Chapter 31

It is true that if by looking at a numbers standpoint, that battle would have been considered a win. The Dark Lord suffered heavy losses, and the Order of the Phoenix rescued a handful of prisoners who would have suffered much longer. Still the lives that were lost were family. For Molly and Arthur Weasley, Fred was the second son that they lost during a battle at the prison. Draco was often finding himself empathizing with Harry who had the weight of the wizarding world on his shoulders, but the people who were causing the ones he cared about so much pain were people that he grew up loving. His parents weren't great people. They had done their share of torture and serving the Dark Lord. He wondered how they would feel if they saw that their son switched sides. He looked at his Aunt who looked so much like his mother and wondered how she felt when she left the Black family. The sins of his family were his to bear and no one else's. The person who should have been taking all of the risks should be him, but each time he was being protected by someone else. Harry understood more than anything the gravity of the situation.

"You aren't thinking of leaving, are you?" Neville asked him one evening as they laid down to sleep, "That would be a mistake. We need you here."

"I was thinking a lot of things." Draco said with his back turned. Neville understood him and more than when he was just reading his thoughts. His guilt over what his family had done, and the nauseating feeling knowing that he was almost one of them.

"You do realize that no one thinks that you are one of them." Neville said, sitting up, "I know that we've struggled to get to this point, Draco. I may be partially to blame, and perhaps you needed to feel some guilt."

Draco raised an eyebrow at his new friend/almost lover, "I do feel guilt. My mother, father, and aunt are…."

"You have another aunt who is downstairs. She risks her life daily for us, and she has been fighting her family for much longer than you have." Neville said, "More than that, you have risked your life for your friends more times than we can count. You are the bridge that divides what used to be Slytherins and Gryffindors. You even fell in love with a Gryffindor."

"I don't think it's just one Gryffindor, Neville." Draco said with a slight dusting of pink on his nose. Neville blushed too when he heard Draco, "Still, I watch the Weasley family, and I wish that I had that. They have a warmth that my family would never have."

"Your parents loved you. They died to protect you like Harry's parents did." Neville climbed out of his bed. Draco yelped and turned his head away, "I'm wearing shorts. Scooch over."

Draco slid over, "You know, when I was younger, Bellatrix and Rodolphus would come visit for holidays. We almost seemed like a normal family. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, "Neville's lip twitched, "I can never forgive her for what she did to my parents, but they were someone you loved and they betrayed you."

"Bellatrix almost had me raped. If Ron hadn't blown her up, my Uncle would have taken away my innocence" Draco told Neville of what happened the night they rescued Blaise. Neville's eyes widened. He looked horrified, "All I could think about was, this wasn't them, right? I mean they used to babysit me and bring me sweets. I guess, you can't really trust Slytherins."

Neville wrapped his arms around Draco, "I trust you."

"I don't know how you can. Don't you see my family when you see me?" Draco asked.

"No, love. I only see you, the man who would do anything to protect the ones he cares about. "Neville covered Draco's lips with his own and pulled the blond man close. Draco leaned into the kiss. It was different than kissing Ron. The warmth was different, and Neville was taller and thinner. Ron's arms were stronger. Neville's hands slinked around to Draco's waist. He began to touch Draco's thigh and slid around his pelvis as if asking permission. The side of Neville's hand barely touched Draco's semi-hard shaft. Draco jumped a mile.

"I'm…" Draco pulled away slightly.

"I know, you aren't ready. I didn't mean to scare you." Neville stood up, but Draco grabbed his hand.

"Stay, I don't mind." Draco spoke, "I was startled. I.."

"Draco, love, these things take time. We don't need to be in any rush." Neville climbed back into Draco's bed, "Sleep, it's late."

The sea cottage was a bloody nightmare. All of the injured who could not be healed instantly were sent there. Neville warned everyone that St. Mungo's was not safe. Bill Weasley's home was small, but it was safe enough that they couldn't be detected. The next morning Neville and Draco arrived with potions that Severus had brewed. Colin Creevey's face turned white and his hands began to shake when he saw Draco. Neville grabbed him, and Colin buried his face into Neville's arms, "What is he doing here?"

"He's a friend. He won't hurt you. In fact, Draco was the one who saved your life." Neville said. The younger man slowly stopped shaking.

