"You Know?" Tom stopped in front of Harry and looked him in the eye, "How?"

"Oh, you know." Shit I need to be more careful "Dumbledore told me." I hope that works. Harry smiled, innocently at Tom. Tom seemed to accept this because he nodded and moved pick up Harry's trunk.

"Well, we best get you a room. I'll let the minister know you are here. He'll want to see ya." Tom carried Hatty's trunk inside and handed it to a young wizard behind the counter. "Room eleven. Harry, ya want somthin' ta eat?" He placed a bowl on the bar and it began to fill with pea soup.

"Sure, thanks." Harry, realizing he hadn't eaten yet that day, sat down to pick up the spoon.

"Harry!" Fudge's voice came from the stairs. Harry started and dropped the spoon into the soup. Damn, bloody idiot. Fudge made his way toward Harry saying, "Harry, my boy. A very dangerous thing to do wandering away from home" Home? "like that given the state of things."

"The state of things? You mean Sirius Black right? He is why I came here. I saw him in the Daily Prophet, Snape told me about him last year, he said that Black was a friend of my parents. I was afraid he would try to find me at the Dursley's so when Dumbledore told me that you were here I decided to come here seeking safety." Harry said it just like he had practiced with Sirius.

"Oh, well… erm" Fudge, clearly frustrated and not looking Harry in the eye, "yes, well that is nothing you need to concern yourself with. You are safe here." he continued finally managing to gather himself but still fidgeting with his tie, "Harry, I'm going to ask you to stay in Diagon alley for the rest of your vacation, it's not safe for you anywhere else. Can you do that?"

"Of course, Minister. But why is Black so dangerous? Isn't the ministry looking for him?" I need to know how cautious to be sending letters to Padfoot and how cautious he needs to be out there.

"Yes, yes, yes the ministry is looking for him, the majority of the aurors are on the search, we will find him." Fudge finally locked eyes with Harry, "Don't go looking for him, stay in the alley. Alright, Harry?"

"Yes, Minister. May I borrow an owl? Hedwig is out hunting she will find me here when she finishes." Harry asked.

"Of course, my boy. Tom will get you set up." with that the Minister marched off back upstairs.

…

Harry awoke from the best sleep he had had in weeks. Hedwig was sitting on a perch in the corner of the room. Harry jumped out of bed and ran over to her, "Hedwig! Do you have a letter for me?" Hedwig picked up two letters and dropped them in Harry's hand. One was labeled 'Boy' and the other 'Foal.' What? Boy? "Hedwig, did you go back to the Dursley's?" she hooted an affirmation. Harry dropped the letter labeled 'Boy' on the bed and ripped open the other.

Foal,

Thank you for finding out what effort the ministry is putting into finding me, most of the aurors means that I have to be much more careful than I have been for the last week with you. I am in a safe place now. I need you to follow the Minister's instructions and stay in the alley, don't send me any letters while you are there, with the minister watching you it won't be safe for you to send letters to anyone the ministry doesn't recognize. Once back at school you can send me letters if you need to send me an owl send it with an owl from the school, Hedwig is too noticeable. Be safe and enjoy your vacation.

Padfoot

Harry crushed the letter and flopped back on the bed. "Well, Hedwig, do you want to make a trip to Egypt? I need to let the Weasley's that I'm here and safe." Harry quickly scribbled a note to Ron and sent Hedwig on her way. Then he turned his attention to the letter on his bed.

Boy,

Don't think that we didn't notice that you ran off. Your blasted bird showed up here after we got home and wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote you, don't go thinking you will be welcome back here next summer.

Vernon

Well alright then, pretty sure I'm not going back there anyway.

…

Harry walked down the alley looking in the shops I haven't gotten my letter for

supplies but I could look into getting new robes and potions supplies. But first money from Gringotts.

"Harry, Harry!" Florean shouted him, " Harry, come in and have some ice-cream."

"I haven't any money, I'll stop in after Gringotts." I don't really want ice-cream now, but I will after that blasted cart ride.

"Very well, my boy, see you in a few." with that Florean went back into his shop.

Twenty minutes later Harry was back at Florean Fortescue's. Florean popped up from behind the counter holding a bowl of ice-cream and a spoon. "Ginger ice-cream, best thing for an upset stomach."

"How did you…"

"Those silly cart rides always upset my stomach too." Florean handed Harry the bowl. Harry reached for his gold. "No, nope this is on the house."

"Oh, thanks." Harry took the bowl and went to sit outside to watch people. The wizarding world is so much more interesting than the muggle world. He was watching a young family playing with a toy broom he was so distracted that he didn't notice a boy about his age sit at his table.

"Missing mummy and daddy, Potter?" Harry spun around to find Draco Malfoy sitting with him.

"Did I invite you to sit with me?" Harry asked.

"Why Potter, I would think you would like to see a friend from school."

"We are not friends. Though sitting alone can be boring." since Ron and Hermione aren't here maybe it wouldn't hurt to hang out with Malfoy.

