Chapter 27

The weekend was over far too quickly for Draco. He and Hermione had managed to spend a blissful hour together in the room of requirement, ignoring their anxiety about the upcoming week of exams and Draco's impending homelessness enough to slake their lust and spend a little time re-affirming their feelings for one another, physically at least!

He still hadn't told Hermione that his mother had given away their house and that he had nowhere to go at the end of term. He didn't want to burden her with it, and if he was honest with himself, he didn't want to think about it that much either lest he lose focus and succumb to panic.

As flippant as he had been to Theo about his predicament he had a feeling that setting up home in the muggle world would be more difficult than he had made out. No doubt Granger would be a very helpful person to speak to about all this. Still, he hesitated.

Maybe he should write to his mother first? Get his belongings sent on to him at school, provided that his mother had kept them, and then research how to find a muggle dwelling to rent.

This was all playing on his mind over the weekend, and it was on Sunday evening when Hermione questioned him about his preoccupation that he realised that he wasn't hiding his feelings as well as he had thought.

"Are you ok, Draco?" she asked, as she sat tucked into his side on the sofa in their little "room of requirement" haven.

"Yes, I'm good." He told her, nuzzling against her cheek with his own; he didn't want her to worry.

"It's just that you have been quiet…" she said, cutting off his protest to the contrary by continuing with "ever since you spoke to Pansy."

He fell silent for a moment; did Granger think that there was still something between him and Pansy? Or that he wanted to re-kindle something between them?

"Granger, I'm not sure what you're trying to ask here. I'm ok, just feeling really stressed I suppose. Why do you think that has anything to do with Pansy?" He hoped that Hermione would realise that Pansy was honestly nothing to him now, had always been nothing to him really.

"I just wondered if she had said something to you that had upset you…" Granger sounded normal but he could hear that there was an undercurrent to her words; maybe a mix of insecurity and jealousy? He wanted to reassure her that there was no need for either of these emotions; he had already told her that he wanted to marry her, for Salazar's sake! Perhaps he should tell her about what his mother had done…

"Nothing Pansy says could upset me." He told her. "I suppose I'm worried about something to do with my mother, but I had resolved not to think about until after the exams. I guess I haven't been managing to put it from my mind as well as I thought."

"Oh." Said Hermione, seeming to brighten slightly. "What's going on with your mum?"

Of course, he had known that Hermione would then want to find out what was happening with his mother, she was too curious to let it go. He thought about how to tell her without making her think that his family was totally insane, but realised that whatever way he span this, the outcome would still be the same.

"In order to secure the engagement with Astoria Greengrass, my mother had to offer a bride price. The only thing of value that she had to barter was our house. I imagine she thought that she would be able to stay in the house as our families would be joined, or maybe even move into one of the other Greengrass properties. My refusal of the marriage has meant that she, and me of course, have been left without anywhere to live."

The look on Hermione's face was priceless.

"But can't they just give the house back now that the engagement won't be going ahead?!"

Draco chuckled quietly. "Well, yes. Of course they could, but they won't. They are keeping the house as reparations for the insult of my rejection of Astoria."

"But that's crazy!" Hermione seemed genuinely bewildered. "It's like we're living in the dark ages! You can't just buy a person like that… and then to not give back the house..."

"Yep. I know Granger, but it's the pureblood way. It's how the system has been perpetuated over the years; if you want to not be a part of it you have to give up so much. Look at the Weasley's, why do you think they are so poor? One of them married a muggleborn against their family's wishes and were cut off, and they have never recovered financially. They are often held up as an example as to why we should do as we are told."

"But the Weasley's are decent people! And they are happy!" Hermione seemed to be heading towards outrage now, which was better than pity, he supposed.

"I'm sure they are," he said, to pacify her. "but it doesn't mean that things haven't been hard for them due to lack of Galleons."

"I suppose..." she concurred.

"And, it doesn't change the fact that when school finishes that I have nowhere to go." He said firmly.

"Where is your mum staying? Can't you move in with her?" Hermione frowned.

"Mother is staying with her sister, and she made it pretty clear that I wasn't welcome. Apparently I have chosen my path and am on it alone." He tried to make light of it, he really didn't want Granger to pity him or think that he was hinting to come and live with her.

