Disclaimer: J K Rowling owns everything which has to do with the Harry Potter series.

A/N: A warm welcome to my new beta Victoria Weasley. Many thanks for your help. You are terrific!

To Indie, you have become a friend and made this hobby the most fun I had in years. Hermione and the gang shall wait for you. Ευχαριστώ. μουλείπεις

Hermione and Draco have a long way to go. I can't rush my story. Let's not forget Harry and Ginny either.

This chapter is dedicated to padfootedmoony, my hundredth review! Thank you! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could actually get fifty reviews let alone a hundred so, THANK YOU, GRACIAS!

Hugs and kisses,

Elena

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Chapter 25: Screwdrivers, Wrenches And Bolts.

His eyes opened. Without moving, he blinked once, twice and closed his eyes again allowing a gush of breath escape from his mouth. The quiet around him, the foreign surroundings comforted the blond man. Nothing was familiar enough to bring back any memories and for Draco Malfoy that in itself felt like heaven. If he could stay like this forever, even better. He let his left leg slide downwards on the side of the day bed, then the right one. He winced as his chest reminded him of the reason the bandage was wrapped around his torso. With the help of his hands he lifted himself up ever so slowly remembering his not yet restored broken bones on his left hand. Resting his elbows on his thighs he held his head on both his hands digging his fingers into his hair. Although still in pain, he was feeling slightly better, physically at least.

So he wasn't being assaulted by those hideous images anymore, so what! He couldn't stop feeling though. His heart contracted and distended painfully. Yes, now instead of images it was every possible emotion taking over his senses. First, guilt. Guilt was his faithful companion. As if living with it wasn't difficult enough he had to go and make it an even bigger burden. First he betrayed Hermione in the most disgusting way possible. Not happy with his stupid behaviour he let 'them' control his emotions, when he had promised it would never happen again. Rage replaced guilt. His fingers tightened their hold on his head. He had promised 'they' would never invade his subconscious again nor would 'they' make him do or say things and yet, that's exactly what happened. Draco trembled from head to toe. His hands landed by his thighs, clinging so tight to the edge of the day bed they had gone white, devoid of any blood.

Why did it happen? That Thursday, his mind drifted for a few minutes as he and Hermione made their way to get some lunch. He didn't want to meet anyone, befriend anyone, he just didn't care. Hermione insisted and then he starting thinking about the reasons why the past couple of years he chose to live in isolation. No sooner had his heart started its fast paced gallop Draco knew something was amiss within him and then..., the dark cloud engulfed him. That woman, the owner of the take out place, caressed Hermione's cheek and he was transported back to that fateful day, the last day he saw his mother.

Narcissa's departure to Azkaban was a quiet, intimate affair witnessed only by the Minister of Magic and her son. Draco stood tall, proud as she made her way out of the cell to stop right in front of him, her gaze arrogant, demanding, 'Don't ever forget who you are Draco. Promise me.' Narcissa's plea was sealed by the most heartfelt caress his mother had ever given him. 'You are a Malfoy and I expect you to make your family proud my son, my prince.' Not a kiss, not even an 'I love you' or a 'see you soon son'; not from Narcissa Malfoy. Those fingers of hers spoke volumes as they reluctantly slid ever so slowly across his tensed cheek.

Draco's touched his face as he fixed his gaze beyond the boundaries of the wall in front of him, as if in a trance, while his fingers lingered on his cheek. It tingled as if Narcissa's warm, soft fingers had just brushed his face with that memorable touch. Serafina Murphy's tender gesture, the expression in her eyes brought it all back to Draco. He wasn't prepared for it. The more he fought against it the deeper into despair he fell. Rage took hold of him. He wasn't about to fall apart in front of Hermione, so he fled.

It was shame's turn to make its appearance. Hermione thought Malfoy pride was alive and well... right! He was a coward, a weak man. No, he wasn't a man, not the man his mother or Hermione thought he was. When confronted with any kind of conflict, especially of the physical kind, he'd either ran or retaliated like a good coward would: when his attacker was most vulnerable. Never, ever would Draco Malfoy face an enemy head on by himself. What about Narcissa Malfoy then?

How could he face his mother? He let out a mocking laugh. Going back to Azkaban and face the woman who not only gave him life but forfeited her own to protect and save him? And say what? 'Sorry mother, but there'll be nothing left by the time you come out of this nightmare. That promise, well, I couldn't fucking keep it.'

