Chapter Twenty: and into the Fryer
Disclaimer: Just in case you didn't get it, I still don't own anything.
LuvlyLadyLexi: HA! I am the exact same way! I also do it when someone else follows the story or favorites it!
"Harry, why did you do that on the porch, if you don't mind my asking?" Draco asked, standing at the bathroom door. Lord Thronton had been nuts, but lavish and rich- each bedroom in the house was really a sort of suite, with it's own bathroom. Draco was mildly excited to get everything cleaned and ready. Harry emerged from the bathroom,dressed for bed and a shy smile on his face, and he shrugged,
"I don't know, Draco, I just... wanted to. I told you, I find you attractive."
"In my Veelan form?!" Draco asked, following Harry to the bed he'd cleaned and climbing in. Harry scooted closer to him, practically draping himself around the blonde. He nodded sleepily,
"Yeah Dray- it's still you... just a more vicious you, I guess- is that weird?"
"No, it's not weird. Harry?"
"Hmmm?"
"What was your other condition?" Harry grew stiff and pulled back, untangling himself. He was awake now, eyes wide. Draco became concerned that he'd somehow offended the raven haired teen. "I'm sorry, Harry, you just want to talk about it later?" Then he could hear Harry's heart beat quickening, could feel the tension.
"I uh... could you put that light out?" Harry stammered, gesturing to the glowing orb next to the bed they'd used to navigate the room. Draco nodded, whispering a nox, and they were in complete darkness again.
"Harry- we don't have to talk about this, we can go to sleep and discuss it later..." Harry was even more nervous now, he seemed panicked and Draco could sense it, "...or not at all. Harry? What's wrong?"
"N-nothing, nothing." Harry stammered again, clearing his throat. He slid closer to Draco, stiffly wrapping his arm around him.
"Harry?" Draco asked, feeling the tension in his bondmate's warm body.
"Oh Draco, be quiet, you're making me more nervous- quit it."
"But- Harry- I just- mmph." Harry covered the blonde's mouth in a tentative kiss.
"You said... you said you loved me right?"
"Yes, Harry, of course."
"And you want me?" Harry asked, relaxing. Draco growled and Harry grinned, "so... I can do whatever I want? Say whatever I want?" Draco nodded again, his head on Harry's shoulder.
Harry turned and pulled Draco to him, his heart seeming to thump even louder in Draco's ears. "Just don't... don't say anything...unless you want me not to... I have something to say," Harry paused but Draco didn't speak, "You've done a lot for me, Draco. I don't think I'm quite ready to do this bonding... bondmate thing. I'm not ready for sex. I've been thinking about it and while I don't know if I'm gay or... whatever, I do know that you turn me on. Pretty badly. I... uh... I like you a lot. I'm not ready for sex, I hope you can understand that. Though, I think I could be, one day... I just wanted you to know... and that I like you. I love the way you hold me, and I love that you're protective- though, you drive me nuts with it. On the train... I thought you were dead," Harry sobbed a bit, but when Draco reached for him, he pulled back, "I'm not finished, let me finish. On the train, I just... I don't know. I wanted you to come back, to hold me and laugh with me. I thought of all the things we haven't even shared yet... I want to give you that chance..." Harry paused again to wipe his face with his sleeve, "I wanted you to just come back in, and kiss me... I'm so sorry I hit you- I've never been so bloody happy and so angry at the same time... I've never... felt this way about anyone, Draco. I don't even think I realized it fully till Regina said you were pretty and smelled of me. I told her... that you were fetching, that you smelled of me because you were mine... I just, geez, I don't know why I can't get it together here, Draco," he was trembling now, "I wanted to thank you again. Not for saving me and my friends, or Dumbledore, or any of that... just for, for genuinely being there for me- for persistantly wanting to know me, and not The Bloody Boy Who Lived. You don't seem to care about any of that and it's refreshing... just, let me do this? No further- can you do that?"
"Do what, Harry? You can do anything..." Draco said, attempting to sit up and wipe the tears from Harry's face.
