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Chapter Text

After the events of the Battle of Hogwarts; a display of children versus 'straight up adults with commitment issues', a few things happened. Almost all seven and 'eight' year Slytherin's were put up for trial against the Wizengamot. Hogwarts castle was destroyed, not too badly, but enough for it to be rebuilt within the summer months and still not fully completed.

The trial of the Malfoy's was a grandeur affair that felt too comfortable to everyone but Draco. He was forced to keep his face neutral throughout the entire trial because of his family's lawyer. Something about trying to look like a vulnerable child of war, y'know? Instead of what he was, a Death Eater.

Draco's trial was fine, just in case anyone wanted to know. By that, he meant the entirety of the wizarding world. He couldn't believe it! The first time his face was plastered on the Daily Prophet and it was because of his trial and not something heroic. Oh well. Draco had enough of trying to accept that he would ever be welcomed into the blind, naïve and irrevocably, annoying wizarding society. They worshipped Potter like they hadn't turned against him only a couple years ago.

But Draco knew better. He had seen Potter through his puberty days.

He definitely knew better.

Which is why it didn't at all come as a shock to him to see Saint Potter rocking up to his trial, in order to return a favour or two. Potter talked about Draco in a way that both showed their rivalry in an unbiased way, but also their moments of humanity that shone within two boys that really didn't want to kill each other. Throw a hex in, possibly knock him to the ground and clock him in the jaw? Sure, why not? But to kill Harry Potter?

Draco wouldn't do that, the same way he didn't kill Dumbledore. Which is the main point that Harry tried to drive into the minds of the Jury and Wizengamot. It paid off well with Draco on a year-long probation period, whilst he continued his studies at Hogwarts. His mother was put on a one year house arrest sentence at Malfoy Manor, which sucked, but at least the Malfoy's still had their money.

They tried to let aurors and curse breakers look through the Manor for dark artefacts, but it seemed no one could break the ancient magic within the manor. Only a Malfoy was really allowed to touch whatever was inside the manor, much to the frustration of the aurors, they couldn't do anything. Even if Draco went into the darkest cellars and tampered around with the wards, they were unable to break in.

Lucius Malfoy's sentence was a little harder to accept. Draco had watched with bated breaths as his father was given a life sentence at Azkaban. He remembered the way his hand gripped the edges of the stand, eyes fixed on his father's defiant face. The way Lucius still held his head high and mighty like any Malfoy should. Draco could still feel the way his father's eyes penetrated into his own, as if silently giving the young Malfoy Heir his mantle.

Of course Lucius would be back, Draco tried to reassure himself. Because of the Trial of 'Sirius vs The Society,' a law was put in place for the 'life sentence' to equate 35 years instead of, well, the rest of someone's life. If Lucius stayed in Azkaban with good behaviour a retrial would be set up in ten years, then he would leave. Draco was sure of it. The Malfoy's had the best lawyers and barristers, the connections still held in place- if only slightly marred.

He would do anything he could to bring his father back into the world. In the meantime, Draco Malfoy had a family name to uphold.

Draco was sitting in the Slytherin compartments as his gaze remained fixed outside, on the train station platform. The journey to Hogwarts was going to be a bit of a queasy ride, Draco could feel an unsettling churning in his stomach ever since he sat down. His jaw was set and eyes narrowed on the outside of the platform whilst he continued to scrutinise the families sending off their children.

His stomach had turned to knots when he had to attend to the platform on his own. The first time he would not be sent off by his parents. His mother was in the giant Manor, all on her own, with nothing but the house elves and a weekly routine of an auror to keep her company. He would make sure to write to her daily, or at least try to.

She didn't seem at all disgruntled by the fact that she couldn't be there to send off her child to his last year at Hogwarts, but she didn't seem too relaxed about it either. At least he was still allowed to visit her during the Christmas holidays, and if he was particularly well-behaved, then he would be able to sneak a few people in.

The Ministry didn't exactly say that there couldn't be a Malfoy Family Yule, so sucks to suck. Loopholes, baby!

The compartment door slid open, even with the relaxed way Draco had tried to act, he stiffened ever so slightly. Gregory Goyle, gave a small smile and immediately went to sit opposite Draco. His big, burly arms crossed against the little table that extended from under the window. He leant against it and stared at Draco impassively.

"Malfoy."

"...Goyle." Draco felt the way his straightened spine started to curl and how his shoulders untensed. "Greg," he muttered softly.

"Hi Draco," Greg whispered, sitting up straighter. His lips curled into a small smile, but the way his jaw slightly tensed up made Draco frown slightly.

Draco was there for Goyle's trial; had been there for all the trials of Slytherin students once he was free from the Ministry. He had tried his best to keep in contact with Goyle through whatever you could have called the last summer. But their letters remained stagnant and formal, the fire calls were a rarity that he missed.

Greg's trial was a lot more smoother than Draco's; a bit more vile compared to others. Goyle was not exactly a Light name. He had seen the way the Ministry officials had battered Greg's name. He watched them take away his father and then try to condemn Greg in a similar way. Many professors came to the rescue and gave out their own statements for the good of the children. Professor McGonagall even had a hand at talking for Greg.

"How was your summer?" Greg asked, his eyes were on his hands, where they pinched against each other. Greg was always a bit more fidgety, always had trouble keeping from picking at his knuckles. Draco exhaled largely and placed a gloved hand over Greg's. The black leather gloves he wore had a cooling charm on them.

"Sorry," Greg whispered.

Draco furrowed his brow, "Greg?"

"I can't do this," he wheezed-

Draco squeezed Greg's hands and turned away to stare outside at the families again. "Just close your eyes and focus on breathing okay?"

"Y-yeah."

The doors slid open again to familiar chatter; Millicent, Pansy and Blaise. Draco tilted his head to Greg and shook his head at the others. "How are you guys?"

Pansy took a step forward, sitting beside Greg and leaning back against his huge form. She was awfully short compared to Greg. Her black, bob cut was sharp and pristine, as Pansy usually carried herself. But her eyes were sunken and she wasn't wearing any make up. "I'm brilliant. Just fab, you know? Could do without that lug of an auror outside the compartment though," she scowled.

Draco's lips quirked up. Pansy was one of the other Slytherins that got the short end of the stick with her trial. Because she gave away Potter, the public wasn't as supportive about her innocence. Still she got the same treatment as Draco, an auror that followed her around, did monthly check-ups on her wand to make sure she wasn't using any jinxes, curses or hexes. Oh and you couldn't forget the snarky remarks every other breath they took.

Draco's auror was pretty much the same. "My one is... actually he calls himself Auror Goldbeird. So I'm going to assume his first name is Auror."

Blaise snorted, sitting on Draco's side of the compartment, but closest to the door. His eyes flickered just outside of the compartment and then back inside. His body was slumped against the seat and wall, but his legs were too crooked, to be relaxed. Hands flexing a little too hard to be fully content. Millie was standing beside Blaise. Those two got it off easier than anyone within their group. Millie had connections with many students at Hogwarts, never stuck to just Slytherins.

She was a model student and secured a friendly, if at least, natural student-teacher relations with all the Professor's at Hogwarts. Zabini was a neutral name, for someone who was close friends with Malfoy, Blaise was one of the most neutral players within Slytherin. "Ah yes, what I wouldn't do to have a man like that at my beck and call," Blaise's deep voice cut into the air. His voice carried a teasing lilt to it, his lips spread into a lazy grin. He was good at smiling. Draco smirked, he wondered how many times Blaise had to try that in the mirror. What a ponce.

"What are you so smug about?" Millie questioned, squinting her eyes goodnaturedly at Draco. She took to sitting opposite of Blaise, resting her legs over his lap, like he wasn't offended in the slightest.

"These trousers cost more than your house!"

Everyone ignored Blaise. "I'm just thinking," Draco mumbled, giving Greg's hand a final squeeze before pulling at his gloves to sit more comfortably against his fingers. They were also charmed to fit quite snugly, so thin it almost felt like they weren't on. But they were ever present. Because they sometimes like to ride between his fingers.

"Oh no," Millie tutted her lips together. "Draco Malfoy, thinking. That's never good." She kicked at Blaise a little, crossing her ankles over each other. Blaise pouted but succumbed to her forceful leg resting.

Draco narrowed his eyes at her, "I'll have you know-" The door slid open again.

Theodore Nott had a very panicked look in his eyes as he heaved a greeting. "Hello everyone."

"Theo!"

Draco sat up a bit straighter, "What happened?"

"Nothing, just a little trouble with my auror. I see yours is standing just outside," Theo quickly closed the door. His short brown hair had stuck up in a few different places. Blaise, the perfectionist, started to pat them down. Theo settled against Draco, leaning against him like a solid wall.

Draco placed a gloved hand on his knee and left it there, whilst Theo looked back at the door and settled further into the seat. "My auror's a right wanker," he muttered.

"Oh yeah? Mine is quiet and a bit of a dick. It's like he doesn't understand that I can hear his little comments when he thinks he's whispering," Draco scoffed.

Greg stilled, "mine thinks I'm stupid." Everyone froze.

"Excuse me," Pansy whispered, turning to Greg slowly. A permanent scowl settling into her pretty features.

"'S nothing I can't handle."

"Greg-"

"No," the boy said.

Draco felt his jaw flex under his anger. The compartment's air grew stilted and suffocating, before the familiar whistling of the train was overheard. The chatter from outside grew and then the train started its journey to Hogwarts.

Theo cursed, fisting his hands against his trousers and staring up at the ceiling. Pansy looked between Theo and then Greg. She then turned to Draco, expecting some sort of order. Draco simply shook his head, Gregory was good at dealing with his episodes. Theo, on the other hand, was an enigma. He was always a lot more quiet and studious compared to the rest of them.

Draco moved his hand from Theo's knee to the boy's fist and rested it there. He gave it a squeeze and continued with the conversation at hand. "I imagine this year's going to be different," he mumbled.

"Oh yeah," Millie immediately picked up. Bless her, she was always good at picking up Draco's social cues. Blaise, on the other hand, could probably pick a page from her book. "I can't imagine what the castle will look like when we get back."

"I hear the dungeons are fine," Blaise said. "What with it being underground, less likely of anything blowing up."

"A-actually it flooded," Theo said. His eyes were closed in a horribly painful-looking way. His temples seemed to stretch and a vein popped at his forehead. "The-the mermaids were very territorial apparently. But it was a quick fix, they can't exactly claim our common room, it was ours first." Theo's expression relaxed and he fell against Draco's side exhausted.

"Wow..." Theo muttered. "Who knew all I had to do was talk about something factual and bam- out of it," his lips stretched into a thin, wobbly smile, but a smile nonetheless.

Draco grinned, "lovely. We can just start talking about our inevitable potions essays for when you have another attack, then?"

Theo frowned, "I'm not taking potions."

"Wait, you aren't?" Pansy asked, looking over at Theo. "What are you taking then?"

Theo rolled his eyes, "arithmancy, ancient runes, charms and I changed potions for the new ministry and political studies class."

Blaise sat up straighter, knocking Millie's legs away from him. "You decided to swap potions for that? Theo, that's basically been your entire upbringing- you don't need to learn about that."

Theo shrugged, "I want an easy O. I actually like my other subjects." Pansy pulled a face and Greg just seemed bored at the academic sway the conversation turned to. Well that was always good to know, Theo liked academics and Greg couldn't care less. Draco pocketed that piece of information for a later date.

"I changed my divination class to the ministry and political studies class too," Millie said.

Pansy gasped (or more like choked), "what?! You've abandoned me?!"

Everyone seemed to roll their eyes at Pansy's behaviour. She and Millie had also been taking the divination class for an easy grade. Draco had settled nicely with the idea of his four N.E.W.T. classes; charms, potions, ancient runes and a new added class, herbology. The harder trialled Slytherin's like Draco, Theo and Pansy were not allowed to take defence against the dark arts anymore.

Couldn't possibly corrupt a Slytherin.

No. So instead they had to retake a completely new class. Draco had to study the entirety of the first N.E.W.T. year course in herbology. He would have taken another subject, but compared to something like arithmancy, herbology was miles easier. There were definitely some newer subjects added in, like Ministry and Political Studies, which was a way for students to enter the Ministry level jobs easier.

Draco didn't care. He had a place in the Wizengamot; it was what he chose to do with that seat that mattered. He promised his mother the entire school year would be him trying to build up his reputation within the Slytherin ranks again (pfft, as if he ever lost it), to get the grades and then leave. It would help if he had some extra free periods, but no- a mandatory class assigned by the Ministry was muggle studies.

Only for Slytherins as well.

"I can't believe they're making us do muggle studies," Pansy hissed, standing up to pull out her trunk and summon her robes.

"I don't mind," Greg said. "Because it technically counts as a class, I've been allowed to include it in my mandatory three."

Draco quirked a brow at that, "that's pretty smart. You'll have so many free periods-"

"Why did I not think of that?" Blaise groaned, much to Greg's amusement.

Draco got up with the rest of his friends when the time came to change into the Hogwarts school robes. They all started to anxiously wait as the train slowed to a stop and eventually waited for the majority of the students to leave before they made their way out. Greg, Pansy, Theo and Draco's parole auror officers were all waiting outside of the compartment with looks of glee.

Draco frowned, "what?"

"Nothing," a female auror- no doubt Pansy's, replied. "Just makes sense that the worst of the students all sit together."

Draco felt Pansy stand behind him, her hand reflexively gripped his own. "Do you need anything?" Draco asked. "Or can we leave now?"

One of them started to sneer, but Auror Goldbeird spoke up. "Because there's a lot of you, we've decided to keep two here and two at the castle, stationed when you get there. Understand, Malfoy?" Draco gave a simple nod, waiting for them to leave first before he guided Pansy in front of him. He looked back to the rest of his group and kept an eye on them as they stepped out of the train and into the open.

"Mills? Pans?!" a voice called, from somewhere in front of them. A girl with straight, blonde hair ran into their group. She was taller than Pansy but still on the shorter side as she hugged the two girls.

"Daph," Millie grinned, eyes shining as she stared down at her friend.

"How are you guys?" Daphne Greengrass looked at the rest of them. Each of the lads gave out a polite mumble of nonchalant 'we're fine, don't make eye contact with us' and watched as she hooked her arms around the two girls and chatted happily with them.

Draco shrugged and continued walking with the group, towards the thestrals and carriages. He gazed at the beasts and followed behind Blaise, up the carriage. Draco took a seat at the very back and watched helplessly as his auror got inside the carriage too.

Theo went to sit beside Draco as he eyed his own auror. Draco hooked his foot around Theo's ankle, eyes on Daphne who was mumbling pleasantries with Millie and Pansy. Blaise sat closest to the door and also closest to the aurors, eyes on them and then back at the group. "Daphne right?" Blaise gave a small, elegant smile. Draco was reminded of Mrs Zabini for a moment.

Who, by the way, is a legend.

"Yep," she smiled. "You probably have a better chance knowing my younger sister than me. Astoria?" She smirked, when Blaise looked down, bashfully. Draco looked at Blaise and rolled his eyes. Greg gave out a soft snort, and Theo grinned wickedly watching Blaise try to say something to Daphne. "No need. She's over you," Daphne informed.

Blaise turned from being bashful to straight up offended, it was an amusing picture. The aurors put a damper on their overall mood, but the Slytherin's continued to chatter as if they weren't there. Draco rested his knee against Theo's, whilst his arms lay leisurely around the carriage's seats. His fingers tapped against the edge of the blackened wood, eyes fixed on Greg, who gave him a small smile.

The leather of his gloves started to ride again, so Draco muttered a small incantation, relaxing as they loosened. His auror glared at Draco but couldn't do anything, because he was technically playing within his parole rules.

The ride to Hogwarts was short and yet entering the Great Hall was a weary display of power dynamics. There was a mourning silence that befell in the Great Hall as the older years started to take notice of the little changes. The way the stone walls were mended but plain. The pillars all round, without the elegant ridges. The floating candles that seemed to cast a low light.

Looking up to find that there was only a normal ceiling instead of the familiar and magical view of the sky. Draco's hands were stiff against his sides. He felt Millie curl a hand around his elbow and pull him along to the Slytherin tables. He looked down at her but she was smiling and nodding along to Pansy's comments on the architecture.

"It's all plain now."

"Incredibly boring," Blaise agreed.

"There was a war," a cutting voice drawled from behind them.

Draco didn't have time to look before Millie all but dragged him to the tables. "I do hope the Sorting goes smoothly, Draco."

He arched his brow at her, "what do you mean?"

"There are so many rumours of there being no Slytherin's this year. No one wants to be in this house," she explained.

Draco scoffed, "I hardly doubt that. It's about what traits you own and value, not whether or not you want to be. The Sorting Hat will choose the best students to flourish in our dungeons."

Millie gave a little pat against Draco's arm and let go of him completely. She shifted to rest her elbow on the table and stared around at the lack of a 'great' hall.

The sorting went alright, and there was a little less Slytherin's compared to the last couple of years. But not enough for it to be mentioned by anyone except the Slytherins, "we'll just train them," Draco shrugged, when his group and a couple others stared at him.

"Will we be taking up French lessons, like last year?" a boy asked. Draco recognised him, he was a Fifth Year Slytherin. Draco also recognised the French he was attempting to speak, it was good. Not fluent, but Draco could tell that he just needed more confidence.

"I'll give an answer by tonight," Draco muttered, his voice low. When he looked at the rest of his group they all gave a silent but encouraging nod. That is how they remained, tucking into their dinner and exchanging pleasantries, like the purebloods they were supposed to be.

***

"It is such a pleasure to see all the new faces this year," Professor Slughorn commented. His cheeks were slightly rosey and his eyes were gleaming with nervous energy. His eyes were darting back and forth between the students and the doors. Just not moments ago Slughorn had an argument with the aurors that had attempted to enter the Slytherin common rooms. They 'compromised' on stationing outside, but none would enter.

Draco assumed Slughorn was just displeased with the hassle of some aurors that thought they had more power than him. The Head of Slytherin House. But hey, if it meant he didn't have to see Auror Goldbeird for a couple hours a day, then who was Draco to meddle?

He watched with amusement as Slughorn continued to rattle on about how the castle was built as a base and all the added details, magic and wards would be mended later on. That there were classes changing around. To be mindful of the aurors who were most definitely here to 'protect' them and totally not an intimidating authoritative figure that scared the living daylights out of all Slytherins.

Draco was at the back of the crowd of Slytherin's ready and waiting to just leave to his dorms and get a night's rest. The dungeons were the same as always, lavish green curtains flooding the entirety of the walls. Shelves full of interesting knickknacks and artefacts were displayed in all their Slytherin glory. A fountain of water set in the middle of the front room continued streaming its magical waters that were flavoured for whatever suits your fancy. Even alcohol for those students who were of age.

They were all gathered around in the back room of the common room, there were always two. One for looks and to show off the regal display of Slytherin house and the second, made to look more like a common room. Expensive and huge black leather couches that most definitely had seen better days. They were soft and swallowed you up in comfort. Charmed to remain warm for you. The fireplaces roared with life and cast a warm glow over the room.

Draco turned to look back at the corridor that would lead him to his dormitory. God, he just wanted to sleep.

"Excuse me, Professor?" A muggleborn Slytherin quickly put up his hand. He was wearing a prefect badge that interested Draco. Draco recognised the muggleborn from last year. Sure he wasn't a pureblood, but he was also incredibly cunning and intensely honed into his own moral coded rules; a Slytherin through and through. He deserved to be a prefect, it was just interesting that he was actually made into one. "You don't mind if I say something, do you?"

"No! No! Go ahead my boy!"

He scowled at the 'my boy' part, which greatly seemed to amuse everyone. He huffed and stood next to Slughorn before zeroing his eyes on Draco. "Hi everyone. I'm Tommy, a prefect. First years, if you need anything from me then ask. I don't plan on attending my own classes so I'm free whenever." Professor Slughorn squawked at that, but Tommy continued on. "I actually just wanted to call attention to you, Heir Malfoy," he addressed.

Blaise sucked in a breath and stood a bit taller.

Draco crossed his arms, tilting his head a bit as he looked at Tommy from the very back of the full crowd. "Yes?"

"I want to know if you're going to be continuing our French lessons from last year?" Cue a very confused-looking Professor Slughorn.

In his defence, they were secret lessons.

"And the pureblood lessons? In fact, I was wondering if you were still going to lead us, like last year? Sir," Tommy said carefully.

Draco felt a smile pull at his lips, "Lead you? Whatever for?"

"Oh come on," a girl from fourth year shouted. Draco also remembered her, she could never get her French pronouns correct. "We all know that those lot are going to be jinxing us as soon as we leave here. We're going to need all the help we can get."

"And my French lessons will help because..." Draco uncrossed his arms, walking up to where Tommy and Slughorn stood. Tommy gave a quick nod to Draco and went back to stand in the crowd of Slytherins.

"Because some of us still plan on leaving England after we graduate," another student piped up.

Draco felt his jaw clench. "Of course," he pinched the bridge of his nose, the leather of his gloves gave a nice feel instead of his fingertips. "Right, French lessons, every weekend morning. If you can wake up for them, then you attend them. We'll have them for one hour in the mornings, after breakfast. You eat, you come back straight here. If I don't lead the lesson," Draco tilted his head. He eyed his friends, who gave a simple nod. "Then someone else will take a turn."

Draco turned to give Slughorn a quick once-over, "I've been brewing some Pepper-up potions, Calming Draught, and Dreamless sleep. I think we should stock up every weekend, Professor." Slughorn looked at Draco in surprise but gave a vigorous nod. "We keep a logbook of whoever takes a potion and how much. The last thing I need is for my parole auror to find out I've accidentally overdosed on one of my peers," he tried to joke. Slughorn went pale in the face, but Draco turned back to the crowd.

He swallowed thickly before addressing everyone. "For anyone who hasn't followed whatever drawl that blasted Daily Prophet spews, I'm under probation. I am unable to produce hexes, curses or jinxes from my wand-" he held a hand out from the outraged cries of the students. "Including a few other eighth year students. I'll give you your French lessons, and access to a variety of potions to help your triggers as such, and in return, I ask for your protection."

"Of course," Tommy readily agreed.

"Yeah!"

"We'll fight whoever gets in our way!"

Draco gave a simple nod and turned back to Slughorn, "You can continue with your speech now."

"Oh- ri-right! So, there are some changed within the curricular about extra-" 

Chapter Text

"Ahh yes, Monday mornings, the best time of day. Where the sun shines and the birds chirp happily! Where- ARGH!"

"Ten points to Greg," Theo muttered, massaging his temples.

Draco glared at Blaise, who was rubbing his head, from where Greg had thrown his own wand at him. At least it shut the boy up. "I am wounded Gregory! I thought we were something here, I thought that our brotherly love-" okay so apparently nothing could shut up Blaise Zabini's tongue. Who the hell was he to wake up all high and mighty? Morning people, Draco thought. Absolute lunatics.

"I will pay for you to shut up, Zabini," Alexander Dyakova, their fifth (or fourth now) roommate, muttered. Alex levitated Greg's wand over to him and got out of bed quickly. He gave Draco a quick nod and patted him on the shoulder, before sidestepping and taking the bathroom much to everyone's groans.

Blaise was ready in his finest robes, and face perfected with all the creams and serums his mother could afford. Seriously, it was like he got up at the crack of dawn just to mutilate the rest of his roommates with fake positive drawls and a smug air of 'ha I'm better than you.' The absolute bastard.

Draco, already showered and clean, jumped back into his bed, crossing his legs and sitting up straight. He flicked his hand, silently summoning his wand into his hands before casting a quick wingardium leviosa to his school robes and watched them float in front of him. "Come, come now. Draco- can't forget to moisturise," Blaise said. Draco simply scowled but let Blaise jump into his bed and start to dab spots of cream on his face.

Blaise was a fucking freak when it came to moisturising everyone in the dorms. He had all of the most expensive potions and creams for his face and then for literally everyone else's skin types. He got incredibly passive aggressive when people refused his hand cream and had a whole thing about self-grooming. Draco blamed Mrs Zabini, then he couldn't because he actually loved her.

Draco rolled his eyes as Blaise started to pinch at his cheeks and 'massage' the moisturiser he was using into his skin. "Need to make sure we see your skin red y'know? Can't make people think you don't have blood running through you," he joked. Draco sighed, looking over at Theo who was massaging at his face, regretfully giving a strained smile to Blaise, before taking some of his serum to fix his 'combination' skin.

"Good work Theo, I see you've really improved."

Greg chuckled under his breath and Theo scowled at Blaise. "You're lucky you're not in my bed-"

"Excuse me?" Draco said.

"Wait no-"

"Ooh, want me over there?" Blaise grinned, scuffling out of Draco's sheets. Draco breathed a sigh of relief as he started to put on his school robes.

"I SWEAR ON MERLIN IF YOU TOUCH ME ZABINI!"

"LET ME HELP YOUUUU~"

"ZABINI I WILL LITERALLY MURDER YOU-"

"YOU CAN'T!"

"MUGGLE STYLE YOU DOLT- AHHHH!"

Draco tapped his wand against Greg's tie, watching it tie itself before pulling on his gloves and swiping a hand over his jumper. "Ready for breakfast then Greg?"

"Sure."

Draco walked out of the dorms just in time, because Alex had managed to walk in on Blaise, tackling Theo into his bed. Alex took one look at his roommates before walking back into the bathroom again.

Draco and Greg had found the girls waiting for them in the common rooms. They were waiting anxiously outside, with Daphne Greengrass in tow. "Morning lads," Daphne waved, her hair was tied up into a low ponytail and she seemed to be wearing trousers instead of the usual skirted uniforms.

"Daphne," Draco politely greeted. "I didn't know you could wear trousers-"

"Can't," Daphne shrugged. "Anyway, your aurors are still outside and they seem pissed. So I guess you'd better make your way up to breakfast quickly."

Theo and Blaise were hurried as they ran past Draco, Greg and the girls. "Leave, leave, leave," they both whispered harshly. Blaise linked his arms with Draco and practically dragged him out of the second common room, into the front room and then out of the door.

"What in the world happened?" Millie questioned. She rolled her eyes at Pansy's auror and wrapped an arm around her friend's waist.

"Did you know Alex makes the most disturbing threats?" Theo whispered.

"Oh like the one about extracting your fingernails?" Draco asked. "Or like that time he said he'd slurp up my bone marrow like it was jelly worms," Draco smiled at that one. "I taught him the whole feckless ingrate thing you know."

Theo stared at Draco for a good second before shaking his head. "You both have problems."

"That's fucking disgusting," one of the auror's muttereed.

Greg's face froze and he walked a little closer to Draco, who decided to pull away from Blaise and instead throw an arm around Greg's shoulder. "You know, there used to be a time when you were taller than me." Draco is not as tall Greg, he's like an inch below but it's the thought that counts. Blaise doesn't think so.

"There was a time when I was taller than you," Pansy muttered softly, grinning when she saw Draco's scowl.

"Look at you now," Daphne chuckled, "shortest one out of us all," she laughed, placing her hands on Pansy's shoulders and pushing her into the Great Hall. They all shuffled to the Slytherin tables whilst the younger years gave them small, inferior smiles.

"Good morning," one of them muttered.

Draco let Daphne plate him up with all sorts of breakfast foods and looked down at the Fourth year that greeted him. "Morning, how are you?"

They pursed their lips slightly, "I am doing... pleasantly."

Draco grinned, their French was alright. He returned to his breakfast, grinning at the way Daphne continued to plate up everyone else's food. "Gregory, so help me- fruit is good for you."

"So is happiness," Greg said, pushing the apple slices away with his fork to munch on pancakes instead.

Theo had taken out his timetable and was motioning for everyone to do the same. Draco rolled his eyes but handed his over to the studious boy, watching as he started to colour code each subject. "Draco... why are you taking Herbology?" he looked up.

Millicent poked her fork at Theo's strawberries and munched on them.

"Wait, you're taking Herbology?" Blaise asked.

Draco shrugged, "can't take Defence anymore remember? So I decided that Herbology and Potions fit in well together. Also, it's an incredibly small class and Professor Sprout is honestly a nice lady so why not indulge in getting an easy O too?"

Theo gave an understanding nod before giving Draco's timetable back. He had circled all the classes that they took together. Ancient runes, charms and potions. "We have double potions... with Gryffindor?" Draco looked up at Blaise who grinned wickedly. "Blaise... hex me." The table laughed and continued on with breakfast.

***

Draco and Blaise were both split between where to sit once they entered the potions classroom. "We're sitting at the back," Draco hissed.

"No, we're sitting at the front," Blaise whispered, hand on Draco's back and pushing him to the front.

"No we're not," Draco gritted his teeth, trying to manoeuvre his way to the back again. "Closest to the back, means we get to see everyone. A vantage point for idiots trying to hex us, if you will."

