His father's guests separated as Draco walked through the crowd of people, scowl set firmly in place. Though the witches and wizards there were some of the most powerful alive, none wanted to cross him. It was common knowledge to the Death Eaters that Draco's powers could rival those of Harry Potter since the restriction that had been placed on them at the time of his birth was removed when he had returned for the summer. They also knew that the Dark Lord had chosen him as his heir, since he had none of his own.

Tonight, particularly, he looked as though the slightest thing could set him off. His wardrobe seemed to match his mood, sober and distant. His black robe was left open, showing off black dress pants that clung to his legs, a silver silk button up shirt, and black dress shoes. His hair, for once, wasn't brushed back, but left to dangle in his cold gray eyes.

As he made his way towards the only two teenagers invited to the party, his eyes took everything and everyone in, making sure not to miss even the tiniest detail. Finally, his eyes rested on the two who waited for him. Blaise Zabini nodded in greeting as Pansy Parkinson smiled at him seductively. Like the other guests, they both wore dress robes, Blaise's a dark green and Pansy's a blood red that matched her lipstick.

When he reached them, he kissed Pansy on the cheek and said, "It's good to see you again. How's your mother?"

Pansy resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. "Just fine, Draco. She can't wait until next summer after we graduate. She says that Narcissa and she has been working hard on planning our wedding."

Draco held back a wince at the reminder. "Mother has mentioned the plans a time or two." Or twelve, he thought to himself. "Hopefully, they won't get too carried away with them. After all, we still have to approve of every decision they make." He moved in front of Blaise. "Why don't we go out on the balcony? I have something important that I need to speak to you about."

Blaise nodded. "Of course." He turned to Pansy, "You can find something to do without us for a few minutes, can't you?"

Though she didn't look to happy at the idea of being away from Draco, she said, "Yes, Narcissa and mother asked me to come to the study after seeing Draco to pick out my dress design."

"Good," Draco said, and led Blaise out to the balcony that overlooked the gardens. He was silent for a moment, then said, "I know we had decided before school ended that we would go to Rome together to see your cousins, but Father and the Dark Lord has decided that I will go to Privet Drive, where Potter lives, and stay the summer there. They want me to get as much information about him as possible, and I'm their safest bet."

Blaise looked confused. "How is that? Potter hates you. He would never allow you into his family's house."

"Voldemort said that he and Father has it all worked out with Potter's uncle. I'll be a student from a private school that's doing an extra credit report on staying with another family, and his family was chosen because of their "outstanding social credit"."

"And he believed it?" Blaise asked, sounding incredulous.

"He seems to be the biggest fool of a muggle, doesn't he? I bet Potter gets out of as much trouble there as he does at Hogwarts, probably has the whole family wrapped around his finger."

Blaise nodded in agreement, but said, "Of course, the same could be said about you. Your parents and Snape has never given you a lecture in your life."

Draco snorted, "Not in public, maybe."

"When are you leaving?"

"The day after tomorrow."

"That soon? When did you find out about this?"

"Just after I woke up this morning. Father called me to his study to tell me. I'm supposed to go shopping for muggle clothes tomorrow morning, be back by three, get ready for dinner with Mother by five, be back by seven, then have my stuff packed by nine, so I can shower and be in bed by ten: thirty, since my driver will be here by six. As usual, I will have to say good bye to Father tonight. He's going to America for a meeting with some of the Ministry Officials there…I don't envy him. I've meet a few American wizards a couple of years back, they were ruder than Weasley in a bad mood."

Blaise laughed a bit. "Maybe that was because you were being rude."

"How is asking if they had a double digit IQ rude? The two boys went and jumped off the roof, using a sheet stretched a foot above the ground to catch them. They were lucky Mother had been there to stop them before they hit the ground."

Blaise opened his mouth to say something, but Pansy's voice came to them through the opened balcony door. "Draco? Narcissa and Mother want to speak to you."

"Do you know what they want?"

"No, just that it has to do with tomorrow."

Sighing, Draco gave an annoyed look to Blaise and followed Pansy inside. A few minutes later, Blaise heard Draco's voice yell out, "I can't believe you invited her!" and chuckled. Trust Narcissa to ruin Draco's last day at home by inviting Pansy to goodbye dinner.

HPHPHPHP

"You needed me, Uncle Vernon?"

The large man sat on the living room couch, Petunia and Dudley sitting on either side of him as they watched a movie. Vernon grunted before pressing the pause button and turning his despising gaze towards Harry. "Tomorrow, Dudley is going to one of his friends houses while your aunt and I go take care of some errands in town. In a few days, we will be having a guest…"

Harry groaned, "Aunt Marge isn't coming here, is she?"

"Silence! I will not allow you to speak like my sister isn't wanted here."

It took everything Harry had not to retort 'Well, she isn't wanted here.'

"But no, Marge is not coming for a visit until after you leave for school. The guest is a boy from a private school, he's about your age, I think. He comes from a very wealthy and well-known family, and he's doing a report on our family and will be here throughout the summer. Since Dudley's room doesn't have space for an extra bed, I want you to clear out your room and bring down the bed from the attic and put it in there, along with that dresser. By the time we return tomorrow night, that room had better be spotless, along with every other room in the house."

Harry kept his anger in check. He knew it wouldn't do any good to let his feelings show that Dudley could've just as easily made space for the guest in his own room. Instead, he said, "Yes, sir. Where do you want me to put all of the stuff?"

"Up in the empty corner of the attic."

"Is that all?"

"No. I don't want him to learn about you being…abnormal, so no funny business. Also, anything he wants, you're to give it to him, got that? I don't want anyone thinking that we are a family of Neanderthals that couldn't be nice to a boy that is probably as popular and loving as Dudley."

Harry repressed a snort. That'd be just what I need, another Dudley. Wonder if he also looks like a mutated pig. "Can I go now?"

Vernon didn't answer, but did press the play button. Taking that for a yes, Harry went back up to his room, where he threw himself down on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Trust the Dursley's to ruin an already horrible summer. He couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts for his final year, and then after only staying a few days at the most with the Dursley's next summer, he could leave and live life the way he wanted to…well, besides having to defeat Voldemort, that is.

Shaking his head slightly, he sat up and picked up his potions book from the bedside table. If he had to deal with a muggle for the rest of the summer, there was no telling how often he'd be able to work on his homework, so he needed to get as much done as he could before he was forced to sneak down to the kitchen in the dead of night and do it in wand light.

After a few hours, and a potions essay later, he put the book back and climbed out of bed. Walking over to the dresser, he looked into the mirror above it. He was paler than usual, since he had only been able to go outside once during the day when he had walked to town to buy clothes, and the rest of the time he had to sneak out at night. His bright green eyes were no longer hidden by the large glasses, since he had gotten contacts. His hair was just as messy as it always was, but was now longer, despite the attempts at cutting it by both Vernon and Petunia. A few cuts and bruises showed on his face and arms from the times that Dudley and his gang had used him as a punching bag; and he was now skinnier than ever, not getting near enough food to keep the hunger pains away, much less keep what little weight he had gained through the school year.

Sighing, he changed into his pajama pants, took out his contacts, and went to bed. The last thought that went through his mind was, Maybe they'll treat me a bit better, just so that that student doesn't get suspicious about how they really are.