Harry's Problem

Disclaimer:These characters are not mine, but the plot is. The names of all characters contained here-in, are the property of J.K. Rowling, the WB, Bloomburg books and etc. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are being used here without permission. No profit was made and no harm was done.


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Part I: The Meeting

Harry misses his friends at Hogwarts more then anything. The past few months have been horrible. Dudley is being meaner then usual. Not only has he been making fun of Harry, but he is beating him too. They all know he cannot use magic outside of Hogwarts. Generally they give him a hard time.
It is going on Harry’s last year at his favorite school. His seventh and hopefully pleasant year. He is really looking forward to the first of September. Harry wants to see his friends Ron, Hermione, Hagrid and other students at Hogwarts more then anything.
There is one student he is really looking forward to seeing, although they are both in different houses and don’t always get along. Harry still wants to see him so badly. It is his archenemy, Draco Malfoy. Harry has had a secret crush on Malfoy since second year. Although Malfoy is always mean and cruel, Harry thinks he is good looking, and deep down is probably a great guy. Harry likes Malfoy because he is the only one who treats him like a person.
Harry has some how kept his secret from everyone he knows. It has been hard the past six years, especially considering how smart Hermione is. She is always getting good grades and outwitting her classmates. That is one reason Draco doesn’t like her. His Father would beat him if his grades slipped. Malfoy’s father finally accepted that he could do no better then Hermione. She is also a Mud-blood and Malfoy’s don’t socialize with Mud-bloods or Half bloods.

* * *

Harry is sitting at his desk doing homework when he hears a knock at his bedroom window. He opens it and in flies Hedwig, landing on the desk next to his work. She holds her claw out and waits for Harry to take the letter. Harry unties it from her leg and begins to read.

Harry,
How have you been? Everyone is doing well. The Ministry of Magic is still
looking for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. They haven’t had any luck so far. I hope
that you are doing well. I’m so terribly sorry about Sirius. You must be alone right
now. I truly wish I could help.
Love,
Hermione

He reads and re-reads the letter a dozen times before putting it down and pulling out some parchment and a quill. He then writes to Hermione.

Hermione,
Thank you for your concern my friend but I’m fine, really. I’m sure
Dumbledore and the rest of the Ministry will find Voldermort. My problem is not in
grief for my godfather, but of some other nature. I’m truly surprised you of all people
have yet to figure it out. This problem is something I am going to have to deal with on
my own. I must go. Tell Ron I said Hello.


Love,
Harry

Harry re-reads the letter and is proud of what he has just written. He rolls it up and wraps it around Hedwig’s leg. Once done she flies off into the night.
He then decides to put down his homework. It is time he try sleeping again. Soon after laying down he is fast asleep.

* * *
Draco hasn’t been able to sleep for months. Ever since his so called Father had been arrested. Draco isn’t pissed that his father is in Azkaban; it is actually quite the opposite. He is glad his father is gone. Lucius has always treated his son poorly. He was always beating and yelling at Draco.
Malfoy has wished his father would just leave him alone for a long time and now he has gotten that wish. And it is all thanks to Potter. Draco begins to wonder what Potter is doing at that moment. He falls asleep and dreams he is with Harry enjoying their time together. Draco wakes up hours later and realizes his dream is just that, a dream, and falls back to sleep.
The next day around noon an owl shows up and flies into the dining room where Draco is sitting. He has no idea whose owl it is, but it lands onto the table next to his food. Draco takes the letter from the owl and began to read it.

Draco,

I know you must be surprised to be getting a letter from me, but here it is. I just
received a disturbing letter from Harry. I was wondering if maybe you knew what
he is talking about? Harry said, “My problem is not in grief of my godfather,
but of some other nature.” He says, “ This problem is something I am going to have to
deal with on my own.” I don’t think he can. And I cannot help without knowing the
problem. Do you have any idea what Harry’s problem might be? If so please let me
know?

Sincerely,
Hermione

Draco stares at the letter for a while in complete surprise. He has no idea what to say or do. After about twenty minutes he is no longer hungry and decides to go up to his room.
He throws the letter onto desk and starts pacing. He thinks and thinks, stops then thinks some more. He decides he is going to go see what is wrong with Potter. He sits down at his desk and writes Granger a letter.

Granger,

No I have no idea what Potter’s problem is. Why would I care? He is nothing
to me. I don’t know why you would ask me of all people. His problem has nothing
to do with me, so why does it matter. You know what? I’m going to go see Potter
and prove that his problems have nothing to do with me. See you at school
Granger.

