Unity

Part One-

Dark Gifts

At number 4 Privet Drive, a very strange gift arrived via a regal looking Great Grey on the night of Harry Potter's seventeenth birthday. What ever it was, it was small, hard, oddly shaped, tied up in a dark green velvet bag with no message attached to the outside. Harry did not recognize the delivery owl which flew off after haughtily refusing a crunchy owl treat. Shrugging, Harry gave the treat to Hedwig who was very careful not to take his fingers with it.

Of course, Harry was suspicious of a mystery bag dropped off by such an unfriendly owl! He took out his wand that he was now free to use anywhere at least in private as of today according to the laws of Wizarding Britain and checked the bag for dangerous curses, poisons, malicious charms, deadly spells, and hexes. Finding nothing he thought might kill him he opened the bag carefully and shook out an object onto his bed.

A silver memoriite crystal glowed iridescently against his thread bare blanket cascading a myriad of colors on the walls and ceiling of his dimly lit room. The light show alone was among the very best gifts he had ever received. He learned about memoriite crystals in his studies but had never seen one let alone used one probably because they are so pricelessly rare. They are magically occurring but so far have proved impossible to find or trace through any known magical means. Even the crystals far too small or improperly configured to use as memory tools are prized as jewelry for the sheer beauty of their glow.

Unlike some memory tools, they do not affect the memory of the recorder only the receiver. Due to the absence of a note inside the only way for Harry to figure out who sent the crystal was to touch it to release the memory stored there. Once the memory became part of his own the crystal would erase itself but could be used to record more memories in the future.

Harry realized memoriite crystals might be used as weapons but could not believe anyone, not even Voldemort, would go to the expense of using one as such even on him. Then again, Harry did not relish some of the memories already stored in his head. Still, there were pensieves and other magical tools that he could use to help undo any damage done providing he survived the initial experience of course.

Harry figured the smartest thing to do would be to bag up the crystal without ever touching it to take with him to Hogwarts where Dumbledore could examine it before use. But it was his birthday. Harry was a brave Gryffindor used to risking life and limb to satisfy his idle curiosity. Wand in one hand Harry reached out and picked up the crystal with his other.

Suddenly, in his mind Harry felt completely relaxed and strangely calm and was standing looking at a large mirror. The mirror reflected a beautiful well lit bedroom and an attractive figure that however familiar was not his own. Harry found himself staring into the hypnotic grey eyes of none other than -the- Draco Malfoy. Harry gasped.

In the past, Harry had fantasized about plenty of girls including at one time or another most of the girls in his year but never as much and not for some time. For the last year or so there seemed to be no one living on planet wet dream apart from Draco Malfoy. Until now, he had always seemed like such a nice sensible fantasy, too, precisely because in reality Draco was impossibility and unavailability personified.

Draco, impeccably dressed and neatly groomed as ever, smiled at him with genuine affection or well, actually, smiled at himself as Harry remembered too late to keep his heart from skipping that beat. Draco's teeth were as white and perfect as his flawless skin. Draco was perfection. Draco felt perfect, too! Harry felt what perfect felt like for the first time in his entire flawed life. What an odd feeling perfect was!

The radiant smile graced Draco's every feature and seemed to add a soft warm glow to eyes that could be and usually were glacially cold, especially when trained on Harry. Harry felt his lips curl in wonder in response to this heartfelt expression that Harry had longed to see forever. He loved the smile and loved that the smile was aimed at him while he was hovering so close to Draco's face. Though it wasn't aimed; and he wasn't hovering as he sternly reminded himself.

"Happy Birthday, dear Harry," Draco whispered breathily to his own reflection.

"Thank you!" Harry said then realized that Draco couldn't hear him.

"No, I'm not giving you the bloody crystal!" Harry laughed not because it was funny, precisely, but because Draco was trying not to laugh for some reason and didn't. "This recording alone is your birthday present which is, you will admit, far nicer than the large and extravagant gift of nothing that you gave to me on mine." Merlin's beard! Is Draco Malfoy flirting with me? Or is he flirting with himself while talking to me? This is very confusing. Perhaps I'm just going mad. "I trust you enough to expect the crystal returned to me." That's true! I can feel he's telling the truth! "Do feel free to use it to record a message, before you send it back."

