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Harry Potter and the Unusual Alliance	By : RikuRocks Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 5752 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Harry Potter, nor am I making any money from this work of fiction.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
Chapter 18: And it Begins�
Hermione had been shocked and concerned when Harry told them that he, Draco, and Remus would be leaving the following morning to continue their search for the Horcruxes. Ron, however, had seemed to be expecting it, and had helped Harry quiet their friend so that he could explain what he planned to do. By the end of the evening, they had both agreed to do all that they could to assist Harry from Grimmauld Place or Hogwarts.
It had taken longer than Harry had hoped, and by the time his best friends left for their own rooms, it was quite late and he was very tired. Fortunately, Draco seemed to feel the same.
"We have a long day ahead of us, Harry," the blonde said as he pulled his old pajamas, which looked too large for his emaciated frame now, out of his old school trunk. "Why don't we try to get some sleep? There isn't anything that needs to be said tonight�is there?"
Harry stood and watched the other boy for a moment before answering. It was obvious that Draco was questioning the motives behind what had happened earlier, and was trying to protect himself by feigning a lack of concern in what Harry might say about it.
Harry was not even sure what there was to say. He had only just decided that he was indeed attracted to the fair Slytherin, in several ways, and was not sure how Draco felt toward him. After all, he had been rather upset and most likely in shock when Harry kissed him� nevertheless, he had responded.
There was also the still-lingering surprise that he fancied, and had kissed, a boy. However, the green-eyed boy found that he was more pleased about the kiss than anything.
"I still don't regret kissing you," Harry finally responded. "In fact, I'm glad that I did�and that you, er, seemed to enjoy it too." The last part was stated with a questioning note.
"I did," Draco stated right away, as though he did not want the bespectacled boy to question that point any further. "Harry�I've never really gotten close to anyone before. We both have a lot going on right now-"
"We're both going to have a lot going on for a long time�possibly the rest of our lives," Harry interrupted, thinking about all that had already befell each of them and recalling everything that Remus had taught him. "Remus and Sirius were together for at least a year before Sirius died, but they had feelings for each other for much, much, longer.
�Remus said that he was glad for the time they had together, and that it had hurt him to wonder what might have been during all the years that he and Sirius were apart before; almost as much as it had to live without him." Harry took a few steps toward the wan boy. "I don't think that what's going on right now is a reason not to try for something that might make the rest more bearable."
"I don't either," said Draco in a tone that assured Harry that had never been his intended point. "I just meant that if you do want to try this, then�" The grey-eyed boy released a small sigh before meeting Harry's gaze, "I don't want to rush anything. Maybe it's a Slytherin trait, or perhaps I'm just afraid, but I don't like to rush things�especially when they're important."
Harry felt a grin pull at the corners of his mouth and did not bother to hold it back. "I don't want to rush either, and I definitely don't want to pressure you into doing anything too soon." He took another step forward and laid a hand on the other boy's slender arm. "Personally, I've always been one to play things by ear, but I promise I'll always stop when you ask me to."
"That sounds nice," Draco seemed to relax considerably, and then his grey eyes glanced at Harry's hand on his arm before returning to Harry's face. "What happens now?" he asked a little uncertainly.
The raven-haired boy released a small, relieved chuckle, then he slid his hand up Draco's arm and wrapped his own across the blonde�s gaunt back as he swathed the other arm around his slight waist. "Now, I think we should go to bed. I'm tired and you must be too."
The blonde nodded as he wrapped his own arms around Harry's neck and allowed the Gryffindor to pull him closer. "Yes, although I can't imagine why. I haven't left this room at all today."
"I think you worked your mind enough," Harry glanced at the pile of notes that could have rivaled Hermione's during O.W.L.s. "Did you go through every book we brought back?"
"Of course not; only the ones I needed for the research I was doing," the blonde answered as he leaned into Harry's embrace. "Besides, Granger has several of them in her room."
Harry chuckled, thinking that Hermione and Draco probably would have been good friends already if the pallid boy had been raised differently. However, it did not seem like the appropriate time to comment on that. "What would you say about going to bed together tonight?"
Harry realized how that probably sounded just as he felt Draco's body stiffen. "I wasn't suggesting that. I did mean what I said a moment ago. It's just that it was rather nice waking up to you cuddled up against me�until I started to panic. I'd like to try that again without the panicking�or the crying the night before."
