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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[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.

[Well you're the one who was trying not to look dead!] Comes with the territory. And... well, I just don't think tonight's the night for it. ["Or ever, considering that conversation we just had. But your soul is more important than breaking your brain, oddly enough." Harry is done checking his wet clothes, so he turns around and OH SON OF A BANSHEE HE'S STILL CHANGING AHHHHH WTF. Turning back around! Those are interesting... curtains. And working on normal conversation.] That would've ended pretty badly for you, I think. The cloak was my father's.

[I'm too good-looking to look dead!] I know, I know, the life and times of Harry Potter. Someday I'll learn to care enough about it. So tell me some other night. ["Lucky you, I know nothing about this. You would think that a soul is more important than my brain, wouldn't you?" Draco doesn't even notice that Harry's turned around and saw him, busy going about his business and slipping into pajama bottoms. Mm...warmth.] Like I would have thought about the consequences of it all. [Turning back to face him...what are you doing, Potter, the curtains are ugly. But he nods toward the clothes instead.] ...what do you want to do about those?

[You keep thinking that!] Right. ["Maybe you'll forget about the Ministry part someday. But the soul part is good. It builds character. Literally!" Harry's just going to try and forget that. Augh his brain. He shakes his head really fast. Clear your mind, Harry!] Then it's good that you didn't. [Curtains are awesome and... curtainy. But then, he looks to see what Draco is looking at.] Er... they should be dry soon, I think.

[Draco just nods to all of that before crossing the room and curling up into a corner of his bed, grabbing one of his blankets and wrapping his body in it] Mmh...suppose you can stay here until they are. Unless you'd rather just go home and I can give them back to you later.

Edited 2010-02-18 09:53 (UTC)

[Harry fidgets a moment, not sure if he should just sit down somewhere or try to leave or what.] Well... it'd be weird if I came back without my coat and things. Hermione would probably know something was up.

If only because Hermione knows just about everything else without really trying here. It's almost scary in a way. [He shrugs, gesturing to the closet] There should be an extra blanket in there.

Well the fact that I disappeared and came back wearing your shirt but not my own coat says a lot. But she is really smart that way. [Wrapping self up in that blanket, because brrr.] ... Thanks.

What, you don't think she'd assume it was another body swap? [What is this, Draco Malfoy making more jokes? Sure you don't have a concussion there? But he shifts a little to give Harry room to sit on the other end of the bed if he wants] Don't mention it.

We'd only be so lucky. [Teasing. That was a weird incident. And Harry has completely forgotten to consider a concussion at this point. But he does at least sit down while wrapped in that blanket.]

[And this is an approving look once Harry settles. What has the world come to? Oh, right. This is what Draco wanted, just having Harry Potter befriend him. It took him six years, and okay, maybe on the way he sort of lost sight of that goal, but now that he has it? It's...acceptable.] You know what I've realized? You and I are two of the most unlucky people I know, and that's saying something.

[Meanwhile, Harry is laughing and trying to get more warmth out of that blanket. Smugness missed! But yes, +1friend get for Draco.] Isn't that the truth? I wouldn't wish this kind of luck on anyone.

[Burrowing further into his blanket, and yeah, maybe chuckling just a little. What the hell, world.] Oh, I'm sure you would have wished it on me when we were kids...if only because vice versa. It's a bit strange sometimes, isn't it? Knowing that you and I are leading similar lives. It's...I don't know. ["Reassuring? Less pathetic? Dark Arts neither of us know about?"]

[Harry shakes his head.] Not really. I mean, I thought you had to be the Heir of Slytherin back in second year, and I suppose that counts. You annoyed me quite a lot, but not enough to wish this kind of life on you. [He frowns.] This whole Chosen-by-Voldemort thing is rubbish. All of it.

[...huh.] I think I actually believe that, the not wishing my life to be utter crap bit. Rubbish it may be, but...well, never mind that. The point is, maybe now we won't have to worry quite so much about it.

It's true. I really hope the time of having to worry so much about it is almost over. It'd be nice to relax for a while, you know?

Relax? In this place? Keep dreaming. But it does seem to be a bit more tame than home, doesn't it? Maybe I should just treat this place as a holiday from now on.

Edited 2010-02-19 03:29 (UTC)

Well, with the Malnosso about, there's no true relaxing here. But I guess I can sort of take it over being back home. Treating it as a holiday might be a good way to go about it.

Right, I know what you mean. ...heh. Maybe I can use this time to make up for last summer.

[Harry gives a little smile.] It's probably not what you were used to before things went mad, but I really think you should enjoy all this while you can. Having good times to look back to also makes things easier.

[He tilts his head a little at that though] And what of you?

Edited 2010-02-19 04:36 (UTC)

Sirius, Dumbledore, and my mum are here. Ignoring that would be stupid.

[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]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Thinking He Probably Should've Thought This Through]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Not Noticing Harry Got To Play Ceiling Cat For a Bit]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Wishing He Hadn't Been Ceiling Cat]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Finally Starting to Warm Up, Figuratively and Literally]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Feeling Relieved, at Least a Little Bit]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Feeling Somewhat Generous? What Is This.]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Feeling Grateful]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Carefully Watching]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Possibly Relaxing A Bit]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Feeling a Bit Smug Right Now]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Being Oblivious to That Smugness]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Friendship That's Not Pseudo]

[Harry Potter and the Action of the Frightening Prospects of That]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Suddenly Choking Up and Being Vague Again]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Hey Wait a Minute]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Apparently Outsmarting His Mun]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Thinking His Mun is Mental]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Potentially Opening Up Again]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Being Forgiving]

[Draco Malfoy and the Action of Starting to Get It]

[Harry Potter and the Action of Wishing the Order Was Different]