The New Lightning Bolt

Chapter Four

Breaking Apart

"Draco, what happened to your hair?" Dumbledore asked again.

Draco just looked up pushing the hair out of his left eye and pointed to his throat. "Can't speak," he mouthed.

"You can't speak?" Draco nodded. "You too, Harry?" Harry nodded and looked down. He saw the gold rope and looked up at Dumbledore waving his hands. Dumbledore looked at Harry and to the rope he was pointing at. "Oh dear." He squatted and took the rope into his hands inspecting it very closely. "Which one of you did this?" he asked looking at them over his spectacles. Draco raised his hand. "Mr. Malfoy have you tried to get it off?" He nodded. "And nothing happened?" He shook his head. "Were you in the same position when you performed it to go around both of you?" Draco looked up at Dumbledore and shook his head. "Ah. Well, why don't you try that?"

The two boys looked at each other in shock.

He's joking, right?

I hope so.

Draco looked back to Dumbledore and mouthed, "You are joking...right?"

"No, I am not joking Mr. Malfoy. So why don't you get up off the ground, unless you were in that position, and stand the way you were. If you had any contact whatsoever then you must have the exact same contact. And I stress on the exact part. The binding spell you did Mr. Malfoy is very ancient and very powerful. I haven't seen it done in many years. Did you do it by wand or hand." Draco held up a hand. "I thought so." He looked at the two boys and sighed. "If you had anything in your other hand or if Harry had any in his, I suggest you put them back. If you lost any of the items that were originally with you then I am afraid you'll be stuck together...forever. Not to the beam of course, but you'll never get three feet away from the other person. You didn't lose anything did you?" They shook their heads. "Thank goodness. As such if you have anything on you now that wasn't there I suggest taking it off."

Voldemort's wand.

Switch wands. If I take it out and they see it they'll take it away.

Where do I put Voldemort's?

Behind the beam.

Dumbledore stood up while the two were getting to their feet secretly switching wands and Harry putting Voldemort's behind the beam. "Now," Dumbledore said, "how were you standing?"

Do we really have to do that again? They thought to each other at the same time. They both cracked a grin.

"Do we have to?" Draco mouthed.

"Yes you do, unless you want to spend the rest of your life with Mr. Potter following you around."

He already does it so I would see no difference.

I do not.

Do to.

Do not.

"Come on boys. Get into position," Dumbledore said. Noticing the glaring going on between the two of them he added, "It can't be that bad to stand still for a couple of minutes until you get the position right."

They both looked at Dumbledore and Harry mouthed, "It is that bad."

"Come now. Either you make some kind of attempt towards progress or I'll cut off the rope to the beam and you'll be stuck together." Dumbledore looked at them. "NOW!"

They both jumped and Draco grabbed the front of Harry's robes and pulled him in. Harry threw his arms around Malfoy to keep himself from falling from the force of the pull.

Lighten up, Potter. We only need to do this once.

Dumbledore said exact contact. How can you be sure we'll get it on the first try?

Because all you have to do is act like a damsel in distress, which by the way should be no problem for you, and I'll act like the knight in shinning armor.

I am not the damsel, Malfoy. If any body is it's you with your girly new hairdo.

Shut up, Potter.

Ouch. That hurt.

Good. Now...let's see. Your head was tilted to the side more.

And your arm was lower.

I think we've got it. He looked up at Dumbledore to ask what to do next when he saw his eyes glazed over. I think Dumbledore new we were in this position the whole time.

Why do you say that?

His eyes are all glazed and it looks that he is amused, but he new what to expect. Harry shifted to look. Don't move! I want to get it right the first time.

Dumbledore seemed to snap out of his trance and continued, "Right. Now, Draco, all you have to do is think off the spell that you said, because the counter curse is the curse."

Draco nodded and then placed his cheek on top of Harry's head. He thought hard of the spell he used and silver light poured from his hand, but nothing happened.

"Try again, but shift a bit."

Your head was at a different angle. Keep going. Stop. Don't move. He replaced his cheek on Potter's head and thought of the spell once more. Nothing happened.

Your other hand, the one with my wand, was more to the left. Okay. Now try. Nothing happened. Why isn't it working?

Because we aren't in the exact same position.

Smart-ass.

Yep. Draco tightened his arm around Potter's waist and tried again. The gold rope gave a shudder.

"Good, Draco. You almost had it. Keep the tightness around Harry the same, but try moving your head."

*** 3 hours later ***

This is not working. And I have already overdosed on my doctor recommendation of Potter contact for my lifetime.

Hey. This is no picnic for me either. My legs are hurting.

Whiner.

Let's take a break. They broke apart and sat as far away from each other as the rope would allow.

"What are you guys doing? You nearly had it."

That's what he said two hours ago.

"We are tired," Draco mouthed.

"We'll take a break for now about the binding, but why don't you explain the lack of voice. Here," he handed them a piece of parchment, inkbottle, and one quill, "I took the liberty of conjuring up these. Why don't you start from the beginning?"

