Golden Dreams

The group looked away from Harry, embarrassed about their actions earlier. How long had he been standing there? Had he seen the twins yell at Draco and the rest of the group start yelling with them? Or had he just heard Draco's speech?

"So?" Harry asked again. Lupin was the first to speak.

"Alright, children, we're taking this too seriously." He said, "I remember a certain Weasley punching the wall once because Hermione liked Victor Krum." Ron looked away, embarrassed, "And Ginny has gone out with boys we all didn't approve of. And, if you've told me correctly, Ron and Lavender weren't the perfect couple either."

"But, they weren't our enemies!" Fred said, also finding his voice.

Lupin smiled, "I bet Harry and Draco aren't enemies anymore. The only enemies see in here are those who are trying to get them out of a relationship they still want to be in."

"But, Draco's a Deatheater!" Fred put in.

"People can change." Lupin stated, "Now, are we all agreed not to separate Harry and Draco?" He looked serious, the kind of seriousness that says 'say yes or I'll convince you to.'

"What if something bad happens between them and Harry-" Fred said, still putting up the fight. Lupin cut him off.

"That's enough!" He said sharply, "Draco's right. Harry already has too much stress. So listen to him. He lets you go out with who you want to."

"So? We don't go out with our enemies!" Fred said, still trying to fight. The rest of the group rolled their eyes and sighed. They knew that their case was lost the first time Fred started fighting.

"Fred Weasley, stop this nonsense." Mad-eye said gruffly, "Leave the situation alone. We don't need your word."

Lupin nodded, "That's right," He agreed, "What do you say, Ron? Hermione?"

"I say it's alright." Hermione said quickly. Having before given permission, it wasn't that hard.

Ron looked straight at Harry, "Listen, I know you like Draco. Hermione and Ginny explained it to me. But, how could you forget that he's the reason Dumbledore's dead? How could you forget all the times he tried to kill us? All the times that he went against everyone for his own selfish needs?" He looked away, "I just don't understand how he could replace your best friends."

Harry came over and put a hand on Ron's shoulder in a friendly manner, "I didn't forget all those times and he didn't replace you. Ron, you and Hermione will always be my best friends. You just don't know who Draco really is."

Ron looked back into his eyes, "What if he's putting on an act?" He whispered. Harry shook his head. Draco had changed. He wasn't the brat that they used to know. He was different.

"He's not." Harry said confidently.

"All right, I say it's alright." Ron finally said after a few moments of silence. Draco finally moved away from the spot he had been frozen in.

"Well, have any of you eaten yet?" He asked calmly, the group shook their heads, "Good, because my mom ordered a lot of food because I told her that the Slytherin Quidditch team was coming." He had used that excuse because he knew his mother wouldn't give him a Knut to give to the guests he was really entertaining.

"Fascinating," George said sarcastically. The food appeared magically on the table. Waiters and Waitresses in clean white uniforms came to give them napkins and house elves came to serve them beverages. Draco smiled with triumph, Harry smiled back with relief. His friends accepted him, or gave him permission. Crabbe and Goyle didn't care that their leader was with a former enemy. There was food on the table.

"I believe that went rather well," Draco whispered in Harry's ear. Harry nodded and took his seat by Ron. Hermione had already sat by him and smiled as the trio sat together again. Bill and Charlie sat with the rest of their brothers on the other side of the table. The chaperones sat in the empty chairs. When all were seated, Draco sat next to Harry, then noticed another empty chair. Ginny was no where to be seen.

George attempted to answer the mystery, "To the bathroom. She chooses the strangest moments to go." He said loudly, hoping that Ginny was there, maybe hiding under the table, to hear him insult her. The company laughed and went to eating. There was still tension in the group, the kindness was suspicious to them. After all, you don't see Draco offering meals every day.

"Bill, how's the Ministry going?" Harry asked, trying to make conversation.

Bill shook his head, "Not in it anymore," He said sadly, "Ministry's gone crazy with fear. Won't let any but Aurors in it now. Even the Aurors are watched closely. They're only interested in saving their own skins. Dad's lost his job, Percy too. " He shook his head again and took a long drink of Butterbeer, Firewhisky wasn't allowed here when under-age witches or wizards where the guests.

