A/N: Reviews always welcomed. Would love to know what you think.

Disclaimer: What you recognize: not mine.

Warning: Language, violence, mild slash (although this is not a slash story...sorry!)

"Hard times for us all, I guess."

"Yes so glad they're over." Draco said sarcastically.

And Harry grinned knowing that they both knew they were still living through their own personal hell. "Yes so glad that whole mess is over."

Chapter 3

And so began the comfortable and easy friendship of Drake and Harry. That night as they spoke more honestly than they ever had before with anyone, they realized that this friendship might be the hope both men had been so desperately cleaving too. They had both been searching so hard for something to sedate their minds, numb their dreams and forget their pasts that they never realized until fate intervened that the only way to keep the past in the past was to stop fighting it.

Drake stayed in Vienna for a week or so beyond his intended departure date and they talked. Discussed their dreams, their disappointments. The war. Everything seemed to begin and end with the war.

"I never could understand humanity's need to tear people apart." They were sitting on the floor of Drake's suite drinking Scotch and smoking cigarettes.

Draco laughed, "You're a philosopher, now?"

"Why, Drake, why did all of this happen?"

"Because one person decided he wanted all the power in the world, and a few people followed him, a few people fought against him, one person decided to change the world and mostly everyone else did nothing. Imagine if all the wizards had stood up against Voldemort? He would have had no chance against their combined power," Draco bitterly laughed, "But no, they sat on their lazy arses and waited for a child to save them. Harry, god, I don't know how you don't hate them all!"

"Who says I don't? I hate most of all though what I've become.," he sighed softly.

"A squib?" Draco murmured softly. Harry had explained to him days before about the vow and the curse.

Harry laughed surprising his blond friend. "A squib? You think that bothers me? No, I could live without magic my entire life. It was right after I killed him. I was so happy that he was gone and then I felt it all around. How easy it had become to kill. Lucius…" Draco winced at his father's name but Harry continued. "Bellatrix, Percy, Fudge, Voldemort. Damn, by the time he was left, he was easy. And the power, the magic I felt was ecstasy, pure joy. Even when I was torturing the Dark Lord." His tone was cold and flat and he could see in Draco's eyes the horror but Harry continued, he needed to confess his sins. And Draco was the only one.

"With my magic, I am more powerful than Tom Riddle could ever dream. Did you know this? Every battle, every spell, every death, it seemed to grow. I welcomed the curse because if it hadn't taken my power, I would have become what I hated the most. I would of become the one who decided that he wanted all the power in the world. I hate them for what they did…but I don't blame them. They were scared and honestly I could feel it, Drake, I could feel it corrupting me. And I never want to feel that way again. Hell. I never want to feel again." Harry took a long drag from his cigarette.

"Explains the drugs…"

"You're not exactly clean yourself."

"True, we're both fucked up." Draco smiled.

"God, I tell you that I am a monster and you still manage to make a joke."

"Harry, you are not a monster."

"How do you know, Drake?" Harry looked at his friend.

"Because you're Harry." Draco smiled and placed his arm around him, letting the man fall into his arms. And Harry for the first time since his godfather died, cried. Drake held him and let him release the emotion he had carried within himself so long.

Then Drake murmured softly, " I guess I should tell you that this is turning me on a bit."

At that Harry laughed. Not the bitter laugh that Drake had quickly become accustomed to hearing from his friend, but a real true laugh.

"You pervert."

"Yes, well… Malfoys tend to be a bit inappropriate."

"Well I'm sorry, you'll have to get me stoned on something stronger than scotch if you want to shag me, Mr. Malfoy." Harry teased.

"Oh really? So you've been with a man before?" Drake said ignoring the teasing because honestly, his curiosity was piqued.

"I've…um…experimented a bit. I've done about anything so it shouldn't be too surprising to you, should it? But I am not gay, I like women too much." Harry answered honestly but then added mischievously, " Sorry to disappoint you."

Drake sighed. "You know what? I think you just might have, Harry. I'm bi. I can swing either way. It's no matter now, but you have become damn fine these past few years. Who knows? Maybe I'll let you continue with your drugs just so I can take advantage of you." He teased.

"It really bothers you, doesn't it? Me, getting high?"

"Yes, you just seem, well, too good for that."

"That was another time. I'm not too good for anything now."

"No, I mean now. Today. You seem too good to run away from things by getting stoned. You're worth too much to kill yourself slowly like this."

"Should I kill myself quicker than?" Harry snapped.

"Bloody hell, Potter. I'm being serious. It's time for you to stop this. It's madness. You said so yourself, the first night. You're not doing anything! Why the hell are you here? What the fuck are you doing? Nothing! Absolutely nothing. Getting drunk and high every night. Fucking anything that moves. Being a complete arse. Just because you're too much of a coward to actually start living. You know for someone who says they're so glad to be out under that damn prophecy, you seem awfully content to waste the rest of your life. You're not dead, why do you live like you are?" Draco yelled, surprising even himself at the intensity he scolded his friend.

And Harry looked at him with his emerald eyes shining. His jaw stiffened and his mouth closed tightly as Draco continued. "You are worth too much, Harry bloody Potter and you don't even know it." At that he walked off the balcony and out of the room.

Harry sighed as he watched his friend go. Whispering softly as the door slammed, "You're right."

Drake did not return until late that evening and Harry just stayed in the suite lying on the bed waiting for his friend to return. Sure they had shared so much in such a short time, maybe too much. Harry tried not to think of the very real possibility that Drake might not return. He has his baggage still here, Harry thought. Of course the concierge could easily retrieve his belongings and forward them to Drake. No, he doesn't have to return really. Unless he wants too. Maybe it was too much to share. Harry knew better than to be so honest, so trusting. He cursed to himself of his own stupidity. He knew he should just leave and be on his way, but he didn't want to go. He felt things changing and he needed to change. If only he'll come back…

Harry eventually fell asleep fully clothed only to wake up to the bright sunlight shining through the windows. Sitting on the bed beside him was Drake who was staring at him. Drake sighed and said, "Are you ready then?"

"Ready for what?" Harry mumbled, tired and still groggy from the alcohol last night.

"To leave, I have a shoot in Milan." Draco said confidently then his voice became softer, "I had hoped you would come with me."

Harry nodded, "Where were you last night?"

"Thinking. I've decided that you've saved us all and now I'm going to save you."

"Save me?" Harry sat up in surprise. "Do you think I need saving?"

Draco sighed, " I don't know, maybe that's not the right way to put it. I just know you need a friend. I won't be very good at it but being with you somehow makes what happened a little more bearable. If that makes any sense at all."

"So it's not all about me then."

"Of course not, Potter. I am a Slytherin. I will help you but you're helping me too. What do you say?"

"Haven't anything else to do, do I?"