As Draco lounged on the couch next to Hermione, watching a heated match of wizard's chess between Harry and Ron, he contemplated his life since the war for the millionth time.

One would think that the war would have faded, at least marginally, from the minds of the magical community in the four years following, but the pain was still fresh and sharp in the minds of many. The loss of Severus had affected him the most, he decided, and he suspected the same for Harry though he knew he would not admit it. Draco was hit hard by the death of his parents, but Severus had been the only one who really understood him. He had never wanted to be a Death Eater, contrary to popular opinion, and Severus had offered comfort and advice in the dark times.

After the war, he had found the Trio as the sole comfort in his life, which had faded into bleak shades of gray. Ron and Hermione, too, were newly orphaned and they, along with Harry, offered comfort with open arms after one glance at his cracked soul through his exhausted eyes.

Harry had unconsciously done a magnificent impression of Severus in front of the Wizengamot for him, and Draco was cleared of all charges. He was infinitely grateful to him. The Trio accepted him as one of them and after a while was no longer referred to as such, as Draco spent nearly every moment with them.

After a surprisingly short period of time, Draco was told the full story, and his newfound respect and brotherliness for Harry increased tenfold. Draco was ashamed about his treatment of Harry over the years and tried to apologize, but Harry hadn't wanted to hear it. That had been, using the one of the Muggle sayings Hermione had taught him, the straw that broke the camel's back. Draco had bowed his head and let forth his silent tears, and Harry came over and put an arm around his shoulders. After, the four had become inseperrable and it took very little time for the wizarding world to accept it.

Harry was offered all sorts of awards, gifts, job offers, and countless other opportunities, but he declined them all. He later confided to them that he preferred to stay out of the public eye. The four of them had bought a little flat in Muggle London, where they lived comfortably. Well, Harry and Hermione lived comfortably. It took Draco and Ron quite a while to get used to the Muggle way of living, but the house was cozy and welcoming after they had settled in. Mother and father are probably thrashing in their grave, Draco thought wryly as he sipped his coffee.

"CHECK!"

Harry's shout brought Draco out of his routine cynical musings. His eyes focused again, just in time to see Ron slap Harry on the arm in response to his triumphant smirk. Hermione and Draco smiled, but the smiles turned to frowns as Harry's face grew tired and worried as he turned to face them.

"I've been meaning to talk to you guys." he started, absently running his hand through his hair. "I've been thinking about the war the war more often lately, and I've realized that so many pointless deaths could be spared. I'm not going to bore you to death with the angsty, cynical thought process of mine that resulted in this," the four grinned briefly "so I'll just cut straight to the point. I've found an already modified version of a time turner, and I've tinkered with it so that it can send us back into our fourth year at Hogwarts.

Harry's words were greeted with the sort of silence inferring that the audience strongly expected –or more like hoped– someone to jump out of a corner yelling "April Fool!"

"You're yanking my wand, right? You've got to be yanking my wand." Draco stuttered, who had only just managed to restrain himself from spewing coffee all over Ron. "That isn't possible! All the time turners were destroyed in our fifth year! All of them! And never mind the length of time; to send us back to fifth year! That completely defies eveything that we know about time travel!"

Harry had sat back and fixed Draco with an unreadbale stare while he burnt off his disbelief.

"Are you done now?"

"Yeah... sorry."

"I said the exact same think while I was experimenting with it, and I still don't know why it works the way it does. I the larger the knob is, though, the farther back in time you go. I've also established that this particular time turner can send you back to your own time whenever you wish if you turn the knob backwards however many time you turned it to go back. I am going to use it, and I am going to save innocent lives. If you don't want to come, I get it, but please don't try to stop me." Harry became very interested in the carpet whilst he waited for his best friends to speak. Ron spoke up first.

"You don't honestly think we wouldn't come, do you? You're birlliant and all, mate, but you can be really thick sometimes."

Hermione was quick to follow.

"I completely agree with Ron, Harry. You're stuck with us." She gave a reassuring smile, and the three looked at Draco, who shook his head in exhasperation.

"What those two said."

The four spent the next month planning, editing, and reviewing their plan. It was, Draco decided, the most dangerous thing he had ever done, and it was probably the most any one of them had ever put on the line. They had decided to go through with everything that had happened that year, besides the tragedy at the Ministry. Draco knew it would be hard. Incredibly hard. He also knew it would be disasterous if they failed.

As Harry hung the time turner almost reverently around their necks, Draco felt the full impact of what they were about to hit him in the gut. He had to say something to his, as he thought of them now, honorary siblings before embarking on this treacherous mission.

"Guys... I just... you're... you three are like siblings to me. I just want you to know that whatever happens, its an act. Its all an act. I swear. I'll swear on my magic that it will all be an act." he said, his speech getting faster and more rambling as he went on. Hermione twisted to face him (with a bit of difficulty) and hugged him tightly.

"We know, Draco. We know.

Harry and Ron nodded, and after Harry twisted the elongated knob on the shimmering time turner, the last thing Draco saw were Harry's emerald eyes piercing him right down to his mending soul.