A/N. Hi, I'm back! Apologise for the long absence but it was down to first illness and then injury. All being well such a big gap shouldn't happen again although i can't promise as sometimes the dreaded writers block does hit. I'm not as happy with this chapter as the others, as I wrote it in two parts weeks apart so I'm not sure it flows quite right. It's kind of a filler chapter.
Thank you all for your reviews too, I am still amazed at the response this story has had and all the kind comments I have had. In response to one review I had though about how Dumbledore reacted in the last chapter I understand what you mean. I really struggled with how I wanted to portray him in this story and he did end up coming across a lot angrier that I had anticipated. I feel Dumbledore would normally have a much quieter, subtle anger. Also Severus is accepting all this quite easily at the moment but there are going to be doubts coming up and a few bumps in the road.
Enough of me now, enjoy the chapter :)
Chapter 7.
As Harry started to drift back into consciousness he became aware that he was laying on something soft and that someone was holding his hand. For a moment Harry basked in the warm feeling this gave him until the realisation of where he was hit and he stiffened. He was at Draco's house and must have fallen asleep after crying! He sat up quickly, looking around the room wildly. Draco for his part managed to keep hold of Harry's hand. "It's okay Harry, you're okay here."
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to fall asleep," said Harry as he looked at Draco.
"That's fine Harry," answered Lucius. "It has been a stressful morning so it is little wonder that it made you tired."
"Hello Harry, I'm Draco's mother Narcissa, but please feel free to shorten my name to Cissa." Narcissa held her hand out for Harry to shake after walking slowly over to the young boy who looked on the verge of panic attack. "My son told me all about his meeting with you yesterday."
This sudden change of topic successfully distracted Harry from his panic as his manners took over and he shook Narcissa's hand. "Draco was very kind to me yesterday." Draco blushed at the compliment.
"Draco can be very kind when he believes someone is deserving of it. He does not let people see this side of him very easily," replied Narcissa, echoing Lucius' words from earlier.
While Narcissa was talking, Severus moved across the room and retook his seat on the sofa on the other side of Harry. "Now that you are awake we need to have a little chat about your living arrangements."
"What about them Sir?" answered Harry feigning ignorance, he knew this would come up again after his meltdown earlier.
"About how they are not suitable for you and please call me Severus." He took a breath before continuing, "I have spoken to Headmaster Dumbledore and he agrees with me that you cannot stay with the Dursley's anymore."
"But I have nowhere else to go," said Harry getting agitated. "Please don't send me to an orphanage, Uncle Vernon told me all about them and what they would do to a freak like me!"
"You are not a freak Harry," interjected Draco forcefully.
"Yes I am that's what they kept telling me."
"Well they were wrong. Draco is right you are not a freak and you will not be going to an orphanage," replied Severus. "As I told you earlier both Lucius and I would be willing to give you a home. It was decided that you would be staying with me at Hogwarts so you can get acclimatised to the school and I can teach you more about magic before September 1st. If that is agreeable with you of course?"
Harry held his breath as the potions master spoke. He did remember him saying that either he or Lucius would give him a place to live but he had thought it was just words. He hadn't trusted an adult in years. He was now being offered another chance. Harry chewed on his bottom lip worriedly. The Malfoy's and Severus had been nice so far but things change. Then again surely Severus couldn't be worse than the Dursley's? Harry made his mind up; for once he was going to follow his heart and take a risk, hoping he wasn't making a big mistake.
"Yes Sir, I mean Severus" he corrected at said man's raised eyebrow. "I would like to stay at Hogwarts with you." Severus graced Harry with a small smile and a nod at this answer.
"Right then, with that settled Draco take Harry to your room and show him your toys and games. We have a lot of grown up business to discuss and it would only bore you," said Lucius.
"Sure thing Dad," cried Draco. "Come on Harry." Before Harry could say anything in reply he was being pulled out of the room by an exuberant blonde.
Draco took Harry through the hall of the manor and up the grand staircase to his room chattering excitedly all the way. Harry didn't take in anything that he was saying though as he was memorised by the elegance of the manor. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would ever be in a place like this! It was like something out of a fairy tale. When they reached Draco's room Harry couldn't help but gasp. It was huge with large windows taking up one whole side of the room letting in the light of the summer sun. The room had shelves covering most walls filled with books, toys and games, as well as a large bed and wardrobe. There was also a door leading to another room on the other side of the bed. Harry suddenly started to feel very unsure of himself; he wasn't worthy to be in a room like this.
