Harry clicked his tongue, clicking out the tune to Mmmbop. The cheap sofa he was sitting on squeaked as he fidgeted uncomfortably.
'For pity's sake stop that Potter!' Lucius Malfoy finally, yelled. Malfoy was still sitting in his prison uniform. He had been quietly trembling in what Harry assumed was fear. Harry sighed. 'We should probably start.' Malfoy said, voice shaking as he did.
'No, thanks.' Harry said.
'Potter, you know you have to try here. You're facing a year in prison.'
'Yeah, I think I would prefer that over helping a death eater escape justice.' Harry said sarcastically. Lucius stared in surprise.
'Your internalised self-loathing is a thing to behold.' Malfoy said softly, he gave a disdainful look to the brown sofa, perching himself on the edge of it. 'I have spent my entire adult life fighting for wizarding right in one way or another. You, may not approve of my methods but...'
Harry cut him off.
'Your methods, I think it's a bit more than that Malfoy... You know just forget it.' Harry said before stomping over to the small grey cot, tucked against the back left corner and threw himself onto it. Which he quickly regretted as the bed was quite hard.
'Potter, come back here.'
'No, I going to sleep Malfoy. Why don't you try it?' Harry said into his pillow. Malfoy sighed he stood up, looked around the tiny bare room and gave a dejected sigh. When he had left from Azkaban, he had hoped that he would get a moment with his family.
But it hadn't happened. The Aurors had dragged him to this ugly grey room. His wand was gone, he knew he was somewhere in the ministry, but that was all. He opened the bag that the Aurors had left for him at the door. Made a disgusted noise as he saw that it contained cheap white shirts which were scratchy to the touch and thin black trousers.
The slipped into the adjacent bathroom. The living space was just the main room and the bathroom. Malfoy tried to remind himself that it was better than prison, but only barely.
...
The next Malfoy woke early, to the sound of Potter's snoring. He tutted at the boy as he slithered out from under the itchy grey covers. He snuck into the bathroom and quickly got himself washed and dressed before Potter even stirred. He crept back into the main room, cast an icy glare the small figure still curled up under the cover.
His long thin fingers snatched the thick ministry file off of the desk, lifted it high above his head, then brought it crashing back down.
Potter woke with a start.
'Ah, you're awake... good' Malfoy said smoothly. Potter groaned, stumbling out of bed. Malfoy's eyes bulged at what he saw. Standing before him was a gangly raven haired girl. 'Uh... Potter?'
'What Malfoy!' Potter snapped, she stopped as realisation suddenly. 'Uh. Crap' Potter said, jumping up and running to the bathroom.
Malfoy quickly jumped to block her path.
'Potter?' he asked.
'Don't look at me' she squeaked, a tear building in one eye, threatening to spill over.
'Hey, it's okay. If you're more comfortable like this...' Malfoy said gesturing to the girl before.
'I'm not... I-I mean, you weren't supposed to see this!' Potter snapped, pushing past Mr Malfoy and into the cramped bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She collapsed against the door, Malfoy paused, before sitting down in the armchair across from the bathroom door.
He waited patiently and silently.
Eventually, Harry reappeared, looking as boyish as usual. Potter's bright green eyes met Maloy's steel grey with a glare.
'Don't say anything.' Harry said coldly.
Malfoy smirked. 'Alright... Although if I were you, I would be very proud.' Malfoy said silkily. Harry scoffed.
'And what's that supposed to mean?' Harry asked.
'Well, not every half-blood is capable of that. I would be proud to...'
'Urgh, do you have to make everything about blood?' Harry snapped. Malfoy drummed his long fingers against the chair arm, cast a disdainful glance around the room before answering.
'Well, have you encountered many muggle-born witch or wizard who was, well... like us?' Malfoy asked, his voice calm and collected, his gaze now steady and surer than Potter had seen it since Malfoy had returned from Azkaban.
'...I... us? You mean you're...' Potter stopped for a moment 'But I've never met anyone else who could...'
Malfoy barked out a sharp laugh. 'Oh, Potter really, of course, you have. There are plenty of people like us. What you didn't honestly think you were the only one did you?' Malfoy's lips curled into a wicked smirk for a moment. It didn't last though, as he saw the look of frightened confusion on the teen's face. 'You didn't know?'
Potter's head shook in response. 'I-I mean I've never seen anyone change, I did it once in front of my friends. They-they' Potter sat down in the chair across from Mr Malfoy. 'They acted like there was something wrong with me' Potter said softly. Mr Malfoy paused, took a deep breath. Then finally spoke.
'You know things weren't like this you know. Back before the Ministry, started pushing all there new rules.' Mr Malfoy's lips pursed. 'They said it made the muggle-borns uncomfortable, that the burden fell to us to change for them. Doesn't it always.' Malfoy said as he glided over a small cabinet next to the door, the cabinet doors opened with a shrill squeak. Inside two plates of toast appeared, Malfoy glared at the toast in disdain.
