Cold Beboots was cold

[beboots]

The final evening at Christmas Reflections at Fort Edmonton! It ended up being like -27C in the river valley... The poor draft horses had frost all over their coats, and were brought into the stables (switched out for tractors AKA "mechanical horses" ;) ) halfway through the evening. I took a shower right before I left for work, and I put my hair in braids while wet. So after I lit the bonfires, and I realized about an hour into my shift that my braids had frozen. SOLID. Like, icicle cores. D: 

CHECK IT OUT



PIPI LONGSTOCKING COSPLAYS = NOW RIDICULOUSLY EASY. 

And for comparison purposes, here is what it looks like defrosted. SO FLOPPY



Here is a shot of the glorious bonfire I made yesterday, to warm you up wherever you are. :)

Comments

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

I don't want Sirius to be all-knowing and perfect, but... he's a giant kid. He's never been to Azkaban, and after that he was written as a shadow of his former (charming, handsome, funny) self. He's a gigantic kid with a motorbike and candy and fun trips and lots of silly stories about Harry's parents (his mom as a beautiful, smart, funny woman and his dad as the goofy prankster that couldn't get a date for years), and he has magic and he's the best person in the world to Harry. I think at least a couple scenes are from Harry's perspective, just for the full star-shining effect. Sirius is more careful about judging himself.

"I would imagine this as being awesome. I mean, if he's a total Gryffindor in most respects, especially attitude, it would be quite funny for him to be cheerfully talking about whatever, then throwing in a random reference to some dark spell/artifact/gruesome curse or something, and then continuing the discussion as if he hadn't just said something completely shocking and obscene to the ears of the people on the light side. ;) IT WAS JUST HOW HE WAS RAISED"

OMG YES. SO MUCH YES> Snape knows more Dark Arts than some Dark Wizards forget, and they come naturally to him. Lily doesn't know definitions of Dark and thinks that his asides are fascinating-- and cheerful!Snape casually mentions some use for the livers of tortured puppies, and she's thinking about potions before "not that we'd ever do this. Of course."

Lily is his best friend. James and Remus are great, Peter's... well, he has no tolerance for idiots in any incarnation, but Lily is his first and closest friend. It's not romantic, but he is the best man at the wedding on both sides, leaving Remus and Peter as the not-surprised groomsmen. (Alice Longbottom for maid-of-honor, maybe, and Petunia refused to come)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"I think at least a couple scenes are from Harry's perspective, just for the full star-shining effect." Yes, please! :D I think that this hero-worship of Harry's will make it a little bit more difficult for him to swallow the idea of Sirius doing any wrong - like finding out that Sirius was a Death Eater.

"Snape knows more Dark Arts than some Dark Wizards forget, and they come naturally to him. Lily doesn't know definitions of Dark and thinks that his asides are fascinating-- and cheerful!Snape casually mentions some use for the livers of tortured puppies, and she's thinking about potions before "not that we'd ever do this. Of course."" YES YES and YES. <3

I think it's very true to her character that Petunia refused to come to Lily's wedding. I wonder, though, how well Snape and Sirius knew Petunia, and what would happen should they ever meet, especially as a result of Harry?

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

No idea if I made it clear, but the two stories are separate. One is a very Gryffindor and Azkaban-free Sirius belatedly taking custody of his godson. When Black was in Slytherin, Snape was the godfather. (Snape just might be Padfoot, if I can't think of a better name, but his Animagus form is a panther-- large, sneaky, intimidating, and it comes in black. Even in Gryffindor they think he's allergic to color)

Harry's hero-worship periods instantly fill in excuses for Black to not be around for years, but I think he doesn't stay mad for too long. Somebody told Black to stay away until his eleventh birthday, and said that Harry would be better with the Dursleys, so it's like Harry got a whole extra year. (He's ten and he's never had anything this good. I can't see him staying mad long.)

"I think it's very true to her character that Petunia refused to come to Lily's wedding. I wonder, though, how well Snape and Sirius knew Petunia, and what would happen should they ever meet, especially as a result of Harry?"

