did boil down to dumb luck.” McGonagall began ushering Granger and Weasley away from the troll and then they were sent off but not before making sure that they were not injured.

“I take it that you’ll be able to handle the rest of the troll Minerva, if so, I’ll be escorting Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy to their own common rooms.” Severus said as McGonagall waved a hand at him in dismissal. Severus inclined his head at them before exiting the bathrooms and they deftly followed out.

He and Harry shared glances behind Severus when it seemed that the potions master was in fact, not telling them off, as McGonagall said. Severus threw them a subtle look over his shoulder before turning to the corridor that leads to the Slytherin common rooms. “Levitating spells, you say?”

“Yes sir, they’re very useful.” Draco said and he heard Severus huff at this, Harry only looked at him meaningfully.

“Regardless, I do seem to remember telling you both about subtlety.”

“Well, a troll isn’t exactly subtle at all—sir.” Harry said and they stopped in front of the passage way to the common rooms when Severus swiftly turned to them. There was a considering look in his eyes and Draco met it unflinchingly.

“I suppose not, Mr. Potter. And do mind yourselves, trouble is something that should be left alone and not find yourselves lost in.” Severus said to them and Harry merely stared at him. “Acromantula” The door appeared and Severus then was walking away, leaving him and Harry to let themselves in the common room.

The common room was buzzing with students when they entered, each of them appear to be holding a plate of food that the elves must have arranged for them to eat in lieu of the feast being disturbed. Draco gave Harry a withering look before he started to head to their dormitory but Harry took a hold if his arm and started dragging him to a lone sofa by the windows. He sank down, with a raised eyebrow and saw Harry take some mugs from a table and filled it with something hot. He came back carrying the mugs and sat down beside him, holding out one for him to take. Draco saw it was some hot chocolate and Harry only grinned at him and proceeded to drink his own.

He scoffed a laugh, deciding to push all the questions and the events that swirled in his head aside as he enjoyed the warming hot chocolate and allowed himself to slump down on the pillows. The noise was a low buzz in his ears and he felt Harry sigh beside him as he too sunk lower on the sofa. They enjoyed their drink while they watched the students mill around, leaving them alone in the small sofa with the company of the waters behind them.

Chapter Text

Draco wanted to shake Harry stupid and yell at him every time he’d tell him some bit about what happened to him during his first year in the Past. As it was, he didn’t have time to be truly pissed off at Harry because Granger or Hermione, he guessed—she was insistent, was now hanging around with them quite frequently. He should have probably expected it, after all she seemed very grateful about them saving her from the troll. Weasley was a little more apprehensive towards them, but he would nod and greet them on the corridors and Hermione had told them that he was actually being nice to her and she was all too glad to keep him on his toes with their homework.

And yet, here they were, months and weeks in at Hogwarts, being sidetracked constantly from their research for the time lapse because Quirrell apparently was the one cursing Harry’s broomstick on his first Quidditch match.

“That lying, stuttering buffoon couldn’t have picked a better time to mess with you, huh,” Draco muttered. It was the day where the official Quidditch Season started and the first match was the only thing that the students could talk about. After all; they all heard of the two first-years who were playing on the Slytherin team.

“He was probably thinking it was the perfect place to frame my imminent death, falling from a few hundred feet up in the air and all that shite,” Harry grumbled as he glared at his plate in defiance. Flint was up there early and promptly dumped a handful of sausages and eggs on their plates, ordering them to eat up as he strode away to annoy the other present Quidditch players who were clutching cups of coffee in their hands. Hermione then walked up to them smiling and wishing them good luck before trotting off to the Gryffindor tables. Harry smiled at her but he just sighed before eating another fried egg.

“She was the one who stopped the jinx, right?” Draco lowly whispered in Harry’s ear and he nodded his ascent before whispering back to him.

“We didn’t actually know it was Quirrell who was jinxing my broom, all she saw was Snape muttering and she’d set him on fire to stop him. It was such a riot at the teachers’ stands, and I think she accidentally knocked Quirrell over when she was running,” Harry mused.

Draco just shook his head at him, “Set Severus on fire, honestly—”

“It was just his robes,” Harry tried defensively before rubbing his hands down his face and he sighed. “We probably owe Snape a lot considering, we always suspected he was the one trying to steal the Stone. Him having a go at that three-headed dog didn’t help,” Harry turned to look at his shoulder over at the Gryffindor tables. He stared at his plate then, picking at the rest of his food. “To be honest, I think I’m quite relieved that Hermione and Ron don’t know a thing about the Philosopher’s Stone this time, or even saw the three-headed-dog.”

Harry fell silent as he continued to poke at his breakfast. Draco eyed him for a bit and nudged him on the shoulder to get his attention, “Should I go sneaking out on the third-floor to marvel at this intriguing beast?”

Harry scoffed at him before reaching for his tea, “What, you’re going to leave me and miss out all of the fun? No thank you.”

“Oi! You two, you better eat all of those before we head down to the pitch! We’re going to beat those Gryffindors even if it’s the last thing I do.” Flint was suddenly in front of them banging his hands on the table causing the silverware to rattle. Draco had to hold his cup of tea away for it not to spill. Adrian Pucey was suddenly there, waving a good morning at them before bodily hauling Flint away from them.

“Ignore him, you just finish eating and we’ll see you at the changing rooms alright?” they could hear Flint yell at them some more but Pucey had a firm grip on him and then they were sitting with the rest of their year.

“I forgot how insufferable he was as a captain,” Draco muttered to Harry as they turned to watch the older members starting to walk out of the Great Hall, finishing the last of their breakfast and started arguing between themselves.

“Well, I’d say Wood was a little bit better but he was very intense when it comes to Quidditch,” Harry said as he downed the rest of his tea.

“I guess we’d better go before Flint decides it’s a great idea to make us do laps right before the match.”

The cheers and applause of the whole of Hogwarts was nothing but a dismal noise. The stands where full, but of course they were; it was the first game of the season after all. But right now, it was a ridiculous show and the excitement Draco ever had was stomped and flattened to the ground. Flint had given them an absolute bore of a pep-talk with more grunting and angry yells, the whole team had just nodded and hummed disinterestedly.

Draco adjusted his flight gear as they made their way down to the Quidditch pitch. Harry beside him was tugging at his flying robes, all green and bearing the Slytherin emblem. It was honestly a strange sight to Draco and maybe Harry thought so too because he was resolutely staring at his robes, blinking rather owlishly. “Hey,” he said lowly for only Harry to hear. “You’ve got your wand there, right?”

“Yeah,” Harry muttered, “in my pocket.” Harry patted his wand absentmindedly and turned to look at him. Draco hummed in thought but he just stared at Harry as his mind begun to think, the boy just frowned at him. They were breaching the grassy fields now and the roar of the students were piercing.

“Use your wand as a last resort,” Draco whispered closely to Harry’s ear and the boy’s eyebrows pinched a little more. “When the jinxing starts, just hold on tight. Leave Quirrell to me.”

“What—” but whatever Harry was about to say was drowned out by the noise and the voice of Lee Jordan was loud as he commentated with gusto.

“Now here are the Slytherins!” there was the distinct noise of booing as they made to line in the middle of the pitch, Madam Hooch standing tall and imposing amongst them. “Oh! but there they are; the rumoured newest additions to the Slytherin team! Two first-years! Draco Malfoy as one of the Chasers and Harry Potter as their Seeker! Now, I won’t mention the absolute trash of a play that the Slytherins always do—”

“Jordan!” that was McGonagall’s voice, breaking through the rush of commentary.

“—but first-years on the official team! Looks like the Slytherins are pretty desperate!”

“I’ll show you desperate when you Gryffindor pricks are grovelling on the ground!” Flint shouted as Madam Hooch instructed them to mount their brooms.

“—Sorry Professor McGonagall! Now, as we all know; first-years aren’t allowed their own broomsticks. But it seems that Madam Hooch has cleared the okay on the new brooms that the two appears to be sporting. Now, I’m not saying that this is a bit of an unfair ploy—”

“Jordan!”

“But those Nimbus 2000’s are looking mighty fine—” there was the obvious, affronted shout from McGonagall again and a scuffle could be heard before the stands burst out laughing.

Draco rolled his eyes at this and he caught the eyes of Harry who was darting to him every now and then. “Now, on my whistle; brooms up in the air. One fair game everyone, I mean it,” she squinted her eyes at Flint and then the sound of her shrill whistle cut through the cheers and then they were up. He vaguely saw some flags waving from the Slytherin side and one big banner that was held up by a number of students that said ‘TOSS THEM AND BEAT THEM!’ in big bold letters and Pansy waving her arms wildly at them.

One more look at Harry and he found the boy already staring intensely at him. He nodded, firm and resolute and Harry only tilted his head to the side before a nod of ascent was given to him and Draco smirked.

And then, the game had started.

“The Quaffle is up! Angelina Johnson quickly taking possession, an outstanding Gryffindor Chaser and really gorgeous as well— oh wait, Marcus Flint immediately intercepting the Quaffle from that pass to Alicia Spinnet— the Slytherin captain passes the Quaffle— Draco Malfoy gets the Quaffle and— he scores!”

The Slytherins boomed as they cheered and Draco couldn’t care less about them, nor the audience’s sound of disappointment. He just had his eyes on the Quaffle. Flint was signalling to Adrian and then they were passing the Quaffle back and forth and to him before he sped up and took another goal. The Gryffindors stole the Quaffle and was zooming to the Slytherin goal posts, he bolted right after them just as they scored and then when the Quaffle was thrown to one of the Gryffindor Chasers, he immediately caught it mid-pass and dashed his way to the goals.

“Malfoy scores again! The Quaffle taken possession by Katie Bell oh— a dive there, beautiful! She avoids a Bludger— Quaffle in possession by Adrian Pucey, he passes and Malfoy gets the Quaffle again— ANOTHER GOAL!” Lee Jordan’s outrage was easily heard as he swore up and down and Draco took a quick look and saw that the Weasley twins had their bats ready. Bludgers in place, and then the Quaffle was in his hands again as one of the twins sent one his way, he dove down to miss and the Bludger sailed past him, pulling up in one swift move he aimed for the goal and scored once more.

He eyed Harry out of the corner of his eye and saw that he was swooping around in search for the Snitch. The twins were marking him now and he grinned as he inspected the teachers’ stands. Wood was yelling at his team and as Flint passed to him again, he avoided the Bludger thrown his way and immediately scored another goal.

Get on with it, Draco zoomed past the others, doing sharp turns and going wide as the Slytherin Chasers passed to him and him effectively scoring and reminded himself not to miss a goal. He avoided a Bludger and then another, and by the time a third one was sent his way; his grin was wide.

He saw Harry made for a dive but seemed to fly back up again as he lost sight of the Snitch. The first jerk of his broom was his signal. Draco eyed the stands and saw Quirrell staring unblinkingly at Harry. By this time, no one seemed to notice that Harry was fighting against his own broom and Draco pitched himself hard as he stole the Quaffle and scored one more goal. A Bludger was aimed at him and it missed him, he swerved right up and took another goal, he now zoomed passed the Gryffindor Beaters who were now arguing as they tailed after him fast. Flint tried for a goal, his missed and Adrian Pucey quickly took possession again passing to him and he took no time in scoring just as a Bludger skimmed his robes.

He jerked up sharply and hurtled in a winding arc just as the Gryffindors took possession and Flint stealing the Quaffle. Draco swerved right and then left as Bludger after Bludger was headed his way and he pushed on a bit more speed as he travelled up, barely pausing as he took position, grabbing the Quaffle and scoring again. He didn’t stop in the slightest as he whipped his way through, dodging players and hearing an angry yell and two distinct thwacks. A Bludger was speeding towards him, just as the Quaffle had landed on his hands and he immediately passed the Quaffle, throwing it hard and he jerked his broom up, stopping in front of the teacher’s stands just as one Bludger hit him square in the chest and sending him straight to the audience and another one grazing his arm as he crashed heavily into the professors.

Loud cries were heard as he groaned and when he was scrambling up, he saw that a few of the professors had ducked away, but Quirrell was there on the ground, holding a bloody nose. Flitwick was muttering swears as he sat up as he too, was thrown off the stands and Draco hid a smirk as he made his way up and over the rails, ignoring the rest. “Sorry!” he yelled over his shoulder as he mounted his broom and then he was diving down to the pitch.

“Was that a foul? No? Alright then, no foul to the Gryffindors that’s fine by me. And that’s Professor Snape waving Madam Hooch off. And a signal from Madam Hooch— and the game resumes! Spinnet takes the Quaffle, passes to Angelina—YES! She scores! Flint in possession, he’s flying hard— ohh, that’s a Bludger to the head! The Quaffle stolen, Gryffindor in possession— GOAL!!”

Draco grinned as he took a look at Harry who was gripping his broom and throwing him incredulous looks. There was the sound of wings fluttering by his ear and when Draco looked, the Snitch has zipped past him and that’s all it took for Harry to take his broom with amazing speed and dive down for the Snitch. Lee Jordan was commenting in rapid tones as he saw Harry go for the Snitch, the Gryffindor Seeker came flying after him. Harry was diving low to the ground, no doubt speeding after the Snitch and then he seemed to stumble before he skidded to a stop. Tripping over his broom as he made to dismount it, stumbling, he put both hands to his mouth before seeming to hurl over and then, the golden Snitch was popping out from his mouth. Holding it up high for everyone to see, Harry grinned. “The Snitch!” he exclaimed and Draco had laughed himself silly as Lee Jordan sputtered and Oliver Wood raged, protesting all the while that nearly swallowing the Snitch shouldn’t be legal while the Slytherins burst into loud cheers and applause.

“That was your great idea? Being hit by the bloody Bludger and trying to maul Quirrell with the other?” Harry whispered to him a little while later as they were headed for Hagrid’s hut.  

“To be fair, I only planned to squash him down on the stands, Weasley’s aim was a welcome addition to said plan.” Draco smirked at him and Harry rolled his eyes. Hermione and the younger Weasley were ahead of them, chatting rapidly and motioning for them impatiently.

“Hurry up! I want to meet this Hagrid person,” Weasley called out to them.  

“Honestly though, are you alright? That Bludger looked like it hit you hard,” Harry asked as they paused in front of Hagrid’s hut while Hermione knocked on the door.

“I’m fine, it’s Quidditch, what did you expect,” he waved him off as Hagrid opened the door greeting them with a huge smile and the loud excited barks of Fang met them.

“That was incredible play though! I didn’t believe Fred and George for a second when they said that you two were really good and when they spied on the training matches— oh, probably shouldn’t have said that. But blimey, I should be complaining that Gryffindor lost, but that game—” Weasley gushed out and Hermione crossed her arms.

“Quidditch is an incredibly violent sport! That scared me when you went crashing into the stands, honestly. I’ll bet a hundred Galleons if you could throw something at my foot that is more dangerous than Quidditch.” Hermione groused at them.

“A three-headed dog perhaps?” Harry muttered mockingly, but the meaning of it was lost as Hermione rolled her eyes.

“Where did yeh hear about Fluffy?” Hagrid suddenly boomed out and Hermione and Weasley turned to look at him with question.

“Fluffy,” Draco said with disdain as he stared at Harry who just smirked and shrugged.

“Yeh, Fluffy! The three-headed dog! How did yeh know bout’ im’?”

“Hagrid, he was joking. There really isn’t any three-headed dog,” Hermione argued still confused but Hagrid looked indignant at this.

“Of course he’s real! I raised sweet little Fluffy myself! Dumbledore actually asked if I would lend him to guard—” but Hagrid cut himself off and Hermione was staring wide-eyed at him.

“What did you say? You raised a three-headed dog?” Weasley asked aghast at the same time Hermione was sputtering out her words.

“There’s a three-headed dog here in Hogwarts?” Hermione’s shriek was shrill and Hagrid started arguing with the two of them as they headed inside the hut. Draco shook his head and Harry only smiled at him helplessly before going after them.

Draco crossed the threshold and was left as he made to close the door… then he stopped. He was looking up, and just watched the scene before him. Harry was smiling bright as Hermione sat down beside Weasley who was gawking at Hagrid, the half-giant was talking to them as he handed mugs of tea. It was the familiar sight of the three of them together that made Draco falter in his steps and just… stared.

It all seemed very real then. There, inside the hut as Harry laughed with his friends and Draco remained standing at a distance. Harry was happy, all of them were and Draco could only watch as he felt something hollow tug at his heart. A certain form of reality was ripping through him, a striking sort that pulled stuttered breaths that left him felt cold and numb. Harry turned to him, smile faltering as he slowly stood and went to fetch him. A question in his eyes, but Draco only managed a small smile as Harry closed the door behind him. Harry made to grab his wrist and he let himself be pulled towards the hearth. The fire was ablaze then, it should have been warm… should have been… So why does it seem like that he was freezing from the inside out? Draco could only let Harry’s fingers slip away as he made to let go.

There was a lull in the winds that blew through the trees and it scattered whatever leaves remained in the branches, leaving them bare in the grey sky. The air turned frigid and unforgiving as the rains turned to snow. The trees looked a lonely sort and the grounds were finally sprinkled with fine snowy dust as the season transformed into winter. The Black Lake had frozen and the students were in high spirits as the holidays greeted them and then they were off, sending their goodbyes to their fellow classmates and friends, waving cheers and promising presents.

Draco was at the courtyard, watching as Hermione enthusiastically wave at him in goodbye before turning to Weasley and Harry who was greeting her a Happy Christmas. Draco watched as Harry laughed when Hermione hugged him goodbye and that certain hollow feeling was still ever present as he made to walk away from them.

He wandered through the grounds; it was blessedly empty, as most of the students had already left for their homes. But not him… not this time. He pulled his coat tighter as he shoved his hand inside his pocket, the paper inside it crinkling loud.

Dearest Draco,

It’s such a shame that you couldn’t come home for the holidays this year. Although, I believe you’d find it quite boring here as your father is hosting a winter gala and I was roped into the preparation for the festivities, so just as well. You never did enjoy the parties that your father hosts and I’m actually inclined to agree. Too many people and its honestly exhausting.

Anyway, I do think you’ll much more enjoy being there at Hogwarts. Did you say that Harry was staying as well? Do enjoy yourselves and I seemed to remember that the Great Hall is especially lovely with the holiday decorations, but I must insist that you ought not to eat too much sweets as I know how extravagant the feast could be.

Of course, I’ll be sending you your gifts as well as Harry’s. Have fun opening them on Christmas morning. I do hope he likes it, send me a letter, will you? I’d like to know if he’s satisfied with the present I picked for him. Happy Christmas sweetheart.

Love,

Mum           

Draco couldn’t help the guilt that wrecked him as he remembered his mother’s letter. She was disappointed, he was sure. But he couldn’t bear to step foot in the manor when he had finally escaped those walls and not when he knows he’ll end up awake every night, trying viciously to not relive the horrors in his head while he tried to futilely sleep in his bedroom. He gritted his teeth as the snow trailed behind him, his boots leaving a ghostly set of prints.

He’d tried to write back, but of course he did, try for an apology to his mother with a string of excuses. Maybe a falsely cheerful letter how the halls were decorated extravagantly and how he was sure that his mother would do a much more excellent job at decorating the tree that held its place royally at the Great Hall. But, the piece of parchment in his pocket still remained blank.

He stopped then, as he fisted the parchment in his pocket. There was nothing to say is there? He pulled the parchment out and the blank page came staring back at him mockingly. Nothing to say— nothing at all. He crumpled the parchment, throwing it high in the air as he drew his wand. “Incendio,” the paper caught fire as it fell to the snowy grounds, leaving it ablaze as it slowly turned to ash and Draco felt incredibly cold.

“Not letting out your frustrations on holiday homework I hope,” he turned around to see Severus standing behind him. A stark black figure in the otherwise pure backdrop.

“I might as well, it was annoying that the professors thought it was a swell idea to give students homework,” Severus then walked beside him and they stood side by side, watching as the fire slowly extinguished itself.

“I seem to be one of those professors who’d sent out for the students to write a three-foot long essay,” Severus said cooly and Draco waved a hand at him.

“Yours was nothing, I had it done a week before the holidays officially started,”

“Then I suppose my essay isn’t the one currently in ashes there?” Severus inclined his head at the smoking snow.

“Wouldn’t dare burn one of your essays now, would I?” Draco smirked at him and he could see Severus twitch his mouth just slightly. Draco turned back to the pile of snow, “No, it’s just a blank piece of parchment,” he added quietly, “nothing worth seeing.”

It was quiet then as they stared at the ashes left on the grounds. Draco mused, Severus always said so little and yet everyone seemed to turn to him whenever he would step foot in a room. The sounds of dull footfalls disturbed their sudden lapse into silence. “Draco?” Harry called out to him, a faint flush on his cheeks from the chill, he was bundled up in his jacket and the Slytherin scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. Draco turned around to fully see the boy and noticed that he was panting slightly. His breath misting in front of him as he finally noticed them standing in the snow, he froze at the sight of Severus but continued nonetheless, jogging lightly as he joined him. “I was looking for you,” he eyed Severus for a moment before inclining his head at him.

“Not drowning yourself in the festivities yet are we, Mr. Potter? Mr. Malfoy and I were just discussing the essay that I assigned to your class.”

“Erm— yes sir, I’ve finished mine. Draco helped me with it,” Harry said and Severus eyed the both of them in silent contemplation before nodding along.

“Very well then,” Severus turned to leave and as he was halfway through the courtyard Harry called out to him.

“Sir?” Severus stopped and regarded them from a distance. “Happy Christmas,” Harry greeted him and Severus appeared to pause at that. Draco thought that he won’t even acknowledge the greeting but a tiny nod surprised him and Draco managed a small smile.

“Do keep yourself and Mr. Malfoy out of trouble. I’m not too keen on being disturbed on the holidays,” Severus said as he stalked his way inside the halls.

Draco doesn’t say anything as he watched Severus disappear, the black figure vanishing quickly amongst the stone archways and he kept staring… just staring at the empty air even when he felt Harry tug at his sleeve. “Draco?” his voice was soft.

Draco opened his mouth and closed it a few times before he stamped and swallowed the taste of bile that was forming on his tongue. “Did he suffer?” he asked in a hushed whisper.

Harry made a small intake of breath. A moment passed where he said nothing, he could hear Harry gulp and then he spoke again, “Nagini— it was Nagini who attacked him in the end,” Harry’s tone was so quiet then.

He could only nod mutely at this before he uttered a soft, “right…”

“Draco,” Harry muttered, hesitant and Draco turned to him. His green eyes held so much emotion that Draco wouldn’t dare try to figure out, they knew too much secrets and bear too much truth that it took all his being not to look away. He smiled instead, a hollow thing.