"I'm surprised that Andromeda has said you can't stay there with your mother. She is usually very kind…"

"It's mother who said I'm not welcome, not Andromeda. And I think in the long run, it's a good thing. I am on a very different path to her, the things that she holds important no longer mean much to me and I resent having to cater to her sensibilities. The only issue is what to do in the short term. I was thinking that I would try and rent somewhere in the muggle world until my NEWT results come through and I can start training." Now that he was talking about it, it made sense. He and his mother needed to just get on with their lives, and as they couldn't agree on how to do this then it made sense to go their separate ways.

"Oh Draco, I'm so sorry…"said Hermione, but Draco was quick to divert her sympathy.

"It's ok, you don't need to feel sorry for me. Like I said, long term it's for the best. It's just the next few months that I'm struggling to work out what I'm going to do for."

"We'll work something out." She said comfortingly, leaning in to squeeze his wrist. "It may be worth speaking to McGonagall to see if there is anything in place for students who have nowhere to go after school. Like you say, it would only need to be temporary but it could help you get through the next few months."

That was actually a really good suggestion, it hadn't occurred to him to ask the school for help. Talking to Granger about this had actually been a good thing, making him feel a little less worried. Maybe the old adage was true; a problem shared really was a problem halved?

The rest of the evening was pleasant, and they both went back to their dormitories early to get a good night's sleep for the following day. Although neither of them had any exams tomorrow they were both determined to get a good day of revision in. Draco was going to concentrate on Herbology, and Hermione on Ancient Runes. Only one week of exams to go, and then he could relax!

The next few days went as expected, Transfiguration and Ancient Runes exams were taken, and Draco felt happy with his performance. Especially in Ancient Runes where there was a particularly difficult translation that would mean something completely different if just one of the runes was identified wrongly. Luckily Draco had noticed the extra side slash on the rune "aesc" that turned it into "ac" and so had avoided catastrophe!

Thursday, the morning of the Herbology theory exam had arrived, and as usual he was out of bed and at breakfast before a lot of the other students had surfaced. He was looking forward to getting his final subject done and dusted, and using the rest of his school time to perfect his job applications and work out what he was going to do next.

"Malfoy!" Draco was surprised to have Potter bearing down on him from the other side of the corridor outside the great hall.

"Alright Potter?" he asked. What did he want? Had Granger sent him with a message or something?

"Hermione mentioned your predicament to me…" he started.

Draco felt a flash of annoyance. He hadn't told Granger to not tell anyone else, but he had thought that she would be a little more discrete with his business…

"Don't look like that," said Potter, making Draco realise that he was curling his lip in annoyance. "I have actually come to speak to you about something I think might help you."

"Alright," said Draco warily. How was Potter going to help him?

"You can come and stay at mine." Said Potter, sounding resolute.

Draco just stared at him for a moment; he was joking, right?

"I'm serious." Said Harry. "You remember what your grandmother's house is like, surely? It's far too big for just me, and technically, it's still your ancestral home."

Draco could remember the enormous townhouse that belonged to his grandparents. He also remembered how dingy and oppressive it was too. Besides, the very idea of him and Potter living together was ridiculous!

"But we can't stand each other…" Draco said, like that was the only reason it wouldn't work.

"Can't we?" asked Potter. "I'll admit I still sometimes want to hit you with a well-timed bat-bogey hex, particularly on the quidditch pitch, but I could try to refrain. And it wouldn't be for long, would it?"

Draco was stunned into silence, worried that the solution that Potter was presenting seemed like a good option. He didn't really have anything against potter anymore, but the idea of actually living with him was just too weird!

"Potter, it's not that I don't appreciate your offer but I…" Draco began, even as a part of him was yelling at him to accept potter's hospitality.

"Don't say no just yet." Harry interjected. "Why not say yes, unless you find something better in the meantime. Honestly, Grimmauld place is large enough for us to not even see each other throughout the duration of your stay, it's not like I'm asking you to share a room or something!"

Potter was making a lot of sense, and Draco's resistance was waning.

"Did Granger ask you to persuade me?" he asked.

"Nope." Said Potter. "She doesn't even know I'm offering. She was actually asking if I knew anything about having to present ID in the muggle world when applying to rent a property. I don't think you can apply for somewhere without any, which would be a problem as you don't have any muggle ID. So I thought I would try and help."

"Why?" Draco couldn't help but ask, even as he was wondering what the hell muggle ID was.

"Because I actually think you are being given a raw deal. You used to be such a dick, but after everything that went on you have actually shown yourself to be pretty decent. Plus, I trust Hermione's judgement and she seems to like you."

