Unlocking Harry Potter

Chapter Thirty-Nine

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Later, when all his roommates were asleep, Harry snuck out of the room under his invisibility cloak. Ginny had slipped a plain looking envelope into Harry's pocket while the Gryffindors carried the assortment of parchment and presents up to the tower after breakfast. Despite the cold air, or perhaps because of it as it would keep everyone else away, Harry settled atop the tallest tower in Hogwarts to open the only Valentine he actually had wanted to get.

Harry remembered fondly that he first met Charlie where he was sitting just then. He never would have guessed then what his relationship with the dragon handler would become. Of course, the precise definition of their relationship was a complete mystery to Harry. Both of them had full reign to see whoever they wanted, but Harry found he wasn't all that interested in dating anyone at Hogwarts. There just wasn't a chance of finding another student who could actually understand him.

He had a suspicion that Charlie wasn't seeking out other company either. Harry shoved those thoughts aside, as he had vowed not to be in a relationship with anyone until Voldemort died. It was just too dangerous for him, and especially for the other person involved. He opened the envelope carefully and took out a long letter, along with a card.

He read the letter first, getting a detailed description of the attack on the Romanian Dragon Preserve. Fred and George had returned to England and were entrusted to send the letter from Hogsmeade so that it couldn't get intercepted. It had also been charmed so they couldn't peek before sending it. Harry read all about their trips to the various dragon colonies all over the globe.

Charlie was as busy as Harry suspected. Some of the dragons had been injured in the attack and they were being nursed back to health. Several new dragons had arrived, many of them juveniles that had been found without their parents. A few handlers had also disappeared, but none that Harry knew personally.

Once he finished the letter Harry pulled out the card. Inside was a picture of Harry and Charlie from the party the dragon handlers had held for Harry that summer. They were sitting on top of a long table. Charlie had his arm across Harry's shoulders and they were both holding up steins of lager in a toast. They both drank from their steins and smiled brightly at each other. The inscription on the card was simple.

Harry,

Happy Valentine's Day

Miss you,

Charlie

Harry smiled. His card had been similar, and he had cornered Hermione in the library one day to help him set a barrage of curses on it should anyone other than Charlie open it. Before he could spend too long looking at the picture, or tormenting himself with wondering exactly what he was doing with the second eldest Weasley sibling, Harry heard footsteps and the door to the top of the tower started to open.

Harry tucked the card and picture in his pocket with the letter and pulled on his invisibility cloak. He checked to make sure his fake wand was in place. The door opened and another student joined him. When he stepped out of the shadow of the door Harry groaned, a bit louder than he intended, thus announcing his presence.

"Who's there?" the other sixth year boy had his wand out and pointed in Harry's general direction.

Harry had his own wand in hand in a second, if only for show, and tossed back the hood of his cloak, "Fuck Malfoy, can I get a moment's peace in this school?"

"Potter," the Slytherin sneered, "as a prefect I have every right to give you detention for being out of your common room."

"Go right ahead," Harry sighed and took his cloak the rest of the way off. "So long as you leave me the hell alone I don't give a rat's ass what you do."

Malfoy glared at him, "So high and mighty Potter. The Dark..." Harry's own glare intensified, nearly equaling what Snape used to aim at him, and Malfoy's faltered. The Slytherin lowered his wand and leaned back against the door, his head hitting it with a 'thud', "Look Potter, I'm just not up to this tonight. If you insist on staying up here do you think we can forgo with all the usual crap?"

Harry took a step forward and studied Malfoy carefully. He opened up his empathy and sensed that the other boy was... distraught... confused... strained.

"I think I can manage Malfoy," Harry said softly. "Let's make a deal. For the next hour or so there's no war, no dark lords, no House rivalries, no surnames."

Malfoy blinked at him in surprise. Harry had definitely stunned the blond. "That actually sounds like a nice change Po-, I mean Harry."

Harry smiled and tucked his wand back its holster. Malfoy's disappeared up his sleeve as well. It was the idea behind the agreement more than the words themselves that was important. "So Draco, what brings you out in the cold after curfew?"

