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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
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter 6: House Elves, Horcruxes, and Hidden Locations.
Harry woke up the next morning feeling better then he had all summer. Draco was still asleep, and he decided to leave the ashen boy alone, figuring he probably needed the rest. By the look and sound of it, Harry figured the pallid blonde had an even harder summer, and year probably, then he himself had.
Fortunately, the wards that Draco had sent the night before only seemed to alert him if someone entered, so Harry was able to slip out of the room quietly. As he descended the stairs, he could hear Ron and Hermione�s voices drifting from the kitchen. By the time he entered however, Ron was sitting at the table looking sheepish, and Hermione was muttering to herself as she cooked eggs and potatoes a little more aggressively then was necessary.
Harry sat down beside the redhead and said in an undertone, �What�s she on about?�
�She reckons that we should try and be nice to Kreacher. I told her there wasn�t any point,� Ron whispered back. �We argued for a minute and then she just started ranting about house elf rights.�
They looked back at Hermione, and could catch snippets of what she was saying. �It�s only because they don�t know any better�raised for generations to behave a certain way�told these things long enough that they believe it�highly doubtful that families like the Malfoys or the Blacks used positive reinforcement. If you ever bothered, but then you won�t even give Malfoy a chance, and he�s in the same boat if you really think about it��
The brown-eyed girl turned after she had finished mumbling to herself and looked at Harry with a thoughtful expression. �Maybe you should start calling him by his given name, Harry, and then Ron and I could just appear to follow your lead.� Both boys were taken aback by the sudden change of subject and tone.
�What?� asked Harry, who had no idea where that line of thought had come from.
�And just why would we do that?� Ron questioned irritably.
Hermione rolled her eyes and took a slow deep breath. �Really, you two are just too insensitive. Haven�t you noticed the way he tenses every time anyone calls him Malfoy?�
Harry furrowed his brows in thought and Ron simply shook his head in a no.
The bushy-haired girl muttered something that sounded like �boys�, and then returned to abusing breakfast. Shortly after, Draco entered the room quietly and joined them at the table.
They talked throughout breakfast, mostly about Horcruxes, hidden locations, and house elves. Harry noticed that Hermione had been right. Draco did tense up every time one of them called him by his surname.
When Ron and Hermione went to the sink to wash the dishes and began talking amongst themselves, Harry turned to Draco and dropped his voice, �Malfoy.� There it was again, one either had to be looking for it or just abnormally observant to catch it, in Harry�s opinion.
Harry realized that the blonde was looking at him, obviously waiting for him to continue. He did not know how to go about this though. He was not sure how the pale boy would take to pity, or if he would just deny the whole notion if Harry brought it up. Therefore, he decided to take a completely different approach. �Err�Would you mind if I called you Draco from now on? It might help in convincing the others to see you separately from your family�s reputation.�
A very small smile touched the blonde�s lips as he nodded ever so slightly as he whispered, �I would like that.�
Lupin entered the room then, holding a cup of tea. �Good morning everyone;� He sat across from them and regarded the two boys with a warm smile. �How are you two feeling today?�
�Great, actually; I�m glad we came here,� Harry answered with a smile of his own.
Lupin smiled deepened and he nodded once, before turning his gaze to the blonde, looking sobered, �And how are you Draco? You came here in pretty bad shape. I imagine you�re still in some amount of pain.� His expression and tone made it clear that this was a serious question; he looked genuinely concerned.
Draco raised his eyes to meet Lupin�s, he seemed contemplative for a moment before answering, �Yes, but its nothing compared to before. I feel better than I have all year, actually. Thank you.�
The kind ex-professor seemed surprised by the sincere comment, but soon he was smiling sincerely at the pale boy. �You�re quite welcome, Draco. I�m just glad you allowed me to help you. I don�t care to think of what would have happened if you�d waited another day��

Lupin�s smile faded and he looked at the boys across from him quite seriously, still maintaining his gentle demeanour somehow. �Now, let me say that it is rather obvious that you two are, and have been, up to something. I understand that you both have good reasons to be afraid of letting anyone help,� his kind eyes turned to Harry, �But try to understand that we have been fighting this battle even longer then you know and we will continue to regardless of the consequences.�
The werewolf�s soft gaze switched to Draco; �Also know that we will always act in your best interests. We will never mistreat you or manipulate you.� He looked intently at both boys, �And the reason that we shall do all of this, and try to meddle in what you undoubtedly consider your affairs, is that we care about you; all of you.�
Ron and Hermione joined them at the table, and were included in the glance Lupin passed over the table as he made his last comment. Hermione and Ron�s eyes shifted nervously between the lycanthrope and the other two teenagers.
