"You're what? Excuse me?" it had to be some sort of joke. Harry was sure he'd heard Malfoy wrong.
"Yeah, and happy birthday. I didn't get you anything." Malfoy replied. He pushed Harry out of the way and invited himself in. Harry closed the door behind him. Dudley ran up the stairs and straight to his room.
"What was that?" Malfoy asked.
"My cousin. Wait, why are you staying here for the rest of the summer?"
"Granger's returning from Bulgaria tomorrow. I've been staying at that Grimmauld place with Weasley and his sister, but it was considered in both my interest and hers that I stay somewhere else. Dumbledore suggested here, because my father would least expect it. He just thinks I joined Dumbledore's side for Hermione. He knows we don't get along. Dumbledore also said something about this house being protected cause of your parent's blood or something. I don't know I faded in and out, didn't really care." Malfoy replied looking around the house and turning up his nose at random Muggle artifacts.
He picked up the reciever of the telephone and looked it over. Harry went over and took it from his hands and put it back down. He walked around the sofa and looked at the television. He grabbed the remote and started pressing buttons. He jumped a bit when he pressed power and people began talking on the screen. Once again, Harry confinscated it and turned off the television.
"Do my Aunt and Uncle know that you're staying?"
"No, I don't think so. Better go off and tell them, shouldn't you?"
"No, you don't get it. You can't stay here, they won't allow it. They're muggles and they won't talk of magic here. Why do you even want to stay here? You hate muggles remember?"
This wasn't happening to him. He wasn't going to allow his last summer there to be any worse than it could be. Add having to put up with Malfoy for another two months, and he might as well start digging his own grave. Malfoy smirked at him.
"Well it was either this or go home. Besides Potter, we can think of it as a bonding experience." he put his arm around Harry's shoulder. Harry moved away. Aunt Petunia came into the sitting room from the kitchen.
"I don't want you hanging around here, go outside." she told them. Malfoy looked at Harry.
"Er... Aunt Petunia." he started. He didn't know how to ask for something he desperately didn't want.
"What is it?"
"I'm staying here the rest of the summer. Orders from Albus Dumbledore." Malfoy replied quickly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a note and handed it to her. She looked it over and her frown seemed to reach to the bottom of her pointy chin.
"Certainly not. We have no room for another person. Go back and tell Dumbledore that it's just not plausable." she handed the note back to him.
"I'm sorry, but you don't really have a choice in the matter. I am to stay here." he replied.
"Your uncle will have a few words to say about this." she said scornfully to Harry, as if this was all his fault. He was on her side for once but knew even when Uncle Vernon came home, all the blame would be on him.
"Come on... Draco. Let's go outside." said Harry, irritably. Malfoy followed him outside. Harry looked up to notice Dudley staring at them through his window. He caught Harry's glance and quickly closed the curtains.
"Muggles are so dull. Are your relatives poor? The size of these houses..."
"Not everyone has the luxery of being born with money. They're not poor, they're just not like you."
"Look, I'm going to do my best not to get into arguements, okay? I didn't have a choice in this. You're not who I want to be spending my summer with."
"Like wise." Harry interjected.
"So let's at least try and put our feelings for each other aside until school starts."
"You're still under the assumption you're staying here."
"Your Uncle can spit and rage all he wants, he doesn't have control over this either."
"So you're telling me you dont have any friends or relatives you can stay with?"
"Death Eaters, Potter."
"Right." Harry sat down on a swing in the park. Malfoy made himself comfortable on the jungle jim. Neither of them spoke as the afternoon turned into evening. Harry looked at his watch.
"Come on, my Uncle will be home soon."
Part of him was hoping that his Uncle had gotten into an accident and couldn't return home. He was going to be furious. He also hoped that within the next day or so an owl would arrive saying they found some place else to keep Malfoy for the rest of the summer. If Malfoy wasn't allowed at Grimmauld place because of Hermione, then that meant that he wouldn't be able to spend his summer there either if he had to drag him along with him wherever he went.
"You know I never understood the point of automobiles. Surely they would've come up with a faster way to travel by now. Muggles really are slow though, aren't they? Must prefer that pace." Malfoy commented as a car passed them and turned the corner. Harry ignored him.
"Speaking of which, we have our apparation tests is next week." Malfoy continued.
Harry thought for a minute, maybe there was one good thing about Malfoy staying with him. He'd been trying to come up with a way to convince his aunt and uncle that he had his apparation test to take during the summer. He knew they would find a way to keep him from a test that would give him the ability to pop in and out of a place whenever he choosed. When they got back to Number 4, Privet Drive Uncle Vernon was already home. Harry's stomach tied itself into a knot which he couldn't unravel. They went inside. Dudley who was waiting in the kitchen for supper, dashed back upstairs.
