Chapter 4 – The Quidditch Pitch and Conversations

In the week that followed, Harry and Draco forged a tentative friendship. They talked at mealtimes and during one of those mealtime conversations, Draco apologized for all the things he had done to Harry and his friends in the past. Harry had been shocked at first but had accepted the apology, glad that they had put those things behind them. And when Draco offered his hand in friendship to Harry, Harry finally took it. It was, after all, five years overdue.

Exactly a week after Harry had arrived at Hogwarts he was jogging around the Quidditch pitch as he did every morning when he saw Draco jogging as well. Harry stopped and waited for Draco to catch up with him. Harry decided that he wouldn't mind some company as he did get rather lonely jogging by himself every morning. Perhaps some company could keep his mind off his godfather too.

Draco jogged up to Harry and stopped, smiling at him. Harry was captivated by the genuine expression on Draco's face that was directed at him.

"Morning Harry."

Harry was taken back by this greeting. Draco had never spoken to Harry using his first name before.

"G'morning...Draco. I didn't know you jogged in the morning too." Harry wondered how he could have missed Draco jogging in the mornings. Harry's frowned a bit in contemplation.

"Well I usually jog in the evening but its no fun to jog alone. I saw you jogging yesterday and figured I'd join you today. I hope you don't mind."

Harry didn't stop to think that Draco might have other reasons to jog with him. He was rather distracted by the fact that Draco was shirtless and standing close to him.

"I don't mind at all. In fact, I was just thinking that it would be nice to have some company." 'Especially you,' Harry added in his head.

"Okay," Draco replied enthusiastically. He couldn't wait to spend time with Harry, especially with a topless, tanned, and well-muscled Harry. "Shall we?" Draco indicated the jogging path and looked to Harry.

"Let's go," Harry replied smiling.

The boys ran in companionable silence for half an hour. On their way up to the castle Harry's curiosity got the better of him. "Uh Draco?"

"Yeah?"

"Dumbledore said you were here for the summer for a reason but he wouldn't tell me what it was."

"I asked him not to tell anyone."

"That's what he told me. I'm here so I can move on from my godfather's death and for another reason but Dumbledore won't tell me what it is."

"Well that seems rather obvious don't you think? I bet he brought you here so you'll be safe. Maybe the Order - " Draco stopped abruptly and Harry looked at him questioningly.

"How do you know about the Order?"

"Well it's a long story really and I don't know if I want to talk about everything yet," Draco said, becoming quiet and slightly indrawn, and the expression on his face became pained.

"Oh," Harry replied, his voice filled with worry. He knew it had to be something bad, something terrible, for Draco's face to show his emotions. He wished he could do something for Draco, to comfort him and help him get through whatever happened to him. "Draco..." Harry paused, unsure of what to say. Draco looked at Harry with shining eyes. "Draco. If you want to talk about anything I'll be here for you. Okay?"

Draco smiled slightly, surprised but happy that Harry had just reached out to help him. "Thanks Harry. Really. That means a lot to me." Draco stepped over to Harry and hugged him in thanks.

"You're...uh...you're welcome." Harry wasn't sure what to do. Draco Malfoy was hugging him. Harry breathed in and found that he enjoyed the scent of the boy hugging him, enjoyed holding him. 'This is kind of scary,' he thought. 'I have a crush on Draco Malfoy.' He pointedly ignored that something inside him that said it was more than a crush he was feeling.

Draco pulled away a few seconds later. "Thanks Harry. See you at breakfast." With another small smile at Harry, Draco set off to the dungeons, leaving Harry standing on the lawn in front of the castle entrance.

Harry started walking into the castle, hoping that Draco would be okay, when another thought occurred to him. He was falling for Draco Malfoy.

Two days later Harry found Draco in the Great Hall playing a game of wizard's chess against a set of white pieces that had taken on a life of their own. He walked to where Draco was seated and sat across from him, waiting patiently for him to look up. When Draco finished his move he glanced up at Harry and smiled.

"Harry! I haven't seen you in a couple days."

"I've been hiding in the Gryffindor common room mostly. I wanted to finish up the summer assignments early since I always manage to put it off 'til the last minute."

"Well the Slytherin common room is pretty depressing. It has no windows so it's all dark and gloomy and I can't stand to spend much time there. I was beginning to wonder if I'd see you again," Draco joked. He was rewarded with a smile from Harry.

"Why don't you come up to the Gryffindor common room for a while? There are plenty of windows and it's a lot cozier than the Great Hall." Harry really hoped Draco would accept the offer. He wanted to get to know Draco, the real Draco.

"You're inviting me, a Slytherin, into Gryffindor territory?" Draco's voice was filled with surprise that he hadn't even attempted to contain.

"Of course I am." Harry paused for a moment debating whether he should tell Draco about his sorting. He decided to chance it. "I'm really not one to judge since the Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin in the first place."

Draco was shocked to say the least. "Really? You're supposed to be in Slytherin?" Draco rose from his seat, sat down on the table, and swung his legs around so he was on the same side as Harry.

"Well, Dumbledore said..." And as they made their way to Gryffindor tower Harry relayed the entire story to Draco, who hung on his every word.

Inside the common room, Draco plopped himself down in Harry's favorite chair and made himself comfortable. He searched for something to say while Harry took a seat on the couch across from him. He cast his mind about for anything, anything at all...

"So." Harry was obviously having the same problem that Draco was having.

"So," Draco paused. "Tell me about Muggles."

"Well they're not all that exciting really." And he really did not want to talk about his aunt and uncle. "What do you want to know?"

"You live with Muggles don't you? Tell me about them."

"Well...they're probably not the best Muggles to talk about since they are pretty extreme." He looked at Draco and could tell immediately that he wasn't about to let Harry off the hook.

"Oh all right. I live with my aunt, uncle, and cousin. They're okay I guess. They don't like me all that well though. I was always made to do chores and stuff." He applauded himself for his vagueness.

"That's it? That doesn't sound extreme to me. Unless you mean extremely boring."

"Sorry. I guess there are some things I'm not comfortable talking about."

"Come on Harry. Remember what you said to me a couple days ago on the pitch? The same goes for you. If you ever want to talk about anything, I'll be here." Draco directed an encouraging smile at Harry. "So?"

Harry sighed. He knew that this was all part of getting to know each other, as he had wanted to do just a few minutes ago. "My aunt and uncle have some pretty extreme views. They really don't like me because I'm different from them. They didn't like my mum and dad either just because they had magic. And there're tons of things that they simply won't tolerate. Like, when I don't get my chores done they won't give me dinner. Or they'll give me more chores. But I guess I owe them in a way since they took me in - "

"You don't owe them anything Harry," Draco cut in darkly. "You don't owe anyone anything. You're going to save the world's arse someday and they don't even know it. They didn't have to take you in! And just because they did doesn't give them the right to treat you like shit." Draco stopped his tirade suddenly and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get angry like that. I just can't imagine anyone treating you that way. You're a wonderful person and you definitely don't deserve that."

Harry took Draco's words to heart. "It's okay," he assured Draco. "I get angry with them sometimes too. Besides, there are tons of decent Muggles out there. Look at Mione's parents. They're some of the nicest people I've ever met. And Mione's really great too. You should get to know her."

"I should," Draco said. And genuinely meant it.

"I've had enough Muggle talk. Tell me about Purebloods." And with that Harry sat back and let Draco tell him all about bizarre traditions, faraway properties, and old wizarding families.