Enemy Mine

Chapter 3: In My Enemy's House Part Two: To the Manor Borne.

'Oh, God.' Malfoy rolled his eyes as they entered Mrs. Figgs' the next day, and were met with a beaming Sirius, who rushed over to hug Harry. 'Fabulous, it's you.'

Ignoring the sarcastic drawl, Sirius drew his godson into the back living room where three caldrons were set up with magical flames crackling beneath them.

With a long-suffering sigh, Draco followed. 'I can't believe I'm about to be taught potions by this man,' he moaned petulantly under his breath.

'Yes, well...' Sirius glared at him briefly, having heard that last comment. 'There'll be no lesson with Remus today, as this potion takes several hours to brew, and you'll have to monitor it closely. If it's not done properly, it'll have the opposite effect to what we're brewing it for... what we're going to attempt is an age-old Auror trick - a shield potion.' Draco finally looked up at that, and Sirius bit back a smile. 'This potion acts much as your shield charm does, only in potion form, and will even protect you if you're separated from your wand. Plus, it has the added benefit of shielding you from most minor and moderate hexes - depending on how you brew it, and the dose you take - until it wears off, not just for the one hex.'

'Wow,' muttered Harry, looking over the array of ingredients spread around the caldrons. 'How long does it last?' Draco glanced inquisitively at Sirius as well, clearly intrigued by the potential for this potion.

'Well, again, it depends on your skills at brewing and the dosage... but anywhere from ten minutes to a few hours. For your first try, I should be very happy if you both manage the ten minute variety, but the longest one of my potions has managed to last at maximum dosage was just under four hours. How the variation?' he asked to the boys' curious looks. 'This isn't a straight-out potion like you'll have been taught so far in school... there are some potions that require incantations and charms at specific intervals. The power you put into those parts of the brewing process, and how perfectly you can inflect the speaking of the charm, will magnify the end result.'

Even though the potion they were working on was immensely complex, and they had to practice the incantations over and over so they could dip the ends of their wands into the simmering potion at exactly the right moment to actually cast them, learning potions from Sirius was... fun. There was no other word for it.

Sirius obviously loved brewing potions. He got positively giggly when both Harry and Draco'spotions turned bright green at precisely the time they were supposed to, and praised them both when they pronounced their incantations correctly.

When Snape had been teaching him - even when it was just the two of them here at Mrs. Figgs' and the professor wasn't going out of his way to be nasty - Harry always had the impression that the potions master was just waiting for him to do something wrong.

Madam Pomfrey was an altogether different case... she hovered over the boys, prompting them whether they needed it or not. It seemed as if she were just barely restraining herself from just shooing them out of the way so she could take over and make sure things were done properly.

But Sirius - he told them what needed to be done, and seemed to have every confidence that they'd do it right. His joy that every step worked properly wasn't even limited to his students' potions... he actually cheered when his own potion turned green right after Harry and Draco'shad.

Still, Harry was nervous when it came time to test their concoctions by drinking a dose (one goblet for Harry and Draco - the maximum for a juvenile, and two for Sirius - the maximum for an adult) and preparing to hex each other.

'Remember, if there was any mistake, at any point during the preparation, the opposite effect will take place and the hex will be much stronger than normal. Start with Impedimenta - if there's any problem, it'll only mean that you'll stop completely instead of just slowing down, and there's no chance of anyone getting hurt. Draco,' Sirius turned to Malfoy. 'You go first and hex Harry... be careful though, if the potion's worked, it'll rebound. Be ready to duck.'

Twenty minutes later, Sirius pulled Draco to his feet and brushed him off a bit. 'You're alright... I'm impressed. That's twice as long as I expected either of your shields to last.' He gave them both a wide smile. 'Now, it's your turn... I think Harry's might have a few more minutes yet - he got a slightly better roll of the 'r' in Protectivus when he said it. Well go on!'

Draco, who had been scowling at having overbalanced and fallen over when Harry's Impedimenta curse had been lifted by Sirius, now grinned as he levelled his wand on Harry. 'Impedimenta!' he bellowed - ineffectively, against Harry at least. The spell bounced off of him, ricocheted off of Sirius and hit Mrs. Figg dead on as she walked into the room with a tray of tea and biscuits.

Dracoand Harry gaped at her in horror and even Sirius looked a little pale as he rushed to her aid. Her eyes had fixed in surprise as she froze on the spot.

'Oops,' Sirius murmured with a guilty look. 'Sorry about that Arabella.' He took the tray from her hands and handed it to Harry, before telling them both to back up while he uttered the counter-curse. He caught the older woman quickly, before she fell on her face. 'Sorry,' he muttered again. 'Their potions are lasting longer than I expected!' Mrs. Figglooked at the two students with interest, as Sirius continued. 'Draco's just failed after nineteen minutes and Harry's is still going strong after twenty... Draco's curse bounced off him, then me and then hit you. You alright?'

'Of course I am,' she retorted indignantly, standing up and straightening her robes. 'Just put the tray down here Harry.' She indicated the table. 'It's time for a snack, and I have letters for you.'

'But Arabella!' Sirius couldn't hide his disappointment. 'His potion hasn't failed yet... we have to keep testing every minute until it does - and there's no use threatening me,' he added to her glare, 'because I took a dose as well. So you can't curse me for a while yet.'

'In between curses you can have some tea, and he can read his letters. What's your record again?' She smiled at Sirius as she poured out the tea.

'Three hours, fifty-six minutes,' he smirked accepting his tea. 'This won't last quite that long - I wasn't concentrating very hard on mine. Too busy making sure they got theirs right.'

Harry stopped listening as he opened a letter from Hermione. It contained what appeared to be a folded-up clipping from the Daily Prophet... apprehensive, he decided to read the letter first to see if it warned of whatever horrible thing the paper had printed about him now. Images of dreadful headlines had been dancing through his nightmares ever since the third task. Things like: Harry Potter Murdered Cedric Diggory... Harry Potter Mad... Sirius Black Captured... Dementors Kiss Performed... Dark Lord kills Weasley family....

Preparing himself for the worst then, he opened Hermione'sletter and read:

Dear Harry,

Just a quick note. I wasn't sure if your subscription

had startedyet or not, but I thought you should see

this. Please believe that more people support and believe

you and Dumbledorethan don't.

Be well, I'm so jealous of the extra lessons you're getting!

You're going to have a great head start on your O.W.L.'s

Love from,

Hermione

Now both confused and nervous, Harry picked up the clipping, but was stopped by Sirius' announcement that it was time to test his shield again. Dracosmiled evilly as he pointed his wand at Harry and uttered the curse... 'Twenty-one.' Harry couldn't help but smirk as the shield held, and Draco's grin faded into disappointment. 'We haven't tested yours for a few minutes Sirius.'

'Oooh!' Mrs. Figgsquealed. 'Let me - oh please, boys. Let me be the one to curse him... you have no idea,' she levelled her wand on him with a grin almost as wicked as Malfoy's, 'how much trouble he was! Harry, one of these days I'm going to tell you some of the things he did to try and drive me to an early grave that year that he lived with us - and the trouble he always got Remus into at school... Impedimenta!' She laughed when the hex bounced off of him. 'Well, I'm glad it was deflected - but you have can't imagine, Sirius, how gratifying it was for me to say it!'

While Sirius joined her laughter, pointing out the deep-seated psychological implications of her desire to hex him, Harry turned, smiling back to the discarded newspaper clipping.

We Love Harry Potter Too!

Now stop sending us Howlers!!

By Emma Beat

We haven't heard from Rita Skeeter in

ages, but fearing the complete destruction

ofour offices by the hundreds of Howlers

we'vebeen getting, we won't be printing

anymore of her articles against Harry

Potter.SO STOP SENDING US HOWLERS!

Furthermore, although we have a firm

policyagainst printing any form of retraction,

wehope that the following selections of our

readerscomments will stem the flow of cursed,

jinxed, poisoned, Howler, and other nasty

post. The Daily Prophet will never take any

politicalsides, but we would like to say that we

havenothing against Harry Potter - he seems

likea nice kid.

*****

"I don't care if he is a parselmouth - he could

have a pet Basilisk for all I care - it's thanks to

him we had nearly 14 years of peace. And now

that You-Know-Who is back (the Daily Prophet

does not confirm or deny the return of You-

Know-Who)anyone with half a brain knows

he's surely our only hope."

*****

"Not only is he totally snoggableand a complete

hotty - only the truly mental would think that he

was mental! That Rita Skeeter doesn't go to

school with him - we do. So you can tell her to

shove her quill...

