* ~ The Eighth Year Universe Series ~ *

PART THREE

The Eighth Year

Chapter 2: Making Amends

Harry got up early on his 18th birthday. He dressed and snuck down the stairs of the Burrow without waking Ron. His birthday always made him feel a little sad. It was a time when he missed the family he had never known or had not known for long enough.

Because it was only 5 am, the sky was shining with vivid shades of orange and pink. Harry didn't think he would meet anyone on his venture, but he was wrong.

Harry walked into the kitchen and stopped in his tracks when he saw that Ginny was already there. She was sitting with her back to him at the table, holding something in her hands as her body shook with silent sobs. He was unsure what to do at first, but Harry silently crossed the room and tapped her on the shoulder. Ginny got a shock and dropped the photo in her hands onto the table as she turned to look at Harry.

Harry mustered a smile as he looked at the redheaded girl. The photograph that she had been looking at was an old one of herself and Fred.

"Are you still struggling?" Harry asked gently.

Ginny nodded and cleared her throat, "Does it ever get easier? Does the ache in your chest ever go away?"

"Yes," Harry replied as he sat down next to her at the kitchen table, "It hurts badly at first. It feels like there's a hole that will never be filled. You feel like you will always be numb and empty. But then slowly, the hole starts to close up, and other people fill it, then life starts to look up. You start to laugh at jokes again, you start to smile again, and when you come out of that tunnel, everything seems brighter. It feels like the best thing in the world to have hope again. I'm not going to lie and tell you that it's easy, Gin, because it's not. But it does get better, I promise."

Ginny nodded and wiped away her tears with shaking hands, "Do you still miss them, Harry?"

"My parents?" Harry asked quietly, "Yeah, some days more than others…like today and on Halloween."

Ginny's eyes widened, "Oh Merlin, I'm so sorry! I totally forgot that it was your birthday! And I just dumped all of my emotional drama on you. I'm sorry."

Harry smiled, "I don't mind Gin. It's just another birthday, nothing special, is it?"

"I'd say that it's pretty special that you lived this long," Ginny smiled, "You never thought you'd see your 18th birthday."

"Then I suppose it's an accomplishment," Harry chuckled.

Ginny laughed too, "I hope you don't mind me bringing this up today but do you think we should talk properly about what happened during the war? I mean, I understand that we won't get back together, and I don't expect us to. But if we're going to be friends, I think we have to know everything."

"I told you everything," Harry promised.

Ginny glanced up at him, "Yes, but you were vague on…certain things."

"Do you really want to hear about those things in detail?" Harry asked quietly.

"I think I need to understand," Ginny said with a frown, "I need to understand if that…if she was the reason we didn't get back together."

Harry sighed and glanced down at his hands, "No, Gin. What happened between Hermione and me was a mistake. Not a stupid mistake, it didn't ruin our friendship, but it shouldn't have happened. She's my best friend, and we've always been close. You don't understand what it was like out there. It wasn't like the real world; everything felt strange and surreal like it was a dream and you were going to wake up, and you know…not have to deal with the consequences."

"So there weren't feelings?" Ginny asked calmly.

"Not those sort of feelings," Harry admitted, "There was loneliness…it was just a need for human comfort, I suppose. If Ron hadn't left, things would have been different, but it was just the two of us for months, and we naturally got closer. It wasn't by choice; it was by necessity. Do you know what I mean? It was just the two of us, so it just…happened."

"I get it," Ginny said with a nod, "Trust me, I get it."

"What happened between you and Neville?" Harry asked as he cleared his throat.

Ginny frowned and looked away from Harry towards the kitchen window, "It was a similar situation, I guess. We were leading the DA together, so we saw each other day in and day out. I missed you, and we both missed normality. We were lonely and struggling with the way things were at school, so it just…happened."

"We weren't together," Harry reminded her.

"Did that make it feel any less like cheating for you?" Ginny asked bluntly.

"No," Harry replied honestly.

"No, not for me either," Ginny said as she caught his eye, "And that's why we can't make it work, isn't it?"

"I think so," Harry replied quietly, "As much as we can attempt to justify things…we've lost the trust, haven't we?"