"That's him. That's the boy." Aunt Petunia stated.
Uncle Vernon turned around and gave Harry look which told him he was in more trouble than he'd ever been in.
"Let me see that note!"
Malfoy handed him the piece of parchment he'd shown Aunt Petunia earlier. He looked it over and grumbled to himself. He looked back up at Malfoy and reread the note. He tossed it into the fireplace.
"You'll be staying with Harry in his room. Now I'm going to lay down some rules right now before you get too comfortable. We don't talk about the M word here. I will have none of that bollocks under my roof. You will dress like a normal person and act like one. We're a respectable family, and people like you are not welcome here. What are you smirking at boy?" he grunted.
Harry had been laughing to himself. It was nice to see Malfoy being treated like the dirty blood for once. If anyone could give him a taste of his own medicine, it would be Uncle Vernon.
"Sorry." Harry replied and forced the smile off his face.
"I expect you to obey by the same rules we've regulated to Harry. I also don't want either of you hanging around the house during the day. My wife doesn't need you in her way. You won't touch anything that's not yours, and you won't speak to my son. Harry, take his stuff up to your room. Both of you be back down here in five minutes, supper's almost ready. That's another thing, I don't know what you people eat at your freaky little houses, but you will eat what's given to you and not say a word." Uncle Vernon snarled.
"Right, sir." Malfoy replied with huge emphasis on the "sir". Harry drug Malfoy suitcase up the steps and showed him where the room was.
"Ugh, Muggles and they're high and mighty attitude. Think they're better than us when they don't even have a clue. God, this is going to be the worst summer. I'm going to have to have a memory charm done on me after this, if I don't get put in St. Mungo's before then." Malfoy spat as he closed the door.
"They're not that much different than you and your half blood logic."
"Shut up, Potter. You want to know why I don't like half bloods? Because they have the same attitude as you and your pathetic muggle family. Don't ever compare me to a muggle again." he snapped and advanced on Harry, wand raised.
"Please, use magic on me. I dare you. It'll get you out of my sight for the summer and the rest of the school year. Might be doing Hermione a favor too."
"Let's get one thing straight, I don't care about your mudblood friend anymore. Her name disgusts me and if you mention her around me again I'll have no problem beating you down the muggle way. Got it?"
"Ok, sure Malfoy." Harry replied and rolled his eyes.
They proceeded downstairs to join the Dursley's for supper. Malfoy sat between Harry and Dudley. Harry grumbled to himself. He knew it'd only be a matter of time before Malfoy had made friends with Dudley and they would team up together against him. Uncle Vernon took no notice that Malfoy was even there, and went on to tell a story about how a man came into his work and had asked for the wrong type of drill, expecting a refund. Malfoy huffed and rolled his eyes, as he filled his plate. Dudley moved is chair away a bit. Harry began eating when he was inturrupted by a tapping noise at the window in the sitting room. He got up and opened the window letting in a small owl, which Harry knew as Pigwideon. He was Ron's owl. He removed the letter attached to its leg.
Harry,
Bad luck with having to stay with ferret all summer. Are your aunt and uncle even going to let him stay? It would be great if he was forced back home. Ginny and I had to put up with him for nearly a month, it was horrible. He's not over Hermione, and spent most of the time saying things about her so vile that finally mom got fed up with him and used a silencing charm on him. It was a peaceful weekend, I can tell you that.
Hermione arrives tomorrow. I got an owl from her the other day, she had a great time in Bulgaria and Krum might stop by and stay for a week here at Grimmauld's. Fred and George told us that Lupin is trying to vote Krum and the others into the Order. Maybe that week you and twitchy ferret can stay too. Hermione might be okay with that as Krum will be there. I think they're couple, but she won't say for sure. Good luck on your apparating exam. Maybe we'll see you there. If ferret boy gets to be too much just write. Ginny's come up with a whole new list of hexes she wants to try on him.
Sincerely,
Ron
Harry smiled at Ron's letter. He was invisoning all the hexes that Ginny Weasley had probably put on Malfoy for the few weeks he'd been there. He then realized he'd forgotten about Pigwidgeon, who was still fluttering about the room. He tried to grab him, but he was too fast. Uncle Vernon came in and yet out a yell as the tiny pigme owl flew past him. He heard a shriek from Aunt Petunia, which meant he'd gone into the kitchen. Harry ran back to the kitchen to find the little owl zooming around. Aunt Petunia had grabbed the pan she'd cooked the dinner in, and was trying to hit it.
"STOP! you're going to hurt him!" Harry yelled at her.
