He carefully closed The New York Ghost, knowing he was expected to pass on the news to the others, or more specifically, to pass on this information to Him.
A cousin of his had sent him a copy by special messenger with a note saying, ‘Is this who I think it is?’
The photograph in The Ghost was taken from a long distance and his dark-haired features were half hidden by a rainbow-coloured flag, but there was enough of his face visible to make out the distinctive round glasses and tell-tale lightning bolt scar.
‘So that is where they have relocated him? He looks hot,’ Draco sighed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When Harry did not show up for school in September, the whole school noticed and speculations had been rife. Even his best friends did not seem to know where he was. He had not been seen all Summer.
There were rumours that he was being home schooled, had enrolled in another Wizarding school, was in hospital after a mental breakdown and some even speculated that he had gotten some Muggle girl pregnant and was on the run.
The latter bit was highly unlikely, in his opinion, as he was quite sure that the Boy Who Lived was just as gay as he was, but unlike him, had probably seen less action in his life than the Muggle Virgin Mary. In fact, he would wager his inheritance on this.
When by the middle of September, there still had been no sign of Harry, he had started his own investigations. It had been easier than stealing candy from a first year. If the Chosen One had tried to cover his tracks, he had done a very poor job of it.
It had taken Draco less than a day, and not nearly as many bribes or threats as he been prepared to make, to find out that Harry had transferred all his money to the Saint Louis branch of Gringotts on the same day that he had bought a clatter of books on America, after which he somehow disappeared off the face of the earth. After a few fire whiskeys, the barman in the Leaky Cauldron let it slip that there had been some disturbance, by the sounds of it, possibly involving stink pellets, on that very same day, which had led to the temporary evacuation of the pub. From there it had not taken a genius to figure out that the Leaky Cauldron was connected to the North American Floo Network. A few messages to relations on that continent had quickly put him on Harry’s trail again, near Timeless Square. The genius could not have drawn more attention to himself, if he tried.
Draco nearly lost his cool when he found out that Harry had managed to obtain a new wand in the States that identified him not only as Merlin’s Heir, but as the Heir of Gryffindor as well. The latter was not that much of a surprise, given the fact that it was common knowledge that he had used the Sword of Gryffindor to slay the Basilisk in his second year in Hogwarts. Harry had for a long time even been suspected of being the Heir of Slytherin and some were linking his lineage to the fabled Peverells, and now on top of that he was the Heir of Merlin? Wasn’t it enough that he was the Boy Who Lived, the youngest seeker in the Hogwarts annals and a Tri Wizard Champion to boot?
Rumour had it that he had once claimed to be ‘Just Harry’, but he clearly was now more than happy to add a string of accolades and titles to that name. Draco did his best to not let that affect him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
‘Professor…,’ Draco said in his most pleasant voice, after being granted permission to enter the Headmaster’s office.
To Dumbledore’s amusement, Draco cast Muffliato.
‘What can I do for you, Mr Malfoy, which would require such privacy?’
‘Professor,’ he started again, ‘I know you have arranged for Harry to finish his schooling in Saint Louis.’
‘Do you now?’ Dumbledore queried, slightly amused.
‘I do and it was not difficult to pick up Harry’s trail, once I started looking and if I can find Harry in a matter of hours, others will too. It is only a matter of time before someone puts two and two together and approaches the Dark Lord,’ Draco said, placing the copy of The New York Ghost on the Headmaster’s desk. The headline ‘Heir of Merlin Revealed’ clearly visible.
‘I want you to send me to the same school, so that I can keep an eye on Harry and protect him,’ Draco stated boldly.
‘And why, pray tell me, would you volunteer to do so?’ Dumbledore asked.
‘For the same reason my godfather has been spying for you. Something to do with piercing green eyes, I imagine,’ he said, with as much bravado as he could muster.
‘It is not as if I asked for this to happen, you know,’ Draco shrugged, slightly more deflated after his initial statement.
‘If I stay here, sooner or later I will have to take sides and I am not sure if I will be strong enough or brave enough to choose the right side. I do not want to become a Death Eater, but I already feel the pressure being put on me from all sides. Even Mother seems to think that joining might be preferable to fighting. She used to be neutral, but I think even she is beginning to realise that eventually even she will have to declare for one side or the other. I feel as if I am being groomed, or something. I hate going home these days. Quite frankly, half of the time I feel sick to my stomach.’
Dumbledore looked surprised to hear the young Slytherin unburdening himself to him. Even Harry had never been this honest about his feelings. While Draco was known to be sly and as slippery as an eel, Dumbledore was sure that this was not an act.
‘Mr Malfoy,’ the headmaster said hesitantly, ‘does Mr Potter know how you feel about him?’
‘I doubt it very much,’ Draco replied, the usual sneer back in place.
Classic defence mechanism, Dumbledore thought to himself and suddenly, all the taunting and harassment over the past few years made sense. Mr Malfoy had been going about showing his affections in the only way he could without being found out. What a mess. It was easy to make decisions for young Mr Potter, who effectively had no parental guidance to speak of, but young Mr Malfoy did have parents and very influential ones at that. He would be aiding the boy in running away from home. The repercussions would be enormous, not just for him, but for the school and for the boy himself, but standing by and watch this young man becoming a Death Eater against his will was equally appalling.
‘Let me see what I can do,’ he said and put a consoling hand on Draco’s shoulder, as the boy turned to leave.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
‘Congratulations, Son.’
Lucius Malfoy couldn’t have been prouder when he received the official communique that morning from the Wizardry Institute in Saint Louis, Missouri via the Ministry of Magic, official Ministerial Seal and all.
‘A full scholarship for the remainder of your schooling to the most prestigious wizarding school in the world in recognition of your exceptional talent for transfiguration and potions, no less, but of course I shouldn’t be surprised, you are a Malfoy after all.’
Dumbledore had come through in the most spectacular way, ensuring his father’s full consent.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The highlight of the Saint Louis Autumn Festival was a masquerade party in the Gateway Arch National Park, against the backdrop of the famous arch. It was a magical night for all, in the Muggle sense of the word, though there was an electricity in the stifling hot air that suggested the presence of actual magic as well.
Draco, wearing a golden costume that would have made King Louis himself proud, slowly made his way through the crowd to the dark-haired boy sporting a wild multi-coloured outfit that could have been accio-ed straight out of Luna Lovegood’s closet. Seth and Zane, the secret protection detail, strategically placed in Harry’s way to befriend him in New York, stepped away discreetly when they saw the golden boy approach through the crowd, having been fully briefed on his self-imposed protection role by Dumbledore himself. Once Draco got close enough, he started to dance behind Harry, closer and closer until the two were dancing together in perfect unison. Harry never turned around and kept his back to his dance partner, who followed his every move. ‘So much for constant vigilance’, Draco thought. Neither said a word. Both were perfectly happy to just let their bodies do the talking. There would be time for re-introductions and remonstrations later. For now Draco was just enjoying this Hot Harry Indian Summer Evening.