Hello and welcome back! Thank you to everyone for the support! It means a lot to me!

Sorry for the long wait between updates! I have been working on it, just very slowly and sporadically!

A little bit of Draco this time!

Saturday found Draco snoring well into late morning, after so many days of midnight meet ups, he was ready for a lay in. Rolling over in bed, he gazed around his room groggily. Blaise was lost under about five layers of blankets, at least he guessed that the misshapen pile was Blaise, the rest seemed to have gotten up and left already. Crabbe and Goyle were never ones for missing breakfast, even if it meant getting up early.

Being as dramatic as possible, he slid from under his covers head first to the floor and began crawling to his trunk. Gathering some sort of clothing for the day Draco dragged himself to the shower. Thirty minutes later found him sitting in the Kitchen, clutching his stolen muggle mug filled with hot chocolate and munching down on pancakes filled with chocolate and banana.
The Hogwarts house elves were only too happy to serve him, he made sure to thank them and say please, which earned him another ten pancakes. Feeling a bit sick from all the sugar, Draco was wondering if he could get them to put it in a basket for him to take away.

This problem was solved however when twin one and twin two showed up, plonking down next to him on the bench.

It was at this point that he realised he had chocolate smeared across his face, and probably across his hands and maybe his hair too.

Bugger.

"Well good morning sunshine!" Fred said happily, accepting a plate from a nearby elf and loading it with some of Draco's pancakes. "Nice to see you having a spot of breakfast! George and I were worried about you, seeing as you didn't come to the Great Hall."

"That's very true, so worried!" George agreed, he declined the plate and simply grabbed a pancake from Draco's pile.

"Well Gentlemen, as you can see I am perfectly fine. Though I thank you for your concern." Draco made to get up and leave, but was shoved back into the seat by one of the boys. He glared at them grumpily.

"Not so fast Malfoy." Fred said patting his shoulder heavily.

Draco squirmed away from the touch. Fred's hands were now, also, covered in chocolate. He must have pulled a face, as the twins both laughed at him.

He could feel the childish indignation building within him and it took great effort to squash the desire to hurt them down. They were, after all, only children and they weren't laughing to be cruel. Breathing deeply Draco turned to the pair of them with an eyebrow raised questioningly.

"Well? I assume you found me for a reason? Besides sharing my breakfast." He rolled his eyes and quirked a smile at them.

"You'd be right about that, Draco my man! I can call you Draco can't I? Seeing as we're all friends now?" Fred said jovially.

Not certain about when they'd all suddenly become friends, Draco nodded in consent. What the hell, he was already best buds with the Gryffindors, what's another few Weasleys?

"Excellent! Well Draco, me and George were debating whether yesterday actually happened. Judging how unsurprised you are to see us, I'm guessing that we can't put it down to a really trippy shared dream?"

"No such luck. Hoped that myself a few times." He sighed. "Look I know the pair of you must have questions."

"Yeah."

"No shit."

"Right, but you know that I can't really give you any information about the future. It's like Hermione said, we've already changed things."

"Oh we're not worried about that!" George huffed, rolling his eyes.

"Nah! We wanna know the good stuff!"

"Good stuff?" Draco said nervously, eyeing them carefully. "Such as?"

"Magic!" George said eagerly.

"Spells" Fred yelled at the same time.

There was a very pregnant pause where Draco took the opportunity to stare at them blankly. "You realise," he spoke slowly, "that this is a school?"

Both boys flushed and began choking out half sentences. "Not…" "We didn't mean…" "That's just..."

Draco waited for them to calm down. They seemed to communicate by slapping each other rapidly and whispering hisses. "You done?"

"What we were trying to say-"
"Was that we want to know any good-"
"Advanced!"
"Yes, advanced, magic that you might be able to share with us."
"For personal research purposes."

Draco groaned, "This is for your joke shop isn't it?" This was -he realised- a mistake to utter those words, as both Weasleys immediately set upon him. They bombarded him with questions, getting louder and louder practically jumping in their seats.

This drew the attention of the house elves, who immediately ferried them out of the kitchen for being disruptive. The little hands shoved them all into the hall and the portrait slammed sharply behind them.

Letting out a sigh, Draco opted to give them general details about the WWW, as they escorted him back to his common room.

"Skiving snack box! That's brilliant!" Fred exclaimed, whilst Draco winced next to him.

"Why didn't we think of that ourselves? Oh wait!" George paused, looking to his brother.

"We did!" "We did!"

"In the bloody future!" Fred did a dramatic little stomp and flung his arms out.

"Right… Now gentlemen, let's not tell miss Granger about me giving you that little tit-bit yes?" He asked with a conspiratorial smirk. "Wouldn't want her stopping my sharing ways now would you?"

"What tit-bit was that then?"

"You've been sharing Draco? How good for you!"

"Perfect." Draco paused, eyeing the pair contemplatively. "There might be something that you lads can help me with, if you don't mind causing a little trouble? Discretion will be needed of course."

