Reign O'er Me

---

Chapter 34 - Behind Blue Eyes

No one bites back as hard
On their anger;
None of my pain and woe
Can show through.

But my dreams,
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be.

When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool.
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool.

If I swallow anything evil,
Put your finger down my throat.
If I shiver, please give me a blanket;
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat.

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man,
To be the sad man,
Behind blue eyes.

- Behind Blue Eyes, The Who

---

"Perenelle?" Nicholas gently touched her shoulder.

Perenelle's eyes slowly opened. "What news, beloved?"

"Both have awakened, though only briefly. You have succeeded."

"It was not solely through my efforts, Nicholas. Fawkes and Praetor intervened..."

"I saw, beloved."

"And now... I fear I may have erred, and greatly. Before we left, Harry sought to speak with me; but in our haste, I pushed him to the side."

"You did warn him that Jamie had somehow mastered the Portkey?"

"That I did. But, Nicholas... how could Jamie have mastered the concept of a tesseract without instruction of some sort? She would not have learned that in the Muggle world. The others would have learned in their fourth year, but Jamie? I fear we have missed something, something significant. And Harry... something was amiss."

"Surely he would have told you if it had been something of import..."

"I told him first about Brian."

Nicholas smiled. "I do not believe that anything of significance could have happened, beloved, in such a short time. And no messages were waiting."

"Still..."

"Do you wish to return to Grimmauld Place now?"

"I..."

"Then go, beloved. And we shall follow as soon as circumstances permit."

"Do you understand why Cassandra would make such a demand, and so strongly, that they return there?"

"No," Nicholas sighed, "but I can see many good and sufficient reasons for it."

"Then I shall check on the children, and then return here."

"Satisfy yourself that they are well, and then rest, beloved. And I shall join you soon after. Pymander!"

"Thank you, beloved," Perenelle said as she grasped the Phoenix's tail.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I thought you were going to sleep all day and all night, too." Jamie was curled on one of the sofas, a book in her lap and her kitten nearby. "Let's see," Jamie counted on her fingers, "Sirius should be here sometime later tonight; Ginny and her Mom went with one of her brothers to Diagon Alley to get some things for Vela; she was up for a few minutes but got sent right back to bed; Draco is still asleep; according to the healing lady he needs to rest in bed for a day or two; and Ron and Hermione are in the library. And I've just been hanging out here."

Harry took a seat on the other sofa. "Sounds like I missed out on a lot. Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Are you kidding? Ginny would've killed me!"

"It did feel pretty good. What are you reading?"

Jamie held up The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2. "Hermione said she might work with me later tonight. Uh, Harry... er, thanks... thank you."

"It's okay, Jamie... you were right. But... trust me, at least a little, next time?"

"Sorry." Jamie sighed. "It's not you... it's just, I dunno, I'm afraid, I guess, that... that you're going to act like everyone else has... but you haven't; you haven't, any of the times you could have. But it's still not real easy."

Harry stood and settled against the arm of the other sofa, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. "Jamie..."

She reached up and touched his hand. "Are you sorry you found me?" she whispered.

"No! Never! You know, I'm proud of you."

"Even if you don't dig everybody I hang with?"

Harry wasn't ready to broach that subject yet. "Yeah... I won't let anyone come between us, Jamie, I promise. But do you understand the significance of what Malfoy did?"

"Harry... his name is Draco... Please?"

"Okay." Harry shook his head briefly as he wondered where this would finally lead. "Do you understand what Draco did?"

"He pretty much told his father to go f... er, drop dead."

"It was more than that, Jamie. You heard him say Kanly?"

Jamie nodded. "But I don't know what it means. I don't think Hermione did either; that was what she wanted to look up."

"It... it means a blood feud, a fight until one or the other is dead. It's the same sort of binding magic as a life-debt or a truce. Professor Binns talked about it once in History of Magic. I don't remember a lot about it, but it's pretty scary. The last time Kanly was invoked was about a thousand years ago when...." Harry suddenly stopped as he felt... a tendril of thought... and feeling... from Jamie???

"If... if only I knew how to say... what...what..."

"It's okay, Jamie. I understand." Their eyes met; Jamie's glowing, and Harry's as well, but his also reflecting concern.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Perenelle turned as heavy footfalls thundered up the stairwell behind her. Sirius rounded the corner and continued his rapid climb before spotting Perenelle and jerking to a halt. "What the effing hell were you lot thinking?" he demanded.

"What... what do you mean, Sirius?" Perenelle asked worriedly.

"Were none of you watching?" Sirius launched into a string of invective worthy of a Royal Marine before closing with, "and as soon as we're safely away, they follow that sodding little bastard Draco into Malfoy Manor..."

"Malfoy Manor?" Perenelle turned pale.

"Effing Malfoy Manor!" Sirius stared harshly at the elderly witch for several seconds. "They rescued Narcissa, and found... they found Velpecula. And all this time we thought she was in New Zealand."

"Sirius... Albus' condition was deteriorating rapidly. We were forced to react, and to take action quickly... and in doing so, I sent Harry away when he wished to speak with me.... Is that why you have returned? What has happened?" She studied Sirius' face as hers creased with worry. "Have they returned? Are... are they unharmed?"

"They all got back here," Sirius said, as they began to climb together. "If Harry told me straight, they are all okay, though Ginny was exhausted--the two of them did that funny Patronus together again." Sirius then grinned viciously. "And it seems Jamie knifed Lucius. James would've been proud." They reached the fourth floor and walked towards the half-open doors to the suite. "Oh, and Draco seems to have declared Kanly against his old man."

"Kanly?" Perenelle stood in the doorway, her face etched with concern. "The boy invoked Kanly against Lucius?"

"Grand-mère! Is Professor Dumbledore all right?" As Harry stood he spotted Sirius. "Sirius!"

Sirius tried to look grim as Harry rushed towards him, but a moment later they were both grinning and pounding each other on the back. A short time found them seated, and Harry repeated his question about Dumbledore.

"He will recover, lapin. He has regained consciousness, and now sleeps. But I have worried since we parted company, Harry. What was it you wished to tell me, before?"

"It... um, well..."

"Harry... and everyone, all of us, we... we rescued Draco's Mom, and Vela." Jamie said proudly.

Perenelle took a seat on the sofa Harry had vacated. "Lapin...why?"

