They went to work learning to apparate first and then set to glamour spells so they could take up work in the muggle world. Muggle currency could easily be converted to wizarding knuts, sickles, and galleons that paid for the correspondence courses. It also paid for the books from Flourish and Blotts that Hedwig was frequently asked to pick up for further studies. Owl deliveries were not uncommon and while Hedwig was a rather spectacular and remarkable owl, Sirius had once taught Harry a color changing spell that worked to disguise her. Harry had tried to convince Draco to use the spell to cover up his tell tale blonde hair but Draco refused.

"It's my best feature." Draco said stubbornly. "You're just jealous that you got stuck with that mop you call hair."

"Someone's bound to recognize you. Wizards do occasionally frequent muggle places."

"The world is full of blondes in case you hadn't noticed Potter." Draco hadn't lost the darn smirk over the time they had shared as of yet.

Harry just shook his head. After all, with the rudimentary glamour magic they had already learned, it would be unlikely that anyone would recognize them and they would certainly recognize if someone broke the spell so they could flee. Although neither knew who they feared finding them more.

There came a sudden knock on the thin wooden door and they both jumped, panic setting in. Malfoy's eyes met Harry's and they both went to the door, wands clenched tightly in their hands and ready to fire. The blonde opened the door, Harry standing out of sight with wand up.

A roan centaur stood framed by the mid evening sun. Politely he inclined his head to Draco. "May I come in?"

Wordlessly Draco stepped aside, letting the centaur pass. Harry stepped out, shutting the door.

"We thought you should know that those at Hogwarts have discovered that Draco Malfoy is not dead." The centaur began without preamble. He didn't offer his name.

"Are they looking for him?" Harry asked before Malfoy could say anything.

"Yes. They believe he may have had something to do with your disappearance, although they have not divulged this information to the public."

"Of course not." Draco said dryly.

The centaur ignored him. "The dark one has not found out yet about this but he has been busy searching for Harry, although news of those attacks has been suppressed." Mission clearly accomplished, the centaur turned to leave.

"Thank you." Harry said, accepting their help although not without a few reservations. He would not play pawn anymore. "Will you come again?"

The retreating figure looked back over his shoulder thoughtfully. "If you would wish,"

Harry stopped, suddenly unsure. Did they wish? Their visitor was clearly proposing something less formal than this short contact. Neither boy had been around anyone else for any extended amount of time since they had come here almost three months ago.

He glanced over at Malfoy for confirmation and met those similarly hesitant eyes. It was the look in those eyes that decided him. That told him they couldn't keep hiding themselves away from everyone. "Yes." He said firmly.

"Very well." Without another word their visitor disappeared seamlessly into the surrounding forest.

Draco shut the door again and sat down on their mattress beside Harry. "I wonder how he found out all that stuff. I mean, I know centaurs are all spooky with the skies and all, but that was some fairly detailed information. So I wonder how long until You-Know-Who finds out my father didn't kill me? Father will sure catch it then." He didn't sound like he particularly cared about the fate his father had in store. But he wouldn't have mentioned it if it didn't matter.

Harry wondered how it mattered. They had an unspoken agreement to never ask about the people others called their family. He wondered if any shred of Draco loved his father, felt guilty for the probably crucio down the line, or if Draco was glad for the twisted sort of payback for his father's actions.

I'm probably going to have to kill his father, he realized. If I live. If Voldemort doesn't kill me then I'll have to kill Lucius Malfoy. He wouldn't just let me get away with it. He'd want to kill me so he can take over everything. And I would be in his way, even if I never touched him. Because I could.

Voldemort is looking for me right now. He's stronger than I am. And he's going to kill me.

He tried to keep breathing normally, tried not to think of that last time he'd come face to face with Voldemort and escaped due to sheer luck and stupidity. It didn't work and he could feel the breath catch in his lungs and grow thin. He knew without having to look that his hands had started trembling.

"Pott-Harry?"

Harry closed his eyes. "I don't want to die."

"Who said you were going to?"

His stomach turned nasty knots inside him. "There's a prophecy that Voldemort and I are the only ones who can kill each other. He's looking for me."

Through the haze of his rapid breathing and his fear he was grateful for the other's presence. The hard bite of cold fear was still there, but it wasn't as sharp with some one there. Someone who wouldn't tell him that it was all going to be ok because they'd protect him and train him. Someone who wouldn't lie to him.

"Who told you this?" Draco asked curiously. He didn't disbelieve it, for prophecies were a serious thing.

"Dumbledore did. He was there when the prophecy was given."

"How nice of him to tell a student to win his war."

"It's supposed to be a war for all of us."

There was silence and Harry waited for the other shoe to drop, waiting for the words from Malfoy that would bring up the other thing he dreaded. He wasn't disappointed.

"My father's going to die, isn't he."

Harry swallowed and closed his eyes, refusing to see Draco's face. "I don't see how he could survive. The Order of the Phoenix knows he works for Voldemort and will do something about him. And…"

"You…"

"Maybe."

"Can I come with you?"

Harry opened his eyes in surprise and confusion. He met Draco's eyes and saw the look there of hurt and determination and anger.

"Do you want to?"

"I want to do it." Ambiguous and yet so clear. Wanting to kill your father, wanting not to do it, wanting him to be proud of you and yet hate you at the same time.

There was a long quiet between them, each thinking their private thoughts.

Malfoy spoke again. "I'm your mirror. I'll be there."

The reply was soft and went almost unnoticed. "Thank you."

Author's Notes: Thanks everyone for the great response. It really helps me know what to do next and what you guys want. In response to the one reviewer who thought that Draco and Harry would not become friends like they did, I feel that Harry caught Draco at a particularily vulnerable spot at the beginning and once they found out the terrible stuff they had in common, there wasn't really any reason to be mean to each other. To Draco being a pureblood isn't really as important as what has just happened to him and he doesn't have to pretend because Harry already knows. Besides, this is really a short story and if I spent the time developing their friendship I wouldn't have time to cover what I really want to cover.

Anyway, everyone please keep reviewing!