Suddenly, Harry was pushing him back down, straddling the blonde and kissing him passionately. The kiss didn't last long as Harry pulled back, only to move to Draco's jawline and neck. He nipped and licked the blonde, his hands grappled with the buttons on Draco's shirt, covering each bare spot he uncovered with more kisses and love bites. Draco moaned and arched up, his erection grinding into Harry's stomach. Harry moaned at the connection and waved his hand,
"Lumos." The light softly lit the pale blonde and Harry grinned shyly at him, "I thought you might want to watch..." he whispered, hooking his fingers in Draco's boxers and pajama pants, pulling them down and baring Draco's throbbing erection. Harry gasped audibly and then sort of sighed, sending chills through the blonde.
"Harry, Harry, please, love you don't have to..."
"I *want* to, baby, I *need* to.." Harry whispered, grabbing Draco's cock and stroking it softly, watching the blonde. Draco cried out, arching up in ecstacy.
Seeing Draco, the cool as ice, untouchable Slytherin, arch and cry out at his touch only drove Harry further and his fingers gripped more firmly around Draco's member, his stroking quickening. Draco cried out again, his hands grabbing the pillows to hang on for dear life. Seeing him like that drove Harry half mad and he quickly bent down, capturing Draco in his mouth. Twirling his tongue around the shaft, twisting up to the tip and back down to take all of him, Harry moaned his own pleasure. His hand grasped Draco again and he leaned forward, nipping at Draco's belly. Draco cried out, burrying his hands in Harry's tangled hair, arching slightly against the Gryffindor,
"Harry, please, I'm going to-"
Harry took all of Draco then and continued to lick and suck greedily in response as Draco spilled into his mouth with another cry. Crawling languidly up to Draco and pulling him to him possesively, Harry smiled, burrying his face in the blonde's hair and deeply inhaling the scent of vanilla. Draco trembled, backing himself up as close as he could to Harry.
"Nox," Harry said, waving his hand slightly, "Was that...uh... okay?"
"Merlin, that was amazing," Draco breathed, kissing Harry's arms. His body trembled and twitched all over.
When Harry awoke, Draco was splayed out next to him on his stomach, naked and sleeping soundly. Harry pulled himself up onto his elbow to admire the blonde. His hair was mussed, and hanging in his face, his pink lips parted slightly. Smiling, Harry reach over to brush the hair back out of his face, placing a kiss on his forehead,
"You're so fucking sexy Dray," he whispered against the pale skin, "fucking amazing." Draco hummed in response and snuggled closer to Harry, laying his head on Harry's chest. Then, raising his head up, Draco smiled sleepily at him, giving Harry a quick kiss. Suddenly, Draco's head snapped up and he snarled, transforming almost instantly. Harry rolled and grabbed his wand, sitting up chest to chest with Draco's Veelan form, checking the room.
Scenting the air, Draco stood, another snarl escaping his mouth. Harry rose and followed, watching for whatever it was that had alerted Draco. Reaching his full height, Draco's head nearly touched the ceiling, sniffing. Then, just as quickly as it had began, it was over. Draco was Draco again and looking very unhappy,
"Fucking Blaise," he snapped, moving for his trunk, "I'm going to fucking kill him, Harry, kill him." Grabbing a clean pair of pants, and his boxers Draco hurriedly got dressed, snarling and scenting the air. Then, grabbing a shirt and two vials from his trunk, Draco rushed downstairs and to the kitchen, Harry on his heels.
"Draco! Calm down, Draco, calm down," he called to the blonde's back- he was moving too quickly for Harry to keep up. Harry paused at the bottom of the stairs, unsure of which way he'd went.
Hermione's scream rang through the house and Harry paused, trying to determine where it had came from. There was a large crash and Ron was behind Harry, clad in only boxers- wand drawn, Neville leaping over the stair railing to join them.
"Where?" Ron asked and Harry listened. There was a loud crash, this very defined as to where it came from and the boys went running toward it. Hermione was yelling again, this time, scolding.
As the boys entered the room, a large galley style kitchen, they found Hermione, perched on top of a counter yelling at Draco and Blaise through the broken back door. A cauldron sat on the table in the center of the room, over flowing. Draco was in full Veelan form and Blaise in Magiodrago form. They were circling each other in the yard, snarling and growling at each other. Harry turned to Hermione,
"What happened?!"
"I don't know! There's a house elf here... Blaise was brewing a potion to help us with the house... Draco just burst in and threw something in and it just over flowed! He yelled something about the elf and then Draco just attacked him!"
Harry started to rush out into the yard but froze and grabbed Neville to stop him, remembering the night before.