Ginny nodded and pulled her gaze away from his, "Yeah."

"I'm sorry, Gin," Harry said, "But I don't think I was ever what you thought I was."

Ginny frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I know you think I'm a hero," Harry said quietly, "But I'm not; I'm just a bit broken. I wanted to be the guy you thought I was, and that time we spent together before the war was perfect, but I had to face some unpleasant truths about myself during the war, and I'm not perfect. I'm far from it, and I don't think I would ever be able to make you happy."

Ginny looked down at her hands, "I've never thought that you were perfect, Harry. I know that the things that have happened to you have left you with mental scars. I just…I never felt like I was the person who could heal them for you. I was always second best to Ron or Hermione. It was why what happened with Neville happened, he put me first, and he was the first decent guy to do that. He wasn't in it for sex like Michael, and you know Dean was sweet, but I wasn't what he wanted."

"I'm sorry," Harry said with a sigh, "Maybe if we met now, we would be right for each other, but there's just too much history."

"Not all of it good," Ginny agreed.

"I just don't want to lose you as a friend, Ginny," Harry said, "I've lost too many of them already."

Ginny smiled softly, "You'll never lose me as a friend," she promised.

When Hermione tiptoed into the room that Ron and Harry shared at the Burrow not long after 5 am, she expected both of the room's occupants to be asleep. She pushed the door open silently and jumped out of her skin when Ron opened an eye to look at her.

"Mione," he mumbled, "What are you doing in here so early?"

"I was just dropping Harry's present off," Hermione whispered. She frowned as she put the present down on top of the small pile already sitting by his bed, "Where is Harry?"

Ron yawned, "Dunno, he gets up early these days and goes out for walks. I reckon it clears his head; he's always having nightmares."

Hermione sighed and sat down on the edge of his bed, "I hope he starts to feel better soon."

Ron was quiet for a moment, "Maybe Hogwarts will help."

"Maybe," Hermione said softly. She looked down at her hands, "Ron, do you think you and I… do you think our friendship will ever go back to the way it was before?"

"Honestly, I don't think it can be the same," Ron said, and Hermione's face fell.

"But maybe it can be better," Ron added with a slight smile, "You said it yourself, Hermione. We've been through way too much together to abandon each other now."

Hermione smiled slightly sadly, "I can't lie to you anymore, Ron. If we're going to try and fix our friendship, I have to tell you the truth about-"

"-about what happened between you and Harry during the war," Ron finished.

Hermione's eyes widened, "How did you…"

"Harry told me," Ron admitted. He caught Hermione's eye, "After I destroyed the locket…he told me that something had happened when I was gone."

Hermione frowned, "And you would have been okay with that if you and I had gotten together?"

Ron shrugged and looked down, "I wasn't exactly happy about it. But I would have had to be okay with it, wouldn't I? You and me weren't together, and it was my fault it happened. If I hadn't left…"

"It may not have happened," Hermione finished quietly.

"Is that why you didn't want to be with me and why he broke up with Ginny?" Ron asked, still not meeting Hermione's eye.

"No," Hermione replied honestly, "There were feelings between Harry and me…I suppose. But nothing like that; it was just so confusing. It was like the line between friendship and more was so blurred because of how isolated and lonely we were."

"So why didn't you give us a try?" Ron asked curiously, "I didn't want to know before, but I think I need to now."

Hermione's frown deepened. When she glanced over at Ron, she was fighting back the tears, "I meant what I said to you last month, Ron. You are one of my best friends, and when Harry and I…crossed that line, we could have lost that friendship. I don't want to make the same mistake with you, and I can see how easy it is for the lines between friendship and more to become blurred now. I meant it when I said I love you, but not in that way."

"You're different," Ron said, his eyes meeting hers, "Aren't you, Hermione?"

Hermione frowned, "Aren't we all?"

Ron shrugged, "I can see it more with you, I guess."