Hermione nodded, "You-know-who's return is finally kicked into them. They're planning attacks on him or something of the sort." She looked at Ron, expecting him to speak. They had, apparently, practiced whatever they were trying to get at. Ron shrugged and continued eating. Only when she finally nudged him in the side did he speak.

"The ministry is running Hogwarts." Ron said, looking as though he didn't want to be the one to deliver the news, "They're choosing the children that get in by interviews and they choose what is taught there. We don't think any of us will get in. You know, because of all our past experiences." He looked away so he couldn't see Harry's reaction.

Harry stood up, knocking over his chair in the process, "Why are they controlling this! We've been in danger time and time again! But we fought for what we loved and now," He tried to master his anger and lost, "Now they're trying to take that away too. If you guys haven't realized it yet, we spent all our years trying to stay alive! For what? Just to do the same thing over again!"

Lupin spoke up, "Harry, we understand you're angry. So are we. Children shouldn't have to go through an interview to enter Hogwarts. It was a school that taught any witch or wizard that wanted to learn. But, right now, the Ministry is a bit unreasonable. We'll come up with a plan. Please, Harry, for our sake, control yourself!" A house elf came and put the chair back up.

Harry sat down again, "It's not fair." He spoke the truth. It was on everyone's mind, and they all had said it at one point of time.

"Of course, rich Draco Malfoy can already get in." Ron grumbled. Lupin shot him a sharp glare and the Weasley stopped. Draco looked at Harry and felt like hiding under the table. He already had found out about the new rules and hadn't told Harry because he knew he'd get that reaction. The hurt, heated, uncontrollable rage that seemed to erupt from him when things like this happened. Draco noticed how Harry's beautiful emerald green eyes looked as though flames were in them. How his pale cheeks tinted slightly pink. He didn't want to witness it then. But it was worse now. Now Draco felt terrible from keeping such valuable information from him.

"You knew?" A voice brought Draco back to reality. Harry looked at him with a hurt expression.

"You knew?" He repeated, "I know you did, Draco, it's written all over your face."

Draco looked away, pretending not to know what he meant. Harry didn't give up though and pressured him until he finally told.

"Yes! I knew. I found out three weeks ago, okay? I didn't want to tell you because I knew how you'd react."

Harry still had that hurt expression, "I thought we were going to be honest with each other," He whispered sadly.

"We are!" Draco insisted, "I just didn't tell you this one thing."

Harry stood up again, this time slowly, "I went on about wanting to go back to Hogwarts and you didn't stop me? You made me sound like an idiot just because you were afraid of what I'd say?" He turned away angrily and left the room. Not really know what door led where. He'd completely forgotten what door he came in now that he was so angry. He didn't find the exit, but he did find Ginny and another man completely naked in a supply closet. They were caught in 'the act,' they looked at Harry with frightened eyes. Whether it was because they were caught by Harry when he looked as though he could kill or just being caught in general was hard to tell.

"Oh, Harry!" Ginny gasped trying to find her clothes in amongst the cleaning products. Harry turned away and went outside, finding the door. Ginny looked as though she were about to cry. She was caught with another boy, in front of all her siblings.

"What's the meaning of this?" Mad-eye asked with a look of disgust. Tears fell down Ginny's face. Lupin seemed to be the only understanding one and put his jacket on the two.

"Lumos," He muttered to his wand and the light helped them find their clothes. He shut the door and allowed them to get dressed. Then, he turned wearily to the other boys.

"You all have wands; why not help your sister?" He asked.

George spoke, "We were a little shocked at our sister naked with another guy."

"She probably has a good explanation." Lupin said. The rest looked away, not knowing whether to be ashamed of themselves or Ginny.

Ginny came out, still crying and said, "I'm so sorry! I-I hardly even k-k-know him!" She cried. The man looked sorry and embarrassed. He had dark brown eyes, blond, almost white, hair and a slight beard across his face. It wasn't a great wonder why Ginny had fallen for him. He seemed to possess a god-like sense around him.

"Listen she wouldn't have even done it if I hadn't persuaded her. I was bringing out napkins and I told her she looked beautiful and we flirted for only a moment before I dragged her away. I am so sorry. It's completely my fault and I apologize." He said, taking full blame.

"He's had enough girls in the supply closet already." A girl appeared from the shadows in a clean white outfit all the workers were in. She had those same dark brown eyes, but her hair was the darkest black, her skin pale as milk next to his dark tan. They had a likeness, in a way. But she possessed a different sense around her, like a delicate piece of art. More peculiar than beautiful.

