And here is the second half of the post people~!





Harry fidgeted.


He had been seated within Dumbledore's office for what felt like an eternity now, but couldn't possibly be over ten minutes, at the most and still he waited for the old man to return.


Hermione hadn't said much after sending Ron off to get Harry's blood-chalice, even though now that he was out of Draco's presence he no longer needed it. It also seemed his emotions had returned to normal. Or perhaps it was just that his shock had worn off and whatever Draco had done to draw out his instincts had dulled down a little. But were by no means as dormant as they had been that morning.


Harry glanced over at Hermione as she sat, her countenance pensive. It appeared she was looking through him and struggling with some sort of internal debate. And no matter what Harry did, he was unable to quiet the steady sound of her heart beat in his ears.


Why me? Harry mused, despondently and he slumped down in his seat. Why does this stuff always happen to me?


His thoughts returned to the sharp message scrawled messily across the entrance door. A strange sort of hatred fill him once more as he recalled his beloved friend and pet nailed upon the wood. He hadn't been able to get her down to bury her as he would have wished, instead he was bundled up and left in the headmaster's office to think .


The only company Harry had beside the quietly contemplative Hermione was the small comforting presence of Draco in his mind, even if the boy was currently on the warpath.


The Nikolai would hate to be the person bearing the brunt of the blonde's fury right then. The thought actually brought a small smile of cheer to his face before it abruptly vanished as his thoughts returned to his family.


Swallowing heavily, he already knew exactly what would happen once his Aunt and Uncle heard about what had occurred. The pair would floo in immediately and demand he return with them to Loiresvale and he wouldn't be able to set foot back in Hogwarts until after he had an heir to continue the Nikolai line.


In short, they wouldn't let him leave their sight again.


Just as his thoughts began to darken further, Dumbledore returned to the office with a sweep of his bright magenta and lilac robes. “I'm sincerely sorry about what has happened today, Harry,” he said sadly, the perpetual twinkle missing from his eyes. “I'm sure you know what is likely to happen now?”


Harry nodded, not sure he could voice his answer.


“Would you prefer to have your friends pack up your things in the event that we cannot dissuade your guardians from keeping you here?”


Hermione stood from her seat so fast that it almost toppled over completely.


“Sir?” She glanced from Harry to Dumbledore then back again, perplexed. “Harry's leaving? But why? There has to be some way—”


The Nikolai shook his head, feeling like he had been dealt a major blow. “I doubt they'll want to keep me here after what's happened,” he murmured tiredly. “Not unless...” they catch the perpetrator and killed them, he silently finished.


“Unless?” Hermione pressed.


Harry sighed and shook his head again. “They won't, Hermione,” he said with certainty. It was foolish to even consider it when he knew that Draco would likely push to have him home schooled as well. If what he had done to Harry was anything to go by, the Angelus wouldn't put it passed his warder at all.


Before Hermione could say another word, Dumbledore's fireplace burst into life and deposited an anxious looking Selene. Ignoring all else, the Angelus queen instantly made her way to Harry, with hurried whisks of her emerald robes and cloak.


“ Mon amour! ”


Harry felt instantly warmed.


“We received the message and came immediately,” Selene said, as she carefully looked Harry over with gentle hands and worried violet eyes. “Are you all right? Have you been harmed?”


“I wasn't touched,” Harry responded softly, absently soaking in his Aunt's magical aura. Basking in it, much like he had with Draco's but not quite. Selene's magic was tranquil, unlike his warders.


Selene gave a tiny, relieved nod then pressed a warm lingering kiss to his forehead as she withdrew a little, to stare into Harry's eyes as unshed tears glistened in her own. “I'm sorry for your loss,” she murmured lowly. Then, pulling back, she stood to his side with a comforting hand on his shoulder, looking every bit a queen addressing a subject as her gaze turned on Dumbledore icily. Even the tiny streak of soot across her nose was unable to detract from her presence.


Actually, Harry suspected that even if the woman was dressed in rags she could somehow make someone dressed in the finest of silks feel the lesser being.


Demetrius, who had appeared not long after Selene was looking sombre. He shook his head at his wife before turning his attention to the headmaster.


“Professor Dumbledore,” he stated neutrally, “I believe there are certain concerns that need to be addressed in regards to my nephew and his safety here at Hogwarts. I had been informed that he would be safe within these walls and yet something like this has occurred.


“Are you not a man of your word, headmaster?”


Your Uncle will find the culprit, Selene's thought was suddenly projected into Harry's mind, startling him slightly.


Until that point, Harry really hadn't realised how much he had missed this connection between his family. It felt so good to be in such close contact again. To be able to converse so freely without having to worry about intruders listening in.


And they will be dealt with. By him or your warder, Selene continued.


Draco will be brought into this? Harry asked, slightly alarmed. He hadn't considered that a possibility and didn't want Draco locked up in Azkaban for murder... But then, he didn't want that to happen to his uncle, either.


Selene squeezed his shoulder gently. Of course, she replied By the quick note he got off to us, I am certain he desires the privilege. And you need not worry about Azkaban, neither will be caught.


