Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 16 Half Truths

Once Draco heard the rumors, he practically bolted to Professor Snape's office, only to see him shoving books into his trunk. "Sir?"

Professor Snape glanced at him and gave him a ghost of a smile. "I didn't expect to see you, given the other night's events."

"You're referring to what Delphi said, sir?" Draco recalled saying that Professor Snape had spied for Dumbledore in the past. Off and on was how she put it. Yes, he couldn't wrap his head around it, but he had to believe that Professor Snape had learned from his mistakes. If not, the whole school year made no sense.

Professor Snape raised his eyebrows. "That… and the part where I attempted to eat you alive."

Oh. Right. That. Draco laughed nervously. "Well, you mostly went for Potter, sir, so I wasn't all that put out. I'd be able to get a halfway decent lab partner in Potions if…" If you ate her… Draco realized too little too late that he took the joke too far. "You didn't hurt anyone, sir."

Professor Snape nodded slightly. "Yes. The only thing keeping me from a cell in Azkaban next to my sire." Draco frowned, but his professor clearly didn't want to continue the conversation. "However, it will be impossible for me to continue my position at Hogwarts."

"But sir!" Draco's heart sunk. "It's not fair! There must be something—"

Professor Snape held up a hand to silence him. "Life isn't fair, Draco. Especially for people like me."

"So you're just going to give up?" Draco knew he shouldn't be angry, but he couldn't help it. He was the one teacher who was on their side and who thought he was more than a troublemaking rule breaker.

Professor Snape thinned his lips as he closed his trunk. "You sound like your father."

And with that, Professor Snape left. Draco hoped he would get to see him again.

Potter walked by and shoved him roughly in the halls. No surprises there. What was surprising, however, was that she managed to shove a note in his pocket at the same time without anyone noticing. Weasley's boorish laughter filled his ears as Draco itched to check his pocket. He glared at them as they went, not even caring when Pansy cast a stinging hex at Potter's arse, causing her to yowl dramatically and vow to tell Professor Black.

With an annoyed sigh, Draco checked his pocket in the bathroom ten minutes later. Meet me in the girl's bathroom on the train at 12:00. A little reminder about their upcoming meeting. He wondered what she was going to say.

"You're sure you want to take the train?" Regulus asked. They were supposed to check into a hotel in London and spend the next few weeks looking at houses.

Draco nodded, giving him a half-truthful explanation. "I know Blaise is nervous about the summer, and I don't want to leave him alone with Pansy on the whole train ride."

He accepted the lie, had no reason not to, given the fact that he witnessed a few of Pansy and Blaise's arguments. "O-okay." He seemed nervous, reminding Draco that he hardly ever left the dungeons, and when he did, he was never alone. "I'll see you on the platform."

Draco nodded, feeling guilty for lying, especially for Potter, but he had to. He had to save his mum.

"I have to go to the bathroom," Draco announced loudly on the train. Pansy and Blaise both stared at him. He was terrible at lying to people he cared about.

With a red face, he headed for the girl's bathroom with his head down. If this was a sick prank of Potter's, he was going to drown her in the nearest toilet. He was scared of being seen, so rushed into a stall as soon as he went in. Now he was afraid to leave…

Potter waltzed in humming an agonizing five minutes later. When he said he was in a stall, she lightly said, "Oh good."

"Hurry the fuck up, Potter," he said as she sat down. His skin prickled with horror when he heard the sound of her peeing. "Are you actually going to the bathroom?!"

"Well…" She spoke as if they were sitting park, and he asked why she was feeding the birds. "Uncle Peter said the best lies have some truth in them. I told my friends I was going to the bathroom and that I was going to be a while. Well, I'm going to the bathroom, and I'm going to be a while. I just didn't say I was going to be a while because I'm talking to you."

"I fucking hate you," Draco seethed. Potter didn't say anything until she wiped herself clean and pulled her skirt up.

She sighed happily. "I'd been holding that." Bitch. "Anyway, Hermione and her mum's going to France after my birthday to hang with the Delacours until school starts. I doubt they'll bring Narcissa."

"Why wouldn't they?" Draco whispered. From the looks of things, his mother was under a spell that made her their slave.

Potter went quiet, not wanting to tell him. "She upkeeps the house. They don't have house elves. She guards the place and keeps things in order when they aren't experimenting on her."

Draco wondered if this was one of her lies with some truth in it. "Whatever. So what? We're going to break into her house when they're away?"

Potter kicked her feet, like a fidgety child sitting at the dinner table. "It's not breaking in if you have access to the floo. I'm just going to kiss Hermione's butt all summer, go to her house, do homework, you know, nerd stuff. Then, I'll be able to get in."

