AN-Chapter two is first of all a bit of a filler of sorts it may seem a little rushed, this is intentional and second of all it skips through time a few times, I have tried to write the transition as smoothly as possible and I apologize if it confuses anyone please just let me know, Sometimes things make perfect sense to you but no sense at all to someone else. As always I own nothing you recognize and this story will be a Harry/Draco pairing in the near future. Hope you enjoy, please if you have something negative to say at least make it constructive, reviews telling me my story sucks does not better my writing. Thank you all and happy reading.

One month to the day after Draco's hearing Ron sat waiting patiently at his desk in his office. The minister had offered jobs to all three of them but Hermione had chosen to go back to Hogwarts when the school opened again and Harry had secluded himself from the world. Ron had chosen to become an auror but was taking the training along with everyone else.

But he hadn't been able to deny special treatment when it came to his office, he had an amazing office.

Draco had sent note two days prior to request a time to meet and go over his activities of the past month and the time he was meant to show was getting close. Ron was nervous he'd skip out.

His fears were however unfounded and Draco breezed regally through the door at exactly two on the dot. "You look relieved to see me." Draco smirked sinking into the chair in front of Ron's desk.

Ron laughed. "I am, Sorry old habits die hard I guess" He shrugged sheepishly. "I was afraid you wouldn't show."

Draco shook his head in disappointment. "I know it's hard but you gotta trust me, I told you I wouldn't screw this up."
"Well then. Have you eaten? We can go chat over a late lunch." Ron offered with a smile. "My treat."
"Sounds great, but I'll pick the place and I'll pay." Draco bargained. "You buy the next one." he rose to his feet holding out his hand to shake on it.
Ron looked at Draco's hand suspiciously a moment before shaking it. "All right fine, you have a deal." He agreed grabbing his jacket. "Just don't go taking me somewhere too awkwardly fancy." he teased.
"Its just a little fancy." Draco promised holding open the door for Ron before walking down the hall with him to the atrium, the blond made it a habit to make faces at anyone who stared at him or gave him a dirty look.
Ron couldn't help but laugh at the array of cross eyed expressions that crossed Draco's face he even went so far as to stick his tongue out a few times. "Well this is a side of Draco Malfoy I've never seen." he snorted.

Draco shrugged placing a hand on Ron's shoulder. "They want to stare at me I'll give them a reason to stare." he chuckled. "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." Ron replied with an unreadable expression. Draco shook it off and apparated them to a little seafood place.
"They have a fantastic lobster bisque here." Draco grinned opening the door and heading into the little cafe style restaurant and to what Ron assumed was a regular table for the blond who waved at a waitress on his way to the table.
"You own the place or what?" Ron laughed following and sitting down across from Draco.
"No, just the table." Draco laughed with a bit of a blush. Ron giving him a dumb founded look Draco had to elaborate. "This place can get really busy sometimes and I hate waiting for a table so I paid for this table no one else is allowed to sit here without being on my list."

"My family rarely had money to eat out let alone buy their favorite table." Ron shook his head in disbelief picking up the menu to look it over.
"I'm not complaining about having money." Draco looked up biting his lip. "But it wasn't all a walk in the park, with a name like Malfoy, it's a production, a show." he sighed. "From early childhood you are instructed to walk straight and tall, never mess up. Always behave as though you are under the spotlight because you are. Never a chance for fun not like you." he picked up his own menu more to hide his own emotion. "I got every toy I could ever want, but you were allowed to play." he murmured.
A companionable silence fell between the two of them as they selected and placed their orders with the waiter and they sipped at their drinks.
Ron finally cleared his throat and spoke up. "So what have you been getting into over the past month?" he questioned getting down to business.
"Honestly I've barely left the grounds," Draco admitted. "Severus is up and about again so he stays with me a lot and runs errands for me, I've been going through everything in the house getting rid of things that Lucius stock piled," He smiled proud of himself. "I'm doing my best to bring the manor back to its formal glory before Lucius got a hold of it."

Their conversation was interrupted briefly as their soup was delivered. After a few bites of chowder Ron took a drink before continuing. "Are you reporting what you find?"
"No I'm keeping it and playing with it in the dungeon." Draco rolled his eyes dipping a roll into his bisque. "The removal of dangerous artifacts task force has been to the manor five times this month." he shook his head. "I told you you're going to have to trust me."
"I know, I know." Ron chuckled "I'm sorry, are you ready to head back to school? A lot of changes have been made." he admitted.
"I have all of my supplies if that's what you mean." Draco sighed. "And all the changes in the world won't help me, I'm death eater scum."
"You aren't the only one going back that fought a war that wasn't there's to fight you know." Ron pointed out. "You aren't the only one who was forced the mark by your father."
"It's not the other Slytherin's I'm worried about." Draco murmured bitterly.
"All of the students returning for their eighth year, so to speak are being put in the same common room." Ron explained finishing his soup sliding the bowl away. "Their are enough students who want to see change to keep the ones who don't at bay." he promised.
"I don't know." Draco sighed. "I just can't look at the future with as much hope as you do." he admitted softly pushing his Alfredo around the plate when it arrived.
Ron dropped the subject with a nod and they finished their meal in moderate silence. "Well this has been delicious and a nice break but I need to get back for my evening laws class." Ron finally sighed pulling an envelope from his jacket pocket putting it in front of Draco. "Take care of yourself and don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything." He smiled getting to his feet and leaving while Draco picked up the envelope studying the untidy scrawl spelling his name on the front of the envelope.
He thought he almost recognized the writing but he could never have been prepared for the letter he unfolded out of the envelope.

Draco,

You've no need to thank me for anything I've done, you deserve a second chance and I believe that away from your Father you can do well for yourself.

I know you probably have a thousand questions running through your head but it is difficult to send and receive correspondence from the magical world so I will ask that you refrain from attempting to do so and I will answer what I'm sure is the biggest question you have. Why? Am I right? I know I am.
I saved your life and gave you a second chance at living it because over all of the hateful, spiteful years of fighting I found that the line between love and hate is very thin indeed and somewhere along the way I crossed it.
I feared you would never accept my change in feelings and so I never told you of them, My only wish is for you to find happiness with someone no matter who it may be and that you live your life the way you want not the way Lucius thought you should.
Ron can be a little pigheaded but he is one of the best friends you could ever ask for and I imagine you and Hermione could debate for hours. Don't let past rivalries get in the way, that's not what I risked my life for.

Good luck in life and everything you do,

Sincerely,

Harry.

Draco almost chased Ron from the restaurant to demand to know what kind of joke he was pulling but the writing on the letter was to distinctly Harry. He hadn't even known Harry was gay let alone attracted to him of all people. The Gryffindor had hid it very well and of course this only raised more questions in the blond's head but he followed Harry's instructions and refrained from trying to contact him.

That didn't mean he didn't badger Ron and Hermione every chance he got. Ron would always shrug his shoulders at the questions. "We didn't talk about his sexual preferences." He would reply and move on to another topic.
Hermione on the other hand would giggle and tell him all about how Harry would blush when talking about him and get flustered after their childish altercations. Neither of them would answer his questions though.
He wanted to know what it was Harry liked about him, where he had gone, why he had left. Draco wanted to know what happened to make the Gryffindor hero run and if he would ever come back.

No one would answer any of those questions and Draco decided he would never know the answers and let it go at that. It didn't matter if Potter had a crush on him, Draco wasn't gay, or so he argued with himself.

The party of the century was held at Malfoy Manor in honor of the new graduates of Hogwarts and in honor or the first part of Draco's stipulations to being a free man completed. Draco had even gotten through it without being attacked and had made several new friends from other houses along the way. As he dragged himself to bed in the wee hours of the morning he had one stray fleeting thought before passing out. A vision of Harry crossed his mind and he spoke out loud to his empty room. "Too bad he hasn't been here to see the changes he's made."

Far too early the next day in Draco's opinion there was a knock on his bedroom door that wouldn't go away, the longer he ignored it the louder it got. "Malfoy come on wake up." Ron called out irritated. "It's bad enough I'm playing mailman could you at least get up and get your package."

