Immortalitas Aestas

When Harry entered the library early the next morning he was rather surprised to see so many people. It seemed that everyone had readjusted to normal life at Hogwarts now that the heat spell had been lifted and was using every spare moment they had to catch up on their assignments. Harry himself was still trying to get through all of the essays the various professors had assigned; Hermione had already thoroughly chastised him yesterday evening for not working on his Charms assignment. Presenting her with the book he'd received from Dumbledore had waylaid her for the moment, but Harry was sure that once she'd finished retrieving the information she was after he would no doubt receive another earful about his schoolwork.

Harry stifled a yawn and waved at Madam Pince. He was surprised to see her nod her head in greeting instead of giving the usual suspicious look. Scanning the room for Hermione, he weaved his way through the tables and chairs that were occupied by other students; the Ravenclaws, in particular, seemed out in full force.

He'd been informed by Colin Creevey (who had been up at the crack of dawn in order to get pictures of the Hogwarts sunrise for his mum) that Hermione had left the tower very early that morning with her arms loaded with books. She was completely enthralled with Dumbledore's book and had spent the previous evening putting together a list of supplemental titles to look through. The specifics of the spell casting were being handled by Ron and Lavender, as they were the Charms experts in the group, but Hermione wanted to make sure she was aware of the background and uses for the charm and that the variables were accounted for before they actually tried to cast it.

The charm they were planning on using was very complex. There were a large number of things that could potentially go wrong, and since Harry was the one who would be overseeing the entire process, he, like Hermione, planned on learning as much as possible before they started. The biggest problem in Harry's opinion was simply the amount of time and magical energy this spell was going to require. In order to make sure everyone was protected, the charm had to be cast on everyone and everything that entered or exited the castle. This included staff members, students and all of their animals - toads, owls, cats and rats, everything had to be charmed. It simply would not be possible to accomplish their goal without the entire Adversarius and all of the teachers; he was glad that, in this case, he didn't have to do it by himself.

Hermione had already worked out the mechanics of the spell and given them to Ron and Lavender to look over. Protego Intus was more complex than anything they'd tried thus far, including Blaise and Tracey's Contego. Even the wand movement was difficult, requiring a design to be "drawn" in the air, instead of the typical swish and flick. The other problem was that there was a time limit on the spell; once anyone cast the first charm - typically on the building itself - they only had a set amount of time to complete everything. He was hoping Professor Dumbledore would be willing to work out a plan of action in order to ensure that everything was completed within the given time frame.

Harry finally found Hermione at a table in the farthest corner of the library. Her head was buried in the large purple tome in front of her; the quill she was holding moved quickly over the sheet of parchment that was off to one side.

Harry didn't say anything for a moment, instead pulling out the chair next to her and peering at her neat, small handwriting that had nearly filled up the page. "Can I help with something?" he finally asked as she paused in her writing to dip the quill into an inkpot.

"Hello, Harry," she said in response, lifting a hand to rub the back of her neck. He stood up, brushing her hands away and started to massage her shoulders. She sighed in contentment. "Thanks. You're fantastic at that, you know."

"You might have mentioned it once or twice."

She smiled at him. "I have a list of books I would like to look through that are referenced in here. Do you think you could go get them for me? They're in the Restricted Section, but Professor Lupin wrote me a pass." She handed him a folded square of parchment. "Madam Pince told me what they all look like. I've written it all down, so you shouldn't have too much trouble locating them."

Harry took the list from her, nodding his head. "Of course. I'll be back in a bit, then."

As he walked away he looked over the note that Lupin had written. It gave them access to any book in the entire library; he hoped Madam Pince wouldn't find it necessary to hover around him while he looked. He reached the counter and passed the note to the librarian.

"Right this way, Mr. Potter." She sighed as she led him away from her counter. "I certainly hope that whatever you find helps."

Harry nodded his head in response. "Me, too."

She unlatched the doors that led into the Restricted Section. "Be careful what you touch. Some of these books are very old and very temperamental. Let me know when you've finished so that I can lock everything back up."

She left him alone with his list. Harry unfolded the parchment, running his finger along the titles that Hermione had written down. Along with the names of the books she'd also included a short description of their covers as well as extra notes; phrases like "tickle the spine" and "compliment it" mixed with the identifying characteristics. Harry rolled his eyes.

Harry pulled his quill and some spare parchment for notes from his bag before slinging it off the back of a nearby chair. He moved the quill slowly down the list of titles, stopping on Magicus Arcanus, which, according to Hermione, was a simple black book with a silver pentacle on the spine. Harry moved along the shelves of books until he found the right section. He located the book and carefully pulled it from its place. Hermione's note informed him that in order to get this particular title to cooperate with him he had to provide music. Harry sighed. He hoped he'd be able to get by with humming; he really wasn't in the mood to sing.

As his fingers skimmed the cover he started to hum the old standby Weasley is Our King. The book seemed to enjoy it well enough because it thankfully remained silent. Harry gingerly turned the pages, looking for the section Hermione was most interested in. He found it and started to write. He got most of the way through when a voice interrupted him.

"Well, well. Who knew you were so fond of that little ditty we wrote."

