Draco\'s Insignia

Draco’s Insignia~ Part eight

Warnings and notes: This is a slash fic, which means that it involves two guys having strong feelings for one another. This is your only warning; so if you do not like reading about two men in love, then don’t read. Go read some other fic. Do not harass the author, please. And there is some strong language in here!

Contents: This fic will contain A LOT of Slash, humor, sap, and lemon. This fic is for entertainment purposes only. You want a real plot, read my fic Protégé and its sequels.

Extra notes: The Dursleys are nothing compared to Aunt Marge. They, at least, try to tolerate Harry’s presents. Marge is just plain evil. And I felt bad for Dudley too. Oh, and I take pride in making Ripper suffer. ^_^

Pairings: Draco/Harry

Year: End of 6th (going on 7th year)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of these characters! J.K. Rowlings is the wonderful person who does, and I can’t wait to get my hands on book 5!!

Dedicated to: Alan Rickman, who plays Professor Snape, and his role in Galaxy Quest. ^_^;

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Now that Harry thought about it, Draco did have a point. He can get the Dursleys to cooperate with him again, and show them all just how powerful he was. Although, he told himself over and over, he wasn’t really that great of a wizard. All he did was survive the Dark Lord and earn some of his powers, like talking to snakes. Harry had agreed to speak to his aunt and uncle about Aunt Marge, and so, he went downstairs to do just that.

Harry found Uncle Vernon in the dining room, in which he figured that Vernon must be there because Petunia had just finished talking on the phone, and she probably wanted to tell her husband about Aunt Marge coming over. He looked like his normal pleasant self about the news, but when Harry entered the room, his pleasant look turned to one of hate.

“What is it, boy?” Vernon growled. He obviously wasn’t in the mood to talk.

“I have something important to tell you and Aunt Petunia.” Harry said boldly.

“If it has anything to do with your disgusting relationship, then I don’t want to hear it.”

“No, it has nothing to do with Draco.” Harry spat, “It’s about me and what I may do to you, your wife, and your son.”

Vernon paled, but then his entire face turned mauve. “How dare you threaten me and my family, you little freak!”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want Marge to think I go to that school for incurable criminal boys.” Harry didn’t wish to call Marge an aunt anymore – he didn’t want to be associated with that woman any longer. “Tell her that I go to a normal private school and that I’ve cleaned up my act.”

“You can’t make me, boy.” Vernon sneered. “You aren’t allowed to use magic while away from your freak school.”

“On the contrary, the Mark that Draco put on my arm allows me to do anything I want.”

Vernon’s eyes narrowed, “I don’t believe you.”
rry rry smirked evilly as he took out his wand and pointed it at an expensive vase. He enounced the Reductor spell and the vase exploded into a million pieces. Vernon’s astonished look turned into pure terror.

“See?” Harry grinned, “I haven’t done anything before because I didn’t think I needed to since Draco seemed to be so protective of me. But because of Marge coming over, I think it’s time for some changes around here.”

Vernon’s face went dark red.

“First,” Harry , “W, “When Marge arrives, I am not the servant. I will not do whatever she says. Second, tell her that I go to a nice public school, and that I’ve cleaned up my act. Third, make sure that she doesn’t talk about my parents in a nasty way, or else I won’t be responsible for my actions.” He twirled his wand betweis fis fingers.

Uncle Vernon was just standing there, either speechless from anger or fright.

“Do I make myself clear?” Harry urged.

“H-How do I know that you didn’t really use magic?” Vernon croaked, “You could’ve just preformed a simple trick to make that vase shatter.”

Harry pointed his wand threateningly between Vernon’s eyes, “If you don’t do what I ask, I’ll turn you into a walrus, Petunia into a horse, and your son into a pig. I’m very good at Transfiguration now, you know.”

Aunt Petunia had just walked in when Harry mentioned turning Dudley into a pig, and her jaw dropped.

Vernon narrowed his gaze. “I don’t believe you.”

Harry smirked, and then moved his wand over to the dining room table. He mumbled a magic spell, and right before their eyes, the teapot in the middle of the table turned into a fluffy, white rabbit. Vernon’s eyes widened and he was shaking visibly. Petunia shrieked and hid behind Vernon. It wasn’t that she was afraid of the rabbit; she was more terrified of the messy-haired, emerald-eyed teen in front of them.

The wizard teen still had his wand out, smirk firmly in place as he gazed heatedly at his aunt and uncle. “Now do you believe me?”

Vernon looked over at the open window as if he were expecting to see an owl fly in any minute. Time pasted, and there was no sign of any kind of bird with a letter from the Ministry of Magic.

Slowly, Vernon turned his head back to Harry who was still waiting for an answer, and Vernon nodded once to confirm that he understood.

Harry smiled, but his brow was still furrowed, “Good. Remember what I said.”

“As long as your *friend* stays upstairs.” Vernon suddenly said.

Harry raised a brow, “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell Draco what to do. I may be his Keeper, and his boyfriend, but I can’t make him stay upstairs like a caged animal. I know what that’s like, it’s no fun.”

“But . . .” Petunia stuttered, “He won’t stay quiet about your abnormality . . .”

“He will, if I talk to him.” Harry said promptly.

“Then, what are you waiting for?” Vernon huffed, finding his courage again. “Aunt Marge will be here soon! We need to get ready. . .”

“Oh!” Petunia shrieked, “I need to get Dudders all smartened up! Oh, er, and. . .” She looked at the white rabbit still sitting on the table, wiggling its pink nose cutely. “Could you, um, take care of that?”

Harry sighed, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, and then flicked his wand at the bunny. It turned back into a teapot. Vernon stared at it as if he wasn’t sure that it was really transformed back. He carefully poked it with a pudgy finger. It was definitely back to the flower-patterned china that it once was.

Harry snickered at then headed upstairs to inform Draco that all was going according to plan. As he walked in, he just caught the last bit of Draco’s sentence.

“. . . I know what I’m doing, sir. I don’t care what anyone thinks. My parents are dead, remember? So, why should they?”

“Draco,” Snape said from the glowing crystal ball, “I understand, but you have to remember that there are still those in Slytherin with Death Eaters as parents. It would be best if you and Potter kept a low profile.”

“That will be hard to do,” Harry said, startling Draco and probably Professor Snape as well, “Since I’ve been personally branded with Draco’s insignia.”

“Oh, right.” Harry heard Snape sneer; “It’s always about you, isn’t it?”

“Sometimes I wish it wasn’t.” Harry sighed.

“So,” Draco said, bringing his eyes back to Harry’s, “How’d it go?”

Harry smiled unlike any smile Draco had ever seen, and it spooked him. “It went swimmingly.”

“Great!” Draco grinned. “Now we can finally have some fun.”

“Er. . .” Harry bit his lip and brushed his bangs back from his forehead, “Well . . . there’s a slight, um, hiccup. . .”

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Well, they said that they would cooperate if you stayed upstairs. I told them that I couldn’t make you stay up here, but I would talk to you about it.”

“I see. Well, isn’t your threat good enough for them?” Draco sneered.

“I thought so, too. tru truth be told, I never said that you really would stay up here. I told them that I would try and see if you would.”

“Ah, yes. Well, I don’t think they’ll be able to keep me up here.” Draco grinned.

“I didn’t think they could.” Harry smiled.

~**~

When Harry came back downstairs, he saw Aunt Petunia straightening Dudley’s bow tie. He looked similar to what he looked like when they were thirteen, and Harry had accidentally blew Marge up like a balloon, except he was sixteen (going to be seventeen real soon), and bigger. He tried to hold in a snicker at the way his cousin looked.

“I want you to mind your manners while your Aunt Marge is here.” Petunia said.

Harry answered that by taking out his wand. Petunia seemed to have wilted almost instantly at the sight of it.

“I believe it’s the other way around.”

Dudley looked like he wanted to say something, but he shut his mouth the moment Harry glared.

Petunia wanted to say something too, but she was too scared to even open her mouth.

When Marge finally arrived, with her bulldog Ripper, Petunia walked over to the door as if nothing changed. Harry swore that if they didn’t tell Marge what they were supposed to, he would most definitely raise hell.

“Oh, hello Marge darling! So good to see you!” Harry heard his aunt open the door for her, so he went into the living room. He wasn’t in the mood to see her right now. Draco waill ill currently upstairs- probably getting ready to make his grand entrance. He heard Marge say her hellos and then the sound of Ripper’s toenails against the kitchen floor. He knew Aunt Petunia must have been cringing inside from the fact that the dog was probably marking up her nice clean floor.

“So, where’s my Duddies at?” Right when Marge said this, Dudley came out from his bedroom and through the living room. He didn’t even look at Harry when he walked by. When Dudley went through the kitchen, Harry heard Marge say, “There’s my neffy-poo! Come give Aunt Margie a hug!” Harry stuck his fingers into his ears.

