Back upstairs, Harry fumed with anger and humiliation. 'Obviously I'm
no more than property to them, some sort of unwanted item they're ready to
unload onto anybody,' he thought angrily and he pulled off his shirt and
pants. He yanked open his closet and made a face of disgust as he pulled
out the cheap and hideous suit (at least it wasn't a hand-me-down from
Dudley, though). 'Well, what choice have I got,' Harry sighed, 'and who
knows, perhaps these people will be nice.' With that thought, a slightly
cheered Harry Potter pulled on the ugly suit, made an unsuccessful attempt
to comb his unruly hair, and went to brush his teeth in the bathroom. He
looked briefly in the mirror again, 'Hey, I don't really look half bad,
even in this disgusting suit." As poorly tailored as it was, it could not
hide the fact that a slender, muscular body lied underneath it. Harry
shrugged and walked back downstairs, hopeful. Harry had almost reached the
bottom of the stairs when he heard the door open and voices making overly-
polite and forced greetings. 'Well its now or never I suppose..' And with
that, Harry took a deep breath and walked into the living room.
He had only taken a couple steps when Harry heard a voice that made him freeze in his tracks.
"Well, Dursley, I must say that this is quite a house you have.." There was no mistaking it; the voice most definitely belonged to Lucius Malfoy. The heavy sarcasm in his voice was completely lost on his uncle, who was turning pink with pleasure at what he was sure was a heartfelt compliment. 'Oh no,' Harry thought, 'this can't be! And Aunt Petunia said his son was coming as well?? I can't face Draco here, like this, with the Dursleys! Be the Malfoy's gardener?' Harry turned and was trying to quietly sneak back upstairs when his uncle spotted him and walked over quickly to him, grabbing him by the collar. "And where do you think you're going?" he hissed out of earshot of everyone else.
Harry's hear sank. There was no getting out of this, and this was surely to be the most humiliating night of his life. He could just hear the taunts he would have to endure at school from Draco..
Harry's uncle half-dragged him into the living room where Petunia was fawning over Lucius and Draco, offering them tea and all assortments of cookies and treats. The Malfoys were impeccably and stylishly dressed in Muggle clothes, especially Draco, whose black silk suit seemed exquisitely tailored to his body and fell around him like a soft shadow. Draco was lazily lounged, catlike and looking bored, on the sofa, while his father was sitting in an armchair, looking strained as he endured Mrs. Dursley's endless prattle about the weather and the doings of her neighbors. As Harry entered the room, he could feel his face burning red and muttered a barely- audible "Good evening" to the Malfoys when introduced by his uncle. Feeling daring, Harry glanced up at Draco defiantly, expecting to meet a gaze of extreme loathing, but was surprised by the look of mild, benign amusement on Draco's face. Puzzled, Harry faltered at what to do or say. Was Draco trying to disarm him?
"Well don't just stand there staring at respectable folk, boy, go get the cake and serve our guests," growled his uncle. Aunt Petunia glared at Harry as he stalked miserably to the kitchen, grateful to be excused from the awkward situation. Suddenly, Harry heard Draco lazily purr, "You know, I'd like to make myself useful too, I'll help Harry with the cake." Aunt Petunia of course protested over and over, but finally gave in, with a "What a well-bred and well-mattered young man! So polite and courteous! Why nothing at all like our Harry..." The rest was cut off by the loud coughing of Mr. Dursley, who was obviously trying to silence his wife's bad-mouthing Harry-they wanted to get rid of him this summer, remember?
Harry was getting plates from the cabinet when he heard Draco's lazy drawl behind him. "Well, well, Potter, what a lovely suit. Do tell me where you got it!" Harry whirled around, ready to do verbal battle with Draco, but was again disarmed by the lack of malicious hatred in his voice or eyes. Draco had a sly smile on his face, like he knew a secret.
"Draco, I don't know what you're playing at, showing up here at the Dursley's, but you're not welcome. If you came here to see my miserable life and to taunt me, just know that I don't care and nothing you can do or say will faze me." Draco seemed unaffected by Harry's harsh words, and moved closer, cornering Harry at the edge of the countertops, and leaning in very close to him.
"Tsk, tsk, Potter," Draco purred in Harry's ear, "Is that any way to treat your savior?" Draco brushed a stray strand of hair out of Harry's eyes, Harry blushing as Draco's cool, soft skin brushed his face.
Harry faltered, not used to being so close to someone. "Sa-savior? What are you talking about Malfoy?" He was at a complete loss for what to do. What was going on??
