Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and its characters. All rights go to JK Rowling and blah blah blah whatever. I just wanted to write a story where Draco and Harry ended up together ok

[A/N: Ay, so I believe some thanks are in order.

Big thank you to Onobaby! First comment on this fic and a confidence booster, at that!

SassyDoe: I fucking adore you.

lassenri: I like to think the same, as well. Thank you.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

To the lovely "Guest" - who is clearly hidden under an Invisibility Cloak to hide their identity- I agree. I am kind of being impatient so Chapter 2 is a bit rushed. Heh. As for Harry talking so much, I honestly don't see Draco having known what to say. Also, I wanted Harry to just beast through the jerkface Wizengamot and talk up Draco. I was also too lazy to write anyone else talking. Anyway, originally I was going to only have Chapter 4 as a filler chapter with them on the train but your comment kind of consumed my brain SO this chapter is for you.

And thank you to everyone else who is reading, favouriting, and/or following! Your support means the world.

MWAH]

Draco trudged his way to the Apparating checkpoint, mind still in a daze of what just exactly happened. He was actually walking outside of the Ministry without being stopped because of Harry Potter. It was just too weird. It's amazing what one war could do. Releasing a deep breath, Draco Disapparated to Malfoy Manour where he was met with his dead aunt Bellatrix in the main hall. He let out an embarassing squeak and fell back. Bella walked over to him, leaning down and holding out her hand. Draco starting pushing back but when he looked into her face realised that it wasn't Bella after all.

"Ah, who excatly are you?" His voice was strained and weary.

The woman let out an amused chuckled. "I'm your aunt Andromeda. Your mum owled me to watch over the house before you both were carted away by the Ministry."

Looking into her eyes, he saw they were glazed over with a false strength. She clearly hadn't been an exception to loss from the war. He grasped her hand, not really quite sure why he trusted her so much.

"Why hasn't my mother told me about you?" He asked once she pulled him back up.

"Why? Well, good ole Lucius probably forbade my sister, that's why." Her voice was strained and hurt.

"Good thing his soul was sucked out, huh?" Draco snapped his mouth shut, not proud of how relieved he sounded.

Andromeda looked at him and nodded. "Anyway, why don't you pack your things and meet me down here in 2 hours. I have to get back to my house to check on Teddy, my grandson. I'll be back to pick you up then." And with that, she Disapparated, leaving a baffled Draco standing there.

Shrugging, Draco called a house elf to help him with his things. When the house elf showed up, she looked at him in uncanny fear. "What would Master Malfoy like?" The elf's head was tilted to the floor to make sure she didn't make eye contact with him.

Crushed by the action and her fear for him, Draco knelt in front of the house elf. "What's your name?"

Surprised by his gentle tone and having knelt for her she squeaked out her response, her voice higher than normal. "Dotty, sir!"

"Call me Draco, it's nice to finally formally meet you. Will you help me pack my things for Hogwarts? I know it's a bit sudden. I would also be very grateful if you came with me to Diagon Alley for my school supplies."

"Anything, Mister Draco, sir!" She scurried ahead of him, up the stairs to get to Draco's room.

Draco smiled as he followed Dotty. He couldn't help but see the resemblance in his former house elf, Dobby. Perhaps they were siblings. He made his way to his room which had clothes flying everywhere and books being neatly thrust into his trunk. "Well, you sure got things done fast."

Dotty turned to him, smiling and standing on the center of his bed with her hands raised to direct the things. "Dotty is doing things right, yes?"

"Yes, Dotty. Thank you."

Dotty beamed from her perch and turned back to his clothes, her face set into a firm concentration. Draco walked to his desk and pulled out a photo album of him and his mother and then walked over to his trunk to lightly place it inside.

Draco's mind brought him back to the trial and how determined Harry seemed to be so that Draco got off. Why would he do that? He'd only been an ass to Harry the whole time they'e known each other. So, why? He thought to when Shacklebolt asked Harry why he was there. He had been sure Harry was going to say that he came to make sure he had been taken away for good, but...

