Title: Exchange
Author: Mistress Silver
Pairings(s): Harry/Draco/Lucius
Warning: The following piece is rated R (for later chapters). It contains SLASH, which is homosexual relationships, so if you are offended by that or are not of legal age in your area then please click the back button on your browser and find yourself something else. Constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated but flames will be mocked and ignored.
For the third time in the past half hour Draco let out a mournful sigh.
"Will you stop it already?" snapped Harry. "It's not exactly a picnic for me to ride with you all the way home either."
"Speaking of which," Draco said in a serious tone. "Whose homes are we going to go to…"
Harry looked at him. 'Well…actually, I…I've no idea…"
There was a pause of silence broken only by the speeding wheels of the train.
"Our own," Draco said suddenly, looking out the window. "We'll just explain to our families what happened and they'll help us figure out what to do."
"Maybe yours will…" Harry muttered. "It won't work."
"Why on earth not?"
"Because my family consists of Wizard-hating Muggles," Harry said. "If I show up at their doorstep looking like this and telling them that, they'll probably put me away in a mental institution. Or you, technically."
"They can't do that!" Draco exclaimed.
"Oh, they can," Harry sighed. "And will most likely be all the happier for it."
Draco bit his lip and a small line of worry appeared between his eyebrows. Harry, studying his face, realized it must have made himself look cute when he did that. Then looked away, suddenly feeling perverted.
Suddenly Draco looked grave. "We'll both go to my house."
Harry gaped at him. "W-What?"
Draco faced him. "My father will understand. He's a real bastard, but at least he'll try to fix this. Besides," his face took on his usual sneer. "I want to make sure my body's safe and sound."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I don't know if my Aunt and Uncle will let me…"
Draco snorted. "My father is one of the most powerful people in the country, they will do whatever he tells them to."
Harry arched one eyebrow. "Is he as much of an ass as you are?"
Draco shrugged and surprised Harry with his answer, "He's more than just that and none of it is good. He really is such a bastard…" His eyes glazed over as he absently stared out the window. Harry looked at him thoughtfully and didn't reply.
"Anyway," Draco seemed to snap out of his trance and put on a smirk again. "Your Aunt and Uncle will do as told. Besides, if they hate you as much as you say they do, then they won't mind being rid of you for a while, now will they?"
Harry shifted in his seat. Much as he hated the Dursleys he was not exactly keen on staying with the Malfoys either.
"What's the matter, Potter?" Draco snorted. "Afraid my father will bite your head off while you're sleeping?"
"No," Harry said evenly.
The lady with the candy cart peeked her cheery face into the compartment. "Anything you like, boys?"
Harry shook his head. Draco bought a pack of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and some Chocolate Frogs. The lady smiled and murmured something about Harry always having had a sweet tooth on her way out. Draco opened the jellybean packet and held it out to Harry. Harry stared at is as if it was a serpent ready to strike at him.
Draco sniggered. "I didn't poison them, Potter, have a couple."
Harry took a small bit and muttered an awkward thank you. Draco went through a few, came upon a vomit flavoured one, and spat it on the floor.
"Don't do that," frowned Harry.
"Um, why?"
"Because it isn't nice and because you shouldn't litter," Harry explained as he would to a child.
"Who are you to tell me what to do, Potter, you aren't my father!" Draco snapped. Then he looked back out the window and his expression softened. "Thankfully…" he added under his breath.
Harry shook his head. "You are so odd…"
The Hogwarts Express arrived on the dot, per usual. Harry and Draco left immediately so that their friends could not follow them to ask questions. They hurriedly made their way onto the Muggle platform and exited the station. On the opposite side of the station's entrance stood a large, handsome carriage. Two horses, both black, in silver reins, were pulling it. The windows were shut with black and silver drapes. Harry looked at Draco, who suddenly looked very grim.
"There's our ride," he said softly. "Come on…"
Harry followed him across the street, avoiding the eyes of curious Muggles who quickly linked them with the mysterious carriage. Before Draco even raised his hand to knock on the door, it swung open. Out stepped Lucius Malfoy, in all his menacing glory. He folded his leather-gloved hands in front of him and looked down at Draco with silver slits.
"Hello, father – "
"Father?" Lucius sneered. "You can only dream, Mr. Potter."
"No, father," Draco said evenly. "It's me, Draco. That's Potter," he said inclining his head to Himself standing beside him. "We have somehow switched bodies and don't know how to switch back. I took Potter with me thinking you might be able to help."
Lucius nodded and his face broke into a pained smile. "Ah. Well. In that case, best be on our way then." He put one gloved hand on Draco's shoulder and he flinched at the touch. "After you."