“He always visited us in the summer,” he said, nothing but a murmur as he started walking. “Last summer was no different, he was there at the manor and mother was fussing as always. I saw him as I was coming down the stairs…” he could hear Harry bound up to him, gripping his sleeve in a mindless thought as they walked aimlessly. “I froze, but of course I did. I froze and stared at him for the longest time and then he noticed me there, just standing still and when he turned to talk, I ran away,” his breath was a cloud of smoke as he heaved out. He noticed that his hands were trembling and he balled them into fists. “I didn’t come out of my room, not until nightfall. And when I did, I started my usual rounds of the halls and what would you know; Severus found me then. He didn’t say anything as he looked at me, only asked me to follow him.

“He never spent the night, so I was so surprised that he was still there, I couldn’t say anything. In the end, I ended up following him anyway and he led us down to one of the unused rooms in the cellars. He just started piling out ingredients on a table and the next thing I knew, he was ordering me to light the fire for the cauldrons and we stayed there brewing potions all night,” his cheeks hurt and realised that he was smiling wide. He turned to Harry only to see him smiling too and the grip on his sleeve tightened just that bit.

“He was protecting me, until the end. All those times and he was protecting me,” Harry mumbled and Draco had to squeeze the hand that was gripping him. He let his fingers linger for a moment before letting go, the hand on his sleeve remained still.

“He was also protecting me,” he whispered, staring unseeing at the snow in front of them, a shiver that had nothing to do with the chilled air, ran up his spine. “I was selfish and stupid and yet, he tried to make me see sense but it was too late,” he gritted out and the trembling in his hands was something fierce and violent. “It was too late, and then when I saw him again this time—I knew, I knew I couldn’t face him,” he gasped and he closed his stinging eyes. “I couldn’t… I knew I couldn’t…not when I was the one who killed him.”

Warm hands were suddenly gripping his cold shaking ones and when he opened his eyes, Harry was gazing intently at him. “Don’t, don’t ever say that again,” his green eyes shimmered, a furious sort and Draco shook his head at him but Harry’s hold was firm. “You don’t get to blame yourself. I won’t allow it, so don’t you dare say it was your fault.”

“You know its true Harry…” he said, a rasped whisper but Harry only had that glint in his eyes as he stared at his own.

“I was there, remember? I was there,” he said in a rush and he took a shuddering breath, “and I know that it’s wasn’t your fault, so please—” his voice wobbled a little and held on tight, “don’t ever blame yourself.”

Draco’s lips wouldn’t work as he struggled for something to say. He doesn’t know if he could ever believe Harry, not in that moment. So, he said nothing as they stood there in the freezing courtyard with no one else to bear witness but the grey skies and winter snow.

It was a slow thing, but Harry dredged up a hesitant smile for him. “The Weasleys are a loud bunch as ever, Ron’s been trying to teach me how to play chess but it’s pretty hopeless. Fred and George had set up a match at the Great Hall,” Harry said as he made to tug him in the direction of the Hogwarts halls and away from the frozen grounds. His hand was a tight thing on his wrist and he could do nothing but let himself be led as Harry pushed on. “Do you play chess? Maybe you’d have better luck in teaching me, the chess pieces seemed to be really annoyed whenever they thought I made a wrong move.”

And perhaps he was just desperate to believe him, he doesn’t know. But as Harry held on, pulling him towards where there was the promise of warmth and noise, Draco could only follow along.

The ache in his heart lingered but Harry’s hand was a steady grip around him and so if only in that moment, for just a bit… he allowed himself to hold on.

Chapter Text

Harry could remember well his first Christmas at Hogwarts. It was marvellous, a thing to behold and he held it dear to his heart as he recalled the garlands and the glimmering pixies that truly looked so magical as they fluttered back and forth. It was amazing and everything— and now, all he could do was stare dumbly at them as he ate tiny bits of food.

He stared at the end of the table where Draco sat separate from him and the others. Very few students stayed back for the holidays and staff deemed it appropriate to set the one table for the remaining students. Harry didn’t know what to do, Draco had been going off on his own and for what’s it worth, he was trying not to bombard him too much and give him space until his thoughts had settled down.

But Harry wished he knew what the boy was thinking, he was eerily quiet and it was driving him mad. He pushed off the table, walking over to the boy and tapping his shoulder softly. “Hey,” he said, Draco slightly flinched and Harry ignored how he aborted his movements in reaching inside his pocket. He slid beside him smoothly and offered him a smile, he eyed the meagre serving of food on Draco’s plate, some roasted vegetables and a slice of roast. “McGonagall’s having a right blast over there, I think Hooch just about challenged her in a drinking contest,”

They both turned to see Hooch, pressing a flowing cup to McGonagall who was laughing merrily as she slapped at her shoulder. “Well, what did you expect, it’s Christmas Eve,” Draco scoffed slightly at the display and Harry turned to him.

“Sit with us then. I think George just about managed to make a pudding fly and it looked rather tasty so I was thinking of grabbing a bowl before all of it splatters on the ground,” he made to tug Draco over where the rest of the students were gleefully digging in on the food, but the boy only remained in his seat.

There was that stare, something sombre and something resigned and Harry hated it. His chest constricted as Draco’s eyes glazed over him. “It’s alright,” the boy mumbled to him and a bland smile graced his features, “I’m done anyway, you go on and have fun,” Draco made to stand but Harry held on to stop him.

“Draco—” he started, but then those grey eyes landed on him and his smile turned into something genuine. Something small and soft, but it was, Harry thought with a pang, oddly sad. It made him stop.

“It’s alright Harry,” he said, almost a whisper, “go on.” And Harry could only watch as Draco left the table and disappear behind the solid heavy doors, it slammed shut with a soft thud. But Harry thought it was the only thing he could hear in the otherwise loud room.

Harry thought it would be a lot colder in the dungeons than it was in the Gryffindor tower. But as he woke on Christmas morning, he was pleasantly warm under his blankets and he shifted to his side to look at the window. But the waters still greeted him, it wasn’t the morning skies or the warm sunlight that he was used to, but he didn’t mind it, surprisingly. The waters were starting to become a comforting presence as it continued to lull pleasantly in the background. He stretched and sat up and was surprised to see Draco out of bed already.

Granted, he didn’t really saw much of the boy last night. His bed curtains were tightly drawn once he entered their room and Harry pushed down how the sight stung. Draco sat at the bottom of his bed, a scattering of presents before him and he somehow looked confused as he inspected one of them. Harry turned to see his own pile waiting to be opened and he grabbed his glasses as he moved over to the gifts.

“Hermione sent you one, didn’t she?” Harry said in greeting before he proceeded to pick out the neatly wrapped box he knew was from Hermione. He opened it and smiled at the Chocolate Frogs, he turned to Draco who was holding a pack of Sugar Quills, “don’t look so surprised, she’s your friend after all.”

“I don’t know about that,” Draco drawled but Harry heard the hesitation all the same. Harry paused in grabbing the next present and with one look at the sullen blonde boy, he gathered the rest of them and dumped them all in Draco’s bed.

“Move over,” Harry pushed as he sat at an open spot beside the boy.

“You know there’s a whole bed right over there, right?” Draco griped at him but he made to move some of his presents nonetheless.

“I want to see your presents,” Harry said as he started opening the flute that Hagrid made. Draco eyed the flute in mild confusion and down to what Harry now saw, was a wooden statue of an almost good imitation of a dog. Harry thought it might’ve looked like Fang. Harry vaguely remembered the Dursleys sending him a five-pence but he saw none this time and to be honest he couldn’t care less; he’d have chucked it in the fireplace first thing.

Harry’s heart soared as he saw the familiar wrapping paper that Molly preferred and he ripped the package open to see a soft-looking sweater. Of course, expertly knitted by Molly but this one looked incredibly well made, in a shade of a deep emerald green, with accents of gold. Draco shifted and held out another present, brows furrowed, Harry leaned over and grinned; this one was from Molly too. It was a scarf; it was more of a dark teal but it had the same golden accents as Harry’s. “I— uh—”

“Molly loves knitting you see, it’s kind of her tradition to send a bunch of knitted clothes to family and friends,” Harry took the scarf from Draco’s hands and folded it neatly. He handed a purple wrapped present to Draco next and he started to unwrap it, eyeing the scarf every now and then. The rest of the Slytherins went home of course, leaving them all alone in the dormitories. It seems that Vince and Greg had decided to gift both of them a big box of Honeydukes Chocolates. Harry, amazed that the boys had sent him one too, put them aside along with Molly’s home-made fudge and the other sweets that were gifted to them. His look of surprise must have shown because Draco grinned at him then as he continued to open presents from their dormmates. A new set of quills from Blaise to Draco, with matching bottles of ink courtesy of Theo. Harry was delighted to find a brand-new Snitch just for him and the note that came with it made him laugh.

It’s a bit weird that Draco’s the one who has his own Snitch when you’re our Seeker, we thought of stealing his to give it to you but Draco might actually jinx us, so enjoy! This one’s all yours Harry.

Blaise & Theo

When he went and showed this to Draco, he huffed a laugh and rolled his eyes. Pansy had sent the blonde a broomstick servicing kit with a note that said; If this one’s actually good, I’ll get you both your own next time. Tell Harry to use it as well. Which Draco threw at Harry’s head with indignation and to Harry’s delight, found himself a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages.

The next present was wrapped in an elegant green paper which were adorned with beautiful snowflakes that seem to glitter on their own. Harry opened it and felt himself staring in awe at a slick looking, black roll-neck jumper. It was very soft and the material felt high-end, Harry couldn’t stop running his hands through it.

“Do you like it?” he heard Draco ask softly and Harry nodded as he looked at Draco who was holding a pair of heavy black boots and a grey expensive looking topcoat. It was only then that Harry realised that this one was probably from Narcissa, “my mother asked me to send her a letter, I’ll tell her that you liked your present.”

“Tell her it’s incredible. Thank you,” Harry managed to say, he made to neatly pack the new jumper in his trunk along with Molly’s knitted sweater. He made to spin around and found Draco staring at his mother’s presents with fondness. He started packing his own things then, slow and deliberate and Harry made to grab the lone still wrapped gift that he left on his own bed and made to stuff it under his pillows.

Draco was staring out the window again, he noticed and Harry knew he had to do something. It was Christmas, and they were going to enjoy the fucking day. He then made to change out of his pyjamas and made the mess of wrappers disappear with a flick of his wand. “What—?” Draco startled as he pushed him to his own wardrobe.

“Get changed, come on!” with a bit more nagging and a bit more pushing, they were now dressed in warmer clothes and Harry made to grab Draco by the arm to drag him outside to the Great Hall, the boy protesting all the way.

But Harry couldn’t help the way how his heart soared when Draco’s small smiles just become that bit genuine all throughout the day.

It took Harry three nights of restless sleep when he finally found the strength to pull the unopened present from under his pillow and unwrapped it fully. It was as magnificent as ever, the soft thin fabric gleaming and gliding smoothly in his hands. And Harry just held it there in reverence as he stared at his father’s Invisibility Cloak. It was nearly midnight, and Harry had debated in himself if he should chance it again— to look for the room where the mirror was. He gripped the cloak tighter and padded his way outside the first-year common room. The fire was lit and Draco sat at the sofa, a blanket draped over his lap and a balled-up parchment in his hand. He tossed the parchment in the fire and Harry decided to walk over to him, “hey,” he called out softly. Draco twisted to face him and he showed him the cloak in his hands.

Draco’s eyes squinted at it. “What’s that?” he asked. Harry then just draped the cloak over himself, making sure that it covered his whole body and a gasp was heard from Draco before he pulled it off, grinning slightly. Draco made to stand and he reached the hem of the cloak with his hand. He said nothing as he just stared open-mouthed at the cloak before a slow smirk found its way to his features and he huffed, “so that’s how I appear to find your head floating in Hogsmeade back then. A rather excellent way to sneak around.”

Harry smiled and he looked down at the cloak before holding it out for Draco to see. “It was my father’s” he said, “Dumbledore was keeping it then, he sent it to me on Christmas. I didn’t want to open it until now,” he could see the question on Draco’s face but whatever he seemed to want to ask, he didn’t voice it out. Harry pulled his dressing gown tighter around him before he breathed out heavily. “Come with me,” he said and Draco looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

“Dare I ask, where?”

“Just— just please, come with me?” he hated how small and very child-like his voice had sounded. Draco regarded him for a moment but Harry couldn’t help the relieved breath that came out when he nodded. They walked down and out of their dormitory; it was a bit eerie when they crossed the whole of the Slytherin common room and found no one there, there were usually students up even this late at night. Just before they reached the door, Harry stopped them and made to drape the cloak over him, he raised the cloak just enough so that Draco could duck under too but the blonde just raised an eyebrow at this. Harry rolled his eyes, “the purpose of the Invisibility Cloak is not to be seen. And you, Draco, are very much out in the open.”

Draco sighed at this but ducked in the cloak beside him, albeit reluctantly. He made sure to cover both of them and then they were out in the halls of the dungeons. “Now I feel silly showing you that abandoned room in the dungeons. You probably know more hidden places in Hogwarts than any other Slytherins.”

“I don’t know about that, but to be honest, I never wandered down in the dungeons too much. After all, it is Slytherin property.” They padded their way down the halls, making as little noise as possible. Harry was relying solely on memory here, but if he was right, they’ll need to walk a few more corridors in order to get to the right room.

“Would you mind telling me any secret passage ways you’ve discovered while you were on your usual nightly walks?” Draco asked as they made a turn.

“Hmm,” Harry thought for a while as he searched the halls for any sign of wandering professors. “You know that painting near the Hufflepuffs’ common room?”

“Ah, the pear, right?” Draco inquired and Harry had to look at him and struggled to keep his pace as they kept walking.

“What? How’d you know that?” Harry asked, a bit disappointed that Draco knew about the portrait of the bowl of fruit.

“Well, Slytherins do tend to sneak around.” They turned down to another hall and Harry moved for them to climb a set of stairs. When they reached the landing, he looked around to check and was satisfied when he found no one.

The halls looked a bit familiar and Harry’s heart started to drum just that bit louder as he searched. “I’ve been here the first night I’ve ever got this cloak,” he whispered as they walked down the dark corridors. There were a bunch of doors and Harry tried each one of them.

“Why? Where you looking for a room?”

“Not really, it was a bit of a detour let’s say,” He tried for a locked door, casting an Alohamora and found an empty room with broken desks, “but I just want to know if it’s there.”

“What is?” Draco made to lock the room once again when they moved to another set of doors. This one with a broken lock and they peered inside and saw some shelves with empty bottles and torn books.

“A mirror,” Harry replied distractedly as they went further down the hall. They stood close under the cloak, whispering to each other and he tugged Draco over to the end of the hall where a set of double doors were.

“A mirror?” Draco repeated, puzzled and Harry only nodded.

“I just— I don’t even know if they’ve already moved it or not,” Harry rushed out, “but if it’s still here; I want to see.” He pushed the doors open and they were met with a big spacious room. There were all sorts of things scattered here and there, a bunch of desks pushed to the side, a lone broomstick, some empty pots and an empty shelf. Harry’s breath stuttered as his eyes finally landed on the artefact standing proud and still in the middle of the room. He could hear his heart pound louder and he made to walk towards the mirror. He could feel Draco’s questioning gaze but his sights were only for the Mirror of Erised at that moment.

He was suddenly being pushed to the side, to the wall in hushed and rushed footsteps and when he made to protest a hand was held tightly around his mouth. “Shh,” Draco softly whispered and when Harry turned to look at him, dumbfounded, he was watching with rapt attention as the doors opened again. Harry’s eyes widened when he saw Snape walk through, quiet and swift as he made to regard the room. He traipsed slowly, eyeing the equipment strewn around and he could feel Draco’s stuttered breath when Snape’s eyes landed on them. Harry willed himself to remain still as Snape squinted his eyes.

Snape then slowly turned to the mirror and after a few minutes of just looking, he started to walk towards it. Harry watched in fascination as Snape stood in front of the mirror, his face impassive as ever. He then saw Snape’s shoulders straighten just a bit and held himself stiff. Snape’s arm seemed to move, slow, as his hand made to touch the smooth surface of the mirror. But it never made it, as he immediately tore his arm away and stumbled a few steps back. They could now see Snape’s face, mouth pulled tight and a certain glint in them before the mask of expressionless was returned and his hasty steps thundered in the room as he made his way through the doors and slam it shut with a dull thump.

Harry then pushed Draco’s hand away and made to remove the cloak over them. He breathed in deeply as he stared where Snape had gone before darting his gaze to the mirror. Draco looked at him then and Harry found himself pulling at Draco’s sleeve as he made to lead him in front of the mirror. It was big, wide and tall with carvings of intricate design adorning its frame. There was the etched inscription above, elegant writing with words of nonsense.

He made to look beside him, at Draco, who has his brows furrowed as his lips moved to mouth the words on the frame. His scowl deepened as he seemed to re-read the words over and over, his eyes then darting to the mirror as a whole before landing once again on the script. “Erised…” he softly spoke, as he saw how his eyes swept through the words, mumbling, “I show—not your face—but—what your heart’s—desire,”

Harry’s heart sped up, his breath stuttering as he moved to stand in the mirror’s path. He saw his reflection, so young and wide-eyed and he heard himself gasp softly as he saw them. There they were; the whole of his family, relatives smiling and waving at him in excited motions. He saw his father, James, smiling wide at him and his mum, with her red hair and kind eyes. Lily made a little wave with her fingers and Harry felt himself smiling through the prickle in his eyes. Then he saw some of the people moving, parting themselves when a person walked forward and he felt his throat tighten as Remus made to stand beside his mum. Smiling, ever so gentle as he looked down at him. Harry’s heart clenched as he saw Sirius then, throwing an arm around his James, grinning wide and big as he too turned his bright expression to him.

Harry’s hands were trembling as he stared with blurry eyes at the faces of the ghosts that had led him through the forest. As comforting as their presence where then, it only seemed to ache now as he watched Sirius throw his head back to laugh and Remus tilt his head as his kind eyes bore down at him.

And then, there was another shift as the people move to make way for another person. Harry’s eyes widened impossibly, as a little boy made his way to the front. Blonde hair a mess, his grey eyes shone bright and a big smile was thrown at him as Draco made to stand beside his reflection. It was all so surreal, Draco was smiling unabashedly at him, his expression so open and unguarded as he made a step towards him. Harry didn’t know what to think, didn’t know what to feel, as he stared at the boy in front of him and reached out towards the young smiling face just to make sure that he was seeing him right. A touch on his hand jerked his eyes away and he swung his head sharply to the frowning face of Draco. “Harry?” the voice seemed to wake him up, the warm hand on his wrist grounding him.

His breath stuttered before he let out a gasp as his eyes darted everywhere, to everyone and on every face that the mirror was showing him and Harry— Harry has had enough. “Let’s go,” he rattled out as he took a few shaky steps backwards and he was dashing away from the mirror and found himself running out of the room and into the hall.

“Harry!” The sound of Draco’s voice made him stop and he stumbled on his feet. Then there was a tight grip on his arm as he turned around wildly to see Draco there, the cloak in his hands and marring a deep frown. Harry then shook his head at him.

“Let’s leave, now—” Harry rushed out as he made to tug his arm. “I want to get out of here,” he rubbed a hand down his face before turning to the hall. But Draco had grabbed his arm again and Harry swung around to face him, an angry growl escaped from him and Draco raised his hands in a placating gesture, eyes widening slightly.

“Okay, we’ll leave. Just, let’s wear the cloak again, yeah?” he said in an even voice and Harry realised he had his fists clenched tight and was breathing heavily. He eyed the cloak and forced himself to unclench his hands before giving a stiff nod. Draco, with deliberate and slow movements sidled up to him. Brandishing the cloak for him to see before draping it over themselves in one swift movements.

Harry doesn’t remember much as they started walking back to the Slytherin common room. His jaw ached and he knew he was gritting his teeth. As it was, he could only let Draco lead him, a steady hand on his arm as he was pushed and stirred in the right direction with soft nudges and gentle words. As they reached their own dormitory, he immediately ripped the cloak off them and threw it on his bed as he began to pace around their room.

Hands shaking, he dully heard Draco close the door to their room. Harry was restless then, as he pushed and pulled at his hair, then suddenly dropping on his bed clutching his heart as it beat wild and loud. He was maybe breathing a little too loudly, as his vision clouded and he threw away his glasses to rub at his eyes. “Harry?” he swung to the voice and found Draco close to him, standing there with a neutral expression fixed on his face. It turned into something more gentle then and Harry blinked as he saw his wand, pointed straight under Draco’s chin. Harry’s mind startled to a halt, as he saw his wand tremble in his hand and seeing Draco’s face where a small smile was being held. He dropped his wand, and it clattered to the ground as he pushed himself further in his bed, curling on himself and wrapping his arms around him.

He vaguely registered Draco picking up his wand and settling it gently by his pillows as he made to sit himself on the bed, a fair bit of distance away from him. Harry’s lips trembled then, “I saw them, for the very first time when I looked in the mirror; my mum and dad,” his breath hitched but words kept stumbling out. “I didn’t even realise at first that it was my parents who were looking at me in the mirror, didn’t know what it meant. I saw them and I just kept coming back to see them again.” He felt the bed shift and when he looked up, Draco had pushed himself a little closer to him as he listened, “I saw them again this time and then there was Remus and Sirius standing beside them. They were all smiling as they looked at me,” he gasped something loud and the telltale wetness down his cheeks was a revelation.

“All of them were there; my parents, Sirius and Remus. And it hurts, it hurts so much to know they got themselves killed because of me and that’s just it, isn’t it?” Harry found a hollow laugh ripped out from him and the tears streaming down his face were unrelentless, “the truth, that it’s my fault! All of it, my fault,” the sob that wrecked through him had him grabbing for his arms as he buried his face as he cried harder. “What am I even doing here?” he whispered, something broken.

Gentle hands then found their way to his wrists as Draco made to untangle his tight grip on his own arms. Heaving out breaths, Harry pushed his head up only to find Draco close and a small crease on his brows. “No,” he said, quiet. “It isn’t. It’s not your fault,” a smile, so genuine made Harry tremble as tears still fell down. “It wasn’t and would never be your fault,” Draco dropped one of his hands but kept the other as he held and looked him straight in the eyes, grey ones clear as day as a girded resolve was heard in his words, “and you’re here because you ought to be. Because you deserve to be, and that Harry Potter, is the truth.”

And Harry may have felt a tug at his heart, he doesn’t know. But as the hand fell away and he made to hug himself, he just let the tears flow down freely. “Tell me something,” he sobbed out and he felt a warm presence beside him then.

“What do you want me to tell you?” Draco’s voice was soft and soothing as the waters in the lake and Harry let it wash over him.

“Anything,” he whispered, “tell me anything.”

It was a minute of silence before he heard Draco’s voice again. “That night at the manor, Severus had me brewed the Draught of Peace,” Harry’s mind flew as he buried his head in his arms. “It’s a tricky potion, finicky at best and very particular when it comes to adding its ingredients. But if you brew it right, the potion will make the drinker feel at ease, it will calm the mind, relieving stress and anxiety,”

Harry’s sobs were loud, but Draco continued to talk and Harry was eternally grateful for that, “in brewing the Draught of Peace, you should prepare your ingredients precisely as the method shows. The ingredients, being powdered moonstone, the syrup of hellebore—”

And he let him talk, all through the night. And Harry listened, as he shed his tears and he listened to Draco’s voice as he finally—finally found himself grieving and he let his heart mourn as much as it wants as he fell asleep.

