Word Count: 1332

~ Chapter 9 ~

For what in your life do you feel most grateful for?

Draco tilted his head. "I should answer first since you did yesterday."

Harry shrugged. "Whatever you want. Doesn't seem to matter too much, if we're both answering them anyway, does it?"

Draco nodded, and then tapped his fingers on the table. "I think I'm most grateful for my mother; not only because of what she's done for me over the years, but because she's finally found a bit of peace in her life. That she can finally live for herself, and not suffer through my father's mess, or have to worry about me so much. And… my friends."

Harry raised his eyebrows.

Draco rolled his eyes. "You know, most people think that Slytherins don't make friends. They think we only have acquaintances, but that's not true, you know? I've known Blaise and Pansy since we were three years old, and Greg and… and Vince were with me right through Hogwarts."

Nodding slowly, Harry said, "I was never sure if you were friends with Crabbe and Goyle, or if it was just… an arrangement? They'd protect you and they'd gain the influence of you being who you were just by association."

"It started like that," Draco admitted. "And they… they were very happy with the Carrows, I guess because they were finally in lessons that they could pass without help, and it changed. Our last year… I know you weren't there to see it, Potter, but it was rough—even for the Slytherins."

"I don't doubt you. I've heard what it was like for the Gryffindors, but I know what it's like to try and live up to expectations, and I'm sure they were heavy on you."

Draco nodded. "It was nothing I didn't deserve, I suppose but… it was hard."

Harry regarded him for a moment, before he nodded. "I'm most grateful for Ron and Hermione, obviously. They've been with me through everything, and it's common knowledge that I wouldn't be alive without them. Beyond that, I don't think I'd have made it through anything without them. Ron was the only one who could bring me out of a funk, and Hermione… she's just so caring. There were times when she was the only one I could talk to about things, and other times when I didn't even have to say anything. She already knew."

"A lot of people are jealous of your friendship. All the way through Hogwarts, actually, I'd hear people muttering about the three of you, how inseparable you were."

"We weren't always," Harry admitted. "Ron and Hermione didn't get along at all when we first met, and then again in third year, there was a whole drama between them. I tried not to get involved, but I think that did more harm than good, honestly. Fourth year, Ron and I fell out over the tournament, and then in fifth year, I was a complete brat. Sixth year, Ron and Hermione were… pining for one another, let's be honest, and it didn't go well at all."

"The two of them are together now?"

Harry nodded his head. "Yeah they are. They're heading out to Australia soon, to find Hermione's parents."

"Australia?"

"Uh huh. Before we went on the run, Hermione made her parents forget about her and sent them off to Australia, away from the war and the chance that they'd be hurt in an attempt to either draw us out, or at least get information. Except now, Hermione isn't quite sure what to do."

"What do you mean?"

"If they're happy out there, is it really fair to revert their memories? I think she should, and I told her as much because if it was me, I'd want to know about my kid, you know? But it's her choice. Ron is going with her for moral support… and probably so that they can have sex, because Molly is not about letting them share a room before they're married."

Draco shook his head. "Potter, what even is your life?"

Harry snorted. "I've been asking myself that for as long as I can remember."

…

Harry jumped when a pop sounded, but he found himself face to face with Kreacher before he could even think about drawing his wand.

"The Minister sent Kreacher to you. He said to tell you that you can use me to send further correspondence if you need to, Master Harry."

Harry nodded. "Thanks, Kreacher. Think you can bring me a few things to do in the house? I'm bored out of my mind."

"As you say, Master."

Kreacher disappeared again, just as Draco entered the living room. "Were you talking to someone?"

"Kreacher. Kingsley sent him instead of replying to my message, saying we can use him to send further correspondence if we need anything."

Draco nodded and dropped down into the chair. "You sent him off again?"

"Sent him to get some things to do in the house. If I have to stay here for weeks, I need something to occupy me or you'll kill me for being irritating."

"Who's to say I won't do that anyway?"

Harry raised his eyebrows, his lips tilting into a smirk. "I'd like to see you try, Ferret."

"Any time you want, Scarhead."

They shared a look, and then both started laughing.

"God we were such children, weren't we?" Harry said, shaking his head. "When I think of some of the things we called each other, it boggles my head. What were we thinking?"

"I was thinking that you'd refused my hand on the train," Draco pointed out. "I guess it just… escalated."

"You insulted the first friend I'd made, what the hell did you think I was going to do?" Harry asked.

Draco shrugged. "I wasn't used to people telling me no; that you did… I wasn't best pleased with it. Especially since my father told me that I was to try and lure you to our side."

"Did you even know what that meant when you were eleven?" Harry asked, honestly curious to the answer. He couldn't help but wonder how much, and how early, Lucius had shared information with his son.

"Not really. I guess I knew that my father wasn't on the same side as Dumbledore, though I didn't really know what the 'sides' meant back then. Just that we didn't like Dumbledore, and you'd be better off on our side."

Harry wrinkled his nose. "Weird."

Draco shrugged. "I didn't really know much until Easter break of fourth year. My father was a mess when I went home, you know? The Dark Mark was coming back and he wasn't sure what that meant. I guess now I know it was because he'd denied him; and nobody got away with denying him. Well, until you."

Harry snorted. "Beyond the first year, he didn't really ask me for anything."

"...the first year?"

"Hmm. I met him, when he was on the back of Quirrell's head. It was a very surreal experience, to see our professor unrolling his turban to show a second face on the back of his head."

Draco gaped at him for a moment. "You mean that was true?"

"Sure. I don't actually know what you heard, but you probably got the main gist of what happened at the very least."

"We really need to map out our years at Hogwarts," Draco said, shaking his head. "I want to know what was actually going on all the times when something happened and I had to listen to rumours."

Harry snorted. "We'd probably need more than a month to do that, but I guess at some point, I can outline the main points of what happened. Or you can just ask about specific things."

"You'll tell me?"

"Unless I have a reason not to, sure. Most of it is public knowledge, short of a detail or ten."

Draco chuckled. "I'm going to hold you to that, Harry."

Harry smiled. "I don't doubt it."