Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Draco Malfoy & the House of Seraphim	By : KaliDiah Category: Harry Potter Crossovers > General - Misc Views: 20463 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy, Angel, or Harry Potter or their associated characters, settings, or concepts. They belong to their various creators & distributing agencies, and have only been borrowed for entertainment purposes with no intent to profit.

Chapter List
- 28
- 29
- 30
AUTHOR'S NOTE: It's been over a year … a very busy year. I've moved (AGAIN), started taking college courses online, and have dealt with a six-year-old in kindergarten. I haven't had much time to THINK, much less write. I feel horrid for leaving this story hanging, but I just haven't had the time.

But, I still love this story, and I'm not giving up on it. It's my baby. My muse has returned full-force, and He isn't leaving me alone. Pest.

As promised, the boys and girls are finally getting back to school. This chapter is primarily Harry's POV, but next chapter has some Draco, and some fun.

Once I post these two chapters up, I'm going to try to go back and RE-upload previous chapters, to fix the formatting errors.

Now, ON WITH THE STORY!

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Harry was finding it difficult not to race through King's Cross station. Firstly, he didn't want to plow through the many Muggles there with his trolley. Secondly, it would be rude to leave Aunt Petunia behind. After all, she had gone through all that trouble convincing Vernon that they shouldn't just kick him out of the car then leave. "He could run off somewhere," she had said. "Then we'd be the ones in trouble for not making sure he got off to school." Vernon blustered at that, ranting that he would have no more surprise visits from wizards in his house. Petunia then went so far as to suggest that she could see the boy off herself, so that Vernon wouldn't have to be bothered. Harry's uncle agreed to that, confident that the freak wouldn't try anything with all those people about.

So it happened that Harry and Petunia were given a few precious moments alone before he left. Though he couldn't wait to get back to school, he didn't want the summer to end. Since he and his aunt had made amends, his life had greatly improved, and he found himself already missing their afternoon talks.

Once at the entrance of Platform 9 ¾, he spotted a sea of familiar red hair. The Weasleys, as usual, had arrived around the same time he had. How that always happened, he'd never know. He waved to Ginny when she turned toward him.

"Who is that?" Petunia asked.

"Ginny Weasley. She's in my House, though a year lower."

"She's cute," Petunia said with a mischievous smile.

"Aunt Petunia!" he whined with a grin. "We just made up a couple months ago, and you're already trying to marry me off!"

"I'm not getting any younger, young man, and I want grandnieces and –nephews."

Harry's jaw nearly dropped to the floor at her statement. "I can't believe you!" He laughed, though, and moved to give her a hug.

"You will write, won't you?" she asked as she held on tight.

" ‘Course I will. And I'll make sure Hedwig knows to stay hidden until you're alone. And if you want to hide my letters, there's a space under the floorboards in my room that I use."

"Oh, my," she said, pulling away. "Dare I ask what I'll find down there?"

"Nothing incriminating, I assure you."

She looked him up and down with a calculating expression. "We'll see," she said, then smiled. "I know you want to see your friends, so you best be off. You just behave …"

"Aunt Petunia, I'm Harry Potter. I don't think I'm allowed to behave."

"Oh, yes, right. Well, in that case, have fun saving the world … again."

"G'bye, Aunt Petunia."

"I'll see you next summer, Harry."

They hugged again, and he turned toward where the Weasleys were standing in total shock. He grinned at them as he sailed right past and through the arch. He was not in the least bit surprised when Ginny appeared right behind him.

"What the bloody hell was that?!" she demanded.

"Ginny! Language!" he chided playfully.

"Yes, Mum. Now spill!"

He turned and started to lead her through the milling crowd, the rest of her family forgotten. "We had a breakthrough this summer," he said simply. "I guess what your mum said to her when we came home last term really had an impact. She broke down, then I broke down, then we both bawled on the kitchen floor. Very cathartic."

Though the shock hadn't left Ginny's face, she managed to giggle. "Are you serious?"