"He's a Slytherin. Aren't they all evil?" Colin eyes turned murderous as if his eyes weren't his and he lunged at Draco, but Neville had him pinned down.

"Colin, what's gotten into you?" Neville said, holding him tight as the younger man struggled. Then Colin's eyes returned to normal and passed out. Draco wasn't sure if he should approach or not, "I wonder what happened there. I'll go carry him back to his room."

"Is it true that you switched sides?" Justin asked cautiously.

"Yes, he is." Bill Weasley answered confidently and nodded at Draco, "He risked his life for yours."

"I heard Ron died because of him, you can forgive him like that?" Justin asked Bill with a sneer, "Draco was horrible to Ron in school."

"I admit that I've done things that I'm not proud of" Draco said, "I can only apologize for the me before, but trust me when I say that I'm not that person anymore."

"Ron made a choice to protect someone he cared about, and there won't be a day that goes by that we won't miss him. If he was here though, he would tell you that you can trust Draco." Bill said with honesty. He put his hand on Draco's shoulder.

"Actually, I couldn't trust Draco either." Neville sighed with honesty, "But I honestly would not be alive today if Draco had not saved my life. He's changed. I can't tell you to trust him, Justin. You will have to figure that out for yourself."

"Thank you" Draco whispered to Bill. Then he turned to Justin again, "I'm really sorry for being a prat at school. If you would like to hex me a few times, you are more than welcome to. No doubt, I deserve it. I promise after the war, you can have as many goes at me as you want. Right now, let's focus on supporting Harry."

Justin's eyes widened, "Alright, what do you know?"

"We know that Harry is sending us clues to where the next attack will be, and he sent a clue about St. Mungo's. However, I'm beginning to suspect that Harry's being monitored which is why his clues are not as direct as they had been."

"Do any of you know an object that might belong to Helena Hufflepuff?" Draco asked.

"She has a cup," Justin answered, "Its one of her relics. Actually, we did hear the guards talking about an object that Rodolphus was supposed to be hiding for the You-Know-Who."

Neville and Draco shared a look, "If Bellatrix wanted to hide something, do you know where they would put it?"

"I don't know," Draco said, and then he thought of something, "I do know where their house is though. Its not easy to find even for a death eater. I don't know if I can get in."

"Well they are dead, so wouldn't you technically be their next of kin? Wouldn't it be yours?" Neville asked.

"Or it might go to Andromeda or Tonks, she's older than I am, if they didn't designate who would inherit their property. As far as I know, they didn't have any children."

"Then we need to talk to your Aunt and cousin." Neville said. Then Neville smiled a little cheekily, "You said, you wanted to feel what its like to be family."

"Bill, do you need anything else before we leave?" Draco asked.

"Yes, more hands. Fleur and I are only two people here. More help would be appreciated. Not my mother, if you can manage it" Bill smiled sheepishly.

"I'll see what I can do." Draco said as they apparated back to Grimmauld place. Mrs. Weasley was not sent to the Sea Cottage, but Draco asked Ginny if she would go. The young Weasley girl reluctantly agreed to go help her brother. Neville relayed to Severus what was happening.

"You are not going to the Lestrange house alone. Absolutely not, " Severus said firmly.

"I wasn't gonna go alone, Severus." Draco wanted to snicker, but his reasoning was appreciated.

"Nope, Draco wanted to have a family outing?" Neville snickered. Draco pinched the taller man's arm, "Ouch, what was that for?"

"Don't tease me, I'm not good with family." Draco said nervously, " I want you to go with me to talk to her."

"What are you nervous about? She already told you that she wanted to become your family. Now's your chance." Neville said, "I'll go with you if you really want me to though."

"Severus, do you now where my Aunt and Tonks are staying?" Draco asked. A blue haired woman tapped his shoulder from behind. Draco jumped and whipped out his wand, "Merlin's Beard, do not scare me like that."

"You were looking for me?" Tonks asked pretending to ignore his comment.

"We might have found a clue to help Harry, but we need to search Bellatrix Lestrange's home. We aren't sure if she had a will or not. The home would most likely be in you mother's name now." Draco said, "We might need her help to get in."

"Well let's go find her." Tonks grabbed Draco by the arm and dragged him outside of Grimmauld Place so they could apparate.