I know this has taken far longer than I said it might and longer than any of you probably wanted but I promise I'm not giving up on this, at all. It's taking a while because I've been sorting my life out at the same time, getting healthier and such and that's eating into my writing time a lot. I have a solution however, I am taking a walk down to my town library every Wednesday from now on and spending two hours there before I go to work, working on this. This way, I'm getting a little exercise by walking and working on this at the same time, away from any distractions [apart from the books by our town library is shit and doesn't have many books in it anyway] The only problem is it's always so cold. apart from that so far so good.

This is also partly delayed because i spent a large amount of time on a certain bit in this chapter that I then cut out. I've kept it so that if there is anything else I need to cut out it can be the outtakes chapter I suppose. I must say though this chapter is pretty long so it should make up for the lack of them.

Another reason for the delay on this was the fact that I spent about a week getting through the Hunger Games books. I'm hooked, and seriously can't wait for the first movie to come out. Anyway, enough of excuses. Hopefully the next update will come quicker than this one did.

Enjoy.

Part 4

The next week carried on much like the first few days. They carried on with their lives like they would if the other wasn't there. The only difference was that they had someone to talk to about it. They bickered a little over the little things, like how much milk the other was using and leaving wet towels lying around, but neither of them went near any of the slightly more sensitive subjects, now knowing better. They had well and truly found themselves in a routine. Malfoy made breakfast, which of course was always cereal because he didn't know anything else yet, and Harry made dinner, usually refusing Malfoy's help, mainly because he preferred to work on his own and because he was used to it.

Before they really knew it, it had been a week since Malfoy had moved in. It still felt only like days and nothing was very settled, he still felt like a bit of a guest. Nothing would really fix that apart from time, because Harry was being more than welcoming in that sense.

Harry woke up late on the saturday and slowly worked on some more paperwork. Malfoy was at work until the afternoon and Harry was a little surprised at how lonely he felt without him around the house, even if they weren't always together, he could still feel his presence around the house. It was surprising how much difference just a week made.

He had just finished in his study and went down into the kitchen, still in just his pyjama bottoms, to make himself some lunch when the fire blazed and Malfoy stepped through just as Harry had reached the bottom of the stairs. Harry smiled as he went over to the cupboards and Malfoy shook his cloak from his shoulders.

"Afternoon. How was work?" Harry asked.

"Nothing that exciting, pretty quiet actually. What have you been doing?" Malfoy asked, draping his cloak over the chair and moving up beside him watching as he pulled things out of the fridge.

"Paper work. I'm going to make sandwiches for lunch, you want one?" Harry said.

"Can I help? I mean can you teach me how, with magic," Malfoy said.

"Uhm…I suppose so,"

"I want to learn how to cook with magic. I'm getting a little sick of cereal for breakfast," Malfoy said.

"Sure. If you want. I can run through the basics, like cutting and things just now and move on to more complicated things at dinner," Harry said.

"Yes please. Thank you," Malfoy said. Harry nodded and withdrew his wand, knowing that it would be easier to show him what to do with his wand rather than doing it wandlessly and silently, he had taught people things before and even though it was second nature to do almost everything without a wand these days, it was a much easier way of teaching. Malfoy withdrew his also, ready and prepared.

"It's mainly in the wrist," Harry said. To which Malfoy smirked.

"I should be alright there then," he muttered and Harry smirked back at him.

"Once you're used to it you'll just be able to say what you want it to do and it'll do it, rather than saying the spell. You need to know it inside out though," Harry said.

Harry taught him the spells to spreading butter, cutting lettuce and slicing chicken. They did their own sandwiches and obviously Harry's was much neater but they tasted the same. Malfoy was rather proud of himself and Harry was just happy to have helped.

They moved on to their own rooms after lunch, Harry putting some clothes on at last, and Malfoy working, before they met up again in the kitchen at around three and Harry helped Malfoy learn how to bake breakfast muffins.

"And now empty the flour into the bowl like I showed you with the sugar," Harry said, standing a step or two to the side of Malfoy and guiding him through it because Malfoy insisted on it being that way. They were both enjoying each others company more than either of them really expected or were willing to admit.

Malfoy thought for a moment and then pointed his wand at the scales that held the right amount of flour and muttered the spell with a flick of his wand. His flick was a little too enthusiastic and it ended up that the flour flew up into the air, above both of them and rained down on them much like snow. Harry couldn't help but start laughing, which wasn't really his best idea, if the look Malfoy gave him was anything to go by.

"That's not funny Potter. Now I've got to start all over again and I have flour in my hair," Malfoy said, spraying flour everywhere as he talked.

"Oh come on Malfoy. Lighten up. You'll never enjoy cooking if you take it this seriously. It's supposed to be fun. Do you seriously think that I didn't make mistakes like that when I was learning? We all do, and I managed to laugh at myself for it," Harry explained, flicking his wrist vanishing the flour that had coated them. Malfoy muttered under his breath, something that sounded a lot like "show off" as he started to measure out more flour.