"No," he said, taking on the tone of someone explaining something to a rather slow person. "I'm Harry."

Ginny stopped and stared at him. "Harry, are you sure you should be making jokes like that?" Her smile had vanished and her green eyes were now somber.

"Ginny, he'd want me to. You know the last thing he'd want is for any of us to wallow."

She nodded, but still didn't look convinced. "Are you sure you're okay."

"Better than okay," he answered. "I have my aunt back. A blood relative. My mum's sister. How can I not be okay?"

She nodded again, this time smiling slightly. "I'll take your word for it."

"Gin, you should know by now that you never take Harry Potter's word for anything!" Dean Thomas said, sidling up beside them.

"Can't be trusted, that one," Seamus Finnegan murmured to her, though none too quietly.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'm horrid. A terrible influence on all I come in contact with. Even the Slytherins."

Seamus let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Please, Harry! Snakes can't change their spots anymore than a leopard can."

A knowing smile lit across Harry's face. "You'd be surprised," he nearly purred. "I can be very … persuasive." With the last word, he adopted a come hither look.

"Harry!" Ginny cried before breaking down into giggles.

"What?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"What did you do this time, Harry?" Neville asked as he joined them.

"Nothing! I honestly didn't do a thing! I swear!"

"Liar!" Seamus said with a grin. "He was flirting with me!"

"Was not!" Harry retaliated. "You wouldn't stand a chance if I were."

"Oh, dear," Neville sighed. "Harry, I think it's that time."

"What time?" he asked with confusion as he let Neville steer him toward the train.

"Time to have that talk."

"What talk?" Harry asked again, his concern growing.

"You know, the one about the birds and the bees and such?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "I already know about that stuff. I do know the Weasley twins, after all."

"Speaking of which!" Seamus said. "Have you seen their new venture?"

"Ssssh!!!" Ginny hissed. "Mum and Dad don't know anything about that yet, and we'd like to keep it that way, thank you very much!"

Dean cocked an eyebrow. "We?"

She straightened her shoulders and sniffed haughtily. "Well, they're thinking of making me an official sales associate, and these first few weeks will be crucial to my permanency with the company."

Harry blinked a few times. "Guys, what are you talking about?"

"On the train," Ginny whispered as the rest of her family finally caught up with them.

All musings about the twins' activities were pushed aside as Harry caught sight of Ron. He was being followed closely by Hermione, and Harry was pretty sure they were holding hands again. Ron caught his eye for a split second before Harry turned away. No, he was not going to let either of them off that easily. He couldn't help but be reminded of all the times they had each slighted him, and how he had so easily forgiven them. Well, not this time. So, he focused instead on Molly as she fussed over first Neville, then Dean and Seamus, and finally Harry himself.

"Harry!" she squealed as she squeezed the breath out of him.

"Hullo, Mrs. Weasley," he wheezed.

"Was that your aunt I saw you hugging earlier?"

"Yeah, what was with that?" Ron asked.

Harry ignored him. "Yeah. Apparently, what you said to her when we came home really hit hard."

Molly beamed at him. "Oh, that's wonderful! I was so worried for you, dear, what with …" She seemed at a loss for words, and Harry knew what she was about to say.

"If she and I hadn't made up, and if Neville and I hadn't written every week," Harry said, "I don't know if I would have survived this summer."

Molly turned to Neville. "You are such a good friend, Neville darling," she cooed.

Neville just shrugged. "I knew he'd need someone to talk to," he said simply before turning and shooting a stern glance at Ron and Hermione. "After all, I was there when it happened." No one needed to be reminded what the "it" was.

Harry tried not to gape at Neville. Subtly, the usually timid Gryffindor had not only put Ron and Hermione in their place, but had let everyone know that he now held a higher standing in Harry's circle. Harry couldn't help but smile.

"Well, your letters certainly helped save me."

"You sure you're alright, Harry?" Arthur asked.

He smiled again. "Absolutely. This will be a year for change. I can feel it. Things are finally going to start falling into place."