Harry had expected Lupin to figure out that they did not intend to stay, although he had not been sure of what kind of reaction he would have. He did not plan to tell the man -or anyone from the Order- about the Horcruxes, but he wondered if he could get Lupin to accept his departure with some level of understanding.
Before Harry could answer, however, the lycanthrope�s eyes moved to something behind the raven-haired teen. Lupin smiled vaguely as he said, �Good morning, Molly.�
�Good morning, Remus, kids. How did- Harry? Oh, Harry!� Suddenly, the named teen felt arms pulling him out of his chair, and then he was engulfed in a tight hug. �When did you get back? We were so worried about you! Wh-�
�Molly, Harry needs to breath;� Lupin�s calm and slightly amused voice commented from the direction of the table.
�Oh! Sorry, dear.� Mrs. Weasley released Harry, and she seemed to only then realize that there was another boy in the room, �And who�s you friend?� The redhead turned to the blonde with a mothering smile, �Hello, I�m Mrs. Weasley, Ron�s mother. I suppose you could call me the den mother here, really.�
As Mrs. Weasley was speaking, the silver-eyed boy stood and turned to face her, looking indifferent for the most part. Up close, however, Harry could see the trepidation in his eyes. The ashen teen politely offered a hand and introduced himself, �I�m Draco�Malfoy.�
Mrs. Weasley�s smile dimmed as she looked Draco over, but she still took his offered hand. The wan teen was watching her eyes for any sign of hostility with such intent that Harry could practically see the debate of fight or flight taking place in the other boy�s mind. He surreptitiously reached over and reassuringly placed his hand over the blonde�s thin wrist under everyone�s eye line.
A slight frown appeared on Mrs. Weasley�s face as she released Draco�s hand, and Harry felt the blonde stiffen. �Why dear, you look even worse then the kids described you during school. Who has been taking care of you since the end of term? They�ve done an awful job.�
Draco looked completely confused as she grasped his thin arms, turned him, and pushed back into his seat while talking to him like a child; �You look like you haven�t eaten properly in years. Now, just sit there and I will fix you some porridge. Actually, I don�t like your colour, you need more protein. Do you think you could hold down some eggs�and maybe a bit of sausage?�
Silver eyes darted to Harry for a moment, as if checking for signs of a joke or trap. The green-eyed boy flashed Draco a reassuring smile and sat down beside him again.
The raven-haired teen smiled at the mothering woman, �Actually Mrs. Weasley, we just ate some eggs; Hermione made them.�
�Oh, good, Harry.� Mrs. Weasley smiled before turning to the bushy-haired girl fondly, �But Hermione, dear, you know you don�t have to-�
�I know, but there�s no rule that says you have to do all the cooking,� Hermione commented.
Mrs. Weasley waved away the remark with a smile. �I know dear, but these men don�t seem to know that they need the basic food groups.� She nodded toward Harry and Draco, �Did those two eat as much as they should?�
Hermione nodded, ignoring the indignant looks cast at her by the boys. �Harry did well. I suppose Malfoy needs time for his appetite to return.�
Mrs. Weasley turned to Draco, looking serious but non-threatening; �Yes, you don�t want to push it dear, you�ll end up sick. Still�well, we�ll get you there in time� What about you, Remus? You need more than tea to start the day off.� With that, she began waving her wand and preparing enough eggs to feed the entire Weasley clan.
�Thank you, Molly,� Lupin stated mildly, �By the way, Arthur fire-called late yesterday evening. He should be stopping by a little later. I asked him to stop somewhere on his way��
Harry�s attention was drawn away from the discussion when he felt Draco leave is side. He turned in time to see the wan boy slipping out of the room in the direction of the stairs.