(Harry's face was glowing scarlet as he read that this letter had been submitted by "A consortium of 3^rd-7^th form girls at Hogwarts.)

They were all like this, Harry noted, his blush deepening the more he read. Every nasty lie that Rita Skeeter had written about him was refuted - vehemently - by a great many witches and wizards (though more witches than wizards)...

'Good heavens Harry.' Sirius looked at him oddly. 'You could fry an egg on your face! What are you reading? Nothing - um - naughty I hope.' He grinned, reaching over and easily taking the clipping from Harry's numb fingers. 'Oh - My - God!'Sirius erupted into gales of laughter after reading the article. Mrs. Figg snatched the paper from Sirius as he literally clutched at his side... Harry's face burned hotter and hotter as he heard Sirius mutter between guffaws 'pet Basilisk... snoggable!!... complete hotty!!'

'Sirius!' Mrs. Figg admonished, but Harry noted that she was having to work very hard not to laugh as well... her mouth twitched, and her shoulders shook. Eventually, Dracohad got his hands on the article and soon all three were howling. Harry just hid his face in his hands praying for the earth to open up and swallow him whole.

'My godson,' Sirius said finally, coming over and enveloping Harry in a good natured hug. 'The ladies' man...' He grinned, but then he leaned in close and whispered in his ear for only Harry to hear: 'You'renot alone Son. More believe in you than in Fudge. Hold onto that.'

****************

Harry was the last one down to breakfast on Sunday.

Seeing Sirius the day before had been great. Much to his guardian's joy, Harry's shield potion had lasted nearly twenty-five minutes... and, when Fletch had demonstrated all of the various ways in which he could knock Harry on his bum - Sirius flinched every time, but still told him he was proud of how hard he was working.

Harry had now officially survived his first full week of having to share a room with Malfoy without major incident at home... oh, Malfoy had deliberately annoyed Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon a few times, and he seemed to take great pleasure in sending Dudley into screaming fits with his practiced Slytherin glares... but Harry'd managed to escape with little more than threats and a few good smacks.

All in all then, Harry was in a rather upbeat mood as he made his way into the kitchen... he should have known it was too good to last...

As he choked down his allotted breakfast - skimmed milk and corn flakes - while trying to ignore his cousin and Malfoy, Harry looked up just in time to see Dudley snatch up something from Malfoy's plate. 'NO!' he cried, recognizing what it was, but far too late... in one swift motion, Dudley had swallowed the Canary Cream whole.

The beefy boy began to gag and sputter almost instantly, but Harry didn't stay around to watch his doom unfold - in a panic he fled the room, and then, losing his head completely, he bolted up the stairs, Malfoyon his heels.

'Are you mad?!' he screamed as Malfoy staggered into their room, nearly convulsed with laughter. 'The wards ...'

'Oh, that doesn't count... it won't set them off. Passive magic.'Draco choked. 'Besides, it was hilarious! Biggest bird I've ever seen!' Oblivious to the shouts coming from downstairs, Dracolaughed harder, clutching at his side.

Harry, though, was completely colourless, and grabbing Malfoyby the shirt, he shoved him hard against the wardrobe. 'When he comes in here, get out.'

Taken aback by Potter's murderous expression, Draco stopped mid-chuckle and watched in slack-jawed surprise as Harry let go of him and dove under the bed.

The next second, the bedroom door burst open, and Vernon Dursleycharged into the room.

Dracowas suddenly struck by how very large this Muggle actually was... the mad glint in the man's eyes and many shades of rage discolouring his face made Dracosuddenly wonder if he weren't quite as dangerous - even without magic - as your average Death Eater.

'Where is he?!' demanded the mad Muggle. Finding himselfvoiceless, for the first time in his life, Draco just gaped. I'm actually afraid of a Muggle! he thought wildly. He didn't even resist as the enraged man shoved him hard away from the wardrobe to look inside.

'Malfoy!' Harry hissed angrily from under the bed. 'Get out!' The Muggleheard him, and, bellowing like a mad hippogriff, he lunged at the bed, pulling Harry roughly out from under it by his hair. Harry cried out involuntarily and his uncle hit him hard enough to send him flying back onto the mattress.

'Get out!' Harry and Dursley both shouted but Draco was frozen to the spot... paralysed by, he didn't know what... fear? Shock? Finally, the Mugglegrabbed his arm and shoved him from the room, yelling at him to go downstairs and leave his Dudley alone, before slamming the door in Draco'sface.

He tried to run away... to close his ears... to not hear the furious man hit Harry again and again and again on the other side of the door... to not listen to the grunts of pain and exertion ...

I hate Harry don't I? Dracoasked himself. Stupid Potter... has everything handed to him - even this, said a niggling voice in the back of his mind.

Was this pity? he wondered? Empathy?Dully, he wished he could at least close his mouth and removethe look of horror he knew must be on his face as he stared blankly at the closed door, hearing what was unmistakably a body thudding against the wall... But there was nothing he could do to stop it - even if you wanted to - sneered that comfortingly nasty voice in the back of his brain... but he was built just like Harry. A natural seeker: wiry, small, fast - but no match in a physical fight with a brute like this Muggle.

It would have been so easy with magic, but he couldn't - the wards ... Would it be worth setting off the wards and bringing Ministry witches and wizards to stop this? Surely this would be a reasonable exception to the underage rule - but then the Ministry would know that he was here... And not everyone at the Ministry was to be trusted ...

Dracowas still paralysed by his indecision when it was finally over... had it been seconds? Minutes? Hours? He wasn't sure...

He heard the fat Muggle speaking through the door: 'I don't care about your godfather, boy... if he even really exists. The next time you, or any other freak friend of yours, decides to pull something like that on my son, I'll kill you.' Stunned and afraid, Draco finally managed to unstickhis feet from the floor and he hurried across the hall into the bathroom, turning around in the doorway just in time to see the Mugglemarch out of Harry's room and send a hate-filled glare in his direction.

'Sorry,' Draco managed, pasting on a polite smile, hoping Dursley didn't realise that he'd been listening. 'Had to go to the loo... shall I go downstairs now?' He braced himself as the menacing figure advanced on him. Was he next? Maybe I should have run...

'You'd just better nose out of things that are none of your affair boy,' he snarled grabbing Draco's arm and propelling him across the hall to Harry's room. 'And stay the hell away from my son!'

Dracospotted Harry by the window as the Muggle shoved him in the room, then slammed and locked the door from the outside. The dark-haired boy was facing away, his stance stiff and unnatural.

'Harry?' Draco asked, his voice croaking slightly - he noticed suddenly how odd it sounded to hear his voice speak Potter's Christian name Harry? Had he ever called him that before?

Harry tensed, starting slightly before he slowly turned around. The vulnerable look disappeared instantly once he located the source of the voice, to be replaced by a glare. 'Piss off.'

'Well, I would... but the stupid Muggle seems to have locked the door.' Draco raised an eyebrow, trying to summon a smirk, but failing miserably. 'Are you alright?'

'Fine Malfoy.' Harry replied, sarcasm dripping from every syllable. 'Just peachy.' He winced suddenly, before turning back to the window.

'Yeah, right. You're just fine...'

Harry sighed after a moment. 'Under the bed...' His voice was unutterably weary. 'There's a loose floorboard...' Overcome with a fit of the shakes he slowly lowered himself to the floor with a groan, his eyes shut and his jaw tight.

Not knowing exactly why he was being nice to Harry Potter - The-Boy-He-Hated and had hated as long as he'd known him (longer actually) - Draco prised up the floorboard and saw instantly what Harry was after.

Wizard chocolate might taste exactly the same as Mugglechocolate, but unlike the Muggle variety, it had powerful healing and restorative properties. Harry struggled in vain with the packages before Draco took them from his trembling hands and opened them.

Four chocolate frogs later, Harry looked a little more coherent and he wasn't shaking nearly as much. 'Thanks,' he managed finally.

'Wow' smirked Malfoy, regaining a bit of his own equilibrium. 'That must have been really hard to say.'

Harry looked like he wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all as he attempted to pick up the remaining chocolates, but seemed to think better of it.

'What are you doing?'

'They can't see these ...' He winced as he tried to reach the discarded chocolate wrappers.

'Just leave it.' Draco snapped, and once again moved inexplicably to help The-Boy-He-Hated. 'I'll get them.' He cast a sidelong glance at Harry as he stashed the chocolate evidence back under the bed 'Are you going to get up? Or are you planning to stay there all day?'

'Eventually...' Harry muttered shifting his weight slowly.