"Bloody Saint Potter strikes again!" Draco snarled, but without any real heat. "You need to stop being so noble and forgiving before I vomit!"

"Is that a yes, then?" asked Potter, unperturbed by Draco's sulky tone.

"Do you still have the portrait of dear old Granny Black in the hallway?" he asked sweetly. "It always used to tell me how handsome I was when I visited…"

"It most certainly is. I'll be sending you to pacify her when she starts shrieking and carrying on about something next time, what with being a "by-product of dirt and vileness" she doesn't really listen to me." Potter said wryly.

"That sounds like her," said Draco with a mock nostalgic sigh. He didn't know why he was winding up Potter, especially as he had just been so charitable towards him, but it would be weird to do anything other than trade insults with him.

"So, come home with me from Kings Cross, stay as long as you need." Said Harry, turning away so he could go in to the hall for breakfast.

"Cheers Potter," muttered Draco, just loud enough for him to hear.

Draco was still feeling bemused when he filed into the great hall a short while later to sit his Herbology theory exam; was he really going to move in with Potty? And in his grandmother's old house, no less?

Professor Sprout was at the front of the hall, her strident voice issuing instructions bringing Draco back to the task at hand. He needed to concentrate if he was going to get a good pass grade today.

"You may begin!" called Professor Sprout, and Draco turned over his exam paper to read the first question;

a) Aconite is often known by which two other names?

b) Describe how to harvest Aconite correctly.

Draco smiled, he recalled Professor Snape using a similar question to humiliate Potter in his very first potions class, and it had always stuck in his mind. Picking up his quill, he started to write, hoping that he had revised enough to get the grade he needed.

Two hours later, he emerged from the great hall in a gaggle of noisy students, all expressing their pleasure at the exam being over. He just had to get through the Herbology practical this afternoon, and he was done!

Instead of heading straight back into the great hall to eat, Draco went back to the common room so that he could finally pen a response to his mother's letter. He felt the need to put this situation to bed, so he could truly relax at the end of the exams.

Mother,

I hope you are well, and that you are enjoying the hospitality of your sister. I understand that you are upset with me for not honouring the engagement to Miss Greengrass, but I once again reiterate that if you had kept to the agreement that we made before I returned to school then this would not currently be an issue.

I have managed to secure myself somewhere to stay until I get my exam results and can apply for apprenticeships. Would you be kind enough to send my belongings here for me to take to my new lodgings at the end of term? If this is not possible then I will try to arrange a time that is mutually convenient for me to come to Andromeda's to collect them.

Best wishes,

Draco.

He had purposefully left out where he was going to be staying, so that his mother would have to actually ask him if she wanted to know. If she was as truly indifferent to him as her previous letter suggested then she wouldn't bother to ask, and if she wasn't so disinterested then he was calling her bluff.

He sighed as he addressed the envelope and started off towards the Owlery; why was his mother so difficult?! He understood that she had not known anything other than the pureblood life, but things were so different now. Her refusal to try and see things any other way both baffled and exasperated him.

Letter dispatched via a large Tawny owl, Draco finally made his entrance into the great hall for lunch. Throwing caution to the wind, he walked past the Slytherin table and over to the Gryffindor table where Hermione and Harry sat talking to Ginny and Longbottom.

Feigning nonchalance, he slid into the bench seat beside Hermione and draped his arm around her shoulders.

"Hi Granger," he said. "How did you find it this morning?"

"Hi." Said Granger, with her eyebrows raised. "It was ok. What about you?"

"Fine. Not too bad." He turned to ask Potter the same thing, and was greeted by several shocked faces.

"Are you lost Malfoy?" asked Ginny belligerently.

"No." he said with a smile. "I have come over here to speak to my friends."

"I don't see any of your friends here," she said nastily. "Although, I don't think you have many friends over there either." She gestured towards the Slytherin table, some of whom had noticed what was happening and they didn't look impressed by it.

"Ginny…" said Hermione warningly, but it was Harry's dark look at his girlfriend that made Ginny lapse into silence and look away in annoyance.

"Neville was just saying that Professor Sprout has been breeding Snargaluff trees this term, so it's likely that they will feature in the practical this afternoon." Said Hermione, breaking the atmosphere somewhat.

"Oh no, those things are vicious!" said Draco with a groan.

"It's all in the handling, Malfoy!" said Neville knowledgably, and the low hum of conversation began to flow around them once more, now that there was unlikely to be any further drama. Draco felt strangely proud of himself; how many more partisan taboos would he break before he left school?