Rage and Peeling Wallpaper
Chapter 3. Rage and Peeling Wallpaper
Harry was far too gitty considering where he was planning to go. For some reason it didn’t matter where he went, he enjoyed his time with Draco immensely. He was quickly learning that beneath the sneer, the upturned nose, the hiding behind his father, Draco was a nerd. And nothing made the ex-Death eater more endearing. He found himself whistling as he dressed, trying on a few different fits in the mirror. He had woken up early, and figured he would use the time to try and impress his new friend. Maybe Draco would see him in a new, more mature, less rumpled light.
He traded his trainers for a pair of tan work boots, and cuffed his jeans at the bottom to make sure to show off the new shoes.
Harry was never one to preen.. But he felt he looked good. Good enough at least to be seen in public with the ever dapper Draco Malfoy.
“Harry.” Harry turned to see Ron, dressed, arms crossed.
“Morning.” Harry said in a cheery voice before picking out a red scarf that Molly had made him, it had some subtle detailing of snitches at the bottom.
“We need to talk.”
Harry faced his friend again, confused, before he saw Nevel, Dean, and Shamas there too. All trying their best to look intimidating. Trying to block his path. Harry felt his hand twitch for his wand out of instinct.
“About what?” Harry said, a slight edge to his voice.
“Malfoy.”
Harry felt his jaw tighten.
“What about Malfoy?”
Harry felt he could guess. ‘How could you spend so much time with him, he was a death eater, there’s a difference between forgiving and befriending…’ it felt like a million arguments ran through his mind.
“You fancy him?”
Oh great. This. Harry puffed up his chest. No use denying it, he would soon find out who his real friends were.
“Yeah, what of it.”
At his words, his friends relaxed dramatically. Ron even let out a long sigh and a muffled ‘thank merlin.’
“Anyone wanna clue me in to what you all are on about?” Harry said, temper rising.
“I couldn’t do it.” Ron explained.
“Couldn’t do what?!”
“Well, usually you're thick enough when it comes to people fancying you, but you’re even slow on figuring out you fancy someone. And it's awkward. I don’t wanna go through another awkward year of you in denial or something.”
Harry felt like his rage was going to boil over. Him? THICK?
“ME?! How long did it take you and Hermioney to get together? SEVEN YEARS!”
“Hey mate, it wasn’t that I was dence. I just knew she probably wouldn’t like me.”
Harry ignored that. He didn’t want to feel bad for Ron at the moment.
“So, is that it then? Can I go?”
“You are gonna ask him out though right?” Neval chimed in.
Harry felt himself deflate slightly.
“Eventually… I don’t know if… if he even fancies blokes.”
The group let out a collective groan.
“You are thick.” Dean said.
Before Harry could retort, the group grabbed him at the arms and pulled him out of their dormitory. Harry made a mental note to practice more wandless magic as he was frogmarched down into the main 8th year common room.
“My goodness,” Draco started, looking at the lot of them. “If the golden boy has to be dragged out to spend time with me, perhaps I should spend the day with Granger instead.”
“Nope!” Harry practically jumped out of his friend's grip. “Nope. They're just being gits. Want me for quidditch. Let's go, Malfoy.” He grabbed Draco’s arm without thinking and pulled him alongside out of the common room, ignoring the chorus of wolf whistles.
…………….
Harry was amused to be here on Privet Drive with Draco Malfoy. All he needed was Voldemort, old snape, some death eaters… and he would have a collection of all his worst enemies in his least favorite place. He wasn’t sure how he felt about returning. Last time he was here he was almost 17, a war had been going on. They had lost Moody, he had lost Hedwig.
Harry distracted himself by answering any questions Draco seemed to have, mostly about the lampposts and stop lights on timers, or a muggle girl who had been holding an odd brick with a glowing screen. Harry had figured the questions would increase as they reached Privet drive, but they decreased. In fact, Draco became oddly quiet. Every so often he would make a noise, probably the start of a question, as they passed a mailbox or some kid with light up trainers, yet he would stop himself and if Harry looked at him, he would raise an eyebrow, as if Harry was the one acting odd.
