Face Off
'Are you sure you've packed everything? Got your toothbrush from the bathroom? And what about toothpaste, dear? Do you-'
'We've got toothpaste at Gri-'
'Ginny, go and fetch Harry a tube of toothpaste, just in case. And have you checked the laundry?' Mrs Weasley worried, glancing in its direction. 'And Merlin knows what you've lost in Ron's mess of a room.'
'I've checked everywhere.'
'Well I suppose if I find anything you're just a fireplace away.'
Yes.'
'And I know that we'll see you again very soon,' she continued, continuing to pack a carry bag with containers of fresh bread, sweets and baked goods. 'Arthur says as soon as the roofers are finished at Godric's Hollow you'll be allowed back to look in on it, and of course we'll be along to help. I'm told there's a lot to do, and you know what they say about many hands.'
'Thanks Mrs Weasley.'
After fussing over him from the moment Sirius arrived Mrs Weasley finally took pause, looking him up and down critically. He knew she didn't want him to go, that she'd quite happily have him here all summer, every summer, and that in her eyes he was no different to any of her actual children. But it was time to go, they both knew - and Sirius who was waiting patiently while she fussed knew it too.
'Mrs Weasley, I'll be fine.'
She nodded, giving him a bracing smile. 'Yes of course, I know. You'll have a wonderful time with Sirius,' she said lightly, offering him a smile too. 'But of course should you...well should you need a break from certain company there's always a meal and a bed here waiting for you.'
'I know, thanks.'
'No need to ask, you just show up.'
Ginny returned with a tube of toothpaste, handing it to Harry. 'You know when we go back to school she misses you more than us.'
Rolling her eyes Mrs Weasley turned around. 'Don't talk such nonsense Ginevra. I miss you all equally.' Nevertheless she continued to fuss, cramming another container of baked goods into the carry bag, and as she handed it to Harry she did have to concede, 'Though I do tend to worry about you more.'
Sirius nodded in agreement. 'He gives you good reason.'
'Of course we'll see you for Ginny's birthday, and we'll need a trip to Diagon Alley. You'll all need a new set of robes - there's only so many inches I can add to hemlines. Have a lovely summer dear,' she said warmly, hugging him tightly.
'I will. Thanks for everything Mrs Weasley.'
After allowing a second hug he was finally able to turn to Ron and Ginny, he and Ron exchanging a quick embrace before an even quicker one with Ginny - having known there would be eyes on them they had wisely opted to say a proper goodbye earlier, one that would sustain them for the inevitable days and weeks between their next visit.
'Thanks for having him Molly,' Sirius said conversationally, the two of them always best of friends when in front of Harry. 'I promise I'll keep him fed.'
'Keep him busy too,' she requested, seeing them out. 'Else he'll get up to mischief.'
'Doesn't sound like him at all.'
The Weasleys followed them outside into the front garden where Sirius's motorcycle stood waiting - the one that would be officially passed on to Harry when he finished Hogwarts. Still somewhat bemused by the Muggle vehicle Ron and Ginny didn't quite share Mr Weasley's enthusiasm. He had been outside looking it over while Harry said goodbye, seemingly tickled by the fact that Sirius was getting away with flying it despite the laws Mr Weasley himself had written. It seemed the Ministry was reluctant to enforce such rules upon someone to whom they owed thirteen years of freedom.
They left without any more delay, the two of them getting on the motorcycle and taking off just as they had the night Sirius picked up him from Surrey. The skies were clear and sunny, and as they traveled Harry was perfectly aware that they were not alone up there. Others followed them on broomstick, and when they came close enough he was able to make out the faces of Order members. But as he thought it might be there were no unknown faces - the Order may have grown in size, but that didn't mean the people entrusted with Harry's safety had grown with it.
It wasn't long before they were soaring unseen over London before landing in Grimmauld Place, the motorcycle touching down with a loud roar that went undetected by the Muggle watering the potted plants on his front step. Just like in the air there were Order members on the street too, Hestia waving to him from across the green square. Further down the block behind her was a dark robed figure who might have been an Auror on duty.
