Harry- July 6th
The following morning found Harry sitting at a small table at the pub downstairs eating his eggs, bacon and toast while reading the Daily Prophet. He planned to go clothes shopping next and then to go to Flourish & Blots and begin his shopping that way. He walked down the alley towards the shop that had had seen the previous day. Walking in Harry was greeted by a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, "Can I help you Mr. Potter?" Harry nodded, "I need a complete wardrobe, everything from day robes, to trousers, sweaters, button-ups under things, and shoes if you have them." The blonde smiled, "Katie Abbott by the way." Harry smiled, "I'm Harry, Harry Potter." Katie pulled out a measuring tape and set straight to work.
Once she had the measurements, he took Harry to look at trousers, and button-ups first. Harry selected three pairs of trousers in black, grey, and tan, and then matching button-up shirts. Harry then chooses to add a green and a red buttonup and sweaters in each color. Then they selected robes to go with. Katie even showed Harry back to a selection of shoes and boots. Harry picked out brown and black dress shows, and black and grey dragon hide boots and tried them on.
Once he had found things that fit him, he asked for resizing, and antiwrinkle charms to be added to each of his purchases. Harry paid for his purchases and looked then made is way over Flourish & Blots Bookstore. He browsed but then decided that he should come back when he had more of an idea of what he was looking for in order to improve his academics. He went to the Owl Emporium and purchased some owl feed and treats for Hedwig.
That evening Hedwig returned to Harry during dinner. He was reading his first-year transfiguration textbook and eating a delicious order of fish and chips and sipping his butterbeer. He gave Hedwig stroked Hedwigs feathers as he finished his food and then took her up to the room where he was staying and worked on a letter to Professor McGonagall.
Professor,
I don't want to be ungrateful. I just want to be able to make my way should I survive to finish Hogwarts, anyhow. I know that I have been scheduled to take divination the last couple of years, but I would like to drop the class and sit my OWL and NEWT exams later if necessary for runes and arithmancy. Is that even an option for me? I have decided toeven arrange for tutoring in order to try and catch up with my peers.
-HJP
That evening found a beautiful golden Eagle Owl landing in front of Harry on the pub table as he ate his fill of Shepard's Pie. The bird carried a letter written in neattidy scroll addressed to Harry.
Potter,
I am delighted that you have decided to accept my offer, and we look forward to getting the chance to see you. I will set up some supplies and we can start with potions tomorrow since that seems to be your biggest weakness. Just come through the floo network tomorrow at noon. We'll have a light lunch and get started then.
-Draco
Harry tossed and turned a lot that night eventually falling into his usual trend of nightmares. First came the graveyard and Cedric's death. Then came a strange dream about the corridors in a dimly lit building only this time it ended as he came to a hault at the end in front of a black door that he had never seen before.
Harry got up once the light of the morning sun began to creep through the curtains of his room. He showered and made certain to wash thoroughly. This was still a luxury to Harry who at Hogwarts was used to sharing the showers with the other Gryffindor boys in his year and only getting a couple of quick minutes in the morning with icy water at the Dursley's home. Harry, however, knew that this would not pass the scrupulously, discerning eyes of Narcissa Malfoy. Whatever faults Draco had, poor hygiene and grooming was not among them. Harry dressed neatly in his new grey trousers and green button-up, with his robe that matched and dress shoes. He looked at himself in the mirror in the room. The mirror taunted, "you need to get a haircut dear."
Harry made his way down to the pub and had a nice and relaxing breakfast and practiced eating more slowly and neatly than he was accustomed to doing, reminding himself frequently that no one here was going to take his food away from him. Once he finished and had read the Daily Prophet which was once again calling him a 'delusional, liar' and Dumbledore 'old and senile' Harry moved on down into the alley to get a haircut in the alley. He had never been to an actual barber shop before let alone one in the wizarding world and so he didn't know what to expect.
The man he used a magical set of razors and clippers asked, "what sort of cut are you wanting, today Mr. Potter?" Harry just chuckled and said, "perhaps clean up the sides but leave the length a bit more on the top so there is still a bit of wave." The man nodded, as Harry describes a cut that he knew was common among the Slytherin set in his year for boys.
The razor blade was set and once the man had given him a nice scalp massage moving the shampoo that smelled of mint and green apple into his roots and scalp, he rinsed the shampoo out and worked conditioner into the length making his hair more manageable. The conditioner had the same scent as the shampoo and Harry decided to purchase some to take with him to Hogwarts. Along with some soap that would smell nicer than the rather generic one that was supplied at the school.
