Harry carried the tray up the stairs slowly, watching the bowl of hot chicken soup carefully. How he was settled with this job was beyond him, but when your the one carrying a petrified Draco Malfoy over your shoulder with a hoard of Pine Tree fairies following you, being landed with the task of taking care of said Malfoy was predicted. Harry knew from the start what to expect when Malfoy was released from the bind. Rage, frustration, anger.
Harry opened the door to his dorm, walking toward the sneezing blonde.
"Took you long enough!" Draco said, covering his mouth with a tissue as he coughed. Harry smiled.
"Sorry! Dobby and Winky aren't working in the kitchens since... Anyway, I didn't know any of the elves, so it took longer." Harry said, placing the tray on the nightstand. "It's your fault your sick no matter how you look at it. You haven't eaten in three days, and you spent hours out in the freezing cold. It's a wonder you didn't catch a cold sooner."
"Heating charms and caramel creme pastries, Potter. The creme stuff is amazing." Malfoy said, instantly reaching for the cranberry muffin. He took a bite, slowly chewing the sweet. Harry watched as he ate, placing himself oh the edge of Dean's bed. They sat in silence, the wind from outside being the only noise. Harry watched as the Slytherin ate, his manners and educate remaining him of his mother. Harry needed to tell him, somehow, someway. Draco had the right to know of his mother's location. The only issue is how.
"I'm glad I caught you before that snowstorm hit. Poor Jalimus, he's still out there." Harry said, partially to himself.
"Who's Jalimus?" Draco asked, removing his attention from his soup.
"The owl George and Bill Weasley bought me for my birthday. Hedwig died saving me a little over a year and a half ago." Harry said sadly. "Jalimus is a combination of the names James, Lily, Remus, and Sirius. I thought about putting Snape's name in there, but I'm saving it for something special."
"Sirius? Like Sirius Black?" Draco asked.
"Yeah. He was my godfather. We were planning to live together after the war, but he died saving me from LeStrange." Harry looked down at his hands. "It happened in the Department of Mysteries. He passed through the Veil, so I don't even have a body to bury."
"Why you? Why would you have to bury his body?" Harry shrugged.
"His relatives aren't available. Bellatrix was working with Voldemort, your mother was too, and his other family are all dead. I'm the only one." Harry explained. Draco gasped, his body moving toward the edge of the bed.
"How did you know my mother was a Black?"
"There's a family tree printed on one of the walls at Grimmuald place." Harry leaned, flopping onto his back. "Damn house. It's creepy as hell, and Kreacher is just as bad. I can't tell you how many times I've rounded a corner, and saw something standing in the window, only to find the blasted elf sulking over his old masters." Harry said, scanning the railings on the ceiling.
"Oh, so scary, an elf! I'm shaking in my boots." Malfoy teased. Harry snorted loudly.
"What about you? Was life at the manor all smiles? It seemed like a nice place when I was there." Draco's looked at Harry, the brunette's arms spread on the bed like an eagle.
"I guess. It was a home. I lived happily with my mother and father, raised as a pureblood. Brainwashed, if you may." Draco said, his tone bored and flat. He pointed at Harry. "You stalked me in sixth year, surely you know everything!" Draco leaned forward, coughing loudly, his voice raspy and dry. He took a drink of pumpkin juice, gulping loudly. "What about you? Did the great Harry Potter have a glamorous childhood?"
Harry laughed. "Far from it, actually. I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle on my mums side. They treated me like the dirt under their shoes." He paused, wondering where to start."From the day I could pick up a mop and use it I was given chores to do. Long lists everyday, clean this, wash that, pluck this, cook that. When I didn't meet standard, I was severely punished. The only time I had to myself during the day was when I was in my lonely cupboard."
"A cupboard? Like a pantry?" Draco asked.
"Not as big as yours, believe me. It's about half the size of a train compartment, if you need a comparison. It was under the stairs, and my fatty cousin loved to stomp on them so flakes if drywall would fall into my hair and eyes. I was in there for eleven years."
"Why didn't you just curse them and get it over with? Show them your superior and more powerful than they are?" Harry sighed.