Hermione sighed, "The war changed all of us, Ron. The things that I saw and the things that happened to me…what happened in Malfoy Manor," she shook her head, "It did change me, and I think it's why none of the members of our trio could ever be in a relationship. We've seen the others at their worst, thanks to the Horcrux. We've seen horrible things and done terrible things together. We all need someone who is a bit more removed from all of this…someone who can help us fix ourselves."

Ron smiled sadly, "You're the smartest witch of our age, Hermione, but I hate it when you're right sometimes."

"Sorry," She said apologetically.

Ron shook his head, "I'm going to get dressed."

Hermione pushed herself up and cleared her throat, "I'll find Harry."

"Have you been crying?"

Hermione nodded as she pulled on a cardigan and walked out into the garden. It was still early, and the dew on the grass was fresh. She sat down next to Harry and kissed him on the cheek.

"Happy Birthday, Harry."

Harry smiled slightly, "What's wrong, Hermione?"

"Nothing," Hermione sighed, "I just spoke to Ron this morning…about what happened in the war. I never knew that you told him about that. A little heads up might have been nice, by the way."

"Sorry," Harry grimaced, "I was going to tell you, but you were still struggling to cope with what happened to you at Malfoy Manor. I was waiting for the right time."

"Yes, well, in the future, I would appreciate it if you just told me things, regardless of whether you thought it was the right time," Hermione said irritably.

"I know, I'm sorry," Harry said. He turned away from her to look out at the quiet, awakening village of Ottery St. Catchpole.

"Do you think we'll ever be okay again? Any of us?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Yeah, I think we'll all be okay," Harry said as he put his hand on top of hers, "With time, I think all of the wounds will heal."

"I feel like I'm old before my time," Hermione said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, I'm sure I can see a grey hair there, Hermione," Harry said; he reached up towards her hair.

Hermione swiped his hand away and laughed, "Shut up."

Harry smiled, "That's why we're going back to school, though, isn't it? So that we can enjoy being young and actually have a year of school without the threat of Voldemort hanging over us."

"It will make a nice change," Hermione admitted as she also looked out at the village.

"It's odd that you spoke to Ron this morning because I spoke to Ginny," Harry said after a few minutes of comfortable silence, "I had already told her about what happened, but she questioned me in more detail about it. I think it helped give her some kind of closure, but to be honest, I'm just glad that we agreed to stay friends."

"I feel the same about Ron," Hermione sighed, "But I don't think our trio will ever be the same."

"No," Harry agreed, "I think things will change when we go back to school. I think we should make more effort to get to know the other people in our year. I've spoken to Ginny and Neville about what happened last year, and there are so many names that I don't recognise."

Hermione smiled, "Well, I hate to tell you, Harry, but you are rather oblivious. I have lots of friends in our year who aren't you or Ron."

"Do you?" Harry asked in surprise.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "Yes, I have a good friend called Sadie who I spend time with in the library; she's in Slytherin. I have another friend called Lilly-"

"Yes, everyone is mentioning her to me right now," Harry cut in.

Hermione chuckled, "I'm just saying, I already have friends beyond you two. It's you and Ron who are too insular."

"How do you have time for all of these other friends? You were always with us," Harry pointed out.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "What do you think I did in the evenings and weekends when you two were at Quidditch practice? Did you think I just sat in the common room like a loner and waited for you?"

Harry looked sheepish, "Uh…honestly, yeah."

Hermione smacked him around the head, and they both laughed. It felt the way it had before, and that made Hermione smile. Her smile soon turned into a frown as her thoughts flew back to the war.

"Harry…about what happened between us in the war. It didn't mean anything did it?"

"It meant something," Harry said as he glanced over at her, "Or it wouldn't have happened."

"Yes, but then what did it mean?" Hermione asked a little desperately, "Because I've searched my brain over and over again, and I can't work it out."

"It means we love each other, in our own way," Harry said thoughtfully, "You are my best friend Hermione, and

you always will be. I don't feel like anything has changed between us, do you?"

"No," Hermione admitted, "It doesn't feel like anything has changed at all. I think our emotions just got the better of us. I thought you were going to die from that snake bite."

"I know," Harry said as he looked at her again, "We were lonely, and we needed each other. It's funny actually, we've always been there for each other as friends. I suppose you could call that an extreme extension of that friendship."

