Scarhead chapter 16

Draco, at the moment, was wondering why Harry hadn't shown up to save him yet.

The scene seemed frozen, people on their way to greet the new arrivals stopped mid-stride. It wasn't anger that caused the tension but mostly the shock at literally seeing a ghost appear in your living room. Still Draco still didn't like the attention that it brought and was grateful when Damian dramatically fell out of the fireplace. Draco caught him easily and Damian raised his eyebrows at the downright awkwardness of the part of the family that hadn't been informed of the situation.

"Everyone," Hermione stepped forward with an overly-cheery smile. "This is Harry's most recent tenant and the new addition to the family, Draco."

At the sound of his name, Draco slightly flinched and Damian stepped forward just the tiniest bit to block him.

"Aha!" George raised his voice and bounded forward. "You're just in time."

Fred must've had a change of heart because when he bounded right up beside George and smiled at Draco, there wasn't a hint of malice. "We're going down to the pond."

George grabbed Draco and Fred grabbed Damian and went to drag them outside. George grinned at Lexie. "All kids follow Uncle Gred and Forge! We're going to the pond!" He passed Hermione. "You explain it to them. I'll take care of him." Hermione smiled gratefully and went to gather the adults who had no clue what was going on.

She sat Bill and Fleur, holding her baby girl, down, then Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Percy had the story from Oliver, Charlie was away, Fred and George knew, Remus knew, Ron knew and Ginny got the idea. So that left close friends Luna and Neville, who were considered family at this point.

"Hermione." Neville said slowly. "Was that who I thought it was?"

Hermione nodded. "Yep. That's Draco Malfoy."

"But that iz impozzible!" Fleur exclaimed. "He iz dead!"

"Let the girl explain." Mr. Weasley said patiently. "This sounds fascinating."

Hermione sighed. "Draco was found about six months ago on the run from German Aurors. He was mute, feral and very much alive. Harry took him in and has been healing ever since."

"He's a werewolf" Luna said happily. Bill subconsciously ran his hand over his scarred face.

(A/N Yes Bill still has his scars even though in this story the second half of sixth year never happened. How he got them will be explained. Also things to clear up since someone sent me a rude review, Draco never tried to poison Ron or curse the necklace BECAUSE HE WAS TOO BUSY TRYING TO PLOT HIS OWN DEMISE. PAY ATTENTION.)

"How did you know that?" Ginny asked.

"She knows the signs." Neville said. "She's the Care of Magical Creatures teacher and she's special. She can tell."

"Wait," Bill shook his head. "How many people know about this?"

Hermione wondered exactly how many times she would be forced to explain this tale. "Yes Draco's a werewolf, and Fred, George, and Ron found out this week. Ginny and Remus knew about a month after he arrived. Oliver and Percy knew about two months ago and the rest of you found out five minutes ago. And NO ONE outside this family is going to know."

"Why not?" Mr. Weasley asked. "He's famous!"

"Arthur." Mrs. Weasley finally spoke up. "He's famous for… the Burning." She said the last part hushed. "And he is with Harry. It might not be a good idea to bring him out into public,"

"That iz true." Fleur nodded. "De paparazzi would tear him apart."

"Is there anything we shouldn't say or do around him?" Bill asked. "Like how we don't mention werewolves around Seb or argue around Niki?"

"Harry doesn't know the complete story. He just knows not to mention Draco's past or his family. Also avoid the question of how he was turned. Honestly, if you want to know everything, you might want to ask Damian. The two are really close."

"Hermione dear," Mrs. Weasley started slowly. "Are you sure having him here is entirely safe?"

Ron shifted and sighed. "I thought the same thing too mum. I've spent time with him and while he's not my best friend, he's different and he seems to care about Damian, Lexie and Niki. I think that we should trust that Harry knows what he's doing."

"I second that," Ginny said. "I've only met him once, but he was sweet. He was afraid of me to be honest."

Oliver shrugged. "He seems likable enough and everyone knows; if Niki trusts him then he is a good person."

Neville noticed that Luna was deep in thought. "Luna?"

