A/N Forgot to mention in the last chapter that this is kinda AU as far as things like Dumbledore's alive and Draco didn't ever try to kill him. Draco hasn't taken the mark. Snape is still of questionable loyalty but no more questionable than in book 5. Basically disregard the whole deal from 6 involving Draco other than his usual ass ness. Everything else did happen though except Snape still teaches potions and Harry is in his NEWT Class Dumbledore just bullied Snape into it.

Harry was only moderately surprised when Malfoy joined him on the steps of Hogwarts the next night. After all smoking is a group activity smoking alone sometimes took the pleasure out of it a little bit. Once again Malfoy nodded hello and lit a cigarette. Harry took a drag and watched Malfoy do the same. He felt the silence stretch out between them in a way that was different than the night before. Last night there had been quiet acceptance tonight however Harry felt as though something should be said.

Malfoy felt the same apparently because after a moment he said

"Never would have guessed you for a smoker Potter," Harry was quite for a moment taking a drag and nodded.

"It surprises a lot of people. Though honestly you're the last person I would except to take up a muggle habit."

Malfoy shrugged.

"My father smokes a pipe but I've never been fond of them myself. This seemed the natural next step."

"I see" and they were silent. Listening to the gentle breeze and their own breathing until once again they parted in the Entrance Hall.

Two nights later.

Harry once again banished his cigarette butt and watched Malfoy do the same before lighting another.

"Do you ever wonder where they go when we vanish them?" Harry asked. Malfoy looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Well they have to go somewhere they cannot simply cease to exists. That's not how matter works."

"Matter?"

"Matter. Its something I learned in school when I was young everything is made of something there is never more or less there are only different kinds."

"Oh, I'd never really thought about it"

"Do you think maybe they turn into air, like transfiguration or maybe there's someplace

somewhere in the universe simply filled with all the things we vanish."

Malfoy thought about it for a long moment before responding.

"I suppose it must be like transfiguration because so many wizards banish so many things and that number is always growing. Eventually that space would fill up."

"Yes I suppose it would even if it were a very large space." Harry nodded and finished his cigarette and stood.

That night for the first time Malfoy said goodnight. Harry did as well.

One Week Later

When Malfoy joined Harry on the steps Harry was almost pleased. He wasn't sure why exactly. Over the last few days he and Malfoy had spoken regularly of such things as spells stars and the world in general. Malfoy sat down once again and lit his cigarette. He looked thoughtfully at the stars for a moment before abruptly turning to Harry.

"Does it suck?" he asked. Harry stared at him.

"Does what suck?"

"Being a hero, I mean I saw in the paper today about the attack in London and I thought to myself how happy I'd be once you finished him. And then I thought how dreadful it must be to have it just assumed that you would save the world."

Harry looked at Draco in surprise before taking a very long drag on his cigarette and releasing the smoke. He nodded slowly.

"Yeah it does suck but I think it could suck more. I mean at least there's hope. Not for me mind you I'm almost certain to die but for everyone else. I'm glad they have hope even if it may be misplaced. People need hope to get by."

"Yes I suppose they do." Draco didn't ask anymore questions and Harry was not particularly inclined to volunteer more. He was thinking about Voldemort now and how often the attacks had been happening in the last month. He knew soon he'd have to face him and he'd been training non stop with both Snape and Dumbledore. He also knew that he was no where near ready. Soon the boys had finished smoking and returned to their respective rooms.

The next night Draco once again looked pensive.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked him quietly. He felt that last night's brief discussion had earned him the right to ask personal questions.

"Last night," and for the first time for as long as Harry had known him. Draco hesitated.

"Last night you said there was no hope for you. You said you were certain to die. Do you really believe that?"

"Yes" Harry answered simply. He knew it was true and saw no reason to hide it from Draco. They weren't exactly friends and besides it felt nice to say it to someone. Ron and Hermione would be horrified of course if they knew he believed that. So he'd never told them because he knew they'd try to convince him otherwise.

"But why? I mean Dumbledore's training you and so is Severus. I thought you'd be sure of winning."

"Well I'm not as strong as him. Every time I've met him and walked away with my life it was mostly luck. Dumbledore and Snape can prepare me to face him they can even prepare me to kill him. I think I can kill him but I don't think I'll get through it healthy enough to live. When the time comes we'll both die."

Draco nodded and for some reason felt very very sad. He didn't like Harry not in the least. He couldn't imagine living with the fact that you were going to die. Malfoy's are inherently afraid of death. They'd been known to lengths nearly as great as the Dark Lords to avoid it.

"Are you afraid?" Draco asked Harry.

"Terrified"

"Then why not run? Go to America?"

"Because. . .Well how does Dumbledore put it Bravery is not the absence of fear. It is doing what we have to do in spite of the fear. I have to face Voldemort whether he scares me or not."

"That's such a Gryffindor thing to say."

Harry laughed and laughed and after a moment Draco did as well. He decided he liked it when Harry laughed. Little did he know Harry was thinking the same thing about him.