nearlychosen | 1st seed; [Action/Voice]

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1st seed; [Action/Voice]

[Perhaps the journal picks up the sound of Neville's arrival as he is unceremoniously deposited on the icy southern lake sometime in the dead of night. If not that, then it might catch the dull groaning as he slowly wakes and struggles to pull himself upright. If not that, then certainly the furious squeak from sneakers lacking traction on slippery ice would catch the journal's attention, as would the dull thudding as Neville collides with some child's forgotten snowman on the westernmost bank. A sharp intake of breath, then] No wand. Bastards. [In fact, even though Neville hasn't yet noticed the presence of the book at all, he seems perfectly aware that someone is listening, even if it isn't quite who he expects.]

It's still not enough! [The words, though a bit rasped and wheezing, are spoken with the stubbornness of one who rather expected this displacement.] You think you can just Portkey me someplace and be done with it? You won't get me -- not any of us -- to back down that easily. I know you're here -- show yourselves, you bloody cowards!

[The dead silence is less than encouraging. It means that if he wasn't being watched, then he'd been sent far enough that he wouldn't need supervision. Accio wand. [The incantation is intoned softly through clenched teeth. It doesn't escape him how ironic it was that in his desperation to recover his stolen wand he's resorted to a summoning spell that usually required the use of his wand in the first place. The spell fails spectacularly, leaving Neville to suppose his captors laughed, wherever they happen to be.

Still, the place he'd been sent certainly merits some investigation. If he'd been sent here via portkey, then some other innocuous-looking thing might well be the ticket home. It might appear off for a young, underdressed, blackeyed, fairly beaten and emaciated man to be picking up small stones with a thoughtful expression, but finding an alternate portkey is simply the most plausible way back to the more important matters he'd left at home.]

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[Draco just gives him another Look and prods the ice again. Haha, Potter. Whatever.] Yeah, that, too. You really think maybe we somehow got that lucky?

[An eyeroll.] Maybe we both should just head back to the house...s. Houses.

[Harry gives him a Look in response. That's dangerous, man.] I don't know. If it's luck, then he's definitely still here. Everything adds up to him being gone.

[Alright, standing up now.] Yeah. I suspect this has gone on long enough.

[Oh fine, he'll stop. Merlin, way to ruin his fun.] It does, but we can't be too sure. Perhaps I'll pay Narcissa a visit soon and check on things.

[Watching him stand up and just staring at him] I'm glad you see things my way. [Thus he's going to also stand up...and promptly yelp because yes, Draco, the ice will melt if you poke and prod and spark at it enough. Brb apparently going swimming.]

[It's not fun, it's dangerous.] Right. Let me know if you find out anything from her.

[Harry will glance back and offer a short wave.] Later, Malfoy. [He starts off in the opposite direction but hey, was that a crack? That sounded like the ice - Oh bloody hell, Draco. Turning back and reaching in to help you out.]

[Busy trying to swim out from under un-cracked ice and get out of the freezing cold water but oh hey, thanks, Potter. Busy grabbing on and pulling himself out, crawling onto the solid ice. Brr. Brr. Brr.]

[Yeah, Harry has slightly submerged himself to help keep Draco from ending up under the un-cracked ice and hopes that more ice doesn't crack underneath them. Thankfully, it doesn't take long to help Draco out and pull away from the hole in the ice.] What the hell were you thinking?

[Busy shaking water out of his hair so it's not plastered in front of his eyes in order to see Harry better, or maybe it's just to mask the fact he's shivering a bit] What the hell kind of ice just cracks like that? [No, it's not a very strong argument but Draco's not thinking straight, hold on.]

[Well, any normal person would be shivering after that.] Ice that's been tampered with by magic. [Fuck this shit. His coat is partially soaked, but it's definitely drier and warmer than anything Draco has to be wearing, so it's coming off and going around Draco's shoulders.] You need to get inside before the cold gets to you, come on.

[And Draco's normal siiiince when? But no really, that's a point, except he's kind of swatting at Harry's hands because Potter I do not need your help right now.] Obviously the ice isn't that strong then, I didn't even tamper with it...much. [But the shivering's becoming more obvious, so maybe standing up and heading home would be a good idea.] F-fine, whatever. [Worst. Night. Ever.]

[He's more normal than Harry, at least. And Harry is ignoring the swatting because that coat is going on, damnit. There will be words!] You kept jabbing at it. We need to get off this lake before it decides it's any weaker. [And he's taking Draco by the arm for a Side-Along Apparation.] Where to?

[Yes but that's not saying much either. They're both weirdos, it's okay. Attempting to swat again, but he really kind of can't so oops, yeah, coat's on. You and your stupid saving people complex.] I didn't think it would break. [Jerked a bit when Harry grabs his arm and blinks in surprise.] Where do you think?

[Hogwarts is a school full of weirdos. Nothing is normal! And after doing similar to what Draco just did while wearing only his boxers, Harry is not having any of this.] How would you have known how thick that ice was? [Not letting go, but blinking.] I'm not sure. That's why I asked.

[Well when you go around telling people you're a wizard...either way, Draco doesn't know about the sword of Gryffindor being in the ice and whathaveyou so he's pretty sure Harry's just being ridiculous. Granted, he's curling up a bit into that coat because ugh, cold. Luceti's colder than usual today, this suck, fml.] I don't know, you and I were sitting on it, I assumed it was thick enough. [He's just giving Harry a semi-curious look, trying to figure out what exactly he's implying. There's another harsh shiver though and he settles for shrugging. Head hurts from hitting it. Freezing. Decision-making is not his forte right now.] Doesn't matter, they're both close enough.

[Yeah, there's bound to be weirdness. Harry's not ready to go into that just yet but he knows about nearly drowning and freezing at the same time. Plus, February is colder than December.] Be more careful next time, alright? [STOP BEING COLD. Wrapping arms around you now to distribute body warmth.] Right. [Going to try Apparating into a room he's only seen from outside the window aaaaaand... there they are! Welcome back to your room, Draco! Hopefully that alien woman isn't around.]

[Probably for the best, not sure Draco could handle weird stories right now. But yes, February's pretty damn cold and Draco's still dripping water despite having Harry's coat on.] ...have you noticed how ironic it is for you to be telling me to be careful? [Half a smirk, crack a joke, maybe this won't be as miserable of a failure. I'M TRYING TO STOP BEING COLD. Okay this whole pseudo-hug-for-warmth thing's kinda weird, but not getting much of a chance to protest before pop!, they're standing around in Draco's room. Ow...dizzy. Okay, well, sounds like the house is quiet and the shivering's not as violent now that they're somewhere a bit warmer, but Draco's not exactly moving away either.] ...thanks, I think.

[Yeah, that one's a doozy. Cold water is freaking cold and damnit, we're going to get rid of it.] I'd like to think of it as advice from someone more experienced in these things. [Sort of joking and smirking in response. Warm atmosphere for the stopping of the cold! Harry will probably find this weird upon reflection, but the saving-people-thing has kicked in and he's taking charge like a Gryffindor. Hopefully Arumat is used to that popping sound by now.] Don't worry about it. Change out of those clothes before the cold sinks in, then get under the blanket.

[That'd be amazing, please to be getting rid of cold.] Heh. Right, advice. I feel like there should be a jibe there, but I can't think of one right now...remind me to insult you later. [At least they can see the slight humor in this! Draco's sort of tuning out that he's being hugged, though he's squirming a little because it's not comfortable in wet clothes.] What are you, my mother? [He knows Harry's right though so he's slipping out of the Gryffindor's coat and heading toward the dresser or whathaveyou to get clothes.] ...you don't have to stay here, you know.

[Warming charms are incoming, just get out of the wet clothes.] I could be trying to give you sagely advice on things I don't understand instead, eh? [Maybe Draco is starting to understand optimism? Either way, Harry is now on a mission.] Just do it! [Harry is hanging up his coat somewhere and slipping out of his wet shirt.] And just leave you to catch pneumonia?

[Working on it, sorta, picking out a shirt and tossing it at Harry though.] You're close enough to my size anyway, I suppose. I'd rather not see you shirtless. And anyway...I can still argue that you don't even know the meaning of the word careful. [Draco's starting to understand a few things, really. He just pulls a face at the demand and shrugs, unbuttoning his shirt anyway.] I'm not an idiot, Potter. I can handle this.

