AN: Hi everyone, here is Chapter 2!

Warning: None for now

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, I'm only borrowing for fun :)

Chapter 2, Rebuild

"Hurry up Harry it's about to leave!" Ginny shouted. Harry jumped down the last few stairs and crashed through the door, just managing to place his hand on the flower pot before it glowed and disappeared, dragging Harry and the Weasleys along with it. They landed in a heap in front of the Hogwarts front gate, Professor McGonagall, or is that Headmistress now? Harry thought, was there to greet them. Molly recovered first and walked over to pull her old friend into a hug.

"How are you Minerva?" she asked sincerely.

"I've been better, but I've been worse," was the new headmistress' reply. Her smile was sad. When the rest of the group joined them she noticed Harry standing at the back. "Potter," she croaked. Harry walked up to her and she placed her hands on his shoulders. "It's good to see you," she said, echoing her words from three months earlier.

"It's good to see you too professor," he replied, with an almost real smile.

"Right, let me show you to your tents."

McGonagall led them up the path to the castle, and when they reached the grounds they turned left heading towards the Quidditch pitch, the stadium was still in ruins, but not far from the pitch was a small campsite, housing about 50 tents. It was like a mini version of the Quidditch world cup, Harry thought as they followed her along a row of the makeshift homes.

"These three are yours," she informed them. "It's two to a tent, dinner is served from 6 o'clock around at the south side." She said, pointed in the general direction of the dining area, "I'll leave you to get settled then." With one last smile of acknowledgement she left them to get organised.

Harry felt uncomfortable. He had chanced a glance at Ginny when McGonagall had said "two to a tent," and her eyes had lit up with something Harry only could think of as frightening. There was no doubt she was hoping to share with him. Thankfully George must have noticed the exchange because he stepped in and asked if he would like to share his tent. "Yes, thank you," Harry said, feeling a little too relieved.

After breakfast the next morning Professor McGonagall gave Harry and the Weasleys their assignments. Molly was assigned to one of the makeshift kitchens they'd set up around the school; Arthur and Ginny were given tasks out on the grounds; Percy was part of the Great Hall renovation team and George would be helping restore the portraits. Harry's task was similar to George's, but instead of portraits he was to help restore the suits of armour that had fought so gallantly in the final battle. It would require a little more wand work than some of the other tasks but McGonagall was confident in Harry's talents.

"Welcome to the team Mr Potter," a gruff old man barked. Harry hadn't introduced himself, but of course he didn't need to. The man had a sickeningly false smile on his face that unnerved him and the way he whipped around to look at him was reminiscent of Mad Eye. "Edward Wallace," he said, holding out his grubby hand, Harry shook it. "It's my job to oversee the restoration of the suits of armour here at Hogwarts. We're a small team, just the four of us, but we'll make do."

He nodded in the direction of a young woman kneeling down by one of the suits. "That there's Elizabeth Wood, I believe you knew her younger brother Oliver."

At the mention of her name Elizabeth came over to join them. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you Harry, Oliver talked about you often, best seeker he's ever played with, or so he said anyway. You can call me Lizze."

"Pleased to meet you Lizzie."

"Oi!" Edward's voice cut through their conversation. "Get over here, we have a new recruit!"

Harry was frozen to the spot as he watched none other than his old school rival Draco Malfoy walk towards him. They hadn't seen each other since his hearing. There was definitely something different about Draco, he'd lost his swagger yes, but Harry couldn't help feeling that it was than that.

"Mr Malfoy, Mr Potter will be joining our team. Now I don't care about any past rivalries the two of you might have had at school, you're working together now and I expect you to behave like adults, do you both understand me?"

"Yes, sir." Draco responded. Harry nodded, not taking his eyes off his old rival.

"Good, let's get started then."

Harry and Draco ignored each other the entire time they worked. Of all the people to be grouped with, Harry thought, it just had to be Malfoy. It wasn't that he hated him, he didn't. After looking back over his life, Harry realised that he never really had hated him. Draco had just been misunderstood. His whole life he had been expected to act a certain way, and as he got older, there were serious consequences for not doing what he was told, wether he wanted to or not.

Over the last year however, Harry had seen a different side to him. The way he had looked at the manor, the fear, the hopelessness, he had never seen Malfoy like that. And after the incident with the fiendfire, he thought he saw something else flash through his rival's eyes; gratitude. It was in that moment that he knew there was more to Draco than he had previously thought. That was why he had vouched for him during his hearing, because for the briefest of moments, Harry had seen the real Draco.

After a couple of hours of working on the suits Edward announced that it was time for lunch. The group made their way to the nearest makeshift dining area, not far from the front door to the school. Molly was there serving up the food. As none of the other Weasleys were there yet Harry sat by himself, and he let himself get lost in his own thoughts.

"Mind if I sit here?" a voice cut in.