The bespectacled teen glanced at the others in the room; Mrs. Weasley was still speaking to Lupin and had her back turned to the others as she cooked. Lupin glanced at him for a second and gave the smallest of nods. Hermione made a motion for him to go on as she grabbed Ron�s arm to keep him still a moment longer. Ron seemed to catch on and motioned for Harry to go with a tilt of his head.
The raven-haired boy quietly stood, left the room, and headed up the stars, again trying not to alert Mrs. Weasley or Mrs. Black�s portrait of his presence (or lack there of, in the case of the former). He silently hoped that Draco had not reset the wards on the room as he slipped in. Fortunately, he had not.
Harry froze upon entering the room as if alarms had gone off anyway, however. Draco was standing near the middle of the room, with his arms wrapped around himself and his head down, looking completely lost and alone. To say that Harry had never expected to see the Slytherin look so vulnerable and exposed would be an understatement.
�Draco?� The ashen blonde started, Harry was not sure if it was at the actual verbalization of his given name or if the other boy simply had not realized that he had been followed into the room. �Are you all right?�
The silver-eyed teen turned his face away before he answered, �Yes.� He sighed heavily and Harry could swear that the blonde looked even slighter then before. �I just don�t think anything makes sense anymore� Or it suddenly does, but�� He shook his head slowly. �I just don�t understand.�
Harry began walking toward the uneasy teen, but stopped after taking a few steps when Draco turned his back to him. The green-eyed boy decided to sit on his bed instead, watching the blonde as he talked. �What don�t you understand? What�s wrong? Was it something that happened this morning or�?� He let the question trail off, hoping that Draco would fill in the rest for him.
The silver-eyed teen released a shaky breath before turning and moving to sit beside Harry, still not looking at him. �Everything that I have been taught for my entire life was a lie. I know I already told you this, but it�s just�everything I was brought up to believe was wrong. They always told me that half-breeds are uncaring and untrustworthy, but look at Lupin; he very well may be the most caring man I have ever met. There was no reason for him to help me or be so kind to me.�
Harry noticed that Draco felt and sounded distant, as though he were somewhere far away. He wondered if the drawn teen was simply thinking aloud, or if he just wanted Harry -or perhaps anyone- to understand his plight. He decided not to say anything yet, and let the blonde continue.
�Blood traitors and Muggle borns were supposed to be unsophisticated, uncultured, and ill-mannered, but Mrs. Weasley seems so�nice. A little overbearing maybe, but she just seems to want everyone around her to be comfortable and taken care of. Granger may be a bit bossy, and an insufferable know-it-all, but she�s loyal and she truly means well.�
The silver-eyed boy slowly shook his head again, sounding utterly lost and baffled. �Why would they want to be kind to me? Why would they even bother themselves with me? They must simply be decent people�and it feels like that�s so much more important than good breeding or blood purity now.�
The pallid teen�s voice took on a hint of frustration as he finished, �How could I have been so blind to everything? How could I ever expect to be forgiven for how I�ve behaved?�
Harry had been pleased to see Draco�s change of heart when they were in the park and thought the other boy would be fine now that he saw the error in the way his family taught him to think and act. He had not considered that this revelation would cause any sort of inner turmoil, and now he wondered why that was.
The raven-haired teen recalled when he had learned that his own relatives lied to him about his parents and his abilities; he had felt some bitterness, resentment, and a little hurt. He could imagine if he had been older, if it has been his parents, whom he respected, that he would have felt even worse. He also had some understanding of what it was to be angry or ashamed of your own actions, even those based off misleading information.
He thought of the bits of Hermione�s angry muttering he had caught before breakfast and realised that, as usual, she had been right. He placed a hand on Draco�s frail shoulder, which cased the blonde to tense for a moment. After a few seconds, during which neither boy moved, he relaxed under Harry�s hold. �Draco, have you ever heard the word �miracle�?�
Draco turned his head just as much as was necessary so that he could see Harry. He still looked a little lost and frightened, but it also looked like he was coming back from wherever his mind had drifted to during his months of torture. �It�s a word Muggles use to explain things done by magic�things their sciences can�t properly account for, is that right?�
Harry grinned, �No, well, yeah, in some cases. It�s used when something happens that should not be possible, like a blind person suddenly being able to see, that�s a miracle. We should be thankful that these things happened at all, and not distressed that it took however long to come about, because it could never have.�
�The blind aren�t supposed to see,� the silver-eyed boy whispered.
