Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/ works/8024404. Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Underage Fandom: Harry_Potter_-_J.K._Rowling Relationship: Draco_Malfoy/Harry_Potter Character: Harry_Potter, Draco_Malfoy Additional Tags: Romance, Humor Collections: Ink_Stained_Fingers Stats: Published: 2015-10-22 Chapters: 2/2 Words: 7185 ****** Summertime Singularity ****** by Ru Av Natten [archived by ISF_Archivist] Summary When "certain circumstances" arise, Draco Malfoy is forced to spend the summer with Harry Potter and the Dursleys! Notes This story was originally archived at Ink_Stained_Fingers, which was created in 2002 as a home for Harry Potter slash fiction. To preserve the archive, we began manually importing its works to the AO3 as an Open Doors-approved project in January 2015. We e-mailed all authors about the move and posted announcements, but may not have reached everyone. If you are (or know) this author or artist, please contact me using the e-mail address at the Ink_Stained_Fingers_collection profile. ***** Summertime Singularity ***** Summertime Singularity 'Swine. Gluttonous, squealing swine... Well, the male two, anyway. And, the lanky female looks as if she wouldn't mind a bit of animal roughage. Harry told me after I arrived that she normally did not dress so - for lack of a better word - whorishly. WAIT, no - Potter told me. Ahem. Harry is not his real name...Potter is his real name... Imagine, that beast of a woman dressing that way to impress the young rich gentleman. Yes, she knows I'm rich - they all do. They probably hope I'll take a liking to her ghastly body wrapped up in something so bright and tight it seems unmistakably like tin foil. The nerve! Trying to blind me on my first night at their despicable, middle class cave! No wonder Potter has such wonderful eyesight! Is this what happens every time aristocrats come to play? Well, they won't receive any of my kudos in this lifetime, for I shan't be returning...not after this disgraceful, summer long endeavor. For pity's sake! Alone...with three muggles and Potter for an entire summer! Please, cushion the ground with your sympathies before I faint. ...Actually, Potter's not so bad so far...but never mind that! Back to the swine. I've never seen anything like it. The younger piggy has half the height and twice the width of that lout of a groundskeeper at Hogwarts. The older, (and if it's possible) uglier piggy looks as if to blow a blood vessel at any given moment at how paranoid he is of Potter. Every time I take a glance he's either hounding Potter to do a chore, or telling him to keep silent or simply floating over him. ...Not that I look at Potter much. Anyway, it's as if he is not even apart of the family. As much as the muggles' behavior repulses me, I feel almost no empathy for Potter, because he's always been a rotten wanker to me. Most fortunately, these people are civil enough to be in possession of a guest bedroom, consequently, I have some privacy in this minuscule excuse for comfortable living. My quarters are directly adjacent to Potter's, which is another reason for me to be happy. I'm at the end of the hallway and he is stationed in between his cousin's and mine. That slob makes me nervous as hell. I wish he'd stop looking at me the same way he does to his dessert. I'd rather room with Potter than next to - what was it's name? - Dudley. As I stated, that isn't the case. "Why in fuckin' hell am I here?" I throw rhetoric into the air. Of course I know, then again, if you're not me - which many people aren't - the answer (lengthily) would be this... Lounging in my favorite cushy armchair, I sat with my legs hanging carelessly over the arm of the black furniture. For the sixth or seventh time in my life I immersed my thoughts in the "gallant" adventures of Bilbo Baggins, otherwise known as the book "The Hobbit". Wizard Wilson's Wettest Water in hand and too caught up in the words of Tolkein, I did not notice my mother and father walk into one of our many living areas with Professors Dumbledore and Snape. The four sat across from me on a large sofa (save Snape, the always unsociable, who chose an armchair to the side) and my father cleared his throat politely. (Had we not company, I'm sure he would have poked me playfully in the side of my head.) I nearly fell out of my spot when I heard the noise and saw my parents and the headmaster sitting across from me. "AHHH! I...I...I..." "It's quite alright, my boy." Dumbledore was insinuating to the obvious that my shirt was missing; I only wore silky purple pajama pants. (I was thoroughly happy I'd not chosen the ones with bunnies that mummy bought me...especially since I'd just noticed Snape in the room as well.) "Hello...um, professors. Mother. Father." Three of them smiled at me as I unsuccessfully tried covering my chest with the paperback and my bottle of water. "How nice to see you...so soon." "Yes, Draco, we realize school's been out only a week and you'd not expected to meet us so early. I'm sorry for this imposition." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as usual and I wondered if he and Harry could be somehow related as his did that at times as well. Why am I bringing Potter into this? I stared at them. They stared back. I was becoming very self-conscious about my exposure and was on the verge of shrieking something about pedophilia when Dumbledore started again. "Young, Master Malfoy," (I love it when people call me Master Malfoy) "Where should I begin? Well, the beginning's a safe bet." Not daring to look, I but felt Snape roll his eyes. My own eyes wandered to the tray of hors d'oeuvres on the coffee table in front of me, I picked happily at the round vinegar marinated carrot slices that mother always made especially for me. I loved those; I was the grim and they were the reaped. "Well, Draco, as you know, Lord Voldemort has fancied the thought of killing our Harry Potter for nearing sixteen years, now that his seventeenth birthday arising." "Yes, sir, everyone knows that..." "And for that reason, it is believed that Voldemort is in the process of attempting to become more powerful than ever before, in a final effort to be rid of Mr. Potter before he's a fully fledged wizard." "Seems logical...but, what does this have to with me?" My parents and Professor Snape watched us converse. "We'll get there, Draco..." He sighed discreetly. "Certain...circumstances...have provided Voldemort with the information that two of his most dedicated Death Eaters are in fact spies for our side during this ongoing war." "War?" "Oh, yes. Whether on the battlefield or not, this has been a war since before...hell, before I was even born." Shocked, the group of us looked at Dumbledore. We did not know whether to laugh at his joke or gasp because he used a curse word. Always prepared, I broke the silence. "What war is that sir?" "My boy, the war that is not necessarily between Dark and Light, Good and Bad, but, the side that wants peace and freedom against the side that wants power and control. This all started much before any of us, and will not end ever. All we can do is to keep the, so to speak, "evil forces" on their knees as often as possible. After all, no one can judge what is good and what is evil." Pondering, I munched mindlessly on another carrot slice. Still, what did this all have to do with me? I'd thought it over in my head a thousand and six times! Good, Bad; Left, Right; Black, White...blah, blah...fine! What did it matter? What did it mean? Why were they dragging me into this? 'I'm a wittle seventeen year old baby for all that's holy!' Losing all of my Malfoyesque calmness I swallowed my carrot and slouched in my chair. "And this has what to do with me?" ("Draco! Sit up straight!" "Yes, mother.") "Well, not a whole lot really with you directly." The Headmaster replied. "Moving back to what I said about those two spies as Death Eaters..." Draco nodded. "They're right here..." "What? But that would mean..." "Yup." Dumbledore spoke nonchalantly sounding eerily like a teenager. "Your father, and Professor Snape." He allowed me to let the words sink into my head. The idea my father hobnobbing with some half-dead, green-skinned freak was insulting! "Father! Are you in trouble? Won't Voldemort come after you? Father -" "Draco, son, calm yourself, we have company." Father remained seated as the immovable blonde picture of perfection he was. "Yes, father." "Well, I see this is where your portion of the situation comes in, Draco." Dumbledore smiled, then changed his face to look more dismal than I could recall ever seeing him. "You're correct when you say Voldemort will come after your father. However, we do not think he will want Lucius, as he too is a very powerful wizard and we do suspect Voldemort would rather want to use that to his own ability. That is, if he can find a way to get to Lucius in order to blackmail him or worse. Meaning, we think he will try to attack or kidnap a family member of his, namely... you." 'Whoa there! One minute I'm reading my favorite book and the next, Voldemort wants my blood? All too suspicious.' "So, I'm assuming what you are telling me is - seeing that Professor Snape has no family and my mother could protect herself more easily than I could - that I'm on Voldemort's to-kill list?" "Smart boy." Severus Snape spoke for the first time. The sun was now sitting in different place in the sky, which cast a shadow across his figure in the corner of the room. "Yes, Draco. I'm afraid, that is what we came here to tell you." Now that the deed was done, I felt no different than before excepting that my stomach was sated and I was anxious to get on with my afternoon reading. Could these people ruin someone's day or what? Still, curiosity swallowed me... "And, what has this to do with me?" "Are you insane, boy?" I have always loved making my Potions Master lose his temper in private. "What has this to do with me...?" He grumbled to himself. "What I mean to say is...what are we going to do about this?" All four looked at one another as if mentally debating who would tell me the news and I became nervous. "Well?" "Yes...well...erm...Draco, my boy." It was amazing! Dumbledore, stuttering and cussing in front of me all in the same day! Life gets better every second! "You will be staying with...Harry Potter and his muggle relatives." "WHAT?!" The Life-Is-So-Cool-O-Meter dropped ten bazillion points. "Now, now. Soon enough you'll know our