A Place To Call Home
The Train
Disclaimer: You know I could keep coming up with new and cute ways of saying that I don't own Harry Potter but…
A/N: I want to give a huge thank-you to each of my reviewers. I appreciate all the comments and constructive advice you give. Remember, if there are any questions, comments or criticisms, please Review!
Four Years Later…The train blared its horn twice and Molly took the moment to gather the three new Hogwarts students into another bone crushing hug. She took out her handkerchief and sniffed into it with misty eyes. Next to her, stood Arthur who was giving the trio a heartening smile and Ginny who was pouting.
"Now be good, all three of you. Take care of yourselves and watch out for each other."
"Don't worry Mum," said Ron, the oldest, tallest and most definitely the most at ease. Harry was shifting from side to side in anxiety and Hermione was practically bouncing up and down from excitement.
"I'll take of Harry and Hermione will make sure that neither of us get into trouble."
"Hey," said Harry distractedly, "I don't need a babysitter."
"Course," answered Ron good naturally, "You've only had Draco trailing after you for the past couple of years making sure that you don't trip over a pebble and permanently scar yourself…again."
Harry stuck out his tongue at Ron, while the taller boy laughed. Then suddenly the red head was pulled into a hug.
"Oh Ron…you've grown up so much…"-stifled sobs from Molly and giggles from Harry and Hermione-"Fred, George, you two are in charge of them. Make sure they eat a proper breakfast and-"
"Mum gerrof! Everyone's watching; let go! You're embarrassing us!"
Molly let go of him with a quiet sniffle, "See what I mean?"
"Of course Molly dear," Arthur Weasley put his hand on his wife's shoulder and continued speaking looking directly at Harry and Ron, "Also, boys, please remember not to talk about Draco in public. You never know who could hear you."
Both nodded and Hermione smiled in agreement.
"Oh Mum! There's Lee. We'll see you all later. Make sure not to miss the train." With that Fred and George disappeared into the mass of whirling black robes.
"Um…speaking of…Him. Where is he? I thought he'd come to see us off. I know he isn't that fond of Hogwarts but"-Harry fidgeted with his robes-"I hoped that he'd come see us"-the me was left unsaid-"one more time since this is the last time we'll see each other until the summer."
The rest of the Weasley's looked at Harry sympathetically. Harry studied his feet unaware of the glances.
"Don't worry about it mate; I'm sure he had his reasons." Ron said, throwing his arm over Harry's shoulder.
Inwardly Harry groaned. If Ron was excusing Draco for something then they all must be feeling bad for him. Ron's attitude had only improved slightly in all the years they had lived together. It had gone from all out war to subtle subterfuges. Harry stiffened his resolve; he was going to Hogwarts and as it had been explained, he wouldn't be able to rely on Draco anymore. There was no way he would be able to do that if he already missed the blond.
Harry straightened his shoulders, "I'm alright. If he's not here then he has a good reason. We should get going; we'll miss the train."
Indeed, all the other children were boarding the train that led to Hogwarts, waving tearful goodbyes to their families. Only the elder Weasley's, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione were left standing on the platform.
"Perhaps we can wait a little longer…maybe he got-" Hermione trailed off as the horn blew again.
"No Hermione." Harry said firmly, "we've got to leave now; I can write to him if possible…" he cast an inquiring look at the adults.
"Of course you can Harry. Now on the train; we can't have you miss it."
Ron, Harry and Hermione loaded their trunks and stepped onto the train waving one last goodbye to the Weasley's positioned on the dais. As soon as they stepped on, it was as if a trigger had been pulled, immediately the train started to move forward gathering speed as it went.
The trio stumbled against other each other as they tried to move towards an empty carriage. Fortunately they found one devoid of life halfway thru the middle. All three gratefully sat in their seats, Harry next to the window, Hermione across from him and Ron to his right.
Ron and Hermione then began to talk excitably about Hogwarts and all they would learn there, or at least Hermione talked about all they would learn there, Ron was more excited about being able to play Quidditch. Both tried to draw him into the conversation, but Harry was morose and stubborn so they soon left him to his thoughts delving into different topics.
Harry gazed out the window, watching the flashing scenery, lost in his own thoughts. He still wished Draco had come to see him off. Sure, Harry had kept the vampire up almost the entire night before, talking passionately about how amazing it would be to go Hogwarts, but he didn't think that Draco would still be angry about that…
Draco had become a huge part of the raven-haired boy's life over the last few years. Draco had taken care of him and probably prevented from getting beaten up a couple of times, but Harry highly doubted that he had been coddled. A man whose job was to kill people couldn't pamper you.
Draco had thought that the best way to teach Harry how to swim was to toss him face first into the fasted paced river in the village. And then there was that time that he had managed to incur the wrath of a werewolf clan when Harry had been with him. Or when he had taken him out of the village to a vampire meeting…well at least that time the Weasley's were furious afterwards…who took an eight year old to a meeting of the most bloodthirsty creatures alive…or dead actually? Harry had had nightmares for weeks afterwards.