Of course he couldn't forget he was a Malfoy! One trip deep into the wizarding world and he was reminded of who he was: a despicable traitor. One look at the Manor and he couldn't help but think he had no place in that world. His home was violated by enemies and ex-friends alike. Revenge and retaliation, weren't those the words the Healer used? For more than two years his mother had been facing hell while he ran as far away from it as he could. Well, there was no place to run to anymore, he reached a dead end. What more proof did he need that it was the case? He ran to a Muggle for Merlin's sake! because he had no where to go, no one to find comfort with. Three years ago the thought of finding refuge with Muggles would have made him laugh hard enough to soil himself. Fate had once again humbled him.

Not only that, he was also a different man. Would his mother be able to see it? Would she understand? Hermione was never mentioned between mother and son, not even during the trial. He was too much of coward to bring the subject up and Narcissa... why didn't she? His relationship with Hermione was no secret and even though both trials were conducted separately, Hermione's testimony on his behalf should have reached Narcissa. Yet, not a word was uttered by his mother about it. Questions, questions and more questions and he had no answers to any of them. Guilt, remorse and rage were still with him, his ever faithful friends.

The small room was closing in on him. He had no idea what time it was, only that it was still day time. Sunlight came in from behind him which meant it was afternoon since Nick's backyard faced South. Groaning, Draco rose up, dragging himself outside. He breathed in and immediately after, his torso complained. Draco swore loudly. "Fucking bloody Muggles! "

"And good afternoon to you too, about time! I was getting bored up here!" Suzy Aisling, the youngest of the Aisling household, jumped from the tree giving shade to the shed.

A startled Draco glared at the girl and proceeded to walk towards the house. Suzy stopped him by standing in his path. "Holy crap! That was some beating! Did a tank run over you?!"

Draco's right hand pushed Suzy to the side and he continued towards the house. "Mum! Draco is awake and he is not being nice! He swore!" Yelled Suzy as they both made their way into the house and once again Suzy stood in Draco's path. "And what the hell are Muggles?"

Draco was about to swear some more when Maggie made her entrance. "Feeling any better?" Directing her gaze to her youngest Maggie asked Draco, "did she wake you?"

"I didn't, I swear! He just came out of the shed and," this time it was Suzy who glared at the injured man, "he swore and pushed me!"

Maggie shook his head and taking Draco by the arm prompted him to sit on one of the chairs surrounding the small table in the kitchen. "Would you rather have some tea or change your clothes first? And you, " she addressed Suzy, "Weren't you supposed to fetch your Dad?"

"He wasn't at Con's" answered Suzy sitting on top of the counter, opening the cabinet behind her looking for something to eat. "I would like some cookies with my tea. Where are they?"

Maggie closed her eyes and counted to three before facing her daughter. "Your Dad must be at Con's garage not his house. Stop being a nuisance and go, now."

Suzy left the kitchen grunting and murmuring under her breath. Maggie picked up a plastic bag from the counter and handed it to Draco. "These are brand new. We keep new clothes at the center, just in case."

Draco stared at the bag hanging from Maggie's hand. He shook his head and said, "I'd better go, thank you anyway." His grey gaze was one of contradicting emotions Maggie had seen in the course of her years working in the center.

She had seen too many boys and young men despairing and feel abandoned to not know that Draco was wrestling with his pride and his suffering. She had come in contact with the enigmatic Mr. Malfoy three times in the past few months. He was a gentleman, well spoken, elegant, smooth hands, with a way about him which told her Draco came from money and wasn't used to hardships or manual labour, and yet there were similarities between the enigmatic young man looking at her with those grey as a cloudy sky eyes and with the poor souls she encountered on a daily basis. On the other hand, who said rich, well off children were spared the horrors of physical, sexual abuse or whatever other horrors human beings inflicted on each other? Maybe Draco ran away from a nightmare of a life because, why would those grey eyes of his displayed so much torment?

So many of them had slipped through her hands! But he was there, at her house, because he had no place to go, no one to lean on. She wasn't about to let him go. Now, if Nick would stop playing with that bloody car of his!

"I'm sure you don't want to go outside looking like that. Once you freshen up and have something to eat you'll feel better. Mind you, I'll have to wrap those bandages of yours with plastic, they can't get wet." Draco was about to protest but Maggie had already turned looking for a plastic bag which she could use.

"Here, these will do." She turned smiling, finding Draco standing, ready to leave. She chose to ignore it. "I guess a bath is out of the question, maybe a quick shower. Here let's get you upstairs. I have everything ready for you in our bathroom."

"Mrs. Aisling... I really need to go." He said the words but not convincingly.

