Chapter 5, The Sleepover

After dinner was finished, Narcissa said, "Petunia, I have some important business to attend to, so is it alright if no one makes too much noise on the second floor? I have papers and such that I need to work on in my room, so I need it to be quiet."

"Of course! Boys, I want you to all sleep and hang out down here in the living room instead of in your rooms tonight. Grab sleeping bags and anything else you want to play with because you won't be allowed upstairs after Narcissa begins her work."

Dudley and his friends got up and went running up to Dudley's room to get whatever they wanted, and Draco helped Harry do the dishes and clean up. As they were scrubbing plates, Harry flicked some water into Draco's face. Draco growled and whacked Harry with his sponge, leaving an imprint on his shirt.

"Oh you're asking for it," said Harry as he tackled Draco to the floor. They were wrestling around on the floor when they heard someone cough to get their attention. Harry looked over his shoulder and found Narcissa leaning against the refrigerator with her eyebrow raised.

"Boys you should go upstairs and gather your things before Aunt Petunia closes off the second floor. I'll finish the dishes."

Narcissa slid out her wand from her pant's pocket and whispered an incantation that instantly made the dishes begin to wash, dry, and fly themselves into the cupboard. Draco and Harry slipped past her and ran upstairs, laughing and entering Harry's room.

"Well that could have turned out badly," said Harry as he flopped down on the bed.

"And it was all your fault. What a surprise," drawled Draco as he began picking up his things to bring downstairs.

"I know you liiiked it," said Harry in a singsong voice while rolling up his sleeping bag.

"Of course, who gets to wrestle around in a kitchen with the Chosen One on a daily basis?"

Harry smiled and sat on the rolled up sleeping bag while watching Draco finish packing his bag. It was amazing that they were getting along so well, and it was a shame that they had missed this many years of possibly being friends just because they were born into families on opposite sides of the war.

"Earth to Harry! Come on now you've been smiling at me like a goof for the past couple of minutes, and it's beginning to make me nervous," Draco said, grabbing Harry's arm and lifting him up, "We've got to head downstairs, so get your sleeping bag and let's go."

Harry lifted his sleeping bag onto his shoulders and they made their way downstairs. Narcissa's door was shut and Aunt Petunia was giving instructions. Harry rolled his eyes as they entered the living room.

"… and don't break anything! Dudley knows where the snacks are and you can watch T.V, but don't turn the volume up too loud. When Harry and Draco get here just tell them where they can sleep. Okay? Goodnight," she gave Dudley a hug and a kiss and then turned around to find Harry and Draco standing there.

"Oh, hello. The boys can explain the rules to you. Have fun and don't stay up to late," Aunt Petunia smiled at Draco, ignored Harry, and walked upstairs.

Draco put down his stuff by the couch and Dudley's friend's were setting up the Play Station, hooking it up to the living room's T.V.

"Harry, I need a word with you," said Uncle Vernon as he entered the living room.

Harry gulped and walked into the kitchen with his Uncle following close behind. As soon as they were out of sight, Uncle Vernon put his hand over Harry's mouth and slammed him against the cupboards, making Harry wince with the pain that shot up his back.

"Potter, if any of Dudley's friends come running to me with pig tails attached to their bottoms, I will murder you and I swear by it," Uncle Vernon hissed venomously as his beady little eyes bore into Harry's.

Harry, remembering Dudley running off after Hagrid planted a very suitable pigtail on his bottom on the night he found out he was a wizard, let out an involuntary giggle.

That was a big mistake.

"You find this funny boy? You want to know what I find funny?"

Uncle Vernon threw Harry down to the ground, and Harry landed on his arm. Harry had to bite his lip to keep from yelling out in pain as Uncle Vernon harshly kicked him in the shin. Harry grasped his leg and looked up at Uncle Vernon's scrunched up, purple tinted face.

He whispered, spit flying everywhere as he spoke, "Mark my words boy. Do anything your kind would do, anything that a FREAK would do, and you will not see a meal for the next week!"

With that, Uncle Vernon grabbed Harry's arm, lifted him off the ground, and leaned him against the refrigerator. Then, he stepped out of the kitchen, smiled and waved goodnight to the others, and then he waddled upstairs.

Draco came walking into the kitchen and gently led Harry out of the kitchen, giving him a sympathetic smile. Harry felt embarrassed and shrugged Draco off. Finding his balance, Harry walked gingerly on his leg into the living room.

