Born in Frustration

~Chapter Twenty-Three: Cooperio Obstructus Magnus~


After the boys had finished eating, Draco led Harry to the back garden. The next spell he was going to teach him concealed magic in a specific location. He was worried about showing it to Harry as it was a standard Death Eater spell and he was concerned Harry would see it as evil. The spell itself wasn’t actually bad – if one didn’t consider trying to hide from the Ministry of Magic a bad thing, which Draco didn’t – but Draco didn’t know how Harry would react to being taught a “Dark” spell.

“Now, Harry,” he began, “the next spell is a Magic Concealment Charm designed to cover a certain area, not just a wand.” Draco grabbed Harry’s hand and led him to the centre of the garden. “Some magic, such as the Avada Kedavra, is so powerful that it registers at the Ministry regardless of whether one’s wand is untraceable or not.” Draco began pacing slowly, happily falling into full lecture mode. “The power of a spell registers at the Ministry as a sort of magical disturbance and, if it’s powerful enough, it can set off some sort of alarm system, prompting Ministry investigation. This new spell can be cast over a location and will hide any, and I do mean ANY, magic performed under it.”

Draco circled around Harry gesturing decisively as he talked, and Harry turned at the same pace, keeping the blond in front of him. “Think of it as a blanket, or better yet a shield, that surrounds you, allowing you to conceal yourself and your magic within.” They were both silent for a moment while Harry thought about Draco’s explanation.

“Draco, how do you know this spell?” he finally asked.

Draco paused; should he tell Harry the truth? Draco knew that the smaller boy needed this spell. He knew Harry needed the ability to hide his magic, just in case. He also knew that this spell would offer Harry a certain amount of protection – not just from Voldemort and the Death Eaters, but also from the Ministry and the Death Eater wannabes at Hogwarts. Draco was very aware that his cronies were constantly on the look-out for any opportunity to ‘get Potter’ – anyone who could give Harry Potter to the Dark Lord would be raised to the top faster than you could say Quidditch – and Harry was hindered in his self-defence by Dumbledore’s non-aggression policies and complete lack of training. The green-eyed boy was woefully unprepared for a confrontation with ANY supporter of the Dark Lord. Being able to conceal his magic and not worry about the consequences would allow Harry to freely practice his magic. Ministry be damned!

“How do I know this spell,” he began. “I was taught it last summer.”

“By whom?” Harry asked.

Draco grimaced noticeably.

“Draco…”

“Look, Potter, does it matter?” Draco growled. “Listen to me, you need to learn this. You of all people need to know how to conceal yourself.” Draco was pacing again and gesticulating madly with his arms. “You’re the only hope against the Dark, and the Dark has more tricks than you could ever hope to learn, and they have a more extensive network of spies. The Ministry is loaded with Dark spies, Harry, all of them waiting and watching for YOU to slip up and give your location away.” Draco stopped his pacing and arm waving and moved directly in front of Harry; he reached out and grabbed the smaller boy’s shoulders causing Harry to look up at him. The dark-haired boy looked so fragile right then. He was so small, so delicate, his bright eyes large and searching.

‘How can this one child defeat the worst evil the Wizarding world has ever seen?’ he thought. ‘This one small boy is meant to save us all.’ A deep sorrow came over Draco as he realised this, the pressure Harry must feel every moment of every day was suddenly all too real to Draco and all too much. Without thinking, Draco dragged Harry against his chest, his arms wrapped tightly about the lithe body as tears sprang from his own eyes. ‘So much for Malfoy pride and arrogance, look what you’ve done to me, Potter. A Malfoy shedding tears.’

“Someone should be looking out for you, Harry,” he murmured into the dark, unruly locks. “They have no idea the danger you are in. Please, let me help you and damn the consequences.”