Arthur nodded. "I think you're right. But that doesn't mean you can afford to get lax."

"Oh, definitely not."

"Good. Now, better get on board. Ron and Hermione have Prefect duties to attend to."

Harry's expression darkened for a moment. He really didn't like being reminded of their status. But, the feeling was fleeting. "That's true," he said, adopting a bright smile, "and I have belated birthday presents to open!" He cast a sidelong glance at his not-quite friends. Hermione looked shocked (most likely because she couldn't believe she had forgotten), and Ron looked perplexed (which, Harry mused, was really nothing new).

"Got mine right here," Ginny said, patting a very irregularly-shaped and haphazardly-wrapped package.

"Then what are we standing around here for?" Harry said. "I want prezzies!" He angled his trolley toward the train, the others close behind. Dragging his trunk behind him and hoisting Hedwig's cage before him, he headed directly for the back of the train. There was always an empty car back there.

However, the journey was slow-going, as he was impeded by students peeking out of doors, sometimes pushing each other into the hallway. Whispers and murmurs filled the train, and Harry tried to ignore the stares. Two words kept popping up, and they made his skin crawl.

Chosen One.

Harry did not like that. In all the books he had read and movies he had seen (even though he was supposed to be in his cupboard at the time), the life of a Chosen One was never happy. It was riddled with battles and loss and loneliness. That was the last thing Harry wanted. Of course, he was also sick and tired of the public's on-again off-again romance with him. He wished they would just make up their collective mind and stick with it. Having them like him one moment, hate him the next, then practically worship him the moment after that was annoying, and had a bad habit of really screwing up his life. Like he needed their help for that.

"Is it true?" one brave second year asked. Everyone within earshot hushed, waiting for his reply with bated breath.

"Yes," he said, loud enough for all to hear. He didn't dare say anything more, for he felt a rant bubbling in his throat. He wanted to yell at them. To tell them to stop glorifying him and his near-death experiences. He was not intrinsically special; it was everyone else's view of him that made him so. But he was quite sure that wouldn't go down very well. Not like they'd listen to him, anyway.

So, he instead continued to trudge his way to the back of the train until he finally found an empty car. He hefted his trunk into the overhead luggage rack and flopped down next to the window, Hedwig's cage at his feet. Seamus, Ginny, Dean, and Neville followed. Seamus sat across from him, next to Ginny and Dean. Neville sat beside him. He was somehow not surprised that Luna had somehow found her way to them as well.

"Hello, Harry," she crooned.

"Luna, so good of you to join us," he said with a smile.

She returned the smile. "I'm glad I'm welcome." Seamus and Dean hoisted her trunk up as she sat on the other side of Neville.

"Of course you are," Harry said. " ‘Specially if you have prezzies."

She reached into her book bag and pulled out a small, vividly wrapped box. "I promised I'd give it to you on the train, and I always keep my promises."

"Me, too," Neville said, also revealing a similarly sized box, though the wrapping was a bit muter.

"Me and Shay gotcha something, too," Dean said, taking an envelope and what looked like a magazine out of his own bag. "Had to go through Hell and high water to get it, mind you. You better appreciate it."

"I have always appreciated presents," Harry said. "However, I now have a dilemma. Whose do I open first?"

"Start with Nev, then go around," Seamus suggested.

Harry shrugged as he took Neville's gift. He hastily unwrapped it and opened the box. He was shocked to find a penknife almost exactly like the one Sirius had given him. He lifted it out and turned it over in his fingers.

"I remembered the one you used in the Ministry, how it was pretty much destroyed. I know that Sirius had given you that one, and nothing could replace that, but … I figured that having something like that is necessary for someone like you."

Harry nodded. "This must have been very expensive."

"Not … really. It's actually Auror issue. It was -" Neville didn't seem to want to finish.

"No," Harry said. "Nev, do not tell me this is your father's." When Neville only looked to the floor in response, Harry tried to shove the closed knife back into his friend's hands. "I can't take this! It's your father's!"

