Harry woke to Hedwig tapping at the window. "Bloody… Hedwig, it's not even bright yet." Harry opened the window and took the letter from her beak. His name was written in Ron's handwriting.

Harry,

Father heard how you escaped the muggles, he is very concerned and told me I had to put in here that he thinks it was very dangerous. I think it was bloody brilliant! Anyway, we are still in Egypt, but mother says we will be heading back to Diagon Alley on Saturday next, as September 1st is coming up and we need to get our supplies. So I'll see you soon. Hermione wrote and she and her parents will be there Sunday, she wasn't sure where to reach you and she doesn't have an owl of her own yet.

Ron

Saturday next. Good that means I have time to get to know Draco a bit. "Hedwig, do you want to go back to Egypt?" She had settled in her cage and she just hid her head beneath her wing. "Thought not, I'll to to the post in the morning. Night Hedwig."

. . .

Harry woke with a start as a white cat jumping on him. "What the… How did you get in?" Harry said absentmindedly petting the cat, he looked down at his watch. "Shit… I slept in." He quickly dressed and ran down to Florean's. Thank god Draco isn't here yet. I'm not late… Harry sat down at his usual table, the alley was pretty calm today so he had a clear shot of both end. Hmmm, I'm twenty minutes late, and he isn't here. He must have given up on me, ah well. Just then that white cat jumped up on the table with a note in its mouth. "Huh? You didn't have that earlier."

Potter,

I regret to inform you that I will be unable to meet you today as mother and I have left father's home and he has his goons out searching for us. This is my cat, that mother bought me this summer. His name is Duke, he will have to keep you company today.

Treat him well.

Damn Draco… I hope you're alright… your cat eh? "Well, Duke, looks like it's you and me today. I'm not in the mood for ice-cream today but I do need to send a letter. Want to go to the post office with me?" Harry put his hand out his hand and the cat moved in for pets. Harry picked up Duke and walked down to the post office.

. . .

The next day Harry woke early to Duke cat sitting at the end of his bed just watching him. "Well aren't you a little creep. Why aren't you with your master? I'm sure he would enjoy your company, wherever he is… I hope he is alright." Duke moved onto Harry's lap where he settled in to sleep. "Did you even go home last night?" Duke began to purr. Hedwig looked up from her perch and hooted. "What? I can't just make him leave." she hooted again and went back to her preening. Harry picked up Quiddich Through the Ages that he had fallen asleep reading the night before. And started reading, absentmindedly petting Duke.

Harry started when I black eagle owl crashed into the window. He got up and opened the window. Duke hissed as the owl landed next to him and dropped a letter then flew out the window again. Harry moved to pick up the letter but Duke snatched it up and bolted toward the window. "No. You. Don't." Harry said catching the cat and prying the letter out of its jaw. "Its addressed to Draco," Harry sat Duke back down on the bed ripping open the letter.

Draco,

Darling, come home. Your father and I are worried. You have been gone for three days. I know father said he wasn't going to let you go back to school if you saw the Potter boy again, but he was just angry. You will be on the train back to Hogwarts, I promise you, darling, please. Father has gone on one of his expeditions, he won't be back before you leave for school, I promise you'll have your room until September 1st.

Love Mummy.

"What? Duke, why did the owl bring this to you? Draco's been gone for three days? What the hell -" Harry moved back as Duke transformed into Draco before his eyes. "You're an animagus?"

Draco froze, "How do you know about animagi?"

"Hermione mentioned them one time. What the hell Draco?" Harry said waving the letter.

"I ran away." Draco said, his face falling.

"Obviously, but why? How? And what was with the letter you gave me yesterday?" Harry said getting flustered.

"You did it! I thought, why couldn't I? Harry, it's awful in that house… I thought you would understand." Draco stepped toward Harry, "Please, you have to understand."

"I do," Harry stepped forward holding the letter out, "But, Draco, your mum cares, I mean this letter, she says you'll go back to Hogwarts, and that you won't be locked in the cellar, your dad's not even home-"

"Mother cares, she promised me that we would escape together if father was harsh again, but that hasn't happened yet." Draco took a step back again, "I know she means well making excuses for him but I can't take it anymore."

Harry took Draco's hand, "Alright, I'll make you a deal, you can come hang out with me everyday until the Weasley's arrive, Saturday next, and even after that, as Duke. But you go home, make up with your mum and at school, we'll pretend to hate each other again."

"Saturday next. The Weasleys are such a strange family. I'll go home, Potter, but you had better have something great planned for tomorrow." Draco transformed into a cat and hopped out the window.

Hedwig hooted. "Oh you want some attention do you?" Harry walked over and poked some owl treats through her bars. "Do you wanna take a trip to Snuffles?" She hooted again, "I know he said not to write, that they would be watching me but I need to talk to him." Harry paced the room for a few minutes "Hedwig, could you go hunting and then just sneak over to him, I'm sure he'll know I want to talk to him if he sees you." Harry unlatched the cage. Hedwig hooted her understanding and flew out the window. I hope he gets the message.. Now to wait. Harry flopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

. . .

The next several days passed with little excitement, Harry and Draco met at 10 am every morning, spending the day wondering Diagon alley wizard watching and talking. In the evening Harry scanned the skies for any sign of Hedwig. Friday evening came around, with no sign of Hedwig or Sirius, Harry and Draco were seated on Harry's bed "They'll be here tomorrow, nothing I can do about that Draco." Harry said for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

"But why do you have to hang around with Ron, he is so boring? I don't like that you spend so much time with him, and that Granger girl." Draco whined.