"Closest to the door means closest escape because some of us can't retaliate against the hexes," Blaise countered.

"We can always sit here," Daphne called, waving at Draco and Blaise to sit in the middle, at the edge of the classroom. Draco and Blaise both looked at each other, ready to fight their case before Daphne rolled her eyes and accio'd their bags. They huffed, sitting on both her sides and started to take out their belongings.

"Welcome everyone!" Professor Slughorn cheerfully grinned at the students of the class. His eyes seemed to dim when he noticed Draco's auror present by the door. "Today we'll be going over what we'll do for the year, as it is, N.E.W.T.'s this year!" A general grumble of dislike came from all the students, before the door to the classroom slammed open.

Potter and his ensemble of friends muttered their sorry's for being late, but quickly went to find seats. At the front, because that's what happens when you're late, Draco thought. "Five points each for being late," Slughorn said, before smiling once again and flicking his wand to start writing down the school terms timetable on the blackboard.

It seemed as if all of the Gryffindor's were surprised by Slughorn's action of taking away their points. Especially from Golden Boy himself. Draco rolled his eyes, pulling out his parchment and taking notes about their year. They would have a couple months off to revise for their N.E.W.T.s but everything else seemed normal.

"Today I'm going to have you all pick whatever potions you'd like. You can pick a potion that you can make perfectly, or a potion that you want, to challenge your skills and perfect by the end of this term. Is that clear?" Slughorn asked. A general murmuring of 'yes' was heard before he started going off about needing help, what the N.E.W.T.s entailed and some version of health and safety.

Draco leant against the desk, looking back at Blaise and Daphne, "I think we should brew the Pepper-up, calming and sleepless in this lesson."

Daphne frowned, "I kind of want to challenge myself-"

"Then make a big batch. You'd have to re-do the calculations and fit different charms around the original batch and fix out the ratios. There you go. A challenge and something to stock up the Slytherin common room's potion supply," Draco explained.

Daphne made an 'o' shape with her mouth before pulling out a journal with 'Potions' written on the cover. She started to write out the ingredients and convert them for a bigger batch. Blaise looked down at her work before turning back to Draco. "Which one is easier to make?"

Draco rolled his eyes, "Dreamless sleep, but Pepper-up has less side effects if you manage to blow it up."

"Oh and we wouldn't want that, would we now?"

Daphne lifted her quill, accidentally hitting Blaise in the face. "...oops."

"You hit me on purpose!"

"Did not!"

Slughorn walked over to the three of them, "Ah yes, my meddling Slytherins." Draco scrunched his face at the 'my' and turned his nose up at Slughorn. "What are we planning on making today then?"

"Pepper-up, Dreamless sleep and a batch of the Calming Draught," Blaise smirked. Draco glared at his friend, who was now getting praise that really should have been his. Draco turned away, walking over the ingredient's cupboard, still glaring at Blaise.

Potter and Weasley were both staring at a list that Granger must have written out for them. They were hunched together and looking at the ingredients in a pathetically lost manner. Draco rolled his eyes, pushing past them and grabbing all his ingredients. He looked over his shoulder to find Weasley and Potter frowning at him, but Draco simply looked over Potter's shorter frame.

Blaise waved at Draco, motioning for him to get all of their ingredients. Draco sighed and turned back, picking out the same for Blaise and Daphne until his arms were too full. He levitated the rest of the ingredients and just had them float over to his table whilst he stared back at the ingredients cupboard.

A bottle of sun-dust was sitting on the higher shelf. Draco picked it out and made his way back to his table. "What's that for?" Daphne asked, eyes going from her paper and then to the bottle Draco was holding.

"Detachment Draught," Draco mumbled, opening his book bag and taking out a folder filled with parchment.

"What's that? Never heard of it," Blaise asked, setting up a fire for their cauldrons.

"Doesn't exist yet," Draco hummed, taking out his parchment and looking through his notes. "Still working out the kinks."

"Oh cool," Daphne said, taking one of his sheets of parchment and humming as she glazed over it. "What's it do?"

"Works as the opposite of the Calming Draught," he explained. "Wanted one to act like a Pepper-up potion but activated more of the senses. Specifically made to help bring someone out of feeling stoic and numb."

"That's brilliant my boy!" Slughorn bellowed form behind Draco, who flinched and spun around to face their potions master. "If you'd like, I can check over some of your notes."

Draco who was breathing rather heavily at the scare, just nodding quickly as his hands gripped the edge of the desk. He felt his gloves slip against the table and sat down in his set heavily. Daphne quickly pulled the Professor's attention to her own notes about doubling up the batches for her potions work.

Blaise, on the other hand, was on Draco immediately. He placed his hands on Draco's shoulder and stood an arms length away from him. "How are you?"

"Alright," Draco breathed heavily. "Just a bit of a scare."

"Yeah, I can imagine. Just came out of nowhere huh? You'd think with the ego setting on his shoulders you'd hear him from a mile away."

Draco snorted, "Blaise, that's a terrible insult."

The boy shrugged, "I'm trying to tame myself."

"Well you need more help. I can offer you some pretty creative threats."

"I'm alright, I think I don't need to be like you or Alex at all."

Draco grinned, feeling his chest start to lighten as the tension eased from his shoulders. "I'll have you know that I'm the perfect specimen. Naturally good looks-"

"Inbreeding."

"Charming charisma-"

"Tyrannical personality."

"Amazing quidditch skills-"

"Lucky at best."

"And I'm better at you in any subject."

Blaise quirked a brow, "oh yeah? Maybe you can do my potion for me then."

"Oh I would love to darling, but you see, I feel kind of awful," Draco looked over at Daphne who had directed Slughorn away from them and towards some unsuspecting Slytherin. "Just a little spooked."

Daphne frowned, "well Blaise can do your work, why don't you just sit and do some theory work okay?"

"What?!"

Draco gave a sullen nod, turning to start writing some stuff down about the sub-dust whilst Blaise whinged.

Draco didn't completely leave Blaise in the dark. He offered assistance as Daphne focused on her potion. Sometimes Daphne would stop her work to rub Draco's back and ask how he was feeling, whilst Blaise spluttered in the background. Draco continued to help Blaise who did the work even if he didn't know how to. Blaise followed Draco's every instruction until the hour mark had passed and the class had their designated 10 minute break.

After a quick statis charm, the three left the classroom, immediately breathing in the fresh air that an entire boiling, potions classroom could never provide. Blaise cast a quick cleaning charm over the three of them and Draco flexed his fingers, never even realising that his gloves had started to sweat a little. "I need to reapply the cooling charms on these things? They get sweaty a lot."

"It's probably because you're in a class of potions," Daphne said, standing outside of the potions class and leaning against the wall. Blaise was standing besides her, his arm around her shoulder as he continued to stare at Auror Goldbeird. Draco kicked at the air and looked at his gloves in a scrutinising manner. "All that magic is probably reacting to your cooling charm."

"Oh well, I'll figure something out about them," he shrugged.

They were the first in the class and quickly got back to their work. Draco decided to continue on with the potions whilst Blaise sat out this time. Blaise took this opportunity to sing his praises to Draco which, surprisingly, was more annoying than when he had to do all the work. Daphne was just amused at all of this, which was not fair on both boys but hey. You can't win everything.

Draco managed to finish both potions with twenty minutes to spare and then worked with Daphne to finish hers. The three finished before the entire class and sat down pouring their potions into flasks. Slughorn was very impressed, awarding them each ten points. There were more than enough potions stocked for the Slytherin common room, which was always an added benefit.

"I think you should give your notes on the Detachment Draught to Professor Slughorn," Daphne said, sitting on her chair packing her stuff away manually.

Draco looked back at Blaise and Daphne before asking "Why?"

"Might as well," Blaise said. "Have you tested it out yet?"

"No. I don't exactly want to mess it up," he said.

Daphne grinned, "And now you have access to a potions master who is actually good at his job- no matter how conceited he is."

Draco snorted, taking out the necessary parchments on the specific potion before patting Daphne's shoulder as he passed. "Alright then. Blaise, do be a dear and pack my bag for me?" Draco walked past, brushing Blaise's shoulder as he walked over to Slughorn.

"Ah of course, I believe that Hogwarts should be ready and more welcoming by Spring time. Which is why I've decided to host my annual Christmas party during spring! What do you think? You'll have an invite of course," Slughorn chuckled. Potter, Weasley and Granger gave strained smiles back. Draco rolled his eyes and tapped Slughorn's shoulder.

"Potter, Weasley, Granger," Draco greeted. "Professor Slughorn, I have those notes if you'd still like to review them?"

"Of course my boy!" Draco was going to explode one of these days. "I'll look them over now. What's the time- Right! Everyone! You're dismissed! I'll set homework starting next week." Slughorn placed a hand on Draco's shoulder, guiding him over to his desk.

"What's Malfoy playing at?" he could hear Weasley say.

Draco couldn't resist. He looked over his shoulder and winked at the trio before turning back to hand Slughorn his notes. Everyone had left class and it was just the two of them. "It's a work in progress. If I leave these with you, do you think that you could look them over, give me some feedback?"

"Why of course, hurry along now. Wouldn't want to keep you from taking your break now."

Draco nodded and walked out of the classroom to find Blaise, Daphne and Auror Goldbeird standing outside. Blaise had Draco's bag on his shoulder and motioned for them to start walking.

"Wanna sit in the quad? We've both got transfiguration after breaktime," Daphne offered.

Draco nodded, "I have a free period and then ancient runes with Theo, so yeah sure."

When they got to the quad it was to find a crowd of people all pushing each other to probably see what was in the middle. Draco was ready to walk past until he heard a voice called out. "You're a filthy Death Eater, like your father." He stilled, hands flexing to reach into his robes and pull out his wand.

Draco's eye snuck a glance at Auror Goldbeird who was watching the crowd with a frown. He pushed his way through the crowd easily to spot a fight between three Gryffindors and one Slytherin. The boy looked like he was in his third year and had his wand out in a threatening manner.

"Take that back," the boy all but growled.

"No, what you going to do? Try and hex me? Prove it then," the obvious leader sneered. His eyes gleamed, just waiting for a reason to start a fight. The boy's hand gripped tighter on his wand as he looked around at the crowd. His eyes found Draco's who simply shook his head. The boy gave a nod, straightening his back and pulling his robe to put his wand away.

"What's going on?" An auror shouted, pushing past to see the commotion. Her eyes took in the three Gryffindors and one Slytherin and she immediately narrowed in on the poor kid. "You-" She made a grab for him, before Draco stepped in front of her.

"Excuse me," Draco said, looking past the auror, "you're in my way."

"Malfoy-"

"Malfoy!" an angry voice shouted. Draco almost rolled his eyes, looking at Potter. "What are you doing?!"

Draco did roll his eyes that time, watching Granger and Weasley glare at him. "Leave it Potter, we're just having a conversation," he said. Potter scoffed and glared straight at Draco who was simply smirking, looking down on Potter. Really, Draco was probably six inches taller than the boy. Oh this was going to be fun.

"Oh you call this a conversation?"

"I do, would you like an explanation of one? We're just having some fun-"

"No I know Slytherin's like you, all a bunch of vile death eaters," Potter muttered harshly.

"What?" a distressed voice called. Potter and Draco both paused from breathing harshly at each other. They both turned to stare at the third year Slytherin. "Wha-what I'm no-" he whispered, taking a step back.

Draco turned back to Potter and then at the kid. "No you're not. It's alright-"

"Bu-but he just said. I'm not a death eater!" the third year shouted. "I'm not. I'm not," his voice cracked. Draco's eyes widened, shocked at how everything seemed to escalate in a matter of seconds. The boy ran over to Draco, his arms wrapping themselves around the now crying boy. "I p-promise I'm not vile," he cried.

Draco swallowed, staring at Potter who seemed pale. "I'm not bad, right?" the boy asked.

Draco rubbed his back, "No of course not. It's fine- Blaise. Daphne, let's go." Draco glared at Potter before shoving his way out of the crowd, his arms still securely wrapped around the boy's shoulders. The four, including Auror Goldbeird, five, made their way out into a deserted corridor.

"If we could have a few minutes, Merlin..." Daphne scowled at the Auror. Goldbeird looked at the boy and resolutely nodded before leaving.

The boy in question had stopped crying and was rubbing his eyes. "Oh no, that'll irritate the skin," Blaise said whilst he pulled out a handkerchief and started to dab at his tears. "How are you doing kid?"

"Eh, alright," he muttered, pocketing his wand and shrugging like it was no big deal. "I've got Defence, so it was nice seeing you. Thanks-"

Just as he was about to skip off, Draco grabbed the boy's robes and pulled him back. "Uh-uh- I don't think so. Were you faking that?" Draco asked incredulously, looking back at Daphne and Blaise. They were both equally as surprised as Draco.

"What? You're on parole right now, and that auror looked like she was going to hex me. It's like killing two bowtruckles with one stone. The last thing you need, Heir Malfoy, is your own auror on your case."

Draco's jaw fell as he stared at the third year. "Yeah... What's your name kid?"

The boy smirked, "Edmund Hitchings."

Daphne tilted her head, "Your older brother is Alfred right? The Hufflepuff?" The boy nodded, gathering most of his things before giving them all a two-fingered salute and skipping off. "That..."

"Was the most Slytherin thing I have ever seen," Blaise whispered.

***

Draco's free period was disrupted by a wheezing Professor Slughorn who claimed he had been looking for Draco's whereabouts for the better half of 20 minutes. "I dare say my boy-" Draco still didn't like it- "I had to tell my class that I would only be gone a moment. But really, that won't be happening anytime soon!"

"Come, come, Mr Malfoy-"

"Please," Draco waved off. "Call me Draco, Mr Malfoy reminds me of my father. I have a very long way to go before I try to take over the Malfoy business anyhow." Professor Slughorn and Draco were both walking through different corridors. Draco simply let the man guide him, whilst he looked down at his notes still in the professor's hand.

"Is this about my potion?" Draco asked.

"Why yes, in fact I think I have a way for you to better hone your skills! I am very impressed with the way you've thought up the theory."

"Oh well, if you think about the Calming Draught, and try to flip that potion it is quite easy."

"Nonsense, this is something to be proud of!"

"I am."

"Aha! What a very Slytherin trait, I can see you progressing in the future Draco. Where were you during my first year of teaching," he chuckled. Being a death eater, Draco thought humourlessly. They both walked into the transfiguration classroom, led by Professor McGonagall.

"Professor Slughorn. Mr Malfoy." Professor McGonagall had stopped her class and was now staring openly at the two Slytherin's.

"You stay here, Draco," Slughorn whispered, whilst he walked over to McGonagall. Draco looked over at the class he disturbed. Potter was staring at Draco and whispering with his two friends. But Draco's attention was caught on by Pansy, Blaise, Millicent and Daphne. Pansy kept trying to mouth to Draco, whilst Blaise settled comfortably in his seat.

Millie frowned and whispered over to him, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm just as baffled," Draco said out loud. He didn't care for the class to hear him. "One minute I'm entertaining a conversation with Professor Slughorn, the next minute we're walking into this class and disturbing your lesson."

"I wouldn't say you've disturbed it," Daphne shrugged, staring at her notes with boredom. "Always did kind of-"

"Mr Malfoy," McGonagall called over.

Draco winked over at Daphne, "We'll continue this conversation later, sweetheart?"

Daphne rolled her eyes, "Do drown yourself."

Draco walked over to McGonagall and Slughorn with a small smile, "Professor."

"You wrote these?" McGonagall said. Draco nodded, deciding to stay quiet whilst he figured out if she was going to humiliate him or congratulate him. It was Professor McGonagall okay? She was the real enigma. 

She did something he didn't expect.

"Do you think you can take the Transfiguration N.E.W.T. level course and catch up all of Year 1?" she asked.

Draco gulped, "I have my friends to help. Yes."

"Good, I know what your O.W.L.S were like. I expect you to reach an A level grade by the end of the Christmas term." Draco straightened his stance and gave her a nod. "Well then, Mr Malfoy, do get yourself a textbook from the back cupboard and find a spare seat. I believe you've just entered my N.E.W.T. transfiguration course."

Draco looked back and forth between Professor Slughorn who's eyes twinkled with unbridled pride and Professor McGonagall whose lips lifted like a millimetre upwards. "Thank you," he whispered, before taking his notes from her hand and turning to grin at his friends. Slughorn patted his back as he walked off, Auror Goldbeird stood by the door, conversing softly with the other aurors and Draco took off to find a textbook.

McGonagall continued on with her lesson as Draco came back to find that there were no more seats besides his friends. He scowled, finding out that the only seat available was beside Potter and his motley crew.

The universe fucking hates me. Draco walked over to Potter and dragged a seat out to sit beside him. I can't believe this. Making me sit next to that stupid excuse of a hero. "Malfoy," Potter greeted, his face passive. This is so humiliating. Blaise is never going to let me live this down. Draco turned around in his seat to find Blaise and Pansy making kissy faces at him.

"I will quite literally throttle you with my own leather gloves, they'll never find my prints on you," Draco said in French much to the horror of Blaise and Pansy.

"English in lessons Mr Malfoy. Or would you like to translate what you just said for the rest of the class."

"No professor," Draco said politely. Getting his things out and started to take notes.

***

Theo all but grabbed at Draco the moment they came back from dinner. "Time table now you absolute fiend." he didn't even let Draco take out his new time table before searching his robes and taking it for himself.

"That's my wand," Draco said, trying to snatch it back. Theo threw it to Greg who shrugged and twirled it between his fingers. Draco sighed and sat on the leather sofa, throwing his legs over the boy's lap. Greg scrunched up his nose but didn't push Draco's feet off. Draco snickered, one point to him.

"Five N.E.W.T.s," Millie muttered. "Five bloody N.E.W.T.s- I don't even think Granger is doing five!"

"She isn't," Theo muttered. They all looked at him, when Theo looked up from brutally colour coding Draco's timetable he scoffed. "What? We both take arithmancy, she commented on my timetable."

"What?" Blaise snickered. "Like your colour system?"

It was Theo's turn to scrunch up his nose, "no. She said that arithmancy was a yellow subject and I almost hexed her because arithmancy is obviously an orange subject." Theo went back to his colours, whilst the rest of them exchanged confused looks.

"Uh, Heir Malfoy?" a second year tapped Draco's shoulder. He looked up from his lying position, giving the kid a smile.

"Yes, dearest?"

She blushed, "Mr Potter is outside, he wants to talk to you."

Draco groaned. "Is this about the fight this morning?" Greg asked.

"How do you know about that?"

Greg shrugged, "Pansy told me, because Millie told her, because Blaise can't shut his mouth-"

"Excuse me? You and your chapped lips can honestly-"

Draco got up quickly, pulling the second year away from his friends. He patted her shoulder as they walked over to the common room door. "Did you two fight?" the girl asked.

Draco hummed, "not really. Unless you count my verbal thwarts as a fight?"

"I do."

"In that case-" Draco opened the door- "I definitely won." He found Potter standing awkwardly outside of the door. Draco turned back to the girl, "Now you go and make sure everyone knows I won okay?"

"Like spreading a rumour?"

"Exactly," Draco gave her a wink and watched her run back inside. He arched his brow at Potter, frown settling on his face as he left the common room and closed the door.

"Potter."

"Malfoy."

They both stood outside the door waiting for someone to make the first move and rid the air of it's awkward silence. Draco breathed in deeply, "well... this was a nice chat. Bye now-"

"Wait!" Draco tilted his head and crossed his arms. "I just wanted to apologise about what happened in the quad. I shouldn't have said that all Slytherin's were Death Eaters. Especially knowing your situation." Draco scowled, what did Potter know about him anyway? "I know it was shitty of me. After talking round, I found out why you were there- and I've talked to the three Gryffindors, I'm sorry. Okay?"

Draco looked down at Potter and nodded. "Alright then. I'd like to apologise to-"

"Malfoy-"

"No seriously. Shut up now." Potter scoffed at that. "Sorry about everything. I mean bullying you during our school years and almost killing you in the war. I also want to thank you..." Draco gritted his teeth. "For coming back for me in the Room of Requirement." He could feel the way the leather of his gloves stretched across his knuckles as his hands turned into fists. "Thank you for killing You-Know-Who, saving the wizarding world and saving my mother."

Harry stared at Draco in astonishment before nodding slowly. "Thank you too. For saving my life." He gave Draco a tentative smile and nodded. "I uh- accept your apology."

Draco inhaled harshly, "Good. I don't accept yours."

"What?!"

"Because," Draco quickly said, ignoring Potter's indigent squawks. "I don't need it. You should apologise to Edmund, you did make him cry."

Potter bit his lip, "yea-yeah okay. Is he-"

Draco shook his head, "He's staying the night in the Hufflepuff common rooms." Then he smirked, "You're going to have to get through Alfred to get to Edmund by the way."

"Alfred?"

"His delightfully overprotective, older brother."

Chapter Text

It took two weeks of working around Draco's new school schedule to finally settle with the amount of work he was tending to. He ate breakfast with last year's transfiguration textbooks floating in the air before him. Pansy, Millie, Daphne and Blaise took their time explaining whatever didn't make sense and Draco spent most of his supper's writing essays for Professor McGonagall.

It was a bright Tuesday morning when a cheery Luna Lovegood walked over to stand just beside Draco. "Hello Draco," she called, her airy and light voice snapping him away from his studies.

"Oh, hello Lovegood," he greeted politely, looking at the other Slytherin's who seemed equally as confused as he was. "Can I... help you?"

"I just wanted to come over and tell you that I forgive you," she said.

Draco froze, his transfiguration textbook falling into Greg's cereal. Greg, who was also too stunned to speak, just openly gaped at Luna. "I've been seeing a Mind Healer from St. Mungo's and we talk about the past a lot. I just wanted to thank you and forgive you. Back when I was down in your Manor's cellars. You helped me as much as you could and I appreciate all your efforts. I also don't hold any bad thoughts about you anymore... I don't think I ever really did."

Luna nodded mostly to herself for that comment but still gave Draco a brilliant smile. Draco felt his throat dry up but his lips stretched into a wobbly smile. "Thank you Luna. Thank you for forgiving me. I'm truly sorry-"

"No it's alright. No bad blood anymore right?"

"R-right."

Draco and the rest of the Slytherin's all watched Luna skip away as the rest of the school started to get their morning's mail. "Well, how do you feel Draco?" Greg asked.

Draco blinked back at Greg and pursed his lips. "Lighter?" he whispered. Pansy leant against Draco, a small smile replacing her almost permanent scowl. Pansy stabbed her fork into Draco's pancake and hummed as she ate.

"You guys?" Millie called, eyes darting through the Daily Prophet.

Draco rolled his eyes, leaning his head atop of Pansy's, "let me guess. More Death Eater drawl? Oh- something about Golden Boy and his association with the Auror Training Program?"

Theo leant over Millie's shoulder, "Nope. Walden Macnair is dead."

Blaise furrowed his brows, "Who?"

Draco lifted his head, "Macnair?" Most of the Slytherin's surrounding them were blatantly listening in on their conversation. "He was the Death Eater called to execute Buckbeak back in our third year. When I got attacked."

Blaise smirked, "Oh right- attacked. I remember that."

Draco scowled, "I. Was. Hurt."

Pansy snorted and lifted her head from Draco's shoulder, she continued to eat from his plate as if she didn't have her own. Draco narrowed his eyes on her but didn't say anything as he took the paper from Millie. Daphne pushed the paper to lie on the table, reading it upside down.

"Well, he was in Azkaban anyway right?" she asked. "Doesn't seem like that big of a deal. I don't even remember if he had any family."

Draco shook his head, Macnair did not have family. He was a lowly Death Eater if Draco vaguely remembered You-Know-Who's ranking system. Macnair reminded Draco of Wormtail, someone who also wanted to climb the ranks but was too pathetic to even make it past a peasant's status.

There was no need to dwell on someone that meant nothing to Draco. He gave the paper to Blaise, who was the only one still interested in reading the article instead of getting pieces from others. Millie was the only one in their ensemble who was still subscribed to the Daily Prophet. She was like their very own 'insider.'

"So lads-"

Daphne cleared her throat.

"And Daphne," Draco added. "How about we head to charms?"

It would seem that 'heading to charms' was not as easy as it came. Just because Draco didn't have access to the Daily Prophet and the stupid excuse of calling itself a newspaper, didn't mean that no one else did. Draco, Greg, Theo, Blaise and Daphne were walking to their charms class with three auror patrol officers behind them and even more students as well.

Students, even younger ones, seemed to like the idea of heckling them as if they personally knew Macnair and were close with the man. "How does it feel, knowing another one of you is dead?"

"Bloody deserved it!"

"You all do!"

Daphne scowled, pulling out her wand and twirling it around her fingers. Draco rolled his eyes and shook his head when she turned to him. Sure, she didn't have a parole officer ready and waiting for any excuse to send her off to Azkaban but Draco did. So did Theo and so did Greg. The last thing any of them needed was for a fight to break out whilst they were close.

Greg's auror seemed to have it out for him, Theo's was very good at heckling him too and Draco's was always watching. The infuriating git. Draco continued to walk, keeping a cool and passive face on as his 'peers' continued to shout and hiss in his direction. Really, who was acting like snakes now?

"Wish they threw you in Azkaban too!"

"A dementor's kiss would do you well."

A yell cut off someone and Draco quickly turned to berate Daphne when he noticed her shocked face. She was staring at a younger Slytherin. Merlin, it was a first year. "Yeah," the first year called, grinning manically at the third year Hufflepuff they just jinxed. "I'd go to Madam Pomfrey's. I still haven't fully finished polishing that jinx yet. Wouldn't want any permanent side effects."

A Hufflepuff prefect stormed in, "Ten points from Slytherin and detention this Friday with your Head of House. Get to class now! That includes everyone!" The prefect lifted her fellow Hufflepuff student, "Don't think I didn't see what you did. Ten points from you too, be lucky I haven't given you detention." She almost dragged the poor boy away.

Draco snorted, much to the disgust of the aurors, and continued on his way to double charms. They were relatively on time to class with Blaise and Daphne sitting by the door and Draco, Greg and Theo taking to the back of the classroom. Draco looked around at the rest of the students, accidently locking eyes with Potter, who seemed to want to convey some sort of message.

Draco didn't care.

Potter didn't exactly carry the easiest-to-read facial expressions. He rolled his eyes and started to get out his notes and textbooks for the day.

Charms class was set out the same, Professor Flitwick starting on basic theory and explaining everything that needed to be done in order to get the charm correct. Draco, Theo and Greg pulled their homework from their notes and placed them at the edge of their table. Draco included a set of his own notes that contained what should theoretically help with his Detachment Draught making.

A lot went into potions making, charmswork was actually a big factor and Flitwick was the best help Draco was going to get.

Flitwick let the class get started on the charms work whilst he went around and started to collect everyone's homework. He didn't say much to Draco's little corner because they didn't ever cause much trouble. Just got on with the work. Draco and Theo both patiently started to explain the charm step-by-step to Greg in order for him to write down notes that he could understand.

The wand movement was something that he had the most trouble working on. So Draco and Theo would try their best to find alternate ways to help Greg. "Maybe try holding your wand with your fingertips at the last part?" Theo suggested.

Draco scrunched up his face, "But what if you drop the wand?"

Greg shrugged, doing it himself. "Don't know. Can you show me again?"

Theo performed the charm easily, whilst Draco tried his best to persuade his magic to do the right thing. Greg started to copy whilst they worked through it. Blaise and Daphne eventually trailed over to the three of them, finding that the class was a little more relaxed than most. They all started to work on it together.

"Okay but like who's to say we can't all use it at once and see if it amplifies the charm?" Blaise suggested.

Theo muttered two words, "wingardium leviosa." The boys all started to snicker and laugh whilst Daphne furrowed her brows, looking at all of them with a questioning tilt to her head.

"Blaise practically embodies the Slytherin trait 'ambition' and once made us all try out the levitating spell together in our first year," Draco said.

"We managed to levitate his trunk so high and fast that it dented our dorm room's ceiling," Greg explained.

Daphne snorted, punching Blaise in the shoulder. "You're a mad man."

"But it was so brilliant!" Blaise exclaimed.

"Brilliantly stupid, my dear," Theo said, writing down a couple notes he missed. He started to read up on the textbook again. "Okay Gregory! Try to twist your wrist but keep your wand level."

They all watched as Greg performed the charm and it actually worked. Quiet cheers and many slaps on the back were welcomed as they crowded around Greg, wanting him to do it again. "How are you all faring?" Flitwick asked, walking in their little corner.

"Quite alright Professor, want to show him Greg?" Theo encouraged. They all watched as Greg performed the charm and smiled proudly as Flitwick awarded him five house points.