"I've got a lot on my mind?" Malfoy responded. He was wary and somewhat off balance. Harry felt just a bit guilty for having the upper hand. With his empathy he could sense the emotion behind everything the Slytherin said. That didn't mean he wouldn't use every advantage he had though. "And you?"

"I needed some privacy," Harry answered honestly. "I didn't want to share all my mail with the rest of the school today."

Malfoy raised his eyebrows and Harry detected honest curiosity, "Got yourself a girlfriend Harry?"

Harry shook his head and sighed, "I won't endanger anyone's life that way, but I do like having a private life of some sort."

"Nothing's private in your life," Malfoy snorted.

"You'd be surprised," Harry smirked, as he had picked up from spending so much time with his father. "I have my share of secrets."

"You're different," Malfoy observed with a calculating gaze. "You look almost... Slytherin right now."

Harry could feel a twinkle forming in his eyes to go along with the smirk, "I was almost a Slytherin, but the hat and I decided differently after a while. I've just been exploring that side a bit lately."

Malfoy raised his eyebrows in genuine surprise, "I wonder..." He didn't finish the thought, but he didn't need to. Harry had wondered the same thing himself many times. "Harry, I..." Harry sensed an internal struggle. "Swear a wizard's oath Harry. Nothing we say tonight goes any further, not even your sidekicks can know." Malfoy was desperate.

"I swear it, so long as you do the same," Harry looked Malfoy in the eye. Malfoy had grown taller than him that year. "I swear not to repeat anything you tell me tonight without your express permission."

"I swear not to repeat anything you tell me tonight without your express permission," Malfoy repeated his words and held out his hand. They shook on the agreement and Harry felt a surge of magic sealing their pact.

"Whoa," Harry felt his eyes widen. "That was..."

"You felt it?" Malfoy said, astonished. Harry just nodded, still tingling all over. "I've always known you'd be powerful," Malfoy said. Harry felt a little bitterness, and maybe regret? "I knew the first time we met, on Diagon Alley that day."

"I remember," Harry said with a sigh. He had been so young and naive then. "I was so confused. I had no idea what you were talking about, any of it."

Malfoy looked confused, "But you..."

Harry shook his head, "I didn't even know magic was real until that day. My relatives," Harry couldn't help the sarcasm that laced that word, "swore they'd 'stamp it out of me' when they took me in. I was treated no better than most wizards treat house elves until Hagrid saved me."

"Your scars..." Malfoy trailed off, "Bastards." Harry nodded agreement. Malfoy looked out over the grounds. Harry could feel the turmoil, the longing, and didn't interrupt while Malfoy was thinking. "Did you know the Slytherins have been ordered to back off you somewhat?"

"Yeah," Harry admitted. "I take it you know something about a prophecy?"

Malfoy snorted, "You-Know-Who's obsessed with the damn thing. I think everyone who's related to one of his servants knows. Father had me keeping my ears open all last year in case you slipped."

"I...," Harry felt something in his throat catch. "I didn't know... not until it was too late... and then Siri..."

"Mother mentioned something about it. He was her cousin," Malfoy sounded apologetic and Harry took a few deep breaths to get himself under control. "Tell me something Harry. Is the Dark Lord really a half-blood?"

Harry nodded, "His real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, Jr. It's an anagram," Harry took out his wand and showed Malfoy, just as Riddle had showed him. "His mother was a witch and his father a muggle. He left her when he found out, before Voldemort was even born, and she still named him after his father. She died in childbirth and he was raised in a muggle orphanage."

"How do you know?" Malfoy was looking for some truth Harry realized. If Voldemort was such a hypocrite, then it was possible that everything Malfoy had been taught was a lie.

"He told me," Harry said plainly and Malfoy looked startled. "Actually it was his sixteen-year-old self preserved in a diary that your father slipped into Ginny's cauldron so it could possess her and start the whole Chamber of Secrets thing our second year." Malfoy just blinked. Harry focused and felt tremendous confusion from the Slytherin.

