All recognized characters belong to J.K. Rowling
Everything else is mine.
R – for violence, language and adult content
Contains male/male pairings- That's SLASH... you know, GAY
** This starts at the end of book 4 (Goblet of Fire)
Harry Potter and the Parliament of Dreams
Chapter 6 – Expecto Patronum
Remus Lupin left the Great Hall when the welcoming
feast concluded. He meandered to the teacher's wing and he passed through the
secret entrance. He made the way to his own door and said the password. The
door popped open without a sound. He spent the rest of the hour unpacking and
had just finished when a knock sounded on his door.
He walked over and opened it. "Yes?"
he said to the scowling face of Severus Snape.
Severus smirked, "May I come in Remus?"
"Yes," Moony mumbled as he opened the
door wide for Severus.
Severus made his way over to the fireplace and
sat in the guest chair. He didn't say anything until Lupin made his way over
to his own chair.
"I have your Wolfsbane potion," he said
as he handed over a sealed bottle that he had extracted from his robes.
"Thanks, Sevy," Remus replied, slipping
back into his school days and Severus' nickname amongst very close friends.
Snape's face clouded for a moment, "Your welcome,
Moony." He smirked again at his use of Remus Lupin's nickname.
"Touché," Remus smiled.
"I talked to Potter this summer when he had
the unfortunate run in with his uncle and I did what you suggested. This upcoming
war with Voldemort is going to be very difficult. He at least seemed to understand
how I'm required to act." He paused for a long moment. "Slytherin
students are going to suffer the most during this war. It will make things
much more difficult around here for my classes and for yours."
"I know. I'm not planning on giving you trouble
beyond the occasional Wolfsbane potion."
"That shouldn't be too much of a problem.
I'm at a loss on how to deal with my house. Rather sizable portions of the
students in Slytherin have Death Eaters for parents. I'm afraid that they will
be unjustly persecuted. Or worse, pressured by their parents to do something
that they don't want to do," Snape looked contrite at the last statement.
Remus looked at him for a few moments before nodding
sympathetically. "It is highly likely, especially after the atrocious
attack in Diagon Alley. The Hufflepuffs are in a simmer over the death of the
Finch-Fletchley parents and the loss of Cedric Diggory. The Gryffindors had
three Weasleys and Harry Potter involved in the attack. Five total from Gryffindor
when you take Mickey Finch-Fletchley into account. I noticed he clung quite
tightly to Harry."
"Potters always seem to collect strays,"
Snape replied with a deadpan look on his face.
Remus paused for a few moments with an equally
blank look on his face. "I'll assume I have the pleasure of your company
because of your favorite student?"
"I would like to know what happened on the
train. I'd also like to know if that look you gave me earlier was what I thought
it was," Severus asked, curiosity looking strange on his normally dour
face.
"Harry saved Draco from a rather embarrassing
situation."
"Did he? I find that hard to believe. Potter
loves attention after all," Snape provoked Lupin.
"Yes, he did. I think the dazed look on his
face was from him trying to figure out Potter. You Slytherins don't like doing
something for nothing. He is more than likely confused about why Harry helped
him."
"There's more too it than that. I saw the
same look you saw," Snape said, his forehead crinkling knowingly.
Remus smirked slightly, "If you are getting
at sexuality, I'm not sure."
"I thought it was said you could spot it easily
due to your increased senses?" Snape sneered lightly.
"Are you asking for my opinion or are you
insulting me?"
"Your opinion, please, oh wolf friend of mine,"
Snape replied with a small sarcastic smile on his face.
Remus snorted, "You're terrible Sevy. I think
both boys are gay, yes."
"Ha! I knew it! Now, what to do about it?"
"What do you mean by that?" Moony asked
sharply.
Snape actually looked hurt, "Allowing them
to get together of course. Potter could do a world of good for Draco. Draco
surrounded himself with hulking fools, just like that stupid father of his.
Potter is a honorable boy, no matter what else I might think of him. Draco
needs that. It should put him on our side and he won't be forced to make that
same mistake that I made," Severus made the last statement with a vehement
conviction.
