Worn blue eyes look idly toward the stone ground as the owner is position steadily on a bench outside of a court room down in the basements of the ministry. He feels some type of defeat as he looks at his arm, embedded with the almost faded picture of the dark mark. Thank God that all was over, but now…time to face the bigger things.

The reason to while he still remains on the bench is a mystery. He's had his hearing about three hours prior to his seating on the bench. He reflects on everything that was said, finding the whole situation troublesome and unnecessary.

The word 'Hogwarts' pounds through his head. The place where he basically was banished from, the place where he is sure to be hated, he must now go back.

On the bright side, he didn't have to stay there for long, non of them did. As far as he was concerned, it was only his last year, but he'd have to bare their stares and whispers. And most of all, he'd have to face the Golden Trio, more specifically...Harry Potter.

He'd have to face the fact that he'd always be better in every way and people would love him in a way they'd never love Draco. What does he care? As long as people let him be, what would he have to worry?

In his thought process, the door to the courtroom opens and the judge walks out. She gives Draco a disgusted glance while passing by.

"Why are you still here Malfoy?" She asks in an accusing voice.

He sighs, reluctant to look at her.

"Is it against the law for me to sit, or am I going to be charged with that as well?" Draco asks, slowly rising. The woman crosses her arms in an offended gesture.

"You watch yourself Malfoy because I can have you thrown into Azkaban quicker than you'll be able to brew up a smart ass remark." She says, and with that storms off. He stays on the bench until the rest of the court exits, and then he decides it's time to go home.


His walk home weighed less than his walk to his hearing. As long as he's not sent to Azkaban. He'd been told not to harm any students, and it's not like he'd want to be around them.

Being secluded was his hope and prayer. He didn't want them to see him, at all.

Upon arriving home, he sees his mother frantically walking through the house going back and forth as if something is wrong.

He hesitates to ask, not wanting to ruin her train of thought and figures it would be beneficial to the situation.

"Mum," He starts, diverting her attention.

"Oh Draco!" She says rushing towards her son, embracing him and making sure not to let him go.

"Everything went fine, if you want to know." He says, backing up, clearly not wanting to receive any physical contact.

He frowns as he sees her troubled face, but chooses to side step her and continue on to his room. He passes the piano, located beside the stair case, and then his father's room and is reluctant to enter at the sound of the heavy breathing.

Shortly after the end of the war, Lucius had fallen ill with a sickness that the two didn't think was to ill. Needless to say, neither did Lucius until he noticed things weren't right.

First, it was the blood that he'd cough up, then it became more severe when he'd vomit blood. Holding his food down had become a problem, walking, even with the assistance of a cane seemed to be a problem.

It wasn't until he went to sleep one night and didn't wake up the next morning and that was a month ago. Both Narcissa and Draco searched aimlessly for an explanation but could find one.

Doctors had been back and forth to the Malfoy manner, claiming the illness is beyond them. Narcissa took their word for it, but Draco didn't.

He knew they lied, and would rather prefer his father dead. But what could he do about it?

So Draco doesn't step foot into his fathers layer, but proceeds to his own where he finds his bed much more interesting than anything else at the moment.

As he lays down, he remembers school will start in two and a half months and he knew the amount of people betting if he'd be there or not.


That night, he fights the urge to get up and walk or to go to sleep. Do to his current situation, sleep wouldn't do him much good, so walking it is.

He makes sure he is quiet, going past his parents room and on the stair case. After reaching the bottom for, he passes by the graceful instrument, sitting there and waiting for its master to use it once again.

Draco sighs, knowing he'd been gone for a time, and most likely was never coming back.

In away, Draco easily could relate to this wooden instruments loneliness. The feeling of not being understood the way it should've been.

The feeling of wanting that touch by the one you love, just to be played with by the one you love, aggressively or thoughtfully.

He sits on the stool, slowly positioning himself to where he faces the keys. He raises his fingers and pretends to play a song, not wanting to wake his parents.


The next day, he finds himself walking to a familiar shop, expecting to receive a hateful welcome.

