Chapter Twenty-Two: The Start of Something

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Draco knocked on Snape's office door, peeking inside. "Professor?" The classroom was clean and tidy for a change, most everything packed away and cleaned for the next year.

"Draco," Snape glanced up from where he was packing up potion ingredients, looking curious. "Shouldn't you be preparing for the feast, tonight?"

"I needed to speak with you..." Draco looked over his shoulder, making sure Harry hadn't followed. "It's about Harry's family." That had Snape pausing, putting his wand away before gesturing Draco towards one of the seats.

"I take it this has something to do with his rather disparaging comments, back in the hospital wing."

"It's...not just that. He's told me some things about them over the year... They were starving him! He lived in a cupboard under the stairs, and if he ever had any magical flare-ups, he'd be locked in with no food!" He certainly didn't mean to blurt all of that out, but he was worried, dammit!

"He... They what." A glance showed Snape's expression was blank, his voice quiet and rather cold. "I seem to have misheard you, it sounded like you said they locked him in a cupboard and starved him."

Draco nodded hurriedly. "He was running from his cousin - his cousin was trying to assault him - and some of his magic caused him to get on top of his school building, somehow, and he was punished for it!"

Snape took a deep breath, looking to be reigning in his anger - Draco knew he certainly was, "Has he told anyone else about these incidents. A former teacher, or an adult, perhaps?"

"I don't know- I don't think so, no." And that was why Draco was telling Snape, now. Because someone had to bloody help him! Nodding, Snape seemed to think for a moment.

"If you can, encourage him to tell an adult about this... I will be talking to Dumbledore about this matter." There was a cold, dark look in Snape's eyes at the mention of Dumbledore. Draco gave a nod.

"Yes, sir." He glanced up at Snape, waiting to be dismissed. Before he was, there was a light ruffle to his hair, Snape giving him a small smile.

"I'm proud of you, Draco. For everything that happened this year, you stepped up to all the challenges remarkably well, even when you wanted nothing to do with any of this."

Draco gave him a strange look, tilting his head. "Uncle Sev?" Draco was surprised with himself. He certainly hadn't meant for that name to come out... He hadn't called Severus that since second year.

"Just telling you something that you needed to hear," Severus chuckled, nudging Draco towards the door. "Now go be with your friends. I imagine Potter is already wandering around the halls looking for you."

"Yes, sir." Draco stood, and looked at Severus over his shoulder one more time before leaving and heading up to the Great Hall. It... He didn't even know when it had started being Snape, instead of Severus, and now... Maybe coming back in time really had been the best thing for him.

Getting to the Great Hall, Draco stood in the doorway, for a moment. He looked from his friends in Slytherin to the new ones he'd made in Gryffindor. The feast hadn't yet started, so there were still people going from house to house, talking and chatting with friends. At Gryffindor, Harry was the first one to catch his eyes, smiling before giving a look and nod towards Slytherin. Draco gave him a beaming grin before near running over to the Slytherin table, tackling Blaise and Pansy in a hug.

"Whoa- Hey! You're awake!" Pansy was dragging Draco down to sit between them, hugging him tightly and beaming just as brightly. "We haven't seen you in weeks and then you just disappear and face a teacher who went crazy!"

Draco laughed, his arms around the two of them. "Pans, come on, now, we all know the truth. He was already crazy!"

"Just glad to see you're back to normal. Well," Blaise smirked, wicked amusement in his eyes. "As normal as you can get, anyways."

Draco scoffed, jabbing at his side. "As if you're any better!" Blaise only grinned, hugging him a bit more tightly, and, yeah... Things like this were perfect. It was nice, spending time with his own friends.

"So, catch us up. What have you and your Gryffindors been getting up to. Sounds worse than anything we ever managed."

Draco smirked, nodding to Crabbe and Goyle as they got him a plate. "We only faced down the Dark Lord. What about you lot?" Ah, having every first year Slytherin's complete and absolute attention. It almost felt like he was wearing green and silver, again. And, well... He should entertain his audience a little, he supposed. "Alright. That corridor on the third floor? We entered it, and there was a five-headed dog, at least fifty feet tall!"

It was a good half hour of Draco entertaining the Slytherins before the feast was ready to start, Severus giving him a nod and then gesturing towards the Gryffindor table. Draco sighed, looking to the rest of them with a smile. "I should...be getting back." There were groans of disappointment, Pansy the one to give him another hug.

