The Road Home

Chap. 5 - AMBUSH

Slytherin's Quidditch practices always had roughness as a key word. This was a well-known fact around the school and most of the Slytherins felt very proud of it. Draco Malfoy used to be one of them, especially when he could associate roughness with knocking Potter off his broom. But that was the past, when Potter was still Potter and not Harry.

Words like roughness or physical power in the presence of his number one opponent had gained an entirely new and very distinctive meaning. For instance, he still wanted to knock Harry out of his broom. But his goal had changed. Instead of catching the Snitch, he wanted to catch something else. Someone that held his attention completely and unwaveringly in the vast field of blue sky. Someone with jet-black hair and green eyes.

Every time he saw Harry flying on his Firebolt through the air, Draco wanted to pull him off to the ground and kiss him brutally; relieving all the repressed desire he'd been feeling inside his soul. He lost count of how many nights he had woken up to take a cold shower after dreaming of Harry.

And there was the letter... He had opened up his heart to Harry as he never did to anyone before but Harry hadn't said a word about it yet.

"Hey, Malfoy! Stop dreaming and get your ass up here! No wonder Harry Potter always gets the damn Snitch." Blaise Zabini shouted.

Blaise Zabini, known as the new captain of the Slytherin Team or the total and utterly bastard captain of the Slytherin Team from Draco's point of view, had come back to Hogwarts with a new attitude this year. He was more confident and ruthless, like he owned everything and everyone around him. He particularly liked to boss around Draco. It was almost as if treating Malfoy like shit lifted him up to a higher level, closer to a god.

Draco wondered if Zabini could be Voldemort's Favored, as his father used to call the spy.

Every day Draco tried to discover who the spy was. He paid attention to every conversation in the Slytherin Common Room and observed every suspicious move made by his housemates.

The major problem was that a Slytherin by nature was already a potential suspect in every way. That made his job even more difficult. One thing he knew for sure; Blaise was on the top of his list. Blaise certainly had all the qualities to be 'The Favored'.

After a problematic Quidditch practice, Blaise let it out that he only kept Malfoy on the team at the request of Lucius Malfoy. Draco didn't even blink before punching Blaise right on the nose. That cost him another week of detention.

At least his detention was with Erin. He didn't know how she would take that information. After all, it was Friday night, and it was a common knowledge among the students and the professors that Erin was never at Hogwarts on Friday nights.

At dinner, he passed his eyes over the Gryffindor table, hoping to find Harry. His gray-blue eyes persisted on their task and were rewarded only few seconds later. Harry locked his seductive green eyes on his.

The world around them seemed to vanish and all that remained were two pairs of eyes lost in each other, hungrily exploring each other's existence.

The spell was broken by Pansy's annoying voice.

"Could we go to the Astronomy Tower tonight, sweetie? Drake? Are you listening to me? I asked if..."

"I heard you the first time, Pansy. And no, we can't go."

"Why not? Oh, right. You had detention tonight."

"Yeah. And every night after that."

"Well, we can go when you are free."

"No, we can't. Pansy..." he sighed. Her eyes were filled with hope. "Pansy, honey, I know you want us to be together but... I'm in love with someone else."

Silence descended on the Slytherin table all of a sudden. All the eyes turned to Draco. He cursed under his breath. 'Well done, Draco. That was bloody subtle. Oh, shit! Her eyes are filled with tears. Damn! What should I do now? And why should I care, anyway? I'm bloody Draco Malfoy. I don't owe explanations to anybody and I don't care about other people's feelings... Right? No, Draco boy, not any more. Damn you, Harry Potter!'

"Hey, Pansy, I could go with you." Goyle said with a poor puppy look on his big face.

"YOU??? Is this some kind of a joke?" she yelled and ran away from the Great Hall.

"Fuck." Draco muttered.

"You know, Draco, you should be nicer to her." Goyle said embarrassedly. "I mean, she seems to like you, and she is a sweet girl."

"If you like her so much, keep her to yourself. I'm not interested."

"And who are you interested in, Malfoy?" Blaise shouted from across the table.

Draco noticed, from the corner of his eyes, Harry observing the scene.

"It's none of your goddamn business, Zabini!"

