A/N: Hi readers! I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get out. I've been sending out messages looking for a Beta Reader and since none of them are answering, I gave up. I'll just have to edit these as best as I can.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

-Lino Snape

The two boys stayed in the sunroom for the rest of the day, having a house elf bring them sandwiches and pumpkin juice as they talked about random things. They were playing a game of wizard's chess, which Draco was winning, while Harry told him exactly what had happened on the third floor corridor during their last school year.

"WHAT? There was a three headed dog in the castle?" Harry nodded solemnly while moving his bishop to take Draco's knight.

"Ah! Bad move Potter!" Draco crowed triumphantly, moving his queen to take Harry's bishop. He knocked over the other boy's king, leaned back in his chair and smirked.

"Check and mate!" Harry sighed resignedly. It was the fourth time he had lost to Draco, yet the other boy reacted every time like it was the first. It amused Harry to no end.

"Yes, you've beaten me…again." Draco grinned at him, then turned inquisitive.

"You really went through all that, just last year?" He didn't wait for Harry's confirmation. "That's…bloody hell." Draco couldn't begin to fathom what Harry had told him. Voldemort had been at their school. Draco had taken a class from him. He had been within three feet of him. Draco shuddered.

"It's ok. Hopefully nothing like that will happen this year. After all, it's not he has a body." Draco's eyes brightened.

"You just reminded me! DOBBY!" Draco called. The house elf appeared in the room. He bowed to Harry quickly and turned to Draco.

"Yes, Master Draco? You called Dobby?"

"Dobby, just what is going to happen at Hogwarts this year?" Dobby's eyes widened and he began bouncing up and down excitedly.

"Master Draco, if you are friends with Harry Potter, do not let him go back to school this year! Terrible things are going to happen at Hogwarts!" Annoyed about being talked about as if he wasn't there, Harry interrupted.

"But what is happening? We get that it's bad, but what is it?" He asked exasperatedly. Both boys looked at the house elf expectantly. Dobby started to wring his ears again, something Harry was starting to recognize was a nervous tic rather than a way of punishing himself. Dobby closed his large eyes and took a deep breath before speaking.

"The Chamber of Secrets is opening at Hogwarts this year!" he said dramatically. Harry and Draco looked at each other and back to the elf.

"The Chamber of what?" Harry asked. He turned to Draco again to see if the other boy knew what Dobby was talking about. Seeing Draco's facial expression made his mouth run dry. Draco's normally pale skin was paper white and his eyes were so wide, Harry could see his entire pupil. He looked positively horrified.

"Dra—"

"The Chamber of SECRETS?!" Draco exclaimed hoarsely. Harry still looked confused. "Harry, this is bad. The last time the Chamber of Secrets opened, someone died." Harry's own eyes widened. Dobby nodded frantically.

"Dobby is being scared that Harry Potter will be the one to die this time!" he squeaked fearfully.

"The person who died, why did they die? Why would I be the next to die?" Harry demanded. Another threat on his life? Really? Draco looked a little green around the gills. He gulped.

"There is s-some kind of beast in the Chamber. No one knows what it is. My father told me about it once. The girl it killed was-" Draco turned to Dobby. "Why tell Harry? Why not go see Dumbledore?"

Dobby's knees started shaking and his big eyes teared up.

"Because Master is punishing Dobby if Dobby is saying anything to Dumbledore! Master will punish Dobby!" Harry was confused. So far Draco had been nothing but nice to Dobby, why would he hurt him? His shoulders slumped in realization and he curled into himself involuntarily. Draco saw this and gave him a small, sad smile.

"Finally remembered where you are, eh Potter?" He asked. Harry was too busy thinking to answer. His mind was on one thing and one thing alone. He was in Lucius Malfoy's home. Even with his small amount of time in the Wizarding world, Harry had heard of the Death Eaters and what they had been to Voldemort. He also knew that the elder Malfoy had been one. He looked at Draco, who looked a little worried. Had he been in on this? Surely this was a plot to give him to their beloved Lord Voldemort?

Draco reached out to touch Harry's shoulder. The other boy moved away from him. How could have been so stupid? To begin to trust him after one day of not fighting or insulting? After an entire year of bullying? Hot tears rolled down the twelve year old boys face as he stood and ran towards the door. He heard Draco calling after him and almost turned to look but sobbed instead and kept running. How could he have thought there was someone out there who actually cared about him? His Aunt and Uncle hated him, he hadn't heard from either of his friends and the one person he had thought might care just a bit might be one of his worst enemies.

