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A Winter's Reprieve	By : enchanted_nightingale Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 12790 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from them and I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Author:enchanted nightingale

BetaReader: pussycatadamah

Disclaimer: The characters from Harry Potter books do not belong to me. I merely use them in my plot for fun.

Chapter 5 - Conversations in the Great Hall

Harry's days after the Hogsmeade weekend were dull and grey. It was not easy exchanging letters with Rabastan, especially when one day Hedwig came back with her wing almost broken. Harry was out of his mind with worry and the teen took it up to Dumbledore. In turn the Headmaster found out that Umbridge had tried to intercept Hedwig and the snow white owl had barely escaped through the Forbidden Forest.

Flashback…

"One more month, Harry," Dumbledore told the teen. "That's all I can hope to ask of you. Fudge will be booted out in about two weeks when the Wizengamot will give him a vote of no confidence."

"It's happening?" the Gryffindor asked.

The Headmaster allowed for a small smug smile. "Yes, it is."

"I guess," Harry muttered. "At least Hedwig is okay and not in a worse shape. I've left her with Hagrid; Ciel too."

"That's a wise move," Dumbledore approved.

Harry nodded and stood.

"Thank you sir."

"My door is always open Harry, please remember this," the old wizard urged the teen.

Harry smiled. "I will."

…end Flashback

Neville slid next to Harry and started loading his plate with food. The Great Hall was busy during lunch time.

"Hey, anything on Hedwig?" he asked.

Harry looked up. "Yes, Hagrid fixed her wing but I've decided not to use her for a while."

Neville nodded. "Smart move."

"Can I use your owl to send a note?"

"To your boyfriend?" Neville teased. "The one you forgot me and Luna for?"

Harry blushed a bit. "We didn't mean to forget ourselves!"

Neville chuckled. "Relax Harry. I'm only teasing you. You're lucky your man is so good. Does he have a problem with the whole 'Boy-Who-Lived' thing? He does know now, right?"

The green eyed wizard nodded. "He made the connection between Harry and 'The Harry Potter' during Hogsmeade weekend. He was like; he saw the scar, nodded, kissed me and asked if I wanted cinnamon with my coffee."

"See? Lucky," Neville told him.

"Yes, I am," Harry agreed.

"Budge over," Lavender Brown told them as she came and sat down next to Neville. Harry was seated at the end of the table and Neville was the closest Gryffindor to him. Both teens were staring at Lavender.

"Lavender," Neville nodded at her.

"There's this strange rumour circulating the castle," the witch started. "It's about that guy you greeted last week at Hogsmeade."

Two blank stares met her and she scoffed.

"Just tell me," she told them. "Was that really you Harry? Or are those Puffs being petty pests again?"

"Lavender, it's none of your business," Harry told her.

The witch frowned, then quickly she smoothed her features. "Fine," she stood. "I can find out from another source."

"Weasley won't tell you anything either," Neville told her, making her stop short.

Ron heard his surname and looked up.

"It's none of his business and he knows nothing either," Neville told Lavender.

The witch snorted and left. Ron looked away again.

Harry took a peek at his once friend. He was still in limbo with both Hermione and Ron. Neither of his friends had made a move to approach him since the day they asked for time and space and Harry felt the gap had grown too big to ever be healed. He had thought briefly that perhaps he should be the one to approach them, talk to them or even feel the waters but his anger surfaced again and that insecurity inside him that perhaps he was not good enough. Knowing he was feeling vulnerable again Harry had written to Apolline for help (before Hedwig got hurt). The witch had been adamant about Harry staying his ground. He had made all the right moves about the situation, he had been truthful and straightforward and the rest was up to them. If they were not making a move to either terminate the bond or start over it was not Harry's fault. The teen took those words to heart and found some solace. When Neville later read that letter he took Apolline's side and told Harry not to go after them.

"He still hasn't come?" Neville asked Harry.

The green eyed wizard tore his gaze away from Ron.

"He was my first friend," he told Neville. "My very first friend."

"Doesn't stop him from being a prat. Last year he was being a jealous git," Neville commented.

A bitter smile appeared on Harry's face. "Yes, I guess that is it. It has been three months."

"Given up on him?"

"He gave up on me first," Harry muttered. "Hermione too."

"She doesn't spend much time with him," Neville commented. "They fight more too. They are not meant to be friends unless there's another to referee for them."

"I try not to pay too much attention to them," Harry muttered. He did not want to say that it hurt that his friends would let something like his preference come between them. But apparently it had and now Harry was trying to stop thinking of them as friends as it hurt even more. Neville, being the smart and considerate youth that he was changed the subject into something less hurtful for Harry.