Eventually they managed to measure out all the ingredients and mix them all together and finally get the muffins in the oven. While they waited on them cooking they made scrambled eggs on toast, something else that Malfoy could make for breakfast, and served it for dinner as neither of them were that hungry after their late-ish lunch. Malfoy was rather proud of himself by how good everything tasted and felt even more accomplished when his muffins also turned out perfect and delicious, or at least perfect enough. He really didn't mind this cooking thing and didn't understand why he hadn't tried it earlier.

They had just finished eating their chocolate and strawberry muffins, which Harry had served with ice cream to make it more like a dessert than a breakfast, and were just washing up, when the fire glowed green behind them and Ron and Hermione stepped through.

"Yeah, more of a poke like that than a flick, gets the crusty bits off of the pan," Harry was saying, oblivious to his two best friends standing behind them. Ron scuffed his feet to make their presence known to which Harry and Malfoy both spun, pots clattering to a hault in the bottom of the sink as they drew their wands away from cleaning and to the "intruder"

Harry lowered his wand again immediately once he saw whom it was but it took a moment longer for Malfoy to register to do the same. Harry grinned at the familiar faces of his friends and waved his hand for two chairs to pull out from the table to offer them a seat. Malfoy was not quite as pleased, but he found it difficult to figure out why he was annoyed at their appearance other than the obvious.

"Have we interrupted something?" Hermione asked innocently as she took her offered seat, glancing between the two of them, noticing Malfoy's stony expression.

"Not really. I was just teaching Malfoy some basic cooking and cleaning spells. I forgot you guys were coming over," Harry said, moving away from the sink to sit across from his friends. Hermione cast a wary smile in Malfoy's direction while Ron and Harry launched into a discussion about work. Malfoy didn't return it, feeling some resentment towards the girl for, dare he say it, taking away his time with Potter. He wanted to say that he was just enjoying the company but really he was sure there was more to it than that, for one thing, since when had he ever enjoyed Potter's company.

Malfoy turned back to the dishes, carrying on with them by hand, his wand arm shaky with anger, plus the fact that he didn't know the spells properly. Once he was finished he turned to the door, prepared to retreat to his room for the rest of the night, mainly to sulk.

"Malfoy, where are you going?" Harry asked, his head snapping in his direction, like he could detect that Malfoy wasn't planning on sticking around much longer, without even looking at him.

"I thought that it would be a good idea to let you and your friends catch up," Malfoy said politely, because even though he was annoyed beyond believe that was how he was brought up.

"You can join us if you want. We don't want to put you out just because we're here. You live here now," Ron said. Harry was a little taken aback, expecting something like that to come from Hermione of all people, and she seemed to be too. Ron just shrugged when they all looked at him, as if it was obvious he felt that way.

"Thanks but it's fine. I have work to do anyway," Malfoy said, his expression blank, the way it was whenever he lied to anyone, none of them knew that yet though.

"You sure?" Harry asked, frowning slightly, rightly assuming that there was something not right with him, but unable to place what. He may have only been in the same living space for only a week but there were still things he caught on to rather quickly, and one of those was knowing when Malfoy was annoyed.

"Absolutely," Malfoy said with a nod and left the kitchen. Harry, Ron and Hermione all looked at each other. Harry bit his lip and contemplated following Malfoy to see if he could convince him to join them but then wondered if he really wanted him to join them if he was going to be so cold and miserable about it.

"Should we leave? Move on somewhere else, make him feel a little more comfortable?" Hermione asked.

"No, he said he was fine, there's nothing more that we can assume," Harry said, "Do you want a drink and we'll go into the drawing room?"

"If you're sure," Hermione said, glancing at Ron, who shrugged.

"Of course I am. I'll get the drinks you guys go on up," Harry said. Ron and Hermione agreed and carried on up. Harry plucked two bottles of red wine out of the pantry where it was kept nice and cool. And then he took four wine glasses out of the cupboard.

He climbed the stairs and kept on going until he reached the Master bedroom, Malfoy's room. He knocked on the door and waited for him to answer. Malfoy came to the door and frowned at Harry. Harry noticed his room looked a lot neater than when he had last seen it, which was understandable considering that was a week ago when Malfoy first moved in. Malfoy liked to keep his room very private, wouldn't even let Harry in there to collect laundry, which to be honest Harry could understand. He didn't particularly like people going into his room either.

"What do you want Potter?" Malfoy asked, shielding the view of his room by pulling the door closer to him and standing tall in the small gap that was left between it and the door frame.

"We are going to have some wine down in the drawing room, are you sure you don't want to join us?" Harry asked. He took half a step back when Malfoy's eyes narrowed.

