Shadow Play

Chapter 8: Talks and Roses



“Draco, what’s up?”



Draco turned from the window when the first winter snow fell gently from the silver grey clouds. December came cold and every student rushed from class to class to keep out of the chilly corridors. Draco had been standing by the window watching the snow fall when Black up to him and stood beside him to watch the snow fall.



“Beautiful day,” said Black putting his hands in his pocket. He wore a red sweater and a Christmas with red, green and white strips.



“Yes,” said Draco.



“Congratulations on the Slytherin/Ravenclaw match,” said Black. “That move Morgan Montague did was brilliant. I wouldn’t have thought of it.”



“She heard of a move Potter did during his time here and improvised on it,” said Draco. “She’s brilliant on a broom. If she works at it, she could make it to a national team.”



He nodded and looked out the window. Watching the match brought back memories of his time as House Seeker and all the other time he flew on his broom. Harry had always loved to fly and flying on an airplane wasn’t the same as a broom. It was too confining and he had feared the plane would crash and second.



“Want to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow,” asked Black. Draco looked at Black in surprise.



“Go on is out….on a date?” asked Draco nervously. Black laughed in embarrassment.



“Actually I was thinking I could hang out with a friend for a bit but if you want to go on a date…..” Black let the question hang and looked over at Draco.



“Hang out with a friend is fine with me,” said Draco with a smile. Black smiled back.



“I was hoping you were going to say that,” said Black. “I have some Christmas shopping to do. I have to get some gifts for the Weasley’s and my friends overseas. Second option and all that. Kids stuff are the hardest.”



“You have kids?” asked Draco curiously. Black shook his head.



‘No, just Ron and Hermione’s and a friend has a son overseas. I do think of them as my niece and nephews. I love kids. I always wanted a family.”



“Do you have any kids?” asked Draco. Black paused for a moment before speaking again.



“I’ll meet you in the courtyard at nine,” he said. “Is that all right with you?”



“You’re avoiding the question, Black,” said Draco. “Why won’t you answer the question?”



“I believe that’s a question I have no right to answer,” said Black walking away “I’ll see you later, Draco.”



And he left, leaving a very confused Draco.



xxxxxxxxxxx



“You asked him out?!” asked Hermione a while later. She had asked Harry to join her on a visit to see Ron and the kids that weekend. When he refused, she asked why and he explained. Hermione had stared at him in shock for a minute before getting over it. “On a date?!”



“I asked him to hand out with me for the day,” said Harry. “It’s not a date.”



“If it quakes like a duck, it has to be a duck. You’re sure you’re not filming me here, ‘cause it’s not funny.”



Harry smiled. “Look, Hermione, he doesn’t have any friends except Parkinson and Zabini, sees his mother once a month and his father’s six feet under. He spends his whole time in this school.” He sat back in his chair. “He’s messed up like Snape, paranoid and only living on past regrets.”



“I’m amazed you said that,” Harry,” said Hermione. “After all the torture he put you through, you held great respect the man.”



“I still do, I just don’t want anyone else to wind up like him,” said Harry sipping his cup of coffee. After a thoughtful moment he added cream.



“And you think Malfoy could be heading down that road,” asked Hermione.



“Draco is down that road.” Harry too a sip of his coffee, nodded in satisfaction and took another sip. He sat back in his chair with melancholic sigh. “My mother left her childhood friend, married my dad and never spoke to Snape again. All because Snape made a mistake all those years ago. Draco makes the same mistakes, but I’m going to do the one thing Mum never did with Snape. Forgive him.”



“But Malfoy was never our friend. Snape was your mother’s friend. There was betrayal in what Snape did to Lily. Malfoy never betrayed us.”



“In a way, he did,” said Harry leaning forward. “At least to me. A rival is either wants three thing from their opponent; a reason to push himself forward, or someone who truly hates their opponent, or someone who secretly wants to be the other person’s friend. Draco is of the third reason. We pushed each other to our limits, as any rival would, and in a way that made us friends. And when he became a Death Eater, my heart stopped for a second. I was in shock because a boy I saw as a bully had just became a villain. I felt like what Mum did with Snape all those years ago. I felt betrayed.”



“And now?” asked Hermione.



“He’s lost, like a lot of us.” ‘Like me.’



xxxxxxxxxxx



The next morning Draco woke early and started going through his closet, trying to decide on what to wear. Ishara was just curling out of her hiding place and looking for a meal. Draco quickly feed her a mouse and went back to his closet. He wanted to wear something that would compliment the outfit he knew Black was going to wear. But he had more formal clothes then casual because of his role as a teacher, and the casual clothes he did have were fashionable. After a quick shower he went through his closet again.



And that was how Pansy found him an hour later, changing outfits around on his bed our Hovering in the air.