Maybe he didn’t want to seem too eager about muggle things, or too uneducated, yet he had no problem in the london high streets.
A sprinkler suddenly started and got Harry in his leg. Must have been on a timer. He felt himself shoved as suddenly Draco drew his wand and pointed it at the sprinkler ticking away, an arm shielding Harry. Harry was a bit moved… but this was a muggle neighborhood, if someone found out Draco pulled out his wand here, even at at a sprinkler-
“Put that away.” Harry huffed. He grabbed Draco's wand and for a moment felt it tingle before Harry shoved it back into the inner pocket of Draco’s jacket. “It’s just water.”
“How- it just suddenly-”
“It's on a timer. It turns on at the same time everyday. Kinda like the lampposts.”
This time Harry could see it, a question or comment forming, curiosity getting the best of his usual cool expression as Draco seemed to start, then wilt again. Draco bit his lip and sheathed his wand, turning promptly to keep walking in the direction they had before.
“What’s with you?”
“Pardon?” Draco sounded offended.
“You’re normally talking my ear off with questions. Not that I mind.” Harry raised his hands in defense as he saw Draco turn red. “It’s a bit like when I entered the wizarding world. It’s normal. But you’ve been quiet since we appreciated here.”
Draco figited. Knocking a tight fist lightly against his thigh. He looked like a school boy caught out of bed, eyes looking everywhere except Harry’s own.
“Hermione… she didn’t tell me much about your… childhood. She said that was your business and I agree. And it’s not like I was trying to pry. But she said to avoid asking questions about your past in the muggle world. That it might… upset you.”
Harry hummed.
“So… I am keeping my questions to myself in case they might upset you.” he said in a hotty tone.
Harry couldn’t help chuckling. Draco was so dang cute. How had that git of a kid grown into someone so kind and considerate without completely changing their personality. He was still Draco Malfoy, but a different one. One who considered others, didn’t see his needs as more important or himself as greater.
Harry put his hands in his pocket and shrugged, motioning for them to keep walking up the lane.
“I don’t like to think about it. But, it is a part of my life and it made me… well me. So if you want to ask anything, it’s okay.”
Draco seemed to relax and as they continued walking Harry counted about ten seconds before Draco asked how the timer on the sprinkler worked and why they needed it.
…….
Arriving at number 4 was a bit more off putting than Harry thought it would be. Aside from the chill of the end of autumn, it felt like he was arriving home for his summer break. A car sat in the driveway… Harry thought it looked like some kind of older style car, it almost looked like the ford anguilla that Ron’s dad had enchanted and that still roamed the forbidden forest at Hogwarts. But the shape of the body was different and it had an up to date license plate. Odd that.
Harry suddenly realised that he wasn’t sure if his books would still be at number 4. He hadn’t thought of anyone else living here, but that had been stupid. Even if his Aunt and Uncle hadn’t returned they had probably sold the property. Maybe new owners had moved in and held onto them. He did have a healthy amount of exchanged pounds just in case, maybe they could buy the items back, or go to a bookstore.
Speaking of books… Harry suddenly remembered he had left most of his Hogwarts things behind as well. Old spell books and cauldrons. Merlin, he really hoped that Mrs. Fig managed to stop by and clear all that stuff out.
At the door, Harry paused before ringing the doorbell, and then offered for Draco to do it. Harry figured it would be a good way to mask his nerves, and he was right. Draco rang the bell and was so delighted he rang the bell three times before Harry snatched his hand away just as the door swung open.
Standing there, in a gray jumper and jeans, over a foot taller than Harry, was Dudley.
He looked like he had seen a ghost. And to be fair to him Harry probably looked the same. Dudley had grown into his features a bit better than his father had, no one would call him a model, but his features fit his squarish head, and he seemed to be thinner, more muscle than fat.
“Harry…” Dudley gasped. And Harry hadn’t had time to vocalize his shock before Dudley stepped forward and snatched him up in a hug. A near bone crushing one at that, but Dudley seemed to be shaking.
“You made it.”
“Made it?” Harry groaned under what was probably the second strongest hug he had ever received, it was hard to beat Hagrid.
“You’re alive.”