The razor cleaned his messy hair up on the sides and the scissors worked to shorten his hair severely as it had reached his shoulders by this time. The cut now framed his face giving him a careful framing around his ears and setting his eyes off. His hair now had a more naturally tousled look akin to a messyrat's nest that it had been previously.
Harry paid for the cut and the shampoo, conditioner and soap set in mint and green apple. Then he made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron. Eventually the items purchased Harry stored those away in his trunk for use during the school year. He then hurried back down and took some floo powder and carefully instructed the floo "Malfoy Manor." Harry found himself swirling through the floo network and braced himself as he could feel the motion slowing down indicating that his stop was nearby.
As he came to the floo where he would depart, Harry braced himself so that he would not trip and fall out. Stepping into the Malfoy's sitting room he found himself entering into a cozier space than he anticipated. Standing on a green rug Harry cast a quick cleaning charm to ensure that he did not track soot throughout the clean home. The sitting room was marbled on the floor with white and grey and Harry had no desire to make a mess of such a space. The couch and chairs were an overstuffed green set and there was a cozy set of English oak end tables and coffee tables that would allow for simple enjoyable times.
He smiled politely as Draco came into the room as the wards had alerted the family to the presence of a guest coming in via the floo. Harry's eyes took in the appearance of the manor around him as Draco led him down a corridor leading into a more formal dining space with a dining table and chairs made of the same wood, the curtains in each room green and white. With ties that allowed them to be pulled back at will that were silver in color.
Harry noticed that this was set up for four people with white dishes edged with silver and lovely crystal glasses that would allow for drinks. In the center of the table was a platter that matched the dish set filled with sandwich and a bowl that was similarly filled with grapes. A crystal pitch held butterbeer that would allow for the glasses to be filled.
Lucius and Narcissa were already seated and stood as Draco led Harry towards what would be his seat, and formally intoned, "Harry, you have met my parents Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy nee Black. Welcome to Malfoy Manor." The elder Malfoys were dressed in impeccable fashion. Narcissa in a gown with an empire waist and silver brocade on her bodice made of green silk and Lucius in a black pair of trousers and a button-put to match with his snakehead cane. Formalities were set aside for the time being and the group of four had a polite and pleasant lunch.
Narcissa led the conversation, "Harry we have heard so much about you from Draco, but I would like to hear from you. What subject interest you most, and what would you like to do once you finish at school?" Harry smiled at the polite questions that were what he would imagine a caring adult would ask. He considered the question, "I've kind been overly focused solely on what would be necessary for survival really. So, over focused on defense against the dark arts where I am the best in our year." Harry normally would have replied Auror to the later question, but the more he was forced to confront Voldemort, the less he found that he was inclined to go that route if he found things cut a certain way and he survived. Finally, he responded, "I would like to do something that would allow me to help others, perhaps healing or some other sort of research would be interesting." Narcissa nodded a smile spreading across her face. She replied, "I had a similar interest prior to marrying Lucius. If you want any advice in terms of making your way towards that goal, I would be happy to assist you in that manner."
Once lunch ended Draco and Harry rose, and the blonde led Harry down another corridor and up a set of deep marble stairs to the library and they sat down at a table and chair set that was less formal than the dining space. There were tall English oak bookcases that went from the floor to the ceiling around the room and the table was set with notebooks much like the ones Harry had used in muggle primary school.
Harry and Draco sat down, and Draco smiled, "I got some notebooks, these are useful because they expand as you use them. Harry smiled, "thank you that will definitely be helpful." Draco smirked, "Theo contacted me too and he wants to help with some of the stuff that you should have been told about before Hogwarts too. It honestly wouldn't hurt for us to sit in on mom's political and etiquette lessons either if you take her up on that. I have to ask because she'll want to know." Harry smiled, "I couldn't be more grateful that she would extend the opportunity to me."
The boys then delved into the first-year theory of potions. Draco excitedly explaining the preparation and process to Harry that he had struggled understanding from the book or Snape's lectures. Exceedingly rare as they were. Draco explained, " You bought the cheapest set of everything, and it's had an impact on the quality of your potions. You also need to keep in mind what the difference is in between chopped, diced, minced, and cubed. It's also important to make the ingredients as fine as you can during the preparation stage. If you had paid attention to what I do in class. I spend most of the time with preparation, then I add them in as the directions state and go back in forth clockwise and counterclockwise as I stir. "
Harry hadn't thought to much about it, but as he looked back over the years in his memory, he could see what Malfoy was saying. The blonde really did spend the majority of his potions time on preparation. He just rushed to much, partially because he always partnered with Ron or Neville.
