Harry stared at the circular, soft, blue glow that sat in front of him, feeling a radiating power coming from it. He could feel himself be drawn in, could feel his magic rise up inside of him to reach out and connect with whatever it was. He cocked his head to the side in intrigued curiosity, almost hypnotized by the orb before him. He found himself watching in awe as his magic began to leave him without his guidance, forming a large, loose braid of colour drifting out and away from his chest. The four colours twisted together and floated across the distance between him and the orb where its own misty blue tendrils seemed to rising up to meet his magic.

He looked sharply to his right when another braid of magical wisps appeared and drifted towards the orb as well. This braid was silver and white, and it came up to his own, approaching the orb at the same time. Then, to his left, another braid, this one of gold strands with black spots, floated beside his. Together, all three braids reached for the glowing orb, its own threads waiting to be met.

He watched as all the magic got closer and closer. Before touching the orb, his braided magic connected with the others and he felt a rush of power and emotion. The strongest warmth he’d ever felt rushed through and around him as all three braids twisted together, colours mixing and sparkling. Happiness like he’d never felt before filled him and then the combined magic touched the glowing orb.

“A bond for the ages,” a soft voice echoed around him. “Together, a light will be forged…a love found…a bond for the ages…”

And, despite everything still wrong, Harry knew what he was seeing and feeling. 

What he could have and be with Snape and Malfoy, and the acceptance of the bond that had begun to develop between them.

The morning of Harry’s first day of classes passed relatively quickly and without much incident, despite the lectures on OWLs and the droning of Professor Binns first thing in the morning on a Monday. Potions—double Potions, at that—had been a bit of a surprise with Snape arranging the Gryffindor-Slytherin class into pairs, pairs Harry realized were very deliberate. He had been paired with Malfoy and placed at the front left of the room. It didn’t take long for Harry to realize that Snape had arranged the class in a way that would protect Malfoy from those Slytherins tasked with his death.

Now, Harry entered his brand new class somewhat apprehensively. The Ancient Runes classroom was filled with tapestries of classical images and odd symbols, miniature statues, and small stone blocks engraved with a variety of symbols. Intrigued, he sat at a desk near the back and was about to pull out one of the texts for the class when the door opened and he found Malfoy walking in. Their eyes met awkwardly and Malfoy shifted where he stood, obviously wondering where to sit.

“Hey, you still willing to help me catch up?” Harry asked, making a quick decision regarding the Slytherin.

Malfoy blinked. “Uh, yeah, if you want.”

Harry nodded and gestured for the Slytherin to sit with him. Malfoy hesitated for a few seconds before slowly walking over and sitting down.

“What about Granger?” Malfoy said, pulling out his own books.

Harry shrugged. “She’ll get over it. Besides, studying with her can be a nightmare.”

“And you think I won’t be?”

“Do you make colour-coded study guides and homework schedules?” Harry said deadpanned and Malfoy shook his head, eyebrow raised. “Then, no, you won’t be.”

Malfoy snorted quietly. They fell quiet as the bell rang and the door opened, students filing in. When Hermione gave him a confused and slightly concerned look, Harry just shrugged at her. He knew sitting with Malfoy in yet another class—voluntarily this time—would cause more strife with the Gryffindors, but he was realizing he couldn’t be bothered to care. He had come to know Malfoy, at least somewhat, and, if he was honest, had started to like the person he’d begun to discover. They had gotten along at Prince Manor and he decided he wasn’t willing to let go of what they’d begun to build. He wanted to see where it could go. The summer had been the start of something special, he knew it, and he wanted to keep it, no matter what it made anyone think.

Just like with Voldemort’s return and Cedric’s death, he knew the truth about this.