“Big date,” she asked in a teasing voice. Draco looked over at her with a glare.



“It’s no a date!” he said angrily, a slight embarrassed blush to his cheek. “I’m just going to spend the day with Black.”



“Going out with James Black? It sounds like a date.”



“He calls it two friends hanging out.”



“Must me a Muggle thing,” said Pansy looking at the pile of clothes that occupied Draco’s bed. “But you want to be more then friends?”



“I didn’t say that,” said Draco looking at the casual green shirt and black pants. He set the pants down and picked up another.”



“You didn’t say it vocally but the way you acted did.” Walking over toe the pile Pansy pulled out a casual white shirt, green sweater vest and black pants. “Wear these.”



Draco took the cloths, gave them a quick once over and shrugged. “Better then nothing,” he said and Pansy laughed.



“Oh, I’ll bet Black would love that,” she said.



“Ha-ha,” said Draco picking up the clothes and head to his bathroom to change. A half hour later he walked out to the courtyard to meet Black. The man was already waiting for him in the courtyard, leaning against a wall and watched the snow fall. He wore a grey shirt that had a red fire emblem on its right shoulder and blue jeans. He didn’t wear a robe but a Muggle jacket and his silver earring was in place. He looked up when Draco arrived and smiled.



“Ready to go,” he asked and Draco nodded. Black still smiled and lead Draco down the path to Hogmeade.



“Three Broomsticks or Honeydukes,” asked Draco.



“Actually, there is a new book in Hodgrins I wanted to get,” said Black somewhat nervous.



“Which book?”



“The Merlin Chronicles,” said Black with an embarrassed tone. Draco looked at him in surprise.



“You read The Merlin Chronicles?” said Draco.



“Yea, I know they’re not very popular and are probably only read for their historical content more then the story line….”



“Oh no, that’s not it,” said Draco. “It’s just that I read The Merlin Chronicles too.”



“You do,” asked Black in surprise.



“Yes. You didn’t know?”



Black shook his head. “No, I’ve never met anyone else who reads The Merlin Chronicles, well except Hermione, and she only read them for their historical content.”



“Yes, I read them all the time. I have a set at him and at the school in my chambers. Have you read the one where he’s trapped by the dragon? Do you think it’s still there?”



“Probably just bones, now,” said Black. “What about the one with the griffins?”



“He’s probably the reason why they’re afraid of bees,” said Draco and both laughed.



They walked dot the bookstore and each grabbed a copy of the newest Merlin Chronicles. Harry also grabbed a copy of Nimue in Love for Hermione, hoping that a bit of fiction would take her mind off text books, and The Wizard’s Brigade for Rose who was as much as a book lover as her mother. Draco was looking over new potion books.



They left a few minutes later, each with a package bag in hand. They made a few more stops before buying sweets at Honeydukes and going to the Three Broomsticks.



“So, beside a teacher, what other jobs did you have?” asked Draco as they waited for their butterbeer. A fireball floated in the middle of the table to cast a soft glow and warmth for their cold hands.



“Well, they all were Muggle,” said Black. “This is the first wizard job I’ve had. I was a waiter, a tour guide for the Loch Ness, a Broadway actor, and a racer.”



“What did you race,” asked Draco.



“Cars,” said Black as Rosemerta handed them mugs of butterbeer. “The only was keeping the engine running.”



“Do they really use oil to get cars to move?” asked Draco. Black nodded.



“Yeah,” he said taking a sip. “It’s actually called gasoline.” And he went into basic car mechanics. Draco tried to go alone but it was more difficult them potions in his opinion, but he listened attentively.



“Did you have to repair any cars,” he asked. Black seemed surprised that Draco was interested in a Muggle invention.



“A few times without a wand. It was messy but it was actually fun to solve a problem.”



“Which job was the worst?”



“The tour guide, definitely,” said Black. “The tourists were always complaining.”



“Sounds like the student,” said Draco and both laughed. “Which was your favorite?”



“So far, racing. It the closest to flying that Muggles can get in my opinion.” Black picked up his mug and smiled at Draco. “But I think I could get into teaching.”



Draco smiled as they drank their butterbeer and continued to talk. They talked about Quidditch, books and music. The talk continued till Rosemerta closed shop and they walked back to the castle.



“Do you mind if I walk you to your room,” asked Black.



“I think you asked me that one not long ago,” said Draco smiling.



“Oh, and what was your answer?” Black was also smiling. He didn’t know why but this Draco Malfoy was interesting to be around then the bully Draco Malfoy had been.



“I believe I said no,” said Draco.



“And now?”



“I think I can handle it.” Both smiled and Black hold out his arm theatrically. Draco laughed, took Black’s arm and Black lead Draco in the school. The students were already at dinner and Black and Draco were hungry, only drinking butterbeer and eating finger foods all day.



