Subject: Harry Potter, Harry/Draco

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter franchise. This is a fan-made story of no value.

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Chapter 5:

Meetings and Normality

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It must be a Malfoy-Granger thing, to be able to learn stuff like this, Harry figured. After all, who else would spend their time at home, away from school, learning Advanced Magical Theory as it Corresponds to the Third Axis of Reality. "Draco, there's a third axis to reality?" he asked with his head still down on the open book that he had yet to decipher.

There was the telltale whispering of a page being turned behind him. "Yes, there is a third. If I recall correctly, and I probably am, I believe we're considered the sixth axis and there are fourteen or so. They flux so it's rather difficult to tell."

"And this third axis, it corresponds with our magical theory in some way?"

"Not at all."

"Than why is there a 700 page book on it?"

"To tell people that read it that there is no correspondence." Another page turned. "The ninth axis however, is completely different. Nearly everything we do and they do corresponds and vice-versa. We have whole series of volumes on that somewhere around here."

Harry hummed noncommittally, finally closing the book. After all, there was no reason to read it anymore.

It had only been in the last week that Lucius had organized their study sessions. Now, a good chunk of everyday was spent studying various subjects, most of them advanced ones too, even on weekends. Harry agreed though that it was better than being at school, which was Draco's steady reason for staying at the manor too. Seemed reasonable enough seeing as every year in Hogwarts' halls had always ended in near death and at least here he could avoid the newspapers and any clingy beetles. In fact, it'd been a while since he'd even looked at the Prophet. Yes, the nicely lit halls of the Malfoy Manor were preferable, even more so after each day passed and it became more of a home and less like an impossible maze of halls and rooms. "I don't think I can study anymore today." Harry mumbled, which was rewarded Draco's own book being tossed enthusiastically onto a table.

"Oh thank Merlin," Draco declared, "I've been waiting like an hour for you to say that."

"You've got to be joking...is this how you get such high scores, by out-studying everyone else? That's got to be an ego issue right? You might want counseling for that..."

"Of course its an ego issue, or have you already forgotten that I am, indeed, a Malfoy? Anyway, lets play something why don't we...how about some chess?" he asked after spotting the chess board that had been shoved haphazardly onto a book shelf.

He has already started blowing dust off of the marble slab and pushing school books aside when Harry answered "Sure," and took a seat opposite of him.

Harry was 5 losses and 2 wins in when Lucius entered, informing them both that their Hogwarts friends would be visiting the following day, both Slytherins and Gryffindors so they better work to keep peace least more classes be added to their schedules. Both boys agreed to do so, rather quickly, in fear for their free time.

"I continually forget how father can get sometimes," Draco said once Lucius was well our of hearing distance- luckily hearing charms were not used in the Malfoy's private rooms.

"I think you'd be the only person to ever think that," Harry laughed, "He is the head of the Malfoy family after all."

"Well, yes, I suppose that it true. But its usually more of a formality..." sighing at Harry puzzled look, Draco went on, "You have to have a public image, you know? If we acted like we do with people we're intimate with in public, we would never be taken seriously. Having a...public persona if you will, keeps the families honor and airs."

"But isn't it best to be yourself? If people can't respect you for that it should be their loss."

"It would be your loss, business wise initially but over time any respect you have will go too."

"Seems like lying."

"It is, a bit." Draco admitted with no hesitation, "but how often does the public want the truth? They claim to want it, but if they ever knew that Mother enjoyed physical work or that Father often 'confiscates' romance novels, well, they wouldn't really like it. Their image for working with such un-pureblood behavior would go over horribly."

"You realize you just told me, right?"

"Yes, but you don't count. Also, checkmate, you really should learn to use your rooks more, Harry." He pointed out, earning himself a hard glare.

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The fireplace that warmed the Gryffindor common-room was quietly lighting the room and the silent atmosphere that had taken hold there. It was Sunday morning and while most everyone was sleeping in, a small group had gathered. Remus, Hermione, Ron and the Twins all waited patiently, or not so patiently, for Professor McGonagall to arrive with the Floo Powder that would carry them to the Malfoy Manor to see Harry, hopefully without incident. After all, Floo Powder in Hogwarts was always a bit tricky. Hermione had spent quite a few minutes explaining how the fireplaces worked and how only the Headmasters were really meant to use it for travel. Eventually though, the silent glaring of the tired group convinced her to that it would probably be best to stop talking for the time being and she fell to looking over Harry's letter to her. It didn't say much in words, per say. The usual greeting, don't worry, everything's fine, doing well, hope the same for you format that everyone was familiar with. It was actually the borders that spoke. The insistent doodles and aimless ink lines of thought. None of them made visual sense, of course, but the way some lines were soft, accidentally made and others were pressing into the parchment with worried thought; it was all she needed to visualize him fretting over feelings he couldn't quite find the words for. If the years had taught her anything, it was that Harry Potter was certainly neither a wordsmith nor an artist.