The bespectacled teen nodded, �But you can see now.� He gave the other boy�s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
�Hermione was right, you know�� Harry added after a brief pause, �With what she said last night. We were all just kids and we were just as bad as you were...maybe worse, since we knew better. You�ve had that pure blood nonsense pushed onto you since you were born, you didn�t know anything else. In hindsight, I think you started to consider that it was wrong earlier then last term. You stopped going out of your way to cause trouble for us; a lot of it was all the Slytherins and all the Gryffindors, not just us. Besides, we could have been better examples to prove your parents views wrong, at least in how we treated you.�
Green eyes looked down for a moment. Harry knew it would be difficult to talk about Dumbledore, but Draco was probably the one person who deserved to hear everything he thought. �About your actions last year�Dumbledore was right to appreciate the difficulty of your situation. I probably wouldn�t have done much better if I were in your shoes. I know you tried to get yourself sent to Dumbledore�s office, by the way; I think you tried to handle the situation from every angle you could think of.�
The blonde tensed again, less notably this time, and Harry gripped his shoulder tighter without thinking about the action. �When it came down to having to make your own decisions, you made the right ones. You didn�t kill him. Even after you experienced the consequences, you continued to do the right thing. You warned Lupin, you started to search for the Horcruxes, and you saved me. I think all that makes up for being a prat as a kid. About what you said regarding Lupin, Hermione, and the Weasleys, you�re right; they are decent people. That�s why they�re doing the right thing�much like you.�
For some time, they just sat there, not looking at the other, unmoving and silent. Harry could tell that Draco was contemplating what they had said, and he slowly became lost in his own thoughts as well�until a loud crack caused both boys to jump up, wands ready, as they abruptly returned their focus to the outside world.
�Kreacher!� Harry said through clenched teeth as he and Draco put their wands away and started breathing again. �You know, Dobby manages to come and go without giving everyone heart attacks. What do you want anyway? You were supposed to watch Malfoy Manor from last night throughout this afternoon. It�s only-�
Harry paused when he consulted his watch. It was nearly three. He had been sitting there with Draco for longer then he thought, but he was not going to let Kreacher off that easily. �You should have stayed longer, but what have you seen so far?�
The loathsome elf bowed low and appeared to address his own feet. �Malfoy Manor is fitting of its noble inhabitants; its elegant structure is reminiscent of-�
�Oh, not this again,� Harry said harshly, and glared down at the elf. �Kreacher, I don�t want to hear how you love the Malfoys, just tell me if anyone has been there or if you saw anything else that might prove to be a problem for us when we go there, all right?�
Kreacher replied in a bitter tone, �Kreacher will tell his master, because Kreacher has no choice, but Kreacher would still rather serve the Malfoy boy, oh yes. Not this master that befriends filthy Mudbloods and-�
Harry opened his mouth, intending to shout at the horrid elf, but Draco�s cool, quiet drawl silenced the resentful creature first, �Enough.� Kreacher stopped talking right away and turned to Draco with something close to admiration in his bloodshot eyes.
The pale Slytherin stood with perfect posture and had his usual mask of indifference in place as he fixed the elf with a cold stare. �Now, has anyone been in my family�s home for any reason? Have any of the protective spells been breached or altered? Has anything been moved or removed entirely, as far as you can tell?�
Kreacher bowed so low his nose brushed against his gnarled toes as he answered. �None of the protective spells have been breached, altered, or removed; it seems that Master Malfoy has defended his home in a manner fitting of his pure blood status. Malfoy Manor remains as guarded as the house of my poor old Mistress.�
Harry again opened his mouth to tell Kreacher to get on with it, but Draco�s cool silver eyes darting to him before returning to the elf silenced him.
�Only two people entered Malfoy Manor while Kreature watched. The first was one of my old mistress�s nieces, who married into the pure blood family of Lestrange. She came during the night, through the east entrance, and appeared to be searching for something, but Kreacher did not see her take anything. She searched Master Malfoy�s study, but was unsuccessful in opening a passage hidden by a bookshelf. She was also unable search a room located under the drawing room, one located behind a portrait in Mistress Malfoy�s sitting room, and one in your own bedroom, Young Master Malfoy.
