I'm so sorry it took so long for me to update this, but things have been
pretty busy over Christmas.
But here you have it!
~*~
Chapter 4
The rest of the day went by quite smoothly. Harry slept for a few hours then both he and Draco sat in the living room reading for awhile. After dinner Snape had come by to see how Harry felt. He told them that Harry should take things easy for at least three days, and then he could get out and walk for short amounts of times. After a week he would hopefully be fully healed and all the bruises would be gone.
When night time came Harry took the bed once again and Draco the sofa. But once again Draco woke up by Harrys screams and ran in to comfort him. The night after that went by in the same way: going to sleep on the sofa, being woken by Harry's nightmares, then falling asleep next to Harry and waking up cuddled up against him.
On the forth night when Harry went to bed, Draco came in to the bed room and lay down on the bed next to the Harry.
Slowly Harry turned around so that he faced Draco. They lay like that for a few minutes, neither one of them wanting to speak. After awhile Harry decided to break the silence.
"Sofa's not comfortable?"
"No not especially, besides you always wake me up halfway through the night." Draco said softly.
"Sorry about that." Harry answered sadly.
"Don't be. At least I got an excuse of sleeping in my bed next to you."
Harry only gave him a smile as an answer and then he closed his eyes and slowly he drifted to sleep, the smile never leaving his face.
Draco watched Harry as the boy fell asleep and after awhile he too drifted asleep.
Slowly Draco began to enter the land of conscious thoughts. He felt something warm pressed up against his chest and when he looked down he saw a mop of black hair. Draco Malfoy was sharing his bed with his former archenemy Harry Potter who was spooned up against him, and he wasn't minding this at all. In fact he was smiling. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of Harry's hair.
After a few minutes Harry woke up, and Draco felt him move in his arms so that they were facing each other. They lay like that for a while, wondering if this was the wrong thing to do. But how could anything that seemed so right be wrong?
"You didn't have any nightmares." Draco spoke softly as he gazed down at the raven haired boy.
"No." Harry couldn't believe how good this felt. When Draco had broken the silence with his soft voice he felt like he was going to burst open because of all the butterflies that seemed to have invaded his system. "Must have been the company." Harry then continued and slowly he lifted his hand up to the platinum boys head to stoke the hair out of his face. When Draco felt Harrys palm against his cheek he closed his eyes and leaned in to the touch.
"Stay." He mumbled so gentle that Harry almost missed it. "Stay for the summer." He said as he opened his eyes to meet Harry's. The love in his eyes looked like no emotion Harry had ever seen before in the blonde's eyes.
Harry opened his mouth to answer but closed it again; instead he lent forward and placed a gentle, innocent kiss on Draco's soft lips. Slowly he withdrew his face to see if what he had done was wrong. But there was no malice or anger on the Slytherin's face, only happiness and love. He smiled and leaned down to return the kiss, but this time it wasn't as innocent as before. The kiss deepened and Harry felt Draco's tongue against his lips begging for entrance which he gladly granted. (A/N: OK, I'm not going to write anything more one this particularly part, I tried but almost died of laughing. So try to use you're imagination, two teenage boys fooling around in a bed BUT no sex, just some serious snogging.)
When they got up to eat breakfast they discovered that the clock was about a quarter past eleven so they decided on some brunch instead.
"Where on earth did you learn to cook? I never thought I would say this but you're bloody amazing!"
"Tell me something I don't already know."
"Ha, ha, ha. Can't ever stop, can you?
"Nope."
"No, but honestly, where did you learn to cook? And don't say it's like potions because the ingredients are far from the same"
"My godfather taught me."
"Snape?" He exclaimed.
"Yes, he is the most amazing cook. He could probably cook anything out of nothing."
"The world surprises me one more time." Harry said as he got up to do the dishes. But before he began, he did a water resisting charm on the bandage situated on his wrist.
"You, know we are allowed to use magic for the dishes to you know."
"Yeah I know. But I like to do the dishes, to feel the hot water... you know."
"Didn't you have to do this at you're relatives?"
"Yes, but this is different because no one is forcing me to do this. I'm doing this out of free will."
"Yeah, yeah, be my guest." Draco replied as he got up and stood behind Harry.
Harry began to clean the plates as he felt Draco's arms wrap around his waste and his chin come to rest on his left shoulder.
"I missed you, you know." He whispered into his ear, the soft words sending shivers down his spine.
"Yeah, especially since I'm standing right in front of you."