"You don't get it do you Potter?" Malfoy said, crossing his arms now. Before Harry could answer, what he was sure was probably a hypothetical question anyway, Malfoy continued. "I don't have a problem with you or your friends. I have a problem with the fact that you didn't tell me that they were coming over tonight. I live here now too and I have the right to know when you are going to have guests or not,"

Harry chewed on his bottom lip as he finally figured out what was wrong with Malfoy and why he had changed so suddenly. He really felt awful about it too, he hadn't even taken how Malfoy would feel into consideration, and even though he had forgotten himself, he should have passed it by Malfoy when he made the plans on the previous Wednesday.

"I'm sorry Malfoy. I didn't think. You're absolutely right, I should have passed it by you first." Harry said calmly.

"Yes, well…" Malfoy said, looking down at his feet. He had been half expecting a fight, or at least a little bit of an argument from Harry.

"That doesn't mean that you can't come and join us though, You're still more than welcome. Ron and Hermione are probably going to be around the house a lot, so wouldn't it be best for everyone if you could at least get to the stage that we're at? That we tolerate one another," Harry explained.

"I think we're a little beyond just tolerating each other," Malfoy said quietly but Harry pretended he didn't hear.

"So? Do you want to join us?" Harry said holding up the wine and the glasses in his hands.

"Have you got white wine?" Malfoy asked after a pause and cautious glance at the rose wine, and Harry smirked, stepping away, towards the stairs.

"Come join us and find out," he said and skipped down the stairs again, even from the bottom he could hear Malfoy sigh and close the door of his room. Harry went back to the pantry and gabbed a bottle of white wine and then went back up to the drawing room.

Malfoy was standing awkwardly beside the couch, looking around the room as if he had never seen it before, even though he obviously had. Ron and Hermione sat in opposite chairs by the fire, deep in conversation, backs to the door and to Malfoy. Harry pushed the door shut and startled everyone in the room, causing them all to look to him. Hermione, frowning at Malfoy, as if she hadn't known he was there. Ron was however reaching over the back of his chair to get his glass from Harry.

"Here," Harry gave Ron the glasses and the wine, "White for Malfoy," he added and Ron nodded. Harry turned to Malfoy with a small encouraging smile, and cast a hand in the direction behind him, pushing two more chairs, like those Ron and Hermione sat in, around the fire, where they slotted in perfectly, not too close to each other but close enough to the fire to be warm enough. Harry took his beside Ron and gestured for Malfoy to sit in the one the other side of him. He looked uncomfortable and nervous.

Ron passed around the glasses and put the bottles of wine on the table in front of them, settling back against the cushions. Harry leant back sipping his wine too and wondered what they could all possibly talk about. He found it easy speaking to Malfoy when it was just the two of them but it wasn't so easy when he had Ron and Hermione there too, he didn't even know why it was just awkward.

Hermione was first to break the ice. She cleared her throat politely drawing attention to herself and held her glass of wine in two hands. "What is it that you do nowadays Malfoy?" She asked softly, even though she already knew the answer. Harry and Ron glanced at each other, Ron quirking an eyebrow at Harry and Harry shrugging only slightly.

"I run an apothecary down Diagon Alley," Malfoy said. Hermione nodded and sipped her wine.

"I always expected you to work at the Ministry," she observed.

"So did I," Malfoy said, relaxing a little, his shoulders becoming noticeably less tense. "Things change though, so do people. I'm glad they refused me, I'm much happier than I would have been in the Ministry,"

"I was going to ask if you enjoy it. I considered a career that involved potion making, I've always been curious about how that would have worked out for me," Hermione said.

Harry and Ron looked at one another again and grinned. Harry knew that if Malfoy gave it a chance, he and Hermione would get on brilliantly and they both seemed to be able to give it a go, which was nice.

"What did you think of Jenkins' playing last night?" Ron asked Harry, starting their own conversation about Quidditch, something they rarely got to do when Hermione was around, considering she would puff out her cheeks and roll her eyes until they stopped. She looked ridiculous when she did this but it made them get the picture and stop, keeping their conversations to lunch breaks, now she had a distraction though.

"Oh, bloody awful, they should have subbed in Leith in the first five minutes when Jenkins dropped the quaffle for no reason whatsoever, right before the goals," Harry said animatedly, making gestures to go with what he was saying, like most men did when they were talking about football..

"Don't be ridiculous Harry, Leith has had an awful season, how many times has he missed the goal, or crashed into other players, because he was too busy looking in the other direction?" Ron said.

They continued talking and chattering away about various subjects, Malfoy joining in the conversation on Quidditch and Hermione huffing about it so much that Harry spoke to her while Malfoy talked to Ron. They were getting on pretty well and continued to do so the more wine they drank. Eventually they started to run out of things new to talk about so they decided to play a small simple game.

"It's actually a muggle game," Hermione said, as she filled each persons glass. "It's called 'I never' and someone has to say something they have never done and if anyone has done it they need to take a drink from their glass. What do you think?"

