Lowly Beginnings

DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter et al. belongs to JK Rowling

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AN: Wow- I actually got reviews. I'll respond to them at the end of the chapter. Thanks so much for reading; it's so cool that most of you like it.

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Chapter 4: Home is Where the Heart Is

'… and so, to all the teachers for getting us through our exams, can we get a round of applause!' Harry shouted into the auditorium, to the hundreds of parents and students that sat there listening to his graduation valedictorian speech.

The audience started clapping and a lot of whistling took place, until they quietened down. Harry concluded his speech,

'And to us, for getting through a full school year! Good luck to everyone at University, because if we enjoyed it here, then Uni is going to ROCK!' Harry all but screamed into the crowd. The unorthodox and informal approach in Harry's Valedictorian speech caused the cheers that followed to be so loud that the previous applause seemed almost pitiful. The students stood up, threw their caps in the air and celebrated the end of school.

Harry smiled brightly, before turning and walking off the stage whilst the other students took their parents around the school, or to the refreshment table.

'Hey Harry, wait up!' Ron called as Harry joined the mob of people. Ron was accompanied by his parents and a few of his brothers, who were almost like Harry's own family. 'Speech was awesome dude! Unconventional, but awesome!'

Harry smiled in appreciation, before he found himself pulled into a large hug by Mrs Weasley.

'Oh sweetie, you were brilliant. We were so proud!' she said as she straightened Harry's robes. Ron rolled his eyes at Harry from behind his mother's head. Harry guessed that Ron had already received the same treatment just beforehand, but knew that the red-head was actually very close with his family, especially his mother. She finally let go,

'Well Harry, my favouritest little surrogate brother… look at you… all grown up!' Bill sniggered as he too gave Harry a hug, looking down at Harry from his own height of 6 foot. Harry elbowed him in the side at the joking remark and Bill pretended to grasp his side, wounded. 'No, but seriously Harry – and you too Ron, well done. I can't believe you two did so well, especially with all the trouble you both cause! I'm sure Dumbledore will be glad to be rid of you.' Bill added with a sly grin.

'Aw, is ickle Billykins jealous? And also, is 'favouritest' a word?' teased Ron who stood just a little taller than his older brother.

Bill laughed, and Charlie added with a grin of his own,

'Ha! Bill's too cool for school. Anyway, Bill and I did just fine at school. You should have seen Percy's face when he realised that you had both done better than him though! Totally Blew up I swear!'

'I heard that!' scolded Percy as he came up behind his parents and brothers carrying a glass of juice. 'Actually, I'm very pleased that you two did so well. I'm glad you're both growing up and being so responsible. Taking responsibilities for you actions and such.'

Harry and Ron both stood still, trying to stop from laughing. Trust Percy to turn anything into a lesson or lecture. But they appreciated the sentiment all the same. At that moment, Ginny, Fred and George turned up, Ginny smiling her praise at Ron and Harry, and Fred and George were leaning on each others shoulders pretending to weep,

'Oh, they grow up so fast!' wailed Fred

'There, there, Fred,' announced George, before adding his own 'sobs' to the kafuffle. 'Ooohhh, they'll be going off to Uni… we'll never see our babies again!'

'Shut up you two' said Ron and Harry simultaneously, grinning at the twin's antics with a slight roll of the eyes.

The twins straightened up, and grabbed both Harry and Ron in a hug, which soon included all 9 members of the Weasley clan as well as Harry.

'Ah well, enough sob stories.' Announced one twins cheerfully, their previous drama forgotten. 'Look over there… yes… by the refreshment table… that's the one… guess what we replaced the Custard Creams with?'

Both twins released identically evil grins, and everyone laughed including both Mr and Mrs Weasley. It was a good day, Harry thought. A good day.

Later that same day, Harry stood at the airport terminal, waving good bye to Ron and his family. Ron gave Harry one last friendly hug,

'Are you sure you can manage without us. Just say the word and we'll stay. Ron said seriously.

'Don't be ridiculous, Ron,' Harry said. 'I can cope by myself for the summer. I rented myself that flat and I got a job at the cafe. I'm not completely incompetent.'

'Don't you recall the incident in the science lab…? Ron asked with a raised eyebrow.

'Hey!' Harry cried. 'That was just as much your fault as mine!'

Ron laughed, as an airport assistant announced over the loud speaker system that the plane was going to take off in 5 minutes and that all passengers must board. Ron gave Harry one last worried look before he turned to board the plane, pausing just for a second to wave goodbye to Harry. Then he was gone. He had a feeling something was going to happen for Harry. Something good? He couldn't tell. He'd just have to wait and see.