"It was passed to me, like his wand was, so it's now mine to do with as I please," Neville retorted with surprising force. "I want you to have it."

"But Neville –"

"If I can do anything to help keep you safe, then by God I'm going to do it!" Neville actually managed to look somewhat angry, and Harry instinctively shrank back. Neville's expression softened as he continued. "You'll put this to far more use than I would, and we both know it. Besides, you're the one who was thinking of becoming an Auror, not me."

"That's true."

"Good. Now, like I said, this is Auror issue, which means it does a bit more than your old knife. It can still unlock any lock and untie any knot. But it also has the ability to detect and suppress all magical wards and seals within a twenty-foot radius."

Harry's eyes grew wide. "Are you serious?!"

Neville nodded. "Yep. It glows near a ward, and starts to hum. The louder the hum, the closer the ward. Just swipe the blade through the ward, and poof! Gone."

"Nice," Seamus said.

"The metal is alchemical silver. Deadly to lycanthropes."

"Keep that away from Lupin!" Ginny said.

"Well, there is a safeguard on it. It's charmed so that it will never harm a friend or ally, which includes lycanthropes that may be considered one."

"Good," Harry sighed. He did not treasure the thought of accidentally hurting someone he was beginning to consider an uncle.

"That's about it," Neville said.

"Well, that's more than enough," Harry said with a chuckle.

"Luna's next," Ginny said.

Harry took the bright gift and tore into it. Opening the box, he found what appeared to be a sterling silver chain-link bracelet with many dangling charms. They were arranged in two rows, each link holding two baubles.

"I know you may think it's a bit feminine," Luna began, "but it is more of a tool than a fashion statement."

"Do tell," Harry said, inspecting the charms.

"Each one is charmed to detect a certain thing or perform a certain task. When within a certain distance of whatever it is they are meant to detect, the detector charms will glow. Some glow different colors for different situations. There's a little booklet there that I wrote everything down in."

Sure enough, there was a small parchment booklet that listed each charm and its function in precise blue writing. He glanced over it, and was quite frankly awed. It seemed as if the bracelet had been created specifically for him, for not only did each charm resonate with his own life, but the things they detected did as well.

"Wait," he said. He glanced again at the booklet, then fingered through the charms until he found a tiny broomstick. "This is a portkey?"

Luna smiled. "It will be, once you come up with a destination. It will be a permanent key, meaning when you say the activation word, it will always take you to that destination. So, you should make it lead to a sort of safe haven."

"You can make a legal portkey?" Neville asked.

She blinked her large blue eyes at him. "I never said it would be legal," she responded, her usually serene expression never changing.

"Luna! You rebel!" Ginny squealed with a laugh.

"These are desperate times," Luna rationalized. "It's clear that the law isn't doing anything helpful. Therefore, the rules must be bent every so often."

"I like the way you think," Harry said with a grin.

"I learned much from the D.A. last year. One of the most important things was that we can't stand by and hope that someone else will do everything for us. Now, as for the bracelet, it is charmed to be noiseless. It will also grow warm when it reacts to something, so you'll know to look. And you'll be the only one who can actually see the reactions, so no one else will wonder why your bracelet is glowing."

"Again, I must say that this must have been expensive."

Luna shook her head. "I actually got it at a Muggle boutique. It was nothing to transfigure the charms to the shapes I wanted. And the spells themselves were easy."

"Wait, you did all the magick on that?" Dean asked.

Luna nodded. "I live in a primarily magickal household. My father has let me use his wand since I was six, so I'm fairly proficient with it."

"So, even if they tried to trace wand signatures at your house, it would come across as if it was your father doing the casting," Ginny concluded.

"Exactly."

"I really, really like the way you think!" Harry said. "Luna, I had no idea you could be so devious. It's almost Slytherinic."

"Hey! Don't insult her!" Seamus retorted.

