A Bond for the Ages

Chapter 13

Note: 

1. I am introducing my 2 OC male characters in this chapter. They are mine so do not use and if they resemble any other characters, it is a coincidence. Also, their backgrounds use some historical information so I mean absolutely no disrespect to these histories by changing them to fit my characters. I respect history as a deep history lover and simply love using history to enhance characters and stories.

To fit with one character, the timelines of Merlin/King Arthur have been altered. I have them existing in the 10th century, rather than the 5th/6th.

2. Languages: my OC characters sometimes speak in Russian and Greek. I have used Google Translate for these, so I hope I am correct in my translations. I will include translations in each chapter that has such languages.

Translations (I use the English text in my story, but am including the specific language text here):

[English text] Moy drug = [Russian text] Мой друг = My friend

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Why did Cedric have to die? It was supposed to be me. It should have been me. I just can't forget about it like everyone else. I see him every minute of every day, in every nightmare. If I've got this power and I'm meant to destroy Voldemort, why did it happen? I think everyone's wrong. I'm no hero or saviour or whatever. I'm just me and I get people killed. Guess it's good I'm alone...less people to hurt.

Harry looked up from his journal as the willow branches swayed around him in the breeze. He hadn't been sure about the journal, but now, after a couple of entries, he was liking it. He hadn't realized how badly he actually wanted to say these things, unable to do so audibly. He supposed Snape was right and he did have some stuff to deal with, but he would never tell Snape. The professor would be insufferable if Harry admitted defeat.

He stared across the property at the manor through the blooming willow. He felt himself constantly conflicted when he gave too much thought to the Slytherins he was sharing his summer with. The more the summer progressed and the longer he was with them, the more confounding everything became. Snape, while not pleasant, was actually tolerable. Not to mention he'd fought for both Harry and Malfoy several times now. Harry had never had anyone step up for him, and he was sure Malfoy hadn't either. Both he and Malfoy were failing at Occlumency, but Snape had yet to lash out. Granted, they'd only had two physical sessions, but it wasn't like Snape to wait to spew angry insults and criticisms. Harry just couldn't explain it, completely lost in regards to the professor.

Malfoy wasn't any clearer. First, he could still hardly believe their brewing session had been real. It had almost been fun and the conversation with Malfoy amusing. The blonde was mostly quiet, but Harry did catch the grey eyes watching him here or there. He was sure he was losing his mind.

He saw the back door of the manor open and he sighed.

Speak of the jerk, he thought bitterly.

He didn't always know how to feel, but anger and annoyance remained the most common. He turned back to his journal, wanting to just ignore the other boy.

"Mind if I sit?" Malfoy asked, sounding awkward and unsure.

"It's a big tree," Harry said with a shrug, pretending to return to writing. He was keenly aware of Malfoy walking around him to sit against the tree about a meter to his right. He was instantly tense and on guard, but did his best to relax and pretend he was alone. When the breeze picked up again, he raised his head and looked around. No other civilization could be seen. It was nothing but vast expanses of rolling green and trees. Gazing around, he spotted a large lake in the distance, the surface glittering with sunlight. It was an amazing place and he wished he could let himself just sink into it, let it keep away the horrors that awaited him and the loneliness that haunted him.