Sirius was wheeling the motorcycle through the little gate and into the small area covered by the protective charms, and knowing they were safe Harry waited patiently for him to open the front door. But before they proceeded up the steps Sirius stopped him.
'Listen, before we go in we need to talk.'
Harry rolled his eyes. 'I don't need you to tell me to get along with Malfoy. I'll mind my own-'
'Not Malfoy. Lupin. I know it's your first night here,' he began apologetically. 'But it's full moon.'
Understanding very quickly he hastened to make his opinion clear. 'Lupin doesn't have to leave. He's got Wolfsbane, so there's no-'
'He never stays here if other people are around.'
'Where does he go?'
'Different places,' he said without elaborating. 'I know it's your first night, bu-'
'You should go with him.'
Sirius seemed to hesitate. 'It won't bother you that I leave on your first night?'
'Not for Lupin,' he said truthfully.
Looking glad to hear it Sirius nodded. 'Thank you. Tonks will stay the night. Someone else too I think.'
This time Harry tried not to roll his eyes. 'Worried Malfoy and I might kill each other?'
'No, he'd have to come out of his room to do that.'
'We don't need babysitters.'
'Maybe not, but I'm told it's irresponsible to leave you without adult supervision.'
'Didn't know you counted as an adult.'
Sirius laughed, his eyes crinkling. 'Well on that subject, Arthur tells me I'm supposed to discipline you if I have to.'
'Since when do I need discipline?'
'You do tend to get up to mischief.'
'Like what?'
'Oh, I don't know. Black market Extendable Ears for one.'
Harry crossed his arms over his chest. 'What are you going to do, ground me?' he openly laughed, unable to imagine Sirius doing that. 'Send me to my room?'
'You don't have to openly mock my authority.'
'What authority?'
'Alright, you've made your point,' Sirius said in annoyance, casting his eyes around as though someone might have heard. 'This is exactly why Lupin is staying the summer, you'd never laugh at him.'
Harry still smiled. 'That's probably true.'
Sirius seemed to not be too offended. 'I mean it, by the way. Just...behave yourself,' he pleaded, sounding as though the words pained him. 'Don't go starting things with Draco.'
Hearing his first name spoken by Sirius was unreasonably aggravating. 'I'll behave if he does,' he said shortly, trying not to look like he was pouting. 'But I'm not letting him walk all over me. Or you for that matter.'
Sirius held his gaze, his grey eyes holding for a moment as if he had something else to say. But if there was anything else he seemed to think better of it. Clearing his throat he looked around, remembering that they ought not be standing on the front stoop for longer than necessary.
When Sirius unlocked the door he ushered Harry inside first, and the feeling of opening the front door and stepping over the threshold was quite different to how it had felt his first time coming here almost a year ago. Last summer this place had represented an air of mystery and intrigue, and then a few months ago being sent away from Hogwarts he had arrived late at night filled with uncertainty and exhaustion. Now it was like coming home, the same way it felt at the Burrow.
The home had seen massive improvements since his first visit almost exactly a year ago. The ground floor was bright and airy, and certainly more welcoming thanks to the absence of Mrs Black's portrait which now quietly resided in Kreacher's den. As he went in Harry looked around, observing the changes in the sitting room which was now fully decorated. When he'd last seen it after his stay over Easter the room was empty, he and Sirius having moved out all the furniture and stripped the room bare of fittings. And unlike other areas where they had laid carpet over the timber floor boards in this room they had been polished - as had the flooring in the hallway. It was even nicely furnished...very nicely.
'Who did this?' he questioned, going inside to look around. 'Not you?'
'This is Andy's work.'
'This from her too?' Harry questioned, gesturing to the potted Devil's Snare on the coffee table.
'House warming gift.'
'A gift that can kill you?'
'A little Black family joke,' he smirked. 'It's meant to be planted in the front garden to keep away do-gooders. I gave one to your mum and dad,' he added. 'But there was some concern it might strangle the cat so it ended up in a potion.'
'It's nice,' he said genuinely, looking around the room again. 'Has Andy done any...'