"Break time, you have ten minutes to go about and do what you want!" Flitwick called once the hour mark came. Draco told the rest of his friends that he'd be in the toilets as he walked out of the classroom. His auror was beside him as they both walked to the closest toilets and Draco sighed.

"I'm going to go in now."

Auror Goldbeird narrowed his eyes but nodded. "I'll be right outside."

"Yeah... I gathered." Draco went in, did his due and quickly started to wash his hands quickly. Auror Goldbeird was not a man that liked to stand around, which... is kind of what he was getting paid to do. Draco was in the middle of washing his hands when the doors opened.

"Merlin, I might as well time myself Auror Goldbeird, this is practically a world record. I'm coming I'm coming-" Draco felt himself choke when he caught Potter's gaze from the mirror. "Oh Potter," he breathed. Draco went to grab some tissues and dried his hands.

He turned around, now comfortable that his back wasn't facing Potter. "Here to slash my chest open?" he joked. Potter pulled the most guilty face Draco had ever seen that he almost felt sorry for saying anything.

Instead he put on his gloves.

Draco was slow and made sure to fit each finger in each cavity of the glove whilst he stared at Potter. Potter's eyes were directed on the gloves though. "There's nothing wrong with me, if you must know," Draco said, feeling self-conscious at Potter's gaze. "I just have an aesthetic going on," he lied.

Potter quirked an amused lip at that. Shit.

He knew he was lying.

Well who cared? S'not like Potter was owed an explanation for anything Draco did. Draco sniffed and arched a brow, "Need anything?"

"No- I- about this morning."

Draco's mind replayed what Luna had said to him and then thought about that evening almost two weeks ago. Of Potter and his apology; well the one he wanted to say to Edmund instead of him. "It doesn't matter."

"But it does," Potter said. "Look I know that you want to keep things in the past but-"

Draco's brows furrowed. "So leave them there. I thought we had some unspoken understanding- 'Potter I'm just here to finish my studies," Draco made for the door but he stood in front of it.

"Look, about Macnair, I know that-" Draco kind of tuned Potter out. Macnair? The dead Death Eater Draco had only ever seen in passing? So this was not an apology... okay then. "I just, if you need anyone then I'm here."

Draco looked down at Potter, "Right. You do know I've only ever entertained a conversation with Macnair once right? That was during our third year, I literally could not care less about who died and when. Potter. Seriously, I have a class to get to. We both do."

Potter simply spluttered, a heavy blushed starting to gather at his tanned cheeks. Draco took great pleasure in watching the tips of Potter's ears start to redden. "Oh but I'm sure, if I ever needed the Chosen One's help for emotional support," he leant down into Potter's space, "I know exactly where to find him."

"Wha- I- Malfoy-"

"Do try to keep up with the gossip, doll." Draco left the toilets, giving Auror Goldbeird a stoic nod before walking back to class.

***

The next day found that Herbology was the only class that Draco took, in which he didn't share with his fellow Slytherin friends. In fact, it was the only class that felt more like an extracurricular activity than it did a class. Not a lot of people took herbology at N.E.W.T. level, so Draco was in a class of 11 students and even then, a lot of people skipped herbology quite a lot. Professor Sprout was lenient as heck.

Draco was sitting in the back of the greenhouse, watching over his year-long project. He was supposed to do a bunch of research on it and write an entire thesis on the plant for his first year of N.E.W.T.s and then do all the physical work by his last.

Instead Draco was stuck doing both. He had a journal and was recording his general findings on the Pibicon Banana plant. It was supposed to create banana fruits with other properties that could help with different potions. Draco fiddled around with the herbology textbook he took from the back cupboard and scoured through the index. Looking at the plant's cousins, he started a list of all possible components that could help him with another potion he was working on.

"What's this Mr Malfoy-"

"Draco," he corrected.

"Draco," Professor Sprout addressed. Draco finished writing and then looked up from his work to the herbology master. "What are all these notes?"

Draco looked down at where she was pointing. Just under his journal for the Pibicon, was his potions notes and theories. "Oh I'm working on developing some potions from scratch. I've been seeing Professor Slughorn about a Detachment Drought that's supposed to stop the patient from feeling numb all the time. Like an advanced Pepper-up potion that hones in on mind healing," he explained.

He pointed the end of his quill at his Pibicon banana plant and then at another set of notes. "This is called High-And-Low, the idea of this potion is that it's supposed to balance the emotions you have and stable mood swings. I think elements of the Pibicon can help, but I want to do more research on it's family plants to fully get a grasp."

Draco bit the inside of his cheek before finally pulling the last set of notes from his unorderly folder (it was a good thing Theo had never seen it before). He gave them to Sprout, "This is called Pity Potion," he muttered. "It's the most complicated, supposed to calm specific emotions, like guilt, fear and worry. It's hard because-"

"You have to be very specific about the emotions you're trying to dampen," Sprout finished. She looked through the notes with thorough interest. Draco looked up at the rest of the class who were still working on their own plants. "This is quite amazing theory work. Have you started test trials?"

Draco shook his head. "Professor Slughorn and Professor McGonagall have been good help with the Detachment Draught though. They think I should complete a research paper and write-up, send it to St. Mungo's or at least get it published so that it can be out there," he explained.

Professor Sprout nodded, "and the others?"

Draco blushed, "I- I haven't told them about the other potions."

"Oh and why not?"

Draco opened and closed his mouth, an answer nowhere to be found. "I didn't even mean to show Professor Slughorn my notes in the first place. Daphne and Blaise asked about them and well, it all stemmed from there."

Professor Sprout nodded, "well. If you'd like, I can give you some books that I think would help." Draco nodded and watched as she left before he started to pinch around his gloves. He returned back to his journal and the rest of his planning for the Pibicon write-up when a familiar voice called out to him.

"It's to cover up the Dark Mark, isn't it?" Draco's head shot up. Neville Longbottom was looking at Draco's gloves in interest. "Sorry, I just- I know some people are curious about them."

"Some people?" Draco asked, a teasing lilt to his voice.

Neville huffed a short, embarrassed laugh. "No you're right. I am a bit curious I just assumed that you wore them because-"

"Yes," Draco cut off. "I wear them because I want to cover the mark. I wear long sleeves and an undershirt too. I just- want to be comfortable. I watched a woman burst into tears when she saw my Mark and I don't know," Draco shrugged, feigning ignorance. "Felt the need to just make it easier for everyone."

Neville nodded, a pout adorning his lips. "Is it comfortable for you?"

Draco shrugged, "sometimes the leather gets too tight, but it's thin enough that I can still feel through them easily."

"Right," Neville looked at them and then up at Draco. He gave a shy smile, "Well. I'll get back to work then." Draco watched Neville return to his own plant, a venomous tentacula and he sniffed, looking back at his banana plant. They continued on with their work whilst Professor Sprout walked around giving out her expertise. She set down three books by his desk, gave him an encouraging smile and then walked off. Draco's thesis on the Pibicon was a planning work-in-progress. There was a limit of ten pieces of parchment, with an extra page as a 'just in case.'

Draco was setting out his planning stages, trying to find out more about this rare plant and whatever he could take from any books, to help his essay. He worked on planning the structure of the essay and then also taking more notes on his theory for new potions. It was equal work on both sides.

Considering he was a year late into Herbology work, it was one of the easier classes he took. Having less project work compared to others; with that said, his work in potions was always overshadowed with these new potions he was creating.

Slughorn didn't mind and that's all that mattered.

That he could get away with it.

Professor Sprout called out the lunch time bell and ended class early so people could get to the great hall in time. Draco and Neville both stayed, technically Extra Herbology studies usually started around exam times but they continued to stay around the greenhouse with Professor Sprout gone and continue with their work.

After five minutes, Draco heard the annoyingly endearing chatter of his friends. "Hello love," Pansy called, walking into the greenhouse and winking at Draco.

"Ex-wife," Draco acknowledged.

"Hey Dray," Millie said.

"Dead wife."

"Draco," Daphne narrowed her eyes at him.

"Secret Mistress."

Blaise snorted. Draco smirked, "well hello to you too, mistress number two."

Theo grinned, sitting beside Draco and poking at his plant. "Leave my banana plant alone, ex-husband."

"And me?" Greg asked.

"Estranged child," Draco shrugged, much to the amusement of all his friends.

"Malfoy," his auror called. "I'm getting lunch, Auror Hellings will stay here and watch over you for me." Draco nodded at Goldbeird before giving his complimentary scowl towards Greg's auror and turning back to his plant.

Daphne pulled out a little package of food for Draco, transfiguring it back to its regular size and quickly putting a heating charm over it. "Lunch," she said. Draco smiled and bumped elbows with her before tucking in. "Do you have lunch Longbottom?"

They all watched in varying degrees of confusion and amusement as Neville replied with a no and then got mother-ed by Daphne. Greengrass ladies were a force to be reckoned with. Daphne wasted no time, splitting her lunch with Neville, complaining about the lack of people wanting to ever eat these days.

To be fair to her, almost all her friends were incredibly depressed.

"So, what are you working on this time?" Theo asked, taking Draco's notes as he continued to eat.

"Trying to find the family plants of this one," he motioned to his banana plant. "I think it will have a component that could help with my High-And-Low potion."

"High-And-Low potion?" Neville asked.

Draco smirked, "my, my, Longbottom. You really are a curious one, aren't you?" He revelled in Neville's blushing face. "I'm trying to create a potion that can help stabilise mood swings and generally calm someone down."

Neville furrowed his brows, "What about the Calming Draught?"

Draco waved his hand, getting crumbs on Blaise who squawked as he battered at his fine robes. "I want this to specifically tend to mood swings. It'll be more mind healing than an everyday thing. Less likely to overdose on this potion. I hope," Draco added at the end.

Theo hooked his ankle around Draco's, placing a hand over his arm too. "Project?" he gritted out.

Draco frowned at Theo, putting his lunch away and letting the boy squeeze at his arm slightly. "I- yeah. I have to write a thesis of sorts. For this banana plant. I've been planning the general outline. Structure, if you will."

Theo let go of Draco's arm, his hands shaking as they took his notes, eyes solely focused on the parchment. Millie came over and wrapped her arms around Theo's shoulders, resting her chin on his dark hair and looking over at Draco's notes too. Blaise had taken Greg away, whispering to him and looking back at the aurors stationed just outside of the greenhouse.

"The High-And-Low needs a component right?" Pansy asked, her hand slowly picking up Draco's and intertwining with his own.

"Yeah," Draco shrugged, staring at Neville. "Something that can actually suppress the power of the Newtose I've put in, to help balance the emotions."

Neville nodded, "You'd probably need the skin then."

Draco blinked, "What?"

"The skin," Neville repeated. "It's light enough and carries the most magical energy that can be diluted so it doesn't accidentally kill whoever drinks this potion."

Draco stared at Neville in awe and then began scribbling all that down. "Longbottom, you are a genius."

"Ma-Malfoy?"

"You can call me Draco."

***

"You know, once I have this whole potion thing down, we can actually make a head start on recovering," Draco said from where he was lying on his bed. Well 'kind of curled' was a better way to explain his position. A lot of his notes were scattered around him and Draco was sorting through them finally.

Read: Theo literally threatened him, so now Draco had no choice but to comply.

Alex's bed was curtained close and the boys suspected that he put some sort of silencing charm around his space. They made some questionable, tortured noises that he should have heard, but never reacted to. Blaise was going through different plans for the French lessons that they were keeping up with. Draco, now with five N.E.W.T. classes instead of four, had Blaise, their second-best French speaker take up a lot of the classes.

(Theo, once again, was the best French speaker but he had little patience with children)

He was reading through the material and coming up with what they would practise after the Christmas holidays. The First Years started to understand why they had the choice to learn French from them after a thorough explanation catered for their little brains.

"Some of us don't wanna stay in England after we leave school. Some of us will need jobs but can't get 'em cause our pa's a Death Eater. Some people are absolute prejudiced dic-"

Draco was very certain he would never allow Pansy to ever talk to the first year students again after that lovely display of affection. He had made it so that whoever was taking the classes had no choice but to speak in only French during the weekend mornings. Slughorn had a joyous time watching his Slytherin's all learn a new language, even if he tried to remain ignorant for the reasons why.

"I think we should talk to Professor Slughorn about getting a Mind Healer in for some students," Greg said. He and Theo were hunched over the former's bed, looking through a spreadsheet of sorts; drawn up to keep track of which students were taking which potions and how many doses. Basic stuff really.

Draco looked up from his notes, humming slightly. "St. Mungo ones?"

Theo shook his head, "they're employed by the Ministry right? Can't exactly trust someone working on that salary and also, that they won't be unbiased. Right now, looking at these reports there's a few students who should definitely start weaning off the potions and get some actual help."

Theo quickly scribbled a bunch of names and charmed them to fly over to Draco, who caught them easily. "Just show them to Slughorn, and tell him that St. Mungo's would do."

Draco bit his lips, "I have more than enough money to bring in two Mind Healers that I can make sure are accessible for weekly sessions. I'll talk to Slughorn in the morning, see what I can do. Thank you," he called over, before taking his wand and charming all his notes into a neat pile. Draco shoved them into his book-bag and settled more comfortably into bed.

"If anyone needs me, I'll be asleep- so disturb Blaise for all I care."

"Hey!"

Chapter Text

You know, in the grand scheme of things, maybe everything was just waiting to  crash and burn like a phoenix. Just not the whole redemption and reliving a whole new life part. They could do with the 'reliving' part to be honest. Because on the morning of November 28th, the Slytherin's woke up to the news of Senior Nott's death. Theo was in the middle of eating his morning porridge, courtesy of Daphne's food piling habits, when the news was broken to him.

Draco and the rest of the school were uncomfortably forced into silence, watching Theo with unsteady breaths. Theo, had all but ripped the Daily Prophet out of Millie's hands and aggressively turned to read the article. Senior Nott was found dead in the early morning, after he couldn't call for attendance that day in Azkaban.

There was no reason to suspect that a Dementor had gotten to the man, but it was ruled that way. Because of the new laws passed, there was a decrease in Dementors because it was found morally unjust to put the prisoners through that.

It made more sense to Draco that Senior Nott died of older age and a weak body than it was a rogue dementor wanting to sustain its own life.

Theo put the newspaper down delicately, and got up, storming out of the Great Hall with a dark aura. Draco looked at Theo's parole auror and quickly cursed. "Right, I'll go with him, and we'll see you guys in transfiguration okay?"

"Yeah, sure," Pansy whispered, face ashen and eyes glistening.

Draco got up and walked quickly out of the Great Hall, turning his head left and right, trying to decipher where Theo went. He stormed closer to the Slytherin common rooms, before going the opposite way. Finding Theo was easy after that, he had slowed his steps and was silently hunched in himself.

"Theo?" Draco called, hand reaching over to grasp his friend's shoulder.

Theo spun around, falling into Draco's arms with a silent cry. Draco simply put his arms around the boy's shoulders, entrapping him into a tight hug. "Theo," Draco whispered, wondering what to say. How to comfort his friend. Theo was the last of the Nott line, he had only his dad. No other siblings and his mother had passed away sometime after his birth.

"You're not alone okay?" Draco whispered.

Theo tightened his hold around Draco, body violently shuddering as he tried to keep quiet. Draco cast a quick, wandless silencio around them and let Theo cry in his arms in the middle of the corridor. He felt his throat tighten and chest heave as he struggled himself not to cry.

Draco felt a tear slip his eyes and he buried his face in Theo's hair. "I'm sorry Theo."

"Dr-Dray... my dad."

"I know."

Theo sniffed, pulling back from Draco and clenched his hands into fists. His body was still shaking and his breaths continued to remain laboured. Draco could tell Theo was trying to reign in another one of his attacks. "Do you want a Calming Draught?"

He shook his head, "no- I... I want to feel this." Draco nodded and then pulled out his wand, he let go of the silencing charm. The bell for the end of breakfast rang and Draco sighed. "Still have to get to class," Theo whispered. Before Draco could even protest, Theo gave an surrendering look to Draco. "Still on parole, aren't I?"

Draco scowled, but nodded. He rummaged through his own bag and took out a spare pair of gloves, handing them over to Theo who arched his brow silently. "Don't look at me like that. I'll have you know that they're very grounding, actually."

Theo gave a small smile and slid them on. Draco had longer fingers, but Theo made them fit with a quick charm. He then pulled out his own wand and started to mutter a quick charm over his clothes. The green lining of his robes and his Hogwarts crest started to darken. Draco understood immediately and started to work on his own robes. He watched his tie, shirt and jumper all turn into a mourning black colour.

Taking Theo's hands in his own, Draco walked with him to his own class. Theo would usually have a free period right about now, but he hardly doubted Professor McGonagall was going to kill him for bringing his friend to class. They were sombre and Draco felt a little cathartic after witnessing Theo's crying. He had hoped Theo felt somewhat lighter, even if he had to take a temporary pause from his grieving. They were both late to Draco's transfiguration class, but didn't particularly care when McGonagall had to take off the mandatory house points. She was generous enough to only take two from Draco instead of the usual five, so there was that.

Draco squeezed Theo's shoulder, watching as Blaise linked his arms with the boy. Pansy had grabbed his hand, Millie and Daphne starting to charm the group's uniform into the same black colour. Draco bit the inside of his cheek and walked over to his own desk with Potter, Wesley and Granger. Stupid, permanent seating rules.

This should really be the one exception to that blasted rule.

Draco took out his books and some parchment from his folder. He turned around to find that Blaise was quietly talking to Theo who was slumped against him, eyes staring out at the desk. Pansy had a scowl set to her face, hands curling around her wand defensively, as she stared at Theo's and her own auror officers. Millie and Daphne both looked at Draco, who simply shook his head.

They silently started to move their chairs closer to Theo and take care of him. Draco sighed; pulling out more parchment and started to charm a quill to repeat the notes he was making. The transfiguration classroom was an awkward mess of silent Slytherins and rowdy Gryffindors.

Draco continued to write up everything he could, all the information that was necessary. He started to pull out different inks, biting the inside of his cheek when he tried to remember Theo's colour coding rules.

"Red for important stuff, blue for keywords he needs to research more on later and green for anything he thinks he might forget later on."

Draco looked up to find Granger staring at him. Her eyes darted back to the inks and then she gave him a slow nod. "I'm sorry about Nott."

Anger pulsed through Draco's being, a sense of protection surged in his magic. He bit at his cheek and gave her a stiff nod. His charmed quill was fast and neat as it finished one set of notes and started on another. A set of 4 extra notes, this time without the colour coding, started to replicate all over his desk. It managed to push over into Potter's space, but Draco didn't particularly give a shit at the moment.

It also seemed like Potter wouldn't dare speak out of place. Lest he wanted Draco to lash out at him.

"And the spell for the fire element, anyone? Draco?" Professor McGonagall called.

Draco looked up from his work, staring at McGonagall before he shook his head. "I don't know," he whispered, head hanging and hands clenched into fists. McGonagall moved on from asking him questions and she seemed to understand that none of the Slytherin's would be answering any questions any time soon.

The entire class was on edge whenever McGonagall tried to ask any Slytherin's for answers. There was a lack of magic that day for the Slytherin's side of the room. Draco finally got up from his seat when the practical aspect of class started up. He walked over to the back of the class and handed each of his friends a copy of his notes.

"Look Theo? I even colour coded my notes?" Draco said, showing him the set of notes he made for himself. Theo didn't even look at them.

He silently slid the colour coded version into his bag and accio'd his chair over to their corner and sat down opposite Theo. He locked their ankles together and sat with them as Millie started to try out the practical. The rest of them all watched her try to turn the fire she started into different colours and experiment with heat temperatures. Millie twisted her wand and they all flinched when the fire roared and almost hit the ceiling.

Millie quickly doused it to ashes with a violent scorch mark singeing away on the desk. "Sorry," she whispered when McGonagall sped over.

"Right, I think it's best if you all take this lesson off," Professor McGonagall sighed.

"But Professor the aurors-"

"I will talk to them. You can have the rest of the day off."

Draco and the rest of them stared in astonishment before they quickly packed their bags. Draco looked at the rest of the Slytherins, some of the students nodded. "Don't worry. We'll take notes and tell you if anything important happens," one of them said in French.

"Yeah don't worry."

"Go now."

Draco gave a nod and rubbed Theo's back, letting them all walk out of the classroom first, before following. He turned back around to find Professor McGonagall stopping their aurors and having a hushed discussion with them. Draco was ready to turn when Harry bloody Potter decided to join along.

"Nott-"

Draco looked back at Theo who seemed just about ready to murder Potter.

"We'll get Greg," Daphne said, pulling Blaise and Theo along.

Draco spun around, pointing at Potter and then into an empty corridor. "Care to tell me why you're not in class?" he asked, walking ahead.

Potter was blushing again, it was getting old at this point. "I wanted- Hermione I mean- Look I just wanted to say sorry to Nott."

"And what?" Draco scoffed. "Give your condolences? Don't forget you're the reason why Senior Nott was put in Azkaban in the first place," Draco hissed, knowing he had hit a sore spot.

Potter didn't seem to mind much because his eyes had blazed with anger. "He deserved Azkaban. You and I both know. I'm sorry he died-"

"Are you?" Draco asked.

"What?"

"Are you sorry he died?" Draco took a step forward, staring down at Potter. "You don't even know Nott, you sure as hell don't know Theo. Why apologise Potter for someone you don't care for? You don't get to say sorry. You also don't get to pick and choose what you apologise for," Draco seethed. He felt his fingertips sizzle with magic and rubbed his fingers against his palms. The leather's cooling charm helped to calm him down. He was getting too personal.

"Look Potter. Theo doesn't want to talk to you and I can be sure of the fact that no one in our group wants to talk to you. So just stay away," he took a couple steps back.

"Is there a problem boys?" Professor Lupin called.

Draco closed his eyes before he outwardly almost rolled them in the presence of his Muggle Studies professor. "Nothing's the matter, Professor. We were just having a chat," Draco turned his nose up and gave Lupin a once over. Disgust pulled at his features when he saw the shabby clothing on Lupin's body and he walked away.

"We're heading down to the lake," Millie said.

Draco rolled his eyes, linking his arms with her and walking through the lonely corridors. "You waited for me?"

"Actually no- I suggested we leave you to the common rooms confused because none of us were there, but Daphne took pity on you," Millie grinned.

"Ah yes, I can always count on my secret mistress."

Millie snorted, resting her head on his arm as they continued to walk out of the castle. Draco muttered a warming charm over them and then his gloves as he walked on the bumpy terrain. They passed the greenhouse to find Longbottom there (Draco had never not seen him in that room) and worked on watering some plants.

"Draco," Longbottom greeted.

"Longbottom," Neville scrunched his face at that, but Draco refused to call by his first name. Yes, Neville helped him with his potions work but it's not like they were friends or anything. He didn't particularly care if Neville went back to calling him Malfoy too, it's not like that would change Draco's perception of the boy.

"How's the banana skins working then?" Neville asked.

Draco hummed, "they're fine. Professor Sprout has finally got the shipments of family plants and I plan on working to distil them tonight. I'll get back to you once I get the results. I could always use a second person's opinions on them."

Neville nodded, "more like a fifth- how many professors know about the High-And-Low potion?"

"Just you and Professor Sprout."

Neville gave an astounded look, "Really? I thought you were going to publish your work."

Draco rolled his eyes, "Just the Detachment Draught. The less people know the better..."

"Alright, well as boring as this conversation is, we should head down," Millie cut though. She gave Longbottom a wave and continued down the slopey steps to the lake. Draco could see where the rest of his friends were and was surprised to find the huge form of Professor Rubeus Hagrid joint with them.

Millie and Draco both looked at each, exchanging confused glances before finally walking up the rest of them. Theo was lying on Pansy's lap, his hands holding onto Blaise's tightly with his eyes screwed shut. Greg was sitting with Daphne, who was sorting out the tea that must belong to Hagrid.

"'Ello Draco. Millicent," Hagrid greeted.

Draco pulled his lips into a smile, but with Daphne's glare, he assumed it came out as a sort of grimace. She handed over mugs, the size of Draco's entire head, filled with tea. "Milk and sugar?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes, "What do I look like, a House Elf?"

Draco's lips pressed into a thin line, but conjured the milk and sugar to float over and pour themselves into his tea. "Professor Hagrid," he greeted politely. Thankful that his hands were a, warmed by the mug of steaming tea and b, had something to do whilst his stress levels remained a constant high alert.

"Oh no need to call Pro'essor now, eh? I'm just 'ere to make sure you're all 'alright," he said gently, gaze fixed worriedly on Theo.

Draco nodded at the answer as he sipped on his tea. It helped when the winter air seemed to have spikes of nipping at his skin every now and then. "How did you manage to get rid of Auror Hellings?"

Pansy's eyes darkened. "Oh you know, just told him that the aurors needed him back at the transfiguration class," she muttered.

Draco did not believe that for a second, but didn't say anything else on the matter. He would much rather have Hagrid interrupting them, than Greg's auror. "Why are we outside?"

"Because the idea of being indoors, warm and comfortable makes me uncomfortable," Theo drawled. Pansy had taken to running her hands through his short, brown hair. Theo still had a very regal look to him as he lay there on Pansy's lap. "Can we talk about something else now?"

"Why o'course, how's the mock exams going on 'en?" Hagrid asked.

Cue everyone also groaning out loud. The mock exams were on the week before their Christmas holidays. It was cutting it very close and Draco did not need to think about how he was going to do it. "I plan on failing my Potions mock, if anyone wants to know."

"What?" Greg furrowed his brows. "Why? I didn't even know you could do that?"

"Now, now, Gregory. No need to inflate the man's ego even higher than it already is." Blaise teased.

Draco simply took another sip of his tea to hide his own smirk. "I am. I need to prove to Professor McGonagall that I can handle the transfiguration N.E.W.T. this year. So all my revision has gone into that, and mostly split equally with the other subjects." He waved his hand to cut off whatever Daphne was going to say. "The only subject I'm not revising for is potions. It's only a mock exam anyway. I'll be fine, like Greg said- I am the best potions student-"

"I did not say that."

"-this school has ever seen."

They continued talking, with Hagrid also telling them all about his class. The others joked about the hippogriff incident like it was not the most tragic and life-changing event of Draco's teenagehood. Then came a sort of awkward apology between Hagrid and Draco. One for being an incompetent teacher who really should have run by what he was going to be teaching to the Headmaster.

Then another from Draco, for maybe being a little bit dramatic.

***

Really it was the kids fault for trying to even try to comment on Theo's situation when even the mighty Harry Potter refused to. Draco suspected that everyone knew about their group's lack of fighting back and that people were starting to get bolder. It hadn't also slipped from everyone's mind that the aurors stationed to look over them didn't really pay attention when they were getting jinxed. So now, take some defenceless Slytherin's, aurors that also don't care what happened to them and pissed off Gryffindors. What do you get?

A random Hufflepuff student hexing them all with uncharacteristically fast reflexes and a rage that carried into everyone present. Draco took one lesson from that encounter, Edmund Hitchings, had an older brother. Alfred Hitchings was most definitely in the wrong house.

Draco could remember every word that Gryffindor had said about Theo's father. The words were cutting and degrading, pulling at all the Slytherin's who were trying to take care of their mourning friend. Draco could remember the way Theo had stilled, how his face fell stormy and eyes turned sharp.

He remembered Millie pulling her wand out first, shoving past Draco and pointing it threateningly at the Gryffindor. Had seen the way her magic sliced the air and made the winter winds turn acute. He could also recount how the aurors had all started to take out their wands, edging for a fight.

They shouldn't have done anything. Millie was not under probation.

But they were hungry for any reason to attack, like starved sharks sensing blood in the water. Millie had not raised her voice at the Gryffindors, just sent them a warning and asked them to leave. 

They knew. 

She wouldn't harm them, because they knew if she did then she was harming Draco and his lot.

Theo didn't need that.

It was a tense moment, as Draco thought to recollect how no one moved. The air was shifting and pulsing under Millie's anger. The way the aurors' eyes were darting between the two. Someone had to make the first move. It was the Gryffindors. They all saw it, the way Millicent cast a protego so strong instead of consuming their attacks, it shot straight back at them.

Blaise had got out his wand and Daphne was ready and waiting- but Millie held her own quite well. Had ordered them all to stay back whilst she continued to fight. Draco had bitten the inside of his cheek because all he could do was helplessly watch. Watch as Millie's anger never dissipated, but grew stronger.

Then when it got too much someone else came in. Alfred Hitchings was big and powerful. He was charming in the way he carried himself to Millie's aid. He had attacked the little 'leader' of the ensemble and sent a jinx Draco had never even heard before. He remembered with a satisfied smirk that the boy started to grow eyes all over his body. Appearing around his skin until there was no stretch of him that wasn't covered in frantic, teary eyes.