Dracoinstantly recognized what he was doing... moving everything to assess the damage ... wincing when he found a badly-bruised muscle, grimacing as he moved a joint through the pain to make sure it wasn't broken ... How many times have I done that until Mum or one of the house elves came to heal me... 'Isn't anyone coming to heal you?'

This time Harry did laugh, and instantly seemed to regret it 'No.'

Dracoknew that Muggles didn't have house elves, for things like this, but if she could, his mother would always help him when his father was done. 'What about your aunt?' She didn't seem especially fond of her nephew, but surely, Draco thought, she'd come and clean him up? Check for damage?

'Don't be ridiculous.' Harry frowned as he struggled to stand up.

'How long are they going to leave that door locked?' It was all Dracocould do to stop himself from reaching out and steadying the other boy; instead, he let him alone, not sure why he felt compelled to allow him this small measure of dignity.

'All day,' Harry answered tonelessly as he made his careful way to his bed.

Damn it... Draco'semotions were perilously close to the surface right now, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep them in check. How the hell was he supposed to deal with this? He needed to get out of here, away from Potter, away from the reminders... Taking a couple of calming breaths, he squashed the panic, and affected his usual bored drawl. 'Oh, terrific. What am I supposed to do until supper then?'

'Breakfast - if we're lucky,' Harry corrected. Very carefully, he laiddown on his bed, turning his back to Draco. 'I don't care... do your homework, read a book, pick your nose ...'

'Breakfast?!' Oh Merlin, he was going to go into screaming hysterics by then...

'Malfoy -'

'Potter -' It came out harsher than Dracointended, and he saw Harry's back stiffen.

'If you ever tell a soul about any of this ...' The warning in Potter's voice was unmistakable.

'I know, I know.' Draco pushed a frustrated hand through his hair, letting his own anger take control. This he understood,this he could deal with. 'You'll hex me into a pile of slime on the train... blah, blah... I've got it Potter!'

'I'm serious Malfoy.' Harry's voice took on an almost desperate edge, laced with rage. 'You did this... you gave him that Canary Cream. That was completely insane. Deliberately annoying them is one thing... I do it too. It's fun to a point, but ...' He paused and sucked in a quivering breath. 'If one single person finds out about this ...'

'Fine, Potter,' Draco sneered. 'Your secret's safe with me.' If you only knew how good I am with secrets like this ... He didn't intend to say anything more, but curiosity got the better of him. 'I don't understand why you don't tell though...' His tone was mocking, ugly. 'Practically the whole wizarding world would be tripping over themselves to rescue you.'

'Like you said, you don't understand ...' Harry mumbled as he pulled his pillow over his head.

Dracowas pretty sure Harry was crying - he made no sound, didn't even move, but Draco knew from many silent tears shed himself that that was what he was doing ... Gripping the pillow tightly over his head ... his whole body tense ... laying very still to keep from feeling the bruises Draco knew must be forming ...

Overcome by a sickening sense of familiarity, Draco stifled the noise that threatened to burst from his throat as he backed against the wall... He is me he thought desperately I am him... A sudden wave of nausea threatened to overwhelm him and he slid quietly to the floor.

He sat there swallowing bile - he didn't know how long - watching the path of the sunlight from the window as it stretched across the room. His back was to the wall, his arms limp at his sides, legs spread recklessly in front of him...

I hate him - always have - he is against everything I stand for ... everything Father stands for ...

Images swirled in his mind, mixing, combining, getting confused ...

A large man, tall and thick, swinging a broomstick handle - grunting with the effort of hitting an underweight, not quite fifteen-year-old, small for his age, dark-haired boy ... the boy does not resist, he does not cry out - nothing - he did nothing - evincing only the barest occasional grunt as a particularly brutal swing hits its mark...

A large man, tall and thin, swinging an ornamental cane - grunting with the effort of beating a not quite fifteen-year-old, small for his age, blond-haired boy...

Had he and Harry both learned the same lessons? Make no noise ... do not resist ... the more you remind him that you feel anything, the more he'll make you feel it ...

Above all, never let him see you cry. Pillows were for more than resting your head on. They were for covering your tears, for muffling your screams as you lay alone ... in pain. They were for tearing to shreds when you couldn't take one more minute .....

Worthless Freak!! The Mugglehad screamed as he'd flung his nephew across the room ... for something he hadn't even done...

Worthless excuse for a wizard!Lucius had snarled, time and again, raising that cane...

I am him - he is me ... he repeated to himself. We're total opposites - how can I be so like someone I hate?

NO! He thought vehemently, giving himself a mental shake. We are not alike - Dark and Light - Light and Dark ...

'Ah...' He noticed the travelling sunlight reflect one round lens some time later. 'That's where his glasses went.'

Finding, with only slight surprise that he could, in fact, still command his arms and legs to do his bidding, he crawled quietly to where the glasses lay in two neat pieces against the opposite wall.

**********

'Bugger!' Draco cursed quietly for about the 15^th time. 'Dammit - how are you supposed to ...?' He tried in vain to shake off the Sellotape which had somehow wrapped itself around his fingers instead of the glasses frame.

About half an hour ago now, when he'd finally come out of his little stupor and found Harry's glasses, he had been compelled by some unknown impulse to mend them as their owner slept.

It's not because I feel bad, he tried to convince himself. It's not my fault that Muggleis a raging lunatic - but you did set him off - shut-up you! he told the unwelcome - and unprecedented voice in his mind.

You knew he'd take it out on Harry - not like that - doesn't matter - didn't I tell you to shut-up ... This bizarre inner dialogue continued for some time, even after he'd finally managed to successfully reconnect the two halves of Harry's glasses and place them quietly on the nightstand... to distract himself, he turned to his homework for Lupin:

'You're lost and alone. There is no one you can ask for help.

Name three things you can do with magic to find your way to help.

What if you don't have your wand?

Name three things you can do without magic to find your way to help.'

'Urg... this is worse than my tutors...' Draco grumbled softly.

'Point-Me.' He jumped at the sound of Harry's voice.

'What?!' he snapped, annoyed that the other boy had overheard.

Harry examined the repair job on his glasses, shrugged and put them on. 'Point-Me - the Four Point spell. You hold your wand flat in your hand and say 'Point-Me' and it'll point to North - you know,' he almost smiled as he slowly stood up. 'If you're lost...'

*************

'Urg...' groaned Remus Lupin upon entering his kitchen and spotting Sirius sitting, chuckling to himself at the scrubbed wooden table. Since returning to his friend's home the day before, Sirius had been in a constant if slightly annoying state of joy. 'Did you even sleep?'

'A little.' Sirius beamed. 'It's just...'

'I know, I know...' Remus smiled in spite of himself. 'You got to spend time with Harry yesterday.'

'Yeah...' He grinned stupidly, unable to stop himself. 'It's just... He's such a great kid! And smart Remus!'

'I know - thank God, he took after Lily...'

'It felt so good to spend some real time with him when I wasn't all ragged and filthy...' He faltered,his expression darkening as he recalled the few times he and his godson had been face to face since he'd escaped from Azkaban.

'I'm sure he enjoyed it too,' Remus cut into his thoughts, 'even with Dracothere.'

'I feel like less of a failure - seeing how well he's turned out, you know?' He smiled yet again - he couldn't help himself, James' son just had that effect on him. 'He's just perfect...'

'I wouldn't go that far!' Remus snorted, then smiled placatingly at his friend's glare. 'He is a great kid.' He added seriously. 'Curious, smart, brave, polite... but perfect?' He sighed, sitting down and reaching for the sugar for his tea. 'Don't put that kind of pressure on him. He does,' he chuckled, looking back at Sirius, 'have a certain inherited, shall we say - propensity - to rule breaking... Regardless of the possible consequences...'

'You think?' asked Sirius, seriously. 'I thought he seemed a bit more cautious than we were...'

'Oh, he is,' Remusassured him. 'Not much choice, really, with how closely he's watched. But do you realize that he somehow managed to get his hands on the Marauders Map - and use it to sneak out of the castle when he thought you were trying to kill him?'

'He didn't!' Sirius blanched. Even knowing that he had never been a threat to Harry, there were many out there who were, and who would take any opportunity to harm him.

'Actually.' Remus sighed, sipping his tea. 'The things he usually does against the rules tend to be even more dangerous than the rubbish we got up to at school, and usually, his motives for breaking a rule are considerably better than ours ever were...' Remus smiled, remembering some of the pranks they pulled. 'He actually goes out of his way to avoid mischief... for the most part, his rule breaking tends to end up leading directly to him saving the world... saving a life...'

