Chapter Twelve: The Dursleys again

They'd done so much already, but their adventurous day was far from over. Harry needed new normal clothes - no robes - and they were best bought in Muggle London. On their way they stopped for a rest at the ice cream parlor that Diagon Alley harboured, Florean Fortisque' Parlour.

Snape and Harry were sitting at a table sipping their tea, already eating their ice-cream, while Malfoy still had not decided what he wanted and he had to wait twice as long for his special creations. When he finally had ordered his ice cream, he said:

"Excuse me; I need to go to the toilet." and disappeared into the building. Snape took advantage of Malfoy's absence and told Harry what he had wanted to say all along.

"I am not happy with the promise you have made to Draco. You need not have offered to bare your soul to tempt him to cease his tantrum", Snape said quietly.

"I know, but I think it'll be okay. I want to clear the air with him. He's seen enough to start guessing at things anyway. I'd rather have him know about this summer than have him start making up ridiculous scenarios."

Harry replied more confidently than he really felt. He wouldn't admit to Snape that he was scared about how Malfoy would react to the news, and that he had to recount them once again.

"I am very fond of my godson, but he is capable of being more than a little insensitive." Snape said, as if reading his mind. Harry was surprised. It sounded strangely like an apology. He stirred his ice cream absent mindedly while Snape looked on.

"I have seen the extent of your injuries and I have seen the toll they have taken on you. I wish you would reconsider." Snape told Harry quietly.

Harry nodded thoughtfully and changed topics.

"What about my OWLs?"

"I will go to the ministry this evening and get them while you are talking to Draco. Think about how much you really want him to know." Snape cautioned.

Draco returned before Harry had a chance to respond, effectively ending the conversation there and then.

Now that he had a chance to think about his decision rationally, he wondered whether he had made a mistake. After all, Malfoy wasn't known for being the caring and understanding type. On the other hand, he couldn't forget the way he'd looked in the photo Colin had taken of him. He wanted to believe that there was another side to him, but he hoped he wasn't making a mistake.

The last part of their shopping trip involved looking in stores in Muggle London. In typical Malfoy style, Draco decided he didn't want to go to a muggle area. He wouldn't even change his mind when Harry reminded him of his promise to tell him everything that had happened to him over the summer.

"You promised me you would tell me what brought you to my godfather's doorstep if I settled for buying inferior ink. I did that. What else are you prepared to give me to walk among the muggles?" Draco demanded.

"Draco Malfoy you will stop behaving like a spoiled child or I will make things very unpleasant for you." Snape hissed. Harry could hear Draco gulp.

Snape's threat worked. Draco became instantly agreeable and Harry could buy his new wardrobe with the professional help of Malfoy who gave excellent advice when it came to what would suit him and which colours could be matched and which should not. Snape sighed at his fussiness more than once but let him have his way.

Malfoy even paid attention to the sometimes horrendous prices, so that Snape's money wouldn't be depleted completely.

Harry wasn't sure he would be able to handle having shop assistants touching him and fussing about him. He was still nervous to be about other people, but as it turned out, Malfoy was the only person who touched him. In fact, Malfoy made sure that he was the only person who touched him. In between looking about the store for outfits, he and Snape managed to keep the shop assistants from smothering Harry, who was extremely grateful to them.

He only started to become a little whiny because his feet started to hurt, but that wasn't surprising since Malfoy dragged them from one clothes store to the next until Harry felt like he'd walked from one end of London to the other. Malfoy was in his element.

Finally, Snape put a stop to it. It was getting quite late, although the sun was still shining low at the sky.

"Draco. We need not visit all of the clothing shops in London today. We can leave some for another day."

"The sun's still out. What time is it?" Harry asked.

"It's only about six o'clock," Draco replied, looking at his designer label watch.

"Can we go to McDonalds? I've never had the chance to eat there, but I've always wanted to." Harry pleaded.

"Absolutely not. You should eat something better than that scrap. It is not healthy and you need nutritious food. You are still too skinny." Snape said resolutely.

"I know, but it's really tasty. You should try it, too. What do you say, Malfoy?" Harry turned to him expectantly.