reasons..." "Well, shell them out Dumbledore, while I hail you a taxi to St. Mungos ward for the mentally disable!" I stood fuming. "Draco, calm yourself this instant!" Mother called, though I swore I could still smell psycho-pills on everyone's breath. "Yes, ma'am." I sat huffily with my arms folded as a child would. "Draco, when Harry was a baby..." The senile old man rambled on about Harry- Goody-Goody-Potter and the mad reasons why he placed the boy in the care of those only remaining family members of his. In the end, they had all come to the conclusion that - Voldemort being almost certainly unaware of Harry's whereabouts during the summer - I would be safe with "The Dursleys" as well. I would return with Harry to Hogwarts - the safest place otherwise - on September first. "And why is it you expect that these...wizard haters would take a second one in, hmm?" "They don't have to know you're a wizard Draco..." Snape said.' ============================================================================= "Professor?" Said an extremely irritated Draco Malfoy, sitting in the passenger seat of a shiny, black, car that he did not know the name of. Draco was annoyed at the act of being dragged out of his own lovely home into a muggle vehicle, not to see it again for an entire year. The adults Draco'd just discussed this whole situation with gave him an hour to prepare all of his belongings for the summer and the new school year. Naturally, he'd have to go with Harry to purchase his new school supplies with the money his parents had generously given him in a pouch before he slipped out of the door (the pouch would refill itself when it was empty). He'd also only packed a large suitcase with enough to make it seem like a summer's worth of things, with his school trunk under a shrinking and weight-reducing charm and kept neatly in his pocket. "PROFESSOR!" He yelled purposely trying to prod Snape's patience. "What is it, you little irritant?!" Success. "Do you often wear those leather pants?"  Growl. Blush. More success. "Professor?" "Mmm?" "You look sexy in that tight shirt..." "You revolt me." Triple success! "You want me!" Professor Snape nearly swerved off of the road at this suggestion. "Enough, boy, before you kill us both!" Draco sighed heavily. "Yes, sir, sexy Severus, sir..." Growl. The young Malfoy waited several minutes before speaking again. Truthfully, he did not want to die in the midst muggles driving their noisy vehicles. Often, he jokingly flirted with Snape when they were alone together. Though, he'd never actually seen the man in leather pants because they'd never been in the muggle world collectively. Shortly, Draco wondered if his subdued teacher had a secret life... "Professor?" "Mmm?" "Why'd you volunteer to take me to Potter's house anyway?" "I didn't. I was a leftover." "What do you mean?" "The others are traveling to the ministry to convince them to allow special protection spells to be placed on your home and added ones on Harry's" "Like the ones at Hogwarts?" "Mmm." Draco assumed that meant 'yes'. "Professor?" "Mmm?" "You just called him Harry..." "...Did not." "Did too!" "...Did not..." "Admit it! You don't think he's that bad! Do you?" "He's exactly the same as every other one of you snot nosed, masturbating teenagers." "So you've seen him masturbating?" "Oh, give it a rest!" Chuckling to himself, Draco shook his head at the silly man he new was inside the pale, darkness-drawn, professor. "So...Sevvy..." The boy said toyingly, crossing his legs. After a second or two, Snape cracked under Draco's personality. He sighed. "...So...Draccy..." He wouldn't give in entirely. Only a half-smile would do for now. "Tell me all about your plan to fool Potter's relatives into letting me stay there..." "What makes you so sure it's my plan?" "...I know what goes on in that sneaky head of yours...besides, I have to know sometime, or we'll have a lot of explaining to do on their front steps..." "Alright, alright..." ============================================================================= "BOY! Get the door!" Called Uncle Vernon from his and Dudley's mid After- Lunch-Snack-Before-Dinner-Snack snack. Harry was sitting quietly on the sofa, staring at the blank television screen awaiting permission to disappear into his room until he would be forced to cook supper when the doorbell rang. He ignored it, hoping whoever it was would go away...DING! "DAMN YOU! I SAID GET THE DOOR!" Harry jumped up before his Uncle could lunge at him. Running to the door, he straightened out his shirt hoping it would be the young, suave mailman again with a package. He opened the door - no, it definitely wasn't. "Uh...uh...wha..." Clumsily he mouthed at the sight before him. First of all, Snape...wearing leather...on his legs. Such nice legs noticed Harry. Second, he was grinning. GRINNING! It was a goofy, unnatural grin, which was the same for the boy next to him who was - MALFOY? "I...I...""WHAT ARE YOU GAWKING AT BOY?" Vernon came up angrily behind unnerved Harry, who had yet to move from his position. "Oh sir! Lovely it is to make your acquaintance after such a long, long journey!" Cried Snape with outrageous energy that Harry never knew could exist in such a man. "Oh, such a very long journey!" Nodded Draco with much enthusiasm. What baffled Harry as he stood, scared witless with his mouth hanging open for all birds to nest in, was that the two were using French accents. Very believable ones at least. "What on earth are you foreigners doing on my door step?" Said Vernon wiping mayonnaise off of his mustache. "Oh my! Did not zey inform you, my dear, dear man?!" Dramatized Snape, putting his hand to his forehead. "Oh my!" Repeated Draco. "Excuse me?" Vernon demanded as Harry still wasted away at this priceless sight. "Ze contest! You 'ave won it!" Snape leaped forward grabbing the masses of fat that made up Vernon Dursley's head and kissed him on both cheeks. "Oh, I am so 'appy for you!" "Oh, so 'appy!" Draco jumped up and down to emphasize. 