They didn’t talk about the mirror the next day or what happened after. Harry found himself going through the motions but oddly feeling a bit lighter in spite of the tremulant events the night before. Just as, they mostly kept to themselves and inside their rooms, leaving for food and playing with their Snitches. The night came then and Harry found himself fiddling with the cloak again. But this time, a little playful smirk crossed his face as Draco looked at him apprehensively as they lounged on the sofa. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. I thought you wanted to know about the secret passageways.”

“Not that I find your cloak particularly useful Harry, but I don’t fancy running into Severus at the moment,” Draco quipped but eyed the cloak nonetheless.

“Invisibility Cloak, we are literally invisible, Draco. I believe I don’t need to explain the concept of invisibility to one of the smartest students in our year.”

“Oh, do shut up Harry,” Draco rolled his eyes at him but after a moment, he looked down at the cloak in his hands. “I get to pick where we’re going,” he shut the book he was currently reading and tossed it on the sofa as he stood. Harry raised an eyebrow but pushed himself up as well.

“Sure, do I get to know where we’re going?” he asked as Draco pulled his dressing gown over his pyjamas and threw Harry his own. He also threw him his shoes and saw that he was already wearing his own boots.

“Fluffy,” Draco said primly and Harry paused in pulling his shoes on.

“Fluffy,” Harry deadpanned at him and Draco threw him a smirk, “you want to go to the third-floor.”

“Seems appropriate that I finally meet dear Fluffy, don’t you think?” Draco said as he made his way down to the Slytherin common rooms, “when am I going to see a three-headed dog again anyway,” they made their way down and then they were out in the halls once more, cloak adoring their small figures and Harry patted his wand in his pocket as they made their way.

“You better have your wand drawn if he decides that tonight is apparently playtime,”

“Shush now, I just want to take a quick peek, not start poking its nose,” but Harry saw him reach for his wand and he hid a smirk. Harry doesn’t know why, but as they landed on the third-floor, the halls almost looked menacing. Perhaps it’s the idea that a giant predator is behind one of those doors but the silence even this late at night is disturbingly oppressing.

“There, that door,” he whispered and he felt Draco drew himself up to him, form a little rigid. He tried the knob, but of course it was locked. “Alohamora,” the click was unnecessarily loud and Harry winced as he looked down the halls.

“That is…loud,” for a moment, Harry thought Draco was complaining about the lock but then he saw the boy was leaning a bit at the crack of the door. And Harry heard it too, the grunts and snores of the beast inside.

“I’m guessing he’s asleep?” Harry told him, an uncertain edge in his voice.

“Right,” Draco mumbled, gripping his wand more firmly as he looked at Harry. Harry gulped down his nerves.

“One quick look and that’s it, alright,” he said and he made to push the door as slowly and quietly as possible. Harry had pushed the thought of the three-headed dog deep in the recesses of his mind throughout the years. It seemed superbly insignificant and honestly finding it a bit funny at times. But he had forgotten how massive the beast was when faced by two eleven-year-old kids.

“Merlin,” he heard Draco breathed out. Fluffy— Fluffy, he thought hysterically was in fact curled up on the floor, the three heads all snoring in turns as puffs of smoke blew out of their snouts in lieu of the cold air of the winter. Harry could have sworn that the occasional rumbles and grunts shook the room and he drew his wand up instinctively as they walked a few steps further. “Okay… I think I’ve seen my fill,” Draco mumbled beside him and Harry nodded his head.

There was a shift and a much louder grunt and they both froze in their spot. There was a loud sniff and then he could see one of the heads lifting and Draco grabbed his arm tight as he made to pull him back to the door. The beast’s eyes seemed to blink and then the other head was starting to wake just as a rumbling growl was beginning to emerge from the drowsy dog. Draco now jerked him away as he held his wand aloft and they stumbled backwards with quick steps just as the third head was shaking itself awake. They hit the corridor floor outside and they scrambled up to shut the door as quietly and quickly as they could just as confused growls begun filtering the air.

They stumbled slightly as they stood still outside the closed door. Hearing the shuffling inside and the sniffs of the dog, they stared as it died down with heavy thumps and one loud snort before finally, it was quiet again.

“Should— should we head back now?” Harry whispered once they were just standing there for a few minutes. Draco nodded dumbly and they crept slowly away from the third-floor.

It wasn’t until they were finally in the confines of the Slytherin common room that Draco seemed to wind down and he sank in the sofa by the windows, heaving a huge breath. “I must say, that for all of the times I’ve insulted the teaching staff, this just proves that some if not all are completely and utterly unhinged.”

“Well,” Harry fiddled with the cloak in his hands, shrugging a little bit, “Fluffy’s mostly harmless, I—erm, I think.”

“Harmless? You just stared down a giant three-headed dog and you actually have the audacity to call it ‘harmless?’” Draco’s tone is flat and Harry just shrugged some more. After a moment, he suddenly huffed out something a little bit incredulous and then he was giggling. Draco raised an eyebrow at him but he could see a twitch on his mouth. As his high settled down he made to throw the cloak on the sofa and contemplated if a little trip to the kitchens is worth it; a midnight snack sounds appealing at the moment.

A loud thud was heard and he was drawing his wand fast as he darted a look at the windows. Draco had spun from his seat and was pointing his wand steadily as his frown deepened. Nothing was there. Harry watched the waters of the Lake for a moment and was in the process of lowering his wand when there was another thudding noise from the windows.

“What?” Draco was on his feet then, slowly turning to face the windows directly. Harry was looking all over the huge glass windows and he slightly jumped when a tail swam past their vision. He edged closer, warily watching as the waters swirled, a disturbance and the low light of the lamps illuminated them in ghostly green. It was then that a figure appeared, slow and swimming lazily but no less elegant and Harry’s eyes widened. “Oh, wow,” he heard Draco breathed out in amazement.

The mermaid was idly floating in the waters, hovering and looking at them from the windows. Long black hair swam with her and she titled her head to the side. “Hello?” Harry heard himself whisper.

“I’ve never seen one this close before,” Draco murmured next to him in wonder and the mermaid swam that much nearer and she seem to glow under the fire light. Her light green eyes seemed to sparkle as she continued to stare at them and Harry was oddly mesmerised by her. At the same time, a little bell was ringing in his mind, a certain sound that was no more than a little muted ring.

The image of a boat and the swirling waters floated suddenly before him. A feeling of relief, as the sounds around him had died down in favour of gentle waves and the freeing feeling of being alone. He felt his mouth drop open a little. “You were there,” he muttered. And as if the mermaid heard his words, she appeared to smile at them and threw them a little wink before she did a flip and inclined her head before swimming away. Harry felt himself gasp so suddenly; he grabbed Draco’s arm tight as the memories of the Black Lake was suddenly flooding in his mind. “She was there, she saw me and she helped me then,” he said in a rush and he could feel his heart thudding faster as he kept talking.

“What?” Draco asked in puzzlement as he darted his gaze from Harry to the window.

“The Black Lake,” Harry then turned to Draco, a mad glint in his eyes as he stared at him, “after the war, she was there at the Lake.” The widening of Draco’s eyes was the only thing his mind could register as he made a dash for the doors. He barely opened them when he was pulled back and was suddenly enveloped in the soft sheen of the Invisibility Cloak. He turned to see Draco adjusting the cloak over them as he nodded at him and then they were making their way out of the dungeon halls.

They kept a brisk pace, barely keeping to even watch their surroundings as they found their way to the Entrance Hall. For a moment Harry’s heart dropped as they stopped in front of the enormous doors that would lead them outside of Hogwarts. He put both of his hands against the heavy wood and gave a tentative push. It didn’t move and Harry looked around wildly at the doors before pushing it harder. The small grating sound made his heart lurch and he threw all his weight against the doors and saw Draco heaving himself against the heavy wood before stepping back and slamming his shoulder a bit too forcefully.

The slight chilled breeze was a welcome relief as the doors then slowly became easier to push. The doors were languidly moving, as if they were just waking up from their deep slumber and then with no more than a few feet of open air they squeezed through the gaps and they were rushing down the stone steps and into the snowy grounds. They ran, as fast as they could. Stumbling and slipping on the snow before Harry made a frustrated noise and he threw the cloak off them, bundling it in his hands as the cold winds swept through them and then he was sprinting.

He could vaguely hear the dull footsteps of Draco behind him as his subconscious led him to the direction of the Lake. With his breaths misting in front of him, Harry panted in the dim light of the full moon above. “Harry,” he heard Draco’s breathless voice as he reached out for his arm and then they were slowing down on their path. He didn’t even realise that they had traipsed well over the edge of the Lake in their hasty run. Harry turned to Draco then and a deep frown was set on his features as the blonde made a hesitant step, leg reaching forward as his boot connected on hard solid ice. “It’s frozen.”   

Harry spun around and saw the Lake, a vast glimmering silvery expanse of land and no moving waters that would lap at their feet. Harry panted as he stared, “No,” he shook his head and before he knew it, he was prodding at the frozen Lake with his shoe and took a few steps forward. “She was there, I know it. Along with another, they brought me a boat to cross the Lake,” he slowly ambled his way, testing the ice as he did so; it was solid as the stone steps of the Entrance Hall, “she might know what happened then, how the time lapse happened.”

“What are you going to do then?” Draco’s voice made him stop. It was low, but oh so sharp, slicing through the winter chill and cold as the frozen waters below. Harry slowly turned to him, his breath misting as he stared.

“What?” he asked quietly. For a moment, the boy didn’t say anything just steadily looked at him with an unreadable expression. Draco then started to walk the expanse of ice towards him.

“If she does know what happened, if she does know how to reverse the time lapse, what are you going to do,” he was slow and deliberate as he made a stop just a few steps in front of him. Draco’s face wiped of any expression and Harry felt a sudden weight drop down on him.

“I don’t know,”

“Don’t lie,” Draco bit back at him and Harry spun around to walk the ice once more just to think.

“I don’t know! We’re not even sure if she would help us, you said that we’ll talk once we find a reversal spell and we still haven’t the slightest idea of the time lapse—”

“We’re talking right now, Harry!” Draco’s voice was loud, laced with a certain venom that Harry hasn’t heard in a long time, “and I know that you won’t even consider the option of going back even if we do find a spell.”

“Don’t accuse me of anything! You know nothing about what I want!” a condescending, hollow laugh followed through and Draco started walking further along the ice, gait even and purposeful and Harry heaved a deep breath to calm himself. “You want the truth? Fine!” he started hurrying along to match his steps and Draco held his gaze solely on the solid expanse of the Lake, “the truth, is here I am seeing and knowing that the people who died in the war are still walking and alive right now and I intend to keep them that way! I won’t stand for it if I miss this chance of being able to save them this time around!”

“And here we are! Harry Potter the great saviour of the wizarding world!”

“Stop that,” Harry reached out and grabbed his wrist to stop Draco only for the boy to wretch his arm free and glare at him. “This is something, a chance not to be thrown away, why can’t you see that?” he tried to reason, but Draco only turned his face away and Harry pushed on, “I have to try Draco, don’t you understand? And you, why— why would you want to go back when you know the possibility of being thrown in Azkaban?”

And isn’t that the question Harry’s been dying to ask? The thought of Draco being prosecuted and sentenced to prison won’t ever sit right with Harry. He won’t allow it, he won’t. Draco doesn’t answer for a while.

“Because it’s what needs to be done, Azkaban is where I belong,”

“Draco—”

“Don’t even try and pretend Harry!” Draco gritted out to him, “you can’t just brush off the crimes that I’ve done and I’ll be damned if I start running away again,” he panted, breath heavy and shoulders heaving. Harry stared at him then, grey eyes shining in the moon light, something twisted and haunted in them but also, a fierceness that Harry never saw before.

“Then don’t run,” Harry said to him. “Stay. Stay here with me and save them,” and Harry in that moment desperately hoped. But whatever reply that was swirling in Draco’s tongue was unheard, when they both jumped at the loud thud beneath them.

Wands drawn quickly they pointed at the frozen waters of the Lake, and there, somewhere a little further where the ice was thin enough to see, was the tail of the mermaid they saw then. Another thump and Draco exhaled deep, he took a few steps towards where the mermaid was underneath the ice and pointed his wand. “Incendio,” a burst of flames and then Draco started to carefully and steadily melt the ice, creating a decent sized hole in the midst of the frozen lake. A little splash from the waters and then Harry’s breath caught as he saw the mermaid break the surface, regarding them with intelligent eyes.

Harry slowly walked towards her and she blinked at him. “I—” Harry didn’t know where to start now that he was facing her. “We, sort of wanted to ask if you— happen to know if there’s some sort of magic here in the Black Lake and—” Harry started to ramble and he looked at the mermaid then. So incredibly human, an ethereal being there under the light of the moon. She stared at him, her gaze steady and those light green eyes shone with a knowing glint. “No…” Harry whispered, enraptured and disbelief showing through. He dropped to his knees then, not caring that he was kneeling on the ice as he levelled his gaze and looked fully at the mermaid. “But you remember,”

There was a sharp intake of breath beside him but Harry was still staring in shock at the mermaid in front of him. The mermaid tilted her head to the side before nodding in slow languid movements. Harry’s heart sped from his chest and there was Draco sinking along with him. “Then you must know—please tell us then, what happened that time, please,” his breaths came out rushed and the mermaid flitted her eyes between them before she did that lazy nod of hers. She swam around and was sinking in the waters before they knew it, Harry turned to Draco and saw his eyes staring at where the mermaid had been, fists clenched and he was biting his lip.

It was so sudden, when a thick cloud of fog began to emerge from the distance. And Harry almost didn’t see it until Draco’s expression changed to a deep set of frowns. “What…” he heard Draco mumble. And then he was abruptly standing up and Harry spun his head, his eyes widening as he saw the fog quickly making its way across the lake. He shakingly pushed himself off the frozen lake and drew up his wand.

It was then that he saw the ice melting from where the fog had come, the waters freeing themselves from their frozen stature and it was evident that the Black Lake was now slowly unfreezing itself and they were stood in the middle of it. Draco began to pull his arm and quickly step back but it was just, that a boat began to float by through the waters. “Wait!” Harry exclaimed and he saw the familiar figure of the merpeople who he had once seen, pushing along the boat towards them. The fog surrounded them now, but the waters seem to stop just at the edge of where they stood on solid ice. The boat then floated up to them and he saw the mermaid emerge from one side and she inclined her head towards it.

Harry shot a look at Draco who had his brow furrowed deep and then he turned to glance at him and gave a hesitant nod. They carefully climbed aboard the boat and then found themselves being pushed further along the Black Lake. The fog was relentless, oppressing the surroundings of the rest of the grounds. Smoke curling up in lazy tendrils and Harry wondered if the merpeople where the ones responsible for the fog. The boat stopped and just then, a number of things appeared to happen at once.

The waters began to stir, splashes were made here and there and he could see tails moving along the surface and diving in random drifts. He was warm, he suddenly noticed, the frigid air was no longer there as the coldness was swept away and he turned to look, wide-eyed as the fog appeared to dance in tandem with the merpeople. There was a glow beneath the waters, dim but it illuminated them nevertheless. The merpeople were still swimming around them and a figure broke the surface and was then staring at them.

Male, broad-shouldered and black hair strewn all over, a set of light green eyes sharp and firm swept through them as he lifted his body more. Harry was dumbfounded and he seemed to lost the ability to form words when a voice rang out, “Harry Potter,” it was deep and slow. Harry wretched his eyes away and started to look around wildly, he saw Draco doing the same before the voice spoke again, “do not be alarmed, for it is I, who speak.”  

Harry spun and turned to stare at the merman in front of them, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. “But… you’re talking to us,” he said dumbfounded and the merman inclined his head forward.

“Indeed,” his voice rang out loud and clear but his lips doesn’t move at all and Harry had the uncomfortable sense that he was speaking through their mind.

“Legilimency?” Draco spoke suddenly beside him and the merman tilted his head to the side in thought.

“Not quite,” he said, “it isn’t so much a spell as it is, an ability.”

“But that’s impossible,” Draco uttered, disbelief in his voice, “we were always told that merpeople couldn’t speak above water.” There was a deep rumble of laughter that pierced through, a little bit melodious like and they saw the merman’s shoulder shook as he threw his head back in amusement.

“Humans are unbearable naïve,” the merman boomed out and there was another laugh that joined his, this one high and giggling. Harry then caught a glimpse of the mermaid from before, swimming not far away from them. “Only seeing what it is handed to them and such passing judgement with no regard for deeper understanding. Just as well,” the merman’s lips curled in a smirk, “my brethren and I have no interest to spill our secrets lest some wizard comes prodding in our lands.”

Harry had to shook his head as his mind was whirling too much and he leaned a little further in and grasped the edges of the boat. “You know magic then? Some form of enchantments?”

“If that is what you decide to call it, but we have no name for the pulse of soul that lives within our empire.”

“But—you know then, how we seem to—” Harry stammered as he gestured between him and Draco. “We’re not from here, from this time and we’re the only ones seem to remember our Past and no one else,”

“That is to be expected, it is the will of the waters to remain veiled in midst of prying minds, but I believe the ones directly involved in the performance of the song shall see and remember what is. In this regard, no form of wizardry of your kind shall be able to penetrate the soul of our waters.” There were now a few more heads peeking through the surface, watching them with interest.

“The hat knows that we’re from the Past though, when we were sorted,” Draco remarked offhandedly as he frowned but the merman only laughed again.

“The hat you speak of is sentient on its own. A funny sort it is, I have no explanation for that but perhaps it is just as mysterious as the Lake,”

“But you remember me then?” Harry blurted out, “that day after the war, I was here on this lake.”

The merman nodded again and gestured his hands to the Black Lake. “This is our home; we keep no secrets from her and she tells no lies to us. We bear witness to the song, but you speak of this time as a complete separate as to where you are now, why is that?” the question was sudden and just that bit baffling. Harry scowled at this and turned to look at Draco. The blonde boy had the same look of confusion on his face and he shook his head.

“What do you mean? We’re— I mean, we were supposed to be there in the future,” Draco asked slowly and the merman only titled his head, “we travelled to the past, didn’t we?”

The merman looked at them in contemplation, then the mermaid with the same light green eyes rose beside him and she leaned close to his ear, whispering before the merman let out a hum. “My daughter tells me that is how you would interpret this abstract form of the song. But I believe the future you speak of is no longer the future, but now in the past as memories of your own. You stand here as your own as it is.”

“I’m sorry?” Harry’s heart began to thunder and there was a ringing in his ears. “Did— do you mean the future where we came from doesn’t exist anymore? Have I destroyed it then?” he sent a panicked look to Draco whose eyes grew impossibly wide at the assumption.

“Do not fret,” the merman soothes and he swam a little closer to their boat. “I only meant that this future had already happened, it is done and the events will remain as memories in this circumstance. And here,” he lifted his hand to gesture to them both, “is now your present, whatever you decide now will be solely left in your hands.”

Harry settled back a bit and breathed in deep. This is too much information for his already racing thoughts and he just decided to push on. “But could you help us? To go back to— there, where I was after the war?” Draco’s gaze was a burning sort on him but he ignored it.

“If that is what you wish, then we shall assist you,” the merman turned to the rest of the merpeople and a little flourish of his hand made them nod in acquiescence before they started diving beneath the surface. Harry then shifted to look at Draco, who had his eyes now focused on the lake in front of them, gripping his wand tight.

“I don’t know what I did then, I don’t know how we got here,” Harry admitted softly and the merman began to swim lightly in front of them.

“The waters are deeply understanding and such, it listens,” the merman spoke in languid tones as he stroked the water fondly. “She listened; to your wish, to your plea and when your heart sung to her, she sung in return. Not to worry, a simple touch to the waters will begin the song. But when it is done, the waters won’t sing anymore.” The merman looked at them meaningfully and Harry’s ears begun to ring louder. His hands tightened more on the wood, he chanced a glance at Draco but the boy was wearing those bleak blank eyes again, Harry felt his jaw tighten.

“Although,” the merman made to look at Harry and his eyes fluttered to his wand, “it seems you currently wield a different wand as of now, I’d suggest you use the one that the waters are already familiar with.”

Harry watched as the merman swam away from their boat. Harry gave a deep frown at this and stared at the wand in his hand. He twirled it a bit, before his eyes widened in realisation and he turned to tug at Draco’s arm. “Your wand,” he muttered, a little bit astonished, “I was using your wand.”

Draco’s head lifted as he looked at him, he raised his Hawthorn wand to stare at it, his brows knitted in thought. There was a little hum that started, so softly, followed by another and in a minute then, it was a chorus of voices humming a whimsical tune. The merpeople swam, floating in and out of the water and there’s a certain effervescent glow that seem to blink from the depths. It was a strange sort of beautiful.

“You could stay…” Draco muttered and Harry had whipped his head and grey eyes bore down at his own. Draco stared at him, a little tug on his lips and he was smiling. “You could stay here and you would save them,” he huffed out a laugh then, playful and genuine, “you’ll save them, I know you will. You’re you after all,” and the fact that there was no mocking note in Draco’s voice made something in Harry’s gut seemed to clench as he looked at the boy.

“And you?” Harry asked. But he had to. Draco turned to stare at the waters then, his eyes distant.

“Azkaban is what I deserve,” Harry couldn’t hear anything else then because no, he won’t stand for that. Not this, not Draco already sentencing himself in dreadful penance, not with that look of hopeless defeat in his eyes. He won’t stand for that, would never stand for it. No—

“No,” he then gripped Draco’s wrist, his wand held still and steady and Harry shook his head. “You won’t go to Azkaban, not you. I— I’ll testify for you,” Draco then spun his head to frown at him.

“Harry—”

“No, I’ll stand in court, testify in front of the ministry—the whole of the Wizengamot if I have to. I’m sure McGonagall will have your back too. You won’t end up in Azkaban, we’ll make sure you don’t,” and Harry means it, meant all the words that he had said. And that truth, he found out, was as bright as the shining light in the waters beneath them.  

Draco only stared at him; he shook his head solemnly before pulling his hand away. “You can’t save everyone Harry,”

Harry took in a deep slow breath; he then carefully tucked his own wand in his pocket and reached out to gently pluck Draco’s wand from his own. “I know I can’t, but I’ll try my damnedest anyway.”

The waters were shimmering, a constant flow of light that was putting the glow of the moon to shame. He could hear it now, the voices singing in soothing melodies. The merpeople were starting to glide in pairs, before breaking off and diving, only to swim elegantly to the surface. The merman was watching them, he seemed to sway along with the rest of his people. Harry exhaled then and he found he could no longer hear the deafening beat of his heart and realise that… he was honestly fine with this.

He started to lower Draco’s wand to the waters, it really was beautiful. A breathtaking sort, mesmerising as the merpeople glided smoothly along with the song of the Lake. Harry found himself honestly at peace.