"I don't say anything!" Malfoy said rather forcefully. He looked tired and Harry was just a little pleased that Draco had worn himself out while he'd dragged Harry across halfway across London.

Harry's still blind, so maybe you should say Draco sounded tired.

"Please, Professor." Harry begged imploringly.

"Laures, stop begging like a dog! I can't stand it." Snape snarled. Clearly, he was tired from the long day, too. His patience was short and he was in no mood to argue about such petty things, so he gave in.

"We will go to this damned McDonald's. But after that I have to go somewhere and you will come with me. Draco may accompany us."

They had fun at McDonald's. Snape muttered non-stop about the poor quality of the food and the service. Malfoy laughed at the "stupid Muggles" and the funny objects like umbrellas, cell phones and cars. He had done so all throughout the day.

Harry didn't know what he was letting himself in for when he'd asked to go to McDonalds. Malfoy had no idea how to order or what to choose. He had no idea what a "McChicken", or "Coca Cola" was. Snape was slightly more informed about Muggles, but still needed to ask Harry to quietly explain the menu to him, which wasn't an easy task as he and Malfoy kept laughing at the funny names of the food. Even so, Harry wasn't sure he was the best person to explain the menu as he'd never even been to a McDonalds. His knowledge came from listening to Dudley brag about the different foods he'd eaten every time he went to McDonalds.

In the end, Snape ordered their food, largely because Malfoy had a difficult time saying the words without laughing and they settled themselves at a quiet table in the corner.

Harry savoured his meal, even though Snape and Malfoy wouldn't stop talking and laughing.

Snape paid for all, complaining about how expensive this was. He had to admit that the food tasted good, however. Malfoy seemed to like his "McChicken", too, but he was only grousing about having to eat with his fingers and that they were all sticky from the mayonnaise.

When it was nearing seven o'clock Snape hurried them to the station at King's Cross. Snape bought the tickets and Harry assumed that they would be heading back to the school, so it was quite a surprise when they got off the train in Surrey.

Snape had anticipated that Harry would tense at that name and even Malfoy noticed it, though he didn't understand why.

Snape placed his arm around Harry's shoulders, trying to reassure him and Malfoy walked on the other side of Harry, giving him an extra feeling of security. Harry appreciated Snape's gesture, as it had been Malfoy that led him all day. He soon became tired from following Snape's large strides, so Malfoy supported him instead while Snape walked ahead.

He shivered in dread as he realised where they were going. Snape led them to a Taxi stand and he took the front seat, letting Draco and Harry share the back seat.

His wand was really important and he had to get it from Dudley's second bedroom. Harry had been able to hide that under the floorboards. His precious photos had not been under them, because he was looking at them one night when the Dursleys burst into the room and took the album from him with his other things.

The trip to Privet Drive was not a long one and before Harry knew it, Snape was paying the driver and they were getting out of the car. Harry silently pleaded that he didn't have to enter that damned house ever again.

"Come on. Let's get it over with. I don't want to be here any longer than necessary…whatever the reason we are here." Malfoy drawled, leading Harry to the house.

"Do I have to go in with you? Can't I wait here?" Harry begged in a very shaky voice.

"If you must, stay here with Draco. Where did you hide your things?" Harry could hear the anger underlining his tone. He guessed that it was directed at the Dursleys rather than at him, because Snape stressed the word hide.

"Upstairs in Dudleys second bedroom. There's a loose floorboard under the bed. They should be there... the room should be easy to find. The door has padlocks and a cat flap." He described the room haltingly. Just thinking about it brought back bad memories that he never wanted to remember. He was breathing heavily and his knees felt weak. He was desperately clinging to Malfoys arm, so he wouldn't fall.

He heard Snape leave and knock on the door. Malfoy was obviously catching up on the events as he led Harry away from number four.

Harry was lost in his memories and worked himself up into a shaking mess. In fact, he was shaking so badly that Malfoy had to ease him down to sit on the curb. Then Malfoy sat down beside him and tried to calm Harry which failed miserably. Still grabbing Malfoy's robes desperately, Harry cried, hiding his face in the folds of the clothes.

Draco was truly at a loss what to do with the frightened boy, especially, because he had never been one to show emotion and to help others.

Suddenly Harry heard voices from a past that he thought he'd left behind him when he had landed, bloodied, weak and dying, on Severus' front door

He knew those voices all too well and all of the anger and hate and fear and terror that those people - who dared to call themselves his relatives - made him feel, broke free of their tenuous restraints and spilled over.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Malfoy asked, scared that something had happened to Laures. He made some small, but extremely clumsy, attempts to calm him down but was at a loss as to how to help the small boy who had fallen, in a crying heap, into his arms.

The voices were getting louder, meaning the persons came nearer. Laures yanked at Malfoy's robe and buried his face in it even deeper. Tears soaked Malfoy's chest and his shoulders shook silently.

„What is it? Won't you tell me?" Malfoy asked, trying to pull Laures up so that he could look at him properly.

The small boy was not answering. It did not even look like he recognised Malfoy at all. His eyes looked hollow, not focussing on anything and he whimpered incoherently.

Noticing that he wouldn't get very far if he continued to shout a Laures, he did the only thing that seemed logical in this situation. He pulled Laures further to himself and hugged him tightly, pressing their bodies together. Laures held onto him for dear life and Malfoy noticed that he seemed to calm a bit when he petted Laures' hair.

"Hey, look what we have here!" the biggest boy shoutet. "It's a freak with a freak girl-friend."

Laures flinched at the words, and Draco tightened his arms, while the boys in front of them dissolved into laughter. He realized that they were the reason for Laures' frightened behaviour.

Draco narrowed his eyes angrily and tried to murder them with his gaze, which they – unfortunately - didn't notice.

"Listen you insignificant piece of filth, you have exactly three seconds to apologise," Draco said, in a voice that was as cold as ice.

The boys looked at each other and burst into a fresh round of laughter. Slowly and deliberately, Draco disentangled one of his arms from its place around Laures and reached for his wand, but Laures sensed what he was about to do and caught his arm.

"Don't, Draco. Please. You can't do any magic outside school. You'll get expelled." Harry pleaded.

Draco snorted contemptuously, but relaxed his arm which he had tried to pull free of Harry's grasp.

"Hey, big D, that girl looks a bit like your cousin." commented the one with the rat-like face.

Draco couldn't be positive, but he thought the boy looked a little frightened at the mention of Big D's cousin.

"That freak is already back at St Brutus' for Incurably Criminal Boys." The grossly overweight boy grunted.

"Is he? What a pity. He was fun to play with. What was his name again? Harvey or Harry or something like that?"

The boy obviously did not know when to shut up, Malfoy thought. Big D had to have been obvious enough to show he didn't want to talk about his cousin even to those dunderheads.

"Yeah, Harry Potter. Why are you so interested? I don't want to talk about that freak anymore. I got a new playstation game. Come and have a look at it. I might even let you have a go," he snapped, leading the rest of the boys down the path and into the house Snape had disappeared into only moments before.

'Harry Potter... did he really say Potter? What's this St Brutus' he's blathering about? Potter is at my school. Unfortunately.' Draco thought bewildered by what he just heard.

Harry heard him enter the house from which angry screaming could be heard. The voices were cut off when the door closed.

Harry was still huddled inside Draco's protective arms when Snape returned.

"Laures, is this all? I found a wand and a blank piece of paper wrapped in an invisibility cloak."

"Yes, thank you, sir. This is all. Can we go now?"

"You've got an invisibility cloak?" Malfoy interrupted incredulously.

"Yes, I got it from my father." Harry answered quietly. It pained him to think about his real family, especially now. He would do almost everything to get them back, or never have lost them at all.

The way back to Snape Manor in the cab was quiet. Everyone was lost in his own thoughts. The ride was a long one and Draco fell asleep during it, even thoug he tried his best to stay awake. His body slumped slightly and when the cab did a sharp turn, he slid over to Harry and his head rested against Harry's shoulder. Harry flinched when Draco came in contact with him, but the weight was warm and strangely comforting and that's why he didn't push him away. He didn't want to jostle Draco and wake him up, so he sat as still as he could, which was no mean feat. He was sure the driver was trying to hit every bump and hole in the road, and was trying to fly around every corner he could find.

