Ron rolled his eyes. “So, what’s he have to say then?”
“Is it about what happened yesterday?” Hermione asked in concern.
Harry nodded absently, back to reading the letter. Once he was finished, he ran a hand through his hair agitatedly. He folded the letter and slipped it into his bag.
“Well?” Ron asked leadingly.
It was Harry’s turn to roll his eyes. His friends were nothing if not persistent.
“Mainly I’m supposed to watch my emotions today because of what happened yesterday. He also said I have to meet him and Dumbledore at four o’clock this afternoon and that it’ll be okay if Draco comes,” Harry enlightened his friends.
What he didn’t tell them was that he was supposed to avoid casting any spells and be extra cautious if he did have to because he could easily lose control of his magic again. By all means, he wasn’t supposed to shout out spells like a person normally would for a lot of spells. “Speak quietly” had been underlined three times. Being careful around his godson was also emphasized. They’d be going over ways to control his magic that afternoon.
Hermione was eyeing Harry suspiciously, like she knew he wasn’t telling them everything, but she didn’t ask for once. Having Draco around had its extra bonuses. It was certainly helping to keep Hermione from asking too many questions. Harry just sent Hermione a grin and finished off his pumpkin juice.
Draco was already finished and was staring up at the enchanted ceiling in wonder.
“Are you ready for classes, angel?” Harry asked.
Draco nodded and clambered down off the bench. Harry helped him put his bag over his shoulders and they were ready to go. Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle met up with the group of Gryffindors as they all headed outside for Care of Magical Creatures.
As they neared Hagrid’s hut, Harry had a thought. “You know, Draco,” Harry began conversationally. “I want you to pay attention for once in Care of Magical Creatures class today.”
Draco nodded enthusiastically. He was happy to be outside.
Harry grinned and just waited for the others to catch on. With Harry’s conversational tone, it took the others a few seconds to realize exactly what Harry had said. Suddenly laughter broke out and sounded throughout the grounds.
“For once!” Ron guffawed.
Harry was glad to see that even the Slytherins were laughing.
“I must admit, this is the first time I’ve ever seen Draco looking forward to this class,” Blaise said, snickering at his friend.
“It’ll be good for him,” Hermione said primly.
“Actually, I think he’ll like this class. He seems to really like creatures. He’s just never liked Hagrid. Given that circumstance, I’m guessing he couldn’t allow himself to like the class even if he’d wanted to,” Harry said, giving them all something to think about as Hagrid stepped forward, ready to begin class.
The lesson turned out to be fun for everyone. Hagrid had a bunch of clabberts for them to study for awhile. They were funny looking creatures, with their monkey and frog-like features. Today they were to be taking the creatures for a walk on a leash, but with their urge to hop or swing through the trees, it made for interesting “walks”. Everyone learned very quickly to keep them away from the trees and stick to open areas.
They really were ugly creatures but not particularly harmful, which everyone was thankful for. They wouldn’t hurt anyone. The clabberts’ sharp teeth were just for being able to eat their diet of lizards and birds easier. Their defense was entertaining rather than harmful. When they sensed danger, the ugly pustules in the middle of their forehead would flash.
Draco was in constant giggles the entire class, which entertained everyone, even the ones who were frustrated waiting for Hagrid to get their clabberts down from the tree branches. Harry helped Draco take one for a walk and Draco hopped along almost as much as the clabbert did.
It was a joyful group that headed back to the castle after class was over. As they neared the Charms classroom for the next class, Harry started getting a little nervous though. How was he supposed to avoid using his wand in this class? There was plenty of “foolish wand waving” that occurred in Charms.
Harry got him and Draco settled in at the back of the classroom and for once hoped for a lesson completely filled with taking notes. He knew it wouldn’t happen because if Professor Flitwick had them take notes at all, it was always during the first part of class and they spent time working on the practical during every class.
Today they did take notes for a little while. They would be working on Levitation charms again but with a slightly new twist. Flitwick had them taking notes while he described how and what was necessary to levitate much heavier objects. During first year they had started with levitating feathers. Now, they were to be levitating bricks that were magically charmed to weigh heavier and gradually they were told that they would work up to levitating the bricks charmed to weigh as much as a large person.