"GET THIS CREATURE OUT OF HERE!" she shrieked again as Pigwideon landed near a pie she'd just taken out of the oven and was picking at it with his beak. She aimed at the owl and swung, but he was too quick. She smashed right into the pie, getting custard all over the kitchen walls. Dudley and Malfoy jumped away from the table, avoiding the splatter of sticky preserves. Uncle Vernon was yelling obscentities, some Harry was sure, he'd heard maybe once before in his life. That had been when he'd accidentally blown up his Aunt Marge, four years ago. Harry quickly grabbed Pigwideon and held him to his chest. He ran upstairs to his room. Malfoy followed him.
"You sure like to make a scene don't you?"
"Shut up. It's not my fault." Harry replied and put Pigwideon on top of Hedwig's cage. He heard his Uncle coming up the stairs and then the sound of his door locking.
"You're kidding me? They're going to lock us in here?" Malfoy pulled on the doorknob.
Harry had become accustomed to being locked up and starved over the summer, so it didn't phase him in the slightest. He thought the ordeal with the owl had been mild compared to the suprises that had been unleashed onto his Aunt and Uncle. But he knew better than to think that Uncle Vernon wasn't going to do anymore than just lock his door and starve him. Especially now that they were forcefully being used as a B&B for whatever wizards Dumbledore felt should stay there. His uncle was fed up with it, and had probably finally snapped.
Harry woke up the next morning to voices outside. He got up, put on his glasses, and went to the window. A man had just arrived. He was in a grey suit, which matched his dark grey hair and trimmed beard. The man had a stone cold look upon his face, but smiled a bit grimacingly when Uncle Vernon came out to greet him. Harry went to his bedroom door and listened. Malfoy woke up, annoyed by the voices booming from downstairs and joined him at the door.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Mr. Parkins." Uncle Vernon said nervously.
"Not at all, Mr. Dursley. When I heard your situation about this Potter boy, I knew I had to come immediatly. You say he's been threatening you with magic and weapons over the past several years?"
"What've you been doing during your summers?" Malfoy asked him.
"Shut up." Harry motioned for him to be quiet and continued to listen.
"Oh yes, our son Dudley has become greatly afraid of him. We think that the death of his parents has really had an influence on the boy. Such a traumatic event to go through so young. It was a miracle that he survived the accident at all. We've tried our best to help him. We've been sending him to St. Brutus's Secure Center for the Incurably Criminal boys, but he's just been getting worse."
"So he's off his loop is he? Well we at Vixons Juvinile Asylum believe that boys of such nature, who can't even be straightened out with such proper treatment as that, are in need of special therapy. Shock therapy seems to do them well." Mr. Parkins remarked. Malfoy began to laugh.
"They're going to send you to the muggle nut house." he snickered. He could bairly breathe he was laughing so hard. He doubled over.
Harry could just see the smiles on the Dursley's faces at the idea of him being tortured with shock treatment. How could they ship him off to an insane asylum? Dumbledore had stated that he must stay there during the summer. There were far worse situations where they would've gotten rid of him if they could. Why now? They only had to put up with him another couple months.
"We have to get out of here. Come on." Harry got up off the floor and began packing his belongings. He put Pigwidgeon into Hedwig's cage. Hedwig ruffled her feathers and let out a disapproving hoot. He would send Ron an owl back as soon as they were some place safe.
"How do you exactly propose we do this? Without magic, I mean." Malfoy asked, still pulling on the handle.
Harry didn't reply and pulled out a bobby pin. He picked the lock as he'd seen the Weasley twins do before.
"What the hell is that thing?" Malfoy questioned.
The bedroom door unlocked. Malfoy took the thin scrap of metal from Harry to examine it and followed him downstairs.
"That's the boy... his friend is just as crazy. He doesn't have any parents either and was put in our care for the summer, you might as well take him too." Vernon huffed. Malfoy advanced on him.
"Listen muggle, my parents are very much alive and despise your kind, as do I."
"Don't you use that tone with me boy, or I'll-"
"I warn you not to get on my bad side."
"You see what I mean? They're both like this."
"Yes, dear me. Well don't worry we'll take care of that pompous attitude. They're become well behaved members of society once they leave Vixons, I can assure you."
"Oh we're not going anywhere." Harry told them man.
"Why young man, I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter. By government order, any juvinile who causes a threat to themselves or others, by permission of the guardian, may be submitted to mental health specialists and put into our care."
"Get out of our way." Malfoy pulled out his wand and pointed it at the man.
The man pulled out a walkie talkie and said some sort of code. Harry saw through the window in the lounge room, five other men coming up to the door. He tugged on Malfoy's arm. They looked at each other and nodded. Harry grasped his wand from his back pocket.
"Conjunctivitus!"
"Confundus!"
Harry's eyesight hindering spell hit the man his uncle had called Mr. Parkins. Malfoy's confusion charm hit Uncle Vernon. Harry quickly bolted for the door, pulling Malfoy along. They had to leave their things behind. The five men tried came after them.
"Impedimenta!" Malfoy and Harry yelled at the same time. The men stopped dead in their tracks. They ran down the street and up Magnolia Crecent, heading towards the main city.
"This is your fault." Malfoy sneered at him.
"My fault? You're the one who had to rile up my Uncle. We might have been able to talk our way out of it if you hadn't called him a muggle. They don't know of themselves by that name, and your attitude just proved him right.
"You're the one who used magic first. We're going to be expelled our last year there!"
"You can't blame this on me, Malfoy. If you hadn't shown up at the doorstep to begin with then it wouldn't have sent them into such a hiatus."
"Then blame Dumbledore for that, he's the git who sent me here to begin with."
Harry tackled Malfoy to the ground and started trying to cause as much pain as possible. Malfoy grasped his wand and sent a stunner spell at Harry knocking him off of him.
"So what are we going to now?" He asked Harry, who was catching his breath and still seething.
"I don't know what you're going to do, but I'm going to Grimmaulds." Harry replied. He stood up and brushed the dirt off of him. Malfoy grabbed his arm.
"You're not going without me. I'm not staying in this muggle ridden city by myself."
"That's your own problem isn't it? You're not welcome at Headquarters nor around me. Why don't you go crying back to your daddy?" Harry snapped at him, pulling his arm away.
Malfoy went to hit him, but he moved out of the way. Their fighting stopped as an owl flew over them, dropping two letters onto the pavement next to them. Harry picked them up. One was addressed to him, the other to Malfoy. He handed Malfoy his letter, and tore his own open. It was one he'd seen before.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We have recieved intellegence that you've broken the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. The deliberate misuse of this Decree and previous offences by you under Section 13 of the International Condfederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy has lead to your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy and immediate disiplinary actions. As you no longer have a place of residency, your presence is required at the Ministry of Magic on the third of August for the destroying of your wand.
Best Wishes,
Yours Sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk Improper Use of Magic Office Ministry of Magic
"Great now you've got us expelled, as I suspected. My father's going to delight in this." Malfoy replied harshly, tearing up his letter.
"I didn't get you expelled! You didn't have to use magic, you did that on your own. I'm leaving, don't follow me." Harry replied. He started walking off, but Malfoy didn't listen and hung around a few feet behind. He waited at the corner for the nightbus. When it arrived and he got on, Malfoy followed and sat a few seats behind him.
"Where you 'eaded then, 'Arry?" Stan asked.
"London, Grimmauld Place." Harry told him.
"Oh you can't go there." Stan told him, wide eyed.
"Why not?" Harry sighed.
"The Dark Mark was disovered there just last night. Ministry officials have blocked off the area. Five family of muggles been killed. Firteen all together. No other information being released." Stan replied.
Harry looked back at Malfoy to see if he'd caught what had been said. Apparently he had, because he was moving up and took a seat next to Harry.
"Where you 'eaded off to?" Stan asked him.
"Same as him. You said that there was an attack at Grimmauld Place? Did they mention which houses?"
"Lemme look." Stan reached behind his seat and pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Nope, just that der was an attack. Ern can drop you twos off at The Leaky Cauldren, but thats as close as we're allowed to get."
Harry nodded and turned back to Malfoy.
"How could your father find out? That place is so well guarded by spells and charms, that it's nearly impossible to find. Have you told ANYONE about where you were staying or stayed last Christmas?" Harry whispered.
"No. Now all of a sudden this is my fault?"
"Your father knew you'd be staying with members of the order during the summer. For all we know he still thinks you're with Hermione. Ron sent me an owl yesterday saying that Hermione was supposed to be arriving there last night. What if the owl was intercepted?"
"Then it wouldn't be my fault now would it? But still I don't see how that would give him the location."
"I don't either, but I find it odd that the night Grimmauld Place was attacked was the night that Hermione returns from Bulgaria. Your father might have thought you were with her."
"Do you think they found Headquarters?"
"I'm really not sure. I'll send an owl to Ron as soon as we get to the Leaky Cauldren. If he's okay, then maybe he can give us more information." Harry replied. Malfoy nodded.
When they got to the Leaky Cauldren, they booked their rooms. They were both due at the Ministry for the destroying of their wands on the third which was two days away. Harry still didn't know if he'd be able to talk his way back into school again. He didn't even know if Dumbledore was still alive, and figured he probably would have more things to worry about other than Harry's next court case if he was still alive. Malfoy mentioned briefly the possibility of just not showing up and becoming outcasts. This brought back feelings in Harry of Sirius which he'd hidden to the back of his mind all summer. He kicked them back there again, and focused on his friends, hoping for their safety.
A/N: And so this concludes Chapter 2. Like I said, I'm going to try and make the chapters of this story longer than my previous stories, just depends on how much imagination I'm alotted each day. Anyway, read and respond tell me what you think.