Examining the students that entered told him that Malfoy would be mostly safe in the class, the only threats he knew of being the Carrow girls. His attention was pulled back to the front of the room when the door in the left corner opened and a young, but extremely tall, muscular man strolled into the room. He seemed to be in his early forties—he couldn’t possibly be any older—and had a long, angular, but very kind-looking face. He was pale, making his icy blue eyes and red, wiry beard and mustache stand out. His beard stretched up along his jaw and to just below his temples. There was no hair accompanying the facial hair, only an extremely smooth, bare scalp. He wore a short-sleeve black tunic, black slacks, and brown, leather Viking boots with their flat soles and leather ties wrapped around his legs several times to keep them on and snug. His large forearms were covered in black, detailed tattoos, one being a raven over a forest and one a wolf standing atop a boulder under a full moon. Harry was astonished to see the raven fly around the man’s arm and the wolf change from standing and howling to sitting and staring up to laying down. He’d had no idea magical tattoos existed in this way. He only knew of Leif’s runic tattoos that his life was tied to, giving him his immortality.

“Welcome to Ancient Runes, OWL edition,” the man said in an exaggerated tone as though they were meant to be afraid. Instead, there was a low rumble of chuckling. “You’re likely wondering who the hell I am for I am clearly not the lovely Bathesheda Babbling. I am Professor Drake Siguard, at your service.”

There was more laughter as he gave a mock bow before leaning against his desk, palms on the top and legs crossed at the ankle. Siguard’s voice, while full of humour, was deep, gruff, and rumbled with a heavy Nordic accent. Between the voice, the appearance, and the name, Harry couldn’t help but think of the Vikings from ages ago.

Like Binns and Snape that morning, Siguard spent most of the period going over their OWL and all it would entail. Their practical would be the cumulation of their year-long project in which they would have to demonstrate their use of powering runes to accomplish a goal. The more elaborate the rune-magic combination, and the more successful the goal, the higher the grade. They would also be graded on their ability to match the rune system most compatible with their magic as everyone was different. He would have to talk to Alexei at some point about the entire concept.

By the time they were dismissed, Harry was enthralled with the class and infinitely thrilled he’d made the switch. He’d have to thank Snape for sending in the request for him despite everything.

“Harry!”

He and Malfoy, who had exited together, stopped and watched Hermione hurry towards them. She gave Malfoy a sharp, suspicious look, gaining a sneer from the blonde before he turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd down the corridor. Harry frowned, disappointed, and gave Hermione a slight glare.

“How did you like Runes?” Hermione asked as they started walking in the same direction as Malfoy.

“It’s brilliant, I’m glad I switched,” Harry said honestly.

“And Professor Siguard seems wonderful!” Hermione said. “Professor Babbling was lovely, but could be a little dry.”

Harry hummed in acknowledgement as they headed for their next class.

“Do you need help catching up?” Hermione asked.

“Malfoy’s actually offered,” Harry said and watched her face immediately drop into wariness.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to associate with him?” Hermione said. “He’s done terrible things and his father is a Death Eater.”

“Yeah, but he’s not,” Harry said.

“Harry, how do we know it’s not all a trick? Maybe they’re all pretending,” Hermione said.

How he wished he could just tell her about his summer.

“I saw his mother get murdered and his father tortured because he didn’t go back to them. Those Slytherins attacked him on the train, probably would have beaten him to death if I hadn’t stopped them,” Harry said, his voice tight and his eyebrows furrowed. “He’s not a Death Eater and he’s not evil.”

“He could still be dangerous. He is a Malfoy,” Hermione said.

“Your name doesn’t define who or what you are,” Harry said and shoved his way into the Defense room. He ignored Ron’s wave and took the desk in front of the redhead, joining Neville instead. He gave the other boy a smile, but said nothing as he looked up with dread at the pink that was Professor Umbridge. Her sickly-sweet smile as she watched them all sit was enough to nearly make him gag.

“Welcome, children, to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts,” Umbridge said, her voice insincerely high and making most of the class cringe. “There will be several changes in order to rectify the damage that your less than adequate professors have done, but, no fear, these changes will not impact your ability to succeed on your OWL.”

