A/N- Hello chapter two. Thank you everyone who read and reviewed chapter one. Just a reminder that this story is going to be a romance between Draco and Harry, so if you don't like slash you probably won't like this.
Disclaimer- I do not own any part of Harry Potter, but there are a few parts I wouldn't mind borrowing
Within moments of touching the port key, Harry found himself in front of the Burrow and in a rather enthusiastic hug from Molly Weasley.
"Oh Harry, how have you been? I've been so worried, have the Dursleys been feeding you, you're all skin and bones," said Mrs. Weasley not releasing Harry in the least bit. Truthfully Harry didn't mind though. It felt nice to be held in such a loving embrace, even if he was starting to find it hard to breathe.
"Molly, give the poor boy some room to breathe," interrupted Mr. Weasley, noticing that Harry had started to turn purple. "You've got a few weeks left of summer to spend plumping up the boy and making up for the less than stellar care he received from the Dursleys. We need to let him get settled before the meeting tonight. I'm sure Dumbledore would be most displeased to find out you smothered Harry before he got a chance to see him."
Mrs. Weasley blushed and released Harry before placing her arm around his waist and guiding him towards the front door. Before entering she turned back and said, "Harry will have time to get settled after he has had a nice big breakfast." Leaving no room for argument she gently nudged Harry through the door.
Inside the house Harry found himself seated at the table with a plate in front of him piled with enough food to feed about three grown men. Realizing how hungry he was Harry quickly dug in and had made a sizeable dent in his meal when the front door crashed open and in rushed Ron, Ginny, and Hermione. Once again Harry found himself in an enthusiastic hug as both Ginny and Hermione glomped him at the same time. Ron just stood back laughing at his friend's surprised expression.
"Harry it's good to see you!" exclaimed Hermione when she released him from her death grip. "How have you been? I am so glad you are here, I've only been here since yesterday and I've already had to stop Ron twice from sneaking out to come break you out of the Dursleys. I told him that Dumbledore would not keep you there all summer, especially after what happened last year with the dementors, but of course he never listens to me."
"Hey that's not true!" Ron protested loudly. "I listen to you lots. I was just looking out for Harry. No way was I going to let my best mate spend the whole summer with the Dursleys."
"Thanks Ron," Harry said beaming at his friend before turning to the girl still embracing him. "Hello Gin."
"Hey Harry," she said giving him a smile as she let go. "Just so you know I would have helped Ron break you out. I'm glad you're here."
"All right guys," Mr. Weasley came in and handed Harry his still shrunken luggage, "It's time for Harry to get settled. He'll be staying in you room Ron. Tonks, Lupin, and I are going to go take care of some business. We'll be back by dinner time, and the rest of the Order will be joining us, including Dumbledore. There are things that must be discussed, and changes coming up that you won't like too much. Remember we're all working towards the same goal. Try not to get into too much trouble while I am gone too. Your mom's still a little mad over that stunt you pulled yesterday."
"Stunt?" Harry asked.
"We'll tell you later," Ron said quickly before turning to his dad. "Bye dad, don't worry we'll be perfectly well behaved while you are gone."
"Oh I doubt that," Mr. Weasley chuckled. "Just try to keep the explosions to a minimum."
Harry watched him leave and then turned back to his friends who were all doing their best to look innocent. "Explosions?"
"Come on, let's go up to our room and get you unpacked, I'll explain along the way." Ron said running up the stairs. Harry smiled at how good it felt to be back at the Burrow and quickly followed his friends up the stairs.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly as Ron, Hermione, and Ginny helped Harry unpack. They took turns telling him all about their summer so far, making sure not to mention Sirius or anything else that had happened that night at the ministry of magic. They also told Harry all they knew about the war, but it was not much more than what he already knew himself. Soon the four friends found themselves sitting at elongated picnic tables, surrounded by members of the order including Dumbledore.
Dinner was a pleasant affair. Everyone was trying to keep things from getting too serious, for which Harry was grateful. He knew that once dinner was over and they started talking about the war, things were going to get very serious very fast. Harry was enjoying himself surrounded by people he cared for, and in turn people who cared for him. All too soon the plates were cleared and everyone gathered in the Burrow's living room, which had been enlarged to accommodate the crowd.
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were very surprised when they were allowed to join the meeting without any fuss. Ginny and Ron even looked a little disappointed. They had smuggled in some of Fred and George's extendable ears and had come up with several plans to be able to listen in to the meeting. They were a little miffed that their planning had been wasted.
"My dear friends, thank you for all being here. What I am about to discuss with you is of the utmost importance. I ask that you let me explain in full before you ask any questions. Some of you may find this a bit upsetting, but I ask for your patience as all will be explained. I would also like to remind you that what you are about to learn here is being told in great confidence and should not be discussed with anyone who is not present. Once the last of our group arrives we will begin." As Dumbledore said this, there was a knock on the front door and Mrs. Weasley hurried to answer it.
Everyone watched as she opened the door and Severus Snape strode in. he glared around the room, resting his gaze on Harry for a moment, before turning around and calling out. "Hurry up and get in here. You are only delaying the inevitable by stalling outside the door."
Harry's breath caught in his mouth as he watched two figures emerge from behind Snape and enter the Burrow with similar looks of disgust. He tore his gaze away from the intruders to look at Dumbledore, hoping there had been some mistake. Dumbledore was smiling brightly at the two effectively dashing Harry's hopes. There standing not ten feet away were two of the last people he had ever expected to see; Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini.
Mrs. Weasley barely had the door shut before Ron, Ginny, and Harry jumped out of their seats and started protesting loudly. Hermione remembered Dumbledore's words about patience and opted to remain seated until she knew all the details surrounding this new unwelcome intrusion.
"What the hell are the bloody ferret and his sidekick doing in our house?" Ron yelled reaching for his wand.
"Sidekick! Look who's talking Weasel." Blaise yelled back.
"Get the fuck out now before I curse the both of you!" Ginny screeched also reaching for her wand.
"Ginny, Ron, watch your language." Mrs. Weasley cried out while Lupin jumped up and disarmed both of them, causing the two to direct their yelling at him instead.
"Malfoy what are you doing here?" Harry yelled. "Shouldn't you be out with you father, the escaped convict, kissing Voldemort's feet and killing innocent people?"
"Innocent people, eh Potter?" Draco spat. "Perhaps like everyone's favorite big black dog. How is your godfather anyways? Oh that's right he's dead and it's all because of you."
Harry didn't even bother drawing his wand. He just balled up his fists and lunged at Malfoy. His fist was inched from Malfoy's face when a voice bellowed out, halting everyone in the room.
"ENOUGH!" boomed Dumbledore. "Harry come back here and sit down at once. Ron, Ginny, you will not be getting your wands back until I am confident you are not going use them against anyone in this house. Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini, may I remind you that you are among people who are trying to help you. They will not take kindly to insults against their friends and family, especially those who are no longer around to defend themselves. Please come in and once we are all settled we can continue this meeting."
"Sorry Professor." Ron, Ginny and Harry said, still glaring at the intruders as they took their seats. Draco and Blaise remained silent as they stalked into the room and took seats as far away from everyone as they could get.
Dumbledore looked around the room and when he was certain there were going to be no more immediate interruptions he began his tale.