"It's safe in the back, Harry!" Hermione called, and Harry released Neville, rushing at the two just as Draco leaped forward, barely missing Neville and landing on top of Blaise, slashing at him. Having seen the near miss, Blaise roared and tossed Draco into a nearby tree- shaking it violently and Harry took his chance, diving for the blonde and turning his wand on Blaise,
"BACK OFF MY BOYFRIEND ZABINI OR I SWEAR TO GOD-" Harry roared, wand pointed straight at Blaise's face. Blaise snarled and Draco rushed forward snapping. Harry spun, grabbing Draco, as Neville dove in to stop Blaise. Both the Veela and the Magiodrago snarled and snapped, but could not attack with their bondmate's between them. Harry stood in front of Draco, his hands on his chest, his chin defiantly turned up,
"Draco- calm down," He snapped. Draco looked down at him and then at Blaise, baring his sharp fangs and snarling, attempting to side step Harry. Harry wasn't having it though, and constantly kept himself in front of him. Leaning in, Harry flung himself into the blonde, hugging him tightly, "please calm down, baby, please?"
Neville was having just as hard of a time getting Blaise to relax,
"Come on, Blaise, do it for me? Stop this. Let's talk about this like normal people. No fighting with each other. Draco is your brother remember?"
"I'm not bloody scared of you, Draco!" Blaise yelled, transforming. Draco snarled but Harry held him still, feeling the rage run through the Veela.
"Draco... Draco, please, don't do this," Harry whispered, still tightly hugging the huge, angry Draco. Softening a bit, Draco transformed back, wrapping his arms around Harry and nuzzling his neck, "come on, Dray, let's just go inside- calm down." Stiffly, and with one last growl, Draco went in, Harry's arm around his shoulder. He shot a final glare at Blaise as they went in.
Ron and Hermione were standing in the kitchen, casting cleaning spells to take care of the mess. Harry looked up at the apologetically-
"I'm going to take him upstairs to calm down, we'll be back in a moment."
"Take all the time you need, mate." Ron replied and then, "Scourgify! Damn what a mess."
Upstairs, Draco grabbed his robes and retreated into the bathroom, growling and slamming the door. Irritated, Harry grabbed his own clothes and went in after him. Draco was just stepping under the warm water when Harry entered.
"You wanna tell me what the hell that was, Draco?"
"No, I don't really want to talk about it right now. Personal space Harry!"
Hurt at the jab, Harry backed out without a word, closing the door behind him. Growling audibly, Draco punched the tile wall and, grabbing a towel, went after him. Harry had flopped down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Draco sauntered over, grabbing his hand and pulling him up.
"Come on Harry, I'm sorry, I'm still in defense mode- please forgive me." He climbed into Harry's lap, straddling his hips and resting his head on Harry's chest. "Can you just give me some time to cool off? I didn't mean to yell at you-"
"You didn't yell, it's okay, I get it. I'm sorry, too. We'll talk about it before we go back down." Draco beamed at him and leaned in, his forehead against Harry's,
"Thank you," then, glancing down at the pile of clothes Harry had grabbed, he grinned mischieviously, "were you going to get in the shower with me?" Harry turned his trademark shade of crimson and laughed,
"I guess I was! I don't know what I was doing- you're growing on me Draco."
"So... I'm you're boyfriend?" Draco asked.
"Ah you heard that huh? Well... yeah, if you wanna be. Guess that's sort of a question thing isn't it? Do you- Would you be my boyfriend Draco?"
"Do you really need to ask?" Draco said, leaning in for a kiss, "so...what's this mean?" He flopped down onto the bed beside Harry. Harry shrugged, falling back to hold himself up on his elbow,
"I know what you want it to mean. I'm not sure about that yet, but I want you to be mine, at least somehow, for right now... does that make sense?" Draco nodded, smiling blissfully, a large grin on his face.
"Yes, you want to take things slow. So... I suppose a shower is out of the question?" Harry swatted at the blonde, laughing.
"You're insatiable."
"Something like that." Draco said, grinning. "So... is that a no?"
"It is for now, but if you can behave yourself, we need to work this stuff out downstairs."
"Downstairs can sod off."
"Draco! I'm serious. No touching, or no deal. I'd like to just look at you. None of that charm stuff either, just you. Not right now, but tonight." Draco frowned at this.