Harry stopped humming, just getting the book closed as it started to draw a breath to scream. While he and the dark-haired Slytherin standing in front of him had a tentative truce in place, her tone of voice immediately set his teeth on edge.

"What do you want, Pansy? I'm trying to finish this up for Hermione."

Pansy smirked. "Who said I wanted anything?"

Harry rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to Hermione's list. "You clearly do, or you wouldn't be standing here in front of me." He placed the black book back into its correct place before turning to face her. "I don't really have time to play guessing games with you, so if you want something please just get to the point."

Pansy pushed away from the shelves and stepped close to Harry. "Maybe I just want to bask in the glow of the Boy Who Lived."

Harry's jaw clenched. He couldn't help it; he hated the way she said it, the way she said "Boy Who Lived" like he was something terrible.

"I'm afraid the light's already out for the day." Harry went back to his list and quickly located a few of the titles, pushing some of the books farther back on the shelf to make a place to set them. He organized them into a neat stack and started to lift them into his arms, when Pansy reached out and placed her hand on his forearm. She was squeezing just hard enough to make sure she had his attention; her grip also successfully prevented him from retrieving the books.

"I want to know what's going on with you and Draco. I've tried to be patient. I've tried to wait for him to tell me. But waiting has never been one of my strong suits as Draco will tell you, so I've come to you instead. Don't let me down, Potter."

Harry resisted the urge to sigh loudly. He'd rather expected her to ask him this - it seemed to be the only conversation Pansy was interested in having with him, in fact - but that still didn't mean that he wasn't a tad bit irked by the question.

"What makes you think there's anything going on? We're simply two people working toward a common goal." In more ways than one, he added in his head. He placed his free hand on her wrist and twisted slightly. She winced and loosened her grip.

"I don't believe you, Potter. Draco keeps giving me these vague answers which almost always mean he's lying or keeping something from me. I don't like it."

"So sorry, but as far as I'm concerned there's really nothing to tell. Besides, if Draco won't discuss things with you then it's certainly not my place, either. Other than that, I honestly don't have anything else to say to you, Pansy. I really wish you'd stop bothering me about it." He raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, counting to ten. There was a nasty headache brewing just behind his eyes, he could feel it. He stuck Hermione's list in the cover of a rather normal-looking green book, added it to the pile, and scooped up the stack.

"I won't stop 'bothering you' as you so nicely put it, because Draco is my friend and I want to make sure he's all right. He's doing risky things and I'm positive that it's because of you. You may not want to talk to me but you will listen, Potter, because I am only going to say this once. It's your fault that Draco's involved in all this, after all."

One of the books slipped and Harry just caught it before it toppled off the pile. "Excuse me? How is it my fault?"

"If it wasn't for you, he wouldn't feel the need to endanger himself all the time. I mean, sending him back to the Manor? How stupid could you get?"

Harry felt a rush of anger. "That had nothing to do with me! I didn't send him after that book." His grip on the pile of books started to slip a bit, but he managed to shift them enough to keep them from falling.

"Maybe you didn't send him yourself but I'm sure you had a hand in convincing him to go."

Harry tilted his head back and closed his eyes. He couldn't let Pansy get to him; she was just trying to make him slip up and reveal his and Draco's relationship. It wasn't going to work.

Pansy continued on. "You also made him brew that invincibility potion. The brewing process itself is dangerous, let alone sampling the potion once it's finished. What if something had gone wrong? Draco could have been injured and you put him in that position."

"I never said he had to make the potion. Snape gave him the list of ingredients and told him it would be helpful to have. I also didn't make him try it, and when I couldn't persuade him not to I took it as well. I suppose you think I was purposely trying to injure myself, too?"

"I don't see why not. You don't want to handle any of this on your own anyway, and injuring yourself would ensure that you survived while everyone else put their lives on the line instead."

That did it. As Harry opened his mouth to reply, the small green book that had been balanced precariously on the top of the pile fell to the floor. It hit the ground with a thump and Harry caught his breath, hoping that this was not one of those temperamental titles that Madam Pince had mentioned.

It was.

The book let out an unholy scream. Pansy jumped, hitting her elbow hard on the corner of the shelves. Harry managed to set the rest of the teetering pile on the nearby table just as the librarian rushed into the section.

"You two! Out! How dare you treat my books so terribly! Especially you, Mr. Potter, you should know better!"

The book continued to scream as Madam Pince grabbed Pansy and Harry by the scruff of their necks and propelled them out of the library, forcing them through the doors. Harry landed hard on his arse, his elbow knocking painfully into the stone floor. "I don't want to see either of you in here again!" The door slammed shut, mercifully blocking out the book's screams.

"Oh, well done, Potter."

Harry bit his tongue to keep back the retort he desperately wanted to throw at her, instead leaning back until he was sprawled on the floor.

Bugger it all, he thought.

***

Draco had been listening to some of the background information on the spell from Hermione when a scream pierced the air. His back straightened instantly; it felt like he'd just been plunged into a pool of ice cold water.