Trying to charm a heavy brick wasn’t something Harry wanted to do when he was supposed to be cautious with his magic. Snape hadn’t exactly said what could go wrong, but Harry didn’t want to find out the hard way.
Harry stared at his brick for several moments, and then glanced over at Draco, checking on him. Draco had deserted his drawings that he’d been doing while the others took notes and was now watching the attempts at levitation with fascination. Harry broke out into a wide grin and turned to Hermione who was on the other side of him.
“Hey, Mione. Conjure a feather for me, would you?” he asked quickly.
She gave him a strange look but did as he asked.
“Thanks!” Harry barely got out before he snatched the feather and turned back to Draco.
“Hey, Draco,” Harry said, getting the little boy’s attention. “Would you like to give it a try?” Harry asked, waving the feather.
Draco’s eyes lit up. “Can I?” he asked excitedly.
“Sure,” Harry said grinning. “Get your wand out.”
Hermione tapped him on the shoulder. “Harry,” she hissed. “You’re supposed to be doing the levitating, not him. He shouldn’t be doing this.”
“Draco deserves a chance to try, too,” Harry said, “and Snape told me Draco was allowed to use his wand here.” Harry turned back to Draco. For several minutes they worked just on being able to say the incantation correctly. Harry and Ron exchanged a grin when Harry had to emphasize the Win-gar-dium Levi-o-sa—not Levi-osa, causing Hermione to huff, but grin as well.
Once Draco had the words down, Harry stood behind Draco and held his wrist, showing him how to do the swish and flick motion minus the wand. Then, once Draco could do the proper motion on his own, Harry let him finally try to levitate the feather with his wand.
Harry watched him closely and recognized the fierce look of determination on Draco’s face. He’d seen it many times on the sixteen-year-old Draco. After several attempts Draco got the feather to move, and with a couple more tries he could get it to levitate a couple inches off the table before it would drop.
“Oh, well done!” Professor Flitwick exclaimed, coming around and noticing Draco’s levitation. “Four years old and doing a spell learned in first year. Excellent work!”
Draco beamed proudly. “Great job, Draco,” Harry said, grinning just as proudly at Draco’s accomplishment and giving the boy a big hug and a kiss on the forehead.
With all of the focus on Draco, Professor Flitwick never asked Harry to show him his own progress. Thankfully class was about over. Harry had gotten out of any wand work and they could go to lunch. In the afternoon it was double potions and then his meeting with Snape and Dumbledore, so he didn’t have to worry about casting any more spells before he knew what exactly was going on.
Harry ended up carrying Draco most of the way down to the Great Hall because, despite his excitement at being able to do the spell, he was getting tired again. It had been a rough night without enough sleep to start with and then it had been a busy, active, morning. Harry was beginning to feel the exhaustion again himself.
Harry walked over to the Slytherin table and carefully set the sleepy boy down beside Goyle and then plunked himself down on the bench.
“Potter, you look awful,” Pansy declared as she set a full plate in front of Draco.
Harry sent her a half-hearted glare. “Thanks,” he said sarcastically.
Both Pansy and Blaise were glancing back and forth between Harry and Draco in concern, but Harry ignored them and filled his plate. He didn’t eat much and ended up just resting his head in his hand and watched Draco for a few minutes. When the little boy started to bob his head, falling asleep, Harry gave up. They’d been at lunch barely ten minutes, and neither of them had eaten, but this just wasn’t working.
“That’s it,” Harry declared softly, straightening up.
Draco started at Harry’s movement. “Harry, I’m tired,” Draco mumbled sleepily.
“I know, angel. Hold on just a minute more and I’ll let you take a nap,” Harry said. He stood and quickly grabbed their bags before picking Draco up and cradling him against his chest. Within seconds Draco was asleep.
“We’ll see you in potions. I’m just going to go find someplace quiet for a bit so Draco can sleep,” Harry said. “Oh, and could you grab some fruit or something for Draco to eat when he wakes up?” he asked.
Blaise nodded and several pairs of eyes throughout the Great Hall watched in concern as Harry walked out carrying a sleeping Draco.