"Yeah, and happy birthday. I didn't get you anything." Malfoy replied. He pushed Harry out of the way and invited himself in. Harry closed the door behind him. Dudley ran up the stairs and straight to his room.
"What was that?" Malfoy asked.
"My cousin. Wait, why are you staying here for the rest of the summer?"
"Granger's returning from Bulgaria tomorrow. I've been staying at that Grimmauld place with Weasley and his sister, but it was considered in both my interest and hers that I stay somewhere else. Dumbledore suggested here, because my father would least expect it. He just thinks I joined Dumbledore's side for Hermione. He knows we don't get along. Dumbledore also said something about this house being protected cause of your parent's blood or something. I don't know I faded in and out, didn't really care." Malfoy replied looking around the house and turning up his nose at random Muggle artifacts.
He picked up the reciever of the telephone and looked it over. Harry went over and took it from his hands and put it back down. He walked around the sofa and looked at the television. He grabbed the remote and started pressing buttons. He jumped a bit when he pressed power and people began talking on the screen. Once again, Harry confinscated it and turned off the television.
"Do my Aunt and Uncle know that you're staying?"
"No, I don't think so. Better go off and tell them, shouldn't you?"
"No, you don't get it. You can't stay here, they won't allow it. They're muggles and they won't talk of magic here. Why do you even want to stay here? You hate muggles remember?"
This wasn't happening to him. He wasn't going to allow his last summer there to be any worse than it could be. Add having to put up with Malfoy for another two months, and he might as well start digging his own grave. Malfoy smirked at him.
"Well it was either this or go home. Besides Potter, we can think of it as a bonding experience." he put his arm around Harry's shoulder. Harry moved away. Aunt Petunia came into the sitting room from the kitchen.
"I don't want you hanging around here, go outside." she told them. Malfoy looked at Harry.
"Er... Aunt Petunia." he started. He didn't know how to ask for something he desperately didn't want.
"What is it?"
"I'm staying here the rest of the summer. Orders from Albus Dumbledore." Malfoy replied quickly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a note and handed it to her. She looked it over and her frown seemed to reach to the bottom of her pointy chin.
"Certainly not. We have no room for another person. Go back and tell Dumbledore that it's just not plausable." she handed the note back to him.
"I'm sorry, but you don't really have a choice in the matter. I am to stay here." he replied.
"Your uncle will have a few words to say about this." she said scornfully to Harry, as if this was all his fault. He was on her side for once but knew even when Uncle Vernon came home, all the blame would be on him.
"Come on... Draco. Let's go outside." said Harry, irritably. Malfoy followed him outside. Harry looked up to notice Dudley staring at them through his window. He caught Harry's glance and quickly closed the curtains.
"Muggles are so dull. Are your relatives poor? The size of these houses..."
"Not everyone has the luxery of being born with money. They're not poor, they're just not like you."
"Look, I'm going to do my best not to get into arguements, okay? I didn't have a choice in this. You're not who I want to be spending my summer with."
"Like wise." Harry interjected.
"So let's at least try and put our feelings for each other aside until school starts."
"You're still under the assumption you're staying here."
"Your Uncle can spit and rage all he wants, he doesn't have control over this either."
"So you're telling me you dont have any friends or relatives you can stay with?"
"Death Eaters, Potter."
"Right." Harry sat down on a swing in the park. Malfoy made himself comfortable on the jungle jim. Neither of them spoke as the afternoon turned into evening. Harry looked at his watch.
"Come on, my Uncle will be home soon."
Part of him was hoping that his Uncle had gotten into an accident and couldn't return home. He was going to be furious. He also hoped that within the next day or so an owl would arrive saying they found some place else to keep Malfoy for the rest of the summer. If Malfoy wasn't allowed at Grimmauld place because of Hermione, then that meant that he wouldn't be able to spend his summer there either if he had to drag him along with him wherever he went.
"You know I never understood the point of automobiles. Surely they would've come up with a faster way to travel by now. Muggles really are slow though, aren't they? Must prefer that pace." Malfoy commented as a car passed them and turned the corner. Harry ignored him.
"Speaking of which, we have our apparation tests is next week." Malfoy continued.
Harry thought for a minute, maybe there was one good thing about Malfoy staying with him. He'd been trying to come up with a way to convince his aunt and uncle that he had his apparation test to take during the summer. He knew they would find a way to keep him from a test that would give him the ability to pop in and out of a place whenever he choosed. When they got back to Number 4, Privet Drive Uncle Vernon was already home. Harry's stomach tied itself into a knot which he couldn't unravel. They went inside. Dudley who was waiting in the kitchen for supper, dashed back upstairs.
"That's him. That's the boy." Aunt Petunia stated.