"So I'm just a really good friend?" Hermione asked, an amused smile playing on her lips.

Harry grinned at her, "The best. Are we good?"

"We're good," Hermione chuckled.

"Happy Birthday, Harry dear!"

Harry smiled as Molly walked into the kitchen and began to cook up a large, splendid breakfast, "Did you like our present?"

"Oh," Harry said with a frown, "I haven't opened them yet. They're still in my room."

Ron guffawed, "How could you forget your own presents, mate? I'll bring them down."

Harry grinned, "Thanks, mate."

"The whole family are joining us for dinner tonight," Molly chirped, "It's such a lovely night, so I thought we could eat outside, oh and Fleur is bringing a cake!"

"It sounds great, Mrs Weasley," Harry said as he looked down at the watch that he still wore, the watch they had given him the previous year.

"Oh, and Andromeda wrote yesterday," Mrs Weasley remembered, "She wondered if you would like her to come by tonight with Teddy?"

Harry's grin widened, "She's going to bring Teddy round? Yes, definitely! Can I floo her now?"

Mrs Weasley smiled fondly at Harry, "Of course you can, on you go."

Hermione chuckled as Harry darted towards the kitchen fireplace and flew some floo powder into it. He spoke Andromeda's address, and her head appeared in the flames within a few seconds.

She looked very much like Bellatrix, but her hair wasn't quite as dark, and her smile was kind.

"Happy Birthday Harry."

"Thanks, Andromeda," Harry smiled, "Molly said you were thinking of dropping by with Teddy?"

Andromeda nodded, "Yes, he has a birthday present for you. Although I picked it, wrapped it and paid for it."

Harry laughed, "Why don't you join us for dinner tonight? Molly won't mind, will you, Molly?"

Mrs Weasley shook her head and smiled, "Of course not. It would be a pleasure to have you both, Andromeda."

"That sounds lovely," Andromeda said honestly, "What time should we come by?"

"Oh, any time after 5 pm will be fine," Molly smiled.

Andromeda smiled back, "Perfect. I will see you all this evening in that case. Oh, and do enjoy your birthday until then, Harry."

"I will," Harry promised, "See you later, Andromeda."

Her face disappeared from the flames, and Ron walked into the kitchen with many presents. He dropped them onto the table where they wobbled precariously, and Harry eagerly ripped into them all. Then he ate a lovely big breakfast. Harry was beginning to think that the day couldn't get any better as he, Ron, Hermione and Ginny set out for the orchard for a game of tag Quidditch which Hermione would referee.

When Harry walked out into the warm, bright sunlit back garden that evening, he had to stop for a moment and smile as he surveyed the scene. The gazebo that the Weasley's had bought for that summer was erected over two long rectangular tables. Fireflies in jars were sitting on the tables for when the light began to fade later that evening. Standing around the garden were the people Harry loved more than anyone else in the world.

There was a twinge of sadness too because Sirius, Remus, Tonks and Fred weren't here. But that didn't stop the gathering from being any larger or livelier than the Weasley gatherings typically were. Arthur was standing talking to Bill and Charlie. Fleur was in the kitchen, helping Molly prepare the food and the cake. Percy was talking to George, he had his arm around a beautiful dark-haired woman who Harry didn't recognise, and George was here with Angelina, which made Harry smile broadly.

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny played with Crookshanks close to the hedge where the occasional garden gnome would peek out from.

Kingsley was here too; despite being the new Minister for Magic, he had managed to find the time to come to Harry's birthday dinner. Andromeda was talking animatedly with him while bouncing Teddy absentmindedly in her arms. The little boy was still tiny; he was nearly four months old now. He couldn't speak, but he had started to babble very vividly as if he was having a fascinating conversation with himself. His hair was its favoured bright blue at the moment, and his eyes were the same hazel colour that Remus's had been. The moment he spotted Harry, he began to kick his legs, and his hair began to transition to black.

Harry laughed as he walked across the garden, "I think somebody is pleased to see me."

Andromeda smiled, "Here we go, Teddy," she said, "It's Uncle Harry's birthday today."