"If you are so afraid to tell us then it's probably a Gryffindor. It's not very wise of you."

Draco's rage was increasing every minute. Before he could do something stupid like sending Blaise to the Hospital Wing with broken bones and getting yet another detention, he felt a light touch on the shoulder. Professor Snape was standing next to him, ready to take him to Erin's office.

"It's time for your detention, Mr. Malfoy." Snape said moving towards the door.

Draco stood up and they left the Great Hall.

"Don't let them get to you, Draco. You should always keep your head on your shoulders otherwise you will keep getting into trouble."

"I know, sir. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy. You should be serving detention with me but I am very busy tonight. Unfortunately, I'll have to leave you in Jones's hand."

"I like her, Professor." Draco confessed.

Snape stopped in front of her office and opened the door. "You are not the only one."

Draco was deeply shocked by Snape's affirmation. Did that mean he liked her too?

"Don't you ever knock?" Erin asked as they entered. "Ah, you brought me Mr. Malfoy. May I ask why?"

"He'll serve detention with you tonight."

"That was not what I meant. Why are you here, Professor Snape?"

"Oh, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to see the disappointed look in your face because you are not going out tonight."

"Sadistic bastard." Erin said, grinning at him. "You could have saved yourself the trouble. I'm not disappointed. In fact, I'm quite delighted with the idea of spending such a pleasant night in the company of Mr. Malfoy."

Amused, Draco sat on a chair and watched his teachers verbally attack each other.

"You are such a liar, Jones. I saw your face when McGonagall..."

"Oh, please! Do you think you know me that well!? That's nonsense."

"Nonsense? Are you sure? Anyway, that's not the only reason I'm here. I want back what you took away from my private store!"

"Oh. And what did I take?"

"What you steal, you mean. You took knotgrass, lechees, fluxweed, horn of a Bicorn, lacewing flies and skin of a Boomslang. Planning on transforming yourself into someone else?"

"Maybe. Mr. Malfoy, ten points for you if you tell me what these ingredients are for." Erin said with a mischievous smile.

"To make a Polyjuice Potion." Draco answered.

"That's right." Erin said.

"Well, he is my best student..." Snape boasted.

"I bet he is."

"No more bets, Jones. I want them back." Snape ordered.

"You'll have them. But only after you pay me what we bet."

Draco was totally bewildered. A bet? What was this all about?

"I told you I could do it!!! I told you I could sneak through your office right under your big nose. But you didn't believe me..." Erin bragged triumphantly.

"I had to admit I made a mistake. I should have known you were a perfect rule-breaker. Just look what you are doing to Potter."

At that name Draco raised from the chair. "What about Potter?"

Erin seemed to come to her senses when she realized Draco was there as well. "I'll tell you later, Mr. Malfoy. Now, Professor, if you could excuse me, just leave! Now! Oh, and don't forget to give me that jade talisman later on. After all, a bet is a bet."

"We'll see, Jones. Oh, and be ready for tomorrow's class. You realize you're going to have to duel with me."

"Oh, I'll be ready." she winked and he blushed.

Draco never saw professor Snape embarrassed. It was funny, but also very weird. By the way Snape was behaving, Draco could almost swear he was... infatuated. Oh, my! Snape was in love with Erin!? That would be gossip for more than a year if it turned out to be true.

After Snape left, Draco discharged a lot of question he was holding till that moment. "What are you doing with Potter, and what was that about a duel? And..."

"Calm down, Draco. I'll tell you everything you need to know."

"Great. But before you start, are you interested in Professor Snape?"

Erin's expression was solemn for a second. Then she smiled. "This I cannot tell you. All I can say is that you're a clever boy, Mr. Malfoy. Very clever, indeed."

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At breakfast, a big barn owl with brown marks just above the eyes, flew through one of the windows of the Great Hall and dropped a small envelope on top of Harry's forehead. He slit it open and read.

"Harry,

Meet me near Hagrid's cottage at midnight. Bring no one.

Something terrible has happened.

Sirius"

"What is it, Harry?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"It's from Snuffles." Harry passed the note to her.

