Malfoy Manor was big. That's the first thing Harry thought to himself when he saw from the outside. The second thought that came to him was that it looked like a place where a fairy tale's villain would live. He also noticed that Mr. Malfoy was watching him, studying him, anticipating his reaction to the manor.
"It is beautiful, sir!" Harry said, and Mr. Malfoy seemed to be satisfied with this reaction.
They went inside, and as soon as they entered, Draco came running to greet him.
"You were right, Draco." Mr. Malfoy said, as he put away his cane on what seemed to be a special cane-holder. Whatever they're called. "The muggles were not treating him well."
"Are you okay?"
Harry assured him that he was okay. They spent the afternoon playing Quidditch. And the day after. And the day after.
Harry also got to meet Mrs. Malfoy. They had very limited interactions as the manor was very big, and they rarely came across one another. They did all sit for meals together, but they mostly ate in silence, and even when they conversed over dinner, Mrs. Malfoy rarely participated in conversation.
Harry did find out, though, that the Malfoys were Dobby's masters. He didn't say a thing about it in front of Mr. Malfoy, though, because he is probably behind whatever plot Dobby was warning him from. He was friends with Draco, but he knows not to trust Mr. Malfoy. Especially after what Ron told him about him, allegedly, supporting Voldemort during the war. Harry doesn't know if it's true, but he's got to be careful.
A few days later, the letters came, and they made plans to visit Diagon Alley to get the supplies they needed. A week later, they did.
"Harry!" A voice from behind them called. He turned around.
"Hermione!" She ran up to him and hugged him tightly.
"How have you been? I've been sending you letters! Have you been receiving them? I haven't heard from you…" She then noticed Draco and Mr. Malfoy, whom she greeted politely. They did the same, barely.
Harry and Hermione conversed for a bit, and then she had to go find her parents.
"You know, Harry," Lucius said once Hermione was gone, "you should be careful."
"Of what, sir?"
"The muggle-borns. They're not to be trusted."
"Hermione's my friend." Harry said politely but firmly. Lucius huffed, but said nothing more.
As the day progressed, their lists got shorter. The next stop: Flourish and Blotts.
When they entered the shop, Harry caught glimpse of the Weasleys. They're hard to miss, even in a crowd.
"Hey Ron!" Harry called out, Ron turned around.
"Oh, hey Harry!" Ron waved, as Harry walked up to the bunch.
Harry greeted Mrs. Weasley, who was trying really hard to push through the crowd to meet Gilderoy Lockhart. She was in luck, because…
"The Boy Who Lived!" Lockhart must've spotted Harry, because all heads turned to him.
"He's with me!" announced Mrs. Weasley. And they both made their way to the front stage.
As Harry made his way to Lockhart, he looked back and witnessed Mr. Malfoy approaching the Weasley kids. This cannot be good.
"Harry Potter what a pleasure! What an honor! We should take a photograph!"
Harry did not enjoy being famous.