A little over a week after Draco had started spending his time with Ginny, he was cornered when he returned to his common room. Blaise Zabini practically threw him up against a wall and hissed, "We need to talk, now!" Draco eyed the other boy sharply for a moment before shrugging apathetically and allowing himself to be led into an empty room.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Blaise demanded.
Draco crossed his arms and leaned up against a desk. "I'm making my own choices."
Blaise rolled his eyes and threw himself into a chair. "Bloody hell, Draco, do you want to get yourself killed?"
Draco smirked. "No, and I have no intention of allowing that to happen."
Blaise raised a weary eyebrow. "And how are you going to stop it?"
Draco shoved himself off the desk and took a chair opposite Blaise, leaning forward so that his weight leaned against his elbows on his knees, he looked at his friend earnestly. "For one, I have no intention of returning to my father's manor. Look, Blaise, I don't expect you to understand, but I'm learning to be myself, to think for myself, to act based on what I believe rather than what my father demands. Gin is helping me." He rolled up the short sleeve of his t-shirt. "She understands this, Blaise, she's been there. I haven't picked up a blade since I saw her arm. I haven't even had to fight the urge. She gives me someone to protect, someone to worry about. I feel needed for the first time of my life. I feel wanted for the first time in my life. I don't want to die, Blaise, but I would rather live like this for a month and end violently than live a hundred years as I was and die peacefully."
Blaise looked his friend in the eye for a long while. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he leaned back. "Merlin, Draco…"
Draco sat back as well, rolling his sleeve back down. "I know."
Blaise shook his head in resignation. "Merlin knows I've wanted you to find life in this world, mate. I just never thought you would do so by walking away."
Draco started to speak but Blaise interrupted him.
"No, man, I won't stand in your way. Hell, I'll even help keep the others off your back. Just…stay alive. You're my best friend, my brother, and I'd hate to be your pall bearer." He stood and left the room. When he reached the door, he looked back. He sighed. "I hope she stays good for you."
Draco stayed where he was for some time. He hadn't exactly expected Blaise to understand, he hadn't dared to hope Blaise would follow wherever it was he was going, but he couldn't help but feel disappointed by what felt like the loss of the only friend he had had growing up. He wanted to get Blaise out of the shadow of death eaters, pull him out of the darkness he was still in the process of leaving himself, but he didn't know how. He had no idea what he could say to the man. After all, he couldn't really define his own ideals yet, so how could convince someone else he was right?
The next day Ginny could tell something was wrong. It took all day, but Draco finally told her about his confrontation with Blaise.
She laid a comforting hand on his. "It'll be all right, Draco, just wait. Give yourself some time to figure things out and then you can talk to him again. From you've said he can see a real change in you, for the better, and if you continue to grow, continue to strengthen your convictions, he'll see it. Don't mourn his loss yet, not before he's really left."
He looked up at the redhead. "Thanks."
She shrugged. "I haven't done anything for you that you haven't done for me."
"Maybe not, but it's still more than anyone else has ever done."
She smiled. "I know the feeling."
He looked at her for a moment with nothing but gratitude. Shaking his head, he grew serious again, "You're brother hasn't given you anymore trouble, has he? You seemed a bit down this morning at breakfast as well."
She sighed. "No, not really. It's just…his glares are starting to make me want to flood his face with bat bogeys and I don't really like thinking about my brother like that."
Draco tried not to smirk.
She hit him on the arm playfully.
"What?" he asked defensively, though he was smiling. "I was just remembering how much those hurt and envisioning his…"
"I know what you were thinking!" She hit him again.
He laughed.
While they were open and relaxed with each other, almost everyone else saw them as dark, reserved, and a bit disturbing. It wasn't really their fault, they just didn't really like being stared at everywhere they went, and so, being of similar personalities that were both given to sarcastic wit and biting humours, they met the world with a rather cold consideration and caustic commentary.
Those who really knew him saw a change deep in Draco's eyes that spoke of life where once only death dwelt. To the rest he became more frightening than ever as he ceased to associate with almost everyone aside from the Weasley girl.
Those who really knew here saw a change deep in Ginevra's eyes that spoke of strength where she was once filled with fear and pain. To everyone else, she seemed to grow dark as she pulled back and befriended Malfoy.
The truth behind the changes in both was honesty. They were finally behaving the way they wished rather than the way they were expected to.
Professor Dumbledore watched them transform. He couldn't stop the shivers from running up his spine when he saw them together. He had a feeling that they would have a greater impact on the world than anyone dreamed. He prayed that it was positive. He prayed they survived. He prayed that they would not forfeit themselves to their bitterness.
Professor Snape also watched the transformation. He couldn't hide the smirk that crossed his features when he saw them together. He too believed they would change the world. He prayed he would be there to see it. He knew it would be positive. He prayed they would have a place when it was all over.
Blaise watched his friend's transformation. It confused him. He decided to wait, to observe, and to reserve judgement on the nature of the change until it was completed.