When he finally took his fingers out, he suddenly heard Marge say, “Oh, he’s still here, is he? He didn’t go live elsewhere yet, huh?” Harry just knew that she was talking about him.

“Uh, yeah. About that, Marge. . .”

“It’s not your fault, of course, Petunia.” Marge said gruffly, “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. . . I knew he’d end up like his no good father—lazy and unemployed.”

Suddenly, something crashed in the living room, making Marge and Petunia jump.

“What was that?” Marge asked.

Petunia had an idea of what it was, but instead she said, “I’ll go check.” She walked into the living room and saw what she feared. . . Harry was holding his wand out and pointed at where one of the family pictures (with Aunt Marge in it) used to be. The picture was now lying on the carpet and the glass that held it in had shattered into a million pieces.

Harry’s head turned and he glared at his aunt. His facial expression told her all: Do Not Mention His Parents. “Put it away,” Petunia pleaded. When Harry heard Marge coming, he did just that- stuffing it into his shirt.

“Anything the matter, dear? Oh,” Marge took notice of Harry, and the smashed picture frame at his feet. “So, you’re causing trouble again, I see. There’s no surprise. Petunia, if I were you, I’d chuck him out real soon! He’s only going to drive you to an early grave if you keep him around any longer!”

“I won’t be here for long,” Harry said, “I’ll be graduating soon.”

“Oh, yes.” Marge sniffed, “you sound so PROUD to be graduating from such a filthy, low-class school.”

“Ahem.” Harry looked over at Aunt Petunia, who gulped nervously. Uncle Vernon walked in, rescuing his wife from having to say anything.

“Ah, Marge! Good to see you!”

“So good to see you too!” Marge said as they hugged. “Has this boy been causing you much grief, dear?” She asked. Vernon looked ovt Hat Harry, who had his hand over his wand under his shirt.

“Oh, well, uh. . .”

Harry walked confidentially to the back of Vernon. His face was peering over Uncle Vernon’s large shoulder as he glared at Marge. Secretly he had taken out his wand and was poking it in the middle of Vernon’s back.

“Tell her how good I’ve been.” Harry said in a low malice tone.

Uncle Vernon tried not to look like he was being intimidated and scared shitless. Marge was looking at Vernon curiously and then over at Petunia for answers. Petunia turned her eyes away, shrugging lightly.

“He. . .” Vernon tried to speak. It looked as if he was about to admit something vile, or cover up a mistake that the devil made. That was how it felt for Vernon as well - that Harry was the devil on his shoulder, urging him to do evil.

“Yes, Vernon?” Marge said.

“H-He’s. . . he’s not. . . going to that school. . . not anymore. . .”rnonrnon’s face burned.

“Oh?” Marge’s brow shot up, “So, what are you saying? That he is cured from St. Brutus’s Secure Center for *Incurably* Criminal Boys?”

Vernon looked very troubled, and then in a trembling voice, he answered, “Yes. He’s cured.”

Harry put his wand away.

“Is that so?” Marge looked over at Harry, who stayed a bit behind Vernon, just in case he messed it up. “He doesn’t look cured.”

“Oh, trust me, he’s been doing a lot better. Hasn’t he, Petunia?” Vernon said.

yes yes,” Petunia was nodding her head repeatedly, “He’s improved quite a bit. His manners are close to our Dudders.”

“Hmph.” Marge said, not sounding convinced. “Well, if you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. Keep an eye on him, Vernon. Keep him in line.”

“Yes, of course,” Vernon said with a slight smile. Harry glared at him, making his smile fade.

“Now, on to dinner. What are you having Petunia. . .” her voice trailed off when she looked over at the kitchen doorway. They all followed Marge’s gaze and saw what she saw—Draco Malfoy dressed in all white, leaning up against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, smirk planted firmly on his handsome face.

“Hopefully something that will be enough to feed you.” Draco said, answering her question.

Marge looked either scared or angry; Harry wasn’t sure which it was.

“Vernon!” She screeched, “Who is this little ill-mannered piss-ant??”

Vernon was beginning to open houthouth, but closed it when Draco strolled over to where Harry was standing. Vernon moved out of the way, giving them both plenty of room. Harry smiled brightly, understanding that he wasn’t about to keep their relationship a secret from even Marge. Being wizards was one thing, but keeping something like this was no big deal, especially to Draco.

“Piss-ant?” Draco snarled, “I beg to differ, Miss. I’m more than what you think I am.” With that, he wrapped his arms tightly around Harry’s waist, and then gave Harry a light peck on the lips. Harry kissed back.

