thattimeofthemonth | Open RP Post

Draco frowned and looked at his feet still feeling horrible for it. His eyes did widen at the news about the switch of the secret keeper. Had it not gone to Peter, Draco was pretty sure things would have turned out a lot differently. Still the news made him feel more ashamed of his actions.

"I'm really sorry about this. I won't let it happen again." Draco replied in a soft tone. Even though it was softly spoken it was clear that he meant the apology. This had been a night of surprises in conversation for both sides.

Remus gave Draco's shoulder a quick squeeze. "Alright, let's focus on a few other surprises that can keep someone safe. There's a particularly good spell I know that will disorient both wizard and Muggle. And, more so, ways to deal with if you triumph over your opponent. You'll either have a... well, a body or a corpse."

He rubbed his chin. "I was there was an easier way to practice you against more than one opponent. Perhaps I should ask Tonks to join us in the future?"

With the quick gesture of support, Draco was able to relax more. He gave a curious glance up at Remus with what he was hinting at. He was pretty intrigued by the idea, let alone having Tonks involved at another point.

"It would be great to have her along," Draco replied. "What's this idea that you have in mind?"

"Two fold, really. One you'd be able to try protection on a real person - one I wouldn't be afraid would be unable to get out of an accidental situation and two... You could practice against both of us since you mentioned you were outnumbered. Ah, and three, Tonks is incredibly skilled at her job. She will have ideas I dont." He smiled at the idea; he was proud of his wife.

"That would be great," Draco replied quite enthused by the idea. "I wish at Hogrwarts we had been able to do more exercises like this."

He admitted. Remus had been truthfully the only decent teacher they had that taught them how to prepare themselves. That class had been so jinxed that it was rare they had a decent teacher.

And the possibility of fighting against, Tonks? That was a challenge Draco wanted to take on. He had never really seen her fight before.

Remus gave a slightly frustrated sigh. "They would have, if I could have remained as a teacher. I wanted to make proper dueling times actual defense. The restrictions they had were foolish; it's important to learn about all sorts of Dark Arts, natural and man."

He shook his head. That dream was impossible now that the world knew what he was. "Anyway. This time, I want you to manage to petrify me but you will be on a time limit." He held up a finger. "You have until I cast a dark spell in return." More complicated, slower, stronger. "I'm quick, I'll warn you."

He nodded remaining silent. He only hoped that maybe now that they would reconsider the approach of the class now after all the war. As Remus continued to explain his idea, Draco pulled out his wand.

"Do I get warning?" He asked unsure if he was even going to get an answer. It was hard to tell with Remus what to expect.

"Will your opponents give you a warning?" Dark spells were dangerous, always so damn dangerous, but he had his hand on the casting of some. It wasn't what he preferred, but he knew one or two that would work in this situation.

And with only that as a vague warning, he concentrated, focusing enough to pull more magic together before he brought his wand in a somewhat more dramatic flare to wing this spell toward his young opponent with a shouted word. Never could manage silent casting for dark magic.

Unless one counted his old gang bantering with him as a warning then yes...but Draco couldn't always believe that it would be his gang. It could be someone else entirely.

He stepped back and with a swift gesture of his wand, Draco made an attempt to petrify Remus as he shouted out his own spell.

This time, Draco finally got it. Before the final flourish that would have dropped something on Draco, Draco's spell slammed into Remus, freezing him on the spot. It left the man standing in a somewhat comical position, but it was a success. It left Remus to wait until Draco chose to reverse the jinx, a touch at the younger man's whims. Tonks knew where they were but it could leave him until morning if Draco wanted.

He couldn't help but be proud that he got his teacher on the first try. A long time ago, Draco probably would have left his teacher there just for the sake that he could. However, he did make Remus wait a few minutes before he finally reversed the jinx.

Even though he freed Remus, Draco held his wand out ready to block an unwanted spell just in case. He knew how Remus can be rather tricky and hard to predict.

When finally free of the spell, Remus staggered forward, then shook his head to clear it. He gave Draco a bit of a raised eyebrow, a tiny smirk playing over his lips. "Now what did I ever do to deserve being trapped there?" he teased, though his look did go briefly serious - don't do it again for so long. "Well done, though. Very quick on the draw with no warning. Give another session or two and we might be able to do a full on duel."