"Harry-"
"Hush. Just you, or no deal. I think you're amazing. Even more amazing without the charm."
"You're nuts, that doesn't make sense."
"Yes it does," Harry said, running his hand down the Slytherin's damp chest, "it shows what you've been through, how strong you are."
"I thought you said no touching?" Draco said slyly and Harry swatted at him again in response.
Downstairs, Hermione Ron, Neville and Blaise, had gathered in the dusty living room. They sat quietly, each looking at the other. Ron was the first to break the silence of course,
"So, what happened?"
"I found the ingredients to make a Floo Powder in the kitchen, I was going to use the Floo to Fire Call Mother and get some help strengthening this place. Next thing I know, some damned house elf is there- talking to Granger. I think it put something in the potion," Hermione nodded in agreement at this, "next thing I know, the cauldron is shaking, Draco's throwing something in, and it pours out every where. Then, I'm breaking a door with my back and me and Draco are outside going rounds."
"Cauldron's aren't supposed to act like that, I wonder what the elf put in?" Hermione said, looking off toward the kitchen.
"I don't know. I've never seen Draco so damned angry at me though." Blaise replied, flopping back on the couch and sending dust every where.
"We do need help here," Ron said, looking around, "the house needs a good cleaning, the yard has to be cleared, we need to set up more wards and a fidelius charm."
"Not to mention supplies. We need food, potions ingredients, and our owls- the way Blaise and Draco talk, not even our owls will find us. How are we even going to be able to get to Diagon Alley for this stuff?" Neville added, looking over to Blaise. Blaise nodded in agreement.
"There is the Floo Network to consider and securing that, we need to adjust the wards to allow apparition from certain people, set up a Potions lab, and a new head quarters, possibly even an infirmary of sorts." Hermione added in.
"We've never really used Potions before." Ron said, looking at Hermione.
"You've never had the world's next best Potions Master either," Blaise quipped, grinning, "Draco has been learning Potions from Severus since we were toddlers. At the age of five he could brew a successful Polyjuice. I've seen him make calming draughts, dreamless sleep, Deflating Draught, Drink of Despair- everything we've learned in school, it's pretty cool but annoying sometimes. He's anal about his potions stuff, even carries some premade ones in his trunk- I bet that's what he threw in."
"That would make sense," Ron said, sitting back, "if the elf threw something in, he would have known how to counteract it if he's as good as you say."
"I believe, Ron, that if I had Severus Snape as not only a godfather but a potions teacher since I was a toddler, I could brew Veritaseum in my sleep." Hermione laughed. Then, sitting up, she beamed, "I've got an idea."
"What's that?" Harry asked, lazily walking down the stairs- looking as though he'd just gotten out of the shower. Draco was right behind him a moment later- dressed in his own normal clothes, looking as though he had something very important to do and glaring at Blaise.
"What's your fucking problem?" Blaise snapped, moving himself to sit in front of Neville protectively.
"My fucking problem, Zabini?!" Draco snarled, rushing down a few steps before Harry turned, stopping him with his hands firmly on his chest to stop him.
"Draco, calm down. Just breathe," Harry said, forcing the blonde to make eye contact. Draco stared down at Harry, not making a move or a sound. The air was thick with the tension and everyone sat, watching the couple with baited breath. One pale hand reached out to grab the stair banister, gray eyes meeting black. "My *problem*, Blaise," Draco spat his friend's name out like it was poison, "is that *you* have *no* business around a cauldron. Wartcap powder in a bad version of what I assume was supposed to be a Floo Powder Formula? If you want to burn this place down, and kill everyone- including your *bondmate* that's just fine- you do what you want, but you leave what's *mine* and me THE BLOODY HELL OUT OF IT!" Draco roared the last part of his sentence, Harry leaning foward to touch him again.
Draco was growling, albeit quietly. Harry could feel the anger surging through the blonde.
"I'm sure it was an accident," Hermione offered- glancing at Blaise.
"I didn't add wartcap powder Draco, some damned house elf did. Not me. It wasn't my fault!" Blaise cried out, frustrated with himself as much as Draco was.
"That doesn't change the fact that there was so much bloodroot in the damned thing I could smell it upstairs! There's a very strong possibility that when putting it to use, no one would have went where they were supposed to. We don't need to all be seperated at a time like this. Stop with the Potions Blaise, I'd rather drink something Weasel concocted than you."
