New Beginning

"You're late," Hermione commented the moment Ron stepped in to Burrow.

"I am," Ron replied, keeping the big box he was levitating carefully beside the dinner table. "This is half of the furniture i bought. The rest will be delivered tomorrow."

Ron launched into the description of the furniture bought and Harry and Hermione patiently listened. Only when Ron stopped his narration, did Hermione say.

"You still haven't explained why you got late? It was so difficult convincing Mrs. Weasley to go sleep and not wait for you and that you were okay."

"You didn't ask," Ron replied, knowing fully well that his answer would baffle Hermione.

"Alright," Harry said, irritated, "Why did you get so late?" He asked in too polite a tone.

He was a fool to hope that they would let go of the question. "Ran into Malfoy. We had a chat and he ruined my mood completely. I had to take a long walk before i could go back to shopping."

"What did he say?" Harry asked, his fingers clutched around his wand.

"The usual nonsense," Ron said.

Hermione noticed the lack of details but didn't press him. It must have been some comment about his family that would have riled Ron up.

"Ignore him," Hermione finally said. "He is just a prat - insensitive and idiot."

Ron nodded, full attention on his food.

"What exactly do you wish to do with your life?" Molly asked her youngest son. She had just came to know of her son's plan or rather lack of it.

Ron sighed. He really didn't want to deal with angry Mum. Thank Merlin he had agreed to stay with Harry and Hermione. "I haven't as yet decided, Mom."

"What's wrong with joining Auror Academy?"

"I am done with fighting. I don't wish to continue it."

"How about Unspeakable?"

"You know i lack the intelligence for it. They are offering me this just because i am famous and all."

"Quidditch?"

"No, Mom," Ron sighed once again. "I will let you know once i decide what i want to be. You don't have to suggest every option you know. I know them too."

"So, what will you do?" Molly asked. "Sit and goof around? You are of age, my son, and you need to be mature now, make decisions fast."

"Yes, Mom," Ron said in a bored tone.

"Don't take that tone with me," she warned.

"Look, Mom," Ron said, in a barely controlled tone. "I will decide what i want to do and you will be the first one to know. I will decide soon. Just don't pester me about it."

He didn't give her any chance to reply back as he stormed out of his house.

"Give him time," Arthur said from the far corner from where he had been observing the conversation. "He deserves it."

"It will do you a lot good if you stop mopping, Mom," Draco said, his patience wearing thin when his mother refused yet another meal.

Narcissa looked up at her son with part shock and part anger. How dare he take that tone with her?! Her eyes must have shown her feelings, for Draco lowered his eyes in apology.

"I'm sorry, Mom, but how long do you think you will survive without food?" He asked. "You need to take care of yourself, Mom."

"What is there to take care for?" Narcissa said in lifeless tone. "We have been destroyed."

"And we won't be able to rebuild if we just sit and crib," Draco said with determination. "I am done with cribbing and i want to do something now."

Narcissa was at first shocked by Draco's determination, but she laughed when he finished. A cold, lifeless laugh. "And what will you do, my son? What will they let you do?"

Draco was angered at her mother's pessimissm. Here he was, trying to regain his confidence and come up with some idea to redeem the Malfoy name and his mom ... she was doing nothing to help him, even emotionally.

"I will tell you when you are ready to hear and optimistic to help me," Draco said, walking to the door of his mother's room. "Till then, goodbye."

Narcissa stared after his son. "There's nothing left to do. We have nothing left."

At first, Leaky Cauldron seemed to be the right choice. In fact it was, as Ron enjoyed first two glasses of Butterbeer, but the sight of blond hair made him regret his choice. Unluckily, he chose to saunter over to where Ron was seated.

Shockingly, he was quiet as he took a seat opposite Ron. Calmly, he ordered Firewhiskey. Silently, he started drinking it. This baffled Ron. They weren't mates of friends to be sitting there and enjoying drinks.

"I never knew you enjoyed my company so much," Ron commented, taking a sip from his drink.

