When Harry opened his eyes he knew exactly where he was. How many times had he awakened in the hospital wing? He knew the feel of the bed and the scratchy hospital pajamas, but at least this time he still appeared to be in his clothes. Draco stood over him and his concern turned to a smile. "Just how is it I was in mortal peril and you ended up here?"

"Don't know. Dumb luck, I guess." Harry sat up. "I think I just fainted."

"That's what Poppy said. I think we get the family discount for both using the hospital wing in the same day."

"You all right?"

"Yes, but my broom isn't. Guess where it landed?"

"The Whomping Willow?"

"Good guess."

"I owe you another Christmas present then."

"How did someone manage to sneak in and hex that broom? It's been in your room since Christmas."

"They didn't. They came in with the parents to watch the match and were lucky enough to see you up on a broom."

"One of the parents?"

"That's my guess."

"Yeah." Draco slumped down onto a bed. "I know they hated me. I mean, I certainly saw that at Parent's Day. But I really didn't think they wanted to kill me."

"Well Draco, you have to reckon that many people out there were affected by the Death Eaters. And even if you didn't participate, they lump you with those who did."

"You're right of course. Except that…actually…" He lowered his eyes from Harry's. "I did participate," he said quietly. "Sometimes."

Harry fell silent and felt a little sick. He never wanted to think about it, even when he was after Snape and Draco when he was certain both were firmly on Voldemort's side. He'd been so wrong about both of them. But they did have to do some despicable things and Draco had never really spoken about those times, not even at his trial. Harry was breathless when he asked, "You did?"

"I never killed anyone," he said quickly, "but I was there when they did. And I didn't try to stop it."

"You couldn't. What could you have done? They would have killed you."

"Yeah. Well."

Harry distracted himself from Draco's raw expression by taking out the watch. "Now what?" The needle pointed halfway between "Mortal Peril" and "Hogwarts". He showed it to Draco.

"I don't suppose we could stop the visitors before they leave," said Draco.

"Is the game still on?"

"Yes. They called a time when we landed and then they resumed. Slytherin is now ahead."

"Maybe no one left."

"Do you think the perpetrator would stick around for the end of the game?"

"They might if they didn't want to call attention to themselves."

"If only there was a way to see everyone in the stands."

Harry stood up sharply, feeling only a little woozy aftereffect. "There is! Let's go to the Divination Tower."

"The what?" But Harry had already left the hospital wing.

The school was strangely quiet with everyone still at the pitch. "Harry, why are we going here? I thought Divination was a bunch of crap."

"Well, mostly it is. But if I charm a crystal ball, I'm sure I'll be able to see everyone in the crowd." They climbed up into the trap door and entered the Divination classroom. It was still draped in yards of fabric with tables and tea cups everywhere, but at least the sickening odor of incense was something in the distance as no one had used the room today.

Draco drew silent, simply watching Harry work. Harry reached for his wand but it wasn't there. He patted his pockets but when he looked up, Draco was holding it out for him. "Looking for this? It's a bit cracked now. Teeth marks are a nice addition, too."

"I was a little nervous my boyfriend was plunging to his doom, okay." Harry took the wand and raised his brows. His teeth had made several gouges and he had bitten through the wood, cracking it. He hoped it would still work before he could get it properly repaired.

"By the way," Draco said softly. "Thanks for saving me. How did you know I was in trouble?"

"I don't know. I just knew."

"Must be when soul mates connect."

He looked at Draco in all seriousness. "Yes. That must be."

They locked gazes. They measured the other silently, immobile until Draco moved first. He took Harry in his arms and his lips fell hungrily on Harry's. His tongue penetrated and blossomed into desperate passion that Harry was grateful to return. He was sick that Draco might have been hurt, might have been killed. He wanted to envelop him as much as Draco was seeming to do, but the fiery kiss threatened to overwhelm them both with pent up emotion, and there was no time for that now. Harry broke from the kiss but hugged Draco to him with all his strength. "I was worried," he said in a shuddering whisper. Draco only nodded, hugging back before he drew away. For some reason, Draco blushed.

Harry straightened his robes and reined in his emotions. They had too much to do now to allow themselves to indulge in their fear and relief. He tucked his feelings away, waved his wand over a crystal ball, and muttered an incantation. The ball sprang to life, swirling with images of the Quidditch match. "Show me the people in the stands. Slowly."

Harry looked while Draco moved to stand over his shoulder. "You're really good at this, Harry," he said in an awed whisper.

"Well I am Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Don't you think I should know more than my fair share of magic?"

Harry scanned the crowd, seeing no one familiar. The ball took in every person and it moved throughout the stands, picking out each face as it passed. Harry was ready to give up until he did see someone familiar, someone who had no real reason to be there, and looking nervous. "Stop!" The ball's image stopped on that face. Harry looked up at Draco.

"You've got to be kidding," said Draco.

Harry shook his head. No, now that he thought about it, it made sense, even down to the poison pen letters.

"Do you want me to go?" asked Draco. Harry could tell he was itching to. But Harry shook his head.

"No. I'll go."

