Chapter Text
Draco’s POV:
After the war was over and my father had been taken away to Azkaban I was left to take care of mother, whose health has gone into a downward spiral and it doesn't look like she is going to get better anytime soon.
Now that father and Voldemort are gone, I have no idea what to do with myself other than take care of mother, which is all I can do really.
We were punished for what the family had done and had all of our wealth and status stripped from us, so I now have to work a muggle job at a consignment shop because I refused to work at one of those dreadful “fast food” places.
No other place would allow me to work for them because I didn’t have the correct education or some foolish reason like that.
Hogwarts had offered an extra year for all of the students that had been affected because of the war but I did not go back for two main reasons.
One, mother was getting worse and we could not afford to hire someone to look after her while I was away, and two the fact that I’m pretty sure that no one in the whole wizarding world would accept me after what my family has done.
It has been a few years since the end of all of it. So Hogwarts has been returned to its former glory. Now that I think of it, I wonder what happened to the room of requirement after the fire…
Harry had been the one who wanted to turn around that day, I saw it.
He was the one that saved me too. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be alive today.
Who knows what the Chosen One’s life is like now, it’s probably filled with interviews and everything you would expect for the life of a celebrity. I try not to be too involved with the wizarding world’s news these days.
Harry’s POV:
My life is miserable.
And it’s my fault, I know that.
People used to look at me with awe, and some still do, but that's only if they haven’t heard about my recent daily activities.
Before, they looked at me because I was the so-called “Chosen One” who saved the world. But now they stare at me because they know who I am (that’s not a surprise, everyone does) and they see that I am just a lonely man sitting in a pub drinking the day away.
I have plenty of money so I never have to worry about that kind of thing.
I have nothing better to do, so I just sit here and waste my life away.
Everyday.
And yes I am very well aware that it is pathetic, but you know what? I don't give two rats' arses. I couldn't give a shit less.
Yesterday some lady and her kid saw me walk out of the pub (more like stumble really) and yelled at me and told me that I was a disgrace or something like that. To be honest I only remember seeing them, her yelling something at me and a few of her choice words.
I ask the barmaid for another bevvy before I leave and I down that quickly and walk out into the dreary alleys of London.
The alleys are nice and quiet so I stand there for a minute while pulling out a cig.
Today’s especially nice because it’s sprinkling a little bit and it feels nice to just stand in.
I like coming to this pub because it’s off to the side of the city and kind of forgotten. Most people go to the busy parts of cities for business, so I rarely see anyone who recognizes me which is an added bonus.
Draco’s POV:
I like walking through the quiet parts of the city on my way to work. It’s calming, especially with a coffee from the cheap cafe by my flat.
It helps take my mind off of things in my life, even if it’s just for a little bit.
I try to walk a different way each day just to see new things.
It starts slightly drizzling so I put up my hood.
I always give myself way too much time to get to work, and most of the time I end up being early.
I find an alley that I don’t think I’ve been down before and decide walk through it.
From what I can tell it’s just a lonely little alley that is lined with a few small shops, a pub, and a bloke that is leaning against the wall across from the pub which he appears to have just come out of.
I try to walk as far away from him with my head down to be respectful and give him some space.
As I’m about to pass him he pulls out a cig and clicks his lighter a few times.
It doesn’t seem to be working.
He clears his throat and asks, “Hey mate, could I bother you for a light? If you have one that is?”
I reach into my pocket to grab my lighter but pause as I process the voice that I just heard.
I’ve heard that voice so many times throughout my life that I’m absolutely sure that I know who it is even before I look up from under my hood.
I meet his green eyes and they widen slightly.
“Harry?”