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Draco paced his room back and forth at the same time as Harry was driving back from the airport, to the café where he now worked. All week Draco had debated to himself whether to tell Blaise of his infatuation with Harry, but felt that Blaise may feel Harry, well, underneath him. Anyway, it wasn't like they were dating or anything yet; he'd tell Blaise when he was planning on executing his plan. The week before, after arriving back home with Harry's details, Draco had sat and read them on his bed. He pulled out the sheet again now and reread it,

Name:Harry James Potter

DOB: 31st July

Residence:Scot's Orphanage, Bloomingdale Road, Crevleside

Upon Draco's first reading of the sheet, Draco had been shocked to find that Harry was an orphan, and immediately felt a glimmer of pity and sorrow for the boy; Draco was very close to his family and didn't think he would cope without them.

The sheet then went on to describe Harry's grades and his accomplishments within the school such as sports captain and all his artistic, dramatic and musical abilities. Draco found himself more and more impressed with Harry the further he read on… yes, Harry was worthy of his attention.

Paper-clipped to the sheet was a small post-it note, upon which the headmaster had written the following comment,

'McGonagall,

Harry is an extraordinarily brilliant boy; clever, well mannered and multi-talented. I expect him to do very well in his chosen field of medicine, and am happy to write him a reference. I am however concerned about him having to leave the orphanage at the end of the school year As I'm sure you're well aware he has a very good group of friends but they shall be vacationing all summer. He'll need a place to stay; if need be, I shall put him in contact with a friend of mine: Mundungus Fletcher. Have a splendid summer,

Regards,

Albus Dumbledore'

When Draco had read that note a week ago, he had almost jumped for joy. Harry was going to alone all summer, lonely and vulnerable. And, in all likelihood, Harry would have rented a place to stay from this Mundungus fellow. Draco had then immediately used all the contacts and resources he had available at his finger tips and found Fletcher's number.

It turned out that Mundungus Fletcher was an estate agent of sorts, renting cheap accommodation on the rougher side of town. He had frowned in disdain when he had been given the address of the flat Harry would be living in. He recognised the street name as a particularly unsavoury area to live in.

Well, he had a plan. He's go over to Harry's within a few days when Harry was beginning to realise what a dump he was living in, and how hard life was going to be over the summer. He'd probably jump for joy if Draco offered him a place to stay. Yes, that's what he'd do. After all, no boyfriend of his was going to live in the slums.

Draco smiled, before tucking away the paper and rolling to bed. Content.

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AN: I guess this chapter is short, but it did take me a while to write. Reviews:

Darkangel- yes, there will be more D/H action, but I think it'll be the next chapter or two hopefully if all goes to plan (emphasis on hopefully).

Marshes to Banks- Hey, thanks for the info- I thought Ivy league were Colleges and in Britain, College is 16-18 so I thought that was correct, but I'll go back and just take the Ivy League out out, although orphanages can change countries… one of my friends was an orphan and her orphanage just upped and offed to America. I'm also gonna try take out some of my Briticisms in the American characters speech. I really hope you like the story though and thanks for reading.

Foc- I really hope you continue to enjoy… this is my first fic and I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing.

Aveeno-Baby- Hope you continue to enjoy. I'm gonna go back now and try put in scene change breaks… I always forget stuff like that since this is my first fic, but it always irritates me when others forget to do it. Whoops :D.

Darkanglefrmhell- Uh…. random? Nope- you won't be finding out what happened to the police officers, sorry, and lets just say for my laziness's sake that Dudley didn't exist. Yep, Harry is the poor 'un in this story, and Ron's well off- just a change I wanted to make for sake's sake.

Nattish- Bum! I completely forgot to take out Briticisms- I'll go back and alter them a wee bit. Lol- but nice work noticing I'm a Brit (although oddly enough, I've never ever lived in Britain, only Germany, but my parents are British) I'm glad you like punk(ish) Harry… I don't know what it is I like about it, I just do. I made Draco older, because like you said, I like the Taller/Smaller, Older/Younger, Masculine/Feminine thing. I just think it makes it a little more interesting (I hope anyway). Glad you like it. Thanks for reading.

Empathicsiren- Hopefully you'll enjoy what happens in the rest of the story if you like the beginning. Let's hope I don't disappoint.

Wiccan-One- Thanks :D.

Tee-Daa- Lol, I'm so glad you like it. I should update a lot this week since it's my half-term but when I'm back at boarding school I only get internet access about once a week, so updates will be slower. Thanks for reading.

Burnt-Reflections- Lol, yep, it's Draco. And I happen to think punk-ish Harry is the best too. I think you may be my first reviewer (ever!) as well, either that or Darkangel- depending on whether new reviews are at the top or bottom of the list… I'm just an idiot.

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