"Okay…" As simple as it was, it sounded like it was going to work. "How am I going to join you?"

"Think Daphne and Astoria will invite you over?" Now she sounded nervous. "'Cause they are spending the summer with me. Because…"

"Like I care, Potter," he snapped. He didn't care because he already knew… She stopped kicking her feet. "I just want my mum."

"Okay. Rude." So she's going to call him rude when she didn't want to tell him anyway. Cool. "So will you ask them to?"

"Yeah." Draco was sure Daphne and Astoria would have questions, but he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. "Are we done here?"

"Yep." She hopped off the seat, and Draco left the stall when she did. He hoped no one would see them exit together. He could only imagine what she would say.

"Are you seriously not going to wash your hands?" he yell-whispered as she walked right past the sinks. With a huff, she rinsed them quickly, making Draco roll his eyes.

Thankfully, no one saw them come at the bathroom together. They walked down the compartments, and Draco almost groaned when they ran into Granger and the female Weasley. As if it wasn't bad enough that he had to hear Potter urinate.

"What are you doing here?" Weasley asked rudely. "I thought you'd be helping Black get dewormed."

Potter grinned, but the ever-observant Granger ignored her companion. "Were you two walking together?"

Ginevra Weasley narrowed her eyes. "Gonna make the excuse that you were snogging him, Kat? Just like with Greengrass."

"Excuse me?" Daphne Greengrass popped her head out of the compartment Draco was about to head for. "Keep your name out of my mouth, Weasley."

"No, I wasn't snogging him," Potter said calmly. "I've decided to have a break from boys. I want to try girls."

Daphne turned scarlet and slammed her compartment door shut as Ginny Weasley started stuttering. Granger frowned. "You're serious?"

Potter nodded and simply said, "Yes."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Granger grabbed Potter's arm and started dragging her away, softly asking her questions and trying not to be her usual, judgmental self. Weasley was shrieking as if Potter had personally offended her. All of her hysteric questions were about Daphne. Draco nervously knocked on Daphne's door.

At first, no one answered. Draco was about to give up and walk away until he heard Astoria admonishing her sister. "It's Draco! Let him in! He's not like them."

"Thanks," he muttered when Astoria slowly opened the compartment door. Daphne was scowling out the window, firmly planning to ignore him, he supposed. "I need to talk to you two."

"If it's about Potter, I don't want to hear it," Daphne snapped without looking at them. When her cheeks turned red, she put her head against the window, so her hair would fall forward and cover her blush.

"Actually…" Draco winced when Daphne glared at him. "First let me explain."

Astoria's eyes went wider and wider as he filled them in on the year's events. Daphne turned away from them, pretending not to listen. Since she was the least shy of the two, he knew he had to win her over. If either of them was going to request him coming over, it was going to be Daphne.

"I don't care about Potter," he pressed. "This is about my mum."

"James isn't very strict," Astoria said quietly. "I don't see why he would say no…"

Daphne huffed but didn't turn around. "Yeah. Because all you do is sit around and knit and read books all day." She laughed to herself, sensing Astoria getting upset and finally turned around to face them. "Like he'd let Slytherin trash come over."

"That's not fair, Daphne!" Astoria yelled, or the closest thing she could do to yelling. "He's been very nice to me! And didn't care when Mum asked if you could come too! Said he was looking forward to meeting you!"

"But I'm not him," Daphne said. "And not sneaking off on a dangerous mission with his daughter. His favorite daughter."

Astoria's eyes filled with tears. "We'll tell him we miss our friends! We'll invite Pansy and Blaise too! We could invite everyone! If we have a summer party, he might not notice if Draco and Potter disappear for a few minutes."

Daphne shook her head. "You don't get it do you…? Fine. Start planning your little party. Don't come crying to me when shit hits the fan."

Astoria's cheeks became blotchy in a rare show of her weak temper. Draco felt a little bad for her as she started grumbling about what a great party it will be and that Daphne wouldn't be invited. As the compartment became more and more quiet, he realized that he was dismissed and started heading back for Pansy and Blaise. He was starting to think that being an only child wasn't sure a bad thing…

"See? I told you he wasn't constipated!" Pansy said rudely as Draco told them where he had gone.

Blaise rolled his eyes, looking just as broody as Daphne had been. "I would rather him have been at this point… Have you talked to Regulus about this? You know, someone who could make sure this isn't all a trap, someone who could get the authorities involved?"

Draco looked at his feet, feeling ashamed. "No."

Blaise's eyes lit in small interest at his guilt. "Why? Afraid Potter's not telling the truth?"

"She was!" Draco snapped before he could stop himself.

