Uncomfortable Truths

Chapter Eighty-Seven - The Penthouse

Draco and Harry led the boys off the train and straight to Mr. Carpenter's office. They left them in the coffee shop while they had their meeting. Kyle and Kenneth were still a bit hungover from the previous night's impromptu party. Harry may have handed out sober-up and hangover potions to their guests, but he made sure not to have any for those two. He did save one for Draco, but he didn't need it. Ian and Toby enjoyed their friend's misery all the way to King's Cross station.

The adoption papers for Kenneth were drafted. Professor Snape is going to join them for Easter at the Burrow and do the blood adoption afterwards. Ron and Pansy were asked to be his godparents; they plan to ask Andromeda to join Snape as a witness.

Mr. Carpenter filed an appeal in the Wizengamot for Narcissa and Greg based on the leniency the courts shown Lucius Malfoy and Theodore Nott, Sr. He's certain that he can get their sentence lessened. Draco's probation ends in June, it would take until then to get before a judge, which means there's no reason to try to lessen his. He also issued a cease and desist letter to the courts, fighting Harry's illegal ban from leaving the country. Needless to say, Draco left the office in a great mood, and decided a day of shopping would be needed to celebrate.

Some of the shopping they did in Diagon alley confused the boys. Draco took them to a children's clothing store. Kyle did pick out a couple outfits for Teddy, explaining that he promised the baby he would buy him some. Draco bought ten different dresses sized for a child of about 4 years of age. He wouldn't explain why.

They stopped at Quality Quidditch Supplies, getting Kenneth and Toby brooms. Ian and Kyle brought theirs with from school, but the other two boys didn't have one. Kenneth explained that his was confiscated by his uncle; and Toby didn't need one. He's never flown, which is something everyone agreed needed to be rectified and before they went to the Burrow to play quidditch.

It wasn't long before they were chased out of Diagon Alley by the press. Pictures of Harry, Draco and the four unknowns, as they overheard one reporter put it, were taken leaving every store. It wasn't until they left the Leaky Cauldron that the reporters started crowding in. They pulled Ian away from the group, trying to interview him.

Harry and Toby watched as Draco, Kyle and Kenneth put on their poshest accents to reclaim Ian from the crowd. Not that Ian was saying anything. He's never had to avoid reporters before; but he's been in The Met's offices more times than he'd like to admit. He knows how to avoid questions. The whole experience soured Diagon for them and led them into London proper.

Exhausted and loaded down with bags, Draco apparated Harry to his penthouse in London. They took turns apparating the others now that Harry knew where it was.

It's in a muggle building on the River Thames. He purchased the top two floors and had it remodeled, adding a few wizarding features, but almost entirely muggle otherwise. He explained that he and his friends stayed here after being released from St. Mungo's over the summer. One feature was the apparation point he added outside the wards. Once he adds someone to his wards, they can apparate inside the penthouse.

The penthouse was everything Harry thought a place Malfoy owned would be like. Two stories, windows made up all the outer walls, very modern with its stainless steel and dark woods. Brushed cement floors covered by rugs; three fireplaces and those are only the ones he can see walking through the front door.

"Wow." Toby whispers to Ian.

"Fucking right." Ian whispers back.

"Your bedrooms are upstairs." Draco walks in, throwing his bags on the sofa. "Potter, ours is down that hallway." He points past the kitchen, "Put your stuff away and we'll figure out what we want to do for dinner."