By the time Mrs. Weasley called for dinner Harry was getting seriously worried about Hermione's eye. The small purple ring had darkened and grown to the point where she now resembled half a panda.

As the group trooped into the kitchen they were met with many stares. Harry glanced around the long table, taking in Mad-Eye Moody, Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Fred, George, and Bill Weasley, Fleur, and- he shuddered- Snape. All eyes were trained behind him at the blonde figure stepping through the door.

"Malfoy," Mad-Eye nodded as he stepped past in the direction of the door. "Nice to see you here." Any colour left in Draco's already-pale face drained.

Kingsley Shacklebolt and Snape followed Mad-Eye, thanking the Weasleys for their hospitality. As Snape reached Draco he paused.

"I would like a word with you, Malfoy, in the other room."

Draco followed him nervously. Harry watched as they walked away, then mumbled quickly, "Bathroom," before following them. He paused behind an open door as Snape turned.

"Draco, I am glad to see that you are faring well. Your mother has been quite worried about you."

Harry could just see Draco as he stood stiffly. "I'm not going back there. No matter what you say!"

"I am not here to convince you to do so. I wish only to convey a message. Your mother is well, and she misses you very much."

Draco's posture stayed stiff. "Thank you professor."

"I also wished to speak to you about the upcoming school year. Professor Dumbledore has informed me that you will be changing houses. I want to ensure you that, should you wish to, you are welcome to remain in my classes."

"Is that all professor?"

"One more thing. Neither the Dark Lord nor his servants will hear of your location from me. The safety of my students is of paramount importance." Harry heard Snape's robes rustle as he walked towards the door. The handle creaked as it was turned. "Oh, and Draco? Tell Potter that it's rude to listen at doors."

As the door shut Draco emerged from the room. "Harry."

"I wanted to make sure you were safe."

"Thanks." Draco wiped a hand over his forehead and fell back against the wall.

"It's been a tough day," Harry observed.

"I've been scared, ever since that dream…" He stared blankly ahead. "When Snape said he wanted to talk I thought he was going to say she's dead."

Harry wrapped his arm around Draco's shoulder.

"Is this what it's like," Draco's quiet voice broke the silence, "to have a friend?

Harry nodded and smiled widely.

George was smirking when Harry and Draco got back to the kitchen. Hermione was sitting in a chair, her eye more swollen than ever, while Mrs. Weasley looked perplexed. "How did you do it?" she asked her son angrily.

"Just a charm, mum, honest," George answered. "Fred's gone to find the antidote, it's the only thing that'll take it off."

There was a scurrying at the door and Fred burst in, a small container in his hand. He hurried over to Hermione and started dabbing it on her eye.

"Guess it's a good thing you didn't try healing her earlier," Harry smirked. Draco furrowed his eyebrows, then, with a shake of his head, poked Harry in the side.

"Ow!" Harry rubbed at the spot as he laughed. Draco's sense of humour had improved massively over the past few weeks.

Mrs. Weasley stood up when it became evident that the cream was working. "Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes," she declared. "Make sure that you're washed up and ready. Ginny, could you help me slice these carrots?"

Ginny huffed and looked pointedly at Draco as she picked up the knife. "It would be so much more efficient if I could use magic," she muttered under her breath.

From across the table Fred and George were glaring daggers at Draco. They passed something between their hands as the blonde boy stepped over to them.

"Fred, George," Draco began hesitantly, "I, um… Could I talk to you? Just for a moment." His cheeks turned bright red as the twins eyed him suspiciously.

"Sure," said Fred. "Let's just go out to the hall then."

Harry poked Draco as he walked past. "Don't take anything from them. Yell if you need help."

As the three boys disappeared from the kitchen Bill beckoned to Harry. "How has your summer been?"

"Really good. The Dursleys were awful as normal, but it was really nice having Draco around. They were more scared of him than of me."

Bill smiled. "I'm glad you've been enjoying yourself!" Before Harry knew it he was deep in conversation with Bill and Lupin.

As promised, Mrs. Weasley called everyone together for dinner a few minutes later. Harry smiled as Draco returned with Fred and George; their arms were clasped around him as the three laughed together. He knew that Draco must have told them about their inadvertent help in his escape from Malfoy Manor.

"Your book lists should be arriving tomorrow morning," Bill said between bites. "Dad and I both have the day off work, and the ministry is going to send cars to take all of us to Diagon Alley."

Ginny looked up. "Fantastic, I've been wanting to see Fred and George's shop!"

Fred smirked. "It really is pretty great, wouldn't you agree George?"

"Top notch. Best joke shop in all of London!"

Bill smiled. "There'll also be an auror coming along. Probably Kingsley. He'll take Harry and Draco first, since they both need to get into their vaults and Gringott's is a mess right now."

Harry grimaced at the idea of an auror escorting them through the streets of Diagon Alley. He really would rather go alone. Once he glanced over at Draco, though, he realized that it really would be best for them to be accompanied. Now the Death Eaters would be looking for both of them.

The owls arrived during breakfast; five of them, each carrying a sealed envelope. As Harry unfolded his a small silver pin fell into his hand.

