Chapter 24-Misdirection
The next morning Hermione and Harry feel closer than they ever have before. They hold hands before class and if they can get away with it during class. Hermione's smile seems brighter and Harry's head seems clearer. They each felt different for a different reason. Harry felt better because he had come to the realization that he may have to face Voldemort again to get Ron. Hermione felt better because Harry let down his guard and acknowledged his love for Ron…or at least their brotherly connection. She always felt boys missed the good part of their friendships, because they were too tough to admit how much their friends meant. It was good for Harry to realize he had more at stake than just her.
As History of Magic class ended that afternoon, they both spotted Ginny and Draco talking in the corridor. "Hi Ginny," said Hermione trying not to completely ignore them. She couldn't force herself to say anything to Malfoy and neither could Harry.
"Hey, Potter…Granger. I was never able to properly thank you for staying by my side and helping me. I feel like you've avoided me," said Draco with a kind smile and arms outstretched with his palms up like 'what's up with that?'
"No one deserves what happened to you Malfoy. No matter what. I just couldn't stand by and do nothing to help you, but I'm not ready for hugs and kisses yet," said Harry as he turned to walk away. He took a few steps stopped and turned to Malfoy and added, "Also…be respectful to Ginny, she's like my little sister. If she gets hurt, I'll find you and what happened to you will feel like a whole body massage compared to what I'd do." Harry tried to sound as mean as he could. He really did like how happy Ginny looked even if he didn't trust Malfoy.
Hermione choked back a laugh which sounded like a snicker to Malfoy. "Geez, try to be nice and the dynamic duo want to threaten me and laugh about it."
"Draco, I don't think Harry meant a real threat, he's just looking out for me," interjected Ginny with a nervous smile.
"Oh, no, Malfoy…I mean it. Ron's gone and I'm not happy about it. Nothing's going to happen to Ginny, is it?" Harry was demanding an answer this time.
"No, not if I can help it." Malfoy said nervously.
"Come on Harry, don't be a prick. He's the only one who talks to me now that you and Hermione are off doing whatever you do together." She had a slight nasty grin as she finished her sentence. She was sure Harry and Hermione were shagging up a storm somewhere in the castle.
"What will Ron say when he gets back? He'll jump out of the casket to kill Malfoy if he has to." Harry laughed and then felt sick for saying it. He shouldn't have thought that. Bad karma.
"You let me worry about that. Why can't you just give Draco a chance?" Ginny pleaded.
"Well, maybe it's because he has openly hoped that Hermione would be the first mudblood killed by whatever it was coming out of the Chamber of Secrets or until just a month or so ago would have paid to watch her suffer. Do you think that might be it? I don't care what he thinks of me. He hasn't got the nerve to mess with me. Do you Draco?" Harry poured it on thick hoping to make his ploy of slowly coming around seem more plausible.
"Potter, you know….I haven't done or said anything to deserve this since I have been back. Seeing your life flash before your eyes makes you wonder how you managed to be so stupid. At least that's what I got out of it. Believe it or not I truly do respect what you've done and the loyalty you show. But if you want to carry a huge chip around, then be my guest. It'll be you making yourself miserable instead of me." Draco said with finality.
"We'll see about that," said Harry turning away and walking through the door with Hermione.
"Harry, I had no idea you could push his buttons so well. And, Ginny calling you a prick…well, I ought to kick her in the bum for that," protested Hermione. "That was pretty funny really. You had him on the defensive for once."
"Well, I do think he is somewhat sincere about things, but I know the kind of evil we face. I shudder every time I think of the graveyard or the Ministry of Magic when I saw Voldemort. He's got something going on. I can just feel it."
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That night the temperature dropped well below the freezing mark and every student at Hogwarts had pulled out their biggest and warmest comforters to keep warm. Harry had just seen Hermione off to bed and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. The dead of winter were still a ways in the future, but no one could be convinced of it tonight.
Draco was alone in one of the dorms since he returned. He'd been asleep for just a little while when a chill seemed to come from the direction of the window across the room where Goyle normally slept. As he got up to see where the chill was coming from he noticed the window was open. He crossed to close it, but as he arrived near the window he heard a voice. There was something oddly familiar about it that he couldn't place.
