In the Heart of Men • Harry Potter/Merlin Crossover

chapter four

Sorry that this one is short (though to be perfectly honest it is almost 600 works) and late. I had a project for I-STEAM which was due but they've decided to push back the date for the third time. Originally it was meant to be last term (at least 4 weeks ago), then it was last week and now it's this week. I also had my first exam block which was for our yearlys. I have decided to do an original #NaNoWriMo but I won't post it till the month ends as its still in script form. So, in saying that I should have more time this month to write the next chapter and maybe a bonus one as well.

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Opening the door, Draco could see the person close their book harshly.

"Pardon, I was misinformed..." He trailed off when the figure turned around.

"You!" Potter exclaimed, falling off the bed.

"Very graceful, Potter," He taunted, leaning against the door frame, "Have you finally resorted to stealing from Muggles? How the mighty have fallen,"

"Shut up, Malfoy," He growled.

When Harry looked up, Malfoy visibly twitched. His glasses were bent and his left eye was swollen. Thick red lines creeped out of his shirt to wrapped around his neck.

"If you must know, I live here,"

Draco scoffed, "Yeah, right. Potter, Boy-who-li—" Draco would have continued talking if he hadn't heard Dudley come up the stairs.

Turning his head, he could see Dudley freeze when he saw him. Potter upon realising that Draco had stopped talking, looked out the door.

"Harry? Draco?" Dudley seemed bewildered with the current situation. He came to stand in between the two of them.

"Dud," Harry said, his eyes lighting up as he stepped closer to Dudley, "Do you—?"

Dudley grinned as he pulled a napkin wrapped bundle from his pocket. Draco seemed confused at why this was so important.

"You should go down, they sent me up to get you," Dudley said to Draco, while Harry placed the bundle on his bed.

Draco turned around and looked at the two of them before going downstairs.

"He's from school," Harry explained.

"I think we should tell him," Dudley said. He carefully picked Harry's glasses off his face and bent them back into shape.

"Why? Do you really think he would help?"

Dudley nodded his head, "I wouldn't tell him unless I know so,"

Harry sighed, "Alright then, tell him,"

Dudley hugged Harry before going downstairs.

Draco watched Dudley come down the stairs and take his seat. They sat in silence while they waited for Petunia to bring out the chocolate mousse. Looking over the table to his father he nodded, indicating that they would need to talk later.

The mouse was delicious, but Draco couldn't stop thinking about how Potter was upstairs. His injured eye and the red marks which looked a lot like welts.

The night went smoothly after that. Neither Draco or Dudley mentioned what happened upstairs, Mr Dursley got his business deal and a possible pay rise, although Narcissa seemed to be on the last reach of her patients.

Thankfully for her, it had gotten to the point that they were able to leave without offending anyone.

"You'll tell you dad, won't you?" Dudley asked.

The Malfoy's all got in the car. The driver drove them down the street and out of the neighbourhood. It was a while before Draco decided to break the silence.

"I think we should come unexpectedly once," Draco said as he sat down in the car.

"You know that we don't do that Draco," His mother said, "It means that they don't have time to get ready,"

By now his father was listening in to the conversation.

"But that's the point," He said turning his head to watch what they were passing. This interested Lucius.

"Draco," He began, "What exactly did you find upstairs. I know that you wouldn't be saying this if you didn't have a reason,"

Draco looked his father directly in his eye. With the seriousness of someone talking about death, he said, "Harry Potter,"