"You can't face her looking like this Draco. Dry blood in your hair, your face all black and blue and these dreadful clothes." Maggie was guiding him upstairs as she continue talking. "You make your self presentable and after, you must eat. Then we will figure out the rest."

Opening the door to the master bedroom she prompted him to go in first. In silence she helped him wrapped his bandages to protect them from the water. He sat on the bed and with great effort took his trainers off, trying to hide the pain emanating from his injured ribs. When he lifted his face, Draco found Maggie standing with a towel in her hand, smiling again with such tenderness Draco felt mesmerized by it. Maggie took Draco's face in her hands, her light brown eyes filled with compassion and concern and suddenly she kissed both sides of his face.

"It's going to work out, you'll see. Now be a good boy and go in. I'll have tea ready, something to tie you over until supper."

Maggie left the room, humming a happy tune. In a daze Draco did as he was told. What was wrong with him?. What kind of Muggles were the Aislings? Forget Muggles! What kind of people would open their house to a virtual stranger, take care of his wounds, feed him and act as if this kind of incident was an every day thing! They knew nothing about him, he never said much the few times Nick invited him over and yet, some of the things they said... What if they were not Muggles? Maybe they abandoned the wizarding world, ran away during the first war? Aside from Hermione and his mother, no one had ever been kind to him. He was feared, or despised but never had he inspired anything remotely similar to what he was experiencing with Nick's family. The only reason the Aislings opened their home to him was because the Malfoy name meant nothing to them, or did it? The warm water flowing down his bruised body stopped his thoughts from going any further. Closing his eyes Draco let Maggie's words cradled his soul, 'It's going to work out, you'll see'

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Sitting on the bed Draco stared into space, as if his gaze could penetrate the walls and venture into the outside world. Falling into that kind of trance was a habit he acquired in Azkaban. A defense mechanism to keep his sanity after the Dementors' visits and, for reasons which escaped him he kept falling into without warning after his release.

Blinking rapidly, he looked around him disconcerted until his head cleared and he realized where he was. The different aches and pains throughout his body brought him back to reality, back to a Draco he couldn't understand and loathed with all his heart.

Nothing had changed aside from the decision he came to as the warm water slid down his body. His features contorted as he stood up. Taking Nick's shirt and his own tattered pants with him he strolled towards the stairs telling himself not to fall prey to Maggie Aisling's manipulations, again. Half way down, he stopped. His mouth watered and his stomach informed him of the emptiness within it. The smell of something delicious reached his nostrils.

"Tea is ready. Here, let me have those. You are definitely not taking these rags back with you." Maggie had climb the few steps and took the clothes from Draco. Before he could say a word, she had dragged him to a chair presenting him with a cup of tea and a couple of sandwiches. "Supper is still an hour or so away. You must be famished! Shower went okay? Did the plastic help? I must take a look at those bandages, they need to be tighten again"

He was going to turn down supper but truth be told, he was starving! His stomach growled once more. He agreed with its opinion, Maggie's Aisling home cooking was unique and oh so scrumptious! He should stay and eat a proper meal. In less than a minute he downed the sandwiches and finished his tea. Maggie was humming again. She left the kitchen and came shortly after.

"You were hungry, that is good sign." She retrieved the plate and cup. "I'm glad you didn't put on the clothes I gave you, those look better on you. Mind you, those trainers!"

A bang coming from the sitting room echoed through the small house. Suzy made her appearance without even acknowledging her mother. "Dad says to come with me once you finished your shower" She told Draco.

" Susanna Aisling, how many times do I have to tell you: do not run into the house banging the door and..." Maggie paused, "What have you been doing? Look at you!"

Suzy examined herself shrugging her shoulders. Grease stains were on her face and pants. Like her dad, cars were one of her favourite hobbies. "I was helping Dad, Con is not at home."

Maggie turned to Draco. "People asked me if I miss not having boys, do you think I do? Four daughters! All sports crazy, daredevils and one crazy about cars!"

Cars! Draco had avoided them like the plague. Metal boxes, metal coffins was a better description, spewing all sorts of gases, noisy and one could not fly them! Maggie Aisling had a point though; her daughters were like no Muggle he ever met. Outspoken, sure of themselves and...dare he say it even if not out loud, stunningly beautiful. Tall, slender, their skin had that sun tanned pigmentation he had seen in people from the East, thick black long hair and eyes, those eyes..., the most perfect amber like irises, elongated, luscious eyelashes like those of a Persian princess. He felt a little tug in his chest. What would Hermione think if she met the Aislings? Hermione... his mother... him living like a pauper, inspiring pity. No matter where his thoughts lead him their destination was the same: Hermione, his mother, his guilt.

