Chapter 2
If he was ever asked about it in the future, Draco would advise that if at all possible do not try to take a portkey moments after having the Cruciatus curse inflicted on you. He fell to his knees as soon as they landed and the world around him stopped spinning, and then he promptly threw up all over a patch of untidy lawn.
“Mum! Mum, someone’s here!”
Draco felt a steady hand under his arm helping haul him to his feet, Sirius was right there keeping him upright. He raised an eyebrow in question rather than asking yet again if he were alright. More noise and two people were running for them, Draco looked up to see Ginny Weasley and her mother, their faces ablaze with worry.
“Harry!’ Mrs Weasley shouted, embracing him fiercely. The pressure did nothing for his nausea.
“Draco,” Draco corrected quickly, his hands stiff by his side. He didn’t think he’d ever been embraced like this before.
“Oh, Draco dear,” Mrs Weasley said, she backed off but kept close, her arms moving away as her eyes raked over him for injuries. “Yes, of course, your hair’s starting to come back”.
Draco lifted his hands and felt his hair, it was shorter again and back to its pale blonde as the potion wore off.
“What happened?” Ginny asked Sirius, “where is everyone?”
And that was when Draco noticed that they stood alone at the burrow with the two women. By now there should have been others back, they had one of the earlier portkeys but not the first, Ron and Tonks should have been first. Or was it Mr Weasley and one of the twins?
“They were waiting for us,” Sirius said and both women gasped. “The Death Eaters knew we were coming tonight and they were waiting just beyond the protection. We had three of them on us and we only just got away… I don’t know what happened to the others”.
“Dad and Fred should have been back,” Ginny said pointing to an old sneaker and a watering can, “and Ron and Tonks. You’re the first to make it back with your portkey”.
They all looked up at the empty sky, hoping for someone to appear. Draco thought back to the meeting he'd had before this mission, talking about their plans and their partners, the order in which they'd arrive from their designated safe house. His heart thumped.
“Harry,” Draco muttered. “Harry and Hagrid should be here soon”.
"Are either of you injured?" Mrs Weasley asked, "Sirius? Draco?"
Sirius shook his head but motioned to Draco, "Draco was hit with the cruciatus curse just before getting to Kingsley's".
Draco glared at Sirius for ratting on him but he couldn't do the same for Mrs Weasley, she looked so concerned as she descended on him. She put her hand on his forehead and hummed as she check out his face.
"Nausea?" she asked. "Dizziness".
"I'm fine, really," Draco said even though his whole body was still tingling. She tutted but let him go.
"Come let me know if it gets worse," she said, "I have something for nausea".
And then the four of them stood in silence, sentinels in the moonlight waiting for any sign of motion. Draco’s head was buzzing, fragments of their fight coming back to him now that he was no longer in motion. Had that been Lupin and Hermione being cursed at? Or had it been Bill and Fleur? Jumbled shouts of curses kept repeating themselves in his head, always followed by his father, wand raised and staring.
“There!” Ginny shouted.
A blue light appeared just out of reach, getting brighter and larger, and then Hagrid and Harry came into focus, spinning and then falling to the ground. Draco was running before he’d fully realised what had happened, Sirius right on his heels. Harry had fallen onto his hands and knees in the grass, coughing and spluttering. Hagrid had collapsed on the landing and was lying on his back, breathing hard. Near them a rucksack, cage and broomstick fell limply to the ground. Draco’s breath caught and he froze for only an instant before he tackled Harry backwards onto the grass.
It probably had not been the best idea after what they’d just been through.
Harry grabbed for his wand, panicked, his whole body trying to fight Draco off. Draco, who didn’t care if Harry decided to Crucio him right now, decided to kiss him hard instead of backing away. Harry was here, he was safe.
“Draco?” Harry asked, finally pushing Draco back and getting a look at his face (which had fully returned to its original state). “Thank Merlin! Where’s everyone else? Has anyone else come back yet?”