Oh. Right. They had never fully explained what was going on but even Dudley at his dumbest would be able to put together that being forced to leave his childhood home, by a bunch of odd looking witches and wizards concerned for his own safety, would probably hint that something was wrong. That Harry was in danger.
And Harry hadn’t exactly gone out of his way to let his blood relatives know he was alive, he figured it might upset them.
Awkwardly Dudley let go, clearing his throat and turning to quickly wipe away some stray tears.
“Come in, come in.”
………
Number four was almost unrecognizable. Gone were the florals and doilies. The living room was a soft green decorated in mixed wood furniture and a few movie or video game posters. The couch was leather and sat in front of a fairly large screen. It had a warmth and feeling of the gryffindor commodore room; if said commodore room had been designed in the past twenty years.
“Have a seat… Mary's made some biscuits.” Harry had never seen Dudley look so uncomfortable, except for that summer before his first year of Hogwarts when he struggled to sit down. “She’s at work at the mo’. I’ve got some tea… if…” Dudley looked over at Draco who hadn’t sat down yet.
“Draco Malfoy, I went to school with Harry.” He held out his hand. Harry was shocked when Dudley took it without hesitation.
“Sorry for my manners, Dudley dursley. Didn’t think I'd see this one again so my brain is reeling. Tea fine? Or I have some coffee?”
“Tea would be perfect. Thank you.” Draco answered, shooting a glance at Harry.
Draco sat down on the sofa, Harry shared a look with Dudley that someone seemed to completely convey “Posh this one.” Harry shrugged with a smile and turned towards the mantle as Dudley bustled out of the room.
The pictures were a lot less Dudley heavy. There were a few choice baby pictures, ones that seemed to feature Harry as a blur in the background. Most of the photos featured Dudley surrounded by friends or traveling with a pretty girl, long blond hair and blue eyes. Other photos of her, where she seemed to be a focus, always looking shy in front of the camera, or seemed to be taken without her notice.
Then he saw a very odd picture. It waved… at him. It was moving. A seventeen year old Dudley stood outside of an unfamiliar house. He seemed shy and awkward, but still waving. Right at Harry. Harry checked the back of the frame for batteries. Maybe it was like a tiny TV, but when he looked at the photo again he saw another familiar face. Hannah Abbot.
She was waving with far more energy seeing Harry and seemed to gesture out of frame. April Abbot, Kingsley Shacklebolt, a pregnant tonks, and a house elf Harry didn’t know all joined in waving.
Harry turned and hissed at Draco, getting his attention away from the unplugged game controller and over to the mantle.
“Huh.. I thought you said Muggle pictures don't move unless they’re on the tebe.”
“Telle. And they don’t.”
“Ah… there’s Hannah and professor Abbot. And the minister of magic… its obviously magic. Why are you so panicked?”
“Because we’re currently in a muggle home.”
“And he knows about magic.” Draco said, a bit board before turning to sit back down on the sofa.
“Dudley?” Harry called out.
“Yeah?” Came a call from the kitchen amongst clattering and banging. Harry wasn’t sure where to start. As he watched he saw Hannah seemed to be encouraging the Dudley in the picture to continue to wave.
“How do you know Hannah Abbot?”
“Oh yeah!” Dudley said, entering the room with a tea tray. “Well, it was when you left, you see. We had to go to a safe house. And Hannah apparently offered hers up to the order… thingy? I don’t remember much. She’s the one that explained about the war on and what not. Her house is pretty cool. It’s a bunch of houses in one, made by one of her great great great grandfathers or something.”
“The Abbot family is one of the oldest wizarding names in England.” Draco explained, politely taking a cup from Dudleys tray. He took a sip, silently gagged, and seemed to wait for Dudley to be looking away before tapping it with his wand. “Honestly Potter, don’t you know your friends? Alford Abbot was a renowned inventor when it came to extension charms. You should ask Hannah to look at her school bag when we head back, she probably has a whole house worth of items filled up in there.”
Another sip and Draco seemed satisfied.
“There was a dummy house they let us stay in. For non magic folk. Hannah had decorated it herself and offered to change stuff for mom but.. Well you know her.” Dudley continued. “I had to retake some classes to get my marks up so I did that from home. But when Hannah was home from school she said we were all free to visit her in her wizard house whenever we wanted.”
