A/N: Another insanely long chapter. Whoops.
Sunday was slightly overcast, but it made the unusual heat bearable. Draco, Harry, and Deja tried not to break a sweat as they hiked across the grounds of Hogwarts—heading to beyond the boundaries that disabled students from Apparating.
Draco remembered exactly where the protective wards ended and where they began; it was something he learned while doing Voldemort's bidding. Deja didn't question his odd knowledge, however, as she knew nothing of the wizarding world's past or, possibly, that it ever had a war at all. Not even History of Magic classes taught things such as that, for it was far too recent. Maybe, years from now, Harry's name might show up in textbooks, but that era of time was not now.
Deja, though she had no idea where she was going, took the lead enthusiastically. She put quite a bit of distance between herself and her companions.
Harry whispered to Draco, certain that Deja couldn't hear him, "When are you going to tell her?"
Draco only slightly acknowledged the nosy Gryffindor beside him with a side glare. "About what?"
"Maybe—I don't know—the fact that you worked under Voldemort?"
Draco frowned, "I'll tell her when she asks! Until then, I'd like to enjoy her not being afraid of me, thank you very much."
"Don't you think it's wrong, keeping something like that from her?" Harry whispered, trying desperately to break through to him.
Draco visibly recoiled from Harry's question, "Of course I hate it, but that kind of information isn't something you can just drop out of nowhere!"
"You need to stop running away from your problems," Harry urged, "That's not going to help you fix them."
Draco growled, "I don't need a lecture from the hero." Harry stopped in his tracks, unsure of how to respond, as Draco furiously stormed off ahead of him.
The magical wards shifted like oil swirling iridescently upon water. The protective barrier surrounding Hogwarts allowed Deja, Harry, and Draco through, glowing blue around the perimeters that grazed them.
"Have you ever done Side-Along Apparition before?" Draco asked Deja, doing his best to give Harry the silent treatment, even as he joined the group.
"Uh . . . sorry. What is that?" Deja asked him bashfully.
"I guess that's a no," Harry said, ignoring Draco's ignoring of him. "It's going to feel weird. Really weird."
Deja looked concerned but remained stoic. "Will it kill me?"
Draco snorted, and Harry glared at him for it. Of course she was concerned—she went her whole life thinking witches and wizards were mythical things from fairy tales. Draco could never understand how big of a pill this world was to swallow. The fear attached was a whole different hurdle to overcome.
Harry didn't want to lie or say the truth that might've validated Deja's fears. Memories flooded back to him of Malfoy Manor—Bellatrix—her dagger—holding the corpse of Dobby in his arms.
"Harry?" Deja asked again.
He must have looked hesitant because Deja's voice sounded more frightened than the first time she asked.
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Rivals Not Enemies (Drarry Slowburn)
Fanfiction(Comedy/Drama/Fantasy/Wholesome) Because of the academic interruption caused by the Second Wizarding War, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco return to Hogwarts to finish their final year. When Harry revisits the Chamber of Secrets, he starts to see Dra...