A gentle hand then wrapped around his wrist, just as the tip of the wand kissed the surface of the water. He turned to see Draco pulling his hand away. There was a look in his eye, steel grey boring down on his own, reflecting the light from the waters and Harry thought that at that moment, they appear to turn into a bright silver. Shining with a reinforced glint in them and then the wand was out of his reach. Draco held his Hawthorn wand, a sure grip as he took a deep breath and then he turned to the merman who had his head titled now as he observed the two of them.

“Whatever we decide right?” Draco asked the merman and then he swam close again before nodding at him. “Then here,” Draco said, “we’ll stay here, it is our present after all.” He turned to Harry and the warmth he felt was something nothing short of wonderful. Harry smiled at him and when he shifted to look at the merman he was surprisingly, smiling too.

“What is your name?” he asked as his eyes shone brightly with the light of the lake.

“Draco. Draco Malfoy,”

“Well then Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter,” he rose a little higher from the surface before giving them a deep bow, “I shall take my leave and I wish you luck in this present that you have chosen.”  He then gave one last nod at them before joining the other merpeople, swimming languidly as he disappeared. The boat then began to move, as it was pushed forward by the same mermaid who had brought them there. Harry peered at the side to look at her and she just smiled and winked at him once more. The fog was still around them, swirling with the waves of the water and the singing was slowly setting low to a former hum.

The glow then faded into the dim light of the moon and soon the fog cleared itself away. The boat skidded to a halt and Harry jolted back a little as he held on and saw that the water was now once more, frozen solid. The boat now stuck in the ice and the chilled air greeted them again. Panting a little, he saw the little puffs of breath from his mouth and remembered that they were outside in the middle of winter. Harry rubbed his hands together, suddenly aware of how cold he was and when he turned to look at Draco, he too shivered before pulling himself off the boat and landed on the ice below. Harry made to disembark as well and as he climbed off, he saw the Invisibility Cloak laying in a buddle at one of the seats, he must have thrown it there then.

Draco was waiting for him as he grabbed the cloak and then they were walking side by side across the frozen expanse of the Black Lake. Harry made to hug the cloak in an attempt to keep warm, but as the events begun to register in his mind a slow smile was creeping on his features. “Merlin, it’s fucking freezing,” Draco swore before casting a warming charm on himself, Harry did too as his trembling fingers reached for his wand, the charm did its best to warm him even when he was wearing pyjamas outside in the snow.

He saw Draco glance at him before rolling his eyes, no doubt seeing the stupidly big grin on Harry’s face. Harry knocked their shoulders together, crossing the lake with even steps, careful not to slip. There was a sudden flash of light beside him and Harry vaguely heard the ending of a spell. A little ball of blue flame now held in Draco’s hands, cupping it as he bounced it gently between them. Harry didn’t know what the fire was for, perhaps to keep himself warm or maybe he just wanted it for his hands to keep busy. Harry put his palms in front of the flame regardless, it was warm after all. “What now?” he heard Draco whisper and Harry just shrugged.

“Do you think the elves will be angry if we snuck into the kitchens for something hot to drink?” he was shoved hard and Harry laughed a little. “I’m serious, I want something to eat too,” he returned to the fire in Draco’s hands, a smile still playing on his lips. “Something to warm us up and then we sleep,” the sky was clear and the moon hung heavy, its pale light mixing with the blue flame, it was warm. “And then in the morning, we do things right.”

Chapter Text

Draco would admit that he had stupidly made some mistakes in his life. That was an understatement; mistake wouldn’t even cut close to the felony that he had committed in the Past. So sure, he was no stranger to making mistakes and forgive him for thinking if he actually made a massive lapse of judgement right now.  

He and Harry were sitting in the first-year common room, a set of sandwiches and biscuits on the table along with mugs of tea that they had convinced the house elves to provide for them—although it didn’t take much to convince them, they were absolutely delighted to give them some food. It was a few days after their little trip to the Black Lake and by Merlin, it was such a wild night that he had shut down all his thoughts to just… digest things thoroughly. He was honestly glad it was the holidays still; they’d taken full advantage of the emptiness of the dorms to talk a lot without the problem of being overheard. Such as, Harry was telling him about the Philosopher’s Stone in more detail and the apparent traps set by the professors to protect the Stone from thieving hands.

He ran his hands down his face and resisted the urge to scream, a match of chess, honestly— he’d had pegged McGonagall to be more vicious than that. “The traps are relatively—erm, alright, I guess? All things considered,” Harry hedged in a small voice as he sips his tea.

“Oh sure, Fluffy’s a downright terrifying guard dog if it wasn’t for him rolling his belly up once he hears so much as a toneless flute singing him to fucking sleep,” he sighed deeply and reached for a sandwich, biting on it with more force than necessary. Harry eyed him before crunching down on a biscuit, he said nothing though as he let him steam for a bit. “Alright, fine! I haven’t actually seen the traps, so for all I know, the Devil’s Snare is a brilliant idea. That plant is savage enough as it is.”    

“Sprout’s beloved plants are a headache on their own, she and Hagrid would get along splendidly if you get them started on their lovely charges,”  

“Merlin, honestly—” Draco muttered. He slumped down as he finished his sandwich, washing it down with some tea. He leaned his head back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling, blinking at the uneven stones and watching as the glow of the fire made interesting shadows move.

“You alright?” Harry murmured to him and he distractingly nodded. He was… well, overwhelmed if he was being honest. Perhaps feeling a little bit mad, he doesn’t know, but right now he was mostly… fine.

He’d had waited for that numbing dread to settle in, for him to come running out of the halls and despair in the absolute insanity of staying here—in their new present. But the regret never came… and that’s just it isn’t it? He didn’t regret it. It was the most astonishing thing. “Yeah,” he said, “just, spare me the rest of your suicidal adventures, alright? Let’s just deal with the Philosopher’s Stone first.”

Harry regarded him for a second before he settled more on his part of the sofa, “One step at a time is it, Draco?” he smirked.

“I’ll drink to that,” he rolled his eyes then but grudgingly obliged when Harry pushed his mug and clinked theirs together. He sipped his tea, enjoying the warmth of the drink before he eyed it, feeling a bit disgruntled. “Merlin, Firewhiskey would be a delight right now.”

He then threw a pillow at Harry when he started laughing at him.

Draco did despair when the holidays ended and the students once again filled the castle halls. He’d relished in the peaceful air that the empty halls provided them, students meant noise and he didn’t certainly miss the unabashed staring whenever they walked down to their classroom. Annoying, absolutely annoying, you’d have thought they’d gotten over with gawking at one Harry Potter and yet, the gaping resumes. And even though they’d fully abandoned their useless search in a reversal spell for the time lapse, they often found solace in the library.  

Lessons, were honestly quite a bore. Although, he did laugh at Harry when he’d found him frowning at an essay assigned to them on History of Magic and complained that he was sure Binns had skipped the Werewolf Code of Conduct and—blasted dates, no one cares, honestly it’s all shite. Just as well, nobody really paid attention to Binns.

At least, Quidditch was something to look forward to and there they were, exiting the locker rooms and making their way to their next match. “No surprise broom jinxes this time?” he whispered to Harry.

“Nope. Although, we did take the piss off Snape when we found out he was refereeing before,”

“But of course, you did,” he rolled his eyes at this; it never ceases to amaze him how much contempt Harry apparently had for Severus. But then again, Severus is wonderfully deceitful in his own right, so a suspect he is then. “I suppose, I appreciate now that you have seen the err of your ways in blaming our head of house.”

“Oh, stop it, he was right suspicious. Hermione was the one who had seen him chanting and anyone might’ve thought he was the one jinxing my broom,”

“Well, she definitely had the right idea about the jinxing part, even if she did set the wrong person on fire,” Draco stumbled as Harry jammed him on the side and then they were out in the pitch with the noise of the crowd blaring on all sides. Boos were still heard when the Slytherin team came out but their part of the stands were all waving banners and flags and they were cheering louder than ever. He idly looked up and did a double take when he saw Pansy dragging someone along the Slytherin stands. He nudged Harry’s shoulder hard and the boy was about to smack him with his broom when he pointed up.

“Hermione?” Harry yelped, eyes wide in astonishment as Hermione stood beside Pansy with the rest of the first-year Slytherins. She was looking quite abashed with her Gryffindor uniform in the sea of greens, but she was smiling bright nonetheless and when she saw them looking at her, she waved the banner that she was holding that says ‘LET’S GO POTTER’ in bold painted letters.

Pansy was jumping up and down beside her and he heard Blaise whistling at them and he could do nothing but wave rather dumbly when they called for their attention, “Well, this is unexpected.”

“Well…” Harry started as he stared when Pansy whipped out a flag with ‘Malfoy’ written across it and linked her arms with Hermione, “at least, she’s not obsessing over Nicholas Flamel this time.” Severus—right, Severus was refereeing this time as well— was now sharply ordering them to get in position and then they were up on their brooms and the Quidditch game started.

Draco would never get enough of hearing Slytherin’s victory and as they trudged their way down to the broom shed, he was still grinning. The rest had gone off for dinner then and no doubt in Slytherin’s case, planning a party. They opted of course, to avoid the crowd and they gathered their brooms to store it in the sheds. However, it was still a lot surprising when he saw the unmistakable figure of Severus, prowling his way out of the castle grounds. “Hey,” he grabbed Harry by the arm just as he was reaching for Draco’s broom to store it along with the others, “any idea what that’s about?” he gestured to Severus’s retreating form, walking straight towards the Forbidden Forest.

Harry squinted his eyes. “Ah,” he said in understanding, “he’s meeting with Quirrell.” Draco raised an eyebrow at this with interest.

“Well then,” he took hold of his broom and made to mount it, Harry then grabbed a hold of his arm.

“Really now? I followed them before and it’s was just Snape threatening Quirrell,” he said, “not much use it did that though,” Harry grumbled and Draco waved him off.

“All the more reason not to miss the spectacle then and besides, you might have seen it, but I didn’t,” He mounted his broom then and was about to fly off when Harry threw his hands up in exasperation.

“Oh, for Merlin’s sake, move,” Harry then shoved him forward on his broom and before he knew it, he was climbing on the back with a scowl on his face. Draco frowned at him then.

“Your broom’s right over there,”

“And I’ve already stored it in the shed. Now go or you’ll miss them, Snape’s already gone,” he crossed his arms and Draco resisted spouting how childish he looked, rolling his eyes he kicked off the ground and then they flew towards the trees into the Forbidden Forest.

They stuck close to the branches, flying low as not to be seen. Trailing Severus along the ground, he had to keep his eyes open as to not lose him, he was swift and almost camouflaging himself amongst the foliage that scattered around him. Draco gently glided through and stopped, hovering behind a large tree as they spied on the potions master, Quirrell was there, a stuttering mess and Severus advanced on him. Draco strained his ears to listen, only hearing bits of pieces here and there.

A private matter Quirrell, after all the Philosopher’s Stone is best discussed away from nosy students, he heard Severus said and Draco leaned a bit more, Harry peeking over his shoulder to look as well. I’m guessing you’ve figured out the way past the beast?

Draco furrowed his brows, “he’s asking about Fluffy?” he lowly said over his shoulder and he could feel Harry nodding.

“At first I thought Snape wanted to know how to get past Fluffy himself,” they watched as Quirrell spluttered and shook his head, backing away slowly from Severus. “He’s been keeping track of Quirrell,” Harry whispered and Draco eyed the two of them below, “I think he was making sure that he still didn’t know how to put Fluffy to sleep.”

You best watch where you stand, it is in your best interest not to make an enemy out of me, Severus shoved past Quirrell then, steps quick and steady leaving the stuttering man behind. When Severus was out of sight, Quirrell pushed away from the tree he was leaning on and contorted his features in a nasty sneer. Draco narrowed his eyes as he saw Quirrell talking apparently to no one and a chill had run down his spine when he thought of whom he was speaking to.

There was a grip then, a tight curl on his shoulder and a strangled gasp behind him. Draco could feel the trembling of Harry’s hand as he turned to peer at him. Harry’s eyes were dead set on the man below, a violent glint in the green of them and Draco felt his heart drop when he flitted his gaze to the outstretched arm of Harry.

His hand firm and steady, his wand held up and it was pointing directly at Quirrell.

He slowly began to move his broom, deliberately flying further away in the trees. “Harry?” he whispered when they were a few feet higher. He kept on moving and Harry snapped his eyes to him. Stopping in the air, he stared back and then he saw how the boy took in a few deep breaths before lowering his hand and gripping his wand tight.

“I’m alright,” Harry muttered and Draco watched as he pocketed his wand and said nothing as he made his way back to the broom shed, keeping well away from where Quirrell was.

He landed swiftly and as quietly as he could. Harry slid off his broom and for a while, Draco stood there watching him. After a moment, he made to put his own broom in the shed and when that is done, Harry was clenching and unclenching his fists as he took even measured breaths. Harry then looked at him before nodding and he inclined his head towards the direction of the castle. They walked side by side, taking their time as the stone steps became visible in the distance. “Not a smart move I reckon, if we dispose of Quirrell now?” Draco intoned deliberately and for a moment debated whether he should’ve kept his mouth shut, Harry huffed out a humourless laugh.

“Not likely, besides how are we going to explain when they find the body of one of their teaching staff?”

“Or you know, we could just bury the body in the Forbidden Forest,” Harry made to shove him and he ducked out of the way as they pushed open the doors to the Entrance Hall. They headed straight for the Slytherin common room, agreeing to avoid the crowd of students at the Great Hall that evening, they entered the room and was immediately assaulted by loud music and a glorious bunch of Slytherins having the time of their lives. “Really now?”

It was rowdy mayhem, couches had been pushed to the sides, leaving a space in the middle free for the students to dance in. They have also somehow procured a long line of dishes sitting on a bunch of desks and bottles of butterbeer being tossed around amongst the students. But the most bizarre thing to behold, is Pansy twirling around with one Hermione Granger. He heard Harry chocked out a laugh then, “Good Merlin,”

Draco rubbed down his face with both of his hands before running them to push back his hair, it flopped back down in a mess. “There you two are!” Pansy shouted at them and she dragged Hermione over who immediately hugged them both in a flurry of giggles and needless to say, Draco didn’t know what the hell was going on.

“Pansy, what are you doing abducting Gryffindors,” he exclaimed in a slightly higher pitch and Pansy only waved her hand at him.

“I didn’t abduct her, I invited her. There’s a difference and it’s a brilliant idea,” she huffed and crossed her arms. Hermione shrugged a bit helplessly at them.

“She really did, and Ron was supposed to come as well but he said his brothers might throttle him if he went off to party with the Slytherins when Gryffindor lost to them anyways. And Neville, well,” she shrugs again, “was being Neville, he was stuttering and ran away when the other boys had invited him too,” she pointed at Blaise where he was dancing around holding a plate, Theo trying his best to take away said plate while Vince and Greg sat on one of the sofas, happily munching along and watching them.

“Boys,” Pansy rolled her eyes and Hermione tilted her head before nodding solemnly. “Never mind that, come on! There’s food and drinks and I heard Snape actually allowed us to party even after curfew!” she jumped a little bit before she made to drag both him and Harry along. Draco slapped her hands away and earned himself a smack on the arm, Pansy sticking her tongue out. Hermione giggled at them before grabbing Pansy’s arm and stirring her to the tables of food.

“But really! You guys did great on the match!” Hermione yelled after them as she disappeared in search of food.

“This is weird,” he heard Harry whisper to him as they too start to push themselves through the crowd. “I never thought I’d see Pansy Parkinson dancing around and having fun in a party with Hermione.”

Draco scratched his head then, watching the girls pick themselves some food. They were whispering amongst themselves, looking around them while Pansy pointed at random students, no doubt gossiping about the Slytherins milling about. “Pansy was always hanging around with us,” he motioned between him and the other first-year boys. “I’ve known her since we were about five years old and by default, Vince and Greg too. It can’t be helped; our parents knew on another after all. But she never seemed to be particularly close to any of the others in our year then or made an effort to befriend them at all,” he considered the girls as he and Harry finally found a secluded spot by the fireplace.

“Huh,” he heard Harry say and when he looked at him, he was watching them too. “Hermione always seem uninterested on whatever Lavender and Parvati where up to. She was nice and friendly enough with the other Gryffindors but she was always reading books or studying alone… well, that or she was busy getting into trouble with me so…” Harry considered them for a moment, before a slight smile curled up on his features. “This is nice, seeing them having fun.”

Then they were both being handed plates of food by Blaise and then when Flint spotted them, thudded them hard on their backs in what was supposed to be a friendly pat. Needless to say, it wasn’t much of a quiet night for them and Draco found himself strangely fine with that.

It was a particularly unusual sight when Pansy started sitting with Hermione in the library more often than not. Harry had seemed to jump in surprise at first, but then he would shrug as Draco threw them an inquiring look. Just as, the sight of Pansy walking down to Hagrid’s hut, might top the list of most bizarre things Draco had seen in this new Present. The girls had said that Hagrid had invited them after they bumped into him while he was exiting the library which, alright, Draco might contemplate later on what the gamekeeper would want in the library, but as of now, he was being dragged along while the girls continued on their conversation ahead of them. “Hermione’s definitely on the gossip mill now,” Harry said amusedly as he jumped down on a rocky path and hurried of towards the girls.

Draco had slowed down his pace as he took in the sight in front of him. Pansy had her arm entwined with Hermione’s and they were talking animatedly and gesturing wildly, Harry only had a smile on his face as he kicked a rock away from their path and Draco… well… he just watched. In the safety of his distance, as the scene continued to play before him, he just watched.

This is real, his mind had supplied him a hundred times over the last few days. He grabbed his left arm and squeezed, he seemed to be doing that a lot too. He might’ve thought it a comfort, a reassurance, something to remind him and sometimes, he gripped just that bit tighter to make him feel. The pain a reminder that he was indeed awake, that he’s here— he’s here in the present.

His gaze wandered over to the girls. They were lost in their own world, walking down the path and talking nonstop. He wondered then— Pansy, although he’d never said it out loud, was arguably his best friend. She stuck to him in every way, taking his side always and made sure everyone knows that they weren’t someone who you could trifle with. Draco was mean, but Pansy had a sharp tongue and was vicious in her own way. And being raised essentially in the same household as him, it wasn’t hard for her to fall easily on the nobility of being a pure-blood and she wore it like a crown to be strutted along.

And yet, Draco wondered then… if he hadn’t put this line that separated himself with the others that he deemed less than him, maybe Pansy would find herself free of the absurd idea of blood purity. Maybe she’d easily made friends instead of sticking with him. A tug on his sleeve snapped him out of his thoughts, Harry was there, a slight scowl on his face but he said nothing as he started to drag him towards where the girls are. A moment later then before green eyes flitted to him and he let go, walking side by side with him. “You know, you probably shouldn’t think too much.”

Draco scoffed at this. He realised that he was still clutching his left arm, he dropped his hand, “Now Harry, between the two of us; it’s my job to think.” They reached the hut just as Hagrid was ushering the girls in. Hermione’s voice rang out then, gesturing wildly.

“He’s a gamekeeper! Of course, he’s interested in all sorts of beings, you’re being ridiculous Pansy!” at this, Pansy waved a finger at her before pointing at Hagrid.

“No, no, he was being downright suspicious in sneaking that dragon book from the library!”

“Ssh!” Hagrid looked around wildly at that and quickly ushered them all inside, “will yeh lot keep it down!”

“Oh—” Harry started just as the door slammed shut behind them and he swivelled to face him with a little grimace, “shoot,” he whispered and Draco raised an eyebrow at him.

“What?” he asked.

“I forgot about Norbert,” Harry hissed at him just as Hagrid was trying to keep the girls’ ribbing at bay.

“I beg your pardon?” Draco blinked, bewildered and Harry nudged him further down the room before pointing at the fireplace where a black egg was sitting comfortably underneath the kettle. For a moment, Draco just stared before he slowly blinked again just to make sure. “That’s a dragon egg,” he said flatly and Harry only had a pinched expression, “that is a bloody dragon egg,” he said loud and incredulous and all the heads turned to him.

“See! He was up to something!” Pansy waved her hands about just as Hermione squeaked.

“Dragon egg?!”

“Yeh lot sure kick up quite a fuss,” Hagrid muttered as he sat down and stoked the fire, he cheerfully talked about the dragon egg, unaware of Hermione’s panicked glances and Pansy’s wariness as she eyed the egg.

Drago put his head in his hands and started muttering lowly, “Oh, you were sneaking up to the Astronomy tower then. You were smuggling the dragon then; how could I forget you were smuggling a dragon!”

“Sir!” Pansy’s high-pitched voice rang out, “this is a wooden hut! You want to raise a dragon in a wooden hut?”

“Hagrid it really isn’t a good idea to keep a dragon here, it’s illegal,” Hermione tried to reason out, but Hagrid only has loving eyes trained on the egg.

“He’ll be gorgeous! I just know he will,”

“Hagrid,” Harry started, “you really shouldn’t keep the dragon,” Draco sighed then and looked up to see Hagrid sweeping his head at the four of them.

“No, I’ll take good care of him! He’ll be right at home here at Hogwarts!”

“No, he won’t,” Draco replied, weariness dripping from his voice, “he might be downright adorable when he hatches and when he grows to be three times the size of your hut, what are you going to do then?”

Hagrid paused at this before eyeing the egg, suddenly looking unsure, “Well…”

“Really now Hagrid, you know it’s dangerous to keep a dragon here. Look, even Fang’s hiding at the corner right over there,” Harry insisted, pointing at the boarhound who had placed himself ways away from the fireplace and occasionally letting out small whimpers. Hagrid deflated then as he distressingly looked at Fang.

“Oh Fang, I’m sorry,” Hagrid stood and lumbered his way to where Fang was hiding and started to pet him, cooing in a reassuring voice. There was a moment of silence as they just watched Hagrid pacify Fang by giving him some dog treats and then slumping back on his chair, slightly misty eyed as he mooned over the dragon egg.

“Should we…” Pansy hesitated, looking over at him and Harry, “should we tell Snape?”

“Absolutely not!” Hermione quickly said, aghast. “What are you talking about telling on Hagrid? He’ll get into trouble if anyone finds out he’s keeping a dragon egg.”

“Hermione honestly, I’m offended that you’d think so badly of our head of house,” Pansy crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks, ever the petulant child. “And I’m not talking about tattling on Hagrid! I’m just saying that Snape probably would know what to do with an illegal dragon.”

“Well,” Hermione sputtered, “he’s intimidating! And how would we know if he’ll actually help us out?”

“He might,” Draco mused and all heads spun to him, while Harry raised both his brows at this.

“You’re saying Snape would not bat an eye when we turn up to him with a dragon?” Harry asked incredulously, “and how would you know that it won’t land us quickly in detention?” Harry crossed his arms around his chest and challenged.

“Because if we,” he pointed impatiently between Pansy and themselves, “were the ones to tell him then he might deal with this whole situation underhandedly and discreetly as possible.”