"We did what we had to, Grand-mère." Harry glanced at Jamie before continuing. "Narcissa Malfoy is here, now, and so is Draco. And we found Sirius'... well, who he was looking for. She was there, too."

"Where is she, Harry?" Sirius asked. "I had hoped you would all be up here. Is she really okay?"

"She's okay," Jamie replied. "I think she's still asleep downstairs; Ginny and her Mom went to buy her some clothes and things."

"And Jamie?" Sirius grinned wolfishly. "Did you really put a knife in Lucius Malfoy?"

"In his wand arm," Harry answered. "And from across the room... um... Mal...er, Draco owes her, well, another one."

"In short, the five of you and Draco broke into Malfoy Manor, managed somehow to free Narcissa and this other girl, and then escaped to tell the tale?" Perenelle peered intently at a grinning Jamie, then at a more somber Harry, who nodded and with a glance at Sirius and Jamie extended his hand to Perenelle.

Several minutes passed before Perenelle released Harry's hand. "Bravely and daringly done, lapin, bravely done. And did I not tell you, Jamie, that Harry would listen to you, no matter what?"

Jamie nodded. "Yes. And he was... incredible."

"Of course he was; Harry's my godson. And you must have been right wicked, too." Turning to Perenelle, he asked, "Would you do that thing... whatever it is you do? I'd like to see Jamie..."

Smiling, Perenelle took Sirius' hand.

"You were incredible, all of you," Sirius grudgingly admitted a few minutes later. "But don't think you're off the hook yet, Harry; we're still going to talk about this. But right now, I want to see Vela."

"Ginny and Mrs. Weasley are back," Harry said; then after a pause, added, "give them a few minutes, and they'll bring her up."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Cassandra..." His eyes remained closed and his voice was weak, but he felt her grip tighten on his hand and the tendrils of her thoughts reaching towards him. He struggled to open his eyes, rejecting the proffered temptation to drift away again. "Cassie..." He halted as she came into focus beside him.

"Albus," she replied, smiling, rising just enough to support herself with an elbow.

"I do not understand."

"Where should I begin?"

"Indeed. I find us... the two of us... within the mortal realm. And I find your appearance and presence most difficult to explain, and yet... we are bound." Dumbledore's brow creased. "Have I somehow slipped between realities?"

"You have seen fragments of many realities as our thoughts drifted together, Albus, but you have not transited between them. You were injured when a dementor-like creature first attacked Voldemort, and then turned on you."

"That I recall, but nothing further."

"Harry and Ginny joined to summon the dragon..."

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "So they did act together the day they brought Sirius back..."

"Yes, and the Melinoe fled."

"The Melinoe? Are you certain?" Dumbledore's face faded from white to ashen.

"From the description, there can be very little doubt." Cassandra waited a moment before she continued. "And afterwards they returned to Grimmauld Place, with both of our barely living forms. Nicholas and Perenelle were able to complete what Voldemort had begun and healed me, but you showed no sign of recovery. You declined slowly until two days ago, when you stopped breathing. The mediwitch managed to sustain you, but she warned us that your condition was dire. At that point, Perenelle agreed to attempt what I had asked--invoking Anima Iugum Nobilis."

"Nicholas and Perenelle consented to this?" Dumbledore appeared surprised.

"Not until it was clear there was no other choice."

"Even so, the risk..."

"The choice was clear, and do not forget what I am, Albus. Even so, I do not think Perenelle would have succeeded had not Fawkes and Praetor quickened the spell."

Dumbledore lay quietly as he considered this. "Then... what I remember while dreaming..."

"This last little while, your thoughts have mingled with mine. What you saw were other realities, other possibilities, where different paths were taken."

Dumbledore again lay quietly as he pondered. "But most of them ended," his voice dropped to a whisper, "in disaster."

"Yes. There are a few where hope remained."

"Yes. I remember one in particular... Nicholas and Perenelle were not there... I had been injured in some way..."

"In seeing to one of Voldemort's horcruxes," Cassandra added softly.

"Harry had been taken to the Burrow... and I had used him to recruit Horace Slughorn from retirement."

"I have seen much from that line, my love; it is but one of almost infinite possibilities. At least all hope is not yet lost there, though great evils lie ahead along that path. And, now, you have seen first-hand the nature of the seer. We see the myriad possibilities, and must carefully pick and choose between them, and what they offer."

"What else has happened while I have lain unconscious?"

"Events have largely unfolded as they should."

"From you, that answer is not entirely reassuring." There was a hint of a twinkle in the professor's eyes.

"I understand that lessons have continued. I have thus far met Harry, Ginny, and Jamie; I understand that Ron and Hermione have met with her parents with quite good results, and have at least informally announced their engagement. I am quite impressed with Jamie. She has a drive and determination about her..."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Indeed she does. Has Harry managed to cope?"

"I am afraid that her continued interest in the current Malfoy heir has been somewhat frustrating for Harry, and that could have only been complicated by recent events, but there will be time to discuss all of that later. Her magic is quite strong, and she has a feel for it. I came upon her a few nights ago attempting to master the Portkey."

"The Portkey? She should be years from such an attempt."

"She had listened many times when Hermione was tutoring the others. And her attempts were close: she lacked only an understanding of how the Portkey passes through the normal three dimensions, and that duration is also a component of the spell."

"And what are you not telling me?"

"That I... instructed her." As Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, she continued. "After all, Albus, I am a teacher, or at least I once was."

"That is a Ministry-reserved spell," Dumbledore observed dryly.

"Oh, Albus, honestly, has the last century made you into a stuffed robe?"

"There are many different things at work, Cassie. Helping Jamie in that fashion--when she is both impulsive and accustomed to having her own way--could be quite dangerous."

"Indeed. But remember who and what I am, my love. My not showing her would have been worse. I know!"

"And you will not tell me, until it comes to pass, will you?"

Cassandra sat quietly for a moment. "Is it enough to say that I believe this will allow her to begin what your Sorting Hat tasked her to do--to bring unity to the houses? And you will find that cause has been advanced when we return to Grimmauld Place."

"We are returning to Grimmauld Place?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, and soon. Have you forgotten the maxim that he who has a partner has a master? You have a partner--and more--now, Albus. As Perenelle might say, what should be, now is."

"You risked far too much... and look how the attempt has changed you."

