It was just another day in the Wizarding world, the school had started so houses were child free. In a small flat above a river lived one legend, along with an ex Death Eater. Said legend entered the small living area, brushing his bangs from his face. "Malfoy, I'm back." He said in a deadpan voice, putting the bag of groceries on the counter.

The ex Death Eater sat on the couch, reading this morning's copy of The Daily Prophet. "Congratulations. Do you want a trophy," he asked without looking up. Another Death Eater had been sent to Azkaban. The only reason he wasn't there was because at the hearing, they agreed that because he defected to the Light side at the last minute, they would be willing to let him stay out on the condition that he was under watch by the ministry.

The other man rolled his eyes and started to put the food away. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today." He muttered, shaking his head. "God, why did I get saddled with you…"

"Merlin knows," Draco mumbled underneath his breath agreeing.

Harry sighed and folded up the paper bag, putting it away beside the fridge. "Anything interesting in the news today," he asked, having learned that he needed to be civil to his nemesis, as much as he didn't want to be.

"The same as usual," he said trying to sound casual, yet the edge of his voice was solemn. "Another Death Eater in Azkaban… But you would know. You work at the ministry." He looked over, his face expressionless. Sighing, he placed the paper on the coffee table and walked over to the kitchen where Harry was.

Harry shrugged and leaned against the counter. "I arranged a meeting with the case manager for you, getting back into the real world instead of being cooped up in this little apartment. He's going to help you get a job, and test to see you're reformed." He said, getting out the kettle.

Draco scoffed. "I'm as reformed as I was before." Truth be told, he never wanted part of the Death Eaters. His father was meddling in something too dangerous for him. Perhaps, it was the cowardice running through the family blood that persuaded Lucius it was good idea between the Lord's threats. He sighed. "Face it. I'm not getting out. I was ordered to kill Dumbledore, who you claim to be the most powerful wizard of all time. My own manner was the Death Eater's meeting base!"

"Hey, I appealed to the minister, he agreed to let me get you the appointment," Harry said, his eyes narrowing. "It's not like you asked to be born into a family of Death Eaters. Nor did I ask to be born as the chosen one. As much as you're a git, you're not entirely evil," He said, filling the kettle with water before placing it on the stove.

He sighed, drumming his fingers on the counter in irritation. "What's for dinner, Potter?"

"Mm… I was thinking of making soup." Harry was turning on the stove. He walked away from the kettle and opened the cupboard, pulling out a container of chicken stock. "Though, I still feel you should be cooking; you're here all day," He retorted, glancing over at the blond.

"Hmph. I told you when we laid down the rules. I've never cooked before. We have house elves. You're lucky I'm willing to clean after your pitiful arse."

"I could get you some cook books, you bloody-" He breathed in and breathed out. "We could get you some cook books. In fact, we have some," he said jerking his thumbs towards the book shelf.

"Lot of good they did you," he murmured sarcastically. It was an honest compliment, though. The other's cooking skills were euphoric. He just got a kick out of watching the other crack under his meaningless insults.

Harry sighed heavily, pursing his lips. He opened his mouth to say something before closing it again, instead getting out a large pot. He poured the chicken stock in, now going over to the fridge to get out some potatoes and other things. "Oh blow it out your arse," he mumbled. "Go… I don't know, somewhere else and stop bothering me while I'm cooking."

"Oh, honestly, Potter. You're no fun anymore," Draco huffed, less stressed, a smirk on his face. After turning around and leaving the room he went to go pick up the paper from the coffee table. "Call me when dinner's ready. I'll be upstairs."

"Yeah, yeah, dinner will be ready soon, dear." He called the blonde, making the word 'dear' completely sarcastic. He busied himself with the soup, humming softly to himself.

He paused, a pink blush crossing his face. Dear? Since when did he become dear? He turned his head to look behind him at the humming boy. Draco's face fell. Potter was happier without him. And will be even more so when he leaves. No one really understood his humor except his Slytherin brethren. He was hoping that maybe some else would get him now that everything he had was gone. Guess not. He trudged up the stairs.