Vernon really had to move to catch Marge before she hit the floor.

“Upstairs.” Vernon said threateningly, “Right now.”

Harry and Draco obliged. . . happily.

~*~

Aunt Marge finally woke up on the couch asking Vernon and Petunia if what she saw was just a nightmare. They shook their heads, telling her about how he came along and instantly attached himself to Harry. She was still shocked, but then she told them both what she thought about it. Basically, she wasn’t very happy to learn that they had a homosexual living under their roof.

And speaking of which, Harry and Draco were upstairs, kissing and touching each other like they haven’t seen one another in a long time. Harry ran his hand up and down Draco’s silk button up shirt, fingering the top pearly button on his collar as if he was trying to decide whether or not he wanted to undo it. Draco rubbed at the little part of Harry’s back and lower still, cupping at one of the tight cheeks.

Harry groaned, “We shouldn’t start anything. Dinner will be ready soon.”

“I don’t want to eat with that blimp of a woman.” Draco said through his teeth and against Harry’s lips.

“I know. I don’t either, but we have to eat something, right? Besides, I don’t think anything bad will ha. T. The Dursleys are now officially afraid of me. They think I’ll do the same thing I did to her years ago.”

“What did you do?”

Harry chuckled softly, running his hand down Draco’s torso, “I accidentally blew her up, she inflated like a balloon basically.”

“That would be hilarious to see!” Draco snickered, “I wish you would do something to her.”

“I can’t afford to. If anyone else found out about the Draconis Mark, and what I can do, I might end up in Azkaban. If I knew how to alter minds and put things right, then I would love to do all kinds of things to her. So, I’m afraid we’re going to have to behave as best we can while she’s here.”

“Damn.” Draco snarled.

“Well, at least they told her that I don’t go to that Criminal school.” Harry said, smiling slightly.

When they finished eating on one another, they walked back downstairs, hand in hand. Marge was sitting at the table, and her bulldog was sitting by her feet, licking up some warm milk from a bowl.

“Don’t you dare come near me!” Marge howled when she saw them walk in. Draco squeezed Harry hand, right in front of her, and grinned wickedly.

“I wouldn’t come near you if you were the only means of survival.” Draco drawled. Marge huffed in annoyance, and then Draco looked down at her bulldog.

Marge’s dog looked up suddenly, growled when it saw Harry but then stopped in fright when it noticed Draco. Draco sneered, and Ripper yipped and took off for the living room.

“My baby!” Marge shrieked, and then went after the dog into the living room. Harry couldn’t stop himself from laughing out loud.

Unfortunately (or fortunately?) for them, Marge didn’t want them sitting anywhere near her at the table. They were to either wait until Marge was done eating, or have a little something in the living room. Draco found this very insulting, saying that he would *never* eat in the living room like a bunch of common couch potato Muggles. So, Harry said that they’d wait until Marge was done. This brought smiles onto his aunt and uncle’s faces. Strangely, Dudley looked put off. Harry mentioned this to Draco and said, “Looks like someone will miss you during dinner.”

Draco narrowed his eyes in annoyance and then turned up his nose at the notion. “He will *never* hold a candle to you.”

That was the first real touching compliment that Draco had ever given Harry, and he couldn’t stop smiling. Harry took off his glasses and wiped at the corners of his eyes, which were stinging, and he rubbed at his cheeks, which were sore from smiling so hard.

“Oh, stop it!” Draco huffed, “It’s not like I asked you to marry me!”

Harry still couldn’t stop grinning, face all flushed and small tears running down his rosy cheeks.

Draco rolled his eyes and then grabbed Harry’s hand to drag him upstairs. Ripper was still under the couch when they left, shaking madly.

~*~

8:30 had come sooner than anyone had thought. They were finished with their meal, but left nothing. Between Dudley, Vernon, and Marge, that dinner didn’t stand a chance.

“I think I will retire for the night,” Marge said. “So, is it all right if I share your room tonight, Duddie-kins?”

Dudley nodded sadly.

“Good! Well, I’ll be seeing you all in the morning. I think I’ve had enough surprises for one day.” Marge went into the living room, “Now where’s my ickle puppy dog? Are you still hiding from that mean boy?”

The bulldog stayed under the couch, shivering.

