Chapter 7

"Do you think you can continue, Hermione?" Harry asked Hermione as she pulled off the gloves.

"I think so." She replied. She was glad that her skin finally had a chance to breathe.

"Are you sure... We haven't done anything since..."

"I'm sure Harry. Besides, we need to find out what the cause is."


It was only a week later when it happened.

It was time for them to make an appearance at the great hall for dinner. While none of them usually came to any of the other meals, due to "studying", this was the meal that they had to come to regularly, unless they wanted to appear suspicious. As usual, Draco and Blaise sat at the other end of the table, eating quietly. Hermione and Harry sat in between them. They were in a quiet conversation, when the rest of the table went quiet. All this was interrupted by Dumbledore, who stood to get their attention, once he was done eating.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, and Mr. Zabini, kindly show yourselves to my office when you are done. I will await your arrival." He said nothing more, which was strange for the headmaster. He then swept out of the great hall, not noticing the significant looks going between said four. They got up as soon as they were finished, and made their way down the hall to the gargoyle statue. Was this about Hermione? Or was it about...

"What do you think he wants? Do you think it's possible he knows?" Hermione clutched Blaise's hand as they went.

Draco face betrayed nothing of his emotions as he talked, although he too had Harry's hand clutched to his side. "Possibly. Harry, what's the password?"

"How should I know?" Even Harry and Blaise were a little tense, to say the least. They hadn't expected this.

The gargoyle jumped aside without warning. They stared for a second at it uncertainly before going up the spiral staircase. The door to the office opened before them. Dumbledore was on the other side waiting for them. He had a stern look on his face, so different for his usual good humour. "Please take a seat." He waited a second for them to comply. "Now, do you know why you are here?"

"No, professor." Harry said softly. He pulled Draco's hand closer, from where they were hidden within the folds of their cloaks.

"It has come to my attention that all four of you have been experimenting with some of the darker arts. I must say, if this is true, then I am very disappointed in all of you. Especially you, Harry. You should have known better. And you Hermione." He sighed and leaned back in his overstuffed chair.

"What! And you expected this out of me and Blaise!" Draco's eyes narrowed.

"Mr. Malfoy, calm yourself!" Dumbledore glared at the boy.

"Why should I!" Harry pulled Draco down and tried to placate him, not noticing the look that Dumbledore was giving them.

"Harry, I thank you."

"I wasn't calming him to help you." Harry replied piercingly, angry on his lover's behalf. The headmaster flinched, almost shocked. He was unaccustomed to dealing with this Harry. He was usually very agreeable when it came to the him.

"Harry. What has happened to you? You used to be so much like a son to me. Then you turn things around and do something like this. Tell me, was it Mr. Malfoy, who convinced you to do this? Pulled you into his trap. As much as I don't want to believe anything so... deranged concerning any of my students." Dumbledore knew very well how the Malfoy boy was raised. It wouldn't surprise him much if he was the one corrupting his other students. Harry Potter was his! "Did he seduce you? Make you think his way was right. A curse?"

"No! All of us did this by our own choice." Harry glared at his professor. How dare he make such accusations towards the one he loved! He suddenly felt a strange animosity towards the old man. Something he never felt before.

"Well, if that is the case. I am sorry to say that you; Mr. Zabini, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, and Miss Granger, are hereby expelled. Harry, I am deeply sorry. I mistook you, for who you are."

Harry just stared at the headmaster. What in hell was he talking about?

"I won't be telling the ministry about this, if you stop. That is all, you may leave now." Thunder shook the room, as if the gods themselves were moved by his action. (Hermione's eyes began to water as the realization sunk. Harry gave Dumbledore a look of cold loathing, as they stood and left everything behind. Dumbledore himself even looked slightly sorry, but the decision had been made. Now they had to face the consequences of crossing him. Even if he couldn't bring himself to alert the ministry, this had to be done.


