I'll go straight to the point on this one...I want to thank all my reviewers.
I'll try to do my best and take the advice some of you gave me.
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CHAPTER 3
"Are you sure about the address Malfoy?" Harry asked him uncertainly as he surveyed the building in front of him.
"I assure that this is the right one." Draco answered rolling his eyes.
Harry, Draco and Parvati apparated just a few seconds ago in front of an old four-storey structure.
"How are you so sure?" Parvati asked with a gleam in her dark eyes.
Draco turned around to hide the blush on his face. "Professor Dumbledore gave it to me himself."
The blond haired man walked up the stone steps and opened the door.
"Second floor?" Harry asked Parvati when he saw Draco start to climb the stairs in twos
Before Parvati could answer, both husband and wife heard Draco shout, "Hurry up."
Harry and Parvati exchanged looks, the same question floated through their minds. Why on earth was Draco so excited?
Shrugging his shoulders, Harry took Parvati's hand and helped her climb the stairs.
When they reached the second floor, they found Draco standing outside a door, darting his gaze back and forth and at the same time muttering to himself.
"Have you knocked?" Parvati asked as she and Harry came forward.
Draco, not seeing them approach, jumped in surprise. "What?"
"Why are you so bloody nervous Malfoy?" Harry asked, a teasing grin on his face.
"What's it to you?" Draco growled.
Harry held out his hands in front of him, as if blocking himself from the other man's wrath.
Harry glanced at the door that Draco was staring at.
"Is this it?" He asked.
Draco nodded.
Harry knocked on the door and a second later a beautiful red- headed girl opened it.
"You're here!" She squealed with delight while hugging Harry.
Harry laughed when she hugged him.
"It's been too long." She said.
Harry patted her back. "Far too long Ginny, far too long."
Virginia Weasley released herself from Harry and reached over to hug Parvati.
Parvati grinned. "Good to see you Ginny."
When Ginny stepped back, she held Parvati at arm's length and studied her from head to toe. "You're looking good Parvati." Ginny said with a smile.
Parvati beamed.
"Er – Gin?" Harry asked, indicating the inside of her apartment.
"Oh! Dear – I'm sorry." She laughed all the while stepping back to allow the couple in.
She was about to close the door when a hand suddenly appeared at the crack of the door. Ginny gasped when she saw Draco Malfoy at the other side. In her excitement, she didn't notice the man leaning against the wall beside her door.
God! She's beautiful. Was the thought that was currently running through Draco's mind. He smirked when he saw her blush.
"Co – Come in." Ginny said opening the door once more to allow Draco to pass.
Draco flashed her a look, which caused her to blush.
Recovering from her shock of seeing Malfoy look as dashing as ever she hurriedly took Parvati's hand to show her the room in which she'll be sleeping in. Both girls were now chattering away and Harry had no choice but to grab the trunks of Parvati and lug it to a room at the end of the hall.
Draco, being left alone, went on to survey the apartment. It was clean, no sign of any man having lived in this house. He sniffed the air. Grinning, he realized that he was smelling the perfume of Ginny. Damn! He walked over to the mantle where a lot of photographs were displayed. Hmm, One of Ginny with her family, one of her with her brothers and a picture of the burrow. All family, friends and her old home, that's it, no picture of this Gregory.
"There's a chair, you know."
Draco didn't have to turn around to see who owned that voice.
"I thought you were married." Draco drawled.
Ginny shuffled her feet. This was one particular subject that she didn't want to discuss. "I'm engaged, not married, yet."
"Good." He said with a nod of his head.
Ginny bit back a laugh. "What's good about it?" She asked teasingly.
He smirked. "There's still time to break the wedding." He said softly.
Ginny blushed. Oh God! This is getting very weird. She decided to change the topic-fast.
"Why didn't you reply to my last letter?"
He raised an eyebrow. "It's rather obvious."
She shook her head, "If it were I would have known the answer already."
"You're quite daft, you know." He said bluntly.
Ginny arched one eyebrow. "Really?"
He nodded, a grin forming.
Despite the insult a while ago, Ginny found herself returning the grin.
Draco was about to say something when a door creaked open. Harry and Parvati walked out of the room hand in hand. They were laughing over something that Parvati said. Ginny took a reluctant step back.
"Ready to go?" Draco asked Harry.
"In a minute." Harry said before swooping down on his wife, kissing her passionately.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Here we go again!" He muttered to Ginny.
Ginny giggled. "Always happens?"
"You have no idea." Draco answered while running a hair through his white- blonde hair.
In a second or so-but felt eternity to Draco, The married couple reluctantly pulled apart.
"You better go. It's getting to late." Parvati said.
Harry smiled at her. "I'll be back every Hogsmeade weekend." He reminded her.
"You'd better!" Parvati said lovingly.