Harry allowed himself to be held for a moment before he looked up into Draco’s glistening eyes. “I know, I will,” he told the taller boy. “I know I’m not ready, Draco, but what choice do I have? My life is one big, fucked-up mess.” Harry pulled slightly away from the comforting embrace. “I know that I don’t know near enough to defeat Voldemort –” He broke off as Draco shuddered and for some reason Draco’s shudder irked Harry.

“VOLDEMORT!” Harry snarled. “Merlin’s tits! Why are you lot afraid of a name?” he spat angrily as he pushed completely away from Draco; it was Harry’s turn to pace. “You all feed right into it you know.” Harry pointed at Draco. “You allow him to make you afraid, you give him so much power by that one simple thing.” Harry poked the blond in the shoulder. “Fearing” – poke – “to” – poke – “speak” – poke – “a” – poke – “name!”

“VOLDEMORT!” he shouted again, his anger bubbling up quickly.

“Let me tell you a few things about your Dark fucking Lord, Draco Malfoy.”

Draco stood in shock. As Harry got angry his magic reached out and Draco could feel it swirling around him in powerful waves. He had never felt such power before, not from his father, or Severus, or anyone and he finally understood, now, why the Dark Lord feared the diminutive boy. He listened in stunned silence as Harry ranted on…

“Did you know your precious Dark Lord is nothing more than a half-blood?” Harry snarled. Draco’s jaw dropped. “That’s right, Malfoy, the Dark Lord, Lord Voldemort is a half-blood.” Harry’s eyes glittered as an evil smile came over his face. “His mother was a witch and his father a filthy Muggle that wanted nothing to do with him. Poor little Tom Marvolo Riddle,” the small boy laughed. “THAT’S why he hates Muggles, Malfoy. Not for any other reason than that his father abandoned him because he was magic. All this pure-blood nonsense is just that, NONSENSE! My blood is more pure than his. My mother was Muggle-born, but she was a witch, Draco.” Harry rounded on Draco again. “MY MOTHER WAS A WITCH!”

Harry was breathing heavily as his magic swirled around him, picking up leaves and small debris. “Voldemort is a crazed loon, Draco. An insane, pathetic, selfish, self-centred, egomaniac half-blood, who started a war because his daddy didn’t love him and his mother wasn’t strong enough to live. That’s who your father bows down to.” Harry stopped and as he calmed, the whirlwind of magic calmed with him.

They stood in silence for a long time, each staring at the other: Draco absorbing Harry’s words and Harry merely trying to calm down and rein in his magic.

“How do you know all this?” Draco asked quietly.

“Who taught you this spell?” Harry growled.

“I asked first, Potter,” Draco snarled back.

Harry snorted, holding back a laugh. “You can be such a prat sometimes, Malfoy,” he said. “I know because Voldemort himself told me so.”

Draco’s eyes widened in shock.

“Second year in the Chamber of Secrets,” Harry stated simply. “That diary your father slipped Ginny Weasley, it belonged to Tom Riddle and he had hidden a bit of himself in the diary and used Ginny to try and come back. And I don’t know how so don’t ask. He thought he’d taunt me before I died so he told me his life story.”

“Seriously?” Draco squeaked.

“Seriously,” Harry said, running a hand through his hair. “After I killed the Basilisk, I used a bit of its fang to destroy the diary and Tom disappeared.”

“You killed a Basilisk? Those rumours are true?” Draco asked incredulously, a mixture of disbelief and awe on his face. He knew the rumours, everyone did, but to hear them straight from the Hippogriff’s mouth was a revelation.

Harry merely nodded. “Now, answer my question. Who taught you this spell?”

Draco sighed deeply. “Aunt Bellatrix.”

“WHAT!” Harry’s magic began swirling again. “YOU WANT TO TEACH ME SOMETHING THAT BITCH TAUGHT YOU?”

“Calm down, Harry.” Draco reached out and grabbed his friend. “Calm down.” He could feel the magic like little jolts of energy on his fingers and palms. “It’s standard for any Death Eater to know this spell, Harry, not just Bella.”

