Draco was glancing over the letter, seeing what he would need when he felt Harry leaning against him and reading over his shoulder. Draco only rolled his eyes, tilting the letter towards Harry. "Nothing really out of the ordinary."
"Just new books, mostly," Harry hummed, flipping to the second page and reading the rest of the list. "Speaking of new books, what's that black one you're always writing in?"
Draco blinked for a moment, a million different explanations and lies flying through his head. "Something personal," he finally said. "There are some things I can't tell you, so..."
"Oh, so time stuff," Harry nodded, dropping the matter with a smile. "So, is your mom taking us to Diagon Alley today, or later? Ron and Hermione sent a letter saying they were going to try and meet up today, if you wanna go now."
"Ah, yeah..." He hadn't thought it would be that easy. But then again, he hadn't technically lied. So that helped matters. "Yes. That sounds like a good idea."
"Great," Harry grinned, heading towards their rooms. "So, should I wear robes today, or that one outfit that Pansy said I should wear at least once or she'd claw my eyes out."
"If you're going out and about in Diagon Alley, robes will help you to blend in," Draco said with a smile. Actually, now that he was thinking on the diary, it had been a while since he wrote to Riddle... He'd write a quick message and then write more after Diagon Alley. And he'd have more time to write at Hogwarts, anyway.
Heading to his own room, he checked to make sure Harry was getting ready before digging out the diary from under his mattress and grabbing a quill. 'I don't have much time to talk. Harry is now staying with us, as we've taken him away from those awful muggles. We're teaching him to be a proper Slytherin, and we're on our way to Diagon Alley, now.'
'Ah, so Diagon Alley is still around!' The writing was quick and a bit messy, enough to show excitement. 'That's a nice thing to hear. Although it's nicer to hear that a child has been saved from such a terrible situation. I might like to talk to this Harry Potter one day, if time or situation allows. He must be quite interesting, if he's managed to enamour you so.' That had Draco immediately recoiling and closing the diary. Whatever happened... He did not want Harry to get hold of this diary. He wasn't entirely sure why, but... It felt wrong.
Giving the diary a long, cautious look, Draco finally tucked it away again out of sight. He'd... He would think on this more later, but if he could help it, Harry was getting nowhere near that diary- "Ready to go?" Draco looked over, catching sight of Harry before smiling.
"Ready."
::
"Harry!" The two didn't even have time to react before a girl was flying at Harry and tackling him a hug, the only thing seen being bushy brown hair. "We were so worried about you when Draco said you weren't getting our letters and- And... Are you wearing robes?"
Draco smirked, crossing his arms. "He looks rather good, doesn't he?" Yes, he was rather proud of himself. "What, no hug for me?" He'd even dressed up for the occasion! He was wearing the sapphire robes his mother always liked!
"And here I thought you didn't like hugs," Hermione laughed, letting Harry go and giving Draco a much lighter hug. "It's good to see you both again. It's felt like ages."
Draco hugged her back. "Admit it, Granger. You missed me," he teased. Still, it was nice, being close friends with them. And he still had Blaise and... Well well. It was a little reunion. "Blaise! Pans!"
"We had a feeling you'd show up today," Pansy grinned, flouncing over to draw the boys into a hug as soon as Hermione had let them go. "I do good work, don't I? Harry, you need to wear those robes much more often. And that outfit- The red one. You need to wear that."
"I think that the green fits him better," Draco sniffed, crossing his arms, laughing when Blaise walked over with a sigh. "Been keeping her in line?" The look he was given spoke volumes, truly.
"Laugh it up, Malfoy. Just remember that she's going to be like this all year, and there will be points where you can't run away from her." That got a snort from Harry, who quickly started 'coughing'. When Pansy released them, Draco threw an arm around Blaise.
"Don't be like that! You love Pansy, don't you?" Ah, it was so fun to torment his friends, truly.
"Wow, so you're just this vicious to all your friends." There was a light slap to his back, Ron Weasley grinning. "Nice to know."
"Oh, shut it, Weasel. Where's the rest of your little clan? It's normally so easy to find them, just find the ones with no souls." It was a mixed reaction, a few of them looking confused and others snickering. That's what happened with his humor around twelve-year-olds he supposed, a mixed bag.
