The first week was awkward, to say the least. Upon arrival, Mrs. Weasley smiled kindly and welcomed him with open arms to her home. But there was something there in her smile that was subtle that she wasn't as welcoming as she appeared. Nevertheless, she smiled and hugged him with too much enthusiasm "Hello, dear! Welcome to our home make yourself comfortable and please call me Molly," she said to him but he never could bring himself to call her on a first-name basis, it was already strange enough that he called her husband by his first name. Draco couldn't believe he was in the home of the Weasley's, the very family his father complained about and ridiculed and belittled because of their financial status and the size of their family ratio. But it wasn't as his father always described it to be. It wasn't tiny at all from what he saw, it was no manor but it was quaint and nice. It looked off, the structure was tilted sideways held up by magic, obviously. He knew if it wasn't for his current situation he wouldn't be so civil and nice about the whole thing but it is what it is. If this situation taught him or have done anything to him as a person was that it humbled him a bit and his mother did teach him proper manners and etiquette while staying at someone else's home. It also showed him and his mother that money can't always buy you anything or get you out of everything. So he would have to endure it until his year sentence was up.

The week was almost done, but he started getting used to the routine Mrs. Weasley had in terms of chores and such. Molly was the most gracious of hostesses despite her little less than obvious cautiousness. Her cooking was fantastic he had to admit. Since he was almost a free man his appetite was slowly returning and he felt like he was starting to fill out his clothes a bit more in the short amount of time he's been there. Almost as if Molly was magically adding a weight gaining factor to his plates...which was entirely possible. As he was reluctantly helping Mrs. Weasley clean up after dinner one evening she insisted he let her cut his hair. Draco stepped back a bit and instinctively brush his fingers through his hair shoving it out of eyes lifting his fringe "I'm really good if I do say so myself," she said insistently "It'll really brighten up that handsome face and lovely eyes you've got." He blushed slightly "Uh, I'm not sure Mrs. Weasley. I've never really get it cut by anyone other than at the salon in France Claire de-" Molly's smile was slowly fading into an offended scowl. So this is probably why Potter suggested a haircut, Draco thought. He sighed and slumped his shoulders in defeat "I mean sure, why not!" She squealed with delight and got straight to it. She sat him down in a chair in the yard just outside the kitchen and wrapped a towel around him and began to cut away. Draco was extremely worried so much he shut his eyes, opening them to see bunches of his pale hair falling down in front of his face down to his chest. As he saw the hair fall he also caught Harry chuckling to himself but staring right into Draco's eyes….What was he staring at? Is it that bad? He cringed at the thought. The more he worried the more Harry laughed, so much so he was holding his torso in as if he was trying-trying to hold himself together. During that time Ron had left the Burrow to go to a pub in Diagon Alley with Seamus, Dean, Neville, pleading Harry to tag along but Harry had to refuse. Being as he couldn't leave Draco and he couldn't take Draco even if he wanted to because if a reporter saw them it would be catastrophic.

Twenty minutes later and "Aaaaand DONE!" said Molly with a huge smile on her face, very much pleased with her handy-work. Draco was fuming with worry, it had been the longest twenty minutes of his life his hair was everything to him and the fact that Harry was laughing so hard he couldn't contain himself he even retreated back inside the house, it had to be bad. "Alright, stand so I can brush off the hair." He moved robotically as the tension from the suspense was eating away at him as Molly accio'd a mirror from the house and flew right into her hand. He shut his eyes as she came around holding the mirror "Well what do you...For Merlin's sake open your eyes!" Draco jumped in surprise, following her command. When he opened them he was staring right into his own reflection, and to his surprise, it was actually real… "Good," he said running his fingers through his hair, grabbing the mirror from Molly's hand. The length of his hair was much shorter than it was originally but she kept some length to it at the top, combed it over and gave it volume and texture with some sort of pomade. It wasn't stiff like when he used gel to sleek it down. "There you go dear now we can see your beautiful face!" Molly said as she cleaned up the hair and dust off the chair. "It looks great Mrs. Weasley, thank you!" She smiled kindly "Anytime dear."

Draco dusted himself off more and walk back inside and made his way upstairs to his bedroom. As he reached to push the door Harry pulled the door, opening it making Draco stumble into Harry's chest knocking them both down to the ground. "Beg your pardon!" Draco said as he lay on top of him, trying to scramble to his feet but he couldn't seem to hold his balance long enough to stand making him crumble back down to Harry's chest. Harry propped himself up on his elbows trying to sit up but instead came in contact with Draco's head smashing them together making both of their heads spin knocking Harry's glasses off his face onto the floor. "Bloody hell, Malfoy!" Harry said as he rubbed his head, his blurred vision wasn't helping the oncoming headache that was arising. "Sorry, Potter. I didn't know you were in here and I certainly didn't know you were attempting to open the door," Draco said as he rubbed his head as well.

Harry continued to rub his head trying to keep the pain at bay but without his glasses, his poor vision only added to a headache. "Whatever. Could you make yourself useful and look around for my glasses?" Draco shook his head trying to shake off the ringing in his ears but all the same said: "Yeah, sure." He got on his hands and knees and started looking around when he finally found them under his bed on his side of the room. "I've got them," he called out and crawled over to Harry not quite ready to stand up. Draco handed them over to him putting them right into Harry's hand, closing his fingers around them "Finally! Could you be any slower?" Harry remarked harshly. He put them on adjusting them around his ears "Watch where you're go-" Harry stumbled to finish his sentence as his eyes leveled with Draco's. Harry was amazed at what a simple haircut can do to a guy. Draco's face looked much brighter and much clearer without all that hair falling in front of his face. Those dark circles were slowly fading away making his steel-gray eyes really light up his entire face, which was a lot fuller looking, smoothing out the sharpness in his face but still retaining its' definition. Draco's eyes stared into Harry's attempting to read his expression, he was confused but irritated at Harry's tone "I said I was sorry, didn't I?" he said not as harshly as he thought it was and scrambled up to his feet, brushing off his pants. Harry attempted to stand up as well but he fell back on his ass. "Uhh..little help here?" sticking up his hand in the air waiting for Draco to grab it. Draco rolled his eyes but went over to him and clasped onto his offered hand. "What? Too weak from the fall, Potter?" he said trying to sound like his old arrogant self, though somehow it didn't sound or feel right anymore. Not like it used to. As he pulled Harry up on his feet, he couldn't help but notice Harry's callused fingers and the scars that decorated his hand. Harry picked up on his curiousness and pulled away abruptly, clearing his throat "Uh-hmm! Well...thanks.." Draco said nothing grabbed a book from the nearby shelf and went over to his own bed and began to read. He didn't think much of his odd behavior just a few seconds ago because he could understand not wanting to show people his scars especially if they're caught staring at them like he was.

But one thing he couldn't help himself from asking was "Potter?" he asked curiously. Not waiting from a response from the boy who was busying himself with writing a letter on the desk near the window. "Why were you laughing earlier?" and in that instant, Harry remembered and busted out into laughter. "HAHAHAHA! OMG YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN YOUR FACE!" Harry shouted out to him, hunching over the desk for support. "YOU WERE SO FUCKING SCARED! HAHAHA! Gimme one second" catching his breath getting the last of his giggles out...took a deep breath, exhaled looked back to look at Draco and began again "And here I thought none of the 'old Draco' wasn't alive anymore...that you were a completely changed guy. But I have to say I'm a little relieved." Draco put the book down beside him, stood up and walked over to the desk "Wh-what do you mean?"

Harry chuckled putting down the quill and turned over to him "Look. Ever since I saw you at the minister's office and brought you here, you've been too...I don't know the right way to describe it. Too timid, I want to say. It was annoying really." Draco was flabbergasted at what he just heard "Uh, Again. What do you mean? How does that have anything to do with 'the look on my face' when Mrs. Weasley was cutting my hair?" Harry exhaled "Malfoy, I've always known you to be this pompous, entitled, brat! But since we've met again, you've been timid and frightened of all of us here. But when Molly started cutting your hair I saw just a little bit of that superficial rich brat again. I was relieved a bit." Draco still didn't quite understand but he let it go and walked back over to his side of the room.