I mean, honestly…
Harry tore his gaze away from the window and the passing scenery. He really couldn't be like this for the entire trip. He smiled at his friends and tried to engage himself in their conversation. Soon though he felt his interest in the favored subject, sports vs. schoolwork, decline. He sighed as the entire carriage fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Harry unhappily went back to staring at the passing greenery; they had long since passed the small villages and towns and were now in the countryside. It was all new to Harry, who had never been outside of his small village except to get his Hogwarts supplies and that time he had flooed with a protective Draco hovering over him the entire time.
Creak.
Harry turned at the soft sound and leapt up in surprise, "Draco!"
Ron and Hermione turned in surprise, Hermione dropping her thick book in the process.
"I thought you wouldn't come!"
Harry grinned and jumped into Draco's arms, hugging him. Draco smiled at the younger boy giving him a quick one-armed hug and set in down on a seat. Quirking his thumb, he ushered Ron and Hermione out the door into the hallway, with albeit a little complaining from Ron.
"I had to go straighten some last minute things out with Voldemort."
Harry stopped jouncing in is seat and frowned. Draco never talked about Voldemort in front of him; Draco hardly ever even talked about anything important in front of him either. It was often irritating, but Harry put up with it since he knew he could weasel anything out of Draco when he really wanted to.
"And?"
"Nothing." Draco replied shortly, "…except…"
"What?" Harry asked leaning forward.
"I got a job."
Harry blinked, "What…what job?"
"Harry, look at me."
Harry frowned and took a step back, scrutinizing Draco carefully. His breath caught delightedly.
"You've got a Hogwarts badge on!"
Draco smiled, "Yes, I-"
"Are you going to work at Hogwarts?" Harry interrupted, "What are you going to do? Where are you going to stay and-"
"Relax Harry, you sound like the Imp. Gods." Draco said amused, "Dumbledore and I've been talking about this for a while and it only just came through. That's why I was at Voldemort's this morning: to get permission. I'll be working at Hogwarts as the Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, so I'll get to live there."
"Wow…" Harry breathed, "What did you tell Voldemort?"
Draco shrugged, "That's not for you to know."
"But-"
"No Harry." Draco said his voice final, then softly, he continued, "Harry no one can know about us at Hogwarts. It's going to be a secret and unfortunately I won't be able to do much to help you, so we're going to have to figure out a way to deal with the whole issue of blood."
Harry sighed, "Oh…what are we going to do?"
"We'll have to improvise." Draco said smirking
"You…are an idiot." Harry said rolling his eyes, "Every time you say we should improvise something goes horribly wrong. I bet when you decided to mark me you were improvising."
"Actually," Draco muttered, "That's when I learned to improvise. Going with you was sticking by the plan."
Harry laughed, "I'm not that bad."
"Sure…you're only the boy that throws up after every one of my meals."
Harry snorted. The vomiting spells had not gotten any better since the first time. Harry had, though, learned not to eat before he tilted his head and Draco had learned, over time, not to underestimate the cleansing power of Mrs. Weasley's spells on his cloaks.
"By the way Harry, did you eat anything this morning?"
"What! Do you really need a drink here and now?"
"Yes. I won't get one later and I'm thirsty."
"You are sounding dangerously close to whining." Harry said backing away slowly.
"Come on Harry. I don't ask for much-"
"Just my life's blood." Harry finished, clamping his hand over his neck.
Then he yelped as he hit the window on the far wall of the carriage. He smiled shakily up at Draco who by now, was towering over him. Harry shrunk in on himself slightly.
"Aw Harry don't do that."
Draco reached down and gently removed Harry's hand from his neck. The light touch caused Harry to relax. He was always frightened right before a feeding…perhaps because as much as he teased Draco about it, it was only when Draco was feeding that he remembered that Draco was a creature of the night. One of creatures that had killed his parents; in fact, Draco worked for the very one that did. On the other hand, Draco was still Draco, the same serious, idiosyncratic vampire that Harry had always known. Smiling slightly, Harry tipped his neck to the side.
Draco bent down and gently bit down into the flesh to the left of Harry's jugular and sucked, pulling the collared shirt down slightly. Harry felt the familiar rush of lightheadedness and dazedly grasped Draco's arm to keep from toppling. The sucking motion continued and Harry closed his eyes as his blood was transferred from his body to Draco's hungry mouth.
Draco bit down harder and Harry winced imperceptibly. It seemed that Draco was dreadfully hungry; he was drawing a lot of blood and fast. He probably, Harry realized, wanted to drink fast before someone walked it. Suddenly Harry sensed the memorable rising of nausea and swallowed rapidly, fighting the queasiness.
"Dra…co" he rasped.
Then…the door opened.
Draco jerked away from Harry, dragging his teeth out of Harry's neck painfully. Harry yelped and slapped his hand over his still bleeding neck. Draco whipped around and stared at a dark-haired pudgy boy who had entered the cabin and was now gaping at the two of them.
"Um…hi." Harry piped up uncertainly.
"Uh…uh…"
Draco snarled and then pushed Harry behind him, staring at the smaller boy.
"You're…you…him…blood…"
"Draco," Harry said with forced lightness, "I highly doubt he's going to attack. He's petrified."