Harry grinned broadly as he took the little boy into his arms, "Hey Teddy!" he said as he tickled the little boy's tummy and made him giggle.

Ron grinned in amusement when he walked over to his best friend, "You're doing that ridiculous baby voice again."

"Of course he is," Hermione said brightly as she put her hand on Teddy's tummy and tickled him, "Because he's gorgeous, aren't you, Teddy?"

"He's cute," Ron conceded as Teddy grabbed his finger.

Kingsley laughed in his low, deep way, "That boy has everyone wrapped around his little finger."

"Mum included," Ron said in amusement.

"Oh yes," Andromeda said with a sad sort of smile, "Dora was the same as a baby. Everybody adored her."

Harry sent a sympathetic glance Andromeda's way, "Thanks for coming, Andromeda."

"Harry, for the last time," Andromeda said with an amused smile, "Please call me Andi. I cannot stand my name."

Ron frowned, "If you don't like your name, why did you call your daughter Nymphadora?"

Andromeda smiled sadly, "I had my reasons. Growing up with a name like Andromeda, you learn to get tough skin. I wanted to teach Dora the same lesson, and it certainly worked."

Harry smiled too.

"Although she was adamant that she would give her baby a normal name," Andromeda said with a laugh, "I still remember the debate she and Remus had over that one…"

"He needs a nice normal name."

"How do you know that the baby is a he?" Remus asked her.

"I just know, call it Mothers intuition," Tonks smirked.

"What do you class as a nice normal name?" Remus asked curiously.

"I don't know something boring like…John."

"Hey, that's my middle name!" Remus scoffed.

Tonks just grinned.

"How about Orion?" Remus suggested.

"No!" Tonks exclaimed, "Holy Helga, no. I mean something unassuming like…Edward."

"Edward."

"Yes."

"It's very Muggle."

"And? What if he's a squib?"

Remus snorted, "How about Sirius?"

"No," Tonks said in exasperation, "We're not naming our baby after your first boyfriend."

Remus looked up in alarm, "How did you know that?"

"My mother went to school with you both. She said that you made eyes at each other when she was there, and you would have been in second year then," Tonks said, raising an eyebrow at her husband.

"Oh good Godric," Remus muttered, "I went to school with your mother. I'm a cradle snatcher."

"Are you just realising that?" Tonks asked with a smile.

Remus smiled too. He leant across the table and kissed her, "Call him Edward if you like. There is nothing wrong with his name being unassuming. After all, he is your son, so his personality certainly won't be."

"Hey!"Tonks exclaimed, whacking him around the head.

Andromeda shook the memory off as Harry asked, "How has he been?"

"He has been teething," Andromeda said with a long-suffering sigh, "I found out at his St. Mungo's check-up that a teething part-werewolf baby is even worse than a normal teething baby."

"Oh dear," Hermione said with a smile, "Did he destroy anything soft and fluffy?"

Andromeda smiled in amusement, "All of the cuddly toys he could get his hands on and my favourite cushions."

Ron laughed loudly, "How sharp are his teeth?"

"Not any sharper than those of an ordinary baby," Andromeda admitted, "He just has werewolf instincts when he's in pain. Bill said he has the same thing; he growls when he gets mad."

"Yeah, and Fleur locks him in the dog house she built outside their house," Ron said through his laughter.

Harry chuckled as he gently opened Teddy's mouth, "Oh yeah, I can see a couple of teeth in there," he said as he removed his finger before Teddy could bite him.

"Why don't you give him one of those chewy bones for dogs?" Ron asked cluelessly.

"Ron!" Hermione chastised.

"I'm not giving my Godson a dog's toy Ron," Harry scoffed.

"Right," Ron muttered, "I didn't mean it like that."

Andromeda shook her head in amusement, "It will pass, and I have some diluted pain potions so that he can sleep through the night. Although if you fancy taking him for a few days, I would appreciate it."

"Of course," Harry said with a smile, "I'll miss him when I go back to Hogwarts. I'll have him for the whole first week of August if you like?"

"If you are sure that you don't mind?" Andromeda asked as she glanced at her Grandson, "I have been thinking about visiting my sister."

