Harry laid in a fetal position with Anguis and Nigrum laying peacefully by his stomach. It was late at night and Harry had not been let out of his cupboard since he had gotten back, about a week now, except for his daily beatings and bathroom breaks. He had had no food and had resorted to drinking as much water from the sink during his bathroom breaks as possible. His snakes had taken to leave during the day to hunt and came back at night to sleep with Harry and do their best to tend to his wounds.

His back had turned to strips of flesh held together only dried blood. The same could be said for his chest only less severe and layered with bruises. His arms and legs bruised with minimal cuts. His face gaunt and pale, and unhealthily so at that. Hungers claws scratched at his stomach.

Harry felt something on his wrist grow hot. He smiled and shot up. He positioned the bracelet at eye level and pressed the green gem in the center. Smoke filled out and billowed until a familiar head was formed in the smoke.

"Hey Dray," Harry whispered as he beamed at the blonde.

"Hey Har," Draco whispered back. "The papers finally went through. We're coming to get you tomorrow morning at eight. Who knew it would take so long to get temporary permission for you to come and stay for the rest of break." Harry gave a bright but tired smile.

"M'kay. Just make sure that your prepared to deal with some very nasty muggles."

"Don't worry, we'll get you out of there. It's only been a week, love and you look terrible." Harry's face turned a bright red at the nickname but he still heard the concern of his boyfriends words.

"I'll be fine as soon as I'm with you. If you're picking me up early then we should both get some sleep."

"Your right. Be ready ok? I love you Harry." Draco and Harry shared a bright smile.

"I love you, too, Draco. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Harry lowered his wrist as the smoke filed back into the bracelet. He laid back down and lazily stroked Nigrums neck.

~We're leaving tomorrow so stay under my clothes okay?~

~Of course Master Harry~ Harry nodded and allowed his hand to fall and his eyes to close.

Harry woke to his stomach growling and had to turn his head into the makeshift mattress to physically suppress his groan. He had no idea what time it was nor what time Draco was coming to pick him up. He made no move to get up, not even when he heard the heavy footsteps of his uncle descend the stairs. Not when he heard them stop at his cupboard door. Not when he heard the locks being undone. Not even when he heard the door open.

"Get up boy," Harry tensed but slowly moved to sit up with his head bowed. He felt his treasured snakes squirming under his clothes and put a hand over them to still their movements. "Cook breakfast and then wait in the foyer."

Harry's eyes widened and he slowly crawled out of the cupboard into the kitchen.

"Yes sir. Would you like the traditional english breakfast?" Harry only got a grunt and a sharp slap at the back of his head as an answer.

Harry quickly set to make the bacon and bangers first, seeing as they took the longest. He then put the toast in the toaster and whisked half a dozen eggs to scramble. He cut two tomatoes and set to grill. The whole thing took only twenty minutes with the kitchen skills Harry had picked up in his eleven years. Harry was playing when the knock on the door sounded through the house.

"Get the door boy!" Harry quickly set down the pan from which he had been playing eggs from and hurried to the door. Opening it, Harry's eyes widened and he cursed himself. Draco and Luc stood on the patio.

"Morning Harry! Are you-" Draco was cut off by Uncle Vernon's booming voice.

"Freak! Who's at the door?" Harry grew more and more terrified as he head heavy footsteps near the door.

"People from school, sir" Harry answered in a small voice. Vernon made his appearance and narrowed his eyes at the blondes.

"What are you ruddy folks doing here?" Harry winced as the well-known Malfoy mask set in on the others faces.

"We are here to discus Mr.Potters temporary situation for the summer. He is expected to do homework and he can't with Muggles such as yourself present. All we require is him and his belongings." Vernon narrowed his eyes at them and then turned to Harry.

"Do you know about this?" Harry gave a minute shake of his bowed head. "Get your freakishness inside. Don't need the neighbors to see you. Boy, lead them into the foyer."

"Yes sir," Harry held the door open wider and allowed the Malfoy pair to enter while Vernon went upstairs. Harry led them to the horridly decorated room where Draco immediately went to hug him. Harry briefly gave into the embrace before having to push him off. "He's coming."