Moony's face softened in response, "I see."
"Moony, I understand your friendship with
the Potters and even that self-inflated Black. I'm sorry my insecurities force
me to be callous to you and your image outside of these walls," Severus
said with an earnest look on his face.
"I've understood all along the dual-role you
have been forced to play Sevy. I'll continue with our agreement, you have no
fear there."
"I know. Gryffindor's stubborn and fanatic
devotion to 'what is right' is what makes you the best of friends. Hufflepuff's
steadfast loyalty makes them the same. The drawback of Slytherin makes them
need those true friends to stay on the side of good," Snape temporized.
"What of Ravenclaw?"
"They are just as independent as anyone from
Slytherin. More so, since they love to live in their books and studies,"
Snape said with a rare slice of house equality.
"Do you think Draco will go to the side of
light?"
Snape sat still for a few moments before he slowly
said, "I think so."
"I think that Harry will keep after Draco
now. Once that boy sees a mystery, he can't leave it alone."
Severus snorted, "You are telling me this?"
Remus laughed, "Like father, like son, Sevy.
I'll work on my charge. I'll leave Draco to you."
"Sounds feasible. Good evening Moony,"
Severus said as he stood.
"You too, Sevy," Remus replied.
Severus let himself out and crossed over to his
own room. He shook his head to himself and then snorted. Life is never dull
around this place, he thought as he readied himself for bed.
Draco woke up feeling more refreshed than he had
in weeks. He also felt a lot more confident than he was before that he'd be
able to handle the trials ahead.
The conversation he had with Harry just a few scant
hours ago came rushing back to him. Draco had never been able to confide in
someone before and doing so was a huge step. The look in Harry's eyes a few
hours before was something he had never experienced before. It felt almost
as if he had been drowning in those eyes of emerald green.
Draco was finally able to clear his head of random
thoughts. He pulled opened his curtains and dropped both feet to the cold stone
floor. He felt ready for the beginning of the school year.
He thought so at least.
The Great Hall was just beginning to fill up when
Draco arrived. He filed in with everyone else and made his way straight to
his usual seat at the Slytherin table. He sat and scanned over the Gryffindor
table with his usual smirk plastered on his face. Even though on the outside
he looked like his usual self, he didn't feel like it. He saw this as a rather
good thing indeed.
"Hey Dracy," purred the rather annoying
Pansy Parkinson as she dropped into the space next to Draco.
"Parkinson, don't call me that," he said
as he glared at her.
She shuddered visibly at the cold look then stuttered,
"O-o-o-kay Draco."
He smirked at her obvious discomfort. "Did
you want something?"
She looked furtively around and noticed that the
seats around Draco were all open and that she was the only one that had approached
him. Recovering some of her dignity, "I should have listened to my father.
He said you could no longer be trusted and to stay away from you."
"No one should ever trust me," Draco
smirked coldly at her, before looking towards his food and ignoring her altogether.
He was still smirking when Goyle dropped into the
seat next to him and Crabbe dropped in the seat across from him.
He raised his eyebrow at Crabbe, who promptly smiled
in greeting. It was a rather grotesque image, but it was friendly enough.
Draco nodded back at him and they all started to eat their meals.
Across the great hall, Ron Weasley was just starting
to eat his food, whilst stealing glances at Harry. Harry looked more composed
today than he had been all summer. In fact, Harry looked happy. This both
pleased and shocked Ron. Perhaps it was just being back at Hogwarts?
Harry was indeed feeling much better today. The
conversation he had had with the blond Slytherin boy only a few hours before
had seemed oddly uplifting. Harry now felt a good portion of the weight on
his shoulders disappear. That in turned allowed his spirits to lift. His thoughts
scattered to the winds when a tow-headed boy forced his way into Harry's lap.
Harry sat in stunned silence as the boy started picking through his food.
"Mickey, what do you think you are doing?"
he finely as able to spit out.
The boy looked as if he had been slapped and slumped
into a little ball with his face buried into Harry's robe.