[Awesome, catching that shirt and putting it on. It fits better than the shirts he usually wears, though it's still a little long since Draco is taller. Your loss on the shirtlessness, though.] Sorry, I'd rather not take my chances. Thanks, Draco. [And he's hanging the shirt underneath his coat, then casting warming charms on the blanket. Frostbite can go die. Really.] I can be careful sometimes! [And then he stops, realizing what he was doing.] Er... Have you ever had something like that happen before?

[You're scrawny, Potter. Besides, he had to look to throw the shirt, so. Draco shrugs and slips out of his shirt.] Right, name a time when you've been careful. [He's actually taking time to hang it up to dry instead of putting on his shirt. He's spent the last six years sharing a room with four other boys, this isn't weird when he's not thinking about it. However he pauses with the dry t-shirt in his hand to regard him again] What, falling through the ice? Not exactly, though I've been dragging through snow a few times. [This is a pointed look.] And I think after all these years I've figured out who to blame.

[I'm gaining weight! Having a steady food source and not being on the run has helped that. At least he looks sort of healthy, if on the scrawny side.] There have been loads of times I've been careful! I've successfully broken into the Ministry twice. [Growing up in a boys dormitory definitely makes this easier to do while not thinking about it, though Harry is happier to be in a shirt now. He's warming up his coat. His look is innocent. Totally!] That was only the once. At least it was just snow.

[You've gained all of the weight I've lost apparently, but at least I don't look dead! That's probably the bright side of Luceti.] There's a difference between being stealthy and being careful, you know. I'm fairly certain I know what one of those times was...you'll have to tell me about the other sometime. ["Especially if it's not as disastrous to my family as the first time was." He slips into his t-shirt then and just snorts a bit. Right, innocent. Considering that Harry's distracted? Yeah, busy quickly undoing his belt and hoping to change into new boxers and pajama bottoms before he looks up.] You're lucky I wasn't aware of how you were doing it back then.

[Yeah, but you're getting there. Please stop, because Inferi suck and being dead ruins your complexion. Luceti be damned.] Carefulness is a part of being stealthy. And sometimes complete stealth isn't really an option. They're both interesting stories, I suppose. ["Not to your family this time, no. Muggleborns, yes." Harry is feeling his sleeves to see how long it might take for them to warm back up.] And why is that? Dumbledore thought it important that I have that cloak.

[...why would you ever compare me to those creatures, ugh, thanks a lot.] I'm just saying. Stealth is usually one of the best skills to have, I'm just surprised you have it. Like I said, you should tell me sometime. ["Usually, that I wouldn't care about but thanks to Luceti...ugh. Still getting used to having a soul here." Draco's kicking off his wet clothes and changing into some dry boxers before he starts actually hanging up the wet slacks and boxers that're still freezing from the lake.] Because...I don't know, we were stupid when we were kids, I'm sure I would have come up with some way to terrorize you and steal the cloak or something. Besides, you know how Dumbledore is.

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Thinking Harry's Paranoid]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Not Liking that Ice One Bit]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Becoming Aquaman]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Not Drowning in a Lake]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Probably Looking Like a Drowned Ferret]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Being Seriously Freaking Cold]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Having Slightly Blue Bodyparts Now]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Wondering Why that Just Happened]

[Draco Malfoy and the Mun Who Will Never Stop Loving That Harry Icon]

[Harry Potter and - hey that wasn't an action]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Draco's Mun Accidentally Failing]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Harry's Mun Being Forgiving]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Draco's Mun Loving Harry's Mun For Being Forgiving]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Harry's Mun Loving Draco's Mun For Being Awesome]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Draco's Mun Loving Harry's Mun for Being Just As Awesome]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Totally Loving the Mutual Awesomeness]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Being Reminded He's Freezing Cold]

[Harry Potter and the Action of the Mun Fucking Up Her Previous Title]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Using a Journal With The Right Icon]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Punching Livejournal in the Balls]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Getting Around LJ's Failure..and Now Hating It GDI Murphey's Law]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Hating the Act of Giving LJ More Money]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Being Oblivious to How Weird This Could Be]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Also Being Oblivious to How Weird This Could Be]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Thinking He Should Be Getting Paid To Strip]