"Fine, but you better visit and keep up with us over the summer! No excuses, either, I know where you live and I'm not afraid to throw my own fits to spend time with you."

"You know I will. We still have to celebrate my birthday properly, after all." Draco scoffed as he stood. "And your fits will never match mine." The look he was given made him very aware he would be regretting those words one day. One day soon, at that.

"Alright, alright, go back to your lion cubs before one of them comes over to 'defend you' from us, or something," Blaise snorted. "Besides, Potter looks like a kicked crup without you."

Draco rolled his eyes at that. "He's not that bad off. Watch your mail! Your invitations should be coming, soon!" With that, he was heading back to the Gryffindor table, this time enjoying all the stares and whispers that followed. If people were going to be stupid and gossip, then Draco would just have to control what they said. He shot cold, baleful looks to the other two tables, as well as some of the older years in Slytherin and Gryffindor. If they thought he would let a little gossip get to him, they had another thing coming.

"The older years think you're planning a school revolution with the Slytherins," Harry informed him, smile playing on his lips as he offered a cup of tea. "Tea?" Draco took the cup, sitting down and smiling at Harry.

"Thank you. And who says I'm not, second in command?" There was a groan from Ron, the child burying his face in his hands. Harry, instead of beaming childishly and looking excited, only smirked and took a sip of his own tea.

"Delightful. I have quite a few plans I think you'll approve of, too."

"Granger? Have you any suggestions? I personally say that we take down the Ravenclaws, first. Too clever for their own good. They'll try to rise up." The truly terrifying thing was that Hermione looked to be honestly considering it for a moment.

"Too messy, they'll bring about their own downfall, I think."

"Mm. I'll take this into consideration." Draco smirked, sipping from his cup. The four of them were distracted as Dumbledore rose, easily getting the attention of the room.

"Alas, another year has come and gone, and summer is soon to be. Before I allow you to leave and empty your heads of this year's knowledge, however, I would like to make a few end-of-the-year announcements. First off, the third floor corridor is no longer out of bounds. Second, as I am sure you have heard, our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is no longer with us." Draco smirked, loudly sipping his tea and flicking his eyes to the ceiling in a mock-show of innocence. Harry was doing nothing to hide his glee.

"As always, your test scores will be mailed to you near the beginning of summer, and for the older years, please see your professors if you have any questions for your classes. Now, one last thing before we begin our feast and crown the House champions this year." Dumbledore looked over to the Gryffindor table with a smile, "I've some last-minute points to hand out. To Neville Longbottom." Everyone at the Gryffindor table went silent in shock, all head swivelling to Longbottom. "You've no doubt heard of the events of the last few days, and Neville Longbottom played a small part in all of it.

"Due to his courageous action in trying to stop his friends, he managed to learn of the danger that threatened our school. As soon as he was able, he managed to warn myself and other professors of that danger. For that bravery, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

"Ah. Right. This." Draco sneered, speaking quietly. "Last time, he gave Gryffindor two hundred points at the feast. Playing favorites. We were about to win the House Cup."

"That... That has to be against the rules," Harry muttered, the two half-watching as Dumbledore declared the Slytherin house the champions once more. "He's not doing it this time, looks like."

"Are you kidding me?!" Quite a few Gryffindors were startled, Harry only digging around the table and dumping a few more sugars into Draco's tea. "I can't win!" Draco slumped down, grumbling and scooting away from Finnigan, who was at his left for whatever reason.

"Look at this way," Harry spoke up, offering the tea back to him. "You can hold this over the Slytherins. Say you sabotaged Gryffindor from within, so, really, it's only because of you that they won in the first place."

Draco scoffed at that. "I am many things, but a liar I am not." He told half-truths and omitted things, but he rarely lied. Although that fight with Ron had docked them a fair few points, but, still. He could do better than that.

"Just a suggestion," Harry shrugged, perking up as the feast appeared in front of them. "So, anymore disasters we need to worry about before the start of next year? Or can I enjoy the summer in peace?"

"Your summer should be-" Flying car into the Whomping Willow. "Fine." It... It technically didn't happen until the first day of school, so, the summer should be well enough. Hopefully.

"Mhm... Like I said, just be sure to keep in contact. Don't want you getting bored of me, or anything."