Harry frowned, looking around to see the rest of the class doing the same. He did not have a good feeling about what the woman was saying.

“Professor, what do you mean?” Hermione asked.

“There will be no speaking out of turn,” Umbridge chided.

Harry looked over his shoulder at Hermione, finding she had turned slightly pink and seemed hurt. He turned back to Umbridge.

“She just asked what you meant. What are you changing?” Harry said, gaining a sharp look from Umbridge.

“Raise your hand, Mr. Potter, before speaking,” Umbridge said.

Harry rolled his eyes and threw a hand sarcastically in the air, glaring. “Now, answer the question. What are you changing”

“Detention, Mr. Potter, for your rudeness,” Umbridge said. “This class is going to become a theoretical course. Your OWL will not have a practical portion.”

“What?” several students shouted in disbelief.

“We’re not learning any defensive magic?” Hermione said, appalled.

“Such practice has proven unwise and dangerous, encouraging harmful ideas about dangers in our world,” Umbridge said.

There was muttering and Harry felt numerous eyes settle on him.

“Those ideas have seemed pretty real,” Harry said.

“They are not. There is nothing to fear—”

“Except Voldemort!” Harry shouted, shaking off Neville’s hand.

“You are lying, Mr. Potter. No such danger—”

“No! It is real! He is real and he is back!” Harry yelled.

“More detention, Mr. Potter, for your outbursts and lies!” Umbridge screeched. “Every evening this week. Perhaps you will come out with a clearer head.”

Harry clenched his teeth so hard they ached, but he managed not to say another word for the rest of class. The anger and disbelief in the room was palpable, every student disgusted at the insults levied against past professors, their skills, and, when they were given a text called The Beginner’s Guide to Theoretical Defensive Magic, there was a wave of discontented mumbling.

While they were meant to be reading the first chapter—on Flipendo, a first-year spell!—Harry chanced a deep glower at Umbridge as she sat at her desk, just staring out at them with that same fake smile.

It was going to be a long year.

Harry was still reeling with rage when he left Defense and his friends to go meet Alexei on the seventh floor. He wasn’t exactly sure where he was going, but managed to take a right turn somewhere and he found Leif and Alexei talking quietly, but intently in front of a tapestry and empty bit of stone wall. He only managed to hear a single word from Leif before the two realized he was close enough to overhear.

“…prophecy…”

“Later, moy drug,” Alexei said, looking at Harry who responded with a curious expression.

“Paidí,” Leif said with a genuine smile though Harry could still see something in the green eyes. “How was your first day?”

“Could’ve been better, could’ve been worse,” Harry said, choosing not to mention the horrible Defense class and his week of detentions. He wasn’t sure he’d ever even managed to get detention from Snape in the first week of school.

“How was Severus?” Alexei asked.

“He was fine, but it’s only the first day. Give him time,” Harry said and the two immortals laughed.

“Have a good night, Harry. I must meet Draco,” Leif said. “I will see you at breakfast.”

Harry nodded, smiling at the hand on his shoulder as Leif walked away and the way his magic briefly reached out on its own to touch Leif’s. Nothing would compare to having his magic wrapped up in Malfoy’s and Snape’s, but Leif’s and Alexei’s were a more than acceptable substitute.

“Come on, rebenok,” Alexei said.

“What are we doing?” Harry asked, stepping up to stand beside the vampire, staring at the blank stone.

“We will be training three times a week,” Alexei said. “Have you ever heard of the Room of Requirement?”

“No,” Harry said, shaking his head. “How do you know about it?”

“Leif,” Alexei said simply and Harry watched curiously as the vampire began pacing in front of the wall. His eyes widened as a door with intricate filigree appeared in the stone. With his playful grin, Alexei opened the door and gestured for Harry to precede him.