Draco turned to look at Harry and could see the nervous look on the other boys face. Before he could say anything though a loud tapping sound against the window was heard. Draco walked cautiously to the window and noticed a white snowy owl sitting on the window sill. Harry noticed this too and cried "Hedwig, she made it" as he broke out into a grin.
"This is your owl?" questioned Draco. At Harry's nod he opened the window and Hedwig flew inside settling herself on Harry's shoulder. Draco closed the window again and walked over to Harry. "She's a beautiful owl Harry, may I stroke her?"
Harry looked at Hedwig who hooted as if in approval and then nodded at Draco. Draco very slowly extended his hand and ran his fingers through Hedwig's feathers. "She is so soft, my mother will love her. Did you get her in Diagon Alley?"
"Hagrid bought her for me yesterday as a birthday present. Best present I ever had," replied Harry, keeping it to himself that this was the only present he could ever remember getting.
"Well for now she can perch on my bed frame. I'm certain Uncle Sev will make sure she gets a proper perch when you get to Hogwarts."
Harry walked over to the bed and Hedwig hopped off onto the frame where she then tucked her head under her wing and went to sleep.
"So Harry what would you like to do?"
Harry was taken aback by this; no one ever asked him what he wanted to do. He was used to not asking for things but he figured it was safe to ask Draco a question. "Can you tell me about Hogwarts?"
"Sure, between Uncle Sev working there and my dad being on the Board of Governors, I know quite a bit about it."
"I don't know much at all, Hagrid said something about houses and qui..quidditch but I didn't really take any of it in," said Harry looking embarrassed.
"I wouldn't worry about forgetting, everything was so new to you yesterday you couldn't remember everything. I'll start with the houses. You are sorted on the first day into the house that would suit you best and that is where you'll live while at school. Each house has a common room and dormitories. There's Hufflepuff for the loyal, Ravenclaw for the clever, Gryffindor for the brave and foolhardy if you listen to Sev, and then Slytherin for the cunning. Uncle Sev is head of Slytherin house as well as teaching potions."
"Which house do you think you'll be in?"
"Slytherin," answered Draco without hesitation. "My whole family has been in that house. " Draco paused and then said, "I will warn you though that Slytherin has a bad reputation. Some dark wizards have come from that house and so people now think that Slytherin automatically means you're going to be bad but that's not true. We may be cunning and sly sometimes but we are extremely loyal to our friends."
Harry frowned, that didn't seem fair at all. It was like the way other children judged him at school based on what Dudley said. If anyone had bothered to get to know him they would have seen the truth. "I don't see how anyone can judge an entire house on a few individuals."
"That's just the way it is, I don't understand it either. I asked Mum and Dad about it once but they said I was too young to understand and they would tell me when I'm older." Draco then carried on by explaining all of the lessons to Harry before moving on to the rules of quidditch.
It gave Harry a lot of food for thought. He was excited to be going to Hogwarts but he was still apprehensive about living with Severus. He wanted to ask Draco about him but was afraid because he knew that Severus was Draco's uncle and he didn't want to upset him.
"What is it Harry, I can tell you want to ask me something."
Harry started to nibble on his bottom lip again, something he always did when he was nervous. "Erm..It's about Severus."
"Oh" said Draco now understanding Harry's hesitancy. "I know Uncle Sev can look a bit scary at first but believe me he isn't at all. His reputation comes from being quite hard on his students at school because he teaches potions and if people are silly in his class then it can be really dangerous. His strict approach works though; no one has ever been seriously hurt in a potions accident since he started teaching there. There's occasionally a minor accident but nothing that can't be fixed easily. When you get to know him you will find out just how caring he is."
Harry nodded feeling a bit better about things now. He had seen glimpses of what Severus could be like when he was upset earlier and the man had offered to take him in so he couldn't be all bad. Then again they had only been together with the Malfoys around, what if he changed when they were alone and he became like his uncle? No, he had to stop thinking like that, for some reason he trusted that Draco wouldn't lie to him so he would give Severus a chance. He had the chance of a new beginning and for once in his young life he was going to hope.
"So enough talking," said Draco bringing Harry out of his thoughts. "I'm going to teach you how to play wizards chess."
