The next morning, Harry woke up early to pack up his clothes. The train would leave at noon to bring all the students back to their families for the break. Harry easily finished packing and was able to get a late breakfast. But before he headed to the dinning hall, he stopped by Draco's room, knocking on the door.

"Come in." Draco said from inside.

Harry slipped in and closed the door behind. He walked behind Draco and wrapped his arms around his waist. 

"There you are. I was wondering when you'd come over." Draco turned around so he was facing Harry.

"I'm going to miss you. You and I are sort of joined by the hip." Draco told him.

"I'll miss you too. I'll miss a lot of people. This break I'm spending it alone at the Black Manor. It seems I'll be moving there after this year, so I need to fix it up." Harry didn't seem very excited.

Draco grinned. "It's just me at the manor this time. Mother will be staying with some family members and I refused to go with her. I can help you pack. And I'm sure Hermione and Ron would help as well. You have asked them, right?"

Harry shook his head. "I told them I had some business to take care of over the break. I don't want them spending their Christmas Break cleaning up the Black Manor. Plus it should go by fast if I clear up the little curses lingering in the air. I'll need a professional for it. And I need some curse breakers to break everything preexisting and then get someone to reestablish some modern protection. I should be working for awhile, so I didn't want to borrow the others." Harry explained.

Draco shook his head. "I can still help you. Plus that means I can see you." Draco grinned. Although it dropped a little. "Unless you don't want to see me."

Harry shook his head and tightened his grip. "No. No. I want to see you. I just don't want you to feel like you are obligated to stay with me." Harry said quickly.

Draco smiled and wrapped his arms around Harry's neck. "Good. Because I don't feel obligated. I want to see you, and so I will." Draco concluded.

Harry ducked down and gave Draco a quick peck on the neck before slipping away.

He gathered his trunks and lugged them upstairs to the pile-up. He set his bags down and walked around. It seemed a little crazy as students walked around transporting their items. 

Harry was walking through a little crowd of people and bumped heads with someone. 

"Oh. Sorry." He apologized before looking up. it was Graham, and he was grinning at Harry.

"Well well. You and I bump into each other again." He flashed his bright white teeth.

"Really? I don't actually remember either of us bumping into the other." Harry kept his voice bland. He started to walk past Graham, but he grabbed onto his arm.

"Come on, Harry. You can't still be mad at me? I apologized. Forgive don't forget. The Slytherin motto. Well, that's one of them, that is." 

Harry shook his head. "That's not how this works. You see, I forgive you if I feel like it. And if I don't, then I don't give a damn about you. My mind, my rules. I never followed the house mottos, only my own." He explained.

Graham seemed more interested the more Harry got mad. Harry shook his arm away and continued to walk. Graham caught up with him and stopped him again.

"What is it Graham?" Harry was very annoyed that Graham kept stopping him.

"Since Christmas Break is starting, and we are practically free wizards, I was wondering if you'd go out on a date with me? A proper one, not a Hogsmeade trip." He asked.

Harry put on an extreme thinking face and rubbed his nonexistent beard. "Gee, um, you see. I would love to. But I'm going to be spending my Christmas Break with Draco. At my new place. Alone. With him. So obviously you see this conundrum. How about we continue this conversation in a century or so? I think I'll be free, then." Harry turned around and left Graham standing there. He couldn't help but smirk as he walked back to the dungeons.

Harry went back to his dorm and packed up his personal bag for the trip. He popped into Draco's room while he was gone, and grabbed the hair product he left in the bathroom. He had not curled his hair but the iron curls from the night before were holding slightly. 

He decided to wait for Draco since he left some items in the room, so he closed the door and transformed into a tall black Maned wolf. He crawled under the covers and waited for Draco.

It took about 10 minutes of hiding, but Draco finally arrived back to the room. Harry waited to hear the door close and then he popped into view, startling Draco.

"Merlin. Harry you startled me." Draco sighed. Harry relaxed on the bed and sprawled out. He relaxed his body and turned into a smoky figure of his solid form. Draco commented that he looked like a ghost fox.

Once Draco finished packing his personal bag, Harry solidified and they walked out of the dungeons together. They met with Hermione and Ron at the main entrance and they took a Thestral drawn carriage to the train. 

They were fairly early, and had to split up to their sections of the train. Harry had remembered only being in the Slytherin section once, and it was when Draco broke his nose and left him.

They picked the seats in the back of the section closest to the Ravenclaw section, and sat down. There were a couple of Slytherins, but it was mostly empty.

"Where will you be?" Draco asked.

"The Black Manor. You'll be able to get in since your apart of the Black family. But in a couple of days I'll be disabling that safety precaution for a more detailed protective charm. Only the names I list will be able to enter the house, and guests will be escorted in by me. I'm also disabling the floo until I can figure out a personalized system." Harry informed him.

"Paranoid much?" Draco joked.

Harry cracked a smile. "I'm afraid that after the war, the number of people who want me captured or killed has at least doubled, if not, tripled. Especially since some Alumni of people think I'm going to destroy everything in my path. So I'm making sure that no one enters unless I want them. I may get one new house elf to help clean while I work, but that'll be it." He shrugged.

