PART TWO

Draco cautiously came out on the other side of the tunnel. As Fred had told him before shutting the secret door behind him it did come out right near Hagrid's Hut in a shed that obviously hadn't been used for several long years if the inches thick dust was any indication. He listened carefully to make sure that he really was alone and that no one was near by. It would not do to get caught without his little escort.

He opened the door and stepped out into the grounds of Hogwarts. When he peered through the heavy brush he could see Hagrid's house with smoke pouring out from the chimney. Draco looked around the Hogwarts grounds. It had been several long years since he had last been at Hogwarts. Perhaps he shouldn't have come back but he owed it to Harry and Severus to be here now, even if some people did not trust him and would never trust him. He couldn't help but wonder if it was truly worth it to have returned.

Draco raked a hand through his chin length blond hair. He had allowed it to grow out quite a bit since he had moved to America three years ago. It had been time for a change. Wearily he trudged towards the large castle not knowing what to expect and not really caring. After all, most of the staff would not bother to cover their disdain towards him.

"Draco?" A figure stepped out of Hagrid's hut and walked towards him. "Is that really you?"

"Harry?" Draco turned to the familiar voice even though he had not heard it for several years. "It's been a long time."

"Yeah it has," Harry Potter allowed a brief smile to cross his face as he took in Draco standing before him. "But that's ok. What are you doing here?"

"Something I heard made me come here," Draco told his former enemy with a shrug. "I don't know what to make of it. Apparently Dumbledore and McGonagall know that I'm back because they sent Granger to come and track me down as soon as I got to the Continent."

"What is it?" Harry frowned. "I haven't heard anything and for you to come back it has to be something fairly serious."

"Doesn't surprise me," Draco sneered at the castle. "I doubt that Dumbledore would tell his protégé anything useful."

Draco," Harry sighed at the tired old argument.

"You know it's true," Draco cut in before Harry could defend the old wizard. "Why do you think I left? I don't want to be manipulated, even if it's only a little bit as you put it. He keeps important knowledge away from you, knowledge that you should be aware of if only to preserve your life."

"Then why come back?" Harry folded his arms across his chest, his tone challenging. "You could just as easily have sent a message of some kind."

"It's important," Draco shrugged again. "And I had to see how you and Professor Snape were doing."

Harry looked at Draco for a few long moments before turning away towards the castle.

"Let's go then," Harry squared his shoulders. "I suppose now's as good a time as any. And Draco?"

"Hm?" The blond Slytherin looked at the black haired Gryffindor walking by his side.

"I have some news for you too," The green eyes studied gray ones as they made their way to the looming structure before them, the only home either of them laid claim to even if they no longer cared for it as greatly as they once had.