A Bond for the Ages

Chapter 16

Harry stared blankly at his Transfiguration homework, tapping his quill absently on the parchment. His mind was far away from Transfiguration. It had been a couple of days since Leif and Alexei had explained the...bond that apparently existed between him, Malfoy, and Snape. He couldn't get it out of his head. It seemed impossible, given their mutual hatred, but he also couldn't forget what the wards had looked like. The way the magic had tangled together so...familiarly. He'd felt it, the connection that held the magic together. Leif had said it didn't matter how they felt about each other, but could it all mean something? Leif had said he and Alexei couldn't tell them everything, so what didn't they know? Why was it the three of them that had this bond? Why had his and Malfoy's magic chosen this place when they wished for a home?

Did all three of them need a home? Did their magic believe they would be each other's home in some way?

"Merlin, Potter, would you stop that?"

He blinked and looked at Malfoy beside him. The Slytherin was also working on summer assignments though was currently glaring at him.

"What?" he said dumbly.

Malfoy just gestured somewhat aggressively at Harry's quill before turning back to his work, shaking his head.

"Oh, sorry," he muttered even though the blonde was no longer listening.

He gazed at his assignment, trying to continue. He managed to write a few more words before his mind wandered again.

All three of them had been more on edge, causing a return of the tension in the manor. Snape was more snappish, Malfoy snippy, and Harry irritable. Anything one of them did or said seemed to set off one of the others. It made him doubt what Leif and Alexei had said. How could they have anything resembling a bond? How could their magic have thought this could be a home?

He frowned as he pictured the wards again.

"I told you to stop!"

Harry jumped when his quill was suddenly ripped from his hand and thrown to the floor beyond their desk. He turned angry eyes on Malfoy.

"What the hell are you doing?" Harry demanded.

"You're being annoying and I'm trying to work," Malfoy snapped.

"You're such a prat," Harry said and he reached out, snatching Malfoy's quill and throwing it as well to join his on the floor.

"Potter!" Malfoy shouted.

"Typical. Can't take what you do yourself," Harry sneered.

"Both of you, shut up and get outside," Snape snarled from the adjacent table. "Go fly, burn off this energy and stop fighting."

Harry glared at both Slytherins, but did as he was told. He was still angry, but he was thrilled that he was allowed to fly. He'd hoped Snape would let him eventually, but had assumed it would never happen. It wasn't like Snape was going out of his way to make them enjoy their time in Prince Manor, only tolerate it. He would take the opportunity before it was taken away.

He grabbed his Firebolt and hurried downstairs. He jogged out the back door and took off on his broom as soon as he cleared the back porch. He zipped around, grinning as the warm air whipped across his face and through his hair. It had been so long since he'd flown since the tournament had cancelled Quidditch the previous year. He didn't count the First Task since he'd been too preoccupied with the dragon to enjoy the flight.

He circled the property, skimming the wards. He was doing some large, loose loops when he spotted Malfoy join him in the air. The blonde flew past him with a glare that Harry returned while resolving to just ignore the Slytherin. He refused to let Malfoy corrupt one of his favourite activities.