"Actually," Luna interjected calmly, "I am not at all offended. I believe we all have a little Slytherin in us. And a little Hufflepuff, and a little Ravenclaw, and a little Gryffindor. It's just that one defining trait set is stronger than the others, and that is what the Hat bases its placements on."

This made Harry smile. He felt better believing that his Inner Slytherin was just that, his. Not some remnant of Voldemort that had accidentally gotten stuck in his brain. "It makes a lot of sense." Silence settled over them for a few moments as they mulled over the revelation until Harry said, "Okay, next present!"

"My, my, we are greedy, aren't we?" Seamus teased.

"Yes, now give me my present," Harry answered with a straight face as he held out his hands expectantly.

"Alright," Dean said. "Like I told you, it was not easy getting this for you."

"Yeah," Seamus agreed. "Something about legal issues and not being able to sell this stuff to minors."

"Luckily, I'm currently dating their new sales associate."

Harry then knew this had to have something to do with the Weasley twins. He wasn't sure whether he should be excited, or worried. Dean placed the envelope and magazine in Harry's hands. The magazine was a mauve color with the words "Wicked Games" in gold foil lettering. Curious as to what kind of games would be inside, he opened the front cover … and almost dropped it.

"Whoa …" Neville breathed beside him.

Harry was speechless. His eyes threatened to pop out of his head. This was not a magazine, but a catalogue. A catalogue filled with very adult-oriented products. Through the overwhelming shock, one thought made its way to the surface.

"When on earth would I use any of … my God, is that …? Dear Lord, it is."

Both Dean and Seamus chuckled. "Well, we figured after the Ministry made it public ‘bout his return," Seamus said, "there would be a lot of ladies wantin' a shot at the Boy Who Lived."

"We figured we might as well help you make it as fun as possible," Dean finished. "That there is a gift certificate. Now, it isn't much, and we really had to scrounge. But, you should be able to get something nice."

"Any suggestions?" Harry squeaked.

"Tons," Seamus said unabashedly. "But you really have to look through it yourself."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, okay. Um, I'll … I'll do that." He hurriedly closed the catalogue and stuffed it in his bag.

Dean sighed. "You don't like it, do you?" He was clearly disappointed.

Harry turned to look at his dorm mate. "Of course I do. It was just a bit overwhelming. Remember, I grew up in a cupboard." He flashed a rueful smile at his friend.

"Yeah," Dean said with a smile.

" ‘Sides," Seamus added, "I can say from experience that if you're gonna take a close look at that thing, you'll wanna be sure you're completely alone." All eyes turned to him in askance, and he shrugged. "What?"

"I remember when it was all about Quidditch," Harry said with a chuckle.

"Ah, but we grow up so fast," Seamus said with mock wistfulness.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Okay, looks like it's up to me to derail the sex train."

Dean sat bolt upright. "No! No derailing the sex train! We like the sex train! We're sixteen! We're males! Sex train equals good!"

"Keep talking like that and you will never board the sex train," Ginny said simply.

Everyone but Ginny and Dean laughed and clapped, adding a few praises of "bravo" in for good measure.

"You are evil," Dean groused.

"I'm a Weasley."

"The cutest one, too," Harry added. "Now, I want my prezzie."

She sighed and hefted the odd package towards him. He tore off the paper with gusto. Once its contents were revealed, he froze.

It was a two-foot tall black stuffed dog sitting on its haunches. A bell on a red ribbon was tied around its neck with a big bow and it seemed to have a goofy smile on its face, complete with lolling tongue. Harry ran a hand down its back and marveled at how soft it was. He knew what this was, and why Ginny had gotten it. He could feel tears welling up, and bit his lip to keep from sobbing.

"I know it's sort of babyish," Ginny said quietly, "but after everything that happened …"

Harry was overcome with emotion as he swept the toy into his arms and squeezed. "It's perfect," he whispered. "Just perfect." He loosened his hold, but still kept the dog cradled in one arm while he pet it with his other hand. "I've never had a stuffed animal before."

