A/N: So, I just felt like writing a Harry/Draco story, because I love reading them so I felt the need to state my views of them as a couple ;). My goal is to have this story updated every Sunday, but whether or not that happens depends on the response I'm getting to this story and how much time I have.

Disclaimer: If I owned any of this, the HP series would have ended with Draco and Harry being together, Sirius alive and married to Remus, and Hermione or GInny and Pansy would have fallen in love. Did any of this happen? No. So obviously I'm not the author of the beloved Harry Potter series. ::sigh::

Ch. 1

He was gone. He was finally gone for good.

A few months prior, Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, had defeated You-Know-Who with the help of a skillfully shot mix of the Sectumsempra curse and Avada Kedavra, ending Voldemort's life with the pain that Voldemort had inflicted upon others since his rise to power. The war had taken its toll on the savior of the wizarding world, haunting his thoughts and plaguing his dreams with nightmares ofeveryone who had died that day: Cho, Dean, Neville, Luna, Remus, and Tonks. His personality had changed some, too. No longer was he the innocent boy who everyone looked to for protection . He had the wisdom of one who suffered through a grueling war, and his innocence was long gone, replaced with a confident stance and the actions normal of a young man his age.1

Harry sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes, looking around the room to make sure he had packed everything that he would need after today. This would be his last day staying with his aunt and uncle, as today was his seventeenth birthday, making him legally of age. He was going to leave this house and never come back. Harry was planning on buying a flat at the end of the year, but, for now, he was going to go stay with the Weasleys until the end of the summer. In fact, they would be at his house in less than twenty minutes. Harry shot up and got dressed.

By the time that Ron and Ginny had reached Harry's house, Harry was bouncing off the walls; he was so excited. He hadn't seen his friends in over two months, plus he would never have to see his crazy relatives ever again.

"Ron! Ginny! Hi!" Harry exclaimed, smiling giddily.

Ginny laughed, before hugging Harry. "Hey, hun! A bit excited to leave, aren't you?"

"Are you kidding? I've been looking forward to leaving this house, since I was young enough to comprehend leaving! I'm PSYCHED!" Harry was beaming. Ron started to laugh with Ginny.

"Well, today's your lucky day then!" He hugged Harry. "It's good to see you again, mate." Harry nodded. The three continued to talk for a few moments, until they were interrupted by Harry's uncle, Vernon Dursley.

"Get your stuff, and get out of here, boy!" he bellowed. "Your time here is up, and we don't have to take care of you anymore! We'll finally be rid of you and your kind for good!"He shoved a stack of books at Harry. "Here, these are from your aunt. I don't know why she'd bother with giving you anything, but oh well. Take them, they're yours, and I don't want any of your shit lying around this house, after you're gone."

Not even Vernon's comments could ruin Harry's good mood. He nodded happily and beckoned Ron and Ginny up the steps to his room to gather his trunk and supplies for his last year at Hogwarts. His snowy white owl, Hedwig, hooted appreciatively as Harry lightly stroked her head before placing her cage on his trunk. "You'll never have to see this place again, Hedwig," he said to the sleepy bird, ruffling her feathers. "We're finally free of it."

Vernon's voice came wavering up the stairwell into Harry's room. "Hurry it up! You're taking too much time!" Ron rolled his eyes and took Harry's things.

"Ready, mate?" At Harry's nod, Ron set off down the steps and went outside, where Arthur Weasley was waiting in a muggle car.

"How have you been, my boy?" Arthur asked, leaning back in his seat and craning his neck to see out the window at Harry. Harry looked at the car. It was a blue Suzuki. It appeared to be used, but in good shape.

"I've been good, yourself?" Harry asked pleasantly.

"Brilliant! Don't you just love this... this.... thing that I'm driving? It's so amazing. Muggles come up with the most interesting things, don't they?" Arthur commented, awe in his widened eyes as he looked around the vehicle. Harry shook his head as he laughed.

"Yeah, Mr. Weasley, they sure do." The three students put Harry's luggage in the trunk before sitting in the back.

Ron suddenly sat up, his eyes glinting excitedly. "Oh! I didn't tell you what happened earlier this summer! I asked out Hermione, and she said yes!"