Harry did so, gaping as he took in the giant space and dropping his bag by the door in his shock. It was a huge open space as large as the Great Hall with a high ceiling, marble flooring, and mirror walls. There were also huge archways to the right and left, leading to even more space.

He looked through the right-side archway and found what appeared to be a battle arena arranged in a partially natural setting. There were a wide range of barriers and obstacles like boulders and stone walls. Large trees dotted the area and waterfalls fell down the walls as though the walls were mountains. The floor was half stone flooring and half grassy terrain. Huge stone pillars stood around the perimeter, the bowls on top filled with flickering fire. He could also spot what seemed to be training dummies scattered around.

In awe, he left the arena and moved across the room to the other archway. Through this one he found himself back at Prince Manor, the grounds, at least, with minor changes. The openness was there with the willow tree and surrounding forest. One difference was the river that cut through the grass and far off in the distance a massive bonfire. He could feel the wind blowing and the sun beating down and, for just a moment, he allowed himself to imagine he was truly back there.

He finally turned to Alexei who was watching him indulgently.

“What is this place?” Harry asked, returning to the vampire’s side.

“A secret of Hogwarts. The Room of Requirement,” Alexei said. “It can give you anything you need.”

“Wicked,” Harry said, spinning around to take it all in again.

“This area will be for practicing producing your own elements and using them. The room to the left will be for using and manipulating existing elements. The room to the right will be for duelling and fighting as you gain proficiency. There are training dummies that we will use, but you will also fight me, Leif, Draco, and, I hope, Severus,” Alexei explained and Harry’s eyes grew wide. “Eventually, some training will occur with Leif and Draco, and the two of you will learn to use your magic together.”

“Is this to prepare me to fight Voldemort?” Harry asked, remembering the single word he’d overheard upon his arrival.

Alexei sighed. “Yes and no. Dumbledore is not involved in this. We are not training you to be a soldier and, while we know Trelawney’s Prophecy is not valid, Voldemort and Dumbledore do not know that or are choosing not to believe it. You will remain Voldemort’s target. So, yes, we are training you to fight, but so you can protect yourself and be safe, not to be the world’s saviour.”

“Dumbledore won’t like it. Malfoy and I are supposed to stay away from you and Snape,” Harry said, feeling the anger and hurt at Dumbledore’s control rise up again.

“Luckily, he can do nothing about your training,” Alexei said and Harry looked at the vampire curiously. “Lady Magic has made the two of you our apprentices.”

Harry blinked in disbelief. “What?”

Alexei smiled, amused. “When Lady Magic wants something done, she does it herself. An apprentice contract was created, naming you and Draco the apprentices of me and Leif in Elemental and Aether Magic training. We are legally responsible for this side of your magical education and development, and absolutely no one can interfere.”

“Magic is incredible,” Harry breathed and Alexei laughed.

“Yes, it is.”

“Alexei?”

“Yes?”

“If the prophecy isn’t real, what was the disturbance in the Department of Mysteries a few weeks ago? What were you and Leif talking about?”

Alexei sighed again. “I cannot tell you without upsetting the course.”

“There’s another prophecy, isn’t there?” Harry said, remembering his strange dream from the previous night. He remembered the glowing orb, the power, the realization that it was his, Malfoy’s, and Snape’s magic coming together to seemingly activate the orb that then spoke of a bond to be forged. He knew he was right when Alexei gave him a sharp look.

“Yes, there is,” the vampire confirmed.

“It’s about me, Malfoy, and Snape,” Harry said, a statement rather than a question. Alexei just looked at him. “What does it want from us?”

“I cannot tell you, not without invalidating it,” Alexei said.

“That’s what happened with the other prophecy, right?” Harry said and Alexei nodded.

“When Voldemort attacked you and your parents, he immediately invalidated the prophecy,” Alexei said.

“Did he know? Snape, did he know Voldemort would go after my parents?” Harry asked.

“No,” Alexei said. “Voldemort made the choice to act and chose between two boys.”