"Ha, ha, you're hilarious, truly," Ron rolled his eyes, gesturing to Flourish and Blotts, all of them standing just outside of it. "They're inside getting our books, but good luck trying to get in yourself. Some git is signing books today or something."
Draco's face fell and he caught sight of a sign. A wizard with a beaming smile was showing off a book in the picture. "Oh bloody Merlin, not him."
"Yeah, not exactly the best, is he?" Blaise shook his head, looking disgusted. "I mean, have you seen the list? Near half the books are his, and they're all trash-"
"They are not trash," Hermione frowned, hands on her hips. "They're detailed accounts of the people he's saved and the advanced magic he's used!" Draco rose an eyebrow, putting a hand on his hip.
"And what credibility is there? What evidence? All we have is his word. There's no proof any of it happened." Really, he did not trust Lockhart one bit.
"There's multiple accounts and credible people that he's talked to listed in the back of all his books," Hermione sniffed, Blaise the one to shake his head.
"Trust me, Granger, there's something up with those books. Just the spells he uses? There's no way he could think to use all those spells in those situations. It's too unlikely."
"Remember last year? When you would panic and couldn't think of a spell? You're one of the most brilliant witches this generation. You still get stuck. And besides. The books aren't even good. He gets everything right on the first try? That's a boring protagonist."
"Yes, well... You have a small point," Hermione mumbled, shaking her head a bit. "It's not like he's going to be teaching us, we'll just be studying his books, is all." Draco shot Harry a look. He needed to be well prepared for this year.
"Come on. We need to get our books." Draco waited in line and... Ah. The woman in front of him was the Weasley's mother. Lovely.
"Oh, you must be Ron's friends!" Molly. He was certain the woman's name was Molly, the... The one who killed his Aunt Bellatrix... "Now, let me guess. Draco, Harry, Hermione, and you two must be Draco's friends? Ron hasn't told me much about you, but it's nice to meet you anyways." Hm... Draco liked her for the sole fact she didn't frown at Draco's name, or look at Harry's scar.
"Ma'am," Draco started slowly. "Pardon me for asking, but how did you know all that?" Behind her, Ron was suddenly blushing a shade of red that was as bright as his hair.
"Ron, of course," Molly chuckled. "He's been going on about you lot all summer-"
"Mum."
"Oh really? Been going on all about us?" Draco beamed, slithering over to wrap an arm around Ron's shoulders. "I didn't know you thought so highly of me." The shove was worth it, especially since Harry caught him before he could hit the ground.
"Shove off, Malfoy," Ron muttered, still blushing as he made a show of going through his book list. Draco gave a loud, hearty laugh. He was still giggling a bit when he saw familiar robes out of the corner of his eye, and then an all too familiar voice.
"Draco... These must be your other friends?" All the laughter seemed to drain as he gave a nod.
"Yes, we... We're in the same house, together." Shit. Shit. He had forgotten about last time- About when he and his father had visited Diagon Alley to pawn off those cursed objects. And then Flourish and Blotts and meeting the Weasleys and oh, dear.
"Nice to meet you," Lucius spoke, seeming polite enough as he nodded at Hermione and Ron. Both had the grace to nod back, exchanging much the same greeting, which, okay. As long as Lucius left right this second, they would be fine.
"You already know Harry, this is Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger," he said quietly, gesturing to the two of them. Lucius shook their hands before nodding at Molly, who had a bit of a tight smile on her face.
"Ah, Molly. It's been quite a while. Taking everyone shopping for their school supplies, I take it?"
"Lucius. Nice to see you, again. I see you're taking Draco for his supplies."
As the two talked, Draco noticed the photographer taking pictures of Lockhart - the bloody git - had bumped into Harry and oh... Oh, Draco remembered this part painfully well. "My word... Harry Potter." Draco held tightly onto Harry's arm, glaring at near everyone around them as he tugged Harry closer. Unfortunately, twelve-year-old strength was nothing against a photographer with a deadline, which was how Harry ended up pulled and shoved next to Lockhart, who was eagerly stirring the crowd and drawing attention to them.
"...Father," Draco began quietly. His father had fallen silent and was watching the display with a small sneer. It was satisfying to see he was glaring at Lockhart and the reporter, rather than Harry. "They man-handled him, and they're taking photographs of him without his consent."