"I never would have pegged you as the sentimental sort," Draco commented dryly before a small grin touched his lips. "I like that, though."
Harry smiled at the other boy, "That's because you're definitely the sentimental sort. Remember, I've seen your hidden treasures."
Draco chuckled lightly, and Harry wondered if he would never hear a true laugh from the boy. "That you have. I suppose that means there is no point in protesting?"
Harry shook his head and then laughed when the grey-eyed boy merely shrugged in nonchalant defeat. "Why don't we get ready for bed, then?"
"Wasn't I doing that before you interrupted me, anyway?" asked Draco in a slightly teasing tone.
"Yes, but I sort of thought this would be worth the delay," Harry responded in the same tone. "Besides, I'm not as patient or introspective as you are. I never would have made it through the night without settling this."
"I believe that," said Draco as he stepped away from Harry and turned to his trunk.
Harry moved to his own trunk just as Draco turned away from him, and the bespectacled boy made a conscious effort not to look. Instead, Harry focused on the opposite wall as he pulled out is pajamas and changed into them.
After both boys had changed, they each approached Draco's bed as if by some unspoken agreement. Then they both remained still, looking nervous as they each realized they had never climbed into bed with someone else before. The previous night they had both been fully clothed and sitting on the still-made bed when Draco practically passed out from emotional exhaustion and Harry drifted off shortly after.
After a full two minutes, Draco rolled his eyes and sighed in mild annoyance. "This is ridiculous." He crawled into bed and scooted over to the opposite side, leaving plenty of room for Harry.
Harry climbed into the bed after him right away, and then only hesitated a moment before wrapping his arms around the thin boy and pulling him close. Draco was a little stiff at first, and did not seem to be breathing.
"Breath and relax," Harry said in a tone that somehow managed to sound amused and comforting at the same time. "I'm not going to hurt you."
Draco took a deep breath before he gingerly snaked an arm across Harry. Then, after a brief moment, something seemed to change in the fair Slytherin. His muscles relaxed, his body shifted, and then both boys suddenly understood what people meant when they said that someone melted into an embrace.
Harry awoke the next morning to the fresh and slightly sweet scent of Draco's shampoo. The blonde's face was pressed against Harry's chest, and the raven-haired boy could feel the soft gusts of his breath through his shirt. Harry smiled to himself as he tightened the grip that he had maintained on the other boy during the night.
In response, Draco released a soft sigh before whispering, "Good morning."
The last part of Harry's mind that was still clinging to sleep woke up immediately. "Er, good morning� Sorry, I didn't know you were awake."
Harry could feel one of those fine eyebrows arch, "Planning on crushing me in my sleep, were you?"
"How long have you been awake?" asked Harry in a tone that was part teasing, part accusatory.
"Fifteen minutes�twenty perhaps?" drawled Draco.
"So you tease me for holding you tighter while I thought you were still sleeping, when you've been lying in my arms for that long?" The green-eyed boy joshed with a chuckle.
"Only because I couldn't free myself from your death-grip," responded the silver-eyed boy lightly. "�And to think I was kind enough not to wake you."
"Yes, because you looked so uncomfortable snuggled up against me," Harry retorted dryly. Then his tone lightened as well; "Did I really have you in a death-grip?"
"It would have taken a wand or a crowbar to get out of it," answered Draco casually.
That comment gave Harry pause and he furrowed his brows in thought briefly before Draco spoke again; "Yes, I know what a crowbar is."
"How do you know that's what I was thinking?" asked Harry in forced nonchalance.
"Weren't you?" Draco responded pointedly.
"Actually, yes, I was," said Harry in a guilty tone. "Sorry�I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine," Draco interrupted, "I think anyone would be surprised at how much I know."
"It doesn't surprise me that you know about Dark Arts, potions, charms, arcane lore, or any of that," stated Harry, "But how do you know about Muggles?"
"My father caught me reading a Muggle book when I was small," answered Draco, somehow sounding both bitter and amused by the memory before lightening his tone. "He grew angry, punished me, and forbade me from reading any more. How many children wouldn't have had their curiosity piqued by that?"
Harry chortled, "So you read books in secret and hid treasures behind your wardrobe� I'm glad you turned out more like your mother than your father, Draco."
"Thank you," Draco answered softly, "So am I."
After a moment of comfortable silence, the blonde spoke again, "We probably should start getting up."
"I suppose so," Harry responded grudgingly before stretching and yawing. "What's on the agenda? Besides leaving with Remus, I mean."