"Course not," he said distractedly, not looking up from his plate.

After the two had sat in silence for a while Harry began to wonder who had come to sit with him. He looked up, and found Malfoy.

"What?" Malfoy asked when he noticed Harry staring at him.

"Nothing." Harry shrugged, then looked away. Draco was confused. Something was not right with his old school rival.

"How was your first day?" George asked when Harry sat down at the table for dinner. He didn't reply and pulled his plate towards him, using his food as an excuse not to talk. Instead they listened to the other four Weasleys telling each other about their tasks, until George shouted "what the bloody hell is he doing here?" Harry looked over his shoulder and saw Malfoy taking a seat at another table.

"It's part of his sentence," he explained, "he has to repair the damage he helped make."

"Oh," was all George could say.

"He's in my work team," Harry said quietly.

The red head gawped at him. "What the hell are they thinking? Putting the two of you together, you don't need to put up with him, you deserve better than that after all you've done!"

"I don't mind." Harry said even quieter. For the rest of the meal George watched his friend closely, trying to puzzle him out.

Draco walked up to Harry's table with his lunch floating in front of him. It was their second day working together. "Potter," he said with a nod when he got to the table. This time Harry looked up. "Malfoy," he said back, a ghost of a smile appearing on his face. He sat down, and they ate in silence again as they had done the day before.

Draco couldn't help watching Harry, and he was disturbed by the change in him. It was as though something was missing, but he couldn't quite figure out what. When he finished his meal he stood up to leave, but before he walked away he turned back towards him. "Er, see you around then," he said awkwardly before hurrying off.

Harry watched him go feeling rather confused. Why was Malfoy even talking to him? Why wasn't he teasing or making fun of him like he used to? He figured he'd only sat at his table the day before because there was no where else to sit but why had he had come back today?

The answer was that Draco had been completely surprised by Harry's general behaviour since coming to the rebuild, he was quiet and reserved, hardly speaking to anyone, and he was genuinely curious, and, he would only admit this to himself, worried.

When Harry came to lunch the next day Malfoy was already sitting at the table. "Hello again," he said as he took his seat.

"Hi," Draco said back, then after a pause added, "How are you?" Harry was completely surprised by the simple question.

"I'm fine," he answered. "You?"

Draco shrugged, "Alright I guess." That was the extent of their conversation that day.

The day after that they actually had a real conversation! They chatted about their work with the suits of armour. The spells they used were rather tricky and it was good to get each others' opinion. Harry hadn't noticed before but Malfoy was really intelligent, and he found himself wondering what it would be like to listen to a conversation between him and Hermione.

They continued their talk the next afternoon and concluded that it would perhaps be easier if they started working in pairs. Harry didn't know if Malfoy was suggesting they work together but before he could ask he had changed the subject.

"So what are you doing for the weekend?" he asked casually.

Harry watched him for a moment before he answered. "Just going back to the burrow, that's the Weasleys' home," he added. "What about you?"

"I have to stay here," Draco replied, bowing his head in shame.

He didn't know why but Harry felt sorry for him, he had done a lot of bad things in his life, and this was his punishment, but it seemed to Harry that he had already suffered enough.

"Right, sorry, I knew that."

"I never said thanks by the way, you know, for speaking for my mother and I."

"I only told them the truth," Harry shrugged, "besides, I might have hated your guts in school, but I never wanted to see you in Azkaban." He felt himself shudder. Any mention of the prison always made him think of Sirius.

Draco seemed lost for words, and after studying Harry for a moment longer he'd stood up to leave. Before he walked away though he turned back around and said "Have a good weekend Harry." It wasn't until Harry had watched the tall blonde figure disappear out of sight that he realised that for the first time Malfoy had called him by his first name. For some reason he couldn't understand it made him feel a little warmer inside.

The weekend at the Burrow was rather uneventful. Percy left the moment he apparated within the wards to go stay with his girlfriend, and Arthur had some business to attend to at the ministry.

"Right then, who wants lunch?" Molly asked the remaining three children, although they're really not children anymore, she had to remind herself. Ginny offered to lend a hand. After the two women went into the kitchen, George went up to his bedroom, saying he wasn't feeling too well. Harry suspected that he was lying but he didn't say anything. Instead he returned to his favourite spot on the bench in the garden, and tried to think about the week that had just passed, has it really only been a week? he thought. With all the work he hadn't felt like doing his meditating while there, he had just been too tired, so he thought about what he would tell Hermione if she were here now with her notebook.

He immediately thought of Malfoy. He didn't count it as part of his exercises but he had thought about him a lot over the last week. He had decided that his old enemy had definitely changed. Wether he was just trying to stay out of trouble or had genuinely had a change of heart yet remained to be seen, but for now Harry liked the new Draco. They got on well and he was looking forward to working with him. There it was again! That warm fuzzy feeling!