Other eyes were watching them as they took they're leave.

"I will never forgive you, Harry Potter. Good bye, though not forever. I'm not done with you."


Draco sighed as they made their way to the gate, belongings in hand. Dumbledore had given them a few minutes to clear their things out. "We knew that this might happen. It could have been worse. He could have snapped our wands, or sent us to Azkaban."

"You sure are taking things well, considering that we were just expelled."

"Well, the way I see it, we really don't need them. We've proven that we can learn these things by ourselves."

"Yeah, I guess so." Blaise replied. These were the first words that the quiet boy had said, since they left.

"Personally, I just think Dumbldore needs to get laid..."

Everyone just stared at him.

"What!" Draco says, incredulously.

Harry came out of the stupor first. "Draco! That has to be one of the crudest things that I have ever heard you say. Besides what does that have to do with anything!?"

"I don't know. It just sounded neat."

"Draco, shut up." Much to his horror his lover started to pout.

Hermione ignored the whole exchange. "But still, I will miss our friends. Even Ron, maybe. I mean after being around him for these last years."

They stopped at the gate and waited. The gates opened with a squealing groan. They than gave one last look at the sanctuary and then left. Maybe they would never return.

-,---, -,---, -,---, -,---,
and every morning comes too soon
all your nights are sleepless

poison arrows
to ruin your tomorrows

and all i know
is guilt for being different

it's always raining stones
there's a killer in the home
in a small town
everybody looks the same

there are unwritten rules
unspoken words
should I pack my fear and go?

I have to leave somehow
before they run me out of town
I have to leave somehow
-Chumbawumba
-,---, -,---, -,---, -,---,


"Where are we going to stay?" Draco asked Harry.

They had rented a couple of rooms in Hogsmeade while they came to a decision on where they were to stay. They wouldn't be able to stay long, because they knew that it wouldn't be long before someone found out that they had been expelled, and Draco's and Hermione's parents would come looking for them. They couldn't stay at the Malfoy's, for obvious reasons, and they couldn't stay with the Zabini's, because the Malfoy's might look there once they heard that he had been expelled as well. And Hermione didn't want to involve her parents. She also didn't want to break it to them that she had been kicked out of Hogwarts and see the shamed looks on their faces. As for Harry, the Dursley's didn't really care what happened to him. They would probably jump for joy if he were to die.

But then again, the location could be useful. The deatheaters still hadn't managed to locate the small house on Privet drive.

"I was thinking." He rolled over and placed his chin on Draco's chest, so that he could see his eyes.

"New concept for you, isn't it?" Draco teased.

"Shut up. I was thinking about Privet drive."

"Harry, I thought we discussed this. You are not going back there." He pulled Harry closer. He always got a bit more protective whenever the Dursley's came up. And with reason.


Over that summer the Dursley's decided to make Harry's life more of a living hell than usual. It started from the moment he got "home". They fed him even less than usual, at Vernon's insistence that both the boys should be on "the Diet". Their "precious Dudley" would take any chance he got to swipe his portion. He was lucky sometimes if he managed to keep more than a piece of toast a day, though his aunt would occasionally catch Dudley and tell him to put it back. Thank Merlin for small miracles; his aunt actually had a heart.

Once Harry had gotten back to school Draco had noticed the difference in Harry's weight. He weighed only about 41 kilograms (about 90.2). Hermione never noticed his weight change because his baggy clothes always covered him up.

Draco had made sure Harry ate all of his meals when him and Hermione had started sitting with them. He still only weighed 46 at most (about 101.2). Draco swore that he wouldn't let Harry go back to that. He simply deserved better than they treated him.

He was amazed that Harry had turned out as well as he had, after living with the Dursley's all this time. Harry was to this day the sweetest person he had ever met. Even if he did have a slight evil streak.

