One of Us Chapter 1: Guests, a harry potter fanfic

Title: One of Us

Summary: Pre Deathly Hallows. The day before Harry is set to leave the Dursleys forever; a white limousine arrives at Privet Drive. Inside are the "neutral" Slytherins and Draco Malfoy. This arrival causes a whirlwind of events in Harry's life that causes him to re-evaluate many of his beliefs.

Rating: M (eventually)

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or his lovable friends. I also do not own the song One of Us, where this story gets its title and the opening lyrics.

A/N: I am ashamed to admit that I have yet to read book 7. This isn't because I do not want to read it, but because my fiancé and I have a deal that I will read it aloud to him, after reading the first six aloud to him. We are currently on book 5 (though have both already read the first 6) and I will hopefully be reading 7 soon.

As I have not yet read Deathly Hallow, there will be nothing from that book here. This story is cannon up through book 6 and fanfiction from there.

11/30/07 - I HAVE RE-POSTED THIS CHAPTER!!!! I went through this chapter and did some editing as well as added to it. It is not necessary to re-read this chapter to understand the next, though I recommend it.

Born in greed, raised in hate,

Help us to decide his fate.

Let him run, let him live,

But do not forget what

We can not forgive!

And he is not one of us,

He has never been one of us,

He is not part of us

Not our kind!

Someone once lied to us,

Now we're not so blind

For we knew he would do what he's done

And we know that he'll never be one of us!

One of Us - - Lion King 2

A large, white limousine with black tinted windows pulled up to a pristine house on Privet Drive. The limousine door opened, and a black umbrella was the first thing to exit the vehicle. Following the umbrella came a black leather boots and black slacks. Finally, a dark blue, long sleeve, buttoned up silk shirt.

The face of the figure was hidden from Petunia Dursley as she watched him approach. It was definitely a "him" though, as the flat chest and broad shoulders couldn't belong to any female.

Quickly straightening and fluffing her hair, she walked to the door. She waited exactly ten seconds after the knock, forcing away her excitement and curiosity, before answering.

Standing on the front step of her home, was a very attractive, blond young man.

Petunia put on her best smile. It wasn't often that attractive, and obviously rich, young men visited her home. The man was about the same age as her son, Dudley, and for a moment she imaged them as best of friends. But this couldn't be a friend of Dudley's, or he would have mentioned it to his parents.

Well, the young man would be a friend of her son's, just as soon as she could introduce them!

At that moment, any good thoughts that were creeping into Petunia's head quickly went out the window as the young man opened his mouth.

"Is this the home of Harry Potter?"

Harry was sitting at the kitchen table, silently watching the rain fall out the sliding glass door leading to the backyard. He wanted to be outside in that rain, but wasn't allowed to leave his current seat.

His cousin and uncle were also sitting at the table, going over a magazine. Dudley Dursley, Harry's cousin, had just turned 17 this summer and was currently trying to convince his parents of his dire need to own his own car. This "need" brought dread to the very heart of Harry, as he could only just image the damage that Dudley could manage behind the wheel of a car, but when he had tried to point that out to his aunt and uncle he was told to be quiet.

Harry had then suggested that he be allowed to go upstairs, or outside, or anywhere else. The Dursleys had glared and told him to stay put.

Harry had no idea why he had to be present for the discussion, but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had insisted. They probably want me to ask for my own car, just so they can have the pleasure of saying no, Harry thought, irreverently.

Things had been especially awkward between him and the Dursley's this year, though Harry couldn't quite figure out why. When he had returned to Privet Drive for the summer, Petunia had given him a frightened, resigned look. Harry had tried to ask what he had done now, but she had ignored him. After that one look, she had refused to meet his eyes again all summer.

Uncle Vernon had been just as annoying as any other year, but even he seemed to act almost as though he was forcing himself. That had been disturbing in its own way, as Uncle Vernon usually loved to torment his nephew.

Dudley had reacted strangest of all, though. There were no more taunts, or "Harry chasing." There was no violence or anger. He seemed cautious, but not frightened; acting as though Harry was something new and strange.

Harry was used to odd treatment from the Dursleys, but this…something put him on edge.

He couldn't figure out what was going on with them. He had experienced a brief moment of terror wondering if they were all under the imperious curse, but Hermione, when he had written a frantic letter to her, had insisted that this was impossible with the wards provided by the Ministry and the protection from his mother. Harry didn't know whether the knowledge of Ministry wards on Privet Drive made him feel better or worse. On one hand, it was good to know that the Dursleys weren't under the imperious. On the other hand, why had the Ministry done nothing to prevent Harry's growing up in a cupboard?