"Gee, Harry! I don't want to sound suspicious but are you sure this is from Snuffles? I mean, he wouldn't risk your safety like this. Telling you to go out there all by yourself. And near the Dark Forest..."

"The handwriting is similar."

"Yeah, but still... What if it's a trap, Harry? I'm going with you."

"No, you're not. If this is not from Sirius, then someone else knows about his connection with me and I have to find out who it is. And I'm going there alone."

"But Harry... It's too dangerous."

"Don't worry. I'll go with my Invisibility Cloak. In the mean time, I'll write to Sirius and ask him what's going on."

"He will be furious with you when he hears about this."

"Well, wouldn't you be curious to know who this person is?"

"Of course I would, Harry. But you should tell a teacher about this. Maybe Erin. Didn't she ask you to report her anything out of the ordinary?"

"Yeah, but I doubt this person, who claims to be my godfather, will appear if someone else is there keeping me company. No, I have to go alone."

"Please be careful, Harry. If you are not back in half an hour, I'll call someone."

"Ok." Harry smiled at her.

"Where is Ron?" she asked, changing the subject.

"He's still sleeping. We tried to wake him, but..."

"I bet he got out last night. Again. Lately there seems to be only one thing on his mind." her voice sounded bitter. "Well, he'll be late for class. Our second class today is with Erin. She is starting the Duelling Club! I cannot wait to see her in action. They say she is the finest duelist of the decade, maybe of the century. I'm sure she'll be much better than Lockhart."

"Everybody is better than Lockhart." Harry said with a grin, remembering all the foolish things their second year teacher - Gilderoy Lockhart, the narcissist - had done.

Two tables ahead, Draco Malfoy was pondering about a similar letter he had received.

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"All right people, gather around." Erin said standing on the same golden stage from their second year's Duelling Club. "I know most of you are dying to see some action, but before we start, let me remind you some basic rules. Number one being: when you find yourself face to face with a Death Eater, there are no rules."

Some students cheered while others, like Neville Longbottom, looked frightened.

Snape instantly pulled her out and cornered her. "What are you doing?" he hissed.

"Teaching them the truth." Erin said looking innocent.

"You can't do that, Erin! Remember that not everyone believes that Voldemort is back. If you continue this, there will be hundreds of Howlers on Dumbledore's table at sunrise."

"Fuck." she muttered. "All right. I'll take it slow."

She went to the front of the stage and started again. "Scratch out what I just said. Face your opponent, bow and then hold your wands in a combative position. Like that is going to help you if you're facing..."

"Jones!" Snape called her attention. "No personal comments."

"All right. Then, on the count of three, you can cast a spell. Now, our dear Professor Snape is dying for the amazing opportunity of dueling with me."

Snape sent her his most unpleasant look. Some girls giggled behind their hands.

"Therefore, Professor Snape and I are going to give you a demonstration. Ready, Professor?" she provoked him.

"Always, Miss Jones."

They bowed before each other, eye on eye. Everybody in the room held their breaths.

"One-two-three!"

"Expelliarmus!" shouted Snape.

"Defensa!" Erin cried at the same time. A bright lilac light surrounded her like a shield and lasted long enough to stop the Disarming Charm from hitting her. "Plurimus radici!"

Thousands of roots started to come out of the floor and wrapped around Snape's body.

"What the hell..." Snape said before a small root covered his mouth.

All students laughed.

"Finite Incantatem." the roots backed away and vanished in a glimpse. Then, Erin started to explain what had just happened. "Defensa is very useful for immediate defense. The problem is, as you might notice, it doesn't last too long. Now, Plurimus radici conjures roots out of nowhere. If you don't stop them on time, they might kill your opponent. Any questions?"

There was only silence all around the room. Snape's expression was priceless. He looked totally stunned for being defeated by a woman. Erin was definitely nothing like Gilderoy Lockheart.

"Well then... Someone wants to come up here?"

About a dozen hands rose in the air and none of them belonged to Harry or Draco.

"Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy, could you please come up here?" Snape called.

They froze on the spot. Draco wasn't ready to confront Harry after the letter he had written, and Harry's countenance showed that he wasn't that eager to face Draco either.

"I don't think this is a good idea." Erin said with concern.

"They dueled on their second year. They will know what to do."

