Harry Potter and the Sword of Gryffindor - 7. Chapter 7

Harry was pacing now. Back and forth in his room, waiting for word to reach him that Draco had been hurt. Then he could rush to the infirmary and be at Draco’s side where he belonged. Ron had been gone for twenty minutes and still no one had come to his room. When he began to think about just heading down there on his own, there was a knock at his portrait. He didn’t waste a moment getting over there and opening it either.

“Good evening Professor.” Harry mumbled out in surprise as McGonagall smiled at him. He stood aside for her to enter and then followed her as she made her way to the fireplace. Dobby appeared with a crack, and quickly laid a tea set on the table near where McGonagall was standing. He smiled at Harry before disappearing. McGonagall just motioned for Harry to sit across from her.

“Sit, Potter.” She said gently. Harry complied as she poured tea, fixing his just the way he liked it, and then sat back in her own chair.

“I must say that I didn’t think you were the best choice for Head Boy this year, but I am pleasantly surprised at how well you have been performing.” She said after sipping her tea. Harry bit down a flash of anger at her comment and drowned it with a gulp of tea.

“Thank you, Professor.” He said in as calm a voice as he could. “I’m pleased to see you looking so well after last year’s…difficulties.”

“Oh, very well done, Potter.” She said with a gentle laugh. “I swear after seeing an angry young man like you were last year I was beginning to despair.”

“Hormones.” Harry said with a shrug, earning him another laugh.

“I am truly gratified to see that you finally understand what I was trying to tell you about your temper.” She said.

“I was so upset with you. You got to stand up to Umbridge and I didn’t. I didn’t understand then why, but I think I do a little better now.” Harry said, a little bit of his old anger creeping into his voice.

“That is good to hear, Mr. Potter.” McGonagall said. “You do not have to take every battle on yourself. Sometimes others are better qualified to fight them…”

Her words, which had begun to fuel Harry’s anger were interrupted by a pounding from the doorway. Harry shot out of his chair and was at the door. Once more he was surprised when he saw Cho standing there.

“Harry! You have to come to the Infirmary!” She gasped, panting slightly as if she had run the entire way. “Malfoy’s been hurt!”

“Draco’s been hurt?” Harry said loudly, trying to sound surprised. “What happened?”

“I don’t know!” Cho exclaimed. “I was down there getting a sleeping draught and had stayed to talk to Hermione when they brought him in!”

“Was there anyone else there?” Harry asked, suspicion blooming in him. He could feel McGonagall now standing behind him.

“No, it was just Hermione, Madame Pomfrey and I when Ron brought him in. He looks awful!” Cho said, sounding distressed.

“Let’s go.” Harry said, letting out a sigh. Cho turned, heading towards the infirmary and Harry glanced around to make sure no one but McGonagall was around. The hall around them was empty. In a flash his wand was out and his stupefy hit Cho square in the back. She collapsed with nothing more than a slight gasp.

“Mr. Potter!” McGonagall exclaimed in a horrified tone and he turned to see her with her wand out.

“Just a moment, Professor.” Harry said calmly, using his wand again to levitate the unconscious Cho and maneuver her back into his rooms. McGonagall followed him with narrowed eyes as he dropped the girl back onto a couch.

“Dobby!” Harry called out, and the house elf appeared immediately. “Go find Headmaster Dumbledore and tell him I need to speak to him as soon as possible.”

As the house elf disappeared, he tried to think of what he could and could not tell the now fuming Professor McGonagall. Her expression as he told her the basics changed from surprise to anger to an approving nod.

“I don’t like students being hurt for any reason.” She said at last. “However, sometimes we must make sacrifices in times of war. So you believe Chang is a spy for our enemy.”

“Yes.” Harry sighed softly. Behind him, the portrait opened to admit an angry Dumbledore. The old wizard took in the sight of McGonagall, Harry, and the stupefied Cho and let out another sigh. He moved to the armchair, took a cup of tea and gently told Harry to explain everything.

