Your Side, Their Side and The Truth

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

Your Side, Their Side and the Truth by Mizzy

Part III - ~A Shattered Truth And A New Arrival~ (3.13)

Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me, this is a fan fiction, by a fan for the fans. No money has exchanged hands during its production.

-----

You've got to be cruel to be kind in the right measure

Cruel to be kind it's a very good sign

Cruel to be kind means that I love you

Baby you've got to be cruel to be kind

“Cruel To Be Kind”- Letters To Cleo

-----

“How on earth did he do that?”

Dumbledore frowned, concerned. Harry had just related to him everything that had happened down in the greenhouse, and it was a puzzle.

“I don't know exactly, Harry,” Dumbledore replied, his voice full of concern. “It's possibly from an old magic that was lost years and years ago... Messing with time itself is extremely dangerous. It certainly corroborates yours and Miss Granger's theory of something else behind the Dark magic movement, a theory I must admit is gaining more and more evidence with every day.”

Harry nodded. “It was just so... weird... Like he was just taunting me.”

Dumbledore looked pensieve. “I think, though, that we ought to take some kind of comfort. It is generally a tactic of any side to drop the other side a line when we don't have anything quite planned just to let them know we're still there and still want to stop them.”

Harry raised his eyebrows and was about to say something when Dumbledore held up one hand.

“Now, Harry, if anything else happens you must tell me even if you think it's small and inconsequential. Oh, and by the way, I have to be the first to inform you. I'm afraid Professor Black has had to leave,” Dumbledore said sadly.

“What?”

Dumbledore cleared his throat. “He'll be finished doing his task in time for the summer holidays I'm sure. He said it was personal and that you would understand. Of course he did make sure we had a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for the rest of the term who he said would get you through your OWLs much better than he could.”

Harry sat there, stunned, for a moment before his brain caught up with him.

“Moony,” he said simply. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.

“So you know all about them, then? Ah good, good,” he commented. “I suppose you yourselves are pretty much like the original four. I can only hope in your case that there is no Peter among you. I'm pretty sure in yours, Mr. Malfoy's, Miss Granger's and Mr. Weasley's case the chance of that happening is minimal.”

Harry nodded, then thought for a second. “We are quite like, them, in a way I suppose. Siri- I mean Professor Black said we were the new inseparables.”

Dumbledore nodded. “I'd like you to all think carefully before you become too much like them, though. Very carefully. Anything you decide, though, I can say on an unofficial level I would much rather help than let you try it on your own.”

Harry frowned. “What do you mean sir?”

Dumbledore smiled at him gently. “I won't have to explain it to you, I'm sure. Now get a move on, Harry, I'm sure you can catch your second lesson of Herbology.”

The black-haired boy got to his feet and adjusted his glasses. “Thanks sir. So are we getting this new teacher for this afternoon's lesson?”

The wise old wizard nodded. “Yes.”

“Great. Thanks sir,” Harry said, picking his wand up from the table where he'd dropped it and leaving the office to go back to Herbology. On the way out he saw Professor Snape and groaned. The hook-nosed professor made his way over to him.

“What are you doing out of lessons, Potter?” He asked. “I don't care if you were going to see Professor Dumbledore, five points from Gryffindor and back outside sharp-ish. Now, Potter.”

Harry, startled, nodded and quickly walked back outside and ran to Herbology. Things were getting back to normal too quickly for Harry's tastes.

-----

“Of all the unfair things!” Ron spluttered as they sat down at the table. “He had no right to take five points from Gryffindor! You were inside for a really important reason!”

Draco decided to try and interject to try and calm Ron down a bit.

“But the other part is really interesting, he really made us all freeze? That must be some really old dark magic, I heard my dad talk about a spell like that once. Apparently the caster has to be on the exact opposite of the world,” he explained.

“So Wormtail would have had to be on the opposite side of the world to do it? Would that make him somewhere in Australia?” Harry asked.

Hermione shook her head. “Unfortunately, no... Remember Hogwarts is untraceable and there is no way to be sure exactly where the castle is. It doesn't even necessarily have to be in Britain...”

“Weird,” Ron commented.

“You think that's weird, listen to his,” Harry said and in a hushed voice explained the other thing that Dumbledore had said. Draco frowned.

“Who on earth are Wormtail, Moony, Padfoot and Prongs?” He asked. Ron rolled his eyes.

“Oh, I guess Malfoy was too busy being a twit to actually be humane enough to actually be there when it all happened,” the redhead said sourly.

“Twit? Listen, Weasel,” Draco started, then stopped. “Now I remember why I didn't get on with you in the first place. I'm sorry.”

Ron stopped short. “You're apologizing?!”

“Well if you'd been humane enough to actually be there, then you would have seen me apologise to Hagrid,” Draco said airily.

Ron frowned and Hermione quickly grabbed his arm. “Calm down,” she hissed. Ron blushed shamefacedly.

“Sorry ferret boy,” he apologised back to Draco.

“Ferret boy! Hey, you try to be nice to someone and this is how you get treated! Gryffindor manners these days, they're atrocious!” Draco rolled his eyes and, finally, grinned.

“Well, to continue with what we were saying... Back in our parent's time... You saw the Marauder's Map in the pensieve, didn't you?” Hermione looked at Draco and the blonde nodded.

“Those names were mentioned then, too,” Draco offered.

“Right,” Hermione agreed. “Well, Wormtail is Peter Pettigrew as you may have guessed. You know about Professor Lupin being a werewolf...”

(“The whole school knows,” Ron interjected.)

“Anyway,” Hermione broke back in glaring at Ron. “So he's Moony... with the whole Full Moon werewolf deal. You know what Professor Black is, an unregistered animagi, and he was known as Padfoot. You see, Professor Lupin's friends became animagi to be with him when he had to transform.”

Draco thought this through. “Right. And Prongs?”

“Prongs was my father,” Harry said softly.

Draco's eyes widened and he looked at Harry, a sad expression on his face. “I'm sorry,” he said tenderly. Harry smiled gently in return.

“'sOK,” he said.

“I think,” Hermione said slowly, “that he's offering to teach is how to do it so that we don't harm ourselves when we'll try to do it on our own. Better to give us help to do the dangerous than not helping us and letting us do it on out own.”

“Do what?” Ron asked; confused.

“It's obvious, isn't it,” Draco said eventually. “Even with as little as I know... It's obvious we were going to try it eventually. Maybe it will be needed sooner.”

Harry nodded. “I agree. So are we agreed? We do it?”

Hermione and Draco nodded grimly. “We're in,” they said at the same time, which actually made them both start to laugh. Harry just grinned like an idiot and then turned to stare, baffled at Ron's expression.

“Ron, are you in too?” Harry arched one eyebrow at his best friend.

“In what?” Ron finally demanded.

At Ron's outburst Hermione, Harry and Draco just burst out laughing leaving Ron very indignant.

Hermione recovered just enough to blurt out. “How would you like to become like Snuffles?”

Ron's eyes widened. “Are you sure? Wicked!”

“What's wicked?”

Four heads turned to see Seamus Finnegan, who had just come by and heard Ron's exclamation.

“Ron agreed to be a bridesmaid at our wedding,” Draco said, lying quickly on the spot. Ron levelled a glare at the ex-Slytherin.

“Bridesmaid?” Ron blurted, horrified.

“Wedding?” Harry chimed in with a mock-horrified expression.

“Oh, all right,” Seamus said, raising his eyebrows. “Hey, wanna see the new spell I got mail-order from Fred and George?”

“Oh no,” Hermione mouthed. Seamus got out his wand and tapped it on the desk.

“Winds that soar and rain that beats, fill up this plate with lots of sweets,” Seamus intoned, a serious expression on his face. They watched incredulously as the plate filled up with sweets.

“Cool!” Ron said. “They never taught me that one!” He frowned, and folded his arms. “They usually practice them on me, though. I'm not dumb enough to actually buy something from those two --“

Ron's rant was disturbed by the plate of sweets suddenly exploding and covering Seamus in the flaming sweets. The sandy-haired Irish wizard quickly doused the fire with a jet of water from his wand and sat down next to Ron, dejected.

“Why am I not surprised that happened,” Hermione said, rolling her eyes to the ceiling and helping him put out a flame at the bottom of Seamus' robes.

Harry, Draco and Ron laughed shortly and Seamus blushed, embarrassed.

“I suppose you could do it better,” Seamus grumbled to Hermione.

“But of course,” Hermione said primly. She got Ron to pass her the plate (which had also somehow managed to catch fire even though it was ceramic it was of course something only Seamus could do) and she got out her wand. They watched intently as she took a deep breath, tapped the wand on it officiously and in one swift movement reached inside her robes and piled the entire contents of a bag of sweets from her robe and then sat back, looking pleased.

“Much better,” she said, smiling.

“Want to place a bet on that?” Draco asked quietly. Hermione stared as Seamus frowned at it and waved his hands.

“Oh no,” Hermione moaned as brightly coloured sweets showered down on them and set several more things alight. Seamus just looked even more embarrassed than he was before.

“Is it the spells or is it just me?” He asked dejectedly.

“It's you, dear,” Hermione, Draco, Ron and Harry managed to get out in perfect sync, causing everyone who had heard that at the Gryffindor table to complete crack up in hysterics.

-----

In all the confusion and hilarities of the dinner time, Harry had forgotten to tell them about Sirius. It didn't really matter because Dumbledore announced it after the dinner hour had finished (prompting quite a few groans -- Sirius' increased experiences of fighting the Dark Arts had made him a widely respected teacher.) Harry thought for a second then grinned.

“I think the curse has changed,” Harry said slowly. “Instead of them staying only for a year, none of them can even last as long as that.”

Draco made a murmur of agreement. “It's all over our kind that the Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts post is cursed. No-one's willing to take it on any more. I wonder who your godfather got to do it?”

Harry shrugged. “I have no idea,” he said frankly.

“We'll see in a few minutes,” Hermione said.

“Oh pull the other one,” Ron scoffed.

“Excuse me?” The bushy-haired genius glared at Ron. “What do you mean by that?”