"Hey! Let's go!" Suzy was pulling him by one of his arms and out of his self-pity thoughts. "We don't have much time and I really want to go for a ride, come on! Let's go!"

Would it be so bad to hex a fourteen year old Muggle girl? Draco thought as he let himself being dragged by Suzy while Maggie's warning reached them before the door closed behind them. "You are not to ride with your dad, are you listening Susanna Aisling! You both will be in a lot of trouble if I hear from Draco that you disobeyed me. Are you listening!"

The bang on the door was the answer to her warnings. Maggie stood by the kitchen's doorway smiling tenderly. Draco's murderous gaze didn't escape her. Her daughters had learned to ignore gestures and words coming from her 'lost causes' as her family called her boys. They also learned in the course of all her years involved with the Foundation and The Center to feel compassion and understanding toward those less fortunate. Compassion which didn't involved pity and understanding which didn't mean excusing the wrong choices the boys made.

It was amazing how quickly her daughters had picked on her not so orthodox way of dealing with her 'clients'. She shook her head, smiling still. Draco wanted to run but hadn't. A good sign indeed! Humming her happy tune, she went back to the kitchen to finish supper.

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Susy's chatter was a distant noise blending in with the neighbourhood's sounds. Draco followed her, forgetting he had every intention of excusing himself and take his leave. Instead his mind wandered. It was hard to believe that in the span of a little over a day his life, once again, had turned upside down. He was able to think about Hermione without falling into abject desperation leaving him with the guilt and shame he was so familiar with.

His legs stopped on their own while it took his mind a bit longer to process what was happening. Somehow his body arrived at his destination first, his thoughts made a hasty retreat a few seconds behind just in time to hear Nick's mocking words as the older man examined a clean, better dressed Draco, "Much better, still a sorry sight but much better"

Suzy giggled at her father's remarks. Draco seared Susy with his eyes. Nick saw his reaction but Draco, unfazed by it, held the man's gaze for a few seconds after which he turned his attention to his surroundings. He felt crowded in the small garage and his nostrils wrinkled as the smell of grease, petrol and strong coffee assaulted him. He had been living amongst Muggles for a while and yet there was still lots to learn, not that he really cared to learn more than what was needed. To find Hermione, he acquired the skills and knowledge required to accomplish his task while at the same time keeping himself invisible. For that he had to thank Knockturn Alley, of all places! Those living in the shadows of dark magic or other criminal activities had a better understanding of the necessity of Muggle and the magical worlds to cooperate and help each other. Voldemort's defeat helped increased such cooperation, as former Death Eaters and sympathizers of the Dark Lord fled persecution or retribution. The art of creating faked documents such as passports, identity cards, work permits and such became an industry he had no idea existed. Had Hermione known about it, it would have taken not months but years to locate her.

Nick was using a piece of cloth to give the last touches to his and Con's refurbished 1973 Ford Mustang. Grinning from ear Nick stood by his jewel, the apple of his eye, after his four daughters, of course. Draco raised one of his eyebrows.

"Well?" Nick asked expectantly. "What do you think?"

'Think about what?', wonder Draco.

Nick let out an exasperated grunt and grabbed Draco by his left arm while sitting on the working table, Suzy shook her head disapprovingly. "You have nothing to say about this beauty?" Nick pressed on.

No, Draco had nothing to say because the wizard had no idea what exactly was he supposed to say about a death trap like an automobile no matter how shiny or colourful.

"This my friend is my baby. Seven years of blood, sweat, wheeling and dealing and a few nights banished in my office but now, look at it! And you and I are going to take her for a spin!" Nick could barely contain himself.

Cars had a gender? Draco turned his grey, confused eyes toward Suzy. "Don't let me stop you short thing, go with your dad"

"Can I dad? Draco won't tell mum, would you?" Suzy was already opening the passenger door but Nick intervened. "Sorry my lady but your mum will kill me."

Suzy contracted her brows angrily. Nick kissed her forehead. "I know I promised but not today. The job fair is coming in a week. Mum will be gone most of the weekend. I'll take you then."

Crossing her arms around her chest Suzy jumped back into the working table. "You'd better bring me some ice cream then."

"Ice cream for the princess, remind me Draco" Nick sat on the driver side. "Get in"

'I did want to die', Draco reminded himself. He took his seat beside his Muggle friend. Draco watched Nick putting the seat belt on and tried to imitate him failing miserably. Nick gave him a puzzled gaze and helped Draco with it.