“And when he finds out that Hagrid was the one who brought the egg?”

“Well, we won’t know unless we ask him now, would we?” he shot back at Harry.

“Draco!” Harry admonished and Draco threw his hands up in exasperation, “I’m not telling Snape unless I’m sure he’s not about to get Hagrid in trouble.”

“Wait!” Hermione suddenly yelled, her eyes darting from the egg to Hagrid, “Ron’s brother Charlie works with dragons in Romania. He’ll be able to help us!” Hermione ranted off, Hagrid was slumping down in his seat further, looking more and more defeated.

“Oh honestly,” Harry muttered under his breath and swore quietly.

“So? You’re going to still sneak out in the middle of the night while hiding a baby dragon to be smuggled off?” Draco whispered to him sarcastically and rolled his eyes, but when he saw Harry’s contemplative look, he gaped at him, “really now Harry—”

“Well, it sort of worked last time.”

It was quite funny to witness how Weasley’s face turned from suspicious to absolute horror when they cornered him the next afternoon and told him about the dragon egg and their plan to set it free via his brother Charlie. “What is Hagrid doing with a dragon egg? Has he finally lost his marbles; he can’t raise a dragon here at Hogwarts!”

“Shout louder will you Weasley and maybe the whole Gryffindor house will finally hear,” Pansy hissed at him and quickly turned to look over her shoulder to make sure nobody was lurking in the corridors.

“That’s why we’re asking you to write to your brother! He knows all about dragons, yes? The one in Romania at a dragon reserve,” Hermione quickly added, staring down at Weasley while he glared at Pansy.

“I mean—I guess so, blimey—alright, alright! Telling Charlie to pick up a dragon egg then,” Weasley scratched his head, looking wide-eyed and bewildered.

“Um,” Harry threw a quick glance at Draco before turning to the rest of them, “maybe tell him it’ll be a baby dragon he’s going to pick up? I’m pretty sure it’s going to hatch soon.” There was a little squeak from Pansy then and Hermione swivelled her head at Harry.

“Baby dragon— you know what, whatever, fine. I’ll owl Charlie today and tell you guys what he says when he owls back. Blimey,”

It took about two days for Weasley to flag them down after dinner to tell them that his brother had agreed to take the dragon off their hands and that they’d meet them on the weekend. Pansy and Hermione looked absolutely pleased with this, Harry’s eyes however, were darting all over their faces. He then peeked at Draco and he just threw the boy a wary nod. Hermione gushed out her thanks, “Oh, thank you Ron. Maybe I’ll send Charlie a gift as a thanks too. Does he like chocolate frogs?”

“We’ll tell Charlie’s friends thank you for you Hermione,” Harry blurted out and Pansy turned to look at him then.

“Excuse me,” she said crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at them.

“Me and Harry,” Draco gestured between himself and Harry, emphasizing his point, “will undoubtedly express all your gratitude to Charlie Weasley and his friends when the two of us deliver Hagrid’s wayward pet to them.”

“Absolutely not!” Pansy yelped and it was Hermione’s turn to shush her. “Why do you two get to sneak off and not us? I want to see the dragon too you know.”

“We really should be sure that the dragon is safely packed and handled—” Hermione started to rattle off but Harry was shaking his head.

“No, me and Draco will handle it. We’ll bring the dragon to Charlie’s friends and be done with it,” Harry said and Hermione scowled at him.

“Harry, I swear if you say it’s because we’re girls that we shouldn’t be handling the dragon, I will start smacking you,”

“Don’t be stupid Hermione,” Draco started and levelled them all with a glare. “We’re taking the dragon alone because we know the best way to be quick and avoid trouble, whereas a bunch of first-years disappearing from their dormitories will guarantee a hunt from our head of houses,” he crossed his arms then before staring down at Pansy, “and you should know better Pansy than to be stubborn about this. Me and Harry are the only ones going out to fetch the dragon and that’s done.”

There were a bunch of mutterings, mostly coming from Pansy but she nodded nonetheless. Weasley shifted then before mumbling to Hermione, “They have a point you know. McGonagall’s downright terrifying.”

Hermione huffed out and turned to them, “I still think you need one more person as a look out.”

“We’ll be alright Hermione; it’ll be faster if it’s just the two of us. Don’t you worry,” Harry reassured her before they made their separate ways and waited anxiously for the weekend.

The dragon egg did hatch then. Hagrid had sent a letter when it did and he and Harry informed him that they’d be taking the dragon to Charlie where he’ll make sure it’ll be taken good care off in a proper dragon reserve. Hagrid was sulky then, tearfully saying that Norbert had recognised him as his mum and went off to care for the dragon in the meantime.

In all hindsight, Draco thought Harry was joking when he told him that the dragon was named Norbert and he said as much when they were in the safety of the Invisibility Cloak and lugging a heavy box with a squirming baby dragon inside. “I stopped questioning Hagrid’s choice of names for his animals then, but I do seem to remember that Norbert is actually a girl,” Harry said to him.

“Well, she’s a little squirmy right now and I’d appreciate it if we get on with it,” he said as they rounded up a turn. For the most part, Draco had gotten used to going up the Astronomy tower for their classes, even if it did make him feel a bit nauseous. Just as, it always helped not to think at all and do the work as quickly as possible. They climbed the long spiralling staircase and he knew he was tensing with each step they took. Harry was casting furtive glances at him; he didn’t say anything though and Draco was thankful for that.  

It was a long trek but they managed to reach the top landing and they took off the Invisibility Cloak as they waited for Charlie’s friends to arrive. He stayed in his spot, standing and not moving as the baby dragon thrashed inside the box. Harry then took a step closer to his side, the cold wind whipping on their faces as they waited. It wasn’t long though, soon enough, broomsticks were flying their way and they were greeted rather enthusiastically considering they were asking them to smuggle an illegal dragon. It was over and done within a couple of minutes and Charlie’s friends waved them goodbye as they securely fixed the box in the harness that they’d rigged up, explaining proudly how they made it specially just to carry the dragon with them. They didn’t even seem perturbed that it was two Slytherins who were taking the dragon to them, Draco wondered if he should be offended or not.

He was all too glad to be hurrying down and off the Astronomy tower though and Harry had thrown the cloak over them as they descended the stairs. “You know, we actually left the cloak in the tower before and bloody Filtch had found us then,” he whispered as they continued down the stairs.

“And I was overjoyed when I found out you lot had lost a hundred and fifty points. But then again, I don’t exactly fancy a trip to the Forbidden Forest this time,” Draco said. They’d reached the bottom of the steps and they began to creep back to the dungeons as silently as they could, thinking that it was a job well done after all.

Of course, that’s when Mrs. Norris decided it was a good time to sniff around and started running in their direction.  

It was a bit silly and all too stupid for them not to see her and she surreptitiously scampered in between their legs and shrieking well bloody loud when she hit the cloak. She jumped away from them, but not before Harry had lost his footing and was tangling himself on the cloak before grabbing his arm in an attempt to not fall on the ground. It was a tangle of legs and limbs as they fell and sat in a heap on the floor and he groaned as he rubbed his shoulder which had collided with the stone floor.

There was nothing they could do when they heard heavy footsteps coming their way and Filtch appeared holding up a lamp lighting a nasty grin on his face as he tutted at them, “Well, well, students out of bed.”

Harry was muttering swears under his breath as they were heaved and dragged off. It was only then that Draco had managed to pat the cloak on the ground before folding it and shoving it in his robes that he resigned himself for an awkward conversation with Severus as to why they were out in the middle of the night.

They were in fact not facing Severus at the moment and Harry shook his head as they waited in McGonagall’s office. “Bloody fucking Filtch,” he was tapping his foot on the floor and had his arms crossed, Draco could only sigh as they waited for McGonagall. It didn’t take too long though, as McGonagall came slamming the door open in her night gown and was completely unprepared to see a contrite looking Hermione trotting off after her.

“What— Hermione?” Draco exclaimed and Harry looked up to see the girl duck her head as she too lined up beside them.

“This is unacceptable! Three students way out of their dormitories at one o’clock in the morning!” McGonagall fumed as she rounded her desk and put her hands on her hips. Draco was darting his eyes from Hermione to McGonagall and Harry was wide-eyed, surprise written all over his face as he stared at the girl who was shaking her head at them with a grimace. All the better, is when Severus decided to grace his presence to them just as McGonagall continued to berate them loudly. “—furious to find Miss Granger out of her dormitories and muttering about dragons no less! And then Filtch had to come, saying that he had caught students sneaking their way down from the Astronomy tower, absolutely appalling! Explain yourselves!”

It was well and truly hilarious when Draco turned to look at Severus, who had both eyebrows up to his hair looking caught off guard by the raving McGonagall. Harry’s head swivelled over to him and then to Severus who was looking at them expectantly. “I—well… we…” he gestured helplessly between them and Draco had a moment to be horrified when Severus raised an eyebrow as he darted his eyes at him and Harry.

“Um…” Draco trailed off and just about shrunk back a little when McGonagall turned her piercing eyes at them.

“No, professor— dragons you see— well no,” Hermione stuttered out before throwing a quick look at them and promptly shutting up.

“I’ve had enough of this dragon business Miss Granger! Did these boys somehow cook up some rubbish story about dragons that got you breaking school rules? You should know better than to believe such absurd, foolish nonsense! Detention for all of you! And fifty points will be taken from each of you for this violation and disrespect of the rules. And I shall hear no complains about it, understood?” She pointedly looked at Severus who just shrugged ever so slightly and inclined his head. McGonagall huffed an angry breath before waving her hand to dismiss them.  

Severus threw him and Harry one more look before jerking his chin to the door and walking away. They followed then; Harry tried to catch Hermione’s gaze but she just had that pinched look before she shook her head in one twitchy move while her hand subtly motioned for them to go.

None of them said a word as Severus lead them to the dungeons. Draco worried for a moment when Severus turned to his office, opening the door for them and then they were standing in front of Severus’s desk with him looming over them. He regarded them for a moment before releasing a sigh and he pinched the bridge of his nose before uttering in a weary tone; “Did my lecture about subtlety completely flew out of your ears or do I need to drill them into you two in a harsher manner,” he said before staring down at them. Draco glanced at Harry then who was standing straight and holding his head up defiantly.

“In our defence, we were being extremely subtle this time,” Draco said, trying to diffuse the situation.

“And ‘subtle’ meaning being caught in the dead of night by Filtch and getting thoroughly lectured by Minerva?” Severus countered raising an unamused eyebrow at them.

“We were well on our way back to the dungeons and was doing absolutely fine getting noticed by no one,” Harry crossed his arms as he glared. Severus however, was not deterred as he turned to look at Harry flatly.

“But?” Severus prompted as he stared them down. Draco saw Harry fidget for a moment and saw him gritting his teeth.

“I tripped on Mrs. Norris and then the blasted cat started to screech bloody murder down the halls,” Harry grumbled. Severus said nothing for several seconds before heaving a deep sigh and dropped down on his seat.

“And dare I ask what you two were up to? Lurking about in the Astronomy tower no less, I appear to have heard that bit of spiel from Minerva,”

Draco eyed Harry, throwing him a glance and just shrugged, “It was for a good cause and within perfect reason?” he tried and he saw Severus rub at his temples before leaning back on his chair.

“Draco, I’m tired. So please do me a favour so we could all go to bed and let’s just say I know nothing of this little rendezvous and be done with it.”

Draco sputtered for a moment and Harry squawked a little at the implication of the statement before he threw his hands up in the air with a small flush on his cheeks. “I—no, we were just—” Harry puffed out a breath before throwing a look at him with a pinched expression. Draco gave him a pointed look before crossing his arms and Harry turned away grumbling all the while, “Well— we might have been delivering a certain package that we might have possibly found and thought it should be relocated to a more appropriate place and then therefore, maybe met with some who we thought are more capable of handling the allegedly said package.”

It was quiet for a few moments and Draco didn’t know if it was entirely appropriate to laugh, but the look on Severus’s face is absolutely priceless as he stared at Harry who was looking so petulant and annoyed at having to basically confess smuggling Norbert. Severus then blinked, before slowly leaning on his desk with his elbows, entwining his fingers together and squinting at them with interest.

“And this… non-existent package that you two certainly didn’t export, would be?” he asked patiently and honestly, it really isn’t right to laugh.

“An allegedly recently hatched Norwegian Ridgeback that perhaps go by the name of Norbert,” he ignored the dirty look that Harry shot him, instead he folded his hands behind his back and bit the inside of his cheek as Severus heaved a heavy sigh and was quite surely counting backwards from twenty.

“A hatched dragon, honestly. Getting caught by Minerva of all people and involving Gryffindors, I swear children, I do not have the patience for this, sweet Merlin—” Severus was muttering then and Draco was all too content to let him simmer until he pushed himself off the table and sat upright from his slumped position. “Alright well, it is quite unfortunate that we find ourselves in this position as it is. And even more so that Minerva has the authority and is in the right to put you in detention, so I have no sway or say in this matter nor would I want to,” Severus said as he shifted his eyes from him to Harry. “We shall inform you of the details and grounds of your punishment soon. In the meantime, I shall remind you that I fully expect to regain those hundred points back in no time at all, is this understood?”

Draco nodded his head deftly and he nudged Harry when he saw the boy was still glaring at Severus. He nodded as well, if somewhat reluctant, and that seemed to satisfy Severus at the moment. It was then that Severus carefully stood up, with his gaze locked firmly on them and said in a low voice, “It is also imperative that you two hear what I’m saying right now. I would strongly advise against this nightly wandering of yours, do not roam these halls anymore. You’d do better than find yourselves in the wrong end of a room, let the doors be locked and don’t go searching for keys. Understood?”

In that moment then, all humour had gone from Draco as he could see the seriousness and gravity of Severus’ words, warning them. The Philosopher’s Stone, of course, he had to remind himself and he only nodded at the potions master in return. Harry surprisingly nodded too and then they were dismissed, Severus opening the door with a flick of his wand and they left the quarters saying nothing at all.

The soft sound of the door closing was the only thing that sounded in the halls of the dungeon as Harry glanced at him and they continued on to their dormitories, waiting for the professors to send them to the Forbidden Forest in search for the wounded unicorn as their punishment.

Chapter Text

Harry wasn’t exactly sure if he thought that the professors might’ve change their detention this time around. As it is, it was partly a useless contemplation when an owl from McGonagall swooped down on the Slytherin table and dropped off the letter saying that, yes, they are indeed going to the Forbidden Forest. A similar owl had delivered a letter to the Gryffindor side and he had looked to see Hermione with a dour expression on her face and just about managed a small wave in their direction once she noticed them. Harry had waved back with the parchment on hand and Pansy had shaken her head at them when she eventually needled out what happened with their attempt at a covert dragon delivery.

There was nothing to it and as they walked down to the Entrance Hall the next night, Hermione had joined them with such a surly mood and started ranting, “I was only sneaking out to help. I thought, ‘well maybe they ought to have another person to look out for Filtch!’ And I was doing a rather good job at waiting out the other students to go to bed and had convinced the Fat Lady to let me out when Professor McGonagall had wandered down with a cup of tea on hand and then I panicked and then she was absolutely livid and then next thing I know, you two were in her office as well and now we’re here on our way to detention!”

“Hermione, we did tell you all that we’ll handle it, didn’t we?” Draco said rubbing his ears as Hermione was nearly shrieking.

“Well— I mean, you two landed on detention too didn’t you,” she crossed her arms stubbornly.

“Mostly handled it,” Harry sighed then, “but really Hermione, thank you. I really appreciate you wanting to help even if it did end in detention.”

“Fifty points! All those points I’ve earned gone in an instant,” Hermione wailed as they neared the Entrance Hall.

“Should I even argue that the Slytherin hourglass has been knocked down a hundred points,” Draco dully said and Harry just heaved another sigh.

“You know, it’s really unnerving when the whole of the Slytherin table was throwing us those looks when we were at breakfast. I mean how did they even know that it was our fault for losing that many points?”

“It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out when we’ve got the school owls dropping letters on our heads and besides, I actually think they’re more curious as to how we suddenly drained the hourglass off of gems,” Draco said as they stopped in front of Filtch who was cackling and looked far too pleased with himself as he led them out through the doors.

“Right trouble you lot got yourselves in, haven’t you? Maybe then you’ll think twice before disobeying rules like that. Let’s see what the Forbidden Forest makes of you then,” Filtch snickered some more as they neared the forest, Hagrid was standing by the edge with his crossbow and Fang in tow.

“Stop yer yappin’ about Filtch, yer already late as it is! Go now, off with yeh,” Hagrid said irritably and the caretaker grumbled some more as he left with threats thrown their way. Hagrid then turned to them with a little smile, “Hi there, alright you three?”

“Are we really going to the forest?” Hermione asked a bit wide-eyed, she seemed to cheer up a bit when she saw Hagrid but she was now looking at the forest with worry.

Hagrid turned a little more grim as he hefted the crossbow higher on his shoulder. “Fraid’ so Hermione, follow me you lot,” he turned around with his lamp raised, they followed him then and as they were about to breach the first set of trees, Hagrid stopped and lowered the lamp a bit to shine on the ground. “See that there? Unicorn blood that is,”

The molten silver illuminated by the light glistened and no matter if Harry had expected to see the trail of blood on the forest, it was still a disquieting sight to witness. “What would hurt the unicorns?” he heard Hermione pipe out, voice quiet and darting her eyes all over the Forbidden Forest.

“Don’t really know, but we’re here to find the poor thing. We’ll be splitting up, cover more ground that way,” Hagrid relayed to shoot green sparks if they ever find the unicorn and red if they find trouble. Harry threw a quick glance at Draco and the boy nodded his ascent.

“I’ll take Fang,” Draco said suddenly and Hagrid startled a little when Fang barked a tiny whimper but the boarhound bounded up to them anyway.

“Well alright then, if yer sure,” Hagrid gave Fang a little pat.

“We’ll be fine Hagrid,” Harry drew up his wand, settling himself beside Draco.

“Looks like yer with me Hermione, come on then hold this fer me,” Hagrid handed the lamp to Hermione before setting off in one direction of the forest while Hermione whipped her head between them before trotting off to follow Hagrid, crunching dead leaves along her path.

It seems so different now as they started their way into the Forbidden Forest. The moon lighting their path in a dim glow and they kept silent as they held their wands up, eyes flitting in every direction. “Really desperate isn’t he,” Draco murmured as they continued to follow the trail, going deeper and deeper into the forest.

“Drinking unicorn blood, stealing the Stone for the elixir of life,” Harry pointed his wand at a nearby bush, hearing a little rustle. He saw Draco drawing up his wand as well, nothing moved then and they slowly started to walk again. “Desperate seems about right,” Harry mumbled.

“All those years, I’ve never thought it would be the Dark Lord killing that unicorn,” Draco whispered lowly, there was a slight tremble in his hand as he gripped his wand tighter. “Giving a name to that figure in my nightmares is not at all comforting.”

It was after all, he and Draco who had witnessed the unicorn being drained of what was left of it. Unconsciously, he moved a little closer to Draco as they continued to walk. Tensing just about every time they hear rustling and steadily keeping their eye on the blood on the ground. “A pretty traumatising sight for a bunch of eleven-year-olds,” Harry offered, earning him a slight scoff from Draco. “I hated that nightmare,” he whispered then.

The sound of snapping twigs had them pointing their wands to their right. For a moment, no one dared breathe as eyes searched the darkness of the forest beyond them. Harry haltingly took a step forward and then another before more rustling sounds could be heard, leaves being stomped on, heavy thumping footsteps.

“Lumos!” Draco’s wand lit up the whole ground and then four hooves came into view, followed by the tall form of a man standing strong with his horse body and long blonde hair gleaming from the light.

Firenze, Harry thought and then he was breathing a little easier when the centaur regarded them with mysterious eyes.

“Young ones in the forest, you should not be here,” he said in that deep dream-like voice as he stepped closer to them. Harry lowered his wand then and he saw Draco staring at Firenze with wide eyes, he shot a glance at Harry before extinguishing the light from his wand. “It is not wise to wander in these woods alone, especially for foals like yourselves.”

Draco stared, at a loss for words and Harry honestly wasn’t expecting Firenze to show up in that moment. “We’re… we’re looking for the unicorn,” Harry tried and nearly applauded himself for not making it sound like a question. “It’s been injured you see and we were told to find it.”

Firenze continued to look at them lazily, and tilting his head to the side finally strayed his eyes at Harry. “You are the Potter boy, are you not?” Harry nodded after a second of hesitation and Draco stepped to his side, eyes flitting between them with wariness. Firenze blinked then at the two boys before seeming to nod at himself and lowering his body to the ground, legs folding beneath him. “Then I shall offer my assistance, young ones.”

Harry stared, surprised at Firenze’s willingness and he pocketed his wand, glancing at Draco before approaching. “I, well thank you, sir,” he climbed steadily on Firenze’s back, adjusting himself on his mount and realised that Draco was still staring apprehensively. “Draco,”

Draco looked at him then, a little twitch in his eyebrow before landing his gaze on Firenze. Firenze merely inclined his head, nodding at the blonde boy before Draco too, climbed on the centaur’s back, a little stiff as he settled himself behind Harry. There was a moment of awkward shuffling from the two boys as Firenze stood and then they were off, following the trail of the unicorn blood that littered the forest grounds.

“Dangerous times to be walking these woods without guidance, young ones,” Firenze trotted off, easily navigating his way under the moonlight, “especially for you, Potter boy.”

“Harry,” he made to grab a fistful of Firenze’s long locks, hoping the centaur wouldn’t mind, “and this is Draco,” Harry introduced the blonde boy, seeing as though he was still being quiet and tense. He nudged Draco and gave him a pointed look.

The boy frowned at him, “Um, pleasure to meet you, sir?” Draco said uncertainly and Harry had to roll his eyes at him. Firenze appeared to be oblivious to them as he merely nodded his head distractedly.

“As such,” Firenze continued, straining his neck upwards, “the moon is unusually bright tonight.” His hooves clattered softly and steadily as they walked. Firenze was a mystifying sort but Harry always thought that there was this unbidden kindness in him and a steadfast viewpoint that he admired.

The silvery blood was gleaming ominously bright as they passed the trees and bushes. And it was all too soon that Harry spied a familiar clearing beyond the thicket of trees where they stopped. The unicorn lay motionlessly on the grass, still so beautiful even resting in the pool of its own blood. The hooded figure came gliding from the bushes, quick in its movements as it pounced on the lifeless body of the unicorn. Sinking its mouth on the wound to drink the blood that was pouring from it.

Suddenly, its head snapped up, seeming to look in their direction and Harry could only hear the strangled gasp of Draco before a searing pain burst from his scar making him scream and bend over as he gripped his forehead tightly. “Harry!” Draco yelled as he felt his world tilting upwards as Firenze reared in a furious way and thudded his heavy hooves as he made a run towards the hooded figure.