"Ron and Hermione are my best friends, the Weasleys are the best family I've known. I can't go hang out in the Slytherin common room, people would be suspicious. Why are you so jealous of them?" He is so adorable when he is being petulant… no what am I doing, this is Malfoy we are enemies at school.

"I'm not jealous. I just don't want to go back to hating each other the moment they get here." Draco said hiding his face.

What? "I mean, I don't either, but what are we supposed to do? Everyone expects us to hate each other because of who our parents are, and our friends -"

"Your friends, I don't really have friends, I have people father has bought off. Harry I… I want to keep seeing you, it would have to be in secret, but I want to be your ... " his voice trailed off.

"My wha-?" Harry barely got the words out before Draco kissed him. Harry pulled away. What? Why? Maybe… "Draco... " Ahh shit his eyes are so blue, he's afraid. Harry leaned in and kissed Draco. "Draco, I'm afraid, not for what people will say but what your father will do to you."

"I don't care, I talked to mother and she said that she won't let father lay a hand on me again. She said that she kicked him out, that's why he is gone, he is staying in the guest house. He isn't allowed in the main house except for appearances when we have guests." Draco leaned in for another kiss.

Harry pulled away, "But how are we gonna do this, I mean at school, it's impossible."

"No its not, I've been thinking, I'll be your cat!" Draco said excitedly. "While the Weasley's are here I'll hang around as Duke and you can pretend I'm your cat. I'll get you a cat basket and you can take it with you on the train empty and I will get on the train as Draco and then while at hogwarts, whenever I want to see you I can find you as Duke, and if you want to see me, well we'll have to figure that out." Draco just stared at Harry, hopeful.

"You are adorable. We'll try." Harry smiled, and Draco kissed him. Just then there was a tap at the window. "Hedwig!" Harry jumped up to open the window and let the ruffled owl in.

"Why does she look so ruffled?" Draco asked getting up.

Harry looked over Hedwig, petting her gently and straightening out her feathers. "She doesn't seem hurt."

"She's got something." Draco said, reaching for Hedwig's foot. She nipped at him and looked at Harry.

"I'll get it." Harry took the small piece of parchment. It read had three words 'midnight muggle side'

Harry read it three times and threw the parchment in the fire. "What was it?" Draco asked.

"Nothing, just a torn piece of parchment." Harry said, I'm not ready to tell Draco about Sirius. "What time will you be here in the morning?" Harry changed the subject.

"Oh, well I told mother I was spending the night out and not to worry if I wasn't home till tomorrow evening. She asked if I had a girlfriend, and told me to be safe about it." they both laughed. "I told her no, I was spending the night with Goyle at his uncle's winter estate. She won't check she doesn't like the Goyle's. I want to be here with you when the Weasley's get here."

"Jealous." Harry muttered, then smiled. "So you were pretty sure then that I wanted the same as you then huh?"

"I knew it, since you were so concerned about me going home to mother." Draco kissed Harry.

"Ok but there is something I need to do tonight and you have to promise that you will stay here, I need to do it on my own." Harry pleaded.

"Keeping secrets already?" Draco said, hurt in his voice.

"No… I mean, yes. But it's not my secret. I'll be able to tell you eventually. Definitely before next summer." Harry said.

"Ok. I'll promise." Draco laid back on the bed. "So what time is your clandestine meeting?"

"Midnight."

Draco sat up on one arm, "What are we gonna do till then?"

. . .

"Harry the Malfoys are dangerous people." Harry and Sirius were sitting in a dark alley a little ways from the Leaky Cauldron. "Be sure he isn't manipulating you."

"I don't think he is, besides do you really think Lucy would let his boy take it so far as to kiss me tonight. Also he is an unregistered animagus, just like you, he told me not even his parents know about it." Harry pleaded. "Sirius, I … it's just … it's weird."

"I get it, foal, first loves can be hard. I had a love like yours once, yes a love, Mooney, he was… Foal, if you trust him. I do. Just lets not tell him about me yet." Sirius looked stern. His tangents are getting shorter.

"If he presses me?" Harry asked, still concerned.

"If he presses tell him I'm an old friend of your father's who just wants to get to know you. That should be satisfactory." Sirius pulled a piece of bread out of one of the pockets in his tattered old coat he was still wearing and began to eat it.

"How are you doing? You still wear that coat and, I could get you some food from Tom, I'll tell him I'm taking it to my room." Harry said, concerned for the still ragged appearance of his godfather.

"I'm fine, foal. I'm comfortable. I've been staying out of the country, I have friends out there. I have a place here in London but it's risky to stay too long here so long as the ministry is out for me. I've had to be careful where I get my food, but it's all worth it, yes worthwhile, you're worth it all, paddy. He really did care… Foal, you are worth a little risk." Sirius took another bite of the bread. "I'm glad you told me about the Malfoy boy. The Weasley's are coming tomorrow so I probably won't be able to chat with you in person again for a long time. You'll be getting on the train Wednesday. I wish I could see you off."

"No!" Harry said a little too loud, "sorry, you need to stay safe. I'll write you when I get to hogwarts, I'll use the school owls." Harry relaxed a little at the look on his godfather's face.

"Harry, you look just like your dad when you are concerned for my safety. Speaking of which I should go, I've dallied too long in one place. I'll look forward to your letter, I expect to hear you are staying out of trouble and all the details about how you are working out this relationship." Sirius patted Harry on the head, "Be safe, foal." and he turned into snuffles and ran off down the alley.