Harry glanced up, watching Draco leave. He sighed again and surrounded himself with cooking, losing himself.

After an hour, Harry poured the soup into two bowls, along with two cups of chai tea. He walked over to the stairs and called up, "Soup's on! Get your bony arse down here!" He then went back to the kitchen, setting the food down onto the table.

When entering the bedroom, he placed the paper with all the others, entailing his friend's adventures to Azkaban. He was lost in sulking between friends and then family, fretting over life after the meeting. No one would ever treat him right. It really would be making him be like everyone already depicted him to be. Loneliness would translate as distant scheming while irritability due to other's ignorance would translate as a cruel personality.

The announcement interrupted his thoughts, bring a smile to his face. Chuckling, Draco closed the hidden drawer and went back down stairs. Upon entering the kitchen, though, he was hesitant as he felt earlier's tension. "Hey. All that stuff I said earlier. I didn't mean it, you know," he sat down at the counter, never making eye contact with the other. "You are a really good cook. Trust me. Better than house elves, even…Maybe…I just don't want to cook-I couldn't compare. It'd probably be nasty."

Harry blinked; he was NOT expecting for Draco to apologize. "I know your sense of humor, Dr- Malfoy. It's just… Sometimes it's difficult to put up with," he said, shrugging his shoulder. "And I do admit I agree with you. But, if you want… I could teach you some things," he said, scratching his nose and looking away.

Draco flinched at almost hearing his name, glad when the other corrected himself. They were not that close. At least, that's what he thought. Maybe that wasn't the case if the other understood his humor by now. However, he smirked. Victory. Potter admitted he wouldn't be able to cook and so practically fended him away from taking his chore. Chuckling at the other's antics, he commented, "What's up, Potter? Can't look at me now? My compliment too much for you?" He dipped his spoon into his soup, savoring the flavour. He was indeed a good cook.

Harry rolled his eyes and glared over at Malfoy. "I was TRYING to be nice and offer to teach you how to cook, so you can fend for yourself instead of relying on Daddy's little house elves," he said, sipping his tea. "But, you seem content to rely on others, a helpless little ferret." His lips twisted into a smirk.

"I am not helpless!" He slammed his hands on the table, standing up "I'm just stuck here with you! I don't need to know how to cook! I've got plenty of money to my name to have a house elf serve me! Or at least eat out! I can get a job! It might be hard, but I'm more skilled than most people suspect! I'll prove myself to them! I'll prove myself to you! Piss off!" He trudged upstairs, slamming his door.

Harry blinked, cursing himself, forgetting that while Malfoy can dish it out, he couldn't take it. He sighed and put the bowls of soup into the fridge, knowing that his flat mate would want to eat later. He then went upstairs as well, searching for the blonde. "Malfoy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, I thought if I egged you on, you would accept my help or something, I don't know what I was planning to accomplish…" He sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

Draco was in his room, shaking with violent grief. He knew it, though. He was helpless. All he ever said was only what he hoped. He didn't really know if he still had his heritage. The ministry could have confiscated it. He didn't know if he'd ever be able to get a job. Everyone would despise him for being a Death Eater.

Even if they didn't know him and he was nice to them, it'd all disappear once they saw the dark mark. He had lost his friends and family. All in Azkaban, dead, or in hiding. In hiding, they wouldn't inform him as to where. Draco was alone for the first time in his life ad it terrified him.

Even more so because Potter was right. Potter was always right. He cursed himself, hearing the footsteps. Draco dabbed his eyes with of his kerchiefs to wipe off the silent tears in case Potter walked in. "Go away," he snapped.

Harry stood outside of the room, pressing his forehead against the wood. "Malfoy… Draco, please come out," he said in a controlled soft voice, as if coaxing a timid cat out from under a bed. "I'm sorry I said those things. You aren't useless. Hell, you found a way to bring the Death Eaters into Hogwarts! That's something that most people wouldn't be able to do." He gave a tiny chuckle. "Please come out; you need to eat."

