Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat in the Gryffindor common room quietly doing work. Hermione had an Arithmancy test the next say, Harry and Ron were working on Transfigurations essays, and Ginny was doing some early revision for her upcoming OWLS.

Hermione checked her watch. 10:30. The rest of the common room had thinned out since earlier. She put her quill down. "Hey," she said, getting the attention of the other three, "have you noticed anything odd about Malfoy lately?"

"Why," Ron said without looking up, "would I waste precious moments of my life noticing anything about Malfoy?"

"Well, I ran into him today," Hermione began.

Harry grinned. "Did he fall over?" Ginny snorted at the pun.

"He did, as a matter of fact, and so did I. I dropped all of my books on the ground as I was heading to the library."

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Ron said. "'Cause if he did-"

"Oh honestly Ron, if he had would I have waited this long to tell you? Now stop interrupting."

Harry threw a glance at Ron who shook his head.

"Anyway, we were both knocked flat on our behinds. I told him he ought to watch where he's going and he told me I ought to watch where he's going." Ginny snorted again and Ron elbowed her. "I said, 'Fine, whatever, I don't know why I bother.' He sat on the ground for a moment as I started to collect my things. Then he picked up a couple of my books. I stood up and said, 'You'd better give those back to me.' He stood up and sort of half glared at me. He got all haughty and said, 'Jeez Granger, I was only picking them up to hand them to you. Don't be so high-strung.' The he shoved them in my hands and walked off."

Ginny whistled. "I'd say that qualifies as odd."

"Malfoy showing he has the potential to be a real human being?" Harry said. "More like a miracle."

For the second time in two days, Draco Malfoy found himself on the ground from having run into someone. This time it was a younger Gryffindor, who, as soon as he realized who he'd run into, began sputtering apologies and frantically picking up his books. The boy turned to go, but Draco grabbed him by the shoulder. "Who are you anyway?"

"Dennis Creevey." He was shaking.

Hmm, Creevy, why is that name familiar? "Oh yeah, your brother's that idiot with the camera, right?"

"No!" Dennis said. "I mean, yes. I mean, he takes pictures. He's not an idiot!"

"Mudbloods too, aren't you?"

"No! I mean, um, we're Muggleborns!"

"Right. What year are you in?"

"Third year," Dennis squeaked.

Draco glanced up and saw her coming around the corner in their direction. Crap. "Well, shove off then," he said to the younger Creevy brother. "And watch where you're going next time." Dennis scampered off and Draco kept walking. She threw him a surreptitious smile as they passed. Damn, he though. This is harder than I thought.

The Hogwarts Express pulled into King's Crossing, 3 p.m., GMT, Friday, June 30th. Two hundred and eighty students filed off the train and through the brick wall, talking about the summer holidays, collecting their trunks and pets, and looking for their parents.

Draco scanned the platform. He mother didn't seem to be there yet. Good. He spotted Parkinson and Nott smooching in a corner. He turned away, disgusted at the sight and at the fact that he had once been interested in her. Draco decided around the end of fourth year that he was definitely not interested. He was convinced that the Yule Ball had done it in. Even so, it had taken him until only a few months ago to convince her of it. She cried her eyes out for twelve hours then was suddenly hanging all over Nott. Slut.

Draco felt a tap on his shoulder and he turned around. There she was, her smile radiating above everything else in the station. Figuring everyone was too preoccupied to pay any attention to them, Draco leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. Her smile got brighter and she wrapped her arm around his neck in a gentle hug. He pulled her in by the waist. She was at least a head and half shorter than him, making it easy for him to smell the herbal shampoo she used in her long, straight, ebony hair. He played with the silver and green tie that still hung around her neck, undone. "You should have put this away, you know."

She pulled back enough to look at him. "I know. I just got lazy. Besides, if any Muggles see it, they'll just think it's some new fashion, or," she smirked, "that I got it from my boyfriend."

Draco smiled.

"Alex!"

She looked over his shoulder. "I gotta go," she said. "My mum's here."

He let her extricate herself from him and she picked up the handle of her trunk. She gave his hand one last squeeze. "You have my address?"

"Of course."

"We'll set something up. Diagon Alley."

He nodded.

"I've got to go. Bye." She ran off to join her mother.

"Bye," he whispered.

