“I will,” Harry said solemnly. He knew it was a risk to wear the chain with the rings. Severus clearly didn’t approve, but he seemed to respect Draco’s wish to give them and Harry’s desire to wear them.
“Draco,” Remus spoke up quietly. “You are running out of time.”
Harry looked at them curiously as Draco glanced at the clock quickly. “Shite,” Draco muttered. He hurriedly began rummaging through the pile of clothes, still muttering under his breath.
“What’s going on now?” Harry asked.
“I’m sure Draco will tell you when he’s ready,” Remus said, watching Draco in amusement. “You still have a little time and you have a couple more gifts to open.”
Severus producing a package and passing it to him sidetracked Harry from Draco’s odd muttering. Harry looked at him in surprise. Severus was giving him a birthday present?
“Lupin helped,” Severus sneered, obviously uncomfortable.
Narcissa took Victoria from him and Harry carefully unwrapped the package, recognizing it as a book of some sort. It was rather large, with leather bindings, but had no title of any kind on the outside. Curiously, Harry opened it to the first page.
For Harry
From the Half-Blood Prince
Harry glanced up at Severus, but the man just gestured for him to continue looking. Harry started flipping through the pages. There were lists of spells and counter-spells. There were also many, many pages of potions – all with the extra notes, courtesy of the Half-Blood Prince. Some Harry recognized, many he didn’t, but it didn’t take him long to figure out that they all had one thing in common.
“This is all about Healing!” he exclaimed.
“You have taken a particular interest as of late,” Severus said evenly. “I have compiled many of my notes regarding the subject, and Lupin helped to duplicate and bind them.”
“Thank you,” Harry said reverently, recognizing that Severus did not give up his personal notes on a whim.
“You’re welcome,” Severus said. “I expect you to study the contents and learn it well,” he added.
Harry had still been leafing through the pages with interest, but now he laughed. “I will,” he promised. As he made the promise, he realized that it was something that he was looking forward to. He glanced down at the book again. Maybe Healing was something he should be thinking more about, he decided.
“One more,” Remus said. “A gift for each of you, actually.” He produced two small packages from a robe pocket and passed them to Harry and Draco.
“It’s not my birthday,” Draco said with a frown.
“Open them, and then I will explain,” Remus said.
Harry tore the paper off, revealing a silver bracelet. Casting a glance at Draco’s gift, he realized it matched perfectly. They weren’t delicate in appearance, like the rings, and they did look like something Draco would wear. They reminded Harry of Muggle ID bracelets, in a way, but they were almost solid and the tightly woven chain links were formed of interconnecting snakes. A wide, flat area spelled out Victoria’s name.
“Have I suddenly turned into a bloody girl and no one’s informed me?” Harry muttered. He was already wearing rings around his neck and now a bracelet? He’d never worn jewellery before in his life.
Draco sniggered. “Trust me, Harry, you’re not a girl,” he said, leering suggestively.
Remus spoke up quickly, cutting off that direction of conversation before it went any further. “Harry, I recognize that you generally do not wear this sort of thing,” he said. “However, there is a purpose behind the bracelets that I think you will appreciate.”
Harry and Draco looked up at him curiously.
“The bracelets are something that you can wear at all times, and they will replace the coins that you both carry,” Remus explained.
“They have the Protean Charm on them?” Draco asked, brow arched in surprise.
“A modified version, yes,” Remus said. “They are charmed so messages can be displayed in the place of Victoria’s name. Her name will disappear and the message will form there. We will be able to essentially connect you to several people, all through the bracelets. It will be simpler for you to receive messages. It will be a little more difficult for you to connect to others, though,” he warned.
“Because we have to be careful about who exactly we’re sending a message to,” Harry said, catching on.
“Will they heat up like the coins?” Draco asked. He’d already fastened the bracelet around his own wrist and was now fastening Harry’s with practiced ease.
Remus nodded. “They will,” he said. “And, as long as Harry keeps his on, there will be not be the same risk of him forgetting or losing his coins.”
Draco smirked at Harry. “Definitely a brilliant idea,” he said.
Harry smiled ruefully. “They are brilliant,” he agreed. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about wearing a bracelet, but it did look rather wicked and it would be a lot more practical than the coins.
“So, why Victoria’s name?” he asked curiously.
Remus smiled broadly. “I did have Draco in mind when I bought these, particularly when it came time to choose the name to be displayed,” he said. “Victoria rather seemed to be the safe choice for the time being.”
With his spirits soaring happily, Harry got up and gave first Remus a hug, then Severus. Severus protested, but Harry couldn’t help but notice that the man hugged back anyway. Harry gave Narcissa a hug next, to thank her for all the wonderful gifts. He then turned to Lucius.
“I don’t want to hug you,” he said.
“I appreciate that,” Lucius drawled in amusement, holding out his hand for Harry to shake. Harry shook his hand with a wide grin.
“All right, Harry,” Draco said, grinning happily as well. “If you’re through mauling everyone, you need to hurry up and go change. Mum’ll get Victoria ready to go.”
“I’m taking Victoria?” Harry asked in surprise.
Draco dragged Harry upstairs, a stack of clothing in hand, explaining on the way. Harry had an appointment at four o’clock. Lupin would be taking Harry, and help watch Victoria while he was there. They would be going to the Weasleys directly afterwards. Victoria would get to go to the party and Draco would be spending the time catching up more with his father.
Harry changed into the new black jeans and the soft, green jumper Draco insisted he wear. As he pulled on the new boots, he asked again where he had to be at four o’clock.
“You have an appointment for an eye exam to get contacts,” Draco finally admitted, eyeing Harry in the new clothes.
Harry stared at Draco blankly. “You arranged for me to have an eye exam and get contacts?” he repeated.
Draco nodded.
“How? Why?” Harry asked, not understanding. “How do you even know what contacts are?”
“I talked to Lupin,” Draco admitted. “I wanted you to get your eyes magically corrected, but Lupin said you might not want that. But then he suggested the Muggle contacts. It’s not a permanent change and you could decide if you wanted to have your eyes corrected magically after you got a chance to see what it was like not having to wear your glasses. He arranged the appointment and all that.”
Harry blinked, staring at Draco in disbelief. “Why?” he asked again.
“Because I like how you look without the glasses,” Draco answered.
“You’re a vain git, Malfoy,” Harry said wryly.
“It’s not just that,” Draco retorted. “Although, I do think you look better without them.”