"Your sister?" Harry asked in surprise, "Narcissa?"

"Malfoy?" Ron added.

Andromeda nodded, "Yes, well…after the war, we talked briefly about reconciling. We haven't spoken since her little boy was born, Draco, I believe he's called."

"Little? He's our age now," Harry said in amusement, "It's good though that you reconciled. You should go; family is important."

"I am surprised that you are behind the idea," Andromeda admitted, "I had heard that you and my nephew did not get along."

"We didn't," Harry said honestly, "Well, we don't. But he saved my life in the war, and so did your sister. Maybe they are more willing to make amends now that Lucius is in prison."

Andromeda nodded. She still appeared to be deep in thought, "Then I will make sure it is alright with Molly, and if she agrees, you can have Teddy for the week."

"She'll say yes," Harry assured Andromeda before she left to seek out Molly.

"How come you're so okay about that?" Ron asked with a slight frown.

"I told you, Narcissa Malfoy saved my life when she told Voldemort that I was dead in the forbidden forest," Harry said honestly, "And so did Draco, in Malfoy Manor."

"He also threw you your wand when you came back from the dead," Hermione said calmly, "Which was actually his wand. He left himself defenceless so that you could fight Voldemort."

"After he kicked up a stink about getting that wand back from me in the Room of Requirement," Harry mused.

"He also nearly killed us with fiendfyre then," Ron said.

"Actually, that was Crabbe, and we have known for a while that Crabbe was, in essence, an imbecile," Hermione said matter of factly.

Harry snorted.

"Yeah, well, he sat back while Hermione was tortured in Malfoy Manor," Ron argued.

"No, he didn't," Hermione sighed, "He tried to run forward, but his father stopped him."

"Still," Ron muttered, "You're cool with Andromeda just hanging out with her?"

"Narcissa is her sister," Hermione said in disbelief, "And Draco is her nephew. It has nothing to do with us."

"Yeah, well, it doesn't mean I'm going to forgive the Malfoys," Ron said irritably, "Do you reckon Malfoy will even come back to school?"

"I dunno," Harry said honestly, "If he does, he won't be the same person."

"None of us are, Harry," Hermione said softly.

"Everything you need is in his bag," Andromeda was saying, "His travel cot, his bottle, and all of the changing equipment. Remember to feed him just-"

"-just before his afternoon nap," Harry finished, "And not to put him to sleep any later than 6 pm. I know Andi."

Andromeda smiled and kissed the little boy on the forehead, "You be good for Uncle Harry," she said.

Teddy gurgled in response, and Harry hugged her, "Have a good week, Andromeda. We'll be fine!"

Andromeda chuckled, "I am sure that you will be."

Harry smiled at her and waved as she stepped into the fireplace and disappeared. He sat down at the table and pulled the formula milk from Teddy's bag, "I suppose we better give you some breakfast, little man."

"Let me make it up for you, Harry," Mrs Weasley said kindly as she took the formula from Harry.

Harry smiled, "Thanks, Molly."

"You make an excellent Father to that little boy, you know," Molly said absentmindedly as she made up the milk.

Harry shook his head, "No, I'm not his father. Remus Lupin is his Father."

"I understand," Molly said softly, "But Remus died when he was only a month old. He is going to need a Father figure in life to look up to, someone to take him to Quidditch games, someone who he can look to for advice, you are that person."

Harry frowned slightly, "I suppose so. Do you think it's selfish of me to go back to Hogwarts?"

"Of course not," Molly said gently, "You need to get your N.E.W.T's so that you can give yourself a good career. Andromeda knows and understands that, and she knows you will visit as often as you can. It's only for a year after all."

"I know," Harry said as Molly handed him the bottle, "Molly, can I ask you a question?"

Molly sat down opposite Harry as he fed Teddy his bottle, "Of course, what's on your mind, Harry?"

"Draco Malfoy," Harry frowned, "If we go back to school and he has changed…if he's lonely and…well like I was for a good deal of my time at school. Do you think I should try and make amends?"

