Ruthless

TWO

That summer, he stepped off the train and went to Diagon Alley, returning to the same pub of which he had resided the summer before. A week later, and his Head of House stood scowling down at him, his voice a liquid snarl.

"You are required to reside with your muggle guardians, Mr. Potter. Disobedience will not be tolerated."

Harry considered his choices, their outcomes and risks, and finally nodded.

After a prolonged shopping trip, he returned to Surrey, content to put the confrontation off until another summer. He could learn Occlumency in muggle london as well as in the magical quadrant.

-O-O-

"What do you think of the Potter boy, Draco?"

The tone was casual; the words were not.

Draco looked down and did not meet his fathers eyes, even as he stood straight in a practiced noble posture.

"He is very quiet, Father."

Lord Malfoy swirled the liquid in the glass he held, then took a brief sip before placing it down on his desk with a solid clink.

"And? This is all you have to say, after spending an entire year in a dormitory with him?"

Draco hesitated. He could not say the other boy frightened him; he could not say that Potter intimidated all the Slytherins, even those far older. There was simply something about the expressionless green eyes, the way he held himself, the ruthless way he responded when challenged.

As he had responded when Draco demanded an answer from him on the train. He had not had the courage to approach him again with an offer of friendship, especially not with Nott and the mudblood so firmly entrenched at his side.

Draco took a steadying breath.

"He is a true Slytherin, in every way except one; he is friends with Granger."

The older man smiled down at the papers on his desk, then waved a dismissive hand, his words following his Heir from the room.

"Women are a weakness for many men. Remember that."

-O-O-

The elf listened, and wrung his hands, and debated.

He had saved them; He had defeated the bad man, the one who slaughtered human and beast alike.

He would be in danger, Dobby knew it was so. Dobby knew there was something he could do about it, ways to help, ways to prevent Him from going back to the dangerous place.

But the Master's boy, the cruel boy who liked to kick and pinch and punish had said He was a true Slytherin. The bad man had been Slytherin; so were Master and Master's boy.

Perhaps Dobby should wait and see. Perhaps He would need no help.

Perhaps it would be very unwise to risk helping a true Slytherin.

-O-O-

Harry received owls from Nott and Granger. He read them, and did not reply.

The third letter from Granger contained only one sentence, underlined three times with sharp strokes.

If you can not deign to write back, O Silent One, send me some sign you are in fact alive!

Harry smiled, and placed a single feather inside the letter, folded it, and returned it to the owl's claws.

As it winged away, he made the choice not to laugh. It was late, and he hated to break the silence.