Draco shook his head, sitting back and letting Sirius get in for a closer inspection of his godson. Harry looked a little battered and bruised, definitely panicked, but there didn’t seem to be any damage.
“We’re the only ones so far,” Draco said softly.
“Oh," Harry’s eyes tore away and looked at Sirius. “They knew! They knew about our plan- we were surrounded- it was all we could do to get away and, fuck, Voldemort followed us-”
“Voldemort was there!” Sirius exclaimed in disbelief.
“He chased after me, I think he was flying, and they knew it was me, Sirius!” Harry reached out and grabbed his godfathers arm.
“You’re alright, Harry, you’re safe,” Sirius soothed. “We can talk about it later, OK? Let’s wait for the others, they’ll be back soon”.
“Kingsley and George,” Ginny said, appearing near them with Mrs Weasley, who had knelt down to look at Harry. “They should be next”.
“Who’s missing?” Harry asked into the silence. Mrs Weasley had moved on from him to Hagrid, trying to assess him and pull him upright.
“Tonks and Ron,” Sirius said.
“Dad and Fred,” Ginny finished.
Harry nodded, taking it in, and then he tried clambering to his feet. He was wobbly but he managed to stand, his hand locking tight with Draco’s.
“You OK?” he asked.
Draco nodded, “a few curses but we got away easy”.
Harry watched him for a minute to make sure he wasn’t lying, he seemed to understand there was more but also that they could talk about it later. Another blue light caught their attention and soon enough Kingsley and George spun into view. But something was wrong.
George was being completely supported by Kingsley, his face covered in blood. Harry didn’t wait for answers, he dropped Draco’s hand and ran for George, seizing his legs to help carry him. Sirius went to them and together the three of them carried George into the house with Ginny and Mrs Weasley right behind them speaking quickly. Draco couldn’t follow, he stood frozen in the yard. Harry was good in a crisis, Harry moved into action. Draco, he couldn’t, he kept seeing blood and flashes of light. What if George died?
No one else was in the yard and for the first time in hours he was completely alone. Dread consumed him, fear and guilt and rage burrowing up in his stomach and leeching his strength. What if George was only the first? What if no one else returned? There were still ten of them out there and there’d been so many Death Eaters… Voldemort himself had been out there. He didn’t know how long he stood in that yard but before he knew it Kingsley was beside him, dragging him back to the present with a jolt of pain in his arm.
“Stay right there, Mr Malfoy,” he said, his deep voice rumbling. “Someone has betrayed us and-”
Another flash of light and Lupin and Hermione were barreling through the backyard, a coat hanger in hand. Lupin came over to them and raised his wand at Kingsley.
“The last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to us?” he asked, sounding fierce.
“Harry is the best hope we have. Trust him”.
Lupin then turned his wand on Draco, “what did Sirius ask you in the Hospital wing last May?”
Draco reeled back not understanding what was happening.
“What?” he asked confused, “I don’t know”.
Lupin and Kingsley narrowed their eyes at him, both of them gripping their wands tighter. Draco cast his mind back to that hospital room after Bill had been attacked when Sirius and Lupin had talked to him. They’d met Ella and then…
“Oh! Sirius asked if I wanted to stay with you if we couldn’t go back to Hogwarts,” Draco said quickly.
Lupin sighed in relief, “sorry, Draco, we had to check. Someone’s betrayed us”.
“Yeah, I figured,” Draco replied.
“Sirius?” Lupin asked.
“Inside… George, well, he was injured- I don’t know-”
“He’s going to be alright,” Kingsley filled in. “Ears gone but he’ll live and Lupin, I’ve checked Sirius”.
Lupin nodded, squeezed Draco’s arm and then rushed inside. Hermione had already disappeared as well, obviously running for Harry and the others inside. But not Draco, he couldn’t face that room. Instead he looked around and noticed Hedwig’s cage was still there, she was flapping her wings in annoyance and hooting loudly.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Draco called out, going to her and pulling open the door. She stepped out gingerly, favouring one of her legs which looked like it might have been hit by a spell. “Hagrid’s inside, he can get you all fixed up”.