The matching feral grins on their faces, was almost enough to make Draco sorry for what he was about to do… almost.

Leaving the devious duo behind, Draco headed to his dorm room feeling smugly satisfied with himself, having successfully thrown the erumpent horn (an explosive creature part, known to make any situation MUCH worse).

He was humming happily to himself, grabbing a few things to go and find Granger, when he noticed Blaise watching him from under the pile of blankets.

"Morning Blaise, decided to grace us with your presence have you?" He chuckled, "You look like a Flobberworm under all that!"

Blaise started shaking slightly, pressing his lips together in an attempt to hold back laughter. "You know, Draco" He snorted, face crinkling with mirth, "That's pretty rich coming from the kid covered in chocolate."

Draco froze.

Hand slowly coming to his face, he pulled his fingers away to stare at the gooey mess that had coated them.

The laughter that burst from Blaise, at what must have been a very funny expression on Draco's face, echoed down the corridor and probably could have been heard from the common room.
He chuckled himself before banishing the remaining chocolate with a wave of his hand. "Found my way into the kitchen, so many pancakes Blaise, so many!"

"Really? You're supposed to eat them, not wear them Malfoy!"

"I shall take that under advisement for next time." He said with a grin. "Listen I'm going to the library for a bit, catch you later?"

Blaise groaned, "Library on a Saturday? We haven't even been here a week! What is wrong with you?" The boy slid back under the covers firmly pulling them into a cocoon around him.
"I take it you don't wish to come along then?" He chuckled.

A muffled grumbling came from the blanket fort, so with a laugh Draco grabbed the rest of his stuff and headed out.

Lost in thought as he headed up the stairs Draco didn't notice the two Gryffindors approaching him rapidly from the top. Within seconds he was wedged between Ron and Harry as they enthusiastically greeted him and began following him along the corridor to the library.

They were concerned that he wasn't at breakfast or lunch, but he explained that he had a lay in and just popped along to the kitchen and had pancakes. This started a whole explanation on how to get into the kitchen as well as explaining to Harry what a house elf was.

"So they are like servants? But for wizards?" Harry said looking confused.

"Exactly!" Ron exclaimed, "mum always wanted a house elf, but… well you know… only the oldest families have them and stuff." The boy had gone slightly red in the face and was scuffing his shoes slightly as he walked.

Draco sighed; Ron obviously didn't want to say that it was usually the wealthy families that had them, his own being very poor.

"They are actually more like magically bound slaves." Draco spoke calmly.

"Slaves?" Harry's face had gone pale and he looked a little distressed.

"Yes." Draco stopped and turned to look at both boys. "They are magically bound to a bloodline, and receive no payment for their service. Many house elves are abused and mistreated by their owners, as the creatures cannot defend themselves."

Harry looked horrified, Ron also looked a little green.

"That's terrible…" Harry whispered softly.

"Yes. However, the bond can also be extremely beneficial to both parties as long as there is respect. Many house elves, such as the Hogwarts elves, take extreme pride in their service. I believe that the elves can gain extra magic and longer life spans when linked to a family or building. But I'm no expert on that. You'd have to ask G…Um" he caught himself just in time. "erm… someone from the ministry or something."

"Wouldn't they rather be free?"

Draco turned to Harry and said seriously "Some would be better, yes. However most elves would find it extremely insulting to be asked if they wish to be free. You are implying that they are not good enough for their master. I have heard cases where some elves died after being free."

Ron and Harry looked at him like he had just killed their kneazle or something. With a sigh he took pity on them. "Look, the rights of magical creatures need to be improved, and they will be…"

He thought about Hermione's creature reform act, "We have good witches and wizards working on it, okay?"

He gently grabbed their arms and pulled them into the library with him.

"This is some heavy shit for a first week of school." Ron muttered, as they settled into a table by the window.

"Heavy shit." Harry agreed, nodding.

Twenty minutes later and they were nearly finished with their Transfiguration homework. Draco had been carefully helping them along whilst not trying to look as if he knew too much. Granted he couldn't remember everything from school exactly, but he had the general gist. It didn't hurt that he could turn the table into a rhinoceros and have it sing if he wanted.

"Can I borrow another bit of parchment Draco?" Harry said from next to him.

Both boys had had nothing on them, but he was happy to share his books and supplies. Reaching into his bag Draco withdrew his folder that Hermione had made him, pulling some neatly folded parchment from within he passed it across.

He caught Ron eyeing the folder with distaste.

"Alright there Ron?" he said with an eyebrow raised.

The red head seemed a little reluctant to say anything; he shuffled in his chair uncomfortably.

"It's just, we left the tower to get away from her. And then here we are doing what she told us too anyway!" He flung his arms up, before slouching back in his seat, ears red.

"I take it you are referring to Hermione?" Draco asked with amusement. "Been harassing you with homework planners already has she?"