"I suspect he's actually less than half-blood now, with how he was resurrected," Harry voiced a theory he had formed after his talk with Snape about bloodlines. "He used his father's bones, my blood, and Pettigrew's hand. He didn't call his Death Eaters until after it was over. I doubt any of them really know what he is. If they want to rid the world of everything muggle they should start with him."

"My father was there that night wasn't he?" Malfoy asked. Harry was surprised. He figured the Slytherin knew everything that had happened, more or less.

"Yeah Draco," Harry said firmly with a bit of disgust. "I saw Lucius crawl on his hands and knees to kiss the hem of Voldemort's robe and beg forgiveness. I don't know what you plan on doing when you graduate Draco, but if you take the Mark be prepared for pain. I saw him Crucio your aunt just because Neville dropped the prophecy last spring. He tortures his followers about as much as he does his enemies, maybe even more since they're around him more."

Harry's voice was impassioned and vibrant. He could feel Malfoy wavering, uncertain. "Voldemort abandoned your father there that night. He sent twelve Death Eaters to trap me, and there were only six of us. Six students, two of them in fourth year and one of them Neville, and we survived against twelve Death Eaters for at least an hour before help came. Voldemort didn't show up until the end, and he ran from Dumbledore and the Aurors that started Flooing in."

Harry's scar pain had been steadily increasing that night. Just the way the pain hit him had become an indicator of the reason behind it. Slow building was generally associated with Voldemort being pleased. When Voldemort was furious it hit Harry swift and hard. The pain potions Harry was using at full dose again weren't working quite as well. He suspected that his body had started to build a resistance, but he only had a month to go before that part would all be over... hopefully.

Malfoy seemed to be digesting what Harry had said. Harry could see why Snape had wanted Harry to feel out Malfoy. There had never been a question about where Harry would stand in this war that was escalating. There were a bunch of Slytherins that had grown up pampered in the aftermath of the first war, raised on Death Eater ideals but not having to lift a finger, and they could be persuaded.

"Do you think you'll win?" Malfoy asked Harry, some hope behind his words.

"Yes," Harry answered with certainty, "I know I will."

"How can you be so sure?" Malfoy was skeptical.

Harry looked directly into the gray eyes and intentionally projected his emotions strongly, "Imagine a world where Voldemort has triumphed. The Ministry would be gone. St. Mungo's would be gone. Hogwarts would be destroyed. Every pureblood who opposes Voldemort, along with every half-blood and muggle-born, will be dead. More than half the population of our world... exterminated. It won't stop there. Once he has Britain he'll want more. He'll take Beauxbaton, Durmstrang, the American schools, the Asian schools. The muggle governments will fall. Our world won't be secret anymore. If he has his way he'll turn the world into a slaughterhouse."

Malfoy looked paler than usual and Harry continued to drive his point home, "He gets pleasure, literally, from torturing people, regardless of their ancestry. He's a sadistic megalomaniac. If he succeeds in this ethnic cleansing that the Death Eaters claim as their goal he won't stop. Tell me Draco, do you like the wizarding world? Do you really think people like Hermione, Justin, and Dean deserve to die excruciating deaths because of what their parents are?"

Malfoy shook his head. He looked like he might be sick at any moment. He had paid rapt attention to Harry's picture of a Voldemort victorious future.

"That's why I know I'll win Draco," Harry said in a soft, strained voice, "because I have to, because of what will happen if I fail. You're smart and powerful. You have a strong presence and the ability to influence people. Do you want to use all that as the servant of a sadistic half-blood with a grudge against his father? Do you want to use it to destroy the world you have the ability to lead someday?"

"No," Malfoy half-whispered, his face blank, and then stronger, "No." Harry could practically feel the Slytherin's heart pounding in his chest. He knew Malfoy felt lost, disillusioned. His world was crashing down around him. Harry knew that feeling well. "Do you really think all those things about me?"

