So
Long Sweet Summer
Author: xxinifinitemoment
Rating:
this is PG but it will go up in later chapters
Warnings:
none yet. other than slash ofcourse.
Word Count:
1500
Summary: Things have gotten pretty bad in the
Wizarding World and it's spreading to the Muggle World. Draco Malfoy
shows up on Harry's doorstep with Snape one day. From there,
everything takes a wild turn. Secrets are revealed. Perspectives
change. How will it all end?
Harry and Malfoy sat in awkward silence for a while. Harry was unsure how to read Malfoy and how much he should trust him, while Malfoy hated being placed in Harry's care against his will. Harry tried to strike up a conversation but at every attempt Malfoy would snap back with a snide remark and it would be a failure on Harry's behalf. The minutes ticked by slowly until Harry heard his uncle calling him and Malfoy down.
"Malfoy," Harry barked before they could leave the room, "my relatives, they're…well they hate our kind. You need to keep your temper down when you're with them or else things will get out of control."
"Thanks for the advice, Potter but I think I can handle myself."
They descended the staircase and entered the kitchen. A delicious smell penetrated throughout the room. Aunt Petunia was over the stove and Uncle Vernon and Dudley were already sitting at the table. They all looked up upon hearing the boys enter.
"Hello," Malfoy said curtly, "I'm Draco Malfoy, it's so very kind of you to allow me to stay in your home."
Harry nearly died from suppressing the laughter that threatened to escape. Uncle Vernon was not affected by Malfoy's attempt at civility. His face turned a darker shade of purple as he scrutinized the boy standing in his kitchen.
"Right, Derrick," Malfoy cringed that the name the muggle used on him, "You will receive no hospitality in this house, you can be sure of that. You will work just like Harry. If you behave accordingly, there will be no punishments."
Aunt Petunia shoved a plate of food into each boy's hands. Malfoy looked at it and resisted the urge to gag. It looked and smelled nothing like what was on the stove. Harry however seemed unfazed. He walked out of the room and Malfoy followed, not wanting to spend another moment with the muggles.
The two boys returned to Harry's room. Harry sat on his bed and motioned towards the desk for Malfoy to sit.
"What is this revolting food?" Malfoy asked with distaste.
"That food, Malfoy, is your dinner. Be grateful they gave you anything."
"Are you telling me that you always eat this?" Harry nodded. "And what do you mean be grateful? Do you not get dinner every night?"
Harry sighed. "No, Malfoy I don't get dinner every night. Some days I don't get breakfast. Lunch is very rare."
Malfoy was speechless for a moment. "So is that what your fat uncle means when he says punishment?"
"Yeah, that or I get locked in here. Did you see the padlocks on the door? Sometimes if he's feeling really nice as he calls it, he'll lock me in my first bedroom."
"You mean this tasteless room hasn't always been yours? I hope your first room had a bit more class to it." Malfoy picked up a feather on the desk that was presumably from Hedwig.
"If you consider a cupboard under the stairs full of spiders classy, then sure, it has class."
"Cupboard…"
"Under the stairs, yes. My first room."
Malfoy's mouth fell into minor shock but then he quickly covered it and laughed a little. Harry shot him a glare but it didn't faze the blonde. They ate the rest of the their dinner in silence, however Malfoy's face seemed to be stuck in a grimace as he ate. Once they were done, Harry took both boys plates and headed downstairs telling Malfoy to follow. Harry began doing the dishes when the got to the kitchen. Malfoy stood there with a look of confusion on his face.
"You could help you know."
Malfoy laughed. "Help? I don't wash dishes. Malfoy's don't wash dishes."
"Well you better start because with that attitude you will be locked in my cozy first bedroom for the rest of the summer with no meals." Harry handed him a towel to dry the dishes and Malfoy obliged but not without a huff.
The boys returned to Harry's room without a word to the Dursley's. Harry plopped into the chair at his desk and opened up the book on it. Malfoy stood there for a moment before sitting on the edge of Harry's bed stiffly again.
"You can relax a bit. Where's your stuff? I didn't see any trunks or anything when you showed up."
"It's at the manor. There was no time because of-" he caught himself, "there just was no time to get it. Serverus said he would send stuff over when he could." Harry nodded and threw a book at Malfoy. Offense and Defense Spells At Their Best By: Wendy Crawford. "What's this?" Malfoy asked after looking at the book.