"Never?" Seamus asked.

Harry shook his head. "Dudley was so greedy, I wasn't even allowed to have his castoffs. This is the first real toy I've ever had." He raised tear-filled eyes to Ginny. "Thank you so much."

Her own eyes glistened as she smiled at him. "I'm glad you like it."

"What are you going to name him?" Neville asked.

Harry thought a moment before a bright smile lit his face. "Mr. Snuffles S. Padfoot."

"And the ‘S' is for Sirius?" Ginny prompted.

"Of course."

Luna regarded the dog carefully and then nodded. "It suits him."

"That it does," he murmured, giving Mr. Snuffles another hug.

The rest of the journey was spent as any journey amongst friends would be spent. They talked, joked, and raided the snack trolley when it came by. The others were sure Harry would again be allowed to play Quidditch, and if he wasn't, Ginny was fully prepared to revolt. Neville went into detail about the novice Healer training he had earned over the summer, and the program Madam Pomfrey had set up for him while at school. Luna and Ginny fretted over O.W.L.S. while the boys assured them they'd help the girls study. Finally, after a long time, conversation settled on resurrecting the D.A.

"There are going to be a lot of changes if we do start up again," Harry said. "Last year was done part out of desperation and part out of spite. We don't have to worry about either this year, so I want to do it right."

Neville nodded beside him, then added, "We were thinking of recruiting more people, then evaluating everyone into three levels. That way, no one will be forced to learn spells they're just not ready for."

"Not to mention, several smaller groups overseen by a couple competent people is much easier to work with than one huge mass and one person."

"Aw, but mass chaos is so much fun!" Dean protested.

"When you're not the one who has to deal with it," Seamus added with a grin.

"Exactly. Last year was difficult enough. Add more people to it, including Slytherins …"

A chorus of "WHAT?!" exploded through the cabin. Harry exchanged a worried glance with Neville. The only support he got was a not-very-heartening shrug. Harry sighed.

"Okay, here's the deal. I have inside information that not all Slytherins are planning on joining Voldemort. Yes, the larger percentage is, but not all of them. In fact, two of the most influential ones are actively fighting against him."

"Most influential …" Ginny started, then her eyes grew wide. "No, you are not talking about Malfoy!"

"Actually, I am."

"And you believe this informant?" Dean asked warily.

"Malfoy was the informant. As was Blaise Zabini. Hell, even Lupin implied as much."

The others shared dubious glances before turning back to him. "You know Malfoy lies," Ginny said quietly.

"He wasn't lying. Don't ask me how I know, I just do. And besides, you weren't so adverse to him when you caught him and Zabini snogging."

Ginny's eyes again grew wide and she blushed furiously. She then turned on Neville. "You told him about that?!"

"Ginny," Harry said calmly, directing her ire away from poor Neville, "I was there. That crate they were leaning on? I was inside."

"Harry," she started.

"DON'T ASK!" he shouted. "Please, for the love of my sanity, do not ask what the hell I was doing in that crate." He shot Neville an evil glare when the other Gryffindor struggled to keep from dissolving into giggles.

"Alright," she said, somewhat uncertainly. "So, just for ha-ha's, let's say Malfoy was telling the truth. How many Slytherins are we talking here?"

Harry shrugged and shook his head. "I don't know. Not many in the higher years, I'm sure. But we can work on the first- and second-years. They haven't had a chance to be immersed in Slytherin rhetoric as long, and are still very impressionable. If we can lead them away from Voldemort now, we can really start cutting down on new Death Eater recruits."

"While that is a good idea," Luna said, "the younger students are also more vulnerable. Surely their older Housemates will become aggressive against them, no doubt on Voldemort's indirect order."

Harry had thought of that many times while he had been going over D.A. plans over the summer. "They'll need the D.A.'s protection, that's for sure. We'll have to be a more cohesive group than ever this year."

Seamus was shaking his head. "I don't know about this, Harry. I mean, it's Malfoy. For the past five years, he's been nothing but trouble for us."