Alfred seemed almost sadistically happy when he duelled the rest of the Gryffindors. He spun and sent curses like they were everyday nonsense charms. He moved quickly and fiercely until the last of the Gryffindors had all but collapsed under his power. "That... was for my brother," he muttered.

"That's when Millie was attacked by one of the aurors," Daphne finished her version of the story. It was all the same, the ending to that glorious battle came in the form of Millie getting a stunner to the chest and needing to spend the night in the Infirmary.

"And you admit to this?" McGonagall said, sitting in the Headmistress chair. Draco sometimes forgot that she really was Headmistress now. Her eyes were ablaze as she scrutinised Alfred.

"Yes."

Draco and the rest of the Slytherin's all watched Alfred defend his reasons. A lot of talk about his little brother, some bashing how he thought McGonagall's talks about 'house unity' was "honestly a load of pillock Professor. No one's going to treat those Slytherin's fairly. Hell the only reason my house does, is because they know—and by default—are loyal to my brother. It's partly your fault if I'm honest," he said.

Draco's jaw had dropped, and from the way the other Slytherin's were staring at Alfred too, it seemed like everyone was shocked. You know what, McGonagall was included in that as well.

"Excuse me?"

"What? It's not my fault Bulstrode is in the infirmary. You're the one who allowed those aurors here, and they did nothing to defend her."

"Those aurors are here on official ministry business- I don't-"

"Great," Alfred scoffed. "Now you sound like Umbridge."

Draco sucked in his next breath so harshly he coughed. He hid behind Greg as he tried to control which airway he was breathing through. "Detention. Every night until the Christmas holidays."

"...Okay Professor." They all watched Alfred leave and then turned to Professor McGonagall.

She looked at all of them and narrowed her eyes at Draco. "I gave you permission to have the day off and you start a fight."

"As I seem to recall Professor. Your Gryffindors started it, and none of us present even lifted our wands. Well except Blaise of course, who charmed the blood off of Millie's robes," Draco said. "Are you going to give us detention, Professor?"

"...No."

"Then we'll be heading to the infirmary. To see our friend. Who was attacked. By your Gryffindors. Today. She was-"

"Get out Mr Malfoy."

***

"What an absolute legend..." Millie smiled, eyes closed and still laying in the infirmary beds even though she was completely fine. They had all decided to camp out in the infirmary with Millie because of multiple reasons:

— Millie refused to leave even when Madam Pomfrey said she could

— Theo couldn't bring himself to go to the Slytherin Common Rooms yet

— The other Gryffindors was sleeping on the opposite of the room and if someone were to 'accidentally' hex them again, Draco wanted to be there to see it

So after making Blaise go and summon some cheap quality alcohol from the secret stash in the boys dormitory, they were well on their way to getting sloshed. It was just after midnight in the infirmary and Daphne had given up on trying to make them all drink responsibly.

In all fairness, Draco was sober and actually doing some work. He was sitting in another empty bed with Theo by his side and the others happily chatting away. He had a small potions kit with him and after summoning the rest of the banana peels, was quietly distilling them.

"Remember the day my dad caught us all drinking that one Christmas Yule?" Theo asked, lifting a bottle of butterbeer and sipping on it. The rest of the group had started to quiet down as they looked back at Theo. "He walked into the Nott drawing room, took one look at our plastered faces and walked back out," Theo snickered.

Draco couldn't help the smile that broke out on his face. "Ah do you remember the time we all played Quidditch in your gardens and we convinced Senior Nott to join us?"

Pansy snorted, "Oh I remember that! He was so good at it too!"

Theo grinned proudly, "Yep. He sucked at studying though." With a scrunching of his nose Theo shook his head, "Honestly, could do with a couple neatly ordered folders."

"Or some colour coding?" Greg hiccuped, a true lightweight.

Theo smirked, "Oh no- he let me do that to some of his documents."

"You're kidding," Blaise snorted. "Theo, you have a problem!"

Daphne smiled fondly, "I loved whenever he left the adults to talk to us about school and stuff."

Millie nodded, "Made us all feel like proper grown-ups and stuff, you know?"

"Yeah..." Theo muttered. "I'm miss him."

Draco tapped his wand, freezing his work and shimmying closer to Theo. Once he wrapped around the shorter boy's body, he rocked them side to side. "I'm gonna miss his parties and when he used to greet me as Heir Malfoy."

"I'm going to miss when he paid attention to all the drama I talked about."

"Or when he would bow really low whenever he wanted to dance with me."

"The little way he always put a smiley face at the end of his name when he signed off his Christmas cards."

Theo rubbed at his eyes which made Blaise rush over and start to dab at his skin gently. "Thanks guys."

"No bloody problem," Millie said. She looked at the ceiling and sighed, "Could do without the stunner to my tits but whatever." 

Chapter Text

The Christmas holidays could not have come quicker, with the final Mock exams over. They took place within a week and was a non-stop everyday headache that Draco was glad to get rid of. Even though he said he wouldn't revise for his potions exams, he did find himself sitting with the rest of his friends in an empty classroom, with Slughorn (because a faculty member had to be present when in an empty classroom) and their aurors, cramming down extra work.

That was an interesting conversation to have with Slughorn when he realised that Draco was not at all interested in trying to pass the exam.

"So you're not going to study at all?"

"No."

"Ah you must already be so confident, my boy!"

"...what the actual-"

Theo was doing better and with each day that passed colour started to fill their days. Literally. None of them wanted to continue charming their uniform black every morning when those two minutes could have been spent looking over their notes. Or rather, Draco's simplified notes and Nott's colour coded ones.

"You know what, I you should colour code herbology to be green-"

"Why?"

"Because plants are green and-"

"No, why would you think I care?"

"...rude."

Overall their exams went swiftly, even with Greg who thought that his charms exam was the only one he wouldn't pass at. To be fair, the theory was a lot more advanced than any of them really initially thought. But that's probably what you get for underestimating Professor Flitwick. Draco had Theo's hands clasped in his own when they were apparated back to the Manor. Theo technically, now the Lord of Nott manor, much preferred leaving that mess until school finished.

Draco was more than happy to accommodate his best friend and his mother had the same outlook. His mother was standing outside of the Manor gates, her grin so wide and full of relief when she saw them. Her gaze flickered over to their two aurors, but once they left, she returned to her relaxed state. "How are you, my dear?" she questioned Theo first.

"Perfect madam, thank you for inviting me to stay-"

"Oh none of that Lord Nott, come here," she gathered Theo into her arms. Draco smiled fondly at the two, and grinned when Theo relaxed into her arms. "Come here Dragon," she whispered.

Draco rolled his eyes and bounded himself over to hug them both. Head resting comfortably atop of Theo's. "Right, we'll have the House Elves attend to the bags. Let's get Theo settled in my room and then talk about the journey. Mother?"

Narcissa was a beautiful woman, but Draco truly believed she was the prettiest every time she smiled at him exclusively. She wrapped an arm around Draco's and held a hand out for Theo to take. They all walked into the Manor after that.

The 'talking' was an interrogation of their mock exams which led to unison groans from both boys. Narcissa had a polite smile as she sipped quietly on her tea, but Draco could tell her farce easily. Her eyes were scrutinising and predatory as she locked on Draco. "And my darling dragon-" Theo snickered, like the orphaned traitor he was- "has decided to disappoint me by what was it you wrote dear? I shall not revise for my potions exams at all due to my own expertise in the subject. I have other tasks to carry out. Pray tell, what are these other tasks?"

Draco scoffed, "I'd like to reiterate that I am still an expert-" Theo outright snorted at that. "And I will be writing a research paper on my potion inventions by the end of the school year. I have also started French lessons for the younger years again and will be re-taking up my violin lessons."

Theo choked.

Good. He deserved it.

"You're taking up your-"

"A joke, Mother. I was joking," Draco shivered in his seat, he very much did not want to continue his violin lessons. All pureblood children had to learn an instrument to play- really, Draco didn't see why Theo had been laughing. Draco very distinctively remembered a photo of little ickle Theo all red-faced, blowing helplessly into a French horn.

"Did you know we're also teaching Pureblood Studies in addition to Draco's rather successful French lessons?" Theo gave Narcissa a soft smile. His fingers dipped into the tray of delicate snacks and he munched on a little cucumber sandwich.

"Oh is that so?"

Theo nodded. "I get to teach this class of course, as the perfect specimen of pureblood-" okay now it was Draco's turn to scoff. "There are only 3 muggleborn students in this year's First Year Slytherin bunch. I teach them and the rest of the half-bloods. We're going over Lords and Ladies after Christmas time. Then Heirs," he explained.

Narcissa arched a perfectly sculpted brow, hand delicately setting her cup and saucer down with minimal noise. Draco sighed, even before the war, Draco could never be as quiet as his mother when handling fine china. "I do hope you've covered the Sacred Twenty-Eight families?"

Theo smirked, "lesson one."

"Good, good." Draco went to grab for a little, triangular cut tuna sandwich when his mother's face pinched. Her eyes were on Draco's gloves, nose upturned like she was smelling something foul. "Draco, do take your gloves off. Have you learnt nothing about etiquette?"

Draco looked to Theo for help, who simply turned his head away and continued to eat his bland cucumber sandwich without even a crumb left on him. "I- I-"

"Stuttering, Dragon? That's not very proper."

Draco sighed and took off his gloves, setting them aside and then helping himself to food. "You know at this rate, we might as well hold etiquette classes for them too. See how they like to suffer." Draco didn't like the way Theo's eyes seemed to glimmer, or the way his mother put on a scheming face.

He really didn't, because after tea, he was expected to recount his lessons under the watchful eye of both his mother and best friend. Life sucked, as Draco continued walking in a straight line, under two heavy, hardback covered books.

"This is embarrassing," he said, turning to glare at the two.

Narcissa simply looked up from one of her many books and shot Draco a calm smile, "Do keep your chin up darling."

"Yes darling," Theo grinned, quickly hovering another book with his wand. He sat on the ground and was creating a whole new class of etiquette that would intertwine with his pureblood studies. "Chin up, back straight and gaze forward and focused. Honestly Draco, it's like you've forgotten everything."

"I am going to murder you Theo-"

"Draco, he's a guest," his mother reminded.

"No, a guest would leave. I have to handle this for the next two weeks. If Pansy could see me now..."

"I could always firecall her?"

"NO!"

Theo tilted his head as he looked back up at Draco, a fond smile settling on his features. "You're going to be quite the dashing Lord Malfoy one day, you know that?"

Draco felt his lips quirk, "I know."

"Well, that was my daily dose of generosity."

Draco kicked at one of Theo's many notes, and dropped both the books down on him. Theo's indignant squawking did nothing to stop Draco from roughhousing with him. They rolled over one another whilst Narcissa watched with a motherly gaze. "Boys, do be sure to roll away from my table. I'd hate for my juice to spill and stain the carpet."

Draco and Theo both stopped fighting, looked at each other, then at Narcissa before nodding and continued to fight.

***

The Christmas holidays at the manor was pleasant experience for Draco. But if Theo ever wondered, Draco would continue to tell him to piss off. Their days were full of messing around, firecalling their friends and preparing for the Malfoy Family Yule. It was a general rule within the entire list of things that Draco and Narcissa had to stick to when they got trialled was that for any guests to appear in the house, they were to be flanked with a single auror.

When Millie went to visit, she was with an auror and seemed pissed off to the poor unsuspecting auror-in-training. The Malfoy Family Yule was supposed to be a very tight ball that year, with Draco sending out an invitation to the entirety of his Slytherin house. They were not allowed to invite any plus ones, unless family and it had to be strict, just one.

Which of course meant that the invites got out a little later than he was expecting. He had owled Professor Slughorn an invite of sorts, and tried to keep it as basic as possible. Didn't even mention a party, just wanted him to come and drink, maybe talk about potions. This was him extending an olive branch.

Slughorn however, wanted the entire tree.

"Blaise called this morning to say that his mother got word a few aurors were attending anyway," Theo called from the floor.

The House Elves were taking care of the decorations and Narcissa was busy ordering them around. Draco and Theo were supposed to 'help' and they were. Really they were. They were checking the ballroom's conditions. It was a grand, lush and well kept varnished floor that felt very nice to lie on.

Which is exactly what they were doing. Lying on the ground of the Malfoy ballroom and staring at the ceiling, talking about life. "I know, I planned for the aurors to be here anyway. It's not like we can't have this celebration, the trial never said we had a limit on how many guests we were allowed to have."

Theo snorted, "lovely."

Draco was completely mesmerised by the chandelier and its tiny little crystals. All the intricate detailing that went into the light and the magic that flowed through it. "Christmas just isn't the same."

"Because of the parole, the fact that we're grown ups or because of the people?"

Draco sighed, turning to look at Theo, "A little bit of everything." Theo simply hummed, "I'm going to meet my father in Azkaban." At this Theo's eyes burst open and he sat up.

"What?"

"I put in an appointment a month ago and today was the only time that they had available. I'll be gone for an hour and then I'll be right back for the festivities."

Theo bit his lip, "And your mother?"

"She does know. She wanted to meet him, but with the Yule-"

"No right. Yeah, you should go."

"Theo," Draco sat up, extending a hand. "You okay?"

Theo took his hand and gave a resolute nod, "I'll be okay... eventually."

They went to lie back down until his mother walked into the ball and demanded they actually get to work. The rest of the guests started to turn up in the evening. Draco decided to just wear normal clothes to meet his father. Meanwhile Theo was changing into elegant green robes and Draco was itching at his gloves.

He gave Theo a shaky smile and walked down to the entrance when the auror stationed to apparate him away, appeared. The auror narrowed his eyes, looking at the start of the Yule before turning to Draco. "Ready for hell?"

Draco set his jaw, "Already been through that."

The auror grabbed at his arm and dragged him out of the manor grounds. Draco probably should have bit his tongue back from any snarky comments, but even if didn't say anything, he had a feeling the aurors would always suspect him. The apparating was harsh and made Draco wobble to stand up.

He could feel the difference in the air immediately. Everything was dark and cold. Like someone had taken the light away from the walls. It was fully into winter, but Draco felt like his bones were freezing under the cold of Azkaban. Like if he moved too quickly, his joints would crack from the friction.

The auror didn't let him have a moment to gather himself before he was dragged through corridors, forced up stairs and shoved into a room that seemed too small to fully lie back in. Draco spun around when the auror shut the door and left him alone with his father. Lucius Malfoy was coherent enough to sigh heavily and give Draco a once over.

"Draco."

"...Father."

Draco gulped, taking a seat on the ground. His gloves felt like a saving grace from touching anything that could possibly taint him. Everything about Azkaban felt like someone was prickling him with anxiety. The heightened senses were throwing Draco completely off, he had no idea how his father could last more than an hour there. Let alone the next ten years.

"It's Christmastime," he said.

His father arched his brow, even in dirty clothes and a disgruntled, skinny figure he seemed to radiate presence. Draco felt like a kid all over again under his fathers gaze. "This must be my Christmas present. A son, who only visits me during the holidays."

"No- I- I've come from the Yule." Draco cringed, "I- I'm performing well Father. I have taken up five N.E.W.T.s and the Professors at Hogwarts are starting to help me complete a research paper. I plan on inventing a potion, it's called Detachment Draught. I have theories written up for now and I'm also helping the other Slytherins.

"I'm building the Malfoy name up and making sure that people stay loyal to us," Draco said. He watched his father's eyes widen slightly; but he wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing. "I have gained trust from Professor Slughorn and I know he has connections. Father, I can help our family, make you proud-"

"You already have, you insolent boy!" Lucius thundered. "You stop what you are doing! This instant. Do you not understand Draco? We lost," he hissed. "I tried everything to protect," Lucius's eyes darted to Draco's left arm. Draco subconsciously curled it closer to his chest. "The best I can tell you- for whatever feckless reason, you still want my pride? The pride of mine, which is diminished in this hellscape. Well you have it. I am proud of you Draco. You have always been an adequate Heir and you will make a fine Lord one day. So stop trying to manipulate people."

Draco sat back against the stone wall and exhaled heavily. He felt a tear slip his eye and quickly wiped it away. "You're proud of me?"

"Yes. Even if my pride has no value-"

"You're my father. Can't a son wish for his dad to be proud of him?"

Draco watched as his father slumped back as well. It was freaky to see his father sitting opposite him. They were so similar in appearance, if Draco looked harder, he would probably see himself in Lucius.

"I have been proud of my son since the day you were born. I have never loved anyone as I have loved you and your mother. I'm sorry if you ever felt you needed that validation, my son."

Draco sniffed. He was really getting tired of people apologising to him, a Death Eater. "Thank you... Theodore's living with us, y'know?" He said, trying to change the subject.

Lucius stilled, "Nott's kid?"

"Yeah, there was this whole thing at Hogwarts- wearing black and being silent... which didn't last long. We also took out Mock exams, my potions will come out-"

"Theodore Nott is living with us?"

Draco furrowed his brows, "Yeah Theo. The one with the brown hair, he's been round our-"

"I know Theodore. He's now Lord Nott, why isn't he at his own home?"

"Because he'd be alone. It's only until we've graduated. He plans on taking over the Nott estates fully after all that. Father, is there something wrong?" Draco asked.

Lucius shook his head, "Graduation... Yes. You're in your last year now."

Draco nodded slowly, starting to explain the end of year exams and why he was now taking transfiguration. But he couldn't get the thought that Lucius knew something out of his head. Draco continued to entertain the conversation about school, Malfoy manor and his friends until he found he couldn't find anything else to talk about.

"I should get back to the Yule," he mumbled, looking at the ground.

"Yes, very well then son... Draco?"

"Yes Father."

"Goodbye."

Draco felt his throat close up and stomach twist in their familiar knots. He opened his mouth but found nothing else to say. He wanted to say more, wanted to talk about Nott and ask why his father would dodge those questions. Wanted to ask about Senior Nott and what actually happened to him. He felt like that goodbye was too sudden and too final. Draco nodded, "goodbye."

He knocked on the door and waited for the auror to pull him out of the room. Draco's eyes were scheming and on the ground, whilst the auror continued to lead him out of the corridor. "Malfoy's boy! Malfoy's boy! You better say your goodbyes boy!" a voice shouted.

Draco flinched, looking round to find the mangled remains of a prisoner lying on the ground and laughing at him. The auror simply scoffed before pulling Malfoy away.

"Did you say Malfoy's kid?"

"He better get out of here!"

"You touch him and we'll-"

"Alright shut it!" the auror shouted, pushing Draco further out of the room. Draco ducked his head, biting at his cheek, already feeling the soft tissue start to break. "You best not pay attention- wouldn't want you in here with 'em, would we now?"

"He'll end up like Nott, Draco! Do something! Or we all will!"

Draco's eyes snapped up, he turned to find who said that but the grip on his arm tightened and he was thoroughly shoved out of the corridor and dragged down the stairs.

"The-they-"

"What? You hear something?" the auror challenged.

Draco flinched, his leather gloves squeaking against the fist he made. "No sir."

Once he was out of the Azkaban wards, his auror apparated him back to Malfoy Manor and left Draco there to walk up to his home and continue on with his Yule. The closer Draco got to the Manor the more he could hear joyous laughter and the sound of music playing by some magicked orchestra. He slipped into his room undetected and quickly started to get changed.

He was wearing a matching outfit with his mother. They were both wearing icy blue and white robes. The under suit piece was completely white with the little baby blue embroidery and the smallest amount of beading. His mother's robes would most definitely have more jewels, but Draco never cared, she was always dazzling in his eyes.

Draco pulled on his outer cloak, a sheer blue piece of mesh fabric that ruffled in layers and was made for him to look princelike. He put on white gloves that fit snugly and bit down the disgust he felt from his trip, before making his way downstairs. The first pair he spotted was Blaise and his mother Mrs Zabini.

They were also in a matching set of black robes. Every time the light caught their clothes Draco could see a shimmer of colour changing magic ripple through the fabric. Blaise gave him a big grin and stepped away from his mother to hug Draco. "Theo told me," he said.

"Oh? And where is he?" Draco lifted his chin, trying to find Theo in the mass of people. It wasn't hard, a lot of the guests were students instead of parents. Draco felt, for the first time, that this Yule was going to be a lot more fun. Less adult talk, more dancing and festivities.

"Probably dancing with one of the girls," Blaise smirked.

"Blaise, you should not just leave your mother like that," Narcissa said, joining the two with Mrs Zabini in tow.

Draco gave Blaise's mother the most innocent and childlike smile he could muster. He bowed and gave Lady Zabini a kiss to her knuckles, still holding her hand. "Mrs Zabini," he greeted. "You look lovely as always," he smiled. Blaise merely rolled his eyes, sidestepping Draco to hook his arms around Narcissa's.

"Dance, Madam Malfoy?"

Narcissa and Mrs Zabini both gave each other exasperatedly fond looks. Both equally amused and tired of their sons' pure jealousy of them. Draco pulled Mrs Zabini into a dance and continued to glare at Blaise whenever they just so happened to have passed by each other. "You kids," she laughed elegantly.

Draco blushed a little. He had a lot of respect for Mrs Zabini growing up. To be fair to her, she had managed to marry seven times and build the entire Zabini empire through her husband's connections before they 'mysteriously' died. Really, who couldn't respect her?

"Sorry?"

"No need, Dragon," she teased. Draco felt his neck heat up and was sure that his ears were probably red now. He just had to be so bloody pale didn't he? She giggled elegantly in her rich voice and finished off the dance herself. "Do keep my boy in line. I'm very proud of the man you and he have become."

Draco gave a stiff nod and let her walk away, probably to create new connections whilst he turned to find the others. Greg was having a dance with his mother this time and Draco snorted, watching Theo try to step on Blaise's toes as they twirled around the ballroom. Millie was dancing with some younger years and Daphne was walking around with her sister and Pansy, talking (but probably drunk too).

"Heir Malfoy?" a voice called. Draco spun around, looking down at Edmund who gave him a shy smile, "Can I dance with you?"

Draco was going to say no, but when he noticed a couple other third year Slytherin's with wicked grins on their faces, he sighed. He nodded and took the lead, finding amusement in the way Edmund couldn't comfortably place his hand on Draco's shoulder, so had to rest it on his arm. "Let me guess, a bet?"

Edmund gave a surprised laugh, "ye-yeah."

"How very Gryffindor of you."

Edmund scrunched up his face and huffed, "Well that was just uncalled for." Draco snorted. "No sir- I just- thank you for the lessons. I think my French is definitely getting better and I guess thank you for, you know, not having a go at my brother."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, once he got sorted into Hufflepuff my parents haven't been the most supportive. I don't understand too much, I mean once we leave Hogwarts it's not like we can still compete for the House Cup or anything. I don't feel so close to Hogwarts to really care much about earning house points to be perfectly honest."

Draco gave a little nod, "I understand. I couldn't care less about the Houses anymore. Just your lot, and your lack of decorum." He watched as Edmund scoffed and spun the little kid around. "Do tell your brother I said thanks. He didn't have to help us with the aurors, but it's much appreciated." Edmund nodded and then let go, probably ready to collect his galleons.

"Merry Christmas Heir Malfoy."

"Merry Christmas Edmund."

Draco left to find the rest of his friends all waiting for him in the drawing room. A few were sitting on the sofa's provided but Greg was on the floor and leaning against the tray of alcoholic beverages. Ahh the expensive wine.

"Ayeee! Draco's back!" Blaise called, drinking his glass of champagne without any effort whatsoever.

Draco declined the shot of giggle water Greg poured for him. He did have fun watching Millie one shot it and giggle horrendously. Almost every Yule looked like this, with them all sitting in the drawing room, drinking whatever Draco had on hand and talking about whatever they wanted.

"For sure Longbottom and Lovegood, have a thing going on," Pansy said, letting her little hand mirror float in front of her as she touched up on her makeup.

Draco furrowed his brows, "Nope. I know Longbottom is still a little freaked out by her. She was always a lot closer to Potter and his three than she was with Longbottom and girl-Weasley."

"Oh yeah?" Daphne smirked, "Ten sickles say they will date by the end of this year."

Draco rolled his eyes, "Alright, you're on."

Theo slid from his seat and curled up around Greg, "What's with you and Potter anyway. I see him staring at you all the time."

Greg gave a grunt, "it's like he's obsessed."

Draco felt his heart hammering in his chest, he wasn't doing anything wrong. At least he didn't think he was. If he made a mental list of all the things he had done in the past three and a half months of being at Hogwarts then really- Potter had no reason to be suspicious of him. "No- he shouldn't."

Millie snorted, "he was always kind of obsessed with you though wasn't he? Blamed you for the Heir of Slytherin thing. There was the dementor prank, the Potter stinks badges-"

"Brilliant piece of charm work," Theo complimented.

"-the only time he stopped was during... well, you know." The conversation dulled and Draco recalled his sixth year. When he let the Death Eater's into the school.

Pansy flicked her wand and started to pour herself a hefty glass of firewhiskey. She contaminated the silence with each clink that her ice made. "I'm worried about my social status," with the way she said it and the slight flush in her cheeks, Draco could tell she was ashamed. "My story is plastered everywhere- who would want to marry a Parkinson now? My life is ruined," she muttered, her hand clenched around the glass as she took a sip.

"I want to make my mum proud," Blaise said. He shrugged when everyone stared openly at him. "I know we look perfect, but I don't know how to mend a nonexistent relationship anymore. Who am I kidding here? You all know what I am? What I was born as. I just- I just to make her proud you know?"

"I know," Draco said. He gave Blaise a wobbly smile, thinking about the words his father had said to him only a couple hours ago. How prideful he sounded, but also ashamed for making Draco ever question their relationship.

Greg wrapped an arm around Theo's shoulders, "I'd like to be independent. On my own and make myself proud."

Daphne gave him a strong smile, "I just want to make sure Astoria and my parents are safe."

Draco nodded. "I'd like to try and change the Malfoy name. Be remembered for something that I did for myself instead of what people think I am."

"I could do with travelling," Millie sighed, lying back and letting Daphne stroke her hair. "Just run away, no matter how pathetic it sounds."

She was met with disapproving noises from all of them until Theo spoke. "I just want my dad back." Draco put his hand over Theo's hair, ruffling it slightly. "I'm happy here..."

"You know," Blaise drank a little bit of Pansy's firewhiskey and slapped her hand away from him. "If Draco and Harry both hadn't hated each other back then, well- all that animosity could easily have slid into friendship." Blaise then wiggled his eyebrows, "or, you know, sexual tension."

Draco choked on air, everyone laughed and Daphne added onto her bet for the end of the year. "Ten galleons, you and Harry."

"Excuse me?!"

"Do sit down, Dragon."

Chapter Text

Draco was sitting in his Herbology class with Greg on one side of him and his Pibicon banana plant on the other. As it turned out, Professor Sprout was probably the chillest teacher Draco knew and didn't mind that Greg joined her lessons just to sit and do his homework. Greg always had his free periods whenever Draco had his herbology so they spent their hours in the greenhouse together.

Longbottom was also incredibly nice to Greg, once he stopped looking at the Slytherin like some sort of bully. Gregory liked Neville a lot more than Draco, because one, Neville was patient enough to help him through charms and two, Draco was a busy man.

He had started spending his weekend lunchtimes with Professor Slughorn, doing 'extra potions' work. Which was him making the dreamless sleep, calming draught and pepper-up potions. They worked together with McGonagall to bring in three private mind-healers during the weekends for any Slytherin's that wanted some extra help. Draco and Slughorn had definitely seen an improvement to the children that were dependent on the potions to get through their week.

After getting back his Mock results (he did pass Potions, but barely) and sharing the results with his mother, Draco had finally felt like he had lost some of the pressure from his back and still gained an extra tonne. He left Malfoy Manor on the last day of the Christmas holidays to find someone who he knew would give reasonably good information out.

The conversation was still stuck in his head:

"There's not a lot that you'll know. This is bigger than you boy- I wouldn't trust that Head Auror of yours."

"What did you say-"

"'M just sayin' it's not only the Death Eater's that got up to some shady business, eh?"

"No... I suppose not."

Really there was not a lot to go off of, but Draco felt his gut telling him to investigate. So when Professor Sprout called the end of her class and everyone started to pack up, Draco held back Greg. "What now?" Greg muttered, looking around at everyone.

"I think I know something about the aurors," he whispered. They both looked at their own parole aurors and ducked their heads as they walked back to the school. Draco and Greg met up with the rest of the group, who stood outside of the Great Hall.

"What's gotten you two so ruffled up?" Millie asked, pulling at Greg's robes to make them sit right and straight.

"Draco," Greg simply said.

Draco rolled his eyes, "I need to tell you all something important. It can't wait-"

Pansy cut him off quickly, "Well it's going to have to. I don't have Charms-"

"Just sit in with us," Greg said.

Pansy bit her lips, "I do have a free period..."