Harry finished up his letter to Ginny sealed it and threw it on the bed, deciding to send off with Kai in the morning. He was about to crawl into bed but Malfoy's hair kept catching his attention. Draco was engrossed in his book, noticing how Draco kept running his fingers through his newly cut hair making Harry want to do it too. He felt how excited Draco was, reading that book as the feeling came hovering around Harry's own emotion. This empath ability he was slowly learning to control or rather understand was quite fascinating. At some point, Harry made his way to Draco's side of the room and reached a hand towards Draco's thick hair running his hand through it once, "It came out great though…" Harry started as Draco's head snapped up in surprise of the touch with a confused look on his face "Your hair I mean. It really brightened up your face," Harry said as he continued holding his eye contact with Draco, who he felt become nervous and self-conscious. Harry's eyes shifted between those stormy confused eyes to his pale blonde hair. Instead of batting away Harry's hand Draco said blushingly "You think so?" In which Harry retreated his hand shocked at himself for doing such an outrageous act and the entranced look in his emerald eyes faded back to reality.

Harry said clearing his throat "Yeah, umm Molly did a great job," as he walked back to his bed, "Well good night," he called out as he crawled into the covers and pretended to go to sleep as he lay there wondering, Why did I do that? Why didn't he punch me or something? And as he lay there wondering he felt Draco's emotions hovering again; confused, nervous...embarrassed? Draco just watched as Harry went back to his bed almost robotically, Why did he do that? And why did I let him? "Yeah good night," he called back to Harry. "Nox," he said as he flicked his wand. It took him hours before he finally fell asleep. Trying to grab a handle on his own emotions remembering Harry could feel them as well. And finally when he did Draco found himself in a too familiar dream. Or rather nightmare.

"Father, please!" Draco shouted as his father beat him over and over and over again. "You disgust me! You aren't a real man, you're just as bad as the mudbloods!" his father retorted as he continued beating him. "PLEASE!" Draco begged as he curled into a fetal position. His heartbeat sped to abnormal heights. I'm such a coward, he thought to himself. Why didn't I try harder to resist?! How could I let this happen! It's my fault. My fault!

Harry woke up to the sound of ragged breathing and painful moaning from across the room. Harry shoved the blanket off himself as he stood up making his way across the room towards where the blonde was tossing and turning and mumbling. "Malfoy?," he casted a nonverbal lumos, eyes half-lidded and groggily he shook Malfoy lightly when he suddenly felt a burning sensation on his left forearm. "Ah! What the-" in that moment he realized what was happening "Malfoy," he called out "wake up!" he said as he flipped the cover off him revealing the tossing blonde digging his nails into his arm so deep it drew blood. "Malfoy! Snap out of it!" Harry shouted as he grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him harshly.

Draco began to trembling and the pained filled moans grew louder and louder until he was screaming in agony. "Father PLEASE!" Fear. Anguish. Guilt...were filling up Harry. He never felt such emotions himself since the war, but these were Malfoy's feelings and he was drowning in them. Harry needed to do something fast. "MALFOY!" Harry screamed, trying to shake Malfoy out of his trance. Draco's emotions were becoming overwhelming for Harry as he was beginning to feel them within himself, overtaking him. He started feeling terrified, guilty, and his anxiety was becoming his own and it scared the living shit out of him. SLAP!

Draco's eyes were almost bulging out his eye sockets in terror as he jumped off the bed. He was panting, sweat dripping down his face as he tried to catch his breath. Draco blinked, looked up into Harry's face. He saw the anxiety that was etched across Harry's own face that was covered in sweat. Realizing that anxiety etched across his face was his own, projected onto Harry. He then looked down feeling a warm sticky substance that made the the air around him smell of metal and rust. Draco gasped shoveling his sleeve down not caring that he was getting it stained with his own blood. "Um...I-I-I'm s-s-sorry I w-w-woke you, P-P-Potter." Draco his face drenched in a cold sweat. He was shivering with fear and anxiety he never met Harry's gaze as he made his way to the bathroom. Draco was sure Harry was looking at him with pity and disgust. "Malfoy?" Harry called out, his voice shaken a bit, but Draco didn't answer and didn't look back. Harry followed him as he reached the bathroom door grabbed his wounded arm as gently as he could muster. "Look at me," Harry called out softly. Draco flinched, shivering as he looked up into his Harry's eyes that were filled with understanding and kindness "It's alright, Malfoy. You're safe here," he said reassuringly as he rolled up his sleeve to take a look at the damage Draco caused. Harry saw that day in the minister's office when he took that oath that Draco self harmed but he didn't realize how gruesome it could be. His arm looked as if he was mauled by an animal, if Harry hadn't woken him up when he did, Malfoy would have dug deeper causing damage to his tendons and veins.

