When they had finished their ice cream, they took a carriage to Malfoy Manor. Draco sat next to Harry, across from his father. No one talked during the ride. Draco stared out the window, watching as houses and shops changed to familiar fields and forests. Finally the tall, heavily ornamented stone walls and iron gates of Malfoy Manor came into sight. Malfoy Manor was surrounded by thick, stone walls decorated with runes and symbols, though you couldn't see the carvings unless you were standing right in front of them. The symbols, of course, were spells for protection, concealment and so on and Draco had been told that there were more embedded inside the wall, along with various magical items of protection. The iron gates themselves were similarly ornamented, though there was also a spell to recognize a member of the Malfoy family – by blood or by marriage – and open for them and only them. Of course, they also had another spell so that they wouldn't open from the inside to anyone under the age of 11. On either side of the gates were identical, giant dragons, seemingly imprisoned in stone, standing on their hind legs, upper claws reaching out menacingly towards intruders, mouths open in silent screams of warning. Only their eyes held any color: set with giant rubies, they glittered threateningly in the sunlight.

When he was little, Draco had frequently tried to climb over the walls or up the gate, but he had never made it. He had wanted to try climbing the dragons, but they were on the outside of the Manor and he had always been stuck on the inside. By the time he could leave the Manor at will, he'd had better things to do than try to climb statues of dragons – not do mention more dignity than to get caught climbing about like some penniless muggle-lover.

The carriage slowed as it neared the gates until they recognized the two Malfoys approaching and swung silently open to reveal Malfoy Manor itself. It was surrounded by snow-covered forest and dormant plant life. The road extended right up to the heavy, wooden front doors. The Manor itself was a towering building – almost a castle – with towers reaching up towards the clouds and a balcony stretching over the front door. And of course, the sun sinking between the two tallest towers was always a nice touch.

It was, in its way, even more impressive than Hogwarts, though Draco had rarely noticed. Having grown up here, he had never really seen it 'the first time,' so unlike with Hogwarts, he'd never had the opportunity to be impressed.

Harry, though, was staring in awe. Draco suppressed a smile at his boyfriend's expression, wishing he could grab the boy's hand, or slip his arm around his waist and rest his head on Harry's shoulder – or maybe just kiss him. That would work too…

But Father was there, so Draco restrained himself.

Draco let Father climb out of the carriage first, then motioned for Harry to get out. Father didn't even bother to wait for them before setting off up the remaining stretch of road to the door, leaving Draco and Harry to catch up with him. But Father was an impatient and busy man, and Draco was used to it by now.

The tall, wooden doors were ornately carved, though Draco thought it was probably all just ornamental. At least, he had never been able to identify any spells on them. Father threw them opened – again, they were enchanted to open at the touch of a Malfoy, though without the age restrictions.

His mother was standing in the front hallway, looking thoroughly fretful.

"Where on Earth have you been?" she exclaimed the moment she saw them. "I've been so worried!" Draco suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.

"I took them to Knockturn Alley to—"

"Knockturn Alley? Lucius, that place is dangerous! They're only children!" Mother protested, blanching.

"They're 13, Narcissa." Father pointed out. "Draco will be graduating Hogwarts before you know it."

"Do you have any idea what could have happened? And with Sirius Black on the loose—"

"Narcissa—" Father began wearily.

"And what on Earth were you doing in Knockturn Alley, anyway?" Mother snapped.

"It's not important," Father said evasively.

"Than why did you have to drag my son all the way to Knockturn Alley, if it's so unimportant? Without even bothering to tell me… Do you have any idea how worried I was? Sirius Black could have—"

Draco caught Harry's eye, glancing towards the stairway before moving towards it as unobtrusively as he could, hoping to get away while his parents were busy fighting. Unfortunately, Mother noticed him the moment he moved and turned her attention to him, smiling warmly.

"Draco, welcome home."

"Hello Mother," Draco responded automatically, suppressing his irritation. He wasn't even sure what about her irritated him, but something every time she spoke, he wanted to scream.

"How has school been going?"

"Good," Draco told her as warmly as he could.

"'Well,' not 'good,'" Father corrected in an undertone, but Draco ignored him.

"And this must be Harry," Mother said, seeming to notice the boy for the first time. She gave him a brief, appraising look smiling at him. "It's so nice to finally meet you."

Harry gave her a nervous, uncomfortable smile. "Hi."

"Dinner will be in about an hour, so how about you two go upstairs and unpack," she suggested.

Draco nodded and set off upstairs to his room, Harry following close behind. The house-elves had brought their bags home and unpacked for them while they were in Knockturn Alley. Draco pulled the door closed behind them, locking it though he knew his parents wouldn't think twice about charming it open without even bothering to knock first and the house-elves wouldn't come in uninvited if he was there for fear of their miserable little lives. But at least if the door was locked, his parents couldn't say he'd left it unlocked, obviously inviting intrusion, if they did come in. For all that they demanded space and privacy from everyone else – including each other – these concepts didn't seem to apply to other people, and most especially not their son.

Harry glanced around the room and Draco was suddenly aware of how little his room had of him anymore. A few pictures, some old toys he hadn't touched in years, but not much else. Immaculately clean and neat, his room was about as soulless as if a dementor had kissed it. His clothes hung too neatly in his closet, his undamaged books orderly on his bookshelf, his desk clean and empty, his bed clean and newly made. Even the heavy, green velvet curtains covering the tall, glass door leading out to the balcony seemed hollow and lifeless. He'd stayed in hotels rooms that were more personalized than his bedroom.

Harry didn't seem to notice though, coming up behind him to slip his arms around Draco's waist, gently nuzzling his neck. Draco smiled, catching one of Harry's hands and bringing it up to his lips.

"Your parents seem… nice," Harry murmured.

Draco tensed, wondering if what Harry meant by that. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Nicer than I'd expected."

Draco wondered for a moment what Harry had expected – blood-sucking demons? Sadistic tyrants? Horned, fanged monsters? – but decided to let it go. He really didn't want to end up having an argument with Harry within minutes of getting home.

Instead he turned around in Harry's arms, kissing Harry's mouth and loosing himself in the warmth of Harry's body.

A/N: Master of the flames: Trust me, this fic is in no way, shape, or form sick. I've got hundreds of scenes already planned out and I'm having a ton of fun writing this, so you don't have to sing (yet). Trekkie-54: Thanks :D Must go fix that. And I'll try to update (some story or other) at least a few times (3 or more) a week. TheArtOfQuicksilver: Glad you like this. It's basically what my friends and I "saw" when we watched the movie, just with all the details filled in. Orange: Thanks