Draco took a small step toward the mirror. Harry felt himself take a step but didn't manage to get any closer to Draco.

"Harry, we are adults. High time we put aside our childish differences. I know you don't hate me. You know that I don't hate you. All of that was ever so much fun and in it's own way was useful to us but now is over. I don't think either of us is going to miss it. In the wake of juvenile aggression, idiotic rivalry, and at least on my part clever insult, I suggest we try cooperation."

Harry felt himself or rather Draco getting very serious now yet feeling exhilarated at the same time. "Destiny calls to us, Harry. We can not achieve our destinies alone, neither of us."

"Oh, separately we both would achieve great things. You could become Dumbledore's successor, perhaps. After you defeat Voldemort my way is clear. We could forever carry on with the grand charade, mortal enemies, light and dark, endless struggles for power, influence, and minions. Boring though, isn't it?" Harry felt the feeling, the intensity of Malfoy's ennui.

"I don't want to be a Dark Lord. I know you don't want to become the new Bumblebore anymore than I want to be a handsome and dashing version of Moldymeat. I have something much better in all ways imaginable in mind for us, providing you are as visionary as I believe you to be and that we can reach an agreement." There was passion, yearning for something like a snitch so close but just out of reach. Harry could feel it. It excited him and not just in spirit.

Then Draco's mood shifted again.

"In our six years at Hogwarts, you have been sent on one impossible mission after the other, undermanned, under-trained, ill equipped, and more often than not, completely uninformed. Ever wonder why? I have. Most obviously, though it is not the entire truth, you are in training like a good little Gryffindor to grow up to take your place as the hero of the wizarding world which you pretty much are already.

"While they kept you busy with that, I too was in training in subjects such as intimidation, plotting, manipulation, the dark arts, and all things soulless and Slytherin. I accepted every lesson they taught me, Harry. I learned everything they wanted me to know. I learned, at the same time, that I wanted more that I just wasn't getting. Like you, I sought out the education not conveniently being provided for me. In the process, I learned so many things and accumulated all sorts of interesting information.

Some of that information cost me much grief, blood, and toil. I want to share all of it with you but for free. I want to improve your options and by doing so to broaden my own. Being an adult doesn't mean accepting the role that they cut out for you. It means choosing to live the life you want, and by doing so, reaching your full potential." There was a bit of anger mingled with hope, and pride in the last part.

Harry wondered if Draco realized that he was projecting his emotions. Was he doing it freely? Was he doing it despite trying to hold back? Was he controlling it, doing it on purpose to influence Harry. Harry could not say. What he was sure of was that Draco was relaxed. It was as though his body held no tension and no stress. Emotionally, he was completely at ease with himself, within himself. It was entirely alien for Harry to experience such a state of well-being, such complete relaxation, especially by proxy.

"Please don't bother to waste what may well be your one and only opportunity to ever record a memoriite crystal with pettiness, accusations, and denials. I know you are interested in my little offer. I know you are suspicious of me and rightly so. I also know that you are brave enough to accept this invitation." Truth all of it! Harry was sure of it! If Harry was mistaken, Malfoy was impossibly scary and completely unstoppable, (so why bother trying?)

"Come to me, Harry. Any place of your choosing right after the Sorting Feast. I will tell no one and arrive alone. I trust you to do the same. You have my word that I will bring you only what I here and now have promised." Harry was happy that he stated it that way, considering how many times in the past Malfoy had promised to do him all manner of harm. Draco looked down at the memoriite crystal for a moment then looked up again, "Until then, Harry, please accept a birthday kiss from whom I hope is a former foe."

Harry watched as Draco's face drew closer and closer to the mirror until his lips met their reflections. Harry shivered as a wave of emotion swept over him and he received his only kiss ever from Draco Malfoy, a kiss as hard and cold as glass.

to be continued-