Even when he was harsh, and he did his worse, Harry would keep coming back to him. One day he had come up him and insisted that they become friends. He still didn't know what made Harry do it. He had rejected him, of course. But Harry kept trying until he finally gave in. But not after Draco finally went too far one day and Harry began to avoid him. He even didn't come to the classes that they had together.

But then Draco began to miss him. He missed Harry following him around, trying to get him to talk, sitting by him when no-one else was around. He finally cracked and went to find Harry one night, to speak with him. After a brief argument everything came together. And it eventually led to a strong relationship.

Since then Harry told him many things about him that nobody else knew. He even filled Draco in on Snape. Draco never figured that Harry would ever have trusted him enough to tell him that. He also told him about how the Dursley's treated him. Eventually Draco became very protective of the smaller boy.


"It's all I can think of. Besides, I doubt that they would bother me with you guys there. You would protect me." He snuggled closer the warm body beside him. He knew that Draco would always be there for him.

"I'll think about it. No promises though."

"That's fine. I'm not exactly overjoyed about the thought of going back to the Dursley's, you know. Even if they did kick me out. Nox totalus." With that the lights went out and sleep followed.


Vernon Dursley heard a knock at the door. He looked questioningly at the door for a second. He wasn't expecting anyone that day. He folded the newspaper and got up to open the door. He regretted it the second he saw who was on the other side.

"What are you doing back here!? You're supposed to be at that freak show school of yours! And just who is this that you brought back with you?"

As fun as it was to watch his uncle turn the different colours of the rainbow, he knew that he would have to answer soon.

"We were expelled and we need a place to stay, Uncle. Before you say anything, do you want to be responsible for four dead bodies, because that's exactly what will have on your hands if you don't let us come in."

"I am not going to let you and that little fag stay here! Let me guess, you keep the other two on the side to satisfy your pleasures." He was unprepared when a curse shot out of Harry's wand, knocking him flat on his back. (The ministry had didn't bother watching the house while school was in. After all, what reason was there to bother if Harry was at the school?)

Harry leaned over his uncle, who had no choice but to listen now. "I tried to be nice and ask. But I will not sit by and listen while you insult my boyfriend and my friends. You have no say in how I live my life, and you never will." He grabbed Draco's hand and led him upstairs. Hermione and Blaise followed behind, stepping around the prone body without glancing at it. He listened for a second at the top of the stairs to see if he heard his aunt, but she apparently wasn't home. They all settled in his room once they got to the door. Harry immediately flopped down on the bed.

Hermione looked around for a second and took in the room. She had never seen it before. Harry had been right, it was tiny. The room was barely big enough to accommodate only him, much less the four of them.


"Ok, what do we do now?" Blaise asked, distracted. He still had a hard time trying to grasp what that fat elephant of a man had said about him. The man had been lucky that Harry had gotten to him first.

"I think we should lay low for a while." Hermione said. "We don't really need to draw any attention to ourselves right now."

"I agree." Draco had sat down on the lumpy mattress beside Harry, and started to rub his back.

There was a quiet knock on the door and it opened a crack to reveal a tall woman on the other side. She looked around at them for a second. She must have been Harry's aunt. Petunia rested her eyes on Draco for a second, noting the hand that was still on Harry's back. She could figure it out for herself. Petunia nodded to him before speaking. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, if anyone wants something to eat."

"Thanks, Aunt Petunia." Harry mumbled, face down on the bed. He moaned for a second, then got up. He hadn't wanted Draco to stop. "I guess we go eat."

"I'll see to that that." Draco grabbed his hand and pulled him up. They then walked out the door.

"What was that about?" Hermione asked Blaise as she watched them leave the room.

He just shrugged and they followed them down.

Harry and Draco had already sat themselves at the table at the table and were waiting for them. Harry got up and found an extra chair for one of them to sit in.

"Vernon left about an hour ago, Harry. You don't have to worry." Petunia smiled at him from inside the kitchen.

