It had started out as just another normal day. Harry had the day off from the Ministry and decided that a trip to the Leaky Cauldron was necessary. He hadn't visited since the war had ended nearly three years ago, and something just felt right about going today.

Once inside he was welcomed by many familiar, and just as many unfamiliar, faces and handshakes. He still received thanks for defeating the Dark Lord to the point where all he could muster in response was an exhausted smile and head nod.

Even with the war over and Voldemort gone, Harry still didn't feel right. He often felt like he was walking through his life in a fog, from a distance. He was doing everything right. He became an Auror and fought alongside his best mate, he and Ginny were to be married come this fall; life was good. So why did it all feel so mechanical? As if his brain were simply telling his body what to do without consulting Harry first.

"Mr. Potter, can I get you anything? This meal is free, on me!" The waiter was nearly bouncing out of his too-pointed shoes at the prospect of getting Harry some food.

That was another thing. Harry didn't want all the fame. Sure it had been nice for a while, and no doubt had he relished it in his time at Hogwarts as the Chosen One, but now all he wanted was a carefree, simple life. None of this 'getting off for free' business. He would gladly accept his place in society as just another average wizard.

"Just a Firewhiskey and Treacle Tart please. And I wouldn't mind a copy of the Daily Prophet."

Harry reached into his pocket and placed twelve Sickles on the table.

The waiter shook his head, "Please, sir. I insist!" and scuttled away to the kitchen.

So Harry would have to sneak the money into his pocket somehow. Fair enough.

Moments later a steaming Treacle Tart and glass of Firewhiskey were set in front of him, along with the newest edition of the Daily Prophet. Harry still didn't believe a word of the rubbish that was posted, but he liked to keep up on worldly affairs.

To his disappointment, the front cover was a picture of him and Ron returning from a mission to find some Death Eater conspirators in China. It hadn't been a particularly hard mission, just long and grueling. Death Eaters everywhere were in hiding, and it was especially difficult to sort out the ones that claimed to have been under the Imperius Curse or doing it of their own free will.

Harry took a small sip of his Firewhiskey, still concentrated on the paper, when a sudden thump across from him made him jump and nearly spill the whole thing down his front.

The thump, as it happens, was another glass of Firewhiskey ungracefully being set on his very table. And to Harry's surprise (and disgust), the wizard now pulling up the chair and taking a seat was irritatingly familiar.

It was Draco Malfoy.

"Fancy seeing you here, Potter." It wasn't meant to be nasty, there was no hint of distaste in his voice, but Harry wouldn't go off his guard so easily.

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"Please, don't make this harder than it already is." There was the venom. His pale face had curled into a snarl that Harry recognized all too well. But both men stayed seated, not one of them ready to flee or pull the other up in a muggle-style brawl that would surely get them both kicked out of the pub. Well, perhaps not Harry, but certainly Draco.

Harry waited for him to continue.

Draco smoothed a stray blonde hair back to the side with an exaggerated sigh and a quick gulp of whiskey. He suddenly looked on edge, if not nervous. Harry shifted, trying to hide how uncomfortable he was suddenly becoming at the odd behavior Draco was displaying.

"You remember my mother?" he started.

Oh yes, Harry remembered her well. That very woman had saved his life by proclaiming him dead to the Dark Lord. That very woman gave him the chance he needed to defeat Voldemort.

He only nodded.

Draco started up again. "Well, after the war and everything, she became obsessed with the idea of me making amends." Another gulp of whiskey. "And the real kicker is that she wanted me to talk to you the most. I told her it was a bad idea, but mother's just won't take no for an answer." His eyes darted to Harry, his cheeks momentarily flushed with embarrassment before returning to smooth white. His skin was like polished marble with an irritating lack of flaws. The only color on his face was the pink of his lips and circling grey of his eyes. If Harry didn't have such a distaste for him, he might call him handsome.

Might.

"So here we sit, three years later with you trying to make amends because your mummy told you to." Harry set the Prophet down and crossed his arms. Draco's face had suddenly turned to stone, showing no emotion.

"No. Here we sit three years later because it wasn't until now that I realized I should make amends of my own accord, you git."

So somewhere buried deep inside Malfoy was a conscience. Huh.

"Why did you do it?" Harry asked. He glanced down at Draco's left arm where a black tattoo was just peeking out of his sleeve. There was no need to explain. Draco's eyes had followed his and he knew exactly what he meant.

And if Harry had seen right, he could swear there were bruises and cuts over the tattoo, as if someone had tried to remove the mark.

Draco gulped and looked down into his cup now, the stone washing away from his face to be replaced by a furrowed brow and his lips pressed tightly together in thought.

"I hadn't wanted to start with that one, but I suppose it would have come up sooner or later." Another drink. He was stalling. Harry had never seen him so uncomfortable. It was both odd and, strangely, inviting. Any other day Harry might have a problem sitting here with a Malfoy just to have a chat, but the uncertainty in Draco's voice and body language made Harry want to stay long enough to hear what he had to say.

Draco quickly threw up a muffling spell to keep their conversation private.

"I had no choice, Potter." He still wouldn't make eye contact.

"You could have gone to Dumbledore. He would have helped you."

A/N: This is an update from the original first version. I'm making small changes as I go because when I started this fic I sort of rushed through it and didn't do as much editing as I should have. Follows/Favorites/Reviews are always appreciated!