So Far Away

So Far Away
By: Gwen
Rating: NC17 overall
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Warning: AU/Slash/Drama/Angst/Romance
Betas: Tracy & Dorothy
Disclaimer: The \"boys\" belong to JKR. I just borrow them on occasion. No money is being made from this little adventure.

Summary: Interesting things can happen when you\'re away from everyone and everything you know.



Part 3 - We\'re Going Where?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After dinner, the prefects escorted the students to their houses, while the eight exchange students met in the Charms classroom with Professor Dumbledore.

\"First of all, I want to thank you all for agreeing to participate in this program. As I was saying earlier, we need go over the information for your trip, including where each of you have been assigned. I have included your assignments as well as other information in these packets,\" he said as he handed the individual scrolls to each student, giving them a bit of time to open and review their information. Seeing the expressions on some of the student\'s faces, Dumbledore proceeded.

\"I guess it would be prudent to inform you of who you\'re partner will be,\" he said as he picked up his list. \"Attending Beauxbattons, Michael Corner and Justin Finch-Fletchley; Durmstrang, Mandy Brocklehurst and Tracy Davis; Hamilton, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy; Galloway, Lavender Brown and Susan Bones.\"

Draco threw his hands up in frustration. \"Oh bloody hell! I am NOT going to America, of all places, and especially not with Potter! Who made up this ridiculous list?\" he asked in a condescending tone.

\"First of all, Mr. Malfoy, please refrain from the use of foul language in this school. And I assure yoat Iat I put careful thought and consideration into these assignments. I take it that you expected to be placed somewhere else. Durmstrang perhaps?\" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

\"Precisely,\" he said as he lifted his chin.

\"Well, I am sorry that this did not fall to your liking, but the decision has been made and the assignments are final.\"

Draco rolled his eyes at Dumbledore\'s firm statement.

Mandy paled. \"But Professor, don\'t they teach Dark Arts there? I mean, that was the whole premise behind the school, to train students to fight FOR You-Know-Who.\"

\"That is true, Ms. Brocklehurst, but it has been reorganized. With Lord Voldemort gone, things there have changed, and that also includes the classes that are taught. Have no fear, young lady, things will be fine,\" he said with a patient smile.

\"Okaaay,\" she said, her faith not completely restored.

The Professor looked around the room. \"Are there any other questions about your assignments?\" When none were forthcoming, he continued. \"You will be leaving tomorrow morning after breakfast. I would like for you all to remain in the Great Hall once you have finished your meal. You should have all of your belongings with you as you will not have time to go back to your dorm and pack. Formal robes will be required as you are representing our school, and first impressions are everything. You will be traveling by port-key to your destinations and your class schedules will be waiting for you there. Do all of you have extra funds?\" At the nods, he continued. \"Very good. They will be exchanged for the currency that is used where you have been assigned. As per usual, if you need additional funds, you will need to contact your parents.\"

\"As for the holidays, I will leave that up to you. You are more than welcome to come back here, go home for the break, or you might choose to spend the time off with your new friends. Again, that will be your decision. Please inform your new Headmaster of your plans and they will contact me. Also included in your packet of information is a spell that can be used to send correspondence to your friends here, if you so choose, since you are at too great a distance for owling. I will be checking on your progress from time to time, but I am confident that once you settle in, things will be fine. This is an opportunity to meet new people, make new friends. Now are there any other questions?\" he asked again.

The students looked from one to another and shook their heads.

\"If there are none, then I would suggest that you get a good nights rest since you will be traveling first thing in the morning,\" he said as he dismissed the students. \"Oh, Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy, would you please remain for a few more minutes?\" he asked.

The boys looked at each other and scowled, but did not move from their spots and Dumbledore braced himself for the maelstrom that was to come. Once all of the other students had cleared the room, he looked to the remaining two.

