A/N : This is a Harry Draco slash fic. I got this written sometime at the end of last year actually. Im still not sure where it'll go though. It's inspired by a movie I watched a few years ago which I think is quite touching. I don't know if I could produce similar effect but I decided to write this anyway.

DISC: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I'd love to have Draco and Harry but I guess lots n lots of people would be angry at me if I really try to make them mine.

Happy Father

Prologue

Draco was placed in the dark cell for many days. He had lost count for how long he had been there. Sunlight was not allowed into the small cell. His food was sent by the guards. He doesn't know where he is. His guess is he is somewhere beneath the Ministry of Magic. For if he is truly in Azkaban he is sure he will be going through a lot more. Here he was just left alone. He had seen no one else since the final battle. He was captured in his fathers' house and was sent immediately to the cell after being stripped of all that he has been carrying that day. Somehow he knew that the final battle is lost because he is still there with the others who were Death Eaters.

Draco heard the guards. This time they did not shove the tray through the small opening but they opened the whole door. He was expecting his eyes to be hurt when the door is open but outside, the corridor is only lit poorly. The light still hurt his eyes nevertheless. After going through the cleaning stage, when he was pushed into the cleaning pool he was given back his robe and the clothing that he wore during the final battle. He was all clean and had the chance of looking at himself through a mirror. He had sunken eyes and his face looks hollow. His hair had grown longer and his face paler. Deciding to make do with whatever he has he combed his hair with the prison comb and told the guards that he is ready to see the ministry officials. He was led to a conference room at the higher level of the prison and he was shown in by a guard before the guard took his leave to wait outside. In the room, two men were waiting for him. They have the air of business and immediately introduced themselves as ministry officials.

"Mr. Malfoy. We are ministry officials. As of today, you are released from this lock up. You can leave but you will be banned from owning a wand and if you realize your magic is already weakened. Our experts have assured us that you will no longer be a threat to the wizarding community's safety. " One of them with a parrot's beak nose told him.

"What about my father?" Draco asked indifferently. But inside he knows what he had dreaded for such a long time had happened. That his father is dead.

"Your father and the rest of your family did not survive the final war." Draco remained stoic. He leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. He was quite amused to see both the ministry officials flinching at the gesture despite them knowing that he was incapable of producing strong magic without his wand or any magic at all since his magic is already binded by the ministry. He knew that his ability to do magic is close to zero as he had known that some wizards whose magic was binded could no longer do any magic at all. Draco himself is surprised at his own amusement given his circumstances. Well, old habits are die hard.

"I take it that you won the final battle."

"We won the war." The eagle faced official said to him. Draco never saw those two officials again. He was sent by one of the guards out into the street in front of the Ministry building. Sunlight hurt his eyes but Draco continued walking not knowing what awaits him.

Draco is wandering on the street weak, dirty and hungry. As soon as he was released he rented an apartment with whatever money he got. He tried to get a job. He should have no problem to get one as he did really well in his NEWTS and OWLS but considering his background as a Malfoy, nobody will take him. He was even stoned when he tried to get a meal at a small restaurant. He wasn't as famous as some quidditch player but people recognized him anyway when they see the Malfoy mark of white blond hair. The Malfoy has always been famous and well known. But Lucius' involvement with the Dark Lord has made them even more 'popular'.

In the end, Draco had to resort to hard labour. His head is clean shaved. He wore a hat and did not stay in any one place for a long time. He worked at the dock and construction sites. He did a lot of work but he could never keep them for long as his body was very weak. Draco was confused at his own condition. He knew his magic is weaken by the Ministry but it shouldn't affect his physical body. Despite his weakness, Draco continued walking. Winter is nearing and he needed a job. Draco was trying to get to a small town of Willoughbee. He is hoping to stay there for the winter and rest a bit. He wanted to rest before carrying on with life. In fact, he wants to rest now. Right now. On the small road, you could see a figure of a man sank and fell onto the ground. Draco had decided to take a rest now.

tbc