Umbridge was unbearable and while Harry had followed the advice the Slytherin's had given him and Neville in the start of the year, he felt the hate the witch felt for him. It was almost obsessive and it turned Harry off his food. He attempted a bite but soon pushed his plate away.

Luna was shooting him a worried look and Neville nudged him with his elbow.

Harry finally looked up at the two. "Sorry guys. I'm just not all that hungry."

"I thought Hedwig was fine?" Luna asked.

"She tried to take Ciel away," Neville confided to her in a low voice. "Just yesterday."

"Was that the reason you were not at dinner?" Luna asked.

"Yes," Neville asked when it was obvious that Harry would not be answering. "We had to go to the Headmaster's office." Neville looked around a bit and lowered his voice even more. "She had even called McNair to school. She was not going to send Ciel away; she wanted to put him down."

Harry was seething at the reminder and Luna reached over to calm him.

"Is he okay?" the witch asked.

"Dumbledore had to take him away from Hogwarts," Harry finally told her.

"Just hang in there," Neville told him.

Harry sighed. He knew it was not that big a deal. Considering that Ciel was not harmed the teen did not mind all that much that the wolf was not right next to him. What really got to Harry was that he now had not even that small connection to Rabastan. He could not send letters save for that one letter he had sent with Neville's owl and the short reply he had received back that Rabastan could wait till the holidays as long as Harry did not mind. That made the teen all warm and tingly inside and he had hoped that Ciel would take away the edge of loneliness he felt without the older man. He was not granted even that reprieve because of Umbridge and her made up rules. What small consolation Harry had was that he at least had so far escaped a detention with the spiteful witch. Others were not so lucky. Harry had seen the Twins, each of the two separately, after a detention with the woman and he had mentioned this to Neville. The Longbottom heir had been appalled.

"Harry! That's the result of a Blood Quill! They're banned!"

The green eyed wizard had sighed. "I want to help them but I really don't want a detention with that… that… creature."

Neville had slouched as well.

"I might have a plan," Harry announced.

"I felt a shiver," Neville commented.

"When's our next Potions class?"

"Hm, tomorrow, second block, after Transfiguration."

"Thanks."

"Harry?"

"Yes Neville?"

"Don't get us expelled?"

Harry laughed. "I'm not going to rush in. I am just going to help the Twins. I followed their movements. They did not go to the infirmary."

Neville did not ask how, just accepted that as fact.

"I'm going to help them heal. The least I can do," Harry explained to Neville.

And Harry, true to his word, did not rush in. he met with the Slytherin's and subtly passed a note to Draco. Later that day the Weasley Twins got a detention with Snape and that night, when they returned to Gryffindor tower there were no words carved on the skin of their hands and they just hugged Harry joyously.

"You should be a Slytherin," was Luna's comment during breakfast the morning after.

"I know," Harry replied. "The Hat was quite adamant but I will not let my life be set by a piece of cloth," letting Luna and Neville gape at him.

Exactly two weeks later Dumbledore's words to Harry came true.

It was morning and the owls were just flying in with the morning post. Neville got his paper first and his muttered 'about time' was the first clue for Harry.

"Anything interesting?" he asked the male Longbottom.

"Fudge got booted last night," Neville told him.

Harry smiled. "Finally. Your grandmother?"

"Voted against him as well. Actually everyone did except Malfoy and those like him. Fudge never stood a chance." Neville commented. "Says here Susan's aunt is in charge."

"Madam Bone?"

"Her."

"Good. I heard only good things about her," Harry admitted.

"Guess the first thing she did?" Neville asked almost teasingly.

Harry's mind was at a loss and Neville, taking pity on him, showed him the paper. It was not front page news but it was in. Umbridge was no longer at Hogwarts.

"That's brilliant!" Harry exclaimed.

"Thank you," Luna told them as she took a seat at the Gryffindor table.

The two teens looked up. Harry noted her new earrings, that were apparently small, shiny spoons.

"Your earrings too," he told the witch, "But I originally meant this." He showed her the paper.

Luna smiled. "Daddy got the notice as well. But he put it in the last page as it was not as important as his breakthrough on the Heliopaths the Ministry uses."

"May I borrow your copy?" Harry asked her instead of trying to figure out her words.

"You still haven't gotten a subscription?" Neville wondered.

"I planned to but I keep forgetting," Harry apologized.

"I can do it for you," Luna offered.

"Please?" Harry was hopeful and the Ravenclaw nodded. "You're the best!"

"You know," Neville started. "It's only two weeks till Yule. Do any of you have plans?"

"Mm, Daddy and I are going to the Easter Islands," Luna told them. "We are searching for our next clue on Dancing Rock Dwarves."

