"Thank you, Hermione. Since we are small enough today, we'll do a discussion meeting with the focus on the first three steps. I'll ask you to limit your share to under five minutes."

With the chairs pulled into a semi-circle of sorts, it almost felt like one of her upper-level classes where they had mostly discussed the material rather than listening to a lecture. However, Hermione had never felt so unprepared for a discussion in her life. True, she had read the material, but that was all. She had barely finished reading it in time and had had no desire to think about it in relationship to herself. She was very glad she wasn't expected to participate in this discussion.

For the most part, these people looked like those that she would meet on the street. A middle-aged woman in her out-dated clothing and chunky jewelry. A barely-old-enough-to-legally-drink young man in his leather jacket, combat boots and pimpled-face. Several of the people were wrapped in ratty blankets, looking like they were on hard times because of their low quality clothes and poor hygiene. She possibly could have been alienated by that before, but she had been a fugitive and had looked like them at one point. Mostly it reminded her of how she had felt during that time. Lost. Terrified. Hunted. She checked over her shoulder, counting the exits, before scanning the faces of the people around her again.

Draco reached over and squeezed her hand. She turned to him, knowing she wasn't completely hiding her discomfort.

"I've been here for almost a year. They are okay," he whispered.

Hermione took in a shuddering breath and nodded. After she had forced a few deep inhales and exhales, he released her hand.

Draco was designated as the first to speak and stood up. He had pulled on the persona he used with their classmates, especially initially; a little detached but still exuding charisma. "My name is Draco." There was a chorus of greetings. "Most of you have heard my story," he said with a side glance towards Hermione. "The short of it is I made a lot of bad decisions when I was younger and then had to deal with the fallout of those choices.

"I used alcohol to deal with that and then, because of my addiction, I got in trouble with the law. Samir" –Draco exchanged a nod with said man- "agreed to bail me out only if I agreed to start coming to the meetings."

Hermione wondered if they had known each other before that. Either way, she couldn't imagine the old Draco interacting with Samir in any way that would make the man want to bail Draco out.

"There I saw people who had been where I was and had somehow found happiness. I decided to work the steps." He briefly looked towards Hermione before continuing.

"I can tell you that the promises made in this book have happened in my life. I was at a point of no hope when I reached out to my higher power" -Draco tried to clear his throat but his voice remained hoarse- "and he helped me out of the darkness. This works as long as you work it." He ended with a nod and sat down.

Hermione blinked. Higher power? He had never mentioned religion before. Who or what was his higher power? She tried to read his face as there was a chorus of 'thank you' from the others. Their eyes met briefly before she smiled and turned away to the next speaker. It had been pretty obvious that that had been at least partially directed towards her. She didn't like the feeling of being preached at, but she couldn't tell if he had done it on purpose. Heaven knew he probably didn't have much experience helping out a friend like this (or at least she hoped not.) She wasn't sure what he wanted her to know, though. Really, it just made her want to ask him more questions.

Through the other shares, there were similar stories to Draco's. Jacob had a grandchild he had never seen. Another man told his story of reconciliation with his wife and the happy Thanksgiving he had shared with her. Some of the shares were very preachy and Hermione almost felt like she was listening to a sermon, but mostly people spoke of how their God had given them the hope and strength to overcome their addiction. It almost felt like being in church or talking to Luna; many of them were very frank. She was torn between hanging on their every word and cutting herself off from it all. It was too real. Too personal. Too relatable.

By the end, Hermione had decided on emotional distance. She only half listened to the last few speakers and held herself stiffly as everyone stood up after the meeting. There were too many people. She was grateful they had sat towards the front so she could quickly turn and face most of the crowd. One of the well-groomed older gentleman approached Draco and began speaking with him. While Draco didn't seem particularly interested in the conversation, he wasn't being outright rude to him either.

She hung beside Draco, eyeing the exits and those who moved too closely to them. While it had certainly been an interesting experience, she was very ready to leave.

"... and this wonderful young lady," the old man said before stepping towards her with his hands outreached.

Taken by surprise, Hermione didn't quite repress the reflexive flinch. She took a step slightly behind Draco and reached out her hand. "Hello," she muttered.

He tilted his head and then smiled, shaking her hand back. "Yes, very nice to meet you."

Draco tilted his head to look over his shoulder at her and frowned. "Er, it seems we need to leave soon," he told the man.

"Of course, of course." The man amiably moved to another group.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked.

She shrugged. How could she explain that all the stories had made her feel raw and she hadn't pulled on her usual defenses yet? How each time she remembered something, it pulled down what she had started to build up? It made her feel weak.

He flicked his narrowed eyes towards the retreating man's back. "Well, let's go talk to Samir and Harjeet at least." Draco offered his hand and she took it again. It was a small comfort, at least.

When they found the couple, Samir gloated to Hermione about how far Draco had come (she wasn't surprised) and Harjeet warmly told her to come back again.

Hermione did her best to sound friendly without actually committing to anything.

Draco and Hermione walked back to WiNY, both comforted by warming charms unlike the previous time.