Harry grinned and once more, leaned down and kissed his wife one last time.
"Don't worry Harry." Ginny said. "I'll take care of Parvati."
Harry smiled. "I know you will."
He bent forward and planted a brotherly kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you soon."
Draco waved goodbye to Parvati before giving Ginny a long lingering look that Parvati didn't fail to notice.
Draco smirked when he saw Ginny blush but turned around right away when he felt his own face heat up. Trying to get his composure back he motioned for Harry to follow him as he swept out the door from the tiny three-room apartment.
"Malfoy!"
Draco stopped walking to wait for Harry to catch up. "What now?"
"You look flushed." He commented with a knowing grin.
Draco nodded. "How are we getting to Hogwarts?" He asked Harry offhandedly.
"Knight Bus." He replied with a wave of his hand. "You didn't answer me." He pressed.
"You didn't even ask me a question." Draco replied indignantly.
They were outside the building now. Draco tossed a cautious look over his shoulder to make sure that no one was watching before taking out his wand and hailed for the Knight Bus.
As always, the Knight Bus arrived with a bang.
"Hop on." The bus driver said as both Harry and Draco tried to cover their faces with their hoods so, as to not attract attention.
When Harry told the driver their destination, each man handed fourteen sickles on the palm of the conductor that was standing beside the entryway. After that, they quickly found seats for themselves at the back of the bus. They weren't able to talk much during the ride on the account of the bumpy ride.
Half an hour later they came to a surprising halt outside the main gate of Hogwarts.
"Here we are." The conductor said from the front of the bus.
Both Harry and Draco took a few seconds to gaze at the majestic castle that was softly illuminated by the glow of candles that were lighted inside. Different memories came rushing back to both Harry and Draco, good and bad.
"Come on then." Draco said after shaking his head to push the memories from his head away for a while. He hurriedly stood up and rushed out the sliding doors of the bus.
Harry followed taking his time to adjust to the mingled feelings he felt about his being back to the place he used to call, 'home' for seven years.
While Harry was thinking about his past, Draco on the other hand was apprehensively thought over what was to come. He didn't know what to feel or expect. What would his students be like? Would they act like he did when he was younger? Or be like 'Golden-boy' Potter? Oh, he hoped for the latter, he liked to think of himself as the devil of Hogwarts during his time. He wasn't able to dwell on the subject any longer for a couple of house-elves arrived to greet them.
"Winky?" Harry asked in a surprise tone when he saw the house-elf dressed neatly in the Hogwarts uniform.
Winky turned to Harry when he addressed her and gave him a small bow then turned to Draco and did the same.
"Master Dumbledore is telling Tirta" she pointed to the house-elf beside her "and Winky to wait for Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy."
"Never misses a thing." Draco commented.
Harry grinned.
"Your carriage sirs." The other house-elf, Tirta, spoke.
Harry turned to his right and saw the Thestral-pulled carriage and immediately cringed at the remembrance of those he knew die. He straightened his cloak and strode forward, acting as if he couldn't care less about the animals that helped him into thinking that it was he who killed his godfather. He was taught in those three years of Auror training to never let anyone who you think would use these emotions to your disadvantage and although Draco was his partner, he could always use Harry's emotions to annoy him.
He and Draco were seated comfortably inside the carriage when Harry decided to end the stifling silence.
"We're late you know." Harry commented.
Draco cracked a grin. "Nice night, fancy a broom ride?"
"You're kidding right?"
Draco shook his head. "It'll be faster."
"We're already about to make a bad impression on our lateness and you want to fly?" Harry asked with a choked laughed.
"We'll simply fly up to the window—what?"
Harry shook his head. "Tempting-but I fancy a short tour before making my 'debut'." He said with a mocking voice.
The carriage gave a lurch and the two stepped out unto the cool night.
"I thought you cared for punctuality." Draco drawled.
"I thought you did."
Draco shrugged his shoulders. "If you don't want to, I don't see why I have to force you."
He removed his wand from his pocket and summoned his broom that came to a stop in front of him.
Without another glance he mounted his broom and took off from the ground.
Harry turned on his heel and walked towards the great oak doors. He stepped in and was greeted by the warmth of the castle air. His eyes turned left and right, up and down, he didn't want to miss a thing. How he missed Hogwarts.
He passed Peeves who was bobbing up and down with a huge malicious grin on his face. His big eyes seemed to grow wider when he saw Harry.
"Hullo Peeves." Harry said cordially.
Peeves flew down to Harry and with an unusual hushed voice he asked, "Harry Potter?"
Harry nodded, appearing dumbfounded on Peeves behavior.
Peeves smile returned and with a startling cackle, he shouted. "Potty wee Potter—back from the dead."
Harry quickly dodged a water balloon that the poltergeist threw at him. Before he could throw another one, Harry ran.