At the very same moment Harry was "meditating" outside the burrow, Draco was lying in his tent at Hogwarts thinking about Harry. Although this was certainly not a new past time for the Slytherin, It was a completely different Harry he was thinking about. This Harry seemed so quiet and lost, and his eyes were so empty. He'd lost his oomph. Draco did not like it, he wanted the old Harry back, the Harry he had fallen in love with all those years ago. He resolved then that he was going to help him, he was going to do whatever it took to get his old Harry back.

Later that evening, once Molly and Arthur had gone to bed, Harry and the others retired to the living room. He was really tired but he didn't feel like going up to Ron's bedroom alone just yet. Suddenly Ginny jumped to her feet.

"Ugh that's it! I've just about had enough of you two!" she exclaimed

"Come again?" asked George.

"You, and him," she continued, pointing at each one in turn.

"We haven't done anything." Harry joined in.

"That's my point. The two of you do absolutely nothing! You've spent the last week hiding in your tent and since you came back here sulking about on your own all day, and I'm sick of it!"

"Well what do you suggest we do?" George shouted back, stung by her words. A spark of familiar mischief flashed through her bright eyes.

"I found brooms, four of them, in a closet in the changing rooms by the quidditch pitch, we should go flying."

"I don't know Gin," Harry said sounding unsure, he really didn't feel up to it. Ginny's face fell.

"You two used to be fun you know."

He hated seeing her upset like this. "Alright, when we get back to Hogwarts we'll come flying with you," he said resignedly.

"How was your weekend?" Draco asked as the two made their way to their first suit of armour.

"Alright, you?"

Draco remained silent, but it didn't matter, Harry knew what he'd been doing, he'd watched him on the marauders map. The tiny dot had wandered all around the castle, lingering in the dungeons and on occasion disappearing from the map entirely, he knew what that meant. If Draco didn't want to talk about it then that was up to him.

Their first day working together actually turned out to be a super success; they managed to secure twice as many suits back into their homes with all the correct enchantments in place. "We make a good team Potter." Draco said before heading off towards his tent. The warmth in Harry's stomach returned.

At dinner Harry tried talking his way out of the little flying session, but Ginny was having none of it. She just laughed at his pitiful excuses, brushing them off, that is until she spotted Malfoy lurking nearby. There was absolutely no getting out if it. If it came to it Harry and George were going to be forced out of their tents and marched down to the quidditch pitch.

With brooms in hand they walked onto the grass, and Harry was suddenly overwhelmed by the rush of memories. He remembered how nervous he had been the first time he stepped out with his Gryffindor team mates, just 11 years old. The anticipation of the audience as they watched him mount his broom and rise into the air. The disbelief and joy when he coughed up his first snitch, the snitch Dumbledore had left him in his will. And when he pushed off the ground, rising slowly at first, then gaining speed, he remembered the rush of the wind. The freedom of denying gravity. He remembered!

Ginny and George joined him in the air. With one quick glance at her brother and friend the feisty red head took off, leaving an echo of "Well, try and catch me then!" Harry leaned forward on his broom and began chasing after her. At first it seemed his heart wasn't really in it. He would get so close but then she would slip away, pulling off some manoeuvre he dared not try yet. When he picked up his pace George joined in, trying to throw Ginny off by knocking into her. Then, when it seemed like he might just catch her he was suddenly distracted by a blonde figure standing down below. He gave up the chase and dived down.

"Do you want to join us?" Harry asked breathlessly as he landed on the grass next to him.

"No," Draco retorted automatically, then stammered "well, what I mean is, you guys look like you're having fun and I don't want to, I'll just, I'll just watch."

"You have a broom."

"So"

"So, you obviously came here to fly." Draco said nothing, just watched as Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out his snitch. "It's a shame, Ginny's great but I could do with a real challenge." With that he released the snitch, and took off after it. When he looked back Malfoy was mounting his broom. Game on.

Ginny watched from the side as the two danced around each other, diving and flipping and rolling. She felt a stab of jealousy that he had not flown the same way when chasing her. Over the last year she had been certain that Harry would come back to her, but recently it seemed like she may have been wrong. It was clear he wasn't the same person he had been before, when they had clung to each other in dark and desperate times. He was free now, they all were, and he no longer needed her.

There was a loud "whoop" from the other side of the pitch that distracted her from her thoughts and she turned round to see Malfoy triumphantly holding the snitch. She watched as Harry flew up to him, expecting him to be disappointed and perhaps call him a git, but he was grinning.

"Good catch Draco!" he exclaimed instead. Draco felt his heart racing, not from the chase or from finally beating Harry to the snitch. It was the sound of his name on Harry's lips. There eyes met for the briefest of moments and to Draco's delight he could see a little something in them, they were no longer empty pools of nothingness. His plan was going to work. He was going to save Harry Potter