* * *

Harry clutched his wand so tightly he thought he'd crack it, but then he remembered he already did. He made his way up into the Ravenclaw section of the stands and searched for the face he was looking for. There. Behind Hudson and Rosencrantz. Then Harry realized that maybe a confrontation in a place full of students was a bad idea, but his options suddenly fell away when the man turned around and spotted him. His eyes widened and he nearly got to his feet, but seemed to think better of it.

Harry approached, his wand visible. "Hi, Wulf," he said to his former boyfriend.

"Hey Harry! That was something else. Incredible flying! What happened out there to Malfoy's broom?"

"Why don't you tell me?"

Wulf simply looked at him. "What are you talking about?"

"I know it was you who tampered with Draco's wand. Who else could it have been? And here you happen to be at a school Quidditch match when Draco's broom goes haywire. But what I can't understand is why you would send those hateful letters using that language."

Wulf's perplexed smile suddenly dimmed and became a scowl. "Because you dumped me for no good reason except that you were through with me. And for what? For him? And he's the one that got you into trouble. He's the one who's going to lose you your job."

Harry raised his wand. "You tried to kill him," he said through gritted teeth.

"I tried my damnedest. But somehow, there you were, always there to save the day."

"Well it's over now. Get up. We're leaving."

"What are you going to do? Arrest me? Do you have Auror authority now, too, Hero?"

Suddenly, Wulf's wand was out and he had Serenity Hudson's neck clamped in the crook of his arm. His wand tip disappeared into her long black hair. Rosencrantz screamed and fell back. Everyone in the Ravenclaw stands suddenly moved out of the way. "Now you are going to get out of my way, Harry. And we're going to take a nice walk to Hogsmeade, and I am going to apparate away with this little hostage. Do you understand? Or this pretty little girl is going to lose all her brains, kersplat."

Hudson was too stunned to cry, but her eyes were wide with fear.

"All right, Wulf. Let's just go. Take it easy."

Harry backed away and let Wulf and Hudson slowly follow him. "Everyone back!" ordered Harry and they left a path for them. They finally made it to the bottom of the stands and Harry walked backwards into the snow. "Listen, Wulf. Why don't you let her go, and I'll go with you."

"Now why would you want to do that, Harry? You don't like me any more, remember?"

"I never said that."

"No. You were much too polite to say that."

"There's no reason for you to get her involved. It's me you're angry at. Take me instead."

Harry continued walking backwards, never lowering his wand. Wulf grew thoughtful with each step.

"I tell you what, Harry. I'll let her go in exchange for Malfoy."

"No. I'll go instead."

"I don't want you. I want Malfoy."

"I said no! It's me or nothing. Just think what you could do to me, Wulf. I'd be at your mercy."

They continued moving slowly down the hill. The gate was still far off but not far enough for Harry.

"Oh certainly. Harry Potter at my mercy. With his wand?"

"I'll put it down. I'll leave it behind. Just let her go."

"Don't do it, Professor Potter!" screamed Hudson, but Wulf clamped tighter on her neck and choked her off.

"She's got spunk, Harry. One of your students? Of course she'd have spunk."

"Do we have a deal, Wulf? When we get to the gate, I'll put down my wand, and you let her go."

Wulf smiled. They were only a few feet from the gate. Harry didn't have his cloak but he wasn't cold. There was far too much adrenaline rushing through his system for that.

They reached the gate and Wulf stopped. Hudson was straining to look at him, her hands still clutching his arm around her neck. Harry manipulated his wand so he was holding it by just his thumb and index finger. "Look, Wulf. I'm putting it down." Harry bent down and put the wand onto the snowy path, never taking his eyes from his adversary. He blew out a strand of fog with his breath and slowly straightened to face Wulf again.

Wulf looked down at Hudson and suddenly flung her away. She ran back up the hill, falling a few times and only now bursting into tears. He stabbed his wand toward Harry. "All right, Harry. I guess you're mine now. Maybe we'll play some games. You might even like some of them. You remember how it was with us, don't you?"

Harry's mind was going full speed. He could perform non-verbals, but he usually needed his wand. There were a few hexes he could do without it, but he'd have to concentrate. "Yes, Wulf. It was good."

Wulf reached for Harry, a laugh just leaving his lips when he was hit by a curse from behind. A huge flash of light and the backlash made him lose his wand and suddenly he disappeared. Where before he stood, there was only a small steaming pile of droppings.

Harry stared dumbfounded.

"And that's just what you are-a little shit!" said Draco from behind.

He fisted his wand and looked up at Harry. Harry began to smile. "You Transfigured him into…that?"

"I bloody well did. And he can stay that way for all I care. You all right?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down at what Wulf had become. "Yeah. I guess so." He tried not to laugh as it didn't seem appropriate but he couldn't help it. Vaguely he wondered how Draco came upon such a spell.

Draco wasn't laughing, but he seemed pleased at Harry's reaction. "We'll wait till the Aurors come for him, then maybe I'll change him back. Or just give them a little bag in which to carry him back to the Ministry."


On to Chapter Eleven
"Partners"

Back to Chapter Nine
"Empty Seats"

Chapter Index

Mystwriter's Story Page