"What on earth?" he started to ask, but the scream had startled Hermione, too. She stood up so fast that her chair tipped over backwards, hitting the floor with a crack. It was then that he realized he could just make out Madam Pince yelling over the noise and it was obvious that she was not happy at all. Draco belatedly wondered where Pansy had gone off to and stood up next to Hermione.

"What happened?" he shouted into her ear.

"I think Harry must have dropped one of the books!"

"I'll go see what's going on!" he called over his shoulder. If Pansy wasn't with him she was probably with Harry, and more than likely had a hand in the scream that was still ringing loudly through the library; he doubted Harry would have caused all the ruckus on his own.

Draco located the librarian, although it was difficult as people were up out of their seats wandering around. Nearly everyone had their hands clapped over their ears.

Draco winced as the noise grew even louder. Madam Pince saw him then and shook a finger in his face.

"You!" she said accusingly. Draco blinked. As far as he knew he hadn't done anything this time.

She proceeded to grab him by the arm, pulling him into the Restricted Section. The book that was responsible for the incessant noise was lying open with its pages down on the ground. Madam Pince pushed him forward. "Pick it up! Quickly!"

Draco did as he was told. The book continued to scream; he was afraid his hearing would never be the same again. Madam Pince made him hold it while she gently ran her fingertips over the cover. She cooed and placated it, her voice gentle as she told it how beautiful it was and apologized for the way the "stupid boy" had treated it. Draco rolled his eyes and received a glare in response. Luckily her words seemed to have settled it down a bit because the screams were not nearly as ear-piercing as they had been. Then again, perhaps they were and he'd simply lost his hearing. It was difficult to say.

She took the book from him once the screams had subsided into wracking sobs. The entire book was shaking so hard that Draco found it difficult to hold on to, especially since the librarian had already told him not to squeeze too hard.

"Your friends did this," she told him angrily. "I would have thought Mr. Potter was a better person than that. I'd assumed that being friends with Miss Granger would have put some sense in his head." Draco thought that was more than a bit unfair but refrained from commenting. "That Miss Parkinson, on the other hand...."

She continued her tirade at Draco but he'd stopped listening. So Pansy had been involved; he'd rather thought so.

"I'm sorry," he interrupted when she'd paused for a breath. "But where are they, exactly?"

"I threw them out!" she said loudly. The book gave a shudder and Draco backed away quickly. His ears were still ringing and he wasn't sure he could handle another outburst.

"Right," he said. "I'll just be on my way, then." She gave him another glare as he hurried away.

He reached the door of the library and was about to open it when he noticed he could hear shouting through the wood. He sighed; the book being dropped had obviously interrupted Pansy in the middle of her discussion with Harry and she was making sure she said everything on her mind.

He opened the door and stepped into the corridor. Pansy and Harry were facing each other and he was rather aghast to see that she had her wand drawn.

"What are you going to do, Parkinson? Hex it out of me?"

Draco winced at Harry's tone.

"I will if I have to, Potter! Draco's involved too deeply for my liking! Why do you have to include everyone around you in this? Why can't you just be man enough to face the Dark Lord one on one?"

"You've got it all wrong!" Harry yelled. His eyes flashed dangerously, reminding Draco of all the rows they'd had once upon a time.

"If I've got it wrong maybe you should explain it to me!"

Harry's shoulders slumped. "I can't," he said flatly. Draco stepped into the pool of light from one of the wall sconces and Harry saw him for the first time. His back straightened up. "It was lovely talking to you as always, Pansy, but I'm afraid we'll have to leave it for today. I have things to do now which are a bit more important."

Pansy opened her mouth to reply but Harry spun around and stalked off down the hallway.

"Pansy," Draco said, eyes on Harry's retreating figure. She turned around, already preparing to speak, but Draco held up his hand. The look he gave her would have made others take a step backwards, but it never quite worked that way on her. Instead she stepped closer to him and tried to talk again. "Not now. I will talk with you later." His voice was final and he knew she didn't like it one bit. Her cheeks had that hint of red at the cheekbones, a sure sign that she was one second away from an outburst. He turned away quickly.

"Harry, wait!" he called out. Harry was nearly to the staircase and didn't stop, so Draco broke into a run. "Please wait," he said once he'd gotten a bit closer, and Harry did, one foot paused on the step.

"I'm sorry about Pansy."

"Don't be." Harry's voice was quiet as Draco reached a hand out and placed it on his shoulder. He shrugged it off and turned to face him. His face was carefully blank. "She's absolutely right, so don't apologize. I shouldn't have involved you. I shouldn't have involved anyone."

"Harry, stop," Draco said. "It's not your fault."

"It is my fault!" The anger was back and it was so unexpected that two Gryffindor second years who had been making their way down the stairs stopped abruptly, unsure if they should continue past Harry or not.

Draco shook his head and grabbed Harry by the arm, tugging him behind an ornate tapestry that concealed a passageway. Draco frequently used the shortcut to get to Charms class and knew it would be deserted.

"Knock it off," he chastised. "You know as well as I do that the only way to bring down Voldemort is to get help from everyone possible. And Pansy knows it, too. She's just trying to get a rise out of you."