'But, I mean if it makes them uncomfortable... I don't have to...' Potter trailed off.
'That is hardly the point, we were born differently to them. They simply dropped into a sex male or female. We weren't, we are both and we have every right to be both. It's bad enough that we already have to suppress so much of ourselves to hide from the muggles, but to suggest that we should have to hide from muggles born witches and wizards within the magical world.' Malfoy finished his sentence with an angry scoff.
'So. You can?... I mean you could change... like right now?' Potter asked nervously. Mr Malfoy smirked.
'Yes, Potter I could.' Malfoy said, both taking one big bite of toast. Potter was now both literally and mentally on the edge of the lumpy brown armchair. Mr Malfoy slowly chewed his toast, dragging out the silence, he could barely contain his amusement. '...Oh did you want me to show you?' He asked.
Potter nodded. 'Uh yes... If it's not too much to ask' The air around Malfoy rippled briefly, and then all of a sudden there was a thin blond woman sitting in Malfoy's place, Potter gasped. 'You made that look so easy.' Malfoy tilted her head.
'Yes, it is more difficult when you're... well... half-blood' Malfoy said carefully, Potter glared back. 'I just mean, it's not really fair is it?'
'What is?' Potter asked.
Malfoy sighed and rippled back to his old self. 'Well, I've always been able to be whoever I needed to be, effortlessly. Now you can have the same with whatever difficulties that you have. I know it's different from person to person, but whatever it is.' Malfoy eyed Potter cautiously as he spoke. 'Pain when you try to change, not being able to be the sex you want when you want it... Waking up in the wrong body...' Potter's eyes narrowed. Malfoy raised a hand in a gesture, probably intended to placate. But it only irritated Potter further. 'I'm not judging...'
'Oh, yes you are. I mean what to most of the world I'm a freak because of this, but to you, I'm not good enough because. What, what is your problem, Mr Malfoy?' Potter snapped. Malfoy stared, shook his head, then finally responded.
'How could you possibly think that? Potter... you've been born with a wonderful gift. I mean can you imagine the reverse, to have a gender that's different to your physical sex and be... well stuck.' Malfoy stood up he was about to reach over to Potter when there was a sharp knock at the door.
Both wizard's head's snapped up to the door. A tall wizard with dirty blond hair, bright blue eyes and enormous fuzzy eyebrows stepped in; not waiting for an answer to his knock.
'Good Morning, how are you two?' He asked.
'Oh peachy, how could we not be in such decadent surroundings.' Malfoy made a theatrical gesture towards his rather unimpressive surroundings. 'It's positively extravagant Davies' Malfoy said sarcastically. Davies scowled back.
'Mr Malfoy, do I Have! to remind you that you are a convicted criminal. Who should consider himself extraordinary fortunate to have been given this...'
'Urgh, fine, fine.' Malfoy snapped back. Potter was struggling to stifle laughter whilst watching the two older wizards bicker.
'Anyway, your family has made arrangements to have you moved next week.' Davies said stiffly. Potter held back an eye roll, taking a massive gulp of coffee instead.
'Who's family?' Malfoy asked. Potter scoffed.
'Uh...' Davies gave an embarrassed look to Potter before continuing. 'Yours Mr Malfoy. You and Mr Potter are to be moved to your family home on Tuesday, as per your wife's request.'
'What! I'm Harry Potter, you know. The guy that Voldemort has repeatedly tried to kill... and now you wanna send me to Chateau le Death Eater?' Potter said, hands flapping dramatically, lips pursed angrily.
'Yes thank you, Potter, we all know who you are.' Said Mr Malfoy as he stuffed another piece of toast into his mouth.
'Uh... anyway. I'll leave you to it' Davies said as he tried to slip out.
'Wait, hold on we're not finished.' Potter yelled, but Davies was already gone.
'Honestly Potter, do you think I relish the idea of having you in my home? hm' Said Malfoy. Potter glared back. 'Don't look at me like that.'
'Urgh, Malfoy you've blatantly set this up to try and kill me' Potter moaned. Malfoy rolled his eyes, adjusted his position. The seat made an audible squeak as he did.
'Shockingly enough Potter. Not everything is about you. Like being able to see my family for the first time in months is not about you' Malfoy said with a sneer.
'Oh poor you being without your family for WHOLE months. What's that like I really can't imagine.' Potter spat back, voice dripping with sarcasm. Malfoy sighed.
'Anyway... surprisingly enough I don't want to go home only to have to turn around and go straight back to Azkaban. You're not quite annoying enough for it to be worth it.'
'Oh really so you're not planning some kind of tragic accident for me?' Potter asked. Malfoy shot him a wicked smirk in response.
'Well I guess you'll just have to wait and see.' Said Malfoy...