"Shut up you twat. I meant before this, after we left Hogwarts this summer."
"Will it ease the pain if I say that I missed you too?"
"Maybe a little."
"Will it help if I kiss it better?" Harry said in a motherly voice as he turned around.
"Maybe."
"We'll just have to try it then." Harry said as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Draco's mouth.
"Nah, it didn't help. Better try again." Draco said as he flashed an anything but innocent smile towards Harry. He only replied by leaning into the blond again and giving him another kiss. They stood like that, holding each other and kissing passionately, for a while before they were interrupted by a cough from the doorway. Quickly they spun around to see Snape standing there.
"Sir! What are you doing here?!" Harry asked, startled.
"I was coming to give you a check-up as I told young Draco yesterday." He replied dryly
"He must have forgotten." Harry said giving Draco an accusing glare.
"Obviously." He paused for awhile and then continued. "So it looks like you're feeling well."
"I am Sir, but I haven't been outside yet. We planned on going on a short stroll this afternoon."
"Your wrist and ribs are feeling fine then?"
"Yes. They are only a little sore. Sort of feels the same as after a ruff quidditch match."
"Nothing out of the ordinary then. How are the bruises on your back healing?"
"I can hardly feel them now, but they are still quite visible."
"Very well, things seem... fine."
Both Harry and Draco blushed a little at this.
"You now where I am if there are any problems. Good day". Snape said and then he turned around, black robes billowing around him as he quickly left.
When he had apperated away, Harry turned around so that he faced Draco and slapped him on his shoulder.
"You planned that!"
"I did no such thing." Draco answered innocently.
"Oh don't try to be innocent. You don't fool me."
"Oh, alright you caught me. I thought you would enjoy embarrassing Professor Snape."
"I don't think he was embarrassed."
"Nah, you probably right."
"I'll never figure you out."
"I'll have to kill you if you do you know."
Harry only snorted at this and with a flick of his wand the rest of the dishes were done.
"Tired of the hot water eh?
"Shut up! We are going out for a walk."
Draco only laughed and followed him.
Soon they stepped outside into the sunny weather. They managed to sneak out of Diagon Alley without being seen and were now walking in a park not far from the Leaky Cauldron.
"God it feels wonderful to be able to do as you please without worrying that Vernon finally has decided to quit ignoring me and make my life a living hell again." Unconsciously his hand went up to his chest where his broken ribs had been.
"Some wounds never heals you know." Harry then said. He stopped and looked out over a playground where the kids were digging in the sand and their mothers were sitting on a park bench reading some books. He thought of how innocent and carefree those children were. He also thought about the fact that he had never gotten a chance of being that innocent and that carefree. When Dudley went to the playgrounds he had to work in the gardens, do the dishes, clean up after Dudley, or some other boring chore.
"I'm never going back there. Never." He then said as he began to walk again but he didn't get far. Draco placed his hand upon is shoulder to stop him.
"Harry... Harry look at me." Slowly Harry turned around to face the blonde boy.
"Harry, I promise you that you are never going back to that place. I won't allow it."
Harry had a mix of a helpless and an afraid expression. "I don't - I - It's just. God I don't know anything anymore." He said slowly.
"I'm afraid of feeling because all the good things I've had have been ripped away from me. My parents were murdered, I never had a childhood, and then I found my Godfather, who first was on the run and then he was killed to... because of me. I loose everyone I love, and I don't want to loose you too. I'm so scared... so scared." the tears that first rolled slowly down his cheeks were now flowing freely.
"Oh, Harry..." Draco said as he pulled him close in a secure embrace. "I'm not going anywhere Harry, I'm not going anywhere." After awhile when the tears had subdued he took hold of Harrys chin carefully with his hand and slowly raised his head so that he could look into Harry's eyes.
"Listen to me Harry. I am not going to allow someone to send you back to them, do you hear me?" Harry slowly nodded. "Good, and I am not going anywhere."
A small smile formed upon the raven haired boys lips.
"Come here." Draco then said as he pulled him close again in another tight embrace.
"This whole summer the Dursleys completely ignored me. They didn't give me any chores, they didn't accuse me of doing things I never could have done, and they didn't scream at me or even look in my direction. Not that I complained, mind you. I actually enjoyed the silence. But every time I went downstairs to make some food or when I came back from a walk, I was afraid of that everything would fall apart." He paused for awhile before he continued. "If was to go back there now, I know for sure that things wouldn't get back to what they were. The days of ignoring me would be over, believe me."