"Nonsense. No risk would have been too great... I could not imagine a world without you in it." Cassandra grinned fondly at him. "And you, too, are changed, Albus. I believe there may even be some auburn in your hair. Do not look at me in that fashion. You know that the magic must be balanced."

"I would not have chosen this."

"You saw many of the other realities, all of the myriad layers. Would you have chosen any of the others?"

Dumbledore sat quietly for a minute before replying, "No."

"Are you able to rise? I would like to return to Grimmauld Place."

Dumbledore sat up, and then stood. It had been surprisingly easy to do so. He held out a hand to Cassandra, and then, remembering, extended two fingers instead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Everything's going to be all right," Ginny whispered, as she and Molly led a reluctant Vela up the stairs. "Sirius is okay; I really like him."

"Ginny's right, dear. And he worked very hard to find you," Molly added.

"Mum talked about him all the time. She was sure he would look for her. Now that it's just... just me..." Vela's voice broke and Molly slipped an arm around her and whispered for almost a minute. Vela finally nodded and continued reluctantly up the stairs.

Reaching the fourth floor, Molly continued to coax the hesitant Vela forward. When they came in the door, Sirius leaped up from the couch and ran towards them; then he slowed, as Vela pressed back against Molly and Ginny. "Velpecula, I'm... er... Sirius. Sirius Black."

"My... father?" Vela took a hesitant step forward.

"I'd like to be," Sirius said quietly.

Vela's face fell. "You were only looking for... for Mum... weren't you?"

"No." Sirius took another step and touched Vela's arm and waited until she looked up at him. "I wanted very badly to find you both."

"But... why?" Vela asked.

"It's... complicated," Sirius replied. "We need to talk, I reckon, and I'll try to explain." Then his expression brightened. "Or I could take you for a ride, maybe show you around a bit..."

"Sirius!" Molly frowned. "Under the circumstances, that's hardly..."

"I'd love to," Vela interrupted, showing the first hint of a smile. "In a car?"

"No," Sirius grinned widely. "Motorcycle."

"Cool!"

"C'mon," Sirius said, pulling Vela after him.

"Honestly, that man..." Molly shook her head as Sirius led Vela back down the stairs, moving quite a bit faster than Vela had in her ascent. "I hope the lot of you would have more sense than to ride one of those contraptions."

"They'll be fine, Mum," Harry said, not quite looking Molly in the eye, as Ginny also carefully avoided her mother's gaze. "Sirius will be careful."

"Still..." Molly shook her head again. "Ginny, would you help me for a few minutes in the kitchen?"

"Sure, Mum. I'll be back up in a bit, Harry."

Harry nodded, stretched, and announced, "I'm going to hit the shower."

Jamie nodded absently, apparently reading again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hi!" Draco reluctantly awoke as something topped with red streaked across the bedroom and began bouncing on the foot of his bed. "Are you awake?"

"Unfortunately, it seems that I am." He stared balefully at Jamie. "Do you have no sense of decorum?"

Jamie looked puzzled for a moment, shrugged, and continued bouncing. "Were you going to sleep all day, too?"

"I might as well. Will you STOP that?"

Jamie sighed and remained still, though still seated on the bed. "How's your mom?"

"Mother. The matron says that she will recover."

"You call her Mother?" Jamie seemed surprised.

"Yes."

"That seems kind of... well, stiff."

Draco looked at her and sighed. "Father would have never tolerated such informality as 'Mum'".

"That shouldn't matter now."

"You do not understand..."

"There's a lot I don't understand. Not just about the magic, but about parents and families and all that. But I'm listening."

Draco sagged back against the pillows. "Does it really matter?"

"It should matter a whole lot. Harry explained a little to me about what you did."

"Then you clearly know too little of our world to understand all of the implications. I have burned all of my bridges; there is no place for me now."

"That I don't understand."

"I have broken all ties with Father, and by proxy, with the Dark Lord and his followers, and that includes substantially all of my house at Hogwarts. Returning there... is not possible. And outside of Slytherin, I have nothing. Weasley and Potter will..."

"Draco." Jamie interrupted. "His name is Harry."

"Calling him Harry doesn't change the past five years... or the past thousand. I don't know why I'm even telling you this. We made a temporary alliance..."

"But you said it wrong, Draco. It's not 'The enemy of my enemy is my ally'. It is 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'"

"And that is what you refuse to understand. I have no friends."

"You have at least one."

"I..."

"Didn't I do what I said I would do?"

"Yes, but..."

"Didn't I bring help?"

Draco reluctantly nodded.

"Am I your friend?" Jamie demanded.

"Yes." Draco finally answered after a long wait. "I do not know why. I do not know why you helped me back in the States. And why you would do what you did here... there has been nothing in it for you. Why did you help me?"

"Because you needed somebody." Jamie looked into Draco's eyes for a moment, and then lowered hers. "Maybe a couple of reasons. A few times I was at the end of my rope, and someone unexpectedly helped me: a ride, a few dollars, maybe just some food. And I wanted to make a difference for somebody. Maybe some other things, too."

"You would have done better to have gone around a block to the left or right and left me there."

"That would have been wrong," Jamie said quietly.

"But the results would have been little different. I would be dead rather than waiting for the blow to fall."

"It doesn't have to be like that. Are you my friend?"

This time there was an even longer pause. "Yes."

"Then you do have a friend... and a place. And it was Harry who brought you back here."

"Wherever here might happen to be."

"It's home. My home. And Harry's."

Draco was unable to prevent his surprise from showing for a moment.

"Draco, did you mean what you said to your father?" Jamie asked after a pause.

"YES!" Draco's eyes flashed.

"Then start acting like it."

"What do you mean?"

"Has anything at all changed, between us, all of the people here, and Voldemort and his cronies?"

"No." Draco sat thoughtfully. "If anything they will become even more determined, more reckless. Father will have much to prove after we rescued Mother from under his nose. And for the Dark Lord to have been there will only serve to enrage them both.

"Then... the enemy of your enemy is still your ally. And your friend."

"Potter... very well, Harry would never agree to that. Let alone Dumbledore and the rest of them."

"You were wrong about Harry yesterday..."

"This is different..."

"Dammit, Draco, if you meant what you said, you could at least try."

"Name even one thing I could do and would even be allowed to do."

"There are a lot of things... but first, help me with Potions."

"What?"

"Potions. Help me."

"I thought Professor Snape was tutoring you."

"He is, but... look. I'm way behind on, well, everything. An hour a day isn't cutting it. And Uncle Severus says you're the best Potions student at Hogwarts."

"Uncle Severus?" Draco asked pointedly as Jamie nodded. He decided to leave that for now, but... "And will you show me how to throw a knife like you did?"

"Sure," Jamie said with a shake of her hair and a hint of a smile. "Do you want to start with that?"

"Perhaps we should start with the Potions." Draco said as he remembered Madam Pomfrey's instructions and dire warnings.

"Okay. C'mon."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"And what happened then?" Albus Dumbledore asked quietly. He, Cassandra Trelawney, and the Flamels were seated together in the drawing room at Grimmauld Place.

"As we were returning to Hogwarts, Harry and the others were making their preparations to breach Malfoy Manor." Perenelle replied. "Harry shared these memories with me."

"As you said, it was boldly and bravely done." Dumbledore said several minutes later. "But I fear there will be repercussions, and that they will be brutal. We must prepare."

"Without doubt," Nicholas nodded slowly. "Both Voldemort and Malfoy--should he survive Voldemort's rage--will consider this an affront of the highest order. They literally snatched two prisoners right from under their noses, and in their stronghold, too."

"We perhaps have been fortunate that Voldemort appears to have been injured by the creature, as were you Brian," Perenelle said. "But from this point on, we cannot count on its buying much. They will counter any way that they can."

"All of this--Voldemort's offer and the events following--still make little sense to me," said Dumbledore. "What did he hope to accomplish?"

"We have all pondered about that," Perenelle said. "So far, we have speculated that some trap may have been planned that the creature disrupted. Another is that Voldemort hoped in some way to gain either a quantity of the elixir, or obtain the means of making it, from our attempts to restore Cassandra; but that, too, seems a stretch."

"What I find even more disconcerting is that somehow Voldemort has found a way to control a Melinoe," Cassandra added. "I would have believed that impossible."

"The control was less than perfect," Nicholas observed. "It attacked him."

"And given that it was present, it must have been some part of his plan," Dumbledore mused. "He must not have realized that Harry and Ginny could drive it away."

"Even so, we now know that it has participated in several attacks on both wizards and Muggles," Cassandra said. "Frankly, It is surprising the incidents thus far have not been worse."

"At least we now know what it is, and we have a means of dealing with it," Dumbledore observed.

"Only Harry and Ginny have summoned the dragon, Brian," Perenelle reminded. "None of us have attempted that yet. And I am not sure it would be wise to practice."

"Which places us in the position of relying on them as our first line of defense for the moment," Nicholas said. "They do not need that burden added to what they already carry. We should be prepared to act as well as react, and quickly."

"I am also concerned over how the events at Malfoy Manor came about," Dumbledore said.

"You mean in Narcissa's being taken from Hogwarts?" asked Nicholas.

"No, the... interaction... between Draco and Jamie," Dumbledore replied. "Jamie forced this, on all of them, and almost single-handedly. And now, with young Malfoy here... I find that I am concerned."

"You said several times you hoped he would choose not to follow Voldemort," Perenelle said. "Is this not the fulfillment of those hopes?"

"Having the boy here, in our midst, is more than I had counted on." Dumbledore sat thoughtfully for a moment. "And he has cut himself off from his house and his associates. I am concerned, despite Cassandra's assurances."

"Why did you teach Jamie to craft a Portkey, Cassandra?" Perenelle asked.

"She needed a means of forcing events, and quickly," Cassandra replied. "And the causality was such that I chose to take the risk."

"In fulfilling your own prophecy?" Perenelle pressed.

"Yes." Cassandra replied. "Do you wish me to explain?"

Dumbledore, Nicholas, and Perenelle exchanged looks. Finally, Perenelle asked, "Has it been fulfilled?"

"Not yet, not completely," Cassandra answered. "And it ties to others, and there is still much that is not yet clear to me. And yes, Perenelle, I know well that 'Prophecy is perilous.'"

"By others, you do mean Nimue's?" Perenelle asked as Cassandra nodded. "Then we must indeed consider most carefully."

"That, I fear, will take much time. For now, I wish to speak with Draco Malfoy."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"No, not like that. Watch; you need to cut slowly and evenly, making sure that the pieces are uniform."

"Like this?" Jamie asked.

"That is better, but you need to move the knife, not just change the angle."

"Why does it make a difference?"

Before Draco could answer, Albus Dumbledore entered. "Please, pardon the interruption." He looked both of them briefly before continuing. "Miss Potter, it is good to see you again, and Mr. Malfoy... I understand that you have wished to see me?"

"Professor Dumbledore. The matter... in question... um... has already been addressed."

"Indeed. I understand that you, as well as some of our other students, visited your family estate."

Draco nodded warily, as Dumbledore peered at him intently.

"And I am told that your mother is resting comfortably upstairs," Dumbledore said.

"Yes, Professor," Draco replied, still wary.

"And... if I am not mistaken, this would appear to be a Potion from second year. Mr. Malfoy, are you, perchance, tutoring Miss Potter?"

"Yes, he is, Professor Dumbledore, and he's very patient, too." Jamie answered before Draco had a chance to reply.

"Why, this is quite remarkable, Mr. Malfoy. And I understand some of your other companions were from Gryffindor House, as well." Dumbledore smiled benignly, as a touch of color crept into Draco's cheeks. "I am pleased to see that you have taken the Sorting Hat seriously." Dumbledore peered at Draco for another moment, then added, "I would not bring this up under other circumstances, but given recent events... you will forgive me, Mr. Malfoy?"

After a moment, Draco nodded reluctantly.

"Your Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL--while perhaps adequate under normal circumstances--is something of a concern, given recent events. It might be possible to arrange some special tuition over the next few weeks. That is, of course, your choice." Dumbledore watched as Jamie started to speak, then stopped as Draco's trainer pressed against hers. The two exchanged a series of looks that ended in short, quick nod from Jamie.

"If Mother has no objection," Draco said, "it would be of interest."

"Very well, Mr. Malfoy, I shall make the necessary arrangements. Good day to you both."

As Dumbledore walked away, his eyes twinkled as Jamie told Draco, "See? I told you so."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hi, boss!"

Harry, sitting on a sofa, his hair damp, grinned as Chris entered. "Hi."