Just then Arthur was in the room along with Molly, wand at the ready, looking just as shaken up as Harry and then upon further inspection of the room they saw Draco's outstretched injured arm still in Harry's hands. "Oh my dear boy!" Molly said in a terrified whisper but she quickly snapped out of it "Harry, quickly rinse off that blood and bring him over to the desk. I'll mend him there." As Harry walked a shaken Draco to the bathroom sink and ran cold water over the injury to help soothe the irritation, Molly busied herself with cleaning up the room with a scouring charm on the floors and replacing the bed sheets and comforter with fresh ones. As Harry continued to run the water over the wound he glanced up to look at Draco, his expression was blank and void of emotion and feeling but Harry knew otherwise. "Harry put a clean towel under Draco's arm and bring him over here."

It was almost 5 o'clock in the morning when Molly finally patched him up. When Arthur finally spoke "I should let your mother know-" Draco head snapped up as practically shouted "No! Please. She..she's been through enough," Draco said sadly. "It won't happen again, I swear…" Draco begged him. Arthur sighed looking torn between he knew was right and with what Draco wanted "Alright, I won't tell her," he said finally "but you should," as he walked out the room. Draco was relieved but he knew he was right he should tell her, but he didn't want to cause her any more pain. Draco sighed in relief, but something else made him feel a bit anxious...he relieved Harry had sat by him the entire time, he never left his side. Harry looked just as exhausted and emotionally drained as he himself felt. As Molly told him some final instructions on what to do and what not to do with his injured arm, she cleaned up the desk took the soiled towel and said with a kind smile "I'll go start up breakfast." And walked out the room leaving them both there alone again.

Draco didn't want to talk about what happened and he hoped Harry would know that as well when he got up and made his way to the bed and slipped under the comforter and laid with his back to Harry. "It's alright, Malfoy. I understand," Harry whispered as he made his way to the door and slipped out. Leaving Draco's mind filled with questions; How can he understand what I'm going through? He could never know what it feels like...or...maybe he can.

A few hours later into the morning, Ron came home hungover and sleepy as he sat in a chair next to Harry who was just sitting there nursing a cup of coffee that had gotten cold, too lost in thought to even drink. "Hey mate," said Ron sheepishly "Is my mum up? I can't let her see me like this," he said slurring his words slightly. "What's wrong mate? Looks like you had one hell of a night yourself," he said jokingly only when Harry didn't respond he asked more seriously "What's going on?" Harry sighed heavily and just looked at Ron and shook his head "Malfoy-" he started to say but was quickly cut off by Ron "Wha that prat do? I knew it was all an act! I fuckin' knew-" Harry cut him off before he could go on "Ron! He didn't do anything wrong! Malfoy is different now maybe not completely but some part of him is tortured by… You know what? You wouldn't understand.." Ron became irritated "Oh and you do? You barely know the bloke, he's only been here a week and you think you know him? Wake the fuck up Harry! His true colors will show sooner or later and you're going to feel really stupid when he turns out to be the same old fucker he always was and always will be!" and with that Ron stormed up the stairs slamming the door with a BAM!

