Usual Disclaimer: This world does not belong to me. I just borrowed it along with its inhabitants. Thanks J.K. for lending me your ready made world of magic.

A/N: Here's another chappie, hope you like. please R&R

Ron and Hermione were glad to see that Harry was less distant by the time they boarded the Hogwarts Express. He had talked animatedly at breakfast, actually eating something for a change from the past few weeks and he had called Malfoy an arrogant, ignorant arsehole (which, Ron and Hermione concluded, could only be a sign of improvement). Despite the bags under his eyes, they decided, he was definitely a lot brighter.

As the train sped along through the countryside, an owl suddenly appeared at the window, struggling to keep up with the train. This, not having been the first time for it to have happened, caused Hermione to immediately spring to her feet, fling open the window and grab the owl. The owl however, did not appreciate its rough handling and it gave an indignant hoot as it hopped from Hermione's hand to Harry's lap, sticking out its leg. Harry took the letter and ripped it open. As he did so, the owl made an unsuccessful attempt to leave via the window as Harry reached up and closed the window sharply, his eyes not leaving the parchment he was holding.

"Quill!" He said and Hermione began to rummage around in her bag in the overhead compartment.

When he had read the letter three time over, ignoring the impatient owl in his lap, he took the quill that Hermione held out to him and wrote on the back of the parchment 'Why?' before re-attaching it to the owls leg and re-opening the window. The owl quickly made a bid for freedom before it could be held back again.

Ron, Hermione and Ginny all waited in anticipation for Harry to explain but no explanation was forthcoming. Harry had sunk into his state of deep thought and was staring, glassy-eyed out into the open, green countryside.

"Harry?" Ron asked tentatively.

"Hmm?" Harry mumbled, still staring out of the window.

"What was the letter about?" Hermione asked in the most patient voice she could muster. She hated to admit it but she found it very hard to be patient when Harry was like this and she had been trying, for the past few weeks, to not let it get to her.

"Malfoy." Harry replied shortly, not taking his eyes off of the hillsides outside the window.

"What?!" Hermione Ron and Ginny all exclaimed in unison.

Harry now turned to look at them.

After half an hour of trying to ignore the questions flying at him, Harry accepted that he would not get any peace until he explained.

"What?" Ron demanded.

"He's staying at the Dursley's with me this summer."

"Why?" Ginny asked confused, she knew little but the bare minimum of Harry's eventful last few weeks.

"Well he can't exactly go back to his estate. He betrayed his family."

"Why with you though?" Hermione took her turn to ask a question.

"That's kinda what I want to know. I guess Dumbledore thinks he'll be safe at Privet Drive. He's bound to be as much of a target now as I am."

"How d'you work that one out?" Ron asked cynically.

"Ron, think about it. He defied his family."

"So...?"

"So, Lucius won't rest until he's paid for his mistake." Harry said, implying that it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Hmm." Ron didn't look convinced.

"Look, I really don't know much more about it than you do! I won't know anything until Draco tells me!" Harry rubbed his forehead in frustration.

"Draco?" Ron looked at Harry as if he'd just grown an extra head. "Since when...Draco...?"

"Yes Ron," Harry couldn't prevent a smile from creeping onto his lips, "that would be his name." Harry once again stared out at the rapidly darkening landscape outside. 'And what a wonderful name it is' he thought to himself.

Hermione, Ron and Ginny began whispered discussions as Harry closed his eyes. They didn't realise that he was listening to every word.

"He can't be pleased about this, surely?" Ginny asked quietly.

'Yes, I am pleased.' Harry's mind silently replied.

"I don't know." Ron whispered back. "But since when has he called Malfoy 'Draco'?"

"I don't understand." Ginny looked nervously over at Harry's still form. "He's changed."

"Something happened between him and Malfoy." Hermione analysed.

"Duh Hermione, they fought you-know-who together." Ron's hushed voiced dripped with sarcasm.

"Don't be so sarcastic Ron." She retorted, "I mean something Harry's not telling us."

Harry smiled to himself upon hearing this. Hermione never failed to come up with the right answer. He wasn't however, prepared for her next comment, which set his mind thinking.

"I think Dumbledore is wrong though, putting Malfoy at Privet Drive. If anything, I think he's putting Harry at more risk. Think about it. Now there's double the reason for an attack on Privet Drive, and where's the proof that the protection ward around it is strong enough to hold up against an attack meant for getting at the two most wanted on you-know-who's list?" Ron and Ginny were taken aback by the truth contained in Hermione's speech.

"They can't stay there for long." Ron reasoned, "the longer they're there, the more chance of an attack there is. I mean they were pretty close last summer when they attacked just outside his street but they could get closer this summer."

"Ron's right. They're gradually breaking down the ward and getting closer, but where would they go?"

Ginny asked, concerned for Harry.

"I don't know." Hermione answered also sounding concerned. "I'll write to Dumbledore when I get home and point all this out. I'm sure he'll come up with a solution."

Harry smiled at Hermione resorting to one of her answers to everything. Ask Dumbledore or visit the library. Her answers to everything. But despite his inward smile, he worried about what they'd said; there was a lot of truth behind their words.

Well Whad'ya think. Complete rubbish fit for the waste disposal or what? let me know. I love hearing from you people.

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