"Sounds…interesting," Malfoy said with a short nod. Ron and Harry nodded too, having already played the game before, considering it was Hermione's favourite game especially when she'd had something to drink, not particularly the day after during the hangover, however. Hermione grinned wide and handed everyone a glass.

"I'll go first!" Hermione said excitedly. "I've never…broken a bone," she said proudly.

Harry, Ron and Draco all took a sip from their drinks. "Broke my leg in third year. Well I didn't, Sir-someone else did," Ron confessed when Draco frowned at them. He didn't want to mention Sirius in case it either caused tension or if Malfoy didn't know about everything that happened in third year. Harry was pretty sure he probably did but respected Ron for the consideration he was taking around the conversations.

"Second year, bludger to the arm during Quidditch," Harry shrugged figuring everyone already knew.

"When I was younger, about six or seven, I tried to climb up a column onto my parents balcony, they'd hidden one of my toys or something up in their room and I thought I'd be able to get it that way. I fell and broke my collarbone in two places," Draco admitted. Everyone cringed a little, imagining the pain of that.

"Alright, my turn," Ron said, once they had moved on. "I've never, ran away from home," Ron said.

Harry and Malfoy both took a sip and Hermione hesitated, glass half way to her lips. "Depends how you define it," she said, "Would you call obliterating all memory of you from your parents heads to fight in a war and keep them safe running away from home?" she asked.

"Uhm, no."

"Okay then," Hermione said and lowered her drink.

"Summer before third year, after I blew up my Aunt Marge, I ran away and unintentionally flagged down the knight bus," Harry explained.

"You blew up your Aunt?" Malfoy said and then burst into sniggers.

"Well when I said 'Blew up' I didn't mean with fire and such. I mean inflated and floated up to the sky," Harry explained.

"Wow," Malfoy said and continued to laugh, Ron and Hermione giggling also.

"What about you, when did you run away?" Harry asked, genuinely curious. He had always believed Malfoy had stuck by his family no matter what and wouldn't dare run away from them or the comforts of home.

"I ran away twice," Malfoy said, laughter gone now and looking down at the glass in his hand. "Once when I was really young, again only about six or seven. My- My father had just cursed me for the first time," Malfoy said. Ron, Hermione and Harry all looked at each other, a little wary but Malfoy went on. "I went to Professor Snape's house, he took me in and listened to me and naturally contacted my mother. He took me home and all I know is that My father didn't curse me after Severus spoke to him."

"That's awful," Hermione said and Harry knew that she was dithering whether to comfort him with a hug or not. He got her attention and subtly shook his head believing that Malfoy wouldn't appreciate it much coming from any of them, he didn't think Malfoy's even hugged each other anyway.

"The second time was when I was at the end of fifth year. I was told what I always suspected, that my father was mixed up with The Dark Lord. I was told that I had to make a choice. I always wanted my fathers approval so I chose to be on the families side and then I was told what I had to do, to-to kill Dumbledore. I ran away again to Severus. He told me that I could still get out and still be safe, he would make sure of that if I wanted, and I was prepared to go into hiding, I wanted to, but then he told me that if I wanted my mother and father safe too I'd have to do it. They would pay for my choice. It left me no choice I had to do it, and…well you know the rest," Malfoy explained.

The three friends sat in silence, Ron staring into his drink, and Harry and Hermione both looking at Malfoy. Harry knew that he wouldn't be saying any of this if he hadn't had a sufficient amount of alcohol, and even still he was shocked he was going into so much detail. He never really thought that he would feel sorry for Malfoy when it came to that particular situation, but he was older now and he could understand the mental and emotional torment something like that would have caused.

This time Hermione did reach out and gently clasp his forearm. Malfoy looked at her, not smiling but not scowling or tearing his arm away either. "We understand what a decision that would be," She said speaking for all three of them, Harry didn't mind, as he did understand but he had a feeling Ron wasn't quite on the same page as them where that was concerned. Malfoy still didn't smile but did nod.

They drank a significant amount more wine in silence, topping up their glasses before they continued with the game, Harry thinking for quite a while on his I Never question. He wanted to ask something that couldn't be too sensitive for anyone, but would still shed some light on each others lives, particularly Malfoy's, since he thought he knew everything about Ron and Hermione already.

"I've never…streaked naked," Harry said and watched as Ron and Hermione looked at each other before taking small embarrassed sips. He raised his eyebrows, finding that he really didn't know everything about his best friends after all and sat back waiting for them to explain.

"It was a dare. We were at home and there was nothing on the Teve so…" Ron said shrugging but with the hint of a smirk.

"So you decided to, what streak down the street for the fun of it?" Harry asked, watching Hermione's reaction closely, seeing the burn in her cheeks even though the lighting was dim.

"Television Ron," Hermione corrected before she sat up straighter, trying to act less embarrassed. "We were bored and so we started to play a game of dares. Once he dared me to do it, I dared him to do the same straight after. It was just around the garden,"

"I'm still convinced Mrs Davidson next door saw something though, she hasn't stopped grinning at me every time i see her since." Ron said. Harry just shook his head while Draco laughed clearly becoming more relaxed the more he drank.