Draco sat up; "Well packing would be a good idea. You also told Granger and Weasley that we would have a skull session with them before going. We should talk to Lupin about a time and arrange an update pattern so he'll know if something goes amiss."
"Update pattern?" Harry asked as Draco climbed out of bed and headed to ward his trunk.
"We told him we'd keep him informed and it's wise to make sure someone knows our general travel plans," Draco explained as he pulled out a pair of jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. Harry noticed that the grey-eyed boy had been wearing Muggle clothes since their arrival at number twelve and decided to ask about it later.
Harry climbed out of bed as well and pulled some clothes out of his own trunk. "Good thinking, we can arrange specific times to send him a message using the cards�tip him off on where we are, where we plan to go next, and when we plan to leave. That sort of thing...?�
Draco's voice was muffled and Harry realized he was pulling off nightshirt. "Exactly; if we just disappear for unspecified stretches of time normally, then how will anyone know if we're missing?"
"Hermione will feel so much better knowing that I'm taking someone who thinks as far ahead as she does," Harry said as he tore his eyes away from Draco's scarred torso before the blonde could notice.
"Glad I could provide a service," Draco commented dryly before pulling on his shirt.
Harry chuckled as he quickly changed while Draco made the bed. Then the blonde began to sift through his trunk, which Harry was surprised to see was more organized than his own had ever been, even after Draco's hellish last year at school and the amount of time it had been left unsupervised.
Then he noticed that the pale boy was sorting through his belongings, placing them in two separate piles, one of which was considerably smaller than the other one. "What are you doing?"
"I'm deciding what I should bring," answered Draco as he placed what had to be the tenth book he had removed so far into the larger pile after inspecting it. "Did you have a different method planned?" added the blonde when he noticed that Harry was still watching him.
"No, I did the same thing before I left my relatives house. I suppose I should do it again," answered Harry as he turned to sort through his remaining belongings.
After some time, Harry was trying to stuff the belongings he had decided to leave behind back into his trunk and Draco, who had already returned his left over belongs to their neat order inside his own, was packing a small rucksack.
"Er, Draco�?" Harry had to repress a chuckle as he spoke. While Draco, like Harry, had two sets of clothing, a coat, and a few personal effects set aside to pack, he also had about twelve books, a roll of parchment, and a small potion brewing kit sitting beside the small rucksack, which was around a third the size of the pile of 'to take' items beside it. "You're not going to be able to fit all of that in."
"Of course I am," said Draco dismissively as he began packing the books in first. Harry watched in amusement, which quickly turned into amazement when it became clear that Draco was -indeed- going to fit each of the items into the small rucksack. "See...?" the grey-eyed boy said as he held up the bag, which appeared quite normal despite the unimaginable amount of items inside it. "My mother taught me how to pack well when I was small."
"That's more than just packing well," Harry responded in a slightly demanding tone.
Draco looked mildly affronted, but then realization seemed to dawn upon his fine features. "Oh�it's a bag of Holding," he said as if that explained everything. When Harry's expression made it apparent that it did not, the blonde tried again; "The bag is enchanted. It can hold about three times what a regular pack this size could."
"Oh," the bespectacled boy responded dumbly. "That's pretty cool."
Draco nodded and then eyed the mess that was spilling out of Harry's trunk. "I do pack well though, if you want�"
Harry paused for a moment, and then realized that had been an offer. "Thanks; this is just a regular pack though," he said as he handed his bag to the blonde.
"Still, you can fit much more into it if you actually fold and organize a little," Draco said in an amused tone as he pulled out the few items that Harry had gracelessly stuffed into the bag.
Twenty minutes later, the pallid Slytherin had packed Harry's bag, and had removed and replaced everything in the Gryffindor�s trunk so that it could close properly and even had room to spare.
"I don't know about you, but I'm starving," said Harry from where he had stood and admired the blonde's handiwork�or more to the point, the fair boy himself. "Let's go down and get something to eat. The others are probably wondering whether we're going to stay holed up all day again."
"Alright," responded Draco as he stood and followed Harry to the door. The bespectacled boy stopped just before reaching it and turned around to face the blonde.
"Draco, I er, I don't want this to come out wrong�" Harry stumbled on his words for a moment before falling silent and furrowing his brows in thought.
"Having regrets already?" asked Draco in quiet, steady tone.
