Author's Note: Would it kill Draco to be nice to Harry's friends? Maybe...

This is going to be a really embarrassing chapter for him. ;-)

oOoOoOo

The Bodyguard

Chapter 12: Fashion Victim

"Harry! We got your owls about the Death Eaters and Draco Malfoy," called Ron, his feet thundering up the stairs. "Did you REALLY defend that bastard Malfoy at the Wizengamot?"

Draco tensed and a line appeared between his eyebrows but he said nothing. He folded his arms defensively, and stepped back, as though he dearly wanted to hide before anyone saw him in Ron's old dress robes, but he had nowhere to run.

"I'm fine Ron, and watch what you say," said Harry, feeling uncomfortable.

"Why-?" Ron began. He and Hermione burst into the room. Both looked like they'd been wrestling merpeople. Their clothing was torn, and damp, and they had seaweed in their hair but they were beaming with relief at seeing Harry again at last, alive and well. Harry grinned back, but saw their smiles slip as they caught sight of Draco over his shoulder.

"Bloody hell, it's you, Malfoy!" exclaimed Ron, in a far from welcoming voice. His freckled face became cruel as he saw what Draco was wearing and he howled with laughter. "And don't you look LOVELY?"

"Your Mum lent Draco some of YOUR clothes, Ron," said Harry pointedly, feeling more uncomfortable than ever.

Ron wasn't taken aback at all. "I must send Mum flowers. I'd forgotten how awful my old dress robes were." He sniggered mockingly. "Mmm, Malfoy, you look like you're wearing a little girl's dress. You need a matching bow in your hair."

Draco was clearly itching to reply, but he said nothing. The line between his eyebrows deepened.

Hermione kept her face composed and nudged Ron with her elbow in a futile attempt to stop his jeering laughter. "Hullo, Draco. How are you?" she said calmly.

"Hullo, Miss Granger. I'm fine, thank you. How are you?" said Draco in a very polite, and cold voice. Ron snorted with laughter.

"Call me Hermione." She was looking Draco up and down, from his hastily buttoned robe to his flushed cheeks, curiosity written all over her face.

"So Harry kept you out of Azkaban then, Malfoy?" asked Ron, still snorting.

"Clearly..." said Draco, with a contemptuous look at Ron. But then his hand went nervously up to his throat. He frowned at Ron, obviously trying to look dignified, despite the robe.

"What was your sentence, Draco?" said Hermione.

Now Harry saw her taking in his own burning cheeks and shifty eyes. "It was this," he said, taking the crumpled up Vow out of his pocket. He did not miss Draco's look of apprehension as he handed it to her.

Neither did Hermione. "What is it?" she asked, glancing at the scroll then sidelong at Draco.

"Some kind of Unbreakable Vow of obedience to me that the Wizengamot made him take," said Harry. He shuddered as he remembered the flame. "It's horrible. If he doesn't obey me, he gets burned and strangled."

"Cool!" said Ron instantly.

"Ron!" Harry and Hermione shouted. Ron looked taken aback.

"So if Draco has to obey you, you can't have been fighting just now?" said Hermione, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

"What? No. We haven't been fighting. Why'd you ask?" said Harry in confusion.

"You both look a bit flushed," said Hermione candidly.

"Oh, really," said Harry, suddenly flustered and looking at the floor. "No, we've been getting on fine..."

Draco stared at Ron's Cannons poster as if it were the most interesting thing he'd ever seen.

Hermione watched them a moment but didn't comment. Instead, she started to read the Vow. Almost immediately, her eyes widened and she looked up again - straight at Draco. Harry saw that the Slytherin had turned away from the Chudley Cannons poster and was watching Hermione with mingled desperation and fear, as if he wanted to tear the Vow out of her hands before she found out what it said. Hermione frowned, then to Harry's surprise, she gave Draco a reassuring look and carried on reading.

But Draco did not look reassured.

"Harry, you wouldn't believe what we've just been through. We've got so much to tell you," said Ron.

"Did you get ... get that ... thing ... you were looking for?" Harry only just remembered to censor his words around Draco. Hermione and Ron had been seeking one of Voldemort's Horcruxes - Hufflepuff's cup - in a cave near a seaside village in Cornwall and it was probably best, Harry thought, to keep such vital information secret.

Both Ron and Hermione glanced at Draco as if they were thinking the same thing.

