So Long Sweet Summer
Author: xxinifinitemoment
Rating: this is PG but it will go up in later chapters
Warnings: none yet. other than slash ofcourse.
Word Count: 1500
Summary: Things have gotten pretty bad in the Wizarding World and it's spreading to the Muggle World. Draco Malfoy shows up on Harry's doorstep with Snape one day. From there, everything takes a wild turn. Secrets are revealed. Perspectives change. How will it all end?
Harry Potter sighed when he woke. It was the third week of summer vacation and Harry couldn't wait to get back to school. Dudley and his gang made it a habit of torturing him whenever the chance came around. Aunt Petunia made Harry do all the chores in the house, at least twice because she was never satisfied the first time. And Uncle Vernon, well he took up the job of reminding Harry that he was worthless and how shouldn't be living. Harry was basically used to it all and it became a part of his everyday routine. However, it still really ticked him off inside.
He didn't want to get out of bed. He wished he could go back to sleep. He rolled onto his side and shut his eyes when there was a pounding on the door of his room.
"Up! Get up boy!"
He groaned and threw back the covers. After placing his glasses on his face, he headed downstairs for another day of his hellish life.
During breakfast, Harry found out something that made him the happiest he's even been at that house. His uncle, aunt and cousin were going out and leaving Harry home alone! They told him that he wasn't to touch anything other than to do his chores and they would return after dinner, which they would bring him. He had a feeling that the reasoning of this was because his relatives were still afraid of his godfather finding out if they locked him in the cupboard because they didn't know of the events that happened that June. However, his excitement was dampened when Dudley started choking on his eggs and bacon and his uncle blamed it on Harry using his magic. Uncle Vernon rose to full height, which wasn't much taller than Harry these days and punched Harry. This sort of reaction had become typical. Uncle Vernon thought it was the best way to ensure Harry behaved, plus he got to hit Harry whenever he wanted.
At exactly twelve twenty three, the Dursley's locked the front door to their house, leaving Harry alone inside. Harry was ecstatic. He had until at least seven to do what he pleased, as long as his family didn't find out. He did his chores as quickly but as thoroughly as possible. By the time he finished it was just after four o'clock. Perfect. He could get downtown and do whatever for two hours at least. As he walked by a mirror in the hall he grimaced. He hadn't gotten off all the blood from the bloody nose his uncle gave him.
Just as he was about to go to the bathroom someone rang the doorbell. Harry knew he wasn't supposed to answer and continued towards the bathroom. However, there was a pounding on the door next that didn't stop. Then he heard a muffled voice through the mahogany wood. "Potter, open this door!" Harry thought he recognized that voice but it couldn't be…could it? He approached the door tentatively and opened it.
Beyond the door, Serverus Snape and Draco Malfoy were standing on the doorstep. Snape looked livid and Malfoy's expression was unreadable.
"Potter, move out of the way." Snape pushed past Harry and dragged Malfoy with him. Harry stood dazed for a moment and then closed the door and followed the two Slytherin's into the living room.
When he entered the room, Malfoy was standing there looking very uncomfortable and Snape was pacing back and forth like a maniac. Snape saw Harry and stopped.
"Potter, do you have any idea what's going on right now?"
Harry shook his head. He tried to read The Prophet but it was hard when his uncle would intercept Harry's owls most days.
"Figures. You're probably just boasting that you were right about his return." Snape scoffed. "Well, the Death Eaters are attacking areas little by little. It's not very safe anywhere except Hogwarts now. But even the muggles are getting attacked."
Harry's face expressed how he felt, utter shock. He knew things were going to get worse since the Ministry, but not this fast and not in the Muggle World. While Harry thought about this, Snape had begun pacing again. Malfoy still stood quiet and Harry looked at him quizzically.
"So, why are you here then?" Harry asked.
"Because it's not safe in the Wizarding World anymore. Draco needs somewhere to stay and I can't keep him at my Manor because that's the first place they'll look. I would send him to Hogwarts but Dumbledore has enough on his plate. So Dumbledore thought here was the best place."
"Wait, what? Malfoy? Stay here?"
"Yes, Potter. Has your ego finally impaired your hearing?"
Harry shot Snape a glare. "Why here? Why can't he stay at one of his friends' houses?"
"Because there are wards up here. They won't think to find him here. And it's really the only safe place for him to hide."
"But why does he need to hide in the first place?" Malfoy looked truly uncomfortable now.
"That's none of your business Potter. He stays, you watch him. You're muggle family will be informed of the circumstances. I will return here once the school letters are sent."
Snape placed a letter on the coffee table and with a curt nod he walked out of the room and house, his cloak billowing behind him.
Harry stood there as if he had been slapped in the face. It took a moment for him to realize where he was and who was in the room with him. He looked at Draco who still stood there looking extremely out of place. Harry eyed him skeptically.
"What are you looking at Potter?" Malfoy snapped.
"Well in case you haven't noticed, you and Snape just appeared on my door step and Snape dumped you here telling me that you're staying for the remainder of the summer."
Just as Harry finished that statement a car door slammed shut outside. Harry's heart jumped. They couldn't be home now. It was too early. He grabbed the blonde male and pulled him towards the stairs. When they reached the landing, Harry heard keys opening the front door. He pushed Malfoy into his room and closed the door when he got inside. Malfoy looked extremely aggravated at being handled so poorly. That was the least of Harry's worries though.
"Boy! Get down here!" Harry gave Malfoy a warning look and left the room, closing the door behind him.
His aunt and uncle were standing in the living room with the letter Snape left opened and in Uncle Vernon's hands.
"What's the meaning of this? It says here that another one you your kind will be staying here the rest of the summer." Harry just nodded.
"Well, I won't have that. There is no way-"
"Vernon, the boy will stay." Aunt Petunia interrupted. She was holding another parchment in her hands that Harry hadn't noticed before.
"What?" Uncle Vernon turned to his wife.
"He has to stay Vernon. That's final." It looked as if she didn't wish it were true but knew there was no other way.
"But…what about…oh fine!" Uncle Vernon stumbled, thoroughly frustrated. "Bring him down for dinner in an hour. Our reservations got canceled so we're eating here. Make sure he knows the rules and that he doesn't expect to be treated like a guest. He will be put to work just like you. And you'll have to share that room. There's no way he's getting the guest room."
Harry nodded again and returned to his room. Malfoy was sitting on the edge of his bed very stiffly. The click of the door closing snapped Malfoy's stare to Harry's eyes. Harry cleared his throat after a moment of awkwardness. "So, er…um."
"Never good at conversation, eh Potter?" Malfoy smirked. Harry shot him an evil glare.
"Listen Malfoy, you're in my house now. Things aren't going to be like daddy's Manor here." Harry instantly regretted his words. Lucius Malfoy was in Azkaban right now because of Harry. Malfoy's stare turned cold for a moment but then returned to an indifferent glare. "Malfoy, I'm sor-"
"Don't say you're sorry Potter. Merlin knows I'm not." He muttered the last under his breath but Harry still heard him.
"What?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"I said I'm not sorry. He did what had to be done. I'm left stuck here though. But I'm not sorry."
"Oh," replied Harry lamely. "So are you still going to be one of Voldemort's followers then?"
At the mention of Voldemort, Malfoy didn't even flinch. When he spoke, his voice was full of rage. "No. I am not going to be joining him now."
Harry left it at that. He could tell by Malfoy's voice that he didn't want to talk about it. All in good time though.
TBC...