A/N: Onwards and upwards! You know the drill: if there is anything you guys would like to see in the future, drop a comment or PM me!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing! I make no profit off of this. This is solely for my enjoyment and hopefully for the enjoyment of others! ;)

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Harry didn't see Draco again until dinner. The dark haired boy had whiled away the late afternoon hours by exploring Malfoy Manor. He had gotten himself hopelessly lost within the first five minutes, but he didn't care. Whenever he needed to get back to a certain point, he would simply ask one of the people in the paintings and pictures. Some of them would simply scoff and turn their heads while others would kindly point him in the correct direction.

In his exploration, Harry had discovered three more libraries, a smattering of lavatories, and a strange metal box. It had stood at the end of a hallway that had no doors. Harry had approached it curiously. On the middle right of the door was a handle. Harry reached out and gave it a tug; it didn't budge. He gripped the handle with both hands and pulled hard. Nothing.

He frowned, then braced his feet agains the floor and heaved backwards with all of his eleven year old might. He grit his teeth as the door refused to budge. Finally Harry let go, panting slightly from the exertion.

How odd. There were no visible locks on the door yet it was clear to Harry that it was bolted shut. Maybe it was sealed with magic. Harry bit the inside of his cheek. He wondered what was hidden inside. Maybe it was where the Malfoys kept their valuables.

Deciding that it wasn't worth trying to get it open, Harry wandered off the way he had come. On his way up the stairs, he was shocked to find that he wasn't ascending alone. At some point, the house elf called Dobby had appeared beside him and was quietly following, glancing up at the newcomer every so often.

"Hullo, Dobby," Harry greeted. Dobby looked up at the boy. "Good evening, sir," Dobby greeted in return. "Master Malfoy requests that you join the family for dinner."

Harry hummed his agreement. He hadn't realized how late it had gotten. Dobby poised his fingers to snap, preparing to wink out of sight. "Dobby, wait!" Cried Harry. Dobby stared inquisitively up at the boy.

"Yes, Master Potter?"

"I don't know where to go, Dobby," Harry admitted. "Could you lead me? That is, if you don't mind?"

Dobby's emerald eyes sparked, the little elf glad to be able to help. "Of course!" Dobby cheered. "Dobby is always happy to help," he said as he grabbed Harry by the hand and began to speed walk down the hall. Harry had to trot to keep pace with the excited house elf.

The careened around corners and flew up a flight of stairs before Dobby deposited Harry at the entrance to what appeared to be the dining room. Dobby let go of Harry's hand and stepped back. Harry huffed, out of breath from their excursion. "Thanks, Dobby," he said breathlessly.

He looked down at the elf but Dobby had already disappeared.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," called the voice of Lucius Malfoy. "Delightful of you to join us. Please, come sit," he said as he gestured to the many empty seats at the table. Lucius was seated at the head of the long table with a woman, whom Harry assumed to be Mrs. Malfoy, to his right. To his left sat Draco. Harry had plenty of chairs to choose from, but he felt that it would be rude to distance him self from the family. He pulled back the seat to Draco's left and sat down.

Draco didn't look up as Harry sat down next to him. Instead he kept his gaze firmly fixed on a dark knot in the highly polished wood. Harry curiously glanced over at the other boy but said nothing.

"Harry, have you met my wife?" Lucius asked cooly. Harry turned his attention to the Malfoy patriarch. "No, sir, I haven't," he answered truthfully, because it was true: he hadn't met Mrs. Malfoy yet. He'd never even heard anything about her.

"Harry, this is my wife Narcissa Malfoy. Darling, this is Harry Potter," Lucius said.

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy," Harry said politely. Narcissa gave him a soft smile and inclined her head, but said nothing. Harry frowned slightly. What was with Mrs. Malfoy and Draco not talking? Was that one of the rules? No talking during dinner?

Before Harry had a chance to ask Draco, platters of food appeared on the table in front of them, exactly the way the food at Hogwarts did. Harry began to wonder is Hogwarts had house elves too.

Halfway through the meal, Mr. Malfoy set down his fork to speak. "Earlier, Draco was telling us about his first year at Hogwarts. He says that you were sorted into Gryffindor, yes?"

Harry swallowed his mouthful of potatoes before answering. "Yes, sir."

