Draco was beyond pleased that Harry was his friend again, and the football team was ecstatic when Draco canceled practice on Tuesday to work on the project with Harry.

"Your place or mine?," Harry asked during study hall.

"It has to be mine at least this first time. My parents don't want me hanging out alone with anyone they haven't met yet. It's quite annoying, but the issue hasn't arisen often."

"Alright then. What time?"

"Let me ask Mother. I'm sure she'd love to have you for dinner."

"Wonderful."

Harry thought that the Malfoys might as well just eat him alive.

"Since we'll be working with bacteria, it may be best to do it at my place because I have a spare room we can use. We should keep it contained to make sure nothing gets out. Let's start on our equipment list. Maybe Snape will let us use some things or we can sign out equipment.

Oh she's berating me for not mentioning it sooner. Does 5 work? And do you have a curfew? I don't want you getting in trouble in case the project runs late."

"5 is fine. Wait where you do live? I need to make sure I can get to you in time after work," Harry replied, pulling out his planner.

"From the restaurant-"

"Oh I'm not working there today. I switched shifts with a coworker to accommodate my tutoring schedule."

"You tutor?"

"Mostly younger kids, but yeah."

"I don't have the patience for children."

"I want to be a teacher I think. I'm not quite decided, for now I'm trying to get my general requirements completed and I'll go from there."

"Oh, that's a nice profession. It's smart of you to complete so many requirements early on.

Put the address of where you tutor in my phone so I can see how far away you are."

"I tutor in my flat, here."

"Oh it's a 5 minute drive that's not bad at all."

"How long is the walk?"

"About half an hour. We have lots of space for parking-"

"I don't have a car."

"Oh. I can pick you up."

"I walk lots of places Draco."

"For my own peace of mind, please let me pick you up."

"If you insist."

"You know I do. Now, do you have any food allergies?"

As Draco texted Harry that he was outside, Harry was wishing that he did indeed have some sort of food allergy. He was awkward at best, and had taken the quickest shower of his life once the child he was tutoring left. In between practice sets, he had also baked some cookies. He found it impolite to show up to someone's home without bringing something. 

"Do I look okay? Do I need to change?"

"You clean up... well," Draco commented, eyes raking over Harry slowly.

"You're sure?"

"Positive. You look good in button downs. We need to get you a green one to bring out the color of your eyes more."

"I'll add it to my shopping list," Harry said with a snort, climbing into the car.

"How was tutoring?," Draco asked.

Harry quickly filled him in on the student he was tutoring, and talked a little bit more about his work schedule.

"Just how many jobs do you work Harry?"

"As many as it takes. If you need something done I can almost certainly do it or learn it."

"Versatile, I like it."

"I work at the restaurant, I tutor, and I babysit primarily. Then I work a bunch of odd jobs depending on the season."

"God no wonder why you fell asleep."

"It's how it is. I've been working since before I was 14."

"14?!"

"Gotta survive. Is this where you live?!"

"Erm yeah."

"Are you sure I'm not underdressed?"

"You look great Harry, relax. I didn't expect you to dress up at all. If you're ever uncomfortable, we'll leave. Say your parents need you or something."

"I don't-"

"It'll be fine I promise."

"Yeah alright."

Draco got out of the car and opened Harry's door for him.

"Oh. Thank you."

"Of course."

Harry followed Draco up the path to the house, amazed by the sheer size of the property.

"You grew up here?"

"Yes, I've lived here all my life. Where did you grow up?"

"Surrey."

"We play matches against their high school team."

"Then you've had the misfortune of meeting my cousin."

"Who's your cousin?"

"Dudley Dursley."

"Misfortune doesn't even begin to cover it. He plays rough and dirty."

"That's how he lives," Harry replied with a snort.

Draco knocked on the front door before opening it and leading Harry inside.

"You can leave your shoes over here. Father,  Mother, we're here."

"Hello dear. And you must be Mr. Potter?"

"Harry is fine, please. Thank you for inviting me into your home Mrs. Malfoy. I brought these for you."

"Thank you Harry, that's very kind of you."

"Welcome to our home Mr. Potter."

"Harry is fine Mr. Malfoy. Thank you for having me."

"It's not often Draco brings people over, and we love to entertain. We can speak more during dinner. Draco, give Harry a tour will you? You can see which room is suitable for your project."

"Yes Father."

Harry's jaw dropped as he looked around the Manor in wonder.

"We truly come from two different worlds."

"I just come from old money is all," Draco said dismissively. "It's easy to build things up when you have the time and means to do so."

"I suppose so."

"I was thinking this room could work for our project? We can move some of the furniture around to suit our needs."

"As long as it's not needed for anything yeah. We can put the incubator over there, a mini fridge in that corner. We just need a sink we can use."

"There's an en suite bathroom."

"Oh. Okay then."

"I don't mean to come as if I'm showing off-"

"No no, you're fine. It's just very different."

"Help me move the tables? Then you can drop your bag in my room. We can just work in there since it's the planning stage."

"Sounds good."

They easily moved the tables, and then walked to Draco's room.

"And this is my room. You can put your bag on the desk over there."

"I don't know what I expected your room to look like, but it wasn't this."