The lecture he got from both Dumbledore and McGonagall, with them taking turns lecturing him on foolish risks, lasted long enough that his spell had begun wearing off. Dumbledore looked up as the girl began to wake, and waved his wand to put her back to sleep. Snape showed up halfway through the lecture and began to take his own turns chewing into Harry for the harm done to Draco. As the dark, sour-tempered Professor listed all of Draco’s injuries, Harry began to lose the newfound control of his emotions and was all but ready to leap out of his chair, leave the three adults and rush to Draco’s side. Just before he gave in, Dumbledore said something that surprised him.

“I think you are correct, Minerva.” Dumbledore said softly. “Young Harry really has learned to master his emotions.”

“Thank you, Albus.” She replied with a smile. “It really is gratifying to see him not flying off like he use to, and actually controlling what he is feeling.”

“Draco has been a good influence on him.” Snape said in a smug tone, as if he was responsible for that as well.

“I’m sitting right here!” Harry murmured in an exasperated tone, venting a little of the anger he was feeling.

“So you are, so you are.” Dumbledore said with a chuckle. “Harry, do not undertake something like this again without checking with me first. Now, as far as Crabbe and Goyle are concerned, Draco is refusing to identify them of course and we’ll accept that publicly. As for young Miss Chang, since she was at your meeting tonight, and is now under suspicion we must decide a course of action to limit the damage done by her having seen the two tonight.”

“Headmaster,” Harry began quietly, not sure what their reaction would be. “Dean had a potion on him…”

“Yes, yes, so he did and now I have it here.” Dumbledore said, pulling it out of his robe and holding it with two fingers like it was diseased. “Severus? Do you know anything that would work better?”

“Not anything readily available.” The Potions master admitted after thinking for a few minutes. “I can administer it safely.”

“Very well, you may do so.” Dumbledore said, allowing him to take the potion. Snape moved to the couch where Cho rested. He had his wand out as he fed the potion to a newly awakened Cho.

“So, Mr. Potter, you must not let this incident influence you negatively towards any of the Slytherins.” McGonagall said sternly. Harry stared at her until he realized what she was doing with Cho now conscious.

“I won’t Professor.” He replied sullenly. “I’m still pissed though. I mean why would they take it out on him?”

“I have received a petition today from several senior Slytherins.” Dumbledore added sadly. “They say that Draco is not performing his Prefect duties in a way that is pleasing to them. I do believe that this incident will make it all but impossible for him to effectively perform his duties. He has agreed and surrendered his badge. I will be giving it to young Mr. Corrin. He is a fifth-year who shows much promise.”

“I understand Professor.” Harry said calmly, inwardly wincing at how this must be affecting Draco.

“Now, I must admit that for now I do not think it is wise to have Mr. Malfoy stay in his dormitory. Passions run high among the Slytherins at the moment. I will have the house elves place a second bed in your room if you would be willing to have him stay with you for a while.” Dumbledore said, still glancing at Cho, who now seemed more alert. Snape was now sitting next to her and Harry realized that whatever had been done to her memories, it was now meant that she would remember being a part of this conversation.

“Of course, Professor.” Harry said firmly. “It won’t be a problem. There’s more than enough room for a second bed.”

“Good, good.” Dumbledore said with a chuckle. “I know your own bed is quite large Mr. Potter, but it wouldn’t be appropriate for the school to place two students in quarters without each having their own bed. It is important that the proper appearances be maintained. Now Mr. Malfoy will be staying under Madame Pomfrey’s care tonight but will return to breakfast at his table tomorrow. The house elves will have his personal effects moved as soon as the new furniture is installed.”

“Thank you, Professor.” Harry said with a smile.

“Well, it is well past time for bed.” Dumbledore said, standing. “I do believe we will all return to our own slumber. Good night, Mr. Potter.”

Cho looked dazed as she said goodbye and left the room. Within a few moments, Harry was once more alone in his rooms. He couldn’t help but pace for a few hours before slumping exhaustedly into a chair in front of the dying fire. He didn’t know when it was that he slumbered off, but he did know that the few hours of sleep he did get were not really restful.