Harry clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Finally! Congratulations!" Ron beamed at him, his cheeks flushing a pale pink. Harry turned to Ginny. "What about you, Ginny? Any luck with that gi- I mean, anyone catch your eye yet?" Ginny flashed Harry a warning glare as he almost spilled her secret to her father. Nearly all of the Weasleys knew about Ginny, with the exception of Percy and Mr. Weasley.2

"We'll talk about it back at the Burrow, okay?" Harry nodded. "Cool." Harry and Ginny had gone out back in 5th year, a period neither of them would repeat. They were together for a little over a month when Ginny realized that she was gay. They were much better as friends, anyway. Things were too awkward with them being a couple, and they were more like siblings than lovers. When Harry and Ginny broke up, neither of them were too upset about it. Ginny finally admitted who she really was, and Harry fully supported her 100%.

"We're home!" Mr. Weasley announced thirty minutes later. As Harry got out of the car and the Burrow came into full view, he smiled with happiness. So many good memories had happened here, and he knew many more would be in store for him here. He got his bag and walked into the house, inhaling deeply as the smell of Mrs. Weasley's homemade cooking made its way into his noise, making his mouth water. He went up and hugged the woman who had been like a mother to him over the last seven years.

"Mm, what smells so good, Mrs. Weasley?" he asked, hungrily eyeing the dishes and desserts that were being prepared.

"Your favorite, my home-made macaroni and cheese. Hermione requested I made a chocolate cake as well, but I haven't started that yet."

"What time is she getting here?" In all of his excitement, Harry had forgotten that Hermione was coming to stay the rest of the summer as well.

"Around six, I believe," Mrs. Wealsey said, looking at the clock on the wall. She gasped. "My, it's four-thirty already! I need to get started on that cake!"

Harry laughed. "Well I'm going to go upstairs and hang out with Ron and Ginny , so I'm not distracting you."

"Have fun!" she called after him as Harry ascended the steps to his and Ron's shared room. When he got there, Ginny and Ron were sitting on separate beds, waiting for Harry.

Harry sat down on the bed next to Ginny. He turned to face her. "So, have you finally gotten that girl to like you yet?" Ginny shook her head. Ron looked at her.

"You still haven't told me who it is! I'm your brother, I deserve to know!" Ron exclaimed, looking at his sister.

Ginny blushed and looked down. "Believe me, you won't like it."

"As long as it's not Pansy Parkinson, I don't care who you like." Ginny's face turned a darker crimson and she glared defiantly at the floor. Ron gasped. "Merlin, you do like her don't you? But... but... but... why? Why her of all the lesbians in the school?"

Ginny looked up. "Wait, she is gay? No one told me that! I thought she was straight!" She looked at Harry. "Did you know?!" He nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

Harry looked at Ginny sheepishly. "I thought you knew that she was. I mean, it's completely obvious, plus she's made out with like every girl in my year."

Ginny's mouth dropped. "She- they- gay- wha?" She sputtered. Ron nodded.

"Yup, she is just as gay as Zabini is," he announced. Harry nodded. He looked out the window. The sky was a pale blue color, not a single cloud in the sky.

"Hey, guys, let's go for a walk. It's so beautiful outside." Ron and Ginny nodded their agreement and the three set out on their journey.

Harry smiled as the wind sent a cool breeze over his skin that contrasted with the heat of the summer sun. All around him life was thriving: birds singing, the spring bubbling, crickets chirping, children playing. A trig broke in the background. Harry turned to face the direction of the sound, and gasped. "Isn't that Malfoy and Parkinson over there?"

Ginny looked over and immediately turned red. "Yeah, that's them," she mumbled, glancing at the pretty black-haired teen.

"What are they doing here?" Ron asked, staring at the duo.

"I dunno, let's find out," Harry said casually. "Malfoy, Parkinson! Why are you two over here? Why aren't you at your precious mansions?"

Draco looked up at the sound of his surname. He sneered at Harry. "I don't believe that's any of your business, Potter," he spat, his eyes narrowing at the other boy.

"Draco, be nice," Pansy chided, looking at Draco. She looked back at the trio. "Hi, Weasley, Potter." She turned and looked at Ginny. "Hey, little Red. You mind if I call you that?"