"You don't seem to be any worse for the wear," she observed, as she looked him up and down. "You must have soothed the savage beast."

Harry looked puzzled for a moment before grinning again. "You mean Sirius?"

Chris nodded. "He couldn't wait to get back here and see for himself that you were all right. He Apparated moments after we landed."

"It was okay, though he said I'm not off the hook yet. He's off with Vela now."

"Spending some time getting to know her?"

Harry nodded. "He took her for a ride on his bike."

"And that's supposed to be getting to know her?" Chris shook her head. "Harry, there are some things about which your godfather simply has no clue whatsoever."

"Mrs. Weasley wasn't very happy about it either, but Vela seemed eager to go."

"She was? Then maybe it wasn't as bad as I'd thought. I read through a lot of the papers Sirius got, including the journal Vela's mother kept, and she was pretty sheltered. I'm going to talk to him when he gets back." Chris looked at Harry appraisingly. "You know, that was something, what all of you managed to pull off, getting both Vela and Narcissa Malfoy back here."

"I reckon we were lucky."

"Harry--that wasn't luck. No, listen to me; I'm not blowing you sunshine. There wasn't any luck involved in what you did. You took a strike force into your enemy's headquarters, achieved the mission objective and then some, and returned with everyone on their feet. That's not luck, kiddo."

"You might not say that if you'd been there," Harry said.

"Madame Flamel showed me what you gave her before I came up."

"Yeah... but we didn't plan things very well; we didn't even have enough invisibility cloaks to cover everyone, and didn't realize it until we were already inside."

"Sometimes making it up as you go works out better than any plan."

Harry nodded and made a wry grin. "In other words, we were lucky. But it worked, and that's what counts."

"You made your luck. There's a big difference." Chris studied him for a long moment. "But tell me, what's bugging you, Harry?"

Harry sat quietly for a moment. "I can see now there are things we need to do, and I was planning to talk to you about it. I know we need cloaks for everyone, and I'd wager you know a lot of the other things that we might need. We need to do more than practice dueling; we need to practice working as a team."

"Okay; that's easy enough to handle. I'd already planned on some of that. But there's only so much we can do at once. Maybe we can tinker with the schedule a bit more."

"And what Jamie did to Lucius Malfoy, with the knife, and some of the other tricks she knows--are those things that could help us?"

"The hand-to-hand stuff was going to head in that direction, anyway. But level with me, Harry; there's something else you're not telling me."

This time it was several moments before he nodded and replied, "Voldemort. He was there, you know, at Malfoy Manor."

"Was he involved in any way? That wasn't in any of the memories..."

"No... but if he was in the same sort of shape as Professor Dumbledore was, I should have tried... something."

"That wasn't what you set out to do. It's one thing to figure things out as you go, but another thing entirely to change the objectives mid op. What if you'd gone off on your own, looking for Voldemort? What would have happened to everyone else if you hadn't been there to cast that Patronus with Ginny?"

"I know; but now, looking back, there should have been something I could have done. If Voldemort was in the same condition as Professor Dumbledore, I should have done more than just stay in hiding here. Or maybe there still is something I could do, now, before..."

"Right now... I doubt it. Malfoy Manor--or wherever they've gone--will be like a stirred-up hornets' nest. But there's no reason not to start making plans."

"I want to do that. And find a way to end this. Didn't you say the other day that the best defense was a strong offense?"

"Yes, but..."

"Then it's time we start taking the fight to Voldemort. I've waited long enough. It's time for him to be the one reacting for a change."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione looked up as the library doors opened. "Professor Dumbledore?" she asked, surprised. "I didn't know... Are you well?" Something about Dumbledore was different; it took her a moment for her to realize that Dumbledore looked... younger?

"Much improved, my dear girl; much improved indeed. I understand that you and Ron have formalized your betrothal. May I offer my congratulations to you both?"

"Thank you, Professor," said Hermione.

"Thank you, Sir," Ron added.

"Ron, might I impose on you and ask your assistance?" Dumbledore asked. "I must warn you that it will involve rising somewhat earlier than you have been accustomed to of late."

"Certainly, Professor," Ron replied, with only a little hesitation.

"If I recall correctly, Hermione, you begin your sessions with Miss Potter at eight AM?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Yes, Professor," Hermione replied.

"Then, perhaps we might begin at the same time tomorrow morning?" Dumbledore asked.

Ron nodded, and then asked, "What would you like me do, Sir?"

"I would be most grateful if you would join me in the basement room that I believe you call the training room. Professor Flamel and I must ascertain a student's abilities in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and we felt that, given your excellent OWL and DA work, you would be a suitable dueling opponent."

"Thank you, Sir. I'll help however I can," Ron said, beaming.

"I understand that in the DA, you showed considerable skill in working with students of all levels," Dumbledore said, peering intently at Ron. "I am counting on your ability to measure your strength against your opponent."

"I will do my best, Professor," said Ron.

"Thank you, Ron. I shall see you tomorrow morning, at eight sharp; and for now, good day to you both," Dumbledore said, as he turned and slipped through the doors.

Ron waited until the door closed before turning to Hermione. "My excellent OWL and DA work," he said smugly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's getting late. Aren't you ready for bed?" Ginny asked, yawning.

Harry lifted his quill from the parchment and leaned back in the ancient leather chair. They were in the office that was part of the fourth-floor suite; Harry was seated at the desk, and Ginny curled in an overstuffed chair nearby, her legs tucked under her. Yawning, she stretched, slowly stood, and then walked around the desk and perched on the arm of the chair. "It's back to lessons in the morning, Harry."

"Okay." Harry raised his hand to meet Ginny's, touching two of his fingers to two of hers. "I don't know that I'm accomplishing very much, anyway."

"By all reports," Dumbledore said, standing in the doorway, "you have accomplished quite a lot, dear boy. I realize that the hour is late, but might we have a brief word?"

"Professor Dumbledore! Yes! It's great to see you... Sir...." Dumbledore entered the room, followed by a witch that the two teenagers realized after a moment was Cassandra. Looking back and forth between the two older wizards, they realized that something about Dumbledore was different, too.

"What... happened?" Ginny asked.

"We have joined, Ginny, as you and Harry did," Cassandra replied. "Other magic was involved, as well. That magic, in finding balance, has given me years while taking them away from Albus. I believe that I have had the better portion of the exchange."