Breakfast was an uneasy affair. The Gryffindor table was rife with rumors based on the finding of Draco outside their common room. Harry picked at his food until a battered Draco reappeared. He moved with his usual grace, but Harry noticed how his face was even more pale than usual. It took all his willpower to not rush to his side as Draco sat down at the end of the Slytherin table. The glares from the other Slytherins made Harry even madder, but Ron’s hand on his arm, and the look of sympathy from Hermione made him calm down. As breakfast ended, Dumbledore stood at the head table and silence fell over the hall.

“By now, most of you know of the horrible event that occurred last night.” Dumbledore said in a stern voice. “Violence is not acceptable between students in this school, but since there were no witnesses we do not yet know who did this. If anyone has any information, I urge you to talk to any of the Professors or myself.”

“Now, there is also a change in the Prefect for Slytherin House.” Dumbledore continued after a moment of silence. “Mr. Malfoy has informed me that he was finding his grades suffering from all the duties he has to perform as Seeker for his House team and as Prefect. He requested that someone else take his position as Prefect to allow him more time for his studies. I applaud his courage to make this request. As students in this school your first priority must be your studies. Whether it is as Prefect, a member of a Quidditch team, or any other activity, you must always remember your studies come first. Twenty points to Slytherin for Mr. Malfoy’s excellent example of dedication to his studies! Have a wonderful day!”

The Hall erupted in conversation as Dumbledore sat back down. At first Harry couldn’t understand why Dumbledore would give points to Slytherin when he knew very well who had attacked Draco and why Draco was no longer prefect. When he noticed a couple of the Slytherins actually smiling at Draco he began to have some idea of why Dumbledore had done that.

Double potions today with Snape proved to be less of a challenge than usual. He got there early and sat towards the front of the room. Draco came in shortly after and took a seat next to him. Under the table, Draco’s hand sought his own and the brief contact acted like a balm on Harry’s hurting heart.

“I’m fine.” Draco whispered after a moment. “Dumbledore mentioned something about me officially moving in with you.”

“Yeah, they’re putting in a second bed.” Harry said with a slight smile and in a low voice.

“Won’t get much use.” Draco commented.

“I know.” Harry said with a smile. “But it will look good for anyone who sees it.”

“You know, that old man is far craftier than I ever believed.” Draco commented, but went quiet as Snape appeared.

“Today, students,” Snape began after his standard grand entrance. “We will be conducting review of potions we have covered so far. With only a few exceptions, most of you failed to correctly make most of these potions the first time. Since several of them will be on the list of possible potions for your N.E.W.T. exams, I am giving you a rare opportunity to make them correctly. You will be teamed up with another student and I expect to see you working together successfully. Now, in preparation of your assigned potion you may call upon your notes, but only your notes. No textbooks. As I call your names, you and your partner may begin.”

“Malfoy, Potter, you will work on the Compatibility potion.” Snape began and the entire class started sniggering. Harry blushed while Draco just raised his eyebrow at the Professor. Snape just smirked back. “Granger, Goyle, you also will work on the same potion. Finnegan, Parkinson, you will work on the Cleansing potion…”

As Snape continued calling off names and potions, Harry got from his seat and moved to help Draco begin setting up their potion. While Harry began cutting up the ingredients needed, and Draco got the fire started and the basic brew begun, they worked mostly in silence. Still, they managed to touch each other briefly as the worked. A lingering movement of their hands as Harry handed an ingredient to Draco, a gentle brush as Draco moved to stir the ingredients in, they helped to restore closeness between the two and said far more than words. The guilt Harry had felt all morning began to recede and disappeared altogether as the potion congealed when the final ingredients, locks of hair from both of them, were added to the potion.

“Excellent!” Snape said from behind them as the potion bubbled a pleasant odor wafted from the cauldron. “Cool it down, Mr. Malfoy and bring two samples to my desk for testing.”

Draco and Harry looked at each other in nervous expectation as they brought their samples to Snape’s desk. Hermione and Goyle were in front of them. They tested their sample and Hermione was instantly surrounded by a golden glow. Goyle was surrounded by a brown glow, the color of freshly churned earth. The auras reached out to each other and as they touched, a discordant tone echoed in the room, startling everyone.

