Was and Will Be

Was and Will be

Title: Was and will be (07)

Author name: Rosali

Author’s email:

ciliotta@yahoo.com

Category: Action/Adventure

Sub Category: Romance

Keywords: Warlocks, Heirs, Mugglich, H/Hr, D/G

Rating: R

Spoilers: SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, OoTP

Summary: This time it’s going to be mine / This new find is staying overnight / With all the discoveries, you’ll want to take a break / But no worries, you won’t have to wait.

            What they see and know is only the tip of the iceberg. Oh! How mistaken they were when thinking they would actually be getting a well-deserved vacation. Don’t let the past complicate your life… usually you can do that easily; but not this time, I assure you.

DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

CHAPTER VII

Are you sure you want to know?

“Why am I painting still one more picture when I have a hundred stacked against my walls that nobody wants?”

It was not a permissible question. All of his life was implicit in the beginning. He had been born to paint just as Beethoven had been born to compose his symphonies and Dostoievski to write Crime and Punishment, which Camille had just finished.

                                                                            .- Depths of Glory

                                                                                          by Irving Stone

***

A/N: I’ll never get to thank my amazing and patient betas Lea, Cathy and Indra for taking the time to beta such a long story… still amazed how it comes out that long lol.

          There’s not much action in this chapter, but there’s a lot of explaining. As someone very kindly pointed out, “You REALLY need to give some explanations next chapi” ;) Some things may appear as if they are going too fast, but that’s the only way, cause if not, it would be a million pages lol. Hope you enjoy it!

NOTE THAT THIS IS ONLY PART ONE, PART TWO WILL BE COMING UP SOON

***

Part One – Walking tangle, flying contradiction

          The door of Number 12 Grimmauld Place slammed open, causing Mrs. Black to start screeching yet again today. Mrs. Weasley burst in with tears in her eyes and she seemed oblivious to the colourful insults displayed by the former owner of the house.

          ‘Where are they? Is he all right? I said it wasn’t a good idea!’ she almost yelled as she strolled to the stairs, but was stopped by her husband, who had already arrived. His expression was one of deep concern and extreme weariness, but he took a hold of his wife before she could go up. She struggled with no success and eventually gave up.

          ‘That’s my girl,’ he said softly. ‘Calm down, Molly dear. They will be fine, it’s all right now.’ He kissed her temple, but she pushed him away.

          ‘No it is not all right Arthur, you know it!’ she accused.

                                                                                       

          He took a step closer to her and closed the distance between them. ‘Shhhhh… I’m well aware of that, but-‘

          ‘They have their paths already set in front of them.’ She finished the sentence, brushing her husband off.

          Arthur sighed and nodded as Dumbledore came into the hall, shutting Mrs. Black on his way. ‘There has got to be a way to take her down,’ he mused.

          Molly didn’t know if to be annoyed or amused at his attitude; her mother’s instinct took the best of her. ‘May I ask why on earth you are so calm about?’ she asked dryly.

          Dumbledore met her eyes for a moment. ‘They’re just a little beaten up. And I would even daresay it is a motive to celebrate’

          Molly’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Celebrate? Celebrate! They could’ve gotten themselves killed for Merlin’s sake!’

          ‘Ah, but they didn’t. Wouldn’t you say that is something to be happy about?’

          She closed her eyes and made an exasperated noise, shaking her head as to erase what Dumbledore had just said from her mind.

          ‘You know, they’re stronger now, Molly,’ Albus began, much more serious now. ‘They have each other’s protection. The circle is closed and reinforced. It will be harder for Voldemort to take them down now’

          Molly sighed. ‘Whatever we did to deserve such special kids?’ she said, half regretful, half proud.

***

          They had finally been able to remove the Chest from the Conference Room and moved it to a special room they had created at Hogwarts, which served as “Plotting Room”, as they had called it. Truth was, it would serve itself to whichever they had in mind at the moment to create a new spell or quest in order to protect the Chest an the power that it was to withhold.

          They had agreed to bury the Chest on October the thirty first, when magic was at its highest peak so they could perform the spells they had planned more properly and they were running out of time. Just when they would think it was enough, one of them would come with something new and better to protect it.

          They had discovered that Salazar found himself the weakest every month when the new moon rose, so when they had a meeting arranged for that day, they would lock him up in the highest tower, usually used for Astronomy.

          None of them was too fond on locking their friend up, but there was no other choice, for there was more in the stalk than just one person’s welfare. Salazar grew weaker with each passing day, and they were all afraid he would just lose himself in the Symbio before long.

          Luckily enough, the Symbio considered that the children at the school weren’t worth killing. He probably saw them as a long-term investment, to teach them into trying to get their goals by all means. The four weren’t too much against it, but they had to counterpart it in their own classes.

          But there was also this thing on the real Salazar that had them very worried, and it was his growing obsession with the purity of blood. He had always thought pure-bloods were better than half-bloods, but had never really said it out loud or to the children for that matter. But lately, he had been especially mean to the half-bloods the school sheltered, and that was one more thing they would have to act against very often by the subtlest means.

          It was the twenty fourth of October and they still had a few things to take care of before they could bury the Chest, so they had started meeting twice a week instead of only once.

          ‘Ok, so it’ll be like a Treasure Hunt? My dear Helga, what part of “it is the fate of the world resting in this little Chest” wasn’t clear to you?’ Godric was saying with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

          Salazar was leaning against his high-backed chair, deep in thought and Rowena was chewing on her bottom lip, as she had taken to do lately.

          ‘Actually, it might make sense,’ she mused out loud.

          ‘What are you talking about? This is not a game Ro!’

          ‘Of course the tasks we’ve set are difficult and the clues and things will be more than just a children game’s,’ Salazar put it.

          ‘Exactly my point!’ Helga pointed out. ‘Suppose someone wants this Power in the future,’ she gave a quick reassuring look at Salazar as she spoke, ‘if we just put it in one place, then it would be much easier’

          ‘But if it’s thought to be somewhere and then it is somewhere else and then in another place, maybe some will desist or luckily die in the process,’ Salazar finished her sentence and smiled a little at her.

          ‘Well, I hadn’t thought of actually the word dying, but yes, that’s pretty much it,’ Helga admitted.

          Godric sighed defeated. ‘Fine. We’ll do it your way’

          Rowena grinned at him and kissed his cheek happily. ‘Jolly good!’

          The rest of the school year, they worked in the “clues”, as Salazar had started calling them just to annoy Godric. It was all based in how trustworthy someone was and if they would be responsible if the Power of Shikeon came to rest upon their hands –which they hope it didn’t-

          Lots of ideas had come and gone, and they had finally agreed to bury the chest in the Old Battlefield and divert any seeker from looking for it by setting the clues in the very centre of the world; where it was said that magic had been born... Rome.