'This is too much!' Laughed Harry on the inside. "What on earth are you talking about? I have entered no contest! Now leave these premises!" Ordered the reddening man. "Oh...Draco...'ee does not want zee prize money..." "Oh...so sad...Oh...I was so 'appy for 'im..." Draco stuck a bottom lip out and the two turned away. "WAIT! Prize money did you say? Of course! Now I remember this contest! Come in, come in!" Draco turned around and leaped into Uncle Vernon's arms, topping off the show with a kiss on he forehead. "Oh, sir! I knew you were a good, good man!" "Er...yes well...in you come." Vernon mumbled, dropping the boy to the ground. Snape helped Draco up and they moveed in behind Mr. Dursley joining him on him couch. (Harry stayed behind to close the door.) "Very well, might you - um - refresh my memory about this contest?" "Oh, certainly Monsieur Dursley! Zee Oh-So-Fantastic-French-Annual- Sweepstakes!" "OH YES! Now I remember! Sent in the application weeks ago! So eager to hear the results!" Harry snorted in the background. "First prize is 20,000 francs (of course converted onto zee winner's national currency, sir)!" "YES!" "YES! And... your own, personal Rich-Summer-'ome-Schooling-Foreign-Student!" "Oui! Oui! Moi!" Draco cried happily. Vernon's face fell. "Oh, look Draco! 'ee is so 'appy 'ee is speechless!" "Oh, I am so very 'appy to be staying with you for zee long, 'ot, treacherous, boring, miserable summer! Are not you 'appy too? We can be such good friends!" Draco launched himself at Vernon giving him another forehead kiss, then went to Harry and did the same. The most awkward feeling in the world was to be kissed on the forehead by one's arch nemesis of six years thought Harry. Now Draco stood close to Harry holding him securely in a hug. Harry only stood, attempting to remember how to breathe. "Now wait one second!" Spoke Vernon loudly, coming to his senses. "Oh sir!" Said Snape with his hands on his cheeks. "You do not want zee good little boy? And the 20,000 francs?" "Well I...I..." "Oh please sir, let me stay 'ere with you and your 'andsome son!" He squeezed Harry tighter. "SON?!" Harry and Vernon said at the same time looking at each other in a nauseated way. "Are you not where he received his good looks from, Monsieur Dursley?" That clenched it. "Where do I sign?" "No need to sign anywhere, sir! Everything is taken care of! Now, if you'll just follow me out to zee automobile to retrieve zee young man's luggage..." Snape gave Draco a subtle nod and the adult men ventured to the black car. Draco was still standing, clung to Harry as an excited little boy. "Are not you glad to see me 'Arry Potter?" He stressed the "R's" grotesquely well by spitting all over Harry's face. Providentially, the round spectacles shielded his eyes. "Um...Malfoy?" "Oui?" "Stop talking like that." "Right." "Malfoy?" "Yes?" "Get off of me." "Right." "Not so loudly, there are others in the next room..." Draco removed himself from Harry and looked around the living room. "Cheap..." He murmured to himself. "What exactly is going on here?" Harry asked. "Don't you have ears? I'm a Rich-Summer-Home-Schooling-Foreign-Student." "And in actuality that means...?" "Your not the only kiddo Voldemort is after." "I see." "I'll explain it to you later. Your tubby Uncle is coming." "BOY! Take this luggage up to the guest bedroom!" Harry nodded and dragged Draco's bag up the staircase. Uncle Vernon went back to the kitchen to inform his family of the visitor as Draco trailed behind Harry. "Can't you help? What have you got in here?" "No, I can't help, you look quite comfortable. And I have in the suitcase every accessory a teenaged wizard needs to survive a summer with the likes of you." "Your lipstick and eye-shadow...?" Whispered Harry secretly. "What did you say?" "I said, 'like what'?" "Of course clothes and books, Harry!" He nearly dropped the suitcase backward onto the lagging boy. "Watch it, POTTER!" "What did you call me?" "Potter." "Before that!" "What? Oh...Harry. I can't very well call you "Potter" all summer with those people hanging around...And the same goes to you and my name." "...Fine. You still have some explaining to do." "In due time. Now carry my things up faster." "Prick..." Harry whispered to himself again, but Draco did not catch it. Once they arrived at the guestroom, he continued. "And I have to use that accent in their presence, so get used to it." "What about in private?" Harry said. "Planning on having me in your room for slumber parties, Harry?" "Just wondering...Draco." "That sounds strange." "It was your idea!" "No, Snape's idea, don't bunch up your undies." Sigh. "I'm going to my room." "Which one is it?" Draco inquired. "This one." Harry replied, walking into the hallway and opening his door. "See you at dinner." "Indeed...Harry." ***** Summertime Singularity (Chapter 2) ***** Summertime Singularity (Chapter 2) A knock was heard on the door of the guestroom of Number Four Privet Drive. "Draco?" Harry stepped into the room and was upset to see Draco Malfoy sitting on the bed twirling his wand in his hands, looking around in thought. He was aghast that the once bland chambers were no longer such, with gray, stone floors, deep green walls, and quite a large, comfortable looking bed. 