Disclaimer: I do not own HP.
Because he was trying to concentrate on what Vernon was saying, though it was the last thing he wished to do, Harry didn't hear the front door being opened and closed. In any case, even if he had heard, nothing would've made him think that Draco Malfoy would lower himself to such a degree as to leave with the likes of Dudley Dursley.
Draco's arrival threw off Harry's entire summer. He'd now have to worry about Draco turning him over to Voldemort. Or, worse yet, he might find out some information about the Order that needed to be kept a secret (though that was unlikely since Harry wasn't getting any letters from his friends or Dumbledore), and relayed it to the Death Eaters.
Harry's summer would be the farthest thing from peaceful…not that the summers ever were. Now, though, he'd have to spend the time looking over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't followed or about to be attacked…not that he hadn't already been doing that with Death Eaters lurking around. Now that he thought of it, his summer wouldn't be too different, besides having a new roommate who was the son of a Death Eater and hated him with a passion.
The bad thing was, Draco probably would end up getting into trouble, and Harry knew that it was up to him to make sure that he did let the entire neighborhood learn that they were wizards. Which meant that he would have to keep an eye on Draco. So, instead of escaping from the Dursley's during the day, he'd have to be with Draco, have to stay close to the arrogant git.
When Vernon finally finished speaking, and Harry not knowing a word he had said, he hurried upstairs to see to Draco. Finding the room empty, he let out a curse. Realizing that Dudley was also missing, he ran out of the house.
Stupid git! It's bad enough that I have to watch out for myself around Dudley, now I'll have to keep him away from Malfoy!
When he didn't see them anywhere on their street, he groaned. They could be anywhere in the neighborhood.
I should just leave him with Dudley. What kind of idiot would leave with someone who he just met, and could be a killer for all he knows?!
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Draco followed the group of large boys, Dudley at his side. They were turning down an alleyway between two houses.
"Where exactly are we going?" Draco asked, keeping his nervousness out of his voice.
"There's an empty house not far from here. Nobody has lived there in years, so we made it our own place to hang."
"Oh. And no one knows that you…hang there?"
"Nope…Well, maybe Harry. But he's too much of a chicken to tell anybody."
Draco was silent for a moment.He never saw Harry as a chicken. In fact, he thought that the boy had too much courage for his own good, especially with how many times it almost killed him. Not that he would complain if one of Harry's adventuress escapades got him killed.
"What exactly is he scared of?"
"Nearly everything. He's always getting nightmares and crying out in the night. Gets annoying after a while."
"He does seem a bit…weird," Draco said, hoping to keep Dudley talking.
"Weirder than you think." A mean look came into his eyes. "He's a freak. Always had been."
They had to talk talking for a few minutes to climb over a fence…well, Draco climbed and then had to open a gate for the others to come through. Annoyed, he had to refrain from glaring at them.
The house they lead him into was smaller than the others he had seen in the neighborhood and was a bit run down from lack of care, which was to be expected if it had been empty for years. Still, it took everything he had not to wrinkle his nose in disgust at the place.
Inside was dusty and the only furniture was an old faded couch and a small desk in the living room. The only light come through the windows, some of which were boarded up.
Noticing the look on Draco's face, one of the boys said, "If the adults knew how bad this place was, they'd probably have it torn down and something nicer put up."
Dudley went to one the desk and opened a drawer, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. Taking one out for himself and passed it to another guy. When the pack finally came to Draco, he shook his head. "No, thanks."
"You sure?" The guy asked.
"Positive."
The time passed by slowly for Draco, who stood leaning against a wall, listening to the group talk. Most, if not all, seemed to forget he was even there. Unfortunately, they didn't talk about Harry, so all that Draco knew was that Dudley obviously didn't like him.
After an hour or so, the group started leaving for home, until only Draco and Dudley remained.
"Maybe we should leave, too," Draco said after a few moments. "I'm sure your parents are wondering where we are."
Dudley smiled at him, though it looked more like a grimace. "They'll know you're with me, so they won't worry," He said standing up and walked, well more like wobbled, over towards him. There was a look in his eye that Draco didn't like at all.
