A Whispered Confession Can Change Everything

Chapter 32

Harry approached the gargoyle statue with trepidation. Cassie had no idea why he was being summoned, just that the Headmaster wanted to see him. He was worried. Worried he’d be sent back to his relatives after school no matter what they had done to him. Worried his friendship with Draco was tenuous and would snap as soon as school started. He’d understand, of course, since he had rejected the blond their first year but he’d hoped they’d moved past that.

And he’d been rather stunned at Draco’s gradual change, first through his conversations by parchment, and then in person. He’d been cordial and distant in the beginning, opening up the tiniest of amounts as Harry had shared things from his own past. Then his accidental blunder with his parchment confusion. It had opened Harry’s eyes wide to what Draco was really capable of with someone he trusted. So Harry had returned with his own trust and Draco hadn’t faltered since. The blond Slytherin was becoming a completely different person and Harry liked him very much. Three months and the two of them were thick as thieves, closer than even he and Ron and that was saying something.

He walked forward and was about to start guessing passwords when the statue jumped to the side and the staircase starting winding to the top. Wondering if perhaps there were no passwords during the summer, he cautiously climbed the stairs and opened the door. He relaxed a little when a cheerful blond was there to greet him, “Harry... Albus wants to talk to you about something.”

Leaning in, “Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

Whispering, voice sing songing, “I’m not gonna tell.”

Nodding with a snort, glancing in fascination at the little dragon sitting serenely on Draco’s shoulder, the two of them approached the Headmaster, “Of course you’re not...git.” Draco promptly stuck out his tongue.

“Ah, gentlemen. Have a seat, both of you. Yes, we have much to discuss, beginning with the most important.”

Harry’s eyes shot to Draco but the blond was tight lipped and giving the Headmaster his full attention. Hands in his lap and acting like an avid school boy. With a sigh, “Yes, sir?”

Albus smiled, eyes twinkling, “Harry...you’ve been through a great deal in your young life...more than any young man should ever have to face. And unfortunately, the road will grow longer before it grows easier, I fear...” He caught both Draco and Harry fidgeting and realized neither liked too detailed an explanation. It made him wonder about Harry’s sorting into Gryffindor but he pressed on, “Alright, I’ll get to the point.” Both boys relaxed gratefully and he chuckled at them before growing serious, “Harry, I wish I could change the past. Were I able to...but I cannot. However, I can do something about the present...and your future.” He handed over a piece of parchment, letting the boy soak in that it was a legal document, with both his and Draco’s signature, “Harry, both Draco and I wish to protect you from ever having to go back there again. This is a binding document, with myself as your guardian. You would have to spend your summers at Hogwarts, I’m afraid...”

Harry’s head shot up, “You want me? I mean...” Glancing at Draco who was smiling, “You...I won’t have to go back?”

Nodding, “Precisely, Harry. Your home would be Hogwarts-...”

Standing up and thrusting out the parchment, “Send it. Send it in!” He was scared to death one of them
would change their mind or Voldemort would kidnap him or Death eaters would blow up the school...something horrible to take away this bit of hope dangling in front of him.

Draco whispered, “You have to sign it first.”

Harry scrambled for a quill, Albus handing one over calmly, though slightly flustered at Harry’s frantic
actions. As soon as it was signed Albus carefully sealed the parchment and shrunk it, firmly attaching it to a Hogwarts’ owl. With a screech it shot out the window and disappeared from sight.

Peering over his glasses, seeing the pale boy swaying on his feet, “Harry, are you alright?”

***

Harry sipped the pumpkin juice with trembling hands, Pomfrey reassuring him that he was alright. The mediwitch pulled the Headmaster over to the side, out of hearing distance of both boys while Draco sat on the bed next to Harry and watched over his...brother?

“Albus, I warned you no sudden surprises. His system can’t handle such a thing right now. He’s weak in spite of what he may think on the matter. Just be thankful it was a dizzy spell and not something more serious. I have him on more potions and brews just to keep him walking than I’d like to think about.”

Albus nodded with a sigh, looking tired, “How long before he’ll be alright?”

“As far as him leaving the hospital, as soon as he’s able. But I cannot stress this enough, Albus, the boy needs rest. Were I of authority I would strap him to a bed. He’ll run himself into the ground if this keeps up-...”