"I come on behalf of Draco Malfoy, sir. I wish to defend him."

That was something he was not expecting. He talked of how Draco had saved Harry's life. Looking back he did see how that was exactly what he did, really. He knew if he said that that deformed looking kid was Harry, Harry surely would have died. The thought of his death made Draco sick inside. Harry had also said that they hadn't ever intentionally tried to kill the other. Was he referring to the bathroom incident? Throughout the trial he couldn't help but feel shocked at Harry's words. And when Harry smiled that honest and genuine smile only for Draco, his heart nearly stopped. He didn't know why, but he felt disappointed when Harry turned away.

Frustrated with himself, he sat on his bed. Dotty had long since finished and was now staring at Draco, watching in silence as an array of different emotions flitted across her master's face. "Mister Draco?" She whispered and placed a tiny hand on Draco's. He turned and smiled at her.

"To Diagon Alley, then?"

Dotty nodded her head as Draco rose and went to his desk, pulling a drawer open and pulling a vial of aquamarine coloured liquid. He uncorked the vial and downed the potion, it tasted like blue raspberry and spiced cream with a hint of licorice. In a short while after downing the liquid, his body began shaping into a taller male with hazel eyes and shoulder length dirty blond hair. Uncaring about his clothes too much, he threw off his jacket and held out his hand for Dotty. She grasped it, still in awe of watching the polyjuice potion take affect. In a quick pop! they were in Diagon Alley.

He walked into each shop, asking what supplies he would need for the school year. Each store clerk was treating him normal and was completely unfazed by his asking. It was strange being treated so civilly. Perhaps Harry can really change it so it's civil all the time. Who knows? Draco hoped Harry really could.

An hour later, he felt the affects of the potion slowly fade away. Luckily, he had all his things. He made sure to cut the time by having Dotty buy half his things while he bought the other half. After meeting up in front of Gringott's, they both Disapparated back to Malfoy Manour just in time for Andromeda to show up to pick him up.

"Are you ready to leave, Draco?"

"Yes, Aunt Andromeda."

"You can just call me Andy. My name is such a bother, I know."

Draco allowed himself a tiny smile. "Accio luggage." He really did miss his wand.

His trunk came zooming down the steps and landed in front of him. Draco looked down at Dotty, already feeling attached to the tiny creature. "Aunt Andy? Is it alright if Dotty came along?"

"I would have never thought a Malfoy would say that."

"Yeah, well, the war changed me. Perhaps I really don't want to be a 'Malfoy' anymore."

"How interesting," she whispered. "You know, I understand that mindset. So would Sirius Black. He was always my favourite cousin." She chuckled and extended her hand. "I'll tell you when we get to my house. Dotty, can you be a doll and bring Draco's luggage to my house? I'm sure you remember where it is."

"Sure thing, Madame Tonks!"

"Tonks?" Draco asked but was cut off by their departure.

They had arrived at a quaint little cottage. It was surrounded by nature and that really set Draco's mind at peace. Nice and quiet...and then crying sounded from upstairs. Draco looked to the 2nd floor window that harboured the baby's cries that he only assumed must have been the mysterious 'Teddy' that she had mentioned earlier. Andy ran into the house to go console the baby.

Draco walked into the house to see none other than Molly Weasley walk down the stairs. She spotted Draco and smiled a very tired and strained smile. "Oh, so lovely see you, Draco. But you're all skin and bones. Sit, sit! I'll make you some dinner. You must be ravenous!"

Draco stared at the plump red-headed woman in disbelief. Just like his aunt, her eyes held a sadness that only a parent who lost a child held. But, here she was. A Weasley. Who was never fond of the Malfoys. Offering to take care of him.

The day just kept getting stranger and stranger.

[A/N continued: Okay, maybe this one is a bit rushed, too...

STEP 2 next chapter and our darlings will be back at Hogwarts. Yay!]