Diagon Alley
Harry stood up on the platform at Madame Malkins, considering his trip down memory lane that last few days. He had forgot how funny it was to see Dudley with a pig's tale. As he stood there thinking over the previous few days, he shuddered as he heard a familiar voice ring out, "Potter".
Harry looked over to his right to see Draco standing there, with a smug look on his face. He looked around to ensure nobody else was listening in before he countered, "Malfoy". Harry bit back the coming response as it could be construed as offensive. "Have you considered what Time and Fate had to say?"
Draco looked back at Harry, one eye brow quirked. "That we must become friends this time around?"
Harry's eyes rolled. "Yes, that." Malfoy yawned as if bored with the conversation.
"I suppose." He drawled. He held out his hand. "Will you accept my hand this time?"
Harry smirked. "I guess I could be troubled to exert the energy required to shake your hand." He joked as he reached and shook his hands.
"That's a lot of words. Didn't know you had that many in you." Draco scoffed as Madame Malkin walked in.
"Hogwarts, dear?" She asked Harry. He nodded. "Well, then, let's just take off your shirt so we can get an accurate measure for your clothes." She explained as she began to yank his overgrown shirt over his head. Draco looked over, about to start another thread of conversation, when he saw them. Pale colored scars adorned almost every inch of the savior of the wizarding world. He noticed a big purple bruise swelling on the right side of his abdomen, and a pale green bruise covering his left sternum. Why does Potter have those bruises, those scars? Draco queried to himself as he turned back and let his seamstress work on his robes.
The boys made polite conversation as they were measured. Near the end, Draco decide to quench his curiosity.
"So, Potter, how did you come across those scars?" Draco asked.
Harry paused and shifted nervously. "It's…my uncle. He just…gets a little frustrated, sometimes. He can't help it. It's nothing." He added quickly. Draco gaped. Could the savior of the wizarding world not be as pampered as he originally thought?
At this point, Draco jumped off the pedestal.
"Well, Harry, we'll have to write over the summer. What's your address?" Draco asked.
"Number Four, Privet Dr, Surrey," Harry responded, still looking down.
"Great, I'll owl you. And you'll tell me whenever your uncle gets…frustrated." Draco ordered quietly.
When Draco got home, the first thing he did was run up to his room to compose a letter to Harry. He wasn't sure what he should say, so he had to throw the parchment out a couple times. Eventually, he came up with something he was willing to send to his new…friend.
Harry,
How are you? I hope you are doing well. I am fine, but thought I would owl you right away so I did not forget. I was wondering, what exactly happened this year? It would be nice to know, you know. Anyway, if we could get on the same parchment that would be helpful.
Hope you are enjoying your summer,
Draco
Draco found that his reply came quickly. The next evening, he received a letter from Harry.
Draco,
Yes, it probably is a good idea we get on the same…parchment. I am fine, thank you. I may not respond as quickly as I did today. Uncle gets frustrated when his meals are late or the house isn't clean.
So, what you need to know about this year: Hagrid already grabbed the Philosopher's Stone as he helped me grab the money I would need. Dumbledore was very conspicuous, sending Hagrid with a curious eleven-year-old to collect it.
Anyway, after you didn't show up for our duel (thanks for that, by the way), Ron, Hermione, and I had to dodge Filch and Mrs. Norris. That's when we met Fluffy. Now, I know what you're thinking: who's Fluffy? Sounds like a nice, cuddly familiar, right? Wrong. Fluffy's a Cerberus. A BIG CERBERUS named Fluffy guarded a trapdoor that led to the Philosopher's Stone. Throughout the year, we tried to solve the three-headed puzzle that was Fluffy and the trapdoor, when we finally figured out that someone was going after it, and we needed to stop them.
There were five obstacles we had to pass through to get through to make it to the stone. The first was Devil's Snare, which Hermione got through easily. The second was a set of winged keys that I had to grab with the help of a trusty broom. The third, well, let's just hope you can play chess, because Ron got us through the transfigured chessboard obstacle. Fourth was a troll that was already unconscious. Fifth was a logic puzzle and potion created by Professor Snape.
I don't like to talk about what happened after that. Let's just say, Quirrell died, I got the stone, and Voldemort left in spectral form.
So, yeah. That's all that happened. I really should get going now, get ready for bed and all that.
Talk to you soon,
Harry
Draco stopped, thought for a moment, and then started writing. Soon, he sent Hedwig off and watched happily as she flapped her wings, the sun setting as she did so. He sat back and thought about the coming year. Maybe, just maybe, Harry would be a good friend to have. Harry went to bed, smirking, thinking about how just a few weeks ago, that thought would have seemed ludicrous.
The next evening, Harry received a reply to his last letter. He had to keep from smirking as he read it. Yes, this definitely seemed a strange turn of events, befriending Draco.
Dear Scarhead,
Who the heck names a Cerberus FLUFFY? I guess the stone was pretty important if Dumbledork decided to hide it behind a three-headed dog and a troll. Better yet, why did he have to hide it in a school full of CHILDREN? I don't think he thought that through completely.
What should your uncle care if you are writing letters to a friend? How does that keep dinner from being made or the house being clean? He doesn't make YOU do them, does he? MERLIN, Potter, if he does make you work like a house-elf, I am going to come down there myself and…and…I don't know what I'll do, but it will be just as cruel and unusual as treating a young wizard as a slave.
Have you thought on whether anyone else has their memories, or are we the only two?
Anyway, awaiting your reply,
Draco
Harry had to laugh. Maybe Malfoy would be a good friend. He had to grimace, though, as he looked at the heading. Was that the game he wanted to play? Harry smirked. Well, it was a game two could play. He started his reply.
Ferret,
I really am starting to question Dumbledore's involvement in my life. I mean, he suspected many things about my life for how long and he never thought to tell me? Well, in answer to your question concerning Fluffy, who thought it was a good idea to introduce us to a hippogriff third year?
Don't do anything stupid like come and rescue me in a flying car. Tried it, do not want to do it again.
Eagerly awaiting your reply,
Harry
And so the summer went. Harry and Draco continued to write letters to one another. Harry usually let Draco know in some fashion if Uncle Vernon was "frustrated" or not and Draco would try to tell some funny story about his conversations with Crabbe and Goyle. He had to wonder if Harry would make it to the train if his uncle got anymore "frustrated". For the first time ever, Draco was worried about someone besides his family.