Malfoy looked Harry in the eyes and smiled, still leaning in very close. "I've come to take you away from here, Potter. These Muggles are wholly unbearable and I can't endure allowing this treatment any longer." A momentary look of anger flitted over Malfoy's serene face. "That's why you're coming to live with me for the rest of the summer," Draco whispered.
"I most certainly will not, Malfoy! What makes you think that I'd trust you after how you've treated me for years at Hogwarts and-," Harry was silenced as Draco put his finger to Harry's lips.
"Shhhhh! Do you want those Muggles to hear you talk of Hogwarts? Be reasonable, Potter," as if Harry were a raving lunatic needing to be placated, "would you really rather spend the rest of your time here," Draco looked around with disgust. "Or spend it with a friend, even if it is an unlikely one." Harry stated, open-mouthed at Draco, as he realized what all this meant. 'An unlikely friend!' Draco was the one who sent the black bag, but why?
But before Harry could ask Draco anything else, Aunt Petunia breezed into the kitchen. "Oh I was wondering what was taking so long, you two! Boys will be boys I suppose!" Her voice was sickeningly sweet, but she had a hard look for Harry as she picked up the cake and walked back into the living room. Draco reached past Harry for the plates and forks, and smiling at Harry over his shoulder, followed Petunia back into the living room. Harry was left all alone for a moment, stunned, and then shook his head and walked back into the living room, too.
Lucius looked like someone was performing the Crucius Curse upon him. Mr. Dursley was raving on and on about the drill business, as Petunia interjected now and then with a "Yes that's right dear!" She was beginning to serve the cake, when Draco suddenly spoke.
"So, Mr. Dursley, as my father mentioned to you earlier today, we are in need of a full-time gardener, and have heard excellent things about your Harry!"
Harry's uncle shot him a look like nothing that anybody could possibly say would be positive concerning Harry. Harry merely shrunk down in his chair, wishing to be very very small. Draco continued, "We would need him for the whole summer, beginning immediately. And of course we would pay you, oh, say a thousand pounds a week- yes, does that sound fair?" The Dursley's mouths fell open at this. Harry couldn't imagine paying that much for a gardener, what was Draco up to?
Mr. Dursley stammered his approval, and quickly stated that Harry would be happy to go anytime the Malfoy's wanted him. Draco shook his head, "I'm afraid I have to hear it from Harry's mouth that he wants to come." He turned to Harry and softly said, "Well Harry, what do you say?" The Dursley were shooting Harry daggers like he'd never seen. Every shred of common sense was telling Harry that Draco was not to be trusted, that he was an enemy, not a friend. He should say no, no, no!
"Yes." Harry stood utterly surprised with his answer, and could hardly believe what he'd just said. The Dursleys were looking extremely relieved. Harry was stammering, no knowing whether to take back what he said, or just shut up before something worse came out.
Lucius arose and said," Well, its settled then. Harry go pack your things right away and we'll be off." Harry was trembling with uncertainty, but managed to make it up the stairs and into his bedroom.
He had only taken a couple steps when Harry heard a voice that made him freeze in his tracks.
"Well, Dursley, I must say that this is quite a house you have.." There was no mistaking it; the voice most definitely belonged to Lucius Malfoy. The heavy sarcasm in his voice was completely lost on his uncle, who was turning pink with pleasure at what he was sure was a heartfelt compliment. 'Oh no,' Harry thought, 'this can't be! And Aunt Petunia said his son was coming as well?? I can't face Draco here, like this, with the Dursleys! Be the Malfoy's gardener?' Harry turned and was trying to quietly sneak back upstairs when his uncle spotted him and walked over quickly to him, grabbing him by the collar. "And where do you think you're going?" he hissed out of earshot of everyone else.
Harry's hear sank. There was no getting out of this, and this was surely to be the most humiliating night of his life. He could just hear the taunts he would have to endure at school from Draco..
Harry's uncle half-dragged him into the living room where Petunia was fawning over Lucius and Draco, offering them tea and all assortments of cookies and treats. The Malfoys were impeccably and stylishly dressed in Muggle clothes, especially Draco, whose black silk suit seemed exquisitely tailored to his body and fell around him like a soft shadow. Draco was lazily lounged, catlike and looking bored, on the sofa, while his father was sitting in an armchair, looking strained as he endured Mrs. Dursley's endless prattle about the weather and the doings of her neighbors. As Harry entered the room, he could feel his face burning red and muttered a barely- audible "Good evening" to the Malfoys when introduced by his uncle. Feeling daring, Harry glanced up at Draco defiantly, expecting to meet a gaze of extreme loathing, but was surprised by the look of mild, benign amusement on Draco's face. Puzzled, Harry faltered at what to do or say. Was Draco trying to disarm him?
