Surprises All Around

Chapter 2
/thought/

Albus Dumbledore was rather angry, no he was furious. Not that you could tell. No the grandfatherly twinkle was still in place, thus no one was the wiser. But that did not alter the fact that Harry was not where he was supposed to be. The wards he had placed around Privet Drive had registered the fact he had left of his own feel will, no magic involved, thus had only alerted Albus to the fact that Harry had not returned after twenty-four hours just recently. He had sent an order member, Tonks, to check out the situation, but the Dursleys did not even seem to notice he was missing. Tonks had reported that the Dursleys seemed to be rather elated that, quote, “the little freak” was gone. She had been quite angered at that statement and let’s just say that Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley Dursley will think twice before calling someone of the wizarding world a “freak” again. Tonks seemed to think that her actions were admirable, but Dumbledore really did not care what the Dursleys called Harry, it would keep him grounded and humble. And if they did their jobs properly Harry would hate being at his relatives so much that he would do just about anything to get away from them. At least that was Dumbledore’s plan. If Harry was so desperate for affection, he would latch on to whoever gave him it the most. That was where his friends came in…but he didn’t need to think about that now, no he needed to find Harry. What good was a malleable weapon if you couldn’t find it? None what so ever! Oh, why did that boy have to be so stubborn? Didn’t he realize that everything Dumbledore did was for his own, and the wizarding world’s, good?
**********hp**********
“Draco, darling, why aren’t you eating your duck? I thought that it was your favorite. I ordered the house elves to make it just for you.” Narcissa Malfoy asked, light concern in her voice for her only child.
Draco Malfoy, usually a stunning blonde, pale young man with piercing mercurial eyes, looked up at his mother through dull, distracted and glazed gray orbs that were outlined in dark circles making his pale features look sickly and tired. “I apologize mother. The duck is delicious, I’m simply not very hungry,” he replied with a downtrodden sigh.
“Now Draco, this is getting ridiculous. Look at you, you’re practically wasting away! I know you’re upset about this mate business, but honestly---”
“ ‘This mate business?!’” Draco shouted, standing up and knocking his chair over in the process. “You have no idea what I am going through mother! So don’t you dare try and belittle my need for my mate!” With that the enraged blonde threw his goblet at the wall, gaining some small satisfaction at hearing it shatter and watching the wine splatter and drip down the wall, and stormed out of the room.
“Narcissa! How many times must we go through this?” He had remained silent until now but Lucius Malfoy’s wife’s attitude was beginning to grate on his last nerve. “I am fully aware that as a human witch you do not understand the importance of having one’s mate, but I have described the agony to you in the past and I expected more concern from you for your son.”
“Lucius, honestly, don’t you think that this is a little much? I mean, the boy hardly eats or sleeps. All he has done since the end of July is mope around, stare out the window and sigh. You are a veela and I know for a fact that I am not your mate and yet you don’t moan and bitc---” but she didn’t get any farther than that because her husband had cast a mild pain curse at her and in a fashion similar to his son, stormed out of the room.
Lucius felt slightly guilty at having cursed his wife, but she should know better than to bring up his mate. She knew that wound would never close.
**********hp**********
Harry was lounging around his pool, yes his pool, it was still so cool, he owned a pool, a house – a castle really – had more money than he knew what to do with and it was all his. And he didn’t have to hide any of it from the Dursleys (not that you can really hide a house or a pool, at least not under the floor board). He would never be beaten again, or starved, and you know why, because he had his own house, and his own house elves to cook for him. And clean, let’s not forget about the cleaning, no more chores for Harry. He actually has some free time now, which is where the lounging around the pool comes in.
He was developing quite a nice tan, not to mention some more muscles. He already had a few to start out with, how could he not, he had played Quidditch for five years now and had done hours of manual labor for his Aunt Petunia. But now with his own pitch (yes! He has his own Quidditch pitch too! Ron is going to flip!) he can keep in shape and tone his body. And all his new clothes show it off to perfection.
Harry was going to head off to the pitch after a short swim it occurred to him, /Ron, I haven’t heard from him in a while. In fact I haven’t heard from Hermione either. I hope they’re both okay. I mean I sent Hedwig with a letter to each of them weeks ago. She came back without any thing, but that’s not unusual. I mean they both have lives. But it has been a long time…/

*** A.N. Like where it's going? Can you tell? Don't worry there will be some action soon, but I had to set up the plot, which really hasn't even begun to take off yet! :)