The woman blinked and turned to Bill. "One doesn't like to be reminded of dreams." And she stood up to get a pitcher of lemonade and to join the children at the pond.

"What did she mean by that?" Bill asked.

Neville looked worried. "That did sound rather ominous. I don't think this is going to end well."

Mrs. Weasley stood up too. "Ominous or not, I have a meal to cook. Do I have any volunteers to help?"

Suddenly, everyone had somewhere to be.

ScarheadScarhead

Damian was having a lot of fun laughing at Fred and George. Lexie shouted over her shoulder from the far side of the tiny pond. "He's not over here!" Teddy called from close to the trail to the beach. "Not here either!" Niki stuck her head out of a bush and shook her head.

"Blimey." George looked at Fred. "We lost 'im"

"Well it was your idea to play hide 'n seek with a man whose been living in the woods for a good part of his life." Damian said reasonably.

"It would help if you gave us a hint with your vamp powers." Fred argued.

"I've been banned from playing cuz of my vamp powers. So I get to sit and laugh."

George cupped his hand over his mouth and shouted into the trees. "Come on out Draco, you win!"

"I do?" Draco asked from right above George's head.

George screamed and jumped nearly hitting Fred. Fred started to laugh. "Wicked!"

Draco was lounging on a thin tree branch about twenty feet in the air. You wouldn't be able to see him unless you looked straight up. He looked remarkably like the Cheshire cat. Or maybe just a really smug wolf.

Draco climbed down swiftly and hung upside down on the last branch to George's head level, his sweatshirt hood outlining his blonde hair. "That was fun!" he said grinning. "Can we do it again?"

Teddy scrambled over with Niki. "Auntie Luna's coming!" As promised the blonde appeared, Lexie and Dog trailing behind her. "Ah" she said upon seeing Draco who was still comfortably upside down. "Are you sure you are not part wibblesprout? They are excellent at seeing the world in a different perspective."

Draco seemed unfazed. "If I was part wibblesprout I wouldn't have to hang upside down to see the world differently."

Luna smiled brightly and didn't say anything. She turned to the twins. "Molly's starting to make dinner and it's alright if you want to go back up." Draco flipped and landed on the ground with ease, yet his worried frown said it all.

"I want to see Victoire!" Lexie said excited at the prospect of holding Bill and Fleur's daughter. "She's almost two isn't she?"

"What about Draco?" Damian said hesitantly.

Fred suddenly smiled. "I don't know…"

George pointed at the trail to the Burrow. "I think he'll be okay."

Draco had Teddy's hand on one side and Niki's on the other with Dog taking a ride on his thin shoulder. Together they walked up the hill to the doorstep. Draco picked up Niki with ease and took a deep breath.

He had had a lot of time to think while the others were looking for him. He thought about that kiss. Mostly about how he acted. He had this burst of confidence and then ran like a scared Cabbit. He realized that he needed to be more mature, even with what he'd gone through. He kept saying how brave he was going to be, how strong; then at the first sign of danger he'd turn and run. He didn't want to be coddled like a child and when he got scared expect to be saved. It was selfish and shallow and he truly wanted to be strong, which meant not getting knocked down every time he got hit.

Take every angry gesture, unspoken shock and harsh word and then proving that he wasn't the person everyone thought he was. Which meant walking into a danger zone with no Harry or Damian or George or Remus. No Hermione or Lexie.

Just him and Niki as a last resort defense. He was still Slytherin. Just because he was strong didn't mean he had to be stupid.

He opened the door, Niki on his hip, Dog on his shoulder and Teddy on his heels, with dirt on his cheek and a twig in his hair. He walked in, outwardly calm as could be. He waved to Hermione who was playing cards with Neville, ignoring any eyes that may or may not be on him. "Hi Draco." Hermione waved back. "Did you guys have fun?"

"We played hide and seek!" Teddy supplied helpfully. "It was wicked! Draco won cuz he hid in a tree and was like hundred feet in the air!"

Draco set Niki down and sat next to Hermione as Dog slinked down onto the table. Neville blinked and asked hesitantly, "A hundred feet?"