Draco Malfoy

Draco finds his owl and sends the letter on its way. He goes back upstairs and grabs his broom and is off.

* * *

When Hermione receives Draco’s letter, she smiles at what he has written. She now knows that Harry and Draco both have feelings for each other. Yet neither one knows it. She has a feeling Harry’s problem is about to go away.

* * *

A couple of hours later Harry is in the kitchen doing the dishes when the doorbell rings. “ Hey Boy get that will you,” yells Uncle Vernon.
Harry dries his hands off and goes to the door. Wondering in Merlin’s name who it could possibly be at this time of day?
Harry opens the door to find a very pissed off looking Draco. He has no idea what to do, say, or think. “ Well you going to invite me in or let me stand out here in the heat while you stare at me, huh?” smirks Malfoy.
Harry steps aside in surprise as Malfoy walks in. “ Who is it boy?” Asks Uncle Vernon walking into the hall.
Draco and Uncle Vernon give each other death glares as Harry introduces the two. Uncle Vernon stands in his spot and waits for Draco to move. Harry speaks up and says, “ Um. Uncle Vernon? Draco and I are going to go up to my room.” The two head upstairs.
“ Well it’s not Malfoy Manor, but its home. Now Malfoy what are you doing here?” Harry says turning around to face Draco.
“ Granger sent me a letter saying you have a problem. I came to see what it is.” Draco responds.
“ I don’t have a problem. And if I did why would I tell you Malfoy?” replies Harry.
“ Oh come on Potter you cannot be a hero all the time.” says Draco.
And as Harry is about to yell back a response his uncle calls him.
“ Coming Uncle Vernon.” Harry yells back.
“ I’ll be right back.” Harry leaves the room and goes downstairs.
Draco looks around Harry’s room taking in his poor excuse for a home. A couple of minutes later Draco realizes Harry is taking a long time. He decides he is going to go downstairs and snoop. And he does not like what he hears or sees when he gets there. He decides right then and there that he is going to do something about it. No one is going to yell or beat his Harry Potter.
Draco marches into the Family room and holds his wand to Dudley’s head with ease and Dudley stops beating on Harry. “ You can’t use your wand outside of that school of yours,” says Uncle Vernon with a smirk.
“ As a matter of fact I can. My father put a spell on it so no one from the Ministry will know I use my wand.” replies Draco with a smirk worse then Vernon’s.
All Vernon can say is, “ but. . . but . . . but . . .”
“ Now let my friend Harry go or it’s your arse.” Draco has his teeth clinched.
Dudley lets go of Harry and Draco has barely enough time to catch him as he falls to the floor. Harry is bleeding from the head and nearly unconscious.
“ Harry are you ok? Come on stay up don’t close your eyes ok?” says Draco. He is worried but his eyes never leave the Dursley’s. Harry opens his eyes and looks into Draco’s eyes. There is concern in them, but it is gone just as fast as it appears.
“ Yeah I’ll be fine. Let’s get out of here please?” replies Harry standing up and having some trouble.
“ Ok you go get your stuff from upstairs and I’ll keep my eyes and wand on them.” says Draco.
Harry runs upstairs as fast as he can and comes back down minutes later, stuff in tow, his and Draco’s brooms in hand. “ Can we go now?” asks Harry handing Draco his broom.
Draco, still not taking his eyes off the three cowering in front of him says, ” Yeah lets get out of this ugly place.” Then they are gone.

