Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters or products associated with Harry Potter. Don't rub it in.

Author's note: For more information about the story, or if you're confused about the format of the story, check out the Author's notes on the first chapter. Thanks to all those who have reviewed so far, hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the first. Read, review and enjoy!

September

"Well, that wasn't too bad for a first week, was it?" Harry took a seat in a chair by the fire.

"As far as first weeks go, it could've been worse," Ron agreed, pushing a first year out of the seat opposite Harry's. "What're you looking at, Hermione?"

"There's a notice on the board. It says there's a Halloween ball for the seventh years in order to improve 'inter-house relations'."

"Dean hardly needs that," Ron said under his breath to Harry. "He's with that Hannah girl in Hufflepuff. Getting quite serious, apparently," he added, winking.

"Honestly, Ron." Hermione dragged a chair over by the two boys and frowned at Ron. "How do you know?"

"He told me," Ron said, as if that was obvious.

"Oh yeah, and boys never lie about their sexual conquests. How far did you get with Lavender, did you say?" Ron turned red. "Anyway, back to this dance. It says you've got to come in costume. Doesn't have to be scary, just a costume."

"Fingers crossed for someone dressing up as a belly dancer then," Harry joked.

"Knowing our luck, it'd be Eloise... Or Draco," Ron said bitterly. "He seems the type to dress up as a girl, doesn't he?"

"What does that mean," Hermione demanded.

"Well, you know, he is quite..." Ron searched for the word. "Oh you know, he is quite..."

"Gay?" Hermione answered. Ron nodded. "Well, he's not. He was going out with Pansy Parkinson for ages, wasn't he?"

"Ah, but that was so we wouldn't realise. Failed at that, didn't he Harry?"

"I have to agree with Ron here, Hermione. He is quite effeminate, isn't he?"

Hermione shook her head. "I can't see it, but..."

"You won't let yourself see it, that's different. I thought girls were supposed to be able to sniff out gay boys," Ron teased. "Or did hanging out with Viktor throw your sensors off?" At this, Hermione huffily went to sit somewhere else.

"Too far," Harry muttered.

"Tough," Ron said by way of an argument. Harry sighed.

"You need to learn where to draw the line, mate. She's never made fun of Lavender, has she?" After a long pause, Ron shook his head begrudgingly. "So why should you make fun of Viktor? You're the one who fancied him," he added, punching him lightly on the shoulder so he know he was just kidding.

"I suppose. So, you going to go to this dance with anyone?"

"Depends. You going to ask Hermione?"

"Why would I?"

"Remember the Yule Ball in our fourth year?"

Ron shuddered. "Don't. You think I should?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Up to you. Or you could wait for Lavender to take you back," he suggested.

"Not a chance. I don't know about taking anyone. I'll ask around, if anyone else is, I'll ask Hermione. If not, I'll not bother."

Harry frowned. "Why would you only ask her to go with you if someone else is going with another person?"

"Don't want people talking, do I?"

"Like they don't already," Harry scoffed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What do you think?"

"I couldn't begin to guess."

"You're stupider than I thought then," Harry said.

"What do they say?"

"That's for me to know and you to wonder about, dear Ronald. Now go and apologise."

That summer

To both of their surprise, Harry and Draco actually had a good time going shopping. Highlights included Draco's discovery of Topman and Starbucks.

"It's like... Heaven in a cup!" he exclaimed after consuming a latte in record time. As they left the café, Harry noticed the time.

"I've got to go home, I get a phone call from my uncle at half seven every night to make sure I'm not having too much fun, and the train and bus rides take about two hours."

"Where is he?" Draco asked. Harry indicated the milk foam moustache Draco was sporting.

"My aunt, uncle and cousin went to Spain for a week and didn't think I would want to join them."

"Did you?" Draco questioned, wiping the milk off his top lip.

"Like it would matter if I did," Harry said bitterly. "I can't imagine a hell worse than seven days in the company of the Dursleys in a foreign country. Except for spending a whole day shopping with Draco Malfoy," he joked.

"So how do I get back? It's not like I know the city very well, after all. Or is this the culmination of the day, you leaving me to work out how to get back on my own?"

Harry looked shocked. "I know I hate you and all, but not so much that I'd abandon you. I'll take you back to the Leaky Cauldron and then you can make your way home from there by yourself, surely."

Draco hesitated. "The thing is..." Harry raised his eyebrows. Draco sighed. "The thing is, my father's... away, and my mother is visiting family. I'm all alone, and I have been for three weeks, and frankly I'm sick of it. Why else would I have started talking to you?"

Harry looked confused. "What are you suggesting I do then?"

Draco shuffled his feet. "Well, I was sort of wondering if I could, you know... Stay at your house tonight. Just for tonight, though."

"Are you actually asking if you can stay over?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Well, yes. Don't give me that look, Potter. I'm desperate, and to be honest, I actually enjoyed today, which surprised me."

"Join the club," Harry said, smiling. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't break the terms of mine and my uncle's agreement. I wouldn't be having too much fun." He laughed, but upon seeing Draco's face, stopped. "Just joking, I had fun today." He took a deep breath and began to weigh up the possible outcomes of the situation.

"For God's sake, it's a yes or no answer. It's not like I'm asking you for the meaning of life."

"42."

"Forty- what the hell are you on about, Potter?"

"It's in a book, the meaning of life is... Oh forget it, you're not likely to read it, are you? Yes, it's fine."

"What's fine?"

"You can stay over tonight. But you've got to promise me one thing."

"Name it."

"You explain that," Harry said, nodding at the bruise on Draco's cheek.

"No deal, Potter."

"Fine. Have fun on your own tonight, then." Harry made as if to walk away.

"Wait." Draco took a deep breath and looked around him, as if searching for a sign. "I'll tell you, but you've got to promise to keep it to yourself."

Harry looked amazed that Draco agreed to his terms. "Of course. Shall we get the train then?"

"I suppose so."

"Right. Follow me, don't get lost, and for God's sake- don't draw too much attention to yourself when we get to my street. They think I don't have any friends."

"They're right."

"I can still leave you in the middle of London, Draco. You'd best be nice to me."

Draco sighed. "Fine. How could they possibly think you have no friends, you're obviously such a catch," he said sarcastically.

Harry decided to ignore the tone. "Because they think I go to St Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys."

Draco laughed. "Sounds right up Snape's street."