Blaise sat up straighter, practically slapping him in the face with what he considered the truth. "You don't want to tell Regulus or Professor Riddle because you know deep down Potter's lying. You're just dragging out the inevitable."

"Blaise," Pansy hissed before softening. "Draco… what we mean is…"

Draco waited, knowing she wasn't saying anything because she thought exactly what Blaise did and didn't know how to say it nicely. They thought he was in denial and giving himself false hope. "It's not that. It's… Well, you know…"

Pansy raised an eyebrow. "No. We don't. What we do know is that you're making plans with Potter without us. Dangerous plans. You could be going heads first into the Lion's Den, and you aren't even considering asking your friends for help."

"Because you don't believe me!" Draco yelled. "And Regulus… I don't know if you've noticed, but he's… skittish."

"Skittish," Pansy repeated.

Draco shrugged. "It's understandable, really. I mean, he was hunted like an animal for nearly a year… But don't tell me you two haven't noticed. He never leaves the Dungeons unless he absolutely has to, and when he does, he looks like he's waiting to be attacked! He wouldn't be able to help even if he wanted to."

"But we could," Pansy pushed. Blaise didn't say anything. "You're planning on breaking into a powerful Dark family's house with no idea what you're up against. Just you and Potter. Because nothing can possibly go wrong, can it?"

"Maybe he and Potter will then get married and have ten children," Blaise drawled. "You know, to make the fairy tale complete."

"It's not like that!" Draco said, despite his burning cheeks. Potter said she wanted to give girls a go anyway, whatever that meant. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to tell his friends that bit of gossip.

Pansy laughed bitterly and suddenly wouldn't look at either of them. "Well, whether we believe you or not, we want in. You're our best friend, and we don't want to let anything happen to you."

Blaise nodded. Draco stared for a moment and then sighed before finishing filling them in. He didn't want to admit it, but it was relief that they weren't threatening to tell on him. He didn't know what Regulus or Professor Riddle would do, but he didn't want to risk it. "So we'll coordinate with Potter at the party…"

Kat was planning to go with the flow this summer. Well, she was planning on letting everyone think she was going with the flow this summer. "This summer is going to be lit!"

"What does that even mean?" Daphne said rudely as Kat put one arm around her shoulders and the other around Astoria's. Astoria jumped.

"Don't know, don't care," Kat said happily.

Daphne seemed pissed off at their closeness, making Kat slink away. "We had an interesting talk with Draco on the train."

"Did you?" Kat said lightly. The crowded train station was not the place to talk about this! Amateurs. "Poor bloke is madly in love with me."

"Who's in love with what?" Dad said. They had just reached his hearing range.

"I'm in love with Astoria's hair," Kat lied. She turned to Astoria. "Can I have some?"

Astoria squeaked and didn't answer, but Daphne looked ready to murder her. Kat glanced over her shoulder and saw Malfoy who was talking to Regulus as his friend made a death march to the nearby Weasleys. She turned away and smiled. "Dad! What time is the ice cream party?"

Dad beamed. "As soon as we get home, princess."

"Sweet!"

They apparated home, and summer officially began.

"So I figured we'd get your things from Andy," Regulus said. His voice shook as they walked about the train station, and Draco tried to smile as his godfather put his shaking hands in his pockets. "I know she is not the loveliest of people, but… I want you to have your things."

"I don't have anything particularly important there," Draco tried.

Regulus shook his head and, for once, was firm. "No. I want you to have your things. I don't want you to be thrown somewhere with nothing."

Draco wanted to argue more but decided to let it go. He wasn't sure what Regulus meant and wondered if it had something to do with he himself having nothing but his wand and the clothes on his back. Either way, he wasn't sure. He only had to see the Tonkses one more time.

"Mum said Riddle told her you weren't coming back," Dora said rudely when Draco knocked, and she opened the door. Regulus stood awkwardly in the background. Uncle Ted didn't get up from his chair in the living room. The news blared in the background, updating them on this week's weather predications. The week would start off sunny and end in thunderstorms.

Draco pushed past her. He wanted to make this as quick as possible. "I just came for my old books."

"Nudey magazines?" she taunted as he headed for the stairs. Draco forced himself not to smile when she tripped over the first step. "Mum says we can turn your room into a gym. So don't think you can come waltzing back once skippy over here dumps you."

Draco turned around half way up the stairs. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Dora leaned forward and whispered, "Once you get too old for him."

Don't take the bait. You always take the bait, Draco tried to tell himself. His cousin smiled when his nostrils flared. "If you don't shut up, I'm telling Aunt Andy you had the clap last summer!"

Dora, who was just finishing her first year of college, laughed. "I'll tell her it's because you poked holes in my rubbers."

