Chapter Text
Draco Malfoy was lounging in a luxurious villa in Lausanne, Switzerland, sipping on a cup of the finest imported tea while wrapped in a cashmere throw.
Life was good. Harry Potter was not suffering. Not that Draco didn’t care. Of course, he cared. A little. But he had done his part.
He had prevented Ron’s emotional trauma, exposed a rat, and freed Harry’s long-lost convict godfather. That was three heroic acts, which was at least two more than required.
"Draco, darling," his mother called, stepping into the sunroom, "you've been grinning at that letter for the past fifteen minutes. Should I be worried?"
"Of course not, Mother," Draco lied effortlessly, tucking the letter from Harry Potter under his book. "I'm simply… amused by Potter's poor grammar."
Narcissa arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Oh? And does Potter’s poor grammar also require sending him a box of our finest Swiss chocolates?"
Draco froze.
Then he cleared his throat and scoffed. "Please, Mother, it's called diplomacy. If Potter dies, who will I argue with?"
"Hmm." Narcissa gave him a knowing smile, but thankfully, she left it at that.
Draco sighed in relief and went back to rereading Harry’s letter.
......
Meanwhile, Harry Potter’s life had taken a dramatic turn.
Instead of spending another horrible summer at the Dursleys, he was now living at Grimmauld Place with Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and way too many enchanted furniture pieces that insulted him daily.
"Merlin’s beard, this place is a disaster," Sirius muttered as he kicked open another dusty, cursed cabinet. "We’re going to need a full renovation."
"At least we don’t have a murderer rat spying on us anymore," Remus pointed out, looking over a Ministry report.
"Dumbledore really handled that quietly." Harry nodded, still reeling from the fact that his parents’ betrayer had been caught, and Sirius was free.
And now?
He was sitting at the kitchen table, staring at an elegant box of Swiss chocolates like it was the most precious artifact in existence.
"Is he still looking at the chocolate?" Remus asked.
"Yep," Sirius said, leaning on the counter, smirking. "It’s kind of cute, in a pathetic way."
"I am not staring!" Harry protested, clutching the box.
Sirius and Remus exchanged looks.
"So," Sirius began, casually, "this Malfoy kid. You really like him, huh?"
Harry turned beet red. "I—wha—he’s—he’s my Clairvoyant! My lucky charm! And, uh… possibly my future boyfriend."
Sirius choked on his tea. "Merlin’s saggy pants! That’s… definitely a thing."
"Oh, it’s a thing," Remus agreed, amused.
Harry ignored them, pulling out Draco’s letter and rereading it for the fifth time.
"’Hope you’re not dead yet, Potter. Enjoy the chocolates. Don’t be an idiot next year. Also, learn to dress better-D.M.’" Harry read aloud.
Sirius snorted. "Ah, young love."
"He didn’t say it like that!" Harry insisted.
Sirius ruffled his hair. "Relax, pup. Just don’t start writing ‘Potter-Malfoy’ in your notebooks, and we’ll survive this."
Harry scowled, ignoring the fact that he had absolutely considered how ‘Harry Malfoy-Potter’ would sound.
.....
Back in Switzerland, Draco was plotting. Because next year was going to be even worse than this one.
The Diary. Ginny Weasley. His father’s stupidity.
Tom Riddle’s diary. A cursed artifact that possessed a twelve-year-old girl and caused absolute chaos.
Draco's first instinct was to stole it and throw it into the fireplace, stomp on it, and then hire a basilisk to eat it.
Unfortunately, if he did that, Lucius Malfoy would definitely suspect something.
No, he had to be smart about this. He had to manipulate his father into getting rid of it himself.
Draco grinned. Oh, he could be so manipulative.
........
Back at Grimmauld Place, Harry was bouncing on his feet.
"Sirius," he whined, "when does school start again?"
Sirius smirked. "What’s the rush?"
"I just… I just miss my friends," Harry muttered.
"You mean you miss Malfoy," Remus corrected.
Harry huffed. "He’s my best friend!"
Sirius grinned and nudged Remus. "Merlin, Moony, he’s exactly like James when James was in love with my Regulus."
Remus sighed dramatically. "The apple truly does not fall far from the tree."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Harry asked.
"Oh, nothing," Sirius said innocently. "Just a bit of family history repeating itself."
Harry ignored them, pulling out Draco’s letter again.
Only two more months. Then he’d see Draco again. And no matter what ridiculous dangers Hogwarts threw at them next year…
Harry knew one thing.
As long as Draco was with him, he’d be okay.
To be continue to another year of suffering… :)