Harry had been quiet for the entire journey on the Hogwarts Express. While Neville, Ron, Hermione, Luna and Ginny chatted away mindlessly about summer, Harry's mind was buried deep in apprehension. His green eyes fleeted to the small battered watch on his wrist, "fifteen minutes" he thought, "fifteen more minutes of freedom". Normally Harry would be joining in with his friends in their laughter, but today was the start of what was going to be a long summer. After his little stunt with aunt marge, Harry knew his relatives would not be best pleased to welcome him back into their home. In a way, he didn't care. What did it matter if they knocked him about a bit, it's all he's ever known from them. But it did matter, he wasn't going to pretend that it didn't hurt, that it didn't make him feel like shit. Harry glanced around at his friends, a sour expression on his face, "lucky bastards" he thought, "what did I do to deserve the Dursley's". He let his head rest against the window, and watched as the train entered a short tunnel before emerging onto platform 9 3/4. Fuck. We're here.
As Harry hauled his belongings off the train, he mentally prepared himself for what he knew would be the worst part of this ordeal. Saying goodbye to his friends, the only light in his life. Plastering one of his fake smiles onto his face, he turned and hugged Ron and Hermione. "Aye mate, don't let those muggles get to you, promise us you'll send us a letter" Ron grinned. "That's right" said Hermione, "Ron's Mum has invited us both to The Burrow for the last two weeks of summer!" Her hazel eyes twinkled happily under the yellow lamps of the platform. "That sounds fantastic!" Grinned harry, who was feeling comforted that he didn't have to spend the entire summer with the Dursleys. Neville and Luna waved at him before disappearing into the crowd, as did Hermione. Ron suddenly swore, running back onto the Hogwarts Express cursing about leaving his potions book on the seat. This left just harry and ginny, who smiled at each other awkwardly for a moment. "Well I guess I'll see you at the end of summer" ginny looked up at him with a half smile. Harry ran his hand through his hair, looking away for a moment, "see you then" he murmured. That was when ginny took his hand in hers, her eyes finding his, "you'll be okay harry, if they give you any shit I'll get Fred and George to sort them" she giggled at the end, before giving his hand a squeeze and turning away. Harry was left there, a warm feeling enveloping his heart, and a hope that he would make it through the hell that awaited him.
"Boy!" Harry's hope was ripped from his heart in a second. He turned slowly, pulse quickening at the sight of his uncle, aunt and cousin. He returned their scowls with a blank face. Something was off, the Dursley never dared to be openly unpleasant to Harry in public, especially while surrounded by "freaks". Vernon strode over to him, grabbing his shoulder painfully and leaning in close. "You'll pay boy, you'll pay" he spat before steering him through the crowd to the exit. Harry had the sense not to fight, he knew that Vernon was angry, whether it was about Marge or something else he wasn't sure. "Fuck it. I can't do a thing right in his eyes" Harry thought savagely. Vernon reached the exit to the station, his vice-like grip on harry remaining un faltered, and Harry's scowl growing ever larger. But instead of leading him out of the building, Vernon veered Harry off to the left, towards... is that... Dumbledore? And... fuck... Malfoy.
"Why hello harry" smiled Dumbledore politely, his piercing blue eyes twinkling as they looked down on Harry, who nodded sharply before glaring back at Malfoy. That git had a small smirk as he took in Harry's pathetic submission to his aunt and uncle, but his eyes conveyed contrasting emotions. Fear and anger seemed to top the soup of feelings in Draco's eyes, why harry wasn't sure. Dumbledore seemed oblivious to the mounting tension between the two enemy's, he continued to smile at the boys before turning to harry. "I've already spoken to your family harry and they have generously agreed to open their home to young Draco here for this summer." Harrys eyebrows lifted so high that they threatened to be engulfed by his unruly black hair yet he still said nothing. "The reason being that Draco's family are unable to protect him suitably in these troubled times. We decided privet drive would be the best lodging for him due to the extensive wards and protections we have set up around the area" Dumbledore glanced down at harry "and don't worry my boy, we've already conjured Draco a bed to sleep on so you can both have a confortable summer". He said this as though it would fix all Harry's worry's about malfoy staying for summer. "well" he smiled again, "I must dash, I lost a bet with Minerva about Columbia winning the quidditch World Cup qualifiers and now I owe her a chocolate cauldron. Do excuse me, and boys have a good summer". And with that, the headmaster swept off, gaining some strange looks from passing muggles due to his bright magenta robes.