As he spoke, he handed Harry a cup. Dudley had rushed the tea and it tasted more like hot water with a hint of burnt. But Harry sipped it anyway. He had eaten and drank far worse.
“I was nervous at first.” Dudley didn’t drink but held the mug in his oversized hands. “Mom and Dad always talked about magic like it was evil when we were growing up. And that was a hard mindset to shake, I still got a nub of that tail.” Dudley laughed.
“I can fix that for you.” Harry offered.
“Naw,” Dudley laughed. “Too many of my mates have seen it now. And Marry, that’s her.”
He pointed out the blond with green eyes.
“Mom and Dad aren't too keen on her, so we haven’t been talking much.”
“How come?”
“Well… she's… ummm… when she was born.. She wasn’t like normal girls? She was more like.. Us?”
Oh . well that made sense why Harry’s uncle and aunt didn't like her.
“But she’s perfect. And…” Dudley leaned in to whisper closer to Harry.”
“We seem to have a similar type, ey? Blonds?”
Harry nearly choked on his tea. Dudley gave him a few hardy pats on the back.
“So, what’s brought you ‘round finally.”
“Honestly,” Harry said embarrassed. “I didn’t think you’d be here. Didn’t think any of you would wanna see me again.”
Dudley nodded solemnly, “That’s fair. You can’t have the best memories here. When I came back, I expected it to be full, but apparently no one noticed it was empty, and the deed was still in our name. Mom and Dad moved off to Florida in America. They love complaining or bragging about it, depending on who they're talking to.”
Harry laughed at that.
“I was wondering if you still have any of those old science books you had gotten for your birthday.”
“Those were yours.” He used his mug to gesture at Harry.
“Well yeah, but not originally. And not permanently.”
Dudley sipped his tea and shuffled awkwardly. Neither Dudley or Harry had sat down.
“Haven’t touched that place since I moved in. Your room neither. Mary said she cleaned it a bit but left everything in its place. It was hard for me to think about, I can’t even imagine for you-”
“Water under the bridge,” Harry held up a hand to stop him. “Come on Draco.” It wasn’t a long walk out to the hall. Harry wasn’t sure why he invited Draco over. Maybe it was easier to let him see and figure things out on his own than to sit down and talk about it. Harry noticed that the latch had been removed. He reached for the doorknob and opened the cupboard to see an old mattress, the bed made though rather dusty. Harry noticed a letter placed on the pillow, addressed to him. He recognised it at once.
It was his Hogwarts letter. The first one. How had Dudley managed…Well, no use dwelling on it.
The shelves that contained the few knick knacks or broken toys that had been all Harry had owned. He moved to the foot of the mattress and found a few stacks or books, in decent condition.
Harry turned to hand them to Draco but Draco wasn’t paying attention. His eyes were fixed on the letter on Harry’s old pillow.
“Draco.”
Draco jumped. Harry shook the book in his hands for Draco to take it. He did, tentatively.
“Honestly.. Might as well get all of this cleared away.” Harry crawled back out and pulled out his wand.
“Dudley? Do you mind?” Dudley had followed them in but had been watching at the doorway.
“Nope. It’s all your stuff. Still got your stuff upstairs too if you want me to go get it?”
“Will Marry notice?”
Dudley Chuckled.
“Marry has a cousin who is a wizard. It was something we had in common. That secret.”
Harry nodded. He pocketed the letter and then transfigured the pillow into a small leather box, then he transfigured the mattress into a similar trunk, slightly bigger for the books. With another flick of his wand the items arranged themselves into the two cases. Another tap and they vanished.
“What’s all upstairs then?” Harry asked.
“Mary packed everything in that big trunk. She wasn’t sure what was trash or not. But we needed it as an office…”
Accio Trunk Harry thought with a gentle flick of his wand. After a few light thunks from upstairs the case came gently floating down the stairs and set itself in the entryway. Dudley… clapped. Odd that. Harry tapped the trunk and it vanished.
“Everything should be at Grimall place,” He explained to Draco. “Figured we could stay there tonight and hit the shops in the morning if there are any more books you want.”
