AN: Hey, all. so this is the awesomeness of Ch 4. Okay, so it isn't all that awesome, but i had to give some sort of mechanizm for H and D to trust each other that no one they know would be able to criticize. So i came up with them sharing their memories and experiences with each other. it also has the added bonus of them knowing each other pretty well in a short amount of time. Anyway, tryto enjoy this, and i'll tr to get the next chapter out on time.
Warnings: see previous chapters.
I love you all!
Chapter 4: A Chat with Vernon and Building Trust
"We should get going, Draco." The sun was just setting on the horizon, and Vernon would be home soon. Besides, he had a dinner to prepare, and he doubted that a late dinner would be a good way to convince Vernon to let Malfoy stay. "I have to get dinner started, and we have to put your stuff up in my room. It's not much, but hopefully I'll be able to leave that little hellhole soon, so we won't have to deal with it for the whole summer." His tone was hard, and Draco looked at him sharply. "Do you want to talk about it, Po – uh, Harry?" Harry smiled at him reassuringly. "I will, Draco. Soon, I promise. But for right now, I don't think I can handle it." Draco nodded, then stood and turned toward the park exit. Harry quickly followed him.
They were about halfway to the Dursley's when Draco spoke up. "How are we going to pull this off, Harry? I highly doubt that your protectors would be particularly supportive of you housing me. I am, after all, the son of a known Death Eater." Harry saw the shadow crossing Draco's face, and decided to pull him off this train before he crashed. He gripped his shoulder, and when the blonde turned around said, "Draco, I want you to listen to me." When he saw he had the blonde's full attention he continued. "No matter what everyone else believes, you and I both know that is not who you are, or who you will be. Sure, you're a snippy, snarky, sarcastic Slytherin," Draco cracked a small smile, "but you are no Death Eater. Never let anyone tell you otherwise." Draco smiled fully this time, and Harry was temporarily caught off guard at the change it made in how he looked. For the first time, Harry fully realized how handsome Draco was. He pushed the thought aside. "Feel better?" "Yeah. Thanks" This time Harry was the one who smiled. "My pleasure."
They didn't talk the rest of the way to the Dursley's. Thankfully, they got there just as the guards were switching, and quickly dashed into the house. Petunia was in the living room, and looked up as they were going by. "Is this the brat you told me about?"
Sending Draco a play-along-or-you're-doomed look, he said, "Yes Aunt Petunia. This is Draco Malfoy. Draco, this is my aunt, Petunia Dursley." Draco stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Dursley." She shot a look at Harry, "At least some of your kind have manners." Harry ignored the jibe, and said, "What would you like for dinner, Aunt Petunia?" She shrugged, and replied, "Something Vernon would like." Harry nodded. "I'll get on that as soon as I've shown Draco my room." Petunia nodded and turned her attention back to the telly.
They headed upstairs, and stopped at the end of the hall. Ignoring Draco's raised eyebrow at the padlocks and cat flap, he led him inside and closed the door. He took in the barred window and deplorable state of the furniture before turning to Harry. "Harry, why do I get the feeling that this is just the tip of the iceberg?" Harry fought with his conscience before giving in. "Because it is. Tonight, I promise." Draco nodded, then took out his trunk before saying the password to unshrink it and placing it next to Harry's.
He sat on the bed and turned to Harry. "What do you think I'm expected to do around here? And what about your people – the Order?" Harry shot him a look. "My father." 'Ah, that explains it.'
"Well, what the Order doesn't know won't hurt them. If they knew you were here they'd take you and force you to become a spy, and neither of us wants that. If you don't get too close to the windows at the front of the house we'll be good. I would keep these curtains at least partially closed at all times, seeing as my room looks onto the street. The only one who can see into the house is Mad-Eye Moody, and he isn't due for another two weeks, so we'll be good until then. Hopefully we'll be out of here before he shows up, so we don't have to worry about him unless we're delayed. As to your first question, you'll probably be expected to do everything I have to do around here. Vernon will expect you to pull your own weight, and for him that means doing a shitload of chores and making the meals. Can you cook?" Draco nodded. "I can cook pretty well, but I'm really good at desserts. And I don't mind the chores. I used to exercise last year to take my mind off things, so I'm used to working hard." Harry smiled brilliantly. "Great, we balance each other out in the cooking department, since I'm really good at the main courses. It's a plus that you can help me out with my chores." He took a quick glance at the clock. "We've got to go down and start dinner. Vernon doesn't like to wait long for his meals." They argued about what to serve as they headed down, but by the time they hit the kitchen they had decided on steak with a side of mashed potatoes and some greens with treacle tart for dessert. Draco promised to sneak some for later.
Vernon returned home just as dinner was being set. He saw Draco in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the treacle tart and started in on Harry. "Well, boy, who is this? Another one of your freaky friends?" Harry sighed and mentally prepared himself for the battle that was about to start. "Yes, Uncle. He needed a place to stay for the summer." He quickly went on when he saw Vernon's face steadily go red. "However, I do not expect you to simply let him stay without any form of comeuppance. He will help with the meals, and do chores as well. He'll stay in my room unless he's cooking or doing chores. You'll hardly even notice he's here. Can he stay?" He could practically see the cogs turning in his uncle's head. An extra hand around the house, and only a minimal amount of food given. A win-win situation – for Vernon, anyway. "Very well. He can stay, but only under the conditions that he pulls his own weight around here and that there is no funny business going on under my roof. Understand?" They both nodded. "Now, I hope that my dinner is ready?" They both nodded again. "Wonderful. Petunia, Dudley, time to eat."