Harry sighed deeply before glancing up and meeting
a direct glare from Draco. He wasn't expecting that. What was wrong
with Draco now? I didn't do anything. Harry's thoughts slammed to a halt for
a few moments before he glanced down at the brown head that was still buried
in his robe. Ah Ha! Draco was jealous, Harry immediately grasped
and then just as quickly he was confused again. Why?
Draco ate slowly, calmly watching the rest of the
Slytherins. He had been feeling better and better about the emotional purge
he went through with his former enemy. He was watching Harry across the hall
as subtly as possible. He nearly choked on his pumpkin juice when Mickey Finch-Fletchley
crawled into Harry's lap. He didn't know why, but he suddenly felt pissed at
Harry. Before he realized it, he was glaring at Harry Potter. Again.
Harry found out, much to his chagrin, that Mickey
was almost leech-like in his ability to maintain his current position. Harry
gave up after awhile and sent a pleading look Ron and Hermione, both of whom
were sitting across from him.
Finally Harry had enough of the boy in his lap.
He whispered into Mickey's ear, "Mickey, unless you are planning on becoming
my sex toy, you have to stop clinging to me constantly."
Mickey crawled up and whispered back, "What
do you mean by sex toy, Harry?"
Harry's eyes widened realizing just what
he had said. "Sorry about that Mickey. I shouldn’t have said that to
you."
"Oh. Are you gay like Justin?" Mickey
whispered.
“Yes,” Harry replied, just as quietly.
“Do you like me that way?” Mickey asked, his brown
eyes wide as small saucers.
Harry recovered from his poorly chosen words, hugging
Mickey a little closer, "I was joking. I think of you as a little brother."
Mickey looked kind of sad.
"You know that I love you as a brother, right?"
he whispered into Mickey's ear.
Mickey nodded.
“And you know how busy I am, right?” Harry continued.
Mickey nodded.
“Can you share your attention amongst some of the
others?” Harry asked tentatively.
Mickey thought for a few minutes while Harry looked
around. Harry noticed Seamus watching Mickey with a lot of interest.
"Mickey, do you want someone else who I know
will treat you right?" Harry asked him very quietly.
Mickey tilted his head at Harry for a few moments,
before nodding slowly.
"Go to Seamus and sit in his lap," Harry
told him quietly.
Mickey, who was a quick study with names, noticed
the other boy right away. He practically leaped out of Harry's lap and into
Seamus' lap. He snuggled in quite quickly before Seamus even had a chance of
understanding what had just happened. Harry smirked an almost evil grin to
the great hall in general, when he saw Seamus’ expression.
Draco watched closely as events unfolded at the
Gryffindor table. He was both shocked and pleased when the boy hopped out of
Harry's lap and jumped into the other boy's lap. The look on Harry's face shocked
the hell out of him. He couldn't decide if that was an evil grin or a predatory
one. Neither option really looked right on the Boy Who Lived.
Harry's grin turned into a scowl when Hermione
handed him his schedule. Every class he had was with the Slytherins, except
the two new ones, Self-defense and Dueling. He looked up from his schedule
to stare at Snape. Potions class was his first class. Snape scowled back at
him in an almost evil way. That was when Harry surprised Snape. Harry turned
his look into a death glare. Harry had secretly been practicing his death glare
in the mirror. Trying it on Snape first was almost divine inspiration. Harry
fingered the Filibuster's Fabulous No-Heat, Wet-Start Fireworks he had gotten
from George Weasley and hidden in his robes. Harry was going to have some fun.
Draco was sitting across the Great Hall with a
look of discomfort on his own face. The idea of having every class with
the Gryffindors was stomach churning at best. Even if he had made a sort of
peace with Harry, he still hated all the other Gryffindors, and they him. He
glanced over at Harry and saw him gazing malevolently at Professor Snape. The
look on Harry's face was extremely intense and Draco thought that it might be
possible to spontaneously combust under his gaze alone. Draco looked quickly
to Professor Snape and watched as he recoiled in shock. Draco turned back to
Harry and saw the left side of Harry's mouth quirk up into a smile that was
directed towards him. Then just as suddenly as it started, Harry's face transformed
back to his normal smiling and friendly Boy Who Lived look.