Draco nodded. Harry shut the cubby and returned to the living room, Dudley and Draco both seemed far too quiet. Harry looked at them, you couldn’t find two more different people without traveling to another country, yet they both had their heads down and seemed extremely awkward.
“Dudley,” Harry started. He pulled out a bit of paper and a regular cheap ball pen “This is my number. You can call anytime, it works I promise. And this is an address where I can receive regular posts.”
Dudley looked near tears as he accepted the note.
“Let’s not lose touch again.” Harry said with a smile. Harry was swept into another bone crushing hug. This time he had time to process and he returned with a few awkward pats.
“Thanks.” Dudley’s muffled voice vibrated against Harry’s shoulder as he pulled away, whipping a snotty nose on his sleeve. Harry thought he could see Draco cringing from the corner of his eye.
“For what?”
“Forgivin’ me. Just a bit. Never even said ‘sorry’. Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Harry answered automatically.
“It’s not.” Dudley looked distant. “It’s really not.”
“You were a kid.” Harry thought of his father. Sure, Harry had never bullied anyone because he knew what it was like. His father had ended up okay, maybe it was a phase Harry had skipped during the war. “You didn’t know better. You do now.”
“Yeah.” Dudley sniffled. “Come back anytime. Just give us a ring first.” Dudley pulled at his ratty sweater. “Give a man some time to freshen up.”
“Yeah. Will do Big D.”
Dudley smiled wide at that, and Harry thought it was the first real smile he had seen on his cousin. Not a greedy piggy grin or a smirk pleased as Harry got less or nothing, but an actual smile.
They left with some awkward waves and Harry led them to a familiar spot, where he had saved Dudley from dementors. He took Draco’s hand, the man had seemed so quiet, and apparated with him to Grimal place.
………………….
Outside Grimal Place, Harry wondered if Draco had ever been to the home. He knew Draco’s name was on the wall, and Creature would definitely recognize him, good thing he was still at Hogwarts. Harry wanted to ask but Draco looked as if he was miles away, and not in a good way.
As soon as they entered Draco grabbed Harry’s arm, drawing his attention. Draco looked like he was going to burst, whatever that meant in Harry’s mind he wasn’t sure.
“What room do you care the least about?”
“Uhh..”
“Tell me, please.” Draco’s voice was shaking. Harry had figured Draco would want to dive into the books, but something seemed off.
“Drawing room.” Harry hadn’t tackled that one yet. He had managed to get Serius' mother off the wall, so that and every other thing Harry wasn’t a fan of or didn’t know how to get rid of went in there.
Draco turned on the spot and popped out of Harry’s view. A few moments later he heard crashing and banging.
Ah…
He had an Idea of what had upset Draco, but he hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. As Harry walked through the main entryway to the cases he had sent here, he thought he felt the whole house tremble. Harry took a breath and gathered the books, moving them into the dining table in the kitchen. He looked at his old Hogwarts trunk and felt something drop in his stomach. He had no idea what would be in there. He could barely remember what he left. Hogwarts a History? Definitely the Lockhart books. Probably some old newspapers. He tapped it and sent it off to his room. He could deal with that later.
Another crash sounded and Harry let out a sigh. He moved over to where he had installed an old phone he had found and looked over the menus that he had tacked on the wall. The wall paper was peeling here. He should replace it. He decided on Pizza. Not knowing what Malfoy might like he got one cheese pizza and his own preferred order. Better this than having Creature cook with whatever was likely spoiling in the fridge. A few more add ons and another crash, Harry swiftly told the person where he would be waiting.
He sent his patronus off to Draco explaining how he was stepping out to get food and left.
About twenty minutes later he returned, and Draco was now sitting at the dining room table with the stack of books. Draco had two cups of tea ready and was nose deep in a book about NASA. He perked up as Harry walked in, setting the food on the table.
“Do I have to go see the drawing room?”
“I’d rather you didn’t. I can repair anything broken after I’ve rested a bit.”
“Never seen you lose it like that.” Harry waved his wand and two plates lifted from the cabinet and settled themselves near each mug. “Didn’t know what you liked so I got my favorite and just cheese.”