Harry quickly walked into the kitchen and finished plating the breakfast before putting the dirty pans in the sink. He placed the plates in the table and walked back into the other room. Vernon finally came back down and threw Harry's trunk down on the floor.

"There. Now leave. I don't want you here anymore." Vernon turned and walked out of the room. Harry heard the footsteps stop just outside the door and he quickly grabbed his trunk before speaking to the Malfoys.

"Quickly! Before he changes his mind." Luc understood immediately and grabbed both Draco's and Harry's arm before Disapparating into the parlor of Malfoy Manor. Harry dropped his trunk and swayed on his feet.

"Harry? Are you ok?" Harry looked towards Draco with a dazed smile on his face.

"Hey Dray," Harry didn't do much else except for registering the call of his name as he promptly passed out.

Harry woke up hours later to the feeling of a warm, comfortable bed underneath him and an even warmer body holding him to their chest. Harry opened his eyes and moved his head slightly to look at Draco's face, features softened by the pull of slumber. Harry smiled lightly and buried his face back into Draco's familiar front.

Wrapping his arms around the others torso, Harry pulled them flush together and thought of all the things they could do at the manor in summer that they couldn't do in winter. They could play quidditch, they could go swimming in the pool that he had seen frozen over during Christmas, they could play hide and seek. Harry stopped and blinked into Draco's chest. He struggled to contain the giggles that wanted to come pouring out of him. Had he really just thought they could play such a childish game? Harry looked up again at Draco's face when he felt the other start to shift. He watched a light frown dance on the blondes features before the liquid sliver eyes blinked a couple times before fully opening and locking on Harry's own emerald green eyes.

"Hey," Harry watched as Draco smiled sleepily at him. "Are you even awake?" Draco just nodded minutely and leaned down to nuzzle his neck. He smiled and just lay there with Draco, happily accepting his company. Harry heard, well more felt actually, Draco mumble something unintelligible. "Come again."

"I said," Draco came back up to look Harry in the face. "How do you manage to smell like treacle tart all the time?"

Despite his blush, Harry gave a perfectly clear answer, "Its a skill of mine, though you seem to harbor the same skill, only you favor," Harry paused to lean in and dramatically inhale, "green apples and vanilla. Interesting. Those make great dessert flavors." Draco let out a laugh and pulled Harry even closer, if possible, and press their foreheads and noses together.

"Well, thanks. I've heard I'm quite the delight. Though I don't think I've ever had someone tell me what I smell like." Harry smiled brightly.

"Happy to be of service," Harry smiled and lightly pressed his lips to Draco's. Draco hummed and squeezed Harry closer to him.

"Boys, are you up?" Cissa knocked and walked into the room, pausing at their position. The boys separated and looked at her with wide eyes. She smiled and leaned against the open door. "Can I ask how long?"

"About two months," Harry answered meekly. Cissa just smiled again and walked over.

"Just be careful with each other and Harry," Harry looked at Cissa expecting some kind of talk. "Take care of yourself too." Harry nodded and the boys watched in silence as Cissa left the room.

"So," Draco started, "was that the talk? Because it wasn't as bad as I imagined." Harry looked at Draco blankly for a moment before they both fell into a fit of laughter.

Time skip to July 30th

Harry sat in the bed with Draco looking at nothing, both of them thinking. Harry looked at the clock against the wall. Eleven fifty-six. Harry looked at Draco and smiled. Draco smiled back.

"Do you always stay up?" Harry nodded.

"It's my little tradition. Stay up until midnight and make a birthday wish. You should feel honored, no one has ever joined me before." Harry stuck his nose up and crossed his arms. Draco raised an eyebrow and looked at Harry with amusement clear on his face.

"Oh, I do, I feel greatly honored to be with the birthday prince on my bed in my bedroom in my mansion." Harry put his arms down and blushed lightly.

"Whatever," Draco lightly chuckled and looked at the clock. Eleven fifty-eight.

"Pansy, Blaise, Theo, the twins and Neville are coming tomorrow," Draco informed Harry quietly. "Mother owled them all last week, wanted to make sure they were coming." Harry just smiled and nodded. They sat in silence for a few moments.

"Thank you." Draco furrowed his brow.

"For what?" Harry took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.