'Twas what he might imagine Draco's Hogwarts dormitories to be. Somehow, the room seemed more spacious than the last time he had seen it. In the corner, was a sturdy wooden desk where all of Draco's Hogwarts books and papers were stacked neatly; his school trunk sat at the end of his bed. "Malfoy!" Harry spat after closing the door. "What are you thinking? The ministry will snap your wand when they take notice of all of this!" "Shut it, Harry! Take a gander at this..." Draco held out a piece of parchment which he grabbed from his beside table. "I got it via owl about a half an hour ago." Harry ripped the letter out of Draco's hands. Dear Mr. Malfoy, As underage an underage wizard, you are normally not given permission to use magic outside of school. Due to circumstances that you are aware of, we understand that it is imperative you are able to protect yourself in any way necessary. After a brief conference with your Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, we have decided that you are entitled to full use of your magical ability for the remainder of your summer holidays. Please inform Mr. Potter that he applies to these exceptions as well. Enjoy your holidays! Yours sincerely, Mafalda Hopkirk Improper Use of Magic Office Ministry of Magic "Still..." Harry realized after setting the letter gently back on the nightstand. "If the Dursleys come in here, Draco, you'll - we'll - be in lot of trouble." "Potter, dear, you're stuck in first year ...Hey, that rhymed!" They both chuckled uncomfortably. "Have you not heard of a Repelling Charm?" "Yes." "Well, there you have it!" Harry tilted his head and squinted his eyes. "What's the problem?" "Why wasn't I affected by the Repelling Charm?" "Haven't cast it yet. I wanted to tell you about it first, so you wouldn't be affected by it." "Why wouldn't you want me affected?" Draco mused for a couple seconds. Harry stood, teetering on his heel with his hands in his pockets. "I can't spend all of my time alone in this tiny space...you're my only contact with the wizarding world in physical reach..." He flushed, thinking that sounded insinuative. He changed the subject quickly. "Why do you look so - eh - glum?" "Hmm? I, uh, can't use magic either way. After the school year ends, he locks everything in the cupboard under the stairs...luckily he let me keep Hedwig in my room..." "Hedwig?" "My snowy owl." "Oh, snowy owls are pretty..." He flinched at his words; Harry smirked. "Pretty? Never thought I'd hear that one from your mouth." "Excuse me, Potter, for trying to be polite to you for once! I've been in your home for two hours now and you've been courteous enough to not hex me or string me from the ceiling by my vocal chords!" "...Sorry." Draco nodded. "...So..." The blonde looked at Harry. What do you mean by, 'he locks everything in the cupboard under the stairs'?" "My uncle, he takes everything away from me. My school books, robes, wand - " "YOUR WAND?" Harry nodded in affirmation. "For Merlin's sake! That's inhumane!" "Not according to them..." Now Draco was the one to tilt his head; he looked at Harry, almost with pity. Almost. The boy who lived did not have such a perfect life after all, he recognized. He watched the spectacled lad shuffle his feet, examining the cold gray underneath his squeaky shoes. Out of the blue, he looked up. "I just remembered -" Harry said. "I came here to tell you that dinner was ready." "Oh." Harry removed his hands from his pockets and led Draco to the kitchen. When the two arrived at the bottom of the stairs Harry mouthed quietly, "I warn you, they do not dress this way normally..." Dinner was Draco Malfoy's first encounter with Dudley and Petunia. From what he saw of them, he concluded that the summer would be disastrous if he was forced to be near these people for more than minutes at a time. Therefore, he ate quickly (yet properly). The sight of Petunia in the "tin foil" dress was all too sickening. As well as tuxedoed Vernon and Dudley, attempting to impress the rich foreigner. Very unsettling was the fact that Dudley seemed to let his eyes roam from his chocolate pie at the end of the meal to Draco wih just as hungry an appearance. "Erm...enjoying your meal, French boy?" Vernon asked, watching Draco's fast pace. Draco replied, resuming his accent and excitement. "Yes, Monsieur Dursley, very much! This is a very good meal, Madame Dursley!" "I made it..." Harry murmured into his piecrust. "YOU WILL NOT LIE AT THIS