"Brilliant," Theo linked arms with her and pulled them all in the direction of the Charms classroom. "I'm pretty sure that Flitwick won't even notice if he sees an extra Slytherin." They all continued on their journey to the Charm classroom whilst their aurors followed them.

"What do you think you're doing?" Pansy's auror questioned, "I know you don't take this class."

"No I don't," Pansy scowled. "But I could do with some extra charms work-"

"Please. I know you're just trying to mess around-"

"If Miss Parkinson would like to sit in on my lessons, I have no problem," Professor Flitwick said. Everyone turned to stare at him, he simply flicked his wand and let his door open. "If you will." The students were quick to enter the empty classroom and take up the desk space at the very back of the room.

Pansy pulled out her DADA homework and gave Flitwick an innocent smile whilst she started it. They all got out their work, with Blaise and Daphne forcing themselves to sit with him instead of right by the door. "Well, what is it? I have to miss a free period because of you- this better be good."

"I have reason to believe that someone killed Senior Nott," Draco said.

They all stilled, Millie pinched her face and bit her lip. "Draco-"

"No, what?" Theo slid his chair away. "My- Draco you better have a good reason for bringing him up right now."

Draco nodded, "I do. I visited my father and he didn't seem- well, no. Every time I talked about you he dodged the question. Then when I left there were shouts from other inmates. People who needed help. And- well I- I meet up with Soph Black."

(Please do note: Just because Soph's last name is Black did not mean she was a relative to Draco. He just knew her via connections; she had a very... prominent reputation)

"Fucking hell..." Blaise whispered. "You're serious?"

"Yes, she said something about the Head Auror-"

"Auror Robards," Blaise said.

Pansy furrowed her brows, putting her quill down. "Who? I thought Auror An-"

"No," Blaise shook his head. "Robards was promoted to Head of the Auror department from our late deary, Minister Scrimgeour."

Okay, with that piece of information it seemed that everyone was in favour of believing Draco now. He had given them what he knew and the anxiety he felt, was palpable around the rest of the Slytherins. Pansy continued to do her homework no matter how much they kept whispering to each other and Flitwick had to take points off them multiple times whilst they schemed.

"This is insane, what are we, a bunch of Gryffindors?" Daphne hissed a little too loudly because Potter, who was walking past, narrowed his eyes at them.

"Pfft, don't ever insult us like that Daph," Theo rolled his eyes. He gave Potter a fake smile and then went back to the rest of them. "Greg, do try to flick the end of the wand, not the entire thing."

They continued practising charms whilst they thought about what to do.

"Okay, the obvious thing we're going to do is not get ourselves in trouble," Blaise said. He eyed Theo especially since it became apparent that the boy would do everything to avenge his father. "We're going to go about this the Slytherin way."

"Which is?" Millie asked.

Draco furrowed his brows, "legally. We're going to gather evidence against him and then send it anonymously to whoever can help-"

"My mum has some connections to the Ministry barristers," Blaise mentioned.

"We could also try to get him fired, ring up a new legislation and start drafting up a trail?" Millie suggested.

Theo pursed his lips but nodded, "Knew there was a reason we decided to take political studies."

***

As it turned out, their research was getting them quite far. Draco continued to work on his potions, putting a back pedal on his research papers to compensate for the amount of work he needed to do in order to find out who out of the aurors was killing death eaters. They didn't want to accuse Auror Robards on the whim.

"Could-" Theo sat up from the big sofa he was lounging on, in the common rooms. "Macnair's death and my father's are also linked?"

Everyone froze from what they were doing and turned to Theo. "How- are-" Blaise started, trying to find the right words.

Millie summoned her trunk and started to rifle through a bunch of Daily Prophet's that she kept. They all stared at her silently whilst she continued to move them around. "Aha! Found it, the article on Walden Macnair!"

"Millie, why have you kept-"

"Not now Daphs, we have work to do," Millie threw the paper to Theo.

"Right, I'll analyse this and compare it to my dad's paper. Meanwhile, you guys continue writing to the victim's family."

One of Potter's first charitable events he had created for the people that were indirectly affected from the war, was to gain help from the Ministry. There was a real push for families to get funding and help form the ministry after the war. To compensate for the deaths of the students that had died during the war.

It was an open funding system, people giving whatever donations that they would in order to support everyone. Greg came up with the idea of trying to write to families whose loved ones that died were a death eater. To try and find out if they got compensation from the Ministry that way.

Because the Auror department was closely linked with Potter, they were also in charge of making sure to provide help to everyone. What should have been an inclusive pursuit for help ended up with shunned death eater family members. No one wanted to help anyone that even remotely held a relationship with a death eater.

The letters they received back from the victims were heartbreaking to read but also more pleas for help. Draco didn't know how to help when those people also hated him. He sent his mother a letter trying to be as subtle as possible but also tried to ask for help. She just wanted him to work on himself and his studies first and foremost before he decided to give himself up for everyone.

So that didn't help.

Draco was starting to use his free periods to show up at Theo and Millie's Ministry and Political Studies classes, even if they didn't help at all. He made to try and write down everything he needed, sure his fingers would have started to get dirty from all the ink usage if not for his gloves. The Slytherin's spent their days in the common rooms, only ever leaving for their classes and whenever Daphne had managed to convince them to go eat.

She had at some point started to give up and took to fetching for dinner in the kitchens. With Daphne there to provide food, everyone also started to tend to their roles.

 Millie had started to draft up different legislations that she thought would best suit a new type of Auror division. She had corresponded a lot with Mrs Zabini to gain an insight into the work of the Ministry. She had never really cared too much about the Wizengamot at all, but was slowly becoming the most knowledgeable out of their entire group.

Blaise made sure to keep in contact with his mother and her correspondents. He started talking to people that would help them if they ever decided to come out with the evidence. They would, it was their own promise to Theo. Blaise also made sure that they were all taking care of themselves, or at least their outward appearance. 

No one batted him away when he stressed, let the crazy man moisturise them and massage hair oil into their scalps.

Pansy had taken to reminding them why they were doing this. A moral support system that liked to get drunk and give speeches about Auror Robards, the different auror parole officers that were always stationed just a couple metres away from them. She seemed really passionate about her autonomy and no one said anything when she would curse them out and talk about what she would do to them if her wand wasn't monitored every month.

Greg was keeping up with the victim's families. He continued to write to them everyday, making sure he milked them for all information as possible. But, he was also very good at emphasising with them and making them feel safe. There was a way that Greg wrote that couldn't be matched by anyone else in their group so they left it to him.

Theo was their leader.

Draco, well he was on research duty. His auror was unanimously decided between them all, the most unlikely to hex Draco with his back turned. He was still likely, but not as much compared to someone like Greg's. Draco was keeping up appearances with the rest of the school and also tried his best to make sure that everyone seemed so.

That was fine, in fact everything was turning out fine. Until, of course, bloody Harry saint Potter just had to intervene.

That little bitch.

It was a Thursday morning and Draco was sitting in his double transfiguration lesson. Harry Potter beside him, with Granger and Weasley on the other side. Draco had thought that McGonagall would have tried to change the seating arrangements after Christmas, but no. It was well into the spring days, with the weather starting to warm up and the sun spending longer hours each day.

Draco was still sitting with the stupid Gryffindors.

He couldn't change his seat and didn't dare try to deny Professor McGonagall who seemed to still eye him warily after his little fight against the aurors. Which was unfair in Draco's opinion, he didn't exactly have anything to do with it. They targeted Theo specifically, Millie defended them and Alfred was the one that cast the offensive spells.

Draco was an innocent bystander and he was certain that McGonagall had it out for him. She was picking favourites and it certainly wasn't with the Slytherins. Now, back to how Harry bloody Potter had managed to blow their plans up in smoke. Draco had not done anything that was out of his jurisdiction- once again. The aurors had rules he had to abide by, he was abiding.

So when Harry's hand grabbed onto his arm in the middle of class, Draco tried his best not to react.

"What the actual fuck do you think you're doing, Potter?" Draco snapped, pulling his hand away.

"Malfoy, Potter, what are you doing?" McGonagall said, eyeing them both.

Potter pulled his hand away and muttered a small apology whilst Draco glared at him. Except the absolute dolt didn't so much as gleam at him, instead Potter's eyes were focused on his notes. Draco pouted, furrowing his brows when he looked away from Potter and to his notes.

He felt himself freeze when he realised that a slip of paper from the Slytherin plan was lying just under one of his journals. Draco was quick to charm the paper so that the ink turned invisible and then watched the paper slowly crawl and tuck itself back into his bag.

Merlin, he was going to die. It wasn't even his paper, it was one of Theo's. Also, because Theo wrote notes and kept good track of what he wrote, he was very literal with the title. Literally. The title was 'All the reasons Auror Robard's should go to Azkaban' and it was underlined.

Draco wanted to groan out loud, instead he simply shuffled further away from Potter's piercing gaze and decided to just write up everything McGonagall was saying. Potter's staring was getting the better of Draco and once McGonagall gave them all their normal ten minute break, Draco all but ran to his friends.

"Potter knows," Draco hissed, turning to look back at Potter who was whispering with his two Gryffindor's.

"Knows what?" Blaise asked.

"About our little research project," Draco gritted. They all froze, trying to look back at Potter but remain inconspicuous. Daphne had no shame in staring outwardly at Potter and his group, before turning back to Draco.

"It's fine. It's not like what we're doing is illegal."

Millie pursed her lips, "Unless he's seen my plans for the new Auror ideas?"

"No he just saw Theo's very obvious hatred for Robards," Draco and the rest of the group would have glared at Theo if he were there. Lucky sod was off in his free period, all bliss and unaware of their plan foiling under Potter's knowledge.

"Alright class, let's start up again!" Draco turned to see Professor McGonagall at the head of the class. Everyone was returning back to their seats and Draco gave out a helpless noise.

"Just don't say anything, if we're lucky he just saw the title," Pansy whispered.

Draco nodded and returned back to his seat. Now Potter, Granger and Weasley were staring at him. Probably waiting for class to end and then to pounce and rip the information out of him. Draco waved his wand, silently putting all his things away in his bag, whilst he stared down at the transfiguration textbook.

The entire second hour of class felt like a lifetime. Draco kept his head down and answered questions when needed. Potter had tried to talk to him when their practical started but Draco was quick to turn away and head over to his friends. He kept his bag on his lap whilst he hugged it close.

"I think I should give you guys the notes."

"Actually, give it to us," another voice popped up.

They all turned to find another Slytherin who was sitting with her friend and staring at them with an awkward smile. "I'll return it to you by supper and if you need me to hide it for longer I can do so."

Draco didn't answer her, just simply grabbed his notes and handed it all over. He quickly separated all his notes on his potions and research on that, but he gave her everything. When their class ended, Draco watched her leave quickly and inconspicuously whilst the rest of his friends waited for him.

Potter and his lot were right behind him, and Draco sighed. "You guys go ahead."

"Draco-"

"Don't worry," he muttered. He watched the rest of his friends leave and decided to walk out to the quad. He would much rather be in the presence of witnesses than anything.

"Malfoy-"

"Hello Potter," Draco greeted. With a tilt to his head, he gave the three Gryffindors a smirk. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Don't," Potter looked angry. A lot more angry than he had ever seen him. "I saw what you wrote on that piece of parchment. Just give it up and we can-"

"No."

"No?"

"No, I don't have to show you anything. You might think you shave some sort of power here, being the saviour of the bloody wizarding world-"

Weasley glared, "Malfoy this has nothing to do with that. We want to know why you're looking into Auror Robards."

"You're what?" his parole officer asked, now walking closer to their group.

Draco felt his hands turn into fists, but he wouldn't draw his wand. Instead he let them curl tightly against the strap of his bag. "Is there a problem with a little interest on Robards?"

"Not when it's vulgar- Draco-"

"Don't call me that!" Draco shouted. Auror Goldbeird put his hand on Draco's shoulder and he whipped out his wand quicker than intended. That is to say, Draco didn't actually mean to use his wand. It was more reflex to have it out when he felt like he was in danger. But it seemed to act as a catalyst, because all three Gryffindor's and his auror had their wands out.

Draco bit his lip and groaned, "Look. Can we just all lower our wands?"

"You first," Granger called.

Draco scoffed, "fat chance. We all do it-"

"And be fair," the auror scoffed. "I know Death Eater's like you-"

Harry was the first to cast a spell. Before Draco could even hear what spell Harry had used, Auror Goldbeird threw a stunner at him. Draco came crashing into the walls of the quad, landing in a heap on the grassy floors. Students started to scream and run, air filled with panic as Draco scrambled to stand up.

"Malfoy!"

Draco tried looking for his wand when he saw it, gripped tightly in Potter's hand. It was expelliarmus. The spell Potter hit him with, Draco coughed out violently. The stunner had hit him hard in his chest and his back hurt like hell, but he needed to get away.

With the students all running away, Draco slipped with them and crashed into his fellow Slytherins. "What-"

"LIKE HELL WE'D LEAVE YOU," Daphne screamed.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE!"

"IT'S ALL OUR FAULTS, NOT JUST YOURS!" Pansy shrieked, casting a protego around them.

"IT'S NOT!"

"DON'T FUCKING ACT LIKE A GRYFFINDOR!"

"CAN WE PLEASE GET OUT OF HERE!" Blaise pulled them all into an empty corridor.

"DRACO LISTEN TO US-"

"I COULD HAVE TAKEN THEM!"

"PLEASE YOU CAN'T-"

"I KNOW OKAY!" Draco screamed, taking a fearful step back when they all flinched from his voice. "I get it, okay. I understand- I'm the Death Eater. I know," he stressed. The sound of Potter's steps was coming closer. The corridor they were in, was slowly becoming deserted with kids running away from the known 'death eaters'. "You don't think I don't know that? That I killed those kids? That I was the one that brought those death eaters to this school."

"Draco..." Millie cried.

Draco's grip on his bag was shaking and he could feel the warm spring air turn colder. "I don't deserve to be here. I should be in Azkaban with my dad, I know. I don't know why Lovegood apologised. Or why Longbottom is nice to me. You think I know that I don't deserve a second chance? I should be dead, I know and I'm not. I'm sorry, I'm not," Draco cried.

"Draco no. You deserve to be here with the rest of us," Blaise said, hand gripping his shoulder.

"You're a coward," Auror Goldbeird said. Draco took a step back, almost falling into Blaise. Potter, Granger and Weasley were right behind Goldbeird and the rest of the aurors hurried to catch up. He didn't even notice when Pansy managed to escape her own parole auror.

"I know," Draco whispered. "But then... if I'm the coward, what are you?" he spat out, anger rolling off him like waves. He felt Blaise gasp and pull his hand away. He could feel the raw energy of his magic lash out against him. There was the smell of burning skin Draco faintly recognised as his leather gloves slowly sizzling away at his fingertips.

"What did you say?"

"If I'm a coward, then what are you? Or better yet, where were you?" Draco took a step forward, arms out to stop his Slytherin's from doing anything reckless. Like actually save him. "I am a coward. I let those death eaters in. I led to the death of Headmaster Dumbledore and I had a hand at the torture- of those under Malfoy Manor." His eyes darted to Granger.

"But, I still fought in the war. In this corridor," he spat.

"Where were you when Voldemort took over the Ministry? When the fuck were you, Auror Goldbeird, when I was fighting death eaters in this very castle and helping students find a safe haven until it was all over. WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU?" Draco felt his wand whiz into his hand. He had wordlessly summoned it.

"So yes, you can call me a coward. But you knew exactly where the fight was and you let us all die." Draco turned to stare at Potter, "I don't owe you a single thing Potter. Stay away from me." 

Chapter Text

Draco had decided that his best cause of action after blowing up and showing a very vulnerable side of himself not only to his friends, but to his auror officer and the golden trio. He would stay in the shadows and wallow in his own self-pity for at least the rest of his life. He didn't know whether to include the afterlife into that wallowing, but it was still high up there, on his list.

He had spent his days away from his friends and mostly locked away in his dorm room. Which he also shared with them, but a quick silencing charm and locking spell, they knew not to disturb him. The Slytherin girl who had kept all his notes returned them back to Theo and with his orders relaying back to her; they would continue their research.

It seemed like Potter's guilt had stopped him from questioning whatever it was that Draco was up to.

Draco was not up to anything.

Really. He had stopped all types of learning, researching and networking. The younger years kept asking when he would return to continue the French lessons, and Slughorn grew worried when Draco stopped attending the Extra Potions class to stock up on the calming draughts and such. Draco was in a strop all week and not even the warmer days would get him out of it.

"Would you like to demonstrate to the class, Mr Malfoy?" Professor Flitwick called to his attention.

Draco let out a terribly long sigh and muttered the charm with little enthusiasm. As such, not a lot happened but Flitwick at least didn't call for him to continue. All the professors asked about his Detachment Draught and Draco had about enough sense to politely postpone his research.

They didn't need to know that if he had tried it, he would have liked to drown himself in the blasted potion.

"Draco, my boy!" Slughorn bellowed across the common room. Draco had just returned from class and had intended to spend the rest of his free period taking a nap. He turned and walked over to Slughorn who seemed to be beckoning him over with unconcealed worry.

Draco walked into Slughorn's office, noting that nothing had really changed yet it was so vastly different from Snape's office. Draco felt his cheek almost pulse as if he were chewing on it, because wow- He hadn't thought about Snape at all since he entered Hogwarts. Yet, standing inside of Slughorn's office, that had been decorated to the professor's personal aesthetic for three years, had unleashed memories Draco forgot he had.

He staggered his way into the chair opposite of Slughorn's desk. He dropped his bag on the floor beside his foot and slumped back into his seat like he belonged there. Because, for the better part of his adolescence, he did belong there.

The room was different, but all the same. The size made him feel comfortable, and the way the desk remained a little asymmetrical was gladdening. The fire was coloured gold and a natural warmth that was never there, enveloped Draco.

"I just want you to know that Headmistress McGonagall has explained to me what happened. As the Head of House I was to be informed and auror Goldbeird has given his accounts on what such events-" Slughorn watched Draco roll his eyes and hunch further in on himself.

The older professor sighed and stared directly at Draco. "What is it that you want to do, dear boy?"

Draco crossed his arms and stared at Slughorn impassively. "Professor?"

"You have quite the extraordinary talent in potion making. You take something from that brilliant mind of yours and find ways to actually mould theories and hypotheses behind them. You're a very talented potions maker and I can only assume that Severus had a hand in this talent of yours."

By Merlin, Draco was so depressed even Slughorn stroking at his ego didn't seem to lighten him.

"Severus was always a good teacher to me," Draco muttered. "He was terrible to anyone but the Slytherins, and even then... he didn't deserve to be a teacher," Draco said honestly. "He was Neville's boggart for the longest time, didn't like to work with children and personally had a hand at verbally abusing students in his classroom to the point of damaging their final grades."

Draco always knew this, almost everyone at Slytherin did. It was always easier to look back as a child and snicker in the face of anyone that was beneath him. When he was a teenager, it was easy to simply turn his head away and pretend he didn't see. He was a coward and so was Snape. But he was also Draco's Head of House.

Snape protected Draco when the time came and made sure he didn't have to die on Voldemort's suicide mission. "Severus was not a good teacher."

"And what do you think makes a good teacher?"

Draco gazed up, leaning a little forward and uncrossing his arms. "I think you make a good enough teacher, Professor. I think you know when a student does well, you have an eye for those who are talented." Draco thought back to his Charms classes. "I think a good teacher has to be patient."

He thought about Theo and how he was always patient when he taught Greg their charms. Or how organised Theo was, with his stupid colour coded system that still sometimes gave Draco a headache trying to figure it all out.

"Draco," Slughorn smiled. "What happened?"

Draco felt like someone had put a dry rock in his throat and was forcing him to swallow uncomfortably around the blasted thing. "I don't know," he whispered. "I remember feeling scared. I didn't mean to bring out my wand, sir. It was like instinct." Draco thought back to Fourth Year and their imposter DADA teacher, Mad-Eye Moody, always screaming 'constant vigilance.'

"I just reacted. But I didn't say a word, I didn't do anything. Potter disarmed me, Goldbeird sent a stunner at me-" Draco frowned. He never did go to Madam Pomfrey until the next day when he woke up with the worst ache in his back that he had to skip out on an entire day's worth of lessons.

"Then I remember running, shouting at my friends to leave." Draco breathed in harshly, feeling that his dry throat started to finally ease a little. "I remember screaming at Goldberid." Draco slid back into the chair, turning his face away from Slughorn. He stared at the fireplace instead.

"I threw in some harsh words, but it was like- like I had bottled everything up and it was finally exploding." Draco closed his eyes. "They call me a Death Eater, want me dead or in Azkaban. Some of them forgive me even if I haven't apologised to them yet. Those I understand, those students who blame me for their brother or sisters death I understand."

Draco's hands clenched on air. "But those aurors? I was so tired of them, the way they treat me. I just- you don't know Professor. The words they utter under their breaths when they think we can't hear them. The way they stand, the way they look at us like-" Draco choked on his words. "Like they want any reason to attack us right then and there. I never feel safe when they're around. I never feel like I can breathe with them...

"I thought the war was over, but I battle everyday just to breathe like it means something."

Draco ducked his head, letting his hair cover some of his face as he cried. He bit into his cheek and let the pain ground him whilst his shoulders shook. He squeezed his eyes shut and inhaled sharply, with an unsteady breath. "I apologise," he muttered.

"Don't," Slughorn said, giving him a pitying smile.

Draco leant back into his chair and stared up at the ceiling. It was stained a black from all the potion fumes and had definitely seen better days. He felt his body tire itself quickly and a weight lift from his chest. Severus would know what to do, the exact words to cut into his inner psyche and bring him out of his 'episode.' 

"What is it that you want to do after you leave Hogwarts, Draco?"

Draco stared at Slughorn, "I don't know. I guess I'll take charge of the Malfoy estates until my father's return. Run the business and focus more on my estates in France. Although..." He hummed noncommittally. "I think Blaise would flourish well in France. I've been meaning to talk to him about conjoining my business there with the Zabini's line."

"Well, that's good. The rest of your friends?"

Draco shrugged, "Pansy was always going to marry into the family. I think I would much rather give her a position in my business in London. That way she can slowly build her reputation by location too. Greg was always sorted, our families have been tied together for some time. He'll work for the Goyles and partner with me.

"Theo is going to take over the Nott Estates come this summertime and I plan on helping him as much as possible. There hasn't been a Nott-Malfoy partnership with our businesses and it seems like that's just the next step." Draco shrugged his shoulders, "Daphne tells us that she has her life sorted, so no one complains. Millie is going to use up her fortune to travel, so I guess I'll see her via owl posts."

Slughorn gave a proud nod, "I understand. And where do you fit in all this?"

Draco sat up straighter, frowning. "I did say I'll take over my father's company-"

"Do you want that?" Slughorn asked.

Draco fiddled around with his gloves before answering. "I assume so. I know everything I need to know about the business. I- I don't think potion making is my true calling," he said honestly.

Slughorn nodded, "Okay then. A Lord you shall become. Now tell me dear boy, how is the Detachment Draught coming along?"

Draco breathed a sigh of relief, giving Slughorn a relaxed smile and started to talk about the potion. He hadn't told him about the other potions he was planning on making. The Detachment Draught was taking up a lot of his time and the publishing of its theory work was slowly killing Draco. He had parchments strewn around with his theory work, the research, his methods.

He had written up three different drafts for his thesis and had both Slughorn and McGonagall read over them many times. It was so close to being done, Draco just needed to tie in the loose ends.

When he was finally let go from Slughorn's office he had wanted nothing more than to just sleep off the rest of the day. Maybe if he convinced his friends hard enough, they'd pity him into not attending classes for the next day. It also helped that Auror Goldbeird had started to become a lot more lenient with Draco ever since he shouted at him. Who knew?

But, as always, he never left anything with particularly pleasant outcomes. Draco narrowed his eyes when he realised that his friends were all sitting in the common room with little-to-no movement to suggest they were going to leave. They all had classes, he knew of it. Well, okay Greg's classes had all finished for the day- but the rest of them? Oh yeah. Definitely up to something.

"What is it?" he drawled, walking over and batting Pansy's feet away from the sofa. She squinted suspiciously at Draco (as if he was the one that wasn't acting bloody awkward) and moved to give him room. He sunk down into the warm, leather couch and watched them all carefully.

It was Daphne that decided to end the silence by clearing her throat. She sat up a little straighter and stared at Draco with a small smile. "We think the answer to finding out about the suspicious activity is in the Auror's Office," she said.

Draco furrowed his brows, "okay... I guess so? But why put all the stuff that you're doing illegally, in a place like that?"

It was Blaise that spoke up this time, "They get a kick out of it. At least my correspondence says so. The Auror's have had quite the positive media coverage in the last couple months, with Potter singing praises about the late Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks. With people looking to him for the next auror position, apparently they're getting their highs in the Ministry. Specifically targeting almost every worker there except the ex-Order members."

Draco slowly nodded, "okay then. So you must have connections in their office. Someone who can get the evidence for us?" he asked.

This is where Theo scowled, "No. No one that still wants their jobs will even think about it. But Blaise's correspondence says they can help distract the aurors so their office is free-reign."

Draco hated where this was going. "Need I remind you all that we're under probation. That we're literally going to be watched even more meticulously after the events a couple days ago?" He stared down at the rest of his friends feeling smug at their guilty faces until Tommy, the prefect, decided to voice his ideas.

"Well, not if you decided to go in for the Auror induction during Easter time," he said. Tommy was reading a muggle book, Draco could tell because it was colourful and paperback. It was an ugly bright yellow colour and had the silhouette of a lizard on the cover. Oh great! Now Draco was actually interested in the book.

"Auror induction?" Pansy inquired, twirling her wand in her hand and giving Tommy a sweet smile.

The boy folded the corner of his book page, like an absolute barbarian, and closed it. "You know, there are bookmarks invented for that," Draco said.

"The Auror induction is open to anyone that wants to become an Auror, and go into training. It's pretty chill, meant for 15 year olds and over. I suspect that they'll give basic training, tell stories of their little adventures and a guided tour," Tommy smirked.

"Tour?" Daphne sat up straighter.

Draco furrowed his brow, "Are we not going to talk about how his boy treats his books?"

This book-hating prefect was draped in one of the leather couches, closest to the fire and had to bend over to throw this pamphlet he summoned, to Blaise.

"I didn't know you were interested in auror work?" Blaise muttered.

"No, I'm not. I just like to keep up-to-date with authoritative figures," he muttered. When the rest of the group stared at the boy he rolled his eyes. "I have an appointment, I also know about three other Slytherins that do too. So?" He looked over at them.

"I don't get it?" Greg said.

"I swore he had a muggle quill, and was writing in his books too!"

Tommy then decided to sit up properly, "I'll give you a strand of my hair. You polyjuice to look like me, go in, find what you need to and also give me details about the aurors." He gave an impish grin, "I do think with careful planning you could get in and out easily."

"He also probably doesn't even alphabetise his books!"

Tommy sighed, turning to Draco. "No, in fact. I sometimes rip out the last page so I'm always left in suspense." He got up, ignored the scandalised gasp from Draco, and left for his dorm probably.

"Well, if Draco brews the potion in our Extra potions club, then we should be fine for the Easter holidays," Daphne nodded.

Draco groaned, flopping on top of Pans, who smacked his back and then stroked his hair. "Oh but Daphne, there is one flaw in this brilliant plan of yours?"

"That is?"

"I am too depressed to brew potions," Draco pouted.

"Even for me?" Theo said, tilting his head to look at Draco by eye-level. Draco groaned, turning away and then shouting out loud. Pansy hit him again. "Well that's settled, we'll start on the polyjuice tomorrow."

***

The polyjuice potion needed to be ready by the Easter holidays.

That was the only instruction that Theo gave him whilst everyone else started to plan. Blaise had to make sure that his correspondence didn't know about their break-in. Yes, they all trusted this correspondence (even if Blaise never mentioned their name) but they were also Slytherin. The only people that knew about their little escapade was their group, Tommy and his mates.

They had enough hair samples for Draco, Theo, Blaise and Millicent to go. Blaise knew the place like the back of his hand, Millie was just chaotic enough to help in case things went awry. Theo was going because he was their leader and Draco because he whined enough for them all to just let him go.

By the time the Easter holidays had turned around, Hogwarts was starting to repair itself. The boring plain walls were starting to liven up. The paintings that were broken after the war were all finally put back together by an adamant Argus Filch who was really talented in the department of art repairs.

Stones shifted and windows started to colour. There were floating candles, and wallpaper that moved with the students. The Great Hall pillars had started to crack and form more intricate designs. What was once a plain greying ceiling now held a watery version of the sky. It wouldn't be the same from Draco's memory of his first day at Hogwarts, but he had a feeling when he came back from the holidays, it would restore itself fully.

