October
Early OctobeR
Hermione was waiting outside Draco's office. Draco felt the urge to run away gibbering in panic when he spotted her, but supressed it manfully. It was bound to happen eventually, Draco supposed he was lucky it had taken so long. This would not be fun. The corridor lights flickered in sympathy.
"Miss Granger" he said politely, opening his door and beckoning her to enter in front of him "what brings you here?"
"Cut the crap Malfoy" Hermione replied with a sneer "how are you back? We saw your body. You were dead! And now here you are alive and playing house at Hogwarts as the new caretaker of all things. What the hell is going on?"
Draco sighed and crossed to the side board. When in doubt make tea.
"Have a seat Miss Granger. Tea?"
"Please" Hermione muttered, manners winning over annoyance.
Draco smiled as he spotted Athebyne shrug up from her bed by the fireplace, stretch languidly, then cross the room to hop into Hermione's lap and make eyes at the young witch. Shameless flirt.
"Have you talked to Headmistress McGonagall about me?" Draco asked
"Briefly. She just said that Draco Malfoy is indeed dead, but that you were Draco Malfoy also, and quite alive. And that I was to leave you in peace to settle into your job for at least a month before harassing you."
Ah - that explained things. This was turning out to be the worlds worst kept secret.
"Well... the Headmistress is correct of course. I'm well aware of your insatiable need to know everything Miss Granger, but I'm afraid you're going to leave this room feeling rather disappointed. I'm under strict orders from the Ministry and from our esteemed Headmistress not to go into any detail on the matter to anyone."
Draco handed Hermione her tea. Earl Gray with a generous splash of milk. Hermione sipped it, then looked down in in surprise and sipped again.
"I'm only going to say this once because I'm tired of repeating myself already. This is the first time we've met. I knew a young lady called Hermione Granger, but she was not you. You knew a rather unfortunate young man called Draco Malfoy, but he was not me. You are familiar with the muggle concept of parallel dimensions yes? Well I come from one of those. And now I am here and here to stay, so I must make do. I cannot go into any more detail than that - Merlin, half of it I can't even remember after the Ministry Obliviated me all to hell. Suffice it to say I will not speak of anything that happened to me, or to anyone I know, earlier than July of this year. So please now consider the subject closed."
Draco picked up his own cup and took a sip, watching Hermione digest the knowledge, her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish
Athebyne mrowed and butted Hermione, who jerked and started stroking again.
"The Cat?"
"Her name is Athebyne" Draco responded, not answering the unasked question.
Hermione's lips twisted in a rueful smile.
"After the star? She is beautiful. I never really pictured you as a cat person, but you two fit."
Draco nodded his head in thanks, watching the feline as she cozied up to Hermione for scratches.
"Harry is coming back next week" Hermione was looking at him, her expression once again fierce.
"He was going to start training with the Aurors, but I've finally managed to persuade him that finishing his schooling is a better idea. God knows he needs a break from constant life or death situations"
"But I know Harry. When he finds out you're here too he is not going to react well. If there is even the slightest chance what you've told me is not just some elaborate cover story, then I need to say this: Please leave him alone. Don't seek him out. If he tracks you down then don't wind him up. He's just started to get better - I couldn't bear it if all my hard work is undone. If you hurt him I will hunt you down and hurt you right back."
Hermione looked like a Valkyrie preparing for war, and Draco believed every word of what she said. Sorrow and rage flared in him briefly, and he wrestled to keep his voice calm and polite.
"I have no burning desire to seek out or engage with Harry Potter, I can promise you that. But I work here and must go about my business. I will not go out of my way to avoid him. If I do see him, I will endeavour to act professionally. Now is that all? I have a lot to do"
Hermione nodded and stood up, spilling Athebyne onto the floor. She gave Draco one last glare and then swept out of the room.
Sensing Draco's consternation, Athebyne crossed to him and climbed up to curl on his lap. Through her Draco felt his connection to the castle flare into warm life, dusty comfort wrapping around him.
"It doesn't matter, just old dreams and possibilities. Now let us see about preparing a chamber for Harry if he's coming to stay for a while"
With the late addition of Harry there would sixteen eighth years, all dipping in and out of lessons and hanging around their new shared common room in the attics. Apart from Neville, Draco avoided them assiduously. Although the school welcomed their presence and magic for the most part, their odd status of being one foot in student life and one foot out of it made Draco feel itchy.
But Draco had done his best to make them comfortable, and Harry would be no exception. Draco decided on of the old garrett rooms - a mirror for his - would be perfect for Harry. He sent a command to fill it with warm fabrics, and scatter rugs across the bare floorboards. Today the magic flowed strong, and it felt good. Like walking outside and filling his lungs with gulps of fresh air. It was not the life he'd ever expected, but it felt good.
Mid October
It was past midnight when the castle alerted Draco of the intrusion. For once he wasn't awoken by the gentle patting of Athebyne, instead an overwhelming clamouring of a mental alarm launched him immediately from deep sleep to alert readiness. Not even taking the time to dress, Draco snatched his wand and sprinted for the main hall.