"Maybe you are right Harry, but none of that is going to happen."
Harry put his arms around Draco's waist and leaned into the embrace. "Don't leave me." Harry murmured into Draco's shoulder, so low that he almost missed it.
"I'm not going anywhere Harry. I'm not going anywhere." He repeated as he placed a soft kiss upon Harrys head.
After a while they parted and Draco kissed Harry softly on his scar.
"Thank you." Harry said as he grabbed the blonde's hand and they began to walk again. But they didn't get far because an owl flew up to them and landed on Harrys shoulder and held out his leg.
"An owl here? Wonder what this could be." He said as he untied the letter from its leg.
On the front of the envelope there was bold black handwriting:
To Mr Harry Potter Urgent
He then looked at the backside of it and there he saw the Hogwarts crest on the seal.
"Must be from Dumbledore then." He said as he opened it. Draco looked at him as he began to read the letter. Harry's face took on a puzzled expression.
"What does it say?" Draco asked curios.
"It's from Dumbledore. He wants me to floo over to his office immediately. He says that Ron and Hermione are already waiting there and that it's very urgent."
"Sounds serious. Better go home then and do as he says." Harry only nodded to answer. They made their way home quite quickly. When they arrived Draco took out a pouch of floo powder from a drawer near the fireplace.
"You want to go first?"
"Yeah, it would probably be better so I can warn Ron and Hermione."
"Probably." Draco only answered as be gave Harry some powder. "I will follow you a minute later or so."
"OK." Then he shouted; "Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry!" and in a spur of green flames he was gone.
Seconds later he stumbled out of Dumbledore's fire place.
"Bloody floo network." He mumbled
"Harry!" Two happy voices sounded as his two best friends got up and gave him a crushing hug. He stiffened and winced as they did this and they quickly pulled away.
"You okay mate?" Ron asked worried.
"Just a little sore."
"Are you coming alone?" Dumbledore asked as he motioned to them to sit down.
"No." He said as he looked up at his two friends.
"Who else's coming?" Hermione said as she looked at Harry. "And what happened to your wrist?"
"Listen, it's a long story but please whatever you do stay calm and let me explain." He took a deep breath and then continued. "Some things have happened this week and I've been staying with someone who has helped me. I don't think I have had made it without him."
"It's Malfoy right?" Hermione then said.
"What, how?" Harry said as he looked quite surprised.
"I know you two became friends last year, I saw you speaking with him several times out at the lake when I was taking my evening walk. And by the way you keep glancing at Ron like you were afraid that he is going to loose it or something I would say it's about Malfoy. And then you said it was a he." Hermione finished triumphant, knowing she was right.
"WHAT?" Ron exclaimed.
"Ron, please, he will be here any second and please stay calm for my sake. I am not up to you two fighting, and before you think it, no he is not going to pick a fight with you or anything."
Before Ron had any time in answering Draco arrived through the fireplace ungracefully.
"Bloody floo network." He to mumbled then looked up
"Good Day Headmaster." He said and nodded toward him then he turned around to Ron and Hermione.
"Miss Granger." Then he paused for a few seconds as he looked at Ron. "Mr Weasley." He then greeted.
Suddenly Hermione stood up and reached out her hand. Surprised Draco took it and shook it.
"I really hope you are not like your father."
"I'm not, believe me." He hesitated for a few seconds before he continued. "I apologise for what I have said to you, I never meant anything of it." He looked sincerely in Hermione's eyes.
"In that case, nice meeting you."
"WHAT are you doing Mione?" Ron sputtered.
"I never liked you Weasley, but not for the same reasons as Lucius disliked your father. If you are willing to forgive me I am willing to forgive you."
"What on earth have I done to you that is worth forgiving?" He spitted out.
"Assuming that I am just like Lucius." He spitted back. Harry had gotten up from the couch that he was sitting on and was now standing next to Draco. He placed his hand on his arm.
"Don't begin to fight, please." He softly said. Draco did as he was told and went to the couch where he sat down.
Ron calmed down a little and sat down him to, but only because he could tell that Harry really didn't want them to fight.
"Now, maybe it's for the best that I would speak with Harry alone." Dumbledore then said.
"Sir..." Draco began to protest but Harry cut him off.
"Is it about what happened with Uncle Vernon?"
"Yes, I am afraid it is Harry."
"They can stay, they deserve to know." He said slowly.
"Very well then."