Harry nodded, "I don't particularly like you, or what you say about me and my friends, but I know intelligence and power when I see it. If you wanted to make our world a better place you could do it the smart way, the Slytherin way. Use that cunning the sorting hat says you all have. You saw last year the kind of power Fudge can wield. He's an imbecile and a coward and he lets his fears rule his actions. If someone powerful was in his place, someone with a conscience and who knew how to get things done, they could really make changes."

Malfoy looked at Harry suspiciously. Harry was looking up at the sky, not needing to look at Malfoy to know how he was feeling. "You don't want me to be Minister. What if I made a law that no one with muggle blood could attend Hogwarts, or get a Ministry job?"

"You're not that stupid," Harry said casually in response. He could feel himself starting to sweat a bit as he fought to hold back the pain.

"Why?" Malfoy was curious now, and a bit flattered.

"I had a talk with someone not long ago about genetics and bloodlines," Harry prayed that Malfoy would be easier to convince than Snape was at his age. "If there was no more muggle blood in our gene pool the wizarding world would disappear. It might take another thousand years, but there would be no more magic. Do you know what happens if first-cousins marry and have children?" Malfoy nodded in the corner of Harry's vision. "Is there a pureblooded witch or wizard in this school that you are not somehow related to?"

"No," Malfoy answered. "We're all related, even the Weasleys are cousins however many times removed."

Harry nodded, "I know. I saw the Black family tapestry. Your mother has a sister who was disowned because the man she married was a muggle-born. Your cousin is an Auror, and a damn good one at that... clumsy but good."

"You've met her?" Malfoy looked at Harry in amazement.

"She came to the Ministry to try to save my ass that night," Harry told Malfoy with a smile that just thinking about Tonks brought to his face. "If you want, I can get her to come here and introduce you to her."

Malfoy nodded slowly, "I think..." He swallowed slowly. "I think I'd like that."

"Just let me know when and I'll see what I can do," Harry gripped the parapet so hard his knuckles were turning white.

"What's wrong?" Malfoy noticed Harry's death grip on the side of the castle. Harry was almost shocked to feel concern emanating from the other boy.

Harry looked down and shook his head... and saw black robed figure crossing the grounds towards the gate. Snape had been summoned. Harry crossed to the other side of the tower, drawing Malfoy to where he couldn't see his Head of House leaving for a Death Eater meeting. About halfway across the stones the pain flared and Harry stumbled. He fell to his knees and cursed viciously.

"Harry?" Malfoy was close to panic of some sort. If he wasn't actually concerned for Harry he was concerned for what could happen to him if something happened to Harry when they were alone, "Potter!"

"Just... just don't hex me or anything," Harry gritted his teeth. "It could be bad for both of us." Harry knew he could lash out when he was like this, and this momentary truce with Malfoy might not protect him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Malfoy demanded, closer to being the way Harry knew him.

"He's really happy about something," Harry said with a harsh laugh that he couldn't stop. The laughs kept coming and he tried to clamp down his barriers, hold it off. He had left himself wide open to sense Malfoy and he couldn't shut himself down now.

"Fuck," Malfoy cursed softly in dawning realization. "You need Pomfrey... or Dumbledore."

The door swung open then, and a very irritated Remus Lupin strode onto the tower, "What are you two doing up here in the middle of the night? Ten points from Slytherin and Gryffindor both."

"Lup...," Malfoy started and swallowed, "Professor... he's... he's..."

"I know Mr. Malfoy," Remus said sharply. He kneeled down in front of Harry and gripped his shoulders. "Block it Harry. Shut him out."

"Can't," Harry felt a tear running down his cheek, his eyes wide and frightened as the cruel laughter was forced out of him, "too late." He shut his eyes against the pain and tried to concentrate.

There was the tinkle of glass as Remus brought a vial out of his pocket. He tilted Harry's head back forcefully, "Make yourself useful Malfoy and hold him!" The potion was poured in his mouth and Harry thought he swallowed at least half of it, the rest dripping down onto his robes. The pain faded a bit but it wasn't enough. "Let him go now," hands released his head. "Harry I'm sorry." Even through the pain and the insane joy Harry could feel anguish from the werewolf.