Draco called after Harry. He wasn't sure what was going through the other boy's head, but it was not worth running through the house and getting caught by his parents! Draco cursed under his breath and ran out of the room, Dobby apparating behind him. He couldn't see where Harry had gone and the corridor curved, so there was a long stretch where he wouldn't know what was just around the corner. He hoped the other boy hadn't run into anyone.

Harry ran, gasping for breath and not seeing where he was going through his blurry eyes and askew glasses. He wanted nothing more than to get away. It was all he wanted. He tripped and fell. Not having the will to get up, Harry lay there and cried his little heart out. When he couldn't cry any more, he was exhausted. His body refused to move. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark figure move to stand next to him.

"Oh, dear." A gentle voice said. Harry was too tired to be scared of who might have found him. He didn't care anymore. Might as well let them kill me, save them the trouble of hunting me, he thought. Unexpectedly, a pair of large, but soft hands picked him up. Whoever held him carried him down the hallway, the way that he had come. Harry must have fallen asleep at some point because next thing he knew, he was lying on a soft divan in front of a lusty fire. On either side of the fireplace were bookshelves piled high with books of all colors and sizes. Hermione would love these.

Harry sat up and took in more of his surroundings. The bookshelves extended all the way to both ends of the wall. The side closest to him had a large tapestry depicting a knight riding a dragon that was breathing fire. A voice startled Harry out of his observation.

"They say that Merlin could turn into a dragon and that Arthur would ride on him into battle." The voice was deep and smooth, warm and quiet. Harry turned. Standing there was a man that looked astonishingly like Draco. Or more correctly, Draco looked a lot like him. Because standing right behind Harry was none other than Lucius Malfoy. Harry shrank away from the tall blond man who was standing there, his arms crossed over his broad chest, wearing black robes. As he opened his mouth to speak, the doors burst open.

"HARRY! HARRY WHE—" Draco's eyes widened as he took in what was before him. Harry was sitting on the couch in front of the fire, and his father was standing in front of him. Lucius raised an eyebrow at his son's entrance. Draco flushed and looked at Harry. Harry had looked relieved at first then he remembered why he had run into Lucius in the first place and looked at the other boy distrustfully.

Seeing an expression of hurt cross his son's face, Lucius gestured that Draco should come closer. Draco approached his father slowly, waiting for a sound talking to. His father didn't look angry though. Lucius saw that Draco was hesitant to approach him and reached out, pulling his son against him and putting an arm around his shoulders.

"Now Draco, why didn't you tell me we had a guest?" His tone was kind and when Draco looked up at his face, his father only seemed curious.

"Sorry father. I should have told you that I had invited a friend over." Draco ducked his head, acting properly bashful at such thoughtless behavior. He really didn't like upsetting his father. Lucius looked up from his son to the other boy, sitting on the couch. He felt his son stiffen under his arm and squeezed his shoulder gently.

"Mr. Potter, I do hope my son's lapse in manners hasn't extended to you as well?" Draco flushed and Lucius played with the ends of his son's hair gently as he waited for Harry's answer.

Harry was looking at the way the other two were interacting and felt something inside of his chest move. They had a carefree sort of affection that could be seen by a stranger having been around them for a few minutes as Harry had. Having seen it, Harry wished he could have something like it. He saw Lucius was looking at him expectantly and remembered the question he had been asked.

"He's been…fine" Harry said lamely. Draco had been fine, it was true. It had been he who had reacted badly. Seeing Lucius right now, Harry couldn't see the man being anything as terrible as a follower of Lord Voldemort. Right now he was just someone's dad.

Lucius' mind was racing under his calm exterior. Why was the boy here? Why now of all times? He let go of his son and went to his study door. He closed it and cast a few spells on it that the boys didn't recognize, but that granted them complete privacy. He turned to them quickly. Harry shrank away again and Draco looked frightened.

"It's best that your mother doesn't know that your…friend is here." Draco nodded. Harry was scared. He was now locked in a room with a Death Eater and his son. What was he going to do? Lucius came and sat on the couch next to Harry. The fear coming off of the boy was palpable, he could almost taste it, but he did not take pleasure in it. Draco sat on his other side. He wrapped his arms around both boys and pulled them into his sides, Draco laying his head comfortable on his father's chest and Harry resting stiffly against the man.