“Well it looks like you two most definitely won’t be getting married.” Snape sneered. Then he motioned Harry and Draco forward. The room was silent except for the bubbling of potions as every eye in the room turned towards the pair. Snape just motioned for them to proceed.

Harry swallowed his sample at the same time Draco did. He looked over at the blond Slytherin and smiled at the silver glow that surrounded Draco. He couldn’t help but look down to see himself surrounded by a red glow, a perfect match for the Gryffindor red. He could feel it as his aura reached out to Draco’s and when they touched he felt as if something inside him had just clicked into place. A bright, single bell tone rang out as their auras touched, and Harry sighed with relief. He looked into Draco’s smiling face and started to lean in, but a cough from Snape stopped the imminent kiss.

“Disappointing.” Snape murmured loud enough for the whole class to hear, and Harry glared at the man. His anger faded though when for just a moment he saw the dark Professor’s lips move upwards for just a second. A throbbing pain appeared in his temples at all these subtleties and facades people were throwing up.

Damn Voldemort anyway. Harry just wanted to be in love. He didn’t want to play all these stupid games. He looked back over at Draco and saw understanding in his eyes. There was also a firmness that reminded him why it was all necessary.

The last few weeks before Halloween were marked by increasing stress for Harry. In public, Draco appeared more and more depressed as his isolation from Slytherin became more and more noticeable. With few exceptions, his House treated him awful. Snide remarks from Parkinson and others, being bumped into walls by Crabbe and Goyle, and being unable to get into the Slytherin common room after they changed the password and didn’t tell him all contributed to what was publicly becoming a very depressed Draco. He even argued with Harry publicly several times, spreading rumors that there was trouble between the two.

Two visits by the Slytherin Prefects near midnight spread even more rumors when Draco was spotted in his own bed and it was obvious Harry had been sleeping in the other bed (it was messed up with the covers thrown back). Draco’s bed was much smaller, big enough for one person only and the two Slytherins quickly spread around that Harry and Draco weren’t even sleeping in the same bed although they shared a room.

On the day before Halloween, Draco received a letter from an owl that entered the hall imperiously. Its very manner proclaimed what family it belonged to and Harry couldn’t wait to find out what it said. Draco had received no correspondence from his mother since the summer. Unfortunately it wasn’t until the short break before lunch that he was able to meet Draco in their room.

He found his silver-haired man sitting on the couch, staring at the unopened letter in his hand. Harry crossed the room quickly and sat next to Draco, wrapping his arm around his shoulders and squeezing him tightly. Draco sighed, nuzzled Harry’s neck and proceeded to open it. He held it out so that they could both read it together.

Dear Draco,

I must admit that following your ill-conceived attack on Harry Potter I was disgusted at your lack of planning and your lack of skill. It was unbecoming of a Malfoy. However, I found myself most grateful that you were not sent to that awful place that the idiots in the Ministry forced upon your father. For the first time since I heard of his birth, I was appreciative that the boy even existed.

Perhaps you didn’t know this, but your father and I attended Hogwarts at the same time as his father did. The Potters are an old family, pureblood as we although only of modest means. Still, they never were as poor as that Weasley clan. They had a proud heritage and it was painful to see that heritage sullied by his liaison with the Evans girl.

I have received reports of your relationship with this Potter boy and I must admit to being somewhat disappointed at first. However, I have learned of the results when you both took the Compatibility potion and that event motivated me to order a search conducted on the genealogy of the Evans family. I have learned from that search that the Evans family had several marriages with squib families. It is very likely that the combining of several generations of squib heritage is what produced the magical abilities of Lily Evans.

Based on this information, the combination of squib blood, the obvious strength of Lily Evans, and the heritage of the pureblood Potter family, I have determined that Harry Potter is of sufficient pureblood status to form an acceptable match with the Malfoy line. While he is not the best possible match, his genealogy is sufficient. The last few years have seen many changes, but the importance of continuing the Malfoy line has not changed.