Ron had, for once, been completely observant of
everything that had gone on. He even noticed Malfoy's rather pointed interest
in Harry's activities. He also noticed that Harry acknowledged Malfoy, in some
way at least. There was something going on with Harry. Ron was sure about
that. He was also pretty sure it had nothing to do with Mickey, who appeared
to now be attached to Seamus. That might be a good match too. Seamus was looking
splendidly happy to have young Mickey in his lap. Ron stopped all further thoughts
then and there. No need to think about that when he had Hermione as
his. When he thought of her, he turned around and graced her with one of his
full-fledged Weasley smiles. She dimpled prettily in response.
Ron decided that he would leave well enough alone
for now, but he would be keeping an eye on Harry. Especially since he managed
to make Snape recoil in shock. There was definitely something different about
Harry now.
Harry in turn, had noticed Ron observing. Poor
Ron didn't realize he was as transparent as glass. Harry loved his friend dearly,
but Ron just was not cut out to be secretive. He was emotional and the only
time he wasn't, was when he was trying to be sneaky. That, of course, gave
him away. Harry put all the clues together and quickly decided that Ron suspected
something was going on with Draco. The question was: could Ron handle it?
The bell rang and the students stood and started
to mass towards their first class of the new year. Draco rose and followed
Harry's group of friends at a discrete distance. Crabbe and Goyle were, once
again, shadowing him. They did seem to have a bit more intelligence than he
had ever given them credit for. He was thankful for that at least.
The potions classroom was empty when the students
arrived. Following the patterns of years past, the Slytherins sat in the front
of the classroom closest to their head of house, while the Gryffindors headed
to the farthest point of the room. Everybody except Harry, that is. He dropped
down smack center of the room, directly behind Draco Malfoy's little group.
Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise for a brief moment before his normal sneer
covered his mistake. He ignored Harry from then on.
Ron and Hermione did not notice that Harry had
stayed near the front of the class until they reached the back of the room.
Seamus was passing by Harry and suddenly decided to join his housemate in the
front area. Ron and Hermione exchanged a brief glance with each other and then
rejoined Harry, in the center front of the room. The rest of the Gryffindors
shuffled self-consciously before moving closer to Harry's group.
Professor Snape walked in at this point and glanced
briefly at the class arrangement.
"Mr. Potter, five points from Gryffindor for
giving a professor an evil look."
The other Gryffindors looked sullen and angry as
they looked at Professor Snape.
Snape stared coldly at them all, "Today we
start with a simple dye potion. This will create a dye that is difficult to
get out of things. I will start by quickly demonstrating how to create the
dye."
The next half hour was spent with Professor Snape
describing the ingredients that he was adding. Harry paid only light attention
to it all. He was still pissed at Snape, despite the knowledge that Snape had
to act the way he did because of Voldemort.
Harry fingered the Filibuster's Fabulous No-Heat,
Wet-Start Fireworks that was still in his pocket and found himself desiring
very strongly that there was some way to douse Snape and the Slytherins with
that bright purple dye. He hid a smirk. He really wanted to get the fireworks
into the cauldron so it would explode all over them, but there was no way he
could toss it without someone seeing where it came from. He stared heavily
at the cauldron itself while he kept trying to figure out how to get the firework
from his pocket into the cauldron.
He felt an energy drain that was followed almost
immediately by a loud BANG! There was a chorus of loud screaming from the front
rows and the dye blasted everywhere. Harry's eyes widened as Draco suddenly
sported a brand new purple streak in his platinum blond hair. Snape's face
was purple. But given that his clean left ear was also purple, Harry guessed
that Snape was a little upset at this particular incident.
Blaise Zabini, the person furthest away from the
rest of the Slytherins broke out in hysterical laughter.
Snape immediately screeched, "Fifty points
from Slytherin! And five detentions for Zabini!"
Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors stared in
complete and utter shock. Snape had taken points from Slytherin. A LOT
of points.
"Class dismissed! Get yourselves cleaned
up!" Snape yelled looking like he was going to vaporize someone.
Zabini was sputtering incoherently.