“You're just as curious as us,” he explained. “And don't pretend otherwise.”

Hermione's sudden grin told Ron all he needed to know and he smiled and trained his gaze back to where everyone else was looking. The door opened and once again Dumbledore entered to introduce the teacher. An old woman with bushy grey hair and thin wiry glasses walked in; a dark maroon robe draped over the top of practical work clothes.

“This,” Dumbledore said softly, “is Professor Arabella Figg.”

In all the excitement of meeting the new teacher, it took everyone a few seconds to realize that Harry had fallen off his chair in shock.

Professor Figg looked over the desks and sighed. “I was afraid that might happen,” she stated simply.

It took only a few seconds for Harry to scramble back onto the chair.

“What happened?” Rubbing his head, Harry looked up, blinking owlishly.

“You fell off your chair,” Hermione said, her voice low and full of concern. “Why?”

“I dreamed Miss Figg just walked through the door and Dumbledore said she was our new teacher and -- “ Harry babbled on quickly but stopped short as he saw Professor Figg standing there, grinning toothily at him. He closed his eyes, opened them and still saw her standing there.

“Oh,” he said finally, blinking furiously again before smiling at Draco to indicate he was all right. The blond nodded back, trusting in Harry's judgment.

“Yes, I'm sorry about that, I suppose my sudden arrival might shock young Harry, besides I heard he's gone through a lot of stress recently with you-know-who and all. I guess I should have told him it was me before dropping it straight out of the blue like this.”

“Who are you?” Ron blurted out, as confused as the rest of the class.

“She used to be my babysitter,” Harry said, his eyes widened. “When the Dursleys didn't want me around.” He paused. “I didn't know you were a witch!”

“I'm surprised I had you as little as I did,” Professor Figg said; sniffing. “They never wanted me around. That's why when you came over I used to stuff all kind of vitamins and nutrients into the cake so you would get all the nutrients you needed.”

“That's why it tasted like mould,” Harry muttered.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Harry protested softly.

“OK, class, however I am not here to reminisce with past contacts, otherwise I presume I'd be here all day, wouldn't I Miss Brown?”

Lavender squeaked and blushed. “Yes, Miss Figg.” Hermione could hear her whisper “She used to be my mum's teacher” to Parvati.

“Today, well I've had a word with Professor Dumbledore and it seems you could all do with some review over the Unforgivable curses, and by that I mean that he has given me complete permission to use the Imperius curse on you all as many times as I wish,” Professor Figg explained, rolling up her sleeves. “Right all of you, off with your robes your uniforms underneath should be easier to work with.”

They all stared at her doubtfully.

“You can put them back on at the end of the lessons,” she continued; rolling her eyes. “Come on, sharp-ish, or do you want me to curse all of you to do it?”

Quickly the students pulled their robes off and at her further instructions joined her at the front.

“Right, children, first of all I want to see how your Charms work is coming along. We need a big space in the middle and hop to it!” Professor Figg said, leaning against the desk and watching them with a shrewd expression on her face. “Mr Longbottom! With magic my dear boy! Your dad and your Uncle Albert used to be the same!” She watched as several used the Wingardium Leviosa charm to fly them across to the other side and actually awarded ten points to Slytherin after Blaise and Pansy ran to the other side of the room and used summoning charms to get all the chairs and stack them on top of the tables.

Afterwards Harry realised this was to get the Slytherins on her side, from that initial offering they would of course like her, but at the time he was quite annoyed and barely stopped Seamus from blowing up one of the chairs.

(“What? It would have got rid of it,” Seamus had protested.)

“Right,” Professor Figg. “I already know a few of you are pretty proficient at this already, so I'll just try one of you randomly at a time. Stand in a circle. Hop to it.” She clapped her hands together and pointed her wand at Dean as his back was turned. He started to actually hop to the other side of the classroom before he actually realised what was happening. Stubbornly he slammed his other foot down and frowned as he tried to shake it off. Unfortunately his body fell forwards and he bunny hopped the rest of the way. Crabbe and Goyle chuckled a bit, leaving Ron to wonder if they did actually have a brain cell between them.

“Nice try,” she complimented. “Take five points for Gryffindor. Harry,” she said next levelling her wand at him. “Imperio.”

Harry just stared at her as something whispered in his brain for him to start singing the Hogwarts school song. Raising his eyebrows he watched her for a second before shrugging.

“Interesting,” she said. “Very interesting indeed.”

There were a couple of whispers from the other side of the room. Harry frowned.

“Mr Zabini, do you find something funny?” Blaise jumped, frightened, and proceeded to instruct Pansy on how to roast a chicken properly.

“Hopeless,” Professor Figg sighed, taking the curse off.

“So I baste it before I put it in the oven?” Lavender asked Blaise sweetly. Blaise frowned at her and refused to answer.

“Mr. Malfoy,” she said. “Step forward. I wish to see how your father instructed you.”

Draco raised his eyebrows and stepped forwards.

“Of course I know your father gave you secret instruction of them all before you came,” she said; shrugging. “Imperio.”

As had happened with Harry Draco had just flatly stared at her. A couple of impressed murmurings ran around the circle.

“Well that just proved a theory, boys, thank you. Two points each for Gryffindor,” Professor Figg said; grinning again. “Over exposure to the curse does make your resolve against it much stronger.”

Harry nodded, finally getting it. Moody, or Crouch, whomever it was had given him a lot of practice on it and Voldemort hadn't lightened his exposure to the curse. Draco's soft, pained expression made Harry suddenly realise he didn't want to know what Draco had been put under trying to get him to resist the curse. All he wanted the blonde to know was that he was there for him.

“Mr Weasley,” Professor Figg instructed suddenly.

Harry blinked. He'd been so deep in his thoughts that he'd missed Lavender doing a cartwheel then in a sudden burst of concentration breaking out of the curse enough to crash into Parvati; sending both girls crashing to the ground.

Ron looked at Professor Figg in terror as she lifted her wand towards him and whispered the curse. Ron scowled fiercely and his arm swung wildly before he threw himself to the ground in an attempt to stop himself.

“Well done, Mr. Weasley,” she said softly. “Mr Goyle?”

As Goyle left Crabbe's side, Harry's thoughts drifted away into never never land during while most of the others were tested and missed Neville smash his fist into the desk (narrowly missing Crabbe). He missed Parvati dancing a jig before crashing into a wall and he missed a total of thirty-three points being awarded for Slytherin and twenty-four for Gryffindor. He mustn't have been concentrating at all because he suddenly realized everyone was staring at him.

“Wow, Harry!” Hermione said; her face pale. Blinking, he looked up at Professor Figg who was looking at him sadly.

“You must have undergone the Cruciatus curse a hell of a lot to be able to completely shake it off now,” she said, her voice catching. “Ten points to Gryffindor.”

Harry glanced up at Neville who was staring at him; an almost rapt expression on his face. “It can be overthrown eventually,” he saw Neville murmur and Harry frowned, happy to give Neville some small hope for his parents. If the curse could be overthrown, the effects could surely be overthrown someday soon too.

-----

The rest of the lesson went by very slowly for Harry. He was aware of the stares more than ever and it unsettled him. His thoughts had been going haywire... The rumours would spread that he was unaffected by all three of the major Unforgivable curses... His head hurt, and it took him a moment to realise it was his scar aching again. Frowning he decided to write a letter to Sirius then decided against it. He didn't want to disturb his godfather from his chance for happiness. Perhaps he would mention it to Dumbledore... They would have to see him today sometime to tell him their decision. Harry sort of got the feeling that maybe something else had a say in their destiny too. Whatever it was knew what would be needed in the future and Harry wasn't about to reject the help. They could do with all the help they could get. Especially with the OWLs approaching and all.

“Harry, you all right?”

Harry blinked and looked up as Draco squeezed his hand gently. Nodding he looked around to see if anyone was watching and brushed his lips over Draco's cheek softly before blushing and starting to walk away. Draco grinned foolishly before following Harry along the corridor.

“'Mione, Ron,” Harry hissed softly. “We've got some free time now. Want to go?”

Hermione and Ron silently nodded and as everyone else went to the common room or back to their own rooms they padded along the corridors and after a couple of staircases moved they found themselves outside the Gryphon statue guarding Professor Dumbledore's office.

“He'll have changed it from Jelly beans,” Harry muttered.

“What?” Draco blinked in confusion. He'd caught Dumbledore in the corridors and hadn't heard the password to get in when he had talked to the Professor about moving house.

“He always has his password the same as some kind of confectionary,” Hermione explained.

“Pear drops!” Ron declared with a grin and the Gryphon swung open to reveal the corridor leading to his office.

“Lucky guess,” Harry said softly; moving into the corridor. He looked backwards. “Coming?”

Silently, Hermione, Ron and Draco followed him into the darkness. They made it into his office all right and saw the Professor looking into a sphere carefully.

“I knew you'd come,” he said softly. “You know this needs to be done, but I need to know if you want it too.” He held up the sphere and it locked a silvery beam of light on Hermione and just for an instant a shimmering unicorn appeared in the air, tossing its head and neighing softly. Hermione gasped.

“Is that...” she started. Dumbledore nodded and waved his hand over the sphere again, this time directing it to Ron.

“It shows the image of the animal in your heart, in your soul and in your genes themselves. No animagi truly has the true control of the animal they become. It's something in their genetic and magical makeup.”

Ron watched as a silvery beam focussed on him and for a few moments a sleek Himalayan wolf appeared in the air, heckles raised and teeth gleaming. He swallowed and nodded. Without a word Dumbledore moved the sphere on to Draco and the beam shone brightly instantaneously on his chest, displaying a large black dragon in the air. Ron even stepped back but the image of the dragon beat its wings and disappeared as Dumbledore moved the sphere again.

“Appropriate, with your name,” the old professor said; his expression astute. “Harry, I think we know what yours will be.” Harry nodded wordlessly. Draco opened his mouth to comment but decided against it.

“But we have to do this anyway,” Dumbledore finished softly. He held up the sphere and it brightened considerably and a proud stag was displayed, a curious lightning-shaped scar on its forehead and its eyes a curious green colour.