"G-go ahead," Ginny stuttered, blushing a pale pink that made her porcelain skin look even more beautiful and have more of a glow than it already did. Pansy smiled at Ginny. Ginny glanced away for a moment, and Harry saw Pansy's eyes scan the length of Ginny's body. In one glance, Harry could tell she was interested. He nudged Ron and nodded in Pansy's direction. Ron laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Pans, let's go. I don't want to be around these people," Draco said, glaring at Ron and Harry. Harry, for some reason, had the childish urge to stick his tongue out at Draco, so he did. "Real mature, Potter."

"Draco! Stop acting like a prick," Pansy said, shoving Draco the other direction. She glanced back at the trio, to Ginny. "Bye, Lil' Red," she said, winking at Ginny. Once the Slytherin duo was out of earshot Harry commented to Ginny, "I think she likes you."

Ginny shrugged nonchalantly, but you could tell by her stance and by the look in her eyes that she was hoping that the other girl did like her. Ron checked his watch, and his eyes opened widely. "It's almost six! We need to get back to the Burrow! Hermione will be here any minute!" Ron took off at a sprint back to the Burrow. Harry and Ginny followed behind slowly, laughing at Ron's excitement. Harry was happy for his friends. Finally, after years of seeing the two make googley eyes at each other, they finally recognized their feelings and got together.

By the time Harry and Ginny had reached the house, Hermione was already there. "Harry!" she yelled, running over and hugging him. "I missed you! How has your summer been?"

"It's been good. It feels great to finally be free of the Dursleys!" he exclaimed, hugging Hermione back.

OoOoOoOo

After dinner, Harry sensed that Ron and Hermione wanted some time alone together, so he got his guitar and went down by the spring near the Weasley's house. He had picked up playing the guitar after Sirius had died in 5th year. It had helped him to ease his grief. He took his guitar out of the case he had been carrying on his back, and started to strum a few chords to loosen up his hands. After fifteen minutes or so, Harry started to get into a song. 3

"It's been a long week, I've got a slow leak, in my left front tire. I'm sick of where I work, my boss is such a jerk, don't care if I get fired. My backs about to break, no money in the bank, and she don't call me anymore. I'm down to my last drink, it's time to sell my things," Harry sang idly, closing his eyes back and leaning against the trunk of a tree as he continued with his song. Once he reached the end he heard clapping. He looked up, and started. Draco Malfoy was leaning against the tree opposite him, watching Harry play and sing.

"I like that song. What's it called?" Draco asked, looking at Harry.

"Runaway by Love and Theft," Harry answered suspiciously, confused as to why Draco made a civil comment towards him.

"Cool. And I like your voice. It's very... nice." Harry blushed. He looked at Draco. "Um, not to be too rude but, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Here, as in, watching you, or here as in near the Weasleys?"

Harry paused before answering. "Both, I guess."

"Well, I'll only tell you one. I'm watching you play because I have nothing better to do, and Pansy was getting on my nerves with nonstop talk about this chick she's into. Ugh, you think I'd be used to that type of conversation with her." Draco rolled his eyes. "She's too obsessed for her own good."
"Who's she into?" Harry asked, curious for Ginny's sake. Draco glanced at Harry.

"Well, I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," he joked. Harry laughed nervously, still unsure as to where this conversation was going. They chatted on for a while longer. Finally he couldn't take the suspense any longer.

"Why are you being civil to me, Malfoy?" Harry blurted out without thinking.

Draco looked confused. "Why, do you want me to be mean to you? I can go back to that if that's what you're asking."

Harry shook his head. "No, that's not what I'm asking, I like talking to you. I'm just... surprised, I guess. I'm not used to having normal conversations with you without you hexing me." He chuckled. "It's kind of nice."

Draco nodded. He looked over to the brook, a small smile gracing his features. He glanced back at Harry. "You know, you aren't really all the bad. It's a shame we were enemies all these years."

"Yeah," Harry agreed softly. "Why did you hate me so much all these years?"

"Well..." Draco started nervously. He fidgeted where he was sittings, looking all around him. "To be honest... it's because you rejected my friendship."

"Really?" When Draco nodded, Harry's eyes went wide. "Why did that bother you so much?"

