a/n1: Hello my lovely readers! I'm glad no one seemed to have a problem with the last chapter. I know quite a few people in Germany who are really against it...
University has me in its tight grasp and viv-heart is very busy as well, so sorry for the late update :/ But here we go. As always viv-heart is my beta :)
At five thirty-four in the morning Pansy was wide awake. The girls had decided to stay in Hermione's room and had transfigured herbed into three. It was rather close to the stairs and therefore Pansy heard when one of the boys got up and went downstairs. The steps were too light for Weasley so it was probably Harry. She decided that she could just get up and talk to him now. Pansy shimmied out of the arms of Ginny (Merlin that girl was cuddly!) and opened the door.
Stepping out on the top of the stairs Pansy wondered why Harry was already awake. They weren't t going to the Ministry this early, were they?
Weasley was a notorious late sleeper and Harry wasn't exactly a morning person either.
Well, there was only one way to find it out. Pansy tiptoed down the stairs as to not disturb the portraits. The Black's that were hanging in Parkinson House were rather cranky in the early morning. When she arrived at the kitchen door Pansy heard someone humming quietly.
Opening the door Pansy found Harry, clad only in his pyjama bottoms doing something at the stove. Pansy leant in the doorframe and enjoyed the view. She had to admit that the young man could need a bit more on his ribs. But his upper body was toned, probably thanks to years of Quidditch and being hunted by a mad man .
"Gah, Pansy!" he suddenly yelled and nearly dropped the pan he was holding.
"A wonderful morning to you as well, Harry," Pansy purred and stepped into the kitchen. "Is there a reason why you are cooking?"
Harry stared at her and blushed a deep red. Pansy suddenly realised that she was only wearing a long-ish t-shirt and knickers. And she had left her wand in Hermione's room.
"Well, seems we're both short of one piece of clothing," Pansy said sitting down at the table.
"Erm, yeah, maybe I could summon a shirt for me and pyjama bottoms for you?" Harry asked pushing his glasses a bit higher up his nose.
"That would be lovely," Pansy answered grinning mischievously.
Seconds later she slipped into the bottoms that fit her surprisingly well.
Harry pulled the shirt over his head and Pansy suppressed a appreciative hum at the movement of his back muscles.
"Now, you didn't answer my question," Pansy said when he turned back to the stove.
"I was- a bit distracted," Harry answered flicking a look over his shoulder probably trying to gauge her reaction.
"The feeling was mutual," Pansy said laughing. "I asked why you are cooking and even more so the muggle way."
"It's soothing," Harry mumbled. "You want some?"
"It smells heavenly and it doesn't look burned," Pansy stood up and peeked over his shoulder. "So, yes, I think I would like something."
Harry served them scrambled eggs, beans and sausages. He toasted some bread with a quick spell and they sat down to eat.
"When did you come here tonight?" Harry asked in between two bites and Pansy nearly reprimanded him but then she remembered he had lived on the run for quite some time. Eating was important.
"Around two I think. We didn't stay too long at Andromeda's and left for a nice muggle pub. It was quite a funny evening," Pansy said when she had finished chewing. "By the way, Ginny is awfully cuddly!"
Harry laughed. "That she is! But it was pretty nice in the first weeks. It got a bit much after."
"I understand," Pansy said quietly. "By the way, why are you already up?"
"Nightmare and I figured it would be useless to go back to sleep if I wanted to be at the Ministry at eight," Harry said in a strained voice.
"What would you want at the Ministry?"
"I was asked to verify some things in a trial," Harry said but Pansy had a feeling that he was not telling the whole truth.
"Did you tell your friends that you will take your NEWTs at Hogwarts?" Pansy asked trying to sound casual.
Harry blushed slightly. "Not yet. I think Ron would feel a bit lost without me. At least I have 'Mione, but he would be alone."
"But do you want to let him arrive at Auror Training only to see that you aren't there?" Pansy asked raising her eyebrow at him.
"I- No, of course not," Harry stammered and pushed his glasses up his nose. Probably a nervous habit. "I will tell him tonight over dinner."
Pansy looked at him skeptically. "I'm sure you will or I'm going to drop by everyday and annoy the hell out of you until you do it."
"Well, we could need someone to help us with redecorating the rooms we already cleaned out," Harry answered grinning cheekily.