Blaise stood up and walked from the room, going to the front door. He turned to look at Neville who had rose to follow him,
"No, love, stay here. I'm going to go debug this damned yard- it's too dangerous and you might get hurt. I wouldn't want that," he said, shooting an angry glare at Draco who glared back, "I'm *assuming* you have healing potions left? Just in case?" Draco nodded, not breaking his glare. Blaise hesitated, "and you'll let me use them?" Draco faltered a moment, dropping the glare,
"of course I will, Blaise, you're still my best friend... just an icompitent potions maker and idiot sometimes. Be careful, so you don't need to use them."
Neville nodded at this, sitting back down,
"please be careful love." Blaise nodded at him and opened the door, transforming as he did so- his tail reaching around back to the couch. Draco and Harry continued down the stairs and into the sitting room, closing the door behind him.
"Where's this house elf anyway? A house elf can change the wards on it's house if ordered to do so right?" Harry asked, sitting down as dust went everywhere. Hermione nodded and glared.
"He can but he's probably went insane, being alone this long with out someone to care for." Draco said, glaring back at Hermione when she went to glare at him, "and we can't call it if we don't know it's name."
"We don't have one, or I'd call it." Ron said, "do you think, that house elves could get through these wards?" Draco nodded.
"House elves have a different kind of magic, that's why they are house elves, they can get through any wizarding magic if they wanted." Harry smiled fondly at Ron, remembering Dobby.
"I have one," he offered. Ron snorted and Hermione gasped.
"NO!" They said in unison. Hermione straightened herself up,
"Harry, you know I don't agree with using house elves." Draco stared at her, gaping, "but, I understand that we need one right now to help us. However, Kreacher is not an option. He's a terrible loathesome little beast-"
"That belongs to me- he can't hurt us at all because of that."
"Something is very wrong with that elf," Ron said, shuddering again.
"I know he's creepy, but he's all we've got. I'm calling him. Kreacher!" Harry called, waiting. They all looked around, nothing.
"Maybe he got killed at Grimmauld." Neville offered, leaning over the arm of the couch to check the kitchen.
"KREACHER!" Harry snapped, trying again. He glanced over at Draco, "what about Lacey? She was assigned to you in the room of requirement- maybe she still is, try it."
"Lacey!" Draco said. There was a soft pop. It was Kreacher. Then another, it was Lacey. Harry glared at Kreacher. He knew he'd done it on purpose, not wanting to belong to Harry. Kreacher cowered in fear, and then, spotting Draco- his eyes got wide and he smiled, trembling with excitement, he bowed.
"Master is with a member of the noble house of Black he is, Master."
"I *know* who he is Kreacher. Listen, there is a house elf here, I want you to find it and bring it here. Lacey, thank you for coming, if you could please go let Remus Lupin know that we're all here and safe?"
"Tell him, owls can not get in where we are and tell them that by tonight we will have the floo network set up, as well as the wards changed to allow owls. No apparating."
"Make sure they know we're okay. Don't tell them where we are," Neville added, not knowing who the adults would be around when Lacey arrived. Hermione nodded thoughfully.
"That's all Lacey, go," Draco said as the house elf disappeared. He looked up at the group, "we're going to need supplies from Diagon Alley and Knockturn. I'll need to stop by Gringott's and get money. I'll go alone because I can fly and apparate- they think I'm dead anyway."
"No. It's too dangerous to go alone," Neville said, "we should stick together."
"We should see what we have here first," Ron said, "it's too dangerous for any of us to be seen in public right now- they know about you and Zabini, and Harry and Malfoy- obviously. We know they also know that where Harry goes, Hermione and I aren't far behind." arguments ensued over who was going where to get what.
"I have an idea," Hermione offered calmly. Everyone stopped their arguing and turned to look at her. She smiled, knowing she had their attention. "Harry and I will go to the nearest muggle town- don't look at me like that Draco, they're muggles. We'll have our wands, and Harry can apparate if we have to. We'll get some supplies, and some hair from somewhere for a polyjuice potion. I saw all the ingredients in the kitchen I think. By the time, you get everything ready and brewing, we'll be back.. if the wards will allow someone to apparate out?"