"I know that one," Neville blinked. "It's a plant right? Good luck. It's rare to see it in the wild."

"You'll be the only one returning with a tan," Harry told her.

"Thank you both," Luna told them.

"You Neville?" Harry asked.

"I'm visiting my parents," Neville blushed.

"I wish I could join you," Harry told him. "I'll have to ask."

"You don't have to," Neville protested.

"I want to," Harry stressed and Neville ducked his head.

"Anyone know who the newest DADA professor is going to be?" Luna asked.

The boys blinked.

"Someone has to teach, right?" Luna continued.

"She's right," Neville mused. "I wonder…"

"If there's truly a curse on the job then Remus won't be returning," Harry sighed.

"Professor Lupin was good," Neville too mourned the fact that they lost a good professor.

"Perhaps we'll learn today?" Harry hoped.

"You noticed that the Headmaster is not here this morning?" Luna pointed at the head table with her blonde head.

"Just now," Harry admitted.

"I hope we know soon. We lost too much time because of Umbridge," Neville sighed.

"And it's OWL year for you two," Luna cheerfully reminded them.

The teens groaned.

As it turned out the three friends and consequently the rest of the school were able to learn the name of their new DADA professor as soon as Albus Dumbledore returned to the school, and that was two days after the paper arrived in the Great Hall. It was during breakfast that day that people started noticing that the seat for the DADA professor was occupied by none other than Alastor Mad-Eye Moody.

"No way!" the Twins yelled.

Malfoy looked a bit pale too, most of the Slytherin's were. Those who were in the dark about what took place the year before were looking rather scared at the old Auror. Harry merely raised an eyebrow and went to his seat, Neville following behind him.

"I thought there was a curse," Neville muttered.

"There is," Harry agreed. "And Moody while our teacher for last year never actually taught us."

Neville blinked. "You lost me."

"Luna's coming over," Harry told him. "I'll explain it to both of you soon enough."

The chubbier teen of the two nodded in agreement.

Luna soon skipped up to them and greeted them cheerfully.

"Good morning boys!"

"Morning Luna," Harry smiled at the Ravenclaw witch. "Moody is the new DADA teacher."

"Is he? What about last year?" the blonde girl asked.

"About that, Neville, I'm sorry?"

"What for?" the other teen asked Harry.

"Last year Moody was being impersonated by a Death Eater under Polyjuice."

Neville and Luna were left staring.

"Which one?" the Ravenclaw recovered first.

"He," Harry swallowed. "He escaped from Azkaban…"

"I thought Sirius was not…" Neville trailed off.

Harry knew what he meant and nodded. He had told Neville and Luna about his godfather early on. "Not him," Harry agreed. "Barty Crouch Jr. though…"

The green eyed wizard had to stop as Neville became dangerously pale and looked ready to keel over.

"Nev?" Harry asked.

"H-He… How?"

"First, know that he's dead," Harry told him.

Neville was still trembling but managed a nod. Then Harry proceeded telling him the rest of it. Still, quite a few people had noticed the trouble with Neville but it was Moody himself that approached Gryffindor table before the teens stood to leave for classes.

"Everything alright here boys? And girl?" the Auror with the wooden leg asked as soon as he was standing over them.

"Yes sir," Harry readily replied.

"I, yes, professor," Neville said. He was still pale and shaken.

"Harry was just telling us about last year."

"Yes, Albus mentioned that the name of that bastard was not released to the school, Fudge's fault," the ex Auror grumbled. "Glad to be rid of that idiot. Carry on then!" Moody told them before walking away.

Christmas came not early enough for Harry. Since the DADA position had been taken up by Moody the classes continued at a normal pace. Mad Eye had made the students work hard; running them ragged till Minerva and Filius both started protesting in favour of the kids as the gap left because of the ministry lackey had cause a fallback to the education. Those who had suffered most were those sitting for their OWLs and NEWTs that year. Moody was a big believer of practical theory and so at the end of his classes most were left weary and sporting bruises and bumps.

It was natural that kids felt weary whenever DADA lessons were up.

That morning at Gryffindor table Neville and Harry both were pouting and Luna almost laughing at them.

"It's just not fair!" Harry stressed.

"You are just being difficult, both of you," Luna told them. "Umbridge really almost made you guys lose several grades with her 'wands away' schedule. I really think she ought to be tested for Darmengumps." She nodded for emphasis.

"Luna?" Neville fought the small tick that wanted to appear on his forehead. He loved Luna, he really did. She was a great friend, excellent company, had humour and wit but her imagination left him and Harry wondering.

"Oh, you did not notice she was particularly grumpy and mean?"