"What�? No! No, not at all," Harry blurted out as soon as he realized what the other boy was thinking. "I still feel the same way I did last night�actually better, I really liked� Well, you know, but what I'm trying to get at is�er, it's not about you necessarily�"
"But you don't want to say anything to your friends about this?" asked Draco as he indicated the bespectacled boy�s arms, which had apparently enveloped the wan boy on their own accord during Harry's rambling.
Harry paused for a moment, wondering when he had done that, but deciding that he enjoyed the position just the same. "Yes; but I don't mean it to hurt you or anything. I just�"
"I understand," Draco murmured as he ran the backs of his fingers up and down the front of Harry's shirt. "I wouldn't be any rush for the Weasley's to find out either, if I were you."
"Ron's going to go spare, I have no idea how Hermione will react, although she was encouraging me before I even realized�" Harry shook his head and then chuckled softly, "Fred and George will never let me hear the end of it, but Mrs. Weasley seems to like you well enough, so she�ll probably be okay with it."
"She's kind and she seems to be the mothering sort," corrected Draco, "But she loves you and what she thinks is good for you will outweigh any pity or fondness she may have for me. In addition, she probably expects you to return to her daughter when all this is over."
Harry groaned; he had not taken into account his former relationship with Ginny while considering the Weasleys' reactions to his new relationship with Draco. Then, suddenly, something Ron had said while they were talking about Hermione's theory came to mind. "Ron doesn't mind�"
"How do you know that?" asked Draco, sounding skeptical.
"I mentioned that Hermione was trying to encourage me to act on my feeling for you before I even had realized I had feelings for you�well, I sort of mentioned it just now, but anyway," Harry continued when Draco nodded to indicate that the fine details were not important. "She mentioned it to Ron, and he said he could see her point and that he didn't understand, but that we were mates no matter what."
Draco remained quiet throughout Harry's muttering before responding, "Well, that's comforting. Does this mean your going to tell him, or�?"
"I want to tell Remus for sure, I think he'll be glad to hear it," Harry said with a small smile. "I want to tell Ron and Hermione, but I think I'll do it later."
"Alright, I'll just leave the telling of everyone here to you," stated the grey-eyed boy in a bemused tone. "It doesn't make any sense for me to anyway. Be sure to keep me updated on who knows and who doesn't."
Harry wore a small smile as he leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on Draco's lips, "Thanks."
"What were you expecting?" asked the pale Slytherin.
"Well, most girls wouldn't respond so calmly to their -whatever I am to you- not wanting to tell people about them," Harry answered, still smiling.
"In case you haven't noticed," Draco responded flatly, "I am not a girl�and why don't we worry over titles later? I've had enough of labels and I believe you have, too."
Harry's smile broadened, "I know you're not a girl, and I definitely agree." The raven-haired boy slid his hands off the other boy's back and then turned to leave the room.
Remus, Ron, and Hermione were already sitting at the table when the two boys entered the kitchen. Ron was eating a biscuit while facetiously flipping through one of the books the teens had borrowed from Remus. Hermione was intensely studying a diagram in one of the notes she had laid out before her. Remus had an old tome lying open in front of him as he cursorily turned the pages in another book, obviously looking for something he had previously read.
Each called a pleasant �good morning� to the two boys, although Ron was the only one to look up from his research material.
"Good morning," Harry replied to no one in particular as he sat beside Ron. "Nice to know I'm not the only one who isn�t obsessed with cramming as much information into my skull as I can before we head off," the Raven-haired boy stated as Draco, who had seated himself on Harry's other side, grabbed a book along with a biscuit and seemed far more focused on the former.
Harry did not bother with the books yet, and he joined Ron in enjoying their breakfast. Remus was sitting across from him, eyes still buried in the tome before him. Hermione was now silently trading notes with Draco as neither looked up from their own books.
"I know," Ron responded in an amused tone. "Hermione made sure we got up early to get in some more research before you headed off, and Lupin still managed to beat us to it. Now, that one's just as bad," the redhead added the last with a nod toward Draco.
"I don't know how he's going to be able to carry his bag, with the number of books he packed," commented Harry. "Of course, I didn't think he'd be able to fit them in that little rucksack either, so who knows? Do bags of Holding weigh less than what you put in them?"
"Of course," Ron answered, looking slightly confused that his friend would ask such a thing. "What's the point of being able to fit more into a bag than it should rightly hold if it makes it too heavy to carry? That's why they don't hold as much as the trunks do; now those can hold a lot, but they weigh a bloody ton."