“How was your time at Hogsmead,” asked Hermione as they sat down and Harry smiled at her.



“I’m not telling you what I got you for Christmas,” he said.



“Oh man, said Hermione humorously. “I thought I had you this time.”



Harry laughed and turned to see a smiling Malfoy. Dinner was spaghetti, garlic bread and salad and it appeared with as much grace as Harry remembered. Large horned owl flew in the haled with a large rectangular package. Harry’s face paled when the owl landed in front of him.



“Who knows you’re here,” asked Hermione under her breath.



“No one,” said Harry as Malfoy reached for the card tied to the box.



“‘I’ll continue to wait till we’re together again’,” read Malfoy. “Do you have a girlfriend, Black?”



“Not that I know of,” said Harry taking the card.



“A boyfriend?” asker Hermione and Draco looked at her curiously. Harry didn’t answer. His gaze was fixed on the card. “Ha-Hey, James, are you all right?”



When Harry didn’t answer the second time Hermione reached over and opened the box. And screamed. Everyone turned to Harry, Hermione and Malfoy. Pansy jumped from her seat with a look of disgust. Inside the box was a dozen of what had been white roses, but where now rottened and moldy with maggots crawling around it.



“Good God,” said Hermione covering her mouth to keep from being sick.



“That’s disgusting,” said Pansy.



“I think I’ve lost my appetite,” said Malfoy gulping down the bile that threatened to exit his throat.



“Agreed,” said Harry taking out his want. “Evanesceo.”



The note, roses and insects disappeared and Harry left the Great Hall. Hermione and Malfoy lolled him, leaving Pansy to settle down the students.



“James, wait up,” called Hermione finally catching up with Harry and Malfoy caught his arm.



“Black, what’s wrong?” he asked. “Do you know who sent the card? There was no name.”



“Someone I thought I left behind along time ago,” said Harry.



“Who?” asked Hermione.



“I don’t want to talk about it,” said Harry in a stern voice and turned to leave.



“But…”



“I said I don’t wan to talk about it!” Both Hermione and Malfoy jumped at the intensity of Harry’s voice and when a gush of wind almost blew them off their feet. Harry paused to collect himself and sighed. “I’m sorry, but this is something I want to forget.”



Hermione made a protest but Malfoy touched her arm to silence her.



“It’s all right, Black,” said Malfoy. “We understand, and we won‘t bother you about it again. But if you’re ready to talk, we’re her to listen.”



Harry sighed grateful. “Thanks,” he said and looked at Hermione.



“I’ll still be worried through,” she said giving Harry what she hoped was a cheerful smile. Harry smiled back.



“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. After kissing Hermione on the cheek in gratitude he smiled at Malfoy and left for his chambers, his fist clutched tight. When he was out of sight Hermione turned to Malfoy.



“Thanks for stopping me, Malfoy,” she said. “I was about to say something stupid and I would have made him madder. Even after all these years I can’t keep my mouth shut.”



“I know the feeling,” said Malfoy. “But save some of that anger for the students. They’ll need it more, and I understand his reasons on keeping secrets. There are some things even friends shouldn’t know about. Not yet anyway.” He turned to her in thought. “You care about him. Like you do for Potter.”



“There are times when I think he is Harry,” she said softly as a voice called out and they turned to see Harding walking toward them.



“What’s this I hear about James getting rotten flowers,” he asked.



“We’re trying to keep it quiet for the students,” said Malfoy.



“Do you know who sent it to him,” asked Harding looking over at Hermione.



“The card wasn’t signed,” said Hermione with a red face. “We don’t know who sent it.”



Harding nodded thoughtfully and turned to Malfoy.



“I heard you and James had a date today,” he said. Draco could hear a bit of jealousy and anger in his voice.



“It wasn’t a date,” said Malfoy. “We just spent the day together and talked.”



“That’s what a date means,” said Harding with a tight tone. Draco could feel the anger coming from the other man.



“I don’t think any of this is your business,” he said in a voice he used to order reluctant students to do what they were supposed to. Harding just shrugged and smile.



“I was just curious,” he said. “I didn’t mean any harm by it.” He turned to Hermione. “How have you been, ‘Mione?”



“All right,” she said a bit surprised.



“How is your husband? Ron, isn’t it? And your children, Rose, Hugo and Julian?”



“They’re fine,” she said eve more surprised. “Thank you for asking.”



Harding smiled handsomely at her and left. Hermione watched him leave with surprise confusion.



“That was strange,” she said.



“What do you mean, Granger,” asked Malfoy.



“How did he know my d’s and Ron’s names,” she asked. “And the nickname Harry and Ron gave me, only they call me “’Mione”.”



Draco watched the American teacher leave with a confused frown.



TBC