The Contract : Book II [Draco/Harry]

Chapter 5 : Tacenda

Draco was cautiously optimistic over the next few days, when despite the reports of grisly murders and disappearances, he was yet to hear anything from his parents, wherever they were. Potter being made Quidditch captain did nothing to improve his sour mood.

" - you're my Captain - if you let me back on the team, that is."

Weasley chortled after that, while Potter grinned broadly. Draco found Weasley's sycophancy sickening, he was about to voice a rather brilliant quip, if he did say so himself but quickly silenced himself in the wake of Mrs. Weasley's appearance. Sucking up to adults was part of his brand, after all.

An impromptu plan to go to Diagon Alley to get their school supplies was set up. Draco dragged his feet when he noticed Hagrid standing at the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron. While the Gryffindors huddled around Hagrid, Draco took a quick detour.

His father had many dealings with Borgin and Burkes, surely there had to be a way to get a message across to his parents through the slippery shop owner. He took one sharp glance behind, he was pleased to note that his absence had gone unnoticed.

Diagon Alley had changed, for the worse. The colorful, glittering window displays of books, potion ingredients, and cauldrons were hidden behind large Ministry of Magic posters. Most of the posters carried the Ministry's security advice but others bore moving black-and-white photographs of Death Eaters known to be on the loose.

Draco watched his dear Aunt Bella scowl from one of the posters.

Knockturn Alley was completely deserted, Draco drew near the entrance of Borgin and Burkes. There in the midst of the cases full of skulls and old bottles stood Nott with his back to Draco, just visible beyond a large black cabinet. He was talking animatedly, judging by his hand movements.

Draco tried to make himself look inconspicuous, he drew the hood of his robes over his blonde head trying to read their lips. Borgin, surprisingly, was looking at Nott with a mixture of resentment and fear.

"Not very conspicuous, are you?"

Draco jumped, swirling around wildly to locate the source of the voice. He tsked loudly when a disembodied hand pulled him under Potter's invisibility cloak. He wondered where Potter got the guts to call out his stealth, when Potter usually blundered around like a bull in a china shop.

"Did you follow me here?"

"Yeah."

Draco smirked, remembering Potter's obvious jealousy over Terry last year. Subtlety wasn't really his strong suit. Pushing uncharitable thoughts about Potter's intellect aside, Draco was quick to put in the Extendable Ears Potter offered.

" - you know how to fix it?"

"Possibly."

Borgin, said in a tone that suggested he was unwilling to commit himself.

"Why don't you bring it into the shop?"

Potter clutched at Draco's wrist while Nott used threats and coercion to get his way with Borgin. He showed something to Borgin, blocked from view by the cabinet, after which Borgin seemed more cooperative.

Draco held his breath while Nott passed by them. It was only when they were safely out of Knockturn Alley that Draco remembered why he had gone there in the first place.

"Wait. Where are you going?"

"I need to -"

Draco stopped. Harry waited for him to finish, standing with a hand on his hip, looking every bit the righteous hero Draco knew him to be. He hesitated, when it came to his parents, he couldn't trust anyone. Especially not Harry, who had time and again shown that Draco's parents weren't his favourite people.