"I don't know, it just did," Draco snapped. Harry sat back, stung by the harshness in Harry's voice. "Never refuse any advance of friendship, for if nine out of ten bring you nothing, one alone may repay you," he muttered under his breath.

Harry looked at him. "What was that, Malfoy?"

Draco shook his head. "It's nothing, just some saying mum used to say to me. It's one of her favorite quotes."

"Well, what is it?"

Draco took a breath. "Never refuse any advance of friendship, for if nine out of ten bring you nothing, one alone may repay you." He met Harry's eyes. Harry looked away, his heart pounding.

"Oh, um, nice quote. Who's it by?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Madame de Tenin."

"I've never heard of her," Harry commented, trying to rack his mind for something that he and Draco could talk about. Finally he thought of something. He looked at the other boy and said, "How about we call a truce?"

At the same time, Draco said, "Let's not fight anymore." The boys started to laugh, realizing that they both wanted the fighting and teasing to end.

"I definitely think that's a good idea," Harry said, still laughing. "There was enough fighting during the war to last us a lifetime."

"Yeah," Draco agreed. "The fighting was stupid, anyway. There wasn't any point to it." Harry nodded. "So, friends?"

Harry paused momentarily to think about it. "How about we get to know each other, and see how we'd work as friends after that? That fine with you?"

"Sure," Draco answered. He heard his name called from up the hill. "Well, that'd be Pansy. See you tomorrow, Harry." He stood up.

"See you later.... Draco," Harry said, allowing the other boy's name to roll from his lips. It was a strange feeling, calling Draco anything other than Malfoy or Ferret. It would take some time to get used to.

OoOoOoOo

When Harry got back to the Burrow, Hermione and Ron were off somewhere by themselves and Ginny was already asleep, so Harry hung out in the living room. He was flipping through the books that Aunt Petunia had given him, trying to figure out the reason he received them. He was holding one of the books when a few pieces of paper fell out. "Hmm? What's this?" he asked, picking up the papers. He froze when he saw the signatures. One was from his mother, the other from his aunt. He began to read the first one. It was from his mother to his aunt.

October 31, 1981

Sister,

Why do you hate me? I can't help that I'm a witch. It's who I am. I was born with my magic, and I can't change it. I really wish you had magic with me, 'Tunia. That would be amazing, and we could be just as close as we were before I got my letter. Don't you remember? We used to do everything together, and we told each other everything! I miss those days. Where did they go? Did you have to hate me when you found out what I was? Nothing hurt more than that! Did you think that I wouldn't care that I had become a "freak" in your eyes? Did you purposely say that just to cause me pain?

You didn't even come to my wedding! 'Tunia, you were supposed to be my maid of honor. You said you'd be there! Did you even care that I was getting married? Or was it just another reason to shun me because I was marrying another one of those so-called freaks? I didn't approve when you married Vernon, but I went anyway, because you're my sister, and that's what sisters do for each other! They support each other through thick and thin.

I have to go, James is calling for me. Harry woke up, and Sirius and Remus will be coming over later.

Have a Happy Halloween, Petunia.

Love,

Lily Potter

There were dried tear marks all over the page, a sure sign that Harry's mum had been crying as she wrote her letter. It was dated the day of her death... the last letter she ever wrote. And to that bitch who didn't deserve her sister's love. Harry grabbed the next letter, from his aunt to... him?

Harry,

I bet you're wondering why I'm writing you a letter, but there are some things I have to explain in order to clear my conscious, such as why I was such a dreadful guardian to you. I guess I took my anger on Lily out on you, and I apologize for that. It wasn't right of me, but you just reminded me so much of her. Her eyes, her mannerisms, how you talk.... it scared me. I was a horrid sister to Lily, and you being in the house was a like a constant reminder of what I had lost, if that makes sense.

When your mum and I were kids, we were the best of friends. She was my confidant, and I was hers. We were inseparable until she got her letter to Hogwarts. Once she found out she was a witch, I started to act rudely towards her, but I wasn't as horrible at first as I was near the time of your birth. I didn't want to lose my sister, and I was terrified that once she went to that school that she'd forget all about me and that I wouldn't matter to her anymore. The older and older we got, the more we drifted. I couldn't relate to her life in your world, and she couldn't relate to my life here. I felt like I had ended up losing her, so I started calling her a freak as an outlet of the pain I was feeling.