At the shop with the floos, Draco paused at the door. "Erm, Happy Thanksgiving, Hermione.

She nodded. "I had a good time. Thanks for introducing me to Samir and his wife." She didn't feel like returning to her apartment yet, so she turned to walk further into WiNY. She heard Draco follow her.

"Not going back to your apartment?" he asked.

Hermione shook her head. "I need to mentally prepare before I face an empty flat." She saw that the Tuneful Brew was still open. It was actually the only shop other than the pub that was still open. "Fancy a cuppa?"

Draco agreed and they found a little corner of the shop where Hermione could sit with her back to the wall. As they waited for their tea to cool, Hermione fidgeted with the stick that held the tea bag suspended.

Finally, she asked, "Draco, what happened when you came to the Americas?"

His eyes slid back from the window and he scowled. "Nothing very interesting. I did stupid stuff and now I don't."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, but you are very different now. There must have been something that changed your mind about… everything."

He shrugged and stirred his tea. "It was actually rather gradual. I mean, the war really did shake me up. You can't…" He rubbed his hair distractedly. "You saw it."

She nodded. The war had destroyed a lot of delusions about the people around her and the world in general. It was not surprising it had been the same for him.

"My mother had a hard time getting back on her feet. I never had been on my feet. And then… someone I knew tried to kill herself."

Hermione went through the short list of his female acquaintances she was aware of. It didn't seem like it was his mother so… "Pansy?" From his face, she could tell that she had been correct. "I hadn't realized…"

"It doesn't matter," he said gruffly. "And don't go spreading that around."

"Of course not," Hermione replied, a little offended.

"By that time I had found the joys of alcohol and so I just indulged a little more than usual. It was a nice way not to think about anything." His voice was tight with sarcasm. "After finding me passed out on the stairs a couple times my mother tried to get me to 'do something productive with my life.'" He used air quotes. "I said I would go to the Salem Healers' School. I figured it would please her because it's the most prestigious Healers' school and it'd get me away."

She nodded. "That's why I chose the school as well."

Draco looked up and laughed darkly. "Well, I didn't actually go. I just got drunk in a different place."

"But that's when Samir came in," Hermione guessed.

He nodded. "His restaurant was near my apartment and I always got hungry passing there so I would go in."

"Drunk?"

Draco chuckled with little amusement. "Samir would take me to one of the tables outside. I guess they welcomed any customers about then." At Hermione's questioning look he added, "It was right after September 11th. They had their front window smashed in a few times. I think seeing the senseless hate against them was one of the things that really made me actively rethink my own prejudices. I mean, even if purebloods are superior-"

"Excuse you?" Hermione asked, her voice raising.

This time Draco really laughed. "You are still easy to rile up."

Hermione frowned and folded her arms.

"I'm saying that even if they are superior why did they need to hurt those who were inferior? Isn't it usually those that don't have a solid leg to stand on who resort to violence?"

Hermione tipped her head, mollified for the time being. "Has Samir had any problems since then?"

"No, not since I took care of it." Draco smirked and gestured with his hand as if casting a spell.

Hermione gasped a little. "You didn't."

He snickered. "Just some protective charms, no assault, really, Hermione."

He went on to tell her about getting really drunk and getting arrested and having no one else to bail him out except Samir. As he sat in on the AA meetings and heard about others' stories, he realized how much he was hurting his mother and also that maybe he could actually come back from the hole he fell into called alcoholism. When Ari's father had contacted him, Draco was a functioning alcoholic and sometimes helped at Samir's restaurant.

"Why were you helping at the restaurant?" Hermione interrupted his story.

Draco pointed at his head. "Samir's turban. People assumed he was Muslim. It was easier to have someone serve who didn't wear one and Harjeet was already the hostess."

Hermione nodded and then tried to picture Draco in a waiter's apron. It probably looked good. She blinked and chastised herself for thinking of that sort of thing. "Ari's father let you take care of his son even though you were a drunk?" she asked.

Draco shook his head. "No one knew except mother. It's not exactly something you advertise. It was then that I realized that if I wanted to help Ari I would have to be sober. Completely sober."

"You really care about Ari, don't you?"

Draco sipped his tea and kept his eyes on the liquid once he set it down. "He started his life like I did. I knew that if he was to avoid a life like mine he would need some outside help. That's what finally got me to commit to sobriety." He turned his grey eyes on her. "I've been sober the whole time I've been responsible for Ari."

Hermione nodded. "I believe you." She reached out and touched his fingers in reassurance. Something sparked between the tips of her fingers and the backs of his. She quickly withdrew her hand.

His eyes tracked each movement of her hand before turning back to her. She looked away, embarrassed, to see the pointed looks the barista was giving them and the clock. The last of her tea had become stone cold but she knocked it back anyway.

"We should go," Hermione said, nodding towards the clock. They put their glasses in the waiting tray before walking outside towards the shop with the floo network. Hermione cast a warming spell before they left the Tuneful Brew.