Snape knows Petunia extremely well-- he knew her as a kid too, and watched Petunia's progression from "I want magic, too" to bitter Normal housewife. (His personality didn't help, and then there was Lily. She was the favorite child, at least in Petunia's mind, she was prettier, she was clever, she went off to her magical school and played magical pranks at home... Petunia wanted to reverse that with Harry. She didn't want Dudley to grow up feeling second-best to magic.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Woops, totally didn't realize that they were still separate stories. Oh, well, I'm sure that even this non-Azkaban!Sirius still has a few skeletons in his closet for Harry to be horrified about. ;)

"(Snape just might be Padfoot, if I can't think of a better name, but his Animagus form is a panther-- large, sneaky, intimidating, and it comes in black. Even in Gryffindor they think he's allergic to color)" OMG YES. I've never thought of Snape has an animagus before, but being friends with Remus and James he would have HAD to be! Also, there could perhaps be moments in which there is teasing between Snape and James, because when they're in human form, James always seems to one-up Snape, physically, but when they're in their alternate forms... James would stand no chance as a deer against a predator like that. ;) RESPECT.

"Petunia wanted to reverse that with Harry. She didn't want Dudley to grow up feeling second-best to magic." I can definitely see this being a motivation, but DAMN Petunia couldn't you have done it in a way that didn't constitute child abuse or neglect?

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Woops, totally didn't realize that they were still separate stories. Oh, well, I'm sure that even this non-Azkaban!Sirius still has a few skeletons in his closet for Harry to be horrified about. ;)"

I forget transitions really often when I'm talking to people, but it's been a long habit. no-Azkaban Sirius still might have literal skeletons, since he inherited Grimmauld Place and might be on semi-decent terms with his mom. He was fighting against the guy that killed Regulus, so Sirius is a useful abomination on the house of Black.

"OMG YES. I've never thought of Snape has an animagus before, but being friends with Remus and James he would have HAD to be! Also, there could perhaps be moments in which there is teasing between Snape and James, because when they're in human form, James always seems to one-up Snape, physically, but when they're in their alternate forms... James would stand no chance as a deer against a predator like that. ;) RESPECT."

OMG didn't think of that! Panthers are the natural predator that things like deer worry about. The human versions-- Potter's the all-star Quidditch player and Snape is the nerd. Animals, Snape is the one that's primarily responsible for Remus patrol. Snape LOVES lording it over Potter that inside, where it counts-- James is a deer and he's a predator. (He is responsible for Lily calling James "Bambi" when she's annoyed with him. James never understands the reference and does not believe it's an actual male name, Snape and Lily pass it off with the book that Disney based their movie on.)

"I can definitely see this being a motivation, but DAMN Petunia couldn't you have done it in a way that didn't constitute child abuse or neglect? "

Nope. Too bitter/angry/something. I'm still furious that there were no real consequences for that. My Sirius takes care of things. Vernon is a slug, Petunia is a witch in the personality sense, and there's no reasoning with them-- so Sirius threatens to come to Privet Drive with his long-haired motorbike-riding scandalous self every day, after he's bought up Grunnings or a controlling share at the very least. He probably tips Grunnings into giving Vernon a "promotion" into a created office where he mostly yells into telephones and fires people and handles all the negative aspects of HR. The company is happy to save their good people for the diplomatic aspects, Vernon gets to yell, and Vernon's at work often enough to give Harry a break.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

He "might be on semi-decent terms with his mom. He was fighting against the guy that killed Regulus, so Sirius is a useful abomination on the house of Black." Interesting! :3 This really IS an AU! ;)

"Animals, Snape is the one that's primarily responsible for Remus patrol. Snape LOVES lording it over Potter that inside, where it counts-- James is a deer and he's a predator. (He is responsible for Lily calling James "Bambi" when she's annoyed with him. James never understands the reference and does not believe it's an actual male name, Snape and Lily pass it off with the book that Disney based their movie on.)" YES YES and YES! <3

"- so Sirius threatens to come to Privet Drive with his long-haired motorbike-riding scandalous self every day, after he's bought up Grunnings or a controlling share at the very least. He probably tips Grunnings into giving Vernon a "promotion" into a created office where he mostly yells into telephones and fires people and handles all the negative aspects of HR. The company is happy to save their good people for the diplomatic aspects, Vernon gets to yell, and Vernon's at work often enough to give Harry a break." AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

Sirius never went to Azkaban. In canon-- his mother leaves him the house, and he is the true heir. Kreacher recognizes him. Sure, she might have left it to him because he was "good" all along and working for Voldemort since he "betrayed" James-- but she left it to him, not Bella. Narcissa came into land, Bella could have used the house. It's still Sirius's place. If he were alive, I think he wouldn't soften up about her at all, but he'd visit if she were dying and they could insult each other all they liked. He might be shocked to learn that he's back in her will, or that he was never taken out.

