Okay, lets set a few things straight. This is an AU story. In this story, Voldemort does not exist, never has, never will. Thus, Harry's parents and everyone else who were killed by Voldemort are alive. Not that it matters much, the fic is pretty self-explanatory.

But if you still have any questions, do not hesitate to ask it in your review, or drop me a PM if you want to.

Updates shall be regular and will also depend upon the reviews. Reviews equal happy author, happy author equals quicker updates. So review!

Disclaimer: Disclaimed –sulks-

"A house?" Harry repeated, "You bought me a house?"

James Potter nodded, "A gift for becoming one of the elite Aurors!"

Harry rolled his eyes, "But I already have a house of my own!"

"Yes dear," said Lily Potter, "But we thought you'd prefer a bigger one now…"

Gosh, another hint for me to get a girl…

"So…" Harry said defeatedly, "This house, have you seen it?"

"Well…we actually haven't…but it sounded good," said James.

"And it came really cheap for a four bedroom house," added Lily.

Harry was aghast, his parents had just bought him a house which they hadn't even seen. Who knows what condition it might be in!

"It comes with a house elf as well," said Lily, sensing Harry's feelings, "So it can't be a bad state…"

Twenty five year old Auror, Harry Potter, was on a two month holiday. Although this may seem like an obscenely large amount of time for a holiday, for one of the best Aurors of the Ministry, it was well deserved. He was hoping for some quiet, relaxing time but alas, this new house threw his plans in complete disarray.

"So, you'll be checking out this house tomorrow then?"

Harry sighed, Relaxing indeed, "Yeah, Dad."

The next morning, Harry apparated in front of his new home with a crack. It was quite far from the nearest town. The first thing that came to Harry's mind when he saw the house was: huge. The house was enormous. In front of the house was a well maintained garden, with a small marble fountain in the centre. At the back was a beautiful garden, blooming with flowers. It was hard to believe that it was unoccupied.

With this very thought, Harry went inside. Clean, not a speck of dust anywhere and ornately decorated…

"Harry Potter?"

Harry jumped at the high-pitched squeak and looked around, locating a house elf.

"Oh," Harry said, heart thumping, "hello…"

The house elf bowed, "I am Dobby, sir. I serve the owner of this house."

"Have you kept the house and garden so well, Dobby?"

"I have, sir."

Harry smiled, "You've done a fine job of it…"

"Dobby is glad Master likes it. Would Master want Dobby to show him around?"

"Yeah I'd like that…"

So Harry trooped off behind Dobby, through the drawing room, the kitchen, a library, three bedrooms, a spare room, and they came at last to the fourth bedroom.

"Dobby is extremely sorry," said the elf, "but Dobby is unable to open this door, sir"

Harry was puzzled, "Really? Let me see…"

Harry turned the knob, and thought he heard a snort. But looking around, he could see no one, only Dobby. But I don't think elves would snort at their masters…

Shrugging, Harry pulled out his wand, and tapped the knob. Nothing. He tried a few more complex spells. A bolt of blue shot out of his wand. And suddenly, everything went dark.

Harry's auror instincts immediately kicked in, and he backed up against the wall, wand at ready.

"You…" a voice rasped, "You dare to disturb the dead…you foul, evil creature!"

Harry tried to locate the source of the noise but it was resonating…

"- Disrespect towards those who have passed on-"

Harry shivered, it was so cold, where was the cold coming from?

"-Souls of the departed-"

"FINITE INCANTATEM!" Harry yelled, wildly waving his wand. Usually, he would have used non-verbal magic. But this was a different case…

Suddenly, the darkness receded and the cold vanished.

"Okay, reveal yourself!" Harry said, looking around.

Another snort, "This is a new one, this usually scared the shit out of the earlier ones…" The voice wasn't raspy anymore…just a cold drawl.

"A ghost?"

"Oh smart Potter. Very Smart"

Surprise barely registered on Harry's face when a tall silver figure walked straight out of the wall in front of him. Harry immediately noticed his smooth features, striking even as a ghost, and the arrogance on his face. Somewhere in a corner of Harry's mind, he felt that he had seen that person earlier…

He stalked over to Harry and fixed him with a hard gaze, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Harry Potter, right? The new owner of my house?"

Harry nodded curtly, "And you are?"

"Draco Malfoy, the original owner of this house."

"And pray tell me," Harry's voice was cold, "what was the meaning of the dramatics earlier?"

The ghost cocked his head to one side, smirk still in place, "I thought it was quite obvious. No? Ah well, I just wanted to let you know that you aren't welcome here."

Harry blinked, "I beg your pardon?"

"This house is mine and I have no intention of letting anyone else have it…"

Harry crossed his arms across his chest, "My parents bought it for me. It's under my name now."

The ghost shrugged, that annoying I'm-superior-to-you smirk intact, "That's what all the previous owners said, and trust me, they didn't last long."

"Didn't last long?"

"Oh…you'll see…"

"Although the idea of a new house wasn't appealing to me at first, I like this place and plan on keeping it." Harry said, his voice firm. He wasn't going to be intimidated by a ghost, hell no!

"But I don't plan on letting you keep it, Potter…" Draco said loftily

"We'll see about that, Malfoy." With that Harry turned and walked away.