He shouted hysterically, "I'm not hungry! Why are you laughing? You were, right, okay! You were right, Potter! I'm helpless!" Draco whispered to himself, "A helpless little ferret…" He grabbed his hair, twisting it, yanking it in frustration. "I'm not proud of the things I've done, Potter! I have nothing left. So why don't you just join them and leave me alone!"

Harry sighed and crossed his arms. "Because, you aren't your past choices. You're not who you use to be, you are now. You can become someone better, which is what I'm here to try to help you do. If I can admit something… I asked personally to be your monitor, because I know I'm the only person who can work with you without judging you solely on your actions. Now please come out." He bit his tongue.

The door opened, showing Draco with crossed arms. "Why help your rival? What's in it for you? Wouldn't it be satisfying for you to see me in Azkaban?"

Harry shook his head. "I would never want to see someone in that place when I know in my heart they don't deserve it." He clicked his tongue. "You didn't deserve the things that happened. You can't help your family, and you can't help some of the choices you were forced to make." He gave a half smile. "Malfoy, please."

Trying to calm his nerves, he sighed. He was embarrassed. Just act like it never happened. It had worked every time before. He closed his eyes to even his breathe before opening them again and scoffing, "Whatever, Potter." His voice was still a bit too fierce. He stepped into the hall, calming further with every step.

Harry blinked, before sighing-relieved- and giving a laugh. "It's always an adventure in the Malfoy and Potter household," he muttered to himself, following after the blonde. He got out of the fridges, performing a simple heating spell, steam now rising from the liquid. "So, Malfoy, I was wondering if you would like to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow? I have the day off," he stated, setting out the food once more.

He exhaled deeply, relieved that Potter dropped it quickly. "Why not?" He sipped the liquid. "Better than being stuck in this house for another day, memorizing the cracks in the ceiling."

Harry couldn't help but smile; he preferred the sarcastic Malfoy to the overly emotional Malfoy. "We can you some books or other things, and maybe even get ice cream if you behave. Now remember… I have to cast the binding spell so you can't be more than 50 yards away from me," he explained, making a small 'tsk' noise. "It's policy."

He didn't mind the binding spell too much anymore. At first, it was hell, knowing he was under someone one else's control until he realized it was safer near Potter. Everyone insulted him, cast him dirty looks, spit on the ground he walked on. But they couldn't do that near Potter. "I wish I could play quddich. I miss my broom. I miss the feeling of flying… Books are nice, too, though. It's been a while since I could study and make potions."

Harry looked thoughtful, he had some people to talk to… "I'm sure in time you'll be able to play again, Malfoy. It's just going to take time." He gave a reassuring smile. "But while you can't, we could get you some new potion ingredients, maybe a nice new cauldron."

"You mean it, Potter? I'll pay for it! Let's stop by Gringots to make sure, though. I'd love that," he smiled, finishing off the soup, then starting the tea. "Hey, are you going out tonight?"

"For once I told everyone I just wanted to stay home, actually. Ginny keeps asking me out for drinks, she just can't take a hint…" He chuckled and smiled into his cup. "Why do you ask," he added as an afterthought, putting his cup down and turning his green eyes onto the blonde. "Big plans?" A playful smirk crossed his features.

He blushed, looking away. "What? Pfft. No. I was just tired of being alone and wanted to know if you wanted to watch a movie with me." How could he have big plans? He was under such tight restrictions he couldn't do anything magical even if he wanted to. On top of that, he couldn't go anywhere without Potter, so he couldn't be seeing anyone.

"A movie sounds lovely." Harry said good naturedly. Why don't you pick one out while I clean up," He suggested, getting to his feet and collecting the dishes. "Something… scary." His eyes glinted, a smirk still on his face as he went into the kitchen.

"A-actually, I was hoping you'd pick one out. I don't know much about movies," he smirked, blushing, uncomfortable with having to admit it. "I'll put the dishes away, wipe off the table, clean everything, promise. I'll even make popcorn," he offered, hoping to get out of the tension of picking out movie even if it meant he got stuck with horror, a genre too intense for his liking.