“Come on out. He’s not down here, and your Mummy is going to bed. Come join Mummy.” The dog finally scooted out from under the couch and into her arms. It was still shaking. “There, there, dear.” She made her way to Dudley’s room. Just as Aunt Marge shut the door to Dudley’s room, Dudley had come out of the kitchen and looked around the living room, making sure that Marge was nowhere around. He sat down heavily on the couch, wondering if he really wanted to try sleeping in his room with Aunt Marge in there too.

A minute later, the fireplace began to shudder and shake, and luckily for the person coming out that it wasn’t closed. Dudley jumped when a redheaded being rolled out of the fireplace and then stood straight up almost immediately.

Ron Weasley took note of Dudley right away, and he smiled. “Hello. Remember me?”

Dudley tore out of the living room and into the kitchen with a very frightened look plastered on his face.

“I guess he does.” Ron snickered. He made his way upstairs.

Meanwhile, in the room that Harry and Draco shared, the two lovebirds were on the bed, makint lit like it was the last time they’d ever seen each other. Draco’s compliment struck Harry harder than Draco thought, and he found himself on his back the moment they entered the bedroom. Harry had Draco’s crisp white shirt unbuttoned and his hands and lips were exploring the boy’s creamy skin wildly. Draco had no choice but to lie there and take it, enjoying every moment. Harry had taken off his glasses so they wouldn’t be in the way. He didn’t need them to do what he was doing, anyways.

Just as Harry begun to taste below Draco’s bellybutton, there was a soft knock on the door. Both Harry and Draco groaned in frustration.

“Whoever you are, go away, we’re busy!” Draco said. “Either that or take a number!”

“Draco!” Harry smacked him on the thigh. Draco chuckled.

“Harry?”

Both Draco and Harry sat upright. That voice belonged to none other than his best friend Ron. Draco stayed on the bed, and didn’t even bother buttoning his shirt back up, and Harry went to answer the door- breathless and without his glasses.

When Harry opened the door to saw a blurry vision of Ron in the doorway. Before he could say anything, Ron pulled him into a tight hug. “Harry! I’m so glad to see you, mate!”

“Um. . . yeah, nice to see you too. Even though you’re blurry.”

Ron let go of him, “Oh, sorry, mate. Were you sleeping?”

“No,” Harry blushed. He ushered his friend in and went to retrieve his glasses.

“Well then, what were you. . .” Ron stopped short right when he noticed Draco on the bed, lying on his back, shirt undone, and smirk on his face.

“Impeccable timing, Weasley. I thank you for interrupting one of the best snogging sessions I’ve ever had in a long, long time.”

Ron’s eyes were comically wide.

Harry placed his glasses onto his face, and once again, his world came into focus. “What are you doing here, Ron? Didn’t Ginny give you my message?”

“Huh? What message?” Ron asked, eyebrow raised.

Harry groaned and shook hea head, “It figures. I told Ginny that you weren’t allowed to come over. I thought she would tell you.”

“Well, she did look rather upset about something. What did you say to her?”

Harry frowned, “Oh, crap. Well, she wanted to know if it was true that I was seeing Draco, and I told her yes, that it was true.”

Ron narrowed his gaze at his friend, “Oh, real smooth of you, Harry. You couldn’t let her down gently, could you?”

“How?” Harry huffed, “All I did was say ‘Yes, it’s true.’ It’s not like I said, ‘Yeah, I’m with Draco now, so boo-hoo to you Ginny. Go find someone else to moon over.’”

Draco’s eyes widened at that comment. “Ouch. Harsh. Worthy of a Slytherin!”

“Well, *I* had to put up with her sulking the rest of the day!” Ron said, ignoring Draco’s presents. “Every time I asked her what was wrong, she would just stick her nose up in the air and tell me that it’s none of my business.”

“I did try saying I was sorry, but she hung up on me.” Harry sat down heavily on the bed next to Draco, who was still lying there on his elbows, giving Ron silly smirks.

“Don’t let it get you down, Harry.” Draco said, patting his boyfriend on the back, “She’ll get over it. I mean, she better get over it.”

“Oh, stuff it, Malfoy.” Ron said.

“Nice to see you’ve finally acknowledged my presents, Weasley.” Draco smiled.

“Now, stop it guys, no fighting.” Harry said. Draco and Ron continue to glare at each other.

“Fine. Now, what did you want to show me that was so bleeding important?”

“Better show him and get him out of here before the Muggles find him.” Draco said.

“Ok, I’ll show you, but you must promise not to freak out, or raise your voice.”

Ron nodded, “Ok, I’ll try.”

Harry stood up, unbuttoned the cuff on his sleeve, and then quickly rolled it up to his elbow. Slowly, Harry presented his forearm to Ron, who reacted pretty close to the way Harry had thought he’d react.