"What? What are you talking about?" Ron asked.
"Would you like me to explain what happened Harry?" Dumbledore asked him.
"Yes please."
"Some days ago Harry was abused quite badly by his uncle Vernon Dursley. He managed to petrify is uncle and get a message to young Draco who apperated there and brought Harry home to his apartment. Draco then called Professor Snape who tended Harry's injuries. Harry has been staying at Mr Malfoys apartment to recover."
Both Ron and Hermione were looking at Dumbledore with tears in their eyes.
"After professor Snape's visit at Draco's apartment he went to collect Harry's things at the Dursleys. During that time he had a little talk with Mr. Dursley but apparently this little talk didn't really get through." He paused for awhile before he continued.
"This morning I received this letter." He held up a white muggle envelope. "It seems like that the same night as you left them Harry, their son Dudley had caused some trouble and ended up at the police station. From what I have gathered Petunia blamed Vernon for what had happened because she took Dudley and left. Unfortunately he then took his anger out on you Harry." He looked up at Harry who was looking puzzled at him. "But that is not what this letter contains. This is a letter from Vernon Dursley demanding to have his nephew back, since Petunia is nowhere to be found. He writes that you should come and live with him for the sake of everyone."
Harry's face was snowy white and he had crossed his arms over his chest, looking completely terrified.
"Harry is NOT going back there! Under NO condition is he to return to that obese ugly bastard!!!" Draco shouted as he flew up from the couch, startling everyone. "If you send him back there I can promise you things will NOT end happily!"
"SHUT UP!" Harry screamed. "I'm not going back there. I won't go back there."
Draco sat down at his knees in front of the upset Harry and stroke the hair off his forehead, pulling the boy close. Harry put his arms around him and cried silent tears as he squeezed him tight.
"I gave you a promise Harry. You won't go back there."
"No he won't." Dumbledore said. "Professor Snape revisited Vernon Dursley this morning and let's just say that he made our position clear."
Harry straightened up on the couch as did Draco.
"You sent Professor Snape there?" Draco said surprised.
"Yes I did."
"I hope you know what he means when he says he talked with someone like that Dursley."
"Oh, I am very aware of that. Severus knows where the limits are I am sure."
The office was dead silent. The Headmaster looked quite content with himself, Hermione looked like she was evaluating the situation, Ron was looking like he didn't know what to think or who to trust, while Harry and Draco looked relieved.
"But where will he be staying for the rest of the summer then?" Hermione then asked.
"Yes, well that is what you are here for. I wanted to ask you if maybe he could stay at either yours or Ron's place until Hogwarts starts again."
"That won't be necessary Sir." Harry said.
"How so?"
"Draco has offered to let me to stay with him."
"Oh, splendid, then everything is solved!"
"What? Hold on for just a minute!" Ron said as he stood up. "Malfoy wants Harry to live with him and no one but me finds that strange?"
"Ron calm down." Harry tried.
"I am calm! Why on earth would you want Harry live with you? I bet your father is still alive and you are going to capture Harry, or something like that, and then you will hand him over to your father, yeah that's it. It's a wonder he is still alive!"
Draco flew up from the couch and stood in front of a now fuming Ron.
"Believe me, Lucius is very much dead. I knew that one for sure! If he WAS alive I would never hand Harry over to him!"
"Well then tell me how you can be so sure that of that he is dead, they could have fixed the body with poly-juice you know!"
"It was me who killed him, god dammit! I saw how his lifeless body fell to the ground, and you know what, I didn't feel any remorse what so ever!" Draco practically screamed out.
Everyone looked stunned at this particular piece of information, even Dumbledore, but it didn't talk Ron long to get a comeback.
"Then why on earth would you like Harry to live with you? Just to kill him yourself maybe?"
"Because I love him! Happy now?"
"What do you know about love?" Ron spit out in a mocking tone that apparently got to Draco because he became dead silent and then he turned around and fled the office. Ron looked quite satisfied at this, as he had finally managed to get to Malfoy. But the satisfied look disappeared when his eyes fell on Harry. The teen looked absolutely furious.
"Do you have ANY idea of what you just did to him!!!" He screamed so loud that Snape probably heard it in the dungeons. With that he stormed out of the headmaster's office to find Draco.
~*~
Please review!!!
I have written about two pages on chapter five and I'm very much stuck.
So if there's someone out there that has any ideas of what you want to see in this fic PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE mail it to me or leave it in a review.