I refuse to believe that you have forgotten your duty to your heritage despite your allegiances to Dumbledore and not your rightful lord. Your father and I were most aggrieved to learn of your new loyalties, and we punished you as we saw fit. As you know, it is not possible for me to bear another child for the Malfoy lineage. As such, you are the only hope for the continuation of our family heritage. Although it pains us to make this decision, we have no choice but to reinstate you as the Malfoy heir in the hopes of children in the ancient traditions for pairings such as yours will continue our proud family tradition.

You might imagine that this decision has caused certain hardships in our relations with our allies. However, the continuation of the Malfoy line is of paramount importance over such concerns. We expect you to fulfill your familial obligations even though you have chosen the opposing side in our struggle to purify the wizardling world. If your intention is to spend your life with this Potter, then we expect you to fulfill tradition and enter into an engagement soon. I will begin looking for suitable young women to bear your children upon your marriage in a few years time.

The holidays are fast approaching, and I feel they will be an excellent opportunity to announce your engagement and present Mr. Potter to your family. While I fear the occasion will not see a grand party as it once would have, I do believe that your cooperation will be beneficial to all. Mr. Potter has great reason to distrust and dislike me, as I have to dislike him. If he has not already told you the reasons, ask him. For the sake of the family future, I am willing to set aside the events of the past year as well as attempt to seek some rapprochement with the young man. As you may be aware, I have kept the Black Estate tied up in probate with my own claim to that family’s estates. Although Mr. Potter was the beneficiary of the estate, his lack of familial connection other than being the godson of Sirius Black has kept his claim sufficiently muddied that no ruling has been issued. This was done to help prevent any of the Black family resources being used against our cause rather than out of spite for the young man himself. Word should reach Hogwarts shortly that I have removed my claim and endorsed Mr. Potter as the heir to the Black Family fortune.

I hope that you and Mr. Potter will accept the invitation to spend the holidays here, at your ancestral home. If you accept, I offer a truce. So long as you come spend your holiday here, and on your travels to and from your home, no harm shall come to you, Mr. Potter, or anyone you wish to accompany you. So long as you visit, I and anyone who enters our home shall be bound to treat the both of you with the utmost courtesy and respect as befits the fine tradition of our family. Likewise, we shall expect you and your guests to return all such courtesies and not use the event to further any interests you might have outside of family affairs.

I look forward to your response,

Narcissa Malfoy

“Merlin, she writes a long letter.” Harry muttered after he had finished reading the elegantly written letter.

“You have no idea.” Draco said with a smirk. “You should see how she writes when she’s mad at someone.”

“No, thanks.” Harry said with a frown. He had no idea how to respond to this letter. “Is this a trap?”

“I don’t think so.” Draco said after a moment. “She’s always been more concerned with the family than with serving Voldemort. Don’t get me wrong, she’s very much supportive of limiting mudbloods and making sure the muggles don’t bother us, but that’s always been second to protecting the family heritage. She was quite upset that father got caught and disgraced the family name.”

“Upset that he got caught, not about what he did.” Harry stated.

“Exactly.” Draco replied with a sad smile.

“Draco, I don’t think I can do this.” Harry said softly after a moment. “I don’t think I’m ready yet for…”

“Being engaged?” Draco asked, a hurt look on his face.

“Well, no, that’s stupid of me I guess.” Harry said softly. “I sit here and talk about wanting to live the rest of my life with you but when someone says that word I get all scared.”

“So do I.” Draco said with a laugh. “But then I never expected my mother to support my relationship with you.”

“Why is she doing this?” Harry asked quietly.

“I’m not sure.” Draco admitted, twining a strand of Harry’s hair between his fingers. “She really values family above everything else, but I also think that she maybe harbors some hope of convincing you that opposing Voldemort isn’t in your best interests. I can imagine her right now droning on how your duty is to the Malfoy family now, not to a whole bunch of people you don’t even know.”

“She doesn’t know me that well, does she.” Harry said with his own chuckle, running a hand down Draco’s thigh.

“No, she doesn’t.” Draco said with a smile.

“Are you really surprised about her saying she finds me ‘acceptable’?” Harry asked with a slight grimace.

