Chapter Two

"Can I buy you a drink? Is butterbeer okay? We need to talk things over…I err, think the details may have been altered since speaking to your mother"

Ellie, still being in a haze over what just happened, simply nodded her head and went to find a table. She sat in the booth the far end of the room, in a corner. Best to avoid all the unfriendly stares, she thought.

So he had changed.

Incredibly so.

When Draco came to sit back down, he took the seat opposite Ellie and slid a pint of butterbeer in front of her. They sat in silence for a while, drinking. It gave Ellie time to carefully study Draco's face, taking it all in. His previous cold grey eyes were now warm and inviting, although the pain behind them was evident. He had several scars on his face; one ran down the whole left side. His hair was longer than it had been last time, though this made sense. She hardly supposed that haircuts had been the first thing on his mind; the war had only been over for three weeks after all.

"Ellie?"

His voice made her jump violently. She didn't realise that he had been watching her.

"Oh! Yes, um, yes, I'm sorry, sorry" she stammered. "It's just…well, you just look so different. From the last time I saw you, I mean."

He laughed. It wasn't a laugh she knew though. The old Draco had a malicious laugh, which you usually heard after he had bullied a first-year into tears. But this Draco; his laugh was completely different. It was light, and friendly, and…genuine. And he seemed to be too.

"I imagine I do look pretty ghastly" he smiled.

"No n no, I didn't mean…" Ellie started.

"Ellie, I'm joking" he grinned at her.

Ellie smiled back, allowing herself to relax a little. "Well, I can tell that you have certainly changed" she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, since when did you start referring to me as 'Ellie'? Wasn't I always 'Eleanor' to you?" she smirked.

"Well, I know how much you hated it. Forgive me for trying to be nice!" he exclaimed. However, seeing Ellie's horrified expression, he added on, "I'm just kidding. Honestly! But I can always start calling you that again if you prefer ELEANOR" he laughed.

Ellie burst out laughing. A real belly laugh that made even the old couple the other side of the room turn and smile. Draco couldn't stop smiling himself, admiring the way his cousin wasn't the slightest bit phased by all the looks they were getting, or the way that people were clearly avoiding sitting on the table next to them. It was obviously because of him.

"I'm just trying to make up for lost time. So, my fist action is by redefining the Malfoy name. Being nice to people."

"That's good. You were awful before" she said, with no signs of joking.

"I know."

Ellie signed and started chewing her lip. For anyone who knew her well, they'd know this was a sign she was nervous. Or uncomfortable.

"Your accent had faded," he stated curiously.

She looked up at him and shrugged. "Haven't really gotten out of the house in the last four years. They all started to get annoyed that they couldn't understand what I was saying, so now it's just habit, I guess."

Draco shifted uncomfortably. "Makes sense."

"I suppose."

They sat in silence for a while, though this one was not nearly as awkward as the last. With a sigh, Draco decided he needed to get down to the point.

"Look, Ellie, you're not coming to stay with me and my family."

A look of horror crossed Ellie's face. "What?! What do you mean I'm not staying with you?! Where am I…" Ellie was cut off.

"My father's in prison Ellie. Azkaban. Not that he doesn't deserve it, I suppose, I just…" he broke off. "My mother is in no fit state to entertain Ellie. I think that it would be unhealthy for both of you if you come and stay in our manor."

"Your father is in prison?!"

"It doesn't matter"

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?!" Ellie almost shouted at him. "For how long? Is he okay?...Are you?"

A quick smile crossed Draco's face. It was so typical Ellie.

"Honestly, Ellie, I just tell you that your homeless, and you're more worried about me?!"

"Of course I am! Honey, I mean, you're…you're family" she sighed.

"While I appreciate the concern, I'm fine. Or I will be" he continued with a forced smile. "Wouldn't you like to know where you will be sleeping?"

"Right, yeah…" Ellie shrugged. "So where am I going to go?"

"Ellie, do you…err….do you remember the Weasley's?"