Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
June 20th, 1992
"It feels strange to be going home, doesn't it?" Hermione asked as she, Harry, and Ron boarded the train to go home.
Harry looked back at Hagrid and gave another wave. "I'm not going home. Not really." He murmured. Hogwarts had been more of a home this past year than the Dursleys ever had been. His first year at Hogwarts had been amazing, a little scary, and very eventful. But for once he had real friends and a place where he felt he belonged.
Ron looked at his friend sympathetically. He knew Harry didn't look forward to going home to his relatives and after hearing about them, he couldn't blame him. "Maybe you can visit my house this summer," he suggested as they found a compartment.
Harry brightened. "That would be brilliant!" He said enthusiastically.
"You mean he can visit your hovel?" A snotty voice asked.
Harry turned and glared at Draco Malfoy. "Eavesdropping? Is that really becoming of a pure-blooded wizard?" he asked sarcastically.
Draco scowled at him. "Don't want to go home, Potter? Why? Aren't you wanted?" He snickered.
Since he knew he wasn't wanted, the barb stung a bit. "Sod off, Malfoy," he muttered. He ignored the inquisitiveness that entered the Slytherin's eyes.
"How about you leave or else I'll ask Fred and George to use you as a guinea pig for their prank experiments?" Ron smirked.
Draco rolled his eyes but left their compartment.
"He's such a git," Ron said.
Harry nodded. He may have to put up with his relatives but at least he would have a Malfoy-free summer.
/
"Bye Harry! I'll write you!" Ron called.
"Me too! And don't wait until the last week to start on your summer homework!" Hermione yelled from where she stood with her parents.
Harry laughed and waved goodbye before he walked across the platform to find his relatives. At least, he hoped he would find them. He wouldn't put it past them to not pick him up. He noticed Draco standing with two people who must be his parents. Catching eye contact, he gave the blonde a mock salute and then he scanned the area until he saw his uncle standing by the car, Dudley and his aunt sitting inside. He pulled his luggage cart towards them.
"There you are, you horrid little brat," Vernon grumbled once Harry got close. "Get your trunk in the car so we can go." He ordered.
"Hello to you too," Harry muttered as he tried to lift his trunk into the boot of the car. He yelped as he was grabbed roughly by the arm.
"What did you say?" Vernon snapped, shaking him. He slapped him and then flung away, watching with a sneer as Harry ended up in a heap on the ground. "You should be grateful we're here to pick up. It's not like we want you back!" He spat. His aunt smirked at him from inside the car.
Harry slowly got up, rubbing his sore cheek. "Trust me, I don't want to live with you." He said evenly. "I asked if I could stay at the castle, but the Headmaster said no." Dumbledore had told him that it was safer for him at his relatives' house. Whatever that meant.
"Of course he did. No one wants a freak like you." Vernon snorted.
"A freak, did you say?"
Harry turned and groaned inwardly when he saw Draco standing with the two adults. The man had long blonde hair and the same gray eyes as Draco while the woman, who also had blonde hair which was twisted up into a fancy bun, had pale blue eyes.
The man tapped his cane on the floor. "And why is he a freak?" He asked coolly.
Vernon glared at him. "He's unnatural, with his magic." He spat out the last word. He looked them over. "I assume you're the same."
The man gave Vernon a dark look. "Do you mean am I a wizard? Then yes." He eyed Vernon with clear distaste. "I assume you are a muggle." He grimaced.
"What's a muggle?" Vernon demanded.
Petunia got out of the car and came up to them. "What is going on? Is the boy causing trouble?" She glared at Harry. "Too bad you didn't get yourself killed with that stone business." She said maliciously.
"You know about that?" Harry asked in surprise.
"We received a letter about it, in case we wanted to visit you while you recovered," Petunia smirked. "We had a good laugh over that."
"Too bad he recovered," Vernon mumbled. "And let your school know we don't want letters from them. Having those ruddy owls come by is embarrassing. Unless of course, it's to inform us of your demise."
"Lucius, the child can not go with them," The woman said in an appalled voice. "They are completely horrid."
"I can see that, Narcissa," Lucius said, still eyeing the Dursleys distastefully.
"Us? At least we are normal, decent people." Petunia said haughtily.
"Decent?" Draco asked incredulously. "You hit him!"
"Draco," Lucius murmured. He eyed Harry, his eyes flickering to the mark on his cheek. "Do you wish to go with them, Mr. Potter?"
Harry hesitated. What kind of choice was this? To go with his horrible relatives or the Malfoys? If Draco was a git, didn't that mean his parents were gits too? "No, Sir. I don't," he said finally. He would rather take his chances with the Malfoys.
"Very well, you will come with us," Lucius said with a decisive nod.
"Now wait a moment. We may not want the boy but he is our nephew. And I've got a lot of yard work for him to do," Vernon said.
"And housework," Petunia added. "It's the only thing he's good for. Cooking and cleaning."
"He is their house-elf," Narcissa said in disbelief.