Harry blinked before laughing at himself and giving a nod "Sorry, Malfoy, I'm used to people knowing about this sort of stuff." He handed the bowls to the blonde, now heading into the living room. He kneeled before the television, opening the cupboards that were in the stand. He pulled out a movie, The Blair Witch Project, and started to set it up, turning the television on and putting the disc into the player.

Draco sighed in relief. He was still trying to understand all of the wire's purposes. Without his wand and the ministry being alerted to every time he used magic, doing things were difficult. Loading them into the machine, he poured some bottles' liquids into weird containers in the machine and pressed some buttons. Pulling the package out of the food cupboard, he placed it into another strange machine. He learned quickly how temperamental they were. Harry had come home one day to a destroyed microwave, water-covered floor, and a terrified Draco. After a few minutes, he grabbed a bowl and the package and joined Potter in the living room, glad to see a picture on the screen. "What's it called?"

"The Blair Witch Project. It's basically a group of young adults who go to this town in search of a so called 'witch,'" Harry said, getting the remote and making his way to the couch. He flicked his wand, closing all the windows and turning off the lights. He looked over at Draco. "It's pretty good and not too intense."

"If you insist."

Harry gave a tiny smile, reaching out to take a small handful of popcorn. "If you get scared though, feel free to cuddle up to me," he chuckled.

"As if, Potter," Draco scoffed, crossing his arms and leaning into the sofa, content.

Harry smirked and leaned in the other direction, watching with lazy eyes. He watched the kids interview with the members of the town before finally getting into the woods. This… Was nice. Watching a movie with someone, eating popcorn. He only wished it could be someone he could kiss or cuddle.

Unconsciously, too absorbed in the movie, Draco rested his arm on the back of the couch appearing as if it were wrapped around Harry's shoulders, while moving his leg across the other to resume the position he's always in when he sits on the couch.

Harry blinked, looking over at the blonde. He furrowed his brow for a moment before giving a shrug and focusing on the movie once more, not really minding the touch. He took some more popcorn, watching the screen intently.

"They call this horror? Worse stuff has happened at Hogwarts on a good year," Draco scoffed.

Harry snorted and shrugged. "Hey, this is kind of stuff is pretty scary for someone who has no knowledge of magic," he said, looking over at the blonde. "Everything in their world can be explained, and stuff they can't, well, scares them."

Draco shrugged it off. Ignorance isn't bliss after all.

Draco unwrapped his body and grabbed the bowl of popcorn. "Remember the Chamber of Secrets? Yeah. That movie was the children's bedtime story of Chamber of Secrets. That's how not scary that was." He threw away the pouch in the trashcan and then rested the bowl by the sink to be washed tomorrow.

"Okay, mister, you want to see something scary," Harry asked with narrowed eyes, going to the movie collection and taking out Saw. "Get your arse back over here; this shit will freak you out."

"Fine," he sighed, sinking back onto the couch with a pout.

Harry got onto the couch again and rested his arm around the couch, sort of putting his arm around Draco's shoulder but also not. He pressed play and let the fun begin.

The moment the puppetman entered the screen, Draco flinched, horror slowly consuming his face as the movie progressed. At the first jump scare, Draco screamed, jumping in the air. Harry snickered at this, covering his mouth with his hand. "See? Muggles can make scary shit, too," he proved, still grinning, "God, you're adorable."

He turned to face Harry, horror still plastered on his face. "I am NOT!" Then he spied Harry's arm. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING," he shrieked, not angry but shocked, as he shook further.

Harry blinked, looking this arm. He gave a half shrug, a smirk on his face as the screen went to a flashback, showing a man suspended in air by a razor wire. "I'm getting comfortable. You got a problem with that," he asked his face close to Draco's.

The Slytherin yelled again. And several more times throughout the movie, in a ball, face hiding behind his legs, by the end of it. Harry laughed as the credits rolled, leaning over and patting him on the back. "You okay, Malfoy? You need to sleep in Daddy Potter's room tonight?"