Uncle Vernon turned around and gave Harry look which told him he was in more trouble than he'd ever been in.
"Let me see that note!"
Malfoy handed him the piece of parchment he'd shown Aunt Petunia earlier. He looked it over and grumbled to himself. He looked back up at Malfoy and reread the note. He tossed it into the fireplace.
"You'll be staying with Harry in his room. Now I'm going to lay down some rules right now before you get too comfortable. We don't talk about the M word here. I will have none of that bollocks under my roof. You will dress like a normal person and act like one. We're a respectable family, and people like you are not welcome here. What are you smirking at boy?" he grunted.
Harry had been laughing to himself. It was nice to see Malfoy being treated like the dirty blood for once. If anyone could give him a taste of his own medicine, it would be Uncle Vernon.
"Sorry." Harry replied and forced the smile off his face.
"I expect you to obey by the same rules we've regulated to Harry. I also don't want either of you hanging around the house during the day. My wife doesn't need you in her way. You won't touch anything that's not yours, and you won't speak to my son. Harry, take his stuff up to your room. Both of you be back down here in five minutes, supper's almost ready. That's another thing, I don't know what you people eat at your freaky little houses, but you will eat what's given to you and not say a word." Uncle Vernon snarled.
"Right, sir." Malfoy replied with huge emphasis on the "sir". Harry drug Malfoy suitcase up the steps and showed him where the room was.
"Ugh, Muggles and they're high and mighty attitude. Think they're better than us when they don't even have a clue. God, this is going to be the worst summer. I'm going to have to have a memory charm done on me after this, if I don't get put in St. Mungo's before then." Malfoy spat as he closed the door.
"They're not that much different than you and your half blood logic."
"Shut up, Potter. You want to know why I don't like half bloods? Because they have the same attitude as you and your pathetic muggle family. Don't ever compare me to a muggle again." he snapped and advanced on Harry, wand raised.
"Please, use magic on me. I dare you. It'll get you out of my sight for the summer and the rest of the school year. Might be doing Hermione a favor too."
"Let's get one thing straight, I don't care about your mudblood friend anymore. Her name disgusts me and if you mention her around me again I'll have no problem beating you down the muggle way. Got it?"
"Ok, sure Malfoy." Harry replied and rolled his eyes.
They proceeded downstairs to join the Dursley's for supper. Malfoy sat between Harry and Dudley. Harry grumbled to himself. He knew it'd only be a matter of time before Malfoy had made friends with Dudley and they would team up together against him. Uncle Vernon took no notice that Malfoy was even there, and went on to tell a story about how a man came into his work and had asked for the wrong type of drill, expecting a refund. Malfoy huffed and rolled his eyes, as he filled his plate. Dudley moved is chair away a bit. Harry began eating when he was inturrupted by a tapping noise at the window in the sitting room. He got up and opened the window letting in a small owl, which Harry knew as Pigwideon. He was Ron's owl. He removed the letter attached to its leg.
Harry,
Bad luck with having to stay with ferret all summer. Are your aunt and uncle even going to let him stay? It would be great if he was forced back home. Ginny and I had to put up with him for nearly a month, it was horrible. He's not over Hermione, and spent most of the time saying things about her so vile that finally mom got fed up with him and used a silencing charm on him. It was a peaceful weekend, I can tell you that.
Hermione arrives tomorrow. I got an owl from her the other day, she had a great time in Bulgaria and Krum might stop by and stay for a week here at Grimmauld's. Fred and George told us that Lupin is trying to vote Krum and the others into the Order. Maybe that week you and twitchy ferret can stay too. Hermione might be okay with that as Krum will be there. I think they're couple, but she won't say for sure. Good luck on your apparating exam. Maybe we'll see you there. If ferret boy gets to be too much just write. Ginny's come up with a whole new list of hexes she wants to try on him.
Sincerely,
Ron
Harry smiled at Ron's letter. He was invisoning all the hexes that Ginny Weasley had probably put on Malfoy for the few weeks he'd been there. He then realized he'd forgotten about Pigwidgeon, who was still fluttering about the room. He tried to grab him, but he was too fast. Uncle Vernon came in and yet out a yell as the tiny pigme owl flew past him. He heard a shriek from Aunt Petunia, which meant he'd gone into the kitchen. Harry ran back to the kitchen to find the little owl zooming around. Aunt Petunia had grabbed the pan she'd cooked the dinner in, and was trying to hit it.
"STOP! you're going to hurt him!" Harry yelled at her.
