Harry shrugged. “I have no idea. I knew what had happened and I just did what was necessary to repair the damage. I’m not sure I even said any spells.”
“Harry, levitate Draco’s feather for us,” Dumbledore directed.
Harry got out his wand and with a swish and flick he said the incantation. Immediately the feather shot to the ceiling and Harry’s and Draco’s eyebrows shot to their hairlines. However, neither Snape nor Dumbledore seemed particularly surprised with Harry’s results.
Dumbledore did some spells that seemed to tell Dumbledore more about Harry’s magical potential. Harry wasn’t sure exactly what it all meant but Dumbledore seemed inordinately pleased with the results. What caught Harry’s interest more so was Snape’s reaction.
“Potter, it would seem that I have made the right decision. My time will be much better spent training you, rather than wasting my time pandering to the Dark Lord for information that you can gather anyway,” Snape said.
It wasn’t just Snape’s words that bemused Harry. It was the expression on Snape’s face—it was almost . . . satisfied, excited.
“Professor?” Harry asked, tilting his head to the side, trying to figure things out.
Dumbledore spoke gently, but with a wide smile. “It would seem that your professor has finally felt some hope that this war will end favorably.”
Harry turned wide green eyes between the two of them. “Do you really believe that I have a chance to defeat him?”
Snape’s expression turned calculating for a moment. “Once you have learned to control your magic, and with additional training, the Dark Lord will not have a chance,” he said with a smirk.
“I’m still not sure I understand why I seem to have more power now,” Harry said. “Or why I could do what I did yesterday.”
“Harry, while you were growing up, you had periodic bursts of uncontrolled magic, correct?” Dumbledore asked.
Harry shrugged. “Yes, but I didn’t know that’s what they were at the time. They usually happened when I was scared or angry. Like when I blew up my Aunt Marge.”
Dumbledore was nodding. “Your magic, in particular, seems to work closely with your emotions, even more so than other wizards and witches. Your emotions have been running extremely close to the surface the last few days and I daresay that your magic breached the normal set of rules.”
Harry barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes. Of course Harry’s magic didn’t go by any normal set of rules—he was Harry Potter and he was certainly never normal.
Dumbledore continued. “Generally magic can be affected by emotions to some extent, but it would appear that, at the moment at least, your magic has decided to be ruled by your emotions.”
Harry spluttered. “But I can’t have my magic doing that all the time. Someone will get hurt,” he protested.
“Exactly, Potter,” Snape glared at him. “This is why you need to get your magic back to where you can control it properly. Your anger, and seemingly overwhelming need to protect Draco, has pushed it out of control. You have far too much power at your disposal and you will need to retrain your magic and learn to use it far more effectively than you have in the past.”
“Harry, I’ve said before that one of your greatest strengths is your caring and your ability to feel pain,” Dumbledore said calmly. “Yesterday’s demonstration of magic simply proved that your ability to care manifests itself in powerful ways. Now you simply need to learn to control it.”
So, for the next couple of hours, Snape and Dumbledore walked Harry through the process of being able to connect to his magical core like Snape had done with Harry in the infirmary. Harry learned the very basics of how to cast spells that he already knew with a sense of control. Over time Harry would have to learn how to control how much power he put into a spell.
By the time Harry left Dumbledore’s office that evening, he wasn’t exactly feeling confident, but he felt he at least had somewhat of a handle on his magic. He had a lot of training to do until he had more control, though. He just had to figure out how to keep a handle on his emotions. Much easier said than done.
And right now Harry had to inform his friends that he’d be moving down to the dungeons the next day.
* * * * *
“What?!” Ron shouted.
Harry glared. “Don’t you dare wake him up,” he snapped.
Harry was sitting in the Common Room with a sleeping Draco on his lap. He’d just finished telling his friends that he’d be moving down to the dungeons the next day.
Hermione was wringing her hands nervously. “This does seem a little extreme, Harry,” she said uncertainly.
Harry snorted. “Yeah, and it’s not a little extreme for Draco and I to be waking everyone in the dorm with nightmares every night,” he said sarcastically.
“We can handle that,” Ron glared. “It doesn’t mean that you have to go move in with the greasy git.”
Harry shook his head and sighed. “Ron, he’s Draco’s godfather. Snape’s not so bad and he’s trying to help. Besides, our dorm is crowded with the extra person.” Harry held a hand up to hold off Ron’s next outburst. “And, no, I’m not going to give up caring for Draco just because Dumbledore wants us to move down to the dungeons with Snape, so don’t even suggest it.”
Ron snapped his mouth shut and flopped back onto the couch, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Harry, are you sure that this is wise? Snape doesn’t exactly treat you fairly,” Hermione said anxiously.
Harry snorted again. “Whatever gave you that idea?” he asked sarcastically.
That seemed to snap Hermione out of her nervousness and she glared at him. “Harry James Potter, I think you’ve been spending too much time with Slytherins already,” she snapped.
Harry sighed. “Look, everything’s already decided. Dumbledore’s already arranged everything and this is just how it’s going to be, whether everyone likes it or not. I’m not going to abandon a four-year-old child because Snape’s treated me like shit for the last five years, or because Draco himself has been a right obnoxious prat to us for the last five years. I wasn’t asking for your guys’ permission to do this. I’ve already agreed to it.”
Ron and Hermione sat as if frozen, staring at Harry.
“Draco’s going to be this age for the next four months,” Harry said quietly. “It’s still temporary, but it’s not going to be just a few days. It’s not fair to my dorm mates for Draco and me to be imposing on them. It’s also not fair that Draco should be separated from his godfather for so long under these circumstances. But even if Snape had the time and the will to care for a four-year-old, Draco isn’t that comfortable and would rather stay with me. This is the best compromise for everyone.”
Harry ran a hand through Draco’s hair and smoothed it back from the little boy’s forehead.
“It’s really that important to you, Harry?” Hermione asked, watching how gently Harry treated Draco.
Harry’s eyes didn’t leave the little boy and he simply nodded.
Ron let out his breath explosively. “I don’t understand you, Harry!” he exclaimed. He did sound more confused than angry now and Harry glanced up at him, giving Ron a wry smile.
“I’m not sure anyone completely understands me, but that’s all right,” Harry said. “I would simply prefer not to lose my friends. All I really need you to understand is that this is important to me.”
“We’re just worried about you,” Hermione said softly.
“I appreciate that. I really do, but your worry isn’t necessary here. I know what I’m doing,” Harry said quietly.
“Fine,” Ron said mournfully. “But I still think you’re crazy to be moving in with Snape, though.”
“We’re behind you,” Hermione said with a gentle smile.
Harry grinned. “That’s all I’m asking.”
* * * * *
September 4
Well, Draco, it’s been another interesting day. A very long day. So much has happened and I don’t even know where to begin. I suppose I should start by telling you that for once you had a great time in Care of Magical Creatures this morning. I’m sure that’s quite shocking for you to remember! Ha! You were adorable though as you hopped around and . . .