A BIG hug to my beta Rio!!!!!!!
But here you have it!
~*~
Chapter 4
The rest of the day went by quite smoothly. Harry slept for a few hours then both he and Draco sat in the living room reading for awhile. After dinner Snape had come by to see how Harry felt. He told them that Harry should take things easy for at least three days, and then he could get out and walk for short amounts of times. After a week he would hopefully be fully healed and all the bruises would be gone.
When night time came Harry took the bed once again and Draco the sofa. But once again Draco woke up by Harrys screams and ran in to comfort him. The night after that went by in the same way: going to sleep on the sofa, being woken by Harry's nightmares, then falling asleep next to Harry and waking up cuddled up against him.
On the forth night when Harry went to bed, Draco came in to the bed room and lay down on the bed next to the Harry.
Slowly Harry turned around so that he faced Draco. They lay like that for a few minutes, neither one of them wanting to speak. After awhile Harry decided to break the silence.
"Sofa's not comfortable?"
"No not especially, besides you always wake me up halfway through the night." Draco said softly.
"Sorry about that." Harry answered sadly.
"Don't be. At least I got an excuse of sleeping in my bed next to you."
Harry only gave him a smile as an answer and then he closed his eyes and slowly he drifted to sleep, the smile never leaving his face.
Draco watched Harry as the boy fell asleep and after awhile he too drifted asleep.
Slowly Draco began to enter the land of conscious thoughts. He felt something warm pressed up against his chest and when he looked down he saw a mop of black hair. Draco Malfoy was sharing his bed with his former archenemy Harry Potter who was spooned up against him, and he wasn't minding this at all. In fact he was smiling. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of Harry's hair.
After a few minutes Harry woke up, and Draco felt him move in his arms so that they were facing each other. They lay like that for a while, wondering if this was the wrong thing to do. But how could anything that seemed so right be wrong?
"You didn't have any nightmares." Draco spoke softly as he gazed down at the raven haired boy.
"No." Harry couldn't believe how good this felt. When Draco had broken the silence with his soft voice he felt like he was going to burst open because of all the butterflies that seemed to have invaded his system. "Must have been the company." Harry then continued and slowly he lifted his hand up to the platinum boys head to stoke the hair out of his face. When Draco felt Harrys palm against his cheek he closed his eyes and leaned in to the touch.
"Stay." He mumbled so gentle that Harry almost missed it. "Stay for the summer." He said as he opened his eyes to meet Harry's. The love in his eyes looked like no emotion Harry had ever seen before in the blonde's eyes.
Harry opened his mouth to answer but closed it again; instead he lent forward and placed a gentle, innocent kiss on Draco's soft lips. Slowly he withdrew his face to see if what he had done was wrong. But there was no malice or anger on the Slytherin's face, only happiness and love. He smiled and leaned down to return the kiss, but this time it wasn't as innocent as before. The kiss deepened and Harry felt Draco's tongue against his lips begging for entrance which he gladly granted. (A/N: OK, I'm not going to write anything more one this particularly part, I tried but almost died of laughing. So try to use you're imagination, two teenage boys fooling around in a bed BUT no sex, just some serious snogging.)
When they got up to eat breakfast they discovered that the clock was about a quarter past eleven so they decided on some brunch instead.
"Where on earth did you learn to cook? I never thought I would say this but you're bloody amazing!"
"Tell me something I don't already know."
"Ha, ha, ha. Can't ever stop, can you?
"Nope."
"No, but honestly, where did you learn to cook? And don't say it's like potions because the ingredients are far from the same"
"My godfather taught me."
"Snape?" He exclaimed.
"Yes, he is the most amazing cook. He could probably cook anything out of nothing."
"The world surprises me one more time." Harry said as he got up to do the dishes. But before he began, he did a water resisting charm on the bandage situated on his wrist.
"You, know we are allowed to use magic for the dishes to you know."
"Yeah I know. But I like to do the dishes, to feel the hot water... you know."
"Didn't you have to do this at you're relatives?"
"Yes, but this is different because no one is forcing me to do this. I'm doing this out of free will."
"Yeah, yeah, be my guest." Draco replied as he got up and stood behind Harry.
Harry began to clean the plates as he felt Draco's arms wrap around his waste and his chin come to rest on his left shoulder.
"I missed you, you know." He whispered into his ear, the soft words sending shivers down his spine.
"Yeah, especially since I'm standing right in front of you."