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Littlewhitehorse
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CHAPTER 3
"Are you sure about the address Malfoy?" Harry asked him uncertainly as he surveyed the building in front of him.
"I assure that this is the right one." Draco answered rolling his eyes.
Harry, Draco and Parvati apparated just a few seconds ago in front of an old four-storey structure.
"How are you so sure?" Parvati asked with a gleam in her dark eyes.
Draco turned around to hide the blush on his face. "Professor Dumbledore gave it to me himself."
The blond haired man walked up the stone steps and opened the door.
"Second floor?" Harry asked Parvati when he saw Draco start to climb the stairs in twos
Before Parvati could answer, both husband and wife heard Draco shout, "Hurry up."
Harry and Parvati exchanged looks, the same question floated through their minds. Why on earth was Draco so excited?
Shrugging his shoulders, Harry took Parvati's hand and helped her climb the stairs.
When they reached the second floor, they found Draco standing outside a door, darting his gaze back and forth and at the same time muttering to himself.
"Have you knocked?" Parvati asked as she and Harry came forward.
Draco, not seeing them approach, jumped in surprise. "What?"
"Why are you so bloody nervous Malfoy?" Harry asked, a teasing grin on his face.
"What's it to you?" Draco growled.
Harry held out his hands in front of him, as if blocking himself from the other man's wrath.
Harry glanced at the door that Draco was staring at.
"Is this it?" He asked.
Draco nodded.
Harry knocked on the door and a second later a beautiful red- headed girl opened it.
"You're here!" She squealed with delight while hugging Harry.
Harry laughed when she hugged him.
"It's been too long." She said.
Harry patted her back. "Far too long Ginny, far too long."
Virginia Weasley released herself from Harry and reached over to hug Parvati.
Parvati grinned. "Good to see you Ginny."
When Ginny stepped back, she held Parvati at arm's length and studied her from head to toe. "You're looking good Parvati." Ginny said with a smile.
Parvati beamed.
"Er – Gin?" Harry asked, indicating the inside of her apartment.
"Oh! Dear – I'm sorry." She laughed all the while stepping back to allow the couple in.
She was about to close the door when a hand suddenly appeared at the crack of the door. Ginny gasped when she saw Draco Malfoy at the other side. In her excitement, she didn't notice the man leaning against the wall beside her door.
God! She's beautiful. Was the thought that was currently running through Draco's mind. He smirked when he saw her blush.
"Co – Come in." Ginny said opening the door once more to allow Draco to pass.
Draco flashed her a look, which caused her to blush.
Recovering from her shock of seeing Malfoy look as dashing as ever she hurriedly took Parvati's hand to show her the room in which she'll be sleeping in. Both girls were now chattering away and Harry had no choice but to grab the trunks of Parvati and lug it to a room at the end of the hall.
Draco, being left alone, went on to survey the apartment. It was clean, no sign of any man having lived in this house. He sniffed the air. Grinning, he realized that he was smelling the perfume of Ginny. Damn! He walked over to the mantle where a lot of photographs were displayed. Hmm, One of Ginny with her family, one of her with her brothers and a picture of the burrow. All family, friends and her old home, that's it, no picture of this Gregory.
"There's a chair, you know."
Draco didn't have to turn around to see who owned that voice.
"I thought you were married." Draco drawled.
Ginny shuffled her feet. This was one particular subject that she didn't want to discuss. "I'm engaged, not married, yet."
"Good." He said with a nod of his head.
Ginny bit back a laugh. "What's good about it?" She asked teasingly.
He smirked. "There's still time to break the wedding." He said softly.
Ginny blushed. Oh God! This is getting very weird. She decided to change the topic-fast.
"Why didn't you reply to my last letter?"
He raised an eyebrow. "It's rather obvious."
She shook her head, "If it were I would have known the answer already."
"You're quite daft, you know." He said bluntly.
Ginny arched one eyebrow. "Really?"
He nodded, a grin forming.
Despite the insult a while ago, Ginny found herself returning the grin.
Draco was about to say something when a door creaked open. Harry and Parvati walked out of the room hand in hand. They were laughing over something that Parvati said. Ginny took a reluctant step back.
"Ready to go?" Draco asked Harry.
"In a minute." Harry said before swooping down on his wife, kissing her passionately.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Here we go again!" He muttered to Ginny.
Ginny giggled. "Always happens?"
"You have no idea." Draco answered while running a hair through his white- blonde hair.
In a second or so-but felt eternity to Draco, The married couple reluctantly pulled apart.
"You better go. It's getting to late." Parvati said.
Harry smiled at her. "I'll be back every Hogsmeade weekend." He reminded her.
"You'd better!" Parvati said lovingly.
Harry grinned and once more, leaned down and kissed his wife one last time.
