12 Grim Old Place

Chapter 6
Date Started: 03-02-07
Pairing: More Aberforth and Minerva here... buwahaha... They are cute in an old people kind of way? Hee... More Remus flirting with Severus. Future DM/HP but definately not in this chapter.
Disclaimer: Yep. Don't own them. Wish I did...but nope. The idea wasn't even mine. It was Yami Bakura's. I had thought of something like this... but my idea was a lot stickier so I knew deep down I'd never write it. XD http://hp.adult-fanfiction.org/authors.php?no=1296771786

A/N - I find it vastly amazing... that the music I listen to while writing... at least the first five chapters... has been as follows.
Atomic Kitten - The Tide is High
Everlife - I Could Get Used To This
Aly & Aj - Chemicals React
With the optional
Avril Lavigne - Keep Holding On
Matchbox 20 - Unwell
Lifehouse - You and Me
+ newly added Jessica Andrews - Unbreakable Heart

Now that I'm done with my randomness...

***

The smell of dust was distinctly strong. As if this place had little to no occupancy within twenty or so years. The floors were obviously wooden when the sound of sock clad or shoed feet stepped across the surface. If pale hands were so inclined they would have found the fabric below them to be textured, likely a horrid and bland colored flower pattern. The flowers much to large and the stems unnaturally curved. Should soft gray eyes open they might find a medium gray ceiling or perhaps the hideous excuse for a ceiling fan. Should a thin body roll over, it would easily be met with a high cushion of those same ugly flowers or to the other direction be met with a short fall with a landing on legs that weren't capable of supporting the weight, thus leading to a very painful meet with slightly dusty hardwood floors.

This certainly wasn't the lap of luxury and anyone that hoped to find such here was greatly mistaken. No such things were here. Even the house elf was missing.

Draco's eyes open and he jerked himself up, finding his head soon to meet something very hard that seemed to give with the motion only slightly. He closed his eyes instantly closed, a soft sound of discomfort escaping his throat as the dull thud sounded, suggesting that whatever he'd hit had been knocked over.

"Ow...Malfoy... What's wrong with you?"

His eyes jerked open again, widening slightly as he turned his head to find a fallen Harry, sitting somewhat awkwardly on the floor. He frowned, quite unsure as to what he should do in the situation but he wasn't really given much of a chance to do anything or even speak.

"Butting heads already?" A soft, elderly voice spoke from the edge of the room.

Both boys looked to the side but Draco let out a whimper and looked like he'd seen a ghost. "D...Du...Dumbledore!" He raised his arm shakily, pointing at the tall man white gray hair.

Harry sat himself up and crossed his legs while the man strode into the room with far too much grace for a man of his age.

"Why, yes. I am. Who might you be?"

Draco blanched.

Harry watched curiously before looking up when the man extended a hand and stood to his full height.

Minerva entered the room and made an unamused sound. "Aberforth... what are you doing here? Don't you have something to do?"

The man turned, blue eyes twinkling. "Ah, Minerva. I wanted to come see this boy that the Order has been speaking of. He's the one that failed to kill Albus, then?"

Draco looked like he deflated and suddenly flushed.

Minerva adjusted her robes. "He wouldn't kill Albus. We have a very good witness that says otherwise. A witness that we all trust greatly."

It was Harry's turn to feel bashful.

Aberforth turned, held out his arms and brought Harry to his chest. "Indeed, indeed." Harry felt a little awkward but didn't pull away from the man.

Draco raised a brow, his head falling to the side slightly but didn't say anything.

"Minerva, would you like to accomany me back to Hog's Head?"

The normally stern looking woman blushed faintly and waved her hand. "Fine. I don't want to leave for long, though. Remus isn't here to watch over the boys."

"Where'd he go?" Harry asked, trying not to think about the fact that him staring at an unconscious Malfoy had led to him missing Remus's departure.

"He went with Severus to collect potions ingredients. They shouldn't be long. No need to worry." McGonagall nodded, adjusting her robes. "We'll be back shortly." She nodded again and slowly ushered the tall man from the room and out of the house.

***

"Watch out!" Snape yelled just as Lupin's foot made unfortunate contact with a highly normal looking .

Remus looked down then lifted his foot. "Oh... was that nettle?"

Snape glared at the back of Lupin's head but walked on carefully, simply ignoring the question. "I don't even know why I brought you... You are positively useless."

"I believe you described it as... with two people we could collect faster." Remus said matter-of-factly.