"Should I be offended or is that a compliment?"

"I just thought you would have lots of decorations. The walls are plain."

"I tend to spend most of my time in the gardens or the library. I've never really noticed that before though. Do you want to listen to some music while we work on our plan? Dinner should be done at 6.

Where are my manners? Can I get you something to drink?"

"Water is fine."

"Coming right up."

Harry sat in Draco's bed and sighed, leaning his head against the headboard. He wondered what his life would've been like if he had grown up with parents. He carefully set out all of their notes, and raised an eyebrow at the glass of water Draco returned with.

"I think this glass contains more fruit than water."

"Everything here is extra to the extreme. I very well may have to teach you which forks to use."

"I would think one fork would suffice."

"You would, wouldn't you? Have we decided on the purpose of our experiment?"

"To identify the effectiveness of antibiotics on various bacterias."

"I'm going to start typing this up on my laptop, let me connect it to my tv so we can see it better."

By the time dinner was done, the two men had made great progress, and were excitedly talking about their project on the way down to dinner.

"Is it going well boys?," Narcissa asked. 

"Extremely well. Professor Snape said it sounds like a great idea so long as we can pull it off."

"I'm fairly confident you can. So Harry, tell us about yourself."

"Mother please-"

"Let the boy speak Draco," Lucius drawled.

"There's not much to tell. I grew up in Surrey and moved here about a month ago. I take some classes at the uni. What else would you like to know?"

"Do you know what you'd like to major in once you graduate?"

"I'm working on finishing my general education requirements currently. I think I may want to pursue the educational field. I haven't decided yet."

"Education is a respectable field," Lucius commented, taking a sip of water.

"Harry tutors in his spare time," Draco added, subtly pointing out which salad fork to use.

"Really?," Narcissa asked.

"I do, yes. I tutor a few of the children who live near my flat."

"Oh you live in a flat?," Lucius asked.

Draco sent him a warning look, and Lucius backed off as the main entree was served.

"You moved here with your family then?," Narcissa asked kindly.

"Oh no, it's just me. I live alone."

"You're only 16 aren't you?"

"Yes ma'am. I turned 16 at the end of July."

"I'm sorry dear, I'm not quite understanding. You moved without your family? Do they pay for your flat?"

"What do your parents do?," Lucius asked, reaching for the pitcher of water.

Harry shifted uneasily in his seat.

"Oh. My parents are dead."

Lucius knocked over the pitcher of water in shock and Draco dropped his fork.

"I'm so sorry let me help clean that up!"

"It's quite alright. Dobby!"

"Harry I'm so sorry I didn't know-"

"You didn't know because I didn't tell you," Harry said calmly. "I could've phrased it better in your defense, but sometimes it's just best to be blunt. I can only circumvent the questions so many times.

I'm emancipated from my aunt and uncle who were 'legally burdened with me' as they liked to say. That's why I started school late, I needed to wrap up all of the legal matters. I work to pay for my flat and sustain myself."

"We're sorry for prying," Narcissa cut in.

"It's an unusual situation, you couldn't have known. I haven't told anyone, I'm just looking for a fresh start. It was a... frequent... topic of conversation where I grew up."

"You're welcome here any time Harry. Our most sincere apologies again, we didn't mean to bring any unpleasant memories back up."

"Thank you Mrs. Malfoy. I was one when they passed. I apologize for turning the conversation dark, that wasn't my intention. Draco is my friend, I figured it would come up again at some point, I'd rather be straightforward and address it head on."

"Supporting yourself so young takes immense strength Harry. You should be proud of yourself, especially with all of your feats. That shows great entrepreneurial skills."

"Thank you Mr. Malfoy. It's definitely one way to build character," Harry joked.

"I can only imagine."

"Have another helping Harry, we have more than enough."

"I appreciate that Mrs. Malfoy, but I don't require special treatment. I've lived this way a long time. I don't know anything else."

"What was that you brought earlier Harry?," Draco asked, desperately trying to change the subject.

"Oh, I brought some brownies. I made them before I came."

"You bake?"

"Yes ma'am, I would say I know my way around the kitchen pretty well."

"Maybe you can teach Draco, he's quite the disaster in the kitchen," she teased, hiding her smile behind a teacup.

"Mother!"

"Let me fetch the tin shall I?"

The rest of dinner went by quickly, with everyone praising Harry's baking skills. Lucius seemed to be in a very contemplative mood as the night went on.

As soon as the two men entered Draco's room, Draco pulled Harry into a tight hug.

"Oh my God Harry I'm so sorry I had no idea! I feel so awful you shouldn't have had to have gone through that while you were trying to eat."

"Draco it's fine, you didn't know," Harry said quietly. "I should've expected it really. I'm sorry for springing it on you like that."

"I feel like a massive prick, especially for my past comments. I'm so sorry."

"Relax, it's okay. Your family seems nice. When Molly found out she cried and I had to comfort her. She's been a stand in mum for the past couple of years."

"I'm glad you had somebody. I'm here for you though Harry, whatever you need."

"Right now? I need to finish this project."

"Fair enough," Draco said with a laugh, nudging Harry's shoulder.