Harry and Draco looked at each other. Harry had gone totally white. Draco moved closer to him and whispered in his ear so no one could hear. "Are you all right, Potter?"

"Yeah. Of course I am." Harry seemed to pull himself together.

"If you want to know, I don't want to duel with you."

"Why not?" Harry needled him. "Scared, Malfoy?"

Draco felt his blood boil. A sense of déjà vu fell on him. "You wish." Draco's competitive side flared and he wanted nothing less than to be the victor of that duel.

While Snape tipped him, Erin did the same with Harry. A series of whisper filled The Great Hall. It would be the most interesting duel ever because now Harry was Draco's equal.

The first time Draco and Harry had dueled, Lockheart had left Harry on his own. This time, however, Erin was by his side.

"Don't be too rough on him, Harry or you might be sorry later. Think of this as way of exercising what you learned. Do you remember the "Per contra" spell?"

"Yes."

"Then do it. He'll be confused by it and you will win quickly."

Erin and Snape stepped back.

"On the count of three." Snape shouted. "One-two-three-go!"

Draco raised his wand and yelled. "Petrificus Totalus!"

"Defensa!" a bright blue light surrounded Harry and protected him against Draco's spell.

But Draco was ready for that, and quickly he bellowed a Tickling Charm. "Rictusempra."

The Tickling Charm hit Harry and he sank to his knees laughing madly. Trying to recover his breath, he shouted. "Expelliarmus!"

"Defensa!"

"Per contra!" instantly ten Harries surrounded Draco, making him confused.

"What is this?" Draco asked Snape, who was shooting Erin a murderous look.

"It's a Confusing Spell." Hermione whispered in Ron's ears. "But no one taught us yet. How does Harry know how to cast it? It's not an easy spell, and I read that it draws a lot of your energy."

Erin was about to end the duel when Draco did something totally unexpected.

Draco wanted to win so bad that he cried the first thing that crossed his mind. And what came out of his wand after a black fog dissipated was an infuriated werewolf, ready to cut Harry into little pieces.

"Finite Incantatem." he cried out, trying to make the werewolf disappear.

Nothing happened though, and without thinking twice Draco headed for Harry to help him. All students screamed. Harry was shuddering but he still tried to point his wand in the direction of the black and gray beast.

Draco thrust Harry aside and they fell down on the floor. He griped Harry protectively and whispered in his ear 'I'm sorry', but Harry didn't hear. Before the creature could get them, Snape cast a Freezing charm and Erin said something and the werewolf was nowhere to be found.

"Class dismissed." Erin said with a thoughtful expression. "Except for you, Mr. Malfoy. I think we need to have a very - long - talk."

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"I don't know what I did. I most certainly did not conjure that!" Draco defended himself.

He was in Dumbledore's office trying to explain how in Merlin's name he had managed to cast Dark Magic. Snape was looking at him with a worried expression. Dumbledore looked just as thoughtful as Erin.

"You summoned a werewolf, Draco. I'm impressed." Erin said for the fourth time. "You cast a summon spell. A very dangerous and difficult one. All you have to say is 'Aliquid Novi' and you can summon any creature you want to help you."

"Did you teach him, Erin?" Dumbledore asked serenely. "I know this kind of magic is your specialty."

"Of course I didn't teach him, Headmaster. I wouldn't do anything without telling you."

Snape looked at her with disbelief. She stuck out her tongue at him.

"You do realize, Mr. Malfoy, that what you did can easily get you expelled." Dumbledore said, staring him straight in the eye.

"Sir, I don't think..." Snape and Erin started to say at the same time.

Dumbledore raised his hand ordering silence. "However, I believe when Mr. Malfoy says it wasn't his intention to do such a thing. Prior Incantato showed to me that Draco cast only a dancing charm."

"What!? How was that possible?" Snape asked, puzzled.

"I wish I knew the answer to that, Severus. But I don't." Dumbledore said. "I'm sorry to say this, Mr. Malfoy, but I'll have to keep your wand for a while."

Draco put his wand on Dumbledore's table reluctantly.

"In the mean time, Erin will give you extra-classes about Dark Magic, along with Harry. Is that all right with you, Erin?"