“Me and Neville,” Harry said and Alexei nodded again. “Should that make it better, that he didn’t know?”

“That is something you must decide,” Alexei said. “I know it didn’t help Leif. He couldn’t understand how Severus could put anyone at risk, how he could have been willing to sacrifice anyone. It tapped into Leif’s own experience as being put up as a sacrifice by someone meant to love him.”

“What about you?”

“It was not why I was angry with him,” Alexei said. “I was angrier at his loyalty to Voldemort, his willingness to step away from anything light. I was angry at his self-pity and self-hatred that blinded him to what he was doing. I knew he could be better and was angry that he refused to see it himself. It is still something I honestly struggle with as he still only sees the worst of himself when I see so much more.”

“I don’t know how to feel,” Harry admitted. “I’m angry and I should hate him, but…”

Alexei wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “I understand, trust me. Leif and I went through the same struggle and did so for more than ten years. In many ways, we still struggle with it.”

“I don’t really want to deal with it for that long,” Harry said, making Alexei chuckle. “Should I forgive him?”

“Only you can make that decision.”

Harry huffed lightly, wishing that, at least in this case, Alexei would just tell him what to do. “How?”

“Learn the full story from all sides,” Alexei said. “Learn about him, then decide what you think he deserves and what you can give. Discover what you want.”

Harry looked out absently at the training room, frowning slightly.

“Do not let Dumbledore tell you what to do,” Alexei added and Harry knew the vampire was talking about Dumbledore’s order to stay away from Snape and Malfoy. “Come, let’s do some Water Magic before dinner.”

Harry nodded, pushing thoughts of Slytherins, headmasters, and prophecies away as they headed to the recreated Prince Manor grounds. He let his excitement grow and hurried through the archway, taking a moment to revel in the place he had honestly come to love. The people may be confusing, but he had never felt so happy and at peace as he did at Prince Manor. Even Hogwarts didn’t make him feel that way. He sighed happily as the breeze brushed across his skin and messed his hair.

“To the river,” Alexei called, several steps behind him.

Harry dashed to the river, crouching down to dip his fingers in the water. He stood up as the vampire approached and looked at him expectantly.

“Alright,” Alexei said, shifting into his own teaching mode. “You can, naturally, use any source of water, but you can also draw the moisture out of the earth and air to use as water.”

“Are you telling me I can make rain?” Harry said.

“As a very simplified description, yes,” Alexei said. “Perhaps it is something we can try.”

Harry felt his eyes widen comically and he nodded vigorously. They were nearly at the end of basic element creation and manipulation. He was ready for something more challenging. Alexei just chuckled and took his shoulders, turning him to face the river.

“First, water manipulation. You know how this works,” Alexei said, taking a step back.

Harry nodded and looked at the river. He let the gently flowing water calm him and he called forth his Water Magic. It was easier to work with his magic this time as there was no Snape or Malfoy magic to reach out for. He watched the blue wisps twist through his fingers for a moment before pushing them out to the river where they floated and danced over the surface. He tilted his head in focus, pushing intent into the magic, guiding his strands into the water. The threads sunk into the river and began to spin in circles, going faster and faster until he had created a small whirlpool in the middle of the river.

“Wonderful, Harry,” Alexei said and Harry grinned.

He tugged at his magic and the water then, stopping the whirlpool. He increased the power and guided the threads to spin into ropes, holding water in their centers. He pulled at the ropes and they snaked their way out of the river, slithering through the grass and around their feet. He grinned at Alexei as he made the ropes twist up the vampire’s legs and body. Once there were ropes everywhere, he released the magic and water poured freely, soaking Alexei’s clothes.

“Harry!”

The expression on Alexei’s face, a mixture of amusement and unimpressed, made Harry double over laughing, his hands on his knees to stay standing.

“Charming,” Alexei said, deadpanned, though his smile betrayed any trace of annoyance.

