Author's Note: I am very sorry for this update taking so long, school. theatre, and life took over for a while there. Currently I am on summer holidays so I shold update more often. Btw, I answer reviewers' questions and concerns in my xanga if you want to check that out. The link is in my profile.

I am not rich enough to own Harry Potter...


Chapter 4: A Brave New Harry

"These are wicked!" Harry exclaimed as he tried on his newly fitted robes.

"These should suffice for the first few weeks of school Harry. Don't worry, more will be sent to you." Draco's mum smiled as she inspected the fit.

"Thank you Mrs. Malfoy." Harry said, grinning ear-to-ear.

"Dear I told you to call me Aunt Narcissa. In any case, all purebloods are related and your father was pureblooded."

"Yes Mrs… Auntie." Harry managed to correct himself before he completely messed up.

"Smooth Harry, that was incredible. Five seconds after Mum tells you not to call her Mrs. Malfoy you almost call her that." Draco was smirking as he teased the shorter boy while watching his mum and the tailor leave the room.

"What has gotten your knickers in a twist? You got new robes too." Harry asked Draco after Narcissa was out of earshot.

"Nothing, it is just that my parents are up to something and I'd like to find out about it."

"Hmm... How long until school starts?"

"We have five free days left. The sixth day we have to be at Salisbury Railway Station before ten o'clock."

"Then we have five full days to figure it out." Harry said, with a smirk of his own.

"But it always takes forever for me to find out what my parents plan. They are both true Slytherins and are incredibly cunning."

Harry grinned evilly after hearing Draco whine. "But see, two heads are better than one."

"A partnership as well as a friendship?" Draco asked, weighing the costs and the benefits quickly.

"Of course. We can try to discover your parents' plot for the rest of the summer holidays and once we get to school we can create dastardly plans to win our house points, make all the teachers think we are angels, and torment the Gryffindors." Harry laughed as he finished his little speech.

"Brilliant! Moreover, once we get to school Vince and Greg, the two boys I told you about earlier, can be our muscle. Together our enemies will know us as the Terrible Trio! After all, everyone thinks of Vince and Greg as one person anyway." By the end of this Draco was laughing so hard he had trouble speaking. Harry noticed that Narcissa was entering the room again and so he hastily changed the subject as Draco got a hold of himself.

"Draco, can we go flying again?" Draco had taught Harry how to fly the day before and the boys had discovered that Harry was a natural. After an hour or so of practice the boys had started playing seeker vs. seeker and Harry was just as good as Draco.

"No you can not. You both need haircuts before the start of term. Harry your hair looks as though it has never even seen a comb in your life; and Draco? You have needed a trimming for a few weeks, but since Harry was to visit I scheduled yours at the same time."

"Mummy, it isn't Mr. Kero is it? He always cuts my hair too short. His scissors are never sharp enough, they leave split ends!"

As Draco started to whine Harry could help but grin at his friend's antics. A grin that quickly faded when Draco suddenly exclaimed:

"Harry, aren't you going to help me! I don't need a haircut. My hair is as perfect as always."

"No way Draco, I've never had a real haircut; just Aunt Petunia and her kitchen scissors."

Neither boy noticed the look that darted across Narcissa's face as Harry finished.

"So Draco dear, would you prefer for me to ring Harry's Aunt instead of Mr. Kero?"

"Draco, imagine yourself with fuzz and fringe!"

"Oh how dreadful!" Narcissa exclaimed in horror.

"It was okay." Harry admitted, "I woke up the next day looking the same as I did before. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were real mad though."

"Shouldn't they have been overjoyed? That was accidental magic." Narcissa was starting to look a bit worried.

"Every time I did magic I always got a treat. My practice snitch for instance. I turned my tutor's face green because she told me off for not finishing my arithmetic homework." Draco interrupted looking rather perplexed.

"Err…" Harry started to look rather uncomfortable. "My relatives don't really approve of magic or any odd things." Harry was suddenly very interested in the old, hard wood floor.

"Well here magic is perfectly normal and we reward accidental magic. Lucius and I will have to make up for your guardians' stinginess at a later date. Now boys, Mr. Kero won't be here for another hour. I want Harry to be instructed in the basics of nail and skin care; moreover, he will be taught what sorts of accessories are suited for young wizards of your standing. Draco, remember you are both the heirs to the estates and vaults of two old, esteemed pureblood families. Even though Harry is not pureblood, he should still act and be treated with the same respect. Remember, Mr. Kero will be here in an hour; Lucius will return from the ministry in time for tea. You had lunch before the tailor arrived, so I had the servants put a tray of snacks in your room Draco. I expect you both to be down here at precisely 3 o'clock."