At the sound of approaching footsteps Harry's question trailed off, and he was certain he felt his blood pressure rise. There was absolutely no subtlety about it - footsteps were coming, and they intended to be heard. Turning around he looked back up the staircase towards the first floor, his breath held as he watched the silhouette on the wall turn into Draco Malfoy.
There he was - in flesh and blood, the enemy he had rarely sighted outside the walls of Hogwarts. In place of his school uniform he was wearing dark coloured robes, the contrast of the fabric against his pale features and blonde hair looking particularly harsh - his calculating eyes did not soften his appearance. It was immediately clear to him that Malfoy had been waiting at the top of the stairs for this very moment, to emerge at exactly the right time to make a certain impression.
It felt wild - but here it was right in front of him, proof that what Sirius told him was true. Draco Malfoy at Grimmauld Place. But as Harry watched him slowly descend the stairs he had to withhold a smirk of amusement.
Malfoy was sauntering down the stairs, shoulders straight back and eyes narrowed in a feigned expression of disinterest. He was asserting himself, strutting about the place as though he owned it, and at Malfoy Manor it might have worked. But here...Harry was embarrassed for him. Here there was no place for Malfoy to assert himself. This was Harry's home, and Malfoy was his unwanted house guest.
Malfoy spoke first. 'Potter.'
He had stopped halfway down, hand stretched out on the banister, chin lifted so that he looked down his nose at Harry and Sirius. For a moment Harry simply stared at him, still inwardly blown away by the stark reality that he was indeed there. It wasn't a mistake or a trick...it was real.
'Malfoy.'
Beside him Sirius was shifting his weight, fully aware of the uncomfortable tension between the two boys. He glanced back and forth between them, perhaps braced to break up a wand fight that might erupt at any moment, but when nothing more was said or done he let out a slow breath.
'Anyone hungry?' he asked awkwardly. He question was met with silence - neither boy cared about lunch in the slightest. 'I could eat.'
The suggestion was met with silence, and when the awkwardness lingered Harry turned away from Malfoy gave his godfather a pointed look. Getting the hint Sirius cleared his throat and then excused himself to the basement, understanding that perhaps it might be best to just let the two of them get it over with.
The silence remained until the kitchen door closed and Sirius's footsteps disappeared downstairs, but before Harry could open his mouth to speak Malfoy beat him to it.
'Is this going to be as excruciating as I expect?'
Harry looked back up at him. 'Worse.'
'Well, since we're setting expectations,' Malfoy continued, descending a few more stairs. He looked like he was trying to stay in charge, physically taking up all the space on the stairs with his hand stretched out to glide along the bannister. 'Be assured, Potter. I am not a tortured soul looking for a replacement paternal figurehead. The blood traitor is all yours.'
Harry stared at him in silence. This comment had thrown him a little, because in not so many words that there had been some truth in Hermione's suggestion that he was feeling territorial over Sirius, that he didn't like the idea of having to share him in any way.
For a moment he held his tongue, making a point of looking Malfoy up and down in silent judgment. But on the inside he couldn't help but feel a little scrappy in his old jeans and t-shirt...a feeling he quickly ignored.
'Rehearse all that, did you?'
Malfoy's eyes flashed, his expression giving just a little. Not at all intimidated, and determined that Malfoy was not going to walk all over him, Harry started up the stairs. He passed straight by him, forcing him to quickly retract his arm as if physically touching his enemy would be the height of indignity.
The moment they passed Harry breathed a mental sigh, glad that was over. But it lasted only a second - for some mad reason Malfoy was following him. Determined to ignore him he strode on upstairs, pretending the other boy no longer existed.
A worry that had been on his mind for months was now finally being answered, the question as to what exactly Sirius had been doing in the time that passed Harry's five week stay over Easter. That time together had been beneficial for the both of them, giving Harry space and mental reprieve from the problems at Hogwarts while simultaneously forcing Sirius to sober up and take care of someone who needed him.
For five weeks they had divided their time between getting him caught up on his school work and fixing up Grimmauld Place, tearing down the macabre fittings like snake candelabras and dusty wallpaper, replacing carpets and refinishing walls. It wasn't anything special, the goal had to make the place more liveable for the Order members who frequented it, and though they had made a substantial dent in the work required they had been nowhere near finishing it.
