Harry Potter and Changing Destinies

Chapter 1

Severus Snape was not in a good mood. Killing his mentor, while it needed to be done was not something he ever wanted to do. To make matters worse he now had to get his godson out of Hogwarts castle and to the safe house that was waiting for him.

“So where are we going?” his godson asked running along with his long limbed godfather.

Severus looked over at his godson not wanting to take the time to answer knowing that the quicker he got him out of Hogwarts the safer he would be, but seeing the look on his face he sighed but did not stop.

“I have a portkey that will take you to safety, but we need to hurry. No one can know that I helped you escape or the whole plan will be for naught,” Snape answered.

“Plan? What plan Sev? Where are you taking me? Who gave you the portkey?”

“No time for answers right now. You will find out when we get there. In fact we need to leave NOW!”

Severus pulled a small ice blue piece of silk out of his pocket and looked at his godson.

“Grab hold now!”

Quickly his godson grabbed the other end of the silk and felt the familiar tug at his navel. A quiet laugh signaled he had arrived. Looking over his shoulder he stopped cold. Walking towards him and Severus was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He watched mesmerized as she approached them.

“Severus I’m glad you arrived safely. Ash wasn’t sure the portkey would get past all his wards as he didn’t make it,” she said.

“Ice we’re fine thank you for the concern,” Severus replied motioning for his godson to join him.

“May I introduce the two of you before I need to leave?”

Ice looked at Severus then at his godson. Her voice was noticeably cooler as she replied, “That won’t be necessary Severus I know exactly who he is and your portkey will be activating soon.”

Severus nodded, “Yes Ice you’re right.”

He looked over at his godson. “I have to go. You will be safe here. Only I, Ice and Ash know you are here.” He leaned closer to his godson and whispered so Ice couldn’t hear him, “Be careful. She will not allow you to wallow and you will not win her over easily. She is very protective of Ash and she will NOT be impressed by who are. Do not make the mistake with her that you made with Harry Potter.” Severus pulled away and shook hands with Ice. As he gave his godson a hug he said very softly, “I love you Draco,” and then he was gone.

Draco Malfoy watched as his godfather, the only man he ever trusted vanished. Turning to his hostess he was again struck by her beauty. Sun streaked brown hair fell to the middle of her back in tight ringlets that framed her classic oval face, high cheekbones and a full cupid’s bow of a mouth. Her lightly tanned skin framed eyes of a piercing hazel green. For a moment Draco was reminded of someone but he couldn’t place who. He was startled when he realized those perfect raspberry colored lips were speaking to him. Shaking his head to clear it he looked her in the eyes.

“I’m sorry I missed what you were saying,” Draco stated.

“If you’re done staring at me I was introducing myself,” she said extending her hand.

“My name is Alexis VanLint.”

Draco shook her hand. “Draco Malfoy. Are you related to Anthony VanLint?”

He winced as the light in her eyes dimmed.

“Anthony VanLint was my father. He and my mother died in a plane crash two years ago,” Alexis replied.

“I’m sorry,” Draco said, “I didn’t know. Are you a witch?”

Alexis gave a smirk that reminded Draco briefly of himself.

“No,” she replied, “Though I do have the power to see things but no real magic. Why do you ask?”

Draco looked at her wondering how to ask her what he wanted to know without sounding insulting. He decided that honesty was the safest way.

“Well Sev and I had to portkey here. You mentioned wards and the VanLint name is well known in wizarding circles. In fact I have met your father before he passed on.”

Alexis laughed, “You mean the VanLint fortune is well known. My father and mother were both squibs, but I do not know what family Mum came from. She never talked about it. As for me knowing about magic that’s not surprising as my best friend is a wizard. He is the one who built the wards for me.”

“Where are we?” Draco asked looking around.

“You are on the private VanLint Island,” Alexis replied, “My house is right behind you.”

Draco turned around and looked, “Alexis I’m sorry but I don’t see anything.”

Draco watched mesmerized as a change came over Alexis. Her hazel eyes seemed to glow as her anger grew.

“Why that greasy git. Ash gave him the parchment! I can’t tell him because Ash is my secret keeper! Shit how am I supposed to get him in my house! Damn you Severus Snape!” By this time Alexis was screaming.

“Your house is under the Fidelus Charm?” Draco asked. At her quiet nod he continued, “I take it Severus had the address written down and didn’t give it to me!”

