Chapter Eighteen: The Return Home

The time has come to return home after a year of learning, friends, and danger. Ron attempts to begin bridging the gap between the Weasleys and the Malfoys, and Draco finally meets the Dursleys.

The ride back to London went a great deal faster, and the compartment a great deal fuller, than the ride to Hogwarts had been, but the Gryffindors soaked up the time they had left with one another, most of them hoarding the memories that they hoped would help to stave off the loneliness, hate, and despair they knew awaited them at home.

Once they arrived at King's Cross, there were attendants that stemmed the flood of students going through the platform back to the muggle world. Considering the trouble they went through to keep the magical platform hidden from the muggles, it would have been counterproductive to let a steady stream of children run through the wall and advertise its location.

Though some bemoaned the long wait, the six Gryffindors weren't among them, as more than half of them didn't really want to go back home at all, knowing what awaited them there.

"I asked the twins before we left," Ron said. "We're gonna talk to mum about letting everyone come to visit sometime this summer, even you and Draco, Blaise. Do you think your relatives will let you join us?"

Harry shrugged. "Suppose it'll depend on how much they want me out of their hair." He admitted.

"Desmond won't," Blaise mumbled.

"I doubt my parents will let me go either," Draco admitted. "Father really doesn't like your dad."

Ron shrugged. "It'll be worth a shot, right? Can't hurt to ask."

Blaise winced.

"Sorry, mate." Ron grimaced.

"Seriously," Draco scoffed. "All year."

"See ya, Harry!" some nameless student called.

"That was rude." Draco scowled after them. "Doesn't he see you're talking to someone?"

"Listening, actually," Harry pointed out.

Neville shook his head. "Still famous, huh Harry?"

Harry glanced at Tarana. "Not where I'm going," he assured them.

"Oh, I think they'll quickly learn to adapt," Tarana said evenly. "Your aunt is aware of the alternative."

All too soon, the six Gryffindors were through to the muggle platform.

They were quickly accosted by the strawberry blond matron of the Weasley family and Harry, Draco, and Blaise again thanked her for the fudge (and sweater) they'd received for Christmas.

Neville spotted his grandmother, a severe-looking woman on the outskirts of the crowd, and with a wave to his new friends and a promise to try and keep in touch with Blaise, he headed in her direction.

"You're relatives here yet?" Draco asked quietly while Mrs. Weasley was distracted with Blaise and Ron.

Harry tilted his head in the direction of the three Dursleys, pretending to be absorbed with whatever Molly was saying to the other two boys for those extra few minutes with his friends. "Yours?"

"Not yet," Draco told him, though he didn't appear to be looking, too busy with the staring contest he was having with Dudley.

The muggle looked away first, though Harry wasn't surprised. If Uncle Vernon had caught Dudley eyeing any of the witches or wizards on the platform, he was sure his cousin would hear about it.

"Come on," Draco said suddenly, grabbing Harry by the wrist. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Weasley," he added absently as he dragged the brunette towards his relatives.

"Draco, I don't think this is a good idea," Harry said, trying half-heartedly to tug his wrist free of the blonde's tight grip.

"Hello," Draco said, ignoring Harry's warning and appearing every ounce the rich snob that Harry vaguely remembered from the first train ride. "I'm Draco Malfoy, a friend of Harry's from school."

Vernon stared at the child and Petunia's expression appeared torn between wanting to follow the social protocols and introduce herself and her family, and scrunching up her nose like there was something foul before her.

"Draco," Harry sighed, before shaking his head. "My Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and cousin Dudley."

Draco nodded. "Harry told us all about you. Nice to finally meet you."

Vernon looked like he'd bitten something sour.

'Come now,' Tarana purred, safely hidden beneath Fallen's Disillusionment Charm, much as the wolf himself was. Yoko was curled up in a ball like an overgrown cat in Blaise's arms. 'You can't tell me that you're going to leave it up to a child to carry all the manners of this conversation.'

"Pleasure," Petunia finally breathed. "How was your school year?"

"Wonderful," Draco said, smiling will false cheer and brightness. "Thank you for asking." He turned his attention back to Harry. "You will keep in touch, right? Otherwise Fallen and I might have to find other ways to make sure that you're being treated as you should be."

'Don't show your hand just yet, Dragon,' Fallen warned him, still with the others, but obviously paying attention to the muggles responsible for Harry's fiscal well-being. 'There may come a time where we'll need the muggles to get us access to Harry in the future.'

Harry's eyes narrowed warningly. "I'll be just fine, Draco." He said firmly.

Draco nodded. "Good," he said, before looking off to the side. "Oh, there's Father."

'Keep in touch, Master Malfoy,' Tarana said, pressing her head into Harry's hand so he would know where she was. 'I'm afraid that once we return to the Dursley home he will be hurting for companions.'

"Don't worry, Your Highness," he said, smiling wide and false at the Dursleys. "I'll take good care of Harry." He looked back at Harry. "See you next year?"

Harry nodded, smiling faintly. "Wouldn't miss it."

Draco smirked, before turning on his heel and heading in the direction he'd seen his father.

Harry followed him with his eyes but hunched over when he found Lucius Malfoy, for it could be no one else, watching him.

The man looked regal in a way that none of the other parents, or in all honestly any adult on the platforms around them.

He was dressed in a full suit with a cane planted on the ground and both hands folded over the top of it. His long blond hair was the exact shade of his son's.

Harry was surprised to find Katelyn standing beside him, hands folded primly before her and head high. Even as he watched, he could see Draco's spine straightening and a hand brushing down the leg of his pants, either to get rid of any specks of dirt or dust, or to wipe sweat from his palms.

Harry swallowed nervously because Lucius didn't look like a very nice man.

Cold and distant.

"Come along, boy." Vernon finally snapped. "Don't have all day to be waiting for you. We've wasted enough time sitting here as it is."

Harry ducked his head and turned away from the Malfoys. "Yes, Uncle Vernon." He said quietly, following him out of the train station, waving half-heartedly at the others closer to the gateway to Platform nine and three quarters.

XX

Tarana turned to look back at the collection of Gryffindors and Valerians, half of whom she couldn't see.

'They'll take good care of each other,' Alex said.

Tarana nodded, though no one could see it.

'If all goes according to plan,' the Queen murmured. 'They're going to need it.'

'So, you plan to go ahead with your plan then?'

'I seriously hope that it doesn't come to that,' Tarana admitted. 'But promises have been made and I have a reputation to uphold.'

'I seriously hope you know what you're doing, Tarana.' Alex sighed. 'Because this is going to hurt, no matter what the outcome.'

Tarana turned away from the growing family of her charge and jumped into the backseat with Dudley and Harry.

It was a tight fit, and likely the reason the entire Dursley family had been dragged along for the ride.

'Then we'd better make it count.' She said.

Author's Notes:

And thus we end the first story of Harry Potter and the Valerians.

I know I mentioned earlier in this book that I might not be able to finish Chamber of Secrets before this one was finished, but I am happy to say that I underestimated myself and actually finished it around the time I posted Chapter Fifteen of this story.

Though the story is done, there will be a week's hiatus before I post the Chamber of Secrets, more for me than for you, but feel free to use that time to reread this book in preparation. These books are lovely, wonderful things, but Lords Above and Below they certainly don't get shorter as they go on, do they?

Thanks for reading. :)