Petunia had done her best for Harry over the summer. She had snuck him extra food now and then, over the summer. She knew she couldn't stop Dudley stealing Harry's meals, to make up for his own smaller portions, all the time. Since Harry never complained about it, she mostly didn't know how much he wasn't getting. Petunia did try to help, when she could. Small things, really. But better than nothing.

She brought plates loaded with food to them table and asked for Harry's help. He got up to help her carry the plates to the table.

"Harry... I'm sorry for this summer." She said as soon as they out of hearing range of the others. "I'm sorry for everything." He could see it on her face that she was really sorry.

"I know." Harry said just as quietly. He took some of the plates to the people waiting at the table. They sat down just in time to see Hermione talking to Draco.

"What happened?" She whispered to Draco.

"Harry's uncle didn't feed him, for the most part. He's lost a lot of weight..."

"Oh." She whispered. Then she got angry and turned on Harry. "Harry! And why didn't you tell me!" She questioned Harry.

"I was fine 'Mione." He said softly, staring at the plate in front of him.

"You weren't fine, Harry." Draco said. "I know that you've always been a little light, but-"

"How would you know that?" Harry interrupted. He stared at Draco.

"Before first year, remember. I was there when you were getting your robes fitted, or have you forgotten? Skinny was an understatement, I have to say." Draco smirked at him.

"Yeah, like you're any better. You're all skin and bones." To prove his point he jabbed his finger into Draco's ribs. Draco glared at the finger and swatted it away.

"I'm naturally thin. You just need to eat more." It was true. Draco, being a couple of inches taller than Harry, his weight was distributed differently. Though Harry was also right. "So eat."

"Fine." He picked up his fork and shoved in a mouthful.

"You still should have told me, Harry." She looked a bit hurt that he hadn't, but at least Draco knew.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to worry." He said in between bites. Draco was watching him as always, making sure he finished the entire plate.

Throughout all this Petunia watched with wonder. She had never seen Harry so open and talkative. It was a change from the usual sadness she saw on his face. And his friends obviously cared about him, even the quiet one with the black hair. It was nice to see. She didn't even think about the fact that they were wizards.

"So, Harry. Are you going to introduce me to your friends? I've never met any of them before."

He looked up from his plate surprised. He hadn't realized this. "Sure aunt Petunia. Umm... This is Hermione, Blaise," Harry pointed to Blaise, who nodded at her, "and Draco."

She looked at the blond for a second, as she had before. She had figured that he was Draco. "You were the one that sent the letter." It wasn't really a question.

"Yes ma'am. I heard about what happened." He had heard from Harry exactly what happened. He was almost sorry that he had owled it.

Petunia saw the question on Blaise's face. "Harry got a letter one morning, from that young man in front of you, I take it. Harry's uncle found it."

"And that's how he and my aunt found out that I had a boyfriend."

"If it's any consolation, Harry. I've yet to find a problem with your choice, aside from the fact that he's obviously too arrogant for his own good. But I guess that that's forgivable. Though it was certainly a surprise. I don't think your uncle will come around though."

"And why are you taking this so well. I mean, us being here... The fact that I have a boyfriend..." He trailed off.

"Why should I judge you, Harry? And I figured that you would tell me why you were here when you wanted to."

Harry was shocked from the kindness that he was getting from his Aunt. By that fact that she was actually treating him like family. "We were expelled. I would rather not say why, though. Just in case you wanted to know why we're here." Harry shrugged.

Now it was her turn to appear stunned. "Oh. Didn't you have another friend? I recall that he had red hair."

"Ronald Weasly is not one of my friends." He looked away, glaring at nothing in particular. "He didn't agree with the lifestyles that Hermione and I decided to live. Me and Hermione decided to do a little shopping over the summer. He didn't approve. Ron blew up at us over something that petty. He and his family don't have that much in the way of money, and he gets a bit touchy about it. Then he and his brothers caught on to fact that one of us or both of us were sneaking out most nights. They decided to follow us one night and they ended up in the hospital wing of the school, incidentally, of course."

