When Swords Meet Wands

Unexpected Acquaintances and X-ray Glasses.

Harry

Harry had no clue what was going on.

The demigods and the other weird people who arrived the night before were acting worried. Someone said they saw all of them going into Dumbledore's office in pairs and groups at random times. Even the ghosts were gossiping about them.

Harry felt something was going to happen. Not necessarily bad, he thought, but given his luck, it was bound to be.

He didn't even tell Hermione or Ron about it. Maybe if he didn't tell them, nothing would happen. He would ignore his feeling, and hopefully, it would ignore him too. But considering it was his feeling, it probably wouldn't.

"Harry? Aren't you going to eat?" Hermione said, snapping her fingers in front of his face.

Harry jerked back to reality. He was at breakfast. It was Friday morning and Harry couldn't wait for the weekend.

He took one bite of his buttered toast and set it down. He couldn't not tell them about his feeling anymore.

"I reckon something's gonna happen," he said, "Something bad."

Ron and Hermione exchanged a look.

"We think so too, mate," Ron said, leaning in from across the table. "Something's up with those colourful blokes."

"We need to find out what's happening," Hermione said. She fished around in her book bag and pulled out a flesh coloured string. "Extendable Ears."

Harry smiled, despite immediately resolving to do the one thing he swore to himself that he wouldn't do this year. "D'you just carry them around in your bag, 'Mione? And I thought you were against all the snooping around we're going to do?"

"Times change, priorities change." "Finally," Ron muttered. She glared at him before passing out the strings to him and then to Harry.

Harry swung his legs over the bench and stood up, snatching up his satchel. "We're going to Dumbledore's office. And Hermione, don't worry, our first period's free."

He strode toward the doors. Right as Harry was about to open it, the door swung open from outside, nearly hitting his nose.

"Hey! Watch it!" He said indignantly. And then he saw who it was.

"Malfoy? What're you doing here?" Ron spluttered.

He wasn't walking his arrogant swagger, nor was he wearing his 'I'm-better-than-you' air anymore. He was wearing proper Hogwarts uniform for the first time, without the untucked shirt or the jaunty collar. His blond hair was messy and sticking up in every direction, unlike the usual slicked-back-with-tons-of-gel style. Goyle wasn't with him. He looked ragged and unsure and ashamed. Harry couldn't believe this was the same Draco Malfoy he'd known for the past seven years.

"Shove off, Weasley," he muttered, without the usual contempt in his voice. He hurried past them without meeting their eyes and sat at the corner of the Slytherin table, away from everyone else.

"Did you see him? Was that even Malfoy? What's he doing here? I thought he wasn't coming back!" Harry said, too shocked to wait for answers.

"Not now Harry, not now," Hermione said, steering him out. "We need to go."

They walked to Dumbledore's office. As they reached the gargoyle, it opened. Harry stepped back to let anyone coming through.

The demigods and colourful people (Harry really had to think of another word to call them) cluttered outside in a mob, talking in worried whispers and throwing furtive glances behind them. The blond boy from the 'colourful' group bumped hard into Harry, almost falling to the ground.