Hermione suddenly entered the conversation; "You don't have one, Harry?"
"Why would I?" answered the bespectacled boy.
"Well, I went out and bought one when I thought we were coming with you," she answered matter-of-factly. "I just assumed you would have as well. You can borrow mine if you want�it would be more useful than a regular backpack."
"Won't he look fetching," Ron said with a barely repressed chuckle.
"Why? What does it look like?" Harry asked in a quick monotone.
"It looks like a small rucksack, and it shouldn't matter," Hermione answered tersely.
"Its turquoise," Ron cut in with a smirk.
"Its aquamarine," Hermione corrected crossly.
"What's the difference?" asked both Harry and Ron.
"Turquoise would be lighter," answered the bushy-haired girl. "Aquamarine is darker, so it's less feminine than turquoise would be."
"I still can't think of any bloke who would buy that," said Ron, who was chuckling openly now.
"I think I'll pass," Harry said as he turned back to his breakfast. "Thanks anyway, Hermione."
"Harry, I think it's a good idea to have one," Draco commented casually. "It will be lighter than the one you're using."
"Let's see you use it then," said Ron with a snort.
"Fine;� Draco turned to Harry. "Unless Granger has any objections, I'll move my things into hers and you can use mine."
"That's fine with me," said Hermione with a pleased smile directed at the blonde. "I'll bring it to your room after breakfast."
Draco gave the girl a gracious nod and then returned his attention to the book he had been reading. Ron looked caught between amusement and shock. Harry chuckled at his friend's expression and then looked forward to see Remus bearing a small grin as he continued reading.
That was when Harry noticed that Remus was also wearing Muggle attire. The man wore slacks and jumpers as often as he wore robes, and Harry knew that he was a half-blood, but he had never before seen him look quite so Muggle. Harry also noticed that even the werewolf's Muggle clothes were still quite tattered, his jeans and boots looked well worn and one of the sleeves of his long-sleeved t-shirt had been expertly reattached.
"Is Godric's Hollow a Muggle community?" asked the bespectacled boy.
"No," Remus answered politely as he put his book down for the first time. "However, many of the wizards who live there share their home with a Muggle or Squib, so it's quite friendly to non-magical people. Lily said she knew she wanted to live there from the first time she visited Mr. and Mrs. Potter's house. It's quite a comfortable setting for someone who is used to, or simply fond of, both cultures."
"Did you ever live there?" asked Harry, who noticed that Ron was politely looking through a book again to give them some sense of privacy.
Remus gave a small nod, "Sirius got a place there after he turned seventeen and I roomed with him for a time. James was surprised Sirius chose to stay there; he had always complained that it was too quiet when he stayed with the Potters."
"You don't sound surprised though," Harry commented, earning him a small smile from the werewolf. "Why do you think he stayed there?"
"Well, there was the obvious fact that your father and the Potters still lived there, plus Peter didn't live that far from it at the time." Remus paused a moment for Harry to push aside the swelling of anger that usually arose when the rat Animagus was mentioned. However, Harry noticed that, since his conversation with Remus the previous day, he did not feel so strongly against the man anymore.
Remus seemed to notice as well, but decided to continue rather than comment on the observation. "Despite his complaints about the tranquility of the town, Sirius loved it. I'm sure part of it had to do with being so close to his friends, but I also think it was because of how different it felt from this place."
Remus smiled again, this one more serene than the others Harry had seen on the man. "As an added bonus -and no doubt due to the number of Muggles that lived there- it was more common for him to meet someone there who was not aware of all of his family's sordid affairs. The ones who did were normally from old magical families as well, like the Potters, so they handled it with a bit more elegance than most of the shop keeps at Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. It was the first time he could remember not having people react to his family name."
"That must have been nice," Harry said with a smile of his own.
"I wouldn't expect the same, if I were you," said Remus with a touch of sympathy to his eyes and a hint of amusement in his smile.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry as he frowned in irritation. "If they were used to old bloodlines and powerful names like the Potters and the Blacks, then why should they react any differently to me?"
"Because that is where Voldemort fell," answered the werewolf, "And that is where your parents and you have been held in the highest honor."
This brought the smile back to Harry's face, "My parents�?"
"Of course; not only did the people there know your parents, but they also stood against Lord Voldemort quite bravely. Why shouldn't they be honored?" asked Remus, although he did not appear to require a response.