Harry thought that was rather confident of his Aunt but then, his kind were well known assassins. Or, had been well known, rather. Since apparently their existence had been erased from history.


Draco has been doing a fine job in protecting and tutoring you, the elder added.


He has, Harry acknowledged with an odd sort of pride.


And you've grown quite attached to him...


Harry's face flushed slightly and he chanced a glance at his uncle who, for the moment appeared quite submerged in his discussion with the headmaster. Or so Harry hoped. He didn't want his uncle hearing any of what they were thinking. He wasn't exactly of the understanding sort.


He has been blocked from this conversation, Selene responded, mild amusement infusing her thoughts. This sort of thing isn't for him, I think.


Why did it always feel like she was talking about something else? Especially whenever Draco was brought up.


Feeling a little disturbed, Harry cast about for another topic to discuss when his eyes instead landed on Hermione. She was glancing at all three Angelus' in curiosity. Though in the two elders' cases, it was guardedly.


Selene's gaze followed Harry's own. “ Qui est ceci, Harry ? ”


“Err, Aunty Selene this is Hermione,” Harry said, gesturing to the bushy-haired girl. “Hermione, my Aunty Selene.”


The Gryffindor girl looked a little intimidated when the elder woman finally acknowledged her presence with a radiant smile and took her hand in greeting. Though now that it had been pointed out to him, Harry noticed that the gesture wasn't nearly as sincere as the touches his aunt bestowed on him.


His friend also appeared quite aware of this.


“Hermione,” Selene murmured cordially, “Harry has told us all about you and Ron. I'm so glad I finally get to meet you. Although, I would have much preferred it being under far different circumstances.”


“Yes,” Hermione agreed immediately. Apparently desperate for a chance to latch onto any sort of conversation starter. “And I just had to meet you. Especially to ask how you managed to return Harry so well...”


“Trained?” Selene finished with a slight quirk of her brow and amusement dancing in her eyes. “Oh, I have my ways,” she said with a secretive smile and cast Harry a fond look. “I have had years of practise on Harry's uncle.”


“Then Selene and I shall remain here until something is done about this,” was Demetrius' quiet command. It drew everyone's attention. “If you would be so gracious as to have us?”


Dumbledore nodded, politely. Though visibly quite drawn. “If you'd allow me to have someone show you to your rooms?”


Demetrius gave a curt nod. After casting a glamour on Selene then himself he pulled his hood up around his face.


“What does this mean?” Harry asked his aunt quietly, as she followed Demetrius in hiding within her cloak. She glanced at the boy and even though he couldn't see her shadowed face, he could feel the soft weight of her gaze.


It means the hunt has begun, she replied in his mind.


There was a commotion outside the headmaster's door and Harry heard Snape bellow something unintelligible before the doors slammed open and in strolled Draco looking perfectly at ease and totally unconcerned that he may just have dented the walls with his entrance.


Snape hastily closed them behind himself.


“I need to talk with the headmaster,” Draco announced then stopped when he saw the two visitors. Discreetly, Harry saw the blonde incline his head to each of the disguised Angelus, and received one in return.


“Draco, you are acting like a child,” Snape chided quietly, so only the blonde would hear. It was a shame that more than half the room's inhabitants had enhanced hearing and so heard his every muttered word. He turned to the Dumbledore after quickly looking over the others within the room. “Excuse us headmaster, after his brief talk with you Mr Malfoy got it into his head that he could just barge into your office.”


The young Nikolai frowned, wondering why Draco wanted to see Dumbledore. Harry had thought it had all been a simple ploy of his warder's just to get into the office to check up on him.


Despite the rude interruption, Dumbledore appeared vaguely amused. Although he settled stern blue eyes upon the Slytherin student.


“We can speak later if you wish, Mr Malfoy,” he said, peering over his spectacles. “I am a little tied up at present with my guests, as you can see.”


Harry could feel Draco's disappointment and annoyance surge.


Then Snape keeled over stunned and unconscious, before Dumbledore could do much more than blink. Hermione let out a surprised gasp but paused before she dropped to her knees, checking on the downed potions' master.


Casually, Draco slipped his wand back up his sleeve. “I don't trust him,” he stated simply.


Dumbledore appeared more than a little troubled. All traces of amusement from earlier had completely left his expression. “Mr Malfoy, you just attacked a teacher of the school.”


“He's not to be trusted,” Draco repeated and Harry felt remarkably guilty for not informing his warder of Snape's under cover role earlier, because now he was going to make himself look like an idiot, and earn himself Snape's anger when he was later revived.


Actually, Harry was curious to see what happened when the man did eventually come to.


“You do realise that what you just did is a grounds for expulsion?” Dumbledore continued seriously. His sky-blue eyes sharp like that of a hawk and Harry could sense that he was prepared to stun Draco should the need arise, but the Angelus prince also knew that the old wizard wouldn't be fast enough.


“I have some important information to give you,” Draco countered, soberly. “Information I can't give while he's conscious.”


What are you doing!? Harry questioned, mutely. Unable to believe that Draco had decided to reveal himself as an ally to Harry and in doing so, possibly offering himself up as another potential spy.


