Author's note: the story's mine. The characters aren't. They belong to JK Rowling.
I got an answer the very next day. It didn't say much:
Invitation still open.
Be at the Manor at 7pm
Who am I to deny him that? After all, he is letting me stay at his place. And he will help me with all the questions that have been spinning around in my head since the funeral.
So here I am, in front of Malfoy Manor on a Monday evenining at 7.30pm. Yes, yes, I know, half an hour too late. I didn't do it on purpous! I just lost track of time.
The door opens, reveiling one very grumpy Malfoy.
"You're late."
"I know." He looks dumbly at me.
"Why?" I shrug. What can I say? I was staring at my wall a bit too long? I don't think he'd really like that answer.
"Well, you're here now. Come on in." He holds the door open, letting me pass by. "Just leave your trunk here. The elfs will take it up to your room." Wow, he really seems to take this host-thingy seriously. Not complaining though!
I let go of my trunk and look around. Only two words can describe this interiour: stylish and expensive!
"You like it here?" I nod, trying not to gawk all too much.
I can't help but wonder, if the hall already looks this great, how the hell will the rest of the house look like?! But I guess I'll find that out in the next couple of days.
"I made dinner, so if you're hungry feel free to join." I nod once again and follow him to the dining room. "It's nothing fancy. I just made some pasta." I smile politely at him.
"Don't worry, I'm already surprised you cook at all." Alright, that's probably not a very polite thing to say.
He laughs uncomfortably. "Well, since I nearly got poisoned by a house elf about a year ago, I don't really trust them around anything I have to swallow anymore." I feel all the color drain from my face. That's not exactly the answer I had expected.
Dinner's awkward, to say the least. Twenty minutes of silence does start to work on your nerves. I cough softly, finally succeeding in pulling Malfoy's focus off of his plate.
"So tell me, what made you invite me to your home." He places his knife and fork next to his plate and takes a sip of the glass of red wine in front of him.
"You looked so terribly lost at the funeral, like you didn't know what the hell was going on."
"That's because I didn't." He laughs softly. "well, of course I did know what was going on at that moment. The funeral of your best friend doesn't quite go by unnoticed. But apart from the funeral... there were so many things I didn't understand at all."
"That's what I was thinking. You act all tough, pretending you don't need the wizard world, but you're not fooling me. It hurts to know that Ginny can't even stand to look at you anymore, and Hermione has changed so much. She might just be a complete stranger." He looks back down at his plate and takes another sip of wine. "And I could use the company."
At least one thing hasn't changed. When we were kids Malfoy could always figur me out, and apparently he still can. Thinking about these things is one thing, but actually hearing it from someone else, that's another. That goes straight through the heart.
"That makes two of us." He looks strangely at me. "I could use the company as well." I lift up my glass as if making a toast and wink. He returns the gesture and motions to the living room.
"Let's take this conversation somewhere more comfortable."
The rest of the night was filled with small-talk and next thing I know it's way past midnight.
"It was fun talking, Malfoy, but I think I'm off to bed." He gets up and motions to the only door in the room.
"Let me lead you to your room."
--
Three days passed by like that, until Malfoy finally decided to start asking questions... just my luck.
"So tell me, Potter, why exactly did you leave?" I look up from the book I'm reading.
"I'm still here... didn't leave yet." Nice one, Harry. Let's play dumb, that might get him to stop... not.
"Not funny. Why did you leave the wizarding world?" I sigh and place my book on top of the arm rest. Why couldn't he just let that rest. He could ask anything... except that. So typical Malfoy to go asking the one thing he shouldn't.
"I was just fed up with it, I guess." Be a dear, and let it rest, Malfoy. I'm begging you!
"I don't believe that." Or not...
"That's your problem." I open my book and start reading again.
"You're going to have to tell me some day. I will find out sooner or later." He really can't get a hint, can he?
"I'd rather have it later."
"Just tell me! What do you have to loose? all you've got right now! Take advantage of that for god's sake! I'll just listen. I won't even comment on what ever you say."
Have you ever hated someone so much, that you felt like torturing them in the most horrible way? Like, you'd actually start giggling if you saw them writhing in pain? You know very well that you wouldn't like it all that much if it would be happening in real life, but thinking about it can feel so frickin' good. You know what I mean? Yes, well, that's how I feel about Malfoy right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm not planning on actually hurting him. By tomorrow I probably will have forgotten all about this temporary hatred, but right now it's like it's rushing through my veins. I can feel it all through my body.
"What do you want to hear?! That I felt useless?!" Great, now he's gawking at me.
"You felt... what?" And there goes the hatred... now I'm just sad and want to cry out on his shoulder.
I sigh again and place my book, once again on the arm rest. "No need to rub it in Malfoy."
"I'm not rubbing it in. I just don't understand. Why would you feel useless? You saved the wizarding world from one very creepy maniac! You're very useful. Believe me."
"But that's the thing! It's over... he's gone. I did what they wanted me to do, and now what? Pick up my life, like anyone should? I don't even have a life goal anymore."
"I really don't get it. You should be happy you can finally live a normal life."
"I know! That's another reason. I thought something was wrong with me. I just had to get out." He nods understandingly. Well, at least I think it's understandingly. He might just be nodding to make me think that he understands. What the hell, that's completely off the subject. Focus, Harry. Malfoy said something and you completely missed it. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I said, you should've talked to your friends before taking the easy way out." The easy way out? Excuse me, but leaving like that wasn't exactly easy!
"Just... drop it, Malfoy. You don't understand." I get up and wave him goodnight.
His voice echos through the house as I make my way up the stairs. "We will talk about this tomorrow!" I shake my head and chuckle slightly. That man just doesn't realise when to stop, does he?