"We're glad you're okay, Professor, that both of you are okay," Ginny said.

Dumbledore and Cassandra had settled into two of the chairs facing the desk. "One might say that we have come full circle, Harry. I now find myself seated before your desk, and indeed, I must thank you for the hospitality you have shown to both of us."

"Both of you are always welcome in our home, Professor Dumbledore," Harry said.

"Thank you, Harry, and you too, Ginny," Dumbledore said. "It was, in fact, about your home that I wished to speak to you, if you would allow a meddling old wizard to ask questions about that which is none of his affair?"

"What would you like to know, Professor?" Harry asked.

"The memory that you shared with Perenelle ended with your arrival back at Hogwarts," Dumbledore began. "Might I enquire as to the series of events that resulted in my finding Mr. Malfoy here?"

"Madam Pomfrey wasn't in the hospital wing," Harry replied. "And we didn't know what was happening with you, and didn't want to risk interrupting it. Mrs. Malfoy needed help, and Jamie... I didn't see any other way."

"Were you not concerned?" Dumbledore pressed.

Harry shrugged then sighed. "Maybe it was a mistake, but if I hadn't... I didn't see any good options. I wanted to get Ginny back here, and it was the fastest way to get help for Mrs. Malfoy. Draco said St. Mungo's would be too risky." Harry paused for a moment. "And he played it straight with us."

"And now?" Dumbledore asked.

"It's still uncomfortable. Both his being here, and the... tie... between him and Jamie," Harry replied. "But you told me third year that saving another wizard's life creates a strong magical bond, and Jamie has saved him twice, now."

"They seem to have developed a certain affinity," said Dumbledore. "I encountered Mr. Malfoy tutoring your sister in Potions earlier today." Dumbledore watched Harry carefully. When he did not react, Dumbledore continued, "Now that the crisis has past, Mr. Malfoy would be safe at Hogwarts, and a memory charm would remove any knowledge of headquarters."

"No," Harry said, exchanging a look with Ginny. "It's okay."

"And with Jamie... I'm not sure how much good a memory charm would do, anyway," Ginny added.

"It's more than that," Harry said. "Madame Flamel said you had hoped he would decide not to follow Voldemort, Professor."

"Indeed, that was my hope," said Dumbledore. "But I am forced to admit I found it disquieting to discover him here."

"Jamie believes this is important, that it's what the Sorting Hat urged her to do," Harry said.

"How do you feel about it, Harry?" Cassandra asked.

Harry and Ginny exchanged another long look before he replied, "That maybe she's right. Isn't the enemy of my enemy at least a potential ally?"

"Indeed. I have little doubt that Mr. Malfoy could share a considerable amount of useful information, if he chose." Dumbledore said. "Perhaps even more."

"And that's why... what we do now is important," Ginny said.

"What do you mean, Ginny?" Cassandra asked.

"Malfoy... sorry, Draco..."

"Is there any significance in that you are both are now referring to Mr. Malfoy in a familiar fashion?" Dumbledore interrupted.

"Jamie... she wanted us to call him Draco... anyway, Draco broke off with his father and that lot," Ginny continued, "and right now, he doesn't... well, belong. He doesn't fit...anywhere." Her voice lowered. "I know how that feels. What we do now could make a difference." After a pause, she asked, "What do you think, Professor Dumbledore?"

It was Dumbledore and Cassandra's turn to exchange a look. "I believe that you have chosen well, despite my misgivings."

"And I am certain of it," Cassandra said.

"In that event," Dumbledore said, "Mr. Malfoy has placed himself in a difficult position. One where he might, perhaps, find it necessary to defend himself. Would either of you object if he were to participate in Defense Against the Dark Arts training?"

"No," Harry said, this time after a quicker glace. "But... um, I'm not sure that would be, er..."

"You were perhaps expecting some resistance from your classmates?" Dumbledore asked.

"Um... yeah."

"Then I shall take that under advisement," Dumbledore said, and then his eyes twinkled. "Or perhaps we should leave that to Jamie." Before Harry could object, Dumbledore continued, "No, do not worry, dear boy, I believe that I can find a way."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ugh!" Ron scowled as he followed Hermione down the stairs. "Why did I let myself get talked into this? It's the bloody summer holidays..."

"Wasn't it something about your excellent OWL and DA work?" Hermione asked dryly; Ron's only answer was a scowl. "They needed a dueling partner so they can test Vela; tomorrow you can go back to having your lie-in."

"And I'm hungry, and there's only ten minutes left for breakfast now," Ron growled.

"I did call you several times, you know. Did you get a chance to talk to Percy last night?"

"No, but Charlie told me what happened. Penny and the baby had another close call." Ron lowered his voice. "Madam Pomfrey is afraid she won't be able to carry the baby long enough."

"That must be awful for them," Hermione said with a shudder.

"Shhhh! Don't say anything in front of Mum. We're not supposed to know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"No, put your thumb along the spine. And remember, you have to keep your wrist stiff. Now, place your feet like me, and bend your knees a little." Jamie looked at his stance and nodded. "Okay, now, with your right arm, make a round, smooth swing like this." Jamie's arm described a rapid arc and a moment later the knife that had been in her hand quivered almost dead center in the wooden target. "Try it."

Draco tried to mimic her actions, but his knife clanked against the target handle first and fell to the floor.

"You have to keep your wrist stiff until after you release the knife, but the throwing motion was pretty good," said Jamie, as she retrieved both knives. "Try again?"

Draco had begun his swing when Ron's voice suddenly bellowed from behind them, "What the bloody hell is going on here?" The knife spun through the air wide of the target, and clattered across the room. Jamie and Draco spun to face him, Draco drawing his wand.

"I was showing Draco how to throw a knife," Jamie said as she casually shifted her knife to her right hand. "What are you doing here? You don't start for another couple of hours."

"That doesn't matter," Ron replied angrily as he turned towards Jamie. "Are you out of your mind? Being alone down here with this git and... and giving him a weapon."

Draco swaggered towards Jamie, brandishing his wand at Ron. "I am supposed to be here, Weasel. My companion showed me here so that I could meet the Headmaster, as he requested," Draco drawled. "But... your presence here is not required; it would be best if you would crawl back beneath whatever cobblestone you came from."