Harry had returned to Hogwarts for his final term, taking with him the worry and question of what Sirius would do with his time now that they were no longer together. There had been the assurance that he would keep himself busy, that there was plenty of work he could carry on with alone, but at the time this had been little reassurance to him. He had worried about Sirius slipping back into old habits, drinking to fill the days between Order meetings and letters from Harry.
The first floor brought a small reassurance. When he had left here at the end of April the hallway had been bare floorboards. Now it's entire length was carpeted, and over the charmed windows at either end of the hallway hung long curtains. These had been made by Mrs Weasley. Tasked with helping her Ginny had written to him at the start of summer, telling him of the long lengths of fabric that had engulfed the Burrow's kitchen table. He looked the curtains up and down, ever confused by the dynamic between Sirius and Mrs Weasley. They were never short in helping one another when needed, yet they wasted so much time rowing over Harry.
'Lost, are you?'
The mere sound of Malfoy's voice grated on his nerves, as did the smug tone of his question. Not even sparing him a glance Harry ignored the comment and then moved on down the hallway. He passed the room belonging to Professor Lupin and then looked in on the other rooms he and Sirius had worked on together. The charmed window that overlooked the street below also bore a new set of curtains, and what looked like a new lamp on the bedside table too.
On the entire first floor there was only one door that was closed, and he knew that must be where Malfoy was staying. Disregarding it he quickly glanced into the sitting room at the other end and then made his way up to the second floor, and though he was met with another carpeted hallway and curtains that was where the progress ended. The other rooms up here remained just as Harry and Sirius had left them, some in various states of tear down, others as dingy and unkempt as they had been the previous summer.
Sirius had promised him that he would keep busy when he went back to school. That he would be okay and would carry on with the work to keep himself busy. But these rooms...finishing up a few rooms and hanging some curtains can't have taken this long for him to do, even alone. More than likely he had reverted back to his old ways, laying about drinking with Mundungus...perhaps he had just gotten better at hiding it.
'Embarking on a profession as a building inspector?'
'Shut up, Malfoy,' he said impatiently. He should have held his tongue, should have ignored the comment...
When he looked out the back window his spirits lifted a little, for progress had been made in the garden. A vegetable patch they had talked about in only vague terms was not only erected, but was full of dense greenery, charms probably meaning it was producing already. Elsewhere patches of grass were growing, and the pool in which Sirius's parents had allegedly drowned Muggles was filled in. Set out were the two rickety sun lounges they had found buried in mud and weeds further down.
Either way, Sirius had occupied himself somewhat, right? Of course he didn't want to stay cooped up inside.
To his amusement Malfoy was still lurking behind him, and briefly Harry wondered if he was so starved for human interaction thanks to his self-imposed isolation in his bedroom that even Harry Potter seemed good for company. Sirius had said he very rarely came out, not even to eat. Not even to lurk around and spy on the comings and goings of the Order.
When Harry began ascending to the third floor where his bedroom was Malfoy was still following, and this time he could not help himself. 'Lost, are you?'
This seemed to do the trick. The footsteps behind him came to a stop, leaving him free to go upstairs unaccompanied by the son of the Death Eater who had tortured him so viciously. In his bedroom he finally relaxed. His trunk and Hedwig's care were here, and everything else was the same as he left it last. Literally nothing had changed, there was even the quill he had left behind on his desk, untouched and waiting for his return.
Hedwig was still at the Burrow, sleeping with Pig through the day, and in anticipation of her return when she realised he was gone he opened the window for her. He made a token effort to unpack before losing interest and flopping down onto his bed to stare up at the ceiling.
He wanted to stay up there for the rest of the day. Certainly that was preferable to dealing with Malfoy for even a single second, but he was steadfastly determined that he wouldn't stay there all day. He would not be a prisoner in his own home.
This thought startled him - the idea of being a prisoner. It occurred to him now that had things gone differently last year he would have remained a prisoner at Malfoy Manor, even over the summer when Malfoy came back from Hogwarts. How would that have played out, he wondered? Would Malfoy have been brought in to participate? To torture and torment him without repercussion or shame?