Harry and Seamus looked at Ron and Hermione and
they all stood up at once. The Gryffindors cleared the room rapidly.
Harry had made into the hallway and halfway to
the stairs when he heard a drawling voice behind him, "Potter! A moment
of your precious time."
Harry stopped short and rounded on the slightly
smaller boy, who flinched at the expression on his face. "Well?"
Harry snapped.
Draco looked a bit peevish and more than a little
sexy with the bright purple stripe down the center of his head. Harry felt
his stomach tighten sharply at that thought.
Draco dragged Harry off to the side waving back
the two goons. Harry waved back Ron and Hermione who were both watching with
their wand hands twitching.
Once they were in semi-private, Draco asked quietly,
"How did you do that Potter?"
"Me?" Harry replied doing a rather excellent
impression of Draco's drawl.
Draco narrowed his eyes slightly, "I was practicing
Apparation last summer Potter. It felt like that. Is that how you did it?"
"It wasn't me Malfoy. I was just as surprised
as you were."
"I don't believe you," then added after
looking at the twitching Crabbe, "you better yell and scat."
"Sod off you stupid wanker!" Harry bellowed
loudly, while lightly shoving the other boy away from him. Malfoy, for his
part acting like he was pushed a lot harder than Harry really did push him.
Crabbe and Goyle both stepped forward and Harry
leveled a death glare at them. Ron and Hermione both gasped at the look on
his face. Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other then at Draco. Draco twitched
his head away from Harry and both the brutes backed off. Harry turned around
and headed for the stairs.
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, and then followed
slowly after him.
Draco was shaken up. He had spent the last hour casting spells on his hair
and had only managed to turn his hair from bright royal purple to a dull light
grape purple. He felt certain that it had been Harry that had somehow Apparated
a firework into the cauldron. For some reason, he felt attuned to Harry's movement
of power. What really spooked him though was Harry's handling of the two goons.
Draco honestly thought that Harry was going to kill them if they even thought
of coming closer to him.
The Boy Who Lived had changed quite a bit. Draco had noticed the exchange
of meaningful glances between Granger and Weasley as well. That indicated that
they thought Harry had changed too.
Draco wrapped up his thoughts as he approached his Arithmancy course. He was
more determined than ever to talk to Harry again tonight.
Harry had managed to avoid the dye in class, mainly because Draco caught the
full brunt of it. Harry smiled at the thought of Draco with a purple stripe
in his hair. Ron had just collected Harry so they could shuffle off to Divination.
That class was normal, that is, Harry's death was predicted eight times during
the hour.
Harry and Ron met up with Hermione and Seamus in the Great Hall. Mickey had
come from his class and sat right next to Seamus and the two were cuddling in
a way. Harry smiled at them as he took a seat where he could view both Draco
and Snape.
Harry laughed out loud as soon as he saw Snape. Professor Snape had on new
robes, but his face and hands were all light purple. He had an absolutely murderous
look on his face and he stared dangerously at Zabini. Ron turned to see what
Harry was laughing at and saw Snape's angry, light purple face. He cracked
up as well. The rest of Gryffindor noticed Snape and they started laughing
uproariously. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw followed suit and Snape looked so pissed
that it looked as though he was about to start cursing students.
Dumbledore rose to his feet but was ignored, at least until a clap of thunder
fell from the ceiling overhead. Every noise in the room stopped at once.
"Thank you. Please go about eating your meals and ignore Professor Snape's,
uh, colorful appearance."
Minerva McGonagall coughed out the pumpkin juice she was drinking when the
headmaster made his little joke. Snape changed colors completely as he went
from pasty-white-dyed-purple to blushing-violently-red-dyed-purple. He turned
and left the room.
McGonagall got up and followed him out.
Everybody returned to eating and staring at the purple dyed fifth year Slytherins.
Lunch continued fairly smoothly from there. Everyone got up to head to his
or her next class when the bell rang signaling the end of lunch.
The purple striped Draco was in the group right behind Harry as they entered
the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Professor Remus Lupin was already
there and he smiled when he saw Ron, Harry and Hermione walk in.