"Do the people there still remember them?" asked Harry, who was becoming increasingly exited as they spoke.
"I don't think anyone could forget James or Lily," answered the lycanthrope with a kind smile. "In fact, if you go there on Halloween, you have in stand in queue just to leave flowers on their graves."
"Did they have that many friends there?"
"They had many friends, although many of the people on that particular day did not have the pleasure," the scarred man answered gently. "I think they simply want to honor two people who did so much to give them a better world."
"You and Sirius did just as much," Harry met the werewolf's eyes, "Even more, I think."
Remus appeared quite touched and paused a moment before responding. "Once this is all over, I hope that Sirius' memory will receive the respect he deserves."
"What about you?" asked the green-eyed boy, although he was certain he knew the answer.
Remus seemed to be thinking the same thing, but he answered anyway, "I don't think there is anyone left who would pay tribute to the memory of a werewolf or hold a living one in high regards�besides, I never enjoyed attention the way Sirius and James did."
"They did seem to relish it�from what I've heard and seen, anyway," Harry said with a nod before meeting the werewolf's eyes again, "And we would." He indicated all those at the table with a small gesture.
"I know you would," Remus answered quietly, "Thank you, Harry."
"You don't have to thank me," Harry studied a knot in the wood grain of the tabletop as he spoke. "We wouldn't know any better if you weren't you."
"Well, most can't or simply don't look past the werewolf to find me, so again, thank you, Harry." Remus said all of this calmly and quietly, but Harry could tell how much it mean to the lycanthrope by his eyes, and the bespectacled boy realized he had never felt more pleased to be Harry Potter than he was that day.
That positive and unusual thought lead Harry to the conclusion that today was the perfect day to start his hunt for the remaining Horcruxes.
Harry raised his eyes to the scarred man sitting across from him once again, "Remus?"
The former-professor looked up from the tome that had just recaptured his attention, "Yes?"
"How soon can we leave?"
If Remus objected or endorsed the idea of leaving so soon, then he hid it well. �As soon as you�d like,� he answered simply and evenly.
Harry gave a small smile to show that he appreciated the man's candor. "Does eleven sound alright?"
"Eleven is fine," answered Remus, looking Harry in the eyes. After a moment, he seemed to find whatever he was looking for, and appeared somewhat relieved and very resolved as he stood. "I'll be in my room if you need me before then. Let's meet here at a quarter 'till." He scooped up the books he had been reading and shifted them to one arm.
"Alright," responded Harry, who found the werewolf's relief and resolve to be contagious. �Thanks Remus.�
"Of course, Harry," said Remus quietly as he patted Harry's shoulder with his free hand on his way out of the room.
No sooner had the werewolf departed, than Ron turned to Harry, "You're leaving that soon? That's only a couple of hours."
"Ron�I'm sorry, but I want this done," Harry stated firmly.
"I know, mate�I just wish we had more time," the redhead admitted quietly. "There's still a lot we don't know."
"We're never going to find anything here that tells us what the final Horcrux is or where any of the remaining three are," replied Harry. He smiled faintly at the thought of all the support he knew he had in his friends; "I'm sure Remus would happily stay here for months teaching me advanced magic. Meanwhile you, Draco, and Hermione would spend all that time poring over hundreds of books, but I don't think I would be much more prepared than I am today."
Ron nodded slowly with an odd expression on his face. Then, Hermione turned toward the two boys. "Draco's already familiar with that spell you found, Ron, so he can teach Harry while they're out there�Ron? Harry? What are you two talking about�?"
Ron turned around as her brown eyes narrowed. "Hermione, I think you should go get that bag for Malfoy now."
Hermione's eyebrows furrowed together, "What do you mean? It's not as if they're leaving right away."
After a brief moment, during which Draco's eyes stopped moving across the page he was reading, although he did not look up, and none of the boys spoke or made eye contact with the bushy-haired girl, Hermione straightened in her seat. She looked from one boy to the other and then seemed to deflate. "How soon are you leaving?"
"We're meeting Remus back here at a quarter 'till eleven," answered Harry as he and Ron met the girl's stare again.
"Oh�alright," Hermione opened her mouth a few times, but closed it without speaking. Finally, she took one of the books off the table and held it out to Harry. "You should read this part," she said as she pointed to a section that had been marked. "I think the spell could be useful for you. It's a little complicated, but I'm sure Remus can demonstrate the proper way to cast it."
