Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum

Okay, so he panicked, big deal, a lot of people do, and he definitely had a good reason. How could Dumbledore bring him here knowing about their past? Had he completely turned a deaf ear to him since he started school? He cried out in frustration before he threw a book at the wall. He stopped to regain composer. Breath in, breath out, he told himself. I can do this; he tried to psych himself up. He brushed away the non-existent wrinkles on his shirt and unlocked the door. He took one more deep breath before he walked to the top of the steps and began to make his way down. He could hear Professor Dumbledore at the bottom making arrangements with the Dursleys and he could hear Petunia being the mediator between him and Vernon about the money situation. He found the floor at the bottom and turned around the corner to where the front door laid. It's now or never. He would be the bigger person; he would correct and rectify this relationship into something that could be salvageable.

He made himself known by a trade mark 'ahem' that Dolores Umbridge was so famous for and everyone's attention turned to him.

"I'm glad you agreed to come Malfoy. I'm also glad you finally saw your potential could be put towards better use on the light side. Welcome," he said holding out his hand. Much to his surprise, the blonde haired, silver eyed six-foot Slytherin took it graciously. He looked at the boy closer now. He looked worn down and distraught about something. Harry tilted his head to the side and the Slytherin looked up to finally meet his eyes. They were stone cold and held no emotion, yet, he could feel the emotion. He felt despair, heartache, failure, desperation, and surprising enough determination. He squinted at him and before he knew what he was doing, he was probing Malfoy's mind and looking for the events that led up to this moment. He began to see flashes of pictures before they were almost like his own memories.

His father broke out of prison---His mother was going to join his father and make a run for it---Draco refused to go along with them---His father used Cruciatus on him---His mother disowned him---told him he was no longer part of the family, and that he would be written out of the will---he cried out of desperation---he used a Portkey from Snape to go to Hogwarts---He was safe here and told the Headmaster what happened---

"Harry!" a stern voice yelled at him bringing him out of Malfoy's mind. Harry blinked and shook his head. What the hell just happened, he thought. Oh, no, I did the same thing I did to Petunia. Oh my god, what have I done. He knew his face showed surprise and guilt because Malfoy backed away scared and shocked, while Dumbledore put a firm hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Are you back, Harry?" he asked tenderly. Harry just nodded his head yes. "Alright, how long have you been able to do that?" he asked in a concerned voice.

"Well, I did it once to Aunt Petunia by accident, but I've not really been around anyone else to have it slip like that," he answered closing his eyes and messaging his temples.

"It's okay, Harry. I've included a book in the trunk that will help you control it. It's called 'Putting the Reigns on your Legilimency', and it will also provide exercise you have to follow to keep control of this awesome power. I may remind you that very few people can actually learn this, and even fewer can do it naturally like yourself. I suggest you do not abuse it," the Headmaster said looking over his half-moon glasses.

"Great!" Harry said throwing his hands in the air, "Just something else to make me look like more than the freak I am," he said bluntly looking at Dumbledore like it was his fault.

"Mr. Potter, I am sure this is another one of your powers that you received from either your father's side of the family or from Voldemort when he tried to kill you. It will do no good for you to pout about it when you can use it to your advantage. Yes, I will not lie to you, we've been over this, and you are special. All these extraordinary things are what make you, you. I don't think it would be prudent for you to bend these things for your own use. Now, could you please help Mr. Malfoy to his room and into bed? He needs some sleep. Poppy has given him a vial of dreamless sleeping potion so that he can sleep until later so to catch up on his rest. Then I need you back down here so I can speak with you in private," he said putting his hand on Malfoy's shoulder now as if to comfort him and let him know it was alright.

"I'm not trying to be rude," he said (and he really wasn't; he didn't mean to do that to Malfoy), "but why did you choose here for him to come. He could have gone anywhere or stayed at Hogwarts couldn't have he?" Harry asked out of pure curiosity.

"Yes, he could have. But the wards that you and your aunt keep around this house will make it impossible for anyone to find Draco, and I'm sure this is the last place they will check also. Now, please show Mr. Malfoy to his room so that we may speak. I'm on a tight schedule now that the Ministry had accepted Voldemort's return, and I must be there for council as soon as possible," he said as Harry nodded to Draco and lead him up the stairs to his room.