The silence continued on for a long while after that, save for the twins who whispered secretively to each other, their hand making small, wild gestures that held no meaning for anyone else. The two were enamored with each other, obsessed with their topic, whatever it may be, so much so that when McGonagall finally did enter, the portrait door snapping shut behind her, both of the boys were jolted off of the couch they had taken claim of by their sheer shared surprise.

McGonagall predictably stared down at each and every one of the gather party a stern look before tossing the Floo Powder into the flames. "I expect all of you to return by curfew." She didn't need to elaborate and she didn't need an answer from them, everyone would follow her ordered, even Remus who, even as he led everyone into the fireplace, felt as if he were an awkward first year again in the Professors dominating presence.

It took only a few seconds for the telltale tunnel of green flame to spit them out into the exquisite atrium of the Malfoy Manor, where the twins eagerly took in everything they could, making mental notes as their eyes investigated every curve and corner they could find. Everyone else did their best not to gape at the massive pillars of white marble and ancient tapestries that told of various Malfoy stories. Only Ronald was having any success. His eyes were pinned to the ground as if even spying upon the Manor would somehow darken his magic.

Graceful footfalls cued them into the presence of Lucius.

He bowed shortly, "I welcome you all into my house as guests to be treated as such till you betray this houses trust."

"We welcome your trust with our own and shall not betray your trust least we open ourselves to your house's due revenge." Remus spoke for them all. He suspected that while the Weasley's would probably know of the formalities, Hermione probably did not. However- if the inquisitive light in her eyes were any indication- she would learn much on the subject as soon as time allowed.

"Then you are welcome," Lucius finished. "Mr. Lupin, I'm please you were able to make it here today, we have much that needs discussing." Once Remus nodded in agreement, the silver eyes turned to the children. "Mr. Potter and my son are in the back gardens if you wish to see him, which I shall assume that you do. I will have one of our House Elves lead you there." And with a well-practiced snap, a small elf appeared before Hermione could make any noise of protest. Any protests would have been futile though, she realized, as there was no to little hope of her navigating the Manor without the House Elf's aid.

"Oi, Hermione?" Ron had quickened his step to walk beside her, "any idea what you're going to say to Harry yet?"

She very nearly rolled her eyes at his simple question. "Ron, do you honestly think that this sort of thing could be planned?"

"Well...a bit. I mean, I can't see things being exactly the same..." Ron winced as two heavy arms fell on his shoulders. The twins had joined in.

"Ronny-kins, stop trying to think because-"

"-it obviously doesn't work for you." Fred and George said. Ron would never admit it, but telling them apart was never one of his strong areas.

"Bugger off," he snapped, shaking off their arms. "I'm just saying, this isn't small, right? He couldn't be the same, I wouldn't be. I just want to know if we should be...delicate around him is all. We can't exactly open the conversation with: Hey, how was your summer...oh wait you can't remember it. Or do you think that would be a good ice breaker? I'd like to know weather to play or ignore the sympathy card."

"Ron, dear, you and me are going to have a small talk." Hermione said quietly. "Fred, George, you guys go ahead, I can call another House Elf when I'm done having some private time with Ron here." she said smoothly with a bright smile.

The two were quick to agree and rush off. Somehow every single female they were close to had a way of being razor sharp in the nicest way possible, and there was no way they would be around to witness this cutting, not when their brother looked completely oblivious to it.

"How come our brother is such an idiot?" Fred mused aloud as they near the gardens. It was nearly impossible not to smell the green that radiated stronger and stronger as they were led down various halls.

"I have no idea," George sighed, "but lets just be glad that we're geniuses."

"Agreed."

The gardens were wide and expansive, covering acres with pleasingly planned foliage and water or rock features which receded into a peaceful looking forest that brushed just against the edge of sight. "Wow," both the twins breathed.

"No wonder Malfoy was always so arrogant."

"And yet he's strangely nice outside of school," a voice added in from behind them.

Fred and George both lunged at Harry, tackling him to the ground. "It is an absolute joy to see you again."