"GET THIS CREATURE OUT OF HERE!" she shrieked again as Pigwideon landed near a pie she'd just taken out of the oven and was picking at it with his beak. She aimed at the owl and swung, but he was too quick. She smashed right into the pie, getting custard all over the kitchen walls. Dudley and Malfoy jumped away from the table, avoiding the splatter of sticky preserves. Uncle Vernon was yelling obscentities, some Harry was sure, he'd heard maybe once before in his life. That had been when he'd accidentally blown up his Aunt Marge, four years ago. Harry quickly grabbed Pigwideon and held him to his chest. He ran upstairs to his room. Malfoy followed him.
"You sure like to make a scene don't you?"
"Shut up. It's not my fault." Harry replied and put Pigwideon on top of Hedwig's cage. He heard his Uncle coming up the stairs and then the sound of his door locking.
"You're kidding me? They're going to lock us in here?" Malfoy pulled on the doorknob.
Harry had become accustomed to being locked up and starved over the summer, so it didn't phase him in the slightest. He thought the ordeal with the owl had been mild compared to the suprises that had been unleashed onto his Aunt and Uncle. But he knew better than to think that Uncle Vernon wasn't going to do anymore than just lock his door and starve him. Especially now that they were forcefully being used as a B&B for whatever wizards Dumbledore felt should stay there. His uncle was fed up with it, and had probably finally snapped.
Harry woke up the next morning to voices outside. He got up, put on his glasses, and went to the window. A man had just arrived. He was in a grey suit, which matched his dark grey hair and trimmed beard. The man had a stone cold look upon his face, but smiled a bit grimacingly when Uncle Vernon came out to greet him. Harry went to his bedroom door and listened. Malfoy woke up, annoyed by the voices booming from downstairs and joined him at the door.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Mr. Parkins." Uncle Vernon said nervously.
"Not at all, Mr. Dursley. When I heard your situation about this Potter boy, I knew I had to come immediatly. You say he's been threatening you with magic and weapons over the past several years?"
"What've you been doing during your summers?" Malfoy asked him.
"Shut up." Harry motioned for him to be quiet and continued to listen.
"Oh yes, our son Dudley has become greatly afraid of him. We think that the death of his parents has really had an influence on the boy. Such a traumatic event to go through so young. It was a miracle that he survived the accident at all. We've tried our best to help him. We've been sending him to St. Brutus's Secure Center for the Incurably Criminal boys, but he's just been getting worse."
"So he's off his loop is he? Well we at Vixons Juvinile Asylum believe that boys of such nature, who can't even be straightened out with such proper treatment as that, are in need of special therapy. Shock therapy seems to do them well." Mr. Parkins remarked. Malfoy began to laugh.
"They're going to send you to the muggle nut house." he snickered. He could bairly breathe he was laughing so hard. He doubled over.
Harry could just see the smiles on the Dursley's faces at the idea of him being tortured with shock treatment. How could they ship him off to an insane asylum? Dumbledore had stated that he must stay there during the summer. There were far worse situations where they would've gotten rid of him if they could. Why now? They only had to put up with him another couple months.
"We have to get out of here. Come on." Harry got up off the floor and began packing his belongings. He put Pigwidgeon into Hedwig's cage. Hedwig ruffled her feathers and let out a disapproving hoot. He would send Ron an owl back as soon as they were some place safe.
"How do you exactly propose we do this? Without magic, I mean." Malfoy asked, still pulling on the handle.
Harry didn't reply and pulled out a bobby pin. He picked the lock as he'd seen the Weasley twins do before.
"What the hell is that thing?" Malfoy questioned.
The bedroom door unlocked. Malfoy took the thin scrap of metal from Harry to examine it and followed him downstairs.
"That's the boy... his friend is just as crazy. He doesn't have any parents either and was put in our care for the summer, you might as well take him too." Vernon huffed. Malfoy advanced on him.
"Listen muggle, my parents are very much alive and despise your kind, as do I."
"Don't you use that tone with me boy, or I'll-"
"I warn you not to get on my bad side."
"You see what I mean? They're both like this."
"Yes, dear me. Well don't worry we'll take care of that pompous attitude. They're become well behaved members of society once they leave Vixons, I can assure you."
"Oh we're not going anywhere." Harry told them man.
"Why young man, I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter. By government order, any juvinile who causes a threat to themselves or others, by permission of the guardian, may be submitted to mental health specialists and put into our care."
"Get out of our way." Malfoy pulled out his wand and pointed it at the man.
The man pulled out a walkie talkie and said some sort of code. Harry saw through the window in the lounge room, five other men coming up to the door. He tugged on Malfoy's arm. They looked at each other and nodded. Harry grasped his wand from his back pocket.
"Conjunctivitus!"
"Confundus!"
Harry's eyesight hindering spell hit the man his uncle had called Mr. Parkins. Malfoy's confusion charm hit Uncle Vernon. Harry quickly bolted for the door, pulling Malfoy along. They had to leave their things behind. The five men tried came after them.