Harry gasped sharply and nodded in understanding.

“It's quite ironic that whatever Voldemort or whatever was controlling him, that he couldn't prevent this.” Dumbledore commented softly as all four watched him intently. His tone was soft and delicate and they strained to hear but it was his almost reverent expression that caught their attention and the words he spoke stayed in their hearts for a long time to come. “He couldn't prevent that along with three allies and friends Prongs will ride again at Hogwarts.”

End of the third round

As I put the phone down

Chasing the same lines

Over the old ground

I'm pushing zero

Where is my hero?

He's out there somewhere

Left of the middle

And your world falls down

“Left Of The Middle”- Natalie Imbruglia

-----

They managed to stumble back to the main hall in time for dinner, mostly subdued after their first lesson with Professor Dumbledore. They had quickly realised that this would be no fast thing (this would literally take them years) but after realising the severity of the situation - Dumbledore would not have offered to teach them if it wasn't necessary -- they had all decided firmly to continue with it.

Draco realised that Harry would be out of it; anything connected with his parents seemed to do that to Harry. As they slid into their seats Draco gave Harry's hand a reassuring squeeze and Harry's gaze met Draco's sharply, softening as he saw the concerned glance in his direction.

“I'm fine,” Harry muttered. “Don't worry.”

“I can't help it,” Draco said gently.

“Oh look it's pansy Potter and his friends.”

Shocked, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco looked up to see Pansy Parkinson; flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

“That would have normally been me standing there,” Draco thought suddenly; horrified. “Actually you're the pansy, Pansy,” the ex-Slytherin voiced softly, speaking up to ignore his treacherous thoughts.

Pansy stopped and sneered. “Oh look, did the meatball brain speak? To me? When did such foul creatures have such lack of morals!”

“You have no idea about morality,” Draco sneered smoothly, getting to his feet and holding out a hand to stop Harry from rising too. “I suppose you think your parents are fantastic, for example. Loyal death eaters are they? Still in hiding because they think Voldemort's coming back?”

Pansy sniggered derisively. “At least my parents are loyal, Malfoy,” she retorted.

“Proud to wear that symbol on your arm, are you?” Draco reached forward and wrenched her sleeve off her arm. She gasped and her eyes narrowed as her hands moved to clench the dark mark on her arm.

“Shove off, Malfoy, you'll all go down in the end, you and your pretty boyfriend,” she scoffed.

Draco rolled his eyes and lifted up his sleeve, displaying the twisted mark on his arm which had actually started to slightly fade. He leaned forwards and shoved it in her face. “Proud of something like this?” He hissed. “Proud of something that makes you hated, makes you damned? How can you be so bloody stupid Pansy?” He stepped back and rolled down his sleeve again; ignoring the fact that the entire hall had stopped to watch the spectacle. “You know what? I'm so glad I got transferred out of Slytherin. Apart from the fact that the Sorting Hat was a little apologetic... He said sorry for putting me in that awful house in the first place when I clearly belonged in a much better house... You know why I'm glad? Because you're all no better than Voldemort himself, and we all know how he ended up. Pathetic.”

With that last word Draco turned and sat back down in his seat. Pansy just stood there, looking thunder-struck.

“Well... Well... Whatever, Draco, I don't care. You're all on the wrong side, you've fallen in with the wrong crowd, and you'll pay for that,” she said as she turned and swept out of the hall with Crabbe and Goyle cracking their knuckles and faithfully following her. Eventually some kind of nervous chatter broke out in the Ravenclaws and several minutes later order was restored. Harry was quite annoyed because for once the only teacher attending the evening dinner was Professor Trelawney, who hadn't even noticed the scuffle that had taken place.

“Wow!” Ron exclaimed. “You sure showed her!”

Draco blinked, still shocked that a compliment to him would come from Ron's mouth. He blushed slightly and grinned.

“I suppose you remember why you hated to be on the opposite side as me?” Draco asked with a cheeky smirk.

“We do,” Hermione said fervently.

“You know something,” Harry said slowly, his eyebrows raising.

“What?” Draco asked curiously.

“She said I was pretty.” With a contended smile, Harry busied himself with the food in front of him. Draco gaped then scowled.

“Right, she's going to die,” he mumbled.

Harry paused and looked at the blond curiously. “What? Are you jealous?”

“Me? Oh miss-death eater wannabe Parkinson?” Draco savagely tore apart a bread roll and his face clouded.

“Hey! Relax a little!” Harry looked at Draco, frowning. “They really did get to you, didn't they?”

Draco nodded slowly. “Just like you three would hurt me before... Well...” he trailed off uncomfortably, not meeting Harry's eyes.

Harry's eyes shone with compassion. “Oh god, Draco, I didn't know I was hurting you... I guess I forgot you were only human too...”

“I suppose I did a good job of hiding it,” Draco said distantly.

“Hey,” Harry commanded. His tone made Draco's eyes fly to his face. Draco looked at his love, memorizing again the compelling features. “That's the past. This is now. I like the now better. But it's up to you.”

Draco smiled softly. “I like now too.”

“I guess what Harry's trying to say is that you don't need to conflict with anyone again. You got us to stand up for you,” Hermione said, nodding.

“Right!” Ron said. “The inseparable four definitely!”

Draco paused, then grinned devilishly. “Oh I do hope we aren't completely inseparable I might need Harry for some... private business.”

“What kind of private business?” Ron asked before realising and clamping his mouth shut with his hands. “Forget I asked,” he groaned, bashing his head off the table while Harry felt his face going redder than Hagrid when he was drunk. That made the raven-haired boy remember something sharply.

“Hagrid!” He said softly.

“Well that's fairly random,” Draco said uncertainly. Harry waved his arms.

“He's in the meeting with the other professors,” he explained.

“Right, he told us in Care of Magical Creatures,” Ron explained. “When you and 'Mione were dealing with the Griffin.”

“Oh. Right,” Hermione said; faintly annoyed. “Did he tell you what the meetings about?

Harry shook his head. “No.”

“Hey guys!”

Managing to interrupt them again, Seamus and Dean dropped down in the seats opposite from them, followed by the two Hufflepuffs Ernie and Hannah.

“Hello,” Ernie and Hannah managed at the same time.

Ron managed a giggle. “Oh. Hey, what were you two up to a couple of weeks ago when we didn't see you wandering around after night?”

Ernie laughed shortly. “We'll tell you if you tell us what you were doing,” he joked, obviously not expecting the others to tell him.

“We went to see Professor Black about Peter Pettigrew,” Draco said, shrugging.

Ernie's mouth dropped open and Hannah laughed. “Now we have to tell them,” Hannah said, covering her mouth up with her hand and giggling as Ernie glared at her.

“We were setting up a surprise for someone, and don't ask me to be more descriptive than that because you weren't with us,” Ernie said, grouchily.

“So, anyway,” Dean said, trying to break up the slightly tense atmosphere. “What do you think the teachers are meeting about?”

“I think it's about Azkaban,” Ron suggested. “Just having giants guarding all those ex-death eaters, gives me the shivers.”

“I heard it was about the music down near the Ravenclaw dorms,” Seamus offered, keeping his wand well away from any food.

“It wouldn't be,” Harry commented off-handedly; nibbling at the bread roll. Then he seemed to realise he'd said too much and bit his lip.

“Harry! Does our esteemed legend know something he's not telling us?” Seamus teased. Harry pulled a face.

“Just leave it,” he said; his tone slightly wavering. “It's not about that.”

Ron, Hermione and Draco exchanged a glance over Harry's head and finally just shrugged.

“Maybe it's about Peter,” Draco suggested.

“Or maybe it's just a regular staff meeting,” Hermione suggested dryly. “They do have them every month.”

“Oh, yeah, forgot about those” Ron said, starting to grin. “Remember when we had to remind Professor Sinistra that she was supposed to be in that aforementioned meeting last month?”

Draco looked up. “What happened?”

“We got Seamus to try a waking up spell,” Dean said.

Seamus started to blush furiously.

“What did you do?” Draco asked Seamus curiously.

“Set fire to her robes,” the Irish boy said morosely.

An outsider might have thought the Gryffindor table had suddenly erupted. Certainly the laughter didn't stop for a long, long time that night and it woke Professor Trelawney who crossly stalked over and told them to keep it quiet else the spirits might not like it; so she sent all eight of them up to their dormitories to think about what they had done.

-----

They had barely made it into the common room, Ernie and Hannah disappearing at the Gryffindor portal, before they all started giggling again and they collapsed in front of the fire, holding their sides.

“Did you see her face?” Ron laughed, taking deep breaths to try and calm down. “Oh man!”

“She looked like she was going to catch on fire,” Dean Thomas remarked, pulling out a scrap of parchment from behind one of the cushions and getting Harry to summon a quill (after the Triwizard Tournament Harry's summoning charm had always been the best of all of theirs, even Hermione's) he started to scribble down on the piece of parchment later. A couple of minutes later, and giving them just enough time to calm down, Dean turned round the piece of parchment revealing a hilarious caricature of the bug-eyed Divination teacher.

“I guess she's still mad at me for quitting her subject,” Harry said reflectively. “But it's not much good for what I guess I want to do in the future.”

“What do you want to do?” Draco asked curiously as he let Harry snuggle up to him. Harry took full advantage of the situation and lay his head on the blond's shoulder.

“I quite liked the idea of being an auror,” Harry admitted. “Until I wondered if I could become a teacher.”

“That would be cool!” Ron exclaimed. “Teach Defence Against the Dark Arts!”

Harry pulled a face. “The job is cursed!”

“Not in every school,” Draco offered. “The post at Durmstrangs has been occupied by the same teacher for eight years.”

Hermione nodded. “It's just Hogwarts that is cursed,” she said with a solemn face.

“You actually think it's cursed?” Seamus asked in surprise.

“Two times is a coincidence, but five years running?” Ron exclaimed. “No way is that not cursed!”

“That's one thing I was going to ask though,” Harry said suddenly. “How did you get on at Durmstrangs? And how did you get out of it to come to the battle?”