"Sure. I'll be delighted."

"Good. You are dismissed, Mr. Malfoy. I suggest you stay out of trouble."

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"Erin, you believe me, right? You know I would never do anything to hurt Harry." Draco said when they were outside Dumbledore's office.

"I believe you, Draco, and so does Dumbledore. I'll have to do a little research about this."

Snape looked at Draco with a weird expression. "And why is that, Draco? Why would you never hurt Potter?"

Draco paled. It was as if all of his blood was suddenly drained from his veins.

"Just leave him alone, Severus. He is exhausted." Erin said, looking tired herself. "I'll see how Harry is doing."

Draco was about to follow her when Snape pulled him back. "You, Mr. Malfoy, owe me an explanation about all of this."

"Sir, I have to see Potter."

"And why is that? You never liked Potter. Why are you worried about him?"

"Because... I'm... I..."

Draco asked himself if he should tell Snape about his feelings. He admired Snape, and he knew the Professor wasn't a Death Eater anymore. But would he understand the feelings he had for Harry?

"Just spit it out."

"I love him." Draco murmured.

"You what!??"

"I love Harry."

"You've got to be joking."

"I'm not, Sir." Draco held his chin high.

"Come with me to my office. I think it's time for a drink..."

--------------------------

Draco spent a long time talking to Professor Snape. He told him all about his father's plans, about the Death Eaters and Voldemort's Favored. At last, he told Snape about what he felt for Harry ever since the holidays and waited apprehensively for Snape's judgment.

Severus Snape looked horrified about the entire situation. His best student was in love with a Potter and someone has infiltrated Hogwarts to kill Harry. He ran his fingers through his hair for several times and drank a glass of vodka in one gulp.

At the end of their conversation, Snape acted cool about it. Draco was actually impressed at how well his teacher had taken the matter. Not that he approved the way Draco felt about Potter - 'a Potter, for Merlin's sake!' - nor did he understand, but he had a great deal of respect and admiration for Draco.

The only advice Snape gave him was to not show his emotions at all cost. 'If you want to help Potter, then you have to remain in focus. You can't allow yourself to be distracted in any circumstances.'

Near midnight, his mood lightened up a little, but he was still troubled about what Harry must have been thinking about him and the Duelling's incident. On the way to Hagrid's hut, he wondered if he should write an apology letter to Harry.

Then, coming from somewhere inside the Dark Forest, he heard a terrified scream that sent shivers down his spine. 'HARRY!'

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After the Dueling Club was over, Harry was sent to Madam Pomfrey even though he kept saying to everyone that he was fine. Indeed, he was perfectly fine on the outside, but on the inside - especially in the interior of his heart and soul - he felt an excruciating pain.

Only a few days had passed since he admitted to himself that he was in love with his enemy and now Draco Malfoy had tried to kill him. Setting a werewolf loose on him! Draco's intentions towards him were quite clear in Harry's opinion. The bloody charlatan wanted nothing but to finish him off. And that fact hurt him more than he thought it would.

Even when Erin explained to him that Draco had no control over what had happened and no intention of harming him, Harry still felt a pain in his heart.

He expected to hear an explanation from Draco, but as the day went by, he lost the faith in the idea. He felt stupid for believing that Draco Malfoy would be worried about him. He was probably at the Slytherin Common Room by now, laughing with his stupid friends. He could even imagine the conversations.

'Did you see his face? He was almost pissing on himself!'

Erin reminded him quite gently that Draco tried to save him and he was truly sorry about the whole thing. But Harry wasn't thinking rationally. The fact that Draco had actually tried to protect him was irrelevant. The episode gave his fears the perfect excuse to repudiate all that he felt for Draco. He didn't want to see or talk to the other boy.

By midnight, Harry looked for his Invisibility Cloak but didn't find it. He glanced at Ron's bed and saw it empty. 'He got my cloak again without asking me! Damn him!' He headed for Hagrid's hut without any protection except for his wand.

Hagrid's hut seemed empty. He looked everywhere and saw no one. Suddenly, a screech came from inside the Dark Forest. He felt his body shuddering. He knew that voice pretty well. 'DRACO!'

Harry didn't even hesitate before going after him.