TABLE! Of course, Petunia made the meal, French boy." Shouted Vernon. "I 'ate liars more 'zan anything!" Snapped Draco. When Harry glared angrily at the Slytherin, the table came to a silence. Draco was not staring at him, however, he was staring at Vernon. Vernon was taken aback that anyone would suggest he could be the one lying. Draco spoke again. "As my escort to your 'ome, Severus Snape, may 'ave not told you, sir, my father is zee person 'oo donated zee 20,000 francs prize money! My father does not like liars! I am sure 'ee will not be 'appy with you if you cause me un'appiness...I suggest, Monsieur Dursley, zat you and your family keep me as 'appy as possible zese weeks or you will not be receiving your money!" Vernon only nodded and returned to his food. "Also sir...my father does not believe young boys were meant to serve their families! I would not like nice Monsieur 'Arry Potter to cook or clean for you any longer. Zat will be your wife's job, sir. I will be taking my meals in my room from now on as will Monsieur Potter. You will place zem at the top of zee stairs and we will retrieve zem ourselves." Vernon's face turned redder, but he nodded again. "Also sir..." All eyes were on Draco in awe of a third request; he moved on in his still silky voice. "I would like Monsieur 'Arry Potter's school things returned to 'im immediately!" Vernon shot a deathly gaze in Harry's direction. "Oh, sir, 'ee 'as informed me zat 'ee goes to a perfectly normal public school, with perfectly normal children, and you 'ave taken his things away so zat 'ee cannot ruin zem over zee 'olidays." Vernon calmed a bit, and picked up his fork. "After you 'ave returned 'is things, sir..." The fork dropped from the angry uncle's hand with a loud clank. "...You will not be bothering either of us for zee summer, as we need time to study by ourselves. If you live by zese standards, sir, you will be having your 20,000 francs. Perhaps in zee furture you will be more courteous to your family members...Come, Monsieur Potter, accompany me to my chambers?" Harry stood to follow the stern faced Malfoy out of the quiet kitchen. "And by zee way...my name is not French boy! It is Draco Lucius Malfoy!" Harry and Draco walked silently up the staircase and into Harry's room, as it was the closest and they did not want to be trampled by and enraged Moose known as Vernon Dursley if he came to his senses. Harry threw himself on his bed and watched the ceiling, still in amazement of what Draco just did. "That was...- wow - Drac..." Draco's eyebrows shot upward. "Drac, now is it?" "After you just made me the happiest man on earth? Yes! Or maybe even Dray...or just Drrr..." Draco laughed out loud at Harry joke, scanning the bare room for a place to sit. "No, Drac is fine, I assure you." "Oh, I'm sorry." Harry said in reaction, making room on the small bed. "...The desk chair broke a while back. They wouldn't replace it." "Christ, Harry. You have to live like this?" He said sitting next to the boy on the bed. "Used to be the cupboard my things are in..." The blonde's eyes widened as he compared a small cupboard to the huge room he'd always had. "Well, Harry, we'll fix this place right up when your things are safe in your keeping." Harry watched Draco continue to take in the sight of Harry pathetic surroundings, and thought to himself that Draco was not really all that bad of a guy. Maybe he'd admit it to him one day. "You know," Harry said without thinking. "That French accent of your is rather sexy." 'Oh my god, I can't believe I said that.' 'Oh my god, I can't believe he said that.' "Anyway...um...I...thanks for doing that for me..." He trailed off flushing vividly. Draco caught this and grinned as dashingly as humanly possible. "What makes you think I did anything for you? Perhaps I simply did not want to hear your whining all summer." Harry lifted his head to meet Draco's cold eyes, and he looked away, for the first time, actually hurt rather than angered by his words. Draco sighed and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Your welcome, Harry." The raven-head's spirits perked up and bit when he felt the hand on him and the words spoken, though he did not understand why. He looked up into Draco's sweet gape. "Hold still." Draco said, pointing a wand that he'd taken from the hold of his belt at Harry's face. Instinctively, Harry wanted to jump out of the way, however, something told him he could trust Malfoy, just this one time. Draco muttered a complicated jumble and he felt prickling in his eyes then a feeling as if his glasses were being pulled into the very sockets. When the abnormal feeling desisted, his vision was a blur as he looked around for the figure of Draco. "Malfoy, what did you do?" He infuriatingly said. "Harry, take off your glasses, you dunce." When Harry did, the world returned to normal. "Wha...? How'd you do that?" "I learned it from one of my father's Dark Arts books." "Why did no one suggest it to me before?" "I suppose they thought it was dangerous to teach the spell. I didn't really repair your eyesight, I exchanged the general purpose of your lenses with your actual eyes. Hence, you see through your eyes now, what you did through your glasses and vice versa." "Why on earth