Sorry it has taken me so long to update but I have the typical excuse of a mountain of work to attend to. It's just slightly ridiculous of how much I have to do. Anyway thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter I had an overwhelming amount of reviews saying that Harry should NOT contact Ron and Hermione so that's what is going to happen.
MotherGooseFanForever - thanks for your opinion I kind of had the same thought as you about Dumbledore
njferrell - that's a good point about the letter in JKR's books I had actually never thought of that before. The letter is explained in this chapter.
Midnight - thanks it's always nice to hear that I'm actually writing this well!
Melanie - thanks as well, positive comments are always appreciated
kaigu - thanks for your opinion as well
Mimaindi - no opinion or not thanks for your review and I thought yeah it would be good to get something about Draco in there.
GaiazHeart - I'll think about that actually...it might happen
NatureLvrKittz - you kind of guessed what I was planning, I hope it didn't ruin it though. Enjoy, your encouragement helped me form this idea.
Yuffie's Ninja Insanity - yay another person for slash, it's my first slash fic so I hope it's up to standard...sorry if it goes horribly wrong!
cute-kybii-girl13 - I don't think I'm going to write when they get to Hogwarts, this fic will probably end at the end of the summer but perhaps...I never know where I'm going with these things. Thanks for the review!
Draco was brought back to the real world suddenly, remembering where he actually was. The deal with his father was over; he had made sure of that just today. The letter he had sent his father was very explicit in Draco's opinions on what his father was doing. Honestly it had probably been a stupid thing to do but he needed to let his father know that he had not yet won and Draco was still alive and well.
"Well Malfoy, do you know something about the snoop?" One of the boys asked.
Draco stared back unflinchingly; he knew if they found out that he lied to them he would be dead before he could blink. However, for some strange reason he did not want to tell them about Potter. That was his business; Potter was only snooping because of him, because he had recognised him.
"No," he replied shortly, "I was just curious as to how much you had found out about him."
The boys stared at him trying to judge his seriousness under his cool Malfoy exterior.
"Well," the second one said patronizingly, "your description didn't help much, brown eyes and brown hair. That narrows it down." He added sarcastically.
Draco almost smirked but thought better of it, with just one word he had gotten himself into a conundrum. He had lied to them, he couldn't stay. He had nowhere else to go, though. A memory struck a chord in his brain and he remembered something he had heard earlier. Slipping out of the room he crept out of the shop and ran out into the chilly night air wondering whether he had just signed his death sentence.
Harry sat on his bed in his dingy room at the Leaky Cauldron contemplating the past few weeks. Having managed to escape from the Dursleys he thought life would go back to normal and he could just hang around Diagon Alley eating ice cream and chatting with the occasional familiar face that walked past. However, so far the only familiar face he had seen was Malfoy's and he had led him into something he figured would be well worth getting out of.
He also had a long time before he could even go back to Hogwarts and he had nothing to do. His abuse had also affected him more than he ever thought it would. He had been attacked by the most feared wizard five times, escaping with hardly any injuries each time. Why then did he wake up screaming with not the feared face of Voldemort filling his nightmares but Vernon's angry face, filled with hate?
Harry had already decided he was going to give up on whatever Malfoy was doing. He supposed he had enough to worry about without wondering also what was going on with the blonde Slytherin. The thought of returning to Grimmauld Place had even crossed his mind a couple of times but he knew someone would think to look for him there and he was sure it was still being used for the occasional Order meeting. Plus now that Sirius was gone, it would be too strange returning there without expecting his godfather to bound down the stairs to see him.
A knock at his door roused him from his musings and he stood up wearily and opened the door expecting to see Tom or one of the housekeepers. Instead though the object of his thoughts stood there and for the first time Harry could not see an arrogant smirk plastered to his face. Instead there was wariness and apprehension and possibly even…fear?
"Malfoy," Harry said shocked.
"Look you gave me your room number, it's not like I invited myself," he said hurriedly hoping he could pin this on Potter somehow.