He was in the common rooms, exchanging clothes with Tommy, who had given him muggle-wear. "I don't suppose you know anything about layering?" Draco asked, looking at the pair of jeans Tommy gave him and an oversized sweatshirt. The jeans were riding up to his calves, but the sweatshirt was pleasantly soft.

Tommy shook his head and looked down at the formal robes Draco had given him. Tommy was a tiny lad, so he was basically drowning in Draco's attire. The eight of them all exchanged hairs and drank their polyjuice potions respectively. Draco screwed his face up, Tommy's polyjuice tasted like the juice of a lemon. Sour and not pleasant in the slightest.

"Only right that you taste of earl grey," Tommy muttered, pulling his tongue out.

"What's wrong with tea?"

"I hate tea."

Draco gave another scandalised gasp until he started to shorten and Tommy grew. He looked over to his other friends. Watching Theo's pale face turn tan, his eyes a furious blue colour and hair golden-blond. Blaise went from being a black man to a white woman. His hair was a dark brown and oh- Tommy was really short. Draco had to stare up at Blaise and his familiar devilish grin.

Millie looked a little similar, with her face turning a bit more tanner and hair falling in short waves against her shoulders. She gave them all a confident smile and then turned to the other Slytherins. "Thank you for doing this."

"No problem," Blaise's counterpart said.

Pansy, Daphne and Greg were waiting for them in the front room of the common room and grinned when they saw the rest of the group. "Looking good," Pansy patted Draco's arm. "Shall we?"

"Okay?" Tommy said, looking back at Draco for help, but was pulled away too quickly.

Daphne smiled at the rest of them. "So remember, you'll floo to Malfoy Manor in case anything goes wrong. We'll expect you all there by supper time anyway."

"Good luck," Greg whispered, before walking off with the rest of the Slytherins.

Draco looked at his three other partners-in-crime and walked with them. The auror program was on the last day of their spring term. The aurors didn't want to keep students away from their holidays for too long. It was nice for their polyjuice plan, but also meant that they had to speed up on the plan by about a week.

Draco and his friends all exited Hogwarts with their arms joined. "Right, just get on the train and then get to the Ministry straight after?" Millie said. They all nodded. Draco watched the way his auror was following Tommy at a steady pace.

"All right, let's get started."

Their plan was supposed to be done as such:

— Take the train to the London, and then find a place to apparate to the Ministry

— Use their tickets to get into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement

— Stick to their guide and keep a low profile (Tommy's sweatshirt was bright pink, so Draco had to transfigure the colour)

— Find the Auror's office and peel away from the group

— Get into Head Auror Robard's office

— Find evidence.

What none of them had planned for was Potter. Well, okay- Draco was trying a new thing where he was not supposed to blame all their shortcomings on Potter. "What the absolute fuck is Harry Potter doing here?"

Draco stared at Millie's form, well... that had to count for something.

"Please, of course he came here," Theo muttered, opening drawers with his hands and looking through files diligently. They were too scared to try any sort of magic inside the office. Blaise had to break the wards like a cheap spy from Draco's mystery novels, but they were inside and cautious.

Everyone was moving as quickly and quietly as they possibly could. Draco had taken to searching Robard's desk. Theo was at his filing cabinets. Millie was having a go at the various knickknacks that decorated his shelf space and Blaise? He was on look-out.

"You don't think they'd come in here, do you?" Blaise whispered, wand out and in a defensive stance.

"No, I'm just surprised that no one-" Draco started to rifle through a couple journals- "was actually in this office to begin with. Not even a guard."

He decided to look at the most recent one when a bunch of parchment fell out. Draco cursed silently, bending down to pick up the letters? He twisted them in his gloves hands (Tommy had given him some white lace ones that belonged to his mother, the gesture was nice) "I think he was corresponding with someone about the Death Eater's in Azkaban," Draco said.

The rest of the group stilled, turning to look at Draco. He had the letter's clutched in his hands and was skimming over them. Blaise was still staring out of the office in case someone came. Theo walked over; snatched the papers, duplicated them, shoved them back into the journal and grabbed Draco's arm.

"We don't have time to sit and read them. We need to leave now," he said.

Millie nodded, quickly putting back a book she got off the shelf and letting herself do a once-over in the office. "Alright, did we misplace anything? Everything looks the same right?"

"Right," Draco nodded, grabbing Blaise's hand and walking out of the office. "The wards?"

Blaise gave a nervous smile, "I can try my best. But I don't know if my magical signature will be on it."

Draco cursed, he looked down at his wand. Well Tommy's wand. "Hey, remember wingardium leviosa?" he muttered.

Millie furrowed her brows, "What?"

"That could work," Theo muttered. "I'll put on a regular locking charm."

"I know the alarm one," Draco said.

Blaise nodded, "I can add the people he wants inside his office."

Millis stared at the three of them wearily. "Okay then, I'll head back to the group."

"Here," Theo gave her his bag and held it out to her. "If anything goes wrong, you take it to the group okay?"

Millie looked between the three of them and nodded, before running away. Draco, Blaise and Theo all pointed their wands at the door. "You sure you know what you're talking about Theo?"

"No. Just trying for a little Hufflepuff optimism."

"Oh Merlin, save us."

They all started to cast their charm, with their magic, and someone else's wand, hopefully the magical signature wouldn't be traced back to them. Once done, Blaise did a little wave of his wand, checking over the wards and nodding with a winning smile. "I think we can honestly get away with this."

"What are you doing?!" a familiar voice shouted.

Draco felt the grip on his wand tighten. He glared at Blaise before smiling up at Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. "Ron Weasley," he said, straightening his back. "And Harry Potter," he muttered. "We just got lost-"

"Looking for the loos," Theo drawled.

"But looks like we got to the wrong place. Oh well, guess we should go," Blaise grabbed Theo and Draco's hands, pulling them away when the flask on Draco's hip fell. They all stilled as the metal flask clattered on the ground in front of them.

"Merlin Tommy," Theo hissed. He gave Potter and Weasley a glare. "Okay, you caught us. Underage drinking, we should head-"

"Wait," Ron picked up the flask and started to open it. Draco grabbed at the flask and clipped it back into the jeans belt loop. "Oi!"

"What?! You're not an auror yet, you can't tell me off!" Draco glared at Ron, pulling a whining tone on his voice.

"But he's the Boy-Who-Lived," Blaise goaded. Draco and Theo both stared at him with looks of shock. "You know what he thinks of us Slytherins," he whispered. Draco wanted to ask what the hell Blaise was on about when Potter stuttered his way into the conversation.

"No-no I don't- I'm sorry. It's- not because you're- I didn't even-" Potter sighed tiredly, "Just go."

"But Harry."

"Thanks Potter," Draco grinned, running out of the auror's office and laughing with the rest of his friends. "That was thrilling... I'm also never doing that again."

Theo shuddered bodily, walking over the group of students and Millie. "That was more than enough Gryffindor tendencies for me."

"You guys alright?" Millie whispered, taking notes and looking interested in the lecture they were getting on about new legislations.

"Yeah, almost had a run in with Potter and Weasel," Draco muttered darkly. When Millie turned to give him a worried look, he waved her away. They continued on their guided tour whilst Potter and Weasley joined them. Draco felt Potter's eyes on the back of his head and when they were finally called to have a quick lunch break, he all but ran to the toilets.

Except he did get lost this time. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement was not exactly the place his father would send him whenever they had their little ministry outings. "Now if I were just in the Barristers office, I would easily know where everything was-"

"Including the Auror's office Malfoy."

Draco closed his eyes, gave out a silent curse to Merlin and spun around to face Potter. "What gave it away?"

Potter looked surprised at Draco's easy confession. "The gloves," he said after a while. "I also know your mannerisms."

"Ooh, don't say that-" Draco grinned. "It'll make me blush. Gregory did tell me you were staring at me an awful lot," he snickered at the way Potter bowed his head, blushing slightly.

"What were you doing, Malfoy?"

"Nothing."

"You think I believe you?"

"No seriously," Draco lied. "We couldn't get past the wards," he said.

Potter walked closer to Draco, eyes pinning him to the wall. Draco gulped slightly, looking up at Potter. "You always feel your gloves when you lie."

Draco gasped, feeling his fingers still and then watched as Potter walked closer to him. "I don't suppose... that you wouldn't mind.. Not sharing this with-" Draco placed his hand on Potter's chest. Flat but steady. He stopped him at an arm's length away.

"Malfoy-"

"No Potter. If I tell you that I don't even know what I found. Will you let me go? I promise you, no Death Eater stuff-" Potter pulled back like he got slapped. "-I'm not doing anything wrong." Draco slipped back away from the corridor. "I promise you that."

He turned and ran back to his friends. Millie was the first to notice him. She pushed away her lunch and stood up, holding Draco's arms. "What happened?"

"Let's leave."

Theo and Blaise were quick to gather their stuff and then they all went to leave. Taking the floo to Malfoy Manor.

Chapter Text

Just because Draco had talked to Harry Potter and told him that he wasn't doing anything suspicious in the Auror's department, did not mean they were acquaintances. It did not give Potter free reign to talk to him during transfigurations class as if their entire school-boy rivalry did not exist. It did not solicit Potter giving him a nod and smiling at him when they caught eyes.

Except, of course, out of everyone that would understand general social cues, Potter wouldn't.

Draco half blamed Weasley; they probably weren't raised with any sort of etiquette lessons. Still, most of the blame fell on Potter who thought that because he let Draco go, it was as if he deserved Draco's hand in friendship. Or, at best, hand in finding out what exactly Draco was plotting.

"I am not plotting a thing," Draco muttered, giving Weasley the same resounding look to Potter's. At first it was annoying, and Draco found himself sharing the same suspicious looks to Potter with Weasley and Granger. They were all increasingly confused with Potter's change of heart after their civil but silent treatment towards each other. Unless you counted the few verbal fights they (sometimes) had.

Which Draco still vehemently argued was all Potter's fault.

The stupid prick.

"I never said you were," Potter said, smiling like he gained some sort of high when he saw Draco in distress. The utter masochist.

"Well then, I'll just return back to my potion... dick," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at Potter before taking the rest of his ingredients and heading over to Daphne and Blaise. He gained a little bit of satisfaction when he heard Weasley take the mickey out of Potter on his way back.

"I think Potter is obsessed with me," Draco mumbled, pouting at Daphne.

"Oh no," she said, patting his hair. "Whatever will we do?"

"So Greg was right? Because I bet him five sickles that Draco was also just as obsessed," Blaise grinned wickedly. Draco didn't understand why Blaise was his friend. He's fit, a voice in the back of his head sung. Draco hummed, putting the ingredients down in order of method. There was that.

"I think it's less obsessive and more paranoia that he'll know about our plan," Draco said.

"So there is a plan?" Potter said, lifting his cauldron and heaving it over on the spare space by Draco's desk. Weasley seemed partially amused and just completely done with Potter. Granger had the right idea to stay by her own desk, whilst she watched her two best friends willingly venture into the snake's nest.

"Any particular reason you're here Potter?" Blaise said.

"Just wanna find out what Draco was doing outside of Auror Robard's office during our Easter holidays," he said.

Blaise didn't even freeze, instead he snorted and nodded. "Alright then. Good luck with that, Potter."

Daphne looked between Draco and Blaise before shrugging and getting started on the potion. They were working on a concoction that could freeze the drinker for a couple minutes. It was morbid and very much up to Draco's taste. "So Potter knew about our plan?"

"There was a plan?!" Weasley hissed.

Draco rolled his eyes, "I thought you would have blindly followed everything your precious Potter told you. Of course there was a plan."

Potter grinned, turning to his own potion. "I'll get it out of you Malfoy."

Draco rolled his eyes and continued with his potion, looking around at the instructions sheet. He flicked through the pages of his 'Advanced Potions Textbook [edition 2]' and started to go through the instructions. Draco got out his quill and started to write up different ways to help the process. "I think that if you added powered Salamander eyes to the slugs, you'd get a better paste," he mumbled. Daphne arched her brow and did as she was told.

"What makes you say that?" Potter asked, looming over to look at the way Draco was making his notes.

"Powder is fine and absorbs into the slugs liquid. But it's also Salamander powder which will act as a binding agent?" Blaise looked at Draco.

Draco nodded, "exactly. Yes." Draco decided that he had enough of Potter and put his hand on the boy's shoulder, pushing him away. "You're in my space."

Potter scoffed, "Don't be petty Malfoy."

No one knew how Draco's potion managed to splatter all over Potter and Weasley without getting him or his friends. But both the Gryffindors were wheeled out by an exasperated Hermione Granger who glared in Draco's direction. Draco feigned an innocent expression, looking back at his two friends with a glimmer of mischief.

Transfiguration class was a nice change of pace after Potter and Weasley were gone. The potion, if Daphne had brewed it correctly (and she did), would last for twenty minutes or so. It meant that if Draco timed it correctly, he would easily have the first ten minutes of Transfiguration free from those two.

Of course Granger was still there, sitting in her usual seat without her two friends. She was out right glaring at Draco, who made no move to indicate it got on his nerves. 

But it did. 

How was he supposed to start writing his notes when he could practically feel her heated glare stabbing into his body in a threatening manner. Seriously, Granger might have had a better glare than You-Know-Who. And Draco was the one forced to live with him.

The class was normal, an hour of McGonagall teaching them the skills needed to transfigure different elements. Draco was working on his own, occasionally giving his friends at the back of the classroom a whiny pout. Blaise had stuck his tongue out at him, so Draco was now under legal obligation to destroy him. Sad, really.

He continued on with his spellwork, whilst Potter and Weasley both ran into class with slips of parchment, most likely from Madam Pomfrey. Draco didn't particularly care if McGonagall knew he was the one that had been near them during their little accident. Because one, it was most definitely an accident, and two, Daphne brewed the potion.

Professor Slughorn would come to his defence... Draco thought. The man had a rather fond outlook on Potter. But then again, the Boy-Who-Lived everybody, who didn't.

"You're going to break your quill with how badly you're straining your hand," Potter muttered, going back to his own work.

Draco looked down at his quill, noticing that within his mental place of verbally thwarting Potter he had grasped his quill in a violently hard way. Almost like his fingers were trying their best to snap the quill in half. Draco scoffed, narrowing his eyes at Potter before putting his quill away. Notes be damned.

Draco sat back on his chair and simply decided that he would chill the rest of the lesson. He had got down the basic fundamentals of water transfiguration. He rubbed the palms of his gloved hands together. He was still wearing the white, lace gloves given to him by Tommy, who said that no one at home wore it. So Draco decided to make good use of them.

The lace was expensive for sure, actually hand-made and none of that factory stuff. The gloves were soft and Draco liked to be able to see his white skin under the lace. He flexed his fingers and cracked his knuckles.

"Any reason you are not doing your spellwork Draco?" Professor McGonagall said, coming from behind him.

Draco flinched, not having noticed her presence. "Oh you know, just panicking slightly. Heart rate is increasing. Hands fidgety and shaking. I don't think I could lift up my wand without accidentally blowing something up... wouldn't want to cause another accident, Professor." He looked McGonagall directly in the eyes. She gave him a levelled stare before nodding and walking to the desks of students ahead of him.

"Malfoy?" Potter asked, staring at Draco with worry.

"Do try to keep the pitying eyes at bay Potter. Some of us are tired of seeing such emotions, especially coming from someone your calibre."

Weasley and Granger seemed to be looking between their own work and giving Draco the same worried looks. He rolled his eyes and got up from his chair, walking over to his friends at the back. Draco felt his hands become clammy under the gloves and whispered a low cooling charm. He had left his wand at his desk, with the rest of his work.

Draco didn't even care if Potter and his entourage decided to scrounge through his bags. He had made sure to keep anything that could possibly get him into trouble in his dormitory. When he pulled a chair to sit opposite Pansy and gave the rest of his group a wobbly smile. Daphne extended her hand and intertwined them with Draco's gloved ones. She held his hand tightly, in an almost painful way, but it was nice, Draco thought.

It was very grounding. The others didn't say anything, they didn't have to. Blaise had hooked his legs around Draco's and Pansy was gently stroking his arm. Millie was giving Draco encouraging smiles whilst she tried out their water spells. She had managed to boil the water and start to change around the different pH levels. "You're re-really good at this," Draco whispered.

"Thanks," Millie said. "For some reason water comes easier to me than fire." They all looked down at the scorch mark on the desk from Millie's slight accident last time. "I think that overall, I could probably get an A for this class."

Daphne frowned, "now now- You could for sure get an Outstanding-"

"Nah I'm alright. I plan on travelling anyway, s'not like I'm going to need a N.E.W.T. level transfiguration subject. Or at least, I don't think I will." Millie frowned, "Why haven't I already dropped out yet?"

Draco shrugged, "If it doesn't mean that much for you. You could always take one for the team and fake your death-"

"That way we can all get O's in our NEWTs," Pansy grinned manically. Daphne just looked at the rest of them in horror whilst they all snickered. Draco's chest felt a lot lighter by the end of the lesson and he was glad that he was sitting (even if he was stuck in an odd placement) with his friends.

"Class dismissed!" Professor McGonagall declared, a whole five minutes before the bell went. Draco and the others were getting their stuff packed and ready to grab Greg from his free period and head over to Theo's advanced arithmancy class. Might as well surprise him. Draco slipped past his mates and went back to the Gryffindork table—okay so maybe he was still slightly petty—to get his own bags and notes.

Draco didn't make eye contact at all with Potter and his lot, as he gathered most of his things. He shoved his textbook in his bag, stopped and pulled it out. He also managed to pull out his folder containing his potions ideas out, watched it fall to the ground and then almost cursed. "Well, that's just unfortunate..." He ignored Potter's snort and went down to pick up his folder.

He shoved it on the table and quickly charmed the transfiguration textbook back to its cupboard. He was almost able to gather the rest of his parchment when Hermione I-can-do-what-I-want Granger picked up his folder with the entitlement of... well eleven year-old Draco. "What are these?" Hermione asked, looking through his theory work.

"That-" Draco snatched his folder back- "is none of your business."

"Oi Malfoy," Weasley said, pulling his own bag over his shoulder. "She was just curious."

"Well, curiosity killed the cat. Also, did no one ever teach about basic manners, no need to touch what isn't yours," he mocked. Finding great satisfaction in watching the way Granger turned red.

"Aright, alright- let's just go," Weasley said, ushering his girlfriend away.

"Draco, if I could have a word," McGonagall said, from behind him again. Draco flinched and clutched at his folder fiercely. How did she keep doing that?

Draco grabbed his bag, pulled his folder into his chest and walked with her to the front of the classroom. He looked back at his friends and waved for them to just leave. Pansy had a very disagreeing face on, but pulled the rest of them out of the classroom. "Have a seat Draco."

"Professor?" Draco asked, sitting down. He decided to just put his bag on the ground and throw his folder on top of it; if Professor McGonagall hadn't extended a hand, silently asking for it. Shit. Draco gave her a little smile and handed the folder over to her.

He watched her open his folder and cringed at the way his notes were all in disarray. It had definitely been worse. Theo had compromised with Draco to at least section out all his notes to the different potions he had invented. So like, other than the loose parchments and definite notes that were hanging onto the folder by magic (Draco had to stick it all together with a charm because he didn't want a new folder) it was technically neat.

Theo would beg to differ.

"What's this then, the Detachment Draught..."

Draco nodded, "Just the original notes I made. Everything on that essay you've already seen-"

"High-and-Lows, Focus Feelings, and a Pity Potion?" she looked at Draco with an arched brow.

"Well yes- I uh... well. Those are really just theories-"

"Not just theories," McGonagall started to pull out different notes that Draco made. The formulas he had tested for the potions and general instructions on how to go about making them. "You have quite the talent for potion making. Inventing potions of this magnitude-"

"Really Professor McGonagall," Draco said. "It's not a big deal, it's just fun stuff to do when I'm bored," he shrugged.

"Draco Malfoy, I can tell when someone is having meagre fun over a subject and when someone is really, truly talented. You have a gift," she praised.

Draco felt himself shrug, "I know. I also know that I don't have enough time to pursue these ideas. Really it's just all theory work, I know I go into it a bit more than normal but I talked to Professor Slughorn and I don't plan on really chasing a dead end."

"Dead end?"

"Not to make this a pity party, but even if I managed to make these potions and well enough to sell, it's not like anyone will ever want a product created by a Death Eater-"

"Ex-Death Eater."

"Oh, and you'll manage to convince the eternity of wizarding society of that?" Draco sat up straighter in his chair, "I have a plan Professor, I'm going to stick to that."

"Oh yes, the Malfoy heir to take over your father's estates and build your name back up from the ashes. So that you can, what? Eventually become a member of the wizengamot?" Draco didn't appreciate the way she was brutally honest.

"I suspect you've had a chat with Professor Slughorn then."

"And Professor Flitwick. Professor Sprout. We all have faith in you Draco," she said, expression softening. It was the first time Draco had ever been on the receiving end of that look. Usually she would reserve it for her precious Gryffindors (Whom, by the way, she was not the Head of House of anymore, so Draco called blatant favouritism!).

"Well... that's good then. At least someone does."

"I believe that you don't really want to continue your father's work. That deep down you would much rather spend your days creating these potions. They came from a boy that was deeply traumatised after the events of the Battle of Hogwarts and more. I truly believe that you will do well creating these potions and writing research papers for them."

Draco pursed his lips, "Essay writing is incredibly boring."

"Not when you write them. I can tell in your words how passionate you are, if not a little sarcastic," she muttered.

Draco smirked, "Well it's a good thing I've got three editors, is it not?"

Her eyes seemed to sparkle and although she didn't smile at him, Draco had a feeling that was the best he was going to get out of her. "Draco, are you planning on attending Slughorn's-" McGonagall screwed her face up for her next words. "Spring Shindig?"

Draco snorted, "No. I don't think I need that type-"

"He's having his little party for you."

"What?"

"Professor Slughorn is inviting some of the finest potion brewers in the country. He's also got business associates and different masters within the potions and medicine industry, all attending. For you." Draco sat in silence. Slughorn was doing all that for him? "I would highly recommend you attend."

Draco gave a small nod, thinking about it.

***

The 'Slughorn Spring Shindig' was a poor excuse for a party. But it was also Professor Slughorn and he would host any sort of party if it meant he could up his social standing. He was already a hero to most people for battling in the war and Draco didn't see any reason to attend. Except, he still thought about McGonagall's words and how much Slughorn cared enough about him to help with his future.

Draco had sent letters to his mother about the shindig and Slughorn. Her advice was to go and Draco couldn't exactly argue with his mother. Even if he did turn a blind eye at most of her advice. He was to attend with his group of friends, even if they weren't originally on the invite list.

Theo was wearing lighter green dress robes compared to the ones he wore for the Malfoy Yule. Blaise was in white, which was going to be a chore to wear and eat in at the same time. "I just have to make sure that I'm not at all close to anyone drinking red." Draco snorted, opening the set of dress robes his mother got for him.

"Ah brilliant," he scowled, holding the creamy, peach coloured robes. "I mean, this might as well be pink."

Greg furrowed his brows, looking at the robes, "At least it's... spring like."

Blaise snorted, "I think they'll suit your pale face. If only your hair was more blond than it is straight up white." Draco rolled his eyes, putting on his three piece suit and then outer robe. He walked out of the dorms to greet the rest of the girls. Millie was wearing a light pink dress- Draco thought he could get away with coupling with her except Blaise said they clashed too much.

"So it is pink!"

"It's warmer," Daphne commented, linking her arm around Theo's. She was wearing formal green robes, and matched perfectly well with Theo. Draco hadn't even invited them not only a week ago! Greg and Pansy were wearing blue dress robes. Pansy's were more muggle-like, but she had a sophisticated look to her and made it work. Draco shrugged, hooking his arms around Blaise and pulled (dragged) the boy into the Slytherin common room.

There were a few other older Slytherin's that were dressed up nicely. Draco and his entourage all walked out of the Slytherin common rooms, away from the dungeons and towards Slughorn's party. Draco let Blaise take the lead as they showed their magical invitations and were let in.

The classroom this party was held in, had been transfigured to appear much bigger. There were streamers of pastel coloured paper and warm lighting around the entire room. A lot of plants courtesy of Professor Sprout decorated the walls with a few flowers here and there. Draco moved alongside Blaise, both headed for Professor Slughorn.

"I have a feeling we'll be doing a lot of talking," Draco muttered.

"It'll be good for you," Blaise said, smiling at the students and other guests. He gave Draco's hand a quick squeeze before saying "Merlin knows that you need the help. You're too comfortable around us, no one else appreciates your rude comments."

"I'd argue it's constructive criticism."

Blaise rolled his eyes goodnaturedly, before placing a gleaming smile as they approached Slughorn. "Professor Slughorn," Blaise called. Slughorn was dressed in what appeared to be a custom made spring-time attire. Draco looked at the different coloured pastel flowers that were sewn into his robes and almost had to leave with all the colours assaulting his eyes.

"Draco my boy!" Slughorn cheered, "So glad you could come."

Draco almost burst into laughter at the scandalous way Blaise appeared. "Professor," he greeted politely.

"This is Draco Malfoy," Slughorn introduced. Draco pulled himself away from Blaise and let Slughorn place a hand on his back and show him off to whoever it was that needed his attention. Draco gave a polite smile and shook hands with the three people that Slughorn was talking to. "He's the one that created the Detachment Draught, you see."

Their interests were suddenly gained, now that they knew Draco was the one that made the draught and was not just a Death Eater. "Really?" one of the witches asked.

Draco nodded, "I came up with the theory work. With Professor Slughorn's help, I've been writing a research paper and hoping to get it published soon," he said.

"Oh really? That's wonderful dear."

"Where did the inspiration come from? It reminds me of Pepper-Up but more... mind healing, is how you've articulated it?"

Draco gave a smile and nod. "Yes, I wanted to really hone in on the mind healing aspect. It's specifically designed to take the user out of that 'numbing' feeling. Pepper-up is more like a caffeinated shock to the system. I want this to bring someone back to the present and help ease the magic in the system."

One of the wizards looked very impressed with Draco's words. "That's astonishing. You've done research into this?"

"Yes, a lot. I've had a lot of help from my professors," Draco smiled. "At first the Pepper-up potion was where I started with the initial research process. They are pretty similar but then I realised that I needed to look at it from a very separate box. They're still two different potions and we've found that some of my estates in France help grow a lot of the ingredients that normally aren't found on British soil."

"Oh wow," the witch grinned. "So have you started tests yet?"

Draco shook his head, "I think I want to publish my paper first and then start on getting trials done within Ministry guidelines."

The other witch scrunched up her nose with a frown, "you want to do this via the Ministries budget? You're a Malfoy, you could get the right legal formalities to get it done on your estates."

Draco gave an uneasy smile. One part of his probation rules was that he wasn't allowed to create potions on his own. Everything he wanted done needed to be monitored by the Ministry. "I just- would prefer to keep the Malfoy name out of this production."

The witch hummed, pulling out a card. "Here's my business card. Owl me a copy of your research paper when it's finished and I'll see if I can pull a few strings with the Ministry," she then gave him a gentle smile. "Slughorn has told us a lot about you Mr Malfoy, this potion could really help the people."

Draco took the card and then two other cards before he turned to Slughorn with a squeamish, shy smile. "That went well."

"Aha! More than well my boy!" Draco cringed at Slughorn's volume but couldn't help the way his lips stretched into a grin at his professor's enthusiasm. "Let's continue walking around, I have an abundance of people who would be more than happy to meet you!"

And so they did. 

Draco felt like he had almost met everyone at the party that was not a student. Professor McGongall was there to sing his praises in the research paper and tell people how much progression he made in his transfiguration N.E.W.T. class for just one year. Draco was an E grade at best and no matter how much he had tried in the class, he just couldn't get his grades to slip up to the O he wanted. He didn't tell anyone that of course.

Professor Sprout introduced him to some of her own friends, talking about Draco's project on the Pibicon Banana plant. Draco didn't realise how much people within the herbology community appreciated Draco's dedication to studying the banana plant. "I mean, I know a lot of people usually study it for the easy grades, but this is magnificent," a witch said, looking over his notes.

Draco didn't even bring his notes, Professor Sprout had brought in his work from her marking. He was supposed to get it with the rest of his homework when he got to his Friday herbology lesson. 

He simply gave the lady a satisfied grin, pulling the egotistical Malfoy mask over his face. He was starting to get tired of all the socialising. "This High-And-Lows potion, in theory, is brilliant. But imagine, if you actually managed to make it work."

"Thank you."

Draco was whisked around the party, having a couple moments of peace with the rest of his friends. Pansy was drunk, but did a good job of not showing it and Blaise made sure to look after her. Millie and Theo had a grand time making fun of Draco and his tired expression. Greg was simply trying his best to make sure Daphne didn't have another drink. There was a separate punch bowl for the students, but Draco had a feeling someone spiked it.