He knew why when an open hand impacted hard against his cheek, shocking Harry back to the moment. Harry was breathing heavily as he fell to the ground, catching himself with his hands. He struggled and got his barriers into place, blocking the worst of the emotion fed through his scar.

"Thank you Remus," Harry said with effort. His cheek stung and would bruise if it wasn't healed soon. He looked up and saw that Remus's eyes were bright and pained and full of guilt for striking Harry. Harry reached out and touched his cheek, "Don't Moony. You had to. You're nothing like them... I know."

Remus nodded and looked up at the Slytherin standing behind Harry. Harry could tell Malfoy was bewildered, but there was sympathy and... guilt was there as well. Harry felt Malfoy examining the past five plus years.

"Mr. Malfoy..."

Harry cut him off, "This all comes under our agreement Draco. Everything you heard and saw tonight..."

"I know more about a wizard's oath than you Harry," Malfoy said with only a touch of the usual disdain. "If I repeated any of this I'd be forsworn and in your debt. I don't like you... but I don't hate you either. I am a Malfoy. No... I am the Malfoy." The pride in his voice was strong and unmistakable. "If Father had remembered what that means perhaps he wouldn't be rotting away in prison somewhere. He wouldn't be a branded slave. Malfoys do not serve. Malfoys have honor."

Remus was looking up at the young aristocrat with respect. Harry could feel that he was impressed, "Twenty points to Slytherin Mr. Malfoy, for thinking for yourself. Go back to your dorm before I reconsider detention for both of you."

Harry looked back, wincing at the effect twisting his head had, and saw Malfoy almost literally swelling with pride. He looked down at Harry, "I'll contact you about that meeting."

Harry just barely nodded and watched Malfoy sweep through the door with a stride that would have impressed Snape. He let himself collapse to the ground, lying on his side with the cold of the stones against his scar, a wonderful contrast to his burning forehead. Remus was still kneeling down by him and picked Harry up with what felt like no effort at all.

"Dad's cloak," Harry said against Remus's chest. Remus nodded and summoned the invisibility cloak, handing it to Harry.

Remus carried him down the spiraling steps and to the staff quarters. Harry spoke the password to Snape's quarters and they entered, headed for Harry's bedroom. Harry was grateful for the soft mattress of his bed. There was a tingle as a healing charm eliminated all evidence of the bruise forming on his cheek.

"What on Earth did you say to him?" Remus asked, his voice tinged with awe.

"Told him what would happen if the half-blood dark lord won," Harry muttered, emotionally and physically exhausted.

"The meeting?" Remus questioned.

"Tonks," Harry said, "she's his first cousin, his only."

Remus seemed almost surprised as he responded, "So she is. I nearly forgot Andy and Narcissa were sisters."

"Dad got called," Harry said a little fearfully. "Saw him leaving... Malfoy didn't see... wait with me?"

"Sure Harry," Remus's voice was soft and soothing. He held Harry's hand and Harry squeezed when the surges came.

"Don't let me sleep," Harry nearly pleaded. "It's worse when I'm asleep."

Remus helped Harry sit up and sat down on the bed next to him. He held Harry as Harry bit his lip and squeezed Remus's hand.

"Would Sirius be mad?" Harry asked the only one who could answer a question that had been tormenting him for months. "Would he be mad about Dad, and Malfoy, and that I'm not like James?"

"He probably would be," Remus admitted sadly, "but without reason, and without the right. Sirius was kind and caring and brave, and also reckless and cruel and confused and judgmental. His childhood was worse than yours Harry, and he saw Slytherin, and consequently the Snapes and the Blacks and the Malfoys and Voldemort and the Death Eaters, as the source of his pain.

"There was a very good reason James never told him about Severus. Someday, it's possible that Draco Malfoy and Ron could get past their family names and get along, but that was never possible for Sirius. Most of his scars couldn't be seen. James and I knew that better than anyone. I'm still not sure if Peter ever understood."