They rode in silence. Nick smiling and glancing from the corner of his eye at his companion, sensing Draco's discomfort which resembled apprehension more than anything else. After a long while they were in what appeared to be a country road and then Draco's heart all but stopped switching to a fast pace beat as if trying to keep up with the car's frantic speed. He wanted to scream in fear but his throat closed up just as his eyes did the same. Wind lifted his long hair from the back of his neck.

Were they flying? Was that the reason for the wild wind inside the car? He half-opened his eyes. Fear was replaced by awe. True, they were still on the ground but the speed at which they were going was... exhilarating, thrilling, almost as if he were reaching for the highest height in his broom. The tightness in his chest eased up, the hands he kept under his thighs in numbing fists came from their hiding place and this time it was his turn to glance at Nick who returned the gesture. Pride and excitement dancing in his eyes. "Just watch her go!" Nick exclaimed.

Draco smiled back at Nick. His first true smile since he knocked on Nick's door. "I never imagined Mug... I never realized cars could... Bloody, fucking Merlin!" That's all he could come with as a commentary.

And so Nick laughed, a happy, satisfied laugh. "Turn down your window Draco." Draco followed Nick's gaze and after fumbling with every knob on the door he finally figured it out. His eyes darted left and right, the beating of his heart was a joyous one. For whatever time the Muggle wonder flew by trees and clouds raced by in the sky, Draco Malfoy forgot about how just a few hours ago he had wished to die.

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Almost two hours after, Nick and Draco made their way into the garage. Draco waited for Nick to open the door imitating Nick's actions with the handle. Nick walked over the small, dirty fridge on top of the working table placed the promised ice cream inside and took two bottles of beer, handing one to Draco. Again, Draco said nothing, nodding his head. Opposite to his behaviour earlier, the young man examined the car more closely and in turn Nick studied him. Resting his hips against the table Nick pondered about Draco's odd comments and reactions. For instance: his unfamiliarity with cars. Yes, Draco walked to work, that much he knew but...not being able to strap himself, struggling to lower the window? He was about to say that word again, what was it? Muggle? What was that? Swearing by Merlin! That one he'd never heard and he had heard every English swear word known to men. What to make of his outburst in the morning? 'Healer', 'potions'. Where the hell did Draco come from? What kind of life had he left behind? What was he running from?

Draco wasn't about to open up and talk about himself. It was uncanny how much Draco reminded Nick of his past self. Nick placed his hands on the edge of the table and erected himself.

"Come, I want to show something" Draco followed Nick without saying a word, glancing back at the car as they turned the corner of Con's garage. What Draco walked into was a sorry sight. All sorts of rusted Muggle junk littered the so called backyard. From chairs to stoves to Merlin knew what else, Con's garden was more like the last resting place of things no one wanted. Brown patches replaced a poorly watered garden and the fence gave the impression of a moving wave, it was so crooked. Nick and Draco stood next to something covered by a huge, thick blanket.

"Con and I found this gem in a junk yard in Bristol" Nick lowered his voice, "Maggie doesn't know."

Like a magician about to dazzled his audience Nick lifted the cover. A cloud of dust engulfed both men. Once it settled all Draco saw was a really sorry excuse of a car, if that is what Nick wished to call the carcass in front of them.

"I know, I know. It needs work" Draco's grey mocking gaze only encouraged Nick to continue. "Just think that once, that beauty in the garage looked just like this. Don't think about the way it looks now, think about its potential"

Draco strolled around the ruins Nick was so excited about. Sometimes Muggles surprised him and in a good way. How could something so hideous, hopeless could be transformed in a gem, as Nick said, without the use of magic?

"It is a Citroen. That, we know. The year we are not sure, early seventies? Who cares!" Nick walked a few paces and picked a metal box from the ground, placing it on top of the hood of the car. Then he walked a few metres towards the back of the garage. An slanted, dirty old cabinet of sorts leaned against the wooden wall. Nick opened one of its doors and extracted a shoe size cardboard box. From the tool box on the hood, because that is what the metal box was, Nick took a screwdriver. "Here, you do it"

Nick let out a sigh. "This is a Philips screwdriver, ever seen one? Use one?" He inquired as Draco took it from his hand, the wrong way. "No? Well it's never to late to learn."

Inserting his head through the window of the car, Nick openened the driver's door from the inside. "Sit, you are going to install the rearview mirror. I bought it for peanuts a few weeks ago."

Draco sat as directed and following Nick's instructions managed to install the mirror. Although he wasn't about to admit it, he felt something close to pride at being able to use a Muggle tool successfully. After, Nick proceeded to explain about his fascination with rebuilding old cars. Draco tried to conceal his fascination and eagerness to learn more about what he now considered the most amazing Muggle invention he had ever encountered. He asked questions, tons of them. Nick each one, no matter how silly or strange they were because Nick saw this reaction as the opportunity he had been looking for.

