Salchows and Serendipity (Harry Potter/Winter Olympics Xover)

8. Bad Timing

It had been just over three days since Johnny had started flirting with Lysacek and Harry was beginning to think the other skater knew something was going on. So far Johnny had managed to be just about everywhere. The best incident so far had been Johnny walking out of his room in his underwear just as Lysacek had arrived to pick up Tanith to go out for coffee and catch up. Tanith had been quite happy to help set that up. Harry hadn't seen that one personally, but he had heard all about it. Even Tanith had been impressed with the expression on Lysacek's face.

"All the US medal winners so far have a photo shoot this morning," Johnny said as Harry and he walked through the lobby of Harry's building. "It should be almost over, so I was thinking of dragging you along with a camera and pretending you forced me to bring you."

Harry grinned.

"I can do that," he replied, since he was enjoying seeing Johnny so buoyant.

Some people seemed to think Johnny was faking being so happy to pretend he didn't care that he came sixth, but Harry could see the genuine enjoyment every time they came up with a new part of the plan. Sooner rather than later Johnny was going to have to make a decision and either drop the whole thing or tell Lysacek the truth, but Harry was happy to play along for a bit longer.

Given the time of day and the fact that most people were off doing things, there weren't many people in the lobby, which was fortuitous because what happened next was rather eye catching. If Harry hadn't seen it, he never would have believed it. Lucius Malfoy appeared out of thin air and dropped what appeared to be a stuffed rabbit. The man looked nothing like Harry had last seen him, in fact, if it hadn't been for the blond hair, Harry might not have even recognised him. Said hair was all over the place, as if it hadn't had a good brush in days, and Lucius appeared to be wearing pyjamas.

Harry just couldn't imagine the pristine Slytherin wishing to appear in public in pyjamas.

Then the wizard looked at him. Harry was reminded very strongly of Bellatrix; there was insanity in those eyes. Before he could so much as react, Lucius went mad.

"Harry Potter," Lucius yelled and then launched himself at Harry as if nothing else in the world mattered.

Harry didn't even really know what was happening until hands laced around his neck and began to squeeze, strangling him in short order. He couldn't even get out a yell as the sound was caught by the hold on his throat and his instinct was the grab at the hands rather than anything else.

"Hey," he heard, and he assumed it was Johnny.

The grip lessened just a little. He managed to drag in a short breath.

"Get off him you maniac."

Now that definitely was Johnny and he was jarred as a body collided with Lucius.

"The enemy of the Dark Lord must die," Lucius snarled for any and all to hear.

One hand left his throat and Harry was pretty sure it was being used to hit Johnny, but he was too busy removing the other one. Whatever madness was infecting Lucius, it made the wizard incredibly strong. He had never been so glad to hear the crack of Apparation in his life and he prayed it was the cavalry. When a bolt of red light hit his attacker and the man finally fell away, Harry staggered backwards, doing his very best to breathe. There were little spots on the edge of his vision and his throat hurt, but he managed to get oxygen into his lungs and that was all that mattered.

When he looked up, he was even more shocked to see Draco standing half a room away, flanked by a man and a woman that Harry had never seen before. All three had their wands drawn and pointed at Draco's father.