"Everywhere else is full," Draco replied calmly.

Indeed it was, as Ron looked around. Malfoy must be in dire need of firewhiskey to share a seat with him. Ron took a close look at Malfoy. His appearance was slightly messy, his eyes looked tired and his whole stance was that of defeated.

"Like what you see?" Draco smirked.

"You wish," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "Was just observing the state of your dishevelled appearance."

Draco replied with a sip from his drink and silence. Silently, they continued with their drinks. It was after another round, silence was broken. This time by Draco.

"Isn't dear mummy going to worry sick over her Ronnieickins?" he teased.

"I can ask the same question," Ron replied calmly. He was here to relax and keep the worries past him for the time being and he wasn't going to let a Malfoy ruin it. It might pay off following Hermione's advice - ignore his taunts.

Draco was surprised when Ron didn't reply in the expected way. Has he started listening to Granger?

"I wanted to be out of the house for some time ... for some peace," Draco replied honestly, surprising them both.

"Same reason," Ron nodded, surprised once again with his own honesty.

Both blamed it on their drinks. There was no other reason they could have a civil conversation with each other.

"So," Draco started after few gulps, "What has the Famous Weasley decided to do with his future?"

The question isn't going to leave me, is it? "Nothing decided as yet." Silence. "You?"

"As if i have any choices," Draco replied bitterly.

"You can start a business," Ron suggested. "You still have loads of money."

Draco laughed out loud. A real laugh. And Ron was mesmerized by it. It actually made Draco look human and ... lively.

"You are really an idiot," Draco noted, once he was finished laughing. "How do you expect me to do business with the kind of fame i have at present?"

"People have a very short memory," Ron answered calmly, "With proper marketing, appearances at the right place, at the right time and quality services, you can make your business flourish."

This quietened Draco, who was staring at Ron. This was intelligent and no way had Ron said it. "Who are you?" he asked in a threatening way.

"What?" Ron blinked.

"You can't be Ron Weasley," Draco said, "He isn't this intelligent."

"Ha ha," Ron answered sarcastically, "Very funny. What do you know about me, anyway?"

"You love Quidditch," Draco started, counting on his fingers, "You hate studying, you are scared of spiders, you chew your nails when you are thinking, you--" Draco stopped mid-sentence when he realised what all he had been speaking about. He never knew he knew that much about Weasley. How can he?

"You know," Ron commented after a moment of silence, "This will make someone think you were stalking me all these years. Fancy me?" He laughed at his own comment, but stopped when Draco didn't react. "I was joking, Malfoy."

Draco looked up at him and for the first time in their lives, their eyes met. Both trying to search what was going on other's mind, why they were having a conversation when they always had been enemies.

"What did you mean by your statement the other day?" Draco asked the question that had been burning in his mind since the meeting, not breaking the eye contact.

Ron need not be told twice what Draco meant. The need to share his secret with someone, anyone was so overwhelming that Ron glanced around for possible intruders. That meant the eye-contact was broken, taking its magic away.

Ron sighed. How he wanted to share his secret with someone, to tell them his fears, hopes and guilt, to let them worry over him...

Draco waited patiently as he saw Ron struggle with himself. This was something big and he was considering whether to tell Draco or not.

As if on cue, Draco blurted out, "You can trust me."

This time Ron laughed out loud. "The day i start trusting you would be the last day of my life."

Draco would not admit it to anyone than himself in his whole life that the comment hurt. It hurt like hell.

The comment also broke whatever spell had caused them to be amiable to each other till now. There was an immediate change in the air and both realised it. Regretted it as well because they were enjoying it.

They stood up almost at the same time, slammed a galleon on the table and, without a word to each other, left the pub.

The realisation that they had enjoyed each other's company, however, didn't leave them completely.

A/N: I am back. As if i was gone... I am sorry if i am late, but i shifted to a new city and that takes time, to settle and all. But here's the chapter and i hope you guys will like it. Review please.