\"I thought it would be best to have this discussion in private, which is why I asked you two to stay. I know you think that this is some form of punishment for the past six years, and in a way it is.\"

At that admission, both Draco and Harry opened their mouths to protest, but a hand stopped them.

\"I will tell you that I expect nothing but good reports on the two of you from Headmaster Collins. If I hear of one altercation between the two of you, both of you will be expelled immediately, regardless of who started it. And before you decide to spout off your nonsense about your family being who they are, young Mr. Malfoy, I shall inform you now. It would not matter if you were a descendent of Merlin himself. You would still be expelled,\" Professor Dumbledore stated. \"That is how serious we are about this project. While I realize that this is a new endeavor, we, meaning all of the Headmasters, want this exchange program to work.\" Here the Professor paused, gathering his thoughts.

\"When I look at the two of you, I see the children you were when you first arrived here at Hogwarts, but I can also see the men that you will become one day. Even though you chose to treat each other as an enemy over the past six years, I would hope that a change is not too far off. You are older and wiser now, and coming to blows in the middle of a classroom at your age, for no reason, is not the way to conduct your last year of school.\"

\"As you both know, there is a reason behind everything I do and this situation is no different. I have every confidence that the both of you can put aside your differences and move beyond the boyhood rivalry into something akin to a friendship between two young men. By taking you out of your element, so to speak, here at school, and putting you elsewhere, away from all that is familiar, maybe you will begin to see things differently.\"

Both Harry and Draco looked at each other, doubt etched in their features. Six years of constant fighting, bickering, and downright rudeness was as much a part of them as breathing. How were they going to get past that?

\"Now, I want you to make a pact right now, before you leave this classroom. I want you to promise that you will try to get along. I will not ask for a miracle - yet - but at least hearing your word of honor that you will not attempt to harm your fellow student while abroad will show your dedication to this undertaking,\" the essoessor finished.

They took a few minutes to digest the information that had just been presented, the good and the bad, as far as they were concerned, and then glanced at each other, as if sizing each the up. Ever the Gryffindor, Harry held his hand out, just as Draco had done to him all those years ago, only to be snubbed in the process. He briefly wondered if Draco would do the same to him now.

As far as Draco was concerned, this was blackmail, pure and simple. Either play by Dumbledore\'s rules or he would be expelled from school. While that was an appealing alternative, he was sure that his Mother would cut off his funds if that were to happen. Not wanting to chance that, he begrudgingly shook Harry\'s hand.

\"As much as it pains me to do this, I will attempt to get along with Potter,\" he said with a sneer. \"As long as he keeps up his end of the bargain,\" he said as he shook the offered hand.

\"I will. It\'s you who I\'m worried about,\" Harry stated as he let his hand fall to his side.

Draco chuckled and did the same. \"Oh, Potty, I didn\'t realize you cared,\" he taunted.

Harry\'s brow furrowed in anger. \"Malfoy, I couldn\'t care less about you. Believe me, you care enough about yourself so that no one else has to. What I do care about is this program, and I swear to Merlin that if you do anything to mess it up, a lifetime of Cruciatus would still be too good for you,\" he declared.

A discreet cough brought Harry back to himself and the Headmaster smiled. He agreed wholeheartedly with the boy, but thought that he was a bit extreme with his threat.

Draco waived him off with a flick of his hand. \"Whatever, Potter. Are we finished?\" he asked petulantly.

Dumbledore nodded. \"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, I think we are finished. You may return to your dorm as it is getting quite late.\"

Draco picked up his information packet and swept from the room, robes billowing behind him in a fashion that would have impressed even Snape and probably would have earned a few extra house points in the process.

\"I guess I need to head up too. I\'m sure that Ron and Hermione are waiting to hear all about it,\" Harry said as he gathered his own information.

\"You\'ll be fine, Harry,\" the Headmaster predicted. \"Just take it one day at a time and you\'ll see.\"

Harry nodded and left the classroom, wondering exactly how he was going to get through the coming year without hexing Malfoy into oblivion.