Harry could only grip on tight as the wind swept through them and he vaguely felt Draco grasping on his waist firmly as he flattened himself over him, reaching out with one hand on Firenze’s locks to keep them from falling off. Firenze made a loud noise as he jumped over the unicorn, chasing the figure and away back into the depths of the woods. “How foul,” Firenze prowled around for a moment, his broad shoulders held back and muscles tensing underneath them, “such a sin to kill something so pure and innocent!”

“Harry? Harry are you okay?” Draco whispered to him and he felt himself steady as they sat upright.

He rubbed his forehead as a dull throb began to pound in his ears. “Yeah, I’m fine,”

“It is best not to linger here,” Firenze said as he began to walk away, “this forest is no place for you, young ones.”

It took a second for Draco to snapped out of his daze and he hesitantly looked over Harry, “Should we… send up the sparks for Hagrid?”

“Hagrid is here?” Firenze asked as he slowed to regard them.

“Erm— yes, that’s why we went looking for the unicorn, he wanted to find them,” Draco said as he continued to look at Harry, nudging him gently as he rubbed his scar. He waved him off after a while, mindlessly nodding at him.

“Very well, I shall bring you to him,” Firenze said as he set himself to move forward even though they haven’t the slightest clue where Hagrid is. Harry breathed in deep and looked over his shoulder, offering Draco a small wry smile. Draco only frowned at him before reaching for his wand and pointing up, green sparks flared to life, shooting themselves into the night sky.  

It was just then that Harry noticed that Fang was gone, he had a moment to worry but decided that the boarhound would probably find himself in the hands of Hagrid anyway. Harry straightened up then, breathing deep. “Thank you—sir.”

“Firenze,” they were now making their way through the throngs of trees and Firenze looked over his shoulder at them. “It is such, that these woods are often the grounds for those who hunt. And that there, was an evil sort of being. Malicious and dangerous it is Harry Potter; you’d do well to remember that.”

Harry scoffed at this and he couldn’t help blurting out as they trotted off, “yeah, I know.” Firenze stared at him then, his eyes shifting smoothly between him and Draco before he slowly returned to the path in front of him.

“Then you also know what is hidden inside the castle grounds,” Firenze stated. Harry startled at that and for a moment, shared a look with Draco over his shoulder before hesitantly nodding, only to realise that Firenze wasn’t exactly looking at him, so he sighed instead.

“Yes, the Philosopher’s Stone. Locked up and guarded I reckon,” he admitted and Firenze bowed his head sagely at this.

“You are wiser that I thought you are, Harry Potter.”

It was a quiet affair after that and Harry for a while thought Firenze would begin questioning him on his knowledge about the Philosopher’s Stone. Firenze didn’t, seemingly content to bring the boys on his back to safety. It was only then that Harry remembered how mysterious Firenze and his fellow brethren are, it seems they extended that ambiguousness in not prying in the business of others. Keeping things vague was greatly appreciated at the moment.

The sound of more thundering hooves was soon met by them and a few more centaurs appeared looking appalled and angry at Firenze. Following them was Hagrid who had his crossbow up with a harried looking Hermione and Fang who was sheepishly hiding behind Hagrid.

It was only then that Harry and Draco were let down by Firenze as he sized up the rest of them and countered the nasty remarks Bane had thrown at him. Hagrid fussed over them for a minute, but after telling him that they had found the unicorn, was immediately distracted by it. It was a while before they had calmed and placated Hermione enough that she finally bid them good night as they were sent back to Hogwarts and they were on their way to the dungeons as it is.

It was quite late in the night and Harry was relieved to find the first years’ common room thoroughly deserted. A bunch of haphazardly thrown books there on the sofa, but otherwise a nice quiet welcome had greeted them. Harry didn’t really want to hear the berating of their dormmates once they refused to answer their questions at hand. He and Draco entered their own room, locking the door yet again and the muffling charm set in place. Harry breathed in deep and he slumped down on his bed, feeling tired and worn.

His eyes then flitted on the cloak, neatly folded by his pillows and wondered if Draco had put it there. He gently took it in his hands, feeling the soft fabric smooth over in his fingers and he stared at it, lost in thought. A deep frown marred his features after a while as he kept looking at the cloak, he gripped it tight then, standing up suddenly and making Draco stop in his pursuit of his pyjamas. “He wanted me to go after the Stone,” Harry murmured then.

“Harry?” Draco said as he turned his attention to him.

“Dumbledore,” Harry spat out and he began pacing the length of the room. “He sent me that cloak and then he saw me with that mirror then. But—”

“Whoa, slow down. What are you saying?” Draco raised his arms as he stepped forwards to him and Harry ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

“I left the cloak in that tower before remember?” Harry said and when Draco hesitantly nodded, he looked up at him scowl set in place. “I didn’t went looking for it then, but it was already there in my bed and I’m betting it was Dumbledore who sent it there when he saw I had lost it.”

“Downright decent of him,” Draco said bitingly and he raised an eyebrow at Harry when he saw an angry set in his eyes.

“I bet he knew we were looking for information about Nicholas Flamel, but he just let us because he wanted me to go and get the Philosopher’s Stone.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know! To see how reckless I could be and just watch me blindingly go after the Philosopher’s Stone? To see if I could actually kill Quirrell?” Harry snarled as he whipped his wand out, fists clenched and he suddenly wanted to destroy something.

Draco said nothing for a moment, before sighing and then he was dropping on his bed and messing up his hair. “Harry, sit down for a bit, would you?”  

Harry did no such thing, as he continued to pace in their bedroom in an aggravated manner. “Did he plan it? All of it? Planting the Stone here at Hogwarts, he could’ve kept the Philosopher’s Stone close to him. Quirrell wouldn’t dare steal it then. But placing it in a room even with all those traps—” he was ranting, his mind going a mile a minute. Twisting his wand and tugging at it.  

There was a loud huff, before he was being spun around with a pair of hands grasping at his shoulder and grey eyes boring down at him. “Okay, sure. Dumbledore’s a scheming ponce, whatever. The Philosopher’s Stone is already there, waiting to be stolen. So, what? Do we leave it there then? What do we do Harry,”

Harry heaved heavily for a moment, catching his breath from his earlier rush. He closed his eyes then, thoughts swirling for a moment before he worked his jaw, loosening it and opening his gaze to look at Draco. A fiery glint shining through.

“Like bloody hell we’re leaving it alone.”

It’s just as it was, exams were upon them and the students were scrambling through every piece of notes they had in order to cram all information at the last minute. Harry thought it was hilarious that he’d worried about the exams before when a Dark Lord was plotting his way to steal the Stone that would revive him.

It was a mindless thing to go through the exams this time, and he was fairly sure that he did rather well all things considered. He’ll have to thank Hermione and Draco for that, he’d have abandoned all pretence and just chucked his homework into the fire. As the hustle of the examination period died down and all the students were off having a lazy day after being cooped up with endless questions in their classrooms, Harry was tugging Draco onto the grounds. “Tonight then, he’ll steal it tonight.”  

Slightly breathless and subtly stealing glances over their shoulder, they walked together across the grassy lawn. “Took his sweet time, didn’t he?” Draco muttered to him, “surprising that he didn’t immediately went after the Stone once he found out how to get pass Fluffy when Hagrid slipped up.”

“I don’t know, he had to get Dumbledore away first, somehow.” After that night with their detention, they had taken it upon themselves to regularly check the third-floor. Paranoia was after all, a bitch when it decided to play and they had found their nightly visit a suitable way for satisfying their runaway minds. Finding Fluffy alone and with no music playing whatsoever was a small comfort. “Maybe he’d waited this long so that the professors would lower their guard so he could finally slip. Or maybe he was just distracted because of the final exams,”

“I doubt he’s actually concerned about his teaching profession,”

“Doesn’t matter, right now we know that he’s going to steal the Philosopher’s Stone tonight and we’ll be there to stop him,” Harry added as he felt for his wand in his pocket.

“Oh, Fluffy will be delighted when he sees there’s visitors to see him on the third-floor,”

“What about the third-floor?” Harry jolted so hard that he almost knocked his head against Draco’s and he’ll most definitely deny the fact that he had shrieked out in a high pitch. They spun around only to be met by Hermione laden with books in her arms and throwing puzzled glances at them.

“Erm— nothing!” Harry hastily said and Hermione narrowed her eyes at them, darting suspicious glances between him and Draco. Harry then heard Draco swore under his breath.

“Why are you two talking about the third-floor?” Hermione demanded while crossing her arms and Harry just about started swearing too.   

“Nothing important Hermione. You know how it is, end of exams, students gossip,” Draco tried but Harry was sure it was lost when Hermione lifted her head and stared down at them rather reproachfully.

“You two just got out of detention! Students are forbidden on the third-floor, you know that!”

“No one’s talking about going to the third-floor Hermione,” Draco insisted throwing a pointed glimpse at Harry.

“Don’t worry Hermione, we’re just talking that’s all,” Harry said.

“You two better not think of sneaking out again, why do you even want to go to the third-floor?”

“I promise Hermione, we’re really just talking,” Harry searched the grounds then for a distraction and was relieved when he saw Snape striding out from the staffroom. He immediately grabbed Draco’s sleeve and started tugging him. “Look, there’s Snape over there. We actually wanted to ask him how well we did on the exams, see you!” not waiting for a reply, he briskly walked over in the general direction where he saw Snape, dragging Draco along with him.

“Merlin, talk about sneaking,” Draco muttered as he looked over his shoulder, “oh, good. She’s still staring at us.”

“Just keep walking will you,” Harry spun and waved at Hermione before they disappeared behind a set of armour knights, “shit, I hope she won’t go poking around. We were doing a great job at not involving them with the Stone.”

“She’s just as nosy as Pansy is. I will not be held responsible if she decides it’s a wonderful time to meet Hagrid’s pet.”

Harry really hoped not, but he did throw one more nervous glance at the courtyard and quietly begged that Hermione would forget all about it by the time they made their little trip to Fluffy’s lovely den.

The way to the third-floor was so familiar now that they made quick work of getting out of the Dungeons that night. Eyes swivelling right and left, they huddled close under the Invisibility Cloak with their wands drawn out. It was cold and Harry shivered as they neared the corridor only to find Peeves messing about with the carpet in his bout of mischief.

Peeves then rolled his head up and spoke, “Ohhh, wee someone out for a night walk? Want to play with Peevsie little beastie?” Peeves floated up and neared their direction and Harry swore and readied his wand to shoo the poltergeist away with a nice Ventus. But then, Draco was suddenly slapping his arm repeatedly and when Harry looked up at him in bewilderment, he saw the boy with frenzied eyes point impatiently at the hallway opposite them. Harry’s head immediately spun to look and promptly choked to find Hermione crouching low behind the wall, eyes darting everywhere as Peeves slowly creeped his way.

Stumped for a moment, he threw a harried glance at Draco who was eyeing Peeves and Hermione, apparently at a loss and Harry really ought to do something right now. Just then, another ghostly silhouette came gliding down the halls in the form of— to Harry’s delight, Nearly Headless Nick. “Peeves! You old chap, what in blazes are you doing?”

Peeves made a little ‘humph’ sound and floated higher in the air and looked that bit disappointed that it was Nick who had disturb his little mischief. “Why, it’s just Nicky it is! Snooting his way in the halls, got nothing better to do, is it? Looking around for a stunt because they don’t want him there in the Headless hunt!” Peeves guffawed loudly and Nick made an affronted sound and squared his shoulders as if gearing for a fist fight. It’s just then, that Nick did a double take when he glanced at the corner where Hermione was hiding. They saw her wave her hands hurriedly and shook her head before gesturing at Peeves and away.

It was a moment before Nick tilted his head up and puffed out his chest as he made a subtle nod. Pushing his ghostly sleeves back, he rubbed his hands together before gliding through the carpet and made an attempt to grab it. It took him a few tries and he huffed out loud before he made a joyous yell as he finally gripped the cloth and flicked it with both hands, creating a wave that had smacked Peeves away making the poltergeist shriek.

“Why, it seems Peeves’ little tricks are nothing but a load of dung bombs, ey? Stinking and farty! The first-year students do a much more impressive display of sabotage and yours Peeves, are plain and boring. Hmp!” Nick said in his most haughty voice and they just about heard Peeves shout indignantly before zooming his way to the Gryffindor ghost, hands outstretched in an attempt to tackle Nick. And then they were nothing but translucent beings passing through the walls as they disappeared in smokes and the sound of arguing soon faded out.

They all waited for a minute, listening for any more disturbance and when they found none, Harry immediately made a dash, nearly tripping over the cloak— he’d forgotten that they were still wearing it. He threw the cloak off them just as Hermione was tip-toeing her way down the hall. “Hermione!” Harry hissed and they saw her squeak before hurrying over to her side, “What in Merlin’s name are you doing?”

“I— but how are you here? I was pretty sure the halls were empty and thought you two had already gone to the third-floor?” Hermione asked, baffled, but Harry just ran a hand through his hair and Draco heaved a deep sigh.

“You told us off for sneaking out!” Harry exclaimed and Draco shushed him then, looking around to make sure that the earlier ruckus of the ghost did not gather too much attention. The hall was quiet still.

“Well! I couldn’t just bloody well leave you two alone then! And when you two were babbling about the third floor and Fluffy, I thought it’s best to— you know, not let you two get expelled from Hogwarts!” Hermione defended, stubbornly holding her ground. Harry threw one worried glance at Draco who pointedly looked back at him. Harry was grateful for his friends, honestly and truly grateful. He could never repay the things they’d done for him and with him, but this time— he’d thought that he’ll give them the benefit of just enjoying Hogwarts as normal students. Not running around fighting dark wizards and hunting Horcruxes. But Hermione seems to think so otherwise and Harry just darted his eyes all over her determined face and he remembered this girl who saved his life and he suddenly wanted to hug her tight.

“Pansy would be absolutely proud. Slinking your way to a forbidden corridor all by yourself? I’d applaud you if it not for it being a completely stupid thing to do,” Draco admonished and Hermione had the sense to look sheepish. Draco only shook his head and then Harry saw the blonde eye the path down the hallway and he nudged him on the arm before walking silently, gesturing for him to follow. Harry threw his hands up in exasperation and he’d given up when Hermione started to follow Draco.

“How’d you manage to slip your way out of Gryffindor tower anyway? Last time you tried that, McGonagall practically dragged you into her office,” Harry wearily asked.

“I mean, I didn’t know she’d fancy some tea and biscuits then, did I? She’s well out in her quarters now because I saw her earlier with a stack of books and a glass of what I assume was some Sherry wine. I did have to knock Ron and Neville out though,” she muttered the last part and Draco suddenly whipped his head to stare at her, Harry only put his head in his hands.

“Knock. Out. Longbottom and Weasley?” Draco enunciated slowly, eyebrows pushing their way up and Hermione gestured helplessly around.

“I didn’t really knock them out! It’s just the body-bind spell, you know? They’ll be fine once the spell wears off,” Hermione said, twiddling with her fingers and shifting her eyes between them. “They saw me about to leave the rooms and I thought, well— maybe it’s best to not involve themselves with this covert quest for the Philosopher’s Stone…?” Hermione’s tone lilted in question. Harry bit his lip then as Draco eyed him.

“How much did you hear?” Harry asked, voice coming out on low tones as he remembered that they were supposed to be invisible to the prying eyes.

“Just that bit about someone stealing the Stone and then Fluffy,” Hermione confessed in a small voice and Harry only shook his head.

“No, you have to go back Hermione. Don’t worm your way into this one,” he said as he stared her down.

Hermione only defiantly looked at the both of them, “I’m coming with you. And I’m not asking for permission.”

Harry’s mouth flattened and was about to berate Hermione when Draco took a hold of his arm and pulled slightly. “I don’t think there’s time for this argument, Harry,” he said and Harry looked at him before following his gaze where it was locked on a door, slightly ajar and the distinct sound of soft notes coming through.

“So, what is it with this Philosopher’s Stone? I looked it up in the library and read that it was Nicholas Flamel who’d made it, fascinating so, don’t you think?” Hermione started her way to the door and he and Draco stalked after her.

“Hermione—”

“Fluffy is right there, behind that door guarding the Philosopher’s Stone and Quirrell is trying to steal it,” Draco cut Harry off before he could say anything else.

“What?” Hermione squeaked and she spun around to stare incredulously at them. “But that’s—absolutely mental! Fluffy—three-headed dog? Then the Philosopher’s Stone, I mean—why would Quirrell steal it?” Hermione waved about, her hands everywhere, frazzled and eyes-wide.

“What the hell Draco?” Harry pulled the boy back, grabbing him by the shoulder with an angry twist on his lips.

Draco was all steel grey eyes, pinning him down with a stare as he stood unflinchingly. “What, you honestly expect to have her running back to Gryffindor tower then? If you haven’t noticed, Quirrell is already down there and we’re here arguing and wasting time.”

“That’s not the point! He won’t be able to get the Stone, not with the mirror at the last room. We agreed to not say a word about it, it’s not safe, you know that,” Harry argued.

“Excuse me, but I am not bloody well leaving, Harry. So, either you tell me what this is about or I follow you in there anyway!” Hermione butted in, crossing her arms as she stomped her foot at the two boys and Harry threw his hands in the air, annoyed and ruffled his hair some more.

“Voldemort!” Harry hissed at her and she suddenly flinched back when he said the name.

“…what?” Hermione asked, quietly. Shocked and suddenly there was that small quiver in her voice, she flitted her eyes at them and to the door.

“Quirrell is helping Voldemort to try and revive himself. That’s why he’s in there to steal the Philosopher’s Stone,” Harry said in a rushed whisper vaguely noticing Draco finally walked to the open door, movements slow as he peeked inside.

“Steal—” Hermione sputtered for a moment and it was a few seconds before she scrunched up her brows and Harry was sure she was running through all the information in her head to make sense of things. She looked up then suddenly, “Eternal life,” she whispered in awe, eyes so wide. Harry knew that convincing her to go back at this point is futile and he just nodded jerkily before following Draco. “But, are you sure Harry? The books say that You-Know-Who was defeated, well, by you.”

“I know, Hermione. And he’s in there right now,” Harry threw her a meaningful look that had her gulping down.

“Goodness…” Hermione trotted off after them and Harry just about heard Draco swore as he gently pushed the door a little bit further. Hermione then took a deep breath and steadied herself and Harry couldn’t help but smile at the brave and determined glint in her eyes. “Alright, alright… But Quirrell? Him though, he seems a bit—I dunno, he scares easily even by his own shadow. If I’d suspect anyone who’d steal the Stone it would be Snape, wouldn’t it?”

He heard Draco snort quietly at this and Harry’s mouth twitched, “No, it’s Quirrell. He’s been plotting this from the start.”

“He jinxed Harry’s broom too in the Quidditch match,” Draco added and he turned to them, his wand gripped tight.

“Great Merlin, you’re broom really was jinxed! I thought it looked a bit weird with you jerking up there, but everyone just looked at me funny when I asked about it,” Hermione said and Harry just shrugged.

“Harry,” Draco started then and Harry twisted to look at him, a tight set in his brow, “I don’t know how long that harp will keep playing for.” Harry’s lips pursed and then he glanced at Hermione once more before sighing in resignation.

“We’re here to stop him and nothing you say will prevent us from going after the Philosopher’s Stone,” Harry said and Hermione only looked at them both before breathing in deep.

“Well, lead the way then,” she said and Harry had to smile at that. Harry turned to Draco and with a little nod, the blonde boy gently slid the door open.

The soft music of the harp filled the stillness of the air mixed in with the grunts of Fluffy, sprawled on the floor, sleeping peacefully. Hermione let out a high yelp before immediately holding her mouth behind her hands. Harry flinched as they ushered themselves in and he let the door close behind them. “This is Fluffy?!” Hermione whispered harshly. The three-headed dog then shifted in his sleep, yawning big and Hermione gripped both their shoulders tightly.

“Yes, yes. He’s adorable,” Draco muttered as he hesitantly stepped closer to where the harp was playing.

“It’s fine, as long as there is music he’ll sleep right through,” Harry reassured her, patting her hand as he did so.

“Okay…” but Hermione still eyed Fluffy with apprehension.

Draco then sidled up beside him, nudging his arm without taking his eyes off the harp. “Harry, the flute,” he said and Harry immediately dug in his pockets and handed it to him. Draco took a deep breath and then he was playing the flute with a surprisingly light and playful tune. It was a stark contrast to the harp’s lazy notes but Harry only had a moment to be amused before he creeped his way to the huge paw that lay against the trapdoor. Hermione stuck close to him, he glanced at Fluffy before he began pushing the leg away with great effort, Hermione helped as well and it was just that they heard the harp stopped.

Hermione whipped her head in alarm and Harry took a peek and saw Draco shaking his head at them as he continued playing. He rolled his eyes impatiently and jerked his head at them to hurry. Hermione winced slightly as she took a hold of the metal handle and heaved the door open and then, it was clattering noisily into the floor with a deafening thud. Fluffy gave a snort and a low growl, one of the heads lifted itself off the floor. Harry whipped his wand out in an instant, pointing it squarely on the snout and Draco played that just bit louder. Hermione had her hands gripping tight on the door as she halted and held herself still.

The head then yawned, eyes blinking open for a moment before drooping heavily and Fluffy was once again snoring loud. Harry let out the breath he was holding and gestured for Hermione to stand. She did so but her eyes were pinned on Fluffy, a slight grimace gracing her face. “I’ll go first alright,” Harry said as Hermione peeked through the long dark passageway.

“I don’t suppose there are stairs down there?” she tried but Harry was already jumping down and through the trapdoor without a second’s thought.

The wind rushed at him as he let himself in a freefall and had just the mind to lift his wand arm up high above his head as he landed with a squish as the vines broke his fall. He took a moment to catch his breath before yelling upwards through the squarely lit passageway. “It’s fine! Go on next Hermione, it’s a soft landing!” he winced just as he felt the vines slowly start to move around him. He could just barely see Hermione’s bushy hair peeping through, before he heard a yelp as she was then dropping down and sprawling in a heap beside him.

“Oh, Merlin—” she started as she looked around, her eyes widening as she spluttered incoherently. But then Draco was falling as well, groaning as he hit the bunched-up vines with a thud.

“Well then, that was lovely,” Draco tried to heave himself off but then the vines were now actively twisting and weaving, disturbed with three children tumbling their way on top of them.

“Lovely?! This is Devil’s Snare!” Hermione scrambled up to get away from the vines but one had caught her around the middle and she immediately stopped still.

Draco struggled for a bit as he lifted his wand arm and away from the moving vines. “Way to state the obvious Hermione, we’ll all aware of the sentient plant,” he waved his arm, trying for a spell and was thoroughly puzzled when nothing happened. Looking up, he saw that it was in fact, not his wand that he was holding up, but the flute. “For fuck’s sake—”

“Draco!”

“Oh, shove it, Granger!” Draco shot back at her and Harry only rolled his eyes as he wriggled a vine free of his arm and casted with a flick the bluebell flames that he remembered Hermione was so fond off in the Past. Hermione having liberated her wand as well made a delighted sound and not a second too soon, conjured the flames and then the Devil’s Snare were retreating away from them. They made quick work of untangling themselves from the vines, Hermione looking frazzled but otherwise, unharmed. Harry kicked away a persistent vine before straightening his clothes and vanishing the flames away.