"Everything I guess," Harry gave a short laugh. "I mean, you're letting my stay here all summer, throwing me a party, you've been with me all that time at school and you never once wavered with our friendship. Not to mention you're dating me." Draco smiled and wrapped his arms around Harry's small frame, pulling him to practically sit on his lap.

"I do what I can. I'll be here for you, always. Life, death, where ever you go I'll be there. I promise." Harry blinked a couple times while beaming at Draco. Harry cupped Draco's face in his hands and firmly pressed their lips together. He faintly heard the clock chime midnight as he only had one thought running through his head. That he'd be the same thing for Draco. That he would would always be there for him.

The next morning Harry awoke to a dozen hushed whispers. He frowned lightly and turned his head to further bury his head into Draco's chest.

Your going to wake them up!

Don't we want to wake them up?

Not yet you idiot!

Why not?

Blaise I swear to god, the twins aren't here yet.

Who says-

We're not-

Really Parkinson-

You should be-

More observant.

Whatever Weasleys is everyone here?

Yeah it's only the ten of us.

Harry turned slightly to make sure they could hear his voice. "You should really be more quiet if you trying to surprise wake someone up." He felt a chuckle come from the body next to him. "Oh and you woke Draco, wow you must be louder than I thought, nothing wakes him up." Harry gave a sharp yelp and opened his eyes when he felt a hard pinch in his side. He looked up to see Draco staring back at him with an unamused look on his face. "What?" Harry asked innocently. "Everyone knows it's true." Laughs were heard from the other room while Draco just rolled his eyes with a smile on his face.

"I'm only going to indulge you because it's your birthday." Harry blinked and for a moment looked confused before he shot up.

"Birthday!" Harry looked at the other people in the room. Cissa, Luc and Severus stood near the open door and everyone else was a foot or two away from the bed.

"Did you forget it was your birthday?" Pansy looked him a raised brow. Harry hesitated before shaking his head.

"Better not have," Draco mumbled while he slowly sat up. "Stayed up all night we did." Harry smiled and shoved the blonde back down before jumping up to hide behind one of the twins.

"I'm not going to ask why you boys stayed up all night," Cissa began slowly. "But we should probably go down to eat breakfast and open Harry's presents." Harry jumped up and down in obvious excitement, with a big smile on his face. The adults led them out of the room and down to the same room they had been in for Christmas. A pile, size similar to his Christmas pile, sat on the floor beside the low coffee table in front of the couch. On the table were plates of various breakfast foods and a set of plates and utensils. Harry sat down next to the presents and waited for everyone to sit around the table on the plush carpeted floor. Draco sat beside him and next to Draco was Blaise, then Pansy, Theo, Fred, Neville and finally George who sat on the other side of Harry. Severus say on the couch behind Harry while Luc sat on one of the armchairs with Cissa on the arm of the same chair. Everyone quickly loaded a plate with their preferences and dug in. Harry are his eggs Benedict and fruit with one hand while the other laid lightly interlaced with Draco's. Everyone ate their fill, laughing and talking merrily.

"Present time!" Cissa excitedly walked over and with a wave of her wand made all the food and plates disappear.

Harry picked up the first one on the top of the stack and went to read the tag.

"From Pansy," Harry waggled his eyebrow. "Ooh, what did you get me Pans?" She smiled, more like smirked, and gestured to open the box. Ripping the light blue wrapping paper, Harry saw the familiar seal of the company that made Blood Pops. Harry pulled of the rest of the paper and saw that it was a mini trunk with a golden latch. He opened it and saw a single Blood Pops lying in a velvet cushion. "Worlds best Blood Pop?"

Pansy laughed and shook her head. "Since you have seemed to take an unhealthy obsession for those, I ordered a box that provide a endless supply so that you never have to buy another. Just take that one out and another one will appear." Harry squealed and immediately took the candy out of the box and watched in fascination as another one appeared almost instantly. He popped the one he grabbed into his mouth and smiled happily at Pansy, who was watching with a smug smile.

"Thank you Pansy." Pansy just nodded her hand as Harry moved on to the next present. It was a pretty big box. It had no wrappings but was decorated with small holes and red paint.

"That ones from me-" George started.