Draco laughed. “It was up to the twins, actually. I'd ordered this really nifty Charms thing from them a while back, and it's a bit like the Marauder's Map. It's Charmed for any 'untraceable' location.”

Harry blinked, awed.

“It only works if you're actually in the place, though,” Hermione said ruefully.

“But it's still pretty cool,” Seamus said, nodding. “And they've managed to infuse a little of our personality into it. Anyone trying to read it incorrectly will get a mouthful of abuse!”

“Cool,” Dean commented. “You still got it?”

Draco shrugged. “What do you think?”

Dean grinned. “Remind me never to get on your bad side,” he said, laughing.

“Anyway, the rest of the story?” Harry demanded. Draco laughed a little.

“Well, with the help of your cloak, which you very nicely left for our use, we managed to distract the trolls guarding the very outmost exit with a lot of food. You see, with the cloak we made it into the kitchen, which was hidden, and persuaded the house elves to cook for us. Actually, we used Hermione as bait here. We told them that SPEW was a very popular organization out here, and if they helped us then we might be able to make it a little less popular. So we got me out and Fred managed to steal a broomstick of Viktor Krum, while Hermione distracted him in their library --“ (at this point in the narration Hermione blushed vividly and Ron scowled) “-and so I flew here as fast as I could and when I landed on the outside greens, Wormtail must have found me. Something hit me on the head really hard and then Voldemort must have done something because then I was in the main hall.” Draco took a deep breath, flustered. “Then you know the rest.”

“So how's Krum?” Harry asked suddenly.

“Right that's I'm going to bed,” Ron said suddenly, springing up and just stalking off. Hermione watched him go uncertainly. When she turned back to answer Harry's glance her gaze was troubled.

“He's fine. He understood me breaking it off,” she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

“You broke it off with him?” Dean asked; horrified. “But that's Viktor Krum!”

Hermione shrugged. “Turns out he was of the uh...” She searched for the right way. “Uh... Same persuasion as Harry and Draco.”

Seamus' eyes opened and Draco and Harry started to laugh. Dean didn't get it.

“What do you mean?” He asked; frowning.

“For heaven's sake!” Hermione snapped irritably. “He's gay!”

“Oh right...” Dean said. Then his mouth dropped open. “Oh!”

“Exactly,” Hermione said, folding her arms.

“Sorry,” Dean apologised softly.

Hermione stared before smiling. “Thanks.”

Harry yawned suddenly, stretching as he left Draco's shoulder.

“I'm tired,” he said sleepily. He got to his feet and Draco followed him almost reflexively.

“We'll follow you up later,” Seamus said, sharing a look with Dean, who wasn't tired either.

“I might too,” Hermione admitted, pushing herself up gently. Harry flashed his friend a glance, her eyes were quite misty. She smiled an 'I'm OK, really!' smile in his direction before leaving to go up to the girl's dorms. “Night boys,” she added faintly.

“Come on,” Harry said, tugging at Draco's hand. Seamus and Dean sniggered and Draco decided to ignore it as he followed Harry up the stairs.

As he entered the circular room the six boys shared Harry noticed Ron wasn't asleep but had his curtains drawn around his bed, indicating he didn't want to be disturbed.

“Come on,” Harry said softly, tugging at Draco's hand. Draco stared at him uncomprehendingly as Harry pulled him towards his own bed. Pushing the startled boy down onto the bed, Draco watched wordlessly as Harry closed the curtains and sat down on the bed next to him.

“Professor McGonagall trusted us not to do anything,” Draco whispered quickly.

Harry grinned mischievously. “We're not allowed to sleep? As in close our eyes and maybe dream?”

“Oh. Oh...” Draco suddenly got the idea. “Hang on, let me get changed for bed, then I'll be back.” Harry pulled a face and Draco leant quickly up and captured his lips gently. He pulled away as Harry grinned. “I'll be back,” he repeated quietly.

“Good,” Harry said, his eyes sparkling.

Two minutes later and Draco nervously pushed his way past the curtains to see Harry already snuggled in the bed, glasses on bedroom table. Blushing furiously, he pulled the covers off gently and slid under the covers gingerly.

“Here, this will work better if we lie like this,” Harry commanded gently, moving to spoon around Draco. The blond blushed and wriggled into Harry's embrace further.

“I love you,” Draco said softly, closing his eyes and surrendering himself to sleep and it wasn't long until his quiet regular breathing let them both drift away to sleep.

-----

Draco opened one eye. He felt warm arms wrapped around his waist and something tickling his neck. Moving gently he turned around in the embrace to see Harry grinning at him.

“Morning,” Harry whispered, a silly grin on his face. Draco grinned.

“We'd better get up,” he said gently. Harry pulled a face.

“I guess we have to,” Harry agreed. Draco started to pull away from the bed but Harry grabbed his wrist and stole a quick kiss from him before pulling a face.

“What is it?” Draco asked, concerned.

“Something's going to happen today,” Harry admitted gently. “It's something I asked Professor Figgs about at the end of the lesson... She agreed to help me with it... I want you to know, don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Trust me.”

Draco's eyes widened and he looked at Harry, concerned. “Are you sure?”

Harry nodded.

“Then I trust you,” Draco said softly. He pulled out of the bed and shivered. Pouting, Harry scrambled over the bed and hugged Draco abruptly. The blond laughed.

“Let me be, I'll never get dressed if you do that much longer!” Draco grinned and tried to escape.

“And you say that like it's a bad thing!” Harry laughed and let him go. “Get on with you!”

Draco rolled his eyes and disappeared to get dressed.

-----

Draco didn't ay anything but he quietly watched Harry all day. The raven-haired boy was quite edgy all day and after he had come back from seeing Professor Figgs again before lunch time he was literally shaking.

“You don't have to do whatever it is if you don't want to, I'm sure it can wait,” Draco said finally as he watched Harry play with his food mindlessly.

“Hmm? Oh no... I suppose now... Yes... I'll be OK, all right? I'll be fine,” he reaffirmed strongly.

Draco nodded. “I trust you.”

Harry nodded, swallowed and got to his feet; approaching the teacher's table softly.

Ron suddenly noticed Harry's disappearance and looked around; seeing Harry approaching the teachers table (all the Professors were there today) he turned to Draco sharply.

“What's he doing?” Ron hadn't exactly got over his sudden mood from yesterday.

“I don't know,” Draco replied, his voice low and troubled. “But whatever it is, he seems to think it's the right thing and for that I'm going to support him.”

Ron blinked a few times before turning to watch his friend approach the front and talk to Professor Dumbledore. The wizened teacher nodded gravely.

Suddenly Harry's voice rung out; firm and strong.

“I'd like to talk to you all... I have a few things to say...”

Curiously, the hall quietened down.

“But first...” Harry continued. “First I have to take this...”

There were a few gasps as a small vial was produced.

“Veritaserum,” Professor Snape suddenly hissed.

“Makes you tell the truth,” Hermione hissed, explaining its purpose to everyone in hearing distance.

“You've been in my stores again, Potter,” Professor Snape growled, snarling. Harry turned, eyes blazing to face the Professor. Professor Figgs intervened before anything too bad could be said.

“I gave it to him, Severus,” she said, her tone harsh. Harry nodded gently and before anyone could stop him swallowed some of it swiftly. Suddenly something in him changed. His throat tightened up and he went pale. Falling forwards slowly, he clenched his fists and began to speak.

“This is the truth, it's the only thing I can say. Voldemort was possessed by something, Peter's only the host. We should be protecting Azkaban better, it's all a ploy! You have to know this, although some of you will be denying it. Professor Snape I can say with all honesty that I personally have never ever been in your private potions cupboard! And I have to tell you all a true story. Last year, at the Triwizard's Tournament, the cup was turned into a Portkey. Cedric... he got there first but wouldn't take it. He wanted me to take it but the idiot I am let me talk him into both taking it. At the instant we touched him we were transported to somewhere and this voice said “Kill the spare” and I have never been so freaking scared or upset in my life... They didn't mean me, they meant Cedric and I realized then it was all my bloody fault I was indirectly responsible for his death! Voldemort used Wormtail's hand as part of a Dark spell to bring himself back to full strength and that was when I knew he was being controlled... No-one did that made people do that... No-one could be that evil.”

Coughing, Harry scrunched up his eyes finding it hard to talk with the effects of the potion still active.

“I don't know why you think he's all gone... And if Voldemort has truly gone than there will be a replacement, as whatever it is will choose to go to a different host as Wormtail is a mistake. I foolishly let that rat live...I guess the reason I'm doing this is to warn you all you can't be so complacent you have to realise he's there and they're ready to do anything at all to win! We can't let them win...”

Struggling to cough he clenched his fists. “And I want you to all know how sorry I am for letting Cedric die like that and I know I'm not worth him at all... I'm no-one... But there's just one more thing you need to know, I should tell you... There are among us death-eaters. Students amongst us branded to the Dark side... You have to know it's wrong. You have to stop this. You can't be killers like They want you to be! You shouldn't be scared to go against your upbringing to do what's right! When I was... Last year... Against Voldemort as I saw him return, as he used my blood to return all his latest spells reversed... I saw Cedric again and everyone he murdered and knew at that moment I had helped him return my blood had helped him return... This latest skirmish was a victory yes but it wasn't the end of the battle...” Â-He took one last deep breath. “And one more thing?” He turned and faced Professor Snape. “Don't blame me for something you weren't brave enough to do.”

Tears appeared on Harry's cheeks and eventually the potion stopped him from being able to breathe and he collapsed; cheeks red as he struggled to breathe. With a strangled cry Hagrid leapt from his seat and picked up the now-unconscious boy.

“See? See what you all done? You all disgust me, making him think he was worthless, you make me sick! You oughta listen to him he knows what he's talking about!” In complete disdain the half-giant turned and stalked off with Harry over his shoulder.

The entire place was an uproar. Snape was spluttering wildly and students were openly crying.

“He never said,” Cho was heard repeating over on the Ravenclaw. “Oh he never said, we all just assumed...” She looked like she was going to be sick.

Draco stood there, thunderstruck. He hadn't realised how deeply Cedric's death had affected Harry and he, too, felt completely sick.