�The second was a man who entered during the early morning, before dawn. He wore a dark cloak and Kreacher was unable to see his face. He entered through a hidden passageway located under a large yew in the southwest corner of the grounds. He was also unable to open the passages that Mistress Lestrange could not, with the exception of the one located in Master Malfoy�s study. He too, appeared to be searching, but for Young Master Malfoy, as he called out your given name while he did so.�
Harry looked at Draco. If anything that Kreacher said affected the fair boy at all, he hid it well. The raven-haired teen was about to ask the blonde about the information when his pale eyes darted to Harry again before he turned to the elf and nodded, �Very well; Good job, Kreacher. One thing though, Harry Potter is your new master and you must respect that. I will not have you muttering offensive terms under your breath where anyone might hear and possibly think less of my mother�s family name for not being able to discipline you properly. Is that clear?�
Kreacher bowed low once more. �Yes, Young Master Malfoy. Kreacher would never want to tarnish the ancient and noble name of Black. Kreacher will be more cautious in the future, and will await the day he may once again serve a proper master with blood ties to the name of Black again.�
Kreacher turned to Harry, and, while he lost the look of admiration and loyalty he showed to Draco, did not show any of his usual signs of open loathing. �Does Master wish for anything else of Kreacher?�
Harry blinked back his surprise. �Err�no, that�s it, I guess�but you still have to follow my orders from before about not leaving or talking to anyone else.�
With a bow to Harry and a much lower bow to Draco, Kreacher vanished with a crack.

�Well done. Slytherin, I presume?� The voice of Phineas Nigellus said from a painting on the wall. �Another blood traitor to add to the family tapestry or are you here against your will?�
�What do you want?� Harry said forcibly as Draco stared levelly at the portrait.

�Well, I see you still haven�t learned how to address your elders. Headmistress McGonagall sends me here from time to time to relay messages. I see you have finally stopped acting like a misunderstood adolescent and returned. Tell Mr. Lupin that she has acquiesced to his most recent requests. Thank you.� Phineas disappeared from the portrait before Harry could respond.
The bespectacled teen groaned in frustration. Now they had to sneak in and out of Malfoy Manor, convince Ron and Hermione to stay behind willingly, explain that they had to leave to Lupin and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley without actually telling them anything, and take off before they had to argue with McGonagall and half the Order in order to do so. He wondered why nothing could be easy.
He turned to look at Draco and saw the thin boy looking around the room as if it were the first time he was seeing it properly. His face and manner had lost the cold, indifferent qualities that he used around Kreacher. Harry was truly starting to believe that all of that really was just a faç
ade, and wondered if perhaps Draco was not even aware that he wore it, or if he thought he had to. Sirius had talked to Harry about his family; he expected the Malfoys to be even worse. At least Sirius� parents had not been Death Eaters themselves.
�So we are in the old Black house.� Draco�s gaze settled on Harry, �I thought I recognized that room with the boggart, and the study.� The fair boy�s tone had also lost its cool edge, and had returned to the quiet, subdued voice that he had since they formed their unusual alliance.

�You�ve been here before?� Harry did not like the thought of the elder Malfoys being in this house, even remotely recently, �When?�
�No, I haven�t been here before, at least, not in remembrance. My mother has several photos of her family in her sitting room. Some were taken here, but it looks different now.� His tone suggested that Draco thought the current look was an improvement.