A flash of pain briefly clouded the green eyes in front of him and Draco carefully reached out, pulling Harry close and wrapping his arms around him. It took Harry a moment to return the embrace, but when he did he rested his forehead against Draco's and sighed.

"Deep down I know you're right. But I can't help wishing that I could do it alone, that I could keep you safe. That I could keep everyone safe."

Draco tilted Harry's chin back with one hand and gave him a soft kiss. "You're forgetting that we volunteered for this. Not one of us had to join the Adversarius, Harry. We did it because we wanted to, because we wanted to help. We still want to help." He kissed him again, then released him. "Besides, without it there'd be nothing else to do. Things would be bloody boring."

Harry gave a weak smile but before he could reply the tapestry was thrust aside and Professor Lupin stuck his head into the opening.

"There you are, Harry. I thought I heard voices." He stepped into the corridor and dropped the fabric back into place. "The Headmaster would like an update from you and Hermione. How are you doing with the research?"

"Well, I think she's doing all right with it." Harry had a sheepish look on his face and Draco grinned.

"What do you mean 'you think'? Haven't you been helping her?"

"Of course! It's just that, well, I ... kind of got kicked out of the library."

Lupin blinked. "You got kicked out of the library?" he repeated.

"Er ... well, yes. Just a bit ago."

It was quiet for a minute as Lupin processed this. Then he burst out laughing. "Oh, Harry, you are more and more like your father every day."

"Really?" Harry asked, interest written all over his face; it always saddened Draco that Harry had to rely on hearing these stories from others instead of directly from his parents.

"Yes. James got kicked out plenty of times, although it was usually for making too much noise. Once, though, it was because Madam Pince found your parents in a compromising position in the History of Magic section."

Harry blushed, and Draco coughed to hide his laughter, remembering all too well their recent tryst in the very same section.

"Anyway!" Lupin clapped his hands together. "Let's find a way to get you back into the library, as I want to hear what you and Hermione have worked out. I don't suppose you have your cloak with you?"

"Not with me, no. It's upstairs in my trunk."

Draco looked at their professor carefully. Was he really advocating the use of Harry's invisibility cloak to sneak back into the library?

"Well, head on up and get it then."

Yes. Yes he was.

Harry nodded his head. "I'll be right back." He briefly rested a hand on Draco's elbow before disappearing past the tapestry into the hall.

"You know about Harry's cloak, Sir?" Draco asked after a moment had passed.

"Of course. Has Harry shown you his map?"

Draco shook his head. He didn't have any idea what Lupin was talking about.

"Ah. Do mention it to him sometime. It's loads of fun."

Draco was sure that Lupin was trying not to smile. "I'll do that."

"Good." Lupin placed a hand on Draco's shoulder and led him through the tapestry. "Now what is all this about Harry getting kicked out of the library?"

They sat side by side on the staircase as Draco explained what had happened and waited for Harry to return.

Once Harry was back Lupin helped him cover himself with the cloak before moving to the door of the library. "Just head straight back to Hermione, Harry. I'll join you in a bit. Draco, you wait until Harry's had some time to reach her. Madam Pince is most likely going to be suspicious of you, so just try to keep your head down."

"Right."

Lupin opened the door and discretely held it open for the invisible Harry and then Draco to pass through. Lupin headed over immediately to the librarian's counter, where Madam Pince was still holding that sodding book. Its earlier sobs had now subsided into whimpers and Draco rolled his eyes. Surely enough was enough.

He felt a hand on his arm and something silky brushed against his ear. "He's brilliant, isn't he?" An invisible hand drifted lazily across his shoulder blades and Draco twitched.

"He's all right, I suppose," Draco said, breath catching in his throat. Harry's hidden fingers were drawing small circles on the nape of his neck and it was taking everything in him not to turn and kiss the living daylights out of his invisible companion.

Lupin caught his eyes then and Harry moved away; the cloak slid silkily against Draco's arm as Harry started toward the table in the back.

Draco took a deep breath and stepped away from the door. He paused to chat with Padma Patil, who was sitting at one of the tables with Terry Boot. Lupin was keeping Madam Pince occupied with questions about something and when Draco was sure she wasn't watching him he said his goodbyes to the two Ravenclaws and slipped into the shelves.

When he reached the table he found Hermione whispering to someone in a tone that Draco recognized as her Head Girl voice and knew that Harry was most likely getting a talking to about the earlier incident. He stepped up to the table and interrupted. "It wasn't all his fault, you know."

She leaned back into her chair and eyed him balefully. "I know. I was just saying."

"Hmm." Draco started to slide into the chair opposite her but stopped when someone reached up and pinched his arse. "Harry." There was a soft laugh and a rustle as Harry moved into the neighboring chair.

When Lupin joined them he was swinging Harry's bag in one hand.

"I recovered this for you, Harry," he said with a smile as he sat down next to Hermione. Harry murmured his thanks as he pulled off his cloak.

Lupin passed his bag over to him and before turning to Hermione and asking, "Well, what do we have so far?"

Hermione explained the background and the logistics of the spell. They would start with the school first, making sure that no one left the premises once the spell was started because if that happened they would be unable to get back in. Casting Protego Intus on the building would require staff and students alike, as every wall, window and doorway had to be charmed. Harry piped up then, recommending that any Quidditch players in the Adversarius bring their brooms along so they would be able to fly to the necessary towers and turrets.