“Oh Harry I'm sorry,” he said under his breath. Ron grasped the blond's shoulder firmly; just nodding his understanding.

“I think we all underestimated what happened,” Ron said softly, casting a glance up at the teacher's table where Professor Snape had finally subdued and was looking increasingly like most of the students, like he was going to be sick.

“He was right, everything he said though,” Hermione said softly. “We were fools to think he might have been totally gone for once.”

“I think we were all fools where this was all concerned,” Draco said darkly, his eyes narrowing.

I never saw blue like that before across the sky

Around the world you're giving me all you have and more

And no-one else has ever shown me how

To see the world the way I see it now

Oh why, I never saw blue like that

“Never Saw Blue Like That”- Ska

-----

“How is he?”

Feeling extremely fuzzy Harry's eyes snapped open. He vaguely remembered taking the Veritaserum, but everything else was a little foggy.

“He's fine, Mr. Weasley, now if you'll just wait till he regains consciousness...”

Harry could hear Madam Pomfrey being her usual self and trying to push his friends out.

“But he's awake, Madam Pomfrey,” Hermione persisted quietly. The bustling matron turned suspiciously and saw Harry blinking at her.

“OK,” she said, her voice still apprehensive. “Ten minutes. And I mean it! He'll still be under the effects of that Veritaserum he took for at least four more days, so let him rest!”

Still blinking blurrily, Harry saw three... no, four... shapes surround the bed and he screwed up his eyes trying to see who was there.

“Hi,” he croaked, frowning.

“His glasses! He can't see without them!”

Harry recognized Ginny's voice and he nodded. Someone passed him them and he slid them on and waited for his eyes to refocus. Standing before him were Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Draco who were all looking quite concerned. Also on the bottom of the bed was a table yet again piled high with get well cards and a few boxes of confectionary from Hogsmeade.

“How long have I been out?” Harry croaked, trying to push himself up and failing miserably.

“Two days,” Ron said. “And you got out of a really hard Charms test too!”

Harry pulled a weak smile.

“What on earth did you think you were trying to do?” Draco asked, perplexed. Harry frowned and turned his gaze to a very annoyed young blond.

“I was trying to help everyone understand the severity of the situation... I was wrong, though, Tom's going to be all right. It's the others I'm worried for...” Harry trailed off, coughing suddenly and all four were looking worried.

“It was going to happen,” Hermione said; her tone level but with a tremor in it that wasn't there before. “It's three drops, Harry, not an entire mouthful!”

Harry pulled a face. “I tried for three drops,” he said, frowning. “No wonder it didn't go very well.”

Ginny laughed. “You do realize now that you have to tell the truth for the rest of the week?”

Harry's eyes widened. “Side effect of taking so much?”

Ginny nodded. “And you can't start by answering... Which of my brothers do you think is the cutest?”

“Ginny!” Hermione protested; grabbing the younger girl by the arm. “Don't answer that!”

“Wasn't planning on it,” Harry said. “The only boy I think is attractive to me isn't a Weasley so that was really a hard question.” Grinning cheekily he was conscious enough of Draco's vivid flush.

“So you can speak what you think is the truth, even though it's wrong. Interesting.” This was from Hermione as she had finished kicking Ginny out of the infirmary.

“So what is this I hear about you and Ron pretending to be Goyle and Crabbe three years ago?” Draco asked; folding his arms. Then he stopped, thought for a second and frowned. “Oh no you must have heard me... I really was a git back then wasn't I?”

Harry laughed a little. “You said it,” he said, cheering up for the first time in a few days.

“Excuse me?”

Four heads turned to see Cho Chang standing there; blushing faintly.

“Can I... Can I ask you something?”

She seemed extremely nervous and Harry looked away. Sensing he wasn't very comfortable with the whole situation, Draco squeezed Harry's hand gently. This seemed to give him some reassurance and he took a deep breath and turned back to the fidgeting Ravenclaw girl.

“I...” Cho swallowed. “I wanted to thank you for what you said... What you did. I know both of you, and if anything you're more stubborn. If you'd make him take it on his own, it could have been worse, we could have never got his body back... I guess what I wanted to say was... Well, I suppose...” She trailed off.

“Just say it,” Harry said flatly.

“I spent the last year pretty much trying to hate you, but I realise I was just wondering... If I could ever ... You know, forgive myself...”

“For what?” Harry was confused.

“For being so distrustful... For not dissuading him from putting his name in the cup...” She bit her lip and looked away, tears forming in her eyes. Hermione offered her a tissue and she sniffed into it.

“Cho, look...” Harry managed. “He was so happy when he... When he died,” he finally managed the words. “There was nothing any of us could have really done. If anyone is to blame that would be me.”

“No! You can't think that, Harry,” Cho said firmly. “That was Voldemort, or whatever you think possessed him. It's his fault. And I know you'll get the revenge we all sorely deserve. That's another thing I have to say. Whatever the ministry say or do, however they try to ignore what's happening, know this. We all believe in you. We know you can do it.”

Harry just blinked at her. “Thanks,” he mumbled.

Cho just stared at him for a few wordless seconds before bowing slightly and walking away.

“That was friendly,” Ron remarked. “Especially since she knew you used to have a crush on her.”

Harry glared at Ron quickly.

Draco bit his lip. “When was this?” He finally demanded.

“Before the Triwizard tournament...” Harry admitted. “But it was just a crush... I didn't feel anything like what I feel for you.” Harry's face was blushing beet red by this time.

“Oh,” Draco said softly, smiling.

Ron rolled his eyes. “Could you two get more soppier?”

Harry pulled a face. “Could. Would. Probably shouldn't.”

“So you can only speak the truth...” Apparantly Hermione's mind was still on that topic. “So hen's lay...”

“G- G-“ Harry spluttered and frowned. “Eggs. They lay eggs.”

“And in Quidditch, how many team members are there?” Ron quizzed.

“F-f-f- Seven!” Harry glared at them. “Stop it!”

“Well it would be easier if you didn't lie then it wouldn't hurt so much,” Hermione pointed out.

Thankfully for Harry they weren't allowed to ask him any more questions as Madam Pomfrey bustled in.

“Right, you've had your ten minutes, now out Mr. Potter has more visitors,” she said sternly.

“But-“ Ron immediately protested.

“OUT NOW MR. WEASLEY!” Madam Pomfrey roared. Ron jumped in shock and Harry looked on in surprise. Hermione, Ron and Draco immediately complied, flocking together to leave quickly.

“Oh, and Draco?”

Draco turned in the doorway, his cheeks still glowing from earlier.

“I really do love you, you know,” Harry said softly, speaking the truth and speaking it from his heart.

Draco flushed crimson and he mouthed 'love you too' before being bundled out by the stern Infirmary nurse.

Madam Pomfrey bustled back in, dusting her hands on her black and white clothing. “You up to any more visitors? Because I can send them away if you're too tired.”

“I'm f- Arg, I mean I'm not too tired,” Harry said, pushing himself up against the headboard.

Madam Pomfrey's eyes narrowed but unfortunately Harry was still under the effects of the Veritaserum and he had to tell the truth.

“Very well,” she said softly.

Harry craned his neck to see who was coming in this time and was faintly surprised to see Professor Dumbledore, Professor Figg and Professor Snape stride in. He frowned and wished he could pretend he was asleep, but no he doubted even the Veritaserum would let him do that.

“Hullo Harry,” Professor Figg said kindly, smiling. “See it worked, just like I said it would. The entire school's been thinking and Vincent and Gregory came to see us for... whatsisname... Asylum? Sanctuary? Anyways, you've saved a couple of innocent lives Potter.”

Harry pulled a face. “They'll have just been scared of Pansy before to come forwards.”

“Ah, Pansy,” Dumbledore pulled a face. For a second Harry thought he was being mean and referring to him, but he rolled his eyes. Dumbledore wasn't like that. “Unfortunately she's been pulled out of school by her parents. She's now gone to Durmstrangs.”

Harry looked up to see Professor Snape just perched on the edge of a table looking quite mortified.

“I can't believe you've never been inside my private potion stores, Potter... Spill it. Who did it?”

Harry blinked and looked to Professor Dumbledore for help, although even the headmaster looked a little interested. Morosely, Harry couldn't help his mouth opening. “Professor Figg took the Veritaserum, Dobby stole the Gillyweed and the Boomerang stuff or whatever it was, that was....” Harry made some kind of dreadful face; appearing to try and fight the effects of the potion as it tried to close his throat up again. “Hermione. It was Hermione.”

Professor Snape looked at him wordlessly for a few seconds before sighing. “I knew that damn potion was working... I know you, Potter, you think you and your friends are above the rules...” He trailed off and Harry stared, perplexed. “Never mind,” Snape growled and turned, stalking out of the infirmary.

Harry watched him go sadly.

“I must admit Harry, whatever you meant when you talked to the Professor has really got him to think,” Dumbledore said thoughtfully.

“He was in love with my father,” Harry said without thinking, then quickly snapped his mouth shut. “Stupid potion!” He yelled.

Professor Figg grinned. “You shouldn't have taken so much. I haven't seen you look so green, even when I made you sit down and look through all the pictures of the wizards I've guarded.”

“What?” Harry stared, confused.

The elderly witch let out a cheeky grin. “You know the cats? Weren't cats at all. They were unregistered animagi, caught by the ministry and I were given the job of looking after 'em, weren't I?”

Harry opened his mouth and shut it again. “Is that the punishment or something?”

“Lordy, no!” Professor Figg stifled a grin. “Just thems were the ones that didn't do it properly. They got stuck as cats, so I got 'em to look after.”

“Oh,” Harry said. He had no idea how to respond to that bizarre statement.

“I suppose you were wondering why we were here,” Professor Dumbledore said finally.

“Actually I was wondering when I was going to be allowed back to lessons,” Harry said absent-mindedly before groaning. “Is this part of the potion's effects? To make me blurt out true things all over the place?”

“I'm afraid so, Harry,” Professor Dumbledore said. “What else did you expect? Something like what happened with young Barty Crouch? I'm afraid not. He was rather stunned when he took the correct small dose of Veritaserum. Whilst you took a rather large dose and were in a state of emotional high so I'm afraid you will be like this for about four days.”

