Draco woke the next morning, once again to the feel on sunshine and without Potter in the room. He yawned and sat up, thinking about last night. Harry's scream had been jarring, and Draco had actually felt bad for him. Shaking his head to clear it of such dangerous thoughts, Draco rose from the bed and stretched before grabbing some clothes and heading to the bathroom. When he emerged, he looked just like a muggle. Draco was a bit amazed at the transformation.

When Draco entered the kitchen, no one was in it but Potter, who was sitting at the kitchen table. A piece of toast was in his hand, raised halfway to his mouth while Potter stared intently at a piece of paper before him. Draco pulled out a chair and sat across from Potter, helping himself to a piece of toast from the plate that was on the table.

Harry set the piece of paper he was looking at down and frowned, absentmindedly thrumming his fingers on the tabletop.

"Something wrong, Potter?" asked Draco after a few minutes, feeling a bit awkward about the way Potter was gazing off into the distance. Once Draco spoke, Harry seemed to realize where he was and pulled himself back to the present, glancing at Draco like he was seeing him for the first time. In response to Draco's question, Harry slid the paper he had been looking at across to Draco. Draco scanned it and saw a list of neatly written tasks:

Wash Windows

Trim Bushes

Water Plants

Clean out the Shed

"Are you supposed to do all this?" asked Draco.

Harry gave him a wry smile. "There aren't any house elves here," he said, standing up and bringing the few remaining dishes to the sink. Harry rinsed them off, then made his way toward the door.

"Wait," said Draco just before Harry reached the door. Harry paused for a moment, then turned around to face Draco.

"Yes?" he asked, looking at Draco curiously.

"It's just..I…maybe I could help you?" Draco managed to get out, feeling a flush creep up his cheeks as he did so. Harry stared at him like he'd grown another head before letting out a laugh.

"Is this a joke, Malfoy?" he asked, traces of laughter still in his voice.

"No," said Draco stiffly. "I was just being a courteous guest. Malfoys always are."

"You want to help me work?" Harry said, tone incredulous.

"Yes, Potter, that's what I said," said Malfoy, placing his customary sneer on his face.

"Why would you want to do that? I thought doing work was beneath you, "said Harry.

"I'm pretty bored," responded Draco truthfully. What alternative did he have? He could help or he could spend the whole day in that cell of a bedroom. "And like I said, Malfoys are always courteous."

"You think this will be a fun way to pass the time?" asked Harry with a grin.

"No, I'd just like something to do," said Draco, a little defensively. Why did Potter have to make everything so infuriating? He was trying to help, and here was Potter analyzing his motives.

After a few moments, Harry shrugged. "If you want to, I don't really care. Just don't cause more harm than help," he said.

"I'm perfectly capable of a few muggle chores, Potter," said Draco, anger flaring up in him. Here he was offering to help, and Potter acting like he was granting him a favor. And anyway, if muggles could do these things without magic, they couldn't be too difficult.

"Alright then," said Harry with another grin, pulling on the door handle and leading the way outside. The day was scorching, a bright summer sun beating down on the yard with no clouds to soften its glare. No breeze lifted the leaves in the trees or danced through the grass. Everything was still, silent, and without a living soul in sight.

"First I think we should start the windows. That will be the biggest project," Harry said. "I'll go get some sponges and cleaner from inside. Can you get some buckets from the shed and fill them up with water?" Harry asked, tone mocking as he looked at Draco.

"Of course I can," said Draco, sneering. Harry didn't respond, but headed inside to get the supplies. He came out to two buckets filled with water from the hose.

"Wow, you really can do something. I had my doubts," said Harry, smirking.

"Watch it, Potter," growled Draco. Harry just laughed and started working.

For a few hours, they silently worked on cleaning all the windows they could. Once they were done, Draco had to admit he was tired. The sun was scorching, and he now realized he probably should have put on sunscreen. And there was still more work to do. Maybe offering to help had not been the best idea.

Harry, however, did not appear to be daunted. Harry, however, did not appear to be daunted. He simply glanced at the list. "Next, cleaning up the shed."

Looking at Draco, he smiled and said, "Tired?" in an innocent tone.

"No," answered Draco, irritated. Harry just smiled, walking toward the shed. Halfway there he paused, bent down, and picked up something off the ground. Draco stared at him curiously, then felt a shock roll through his body as he was blasted with a stream of freezing water. Gasping, Draco looked at Harry and saw him doubled over in laughter, the hose in his hand, a stream of water bubbling from its mouth.

Draco, for once, was speechless. "Potter!" he finally managed to spit out, storming over to the boy who was still laughing at Draco's expense. Wrenching the hose from Harry's grip, Draco aimed it at Harry's head and watched in satisfaction as Harry was soaked.

"Malfoy!" he gasped, grabbing the hose back from him and turning it on Draco once more.

