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PseudonymousEntity

Friend or Foe

"Your worst Enemy could be your best Friend, and your best Friend could be your worst Enemy." -Marley

Summary: Draco being bullied by his father really pisses Harry off. Goblet of Fire.

Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy.

Warnings: Suggestions?

AN: Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Theories and Limericks are always welcomed, in whatever order of importance you choose to give.

ANx2: I'm alive, I swear.

Ever Yours, Pseu

"In the presence of the moon, nobody sees the stars."

-A. Kalantri

Chapter ?

"Harry!"

The-boy-who-lived resigned himself to being suffocated by frizzy hair for several minutes. "Oh, Harry dear you're here? I didn't see you come in..." Yeah well, you missed the baby death eater in here as well. Maybe you should work on that.

Harry swallowed a sigh. Hermione was great. Mrs Weasley was amazing. Really. He just wished they'd learned the concept of personal space at some point in their lives. Harry turned his head to suck in a breath, glimpsing an amused pair of identical eyes. He appreciated the sentiment but honestly!

Finally, they backed off a bit. Not out of the belief the time for smothering him was over but to look him over for further excuses to resume their smothering. In this respect, Hermione Granger and Molly Weasley were very much alike. Harry almost groaned aloud if it wouldn't induce them into hysteria believing something was wrong.

"Glad to see you made it back as well dear," Mrs Weasley said finally, patting his cheek. Harry swallowed an annoyed sigh. A few days ago he'd have been worried about someone coming back from the Malfoys' intact as well. She meant the best, he knew.

"Yes, I'm alive and remain in possession of all of my limbs, as you can see, and am fairly certain I'm not an impostor in disguise."

Mrs Weasley gave him a cheery laugh, bustling her way to the kitchen.

"I never understand your jokes Harry dear."

Hermione was not so easily swayed. She walked around him, chattering about something, her eyes glued to him. What she was looking for he was never one hundred percent certain. Expecting to read the truth out of him as if it were written on his skin perhaps. Near her Ron stood by, eyes flickering to Harry while the rest of him engaged in conversation with his family. The lot of the reds heads assuring one another that they were all safe and sound and regaling them with their memories of the night before. Then they mentioned something that had Harry's head snapped to the right, ignoring Hermione's continued perusal of his well being.

"Dark Mark? What's that?"

"You-know-who's mark." Explained Charlie. He stood by the twins and Ron. Bill was off to the side whispering with Arthur. "You'd find it left over houses or buildings as a sort of...calling card., Letting you know that they had been there. Or sometimes even as a warning...that they were coming. It's a skull and a-"

"Snake." Harry finished. So that's what that thing he'd seen the sky had been. And why Draco had said it was nothing good. He frowned, oblivious to the surprised looks around him. But it had come later, what was it that made everyone lose their minds to begin with? Hermione reached up to examine his head -he had no idea why, to see if he were bruised or had been recently cursed maybe?- and he snapped. "Will you leave it be, witch? I'm fine."

Hermione pulled her hand back in surprise. Quickly enough her eyes narrowed and she turned her head away. "I was only concerned."

"Your concern is noted." Said Harry, dryly. He heard Bill snicker.

Shortly after they were all shooed to the kitchen for an early lunch after which they were encouraged to eat some of the many wonderful smelling baked goods Mrs Weasley had made in her family's absence. Harry accidentally overheard Mr and Mrs Weasley arguing in the foyer. Mrs Weasley seemed very upset that Arthur hadn't sent an owl home no matter how many times he explained he wasn't allowed to. Something about questioning and a wand-

"Harry," Ron called, causing the dark haired Gryffindor in question to jump. Harry wondered if pointing out he was trying to eavesdrop -after accidentally doing so of course- would get the other to be quieter or louder to spite him? No, Ron's ears were turning red. Darn.

"Yes, Ron?" He asked.

The redhead shifted his weight on his feet. "Are you going to tell me what's going on? First I turn around and you're gone. Next thing I know you're chumming it up with Malfoy and his father. And now you're invited to the training camp -thanks for telling me about that mate- and that's all my family will talk about. And you spent the night with Malfoy and Viktor Krum and you stayed with him instead of coming with me and Hermione. You should have come with us it would have been safer than sneaking about in the dark with death eater spawn. You know his father was out there with them Harry. And now you're here and you look like that."

Harry blinked. "Look like what?" He resisted the urge to look down at himself. He was pretty certain he'd managed not to ruin the clothes Draco leant him. Merlin new what sarcastic remarks the blonde would come up with if Harry managed to ruin them so quickly.

Ron scowled. "I don't know. Like a pureblood or something."

"Ron you are a pureblood."

"Well yeah," Ron rolled his eyes. "But I'm not one of those kind." And then Harry entered the twilight zone of Ron referencing pureblood customs.

"One of what kind?"

"You know...all posh and stuck up and stuff."

"How do you dress stuck up?" Harry asked, partially grinning.

Ron flushed. "Shut it, Harry, you know what I mean. You've got expensive clothes on and your hair is all...fancy. One night with Malfoy and you're looking like just as much a prat as he is."

What a load of bollocks. Ron was jealous Harry got to meet his idol Viktor Krum and annoyed he spent time with Malfoy instead of him. But, yes, let's pretend we're afraid for Harry's potential corruption at the hands of the evil Slytherins. That's totally it. "Thanks for the warning." Said, Harry. "When I start calling Hermione foul names and making you sick up slugs we'll know my transformation is complete."

"That's not what I mean mate," Ron backtracked. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, the thrust both hands into his pockets. "I just. I just want to understand."

Harry nodded slowly, thinking carefully. How to ease this with out lying out right? He wouldn't be able to tell Ron what was going on. What he'd seen. What he knew now. Harry wasn't certain Ron would believe it was anything other than some sort of dark trap of some kind. Which was ridiculous. Still, he didn't like the idea of betraying Draco's confidence like that either. Ron was that last person Draco would want to know. After Harry himself, and that was out of their hands.

"I was issued an invitation. I accepted. Malfoy was getting me up to date on everything I need to know. His family runs it, you know? It's sort of his responsibility."

Sort of. Kind of.

Ron relaxed marginally. "I suppose."

Harry bumped his shoulder against Ron. "Enough dramatics, lets fly!"

"Did someone say fly?"

"Wait for me I'll get my broomstick."

"I wanna play too!"

Ah yes, the way to any Weasley's heart. Quidditch. Works like a charm.

Pseudonymous Entity

2017

"Part of avoiding thoughts about something was not encouraging opportunities for that something to make itself known." -K. Cashore

Notes:

I'm doing my best to get chapters out for you. I really do feel terrible that I haven't been available much as of late. There is a lot going on IRL that I am having to deal with. Two family members have left us for the hereafter. People are moving, and arguing, and problems are continuously arising. I wish I wasn't in the thick of it all but there is where I find myself. Constantly dragged back in. I am putting forth every effort to get chapters edited and posted for you, if you will only bare with me. - ever yours, pseu

Comments, Questions, Theories, Suggestions, Guesses and Limericks always welcomed.

-Pseu