But Hedwig seemed perfectly content to stay in Draco’s arms for now and frankly, Draco liked her there. And then he remembered Hedwig wasn’t the only pet. He opened Harry’s rucksack and there, curled on top, was a very annoyed corn snake. He reached in gently and let Allegra take her time winding her way out of the bag and around Draco’s arm.
“There we go,” Draco murmured, “you’re safe now too”.
The sound of more feet interrupted him and he turned in time to see Mr Weasley and Fred running for him. Mr Weasley grabbed his arm, his voice low and intense as he spoke.
“Where is everyone? Are they OK?”
Draco nodded and then paled. George. George wasn’t OK.
“George,” he said quickly, “he got hit with-”
They didn’t give him time to say anything else, they heard George and were off running for the house. Draco could hear their voices rising from inside, obviously hitting a roadblock from the other order members to check if it was really them. Draco needed to sit, Tonks still wasn’t back yet… neither was Fleur or Ron or Bill. Or Mundungus or Moody.
He sat on the damp lawn and ran his hand down Hedwig’s back, smoothing her feathers and letting her nuzzle her head against him. George had lost an ear, they were still missing 6 of their number, Harry had been chased by Voldemort himself and yet Hedwig and Allegra had made it out safely.
Draco almost laughed at impossibility.
More footsteps and a warm hand dropped onto his shoulder, he looked up and there was Harry again. Draco couldn’t manage a smile but he held up his arm to show off Allegra and Harry let out a sigh. He knelt down beside Draco and ran a hand down Allegra’s scales, hissing something to her quietly.
“Thanks for getting them,” Harry said, his attention on Hedwig. Draco shrugged, there hadn’t been much else for him to do.
“How’s George?” Draco managed to ask.
Harry shrugged, “he’ll live… he’s, uh, he’s making jokes so I think he’ll be OK. His ear’s never going to come back… apparently, it was Snape”.
Draco felt cold dread seep through him. Fucking Snape. He should have tried harder to curse him last time.
“Are you alright?”
Draco answered, his voice so quiet Harry may not have heard, “my father chased us… he crucio’d me… he thought I was you”.
“Fuck, Draco,” Harry said, leaning in and pressing against him.
“I told him it was me and he left,” Draco continued, “he let me get away”.
“Of course he did,” Harry said, “he's your father”.
“He cursed me,” Draco stressed, “what if he’d tried the killing curse first? What if-”
Harry interrupted him with a kiss.
“If I thought about all of the what if’s my life could have taken I’d never leave my bed,” Harry said. “He let you go, focus on that”.
Draco nodded, slumping down into Harry’s side. Others joined them soon after, Kingsley pacing up and down the yard while Hagrid drank from a bottle of brandy. Lupin and Sirius came to stand near them, staring up at the sky, and Hermione and Ginny sat on the grass beside Harry doing the same. Time stretched out and nothing happened, there was no noise, no lights, nothing. They had all taken to jumping at the slightest movement but still, there was no sign of their missing friends and family.
And suddenly a broom was streaking towards the ground, skidding to a halt as two people fell off.
“Ow,” Tonks cried as she staggered to her feet.
“Ron!” Hermione had jumped to her feet and caught Ron in a hug as he climbed off the broom. Harry was gone in an instant as well, clapping Ron on the back and listening as they told of their getaway. Bellatrix had gone after them, chasing them much farther than anticipated.
“What happened to you lot?” she asked, turning around to take them all in. “And where’s Moody and Mundungus?”
“Not back yet,” Lupin said, “neither are Bill and Fleur”.
“Oh,” Tonks bit her lip and looked at Draco, “you OK?”