“That's why you'll go back to lessons next week,” Professor Figg said, scratching her nose.

“But that's not why we're here,” Professor Dumbledore said; finally dropping to a chair besides the bed as Harry smiled thankfully at his old babysitter.

“Why are you here?” Harry asked, apprehensive.

“It's because of what happened in Professor Figg's lesson. You do realise she cast Cruciatus on you, aren't you?”

Harry nodded. “I wasn't aware at the time though.”

Professor Dumbledore nodded. “Well.. Although now you have an extraordinary reputation around school, you're not immune to Cruciatus at all. It was just that once.”

“I was afraid that would be the case,” Harry said softly, nodding.

Dumbledore bit his lip and looked away. “Remember when you cast Cruciatus on Tom a few weeks ago?”

Harry nodded. “How could I forget?”

“Yes. Well, that's the thing about Cruciatus. You use it and you get a certain amount of immunity from it. It's not always that reliable though, so don't get any ideas. Besides, it will not be cast again by any member of Hogwarts. It's too dangerous. I will continue the allowed use of Imperius in Defence Against the Dark Arts because that's a necessary skill to be able to fight against it,” Dumbledore explained.

“So was I just lucky it didn't effect me?” Harry asked; confused.

“No,” Professor Figg. “Not entirely. The other factor in it all was pretty clever actually. You were paying absolutely no attention, even when it struck. Normally victims of Cruciatus know when they're about to be hit, and even when you don't you know as soon as it has hit. But honestly, Harry, you mustn't have been paying much attention to anything at all.”

Harry laughed. “Sorry.”

Professor Figg shrugged. “It's all right. I'd pay more attention, though, if I wanted to pass any of your Owls”

That thought stayed with Harry as Professor Figg and Professor Dumbledore wished him a speedy recovery and left him alone with his thoughts. He had to admit to Madam Pomfrey that he really was feeling tired and the nurse had nodded and dimmed the lights. He really did need to pass his Owls, and he had missed a lot of school this year already.

“Time for some more study,” he reminded himself slowly before sleep overtook him and he drifted off to sleep.

-----

Over the next four days while Harry recovered, Hermione dropped some books in for him to study out of, and Ron helped him catch up on his homework. Draco actually found it quite amusing that he couldn't lie and they even one day had a pillow fight in the infirmary because Harry had thrown his pillow at the blond in ultimate defeat.

The next Monday Harry was allowed into the real world, fully able to lie his head off again.

“And what do hens lay, Harry?” Draco asked teasingly as they walked outside; Hedwig perched on Harry's arm and Ron and Hermione in front of them, bickering like anything.

“Golf balls!” Harry yelled, surprising Neville who was walking the other way. The round-faced boy looked at him and dropped the armful of bulbs he was carrying.

“What are all these?” Hermione asked as they all bent down to help pick them up.

“For Professor Sprout,” Neville explained. “I'm her new assistant.”

“Really? Good on you,” Draco said warmly, helping Neville to his feet. The brunet nodded his thanks and grinning sped off towards the greenhouses.

Hermione and Ron began to bicker again and Harry smiled at Draco.

“It's fantastic to have you human again,” Harry said, linking his arms with Draco's as they crunched their way across the gravel paths.

“What was I before? A zombie?” Draco asked sarcastically.

Harry laughed. “You see people for who they are, not who their parents are. And I think it's made you a nicer person.”

“But you would have still fallen in love with me even if I was an arrogant sod still?” Draco looked at Harry questioningly.

Harry blushed. “Probably,” he admitted quietly. Draco looked quite stunned.

“So it's me,” he said, wonderingly. “That means a lot,” he added, his tone low so the others wouldn't hear. Hermione and Ron had finally stopped arguing, instead ignoring each other staunchly. Harry sighed and was just about to intervene as they rounded a corner and Hedwig flapped a little. Harry spluttered as feathers went into his mouth and Hedwig ruffled herself, annoyed. The appearance of Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnegan was what Hedwig had appeared started about. Seamus had his arm around Lavender's waist and the pretty Gryffindor girl was blushing.

“Seamus!” Ron exclaimed. “You and Lavender? Since when?”

Seamus flushed. “Since this morning when I asked her to the dance,” he admitted. Lavender giggled.

“Dance?” Harry sounded curious. “What dance?”

Seamus frowned. “Oh, right, I noticed you weren't there at the end of dinner when Professor Sinistra announced there is going to be a dance for the fifth years and seventh years after the Owls and NEWTs have been completed.”

“Oh great,” Harry moaned. “Wasn't one dance enough?”

Draco laughed. “At least you have someone to go with this time,” he pointed out.

“You?” Harry grinned when Draco nodded. “I suppose it might be all right then.”

“Have a nice night,” Lavender said; smiling as she walked past with Seamus.

Draco smiled reflectively. “It'll be a nice social event for after the exams while we're waiting for the marks,” he commented.

Harry nodded, then frowned. “Ron, are you all right?”

Suddenly all the interest was focused on the redhead as he was starting to go very pink and his face was slightly screwed up. It looked like he was going through some tremendous inner struggle.

“Ron?” Hermione's question was soft on the breeze and Ron paused and took a breath.

“Hermionewillyougotothedancewithme?” He asked very quickly in one breath, looking very red.

Hermione immediately went pink and both Harry and Draco laughed. Ron shot them a despairing look.

“You won't go gay on me will you?” Hermione finally asked in a timid voice.

Ron blushed harder. “No.”

“Well... Uh...” Hermione floundered for a little; looking extremely pleased. “Yes.”

Ron stood still and stared; his mouth hanging open. “She said yes,” he said; sounding shocked as he started to wander off a little dazed. Blushing Hermione watched him go, before reminding Ron that a) they were supposed to meet Professor Dumbledore for a new lesson soon and b) he was about to crash into a tree after having walked off the path.

Harry watched this scene for a few minutes silently before just grabbing Draco and hugging him unexpectedly.

“What was that for?” Draco asked curiously, not unpleased.

“Just because,” Harry said; leaning against the ex-Slytherin and watching his best friends. “Because, because, because.”

“That's your reason for everything,” Draco said flatly.

“It's a very good reason,” Harry said firmly, checking to see that no-one was looking and kissing Draco softly before disentangling himself. Draco stood there startled for a few seconds.

“Are you coming or not?” Harry asked impishly. Draco's face paled a little before he laughed.

“Sure,” he said. Harry took his hand and started tugging him along to where he was supposed to go.

-----

They surreptitiously entered Professor Dumbledore's office ten minutes later, after giving the correct password (“Liquorice Allsorts”) and the headmaster was waiting for them there.

“Good, good, on time for your lesson,” he said; nodding. “As you all know your first intended animals I think we should start with a basic lesson in their habits. As you are going to transform into a specific animal you need to know how they behave and I think you can help each other learn. So I thought we'd go through one by one, surveying them in their natural habitat.”

“Cool!” Ron exclaimed, despite himself.

“Yes, yes,” Dumbledore agreed, a twinkle in his eyes. “So first of all, we're going to Romania.”

“ROMANIA?” Everyone turned to stare at Hermione, who had immediately gone bright red. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

“It's quite all right. Before you ask,” he said quickly; before Harry could say anything, “I have arranged a Portkey. On three, I want you to touch the bin lid on my desk. Understand?”

Four heads nodded and Professor Dumbledore relaxed and sat down.

“Aren't you going with us?” Draco asked quickly.

Dumbledore smiled. “I have too much work to do. But I leave you in capable hands. Hurry along. Do you want to go or not? One, two, three.”

As he spoke three four hands hurriedly touched the Portkey and the four teenagers disappeared. Albus laid back in his chair; smiling. They were in for a tough ride overall, but at least they'd have quite an enjoyable time for one night.

-----

“CHARLIE!”

As soon as they had landed, Ron had immediately recognised the rakish figure that stood to greet them and the redhead fairly flew through the air to hug his brother.

“Hey Ron,” Charlie said warmly, squeezing his brother before letting him go. “I know what he's teaching you,” he added as well in a lower tone. “I won't tell mum. It's dangerous, Ron, it really is.” Before Ron could protest Charlie looked at him, grinning. “It's also as cool as hell, and he wouldn't teach you if it wasn't necessary for you to know.”

“Hullo Charlie,” Harry greeted when Ron had finally moved away.

“Harry,” Charlie replied. “You certainly did give that Norwegian Horntail a run for its money and all. I was so glad to have seen that. Sorry I missed the final task, but Bill said from what he saw all your hexes were way beyond your level.”

Harry smiled warmly.

“Hermione, are you going out with my lil bro yet or what?” Charlie asked bluntly. Hermione flushed. “Don't tell me you haven't asked her yet Ron?”

Ron blushed and started to stutter.

“Actually he asked me to the dance,” Hermione said demurely with an impish smile.

“You better have said yes,” Charlie said. “Or I'll set the Horntail on you!”

Hermione looked slightly alarmed before grinning. “Probably a good thing I said yes then, isn't it?”

Charlie grinned again, running one grime-soaked hand through his flame-red hair before he looked over at Draco and took a double-take.

“Draco Malfoy? I knew Professor Dumbledore said there were four, but I was expecting I don't know, Neville or something? What are you doing here?” Charlie looked shocked.

“How long have you been out of the loop?” Ron laughed. Charlie looked offended. “He's renounced his evil ways and joined us,” Ron explained quickly. Charlie still looked suspicious. “Harry can vouch for him,” he added.

Charlie looked at Harry questioningly. Harry blushed. “We're going out,” he explained, his face red.

“Ah,” Charlie laughed. “You may like to meet an acquaintance of mine, actually, Ron you too...”

Ron looked at his brother curiously then up at a tree where there was someone else standing there he hadn't noticed before. He was tall, with blue eyes and a shock of black hair which looked rather singed. Probably a casualty of the day job, Harry thought casually.

“This is Simon, Simon Harding,” Charlie introduced. The black-haired man laughed easily and slipped an arm around Charlie's waist.