"Kindly sit down, Mr. Malfoy," a monotone and impassive voice said.
Malfoy looked to see if he could recognize the face. But he could only see the shape of a man's head and shoulders sitting in the Victorian chair across from him. The man was comfortable because he could see through the shadows of the night that his legs were crossed. He was comfortable. Malfoy was still in a daze and couldn't speak.
"I am surprised that I had to open the window to wake you. I thought your experience with Lord Voldemort may have made you a little more aware of your surroundings," the voice droned.
"Who….who…are you? How did you get in here?" Malfoy asked in a shaky voice.
"That doesn't matter. What does matter, however, is that Lord Voldemort has signaled me to begin the process for which you were returned. The circumstances of the night you returned did not allow for leaving the vials. I have taken the liberty of bringing them with me tonight." His hand motioned to package at his feet.
"I can't do anything here. Potter isn't buying the kinder, gentler me." Malfoy insisted.
"You have no idea how simple it will be for you if you follow my instructions carefully. You must listen. There can be no notes or anything that can be found and tied to you about these vials. The potions and herbs taken on the first raid have been used by Lord Voldemort to create a potion that will help to change your brain chemistry bit by bit. The first two are the beginning stage which will induce a dream state about the last things you concentrate on each night. It lasts about seven hours. You will take it before bed and concentrate hard on imagining good relations with Potter and his friends. The potion will allow you to awaken rested having had powerfully positive dreams about Potter and his friends. Do you understand so far?" He asked.
"Yes, take some of the potion in vial number one before going to bed and concentrate on good feelings between me and Potter." Malfoy chimed back. "What about the second one?"
"The second one is to be taken in the morning. It will continue the effect without leaving you drowsy and it will give you a sense of euphoria that will make you seem cheerful. In other words, your usual pain-in-the-backside self will start to fade away. You must concentrate before bed though; and, it must be on positive interactions with Potter such as: compliments to him or Granger, helpful acts of faith toward Weasley while Potter is present, etcetera. The process will not take hold over night. It may take weeks to get you to the state required. The purpose is that it turns out that Potter is a capable Legilimens, but not an accomplished one at determining truth yet. We must get you working in a positive manner with them. You will receive more instruction in a few weeks about the next phase. When vials one and two are done, continue with each numbered vial in sequence. It is necessary to increase the potency as time progresses. Are there any questions?"
"What do I say when someone asks me why I seem to be changing my attitude? Or, what happens if Potter realizes that I was with Voldemort and have been sent by him. What then?" Malfoy asked with a hurried and worried tone.
"Do not think about anything but the good thoughts I have instructed you to begin making. You are vulnerable to some degree now. But the change will begin and all the past will seem like a bad dream. It will look that way to Potter too. Tell him that you were scared straight. Tell him that there is nothing more important than getting away from that experience. Do not panic. Any misgivings will fade away in time." The shadow insisted.
"Is that all I have to do?" Malfoy asked crossing his fingers silently at his side.
"For now, Malfoy, for now. You will hear from me on occasion to remind you of your duty. You will not recognize me, but you will know." With that, the shadow disappeared for a second or two. Suddenly the window opened and Malfoy saw a shadow slide through the window and disappear below. He ran to the window and looked below, but the wind that night was so cold he couldn't look out without his eyes hurting from the arctic blast.
Malfoy sat back down looking at the chair where moments before the shadowy figure had left the vials in a small shaving kit size duffle bag. Malfoy knew he couldn't take the first dose tonight, because it was 2 o'clock in the morning. He wondered what the feeling he would get was. He was cautious. For a brief second he felt sadness. He had begun to enjoy his new found life. He wished he could start over without this threat. His hatred of muggles and mudbloods had given Voldemort the power over him. He stashed the vials under the mattress and stretched out on the bed trying to get comfortable with the package underneath. He knew he would not sleep tonight. He was trying to concentrate tonight like he would be required to do the next night. Malfoy didn't find it hard, to his surprise, to think of being nice to Potter and Granger. Part of him didn't want to hurt them. The greater part of him did not want to die at the mercy of Lord Voldemort. He shuddered and pulled the comforter tight around his neck staring at the ceiling in disbelief.