"Coercion of a minor, physical harm upon a minor, invasion of privacy of a minor, let's see... What else do you think we can get them for." On 'stage', Lockhart was grandly presenting Harry with a stack of his books, as well as making the announcement of his new teaching career at Hogwarts. Bastard.
"How quickly can you put it all in motion?" Draco watched the way Harry squirmed away, Lockhart's hand firmly on his shoulder. "I want them taken down."
"Rest assured they'll be taken care of swiftly and with great prejudiced," Lucius responded coolly, adjusting his gloves as if this was an average day. "Now, you two get your books. I'm going to have a little, ah...talk, with your new professor."
"Send him my regards," Draco called, smirking in vicious glee as Harry came back over to stand in line with him. "He's taking care of it." Giving a nod, Harry seemed to relax a little before jumping at the sudden voice behind him.
"Right git he is, don't you think? Oh, sorry. Name's Ginny. Ron's little sister. I'll be starting with you lot this year." Ah, the Weaslette.
"Draco," he hummed, looking her over. Well, she certainly didn't look wooed. Good. Granted the two would probably still end up together in the far, far future, but right now they were eleven and twelve. Draco would be tolerating no...flirting.
"Harry," Harry introduced, shaking the girl's hand. "We actually met last year, when I was looking for the train?" For some reason, this got a laugh out of Ginny, who looked rather amused.
"What," Draco said with a frown. "What's so funny?"
"When we met it was because he didn't know how to get onto the train," Ginny explained, giving a small wave of her hand. "It was only funny because he looked so /panicked/, rambling about someone named Hagrid, and magic, and owls. It was a little funny."
"Glad you enjoyed yourself," Harry rolled his eyes, adjusting the stack of books. "These- These are actually pretty heavy." Draco helped Harry carry the books.
"You could most likely ask father to Vanish them home." Giving another nod, Harry adjusted his stack before following after Draco through the store. He still looked unnerved from Lockhart and Merlin. Had Draco really once thought Harry had enjoyed that? Draco sighed, shaking his head. He grabbed at Harry's sleeve, pulling him along and waiting patiently a few feet away from his father, where the man was still chewing Lockhart's ear off.
Slimy git finally squirmed away from the verbal lashing, Lucius giving the man a dark look before turning back towards them, "Have you acquired any other of your school supplies, or would you rather simply spend some time with your friends today?"
"I'd...like to spend more time with them. If that's alright," Draco hurriedly added on. "And Harry wanted you to please take his books back." Drawing his wand out, Lucius tapped the piles of books, easily Vanishing them to the Manor.
"Just make sure to be back in time for dinner," Lucius instructed, giving Draco a brief look, as if thinking about something. "You two have enough money?" Draco gave a small, silent nod. They'd been sure to pick up some from the family chest at home, before leaving. Twenty galleons, each. Giving a small smile, Lucius nodded, patting each boy on the shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.
"I like your dad," Harry hummed, sticking his hands in the pockets of his robes. "A bit strict looking, but, he's nice. Good. Reminds me of you."
Draco's eyebrows shot up at that, and he turned around to face Harry. "You're kidding me, right?"
"Uh...no?" Harry tilted his head, frowning. "Is that a bad thing? To be like your dad? I mean, he seems to really care about you."
Looking around and lowering his voice, Draco sighed. "Back where I come from, things were...very different, with him." Lucius...had been so much colder. Maybe it was just how Draco remembered him, but now comparing him with this Lucius... He was still cold, but it was clear to see he valued his family.
"So...maybe you get more than just a second chance at saving people. Maybe you get your second chance with everything."
"Maybe, but I doubt it's that simple," Draco sighed, leaning against Harry. "Thanks for trying to help." Harry leaned back against him, giving a small smile.
"Someone needs to. So, catch up with the others and keep shopping? We still need robes and potion supplies. More than usual, probably, considering how quick you go through them."
"I've no idea what you mean. And our robes from last year will still fit, I'm certain." Draco gave him a grin and nudged him towards their friends. The boy was snatched by Pansy in a second, the girl dragging Harry out the door while Hermione followed, lecturing Pansy about something.
"Nice to see you're still quick to sacrifice us," Blaise snorted, nudging Ron. "Wanna join us? We're probably just gonna wander around Diagon Alley for a bit."
Ron scoffed, shaking his head. "Hanging around with a bunch of snakes. Can't believe I've stooped so low."