Draco smiled. "More or less." He bit his lip. "You're…"

Neville folded his cards and offered his hand. "Neville Longbottom,"

Draco shook it back. "Draco; and I know you're name. I was going to say that you look different."

Hermione took a twig out of his hair. "So do you. What does Damian call you? Wildman? You certainly aren't proving him wrong climbing trees."

Draco shrugged apologetically as Niki came up to the table. "Uncle Nev?" Neville smiled. "Ah, I know what you're looking for." He reached under the table and pulled out a brilliant white and green flower. "A Dragonlily for the princess," Niki giggled and ran off with her flower but nearly ran into Fleur who was carrying a tray of lemonade.

In an instant, Draco was up and caught the tray balancing it as Fleur got her feet settled and went on a tangent in French. "Pourquoi je n'ai jamais! c'était un peu trop près, je vous remercie, je vous remercie!"

She then, realizing her mistake, repeated her thanks in English. "Why I never! That was too close, thank you, thank you!" Draco paused and replied slowly in French. "Vous êtes la bienvenue mlle. Je vous prie de m'excuser pour mon français n'a pas été utilisé depuis de nombreuses années," You are welcome miss. Please excuse me, for my French has not been used in many years.

Fleur's eyes instantly brightened as she set down the lemonade. "You speak my language! It is refreshing to speak to one so fluent."

He was saved from clumsily replying when they heard singing from outside. Percy, reading next to Oliver on the couch, closed his eyes and groaned. Oliver patted him on the shoulder as the singing got louder. Draco winced at the off key notes and just barely refrained from covering his sensitive ears as Fred and George burst in at the highest and loudest note, Lexie and Luna singing along. Damian, Draco noticed, had no problem covering his ears from the offending tribute to Celestina Warbeck.

Draco sat back down at the table and stroked Dog's head as the fresh smell of baked bread floated from the warm kitchen. He blinked in surprise as a glass of lemonade was placed in front of him. "Thank you" he said to the redhead –Ginny he remembered- who sat across from him, next to Neville. "Don't look so surprised," she scolded good naturedly. "You deserve it since you saved that whole tray. That was a good catch." He shrugged and took a sip at the almost too sweet drink. Ginny smiled. "I'm going to have to cut you hair again, you look wild."

Draco fingered his hair and rolled his eyes. "Why does everyone say I'm wild? I'm house-trained, thank you very much."

Neville gave him a lopsided grin. Since when did he get hot? Was Draco's first thought. His second was Dear Salazar I really am gay. His third thought was but Harry's hotter.

Hermione leaned over and quickly wiped the dirt off of his cheek. "You just keep thinking that Draco. I'll believe it when you come in the house without dirt, twigs, or holes in your denims."

Draco raised his eyebrows. "You don't yell at them." He argued pointing at Fred and George who had trailed mud into the house.

"BOYS!" Mrs. Weasley yelled. "You two are almost thirty years old! At least pretend to be responsible and clean up the mess you made of my carpet!"

Hermione smiled. "I don't have to."

Ron suddenly strolled by and kissed Hermione on the cheek. "Ah I love Saturdays." He sighed. "Absolute chaos." Hermione laughed and she whispered humorously to avoid Damian hearing. "Just wait until next week when it's Damian's birthday party. We're going to have about double the kids."

"Speaking of kids." Neville laughed. "I wonder how our Harry's doing trying to keep track of them on his 'little shopping trip,'"

Molly Weasley chuckled as she passed by with a plate of sandwiches. "Oh I'm sure he'll do fine. I've done it and lived, so I'm sure he can too. Food is served by the way." There was a canopy of sound as everyone followed the smell of food out into the field to the long table just managing to hold the feast up. Draco found himself in between Damian and surprisingly a bloke who may be called Percy. He was across from a scarred redheaded he may or may not have seen before and the blonde French woman with her child. Draco thought back to the stories Harry had told over chess and frowned when he couldn't remember their names.

He leaned over to Damian on his left and got his attention. He flicked his eyes and just barely shrugged his shoulders. Damian flicked his wand and shoved a piece of paper in Draco's hands under the table. Bill and Fleur sounded right to him and apparently the one next to him was Percy. He was incredibly proud for getting that right.