“Not really, and she’s not lying about that.” Draco said with a smile. “She’s always been worried about my possible matches and grumbled about too many of the pureblood families having too close a blood connection already. Before third year she gave me a list of all the girls in Slytherin who had ‘acceptable’ blood lines for me to date. A couple of them were similar to your family history. An old pureblood line on one side, and a squib or mixed line on the other with at least the parent being a strong wizard or witch. That’s how many families view it. Sometimes it’s necessary to add some fresh blood in the mix and the children of such unions are usually considered to be ‘acceptable’ for more pure lines. They figure you are like three-quarters pure or something like that.”

“Draco, I really don’t like all this talk about bloodlines…” Harry said softly and Draco chuckled.

“Well, if you want to stick with me you better get use to it.” Draco said in a slightly teasing tone. "Even those pureblood families that support Dumbledore think like this and with your way now cleared to the Black fortune you’re going to be expected to understand such things. Especially if our long-range plans work out.”

“Fine.” Harry said, moping a bit. Draco fixed that up with a light kiss on his neck that turned into a snogging session. It was a knock at the door, and the arrival of Ron and Hermione that made them realize they’d missed lunch. Dumbledore had sent the two to get Harry and Draco. He wanted to see them both in his office.

They took Narcissa’s letter with them and rushed up to the Headmaster’s cluttered office. The conversation that took place was long, so long that neither of them attended any classes that afternoon and joined Dumbledore in heading down to supper. Harry had actually lost his temper in the last hour as he continued to switch back and forth between the arguments of Draco and Dumbledore. Narcissa had sent her own letter to Dumbledore adding more assurances of Harry’s safety if he visited Malfoy Manor and even to the point of inviting Aurors to accompany the two. Hearing that, Draco had become certain his mother was serious and practically begged Harry to agree.

The look on Draco’s face when Harry mentioned that Draco hadn’t even proposed yet was priceless. The look on Harry’s face when Draco had pulled his wand and said “Accio bracelet” was even more priceless. Dumbledore’s smile was wide.

“Harry, we can’t do the full ritual until my birthday, but I want to give this to you now. This bracelet symbolizes a promise from me to you, a promise that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If…if you feel the same, I ask that you accept it now in promise of a future engagement.”

Harry’s eyes had filled with tears as he took the beautiful silver bracelet from Draco’s hand. It was made of silver links with solid silver plate on the front. The Malfoy family seal was emblazoned on it, offset with golden dragon that flew in circles around the seal. Draco had helped him clasp it onto his right wrist while explaining that once the full ceremony was done it would seal itself there permanently. His mother still wore hers.

Dumbledore had just smiled when they kissed, the coughed as he handed Harry a golden bracelet. It had a stylized “P” on it, set inside a chalice. Around the seal a lion prowled, shaking its mane in silent roars. Dumbledore quietly explained that he’d commissioned it for Harry a few months before. Harry took it, and looked deep in Draco’s eyes as he clasped it around Draco’s wrist, repeating words similar to Draco’s.

They separated in the great hall, Harry heading to the Gryffindor table while Draco headed to his solitary spot at Slytherin. Hermione and Ron grabbed him and sat him in between them, demanding to know what was going on. He got them settled down when he invited them to his rooms after dinner, reminding them to bring their books because he wanted Hermione’s help with some Transfiguration work.

It wasn’t until he reached for the pitcher of pumpkin juice that anyone noticed his bracelet. He’d never worn jewelry before and feeling the bracelet move on his arm was a weird, but comforting experience. He thought about Draco every time he felt it move.

“Harry!” Hermione nearly squealed her voice was so high. “Where did you get that? Let me see it!”

She grabbed his hand, nearly causing him to spill the pitcher of pumpkin juice. He got it set down on the table before tore his arm away and brought the bracelet up for close inspection. Ron peered across Harry and got his own look when Hermione released Harry’s arm and Ron grabbed it for a look.

“That’s so pretty!” Hermione actually gushed, and Harry felt himself bridle a bit at that word.

“It’s handsome!” He breathed back. Across from them, Seamus and Ginny were demanding to know what was on the front of it.

“Bloody hell,” Ron mumbled after looking at it in shock for a few minutes. “Don’t you realize what this is ‘Mione? It’s an engagement bracelet!”