"Of course. What happened?" She watched him carefully.

"Well you see our school has four different houses." Hermione cut in. "Me and Harry are in Gryffindor and Blaise and Draco are in Slytherin. And well... Slytherin doesn't have the best reputation."

"To say the least." Blaise put in. "Unrightfully judged, too."

"So anyway, Ron really hates anyone from Slytherin."

"And it doesn't help that his and my families are mortal enemies." Draco mumbled.

"Oh, yes. I remember Lily writing home about living in something called Ravenclaw. Anyway, why is that?" She questioned him. This was really starting to get interesting. Sort of like those soap operas that she like to watch.

"I don't know. All my father taught me growing up was that they were to be hated. And Weasly hasn't done anything for me to like him. He would kill me if he could. Especially after he found out about me and Harry. So naturally he tried to blame it all on Slytherin. Once we were found out people blamed me for corrupting him."

"Ron just doesn't realize that I love Draco. And that I'm just not going to be the person he thought I was. Not now."

Petunia looked closely at Harry as he talked, taking in all the differences in him. Noticing how he had grown. She noticed the tiny holes in both his ears, though there wasn't anything in them. Harry had taken the earrings out before they had arrived at the Dursley's. He wasn't going to give them another reason to taunt him. Petunia then noticed that his glasses were different. She hadn't been able to see before, because he had had his face in the covers on his bed. He had on a forest green long sleeve shirt and black pants, as always. Harry overall looked different, with new clothes and everything else. But were did the money for all this come from. "Interesting. You look nice Harry. But, how did you afford all this?"

He smirked as he looked at her. "My parents left me a mountain of gold and silver."

"Oh." She got up to clear the dishes off the table. Everyone had finished at some point throughout the talking. Harry got up to help her with the dishes. "You know, if you leave earrings out for to long the holes will close up." She said to Harry.

He blushed for a second before reaching into his pockets and pulled out the silver earrings.

"Let me." She picked took them from his hand and put them in.

"Thank you."

"Don't worry about your uncle, Harry." She pulled him into a quick hug.

"He kicked me out the last time that I was here, literally. Among other things, I have right to be nervous."

"I doubt that he would now that the house is overrun with magic folk, no offence."

"None taken.

"Besides, he doesn't know about the third boyfriend I ever had."

"What do you mean?"

"He left me for another guy, who just happened to be my second boyfriend. And my boyfriend before them-"

"Left you for another guy?" He quipped.

She laughed. "No! He went of to Beauxbatons."

"He was a Wizard!"

"Yes, Harry. We tried to keep on touch for a while, but it just didn't work. He just drifted away from me. It made me a bit sore towards anything having to do with magic for a while. I just wish that I could have told Lily that I was sorry. We were the best of friends up until then." She sighed to herself. She still regretted how she had treated her sister up until the day she had died. "But the point is, it doesn't matter what other people think."

"We can still do magic, by the way. The ministry doesn't generally watch the outside world for underage magic while school is in." He smirked. "Besides, the wards on this house can be tweaked at bit." He left the rest unsaid.

"Good for you. Now go with your boyfriend. I think he's getting a little irritated waiting on you."

"He always looks like that."

She laughed. "Two of you can use Dudley's room, if you would like to. And I would appreciate not hearing strange bumps in the night. Now get!" She shoed him up the stairs.

"Took you long enough." Draco huffed. He was waiting at the top of the stairs with his arms crossed.

"Catching up on lost years, Drake."

Draco nodded, sombrely. "Are you coming now?" He looked as if he was going to start tapping his foot at any second.

"Yes. You can be so impatient sometimes." He put his arm around him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Only because it's you. Now let's go kick out Granger and Zabini. I'm going to teach you about making me wait!"

"Sounds like fun."


Chapter 6
Chapter 8