A Summer Interlude

A/N Hello everyone. Thank you for your patience on this update. I also enjoyed reading your reviews. Thanks! I actually wrote that first chapter many years ago and I’m only now getting back into the story. So, I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and make no money by the writing of this fiction.

Merlin… It’s Potter


Remus and Arthur had spent the whole day searching Godrick’s Hallow for any sign that Harry had been there. They even went to James and Lily’s old house, certain that Harry would have wanted to visit. The house had been left to the elements, old and uncared for, and the dust showed no recent disturbance.

The two wizards walked into every room, relying on Remus’ keen sense of smell to ascertain whether or not Harry had been there. They now stood in Harry’s old room, his rusty crib still against the wall.

“Anything?” asked Arthur.

Remus shook his head. “No,” he sighed heavily, moving a hand through his hair. “This doesn’t bode well, Arthur. Why wouldn’t he want to see this place?”

“So far, we know he got off the Night Bus on Gordon Lane and the driver says he didn’t see anything unusual happen when Harry stepped off,” Arthur recounted, trying not to assume the worst, though a growing pit of anxiety was beginning to gnaw at him from the inside. “If you were Harry, where else would you go?”

“Harry and Dumbledore kept many secrets together, Arthur,” Remus replied, casting a weary glance around. “Ron and Hermione might know more than they’ve told us, out of loyalty to Harry. Harry could be looking for those Horcruxes he mentioned in the letter. I can’t seem to pick up his scent anywhere in this village. Whatever he did, he didn’t stay long. Do you suppose he was… followed?”

“Don’t… just… don’t entertain that thought, Remus.” Arthur shut his eyes a moment, tying to will away his worry. He shook his head abruptly. “No, I think there is good chance Harry is trying to fulfill this mission Dumbledore gave him and he can’t respond to our owls because he doesn’t want to give himself away to the enemy or put us in danger.”

“But that’s foolish. Harry knows we’d help him in any way possible. Why does he insist on doing it alone?”