Molly smiled slightly, "I think that's a very mature idea. Draco Malfoy and yourself may be more similar than you think, and I think he will be very lonely. Your generation all seem older than you are, but you are still teenagers who had to grow up far too quickly because of a war. You were forced into something you didn't want to do by the prophecy, and he was probably forced into things by his father. I don't see what makes you any different, and I think a friend might be exactly what he needs."

Harry smiled back at her, "Ron won't like it."

Molly scoffed, "My son is far too prejudiced, Harry. The world is changing thanks to you and what you did in the war. Ron will have to get used to that one day."

Harry nodded, "Thank you, Molly."

When Andromeda stepped out of the fireplace into the drawing-room of Malfoy Manor, she was immediately hugged by her younger sister.

She chuckled, "You haven't changed a bit, Cissa."

Narcissa smiled slightly, "You have. I seem to remember a lot of tartan skirts and band t-shirts."

Andromeda laughed, "Yes, well, I am a Grandmother now, not to mention a Juror of the Wizengamot. I seem to remember you wearing an awful lot of pink back then."

"She still does," Draco said as he strolled through the drawing-room, "Only not in public because Father told her it wasn't becoming."

Andromeda scoffed, "Then your father was an idiot. Your mother looks beautiful in pink, Draco."

"Do you have any respect for pureblood etiquette?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not a shred," Andromeda chirped, "I was disowned for marrying a Muggle-born, I constantly ran away from home, and I spent my entire youth wearing tartan skirts and band t-shirts. Now you, young Draco Malfoy

have far too much respect for pureblood etiquette."

Narcissa smiled from behind her hands, "Draco, this is your Aunt Dromeda."

"Yes, Mother, I gathered," Draco said as he surveyed his Aunt with interest, "How long will you be staying for?"

"The entire week," Andromeda smirked, "So you had better get used to me."

Narcissa looked down to hide her laughter, "I'll show you to your room, come Dromeda."

Andromeda slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out onto the staircase with her sister, "I do apologise about my son's behaviour. He can be far too much like his father when he is in a bad mood, but I am sure you two will bond. He is a sweet boy when you get past the sarcasm."

"Now that sounds familiar," Andromeda chuckled.

Narcissa smiled, "Yes, he is rather like you, actually. He pretends he is okay, but I know he endured real horrors during the war, many at his own father's hands. He will not talk about it, but he must one day. I worry about the effect it has had on him."

"I can't say I'm surprised," Andromeda admitted, "From what I have heard, he seems to have been forced to try and kill a man when he was only 16 years old."

Narcissa nodded as she looked down at her hands, "For his father's failures. There were so many days when I wished I had gone against Mothers plans and married a Muggle-born, like you, Dromeda."

"No, you never could have Cissa," Andromeda smiled, "You cared far too much for etiquette. You would never have been happy with a Muggle-born."

"Yes, well, I wasn't exactly happy with Lucius either," Narcissa pointed out as she opened the door to Andromeda's room and led her inside, "In the beginning, I loved him very much. But when he joined the Death Eaters, and that man became involved in our lives, I could no longer be happy. I spent so long under the imperius curse that I began to lose who I was for a long time."

"I'm so sorry that I couldn't save you from that," Andromeda said sadly.

Narcissa shook her head, "I would not have listened, even if you had tried. You said it yourself, I cared for etiquette, and I wanted to do what was proper. I wanted a husband who could provide me with children and a safe home for them. I could not know back then how wrong I was when I thought Lucius was that man."

Andromeda sighed as she dropped her bag on the bed and pulled her younger sister into a hug, "Well, he's gone now, and I'm here, Cissa. I won't run away this time, I promise."

"I get the impression that you don't like me very much, Draco," Andromeda said as she sat down next to her nephew by the lake in the back garden of the Manor.

Draco shrugged, "I just don't know you very well."

"Yes, I haven't exactly been in your life," Andromeda said, "Which you can blame your Grandfather for. My father disowned me."

"For marrying a Muggle-born," Draco said thoughtfully.

Andromeda nodded, "Yes, I ran away with him after I left Hogwarts. We eloped, and I gave birth to our daughter when I was only 19 years old. Oh, the shame."