"Stop that, Trinity!" He ordered. She smirked and went up to Ginny.

"Don't think you're the first girl to enter that closet and you won't be the last. My brother's quite the player. A new girl every night." She smiled at how hard Ginny was now crying, "You won't be the apple of his eye for long."

The man spoke up louder, "Trinity, I said stop it." He turned to Ginny, "She's lying. I'm not a player, I'm usually really shy. She was just teasing. I don't expect to lose contact with you." He put his hand on the back of his neck, "Unless you want to."

Ginny shook her head, "No, I'll write to you." They then exchanged addresses; putting them on pages from a notepad that was in the man's shirt pocket. This was done in silence, and without feeling.

"Who are you?" Tonks asked, having kept quiet too long. Her hair was now a bright blue with green streaks.

"I'm Derek," He answered, without giving his last name. But with all the commotion, it was quickly forgotten.

"Okay, now that we're all friendly with each other, what about Harry suddenly running out of here?" Draco asked. The group looked at him and realized that Harry truly was gone. Hermione went out the exit door to look for him, coming back abouy five minutes later.

"He says that……that he's not returning to…..Malfoy Manor." She said, out of breath, "He ran away…..I couldn't catch him."

"I'll get him," Ron volunteered and ran off to find his best friend.

Lupin thought for a moment then said, "I believe that Harry should return to The Grimmald Place for a short while, should he want to,"

Tonks spoke again, "Listen, Remus. If Harry wanted to leave Malfoy Manor he'd want to be with his friends. Who, if you remember correctly, are at the Burrow. Let him go there, if he wants to,"

"Of course I do!" Harry said, coming back to the table. Ron came in after him. There was no chase because Harry thought of how immature he was being and was already coming back, and met Ron on the way.

"Harry, please stay. I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Draco pleaded in a whisper. Harry shook his head. He was going back to where he was trying to go in the first place. To the only place that seemed fit to call home, now that Hogwarts probably wouldn't let him in.

Trinity spoke again, "So who's going out with who?" She asked, even though it really wasn't her place.

Fred had all the details. He put his arm around her shoulder and began to explain, "Well, dark beauty, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were going out. My bro, Bill, got himself Fleur De-de…well I can't pronounce her name, but they're getting married. My other bro, Ron has got himself the little lady out of breath right here," He gestured to Hermione then to himself, "But, I, my dark beauty, have no one." He winked at her.

"Get your arm off of me!" She commanded.

"Okay!" Fred said, removing his arm, "But, I am only an owl away. Now that your bro and my sis are together, anything's possible." He winked again. She rolled her eyes and looked at him in disgust. She obviously wasn't the dating type.

"Okay, I believe we should head home." Lupin said, leading some off them out the door. Draco and Harry shared one last look before Harry started to follow him also.

"I'll owl your stuff over." Draco said quietly. Harry heard and nodded before running to catch up with the others.

Draco thought about his situation. Harry had left him because he didn't tell him one thing. Did Draco seriously want someone like that?

Yes, he thought, I do.

Harry had been the best thing that had happened to him. He needed Harry. He still remembered the night that Harry held him because he was afraid his parents were getting a divorce. He had to get Harry back. No matter what.

"I can help." Trinity said. He looked at her questionably, "I said I can help."

"How did you…?" How did she know what situation he was in? She was here for less than five minutes.

"I get this vibe thing when people feel troubled. You send enough vibe for me to figure out your whole situation. You want your boyfriend back. I'll help."

"For what price?" He asked. She didn't seem like the type of person to do things without a fee.

"Information." She answered.

He looked at her suspiciously, "What do you want to know?" He asked.

She sighed, "Okay I know what you're thinking. I'm a creep or I'm evil. For your information, I'm neither. But I'm dirt broke, me and my brother both work here to pay for my mother's hospitable bills and rent for our crappy apartment. Let's just say I need a little pick me up. Tell me about your life. About their lives. I listened to you guys and it seemed like all of you could get along well. I don't really have what you do. Just tell me anything to get me through the day."

Draco nodded, "Sure, whatever. What's the plan?" What harm could a dirt-broke girl who just wanted a couple stories do?

A/N: See, I told you if I put the two parts together it'd be long.