Draco watched him go, amused. Finally, after four years of being dead, something interesting had happened.

Having reached the kitchen, Harry groaned. So much for a quiet vacation. First, he's forced to move into a new house. Second, the new house is haunted by a ghost. Third, the ghost is intent on kicking him out. And fourth, he himself had foolishly challenged the ghost.

Harry could kick himself for being so stupid. It was the perfect opportunity to refuse the house. He could've easily enjoyed the break he had earned. But no, he had to act like a complete arse. We'll see about that, Malfoy. Harry banged his head on the kitchen counter.

"Having second thoughts, Potter?"

"You wish!" Harry snapped before he could stop himself and then groaned inwardly. Stupid auror training…

"You're an auror, aren't you?" said Draco, his voice amused.

"Have you researched me thoroughly when you found out I was the new owner?"

"Oh no…you're the only one who acted in a proper way during my…er…entry upstairs. It was exactly the same thing I would've done."

"So, you were an auror as well?" Harry asked dully.

"One of the elite."

Harry looked at him, interested, "How old are…were you?"

The ghost grinned at him, "You asked the last question, its my turn now. Anyway, I don't see why you're so curious, you're gonna be out of this house in a few days."

"Oh you'd better get used to this. I'm here to stay…"

Draco shrugged and walked out of the kitchen.

"Why don't you just float through the walls?" Harry called after him.

"Its my turn to ask questions, Potter. I've told you already!"

Harry scowled. How infuriating. He then looked at Dobby…

"Dobby?"

With a crack, the house elf appeared in front of him.

"Make me a cup of tea please…"

"Gladly, sir."

Harry propped himself on the kitchen counter. This clearly wasn't what he had in mind. A challenge with a ghost. Of course he'd win, ghosts couldn't perform magic. Hang on, then what was that coldness upstairs. That was clearly magic.

Harry scratched his head.

"Dobby, does anyone else live in the house? Apart from Malfoy's ghost, that is…"

The elf shook his head, "No. Dobby doesn't know of anyone sir."

"How many people have lived here before me? I mean owned the house…"

"Three, sir!"

"And all three of them were driven out by Malfoy?"

Dobby nodded vigorously.

"But how?"

Dobby's eyes widened, "Scares them, sir."

Harry snorted, "Scary? He doesn't look scary at all…in fact-"

Harry paused.

He heard a chuckle, "In fact?" Draco poked his head into the kitchen again, "Go on…"

"In fact, he looks downright funny…"

Draco chuckled again and vanished from sight.

"So…so how does he scare people, Dobby?"

Dobby looked up at him, "Oh, he has-"

"You do it for him."

Dobby squeaked, "I- mean, no, I mean…how…" he squealed again and started hitting himself on the head, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"

"Dobby stop!" Harry cried out, "STOP!"

"Dobby," Draco's voice drawled, "Its alright. Go tend the gardens."

Dobby nodded, his eyes watering and disappeared.

"Ah," Draco said softly, "I've never had an auror here before. That too a one so adept at Legilimency."

Harry grinned smugly, "Always a first time, Malfoy."

"Which doesn't mean I'll let you live peacefully."

Harry's grin turned into a frown, "That is not fair. I've learnt your secret, you've got no chance of kicking me out now. But say, how do you control Dobby?"

Draco tapped his nose. A silver, slender finger on a silver, straight nose. "My turn to ask questions…how many times am I supposed to tell you that!"

Harry would've punched the man then and there had he not reminded himself he was a ghost. Taking a deep breath, he summoned Dobby.

"Dobby, whom do you serve?"

"The owner of this house, sir."

"Who is the owner of the house, Dobby?"

"Draco Malfoy, sir."

"Eh?" Harry blinked, "Then who am I?"

"Owner of this house, sir."

Harry scratched his head. Okay, elf laws are different from wizard ones…he must be making sense to himself but not me.

Draco made an impatient noise, "I am the original owner of this house. This house was built for me. The elf was commissioned for me. When I died, I didn't will this house nor the elf to anyone. So, he still has to serve me. But my parents sold this house, so the buyers also became the owners. And hence, the elf has to serve them as well. The elf can disobey me, actually. But he needs to have tremendous will power to do so. And you know how elves are…"

Harry tried to comprehend the new information, and opened his mouth to comment, only to find that he hadn't exactly understood anyway and ended up saying, "Wasn't it my turn to answer a question?"

Draco stared at him and then started laughing, "Goodness! You're an interesting one!"

Harry grinned sheepishly despite himself. Gosh, one moment we're arguing and the next we're laughing. What's happening?!

Harry took a deep breath, "Okay, listen up Malfoy. I'll give you ten days. You have to kick me out within ten days. If you succeed, I'll leave the house."

"And if I fail?"

"Then you will not bother me anymore. And let me keep this house."

"I want to add a condition. When I succeed, I don't want you to sell the house."

"What?"

"Do you accept?"

"Well, only if you answer why."

Draco sighed dramatically, "I've had it with people residing in my house."

Harry snorted, "We have a deal then."

Draco nodded, "Deal, Potter."

Yeah I know its hard to imagine Draco as a ghost…ah well…

So, what say?

Remember, more reviews, quicker updates!