Draco frowned, "Do you regret it?"

Andromeda shook her head, "Not once. I loved my husband until the day he died, and despite our somewhat tenuous relationship, I loved my daughter too."

"I'm sorry that you lost them," Draco said quietly.

"So am I," Andromeda said softly, "I begged her not to leave, but she loved her husband, and she had to protect him. I find some comfort in the fact that she died for love, not because of her blood status as my husband did."

"I don't believe in love," Draco sighed, "I…, I did horrible things in the name of love."

"I find that although people can do terrible things in the name of love, they are often the easiest to forgive," Andromeda said calmly, "Those people feel remorse more strongly than others, and from pain, we grow stronger."

Draco frowned, "What happened to your husband?"

"He was on the run, and he was killed by snatchers," Andromeda replied.

"I lost my girlfriend in the final battle," Draco said. He frowned down at his hands, "I rejoined the Death Eaters to try and protect her, but she jumped in front of a spell that was meant for me. An Auror killed her, and she didn't deserve that. She was never on the Dark Lords side."

"I am very sorry to hear that," Andromeda said, "But you do not need to call him the Dark Lord any longer; the war is over Draco."

Draco shrugged, "It doesn't always feel like it. I still see the horrors every time I shut my eyes."

"Cold-blooded murder leaves a stain on your soul. It is why it is used in dark magic rituals," Andromeda said, "Is your soul clean, Draco?"

Draco shook his head, "I've never committed cold-blooded murder, but my soul is definitely not clean."

"Well, you are only 18," Andromeda said calmly, "There is plenty of time left for you to wash that away."

Draco shrugged, "Maybe I don't want to be saved."

"You say that, but deep down, you know that it isn't true," Andromeda said.

Draco said nothing in response to this, so they fell into a peaceful silence. Andromeda sighed contently and looked out at the shimmering lake, "This reminds me of Hogwarts."

Draco nodded, "The lake is smaller, and the water is clearer, but I suppose it is similar."

"Are you returning to school, Draco?" Andromeda asked conversationally, "Your Mother said you got a letter about re-sitting your final year to get your N.E.W.T's."

"I am," Draco replied, "It took some persuasion from my friends."

"And why is that?"

"I wasn't on the same side as everybody else there," Draco said quietly, "They won't want me there. Apart from those in my own house, I won't have any friends."

"I think you will have at least one friend," Andromeda said thoughtfully.

Draco scoffed, "Oh yeah, who?"

"Harry," Andromeda replied.

"Harry Potter?" Draco asked in disbelief, "He's my arch enemy!"

"You are 18 years old, Draco," Narcissa said as she emerged from the small summerhouse with a tray of ice-cold lemonade, "18-year-olds do not have arch enemies."

"And I think you'll find that Harry probably considered Voldemort as his arch-enemy, and you as more of a nuisance," Andromeda said with a raised eyebrow, "Consider the difference; Voldemort killed his parents, and you called him some nasty names. Which do you think he considered a bigger threat?"

Draco flushed at the comment, "Yeah, well…Potter and I hate each other."

"Harry doesn't hate you, and I don't think you hate him either," Andromeda said matter of factly, "He saved your life in the war, and you saved his."

"Yeah, well, I was just doing the right thing, for once," Draco said under his breath.

"Harry and yourself have an awful lot in common, Draco," Andromeda continued as if she had not heard his comment, "You are both lonely-"

"Lonely?" Draco scoffed, "He's got all of his little friends and his Weaslette girlfriend."

"It is comments like that which make people dislike you, Draco," Narcissa pointed out as she handed her son a glass of lemonade.

Draco rolled his eyes, and Andromeda said, "And you know Draco, it's very easy to be surrounded by people and still be lonely. Harry has not been the same since the war; he's very withdrawn about the whole thing and barely talks to anybody about it."

"Yeah, well, I don't like talking about it either," Draco said as he put the lemonade down on the bench and stalked away.

Narcissa sighed, "I'm worried about him, Dromeda," she said as she sat down in the seat he had just vacated.

"I'll get through to him," Andromeda promised.

*~ TBC ~ *