Still he tried to avoid conversation and gorged himself on the (bloody fantastic) food. It was only when he and Bill leaned over the table at the same time did Draco's sensitive nose catch the faint scent of the One Who Ruined Everything from Bill's scars. The same scent that clung to his own scars like a festering wound.

Greyback

Draco dropped his fork with a loud clatter that caught almost everyone's attention. His chest seized up as he stared at Bill in mounting horror brought upon by vicious flashbacks of full moon nights and crimson grass.

Damian snapped his fingers in front of Draco's face breaking the stare. "Oi! Wildman, snap out of it; your eyes are glowing."

Draco looked at him and blinked, trying to ignore how his fingers trembled as he picked up his fork. "They are? I didn't know they did that." He refused to look across the table but did notice everyone staring at him and he blushed a deep red. "I'm fine really. Something startled me that's all."

Everyone went back to their meal and Draco spent the rest of the time distracting himself by inhaling the chocolate raspberry trifle and talking to Percy about 221B's latest case. Percy seemed delighted by his input and even conjured a book to write notes in while Oliver rolled his eyes and chastised Draco for encouraging him.

It was only after; when everyone had moved inside to the sitting room for the afternoon did Draco approach Bill. "May I ask you something?" "Of course" Bill replied glancing at his wife and excusing himself.

Draco sat on the edge of a chair in the corner. "I know it's rude to ask," he started biting his lip. "but I was wondering how you got your scars."

Bill nodded almost thoughtful, but Draco saw the clenching of his hands. "I thought so; do they bother you?"

"No." Draco said with venom as he finally found the strength to meet his eyes. "but the one who put them there does. I can smell the imprint of him. The scent never fades, I should know." His voice was filled with bitter and worn out hatred.

Bill sighed and closed his eyes. "You were bitten by Greyback."

"You were lucky you weren't." It was a fact.

"I assume Harry doesn't know."

"He will now."

Bill opened his eyes. "About a month after Harry killed You-Know-Who, the Order went on a raid to capture five remaining followers. It was three days before the full moon but no one was suspecting Greyback to be there. Everyone thought he had burned or ran. Despite being outnumbered he unsheathed his claws and slashed me. I was too close. He escaped."

Bill leveled his gaze at Draco and said smoothly, "About two years ago, a wolf pack reported a lone wolf attacking and killing Greyback before forfeiting his New-Alpha status and disappearing… That would have been a year before you were found by Aurors in a completely different country," Bill said his demeanor betraying nothing.

Draco smiled very slowly and his eyes glowed like sunlight through a sheet of ice. "Thank you for telling me your story, that's all I wanted to know."

Draco walked over to where Damian was playing chess with Ron, and left Bill in the corner, his eyes unblinking and certain.

ScarheadScarhead

Harry collapsed on the couch too tired to even attempt to take his glasses off. It had been fantastic to see the rest of his kids again, but incredibly exhausting. He wasn't going to survive the summer, he was sure.

The busy day had left him little time to think about the Kiss That He Most Certainly Did Not Want to Have Repeated. Now however, with nothing to occupy his thoughts he finally decided that he would do nothing. Both of them needed to focus on Draco's healing. That meant no encouraging the werewolf. He was not going to take advantage of Draco's seven-year-long-pent-up-emotions. Harry was the first thing to show him affection in years. Draco wasn't in love, he was in lust Harry was certain. He was unstable as it was, so the best thing to do would be to pretend it never happened and get ready for the party next week.

Harry had also chosen not to tell anyone about Draco's birthday. It was too close and no one knew him well enough. Harry just hoped that Draco liked his present though. He deserved it. And Damian was going to be ecstatic, because the Ministry had finally gotten that bloody bill passed and with the Boy-Who-Lived pulling a few strings… Harry smiled and sighed happily, basking in that one rare moment of silence the empty house brought.

And he fell asleep like that: sprawled on the couch, enjoying the simple pleasures, and regretting almost absolutely nothing.

Almost.