Harry walked up the stairs and led Draco into his small, but plush room. He had thought about expanding it with a simple sizing charm, but decided against it. He wanted (even though most of his house mates would call him nuts) to make amends with his new roommate. Now that he knew who it was, he was beginning to have second thoughts. He showed Draco to a bed opposite from his and allowed Draco to fend for himself while he went back and spoke with the Headmaster.

As he made his way back downstairs, he realized that not only had Draco not made any snide remarks, but he hadn't even spoken period since he'd arrived. Well, he thought, if he's going to make a conscious effort, then so should I. He made it to the landing and walked into the lounge where Dumbledore was sitting drinking some tea and fiddling with is hat.

"Ah, you're back," he began when he saw Harry, then continued. "I have to talk about the Potter Fortune with you," he explained. Harry, for sake of not being heard by his relatives, waved his wand and produced a privacy bubble for the two of them. Dumbledore looked both highly amused and impressed by the thoroughly wrought bubble, but began again anyway.

"As I was saying, the vault that you are currently in possession of is not your only vault. When Sirius died he left all the money from the Black Family Trust to you. I have, as I've already informed you, spoken with the proper officials and they have all agreed that if you can prove Sirius's innocence, then the money will be transferred to your vaults. I know you're probably wondering how you're supposed to prove this, so this is my suggestion. I've placed a pensive in Mr. Malfoy's possession. I would like you to extract all the memories of Peter Pettigrew that you have and place them within it. I will then show them to the proper officials and you will be granted both the estate and the money. I know that you probably don't want the money, especially after I tell you that you're just as well off as the Malfoy's, well before the incarceration anyway. What you would acquire from the Black Family Trust in addition to your own, would make you the single wealthiest person in Great Britain. You have to understand Harry that this is what Sirius wanted. He knew that sooner or later, you were going to be pulled in the political world, and this is just the way to do it. When it comes to politics, money is power," Dumbledore finished and sat back waiting for a reaction.

"So you're encouraging me to take it?" Harry asked looking at Dumbledore for the catch-22.

"I am. You deserve it anyway. I know you've never been on a vacation and I would like to see you enjoy yourself sometime. I also think that you would be able to get in good graces with everyone if you donated to specific parts of the Ministry, such as Misuse of Muggle Artefacts, or Department of Mysteries. This would show the Ministry that you do support them somewhat, but you will not willingly give to a person or department that offends you. Now, I'm currently in control of the Potter Fortune, but if the merger does occur, then I will no longer be able to keep up with your finances on my own. I would recommend that you talk to Miss Granger about account management, and if need be, employ her," Dumbledore said pleasantly, his eyes gaining their twinkle again.

"Alright, I'll do it, but only if you can convince the Weasleys to take a fourth of what the Black Family Trust is composed of. They've helped me in so many ways I'll never be able to fully pay them back, but I'd still like to help anyway I can. Will this hurt my position in politics any?" he asked now sitting in a chair across from the old man.

"Financially, no, most certainly not, but publicly and socially, the odds are that it will definitely hurt you. Though I have to say, if you can put a cool front on and splash money about, I'm sure that you'll be kept in good graces, and maybe even eventually put the Weasleys in good graces of the wizarding world. Now for our next topic," the silver bearded man lead, "I want you to tutor Mr. Malfoy in Occlumency. I taught Professor Snape, he taught you, and I want you to teach Mr. Malfoy. I'm hopping that these will alleviate some of the nightmares he's been having. I must ask you not to go about it in the same way that Severus went about teaching you. I want you to play fair and not hold a grudge like he did," Dumbledore explained.

"Is Draco allowed to do magic also?" Harry asked out of curiosity.

"Anyone at this residence is able to perform magic without consequences. You are not to breach the confines of the yard, this is to give you room to duel in a better environment with Draco. I expect you both to be rather strong wizards when you come of age and I hope that you'll use the privilege of this summer to maximize both of your abilities as best as you can," the headmaster requested as he got up to leave. He turned back to Harry as he was about to walk out of the bubble. "I hope with you knowing how nightmares are, that you will give Draco a compassionate hand instead of a firm one if his problem persists."