Draco rolled his eyes. "You think you have it bad, Weasel? Talk about being in the Lion's Den."
"So we both get to suffer, perfect," Ron gave a smile anyways, heading out after the girls and Harry. "I think they're sacrificing Harry, by the way. Might want to do something about that."
Waving it off, Draco watched them all with a fond smile, crossing his arms. "He'll be fine." If anything were to actually happen to Harry, the girls would be some of the most upset. Besides, this was... This was nice. Spending time with his friends and just wandering around as if they had nothing better to do. These were the days he had missed most, once the war had started. It... It was good to have them back.
::
'Gilderoy Lockhart... You don't know him, but he's a man I'm certain you wouldn't like. He's got seven books that he's written himself about his different 'adventures' and he's going to be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year, so he's making us read them all. Whenever he has to actually cast magic, though, he never seems up to the task.'
'Sounds like he based his entire career off lies, then. Detestable. I can't imagine having to deal with not only a poor Defense teacher, but a poor one during this year, when you said the Chamber was supposed to open yet again. The creature was never well observed before it escaped, but whatever it is, it can petrify and kill... A dark creature, to be sure.'
'You know, I never did say the Chamber is supposed to open, again.' He was careful to skirt around that. He only gave a few comments that meant it could happen. 'What did they believe the creature to be, last time?'
'There were countless speculations, but nothing seemed to match up. There were plenty of creatures that could kill, and a fair few that could petrify, but to do both and never be spotted or seen in the castle? It was odd... Perhaps they've identified the creature since my time.' Draco rose an eyebrow.
'And yet you caught the Heir of Slytherin? Wasn't the Heir of Slytherin said to control the creature?' Something wasn't matching up... But Draco couldn't quite tell what. Why would Riddle want to lie?
'I didn't catch the true Heir of Slytherin, I just caught Rubeus Hagrid showing sympathy to a monster I don't think anyone could control - even the Heir. Perhaps he was used, or perhaps he just became caught in the crossfire... And I never saw the monster. No one really did, it hid too well.'
'So you caught Hagrid with a monster that not even the Heir of Slytherin could control. Did you consider this was not the monster the Heir of Slytherin was meant to control?' Something didn't add up. Hadn't he said Hagrid was the Heir of Slytherin?
'The attacks stopped as soon as Hagrid was caught - once the monster fled the castle, I suppose. There was never any other attacks after that, and no one was ever hurt in that manner again. I can only assume Hagrid played a heavy part in whatever happened.'
'If you caught Hagrid, you must have caught sight of the monster. That is, if he was trying to take care of this beast.'
'Vaguely. I found him in the dungeons during the night, so I only saw a vague, half-formed shape. I can show you the memory if you wish. My diary can also work like a pensieve, if needed.' Draco's breath caught and he tensed. That... Something. He was getting a bad feeling of some sort. He didn't know what about this, but he did not trust Riddle enough for that. He closed the diary and shoved it under his bed. He did not trust Riddle.
Too much didn't add up about him, too much felt wrong - felt off. And now Riddle was offering to take him into the diary? It didn't feel right... Maybe his father had been looking for this diary for a reason. He had been getting rid of cursed objects... Glancing back under the bed, Draco stood and left the room quickly, heading for Harry's. He stopped in front of it, examining the ebony door before sighing. It was late. Maybe Harry was asleep, and he was about to wake him up...
Chewing on his lower lip, Draco leaned forward enough to press his ear against the door. He didn't hear anything for a moment, but right before he pulled away, there was the sound of bare feet against carpeted floor. Draco knocked on the door quietly. "Harry? Are...you alright?" Silence, footsteps, and then the door opening to show Harry. The child looked as if had just rolled out of bed, hair a wreck and glasses only half on his face.
"What? Oh, yeah, I mean. Yeah. Just- Yeah. It's weird, you know? Being allowed to go anywhere I want and not having to stay curled up in one position for long periods of time- It's weird, so just. Yeah. Walking around."
Looking back down at the ground, Draco rubbed at his arm. "Is... Is it alright if I stay in here, for the night?" He had barely finished when he felt his hand gently taken, Harry dragging him in and pushing and nudging him to sit on the bed. It was, somehow, covered in even more drawings. These, it seemed, were of all of them. Their friends.
