As is always stated, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, and all other related characters belong to JK Rowlings and Scholastic. All song lyrics are attributed to the singers after the lyrics. They of course belong to the artist. This story is rated very very mature for sexual content, innuendo, gay coupling, and cursing. Curtain up!
A shout out to my reviewers,
Thank you so much for your thoughts and opinions. I think you will find that some of your questions have been answered in this chapter by the characters themselves. Know that if you have a question, review and it WILL be answered! I feel so loved, thank you again everyone for your questions, comments, and information.
-BlackDragonHS
Chapter 7
Welcome to the real world, she said to me, condescendingly
Take a seat, Take your life, plot it out in black and white…
I wanna run through the halls of the high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as a real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above
-John Mayer "No Such Thing"
Harry gulped as he checked and double checked everything that he had packed. Clothing, books, sketch pad and supplies, mirror, Dobby… He blinked, "Dobby?! What are you doing here?"
The house elf looked up at Harry, his eyes wide. "Dobby wanted to help Harry Potter sir. Dobby knows he can help sir, I promise." The look he gave was so beseeching Harry wanted to just nod, and caught himself doing so as Draco walked in the room.
"Dobby? What on earth are you doing here?"
The house elf ducked behind Harry, peeking around his legs, "Draco Malfoy? Why are you with Harry Potter sir?"
Harry put a hand on Dobby's shoulder in comfort. "It's ok Dobby. Draco is helping me to track down Voldemort and end him."
Dobby looked up at Harry, "Mr. Malfoy is helping sir?" His eyes swiveled to Draco, confused, "But the Malfoy family has always been at the Dark Lord's side sir."
Draco answered that one himself, "True, and it was that that caused my mother's death. I'm done with the dark side. I've chosen this rather odd Jedi group."
Harry gaped at him, "First Disney, now Star Wars. What other secrets do you have hiding in that head Malfoy?"
Draco smirked at him, "You'll find out when I deem you worthy Potter. Now, let's pack everything up and get downstairs. The others should be here any moment." Draco waved his wand and the tarp all of Harry's things were on began to fold itself neatly. Over and over it folded, almost dizzying in its speed until a small origami square of tarp landed in Harry's hand. He just shook his head as the blonde turned to a second tarp and repeated the process. "Now, let's go shall we?" He offered his arm to Harry.
Harry rolled his eyes in amusement, "Shouldn't I be escorting you Malfoy? If one of us is the girl, it's you."
Draco lifted his chin into the air, "A Malfoy is never escorted anywhere, besides Potter, for all I know you're sleepwalking again. If you walk into a wall eventually you'll pull me through it too. So is the house elf coming with?"
Harry nodded reluctantly, "I suppose so. But Dobby you have to promise to do exactly as I tell you, no making things up, and absolutely no trying to help keep me alive."
The ex-Slytherin gave Harry an odd look as the elf nodded emphatically, "That sounds like the beginnings of a story."
Harry nodded, letting out an exasperated sigh, "Second year, Dobby tried to keep me safe from the Chamber of Secrets, and he almost killed me doing it. We made a deal that year that he wouldn't try to save my life anymore without warning me first."
Draco snickered, "You seem to attract the most interesting people Potter." The house elf cracked out of the room as the two boys walked into the hallway. "So this is your last bit of time alone with me. Miss it already?"
The Gryffindor snorted, "Relieved is more like it. Only in your dreams would I miss you molesting me Malfoy."
"Ah hah! I never mentioned our special times Harry my dear. You brought those up, which means subconsciously, you already miss having me to yourself."
Harry felt his ears heat at the logic, "Whatever, come on Malfoy." He hurried down the stairs, taking some pleasure in hearing Draco stumble after him as he was pulled by the vow. Harry walked into the living room expecting to find people and found only a box. "What on earth?" He walked around it, inspecting it for markings.
"Apparently the package took a bit longer to get together than they expected hmm?" Draco drawled from the door way. Seeing the perplexed look on the brunette's face he expounded, "The Weasley twins, they decided to send something to help, remember?"
"Right! Ginny mentioned it the other night didn't she? I'd almost forgotten that night."
"I never could," Draco asserted. "That was the night I learned that muggles have created heaven, and its name is tiramisu." He walked past Harry to look out the window, "That was also the night I claimed you for mine."
"Night you what?!" Harry's voice sounded incredulous.