"Alright, well I've never…flashed anyone," Malfoy said, sitting back and scanning each person waiting for someone to drink. Eventually Harry attempted to subtly take a drink but everyone was watching out for it so he was caught.

"Your kidding!" Ron said, grinning, thinking of all the possible ways he could tease Harry for this. It turned out they didn't know everything about him either.

"I was drunk!" Harry attempted to defend himself but he knew it wouldn't work. Malfoy sat forward again waiting for a better explanation, which Harry eventually gave with a hint of a smirk. "I had had a lot to drink and on the way home flashed a random guy on the street. For the record though he did end up coming home with me," Harry said.

"Harry! He could have been anyone! He could have been a murderer!" Hermione exclaimed, her face in her hands just at the thought of her friend being so stupid.

"I-I know, but he wasn't was he? so it's fine!" Harry said, now wishing all he had said was that he'd flashed the guy and nothing else. Malfoy was watching him with a raised eyebrow, his eyes flitting back and forth between Harry's face and crotch, wondering what he could possibly have that would make a random guy want to go home with him just from seeing it, or was it just because he was Harry Potter? Harry didn't notice any of this as he was too busy trying to calm Hermione down.

Eventually he managed to convince her to forget about it by offering her a little more wine and they moved on.

Their game went on for a while and even started to get a little more personal than any of them would have really liked, but they carried on regardless. And soon, after a lot more wine and quite a few inappropriate questions they were nearing one o'clock in the morning.

"Okay, okay, umm…I've never had sex at school," she said happily. Her face fell, much like it had done when she had learnt that they had all cheated on a test at school when they all took a drink from their glass. She looked crossly at Ron first, having never been told of this.

"With Lavender, sixth year," he said quietly. Hermione frowned. She had known that Ron had had sex with Lavender but had never put the two and two together that the only place they could have done so was at school.

"Ginny. Sixth year," Harry said just as quietly as Ron had, refusing to look at his best friend. That, Ron hadn't known. He'd kind of suspected that the two had done so and Hermione had even known and hinted a little but Harry had never properly told him, and with good reason too, going by the look on Ron's face, that he could just about see out the corner of his eye.

To defuse anything before it started, Malfoy jumped in and revealed when he had done so too. "Pansy and Theo Nott. Just not at the same time though. Pansy was fourth year, Theo sixth year. I still joke with Pansy that she was the one that turned me gay," he said.

It took a while for Ron to be able to move on, wanting to say something to Harry, the drink in him fuelling the need to say something but the little reason left in him telling him it was years ago and that it doesn't matter now. The fact that Harry was refusing to look at him wasn't helping any either. All Harry could think about however was how he had managed to piss off his two best friends in one night and strangely enough not anger Malfoy in the slightest, maybe even understand him a little bit more.

"I've never dated someone older than me," Ron said eventually.

Hermione, Harry and Malfoy all took a drink. Hermione shrugged, muttering "Krum" under her breath before she angered her boyfriend any more than he was already.

Harry shrugged and said "Cho Chang. If you can call that a relationship,"

Once again Malfoy's was the only one that they didn't already know the answer to. "Last year. An older gentleman I met at a bar in town, didn't last long. No stamina," he said offhandedly and they all laughed.

They refilled their glasses for the umpteenth time, none of them could really remember, all they knew was there was six empty bottles of wine and one white bottle left, and Harry carried on with the game, fuelled by more alcohol. "Alright. I've never woken up to someone giving me oral," Harry said and looked pointedly at Malfoy.

Malfoy took a large sip with a smirk and shrugged. "No regrets here. One of the best feelings in the world," he said. Harry smiled and looked round at Ron and Hermione whom were both taking sips and blushing. They refused to go into details when Malfoy urged them to.

"I've never had sex on the first date," Malfoy said eventually, once he gave up on Ron and Hermione.

Harry was the only one to take a drink and Malfoy raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Not such a prude now eh Malfoy? Twice. Oh and the guy I flashed, if you can count that," Harry explained.

"You're quite the slut eh Potter?" Malfoy said and Harry laughed.

Their game kind of fizzled out after that one considering almost all the wine was gone and Hermione was starting to doze, curled up in her chair. The boys moved onto more talk of quidditch, before they found that Hermione could huff about it even when she was half asleep and completely drunk. Ron took on the decision to go home when Hermione started to talk in her sleep about wedding dresses. They went on through the fireplace that was starting to die slightly in front of them but had come back to life when Ron threw some floo powder onto the flames.

Harry and Malfoy stayed up only a little bit longer, finishing the last bottle of white wine together, alcohol made it much easier for them to talk to each other.

"You really have changed quite a bit over the years you know Malfoy," Harry commented once he had emptied the bottle into Malfoy's glass.

