A New Start (H/D, PG-13)

[sesheta66]

Title:   A New Start
Author:   sesheta_66
Rating:   PG-13
Characters:    Draco, Harry, brief appearance by Molly
Prompt:   100quills, 028 - Journey
Word Count:   1679
Summary:   After a long journey, Draco spends his first night at 12 Grimmauld Place reflecting on how he ended up there.
Warnings:   No beta.
Notes:   This is the fifth in a series of fics about the lives of the members of the Order of the Phoenix. Each one stands alone, however, so you don‘t have to read them all …but obviously I‘d be happy if you did.
Disclaimer:   HP world belongs to JK Rowling. No money made by me - I am only playing.

1 - Time Passes (Molly)
2 - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (Mad Eye, Harry)
3 - Gifts of Friendship (Harry)
4 - At What Cost (Snape)

Draco sat in his room, wondering how he had ended up here, in such a mess. He knew that he had done some stupid things -- okay, some really stupid things. But this? To be at the mercy of Potter, of all people, was the ultimate insult. Oh, how the mighty had fallen!

It was just over three months after Snape had dragged him away to Spinner's End. They had fled Hogwarts after Snape had killed Dumbledore, and gone to Snape's home. Urgh. He still shuddered at the thought of that place. He could not believe Snape lived there. Surely his professor's salary was better than that! As he looked around the room he was currently in, he replayed the last three weeks in his mind.

They had gone to Snape's house, where they spent two weeks before Snape had left Draco to return to the Dark Lord -- no, Voldemort -- to ensure his place in the inner circle. Upon his return, he had explained everything to Draco. How he had made an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa to protect him. How he also had an Unbreakable Vow with Dumbledore, made years earlier, which gave Dumbledore confidence in his unwavering loyalty. How he had agreed with Dumbledore that he would, if the need arose, be the one to kill him. In actual fact, he had put a dying wizard out of his misery, but nobody knew that. Nobody except Dumbledore and Snape, and then Draco.

They had gone over the events of the school year many times since they had left Hogwarts. Draco had alternately been lectured, yelled at, and ignored. In the end, however, Snape had reluctantly acknowledged that he couldn't say that he would have done things much differently, had he been in the same situation.

That admission hadn't absolved Draco of blame, nor did it mean that Snape agreed with his choices, but he at least understood why Draco had felt trapped. Potter, on the other hand, would never understand. How could he? He hadn't grown up surrounded by the Dark Arts, Death Eaters, and the ever-present knowledge that Voldemort could come back at any time. He may have witnessed a few atrocities in his lifetime, but he could never fully understand the depths Voldemort would go to when torturing his victims. Cruciatus was a walk in the park compared to some of his more inventive forms of punishment.

Draco had been a witness to a lot of torture in his life, but had not learned to fear it while Voldemort had been lying in wait. After all, his father was the highest ranking Death Eater, so what did he have to fear? Nothing, right? He was a pureblood, powerful in his own right, wealthy beyond most people's wildest dreams, and the only son of Lucius Malfoy. He was golden, untouchable.

It had never occurred to Draco that there might come a day when he was as vulnerable as the rest of the wizarding world. More vulnerable in some respects. How was he to know that even the powerful and loyal Lucius Malfoy would become nothing more than a pawn in Voldemort's game of world domination? Or that he, Lucius' son, would be considered expendable.

He reflected on the past, and realized that there had been signs -- many of them over the years -- but Draco had been blind to them, so desperate for his father's acceptance, approval, and love. He had wanted to make his father proud, but it had never really worked out that way.

For the longest time, he had blamed others for that. Granger for getting better marks than him, Dumbledore for favouring the Gryffindors, and not recognizing the superiority of purebloods, and Potter - always Potter - for, well ... everything else. He was Dumbledore's Golden Boy, he won at Quidditch, he got away with everything, he was the cause of much of Draco's embarrassment over the years, and he had even managed to land Draco's father in prison.

Of course, many of the things Draco had blamed others for were not their fault. He knew that now. But would anyone besides Snape believe him? He had seen the look of disgust on Potter's face when they had arrived. He knew that Granger hated him - she had even hit him before! And Weasley ... well, their families had hated each other as far back as Draco could remember.

In the end, it could all be traced back to Lucius and his ideas about purebloods. But Draco had played his role in perpetuating that, and he knew it. While he still held onto some of those pureblood ideals, he no longer viewed non-purebloods as less worthy of life. But he doubted that anyone would believe him if he told them about his change of heart. Especially not Potter.

Draco and the Golden Boy had loathed each other for so long, how could they ever get along? But here he was, in Potter's home, nowhere left for him to turn. The fact that he had willingly gone to stay in his enemy's home spoke volumes of just how alone in this world he truly was. The irony of his current living arrangements wasn't lost on Draco. Snape had brought him to Grimmauld Place -- the Black family home. His family's home. Yet, through some strange set of circumstances, it now belonged to Harry Potter. Perfect.

He was famished now, but he dared not leave the room. He was too weak from their journey, hiding from Death Eaters, Voldemort, Aurors, Order members, and any witch or wizard who wanted to take credit for capturing, or better yet killing, the two men responsible for the death of the Great Albus Dumbledore. Never mind that the old coot was dying, and Snape had just put him out of his misery.