Sirius nodded soberly for a minute before a grin forced its way onto his face. 'How'd he get the map off of Filch?'

Remus laughed heartily at the mischievous glint in his friends' eyes. 'No idea. I didn't ask - I was too busy yelling at him and trying to get my heart started again to think about that! It was Snape,' he said, to Sirius' curious look. 'He caught him just after he'd snuck back into the castle. He knew he'd been to Hogsmeade, but he couldn't prove it of course... He - ah - found it on Harry...'

'Oh...' Sirius grimaced. 'Did he figure out how to...'

'No! Thank-God,' Remuslaughed again. 'Harry'd wiped the map before Snape found it. But Snape had obviously tried to force it to reveal what it was...'

'Ahh...'

'And you remember what it does when someone tries to force it without trying to do mischief?'

Sirius snorted, his shoulders shaking. 'Ooh, I love it!'

'Well,' continued Remus, ignoring Sirius. 'He called me to his office to consult on finding an object 'so obviously full of dark magic'' He affected Snapes' disdainful tone.

'Ahh...' Sirius repeated, smirking. 'Did a bit of fast thinking, did you?'

'Told him I didn't think it was dark - just a joke parchment that insults anyone who reads it.'

'Let me guess, he didn't buy it. He always was a suspicious son-of-a...' he began when Remussnorted.

'He asked if I didn't think Harry'd got it directly from the manufacturers. It's not funny!' he cried when Sirius burst out laughing. 'I about had heart failure when he said that!'

'Do you think he suspected?'

'Oh, I've no doubt that he did - when we were in school too. Everyone knew it was us - or you at least.' He glared at Sirius' continued chuckles. 'It's just, no one could ever prove it.'

'You didn't do anything foolish like confess, did you?'

'No, I managed to cover it,' he sighed. 'Then I got Harry out of there, hollered at him and confiscated the damn thing... The second I got back to my rooms I had several very strong drinks... IT'S NOT FUNNY!!' he hollered at Sirius, but it was no good. His friend was rolling on the floor, laughing.

It took several minutes of Remus hurling tea-cakes at him before Sirius composed himself enough to ask where the map was now. Remus' face turned scarlet and he hastily turned to the sink to wash his breakfast dishes, mumbling something under his breath.

'Remus...?'

'I gave it back to him, when I left the school,' he said, sounding guilty. 'I shouldn't have, but I was overcome with a fit of stupid I guess...'

'I think he's the best person to have it. Could you imagine if it fell into the wrong hands?' Sirius sighed, wiping the last of the laughter induced tears from his eyes. 'At least it's something he can have that's connected with all of us... wish we could erase Peter's contribution...'

'I practically dared him to use it to sneak out...' Remus berated himself, washing the dishes rather more forcefully than was necessary. 'Of all the stupid... I'm as bad as I was when we were 16...'

'Remus...'

'No!' he cut him off firmly. 'You have to make him give it up. He can't sneak out now...'

'Like you said though, he is more cautious... but I'll talk to him,' Sirius added, as firmly. 'Oh, yes, believe me, before school starts back up, he, Dumbledore and I are going to have a nice long chat about security.'

******************

The next morning dawned as bright as any...

Draco had completely cleaned out Harry's handy food stash, much to Harry's annoyance. 'How are we going to replenish it?' he argued. 'Sirius knows how much there was - he bought it all for me. How am I supposed to explain to him how it's all gone already?'

'Try the truth,' said Draco, downing the last of the Every-Flavour-Beans. 'He seems like the type to like that kind of thing.'

'Piss-off, Malfoy.'

'Oh!' Dracogroaned, crossing his legs. 'Don't say that! I have to go! When are they letting us out?'

'Very soon,' said Harry, glancing at the clock as he hastily stashed several rolls of parchment and his wand in his baggy shirt. 'Get dressed. We'd better be ready when they open the door.'

Harry'd woken up from his little 'nap' the day before hearing Malfoymuttering about their homework. They'd ended up working on it together in an odd sort of polite civility. Not to be confused with anything friendly, of course... Their conversation had been minimal and almost business-like, but there had been an unusual lull in the number of insults passed back and forth.

Nothing happened... Harry had silently repeated, over and over, and sending an occasional glare in Malfoy'sdirection. That's right. Move along... nothing to see here...

'Will we get breakfast?' Malfoy's whining voice brought Harry back to the present. 'Or will those lousy Muggles...'

'Shhh!' Harry cut him off, hearing movement in the hall. Trust Malfoy to think with his stomach... 'Usually,' he whispered, watching the door as the locks clicked.

The instant the door was opened, Draco rushed forward, only to be impeded by the large form of Vernon Dursley. The mans' girth was enough to completely block the door frame and Harry was glad that Draco did not try and force his way past.

'From now on,' Dursleybegan pompously. 'You two will eat breakfast in the back garden,and your supper up here.' He glared at them, as if daring either boy to argue. 'You are both to stay away from Dudley. I don't even want you to be in the same room... Oh, just go!' he snapped at Draco who had been dancing on the spot. The instant the blond was past him, Vernon stepped into the room, towering over his nephew. 'As for you,' he snarled. 'You are perfectly fine to be doing whatever Mrs. Figg asks of you today. I don't want to hear about you making up any excuses. Understood?'

'Yes Uncle Vernon,' Harry said quickly, hoping his uncle found no reason to deny him breakfast (not to mention the fact that he was becoming increasingly aware that it had been nearly ten hours since he was last allowed to use the toilet as well).

'Good.' Vernon fixed Harry with a hard stare. 'A runty little thing like you shouldn't keep picking fights with kids who are so much bigger than you... Like Dudley and his friends...'

'Yes Uncle Vernon,' Harry sighed. He was saved from any more of his uncle's 'advice' when Dracoreappeared at the door, looking much more comfortable than he had done mere moments before.

'So,' Draco said casually, though Harry could detect a note of eagerness in his voice. 'Do we get breakfast then?'

'What was he on about?' asked Draco casually a few minutes later on the patio as he ravaged his meagre breakfast. 'Since when did you pick a fight with anyone?'

'Nose out Malfoy,' said Harry simply as he dug into his own meal.

'Humph,' he replied. Like I care anyway... They both ate in silence for a minute, Draco chewing thoughtfully before he spoke again, unable to stop himself from asking the question he knew the answer to already, even as he knew that Harry would never give that answer. 'Is that your cover story then? In case anyone sees...?'

'I said nose out!!' snapped Harry, rising quickly and heading inside with his breakfast bowl. Draco heard a muffled scream from inside, followed by a crash and several raised voices.

This is too weird, thought Draco. Why am I asking? Why the hell do I care?!

'You there!' Harry's aunt screeched, startling him, her freakishly long neck twisting around the half opened back door. 'Just leave your bowl out there and head around the side of the house to meet Harry out front. Well hurry up!' she snapped when he didn't move right away. 'She'll be here in a minute. And mind the flowers!'

These people are freaks!! Dracoobserved, abandoning his food. Are all Muggles like this? No wonder Father hates them... Draco cut off that thought even as it began to form. I refuse to think about him,or his plans for me. Please, Please! let whatever Mum and Dumbledoreare doing work out. Don't let him find out and force me to join...

Mrs Figg was already waiting for them when Draco emerged from the side of the house a moment later. She was telling Harry to hurry up, that she was in a rush this morning. 'Are we doing something different today?' Draco asked as he jogged up to the car.

'Draco?' she asked sounding - and looking - shocked. Both Harry and Dracolooked at her apprehensively for a moment before she seemed to compose herself. 'Forgive me boys, old age catches up with me every once and a while and I get a little confused. I thought you weren't going to be here this morning for some reason Draco.' She smiled that insipid, sickly sweet smile that all old ladies are known for and again urged them to hurry into the car.

If only either of them had known Arabella Figg well enough to know that she was one old lady definitely not known for a sickly sweet smile. A wicked smirk, maybe. A deadly glare, certainly. But never, ever, had any expression that had ever crossed her face been described as insipid...

'Wait a minute,' said Harry a moment later, looking out the window as they turned left, instead of the usual right at the corner. 'Aren't we going to your place tod-' His question was never finished. Before either of the boys had fully registered that anything was wrong, all they knew was darkness...

*******************

I don't like it! he repeated to himself for the thousandth time as he reached the stone gargoyle outside the headmaster's office and barked the password. I don't like it!!

'Severus...?' Dumbledore began to ask as the younger wizard burst into his office.

'Something's up, ' hecut him off abruptly. 'I don't like it. When was the last time you checked on the boys?'

'Harry?' came a startled question from an armchair in front of the headmaster's desk. 'What's up?'

Severus had been so agitated that he hadn't noticed Black sitting there when he'd come in. The look of worry on the man's face could almost make him forgive the git for interrupting him - almost.

'When?!' he demanded again, turning back to Dumbledore and ignoring Black.

'Not since Saturday,' he replied carefully. 'But the wards...'

'We need to check - now!'

'Severus, please calm down. What has happened?'

With a visible effort, the potions master brought his agitated state under control.

'Lucius,' he muttered, through clenched teeth. 'I was talking to him just now through the Floo, and he said that he had found Narcissa- She's alive, for now,' he grumbled to the headmaster's worried expression. 'I trust she doesn't know where Draco is?'

Dumbledore shook his head. 'No, she asked me to keep his location secret from her as well. Just in case...' He sighed. 'Well, just in case this happened.'

'That's something, I guess.' Severus took a deep breath, trying, without success to allay his worry. 'But that's not all...' He suddenly noticed that he was wringing his hands and so, very deliberately pulled each hand out of sight into the folds of his robes. 'He said he was going to enact some new plan to make use of some very old information.'

'What...?'

'He wouldn't say what information!' Severus cried, uncharacteristically allowing a small amount of his agitation show. 'But Albus, he was practically dancing with excitement. And that, as you know, is a very bad sign.'

'Harry!' Black jumped out of his chair, advancing on an equally agitated Severus. 'If that overgrown Poof so much as...'

'Sirius!' Dumbledore's quiet power stopped both men before they could come to blows. 'We don't know it has anything to do with Harry. I want you to go back to Remus' place and wait for me to contact you. Sirius, now!' he ordered to stop any protest. 'It's too important. We'll check on both boys and I'll contact you as soon as we know. We cannot risk exposing you and having to divide our attentions if the boys need help. Go!'

Clearly wanting anything but to obey, Sirius growled loudly as he moved to the fire. Violently hurling the Floo powder in, he barked the incantation that allowed him access to his friend's house.

Severus had barely turned back to the headmaster when the flames rose again and Arabella Figg'stear-stained face appeared.

'Albus! They... they were gone! Both of them... Gone! My tyres... I was late... GONE!! Dear Merlin, they were gone!'

Bloody hell, bugger and damnation!! Severuscursed himself as he sank, weak-kneed into a chair. 'Bugger...' he swore quietly. If Lucius had them Potter was as good as in the Dark Lord's hands, and Draco... Though the Dark Lord didn't want him dead, he would mark him and make him a Death Eater... 'Bugger...'

**********************

They'd brought him in last night.

Pretending to be asleep, and hoping they'd forget about her, NarcissaMalfoy hadn't looked as they'd dragged him past her cell. They had ignored her, and she'd laid still, praying that it wasn't Draco- her boy, who she'd tried to save...

He hadn't struggled, and she'd suspected that he'd been either unconscious, or effectively so. The small moan of pain he made as his body had hit the ground of the cell next to hers had pierced her heart and she'd had to bite her lip hard, her fists clenched in the folds of her ragged robes to stop herself crying out.

This was a boy they'd brought in she'd thought - if there was one thing she knew, it was the sound of a boy - not quite a man, but not still a child - in pain.

The grunts and moans the boy had made as the men had kicked him had told her that he was not unconscious and her heart broke a hundred times, the shrapnel tearing at her soul, even as she'd known, from the sound of his pain, that this boy was not her son, her beautiful boy - Draco.

It had been Lucius who had stopped the abuse finally, 'Enough,' he'd said in that sneering voice of his that said he'd been enjoying the boys pain. 'Our Lord wants him intact.'

'She'd waited several minutes after they'd closed the massive stone door leading to the dungeons before stirring, wanting to be sure they'd really gone and weren't coming back. She'd crawled then as quickly as she could to the far side of her cell, to the bars separating her from the boy. She'd called out to him, first gently, and then in desperation 'Are you alright? - Who are you? - Do you know where my son is? - Tell me he's alright!'

But it'd been no use... Mercifully, for him, he'd lapsed into unconsciousness. She'd wept then for her son and this boy, and all the children. Children of Death Eaters - expected to follow in their parents footsteps, expected to bear pain willingly in service to darkness... and children of the enemies of that darkness, used as pawns and weapons against their parents by those who would support evil...

The moisture stained her face as she'd struggled in vain to reach the crumpled form of this boy; unconscious, his back to her, his hair, as dark as her Draco's was light, but still so like her son as he lay there.

******

She shuddered now as she watched him sitting on the floor of his cell, hugging his knees and rocking back and forth, eyes darting blindly all around. He was wearing muggleclothes but his shirt had been torn so badly that it'd been rendered effectively useless, hanging in tattered shreds about his shoulders, exposing his back to the cold dungeon.

What she saw there made her wish for the darkness that surrounded him, but her violet eyes could not avoid seeing the roadmap of abuse on the boys body. Only yesterday, she'd been glad to have her Veela mother's eyes - terrors of the dungeon being much easier to bear without the darkness too. Now though, she wished she couldn't see this boys suffering.

She'd been silent since she'd first awakened to see him sitting there rocking nervously. 'Harry?' she said softly now, trying to steady her voice - still the boy jumped.

'Who's there?!' he called, darting away from the sound.

'I'm in the cell next to you - I'm a prisoner as well...' She put as much soothing reassurance as she could manage into her voice. 'My name is Narcissa...'

'How do you know who I am?' he demanded suspiciously.

'Everyone knows what you look like Harry.' She almost smiled at his pained expression.

'Too dark to see what I look like in here,' he snorted.

'Too dark for you perhaps, but I can see quite well in the dark - do you not have any abilities that others lack?' she added to his sceptical look.

'If you can see in this pitch - how many fingers am I holding up?'

'Two - and that's not a very polite gesture Harry.' She smiled as he blushed, looking embarrassed.

'Sorry,' he said, sounding like he really meant it as he started crawling toward her. 'I didn't think you could really see me - warn me before I hit a wall will you?'

'Right there.' She stopped him about two feet from her. 'Now reach out and you'll feel the bars.'

'Narcissa...?' he said curiously as he gripped the bars. 'Are you Draco's mum?' Harry had heard Draco'smum introduced as Narcissa at the Quidditchworld cup last year and he didn't think it was that common a name.

'Yes!' Her heart leapt. 'Do you know my son? Is he safe?'

'Don't know,' he said flinching in pain as he shifted position. 'We were separated...'

'You're friends?' she asked hopefully - eager for any news of her boy.

'Huh, no.' He grimaced. 'Oh, sorry,' he added quickly. 'It's nothing against him - it's just ... well, we're pretty much dead opposite everything - but I do know him ... er, ah, he's really good at potions...'

'Then he wasn't taken with you?' She hardly dared to hope - she knew that her son could be difficult to like sometimes, his father had taught him that... but he was her son and she loved him no matter what...

'Yeah, he was with me,' Harry said softly. 'He was staying with me - did you know that?' He paused, thinking. 'We were on our way to Mrs. Figg's... but...' He closed his eyes straining to remember what had happened. It had been Monday morning, Mrs. Figg had picked them up as usual... he frowned. What had happened after they'd gotten in the car? 'It wasn't her,' he said slowly. 'Whoever it was - their face was melting ... and then...' He broke off,looking confused 'I was here... Oh, God! - Sirius! He's got to be going out of his head!' moaned Harry after a moment, curling up again and hugging his knees.

'Sirius Black?' Narcissa's voice was sharp.

'He's innocent,' he replied quickly. 'It wasn't him - Pettigrew- Peter Pettigrew was the one who set up my parents - and killed all those Muggles ... I'd'vethought you'd know that ...'

'My husband is a Death Eater Harry.' She said the word husband with disgust. 'Not me...' Harry made a quick apology, hugging his knees yet tighter. 'I was never able to believe that Sirius would've betrayed them - he and James were so close ...' she sighed. 'When I saw Peter recently, I figured out what must've happened.' If Harry could've seen her, he would have been surprised to see a terrible sadness in her overbright eyes.

'You know Sirius?' His head shot up, eyes searching uselessly. 'And my dad?' he added quieter.

'Knew them Harry - a long time ago - before you or Draco wereborn...' She broke off for a moment, the past threatening to overwhelm her before she could work up the courage to ask the next question. 'Do you know Remus as well?' she managed finally, in a very quiet voice.