Snape turned, his hair flying into his face from the effort and glared fully at the werewolf, who only smiled in return. "It doesn't work that way when one of the two is stepping on everything needed."

Remus only smiled. It wasn't his fault, after all. Snape turned and walked forward closely examining a few of the plants before bending to collect one, roots and all. Remus stepped close and leant over the dark haired man slightly to watch what he was doing.

"Why are watching me?" Snape asked calmly, as if he were asking about the weather.

Remus only smiled. "If I were to watch someone gather potions ingredients... who better than a Potions Master?"

Snape ignored the fleeting feeling he got when called that and stood to his full height, turning around to discover Remus standing far closer than he had originally imagined.

Remus looked amused and leaned forward slightly, just enough to make Snape stagger backwards. Remus grinned.

"Afraid of a werewolf, Severus?"

"Not likely. It's you that I'm afraid of..."

***

Harry and Draco had been still and in absolute silence for what seemed to be days. Neither of them had moved from their positions or bothered to say anything.

Draco was clueless for something to say.

Harry just didn't want to say anything.

The silence slowly stretched further and Draco had taken it upon himself to start a staring contest with a Harry that wasn't even looking at him. Harry took the hint after a few seconds and slowly turned his head to come face to face with a Malfoy that wasn't looking at him coldly or glaring or sneering or any of the expressions that Harry had always associated with Draco Malfoy.

"What?"

"I'm bored..."

Harry was about to slap a hand over his face. Fifteen minutes and all Malfoy had to say to him after waking up was that he was bored? "Well... I don't care. I'm going to finish cleaning the dishes." Harry nodded and turned to head to the kitchen.

Did Potter just do what Draco thought he did? Draco stood and rushed to follow the other boy. "Why would you clean dishes?"

Harry felt tempted, very tempted to turn around and hex Malfoy for being an idiot but decided against it. "Because they're dirty."

"Where's your house elf? A house this size surely must have one?"

Harry turned around. "It did... I sent it to Hogwarts."

Draco looked horrified by the idea of giving up a house elf. "Why would you do something like that?"

"I didn't like him." Harry shrugged.

Draco paused a second. House elves weren't supposed to be seen. They were supposed to do as bidded and stay out of the way. The idea of one walking about seemed obsurd. "What do you mean?"

Harry decided that Draco was better when sitting in silence. "I just didn't, okay...?" He sighed and started the water to put the dishes in.

Draco frowned. It was very hard to communicate with someone when their distaste was so obvious. "Fine, Potter. No reason to get so snappy with a guest." He said in his usual drawl, gray eyes staring off anywhere but at the boy.

"You're no guest. You're lucky to even be here."

Draco tensed slightly, half whispering. "I know..."

Harry turned his head, glaring slightly. "What was that, Malfoy?"

Draco lifted his heard, eyes glaring before huffing lightly. "I said I know! I bloody know! I don't want to be here! I'd rather be anywhere in the world but I can't!"

Harry tensed slightly.

"Well why not?"

"Because I'm scared, Potter! Okay!" Draco made an annoyed sound and turned to leave the room, desperate to go anywhere but that kitchen, turning and slamming the door behind him, causing the curtain's of Mrs. Black's painting to sway.

"HALFBLOOD! IN MY HOUSE! I NEVER! BLOOD TRAITOR! DISGRACE"

Harry was glaring at the dishes as he put them down in the hot water when the crack sounded. He looked up when Remus and Snape entered, both frowning.

"HALFBLOODS! BLOOD TRAITORS! WEREWOLVES! ALL IN MY HOUSE!"

"Who moved the curtains?" Remus asked as he sat down the small cauldron filled with various flowers and plants.

"Malfoy." Harry shrugged.

---

A/N - I think my chapters are getting shorter and shorter...or something. Ah well. Was anyone wondering why Mrs Black hadn't said anything? Yeah... that's why? Her curtains were closed. Supposedly if they stay closed she can't see anyone. ( I think that's how it worked... if not... This is AU... or will be as soon as Deathly Hallows comes out. If it's not AU after that... I'll be a little freaked out... like seriously. ) I really need to get everyone there... Ron and Hermione might make it into the scene come next chapter... depends on where my fingers take me~

This chapter was kind of put out fast but... yeah. There's a lot of little short paragraphs and less description. That's just how the ideas came...

Thanks for the review thrnbrooke! You are soooo fast... it's amazing. XD Do you sleep? No... Draco won't be murdered or anything.