The Pieces Fall Into Place

Harry followed Ciara down what was the probably the fiftieth corridor as she led the way down to their rooms. As he followed her floating figure, he vaguely wished for breadcrumbs to mark the way back to the exit. Ciara flapped her wings lazily as she floated down the hall and stopped in front of two adjacent doors. The one on the left belonged to Draco and the one on the right was Harry's. After bidding them goodnight, Ciara floated off for parts of the castle yet unknown.

Draco entered his room and was given quite a nasty shock. It looked exactly like his bedchamber at home! The bed was the same, hung with the same black and silver drapes with the same sheets and on the floor lay an exact replica of the Malfoy heirloom rug, the enchanted serpent embroidered around the edge slithering along as it had at home. Everything was the same, down to the knife he kept in his bedside table. Even the closet was filled with clothing that greatly resembled, if they weren't identical, to the ones in his trunk and closet back on Earth. Now Draco was nervous. How had Ciara known exactly what his room looked like and how did they find clothes that fitted him exactly like his own? And how had they found a copy of the Never-ending Snake when no one outside the Malfoy family had seen the rug in well over half a century? Draco immediately searched the room for any and all jinxes or curses that he could possibly think of. As Draco wrapped up his rather futile inspection, he noted that one thing was markedly different about the room. There was an extra door next to the fireplace. He opened this door and found another door. Knowing where this door probably lead, he unlocked it and pushed it open to gaze into Harry's chamber.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry was in an equal state of shock. He had opened his door to look onto the Gryffindor dormitory that he inhabited on Earth. The only thing missing were the other beds that belonged to his dorm-mates. In the place of the missing beds, Harry found that the furnishings of the Gryffindor Common Room had either found their way through the portal or had been replicated down to the bum indentations left on the well used squashy chairs by the fireplace. Harry jumped when he heard Malfoy's voice.

"So this is what the Gryffindor dormitories look like." Harry turned to face the fireplace and saw Malfoy leaning against the mantle, surveying the room in a haughty manner.

"Shut up Malfoy, and leave my room. Crawl back into that snake pit of yours and sod off."

"Now, now Potter. No need to get your knickers in a twist." Draco gave Harry a sneering smirk. "All I wanted to do was have a nice chat and here you go, getting all upset. I think you need some anger management classes. All that attention's getting to you."

Harry really hated how Draco always thought he was so superior. Any camaraderie he had felt in the hall instantly vanished. Crossing his arms and standing his ground, Harry glared at him through his glasses.

"Fine. You want to talk? Talk."

"That's the problem with people these days. No one can carry on a bit of conversation anymore. Everything's all about business." Draco continued on as if Harry's scowl wasn't there.

"Malfoy... I'm warning you..." Harry spat out through his teeth.

"Alright, you poncy git, keep your shirt on. What do you think about that crazy bird? Do you believe what she said about us being in another dimension and all that rot?"

Harry paused for a moment. He sort of believed them, but had had enough run-ins with evil beings to make him more than a little suspicious.

"Yes...I suppose I believe her."

"You sure are a trusting whelp if nothing else... I wouldn't trust Ciara further than I could hex her."

"With all the evil things your family's done, I'm not surprised you don't trust anyone. Why, I'm amazed you don't have a knife in your back or an Unforgivable Curse on your head. But she didn't give me any reason not to believe her. If Ciara wanted to kill us, she could have a soon as she saw us."

"Ever hear of a little thing called torture, Potter? Maybe they're going to get hot-poker happy or use the Cruciatus curse. Wish they'd let me torture you. Been dreaming bout it for a while. Watching you scream like the nancy-boy ponce you are..." Draco trailed off and smirked.

"Very funny you prick. Now is that all? Or are you going to just stand there and insult me?" Malfoy opened his mouth to say something, but Harry cut him off. "Wait a minute, don't answer that last question."

"I'm disgusted that you know me so well. But not surprised... What can I say? I am a handsome devil. Not even the Almighty Potter can resist my charm." Draco smirked even more. The whole smirking bit was really beginning to piss Harry off. He had seen enough smirks from Draco to last a thousand lifetimes.

"You're a narcissist, cowardly bastard. Your own mother wouldn't call you handsome if the world depended on it although I agree with the devil. Now as you once said, I've got better places to be than hanging around here with you. Get your arse out of my room." Harry crossed his arms and scowled angrily.

Draco pushed off the wall he was leaning on and straightened up. Bowing, he said, "As you wish, Saint Potter." Again the sarcasm and hate dripped.

Rising up from his bow, Draco gave Harry a salute, which quickly turned into the finger and exited the room with a slam of his door. Cursing under his breath, Harry slammed his connecting door as well and proceeded to get ready to sleep. Changing into the pajamas he had found in the closet, Harry brushed his teeth and climbed into bed. Sighing contentedly and closing his eyes Harry felt his body heat begin to warm up the bed. Laying there with no sounds, but that of his own breath and heart, Harry began to reflect on what Malfoy had said. His eyes opened. What if Ciara really was a psychotic killer waiting to get him in his sleep?

Harry walked over to the door, locked it and placed a Locking Charm on it. No one would be able to alohamora his or her way in. Feeling more secure, Harry began his trek back to bed. But then he remembered. Ciara apparently didn't need a wand to do magic; therefore she must be incredibly powerful by herself. Harry cursed again at Malfoy for making him paranoid. Harry moved an end table over by the door. Anyone who entered wouldn't be able to see it and trip, or would have to move it. This would cause quite some noise and wake him up. Harry wasn't a deep sleeper and he would wake up if there were noise. He closed his eyes with his wand held tightly in his hand.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Through the wall, Draco chuckled as he heard Potter shuffling furniture around. *Stupid bugger...* Harry should have realized that furniture wouldn't be that great a barrier. Draco himself had been taught how to enter a room, even one booby-trapped with furniture, without making so much as a peep. Draco reached inside his drawer and checked the blade on the knife. Taking it out of the sheath, he twirled it expertly. It was a sharp blade with the usual snake that emblazoned almost everything in his house. (Contrary to popular belief, the blade is not a Muggle invention. Muggles borrowed the idea it from wizards who would attach metal points to the ends of their wands in battle in case they couldn't curse in time.)

Draco went to sleep with his arms crossed over his chest, wand in one hand and knife in the other. No one would stand a chance if they decided to attack him.