"In what way?" he asked.

"Well in school we wouldn't have just played that game with each other. There would have been no chance that you would have been so kind to Ron and Hermione as you were tonight," Harry explained.

"We're not in school anymore Potter, in case you didn't notice. And you've changed a significant amount too," Malfoy said.

"Oh?"

"You're not as self righteous," Malfoy muttered.

"Maybe I've always been this way and you just didn't know me well enough," Harry suggested.

"Possibly. I doubt it though," Malfoy said with a grin. Harry rolled his eyes but smiled also. They sat in silence for a moment before Harry brought forward enough courage to ask his next question.

"Were you telling the truth about all that suff in the beginning?" He asked softly.

"What makes you think I was lying?"

"I-I don't. I just wanted to be sure," Harry said. silence.

"I was telling the truth."

"Right," he said and nodded.

"The way you answered some of the questions…I get the impression that you haven't been in a relationship with anyone in a long time," Malfoy said quietly, as if he was half hoping that Harry wouldn't really hear him, like he was embarrassed to be asking, trying to find out more about him.

"I haven't, not since that one I mentioned, Simon. That was at least four years ago," Harry admitted and Malfoy's eyebrows shot up.

"That was another thing I didn't know. You're gay?" Malfoy asked.

"Yeah. I try to keep some things to myself, out of the press. I don't go around shouting about it," Harry said.

"Yeah, I understand that," Malfoy nodded.

"I hadn't known about you either. Kind of surprised actually. I would have thought you would have wanted a little Malfoy heir," Harry said, the alcohol allowing him to say something so forward.

"Doesn't mean I still can't. Mother wasn't too bothered either, more upset that I wouldn't let her arrange a marriage. As long as I was happy though then so was she, or so she says anyway," Malfoy said.

"How is your mother anyway? I haven't asked since you moved in, is she keeping alright?"

"Sure, as well as anyone these days I suppose. She's more just lonely I think. I didn't really help matters by moving out I guess," Malfoy shrugged and took a large mouthful of wine, wincing as he swallowed it as if it was a shot of fire whisky.

"You have to think about yourself as well though Malfoy, if you weren't comfortable there then the only solution was to get out,"

"Yeah," Malfoy said.

They drained their glasses after moving onto some lighter subject matter such as what the weather had been doing lately and Harry announced he was ready for bed. Malfoy agreed and they put out the flickering flames of the fire before making their way to their rooms, they said goodnight to each other on the stairs as Harry turned into his room. He barely stripped off his clothes before he collapsed in his bed, falling asleep almost immediately, barely any time to think about how successful the night had been with everyone.

Harry was woke up the next morning by a very persistent thumping headache. He tried to bury his head under the covers to block out the sunlight streaming in through the open blinds that he had been too drunk and too tired to close the night before but it turned out that wasn't what was causing the headache. It was the hangover from the night before. All he wanted to do was stay in bed all day and feel sorry for himself but he couldn't, for two reasons.

The first reason was because his bladder was full to bursting from all the wine he had drank the night before and he had to crawl out of bed, stumble over his discarded clothes to the bathroom. And the second reason was that he knew that soon, roughly in about an hour if the time was anything to go by, he would have company.

He forced himself down the stairs, flicked his wrist in the direction of the coffee maker making it buzz to life. He was sure it was much louder than the last time he had used it and wished there was a way to make it a lot quieter. This was not possible however, he had tried it before during a previous hangover. Instead he set about, quietly, taking out the frying pan, sausages, bacon, egg and some bread, threw it all in the pan and let it cook while he collected the Sunday Prophet from Nicholas his owl. Nicholas hooted lowly when he didn't give him a treat but Harry just told him to wait, he could get some bacon once it was ready, as he scanned the front page, finding nothing interesting.

His coffee was finally ready and he served himself a cup and drank it slowly as he finished cooking breakfast. The thought of the food turned his stomach. He couldn't eat when he was hungover but he knew two people that could and would always rely on him for their hangover treat. Once finished he piled everything on a plate and placed it in the oven on a very low heat to keep it warm but not cook it anymore than needed. He didn't trust warming charms on food as they were unpredictable and often gave the food a bit of a metallic after taste.

He threw Nicholas some bacon and he flew off with it, before he settled at the table, head in one hand and flicking through the paper with his other, now onto his second cup of coffee. He was half way through his paper before he was joined by someone for company, just not who he was expecting.

"Morning," he said to a very rumpled dark eyed Malfoy, who had shuffled into the kitchen.

"Is it?" he mumbled, automatically going for the coffee pot. Harry chuckled before he realised that hurt his head, so he stopped.

"Rough?" he asked, not able to formulate a proper question.

"That's one word for it," Malfoy said, frowning as he sniffed the air. "Do I smell food?"

"Fry up. In the oven, help yourself," Harry said. Malfoy put his mug down on the table next to Harry and did help himself to some of the food in the oven.

