Despite the cold autumn dampness that had spread throughout the castle and grounds Harry still fled to the owlery for solitude. Ever since his second year the owlery had always been a safe place for Harry, most students avoiding it at all costs due to the smell.
He sat in the highest part of the tower crawling up into a mostly clean window sill to contemplate what to do. In one hand he held his mail, a letter from Molly Weasley in an open envelope sat in front, in the other hand he held a mostly crushed article. An article Harry knew would ruin his chances at having a peaceful half week before the first task.
Harry couldn't even get through the garbage, and could barely get through Molly's concerned letter. Instead he shuffled the letters and focused on Sirius' which he had neglected opening at the shock of receiving something from a Weasley.
The letter was dated almost a week past, answering Harry's letter from the day before his fall. He had written a short unassuming letter, trying to tell Sirius he knew what the first task was and that it seemed difficult. He had said he needed to practice and might not write back before the task.
When he opened the letter to see a hastily jotted note, he was surprised.
Harry,
I know that you are scared but you are strong, do you need me? I can make the arrangements.
Letters are taking too long so I will be changing tactics.
Disappointed in the adults, do you want another fire call?
Snuffles
Maybe Harry hadn't been as unassuming as he thought. He sighed and pulled out a scrap of paper to write something just as quickly back.
Snuf
I'm fine, found a practice buddy they are helping. Still no luck with R. and H. has stopped talking too. Making new friends, they are helping.
I don't need a fire call and I know that work keeps you busy. It's not a big deal. The big test is next week and things will calm down after that. I'm feeling more prepared. Don't do anything drastic. I am fine with studying there is no need to get the adults involved.
Harry
They'd been trying to be more secretive, Sirius seemed convinced things were going back to the way they had been during the war. Harry had to admit, the fact that someone had gone through the effort of putting him in the tri-wizard tournament had him just as concerned. The idea of Sirius getting caught however, was too much to bear. The last thing Harry needed was to worry about that.
Harry sent the letter with one of the school owls that seemed smart enough for the task. He would use Hedwig to reply to Molly. Just as his brain was switching gears to write to Molly the door to the owlery several floors below was thrown open.
"Potter? Longbottom said you were hiding up here!" Harry recognized the voice and shouted back. "What excuse did you use this time?"
There was a pause and many quick footsteps padding across the stone steps until Malfoy appeared. He was slightly pink from the cold, and had a winter cloak pulled tight around himself. "Potions, something or other, I think I said we had tutoring. Why are you hiding so early in the day?"
Harry sighed, "It will have spread throughout the castle by now you may as well see it." He handed down the article to Malfoy who sat on a crate opposite Harry. He took a moment to read the whole thing over before rolling his eyes and promptly crumpling it up.
"I see Weasley's story got to the press, they didn't take a very interesting angle. I've coerced a naive Potter into using dark arts for the fame and glory of the tri-wizard cup? I hope they have fun in court trying to prove that." Malfoy looked up and gave Harry a quick smirk, "Don't look so worried Potter my father will sort all this out, its complete defamation." Malfoy seemed unphased as though these kinds of stories were written about him on a daily basis. Strangely this new attitude actually helped calm Harry quite a bit.
"I got a letter from Molly Weasley, she's all concerned by it. I'm trying to tell her in a nice way it's all bollocks while avoiding telling her Ron accidentally started it." Harry felt comfortable enough to explain, offering Malfoy a look at the letter.
Malfoy put up a hand to show he didn't need it, "I mean she should be made aware her son is being an idiot. Regardless, why is she even concerned? She's not your mother. I was expecting your relatives to have owled by now. You have told them right Potter?"
This wasn't where Harry had expected the conversation to go. His cheeks had turned pink before he could think of a response and Malfoy as quick as ever seemed to have already seen through his facade.
"Potter you have to tell your relatives I know you have this weird thing where you think you have to do all this shit all on your own but Potter they are your family! They deserve to know what's happening." Malfoy seemed frustrated and this struck a chord in Harry.
"Malfoy even if I told them they wouldn't care," Harry resigned, knowing what was to come next.
"What do you mean Harry of course they- No Malfoy, they wouldn't. In fact they may be glad. The Dursley's would in fact be thrilled if I didn't come back from my 'freak' school."
For a moment only the cooing of the owls could be heard as Harry let his words sink the wheels turned in Malfoy's head, Harry felt himself go cold he knew the boy had already sprung to one conclusion or another. The other boy moved closer and gently pulled on Harry's cloak to indicate he should come down. "Harry what is your family like?"
Harry hated this gift Malfoy seemed to have with words, how he could pick out exactly the right question to ask at exactly the moment Harry no longer wanted to answer it.
Harry gently descended to sit next to Malfoy, making sure to look him in the eyes as he spoke. "I live with muggles… You already know that. They are my only living relatives and the reason for that is because when my mom turned out to be a witch my Aunt- My mother's only sister got married, changed her name and never spoke with my mother's family again."Harry paused waiting for some kind of reaction but whatever Malfoy thought he seemed to be keeping it to himself.
Harry took a breath and continued, "When I showed up they weren't exactly thrilled but they thought there was a chance I was normal. Once I started showing signs of magic though, things took a change. They don't like to hear from me during the school year, and the current situation we have is I do work on the yard and house, in return they give me a place to stay for the couple months while school is off. If I didn't show up at the station in June they'd probably turn my room into an office or something."
Harry could feel Malfoy analyzing him, looking him over with new insight.
"Potter, I've seen the kind of hatred my father has for muggles. If these muggles hated you, I'm sure they've done more than ignore you. I'll rephrase my question from before. Potter, how did these people treat you?"