"True," Harry said, "but he's never done anything that could be classed as evil, not in the realm of his father."

"But you know he's been groomed to be a Death Eater from day one."

Harry sighed. He had half expected Seamus to protest the loudest about letting Slytherins join the D. A., but he was still disappointed. "That might be so. But …"

Dean further frustrated Harry by interrupting. "I know you trust your instincts, mate, but they have been wrong before."

Harry had to agree with that assessment. There had been a few instances when his instincts did not coincide with reality. But he was dead sure that he was correct this time. With another sigh, he nodded. "You're right. Okay, how about this? You two can be in charge of keeping an eye on the Slytherins. If you see anything that may seem shady, you can tell me. Then I'll get together with whoever the other instructors are, and we'll figure out what to do about it. Sound good?"

Dean and Seamus shared a glance, then nodded in approval. Harry could tell they were not completely satisfied (and may very well never be, he thought), but he hoped that being assigned to watch the Slytherins would help ease their minds. He nodded again. "I'm glad that's settled."

"Me, too," Ginny said. "I'll feel better knowing someone's watching them. It'll also be nice that we won't have to keep it a secret anymore."

"Maybe," Harry said, and then took a deep breath. He was sure the others wouldn't like what he was about to say. "But I don't want Dumbledore involved."

Dean smirked. "Why not? It is, after all, his army."

Harry shook his head hard. "No. Not anymore. I think we should go back to the original Defense Association. Dumbledore can be trusted to fight against Voldemort using whatever means necessary, but that's about as far as it goes."

"What do you mean?" Seamus asked.

It was Neville, however, who answered. "Harry is one of those means," he said. "Dumbledore purposely withheld information from Harry. Important information, such as there was a prophecy told about him before he was even born."

"Us," Harry said. He glanced sideways at Neville and saw the confusion on his friend's face. This was another thing he knew wouldn't be taken well, but he had wanted to wait until he could tell Neville in person. "No specific names were given. Just that whoever it was would be born as the seventh month dies to parents who defied the Dark Lord three times."

The words hung thick in the air, and Harry could see the cogs in Neville's head working. Finally, they clicked, and the boy began to hyperventilate. "Me?" Neville squeaked. "It could have been … me?!"

"Neville, calm down!" Ginny cried as his breaths came faster and shallower.

Harry slung an arm around Neville's shoulders, trying to calm the other boy's tremors, and spoke gently to him. "Yes, Neville, it could have been you. Voldemort had two choices as to who would be his greatest enemy, and for some reason, he chose me. I don't know why, but he did.

"Plus, he didn't know the whole prophecy," Harry added. "Whoever overheard it only stayed long enough for the first part, where his enemy was described. He didn't know that he would fail to actually kill that person, and only mark them as his equal instead."

Luna hummed and nodded, looking off into space as she undoubtedly contemplated something. "Then perhaps it would not have mattered which of you he chose. If it was foretold that his opposition would be marked as his equal, then you would have survived as well, Neville."

"You think so?" he squeaked.

Luna nodded again. "Yes. So, the question remains, why did he choose to go after Harry and not you?"

Silence fell over the cabin as they all pondered that question.

"Harry's family was under the Fidelius," Ginny said. "Were your parents protected like that?"

Neville thought a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think so. But, wouldn't that just make me the easier target?"

"That makes no sense," Harry said suddenly. "Dumbledore knew that it could have been either of us, so why the hell didn't he try to protect you like he did my parents?"

Neville's eyes grew wide with terror. "No," he whispered. "He can't have been that bad."

"I don't know, Nev," Harry said sadly. "Think about it. From everything I've heard, he's always favored my parents over just about everyone, so he would have been biased that I would be the stronger between us. And I have no doubt that he knew Peter Pettigrew was a traitor, and wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if it was his suggestion to make Pettigrew their Secret Keeper instead of Sirius."