Draco finally rolled out of bed going to unlock the door and let Ron in while stumbling back to bed. "Just put it down somewhere." He yawned. "Who's it from?"
Ron rolled his eyes putting the box on the foot of the bed. It was about three foot long and a foot in depth wrapped in plain brown paper. "I don't know." Rom shrugged. "It showed up on my desk with you name on it, I tested it for anything dangerous and delivered it. Would you like me to open it for you too?"

"No, Smart ass. I will open it." Draco sighed sitting up holding his head.
"Here I brought you this too." Ron teased tossing a hangover potion on the bed with a smirk. "Hermione needed one so I figured you would really need one."

Draco chuckled taking the cork out of the bottle downing the potion. "You're all right Weasley." He smiled as the potion immediately rid him of his headache even if it did taste like cooked cabbage.

After a moment he felt human enough to open the package finding his name in the same familiar untidy scrawl on the paper and ripped it off in excitement opening the box itself his eyes going wide at the contents.

Some of the rarest potions ingredients know to wizarding kind were in the box. Long wispy branches of Faerie willow, short clumps of Dragon heart-string flower, containers of powdered basilisk fang and dragon scales. Draco the pulled out a silk wrapped bundle and carefully unwrapped the colorful branches within, Phoenix feather palm, the rarest potions ingredient in the world and he had an abundance of it right there in his hand. A potions master would pay a fortune to have what he had in front of him.
"But this has only ever grown on the islands of the Bermuda Triangle. It's extinct." Draco exclaimed. "Who, How?" It was then that everything clicked in to place and his eyes went wide. "He's secluded himself on an island in the triangle." he admonished. "Hasn't he?" He looked at Ron who only shrugged. "He's never told me where he is when we talk, and we don't talk often."

Draco's final year on watch flew by with him spending most of it in his potions lab with Severus putting the rare potions ingredients to good use brewing potions that had long been lost and inventing new ones. The day of his last meeting with Ron found the red head sitting at his desk tapping his fingers and looking at the clock. Draco was late.

Draco quickly finished off his potion and apparated to the ministry. He all but ran to Ron's office then blushed slightly. "Sorry mate, I'm so close to the cure." he said sheepishly.

"What are you curing now?" Ron asked with an amused roll of his eyes. He had hidden Draco's newest package in his desk drawer when he had missed their appointment time.
Draco grinned. "Lycanthropy." he said proudly.

"Harry was right about you." Ron smiled. "Right to give you another chance." He slid forward a stack of papers already holding his signature, they need only Draco's to be validated and Draco would be free.

Draco grinned fully as he read through the papers then quickly signed his name before he offered them back to Ron with a shy look in his eyes. "How is he?" he asked quietly.

"How is who?" Ron questioned filing the paper work. "Harry?"

Draco nodded. "I haven't gotten anything from him since the last package. I just want to know he's okay." he admitted shyly.

"He's working on miracles just like you." Ron replied with a smile opening his drawer pulling the small package Harry had sent and sat it on the desk in front of Draco, A letter was on top of the package reading.

Draco,

Congratulations I knew you could do it. Now I've come up with one last thing to help you live your life freely. Rub the lotion in this box over your dark mark, wrap it in the gauze also found in the box and take a hot bath. I will warn you it could be painful.

Good luck,

Harry.

Draco stared surprised and pulled out the potion and the gauze, giving each a sniff trying to figure out what was in each. "He's getting rid of my mark." he whispered.

"He's been working on the formula for the past two years, he wants to give people a chance to live a normal life. Bring real peace to the world he laid his life on the line for." Ron replied with a sad sigh. What Harry was doing off by himself was great but Ron missed his friend. He planned to ask for Hermione's hand in marriage and wanted Harry to be there. But every time they talked Harry refused to return.

Draco gently put the stuff back in the box then smiled. "I wish he'd come back. I'm sure we would have so much to talk about." he said softly.

"I honestly don't know if he will ever come back." Ron shook his head. "I think everything he went through was too much, he may be a recluse forever." He stood holding his hand out to Draco. "Congratulations, you are officially a free man."

Draco smiled softly and shook Ron's hand firmly. "Thank you so much." he said happily.

"And now I have a favor to ask." Ron blushed. "I was wondering if I could make use of your table at the seafood place tonight. I have a very important question to ask my girlfriend." he winked.