Draco looked across his father's chest at Harry who was looking back at him. The younger boy's eyes were filling with tears and Draco felt his heart break. Lucius was soothing their hair and watching the fire, feeling Harry begin to relax against him as he ran his hands through the messy, dark locks. He wasn't sure if that was because of the playing with his hair, or because the boy was crying. He pulled him closer and shushed him softly.

"Shhhhhh. It'll be alright. I'm sure you're extremely confused right now. I know. It'll be alright." This only made Harry cry harder. He didn't want to cry, he didn't want to feel anything at all. He was so lost and he felt like his whole world had turned on its head. He wondered what would have happened if Dobby had left him at the Dursleys. Would he ever have had a day as nice as this one had started? Would he be being held by someone when he needed to be? He knew the answer to both of these was no.

Draco was upset. What was Harry thinking? Running off into the house like that, not knowing who could have been walking around. What if Professor Snape had been visiting? He would have dragged Harry away! He wanted to yell at Harry. He kind of…cared what happened to the other boy. He was stopped before he started by the look on Harry's face. Harry looked so lost and alone and small. Tears were running down his face and onto his father's robes. He looked up into his father's face and saw Lucius was thinking.

Lucius was thinking. What was he going to tell the two boys? That they couldn't be friends? He couldn't do that. Ever since Draco could speak, all he had talked about was being friends with Harry. He didn't even care that he had saved the world, he had just wanted to be his friend. And from the looks of it, a friend was exactly what Harry needed. He had to tell them.

"There's something I have to tell the both of you…"

Dumbledore was sitting in his office when an owl swooped in through the window and landed on his desk. He looked outside and saw it was early evening. He took the letter from the owl, which hooted and flew out the window to the owlery, and opened it. The writing was one he wasn't very familiar with, but he knew it. What was even more recognizable was the name he kept seeing in the letter. Harry Potter.

It seemed that Harry was missing. Mrs. Figg hadn't see the boy out in the yard for the past few days and was getting worried. This required a visit to Number 4, Privet Drive.

He apparated from in front of the Three Broomsticks into the quiet Surrey neighborhood, and walked to the door. Knocking, he looked around and noticed that there were some very nice flowers. The door opened and a fat, blustering man stood there and appraised him.

"You're one of those ruddy freaks, yeah?" he grumbled. Dumbledore smiled jovially and nodded.

"From Harry's school. Yes. Is he here?" Just as he asked this, a horse-faced woman appeared behind him. When she saw his face, hers drained of color. He smiled at her.

"Ah, Petunia! May I come in?" She nodded slowly as if afraid her head might fall off if she moved it too fast. Vernon moved over, his mouth a moue of distaste. Dumbledore ignored him and strode into the living room. Conjuring a cup of tea, he sat and waited for his hosts to do the same. He took a sip of his tea when they were seated on the couch and set it aside, clearing his throat.

"It seems that young Mr. Potter is no longer here." Petunia gulped fearfully. Vernon glared at Dumbledore.

"Left. Saw the bloody punk do it too. Just disappeared." Dumbledore's gaze never left Vernon's face.

"Did he now?" Vernon huffed and sat back. Dumbledore steepled his fingers. His cyan blue eyes became cold.

"Did I not tell you to watch him?" His voice was low. "Did I not warn you not to let him out of your sight?" Petunia's eyes widened in fear as the older man stood up and began pacing.

"How could you be so irresponsible? He decides the fate of the entire world! He is young and impressionable and you JUST LET HIM GO?" He roared. Petunia shrank into her husband. Vernon was very annoyed. He really didn't like being yelled at, especially by some mutant who thought he was better than him!

"No see here!" he bellowed. Dumbledore glared at him, his eyes wide with rage. Vernon backed off, refusing to admit even to himself that he was afraid. Dumbledore stopped pacing to face them.

"You will find him. Or else." He vanished his teacup and walked to the front hallway. As he opened the door to leave he turned around and smiled. It was as if the last few minutes hadn't happened at all.

"My compliments to gardener. Never in my life l have I seen such lovely roses."

Harry woke up and rubbed his eyes. The curtains opened magically and Harry rose to go stand on the balcony of his room. He had been at Malfoy Manor for a week now. Every morning he woke up and found he was not at Number 4, he remembered the conversation he had had with Draco and his father that one night in the study.

He had been nestled into Lucius' side and trembled, feeling weaker than ever before. Then the elder Malfoy had said there was something he had needed to tell them. Draco had looked up curiously, but Harry had continued staring into the fire.

Lucius had told them how he had become a Death Eater in the first place. He told them how Narcissa had encouraged him to join and that he had because he loved her and knew that it would make her happy. It hadn't been anything like he had thought it would be. There was killing, torture and the Dark lord was clearly insane. He couldn't express his relief when he had heard that Voldemort had fallen. He was free for once. But sadly, not for long. Apparently the Dark Lord was back and had faced off with Harry just last year. He had no body, but he was plotting how to get a new one. Lucius confided in Harry and his son that he was part of a secret group who was trying to bring Voldemort down from the inside. Of course, that meant he had to act like a real Death Eater even though he hated Voldemort more than anything in the world. Narcissa was still loyal to the Dark Lord, so she couldn't find out about this. She couldn't find out Harry was in the house at all. In fact, in a few days, he was going to send Harry and Draco to their residence in France for the rest of the summer.

Harry and Draco were leaving that evening. Harry's things had been packed by the house elves even though he had told them he could do it himself. Lucius had told them that he would be waiting for them in his study and they would floo to the Chateau Meridien.

This first few days after the conversation in the study, Draco had been distant with Harry. The younger boy hadn't told Draco why he had run away that day, but he was sure Draco had figured it out if his demeanor was anything to go by. In the end, Harry had apologized for even thinking that Draco would want to hurt him and explained how and why he could think such a thing. After all, they had spent their first year at school together hexing, jinxing and insulting each other. Harry had very little reason to trust Draco at all. Draco had nodded. He had thought about it a bot more rationally and seen that they both had overreacted.

"Friends then?" he had asked Harry, his hand exteneded. Harry looked down and had a profound sense of déjà vu. Draco's face had, rather than sneering superiority, childish insecurity and uncertainty. Harry smiled and took his hand.

"Friends."

That evening, Draco dragged Harry to his father's study. The door was closed, so the two boys knocked.

"Come in." they opened the door slowly and entered, looking around because Lucis wasn't at his desk. They found him on the other side of the door, pulling a few books off the shelf. He walked over to his desk and stacked them there, straightening them up so they didn't fall. He lifted his eyes to look at the two children.

"Are you two ready? Did you pack everything?" They nodded.

"Are you sure you didn't forget anything?" Draco rolled his eyes and Harry flushed. Lucius gave them a small smile.

"Well then. Follow me." He swept towards the fireplace, grabbed a handful of floo powder, stood in the fire and said, 'chateau meridien' and vanished.

Harry gulped at this. He was nervous. He wasn't too fond of fire, especially after his adventure last year. Draco saw his reluctance and pulled him into the fire place with him.

"We'll go together. We're small enough." Draco threw down the powder and said the name of the residence. Harry felt like he was on a never ending tunnel-slide. He had no idea which way was up after a while because of all the twisting and turning they had to do. When the fireplace finally spit them up, Harry was feeling rather woozy. Draco stood next to him and dusted off his robes, doing the same to Harry. Lucius was sitting in a chair, reading the newspaper. He lowered it when the two boys were done coughing up ash.

"The house elves have taken your things to your rooms. I made sure they weren't too far away from each other. We don't want Harry getting lost, do we?" Rather than a mocking tone, that Harry expected, Lucius was looking at him with a small smile that was comforting in its own way. Draco nodded.

"I'll show him around once he get settled father." Lucius nodded in approval and rose, putting the newspaper on the seat he had just left. He walked towards the two boys and knelt down so he was at the same eye level as them.

"You two be good, alright? Don't let Draco pull you into any trouble, ok?" Here he looked at Harry, who grinned. "If you need anything, just send an owl and I'll floo right over." The two boys nodded and he stood up. He kissed them both on the forehead and stepped into the floo. He gave them one last smile and said, 'Malfoy manor'.

Harry watched as he disappeared and touched his forehead where he had been kissed. When was the last time someone had done that to him? Seeing his friend was about to start crying, Draco grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the fireplace.

"Come on, Harry! Let's have a look around." Harry, thankful for the distraction followed Draco willingly enough.

A/N: Not my best chapter, but it's a chapter. The next chapter will have them exploring France. Have any of you been to France? I have. If you have, what was your favorite place to visit? If you haven't where would you like to visit if you did go?