Ron also held his wand at ready. "At least I have the price of a cobblestone! Dumbledore asked ME to be here this morning, to help test Vela's defense skills! You're lying! And get the hell away from Jamie, Malfoy!"

Draco lowered his wand a fraction and pointedly looked at the various equipment scattered about the room, as Jamie stepped closer. "An unlikely tale, given the abundance of practice targets already here. And that's no longer my name, Weasel."

"You've got a wand this time, Ferret-face. Why don't we find out just how much you learned from Umbridge last year? En garde!"

"Ron!" Jamie shouted. "Stop this! Now!"

"Stay back, Jamie," Draco said, as he took several steps away and squared off against Ron. "This has been coming for a long time." Then, looking at Ron, he added, "Shall we finish this? En garde!"

The two opponents bowed, watched each other intently, and readied their wands.

"Arachnosortia!" Draco shouted. Ron cast a stunner just to the right of Draco, and then followed a second later with a slug regurgitating charm to the left, where he had correctly anticipated Draco dodging.

"Eat slugs, Ferret!" Ron growled in grim satisfaction as the hex hit home. A moment later he screamed, as the spiders from Draco's spell began to drop on and around him.

"HOLD!" Nicholas Flamel commanded from the doorway. He strode briskly into the room, followed by Dumbledore.

"Good morning," Dumbledore said, as Nicholas dispelled the spiders and slugs. "It would seem that you are both quite eager to begin. Miss Potter, I believe you will find that Miss Granger is waiting for you to join her."

Jamie nodded reluctantly and then walked to the door, pausing a moment to whisper something to Ron, as Perenelle entered the training room. She glanced back at Draco as she walked from the room.

"Very well," Nicholas said, "Shall we begin?"

"Wait!" Ron objected. "I thought... that Vela... you were testing..."

"I'm afraid not, Ron," Nicholas said. "Our purpose for this morning is twofold. First, I had desired to ascertain Mr. M... forgive my familiarity... Draco's progress in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"You mean... I got up for..." Ron glared at Draco.

"Indeed," Nicholas said. "And in the second place, I believe you are aware that I have asked Harry to continue the DA once the term begins, this year as an official organization. He and Ginny have both praised your ability to work with students of all levels, carefully matching your ability against theirs. I had hoped to see a demonstration, as I have hopes there is a specific role you might fulfill."

"And I will confess a third motivation as well," Dumbledore said. "Draco... you will forgive me, my boy... is in a position where more applied practice in Defense, rather than the more theoretical course taught last year, would be of use. I had thought that Ron would, perhaps, be willing to spend some additional time working with Draco each day..."

"You mean... tutor... him?" Ron asked, disbelieving.

"Exactly!" Dumbledore said, beaming. "And, if you will forgive me, Ron... Professor Snape has expressed a concern that you require additional revision to be ready for his NEWT class; and in return for your assistance, I had hoped Draco would likewise spend some time each day working with you in Potions... I understand Miss Potter has found him to be an excellent tutor."

"Tutor Weasley?" Draco gasped, then clamped his jaws firmly closed.

"Precisely!" Dumbledore said. "And if you are both successful, perhaps certain events that occurred towards the end of the last school year... shall we say... might be overlooked, particularly as I consider prefects and responsibilities for the coming school year."

"That... is blackmail," Draco spat. Ron nodded in agreement, until he realized whom he was agreeing with.

"I prefer to think of it as a carrot, rather than a stick," Dumbledore said, still smiling.

"But time is short," Nicholas said. "And there is much I would like to accomplish this morning. Ron, if you would prepare your shield, I would like to Draco to prepare to attack."

As Nicholas continued his instructions, Dumbledore whispered to Perenelle, "Did you hear what Jamie whispered to Ron?"

"Indeed. She warned him that if any harm befell Draco, he would find it difficult to consummate his relationship with Hermione."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Molly... I need a spot of help," said Sirius as he entered the kitchen, after looking around carefully to ensure the room was otherwise vacant.

"What is it, Sirius? Is everyone all right?" Molly asked, concerned.

"Yes; it's nothing like that," Sirius replied. "It's Vela. She... um... needs some guidance."

"Guidance? What sort?"

"Er... feminine guidance."

"What is it, exactly?"

"She's been sheltered, Molly. Very sheltered. I tried to explain to her about her Mum, and me, and what happened... she didn't... no, couldn't understand."

"I'm not sure I follow, Sirius."

"She doesn't understand... about the birds and the bees."

"Then explain it to her, Sirius. You're either her father or her uncle; it's your place."

"But... Molly, she's... she's a girl."

"Of course she is, Sirius."

"But how do I..."

"Why, you put one word after another, Sirius."

"But... Vela's a girl."

"Honestly! Why would that make a difference? Just explain it like you did to Harry."

"Um... Harry... he er, already knew."

"Sirius, what are your plans for her? It is going to make a difference if she's really yours or not?"

"No," Sirius replied softly. "There's no doubt she's Marlene's."

"Then you need to do this, Sirius. Talk to her, and answer her questions. All of them, including about you, and Marlene, and what happened. She lost everything she had; you're the only link that she has to anything familiar."

"I may have already blown that."

"What do you mean?"

"Marlene told her over and over about me, that I was her father, and that I'd come for them. And when I started to explain..."

"Then be her father, Sirius. She needs you as badly as Harry does."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"They'll be there for hours; at the very least until the bottle is empty. Go on," Jamie encouraged.

Draco nodded glumly. He had seen Sirius several times in the course of the day, but there had always been several people and a flurry of activity around him. Now, only Remus Lupin was with him, and the two were sharing a bottle of Firewhiskey. "Okay."

"I'll wait here."

Draco entered the drawing room, making as much noise as the plush carpet would allow. He crossed the room, stood near the seated figures, and waited.

Sirius stared at Draco for several moments before exchanging a glance with Lupin. "What do you want, Draco? If it's a drink, the Butterbeer is in the kitchen."

"I'd like to speak with you for a moment, Sir," Draco said.

Sirius raised an eyebrow and waited for a moment before nodding warily, "Go ahead." As Draco glanced towards Lupin for a fraction of a second, he added, "Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Remus, though that's Professor Lupin to you."

Draco nodded. "You are head of the House of Black."

"That's not entirely sorted out, but let's suppose I am. So what?"

"Mother is your cousin."

"I've already instructed the solicitor to release Narcissa's share," Sirius said. "If it were up to me, it'd have already been done, but that's out of my hands."

"It is not... about that," said Draco.

Sirius and Lupin exchanged another look, and Sirius turned back to Draco, interested. "Then what, Draco?"

"I do not know if Mother has spoken with you, but it was her intent to reclaim her maiden name," Draco said.

"That's certainly her right," Lupin observed.

"Yeah," Sirius said. "Cissy hasn't talked to me, but that's certainly not an issue."

"Professor Snape said that I must talk to you," Draco said, looking down. "And obtain your permission."

"Snape told you to talk to me? For permission?" Sirius asked, bewildered.

"He relinquished the Malfoy name, Sirius," Lupin said quietly.

"Mother is from an old and honorable family," Draco said. "With your concurrence, I shall take her name."

"You mean... Draco... Black?" Sirius asked, incredulous.

Draco nodded. "If you will permit me to do so, yes, Sir."

Sirius sat thoughtfully for several minutes. "Draco, breaking off with Lucius is the smartest thing you've ever done: that, and the fact that you helped rescue Cissy, is enough all by itself to entitle you to the name. You have my permission."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Hold on, Draco, I'm not finished. I've talked with Narcissa, and I know why she did what she did. Do you?"

"Mother refused to discuss that with me."

"She did it because she wanted something other than Azkaban--or worse--for you."

Draco nodded.

"Jamie stuck up for you--Merlin alone knows why--and yes, I see you lurking out there, so you might as well come on in, Jamie," Sirius continued. "She got Harry and the others to help, and then Harry brought you back here. You might want to think about all of those things."

"Draco also helped rescue Vela," Jamie said, as she glided forward to stand beside Draco.

Sirius glanced at Jamie with a momentary touch of annoyance. "Yeah, I reckon he did at that. Thank you, Draco." Sirius glanced at Lupin, who appeared to be carefully trying not to laugh. "Get out of here, now, the both of you, before I change my mind."

As they walked from the room, they heard Sirius mutter, "We're going to need another bottle--maybe two--after that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"C'mon," Jamie said, as she tugged him up the final flight of steps.

"Is being an American mutually exclusive with having a sense of dignity?" Draco asked, as he tried to proceed at a more sedate pace.

"No, but maybe it helps. Come on!"

A few moments later, Draco found himself seated on one of the sofas in the fourth-floor sitting room, where Jamie had led him and then placed him. As they entered, she'd trumpeted, "Draco has an announcement!"

"An announcement?" Harry asked, as Ginny giggled along with Jamie at the expression on Draco's face.

Draco sighed and said, "You were both there when I renounced the Malfoy name. Sirius Black, the head of the House of Black, has granted me permission to use Mother's maiden name. I shall be known henceforth as Draco Black."

"Congratulations," Ginny said.

"That's... that's good," Harry managed. "It's going to um, take just a little getting used to."

"Doubtless," Draco replied. "I expect there are a significant number who will require more than becoming accustomed to it, Father among them."

"Should I call you Black, now?" Harry asked.

"No," Jamie said, before Draco could respond. Jamie pointed at each of them in turn. "Draco, Harry, Ginny, Jamie. Got it? Draco, Harry, Ginny, Jamie."

Harry and Draco's eyes met, truly met, for the first time since their return. Draco glanced at Jamie, as if to say, "what can I do?" and Harry gave a minute shrug. Harry took a deep breath. "Draco."

"Harry," Draco said, nodding briefly. "Ginny."

"Draco." Ginny smiled.

"Ginny," Molly called from the top of the stairs, as she walked towards the sitting room. "Could I borrow you and Jamie for a few minutes?"

"Sure, Mum."

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley."

"Hi, Harry. Hello, Draco," Molly said, as the two girls followed her out of the room. "I'll have them back shortly. Harry, you're not to come downstairs till they are back."

Harry blushed slightly, but nodded. As the two teenagers padded down the stairs, followed by Molly's slower steps, he responded to Draco's raised eyebrow with a shrug. They sat silently for several minutes before Harry broke the quiet. "You said we were temporary allies. But what you did last night, that wasn't temporary."

Draco nodded. "That was not planned. But when I found Mother as she was... you are right. It was not temporary."

"Then isn't the enemy of my enemy my ally?"

"I have gained all of your enemies, but lost none of mine. Weasley made that clear enough this morning. Why are you any different? Why would you tell Dumbledore to let me stay here?"

"Because of what you did, Draco. It's safer for you and your Mum."

"Safer than Hogwarts?" Draco said with disbelief.

"Dumbledore and the Flamels are here; so yes, I think it's safer."

"Is that all? Gryffindor altruism?"

"No. You've heard the Sorting Hat and what it said about unity, about working together. When Jamie was sorted, the Hat was even more insistent."

"And you are thinking that I could--now--have any influence with Slytherin? My old 'friends' are now the greatest threat to my life and well-being."

"As a matter of fact, I do. Or does everyone else in Slytherin toe the line and follow orders like you didn't?"

"Touché. But it would be difficult, alone and isolated. And for what?"

"You don't have to be. You'd have allies. And you could have a life of your own, not what your father planned out."

"Allies? Can you speak for your housemates? For your friends like Weasley, Granger, and Longbottom?"

"Yes," Harry replied without hesitation.

"But you have not told me why," Draco said, musingly. "I am a Slytherin, and by our very nature, Slytherins are traders. We exchange value for value--some of it you would call blackmail or worse--but there is something more than ill-formed doggerel about house unity that drives you."

"There are a lot of things. You played it straight when we rescued your Mum. You know a lot that could help us: things you've seen, things you've heard. Things that could make a difference, that could save lives or help us challenge Voldemort." Harry watched Draco flinch as he said the name. "All of that is logical, rational, and--how did you put it--value for value. But what it really comes down to for me is Jamie. She believes in you. And because of that, I'm willing to take a chance."

Draco sat for a long time. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Then we are allies."

"Allies," Harry repeated, as their eyes locked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the shadows of the hallway outside the sitting room, Cassandra nodded silently and allowed herself to relax slightly. Albus had been right about the boy, and she about Jamie. Out of the myriad of possibilities that existed, they had now passed yet another hurdle. "It is indeed your love, Harry, in more ways than you can know," she whispered. "May what should be, shall be."