Traitor, traitor.

Chapter 7 ~ A new home.

Draco's POV.

The crowd had hushed to silence and Hermione and Draco sent each other worried glances. What was happening out there? Draco was just about to crack open the door when it opened on its own, Harry flinging it open. The weather had changed drastically since yesterday, and snow flurried in accentuating Harry's now tall and muscular figure. His hair flew about in the wind, whipping his face as it did. 

And then the door was slammed shut and the moment was over. Draco sighed inwardly. It had been a nice view while it had lasted. Harry walked stiffly past them both and almost collapsed into the chair, head in his hands.

"What... What happened out there?" Draco asked tentatively. Harry shook his head. "I think I scared some people Dray. Especially some people that have known me a long time." Draco walked over to him, the new nickname not escaping his notice, and took Harry's hand in his own. "Shh it's okay Harry, you were angry, people could've died. It's not your fault you were mad."

Harry shook his head. "Not people Draco. You." They gazed into each other's eyes, electricity crackling in the air. "I'm sorry to interrupt this moment," Hermione's voice rang out sheepishly, "But where is Draco going to stay? Are Parkinson and Zabini still around?" Draco shook his head slight sadness showing on his face, "Pansy and Blaise moved out to Paris a few years ago. I haven't heard from them since about a year ago when Pansy gave birth. A baby boy. And then radio silence." He couldn't stop slight bitterness from seeping into his voice.

"I'm sorry Draco." She cleared her throat, "But if they are not around then who will you stay with?" Draco thought about it, lost. His parents were in Azkaban, the wizarding prison, and he had no other family that would be willing to take him in. No other friends at all, maybe only Theo a Healer he knew partially from a few operations they had partaken in together.

He sat down daintily on the chair at Harry's side. He seemed to be listening and thinking quite intensely as if the problem was causing him much to think about.

Theo seemed to be the only person who would ever take him in, but still, Draco wasn't fond of the idea. Theo gave off the wrong vibes, creepy auras that Draco hadn't felt for many years. But it seemed it was his only choice. He sighed and spoke up. "I have a friend," He started, "Theo Nott. He's a Healer as well, I'm sure he would be willing to take me in if I asked. Obviously, first I'd need to sort out some stuff. Like I do not believe anything in the manor would have survived that fire, though something has been plaguing me. How did they get through the wards? Only people at the top of the chain at the ministry could of let them down. Only like, five people have that power and you two are two of them." Draco shook his head. "Anyway, that's not important right now. I just need to find a way to get a message to Theo and-"

"No." Harry's voice rang out clear and true. "No?" Draco questioned. Harry shook his head slowly and deliberately. "No." Hermione then decided to pitch in. "But Harry... If Theo is willing to give Draco a home then Draco needs to go somewhere he's safe. There's nowhere else for him to go." It stung Draco a bit, her words, but he brushed it off. She was right.

"He can stay with me." The words shocked Draco so much that he fell right out of his chair. "HUH?" He exclaimed. Harry turned to him. "You can stay with me." There. He said it again.

"Wha- But-" Hermione clapped her hands. "Right then that's sorted. I'll leave you, boys, here. The house may have burned down by now. You know Ronald." And with that, she apparated away.

Harry and Draco just sat there for a while, both thinking. "Well then. Do you want to come to look around mine?"  Harry asked, fumbling with his hands. Draco nodded, almost enthusiastically. "Yes! I mean, yeah okay sure." Harry smiled at him, the first time he had smiled since their walk yesterday evening and got to his feet.

He held his hand out for Draco to grab, and he did so willingly. Harry looked around leaving Draco wondering what he was looking for. "Aha!" Harry was pointing at the fireplace. "Clever girl, Hermione. Here Draco, take this." Harry held out some bright green floo powder in his hands. 

Draco took a pinch and made his way to the fireplace. He straightened his robes and stepped into the fire. "Potter Manor!" He spoke loudly and clearly and soon felt the usual pull of flooing.

Soon he stumbled out and into one of the most head-ache-worthy rooms imaginable. "Why is everything such a deep red?" He muttered looking around at all the walls. They were a deep maroon, accented with gold. The carpet was a deep brown and the walls were adorned with years of Gryffindor banners. It was almost fascinating how the banners had changed through the years. Almost. He saw a very loud red armchair in the corner and perched upon it, still looking around the room. There was a trophy case covering a whole wall, with what looked like every single trophy any Potter had ever won adorning it. 

Talk about ego. 

Suddenly the fire roared into life and Harry came gracefully stepping out of it. He was, so it seemed, much more of a natural at travelling by floo than Draco was, seeing as he never really left the Manor unless it was for work.

"Hey! So, uh, when we walk through the house you'll have to excuse the mess. Like I said the other day Hermione made me get rid of all the house elves..." Draco suddenly jumped up. "HOUSE-ELVES." Harry looked extremely confused. "Erm yeah? We got rid of the house elves." Draco rolled his eyes harder than he ever had before. "No, you dumb-ass, MY house elves."

Harry nodded. "Oh, yeah." Draco stared. "You don't get it, do you," He said looking at Harry with annoyance. "I'm afraid not," Harry replied looking mightily confused. Draco face-palmed in pure frustration. "Harry I can get my house elves to come here. They'll have this place spick and span in no time."

"Oh! Right, yeah, okay, yeah that sounds good." Harry stumbled over his words and Draco suppressed another eye roll.

"Squeaky!" Draco called out and the house elf appeared with a large crack. "Master has called for Squeaky! House elves have been worried about master, we have not heard anything for days! Since the big fire." Draco nodded and looked at the house elf. "You have a new home now Squeaky. Round up the other elves, bring them here and then tell them to clean until it's spotless." Squeaky nodded and apparated straight away, leaving only the crack of air to mark his disappearance. 

Harry shook his head ruefully. "Hermione's going to kill me."

Word Count: 1183