Chapter 26

Discussion

Miles trailed behind his head of house, shoulder-to-shoulder with Harry. He tried casting his brother a reassuring smile, but Harry wouldn't meet his eye. Disappointed, he shifted his focus to the cobblestones. 

He wondered why Snape had requested he come along too, although he didn't mind. It gave him a chance to be there to support Harry, whether he wanted it or not. 

At last, they reached the twin gargoyles that led to Dumbledore's office. "Fizzing Whizbee," Snape commanded, and the gargoyles instantly jumped aside, making room for a golden staircase. The three stepped upon it and were taken up to the Headmaster's office.

Snape rapped sharply on the oak doors when they arrived, and Miles waited in tense silence with Harry as they heard a brief shuffling inside. Moments later, the old man was ushering them inside. "Come in, come in." 

Dumbledore strode swiftly to his desk, sitting down and folding his fingertips before staring at them all curiously. "Severus, why have you brought the Potter boys here today?"

Harry sat down in the chair across from Dumbledore's, the desk between them. Professor Snape seemed to take pity on him, for he encouraged Harry. "Potter, tell Professor Dumbledore what occurred at today's Dueling Club meeting."

Hesitating briefly, Harry eventually began to explain the events of his duel with Draco, the snake, and how he'd been trying to ward it away from Justin.

Miles watched him quizzically as he listened to his brother's recounting of the incident. He wished he could speak for him, but he didn't know how to speak Parseltongue. How had Harry managed to speak it anyway? To his understanding, it wasn't something that could be learned, rather, you had to be born with the ability. It would certainly support his placement in Slytherin if that was the case.  

After Harry had finished recounting the events of that evening, Dumbledore reached for a quill on his desk, twirling it around in his hand as he mulled over Harry's words. Miles shuffled his feet, feeling the tension building up in the room. He stopped, however, when Snape cast him a sharp glance, a silent reminder to keep his composure. 

At last, the old man spoke. "Thank you Harry for bringing this to my attention. It shouldn't be much of a problem for now, so if that is all, you are dismissed."

Miles gawked at the Headmaster. Was he serious? He glanced up at Professor Snape, to see that he was also struggling to maintain a straight face. 

"Headmaster... Potter's ability to speak Parseltongue could perhaps be a result of a certain altercation with someone we know." Snape said pointedly. 

Dumbledore sighed. "Boys, you may leave now. Professor Snape, I would like a word."

To his credit, Snape nodded solemnly. Miles felt a sense of respect wash over him at the man's dignity. Judging by the terse way Dumbledore had asked for an audience with him, Miles could only assume that the old man was not pleased. Miles could barely stand him when he was in a good mood, he didn't want to imagine what Dumbledore would be like when he was even mildly irritated.

Silently, Miles made his way to the door. Harry, however, stayed put, glaring at the old man. "If I have anything to do with what you're going to talk about, I want to stay here too!"

Miles internally groaned. Of course, he had to say something. He attempted to guide his brother towards the door. "Harry, I think we should-"

"No!" Harry shouted, wrenching himself away from Miles. 

"Stop!" Miles raised his voice too. "You're acting like a child!"

"I am not!" Harry's face was turning beet red in outrage. 

Miles couldn't believe how his brother was acting. Why was he getting so worked up about this? 

Professor Snape stepped between the two, the picture of disapproval. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Potter, I highly suggest you leave this office... now."

Miles nodded. "Yes, professor." Before he had the chance to protest, Miles grabbed Harry's arm and all but dragged him out of the office. Harry didn't protest much on the way down the stairs, but once they were back in the corridor, he wheeled on Miles.

"I thought you would have my back."

Miles shook his head. "Harry, I'll always have your back, that's why I had to stop you. You didn't see Dumbledore, he was going to get really angry, and then he'd never listen to what you have to say. Let Professor Snape talk to him, and then you can come to him about it later."

Harry seemed to be ready to object but seemed to think better of it. Resignedly, he nodded. "You're probably right." 

Miles let his shoulders relax. He'd been tensed up from the moment Snape had told him to join them in the Great Hall. "Thank you."

☆

Harry kept glancing at his brother as Miles walked him back to the Gryffindor Common Room. He felt that he should say something, maybe apologize for his actions during Potions, or perhaps for how he had been treating Draco. 

He knew for a fact now that Miles had told Draco to visit him in the hospital wing. There was simply no way that he would have done it on his own, especially since Harry hadn't done anything of the sort to him to warrant the uncharacteristically kind behavior he had shown to Harry that night. Harry knew he hadn't repaid him for that in the slightest. 

Perhaps he should tell Miles about the Polyjuice Potion. After all, Harry had grown up telling Miles everything, and he knew that whatever he said would remain between the two of them. Maybe Miles could even find some proof as to whether or not Draco was the heir of Slytherin, and save them the trouble of having to visit the Slytherin common room at all. 

"Miles, I have something to tell you," he burst out, as they were rounding the last bend to the common room. 

Miles halted, turning to face him. "Yeah?"

"About Potions the other day, with the firework-"

Miles raised a hand. "Look," he said. "I saw Hermione sneaking into the storage cupboard. It took me a while to understand, but I reckon it was for something Snape would definitely give detention for."

Harry gaped at him. "How-"

"Lucky guess. As it is, I have to ask you to not tell me anything else."

"Why not?"

Miles grinned at him, his eyes sparkling with the mischievous glint that was so often present in James'. "If you don't tell me, I won't have to tell anyone that I know."

Harry paused, processing this, before hesitantly grinning back. "Thanks."

"Anytime," Miles waved it off. 

"There's another thing," Harry added. He was sure now that he could discuss anything with Miles, and for the most part not be faced with any judgment. The harsh words they'd exchanged in Dumbledore's office had been a result of the heat of the moment. Without saying a word, they'd come to the silent agreement that all was forgiven. 

"Want to go up to the Astronomy Tower? It's getting late, I don't want any teachers catching us out of bed." 

Harry shrugged. "Works for me."

They made their way up to the Astronomy Tower. "So, tell me," Miles prompted. 

"It's about Malfoy."

Harry didn't have to look at his brother to see the interest that immediately piqued his features. They were twins after all. "What about him?"

Now Harry flushed, embarrassed, though he forged on. "I haven't been treating him the way I ought to, especially after that night in the hospital wing." He eyed Miles pointedly. "I know what you did."

They'd reached the Astronomy Tower, and Miles walked up to the window ledge, gazing out at the grounds before turning to face Harry. "Should I have not asked him?" he asked genuinely.

"I'm not sure." Harry walked up to the ledge as well. The sight of the grounds below helped him to continue on. "It was so... easy to dislike him before, with all Ron's saying about the Malfoys. But now, he doesn't seem so bad." He faced Miles. "Especially since he's your best friend."

Miles furrowed his brows. Harry could tell he was trying to process what Harry had just told him, from his point of view. 

"You don't have to," he began, "But maybe you should try talking with him more. In Potions and such, try to be civil."

"You know how that's going to go through," Harry replied miserably. "After what happened today I can't blame him. I doubt I'll be able to be civil to him either after that."

Miles ran a hand through his hair, mussing it up. "Give it time then. Draco won't hold a grudge for long. Just... don't give him any more to have against you."

Harry cracked a smile. "No promises."

Miles shook his head good-naturedly. "Why am I not surprised."