* * *

Draco and Harry leave the Dursley’s and start walking and keep walking until both are very tired and have to stop to sit and rest. Neither one saying a word. Dark had fallen and Draco spoke up saying, “ Um, where are we going, because we cannot go to Malfoy Manor. My father would have a fit if he ever found out and Voldemort might show up. That would be such a bad thing to happen. ”
“ Yeah well I don’t care either way cause I’m not scared of Voldemort., ” remarks Harry.
“ What do you mean not scared, he’s Voldemort for crying out loud. He is the most feared wizard in all the wizarding world. How can you not be scared? ” yells Draco.
“ Malfoy have you already forgotten what I have to live with? Look at my so-called family and then look at Voldemort. I’m sorry but nothing is worse than living with the Dursley’s. ‘Not even a highly feared wizard in all the wizarding world.’” replies Harry.
“ Ok fine, but why did you let them do that. I would have done something to scare them. I mean anything. I would have used my wand or something. ” Draco says.
“ Its not that easy Malfoy. I’m not you. I cannot blast them away. I value going to Hogwarts. It’s my true home. My friends are my family. I don’t know what I would do if I got expelled. “ Harry says, looking around and tries to figure out where they are going to go.
“ Ok I repeat my question from earlier. Where are we going? “ asks Draco.
“ Um lets go to the Leaky Cauldron. ”
“ Ok how are we going to get there? “
Then Harry without saying a word takes out his wand and lifts it up in the air. He tells Draco to stand back. Draco gives him a dirty look and asks why. All of a sudden out of nowhere The Knight Bus appears, nearly running both of them over and knocking Draco to the ground.
“ I told you to step back Malfoy and you didn’t listen. “ Draco just looks up at Harry and gives him the dirtiest look Harry has ever seen.
“ Oh hello Harry, its only you. “ says Stan. “ Whom might this be with
you? “
“ Hello Stan this is Draco Malfoy. Can you take us to the Leaky Cauldron please? “ asks Harry.
“ Uh sure twenty two sickles.” Stan looks at both boys with suspicion. Each boy giving him eleven sickles. “ Get on while I get your things. “
Both did as they were told and Draco stops suddenly. “ What the Hell is this? “
“ Well it’s a bus Malfoy. What do you expect?” sarcasm evident in Harry’s voice.
“ What’s with the beds? “
“ Its so some people on the bus with long trips can sleep at night but our trip won’t take long at all. ” Harry responds rolling his eyes.
“ Um ok and how do you know this? “ asks Draco.
“ I’ve been on this bus twice already. “ Harry looks at Draco.
“ Oh ok. “ Draco just gives Harry a whatever look.
Once everyone is settled the bus is off. It swerves in and out of traffic stopping occasionally to let someone off or on. Finally after what feels like an hour it comes to a halt in front of the Leaky Cauldron. The two boys walk off the bus a little shaken from all the swerving, as Stan positions their things next to them. Then the bus is gone just like that.
“ What are we going to do here? “ Draco asks looking the place over and not liking it one bit.
“ Well we can stay here till school starts. “ Harry shoots back.
“ What about our letters? “ Draco is confused.
“ They get sent to where ever we are. “ Harry answers Draco’s question.
“ Um ok. “ Draco says. “ Do you have any money, cause I am not paying for you? “
“ Yeah I do actually, but not on me. We need to go to Gringotts first thing in the morning. I can get enough to pay you back and to go shopping for better clothes. Until then Draco you are going to have to pay for me. “ Harry gives Draco a hopeful look. “ Will you please do it Malfoy? “ Draco rolls his eye’s, gives Harry a sarcastic look and says ok.
They go inside carrying Harry’s trunk between them, Hedwig’s cage on top and their brooms in hand. Tom the bartender sees them at once and hurries over, asking with a smile on his face, “ Harry long time no see. What could you possibly be doing here at this time of night? Last time I seen you alone, you had run away from your Family and had done something wrong. “
“ Well Tom I did run away and no I didn’t do anything wrong. They probably would have killed me. And I’m not alone. This is Draco Malfoy a friend from school. He helped me get away. “ He motions to Draco and he gives Tom a weak smile.
“ Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter are in the same room? I never thought I’d see you two not arguing about something. Friends as well, WOW that’s a first! “ Tom is surprised. “ Will you need one or two rooms tonight? “
Both boys yell, “ Two! “ And Tom laughs. He takes money from Draco for the entire month and a half they would be staying at the Leaky Cauldron. He helps the boys to their separate rooms, still laughing.
“ Harry you do know I have to let the Ministry know that you’re not with your guardian’s. “ Tom looks at Harry with a sorry in his eyes.
“ No Tom don’t do that! They’ll just send me back. I’ll be 18 in two weeks. It doesn’t really matter and I can owl Dumbledore to let him know. Ok? “ Harry gives Tom a pleading look. Draco rolls his eyes.
They finally get to their separate rooms. Tom leaves as soon as he is sure they are settled. Then both boys say good night to each other and go to their rooms. Harry immediately starts writing Dumbledore,

Professor Dumbledore,
I’m fine and so is Draco. You can let his mother know as well. If you want
to know why Draco and I are talking and at the Leaky Cauldron? It’s quite a long
story.
Well Here goes. Hermione sent me a letter to check on me. I told her I had a
problem, but she couldn’t help me with it. I guess she sent a letter to Draco, asking if
he knew what the problem was? Draco obviously didn’t know and came to see me at the Dursley’s. The next thing I know he is at the door. The Dursley’s freaked out and set
Dudley on me to beat on me. Draco came to my rescue and I got my stuff and we left. We traveled the Knight Bus and came to the Leaky Cauldron. We are going to stay
here until school starts. I’m sure Draco would appreciate it if his mother sent his
things. We will both be fine. Tell everyone I said Hello?