"They thought if they treated me like garbage, they could stomp the magic out of me. I didn't find out till minutes after my eleventh birthday I was a wizard. I had received the letter long before that, but my aunt and uncle knew who they were from, and refused to let me read the letters. Every summer was about the same, but instead of the cupboard, I slept in a spare room. Even then it wasn't very nice. Not even a pillow to sleep on." Harry looked up slowly, the blonde's stare black.
"Look, it's fine now, I swear. I'm away from them now, they can't come within one hundred feet of me by Muggle law without getting arrested. I filed a Restraining order back in June. They can't touch me anymore." Harry said, trying his best to reassure the blonde.
"Like I worried, Potter. Obviously my image of your life of luxury was far off. I'm sorry for treating you the way I did." Draco said, Harry watching as he tried to be sincere. They sat in silence for minutes, looking at each other. Harry scanned Draco's face, taking in each distinct feature. The grey eyes, the high cheek bones, the thin pink lips. The way his bangs would hang low around his face. He could see Draco's eyes scan over his own face, stopping at his scar.
"I think I should go." Harry spoke suddenly, Malfoy jumping. Harry removed the tray from the nightstand. "You know, I found it very easy to talk to you."
"Y-yeah. You too." Draco said. Harry walked toward the door, balancing the tray on his knee to open the door.
"Potter." Harry turned, facing the bed. Malfoy's head was just peaking over the edge of the covers, only his eyes showing. "Thank you."
"No problem." he whispered. Harry walked back down the stairs, smiling as Cho came up to him.
"Did you tell him about Narcissa?" Cho asked, taking the tray from his hands.
"No. I will soon, though. I'm going to write to Kingsley for an update on her case so I'm up to speed before I tell him." Harry explained, looking around the room. "Where are the kids?"
"Edgar is teaching Victoria how to fly on a broom at the Quidditch pitch, Destiny is at the library, and the others are by the lake throwing stones at the ice." Cho said, send the tray back to the kitchens. "Why aren't you being updated regularly on her case? Doesn't the Ministry know your writing to her?"
"I'm not directly involved with the Ministry yet. I had to go through this long process just to be able to get basic information of Death Eater arrests. Asking for a specific person will be a pain. And no, they'd want her arrested if I told them I knew Narcissa's location."
"Potter! Your bird's up here making noise!" an annoyed voice called. Harry's face lit up. A shrill screech came after, a black owl flying down the staircase. The door slammed as the owl landed on Harry's shoulder.
"Speak of the devil. That should be her." Harry said. "Hi there, Jalimus." The owl hooted, raising the leg with a letter attached. Harry untied the bow, the scroll of paper landing on the floor. The owl flew toward fire, sitting in front to warm his frosted wings. Harry unraveled the parchment, Cho leaning to read over his shoulder.
They stood in silence as the words formed disbelief in their minds. Only one sentence was on the page.
Dear Harry,
I'm coming to Hogwarts for Christmas.
Love,
NM
Cho looked at Harry intently, at a lost for words. Harry walked over to the couch, almost sitting on Jalimus. His green eyes were wide.
"Has she gone insane? What does she think she's doing? Coming to Hogwarts? That's the worse thing to do!" Harry muttered. Cho sat down next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
"She must want to see Draco. They haven't talked since the trial. They need to see each other." Cho explained. "You have to tell Draco now. No more secrets. Just come clean."
"No, I can't."
"Harry James Potter, you are acting like a coward." Cho said standing from her seat.
"How am I supposed to tell him?" Harry said, throwing himself back against the couch. "Ello Malfoy, I meant to tell you I've been talking to your mum and helping her while she's on the run without telling you and she's on her way here right now! Yeah, that'll go down well."
"No, that would just get you hit. Maybe you could try to win his friendship first, then lay the news down. Then he can let the news sink in more before he snaps." Cho explained, pacing the room. "Ravenclaws know what they talk about, Harry, so don't try to fight it."
"And how am I going to 'win his friendship' before Christmas? It's two weeks away, in case you forgot." Cho smirked, the wheels in her eyes turning. She leaned in close, her face inches from Harry's.
"Make him fall for you."