Carefree Existence
Harry and Draco were sitting on the porch of Draco's huge house, waiting for their friend to arrive. It was the summer before their sixth year at Hogwarts and as usual, they were spending it at the Malfoy Manor, enjoying themselves in every way they knew how.
The night was warm and dry, and the air was full of the flowery smell, which came from Mrs. Malfoy's favorite rose bushes, planted right underneath the front windows. Draco and Harry have been waiting for over an hour, lounging out on the patio chairs out of boredom, but Caleb Ralis was still nowhere to be seen. Finally, Harry saw three figures apparate outside of the Manor gates and immediately jumped up to open them. As soon as the gate swung open, Caleb's parents were gone with a pop and the sixteen year old ran hurriedly up the lane to the front porch. He reached his friends and quickly slapping them on their backs pushed the front door in, stumbling into the nicely air conditioned room, away from the outside heat.
"So Draco tells me you had a very fun time with Jen the other night?"- was the first thing he said to Harry as soon as the boys walked into the house after him and Harry has shut the door.
The three of them were very tired, but an opening line like that, was a ticket to getting to bed at least three or four hours later... in the best-case.
"Yeah. Sort of.."- Harry said nonchalantly and paused to watch his reaction.
That was bound to wind him up. Playing word games with Caleb was one of Harry and Draco's favorite pastimes. Caleb, not being the brightest of people, was always easy to manipulate and tease. Harry and Draco knew this better than anyone, and took advantage quite often.
"Yeah? Uh no. I don't think so. You are going to tell me everything to the last detail and you are going to tell me now." He was speaking fast, showing great impatience, and raising his voice with every word, forgetting what time it was and that he could easily wake someone up.
Draco was already sniggering like a hyena and Harry figured he better tell the story and make it quick, for going to bed was the only thing he wanted now, at one o'clock in the morning, since Caleb's parents were a bit late to drop him off.
So he did, without leaving out any details- the nighttime stroll through Trafalgar Square, the late evening snack at the charming cafe on the corner of Lavender Street and Wolcott Ave, the moonlit lap around the outskirts of the city on the brand new Nimphus 2007s... and then the legendary bedrooms of Malfoys' London apartment, where Harry and Draco has spent many sleepless nights, hanging out with and without female company.
Caleb seemed to enjoy it. He liked Harry's girlfriend more than Draco's and for some reason always wanted to gossip about stuff like that, just like girls would. His own girl was a Gryffindor named Jessica, the redhead they all met at the last trip to London, where it turned out that she went to Hogwarts too, only two years below them. However due to her outstanding looks age was overlooked not only by Caleb but even Draco. Caleb was a lot more shy than his two best friends, and Harry knew that he has not ventured into "the adventures of adulthood" with any of his prior girlfriends. Which is why he was intent on helping him out with bold ideas, explicit suggestions and advice with this new girl. Draco however didn't show much interest in her and stayed completely out of the "ask Harry" advice sessions Caleb often had. But when Draco was so openly indifferent about someone or something, it usually meant that he was hiding something. That is why Harry had a slight suspicion Malfoy was sweet on her too, but knew he wouldn't do anything out of respect for his friend. Which wasn't an ordinary thing for Draco, and only a select few got the privilege of being respected by him.
A little while later, after grabbing snacks from the kitchens, the boys made their way to the upstairs hot tub area and plunged into the numerous cushions which sat around the veranda, while loudly debating whether to jump into the pool head first off the banisters or just get into the Jacuzzi and quietly relax. The frozen yogurt fruit pies were amazing, and they spent a long time simply sitting there and eating one after another, after another.
Ultimately the night was spent eating and guffawing around on the veranda, since all of them were too lazy to move, and when they finally fell asleep it was five in the morning.
The next day Harry was scheduled to go home for some time to visit his aunt and uncle. It wasn't a big deal, he almost never saw them anymore and once a summer was fine with him. What's more his relatives actually liked him better now, after Draco's father showed up a few years ago, met and gave uncle Vernon a very costly gift, while informing him that Harry was most likely to spend little time at Privet Drive in the future for he was staying with his own son a lot and the two boys were quite inseparable. Ever since then, the Dursleys were extremely civil and pleasant for those few days each summer Harry was over at Privet Drive. He had a sneaking suspicion that Lucius's Ferrari, expensive jewelry and fine clothes had also played a part. The Dursleys were so materialistic, that even Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy themselves did not come close to being that shallow. Harry always smirked and almost laughed out loud when he thought about his aunt and uncle and the way they have been treating him since Draco came into his life. He even enjoyed being in their company from time to time, for almost every time he stayed with them now, they made such fools of themselves hinting at having a chip off the wealth and power his friends from the other world possessed, that it amused him greatly.
At any rate he wasn't too fussed about the visit, he would go shortly after breakfast, and probably be back well before dinner time.
At ten fifteen the next morning Lucius was calling his name from the doorway, the car was sitting right in front of the house and they were running late. Harry was literally hopping around like crazy, trying to simultaneously put on his left sock, find the shoe that matched the one he already had on, grab the little souvenirs for the Dursleys that Draco had scattered all over the house, and stuff a strawberry pastry into his mouth. Needless to say he Hated having to keep Draco's father waiting. Lucius was the only role model and strong male figure that he had ever known, Vernon Dursley withstanding, and if anyone had to choose between the two, only a retard wouldn't have picked Lucius as the better one. Harry only wished that he got to spend more time with the man, but due to the line of work that he did, and many other unknown responsibilities, the Malfoy family and Harry got to see him very little. He paid the bills, he showed up at home just in time for dinner every night, and he sometimes threw big parties at the Mansion, mostly for the Ministry, but other than that he was not around much. However when he was there, he radiated such an air of confidence, excellence and pure perfection that left everyone, superior or inferior, simply in awe.
And now Harry was slowly but surely pissing the man off, due to being awfully disorganized. Harry was silently cursing himself for such stupidity. At that instant Draco ran into the room, holding all the little gifts and to Harry's surprise – his shoe. Harry grinned at him with relief and laughed out loud. That is why they were friends. Even without having to ask, one always had the other's back. Draco grinned back and gave him a little push toward the door, as if saying "yeah yeah I know, but you need to get moving, catch you later".
All set to go, he was flying down the stairs ten seconds later,
smiling apologetically at Mr. Malfoy and waving goodbye to Draco at
the same time. A minute later he was in the car, putting on a seat
belt and dumping everything that he was holding into the back seat.
Lucius quickly got in on the other side and soon they were speeding
through the streets of London, in the completely opposite direction
of Little Winging, Surrey. However Harry did not notice this and
simply sat there drifting off bit by bit.
That was a big mistake.
Little did he know that his peaceful and happy existence was about to
take a wide turn and change the only life that he has known for the
past five years forever.