In a twisted way the potential roles had been reversed. This time it was Malfoy who was a prisoner of sorts, but in Harry's home.
Harry sprung up to his feet. He wasn't going to hide away and avoid him. There was no need to actively seek Malfoy out, but if anyone was to shirk away and hide in their bedroom it wouldn't be him.
Making his presence and ease known he went back downstairs, his footsteps heavier than they might have been any other day. To his mild disappointment Malfoy was not around, not lurking in the sitting room or waiting behind a corner to appear at the right moment - it seemed he had returned to his room and closed the door.
Good, Harry thought to himself. Stay there.
Taking another quick look at the room Andy had decorated and eyeing the Devil's Snare warily, he made his way down to the kitchen where he thought Sirius might be. He was right. Sirius stood at the counter preparing two sandwiches, while behind him Kreacher was bustling around to assist, the two of them managing to tolerate one another's presence these days.
The kitchen was brighter than before thanks to a new window that had appeared near the ceiling, one that let in a surprising amount of light to illuminate the kitchen, which now Harry noticed seemed bigger. Much of the clutter was gone, and what was left was now comfortably visible in the natural light.
'Is this like the charmed windows at the Ministry?' Harry asked, going over to look properly. Unless he was mistaken he could see into the back garden. 'Can we change it to see different weather?'
Sirius who was busy making sandwiches shook his head. 'It's real. It was there years ago until my mother banished it. Was excellent for sneaking out of in the middle of the night. But don't get any ideas, it's charmed.'
Laughing Harry turned back to look around some more, entertained by the idea of Sirius sneaking all the way down to the basement just to climb out the kitchen window. But as he turned he stopped in his tracks.
Sitting at the very end of the kitchen table was a gilded tray holding three small bowls of cut up fruit, coleslaw and crisps. In the center was an empty plate, and it was then he noticed that Kreacher wasn't assisting Sirius with the two sandwiches - he was labouring over a third sandwich that towered with freshly sliced ham, tomato and crisp salad greens. Very quickly Harry realised who the tray was for.
'What the hell is this?' he exclaimed, gesturing to the gilded tray. 'We're not a hotel.'
Sirius glanced up and then very quickly looked away, perhaps having expected this argument. 'If you want Kreacher to make you lunch then ask him to.'
At this suggestion Kreacher eagerly whirled around and hurried towards him, but Harry quickly put a stop to that. 'No, thank you Kreacher,' he said firmly. 'I can make my own lunch.'
'I'm making your lunch,' Sirius says pointedly.
Harry sighed in exasperation. Sirius was intentionally ignoring the point - was this what the whole month was going to be like?
'We're not letting Malfoy treat us or Kreacher like we're here to serve him.'
Kreacher's eyes widened, and he hurried forward a second time. 'Master Malfoy is o-'
'He's not your Master. You don't take orders from him.'
'Kreacher knows that,' Sirius said patiently. 'But if he can keep Draco happy and content then I see no reason that he shouldn't.'
'Is he treating you decently?' Harry asked expectantly, and he pressed on when Kreacher didn't answer. 'Kreacher, tell me how Malfoy is treating you.'
'Mast-'
'He's not your Master.'
Kreacher paused and then started again. 'Mister Malfoy provides clear instructions, which is all Kreacher needs. Kreacher is happy being of use to our guest.'
Harry stared at him for a moment, because this is not the clarification he was seeking. He turned to Sirius expectantly.
'He's fine,' he said in exasperation. 'He's not making trouble, and he's not mistreating Kreacher. I...I wouldn't let him,' he added, sounding as though that particular phrase didn't come naturally.
Harry lingered on this thought a moment longer, letting Sirius go back to finishing their lunch while Kreacher scurrying off to finish Malfoy's. He gave Harry a wide berth as he worked, not wanting to give any opportunity for him to be ordered to stop - he seemed particularly keen to look after Malfoy, probably pleased to have a blood member of the Black family to dote on. But watching him set out a gourmet sandwich, a jug of pumpkin juice and a crystal drinking glass did nothing to assuage Harry's concerns. Just as Kreacher reached for the handles of the tray he intervened.