'Professor Lupin? - Oh, God, he's going to be so worried too... all that stuff he taught me,' he moaned miserably. 'And when the time came ... ' He rested his forehead on his knees, utterly dejected.

'I imagine it happened very fast Harry...' she soothed. 'How is he? - Remus,' she asked quietly after a moments silence. 'You said he's a professor?'

'Yeah,' Harry replied, looking up, confused - hadn't she heard about Professor Lupin from Draco? He had a hard time believing that Draco hadn't bad-mouthed him at home after their third year ... 'Yeah, he was our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts third year - not sure what he did after that, but he's been giving me - and Draco - extra defence lessons at Mrs. Figg's this summer.'

Narcissalistened silently, glad Harry couldn't see that she was crying softly as she thought of what might have been.

'Mrs. Malfoy?' Harry asked, tearing her out of her reverie.

'Harry, we're both prisoners here,' she said quickly, not voicing her belief that they were both likely to be murdered very soon. 'I think you'd better call me Narcissa.'

'Er, alright,' he said nervously 'Um, why are you here? - I mean - your husband...'

'Is the reason I'm here Harry - this is the Malfoy estate dungeon. It is a very long story Harry,' she said to his shocked expression - I'll tell you about it if we live long enough she thought to herself.

'What happened-' Harry began, but hearing the sound of the key in the dungeon door, Narcissa quickly told him to move away and pretend to be unconscious.

'If they're here for me the may ignore you if you're quiet,' she said urgently.

They hadn't come for her though. The two men went straight for Harry's cell and, ignoring his feigned unconsciousness Lucius bent over him and muttered Enervate as the other man - who Narcissa recognized to be Pettigrew, bracketed the torch he'd been carrying.

'Get up boy!' Lucius snarled, dragging Harry to his feet and then knocked him down with the back of his hand - Harry didn't try and get back up.

'Pathetic child,' he sneered down on the small form. 'Our Lord is here for you Harry.' He punctuated the taunt with a kick that spun the boy around and forward onto his stomach. 'He is even now deciding how to kill you as slowly as possible...'

'That's good,' Harry grunted and tried to push himself up, hoping he sounded braver than he felt. 'The last several times he's tried to kill me quickly it didn't work out too well - and every time he tries to kill me and then fails, and I get away again - I have to answer the most unbelievably boring questions...'

He's mad!! thought Narcissa wildly as Lucius went to work with that horrid ornamental cane he carried with him everywhere - for this very purpose...

'Lucius!' cried the other Death Eater. 'He's needed alive...'

'Fine,' snarled Lucius, panting for breath. She didn't dare move to look, but from long experience she knew that Luciuswould be flushed, his blond hair wild from the exertion of administering the beating.

'Hurry-up and get the blood sample then,' Lucius snapped.

Peter Pettigrew scurried into the cell, his robes brushing the damp ground - Narcissa winced, hearing Harry cry out as Pettigrew reached him - no doubt collecting the blood sample Lucius had mentioned.

'Wormtail,' slurred Harry, his voice thick with pain and disgust. 'That's the last time you'll take my blood you snivelling bastard.' The swish of a booted foot flying through the air, and a grunt of pain told Narcissa that either Pettigrew or Lucius had kicked him.

- It started suddenly - the ground, shaking violently, and Narcissalooked up in spite of herself, holding the wall for support.

Luciusand Pettigrew were both trying to keep their footing - Pettigrew looked very scared - his eyes darting to the ceiling as if he expected it to cave in on him. Perhaps it would have, if the shaking had kept going - but as quickly as it had started, it was over and the two men quickly grabbed the torch and hurried out of the dungeon.

This time, she didn't hesitate, rushing to the bars that separated her from Harry.

**********

Draco Malfoy regained consciousness suddenly to a rumbling that shook the bed he found himself in. He lay quite still for some time trying to remember what had happened - how he had come to be wherever he was. He did not want to open his eyes until he'd worked it out a bit.

Potter. He'd been staying at that foul, small, little Muggle house - forced to share a room that was smaller than his closet with Potter. His bed had been uncomfortable, and stupid Potter had woken him up every night with his stupid nightmares.

The only fun had been antagonizing those ridiculous Muggles Potter lived with. It hadn't even been a challenge really - all it took was a look at Potter's fat cousin and he'd run screaming to his Mummy. At first he'd even enjoyed watching Harry get in trouble for everything he, Draco did. His aunt or uncle would smack Harry one and Draco would laugh! - Didn't Potty deserve it for all the times he'd one-upped him? Harry would always glare at him when the stupid Muggles would smack him for something Draco had done, and threaten him later with all the hexes he was going to use the minute they boarded the train to school.

Dracohad always ignored him, of course - it wasn't that he doubted that he could - he saw him in their extra lessons one-on-one and even he had to grudgingly admit the stupid git was good - but still, Draco knew he wouldn't do anything. On the train ride home last term was one thing, but Potter'd never risk the points to Griffindoron the way to school.

Still, Draco's deliberate annoyance of the Muggleshad lost its fun when he'd let Harry's enormous cousin have a Canary Cream.

It'd been hilarious at first - the huge boy had sputtered and acted as though he were about to die. But Harry - he'd run panicked up to his room before the fat boy had even transformed. Draco had followed, laughing before he'd moulted, but up in the room, Harry'dscreamed at him, his eyes wild with panic before diving under the bed...

When Potter's uncle had arrived carrying what looked to Dracolike a broomstick handle, his life fantasy number four, was blown to bits: Muggles really weren't so different from Wizards... That Muggle had displayed the same kind of expertise with stick and fist, as Draco's father often did with cane and wand...

Dracoscrewed his eyes shut tighter as he remembered Harry yelling at him to get out before it had started ... he couldn't move though - paralysed by fear and a sense of familiarity that had made him feel ill ...

They'd both been locked in the room afterwards and he'd spent some time staring blankly - in a bit of a stupor as Harry slept it off - thinking about how oddly like this fat Mugglehis father was, and how much his father would just love the comparison. He'd eventually come out of it, and even managed some semblance of normalcy by the time Harry woke up several hours later - pretending nothing had happened... nothing was wrong... Everything so sickeningly normal like nothing had happened... just like...

The day after that though, that's where things got a little hazy.

They'd been in Mrs. Figg's Mugglecar ... Harry was getting ready to lie to his favourite teacher about why he was so stiff and sore, when the old woman had suddenly let go of the wheel and turned on them. They'd both sat there shocked as she'd grabbed them ... and that was it - until he'd woken up here.

Where was here he wondered - though familiar smells and sounds seemed to answer for him - Home - Hell ...

What had it been about her face that had surprised them and caused them both to freeze? She'd been sickeningly cheerful when she'd picked them up - maybe a bit more rushed than usual - but when she'd turned around...

'Draco!' The commanding voice of his father had its usual effect and Draco sat bolt upright.

'It was a masking charm,' he said quietly as his father strode the length of the room. 'It wasn't Mrs. Figg - you used a masking charm.' Lucius Malfoy had reached the side of his bed and slapped him hard.

'Get up,' he snapped. 'Did I tell you to speak?'

'No, sir.' Draco answered quickly as he scrambled off the bed.

'Get dressed.' Draco hurried to obey. This can't be good he thought as he tried to keep up with his father's long strides leading him through the manor.

'Sit,' Lucius barked, indicating The Chair when they'd reached the armoury. Oh no, thought Draco sitting resignedly, not good at all...

*******

'Harry!' Narcissa cried desperately to the limp mass on the ground. 'Harry! Are you alright?'

'No, not really ...' he answered in a small voice. 'God I hate that man ...'

'Are you mad, talking to them like that?' she cried. 'What if they'd actually brought HIM down?'

'Voldemort's not here,' he said, wincing, as he laughed at their bluff. 'He's not even near here.'

'How do you know that?' she asked quickly.

'I just do.' He started to move slowly, groaning with the effort. 'I can feel it when he's near - trust me.'

'Harry, can you come closer? I can help you if you can get within reach.' She paused briefly as he struggled to move. 'Should I even ask how you can feel when he's near?'

'No,' he replied, trying to get up on all fours and failing. 'Oww,' he groaned. 'That's broken,' he muttered, trying again... this time staying off of his left arm. 'I just can - you'll know when I feel him get near - can we just leave it at that? Oww!' he winced as she examined his forearm.

'This'll hurt Harry,' she warned him. 'Mm-hm,' he grunted before she quickly set the bone. He hissed with pain, his body jerking slightly, but he made no other noise. Only her Veela sight allowed her to see how pale he was.

'Harry,' she said softly. 'What do you know about Veela?'