Draco scanned the platform a second time. Still no sign of his mother.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny stepped off the train and followed everyone through the gate. "This is so amazing," Ginny said. "I can't believe you guys are gonna be seventh years. Only one more year….One more year and then you're gonna ditch me."

"Oh honestly Ginny, it's not as if you're three years behind us or something," Hermione said.

"I know. It's just – hmm, what's this?" Ginny bent down to pick something up.

Ron looked over. "Hey, isn't that-"

"Trevor!"

"Yep," Harry said.

Neville dropped his trunk and rushed over to Ginny. "Ah, you found him!"

"You know Neville, you really should get a box or something," Ginny said. She placed Trevor in Neville's outstretched hands and let hers linger a moment before pulling away.

"Oh, yeah, um, I know, it, I just, well, my Gran's here, I gotta go. Have a good summer everyone!" He looked at Harry. "Or at least an uneventful one," he added.

Harry rested an arm on Ron's shoulder. "Uneventful. Sure," he said. "Maybe when flying pigs start having snowball fights in hell. Ow." He rubbed his arm where Hermione had smacked it.

"Um, right," Neville said. "Well, bye everyone. Bye Ginny."

"Bye Neville. See you in September!"

"Hey! Harry!"

"Oh. Hey Colin."

"Wow, Harry, I can't believe you only have one year left! It'll be so different after you leave! Course, I'll only have one year left then too. Wow, seven years goes fast. Well, there's my mum. Come on Dennis! Bye Harry, see you in September!"

Harry raised the pitch of his voice and called after Colin quietly so only his friends could hear. "Bye Colin, maybe your voice will have dropped by then!"

Ron sniggered into Harry's back in an effort to hide from Hermione. "Harry Potter and Ron Weasley!" she hissed. "That wasn't funny. And you!" She spotted Ginny laughing too. "He's in your year for goodness sake."

"Yeah," Ginny said. "And no one knows better than the fifth year girls – excuse me, now the sixth year girls – how much Colin's voice needs to drop."

Hermione sighed and let it go. "Oh," she said, "my mum and dad are here." Hermione gave them each a quick hug. "Ron, I'll owl you about when I can come down. And Harry," she said, "we'll get you out of Privet Drive as soon as possible."

Harry gave her another hug. "Thanks Hermione."

"Take care you three. See you soon."

Hermione caught up with her parents, her hair bouncing behind her all the way. Harry looked around for his aunt and uncle. He saw the Thomases leaving and the Boots. Neville was only just leaving as he'd lost Trevor again. Luna Lovegood was on the way out with her father. She caught Harry looking at her and waved. Harry smiled and waved back. She had carrot earrings in today. Down further on the platform he thought he saw Narcissa Malfoy too, but he couldn't be sure.

"Hey Harry," Ron said, nudging him. "Who's that girl talking to Malfoy down there?"

Harry looked and saw the short, cute, black-haired girl Malfoy was hugging.

"That's Alex Dingle," said a voice behind them.

"Huh? Oh hey Dennis," Ron said. "I thought you left. I think your parents are waiting for you."

"She's a Slytherin in my year," Dennis pressed on. "Really quiet, doesn't talk much, even to the other Slytherins it seems."

"Huh," Harry said, no longer interested. "Dennis, aren't those your parents over there?"

"Oh shoot!" He grabbed his trunk. "Gotta run, have a good summer!"

Harry and Ron exchanged a glance and a shrug. "Wonder what happened to Pansy?" Ron said.

"Ron, don't you pay attention?" Ginny said. "She started dating Theodore Nott three months ago. But never mind that anyway. Mum and Dad are here."

Ron picked up his trunk. "Suppose you can't come to the Burrow now, can you," he said.

Harry shook his head. "Wish I could."

"Want us to wait with you for your aunt and uncle?" Ginny asked.

"No, you guys go ahead. I'll be fine."

"Well, if you're sure," Ron said. "We'll let you know as soon as we know."

"Right. I'll owl you as soon as I get back."

"See you soon Harry."

Harry waved to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. When they were out of sight, he sat on his trunk and waited.

