Harry snorted. Whoever thought that the Order of the Phoenix knew what all was in the library would be very wrong. The very recipe used by Voldemort to get his new body was still in here. Actually it was one book that Harry was digesting to see if physical and mental ailments caused by physical means would be erased by it. His looks that had changed based off of the missing soul pieces couldn't be changed. Apparently that could come back with his soul. So, if his new body was capable of love, would they find out before the rest of his still available soul was pieced with the rest? That was quite possible, unless it was something to do with a poisoned body from poisoned DNA from his original father. Actually, the poisoned body as a consequence to a mildly poisonous substance affecting his original father's bodily fluid might be another real possibility. He jotted down some notes from that book.
He picked up another book, wondering if something like this got Hermione started on enjoying studying. He was starting to enjoy it himself.
A sigh in the corner made him look up at his professor staring lost into space. Looking at his professor reminded him of his offer to help with his homework, which also reminded him of his summer assignments.
He picked up the books and tried to leave with them only to step backwards as his godfather appeared in front of him.
"Hi, Harry."
"Hi, Sirius."
"Are you trying to borrow some books from my library?"
"Yes, please."
"Sure, be careful what you read, but Harry James Potter has my permission as Lord Black to remove books from the Black library as long as they remain in the house."
"Thank you, Sirius. Was that a ward you were having to let me through?"
"Yes, as well as a ward on the shelves that let me know books were taken."
"Thank you, once again."
"Hey, are you willing to prank the twins with me?"
"Maybe later? I'm not big into pranks."
"Right, you're not James. I'll speak with you after though. You are my Prongslette."
"See you later."
Harry walked quickly upstairs and hid the books in his trunk, grabbing his school supplies as he did so. He was thankful that he had closed the lid when Ron and Hermione came in. Hermione, on seeing Harry voluntarily doing school work, eagerly pressured Ron into doing homework with them. Harry, not feeling too pressured, enjoyed the study episode and Hermione's gasp and Ron's shout of disbelief when he told them about Snape being willing to proof their work only added to it.
He did need to send a letter that day. Speaking of letters, he needed the Professor's help on what to write as he was stuck as to whether he should write something about meeting with Voldemort at sometime in the future. He already needed to speak to Snape, as it was something that could have very negative reactions.
Wow, this being a father on the other side while trying to parent was a little difficult.
Also, what to do about Malfoy?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Draco looked at the letter. It had come that morning. However, the writer was not anyone that could be anonymous. Harry Potter had written it.
He stared at the letter.
"Malfoys must never show fear," he muttered to himself as he reached to open it.
Dear Draco Malfoy,
I was wondering if your father told you the news? I am writing to Lord Voldemort as of the end of the Triwizard Tournament because he used my DNA as part of the base for his new body. To speak of it as most would, I suddenly became a parent to him.
Gryffindor Golden Boy, Defeater of You-Know-Who, now is a member of his family and his father. Ironic, isn't it?
I am wondering if you would like to have a bit of a truce this year, and maybe extend it for the next several years? Also, if you want to do so, how do you plan to hide it from the teachers? Do you want to?
I let the Weasley boys know. They've been sworn to silence, so you shouldn't have to wonder about them spreading it.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter
Draco looked at it again. It was like he was being friendly. Though, he guessed, having the Dark Lord as your son when you're the symbol of the light side would mean that you have to seek out friends and allies from both sides.
Right, Potter was the father figure of the Dark Lord, who was reading a letter from Potter as well. If he were in the Dark Lord's shoes and his father lived on the other side of the war, he would be happy to hear that those on his side were being approached to form an alliance. He couldn't see fighting his Father. His Father was amazing and strong.
Potter was strong. He kept getting away from the Dark Lord, who was a strong fighter. That was strength to the Slytherins. He had thrown off the Imperius curse, both from fake Moody and the Dark Lord. Potter was a strong person, and though Potter didn't know as much as he did, Potter used what he knew to its limit.