"No, no it's alright Malfoy, come in." Harry said getting over his initial shock at actually seeing Draco Malfoy standing outside his room.
Draco walked in expecting…he didn't know what exactly. What he saw however was a typically messy room, there were clothes scattered everywhere and school books spread out all over the bed.
"Studying already Potter?" He asked
Harry rolled his eyes and said, "I don't have anything better to do."
There was an awkward silence while Harry tried to get used to idea of Draco Malfoy actually in his room and while Draco got used to the idea of being in Harry Potter's room.
"So what do you want Malfoy?" Harry finally broke the silence, "have you come to finally confess what it is you've been up to?"
Draco turned to look at him and said, "well…yes and no. I'll tell you what you want to know…but I need a favour."
Harry looked at him uncomprehending and then understanding flashed across his face, "ah I see how it is Malfoy. A trade. Fine, have it your way, sit down."
He gestured at the chair currently hidden under the pile of clothes had dumped across it while unpacking. Malfoy looked at it and then gingerly sat down on the corner peeking out from under the clothes. Harry sighed and strode across the room to gather up armfuls of them and dumped them on the floor.
"There you happy now?" He said as Malfoy relaxed back into the chair.
"Yes actually," Malfoy replied smirking once again.
"Right well let's get to it then," Harry started, "I want to know what you were doing back there dragging innocent people of the streets and questioning them under duress. I also want to know who the other people were."
Malfoy looked at him unblinkingly and replied, "Well I can't tell you everything but I'll try. In return I want…" he hesitated, not sure how to state this next request, "I need a place to stay. Somewhere safe and somewhere where no one would ever think to look for me. Somewhere like here. With you."
Harry gaped at him, "are you serious? You want to stay here with me?"
Malfoy nodded and replied, "You'll understand the gravity of the situation once I explain everything. To start with I left home at the beginning of the summer. It was…family problems. My father wanted something of me which I couldn't do."
Harry cut in, "you mean he wanted to make you a Death Eater?"
Malfoy nodded looking shamefully at the ground anticipating Potter's next question.
"I thought you of all people would jump at the chance to join the gang."
Malfoy flinched but managed to look up and stare into Potter's eyes, he had to be sure Potter properly understood why he had made his decision. "Look Potter, we may not be the best of friends and all you've seen of me is hate and whatever else. However, it may shock you to learn that I do not actually find the idea of torturing innocent people appealing. I had no inclination whatsoever to join my father and the rest of them. So I ran away. I didn't know what to do with myself so I came to the only place I knew well. Diagon Alley, I was recognised of course, almost immediately. By some kid who asked me to show him my left arm, I knew straight away what he was. It's sort of an urban legend among Death Eaters.
I'd heard rumours from some of my father's…acquaintances. There's this gang of teenagers, kids, young adults…you name it. Kids of death eaters who don't want any part in their parent's lives. They'd heard of my escape and sent someone to find out if I wanted to join them. I eagerly did of course but they made it perfectly clear from the beginning that I wasn't completely welcome and I was only needed for information. My father was Lucius Malfoy, in their opinion he was one of the worst.
They didn't trust me and I hated it but I had nowhere else to go. Earlier when they asked me if I knew who you were I lied, they know when you're lying Potter. They're dangerous, they may hate the world of the Death Eaters but they're almost as bad themselves. I had to leave and I guess I came the only place I could think of."
Malfoy sat back exhausted by his tale and the memories it pushed to the front of his mind. He looked up at Harry who had a thoughtful expression on his face.
Then he said, "well Malfoy I guess we're roomies."
Hope you liked the ending, I know it kind of abrupt but this chapter was getting quite long so I had to end it. Anyway please review and this chapter's poll is:
Do you think the Death Eater gang should return with a vengeance for their runaway Draco Malfoy?
A) Yes (any ideas on this is cool)
B) No, Harry and Draco should just be left alone to have hot sex. Lol
You know the drill, extra ideas are welcome. I don't know when I'll next be able to update but I shall try to make it soon.