'They turn ugly when they're angry,' He laid down next to the bars, his eyes shut tight against the pain. 'And they make men do really stupid things...'

'Yes,' she smiled briefly - a fair assessment. 'That's true, but Veelasong may also be used to heal ...' She looked at him, his suffering breaking her heart. 'Harry, I am half Veela.' She waited for a response, but Harry gave none. 'If you let me...' she reached through the bars to brush his hair, matted with sweat and the dirt of the dungeon, off of his face. He jumped slightly at her touch and winced but then relaxed. 'I can lesson your pain Harry...'

'I didn't know that...' he murmured. 'Bet Hermione does though - about Veela song ...'

'Harry,' she said, trying not to cry. 'Please let me help you.'

'No,' he replied quietly. 'They'd know - they'd be angry if you...'

'Not necessarily.' So like my Draco Narcissa thought - no matter how much he was suffering, he thought first of protecting her.

'I'll leave the marks - just lessen the pain. They won't know, but you'll feel better. Please Harry...' She saw him open those huge green eyes of his, staring blindly up before closing them again and nodding slowly.

'Try and sit up - and take off your shirt. I need to touch your skin to make it work - the nearer your injuries the better.' She explained further, to his look of concern. 'Any singing will help, but if I'm going to heal the deeper injuries - and without healing the marks...'

Slowly he pushed himself up, struggling - his back to her to pull what was left of his shirt over his head.

'Harry, I need to warn you - even the healing variety of Veelasong can have a -strong effect - on unrelated men ...' He nodded and she could tell, even with his back to her, that he was blushing - he knew exactly what she meant ... 'It's nothing to be embarrassed about...'

He shivered as she laid her hands lightly on his back. He sat very still, his head resting on his knees as she began humming and singing softly. Harry didn't know how long she sang, he just knew that the sound was beautiful and that the pain in his body was getting lighter and lighter.

Narcissasang as her mother had taught her, her song telling the boy's body to heal, yet leave the marks caused by the damage to flesh and bone. Broken bones knitted, bruised tissue healed... Tears stained her face as she saw how many bruises there were. Oh, you poor child, she thought as she realised that many of the bruises were several days old, and so, caused by someone other than their captors.

'Oh, my God...' she mumbled, weeping when she'd finished and he fell over sideways into a restorative sleep. 'He's a resister...'

She slumped back in her own cell, glad that her human half, combined with the fact that he reminded her so strongly of her own son, made her able to overcome her Veela nature, having met a resister.

Other part-Veela could resist the call of their kind, but for someone without Veela blood to be able to resist was exceedingly rare - and so, madly desirable... There was nothing as attractive, to a Veela as a man who could resist her alluring power. Narcissa had only known one other in her life... she swallowed a sob as she thought about how she'd lost him, when Lucius...

'Poor, poor, Harry, once it gets out that you, of all people are a resister, on top of everything...' She looked at him sadly. 'You won't be safe from any Veela, or part-Veela women.' That is if by some miracle you survive another day...

She started digging at the stone wall - trying to get around the bars that separated him from her then. The trembling earlier had weakened the mortar somewhat and, having nothing else better to do, she thought she may as well try and be able to get to the boy in the other cell. 'I don't want him,' she told herself firmly. 'He may be a resister...' She took a deep breath, strengthening her resolve. 'But he's my son's age...' She kept digging, her fingers beginning to bleed. 'Remus' pupil...' She picked up a piece of stone that had fallen, using it to chip further at the wall. 'James and Lily's son... Sirius' godson...' She took another deep, steadying breath. 'Harry,' she said to the sleeping boy. 'From here on out, you shall be a son to me.' The small *content* sounding noise he made to this proclamation went straight to her mothers' heart.

She started singing again then - a song of hope... of strength and healing... not just for the son before her on the ground, but for her son Draco... They'd been together when Harry'd been taken and brought here. That meant that her Draco would've been taken as well and if, as she knew he must be, he was with his father - here in the manor somewhere, he would need her song just as much. She toned her song carefully - so soft and low that it could pass through stone and to the ears of those who needed to hear it - and only to them. She whispered her song only for her sons - her boys... both made strong by too-early suffering, but both still not yet men... Her baby boy, blond and beautiful - so like his father, though in appearance only... and her new surrogate son, marked forever both physically and spiritually by the betrayal and tragedy that had taken his own parents from him far too early....

************

Draco regained consciousness far more slowly this time. He was lying face down on the floor of the armoury - he had been in The Chair for what had seemed like days, though in reality, it'd probably been no more than an hour - enduring his father's barrage of questions, suffering the consequences of the answers Lucius had deemed unacceptable...

'You must be properly punished, dear son, and everything in place before I summon our Lord and Master,' Luciushad sad as he'd raised his cane, dragging Draco out of The Chair...

He didn't know what he was hearing at first, in his state of near unconsciousness, but gradually, he began to recognize the Whisper of Angels that was his mother's voice, singing to him... 'Mum?' he croaked, opening his eyes. It wasn't his mother he saw though, it was his father, pointing his wand at him and uttering the spells that picked him up physically and sent him flying through the manor into his room. He heard the door close tight and felt himself being tied magically to the bed before drifting into the restful slumber induced by his mother's song. His last thought before losing consciousness though was one of joy - his mother was still alive!!

*****************

'What's he doing in there?' Arabella asked as she stepped out of the fire, cringing at the sounds of destruction coming from the next room.

'Trying to punch his way through the wall I think,' Remusgrimaced. 'He never was the patient type - and when it comes to Harry in danger... Where's Dumbledore? I thought he was coming with you?'

'He'll be along shortly... This has got to stop,' she said finally, heading for the other room. 'Sirius!' Remusheard her say sharply, closing the door behind her. Very quickly, the sound of crunching plaster stopped, Remus moved closer to the door to listen but was distracted by Dumbledore aparatingbeside him.

'Is everyone here?' he asked.

' 'Bella's in with Sirius.' He indicated the door through which she'd gone.

'Ah,' said Dumbledore knowingly. 'Not taking this well I imagine...'

'No,' he replied shortly. 'Did you expect that he would? ... I'm sorry,' he sighed. 'I didn't mean to snap...'

'Quite understandable,' Dumbledore waved off his apology. 'I need to ask you to do something for me Remus.'

'Of course...'

'Severus can help us, but he cannot get through your wards...' The wards on this house had been set up when Remushad been a child and lived here with his aunt and uncle, 'Bella and Matt. They allowed entry to only a few people, by apparition or Floo. Dumbledore knew this, and that alterations to those wards were time consuming - he also knew that there were certain ways to get around them...

'I don't have time to alter the wards to admit him,' Remussaid slowly, getting the gist of what Dumbledorewanted him to do. 'If he'll let me, I can Apparate him through...' Though it was possible for some, more powerful wizards to Apparate both themselves and another, it had to be done carefully - it wasn't exactly illegal, but it was very much frowned upon.

Dumbledore merely nodded. 'Tell him as much, and that I asked for him here - he's in Hogsmeade, just outside the Three Broomsticks.' With a quick nod and a pop, Remus vanished. A minute later, he reappeared, holding Severus Snapes' forearm. Snape pulled out of his grip very quickly, looking distinctly surly.

'Remus Jupiter Lupin!!' Arabella'svoice made him jump quiltily. 'Did you just Aparate him here?!' Remus looked imploringly at Dumbledore.

'I asked him to Arabella,' he replied quickly. 'We need Severus' help and there's no time to alter the wards.'

'Oh.' A blush crept over her face. 'Of course - sorry,' she added to Remus, who smiled at her before she changed the subject. 'Remus, will you tell him to let me fix him up?' She indicated Sirius' hands, broken and bleeding from trying to punch through the wall.

'Sirius,' he said shortly. 'You're useless to anyone like that - trust me, she has a lot of experience mending cuts and broken bones.'

Grumbling, and scowling openly at Snape, Sirius held out his hands. 'How did this happen?' he growled at no one in particular as Arabella healed his hands with a few quick charms. 'First he's taken from Hogwarts where he's supposed to be safe - and now from the Muggles - where I thought there were so many wards and safeguards... How did this happen?' he repeated, desperation in his voice as he looked miserably at his repaired hands.

'My car had its' two passenger side tyres punctured, so I was delayed in picking them up,' said Arabella matter-of-factly. 'We found an identical car abandoned near Privet drive.' She sighed, looking Sirius in the eyes. 'It would seem that they were tricked into willingly entering the car, and attacked after they left the Dursleys.'

'But, how did they...?'