"It's a book. You know, you read it and you learn things from it."
"Obviously Potter, I'm not that daft. Why do you expect me to read this?"
"Because there is nothing else to do here. Unless you want to start your chores." Harry cast him a questioning stare, "So at night, we read."
Malfoy sighed but opened the book. The first chapter was on defensive spells that he learned when he was four probably. It's going to be a long summer.
When both boys had tired eyes they decided to retire. Malfoy thought Harry would put up a fight for the bed but he just grabbed a pillow and blanket and lay down on the floor. Malfoy was fine with that, he wasn't going to start an argument, so he got into the bed. The two teens drifted off into an uneasy sleep, both dreaming about Death Eaters and torture.
+
A persistent knocking on the door woke both boys up the next morning. Malfoy groaned and Harry saw him throw the covers over his head as he stood up.
"Come on Malfoy. Get up. If you don't you won't get breakfast."
Harry heard him mumble something into the pillow.
"What was that?" No response. "Well, if you don't have breakfast you won't survive the day of chores...on second thought, stay in bed. Then maybe you'll have to spend the summer in the cupboard and I won't have to deal with you."
That got to Malfoy. He threw the covers off of him in a huff and glared at Harry, who smirked in return and then left the room, Malfoy following a minute behind.
Breakfast was a bit more appealing then dinner, but Malfoy still complained that it wasn't anything like the gourmet cooking at Malfoy Manner. After the dishes were done, Aunt Petunia handed Harry a list. It appeared to have more than usual but that's no surprise because Malfoy was there to help now.
"You and Derrick are expected to finish this before dinner is done. If you don't, there will be no dinner." Aunt Petunia walked away and left the boys looking at the list.
"Why do they insist on calling me Derrick? Did they not here that my name was Draco? Stupid muggles."
"They think you're name isn't normal enough probably. Draco is too unnatural and Derrick is the closest to it."
"What? Do they think that Petunia and Vernon are normal names? And Dudley. Ha. Right." He paused and looked at the list Harry was holding. "No way Potter. There are over fifteen tasks on that list."
Harry just nodded agreeing and headed towards the living room. The list consisted of the chores that were usually most tedious. Harry presumed that his aunt and uncle didn't want Malfoy thinking that things would be easy here.
Watching Malfoy try to do chores was one of the funniest things Harry had ever seen. He had no idea what any cleaning supplies were so Harry spent half the time trying to explain to him what each thing was for. However, it didn't matter to Malfoy. His response was usually 'There are house elves for this,' and 'We can do magic for a reason, so we don't have to do this work'. Harry just laughed because Malfoy was trying to use a vacuum but got wrapped up in the cord.
Harry had to admit that he was grateful Malfoy was even doing the work though. It was much easier when there were the two of them and Harry only had to put up with Malfoy's grumbling and minor complaints.
They had finished all the chores except weeding the garden. The two boys walked outside into the hot, July sun. Harry grabbed some gloves and a few tools that would make the task easier. They crouched down and began to weed the garden slowly. After about a half an hour passed by, Harry yanked his shirt off.
"Put your shirt back on Potter."
"Why? It's hot, so I want to take it off."
"But I don't want to see that," Malfoy said as he wiped off his forehead. Harry didn't respond but broke down in laughter. "What's so funny Potter?"
Harry continued laughing and pointed at Malfoy.
"You're lack of explaining yourself is quite aggravating Potter."
"You...you have," Harry gasped for air, "dirt...forehead."
Malfoy grabbed the glass of water next to him and looked at himself in the reflection. Sure enough, he had a streak of dirt on his forehead where he had wiped off the sweat. He took of the glove and poured the water on his head while rubbing off the dirt. Harry stopped laughing at the sight of a thoroughly wet Malfoy.
They finished the garden right before dinner luckily. Both boys were hot and sweaty but weren't allowed to shower until the dishes were done. Once cleaned, Malfoy wearing some of Harry's hand me downs against his wishes, Harry started reading and Malfoy followed suit, having nothing better to do. They went to bed exhausted the only words said between them were Malfoy's complaining about slave work before he drifted off to sleep.
TBC...