Harry was so distracted by trying to control his own laughing that he didn’t notice until it was too late that there was a gust of wind blowing around him. He yelped when it suddenly grew it strength and he was blown off his feet and into the river. The river wasn’t overly deep; he could stand on the bottom and the water just reached his chin. He spluttered as he got his feet under him and broke the surface, and glared at the vampire who had dissolved into his own laughter.

“Very funny,” Harry grumbled as he climbed out of the river though, like Alexei, his grin proved he wasn’t angry.

“Fair play,” Alexei said with a smirk before directing more Air Magic at Harry with Fire Magic mixed in to heat it up, allowing the air to almost instantly dry Harry’s drenched clothes and hair. “Alright, do you feel ready to try use the air’s moisture?”

“Definitely.”

“To do so, you have to focus on the air, almost as though you are going to use Air Magic. However, you will hold your Water Magic in your hands and push it into the air around you. It will find the moisture and then you can use that as water,” Alexei explained. “Do you understand?”

“I think so,” Harry said, nodding.

“Give it a try.”

Harry took a deep breath and gazed around as though he could see the air. He was going to close his eyes and try to see his magic, but he had a feeling that wouldn’t help in this situation. Instead, he spotted the rustling branches and leaves on the willow tree and pretended to see the air he knew was causing the movement. He pushed his Water Magic into his hands with little thought, such an action nearly second nature by this point, and forced himself to feel the air all around him. He glanced at his hands, held out in front of him with his palms up and blue threads dancing on his skin. Keeping his focus on the air around him, he pushed the Water Magic away, pretending there were air pockets for it to latch onto.

For a while, nothing seemed to happen, the blue threads just floating lightly on the air with no direction or purpose. However, just as Harry was about to pull the magic back, it changed and pulsed. The strands stopped moving as though holding onto something and continued to pulse every few seconds.

“You’re connected, rebenok,” Alexei said. “Can you feel the moisture, the water your magic has found?”

There was another pulse and he realized it was his magic encompassing the moisture in the air, waiting to use it in some way. He nodded at Alexei who smiled approvingly.

“Good,” Alexei said. “Now, try to use it in some way.”

Harry stared at his magic, attached to, visually, nothing and felt it grow in strength as it pulled in more and more moisture from the air, giving him more to work with. It was beginning to feel similar to when he had just worked with the water in the river. Focusing, he pulled at the air’s natural moisture. It was hard, draining, but, slowly, he began to see little droplets of water hovering in the air around his blue strands. A grin slowly forming on his face as he continued to succeed, he pulled more droplets of water into being until he had a few hundred. Once he did, he drew them together, creating a small swirling ball of water, and then, using a small burst of Air Magic, he sent it soaring at Alexei, hitting the vampire directly in the chest and soaking him once again.

“You are a menace, Harry!” Alexei said, even as he laughed while gazing down at his drenched shirt and waistcoat. “However, that was amazing work. It is quite advanced to be able to pull the moisture from the air like that and use it. Good job. Such a skill can allow you to, as you said, create rain as a distraction or coverage. Combined with other elements, you can move it around, as you did, heat it up to boiling, and freeze it to create a stronger distraction or even a natural weapon.”

Harry beamed, snickering as Alexei used the Air-Fire Magic mix to dry his clothing once again.

“Alright, that’s it for today,” Alexei said. “Off to dinner with you.”

“When will you be back?” Harry asked, watching Alexei use the same Air-Fire Magic mix to dry his own clothing and hair.

“I am here tomorrow morning, but we will not meet for training until Wednesday,” Alexei told him. “Go on now.”

Harry nodded and walked back to the door, picking up his dropped bag.

“And, Harry?”

Harry turned at the vampire’s voice.

“Think about what we talked about,” Alexei said, giving Harry an imploring look.

Knowing he was referring to Snape and the prophecy, Harry nodded again as he hitched his bag onto his shoulder. “I will. Promise.”