Three redcaps were hunched in a tight huddle in the corner of the great hall, their red eyes glowing brightly in the gloom between the light cast by the chandeliers. Draco's rage overcame his natural caution and he attacked. Luckily the red caps were no match for a grown wizard used to combat, and Draco was able to quickly stun them with a quick volley of spells. Then he summoned some rope and bound them tightly before sticking them to the wall.
Hands shaking, Draco reached up to pull off their caps and checked them inside and out, fingers running over the filthy, matted fabric. No fresh blood. With a sigh of rlief, Draco sat down and rubbed his eyes.
How on earth had the redcaps made it inside without him noticing? With the number of casualties and the amount of blood spilled during the Battle of Hogwarts it was no wonder that they had been drawn here. What he did not understand was how they had made it through the castle's external wards and defences. Something was not right.
With a sigh, Draco summoned his Patronus. It stood for a moment bucking its head and gazing at him with its liquid eyes. Draco watched it for a moment, hand unconsciously rubbing at the ache in his chest, then sent it off to alert the Headmistress. Once it was gone, he sent a pulse of magic running through the castle looking for signs of any more intruders. Nothing came back, but that was no guarantee the place was clear. He would have to search all the forbidden and damaged areas thoroughly and in person. It looked like there's be no more sleep for him tonight.
Late October
Draco stood in front of his mirror, fiddling with his formal robes. Tonight was All Hallows, and his long and successful run at avoiding the majority of the students and teaching staff was almost over. He was going to have to socialise, and there was no way to avoid it.
He had bought the outfit with his first month's salary. Unfortunately his limited wages didn't stretch as far as the luxurious clothing he had taken for granted in the past, but he had shopped carefully, and was pleased with the results. Draco noted the changes in his appearance: had finally put some muscle on his tall, lanky frame, and had colour in his face. His hair was longer than his shoulders now, so he'd brushed it until it shone and then pulled it back in a ponytail. Not half bad really - considering the sorry way he'd looked only a year ago.
A knocking on his door caused him to sigh and pull it open. Neville was waiting on the other side, dressed in his finest and with a wide smile on his face.
"Happy Hallowe'en!" he greeted. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Why are you here?"
"To prevent you from chickening out. You can sit with me if you like" Neville said with a soft smile, Draco couldn't help a prickly reply at the show of sympathy.
"No need for your pity Longbottom, I'll be sitting on the high table, looking down my nose at you lowly students."
They headed down together and Draco peeled off to sit at end of the high table next to Hagrid. The groundkeeper had been slow to warm to him, but Draco had waged a war of extreme politeness that had finally begun to pay off. Draco wasn't a fan of the buffoon - he couldn't approve of anyone who was so incompetent that he regularly endangered students - but all in all he'd decided it paid to be on Hagrid's good side. Hopefully that way he could sway the man away from some of his most ridiculous schemes. The two of them discussed the Acromantula outbreak in the forbidden forest and two kelpies that had made the far side of the lake their home.
Harry was looking more tanned than Draco had ever seen him, but despite that his face was too thin and his eyes ringed deeply in dark shadows. That wasn’t the only jarring thing: on Harry’s forehead a jagged, raised scar crept from his hairline down almost to his eyebrow, forked like lightning. It was almost a relief to have such an obvious reminder that this Harry was not from his world. Draco tried to keep his face blank, nodding politely before he turned back to focus on Hagrid and his meal.
Harry was looking more tanned than Draco had ever seen him, but despite that his face was too thin and his eyes ringed deeply in dark shadows. He was sleeping too well then. Draco tried to keep his face blank, nodding politely before he turned back to focus on Hagrid and his meal.
It felt inevitable and familiar when Harry cornered him on the balcony later that evening, defying Draco’s attempts at hiding.
"Malfoy" Harry's gaze was intense, but his lips curled in a disgusted expression that made Draco's heart pound.He'd not seen it directed at him for a long time.
"Potter" Malfoy responded. He had the feeling that Harry would fall over if Draco called him by his first name.
"Hermione told me a bit about what happened. I don't really understand it to be honest. But anyway, here."
Harry thrust out a hand, in it was a wand.
With a smile, Draco pulled out his wand and held it out next to the one in Harry's hand. They were identical down to the last detail. Draco put it back into its holder and took the second one off of Harry. Harry's eyes were wide and shocked and he pulled his hand away quickly before their fingers could touch.
"Thankyou Potter. I'll make sure it gets to where it needs to go."
Harry swallowed and looked away.
"I should have given it to him earlier. Maybe if he'd had it when he needed it..."
"Oh god. Not you too Potter. You'd just come back from the dead and duelled Voldemort by all accounts. I don't think you can blame yourself for not immediately dragging yourself off the battlefield to track down the owner of the wand and return it. I don't know what it is with you Gryffindors and your misplaced guilt, it's utterly infuriating. As I understand it the culprits have been punished already. There's no need for you lot to pile in too"
Harry rolled his eyes and straightened a little, some of the shadows leaving his face.
"How is your room? Bed comfy? You don't look like you've been making proper use of it"
"It's ok" Harry replied "the room is nice, thanks. I just... I've not been sleeping well... nightmares. I've had to stop taking dreamless sleep and it's taking a while to get back to normal. Anyway - none of your bloody business Malfoy"
"Very well. Thanks again Potter, I'm going to dance with my cousin now, have a good evening!"
With that Draco left with undignified haste.