Harry frowned. "I don't want to take you away from your therapist."
"It's one session! And uh... no offence, but not telling Severus all about Aran was actually pretty mental of you. You probably need the therapy more than I do."
"Prat."
"Basket case."
"Seeker who lets the Snitch snooze--"
"Boys," interrupted Dumbledore. "I think that's a fine solution as long as Harry is amenable to it." Drawing his wand, he cast a quick Tempus. "Hmm. We seem to have talked quite a bit longer than I had in mind. Your after-lunch classes are shortly to draw to a close. We don't want you missing the one following as well, so off you go."
"That's it?" asked Harry.
"Yes, my boy, that's it. I have every confidence that you'll do the right thing as soon as an opportunity presents itself."
As soon as. That was a pretty blunt hint. "Tonight, then," said Harry, sighing. "Might as well. It's actually a good idea, Draco."
The Slytherin boy raised his chin a notch. "Do I ever have any that aren't?"
Harry thought of the fairy cakes... among other things. "Yes, actually."
------------------------------------------------------
"So where are you headed?" asked Draco as they rode the stairs down from Dumbledore's office. "I have Charms next."
"Transfiguration."
Draco nodded. "I don't suppose you'd come with me back to Aran's for a second? That stupid git still has my amulet."
Harry didn't exactly want to see the Defence teacher again, but he did want to make sure Draco got his property back. "All right. He can't claim you haven't served your detention yet, anyway."
"Some detention. Lunch and a chat?"
"I'd rather have scrubbed cauldrons," grumbled Harry.
"Severus can arrange that, I'm sure, if you'd like me to tell him about your urinal of a mouth--"
"Ha, very funny."
"Just make sure you come down for dinner," said Draco, serious once again. "Have Ron and Hermione walk you down to Severus' classroom right after your last class so we can waylay him before he leaves for the Great Hall. All right? I'll meet you there."
"Yeah, all right."
"If you chicken out and skive off it'll just be harder--"
"Yeah, all right," Harry repeated.
By then they were almost to the open door of Aran's classroom. Nobody was in sight. "He must have a free period," said Draco, shrugging. "Accio amulet!"
Nothing happened.
"Worth a try..."
"Probably still has it in his pocket," said Harry. "You'll have to actually ask him. Sorry."
"Time to put my perfect manners on display, then." Draco beamed a completely fake smile all around, just like he was accepting an award for Seeker of the Year.
"A little less perfect."
"I can't be that," said Draco, grinning. His smile faded just a bit in the instant before he turned to step inside the Defence classroom, but his voice was still smoothly polite as he called out toward the office at the front, "Professor Aran? Might I have a moment of your time?"
For a moment, his request was greeted only by silence.
But then, the heavy door to the classroom swung shut. Right in Harry's face.
Harry was startled, but not too alarmed at first. Aran probably just wanted to talk to Draco alone. And while technically Harry wasn't supposed to be out in the hallways by himself, he didn't think it was much of a problem, really. Ever since the Quidditch match, most of the Slytherins tolerated him pretty well. Besides, classes wouldn't even be out for another ten minutes or so. Draco would be back by then.
Still, though, maybe it wasn't the best idea to flout his father's rules today of all days. All he needed was for Snape--Severus, he reminded himself--to come strolling by and see him out here unprotected.
Yeah, best to go in, Harry thought.
Except, when he pushed on the door, it seemed stuck fast to the jamb. Oh, no! Was Aran angry enough to try something truly nasty? It wasn't like he had to worry about losing his job. After the things McGonagall had said, he had to know he was soon to be sacked, anyway.
Worried, Harry pressed his ear to the wooden door and strained to make out what Aran or Draco might be saying.
That was when he heard a voice he'd hoped never, ever to hear again.
Lucius Malfoy, his words sort of oozing, they were so smooth.
But wait -- Lucius Malfoy couldn't be wandering around Hogwarts! The castle was warded so he had to be escorted at all times. Dumbledore had said so. So maybe this was Remus?
Of course, Harry didn't have any idea why Remus would need to speak to Aaron Aran, and do it while pretending to be a school governor, but then again, he didn't have any idea why the real Lucius Malfoy would be saying the kinds of things Harry could make out through the closed door.
Lucius hated Draco.
Didn't he?
"Draco. What an unexpected delight." A slight chuckle. "You're looking well. More so than the last time I saw you, at any rate. And you're back in classes again. You must be enjoying that."
Yeah, that just had to be Remus, thought Harry. The first words out of Lucius' mouth would be Crucio, not these casual remarks that smacked of... well, caring.
But did Draco know that? Harry couldn't be sure, especially when he heard the slight waver in his brother's voice. But then again, Draco did know about Remus impersonating Lucius. Maybe he didn't want to give the game away, especially in front of an idiot like Aran, who could hardly be trusted to keep Remus' secret.
"Father," the boy said, his voice just loud enough for Harry to hear it. Harry tensed. He knew Draco pretty well these days, and that strained tone said loud and clear that his brother was scared to death and trying not to let it show. "What... I-- I didn't expect to see you here."
"I didn't expect to be summoned, Draco. But your instructor, it seems, has some complaints about your conduct." Harry heard footsteps coming closer, along with what sounded like a person actually bumping against the door.
And then, Draco's voice, pitched higher than usual. "My... my next class'll be starting. Ch... Charms. I'd better get there--"
"Accio wand," said Lucius, very calmly. "You'll stay and listen to me, Draco. After all, it wouldn't do to arrive at Charms without so much as a wand, would it?"
Harry felt as if his stomach had fallen to his feet. Not Remus, then. He barely registered that he'd drawn his own wand.
In the meantime, Lucius had continued speaking to Draco. "Now, now, don't look so alarmed. I wish nothing more than a few words with you."
Harry's mind was racing. What should he do? Taking care of Lucius--for good--using dark powers would only advertise those very powers to Aran, as well as to the students who would be streaming into the hallway soon. And they couldn't all be Obliviated. The side of Light would lose the advantage of surprise if Harry acted rashly.
Besides, Severus wouldn't want Harry dealing with this all on his own. He'd want Harry to get help. But how? He couldn't leave while Draco was in there with Lucius!
But surely Lucius wouldn't do anything to Draco with Aran standing right there, not if he was putting on this fatherly pretence!
"Y- y- you've no right to speak with me," Draco was saying by then, his voice gaining confidence with every word. "I'm not your son any longer! And why's that? You wanted to kill me! You wanted to torture me--"
"Oh, Draco," said Lucius in a tone halfway between outrage and empathy. "How can you say such things? But of course I know the answer to that perfectly well. I know whom you've been listening to all through this year. They've turned you against your own father, your very own flesh and blood. For shame."