This also leads to Sirius jokingly calling his godson "Bambi Jr." when he wants to get Harry riled up. It works.


"AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF"
WHY THANK YOU. SIRIUS IS RATHER CHUFFED TO HAVE MADE EVERYONE SO HAPPY, AND AS MUCH AS HE HATES TO REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR HARRY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PETTY REVENGE. HE FINALLY GREW UP (In my version, Lily always said Sirius would be a great man... if he'd ever grow up enough to stop being a boy)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"This also leads to Sirius jokingly calling his godson "Bambi Jr." when he wants to get Harry riled up. It works." AWESOMESAUCE. <3 I think that Harry would at least have a momentary shock at being called by a nickname: I'm certain that he's never had an affectionate nickname before. I'm pretty sure "Freak" and "Boy" don't have the same connotations. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

Sirius accidentally stumbles onto some very important thing. He's teasing Harry, and Harry is free to yell and laugh and call Sirius names ("Fluffy" comes up at some point, and later Harry thinks it's hilarious that there's a Cerberus named Fluffy), and if he really didn't like it, Sirius would stop. Sirius teases him a lot, but it's never things like "freak" or "boy." It's "Pronglet" and "Bambi" and "Merlin help me you're Lily Jr., and I barely survived the first time through-- she didn't like being pranked." Things like that.

Harry gets a full explanation of blood protections when he's eleven, since Sirius decides old enough to go to school = old enough to know the dangers specific to him, he gets a very comprehensive background about why his parents were hurt... Sirius is a softie, too. He never, ever makes Harry prejudiced against werewolves. The instant Remus breaks out (because Harry was in danger and Peter's still out there), Harry gets a fast lesson in "this is Remus Lupin. If you even THINK the moon is full you are not allowed anywhere outside at night." Sirius doesn't even consider "all werewolves are evil." It hurts too much to think about Remus, so he just doesn't.

(I think nasty werewolves can control themselves a little. Greyback set out to bite Remus for an offense by Remus's father, I'm pretty sure that was canon-- it's at least canon that Greyback liked to bite children. There's a big difference between "bite" and "maim." Neither is happening to Harry, so Sirius is very fast to make sure Harry understands when werewolves are a problem.)

Side note, the entire story starts because of Remus. He asks Alastor Moody if Harry is happy. Mad-eye has no idea and asks Black, then kicks Black into visiting, and then Harry is a happy little kid. It takes months for Black to ask Mad-eye just which Order member was asking after Harry.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Sirius teases him a lot, but it's never things like "freak" or "boy." It's "Pronglet" and "Bambi" and "Merlin help me you're Lily Jr., and I barely survived the first time through-- she didn't like being pranked." Things like that." I really like that thought. :) Lil' Harry, getting real affection for the first time in like nine years. ;_;

"The instant Remus breaks out (because Harry was in danger and Peter's still out there), Harry gets a fast lesson in "this is Remus Lupin. If you even THINK the moon is full you are not allowed anywhere outside at night."" Yeah, this isn't racism: this is one, specific werewolf that is coming after you. Big difference. :)

"Side note, the entire story starts because of Remus. He asks Alastor Moody if Harry is happy. Mad-eye has no idea and asks Black, then kicks Black into visiting, and then Harry is a happy little kid. It takes months for Black to ask Mad-eye just which Order member was asking after Harry." Oh, I really, REALLY like this idea. :) This fact could come up later... :3

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"I really like that thought. :) Lil' Harry, getting real affection for the first time in like nine years. ;_;"

Pretty much. I think Harry gets to meet the Weasleys, too, because they were Order and have five bizillion children (Sirius's perception) and one or two are bound to be the right age. (Sirius would probably pick out the twins by sight as pranksters, sit them down, and very firmly explain that Harry had been raised in a Muggle household. They can prank him if they insist, but it better not be anything remotely upsetting. Or? (Sirius never clarifies, but I think he nudges Harry and Ron into an epic prank that the twins take a long time to work out.))