"Well don't just stand there staring at respectable folk, boy, go get the cake and serve our guests," growled his uncle. Aunt Petunia glared at Harry as he stalked miserably to the kitchen, grateful to be excused from the awkward situation. Suddenly, Harry heard Draco lazily purr, "You know, I'd like to make myself useful too, I'll help Harry with the cake." Aunt Petunia of course protested over and over, but finally gave in, with a "What a well-bred and well-mattered young man! So polite and courteous! Why nothing at all like our Harry..." The rest was cut off by the loud coughing of Mr. Dursley, who was obviously trying to silence his wife's bad-mouthing Harry-they wanted to get rid of him this summer, remember?
Harry was getting plates from the cabinet when he heard Draco's lazy drawl behind him. "Well, well, Potter, what a lovely suit. Do tell me where you got it!" Harry whirled around, ready to do verbal battle with Draco, but was again disarmed by the lack of malicious hatred in his voice or eyes. Draco had a sly smile on his face, like he knew a secret.
"Draco, I don't know what you're playing at, showing up here at the Dursley's, but you're not welcome. If you came here to see my miserable life and to taunt me, just know that I don't care and nothing you can do or say will faze me." Draco seemed unaffected by Harry's harsh words, and moved closer, cornering Harry at the edge of the countertops, and leaning in very close to him.
"Tsk, tsk, Potter," Draco purred in Harry's ear, "Is that any way to treat your savior?" Draco brushed a stray strand of hair out of Harry's eyes, Harry blushing as Draco's cool, soft skin brushed his face.
Harry faltered, not used to being so close to someone. "Sa-savior? What are you talking about Malfoy?" He was at a complete loss for what to do. What was going on??
Malfoy looked Harry in the eyes and smiled, still leaning in very close. "I've come to take you away from here, Potter. These Muggles are wholly unbearable and I can't endure allowing this treatment any longer." A momentary look of anger flitted over Malfoy's serene face. "That's why you're coming to live with me for the rest of the summer," Draco whispered.
"I most certainly will not, Malfoy! What makes you think that I'd trust you after how you've treated me for years at Hogwarts and-," Harry was silenced as Draco put his finger to Harry's lips.
"Shhhhh! Do you want those Muggles to hear you talk of Hogwarts? Be reasonable, Potter," as if Harry were a raving lunatic needing to be placated, "would you really rather spend the rest of your time here," Draco looked around with disgust. "Or spend it with a friend, even if it is an unlikely one." Harry stated, open-mouthed at Draco, as he realized what all this meant. 'An unlikely friend!' Draco was the one who sent the black bag, but why?
But before Harry could ask Draco anything else, Aunt Petunia breezed into the kitchen. "Oh I was wondering what was taking so long, you two! Boys will be boys I suppose!" Her voice was sickeningly sweet, but she had a hard look for Harry as she picked up the cake and walked back into the living room. Draco reached past Harry for the plates and forks, and smiling at Harry over his shoulder, followed Petunia back into the living room. Harry was left all alone for a moment, stunned, and then shook his head and walked back into the living room, too.
Lucius looked like someone was performing the Crucius Curse upon him. Mr. Dursley was raving on and on about the drill business, as Petunia interjected now and then with a "Yes that's right dear!" She was beginning to serve the cake, when Draco suddenly spoke.
"So, Mr. Dursley, as my father mentioned to you earlier today, we are in need of a full-time gardener, and have heard excellent things about your Harry!"
Harry's uncle shot him a look like nothing that anybody could possibly say would be positive concerning Harry. Harry merely shrunk down in his chair, wishing to be very very small. Draco continued, "We would need him for the whole summer, beginning immediately. And of course we would pay you, oh, say a thousand pounds a week- yes, does that sound fair?" The Dursley's mouths fell open at this. Harry couldn't imagine paying that much for a gardener, what was Draco up to?
Mr. Dursley stammered his approval, and quickly stated that Harry would be happy to go anytime the Malfoy's wanted him. Draco shook his head, "I'm afraid I have to hear it from Harry's mouth that he wants to come." He turned to Harry and softly said, "Well Harry, what do you say?" The Dursley were shooting Harry daggers like he'd never seen. Every shred of common sense was telling Harry that Draco was not to be trusted, that he was an enemy, not a friend. He should say no, no, no!
"Yes." Harry stood utterly surprised with his answer, and could hardly believe what he'd just said. The Dursleys were looking extremely relieved. Harry was stammering, no knowing whether to take back what he said, or just shut up before something worse came out.
Lucius arose and said," Well, its settled then. Harry go pack your things right away and we'll be off." Harry was trembling with uncertainty, but managed to make it up the stairs and into his bedroom.