As they moved on to discussing the interaction of the ingredients to create first year potions Harry was able to catch up a little better. Draco raised an eyebrow, "how do you understand plants and their properties so well?" Harry chuckled, "my aunt was really into having the best garden on the block. She even got awards for her roses, not because of anything she did though. I'm also smarter than most people sadly know. I've been focused on survival, I also have bad habits from years of being in trouble for doing better in school than Dudley, my muggle cousin. "Draco smirked, "I suspected that something had you holding back. It's not fair though, not to you and not your peers or the professors. Here on out I'd like to see you try in school and if my mom gets guardianship of you, then my parents will demand it."
As they continued on to discuss the actual purposes of potions and their uses, Harry sighed. "Is there any chance we could brew some dreamless sleep potion and headache reliever. "Dracosmiled, "I'll make you wish that you hadn't rejected my hand in first year yet. Just a minute. We have some on hand." I can help you so that you manage tobrew some for yourself over the weekend that way there is sufficient time to brew several batches. Harry smiled and placed both sets of vials into his robe pocket.
The blonde returned with two vials of each potion and handed them to Harry. The raven-haired wizard smiled, by the time that the two emerged from the library it was time for supper. And so, Draco walked Harry back to the floo, and they arranged to meet again and go over the second year of potions at the same time the next day.
Once Harry entered the Leaky Cauldron, he made his way to the table that he had now come to consider as his in the pub. Quickly casting a spell to make sure that he was clean as he went to his seat. This evening, he planned to ensure he got some decent sleep. As he began to eat some fish and chips for his supper Hedwig came and landed next to Harry with several letters and a package.
The first was a Hogwarts owl, with a letter from McGonagall. The deputy headmistress and Harry's head of house.
Dear Mr. Potter,
I have taken into consideration your request to drop Divination. I heartily approve of the choice and so I approached Professors Babbling and Vector about your request. I have included the third- and fourth-year textbooks for you to review. They will send you a test at the end of summer and they'll determine what year to sit your with.
-M. McGonagall
Harry smiled at that and then went to open the other one. This one was from Theo.
Potter,
Draco has asked that I take the lead on Runes and Arithmancy since those are my major areas of interest as potions is his. So, I will see you at the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow for dinner and we'll start sessions then. That should allow you to make strides at least in Rune, Arithmancy and potions. I understand that Draco's mum has asked to pursue guardianship of you. I would encourage you to take her up on that. She could teach you a lot, and as a Black has the best potential claim in our world to become your guardian.
-T.A.N.
Harry finished his supper in peace and then made his way up to the room where he was staying and began to get ready for bed. Taking some dreamless sleep helped immensely and when Harry woke up, he found that he was thrilled to be able to look forward to conversations that were not always surrounding Voldemort and quidditch.
He dressed quickly into black trousers and a matching button-up and put on his dragon-hide boots that matched. He then made his way to the pub for a hearty breakfast. Harry smiled as he made his way to the Malfoy's that day via the floo. The entire place was much homier that he had anticipated. As he stepped out of the floo cleaning himself up, Draco came in and showed up to the library, apologizing the whole way as the elves were still working on noon meal since Harry was early. Draco's clothes as impeccable as always dressed in a green button-up and grey trousers the entire home was an example of orderliness.
The boys started on the second-year potions revision that they had planned for the day falling easily into conversation about how to care for the plants and other ingredients that are used to make the potions for second year. Just as Draco was beginning to talk about why the mandrakes scream, an elf appeared, and bowed low, "Lady Narcissa says, that lunch is served."
As they walked back down to the dining room Harry's mind drifted back to the beginning of his time at Hogwarts. He remembered Draco and how he came off that first day. The blonde's hair had been slicked back with gel and too much of it. His clothes are neat and pristine in condition. Harry had opened the compartment door to find Draco and two boys behind him on the other side, "So it's true then Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts. This is Crabbe and Goyle, and I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. Ron had snicked at that attempting to hide the snicker. Which had offended the other boy. Think my name is funny, don't you? No need to ask you your name. Red hair and hand-me-down robes, youmust be a Weasley. You'll soonfind that some wizarding families are better than others. You don't want to make friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
Harry had to shake himself back to reality as they entered the dining room to eat with Draco's parents. He had never considered before that Draco had not actually thrown the first insult that day. He had not heard anything from Ron or Hermione over the last couple of days since they left the train and that was unnerving.