Harry Potter

* * *

Many miles away late into the night after both young men have gone to bed, Dumbledore is pondering what Hermione believes is going on between Harry and Draco. The feelings they have for each other that neither of them knows the other has. Dumbledore already knows what Hermione believes for he believes the same thing. Dumbledore is pondering how to get the two to realize that the other does indeed have feelings for him.
That’s when Dumbledore receives Harry’s letter. He reads it a couple times threw and smiles, for there was on thing he surely will not have to do. That is get them close together and on speaking terms to boot.
Then Dumbledore has an idea,

Mr. Potter,
I’m so glad to hear Mr. Malfoy and you are well and together. That’s
wonderful news. Everyone will be pleased as well to hear that you are a
couple. They as well as I have seen the feelings that you two possess for each
other. I will certainly have Narcissa Malfoy send Mr. Malfoy his school things. I
must end this letter. Have fun you two. I will see the both of you at Hogwarts.

Professor Dumbledore

Dumbledore finishes the letter with a twinkle in his eyes. Then sends the letter on its way pretty proud of himself.

* * *

Harry receives the letter from Dumbledore in the morning the second he had awoken and is astounded to read that his mentor thinks Draco and himself are together. Harry reads on and really starts thinking, for he has come across something else Dumbledore has written, ‘They as well as I have seen the feelings you two possess for each other.’ Harry reads the sentence a bunch of times. Harry suddenly thinks, what if it’s true? What if Draco does like me? What is Dumbledore trying to tell me? Does Draco know that I like him? What is going on? I’m even more confused then I was before.
Draco knocks on Harry’s door and gets no answer. He knocked again and still no answer. He just barges on in. Harry is sitting on his bed with a letter in hand. He hasn’t even noticed Draco knock or even enter the room. Draco calls Harry’s name and Harry, sitting there with a blank stare, does not respond. Draco looks at Harry then at the letter, then back at Harry. Screw it I’m going to read the letter or at least take it out of his hands to see if I can get a reaction out of him. He does and Harry does not move one muscle. He sits there looking at himself in the mirror that is across the room.
Draco begins to read the letter. He looks at it and starts to yell, “ What the hell is this? Dumbledore is completely mad to think such a thing. “ Harry breaks out of his trance and looks up at Draco. “ I mean why would I be gay? Even if I was, why would I like Harry Potter of all people? “ Draco looks at Harry and starts to laugh, but soon his laughing stops. For he really looks at Harry again and sees the very serious look in his eyes and is speechless. Draco has realized that Harry does indeed have feelings for him.
The men look into one another’s eyes. Draco is very surprised at first, but he realizes that he himself has the same feelings for Harry. Both young men have no idea what to do. They have liked each other for so long and had not known that. Plus both have never been with another guy. They are scared and also speechless. All they can do is stare.

* * *

Draco is the first one to say anything, “ This cannot be. How can you possibly like me? I’m mean. I treat you like shit. I don’t believe it. “
Harry looks at Draco with disbelief, ” What do you mean you don’t believe it? Is it that hard to believe? You are the only one who treats me like a person and not some hero. “
Draco doesn’t know what entirely to say to that, but he comes up with something, “ I treat you like a person, like it matters. “
Harry is getting pissed off by the second. “ It does matter Draco because you are the only one who does. It matters because I like you and you obviously like me. The problem now is what we are going to do about it. “
Draco has nothing else to say and leaves the room. For the rest of the day they did things separately. Harry is pissed because Draco is so blind. Draco is confused because he still cannot see why Harry likes him. He decides he is going to write his godfather Severus Snape,

Godfather,
I know it’s been awhile since you’ve heard from me. I was wondering if you
can give me some advice? I recently found out that someone likes me, but its
a guy. I like him too. My problem is I’m confused. I don’t know how he could
possibly like me. I’ve treated him like crap ever since our first year at Hogwarts.
He says I’m the only one who treats him as a person and not some hero. What
should I do godfather?
Your Godson,
Draco Malfoy

Draco sends the letter to his godfather and sits in his room waiting for an answer. He even tries coming up with answers to his own questions, but comes up with nothing. He tries doing homework to maybe get it off of his mind. That doesn’t work so he sits there. He gets tired of waiting, going to lie down on the bed. He falls asleep almost immediately.