This is one in a collection of Draclie stories that my sister and I have written.

Disclaimer: I ask you...How many unbelievably rich people that have written an unbelievably famous book series writes fanfiction about their own book? I'm willing to bet that JK doesn't -and no, I am not her and am not pretending to be.

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Charlie laughed again as he continued his story. "It wasn't until Mum had pulled Fred, George and the cake off me that she realized I now had a broken arm from the fall down the stairs. But we had used the last of the floo powder taking Percy to the healers that morning, so I had to use side along apparation with Dad. And have you ever apparated with a broken arm? I advise that you never try it."

Draco smiled faintly from his place sitting on the floor against the foot of the couch. A fire had been burning for several hours and was just starting to die down, creating a soft glow while Charlie related the story of his worst birthday memory. The entire evening had been spent that way - exchanging meaningless conversation just to enjoy each other's company.

Charlie let his leg hang off the edge of the couch as he shifted and rested his head against his arm. "How about you?" he addressed Draco, who was staring distantly past the short flames. "What's your birthday horror story?"

Draco swallowed hard and looked down to his hands, but supplied no answer. He seemed to be thinking, and his face grew uncommonly solemn.

Charlie lowered his brow and leaned to the side for a better view of Draco's expression. What he saw troubled him, as Draco had closed his eyes, wincing slightly with a look of pain.

"Draco?" Charlie sat up and moved to the end of the couch. "Are you alri-"

"Sixteen," Draco spoke with his eyes remaining shut. "It was my sixteenth birthday that - that I joined...him." He looked up at the last word, but his sight went straight past the concerned man next to him.

Charlie carefully resisted the impulse to reach his hand down to Draco as he felt himself flinch at the remorse and lingering fear in his grey eyes.

"You mean Volde-"

"Don't!"

Charlie jumped as Draco once again cut him off. "Please don't...right now," Draco's eyes were wide, and the solid hurt in his gaze made Charlie want nothing more than to let out a growing sob. He hadn't meant for Draco to have to think about any of this tonight.

Charlie knew hardly anything about Draco's two years as a Death Eater, and was perfectly content to remain unenlightened. Just the knowledge that at sixteen Draco had been forced into a sickening ritual of pain and evil was enough to re-instill Charlie's rage toward the now-past war.

"I'm sorry," he whispered emotionally, hoping that Draco would understand every meaning of the words.

Draco just nodded slowly and breathed in sharply when Charlie leaned down to kiss the tip of his ear, but he didn't pull away. Moving to sit on the carpet, Charlie slipped his arm around the blonde and pulled him closer. Draco haltingly lowered his head to Charlie's shoulder and closed his eyes.

Feeling tears separate from his own slide down his neck, Charlie was thankful that he was there to hold Draco tightly in the flickering patterns of orange firelight.

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Written by Iluvenis