CHAPTER THREE
[Welcome Back To You]
DRACO
Harry reached out and grabbed Draco's wrist with such force it would probably cause bruising later. He winced slightly as Harry tugged on it even harder when he tried to pull away. They were cold and clammy which sent shivers up his spine.
Someone knocked on the door again, making Potter jump nearly ten feet in the air. Yelling was coming from the other side but Draco was to busy trying to calm the boy in front of him than to figure out what they were saying.
"Potter, I'm right here."
He didn't understand how his presence of all people was supposed to help him. If anything, he should have only forcefully pushed him over it. That didn't seem to be the case here.
"Open this door this instant boy or no food for a week!" A deep voice yells that makes Draco's stomach turn. He didn't even have to ask himself who the person was. He'd already seen the boy's thin frame and bruises. The blood running down from his nose. The fear in his eyes.
They were a mirror of his.
"Watch me, okay? In. Out. In. Out."
Harry tried to listen to Draco but the banging of the doors caused him to be distracted and squeeze his eyes shut. Draco's mind was racing on what to do. They couldn't stay there much longer, that was obvious. There was still a week until Hogwarts started and he was sure as hell not bringing him to the Manor. Draco thought of Severus for a moment but dismissed it quickly. His loyalties were too blurry to be safe.
As much as it tore him to pieces, going back to the Manor was non-negotiable for him. Potter could be dropped off at Granger or Weasel's house for the time being. They'll be able to fix him up in no time. They're who he really needed right now.
All of a sudden, Draco feels something cold and hard hit his looks down and see a loose screw lying next to his hand.
"What the-" He's cut off by a loud thud of something hitting the wall hard. There was a small indent in the wall behind me. Another screw. Suddenly, five more flew out from the door hinges and into the plaster. Draco ducked quickly with his hands over his head for extra protection.
When he looked back up, Potter's eyes were wide and glassy looking at something to his right. Draco followed his gaze and his jaw hung loose. The door frame was blown wide open and burn marks trailed from the hinges to where the wooden door was lying on top of a huge, un-moving lump. It took a few seconds for him to register that lump was, in fact, a human. A largely overweight one to be exact.
Potter must have done accidental magic when he wasn't paying attention. The older you became it usually became harder and harder to lose control of your power. Especially at such a powerful level. You had to be under immense pressure to do something like that.
Draco grabbed Harry's arm. "We're leaving. Right now. Come on." He pull myself off the floor but Harry grabs his sleeve and tugs.
"I c-can't," He stutters. "I can't go..."
Draco doesn't listen to him. He pulls him up from the floor and towards the window. "I don't care, Potter. You're going to die if you stay here any longer."
He tears his body from the blonde's grip, "That's none of your business to meddle into." He wipes his bleeding nose on his arm with his voice still shaking. "I can deal with this myself."
"Like Salazar's beard you can. Just look at yourself. You're practically a ghost!"
They argue back in fourth - mainly consisting of Draco trying to leave - when a moaning comes from behind them. Their shoulders tense. They couldn't stay here much longer if they didn't want to be caught.
"Honey? Are you okay?" Someone yells from downstairs. A beat passes causing Potter's eye to meet Draco's fearfully. Saint Potter my arse.
He quickly pushes back the thin white curtains and opens the window. His heart was beating fast in his chest. He didn't survive his father's cruelty this long to die at the hands of a whale.
"I told you already, I can't go!" Potter whisper yells with a shaky voice beside him. "I need to stay here."
"And why is that? Is the Boy-Who-Lived to heroic to save himself for once?"
He hesitates and glances back through the doorway with shaking hands. Draco wanted to grab him by the wrist and drag him out the window since someone was now coming up the stairs, but Harry was still somewhat in the midst of a panic attack.
Time seemed to slow down around Draco at that moment. All he could focus on was the blood dripping on the hard floor. He barely heard the light footsteps coming towards them and the shrieking that followed.
Potter seemed to made his mind up right then. He grabbed Draco's small wrist and nearly shoved his out the window. While the woman was distracted with trying to get her husband to wake up he stepped up on the window seal. He was only halfway out when he paused and looked back at the empty room.
This probably was his last straw. Draco knew from experience he would never be welcomed back after this. This would mark the ending of a chapter of his life. A very very long chapter.
No matter how happy someone may seem, they have moments when they feel the world is falling down around them.
"Well, what do you suggest, Malfoy?"
Draco huffed "I don't know, that's why I was asking you."