“Och, must ye be so formal, Charlie?” He asked with a strong Scottish accent as he kissed Charlie on the cheek soundly. Charlie blushed and looked away

Ron rolled his eyes.

“C'mon, we have some dragon watching to do,” Charlie said; laughing as he disentangled himself from his partner.

As they followed Charlie and Simon curiously, Hermione stopped Ron with a dig in the ribs.

“Are you sure you're not going to turn gay on me?” She asked suspiciously.

Ron shook his head and leaned forwards and gave her a quick peck on the cheeks. Blushing he pulled back and grinned rakishly. “Nope,” he said airily.

“Ron, come on.”

Turning his head quickly, Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her. She squeaked but followed him all the same. The sight that met their gaze made Hermione squeal in excitement.

“Oh Ron,” she cried excitedly. “It's Norbert!”

-----

I think I'll go for a walk

Maybe out in the rain

Maybe let the tears roll down my face and not feel the pain

Maybe think about something

Maybe think about you

Yeah you (can't hurt me now)

You know you can't hurt me (you can't hold me down)

And I got plenty of time, time to figure it out

Time to think about you and me whatever that was all about

I've got nothing to prove, got nothing to say

No I guess I never thought you were good for me anyway

I got nothing to lose

Nothing but you

“Nothing But You”- Kim Ferron

-----

"Norbert? You know that dragon?" Draco spluttered in amazement.

Ron blinked before grinning brilliantly. “So do you,” he said nonchalantly. “He looks good,” he added to his brother.

Charlie smiled and began outlining how well Norbert had settled in, commenting it was a good thing he was released to the wild before he became fully domesticated.

“Although,” he added ruefully, “unfortunately the small amount of contact has made him slightly domesticated and is definitely one for the case books. We've learnt a heck of a lot about the physiology of Norwegian Ridgebacks from Norbert which we haven't known before.”

“Especially of the interesting ridge patterns and they way they separate about fourteen inches every time he's frightened, but close up about 3.4 inches when contented or relaxed, it's fascinating,” Simon interrupted, eyes sparkling. All of them could see he truly loved his subject, as did Charlie.

Ron surveyed Charlie and Simon's interaction before rolling his eyes and muttering disconsolately: “Birds of a feather,” he grunted.

“Clump together,” Charlie retorted, sticking his tongue out as his younger brother.

Harry and Draco exchanged a very bewildered look. “That must be a Weasley thing,” Draco offered.

“He's moving!”

Hermione's startled gasp drove all of their attentions back to Norbert. The magnificent black dragon was really moving, sluggishly raising his head from he had been curled up asleep. One golden eye opened slowly, lazily surveying the six onlookers at the top of the cliff. He rose up onto his feet slowly, tentatively sniffing the air before letting out a short screech.

“Just to indicate he's awake,” Simon whispered softly, scribbling something down in a notebook.

Draco watched, fascinated, as the dragon paced forwards and without warning stretched upwards; front legs curling into the sides of his body and wings stunningly outstretched. Norbert beat his wings a few times and they could feel the wind from the displaced air knock at them for a good few seconds before Norbert let out a terrifying screech and drenching the surrounding air in a clear yellow flame.

“Wow.”

Charlie looked around, noticing Draco's stunned expression and laughing gently. “That's our feelings every time we see them.”

The redhead smiled gently and began to briefly outline the usual routine of the Norwegian Ridgeback, filling in all the physical details and normal patterns of movement specifically for Draco. Draco nodded and took it all in, without taking an eye off Norbert himself while Ron, Hermione, Simon and Harry just watched the dragon.

“I remember you,” Simon said conversationally, remembering to keep his voice down so neither Norbert or Charlie and Draco would be disturbed. “You were the kids who let us take Norbert to Romania in the first place.”

Harry nodded. “We had to get him out of the country before Hagrid got in trouble,” he explained softly, his gaze flickering over to Draco faintly. “Thanks to some people though, we ended up with detentions and a hundred and fifty points from Gryffindor.”

Simon nodded. “I heard. But you got the points back for Gryffindor in quite an amazing way, I've heard. I don't know, all you plucky Gryffindors...” He rolled his eyes and laughed gently.

“Which house were you in?” Ron asked curiously.

Simon laughed a little. “Ravenclaw,” he admitted. “I was one of the Beaters for their Quidditch team... That's when I first met our Charlie... I accidentally knocked him out with a bludger.”

Hermione raised her eyebrows slightly. “It is a dangerous sport,” she said blandly, her tone indicating that it was a delicate issue with her. She didn't like flying and it showed.

They must have sat there watching Norbert for a good hour before Charlie finally let up on Draco. The blonde's eyes were shining with something Harry couldn't quite fathom.

“Well, I'd like to keep you four for a little longer, but I have my orders,” Charlie said ruefully, nodding at a twisted tyre on the ground. “Don't forget to owl me, Ron, but for now you'd better touch the next Portkey.”

“The next Portkey?” Ron asked, bewildered.

“Three, two, one --“ Charlie said, grinning as the four hurriedly bent down and touched the tyre disappearing instantaneously.

Simon shook his head in mirth. “Nice kids,” he said, smiling.

Charlie grinned at his lover. “They're exactly the right ones, too. The Powers That Be chose them well.”

Simon nodded. “So where are they off to next?”

-----

“This looks like... Somewhere near the Himalayas!” Hermione blinked, holding up one arm to block the snow.

“It's freezing,” Ron grumbled, casting an eye on the bleak horizon covered in snowy hills and white trees.

Draco rolled his eyes and pointed at something in Ron's hand. Ron looked down and saw his wand.

“How about making a fire, Ron?” Harry suggested, laughing.

“There's no wood,” Hermione said cheekily.

Ron looked astonished for a moment before bursting out into giggles. Harry managed a smile while Draco looked confused.

“What?” Draco blinked. Harry studied his boyfriend for a second as the blonde flushed indignantly looking totally adorable in Harry's opinion with snowflakes dusting his eyelashes.

“You amaze me sometimes,” Harry said.

“Huh?” Draco blinked, even more confused.

Harry blushed as he realised he'd said his thoughts out loud. “Nothing,” he whispered. Draco frowned.

“I really did miss out on a lot by being such an ass, didn't I?” He said wonderingly.

Hermione frowned. “You did miss out on a lot, but you can't help your upbringing,” she said finally.

Draco frowned all the more. “What do you mean by that?” He asked, confused.

“You're even dumber than I used to think you were,” Ron said frowning. Draco's eyes narrowed.

“Hey,” he said, his voice low.

“Ron,” Harry protested.

Ron folded his arms staunchly. “So? I mean Hermione's parents must have read a lot of books, Hermione reads a lot of books. My parents don't think before they speak, I usually don't. Most people are like that, taking after the people that brought them up. Mind you, with the nightmares of the muggles Harry lived with it's amazing he's come out half-way civilized.”

This time it was Harry's turn to glare. “Thanks,” he said softly. “I think. I'm going to take that as a compliment I think.”

Ron grinned and stuck out his tongue.

“Hey, shouldn't we figure out why we're here?” Hermione asked suddenly. “We're just standing around like a bunch of dunderheads! Professor Snape would be proud of us for looking as stupid as he thinks we are!”

“Huh? Professor Snape's always been quite nice to me,” Draco said bemusedly.

“That's because you were a Slytherin,” Ron said; grinning. “Hey, did you have to put on the Sorting Hat again or did you ask to go into Gryffindor?”

“Sorting Hat,” Draco said, smiling softly. “It even apologized, but said something about right house, right time.”

“As in you needed to be in Slytherin at first for the right events to happen, for the right contacts and preconceptions to be made,” Harry said, thoughtfully. “This whole thing is being pulled and twitched still to make us follow the same sort of path.” He frowned. “We're still stuck in the cycle, aren't we?”

Draco's eyes widened. “But I think everyone's doing as much as they can to help us get out of it too.”

They were silent as Hermione lit a witch's fire to keep them warm and they huddled around the warmth while looking around.

“I can't see anything apart from snow,” Ron said grouchily.

“And trees,” Hermione added.

“And more snow,” Harry said morosely. “Draco, do you see anything?”

“Nothing but you,” Draco said softly before shaking himself. “Uh... I mean...” He started to blush despite himself. “I just see snow.”

Harry considered the implications of the words while trying to avoid the fuzzy feeling creeping up his neck.

Ron tried to clear the silence. “I spy with my little eye something beginning with S.”

“Snow,” Hermione answered deprecatingly.

“I spy with my little eye something beginning with MS?” Ron tried hopefully.

“Uh...” Hermione blinked before groaning. “More snow?”

Ron nodded. “EMS?”

“Even more snow,” Hermione replied softly grinning. “YEMS?”

“Yet even more snow?” Ron tried.

“MSTTHBCH?” Draco butted in; smiling.

“Uh...” Hermione shrugged. “I don't know.”

Draco turned to Harry. “You got me,” Harry said, looking baffled.

Ron stood still for a moment; scowling fiercely. “More snow... than the... human body can handle?” He guessed.

“Damn,” Draco said, finally laughing out loud. “Right!”

“That's a nice sound,” Harry reflected. “You should do that more often.”

Draco jumped, startled.

Their banter was quickly stopped by the sudden appearance of a well-wrapped up figure.

“Oh, zis is ve-ry cold,” the girl said liltingly. The accent was heavy and struck a chord in Harry's brain. However it was Hermione who connected the accent with the person first.

“Fleur Delacour?” Hermione asked nervously.

Fleur nodded, pulling down the scarf so more of her face could be seen. “Yes, it is me. I am to be your guide for this part of your learning.” She looked up; quick eyes flashing over at Harry. “It has been a while,” she said softly to Harry. Harry nodded, his face tensing up. Draco noticed his tightened expression and squeezed Harry's hand reflexively, knowing what -- or more precisely who - Harry was reminded about. Cedric. Harry swallowed and nodded.

Fleur nodded nervously; noticing the entwined hands with a small smile of satisfaction. “Gabrielle sez to say thank you again and she hopes you are well,” she added.