"Oh well, I wouldn't want the 'great' Harry Potter to be bored." Draco is acting strange, he never shows me attention at school. That being said he has never used my first name either. Draco was twirling his hair unable to look Harry in the face.

"Do you want something Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"No, I mean… a bit of that ginger ice-cream would be nice." Draco flushed bright red.

"What, oh, I mean I don't have a spare spoon." What the bloody hell? "And I'm almost out."

"I'll go get one!" Draco jumped up and ran into the store. A moment later he came back out with a spoon and another bowl, "I was getting a spoon and Florean gave me another bowl for you. You always do get free stuff don't you, Potter."

"Draco!" Lucius Malfoy was standing at a door not too far from them looking for Draco.

"Oh, erm, can we hang out to morrow, Harry?" Father has a meeting in Knockturn alley and said I could come with him and hang out in Diagon alley." Draco asked, hope in his eyes

"Erm, sure" Harry murmured.

"Great, I'll meet you here tomorrow at 10." Draco said as he ran toward his father. That was the strangest encounter I have had with Malfoy. Wonder why he wants to hang out with me.

Harry woke early the next morning. So meeting Malfoy this morning, why did I agree to this. Harry sat down with another free bowl of ice-cream, chocolate-butterscotch today, and two spoons, Florean hadn't asked when Harry asked for an extra just smiled and handed it to him. "Ah ten o'clock and where is Malfoy…" Harry whispered to himself Though why I care search me.

"Harry," Draco said,sauntering up to the table. "I'm glad you showed up. What kind do we have today?"

We? "Chocolate butterscotch but why you can't tell that from where you are… well maybe you need your eyes checked." Harry chortled while handing the second spoon to Draco. Draco hesitated "Do you need a formal invitation?" Draco who was looking around the crowded street shook his head and sat, pulling his chair in close to Harry. His hair is more desheveld than yesterday, he is normally more put together than this... what no, it's Malfoy why should I care? "So where are your loyal bodyguards? Gave them the day off?"

"Nah, they bore me. Besides I only hang with them at school because our fathers say we have to. During the holidays I rarely see them." Draco kept glancing around even as he spoke.

Seems like he doesn't really want to be seen with me, then again do I want to be seen with him? "If you don't want to be here Malfoy then you can go."

Draco spun his head toward Harry, "Do you want me to go?"

"Honestly not really, even the magic of Diagon Alley gets boring after a few days with no one to talk to." Harry said noticing that Draco's bright blue eyes were bloodshot.

"Ok, good, I'll stay." Draco said relaxing a little and eating a bit of ice-cream. They sat in silence watching the people around them, eating ice-cream, and catching eachother staring at the other. "So, are you still going out for quidditch?"

"Yeah. Daddy gonna buy the Slytherin team all new brooms again?" Harry teased, but stopped at the look on Draco's face.

"No, father was rather unimpressed with how I lost to you last year."Draco said looking away from Harry.

Bloody hell. Whats wrong with him? "You alright?" Harry asked quietly.

"Let's go for a walk!" Draco said changing the subject, "There is a cat at the pet store, I hear he is scaring away customers."

"Ok." Harry said, as they started walking Harry noticed Draco wouldn't look at him. "Draco, I know we aren't friends and all but I can tell something is bothering you, and if we are gonna hang out this week I don't want a sad bum of a time." Draco cracked a smile and looked at him, eyes beginning to tear up. "What? You….." Harry couldn't finish his sentence before Draco yanked him down a small gap between stores.

"Since you tricked father into freeing Dobby, he has been taking his anger out on mother and I." Draco said quickly and quietly.

"Oh … bloody … fuck, Draco. I … I didn't think he would ever … " Harry stumbled over his words.

"Don't be sorry, I'm glad Dobby is free, father tortured him relentlessly." Draco said clearing a tear from his left eye, "He is much kinder to Mother and I… I shouldn't be telling you this. And why would you care?" Draco straightened and moved back toward the crowded alley.

Harry grabbed his arm and said "I care…" Draco relaxed and took a step toward Harry. "I know what it's like. The Dursley's haven't always been the nicest to me." Harry pulled up his shirt to show the large purple bruise that was just starting to heal. "Vernon gave this to me last week because Dudley's piece of pie was smaller than mine and I didn't trade with Dudley before starting in." Lowering the shirt he continued "I get abusive families."

Draco, staring at the place on Harry's chest where the now covered bruise lay, said, "Father hasn't hit either of us. He has locked me in the cellar. He saw me here with you yesterday, he wasn't happy, that's why I was late, I had to escape." Draco finished by sneaking glance at Harry. Harry smiled, a shy smile."Thanks…" and the two of them continued down the busy alley.

. . .

"How long have I been here?" Draco asked.

"About two hours. Why?" Harry said looking at the clock above the shop door.

"Shit, I have to go, Harry, can we meet like this again tomorrow?" Draco said, a little panic in his voice.

"Yeah, sure." Harry barely got the words out before Draco was racing down the alley.