Seventh Rainstorm

April 20th fell on a Saturday that year. Unfortunately, it was the Saturday Harry was scheduled to take the ACT. He got out of bed early that morning, but didn't actually wake up until he's been standing under the hot spray of the shower for five minutes. By the time he drudged downstairs, Remus already had breakfast waiting for him on the table, while Sirius was sleeping it. While Harry ate his French toast, Remus scrambled about making sure Harry had everything he needed.

"Do you need more #2 pencils? Do you have you ID? Are you sure this calculator is approved? Where's your entrance ticket? Do you know what room number you'll be in? You should take a jacket in case the room is cold. Do you have money for snacks during the break? Remember you're not allowed to to take anything food items into the testing room, that includes bottled water. Remember there's no penalty for guessing... is there? I can't remember. If you don't know an answer, just skip it that way you'll be safe either way. Don't spend too much time on any one question either. Most of it's multiple choice, so use process of elimination."

Harry only listen to all this with half an ear, since Remus had gone through all of this the night before. He finished his breakfast and went to wash his plate while Remus was reminding him to borrow someone's phone after the test and give him a call to come pick him up or to let him know if he'll be getting a ride home with a friend.

"Moony," Harry cut him off before he could restart the whole process over again. "If we don't leave now, I'm going to be late."

"Right," Remus said. "Let's go."

Harry shook his head in amusement as they headed towards the door. Harry grabbed the car keys from the catchall on the hall table and grinned at Moony. "Can I drive?"

"You hate driving," Remus stated.

Harry shrugged. "I think today is a day for risk taking. Don't worry, though, I did pass my driver's test." He didn't allow Remus a chance to argue, as he unlocked the doors and slid into the driver's seat of the car. It had been Sirius who had taught Harry to drive, because at the time Remus had been locked in his office working on his next big novel and Harry and Siri had been bored. Remus had never actually been in a car with Harry driving, because after Sirius had driven Harry to the DMV and the teen had gotten his license, Harry had declared he hated driving and never got behind the wheel again.

It was amusing watching Remus' expression as Harry backed the car out into traffic. Sirius was a pretty wild driver who took advantage of the 3-4 mph leeway on the speed limit (meaning if the posted speed limit was twenty-five, Sirius drove thirty). He also loved making quick/sharp turns, accelerating down hills, and speeding through yellow light. Remus had no idea if Sirius had taught Harry to drive the same way or not and that was enough to terrify any one. Harry couldn't help but laughing when Remus let out a sigh of relief when he realized the teen didn't drive nearly as crazy as his godfather.

Harry pulled the car to a stop in front of the school. "That wasn't so bad was it?" He teased Remus.

The novelist smiled bemusedly. "You better get inside before you're late. Good luck, cub."

"Thanks, Moony." Harry gave Remus a quick hug, before getting out the car and grabbing the large Ziploc bag that held everything he'd need for the ACT. "See ya."

"See ya."

Harry headed into the building and ran into one of his classmates he was on friendly terms with. Mathias was a senior and had already gotten accepted into his first choice college, so he didn't need to take the ACT ( he said he had taken it three times before he got a score he was ok with putting on college applications and swore he would shoot himself if he even so much as had to look at another ACT test booklet). Harry was a junior, so this would be his first time taking the test, and depending on what his score was it probably wouldn't be his last, but Harry also planned on taking the SAT in case he wanted to go to university back in Britain (ACT= American College Test, meaning he can't use this test score overseas), so he didn't see why Mathi was complaining.

He chatted amiably with his classmate as they made their way towards the room he was testing in. The test started and by the time they had a break half through it, Harry was feeling pretty confident he was doing well. A couple of hours later, Harry walked out the school and smiled when he saw Draco's car sitting out front waiting on him.

Mathias was throwing a birthday party for himself later that evening, but Harry had a whole afternoon to kill until then so Draco's appearance was a pleasant surprise. "Hey, Dray," he said with a grin as he slid into the passenger side of Draco's bumblebee yellow Monte Carlo SS.

"Hey, Kid," Draco greeted, pulling the car out of the parking lot and speeding into traffic (Draco and Sirius had the same driving style).

"Where we going?" Harry asked, grabbing Draco's cell-phone from the car's cup holder and beginning to dial Remus' number.

Draco grabbed the phone from Harry's hand and returned it to the cup holder without taking his eyes off the road. "It's a surprise."