Draco nodded but didn’t bother speaking, he did manage to get back up on his feet though. He stayed exactly where he was and watched all of the others checking in with one another, trading stories and theories. Not long after, Kingsley had to go and return to the muggle Prime Minister, making sure they informed him when the others returned, and the rest of them went back to their silent vigil.
Mr and Mrs Weasley joined them from where they'd been inside with George, hugging Ron tightly and thanking everyone for their effort in getting their sons home. Not all of them, Draco thought.
TSaring intensely into the darkness, he was the first to see the giant horse thundering out of the clouds, a swirl of blonde hair floating into view. He pointed up but didn’t manage to get the words out, they caught the motion and as soon as Bill and Fleur landed they were surrounded. They looked windswept but unhurt.
Draco’s heart finally started to calm down a little, it was just Moody and Mundungus now. Everyone else was alright.
“Mad-eyes dead,” Bill said.
Draco didn’t hear the rest of it, his heart was hammering in his ears and his whole body was cold. Dead. Mad-eye Moody was dead. Bill was still talking, Fleur was crying silently, Tonks looked white as chalk. They were in shock, all of them. Draco kept stroking Hedwig’s back, he didn’t want to be here anymore. He wanted to go back to his Aunts, curl up in bed and hug his sister until the world turned upright once more.
“Draco?” Harry was next to him, his hand on his back looking worried and so very tired. Draco nodded and let himself be moved forward, the hand that had Allegra attached to it found its way into Harry’s and together they walked inside… there was no point staying in the yard any longer.
***
They had made a toast to Moody, the Firewhiskey bringing Draco back into the present, and for the first time since landing in the Weasley’s yard he began to pay attention properly. It had been Mundungus after all, the one who had most likely betrayed them to Voldemort. He had been to blame for Moody’s death.
It didn’t take long for the others to leave, Sirius, Lupin and Bill went out in order to recover Moody’s body. Sirius and Lupin promising Harry they’d return the next day if they could. And then after they left Harry began to argue, trying to leave them again for their own good. He was shot down very quickly but not before he told them all about how he had gotten away from Voldemort yet again, how his wand had done the impossible.
The others didn’t believe him but Draco? Well, Harry was always doing the impossible so why should his wand be any different? Harry was getting angry at them, frustrated, he kept rubbing his scar and Draco knew he still wanted to leave.
“Get some fresh air,” Draco said, speaking for the first time in ages.
Harry looked to him and Draco gestured for the lawn, “I’ll come get you in a few minutes”.
Harry set down his glass and strode out of the room, Draco let him go not worried about him taking off just yet. He’d never leave without a proper goodbye and besides, Ron and Hermione were going with him.
“I can take Hedwig,” Ginny offered, “Hagrid can check him out and then she can go up with Pig and have something to eat”.
Draco handed the owl over, she gave him a soft hoot before nestling happily into Ginny’s arms. Left with Allegra, Draco tried to tune back into the conversation happening at the table. Fleur was taking another shot of Firewhiskey while Mrs Weasley was offering coffee and tea to everyone else, Tonks had her head in her hands.
Draco leaned over, she was only a few seats away, and said, “Tonks? Are you going back to your parents tonight?”
She looked up at him, her heart shaped face still tear stained over Moody, but she nodded.
“I had probably better go tell them we’re OK, you want to come with me?”
Draco shook his head, “I think I’d like to stay here, make sure Harry doesn’t do anything stupid”.
“Right,” Tonks said and managed a little smile, “he’s quite good at that”.
“Yeah,” Draco agreed, “I can get Ella though, if they want me to, and bring her here”.
Tonks was already shaking her head, “leave her, she’ll be fine for the night. Mum and dad won’t mind taking care of her and I’ll probably just kip there as well”.
“Thanks,” Draco said, “tell them I’ll get her tomorrow”.
“Right you are,” she said, she wiped her eyes and took in a deep breath. “Suppose I’ll be off then”.