would that be in a Dark Arts book?" "Because, it is not for eyes solely, silly...hey, an alliteration!" They both laughed. "It could be used to exchange anything with anything related. For example, the function of the gills of a fish with the function of the lungs of a human could be an obvious suffocation tactic." Gesturing with his arms he scooted closer to Harry. "What made you suddenly think about fixing my eyesight, Draco?" Now it was  Draco's turn to blush, detected Harry. "I...well, I... noticed that you bat your lashes prettily..." Harry smiled when Draco looked down at his writhing hands. Harry moved one hand on top of them to stop the fidgeting fingers (hey, another alliteration!). He whispered, "There you go with the word pretty again..." With his index finger under the boy's chin, he guided the head upwards and looked at the sparkling grayness of Draco's eyes that was brought out so well by the dull room. 'I feel like an idiot...why am I touching him like this?' Harry contemplated. 'I feel so stupid...what am I supposed to say...?' Draco wondered. The strangeness came to a halt when a tapping sounded from the window. "Hedwig!" Harry gladly let go of Draco and went to the window. "Hello, love!" He called to her lightly as she nipped his nose. Draco was intrigued by how affectionate he was with a mere bird. "It's from Dumbledore!" He heard Harry say. "Read it to me." Harry sat down on the floor leaning on the bed with his back to Draco. He did not want to initiate another tongue-tied episode. Draco leaned over his shoulder, still on the bed, as Harry read aloud. 'Harry, I'm sure that you are very surprised about these current arrangements with Mr. Malfoy, as I'm sure Mr. Malfoy has explained the situation to you by now.' "No...he hasn't" He smiled faintly up at Draco, who returned the gesture. 'I trust that you will be a supportive host for the boy in his time of need and just the same trust he will be civil to you despite your quarreling over the years. If there are any problems please do not hesitate to owl your godfather or me for advice. Snuffles will be helping with your protection and the fight that we are all involved with at this point in time.' Draco cocked an eyebrow at the name "Snuffles", but allowed Harry to continue before he asked any questions. 'Please do not tell Mr. Weasley or Miss Granger about this until the school year begins, for we cannot risk any leakage to the media. You may visit Diagon Alley and only Diagon Alley during sunup on weekdays if you need. Your godfather will be patrolling the streets then. Am I correct when I say you are connected to the Floo Network? Mr. Malfoy should have brought some floo powder. And whatever you do, do not let your family members discover Mr. Malfoy's true identity. I hope you have a lovely summer, dear boy. Best wishes, Albus Dumbledore' He looked up expectantly at Draco, hoping that he would begin an elaborate story about why exactly he was at his house. "Well, Mr. Malfoy, now that I have sufficient proof that you are supposed to be here, will you tell me the reasons...finally?" "You didn't believe me before?" "I was...sloping toward believing you... for some reason, seeing as you and Snape were at my door talking like idiots and - " "Idiots with sexy accents as you put it!" Harry blushed and nodded. "Who's Snuffles?" Draco asked. "My godfather." Plainly, he said. "Yes, but who? Snuffles can't possibly be his real name!" "Why not?" Harry jokingly snapped. "Come on Harry!" "I'm not supposed to say!" "Hey, Harry?" Said Draco. Harry was curious at the sudden change in subject and tone. "Yeah?" "Are you ticklish?" Harry foolishly replied without thinking. "Yes." Promptly, Draco was on all fours like a small blonde kitty and pounced on top of Harry like the frolicsome cub he was. Harry was pinned to the floor with his arms over his head as Draco used the other to tickle the side-splitting laughter out of him easily. It took all of the energy Harry could collect to plead to Draco to stop, though he was still smiling and giggly. "No...Draco...d -don't...!" He could hardly remember how to speak he was laughing so incessantly. "Are you going to tell me who Snuffles is?" He grinned down at the flushed, sweaty boy. It was quite a struggle for him to keep Harry on the ground; he was a good three inches shorter than Harry, but just as strong. "...No...I...tickles...Draco...can't...breath!" "Come now, Harry, you can do better than that!" "I...n...n...no...I...alright...Sirius Black!" The tickling ceased and the laughter stopped. Harry lay shaking, smiling, but worried that Draco would hate him again, now that he knew his godfather was a convicted murderer. Draco, however, did not run away screaming, he cracked a large, toothy smile. "Your godfather is a murderer! That's fantastic!" "What?!" Harry looked at the peculiar boy still sitting on him, in shock. "You think it's fantastic that my godfather is someone who you think killed dozens of people?" "Well, it's sort of unusual...If you're especially sensitive about it then... sorry..." "Don't be. He didn't kill them." "Huh?" "Why else would Dumbledore let him help without turning him in?" "Um..." The vacant expression of Draco's face amused Harry, because routinely