"Don't worry Harry." Ginny said. "I'll take care of Parvati."
Harry smiled. "I know you will."
He bent forward and planted a brotherly kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you soon."
Draco waved goodbye to Parvati before giving Ginny a long lingering look that Parvati didn't fail to notice.
Draco smirked when he saw Ginny blush but turned around right away when he felt his own face heat up. Trying to get his composure back he motioned for Harry to follow him as he swept out the door from the tiny three-room apartment.
"Malfoy!"
Draco stopped walking to wait for Harry to catch up. "What now?"
"You look flushed." He commented with a knowing grin.
Draco nodded. "How are we getting to Hogwarts?" He asked Harry offhandedly.
"Knight Bus." He replied with a wave of his hand. "You didn't answer me." He pressed.
"You didn't even ask me a question." Draco replied indignantly.
They were outside the building now. Draco tossed a cautious look over his shoulder to make sure that no one was watching before taking out his wand and hailed for the Knight Bus.
As always, the Knight Bus arrived with a bang.
"Hop on." The bus driver said as both Harry and Draco tried to cover their faces with their hoods so, as to not attract attention.
When Harry told the driver their destination, each man handed fourteen sickles on the palm of the conductor that was standing beside the entryway. After that, they quickly found seats for themselves at the back of the bus. They weren't able to talk much during the ride on the account of the bumpy ride.
Half an hour later they came to a surprising halt outside the main gate of Hogwarts.
"Here we are." The conductor said from the front of the bus.
Both Harry and Draco took a few seconds to gaze at the majestic castle that was softly illuminated by the glow of candles that were lighted inside. Different memories came rushing back to both Harry and Draco, good and bad.
"Come on then." Draco said after shaking his head to push the memories from his head away for a while. He hurriedly stood up and rushed out the sliding doors of the bus.
Harry followed taking his time to adjust to the mingled feelings he felt about his being back to the place he used to call, 'home' for seven years.
While Harry was thinking about his past, Draco on the other hand was apprehensively thought over what was to come. He didn't know what to feel or expect. What would his students be like? Would they act like he did when he was younger? Or be like 'Golden-boy' Potter? Oh, he hoped for the latter, he liked to think of himself as the devil of Hogwarts during his time. He wasn't able to dwell on the subject any longer for a couple of house-elves arrived to greet them.
"Winky?" Harry asked in a surprise tone when he saw the house-elf dressed neatly in the Hogwarts uniform.
Winky turned to Harry when he addressed her and gave him a small bow then turned to Draco and did the same.
"Master Dumbledore is telling Tirta" she pointed to the house-elf beside her "and Winky to wait for Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy."
"Never misses a thing." Draco commented.
Harry grinned.
"Your carriage sirs." The other house-elf, Tirta, spoke.
Harry turned to his right and saw the Thestral-pulled carriage and immediately cringed at the remembrance of those he knew die. He straightened his cloak and strode forward, acting as if he couldn't care less about the animals that helped him into thinking that it was he who killed his godfather. He was taught in those three years of Auror training to never let anyone who you think would use these emotions to your disadvantage and although Draco was his partner, he could always use Harry's emotions to annoy him.
He and Draco were seated comfortably inside the carriage when Harry decided to end the stifling silence.
"We're late you know." Harry commented.
Draco cracked a grin. "Nice night, fancy a broom ride?"
"You're kidding right?"
Draco shook his head. "It'll be faster."
"We're already about to make a bad impression on our lateness and you want to fly?" Harry asked with a choked laughed.
"We'll simply fly up to the window—what?"
Harry shook his head. "Tempting-but I fancy a short tour before making my 'debut'." He said with a mocking voice.
The carriage gave a lurch and the two stepped out unto the cool night.
"I thought you cared for punctuality." Draco drawled.
"I thought you did."
Draco shrugged his shoulders. "If you don't want to, I don't see why I have to force you."
He removed his wand from his pocket and summoned his broom that came to a stop in front of him.
Without another glance he mounted his broom and took off from the ground.
Harry turned on his heel and walked towards the great oak doors. He stepped in and was greeted by the warmth of the castle air. His eyes turned left and right, up and down, he didn't want to miss a thing. How he missed Hogwarts.
He passed Peeves who was bobbing up and down with a huge malicious grin on his face. His big eyes seemed to grow wider when he saw Harry.
"Hullo Peeves." Harry said cordially.
Peeves flew down to Harry and with an unusual hushed voice he asked, "Harry Potter?"
Harry nodded, appearing dumbfounded on Peeves behavior.
Peeves smile returned and with a startling cackle, he shouted. "Potty wee Potter—back from the dead."
Harry quickly dodged a water balloon that the poltergeist threw at him. Before he could throw another one, Harry ran.
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Littlewhitehorse