Draco stared at himself, the water from the faucet running through his fingers. He felt like it was his life instead of water. He did not want to go back to school, the old reason was gone while anew one took up its place. Yes, the war was over. It had been over for a week now. Was that all? Only a week? The Ministry had certainly made quick work of the remaining Death Eaters. They had kept Draco himself in a holding cell for a few days with questions. However, once they had finally gotten it through their thick skulls he did not have the Dark Mark, nor was under Voldemort's rule, they sent him home. The manor had never felt so cold and dark. Even with his mother's cries and fussing, Draco felt so... He didn't even know. Potter had defeated the Dark Lord once and for all.

'Good.' Draco thought sourly, glaring at the water that still ran through his fingers. But he still did not want to go to back to school. The Malfoy name was tainted and many of his 'friends' had turned their backs on him. Oh, he still had friends; Pansy and Blaise were really it though. Everyone else hated him, he was sure of it. With a heavy sigh, Draco cupped his hands and splashed his face with water. It was going to be a long day.

The Hogwarts Express seemed to gleam brighter then usual to Harry. It was over, all over. No more Voldemort, no more deaths, no more Dursleys… Harry was free to be a normal wizard and that put a smile on his face. The feeling of freedom swirled in him as he smiled at his friends as Mrs. Weasley fussed over them as usual while Mr. Weasley was conversing with a terrified looking Muggle couple who had come to see their daughter off. The whistle blew and Mrs. Weasley gave Harry an extra tight hug before they hastily boarded the train.

Once platform 9¾ was out of view, Harry sank into his seat with a happy sigh. Ron and Hermione were up in the prefects' compartment but he knew they'd be back in an hour or so. Every few minutes, there was a knock on the door of someone looking for a seat; but when they saw Harry, they would gape at him like a fish or simply runoff. Harry grumbled this time as he got up to answer the knock. It was getting old, this game of "Look-it's-Harry-Potter". The young man was unprepared for the vision that met his eyes. Draco Malfoy was standing in the aisle, panting and shaking and looking utterly terrified. His grey eyes widened and he glanced back down the aisle. Out of curiosity, Harry happened a look down the hall. A tall, lean boy with a definite swagger was smiling through the other students at the blonde, the large forms of Crabbe and Goyle followed him menacingly. Draco looked like he was going to faint in fright, then Harry's hero complex took over.

In a fluid motion, Harry had pulled the slight boy into the compartment and slid the door closed. Draco stumbled before finding his way into a seat. He was taking some deep breaths when Harry sat down opposite him. The blond seemed to calm down a bit, though he was trembling slightly. He met Harry's gaze and the two young men stared at each other. A tense, awkward silence filled the air. Harry remembered earlier that week, when the war had ended… how it ended.

Harry was kneeling, his arms bound behind his back and his wand mere feet from him. His glasses were cracked and blood was dripping off his face where Bellatrix had struck him earlier. He felt the circle of Death Eaters pressing in on him as Voldemort's feet remained stationed before him.

"Bring him forth." The high voice of the most feared wizard of the century rang out in the silence of the room. Footsteps, Harry looked up. Draco was walking up, unmasked and wearing simple robes. He looked so small in them as he approached the snake-like man. He glanced at Harry, who gave him a hateful, ugly look. Voldemort began addressing the Death Eaters and Draco stared pleadingly at Harry. He was glancing between the bound boy and his holly wand that lay so close. "Draco…" The blonde's attention snapped to the man addressing him and he visibly began to shake. "Do you accept the honor of being a Death Eater and serving me by taking upon you your first task?" The teen stared into the face of evil before giving a curt nod.

"I am prepared my lord." Voldemort's lipless mouth stretched into a cruel smile, and he gestured towards Harry. The raven-haired boy glared up at the pair of them, gritting his teeth and showing no fear. Voldemort leaned over Draco's shoulder as the teen stared down at his rival.

"Torture him." Another curt nod. Draco raised his wand. Harry was as prepared as he could be for what was coming.

"Crucio." Harry screamed as his nerves burst into agonizing pain. He wreathed, rolling in his restraints as the pain overtook him. It disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving Harry panting and aching. A Death Eater roughly pushed him back on to his knees, to face what was coming next. Voldemort was grinning wickedly and Draco's face had turned cold and emotionless.

"Excellent. Now, Draco… Kill him." The words were said with such vigor, it nearly sounded like the older man were singing them. Draco raised his wand again, glancing at Harry's wand then to Harry himself. The blonde's hand shook, a look in his eyes told Harry he was terrified. Draco inclined his head and opened his mouth. No one expected what came out.

"Relashio!" Not believing his luck, Harry dived for his wand as Death Eaters scrambled and shouted. Voldemort's cry of fury drowned out the other's noise. Harry turned to the snake-like man who had rounded on Draco, just as reinforcements burst through the door via Snape's instruction.

Draco had averted his eyes; a faint blush forming across is nose. He mumbled something Harry could not hear, growing increasingly interested in the windowpane.

"What?" Harry asked, straining is ears to hear him.

"Thank-you, Potter…" Harry leaned on his elbows, pressing them into his knees. He didn't really know what to say. Draco had saved his life, on a whim or out of fear or for some unknown reason and all he had done was pull the blonde into his compartment.

"Why… Why were you running from them?" He looked up at the fidgety Slytherin. "Aren't they your friends?"

Draco turned his gaze back, obviously uncomfortable. "Not friends… Children of Death Eaters banning together." His voice was low, sad and possibly even scared. "What I did was unforgivable to them…" Harry leaned forward farther; the movement caused Draco to swiftly look at him.

"It was alright by me." He whispered. The blonde stared at him for what seemed like an eternity. And then, Draco snorted in dry laughter.