'Let me,' he ordered. He took out his wand to cast a weightlessness charm on the tray. 'I'll take it up to him.'
Sensing trouble Sirius turned back to him. 'Harry...'
'What?' he replied, a little too defensively.
'Don't start wit-'
'I'm not!' he protested, levitating the tray. 'I'm not starting anything, I'm bringing him lunch.'
'Dragon dung.'
'You don't think I can be polite?'
'I think I know you,' Sirius said sharply, coming closer and facing him now. 'And I think I know what it would be like if I was sharing a house with Snape.'
'It's fine. I'm fine,' he insisted. 'I can bring him lunch without slugging him.'
For a moment Sirius held his ground, looking ready to start an argument - but then he made a pained expression. 'You're a better man than me,' he said quietly. 'I'd have already poisoned Snape's food.'
'I haven't ruled anything out.'
With the tray following him Harry made his way back upstairs, trying not to walk as though he was storming to place. He took a few deep breaths, determined to hold his temper, to be...Merlin help him...polite.
He stood outside Malfoy's door for perhaps a minute trying to figure out what he was going to say, but when nothing came he just braced himself and rapped his knuckles against the door.
'Leave the tray outside.'
His teeth clenched. He knocked again, harder this time. The nerve on this berk...
Footsteps came, and then the bedroom door flung open. 'I said leave the tr-'
Malfoy trailed off as he came face to face with Harry, and almost instantly his eyes narrowed in immediate dislike - force of habit by now. For a long moment the two of them just stared at one another, and then Malfoy lifted his chin, his lips parting to speak - but Harry spoke first.
'Your lunch is here.'
Turning his eyes to the tray he focused on it, a small gesture of his hand sending the levitated tray through the doorway towards Malfoy, forcing him to step back to let it through. As the tray moved inside he saw Malfoy looking him up and down, and Harry let him, knowing what we would see. There was a reason he had put his wand away, and though he wouldn't admit it to anyone he was blatantly showing off. At previous times it had unnerved Malfoy that Harry could do wandless magic - he needn't know that it was pretty much limited to a few basic charms that took enormous concentration.
Taking the opportunity he glanced inside Malfoy's room, recognising the furniture and the light blue colour he himself had painted on the walls. Though it was only a brief glance it didn't particularly seem that Malfoy had settled in and made himself at home. The whole room was as neat as a pin, with only a single magazine sitting out on the bedside table. Aside from that and the tray of food settling itself on the bed the room might have been unoccupied.
'You're a neat freak?'
Malfoy's expression soured further. Swiftly stepping closer to the door frame he closed the door against himself, blocking the room from Harry's sight. 'Not particularly,' he said shortly, again looking him up and down in disdain. 'But when one is chased out of safe houses with increasing tenacity one learns not to unpack.'
Was this a ploy for sympathy? 'It's safe here. You can unpack.'
Malfoy drew a great sigh, looking impatient. 'Interesting. The same sentiment was shared at both the first and second safe house I was taken to. We didn't even make it to the third, so forgive me for not making a fool of us both.'
'If I'm here this place is not coming under attack any time soon.'
'Given your poor track record of keeping yourself from the reach of the Dark Lord that does not inspire confidence.'
Harry glared at him now, feeling this was a low blow...and irrelevant too. Looking away he cleared his throat and tried to collect his thoughts, but then Malfoy was going back inside the room and so he hastened to speak, and blurting out of his mouth were the words -
'You can eat downstairs with us, you know.'
Instantly he regretted it. The last thing he wanted was Malfoy imposing his presence on him and Sirius, especially with what limited time they had together, though Lupin's words from last night must have made an impression. But Malfoy seemed to read him, seemed to figure him out just as quickly.
'Would you come downstairs to eat with my family?'
'I'd be your prisoner. So no.'
'Then nor would I.'
'You're not a prisoner,' he argued, though it wasn't helping his own case.
'Not in the strictest sense of the word, no.' There was a pause now, the two of them looking at one another in an awkward impasse before finally Malfoy continued. 'I am content in my own company.'