"Push off, Malfoy," Ron snarled. "We have private things to discuss and we don't need a sneaking Slytherin around."

"Ron, lay off him," said Harry crossly. Hermione looked up briefly from the Vow and glared at Ron.

Ron glanced at both of them, looking nonplussed.

"We can talk downstairs," said Harry. "Draco can stay up here. He was just going to get some sleep anyway." He could feel Draco's eyes on him. "Is that all right, Draco?" he found himself adding, with a touch of guilt. He saw Draco look at the three of them, standing close together, dearest friends from the first year. The Slytherin stood apart, looking surly and alone and gave a shrug.

"Have a good sleep, Draco. Please join us when you feel rested," said Hermione politely, taking Ron's elbow and escorting, nearly dragging, him out of the room. She was still holding the Vow and Draco watched her walk away with it with such a miserable and despondent look on his face that Harry felt a rush of sympathy.

What must it be like for him? Harry thought. How would I feel if this situation was reversed and I was stuck with Draco, Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle? Harry bent down and opened his trunk. "Look, I'm sorry about the robe, Draco," he said quietly. "I'll get you some decent clothes to wear." He rummaged in his trunk and pulled out a clean pair of jeans, that had always been too big for him, a t-shirt and a baseball hat. "These should fit."

"Muggle clothes?" said Draco, backing away in alarm.

"They look really good on. Much better than that robe," Harry tried to reason with him. He thought about asking to borrow Ron's more attractive robes for Draco, but he decided Ron would never agree.

Draco glanced down at the robe, as if trying to decide which was worse - jeans or a frayed robe that looked like a dress.

"You're welcome to go through my trunk and wear anything you like. Maybe you can make my robes longer with a spell?" said Harry.

"Spells don't work well on clothes," said Draco glumly. He pulled at one of the threads hanging from his frayed cuffs. "Let me guess, Ron used a Severing Charm on this?"

"Yes, he did."

"See what I mean?" Draco sighed, then yawned hugely.

"Get some sleep then come and join us, Draco," said Harry, thinking that Hermione, as usual, had the right idea. "We'll be downstairs. Give me a shout if you need anything."

"There actually is something I really need. Could I please have a private word with Hermione? Right now?" said Draco.

Harry stared at him. Draco was paler than usual. "Sure," he said slowly, wondering why Draco wanted to speak so urgently to the girl he had always ignored or called a Mudblood. "I'll ask her to pop up for a quick chat when I get downstairs."

"Thanks, Harry," murmured Draco, his eyes half shut. He sank down on Harry's bed, and put his face despairingly into his hands.

Harry turned to leave, thought better of it, and patted him comfortingly on the shoulder before he left the room. But Draco did not look up.

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: Please, please, please leave a review. I'd love to know what you think so far!

Replies to reviews:

Wayra: Thanks! Ron's robes were too good a potential source of Draco angst for me to pass up. Potter's Wifey: Draco and Harry have certainly noticed each other in a way they haven't before. Ron and Hermione have been busy too. We'll find out what they've been doing soon. Kit turned Mighty: What a great review! Thank you very much. It's reviews like that which make me want to keep writing. Another update is on the way... Crowley Black: It's going to get hotter and heavier in the next few chapters. I'm curious how hot and heavy I can legally make it on FF. Danish Pastry 28: Shouldn't it a good thing that they end quickly? It would suck if everyone was saying, "Noooo! When will it end!" ;-) wizli: Draco's a true Slytherin. He's ambitious and he goes after what he wants - or who he wants. (I'm working on a later chapter where we will see Draco act out his greatest desire - it's a bit kinky! ;-) He's Potter's bitch, all right. But would he really want anybody to know how vulnerable he is to his enemy? Yellowwolf: I hope the alerts don't die again while I'm writing this. It's incentive to finish fast. ProperT: Draco and Harry's hug was too fluffy? Maybe, but I couldn't resist! ;-) Katharina-B: Draco's going to have a lot more people reacting to him soon. emeraud.silver: Thanks! The Earth Mystic: What a lovely review! Thank you. That was very encouraging. I wonder if I can fit some real topless waiters into this story? ;-) Novemberbaby1983: Thanks! Lots more planned... DestinyEntwinements: Good strange. ;-) ItsaMiracle: How old are Harry and Draco? Well, that could be a loaded question, depending where you're from. Let's just say - legal! ;-)