Draco walked her out with the intention of bringing Harry back in. He found him standing by the Thestrals with Ron and Hermione, the three of them deep in conversation. He approached carefully, usually not one to mind interrupting them, but tonight he felt breakable and unsure of himself. So many things had changed so quickly.
“You three coming back in?” he called out, trying for some of his usual swagger. He failed miserably and just sounded tired. But they didn’t notice nor care. They must have convinced Harry to stay because he returned without protesting, taking Draco’s hand as they walked inside. The living room was still full despite a number of them leaving, Hagrid looked ready to sleep right where he sat while everyone else was curled up on their seats. Mrs Weasley stood up and clapped her hands.
“Right, bedtime for everyone, I think,” she said. “It’ll be a little cosy tonight with everyone staying though so I hope that’s not a problem”.
Nobody said anything so Mrs Weasley continued, “Hermione you’re in with Ginny, Draco and Harry can be in with Ron and Fleur will have Charlie’s room. Hagrid, is the living room alright?”
“‘Course it is, Molly,” Hagrid said, his voice slurred.
“Oi, I’m not sharing with the two of them,” Ron said indignantly. Draco felt his ears heating up at the accusation.
“And since when was that allowed?” Ginny added, “Bill’s not even allowed to share with Fleur and they’re about to get married”.
Draco could hear the twins snorting with laughter on the couch, one of them noticed him and started making crude hand gestures behind his mothers back. Draco subtly flipped them off, glaring at them. They just kept laughing at his embarrassment.
“I can sleep on the couch,” Harry said quickly, trying to diffuse the embarrassment.
“I can go back to my Aunt’s,” Draco said at exactly the same time. This made the twins laugh even louder, Ginny joining in.
“No, not at all,” Mrs Weasley said, her face bright red at her error. “We’ll just, uh, we’ll do a quick clean up of P-Percy’s room and Draco can sleep there”.
With that decided, she turned and left the living room full of snickering teenagers.
“No funny business tonight, Harry,” Fred called out, “Mum’s got ears everywhere”.
“And the floorboards squeak so everyone will know,” George added with a wink.
“Shut up,” Harry said.
“Although Draco can apparate now…” Ginny added with a wink.
“Please don’t give them ideas,” Ron grumbled while the twins laughed. All of them seemed to forget that both Mr Weasley and Hagrid were still present. Hagrid was half asleep and not listening but Mr Weasley let out a huge sigh.
“Off to bed you lot,” he said, drawing their attention to him, Harry and Draco going bright red. “And if any of you wake me up, you’ll be de-gnoming the garden for a week… without magic”.
He left the room without a backward glance, the snickers of laughter following after him. Draco was rooted to the spot, he couldn’t leave first but then again if he waited for Harry… his ears were burning and he began to wish he’d gone with Tonks. This wouldn’t be happening if he’d just left. But, well, he also couldn’t have. He’d only just gotten Harry back hours ago and those hours had been filled with terror and curses and death. A little bit of embarrassment was worth it.
Draco knew they were all watching him and Harry in amusement and waiting on them to do something. So, with as much Slytherin bravado he could manage, he straightened his shoulders and followed after Mr Weasley, grabbing Harry’s hand on the way and pulling him along.
“You’ll have to show me where I’m sleeping,” Draco said stiffly.
“Er, right, come on then,” Harry said. Draco caught Harry glaring at Ron as they passed, Ron sighed and got to his feet.
“I’ll show you,” Ron sighed.
“Help me up, Fred,” George said, groaning as he moved himself upright.
“It’s been a long day,” Ginny agreed, “come on, Hermione”.
And with that they all trooped tiredly up the stairs, George leaning heavily on Fred and Fleur trailing silently behind all of them. Ginny, Hermione and Fleur bade them goodnight on the first floor before they ran into Mrs Weasley coming down the stairs.
“Percy’s room is all set up and I put some clean pyjamas in there for you,” Mrs Weasley said. She looked around at all the tired teenage faces surrounding her and sighed. “Straight to bed, it’s been a long day”.
They nodded, Fred and George kept going until they reached their room bidding the others a good night before closing the door. It was on the same floor as Percy’s so that’s where Harry and Draco stopped as well. Ron just kind of hovered on the staircase before shaking his head and continuing up to the fifth floor.
“This one?” Draco gestured to the only other door on this floor. When Harry nodded Draco led the way inside, he left the door slightly ajar so that no one got any ideas.
He entered a small, slightly dusty room. It obviously hadn’t been used in a while as there were books and boxes stacked in neat piles but the bed was made and there were clean pyjamas folded on the end. He turned and faced Harry and finally, finally, they were properly alone.
“Hey,” said Harry quietly, realising the same thing.
Draco smiled tiredly at him and pulled him forward into a tight hug. It had been weeks since they’d seen each other and so much had happened in that time, the whole wizarding world was at war and they were swept up right in the centre of it. Draco let Harry rest his chin on Draco’s shoulder and they just stood in silence for a few minutes breathing each other in.
“Sure you can’t stay in here tonight?” Draco asked, already knowing the answer.
“I’m not exaggerating when I say that Mrs Weasley would murder us both,” Harry answered with a laugh. “But… I’ll try and sneak down later?”
“Good,” Draco said, he leaned in and kissed him hard. “Because I still think you’re a flight risk”.
“If you kiss me like that again, I won’t even think of leaving”.
Draco smirked and kissed him again, harder and with more intensity. Harry’s hands gripped his waist and hauled him in close, not letting an inch of space between them. Draco didn’t want to let go, the warmth and the security he felt was good enough to risk Mrs Weasley’s ire. When they heard footsteps on the stairs though they sprang apart like they’d been burned. Harry’s face was red again and his breathing was heavy, he took a step back and then another.
“I’ll see you later,” he said before turning to leave.
Draco could hear Harry lying to Mrs Weasley on the landing and it made him grin, he could just imagine how guilty Harry looked right now. Draco toed off his shoes and sat on the edge of the bed, all of his energy draining from him in an instant. He managed to change into pyjamas before crawling into bed, asleep before his head hit the pillow.
It felt like minutes before he was woken up again, he peered around and it was still dark. The house was still and silent and he was confused as to why he had woken, then he heard a squeaky floorboard. He grinned to himself. That idiot actually did it, he thought. His door opened enough for a single skinny teenager to enter before it closed again and then there was Harry, invisibility cloak falling to the floor.
“You idiot,” Draco mumbled but he pulled up the covers to let Harry in. “Did anyone hear you?”
“Um…” Harry hedged. So that was a yes. “Ron definitely did… and I think I heard something next door so Fred and George probably know as well”.
“Excellent,” Draco grumbled but he wasn’t mad enough to let Harry leave. In fact, he pulled Harry into bed and draped himself over the top. “Now, be a good pillow and shut up”.
“I think I heard another door downstairs though,” Harry whispered. “I reckon Fleur’s snuck into Bill’s room”.
“And she probably did a better job at it than you”.
“Oi, I can leave if you want me to”.
“No,” Draco grumbled, tightening his grip. “Don’t you dare”.
“We need to set an alarm so I can sneak back in the morning,” Harry said. Draco just groaned at the annoyance, pillows weren’t supposed to talk. But he did roll over, crushing Harry slightly, and grab his wand off the end table. He mumbled a spell, dropped his wand, and then laid his head on Harry’s chest.
“Now shut up”.
Harry leaned in and kissed Draco on the forehead making him smile sleepily, he could definitely get used to this. The last time they’d shared a bed had been their last night at Hogwarts after Dumbledore’s funeral. Ella had been asleep in the same room as them as Draco hadn’t felt safe letting her out of his sight for a whole night. Besides, they’d gotten to be together earlier that day. For hours. He had wanted more that night and he thought Harry probably had as well but it had also been nice just to rest.
It wasn’t really an option tonight either, not with a dozen people within earshot, so Draco just closed his eyes.
“Hey, Harry?”
“Yeah?”
“Just don’t leave until after the wedding,” Draco whispered.
“It’s really not safe for me to be here… not for anyone,” Harry murmured.
“I know but-” Draco breathed out and pushed forward, “just stay with me a little longer. I don’t know when I’ll see you again”.
Harry was quiet, the only sound in the room was their soft breathing. Harry pulled him in a little tighter and let out a sigh.
“OK,” he said. “I’ll stay until after the wedding”.
***
Harry was awoken by a loud buzzing by his ear, he tried to smack at it to turn it off but couldn’t reach. Someone groaned loudly next to him, moving a pillow and then disappearing under it. Harry blinked and the room came into a fuzzy kind of focus, there was a cranky blonde lump next to him and an alarm blaring at his side.
Oh, shit. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Panic set in and he leapt out of bed, managing to annoy Draco even more in the process. He was muttering in French under his breath and Harry recognised the swear words easily. Draco loved swearing in French. He grabbed the alarm and turned it off before going for the door, he pulled it open very slowly and snuck outside.
He was met with Fred on the landing, standing in his doorway with a grin on his face.
“‘Ello, Harry,” he said, that ever present mischief in his eyes.
“Not a word,” Harry hissed frantically, closing the door.
Fred raised a hand to his chest and feigned shock, “Harry, I would never!”
“I mean it, Fred,” Harry glared at him.
“You wound me, Harry,” Fred grinned, “to tell on a fellow troublemaker? To my mother?
Harry eyed him, “You-”
“What are we all doing gathered out here on the landing,” George said, joining in from behind Fred with a yawn. “Ah, young Harry! Just what are you doing here?”
“Fuck off, the both of you,” Harry said, pushing past them.
“They grow up so fast,” Fred said with a fake sniffle.
Harry flipped them off as he retreated quickly up the stairs, hearing their soft snickers behind him. He was too tired to care much though. He pushed into Ron’s room and collapsed onto his camp bed and he was asleep within minutes.
He was next woken by Hermione knocking on their door to get them down for breakfast. He groaned as he rolled over, blinking up into the morning sunlight. He reached out for his glasses but found nothing there. Fuck, he’d left them in Draco’s room. Nothing for it, he’d have to hope no one noticed and Draco grabbed them. Or, he thought, I can go wake him up.
He was out of bed pretty quickly after that, Ron fumbling after him as he smelt breakfast wafting up the stairs. Hermione was waiting for them outside, fully dressed in jeans and t-shirt, she looked them both up and down and gave Harry a very knowing look.
“Have a good sleep, Harry?”
“Um, yes?” he answered, scratching behind his ear.
“Uh huh,” she said. “Next time remember that the fourth stair squeaks and is quite loud”.
“That wasn’t me,” Harry said honestly. She looked at him in disbelief but Harry continued, “honestly, it wasn’t but, uh, Fleur may have been up and around as well”.
“Of course she was,” Ginny said, joining in as she came down from the bathroom.
When they reached Draco’s floor, Fred and George’s door was open and their room was empty, Draco’s was exactly how he’d left it. Harry was going to step up but he also knew that Draco had had a very broken sleep last night, maybe he could sleep in a bit. Ron didn’t have that problem, he banged on Draco’s door three times and called out, “breakfast time, shithead”. He then kept going down the stairs while Hermione and Ginny laughed.
Draco appeared in the doorway, his face pinched and pale, and when he spoke it was in annoyed French. Harry had learnt a little while ago that on mornings when Draco was particularly tired or cranky he reverted to French, he usually wouldn’t switch back for hours just to piss people off.
He glared at Harry, held out his glasses for him and then stalked past them down to breakfast. He apparently didn’t care he was still in sweats and a t-shirt and his hair was a rumpled mess. Harry would have to tease him later for how much his standards had dropped but for now, he couldn’t help but find it cute.