"You've got a point. The number of people who want you dead will certainly increase your safety protocols. When are you going the Auror academy?" He asked.

"Effective immediately after I graduate. I just want the degree so no one can say I got it because of privilege." Harry explained. 

Draco definitely agreed. That's why he insisted on finishing Hogwarts. Before the war, he was promised many jobs. Although he can't say the same now. He'd be lucky getting a job at the Ministry as a janitor.

"Do you know what you can do? You said you were trying to arrange for some interviews for jobs." Harry asked. Draco leaned against the wall of the train.

"I lettered a couple of businesses that had positions open. Out of the four, three of them didn't want me to work for them because it would ruin their reputation. And the last one is not fond of me but needs a worker. I don't think they are a safe option."

"What about the Auror academy?" Harry brought up the position of Alchemist.

"My mother is very much against the idea of me becoming an Auror let alone working for them. So I promised that they would be my last option." He explained. "But I feel like I'll need to fill out an application this break seeing as no one wants me." He rolled up his sleeve to flash his Dark Mark. "Since the Dark Mark has turned into a non-magical scar, I am going to get something tattooed over it. Apparently some ex-death eaters have done it, and it works." 

"What will you get tattooed?" Harry asked.

"Probably some flowers. I'm thinking Sunflowers, Magnolias, Jasmine, maybe Poppies. Maybe a combination. What do you think I should get?" He asked.

Harry thought about it. The mark was fairly faded so light colors shouldn't be a problem. Plus magical tattoos must be better than muggle tattoos. "I'm thinking yellow Sunflowers, red Roses, and blue Larkspur. The primary colors will stand out against your skin." Harry suggested. 

Draco had not thought of Roses or Larkspur. They were both fairly pretty flowers, and they stood out well with Sunflowers. "I think you are a genius. The colors seem nice, and they would look nice altogether." 

The two talked for awhile till the Slytherin section finally filled up. Blaise found them and they had a little section to themselves in the back. Mostly because they were still a bit of the outcasts. Harry had finally been warmed into the Slytherin house, but being somewhat more than friends with Draco made them tense. In their eyes, Draco would always be a Malfoy. And the Malfoy name has become synonymous with cowards. Blaise on the other hand was friends and enemies with all the Slytherins. He was both hated and loved by all. Hated because he was the sneakiest and loved because he played the nicest. No one ever knew if he was acting nice or plotting something, and so people naturally feared and admired him.

But Harry and Draco could tell that Blaise was genuine to them. Blaise had been nice to Harry for years, and he looked past Draco's mistakes.

"So are you two shagging over the break?" Blaise came out and asked.

Both of them immediately blushed. "What the bloody hell, Blaise? We are not shagging over the break." Harry defended.

"For once Harry is right. I'm just going to help him clean up his new place." Draco informed him.

Blaise made a suggestive face. "So you two will be moving furniture?" He smirked.

Draco blushed and threw a crumpled up piece of paper at him. Although they knew he didn't mean harm. Soon the train started to move and they were on their way to King's Cross station.

Halfway through the ride, Draco slipped off and headed into the Ravenclaw section and found Hermione. She was in a four person compartment, but only she and Luna occupied it.

"Draco. How come you're here?" Hermione greeted.

"What did Harry tell you about his break plans?" Draco asked.

"That he had some business to attend to regarding his house, so he'd be sleeping there. Although he promised to visit at the Burrow. Why do you ask?" 

"Harry is cleaning up the house and hiring a whole bunch of people to strip the place of all barriers, and then he's adding more barriers. Not to mention, he's cleaning up the place by himself. He didn't want to tell you guys so you wouldn't go out of your way to help him. Although I know you guys would help him whether he wanted it or not. I just thought you should know. I'll be helping him since I've got nothing better." Draco informed him. 

"Well Skipper and I have no real plans except be with the Weasleys. I would definitely want to help Harry clean up. The place is a pigsty." She had to admit. "Years and years of dust plus a negative energy cake up in the house. Although we'll need to get rid of the curse. Last time I nearly hexed Harry because we were all so moody." 

"Harry is going to get rid of the curse first thing that way he can work faster." Draco told her. "I'll see you later. I need to get back." Draco closed the door and headed back to Harry and Blaise.

The three talked the duration of the train ride, and would occasionally be stopped by other Slytherins. Most of them inviting them to family parties or private New Year's parties. Although Harry was neither available nor interested. He was more into parties with people he knew.

The train finally stopped at it's destination, and everyone filed off the train. Harry and Draco finally got off the train and retained their luggage.

"Hey Draco. Do you think I can see your mom? I wanted to speak to her for a moment." Harry asked.

"Sure. Follow me." Draco lead him around, and they saw her. She smiled, and then hesitated when she saw Harry. Draco lead him to Narcissa, and he set his trunks down.

"It's nice to properly meet you, Narcissa." Harry greeted.