It was a strange feeling to be so close to another living being, especially when they were in such a vulnerable state. For no reason at all, Harry found himself wondering about the way Draco looked when he slept.

"We are there." Snape said, stopping Harry from exploring that line of thought too much further. Snape paid the driver and Harry gently shook Draco awake. Draco mumbled grumpily. He would rather have stayed asleep.

They entered the house and Snape led them directly to Harry's room, because he thought if Harry still wanted to say anything to Draco, he might be more comfortable doing so in familiar environment. Privately, he doubted whether Draco would hear very much as he looked very tired. Draco rarely showed any signs of weakness, including fatigue, so if he looked tired, he must have been very tired, but it wasn't surprising. Today had been a very long day.

He guided them to the bed and let them sit down or in Draco's case just fall onto it.

"Do you need anything, Laures?" Snape asked, sounding irritated in spite of his attempt to sound gentle. Laures shook his head wordlessly.

"Good night, Laures." He said softly.

"Good night, Sir." Laures replied just as softly.

He walked out of the room and closed the door. He still had the nagging feeling that he was forgetting something and went through every possible thing in his head, but he didn't know what it was.

Giving up, he turned to his own room, when it struck him that Harry still had not received his OWL-grades.

Turning instantly on his heel, he headed straight for the fireplace. He tossed a handful of floo-powder into the still burning fire and stepped into the fireplace. After calling "Ministry of Magic, Atrium", he disappeared with a swoosh.

Harry was alone with Draco now. He knew he should tell Draco about his summer, but Draco was already asleep and, besides, he didn't really want to. It was tempting to just let him sleep, especially since he had already been so grumpy about being woken up the last time.

He listened to Draco's calm and steady breathing for a while, but he felt too tired himself to stay awake much longer. Draco had just fallen back onto the bed and had ended up lying across it so that no one else would be able to sleep comfortably on the rest of the bed even if it was queen-size.

He didn't want to wake Draco up but he didn't think he'd be able to move Draco all the way to another room, so Harry just grabbed him gently under his armpits and and moved his body up so that he was sleeping with his head on the pillows and taking up only one side of the bed.

Harry stopped to catch his breath. Draco was heavy! He was also, apparently, a very heavy sleeper to have slept through all of that pushing and pulling and nudging. Once he'd caught his breath, he reached under Draco and pulled the covers out from under him. Draco didn't even stir and Harry was a little miffed that he had managed to sleep so peacefully while Harry had worked so hard.

He reached up to adjust the pillow and his hand accidently brushed Draco's hair. He hadn't realised just how soft it really was.

Holding his breath excitely he let his fingers gently glide through the blond hair. Harry knew it was platin-blond, since he had seen it so often on his school enemy. He was sad that he would never see it again. He had to content himself with feeling it.

It was so soft, softer than silk, Harry thought dreamily. His hand slowly wandered from Draco's hair to his forehead and over his nose to his cheeks. The skin was just as soft as his hair, like a baby's. He tried to memorize the contures of his face, because he thought it would help him picture him better, now that he couldn't see anymore.

Harry had sometimes felt detached from his body, as if it wasn't his own. As if he weren't real. But the longer he felt this beautiful skin under his fingertips, the more he felt alive, as though he had been led back into the real world again.

He didn't think of the person beside him as Malfoy, and he was very glad that Draco didn't know what he was doing.

When Harry felt his eyelids getting heavy, he just slipped Draco's and his shoes off and undid both of their robes. Then he lay down next to Draco, facing him, and covered them with the blanket. Exhausted as he was, he let his eyes fall closed and felt the tension leave his body as sleep claimed him.

TBC

hi,

i have read the mcdonalds scene in another story, and liked it, so i put something similar in my own story.

thank you for all your reviews. we have even reached the 100 reviews mark. one chapter left, and you will have to wait some time, because chapter 13 is the last one prewritten.

cyu as