Draco glared, wishing that Harry would, for one in his short life, shut up. The dark-haired boy whimpered and eyes wide, he stepped back.
Draco raised his hand and hissed, "Obliviate"
The boy stumbled backwards and fell down on his rump. His eyes glazed over and he blinked sleepily as everything from the last few minutes was immediately erased from his mind. Harry's eyes widened as the boy slowly tried to rise to his feet after being shot with the spell.
"Draco! What did-"
"Neville! Neville, it's not a good idea to go in…Oh…" Hermione trailed off abashedly.
"A little late Imp. Where's the redhead that is supposedly able to communicate on our brainwave?"
"Ron?" asked Hermione distractedly, "He's…he should be on his way-"
"Harry, there's this boy whose heading-"
"Huh…and I thought someone couldn't be stupider than their pet"
"Draco!" Ron shouted irately.
"Shush…keep it down, will you!" murmured Harry frantically, worrying that someone might come to see what the racket was and find a hypothetical Hogwarts professor arguing with a first year student.
"Excuse me…" a thin voice warbled, "If I may have your pardon, but…where am I?"
Draco turned his gaze towards the rounded boy and said, "You're in a Hogwarts train compartment. You were…"-Draco looked inquiringly at Ron and Hermione…
"Looking for your toad, Trevor." added Ron helpfully.
"Ah, yes, Trevor," continued Draco rolling his eyes, "and then you tripped while you walked into this cabin. Are you alright?"
"Alright? I…feel a bit…woozy."
"Of course you do! Harry, help the poor boy sit down." grinned Draco.
Harry shot Draco a vehement look and then gently helped Neville-that must have been his name-to a seat.
"Hey mate," Neville asked sounding more cognizant by the minute, "You haven't seen my toad have you. My Gram got it for me, but I keep losing it and oh, Grams is going to kill me if she finds out I've lost it once again! Please say you've seen it!"
Harry shook his regretfully, "Sorry, but no. My name's Harry by the way and this is…" Harry gestured oddly towards Draco.
"Professor Malfoy, your new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher. Neville is it…you wouldn't perhaps be Neville Longbottom would you?"
Neville's eyes widened and he nodded slowly.
"Well I've heard of you." Draco said almost to himself and glancing between Neville and Harry, "Say, Neville, have you tried a summoning charm?"
"A what?" asked Hermione interested.
"Just watch." Draco said, "Accio Trevor."
Outside the compartment, shrieks were heard in the hallway as something sped towards them. As the screams and yells got closer and closer, Harry and Ron jumped up in preparation. Luckily, it was none other than Trevor the toad who came flying into the room and straight into Neville's welcoming arms.
Neville yelped in glee and Harry, Draco was happy to see, was smiling at Draco with a mixture of outright amazement and awe. Hermione was looking scientifically at Draco and he knew there would be many questions later; even Ron was looking halfway impressed. Draco snorted to himself; he had forgotten that showing even low-grade magic, nothing more than parlor tricks, would stun first-years.
"Well, I think that you all should start getting ready. Don't you have to put on robes or something?"
Hermione squealed, inquisitiveness momentarily forgotten, "Oh! I completely forgot! Come on Neville; lets go ask the conductor when we'll be arriving."
Hermione grabbed a still celebrating Neville by the hand and dragged him out of the room, calling after her, "You two better be dressed when I come back."
Ron and Harry grinned at each other; they turned away from one another and quickly began pulling on their robes and fixing their shirts.
Draco sighed, "Is their any way I can finish my drink?"
Harry glared, "No! I'm bleeding, you jerk!"
"Well…I was interrupted!" Draco snapped.
"And whose fault is that!"
"Neville's." Draco deadpanned.
"You could have waited five minutes to check the hall, but no, instead, we had to use that spell on poor Neville. How are we supposed to make friends if you keep spelling anyone who comes close!"
"It was a forgetting spell and you can still make friends with him. I've never even done that before."
"Remember Justin? He was just walking up to say hi and you stunned him!"
"Can we go back to the issue of blood here?"
"I already said-"
"Excuse me," said Ron, "But no matter who wins this argument, you're not doing it in front of me and I"-Ron fixed his tie lazily-"am not leaving again, so take this into the hallway or something."
Harry smiled in relief, "Thanks-"
"What were you all thinking!" Hermione furiously burst back into the room and brandished her finger at all of them.
"Draco, Harry, you can't just do…that…anywhere. You're going to have to be careful…why are you even still here?"
"True…I thought you came to give a last minute goodbye to Harry." Ron said in agreement.
"Actually, I'm going to work at Hogwarts as your new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher."
Hermione and Ron groaned.
"Draco," Hermione said gently, "As a teacher, you can't go around hexing students."
"I know that," snapped Draco, trying to gain control of the situation, "But he saw us and there really was no other choice."
Harry sighed, "Just promise you won't do it again."
Draco rubbed his forehead, "Fine, now-"
The suddenly slowing down and halt of the train cut Draco off. Excitedly, Harry, Ron and Hermione rushed to the window and stared at the platform that they could see.
"We're here!" they cried together.
Draco smiled; it seemed that they had arrived.
To Be Continued…