"Impedimenta!" Malfoy and Harry yelled at the same time. The men stopped dead in their tracks. They ran down the street and up Magnolia Crecent, heading towards the main city.
"This is your fault." Malfoy sneered at him.
"My fault? You're the one who had to rile up my Uncle. We might have been able to talk our way out of it if you hadn't called him a muggle. They don't know of themselves by that name, and your attitude just proved him right.
"You're the one who used magic first. We're going to be expelled our last year there!"
"You can't blame this on me, Malfoy. If you hadn't shown up at the doorstep to begin with then it wouldn't have sent them into such a hiatus."
"Then blame Dumbledore for that, he's the git who sent me here to begin with."
Harry tackled Malfoy to the ground and started trying to cause as much pain as possible. Malfoy grasped his wand and sent a stunner spell at Harry knocking him off of him.
"So what are we going to now?" He asked Harry, who was catching his breath and still seething.
"I don't know what you're going to do, but I'm going to Grimmaulds." Harry replied. He stood up and brushed the dirt off of him. Malfoy grabbed his arm.
"You're not going without me. I'm not staying in this muggle ridden city by myself."
"That's your own problem isn't it? You're not welcome at Headquarters nor around me. Why don't you go crying back to your daddy?" Harry snapped at him, pulling his arm away.
Malfoy went to hit him, but he moved out of the way. Their fighting stopped as an owl flew over them, dropping two letters onto the pavement next to them. Harry picked them up. One was addressed to him, the other to Malfoy. He handed Malfoy his letter, and tore his own open. It was one he'd seen before.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We have recieved intellegence that you've broken the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. The deliberate misuse of this Decree and previous offences by you under Section 13 of the International Condfederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy has lead to your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy and immediate disiplinary actions. As you no longer have a place of residency, your presence is required at the Ministry of Magic on the third of August for the destroying of your wand.
Best Wishes,
Yours Sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk Improper Use of Magic Office Ministry of Magic
"Great now you've got us expelled, as I suspected. My father's going to delight in this." Malfoy replied harshly, tearing up his letter.
"I didn't get you expelled! You didn't have to use magic, you did that on your own. I'm leaving, don't follow me." Harry replied. He started walking off, but Malfoy didn't listen and hung around a few feet behind. He waited at the corner for the nightbus. When it arrived and he got on, Malfoy followed and sat a few seats behind him.
"Where you 'eaded then, 'Arry?" Stan asked.
"London, Grimmauld Place." Harry told him.
"Oh you can't go there." Stan told him, wide eyed.
"Why not?" Harry sighed.
"The Dark Mark was disovered there just last night. Ministry officials have blocked off the area. Five family of muggles been killed. Firteen all together. No other information being released." Stan replied.
Harry looked back at Malfoy to see if he'd caught what had been said. Apparently he had, because he was moving up and took a seat next to Harry.
"Where you 'eaded off to?" Stan asked him.
"Same as him. You said that there was an attack at Grimmauld Place? Did they mention which houses?"
"Lemme look." Stan reached behind his seat and pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Nope, just that der was an attack. Ern can drop you twos off at The Leaky Cauldren, but thats as close as we're allowed to get."
Harry nodded and turned back to Malfoy.
"How could your father find out? That place is so well guarded by spells and charms, that it's nearly impossible to find. Have you told ANYONE about where you were staying or stayed last Christmas?" Harry whispered.
"No. Now all of a sudden this is my fault?"
"Your father knew you'd be staying with members of the order during the summer. For all we know he still thinks you're with Hermione. Ron sent me an owl yesterday saying that Hermione was supposed to be arriving there last night. What if the owl was intercepted?"
"Then it wouldn't be my fault now would it? But still I don't see how that would give him the location."
"I don't either, but I find it odd that the night Grimmauld Place was attacked was the night that Hermione returns from Bulgaria. Your father might have thought you were with her."
"Do you think they found Headquarters?"
"I'm really not sure. I'll send an owl to Ron as soon as we get to the Leaky Cauldren. If he's okay, then maybe he can give us more information." Harry replied. Malfoy nodded.
When they got to the Leaky Cauldren, they booked their rooms. They were both due at the Ministry for the destroying of their wands on the third which was two days away. Harry still didn't know if he'd be able to talk his way back into school again. He didn't even know if Dumbledore was still alive, and figured he probably would have more things to worry about other than Harry's next court case if he was still alive. Malfoy mentioned briefly the possibility of just not showing up and becoming outcasts. This brought back feelings in Harry of Sirius which he'd hidden to the back of his mind all summer. He kicked them back there again, and focused on his friends, hoping for their safety.
A/N: And so this concludes Chapter 2. Like I said, I'm going to try and make the chapters of this story longer than my previous stories, just depends on how much imagination I'm alotted each day. Anyway, read and respond tell me what you think.