"Have you even had any of this? There's loads," Malfoy said.

"Uhm…No. I can't eat when I'm hungover but Ron, Hermione and I all kind of have this tradition," Harry said, briefly remembering how Malfoy reacted to Ron and Hermione's unexpected appearance the night before. He did notice Malfoy's shoulders tense slightly but because his back was to him he couldn't tell how he was really taking it.

"Tradition?" he said and turned around, plate relatively full and placing it next to his mug.

"Yeah. Whenever we've been out or drinking, I always make the hangover food. One of those unspoken rules kind of things," Harry said, and just at that the fire blazed green and Ron and Hermione shuffled through.

"Morning," Harry said to them, glancing at Draco as he watched them come through into the kitchen. He didn't look too annoyed but he could tell he was a little tense by the way he was holding his fork.

Hermione just made a noise of agreement before moving over to the oven and pulling out the food. Ron at least managed a wave before he collapsed into a chair across from Malfoy. Hermione moved over to the table just with the plate of piled food and put it in the middle. Ron immediately plucked a sausage from the pile and started eating, not bothering with a separate plate or cutlery.

"Seriously Weasley?" Malfoy said, looking disgusted at the lack of manners being displayed.

"Shut it Malfoy," Ron said with his mouth full. Malfoy turned to look at Harry, looking even more disgusted while Hermione sat down next to Ron, elbows on the table and head in her hands, eyes closed.

"Don't mind him, he's always like this hungover. Once he's eaten, he'll be much more pleasant," Harry said to Malfoy, rustling his paper and carrying on reading.

"You're putting me off my breakfast Weasley," Malfoy commented.

"So bite me ferret," Ron said, reaching for bacon now. Harry sighed and lowered his paper again.

"Ron," he said warningly, really not wanting to wind up Malfoy even more than he was already just by them being there.

"Sorry," Ron muttered and kept his eyes on his food.

"So this happens every time you've all had a drink? Weasley is ridiculously more unpleasant than usual and Granger is unnaturally quiet and they both come over and eat your food," Malfoy said.

"Sounds about right," Harry said with a grin. Malfoy frowned and looked at Ron and Hermione, whom seemed oblivious to what Malfoy was saying. Hermione was picking at a bit of fried bread and Ron was tucking into another sausage.

"Do you remember anything from last night Harry, I really don't," Ron finally said, not sounding quite so mean or annoyed as he did a few minutes ago.

"You don't remember anything?" Harry asked.

"I don't even remember anything," Hermione mumbled.

"Nothing?" Harry asked.

"Nope except…" she paused and then glared across at Harry. "I remember being annoyed at you,"

"Oh that? That was nothing," Harry said rather unconvincingly and he and Hermione both knew that. Hermione however didn't have the will power or the energy to do anything about it just now though, plus she didn't know why she had been angry anyway so she had nothing to go on.

"So neither of you remember anything from last night, not even what game we played?" Malfoy asked, just the hint of a smirk on his face as he thought about the blackmail possibilities against them should he ever needed them.

"Oh we didn't play 'I've never' did we?" Hermione said, grimacing at the thought.

"Uhm, well…" Harry trailed off grinning.

"Harry I told you never to let me suggest that game when we're drinking again. It's mortifying," Hermione said.

"I'd forgotten, sorry Hermione but you kind of insisted anyway, we weren't really given a choice," Harry said. He didn't really mind playing it when they were drunk, it normally made it more fun for him as they would spill everything and barely remember it the next day, certainly not anything that he had admitted anyway. It was a win win situation.

"How come you two aren't as hungover as us? I'm pretty sure you drank just as much," Ron said carefully examining Harry and Malfoy, trying to look for any hidden signs that they might be suffering.

"You know I don't make a fuss when I'm hungover Ron," Harry sighed.

"Yes. Not all of us feel so sorry for ourselves," Malfoy said. Ron grunted in response and finished off the plate of food sat between he and Hermione. Hermione had barely eaten any of it, being more like Harry, not wanting to eat much when hung over in the fear of bringing it back up again.

When Ron and Malfoy had finished eating Harry took their plates and went over to the sink to clean them up. Malfoy pinched his paper and hid behind it instead of having to speak to Ron and Hermione, before Hermione came over to help with the dishes, drying them by hand to draw out the time she had to speak to Harry privately. In the background Ron was pleading with Malfoy for the sports section, to no avail.

"You know I think Natasha was right. He has seemed to have changed since school," Hermione said quietly.

"We were saying the same thing last night about each other after you guys left," Harry said focusing on the grease spots on the plates, knowing they'd be gone in seconds by magic.

"I remember why I was angry with you," Hermione said after a few minutes of silence apart from Ron and Malfoy's gentle bickering. "I remember you telling us about your fling with Kevin,"

"Go on then," Harry sighed.

"What?"

"Chew me out, tell me I was stupid and irresponsible," Harry said.