          ‘A cave, some curses-,‘ Helga was saying.

          ‘But that’s not enough... if not, Rowena would be able to come through by herself barely scratched’

          ‘Thank you for the underestimation of my magical abilities, my dear,’ she retorted annoyed.

          ‘It is my pleasure,’ Salazar replied with a smirk and Towena slapped him softly in the arm.

          ‘Ok, ok, so what else,’ Godric was rubbing his temples as if he were getting a headach, which he was.

          ‘There will be a Portkey that can only be activated if the Morbius spell is said backwards; it is much more dangerous when said that way and the slightest alteration will cause it to backfire’

          ‘Right, but before the Portkey, what will we put?’

          ‘Uhm... the Symbio might’ve been of some help after all,’ Salazar said softly. They all turned to him in shock, he very seldom spoke of the Symbio.

          ‘How’s taht possible?’ Helga asked almost angry.

          ‘Well, he had created a lot of creatures, very dangerous ones at that,’ he pointed out.

          ‘And you point is?’ Helga asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.

          ‘Well, we don’t want anyone to get past and get to the chest, do we? And you have some sort of power over them Helga, and so do I,’ he defended.

          ‘You do realise what you’re proposing, don’t you?’ a voice sounded in Salazar’s head. Godric very seldom spoke in his friend’s head anymore after the Symbio had almost knocked him cold more than once pushing him away.

He turned abruptly to Godic. ‘I wouldn’t propose it otherwise, don’t you think?’ he replied a little annoyed and heard a mental sigh. Truth was, he was glad to hear Godric’s voice in his head because he missed him, he missed taht closeness they used to have.

‘If he thinks we can handle it, then so be it,’ Godric said resigned.

‘Thank you for the support’

‘You know you always have my support’

‘You have no idea how much I appreciate it’

‘Yes I do, remember?’ he tapped his temple with one finger and smiled. Salazar smiled back.

Rowena and Helga stared at them as they exchanged thoughts, they both rolled their eyes. ‘Very well, and as a last test, we must place a Sphinx, that is for sure,’ Rowena said after she saw they ahd finished talking.

‘Wonderfully thought darling!’ Godric beamed and kissed her deeply.

She laughed and closed her eyes, feeling the momentary peace taht always wrapped her whenever he held her. Rowena let out a content sigh and rested her head on his shoulder.

***

          The room on the last story of Grimmauld Place was no longer Buckbeak’s; he had acquired one that Dumbledore had made on the roof especially for him. The door was half-open, for people kept coming in and out of it.

          A silvery-blond haired boy sat on a chair, his feet resting in the bed across. He was dozing off when a girl he had grown to love very much entered the room with breakfast.

          ‘Morning sunshine!’ she chimed.

          Draco jumped and nearly fell off, but somehow managed to regain his balance elegantly. ‘Don’t- do that again,’ he said dryly and rubbed his eyes to awaken himself.

          They had been taking turns to sleep in the room and look after Harry, who had been out for the past five days; they were starting to wonder if he’d ever wake up, but no one said it out loud.

          Hermione frowned. ‘Someone’s grumpy today’

          ‘Hm,’ he answered. That “Good morning sunshine” had gotten the best of him.

          ‘Maybe some coffee and toast will get your moods up,’ she said and smiled. Inwardly she sighed, she understood perfectly what that “hm” had meant, she knew him more than most.

          ‘Yeah, maybe’

          ‘Anything?’

          ‘He stirred a couple of times, causing my heart to nearly stop beating, but-.‘ He was interrupted by a squeak from the girl. ‘Uh… did I mention my heart nearly stopped beating?’

          ‘Oh! Don’t be silly Draco; your heart wouldn’t have stopped beating’

          ‘How do you know?’ he pressed.

          ‘If it didn’t after that deed you performed in Italy, post father-beating, I don’t think it would with anything,’ she answered with a smile.

         

          ‘Hey! He didn’t beat me!’ he protested. Hermione gave him a warning look and he made a face. ‘Well, but I kicked his arse too’

          ‘Believe me, he kic-.‘ She didn’t finish, Harry was stirring and moaning in his sleep. Hermione nearly dropped the tray and ran to his bed. ‘Harry, honey can you hear me?’ she took his hand and squeezed it.

          Better wake up soon Potter or I’ll kill myself. Can’t stand her talking to you like that. Draco thought as he watched the scene.

          Harry opened his eyes slowly. ‘Was that Malfoy?’ he managed, though the words in his throat felt like metal rasping dry wood.

          Draco flinched and stood up right, putting the tray he had saved from Hermione on the bedside table. ‘I didn’t say anything,’ did I?

          Hermione was taken aback by Harry’s first words, but she let it go; she was too happy he was awake. She took a hand to his forehead and brushed his hair from his temple; her eyes rested a second in the lightning-bolt scar before she gasped. ‘Great Merlin! You’re burning up!’ she exclaimed and turned to Draco. ‘How didn’t you notice before? You know, that’s why we’re-’

          ‘I had a headache!’ he said defensively, his temper rising; he took a glass of water and drank it.

          ‘Water,’ Harry croaked.

          Hermione jumped again and snatched the glass from Draco’s hand, giving it to Harry carefully. Draco didn’t say anything; he threw his arms in the air and walked out of the room.

          Harry noted him leaving and intended to call him back, but was useless because of the water in front of him; he spilled a little in the attempt.

          ‘Sorry Harry,’ Hermione said, with a nearly broken voice. She took the glass back.

          He didn’t think he had ever had such a wonderful sensation in his whole life like the one he was experiencing as water went down his throat, relieving his sore gullet and cleaning it all in its way. He coughed a little and looked up at Hermione. ‘Thank you,’ he said, his voice sounding much more like the one he remembered. He was incredibly happy to see her well and alive but somehow he found himself rather annoyed at her, he had no idea why. ‘What happened? I remember me and Voldemort… did I-?’ he couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

          Hermione sort of smiled, but was sad in the deepest of her gut. ‘No, Harry, you didn’t kill anyone’ but we did, she added in her head.

          Harry smiled relieved and then his eyes widened.

          ‘Yes, the war is still in its highest,’ she answered his unasked question.

***

          Draco stormed out of the room, in a deep row with himself. You knew it, why does it surprise you? But still, she was with me, she must’ve cared. He was with you when she was angry at Harry. But she took care of me when I was injured. Yes, but you always knew it, didn’t you? YES I DID, all right? But she did love me, at least a little. What would you know about love?

          He was yanked from his thoughts when he bumped into someone. He looked blank for a moment and then regained his posture; taking a deep breath inside, he managed a smile. ‘He’s awake’

          Ginny jumped in surprised and started hurriedly to the top room, but stopped.