"Oh, no, I don't think I'd move as much as my finger while I'm here!" Pansy grinned just as broadly. "But if you tell Ron by the end of the week I could consider talking to my interior decorator!"
Harry huffed, leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you trying to blackmail me?"
"No, I'm giving you an incentive to tell Weasley," Pansy winked.
"Tell me what?" someone asked from the doorway.
Harry's and Pansy's heads swivelled around simultaneously and as soon as she realised that it was Weasley standing there Pansy stood up. "I'll let you two talk. Be nice to him, Weasley."
She left with a last smile and wink to Harry and climbed back up the stairs with the intention to go back to sleep. Or maybe she could ask Hermione for a hangover potion - she felt a bit too dizzy for her liking.
Harry was biting on the edge of his thumb, he didn't know how to start and Ron looking at him expectantly didn't help things. Silently cursing Pansy for her insistence he got up and grabbed a kettle.
"You want some tea?" Harry asked distractedly.
"I'd like some answers more, but yeah, if you're making some," Ron shrugged and sat down on Pansy's seat.
"I- You know, I-," Harry stopped talking and swallowed. "Pansy made me wonder whether I really wanted to fight the bad guys. And I realised that I don't know. I'd like some time to get used to peace."
Ron looked at him in silence for some time. Harry saw him clenching and unclenching his fist a few times and when he finally spoke his voice was calm.
"I'm glad you told me before we start training in two weeks," Ron said. "So, Pansy changed your mind?"
"Not really, she only said that she would like to catch her breath before she had to deal with the real world and I realised that I wanted that as well. And I'm just sick of fighting. I need some time to find out whether or not I really want to continue the fight of my youth in my adult life," Harry had his eyes fixed on the plate in front of him. He didn't want to see the disappointment in Ron's face.
"I guess that's a good reason," the redhead finally said. "But you know, you should have told me immediately. I was really looking forward to it."
"I know and I'm sorry, but I didn't really want to leave you alone," Harry said finally looking up at Ron.
"I'll have to get used to not have you there, but I'm gonna be okay," Ron said with a lopsided smile. "It's not like we're going to do the same thing together for the rest of our lives. That would be awfully boring."
"Well, I don't think there is going to happen much at Hogwarts now that Tom is gone," Harry said grinning. "Suppose you're going to make me jealous with all your tales from Auror training."
Ron laughed. "Oh, I'll spin them so they seem bloody amazing and you're going to curse your decision to go to Hogwarts in the first week!"
"Prat!" Harry exclaimed and they toppled over laughing from the absurdity of the situation.
"You know," Ron said when he finally was able to breathe again. "I always thought it would be you who fought all those bloody bastards. I thought I would end up working at Wizarding Wheezes because I won't manage the job."
Harry looked up at the sudden pensive tone. "Remember how you beat McGonagall in chess in first year? You're going to be a great auror and if you happen to forget it we're going to remind you."
"Thanks mate, I appreciate it," Ron said with a grin and with a look at the table he continued. "Am I going to get something to eat or do I have to burn the kitchen trying to cook something first?"
Harry laughed and stood up. "Please don't. Once was one time too often."
Harry cooked and Ron brought him anything he needed. They joked around as always and when Tinna apparated into the kitchen they were already done eating. Ron was cleaning the dishes magically since he was much better at that than at cooking.
"Masters had already breakfast?" Tinna asked yawning.
"We did and Pansy, a guest of 'Mione as well," Harry answered cheerfully. "Good morning by the way."
"Miss Parkinson is visiting?" Tinna perked up at that.
"Yes, do you know her from before you moved here?" Ron asked. Tinna didn't really talk about her past.
"Miss Parkinson was visiting my House as a young Miss very often," the house-elf lady answered busying herself in the pantry. "How many guests does Miss have?"
"Only Ginny and Pansy I think," Harry said levitating the plates back into their cupboards. "They were out late last night, so maybe some hangover food would be a good idea," Ron suggested and Harry nodded.
"Alright, Tinna will prepare something. Misters need to go dress now or they will be late for the trial," Tinna said and made a shooing gesture in the direction of the young men. She let them cook as long as she wasn't already awake. When she was, she was the Queen of the Kitchen and didn't even let Kreacher as much as cut the carrots.