“AND THAT’S SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER?” Harry struggled to get away from Draco, but the taller boy just firmed his grip and held the squirming boy against his chest despite the electric jolts of energy coursing through him.

“Fight fire with fire, Harry,” he said. “Just because the Death Eaters use it doesn’t mean it’s evil. I swear to you it’s not Dark Magic,” he said firmly; after a few moments of tense silence, Draco felt Harry’s magic recede and sighed in relief. “It’s exactly what I said, a shield that covers your magic. The Death Eaters use it, yes, and that alone is proof it works.” Harry glanced up at Draco, confused, and Draco smirked, a patented Malfoy smirk. “Did you ever wonder why the Ministry only finds out about a Death Eater attack after the fact, when the Dark Mark is blazing across the sky?” he asked Harry, quirking his left brow amusedly.

Harry crinkled his nose. “I don’t know, Draco, suddenly this all seems so wrong.”

“No, my wee little friend,” Draco sniggered, “it’s not wrong to learn to protect yourself, and YOU Mister Potter, need more protection than most.”

Harry smacked Draco’s arm playfully. “Don’t make fun, it’s not my fault I’m short.”

“Sorry, you’re right, it’s not your fault you’re short and it’s not my fault I’m brilliant…”

Harry laughed and smacked Draco again, pulling away.

“Or gorgeous,” Draco added, “or sexy, or a superb kisser…”

“Enough, I get it,” Harry giggled.

“Well good, I’m glad we can agree on that at least.” Draco raised his eyebrows suggestively. “Now, do you want to learn this spell or not?”

Harry contemplated for a moment before replying. “Yes. You’re right, I need to know how to hide, let’s get on with it.”

They moved to the centre of the garden. “Now pay attention, the wand movement is very specific.” Draco took out his wand and Harry followed suit. “Start with your wand in the centre and bring it straight up then arc to your left.” Draco demonstrated and Harry mimicked. “Very good, but keep it sharp and quick and it’s very important that you go left.” Draco demonstrated again as Harry watched.

“Why left?”

“Why not?”

“Draco!” Harry whined.

“I don’t know, Potter, it’s just the way it’s done. Why do you swish and flick on Wingardium Leviosa?” Draco snarled. “That’s the way it is. Now, practice the movement for a bit and don’t ask silly questions.” Harry giggled again but did as he was asked.

When Draco was satisfied that Harry could do the movement without blowing anything up, he continued his lesson.

“Excellent, Harry, now for the spell to work you need to focus on the area you want to conceal.” Draco began walking around Harry again. “Picture it in your head. If you want to conceal the entire house, picture it, if you want to conceal just one room, picture it, if you want to conceal a 10 meter area in the middle of a field, picture it and if you want to conceal the two of us, picture us and widen the area.” Harry nodded and closed his eyes.

“Have you got a picture of the two of us in your head, Potter?” Draco asked after a moment. Harry nodded again. “Good. Now, the incantation must be said as you wave your wand.” Harry opened his eyes. “The incantation is ‘Cooperio Obstructus Magnus.’” Harry repeated the words. “Very good; now you’ve got your picture in your head and wand movement, so go ahead and do it, Harry.”

Harry took a deep breath and pictured himself and Draco in the garden with a dome of magic covering them. He lifted his wand and spoke as his wand arced in front of him…

“Cooperio Obstructus Magnus!”

Harry felt the tingle of magic all around him as it spread out and away in all directions, but he couldn’t see anything. “Did it work?” he asked as he glanced at Draco.

Draco was smiling broadly. “Did you feel the tingle?”

“Yes.”

“Then it worked!” Draco exclaimed. “That was brilliant, Harry, on your first try!” Draco rushed forward and swung Harry up in the air. “Brilliant!” he exclaimed again.

“Draco! PUT ME DOWN, YOU DAFT SOD!” Harry squealed.