Chapter 1:

'Remus must be worried, I should head to the hospital when I am done with the chores', thought Harry as he strolled through the streets, carrying two large bags filled with groceries and other knick- knacks. Messy black hair swaying all over the place in the wind, bright green eyes slightly glazed over as he ruminated on all the tasks he had to complete before classes the next day. Completely immersed in his thoughts that he was, he failed to notice the slightly elderly man standing on the kerb, consulting what looked like a map.

"Oof!" exclaimed Harry as he walked straight into the man and landed on his rear at the impact. "I am so sorry, I never saw you standing there." He hurriedly got up and began to check the man for any signs of injury. Satisfied that there was no injury on either party, he politely asked the man if he needed any help.

The man immediately brought out a card with an address on it and asked for directions. At the man's protests to accompany him, Harry calmly remarked "I am headed in the same direction, the place you are looking for is on the way, and it will be no inconvenience to me Sir."

The walk seemed to come to an end in a very short time as Harry happily filled the time with chatting to the man. He was asked questions about his family, schooling, favourites; it didn't bother Harry at all, and he quite happily gave the information.

"It is very rare to find youngsters who are this polite these days, young man. I sense from our conversation that you are facing some financial problems. Would you like to work as a housekeeper? One of my acquaintances is in requirement of such service?"

Harry chewed on his lip for a while, thinking over the prospect of gainful employment. Remus was in the hospital, his condition was critical enough that he required a surgery.

After his parents had died in a robbery gone wrong, Remus Lupin had raised him as his own. He had managed to give Harry a sufficient life and proper education on his meager salary of a school teacher. Now that he was in need, it was Harry's responsibility to ensure that Remus was not in want of anything. Even if he had to drop out of school, he would gladly do it if it meant that Remus could become healthier.

After thinking over all pros and cons of his decision, Harry decided to take the job. "But Sir… I was wondering if…. If I could have an advance payment for the job?"

"Hmmm…. I don't see any harm in that", the man genially agreed.

After hashing out the details, the old man walked into the house with a smile on his face, while Harry walked back to his own two-room apartment wondering what the future would bring for him.

The next day dawned bright and clear. Harry had been given a week's time to tie up all sorts of loose ends. He would be sitting for his finals in the coming weekend and file in for a withdrawal. Harry was glad that he was being given an opportunity to finish his education before he took the job. His qualification could be later used for job hunting elsewhere if this didn't work out.

He sighed thinking of what he would tell his friends. Ronald Weasly and Hermione Granger had stuck with him through thick and thin. He just hoped that they took the news of his leaving school calmly enough. Hmmm…. It was going to be a very long day.

"What do you mean you are leaving school?" exclaimed Ron.

"Oh Harry! Is this because Remus is hospitalized? You know you don't have to leave school. We could talk to our parents to arrange for something. You could have come to us," Hermione said while she glomped Harry with one of her hugs.

"Oi woman, let the guy breathe. He won't be able to tell us anything if you smother him to death."

Harry gave a grateful smile to Ron while Hermione removed herself from him. They continued their walk through the school gates.

"I know you could have Mione, it is just, I want to do something for Remus myself. He has given me so much; he was there for me after the accident. He is the world to me. I know that I could never repay his kindness but I have got to do something for him," he replied with a soft smile.

Ron and Hermione shared a look. Harry had the look of pure determination on his face. There would be no swaying him from his opinion. They gave up trying to persuade him. They knew that he would approach them if he ever had any trouble.

Hermione was about to ask him if he would require help with his preparations for the finals when all three of them and all other students in the area were distracted by the view of an Audi A8 coming to a stop at the school gates. Immediately, two guards jumped out of the car; while one of them opened the door, another began to inspect the area for potential threats.

A lean figure stepped out of the car, causing all the girls and even some guys give out longing sighs, while the rest of the guys looked on green with envy. Platinum blonde hair, perfectly tousled, glistened in the sunlight, a perfectly tailored uniform displayed well developed muscles on the lithe body and silver eyes took in the view. Prince Draco Malfoy looked very much like royalty straight out of a fairy tale.

"I heard the Prince will also be taking the finals this weekend. Rumor has it that he is moving back to Azkaban. Something about a betrothal," whispered Hermione.

"But he is just eighteen. You can't be serious!" Ron returned with a disbelieving look. "Well, those are the rumors floating around..." was the counter.

Harry wondered about that. Prince Draco had been in the same school as them since the past three years. Though there were many speculations about him, no one actually knew anything about him as he didn't interact with anybody. Pansy Parkinson, the school gossip, had tried many a ways to get close to him but her overtures were always rebuffed. Mainly due to the hulking figures of the prince's bodyguards.

Opening his locker to get the books required, Harry was lost in his own contemplations. It really didn't matter anyways, Harry conceded. They were worlds apart and had nothing to do with one another. He had his own problems to consider. School gossip could wait for another time.

He was so engrossed in his own musings, he didn't pay attention to the book that slipped from the pile in his hands. Neither did he pay attention to the tall figure that scooped up the text book, nor the silver eyes that followed him till he disappeared around the corner.