“What is that?”
“Pizza.”
“I know what pizza is.” Draco looked at Harry, expression a bit dry, which was good. Quite draco was hard to handle. “I've been to italy.”
“Well I haven’t. But Italians have been here, and to the USA, and they brought pizza. And then Americans brought this back to us. Some stuff got changed as it traveled.”
“Mm….” Draco looked at it weary.
“Want a knife or fork?”
“I'm not a complete fool. I know how to eat pizza.”
Harry tried not to laugh as Draco tried to shimmy a piece free and pull it away from the rest as the cheese remained attached. As he set it on his plate he seemed to try and figure out how to eat it with two hands or one. He went with two. And took a few bites.
“It's good.” and his tone seemed surprised and light.
“Good.” Harry smiled, digging into his own piece.
Draco set his slice down and closed the book on Nasa, he folded his hands in front of him.
“You said… I could ask you questions about your past.”
Harry chewed. “I did.”
“You are of course allowed to refuse to answer… but… please tell me. How… How often did you sleep there?”
“Until my letter came. After that they gave me Dudley's second bedroom.”
“HE HAD TW-” a mug shattered.
Draco clapped his hand over his mouth. He fumbled for his wand, probably to repair it but Harry beat him to it.
“Draco, not that I mind. But these are things I’ve gotten past. Don’t be angry for my sake. I have friends and family and my own whole house. My childhood wasn’t so great-”
Draco looked at him as if he had been hit with some kind of dumbness jinx
“Okay it was rotten, but I lucked out with the best way out. I found out about who I really am, I have the best friends who welcomed me like family.”
Draco was silent for a moment, and Harry hoped that his stomach wouldn’t growl into the silence. It seemed rude to eat while Draco was so upset.
“Your past… when I think about how I treated you, how I thought of you. I realize how wrong I was. I- it's hard to imagine that the boy we all learned of in our primary education would be the only one who had no idea how famous he really was. I… assumed a lot. And treated you and yours poorly for it.”
Harry took his slice of pizza and took a bite, hoping that he could loosen the tension in the room. He thought a bit on what to say.
“Draco, the fact you can say those things to me now is all that matters. Same with Dudley. Sometimes we lack the full picture. I thought horrible things about Snape for the longest time, always assuming the worst…”
“He… he was extra cruel to you.” Draco added, and Harry nodded in agreement.
“But I know how brave he was… and I know as much as he hated my father, he loved my mother, and when Dumbledore told Snape his plan, I could tell he was angry.”
“You were there?”
“Pensive.”
“Ah…”
“Listen Draco, like I said to Dudley. It’s water under the bridge. I appreciate your concern now but I got out of that life. I got to learn magic. Got to see and know who my parents were. Got to do so many amazing things.
“You keep doing that today.”
“What?”
“... calling me Draco.”
Oh… whoops. Harry had been calling Draco.. Draco in his head for a while. It was just easer than Malfoy Jr. But they hadn’t ever talked about it.
“Sor-”
“It’s fine. Harry.”
Harry felt like his heart was going to burst. It was not fine. Draco had said it so soft and timidly after having a rage in the drawing room after learning how Harry had been mistreated. Harry felt like he was on cloud nine.
But he realised Draco still looked awkward and the growing silence was killing him. He longed for a lighter subject.
“I've always wondered,” Harry started. “Where do Hogwarts students go for their primary education?”
Draco smiled. And seemed to loosen up as he told Harry about being homeschooled by his mother and various tutors. He talked about how homeschooling was more popular with the very rich or very poor, and that many witches and wizards usually went to a few different small primary schools.
He told Harry about how Hermionie had explained the system Harry and her had grown up in. Which brought the two to telling stories about their early uses of magic. Harry’s being more fun because he had absolutely no idea what was going on. And Draco’s own stories being funny as his father seemed to be the target of some early curses.
“So wait… you talked to a snake before Hogwarts?”
Harry nodded. “He told me he wanted to go to Brazil.”
Draco started laughing, and Harry couldn’t help but laugh too. Last time he had told that story was his second year and both Ron and Hermioney had been too worried to see any humor in it.