Catching Draco's eye, Harry shook his head. Trying to portray his thoughts without having to speak but the blonde just gave a tight smile and looked resolutely away.


You idiot, Harry inwardly fumed. He tensed in his seat to keep himself from wandering over to Draco and smacking him over the head with something heavy, to knock some sense back into him. You have no real idea what you're getting yourself into!


“Minerva,” Dumbledore called into his fire place, not once looking away from the silent blonde teen. “I require your presence a moment.”


No more than three minutes passed, all in complete and thick silence before McGonagall entered the headmaster's office.


“Oh my,” was the first thing that she said. A hand to her mouth as she caught sight of her stunned associate. She glanced about the room, seemingly noting everyone as her gaze swept passed them. Though she did frown a little when she looked at the two hooded occupants of the room. “Should I call for Poppy?”


“Severus will be all right for the moment, Minerva,” Dumbledore informed her. “But I wonder if you might be able to show our guests to their rooms. The ones I had set up near Gryffindor tower at the beginning of this year?”


He had this planned? Harry thought, shocked yet again.


No, I believe he was merely prepared for something like this to happen, Demetrius this time replied, causing Harry to leap almost violently in his chair. Luckily, no one aside from his relatives saw this.


Well, perhaps a few of the past headmasters of the school had from their portraits, though they all appeared more interested in what was going to happen to Draco for hexing a teacher in front of Dumbledore.


Selene's head turned and Harry could tell that she was glaring at his uncle in a silent reprimand.


Demetrius, Harry noted in mild amusement, stubbornly avoided the look.


McGonagall seemed taken aback by Dumbledore's words but nodded simply. “Yes, headmaster,” she murmured before turning her full attention upon the two hooded Angelus. “If you would please, follow me?”


“Miss Granger, if you would be so kind as to summon Madame Pomfrey?” Dumbledore said, sounding calmer.


“Yes, Sir,” the girl murmured. She stood and gave Harry a questioning look. “I'll see you later, all right Harry?” Hermione asked, evidently needing the confirmation before she left him alone. Even if he was with family that cared.


Harry gave his friend a wan smile. “I'll be fine,” he assured her.


She didn't look like she believed him. Nor like she was wanting to leave him there. Without warning, she lunged forward and hugged him in one of her bone crushing embraces. Funny, for someone with such thin arms, she was remarkably strong.


Clumsily, Harry returned the hug from his seated position.


“I'm sorry, Harry,” Hermione mumbled, sounding like she was on the very brink of tears. “I'll figure out something. Just— promise that if you leave, you'll say goodbye first?”


She honestly seemed to believe that she'd never see him again after she left the room.


Well, given the circumstances it was highly likely, so he guessed that he couldn't fault her there. Especially after he had assumed that he would be leaving once his aunt and uncle arrived. As it was, that possibility was still very real.


Despite being uncertain about the future ahead and how things may change suddenly, he thought that he could at least offer her that one reassurance and keep it.


“I promise.”


Hermione nodded as she released him and dashed away the tears that had spilt from her eyes. “Sorry,” she mumbled again. This time in slight embarrassment.


With a quick and awkward wave to Selene, Hermione darted out the door.


“Come,” Selene murmured, softly. “There are things that must be discussed.”


Guided by his aunt's gentle hand, Harry stood from his seat and went to follow McGonagall's lead as she slipped out of the room, with Demetrius not far behind. The young Angelus stopped though and turned to his aunt. “But Draco?” He said quietly as he cast a look over his shoulder to the blonde boy.


Draco was standing, looking completely relaxed and uninterested in what was happening around him. Actually he looked very much like Lucius just then, the ever cool and collected politician and aristocrat. But Harry knew that it was just appearances, because he could sense Draco's nervousness and anxiety.


Harry didn't want to leave Draco there alone with Dumbledore and the still out cold Snape. Feeling it as more a form of desertion.


He will be fine , Selene reassured him. He is a resourceful young man and is doing what he believes is best for you. Do you trust him?


Of course , Harry replied, instantly and glanced over at his aunt who smiled.


Then let him do this, Selene responded, gently. As your uncle's support was shown in allowing you to enter a death match, permitting Draco this will also show your support of him and his abilities as your warder.


That was not what Harry had expected to hear. He smiled self-depreciatively as he realised that all this time when he had argued against Draco, he was showing that he didn't think the blonde was capable of his duties. He wondered then, if he was meant to go along with the majority of what Draco advised was best and only argued against things every so often to keep a balance between them.


But most of the time Draco tended to let Harry have his way and never complained. Well, he'd say something every now and again but that was pretty much it.


Confidence? Harry reflected. He trusted Draco with his life, shouldn't that in itself be a major show of confidence? There were few people in the world who Harry now held with such esteem.


Though if this was what Draco needed, then he'd do it.


Turning his back on Draco determinedly, Harry filed out of Dumbledore's office. With Selene's hand still comfortingly on his shoulder, the young Nikolai summoned all the confidence that he could muster and allowed it to flow through the bond to his warder.


He was pleased when he felt Draco's emotions mirror his own.