Summer with the Dursleys

A.N. Well things are going to get really dark here. I've added "*" around memory. Thanks for reading =)
*************************************************************************************

Harry took a deep breath he can still smell Hedwig’s cage with an undertone of wet grass. ‘I can smell my room but this place cannot possibly be Privet Drive.’ Green eyes blinked several times adjusting to the dark dreary location, no longer held by Draco; Harry gazed around apprehensively. Wondering if he can truly see his own eulogy and keep his wits, the idea alone terrified and in a small way excited him as well, curious who would attend.

This place did not resemble any funeral home he had entered; the small dimly lit area has torches burning on parallel walls about twenty feet apart. Solid marble and stone benches on either side of a twelve-foot aisle led toward the front portion of this unusual location. High stone ceiling rose up into darkness, near the front of the building, higher torches revealed a pitching roof with a large emblazon letter “M” carved in the stone.

“Where are we?” Harry whispered as if the few people seated ahead of him could hear. Draco step from behind looking at Harry’s wide-eyed profile, he felt the familiar sting behind his eyes and swallowed his anguish.

The Slytherin did not respond he maintained a step behind his dark hair schoolmate watching Harry’s every reaction. Draco felt his voice would betray his emotions; he did not want Harry to see him in a fragile condition now, not when the brunette may need him most.

Nearly at the front of the chapel, Harry concluded, this place had to be some sort of church although smaller than any church he has seen. The place still perplexed him; however, his attention focused on six occupants seated along the front two stone benches watching a pale older women speaking softly. Harry paused he had never seen Professor McGonagall look so distressed, Draco touched his shoulder steering him to an empty bench on the opposite side.

The Gryffindor did not move his gaze had passed over his transfiguration instructor to the scarlet casket on a low rising atrium, the lid shut it hovered over a marble and stone base.

Harry swallowed hard, and then glanced at Draco. “Am I really in that coffin?” He asked nodding his head toward the front of the chapel.

Draco nodded once again tugging on his arm; however, Harry ignored him stepping forward toward the great box to confirm that he really is the occupant. Malfoy followed placing a hand on his shoulder, slowing his progress.

“Do not look Potter.” He said tightly.

Harry did not face him, his gaze fixedly on the casket. “I got to see for myself, you said you would show me, this cannot be my funeral.” Harry had spoke with disbelief at first however by the end of his sentence, he sounded bitter. The very thought that his friends were not present increased his doubt that this is ‘his’ burial. Harry glared at the tall blond on his right green eyes darkened. “What are you trying to hide? Why are none of my friends here?” Harry look over at the heavily cloaked spectators, none appeared distressed besides McGonagall. “You are lying!” Harry said in a raised voice, pulling away from the blond purposefully taking large steps toward the front.

“Potter don’t!” Draco followed close behind his schoolmate. “Just listen give me a chance to answer.”

“No I want to see for myself.” He snapped over his shoulder, stepping up the low alter glancing at the now seated observers who he noticed did not react to his presence. Harry did not care he step to the casket and grabbed the lid, his hands slip through the deep scarlet surface. Harry attempted again he could not grip the surface he whirled around fuming.

“Open it!”

“I can't do that Potter.”

“Why not!” Harry turned repeatedly trying to open the casket, until Draco pulled him toward the side his long arms wrapped around Harry’s shoulder in chest, holding him from behind.

Malfoy hissed in his ear his voice clipped and strained but low. “Harry you are in that casket if you wait a moment you will see just…” He sucked in a deep breath trying to contain the heat closing his throat. “I am sorry Harry.” Draco leaned on Harry shoulder burying his face and hiding his tears, just as the door near the rear burst open wood stone burst into the solemn mausoleum.

Harry cringed against Malfoy despite the flying debris could not hurt him he gasped covering his face quickly then stared as all onlooker turned swiftly some disappeared through a door near them Harry did not notice at first. Many had drawn wands their hoods cast off for a better view of the intruder. Green eyes moved swiftly over the swiftly altered memorial, from the dark figure walking up the aisle to the now revealed mourners.

Hermione, Ron, Professors Lupin, McGonagall and Snape then standing near his head of house the pale young man behind Harry, Malfoy. His face red, eyes swollen he alone spoke against the man striding up the aisle.

*Memory*

“You are not welcome here, get out!”

Snape put a hand on Draco’s shoulder. “Calm down Mr. Malfoy, do not speak to Mr. Scrimgeour in that manner, everyone put your wands away.” Everyone lowered their wands tucking them away. The Potions Professor’s eyes narrowed directing his words to the approaching male. “Minister is there something I may help you with, as you can see this is a private service.”