Draco smiled at that, nudging him. "A million Weasleys can't replace you. I should know. They're all horrid." There were noises of complaint from all four Weasleys at the table, which, perfect. He had even managed to get the prefect annoyed. "Yes, Harry. I'll keep in contact." Draco smirked. "In fact. I already have a plan or two."

"Consider me cautious," Harry laughed, tugging over an entire plate of treacle tart. At this point, people had learned to leave the plate Harry claimed alone, as they did with Draco and his eggs. Gryffindors could learn, apparently. Who knew?

Draco looked around the table and smiled. Alright... He could tolerate these people for a couple more years.

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"Oh yeah, that day you went to talk to Snape, Hagrid found me and gave me something." The group had just settled down on the Hogwarts Express when Harry stood on his seat to rifle around his trunk.

"Heheh. Funny you should mention that..." Snape had said for Draco to encourage him to talk to people. Maybe he could start with getting Harry to talk to Ron and Hermione about this.

"Oh, tell me I wasn't involved in that conversation," Harry pouted, amusement in his eyes as he pulled out a photo album and sat back down next to Draco.

"Well... You haven't told us much about your family," Draco said carefully. The amusement was now gone from Harry's whole demeanor, the child tensing as he looked between Draco and their friends.

"I've... I've told you a little about them. There's just not much to tell, is all."

"Hermione's said her parents are teeth-doctors. That's still bloody creepy, by the way," Ron said with a shake of his head. "Didn't you say you had a cousin?"

"Uh... Ye-Yeah," Harry flashed a smile, a weak thing at best. "Dudley, he's our age. Not much to tell, really. Bit of a prat, goes to a private school, favorite child, normal things like that, and all."

"Sounds a bit like Malfoy, mate- Ow!" Draco had kicked Ron, glaring at him fiercely. "What?! He does!"

"Trust me, Draco's nowhere near as bad," Harry laughed, a bitter tinge to it that had Hermione frowning. Harry seemed to sense his mistake, since he shrugged. "He's a bit of a bully, is all."

"A bully," Hermione immediately asked, her gaze seeming to pierce through Harry. It had Draco very glad that he had her on his side this time around. Why had he ever made Hermione an enemy?

"Well... Yeah... Just kind of rough and spoiled, nothing I haven't been able to deal with." Draco coughed into his hand, looking at Harry with slightly wide eyes, and a small pout to his lips. "What? I can deal with it! I've been dealing with it fine for my whole life!"

"He's been bullying you for your whole life?!" Ah, how Draco wished he had a cup of tea handy. Especially for the moment Harry snapped and threw his arms up.

"Yes, okay, yes! I've been cornered and beaten by him and his gang near everyday of my life, I live under the stairs in a cupboard, my aunt and uncle think I'm some freak because I have magic, they never told me I had magic or what my parents are, and most days, I think they wish I would've just died along with my parents! There, happy at finally knowing!" During his ranting, Harry had moved to stand up, album now abandoned on the seat as he stormed out of their compartment.

Draco sighed, standing as well. "I'll go get him." He needed Harry to understand that what they did wasn't okay. And that he needed to talk to people. Besides, Ron and Hermione needed time to digest everything they had just been told.

Slipping out the door, Draco glanced around before heading towards the back of the train, peeking into compartments as he went. He recognized quite a few people, although all of them were younger than he was used to. Time travel was something he still seemed to be adjusting to.

Finally, Draco found him sitting out in the hall. Draco didn't say anything, only at down beside him, a silent support. It wasn't very long before Harry was leaning against him, legs drawn up and arms curled around himself. "I didn't... I never really knew how bad it was, until I came here. I thought... I thought stuff like that was normal."

"Did you just never mention it to any classmates? Or teachers? Bloody hell, how is it you didn't pass out, at school?" Shrugging, Harry tucked himself a little closer, gaze on the ground.

"Everyone knew that if you tried to be friends with Harry Potter, Dudley and his gang would go after you in a second. The teachers didn't much care, either, as long as we didn't bother them." Draco wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders.

"Have I told you how magical children are treated, in our world?"

"I... I don't think so," Harry chanced a glance up, looking cautious but curious. It reminded Draco of how Harry had first acted around him.

"In our world, magical children are precious. They're sacred. They're to be protected at all times, because of their potential. If you were to tell someone, in our world about this, someone like McGonagall, action would be taken."

"I don't..." Harry curled up a little more, looking more like a child than ever. "I don't know anything else...and I don't want to complicate matters by asking people to deal with me. It's only six more years, and thanks to Hogwarts, I'll only be at the Dursleys for the summer. I can handle that easily, after all this."