Kreacher admitted that he was glad about that since the finer details of magic became harder with his age. But on the other hand he didn't allow the younger elf to polish the silverware since it had always been his task.
Harry and Ron went upstairs and dressed for their day in court. Afterwards Harry would have to tell Kingsley that he would return to Hogwarts for his NEWTs.
Draco woke up with a start. He jumped from the bed a hex on his lips before he realised that he wasn't in his room in the Manor, that Greyback was dead and definitely not in his room. Not like back then.
Looking around he remembered that he was at the guest room he normally stayed at when he was at Nott Manor. At least they managed to get here then. Even though he didn't remember anything after getting food and Theo being a sappy bastard.
The dream pushed past his memories of the last night, or the lack thereof. Cursing Draco conjured a bowl, filled it with water and splashed it into his face. The night when Greyback had broke into his room pissed as a newt had been awful. The werewolf had taken three stupefies before he fell and Draco had levitated him outside. It had taken nearly an hour before his hands stopped shaking afterwards.
Since then he had learned to cast wards around his door and windows. Draco never found out why Greyback had been in his room. Theo thought the man had been just too drunk to realise that he was at the wrong door and Draco had to agree. The normally so aggressive man didn't try to attack him. But still…
The blond sat down on the bed, his breath still coming too fast. He needed to get out, get away from the confines of this room. Draco stood up and summoned the shirt from the pile on the chair. Only pyjama bottoms wouldn't be exactly socially acceptable.
Pulling the shirt on he cancelled the wards on the door and stepped out into the hall. The sky was already turning to a light blue which caused him to check the time with a Tempus charm. It was seven in the morning. Way too early after a night in the hunting lodge.
"Cinny?" Draco whispered not so much because of the headache, but to not wake the others.
The elf lady apparated to his side with a quiet pop. "Yes, Mister Draco?"
"When did we return to the house?"
She cocked her head in thought. "Cinny thinks it was around half past three. Is Mister Draco wanting breakfast?"
His stomach rebelled at the thought of food and Draco shook his head. "No, thanks. I will take a walk first. Is anyone else awake?"
"Yes, Mister Weasley without his twin is in the gardens," Cinny said mournfully.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "How do you know he has- had a twin?"
"Cinny sees that his magic is torn apart, Cinny knows that there is a twin missing. Miss Ophelia Nott lost her twin in 1584, she was so very sad that she drowned herself in a close-by pond," Cinny answered rubbing her eyes. "Cinny was very young when it happens but she remembers. Somebody needs to heal poor Mister Weasley."
Draco stood there dumbfounded. "Elves can see magic?"
"Only a few of us, those of the oldest clans," Cinny said proudly. "Cinny has to go back to the kitchen now."
"Wait, Cinny! I'm sorry you had to see Ophelia die. I will try to help George," Draco said. The elf-lady nodded before apparating away.
Out in the gardens Draco spotted George by a pond and remembering Cinny's tale he hurried over. The other man heard him coming and gave him wave while obviously trying to suppress a yawn.
"Morning," Draco said sitting down next to him.
"You look awful," George remarked with a sideways glance.
"Thank you, you too," Draco answered tartly.
George laughed loudly. "Well, you're basically the first one to honestly say that to me."
"Always at your service," the blond smirked. "But yeah, nightmares are a bloody nuisance."
George nodded emphatically. "They are! Normally the alcohol keeps them at bay, but the unfamiliar surrounding tonight…Well, next time I'll bring my own pillow!"
"I know. Theo's are definitely too thin!" Draco exclaimed theatrically. "You could as well sleep without them. No idea how Theo manages to get a decent night's sleep."
"Seriously, thin cushions are one thing. But cushions that lead you to believe that they are thick and fluffy and aren't, that's just-," George trailed of seemingly searching for the right word.
"-utter betrayal!" Draco finished with a snort.
George looked at him strangely but then he smiled a little. "Indeed, we really should have a word with Theo."
a/n2: George and Draco bonding time, yay! ;) Did you catch my easter egg? If so, tell me in the comments! I hope you enjoyed the chapter as much as I did. The next one will (probably) introduce a change of pace where I don't write each day but important events. See you (hopefully) soon! :)