Reformation (Book 4 of The Corruption Sequence)

Chapter 11. Formalities

"Ah, Draco," Dumbledore greeted in his usual cheerful and benevolent manner, "I do apologise for the interruption to your lesson. Please come in."

Draco nodded and walked over to stand beside where Harry was sitting.

"If I may ask," Draco said politely, "what is this about, Headmaster?"

"We're here to record your new mark for the records, Cuz," Tonks said with her usual irreverence.

"Since it would be imprudent to remove you from the safety of Hogwarts," Newline added in just as cheerful a tone, "we were sent to retrieve a record for the official transcripts. Given the circumstances, Madame Bones had ordered your case to be considered immediately and so we need to do things by the book."

"Oh," was Draco's response, clearly that was not quite what he had been expecting, any more than Harry had been.

Given the Ministry's idiocy even since Harry's defeat of Voldemort, the new approach was a little surprising.

"Of course," Draco said, gathering himself, "what do you need me to do?"

"It's just like what we did the last time," Tonks said with a smile. "If you want to sit down, we'll check the mark for other spells, then make an official record to take back with us; totally painless, well unless I trip between here and there and fall on you."

Harry did his best to appreciate Tonk's attempt at humour, but he wasn't feeling much like joking around, so he gritted his teeth even as Draco smiled graciously. His eyes zeroed in as Draco rolled up his sleeve and all his instincts screamed 'Mine' as he saw the mark there. It took quite a lot of effort for him to sit still when Tonks walked over and pulled out her wand.

"No worries, Harry," the female Auror said brightly, "I promise he's safe and sound."

At least she seemed to understand, which helped a little.

The spells Tonks used were designed to identify any spells on Draco's mark rather than just cancel them, which made them more complicated than Rita's cursory investigation. Draco just sat there looking totally calm and holding his arm still for the whole process. Harry tried to be similarly stoic, even though he knew Draco was not quite as calm on the inside. The final spell caused an image of Draco's arm and the mark on it to float up into mid-air, then it rolled itself up like a scroll and vanished with a pop.

"All done," Tonks announced with a cheerful smile and then stepped away from Draco, putting her wand away as she did so. "Thanks again for letting us come so quickly, Professor," she said, looking at Newline who stood up, "we'll stop bothering you now."

"Thank you for your efficiency," the headmaster replied, standing and walking around his desk; "and please pass my thanks to Madam Bones for dealing with this matter so efficaciously."

Everything seemed so friendly, but Harry was still not comfortable with Aurors, not even Tonks, being anywhere near Draco, which was why he sat still and concentrated on not doing anything while Dumbledore passed pleasantries with the pair and showed them out. In fact he was only going to be happy once they were off of school grounds.

"Well I am very glad that is over," Dumbledore said with a smile as he walked back to his desk. "My hope is that this situation will be resolved very soon now that it is firmly within the public eye."

Harry just nodded; he agreed with that totally.

"Now, Harry," the headmaster said, smiling at him in a very fatherly manner, "about this morning..."

His stomach fell; he hoped he hadn't ruined anything.

"I have to be honest and let you know that I have not believed the Room of Requirements could hold you if you were determined to get out for some days now," was the explanation that made him blink at the headmaster. "Professor Snape has been monitoring your condition very closely and we are both of the belief that as your aspects settle they are becoming more cohesive, making you a very powerful young man."