"Yeah, this isn't racism: this is one, specific werewolf that is coming after you. Big difference. :)"

Right! And really, all werewolves are danger-time during the moon. If they're not, and take wolfsbane... better to be mildly offending and run away anyway. The nice guys will understand, because you do NOT trust a giant wolf under a full moon. Werewolves do play fetch, don't ask Sirius how he knows that.

"Oh, I really, REALLY like this idea. :) This fact could come up later... :3" I really like stories where it comes back to one character or one big action. Some people might not see the OMG story arcs are all pretty and sparkly and just right!!, but I do.

Besides, Snape and Black are busy enough being not-friends that SNAPE is the one to give the hint about Remus. Snape gets confused because Lucius Malfoy is about to go raid some cottage in Kent for a werewolf, it's potentially Lupin... then Black is /insane/ and apparates over when the full moon is in two minutes, grabs Remus (no time to talk), and apparates while Remus is starting to transform, because Sirius is slightly insane and on a deadline. They end up in the Shrieking Shack, Sirius is an Animagus, life is good. (Remus wakes up in the hospital wing with Sirius and Snape bickering about healing potions, and with Sirius being an utter jerk because he knew something about potions that Snape didn't realize.) He quite understandably thinks he's dead for a minute, or maybe hallucinating, because these things don't happen.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

" I think Harry gets to meet the Weasleys, too, because they were Order and have five bizillion children (Sirius's perception) and one or two are bound to be the right age." Well, the odds are in his favor of being right. ;)

"Sirius would probably pick out the twins by sight as pranksters, sit them down, and very firmly explain that Harry had been raised in a Muggle household. They can prank him if they insist, but it better not be anything remotely upsetting." I like this idea. I'm not sure how well the twins would be able to follow it, not having much perspective on what would be upsetting to muggles, but... ;)

"And really, all werewolves are danger-time during the moon. If they're not, and take wolfsbane... better to be mildly offending and run away anyway. The nice guys will understand, because you do NOT trust a giant wolf under a full moon. Werewolves do play fetch, don't ask Sirius how he knows that." XD I'm sure that there are so many crazy adventures with the marauders under the full moon that we just don't get to hear about. Like this, but somehow both more serious and hilarious at the same time: http://fav.me/de3m27

I also <3 <3 <3 that scene. Sirius has just the right notes of stupid bravery and friendship etc. ;) "He quite understandably thinks he's dead for a minute, or maybe hallucinating, because these things don't happen." YES

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"I like this idea. I'm not sure how well the twins would be able to follow it, not having much perspective on what would be upsetting to muggles, but... ;)"

I think they have the vague warning that "Harry doesn't know about magic. Don't scare him." I don't think they would actually want to frighten somebody, even if he had killed Voldemort as a baby, so they might stick with something like turning his hair red. (Which Harry might like, actually, because they can all tease that he's an honorary Weasley now.) In retaliation, Harry and Ron can dye the twins' hair black (or worse, dye ONE twin's hair black, but I think that's a little harsh since they're probably second-years at the time).

"I'm sure that there are so many crazy adventures with the marauders under the full moon that we just don't get to hear about. Like this, but somehow both more serious and hilarious at the same time: http://fav.me/de3m27"

OMG especially the bragging at the end!

I think Snape might have had a few good ones back against the Marauders, especially when he was still friends with Lily. Potions partners, she's mad enough at Potter to slip harmless pranks into the dolt's pumpkin juice... Remus might even help her, if Lily had been targeted in a prank, because prefects have to stick together.