Draco sighed and nodded, she had a point. There would be two of them so they could get back.
"Fine. Be careful though, and be back on time- the potion..."
"I know I've brewed one before." Hermione said, preening. Ron and Harry laughed. "Ron, while Draco's doing that you and Neville get Kreacher-"
There was a soft pop and Kreacher appeared, holding another smaller house elf in a head lock- struggling to control it.
"I is finding him sir, I is finding him! He is Blinky Master!"
"Thank you Kreacher. Blinky, is it? Why do you want to hurt us?" Harry asked, addressing the smaller elf.
"You is not my Master, Sir. My master was leaving to get supplies with little Master, he says to Blinky to not let anyone in sir! I is doing what I is told!"
"I knew both the Thronton's, elf. The young Master Thronton you speak of, Remulus, was my friend. My name is Draco... Malfoy. Blaise Zabini is outside, do you remember me?"
"You is growing Master Draco, but yes I is remembering you I remembering Master Blaise too. I do not know these peoples though sir!" The house elf squeaked.
"Your masters are gone now, Blinky, they were killed by Lord Voldemort's followers. We want to hurt them- make them go away forever. If we're going to do so, we need a safe place to stay. We need to stay here- would that be okay?"
"Oh yes, that would be so good. I is missing my Masters and knows they are gone. You may stays here and hurt the bad people that hurt my Masters, sirs."
"And no more tricks?" Neville asked, glancing toward the window where Blaise was in the yard, setting off the traps.
"No more tricks sir, Blinky is helping now. Blinky will be nice and Blinky will clean the house and fix food and helps like she did with old Masters."
"Thank you, but more importantly, can you make it possible to apparate in here Blinky? Just the people here right now, no one else. Can you do that?"
"Blinky is doing it right now, Missus, just the Masters here and the Missus. Is any of you wanting something else?"
"Yes," Harry said, "can you make it possible for us to get through the gate?"
"You is getting through Master, you is not needed Master Draco or Master Blaise. Every ones is here is getting through." A chorus of thank yous and Harry and Hermione were gone, apparating out with a pop. Blinky and Kreacher set to cleaning the house.
Draco was piling the potions ingredients, and his own, in a spare bedroom downstairs near the kitchen. He was slightly shocked when Lacey reappeared next to him, letting him know everyone was glad they were okay and they were currently holding down Hogwarts but they wanted to know what was going on.
"Lacey is liking potions sir," she bowed deeply, "I is serving Master Draco now. Master Severus says for Lacey to go- he is not needing her any more."
"Well, Lacey, you can start by not touching my cauldron here, ever. Keep that Blinky out of here too. You may clean this room, but not the others. You may reside here if you wish. Say, could you get that bed, and furniture out of here? If there are shelves anywhere, please put those up. Oh, and if there's a desk and chair- I'd appreciate it." With that and a bow, Lacey was gone. Draco sighed and went back to his potions he had brewing in three different large cauldrons.
Blaise had finished the yard and was helping Neville set up more charms around the house. They had set up so many already, taking their time to get each and every one very specific. Each room and hallway had it's own alarm so that if anyone did get in, the others would set off individually- alerting the house. No one with ill intent could get through either door or any of the fireplaces. The house was rather large but not compared to Nevilles or Blaise's ancestral homes.
"What about a silencing charm on each bedroom?" Blaise offered, deep in thought.
"Why would we need silencing charms on the bedrooms Blaise? What is someone was screaming..." Blaise grabbed Neville, pushing the smaller Gryffindor into the hallway wall and kissing him deeply. Grinding against him, Neville came to a sudden realization as Blaise said,
"So what if someone was screaming? We have the alarms for that," he bent his head down to suck on Neville's ear, getting a whimper in response, "maybe some of us will want to be screaming..."
"Oh... yeah... that would be a good idea."
Ron had been in a large den type room, setting it up to be the headquarter's of the Order of the Phoenix. Between he and Blinky, they had it set up pretty well, looking like a sort of conference room with a little transfiguration. When Blaise and Neville appeared to charm the room, practically having sex with their eyes Ron became uncomfortable and went to the kitchen to await Hermione and Harry who would be arriving back soon.