That left Harry to his thoughts as he poured himself a fresh cup of coffee and walked out the back door and just lost in the thought again. Harry doesn't understand himself what compelled him into agreeing to step up to the task when Arthur spoke to him about it. He didn't have much of a choice, to be honest, considering he only had about 15 minutes to decide and being that he was Draco's only chance at freedom. Which he probably didn't deserve just like he didn't deserve that reference letter he wrote so he wouldn't have to see him again in the near future. Alas, as destiny would have it, was not the case. But...If Harry was being honest with himself he did it because he didn't want to be alone anymore. His two best friends were dating and Ginny was no longer in the picture. What was I thinking! Harry thought to himself but another part of him, the part that compels him to help people who need him, that needed to be satisfied is what brought him to the decision to do it. And now it was for a whole other reason he didn't ever expect, especially because it was Draco Malfoy.

Later that afternoon, Draco finally woke up and saw a note on his nightstand that read:

Draco,

Please take this potion as soon as you wake up, it'll help ease the pain. Have a biscuit with it. You need something in your belly before you take it. Everyone except for Harry went to my son Bill and his wife's home for a visit. I hope you feel better.

-Molly

He took a bite of the biscuit and quickly downed the potion. The pain suddenly soothing away into a dull irritation.

He took a walk around the hillside not straying too far from the house and just sat under a tall sycamore tree that sat just on top a hilltop that overlooked the house. It provided beautiful cool shade and a lovely breeze and Draco just sat there and thought about what his life could be expected in the coming future trying his hardest not to think about what happened last night or the nightmare. So he let his mind wander to odd and various things.

Being a former Death Eater meant that no one would want to hire him in any respectable job. And now that Malfoy Industries has gone under for the same reasons, he wasn't sure what he was gonna do. Draco was well off on both sides of his family; the Malfoy's and the Black's, so even if he could never get a job or career of his own he and his mother will still live as comfortably as they always have. But he wanted to do something for himself by earning his own money and rebuilding the Malfoy name in a new light. Not only for his sake but for his mother's as well. But he wasn't sure yet what he wanted to pursue.

He thought about Hogwarts and what he might expect. Draco new he wasn't going to be welcomed back, even from his own House. Being as he betrayed the Dark Lord and his fellow Death Eaters. His family (he and his mother) were in cahoots with Harry Potter towards the end of the war that ultimately helped Potter defeat Lord Voldemort. Being as a good majority of Slytherin Houses' families were Death Eaters or were in favor of Voldemort's philosophies and beliefs...Let's just say he wasn't welcome. None of his former friends that weren't involved with that didn't write to him after the war, much less those who were involved. Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, and Theo Nott were among the ones that were involved by association (their parents). They were the closest thing he had to real friends. Especially, Blaise Zabini who was always there to listen to his rants and complaining, even when he had his own problems with his promiscuous beautiful mother, who was as Draco heard, on her eighth husband. Blaise never said much about her and her various husbands, but from what he did say about them was that he didn't like it. Particularly, because he would get into fights with other students for saying vulgar things about his beautiful mother...and about him. See, Blaise also had a reputation around Hogwarts. He too was beautiful and refine just like his mother and also a bit promiscuous as well, not caring with who it was with as long as they were also attractive. Blaise was into both genders as long as they were fit and Draco never knew of this. He never met anyone of that sort and he didn't believe the rumors either until one day...

Once in 5th year, Draco went off to find Blaise as he didn't show up for dinner in the Great Hall, after dinner Draco walked back towards the Slytherin Dormitory when he heard something behind a door. The noise sounded like someone in pain he thought initially so he walked in expecting to see Crabbe or Goyle bullying a first-year again but it wasn't. Draco had just walked in on Blaise shagging the Ravenclaw pretty-boy, Alexander McQueen. Draco stood there in shock, frozen as Blaise had McQueen on his back on the table and thrusting fast into him with his legs clenched around his hips, feet curled, making the boy underneath him quiver and moan louder in ecstasy as he came. Cum spraying onto his stomach and moaned "Ahh! Blaise!" and soon after a few more thrusts Blaise soon followed just as he came mumbling something inaudible under his breath. His dark chest exposed through a few opened buttons of his shirt, beaded with sweat, panting. The moans and sighs as they both tried to catch their breath subsided, he pulled out, when Blaise noticed a blonde-haired figure at the door, eyes wide "Draco!" his voice a little hoarse. But it was like velvet to Draco's ears but it also knocked him back to reality "S-sorry!" he mumbled as he stormed out into the empty corridor and hastily made his way to his dorm.