He gave a nod and an apology acknowledging Remus's reprimand. At the same time, Draco couldn't help but be proud of the compliment. "An actual duel?!" He replied quite excited by the possibility.

Part of him was still skeptical if he was actually really ready for one. Boasting that he could do one and actually going through it were two different things. Let alone against a very skilled person then a student.

"There's no better way to practice than to do it. Theory is one thing, but you need experience or theory is all worthless." Remus gave another flash of a smile. "In reality, there's never anything like a formal duel. Fights are made and won by being faster, smarter, and more clever than your opponent. The difference is that they don't care- most of the time- about their allies. They will take no need to keep from hurting one another or letting another die. We worry. We protect. So we need to be able to work together better, or think smarter."

Draco gave a nod agreeing with what Remus had to say. The only time it was formal was when they were really practicing. His father always used that as a way to teach him how to be more graceful with flourishing his wand. His father had always been on appearance. He also taught him how to be more calculating using both wand and no wand.

But that was also different. They were on Dark Arts tactics then what Remus had been teaching him. Draco had been trying to combine both what his father had taught him and what Remus was telling him.

"That's what always made my family different though...We were always about protecting each other where all the others didn't care if you were family or not." Draco pointed out.

"And look where you are now. Here, instead of dead or in Azkaban." A pointed raise of the eyebrow, trying to drive that point home. "Your love for your family is obvious, and you're making that difference."

He nodded, proud.

Draco smiled, he was quite proud of his family and hearing that he was making a difference meant a lot.

"Should we practice some more tonight or are we finished for the night?" He did want to do some flying before they left. The moores were a great place to fly about and not get noticed.

Remus' chin came up just slightly before he smiled more. "Let me guess... someone might be itching to fly again?" Because he could see it in the tension of Draco's body, like someone who wanted to do something fun and wanted to go. "You're free, if you don't want to practice any more tonight. Go ahead and call the brooms."

Draco's eyes lit up. He didn't waste no time in summoning the brooms once given permission. The night had been a trying one full of revealing secrets and learning to trust one another more. On top of the lessons that Remus prompted.

"We can still do some practicing while flying," Draco suggested.

"That we can." He took the broom and laughed quietly. "It's funny... until our trainings, I can't remember the last time I rode a broom. Most likely a long time ago." He straddled the broom, giving a little kick off to get himself into the air.

"Perhaps more practice hitting a moving target?" He suggested. "Your hair looked wonderful last time."

"For that comment I'll make sure you'll have pink hair by the end," Draco retorted as he flew up into the air. He had wasted no time with preparing to fly. He was glad to see Remus enjoying himself as well getting him to do something that he had stopped doing. Draco did know for sure he wasn't going to be sporting red hair again or any other color hair.

"I think tonight, you'll be sporting luxurious flowing purple locks," Remus 'threatened' off-handedly, a smile on his lips. Really, it felt a little like being a younger man again, and a lot like-

He blinked, glancing to Draco as he pulled his broom to a halt. It felt a lot like having another son, was what it felt like. It almost felt like an unfair feeling; unfair to Lucius Malfoy, really. Was it unfair to Draco? That worried him more. He wasn't the boy's father, he had one of his own who did love him.

Though he feared what the Malfoys would do when, not if, they learned about just how much Draco had changed.

The comment caused Draco to raise an eyebrow. He was about to retort and only stopped in his tracks when Remus came to a halt. He gave a concerned look at his mentor.

"Are you okay?" he questioned picking up on Remus's worry but not sure what it was.

Remus came out of his thoughts and shook his head to clear it before giving Draco a smile. Didn't meant to worry the boy, after all. "Sorry. Old man woolgathering." He chuckled before he started back up, flying quickly ahead.

"Game on!" And it would be a good, ridiculous hour of both practice and more so, fun. A little bit of silly among all of the serious happening in both of their lives.

Draco gave a nod in acknowledgement. He didn't fully buy it, but knew enough to let it be. Either way, it was a good way to end the night. This was something he always enjoyed about the lessons he had with Remus. They didn't have to always be so serious.

Once home, Draco contacted Jake informing him about the recent turn of events. It was strange to be using the phone and it took him a while to send the message. He was still wide awake from the adrenaline of the lessons and it would be a while before he would sleep. He decided to use the time to research more about learning to be an animangus.

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