"It's nice to meet you too. Draco talks about you in his letters. I can't help but thank you for giving Draco a second chance, and helping the others accept him." She thanked. "We've all made mistakes, and it's nice that Draco has found restitution." 

"I actually wanted to thank you. You saved my life, and I never got the chance to thank you. So I thought now would be a good time." Harry smiled and leaned in to give her a light hug, which she reciprocated.

They separated and looked around. Some parents definitely saw and didn't seem pleased. "Well I should head over to the Weasleys. They are probably worried. See you soon." Harry gave Draco a quick hug and navigated through the crowd and located the family of red heads.

"Harry! There you are!" Molly exclaimed happily. "I was wondering where you snuck off to." 

"Sorry. I went to go say high to Narcissa and got a little lost in the crowd." He apologized. 

He got hugs from Arthur, Molly, and surprisingly George. He was at the cross with them.

"Hey mate. What have you been up to these days?" Harry asked.

"Nothing much. But I've decided to open up the shop again after the New Years. So I'll be occupied again. Mind helping a hand after Hogwarts?" He grinned a little.

"I would love to, but the Auror academy ordered me to start immediately after I leave Hogwarts. Plus I'll be taking care of Teddy soon, so I won't have much free time." He apologized.

"No worries. I've got Ginny working there till she signs off on a Quiditch team. By the time she does, I should have another employee." George told him.

"Come on. Let's get back. I've made dinner." Molly ushered them. They all carried their trunks to the public floos and arrived back to the Burrow.

Hermione split off from there to bring her items back to her parent's place, and Harry helped Ron and Ginny bring their trunks up to their rooms. Harry left his trunks off to the side so he could take them to the Manor after dinner. Molly and Arthur had insisted that Harry stayed for dinner before going back since there was no food in the house.

By the time Hermione came back, the whole family was ready for dinner.

They all sat down at the table and each piled their own plate. They chatted and got back to speed with current events.

"So how is the Slytherin house treating you? Good, I hope." Arthur asked.

Harry nodded. "At the beginning they were a bit cold but I warmed my way in. They aren't the most sociable to begin with, so I kept my distance. Blaise Zabini is one of my friends. Fairly scary bloke but also nice." Harry told them.

"And what about Draco Malfoy? I heard you two were becoming close friends." Molly brought up.

"No way! You and Draco are friends? I never saw that coming." George said surprised, although he definitely didn't seem surprised in a bad way.

"Draco and I made up. We have become good friends. And Narcissa and I aren't complete strangers, so that helps." Harry said pleased.

Arthur looked over to Ginny and Ron for their looks of approval, and was glad to see that they agreed with the friendship. 

"You should see Draco and Harry. They are the talk of the school in many instances." Ginny grinned.

"Hush Ginny." Harry shushed her. Although they were both grinning.

"Were the papers true? You and Draco have become a thing?" George asked.

Harry shrugged. "At the time, it wasn't true. But I can't say the same now." 

Hermione looked fairly surprised by this information. "Since when did you develop. Was it during the ball?" She asked.

Harry couldn't help but grin. "Maybe." He laughed.

"Well I'm glad you found someone." Molly assured him.

They talked some more, and the subject soon came to Harry's new set up. "Also, Beaky and I will be helping Harry clean up while the curse breakers work on the manor. We'll be gone a couple days to help clean up." Ron told them.

Harry's mouth gawped open. "Who told you? I bet it was Draco." Harry guessed.

"Nope. Beaky told me, but she heard it from Draco. If you needed help, why didn't you just ask? Instead of hiring helpers who you have no information on." Ron asked.

Harry shrugged. "Last time we were in the manor for an extended amount of time, we nearly killed each other. I didn't want to subject you to that again. And it's not like I can get hurt now." Harry brought up. The three knowing Harry's little secret. No matter what happened, Harry would be safe from harm.

"We want to help, Fumus. But if you don't let us, then we can't. And if Draco get's to help you, then we can. That is, unless you plan on being alone with Draco." Hermione gave a suggestive wink, which made Harry freeze on the stop.

"Fine, fine. Come over whenever you'd like. It's just going to be a whole lot of cleaning while I've got the workers breaking, fixing, and adding charms." Harry caved in

George watched them and thought about the names they had given each other.

"What's up with the code names? Very Marauder of you." Fred asked, looking between the three.

They all shrugged. "Harry is Fumus, Ron is Skipper, and I'm Beaky. You'll start to figure it out." Hermione told him.

The group at the table understood what they meant but didn't comment on it. Ginny, George, Molly, and Arthur were fairly aware that it was illegal, but knowing the three, they would use it responsibly. 

Once dinner was finished they said their goodnights and Hermione left first to get back home. And then Harry. 

Harry arrived into the Black Manor, covered in a little soot from the old floo. He immediately headed upstairs to the master room and did a quick clean of the area so he could sleep. He got changed into pajamas and slipped under the covers. The house made weird noises in the night, but Harry managed to fall asleep. He knew he had to find a way to sleep. Harry would have to open up all the entrances for the curse breakers so they could work on the house.

Harry's eyes fluttered closed and he fell asleep.