Harry checked his watch for the ninety-eighth time. The train had come in an hour ago and the Dursleys still hadn't shown up. Harry blew some fringe out of his face and stared around the station. To his left, he was surprised to see that Draco Malfoy was still there, sitting on his trunk. That's odd, Harry thought. I thought I saw Mrs. Malfoy. But isn't he seventeen? He could Apparate home if he wanted to. Malfoy looked in his direction and quickly turned away. Harry shrugged. No point making a big deal out of it.

"HARRY POTTER!"

Harry rolled his eyes. Only one person that bellow belonged to.

"You're bloody lucky you've only got one more year of this ruddy school of yours! Let's go. The traffic from Little Whinging to London is getting more horrific every year and I'm sick to death of it. Move boy!" He gave Harry a shove.

"Ow."

Vernon suddenly turned back. "Who's that?" he demanded of Harry. "Why is he looking at me like that?"

Harry looked where his uncle was pointing. About one hundred feet back, in the same spot he had been, Draco Malfoy had fixed the Dursleys with a look of contempt, disgust, horror, and annoyance. Mostly contempt and disgust. "He's nobody Uncle Vernon," Harry said, trying to block his view and move his uncle along. "Just another boy who goes to my school. Nobody."

"Humph. Another one of the little freaks abandoned by his parents," Petunia said. "I'm not surprised."

Harry kept his mouth shut, but stole one more glance at Malfoy before hurrying after the Dursleys to the car.

Four days. Four days he'd been on Privet drive and already Harry was itching to get out. Fortunately, he'd gotten an owl from Ron saying he could come to the Burrow in another two-and-a-half weeks. That was only three weeks total he'd be here, so Harry figured he could keep his cool until then.

Harry spent his days much as he had other summers: wandering the neighborhood, loitering in the parks, avoiding Dudley and his not-so-little friends. He rounded a corner into East Side park – Dudley usually preferred West Side Park – and heard a couple of familiar voices behind the wall.

"I'm not afraid of you!"

"Well, you should be you filthy little-"

"Hey, what are you doing with that? You can't – you're one of those freaks, aren't you!"

"What did you call me?"

"Hey Dudley," Harry said, "not so tough without all your little friends are you?" If I make it through this with a straight face, Harry thought, I should go into acting. Harry sidled up next to Draco Malfoy, who had his wand in Dudley's face. "Better watch it Dudley. Malfoy here goes to my school and he hates you twice as much as I do." At two questioning glances Harry continued. "I hate you because you're an arrogant, stuck-up, spoiled brat. He hates you because you're an arrogant, stuck-up, spoiled brat and a Muggle. If you're not careful, he'll turn you into something...unnatural." Harry smirked.

Dudley's eyes went wide. "But, you're not allowed to do magic outside of school! Dad says so!"

"Sure, I'm not," Harry said, "because I'm not seventeen yet. Malfoy on the other hand….Well, let's just say it's a good thing I won't be here when I do turn seventeen." It suddenly occurred to Harry that that might be one reason he was getting out of Privet Drive earlier than normal. Not that he was complaining.

Dudley backed away several steps and tripped over rock. He scrambled to his feet and took off running. Harry chased him for several steps. "And don't you dare tell your mum and dad about this!" Harry called after him. "Idiot," he muttered. Harry turned back and was greeted with Malfoy's amused expression and approving nod.

"Not bad Potter," he said. "I didn't know you had that kind of viciousness in you. I approve."

"Right," Harry said. "First of all, put that away before somebody sees it."

"As you so kindly pointed out Potter, I'm seventeen. I can do what I want."

"But I'm not. And if you do something, I'll get blamed for it because I'm the only wizard who lives around here. I've almost been kicked out of school twice and I'm sure as hell not about to be expelled because of you. And you'd probably be breaking a secrecy law or two. And second of all," he said, cutting Malfoy off, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Malfoy regarded him a moment, then put his wand back in his pants pocket and turned away. "That's none of your business."

"You show up in my neighborhood and nearly blow my cousin out of the water, that makes it my business."

"I thought you hated your cousin."

"I do. Doesn't mean I want to see him get hurt."

"You're daft Potter."

"You didn't answer my question."

"Look Potter, it's not as if I knew you lived here," Malfoy snapped.

"That doesn't answer my question either."

"Fine! You wanna know, I'll tell you! I had a disagreement with my father, so I decided to remove myself from the situation."

Harry blinked and sat on one of the swings. "You had a fight with your parents so you ran away?"