"I don't think I need to. You obviously already know all of that. Seriously though Harry? He was your secretary, and pretty much our friend," Hermione said.

"I'm aware of that Hermione but it's done now, there's no point in moaning at me about it, I can't change what happened," Harry told her and she huffed loudly beside him, but stayed silent, for a little less than a full minute.

"Harry when are you going to stop this sleeping around stuff? Don't you want to be in a relationship?" she said quietly so that they weren't over heard.

"Hermione…" Harry warned, having had this lecture before, and really not wanting to revisit it, especially not in the middle of a hangover.

"No Harry, we're going to talk about this. So you've been hurt before, so what? Are you seriously telling me that you can lead a war but can't even find the strength to let yourself fall in love?" Hermione said.

"You know that's completely different Hermione. How can you even compare the two, plus why are you so interested hmm? Why do you want me to be in a relationship so badly?" Harry asked, rinsing the last plate clean and leaning against the countertop to listen to her excuses.

"Because I want you to be happy Harry," Hermione said softly.

"I am happy being the way I am. More than happy, why don't you believe me?" Harry said.

"I know you Harry, don't bullshit me like this," Hermione said, her soft tone changing to stern in a second.

"Whatever Hermione," Harry said pushing away from the counter and her. "I'm done talking about this with you," he said, drawing Ron and Malfoy's attention.

"Talking about what?" Ron asked, curiosity peeked, his fight for the sports section, that had unbelievably still been going on, forgotten about.

"Nothing," Harry snapped and stomped off towards the stairs. "Help yourselves and see yourselves out," He stormed off up the stairs after that, even with Hermione shouting after him. He now agreed with Hermione. He didn't want to play 'I've never' when they'd been drinking, ever again.

Harry had stayed in his room for the rest of the day, reluctantly getting on with paperwork even though he had quite a sore head. He started to grow hungry at around lunch time and even though he was feeling like he could stomach some food and he was sure Ron and Hermione had gone home by then, he didn't want Malfoy asking him any questions about his and Hermione's conversation. By dinner time he was starving and now had a pounding headache. He gave in and was packing his things away, ready to go down and make dinner, or at least find something to eat, when there was a knock on the door.

"Yeah?" Harry responded reluctantly, thinking Malfoy wouldn't be very likely to want to visit for a chat and wondering if Ron and Hermione were still around or had come back. The door opened and Malfoy's blonde hair proceeded his face around the door.

"Hey, you alright?" He asked and Harry had to stop himself from raising his eyebrows in surprise. He did blink a few times too many however.

"Uhm, yeah. I was just coming down to make something for dinner," Harry explained.

"Oh, well, I took care of that," Malfoy said, stepping into the room properly, carrying a large pizza box with him.

"How…?" Harry started as Malfoy walked across the room, opening the box and placing it on Harry's bed.

"Granger left me the number for the muggle Pizza company and told me that you liked ham and pineapple and showed me how to use that muggle communication devise on the kitchen counter, the kellyphone?"

"Telephone," Harry said.

"Yeah that. I did that, ordered it and waited outside for it, cause they couldn't get to the front door obviously, and Granger had told me were you kept the muggle money, don't worry though I replaced it with the equivalent of our money," Malfoy explained.

"Wow, thanks Malfoy," Harry said, his mouth watering as the smells of the cheese and the just general pizza smells reached him.

Malfoy perched on the edge of Harry's bed, flicking his wand at Harry's paper work, making it fly into a pile and settle itself on Harry's desk across the room. Harry arched his eyebrows and settled back on his bed. Malfoy positioned the pizza between them and Harry noticed half the pizza had tuna and sweetcorn on it. Malfoy took a slice of that side and gestured Harry to start eating. He did so and frowned, knowing a week ago he had no idea that he would be sharing a pizza with Malfoy in his room. He figured he didn't mind so much and it didn't even feel that strange.

"Have you been doing that all day?" Malfoy asked gesturing to the paperwork.

"Yeah. It's just never ending these days," Harry said.

"I see that, seems like that's all you ever do," Malfoy said.

"Pretty much is, apparently ever since the war the paperwork has doubled from what it used to be," Harry explained. Malfoy nodded and they ate a couple more slices of pizza in silence.

"We don't need to talk about what happened this morning you know, it's none of my business, it never needs to be mentioned again," Malfoy said.

"Thanks," Harry said after studying Malfoy for a second to make sure he was be genuine. He seemed to be. "Were Ron and Hermione angry at me after a stormed off?"

"Not really. Granger was a bit miffed that she was being ignored. Weasley was just annoyed that he didn't know what was going on," Malfoy said. Harry nodded and they fell into another silence, filled just by the noises while they ate.

"Thank you Malfoy, for the pizza and…well everything," Harry said.

"Don't mention it Potter," Malfoy said cheerfully and smiled at Harry. Harry smiled back and wondered if this classified them as friends now or not. He supposed he'd see how it goes.