Draco smirked and nodded his head. "I fully give my permission. I'll stop by it on my way home and let them know. I hope she says yes mate." he said proudly.

"One last question." Ron blushed dark enough to match his hair."Then I'll let you go to celebrating your freedom with your potion." he teased

Draco chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "Yes my lovable weasel friend?" he teased.

"If I can't talk Harry into coming back, would you be my best man?" Ron asked softly biting his lip.

Draco stared surprised then nodded his head and offered his hand. "I"d be more then honored Ron. I'm honored just to be asked." he said honestly.

Ron grinned from ear to ear pulling Draco into a hug with a laugh. "Thank you Draco." He released the blond. "Now go on home. I have a date to get ready for."

Draco laughed and hugged Ron back. "Alright, write me tomorrow and tell me how it went." he said then turned and left, stopping by the little shop on the way out and telling them to expect Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger for his table.

Ron locked up his office and rushed back to his flat showering and changing into a black silk button up and black dress pants with a white tie and belt before going to pick up a dozen roses and heading to Hermione's flat to pick her up for their date. He knocked on the door hiding the roses behind his back.

Hermione smiled and pulled on strappy purple heals that matched her purple and black halter top dress with a cinched waist and a bow keeping her hair in long wavy curls.

Ron opened the door peeking his head in with a smile. "Where are you my lovely?" He called out walking into the kitchen getting a vase to put the flowers in setting them on the center of the table.

Hermione stepped out and blushed. "Sorry I lost track of time while reading. Is this okay?" she asked a bit shyly.

"Breathtaking." Ron smiled taking her hand and spinning her in against him. "I think I might have to beat competition away with a stick." He teased.

Hermione laughed and kissed his cheek gently. "Flirt." she teased right back.

"Your flirt." He argued gesturing to the flowers. "They pale in comparison to you but what do you think."
"Beautiful." Hermione blushed with a soft smile. "Now will you please tell me where you are taking me?"
"You will just have to wait and see." Ron smiled holding her close and apparating them to the restaurant leading her to the table passed the line of people waiting to be seated.
"But Ron what about all of them?" Hermione questioned in shock before smirking. "Malfoy?" She guessed.

Ron just shrugged pulling her chair out for her before seating himself across from her. "Maybe," He teased. "How do you know I'm not capable of pulling off a romantic evening on my own?"
"Because I know you Ronald." Hermione laughed looking through her menu trying not to show surprise at the prices. "Wow, now I know Malfoy had something to do with this place." she shook her head.
"Fine, he pointed the place out to me one day and let me use his table tonight." Ron rolled his eyes good natured. "The rest was all me I swear."

They ordered their food and enjoyed light chit chat over the meal Ron going out of his way to make Hermione laugh. He loved seeing her happy, seeing her smile. It hadn't been something he saw a lot during the war.
Ron waited until she excused herself to the restroom before speaking to the waiter. When Hermione returned they ordered a piece of cheesecake to share for dessert, perched on top of the cheesecake was a beautiful diamond engagement ring, written on the plate in icing it read. "Will you marry me?"

Hermione looked up at Ron with tears in her eyes and he dropped to one knee in the traditional way. "Hermione, make me the happiest man on earth? Marry me?"

"Of course, of course I will." Hermione nodded happily allowing Ron to take the ring and place it on her finger.

The next morning after Hermione left Ron's flat to go home and call her parents Ron went through the process of getting a hold of Harry, he had to take the cell phone that Harry had sent him and go down the street a few blocks to the park where there wasn't magical interference. He then had to send him a series of words Harry had referred to as a 'text message.' then he had to wait for Harry to call him.

Finally after almost an hour the phone began to ring. "Harry," Ron answered waiting to hear his friends voice.
"Ron, how are you." Harry replied a little bit of static on the line.

"I'm better than perfect mate." Ron laughed. "Hermione and I are getting married, please tell me you'll be there?"
There was a brief silence where even the static vanished and for a moment Ron thought Harry had hung up on him.
"Of course I'll be there mate, you know I couldn't miss it." Harry finally replied.
Ron had to ask. Had to push his luck. "Be my best man?" He questioned softly. Again silence on the other end.
"Look Ron I'll be there but, I don't think me being your best man is a good idea." He murmured Ron barely able to hear him on the phone. "Probably be best if you and Mione are the only ones who see me."

