Word Count: 1208

~ Chapter 11 ~

Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

"I… think I need more than four minutes," Harry offered, when Draco read out the question.

Draco snorted. "Probably. Maybe just the basics?"

"And then you'll ask me ten million questions after?"

"Probably," Draco repeated with a grin.

"Hmm. Who's going first?"

Draco shrugged. "Whoever you want, I've forgotten who's turn it is."

"You go on then," Harry said, flipping the steaks over in the pan and basting them in butter.

Draco twisted his lips for a moment. "I grew up in Malfoy Manor, raised mostly by a nanny elf called Immy. My father wasn't really around much, and when he was, he didn't approve much of me. My mother, when she had time, would read with me, and sing with me.

"I grew up well off, and didn't want for anything in the way of material things. When I started Hogwarts, I made a home in Slytherin, and a rival in you. School was pretty normal for me up until fifth year, when my father was arrested for breaking into the Ministry under the orders of The Dark Lord. In the summer after my fifth year, I was forced into taking the Dark Mark, and told that my first task was to assassinate the Headmaster of Hogwarts."

Draco took a deep breath, avoiding looking at Harry as he continued.

"I almost killed Ron Weasley and Katie Bell in my attempt to follow orders—not because I wanted to, but because if I didn't, he threatened to kill my mother—but in the end, I was too weak to finish the task. During my last year at Hogwarts, I tried to keep my head down, but having the Dark Lord as your house guest isn't the easiest thing to live with. I almost died three times during the year, and twice more at the Battle of Hogwarts."

His time was most likely up, he knew, but he finished determinedly anyway.

"I was almost sentenced to Azkaban for carrying the Dark Mark and attempted murder, but you… you saved me, and I… I still don't know why."

When he finally met Harry's eyes, there was a tornado of emotion in them, but Draco couldn't pick any single sentiment out.

"I saved you because you didn't deserve to have your life taken from you, and that's what Azkaban would have done," Harry said softly, turning back to the cooker. "And because I believe in second chances. You were a kid; we all were. That's why I spoke up for you."

Draco nodded, staring down at the table as Harry silently dished up the food. When he put the plates down on the table, he smiled slightly. "I'll answer after we've eaten, okay? I just… need a minute to put things in order."

Draco nodded, slicing into his steak. It was perfectly pink, medium rare like he'd asked for, and he shook his head. "Have you never thought that maybe a chef would be a better future for you, Potter?"

Harry arched his eyebrow. "I'm taking that as a compliment. And no, not really. I enjoy cooking, but I think if I had to do it as a job, it'd lose some of its enjoyability for me."

"So you're going into the Auror Academy when we're done here?"

"I'm not sure about that, either. I know it's expected of me but… I think maybe I'm done fighting. Besides, Kingsley and I talked about it, and he's concerned that if it was known that I was an Auror, people might try and lure me specifically into all manner of attacks, and that'd just put more people in danger."

"What are you thinking of doing instead?"

"I don't know."

"You don't sound too sad about that."

Harry smiled. "I'm not. It's nice that, for the first time in years, I don't know what's coming. What about you? What would you do if you weren't stuck here?"

Draco shrugged. "This last year, I've thought of training to be a healer but… I don't know how many people would trust me to look after them."

Their conversation paused as they enjoyed their food, and only when Harry pushed his plate away did they speak again.

"Okay, four minutes," Harry said, leaning on the table with his elbows. "I grew up with Muggles, not knowing about magic, thinking my parents died in a car crash and wondering why the Dursleys had even kept me when it was very clear they didn't want me. Hagrid came to get me when my Aunt and Uncle tried to outrun my Hogwarts letters.

"In my first year, I thought Snape was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, helped send a baby dragon to Romania, found out that I was really good at being a seeker, loved Quidditch, found the best friends I'll ever have in my life, realised that Snape wasn't actually trying to steal the stone, and met Voldemort for the first time. I almost died."

Harry took a sip of water, and continued.

"In my second year at Hogwarts, I learned that talking to snakes wasn't actually a thing that most people can do, realised why you shouldn't use animal hair in Polyjuice potion, and killed a fifty foot Basilisk with the sword of Gryffindor when Tom Riddle—Voldemort—tried to kill me again. I was poisoned by the Basilisk, but Fawkes—Dumbledore's Phoenix—saved my life."

"What the fuck, Potter?"

"In third year, I thought my father's best friend, and subsequently my Godfather, was a murderer who wanted to kill me, but later found out that he was innocent the whole time and he'd been sent to Azkaban without a trial. Me and Hermione saved him using a time turner. Oh, and I learnt how to cast a corporeal patronus because Dementors."

Draco blinked at him. "Your patronus was corporeal even against actual Dementors?"

"Uh huh. Fourth year, the tournament. I out-flew a dragon, swam with mermaids and made my way through a maze, and then watched Voldemort return, fought him, watched Cedric die and then barely escaped Mad Eye Moody, who was actually Barty Crouch Jr using Polyjuice.

"Fifth year… we don't talk about fifth year. Sirius died.

"Sixth year… you know what happened in sixth year. I was obsessed with finding out if you'd taken the mark and then… well, you know how the year ended. Snape killed Dumbledore at the top of the tower and—"

"You were there, weren't you? You saw it."

"I did. Seventh—well, I didn't go to Hogwarts. But Ron, Hermione and I took an extended camping trip, broke into Gringotts and escaped on a dragon, led a battle at Hogwarts, I died and came back to life, and… I killed Voldemort. Finally."

"You went over four minutes."

"Are you surprised?"

"No. No, I'm not, but… I have questions."

"I thought you might," Harry replied, grinning. "Shall we have ice cream in the living room and you can quiz me?"

Draco nodded. "Go sit. I might not be able to make steak like you can, but I can spoon ice cream into a bowl."

"Don't forget the chocolate sauce and sprinkles."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Go sit, you asshole."