"Shut up you twat. I meant before this, after we left Hogwarts this summer."
"Will it ease the pain if I say that I missed you too?"
"Maybe a little."
"Will it help if I kiss it better?" Harry said in a motherly voice as he turned around.
"Maybe."
"We'll just have to try it then." Harry said as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Draco's mouth.
"Nah, it didn't help. Better try again." Draco said as he flashed an anything but innocent smile towards Harry. He only replied by leaning into the blond again and giving him another kiss. They stood like that, holding each other and kissing passionately, for a while before they were interrupted by a cough from the doorway. Quickly they spun around to see Snape standing there.
"Sir! What are you doing here?!" Harry asked, startled.
"I was coming to give you a check-up as I told young Draco yesterday." He replied dryly
"He must have forgotten." Harry said giving Draco an accusing glare.
"Obviously." He paused for awhile and then continued. "So it looks like you're feeling well."
"I am Sir, but I haven't been outside yet. We planned on going on a short stroll this afternoon."
"Your wrist and ribs are feeling fine then?"
"Yes. They are only a little sore. Sort of feels the same as after a ruff quidditch match."
"Nothing out of the ordinary then. How are the bruises on your back healing?"
"I can hardly feel them now, but they are still quite visible."
"Very well, things seem... fine."
Both Harry and Draco blushed a little at this.
"You now where I am if there are any problems. Good day". Snape said and then he turned around, black robes billowing around him as he quickly left.
When he had apperated away, Harry turned around so that he faced Draco and slapped him on his shoulder.
"You planned that!"
"I did no such thing." Draco answered innocently.
"Oh don't try to be innocent. You don't fool me."
"Oh, alright you caught me. I thought you would enjoy embarrassing Professor Snape."
"I don't think he was embarrassed."
"Nah, you probably right."
"I'll never figure you out."
"I'll have to kill you if you do you know."
Harry only snorted at this and with a flick of his wand the rest of the dishes were done.
"Tired of the hot water eh?
"Shut up! We are going out for a walk."
Draco only laughed and followed him.
Soon they stepped outside into the sunny weather. They managed to sneak out of Diagon Alley without being seen and were now walking in a park not far from the Leaky Cauldron.
"God it feels wonderful to be able to do as you please without worrying that Vernon finally has decided to quit ignoring me and make my life a living hell again." Unconsciously his hand went up to his chest where his broken ribs had been.
"Some wounds never heals you know." Harry then said. He stopped and looked out over a playground where the kids were digging in the sand and their mothers were sitting on a park bench reading some books. He thought of how innocent and carefree those children were. He also thought about the fact that he had never gotten a chance of being that innocent and that carefree. When Dudley went to the playgrounds he had to work in the gardens, do the dishes, clean up after Dudley, or some other boring chore.
"I'm never going back there. Never." He then said as he began to walk again but he didn't get far. Draco placed his hand upon is shoulder to stop him.
"Harry... Harry look at me." Slowly Harry turned around to face the blonde boy.
"Harry, I promise you that you are never going back to that place. I won't allow it."
Harry had a mix of a helpless and an afraid expression. "I don't - I - It's just. God I don't know anything anymore." He said slowly.
"I'm afraid of feeling because all the good things I've had have been ripped away from me. My parents were murdered, I never had a childhood, and then I found my Godfather, who first was on the run and then he was killed to... because of me. I loose everyone I love, and I don't want to loose you too. I'm so scared... so scared." the tears that first rolled slowly down his cheeks were now flowing freely.
"Oh, Harry..." Draco said as he pulled him close in a secure embrace. "I'm not going anywhere Harry, I'm not going anywhere." After awhile when the tears had subdued he took hold of Harrys chin carefully with his hand and slowly raised his head so that he could look into Harry's eyes.
"Listen to me Harry. I am not going to allow someone to send you back to them, do you hear me?" Harry slowly nodded. "Good, and I am not going anywhere."
A small smile formed upon the raven haired boys lips.
"Come here." Draco then said as he pulled him close again in another tight embrace.
"This whole summer the Dursleys completely ignored me. They didn't give me any chores, they didn't accuse me of doing things I never could have done, and they didn't scream at me or even look in my direction. Not that I complained, mind you. I actually enjoyed the silence. But every time I went downstairs to make some food or when I came back from a walk, I was afraid of that everything would fall apart." He paused for awhile before he continued. "If was to go back there now, I know for sure that things wouldn't get back to what they were. The days of ignoring me would be over, believe me."