Breakfast was laid out on the table and it smelt amazing, Harry had briefly forgotten what it was like to have a home cooked meal. Eggs and bacon were sizzling and there were piles of toast and sausages, mushrooms and tomatoes, pancakes and syrups. No one made a home cooked meal like Mrs Weasley.
"Good morning," she greeted, smiling up at them. "Good sleep?"
She got muffled replies from all of them as they sat down, hands going in every direction for food and coffee. Harry started shoveling food onto his plate, trying to eat while also gathering more. Ron was attacking the sausages and bacon while across from them Bill was pouring Fleur coffee. He had apparently returned late last night when they were all asleep.
"Not eating, Draco?" Mrs Weasley asked with worry. Draco just looked at her blankly over the rim of his coffee mug and muttered something in French under his breath. Harry snorted.
"Sorry, Mrs Weasley, he's not very pleasant in the mornings," Harry said with a laugh, Draco kicked him under the table.
"Not very English either," Bill commented watching Draco grab a second plate and start putting small amounts of food on it. "Um, what's he doing?"
Harry watched and laughed as he realised what Draco was doing, he was on such autopilot he hadn't realised Ella wasn't here and he was making her a plate.
"Draco?" Harry said, poking him. He got a a very pointed look in reply. "Ella's with your Aunt and Uncle... she doesn't need a plate".
Draco looked at Harry and then down at the plate and then at his empty lap before cursing. His cheeks burned as he transferred the food to his own plate, grumbling while also trying to push his hair out of his face. Draco kept mumbling to himself until Fleur started giggling. They all looked to her and she shrugged.
"It eez mostly nonsense," she said with a smile and then winked at Harry.
"Mostly?"
"He theenks your bedhead is stupid," she said, waited a moment for him to say something else and then continued, "and zat the food will make him fat".
Harry laughed with everyone else as he shifted his chair closer to Draco's. The French wasn't really surprising to him, he had told Harry once that his mother had taught him and so he would teach Ella and that meant whenever they were alone he usually chose to speak to her in French. What did surprise him was the warmth bubbling in his stomach at every uttered, indecipherable phrase that slipped out of his mouth. He really wanted to kiss that mouth. Was this how Draco felt when he spoke in Parseltongue? He'd mentioned once or twice that he liked it.
"We'll have lots of people around today," Mrs Weasley said, calling attention to herself once more. "Lots to do to set up for the wedding and I'll expect all of you to help".
There were groans around the table but not from Harry, he didn't mind helping.
"Oh, Sirius and Remus might be stopping in," he said, "um, I hope that's OK?"
"Of course, dear, you haven't seen them in weeks," Mrs Weasley said fondly, "and we can use the help".
Draco said something next which Fleur helpfully translated, "'e says zat his Aunt will come by with his sister".
Mrs Weasley's eyes lit up as only a mother of seven could, she looked absolutely thrilled at the prospect. Draco, meanwhile, was slathering butter on a scone as he tried to keep his head from dipping onto his chest., not having noticed the change in her.
"Perfect!" she said and then looked to Draco, "oh and if you want to stay here with your sister, it's fine by me".
Draco nodded not fully comprehending the offer while Ginny was giggling into her juice. Harry leaned over and said, "does she want Draco here or Ella?"
"Well, I expect that Draco probably won't have to look after Ella much in the next few days," Ginny said. "In fact, he'll probably have to pry her off mum".
"And Fleur by the looks of things," Harry whispered, gesturing to where Fleur was bright eyed and smiling, talking about how sweet Ella was.
"I suppose you won't have a problem with that," Ginny teased, elbowing him in the ribs.
"Not even slightly," Harry whispered back. He was already imaging stealing Draco away for secret interludes in either of their rooms or the broomshed or the attic... or anywhere remotely private. He didn't think staying until after the wedding was such a bad idea after all.