The day I got your mom's letter that Halloween, I was going to go visit her, but I had been planning on waiting until the next day because I had to take care of Dudley. I wanted to make amends with her, to tell her that I didn't hate her, I just missed her and the life that we had when we were young. And then you showed up that night with a letter saying that my sister and her husband had been killed. How do you think it made me feel to know that my sister died thinking that I hated her and her probably hating me in return? I couldn't look at you for weeks after that, Vernon had to be the one to take care of both you and Dudley because I had locked myself away, hating myself for being so evil towards Lily. I hope you'll forgive me for how I treated you and for how I treated your mum.

I'm sorry.

Aunt Petunia

Harry wiped his eyes as he looked up. He wasn't sure how he felt. Should he be angry at his aunt for treating him so badly over the years, or should he be understanding because she lost a sister when he lost his mother? He didn't know. The warm fire in the fireplace crackled and popped, pulling Harry from his thoughts. He snuggled into the back of the couch, looking up when he heard a noise coming from the stairwell. Ron and Hermione walked down, smiles on their faces and their hands linked.

"Hey, Harry, what are you still doing up?" Ron asked as he and Hermione sat down one the couch adjacent to Harry. Ron pulled Hermione closer to him, his arm wound tightly around her waist. He looked at Harry's tear-stained face. "Hey, mate, you okay?"

Harry nodded stiffly, cursing himself for letting the letter reduce him to tears. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about my parents." He looked at the fire, watching the flames as they swirled in shades of red and orange. He looked back at Ron, who was staring intently at him. "Really, Ron, I'm fine."

"Okay, if you're sure," Ron answered. He looked at Hermione, who was staring at Harry. Suddenly she shot up and ran over to Harry, gathering him into her arms. Harry wrapped his arms around her, welcoming her embrace.

"So how was yo-" Harry started to say, pausing as he yawned loudly. "-ur day?"

Hermione laughed. "Really, Harry, did you just start to speak, yawn, then continue talking as if nothing happened?" Harry nodded proudly. Hermione shook her head. "Anyway we had a good day. How was yours?"

"It was definitely interesting," Harry commented, thinking back to his meeting with Draco earlier during the day. "Guess what happened after you got here, Hermione?"

"What?"

"Me and Malfoy, I mean Draco, had a civil conversation," he said. Ron's jaw dropped.

"WHAT? You guys actually talked without killing each other?! I'm shocked."

"Yeah, me too. He actually isn't that bad of a guy when he's by himself. It was surprising." Harry yawned again. "Maybe I should go to bed," he said, getting up from the couch. "Night."

"Night, Harry!" The couple chorused, absorbed in each other once again as their friend ascended up the steps.

Harry opened the door to Ron's and his room, immediately collapsing on his crimson-colored bed. He flipped over onto his stomach and stuck his hand underneath his pillow, grabbing out his journal. He had started keeping one a few years prior, as it was a good way for him to release his thoughts and emotions, as well as figure out different things he had been struggling with.

July 31, 1997

I'm finally of age! I can't believe I've made it this far. Right now I'm in the room I share with Ron, while he and Hermione are downstairs doing God-knows-what. I'm glad those two are finally together. It took them long enough to finally take that leap forward. If they hadn't gotten together within the next few weeks, I would've found some sort of way to push them forward. I just wish I had someone, though. I haven't been in a relationship since Ginny, and she's a lesbian.

Today was an odd day. Ron, Ginny, and I ran into Malfoy and Parkinson today while we were out in the woods. Ginny was a mess. She's so into Parkinson, and it was pretty funny to watch her get all nervous around her. I don't know about Malfoy, though. We decided to call a truce and see where that takes us. I wouldn't mind being friends with him though, he's actually a pretty cool person when he's being nice to me. I like this side of him.

Until Tomorrow,

Harry

OoOoOo

A/N: So how did everyone like ch. 1? I have a pretty good idea of where this story is going, so I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, and that you will come back and read more. R&r!

-Kristan

xoxoxo

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