"Claimed you for mine, Potter. They were silly enough to leave an opening. I'm not that stupid." Draco smiled as Harry opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by the rush of flames in the fireplace. A moment later Hermione, then Ron, stepped from inside the mantle. "Hullo, welcome to your friendly neighborhood Dark Lord Hunters Anonymous. Can I get you name tags?"
Hermione laughed as Ron scowled, "We already have some, but thank you for asking. How are you doing Draco dear?" Hermione gave him a small hug before turning to Harry. He stared after her in puzzlement. Hermione Granger had hugged him, without a second thought, she'd hugged him. Had she lost her mind? "Good morning Harry, are you packed?" She smiled in approval at his nod, "Good, have you two eaten yet? Ron and I haven't and I'm positively starving."
Harry laughed, "You skipping breakfast Mione? Unheard of. Let's go to the kitchen and I'll pull something together."
Hermione smiled as she linked arms with him, "Sounds lovely, come along Draco dear, Ronald."
Ronald hmm? What had the Weasel done to get in her bad graces this time? He's poke them both until he found out eventually, starting with his cousin. "Morning Cousin," he slung his arm around Ron's shoulders. "How are you this fine Saturday?"
Ron gave him a look worthy of Molly before answering. "I'm fine, currently being touched by something slimy and disgusting, but fine."
Draco smiled a million watt smile, "Well then perhaps you should take a shower. Whatever you've done to upset Granger can't be undone while covered in slime." He let go and continued walking to the kitchen whistling. He could feel the glare as he walked down the hallway and he smiled almost tripping over Hermione and Harry. "Ooops, sorry Granger. How are you doing this morning?" He took her hand and brushed his lips over the knuckles in an old world bit of courtesy. "You seem, cold."
Hermione gave him an odd look, "I'm a little frustrated, but fine other than that. And please Draco, we'll be all but living together for the next few weeks at least. Call me Hermione."
He inclined his head, "Hermione then. Why is so fair a flower frustrated? Something to do with a difficult suitor perhaps?"
She laughed, swatting at his hand, "What on earth is with you today? Usually I'm Granger the mudblood."
Draco winced at the racial slur, "Let's say that I have grown out of such childish concerns. Besides, as you pointed out, we'll be traveling together for Merlin knows how long. Let's be friends hm?"
She gave him a penetrating look before nodding, "I would like that." Harry gave him an odd look behind Hermione's head as she continued on, "Have Ginny and Lee arrived yet?" She seated herself at the kitchen table and looked up expectantly.
Draco shook his head as Harry pulled plates down and opened the refrigerator, "No, they should be here soon though. Someone remind me again why we're taking a muggle? Isn't that more dangerous? For us and him?"
Hermione nodded, "It is. But Lee is coming for two reasons. First is that he absolutely refuses to let Harry go without him. He actually threatened that if Harry left without him, he'd try and track us down. That would of course be more dangerous, for all of us. To have a muggle floundering behind us, drawing attention to us, and most importantly to himself. Voldemort would love to get his hands on someone important to Harry. Then there's the more mundane reason. A lot of the protections around the Dark Lord will be keyed to those with magical abilities. There's a good chance that having Dudley with us will help us get through those protections. It is entirely possible that a pair of muggle eyes will see what our wizard ones miss."
Draco nodded looking impressed, "I guess I hadn't thought of it that way." He jumped as a cupboard banged behind him. He turned to find Harry struggling to open the cupboard directly behind him, his hands full of milk, eggs, vanilla, and a skillet. "What are you doing Potter?"
Harry managed to catch the door and swing it open this time, "Trying to get the bread so I can make French toast." He reached two fingers out, attempting to grasp the bag of bread. He caught it, and knocked the two bottles of jelly in front of it off the shelf.
Draco dived for the floor barely catching the jars. "Potter you are useless sometimes. Go put that stuff down. I'll get the bread and cinnamon." He caught Hermione's amused look, "Yes I know that French toast requires cinnamon. If you're my mom, you use nutmeg and a little apple pie or pumpkin spice too."
She smiled, "Sounds delicious. My mum adds a little bit of cocoa powder."
He quirked his head, "I suppose that would be acceptable, a bit different, but acceptable."
She laughed, "Glad you approve. I haven't been home in a while. It's safer for my parents that way." She got a far off look in her eyes as she stared out the window into the rain.