Draco's mind was filled with all sorts of questions but he couldn't stop thinking about the look on the boy's face as Blaise filled him up, trembling with pleasure, cooing with delight with each thrust. And Blaise, Blaise with his quidditch trained body, muscular and slim build, the high of the pleasure etched across his contoured beautiful features. That night Draco jerked off to those images in the shower...Blaise tried to explain and apologize to him the next day on their way to potions class about what he saw "Draco! It's not what you think. Well, it is exactly what you think, but let me explain I'm not-" but Draco pretended as if nothing happened saying "What are you talking about? I have no idea what you're saying, mate," and walked to his seat. Truth be told, Draco was dying with curiosity and interest wanting to ask him questions about the boy...about their relationship. Everything. But he never did ask him and never reapproached the subject and treated Blaise the same way he always had. But underneath Draco's facade, he was pining for Blaise to make him his as he did to that Ravenclaw boy. Draco never thought he would look at another boy that way, let alone Blaise in that way, with such interest and dare he think it, love? And he did, though he never let on and never ever told anyone of his true feelings for the man who was supposed to be his friend. One day, he thought, I'll tell him before summer break. Though Draco never thought the year would end with his father in Azkaban, let alone become a Death Eater himself. It was nice though to see Blaise on the train 6th year going to Hogwarts. He'd grown yet again beating him in height by a few inches he noticed as he made his way to sit across from Draco.

"Draco," god he loved the way he said his name "what's wrong mate? You look as if you haven't slept in weeks? You alright?" His thickly groomed brow arched questionly. He was right on all accounts; he didn't feel well because he hadn't eaten well he felt like shit sitting there and exhaustion was taking him over but he couldn't let his guard down.

His chocolate skin glistening against the rays of sunlight beaming through the compartment window. His slightly parted full lips, the almond shape of his hazel eyes, his strong jawline…damn he was beautiful in every way he thought inwardly but Draco couldn't get distracted this year, couldn't get involved. He was on a mission. A mission to kill one the greatest wizards that ever lived, the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Albus Dumbledore.

He sighed and thought as he laid back onto the trunk of the sycamore tree, I wonder if I wrote to him what would he say? Would he even respond? He shook his head and waved the thought out of his head. No it's for the best. Shaking the notion out of his mind. He wasn't sure if it was Blaise he truly liked or if it was all just curiosity. To explore his sexuality. The blonde had had sex before with various female counterparts and it was great actually but he had gotten bored to put it simply. The girls he would seduce into shagging were beautiful but weren't adventurous or played dirty in bed. It was just an old-fashioned missionary style. But when he saw Blaise fucking that boy who was moaning with such extreme pleasure, something inside Draco was triggered. He wanted to have sex with a man, with Blaise specifically, but the war had officially begun and all those things became trivial and unimportant and survival was at the top of his list.

Finally he thought about the mark etched on his inner wrist, and watched it magically move up and down with each breath….and he couldn't help but also feel the burning and irritated skin just a few inches above that mark….he pulled up his sleeve above his elbow and his hand hovered just above it...tempted. Draco had always tried his best not to think or look at the atrocious blemish that he had to carry for the rest of his life...but every time he did, he felt the urgency to dig his nails of a sharp knife across it, trying to rid himself of it…He was terrified of it…his breathing quickened. But after last night, now Harry Potter saw a different side to him. Aside he thought he would never see. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly leaning back against the supportive trunk of the Sycamore...

"Malfoy," Harry called out from behind him making Draco jump to his feet and grabbing his wand from his trousers pointing it at him. "Whoa!" he said as Draco lowered his wand "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come up," lowering his wand "Did you need something?"

"I just wanted to check on you… see if you were ok," Harry said as he approached him more slowly "I felt a lot of different things coming from you?"