"I guess supper is not ready yet. Maybe you and I can start putting this Humpty Dumpty together again" Whoever or whatever that Humpty Dumpty was, and why it needed to be put together again when Nick had a more pressing matter like the not so together car he just raved about, totally escaped Draco. Muggles were strange people! Back in the garage the battered Citroen's engine hung from thick chains bolted to the roof. Nick lowered it to the working table and he and Draco proceeded to reveal its secrets. What may be working, what needed to be work on. Draco understood then whom Nick referred to as Humpty Dumpty and decided to find out more about the Dumpty bloke in a library.

"I remember the first time Susy and I worked on an engine, much like this one. Her little, soft hands in mine..." Nick paused, reminiscing. Staring at Draco he continued, "One day, I hope, you'll be able to pass on to your children some of what you're passionate about. It's hard to explain how you feel about that."

So relaxed and immersed was Draco in what he was doing his words came out without him thinking. "John Albus is barely two years old and I can't wait to get him his first br..." Draco stilled for a fraction of a second, kicking himself mentally for his indiscretion.

"You have a son, congratulations! Two years old! Please tell me he looks like his mother. Actually, is he as pleasant as you are? You know, outgoing, all smiles, just like you?" The wide grin in Nick's features puzzled Draco. He just admitted to having a son and Nick acted as if such revelation was of no consequence, on the contrary, Nick was happy for him! No questions, no words of surprise. The Aisling family was certainly out of both worlds. Having said more than he meant, he turned his attention back to his wrench and what he now knew was called a hex nut.

"My son... I just met him a few weeks ago" The words just kept coming out and Draco couldn't help it.

"Better now than never, don't you think? Is the mother the same girl you've been pining for all these months? The one you had the row with yesterday?" As soon as Draco gave any hints of clamming down, Nick promised himself he would stop with his probing. In the meantime he had to try to get as much information as he could.

No answer from the blond man which of course translated into yes to his question. Back to the engine then. Nick brought a grease stained, worn out book from underneath the working table. "Here, take it with you. The kids at the centre use it to learn the basics about cars and such. It's Susy's, I know she wouldn't mind lending it to you"

"Are you sure? She has a mouth your daughter, and she doesn't like me" The teasing remarks provoke a smirk on Nick's face.

"She is not afraid of you or anyone. She knows you're all bark and no bite. And that mouth believe it or not, she inherited from her mother" said Nick with tenderness.

"Mrs. Aisling is a lady" said Draco almost defensively thinking of his mother as well.

"That she is but don't get in her way and you'll see a tigress with claws ready to rip you apart and by the way... my daughters are all ladies mister, don't you forget that" Draco's defense of Maggie pleased Nick.

Nick busied himself with one of the toolboxes. Through the corner of his eye Draco saw Nick's face tensed a little. "Women are complex creatures. When I met Maggie I thought she was so out of my reach I forced myself to ignore her. I was angry and lost and she so together, always smiling, always kind. It bugged me really, that I could be attracted to her when she and I had nothing in common. She had every reason to want nothing to do with someone so despicable, unworthy. To this day I can't believe she fell in love with me, with me! A street kid, a thug with no schooling, in and out of jail, biting the very hand that fed me..." A long paused ensued. Nick debated with himself. He went with what he sensed was the right path. "If your girl is anything like my Maggie, don't let her get away Draco. Don't give up."

Rolling the sleeve of his shirt Nick pointed at the scar on his right arm. 'Dark Shadow', that's what we called ourselves. Having no real family of my own I thought they were the real deal. 'We stick together', 'One for all and all for one', 'Don't worry mate you have a family now', what a load of rubbish!" Nick's angered comments were met by a darkened grey gaze.

"I have blood in my hands Draco and every time I saw that stupid tattoo on my arm I was reminded of it. One day...I almost die, but I carved it out. Now I have the scar to remind me of how deep in the gutter I was and how lucky I am that Maggie and her father were there to pull me out."

Nick leaned back on the table and search for Draco's eyes, holding his gaze forcing Draco to say with his eyes what he couldn't say out loud. Draco struggled with what he heard and with what it made him feel. His right hand caressed the place where the Dark Mark used to be, Nick's eyes followed. Both lifted their heads at the same time and their eyes met. Somehow words were not warranted.

