𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒

Chapter 18

Harry gawked as the blonde exited the bathroom carrying his disguise over his arm, his face washed free of the woman's makeup, making him look more like the old Draco with the exception of the dark hair. The Slytherin was wearing a green cable knit sweater that enfolded snugly around his more muscular chest and a pair of old faded blue jeans with a rip in the knee that hugged his hips just right, his feet were bare.

"What?" Draco asked, noticing the flushed face and staring eyes of The-Boy-Who-Lived. "Is my zipper down or something?"

"N-no, it's n-nothing," Harry stammered, appreciating the view. 'How did he get muscles? Merlin, he's...he's...gorgeous.'

"I just never would have figured you to wear muggle clothing, is all," Harry added to hide his more lecherous teenaged thoughts.

Draco shrugged his shoulders. "There wasn't a robe store handy, so..." He flashed Harry a grin. "Weren't you going to show me to my room?"

"Uh...yeah," Harry answered, turning and leading the Slytherin towards the end of the hall.

After entering Draco took his suitcase from Harry and placed it on the seat of the small chair under the window, draping the disguise over the back of it. His cans of pop were in a cooler in the kitchen and he thought he might have to take a nip down and grab one later on.

Draco felt a bit strange being back and also saddened that he couldn't share this with the Vanner's. He knew George would have loved to find out there was real magic in the world and probably would have gotten on famously with Arthur.

They were a lot alike actually, Arthur with his fascination for anything muggle and George with that same fascination for anything magical. 'I can just picture the two of them comparing notes,' Draco thought wistfully. Of course Granny would have been beloved by everyone and he was sure she could be happy here. 'Maybe she can come. Maybe they all can if we can defeat the Dark Lord.'

"Are you alright?" Harry asked noticing how quite and pensive Draco had gotten. He was just standing there staring out the small window looking off into nowhere.

"Uh, yeah...Sorry," Draco apologized. "I just miss them," he stated sadly. He opened the suitcase and rummaged around until he found and pulled out a pair of white socks.

"You were really happy with them, weren't you?" Harry asked. The-Boy-Who-Lived was sitting cross-legged on the small single bed that was against the wall watching as Draco came over and sat beside him, bending over and pulling on the socks.

"Yes, I was. To tell you the truth, it was the happiest time of my life." Finished, Draco straightened and put his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. "How could I have been so stupid for so long?" he asked no one in particular.

Harry kept quiet, knowing he really wasn't supposed to say anything, and really, what was there to say. Draco had been an asshole in the past. To lie and tell him he wasn't would have been insulting and disingenuous.

"Everything I was ever taught was all lies and I believed every word of it. I wish..." Draco drifted off, feelings of dejection and shame running deep within him.

Harry put his arm around Draco's shoulders. "You know the truth now, right? And you're going to stay and help us."

Draco smiled at the other boy. "Yeah, I really want to help." There was a moment of silence between the two as Harry grinned back at Draco. "Hey, Harry. Do you still have the book?"

"Yeah, it's in my trunk in my room, why?" Harry questioned as he removed his arm, letting his fingers trail across Draco's shoulders.

"I think we should still work on the spells, especially the ones using a partner," Draco stated remembering the vision Granny had told him about, with he and Harry fighting together.