Oh shit! Was I feeling anything when I thought of Blaise? Fuck maybe I was, Draco thought nervously, "What do you mean?" he asked questionly. "Umm, I'm not sure what most of them were but they were intense, to say the least," he said nervously laughing rubbing the back of his neck shyly. "I never...well, it doesn't matter. If you're alright." Draco sighed in relief "Yeah I'm fine, I think all things considered," he said as he held up his wounded arm. Harry smiled shyly and nodded. "And I just want to let you know I'm here if you want to talk about it," Harry said and continued with "But you probably would rather not, huh?" Draco simply nodded in response. "I figured. I felt the same way after the war, you know. Dreamless Sleeping draught really did the trick. I brew it myself. I can give you some if you-" "YES! I-I mean yes, that would be great. Thank you."

"Well just wanted to check on you," Harry said as he turned away looking down the hill "I come up here a lot. To think, it's a perfect spot for just that, huh?" He asked as he looked out towards the setting sun. He looked back to Draco to ask him what it was that he felt earlier but when he looked back, Draco was in deep thought again but no nervousness, no anxiety, or un-disclaimed emotions arouse he just felt Draco's sadness hovering just above his own curiosity. Draco just looked out staring as the sun slowly began to descend behind the horizon. His eyes were cloudy with sorrow but no tears were shed but it felt near Harry thought. Just as Harry was about to turn away realizing he had been staring too long Draco met his eyes and said "Does it get better?" he said in an almost whisper… "I'm...I'm scared it won't go ever away," Harry was a bit surprised at his question but all the same he answered "I'm still going through it myself, to be honest. But I have to say there are some good days and other bad days, and with Ginny gone-"

"Oh right, what happened to her? Haven't seen her since I got here," Draco asked realizing he hadn't seen or heard from her. "At the ministry, you said she'd also be going to Hogwarts." Harry scratched his head and said "Well, that was just me hoping she'd come around and change her mind. But she's not coming. She's training with the Holly Harpies." Draco looked up at him confused "I thought you guys were, uh, together?" Harry looked away a bit embarrassed "We were, she just wasn't in the right place yet to be with me and if I'm honest with myself neither was I. She left just before you got here. But you know what helps with the trauma? Being around my friends," Draco again looked at him confused. "But neither one of your so-called friends have been around since I've been here. Or is that the reason why they haven't' come around," Draco asked a bit scared of the answer. "No-No, umm, well Ron and Hermione are together now so they pretty much want to alone together," Harry said sadly thinking about his best friends, realizing they haven't spent much time together this summer.

Harry was about to excuse himself after realizing his friends rather be with each other than with him when Draco said something so unexpected yet so "Malfoy" "What a bunch of selfish arseholes!" he retorted angrily. "I mean, your their friend too and you've all been friends since first year and now because they're dating they want to only be together and still say you're all friends? What a bunch of bull shit!" Draco complained as he shot up from where he sat crossed his arms across his chest. Harry started to laugh with the realization that Draco-fucking-Malfoy just stood up for him against his best friends. Draco blushed realizing himself with it all sounded like coming from him. "Thanks for getting mad for me, Malfoy. But really it's alright, I like being alone. Lets me think. Speaking of friends what about yours? Haven't seen you write one letter to anyone except your mother." Draco looked back towards the sun which was just a sliver away before disappearing "I don't think I have any real friends…" he said all the while thinking of Blaise Zabini. "That's not true," Harry argued "What about that Zabini guy?" and at the mention of his name his heart skipped a beat. "See, I felt that! He must be a good friend for you to feel such...um nervousness I think it's what your feeling right now," Draco's heart beat a little faster as he answered "I guess you can call him that," he said. Harry was still fishing around for more details "Why does he make you nervous though? Did you guys get into a fight or something?" he asked innocently. Draco couldn't take thinking about him now that Potter could read his emotions so he just nodded not trusting himself to speak. "Well I think you should send him an owl. You can borrow mine!" Draco looked away patted his clothes down before walking past Harry making his way back down to the Burrow. "Sure… It's getting late we should go inside."

A/N:

Thanks for those who are still reading this. It is my first FF and I'm so excited to be doing this. I do work a lot so I may take a while to update but I am not abandoning ship. Please excuse my grammatical errors, for now, thanks again!