Lucius nodded. "Good, good." He paused to take a sip of his wine before continuing. "Draco was also informing me that you and him shared a detention this year, is that right?"

Harry choked slightly on the water he had been sipping. "Uh, yes, sir," he responded meekly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Draco duck his head.

"I see. Now," Lucius said as he folded his hands in his lap, "would either of you like to elaborate on how exactly you ended up in detention?"

Harry and Draco exchanged a loaded glance.

"Well–" Started Harry but he didn't get far.

"It was my fault," Draco interrupted. Harry shot Draco a quizzical look. "I was out after hours and Harry was just trying to get me to go back to my dorms."

Harry was shocked, not only because of the use of his first name, but because Malfoy was defending him. But for what reason? Why was Draco taking the blame?

"And you Mr. Potter? Why were you out after hours?" Lucius questioned calmly. Again, it was Draco who answered. "He, uh, he had lost–"

"–my wand," Harry cut in. "I had lost my wand."

One of Lucius's eyebrows climbed for his hairline. "Lost your wand?"

Harry and Draco both nodded quickly. Lucius's gaze jumped from his son to the Potter boy. "Pray tell," he said, leaning forward, "how exactly did you lose your wand?"

Harry thought quickly. "I'm just not used to carrying it, you know? I mean I only just found out last year that I was a wizard. Can't expect me to remember anything," he laughed breathlessly.

Lucius's other eyebrow went up. "Uh huh," he huffed, unconvinced, as he leaned back in his chair.

"Mother, may we be excused?" Asked Draco placidly, though Harry detected a twinge of nervousness in his voice. Narcissa nodded silently and Draco and Harry pushed back from their chairs. Harry mumbled a quick 'thank you' before following Draco from the room.

He waited until he was sure that they were out of earshot before he hissed, "What was that all about?"

Draco just shook his head and continued on his path. Harry stopped and watched the young Malfoy disappear around a corner. He shook his head and wondered whether he'd ever understand that boy.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Harry spat out his mouthful of toothpaste before filling his mouth with water. He swished the water back and forth between his teeth before spitting it out too.

The young wizard didn't know what else to do after dinner. He didn't feel much like exploring anymore and he didn't have any books to read. So he opted for simply going to bed early. He had changed into his pajamas, washed his face, and had just finished brushing his teeth.

He switched off the light and exited the bathroom that adjoined to his room. He crossed the room to his bed and flipped back the heavy duvet. He peeled back the underlying sheet before settling himself on the firm mattress. He clicked off the lap, folded his glasses, placed them on the nightstand, and slid down farther under the duvet. He closed his eyes and sighed, welcoming the weight of the blanket as it moulded around him.

Just as Harry felt himself tipping over the brink into the world of sleep, a sound niggled at his ear. He tugged open heavy lids and listened for the sound again. He wasn't exactly sure what he had heard.

Harry's ears perked up as he heard a muffled crash. He shoved the blanket away and sat up, shoving his glasses on his face. He stared at light that creeped around the crack between the door and the doorframe.

Harry held his breath, struggling to catch another noise. With the sound of his breathing suppressed, Harry swore he could hear what sounding like shouting. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Harry got up and crept out of his room. He saw that the doorway across from his was swung wide open. By the dim light of the candles adorning the hall, Harry could just make out a bed with blankets and sheets tousled, not unlike his own.

Harry would have loved to investigate further but his ears caught the sound of the shouting again, and he was reminded of why he was out of bed in the first place. Harry kept his footsteps quiet, a trick he had taught himself due to years of living with the Dursleys.

He padded down the hallway and took a left around the first corner. Next he took a right followed by another right. Then his ears led him down a flight of stairs and into a dark hallway. In fact, it was so dark that, had it not been for his hair, Harry might have missed the balled up form of Draco Malfoy leaning against the wall.

Harry had to squint to make out Draco's shape. Draco had shoved himself up against the wall; his knees were drawn to his chest, his slender arms holding them in place. His chin rested on top of his bony knees. To put it frankly, Draco looked miserable.

The shouting was coming from a familiar set of mahogany double doors. Harry guessed that the voices engaged in the verbal sparring belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Not knowing what else to do, Harry settled on sitting next to Malfoy.

Harry slid down the wall until he was sitting on his bottom, his knees drawn up in a position identical to Draco's. Draco dropped his head to side and looked at Harry sideways. Harry stared back. "What's going on?" Harry whispered. Draco shrugged but Harry guessed that the young Malfoy knew exactly what was going on but didn't wish to share.

Harry brushed it off; if Malfoy didn't want to share, that was fine with him. Harry, after all, had no business prying into the Malfoy's family matters.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked quietly. "Draco squinted at Harry incredulously. Harry shrugged back at him. Draco snorted softly before returning his gaze to the closed double doors.

Harry followed suit. He closed his eyes and tried to make out the words the Malfoys were hurling.

"What were you expecting Lucius?"

"Not that. We've raised him to be respectful to his elders. We've raised him to follow rules–"

"No, Lucius. You've raised him to follow rules. I have had no hand in that."

"Whether or not you had a hand in his upbringing is no concern of mine."

"How dare you? How could–"

"He is better than this! I've taught him to be better than this!"

"Merlin's beard, it was detention, Lucius! You act like he's gone and murdered someone."

Draco buried his forehead in the crook of his elbow. Harry gave the young Malfoy a look of sympathy but made no effort to comfort him.

"Time after time again he has brought disgrace on the Malfoy name."

"Oh please, you act like you were never given a detention in school."

"I wasn't. I was very close to being perfect. Saint like, if you please."

There was a laugh, discernibly filled with disbelief.

"He wouldn't have even been out of bed had it not been for Potter."

"Oh come now, Lucius. That's hardly fair. You heard from their own mouths what happened."

Another laugh rang out, this one was cold. "Don't tell me that you actually believed them? Draco has never been a good liar. Did you see his nose? It twitched. It always twitches when he's lying."

"Lucius–"

"Go and wake Potter. I'll get the real story from him."

Draco's head shot up, his eyes suddenly filled with panic. Harry raised an eyebrow at the now alert boy sitting next to him.

"Lucius–" Narcissa tried again.

"Don't argue with me, woman."

There was a beat of silence followed by the sounds of footsteps approaching the door.

"No, no, no…" Draco breathed, horror seeping in to his voice. He scrambled to his feet and reached down. He wrapped his long fingers around Harry's wrist and tugged. Harry shoved himself to his feet, Malfoy's panic igniting something in him. Draco didn't wait until Harry had stood all the way up before he was pulling the boy down the hall behind him.

Harry stumbled the first few steps before gathering his feet under him. "Draco, what–"

"Sh!" Draco threw over his shoulder, not slowing his pace. Harry set his jaw and wordlessly followed the blonde haired boy. Draco led them up the staircase Harry had descended not ten minutes ago. Harry speculated that Draco was leading them back to Harry's room.

Harry had guessed incorrectly. Instead of turning left at the top of the staircase, Draco went right. Fickle flames that danced atop candlewicks winked out as the two boys sped past, a gust of air whirling behind them. Harry lost count of how many turns they had taken; he was utterly and completely lost. He was thankful that Draco was leading him, for he had no idea where he was.

After a few more moments of weaving and ducking and veering, Draco finally came to a halt in front of a door. He let go of Harry's wrist and threw open the door. The black haired boy peered over Malfoy's shoulder. What he saw was… a closet?

"You brought us to a closet?" He asked, dumbfounded. Once again, Draco quickly shushed him. Then, without warning, he spun around, grabbed Harry's shoulders and shoved him into the closet.

"Malfoy, what–"

Draco slapped a hand over Harry's mouth; Harry's eyes went wide. He stared into Malfoy's ice blue eyes. Draco's eyes were filled with panic, desperation, and, overall, fear. Harry wondered what could have Malfoy so spooked.

Draco leaned in very close to Harry. "Stay here. Stay here and be quiet," he instructed firmly. "If I'm not back within an hour, go back to your room. Go back to your room, go to sleep, and don't get up for anything. You stay in your bed until morning. Do you understand?"

Harry nodded, a sliver of fear striking his heart. Draco inhaled deeply and removed his hand from Harry's mouth.

"Malfoy, I don't–"

Before Harry could say anything else, the door was closed in his face. Harry backed up until his back touched the wall. All he could do now was wait.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Thanks for reading! Drop me a review if you've got the time! All the love and butterflies!