"I'm sure he can," said Harry as he took the proffered text. "Thanks, Hermione."
Hermione swallowed, nodded, and blinked a few times before responding. "Ron found a really good spell to ward an area from certain types of spells. Draco already knows it, so I suppose you skip reading that one. Just be sure to have him teach it to you as soon as you have the time...you should both know how to cast it, just in case."
"I will," Harry promised. He was surprised and grateful at his friends' reactions. They were obviously concerned, but accepted that he had made his decision.
While contemplating his search for the Horcruxes, Harry had not considered how difficult it would be to leave his friends behind, knowing that they may not see each other again. When he left Privet Drive on his own, there had been no need for farewells�only a brief statement of fact to his cousin, who probably didn't fully appreciate what he had meant by 'I'm leaving'.
Harry's elation at having come across the real Draco increased tenfold, as he was glad that he would have a friend with him, without risking his other friends being permanently separated from their families if the worst should come about. He did not want any harm to come to Draco, but at least the blonde did not have anyone waiting for him to return�except, perhaps, for Snape.
Harry turned away from Ron and Hermione, the former of which appeared to be silently comforting the latter, and stared at the pallid boy beside him, who was diligently poring over some of Remus' old notes. Harry decided that he would have to find out just what Draco meant to Snape, and vice versa, before this whole ordeal reached its peak. If there was any sort of attachment there, like the bond Harry had forged with Remus or Sirius, then the bespectacled boy wanted to do all that he could to prevent his fair friend from suffering any more devastating losses.
Draco suddenly paused in his research, and his grey eyes sought out the green ones staring at him as if he could feel them on him. A single eyebrow arched in question.
A grin tugged at the side of Harry's mouth. "Did you hear what time we're leaving?" he asked quietly.
The blonde nodded, then offered a slightly apologetic expression, "I wasn't trying to listen�it's a force of habit."
Harry waved away the explanation, "If I wanted the conversation to be private, I wouldn't have had it across the table in an otherwise quiet room."
Pale lips mirrored Harry's partial grin; "Nice to know Gryffindor didn't take all the Slytherin out of you."
"Why do you think we never got caught�at least until after the deed was done," asked Harry as his grin turned into a smirk.
Draco shook his head and chuckled once as he turned back to the notes he was studying. Harry chuckled as well as he turned back to Ron and Hermione. Both of them had clearly been watching the exchange between him and the wan boy. Hermione wore a smirk of her own, and Ron looked as though he had caught a Bludger to the head.
Harry looked from one to the other, "What?" he asked innocently. He did not think it possible that they could have figured out the nature of his relationship with the fair blonde from that brief exchange. It was not as though he had caressed Draco's cheek or anything of a similarly incriminating nature.
Hermione's smirk grew to rival any Slytherin's�except perhaps Draco's, back when he acted the part. Ron looked at Harry with an expression that implied he was not certain he wanted his questions answered. "Getting a little comfortable with the ferret there, aren't you?" he said in a low voice.
"Would you rather I go with someone I don't get on well with?" Harry retorted in a similar tone.
Hermione's shoulders shook with repressed giggles and Draco released a quiet exhale of amusement for reasons that neither of the other boys could discern.
Ignoring them, Harry added in a hiss, "And don't call him 'the ferret'!"
"Would you prefer me to call him your ferret?" Ron hissed back.
Hermione's eyes were tearing in suppressed mirth now, and she quickly turned her face away from the boys. Draco's head had tilted so much that his entire face was hidden behind a sheet of white-blonde hair. After sharing a bewildered glace, Harry and Ron decided to let the subject drop.
A moment passed before any of the teenagers spoke.
"Why don't we move to your room?" asked Hermione as she shifted her gaze to take in both Harry and Draco. "I'll get that bag, and we can go over some of the fine details while you get ready to leave?"
Harry shrugged as Draco and Ron began to gather the notes and books from the table. The bespectacled boy discreetly took most of the books from the emaciated Slytherin�s pile as they stood. The Gryffindor caught a small gracious nod from the blonde and noticed a smug look on Hermione's face when he turned to see if she and Ron had gathered all of their things. Ron had not noticed as he was currently taking a large stack of books from Hermione, who blushed slightly when she noticed this.
Harry caught the bushy-haired girl's eye on the way to the stairs and offered a smug expression of his own, which caused her cheeks to redden further.