'Arrows were used to puncture my tyres - I've no idea how they got the identical car, or how they convinced the boys that they were being picked up by me.'

'It was Malfoy Senior?' he demanded.

'There's no way to know for certain,' said Dumbledore. 'Though,' he admitted, 'it would seem likely...'

'You had to hide the Malfoy boy there.' Sirius was scowling angrily at Dumbledore. 'It's not like Harry wasn't already enough of a target - you had to hide Malfoy'sson with him... we may as well have painted a giant red bullseye on Harry's back...'

'Sirius...' began Remus, but his friend cut him off.

'No Remus!!' he snarled. 'I'm sick of it...'

'Perhaps we'd be better served trying to find them instead of trying to lay blame.' Snapebroke in with his usual oily voice.

'He's right,' said Remusgrabbing Sirius by the back of his robes to keep him from lunging after Snape.

'Fine!' Sirius shrugged out of his friend's grasp. 'Can you get us into Malfoy's estate?'

'No,' growled Snape in return, equally as angry.

'I thought you were supposed to be our inside man - Lucius' big pal...'

'Look Black - you could search for a hundred years and not find Malfoy Manor - it's as warded as this place, maybe more. You could not get in - and if you tried to force your way through by Floo, or apparition, the wards would scatter you body parts over the entire country.' Snape said this last part with a vicious sneer on his face. 'And as amusing as that might be, it would hardly help Draco, or Potter.'

'Enough of this!' snapped Dumbledore, his eyes flashing as Sirius moved furiously to reply. 'Severus, would you be willing to contact Lucius? Tell him that you've heard that both boys are missing - ask if he's got them?' Snape nodded, still looking surly. 'You'll have to go back to Hogwarts - use a secure Floo connection...' The old wizard sighed, fixing Snape with a compassionate gaze. 'To the best of you knowledge Severus,' he asked seriously, 'have the Malfoy wards changed from what we've discussed already?'

'Not as far as I know - but that's no guarantee...'

'It'll have to do. Remus, will you Apparate Severusback to Hogsmeade? Stay with him and come back here with whatever you manage to find out. We'll work on getting past the wards from here.'

With a quick nod and the quickest glance at the scowling Sirius, Remus quickly grabbed Snapes arm and they both vanished with a *pop*.

***********

'Dumbledore said to stay with you.' Remus' usually calm voice betrayed his strain and annoyance.

'Look Jupiter,' Snape smirked and Remuswinced, actually surprised that it had taken so long for the potions master to make fun of his middle name - thanks a lot 'Bella he thought as Snape continued talking. 'We can't risk him suspecting that you're in the room - wait outside the door and listen if you must.' He waved impatiently. 'You will not jeopardize my life by exposing me as a spy.'

In the end of course, Remushad acquiesced - though he'd never admit it to Snape, he'd been right - they couldn't let Lucius suspect that he was there. Listening at the door, however, was a painful experience. Quite apart from the frequent vulgar and anti- anything and everything that wasn't pureblood comments throughout, Malfoy did have the boys... and his description of how Harry was being treated... Well, Remus was just glad that Sirius didn't hear it - he would have gone mad with rage...

'M.Q. tests?' Remus wondered out loud as he and Snape walked back out of the Hogwartsgounds so that they could Apparate back to the others.

'Magical Quotient,' snapped Snape icily. 'A blood test to gauge the magical potential of an individual - you aren't as smart as people think you are Lupin...'

'I know what it is!' Remussnapped back, uncharacteristically rising to Snape'sbait. 'I just don't know why Malfoyis M.Q.'ing Harry and Dracofor Voldemort... I'd also love to know why you didn't ask him... or do you already know?'

'We're past the wards.' Snapeturned to him, disgust on his face. 'You can Apparate us.'

Deciding for now to ignore the fact that Snape didn't answer his question - figuring he'd have to elaborate once they were back with Dumbledore, Remus decided first to address the look of disgust the potions master always wore when he spoke with him. 'I didn't know about it - I never would have allowed him to...'

'Spare me werewolf...'

But Remus had had his fill of Snape's insults. 'Look, Severus,' he fumed. 'You know what would have happened to you if you'd got through and I had...' he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 'Did you ever think of what would have happened to me? Do you know the penalty to a werewolf if he... Sirius was an ass - he didn't think out the consequences to either of us had you gotten through - and believe me he suffered plenty for it. Maybe not as much from Dumbledore as you would have liked, but believe me, his father more than made up for it...'

'I can't begin to tell you how little I care about any of this Remus,' snarled Snape. 'Let's just get this over with before I think too much about what I might catch by allowing a creature like you to Apparate me...' He didn't finish his insult. Remus grabbed him suddenly, rather more roughly than was necessary, and this time, doing none of the charms needed to alleviate the discomfort of being Apparated by someone else. He let go of him instantly on arriving in his living room, letting Snapefetch forward.

'You bastard,' breathed Snape, in obvious distress.

'Was that really necessary Remus?' scolded Arabella, rushing forward to help Snape. Severuslooked like he'd rather die than be helped by her as she assisted him into a chair, pulling out her wand, but he was in no position to refuse. He was pale, even for him and shivered under a cold sweat. Remus, for his part just sat sulkily in a chair on the opposite side of the room. Sirius met his eyes and gave the briefest hint of a smile before speaking.

'Well...?'

Remus nodded briefly. 'He has them both. They're both alive for now - Voldemort hasn't been called in yet - he's waiting on the results of M.Q. tests he's done on both of them.' At this, Sirius choked, paling visibly and glancing at Dumbledore nervously. 'Ah,' Remus continued, slightly annoyed. 'I see I'm the only one who doesn't know what that's about - Nevermind,' he said quickly, trying unsuccessfully to keep the irritation and hurt out of his voice as Sirius turned to him. 'Anything to add Severus?' he finished icily.

'Yeah,' he replied, a look of pure venom on his face. 'Jupiter, you forgot that he didn't want me to come because he's already got Pettigrewthere.' At the mention of Pettigrew's name, Sirius clenched his fists and leaned against the wall, clearly trying to control his anger.

'Remus,' he said finally in a quiet voice. 'It was decided at the highest levels that it had to be kept secret. Even as his godfather, I wouldn't have known except I happened to be there when the results came in.' Sirius sighed, finally meeting his friends eyes. 'We almost didn't read them - you know how James felt about being forced to have the test done... But then the doctor started owling and calling on the Floo, asking to consult about it... Remus,' his face was as serious as Remus had ever seen it. 'Harry's M.Q is off the scale - unmeasurable... it was so high - a result like his was previously thought to be only theoretical... Remus,' he nearly pleaded. 'I swear to you, the only reason I knew was because I was there and James wouldn't let them mess with my memory. Dumbledore was called in, in a professional capacity, to interpret the results. Arabella,' here he glanced at her questioningly. 'I'm guessing you were informed in your capacity as his chief watcher in the Muggle world?' she nodded. 'Pettigrew was probably off hanging out with his Death Eater buddies, and you were asleep - day after moon. What I don't know,' he turned snarling at Snape. 'Is how you came to know.'

'I'll bet if you think about it really hard, you might figure out who told the Death Eaters...' Snape sneered unpleasantly, waiting for Sirius to figure it out.

When he did, he looked like he'd been hit by a hundred bludgers. 'No,' he croaked. 'We stopped - we recovered the file before they...'

'Yes, but not before your father told Luciuswhat was in that file.'

Sirius let loose with such a stream of obscenities then that even for the varied experiences of those present, everyone heard a word or phrase that he or she had never heard or, even thought of before... When Sirius finally stopped, even Snapewas blushing slightly. 'If that was meant to embarrass me Snape-boy,' he snarled, his eyes sparking dangerously. 'It doesn't. Everyone here already knows about my father - but damn you to hell anyway.' Sirius then began pacing around the room for several minutes. No one dared to go near him, or even speak to interrupt him as he muttered further abuse under his breath, magic cackling around him as he paced.

'Blood!!' he shouted suddenly, causing everyone to jump. 'Honestly,' he fairly laughed at Dumbledore and Remusespecially. 'You two are supposed to be that smart... a blood charm! A bloody blood charm - to track him!' he fairly screamed now as Remusand Dumbledore caught on.

'The aunt, or cousin!' cried Remus. 'Come-on, let's go.' He reached for Snape to Apparate him out but the potions master recoiled, and Arabella actually slapped his hand away before telling a sheepish Remus that she'd Apparate Snape. In the blink of an eye, the four wizards, and one witch were running from Magnolia Crescent to #4 Privet drive.

************