"It would make sense that Voldemort would assume those Dumbledore made more effort to protect would be the greater danger to him," Luna agreed. "Then add to that the fact that Mr. Pettigrew was an inroad straight to them …"

"And Gran has told me a few times that my parents were friends with yours," Neville said to Harry.

"The Death Eaters would have known that," Harry said. "So, when Voldemort went missing, the LeStranges went to your place, thinking your parents would know what happened. They were left completely unprotected."

"I think … I remember Gran saying to someone once something about you coming to live with us. That you were supposed to, but because of what happened to my parents …"

Cold dread swept through Harry. "Sirius in jail, Remus a werewolf, and my parent's only other friends tormented into insanity … all perfect circumstances for Dumbledore to use to his advantage. Stick me with my relatives, knowing how I'd be treated, so that when he did come along, he'd be my hero." His voice grew more and more bitter as he continued, until he was almost snarling with anger. "Dammit, it's just as Remus said. Dumbledore must have known the Death Eaters would go after your parents, yet he did nothing to protect them. Of course, if he had protected them, I would have gone to live with you and would probably have had a decent childhood. I would have learned magick earlier, known about wizards. I wouldn't have to depend on him for everything. Not conducive to his grand scheme."

"Harry, I think you're being a mite paranoid there, mate," Dean said with forced mirth.

Harry shook his head. "No. I've thought long and hard about this and every week I find something else that just makes it all click into place. The sheer amount of people he's manipulated is growing more and more staggering. So many people he's allowed to be hurt, to be killed." He once again picked up Mr. Snuffles and hugged him. "If he had just told me what was at the Ministry, I wouldn't have been tempted by the visions Voldemort sent me. I wouldn't have believed them. We all would have stayed at Hogwarts, and Sirius wouldn't have had to go charging in to rescue me. He wouldn't have died."

"And the Ministry wouldn't have been forced to admit he's back," Neville countered. "The only other recording of the prophecy wouldn't have been destroyed so that he will never hear it." He paused for a moment, the hesitantly added, "And you and I may have never become such good friends."

Harry looked at Neville and could see impending hurt in his eyes. It pained him to admit that Neville was right. They may have remained dorm mates and acquaintances, but they would more than likely never have gotten as close as they had over the summer if they hadn't gone through what they had. "That I don't regret," Harry said softly. "But I still had a right to know. Hell, we both did, since it could have very well been you that got this scar."

Neville quirked a smile. "You're welcome to keep it. Probably looks better on you, anyway."

Harry smiled and tried to imagine Neville with a lightning scar above his right eye. "I don't know," he said. "I think it'd look right dashing on you."

Neville blinked several times in quick succession, then settled on a slightly surprised expression. A light blush crept across his cheeks, and Harry decided the scar would look damn good on Neville.

Eyes widening in surprise of his own over his thoughts, he quickly looked away from the other Gryffindor and out the window. "Getting dark, we should be there soon," he said, his voice a bit hoarse.

Sure enough, the cabin door slid open to reveal Hermione. "We'll be there in thirty minutes," her tone as sharp and to-the-point as it would have been for any other student, not a cabin full of her friends. "I suggest you start getting changed." She, of course, already was.

"Fine," Ginny said, somewhat coolly.

Without another word, Hermione closed the door.

"So, you're friends with Malfoy now?" Ginny asked.

"We're getting there," Harry said as he got his things organized.

"That would explain why he didn't come in for his annual round of before-school threats."

"Well, that, and I think he spent most of the summer at the castle. He's probably already there."

"Ah."

That was the end of conversation as Luna and Ginny shoved the boys into the corridor while they changed, then exchanged places while the boys did the same. They then focused on cleaning up what they could of the cabin and getting their belongings in order.

After fighting their way through the crowd toward the carriages, Harry took a moment to pat the closest thestral on the snout before climbing in. After all, it had been thestrals that had carried his group to the Ministry. The ride from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts was a quiet one, each of them mentally preparing themselves for whatever was to come.

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Draco Malfoy & the House of Seraphim