He waited for everyone to get settled. "I've heard all about last year's
teacher in this class. I figured I'd start with a nice powerful spell to teach
you. It is called 'Expecto Patronum'. The purpose of the spell is to summon
a guardian of sorts. There will only be a few of you that will be able to cast
it, but you all need to learn how."
Remus stared at Harry ever so briefly before continuing.
"In order to cast the spell, you need to hold the most pleasant thought
in your head that you can. Then concentrate on it when you say the incantation."
Harry squirmed a little sensing the reason that Remus had looked at him.
"I have a boggart in the cupboard. Mr. Potter, if you'd please step up
here and demonstrate the spell to us?"
Harry stood up as everybody turned to look at him.
He walked slowly to the front and then nodded at Lupin.
Lupin pointed his wand at the cupboard and it sprang open, the boggart took
the shape of a Dementor as it focused on Harry.
Harry stared at it for a moment before pointing his wand at it and shouting
out, "Expecto Patronum!"
Harry was stunned at what he saw. He was expecting the silvery-misted stag.
But that wasn’t what he got this time. Harry threw a look over his shoulder
and noticed that Professor Lupin had the same stunned expression as everyone
else. The Patronus that Harry had summoned was still stag-shaped. However,
it was much bigger, more like a King Stag. It was much more real looking than
the last one he had cast. It looked almost solid. Some part of it must have
been solid because it stormed across the room and the boggart/dementor disappeared
with a large bang when the Patronus slammed into it.
The Patronus turned and stared directly at Draco Malfoy for a few moments before
walking back to Harry. It nuzzled Harry's shoulder and then faded from view.
Harry collapsed backwards, suddenly completely drained. Professor Lupin caught
him just before he fell and lowered him gently to the floor.
"Hermione, please run and fetch Madam Pomfrey. Ron, please look after
Harry for a few moments. Everybody else, class is dismissed!"
Hermione rushed out immediately and Ron came to the front of the room and was
cradling Harry's head in his lap. Everybody else buggered out of the room as
fast as they could. Except for Draco Malfoy. He was sitting dead still exactly
like he had been when the Patronus looked at him.
Hermione returned moments later with Madam Pomfrey in tow.
"What happened?" she asked Hermione again.
"He cast what looked like an extremely potent 'Expecto Patronum'."
"I see. What about Malfoy over there?" she asked as she noticed
the unmoving boy staring straight ahead.
Ron looked up suddenly as Madam Pomfrey levitated Harry onto a stretcher she
had conjured. He looked over at Malfoy then said, "The Patronus looked
at Malfoy for a few moments. He has been sitting there since."
"Oh my," Madam Pomfrey muttered as she headed over there.
She shook his shoulder and he slumped forward unconscious. She conjured a
second stretcher immediately and levitated Malfoy onto it.
She headed immediately for the infirmary, with both stretchers floating behind
her.
Madam Pomfrey blocked entry to Ron and Hermione. She told them to head to
their next class.
Remus Lupin and Albus Dumbledore arrived together
in the infirmary a few minutes later. The headmaster immediately walked over
to both boys and examined them. He waved his wand over both boys and whispered
something. He nodded to himself before turning back to Lupin.
"So Harry cast the spell, and?" Dumbledore
prompted.
"It was the most powerful Patronus I have
ever seen or even heard of being summoned. It was much larger and more solid
than the stag he summoned before.”
"Interesting. And the Malfoy boy?"
"The stag stared at him for a few moments
before returning to Harry and dispelling," Lupin replied.
"Most interesting indeed. The boys are both
suffering from drained magical resources."
"They are what?" asked a stunned Lupin.
"It would appear that young Harry was able
to tap young Malfoy's magical reserves, in addition to his own. I'm guessing
that since it was an unintentional act, the magic drained itself down to the
dregs from both of them."
"But the only cases I have ever heard of anyone
being able to share magical resources are through extremely powerful and dangerous
spells or through a soul mate."
"The spells that I know of to do that are
beyond the ability of most wizards. That leaves a true soul mate," Dumbledore
looked quite shocked.
