Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I attempting to make any personal gain from this story.
Harry Slithers-in; Chamber of Secrets: Chapter 2: Happy Birthday, Harry
The morning of Harry's birthday dawned with the Dursleys still treating Harry as badly as ever. Petunia said, "After breakfast you will mow the lawn then weed the flower beds. Make sure you do it properly or there will be hell to pay."
"Remember, this evening Mrs. Malfoy will be returning to pick me up. She will be unhappy if I tell her you me do all the chores on my birthday," Harry replied.
"Are you threatening me?" Petunia snapped.
"No," Harry said. "I am stating a fact. I will mow the lawns since that is a reasonable request but, after that, I am going to relax and enjoy my birthday. Mrs. Malfoy will be here about 5pm and I expect to have had a shower and have everything packed by that time. That will take several hours so, after lunch, I will be too busy to do any extra chores."
"Fine," snapped Petunia. "Don't expect anything for lunch, though." Harry left the kitchen.
That had been a typical morning regime for Harry over the last week and a half. The chores he was asked to do varied but the tone and the threats were still the same. Harry's response was always the same too; he would do some chores and then he would sneak into the kitchen and eat any leftover bread and other foods that had been left lying around. He knew these food items were being left out deliberately for him by Petunia but he never let on the fact he knew.
Today, however, was different. Mrs. Malfoy was arriving that evening to take Harry to a birthday party and, after that, he would be staying at Malfoy Manor for about two weeks. What would happen after that was less certain; Ron Weasley had invited him to stay while Tracey Davis had indicated her family were making arrangements for him as well. Harry had already decided the Weasleys would be a last resort option, however. He would only go there if nothing else came up in the meantime.
5pm rolled around and Mrs. Malfoy rang the doorbell exactly at the stated time. Harry greeted her and invited her to come inside while he went to collect his trunk. The Dursleys had told him to keep his trunk in his room until she arrived so it didn't 'clutter up the place' as they had put it.
When Harry had dragged his trunk down the stairs he found Vernon and Petunia standing in the hall having a 'polite' conversation with their guest. After some final pleasantries and goodbyes Mrs. Malfoy asked Harry to hold her arm while she grasped one of the handles on Harry's trunk. With a loud pop they vanished right in front of the startled Dursleys.
This was Harry's first experience of apparation. It came as quite a shock; one moment he was standing face to face with the Dursleys and the next he felt as if he was being crushed by an infinitely small space. A moment later he was standing outside the gate of a vast country estate, his view dominated by a huge Manor house that must have been ten times the size of the Dursley's townhouse. He staggered slightly on landing and felt somewhat dizzy and a little queasy for a few moments. Mrs. Malfoy had stepped away from him as they arrived and Harry guessed this might be a precaution in case he threw up but he did manage to hold his lunch.
"I take it that was your first time apparating?" Mrs. Malfoy asked.
"Yes, ma'am, it was," Harry said.
"It does take some getting used to but it is by far the quickest method of travelling over long distances. It is a subject taught at Hogwarts but not until your 6th year." Mrs. Malfoy then tapped Harry's trunk with her wand causing it to float into the air beside her while she placed her hand against the wrought iron gates which immediately swung open.
Harry followed Narcissa to up the front entrance of the Manor where they were greeted by Draco. "Hello, Potter. Welcome to Malfoy Manor," Draco said in a posh sounding voice.
"Hello, Malfoy. It's good to see you again," Harry replied while trying to keep a straight face.
"Draco," Narcissa began, "Kindly show our guest to his rooms and then both of you get dressed. We are going out for dinner this evening and I want you both ready to leave by 5-45."
"Of course, mother." Draco said before turning to Harry. "Please follow me."
Harry followed Draco while his trunk floated along on its own behind them. Harry soon realised he would have his own suite of rooms including his own bathroom. He was amazed and began to realise just how wealthy the Malfoys must be. Some of the artwork was obviously valuable while the sheer size of the Manor was astounding. Presently, Draco opened a door and invited Harry to enter.
"These will be your rooms for the next two weeks," Draco said. "I hope you will find them satisfactory."
"I'm sure I will, thank you," Harry said. Draco showed him the ensuite and a separate drawing room before reminding him they needed to get ready for dinner. He said his rooms were next door and that Harry was welcome to visit at any time.
Harry changed and headed back downstairs to the main hall. Mrs. Malfoy was waiting for him along with a man who must be Draco's father. Mr Malfoy stood as Harry appeared. "Mr. Potter," he began, "a pleasure to meet you. I am Lucius Malfoy, entrepreneur, Hogwarts school governor and advisor to the Minister of Magic." Mr. Malfoy extended his hand which Harry shook. As they were shaking Draco descended the staircase and joined them.
"A pleasure to meet you, sir," Harry replied to Mr. Malfoy. "I thank you for inviting me to be your house guest for the next two weeks." Harry response drew smiles from all the Malfoys. Harry was relieved; this meant he had managed to avoid any serious faux-pars in what was his first encounter with an aristocrat.