Draco laid his hand on hers, "I'm sure you'll see them again soon." Her eyes met his as a tear brimmed over and began to trace a trail down her cheek. He quickly caught it on a finger and wiped it on his pants leg, "No crying Hermione, not until it's all over." In a show of uncharacteristic gentleness he leaned forward and kissed her forehead, "I had better get these to Harry," and he bustled off to the counter.
She watched him with a sense of amazement. She wasn't exactly sure why Draco had undergone such a drastic change, but she was certain it wasn't entirely due to his mother's death. She turned back to the window as Ron walked up behind her. "Am I still in trouble?"
Hermione sighed, "I suppose not, but think before you speak next time please Ron. That hurt. As a matter of fact, I'd still be upset about it, but Draco helped me put things in perspective."
"Draco?!" Ron looked at her in shock as he sat down next to her. "How on earth could that prat help put anything in perspective?"
Hermione shook her head as two thuds announced the arrival of Ginny and Lee. "Take a closer look at him Ron. He isn't the same person we went to school with." With that she stood and went to greet Ginny.
"Not the same… I think she needs to have her head examined." He walked over and offered Lee his hand, then hugged his sister, "Hey you two. Have you eaten? The deadly duo is making breakfast."
"Deadly duo?" Ginny asked as she hugged him, " I take it you mean Harry and Draco?"
Ron nodded, "Yup, something about French toast, beware poison, Harry's cooking is bad enough without Malfoy's adding to it."
"Shove off you incompetent git. Did you expect people to be able to eat that concoction? Just go sit and stay out of my way." Ginny laughed as a frazzled looking Draco pushed Harry towards the table. "Sit, be quiet, look cute." With that he turned and stalked back to the smoking skillet.
The two couples stared at Harry in stunned silence. "Um… I burned it?"
Hermione and Ginny burst into laughter as Ron and Lee continued to stare at the tousle haired brunette. The girls were ignoring the more serious issue they felt. "Look cute?" Lee finally ventured.
Harry looked over his shoulder at the blonde who was cheerfully humming away as he worked on the French toast. "Yeah, he's been saying things like that to get on my nerves for days. I think I'm ready to go." The two boys nodded and Harry let loose a mental sigh of relief. Ron and Lee finding out that he was apparently gay was one thing, finding out he was gay with Draco Malfoy was another.
Hermione and Ginny whirled past Draco grabbing plates, silverware, glasses, syrup, butter, peanut butter and strawberries. They set the table in whirlwind time, Ginny plinking ice into glasses as Hermione wandered over to see how Draco was doing with the French toast. She stood next to him for a minute, counting French toast, straightening the plate before she leaned closer. "Look cute?" she whispered. And was rewarded when the Slytherin's ears turned pink. "We'll have to talk about looking cute later Draco dear." And before he could reply, she turned back to the others proclaiming breakfast to almost be done.
Forty-five minutes later, the last of the dishes were deposited into the cupboards. Harry looked around the house. "Only one thing left to do." He winced, "Kreacher!" With a pop the house elf appeared. Hermione looked mutinous as Harry began to talk to the tiny murderous creature. "Now, I'm going to be gone for some time. I will call you if I need you. You are not to leave the house, you are not to let in anyone but the Order members, and you are not to take orders or instructions from anyone but me or the Order. While I am gone, you are to keep the house clean, keep yourself fed, and take care of any Order members that need help. Do you understand?"
Kreacher nodded as he looked up at Harry pitifully. "What of the Black family artifacts?"
Harry sighed, "Take care of them as you always have Kreacher." The house elf nodded and slunk away to the living room to clean the wall hanging of the Black family tree. Harry sighed, "How was that Hermione?"
She nodded, "Better than I expected actually. You're getting much better at dealing with him Harry."
He nodded, "I know, thanks. I know you don't like how he's treated around here, so I have been trying."
"And as the president of S.P.E.W I appreciate it."
Draco rolled his eyes. You would think that with so much else going on, there would be much more important things to worry about than freeing a race that didn't want to be free. He looked around the group of solemn teens. "Are we ready then?"
They all turned to him and Harry answered, "Let's head out. Tell us where to go Malfoy."
Author Notes:
This chapter was a bit short, about two to three pages less than I usually write, and for the perverts among my patronage, definitely lacking. But I wrote those last words and my instinct said, "the buck stops here, and so does your brain." So I took the hint. I promise that things will get hot and steamy again, things are also going to start getting complicated for Harry and Draco due to Draco's little slip up. Next chapter will be out by the end of September, you have my Unbreakable Vow on it! -BDHS