Arthur looked at the spot on the floor where Lily had been slain to save her son’s life. “He can’t stand to see the people he loves get hurt.”

~~~~~~~

Draco had shut off the lights in his small flat so that he could peek through the draperies unnoticed. That man lying on the bench, who was he? It was driving him mad not knowing if that man was sent to find him or not. Surely he had an agenda, lying there every night this past week.

A sharp knock on the door startled Draco and he gasped, shutting the drapery tight. He sat in the dark, undecided whether to answer or not.

“Danny?” a voice called out. “Danny, are you there?”

Draco sighed in relief. It was only one of his neighbors. He lived next door to two very flirtatious muggle birds who insisted on prying into his life whenever possible. Though he had tried to remain invisible to everyone outside his door, they had caught him one morning as he was unlocking his door after fetching some breakfast at a corner coffee shop. Ever since, they had made a point of trying to ‘get to know him’. Of course, he had to lie about his name and everything else about him.

Draco flicked on a dim lamp and grabbed his black wig, smoothing it down quickly. “Um… yeah… I’ll be there in a moment.”

He could have ignored her, it would have been simple to pretend he wasn’t home. But truth was, she and her mate were the only people around that he conversed with and he was rather lonely most of the time. A part of him hated that he had to resort to befriending Muggles for a bit of company. But no one would ever have to find out anyway, right?

He opened the door, observing that both smiling blondes were standing before him, holding a box of something that smelt very delicious.

“Hello, ladies.”

“Good evening, Danny,” smiled Rachel. “We thought you might like to dine with us tonight. We’ve got way too much food for just the two of us.”

Draco’s mouth watered at the delicious smell of the food. He had been too paranoid to step out onto the street with that spy on the bench, possibly waiting for him. The leftovers in his refrigerator did not come close to appealing.

“Please, you must say yes,” Sandy coaxed. “We even have dessert.”

“I would enjoy that very much,” Draco replied. “Thank you.”

“Excellent,” Rachel chirped. “Come on, then.” The young women walked away toward their flat as Draco scrambled to get his keys and lock the door to his meager dwelling.

As he following them into their flat, he immediately stopped in his tracks, staring at the wide open draperies ahead. Their window also faced the park - and the spy.

Sandy looked at his worried expression. “Danny? You all right?”

Draco glanced at her and back at the window. “Would you mind terribly if I requested the draperies closed?”

Rachel and Sandy grinned at one another. Danny had such refined manners and they always wondered what noble upbringing had shaped such a bloke. Listening to him speak was always entertaining for them. They knew he must have fallen from the lap of luxury as he was completely useless around the house. He didn’t know the first thing about cooking, cleaning, or washing his own laundry. They had found themselves instructing him on the most basic of matters.

But when it came to answering questions about his past, he would clam up tight or mumble about having to start a new life. It was no matter, however, as they enjoyed his naiveté about their common lifestyle and he was quite adorable.

Not that they entertained anymore thoughts of seducing him, however, as he had made it clear to them the first few days of their acquaintance that he was gay. Instead, they began to wonder who they might set Danny up with as he seemed to spend far too much time alone.

“Not at all,” Sandy replied, striding across the room to shut the draperies.

Rachel laughed as she set the table. “Hiding from someone? Old lover stalking you?”

Sandy spun around. “Oh, do tell!”

Draco relaxed now that their privacy was assured and shook his head. “No, nothing like that.” He walked into the room fully and paced a bit before heading to the drapery to peek.

Sandy nudged up next to him, trying to pry the drapery open further to see what was out there.

“No, not so wide,” hissed Draco. “He’ll see.”

“Who will see?”

“Him… on the bench.”

“Who on the bench? Who is he?”

“I’m not sure, but I think he might be trying to find me.”

Sandy smiled close to his face. “Oh, so it is a stalker.”

Draco frowned. “Not the kind you’re thinking of.”

“Come on and eat, you two,” Rachel called from the table.

Draco and Sandy made their way to the table and sat as well. Both girls looked worried as they observed his nervousness.

“Danny, are you in some sort of trouble? Is that fellow looking to hurt you?” Sandy began.

Draco tried to think of an answer. It really felt good to talk about his concerns, but how could he do so without revealing too much? This situation sucked in so many ways.

“I really don’t know,” he finally replied. “I noticed him sleeping in that same spot almost every night. I just thought… maybe… he was sent by my father.” There. That would be a good enough answer, wouldn’t it? He could make up something about his father searching for him.

Sandy and Rachel perked up. Finally Danny was opening to them.

“Did you run off from home?” Rachel asked.

“Yes, I suppose I did. I… couldn’t take it there anymore. He could be very… cruel.”

Sympathy filled their faces as they listened to him. “Oh, you poor dear,” Rachel crooned. “Was it because you’re gay? Did he have a hard time with that?”

Draco didn’t want to meet her eyes, lest the lie be in his. He scooped food from the containers onto his plate, keeping his eyes busy with his task. This wasn’t too hard, however, as the two girls seemed to be filling in the story for him quite nicely. “Yes, he was quite disappointed in me. And he wants to force me to marry a woman in order to produce an heir.”

“Oh, Danny, I’m so sorry,” gasped Sandy, petting his forearm. “No one should be forced to marry. Doesn’t he care about your happiness?”

Draco let out a sarcastic laugh. “Apparently not.”

The girls grew somber as they ate. Draco glanced up at them occasionally.

“Now I understand why you like to stay home a lot,” Sandy pondered. “You have been hiding all this time?”

“Yes,” Draco replied, taking another bite. “And I would appreciate it, if the occasion presents itself in which you may be confronted by someone, if you would not answer any questions about me or my whereabouts.”

Both women shook their heads. “Oh, no, Danny, we would never.”

“Is there anything else we can do to help?” Rachel asked.

Sandy jumped to her feet, startling them both. “Yes! I can get that spy off your tail.” She began pacing the floor. “We’ll think of a plan…”

“Actually, I’d just like to know if he’s someone I’d recognize. But I’d have to get closer to him to find out and I don’t see how…”

“A picture,” Rachel interrupted. “We can take a picture of him and bring it to you.”

“But won’t he see you taking his photo?” Draco asked. In his world, cameras made huge flashes of light and loud noises.

Sandy ran to a cupboard, taking a soft case down. “No, silly, it’s completely silent and secret.” She pulled out a hand held video camera. “And I won’t have to use the light because the spy is already lying under that lamp out there.”

“What is that?” Draco asked, standing and moving next to her as she pushed buttons and opened little plastic doors on the contraption.

Sandy laughed. “Oh, you are funny.” How could he have not seen a video camera before? “Battery is charged. I’m set to go.”

Draco grabbed her arm. “Wait! You’re going now? Just like that? He might hurt you.”

“I’m not going straight up to him. I’m going to hide a dark area and film him. I’ll just zoom in on his face from where I’m at.”

“Zoom in?” Draco asked. This was sounding a bit like Quidditch.

Sandy reached up and patted his cheek. “Relax, Danny. Don’t you want to find out if you know him? You can find out tonight.”

“All right,” he conceded. He really did want to know. “But be careful.”

“I will, love,” she smiled, slipping out the front door.

Draco and Rachel both moved to the window, peeking out of the drapery. They watched Sandy appear on the street below. She walked off in the opposite direction before crossing the street and ducking into an area of the park that was not lit by a lamp.

“I hope there are no thugs in there,” Rachel worried, biting her lip.

“I don’t see her any more,” Draco commented.

“She’s probably filming him now.”

The minutes went by and Sandy had not stepped into view yet. Draco could sense Rachel becoming more and more worried. He did notice that the spy had not moved from his spot. He seemed to have fallen asleep, perhaps.

When the shadows moved and Sandy stepped into view, they both sighed in relief.

“You all right?” Rachel asked, as Sandy stepped through the door.

“Yeah, of course, “ Sandy replied. “I got a good close up of him. But I must add, if he is a spy, he’s in disguise as a homeless man. He was filthy.”

Sandy plugged the video camera into the television as everyone took a seat.

The film flickered on and Draco saw the man on the bench from a distance. Then the view became closer and closer and….

“Merlin…” Draco groaned. No fucking way! Harry fucking Potter. They sent Potter after him? Didn’t Potter have better things to do? Like save the fucking world?

Sandy and Rachel watched Danny carefully. “So you do know him?

Draco leaned forward, putting his face in his hands. “Yes, I know the wanker.”

“Then he works for your father?”

Draco stood, looking harried. “Look, I really can’t talk about this right now. I just need to be… alone. Thank you for the meal and for filming this for me.” He strode to the front door as Sandy and Rachel followed.

“All right, Danny. Let us know if there’s anything we can do,” Sandy added.