Once the charm was fully cast on the building they would have six hours to finish everything up. They needed to determine how they were going to get everyone protected and what would be the easiest and quickest way to do it. Hermione suggested bringing everyone outside and simply moving down the lines. Draco and Harry agreed that this would be the easiest way to make sure they didn't miss anyone and Lupin cut in saying that everyone should bring their familiars with them, too, so that they could get the animals charmed right then as well. Harry added that the prefects would be responsible for getting all of their housemates outside.

According to Lupin, Dumbledore was going to make an announcement that evening at dinner about the upcoming mail searches that were going to be instituted per Ministry orders. Two prefects would be responsible for overseeing the procedures. No mail owls would be allowed into the school because of the wards; instead, mail would be dropped off at a to-be-determined building in Hogsmeade. The two prefects and their team would sort through the mail and Hagrid would deliver it to the school once it had been cleared. Owls that also were familiars would be allowed into the school, but they'd also have to drop their parcels in Hogsmeade.

"Well, everything seems to be coming along," Lupin said as he stood up and smoothed down the front of his robes. "I'll let Professor Dumbledore know what you've come up with and we can decide when to start the casting process. I think tomorrow morning would be good, as then we'd have the entire day to focus on the spell. There's a Prefect meeting this evening which the three of you will attend, and then of course you have your Contego practice after that. The Headmaster has already chosen the Prefects that will be responsible for the mail searches and will reveal their names at dinner." He tucked the parchment he'd been using to take notes into a pocket in his robes. "I'll see you three later. Harry, do take care when you leave here as Madam Pince isn't aware of your presence."

"I will," Harry said with a smile.

As Lupin walked away, Harry leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. His voice was pensive when he spoke. "So. It starts."

Hermione looked at him. "Yes. But we'll be ready, Harry. I know it."

Harry sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "I hope so, Hermione."

Draco draped his arm across Harry's shoulders, squeezing. Harry allowed himself to be pulled closer and rested his head briefly on Draco's shoulder before standing up. "Right." The moment of weakness was over and Draco knew it was because that was all Harry felt he could allow himself. "Let's head down to lunch. I'm starving."

Draco laughed and stood as well, helping Harry drape the cloak around him once more. Hermione gathered up her books and stuffed them into her bag. The three of them made their way out of the library, earning only one suspicious look from Madam Pince in the process.

Out in the hallway Harry pulled the cloak off, causing his hair to stand up even worse than normal. Draco looked around to make sure there wasn't anyone watching and reached out to try to straighten it a bit, although he knew it was a lost cause. Harry chuckled slightly then caught Draco's wrists, pulling them down to hold against his chest. He leaned forward and kissed him slowly, only breaking away when Hermione gave a small cough. Draco looked up to see her smiling.

"I'll see you later," Harry whispered, then released him. Draco smiled and gave a wave as Harry walked with Hermione down the corridor.

***

At dinner that evening Dumbledore announced the new mail procedures and named the two prefects in charge. Pansy had been surprised to hear her name, as well as Justin Finch-Fletchley's. The two of them were to meet with each other at some point that evening and determine the other students who would help them sort the mail.

Dumbledore had also sent her a note via Professor Snape; he would meet with her and Finch-Fletchley after the prefect meeting to go over the spells necessary for the mail screenings. This would unfortunately mean that they'd miss practicing the Contego spell, but perhaps she could get Tracey to practice with her later. The new mail policy was starting on Monday so they really couldn't put off learning the Screening charms.

There had also been thinly-veiled groans when Dumbledore had informed them that they weren't allowed outside of the castle. This meant no Quidditch practice and no working in the greenhouses. Professor Sprout hadn't looked too happy at this news; no doubt she was concerned about her Venomous Tentacula, Chinese Chomping Cabbages and Honking Daffodils, which, as far as Pansy was concerned, could all go to pot.

Draco had tried to talk to her before Dumbledore had made his announcements but she wasn't interested in anything he had to say. She was still a bit sore at the way he'd run off after Potter and left her alone in the corridor, even if, deep down, she did understand why he might be a bit peeved at her. She hadn't meant to shout so much at Potter and she had broken her word to Draco that she wouldn't bother either of them about their relationship. She just found it difficult to be kept in the dark where her friends were concerned; that didn't mean she'd just let it blow over easily though, either.

"Pansy." Draco tried yet again to speak to her but she cut him off.

"Do hand me the butter, Daphne." She made sure to ask Daphne because then the butter dish would need to pass right in front of Draco's face, efficiently shutting him up. Never mind that there was a dish right near her that she could have used and she elbowed Blaise in the ribs when he noticed the same thing and tried to move it closer to her.

"Bloody hell, Pansy," Blaise muttered, rubbing his side. "Don't take it out on me. I was only trying to help."

"Sorry," she said, buttering her bread a bit more vigorously than necessary as Draco tried yet again to speak.

"Really, Pansy, this is ridiculous."

"Hmm? Did someone say something?" she asked. Blaise shook his head in response and turned his attention back to the book he'd been reading.