          Oh, great, one more to the fan club. What’s so great about him anyways? He’s not even THAT good-looking. He thought a little angrily, but didn’t finish the thought, a voice was calling him. ‘Uh? Pardon?’ he asked.

          ‘I said if you’re all right’

          ‘Of course I am, Weasley!’ he snapped at her.

          She made a face and turned to hurry up the stairs.

          ‘Sodding Weasley,’ he muttered and went down for breakfast.

          ‘Good morning Draco,’ Tonks greeted him with a big smile. She had a Madonna-like face today and Draco had to hold himself back not to laugh. Madonna was a well-known metamorphmagus; graduated from Salem School for Gifted Youngsters, the best known magic school in America. She had used her abilities to change her appearance very often, and that had made her utterly famous in the muggle world.

          ‘Morning Tonks,’ he greeted back and sat at the breakfast table, summoning a couple of sandwiches and coffee in front of him. He had gotten used to being there –since it was the only place he had anymore- and now he moved around naturally. He missed his mother and all the luxuries of his own home, but he couldn’t, nor he would go back there.

          ‘Any news?’ the young witch asked.

          ‘He’s awake,’ he said lazily. Mrs. Weasley, Tonks and Lupin gasped, Draco rolled his eyes, restraining himself from a “why don’t you make it a national holiday?” comment.

          Mrs. Weasley started upstairs but was stopped by Remus. ‘Wait a little,’ he said calmly.

          She sagged and sat back down with a reluctant ‘all right’

***

          ‘Are you sure you’re feeling all right, Harry?’ Ginny was asking while he drank a fever-reducer potion.

          ‘Thanks to Hermione, I will,’ he said, much more fluidly.

          As soon as she entered the room, Ginny had thrown herself to Harry and kissed him as if she hadn’t done in forever. Finally she had sat back down and let Harry take the potion Hermione was giving him.

          ‘I would like to correct that to a “thanks to Draco.”’ Came a voice from the door, Draco had finished breakfast and was going up to call on the rest.

          Harry focused in him. ‘Hello, Malfoy. Happy Birthday by the way,’ he said, for the first time, with no special tone in his voice.

          Draco frowned, how could he know my birthday? Weird, weird, weird, he assured himself. ‘Thank you.’ He noticed Hermione tense and he shook his head, looking at her.

          ‘I’m so sorry Draco!’ she flung her arms around him, ‘Happy Birthday. But with all that has been going on, I just-‘

          ‘Forgot, I know,’ he said a little bitterly.

          ‘I’m sorry,’ she said in a small voice as Ginny came forward and hugged him rather stiffly.

          Four owls coming through the window interrupted the awkward moment. Three were easily recognised as Ministry owls, and the other one was all black. Each received one owl and Draco got two.

          Hermione paled instantly. She had completely forgotten the NEWT results were in their way to them. She froze.

          Draco was the first one to speak. ‘Wonder who sent this?’ he asked, meaning the all-black owl’s package.

          Hermione smacked him on the head. ‘Draco! These are the NEWTs!’ she protested.

          ‘Ow! I know! But this one’s much more interesting,’ he said matter-of-factly.

         

          ‘Ugh!’ she exclaimed exasperated, but didn’t open her own letter; neither did Harry.

          Draco examined the small gift with detach, but utter interest. He had left his NEWTs aside. After a little while, he opened it. ‘Ah, Tracy. So lovely,’ he said as he pulled the golden wrapper open and a silver clasp fell to his hands. A letter materialised under it.

My dearest Draco:

          We’ve all heard about your betrayal of your family and our cause, but I am sure you have something much bigger in your plans. I trust you wouldn’t sink to lower class beings such as Potter and his friends. After all, you’ve always been so intelligent, and good-looking and fun, and charming…

          Anyway, this clasp will have you protected from your father and any other who wishes you harm. I’m giving it to you so you’re safe from revengeful actions until you finish what you’ve got planned.

                   All my love,

                             Tracy Davies

          Draco crumbled the parchment in his hand, he was incredibly angry, but didn’t show anything. Instead, he smiled and placed the clamp on the left of his navy-blue t-shirt. He looked up at the rest, ‘A secret admirer,’ he just said and apparently noticed the NEWT result letter for the first time. ‘Ah! The NEWTs!’ he exclaimed and tore open the envelope.

          Blank stares followed all his procedure. Reading the letter, crumpling it in a fist and the smile, opening the NEWTs. One by one, they pulled themselves from the bewilderment and continued their business. Hermione still staring at the envelope with fear, Harry opening it slowly and Ginny waiting eagerly.

          ‘Nice!’ Draco exclaimed.

          Harry stopped before he saw his. ‘How was it?’ he asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

          ‘I got three Os, two Es and one A’

          Hermione looked positively dumbstruck. ‘I’m so sorry Draco,’ she said sympathetically.

          ‘Sorry for what? Oh, the A? It’s ok, it was Ancient Runes, the last exam and didn’t really felt like taking it,’ he answered conversationally.

          Harry smiled and finally read his out loud:

Dear Mr. Potter,

          We are pleased to present you with the results of your Nastily Exhausting Wizardring Test exams, taken between June the 12^th and June the 23^rd of the present year. Attached to this letter, you’ll receive the respective grades, which go from T to O in order of your performance in the theoretical and practical exams.

          Sincerely yours,

                   Griselda Merchbanks

                   Head of Wizardring Examinations

          When he opened it, his face went from happy to extremely disappointed in just a few seconds. Hermione looked at him eagerly. ‘So?’

          ‘I- I didn’t get enough to become an auror,’ he said utterly sad.

          ‘Oh, Harry! I’m sorry!’ She held him tightly.

          ‘I missed Transfiguration, I needed and E and I got an A’

          ‘I’m sure you’ll get a nice job at the Ice Cream Parlor,’ Draco tried to be comforting.

          ‘Draco!’ Ginny said and smacked him on the head.

          ‘Bloody hell! What is it with you girls today and the smacking?’ he asked, sounding hurt.

          ‘Open yours,’ Harry ushered.

          With trembling fingers, she opened it and let out a squeak of joy. ‘Seven Os and one E!’ she cried.

          ‘Wow, congrats Mione,’ Harry said, his voice sounding faraway.

          She sobered. ‘I-’

          ‘It’s ok, you ought to be proud. You’ll go and I won’t,’ he said in a hearty voice.

          ‘Harry! How can you-?’

          ‘Sooooo… you’re leaving for your seventh year, eh Ginny?’ Draco said; somehow feeling he had to try and drive the subject away from the results.

          ‘Uhm… yeah,’ she answered awkwardly.

          Hermione was about to speak, when three more owls came in. One left another package in Draco’s lap and two more dropped letters on Harry and Hermione.

          ‘What now?’ he asked, sounding annoyed. When he looked at the new arrival, it seemed to be some kind of book. Draco opened it out of curiosity, there was no note. It was a book called Hogwarts, A History. The Unspeakable Story by Argus Lovegood. Draco frowned and started examining it.

          Hermione snatched from his hands. ‘I can’t believe someone would even buy that!’ she exclaimed, tossing it aside.

          ‘Hey! That was my book!’ Draco protested.

          ‘Oh, come on! Honestly, Draco. It was written by Luna’s father,’ she said and rolled her eyes.

          ‘Hey, Luna’s nice!’ Ginny complained.

          ’But that doesn’t take away that her father is a lunatic’

          ‘Ron liked him,’ Ginny said in a small voice and everyone fell silent.

          ‘What are these letters about?’ Draco, once again, felt like he had to drive the subject away. To be honest, he was finding it quite annoying.

          Hermione was the first one to react. She took the letter and opened it, not really reading the words.

          ‘So?’

          ‘Uh? Oh…’ she scanned it again and her eyes grew wide, ‘it’s from the Ministry’

          Harry frowned, his letter looked exactly like Hermione’s, and he wondered what the Ministry wanted now. He sighed and tore it open. He looked blank, unable to react; Draco perked his head to see what it was about with no success.

          ‘Did you receive one too?’ Hermione asked, Harry nodded softly.

          ‘But I didn’t get enough NEWTs’

          ‘Looks like fame can be useful for more than just showing off,’ Draco put in.

          ‘Shut up, Malfoy’

          ‘Hey, don’t start with that again, Potter. I was wondering how long it would be until you woke and kept disgracing me with your existence’

          ‘I’d say it is the other way round, you’re the one whose-‘

          ‘Ok, enough flaming for the day, thank you,’ Ginny said, making both boys look at her. ‘Did I make myself clear?’

          ‘Since when did you take Hermione’s bossy, know-it-all role?’ Draco asked irritated.

          ‘Since I was made Head Girl,’ Ginny challenged back. And since she’s too busy feeling sorry and guilty, she added mentally.

         

          Both Draco’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You. Made it Head Girl?’ he asked slowly, with a mocking voice. ‘How did you bribe the old man?’

          ‘What?! I didn’t-‘

          ‘Good morning children!’ Luckily Mrs. Weasley burst in at that second and they both stopped arguing. But if glares shot laser beams, they would both be strainers by that moment.

          Harry looked up at her, grateful she burst in but finding the whole thing rather amusing; he turned to Hermione and she looked utterly angry, he bit his bottom lip and was restraining the smirk from his face.

          ‘Harry, dear! So good to see you are alive and well!’ she exclaimed and pulled him into a bone-breaking hug. ‘We’ve all been so worried,’ she was nearly sobbing now on his shoulder and Harry didn’t know what to do. ‘When the girls and Neville came with you two like that, I just wanted to make you forget what you were and-‘

          ‘Molly. Let him breath,’ Mr. Weasley spoke carefully from the door. He had just been told by Remus, who was coming behind, and he had come immediately.

          Mrs. Weasley choked back sobs and pulled herself from a bewildered Harry. Forget who we are? What are we? He thought confused.

          ‘Get used to it,’ Draco said in a low voice from a couple of feet away.

          Harry’s head turned so abruptly to Draco that he nearly strained his neck; he winced. Weird, weird, weird, he thought.

***

          When he was able to walk without dying of tiresome, Ginny asked Harry to go for a walk. Mrs. Weasley had seemed reluctant on it but finally agreed under the condition they each carried a Zaomian crystal with them.

          They walked around the neighbourhood for a while without talking and Harry was growing tired, that damn spell Voldemort had used in him had nearly killed him and its effects still lingered over him.

          ‘So? Is everything all right? I know I haven’t exactly been-‘

          ‘Harry, silence,’ she stopped him before he could continue. They reached a small park and walked around. ‘Harry, do you remember that day in Rome?’

          ‘Not willingly, but yes,’ he responded, bewildered.

          ‘Do you remember when you woke up, what were the first words that came from your mouth?’

          ‘That I definitely don’t remember. Where is this going, Ginny?’ he asked, utterly puzzled.

          I was holding you after Draco left you and when you recovered consciousness, the first thing you said wasn’t my name,’ she stated flatly, but Harry knew better.

          ‘Aaand?’ he pressed, ‘is that supposed to mean anything?’

          Ginny stopped and turned to him. ‘Of course it does! It means the world Harry!’

          Harry shook his head. ‘I was unconscious, it was probably the first thing that came to my mind!’ he defended.

          ‘Exactly my point! That’s why we never got closer. That ghost lingers between us!’

          ‘Ron?’ Harry asked and felt really stupid and low.

          ‘Don’t be so hard-headed, Harry. You know exactly what I mean’

          ‘Actually, I don’t,’ he admitted.

          ‘This can’t go on, it has to end now. A relationship is about two people, not just one,’ she said in an almost broken voice, but she seemed determined.

          ‘Wha- why?’ was all he managed to say.

          ‘Harry, if you don’t see it, I won’t tell you,’ she said irritated.

          He gaped at her for a moment and then looked down. He still didn’t understand it, but she seemed resolute in that. ‘If that’s what you want,’ he muttered.

          ‘It’s not what I want! It’s about what you want, even though you don’t see it yet,’ she said as a single tear escaped her eyes.

          Harry felt utterly impotent in front of this. You can duel the most evil wizard in the history of the world, and you can’t hold a girlfriend, way to go Potter! He thought angrily. ‘Then, I guess this is it?’ he asked but knew the answer.

          ‘I think so, yes,’ she said barely audibly.

          ‘Uhm… will you be my friend?’ he asked like a little child.

          ‘Of course I will, Harry! I’ll always be here when you need me, but this is not the way,’ she said quickly.

          This made a smile draw itself in Harry’s lips. ‘Thank you,’ was all he managed.

          Ginny managed a smile despite the tears. ‘You’re welcome’

          Harry turned to her and looked into her chocolate brown eyes, he cupped her face in his right hand and Ginny felt the familiar warmth, she covered his hand with hers. Harry continued, ‘Ginny, you’re wonderful. A wonderful person and an invaluable friend,’ he said softly and placed a small light kiss on her lips.

          She closed her eyes when his lips touched hers and enjoyed that final kiss to the last taste. She smiled when he pulled away and slowly opened her eyes. ‘Thank you,’ she said and turned quickly, running the other way.

          Harry sighed, feeling guilty and not knowing why as he watched her run away.

          When he went back to Grimmauld Place, he found Draco in the doorframe. ‘So she broke up with you?’ he asked, Harry nodded.

***

          Everyone woke up very early that day because of Tonks’ “careful” ways. She and Ginny had compenetrated a lot during the summer stay at Grimmauld Place and she wanted to give the young girl a proper good bye breakfast. However, her being so clumsy didn’t help her good intentions.

          She wanted to do it the old muggle way, but she barely remembered them being at her father’s flat in Australia and seeing him cook breakfast in the summers they used to spend with him after her parents got divorced.

          The metal bowls were in the tallest cabinet. Naturally, with the 5’5” she stood didn’t do much good to her cause. She pulled a chair from the huge table in the centre of the kitchen and put it close to the cabinets. She was just above the stove and stood in tiptoe to reach the bowl. Eventually, she lost balance and fell on her knees to the oven, which had a cauldron with a potion that had been brewing all night. She screamed out loud some very colourful words that were heard throughout all of the fourteen rooms of the Order’s Headquarters.

          Harry jumped awake at the scream and reached for his wand instinctively. When he realised, he scowled at himself, once again reminding himself he didn’t need it anymore except for extremely complicated spells. He jumped from the bed and ran to the source of the noise, ready to find anything but what he found.

          There she laid, on top of the stove, the cauldron with the brewing potion overturned, light pink potion all over the walls. Mrs. Weasley hurried past him and let out a scream of rage. Harry couldn’t help the amusement at the situation. When he realised he was almost laughing at it, he snapped at himself and hurried towards the girl, who was whimpering over her burned knees.

          Harry helped her down from the stove while Mrs. Weasley cleaned the mess, even with this little effort, he felt tired. By that moment, they had all stepped down and gaped at the scene with different expressions.

          Soon after, the whole house was a manheim with Ginny desperate because she had to be at the station half an hour earlier than usual. She collected her things and it seemed amazing to her the quantity of things she had. She even had to use her school bag to carry some last minute things.

          She said her good byes to Harry (with a kiss on the cheek from him) and to Draco and she was off. Draco wouldn’t come because he could still be in danger and the effects of the curse that had hit Harry more than a month ago was just starting to disappear, so it was better if he stayed at Grimmauld Place.

          Platform 9 ¾ was overflowing with people. Some were scared-looking first years –which Ginny comforted-, some were old students excited they were going back and some were students that seemed to be going to seventh hell as they climbed the Hogwarts Express.

          Hermione and Neville were with her, both looking rather nostalgic at their old school and Hermione looked at Ginny, performing her head girl duties, with pride. They were going to ride the train along and stay at school for a little while as they did some research on whatever creature Neville had inside, that powerful creature that had saved them that day.

          Hermione felt sort of lost without Harry and Ron riding with her on the way to Hogwarts and her chest still tightened when she thought of all Ron would miss now. She pushed the sadness to the back of her mind and the two former pupils looked for an empty compartment.

          Hours later, they were at the sorting ceremony, sitting along with the other Gryffindors and cheering whenever a new student was sorted into their old house. She seldom directed a look at the Ravenclaw table to find Luna’s eyes. The dreamy expression was not entirely gone, but there was a lingering sadness deep in them. Hermione couldn’t help looking away when she saw it; she imagined herself losing Harry, or Draco. She didn’t think she’d be able to handle losing either.

          She looked closer and noticed something different about the blond girl. When she paid attention to it, she gasped soundly. Ginny turned to her and froze as well.

          ‘Oh dear Merlin! Tell me that is not real,’ was all she managed.

          ‘It is very real, Ginny’

          She looked away, tears glowing in her eyes. ‘I don’t believe it’

***

          Days later, they had started on with the task at hand and were taking a break, having lunch with the students on a Saturday. There was this thing that bothered Hermione and wouldn’t let her concentrate much in something, but she did her best to push it aside. Neville was telling her with pride he had already gotten job offers.

          ‘So I received a letter from Gadget’s S.A., asking if I wanted to take the position, I only needed two NEWTs and three Es in t he exams,’ he was telling her excitedly. ‘But the one that surprised me the most was the letter from the Ministry’

          ‘The Ministry offered you a position?’ She certainly wasn’t expecting that, she’d think Harry and her would be the only ones.

          ‘Yes they did. I mean, I had thought of being an auror but I never actually thought I’d get enough NEWTs. But I got and invitation for auror training. Maybe they called the ones that were in the Ministry back then’

          That actually made sense; after all they had brought down a dozen Death Eaters back then almost single-handed. ‘That is wonderful Neville! And which one are you taking?’

          ‘Do you seriously need to ask me that?’ he asked with a smile.

          ‘Well, I’d think you’d want to leave it after everything that had happened’

          ‘I would never…’ he sounded a little mad. ‘You know I would follow you and Harry to the end of the world and back,’ he assured.

          Hermione found herself incredibly comforted by this untold promise as she finished lunch, she turned to Neville and kissed his cheek, he blushed a little. ‘Thank you,’ Hermione said sincerely.

          Later that day, they were in the Library, she had a lot of books in front of her but was reading nothing, the womb of the girl printed in her head. He had left her pregnant, and wasn’t going to see his son or daughter grow up. That was awful. She turned the page and saw the letters, but they didn’t make any sense at all. A child, Luna was carrying Ron’s child! She was brought back to reality.

          ‘Hermione!’

          She heard Neville’s voice from faraway and turned her head to him. ‘Huh?’

          ‘Here, look!’

          It was a very old book they had found in the history section of the library –the one less visited-, it was called Wizardkind and its Untold Legends by Morcelus Gridfold. Hermione read out loud:

          ‘…generations of generations have always told they were a now extinct ancient race of wizards that used to be the kings’ knights, their warriors. All Warlocks were born under the protection of a star and with a specific mission apart from protecting their king.

          Warlocks were very powerful but they had one weakness, their capacity to love. They loved deeply and a warlock could be annulled if he lost all of its love. Love was the source and the end of their power. After losing love, they became more vulnerable than a normal wizard, almost a muggle.

          That weakness led the ancient kings –who were usually the most powerful and skilled Warlocks- to join their powers and give part of their own self to create a thread of life, a saviour for the saviours. A Protector would appear whenever a Warlock was under a deadly peril before their time or before they fulfilled their mission. However, a Protectors’ powers extended beyond Warlocks and within their mission, they would also appear to save certain wizards or witches that had a destiny to accomplish.

          Protectors would be sheltered in the body of a powerful witch or wizard of each generation of Warlocks or would just materialise when needed. Whichever way, a Protector would never be a whole being, for it was only pure magical energy with a purpose…’ she finished and looked up with a sympathetic look. ‘That is terrible! The Protector must have some kind of feelings, how would-‘ she stopped to examine her friend’s face.

          Neville looked utterly disconcerted at this discovery. He returned Hermione’s look and finally managed a few words. ‘So, the Protector lives inside me,’ he finished in an unemotional way.

          That explained so much! Even Neville’s hard time with memory in his first years of school. The Protector would be taking form inside him when he’d started using magic regularly so his mind would be trying to accommodate itself to this “outsider”. Wow! This was definitely amazing.