~~~~~~~~~~

Harry woke early the next morning as a bobby shoved at his leg with a boot. “Get up and get out of here,” he growled. “People don’t want to see your filth on their morning jog.”

Harry hated this time of day in the park. Morning meant he had to hide from the common folks, who would look at him in disgust and distrust. He usually found himself heading back to the abandoned house where Mac waited for him.

“Fine, I’m leaving,” he told the officer. He pushed up off the bench.

“You dropped your letter,” the bobby sneered, pointing to the ground with his baton.

“What?” Harry looked on the ground. A folded piece of paper lay there. Harry knew it couldn’t possibly be for him, but picked it up anyway so he wouldn’t be harassed for littering. He walked toward a trash bin and was about to toss it in when he noticed the writing on the top.

It simply said:

POTTER

Harry’s hand began to shake. He stiffened and turned in all directions, his breath coming out in short puffs. Who? Who knew he was here?

“Get out I said,” yelled the bobby.

Harry gave him one crazed look and took off running. Wait, he couldn’t go to the house. What if they were following him? The owls? Was it one of the owls that found him? What… what… what…? His mind was jumbled with possibilities and he ran until he could hardly breath anymore, finally coming to rest at the harbor behind an old warehouse.

He leaned against the building, hands on his knees, as he tried to catch his breath. He was found! Damn it all. He would have to leave now. Leave Mac, leave everything he had become use to and start again somewhere else.

The note… it was still in his hand. Harry slid down the wall, coming to rest on the cold concrete as he stared at his name on the paper. He swallowed as his breath slowed and decided he was going to have to read it, going to have to find out who had found him.

He unfolded the paper and read:

“Potter, you fuck. So you want to find me, do you, you pathetic piece of filth? What could you possibly want from me? Believe me, I am the least of your worries and you have far mightier enemies to contend with. I didn’t kill your precious Dumbledore, as you well know. And if you think I have some secrets to tell you, you’d be very disappointed. The Dark Lord hates me, almost as much as he hates you, and would not make me privy to his plans. So fuck off, Potter, and spend your time doing something more useful.”

Malfoy?

Malfoy was here in London. And he thought Harry was looking for… him?

Harry would have laughed at the irony of it all if he still wasn’t bothered so much that he had been recognized. What would Malfoy be doing in Muggle London? He already knew Malfoy didn’t kill Dumbledore. Snape did. Harry had seen it happen. And what did Malfoy mean that the Voldemort hated him too? Wasn’t he a Death Eater now?

Draco Malfoy was somewhere in London. And he knew Harry slept on that bench. Yet, he didn’t try to kill him or bring him to Voldemort. He would have scored major points with his Dark Lord for bringing Harry in, possibly be forgiven for not killing Dumbledore. It would have been so simple since Harry was unarmed.

What the hell was going on?

All he wanted from Harry was to fuck off and leave him alone. Really?

Something strange was going on with Malfoy, and Harry intended to find out what it was.

~~~~~~~~~

A/N Sorry about the Sandy and Danny thing. It didn’t strike me until later that it sounded like Grease. Ha Ha

Well, please review this chapter and let me know your thoughts. Thanks for reading.