Harry was surprised when he came through the floo to see Narcissa smirking at him. She didn't seem particularly surprised nor upset that he was there, she just politely welcomed him, and then requested that he should follow.

Which he did, quietly observing the route which he was being led further into Malfoy Manor than he'd been previously.

It wasn't until they'd gone up the stairs and were walking towards the western part of the Manor on the third floor, that Narcissa spoke, "Mr. Potter, I just wanted to thank you for your help with my sister."

Harry nodded, somewhat surprised but secretly pleased by the gesture.

"You're welcome, Mrs. Malfoy."

"Have you spoken with Andromeda lately?"

"I was there day before yesterday for a few hours, visiting Teddy."

"Ah yes, you're his godfather, correct?"

"I am."

"And he's well?"

"He is, and he's growing too fast. Every time I see him, it seems as if he's changed a bit more. He's a metamorphmagus, just like his Mum was."

Narcissa's eyes widened stunned. "Already?"

"Yes." Harry responded proudly.

Narcissa didn't know what to say to that. She hadn't personally known her niece, but she'd heard a few things here and there. She'd known cursorily that Nymphadora had married Remus Lupin, and they'd had a child. Bellatrix had been incensed by that factoid, and had threatened to kill Nymphadora and her child. The fact that Bellatrix made good on half of that threat, saddened her greatly. Another child left an orphan because of a pointless war.

"I must admit, I'm at a loss to adequately put into words how horribly I feel at what happened to my niece. Whilst I never knew her, I can only imagine the pain Andromeda must be feeling at losing her only child."

Harry sighed and nodded, not responding verbally because what could he say, really…that wouldn't sound accusatory or patronizing…

Or just downright hacked off…

"Here we are." Narcissa gestured to the large door at the end of the hallway, and Harry eyed it critically. There was a large dragon carved into the English oak, and he almost rolled his eyes at how pretentious and ostentatious it looked.

Leave it to Malfoy, to have an actual dragon on his door.

Narcissa's smirk made a reappearance briefly before offering, "It's for protection, Mr. Potter. The dragon was placed there by me just prior to the Dark Lord's return. As you might imagine, having my home invaded by unwelcome guests didn't necessarily bode well for the safety of my family—however, as a Black and a mother—I'm sure you can understand a mother's need to protect that which is most precious to her?"

Harry's emerald green eyes, so like his own mother's, gazed at Narcissa with something akin to understanding.

"Did he tell you?"

"Who?"

"Professor Snape? Did he tell you that he was the one who found my parents after Voldemort had killed them?"

Narcissa sighed, but bowed her head in the affirmative.

"Severus was many things, Mr. Potter—but amongst his more surly qualities, was a very loving and loyal wizard."

Harry chuckled, and shook his head at the indulgent look on Lady Malfoy's face.

"You knew he was a spy, didn't you?"

"Of course I knew where Severus true loyalties were, Mr. Potter."

Harry chuckled, and noticed the almost fond irritation from Lady Malfoy as she considered him.

"Hence why you had him take an unbreakable vow to protect Draco, should he fail in his task to kill Dumbledore?"

Narcissa actually smiled.

"You're quite intelligent, Mr. Potter. But yes, the unbreakable vow was Bellatrix's idea, but only because I put the idea into her head prior."

"You're quite the Slytherin, Mrs. Malfoy."

She hummed in agreement, not at all offended by his accurate statement.

"I've always been the consummate self-preservationist and a trait my son has inherited from me. Draco for all his desire to make his father proud, is my son first and foremost. He's very discerning in whom he gives his loyalty to, and his trust even more so."

Harry fidgeted slightly, before asking curiosity, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because if I'm right, and I'd like to think I am, the history between you and my son has always been more than a simple matter of House rivalry and petty dislike. Such strong emotions aren't created from nothing, Mr. Potter. I've spent many an evening hearing my son's complaints in regards to you and Miss Alphonse, and whilst Lucius might've been willing to surmise it was only due to the aforementioned reasons, as his mother, I knew better."

"And why you let me come here?"

"Among other reasons," Narcissa explained evenly, "but be warned, Mr. Potter—my first priority is to protect my son at all costs. I'm willing to remain open-minded for his sake, but don't think that I'll sit idly by an allow Draco to be hurt needlessly. He can be his own worst enemy at times, but he protects those he cares about."

"I'm beginning to see that for myself."

Narcissa waved her wand at Draco's door and the dragon perked up for a split second, then Harry felt the wards coming down and she knocked softly.

"Draco?"

There was a pause and then the door opened, and Draco's gaze shifted from his mother to Harry and back again with a heavy scowl.

"Don't look at me like that, Draco. You both need to talk, but please refrain from throwing any curses, Mr. Potter."

Harry bowed his head sheepishly, while Draco smirked at his mum before she nodded and walked down the hallway from which they'd come, leaving the two wizard's alone.