“Well, that was fun,” Harry tried, helping Draco up as he pushed himself off and landed on his feet with a little stumble. Draco then scrunched up his face as he regarded the flute he held, Harry couldn’t help it, he laughed.

“You know what, keep this thing before I burn it and I don’t want to find Hagrid wailing when he finds out I had destroyed his gift to you,” Draco shoved the flute at Harry before regarding the place that they hand landed in. “Huh, little bit drafty isn’t it?”

“This is insanity,” Hermione muttered, Harry then led the way down to the corridor making sure to light their way with his wand as he walked down the sloping path. The soft patter of their footsteps making dull noises in the otherwise abandoned hall. “Shouldn’t we call on a teacher? Or Dumbledore! He’ll surely be able to stop Quirrell, won’t he?”

“No,” Harry bit out and ignored the way Hermione blanched at his tone. “Dumbledore isn’t here anyway,” he quickly added.

“What do you mean?”

“It means, he’s not here at Hogwarts. He’s been called out, probably doing ministry stuff or Quirrell had lured him out— whatever,” Draco rolled his eyes and Hermione frowned at this but before she could say anything else, the sound of fluttering and metal clinking was heard.

They emerged to find themselves standing in a tall chamber, the winged keys flying in all sorts of direction and Harry immediately searched for the brooms. “Wow, are those birds?” Hermione awed as she continued to look up, the keys glittering against the light of Harry’s wand.

“Not really,” Harry started and saw Draco hurrying across the door on the opposite side. Hermione made a surprised sound as they watched Draco wave them over impatiently.

“Really, Draco? What if those things suddenly swooped down on you?” Hermione asked indignantly.

“Then I’ll just blast them away,” Draco said distractedly as he eyed the locked door. His eyes roamed upwards as he inspected the flying keys, he huffed and drew his wand out. “Aberto,” he then tried the door again but it remained locked. “Well, isn’t this just tedious,” Draco drawled as Hermione pushed her way forward and tried an Alohamora.

“Nope, still locked,” Hermione uttered beside them and Draco narrowed his eyes at the keys.

“Well, Flitwick wouldn’t make it that easy now, would he?” Harry said as he searched the grand chamber, searching for the one he remembered to fly with a broken wing.

“Flitwick?” Hermione asked and turned to face the flying objects before gasping, “Oh, they’re keys!”

“Yeah, traps made by the professors to protect the Philosopher’s Stone,” Harry said distractedly and when Hermione made an inquiring sound, he heard Draco mutter something to her, presumably explaining the useless measures they set up against potential thieves. “Right there!”

The key fluttered unhurriedly alongside with the others, blue wing crumpled up and it wobbled a little as it continued to fly. Harry strode to the brooms on the other side and hauled them up in his arms as he passed one to each of them and he grinned. “Fancy some flying Hermione?”

“Well…” Hermione reluctantly took the broom before eyeing the keys flying above them. “If I must,” she said as she wrinkled her nose at the prospect of flying.

“Don’t worry, just block its path whenever it tries to get away. We’ll handle the rest,”

“Let the youngest Seeker play his part,” Draco teased and Harry smacked him with his broom before mounting it.

“Will the youngest Slytherin Chaser shut his mouth and please help me get that key,”

“I don’t think I really count at all,” Draco grumbled and then they were kicking off the ground, Harry immediately zooming after the key. It was a dizzying swirl of metal and wings as both of them took flight and at once, began to box the key on one side. Hermione hovering diligently around them, watched intently as Draco took a sharp turn and blocked the key from its attempt to fly off. The key then abruptly changed course and it was whizzing past and straight into Harry’s hand. “Well done then,”

Harry rolled his eyes at Draco and they dropped to the ground with him shoving the key on the lock as it tried to free itself from his grip. Hermione landed unsteadily towards them and Harry let the key fly off once he had the door shoved open.

It was darkness all over, before fire were sprouting up from torches by the walls and Harry shielded his eyes as they stepped further and into the marvellous sight of McGonagall’s chess board.

“Alright…” Hermione murmured as she gazed astonished at the hulking chess pieces in front of them. “I—uh, suppose we couldn’t just walk through?” she eyed the door at the far end of the room.

“Wouldn’t that be a delight,” Draco eyed the pieces warily just as Hermione stalked her way to one of the black pieces closest to them. She hesitated before giving it a small tap and the knight sprung to life as he turned to her making Hermione jump slightly.

“Do we, um… have to play to get across?” she asked and the knight nodded before resuming his usual place at the board. “Well then Draco, it’s all yours.”

“I beg your pardon?” Draco said eyebrows raising up as Hermione walked back to their side.

“What? Me and Harry are dung at chess and we obviously have to win,” she said and Harry turned to look at Draco.

“Well— how do you know I even know how to play?” Draco asked defensively, crossing his arms and Harry just snorted at this. Hermione looked thoroughly unimpressed.

“Pansy told me you’ve been playing since you were little and then I seem to remember Ron muttering angrily as he complained about how he lost three consecutive matches against you,”

“Also, might I remind you of that time you’ve completely destroyed Blaise and Theo when they amusingly bet five Galleons against you and then Theo stomped away grumbling how it was his brand-new chess set and you just sat there pocketing your won money,” Harry added as he smirked at the blonde boy.

Draco eyed the both of them before throwing his hands up in the air, exasperated. “Fine! Alright, hold on…” He breathed for a moment and put his hands on his knees as he studied the chess pieces and the board. “One of you take the queen or a knight, or maybe two knights— either way, I’ll be playing the king,” Draco said as he straightened himself up.

“The king? Seriously?” Harry raised an eyebrow at him but Draco only glared.

“You want this done quick or not?” he retorted impatiently and strode his way to where the black king stood and graciously made way for him. Harry only shrugged and saw Hermione do the same as she sidled up beside the knight who lowered the horse for her and had her climbing on top with ease. Harry only eyed the other knight for a second before deciding to slip his way beside Draco and the queen bowed down before him before leaving the board and standing on the side.

Draco only stood, shoulders squared and set his gaze on the board and finally, the game started with the first white pawn moving two steps from the other side. It was an amazing display of moving white and black pieces as the game went on. Harry could barely keep up as Draco made to move one of the black bishops and then in a matter of seconds had Hermione knocking a knight as her horse reared its hooves and stomped the piece away. There wasn’t even a second of pause, just their pieces quickly moving their way across once they heard the command from the blonde and Draco was a steady sort as he eyed the board. Speed chess. Harry thought in disbelief and tried to keep his mid focused as Draco instructed him to move, following his command as every chess piece on their side did so nimbly and rather excitedly.

And then, it was done as the king threw his crown on Hermione’s feet, lumbering his way outside of the chess board angrily. Hermione whooped in happiness as her horse did a little trot and then she was sliding down it with a giddy hop. “That was incredible! Amazing,”

“Absolutely amazing,” Harry muttered his jaw dropping slightly as he approached Draco where he stood in the middle of the board.

“Well, I did tell you we’ll do it quick, no?” Draco said as he rubbed the back of his neck and Harry only stared before the blonde was throwing a glance at him and then he made his way towards the door with him and Hermione following with grins on their faces.

They pushed the door open and was immediately assaulted with a foul odour as they gagged and covered their noses with their sleeves. “Sweet Merlin, that’s a troll,” Hermione puffed out behind her woollen jumper and true enough, there was the troll lying face down on the floor and Harry ushered them quickly away and through the other side, wand held on his hand just in case the troll managed to wake himself up. They needn’t worry after all and then they were slamming the door shut behind them.

They were greeted with Snape’s line of potions and Harry immediately strode to the table in the middle of the room, hearing Hermione utter a questioning sound. But he heard her gasp as purple flames shot up from the door they had just came from and the adjoining door began to sprang up black flames. Draco sidled up next to him, eyes still on the door behind, before peeping through the black flames on the other side. “Well, got to give Severus points for the grandiose display,” he heard him mutter to him, grabbing the roll of parchment as he did so.

“Please tell me we’re not actually trapped in here,” Hermione grumbled, annoyed and she bounded up to them and eyed the bottles lined up on the table with interest.

“Severus honestly,” Draco mumbled as he handed the parchment to Hermione who immediately seized it and excitedly exclaimed a moment later. Harry’s eyes roamed over the bottles and landed on the smallest one with its contents nearly drained. Harry breathed in deep and saw Draco eyeing the bottle as well.

“Oh wonderful! Logic and puzzles are easy, this bottle will get us through that purple fire while this one goes through that door with the black flames,” Hermione said but her expression dropped when she saw the smallest potion, Draco already holding it up and staring at Harry solely.

“Hermione, take the bottle for the purple fire and get out of here,” Harry said not looking at the both of them.

“What?”

“I’m going in there alone and I won’t hear any of it,” Harry firmly said as he pointedly looked at Draco.

“You really are stupid, aren’t you Harry,” Draco gritted out as he snatched the bottle out of his hand.  

“You want to face Quirrell alone? But what if You-Know-Who’s also there? Harry, we can’t leave you alone!” Hermione rushed to him and held his arm.

Harry only smiled at her, there was his Hermione, bright and eyes gleaming. Stubborn and brilliantly intelligent. He stared at his best friend and hugged her. “I’ll be alright Hermione, please, go on and get out of here,” he could feel Hermione hug him tight and when he released her, she turned a desperate look at Draco.

Draco only watched them, before he took the rounded bottle at the far side of the table. “This one to the purple fire, right?” Draco said and Hermione nodded before handling her the bottle. “Take a broom Hermione, and do as I say and find Severus,”

Harry frowned at him but Hermione cut him off as she opened the bottle, “Severus? You mean Snape?” she asked a little incredulous, “but— wouldn’t it be better if I find Dumbledore? Surely, he should be back by now at Hogwarts.”

“Not Dumbledore,” Draco emphasized for her and he turned to her with a look so serious that she’d shut her mouth. “Under no circumstances will you look for the headmaster. You will go and find Severus and tell him that the Stone is under the threat of being stolen at the moment.”

Hermione only opened and closed her mouth for a few seconds, before she turned to Harry in question. “Go Hermione, Draco will be right behind you,” Harry said as he glanced momentarily at Draco and flashed a smile at Hermione. Hermione darted her eyes on each of them and she steeled her features and drank from the bottle, shivering slightly she handed the potion over to Draco and then ran to the door with a hasty good luck thrown over her shoulder.

The moment the door shut closed; Draco rounded on him with a fierce look in his eyes. “This is not what we agreed on! I’m supposed to go inside there with you!” he hissed and Harry met him with a defiant stare.

“No, Voldemort will be there and I’m handling it alone.”

“You’re sense of heroics is deeply unwelcome right now, Potter,” Draco snapped, “forgot to mention that the potion is all but drained already?” But he breathed deep and ran a hand down his face as Harry only smiled at him.

“Nothing to do with heroism and I always hated the word ‘hero’ anyway,” Harry said as he pushed the round bottle further to Draco. “It’s just me and my stubborn self, besides,” he shook the bottle in his hands, the one that would take him through the black fire, “hardly enough for two of us, no?”

Draco’s jaw tightened for a moment, before he sighed in defeat. “Honestly, I should’ve stormed Severus’ stash when you told me about the fire,” he grumbled as he fidgeted with the stopper on the bottle. Harry smiled at him and Draco eyed him for a second before shaking his head and opening the potion.

“What was that song that you’ve played on the flute a while ago?” Harry suddenly blurted out and Draco paused the bottle to his mouth and raised an eyebrow at him.

Draco scoffed and drank deeply from the bottle. “A nursery rhyme that my mum used to sing to me when I was little, thought it was easy enough to try on the flute,” he placed the bottle down and made for the door, turning a little bit to look directly at Harry. “You better be alright once I’ve dragged Severus down here,” he said and then he was opening the door and running through the fire.

Harry grinned for a moment at the door where Draco had disappeared. But it slipped as soon as he glanced down at the bottle in his hands. Without thinking too much, he finally drained the last of the potion and threw the bottle away. He walked to the black fire, opening the door as he did so and Harry steeled himself as he heard the door shut closed behind him.

Chapter Text

Harry felt himself stumble as he crossed the threshold of the room and then he was falling down with ropes binding his arms and ankles.

“Hello Mr. Potter, I’d wondered if you’ll be going after the Stone as well. As such, it was terribly annoying to guess what insufferable children were thinking,” Quirrell drawled as he threw a dismissive look at Harry.

“Professor Quirrell,” Harry intoned as he struggled on his bonds.

“Surprised to see me Mr. Potter? No? Doesn’t really matter, you’re here and I shall kill you in a moment and perhaps I shall be done with Severus as well,” Quirrell regarded the mirror, frowning deeply at it. “It was such an annoying thing to have your head of house keeping an eye on me. I’d had you dropping from your broom in a second if it weren’t for him.”

“Seems your tricks are in poor taste there, professor,” Harry gritted out and had given up on his bonds but he had managed to push himself up in a sitting position, he itched to grab the wand in his pocket. Quirrell waved him off as he rounded on the mirror.

“All part of the plan, Mr. Potter,” Quirrell started to fuss over the mirror, stroking the metal and looking at the back of it to no avail. He hissed angrily before exclaiming, “I see the Stone! But how to get it there, help me my lord!”

It was like ice rushing down his veins as Harry heard that rasping voice once more. “The boy, use him,” Quirrell then stalked towards him, vanishing the ropes with a snap of his fingers as he took hold of his shirt and bodily dragged him to the mirror. Harry struggled for a moment but Quirrell only pushed him to stand in front of the mirror. “Now, what do you see?” Quirrell asked staring down at the reflection as he hovered behind him.

Harry stood still as he righted himself and once again, saw his reflection in the Mirror of Erised. His own self smiled at him, as it reached down into his pocket and presented him the Philosopher’s Stone. His reflection winked before putting the Stone back into place and Harry suppressed a smile as he felt the load of the Stone settle in his jeans. Quirrell seized his shoulder then, grabbing him as he shook and repeated the question. “What do you see?!” he nearly screamed at him and Harry shoved him away before hastily backing away from him.

“The house cup, Slytherin had won the house cup and me and my friends where celebrating in the Great Hall,” Harry said and Quirrell moved towards him, Harry immediately reached for his wand and pointed it at him. Quirrell stopped and just laughed.

“Don’t be foolish boy!” Quirrell made another move to advance on him but stopped once that voice spoke again. “I’ll speak to the boy, let me speak to him,” Quirrell then hunched on himself. “But my lord, you aren’t strong enough.”

“I shall see him and show him what I am,” Quirrell turned and made to unwrapped his turban and Harry only gripped his wand tighter as he glared deep at the person in front of him. The turban was thrown aside and Harry could hear a high whine in his ears as Voldemort had finally shown his face, eyes opening to look around him. “Harry…yes…Harry Potter,” he rasped and Harry raged in fury.

The image of Voldemort rising once more in that graveyard flashed before Harry’s eyes, that high laugh ringing in his ears and Harry’s eyes widened impossibly as he pointed his wand higher and realised that he was shaking. There was that laugh, Voldemort was laughing as Quirrell made to walk backwards towards him. “A brave feat pointing your wand at me. Just like your parents did, who died in vain,” Harry’s heart was hammering, joining in with the high whine still prevalent in his ears and he unconsciously took a step back as his mind was assaulted with vivid images of screams and that green light. “Give up now boy, give up and hand me that Stone in your pocket.”

Harry roared in fury. He waved his wand sharply and sent a spell that had Quirrell sprawling to the ground and Voldemort yelled at the professor as he struggled to stand up, “SEIZE HIM! NOW!”

Harry shot spell after spell and Quirrell deflecting it every time with a wave of his hand. The room rumbled and Harry vaguely saw his spells hit the stone walls and the mirror, bouncing on the surface only to reflect the spell back to the door with a loud bang. Debris and rocks were falling all over them and Quirrell was now in reach as he grasped Harry’s wrist, twisting his arm as Harry yelled. Harry grabbed the hand on him and gripped tight, digging his fingers sharply and Quirrell had to let go, howling in pain. He didn’t think, Harry then tackled him grabbing his middle as he slammed him to the ground, there were voices yelling and Quirrell made to grab his arms but screeched as he could not hold Harry without burning in himself.

Harry didn’t even realise he had tossed his wand away as he growled savagely.  

Harry reared his fist as he pinned Quirrell down and landed a punch and then another, he snarled as Quirrell scrambled for purchase, trying to shove him off as he made to grab Harry once more but Harry— Harry had had enough. Harry’s vision blurred as he made to grasp his hands around Quirrell’s face, tightening on his jaw and Quirrell screamed as he burned and started to turn to ash. The room was shaking, pieces of huge debris breaking and being thrown and Harry didn’t even notice the loud cracking of the stone wall behind him as the screams filled the air and his ears were ringing and he realised—that he was screaming too.

The wall behind him suddenly burst into pieces as rocks and debris rained in on him and dust scattered everywhere. “Harry!” there was a voice then, arms wrapping around his torso as he was held and dragged away to the side. “Harry? Harry! It’s me! Stop, it’s me!” Harry stilled for a second as he rolled his head and saw Draco holding him as they slumped heavily on the ground. Harry blinked then, slowly, as the shaking of the room settled and his eyes seemed to droop as his body tilted.

There was another round of footsteps then and Harry vaguely saw black robes and heard a stuttered sound in his exhausted state. Eyes blurring, Harry then felt hands steadily lifting him up and when he blinked, found himself sprawled on someone’s back as arms looped around his legs as he was heaved up more securely. Harry tiredly rolled his head to see and a set of jet-black hair filled his vision and robes where flowing as he was carried steadily away from the room. “Snape…? Snape, sir…” Harry mumbled.

“Potter? Sweet Merlin, are you awake? Stay with us you hear,” Snape said in a rush and Harry turned his head to the side and saw Draco striding along beside them, face set in deep worry and eyes wide as he stared at Harry.

“Draco… Snape’s here… the Stone…” Harry lifted his heavy hand and reached inside his pocket.

“Save your breath Potter, we’re getting you out of here,” he heard Snape snapped at him and Harry merely nodded and grasped the Philosopher’s Stone in his hand. Harry lazily swung his arm about and nudged Snape wearily.

“Snape… sir… the Stone… here… The Philosopher’s Stone…” Harry could only feel a slight stutter on the steps and then a hand was gently prying the Stone away from him. And it’s just then, that Harry finally allowed his heavy eyes to drift off and he was blissfully asleep.

Harry woke up to stone ceilings and dark robes flitting about beside him.

“This has gone too far Albus! I won’t stand for it!” there was a low voice, whispering harshly and Harry shifted wearily to look around him.

“Settle down Severus…” another voice piped up and Harry blinked out the blurriness in his eyes and turned to see Snape, slightly pacing at the foot of the bed along with Albus Dumbledore. Harry shifted some more and just about registered the pillow under his head and sheets surrounding him and his mind helpfully suggested that he was probably in the Hospital Wing. “Professor?” he mumbled and the room immediately fell silent. Then there was shuffling and Harry momentarily froze when he saw Dumbledore walk to the side of his bed. The headmaster smiled down at him and Harry gripped his sheets just that bit tighter.

“Hello dear boy, glad to see you decided to join us,” Dumbledore said, Harry shifted more as he tried to sit up but found his body rather uncooperative and just decided to slump down with a huff. His eyes darted, avoiding Dumbledore and found Snape still hovering nearby with his arms crossed, lips pressed in a tight line.

“Professor Snape?” Harry called out and just about saw Snape twitch a brow before looking at him with an impassive expression. Harry breathed out then and the events came rushing in a sudden storm as his eyes widened and he whipped his head around to look at the mostly deserted room. “Draco—where is he? Professor, the Stone and Hermione—”

“Stop fussing, will you Mr. Potter,” Snape said as he turned to him, eyes darting to Dumbledore for a second before settling on him. “Mr. Malfoy is fine, although I suspect he’s just lurking somewhere and disregarded my orders to return to the common rooms. Miss Granger is also quite alright and as such, has been escorted back to Gryffindor tower as well.”

Harry let the words register in his head for a moment before dumbly nodding and slumping back down on his pillows. “Right… right…” he then turned his head to the headmaster who was watching the exchange with interest. “Um—Dumbledore, sir. Hello?”

Dumbledore chuckled a bit before nodding in greeting, “Hello Harry, it is nice to see you up and about. Although I was not expecting you to wake up for another day or two,”

Harry blinked at this and turned his head once more to Snape, “How long was I out?” he asked.

Snape regarded him for a moment then, “A few hours at most Mr. Potter. As such, I do believe that Madam Pomfrey is at her wits end, considering the talking to that she gave us just a while ago,” Snape drawled as he fixedly stared down at Dumbledore.

“Indeed, quite the woman she is, Poppy. Although we ought to follow her and leave for you to rest, as you very well need, but as you are awake now, I believe you have some questions,” Dumbledore intoned in that knowing way of his. Harry slowly glanced up at the headmaster, here he is, talking to him in this time and for some reason, Harry couldn’t find any of the remorse that he felt when he saw him fall down that tower. For some reason, seeing Albus Dumbledore now is nothing but a reminder of all the secrets that he held from him, of all the plans he had made only to leave Harry out of it and then dump them all in one fell swoop.

No, there is no more sorrow for Dumbledore anymore. He didn’t hate him… not really. Harry astonishingly thought as he stared at Dumbledore that there is just this notion of… dismissal.  

“Not really sir,” Harry blurted out and it was funny how Dumbledore just blinked at him at this. Harry shrugged and when he saw Snape, the Potions Master was eyeing him from the foot of his bed. There was a slight twitch to his mouth and Harry couldn’t help but grin as he continued on, “nothing to really talk about, sir. But I reckon Madam Pomfrey would be delighted if we all settle down for the rest of the night. She does look quite cross at the moment,” he said as he gestured to the woman who was peeking through from her office, arms crossed and looking at both professors disapprovingly.

“Well then…” Dumbledore murmured as he nodded in greeting at the Healer who only narrowed her eyes at him. “I believe we’ll leave you be then. Rest well Mr. Potter, for I suspect you’ll have quite the visitors come morning,” he said and with one last assessing glance at Harry, he merely tipped his head and walked his way to the doors, waving a good night to Madam Pomfrey as he did so.

Harry sighed deep and he saw Snape eye the headmaster as the door shut closed. Snape turned to him then, seeming to debate within himself before he slowly nodded at him as he made to leave. “Snape— sir. Professor?” Snape aborted his movements as he called out and the professor inclined his head in question. Harry didn’t really know why he held Snape back from going but then his mind flitted to the Stone and he sat more upright. “The Stone sir… The Philosopher’s Stone?” he murmured then.