Draco flinched from the touch, falling off the couch with a yell. "Shut up!" He had really bad nerves. As far as he was concerned, sleep evaded him tonight. The house elves usually made him hot chocolate when he was upset. Maybe that would help him. His bottom lip quivering, "Potter, have you any hot chocolate mix?"

Harry looked thoughtful. "Mm, yeah, I do actually. Hang on." He got to his feet, ruffled Draco's hair, and entered the kitchen. He opened the cupboard, getting out the container of mix that had little marshmallows. He poured it into a mug with milk, putting it in the microwave.

"Thanks," he mumbled, a mess on the floor. He was curled around a couch pillow decoration. How could muggles create that for entertainment?

Harry soon returned to the living room, warm drink in hand. He handed it to the shaking blonde, a tiny frown on his face. "Malfoy, are you going to be okay," he asked softly.

"Shut up," he snapped, taking the cup and sipping it despite burning his tongue. He patted the floor next to him expectantly. "Why do people like that stuff?"

"Some people like to be scared, I guess. Or people like to see the gore, I suppose. Horror seems pretty popular amongst Muggles." He laughed a little. "God, you're adorable, though, the fact that you were a Death Eater…" He chuckled and rubbed Draco's back soothingly.

He stared into his cup. "That doesn't mean I liked it. Watching everyone around you. Being tortured. Dying. You're not the only one, you know." He blew off the drink before taking another quiet sip.

Harry sighed softly and nodded, brushing Draco's bangs from his face. "Yeah… We're not all that different, honestly," he spoke, his eyes sad. "I didn't ask for my face and you didn't ask for yours. Let's go upstairs and try to get sleep, how about that," he suggested kindly, getting to his feet.

"Alright." Getting onto his own, Draco drowned the rest of his drink and then put the cup next to the popcorn bowl. He returned to place the pillow back and headed upstairs with Harry.

Harry stopped at the doorway of his bedroom, looking over at the blonde. "Come get me if you need anything, okay?" He wore a tiny smile on his face. "Goodnight Malfoy." He reached out and squeezed the other's shoulder before entering his room.

He nodded. "Of course, Potter."

Harry got comfortable in his bed and shut off the light, putting his signature glasses on the bedside table He sighed and closed his eyes, waiting for sleep to come as a rain storm started to pound against his window.

Draco closed the door, slow and cautious in all of his movements. He opened the curtain of his windows, wishing the light of the moon to illuminate his space. After a few long hours of him curled underneath the blankets, he dozed off.

Early in the morning, deep in the night, a crack of thunder erupted in the sky above. Draco jolted upright immediately, shouting.

Harry jumped at the noise, sitting up in bed. He looked out the window, seeing the rain, and sighed, getting up out of bed to head to Draco's door. "Hey, Malfoy, you alright in there," he asked softly, tapping his finger against the wood. There was another thud, as the boy was not expecting the knock on his door, as Draco fell out of bed and onto the floor. "Harry?"

"Since when am I Harry," the black-haired man inquired with a tiny smirk. He opened the door a little and poked his head in. "Also, are you alright," he asked softly.

His panic-induced state ignored the question. "It's you! I was so worried it was that puppet thing!" He hurriedly scurried over to the door. "He isn't here, right," he asked worriedly.

Harry chuckled softly and opened the door more, reaching out to run his fingers through the blonde locks. "No, the puppet is not here; just me."

"Okay, well, maybe, it's better if I sleep with you, yeah, 'cause, you know, two people are better than one in a fight, in case he does come. We can fight him," he rambled nervously, eyes darting around the room.

Harry blinked before a smile twisted across his lips. "Alright, alright, come on." Taking Draco's hand, he led him into the black-haired boy's bedroom and tucked him into the sheets. He glanced around before getting in as well, turning his back to Draco. "Try to get some more sleep, alright," he said, shutting his eyes tight.

"Alright." Another crack of thunder boomed. Draco jumped, wrapping himself around the other. "Potter. Never mention this to anyone."

Harry chuckled and wiggled around in Draco's hold so he was facing the other. He wrapped his arms around said man and closed his eyes. "Sounds like a plan, Malfoy," he whispered, a smirk on his lips.