"Yes!" Ron exclaimed! "Yes she has! I just don't get it. There are plenty of other people for her to boss around and she picks us!"

Draco tried to maintain a serious expression, but it was difficult. Typical Granger, she couldn't even last a week without trying to plan their lives.

"She had Neville making his own binder when we left." Harry chimed in. "Got him copying out notes and organising the whole thing by classes."

"On a Saturday!" Ron shuddered.

Draco couldn't help but laugh at their pained expressions.

"Oh my good men, you'll be grateful to have her on your side come exam time. Hermione Granger is an invaluable resource."

"Bossy" muttered Ron.

Harry smiled sheepishly, "I guess she's trying to help?"

Another dramatic moan came from Ronald.

"Well, I'm sorry I made you do work on a Saturday." Draco grinned at the sulking boy. "You didn't have to join in though."

"Well it's alright with you… you just, it 's different, less 'do it right now' and more chilled? You know?"

"She does come on a bit strong doesn't she? Part of her charm Weasley." At both boys' confused faces he sighed, "Don't worry, you'll get it when you're older."

"Weirdo." Ron said, giving him a bemused smile.

"And proud" Draco retorted, sticking his tongue out.

He spent the rest of the afternoon mucking about with the two lads, they barely got any more homework done but at least the transfiguration was out the way.

At the midnight meet up that night, he could tell Hermione wasn't in the best mood.

She kept sighing sharply and shooting him looks. Draco could see that she was getting frustrated.

"I just don't get it! They moan about doing homework with me, then they go and do it with you!" She was pacing back and forth, wringing her hands and glaring at the practise dummies against the wall. "I've offered to assist them, planned out a really helpful homework schedule that includes time off for Quidditch, when that becomes relevant of course."

She was barely breathing between sentences.

"I've tried talking to them about their interests, I know all the team member's names from the Chudley Cannons and they still avoid me!" Her eyes were filling with tears as she blinked furiously.
Draco took a deep breath. His wife had passed away many years ago now, and he had had the time to come to terms with that loss, but here was Hermione -newly separated from everyone she loved- her family gone, her husband and best friend were children.

"Hermione," he said softly, reaching out a hand before letting it drop.

She had turned away from him and was shaking her head, holding up an arm to ward him away.

"Hermione, they aren't… He isn't the man you knew." His voice was quiet and he saw Hermione stiffen. "This Ron isn't your husband, you know that right?"

"I know" voice wobbling, Hermione's frame slumped and she sniffed quietly. "I guess I just thought," she swallowed thickly, "I thought that if I tried hard enough, that they would like me." She sighed heavily. "Look at me, being all ridiculous. It's not even been a week and I just, I feel..."

"Lonely?" He had moved closer and was peering round her bushy hair. She met his eyes with a tired smile.

"Silly isn't it? I knew it wouldn't be the same, of course I did. It feels like I've lost them, but they are still here, it hurts to look at them and be ignored." Tears clumped in her eyelashes as she blinked. "I feel like a child."

Draco hesitated only a fraction of a second before pulling her into a hug. Her crazy hair itched his face and he knew she was getting snot and tears on his pyjamas but he didn't care. Opening his mouth to speak the words 'it's going to be okay' died in his throat. How could he say that, when he had no way to keep such a promise?

"Technically, you know, we are children." He joked awkwardly, patting her back in a 'there there' manner.

He could feel her laugh against his shoulder, through the sniffing. She mumbled something before smacking him half-heartedly on the arm.

"Ah, there's the Hermione I know." He gave her a small squeeze. "It's okay, to feel lonely I mean. Everything you knew is gone." He paused, "well almost everything. You still have me and I am just wonderful company. Ask anybody. Truly a marvel of wit and charm."

She was laughing harder now, wiping at her face with a free arm.

"Raised by peacocks no less!" He exclaimed loudly releasing and arm to point at the ceiling for dramatic flare.

Hermione took the opportunity to lean out of his embrace to smile at him. "Peacocks huh? Not the albino ones?"

"The very same." He nodded sagely.

She pursed her lips, eyes trailing up to his hair. "Aesthetic?"

"Mother did always like to colour coordinate." He laughed softly.

The grating of the clock hand interrupted them, they both jolted. Hermione glanced towards it, as it began chiming.

Sparks flew across their skin, dancing the same steps as usual, before fading beneath the surface. Draco went to release Hermione but she held onto him, he cocked his head questioningly.

"Thank you." Her voice was soft and her eyes a little red, but Hermione was smiling happily at him. "I feel better knowing I'm not alone. I know it's difficult for you too and if you want to talk about it I'm here."

Throat suddenly a little tight, Draco coughed quietly, "I'll keep that in mind."

He bid her good night and watched as she vanished down the corridor.

He stayed in the room of requirement for a while after, thinking about Scorpius. And if by the time he got back to the dorm his eyes were a little red, nobody was up to mention it anyway.