Chapter Nine: Would You Go With Me?
"Draco? You okay? What's that you've got there?" Harry asked, having noticed Draco had stopped he'd returned to make sure he was okay.
Draco looked up at him, and turned the paper for Harry to see-
"Nothing, just an old piece of parchment. Found it in the book. Where are we going?"
"I'd like to walk out by the lake for a while, if you don't mind?"
"No, I love the lake, I'd enjoy it." Draco smiled. Harry didn't say another word as they walked down to the water side, and Draco didn't want to push him. They sat down at the waters edge in a comfortable silence, staring at the stars reflected in the water.
"McGonagall says you're to be trusted- she says you're safe." Harry broke the silence.
"Well, I'll have to remember to thank her," Draco said, sounding sarcastic though he didn't mean to. Harry glanced at him questioningly, "sorry Harry, I'm not feeling well."
The pull was back. His bondmate was in a great deal of pain, emotionally, and it was Draco's job to try to find a solution though he didn't know how.
"Would you rather go inside?"
"What? No! The lake is beautiful. Besides, I think the fresh air is helping."
"Oh." Harry said, and there was another long silence, "you know, Draco, I like you. I mean, like this. You're not so bad after all. Everything around this place seems to be crashing down and you've been a welcome distraction. I think you'd be a good friend." Harry had said this rather quickly, never once looking away from the lake.
"Thank you- you're not at all what I thought you'd be like either, Harry..."
"Do you have anywhere to go when the school closes?"
"Not really. I imagine we... Mother and I, will stay here."
"I haven't seen her much."
"No, she's out with Aunt Rose most likely buying me new things- your robe is all I've got right now, till she gets back. Mum isn't around much, we're not a very... emotional sort of family."
"Oh, well you can keep it as long as you'd like. Listen, McGonagall said to invite you- well I asked her if I could- invite you to my house. It's not much, kinda dark and scary really. I'll be inheriting it from my late Godfather's estate."
"I'm sorry to hear that Harry, has he been gone long?"
"Not too long, just last year... I'll tell you about it later." Harry said, trying not to cry.
"I'm a good listener Harry, just so you know. Living in the dungeons and with Lucius, you learn to listen carefully. It might save your life."
"So... do you want to?"
"I'd love to Harry, that would be fantastic." Suddenly Draco sat straight up, listening. Harry drew his wand, turning to see what Draco was hearing. He couldn't see anything.
"What is it?"
"That oaf the groundskeeper, Hagrid. He scared me to death." Draco said, releasing his breath.
"Oy! Who's over there?" Hagrid called, Fang at his side. Draco stood, holding out his hand to help Harry up.
"It's me Hagrid- Harry!"
"Oh! Harry, who's that yeh got with yeh?" Draco introduced himself.
"Draco- we spoke earlier?"
"I know who yeh are boy! Come here, come here- don't yeh know it's too late to be out by the lake boys?"
"Sorry Hagrid, I was just thinking about Padfoot. I invited Draco to come with me over the... break, if it happens." Hagrid hugged Harry tightly and then looked over at Draco who stood there, looking quite regal even though he wasn't dressed well, nor had he had a shower yet. Hagrid teared up,
"Come, come boys, have some tea at my place, come on now. Fang! Lead the way!"
As the half giant lumbered off in front of them Harry looked over at Draco and leaned in, whispering,
"don't eat any cake or cookies."
"I'll take your word for it." Draco said, eyeing Hagrid carefully. Once inside Hagrid poured the tea and handed them their cups. Draco sniffed his suspiciously, causing Harry to nearly choke on his.
"Harry, please. Have a seat! Yer always welcome in my home! You too Draco- you know, I- I-" Hagrid teared up again and Draco began to panic. Please, Hagrid, please don't give me away. Harry looked on curiously from his over stuffed mismatched chair. Hagrid reached forward to hug Draco, almost causing him to spill his tea.
"Draco- having yeh in class, I thought you'd turn out to be a right git! Figured on yeh following old Lucius' footsteps'n here yeh are- saving us all from drownin' yeh are..." at this, Harry's head snapped up in attention what was Hagrid talking about? Hagrid released Draco, who remained standing, while Hagrid continued "Draco- I just wanted to thank yeh fer choosin me, it just warmed my heart."
"*I* didn't choose you Hagrid, *I* didn't know what to do, but I appreciate the gesture. Say, what kind of tea is this? It's delicious!" Harry scowled at Draco for this, he was obviously trying to change the subject- he hadn't drank any tea.
"Yeh know, I'm not sure. One of the house elves brought it to me." Hagrid replied, "I don't know if yeh have talked to anybody Draco, but he's doing well. He could even wake up now but Poppy's got him all sedated as such- can't say that I blame her..." at this Hagrid burst out crying. Draco looked miserable, like he was sitting on a hill of fire ants and Harry was staring him down.
"Harry," he blubbered, "I'm not meaning to ignore yeh. I'm surprised you've not been up there yerself!"
"Where? Hagrid? Who are you talking about?" Harry set his cup on the table next to his chair, standing, and Draco visibly paled.