Potter was learning smarts politically. He knew that with the Dark Lord was opposite of Dumbledore, and Dumbledore was at the school. He knew they would have to hide this at school. He may have to hide this where he is at too, thus the barn owl. For sending to his father, Draco had seen the envelope, it was mailed the muggle way to the Ministry, where it was forwarded to Lord Malfoy. Nothing was on that envelope to display what was going on. Potter was in hiding, and doing it well.
Yes, Potter was a prime candidate for an ally. He had some prior experience with Potter, which could really be against him with their past history. The Dark Lord was for Potter now. Potter was strong magically. He might not be the smartest, but he valued good advice and then acted on it most of the time. Draco knew what to do.
Dear Potter,
Thank you for writing to me.
Yes, I would like to have the truce. As for how we're going to do it, I suppose we'd have to stick with watering it down: not completely ending the bickering, but keep it from blowing up, and have fun while at it. We will be able to pass messages through throwing paper wads at each other.
I promise not to throw stuff into your cauldron this year.
If you've found the Weasley boys to be able to hold a secret, that is fine with me. I have Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, and Pansy Parkinson. The bookends, yes I've heard you call them that, while Crabbe is actually pretty smart, they both run their mouths to anyone who shows them the right level of admiration for their strength. Besides Blaise, those two are who I've basically grown up with. Goyle fits the definition of the loyal tough boy with a small brain, except for a small area of expertise. Goyle loves talking about tree leaves, and has a whole new classification system for trees specifically. Apparently, he can also tell your fortune with the tree closest to your house. It's only specific to that day though. I don't know why I decided to run my mouth to you about Goyle, but I want to not hear about it later.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy
Having sent that off with a generic looking barn owl, Draco sat down again and opened the book sitting on his desk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Harry, are you completely off your rocker?"
"No. I asked Draco for a partial truce this year and he agreed. No telling teachers and only telling a specific few. You guys are my few."
"So we're going to keep with the feud thing then?"
"Partially. We're allowed to be funny and laugh at each other's bad come backs this year."
"Any particular reason, Harry?"
"The dementors are controlled by the ministry, yet two came after me this summer. I'd rather not have to fight on three sides this year."
"Blimey, Harry. You're saying that you think the ministry or someone's trying to kill you and using ministry resources to do it?"
"Yes, which is why I am asking for an oath not to tell anyone."
Ron thoughtfully said, "Mate, I'll do it."
"Little Harrykins..."
"Using a known feud..."
"As a cover for an..."
"Unknown alliance?"
"What an excellent prank! We'll do it," exclaimed the twins, finishing together.
"As will I, Harry."
"Thank you guys, sis."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Malfoy decided that playing the offensive in the beginning of the trial was the right thing to do. That was completely what it was, not a hearing. Dumbledore was doing a bang up job defending Potter, and everyone knew he could have done better. Seriously, the Ministry could have avoided the whole thing by sending someone to the scene where it happened. The fact that Potter hadn't used his wand all summer made the Ministry look awful as well. The fact that Potter said that he was seconds from being Kissed when an unknown Patronus defended him and swearing the truth about that statement made the whole thing such a moot point that even a warning couldn't be issued without going into legal proceedings as no evidence pointing him guilty just made the Wizengamot look bad. The fact that it was set up as a trial when it should have only been a hearing in front of the DMLE's desk made it look even more ridiculous. He couldn't say he wasn't expecting the outcome though, and he didn't have to suddenly seemingly switch sides.
Draco had told him about the letter that Potter had sent his son a week ago. He couldn't say it was exactly a surprise. How Potter had handled the whole Dobby situation was proof that the Gryffindor wasn't fully unaware of the need for subtlety. He had told Draco that he had his permission and that they could be open friends if the need to became real.
Turning away the equal to the Dark Lord when he and the Dark Lord could soon be in negotiations and were currently in somewhat of a truce was simply bad form and suicidal.