"I'll do what I can, but I'm making no promises. I'll put forth my best effort to get along with him, but you do know that he hates me right?" he asked as he too was at the edge of the bubble.

"I think you'll see that Draco has had a slight change of heart when the influence of his father was missing. Good day to you and good luck," he finished as he left the privacy bubble. He did not see Harry wave his hand and mutter "Finite Incantatem" as he left, or he would have been quite impressed.

Harry retreated to his room to get Malfoy settled in if he hadn't already fallen asleep. When he reached the room, he found that that's exactly what had happened, except he was asleep in Harry's bed as if he couldn't make it to his own. Harry, feeling slightly guilty for probing his mind, it is very tiring, just let him be as he went about reading the book on wandless magic and trying to perform more complex spells with it.

It was going on eleven o'clock at night when Harry finally flopped down on Draco's bed and fell asleep. Draco had slept all day not even waking up for meals. He had missed both lunch and dinner, but Harry couldn't get himself to try to wake him. He had to be hungry, but rest was definitely needed. He realized that the sleeping drought must have been just as strong as the ones that Madam Pomfrey gave him while at school. He slept fine after he threw the brick walls of his mind in place for the night. He dreamed nothing.

***

Harry woke up to a rustling sound in the early morning. At first his initial thought was Hedwig. He threw off his covers and stood up, his eyes still blurred from sleep and from not having his glasses on, and made his way to the window to let the bloody bird in. As he made it to the window, he realized that the rustling wasn't coming from that direction, because he just passed it. He stopped dead in his tracks to listen. His room was still slightly dark because the sun had not yet made it over the ridge of the valley so that it could spill into his room. He crept over to Malfoy's bed and grabbed his wand, then turned to the dresser on the other side of his bed where he had left his glasses.

"Accio Glasses," he whispered barely making a sound. His glasses zoomed through the air without so much as a wiz and fell deafly into his hands. He shoved them on and was both enraged and slightly relived at what the noise was.

"Malfoy, you scared the shit out of me! I was about to hex you!" Harry yelled as he plopped back down on his bed with an exasperated sigh.

"Sorry," Draco murmured just loud enough for Harry to hear it. His tone held no sarcasm, just genuine fact.

"It's okay," Harry said after a minute of eyeing is ex-arch-rival for a second. "What are up so early for anyway?" he asked trying to hide his accusing tone.

"Professor Dumbledore gave me a pensive for you and told me to give it to you as soon as possible. I could have sworn I put it in this trunk but I can't find it," he said as he stopped rummaging and moved to another trunk.

"You can get it later. I know why he gave it to you, and I'll have to do it when I'm alone, so don't worry about it right now. Are you sure you feel rested? I bet you're starving, aren't you," Harry said as he stood. He really did still feel awful about what he had done yesterday. He wasn't usually the one to start battles with Malfoy but now that he almost did, he was trying everything to put it right. "Here, have a seat on your bed and I'll conjure something for you to eat," he said motioning for Malfoy to sit where he had just risen from. He transfigured a nearby quill into a fancy tray and began to conjure food for it.

After he had a suitable breakfast there, he waved his wand one last time to throw a heating charm. It seemed to work because everything was steaming merrily. Harry slid back onto his own bed and grabbed his wandless magic book while Draco ate.

Without looking up most of the time, he cast harmless spells on a pillow across the room under the window sill. Every time the book would mention another spell to try and attempt, he would wave his hand in the wands specific motion and cast the spell. The book didn't say he had to wave his hand like the wand, it just said he had to indicate the spell in some way, but he did it out of habit. He ended the chapter with the Avis spell and was brought back to reality when a gasp ran through the room. He looked up to see Draco staring at him in awe.

"What?" he asked maybe slightly more harshly than he meant.

"You just used the avis spell to conjure a phoenix Harry. You're not supposed to be able to conjure magical birds, just non-magical birds. And you did it without a wand, how?" he asked.