          They looked for things about the protector the whole next day. Ginny dropped in to take them for lunch and Luna was with her. She hadn’t lost that dreamy look, but deep in her eyes, you could see the lingering sadness of a lost lover and father to her child.

          Hermione looked up and smiled sympathetically at the younger girl. ‘Hello Luna, how are you today?’ she asked tentatively.

          Luna focused on her. ‘I am doing just fine, I miss Ronald very much but it’s how things are now,’ she said naturally.

          Hermione definitely wasn’t expecting this answer from her and was a little taken aback by her fluid answer. It had been little more than four months, but it didn’t seem enough at all to deal with it all. She had simply put Ron in the back of her mind, avoiding any situation that might bring the subject up, because she had definitely not dealt directly with it.

          Sure, all the anger and grieve had been of great help back in Rome, when she had to kill or be killed, stun or be stunned. She just put those feelings atop of her mind and channelled all of them to the Death Eaters, and to be honest, she had rather enjoyed making them suffer. At first, it had scared her, but then she had figured it had been a self-preservation mechanism and that it wasn’t her nature.

          This had also put a small wall between her and Harry, being with Draco had been a very good way of distancing herself from it all, and sometimes she felt she had used him, but deep down inside she knew it wasn’t true. The sole fact of Harry having been his best friend was a constant reminder that he wasn’t there anymore and wouldn’t come back, and that was certainly too painful to endure when they weren’t in lie or death situations.

          She was shrugged out of her thoughts by Ginny pulling at her sleeve. ‘Are you coming or have you been sucked by the Bermuda Triangle of Hermione’s mind?’ she asked mused.

          Hermione turned to her and blinked. How could she act like if nothing had happened? He had been her brother after all... She felt the door of her mind starting to open and closed it immediately, forcing a smile and again pushing him way behind in her mind. ‘Yeah, sorry’

          ‘It is very interesting to watch you fight yourself, Hermione,’ Luna mused with a small smile as they both tried to catch up with the other two.

          Hermione looked at her. ‘I beg your pardon?’ she asked puzzled.

          ‘You know what I’m talking about,’ she smiled sweetly. ‘I do that myself sometimes too, but I try not to hold it back, it’s bad for the baby, you know?’

          Hermione stopped and regarded her with an intense gaze. ‘How can you be so calm?’ she asked a little annoyed at the girl’s attitude.

          Luna blinked at her. ‘What do you mean? I love this baby,’ she put a hand over her slightly swollen belly, ‘he or she is going to be a part of Ronald I’ll always have with me, and that makes me happy’

          Hermione thought of it for a moment, she wasn’t like other girls, she could now see why Ron had loved her so much and some part of her was jealous of such a simple and pure love. ‘I’m glad. You know we will be there for anything you need, right?’

          Luna nodded with a big smile. ‘Yes, I know. Ginivra has been of a lot of support, she’s very strong. I’m very grateful Ronald had such wonderful friends,’ she assured.

          Hermione smiled at her as they reached Ginny and Neville, guess each person is different, she mused as she looked at the three ahead of her. She was glad that Neville and Ginny were apparently were on normal speaking terms again.

***

          Finally the Christmas break had come and they would go to the Ravenclaw Castle to make the final arrangements to the prism that would open the chest in the end.

          Using one of the Prisms of Odeon had been an idea of Rowena, she didn’t feel so confident on just putting all the quests, for anyone could open it if they were clever enough. No, it had to be their own blood that opened the Chest. The Chest of Power was not to be opened ever again after this.

          To just see what the Symbio had created while using Salazar’s powers was enough to not even want to imagine what could happen with more power in the wrong hands.

          There were only three Prisms of Odeon left in the world, and they had managed to get one of them. It would work as a multiplier to the power of those who had activated it. With the size of a walnut and a reddish glow, no one would imagine how powerful it could be if the right spells were used in them.

          ‘It is so good to be back home!’ Helga exclaimed as she dropped her trunk inside her and Salazar’s room, which was the first stop in the long corridor of the third floor, where the main Chambers were located.

          ‘Even if it’s only for a little while, I’ve grown very attached to this place, I must admit,’ Salazar commented to his friends as he dropped his own trunk inside the huge bedroom. He placed a kiss in Helga’s cheek and she smiled widely.

          ‘Now all we have left to do is cast those blasted spells and this whole nightmare will be over!’ Godric said gleefully. It wouldn’t be nearly over, but that burden would be off their shoulders and they would only have to worry about Salazar trying to beat the Symbio out of him, which was nearly impossible but it was worth a try.

          ‘Right, you’ll be able to get rid of me, won’t you eh? Well, let me tell you something “friend”, I will stick around, and this weak being inside me will be lost forever!’ he let of a sinister laugh.

          Helga froze as he heard Salazar speak those words. No matter how long it had been or how often they would hear it, it always pained her deeply to see her losing her beloved Salazar.

          ‘Let me tell you, that it is you inside his body, so get out of my head! You disgust me!’ Godric yelled angrily; he was already pointing at the Symbio, to stun him.

          ‘Oh no you won’t! Bombarda!’ the Symbio yelled and Godric flew backwards, hitting the wall and falling unconsicous. ‘Oh my! That feels so good!’ he exclaimed.

          ‘Stop it, you monster!’

          ‘Salazar, please don’t,’ Helga pleaded.

          ‘You make me sick woman! And to imagine that he’s fallen in love with you! You finally got it your way, didn’t you?’

          Helga froze once again, had he really said Salazar had fallen in love with her? Her eyes went wide and she threw herself to Salazar. ‘Oh I love you! Please come back to me!’ she cried.

          ‘Geroff me!’ The Symbio pushed her away and pointed his fingers at her. ‘Stupefy!’ he yelled and it hit Helga square in the chest. ‘No! You evil bastard!’ he yelled and let out an agony scream as he sunk to the floor next to Helga. ‘I am so sorry!’ he sobbed softly. It was so frustrating to have no control over your own body, and it wore him off completely.

          Rowena had run to Godric and healed him immediately. When the Symbio stunned Helga, she gasped and silent tears escaped her eyes despite Salazar had out powered it this time. If he’s done that, then Salazar has very little chance now, she thought sadly as Salazar carried her to the Chamber in silence.  

           

***

          Christmas was close, and Ginny would be coming to Grimmauld Place to spend the holidays there. Hermione and Neville had told them all about the Protector and they had looked for any information about him or Warlocks in the past. Apparently, there had been very few Warlocks in the last centuries, and they hadn’t been written about except in books for small children, as myths.

          Harry and Draco were about to give up in regards of all this, but they would give it a chance till Ginny got to the Headquarters. Throughout these months, they had grown pretty close, they were now used to all this mental connection despite they still called each other by their last names. “Old habits die hard” had been the conclusion to which they had come.

