trouble

Dear Harry, 

We all read about the Draco Malfoy trial in the paper this morning. I hear Ron and Hermione are writing to you about it. I want you to be careful, Harry. Your image is more important than you may think. If I were you, I would avoid going around asking the Ministry to release Death Eaters. Things will surely change now that Kingsley is heading to become Prime Minister, but things will never change that much. Protect yourself first, please. 

Arthur Weasley

Harry was frowning, Draco noticed but said nothing. He stood up and went back to the secretary. 

Dear Arthur, 

I appreciate your concern, but I didn't ask the Ministry for anything. I was summoned to the audience, and I answered the questions I was asked honestly. Do not worry. 

Kiss Molly for me,

Harry

PS : I think that, of anyone, it would be ridiculous if they accused ME of affiliating with Death Eaters. 

A bit angered, he put down his quill and started thinking. Or maybe, not thinking. Actively trying to think about something else. Draco still didn't comment, he kept eating quietly. 

"I'm going to Diagon Alley, today. I need enveloppes."

"Well have fun Potter" Draco answered ironically. 

"Shut up Malfoy." 

Harry shoved the letters in his pocket and left the house with foggy thoughts. At least his head was no longer hurting as much. He actually didn't go to Diagon Alley. He didn't want to see wizards at the moment. Instead, he walked, hoping to find some muggle stationary store. He always had some muggle money on him, just in case. Plus, it would make Mr Weasley glad. He had to ask people on the street, but he found one and as he was paying, it struck him. I'm sharing a house with Draco Malfoy. Draco Malfoy is waiting for me there. What the… He left the shop, and headed back home in a hurry to send his letters. He didn't have an owl since Hedwig died so he'd have to use the muggle post. But that would take days… Finally, he did go to Diagon Alley, to use some of the the Leaky Cauldron's owls. 

"Mr Potter." 

The waiter from the day before called out to him. He was holding some pages of the Daily Prophet. 

"Quite a bit of publicity you're givin' us. Not that we need it." 

"What do you mean ?" 

"Haven't read it ?"

"Yes, but… " He hadn't read it till the end. 

Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy were seen later that day, sharing whiskeys at the Leaky Cauldron. We are allowed to wonder what it is that made Harry Potter come out of the shadows he's been hiding in ?

"Oh come on…" Harry exhaled "now I can't come here without someone retailing it in the papers the next day ??"

"If I were you" the waiter said "I'd avoid people like him. Can do you no good being seen with him. Can do no good to be seen at all himself" Harry stayed silent. "The war is over, people are angry and empowered… Take it as you want, but I'm here every night and I can tell you, angry, empowered, grouped and drunk people can be no good. It's dangerous."

"Well it is very kind of you, Sir, to tell me this" Harry answered "but I have done nothing wrong. And Malfoy was cleared by the justice and…"

"Yeah" said the waiter, sliding the paper in front of Harry "all cleared."

He went to wait on other clients, and Harry stayed there with the paper under his eyes. He kept re-reading the headline : HARRY POTTER RESCUES MALFOY HEIR. Oh, to be left alone for one day. 

***

When he got back to Grimmauld Place, the first thing that Harry noticed was that Draco's hair had dried. 

"Got your enveloppes ?"

Harry didn't bother to answer. He dropped them on the piano standing in the living room and sat on the couch, looking at the ceiling. 

"Potter."

He scrutinized Malfoy sitting uncomfortably in front of him. He had gained some colors, since he'd gotten up. Part of his usual, pinched attitude had come back too. But he still had dark rings under his eyes, dark tones in his voice and he gave the impression of being on his toes. Most of all, it seemed to Harry that the coming words were very awkward for him to pronounce.

"If you're serious about letting me live here for some time, only while I find something for myself, I'd like to accept. It's hum… It's a bit weird but I have no other choice. I'll try to make it… not… weird." 

"You mean you won't be a huge dick."

Draco, surprised, didn't know if he had to take him seriously.

"If that's what it takes to have a roof over my head, sure. Is, hum… Is this okay for you ?"

Harry considered for a second. He thought about the bartender, and Arthur Weasley, and what Ron and Hermione might say. But he also thought about Narcissa Malfoy in jail, and her son, in the beam of light, stretching his arm with his dumb messy hair and his dumb sleepy eyes.

"Sure, you can stay as long as you want, as long as you're not being despicable, as you don't say anything slightly racist, and you buy pajamas because I'm not having you walking around the house naked."

"It's a deal."

"I guess it is." Harry sighed "Who are you gonna be if can't insult me or muggleborns. I don't think you even have conversation beyond that."

"It's not fair if there's provocation." 

Harry smiled. Draco smiled. What a mess they were in. 

Most nights, Harry went to sleep thinking about Sirius. He slept in his room, after all. He often thought about things Sirius had told him. Or about Sirius's death. He often cried. That night, Harry thought of none of that. He thought about the fact that behind the wall laid Draco Malfoy, who had promised, basically, not to be Draco Malfoy. He wasn't even Draco Malfoy anymore. He thought about the few times he'd seen him during the war. Then about he's quest to undercover him the year before. He used to be obsessed with him. He wasn't proud. He thought about Dumbledore. That wasn't right. He knew he had to stop it there because thinking about Dumbledore led to thinking of Severus Snape's memory. And that was information that he hadn't properly dealt with yet, and had no intention to deal with any time soon. So he turned back on Sirius's bed and closed his eyes, desperately trying to sleep.