"Look!" he exclaimed, holding it up,"I've been made captain of the Quidditch team!"

"That's brilliant Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "That puts you equal with Prefects! You can use our special bathroom and everything!" Harry beamed with pride.

"Eat quickly boys," Mrs. Weasley urged Harry and Draco. "The car from the ministry will be here for you any minute."

It wasn't long before Harry and Draco were seated comfortably in the backseat of a Ministry car. Kingsley Shacklebolt was seated beside Harry, assigned to protect the two boys for the day.

"We'll visit Gringotts first," the Auror was saying. "I can get you in more quickly than the general public, but it could still be a wait of several hours." Harry grimaced. "We will meet with the Weasleys afterwards. There shouldn't be as much need for me to stay close after that."

Harry watched out the window as the Leaky Cauldron came into view. A large figure in a hideous, shaggy jacket came into view.

"Hagrid!" Harry cried as he scrambled out of the car. "I didn't know that you would be here!"

"Course I'm here Harry! Someone's got to keep an eye on all of you, can't expect Kingsley to manage it alone, can yeh?"

Harry laughed as the group moved through the pub. With a shock, he noticed that the bar, normally a popular location, was completely empty. Tom, the bartender, looked up eagerly as Hagrid approached.

"Sorry, Tom, nothin fer me today. Hogwart's business yeh know."

The group walked through the pub and stepped through the entrance to Diagon Alley. Expecting to see it bright and bustling as usual, Harry was taken aback to see many of the shops closed. Kingsley noticed his shocked glances.

"There's been a lot of disappearances in the last few weeks. Florean Fortescue, Ollivander. Lots of people have been packing up and leaving the country too."

Harry glanced at the empty shop windows as they passed. Most were covered with posters; wanted posters of witches and wizards cackling silently, safety reminders, and Ministry guidelines. Halfway down the street was a large picture of a witch with wild brown hair dancing madly under a banner that declared: Wanted. Extremely Dangerous. Suspected to be in Possession of a Wand. Harry glanced at Draco as they passed, but his face showed no recognition of his aunt.

Finally the group reached Gringotts. "Keep close together," Kingsley muttered as he led them up the stairs, past the long line of witches and wizards waiting to access their vaults.

The inside of the bank was ludicrously busy. Wizards and goblins bustled about everywhere, clutching money bags in their hands. Kingsley led them to a window behind which a goblin was scribbling madly on a piece of parchment.

"Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy for their vaults. This is official Auror business."

The goblin looked up with a scowl. "Keys?" Harry and Draco held them up. "That line there," the goblin motioned.

Harry looked at the indicated line. It wasn't long and mostly contained members of the Ministry. He followed as Kingsley stepped behind another man wearing Auror robes.

"Morning, Dwight," Kingsley greeted as Hagrid pushed in behind the boys. "How are things with Luc and the kids?"
"Doing well. Peter just started walking on his own the other day!"

Harry's face fell at the name Peter. An ache awoke deep inside of him for his godfather Sirius. Why should the rat Peter Pettigrew get to live after betraying so many of his friends?

The line moved surprisingly quickly, and before Harry knew it he and Draco were settling into a cart behind Kingsley. Hagrid waited for them aboveground, as he did not fit into the cart with the others. Soon the cart was zooming down the track at a dizzying speed.

"Draco Malfoy," their goblin escort said as the cart pulled to a stop. "This way."

Harry recognized the corridor that they had stopped in; his vault was just around the corner. Unfolding himself from the cart he followed Draco and Kingsley as they stopped in front of a large door. Draco pulled the key from his pocket and inserted it into the ornate lock.

"Wow," Harry gasped as he saw the inside of the vault. It was brimming with gold; piles of it stretched to the ceiling. "I knew your family's rich, but this is incredible!"

Draco looked at him quizzically. "This is nothing compared to my parent's vault. Besides, didn't you inherit everything from Black? You might be surprised how much is in your own vault now."

Kingsley stepped between the boys and handed them each a small money bag. "These have been enlarged with undetectable extension charms. I suggest that you both take out as much as you can, as you may not have the opportunity to return again for some time."

Draco took the bag and disappeared into his vault. A few minutes later he returned, the small bag bulging. The party followed the goblin around a bend in the track, where Harry produced his own key and pulled open the door to his vault.

Draco was right; Harry was surprised to see how much had been added to his vault. He had never realized how wealthy Sirius had been. He stepped inside and quickly began scooping galleons into his bag. He added a handful each of Sickles and Knuts on top and pulled it closed.

Back outside Kingsley stopped to check the time.

"The Weasleys won't be here for another hour," he remarked. "Is there anything special that you need to buy that the others might not require?" he looked at Draco.

"I need everything," Draco's eyebrows drew close together. "I don't have any school robes, or even a trunk or cauldron."

An hour later Harry and Draco were weaving through the maze of temporary stalls that lined Diagon Alley selling protective amulets and enchantments. Kingsley followed close behind, levitating a trunk containing Draco's new cauldron and potions ingredients. Hagrid trailed behind, apologizing heartedly as he bumped into vendors in the crowded street.