"I don't know how I did it. I've been growing stronger all summer and now that I can practice; it makes it a lot easier for me to expand my magic. It especially helps that I don't have guide lines from a teacher to hold me back too," he answered with a shrug and closed his book. The bird was sitting on a coat rack by the window looked expectantly at the two of them. Harry waved his hand and banished the bird from the room. He didn't know that the bird was actually alive; he thought it was like a part of transfigured work.

The sun was finally spilling into the room and Harry put the book back into the trunk that Dumbledore sent him and extracted another one. He flipped through the book for a few minutes looking at chapters and scanning them. He occasionally folded a corner and then closed the book. He walked up to Draco and held it out.

"I was told I had to teach you Occlumency this summer. It will help you get rid of your nightmares, and it will keep me from accidentally prodding your mind until I can control my Legilimency. I've got to read and do some exercises that will help. While I'm doing that you might as well read this book where I've folded the pages so that you know the exercise and I'll teach you how to use it later. We'll start tomorrow morning, I'm sure that's enough time for you to be able to finish this and get settled in," he finished as he grabbed the book he needed out of the trunk and moved back to his bed again.

The day continued in this fashion. Neither one of the boys said a word to one another, instead they just engrossed themselves into their books and tried to avoid each other out of fear that an argument would start and the brawl would hurt the good start. Both Harry and Draco were already very strong wizards for their age. Harry could only hope that Dumbledore was right when he said that if they took advantage of this summer's freedom, than they'll become stronger faster. It wasn't as if Harry wanted a lot of power, but he did want to be able to protect himself and his friends if the time ever arose.

It seemed all too soon when they finally got into beds that night. This time Harry slept in his own and Draco in his. Petunia looked at the two suspiciously every time they came down for a meal. She looked as if she were going to hyperventilate for some reason. Harry had a feeling she was very aware of the tension in the air.

***

The next morning came again to Harry waking up to hearing the sounds of something in his room. His Occlumency skills let him sleep peacefully, but not deeply, so that he could consciously defend his mind if he needed to. He sat up on the side of his bed to see Draco digging through is trunk again. This time he wasn't digging frantically, so Harry assumed that he was just looking for something to wear. Harry thought he should do the same thing since they were going to be starting Occlumency this morning.

He made his way to his wardrobe and pulled some clothes out that Shamo the killer whale would probably be comfortable in and slipped them on. Lately he'd been taking showers at night. For some reason it helped his sleep easier.

"Potter, you can do wandless magic, for a Patronus, and duel the Dark Lord, but you can't cast a spell to make your clothes fit properly?" Draco asked as he was buttoning up his shirt.

"Well, I guess it never really occurred to me. I'm just used to wearing them like this I guess," he said pulling out his shirt and looking at it appallingly. Draco walked over to him and waved his wand in an unfamiliar fashion.

"Adattare," he said casually tapping Harry's shirt. The shirt shank until it was hanging on Harry comfortably. He then moved to Harry pants which were on, but not buttoned. He pulled on the lip on one side of the zipper and tapped his wand again repeating the spell. The pants began to shrink until Harry gave an uncomfortable squirm.

"Too much?" Draco asked looked up from his squatting position in from of Harry. Harry blushed a bit but nodded his head yes. Draco gave him a nod and took the lip of the zipper again, "Corrente," he said as he tapped his wand on the lip and the pants began to expand again. When Harry stopped squirming, Draco looked up and raised his eyebrows. Harry nodded and Draco stood.

"Thanks, how do you know tailoring charms?" he asked.

"I've learned them over the past month. When my father refused to give me money for new robes because I wouldn't follow him, I had to learn how to do it myself. I can't begin to tell you how many times I thought I just about made myself sterile by altering them while I was wearing them," he said with a small shy laugh. Harry laughed at him too, but not at his expense, just because he could imagine himself having that sort of luck.

"Did Draco Malfoy just make a joke at his own expense?" Harry said raising an eyebrow, "Well, Dumbledore told me you've changed, but I never really took heed until just now," he said as he sat on his bed and pulled on his socks. Draco just smiled pleasantly at him from the foot of his bed. He looked proud of himself, Harry thought.

