CHAPTER EIGHT

Disclaimer: Neither the characters or locations are mine; they belong to J. K. Rowling and various affiliated companies. No plagiarism or copyright infringement is intended. All characters will be returned safe and sound with smiles on their faces and food in their bellies. :D

A/N:I am going to dedicate this chapter to TopazEyesForever because of her nice review. Oh, and if you haven't figured it out by now, I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BOOKS! I'm sure the characters have more fun doing what I say anyway... :D

THREE YEARS LATER

Hermione stared at her friends. Most had reacted better than she had expected. Ron had reacted exactly as she knew he would.

'You want us to pimp Harry out to Malfoy?' he cried.

'Ron...' Seamus began.

'You've got to be kidding me!'

'Ron...' Dean tried.

'This is simply ridiculous!'

'RON!' Neville cried.

Ron shut up at that point; Neville never yelled at anyone.

'I think what Hermione means to do,' Draco said softly, having stayed out of the conversation until now, 'is "pimp" me out to Harry.'

Ron grabbed Draco's shirt, slamming him against the wall.

'Don't you ever say his name! You caused him nothing but pain for seven years!' Ron hissed.

'Don't you think I know that?'

Ron released Draco, finding the emotion in his eyes disconcerting. He wouldn't believe Malfoy regretted his actions, something the others seemed all too willing to do.

--

Arriving at Grimmauld Place, Harry's friends found a naked maan trying to pull on the clothes being thrown at him. They could hear Harry yelling 'I told you to be gone when I got back!' Harry appeared in the doorway as the man raced down the street. He looked at his friends, smirking.

'Did you just come for the show or are you coming in?'

One by one his friends stepped past. The last person was Draco and Harry blocked the doorway before he could come in

'I didn't invite you.' he sneered.

Draco didn't say anything, just looked at Harry, not trying to force his way in. Hermione touched Harry's shoulder.

'He's my guest Harry. Let him in.'

'Fine. But I'm doing it for you Hermione. Not him.'

Draco stepped in, whispering 'thank you'. Almost immediately two house elves appeared before him. The one that bowed he didn't recognize, but the one pulling its ears bore a striking resemblance to...

'Dobby?' Draco asked.

'Mister Malfoy, don't be mad at Dobby. Dobby is a bad elf, yes, he is.'

With that Dobby proceeded to bash his head against the wall. Harry sighed aggravatedly.

'Kreacher, take Dobby to the kitchen. Really M'ione...this is not a halfway house for rejected house elves.'

Draco stared as Kreacher led the pathetic Dobby away. He suddenly heard Harry cry 'What? No. Absolutely not.' and knew what Hermione had just asked. Draco sighed, hoping that she could convince Harry to let him stay. That wasn't a lie for the plan...he reallly had nowhere else to go, except Blaise's in Italy...and he didn't fancy that at all. Italy was too hot, too sunny. He entered the room where the others were gathered.

'Grimmauld Place has always offered sanctuary to those in need.' Hermione stated.

'I don't care. I won't have him here.' Harry replied pedantically.

Draco frowned. This was a mistake.

'Maybe I should go...' he whispered.

Hermione cried 'no' as Harry cried 'yes'. Draco stood, conflicted. The yearning he'd thought successfully buried was rising to the surface. Beg him to let you stay, his subconscious whispered. No, Draco thought. I still have my pride. Yet...

'Please Harry. Please let me stay for a while. I, I have nowhere else to turn.'

Draco was surprised to find tears burning inn his eyes but didn't wipe them away. I'm sorry, he thought. Harry narrowed his eyes and grunted. Hermione's threw her arms around Harry's neck and Draco realized he could stay.

'Thank you.' he whispered, relieved.

The group gathered in the kitchen for dinner, but it was tense and uncomfortable. Harry felt he'd been railroaded into something and was glad when they all left, that is, except Malfoy. Harry sneered unpleasantly, contorting his face much as Draco imagined he had as a child.

'Kreacher, take Malfoy to his room. I'm going out.'

'Right away Master Potter. Will Master Malfoy follow me?'

Draco sighed.

'Listen Harry-'

'No. Just go.'

Draco silently followed Kreacher through the grand old house. He noticed that there were no doors on any of the rooms, except, perhaps, the bathroom and a few bedrooms.

'Kreacher, can I ask you a question?'

'Anything Mister Malfoy.'

'Why are there no doors?'

'Mister Potter is afraid, sir.'
And that was that. Draco collapsed on the bed in his room, groaning at the ridiculousness of this situation. And just what was it that Harry was afraid of anyway?