It was almost pitch black outside already and Potter was getting restless. Neither of them wanted to be out any longer than they had to be. It was shivering cold despite Draco's jumper's best efforts. Potter had it worse. Both of his arms were wrapped around his frail body to keep warm. His thin shirt and ripped jeans did nothing to circulate the heat inside. But whether he was shaking from the cold or the recent events was a mystery.
Their company of one another wasn't helping either. The first few minutes after they escaped through the window they ran. They ran until both their lungs gave out and were sure they weren't being followed. They're now wandering the streets slowly all the way towards London in silence with various outburst of arguments.
"What about a muggle cab?"
"I already told you. We're too far away from the city."
Draco scrunched up his face in distaste. His life was ticking away the longer he was gone. he could practically feel the curses his father would throw at him when he walked through the door. It wouldn't even be a surprise if he tied Draco's hands together right there and threw him in a room with the Dark Lord like dead meat and a griffin. It was likely he would have done even sooner if his mother wasn't there to stop him. It was only a matter of time.
His wrist started burning when they turned the corner. He winced slightly, bringing it up to the chest in pain. Potter looked at him for a moment but looked away just seconds later. He was too lost in his own sea of thoughts and the weight on his own shoulders to have time for Draco's.
Right when his feet feel as if they were about to fall off, Harry suddenly stops. Draco runs right into him.
"I have an idea."
"Brillant. Care to share with the rest of the class?'"
Potter rolls his eyes, and to his surprise, sits down on the sidewalk. Draco stares at him awkwardly in confusion.
"What in Salazar's name are you doing? Do you want to die out here?"
"Just wait."
"What do you m-"
He's cut off by an obnoxiously loud screeching in front of them. A man was standing in front of them with a dirty, unkempt uniform. His nose was pointed at a funny angle and he had a funny grin on his face. Most importantly he has hanging off the railing of a tall, purple triple-decker bus. It's edges were rusted from what looked like years of use but Harry didn't seem to mind. Draco was immediately on edge. The man's face was familiar but he just couldn't place a name of it. His stomach tied itself into a knot.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus. Emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor for this evening." The man reads lazily off what seems to be his hand before looking up with a face full of surprise.
"Mr. Pottah!"
"Hello, Mr. Shunpike."
"Glad to see ya' face back around, ya'?"
Potter laughs awkwardly. "I guess."
Draco watches the two make conversation in a daze. Of course this random person would recognize Harry Potter and immediately make friends. Who bloody wouldn't?
"And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Weasley gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco looked at him.
"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."
He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
Harry looked at his hand and back up. "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks."
He couldn't blame him. If he met himself at eleven years old he probably would have hexed himself. If he met himself now he would hex himself. But back then he was just an annoying prick with a life dedicated to pleasing his father. Only near the beginning of fourth year did that admiration falter. Now he had so one to blame but himself for his disgusting actions.
"And who is this young fella with ya'?" A voice asks, snapping Draco back to the present. It sounded more suspicious than of curiosity.
"Oh. Um. This is..."
"Saruman Walnterlock." Draco nods at him with fake enthusiasm. He didn't trust this man yet with his real identity. It was one of the first rules he learned at a young age. It was easy to manipulate a person that way.
"Ah. Yes...the Walnterlock family. I coulda' recognized that blonde hair anywhere."
He doesn't respond.
"So, where to?"
Potter looks at Draco spectacle for a moment then back at the conductor. "The Leaky Cauldron, please. Also, when we get off the bus...you never saw us. We don't exist. Got it?"
Shunpike raises an eyebrow. "And what for?"
He sighs. "I have no money on me, sir. I can pay you back when I do, I swear."
"... a'right then...but only since ya' 'arry potter. Couldda' do no harm to bring in some business."
"Thank you."
Moments later, the both of them are gratefully pushed aboard the bus and sat down with a hot, brown liquid in their hands. The strange substance had marshmallows floating on top which he found interesting. Draco took a small whiff and was surprised by the heavenly smell it produced.
Chocolate and cinnamon...
"It's hot chocolate, Malfoy. A muggle drink."
He takes a small sip and acknowledges for Draco to do the same and so he does. His eyes widen. It was the perfect mix of all his favorite desserts. The marshmallows melted in his mouth and the caramel was mixed perfectly.
"Merlin's beard," he whispers, forgetting the boy sitting next to him. He take another gulp and savors the warmth provided. It tasted like heaven.
"You alright there, Malfoy?" He grins for what might be the first time in months.
"Oh, shut it." He bite back, obviously lacking his harsh tone. It was playful.
He quickly finished the cup and asked for another before the bus even started up again.
And Draco didn't know what was more intoxicating. The way he tipped Harry's head back in laughter or the warm drink in his hand.