Harry pushed the last thought away. It didn't matter now anyway.

Whatever was going on with the Dursleys, it had gotten him out of his room more often this year than in any year since he turned eleven. Granted, he was mostly outside planting a new flower bed in the backyard, but anything was better than being locked in his room and fed through the cat-flap in his door.

Suddenly annoyed with the whole situation, Harry was about to ask, again, to be excused when Aunt Petunia came striding back into the room.

Everything about her reappearance screamed ANGRY! She walked with quick, jerky movements; her lips pressed into a thin line; and a crease was visible between her thin eyebrows. The woman was tense and silent, and again refused to meet Harry's eyes. She walked straight over to Uncle Vernon and stood behind him, staring hard at the door to the kitchen.

As she had left the room at the sound of a car pulling up to the house (honestly, how did she even hear the car pull up…it must be some type of freak talent used for spying on the neighbors), Harry was left in no doubt that the visitor was an unwelcome one. For a brief moment, Harry let himself hope that maybe the Order had decided to pick him up early this year.

And then Draco Malfoy sauntered into the kitchen.

Harry was out of his seat with his wand drawn before he even registered Malfoy's drawled "Potter."

Dudley jumped from his chair and ducked behind his parents, just as Vernon yelled - "Put that…that…that blasted THING away!"

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Harry ignored Vernon, not taking his eyes off the blond.

The last time he had seen Malfoy, the boy had been fleeing the castle with the man who had killed Dumbledore. The only thing stopping him from hexing Malfoy and calling the Order was the memory that it wasn't Malfoy who'd caste the curse. The memory of a wand dropping an inch.

"Looking for you," Malfoy smirked, "came to pay my respects. It is your birthday tomorrow, isn't it?"

Of course, that memory didn't completely erase Harry's desire to hexing the blond.

Malfoy reached in his pocket and pulled out his wand and a small box. The Dursleys shrank back into the corner of the room, too scared at the sight of a second wand to do much of anything.

Harry raised his own wand higher, "Put that away, Malfoy, unless you want to let the Aurors know right where you are. In fact, don't put it away. Caste a spell and see what happens."

Malfoy raised an eyebrow and smirked, but all he did was enlarge the box.

"Don't worry, there's a spell on my wand so that the Ministry can't register any magic done by it." Malfoy's lips twitched, "wouldn't want you getting in trouble for underage magic…again."

"What do you want, Malfoy, and cut the crap about paying your respects," Harry growled.

"But, Potter, it's true," Malfoy took on an air of complete innocence as he placed the now-head-sized box on the table in front of Harry.

The box was wrapped in dark red paper and had a silver ribbon tied around it. The Dursleys and Harry all stared at the box in something close to disgusted fear. It was the first time Harry had ever had anything in common with the Dursleys, and he didn't appreciate the fact.

"What is that?" Harry nodded his head at the box, but didn't reach for it. Too many encounters with Portkeys and cursed items had given Harry an understandable fear of strange objects. Especially objects coming from this particular person.

"It's a present," Malfoy sneered, "surely you're familiar with the ritual of receiving presents in celebration of the day of your birth."

Harry snorted, "What is this, Malfoy?" Finally tearing his eyes away from the package, Harry glared at the blond, "Last I saw you - you were running away from Hogwarts after letting Death Eaters," Aunt Petunia made a small whimpering noise at the name, "into the school. After…"

Harry didn't finish the sentence. He couldn't say "after killing Dumbledore," because Malfoy hadn't done that, Snape had. He couldn't say "after almost killing Dumbledore," because Harry was sure, in the end, that Malfoy wouldn't have done it. Malfoy deserved to be hexed for so many reasons, and Harry fervently wished to be the one to do the hexing, but…he hadn't killed Dumbledore.

Malfoy sighed and dropped whatever act it was he had been playing. Pulling out a chair, the blond sat down at the table. Uncle Vernon made an angry noise, but didn't comment.

Malfoy sat, tracing his finger along the silver ribbon of the box, as if lost in thought. Harry didn't sit, but he didn't interrupt the blond's thoughts. Whatever Malfoy was doing here, it seemed like he might be finally coming to the point.