Harry managed a tight smile while Hermione was actually looking quite disgruntled. Harry looked mystified until he remembered the amount of attention Ron gave Fleur last year and he grinned as he also remembered Hermione's catty comments about her and Ron's response to her.

“Well, we are not here to stand about chatting,” Fleur said suddenly. “Follow me.”

Startled, they exchanged glances and quickly hitching up their robes trailed after the French witch.

-----

“We're here,” Fleur announced after about an hour of traipsing over snow-covered landscape and hills. All four were shivering from the cold and they watched numbly as Fleur motioned for them to drop down to the ground. They were on some kind of rise and they knelt down numbly in the snow next to her. “We found these last week on our travels,” Fleur explained. “Dumbly-dorr was looking on the black network for someone who'd spotted Himalayan wolves.”

“Black network?” Harry asked. Fleur grinned.

“There's a lot for you to learn about the wizarding world when you graduate,” Fleur said; grinning.

“They're amazing,” Ron exclaimed.

Harry gasped and turned to watch the scene unfolding before them and listened mildly as Fleur began explaining the habits of the Silver Himalayan/Hebridean hybrid wolf, which was apparantly it's full title. As Draco before him, Ron was entranced with the animal. Apparantly an inborn fascination with the creature helped with animal transfigurations.

They sat there for about an hour watching the wolves before a disturbance from some trees to their left caught their attention.

“This is the second part of it,” Fleur said suddenly. Ron watched in dismay as the wolves picked up the scent of something and ran off.

“They've gone,” he said mournfully.

“Something scared them off,” Hermione said softly.

“What was it?” Draco asked, craning his neck.

“It's beautiful,” Harry gasped.

They didn't have to ask what Harry was talking about as something entered the clearing gracefully, sniffing the air tentatively. It was graceful, glistening, and powerful...

“It's exactly like... like I imagined,” Harry whispered.

“It's... he's... a creature definitely not very typical of the Himalayas, but we do have a few,” Fleur said softly, beginning to outlining the habits of the silver stag standing proudly in the clearing.

Harry listened attentively while keeping his eyes trained on the stag. To his abrupt amazement he realised he was crying. Forcing himself to stop crying he listened to Fleur. The girl sounded like Hermione -- like she's swallowed the textbook. Harry reflected it must have something to do with this dark network thing -- she'd learnt this information completely and most likely very rapidly.

What seemed like five minutes later but was in reality closer to half an hour the stag trotted away and Fleur got to her feet; steadfastly wiping snow off her clothes. She frowned as she realised most of her clothes were soaked through and her charges looked like bedraggled drowned rats. She sighed.

“You are soaked... Never mind.” She reached into her pocket and brought out a glass jar. Unscrewing it she dropped a small stone on the floor.

“It's been nice seeing you all again,” she said softly. “I hope to see you again when this is all over alive and well.”

Harry nodded. “We do too.”

Fleur smiled. “Well, what are you waiting for? Three, two, one --“

Suddenly getting it, they quickly grinned and touched the stone; the area around them quickly disappearing again like before.

“Keep you well,” Fleur added to the still air, smiling bitterly before disapparating away.

-----

“Where are now?” Ron demanded, looking around the forest.

“Easy, we're somewhere where there are unicorns,” Draco said softly.

“How do you know that?” Ron asked.

“Hermione's the only one left,” Harry said, rolling his eyes. Ron looked stunned for a moment.

“More precisely we're back at Hogwarts,” Hermione said, shrugging. The three boys turned to look at her confused. Hermione sighed.

“This is the forbidden forest,” she said exasperatedly.

“Oh,” Ron said. “Oh!” He whipped out his wand. Draco looked a little nervous.

“Scared again?” Harry quipped.

Draco frowned. “Me, scared Potter?” He asked sarcastically. “Hell yes! This place scares me, and it should scare you too!”

Harry laughed. “At least we're back.”

“You've had me worried, you four. Not turning up for supper, not being around at school, no-one knew where you were before Professor Dumbledore told us that it was all right he knew where you were.”

They turned to see Hagrid standing next to one of the giant trees.

“Hello Hagrid,” Harry said softly.

Hagrid shook his head. “I don't think I'm happy with you getting messed up with the network, but Dumbledore assures me its necessary and I'd trust him with my life.”

“So would everyone, I think,” Ron said, nodding.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Follow me!” Hagrid grunted and turned away.

“Why are we doing this?” Draco asked suddenly. “We've done unicorns in Care of Magical Creatures.”

“Yeah, you have, I know that,” Hagrid said; nodding. “That means I don't have to go over its habits and all that. We're just here to see them interact with each other.”

Sharing a few puzzled looks and shrugs, they decided to follow Hagrid and keep close to the formidable but friendly half-giant.

Almost half an hour later, and they were exhausted after traipsing through a lot of the trees and over fallen debris and bushes. None of them had ever been so far into the forbidden forest, not even in their detentions in the first year.

“Shush,” Hagrid said suddenly. “They're close, I can smell it.”

Ron instinctively tried to sniff the air but couldn't smell anything apart from the normal stench of the forbidden forest.

“I can't smell anything,” he declared.

Hermione looked a little troubled. “I can,” she said softly, starting to step out into the clearing. Ron immediately tried to follow but Hagrid held him back.

“We're just here to watch,” Hagrid said softly. “Let her do this.”

“But it's dangerous!” Ron hissed.

Hagrid cast a searching look over Ron and smiled. “Thought you'd come to your senses eventually,” he said finally. Ron gaped, then blushed, his face redder than his hair.

“Look!” Draco gasped.

The four males turned to see the moonlit clearing and Hermione stood softly in the centre, surrounded by four or five curious unicorns. Their hair was shimmering silver in the bright white light and they were sniffing at her curiously. It was a few long tense moments before one of them brushed her head with the side of his head and Hermione gasped slightly, smiling with tears in her eyes. She stood there for what seemed like an eternity but in reality were only a few minutes, looking almost like she belonged in the group of unicorns.

Then a loud sound heard and a dark something shot out of the air, slamming towards the group. Hermione let out an involuntary gasp and the unicorns reared. One of them reared back onto his feet and the something slammed into its horn, ricocheting away into the night with a squeal before returning. Three wands were lifted in unison to attack the something.

“Expelliarmus!”

Another squeal of pain was heard and a lot of neighing from the unicorns there was a lot of movement, and one frightened squeal and a thump and moments later the clearing was deserted apart from one figure lying on the ground.

“HERMIONE!” Ron and Harry bellowed in unison, picking up their robes and scrambling over a tree trunk to see if she was ok. Just as concernedly, Draco and Hagrid followed. Ron bent down over Hermione and she smiled up at him weakly, her robe gashed open savagely. Blood seemed to cover the ground but she laughed as she pushed herself up.

“It's mostly the blood of whatever that was,” she explained, wincing. “Mostly.”

“Are you all right?” Ron asked furiously.

“I'm fine,” Hermione said candidly before fainting.

Ron let out a strangled sob before hoisting her up in his arms and looking determined he turned to Hagrid. “Which direction's school?”

Hagrid looked upset. “Th-that way,” he sniffed. Ron nodded determinedly before turning and starting to run.

“Ron, wait for us!” Harry and Draco managed to bellow at exactly the same time, hitching up their robes again and pelting after the redhead.

-----

Amazingly they made it through the forbidden forest with no further conflicts or episodes. Harry thought it might have had something to do with Hagrid, the half-giant was pelting through the undergrowth determined no more harm should come to her.

Ron made it to the end of the forbidden forest before collapsing exhausted on the ground.

“I can't make it,” he said brokenly, clutching his side almost in tears. “Harry?”

Harry nodded and bent down, pulling Hermione from Ron's grasp. Draco shared a glance with Harry, with that glance agreeing to stay with Ron till he recovered. Harry looked softly at the unconscious girl in his arms -- his best friend for crying out loud -- and gritted his teeth, starting to run as fast as he could with the little energy he had left to reach the castle.

Almost surprisingly, Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey were already waiting in the main entrance; as soon as Harry crashed through the door holding Hermione Madam Pomfrey took over.

“I see it didn't go too well,” Dumbledore said, his voice troubled. “I sensed some kind of movement in the forest. I'd hoped you weren't involved.”

“Hermione --“ Harry gasped. “With the unicorns, something came.. Black... Evil... It attacked and scared them. I think she got hurt by accident...” He clutched his side and his gaze flickered over to Hermione and Madam Pomfrey.

“It's only a small superficial wound,” Madam Pomfrey called out softly. “A night's rest in the infirmary and she'll be as right as rain.”

Both Harry and Professor Dumbledore breathed a sigh of relief. Seconds later the door burst open.

“Hermione—how is she?” Ron asked gaspingly, breathing heavily and supporting himself on the doorway. Hagrid looked extremely troubled and Draco looked about ready to collapse.

“It wasn't your fault, Hagrid,” Professor Dumbledore affirmed gently. “It was one of the their sabotages.”

Hagrid still looked upset. “She'll be all right, right Professor?”

“She'll be fine!” Madam Pomfrey repeated, casting an appraising and calculating look over the four children. “I think they could all do with a night's rest in the infirmary.”

Dumbledore nodded. “Yes. Good idea.”

Sensing the immediate protests, Dumbledore held up a hand.

“No arguments! Hagrid, help them, they're going to collapse,” Dumbledore added. “I'll be in my office if you need me.”

Madam Pomfrey nodded and looked over to Hagrid.

“Can you help me with her?” She asked. Hagrid nodded gruffly.

“Of course,” he said, nodding.

Ron, Harry and Draco staggered slowly after the infirmary nurse and Hagrid, tired out of their minds.

“I think...” Harry said slowly. “Today's one of those days which you wouldn't forget easily.”

“Unless you had a memory charm inflicted on you,” Ron grunted softly. Draco stopped in shock, slamming his hand into his forehead in astonishment.

“MEMORY CHARM!” He bellowed.

“WHAT?” Harry and Ron exclaimed in sync.

“What are you going on about?” Harry clarified.

Draco shifted uncomfortably. “I think I may have just found the answer to something that has been plaguing me for quite a while.”