And it was good.
---
Later, after Harry had washed up, and they had eaten lunch -- although it was more like tea, really, since it was half four before they emerged from Harry's room -- Nelli
'Draco would love to come to visit,' Father told him. 'We've agreed for him to arrive this Wednesday.'
'Brilliant!' Harry jumped up from the sofa where he'd been looking at the pictures in his Quidditch book. 'When's Wednesday?'
'Day after tomorrow. He'll stay for a week.' Father's expression turned stern, mostly a slight narrowing of his eyes, but Harry knew when Father did that, that Harry had to make sure and do whatever was said afterwards, 'cause it was really important. 'You and I will have to work out rules for when he's here. I won't have the two of you running roughshod over the castle or the staff.'
'No, sir. I mean, yes, sir.' Harry frowned. 'We'll be good.'
The stern face softened. 'I know you will.'
---
Wednesday couldn't arrive soon enough to suit Harry. In the meantime, though, he had plenty to keep him busy. Soon after Father told him about Draco coming to Hogwarts, he met Madam Pomfrey for the first time. She was very nice and gave him a chocolate frog, which he'd never had before, and which he had to chase after and catch when it tried to hop away. She also told Father that Harry needed more potions, for nutrition, and that he could use a very small dose of something called Dreamless Sleep, but only every other night, to help with nightmares. And then she looked at Harry's hand and clucked over it and nodded and talked with Father about it for a long time, while Harry sat on the edge of a narrow, but very clean, bed in the infirmary, nibbled on his chocolate, and watched the light from the tall windows sparkle on the floor.
In the end, they decided he should have the surgery the very next day, and Madam Pomfrey scheduled it while they were still in the infirmary. The idea of someone cutting up his hand made Harry very nervous, but Father promised him that he wouldn't feel a thing, as he'd be asleep, and that Father would be waiting for him when he woke up.
He took some of the Dreamless potion that night and didn't have any nightmares at all, and he only had a little breakfast the next day, because going to sleep for the surgery might make him feel sick, Father said. They Floo'd to another hospital place, where Father let him sit on his lap and play with the buttons on his shirt, until it was time to go to sleep, and then, when he woke up later, Father was there, waiting, just like he'd said he would.
Harry's hand was a little sore after that, but he had a new splint on it, and a green bandage with little yellow birds flying all over it, and Harry watched them, entranced, until Father made him sit down to supper. After supper he could hardly keep his eyes open, and so Father cast a
On Wednesday morning, Father changed the dressing on Harry's hand, and it looked strange, with white threads poking through his skin, and the obvious tear marks where his teeth had sunk in. But it wasn't angry red anymore, and wasn't even as sore as it had been, so Harry hardly minded Father touching it and putting the special cream on.
After breakfast, they spent some time adding a second bed to Harry's room, and more shelves and another wardrobe, for Draco. Harry was so excited, Father had to tell him three times that he needed to settle down.
But finally, Draco arrived!
Just after lunch, a whooshing sound made Harry look up from his book to see Mister Malfoy step through their Floo. Harry immediately jumped to his feet, even as Father rose from the desk where he'd been going over lesson plans.
'Severus,' Mister Malfoy said, and handed over a tiny trunk, that Father waved his wand over till it got bigger.
'Lucius.' Father inclined his head. 'So good of you to come.'
'Of course.' Mister Malfoy looked at Harry then, and he couldn't help but take a step back. His knees ran up against the settee, and he used it for balance. 'We meet again, Harry.'
'Good afternoon, sir. It's very nice to see you.'
'I'm sure.' Mister Malfoy turned when the Floo made another whooshing sound and Draco tumbled out.
Instead of falling, like Harry often did, though, Draco caught himself and kept his feet. He grinned at Harry till he caught sight of his own father's face, at which point he straightened up even more and held his head high. 'Uncle Sev. Thank you for inviting me to stay with you.'
Father inclined his head again. 'You're welcome. You can put your belongings in the room at the end of the hall. Harry, if you would show Draco to your room? And mind your hand!'
'Yes, Father!' Harry jumped forward and skirted around Draco's father, then grabbed one end of the trunk so they could drag it down the hallway. 'Right down here, Draco!'
Draco took up the other end and the two of them hurried out of the sitting room. 'It's small, isn't it?' Draco said, when Harry opened the door to his room and stepped inside.
Harry shrugged, feeling a little worried in his tummy. Would Draco not want to be his friend, if his room wasn't as big? It was loads bigger than his cupboard was, and even bigger than Dudley's main bedroom, but he had to admit that Draco's room had been loads bigger than this. 'It's big enough for me.'
'I guess.' Draco looked around. 'We're meant to share?'
Harry nodded unhappily at Draco's tone.
'Well, which bed is mine then?'