“It’s a what?” Hermione said, and everyone at the table who heard looked at her in shock.

“Blimey, you mean I know something you don’t?” Ron said with a chuckle while Harry felt a blush growing.

“Ron…” Hermione said slowly, her voice hinting at the danger Ron was facing.

“It means Harry and Draco are engaged!” Ron nearly shouted, and everyone at their table, and the nearby tables, fell silent. At the Slytherin table, Pansy Parkinson stood up, went to Draco and demanded to see his arms. She took one look at the gold bracelet and stormed out of the hall, a look of pure anger on her face.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” Hermione said while Harry looked at Draco who just shrugged from across the hall.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Halloween passed without any major events. Harry and Draco attended as each other’s date, wearing Roman Centurion costumes. They’d danced with each other, and the constant practicing Draco had forced on Harry paid off when he didn’t trip over his own feet this time. The silence of the Prophet and the Quibbler about their romance ended the first Hogsmeade weekend after Halloween. Both papers ran slightly different pictures of Harry and Draco dancing, with their bracelets in clear view. It wasn’t on the front page of either paper, but it was prominently displayed, as were the headlines. The Quibbler merely stated they were officially a couple and then ran complimentary comments from a few students. The Prophet however was more caustic.

Harry Malfoy or Draco Potter?

The Wizarding world is abuzz with the latest developments at the Hogwart’s School of Wizardry and Witchcraft. At the annual Halloween ball, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy stunned the school, and the Wizarding world by showing up as a couple, complete with engagement bracelets! Sources close to the couple have confirmed that the full engagement ceremony has not yet been performed, but have also confirmed that the new couple intends to complete it by the end of the year.

Readers might remember that following an attack by Mr. Malfoy against Mr. Potter at the beginning of the summer, Mr. Potter agreed to take charge of the young man in the hopes of rehabilitating him. Apparently his attempt was more successful than anyone could have imagined.

Our sources have also confirmed that in what could be a scandalous move, they have been allowed to share the same quarters after Mr. Malfoy was attacked by unknown students and seriously injured. Why the Ministry hasn’t been involved in the investigation of the attack is not known at this time and no comment was available from Headmaster Dumbledore.

Several students and staff members who have been inside the room shared by the couple have commented that both sleep in separate beds like any other dormitory room and that Mr. Potter has made assurances that no inappropriate behavior would take place. Of course questions about Mr. Potter’s reliability given his history of breaking school rules went unanswered.

Narcissus Malfoy, mother of Draco Malfoy, commented that she is aware of the budding romance and has given her tacit approval. She further hinted that there are plans in the works for actually engagement to take place over the Winter Holiday. When pressed for specifics, she demurred politely stating a desire for privacy by they couple.

What this means for the Wizarding world is not clear at the moment. Mr. Potter has, since he was a toddler, been a steadfast opponent of the deadly Dark Lord who once again seeks to plunge the Wizarding world into terror. Lucius Malfoy, father of Draco Malfoy, is currently imprisoned in Azkaban for his involvement in a Death Eater attack against the Ministry offices earlier in the year. Whether this affair means an end to Malfoy involvement in the dark arts, or the corruption of our young hero is something that only time will tell.

“I swear that’s almost as bad as a Rita Skeeter article!” Harry fumed, throwing the paper into the fireplace. Draco just laughed and gave him a hug.

“It could be worse. At least they aren’t openly calling you a Death Eater yet.” Draco chuckled.

“Oh, sure, you would think that way.” Harry snapped, still pissed.

“We knew this was only a matter of time.” Draco reminded him. “That’s why we’re only spending a week at the Manor. Well that and because you have all that legal business with the Black attorneys.”

“Don’t remind me.” Harry grumbled. “I know it’s not my money yet until I come of age, but I still have to sign all those damn papers!”

“You sure you want Arthur Weasley as the administrator of the estates?” Draco asked, a note of concern in his voice.