“Poppy. Please, just tell me what I need to do.”

Madam Pomfrey eyed him for a moment, “You did it, didn’t you, you old coot?” Albus chuckled softly but said nothing. She’d been worried about Harry ever since she’d encountered his scruffy, malnourished little self in first year. She’d always thought the boy needed a father. And if Albus could do for Harry what he’d managed to do for Draco in such a short time she would never have to worry about the raven haired boy again. Nodding once, more formal, “As his guardian, I recommend bed rest, his own bed, for the next four days. Light reading, no Quidich playing, and keep his guests to a minimum. I know keeping surprises from him will be impossible but the less excitement the better. I’ll have Severus work on the last course of stabilizing potion and bone mend, that should take care of the last of his older injuries.” Tilting her head, glancing subtly at the blond Slytherin joking softly with the raven haired boy, “How is the inquiry coming along?”

Grim for a moment, “Three weeks and Mr. Malfoy will be nothing more than a bad memory.”

***

For the tenth time Harry tried to reassure both Draco and Albus that he was fine but once again he was ignored. Sighing, he rested back against Albus and got comfortable. The older man had insisted in carrying him and he was impressed. Okay, he didn’t weigh all that much but the Headmaster was older by a lot. Maybe a weight lightening charm?

He expected them to open the door to Gryffindor tower, he didn’t expect them to veer up the stairs and down the corridor to the elf in the painting. Blinking, watching as it opened and walking inside, Albus walked toward a new painting that hadn’t been in Dumbledore’s common room when he’d last visited Draco. This one was also a wooded area, though he could see a clearing up ahead, “Harry, what would you use as a password?”

Frowning, seeing the clear skies over the clearing, “Quidich.”

Draco glanced at him but the portrait dutifully swung open and Albus carried him inside. Harry felt his breath catch as he took a look around. It was huge, just as large as Draco’s, but lined with posters of Quidich players from all over the world. His eyes tracked a little snitch zipping here and there, though it came when Draco called it, palming the golden ball and putting it away.

He looked back around, spying a bath off to one side and a second door that he assumed was a closet. His things, all of them had been moved in here. There were books and magazines on Quidich and magical creatures tucked into a book case, though there was certainly room for more. Ironically the bedroom, his bedroom he gathered, was colored in reds, golds, and greens. He felt something inside of him relax. Hedwig had made herself at home on a perch, her cage open and she preening in front of a long panel of windows. He grinned as he took in the color scheme, Draco the only one knowing his favorite colors. The blond had helped?

Albus moved to the large bed, Draco moving back the covers and he being deposited in them, “I’m not tired, Headmaster. Really.”

“Albus, Harry...you may call me Albus, if you like. And you may not be tired but bed rest is what you need.”

Frowning, “I’m better...Albus.”

Sighing, sitting on the covers after making sure Harry was comfortable, “That is not what I have been told by Madam Pomfrey, and I’m sorry, Harry, but I will have to agree with her when it concerns your health.”

Getting just a little annoyed and angry that he was being ignored. He could take care of himself, “I can take care of myself-...”

“Harry, listen to me.” Harry opened his mouth and Albus firmly held his chin, staring into the defiant boy’s eyes, “You have agreed to be my charge. It is done. There is no more discussion. And as my charge, along with my protection come the rules that as guardian I can and will enforce.”

Scowling, breaking Dumbledore’s hold, “Well that’s a bit of fine print, isn’t it?” Sniffing and looking away, “I think I’m better with the Dursleys.”

Draco did a bit of scowling himself, “You’re a prick, Potter.” He sneered the last name before stomping out of the room, “An ungrateful PRICK!” The portrait slamming behind him.

Harry winced and hung his head, fidgeting with the covers. Draco had really gone out on a limb for him, rescuing him. And Albus had gone to all the trouble of taking him in, to protect him. Now, he felt like a git. It wasn’t pleasant. Voice gentle, “Poppy insists you need bed rest, Harry. I cannot ignore sound advice when it could mean your health or your life. And as a guardian, you’ll forgive if I, as someone older than you, will tell you what to do but it goes along with having someone who cares about you.”

Sighing, “I know...I’m sorry...and could you...could you tell him I’m sorry...?”

Nodding, “I’ll do better than that.”