Draco took a step closer to her. "You cheated on your exams."

"You steal my makeup," Dora lied, referring to three years ago when she and her friends tied him up and put makeup on him. She grinned when Draco clenched his fists. "Go ahead. Do it. I've gotten into the police academy, and I could use some training!"

"Regulus?" They both jumped at the sound of an adult voice, used to being ignored by them while Dora tortured Draco, and he did his best to get even. Aunt Andy appeared from the kitchen. "I thought…"

"I've been released." He looked shocked by the exchange between Draco and Dora, probably had no idea what to do about it either. "And declared innocent…"

"So it's you taking the boy in." Her eyes fell on Draco with hardly any emotion, like she was giving away an old sweater. "Bella is going to whine about not seeing you."

"I could write to her." Draco had no intention of doing so.

His other aunt knew he wouldn't but nodded in approval all the same. "Alright. Get your things. Dora, shut up and mind your business. I'm making dinner, so the sooner they're out of here, the sooner we can eat."

Draco ran up the stairs, ignoring the foul name Dora called him, and went to get his things. There wasn't much in there that he cared for besides the books. He shoved past birthday cards in between pages and shoved everything he could into two backpacks. Regulus was waiting for him at the foot of the stairs, looking anxious and helpless as usual.

"Ready?" Draco wanted to act like nothing happened but knew that Regulus would gather up the courage the say something eventually. He left without saying goodbye and without looking back.

Tonight was a good start to summer break. Sirius wasn't around, but Kat was hoping that he'd stop by eventually. Mum said he followed dad around like a lost puppy.

Mum wasn't around either. In her place was Professor Greengrass, looking happy and with hardly any seriousness in her. Mum had a serious streak. She'd want to know about "important" things like grades and what she learned. It was nice having someone around who wanted to goof about as much as Dad and her godfather, but it still felt like something was missing.

Kat stared at herself in the mirror as she brushed the knots out of her wet hair. She had bits of Mum in her, the eyes, the nose, just little pieces in her face. The rest of her was mostly Dad. Dad said she was smart and brave like Mum but had his heart. She wasn't nearly as smart as Mum like he said, but… Mum had a heart, didn't she? With a sigh, Kat tightened her robe and headed out of the bathroom. She nearly squealed in fright when she saw Daphne Greengrass on the other side waiting for her.

"You know," Kat said as her heart rate started to return to normal, "we have more than one bathroom."

"I wasn't waiting for the bathroom, Potter!" Daphne scowled and then turned away. "Never mind."

Kat frowned and then bit her lip. "Wait!" Daphne stopped but didn't turn around. "What… what did you want?"

"I thought, maybe…" Daphne turned around, beautiful face flushed with pink. "I was wondering, um… I thought that maybe you were, a little bit like me."

Kat was tempted to ask her what she meant by that, but her mouth went dry. She knew. She knew and despite all her jokes and vague talks with Hermione and Ginny, she didn't know what to say. She felt like an idiot when she told Daphne the truth. "I don't know."

Daphne looked offended by her words. Worse off all, she seemed afraid too. Anger and fear did not mix well together. Mum would say something wise like that. What Mum wouldn't do is kiss Daphne on the cheek, but Kat did so all the same. Dad's heart, like he said.

Kat pulled away slowly, looking into Daphne's eyes. "Good night."

Daphne didn't say anything as Kat fled to her room.

Blaise couldn't sleep, obviously. He wasn't in a place he really considered safe. Safe was Hogwarts or his room at home. No one ever went in his room at home without permission, not even the house elves.

He was sharing a room with Ronald Weasley, and laying on a mattress that creaked every time he moved. The blanket smelled like a basement, like it had been wet and left to air dry without being washed. Crickets could be heard chirping outside. Blaise normally would be able to ignore such a sound, but being in a place he didn't consider safe, they sounded like half a dozen tiny alarms going off.

Three hours later, and exhaustion was getting the best of him. What did he expect? He couldn't go all summer without sleeping. It was impossible. He'd either pass out or go insane or both. Still, Blaise tried to fight it as his eyelids started to become heavy. If he could just stay awake one night… then he would prove to himself that it was safe to sleep here.

Soon enough, Blaise succumbed to sleep and couldn't open his eyes. He was just starting to dream when Ronald Weasley threw him out of bed and started beating the shit out of him.

Thank you for the reviews of chapter 15 dannymask and gr8rockstarrox!

And so, we start 4th year! Summer is going to have all kinds of adventures! Oh! And I hereby dedicate the bathroom scene to JKR! :P

I posted a new story for gr8rockstarrox's birthday. It's called Remember Me?

Let me know what you think! And happy birthday gr8rockstarrox!