"Yes and we've brought lots of toys for you to try out. "

"Perfectly safe of course."

"Oh, and the others should be along shortly." Fred- Harry could tell by that instinct that opinionated on everything he encountered- added in when Harry's eyes looked warily around, as if expecting anyone else present to join in the pile up.

"So how are you?" They looked Harry over as he laid dazed on the grass beneath them, scrutinizing the shade of his skin or the shine of his eyes or any other little thing that could possibly tip them off on his health. After it all though, he looked...good, actually, which neither of them had really expected, given the circumstances. And they did know the circumstances, of course. "Do you feel half as good as you look?"

"I suppose," Harry was able to gasp out, concern for his chest cavity collapsing under their pair's weight growing by the second. To his relief, both of them were quick to take notice and roll off and onto the fluffy grass.

George patted the grass as he turned on his side, head supposed by a free hand. "Only Malfoy's would have grass like this. It almost feels like that magically made Egyptian linen that we were able to nick, eh Fred?"

"Hmm, it sorta' does, yeah. Maybe we can nick some of this too."

As Harry surveyed the twins formulating another insanely wicked scam, he noticed that, even though he'd spent the days fully freaking himself out about everyone visiting, it had only taken the two a few minutes of normal- or at least normal for them- to make all of that self-preparation just dissipate and not matter anymore. Even if the world had tossed him out or of it was once again obsessed with him, the world didn't seem to include these two at least.

Of course, he knew that Hermione and Ron might probably react differently, and he certainly hoped they didn't, but having at least two people not change one bit was all Harry really needed.

Though, he hoped the twins didn't try to pull a trick. Somewhere in the shadows of the garden, Draco would be watching, Harry knew. He'd be constantly watching for any threat, be it magical or mental or physical.

It had been odd, when Draco had mentioned his plan to stay by and observe their guests and it had taken about an hour of pulling exceedingly pathetic excuses out of the air for Harry to finally just sit back and accept that there would, more or less, be a guard with him at all times. He didn't like that Draco wouldn't be spending much time with his friends, but he was still glad that Draco would be somewhere nearby.

"Come on, Harry, we brought some new candy for you to try. We've decided to let everyone else traumatize you. Our job is to have fun." George leapt up from the ground, pulling a super-hero pose to prove his intent.

"Exactly," Fred put in, "and despite what people say, our products are not traumatizing, they are fun. Isn't that right, bro?"

"Of course! It's willingly taken so it can't really count as traumatizing."

"Excellent!"

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When Hermione finally arrived, followed by a determined, if not sullen, looking Ronald, Harry was a small, neon purple dragon. He wasn't alone either as two identical blue finches fluttered around him, diving in for light pecks before flitting away to avoid any possible singes of retaliation.

On the grass behind them, Draco Malfoy sat, his seeker-trained eyes following the finches every movement, just waiting for the moment one of them messed up and pecked a little too hard. It would be the perfect excuse to practice some new Hexes or perhaps he would even go for some Curses if the mood was right. It was always so hard to tell what the moment would bring.

As it was though, seeing Granger stare with her mouth opening and closing like a water-starved fish would make up for it.

Weasley didn't look like he even noticed the cause of her floundering.

"What-What is going on here!" Granger drew her wand, quickly casting an impressive flurry of spells. With a small 'pop' the small animals had morphed back into their normal bodies. "Fred! George! I cannot believe—I just-two MINUTES and you can't even keep yourselves human! And Harry, honesty, you should know better than to eat anything the twins bring you. Have you learned nothing? I swear, I should-"

"Do nothing.," Draco stepped in, "except to stop your rants against Harry. But by all means, continue against these two...fiends if you wish. It is quite amusing."

Harry must have mumbled something, if the eye-rolling Malfoy sent his way meant anything, but Hermione would never know. She was still trying to decipher what Malfoy had said. "While you work at find yourself again, I'll go entertain the rest of our visitors...they should be around here somewhere." Giving Harry one last debating look and everyone else a scathing warning, Draco swept out of the garden. They had both decided earlier that it would be best if they kept their friends separate...for the time being.

"You were right," Fred said, "He is nicer outside of school...weird."

"Better that than no change at all though," George quickly pointed out. Hermione sat herself on the ground next to Harry, looking at him in with a wondering, lost expression.

"Malfoy, he just defended you..against me..." Harry gave her a small pat on the back, nodding sympathetically when she sprawled out of the grass. "Merlin, it's like were in the ninth-axis or something!"