"Do you listen Potter? I said disagreement with my father so I removed myself. That is considerably different than a fight with my parents so I ran away. Malfoys," he said, "don't run away."

Harry bit back a comment about their first year detention in the Dark Forest when they'd run into Voldemort and Malfoy had gone tearing through the Forest screaming his head off. "Fine," he said. "So, how did you get here? Don't you live in London? We're miles from London."

"It's called Apparating Potter. People who are seventeen are allowed to do that. And for your information," he added, "I did it three days ago and you obviously haven't gotten your pretty little head in trouble for it."

Harry looked up. "You've been in Little Whinging for three days? Staying where?" Malfoy turned away again. Harry peered more closely and noticed he looked unusually disheveled. His hair was messy and there were a few twigs and leaves in it. His Muggle-style clothes were rumples, there was dirt on his hands and face, and he seemed, if possible, paler than normal. Harry frowned. "You haven't been sleeping in the park, have you?"

Malfoy whipped around. "I don't have to take this crap from you."

Harry refused to get excited. "Fine. Leave."

"I ought to!"

"Then go."

"I WILL!"

Malfoy plopped down in the next swing. The two of them stared at the ground in silence for several minutes.

"You haven't left yet," Harry finally said. He glanced over and saw Malfoy's jaw clenched and his hands wrapped tightly around the chains of the swing. And he was blinking a lot. Shit, Harry thought. One thing they don't teach you in school is how to deal with a crying Malfoy. Now what do I do? "Um, are…you all right?" Harry asked.

Malfoy nodded once.

"Oh," Harry said.

Harry went back to staring at the ground as that seemed to be the safest course of action at the moment. He wondered what could possibly have been so bad that Draco would leave home and pick Little Whinging to hide in. Bullshit, he hadn't known Harry lived there. And what would Ron and Hermione think when they heard? Ron would whig out for sure and they'd probably come up with all kinds of conspiracy theories –

"I'm pathetic, aren't I."

Harry looked up. "Huh?"

"I said, I'm pathetic…aren't I. Look at me, sitting on this…whatever the hell it is, talking to you, of all people, about what's probably the most personal thing to ever happen in my life. I'm a mess. I'm surprised it hasn't rained in the last few days to complete the drowned rat look."

Harry scuffed at the ground with his foot. "Maybe it's not so bad," he said. "I mean, everyone has problems with their parents sometimes-"

"Because you would know."

Ouch. Harry looked away. Bastard, he thought. I was only trying to help. Malfoy mumbled something and Harry's jaw dropped a bit. "What did you say?"

"Sorry," he mumbled again. "I – that came out wrong."

"Yeah, I'll say it did."

Silence fell again and a slight breeze picked up.

"So," Harry said after a moment, "what did happen?" Malfoy remained silent. "Does it have anything to do with that girl I saw you with in the station? Alex?"

"How did you know that?"

"I just saw you," Harry said. "Dennis Creevy knew her name. They're in the same year."

"Dennis Creevy? Oh yeah, him."

"What happened to Pansy?" Harry asked.

"She's a bitch and a slut and I can't stand her annoying voice and her annoying face and her annoying annoyingness and it took me forever to get her to leave me the hell alone and I hate her."

Harry blinked. "Oh."

"Not like Alex," Draco said, suddenly turning to face Harry. "She's really smart; she's taking hard classes like Arithmancy and Ancient Runes and she's really good at stuff like potions. And she says the most amazing stuff, not poetic or anything, but stuff that makes you think, like it's a perspective you never knew existed. And she has the most amazing way of thinking. It's so positive and you just listen to her and you're like 'wow, I can do that,' or this or whatever she's talking about. Not that she never gets mad or frustrated or complains – she does – but she treats everything like a learning experience. She'll be mad for a while then shrug and say, 'Well, now I know,' and moves on to the next thing. And she has the most amazing smile…" Draco leaned into the chains of the swing. "An absolutely incredible smile…" A small smile brushed his lips.

Draco glanced up. "What are you laughing at?"

Harry was grinning. He couldn't help himself when Draco started talking a mile a minute. "I'm not laughing, I'm smiling."

"Fine, what are you smiling about?"

"You, you just – I've never heard you talk like that before."

"Talk like what?"

"All excited like that, and happy, and making it so obvious that you actually care about something…or someone."