Draco was the one with all of the answers. They both became embarrassed to realize that Draco was still straddling Harry's waist and had his hands unconsciously placed on Harry's chest to hold himself up. He rolled off onto a piece of floor a few feet from Harry. They sat in silence fleetingly. "Can I trust you, Drac?" He glanced at Harry, who looked comfortable with his head supported by his arms folded behind his head, watching his ceiling as always. In all seriousness he replied. "Yes." With no further questions Harry relived through words the event in the Shrieking Shack to Draco, along with the details about the Secret Keeper. Draco was enthralled at Harry's emotion throughout the speech. How could a person be so protective of a man they'd only met three years ago? Well, supposedly because he was the only family the boy had, besides the fiends he lived with. But, it was as if Harry'd been with Sirius, loving Sirius all of his life. It amazed Draco that Harry cared so much about a person. Moreover, it made him jealous. Jealous of both Sirius and Harry for respective reasons. "Harry?" Draco asked softly when the story'd been completed. "Hmm?" "Why did you believe me when I said you could trust me?" "Well, you did say I could trust you..." "I know..." He fiddled with his fingers. "...But, I mean...you just started telling me about Sirius without a second thought. After I've not even elaborated on the reason why I'm here...and after so many years of us fighting..." His index fingers played together. "...And I've been here less than three-and-a-half hours..." He said, checking his silver pocket watch and returning to finger fidgeting. "...And my being in Slytherin and you being in Gryffindor..." "Maybe that's it." "What?" His thumbs now dueled. "My being a Gryffindor." He arose from his spot and sat cross-legged across from Draco, placing his larger hand on Draco's to stop the nervous twitching. "Gryffindors more often follow their instinct. I feel I can trust you, Draco. You've already showed me in these few hours how different of a person you can be. That you could be a friend if you really tried." Draco did not look at Harry as he said this; he kept his grays glued to Harry's hand, and the thumb carefully stroking his own two hands. It felt incredibly warm to be speaking to Harry as he was. It felt almost...almost like they had been friends... "I've never had any friends, Harry..." He whispered. "What about Crabbe and Goyle?" Harry returned with equal gentleness. "They're not friends, they're mindless cronies. They wouldn't stick around if it really mattered." Harry placed his other hand under Draco's, that then made it so his hands were cupped around the pale ones. "Harry?" "Hmm?" "Would you...would...can we be friends? ...Please?" He looked up optimistically, wanting to be accepted by Harry more than he'd ever wanted anything. He wanted this more than the first time he'd held out his hand to him on the Hogwarts Express; more than he wanted his father to buy him a Firebolt to match Harry's; more than he wanted to be just as good at everything Harry was. For a split second, he regretted his decision in asking for Harry's friendship. 'What am I thinking? He'll laugh in my face! I'm a Malfoy...I ask for nothing, much less say "please"!' That was all wiped away when Harry replied. "Yes, Draco. Absolutely." The young Slytherin felt so happy that he might have pounced on Harry a second time had he not heard a bellow from outside of the door. "BOY! Your trunk!" "My trunk!" Harry jumped to his feet; Draco felt lonely at the loss of the warm hands encircling his, as would feel one's neck after the wind took their scarf away. Harry animatedly flung his door open and dragged the heavy thing in and falling on his bottom in the process. Draco laughed at the Harry who was on his knees, rubbing his sore rear. "Oh, poor Hawwy! Does he need a kissy and a band-aid?" Harry grumbled and stood and wiggled his end teasingly in the air. "Only if you do it, sweetums!" Draco soured his expression at being called "sweetums", following, he bound up and smacked the joker remorselessly on the bum. "Ouch! I'll get you for that!" "Sure you will, Scar!" "You're asking for it ferret!" Seeing the playful rage in Harry's eyes he backed away and Harry chased him twice around the small room before tackling him onto the bed. Harry, taking advantage of the situation, spanked Draco twice, boyishly hard, before leaping up to do a victory-dance. Draco laid on the bed, rubbing his own new pain, watching Harry's frolics, smiling to himself. "You're an evil one, Potter." "Should I take that as a compliment from the Slytherin?" Grinned he. "Maybe..." "Tell me, now." "Tell you what?" Sigh. "Why, precisely, Voldemort is after you too." Sigh. "Tomorrow, Harry. I'm tired." "But it's still early!" "Be that true, it does not change the fact that my eyelids are drooping! Goodnight, Mr. Potter." He spoke eloquently, rising to the door. "Fine, but I'm waking you up bright and early." "Alright. Then I will assist you in fixing up this despicable room?" Harry nodded in agreement. They both smiled. "Draco?" "Yes?" "Thanks, again." "You too, Harry." To be continued... 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