"You mean that... Harry and Draco? That
means that... Oh my... Merlin's sake," Lupin tumbled out all at once.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, "It would
appear that this is the case. I was aware that they made peace with each other
last night, but that is as far as it went. This is obviously on a much deeper
level. Don't say anything to either boy. They need to discover and build what
they want all on their own," Dumbledore stated firmly.
"Yes, sir," Lupin agreed readily.
"Let's get back to work. Poppy will take care of the boys," Dumbledore
said indicating the door to the infirmary.
Draco slowly woke up to find himself in a bed in
the infirmary. He was right next to the Boy Who Lived. He looked over at Harry
and stared at him while he wondered why they were there. The last thing he
could remember was being really tired and looking into the eyes of that Patronus.
Harry awoke and asked quietly, "What happened?"
Draco responded dryly, "The Boy Who Lived
Strikes Again."
Harry turned a half glare half concerned look at
Draco. "Did I somehow manage to drag you into this?" he asked quietly.
Draco sent a sharp look at him, softening as he
saw the concern in Harry's look. "It would appear that way. However,
I have no memories of what happened after the Patronus looked at me."
"I don't remember anything from the moment
he touched me," Harry replied quietly.
"Boys! You're awake! Excellent. I was afraid
that you'd miss dinner," Madam Pomfrey interrupted their little conversation.
"Madam Pomfrey, what happened?" Harry
asked quietly.
"I think it is best that the Headmaster explain
that to you," she replied after looking at both boys over her glasses.
Draco and Harry both exchanged puzzled glances
and then got out of their beds.
"Head straight to dinner and report to the
Headmaster after dinner."
They both nodded and padded their way together
to the Great Hall.
But an unspoken agreement, they separated some
before entering and broke towards their respective house tables without saying
anything to each other.
Harry arrived at the table to the stares of his
year-mates.
"Harry! How are you doing mate?" Ron
shouted out as he made space for Harry at the table between him and Mickey.
As soon as Harry sat, Mickey's hand snaked around
Harry's waist in a hug. Harry smiled at the smaller boy. Mickey smiled back.
"What happened Harry?" Hermione asked
as she leaned around Ron.
"I don't know. I was just really tired after
casting the Patronus."
"Not too surprising," Hermione said knowingly,
"That was the most powerful Patronus I've ever heard of or read about.
Harry looked at her sharply, "But how?"
he trailed off with a look of confusion coming over his features.
An odd thought struck Harry and his face went blank
as he went chasing after it. It seemed fairly obvious that he had put a lot
of power into the casting of the spell. But there was more power in that he
should have had alone. His thoughts trickled a bit further and he realized
he sensed his power now. He sat straight up in shock at that. Some of their
initial classes had described this moment in a young wizard's life, much like
puberty. A wizard came into his power when he could detect the flow and ebb
of his own resources. It usually occurred around 7th year, but it sometimes
occurred earlier in powerful wizards. That stopped his thought processes again.
It occurred early in powerful wizards. Is that
why Voldemort wants me dead?
His mind continued to wander about in this new
discovery when it landed on what could best be described as a silvery line leading
away from his body. He wondered what it was and the thought alone was enough
to send a piece of his consciousness whizzing down it.
Draco was sitting quietly amongst his year-mates as well. He was feeling kind
of groggy and was only half responding to the questions that they were asking
him. He had managed to eat some of his meal before he felt a gentle tug in
the back of his mind. He sat straight up in shock at the feeling. His mouth
dropped open in shock as he saw Harry jump up from the Gryffindor table and
run out of the room. He went to stand and he was too dizzy. He then slumped
forward unconscious into his bowl of pudding.
Pansy Parkinson's scream broke the attention of the Great Hall from Harry's
rapid departure. Professor Snape was down to the students' table before any
other professor. He gently lifted Draco onto the stretcher he conjured and
Madam Pomfrey levitated it back to the infirmary.
Professor Snape looked to the head table and directly into Dumbledore's eyes
and then looked at the door to the Great Hall. Dumbledore nodded slightly in
acknowledgement.
End of Chapter 6
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