Draco threw his hands up. "For God's sake, fine. Whatever. I'm leaving." He stepped over the bench and started to walk away, then realized he was still holding his fork and tossed it down on the table. It clanked against the serving dish loudly.

Pansy knew she had a petulant expression on her face but couldn't help it. She'd wanted him to fight over her a bit longer and was torn between being angry that he hadn't or mad at herself for behaving this way. Since it was always easier for her to find fault in others rather than herself, she let the anger at Draco build even more until she was so annoyed that she knew she either had to get out of the Hall or hex someone. Her eyes chose that moment to land on Potter and she knew which choice she'd make.

She raised her wand and used it to send the bowl of potatoes flying across the tables. Potter, unfortunately, noticed them coming and ducked. It hit Longbottom, who'd been walking innocently behind Potter, in the stomach, leaving a trail down the front of his robes.

Blaise lowered his book and looked at her. "What the hell?"

Pansy didn't have time to respond as a treacle tart came sailing in her direction; she'd just got an empty dinner plate up in front of her face before it hit. She retaliated again, sending a bowl of carrots back across the room, but this hit Lisa Turpin, who had just stood up from her table. Lisa didn't like that one bit, and picked up her juice goblet, hurling it in the direction the carrots had come from, only to splatter Ernie Macmillan in the face. Ernie sat there dripping for a moment before he picked up his entire plate and threw it back toward the Ravenclaws.

"Food fight!" somebody from the Hufflepuff table shouted and soon there was food flying everywhere. Someone - and it had to be a Gryffindor as she couldn't imagine that noise coming out of anyone else's mouth - let out a whoop of joy. Soon the whole Hall was filled with flying dishes and desserts, cups and bowls of soup, and silverware and vegetables. There was shouting and yelling and the occasional grunt or groan of pain as a dish hit a particularly sensitive body part. Blaise was like a wild man next to her, using his wand to send any dish within reach zipping across the room.

Pansy was covered in potatoes and chocolate and juice and was surprised to find herself laughing. She sent a bowl of cherries flying through the air, not even caring where they landed and just dodged the carafe of juice that nearly hit her in the head.

It was possibly the most fun she'd had the entire year.

The fight continued on for several minutes before Dumbledore, who Pansy noticed was waving a chicken leg around and had a wreath from the centerpiece hanging crookedly from his hat, used a Sonorus charm and settled everyone down with a very loud, "Well done, well done but enough!"

It took several more minutes before the mess was cleared away, during which time Pansy slunk out of the Great Hall and down to the dungeons to change. She definitely wasn't attending the prefect meeting in the clothes she currently had on, Scourgify charm or no. She could feel things dripping down the inside of her robes.

The common room was empty when she entered as most people were still at dinner, so she slipped quickly down to her room to shower and change. Feeling much more human afterwards (she'd had potatoes stuck in her hair and a streak of chocolate on her cheek, not to mention the food that had gotten under her robes) she grabbed her bag and headed back up to the common room to work on some homework before the meeting. When she got there, though, she wasn't alone; Draco was sitting with his feet up on the tabletop and his arms crossed over his chest, chair tilted back on its hind legs.

The chair hit the floor with a crack when he saw her and he started to get up.

"Draco, wait." Pansy sighed. Now that she'd worked out her anger in the food fight she wanted to get everything back to rights with Draco. "I'm sorry I was so rude."

Draco hmmphed.

"And I'm sorry I shouted at Potter earlier, too."

Draco raised an eyebrow at that, but still didn't say anything.

She balled up her fists and banged one smartly on the table. It hurt, and she swallowed a curse. "I know I promised I wouldn't bother either you or Potter about whatever is going on between you two," she started, shaking her sore hand. "But I couldn't help myself. Not when he was all by himself like that. It was wrong of me. I won't-," she stopped and shook her head. "I'll try not to do it again."

Draco smiled at that. "Sit down, Pansy. Let's have this chat you've been dying for us to have. I'm tired of hiding things from you anyway."

Pansy sat, cradling her hand. It still hurt horribly. Draco moved into the chair next to her and took her hand gently in his. He murmured a spell under his breath and Pansy felt something cool move through her wrist and down to her fingers. When he finished the pain had completely gone and Pansy sighed in contentment. "Thank you."

"Harry taught me that, for the record," he said smugly as he put his wand away.

Pansy arched an eyebrow. "That's nice."

Draco sat still for a moment gathering his thoughts, hands gripped tightly together in his lap. Pansy waited.

And waited.

And waited.

"Honestly, Draco, sometimes you're slower than molasses in January!"

That earned her a laugh. "Another Muggle idiom?"

"Of course. I read it in a Muggle book once. I rather like it."

Draco smiled at her then reached out and took her hands in his and laced their fingers together. He was silent for another moment and then spoke. "Harry and I are ... more than friends. A lot more than friends."

Pansy preened. She couldn't help herself. "I knew it!"

Draco sighed. "I thought as much." His fingers tightened on hers. "You won't tell, will you? Not Blaise or Tracey or Daphne or...." He trailed off, looking her full in the eyes.