Green eyes met grey and Draco sighed, opening his door and waving Potter inside.

Harry walked past the taller wizard with a brief nod, before he emerged on the other side of the door and heard it close, then felt the wards reactivating instantaneously.

"Nifty spell work." He admitted reluctantly, and Draco hummed.

"Mother is quite proficient at most spells and curses."

"Black family trait."

"Yes."

Harry nodded, taking in the room with interest. It was huge, but had an understated elegance about it. The colors were black, grey and green with tinges of white and silver. The damask curtains looked to be made of heavy velvet as did the large chaise by the French doors. Malfoy gestured for him to sit there, while he took the wingback chair adjacent near the fireplace.

"I'd thought your room would've had more…"

"More what?" Draco interrupted, and Harry blushed.

"Nothing specific…just more."

Draco's gaze narrowed slightly, and then he huffed out, "Thought a lot about my room, Potter?"

Harry bristled and bit back, "Only inasmuch as you'd bragged incessantly at school about how rich you were, Malfoy."

"Am."

"Excuse me?"

"I am rich, Potter."

Harry rolled his yes, ignoring the smug look Malfoy was sending his way.

"Not here to discuss how many galleons you have in your vault, Malfoy."

"Then why are you here?" Draco drawled out with a tinge of exasperation, "I didn't invite you here, that much is obvious."

"No, but if you'd stayed at Hermione's instead of running out like a coward, you would've realized that she wasn't exactly upset."

Draco's expression darkened, as he gritted out, "Shove off, Potter! I don't need the boy wonder to remind me just how much I'm lacking in the hero department. I'm not a bloody Gryffindor."

"No, you're a Slytherin through and through," Harry taunted back, "and you never let me or Hermione forget just how superior you and your lot were back at Hogwarts!"

Draco leant forward with a malevolent gleam as he mockingly placed his hand over his chest, where his sectumsempra scars were located, "And look where that bloody got me, in case you haven't forgotten? You did almost kill me after all!"

Harry snarled back, "And you tried to crucio me, Malfoy!"

"Because you were always pushing your self-righteousness in places it wasn't wanted!" Draco roared, his fists clenching with fury, "Did it ever occur to you, Potter—that there was no out for me? That if I'd gone to Dumbledore, my parents lives would've been forfeited? As much as you hate my father, he's the only one I have! And where would that have left my Mother, whom if memory serves, saved your sorry arse!"

"Only because she was doing what any Slytherin would, hedging her bets!"

Draco lunged for him, but Harry was quicker and he had the blonde on the floor with his wand at his throat.

Stark grey eyes stared up at him and for a moment there was a flash of fear, but Draco masked it quickly snarling out, "Do it, Potter! We both know you just need an excuse to curse me!"

Lips flattening with ire, Harry could feel his labored breathing heaving out of his nose, even as he continued to glare down at his childhood nemesis. He couldn't help but notice Malfoy's cheeks were heightened with color, his slate eyes darkened with emotion and pale hair tousled from its normal perfection—and those same stirrings of something long held dormant flared to life.

After a moment he shook his head and dropped his wand to the floor, immediately noticing Draco's left hand twitching from its position at his flank.

Then the next thing Harry knew, that same hand gripped his hair and pulled him down, forcing his lips to make contact with those moving up to meet him in a heated kiss.

If he was surprised by the sudden onslaught, those thoughts were secondary to the feeling of Malfoy's lips against his own. Years of pent up repressed emotions surged between the two of them—lips, tongues, teeth battling for the same dominance that they'd been dancing around for years.

When Draco finally broke the kiss, his first instinctive reaction was to pull away and he almost did, until Harry's lips moved back over his own, this time with less aggression and more cajoling, almost begging for a slower more sensuous response.

So without thinking about the consequences too much, Draco obliged.

It was a while before they broke apart.

Harry was now the first one to pull away, his green eyes gazing down into stormy slate that were staring up at him. Surprisingly or not, there was not much emotion behind those mercurial eyes, it was almost as if Malfoy was bracing himself.

Sighing softly, Harry sat back and settled himself on the floor, before holding his hand out in invitation…

…one in which Malfoy took without comment.

When they were situated more appropriately, Draco felt the need to say something, lest they devolve back into their usual fucked up form of unhealthy communication—so he cleared his throat and offered evenly, "I'm sorry, if that was out of line."

"No, it wasn't. Unexpected, but not exactly unwelcome."

Draco's expression fell into his practiced smirk, drawling out, "Oh?"

Harry sighed, running his right hand through his hair, then glanced down at his wand, which was currently on the floor between them—somehow rolling between them in the ensuing…whatever it'd been. He leaned over slightly and picked it up, immediately noticing Malfoy's gaze narrowing, but he just placed it into his back pocket, as he responded with, "It's complicated, isn't it?"

The humming of agreement from Draco wasn't too unexpected.

"I think that's probably the understatement of the year, and that's saying something based on everything that's happened recently."