"Remus wanted me to call him after the test," Harry said, reaching for the phone again.

Draco grabbed it before Harry could. "Look in the glove compartment. I have a present for you."

"A present for me?" Harry asked, opening the glove compartment in front of his seat. "It's not my birthday."

"If you thought I was going to buy a present for the Yank, you thought wrong."

"Don't call him a Yankee, it's rude." Harry said, pulling a small gift bag with his name on it out of the small storage area. "Besides, by US standards, he's not a Yank unless he's from the north."

"By British standards everyone over here is a bunch of Yankees."

Harry rolled his eyes and pulled a small parcel wrapped in tissue paper out of the gift bag. He slowly unwrapped the tissue paper and stared in disbelief at what he was holding in his hand.

"What in the world possessed you to get me a cell-phone?"

"Maybe I got tired of you always stealing my phone every time you came close to missing your curfew."

Harry rolled his eyes again and stared at the phone in his hands. He had learned long ago not to argue with gifts Draco decided to give him. (Draco had once bought him a silver necklace with an 'H' pendant that Harry had argued that Draco shouldn't have gotten for him since it was obviously expensive, it was pure silver and had a little emerald in one corner of the letter. Draco had proved just how stubborn Malfoys could be when they set their minds to it and Harry never argued with him about a gift again.)

The wall paper of the phone was actually a picture Harry had taken with Draco's phone. It was the bears they'd made at Build-a-Bear Workshop sitting close together on Harry's bed. Draco's black bunny with the angel wings was wearing the 'H' pendant necklace Draco had given him. That had been the only time Harry had ever taken the necklace off other than bedtime and showers, in fact Harry was wearing it right now.

Harry started dialing Remus' number and saw that it was already saved into the phone. Remus answered on the second ring. "Hi, Harry," he greeted.

"You knew about this?" Harry stated.

"Maybe." Harry could practically hear Remus grinning on the other side of the phone.

"You know, Moony, mischief doesn't suit you. You should leave that to Sirius." Remus chuckled. "Do you have any idea where he's taking me?" Harry asked, staring out the window of the car. They were on the highway now and Harry still had no idea of where they were headed.

"Sorry, Cub, can't tell you. He promised to have you back in time for Mathi's party though."

"Well that's useful," Harry grumbled.

"Listen, Cub, I'm going to have to let you go. I just got a sudden idea and I need to get it down before it's lost."

"Right, see ya, Moons."

"Ciao, Cub."

"He tell you anything worth knowing?" Draco asked with a knowing grin.

"Do not promote my godfathers into keeping secrets from me. It's not a good habit for them to fall into."

"You speak as if they are children unable to make decisions for themselves. They wouldn't keep a secret from you if they thought it would bring you harm. Besides, it's not a secret; it's a surprise."

"I hate surprises."

"I feel a wave of déjà vu coming on."

"Just tell me where we're going."

"Where does every kid want to go?"

"Disneyland?"

"I could take you there, but then we wouldn't make it back in time for the Yank's birthday party."

"Umm... the children's museum?"

"Close, but no cigar."

"I don't smoke anyway."

"Good, I would hate having to kiss an ash tray."

"Who say's you're going to be kissing me?"

"As if you could go a day without my kisses. Next guess?"

"Chuck E Cheeses?"

"Incredible Pizza Company wasn't good enough for you?"

"Just tell me where we're going."

"It's a surprise, unless you can guess."

"I hate surprises."

"Then you better keep guessing."

Harry rolled his eyes again and stuck out his tongue at the blond. "Is there any games on this thing?" He asked, toying with his new cell phone. He found games before Draco had a chance to answer and spent the rest of the car ride playing Tetris.

Before long, the car was rolling to a stop in front of the City Zoo.

::-::

Mathias watched as Draco gave Harry a kiss on the lips that seemed to make Harry just melt. By the time the blond released him, Harry was grinning like a loon.

"Bye, Draco," Harry said. "Thanks for the ride."

"No problem, Kid, call me if you need me to pick you up afterward."

"That won't be necessary," Mathias said in an aggravated tone. "Harry has already agreed to sleep over."

Draco shot Mathias a look, before turning back to Harry with a small smile. "See you later, Kid."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Stop calling me that, you stupid jerk."

Draco chuckled and headed down the path back to his car.

"Hey Mathi!" Harry turned to Mathias with a grin. "Happy birthday."