"Sometimes," Harry's muscles tightened and he felt his eyes burn but not all from pain. His hands formed into fists, "I get mad at him... for coming to the Ministry... for what he did your fifth year... for comparing me to James. I miss him so much... but Mrs. Weasley and Hermione were right."

Remus's hold on Harry tightened, "It took me months to even begin to forgive Sirius for that night, and I never trusted him again until just recently. I blamed him for James and Lily not only because I thought he was the spy, but because what he did... when he sent Severus to the Shack... it tore the Marauders apart. There were other things that changed our friendship, but that was the big one. The trust was gone, and after we graduated I isolated myself rather than making things uncomfortable. I still saw them... but I distanced myself so I wouldn't get hurt again."

"It's not your fault Remus," Harry said, knowing what was coming next, recognizing the guilt and self-effacing that he often felt.

"I owe you an explanation Harry," Harry tried to object but Remus wouldn't let him. "You weren't delivered to your aunt and uncle until the night of November first, the night after James and Lily were killed. You spent that day here at Hogwarts. Madam Pomfrey examined you that day, and Hagrid watched after you. I heard that Minerva spent the day as a cat, watching your aunt and Dudley. She tried to stop Dumbledore from leaving you there.

"Sirius spent that day tracking down Peter. Halloween was a full moon, but as soon as I heard what happened I came here to hear it directly from Albus. Werewolves lose strength as they age Harry and I could probably arm wrestle Hagrid and win still. I've lived longer after the bite than anyone with my condition ever has. It took Hagrid, Albus, Frank, and Alastor to hold me back from going after Sirius. Hagrid tried to physically restrain me while all three of the others combined were barely enough to stun me. They had to try twice."

Harry was gaping. He had never heard any of this before, never been told what happened in those days with the exception of the confrontation between Sirius and Wormtail.

"My temper is fierce, but can be short-lived," Remus wasn't looking at Harry. His eyes were closed and his head tilted back as though he was viewing the memories on the backs of his eyelids. "When they woke me all the fight was gone. I was crushed, empty. Just like that, almost my whole pack was gone or had betrayed me. Albus let me see you, our only pup, and told me I had to say goodbye. He promised you would be safe from all the Death Eaters who wanted revenge so long as you were with Petunia. I had met her, and knew she was spiteful, but I never dreamed she would treat you the way she did. So I trusted Albus and I ran away."

"Where did you go?" Harry asked in a hoarse voice. The pain was still immense but the story Remus told was gripping.

Remus sighed, "I ran to a friend who had once offered me a refuge, though I didn't really understand what he offered at the time. I learned from him, and researched, and tried to convince myself that I never had a pack, that I never had the three best friends I could ever hope for, and by extension that you didn't exist. After six years or so I left and just traveled around, not really taking care of myself. I could spend the whole day in a library and then take the books home and read all night. I didn't come back until Albus hunted me down the summer before your third year. He brought it all crashing back down on me."

"Why did you come?" Harry thought he knew, but he needed to hear it.

"I came because of you Harry," Remus said quietly, "because through James you are part of my pack. I came to protect you from Sirius, to see you for myself after twelve years." Remus suddenly smiled mischievously, "Severus doesn't understand yet, but when he bonded with James he became part of the pack as well. He's been family since before you were born."

They both fell asleep, sitting on the bed fully dressed, and Harry writhed in his sleep from Voldemort's glee. Harry woke when Snape got back in the early hours of the morning. It was harder to wake Remus, who left half-asleep and incoherent for his own bed.

"What was it?" Harry asked, slightly queasy from the amount of time his scar had hurt. His head swam and the whole world was off-balance. "Why was he so fucking happy?"

"It was his birthday," Harry's father answered, not bothering to mention Harry's language. Harry could feel the disgust and anger and shame as if they were his own. "Belletrix got him a present, some small muggle children to play with."

Harry cringed and felt the rejection his father was flooded with. Snape turned to go and Harry cried out after him, "No! Stay!" He reached out and found his father's hand and pulled him down to the bed, cuddling up to him like a small child who needed comfort, or perhaps like the parent to comfort the hurting child. Either way, Harry knew it was what they both needed.

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