"What do we have here?" came a voice suddenly, and Draco felt Harry freeze beside him and look up. Draco followed Harry's gaze to the other side of the yard, where an extremely fat boy was lumbering over to them from, popsicle in hand.

"Looks like I'm interrupting some fun," said Dudley when he finally managed to reach them. Draco noted how Harry's hand had clenched tightly onto the house, knuckles starkly white.

"What do you want, Dudley?" asked Harry, tone clipped and short.

"I just wanted to catch up with my cousin. I don't think we've had time to chat yet," said Dudley, tone mock-innocent.

"What a shame," said Harry coolly, turning away.

Dudley just laughed. "So how was your year? I heard you last night, you know. Who's Sirius? From the sound of it, something bad happened to him. Did he die? It's such a shame that everyone close to you dies, isn't it? Your parents, that Cedric bloke, and now Sirius? I'd watch out if I were you," Dudley said, a wide smile on his face as he turned to Draco. "So is this your new boyfriend? Wouldn't want him to turn out the same way as Cedric, would we?"

Before Malfoy even had time to register what was happening, Harry was inches away from Dudley, his wand aimed at his throat.

" If you ever talk about him again, I will curse you," he growled, voice shaking with rage. Draco didn't think he had ever seen him this angry. His green eyes were flashing and the hand that wasn't holding his wand was clenched into a fist. He was practically shaking.

Dudley's small eyes had widened. "You-you can't! You're not allowed!" His drawling manner was gone now, replaced by blubbering fear.

Harry pushed his wand harder into his massive throat. "I don't care. Try me," he snarled.

"I'm telling dad!" Dudley yelled as he waddled away as quickly as he could.

"Stay the hell away from me!" Harry shouted after him. Harry closed his eyes and leaned against the wall of the house, his clenched hands trembling. Draco didn't know what to say. So he didn't say anything.

Harry's good mood from this morning had vanished. He was angry and tense all through the rest of the work, and Draco often caught himself looking at those shaking hands. The tension around Harry was palpable, so Draco stayed silent for once. Draco just worked alongside him until Aunt Petunia called them into the house. Harry washed up in the bathroom and then set to work making dinner, still looking murderous. Draco quietly slipped upstairs and then into the bathroom to wash off.

Looking into the mirror, exhausted eyes peered back at him. His face and hands were dirty, and the back of his neck was sunburned. He felt like passing out on the bed right now. He couldn't imagine how Potter was down there making dinner right now.

Draco's thoughts turned toward what Potter's cousin had said. He had to admit, it was a low blow. He knew what Potter's nightmares were about, and he realized it must be a sensitive subject for him. As Draco was lost in these musings, Uncle Vernon came home and he was called to come downstairs. Draco sat and was served by Harry. Uncle Vernon ranted about his day at work through the whole dinner, and Draco happily tuned him out. It wasn't until dessert was served that Draco listened to what was said.

They were all enjoying an apple pie that Petunia had baked earlier that day and Harry had heated up. He was scooping out some vanilla ice cream for them all when Dudley started to speak.

"Hey dad, guess what Potter did today?" he said, a nasty smile playing on his lips. Harry froze in place, glaring at Dudley.

Uncle Vernon looked up, narrowing his eyes. "What?" he said in a low voice.

"He threatened me with his you-know-what," Dudley said, clearly excited now that his father was getting angry.

"He WHAT?" bellowed Uncle Vernon, his face quickly turning purple as his mustache bristled.

"Yep, I was just getting some air and he came over and threatened me for no reason at all. I think he's gone mad," said Dudley, his smile growing larger.

Uncle Vernon heaved himself out of the chair. "What have I told you about endangering my family with your abnormality?" yelled Uncle Vernon, his turning an even darker shade of purple.

Harry wheeled around to face him. "I wouldn't if he would leave me alone! I'm sick of that idiot talking about my dead parents!" retorted Harry, yelling now. Uncle Vernon seemed to swell before he struck Harry in the face, hard. Harry staggered backward into the wall from the force of the blow. Uncle Vernon then grabbed his arm as tightly as he could and threw him toward the stairs.

"Go upstairs. Now," he barked. Harry glared at him before turning around and leaving.

"You," Vernon said, turning to face Draco, "do the dishes." He then stomped off into the family room and collapsed into the armchair in front of the TV. Petunia and Dudley followed, the latter of who looked like he just had been watching a sporting event. It made Draco feel sick. Sure, he didn't like Potter, but he wouldn't want to treat him that way. It just wasn't right. Draco was stunned.

He felt numb as he rinsed the dishes off and put them into the dishwasher. How could this be? He had never imagined Potter's life to be like this. It was horrible. What would he say to Potter? Was there anything he even could say? Draco finished up the dishes and slowly walked up the stairs. He hesitated before the door, then reached for the polished knob.