After Harry finished dressing, he stood at the side of his bed.

"We'll have a good breakfast first, and then we'll get started on Occlumency. We're going to train in the back yard so that we have more room for me to dodge your spells," he explained.

"Why am I going to be shooting spells at you?" Draco asked with confusion. He actually looked like he didn't want to be casting curses Harry's way.

"Because you have to do it to get me out of your mind," Harry said as he opened the door and stepped out into the hall. Draco followed.

They made it down to the kitchen and Draco sat the table while Harry grabbed two cups and waved his hand discretely to conjure pumpkin juice for the two of them. He took them over to the table and set them down before going back over to the stove to help Petunia finish up with breakfast. He stopped dead in his track when Draco spoke.

"I didn't think Muggles drank pumpkin juice?" he said looking at the glass accusingly.

"Pumpkin juice, your kind actually drink that?" Petunia asked eyeing Draco with scepticism.

"Yes, it's what most of us drink," he said as he looked at Harry then caught on. "Oops," he said as he caught Harry's steely eye.

"Yes, Malfoy, oops. Do you know what my uncle would have said if he would have known that I did magic in the house. Petunia doesn't mind it that much, but my uncle would have thrown a fit. Next time I try to be discrete, you should too," he said as he turned and tended to the bacon his Aunt forgot she was supposed to be cooking.

"Sorry," Draco said in a small voice.

"REALLY!" Petunia yelled turning to face Harry. "You'd think you would have more manners since he's a guest in this house," she declared with her hands on her hips.

"What?" Harry asked thoroughly confused by her statement. He never thought that she would have defended a wizard, or even called one a guest.

"You heard me, apologize to him," she said. Harry looked at her like she had two heads, but Draco spoke up.

"No, it's quite alright Mrs. Dursley, no apology needed," he said as he took another drink of his juice.

"What do you mean? He just insulted you. He gave you no warning, just expected you to know that he was trying to be discrete. I'd say that's rudeness if I've ever seen it," she said looking at Harry with appal.

"You have no idea how much I deserved that. I've made the last five years of Harry's life at school Hell. I can take an insult every once in a while," he said casually as if he declared his failures every day.

"What do you mean you've made his life hell?" she asked clearly interested.

"You know, getting him put into detention, having teachers yell at him, making fun of him all the time for little things, never missing an opportunity to insult him or his friends. I was a real jerk," he said looking at Harry instead of at Petunia to which he was talking.

"Have you forgiven him for all of this?" she asked Harry.

"There's nothing to really forgive. As long as he doesn't do it anymore, I'm willing to drop it. I know it was the influence of his father," Harry said shrugging and taking the pan off the burner and setting it on the neighbouring one.

"What's wrong with his father?" she asked. Harry was really starting to think she was clearly concerned.

"My father is a Death Eater. He's in a group of dark wizards that want Harry dead," Draco tried to explain.

"I thought only that Voldie character wanted you dead?" she said clearly beginning to be confused. "What have you done to all of these people?"

"Voldemort is the Dark Lord that presides over the group of Deatheater's. I'm not sure why they want Harry dead. I supposed it's just because he destroyed Voldemort when he was only a baby. I mean, no one has ever defied him, and Harry did it without being able to speak. That's quite a feat I guess," he said as he turned to his cereal that Harry gave him and took a bite.

"Why did he want to kill him the first time?" she asked as she set down holding a cup of coffee in both hands. When Draco just shrugged she turned to Harry.

"Fine, it's about a prophecy that could harm him. I'm the other person in the prophecy besides him and he wanted me gone before I would become a trouble to him. But since I didn't die when he tried the first time, he's had it out for me ever since I came back to the wizarding world. I've had to defeat two mountain trolls, a giant wizarding chess set, devil's snare, a twenty foot long basilisk, duel him myself, and fight countless Deatheater's. It's quite tiring really," he said nonchalantly. Draco laughed at the last part.

"How can you guys be so easy about it when there's a whole group of people that wants to kill you?" she asked horrified.