"Oh. Ohhhh. I've gone and said too much again... I'm sorry Draco... I- I'm just gonna shut up." Hagrid said.
"No, who are you talking about Hagrid? What's going on?" Harry demanded. He had a feeling that this was one of the missing puzzle pieces. Draco grabbed his arm when Hagrid just shook his head in silence.
"Come on Harry, let's go talk about this."
"No," Harry said, jerking his arm from Draco, "what are you talking about Hagrid?"
"It's not that important Harry- I've already said too much..."
"It's a friend of mine Harry, please, can we go? It has to do with my being captured."
"Are *you* going to explain what's going on Malfoy?" Harry asked. The anger in his voice was like a slap in the face to Draco.
"Yes, I'll tell you. Just calm down and come on," Draco replied- his voice cool and clear. Harry nodded and followed Draco out and back up to the school.
It was looking to be a long walk in silence when Harry finally said something,
"Listen, Draco, I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I'm probably overreacting- I just don't like secrets, there's too many of them around here, I guess. I don't know, it's not been a good day I guess."
"It's okay Harry, I understand. Just... quit the 'Malfoy' shit, please. If we're going to be friends you've got to quit doing that."
"Yeah," Harry said sheepishly, "I can do that."
"Thank you. Now," Draco paused at the bottom of the entrance to Hogwarts, "it's almost past curfew. Do you know of any place we can go to talk? Without getting caught? Some place I could maybe stay the night? Doesn't have to be much, believe me, I just don't think I'm ready to go back to the Slytherin dorms quite yet... an empty classroom would even work."
Harry paused and thought for a moment before nodding.
"Yeah, I do actually. I'll have to go get some things from my dorm first though, come on!" Harry grabbed Draco by his wrist and began pulling him along. He didn't know why he felt this way, it was kind of exciting. Becoming friends with Draco Malfoy was like meeting someone new, and something deep down inside Harry told him he could trust Draco. Even if no one else did.
They bound up the staircases, two by two, passing several second and third years who looked on, shocked to see the two together so late at night. When they approached the portrait of the Fat Lady Harry let go of Draco and grinned,
"you can come in if you want to, or stay, I won't be long."
"Where are we exactly?" Draco asked.
"Gryffindor dorms," Harry said, turning to the fat lady, "ice mice." With that the portrait swung open- the Fat Lady admonishing Harry for not coming to see her more often. Harry stopped just inside the door, "you coming or not?" Draco sighed and stepped into the common room. Hermione was curled up in a chair with some ugly cat, reading a book by the fire, Ron and Seamus playing a game of chess at the table in front of her. Draco noted how much warmer the Gryffindor dorms were compared to the Slytherin ones. They were definitely more rustic as compared to Slytherin's modern dwellings.
"Oy Harry, what'd you bring that arse here for?"
"RON! McGonagall vouched for him- are you really going to question her judgement? Are you?" Hermione snapped, closing her book. Ron looked over at Seamus for backup.
"I'm not in this. 'Mione has a point." Seamus said and then, moving a piece, "check." Ron grumbled something about how it 'wasn't fair' and went back to focusing on the game, apparently deciding to just ignore Draco who was now sneering at him.
"Okay, well, I'll be right back." Harry said, looking worriedly at Ron before he bounded up the stairs. Ron looked up to see him go and then back at Draco who looked rather uncomfortable, standing just inside the door.
"Malfoy- you're looking... slimy."
"Ron-"
"No, Hermione it's okay," Draco said, "I can take a compliment all on my own. I don't need your help," then to Ron, "thank you Weasley. I see you're still poor. That's good." Ron stood up, leaving his wand on the table beside the chess pieces.
"I'd say you look pretty poor yourself Malfoy- maybe worse."
"We'll see about that Weasley, I can change, isn't that your only set of clothes?"
"No, I have a set for parties too. Ferret."
"Weasel."
"Just a moment, Malfoy," Ron said, looking like he had just realized something. He turned back to the table. Draco reached inside his robe to grab his wand, suspicious. Ron leaned over and moved another chess piece. Then, grinning at Seamus, "check. mate."
"Too mad those aren't marketable skills, maybe Du-McGonagall will pay you to clean toilets," Draco said, grinning. Seamus was staring at the board, making a face that was reminiscent of a guppy.
"And being evil is a marketable skill?" Ron asked, turning to Draco. Draco quickly swept across the room, appearing to almos float, like Snape. He never broke eye contact with Ron and Ron never once flinched or reached for his wand. Draco came to a stop behind Seamus and then, leaning over, he took one of Seamus' pieces and moved it forward.
"Check. Mate. Every thing about me is marketable Weasel."
Ron just stood there, staring, mouth open. Seamus pumped his fist in the air and let out a whoop of joy.
"What now Ron? What now? BOOM!" He gloated, loudly. Then- Harry yelled- causing everyone to start. Everyone but Draco. He was already at the bottom of the stairs. He took them two and three at a time- not even bothering with the banister.
"Granger?!" He roared, Hermione was at the bottom of the stairs with Ron now.
"To the left!" Hermione yelled back, understanding what Draco wanted.
A/N: SOoooo, what do you guys think? Review review!