The man stopped at the front of the aisle starring at the closed casket then casting a sneer on each of the mourners in turn.

Harry shifted in Draco tight embrace; he could not resist staring fixedly at the man a sudden chill passed up his spine, as yellow-brown eyes glared back at ‘his’ casket. The man step slowly forward with a slight limp, but not one the Gryffindor felt limited the man in any manner, Harry’s impression is the man seemed like a predator seeking the best position in which to attack its prey.

“Draco who is he?” Harry questioned again whispering.

Draco lifted his head speaking into Harry’s ear his voice quivering lightly. “He is the minister of magic Rufus Scrimgeour, he use to be the head of the Auror department.”

“Minister? How, when?” Harry stammered. “Draco I don’t understand.” The blond did not explain as the Transfiguration teacher step in front of the minister halting Scrimgeour.

“Minister, Harry is gone now; with his death you made it to this position now do something besides disturb his resting place.”

The regal male stared her down until she step out of his path he grinned although the fake smile did not reflect in his yellowish eyes. “It is almost amusing that Dumbledore is not at the interment of his favorite pupil.” Scrimgeour glared at Snape then step forward again. This time the pale Slytherin step forward, wrenching himself out of Snape’s hold.

Pointing his wand at the Minister Draco step forward his tear stained face a bright beacon. “You keep away from him!” He raged, ignoring his teachers’ admonishments and baring his teeth at the older male.

Scrimgeour softly chuckled one eyebrow arched at the Slytherin teen. “Last I checked Malfoy, isn’t it?” His grin widened. “Your family does not care much for the beliefs Harry Potter represents, since he is responsible for destroying Voldemort. Although now it seems he did not do a thorough enough job.”

Draco bristled his wand hand tightened pointed directly in the Minister’s face. “You do not know me! Stay away from Harry!” He spat he took deep breaths tears flowed freely down his red face.

Harry gapped at Draco, the teen standing against an Auror as if it was nothing more than a spar against a fellow student. That was not the only thing that shocked Harry. Draco did not look much different from the previous year, besides perhaps a little thinner and his hair did not look as neat but in age, he appeared almost the same.

The Gryffindor tugged at the powerful for arm holding him. “Draco when did this happen how far in the future is this?” Harry felt distressed he wanted to know how much time had passed between this incident and his return to Hogwarts.

In response to his question Draco gripped, Harry tighter, before Harry could demand an answer total chaos erupted.

A powerful wind swept into the mausoleum Ron gripped Hermione pulling her down on the stone floor. McGonagall yelled pulling out her wand as well. However, the Gryffindor head of house was blasted with a petrifaction charm not by the Minister but by Snape, her body fell stiffly on the stone floor.

Draco wand had flown out of his hand he hovered bodily over the alter spinning helplessly while Scrimgeour approached. “Thank you Severus for your cooperation.” The tawny head Minister clipped shortly stepping up to the casket.

Harry swore in Draco’s embrace, a few moments ago, he wanted to see in the casket now he wanted to punch the man who dared to defile his remains.

“That dirty bastard, how dare he!”

“I am sorry Harry,” Draco said again gripping him tighter.

The Minister starred at the casket a perplexed look in his face waving his wand several times the box would not open. Then the teen above began laughing at his inability to open the coffin. Scrimgeour turned slowly facing the hovering blond.

“Having a bit of trouble?” Draco taunted his body twisting slowly.

Snape step forward lowering his prize student carefully. “Mr. Malfoy please open the casket.”

Now Draco on his knees glared at the pair his grey eyes narrowed on his teacher but he spoke to the Minister saving his rant with Snape for another time. “Why should I? When Harry needed you people to listen you did nothing, you called him crazy and marred him in the public eye!” He looked down as if in anguish, although he truly gripped his fallen wand near the alter step he lifted his tear wet his eyes.

The Minister step forward a wand no larger than a fountain pin in one hand. “Draco, I am a reasonable man, I need to verify with my own eyes if Mr. Potter is truly dead.” He paused glaring at the Slytherin. You can see how even your head of house concurs showing me the remains is for the best.”

“I don’t give a dam what Snape agrees!” Draco snapped.

“Get a hold of yourself Mr. Malfoy.” Snape warned his lip curling. “The Minister needs to see for himself, just release the bloody seal.”

Draco remained still eyes locked to the man before him, Scrimgeour looked up thoughtfully. “This needn’t be trouble Draco, I only want to verify the body is present that’s all, once that is done, you may continue with interment.”

Ron and Hermione got up slowly; Draco stood now his wand in his right hand gripping it firmly. “Only to see him? Is that all?” he glanced at Snape who nodded. The Minister said nothing waiting.

Harry tried to step forward only the blond held him tighter. “He’s lying!” Harry spat angrily.

“How can you tell Potter?” Draco questioned again directly in Harry’s ear leaning his head against the dark hair teens.

The Gryffindor frowned he did not know how he knew Scrimgeour was lying he just felt it, the sensation as tangible as hot and cold. Harry could not begin to explain, even in his head he felt confused by his own explanation. “I don’t know how I know I just do,” he said flatly.

The pale blond stepped pass Scrimgeour and waved his hands over the casket. Harry bit his tongue when the lid opened slowly rising. Draco step backward then turned away altogether as if he could not bear the sight of his schoolmate.

The Minister of Magic step forward to evaluate the occupant thoughtfully, and then waved his wand over the body again.

From his vantage point, Harry could only make out the hands folded across a chest the cuffs the color of his Quidditch Uuniform. He frowned craning his neck to see more but the minister blocked a clear view and Draco held him painfully tight.

Draco apparently turned back now watching Scrimgeour's back clenching his fist. “What are you doing?”

Scrimgeour did not respond Snape took hold of Draco shoulder. The teen stepped away glaring at the tawny hair male. The Minster reached in the casket, touching the body, that was more than Draco could take he yelled again pointing his wand at the tall man.

“What the bloody hell do you think…?” Draco began but the Minister cut over him.

“Whatever I want!” He snapped. “Professor Snape do something about him!”

This time the blond was prepared for a double team, namely because the silent Gryffindor had gone unnoticed. Ron and Hermione hexed Snape that he deflected quickly jumping out of the line of fire. Although the distraction gave Draco, a chance to cast a spell at Scrimgeour that he too avoided with little effort deflecting it back at Draco.

The astonished on lookers stared as Draco deflected the glowing spell again now three times more powerful back at the Minster adding a jelly-leg hex just before the spell. The Minister deflected spells from the two Gryffindor’s when the larger impedimenta mingled with a banishing charm zooming in his direction.

Scrimgeour yelled hit with the jelly-leg jinx then collapsed rolling away swiftly just before Draco explosive spell his Harry’s casket the coffin cracked.

Harry Potter yelled in Draco Malfoy’s arms along with the Malfoy and Gryffindor's in Draco’s memory as their friend’s remains spilled out of the coffin horribly disfigured.

Draco dropped his wand and fell forward taking Harry’s body in his arms, screaming for someone to help him. Hermione and Ron’s wand were quickly confiscated both beyond fighting at that point, sobbing on each other and trying to avert their eyes from the screaming blond holding their best friends remains.

Draco held Harry as tight as he could, pulling him out of the memory and back to his bedroom. They crouched on the floor in front of Harry’s bed, Draco slowing rocking his sobbing friend.

The blond tried to forget the utter helplessness he felt at those moments before Scrimgeour hexed him. The next thing he remembered is waking at home, with Snape keeping a visual immediately informing him that he was sorry for his part. His Godfather explained why he helped Scrimgeour, and that he was not aware the Minister would remove Harry’s body. That was a fact Draco never wanted to share with the Gryffindor. The Minister had stolen his remains then informed the public Harry was recuperating in a distant hospital. Draco shook his head the old man took the information with him to the grave, they still did not know what he did with Harry’s body.

*End Draco's memory*

Draco kissed Harry’s forehead stroking his hair and telling silently that he would be there with him always.

Harry sniffed finding himself clinging to Draco’s chest and shaking, trying to rid his mind of the horrifying image. “Draco?” he croaked.

“Yes Harry.”

“When will that happen, if I don’t…if Dudley…if…” his voice cracked he stop speaking taking deep breath.

“It will not happen. We will stop it from happening,” Draco assured him kissing his temple absorbing Harry’s warmth he did not want to let him go. The sound of Harry’s heartbeat and his loves hot breath wrapping his face in its scent was enough for Draco. The blond squeezed the dark hair teen tighter. “I love you Harry, I will protect you.”

Harry sat up looking in smoke grey eyes, he had never thought of himself as weak or helpless. Actually, he was proud that he did not ‘need’ people but at this moment he felt he needed someone to give a damn, he felt real fear. It was what Draco had not told him that frightened him the most. “Tell me how long before that happens.” He stared in the weary half-hooded eyes. “Please.”

Draco caressed his cheek placing a soft kiss on Harry mouth, before easing back. “If we do not change things this summer, Harry you will die on Christmas day this year.”

TBC

A.N. AAAHHHHHH!!! So scary, at least I hope it was. The layout *broods* Oh well I hope you guy enjoy..As Always thanks for reading ~*glomps you all*~