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The next morning every student commented about how cold the night before had been. There were students in the Great Hall with sweaters and cloaks usually reserved for January or February. The Great Hall was abuzz.
Harry and Hermione met at the bottom of the stairs to the girl's dorm. He kissed her good morning and took her books for her. He felt especially chivalrous this morning. He was amazed at how beautiful she looked even when her eyes still looked a little like she needed to wake up. He wished he could forget the other night sometimes. Every time he saw her now he remembered how tender and loving she'd been that night. It was beyond comprehension that he, Harry Potter, had been lucky enough to have such a kind and wonderful influence on his life.
"Hermione, how'd you sleep? Were you like me, wishing I had someone to keep me warm?" He winked and smiled.
"Of course, but I knew I wouldn't sleep. So I counted Snorkacks instead of spending too much time thinking about it." She laughed and took is hand as they began walking toward the backside of the portrait.
As they approached the Great Hall, Malfoy was standing at the corner of the entrance. "Good morning, Harry. Good morning, Hermione." He said.
Hermione and Harry chimed, "Good morning…Mal…Draco." They looked at each other with a puzzled look. Neither could remember hearing their names coming out of Malfoy's mouth without the last name or a complaint of some sort. They went to their normal table and sat down. Ginny hadn't arrived yet. As they finished settling in for breakfast, Ginny sat down next to Hermione with Malfoy at her side.
Ginny looked positively ecstatic. The most unlikely event in history of Hogwarts seemed to be happening right before their eyes. A Gryffindor and Slytherin seemed to fancy one another. "So, you don't mind if Draco sits with us, do you?" she asked.
"If he's your guest you don't have to ask." Hermione said with a strained smile as she tried to support her friend.
"As long as he doesn't talk, I am okay with it," said an unapologetic Harry.
"Come on, Harry. What's that about? What do I have to do to prove that I am not the prat I used to be?" Draco asked somewhat defiantly.
"Well, just don't expect us to accept you overnight. I have to get used to looking at you without wanting to puke first." Harry paused for a second. "I'm joking, Malfoy. If you and Ginny are going to be spending time together, I'll have no choice. Honestly, I don't trust you. But she does, so I'll at least call a truce."
"Me, too," said Hermione against her better judgment.
Every one sat remarkably quiet this morning. Harry occasionally looked toward Malfoy trying to gauge his intentions. He had the distinct impression that Malfoy was trying very hard to be nice. Almost too hard. Harry felt better today about it though. At least he had the guts to confront us without acting like he was avoiding us today, thought Harry. I wonder what he's up to? A leopard just can't change his spots that quick.
Harry and Hermione left the table and said good-bye to both of them. Their discussion was exclusively about the events of the morning.
"What do you make of that?" Asked Hermione.
"I have no idea. It's like looking at a mouse as big as a cat. You can't believe your eyes. Every time you look you expect to see a normal-sized mouse, but it's still as big as a cat. Maybe he finally just got a clue, but I doubt it." Harry could not concentrate on anything. He was off-balance. What surprised him the most was that he was sure he would feel hate coming from Malfoy. Yet he hadn't sensed that at all. All he sensed was the same mistrust he felt for Malfoy. It was strange.
"Harry, maybe you and I should sit down with Malfoy and clear the air," she suggested.
"I don't know if I am ready for that. We'll ask Dumbledore about it at our Occlumency lessons this morning." He said.
"What do you think he'll say?" Hermione looked truly puzzled.
"I have no earthly clue." Harry just shrugged his shoulders and kept walking. They stopped. Just before they started their ritual of clearing their minds before entering Harry said, "Hermione, I tried to see if I could catch any anger or hate in Malfoy. I didn't see it. But it felt like he mistrusts us more than we mistrust him. Something was bothering him. He seemed sincere. There is something I thought I'd never say."
"You know how much I hate the way he treated me. I still want to punch him, even though I wouldn't. It'll take me time." She said with a slight frown.
With that they began the process of being ready for Occlumency. Clearing their thoughts was tougher than ever this morning. They knocked and the door opened.