Sirius is kind of an idiot sometimes. He freely admits that, which takes out half Snape's fun in telling the man that he's dumb, so Snape works instead on WHY Sirius is dumb and creative insults.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"so they might stick with something like turning his hair red. (Which Harry might like, actually, because they can all tease that he's an honorary Weasley now.) In retaliation, Harry and Ron can dye the twins' hair black (or worse, dye ONE twin's hair black, but I think that's a little harsh since they're probably second-years at the time)." I like these prank ideas. :3 Even something that would allow everyone else to differentiate between the twins (because let's face it, they love playing with people's perceptions and getting them to mess up who is who), like having only one of them with black hair... or even have something like their names written on their foreheads, for easy identification. Of course, the twins would figure out how to change them and walk around with the opposite names for a day or so, pretending that the trick was still working... or switch it to "Gred" and "Forge" or something. ;)

Oh yes, Snape would definitely get them back, somehow. :3 Possibly in almost nasty ways. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"I like these prank ideas. :3 Even something that would allow everyone else to differentiate between the twins (because let's face it, they love playing with people's perceptions and getting them to mess up who is who), like having only one of them with black hair... or even have something like their names written on their foreheads, for easy identification. Of course, the twins would figure out how to change them and walk around with the opposite names for a day or so, pretending that the trick was still working... or switch it to "Gred" and "Forge" or something. ;)"

That would be even better. Sirius probably figures out a way to get the name written right across their forehead, and Sirius was behind their wonderful map. He can definitely get the names to be written out on the right twin (and later the twins might wonder about the handwriting a little, looks a bit familiar). If they can change the curse around to Gred and Forge, he probably spends two minutes to draw out a fast diagram of a spell they might like.

Harry is a cute little moppet, and when he eventually gets the twins' map (not that he needs to sneak to Hogsmeade if it's that late when Remus gets out, he promised about the full moons and shady-looking people thing), he writes home... and Sirius just might tell him about a few spells he might try, just to see.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

It's so rare that a fic has a scene in which Gred & Forge realize that Sirius is actually Padfoot, one of the Marauders, their idols. ;) I love it.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

The twins lucked out and had a great start. He had a talk with them about the wrong kind of pranks, but made no effort to stop any silliness from happening. Sirius never treats them like dumb kids, and I think they don't write him off as an adult too fast. Later, Harry can very happily tell everybody about all the spells that Sirius did on his room because it was too small. (He doesn't want to go telling everybody it was a cupboard.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Later, Harry can very happily tell everybody about all the spells that Sirius did on his room because it was too small. (He doesn't want to go telling everybody it was a cupboard.)" Harry, even in canon, is very circumspect about his childhood. I'm always amazed that Arthur & Molly Weasley didn't find out; I mean, maybe they thought that Fred, George & Ron were exaggerating when they said that they had to tear bars off of Harry's window when they rescued him in second year.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

Harry, even in canon, is very circumspect about his childhood. I'm always amazed that Arthur & Molly Weasley didn't find out; I mean, maybe they thought that Fred, George & Ron were exaggerating when they said that they had to tear bars off of Harry's window when they rescued him in second year. "

The only way it makes sense to me is that the Weasley adults thought that the kids were making up a fantastic story (to get away with grabbing Harry for a vacation). There is no other way for Molly to blithely go on thinking about Harry at the Dursleys. "Not fed half of enough" would be just the first step toward Molly showing how parenting is done.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"The only way it makes sense to me is that the Weasley adults thought that the kids were making up a fantastic story (to get away with grabbing Harry for a vacation)." Trufax. I'm actually not sure what I'd have my Draco do if he found out about Harry's home life. Would he be able to do anything, even if he wanted to? After he became better friends with Harry, of course, and besides half-starving the Boy-Who-Lived for two months of the year isn't going to help him become a stronger wizard... right? Also, the Dursleys are like the prime example of why muggles suck: they'll do anything to keep wizards down. They're like the anti-Weasley, or the anti-Grangers. Crisis of faith for Draco?

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Trufax. I'm actually not sure what I'd have my Draco do if he found out about Harry's home life. Would he be able to do anything, even if he wanted to? After he became better friends with Harry, of course, and besides half-starving the Boy-Who-Lived for two months of the year isn't going to help him become a stronger wizard... right? Also, the Dursleys are like the prime example of why muggles suck: they'll do anything to keep wizards down. They're like the anti-Weasley, or the anti-Grangers. Crisis of faith for Draco?"

'Muggles suck'... but the Grangers are okay, and it's hard to openly hate people that took you in and took you out around London and made a huge effort to help you feel comfortable. He might still be able to manage it, but Draco might be relieved to have some truly backwards Muggles that he can actively despise.