"Listen, Potter. I know you don't like me, you don't have any reason to, but I have a limousine full of students, innocent students, who need your help." Malfoy's eyes finally met Harry's again, and Harry was shocked at the emotion he could see there. "I know that you have connections. I know that the Weasleys generally pick you up on your birthday. Let them take me to the Ministry tomorrow if you want, but find a safe place for those waiting outside."

Harry stared hard at Malfoy, but – try as he might – he couldn't see anything but honesty in Malfoy's face. It wasn't an expression that he was used to seeing there, and it actually frightened Harry slightly. The last time he had seen any emotion other than anger or fear from this boy, was that night in the bathroom. The night Harry had nearly killed him.

After a minute that seemed more like an eternity, Harry let out a long breath.

"Who's in the car, Malfoy?"

"You're going to take them in?" Malfoy was seeking confirmation, and Harry really couldn't blame him.

"I…"

"WAIT JUST ONE MINUTE!" It seemed Uncle Vernon had finally woken from his shocked and frightened stupor. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'TAKE THEM IN?' I WON'T HAVE ANY MORE FREAKS IN MY HOUSE!"

Malfoy's eyes flashed at, Harry presumed, being called a freak by a fat muggle, but he didn't show any other sign that he had heard Vernon.

Harry looked at the three people in the corner of the room. Not an hour ago these three had been sitting at this table, happily ignoring Harry's existence as they debated the pros and cons of getting their son a car. They weren't Harry's family, they had never been his, but they were a family. They were a husband and wife and son, and Harry felt bad for interrupting their lives. He wondered how they might have lived if Harry had never come to them.

Would Vernon still be going grey prematurely? Would he still be so easily angered? Would Dudley still be the bully that he is? Had Harry's presence, and thus Vernon's attitude toward Harry, taught Dudley that it was alright to hurt people? Would Aunt Petunia have doted on Dudley to the point of making him unhealthily fat if she wasn't trying to show Harry just how unwanted he was?

Harry looked back out toward the rain; he would never know how different things could be, for any of them. All he could do for them, and himself, is leave this place as soon as possible. That and save those he could. He wouldn't let anyone else's lives be ruined, if he could stop it.

"Tomorrow is my birthday, and the Weasleys are picking me up the next morning," Harry looked up at Vernon, "let them stay here, where they are safe, that long. Then you'll never have to hear from…my kind, again."

"And if I don't let them stay?" Vernon was nothing if not predictable.

"Then I'll let the Death Eater have you," Harry nodded toward Malfoy and watched Aunt Petunia pale. She had understood the reference earlier, even if the others hadn't.

"He's a…a…a…he's…one of them?" Aunt Petunia whispered.

Vernon turned and paled at the look on his wife's face.

"Yes, he has the Mark. Wanna see?" Harry made a vague gesture that made Petunia pale even farther.

"Are…you involved in…with…" there were tears in Petunia's eyes now, and Harry hated doing this.

"No," Harry met his aunt's eyes for the first time all summer, "and I wouldn't really let him hurt you. You've not been kind to me, but you've given me a safe place to grow up. I wouldn't pay that back with murder."

Some of the color returned to Petunia's face, "but why…why is he here? If he's a…"

Harry ran a hand through his hair and glanced at Malfoy who was staring steadily back at him, "That's what I want the chance to find out."

Harry saw Petunia nod out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't stop staring at Malfoy. He had no idea what was going on, but he needed to understand. He needed to know what caused Malfoy's wand to drop, and who was in the car, and why they were here.

"They are not to leave your room while they are here, except to use the bathroom. And you are to be silent, if I hear one whisper from that room you are all going to be on the street!" Vernon glared, but he had one pudgy arm wrapped protectively around his wife.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry looked at Petunia as he said it. He wasn't sure how much she knew about what was going on in the world, or about what went on during the first war with Voldemort, but he suspected the Dumbledore had told her much more than she ever let on. He wondered if Dumbledore had been in contact with her since Voldemort's return. That would be just like the man, letting Petunia know that her sister's murderer was back. He still remembered the Howler screaming REMEMBER MY LAST.

As the Dursley's left the kitchen, Harry turned back to Malfoy and demanded, "Who's in the car?"

Malfoy looked up at Harry, his eyes holding something unrecognizable, "The neutral Slytherins."

A/N: Thus the end of chapter one. This is not a one-shot (as I hope would be obvious) and I do plan to write more on this. I should be updating again on Friday 11/30/07. Please leave any comments or suggestions that you desire. Yes, this will eventually be a Harry/Draco story...sorry Hikari, but I think I have become addicted to this new (for me) pairing.