Inwardly, Harry grimaced, half-hating having to tell Draco Malfoy about being rescued from the Dursleys. And yet, Draco was being remarkably open himself - and if Harry just closed his eyes, he could picture it, almost as if he had a family. a real family, anyhow, the Dursleys didn't count.
"I wasn't allowed to even send a letter to my friends," Harry Potter began, "So, George and Fred got an idea."
"Oh, I've heard all about the sorts of ideas those two get up to." Draco Malfoy said.
Harry did a doubletake. Was that actual appreciation in Draco Malfoy's voice?
Draco belatedly noticed Harry's eyes bulging out of his face, and he laughed at the improbable sight. "They're a crafty couple, make no mistake."
"But- you - !" Harry said, nearly incoherently.
Luckily, Draco seemed willing to translate, "Hating someone, feuding with them's one thing, Potter. But any craftsman can appreciate a well made piece, and those two make intricate schemes." Draco slowly smiled, and then drawled, "Would you believe that two of them are up on the Slytherin Common Room's wall? Complete with notations and questions."
"Really?" Harry Potter asked, eyes wide.
"They'll stay up there until the seventh years finish figuring out the spells, and the fifths finish figuring out the rest of it all." Draco Malfoy said with a grin. "Last year, I helped by suggesting they had used a house elf to smuggle the potion that turned Snape's hair green!" Harry just looked at him, expression entirely confounded. Draco continued, as if he hadn't noticed Potter's response, "I was wrong, of course, but in Slytherin house, it's the thought that counts."
Harry Potter couldn't help himself, he let out a loud guffaw that startled both horses into trotting forward a bit. "That's not what the saying means..." He finally wheezed out.
Harry Potter picked his story back up, by saying, "I think the twins were really just worried about me. No letters and all that." Draco nodded politely. "They swooped down in a flying automobile, and plucked me right out of the second story bedroom window!"
"What did your relations think of something like that?"
"Well, they weren't exactly pleased - it had made something of a ruckus, and they're never fond of loudness and attention-attracting." Harry said the last with airquotes, before continuing, "But I bet they were glad to see my backside, and no mistake!" Harry laughed, and Draco found himself wondering what sort of person would find that quite so belly-achingly funny. Draco certainly wouldn't, if his parents would rather he not be there.
Draco's mouth opened almost of its own free will, "Wait, what's an automobile? I take it they don't generally fly...?"
[a/n: And scene! Up next, I'm going to come up with something for Snape to do. Suggestions welcome, reviews always appreciated.]