Harry sat on the bed again. �What�s this about a hidden space off your mum�s sitting room anyway? There are four total in the house, right? That one, plus one in your dad�s private study, one under the drawing room, and one in your room�? Are there any more that Kreacher missed? Do you know what�s inside any of them? Wh-�
�Easy, Potter. That�s enough questions at once, if you don�t mind.� Draco resumed his seat on the bed, beside Harry, and both boys shifted around so they could look at one another as they talked. �As far as I know, there are three hidden rooms at the manor, where Kreature suggested, and there is definitely a hidden cabinet in my room�and I believe another in my parents� bedroom. I�ve never been in either of my parent�s hidden rooms or their bedroom that I can recall, and I don�t know what they keep in them. The chamber under the drawing room has mostly Dark Arts stuff and old family things in it. I�ve never spent much time in there.�
Harry was not sure if he should find any of this odd or not. On one hand, he could not envision Malfoy Manor or Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy being warm and inviting, but he still would have thought that Draco would know more about his own home. Of course, he realised that Death Eaters would have to keep their guard up, but he did not think that would be true even around their own child. He decided they should focus on the task at hand. He would be in Malfoy Manor soon enough, hopefully, then he could determine how comfortable its inhabitants might have felt.
As they were talking, Harry moved and sat crossed legged, with his back resting against the headboard, and looked across at Draco, who now sat at the foot of the bed, with his legs drawn up and his arms wrapped loosely around his knees.
�What about this man whose face Kreacher couldn�t see?� Harry asked worriedly. �He had to have been looking for you.�
Draco nodded, seeming nervous and possibly a little scared. It was hard to tell, but Harry was starting to be able to read the other boy, the trick seemed to be to watch his eyes. Harry wondered if that was why Draco never seemed to look anyone in the eyes for long. He decided to let that go for now as well.
�Do you have any idea who it might be?� Harry had his own suspicions, but figured that the silver-eyed teen might have a better idea then he.
�I�m not sure. He would have to be a Death Eater, to know about that entrance -my father never has any of his business associates use it. He was able to enter my father�s secret room, though, so he would have to know the password.� Draco appeared pensive and his voice grew softer as he thought. �I�ve only seen two other people enter it; Snape and Greyback. Snape should have been able to enter the hidden chamber though, but aunt Bellatrix should have been able to as well. Unless mother changed the password before��
Draco trailed off there, and Harry did not want to force him to talk about his mother�s current state again.
�So it would have to be Greyback or Snape then? At least, most likely?� questioned Harry. He received another nod in way of response.
The raven-haired teen had suspected a Death Eater, looking for Draco on Voldemort�s orders, or Snape looking for his own reasons. Although he was not sure what those reasons could be. He had not expected Greyback, and was not sure which he preferred. Harry did not want a werewolf known for taking pleasure in attacking children to show up while they were at Malfoy Manor, but he could not say what he would do if Snape arrived while he was there. The last time they saw each other, Snape had proved to be a much better dualist then Harry had ever imagined. However, he wanted to see Snape pay�
�It was most likely Snape,� Draco stated suddenly. Harry looked at him quizzically, not trusting himself to speak calmly on the subject of Snape and not wanting the pale Slytherin to suffer his rage. �He called my name,� the ashen boy explained, �Greyback knows better than that. I�ve always avoided him, and I would never go to him. If he was sent after me, he would try to sneak up on me.�
Harry thought that, had anyone else been in the room, they probably would find it odd or disturbing that he and Draco could talk so calmly and casually about something as frightening as having a vicious lycanthropic Death Eater possibly hunting him. Strangely enough, he found himself considering that as another advantage to having Draco join him on this task. They were both hard to intimidate�or simply had resigned themselves to their fate.
�Do you think we could get into those rooms?� the green-eyed boy questioned, pushing away the morbid thoughts rising in his mind. �I know we�re going there for books, but your father did have one of the Horcruxes before, maybe there�s another one hidden.�
Something occurred to Harry that he thought he should have questioned before now. �What do you think Lestrange was looking for? You said that she and Snape were talking about Horcruxes some time ago.�
�Arguing, more like,� Draco drawled quietly. He appeared to be recalling the event as he talked. �It seemed like she wanted to know something, or to see what he knew about it, but he wouldn�t give anything away of course.�
Harry nodded his understanding. Even he had to give Snape credit for underplaying himself. He doubted if even Dumbledore or Voldemort had ever been able to guess the full extent of his knowledge or power. �They both were there while it was dark, that�s what Kreacher said?�
�Yes, naturally, they are both known Death Eaters, and Aunt Bellatrix is supposed to be in Azkaban.� The ashen teen thought for a moment, and then added, �The Ministry is probably watching the Floo network, especially any activity around the manor, considering its history.�
�We should probably get there just after dawn, then,� Harry suggested thoughtfully. �It sounds like we�d have the best chance of avoiding anyone, we would have the most time to look, and if the Ministry is watching the place, that would be the most likely time to have a break in the watch.�
Draco opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it and turned his head to look over his shoulder at the door. A second later, a knock sounded, followed by Hermione�s voice. �Harry? Is it all right if we come in?�
Harry found it slightly odd that his friends had suddenly taken to asking permission to enter. Normally they just barged in and he did the same to them. He wondered if Draco�s presence had anything to do with it, �Yeah, of course.�
Hermione came in, followed by Ron, whose expression suggested that he did not understand why they had suddenly adopted this custom either. They sat on the bed opposite the one that Harry and Draco occupied, as they had the night before.