Draco picked up the wrench and tried once again to take care of the stubborn nut. Frustrated he cursed loudly. Nick offered help but Draco refused. When Draco finally unfastened the blasted little thing, Nick patted his back and Draco held on to the fastener as if it were a coveted prized.

Maggie decided to come out of her hiding place, not before wiping the tears shed while she listened to Nick talk about his past mistakes. Squaring her shoulders and feigning indignation she stormed in. "Do you know how long we've been waiting for you two?! And isn't it just grand! Look at the both you! Grease, dirt all over!"

Nick and Draco looked at each other. Their hands were dirty and so were parts of their shirts and pants. Both hands on her hips, frowning at them Maggie added, "Don't just stand there! The girls are waiting! And don't you dare sit at the table without washing up. Honestly! Men and their stupid cars!"

Draco was the last one to leave. He could have turned right, instead of left and disappeared, maybe forever. On his way out, he stopped and went back to the fridge. Ice cream in hand he turned left.

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Supper with the Aislings was a fascinating and intimidating affair for Draco Malfoy. He could barely hear his own thoughts. There were lots of smiles and lots and lots of conversation. Today it was about Draco's ride with Nick and Connie's football game. Connie being the second oldest, twenty years old, and crazy about 'football' just like most of the Muggles he'd met. The events of the day, any day were of interest to all. They were all aware that Nicky, the oldest daughter had finals the week coming so they inquired about it. Connie was considering changing schools and of course Maggie had something to say about that. Gabriella was fed up with Susy 'borrowing' her clothes and Susy was still crossed with her father and mother for not allowing her to be the first to ride with Dad for after all she was the one who helped Nick with its repairs and Draco was not even family. That comment was promptly rebuked by a very stern scolding from Maggie and Nick. Draco couldn't help but gifting Susy with a satisfied smirk which of course resulted in a killing gaze from the 'short thing'.

Supper at the Manor was the opposite. No smiles, no conversation unless Father asked a question. Mother smiled, not really, more like forced her lips to pretend a smile the few times Lucius addressed her. Whereas the Aislings talked about everything the constant with the Malfoys were Mudbloods, the ineptness of the Ministry, and of course The Dark Lord, always The Dark Lord. With the Aislings the cacophony of sounds and food smells gave the whole ambiance colour, music. With the Malfoys aside from the elves coming in and out all Draco could remember were the soft clinking of cutlery. His parents loved him, he never doubted it. His mother paid dearly for that love and his father, well his father's love for his son was so imbedded with Lucius's plans for the Malfoy family once Voldemort's reign was reestablished Draco felt more like the means to an end. He mourned Lucius death, Narcissa's husband, having come to the conclusion that his father died, years before, the minute The Dark Mark seared his arm.

Draco declined the invitation to stay for a game of cards. Maggie then forced him to allow her to look at his bandages. As he say his goodnights to the girls Maggie gave him a little container with more painkillers and a hug on his way out. Nick offered to walk with him for a while which they did, both saying nothing for a few minutes.

"How fast do you fancy the car's speed was? " Draco asked trying to disguise his interest in Nick's 'gem'

"I didn't want to push it, but we managed at least two hundred fifty". Nick answered. Following his instinct once again he added. "I'll work some more on the Citroen tomorrow. The engine we can save, I think. The body needs a lot of work. There are the missing seats of course. But that is not as important. If we can't make the engine work then we have no car. Tuesday you and I can go to a place I know and start looking for parts. Citroens are not that rare."

Draco and Nick continued their walk. Nick with his hands knotted at his back, Draco's in the front pockets of his pants. Much was said today, Draco had divulged more about his life to Nick than he ever intended. Nick's reference to his past sparked great curiosity in Draco and now he was debating whether or not to satisfy it.

"Have you ever killed?" Draco's blunt question gave Nick a jolt.

His answer was given looking straight into Draco's eyes. "No, I never pulled the trigger but I might as well. Have you?"

Draco hesitated for a few seconds. The turmoil within him reflected in the sudden tightening of his lips, the tension in his face and his hands, now fists in his pockets. "I was asked to kill a man... I watched the torture of... I allowed...." He couldn't make himself say it out loud.

He turned and looked at Nick, stopping him on his tracks. Shoving his left arm at the man he said, "Death Eaters, that's what we called ourselves. I do have blood in my hands. I am a monster!" Draco had transfigured in the matter of seconds. Rage was all around him.

Nick had not moved. His face relaxed, his eyes following Draco's frantic back and forth pacing. Draco was sinking, drowning was a better description. Torn by his past, pulled by his present and oh so angry and afraid! "But you didn't kill him, did you? And when you watched them torture those poor souls, all you could do to stop yourself from putting an end to that madness was to bit your tongue so hard it bled because you are not a monster, you are not murderer."