Snape slowly uncrossed his arms as he took a glance over his shoulder, before he deliberately moved behind one of the parting curtains as he reached inside his robes and brandished the blood red Stone in his hands. Harry stared at it, a little bit in awe and he raised his head at Snape in question. “Quite intriguing…” Snape whispered almost to himself as he gazed at the Stone before he snapped his head up and looked at him. “I believe this is no longer of your concern, Mr. Potter. After all, it is set to be destroyed as soon as possible.”

Harry eyed the Stone then, he didn’t exactly know what he had expected to happen with the Stone, he mindlessly nodded at Snape. “Right… did Dumbledore— Professor Dumbledore said so?”

He heard Snape scoff just a little and he pocketed the Stone carefully in his robes. “Albus had in fact planned for it to be destroyed from the start. A wise choice all things considered, although it is blatantly stupid to have kept it hidden for so long with only such subpar traps set in place, I told him as much,” Snape said and Harry vaguely wondered if he had meant to rant out on him. “That old bat has always done whatever he pleases so,” Snape narrowed his eyes as he turned to stare at the door, he was still rummaging in his pockets and Harry’s eyes started to slip.

He might’ve heard a soft thud and Harry blinked his eyes open and let out a yawn, he was momentarily embarrassed when Snape regarded him. With another look thrown in his direction, the professor nodded once again and strode quickly away from his bedside. Reckless Potter, he might’ve heard, but Harry wasn’t sure as Snape had disappeared with his steps silent as ever and robes billowing out behind him.

Madam Pomfrey then came, muttering fast about disturbing her patients and made sure that Harry was well and comfortable enough before she strode away with a good night, turning down the lamps with a flick of her wand as she too, retired for the night. Harry let himself settle on his pillow, staring up at the ceiling with tired eyes. He turned to the side and saw his glasses there and wondered who had removed it for him. There was a quiet shuffle then and Harry darted his eyes and saw the chair beside his bed move slightly.

In a second, he heard soft swearing as Draco appeared, struggling with the cloak as he made to slide it away from him. Harry couldn’t help the grin on his face as he made an attempt to push himself up. “Merlin, don’t be daft. Lay down, you idiot,” Draco whispered, he subtly moved to look behind the parting curtain before nudging it quietly so it could hide them fully. “Took them ages to get rid of themselves,” Draco sighed and mindlessly folded the cloak in his hands and froze when he saw that Harry was smiling wearily at him.

“Where you there all this time?” Harry yawned again.

Draco shrugged, attempting for nonchalance but his hand strayed and started to rub the back of his neck. “I took it upon myself to disregard any orders from the adults at this place,” Draco gently pushed the chair closer to Harry’s bed and sat, “and Severus really should know better than to tell me to go back to the dungeons.”

“Well, he seemed perfectly resigned that you’re not sleeping in the dormitories at the moment,” Harry blinked heavily and had to shake himself to focus on Draco. “What happened? I thought I heard you down there.”

Draco shifted and folded his arms, in a second, he unfolded them again and huffed before pulling his legs up and tucking them beneath him as he made himself comfortable. “I caught up to Hermione as she was trying to fly one of the brooms, we got out then and I went looking for Severus but found him as he was walking towards the third-floor. There was a lot of flailing involved and a lot of scolding from Severus before we’d managed to held Hermione back from following us.”

Harry nodded at this, the pillow was really comfortable he noticed and he snuggled more into it. “You went back with Snape?”

Draco nodded mutely and Harry saw him fiddle with the cloak on his lap. “I heard a right ruckus then,” Draco muttered as he stared somewhere on Harry’s shoulder, “Severus was right behind me, but then the room rattled once we passed the flames and Severus seemed a bit shocked when the walls began to shake… I couldn’t wait for him to dismiss the flames so I just blasted the wall off.” Harry heard himself laugh and he turned to his side so he could look at Draco properly. He saw the blonde smirk a little before it slipped of his face, “Are you alright?” he heard him ask, so quiet then.

“Mhmm,” Harry mumbled and Draco only settled his eyes firmly at him. Looking at him straight in the eye and found something raw and deep in those steel greys of his.

“You were screaming…” Draco whispered and he gripped the cloth tight. “I didn’t know what to do… I just grabbed you without thinking and then… well…” Draco trailed off, “I think Dumbledore took care of the rest. We saw him just as Severus was carrying you out of the room.”

Harry nodded absently, his eyes were getting heavier by the second and he struggled to keep himself awake. “Were you okay?” Harry heard himself ask and it was a minute of Draco staring at him before he was huffing out an amused laugh.

“Yeah, Harry. Absolutely fine,”

“Good, that’s good…” he thought he may have blinked again and he heard some rummaging before his eyes focused once more and maybe saw Draco smile at him, he was standing up now and Harry felt that there was something solid in his hand and as he turned, he saw that Draco had put his wand on his palm, Harry took a lazy hold of it.

“You dropped this,” Draco murmured softly. There was another moment before he was being nudged awake again and Harry blearily lifted his head to see a potion bottle held in front of his face. “I think you better drink this,” he heard Draco said and Harry blindingly accepted the bottle and slowly tipped the contents to his mouth. “Severus left that there, it’s Dreamless Sleep.”  

Harry heavily slid on the bed further and blearily noticed gentle hands taking the bottle from him. Harry couldn’t help it then, his eyes slid shut on their own and then he heard no more as he tucked himself under the blankets and let sleep take him.

It was to warmth and tranquillity that Harry woke up to.

It was slow and languid and Harry honestly couldn’t complain. He slept all throughout until the next night and it’s just that, he found his bedside table full off gifts and sweets that he had to smile. It was the same as last time and it’s still a wonder to him how many people seem to care about him. He laughed when he saw a drawing from Blaise, a flying Snitch with a note that says; ‘but Slytherin will lose if you don’t play for the game!’ and he remembered that the Quidditch finals was about to start first thing tomorrow. Hermione had stopped by before curfew and had thrown himself at him with a cry and a tirade of how stupid he was and almost burst into tears once she calmed down a bit.

Pansy was there too a while later, dragging Draco along with her and demanding what the bloody hell happened really and—the whole school’s buzzing about it and it’s ridiculous how I don’t know any of it at all! Harry had reassured her that it was nothing and she needn’t worry, she uttered a ‘hmph’ but gave in and wrapped him up in a big hug much to Harry’s astonishment. “Really now, you had me worried! And this daft boy wouldn’t tell me anything,” she slapped Draco’s arm and Draco yelled in protest, rolling his eyes at her.

“I hope she’s not harassing you too much, Draco,” Harry grinned.

“Honestly—stop it, Pans! She’s a downright nuisance, this one. Flint’s actually worse, moaning on the Quidditch match and all,”

“Speaking of Quidditch—”

“Don’t even think about it, Mr. Potter!” they all startled when Madam Pomfrey came striding along to Harry’s bedside, “I will tie you down on that bed if you even remotely suggest the idea of playing Quidditch!”

“Erm—no,” Harry spluttered, “I was just wondering if I could watch the match tomorrow?”

“Absolutely not!”

“But Madam, Harry will just be standing with us on the stands or we’ll carry him if we must. Oh, please let him come with us!” Pansy pleaded and Harry just sat there watching and exchanging amused glances with Draco as Pansy wormed her way into Madam Pomfrey’s good graces and then surprisingly, granted him permission with strict instructions to return to the Hospital Wing for her to check on him. Harry couldn’t help but grin.

It was rather exhilarating, the fresh winds on his face as he stood there in the middle of the Slytherin stands with all the students yelling and hooting as the final Quidditch match starts. Hermione was at his side, clinging to his arm as Pansy waved a banner with Blaise on the other, they all were cheering for the Slytherin team. Watching Draco play was a fun thrill as well and the applause was deafening when the game ended with Slytherin winning the Quidditch finals.

Harry didn’t get to celebrate with them though, as Madam Pomfrey cornered him the instant, he was within the vicinity of the Hospital Wing and dragged him off, shooing the rest of them much to Hermione’s frustration. Harry didn’t really mind, he just sat there on the bed waiting for Madam Pomfrey to finish doing her business, he saw Draco by the door and the blonde settled himself to wait for him. Hagrid then came, tears on his giant form, apologising profusely and blaming himself on how could he blabber so much about Fluffy. Harry reassured him then and a few tears strayed from Hagrid before he was holding out once more, the photograph album that he had owled from the many people just to gather the sparse photos of his parents.

Harry hugged the album close and he continued to grip it tight once he was freed from the Hospital Wing and all the way to the dungeons.  

It was a welcoming scene when he climbed on his own bed in their dormitory that night. Harry tucked himself and settled as he gazed down at the pages of the album. He saw Draco padding through the floor and hesitantly stood beside his bed, Harry made a questioning sound but the boy only shifted restlessly. “Um…” he tried but then sighed deep, before gesturing to his bed asking permission to sit. Harry just patted the mattress in front of him and Draco slumped down. “I… well, do you remember what happened down there? At the last room?”

Harry stared at him for a moment, before he turned to look at his hands. Stretching and flexing his fingers before clenching them into fists. “I was so angry then…” he murmured and Draco sat more upright at this. Harry loosened his fists and looked at him. “I didn’t know what I was doing, or…maybe I did? I don’t know… I just wanted everything to stop at that moment and then I just lost it,” he admitted and he brought his knees up and wrapped his arms around them. “Does that make me an evil person?”

Draco didn’t answer for a while and when he did there was something clear and honest in his voice. “You’re the least evil person that I’ve ever known, Harry,” he murmured and when Harry looked up at him, there was a small smirk on his lips, “and you have every right to be angry, you know.”

Harry let out a laugh and gripped his legs tighter, “A privilege of the saviour of the Wizarding world?”

“A privilege of any human being, you prat,” Draco drawled and Harry laughed genuinely this time. He settled his head on his knees and spied the album on his bed.

He took it then and spread it out between them, “Here, that’s my mum and dad,” Harry started as he opened the album to a photo if his parents smiling and twirling together. Draco hesitantly inched closer and inspected the photo, “James and Lily Potter. I believe Snape went to Hogwarts together with them,”  

Harry gladly took his free pass for the following day and with one last trip to Madam Pomfrey—seriously, she insisted— he was smiling slightly as he walked down to the Great Hall, he saw Draco waiting for him at the entrance and quickly trotted his way to him and then they entered the hall for the feast. The noise had dwindled down some once they made their appearance, students throwing glances at them but not long and Harry was glad when they turned their heads away and continued on with their business, he could see a few people blatantly gesturing at them and he ignored them for the most part. “You’d think they’ve grown tired of just gawking whenever you walk by,” Draco muttered as they took a seat and Harry only shrugged before he grinned as Blaise and Theo slid over to them, followed by Vince and Greg who was eyeing the plates excitedly.  

There was a little squeal behind them and Harry swivelled to find Pansy giving Hermione a quick hug before going her way to them and nudging Draco to give her room. Hermione saw them then and she waved enthusiastically before sitting beside Ron. Ron seemed to splutter for a moment but Harry saw him sigh just a little bit and then Ron was waving his hand at him in greeting. Harry grinned bright at them and waved back and nudged Draco when he saw Hermione gesture to the boy. Draco twisted around and rolled his eyes; he took his goblet then and raised it in a mock toast and he saw Hermione laugh with a confused looking Ron.

It was then that Dumbledore arrived and began his speech and Harry shared a knowing look with Draco when the headmaster brought the subject of the house cup. Everyone listened then intently, “— in regard of the recent affairs, I believe some last-minute house points is in need of dishing out,” Dumbledore said beatifically and people were now murmuring in earnest as the student body dropped all pretence and turned their heads at the Slytherin table. “To Mr. Draco Malfoy…”

Draco startled at that and he threw a look at Harry with wide eyes.

“—for the most outstanding play in the game of Wizard’s chess, I award Slytherin house—fifty points.”

There was loud applause as the Slytherin table cheered and he saw Draco push Pansy away when she started to shake him excitedly. “Best play I have ever witnessed in years!” that was McGonagall who spoke when the noise dwindled down and Harry had to grin when Draco ducked his head in embarrassment.

“Next— to Mr. Harry Potter…” Dumbledore tilted his head at him in greeting and Harry only nodded a little. Harry’s eyes then strayed to Snape, who was watching the display with interest, the silence that followed was a little bit annoying and Harry just about rolled his eyes. “For pure bravery and unrelenting grit, I gladly award Slytherin house—sixty points.”   

It was noise and feet stomping as the Slytherins cheered some more and Harry bemusedly saw that some of them were banging their goblets on the table.

“And it is also a great pleasure of mine to mention Miss Hermione Granger…” Harry had to smile wide when he heard a little shriek and when he turned, Hermione was grabbing Ron’s sleeve. “For unyielding determination and facing the surprising bouts that was laid before her, I award Gryffindor house—fifty points.”

The Gryffindors were applauding and Hermione was blushing and smiling big as she beamed at them from across the hall.

“Furthermore— I believe it is a great feat to stand up to your friends even more so than your enemies, to Mr. Ronald Weasley and Mr. Neville Longbottom, I award each of them—five points.”

It was hilarious to see Ron and Neville splutter and exchange flustered looks as the Gryffindors patted their backs in turn. It was then that some of the students were trading baffled looks and he could see that they were mentally tallying the points as the house cup went on. “Wait! We’re still on the lead, right?” Blaise exclaimed as he frowned and then the Slytherins were roaring loud once they were announced the winner of the inter house competition.

It was when the Slytherins were in the middle of celebrating that Harry saw McGonagall stride up to Snape and shook his hand firmly and Harry couldn’t help but smirk as Snape tried to appear nonchalant but the faint smile on his face had betrayed him. The feast was delicious as it always was and Harry couldn’t help but happily eat and forget the madness that the year had thrown at him and while Draco snuck a glance at him, Harry offered him a big genuine smile in turn. It was a wondrous feeling when the boy grinned and Harry thought, that yes, this was indeed wonderful.

The trip back to King’s Cross was filled with loud chatter between the students and Harry was amused to find Hermione and Pansy exchanging notes on their exam results even when the others seemed completely fine with just forgetting their exams. Harry was a little bit surprised that his grades were honestly decent and he reminded himself to send an extra nice gift to Hermione and maybe Draco too.

The train then stopped, students bursting out from their compartments and squeezing their way along the barrier of platform 9 ¾ much to the dismay of the wizard guard who barked at them to come in pairs and—have you lot learned nothing? Two or three and no more or I’ll send you all packing straight back to Hogwarts!

Draco was with him as he waved goodbye to Pansy once they all crossed the barrier and Harry yelled out a goodbye to Blaise as he started running along with Theo, hauling their trunks up as they did so. “You have to find a way to send me owls in the summer,” Draco whispered to him as he kept an eye out for Narcissa, “honestly, why are you even going back to that house when they mistreat you so much?”

“It’s some sort of—protection? Or a blood ward of some sort, I’d explain really but it’s just that I really have nowhere to go,” Harry tried and his shoulders started to droop at the thought of going back to the Dursleys. Draco huffed out at this and the boy bit his lip as he tapped his foot on the ground, contemplating and in deep thought.

“The manor’s bedrooms are ridiculously empty. I’m sure mum will also be delighted if you’d come over. But I’m not too sure about father and considering the last time you were there, well…” Draco trailed off in thought but Harry stared at him.

“You’d do that?” Harry murmured and when Draco hummed in question, he continued, “you’d invite me to your manor for the summer?”

“Well…” Draco scrunched up his brows at this, “I know you won’t really be comfortable there—bloody hell I’m not, but if you really don’t have anywhere to stay, I’m sure it would at least be an alternative. And I don’t know if you could book your room again there at the Golden Mug— what?” Harry only shook his head as he slowly grinned at Draco and before the boy could say anything else, there was a little tap on his shoulder and the blonde spun in surprise to see Narcissa standing behind him.

“Had a nice trip back here, sweetheart?” Narcissa smiled when Draco spluttered and he hastily threw a glance at Harry.

“Mum! I mean— well, yes. Quite so, uh… this is Harry…” Draco said uncertainly and Harry jerked in surprise and looked up at Narcissa. She smiled warmly at him then and Harry couldn’t help but notice her similarities to her son.

“It’s finally nice to meet you properly Harry,” she held out her hand and Harry took it as she shook his and his hesitation vanished as he tried for a small smile only to have Narcissa grin at him.

“Pleasure to meet you ma’am. Thank you for the chocolates,” Harry said and Narcissa laughed at this as she let go.

“Oh, please. It’s Narcissa, any friends of Draco are entirely welcome in my family,” she said and Harry couldn’t help but think oddly at that, “are you still waiting for yours? Would you like for us to join you while you wait?”

“I—what…” Harry trailed off and he looked around at the station then. He saw Hermione wave at them and was gratified to see Draco waving back at her. Ron was there too with the other Weasleys and they all waved their goodbyes too among the chaos of the red-heads and then the station was slowly emptying out. But no sign of the Dursleys anywhere. “They’re not here…” Harry slowly said and he could see Draco frown as he too studied the people around them. Narcissa tilted her head at him, a slight downturn on her lips.

“Have they forgotten about the time?”

“I’m quite sure the imbeciles don’t intend to show up at all,” a smooth voice said and Harry was surprised when he spun around and saw Snape walking towards them. Harry had to blink, Snape’s robes were long gone, instead he was wearing a smart looking, dark grey dress shirt paired with a set of black trousers. It was so weird to see him dress in muggle clothing that Harry forced his jaw to snap shut when the professor approached them. “Just as well, idiot and unpleasant folks you see Narcissa and you needn’t worry. Potter,”

Harry startled, “Yes—uh, professor?”

Snape regarded him for a moment before gesturing to one of the benches, “Wait there for a moment now, I’ll be escorting you to that house in a moment and I’m sure Narcissa has some questions of her own.”

“I—what?” Harry gaped at this but Snape only gave him a withering look before he turned to Narcissa. Narcissa darted her eyes between him and Snape before she nodded slightly and she put a hand on Draco’s shoulder. She and Snape where now walking, busy talking in whispers as Harry continued to gape.

“That is…something, I suppose,” he heard Draco say and then he was stirring him to the benches and helping him with his trunk. Hedwig hooted at them once her cage was deposited on the bench as well.

“This is beyond bizarre,” Harry exclaimed and Draco only shrugged at him. They watched the adults talk for a while, who were also occasionally throwing subtle glances at them and Harry sat down on the bench as he mulled the sight in front of him.

Draco opted to stand though and he sighed before looking back at Harry. “I swear, I don’t care if I have to come to that house myself, you’re getting out of there. And I’m sending Atlas over, whose quite capable of handling mean little muggles I might add,” Draco crossed his arms and Harry laughed.

“Thank you, Draco. Really, thank you,” Harry said sincerely and Draco shifted on his feet as he avoided his eyes. They heard Narcissa call the boy over and Draco threw one more glance at him.

“I’ll write to you soon,” he said and then he was off to his mother and saw Snape whisper something to him. Harry sighed deep, he twiddled with his fingers for a bit as the Malfoys and Snape continued to talk. Harry then took out the album of his parents, he flipped through the pages idly and he smiled when he saw the photo of them dancing and twirling merrily.

There was shift in the corner of his eye and he saw Snape there, his eyes darted to the photo before looking away quickly. The potions master silently and discreetly casted a lightening charm on his trunk and Harry slid his eyes from the photo to Snape. “Sir?” he started just as Snape was contemplating the owl in her cage. “You— I mean, you knew my parents… didn’t you?” Snape froze for a moment and Harry thought he’d be ignored before he saw his dark eyes slip to the album again and to him. He nodded his head slowly and proceeded to fiddle with his trunk. “Will you…” Harry hesitated, “will you tell me about… about my mum?” Harry wagered his words and gambled with the knowledge that Snape had—has— a much deeper understanding for Lily Potter, that they knew each other since they were children, that Snape’s feelings for that girl with the red hair was vivid and unadulterated as it could be.

Harry didn’t know why, for all of Sirius’ and Remus’ stories about his father, he hadn’t heard much of his mum other than that they had similar eyes. And Snape… well, his memories were the very first real thing, the very first real glimpse of a young witch that is Lily Evans.  

Snape was silent. He gently lifted the trunk on a trolley and put Hedwig on top of it. He gestured his head for Harry to follow and Harry bit his lip as he clutched the album close to his chest. Outside the station, Snape flagged down a taxi and was still quiet even when his trunk was loaded and Hedwig was safely placed on a seat beside a puzzled looking cabbie. They both slid wordlessly inside, and Snape rattled off the address and then they were driving away from King’s Cross station.

Harry merely sighed as they settled, he opened the album once more and flipped through. There was movement a few minutes later and Harry glanced up and saw Snape tuck his wand away. Harry frowned at that but his eyes slid back to the album as he turned the page.

“Charms was her favourite subject,” Snape suddenly said, voice soft and Harry whipped his head up to see Snape had a faraway look in his eyes as they were staring at the album on his hand. Harry’s eyes darted to the album then and saw that he had stopped at a photo where Lily was grinning wildly before twirling as she showed off some elegant looking robes before stumbling and laughing. “She was insufferable when it comes to theories and History but surprisingly adept at Defence Against the Dark Arts.”

And Harry could only smile slowly as he turned to listen to Snape. He held the photobook open and all the way as the road took them to Privet Drive.

“You let her copy your Potions essays?” Harry asked laughing slightly as they walked down the neighbourhood of Little Whinging. Harry had asked the driver to drop them off at a nearby street instead of the actual house, he was quite keen on hearing more of Snape’s stories. Harry wasn’t disappointed.  

“It’s not as much as letting her when she stole my homework in the pretence of ‘comparing’ them as she kept saying. And then she’d pretend there was nothing at all suspicious when she’d start grabbing a fresh piece of parchment and holing up in the library.” Harry grinned big as they turned the street and his smile didn’t falter even when they now stood in front of number 4 Privet Drive. Snape settled his trunk on the ground and Harry cooed at Hedwig for a moment as he stared at his owl. Lost in the memories and basking in the stories that Snape had told him.

“Professor Snape?” Harry said as he turned and tucked the album safely inside his trunk, Hedwig protesting as she was moved. The professor tilted his head in question and Harry smiled up to him. “Thank you for the broom.”

Snape looked at him before rolling his head up smoothly before drawing out his wand. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” and Harry grinned as he unlocked the—newly renovated—door and swung it harsh and loud opening to the shrieking of Aunt Petunia. He about saw his aunt drop a plate and Dudley and Uncle Vernon splutter out loudly as they all backed away when Snape strode inside. His wand drawn up, standing up to his full height and even in muggle clothing, he had no trouble in looking threatening. He advanced, steps slow and deliberate as he drawled lowly, “You will not speak until asked, you will only nod in agreement and you will follow and listen to every last bit of word I say.”

Harry could only watch and he smiled to himself as he turned to Hedwig’s cage, he cooed at her before opening it and he took her out before speaking, “I’d bet you’d love to fly now.” Hedwig then hooted at him and accepted a stroke on her head before she was stretching her wings and the she was gone in the dimming skies as she freely soared and flew away.

Harry only wished he could follow her, but he settled on his trunk and sighed deep as the summer winds blew over him and he let peace wash over him at the moment. And he let himself breathe.