Just like Brothers

Chapter 110

Harry was quiet for the rest of the night and for most of the following day.

Draco gave him silence but didn't give him space...he could tell he was embarrassed, but also that he didn't want to be alone.

So Draco sat at the desk with his colored pencils while Harry spent the day bent over the journal he used to send messages back and forth to Ginny Weasley.

It was a good thing, Draco smiled to himself, Ginny would know what to say, it'd be even better when she was here, she always seemed to cheer Harry up.

When they were called down for dinner, Harry in particular was surprised that Severus was at the stove and Sirius and Remus were sitting at the table.

Since he had arrived at 12 Grimmauld, Harry had been used to meals waiting for him on the table and a scribbled note of apology.

"Wash your hands, boys," Remus said as they came into sight.

"We're eating together tonight?" Harry couldn't keep the hopefulness out of his voice.

Severus nodded, turning over the stovetop, "stir fry."

He made five plates and levitated them to the table.

"We know we've been busy," Sirius gave Harry an apologetic glance, "there's been so much to do since it happened."

A tense pause settled on them.

"It's okay." Harry managed, staring intently at his food.

"It's not okay!" Draco argued, "Harry, you've got to stand up for yourself."

Harry slunk further down in his seat.

"You're our guardians," Draco frowned at the men, "hell, you're our parents. You should be there."

Things got better after that.

When Harry woke up screaming, somebody was there.

When he sobbed, somebody was there.

It was hard, and draining but they'd all be okay in the end.

That's what families did, right?

Support each other?

The best families stumbled together and the five boys were definitely stumbling, so bad, in-fact, that the Weasley's were summoned an entire four days early.

It was Remus's idea, calling Molly, and of course, she, Arthur and four of their seven children moved in that very afternoon.

"Harry!" Ginny practically tackled the boy, her eyes already red.

Draco watched Harry's shoulders relax as his arms roped around Ginny's waist and couldn't help but smile.

They would be a proper pairing, he thought.

Molly swept both Harry and Draco into her arms, squeezing them so tightly, Draco could've sworn his ribs cracked.

"Alright? Harry?" The twins asked, each patting his back as they pulled him into a quick embrace.

Ron didn't say anything, nodding at Harry.

Harry gestured to the staircase and they were quick to separate from the group.

"We're not likely to see them for the rest of the night," Fred grinned.

"No," Draco grinned, "reckon we won't. It'll be good for Harry, though, he needs his best friend."

"When will Hermione get here?" Ginny asked.

"Next week," Draco said, "I wrote to her a couple days ago, her parents are taking her on a holiday to Paris. Come on, let's go upstairs."

They climbed up the first flight of stairs.

"Gin, your room is this one," Draco went down a hall and opened the second door to the left, "you'll share with Hermione once she gets here, the bathroom is on your right and over here..." he led them back down the hall and through a set of French doors, "...is the sitting room."

They spread out on the couches as Draco continued to explain.

"The next floor up is Harry and Ron's room and our room," he looked at the twins, "third floor is Severus's room, your parent's room and a spare one, fourth is Sirius and Remus. The meeting room is on the ground floor and the kitchen is in the basement."

"What's there to do around here?" Ginny asked, hanging upside down over the arm of the sofa.

"Nothing really," Draco sighed, "we're not allowed to leave."

Fred eyes widened, "at all?"

Draco shook his head, "it might be different for you lot but Harry and I are prisoners."

"This is disgusting," George said, rubbing his hand across the pianoforte, leaving a trail in the blanket of dust that laid on top it.

He pulled out his wand and immediately the room began to clean itself.

"Sorry," Draco shrugged, "haven't used this room much but there's more space than the bedrooms."

"This is Sirius's family..." Ginny had flipped over the couch and was now running her hand along the tapestry that spread across the wall, "this is his house?"

Draco nodded.

Her hand stopped at a one of the blackened parts of the wall, and her lip twitched before she continued to walk.

"Here you are, Draco," she said, stopping once again.

Draco turned his head and saw his photo staring back at him from the wall.

"That's wicked," Fred said, "Grandma Ella was a Black, see if you can find her."

Ginny nodded, "what was Grandma Ella's full name?"

"I dunno," Fred said, "started with an 'S' maybe? Sedella?"

"Cedrella," Ginny stopped, "Cedrella Black."

Over the name was a charred spot of the tapestry.

"Burnt," Fred said, "for marrying Grandpa I suppose."

"We're not on it?" George asked.

"No," Ginny said, "I suppose it stops tracking when someone is disowned."

She looked over her shoulder at Ginny, "I suppose that means we're distantly related then."

Draco laughed, "I suppose so. Eleven year old me would be quaking in my designer loafers."

"Who are you kidding," George teased, "you still wear designer loafers."

"Up everybody up!" Molly came through the foot, "there's lots to be done! Everyone up."

"Mum, we just got here!" Fred groaned, "surely we can wait a day."

"And sleep in this filth?" Molly tutted, "we'll all get sick, come along then, I've got chores for everyone."

Ron and Harry appeared behind her.

"Trust me, we're not getting out of this," Ron groaned, a pail and sponge in his hands.

Harry shrugged, "I'm used to cleaning."

"Our room at home says otherwise," Draco said.

"You're the messy one," Harry said, "my dorm is relatively clean, you can ask Ron."

Ron gave him an incredulous look, "you're idea of clean is concerning, Mate."

"Oi, I never had to pick up after myself as a child," Draco defended, "I'm learning."

"Well you can learn how to dust then," Molly said, handing him a rag, "pip pip, we'll break for supper."

"Mum! That's hours from now!" Ginny complained.

"Time to build an appetite," Molly pinched her cheek.