"Harry, Professor McGonagall is here!" Ron called out from downstairs. "And Dumbledore!"

Harry released his embrace around Draco. "Dumbledore?"

"I don't know." Draco said. "But we better see what he wants."

"He can't make you go to Malfoy Manor." Harry said. "I won't let him force you into anything."

"The cards are on our side." Draco said. "If you are up to revealing a few." Draco picked up the Aevumiter book.

Harry's gaze hardened. "I'd rather not, as much as possible."

Draco nodded, and set the book down. "Then let's get this conversation over with."

They made their way down the stairs, Harry in the lead. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Hermione, Ron, and the twins were waiting around the dining table. 

"Gentlemen." McGonagall said in greeting. 

"Draco, I was hoping we could discuss your options." Dumbledore said. "With your condition there are some things that must be taken into consideration."

"I've already thought through my options, Professor. I won't be returning to Hogwarts." Draco said. 

"Very well." Dumbledore said with a nod. "I will let your parents know that you will be returning home early."

"Actually, I must request that you don't say anything to my parents." Draco said.

"Why ever not?" Dumbledore asked.

"I won't be returning to Malfoy Manor." Draco said, matter of factly. "Mr. Black has offered for me to stay in his home. I think it is best that I reside here for the time being, with former Professor Lupin's guidance."

Dumbledore tilted his head. "Quite reasonable, however there are legal things we must take into consideration..."

"I'll be staying too." Harry said. 

All pairs of eyes except for Draco's turned to stare at Harry.

"You what, mate?" Ron asked. "I don't think I heard you right."

"I won't be returning to Hogwarts." Harry said. 

"Harry, my boy. You can't forsake your education for a friend." Dumbledore said kindly. "Though the intention is admirable. Hogwarts is the safest place for you."

"With all due respect, Professor," Draco said, stepping just slightly in front of Harry. "How dare you claim something so absurd?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand." Dumbledore said.

"Harry is not safe within Hogwarts. He would have been attacked several times over if Blaise and I hadn't stuck with him. And don't bother trying to claim that the professors would have stepped in, because one of them could have killed him." 

"Draco, I don't know why you think so little of-"

"Do you turn a blind eye on everyone who uses dark objects on students?" Draco snarled, "Or is that just for Umbridge?"

Dumbledore's eyes widened for a moment. "I see." He said, taking in Draco's protectiveness. "Alas, the choice to withdraw you from school is not mine to make."

Harry was growing nervous. He didn't want to reveal what he was, not for something like this. Not to Dumbledore. But it looked like that might be the only way. Harry glanced at McGonagall, and saw she was staring at him. She winked. 

"Someone call for me?" Sirius asked, his arms crossed as he leaned his shoulder against the door frame. Remus stood beside him. "By the way, Professor, I'm taking Harry out of Hogwarts."

A bit of surprise flashed across Dumbledore's eyes. "Sirius, you know that Harry is under the care of the Dursleys."

"Actually, no. He's mine. Legally speaking, of course. I'm his godfather, I have full rights to custody of him. The Dursleys only received him because you bypassed laws. Otherwise, Harry would have gone to Remus." 

That was news to Harry. He should have been with Remus this whole time? Dumbledore robbed him of that?

"Very well." Dumbledore said, reluctantly. "Now then, Draco, I'm afraid I must inform your parents."

"Actually," Remus piped in. "According to Hogwarts regulations, Professors must not act in ways that would endanger a student. I think you're much too sharp not to realize that Lucius Malfoy would not take kindly to his son's new condition."

"Then what would you suggest?" Dumbledore asked.

"Draco's godfather is already aware of his condition. Perhaps you should seek his judgement." Remus said.

"Perhaps." Dumbledore agreed. He turned to Fred and George. "Are you two ready to return?"

"Yes Professor." They both said.

"See ya, Harry." George said.

"See ya, Malfoy." Fred said, and they followed Dumbledore out. Shortly after was the sound of them disapparating. 

Harry gave Hermione and Ron a hug. "I'll see you at Christmas."

"We'll see you then, Harry." Hermione said.

"Take care, mate." Ron said. 

"I will." Harry said.

"That went well." Remus said. 

"I think it did, indeed. Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter- your possessions will be returned to you shortly." McGonagall said.

"Thank you, Professor." Draco said, trying to calm his agitation.

"Thank you." Harry said.

McGonagall left with a smile, taking Hermione and Ron with her.

Harry turned to Sirius and Remus. "What did you mean, I was supposed to be with Remus?"

"If something happened to your parents, and to me, you were supposed to be passed on to Remus." Sirius said.

"And I wasn't? Why?" Harry demanded.

"Dumbledore thought it would be better to take you to the Dursleys." Remus said. "By the time I... I couldn't find you. And I was so struck with grief... Dumbledore convinced me it was better that you would be raised by them."

"That wasn't his decision to make." Harry said, his hands clenched into fists, a fire burning in his chest. "That wasn't for him to decide." His eyes stung.

"He seems to quite fancy making choices for everyone." Draco said darkly. 

"I hate him." Harry said quietly. "I hate him so much." 

Sirius wrapped him in a hug. Remus set a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry that I let him convince me it wasn't right." Remus said. 

Harry reached out to hug Remus. "It's not your fault. He used you. He's been using all of us."

"Well, he's not going to use any of us anymore." Draco said, still working on getting the anger off his face.

Remus chuckled. "The temper takes some getting used to."

"Evidently." Draco said, his scowl softening.

"I promise it does get easier, though." Remus said. 

