Title: Surprises
Rating: G
Prompt: Day 3
Word Count: 508
Warning: AU and Unbeta’d
Feedback: Please!!!!

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Sirius was staring at a small red flower sticking up out of the snow.

“Yeah it is,” Remus responded, laying his chin on Sirius’ shoulder. “I take it you heard then?”

“Lucius Malfoy escaped from Azkaban! Not to mention the muggle women who claims to have seen a man turn into a rat.”

“You know, the muggle women might just be crazy and Malfoy may go into hiding and not come after Harry.”

“Delusional is not a good look for you.”

“I was going for optimistic.”

“What are the New Marauders* up to?”

“Harry is trying to pretend this morning’s news hasn’t bothered him at all. They’re up stairs planning something devious.”

“So, our little speech last night, or this morning as it were, complete bullocks. We tell the kid that his life can be normal and that he shouldn’t spend his life waiting for the next shoe to drop.”

“Then he wakes up to the news that there is an escaped convict on the lose who very likely blames Harry for all his problems, mainly the incarceration.”

“Um,” Harry squeaked as he led his friends into the sitting room. “We were wondering…”

“The Malfoy house is being watched, right?” Dean asked.

“Draco is much less of a prat this year and we sorta don’t want his da to murder him,” Seamus added.

“Since when are you lot friends with Draco Malfoy?” Sirius asked.

“Remember last year when I was accidentally opening the Chamber?” Ginny responded quietly.

“Well, yes dear, we do remember that,” Remus answered calmly.

“I guess Draco’s mum accidentally let it slip out to him that she’d given Ginny the diary,” Ron continued, he knew his sister didn’t like to talk about it. “He apologized to Ginny on the train. Then he sorta had a temporary moment of breakdown where he claimed he never realized how wrong his parents had been.”

“He’s by no means a Marauder, but he isn’t a bad guy,” Seamus finished.

Both men were astounded. For the first two years Harry had been at Hogwarts they’d heard nothing about the youngest Malfoy besides ‘evil’ and ‘monster’ and ‘prat’ and other less than friendly terms.

“If you want, we can owl him and check,” Remus said after a moments pause.

“We can even invite him to spend the rest of break here if your worried about him.” Sirius added.

“I’m glad to hear you suggest that, ‘cause he’s getting here later today,” Harry beamed. “I owled him shortly after you told me and he said Tonks was there and she is bringing him over. Tonks, Moody and Shaklebolt think that you two are enough protection for him until we get back to Hogwarts!”

Sirius was about to respond to this sudden news when the fireplace turned to green flames and a small blond boy popped out. Tonks stumbled out a few moments later and tripped over the boy’s suitcase.

“Uncle Pads, Aunt Moony,” Harry said, earning a small swat to the back of his head. “This is Draco Malfoy.”