"Oh, Draco, you know I won't. But can I ask why you don't want anyone else to know?"

He leaned back in his chair, taking her hands with him. She perched on the very edge of the chair and waited for him to respond. She could tell that this was difficult for him and wanted to give him as much time as he needed.

"I think I just want to keep something to myself. Everyone here knows nearly everything about me. They were all here when I got that letter from ... from my father, last year after I refused the Mark. They know about the work I'm doing for the Adversarius even if they don't know the reasons behind it. They know that I was having lessons with Sirius and they know I spend a lot of time missing from the dungeons, but I can't - I won't - let them know why. Harry's my secret, he's mine, Pansy. I don't want to share what we are with anyone, especially when we're still not sure if everyone who is here is on our side or not."

"You're worried about your father finding out, then?"

Draco brought their joined hands up and tucked them under his chin. "No. I don't think that matters, anyway. I'm sure he already knows." He sounded resigned and Pansy cocked her head to the side.

"What do you mean, 'he already knows'? How would he know?"

"Because I told him. Or rather, I told his damn portrait. It was rash and stupid, but he always makes me do stupid things. I told his portrait and it reacted exactly as I expected my father to act and I know the bastard painting told him as soon as he returned home. I know. And I've been waiting for a letter about it ever since, but so far haven't received one."

Pansy took a deep breath. That was dangerous information for his father to have because he would now put two and two together and figure out that Harry was probably one of the deciding factors in Draco turning against Lucius. It would also mean that Lucius might have a personal vendetta to settle with Harry, too. Pansy didn't say any of this, though, because she realized Draco already knew it. So instead she said, "I'll just make sure I screen your mail extra well, then."

Draco gave a small laugh. "Harry's too?"

She rolled her eyes. "Potter's too."

Draco squeezed her hands again and released them. Pansy leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, regarding him for a moment. "I still can't help but be worried about how deeply you're involved in this, Draco. I don't like it; it's not safe."

"Pansy, nothing about this situation is safe. And believe me when I say that if Harry could do it on his own, he would. He doesn't like involving others in anything - I mean, he's a Gryffindor after all, you know, heroic to the very end, charging blindly into battle bellowing a war cry, et cetera - all he needs is a sword to complete the picture."

Pansy snorted. "I'm sure we can scrounge up a sword somewhere."

"There's one in Dumbledore's office, actually. He'd look quite fetching swinging it around, I think." He sat up straight as a couple of Slytherins came into the common room. Blaise was in the rear and had a big grin on his face. He was covered from head to toe in various food groups and seemed to have a rather large welt swelling up on his cheekbone.

"What the hell happened to you?" Draco asked.

"Food fight." He pointed a finger in Pansy's direction. "She started it. It was fantastic, Draco, you should have seen it!"

Draco looked at her and she felt herself blush. "Clearly," he replied.

"Oh, look at the time, we're going to be late for the meeting!" Pansy stood up suddenly and reached for the scraps of parchment on the table, none of which were actually hers. She stuffed them haphazardly into her bag and was struggling with the zipper until Draco swatted her hands aside and zipped it up himself.

"A food fight?" he whispered to her.

"Hush. I had to work off my adrenaline somehow."

Draco threw his head back and laughed. "God, I love you. Please don't ever change."

Pansy felt her heart swell at his words. He really was the best friend she'd ever had. "Likewise. And I promise I won't. Just remember that you said that the next time you're angry at me for acting the way I always do."

He pulled her into a one-armed hug and kissed her cheek. "I'll remember."

When they entered the Prefect Lounge they were not surprised to see a bunch of folks missing. Lupin himself looked like he'd just showered as his hair was still wet and Padma Patil was busy re-braiding hers. "How much of a mess did you cause?" Draco murmured in her ear and Pansy gave him a grin.

Potter entered then, hair wet and curling around his ears, and held the door open for Hermione, who was busy twisting her hair up into a bun. She was trying to shove her quill through it as she spoke.

"Right, so, we need to determine a plan of action for the younger students in case of an attack on the school and, OUCH, dammit, I've stuck myself." She brought her hand down to examine her finger. A drop of blood was pooling on the tip. Before Pansy could blink Potter had his wand out and had fixed the cut so perfectly it was like it'd never been there in the first place. He then took the quill out of her hand and twisted it through her hair, getting it to stay in place with a murmured spell.

"Thank you," Hermione said as she reached into her bag for her notebook.

Pansy blinked. That entire exchange could have taken place between Draco and herself; it was odd to see that the relationship the two Gryffindors had with each other was the same as hers with Draco. She noticed Draco smiling at her and just shook her head.

"Right, so, is everyone here? Oh, I suppose we are missing quite a few. We'll have to wait a bit longer, then, so everyone who ran off to shower and change can have a bit more time to get here." Hermione was busy setting up a huge chart while she was speaking and Pansy strained to see what was printed on it. It looked like a list of names, but there wasn't a title anywhere for her to see what it was all about.

"You have good aim."

She looked up to see Potter looking at her with a bit of a smile on his face.

"Thank you. And you have good reflexes."

He shrugged. "I wasn't made a Seeker for nothing." He noticed Draco then and gave him a grin. "Hello."