Hearing Draco in the next room, Ron went to investigate. Standing in the doorway, Ron was astonished,
"Add some more desks and you'll have our Potions class, Malfoy," he said, entering to inspect all the different bottles and jars on the shelves. Draco was removing more vials from a large box, placing them carefully on a set of shelves that stood alone. Then, turning, he went to stir what Ron recognized as the polyjuice potion. Looking up, Draco nodded his head toward a book shelf by the door,
"That's the only thing you're allowed to touch, Weasley. It will have healing potions and whatever else might be helpful premade on it." Ron moved to the shelf, looking at some of the vials that were already there curiously.
"You know, Malfoy, while I was setting up Headquarters for the Order, I was thinking." Draco cut him off,
"Well, don't hurt yourself. I might get blamed."
"Ha ha ha Malfoy. Ha. Seriously though, you can brew anything right?"
"Almost," Draco said looking at the clock and then back at one of the other potions.
"Well, what if we did this? You could brew several potions, the polyjuice, the different healing potions, anti-poisons, that sort of thing... and we could keep them on us. You know, in case we get trapped- or caught and need them to get out or something."
Draco frowned, going over the possibilities in his mind. Checking the clock and turning to stir the third potion- exactly six times- Draco turned to Ron, a look of shock on his face,
"That's actually quite brilliant Weasley. I'd need some time to determine what would be needed and what would be superfluous, but it is a good idea. That could save someone's life, Weasley, I'm impressed."
Draco moved to a box of books, taking them out one at a time. He saved the ones he thought might be useful in Ron's endeavor- setting those on the desk with his parchment and quills. Ron seemed to be thinking again. Finally, he broke the silence,
"do you love him Malfoy?" Draco stiffened and turned to face Ron, crossing the room to make his point and eye contact.
"I do. He's my bondmate- I would die for his happiness."
"So- since that's the case- let's end this rivalry. I'm not saying 'let's be friends'- I still can't stand you. Let's stop hating though, Mal- Draco. Harry's my best friend, like another brother and I would lay my life down for him too." He held out his hand for a hand shake.
"Alright, We-Ronald, I can agree to those terms," Draco said, taking his hand and shaking it firmly, "I still don't like you, either, but I'd leave before I made him choose." he finished, before turning back to his potions.
"As would I, Ferret." Draco looked up, shocked, a question on his face.
"You would make him choose me?" Ron nodded, Draco scowled, "why?"
"Because, my brother, Charlie- he's married to a Veela named Fleur and I've seen first hand how devoted a Veela can be; how happy she makes him. I want that for Harry."
"Weasley, I never thought I'd see the day that we called a truce and that I'd thank you, but sincerely- thank you. He means the world to me, and you to him."
"You're pretty important to him too," Ron said softly, "I've seen the looks he gives you, Malfoy. I'd say he's well on his way to falling for you."
"You think so?" Draco asked, hopefully. Ron nodded.
"Yeah, I can tell what he's thinking by his body posture most of the time- we've rarely been seperated, and been through hell, you get to know a guy. I've never seen him how he acts around you though, so that's what it has to be."
"And why's that?"
"He's never been in love, it's the only thing I don't recognize." Ron said, grinning. Draco smiled back, full of hope. Looking down at the polyjuice potion and then at the clock, he said,
"They'll be back any minute, if they're on time."
As if on cue, there was a loud pop in the living room. Ron laughed and went to greet them. Draco stayed behind, stirring. It didn't take Harry long to find him, grinning. He gazed around the room, studying the vials and jars.
"You had all of this in your trunk?"
"Yes, shrunken down. Some of it was in the kitchen."
"This is pretty impressive, Draco," he said, admiring some of the ingredients.
"No, it's not. This is childs play. When I get to Diagon Alley- with my money, then it will be a lab. Not until then."
"You're pretty serious about this? Potions making I mean," Harry asked. Draco just nodded, removing the cauldron from the flame and setting it on a nearby table with a flick of his wand. Then he did the same to another cauldron, just turning down the flame on the third- readjusting it twice. Hermione came in then, holding several hairs in her hand. Draco took them and went back to the potion as Hermione left, shooting a smile at Harry.
Finished, Draco stood back, admiring his work. He had poured the potion in six different sets of vials, one set for each hair Hermione had brought him. Turning to Harry, he grinned.
"Weasley mentioned a pretty brilliant idea of his- potion sets for each of us, in case of emergencies."
"Oh?"