“What the HELL is this???” Ron bellowed. “Is this some twisted version of the Dark Mark??”

“Ron, shh! No, it’s NOT the Dark Mark! Draco made it. It’s called the Draconis Mark, or ‘Dragon’ Mark.”

Ron turned his glare over at Draco, who was looking at them both in amusement. “You bastard! How could you do this to him??”

“Look, it’s not that bad!” Harry said quickly, “Draco made it so that we can’t get the Dark Mark. . . he was just experimenting one day . . . So far, it’s been very useful. I can find things out with it, I can use magic away from Hogwarts while I’m still underage, and it has helped Draco and I with our relationship.”

Ron had this really screwed up, intense look on his face, like he was trying his best to understand what Harry was telling him. He desperately wanted to believe that Malfoy meant no harm, and that things were A-OK, but the past references that he’d had with Malfoy were hard to let go.

“So, not only are you two seeing each other, but you’re *bound* to each other??” Ron was turning red in the face.

Harry shrugged his shoulders, “Something like that, yeah.”

“And you trust him??”

Again, Harry shrugged.

Ron huffed, “You’re mad, Harry! Mad!” He threw his arms up into the air, “You’re madder than the Mad Muggle, Martin Miggs, winner of last years Mr. Madman competition!”

Harry tried not to laugh. But, just as Draco was about to say something about it all, there was another knock on the door.

“Shit!” Harry softly cursed, “Quick, hide!” He pushed Ron into the closet. Once the red-haired, and red-faced Weasley was safely locked in, Harry went over to the door and opened it. And what a surprise, it was Dudley. “Yes? What do you want?rry rry asked gruffly.

Dudley gulped and looked at the floor nervously. For some weird reason, this reminded Harry of Neville when he was in Potions. Without looking at Harry, Dudley tried to form words, but they kept getting caught in his throat.

“What is it, Dudley? I haven’t got all day.”

“Or night.” Draco said with a smirk.

“I. . . I was wondering if it was ok if. . . could I. . .” his face turned red, “I don’t want to sleep in the same room as Aunt Marge. She snores terribly, and. . . there isn’t much room in the bed for the both of us, and I’m afraid that I might end up either on the floor or underneath her.” Both Dudley and Harry shuddered at that thought. “So, could I. . . is it ok, just for tonight, could I sleep in here with you? I promise that I won’t say anything, or do anything mean. Please? I’ll even sleep on the floor!”

Harry was about to open his mouth, but Draco beat him to it.

“Make him beg, Harry.”

Dudley looked up at Harry with a very scared expression in his eyes. “It’s just for tonight. Marge said she’s leaving tomorrow afternoon. She said something about not wanting to be here for much longer, especially with the two of you here.”

Harry grinned widely at this. “Good. Serves her right.”

“So, can I? Please?? I promise that I’ll do whatever you say. I don’t want to sleep with Marge.”

“What about the couch?” Harry asked.

“No. . . because. . . the couch is . . . no, I can’t. . .” Dudley shuddered. Harry had a feeling that his cousin had some kind of weird fear of sleeping in the living room. It could have something to do with the twins and what they did to him that one summer.

“I’ll tell you what, Dudley,” Harry said, ushering him inside. “You must promise that no matter what you see in here, you will NOT tell your parents. If you ever say anything to anyone about what you see, I will curse you so badly, you’ll be driven to madness.”

Dudley’s eyes went wide. “Oh. . . Ok. It’s a deal. I promise I won’t say anything.”

Harry clapped Dudley on the shoulder, “Good. Just remember you promised.” He walked over to the closet and opened it. “Ok, Ron, you can come out now.”

When Ron stepped out of the closet, Dudley meeped and dove behind Draco. Dudley, in his fear of his Aunt Marge, almost forgot about Ron.

Draco gasped, blinking in astonishment. He looked back at the porky, shaking Muggle and glared. Dudley didn’t seem to care. He was staring at the redheaded wizard with terror.

Harry and Ron couldn’t help it this time, and they burst into laughter.

Draco looked over and glared at them both. “It’s NOT funny!” He looked back over at Dudley, glaring even harder. “Move your fat arse away from me, Muggle!”

“Oh my god!” Ron guffawed, “Don’t tell me Dudley likes you, Malfoy!”

“He does!” Harry crowed.

Draco brought his glare up to them, “Traitors!” he snarled, “The lot of you!”

Dudley turned bright red.

~TBC~