“And how exactly does one ask to go to Brazil in Parseltongue.”
Draco was probably joking, but Harry realised he hadn't even tried to use parseltongue since his battle with Voldamort.
“ Sahaathe sanathanathe thenasathath sasssaa.” Harry said. That sounded right, it didn’t come to him as easy anymore but it seemed like the skill was still there.
Harry looked up from his musings to see Draco looked bright red.
“You okay?” Harry asked.
“FINE.” Draco pushed himself up from the table and gathered the plates, moving towards the kitchen. He set the soap and sponge to get to work before his eye caught something. He moved towards a wall and he grabbed at what looked to be curling wallpaper.
“This… home of yours… could really use some work.”
“I know. But I’m at school most days. I try to get stuff done over the break but that’s about it.”
Draco hummed. He ripped the strip of paper off the wall and examined the wall underneath.
“Do you have a compete?”
“Computer? Sure. In my room. Second floor, first on the left.”
“Thank you. I have an idea.”
“Sure.”
…………………..
Harry had shown Draco where the spare rooms were, though they weren’t as clean, Draco didn’t seem bothered. Harry showed Draco his computer, it was a newer model, he had just installed the internet? He hadn’t done too much with it himself, but Hermionies father seemed excited by it. Something about being hooked up to the phone lines. Harry had cheated slightly, he used some magic to connect it to a random phone line and speed things up a bit. It was still boring.
Draco marveled at it.
And so as Harry relaxed in his bed he pretended to read his potion notes while watching Draco humming happily and making notes.
Harry felt himself drifting in and out of sleep, no longer trying to hide as he curled up to watch the oblivious Draco at work on some secret project.
He had no idea when he actually fell asleep. He remembered waking up at some point, before dawn, he felt extra warm, and there was something that smelt really good nearby. It had a fresh clean scent, like pine and mint. He moved closer to it before sleep overtook him again.
……..
The next morning he woke up, bleary eyed. He rubbed his eyes under his glasses as he realised he had slept in his clothing. A glance around the room showed that he was alone, so he quickly changed before searching for his house guest.
Harry walked through about two rooms before he noticed something… the wall paper… it was all gone.
The nasty yellowing peeling wallpaper had vanished. Portraits still hung, as did the old sconces and ratty rugs. But the wallpaper had vanished.
Harry approached the drawing room, hesitating before opening it. If Draco had done any damage in here, Harry couldn’t find it now. Though it looked nothing like he had left it. Draco sat on the floor. A large metal wash tub in front of him. Surrounding him were wracks of some kind, wooden frames with string, and hanging off that string.. Parchment.
Harry watched as Draco took some wire frame, dipped it into the oddly colored water and pulled out… something? He placed it off to the side and using a drying spell carefully dried the item before peeling it up and hanging it. Then he seemed to notice Harry watching him.
“I'M MAKING PAPER!”
“I can see that. Did you sleep at all?”
“Mmm? Of course I did.” Draco waved his hand to brush off the accusation.
“So… you decided to wake up early and make paper.. Out of my wallpaper.”
Draco looked a bit embarrassed as he continued to work. He took strips of the old wallpaper and with a charm, shredded it. The shredded bits fell into the tub of water and Draco mixed it with his hands, sleeves rolled up, before sticking the frame back in.
“You can’t expect me to think you actually wanted to keep it…”
“No. I wasn’t planning on it.”
Draco nodded.
“I started by looking for ways to repare it, but most of the forms I found people just suggested removing it and starting over. Then I saw something where someone had purposely ripped up their wallpaper and the texture was beautiful. I figured …. I mean you can change it obviously.”
Harry watched as Draco blushed red.
“Do whatever you like. Just so long as it's not green… or that nasty shade of yellow it was before.”
Draco nodded, pleased. And Harry let him continue to work. He brought up a light breakfast and managed to get the crafty wizard to call it quits around Lunch time.
“We can come back next weekend, or- ya know. Whenever you want.” Harry didn’t want to seem eager.
Draco nodded and started to rattle off some different ideas he had for Grimal Place. Harry just nodded along. He loved hearing him talk.
He could paint the house pink if it means I get more time with him.