“Yes and now I’m going to have to contact Ash and have him tell you. By the way when you find out whom Ash is I don’t want to hear one word out of you. You are only here because Ash asked me to take you in!” With that statement Alexis reached into her pocket and withdrew a mirror. She spoke quietly, “Ash?”

“Ice what’s the matter?” Ash’s face came into view concern filling his emerald eyes, “Is there a problem?”

“Yes Severus forgot to give Draco the parchment you gave him so I need you to tell him where he will be staying.”

Ash groaned, “You’ve got to be kidding me. Let me talk to him!”

Alexis smirked, “You don’t have to sound so happy about it Ash.” She turned and held the mirror to Draco, “Ash will let you know where you are.”

Draco took the mirror and looked in. The face that looked back at him was the last face he expected to see, “Potter!”

“Yes Malfoy it’s me. Look before I tell you where you are I need to tell you Alexis is my best friend and I love her dearly. Treat her well or I will come and take care of you.”

“I understand Potter.”

“Fine. You will be staying at Safehaven Manor” with those words Harry’s image faded from the mirror.

Draco looked up remembering what Harry had said. As he stared Safehaven Manor came into view.

Alexis watched the look of surprise come over Draco’s face. She knew very well that her home was magnificent.

“Wow your home is beautiful Alexis,” Draco said.

Safehaven Manor was actually a French chateau. The four story chateau rose majestically above the manicured grounds. A dragon intertwined with a lion stood in the middle of the fountain. A green house was visible off to the side. Draco looked at the porch that graced each floor. There were four turrets, one on each side of the chateau.

Alexis pointed to the north tower, “That’s my room,” she said, “Although you can’t see it there is an indoor pool along with the outdoor pool. I also have a Quidditch pitch for Harry when he comes over and a basketball court.” She giggled at the dumbstruck look on Draco’s face.

“What is basketball?” Draco asked.

“A sport kind of like Quidditch but with one ball and one hoop on each side. I’ll teach you.”

Alexis started walking into her home with Draco following behind. As they walked inside Draco was again impressed. Her house was tastefully decorated in the French Regency style. She pointed out the dining room and kitchen while explaining that she did not have house elves.

“I do have servants, but they are not magical. I expect you to help around here. Harry wishes for you to be trained in fighting the ‘muggle’ way by learning martial arts and sword fighting. I will be working with you on that. I do have a room that Harry built which will allow you to use magic. I can’t help you with that but I have a computer simulation that was designed for magical dueling. When Harry gets here he will do some training with you. You are welcome to use either pool and/or the pitch; there are extra brooms Harry brought over. I also have an exercise room with weights that I use every morning at seven if you wish to workout with me you may. Do you have any questions for me?”

“Yes where do I sleep and do you have any clothes?”

“You will sleep in the room next to mine. Don’t get any smart ideas Harry’s room is right across the hall. Harry has clothes here that you may borrow or you may use the casual clothes that were my fathers’. In the training room and exercise rooms I have appropriate clothes plus I do have extra swimsuits for swimming. Are you hungry?”

“Yes.”

“Then come with me it is almost supper time. Do you like pasta?”

“I love it.”

“Good I think that Mrs. Ambrose, my cook, has made chicken fettuccine alfredo.”

Taking a seat next to her Draco smiled. Alexis couldn’t help but notice how good looking he was. His hair so blonde it shone with a silver glow and his piercing grey eyes. “Oh my god he is hot,” Alexis thought, “Harry always told me he was a prat but never how handsome he was. This is going to be interesting.”

“Alexis,” Draco asked, “Can I ask you how long you have known Potter?”

“I’ve known Harry since the summer before your fourth year when he freed Sirius Black. Dumbledore introduced Harry and I. Sirius actually hid here for a while. Harry spends most of his summers here with me.”

“So you two are close then?” Draco asked feeling an uncomfortable sting of jealousy.

“Yes Harry is like my brother and I love him dearly,” Alexis replied lifting a forkful of pasta to her lips.

Draco shook his head to clear away the feelings of lust that shot through his body and reached for his glass of water. Taking a drink to cool him down he asked, “Why do you call him Ash?”

“I call him Ash for a lot of reasons many of which I can’t discuss, but I gave him the nickname first because of his hair. I suppose you want to know how I got my nickname.”

Draco nodded, “Yes I was wondering why he and Severus call you Ice.”

Alexis laughed, “It is a play on the last syllable of my name. Plus the one and only time I ever met your father he said I was as cold as ice to him. Unfortunately for me Sirius overheard it and told Harry. It stuck. Call me Ali please. Is Draco short for anything?” she asked.