"Yes Mummy." Draco said, leading a shocked Harry towards the stairs.

Only after they were in Draco's room with the door shut did Harry ask: "What is a pureblood?"

Draco looked a bit uncomfortable as he started to answer. "Someone whose entire family have been witches and wizards is considered pureblooded."

"But my mum was a witch, wasn't she?"

"Yes, but her family wasn't. That is why your relatives are so mean. No wizarding family would have treated the heir in such a manner. Pureblood families are similar to the nobility of old. Manners, intelligence, power, and prestige have been bred into our lines."

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment. "Why wouldn't I be treated the same?"

"Well you should be treated with the same respect. Even though purebloods prize blood purity we do realize that there must be new blood brought in every once in a while to keep the lines strong. Your Mum was known to be an incredibly talented witch."

"She was?"

"Of course. She was a wonderful match for your father; he was the head of the Potter family, as well as being a powerful wizard."

"Did your parents know mine?"

"I think they were in different years.

Suddenly Dobby, whom Harry had met last night and was thoroughly embarrassed by the attention the elf lavished on him, appeared and squeaked "Young Master Draco and Master Harry Potter are to join Mistress Malfoy and Mister Kero in the sitting room immediately.

"Thanks Dobby" Harry said, more than ready to escape Draco's appearance lectures.

"Tell Mummy we will be down shortly. Remember to call my Mummy 'Aunt Narcissa, Harry." Draco finished with a smirk.

"Of course I will," says Harry as he starts heading towards the sitting room.

"Hello boys. I am Mr. Kero. Now who would prefer to be first?"

"I will." Draco and Harry grinned. They had spoken at the same time.

"Harry will go first. His hair needs styling. Draco just needs a trim." Aunt Narcissa says coldly.

"Well then, Harry." Mr. Kero beckons towards the oddly shaped chair that was not there when Harry had last been in the room. After he sat down Mr. Kero just stood and stared at Harry. "No, that style won't suit you at all. Tell me boy, did you inherit the Potter hair?"

"What?" Harry exclaimed.

Mr. Kero ran his fingers threw Harry's hair. "Yes you did. Potter hair sticks up in the back. That means that your choices are severely limited, as long as you have short hair."

"Harry is far too young to wear his hair long. For a young heir, fourteen is the youngest age to politely start growing out his hair." Harry was puzzled by Aunt Narcissa's words. "Harry dear, Draco can explain later."

"Of course I will Mummy."

After about an hour or more, Harry finally hopped off the chair. Aunt Narcissa pointed to the mirror across from the grand old fireplace.

"Blimey." Harry no longer looked like a starving orphan; he looked like a posh young wizard.

"Perfect as always Mr. Kero." Aunt Narcissa said, allowing a warm tone of approval show in her voice.

"Mummy he cut it too short again. I can't show my face in school looking like this!"

"Draco, I can barely tell a difference from how you looked yesterday."
"So says the boy who can't see why manicures are important."

"Draco, your hair is fine; Harry please don't even try to speak rationally about Draco's hair. Draco won't listen; you just have to ignore him."

"Mummy!"

"Why don't you change for dinner Harry? I would like to have a word with Draco, but he will be up to join you shortly. Put those lessons on personal appearance to use." Aunt Narcissa said pleasantly.

"Yes Aunt." Harry said as he sent a worried look to his friend before starting up the stairs to his room.

As beautiful as this Manor was, with its many staircases, long hallways, specious rooms, walking from place to place was tiring. I wish I could apparate, thought Harry. Then I wouldn't have to walk nearly as much. Finally, Harry got to the deep blue marble-floored hallway that his room was off. When he opened his wardrobe and saw the full splendour of his newly acquired robes Harry smiled. As soon as he had changed into robes, Dobby had stolen his clothing from the pile Harry had dropped it in and Harry had not seen those ugly clothes since. Harry started looking through the dressy robes before deciding the casual robes Draco had shown him were more appropriate for dinners at home with the family. Are the Malfoy's my new family? I wonder if they will adopt me. That would be too much to hope for…


AN: As always, feel free to correct any spelling/grammar mistakes you see. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.