"What's a house-elf?" Harry asked Draco in confusion.
"A servant," Draco said, eyeing him strangely. He had mentioned to his parents about Potter not wanting to go home and how strange he thought that was. What kid didn't want to go home for the summer, especially after being away from their family for so long? He didn't know why he cared, it's not like they were friends or anything. But he found himself bothered by it, and his parents had apparently agreed as they had followed Potter across the platform. They had wanted to see the interaction between Potter and his relatives. Seeing Potter's uncle hit him had been shocking.
"It is time to go," Lucius said briskly.
"Now wait a minute -" Vernon started.
"The boy does not want to go with you, and I do not blame him. You are abusive to the child." Lucius said coldly.
Vernon bristled. "We are not! He's a freak! We -"
"Stupefy," Lucius said in a bored voice with barely a flick of his wand.
Vernon fell over.
"Vernon!" Petunia gasped.
Harry stared at his uncle wide-eyed. "What spell was that?" He asked Mr. Malfoy.
"The stunning spell," Lucius answered. "He will come around in a few minutes."
"Oh," Harry said. He caught Petunia giving him a dirty look and he smirked in response. No one had ever stuck up for him before and it felt really good that someone finally had. Without a glance back, he followed the Malfoys.
/
"Where are we going?" Harry asked, walking beside Draco as they followed his parents.
"To the Apparition point," Draco said.
"What is Apparition?"
"Geez, don't you know anything?" Draco rolled his eyes.
"Well, excuse me! The wizarding world is still new to me all right?" Harry huffed. "Are your parents as rude as you?"
"I'm not rude! Malfoys have impeccable manners," Draco said snottily.
Harry snorted. "Right."
"Boys, no squabbling," Lucius ordered without turning around.
"Sorry, Father," Draco said immediately.
"Sorry, Sir," Harry said automatically.
"Take my arm, dear," Narcissa said a moment later, holding out her arm to Harry. "Apparation can be slightly uncomfortable when you are new to it." She warned him.
Harry watched as Draco took his father's arm and then he tentatively took Mrs. Malfoy's arm. "How uncomfortable?" He gasped as everything went black and he felt pressed hard from all directions. It was like he couldn't breathe, it was like he was being turned inside out.
Suddenly everything was bright again Harry realized they were standing in a wide driveway. A high hedge curved around them and in the distance was a pair of impressive wrought-iron gates. Harry watched gobsmacked as a pure-white peacock rested along the top of the hedge. And beyond that, was a beautiful manor.
"Wow," Harry breathed. He couldn't help but be somewhat impressed. He had never seen a home so grand.
"Spectacular right?" Draco gloated.
"Draco, please remember your manners," Narcissa scolded him. "I certainly hope you do not act this way at school."
Harry snickered. "Should I tell her the truth or do you want to?" he teased Draco quietly.
"Oh hush," Draco said, feeling a twinge of amusement.
Once inside, Harry admired the beautiful place. "Your home is amazing," Harry said to Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy as he looked around the spacious, elegant living room.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter," Lucius said, studying the boy. He wasn't sure what he had expected when meeting the child but it wasn't such a nice, polite boy. According to letters from Severus, he was an arrogant child, although Lucius didn't see that trait. He wondered if his friend was aware of how Potter was treated by his relatives. He couldn't imagine Severus knowing and doing nothing about it, even if it was James Potter's son.
"Isn't he a sweet boy?" Narcissa whispered to him with a smile.
"He isn't what I expected," Lucius admitted.
"Despite Draco always saying he doesn't like him, he seems rather focused on him," Narcissa commented. "He acted truly concerned about Mr. Potter not wanting to go home for the summer."
"I wanted to hex that man when he hurt the boy," Lucius admitted.
"Oh, so did I," Narcissa said darkly. "To treat a child like that. I can't believe it." She shook her head. "Do you think the Headmaster knows?"
"He better not," Lucius said darkly.
Narcissa turned to the boys. "Mr. Potter, how is your cheek?" She asked in concern.
"Oh, it's not that bad," Harry said, absently touching his face. He'd had worse over the years.
"I will get some bruise balm to put on it. Would you like something to drink? Pumpkin juice, perhaps?" Narcissa asked.
"Yes Ma'am, that would be great," Harry said, brightening. He loved pumpkin juice!
"Draco?"
"Yes please, Mother."
"Tipsey!" Narcissa called.
The house-elf popped into the room. "Yes Mistress Narcissa?"
"The boys would each like a glass of pumpkin juice."
"Boys?" Tipsey turned and then stared in shock at Harry.
"This is Mr. Potter, Tipsey. He will be visiting for a while," Lucius said. He wasn't sure where Potter would stay for the summer, he was just sure it wouldn't be with those muggles. He would need to contact the Headmaster and he would contact Severus as well.
"Tipsey? Is there a problem?" Narcissa asked as the house-elf just stood there.
Tipsey continued to stare at Harry. "Hadrian?" She finally whispered.
TBC: