Twist of Fate

Chapter 12

Harry's resolve to not worry about Voldemort lasted about one week after he left Hogwarts. It started with the frustration from the lack of the news about Voldemort's return in the Daily Prophet. Did no one care that he was back? What steps were being taken to stop him from gathering all of his Death Eaters? When he wrote with frustration to Sirius he received only vague explanations. Ron and Hermione's letter were filled with inane stories and no news. Surely something had to be happening?

Harry knew that at some level his frustration was all coming from the fact that he had no idea what was happening to Draco. Was he alright? Had his father tried to use the Imperius curse on him? Was Voldemort at Malfoy Manor? These are questions he couldn't ask anyone and he it filled with a gnawing, worrying pain that grew worse each day.

At night, Harry pulled out the package that Draco had left for him in the locker room. Nine thin envelopes were inside. Draco had dated one for each week they would be apart. With shaking hands Harry had opened the first one on July 3rd. He carefully removed the paper and stared down at a charcoal drawing of him and Cedric, studying down in the locker room. Draco had captured Harry with his head turned towards Cedric. Cedric, smiling warmly, was looking back at him. Their books were spread out in front of them on the desk.

Tears burned in Harry's eyes as he traced the delicate lines of Cedric's face. Draco had captured Cedric's personality, open and honest, caring, loving life. It was so unfair that he should die so young. Draco was able to capture both of them in just a few strokes of his pencil. Harry sat frozen staring at the drawing for longest time. It was only when he went to discard the wrapping paper that he realized that there was a note inside.

I know that you are probably second-guessing everything that happened. Wondering what you could have done differently. Don't. Know that I miss you. D

Harry had been tempted at first to open the rest of the envelopes all at once, but resisted. Each week's envelope was a way to mark the time until he would see Draco again. On his birthday he saved Draco's present until the very end of the day. He waited and listened for Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon to go to bed. He listened as Dudley thudded and thumped his way through his evening routine until there was finally silence in the house. With shaking hands he opened the envelope and pulled out a blank sheet of the heavy drawing paper. Puzzled, he turned it over. The other side was blank as well. Harry cursed in frustration until he saw the note in the envelope.

Use your wand. Happy Birthday.

Harry pulled out his wand. Draco knew he couldn't use magic in summer so Harry hesitantly just touched his wand to the paper. Harry smiled as the drawing of Draco and Harry slowly revealed itself. They were dancing, arms wrapped around each other, staring at each other, lost in their own world. Legs entwined as if moving to the music. Draco had drawn the entire office, the desk with the record player on top, the album covers splayed across it. Harry lifted his wand and the image disappeared. Touching it again with the wand made the drawing reappear.

Running his fingers over the paper Harry realized that this one had been drawn with ink, all the others had been done with charcoal. Draco must have charmed it to only appear when Harry's wand touched it. This was the first drawing that Draco had given him of himself. The other drawings had been of Cedric, the Castle, the Great Room, and one of Harry by himself, perched on the desk. But there had been no drawings of Draco. Harry had figured that Draco thought it too risky but he had found a way.

Harry had been safely tucking away all of the drawings at the bottom of his trunk, where it was unlikely that Dudley would find them. This one he kept on his desk, he pulled out his wand a dozen times a day just to reveal the drawing on the blank paper. Only four more weeks, Harry thought, and we'll be back at school.