Narcissa once again took Harry's hand while Lucius took Draco's. A few uncomfortable moments later and Harry was standing in a part of Diagon Alley he was not familiar with. They were outside an upmarket restaurant called the Gilded Galleon. Harry followed the Malfoys inside.
"Mr. Malfoy," the Head Waiter said when they entered. "Your table is ready and your other guests have arrived. This way, please."
Harry glanced at Draco. "Other guests?"
"You'll see," Draco replied. "And, by the way, well done back at the Manor. Pansy's etiquette lessons really are paying off."
They followed the waiter to a private room. There were seven other people present when they entered. Harry was directed to the head of the table since he was guest of honour. Immediately to his left sat Tracey and following around the table from there in order were: Mrs. Davis, Robert, Daphne Greengrass, a man Harry didn't know but guessed must be Daphne's father, Mrs. Greengrass, Astoria, Lucius, Draco and, immediately to Harry's right, Narcissa.
"Welcome Harry, and happy birthday," Tracey said. "I think the only person here you don't know is Lord Cyril Greengrass, my uncle." Tracey said that last bit quietly while pointing out the man seated between Daphne and her mother.
"A pleasure to meet you, sir," Harry said addressing Lord Greengrass.
"It is a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Potter," was the reply.
The meal lasted for about an hour at the end of which Harry received a few presents from his friends before Mrs. Malfoy took his hand and apparated back to the Manor. Once Draco and Lucius returned a moment later the boys headed upstairs so Harry could open his presents. Tracey had given him a silver tie clip which Draco showed him how to apply correctly. He also received presents from Daphne, Pansy, Blaise, Theo, Hermione Granger and even Ron Weasley. Ron and Hermione's presents had been sent to the Davis' to be forwarded to him. After opening all his presents put them away (except for the sweets which he began eating) and went to bed.
The next two weeks were the best Harry had ever had. He and Draco flew around in the backyard whenever the weather permitted and, when it was wet, they stayed indoors doing other things. Harry showed Draco the muggle board game he had been given a week before his birthday when the Dursleys still thought it was a muggle child welfare officer that was coming to visit but Draco didn't seem interested. He decided he would show Tracey next time they got together since she had more experience and interest in the muggle world. Often Crabbe and Goyle would drop by which allowed Harry the chance to practice his flying skills against different opponents as well as allowing more opportunity for fun.
Finally his last day with the Malfoys arrived. Harry made sure everything was packed since he wouldn't be returning to Malfoy Manor after their trip to Diagon Alley, he would instead be staying with the Greengrasses for the remainder of the holidays. He had written to Ron Weasley saying he wouldn't be coming to visit and politely turning down their invitation. He would, however, be meeting with the Weasleys and Hermione Granger in Diagon Alley since they were all coming in on the same day.
After delivering his trunk to the Greengrasses Harry, along with Draco, was standing in front of the fireplace in the lounge when he asked, "How are we getting to Diagon Alley today?"
"You and I are going to use floo powder," Draco explained.
"What's floo powder?"
"This is." Draco took a handful of a glittering powder from a flower pot on the mantelpiece, letting it trickle through his fingers. "I take it you've never travelled by floo powder before?"
"No, I Haven't," Harry said.
"Well, this is how you do it: first of all, take a deep breath and throw the powder into the fire before stepping into the flames. It might help if you cover your mouth until you are ready to speak. That way you avoid getting a mouthful of ash. When you are ready say the name of the place you want to go to. Make sure you speak clearly and remember to keep your elbows tucked in. Got that?"
"I think so," Harry said. He was still uncertain about it, however.
Just then Lucius and Narcissa arrived.
"I have been instructing Harry on how to use floo powder," Draco explained.
"Have you never used it before?" Narcissa asked him.
"No ma'am, I haven't," Harry replied.
"Draco, perhaps you should go first," Narcissa suggested.
Draco took a pinch of the powder and sprinkled it in the fire. The flames turned an emerald green. He then took a deep breath and stepped into the flames and said "Diagon Alley." With a whoosh Draco disappeared from sight.
"That is how you do it," Narcissa said. "Just copy Draco and you will arrive safely. Off you go, then."
Harry did as he was told. The flames were pleasantly warm but there was a lot of soot and he remembered to place his hand over his mouth until he was ready. Once settled he removed his hand and said "Diagon Alley." A moment later he was spinning in a warm breeze. He thought he could see brief glimpses of other rooms beyond the flames but nothing definite. After a few more moments he suddenly felt himself being sucked out of the flames. His feet hit solid ground and he stumbled. Somebody caught him before he hit the ground. Looking up he saw Draco holding his arm.
"I knew that would happen," Draco said as he helped Harry to his feet. "Same thing happened to me first time I used floo powder, too."
Lucius and Narcissa arrived a moment later. They were standing in the Leaky Cauldron; the entrance to Diagon Alley right before them.