"Come on Harry, no one gives a damn how you look." Ron sighed they'd had this argument again and again.
"I do, Ron." Harry practically growled at him. "I give a damn. Call me when you have a date." He requested before hanging up on the call all together.

Ron kicked the park bench he was standing next to hurting his foot and throwing the phone down in anger. A group of passing kids whispered behind their hands and giggled as he threw his tantrum. When he finally calmed down a little Ron picked up the phone heading back to his flat to send Draco a letter asking him again to be his best man.

Draco shook his head sadly the next time the two of them got together and Ron explained Harry's refusal to be his best man without giving the blond any real detail. That was Harry's place.

Eight months later found Draco standing next to Ron under a gazebo in the Weasley families back yard, the warm June breeze blowing through his hair. Everyone's eyes on the bride.

Hermione stepped carefully down the aisle on the arm of her father. She was dressed in a beautiful white silk gown, her blushing face covered by a white lacy veil. A crimson rose tucked into her deep brown curls pulled into a bun with a few curls framing her face.

Draco however was distracted. Ron had given up the information that Harry would be there hidden somewhere and the blond couldn't help but try to find him somewhere within sight of the wedding. The only problem was, he didn't see him anywhere.
The ceremony was over before Draco had realized it had even started, he hadn't even really remembered handing over the ring he'd held for Ron.
"If I tell you where he is will you be able to deliver your speech at the reception?" Ron asked teasingly as they posed for photo's. The caterers hustling about behind them getting food set up while the guests milled about talking and congratulating the bride and grooms parents.
"Have I been that bad?" Draco chuckled. "I'm sorry I'll be less distracted." He promised smiling as another camera flash went off.
"He's been watching from the upstairs window of the house." Ron glanced up in that direction. "He's spent so much time alone in the past few years, he doesn't know how to be around people anymore."

Draco looked at Ron suspiciously a moment not feeling like his friend was being completely honest with him.
"Maybe he should have some visitors once in a while." He joked to cover up his suspicions posing for the last photo Before they headed to the front table with the rest of the wedding party.
Ron and Hermione couldn't seem to get enough of looking at each other, love oozing out of every pore. It was almost nauseating to Draco but he was glad they were happy.
He stayed focused as promised until time to give his speech. He stood clinking his fork against his glass to quiet everyone before clearing his throat. "How many of you actually thought you'd see me up here in the position of best man?" He laughed looking around at their classmates. "If anyone had told me this is where I would be a few years ago I would have had them shipped of to Mungo's to get their heads checked." He paused for the laughter of the guests. "And while Ron is pigheaded and stubborn with a temper fuse shorter than I've ever seen before, he's also been one of the best friends I could ask for, Hermione, You are ever so lovely. Far to beautiful for Weasel." He teased. "I'm happy for you both and grateful to have found you as my friends. I wish the best luck in the world to both of you." Draco raised a toast and waited until the next person began their speech before slipping away heading to the house. He was determined to see Harry.

"Mr. Malfoy." Draco groaned hearing his name called from behind him he stopped and turned to face Headmistress McGonagall.
"What can I help you with Professor?" He asked with a forced smile on his face.
"Please, you aren't a student anymore call me Minerva." She began. "And Don't worry. I won't keep you long. "She promised. "Professor Snape is retiring Draco, He suggested you as his replacement."

"Me teach?" Draco asked swallowing hard. "He hadn't figured out what he was going to do with his life really, but teaching hadn't even crossed his mind.
"Well yes," Minerva nodded with a smile. "Professor Snape had agreed to stay on one more year to mentor you if you're willing to give it a try."
Draco sighed before biting his lip and nodding his consent. "All right. I'll give it a try but on a one year contract only." He warned. "I'm not sure I can be a teacher."

"You will do fine." Minerva smiled. "If Severus can teach I think anyone can." She winked before turning to head back to the party.

By the time Draco headed into the house Harry was nowhere to be found.