He was looking through the hundreds of business cards he was given by different people and their professions. There was Barnaby Williamson and his work in the French sector. Amos Diggory and his connections with St. Mungo's voluntary work. Silvia and Bradley Turpine, both of whom had wanted to read Draco's research paper. He shoved the cards in the pocket lining in his outer robes and bit the inside of his cheek.

"I'm just going to get some air," he tapped Theo's arm and turned to leave the classroom. 

Draco felt his fingers flex into a fist by his side. He was wearing a matching set of peach coloured gloves that his mother probably had custom made for him. They were made from high-quality woven silk but weren't slippery in the slightest. Draco exhaled harshly, walking into a hidden alcove and breathing heavily.

He closed his eyes, letting his head rest against the stone walls of the Hogwarts corridor. He was behind a large pillar and safely tucked away from prying eyes. Draco bit his bottom lip, feeling his heart race and beat against his ribcage. 

He felt a pair of hands over his fists, forcing his fingers open. Draco opened his eyes, blinking slightly in the shadowed cast alcove to find Potter standing in front of him.

"Po-Potter?"

"Just breath," he whispered.

Draco closed his eyes, an embarrassed flush appeared on his cheeks, but he tried not to care. After a minute, he felt his chest start to relax and the knots in his stomach loosen. He opened his eyes again, peering down at Potter. "What are you doing here?"

Potter was blushing his time, "It's very hard to get to you, you know that? Almost everyone wanted to talk to you in there, you didn't have a moment alone."

Draco gave a wobbly smirk, trying to look smug. "Jealous, are we dear?"

"And if I was?"

Draco felt himself freeze. Well he hadn't been expecting that. "What do you want? Potter?"

"I don't- I just-" Draco's eyes flickered down to Potter's lips. The way he chewed on them like it wouldn't cause them to chap. Blaise would have the biggest aneurysm trying to help Potter's lips from drying out. "Malfoy you're- I-"

"This is a very entertaining conversation," Draco drawled.

"Yeah... I can't do it!"

Draco furrowed his brows, "Do what?"

"Oh never mind."

Draco rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you need anything? Or do you still want to try and pry out information from me?"

Potter seemed to relax slightly, "I mean..."

"No."

"But-"

"No," Draco slipped past Potter and walked back to the party.

Chapter Text

It was in the dead of the night, that Draco was woken up suddenly by Professor Slughorn. Theo, Blaise and Greg all woke up too because you could never really trust Slughorn to be quiet about such affairs. Alex had gotten up from bed, squinted his eyes in mild disdain and then flopped back onto his pillow.

"Professor?" Draco asked, groggily. He wiped his blond hair out of his eyes and sat up in bed to find Professor Slughorn looking at him with both an awkward and upset air about him. Draco pulled his covers away and got out of bed, hardly understanding the words his Head of House was saying.

He looked over at the rest of his roommates, waving at them to go back to bed. Greg didn't need to be told twice, giving a loud groan before he turned around in his bed. Theo gave Draco a drowsy salute and Blaise beckoned Draco over. "Give me a second Professor," Draco mumbled, walking over to Blaise.

He stood on the outside of Blaise's bed and let the boy cast a quick cleaning charm over his face. Draco closed his eyes, letting Blaise pet his hair back into place and cup his cheek. "You'll tell us if it's anything bad?" he whispered.

Draco gave a nod, "'Course," he yawned, taking Blaise's hand and giving his knuckles a quick peck. He turned and wordlessly summoned a robe before walking with Professor Slughorn out of his dormitory and into the common room. There were no students around and with a quick tempest, Draco found that it was four o'clock in the morning.

Reasonable time to kill a person for waking him up, he mused.

They walked out into the cool Hogwarts corridor. Draco was glad that he brought his robe as he tightened it around his body. The weather was getting warmer but the nights were still cool. He walked alongside Slughorn, the professor's pace quickened with each step. Draco had started to wake up a little more, blinking around the darkness. They were both heading towards the Headmistress's office.

Draco furrowed his brows, "Sir? Why are we going to Professor McGongagall's office?" he asked, looking back at Slughorn.

Slughorn, for all that he was confident, was a stuttering mess at being questioned. His face flushed a red and he kept glancing at Draco with nervous anxiety washing over him. Draco kept that pinched expression on his face all the way to the Headmistress's office and didn't let it go once the password was given and they walked up the steps.

Narcissa Malfoy was standing by Professor McGonagall and seemed to be just as anxious as everyone else. Draco ran into his mother's arms, pulling her tight against his chest when he felt her shaking form. He was getting more anxious and looked towards Professor McGonagall for answers. "Can someone please tell me what's going on?"

Professor McGonagall had that same soft expression on her face as she stared at Draco. "I'm afraid that just a couple hours ago, your father was attacked in Azkaban," she said. Draco felt himself freeze. "He's dead Draco," Professor McGonagall said.

Draco felt his chest squeeze in a familiar uncomfortable way as he looked between his mother and the headmistress. "We have been given word that he was attacked by Head Auror Robards," she explained. "It was actually your parole officer that caught him. Auror Goldbeird is giving a statement out to hold Robards accountable and is trying his best in getting the justice that-"

"Stop," Draco whispered.

He looked down at his mother and cupped her cheek. "Mother?"

Her eyes were rimmed a pulsing red shade and glassy with unshed tears. Her body was shivering with unrestrained anger. He could almost imagine the way she would be screaming and lashing out right about now. How her magic would swirl with her anger and destroy whatever it was around her. "It's true," she whispered.

Draco felt tears building in his own eyes, stinging at him. He let go of his mother and sat heavily in the chair by McGonagall's desk. His mother handed him a letter, sealed with the black, Malfoy family crest. Black wax. The sign of someone's death. Draco's hands were shaking as he opened the letter, only just realising that he was not wearing gloves.

He almost felt naked without them.

Dear Heir Draco Lucius Malfoy,

This letter is to inform you that Lucius Malfoy has passed away and to request that a formal death notice will be added to his files in your accounts, as the new Lord Malfoy of the Malfoy Estates.

His full name was Lucius Malfoy II. At his time of death, his residence was Azkaban prison, England. He were born on 9th November 1953 and died on 2nd May 1999. His Ministry number was 1221392119 and a list of all accounts of every Malfoy Estates in England, France and Germany are enclosed at the end of this letter.

I am Ragnarok of Gringotts and will be seeing to all your next steps. Thank you for your assistance and please contact me at the earliest convenience.

My condolences, Lord Malfoy.

Sincerely,

Ragnarok.

Draco felt his mothers hands on his shoulder and crumpled the letter in his own. His head hung as he thought about everything that was just given to him. Auror Robards had killed his father, which meant that he also killed Senior Nott. Draco felt a painful shudder wreak through him and then the absence of his mother's hands.

His magic convulsed whilst he bit his cheek trying to keep silent. Draco could hear something shatter in the distance and a shout before everything went still again. "Mother," he whispered, falling into her embrace again. Narcissa held her son under the weight of her own grief. She stroked his hair and pulled him closer and tighter into her embrace. Never wanting to let him go.

Draco pulled away from his mother and rubbed at his eyes, they were stinging with unshed tears. When he looked up, it was to find Professor McGonagall repairing any damages he caused. He felt a guilty flush cover his cheeks before he cleared his throat, gaining the headmistress's attention. "If I may, could I possibly have the day off Professor."

McGonagall looked between Draco and his mother. "Actually," Narcissa started, "I was thinking, why not take the week off? We can stay at the Manor and discuss things further."

Draco looked back at McGonagall who gave a silent nod. He stood up and with his mother, took the fireplace to Malfoy Manor. His mind was quick to remind him that he forgot to mention the events of what occurred to his friends. "I need to tell the others. Blaise- Theo-"

"We can send an owl. But come morning time, Dragon... and it'll be all over the Prophet."

Draco scowled, feeling his magic stir around the house. Draco flinched, looking up and around the manor that seemed to flood to life around him. "What-"

"It'll be your magic attuning itself to the Manor. You'll have to get used to it, as Lord Malfoy." Draco looked at his mother with a tired smile, "Oh Dragon. Why don't you head to bed? I'll start on owling your friends okay?"

Draco nodded and made his way through the familiar corridors around his childhood home. He could feel the house mimic his own magic. The way the corridors got warmer the more he walked around them. The fact that the light in his bedroom immediately flickered on, without the need of a spell. Or how they dimmed slightly when made his way into his bed and crawled under the covers. A warming charm rolled over the bed and Draco found himself asleep in no time at all.

***

When he woke up it was with a groggy start. He had sat straight up in bed from a nightmare about You-Know-Who, as usual. It was a bit of a rarity for Draco to actually get nightmare much, but under the circumstance, he let himself lie back in bed. With a quick tempest cast over him, he groaned and got up. It was a Saturday so he could have been lazy, but instead got up.

After a quick wash and putting on formal, black robes, Draco made his way downstairs. He found his mother in the company of his school friends, all having breakfast at the Malfoy dining table. Draco arched his brows, walking in and watching them all fall silent. "What-"

"Your mother owled us," Theo said, standing up and taking Draco's hand in his own.

"She told us what happened," Millie said. "It was all over the Prophet." She motioned to the newspaper just beside her own breakfast.

"Oh how are you Draco?" Daphne asked.

"Okay, I guess," Draco answered honestly. "I don't really know."

"That's fine," Greg said, pulling out a chair. Draco sat down and gave the rest of his friends a smile. The food looked good, but Draco didn't think he could possibly stomach anything down. His stomach was still in knots and his fingertips were sizzling with raw magic under his gloves.

"What do you want to do?" Blaise asked, tilting his head.

Draco stared at the rest of them in relative, melancholic silence. "I think I'd like to talk to Ragnarok. Get started on all the accounts and estate stuff... then hold the funeral." Draco felt numb, like the only thing that could possibly pull him out of his passive state was ironically, his Detachment Draught.

"Okay then," his mother said, putting her tea down. Her hands were shaking, if Draco could have reached over, he would have held them tightly.

"I'll go too," Theo said. "I've been putting off the Nott Estate's inheritance for the summer but I might as well go now." Draco nodded, giving Theo's hand a squeeze. Daphne cast a quick wingardium leviosa to the food and piled Draco's plate with breakfast.

"Do eat," she encouraged.

Draco looked at the rest of their worried, but understanding faces and nodded. After having a few bites he stood up and commanded attention immediately. "You lot should head back to Hogwarts-"

"Draco-"

"No. Go back. All our research on Auror Robards? The evidence we picked up- send it to the Ministry anonymously," he ordered. He watched the way his friends all gave astonished faces before they started to get up from their own seats.

"It was a pleasure, Mrs Malfoy," Daphne smiled, placing a hand on Greg's back and ushering the rest to the fireplace. They all left for Hogwarts whilst Draco and Theo headed to the floo.

"Do you want to tell me what 'evidence' you were talking about?" Narcissa asked the two boys.

Draco stared at Theo, who simply shrugged. "We had a feeling that Auror was the reason for my dad's death. We've been gathering evidence against him and his department for the better part of six months," he explained.

"A feeling?" Narcissa mused.

Draco pursed his lips, "a premonition, if you will." Draco linked his arms with Theo as they stood just outside of the fireplace. His mother was allowed to leave the manor to head to Hogwarts to collect Draco, but she would not be allowed to floo to Diagon Alley with them. Draco and Theo went together and landed outside the public floo system. They pulled their hoods on and started to walk to Gringotts.

When they both entered, Draco took the lead to get them to a goblin that was free. "I'm here to see Ragnarok," he said.

"What for?"

"Inheritance for Lord Malfoy..." Draco looked back at Theo. "And Theodore Nott." They were told to sit and wait for Ragnarok who came with another goblin by the name of Shukoon and were led to another room. Draco and Theo sat next to each other whilst Ragnarok and Shukoon started to assemble papers.

Draco and Theo had to sign a few things, give magical vows for others and at some point Draco had to spill his blood. A blood vow didn't so much as surprise Draco when he thought about all the Dark magic that the Malfoy family line liked to dabble in. Draco just took off his glove and pricked his forefinger to give a single drop of blood.

"Is there any way we can conjoin the Malfoy and Nott estates?" Theo asked, looking at Draco, though his words were directed at the goblins. Draco gave Theo a reassuring smile before turning to the goblins.

"If you'd like there to be a business transaction then you would have to sign a couple papers from the individual estates you wish to conjoin. But if you'd like to join up all family estates then a blood-brother oath could be made," Ragnarok explained, too busy copying the contracts with his magic.

"We can do the blood bond...?" Draco looked back at Theo for permission.

Theo was pale but nodded, "You're like a brother to me Draco. It's fine. We can always handle the business estates after the summer time."

So with that settled, they pricked their fingers and let a drop of their blood fall onto another contract and then felt their magic course over the parchment before everything dulled. Draco hummed, fixing his gloves back on, nothing ultimately felt different. The Malfoy manor would still be Draco's, and Theo's manor would continue to be his. But any bold decisions made on their family estates would now have to be granted by both parties.

Draco was rest assured that he and Theo couldn't really ever argue about their estates anyway. They would go about as they normally did, but at least Theo had a secure line as the only person under the name Nott. If he never produced an heir, his family would at least never die out.

"So am I Theodore Nott-Malfoy?" he asked, looking at Shukoon.

"No," he said.

Theo breathed a sigh of relief, "oh thank Merlin."

"What the hell does that mean?!"

"No offense, but I don't really want your name."

"What's wrong with my name?!"

"Would you like a list?"

"...bastard."

Theo had to the floo back to school after gaining part of the Malfoy estates and Draco returned to the Manor. He left his mother in the care of the house elves whilst he occupied himself in his bedroom. Draco lay on his bed and thought back to his father's words. He felt cheated out of a conversation. He had so much he wanted to tell his father, so much he hadn't yet said.

But Lucius must have known about his death. Draco thought back to the way his father wanted to make sure he knew that he was loved. That his father had always felt proud of him. Draco thought of the way he had stilled at the mention of Senior Nott and how his last words to his dad were goodbye. Draco groaned, crawling back under his covers after kicking his shoes off and deciding to take a nap for however long it suited him.

The rest of the week he spent 'mourning' was Draco simply just drowning himself in work. His magic had bonded well with the Manor and there were definite changes that his subconscious seemed to make for the betterment of the house. Their blackened and polished wooden floors were stripped of that stain and surfaced the gentle, natural browns of the wood. The furniture seemed to transfigure itself into more simplistic shapes. The Victorian-styled interior was still there but it was more modern?

Draco didn't know how to describe it. The chandeliers started to emit white light itself to replace its usual orange tones. The curtains would open automatically when the sun came out and the entire house bustled to life without Draco even in the room. Millie had owled him the Daily Prophet whenever she felt she had found an article that might have interested him.

Auror Robards was in Azkaban after a trial and sentenced to five years. Draco gave up trying to be angry at the man, Robards had at least got sentenced which was more than what Draco had thought he was going to get. Millie's anonymous idea to change the order of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was met with differing sides.

The victims they had interviewed and corresponded with, wanted justice to be served. They also wanted a new change to the auror scheme which had sprouted injustice for many years. Draco didn't care enough to finish reading the rest of the article, he just knew that some people thought that Auror Robards was correct in killing his father and other Death Eaters.

"This is so messed up," Draco muttered.

He was in his school robes and waiting for his mother to come back from their kitchens. His little mourning holiday was finished and he had the rest of his lessons to continue on with. Draco looked up when he heard the clinking of his mothers heels against the floor. "All ready, Dragon?"

"Yes," he said, bending down to hug his mother tightly. "I'll try and see if I can fake a depressed mood and come back."

Narcissa gave him a mischievous grin, "You really are making your father proud."

Draco nodded, "I know... Are you sure you'll be alright?"

"Of course. I'll be right here when you get back."

Draco looked at his mother's pretty smile and tried to memorise her face in his mind. He loved her, and without his father in the world, it felt like he was slowly going to lose everyone he cared about. With a heavy heart and tight chest, Draco flooed back to Hogwarts, right into Professor McGonagall's office.

He straightened his robes and gave the headmistress a polite nod. "Professor."

"Lord Malfoy," she addressed. Draco shivered, never having heard that title from anyone that wasn't teasing him. He pocketed his hands and nodded towards the door.

"I'll just go then."

"I do encourage you to have a word with your Head of House, he had some information to relay to you."

Draco nodded and stepped out of the office. He was greeted with his auror parole office again, Goldbeird. He decided to take a wander around the desolate castle grounds. Draco had come back to school on Sunday night, that way he could wake up in the morning and start Monday completely fresh.

Auror Goldbeird was quiet as he walked beside Draco. The atmosphere they created was awkward and Draco simply wanted to hex the man away from him. Was it too much to ask for some peace and quiet. 

"I have to be honest Malfoy," Auror Goldbeird started. Draco cocked a brow, never having heard that civil tone from his parole officer before. "I didn't want to believe it, about Robards- he was a good mate o' mine. We went into training together and I respect the man immensely.

"But what you said that day Potter and you got into a fight... it forced me hand into actually doing something. Because I should have been there, you know? I should have been the one fighting those Death Eater's and not you. Never a kid. You didn't deserve that." Draco scoffed, feeling his fingers flex into a fist. 

"You don't deserve me ridin' a blimmin high horse spouting crap about being better than you when you fought in a war. On the right side of the war too...

"So I'm sorry Malfoy."

Draco stopped walking, turning to look at Auror Goldbeird in the eyes. He sniffed and gave a slight nod, "I appreciate that. Thank you."

Draco should have said sorry too. It would have been the polite thing to do, apologise for mistakes he made as a Death Eater. Should have apologised for all the wrongdoings he had performed under the orders of You-Know-Who.

But he also was under sessions from his mind healer. He didn't need to apologise anymore.

Shouldn't have to.

It took a long time for him to recognise that he was equally innocent and guilty. He just hadn't had the time to really look at the innocent version of himself.

"Goodnight auror Goldbeird."

Draco turned to walk away, hands still in his pocket and heart still just as heavy. He breathed in deeply, held it in and exhaled a long and exhausted breath. Draco ducked his head as he continued to walk aimlessly around the school grounds. He went up stairs, down corridors, along passageways and ended up in the third floor corridors.

When he was met with a dead end passage, Draco simply opened the door to an empty classroom and looked around the large but dusty room. He noticed a uniquely ginormous window sill area and went to go and sit there. Draco lent against the large frame and looked outside to the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid's Hut had smoke coming out from his chimney and the moonlight shone on the tree tops.

He exhaled again harshly and gripped the edges of robes. Draco muttered another cooling charm on his gloves and closed his eyes, feeling tears start to produce. That dry and choking stone made its way comfortably in Draco's throat and he gave out a silent sob. His body shook with the need to physically let out his grief but Draco kept a tight lid on it.

"Please, please, please," he begged. He had never heard his voice quiver like it did then. Nor the way his mind thought of magic and asking for someone's help. A Malfoy didn't beg and certainly did not ask for any sort of help. Let alone, be emotionally vulnerable as he was just now.

He had exhausted himself into a slump against the window, still looking outside at the forest. He almost didn't hear the door open again.

"Malfoy?" a soft voice asked.

Draco felt a familiar anger boil at the base of his stomach. His head snapped up to the image of Potter standing by the door, a piece of parchment in his hand and his wand casting a low lumos. "Potter," Draco couldn't stop the way his voice cracked. Potter made himself at home, stalking towards Draco in long strides as he sat just on the edge of the window sill. Facing Draco but not close enough to touch him.

"Malfoy I-"

"My father," Draco whispered, anger turning into anguish quickly.

Potter was the one that pulled Draco into his arms, but it was Draco who clutched onto him tightly. Draco sobbed. Heart wrenching sobs that echoed around the empty classroom and repeated back to him. He sobbed until the knot in his stomach hadn't just loosened, but properly unravelled itself into a single piece of string. He sobbed until the lump in his throat was faded like a bad memory.

He didn't realise how badly he just needed to be held. How badly he had wanted for someone to sooth away his worries. It was almost embarrassing to find that his rival, Potter could provide that comfort. But not surprising, stupid Saint Potter had to be good at everything.

He tightened his arms around Potter's middle, leaning into his shoulder and cried. He cried for his father. For Nott senior. For every one of the victims he had to read about in his search for evidence against Robards. "My- my father," he wept, body feeling tired and useless against Potter.

"I get it," Potter whispered, rubbing his hand up and down Draco's back. Potter rocked the both of them as he leant his head over Draco's. "I understand," he would whisper occasionally until Draco had felt thoroughly exhausted and so cried-out that he couldn't possibly cry anymore.

When Draco let go of Potter, he didn't move away. He ducked his head to rest against Potters, feeling his slightly raised scar against his own forehead. "Potter?"

"Malfoy?"

Draco sighed tiredly, looking into Potter's striking green eyes. He couldn't recall what had made Potter do it, probably that stupid Gryffindor bravery, but they were kissing. Potter was shy and nervous when he kissed Draco, almost like he didn't want to break him. Draco was tired and angry and grieving and wanted to be kissed properly.

He cupped Potter's cheek and pulled him close. He broke their kiss and swung an arm around Potter's shoulder, letting himself be pulled by the hips closer. Draco kissed him with every ounce of his being and continued to kiss him as if he was magic itself. Like that's who he was begging to save him earlier.

"Harry," he whispered into the boy's lips.

"Harry, he whispered again, letting Potter climb into the window sill properly and push him against the stone wall. "Harry," he chanted his name like a sacred prayer, knowing how wrong this was. That the timing was terrible and the circumstances were too dire and heavy for the both of them to come out of this unscathed.

But he needed it. Needed to feel Harry's glasses slightly dig into his nose until he took them off and proceeded to kiss him again. He wanted Harry to continue pressing him against the wall so hard that it would be the only thing he could feel to cover up the pain of mourning.

"Harry," he breathed out like a sigh of relief. Closing his eyes in trust and pulling Harry closer to him as if they couldn't physically get any closer.

He needed Harry Potter the same way he needed his magic. Like it was an absolute truth and nothing anyone said could deny them being together.

"Harry." He would continue to whisper until they parted away from each other. With Harry sitting opposite him and leaning against the wall, staring at Draco with parted lips. Draco would look back to the kiss and think about how incredible it was. How different it was from his first kiss with Pansy at the Yule Ball. Or the time he kissed Blaise for a drunken dare. Or other kisses he entertained as the Malfoy heir.

He would think about Harry's kiss for a long time. Because ultimately, "we can't do this." He had whispered it into the air. All caution thrown into the wind.

"I know," Potter would mutter after a minute of tense silence.

"What awful timing."

Draco would remember the smile Harry had given him. Genuine amusement in his eyes as he said "I know. What would the world think?"

"That we've gone crazy..."

"Yes. Probably. You did the right thing."

"I did?"

"Sending that information anonymously. That's what you were planning all along wasn't it?"

Draco would remember leaning forward and capturing Harry's mouth in a lazy kiss. Like it was completely normal and not because he had felt genuine feelings for this boy. "Yes it was."

"I- I like you Draco." 

"I know. I could tell with every stare... I don't know if I like you back." 

"That's alright." 

"Harry." 

"Yes?"

"I don't think this would be right. I'm sorry." 

"And I'm sorry I didn't just leave you alone."

Draco had shaken his head, sitting back. "Will there ever be a universe where Harry Potter isn't the slightest bit obsessed by Draco Malfoy. And I, you?"

"I'm sorry."

Draco would watch Harry leave with his piece of folded up parchment and wand again. He would continue to mourn his father, but added onto that, a life he could have.

And Draco would stay in that empty classroom on the third floor corridor, for the rest of the night.

***

"Ah dear boy, my condolences, of course!" Professor Slughorn said, patting Draco on the back. After spending the better half of his school year with Slughorn, Draco found comfort in the old potions master. Professor Slughorn radiated positive energy Draco found he mimicked quite well.

"Professor McGonagall said you had something to tell me?" Draco had made it back into the Slytherin common rooms just as the sun was starting to appear over the Forbidden Forest tree tops.

"Ah yes," Slughorn waved his wand and summoned a stack of neatly piled parchments. It was printed professionally and had an unfamiliar wax seal in the bottom right-hand corner. "This is the Detachment Draught, officially published." Draco stared in awe as Slughorn handed him over his work. He flipped through the pages, seeing his years worth of work, research, essays and even his sketches all neatly tucked into the paper. "Under Cecilia Undergrass, the witch who gave you her business card for the first time at my party," he boasted.

Draco was still looking over his work, "I don't understand. Sir?"

Slughorn had a very proud smile adorned his round face. "Draco dear, you have a gift for this. I know that you probably wanted to pick your own publisher, but Cecilia is fair and just. She was really enthusiastic and wanted to partner up with you in publishing all your other potions work." Draco stared at Slughorn in surprise, giving a disbelieving laugh when his professor gave him a cheeky wink.

"If you'd still like to change publishers then it's fine. She doesn't mind, she's just very excited for you."

"No, no. This- this is more than anything I could've hoped to achieve... thank you sir."

"No problem, I'm always here for you lad!"

Draco nodded, before tilting his head, "Actually sir. If you don't mind... could I use your floo?"

Draco had one last thing to sort out before he was stuck with a month's worth of the final N.E.W.T. exams and would eventually say his goodbyes to Hogwarts. He had a business card clutched in his right hand with his left fiddling around with his wand. Auror Robards had given him a lot of leniency and Draco left using Professor Slughorn's fireplace.

He flooed to Amos Diggory's house. Right into his living room and startling the older gentleman from his tea. "Ma-Malfoy?"

"Hello Mr Diggory," Draco said, cleaning his robes from any leftover soot and then looking down at the man with a manic grin. "I know what you did."

"Wh-what?"

"The letter 'g' sir. It's the way you write them," Draco said. He held the man's business card pinched between his fingers and then flicked it over to the man. With a quick magical charm it landed on his tea tray and upright. "You flick the end of your 'g' completely backwards. Like a 'q' but the opposite. I think you're the only man I've ever seen write like that," Draco said.

"I don't understand boy-"

"Don't," Draco said. "I found your letters to Robard in his journal. When I walked into his office and grabbed it." Draco stretched his lips into a toothy smile. "I know you conspired with him, gave him the final push to kill Macnair. Nott... my Father."

Amos Diggory went from surprised and panicked to cooly, spiteful in seconds. "They deserved it," he spat. "They were all there! When my boy died! They didn't do anything about it- Azkaban? I was supposed to feel satisfaction for my boy's death with them rotting in Azkaban?!" He cried in outrage.

Draco sighed, "No, I suppose not."

"What are you going to do?"

Draco shrugged, "there's nothing I can do. I'm under probation, my wand's being monitored so if I so much as try a curse on you I'll be sent to Azkaban like my father."

"You- you're just going to let me go then?"

Draco nodded. "I could tell someone. Get you arrested, but I won't." He tilted his head to stare at Diggory. Get a good look at the man who had a hand in killing his father. Draco memorised the tired and helpless look in his face. The way his glasses were too tight against his temple, the bags under his eyes more deeper in colour and the greys if his hairs all askew and unkempt. "I guess... now I know how you feel. I hope you suffer for it. For taking my father away from me."

He left the room hearing the choked cry of Amos Diggory and did nothing else.

Chapter Text

By far the easiest N.E.W.T. exam that Draco could sit was Ancient Runes. There was little essay work involved. Draco could work with numbers and use it to solve problems and that was his best work. It was also his last exam for the month and he walked out of that exam room with lifted spirits and the grandest grin he could make.

He linked his arms with Theo and together they skipped back to the castle, their bags and notes all floating behind them with a quick charm. "Absolutely smashed," Theo promised. They were discussing what to do when they got to the Slytherin common rooms after they all grouped back together. Getting drunk was apparently on the agenda. "I'm so bloody happy, I can't even describe the feeling," he laughed almost crazily.

Draco snorted and wrapped an arm around Theo's shoulder once they headed back into the castle. Greg was easy to spot, he had only four exams to take, with the hardest being charms. Almost everyone in their group (except Pansy) took charms, so they spent the most time together revising for it. It was nice teaching the curriculum to Greg, because it meant that they could all relearn everything together.

Theo, as much as he loved to colour code his work and prepare timetables for their revision, didn't particularly enjoy the actual studying part. Daphne was a saint and made sure that they were all well-fed considering none of them ever left the common rooms, library or empty classrooms.

Draco had two essay based exams for all his NEWTs and a practical included. "So three exams per class and then two for ancient runes," Draco hummed softly. "11 if we exclude Herbology," he said. Herbology didn't really have an exam for it, Draco just had to hand in his written thesis, all 15 pages worth on the work of the Pibicon banana plant. He also handed back the plant, with a dramatically tearful goodbye and never returned to the greenhouse.