He couldn't face the stares, the glares, the taunts that surely awaited him outside that door. Not in his current state. So here he sat, hoping that Snape would understand, take pity on him, and perhaps bring him a bite to eat.

A knock came on the door. "Draco?" It was a woman's voice. "We are about to have supper. Come down to the kitchen, and we'll fix you right up. You must be hungry after your long trip."

"No, thank you," he said, against his stomach's protest. "I don't feel much like eating right now."

"Well, okay dear. But you'll come down when you do, won't you?"

"Sure."

He listened to her footsteps make their way down the stairs, then he threw himself down on the bed. Perhaps sleep would engulf him, and keep his mind off eating, if only for a while.

He must have drifted off, because a banging on the door jolted him awake.

"Malfoy." Oh great. Just what I need. "Malfoy, can I come in?"

"Of course you can come in, Potter. It's your house, isn't it?" He got up off the bed and straightened his robes. "It's not like I could stop you, right?"

The door opened slowly, and there stood Harry Potter with a tray in his hand, and a confused but determined look on his face.

"First of all, I wouldn't just barge in. You are a guest, not a prisoner." He looked at him with a look Draco couldn't quite figure out. Sighing, he continued. "I figured you had to be starving, but the last thing you probably want to do is sit at a table with a bunch of people you don't particularly like, with them gawping at you. Am I right?" Draco just nodded. "I brought you some food. I didn't know what you'd like, so I just brought a bit of everything, some pumpkin juice and some tea."

Draco stared at the man before him, mouth hanging open in shock.

"If you think I'm going to feed it to you, forget it!" Potter said, and smiled at him. Did he just make a joke? With me? Draco closed his mouth, unable to prevent the corners from curling up just a hint at the humour.

"There are house elves to do such things you know, Potter."

"I know," he said. "Old habits, you know. Once a servant ..." At Draco's quizzical look, he continued. "Besides, I think Dobby is a little afraid of you."

"Why would your house elf be afraid of me?"

"He used to be your house elf."

Draco thought back to the year the Chamber had been opened. Oh, his father had been fit to be tied when he had come home that day, claiming that Potter had lost him the house elf. He smiled at the memory, which was actually quite amusing now. He looked up at Potter. "My father went right round the twist after that, you know. He was cursing you up and down for weeks!"

Harry smiled back at him somewhat sheepishly. "Well, you know ... I do what I can."

"Quite," Draco replied while rolling his eyes, not entirely sure what to make of the fact that the Great Harry Potter has just hand-delivered him supper. Even more perplexing was the fact that they were having a civil conversation.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Draco asked, "What did you mean by 'once a servant'?"

"Oh, nothing. Just that I was expected to do a lot at my aunt and uncle's home while I was growing up." Harry looked down at his feet uncomfortably. Before Draco had a chance to ask any more questions, he continued. "But never mind that. You need to eat, so I'll get out of your way." Draco nodded, sensing that Potter was done talking. Just as he was about to close the door, he called over his shoulder, "Oh, and Malfoy?"

"Hmm?"

"There are some towels in the bathroom and some extra robes in the cupboard. Do us all a favour and have a shower and change your clothes, yeah?

And then Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, the Chosen one, shut the door leaving behind a bewildered and bemused Draco Malfoy.

Comments

[lackofmendacity.livejournal.com]

Mmmm... I like the way this is going. Draco's pensive pondering was understandable, and I enjoyed how you captured his uncertainty and initial dislike for his situation. :) Harry bringing Draco food was a sweet gesture, and it seems to suggest a subtle offer for the two of them to be friends, so... *thumbs up*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[faynia.livejournal.com]

Poor confused Draco. He once again fails to understand that Harry is a naturally caring guy....and what are you doing up so late? ^^

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

He'll figure it out eventually.

As for me, I fell asleep on the couch had a nap, got back up & posted this before heading off to bed.

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yes, brilliant. But damn I want to know what happens next! :oD

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I wrote this one as part of "The Order" table for 100quills, so I'm not sure when I'll be updating this one ... as I have other characters to write & it's not meant to be all about H/D. But I may "borrow" it as a starting point for other work. Will add to my "to do" list. :o)

[graylor.livejournal.com]

Self-absorbed teenagers who see the world as a reflection of themselves can be so much fun to write, yes? Certainly *Draco* wouldn't have made such a conciliatory gesture (or he likes to think he wouldn't). This was great. So, um, what happens next? (*Makes puppy eyes*)

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Self-absorbed teenagers - Indeed :o)

I may use this story, and branch off (out of "The Order" arc) to do the next part. On my 'to do' list.

Thanks for reading & commenting.

[fkimbleeding.livejournal.com]

-Squeals.
Oh this was too cute, sequel soon I hope!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks ♥

This one is part of "The Order" table, which looks at all the characters (not just H/D) ... but I may extract from this and add some more H/D.

[fkimbleeding.livejournal.com]

Oh please do, I'd look forward to it.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks ♥ I do write a lot of H/D, by the way ... just not all in 100quills (not sure where you linked from).

[thrnbrooke.livejournal.com]

Sooo want more! I love this! I could not expect more from Harry!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks.