Part 2
Chapter 41
#
The first month of break went by fast. It was time that Remus and I had all to ourselves. We visited historical sites, libraries, museums and much more. I relished our time together, since I won't be seeing him when school started, and we'll be at Draco and Narcissa's for six weeks. Not that I didn't like the idea, I loved both of them, but it also took away my alone time with Moony.
I knew Remus was itching to talk to me about Sirius. I saw him staring at me or trying to shoot me short glances, but he never brought it up, which I was happy about. I wasn't ready. Draco and Narcissa joined us two weeks ago and while Narcissa and Remus enjoyed their quiet time in the house, reading together or catching up, Draco and I roamed the streets of the little town we were staying at or made our way to the beach. That's where we are at now. I glanced to my left where Draco was lying next to me, sunbathing.
"Did you seriously forgot to ask your mum to place an anti-sunburn charm on you? On your last day?"
Draco frowned, before he opened his eyes. "What? I-" I slapped his red shoulder slightly. "Shit, that hurts." He cursed as he rubbed his arm. He pushed himself up and looked down. Not only were his shoulders red, but also his stomach, face and legs. "I'm - I'm-"
"A lobster." I bit my lip to hold in a laughter, but it came bubbling out, nonetheless. Draco turned to me with a scowl.
"Why aren't you all red? You didn't do it either." He huffed.
"First of all, I'm not as pale as you." Draco glared at me. "Second." I reached back and tossed him the sunscreen. Draco frowned as he inspected the bottle. "It works. Maybe you should use it next time."
"Yeah, yeah. What now?" He looked at me.
"Let's get you out of the sun. I have after-sun at the house." I said standing up and started packing up our things.
"After what?" Draco asked confused as he rolled up his towel.
I chuckled lightly as we walked back, climbing over the dunes. "It will help, trust me."
#
"Fuck, this is depressing." I sighed as I glanced out the window of the manor.
"Alec." Moony said sternly.
"Sorry, but it is." The rain was falling out like cats and dogs. I missed the south of France already. "Can't we go back?" I looked over my shoulder as Remus placed his clothes in the cupboard.
"Afraid not, cub." He smiled a little. "I'm starting my new job in a few weeks, Narcissa has her charity events, and you and Draco..."
"Can go by ourselves?" I said hopeful, even though I knew the answer.
"You're not off age just yet, and Draco far from it." He placed his empty suitcase on the bed and sat down. "It's been over a month." He stated as he looked at me. I turned away from the window and leaned against it, looking at Remus.
"I'm aware."
"Alec..."
"What? What do you want from me?" I snapped a little and hung my head low.
"He's been sending letters." He waited a beat. "To you."
"You can toss them in the fire, I don't want to read them."
"He sends you one every week, I haven't read any of them." He looked at me with sad and tired eyes. "I really think you should read them, see what he has to say."
"Have you spoken to him?" I asked, glancing at him.
He nodded. "I have. I talk to him about Harry and stuff, but every time he brings you up, I shut him down, telling him it must come from you. But he brings you up quite often."
"I'm going to write to my friends, I haven't answered their letters yet since we left for France." I said changing the subject and pushing myself from the window. "We're going out to dinner tonight, yeah?" I asked as I passed him.
"Yes, just the two of us." He smiled, but his eyes still looked sad.
That evening after dinner, I closed the door from my own room at the manor behind me and changed into my pyjamas. When I placed my wand on my nightstand, I saw a small stack of envelopes. Since I had my friends' letters in my desk and already send my replies through owl, there was only one person left. Sirius. Remus must have snuck them in my room, hoping I'd read them. I put out the light and turned my back to the letters.
#
It was an early Sunday morning, a week after we got back, and I was standing in an empty street. I looked up at the mundane house with furrowed eyebrows. I heard an owl screech and then a heavy, angry, shout.
"Shut that damn bird up, boy!" Must be Vernon. I pursed my lips as I rang the doorbell. A few seconds passed before the door flew open. It revealed a heavy boy with thick blond hair about Harry's age.
"Hello." I forced a smile, the look that boy shot me, gave me an unpleasant shiver. "I'm here for Harry." The look changed into disbelief and anger. He turned around and shut the door behind him. "Alright, then." I frowned. I waited for a few seconds before raising my hand to ring the doorbell again, but the door flew open. Yes, this was Vernon. I could see his wife, standing at the end of the hallway looking at us.
"Who are you?" He snapped.
I put my forced smile back in place. "I'm Alec. I'm a friend of Harry's, from school." I saw him stiffen and remembered what Harry and Remus told me. "We went to primary school together until I had to move when I turned ten."
His shoulders relaxed a little, but he was still tense. "What do you want?" He barked.
"I wanted to see if Harry was free. Wanted to go for a walk or something, catch up you know."
His gaze was inspecting me, trying to figure out if I was lying, if I was one of his freaky friends. He looked over his shoulder to his wife, I can't seem to remember her name... I think it was some kind of flower. "Fine." He snapped. "Can you take him till tomorrow." He said, not really a question.
"Oh, I believe so." I said a little startled.
Vernon turned his big, round head and bellowed in the hallway. "Get your worthless, skinny arse in here, boy."
I seethed through my teeth but tried to hold on to my fake smile because his wife was watching me. Harry came out of the door, from the kitchen maybe. He looked confused at his aunt before coming over. I saw the shocked look in his eyes, they sparkled, but he tried to keep his face and voice neutral.
"Hey, Harry. I know it's been a few years. But I wonder if you wanted to hang out."
"Hang out?" The corner of his lips twitched.
"Get something other to wear, boy. You're staying over."
"I-" His eyes turned large as his eyes shifted from me to his uncle. "I'm what?"
"You heard me." He snapped. "Now, go. Before I have to call on Mrs Figgs."
Harry didn't need to be told twice and bounded up the stairs. The silence was deafening between the three of us. None of us looked at each other, my gaze travelled the street. I heard Harry's light footsteps on the floorboards before I saw his snowy owl fly outside.
"I want more bacon!" Dudley screamed and his mother disappeared behind the door Harry had come from. Another silent minute passed before Harry came down, with a small rug shack on his shoulder. He didn't speak to his uncle; maybe afraid he would change his mind. He stepped out of the house, next to me.
"Good luck with this one." Vernon sneered with an evil smirk and closed the door in front of us.
I stared at Harry, and when I went to open my mouth, he placed his finger on it. "Not here." He whispered as he lowered his finger when I nodded. I looped my arm through his and walked away from that dreadful house. After we passed the second corner, I stuck out my wand. The next moment the Knight Bus appeared in front of us. I placed the money in the young man's hand with a nod and he smiled.
"Harry, long time no see." He said after Harry stepped in behind me.
"Hey, Stan." Harry grumbled as he followed me further inside the bus.
We took place at the back of the bus where a large bench was place going from one side to the other. When Harry placed his bag on the floor between his legs, I leaned closer.
"So, you weren't exaggerating."
"No, I was not." He smiled. "How did you convince them to let me go with you?"
"I told them we were friends in primary school."
"Ah, the muggle lie then." He chuckled.
"I was surprised they said you could stay over." I frowned a little.
"That's because they have a wedding to go to. They were just discussing what to do with me before you arrived."
"I must say I have impeccable timing." I grinned as I leaned back.
"So, where are we going?"
"First we need to drop your bag off, then we can go to Diagon Alley."
"Drop off my bag." He murmured to himself. Then his eyes turned wide as he looked at me. "Malfoy Manor, you're staying at Malfoy Manor."
"Yeah." I rubbed my neck. "I know you two don't really get along, but besides being a brat sometimes, he's a good guy. I wasn't expecting you to stay over, Harry. Otherwise, we would've just gone to Diagon. But you can stay in my room, and you don't need to see him. I'll bring you breakfast and all."
"How domestic." He chuckled. "No, you don't need to do that for me. I think I can stand to be around him for a few hours."
"Good." I nodded. "I think you two would really get along, if you put your differences aside."
Harry didn't answer as Stan just called up. "Curly, Harry, your stop!"
"Curly?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow once the bus had disappeared.
"I didn't want to give my name, so he called me that." I shrugged.
"Appropriate, though." He grinned as he tucked on one of my curls. "Where are we?" He asked looking around. "It doesn't look like the manor to me."
"No, just a floo that's connected to the house." I pulled him inside a musty, old potions shop. Harry didn't ask why this shop was connected as he followed me to the back. I grabbed some floo power and gestured for him to step in. "Malfoy Manor." I called out once we were both inside.
#
I stumbled out of the large fireplace alone. I heard a thump, but Harry wasn't with me. I heard a familiar snicker from the couch.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" I cried out. "Did you just block out Harry from your floo!?"
Draco nearly rolled off the couch laughing. I couldn't help the tiny smile that appeared, just from seeing him so free and relaxed. The noise of my shouting and Draco's booming laugh made Remus and Narcissa appear.
"Aunt Cissy, Draco ordered the house elves to block out Harry. Can you-"
She smiled as she easily waved her wand on the fireplace, then she shot a stinging hex under her arm to her son. Draco's laughter stopped as he gasped. "Mother!"
Uncle Moony and I shared a glance before laughing for ourselves. I disappeared in the fireplace again, and the next moment Harry appeared with me, rubbing his head.
"Harry!" Remus smiled and clapped him on the back.
"Hi, professor."
"Just Remus, I'm not your professor anymore." He smiled softly.
"Right, Remus." He said, but just like Uncle Moony calling Dumbledore Albus, it was like a weird taste in your mouth.
"I don't know if you have met-" I said turning us to Narcissa.
She smiled warmly and outstretched her hand. "No, I haven't had the pleasure to meet you." Draco snorted and she shot him another jinx, that made him yelp and roll of the couch. "Nice to meet you, Harry."
Harry was still smirking at Draco before he turned to his mother and took her hand. "Nice to meet you too, Mrs Malfoy."
"Oh, none of that. It's Narcissa. Would you like to stay for lunch?"
"Uhm." Harry looked unsure at me.
"We're going to Diagon in a minute. But there was a change of plans though."
"Oh?" Aunt Cissy smiled.
"Well, when I went to pick up Harry -"
"Without my permission." Uncle Moony added as he came up next to Narcissa.
"When I picked up Harry." I continued, pretending I didn't hear him. But in the corner of my eye, I saw his lips twitch up. "Vernon nearly ordered me to take Harry for the night."
"Oh." Narcissa's eyes went wide as she looked from us to her son, he had crawled back on the couch at some point.
"But if that's too much to ask-" I started, but Narcissa waved her hand.
"Of course not. You're welcome to stay, Harry."
"What? Mother!" Draco whined.
"You will barely see each other. They're going over to Diagon, and you need to work on your potions. So, no more fussing, Draco." She said sternly. And I recognized the tone of voice, it was one my uncle had, not one for debate.
"Yes, mother." He grumbled softly while Harry couldn't stop grinning.