"Hiya Draco, Theo," Neville greeted, from where he was having a conversation with Greg.

"Longbottom!" Draco grinned, wrapping his arms around the boy, ignoring his surprised squeak.

"Don't be too shocked Longbottom," Theo said, but Draco could hear his smile. "We're all riding highs after our last exams," he said.

Neville laughed and patted Draco back before they let go, "I was just talking to Gregory about the Muggle Studies N.E.W.T.s you guys were taking."

Draco and Theo both furrowed their brows, looking at each other and then at Neville with confusion. "You must be mistaken, we were working towards our O.W.L. qualification with those."

This time Greg was the one scratching the back of his head and shrugging, "Actually I decided to swap it for a N.E.W.T. after Christmas. I think I did pretty good... Professor Lupin is a good teacher."

Draco grinned widely, "Gregory! That's brilliant!" he went to hug Greg whilst Theo rolled his eyes fondly. "I can't believe it! This is amazing," he breathed.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's go find Blaise, Pans and Daph. They should be finishing their Defence exam by now," he said.

Theo nodded before looking at Neville, "want to join us?"

Neville nodded, "I know a few of my mates are going to be in there too. Let's head then." They all walked along the corridors, chatting about their tests. Draco and Neville engaged themselves in conversations about the Herbology essay and talked about their respective plants.

"I hope I get an O, it's the one subject I really want to do well in," Neville said, hands in his pocket and face slightly flushed.

Draco nodded along, "you will. You're so great at it, I can't imagine anyone else in the class that could possibly get a higher grade. Well except me of course," he boasted. Neville snorted, lightly bumping shoulders with him before they turned to walk towards the DADA corridor. "What? I might get extra points for linking my plant to my own High-And-Low research."

He smirked at Neville's surprised look, "It's not like it's against the rules. Between you and me though, I think Professor Sprout wants to me write up a research paper on the Pibicon because I know more about the plant than actual herbology masters."

Neville gave a gleaming smile in return, "That's brilliant!" He then snickered, "you have so many research papers to write."

Draco groaned, "Don't remind me. Why am I so brilliant at creating ideas? I am just too much of a genius."

Theo and Greg had stopped a little bit away from the classroom where the seventh and eighth years were taking their exams. There were a few other students waiting patiently for their own friends as Draco leant against a wall, still talking with the rest of them. "What time do they finish?"

Greg pulled out his pocket watch and hummed, "Ten minutes from now. So... like, fifteen at best."

Draco nodded and mumbled another cooling charm over his gloves, the summer heat beating down in the grounds of Hogwarts and starting to make him uncomfortable. The magic deep within the castle was still not as powerful as before so Draco couldn't rely on it being cool when it usually was during the summers. He stood around with the rest of the group as the chiming of bells called the end of the DADA exam and the doors slowly started to open.

Draco grinned, as Blaise all but ran out to leap into his arms. "Oh darling! We're done! Can you believe it? We're not students anymore," he grinned.

"We still have the blasted graduation ceremony, you tosser," Pansy sneered, hitting Blaise's back.

Draco had to carry and drag Blaise away because he refused to let go. Daphne went to talk to Theo about the exams whilst the rest of them caught up. No one wanted to know much about the ancient runes exam that Draco and Theo took, but that was fine. The DADA exam sounded a lot more exciting.

"It was quite similar to Professor Lupin's obstacle course he made in third year," Pansy said, walking with the rest of them to get to the common rooms. "Professor Black was nice enough to intervene any time a Ministry official wanted to take points away because a few students panicked. As if they didn't know we had come out of a war, only a year ago."

"Oh yeah," Daphne said. "It's over a year now, isn't it?"

Draco nodded, "that would be correct. That's nice though, getting to do a practical exam to finish off."

"I think they must have known we'd all riot at some point," Blaise said, finally walking next to Draco. "My skin is going to break out if I don't cast a quick scourgify." He accio'd his moisturiser from the common rooms and they all watched as this tub of face cream projectile launched itself through the air.

"What is that?!" a student shouted.

"Ouch!" another said.

Blaise pinched his face, "right... could have just summoned it a bit closer to the dorms."

"Oi!"

Draco looked up to find Harry rubbing the back of his head whilst Blaise's cream lay on the ground just beside his foot. He snorted and took a couple quick strides over, bending down to grab the cream. "Sorry about that, pretty sure Blaise has lost his marbles after his Defence exam." Draco stood back up, looking down at Potter with a smile.

"Oh- oh right. Yeah... How was- did you-"

Draco nodded, "I uh... I just had my ancient runes exam," he said. "It was good."

"Oh that's good."

"Yeah..." Draco and Harry remained staring at each other until the rest of the Slytherin's caught up. "I well- see you at the graduation ceremony," he whispered, before turning back to lob the tub of cream at Blaise and walk with Millie who just joined their group.

"See you too."

Draco left with a melancholic feeling in his chest, he didn't know if he was sad per say. Just a little down, but ultimately he didn't think it would lead to anything disastrous. He hooked his hand around Millie's arm and let her lead him to the common rooms finally as she babbled on about the new legislations that the Ministry was putting up.

"I still can't believe that Minister Kingley Shacklebolt, himself, is sending me letters and still has absolutely no idea that he's corresponding with a nineteen year-old girl- who hasn't even left school yet." Millie was giggling as she went to sit down by the unlit fireplace. The common room was cool and dark under the giant lake; there were also merpeople swimming around their large glass wall.

They always stopped by when it was close to the last days of school and made sure to wave and send off students. Other than that, you could hardly ever see any sea life from the window.

Draco settled beside Greg and took off his robes and tie. "We're going to graduate," he whispered.

"I can't believe it," Theo mumbled. "We're not students anymore."

"Eurgh, don't remind me," Blaise scrunched up his face. "I- just, in a week's time from now we'll be considered actual adults in the real world. I mean, I had to raise my hand for permission to go to the loos only two days ago."

Daphne gave a sweet smile, "That's rather remarkable isn't it? I think we're quite possibly the only year that'll truly transition from student to adult life easiest."

"Yeah?" Pansy asked.

"Well, we fought in a war. Nothing can really top that, can it?"

"I suppose not."

Millie grinned and waved her wand, summoning some ice tea for them. There was an endless supply in the common rooms that continued to be topped up every day, courtesy of Professor Slughorn. May magic bless him.

Tommy, who was walking past, arched his brow at them. "So I'm guessing you all finished the last of your exams?" he asked.

"Yep," Blaise said, giving the prefect a flirtatious wink.

Tommy rolled his eyes, "Ten points from Slytherin."

"Wha- hey!"

"How are your books?" Draco asked, squinting his eyes at the boy suspiciously.

"How are you doing Tommy?" Daphne asked politely, kicking at Draco's shin..

"Good, just came back from a pleasant conversation with Hagrid," Tommy said, shrugging off his own robes. He then went and stole Blaise's ice tea.

"Wha- hey!"

"Do you think he's a book thief too?" Draco asked, leaning back to stare at Theo.

"I'm planning on taking Care of Magical Creatures as one of my N.E.W.T.s," Tommy said.

"Oh that'll be... interesting?" Theo said, face pinched a way that said he couldn't possibly find any reason why anyone would ever willingly want to study that subject. Draco was thinking the same.

"Yeah. I'm going to be the only Slytherin that studies it. Our class for next year will be small, only 5 of us," he said. "Anyway, don't you have a graduation ceremony to get to?"

"No, the seventh years have theirs till supper and we'll have ours...?" Millie looked over at Daphne.

"Three o'clock."

Tommy nodded, "that's cool. Hey I've got something for you guys," he said. "Give me a second." With that, Tommy went to run into his dorms instead of, you know, summoning whatever it was. Draco and the rest of his friends all continued to drink their cool tea and talk about the exams. It seemed like even if they didn't want to think about them anymore, it was the hottest topic of conversation.

"Here you are," he said. Tommy had come back brandishing a bunch of muggle books. Draco arched his brow and sat up as Tommy went round passing the books to everyone. "For Blaise, 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen because... well, you'll understand when you read it." Blaise simply nodded, taking the book and his drink back.

"Daphne, this is 'The Secret History' by Donna Tart. Milliecent, here's 'Possessing the Secret of Joy' by Alice Walker," he grinned. Tommy spun around to face Theo. "Lord Nott, this is my favourite copy of 'The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank." Theo and the rest of them leant forward, looking at the red, battered book. They had studied the World Wars with Professor Lupin, and vaguely recognised her name.

"Gregory," Tommy greeted.

"Hey Tommy."

"Here you are," he handed him a paperback with illustrations of children and knights images on it. Draco could recognise the attire on them though. It was called 'Prince Caspian' by C. S. Lewis. "Lady Parkinson, for you I have my oldest copy of 'The Wizard of Oz' by Frank Baum... I apologise for the tape. I used to read it every night as a child, so it's been through war," he grinned sheepishly.

Pansy had a fond look on her face as she held the book, like it would shatter in her hands if she wasn't careful. Tommy turned to Draco and grinned.

"And you for, Lord Malfoy... this is 'Holes' by Louis Sacher." Draco recognised the book from when Tommy helped plan their break in at the Ministry. Bright yellow with a black lizard on the cover. Draco gave a little huff and took the book, opening the first page and stilling.

Thank you for all your work Lord Malfoy. It was an absolute pleasure to have been class peers with you. I hope you enjoy this read as much as I.

~Tommy, 5th year Slytherin prefect.

Draco gave a disbelieving smile and nodded at Tommy. "Good lad that, now leave, would you?"

Tommy grinned, "course, course. Wouldn't want to be here when you realise I've written all over the book," he tugged at his own tie, walking off.

"Wait- you what?!"

***

The graduation ceremony for the eighth year students was to gather and sit at round tables that occupied around eight chairs. The sun was shining and heat continued to roll over the students in waves, until cooling charms were followed by various professors. Draco sat with the rest of his friends as they all looked around the fields.

They were closer to the back, their aurors all standing a couple metres away. The front showed the Hogwarts castle, not as glorious as its previous years, but Draco had no doubt that it would get there in another years' time. The Professors were all standing around the edges of the giant square they were making.

Headmistress McGonagall started her speech about the year, the unity between houses. Draco shared mischievous grins with the rest of his friends when they thought about the 'house unity' McGonagall tried to force, before paying attention again. She spoke about how proud she was to see them all grow up and then, to Draco's surprise, gave the stage to Harry.

Harry was wearing the Hogwarts robes, but without any sort of coloured lining to suggest he was part of the Gryffindor house. Draco was the same, they were supposed to revert back to the original designs of their uniforms, prior to being sorted when they were eleven.

He looked good under the sunlight, Draco observed. His hair was a swept mess, but Draco could tell he tried to tame it. Draco stared at Harry, catching his eyes as he cleared his throat and started to talk.

"Hi everyone," Harry said. His hands were folded in front of him, slightly fidgeting, but Draco found it endearing. "I just want to- to say that I'm also proud of all of us. We've spent these eight years together, growing up together and surviving together. I know no one wants to hear about the war on the last day of school, but thank you. For returning, for fighting and for being on my side.

"I'm glad that at the end of the day. When I leave this school, I'll have left knowing I still managed to have the growing up experiences I always wanted. That I got to have crushes, and fights and learnt to become a better man here. Hogwarts is my home, it'll always be. We're going to leave, but at least we had our adventure here. I don't really know where I'm going with this..."

Draco grinned and then cursed. He was completely smitten.

"Thank you. Thank you to Hogwarts and to the children under it. We did pretty good," he gave a short nod and shuffled back over to his seat. Draco could see Harry's friends all patting him on the back and probably whispering words of praise.

McGonagall was glowing as she took to the stands and summoned a crate full of envelopes. "It's with the greatest pleasure I can finally hand to you, your results-" when confused murmurs came from the students, McGonagall waved her wand to make silence fall. "We've brought in many of the Ministry Education officials personally, to come and mark up your results. So you can have your answers today."

Draco grinned with the rest of his friends, hand squeezed with Theo's as they watched McGonagall start to call peoples names and hand their envelopes over.

"Malfoy, Draco!"

Draco stood up and walked over to the stands, shaking hands with McGonagall and then Professor Slughorn. He took his envelope and returned back to his seat with excited chatter. Other students had already opened their results and were squealing, screaming, bringing the excited volume back up.

Draco and the rest of the Slytherins waited for Blaise to finally get his envelope, being a Zabini meant he was one of the last students called. But they soon ripped open their own results and read them thoroughly.

Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test (N.E.W.T.) & Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) - results

Candidate: Draco Lucius Malfoy

Charms (N.E.W.T. level)                       O

Herbology (N.E.W.T. level)                   O

          practical caring                         O

Transfiguration (N.E.W.T. level)           O

Ancient Runes (N.E.W.T. level)             O

Potions (N.E.W.T. level)                       O

Muggle Studies (O.W.L. level)              E

Draco's jaw dropped as he held the results in his hands. "Merlin's beard," he whispered, staring at the grades. His grades. He had passed every one of his N.E.W.T.s with the best grades possible. "I think I'm going to faint," he said.

"What- is it bad?" Daphne asked worriedly.

Pansy narrowed her eyes, "I knew they were asking you too much when they made you do five N.E.W.T.s instead of four-"

"He chose to do five," Blaise pointed out.

Theo, who was sitting next to Draco, rolled his eyes and snatched the parchment out of Draco's hand, eyes squaring in on the words. Theo spluttered, eyes widening before he grinned. "No fucking way..."

"What is it? Did you do well?" Greg asked.

Millie looked over Theo's shoulder before coughing. "Good? Draco's got all Outstanding!" she exclaimed. Draco flinched when some people went to stare at their table. Theo had passed around the parchment whilst he dug around Draco's envelope. Enclosed were six certificates that held his new qualifications.

The table was filled with food and then celebrations started. People started walking around to compare their grades with. Some ate the little snacks and cakes set out for them and Draco, after being showered with praises by his own friends, had managed to get over the awe in his own grades and looked over the rest of his friends. He was immensely proud of Greg who got an E grade for his Charm's N.E.W.T. "Greg, that's brilliant!"

"Thanks, I really did think I was just going to get an A..."

"But you got an E- Merlin, Greg!" Draco pulled him into a hug.

A finger tapped his shoulder and he turned to find Neville Longbottom with his own parchment. "How was Herbology?"

"I got an O, in both," he said.

Neville grinned, "that's great! Me too! I thought I was going to get an E for my thesis, I have never been good at essay writing."

"Nonsense," Draco swung an arm over Neville's shoulder, "You're an insanely obsessed herbology expert there was no doubt that you would've got an O, Neville."

"...Neville?"

"Yeah," Draco nodded. "Neville."

"Come with me, I want to tell the other Herbology students and see-" Neville turned to the rest of the Slytherins. "You don't mind if I steal Draco for a sec, yeah?" They were already having a little tea party of sorts, with Daphne waving them away. After making Neville promise to come back so they could read his results properly.

Draco went with Neville to find the rest of the Herbology eighth year students. Their class seemed to achieve high results from what Draco could gather, after having asked their fifth classmate. "Neville! Draco!" Professor Sprout called, her little body came jogging after the two boys. "How are you, let me see the results!"

Draco and Neville grinned before handing over their parchments. "My, my Draco. Those are some wonderful grades," she grinned all toothy and endearing-like. Draco felt the corners of his eyes crinkle as he nodded, going to give the Professor a hug. Her laughter bellowed into Draco when he let go and received his grades again.

"I couldn't have done it without Professor, thank you so much."

She seemed awfully emotional after that, slightly teary eyed and Draco simply watched with fondness as she and Neville talked. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find Professor Slughorn giving him a very proud smile. Draco felt his throat tighten, and instead of letting a silly metaphorical rock sit there, he laughed loudly and freely, hugging Slughorn tightly.

"Professor," he whispered, feeling a tear slide down his cheek.

"Ah my boy, I'm guessing your potions grade is an O then. No doubt there though, what with having a little potions master running about, and creating his own extra potions class," he said jovially, finally letting Draco go.

Draco blushed and nodded once. He held out his slip of parchment and watched every emotion pass through Slughorn's face when he read his results. "Why- I- this- Draco my boy... You are a little miracle, you know that?"

Draco felt another tear slide and quickly wiped his eyes before he actually started to cry. "Thank you," he said with a shaky breath. Slughorn patted his back and handed him his parchment, tapping his old but softer hands over Draco's. With a knowing look, Slughorn left to go find more students to congratulate.

Draco sighed looking down at the parchment piece before he felt someone in front of him, shading him from the sun. When Draco squinted and found Professor Lupin giving him a gentle smile he didn't even have to think about the man's ruddy outfit. In Lupin's defence, he was wearing better clothing now... but Draco still detested the elbow patches.

"Professor Lupin," he smiled.

"Hello Draco. Your friends tell me you did well on your Muggle Studies O.W.L.s?"

Draco nodded, "I got an E."

Lupin nodded, "brilliant work. I know you don't like me but-"

"Don't like you?" Draco tilted his head, "Professor Lupin you were, admittedly, the only good Defence teacher I've ever had. You're also a great Muggle Studies teacher, I mean I got an E, sir."

Lupin frowned, "but you-"

Draco waved his hand. "I just don't like the way you dress. I harbour no hard feelings towards you sir. You're a good man." Lupin was silent but then gave a single smile. He reached over to shake Draco's hand and returned back to other students. Draco found himself walking around to talk to other Slytherins, other Herbology students and then a very fumbly Hermione Granger, who was trying to find anyone that took Ancient Runes.

"An O?" she said.

Draco nodded, whilst looking around at the gaggle of Gryffindors around them. His eyes met with Harry's and he gave him a small smile. "Yes, and I suppose you also have an O?"

She nodded, "well then... congratulations, Malfoy."

"You too," just as Draco was about to leave, Harry quickly stopped in front of him. "Yes?"

"Can I see the rest of your results?" he asked. That got Granger's interest peaked, as she tried to feign her ignorance. Draco almost snorted then, Gryffindors and their curiosity. It seemed like they were taking a page out of the Ravenclaw books.

He reached into the inner lining of his robe and took out his folded parchment that held his grades. When Harry slowly opened it, Draco felt himself watching the boy's expression closely. "You got all O's!?" he exclaimed.

Draco burst out laughing, watching the way the rest of the Gryffindor's stopped pretending to be bored, and suddenly looked at the parchment in Harry's hands. "Yep, all five N.E.W.T.s," he grinned proudly.

"I- I'm happy for you," Harry smiled genuinely.

"Bugger," Granger said goodnaturedly. "If only I took an extra course."

Ron snorted, "We all remember how crazy you got these past exams. It would be hell if you had taken up five. Good on you Malfoy."

Draco gave Weasley a simple nod and extracted the parchment from Harry's hand. He found himself staring into his green eyes again, and quickly cleared his throat. "Well, I'll be on my own then." Draco turned and returned to his table to find Millie, Daphne and Blaise sitting with the rest gone.

"How's life?" he asked, sitting beside Millie and stealing her slice of strawberry cake.

"It's good, grand even. I'm riding on everyone's high for the next week," Millie grinned. "So if I say some heartfelt and mushy stuff to you all, it'll be because of that. But don't fret- I don't actually care about any of you."

"The feelings are mutual," Blaise said, winking at her.

"Daphne love," a conventionally handsome boy said, walking over to Daphne. He was taller, broad and dark. Daphne was smiling so wide, Draco almost through her cheeks would rip. She stood up, tucked her chair away and kissed this man on the lips. Draco, Millie and Blaise all stopped their eating to sit and stare at the two with dropped jaws and wide, disbelieving eyes.

"What the actual-"

"Guys, this is Connor Weatherbines," she said. "He's my fiancé."

Draco choked on his (Millie's) cake.

Millie had to slap him hard on the back whilst Blaise spluttered out his surprise. "What? When? How? W-why?"

"Now all you're missing is where," Daphne giggled. Connor had his arms around Daphne, gently kissing her temple. "I've been engaged since the war, we both thought we wouldn't make it out alive and got together then. But we've decided to get married a little later on."

Draco shook his head, trying to understand what was going on. "How- I'm-"

"I need to tell Pansy," Millie whispered. She gathered the ends of her robes and quickly shot out of her seat.

Connor was a Gryffindor. Draco found this out and much more as Daphne invited him to sit with them and they all had a very civil conversation. Draco liked Connor, he was an alright lad and definitely smitten with Daphne. She was a proper Lady and he had no doubt that she knew what she was doing. So he remained silent but listened intently as they told the story of how they found each other.

"You're getting married?" Pansy said, looking between the two. Everyone had come back and welcomed Connor to sit in their spare chair. He made himself comfortable, even if he was surrounded by a bunch of Slytherin's. "I can't- well no I can believe it. You suit that life Daphne, only Merlin knows how well you mother'd the rest of us."

Draco grinned wickedly, tapping on Pansy's arm. "You wanted that life too, remember?" he teased.

Pansy elbowed him away and blushed. "I much prefer working in business now. It's going to be interesting I think. I know mother and father are a bit surprised, but they don't mind because it's your business."

"Oh is that what you're doing after school?" Greg asked.

"Yep, Draco's got an apprenticeship offer under one of his businesses in London. It's actually one of the stores he's invested in, so I hope to take over after a couple years," Pansy said, looking down at her tea with a grin like she had her life sorted out.

Blaise wrapped an arm around Draco's shoulder, his eyes had squinted slightly like he knew something Draco didn't. "I'm going to work to partner with the Malfoy French business with the Zabini's. I'm actually going to France in about a month's time from now... with your lovely mother."

"What?!"

Blaise snickered, "yep. I need help and she's very good at business. She's assured my mother that she'll take care of me-"

"Blaise, so help me, I'll bloody-"

Nott levitated a small blueberry into Draco's mouth, effectively shutting him up. "I'll be working with Draco on another brother-bond. I'm going to re-establish the Nott estates first. That'll take the better part of a year," he frowned. "But after, we can talk about our partnership?" Nott looked over at Draco.

"Sure," Draco said.

"I'll be doing the same as Theo," Greg said, pouring some tea into Millie's empty cup. "Just with the Goyle estates."

Millie thanked him for the tea and held it close to her. "I'll probably head off to France first I think. Then Italy, maybe Spain? I want to go all over Europe and then come back here. Settle down for a bit and take some holidays around Asia afterwards. It'd be nice to see the magic that surrounds India don't you think?"

Draco grinned, "hey, when you go to India- tell me. I might as well come with."

Millie grinned and nodded.

***

Draco was just outside of the castle with his luggage in tow, floating beside him. He and the rest of the eighth year students were all waiting for the rest of the seventh years to leave, before they departed down to the carriages. It always worked like that, first years first. Then second and third and so forth.

He used to complain about waiting to leave, but Draco found that it worked perfectly. Because he didn't really want to leave the school just yet. The rest of his friends were all chatting idly as they waited. Alex, their fifth roommate, was sitting on his luggage, listening to Millie talk about her plans to visit the French countryside for a week before moving into central France.

"What are you going to do Alex? Once you leave?" Theo asked.

Alex shrugged, "I've got plans to live in Spain. I hear they need English translators over there. I speak the language, might as well."

Millie nodded seriously, "makes sense. The weather there's probably nice."

Then Draco sat and listened as everyone started to have discussions (it actually became a heated debate) on British weather. He looked up when he heard Professor Slughorn call for him. Draco gave Greg a pat on the arm and moved away. He let go of the levitation charm and let his luggage float down from its hovering.

He walked over to Professor Slughorn with an ease in his steps that seemed to falter slightly when he noticed the way his teacher wrung his hands together and pulled at his collar. "Professor?" he asked, walking up to him and giving him a confused smile. "Is anything the matter?"

"N-nothing bad, my dear boy!" Slughorn tried for a chuckle but it came out rather dry and he had to clear his throat. "I just- I have a proposition for you, if you will."

Draco felt his lips thin as he nodded slightly, "What is it?"

Slughorn stared at Draco for a good, long minute. Enough that the final bell chimed and the rest of the eighth year students started to descend down the fields to the carriages that would be waiting for them at the edges of the school's gates. "Draco," Slughorn said finally, his voice a little deeper and more serious.

Draco turned back to his professor after waving at his friends to take his stuff down. "I would like to offer you an apprenticeship." He stared at Slughorn in amazement, brain sort of short-wiring as he tried to understand what that meant. "I think you have a real talent for potion making, but also for teaching. I saw the way you've led the Slytherin's in your French lessons. How fiercely you protect them and with your probation period finishing in a couple weeks, I really could use some help," he laughed a little.

"I was retired before good ol' Albus pulled me back in," Slughorn shifted closer and whispered, "between me and you. I did really enjoy my retirement." He gave a cheeky wink and patted Draco's shoulder. "You'd eventually become Head of Slytherin house once I decide to finally retire, but I want you to know that as my apprentice, you'd also get to write all your research papers with my help and the school faculty as well.

"I really don't see you as in the Malfoy business. Truly, I think you'll shine so very well here. So think about it?"

Draco felt himself exhaling deeply. "But Professor, I- I don't deserve-"

"Nonsense boy." Professor Slughorn took Draco's hand and tapped on his gloves. "You may always hold memories of the war. You will face repercussions of it also. But you deserve to chase your happiness as much as the next person. Death Eater or not. You deserve happiness my boy."

Draco nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll write to you Professor."

"I'll be waiting."

Draco took tentative steps away from Slughorn. He stared up at Hogwarts and thought about all the students he had taught that year. All the students he helped and then all the students who stuck up for him. Draco spun around and started to run down the sloping fields.

"Draco!" Theo shouted, when Draco whizzed past his group.

"Sorry!" Draco called back, trying to sidestep and get past the rest of the eighth year. Slughorn's words were ringing in his ears; you deserve to chase your happiness as much as the next person.

"Harry!" Draco shouted. "Harry! Oi, Saint Potter!" he shouted, running over the familiar trio of black, ginger and brown hair. He could see Harry slowly stop and turn around, trying to look into the crowd. Draco almost ran into Harry if he hadn't caught his arms and slowed him down.

"Woah, Draco?"

Draco held a finger up, his other hand coming to clutch his side. "I have a stitch," he wheezed, bending down to pant. "Blasts- I knew quitting Quidditch was going to be the death of me. I haven't run like that in forever." He stood back up to his full height, finding Potter grinning at him. "Potter- Harry-"

"Y-yes?"

Harry looked so hopeful, excited. But, trying to squash it down in case it got his hopes up. Draco thought about how long he must have stared at Potter in his years of school life to easily read the boy's emotions like that. "I like you," he said finally. Ignoring the gasps of other students, Draco cupped Potter's face in his gloved hands. "I like you," he repeated.

Harry had the biggest grin Draco could have possibly ever seen on him. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," he breathed.

Harry nodded, "okay then." Harry had to cup the back of his neck and pull him down to properly kiss him but Draco didn't mind. He wrapped his arms around the boy's waist and pulled him close. "Write to me. This summer, write to me. I want- I want to take you out."

"Okay," Harry said.

"Go-Good."

"Oi! Move it!" a shrill voice cut. Draco looked up to find Daphne pushing past everyone. Her eyes were slightly crazed and she pointed at... Professor Black. "You, Professor. Is it the end of school? Does today count as still being part of the school year?"

Sirius Black, Draco's second cousin, also the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, stammered out a questioning "Yes?"

Daphne grinned before turning back to Draco and Harry. "You, Lord Malfoy, owe me ten sickles!"

Draco rolled his eyes and with a smile, went back to kissing Harry Potter. 

Chapter Text

EDIT:

For anyone that doesn't know, I'm going to stop uploading/writing Harry Potter fanfiction from now on. This is because due to recent changes in the UK political climate (especially revolving around trans issues and J. K. Rowling) I've decided to orphan all my Harry Potter fanfiction. This also means Harry Potter-adjacent fanfiction, so the Marauders.

I will try my best to finish any of my incomplete fanfics before I orphan them, but I'm pretty set on this.

I've been boycotting anything Harry Potter related for a couple years now but I engaged in the Marauders fandom to still find something worthwhile in a series that was once dear to my heart. My justification in this was that the Marauders were very much a separate community to Harry Potter - a queer utopia of media that specifically stuck it out to Joanne by creating trans-inclusive characters and fighting against her hateful rhetoric.

Unfortunately, I can't read Marauder's fanfiction, view artwork, engage in any form of media without a soft voice in the back of my head reminding me of the source.

Joanne Rowling does not care for trans lives and this includes my own. To her, I am nothing. I'm disgusted by her contributions to harm trans lives and erase our community. I am also upset because Harry Potter was such a huge part of my childhood/teenage-hood/adulthood. My first piece of complete writing came from my Harry Potter fanfiction and it saddens me deeply to have something so special to me tainted with so much hate.

It has been an absolute pleasure to have written stories for this fandom, but I'm pretty confident in my stance on this.

Wish you well!