"At least there's that." Draco said. "Harry, are you okay?"

"No. I'm not." Harry said softly. "I..."

Draco took one of Harry's hands into his own, and kissed Harry's forehead. "You don't need to explain."

"I hate him." Harry said again, his voice cracking. 

~~~

In the middle of the night, Harry and Draco woke to Sirius' mother screaming, and Sirius cursing.

Harry ran out, to see if something was wrong, Draco right behind.

"Sorry, sorry, I just knocked something over-" Sirius apologized.

Harry scowled at the portrait, and then marched to stand in front of it. He pulled the curtain off, and she glowered at him in complete disdain and fury. Harry ignored her crude insults. Draco stared, thoroughly nonplussed.

Harry watched the portrait, and saw the magic in the portrait, and what was connecting it to the wall. Harry reached out with his own magic, and began to dismantle it. 

"Harry? What are you doing? She won't stop until you cover her up and let her wail herself out." Sirius said.

"Sh." Draco said. "He's doing his thing. Give him a moment."

Abruptly, Walburga Black went silent, her portrait becoming as still as a muggle painting.

"What-?" Sirius blinked.

Then Harry pulled apart the magic that stuck it to the wall, and it fell to the floor with a heavy crashing noise as the heavy frame landed. There was a shuffling before Remus poked his head around a corner.

"What was that?" Remus asked.

"Harry just killed my mother." Sirius said in awe. 

"What?" Remus asked, shuffling into the hall. He saw the fallen portrait and snorted. 

They all went back to bed in considerably higher moods.

~~~

The next day, Harry and Draco's trunks were waiting for them, Hedwig perched in her cage. Harry dug through his, and felt his fingers brush against a cold chain. He tugged, and pulled the locket free.

"Kreacher?" Harry called out, hesitantly. He hadn't seen Kreacher yet.

"Kreacher!" Sirius called out, louder. He turned to Harry. "I told him he didn't have to be around when we had guests. I took your advice, and... You were right. We've been warming up to each other."

Harry gave him a slight smile, and then saw Kreacher's head peer around a doorway. Harry let the pierced metal of the locket dangle from his hand. Kreacher's eyes went wide, and he hurried over, taking the locket from Harry.

"I did it." Harry said softly.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter." Kreacher said, his bony fingers gingerly caressing the locket. "Thank you, Mr. Potter... Kreacher has not been so happy in many years..." 

"Kreacher." Sirius said.

"Yes, Master Sirius?" Kreacher looked up.

Sirius pointed to Draco. "This is Draco Malfoy. He'll be staying with us for the foreseeable future."

Kreacher peered up at Draco. "A Malfoy within these walls?"

"Yes. He's Harry's friend. Is that a problem?" Sirius said.

"A Malfoy and friend of Mr. Potter... No, no problem at all, Kreacher finds no problem with Mr. Malfoy..." Kreacher's gaze fell back to the locket. "Happy to have Mr. Malfoy in House Black..."

Sirius turned to Harry and Draco. "Let's get these trunks up to your room, shall we?"

Harry let Hedwig out of the cage, and levitated the trunks up the stairs.

Sirius tilted his head to the side. "Nonverbal and wandless. You make it look effortless."

Harry shrugged. "It's just like... Connecting the dots, I suppose. I send my magic to it, and I want it to float, and it does." 

"Extraordinary." Sirius said. 

"So the books say." Harry said.

"What I think will be truly extraordinary," Draco said. "Is a shower. Excuse me, but I hear it calling to me."

Sirius laughed. As Draco climbed the stairs after the trunks, Sirius leaned towards Harry. "I think I'm actually going to like him."

"I hope so." Harry said. "He's important to me."

"I know." Sirius said, with a small smile. "I know."

"Breakfast is finished." Remus called out from the kitchen. 

"I'll be right there. I've got to make sure the trunks end up in the right place." Harry said. 

"Sure, the trunks." Sirius said with a wink.

Harry was certain he flushed. Sirius laughed. Harry sighed, and climbed the stairs. He directed the trunks, and set them down. He went back down to get some breakfast without visiting Draco in the shower.

Harry accepted a plate from Remus in the dining room.

"Draco not eating?" Remus asked.

"The shower is his priority right now." Harry said. "I'm going to get one after he's done though."

Remus nodded. "Anything you want to do today?"

"Actually, yes." Harry said. "I need to go somewhere and find something, but I've only seen it in someone else's memory, so... I don't know if I'll be able to apparate there."

"Where is it?" Sirius asked.

"Little Hangleton." Harry said. 

"Hangleton... I think I've been near there before. I could get us close enough, and we could go on a walk?" Remus suggested. "I assume you want to draw as little attention as possible..."

"You're right." Harry said. "I can walk."

Draco came downstairs dressed in his own clean clothes, his hair still slightly damp. Harry smiled. "You look much better."

Draco quirked a brow. "Was that a disguised insult?"

"Just an observation." Harry said. 

"Hmm. Well, I observe that you also stink like sweat." Draco said. "I think it's your turn to shower."

"I think I can agree with that." Harry grinned, and started to head out of the dining room before he turned back. "Um, Draco?"

"Yes?"

"Remus and I are going to run an errand after I get out, so... Are you going to be okay?" Harry asked.

"Of course. It's not like there's an escaped prisoner of Azkaban lurking around these parts." Draco deadpanned. 

Sirius snorted.

"I just... Wanted to make sure."

"Go take your shower." Draco said with a smile, and turned to his breakfast. 

A/N

Suddenly Aevumiter is #2 in harrypotter? what? what?