"This place is a bit stuffy, though," he tried again. "I could use some fresh air."
"You'll get used to it after a while."
"But now that your friends are gone, there really isn't anything to do."
"I could think of something," Dudley said, the glint in his eyes growing. He grabbed Draco's chin and tilted his face upwards. "You know, you're pretty cute for a guy. Kinda like a girl with short hair."
His eyes widening, Draco reached for his wand in his pocket, only to find it empty. He let out an involuntary curse before Dudley's lips bore down on his own.
Draco tried to push him away, but he was too big and didn't budge an inch. He couldn't turn his face away because of the tight grip Dudley kept on his chin.
"Oh, look, Ickle Diddykins found himself a new plaything."
Dudley moved away from Draco quickly and looked at the doorway, where Harry now stood with arms crossed. Draco used the space to his advantage and hurried away from Dudley to stand next to Harry.
"What are you doing here?" Dudley asked, his eyes flashing in anger.
"Got bored at home, so I thought I'd come see what tortures you were putting ferret-boy through."
"Don't call me ferret-boy!" Draco said, close to yelling.
Harry glanced at him, then turned his attention back to Dudley. "I doubt you'd want him telling your mum and dad what you did. After all, it would ruin their idea that you're the perfect son."
"He wouldn't tell," Dudley said, but it was clear that he wasn't certain.
"How would you know?" Harry asked. "I know a guy exactly like him at school, and he never hesitated to get people in trouble. I'm sure Draco here would be happy to tell. And, unlike with me, they might actually believe him."
Draco refrained from showing his shock. It was hard for him to believe that Harry's family, with the exception of Dudley, not only didn't like him, but didn't trust him. He could put Dudley's dislike for his cousin down to jealousy. But the aunt and uncle?
"You really shouldn't treat him like that," Harry went on. "His family wouldn't like it and might see that you're arrested or worse."
Dudley stared at them. He hesitated in his decision. At least, he did until Harry said, "Besides, I might find myself taking pity on him and I might decide to stand up for him."
"You can't. You're not allowed."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I turn seventeen next month. I can wait that long." He didn't say anything else to Dudley, but turned to Draco. "I better not have to worry about you going off and getting into some kind of trouble all summer. Next time, I might just let him keep on."
Draco followed him outside, leaving Dudley alone in the abandoned house.
"Why did you help me?" Draco asked, curious.
"Did it actually surprise you that I did?"
"Not really. You do have an unhealthy habit of jumping in and saving people. It'll probably get you killed one of these days."
"I can take care of myself, unlike some people."
"Are you saying that I can't look after myself?"
"Ever since first year, you've talked big but when it came down to it, you were a coward."
"I am not! I just prefer to save myself than others. I am a Slytherin after all, not some goody goody Gryffindor. Anyway, you still haven't answered my question. I know you don't like me, you know that I'm here to spy on you, and that overgrown pig would have been the perfect way to scare me off, especially since my wand is back in our room and I couldn't have protected myself. Why didn't you just let him get rid of me for you?"
Harry looked down at the ground with a sigh. "I've lived with Dudley since I was one. I was his first punching bag. Knowing what he could, and would, do to you, and letting it happen," he shook his head. "Sure, I hate you and you are my worst enemy, but I wouldn't want even you to go through what he'd put you through."
"I'm your worst enemy? What about the Dark Lord? With him killing your parents and being the cause of your godfather's death, you'd think that you'd hate him more than anyone."
Harry looked up at him, his usual vibrant green eyes cold. "I didn't choose to be the one to defeat him. It's something that was just thrown onto me. I will kill him, but not because I want to. Because I have to.
"With you, though, I chose not to be your friend. It was my choice to hate you and my choice to fight with you. Unlike with him, I can relate to you and I can understand you. That makes you the more dangerous one. You're still human, he's nothing more than a monster."
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I hope you enjoyed it. I've been sick all week, so I spent the time out of school working on my stories. If there's any mistakes, sorry. I was half asleep when I wrote some of it. Review!