"I still think you should talk to someone. Snape does, too. But ultimately, it's your choice. I don't want to force you to do anything." Draco tugged him closer with a smile.

Nodding, Harry gave a weak smile of his own, "Ron and Hermione, I... I can tell them everything. Snape, too, maybe. After summer. And Hagrid knows a bit about it- Threatened to come back and break the door down again if I was unhappy for even a moment."

"That's all I'll ask. Do you wanna head back to the car, now?"

"Not just yet."

"Alright."

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"Mother, I'm fine! Really! Your saw me not a month ago!" His words did nothing to ease Narcissa's grip on him, Draco halfheartedly trying to struggle away. All around him he saw other kids being greeted much the same way. Molly Weasley herself seemed to be trying to hug all of her children at once - Harry included. Harry seemed to be tense, and ah. Right. Draco squirmed away, grabbing Harry and dragging him over. "I don't believe you were ever properly introduced. Harry, this is my mother and father."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Harry smiled, looking very shy and younger than he had at the start of this all. "I... I wanted to apologize about what happened last month. I encouraged Draco with everything, and it's equally my fault what happened to us."

"Pull the other one," Draco said with a roll of his eyes and a proud smile. He looked to his parents. "I'm the leader." That had Lucius giving a small roll of his eyes, Narcissa only chuckling and gently shaking Harry's hand.

"It's a pleasure, dear. I've heard quite a bit about you from Draco, always talking about non-stop-"

"She's exaggerating, of course. Where did you think I got it from? I've only mentioned you once or twice-"

"Oh, are you not counting the holidays where you rambled about him during every meal?" Lucius asked, voice very even, considering he was being evil at the moment. "You seemed quite enamoured with 'the friend you wished to spend Christmas with'."

"Father! I was talking about a different friend-" He wasn't going to win. He was doomed from the start. Beside him, Harry was looking utterly enchanted, which, well... At least this meant a greater chance of getting Harry over for part of the summer.

"Draco, your parents are wonderful."

"Yes, well... Let's go find your family. I've a surprise for you." Nodding hesitantly, Harry took Draco's hand and pulled him through the crowd, dodging people before he reached the barrier, walking through it.

"That's them over there." A rather beefy man was standing a dozen feet away, looking impatiently. A thin woman and very overweight child were behind him, looking...tense.

Draco brushed his hair with his fingers and put on his best charming smile, walking over confidently. "Hello, sir. Pleasure to meet you. I'm Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius Malfoy." He stuck his hand out and smiled brighter. The moment of fear in the man's eyes was wonderful, and very good at calming a bit of Draco's rage.

"A-Ah, yes. Your father who just recently bought out our company." The man's handshake was stilted, and his smiled looked very forced, and, ah, yes. This was the one that hated all things magical. Draco widened his eyes, tilting his head.

"Did he? I didn't know. I was only introducing myself because I'm one of Harry's friends." Oh, the look was just getting more and more wonderful. There was a muttered comment from the cousin - Dudley, he was certain. Something of no one wanting to be friends with a 'freak'. Draco looked over at him with a smile, and held his hand out, as well. "Dudley, right? Draco Malfoy."

"Well, go on, Dudley," Vernon said, smile tight as he nudged his son forward. "Shake his hand." Dudley did so, looking as if Draco was going to hit him with an Unforgivable.

Draco only shook his hand tightly, a glimmer in his eye he hoped the other caught. "My apologies for keeping you all. I believe my father is waiting. I'll see you over summer, right, Harry?"

"Of course," Harry grinned, looking the happiest Draco had ever seen him. "You don't mind, right, Uncle Vernon? If not, I can always go over to Draco's if his parents allow it."

"Feel free to do whatever you kids want," Vernon waved off, mustache and eyelid twitching.

"I'll see you, Harry!" Draco dragged him into a hug, and whispered quickly. "Don't let them know we can't use magic."

"Didn't plan on it," Harry whispered back, hugging Draco just as tightly. "Trust me, this time, things are going to be a bit different around my household. See you soon?"

"See you." Draco released him and gave a bright, beaming smile before turning and going back through the barrier to meet with his parents. This was the beginning of something wonderful.

A/N: We hope you enjoyed it! Please remember to be on the look out for the next installment of the series, Draco Malfoy and the Heir of Slytherin! Happy reading!