"But it pairs with the gold one, from me," Fred finished. Harry looked on the other side of the pile and saw a box exactly the same as the red only in gold.

Opening the red box carefully and peering inside, Harry gasped. He looked up at the twins in shock and then hastily, albeit carefully, looked in the gold box. He gasped again.

"How did you know?" The twins produced identical smirks.

"We have-"

"A way-"

"Of knowing-"

"Things." Harry just smiled again.

"What did they get you Har?" Harry looked at the rest of the rooms confused faces.

"Well I've wanted and owl for a while," Harry into both boxes at the same time and pulled out, after a bit of ruffling, two magnificent creatures. "They got me two." The whole room gasped. In Harry's left arm, stood a tall pitch black horned owl with striking red eyes. In Harry's right arm stood a snowy owl with black flecks in its feathers and warm amber eyes. The whole room, save the twins and Harry, gasped and leaned in for a closer look.

"Oh my, those are gorgeous owls." Everyone nodded at Cissas statement.

"Magical Menagerie was looking for someone to take them of their hands."

"Said that they wouldn't go to anyone without attacking."

"It was hell to get them into there."

"They were perfectly fine once they got in the box."

"They were. Bloody basta-"

"George!"

"Sorry." Harry just laughed.

"Why didn't they attack Harry?" Draco asked while still looking at the birds in awe.

"No idea."

"It was a lucky guess."

"More like a shot in the dark."

"George!"

"Sorry." Harry put the birds back into the boxes and gave them to Cissa, who in turn put them on the side table. Harry moved onto a much smaller box with green wrapping paper that, upon reading the tag, was from Luc. Harry ripped it open and saw a small leather bound journal. Harry turned it over and saw a small gold inscription.

"Who's Tom Marvolo Riddle?" Harry looked up at Luc without noticing the sharp intake of breath from Cissa and Severus.

"He's an old friend of mine. This is his old journal. He was able to talk to it. It's like a companion, someone you can confide in when you don't want to someone else. You can talk to him about anything." Harry looked at the book with a new light.

"Wicked." Luc and Cissa laughed while Severus lip quirked. Harry put it on top of the Blood Pops box and moved on to the next present. The box was about the size of a text book but considerably taller. Tearing through the silver wrapped box from Cissa, Harry saw a bunch of different quills and ink. Reading through the labels Harry saw some funny but personal names. 'Dragon Eyes', 'Snake Eyes', 'Weasel Fur', 'Marrone', and 'Ravens Feathers' as some of his favorites. The quills ranged in a variety of colors and extravagance. His favorite by far was a long wispy black feather with a gold handle.

"I'll definitely be using these," Harry said smiling as he put the box beside the Blood Pops and journal.

Harry turned back to the pile and dramatically waved his hands over the five remaining boxes and chose the bronze colored one from Blaise.

"Before you open it," Blaise cut in swiftly. "Don't take any offense. This present was decided by everyone except for Draco's parents, but that's because they didn't see. So be warned." Harry looked between Blaise and the box for a couple moments before groaning.

"I know what this is," Harry whined. He opened the box and groaned again when he was right.

"What's in that box that can possibly make you that unhappy?" Cissa questioned.

"I'm not unhappy," Harry said before reaching in the box. "I'm just not looking forward to the amount of time I'm going to spend in the bathroom with Draco." Harry pulled out two of the many items in the box out and showed Cissa and Luc.

"Hair products?" Cissa questioned. "That's what your on about? What's all the fuss with this? Have you done your hair before?" Harry shook his head and shared looks with the rest of the groups.

"Draco did once, months ago, and everyone loved it and asked when I was going to do it again."

"Are you going to do it?" Harry looked at Blaise for a moment before sighing.

"As long as Draco does it, I don't mind."

"It's settled then I will do your hair everyday from now until you no longer wish it," Draco stared with an air of importance. Harry raised an eyebrow at him.

"Really?" At Draco's nod, Harry continued with a sly smirk on his face. "Well then, what if I wish for it to stop tomorrow?" Draco blinked once before rolling his eyes and smirked, leaning in to whisper in Harry's ear.

"I'm sure I'll find a way to make you comply, darling." Harry shivered before ignoring Draco's presence as best he could with the blondes hand now firmly placed on his waist.