He places his hand on the door knob and twists it, inhaling as he steps in.

Before he even gets halfway in, he is met by a blow pushing him all the way out, and a tight embrace around his waist.

He looks down and lets a smile creep its way to his face.

"Daphne..." He starts, wrapping his arms around her.

Daphne Greengrass and a few others occupied themselves at a shop during the summer. The shop was nearly a cheaper place for the average witch or wizard to occupy themselves at or shop.

Because it wasn't heard of, rarely any customers came, allowing Draco to stay there most of the day with out working there.

Daphne, Blaise and Pansy had worked there as front desk men, or often they'd bee seen sweeping the grounds, along with another young girl, someone Draco knew very well.

Helena was her name, and often times she'd be seen around Daphne at school, mostly lunch. For being a Gryffindor and hanging around with Slytherians, Draco knew she had to be brave from the very start.

"You! I haven't seen you in such a long time! Please tell me you're finishing our last year at Hogwarts!" Daphne says pulling him in, and as usually, no one is there except for Draco and the rest of the employees.

He sees Blaise spinning around in the chair behind the desk and gives him a half smile. Blaise quickly stands up, running to the back of the store, returning with both Pansy and Helena.

Before he is given a change to speak, he is tackled with hugs from both Helena and Pansy. Blaise rubs his back, signifying they are still friends.

"Give him some space girls." Blaise says in a mocking tone.

"I just haven't seen him in a long time!" Helena says, backing up behind Pansy.

Daphne sighs, walking to the back, grabbing a long broom and beginning to sweep their area. "You didn't answer my question..." She says, sweeping past the four.

"Are you finishing up Hogwarts?"

"Please say yes!" Pansy says with a bright exclamation on her face.

He nods, but is reluctant to speak as he hears the door open.

He turns around quickly as he hears a trio of laughter, none other than the golden trio, of course and Ginny walks with them as well.

Draco had a sense of happiness before they had come, and really, he isn't ready for their critisizm. "Hello!" Helena says with a greeting as she would for any customers. Draco wouldn't expect anything less, after all..she is helping him.

While she talks to the three, he decides to evade any conversation and leaves through the back door. Helena smiles as she hears him exit.

"Was that Draco?" A very confused Harry asks.

"If it is, to hell with it." Ron says, breaking from the group.

Helena rolls her eyes, not wanting Pansy to hear and hex the three.

As Draco walks back toward the front of the store, he is clearly visible through the window. Pansy begins to question if he even thought of an escape route.

Heromione nudges Harry's sweater pointing at Draco through the window.

"It's rude to point and stare." Pansy says, labeling some items in another isle.

Harry ignores the comment, feeling the two, meaning he and Draco, have some unsettled business. Memories of a short yet meaningful past flood his mind causing him to automatically turn towards the door and leave, chasing after Malfoy.

At the first sight of it, Ginny grabs Harry's arm shaking her head.

"Let him be, he'll only complain to his father. Besides, why would you want to be seen with anyone like him." She says.

From behind them, Ron agrees.

"Little Bastard..." He says, crossing his arms. "He'll get what's coming to him, right Harry?"

Doubtfully Harry nods, not meaning it though, still having feeling for Draco.

Heromione says nothing, feeling some pity for him.

Meanwhile, the employees fight the urge to yell at both Weasly siblings and are happy once the four leave the shop.

Blaise let's out a large sigh as he sees them walking off.

"You know them Helen?" Blaise asks.

"Yes, we're friends...but recently, I've only been in close contact with Heromione...since we're both muggle born. I'm glad Draco didn't hear what they had to say."

Helena says resting on the ground near the front desk, looking back as she hears Pansy laughing.

"What?" Blaise asks.

"Nothing, I just got carried away and put charmed fire crackers in their bags, looks like they won't be coming back here." She says, causing the others to laugh.

Outside, sitting quietly near the entrance hidden from customers is Draco, who smiles, knowing he has friends like them.


Thank you all for liking my story, reviewing and making it your favourites! I don't own what J.K.R does, only my OC's.