"'Course you can, I mean, technically your house, and we share beds near all the time at this point anyways. So, yeah. 'S fine." Draco smiled and sat down, looking over all the drawings.
"I stand by my earlier statement. You're really good at drawing." A glance up showed Harry had a dull flush on his cheeks, a hand running through his messy hair.
"Yeah, well... Thanks. I still think I need some work on people, though."
Looking Harry over, Draco grinned and adjusted until he was facing Harry straight on. "Alright. Draw me."
"Wha- S-Sure?" Harry dug around before bringing over parchment and a muggle quill. "It'll be pretty boring."
"I'm alright with that. I can just keep to my thoughts. I'm a great conversationalist." His smile grew as Harry started to get settled.
"Fine, fine. It's not going to be all that good, either," Harry warned, looking to be studying Draco's face.
"Practice makes perfect." Huh. Draco was starting to feel better, already. Lighter. Like a weight was taken off his shoulders.
Harry gave a vague him, already working on the drawing, parchment braced against a textbook. Draco smiled a bit brighter, settling in for a while. This was nice. This was... This was peaceful. And soft. And quiet. It was something he wasn't used to anymore, but when he was with Harry, like this. The two tucked away in a bed with nothing but gentle moonlight lighting the room... He could finally remember how to relax. To stop expecting the worse at any moment. "Did you have another nightmare?"
"I didn't even get to sleep," Draco snorted. "If it's alright, I'd rather not talk about it." If they talked about it, then it wouldn't be this relaxing sort of calm, anymore... And Draco really didn't want to lose that.
"Alright." Harry dropped the subject at once, tilting the parchment this way and that way as he sketched in finer details. "How worried are we going to have to be about Lockhart this year?"
Draco groaned. "I'd rather not even think about that. The man's a bloody loon!" Draco nearly fell back in his dramatics before remembering that Harry was still sketching him, and he kept as still as he could.
"I'll take that as a yes to this year being horrible," Harry mused, nibbling at the - pencil? pen? one of those things - with a very focused expression. "Tilt your head a bit to the right."
"Wh- No. This is how I'm sitting. You can't change how I'm sitting." Raising an eyebrow, Harry leaned over, a warm hand on Draco's cheek that tilted his head just so. "Wha- Hey!" Draco frowned, tilting his head back the other way.
"No- Don't move back," Harry huffed, tilting Draco's head again and keeping his hand on his cheek. "Stay."
"I am not a crup. You can't tell me what to do." Even as Harry slowly withdrew his hand, though, Draco remained as he was positioned. Only because he didn't want to ruin Harry's drawing.
"What is a crup, anyways? You keep using that." The child looked so natural when sketching, as if it was something he been practicing for years - he probably had been, actually.
"It's... I think it's like a dog, but they're just more common, in the wizarding world. I'll show you a book, once you're done." There wasn't much of a response, Harry wrapped up in what he was doing now, sketching loosely and quickly and this was actually interesting to watch. He didn't get to see Harry looking so focused and serious very often. Draco watched him, smiling softly. It was nice, getting to see Harry enjoy things and just...be a child. Once it seemed that Harry paused for a moment, he reached over and tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. "Do you ever brush your hair?"
"N... No, I could never get a brush through it," Harry mumbled, gaze going back down to his work, head tilted down as well. "The only time it's been brushed has been when you brushed it."
"Maybe I can teach you to brush your hair," Draco chuckled, going back carefully to his position and letting his eyes slip closed as he let himself drink in the peace. He wanted to fall back again, but only so that he could fall asleep. He needed to start sleeping with Harry, more often, it did wonders for his mental psyche.
He might have started drifting at one point, since it seemed like only a second before he felt Harry's hand on his cheek, lingering for a long while as he tilted his head in different directions here and there. "Are you nearly done," Draco asked quietly.
"Almost. You can lay down if you want, I got most of what I need already." Draco hummed and laid back, doing his best to not crumple any of the drawings. A few minutes later, he found himself with his head in Harry's lap. Though Harry was pretty comfy...and warm. Meh. He didn't need to move. Especially when he felt a hand carding through his hair, fingertips rubbing at his scalp moment after moment.
"Thanks. Promise I'll tell you, one day." The scratching of Harry's pen had him drifting further and further, Harry's light humming under his breath lulling him under, and, right...
This wasn't so bad.