�Dad�s here now; he, Mum, and Lupin are talking about Order stuff, so we finally got kicked out of the kitchen. No matter how many times we remind them that we�re of age, they still refuse to acknowledge it,� Ron said irritably.
Hermione patted his knee absentmindedly. �They know Ron; they wouldn�t let Fred and George help before they�d finished school either. But they know they can�t really stop us from whatever we decide to do.� She turned her attention to Harry and Draco, �Any idea what that is yet?�
Harry filled them in on what Kreacher had reported, with Draco only speaking once or twice to remind him of a finer point that he had overlooked. Then the bespectacled teen told them what he and the blonde had made of the information and that they had concluded at arriving at dawn.
Hermione and Ron agreed with their logic, but wanted to know how they were going to get there. After some deliberation, it was decided that the four teens would Apparate onto the grounds and then slip into the manor, so as not to draw any Ministry or Death Eater attention.
Hermione and Ron left shortly after, when the sounds drifting up from the kitchen implied that it was all right to go back and question Ron�s parents. Harry and Draco began a hushed conversation on the best way to enter the manor, which somehow turned into an amusing conversation about accidental uses of magic. Draco mentioned a passage he had found while looking for a hiding place as a small child, after accidentally falling asleep in his father�s study and causing pandemonium when he lost control of his magic during a nightmare.
Harry�s eyes were watering with mirth as he recounted the time he accidentally inflated his aunt Marge like a giant helium balloon, when the sound of a throat clearing itself drew their attention to the doorway, where Lupin stood, wearing an amused and fond smile.
Harry hastily blinked away the extra moisture in his eyes, and tried to calm his silent giggles, �Hi, Lupin�we- What?� His vision finally cleared enough for him to notice the expression on Lupin�s face.
�Nothing, just the two of you remind me of James and Sirius when we were boys.� Lupin�s smile remained as he spoke.
Harry was somewhat floored by the statement. He was used to being compared to his father, and Draco was related to Sirius, but he still had not expected such a similarity to be suggested.
�Oh, Phineas Nigellus asked us to tell you that McGonagall has acquiesced to your most recent requests.� Draco said as he turned on the bed to look at Lupin, and Harry wondered how the other boy had remembered the exact wording when he barely seemed to be paying attention. �Sorry, we got a little sidetracked.�
Lupin�s smile only grew, �That�s quite all right. I�m glad to hear it though.� He was still watching the boys fondly; �I�m also glad to see you both finally looking comfortable. We were beginning to worry that you would -but never mind; I just wanted to tell you that dinner would be ready soon.�
Both boys thanked him and stated that they would be down soon. With a small nod, the werewolf turned, but stopped abruptly and faced the teens again. �By the way, Draco, one of those request were to have the Order look in on your mother from time to time. I thought it might be a good idea and I�m sure you�ll feel better knowing this.�
Draco stared at Lupin for a minute, apparently too shocked or moved to speak for the moment. Finally, he nodded and whispered, �Thanks.�
Lupin left and Harry and Draco looked at one another. �Definitely the most considerate person I�ve ever met�well, aside from you. Maybe it�s a Gryffindor thing�� Draco pondered, causing Harry to chuckle.
�Well, Slytherins can�t be all bad I suppose, after all, I was almost placed there.�
�Really�? That would explain all those redeeming qualities of yours,� Draco drawled with a slight smile, which Harry returned.
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Harry Potter and the Unusual Alliance