Without warning the door was closed in Harry's face, and he stood there incensed, fuming at the obvious rudeness. He stared at the closed door, debating what to do next, yet he remained conscious of Sirius's plea that he not go starting things with Malfoy, particularly on their first day. Taking a deep breath he reasoned with himself. There would be plenty of time to stand up to Malfoy, to make it clear he would not be walked over like a doormat...that Malfoy was a guest here and nothing more.
He had just turned away before remembering the reason he had come up there in the first place. Firing up again he rapped his fist against the door again, louder this time.
This time the door opened slowly, Malfoy looking out at him with an air of exasperation.
'Can I help you, Potter?'
'As a matter of fact you can. Kreacher is not your slave,' he said sharply. 'He is not your kicking bag, or someone to abuse for fun.'
'Or what?'
'Or you'll have me to deal with.'
'You'll duel me over a House Elf?'
'No, I'll fight you over a House Elf,' he threatened. A punch would be far more satisfying than a curse. 'From now on Kreacher doesn't take orders from you. He'll help you only if you treat him properly. And if you mind your manners. You know, please and thank you.'
This order quite clearly raised Malfoy's hackles, and he squared his shoulders. 'You know Potter,' he started, beginning to raise his voice. 'I've made it quite well known that I am in fact not my father, and nor do I strive to be.' He stopped a moment, holding Harry's gaze in a stare. 'Was leaving my family home and my mother not enough? What else do you necessitate I do to prove to you that I am not my family?'
Harry did not rise, and he held his tongue. It was quite admirable in his opinion, for he knew his suspicions of Malfoy were not unfounded. He took a step forward and in contrast lowered his voice. 'You may have won over the rest of them, but I'm not so easy. I don't trust you with anything more important than wiping your own arse.'
'You are the one who made pleas for my safe keeping, are you not?' Malfoy demanded now, beginning to shout. 'Was it not you who insisted I abandon my family and go to Dumbledore?'
'Yes, bu-'
'I did exactly as you asked, and exactly what Dumbledore and Black have asked me to do since, and I will not tolerate being mistrusted for my efforts!'
Unintimidated, Harry did not back down. 'You can have my trust when you've earned it.'
Satisfied he took a step back from the threshold and turned away, walking off quite calmly. But Malfoy's bedroom door had slammed shut before he even reached the stairs, the force of it making the windows rattle. At this he let out an annoyed sigh, wishing that had gone differently while also pleased with himself for not losing his temper. But still the frustration bubbled up inside of him and before he knew it he was thundering down the stairs to the kitchen.
'Kreacher?' he called out, looking for the House Elf. He promptly appeared, looking up at Harry with the kind of eager to please eyes one might associate with a puppy. 'Kreacher, you're only to do things for Malfoy if he's decent to you. He's not to hurt you or shout at you, and he has to be polite!'
He stopped now, uncomfortably aware that he had just failed two of those very instructions. He cleared his throat, glancing away from Sirius who seemed to be watching him with an amused expression.
'Mister Malfoy is always polite when providing his requi-'
'Well, now it's an order. Please,' he added.
'Yes, Master Harry.'
'Thank you,' he added next, somewhat awkwardly.
Done with all that he sank down into his usual place at the kitchen table, opposite Sirius who had been waiting for his return before he started eating.
'Feel better now?'
'Shut up.'
'Draco's almost as good as you with the door slamming.'
'Sirius, shu-'
'Don't worry,' he teased. 'You're still my favourite door slammer.'
Harry glared at him, not appreciating the teases - not when it struck a little too close to the truth. 'Are you done making fun of me?'
Sirius shrugged, still smirking as he picked up his sandwich. 'No,' he admitted, taking a bit and contemplating the thought. 'But for your sake I'll keep it to myself.'
Somewhat begrudgingly Harry followed suit in picking up the sandwich Sirius had made for him, quickly murmuring thanks as he decided to let it go. Breaking the ice with Malfoy was never going to be polite or easy, and frankly it had gone as well as anyone could expect.
It was going to be a long month until the first of September.