          After Harry had fully recovered, Albus –as they had been forced to start calling him- had explained to them what had happened that day in Rome, and the connection they had developed when Draco’s powers had been awoken to save Harry.

          When Draco had been trying desperately to keep Harry alive, the Warlock in him had sensed a fellow and had used one of their abilities –the one to transfer energy from one another- for that purpose. But the problem had been that Harry’s energy was too low at that point; he was almost an empty being when Draco started the process. So this had turned out to be a double-edge weapon, in which the Warlock in Draco had been forced to transfer part of his soul into Harry, making a special bond Dumbledore hadn’t been able to fully explain or figure out, nor had Hermione.

          At first, they had been shocked and tried to push each other away in regards to keep their own mind to themselves with very little success. Eventually, they had both given up and given in.

          They were now finishing reading the whole Library of the Black family and the Order’s also and nothing. Draco was sitting in the writing desk, while Harry paged through the book from a very comfortable position on the floor, and Neville sat on an overstuffed sofa in front of the fireplace with a couple of books on his lap. Hermione, having said that they were impossible to share a nice reading evening with, had gone with her stack of books to her room.

          Neville usually sat with the other two boys to read and make it a little less heavy, but he really didn’t feel part of that little circle they had made. Today, he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts, and although he had quite a big share of books to go through, he was only passing the pages.

          Suddenly, Draco threw the books and took his hands to his always-perfect silvery blond hair, leaning back on the chair. Harry looked up and blinked, Neville did so too for a moment and then went back to his book.

          ‘Don’t want to read anymore, my eyes are crossed and I’ll be damned if I ever let these beauties be ruined by some books,’ he explained.

          Harry raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re such a pussy Malfoy. Oh! my pretty eyes are going to be ruined if I read more,’ he said in a mocking voice.

          Neville regarded them for a second and rolled his eyes with a smile and a slight tinge of jealousy.

          ‘Shut up Potter; the fact that you haven’t got much to lose with those eyes doesn’t concern me,’ he stated.

          Harry left his book and sat up right. ‘Why, let me tell you my dear Malfoy that a lot of girls fall for these green beauties,’ he said with a smirk.

          ‘Yeah right,’ he said and rolled his eyes. He did think Harry had very pretty eyes, but that had been a part he had learned to block from him with the Occlumency lessons Dumbledore had started giving them both when they had figured out this connection they had.

          Out of the blue, Harry’s thoughts changed from joking around to dead serious and Draco cocked his head to aside with a slightly puzzled expression. To most people, it would be almost imperceptible, but not to Harry. He locked his eyes on his friend.

          ‘They are a reminder of my mum’s sacrifice,’ Harry said seriously.

          Draco sobered as well, Harry barely spoke of his parents, and he had never done in front of him. ‘Why do you talk about this all of a sudden?’ he asked, curiosity getting the best out of him.

          Neville looked up too. He had only talked about his parents out loud once that he could remember, in their sixth year, when they had all been forced to take some sort of group therapy.

          ‘I- I read about this protection spell. Dumbledore had told me about it, but I had never looked it up. It is ancient magic that has its basis in love, the source of our power,’ he said softly.

          ‘So you’re saying your mother was a Warlock?’

          ‘No, she was just a very powerful witch. Did you ever know the whole story?’ Draco stared; waiting for him to continue, Harry took a breath. ‘They were betrayed, by one of their best friends. She knew they were in danger to be betrayed, so she cast this spell on me. And she was murdered by Voldemort himself; she and my father,’ he said.

          ‘Was the spell that powerful?’

          ‘Yes, it was. For what I see, she reached a Warlock’s power level for once, and she bought me my life’

          Neville jumped in on this. ‘That is a little hard on it, don’t you reckon?’ he started. Harry looked at him and he sensed the fact that he wanted this moment just with Malfoy. He bit his bottom lip, once more feeling like the fifth wheel. ‘Anyway, I got to go now, I’ll see you at dinner,’ he tried to sound normal and was surprised to hear a casual and not hurt voice coming from his mouth.

          ‘See you at dinner,’ Harry said as Neville walked out.

***

          Neville walked out of the Library of Grimmauld Place; so many feelings were mixed inside him right now, he could barely think straight . The Christmas atmosphere could be felt throughout the whole house. It was obvious that they considered it their home now and that it was their little sanctuary, away from the war, the deaths, Lord Voldemort and everything out there. He entered the Hall, the only place that wasn’t decorated in order to not disturb the less insufferable portraits.

          He stopped and took a deep, steadying breath, glancing back at the door that led to the Library. Harry and Draco, who would’ve thought it; the two most known wizards of his year, former sworn enemies were now in the middle of a deep conversation. They were both very powerful and from what he’d managed to figure out, they were keys in the defeat of Voldemort.

          Indeed, he was jealous. Not of the power, for he had it too, but of that thing he’d never have… being the Protector of them was definitely a great honour, one he would carry to his grave. Not that he had chosen it, but he was proud of it… not a whole being ever, he thought. Yes, he was Neville Longbottom, member of the Order of the Phoenix and future Auror, and protector of two of the greatest wizards his generation withheld, but still.

          He paced up and down the entrance hall of the headquarters, trying to get his thoughts organised and his feelings towards this whole thing sorted, but he couldn’t. He had never faced something like this, given the choice at the beginning, and knowing what would’ve become of this in the first place, not when he was so involved.

          He felt like running, like screaming, like tearing his heart out and tossing it aside so he wouldn’t experience all this angst. Not just because of the dichotomy within him, but because he didn’t really feel at place here… he didn’t consider himself of part of that group and he would definitely never fill in for the hole that Ron had left in the trio / foursome. Maybe Draco would be filling that space, even if he’d been an enemy to them for so long, he was fitting in much better than him. Hell! He’d even been with Hermione and apparently, Ginny and him had also had some kind of close encounter, seeing the facts. He couldn’t even have his beloved Ginny, one he had almost worshipped for nearly three years… sure, he had been jealous of Harry when she’d been with him, but he knew they weren’t meant for each other. And he hoped she would give him a chance after it was over, but no, that wasn’t about to happen… not to him, not to Neville Longbottom or the Protector for that matter.

***

          ‘Glad he went away, aren’t we?’ Draco asked with a small smirk.

          ‘Stay out of my head, for Merlin’s sake!’ Harry snapped and slumped to the armchair Neville had been occupying moments ago. He still had the book in his hands and stared at it blankly.

          ‘Hey! Not my fault, remember,’ Draco pointed out to the back of the armchair.

          ‘Actually it is your fault,’ Harry said and threw the book into the merrily burning fire.