"Yeah, it's been a shite year."

"Obviously, but it really could've ended so much worse."

Harry nodded, because it was true. Regardless of everything that had happened this past year, Voldemort was gone and he wasn't running for his life anymore. His best mates were alive, and that was something he never could've predicted even a few months ago.

"I honestly thought it would take years to defeat him." Harry offered quietly.

"I get that," Draco's tone of voice was somewhat agreeable, if a bit wary, "but I think it's safe to say that mostly everyone just wanted him dead by the end."

"Even your family?"

"Especially my family, Potter."

Harry's gaze fell over Draco's shoulder to where the hearth was located, and he noticed a couple books propped up near some pillows. He scooted over and picked up the one on top and felt his lips lifting in something akin to surprised amusement.

"Hermione give these to you?"

"Yes, and I've read them. Actually, I'm reading through that one again."

Harry opened the book and nodded to himself, "I've never read them fully myself, but I'm somewhat familiar with the story. Do you have a favorite part?"

"It's all interesting, especially about the elves. They're so different from the elves we have in the Wizarding World."

Harry's expression turned thoughtful as he asked, "Do you think they're related in some way?"

Sighing softly, Draco decided to take a leap of faith and replied, "I do believe they are."

"How?"

"After your last visit here a few things didn't add up, but I asked one of our house elves about their magic, and where it'd come from. She told me and my parents that elves are gifted their magic from the Lady of the Light."

"Galadriel, right?"

"Yes and it confirmed for me at least, that the legends written in those books are likely based in fact."

Harry wasn't sure how to respond. He knew from discussing this with Hermione, that what Draco was surmising was spot on. There were likely many truths within Tolkien's stories, but as much as the idea was intriguing, it didn't really help their current situation.

"How do we do this?" Harry inquired, waving his right hand between the two of them, "It's not as if we have any positive history between us."

"Another understatement, Potter." Draco's voice was almost droll, but Harry couldn't exactly disagree there, either.

"Does it bother you?"

"Which part?" Draco asked almost mockingly, "The fact that we're obviously stuck in this situation with Hermione? Not that I fault either one of you, Potter—but I can't help but think I'm at quite the disadvantage here."

Harry shook his head, "No, I get that. Hermione and myself, well—we have a huge history that's never going to go away. But this isn't a competition, Malfoy—despite how we were in school. I'll be the first to admit my feelings about you have always been rather convoluted, if not quite conflicted at times."

"Ditto."

"We also don't know much about this Ardante bonding."

"There's not much written on it other than what we know."

"And the other information?"

"I'm waiting for an owl from Rolf Scamander."

"Newt Scamander's grandson?"

"Yes, he's heading to Nicaragua, to the location where the salamanders are located."

"Do you really think they're going to work?"

Draco shrugged noncommittally, because he honestly had no idea. Hypothetically, the logic was sound, and it seemed as if he was on the right track, but only time would tell if his hunch was the correct one.

For Astoria's sake, he could only hope he was right.

"I think it's worth a chance." He offered at last, and Harry just hummed out an affirmative sound, but didn't comment for several more moments, until he queried, "I'm heading to Andromeda's to see Teddy this weekend. You up for it?"

Draco's eyes widened in surprise, but after several more moments of silence he nodded in the affirmative. He would like to formally meet his aunt and cousin. They were obviously important to Hermione and Potter, so he would make the effort, and he did owe his aunt a personal thank you for her help.

"Do you think she'll mind?" He asked, and Potter replied sincerely, "I honestly don't think she'd have a problem with it. Meda has always been about family first. Losing Tonks and Remus—raising Teddy on her own, it's challenging for her but she loves her grandson fiercely and just wants him happy. Kids need love and support, and family is important after all."

"It is."

"Then you'll come with?"

Draco paused again for a moment, before he responded evenly, "I don't see why not."

"Good," Harry offered with an actual smile, "I'll make sure to let her know you'll be coming."

Harry went to stand up and Draco followed suit, both wizards eyeing each other speculatively, before Draco gestured to the door, "I'll walk you back to the floo room."

"Sure," Harry cleared his throat and made to walk after Malfoy, the two of them silent as they made their way back through the Manor, and once they got to their destination, Harry gently placed his hand on Malfoy's forearm to halt his progress, and the wary glance the other wizard gave him, had Harry's gut clenching with something akin to regret, "I'm sorry for what it's worth?"

"For what?"

"What happened sixth year. I wasn't exactly myself for a long time, and maybe someday we can sit down and I can explain what it was like for me living with a piece of Voldemort's soul attached to mine."

Draco's eyes widened in shock, but all he did was nod in response. Harry sighed and with one last bow of his head in parting, he grabbed some floo powder, calling out for Grimmauld Place, before the green flames whisked him away, leaving a bewildered Malfoy staring at the empty hearth with a thoughtful frown marring his features.