"Hello, yourself."

Pansy rolled her eyes and moved away, but not before she heard Draco mutter, "If we didn't have all these people around I would ravish you right here and now."

She glanced around in time to see Harry's grin turn devilish and Draco swallow a whimper. "Really, you two. Get a room."

Potter shrugged again. "Maybe later." He then walked off to join Hermione at the front of the room.

Soon enough everyone was gathered and Hermione started in on her plan of action. Pansy listened intently; it was actually a very good idea.

Hermione explained what would be happening tomorrow with the protection spell and what all would be involved. It was up to the prefects of each house to make sure everyone was outside on the front lawn when the time came to cast the charm on the students and they also needed to make sure everyone had their familiars. The members of the Adversarius would be casting the charms on everyone with the help of the staff, and as the whole thing was time sensitive they needed to have it perfectly timed out. Pansy wrote down everything Hermione had to say; she wanted to make sure that nothing went wrong with the members of her house.

The next discussion was led by Potter. He talked about what needed to happen in case of an attack on the school. While everyone realized that they most likely wouldn't get a lot of advance notice, a procedure needed to be put in place immediately regardless. Potter's idea was to have the prefects practice emergency drills with the members of their house.

There was a charm, Invenio Desideror, which would instantly tell them if anyone was missing from the dormitories. In case of emergencies an overhead announcement would be made informing everyone to return to their common rooms. The Prefects would then lock the doors and cast the charm. A letter would immediately be dispatched to the Heads of House with the names of the missing students. The school would be locked down to ensure everyone was at least inside and, if there was time, the staff would track down the missing pupils. Of course, if there was absolutely no advance notice, the school would simply be locked down and the students would be sorted out later; hopefully they'd be safe enough within the school. The meeting place in an instance like this was the Great Hall. Dumbledore would make another announcement tomorrow informing everyone that outdoor classes were going to be moved indoors as soon as suitable areas were found and cleaned out.

Pansy raised her hand when Potter asked if there were any questions.

"What about those of us who want to fight?"

He tilted his head. "Well, you'd fight. This lockdown procedure is for anyone who doesn't want to fight or is too young or inexperienced to fight. Those of us who want to join in the battle may obviously do so. In fact, the last part of our protection plan for the school requires us to be outside."

"What last part?" Pansy asked. Several others nodded their heads.

"The final protection ward," Hermione answered, flipping through her notebook. "It's called Dum Mors. And it requires a majority of the seventh years from each house to cast it. What it basically does is use our life force to protect the school. Every one of us who casts it must die in order for the school to be breached."

Draco sat up in his chair. "That's some really serious magic, Hermione."

"I know. These are really serious times."

Draco looked first at her and then at Potter. "Whose idea was this?"

Potter sighed. "Dumbledore's. Once we do our bit, the teachers do the final step and combine the four houses together. It's basically a spell version of what the Sorting Hat sang two years ago. You know, 'Oh, know the perils, read the signs, the warning history shows, for our Hogwarts is in danger from external, deadly foes and we must unite inside her or we'll crumble from within'? This is the spell that will unite us. It's the only way."

Pansy blinked. "You actually remember the sorting song?"

He laughed. "No. Hermione wrote it down. I was reading it out of her notebook." He waved it around.

Everyone laughed and the tension abated a little.

"Does everyone understand what we want you to do?" Hermione asked after a moment. There were nods and sounds of agreement around the room. "We need to know when your first emergency drill is, so please let us know as soon as you can. Nothing can be scheduled for tomorrow morning, obviously, and we need it completed before Monday evening. Discuss it among each other so that two houses aren't doing theirs on the same day, as Harry and I need to be a part of all of them and can't be in two places at once."

"Not without a time-turner, at any rate," Potter added with a grin.

Hermione continued on. "Your Heads of House will teach you how to cast Invenio Desideror, and you can meet with them once we finish here, except for those of you meeting with Blaise and Tracey, of course. We've already printed up the names of all the students in the houses. You can get that from Harry before you leave. Make sure you post it somewhere near the entrances to your common rooms so it's within easy reach. We also want a written report of the steps you're going to take to keep your housemates safe, so please turn those in no later than Tuesday morning."

"Any questions?" Harry asked. There were none and he nodded, closing Hermione's notebook with a snap. "Good. Then I turn you back over to Terry, who has some Head Boy stuff to take care of."

Pansy rolled her eyes at the word "stuff", but focused her attention on Boot.

Terry stood then. "I know that Demelza and Andrew have Patrol duties tonight, but starting on Monday there is a new Patrol schedule. Check the chart behind Hermione there to see when your turn is. And that's all I've got. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

There was a sound of chairs scrapping across the floor as everyone stood. The noise level rose exponentially as everyone began to talk among themselves as they gathered their things and headed for the door. Potter passed close to Draco and whispered something in his ear that put a wicked grin on Draco's face and then was gone, following Granger out the door.

"What did he say?" she asked Draco as they made their way down to the dungeons.

Draco grinned. "Midnight. Room of Requirement."

Pansy simply rolled her eyes as Draco's laugh echoed down the corridor.