He fidgeted during the walk, shoving his hands into his pockets and then pulling them back out, tugging at his collar and then unbuttoning the top. Hermione observed all this and tried to think of something to say to relieve his anxiety, but after hours of talking she was having a hard time finding a topic. Right before they entered the shop, Draco stuck his hand out in front of her.

"Wait, I need to say this now."

Hermione looked up, biting her lip as she wondered what he could possibly be so worried about.

He watched her lip and pulled his own bottom lip under his teeth for a second before shaking his head. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the alley just a little more. She was conscious of the not unpleasantness of his firm grip of his hand but also of all her warning bells going off. He turned, let go of her hand, and placed his hand beside her head, nearly trapping her in with his body. Hermione's heart rate spiked and her breathing was getting faster.

"Draco, this-" she started, swallowing heavily. She was scared but she couldn't decide if it was because she felt in danger or if it was just his closeness. "You're-"

"I need to say this before I lose my nerve," he interrupted her, his voice gravelly. He was looking down at her with an intent fierceness. "I think this is right."

Since Hermione had no idea what he was talking about, she stayed frozen, focusing on her breathing and not panicking.

"You know Step 9."

Hermione shook her head but felt herself relax a little. So it was about AA. He shifted and she pulled her gaze from his open shirt collar back to his face.

"It's where we make amends with people we have wronged," he told her hoarsely.

Hermione, realizing where this was going, felt her eyes widen.

"I've said this before, but I was a downright prat. Worse than that. I let awful things happen to you." His eyes tracked down to her forearm and she flinched a little, unconsciously. His free hand moved a little towards her arm before stopping himself. He looked back up and his mouth was pulled into a grimace. "I was incredibly selfish and a coward. I don't know how- I'm sorry, Hermione. I've thought about how I could possibly make amends." He closed his eyes and shook his head a little.

"Draco," she started, her hand starting to reach for his shoulder. "You were in an imposs-"

"Don't," he said harshly, his eyes still closed.

She stopped, her hand dropping to her side.

"Don't make excuses for me." He opened his eyes but still stared at the ground. "I've thought a lot about how I could make amends. I've tried to make amends."

Hermione remembered all those moments that he had seemed uncharacteristically nice or at least helpful. She had just gotten used to it, thought it had been part of the new Draco. Could it be that he had just been trying to complete one of his steps? Was she a project to him? Suddenly, the gravitation she had been feeling towards him cooled.

Still, he really had been trying. It was an amazing change. She reached out with a finger and tipped his head up to look at hers. The tumult in his eyes was still gut-wrenching. She cared about him, she realized. Probably too much. She quickly removed her hand.

"I've already accepted your apology, Draco. Now, I've forgiven you as well." Beyond forgiven him, that little part of her mind said. Ignoring it, she continued, "You've become an impressive gentleman but you can stop now. You don't have to make amends anymore."

Draco's eyes widened and his posture straightened a little. "Hermione," he whispered.

She suppressed the shudder.

He leaned down towards her and Hermione's mind was shouting danger, but still not sure which kind. His eyes caught on her right arm and his hand followed, just grazing the spot where her scar was. This time she couldn't help the flinch or the gasp.

His mouth immediately went tight, his eyes hooded. He sighed before glancing up, his look a little less warm. "Of course, big-hearted Hermione," his said in an off-handed tone. "You always did have a soft-spot for the screw-ups."

Hermione wasn't sure what he was referring to, but it felt like a physical blow, grinding her face into the awful realization that, although she was just his project, she cared about him. Maybe more than a friend. Judging by his twisted mouth and scowl, he certainly didn't welcome it.

He used his hand on the wall to push off of it and away from her. He hitched his elbow out in an invitation for her to hold onto it, but it seemed like such a sarcastic gesture. He raised his eyebrows at her and then shrugged, letting his arm drop to his side.

"After you," he said in that same, cooler tone.

She fought hard to swallow down the hurt and bewilderment and followed him towards the shop door. Despite Draco's closeness and her own warming charm, she couldn't seem to shake the cold that had seeped in from the night.

A/N: Surprise? So, what do you guys think of Draco's past? Believable? Also, what do you think is going to happen because of the last part of the chapter?

On a different note, I've got a twitter account. What do you guys use your twitter for? Would you be interested in updates on how the next chapter is coming? For example, this chapter had to go through several drafts with my beta before I posted it? Or how next chapter is a hot mess that is taking a while to tame into something readable? If you are interested in any of my social media you can find the links at my wattpad page (username: samfparker) But please let me know what you guys use twitter for (i'm so confused?)

Rajbir kaur: You are welcome! (Though it takes me almost a month to update right after you say that XD) That is such a relief and I really appreciate you telling me that! I had a roommate who was Sikh and we would sometimes talk about religion so I mostly learned what I know from her but I think most people are uncomfortable speaking about religion and so don't. On that topic, I do plan on writing about Sikhism a little more in a couple chapters. Can I ask a big favor? Would you be willing to beta it to make sure I address it properly? Either way, it's lovely to hear from you and thanks for the review!

Judy: Me too! Anything particular you are looking forward to? Thanks for the review :)