Draco actually flushed. "Was it really that obvious?"

"Did you not want it to be?" Harry asked.

"No! I mean, I'd tell anyone if I could, but…"

"Your father doesn't approve," Harry finished.

Draco sighed and turned back around in the swing. "It's a bit more complicated than simple disapproval," he said. "You see, my father's become a bit more…fanatical…lately. It's not just Mud – Muggleborns anymore. It's anyone who isn't a pureblood. I, uh, think that might have something to do with you." He glanced up.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "And Alex?" he prompted.

Draco half smiled again. "Her father's a Muggle," he said. "My father found out somehow."

Harry's eyes went wide. "Wow," he said. "That doesn't bother you?"

"No. I remember when she told me," Draco said. "We'd been hanging out for about a month, just late-night talking. She seemed exceptionally nervous one night. I asked her why. She'd been afraid to tell me. Afraid of what I'd say or do. I couldn't take it that she'd been afraid to tell me…afraid of me. I've had people been afraid of me before, but not like that. So I decided I wasn't going to let it bother me again. Sometimes it's hard," he said, nodding to the entrance to the park.

Harry nodded. "Believe me, my cousin has that effect on all decent people." Harry shook his head. "That sure explains a lot."

"Such as?"

"Hermione told us this story in March about how the two of you had knocked into each other in the hall and you actually helped her pick up her books. We'd all thought you'd gone nuts."

"I remember that," Draco said. "I probably wouldn't have that early if I hadn't seen Alex coming around a corner."

"Oh," Harry said. "So, I guess I can see how that would spark a – a disagreement." Draco nodded. "But," Harry continued, "you had to…remove yourself?"

Draco looked up at him. He sank further into the swing and his face hung. "This is why," he said and rolled up his right sleeve.

Harry held his breath. His jaw dropped as Draco finished. He wasn't sure whether to be horrified at what it was or relieved at what it wasn't. He settled on horrified. "He did that to you?" he whispered. Harry reached out for the large, blotchy bruise, but pulled back as Draco rolled his sleeve back down.

"Yeah, among others," Draco said. "I knew enough healing spells to get rid of most of them, but there are still a few."

Harry's mouth was still open. "I had no idea," he said. "That's not common, is it?"

"Common? No," Draco said. "But occasional. Come on Potter," he said at Harry's still shocked expression. "You of all people should know that not everyone's family life is picture perfect."

"No, I know," Harry said. "It's just that, you, you always seemed like you had such a good relationship with your father and I was always a bit envious. That's all."

"You were envious?"

Harry nodded. "It's hard, you know, every time you turn around being told something different about someone you care about but will never meet. First horrible, then perfect, then horrible, then perfect. After a while, after you find that certain events are true and certain events are not, and there's different perspectives on the same event, you begin to realize that the whole thing's a lie and that the truth is buried somewhere in the middle." It was Draco's turn to look wide-eyed. Harry shrugged.

The wind picked up again and Draco shivered. Harry checked his watch. Just after five. The Dursleys would be serving dinner in less than half an hour. He ought to be going. "Oh!" Harry smacked himself in the forehead. "Of course, why didn't I think of it before? Jeez, I'm stupid sometimes."

Draco smirked. "Sometimes?"

"I just thought of where you can stay."

"What? Where?"

"Mrs. Figg's. She's a squib who lives a couple streets over from me. I'm sure she'd let you stay. Come on, let's go so I can get back for dinner on time." Harry took off for the entrance.

Draco jumped up after him. "Harry wait, I still need my st – ohh." Draco swayed and fell to his knees."

"Hm?" Harry turned back. "Are you all right?" he asked, kneeling down in front of him.

Draco nodded. "Just a bit dizzy," he said between heavy breaths.

Harry felt Draco's forehead. Warm. "You probably haven't slept or eaten that much in that last four days, have you?"

Draco shook his head and winced.

Harry resigned himself to being late for dinner. He pulled Draco to his feet and slung his arm over his shoulder. "Well, let's go."

"But, wait. My stuff…"

"Don't worry about it," Harry said. "I'll get it."

It took nearly ten minutes to get to Mrs. Figg's from the park and Draco was dropping faster with every step. He was almost completely passed out when Mrs. Figg answered the door. "Harry! What-"

"Mrs. Figg, I need a favor."