"Maybe you are right Harry, but none of that is going to happen."
Harry put his arms around Draco's waist and leaned into the embrace. "Don't leave me." Harry murmured into Draco's shoulder, so low that he almost missed it.
"I'm not going anywhere Harry. I'm not going anywhere." He repeated as he placed a soft kiss upon Harrys head.
After a while they parted and Draco kissed Harry softly on his scar.
"Thank you." Harry said as he grabbed the blonde's hand and they began to walk again. But they didn't get far because an owl flew up to them and landed on Harrys shoulder and held out his leg.
"An owl here? Wonder what this could be." He said as he untied the letter from its leg.
On the front of the envelope there was bold black handwriting:
To Mr Harry Potter Urgent
He then looked at the backside of it and there he saw the Hogwarts crest on the seal.
"Must be from Dumbledore then." He said as he opened it. Draco looked at him as he began to read the letter. Harry's face took on a puzzled expression.
"What does it say?" Draco asked curios.
"It's from Dumbledore. He wants me to floo over to his office immediately. He says that Ron and Hermione are already waiting there and that it's very urgent."
"Sounds serious. Better go home then and do as he says." Harry only nodded to answer. They made their way home quite quickly. When they arrived Draco took out a pouch of floo powder from a drawer near the fireplace.
"You want to go first?"
"Yeah, it would probably be better so I can warn Ron and Hermione."
"Probably." Draco only answered as be gave Harry some powder. "I will follow you a minute later or so."
"OK." Then he shouted; "Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry!" and in a spur of green flames he was gone.
Seconds later he stumbled out of Dumbledore's fire place.
"Bloody floo network." He mumbled
"Harry!" Two happy voices sounded as his two best friends got up and gave him a crushing hug. He stiffened and winced as they did this and they quickly pulled away.
"You okay mate?" Ron asked worried.
"Just a little sore."
"Are you coming alone?" Dumbledore asked as he motioned to them to sit down.
"No." He said as he looked up at his two friends.
"Who else's coming?" Hermione said as she looked at Harry. "And what happened to your wrist?"
"Listen, it's a long story but please whatever you do stay calm and let me explain." He took a deep breath and then continued. "Some things have happened this week and I've been staying with someone who has helped me. I don't think I have had made it without him."
"It's Malfoy right?" Hermione then said.
"What, how?" Harry said as he looked quite surprised.
"I know you two became friends last year, I saw you speaking with him several times out at the lake when I was taking my evening walk. And by the way you keep glancing at Ron like you were afraid that he is going to loose it or something I would say it's about Malfoy. And then you said it was a he." Hermione finished triumphant, knowing she was right.
"WHAT?" Ron exclaimed.
"Ron, please, he will be here any second and please stay calm for my sake. I am not up to you two fighting, and before you think it, no he is not going to pick a fight with you or anything."
Before Ron had any time in answering Draco arrived through the fireplace ungracefully.
"Bloody floo network." He to mumbled then looked up
"Good Day Headmaster." He said and nodded toward him then he turned around to Ron and Hermione.
"Miss Granger." Then he paused for a few seconds as he looked at Ron. "Mr Weasley." He then greeted.
Suddenly Hermione stood up and reached out her hand. Surprised Draco took it and shook it.
"I really hope you are not like your father."
"I'm not, believe me." He hesitated for a few seconds before he continued. "I apologise for what I have said to you, I never meant anything of it." He looked sincerely in Hermione's eyes.
"In that case, nice meeting you."
"WHAT are you doing Mione?" Ron sputtered.
"I never liked you Weasley, but not for the same reasons as Lucius disliked your father. If you are willing to forgive me I am willing to forgive you."
"What on earth have I done to you that is worth forgiving?" He spitted out.
"Assuming that I am just like Lucius." He spitted back. Harry had gotten up from the couch that he was sitting on and was now standing next to Draco. He placed his hand on his arm.
"Don't begin to fight, please." He softly said. Draco did as he was told and went to the couch where he sat down.
Ron calmed down a little and sat down him to, but only because he could tell that Harry really didn't want them to fight.
"Now, maybe it's for the best that I would speak with Harry alone." Dumbledore then said.
"Sir..." Draco began to protest but Harry cut him off.
"Is it about what happened with Uncle Vernon?"
"Yes, I am afraid it is Harry."
"They can stay, they deserve to know." He said slowly.
"Very well then."
"What? What are you talking about?" Ron asked.