“Yes.” Harry said firmly, a warning for Draco to not reopen the argument. As administrator, Mr. Weasely would receive a sizable sum of money. Harry wanted to pay them back for practically adopting him, but he knew they would never accept a gift. This way they’d feel like they’d earned the large amount of galleons they would receive. Harry had found out the rates that would be charged by the most expensive wizard accounting firm and chosen that as the payment for Mr. Weasely. In the single year he’d be in charge of the accounts, he’d make the equivalent of fifteen years of his normal wage. The man had tried to talk Harry down, but gave in when Harry said he’d turn the accounts over to a firm that charged that price if Arthur refused to accept the job.

Gryffindor stubbornness wins again.

Surprisingly, those articles were the only reference to Harry or Draco to appear in either paper as the weeks passed. Draco had sent their acceptance of the invitation to visit Malfoy Manor, but Harry still had several nightmares about Sirius’ death after that, and he didn’t know if he could stand to sit with Narcissa Malfoy without getting revenge for her role in his death.

Then there were constant letters from Arthur Weasely about the Black Estate. Even though Harry didn’t officially take charge until the Holiday, there was a lot of business to take care of. Not the least of which was that the Order was moving from 12 Grimmauld Place to another hidden Black Estate. When Harry authorized the acceptance of new house elves not only for the new Headquarters but for the old Grimmauld Place dwelling, he wondered how Hermione would react when she found out.

He didn’t need to wonder, really. She was still recruiting for S.P.E.W. every chance she got.

Still, house elves bound to him would be a lot safer than house elves that could do what Kreacher had done. It was as he was pouring through the documents Arthur had sent him that he learned just how knowledgeable Draco was about estate management. Privately he wondered how the old pureblood families ever had time to help Voldemort when their estates took up so much time!

Neither was Cho forgotten. He’d had Hermione quietly talk to the one of the other Ravenclaws they had recruited and he had begun following Cho discreetly. So far she had done nothing that was reported as suspicious, other than random encounters with Pansy and a few other people from Slytherin, all easily explained by homework from shared classes. Still, he still suspected her and had Ron spread the word to not mention Crabbe and Goyle’s attendance at the first meeting. The pair were warned and didn’t show at any other meetings as well, although they continued meeting with Draco and Harry for extra training sessions in Defense of the Dark Arts.

Harry had easily won the Quidditch matches against Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Slytherin won both their matches against those two Houses as well. January would be the first match between Slytherin and Gryffindor and both of them were getting excited about the competition. They started taunting each other between classes and most of Hogwarts was involved in the betting pool as December approached. To make matters more interesting, both of them held a one-on-one contest on the first Saturday of December. Out of three matches, Draco had managed to grab the snitch twice. The first time had been pure luck when the snitch passed between the two, and Draco who had been behind Harry got a jump start on catching it. The last time both were diving for the snitch near the bottom of the pitch when Draco had shouted “I love you Harry Potter!”. Harry’s startled reaction allowed Draco to catch the snitch, and while Slytherins surrounded him in congratulations, Ron had come up to Harry shouting about “slimy, cheating Slytherins.” Harry had just smiled.

After being tickled for an hour later that night, Draco promised not to do that during an actual match.

The couple made several journeys on Hogsmeade weekend, enjoying the company of Ron and Hermione, who had finally announced they were a couple. It was during the last trip that Harry had bought a small gift for Narcissa. He figured the statue of a large dog made from pure obsidian was not only elegant enough for the woman, but a clear reminder of her betrayal of Sirius.

The Yule Ball was fantastic that year. Harry and Draco made a dramatic entrance just as the music had ended from one song and the Hall had fallen into silence. Their fine dress robes were impeccable, Draco’s hair was perfect, Harry’s had gone from unmanageable mess to elegant mess somehow, and both wore smiles that blinding. As soon as they took several steps into the hall, the ghostly band began an elegant tune, and they took to the dance floor.

Everyone who remembered last year’s performance couldn’t believe the graceful way the couple moved across the floor. The night passed both slowly and quickly for them. As they moved back to their room, they were mostly silent except for whispered thank you’s between them. While both had anticipated a sleepless night, they had barely done more than share a goodnight kiss before they passed out.

Tomorrow, they began their trip to Malfoy Manor.