"Well Aunt Petunia, when you live for the last five years in perilous danger, you eventually get used to it and try to live as normally as you can. If I walked around all day looking over my shoulder, I'd never have time to enjoy life as little as I do," he answered. She gave him a look that he almost mistook for pity before nodding and leaving the two to their own accord.

"Well, I guess we should get started. Do you have your wand?" Harry asked as he stood from the table.

"Yep, you?" he asked as stood also.

"No, I've decided that I'm going to try defence magic without it. I want to try to perfect my wandless magic as much as possible. My wand is no use against Voldemort," he explained as he led them out to the back yard.

"Why is your wand useless?" Draco asked him.

"Because our wands are brothers and can't be used against one another," he said. At Draco's confused look he added, "I'll explain later maybe."

"Okay, so, shall we start? Oh, wait, how are you going to cast the spell without a wand?" he asked.

"The same way I did yesterday. It's more unstable, yes, but it's harder to knock me off. If you can get used to doing it this way, we can skip the whole wand part and you'll get rid of your nightmares quicker," he explained as he took a position about five feet away from Draco. "Try to empty your mind and nod when you're ready," he said looking Draco in the eye. After a minute Draco nodded and Harry began to probe his mind. He was looking for good memories.

Draco was flying through the air on his new Nimbus 2001---He was having a birthday party with his house---he was being praised by his father---he got his letter of appointment for prefect---he was playing with a puppy that had a ribbon around his neck---he was being sorted---his mother was playing with his hair while he lay in her lap. Harry retreated.

"You're not focusing. I want you to try to hold back. Cast a defensive spell if you need to okay. Don't be afraid to hurt me, I want you to use any means possible to get me out of your head. This time I'm going to use feelings of disappointment instead of good feelings. It may give you more of an incentive to get me out of your head okay?" he asked. Draco nodded and took his stance again. Draco nodded to tell Harry he was ready and Harry began prodding.

Draco just lost another Quidditch match---Draco's father was berating him for letting Granger get higher marks---Professor Snape was looking in disgust at one of his potions---McGonagall had just turned him back into his self after Moody turned him into a ferret---Pansy kissed him---he came home from school to find his dog gone--- Maria Montague kissed him.

"Impedimenta!" Draco yelled making Harry retreat and wave his hand to put up a defensive shield. The spell was absorbed harmlessly.

"Good job, but it was still very slow. If you can keep up this rate though, you may not have nightmares by the end of the week. I'm going to look for feelings of disgust now," he said as he took his place and waited for Draco to nod. He did and Harry began to probe him.

Weasley saving a goal for Gryffindor---seeing Voldemort for the first time---watching his father torture a Muggle---Harry beating him at Quidditch yet again---not being able to form a Patronus---seeing his grades and realizing Granger had beat him again---

"Petrificus Totalus!" Draco yelled pushing Harry out. Harry snapped his fingers and the spell dissipated into thin air. Draco looked at him in awe for a second before he asked, "How did you do that?"

"Do what?" Harry asked confused. He was messaging his temples in misery. He was beginning to have a really bad headache. It never hurt until Draco pushed him out. And it was getting harder to get in and he was being pushed out with more ferocity.

"You just snapped your fingers and my spell disappeared," he recalled to Harry.

"Oh, it's a part of wandless magic. I don't have to wave my hand as long as I give some kind of execution of the spell. It's the first time I've tried anything else and all I did was do a banishing charm on your spell. It's also easier to aim with your mind and not your wand. After you get this down, magic will become easier for you to focus on too and I'll teach you some wandless magic. But to get really good you have to have a knack for it, I guess I do or that wouldn't have worked," he explained shaking his head slightly.

"Harry, do you realize that Dumbledore probably couldn't do that?" Draco asked with an air of thoughtfulness.

"Yeah, right. He produces food for a thousand students all at once. I'm sure he could make a spell dissipate," Harry said, laughing nervously. "Besides, I've seen him duel Voldemort. He did things that I'm sure I'll never be able to do," he said as an after-thought.

"If you say so. Want to try again?" Draco said anxiously.

"Yeah, once more than we'll have to take a break, I have a horrible headache," he declared with a smile. Maybe Draco would be able to do this after all.