"Would you like me to explain what happened Harry?" Dumbledore asked him.
"Yes please."
"Some days ago Harry was abused quite badly by his uncle Vernon Dursley. He managed to petrify is uncle and get a message to young Draco who apperated there and brought Harry home to his apartment. Draco then called Professor Snape who tended Harry's injuries. Harry has been staying at Mr Malfoys apartment to recover."
Both Ron and Hermione were looking at Dumbledore with tears in their eyes.
"After professor Snape's visit at Draco's apartment he went to collect Harry's things at the Dursleys. During that time he had a little talk with Mr. Dursley but apparently this little talk didn't really get through." He paused for awhile before he continued.
"This morning I received this letter." He held up a white muggle envelope. "It seems like that the same night as you left them Harry, their son Dudley had caused some trouble and ended up at the police station. From what I have gathered Petunia blamed Vernon for what had happened because she took Dudley and left. Unfortunately he then took his anger out on you Harry." He looked up at Harry who was looking puzzled at him. "But that is not what this letter contains. This is a letter from Vernon Dursley demanding to have his nephew back, since Petunia is nowhere to be found. He writes that you should come and live with him for the sake of everyone."
Harry's face was snowy white and he had crossed his arms over his chest, looking completely terrified.
"Harry is NOT going back there! Under NO condition is he to return to that obese ugly bastard!!!" Draco shouted as he flew up from the couch, startling everyone. "If you send him back there I can promise you things will NOT end happily!"
"SHUT UP!" Harry screamed. "I'm not going back there. I won't go back there."
Draco sat down at his knees in front of the upset Harry and stroke the hair off his forehead, pulling the boy close. Harry put his arms around him and cried silent tears as he squeezed him tight.
"I gave you a promise Harry. You won't go back there."
"No he won't." Dumbledore said. "Professor Snape revisited Vernon Dursley this morning and let's just say that he made our position clear."
Harry straightened up on the couch as did Draco.
"You sent Professor Snape there?" Draco said surprised.
"Yes I did."
"I hope you know what he means when he says he talked with someone like that Dursley."
"Oh, I am very aware of that. Severus knows where the limits are I am sure."
The office was dead silent. The Headmaster looked quite content with himself, Hermione looked like she was evaluating the situation, Ron was looking like he didn't know what to think or who to trust, while Harry and Draco looked relieved.
"But where will he be staying for the rest of the summer then?" Hermione then asked.
"Yes, well that is what you are here for. I wanted to ask you if maybe he could stay at either yours or Ron's place until Hogwarts starts again."
"That won't be necessary Sir." Harry said.
"How so?"
"Draco has offered to let me to stay with him."
"Oh, splendid, then everything is solved!"
"What? Hold on for just a minute!" Ron said as he stood up. "Malfoy wants Harry to live with him and no one but me finds that strange?"
"Ron calm down." Harry tried.
"I am calm! Why on earth would you want Harry live with you? I bet your father is still alive and you are going to capture Harry, or something like that, and then you will hand him over to your father, yeah that's it. It's a wonder he is still alive!"
Draco flew up from the couch and stood in front of a now fuming Ron.
"Believe me, Lucius is very much dead. I knew that one for sure! If he WAS alive I would never hand Harry over to him!"
"Well then tell me how you can be so sure that of that he is dead, they could have fixed the body with poly-juice you know!"
"It was me who killed him, god dammit! I saw how his lifeless body fell to the ground, and you know what, I didn't feel any remorse what so ever!" Draco practically screamed out.
Everyone looked stunned at this particular piece of information, even Dumbledore, but it didn't talk Ron long to get a comeback.
"Then why on earth would you like Harry to live with you? Just to kill him yourself maybe?"
"Because I love him! Happy now?"
"What do you know about love?" Ron spit out in a mocking tone that apparently got to Draco because he became dead silent and then he turned around and fled the office. Ron looked quite satisfied at this, as he had finally managed to get to Malfoy. But the satisfied look disappeared when his eyes fell on Harry. The teen looked absolutely furious.
"Do you have ANY idea of what you just did to him!!!" He screamed so loud that Snape probably heard it in the dungeons. With that he stormed out of the headmaster's office to find Draco.
~*~
Please review!!!
I have written about two pages on chapter five and I'm very much stuck.
So if there's someone out there that has any ideas of what you want to see in this fic PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE mail it to me or leave it in a review.
A BIG hug to my beta Rio!!!!!!!