"And what am I then? What kind of man allows those things to happen? I... My mother, she is there in that foul, hellish place... and Hermione...." Overriding the pain of his injured ribs, Draco lifted his arms and buried his hands on his hair. His steps were more erratic, his breathing more laboured and the anger and desperation were building up inside so rapidly it scared Nick who was starting to doubt he could be of any real help. All he had was the memories of what it was like for him but even that, Nick realized, was not even close to what Draco had experienced but it was all that he had and so he prayed as he always did for guidance and then he spoke.

"If you were a monster would Hermione have fallen in love with you, give you a son?" Nick was going blind. Thinking on his feet.

Draco froze. His arms by his side, his shoulders low, his gaze on the ground. "I can't face her." His words were but a whimper, a plea.

"Not today, and maybe not tomorrow but you have to Draco" The older man's voice was low, intimate and as his words reached Draco the tentacles of those demons he so dreaded started to ease their hold on him. Draco raised his head and locked his gaze with Nick's.

"You don't understand you are only a... I have betrayed her..." Draco lamented.

Nick lips twitched. The glint in his eyes revealing understanding. "You slept with someone else. Before or after your row?" Nick asked.

"Before, ...that's why..." Nick interrupted him rolling his eyes.

"You slept with some bloke's woman. He and his mates beat you up to a pulp and now we have to figure out how to stop Hermione from killing you. Well, stupidity will never run out of style, that's for sure" Said Nick amused and annoyed at the same time.

"You don't understand..." But Nick was too angry to let Draco finish.

"What possessed you to do something so...!? What exactly was the row about?" Nick asked.

"I told her we were going to finish our studies and that we will get married." Said Draco angrily.

Nick could not help but smile. "You 'told' her. And she kicked your ass out of her house. How silly of her!"

"Exactly!" Draco exclaimed.

"Wrong!" Nick almost screamed. "You have a girl who knows about your past, she falls in love with you, God knows why but she does and you go and behaved like the bastard you used to be and you wonder why she slammed the door in your face?"

Draco stood there, amazed at Nicks insights in spite of his half truths. "There is more to my relationship with Hermione. Our past history is... I thought I had it under control..."

"It's all in the past Draco. You don't have to tell me. No matter what it is she loves you and you love her." Nick said, daring to get closer to Draco.

"Nick, the things I said to Hermione...she'll never forgive me. The whole day was a disaster. After you sent me home I had every intention to go my place but... I don't know why I did what I did. All these months all I could think of was of Hermione, her and her alone. I never once looked at another woman..." Draco couldn't continue.

Nick nodded to Draco and they renewed their walk. Silence prevailed for a few moments. "You need to sort yourself out before you see her again." Nick figured he had nothing to lose by pushing Draco some more. "Your mother may be able to help you."

At the mention of his mother Draco's jaw tightened, the veins in his neck quivered. Nick waited patiently for Draco's response. There was an urgency in Nick to gather as much information as he could before the door was shut, probably permanently.

"My mother wouldn't want to me see either." Said Draco with harshness.

"No matter what the girls do or say Maggie would never stay angry with them. Your mother is no different." he said.

"What do you know about my mother! She is..."

Nick interjected, "In that foul, hellish place, so you told me. She is still your mother. I assume she is in jail?" Every question, every assertion he made was a risk Nick was willing to take. He held his breath, waiting for Draco's answer.

"Almost three years. She hasn't heard from me because I have been too much of a coward to..." he said as his hands became fists again.

No wonder the poor kid held so much anger in him! A past to be ashamed of, woman trouble, a son and a mother in jail. Perfect combination to make a bloke do one stupid thing after other! "What are you going to do about it?" Nick challenged Draco with his question. Time to push the lad a bit more.

"I am going to see Mother, tomorrow." said Draco with determination.

"I'd say about time!" Nick gave Draco an approving slap on his back, not before letting the air he had been holding for a long while out of his lungs.

"If you are going to see your mother, you definitely need your beauty sleep, decent clothes. Maggie will see to that."

Nick was opening the door to his house. Draco looked behind him. Weren't they walking away instead of towards Nick's house? "Come on!" Nick pushed Draco inside.

Maggie turned her attention away from the TV, hiding her surprise at having Draco back, looking disoriented and slightly embarrassed. Husband and wife crossed gazes. Explanations would have to wait. "Draco is going to visit his mother tomorrow and then we need to sit down and help him with Hermione, his future wife and mother of his child."