If Harry lost the first time, Draco would have enough reason to change things. If the prophecy becomes common knowledge (another huge thing to prove that he's for real, as Snape overheard parts and Dumbledore heard the whole thing), then Draco knows Harry was the one that could have killed Voldemort.

Past that, he might be far enough along to actually care. The entire time, they've thought Harry was a spoiled brat, and he's not. He's about as far from it as you can get in the suburbs. Everyone seemed to assume the Muggles would like him because the wizards all do, but... oops.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking that Draco probably wouldn't find out until the summer before their third year, or something. He was pretty busy chillin' with the Grangers during the summer before that, and so maybe he was only mildly worried about Potter not replying to his letters.

Oh wait, what about Dobby? Hmm... maybe I should just leave Dobby in, unchanged. House Elves are beneath a pureblood's notice after all, right? Unless Draco just so happens to remember Dobby's role in rescuing Potter, Granger and the others from Malfoy Manor during seventh year? But maybe all house elves look the same to him. ;)

Yeah, I think Draco would do something about Harry's home life, mostly because rescuing Potter would get him brownie points, he needs Potter alive and well for his plan to work, and the fact that he hates muggles mistreating wizards. (Or mistreatment, period, but he justifies it the other way.)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"I'm thinking that Draco probably wouldn't find out until the summer before their third year, or something. He was pretty busy chillin' with the Grangers during the summer before that, and so maybe he was only mildly worried about Potter not replying to his letters."

It might only be a concern that Hermione and Draco aren't getting letters. They do have other things to think about, and maybe Potter got distracted multiple times or something, but Draco has no idea that some house elf knows about his dad's secret plot.

"Oh wait, what about Dobby? Hmm... maybe I should just leave Dobby in, unchanged. House Elves are beneath a pureblood's notice after all, right? Unless Draco just so happens to remember Dobby's role in rescuing Potter, Granger and the others from Malfoy Manor during seventh year? But maybe all house elves look the same to him. ;)"

There's a chance that he would recognize Dobby. He's seen the house elf loads of times, there was that special time at Malfoy Manor with the faint recollection that a specific house-elf is important...

"Yeah, I think Draco would do something about Harry's home life, mostly because rescuing Potter would get him brownie points, he needs Potter alive and well for his plan to work, and the fact that he hates muggles mistreating wizards. (Or mistreatment, period, but he justifies it the other way.)"

He has to be careful about when he does it. If Harry was 11, or 12, "you saved me from the Dursleys. Thanks, mate." At 13/14/15, you get lots of thorny teenage "nobody helped me before don't use this against me"

[beboots.livejournal.com]

I don't think that Draco would have known the full story of Dobby - I imagine that all he'd really know might have been the tail-end of it, with Lucius pissed off about losing a house elf. It may take Draco a little while to put the pieces together. Then again, if Dobby actually tells Harry what's going on - who his masters are - like halfway through the year again (must reread to doublecheck my facts), since Harry is presumably closer to Draco this time around perhaps he'd just tell him? And then Draco can try to work out a way to make Dobby back off that doesn't involve calling in his father?

"He has to be careful about when he does it. If Harry was 11, or 12, "you saved me from the Dursleys. Thanks, mate." At 13/14/15, you get lots of thorny teenage "nobody helped me before don't use this against me"" That is very true. Early on in the summer before third year, though, Harry would still be twelve. There could still be a little bit of resentment, though. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

That would make sense. I think Dobby does confess that he's from Malfoy's house, so they remember Malfoy potentially slipping something into Ginny's cauldron of books (I've always kind of wanted to do that, fill a cauldron with books--no idea why). If Harry is closer to Draco, Draco can figure out a way to command Dobby (and potentially get Dobby to babble about Harry Potter long enough to hear something about the muggles?) They probably still watch Ginny and start excluding Hermione, especially if Draco already has the target objective. He and Harry are friends, Hermione was a secondary plan. If he needs her back later, he can buy her a book or something and she'll be right there. (In his mind, at least.)

There can always be resentment when somebody comes in, armor shining, and fixes this gigantic problem that you couldn't tackle yourself.