New Beginnings

Chapter 27

"Potter."

"Snape."

"Severus."

"Tom."

They stared at each other wearily, waiting for another to make the first move.

A few hours before, Harry had been a bundle of nerves as he sat on the train with Draco. Blaise and Pansy (The sixth year prefects) were down the end of the train doing whatever prefects did. (Draco had been majorly upset when he wasn't chosen, but refused to let his dad get him the position, he wanted to work for what he had not get things through nepotism).

"Calm down, I'm sure the holiday will go smoothly." Draco almost called Harry ' love' yet managed to hold his tongue long enough to finish the sentence, the holiday wasn't going to start awkwardly.

"What if it doesn't? Then what? I need to finish what I started but I can't if Tom gets overly suspicious." 

 "What if he supported you? Do you seriously think he's going to object to your plan of killing the Order?" Draco scoffed, watching Harry flush in embarrassment.

"You're supposed to be comforting me." 

 Draco grinned, happy that the tense atmosphere was dissipating. He leaned over (he and Harry sat opposite each other) to draw Harry into a hug and eventually into his lap as the original position had been awkward.

"Why don't you start speaking?" 

"And when they ask why I'm suddenly not mute?"

"We can say that whilst Ron and Hermione's death hit you hard, I helped you heal and move on." 

 Harry mulled it over. Obviously someone didn't just suddenly start speaking again and probably not after a few months due to the 'trauma' of seeing his best friends mutilated body. Nevertheless communicating would be easier and Harry would be able to quiz the dark on their goals goals (he refused to be a weapon for anyone).

He huffed as the answer became obvious, "okay, but you have to explain."

Giggling Harry glanced out the window in time to see a sign proclaiming that platform nine and three quarters was only a few miles away.

 "Will it annoy your dad if I dress as a muggle?"

 " undoubtedly. "

 "Cool, which colour do you prefer black or blue ?"

 Draco narrowed his eyes, wondering where the conversation was goimg, "black."

He kept his eyes on harry as the younger boy unabashedly stripped after pulling down some clothes from his trunk. Draco had long ago forgone asking Harry about the scars on his body as Harry always shut him down.

The boy pulled on tight, black jeans and (thankfully) a green dress shirt. Draco watched Harry tye the laces on his dragonhide boots and was incredibly grateful that Harry had the dress shirt on, it was formal enough to not send his father over the edge as well as working well with the rest of his muggle/informal wizardry attire (The boots). 

Draco felt more amused at Harry testing his father's boundaries during the holidays than annoyed, knowing that Harry would do it with everyone else. Just to see how far he could push them before they snapped back at him.

The blonde himself dressed in black and dark silver robes, making sure to keep his hair comb and overall impression immaculate.

Both of them figured the press would be there and made sure to look perfect. Going so far as to style his own messy hair yet Harry still couldn't get it looking presentable. For the thousandth time he cursed the Potters and wished he could take off the glamours. 

Stepping onto the platform, the two quickly caught sight of Draco's parents, though the purebloods hadn't seen them yet.

Lucius and Narcissa stood side by side, immaculate as ever, whilst Severus scowled next to them and a tall man with chocolate eyes was next to the potions master. Though Harry could see some red bleeding through.

"Harry? You okay?" 

"Its not to late to run, is it?" Harry mumbled back, eyes fixed on Severus. There was a big difference between planning the holiday with Draco and actually going with them. In theory he would fine, practice was harder.

"We can turn back if you want to." Assured draco, the blonde going to comb Harry's hair comfortingly.

Harry took a deep breath, "no, we cant. Let's go." Firmly he lead Draco over to the group, thankful that Draco didn't mention him shaking.

"Lord and Lady Malfoy." 

The two shared an impressed look before turning to address him. Draco breathed a sigh of relief that his parents were actually acting nice. 

"Potter." Severus drawled , earning small glared from all the adults.

Harry narrowed his eyes and mimicked his voice, "Snape."

"Severus." Tom hissed in warning.

"Tom." Harry turned to the man, holding eye contact perfectly.

they all stared at Harry, which grew unnerving as the minutes passed.

"O-kay, why don't we, you know, leave the platform now?" Draco commented, starting to get creeped out by the entire situation.

Narcissa inclined her head, "we shall be apparating to Malfoy Manor, Draco can take you."

Harry realised that he'd be apparating, meaning to anyway not as an accident, and looked to the blonde for guidance. Draco saw the adults twitch as he wrapped an arm around Harry's waist, but none of them said anything.

they landed first, with Draco remaining upright whilst the force knocked Harry to his knees. 

"What the hell?"

Draco snorted than immediately tried to cover it up, " you'll find a mode of transportation that agrees with you."

"You're more likely to turn into a ferret. " Harry shot back, climbing to his feet in a huff.

The adults arrived in time to hear Harry's ferret comment and they waited to see how Draco would react.

"Oh really scarhead, you seen to get along with brooms just fine."

"You're just annoyed because you got beaten by a Gryffindor."

"More like a ballerina."

There wasn't any heat behind their words, merely teasing each other but the adults didn't know what to make of it.

Narcissa cleared her throat. "Draco will lead you to your room, Harry. It's opposite his." She added the last part when the blonde furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

Draco automatically went to hold Harry's hands, much to the surprise of  the adults. Of course Narcissa, Lucius and Severus knew that Tom had ordered for Draco to "convert" Harry to the dark side, but they had no idea just how close the pair seemed.

Tom raised an eyebrow as the teenagers passed, knowing that it was going to be a more eventful holiday than any of them had anticipated.

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