While Dursleys were eating, Harry and Draco started to wash the dishes, Harry quietly instructing Draco on how to wash them to Petunia's exacting standards. After they had put those away, they waited patiently for the Dursleys to finish so they could wash those as well, as they wouldn't be able to return upstairs until they had finished washing all the dishes. Harry took this time to give Draco a crash course on what was expected at the Dursleys' house. When the Dursleys had retired to the living room for the evening shows on the telly, Harry and Draco finished the rest of the dishes and went back upstairs.
Harry collapsed on his bed, and Draco sprawled himself ungracefully across Harry's legs. "Hey! That is not what those were there for!" Draco just stuck his tongue out at him. "Then you shouldn't have put them there." "Prat." "You know it." They both snickered quietly. They were enveloped in a comfortable silence for a while.
The stars were bright when Draco broke the silence. "Harry, you still awake?" "Yeah. You want me to talk, don't you?" "Not if you don't want to. I just get the feeling that you don't talk about the truth that often. How many people really know the truth, Harry?" There was a slight pause before he answered. "No one. Absolutely no one. Some have their suspicions, like Ron since he had to come rescue me the summer before second year, but none of them know how bad it really was. It's gotten better, but I still remember what it was like." Harry twisted so he was facing Draco. "What do you want to know?" "Whatever you're willing to tell me." Harry smiled at the echo of that afternoon. "Open your mind, Draco. Let me in."
He took a deep breath, then let down all his barriers. This time it was Harry's life flashing between them. Flying over England on a motorcycle, half asleep in the arms of a half-giant. Waking up to a woman's screech and spilled milk soaking his blanket. Watching Petunia lift Dudley into the air, then turning to Vernon with his arms raised, hoping for the same, only to receive a harsh slap across the face and a stint in the cupboard. Burning the bacon one morning, and having his arm pressed to the burner in punishment. Playing with the little soldier men he found in his cupboard, knowing he was lucky to have any toys to play with. Petunia screeching about her crushed flowers and cutting Harry across his chest with the steak knife, even though it was Dudley who had fallen into her beds. Scrunching himself against the far wall of his cupboard, finding comfort in the softness of the darkness around him, until Vernon pulled him from his comfort and threw him into the shards of glass caused by Dudley knocking over Petunia's favorite vase. Shivering on the dirty floor as the wind howled around the shack, blowing out the candles on a cake he had drawn in the dirt on the floor. Discovering the truth about his heritage, his parents' deaths, what he was. Being amazed by the splendor of Diagon Alley, the grandeur of Hogwarts. Feeling sad about the arrogant boy he had turned down, he had seemed like he needed a friend, but not one like him. All of his Hogwarts years, his adventures, his fun with his friends, even the detentions and lessons with Snape. Order Meetings. The prophesy. Watching a man with the same blue eyes as his mother fall through a veil, a look of shock plastered on his face. Feeling Voldemort's possession of him. Everything that had happened when he had sent the letter. It was all there, and he drank in every detail.
As suddenly as it had started, it ended. They both lay panting on the small bed, tears streaming down both their faces. Draco pulled Harry close, letting him cry it all out.
Finally, Harry spoke. "I've never gone through them all. Not even during the Occlumency lessons with Snape. It hurt to relive them all again." Draco held him tighter. "It hurts now, but it will get better with time. You'll even be better at Occlumency. Going through all your memories before attempting to create a defense for them is an essential step in Occlumency. I'm surprised Sev didn't tell you about that." Harry snorted. "Probably thought that I deserved to be taken down a peg. Either that or he thought I already knew that and was too arrogant to do so."
Draco frowned. "Remind me to rake him over the coals the next time I see him." Harry smiled against Draco's chest. "With pleasure." There was a comfortable silence between them.
"You know Harry, we're not that different. Both of us wishing we were living lives where our families actually cared about us, where we could do what we want without having to worry about the consequences it would have on the wider world. What do you say about living our lives, at least for this summer, without worrying about what people will say, and be ourselves, whatever that may be?"
Harry was silent for a time. "I would absolutely love that. To break free of being the Boy-Who-Lived, and get a chance to be Harry, would mean so much to me." "Do you trust me enough to run with me?" Harry looked directly into Draco's eyes when he answered. "Yes. After all, I've seen who you are Draco, and it would be kind of hard not to trust someone after seeing all of that." "I'll return the compliment Harry. For now, however, we'll need to lie low. We'll wait until after your birthday before we start planning to leave." "Why?" "Gringotts." "Ah." A pause. "It's getting late, we should rest. Vernon expects us up early." "I haven't forgotten about him either Harry." "I didn't expect you to. G'night, you prat." "Goodnight, git."
They had their first peaceful night's sleep in months.
Remember, constructive criticism is much appreciated, so REVIEW! Well, i'm flouncing off to read and write some more, so until next time ;P
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