Draco climbed into the carriage swiftly and sat as far at the other end of it as possible. To his vast relief Harry climbed in after him and settled in the middle of the carriage seat beside him. Lucius sat at the other end and shut the door. The carriage began to move. It was very warm inside, almost stifling. Harry pulled at his shirt collar slightly to loosen it. Lucius reached over and undid the top few couple of buttons of his shirt. Harry gaped at him with a mix of shock and resentment.
"It's rude to stare, Draco."
"Harry."
"Of course," Lucius said tightly.
Draco looked at them with calculating eyes. If he'll be going at Harry now because he looks like me, he thought. Maybe he'll leave me alone… Draco suppressed a secret smile of joy. Sorry, Potter, don't take it personally. I just need some relief for once…
Though Harry would never admit it, when they arrived, Malfoy Manor took his breath away. It was so large that it seemed almost as big as Hogwarts. His eyes grew wide as he took in the castle. Enormous, with fluttering flags of black and silver at the tops of the towers, large ornately framed windows, beautifully carved doors. There was a tall, black, metal fence surrounding the thirty-something acres of land, most of which were behind the castle with a gorgeous lake.
Draco nudged Harry, snapping him out of his awe. "Come along now, Potter, save some gaping for the inside." He smirked and followed Lucius into the Manor. Harry shuffled after him indignantly. "I wasn't gaping…"
But if he was not gaping outside, he certainly was once he entered the castle. The ceilings were unbelievably high with large, crystal chandeliers, thousands of candles upon each one, and marvelous designs. The walls were adorned with sculpted torches and detailed paintings of famous scenes in Wizarding history and wealthy Malfoy ancestors. The floors were polished to a mirror-like perfection and had luxurious furniture scattered among them. Here and there you could spot a house elf, scrambling to its duty.
Draco startled Harry by gently prodding his jaw upwards to close his shocked 'o' of a mouth. "You'll catch flies, Potter," he smirked. Harry blushed and muttered something unintelligible.
Lucius grabbed a passing house elf by the top of its garment. "Take Mr. Potter to one of the guest rooms."
"I'll take him, father," Draco interjected. "Might aswell show him around since he'll be staying here."
Lucius stiffened. "Go ahead then."
The house elf quickly took their things and scurried up the wide, black, marble staircase. Harry and Draco followed him.
"Since when are you so nice to me, Malfoy?" Harry asked once they were out of earshot.
"Since I'll do anything to get away from my father," replied Draco. "Don't get used to it."
"What is up with you and him anyway?" Harry frowned.
"None of your business, Potter," Draco said through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowed.
Harry's frown deepened but he dropped the subject. The house elf led them to a room and opened the door. Harry's amazement renewed as he stepped inside the room that was large enough to be somebody's apartment. The four-poster bed was big enough to fit four people and had burgundy silk drapes with a matching bedspread. To the left was a doorway leading to the loo, which consisted of a porcelain sink, toilet, bathtub, Jacuzzi, and separate shower stall. Across the room from the bed was a wide window overseeing the lake. To the side was a fireplace, surrounded by a small redwood table and two large, plush, also burgundy armchairs. The house elf quickly got to putting Harry's clothes away in the matching redwood armoire by the bed.
Draco plopped into one of the armchairs, as the fireplace ignited itself, and taking the glasses off rubbed his eyes. "Nimbly, get out."
The house elf sprinted out of the room and quietly shut the door behind him.
"I don't know how you stand these things, Potter," Draco said indicating the glasses. "They're annoying as fuck."
Harry shrugged. "You get used to them after ten years, I've been wearing them since I was six."
Draco nodded, then scoffed. "You know, I have such a good blind joke for that one…"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Out with it, then," he said crossing his arms. "So that I can make one about your hair."
Instead of saying the joke Draco smiled. "However did we get like this?"
"Like what?" Harry blinked.
"This," Draco said raising one hand. "Throwing jokes at each other, insults, hateful stares…where did it all begin?"
"Don't you remember?" Harry asked taking a seat in the armchair next to him. "Our very first day at Hogwarts, year one. You offered your friendship – "
" – and you declined it – "
" – because you were being a rude little git," Harry finished with a smirk.
Draco sighed and his smile became wistful. "But that's just the way I always am, doesn't mean I'm a completely terrible case, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover you know…"
Harry stared at him in astonishment. "Draco…?"
Draco looked up, slightly started at hearing his first name. "What?"
Harry studied his face a moment. He suddenly looked very tired and sad to him. "Nothing…"
Draco nodded and looked into the fire. "Shame the Dark Lord didn't kill you, but at least he got away with your eyesight," he muttered.
"At least my hair isn't attracted to my skull by the metal plate in my head," Harry shot back half-heartedly.
Draco smirked and they both stared into the dying fire in silence.