          ‘Right, so I should’ve let you die back there,’ he replied, annoyed. ‘Oy! The book had nothing to do with it!’ Draco said as the thick book started to consume itself. He frowned and came closer to where Harry was, a little worry at what he was sensing from the other boy.

          ‘Not that it will matter in the end,’ Harry replied wearily.

          ‘What do you mean?’ he asked a little taken aback, more than he’d expected, truth be told.

          ‘I mean, look at me Malfoy? What do you see?’

          Draco raised an eyebrow. ‘Uhm... a slightly psychotic bloke?’ he asked with a smirk.

          ‘NO!’ Harry said in a slightly broken voice and looked up at his friend. He noticed the other boy’s beautiful features being accentuated by the slightly dim light coming from the torches on the walls. His eyes fell back to the burning fire; he stared into the orange-yellow flames and he could still make out the book he’d thrown burning in its core.

          Draco frowned and looked at him. ‘I think you’ve read too much, you’re just tired. You need to relax,’ he said and walked to the piano, resting on the far corner of the huge room. He sat down and started playing a piece of Chopin beautifully.

          With his head still bowed, Harry took his hands to is already messy hair and looked up at the other boy; the music sounded just like he felt at the moment; bleak and helpless. Harry could make out from Draco’s mind that it was Chopin’s Op.28. It was amazing how just a few months back they had hated each other to death. So many things had changed in such a short time, and Harry felt as if the imminent was coming, and he didn’t think he was ready for it.

          Everything looked so different for Harry now; so many people had died to save an protect him, including his best friend; there was some unknown force coming towards them and he felt he’d have to face it in the end, whether he wanted it or no.

          It seemed for him that his eyes had changed; but it was much deeper than that. It was the other boy’s soul in his now and the same the other way round. He stood up and walked across the room; placing a hand on the shining black surface of the piano.

          Draco didn’t stop playing, he just looked up and smiled at Harry, who walked a few steps around the music device and sat next to him.

          Harry put his fingers on the keys and felt the warm sensation of the music wrap him; his fingers urged to follow the so familiar, yet unknown rhythm. He entered in when the forte duo started.

          ‘You really think you’re alone? You really want to do this by yourself. You’re not immortal, you know?’ he said in a flat tone, every emotion he could be feeling at the moment gone from his voice, but Harry knew better.

          ‘I won’t let anyone else die. You’re not immortal either, you cannot save me every time,’ Harry answered as the music continued under their fingers. ? I can’t let it happen again. First my mother and father, then Hagrid, then Ron. I can’t ask you to-‘

          ‘That’s exactly the point. You can, but you won’t. You’re going to take the world-tragic-hero position just so you can go and get yourself killed for the so-said “greater good”,’ Draco said calmly, as if he were talking about bath towels.

          Harry stopped playing with a dissonant bang on the black and white keys. Draco flinched for a split second but kept playing, refusing to look at him. He stood up.

          ‘Why won’t you understand?! It’s not my choice to make! My being the boy who bloody lived has its own implications! It is not as easy as being yourself, a Malfoy’

          Now Draco did stop playing and Harry immediately regretted having saying that last thing. ‘Harry James Potter, I can’t believe you’re using that as an excuse, especially after I very conveniently gave up being a Malfoy to help you. I would’ve expected you to be a little less lame when saying you just want me gone!’

          ‘I. Do not. Have. A choice!’ he snapped with suppressed rage, feeling his temper rise.

          Draco stood up and now he did look at Harry. Despite his face was as blank as a sheet of paper and his eyes cold as icicles, he could recognise every single emotion that was going through his friend. He pulled himself to his full height and although he wasn’t much taller than Harry, his posture made him seem much taller than he actually was. ‘You are such a little slimy coward,’ he just said with disdain.

          Harry narrowed his eyes. ‘You have no idea what you are talking about,’ he responded, barely able to keep from blowing up himself. Unfortunately, the shelves weren’t as lucky as he was; they blew apart and none of them flinched the least bit; they just glared at each other.

          ‘Really? Why don’t you enlighten me?’ Draco said defiantly.

          ‘I don’t owe you any explanation,’ Harry said slowly.

          ‘I would think you do, Potter. If I remember well I saved your life not too long ago,’ he said in a much more relaxed tone, but he was everything but relaxed; as a matter of fact, he was shaking a little with suppressed anger.

          When he heard Draco’s voice relax, he couldn’t hold it back anymore; all his will power wasn’t enough to hold his temper. ‘That’s exactly my point!’ he yelled. ‘if it hadn’t been for you Malfoy, I would be dead right now. I wasn’t ready, I’ll never be ready!’ he finally burst out all that had been circling his mind the past months, throughout his recovery.

          ‘Chill out Potter! Stop it with the self-pitying rubbish! I’ve seen it all before, you make me sick!’ he said with disgust. ‘So yes, you weren’t ready, deal with it!’ he snapped, his face inches from Harry’s. ‘You will be ready someday, before you know it,’ Draco added finally.

          ‘See? That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Even you think I’m something I’m so obviously not! Everyone will have died in vane and I will be the one to blame for it all,’ he threw his hand in the air in frustration and covered his face with both hands.

          Draco sagged, he could now feel all the angst in Harry, that one he’d been so fiercely hiding all this time. He came closer and put a hand on his shoulder; Harry lowered his hands and regarded the fine, blond boy in front of him through big eyes; they looked like a little puppy’s emeralds.

          He looked lost, he looked frightened, something Draco had never seen; he had always known Potter the captain, the leader of the DA, the Warlock, Gryffindor’s heir, The boy who lived... But he had never seen this little boy and it was heart wrenching, even for someone that had grown to feel and show no emotion at all.

          He sighed. ‘Look, the thing here is that you have it in you, but you can’t do it alone. You can’t be the sole bearer of the world on your shoulders, you’re not Superman you know?’

          Harry looked at him for a few moments and then a small smile drew itself on his lips. ‘Superman? Where did you learn about him?’

          ‘Hermione,’ he just answered and smiled back. ‘So, did you get over with your tragic-hero show? It was quite entertaining to be true,’ he returned to his usual self.

          Harry’s smile widened a little, he couldn’t believe how important this boy had become for him. ‘I think I may have a little in store for-‘ he didn’t finish, for tearing screams had broken throughout the house. He winced and took his hands to his ears. Draco did the same and frowned, motioning with his face to the door of the Library.

***

A/N: Thank you VERY much for the wonderful (but few) reviews, you feed my writing. If you read, please review, I don’t really mind if it’s one saying you don’t like it (as long as it’s not bad-intentioned), but I would truly want to know how it’s going (don’t get me wrong, I’m not begging, but it is sort of necessary for a writer to know what readers think).

Part two will be coming as soon as possible. I just thought I had made you wait long enough for this, sorry about that. I hope you liked it! :D Stay tuned!