Write down that we can talk to each other.

He said the beginning, Potter.

Fine, Harry thought as he crossed his arms.

Draco began to write:

Lord Voldemort

Harry held up his hand and the quill came into his hand along with the parchment. Let me write.

No. He held up a hand and the quill and parchment began to go to him but stopped midway. Harry had his hand up to and was summoning it too. They stayed in the air for a while torn from going to anyone.

"Boys. Stop the childish acts." The objects fell to the ground. "Since you two can't share I am going to make you. I believe your magic is very advanced and thus enabling you to do tasks some grownup wizards can't do. So why don't you do a writing spell." They looked confused so he added, "Magic the paper so it writes, or reveals, your thoughts."

The both crawled to the paper, sat next to each other and raised a hand.

Testing. Hey it works.

Malfoy's hair is ugly. Hey, it does work.

It's ruined.

Once again, it is not red, so it is not ruined.

You just said it is ugly.

Someone's insecure about their hair.

Shut up.

"Boys, as much as I don't mind you finally being able to speak your mind, I think we should stick to the subject," Dumbledore laughed.

This is not the only way we can express our thoughts, Professor.

"What do you mean Mr. Malfoy?"

We can talk mentally to each other.

That is how we beat Voldemort.

Together.

The reason we can't talk is because of Malfoy's big mouth.

If Harry hadn't tried to be the noble person he is, he might be able to talk.

Because I pushed you out of the way I also got my eyes fixed.

You only got your eyes fixed because I was mouthing off.

You just admitted you have a big mouth.

Did not. I only said mouthing off.

Did to.

Not.

To.

"Boys."

Sorry.

Sorry.

Any ways, Malfoy was mouthing off with his big mouth and Lord Voldemort got sick of it so he tried to curse him to erase his voice.

But Harry tried to push me out of the way.

I didn't try to push him because of the spell. I pushed him because he was being a dumb ass. I didn't see the spell.

Voldemort was pissed that I made him look stupid because Potter didn't have his glasses so he fixed his eyes.

They flew off when Malfoy tried to pull me behind the beam.

You should really thank me, Potter, for getting rid of those hideous glasses permanently.

I won't thank you for that, but I will thank you for getting rid of your voice.

It is not permanent and until the spell is off I get to annoy you in your head. There is no escaping me, Potter.

Forgot about that.

"Ahem."

Well, Professor, that is really it.

Yep. We lost our voices because of Malfoy's big mouth.

Potter, I am warning you.

"I think it is time we took a break from this and try to unbind you again," Dumbledore said. They both lazily got up and stretched. "Come on you two. I am sure you will get it this time." Draco snaked his arms around Harry while he put his around him. Harry dug his head into Draco's neck and he rested his head on top. Draco thought really hard of the spell and the rope quivered but nothing else happened. It went on for another hour before they broke apart. The each raised a hand to the paper Dumbledore was holding.

This will take forever, Professor.

We are really tired form standing in that uncomfortable position.

It's getting dark. And we're hungry.

"You may take a break while I go get some food," Dumbledore said standing up. "I'll be right back," he smiled tiredly and turned toward the castle.

They both plopped down next to the beam. Draco took out Harry's invisibility cloak and put it behind his head.

So that is how you got out here.

Yep. He yawned.

Why are you using it as a pillow? It's mine. I should be doing that.

Why don't we share?

Harry looked at Malfoy and saw the circles underneath his eyes making it clear he was just a tired as he was. Sure. They folded it up long enough for to heads to rest comfortably and set it down at the base of the beam. They each maneuvered so they were lying down. Night.

Night.

***

The next day Harry woke up from the sun warm and comfortable. He was lifting his eyelids and so was the person next to him. They were silver, warm, and welcoming. The arms around him tightened and he subconsciously tightened his to bringing the person closer. It took him a while to figure out where he was. He closed his eyes remembering lying down beneath the Quidditch Stadium with his invisibility cloak as a pillow. He remembered how tired he was from standing nearly four hours in the same position with Malfoy. Suddenly his eyes shot wide open and so did the person's next to him.

Malfoy?!

Potter?!

They both opened their mouths to scream and yell but no sound came out. They quickly let go of the other boy and rolled over to get away stopping halfway because the rope was too short. They quickly got up stood as far as the rope would allow away from each other.

What the fuck were you doing?

Me? You were the one who moved closer.

I wasn't awake and I only did it after you did!

Just don't touch me ever again. Draco said trying to wipe Potter germs off him. His stomach gave a loud gurgle and he realized he hadn't eaten for almost a day. I am hungry.

Look, Harry thought pointing at a tray not far from them. There was a note and Harry summoned it. He read it to Malfoy not wanting him any closer to read it as he was still getting over the initial shock. When I came back with food you two were asleep so I set this tray out with a spell to keep it warm until you woke up. Enjoy. Professor Dumbledore.

Great, Draco thought as he made the tray float to them and laid it down on the ground between them. He sat down and immediately dug in. Tell me about the whole Sirius and Peter issue.