"You would know about that," Harry laughed. He didn't get far as Hermione glomped him excitedly. It was just good that she arrived after the twins and not, say, on top of their pileup.

Despite her moment of confused introspection, she was beaming now, "Oh, Harry, I'm so glad we were able to come see you. A lot more people wanted to come, of course, but you have no idea how difficult it was to get Professor McGonagall to agree. She was insistent that we finish our first round of exams first. I mean I can see her point, I would defiantly be too worried about that to see you properly and the stress wouldn't of helped at all. Oh, right! Neville says hello and Luna too, she seemed a little out of it though but whats new about that. Oh! And Remus is here, did you know? I'm sure he'll see you-"

"Hermione! Breaths, they're not optional," the twins shouted over her happy ranting.

She smiled meekly at them, "Sorry, didn't mean to go off like that. I'm just so excited to see you, Harry, you have know idea. After we heard, we couldn't see you and no one was saying anything. But...I'm glad, you seem to be ok."

"I'm going fine, Herm, really. You would never guess, but the Malfoy's are almost normal really. They're good people."

"Malfoy's...good people?" Ron squeaked from where he'd been listening near by, waiting for a moment to speak, "OK, those words should defiantly not be going together. You sure all those memory charms are worn off properly?"

He got glares form the twins and a cuff on the arm from Hermione before Harry could intervene. "I would of never guessed it either, but trust me on this one, it's true. It's actually...fun being here...well, not the lessons so much, but still. It is a home."

"Sounds like you're about ready to up and marry the Manor," George said with all seriousness, "where should we send the wedding gifts?"

Fred shook his head. "Bro, you can marry a house. That was be stupid. Now, if you're talking about if a Life-likeness spell is placed on a house, that's completely different."

"Of course that's what I was talking about. No one is stupid enough to marry a house without the right Personality charms. Wonder what the sex is life..."

"Probably like normal sex...just more chafing is all."

Harry, Hermione, and Ron all shared concerned glaces. "I'm not sure we want to know," Hermione put in quietly. The others agreed. But then again, there was a lot about the Twin's that no one should ever want to know, no matter how many hexed treats they threaten you with.

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"And so he'll be staying and studying here with me for at least the remainder of this year. I haven't brought up returning to Hogwarts yet." It was in the Manor's main Library that Draco had decided to have this conversation with his friends. Not all of them, of course, only the trustworthy. Which, in the end, had come down to Pansy, Goyle, and Blaise. Crabbe just wasn't good with keeping secrets recently as he'd recently found that gossip was a great way to land girls. So it was just the four of them, sitting somberly in a circle within the shaded room.

"I see," Pansy was the first to process his story and respond. "Well, this is actually explain quite a bit if I do say so myself. I can't say I don't pity you though, Potter has no real bloodline education. I wonder how he'd react to the Blessing Bowl."

"Probably not well," Draco answered mournfully. "I don't get the feeling that he's truly a 'well, if an ancient heirloom predicted it why not?' type of person anymore...But, I'll have to tell him eventually."

Everyone agreed. After all, everyone knew that Harry was someone who built himself upon trust and companionship. Sure, trust had taken a hit recently, but that was certainly no reason to throw it out the window. Even Slytherins had their own brand of trust; though it was shown less to others. It was a tighter, more binding type than most people had. But it also lasted longer.

Blaise was next to speak up, "I'll agree with Pansy. This won't be easy though I cant help but be a little jealous. My family's Blessing Bowl has yet to even ripple."

"Quick question," Goyle cut in, "But as I've understood, you two have...well you know, pretty much hated each other from day one. And yes, trust is important, but I think getting along is a bit more immediate."

"Haven't you been listening," Pansy tossed her hair, "They've been getting along just fine these last few weeks. They're both more mature – no offense meant Draco- then ever."

"None taken."

After that, there was nothing more for them to cover on the topic, so they simply fell back on talking about school, lessons, and family. The usual gossip flowed back and forth across the circle for sometime before an elf popped into the room, announcing that it was indeed time for them to return.

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End Chapter 5:

Meetings and Normality

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Last Will: Haha...yeah, doubt you thought I existed anymore. It has been like...6 months...yeah. I'd say sorry but honesty, if I had written it would have been crap. Not that this is a miracle piece. I simply have a lot of emotion at my fingertips to be spent on writing at the moment. So, don't know when the next chapter will be out, but I can certainly get one more out before school returns to kill my remaining spirit.