Travis smirked and said, "Well, well, well, if it isn't our favorite punching bag and his friend. What kinds of fun games should we play tonight?"

"Maybe Beat the Shit out of Pothead," replied Henry while cracking his knuckles.

"My, my, your games are always so boring," said Draco as he gracefully slid onto the couch and stared at the ceiling.

"You've never tried it before," piped in Steve.

"Maybe he needs a little… convincing," said Travis, grinning wickedly as he walked towards Harry.

"Hold it! I've got a better idea. If I beat all three of you at Play Station, then Harry can go free without any of you doing anything to him. But if any of you beat me, then you can decide our fate for the night," suggested Draco as he sat up on the couch.

"Doesn't sound like such a bad idea…" trailed Henry as Travis nodded.

"WAIT!" said Dudley firmly, "We've got to discuss this first. Give us five minutes."

With that, the three of them retreated to the kitchen to discuss their chances of winning.

"Are you MENTAL?!" whispered Harry as he stood up and ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room, "They play with that thing every day, and I wouldn't be surprised if they all CREAMED you."

"Well if you hadn't been too busy moping on your sleeping bag the other day, you would have heard me tell you that I CREAMED DUDLEY at his own game. I'm a natural."

Harry looked taken aback, "You have no idea how upset I was the other day!"

Draco stood up, "Of course I didn't know how upset you were! If you can recall we weren't on the best of terms and you wouldn't tell me."

Harry glared at him and made a move to go toward the back door, but Draco climbed over the couch and caught his arm, saying, "Harry, stop. I'm sorry if I offended you, but you need to understand that I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong. Please, just talk to me."

Harry looked at him with pained emerald eyes and Draco couldn't help but realize what was bothering him. After the Tri-Wizard tournament, Cedric's death had hit Harry hard. They had been inseparable, and Harry must have been having nightmares about the incident. Now, no one was there to comfort him about it except for Draco.

"Harry, is this about Cedric?"

Harry looked down, his jaw tensing and replied, "Yeah, it is. It's just been weird knowing… oh hell do you really even care?"

"Yes! Harry, I care a lot about you. I can tell you still have your doubts about me, and it's driving me up the wall! I'm here for you Harry. Trust me."

Harry felt as if a huge load had been taken off his back. Knowing that someone was there, right that second for him was such a relief. Ron and Hermione were able to provide all of the comfort they could on the last few days before school ended, but Draco was different. Ever since they had become friends, all Harry wanted to do was just hang out with and be around Draco. Harry needed Draco.

"Thank you," said Harry quietly as he stepped forward and embraced Draco.

Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's waist and let Harry rest his head on his shoulder, and Draco felt as if a load came off of his back as well. Harry finally trusted him, and now he had a real friend. He had a true friend that would listen to his problems without judgment; not like Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle who were only his friends because he was the "Slytherin Prince."

After a minute or two past, Draco gently pulled away from Harry and said, "I would have never believed anyone if they told me that I would hug Harry Potter in my future."

Harry broke into a grin and then turned toward the kitchen, replying, "I wonder what they're up to. I know it's been way past five minutes."

Both Harry and Draco tip-toed to the edge of the kitchen, and when they peaked in they found Dudley and his friends surrounded by snacks; Travis asleep on the floor and Henry gently breathing as his head rest against the refrigerator. Dudley and Steve were dozing off against the cupboards under the sink.

"Well it looks like Dudley told them that they had no chance of winning, so they decided to eat comfort food to soften the emotional blow," concluded Draco as the two walked back to the living room.

"You have to admit, it must be hard for boys that spend most of their spare time playing these video games to be beaten by a rookie. The emotional stress you caused could be quite fatal judging by their newly developed eating habits and stress levels."

"I'm looking forward to the funeral. Invite me to the party following, would you?"

Harry laughed quietly and rolled out his sleeping bag. Draco lay down next to him and they both stared at the living room ceiling.

"You know, there is a spare couch if you ever get uncomfortable," said Harry as he tilted his head toward Draco.

Draco looked back at him and replied, "I'm comfortable right here, Harry."

Okay everyone, I hope you liked this chapter! Please send me reviews and let me know if you have any ideas I could add into my story for later chapters. Chapter 6 will be up soon!