You tell me the Maul situation first.

You are very hard to have a conversation with, you know that? It's like talking to a cat.

If I am like talking to a cat then you are like talking to a brick wall. Harry thought as he sat down at began to pick at the tray.

What? I am not.

And I am not a cat.

Fine, Potter. You want to know? Boris Maul came to fetch me for Voldemort after he killed my father. You aren't the only one whose parents were killed by Voldemort.

He killed your mum too?

Yeah...and you want to know what's really ironic that I should be discussing it with you? She died protecting me. I was asleep and Dumbledore had my stuff and me when he came barging in. My mother stepped in front of me when he performed the killing curse.

Why was Dumbledore there?

I was running away from Boris and he took my wand. I was still faster than him and I hid in the secret room I had found earlier that day. The door way was really noisy opening and I shushed it and amazingly it made no noise. That was when I discovered my powers. I sealed the opening and went to the escape door to summon my owl to send a letter of help to Dumbledore. He found me and I was asleep. He was just about to Apparate my stuff and me when it happened. We got out in the nick of time.

Oh. Sorry.

Yeah. Whatever.

They were quiet for a while as each of them satisfied their hunger. Draco pushed the tray aside when they were both done. Harry rested his back against the beam and looked up into the sky. It was clear of clouds and baby blue. He pricked his ears up for sound and heard a faint chirping. It seemed at least one bird make it. He continued to think of the past encounter with Voldemort and how he was lucky his luck didn't run out. He didn't think these thoughts to Malfoy because he new he had a comment ready about the being lucky part. He imagined him saying that he was Harry's luck and without him he wouldn't be alive, which was right.

I am waiting.

For what? Harry thought a bit started by the intrusion of his thoughts.

For your explanation on the Sirius issue.

Oh. Sorry. Why was he apologizing to Malfoy? You know how Sirius killed Peter Pettigrew in a crowed street also killing a couple Muggles?

Yeah.

He didn't. All they supposedly found of him was his finger, but Peter had cut it off and placed it there for evidence. What he really did was make a huge explosion while he turned into a rat. He is an animagist.

His animal fists him though. Why was Sirius after Peter?

My parents were hiding from Voldemort and they wanted Sirius to be their secret keeper but he insisted on Peter at the last second. Only Sirius and Dumbledore know about the change. When Voldemort came and killed my parents Sirius was the first one on sight and he reluctantly gave me to Hagrid along with his motorbike. He went looking for Peter because he knew he had sold out the information about my parents whereabouts to Voldemort. He is innocent.

Oh.

You know during our third year when Sirius escaped from Azkaban?

Yeah. They thought he was after you.

He wasn't. He was after Ron's rat, Scabbers, a.k.a. Peter Pettigrew or Wormtail. He had seen the picture of Scabbers in the Daily Prophet when they took the picture of the Ron's family when Mr. Weasley won the money. He would know the rat anywhere and the fact that the rat was missing a finger confirmed that he was at Hogwarts.

Why would he know the rat anywhere?

Um...because they used to change together in the Shrieking Shack along with Professor Lupin and my father.

Your father was an animagist too? What was he?

He was a--

"Good morning, boys," said Professor Dumbledore walking briskly towards them. Harry's head snapped from his position to stare at him and he heard Draco startle a bit. "I have a plan that might work against this rope." Draco and Harry looked at each other. "I think the imperious curse will help you. Though it is illegal, desperate measures come in desperate times, no?" he asked looking over his spectacles at them. "If you don't mind to stand up boys. That's it. Now, Harry, I don't want you fighting this though I know you can, ok?" Harry nodded. Dumbledore took out his wand and aimed it at the two boys. "Imperio."

It was the most wonderful feeling he had ever felt along with the other three times he was put under it. It was bliss... get into your positions, said a voice...and don't fight it Harry. He knew the voice was Dumbledore's and he obeyed him and so did Draco. He wrapped his arms around the other boy and dug his face into the crook of his neck just like when it originally happened. He felt the same arms snake around him to hold him up. Draco, say your spell...and he did. The rope around them fell.

Harry was taken off the curse and thoughts started to fill back into his mind. He stepped away from the arms of Draco and noticed he still had the dreamy look in his eye. He looked at Dumbledore and he held up a hand to say it was okay. He ordered Draco to say the spell one more time to get the rope from around him to the beam off. He did and he was taken off the curse after the rope disappeared. Draco looked around and saw Potter standing away from him and he sighed.

Finally.

"Do you know what curse Voldemort used on you to erase your voices?" They shook their heads. "Well, I guess we'll have to find out from him. Grab your stuff boys and follow me to the castle. You can miss classes today and get some extra sleep if you like."

At least I am not near you when I wake up.

Screw you.

They changed wands when Dumbledore had his back turned and Harry was glad to have his wand back. Draco pocketed Voldemort's quickly and their constant fighting began normally. They both entered the castle and went straight to the dormitories thanking that the other wasn't near.