Chapter eight: Seeing people Harry usually likes and Being seen by people that usually don't like Harry
When Draco saw his school rival sitting at Fortescue's with the Weasel and Granger he felt rather conflicted. On one hand he wanted to approach them like he usually did, try to destroy their day and all. On the other hand, the last time he'd seen Potter he'd been with the Dark Lord and Draco didn't want to risk being seen as an annoyance that could be replaced in the eyes of his lord. Then there was the fact that he also felt a bit jealous. He wasn't really comfortable in admitting it but there it was: Draco Malfoy was jealous of Harry Potter the Boy Who Couldn't Die. It mostly depended on the fact that at present time Draco was stared at like he was the dirt on people's shoes while Potter was looked upon in awe once again.
It was when Draco was standing lost in his thoughts that luminous green eyes suddenly bore into his and he froze on the spot. The eyes seemed amused and slightly malicious as if they had some dark plan intended for the recipient of that gaze, a plan that they weren't a bit hesitant in carrying out. Draco had never really felt fearsome of the eyes' owner, but there was something lurking behind those orbs that suddenly made him thinking of fleeing the country and hide in a nice big bed with numerous comforters covering him. When he saw those eyes he couldn't help but wonder if Potter's behaviour in the Dark Lord's office hadn't on purpose been intended to throw him of balance to make him sit down on that couch. He felt his blood start to boil and cold sweat break out at the thought of the punishment he had taken that day. He had never been more afraid of the Dark Lord then in that moment.
Then suddenly Draco could move again as Potter looked away to respond to something his companions had said and Draco was stuck wondering how he ever could have been afraid of Scar-head while he hurried off to Knockturn Alley as to not to be late for his appointment.
When Harry saw his school rival staring at him while he was eating ice cream with his friends at Fortescue's in Diagon Alley he felt terribly amused. He could very well imagine how weird it must be for Malfoy to see him in such an innocuous setting after recently seeing him together with the Dark Lord. Of course, it was quite unlikely that dear Draco would have to bother himself with such questions before long. He switched his gaze to Ron seconds later when he asked how Harry's summer had been. Apparently he'd finally managed to remember his presence after Hermione had stopped blabbing and he had recovered from his bout as a love-sick puppy.
"Oh, it was fine, same as usual really. The Dursleys pretended I didn't exist, but I like it better that way." he answered. Hermione didn't seem quite satisfied with that answer though so he continued: "Ehm… I read quite a bit too, you know, about Occlumency and stuff." That should be vague yet satisfying enough for them.
"Nooo! Not another Hermione!" Ron moaned and hid his face behind his hands.
"Now Ron, you should follow his example. It's very good Harry that you've started to do something useful with your summer break." she smiled briefly at Harry before continuing to scowl against Ron.
"Hermione!" Ron said in consternation. "Breaks should be used for quidditch and sleeping, not books."
They kept arguing on this vein for some time before Harry decided enough was enough and asked them how their summers had been:
"Oh… you know. The first few weeks were fine but with all these attacks happening lately we've hardly had a chance to go outside. Not that I'm not perfectly content to sit and read, but some fresh air is nice once in a while." Hermione said.
Harry did know, and felt damn guilty about it too. He hadn't really wanted all those muggles to die but Voldemort had insisted. And Harry could see his point because they did have to put pressure on the Ministry of Magic to be able to clear out the Irrational Elements there. If people worry about outside threats they won't be as vigilant on the ones coming from inside. And besides, now that Cornelius Fudge was gone and Rufus Scrimgeour had replaced him everything was becoming much smoother. Soon there wouldn't be any need for copious amounts of bloodshed.
"Yeah, but at least Scrimgeour is clearing the ministry of spies. Well, I hope they are spies anyway. But there seems to be so many!" Ron continued.
"That's awfully strange! I haven't really heard that much about it. I didn't want to risk upsetting the Dursleys by getting owls everyday, but what I heard on the muggle news didn't sound that good."
"No it wouldn't, would it? I mean, with Voldemort… oh stop flinching Ron! ... Being revealed he doesn't need to hold back really."
"I'm just surprised there haven't been any signs of giants."
"What do you mean Ron?" Harry was rather proud of that actually. He had managed to convince Voldemort not to involve giants or Inferi. Dementors were quite enough when it came to terror.
"Well no offence to Hagrid… But his mission didn't work out that well, right? So with all the attacks lately, one would think that there would be some from giants too."
"Let's just be glad that there aren't." the others nodded.
"By the way, will you be coming with us to headquarters the last two weeks of the summer break, Harry?" Hermione asked. "The Burrow's a bit tense with Fleur there and all so we asked if we couldn't get to stay there for a while. At first it seemed like they, you know the old crowd, would abandon it because they couldn't be sure that there weren't any spells on it that would forbid someone not pureblood to own it. However, it turned out that Snuffles knew about them and found a way around them! Though I don't know how much I believe in that" she quieted but continued quickly after a glance at Harry's expression when speaking disapprovingly of Sirius "but if Dumbledore says it's alright I'm sure it'll be fine. So what do you think? You do know that Snuffles left the place to you?"
"Yeah, I know: Dumbledore told me in a letter. But I… well I… no I don't think I'd… though, oh… You know what? I think I will; I've missed you guys a bit. Wait a minute! What's Fleur doing at the Burrow?"
"Oh, haven't we told you? Fleur and Bill are getting married." Hermione responded with a overly fake smile.
"But isn't that a good thing?"
"You haven't had to spend time with her yet, mate. You wouldn't stand her either if you'd have had. Not even mom can stand her."
"Oh… well… Anyway, how did it go on your OWLs?"
"Seven of them, no O's though and I failed Divination and History of Magic, but who cares about that?" he smiled happily. "And our dear book-worm got ten O's and one E, much to her shame. How will you ever manage 'Mione?"
"Oh you! Well I suppose it's not that bad but still… And what did you get Harry?"
"Same as Ron: seven, although I got an O in Defence... I just regret that I won't be able to continue with potions, I only got an E, and if I ever want to be an auror that just won't be enough."
"But maybe Professor Dumbledore can… Oh snap! I can't believe I forgot! Dumbledore never got reinstated as headmaster. Too much happening at the ministry I suspect."
"What! Who then will we have?" Not that Harry really was unaware of that little fact but still who would have told him? It wasn't as if he could say oh you know, I was chatting a bit with Voldemort when he told me that Dumbledore's been tied up at the ministry the whole summer.
"Eh, dad says it should be McGonagall. But still that leaves us with two unknowns for Transfigurations and Defence. But who cares when there's a new quidditch season? Wonder who got captainship?"
"I did." Harry said.
"You did, that's nice. Oh you did! Well why didn't you say so?"
"Oh you guys!" Hermione sighed, "How can you think of quidditch at such a time? What if our future teachers aren't properly instructive? I don't really mind studying outside class in the library, but think of all those who can't! I just…. How can you think of flying around on cleaning utensils at such a crisis?"
"Cleaning utensils!? Why you…"
At that point Harry took the chance to sneak away; he had some business at Gringotts to do and he would meet them later in the evening when he got to Grimmauld Place anyway. He waved at Tonks standing in disguise some metres away and sneaked off.
3