"And Bitchy?" Harry cheerfully added.

"I heard a capital on that epithet," Neville mused.

"There was."

Luna giggled. "Oh you guys!"

"Come on Neville, our doom awaits!"

Luna giggled again as the boys stood from the table and headed for the exit of the Great Hall ready to face their last day in Hogwarts before the holiday break. The two Gryffindor's met with their Slytherin year mates on the way out and as usual there was no bickering or jeering as those two groups met.

Up at the Head table Moody watched the scene with no small amount of suspicion and surprise as yet another confrontation between Potter and Malfoy did not happen.

Filius was humming next to the Auror. "There have been no fights between those two this year."

"Is that true?" Moody asked.

The other professors were nodding.

"What I don't understand is how Longbottom and Lovegood replaced Weasley and Granger," Sprout mused.

Sinistra was nodding and all the teachers turned to Minerva McGonagall and Dumbledore himself.

"Harry… Mr. Potter," the Headmaster started. "Had an interesting summer and his choices were not met with approval from the last two youths."

"They were immature brats, Weasley and Granger," Snape muttered derisively, making most of the professor look wide eyed at the Potions Professor.

"I am sad to say that is true," Minerva mourned. "I don't think its going to be mended any time soon."

Filius studied the son of the witch that had been his most favourite students once upon a time. "I recall Sirius Black and James Potter had a similar falling out. Wasn't it like two weeks?"

"Ah, yes," Dumbledore nodded. "I don't recall why though."

"Black came out of the closet and Potter was a brat. Evans hexed her future husband pink for two days," Snape cheerfully supplied.

Most of the professor made the connection instantly and eyed the Boy-Who-Lived and his friends with new eyes but none touched the subject.

Moody however got back on track. "I still don't like that Malfoy and Potter are…"

"Cordial?" Filius offered.

"That."

"I for one don't miss the drama," McGonagall told them and her colleagues were soon nodding.

Rabastan was restless.

The meetings Voldemort held were becoming more regular and the people who were tortured during them, usually Muggle's too. Rabastan had tried to put a distance between himself and these events. He tried not to let his distaste show on his face during those hours. He let Bellatrix take the floor while he claimed the shadows. As long as no raids took place Rabastan could hide and pretend and hope to the deities that his lover never learned of the horrible truth.

The escaped convict flopped back on the couch in the vast room he occupied in Malfoy Manor and he closed his eyes. Rabastan felt suffocated. So much was expected of him, from his own brother, from his relatives, from Voldemort himself but all the wizard cared about was one teen sequestered in a Medieval castle up in Scotland.

The door creaked open and Rodolphus sauntered in. He was fixing the sleeves of his shirt, not yet wearing his robes over it.

"Still moping?"

Rabastan half heartedly lifted his head. "It's you. Do we have a meeting tonight?"

"Unless he decides on a whim, no, we are free tonight."

Rabastan fell back on the bed. "Good. Now get out."

The other wizard shook his head and instead of leaving he climbed on the bed and came to lie next to his brother.

"You know, you need to stop acting like a hormonal teen," he told his younger sibling.

"Why are you here?" Rabastan demanded.

"Because being closed up in your room and moping like an idiot is so much fun and needs concentration," Rodolphus snapped.

"Let me wallow in misery."

"What, your toy boy not pouting out?"

Rabastan groaned and it made his older brother chuckle.

"Was I right?" Rodolphus smugly demanded.

"We can't even write. The Ministry is being a pain, screening all owls," Rabastan admitted.

"Is he that good in bed? Because I can honestly tell you of several witches and wizards that would love to grace your bed with only a look from you. If it's frustration you feel I can call any of them over."

"Stop being a lecherous bastard."

"Our parents were married."

"Just… go?"

"Is my baby brother in love?"

"Follow that with baby talk and I'll poison you," Rabastan threatened.

"I'm being serious here."

"And I have no idea. What is love? I have certainly not felt it growing up. Have you?"

"I think I have."

Rabastan actually looked at his sibling. "Bellatrix? Really?"

"I don't recall mentioning my wife's name," Rodolphus told him with a wry smile.

Rabastan blinked. "Then who?"

"Who's your boy?"

The younger of the two fell silent.

"Fair point," Rabastan conceded. "Are you seeing them now?"

"No."

"Is it because of Bellatrix? I do not think she would realize."

"She doesn't matter. My time with them is over."

Rabastan nodded and accepted that.

Rodolphus rolled off the bed. "I'm heading downstairs. Do not miss out tonight. Bella will be here and…"

"I know. I'll be down in a few minutes."

End of chapter
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A Winter's Reprieve