The next couple of hours seemed to pass too quickly. Hermione brought the bag, and while it was not as bad as he had expected, Harry could see why Ron would not recommend it to a bloke. Draco handled the packing as Hermione began making a list of the segments of the books they were taking that she thought they should read or at least look into when they found the time.
There was an odd atmosphere to the room. Since they had met in their first year at Hogwarts, the three Gryffindors had each been comfortable in the knowledge that they would always see each other. The most they would be apart was during the summer holidays that never seemed to last long in comparison to the amount of time they spent together at school.
Even Draco had always been an ever-present part of their lives for the past seven years. Now, for the first time, there was no guarantee that they would be seeing each other again anytime soon�or ever again. None of the room's inhabitants seemed to want to touch on the subject, but it was clearly weighing on each of their minds as they spent what could be their last hours together.
Finally, the time came to meet Remus in the kitchen. Harry and Draco took their borrowed rucksacks and headed downstairs with Ron and Hermione in tow.
Remus was already waiting in the kitchen when they arrived, wearing the same Muggle clothes and with a heavily worn rucksack slung over his shoulder. He offered them a look of gentle understanding and waited silently as Harry turned to Ron and Hermione.
Draco turned to them as well and held a hand out to Hermione. "Thank you for all the assistance, Granger. I'm glad I got the chance to get to know you;" the pale boy spoke evenly as he met her eyes for possibly the first time since their previous year at Hogwarts.
Hermione looked lost for words for the first time in her life as she took Draco's hand and slowly shook it. Then she blinked a few times and responded; "I'm glad that I got the chance to get to know you too, Draco. I hope we can build a better friendship after all of this is over."
Draco nodded to her before turning his attention to Ron and offering his hand as he had with Hermione. "Weasley, I'm glad we're on the same side now."
Ron looked apprehensive as he briefly shook the proffered hand. "Bye Malfoy�I'm glad we're on the same side too."
Harry smiled and Hermione beamed as the two boys exchanged a curt nod, and then Draco touched Harry's arm gently before moving to wait alongside Remus.
The green-eyed boy watched him walk across the room and then turned back to his friends. He immediately found his face attacked by a shock of bushy hair as Hermione flung her arms around his neck.
"Be careful Harry. Don't jump into anything without thinking and use the cards at least once every few days, even if you don't need any information or have any news."
"Alright Hermione, I will," the bespectacled boy replied as he patted her back. "Try not to worry about us too much."
Hermione wiped tears from her eyes as she stepped away from Harry. "Take care of each other," she said loud enough for the two males standing by the fireplace on the other side of the room to hear. They each offered a small smile and a single nod in her direction.
"We will, Hermione," said Harry; "You two do the same."
"Oh, we will," said Ron. "But we're not going to be getting into nearly as much trouble as you are, mate."
"Don't worry, I think I know my limits pretty well by now," answered Harry.
The two boys looked at each other awkwardly for a brief moment before stepping forward and hugging, although not nearly as dramatically or as long as Hermione had done.
After they parted, Ron leaned forward a little; "Listen to Malfoy, mate," he whispered so none of the others could hear. "He's about as sharp as Hermione, and chaps like you and me need people like them to keep us from doing anything too stupid."
"You don't have to worry about that," Harry whispered back. "I definitely will be paying attention to him."
The redhead nodded, "Good."
Ron placed an arm around Hermione's shoulders as Harry walked across the room to join Draco and Remus.
The bespectacled boy sighed, "Alright�let's go."
"First we're going to Floo to my place," said Remus as he grabbed a pinch of Floo powder from the jar on the mantel. "We can Apparate from there."
"Alright," said Harry as Draco nodded his understanding.
Remus pointed his wand at the grate, and a roaring fire instantly filled the fireplace.
"Take care," Remus said to Ron and Hermione, who each nodded and seemed to shift closer to each other. Then the werewolf threw the powder into the fire, which instantly turned an emerald green color. Remus stepped into the fireplace, said "Lupin cottage", and disappeared in a flash of green flames.
Draco gave the others a curt nod and then followed suit.
Harry stepped into the fireplace and waved to Ron and Hermione before calling, "Lupin Cottage". Then the kitchen of Grimmauld Place vanished from site as Harry began to spin very fast for an uncomfortable span of time before he finally slowed down and stumbled forward.
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Harry Potter and the Unusual Alliance