“Yes my full name is Draconis Sirius Malfoy.”

Ali looked at him in shock, “You’re named after Sirius Black?”

“Yes he and my mother were cousins and best friends growing up. She always kept a soft spot for him.”

They ate in a comfortable silence for a while each one taking looks at each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking. Each of them felt the pull of attraction but neither wanted to be the first to admit it. Ali knew that until Draco’s loyalty was proven she could never act on what she felt. Harry had asked her to train and observe Draco. There was no way she could let him down. She was so caught up in her thoughts she didn’t notice when Draco stood.

“Ali would you be so kind as to show me my bedroom?”

She quickly stood also, “I’m sorry my mind wandered. This way.”

She led him out of the dining room and over to the grand staircase.

“This reminds me of the staircase in Gone with the Wind,” Draco remarked.

Ali looked over at him in surprise, “You’ve seen a muggle movie?”

Draco shrugged, “There are many things that muggles have that I like. TV and movies are one of them.”

Ali shook her head in amazement, “I never would have guessed.”

“Doesn’t fit my image as the evil Slytherin does it?”

“No it doesn’t,” Ali replied.

“Look Ali,” Draco stopped and grabbed her arm turning her around to face him. “Since Potter is your friend I’m sure you’ve heard all about our fights in school. Yes I started most of them but I am not that boy. Please try to get to know me, not who you think I am.”

Ali looked at him coolly, “First of all never grab me again. Second of all it will be hard but I will try. There must be something good in you or Harry never would have sent you to my house. The only thing I ask is that when Harry gets here you get to know him not ‘the-boy-who-lived’. He is so much more than that,” with that Ali pulled her arm free and continued up the stairs. Draco quickly followed her around a corner and up another spiraling staircase. Once they reached the fourth floor Ali stopped and opened a door.

“This is your room.”

Draco smiled as he walked into the green and silver room. In the middle was the largest canopied bed he had ever seen. His smile grew even larger as he saw the laptop computer and large plasma TV. While Draco looked around Ali went across the hall. Ali walked into the room carrying a pair of black silk pajamas.

“These are Harry’s but I’m sure he won’t mind if you borrow them.”

Draco was amazed. Never would he have thought that Potter could own anything this nice. At school he always dressed like he didn’t care. Ali caught the flash of amazement that briefly showed on Draco’s face.

She smiled, “I told you there was much more to Harry Potter than you will ever know.” She walked into Draco’s room her feet sinking into the plush carpet. She pointed out the closet then opened a door. Draco’s mouth dropped open as he took in the bathroom.

“This beats the Prefects’ bathroom at Hogwarts,” he said taking in the large room. The shower alone looked as though you could fit every single Slytherin inside and still have room left over.

“Yes that’s what Harry told me,” Ali laughed.

“When did Potter ever use the Prefects’ bathroom?” Draco asked, “He was never a Prefect.”

“No he wasn’t but last year he was the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and I believe he used the bathroom during the Triwizard contest your fourth year,” Ali replied.

Draco again looked at her in amazement, “You really do know a lot don’t you?”

“Yes Harry and I tell each other everything.”

Draco looked at the ground, “Then you know what I did this year.”

“Correction I know what you tried to do this year, but this is not the time to discuss it.”

“Why are you helping me? Why is Potter? We hate each other! For six years my only goal has been to make Potter’s life Hell.”

Ali looked at him, “Do you really hate Harry, Draco? Or do you hate what you perceived he was like? You have told me that you are not the Slytherin Ice Prince so maybe just maybe Harry is not the Gryffindor ‘Golden Boy’ like you have always thought. As to why Harry wants to help you well you’ll have to ask him and believe me you will get the chance. Why am I helping you? That I don’t know right now,” Ali turned on her heel and left the room. Draco winced as the heavy oak door slammed behind her.

“Whew,” he thought running his hand through his platinum hair, “She is a cool one until you rile her up. Then the ice melts. Maybe she is right. Maybe for once in my life I need to look beyond what I have always been taught and think for myself.”

Draco quickly undressed and got ready for bed. As he climbed onto the large bed and slid between the cool black silk sheets he realized that he was crying. Everything that he had been taught was falling down around him and his only hope to even begin to help him put the pieces of his shattered life back together was Harry Potter. The very boy that for years he had been told to hate. As he drifted off into an uneasy sleep his last thoughts were of the brunette sleeping in the room next to him unaware that her thoughts were on him also.