Who doesn't love friendship? Clues are coming in steadily now! I'd say we're now one-third into the story? I'm so bad at Math, though, don't trust me.

As always, thank you for your ever-present support. Your comments mean the world to me. Please take care of yourselves.

Chapter Text

Draco spent several hours in the same spot he'd been sitting at when Potter left the room. He looked at the aftermath of Weasley's rage: shards upon shards of broken china and glass littering the floor. They gave off a beautiful gleam when the light shone against them just right. The poor things weren't even part of the one-sided argument; they'd just been attacked on a whim and left abandoned on the stone without a second thought. Just like the many innocents that were caught in the middle of the battle all those months ago.

His unseeing gray eyes were wide open, but he was staring at nothing in particular. Instead, memories and faces of the fallen paraded in his mind.

Colin Creevey. Lavender Brown. Happy faces he saw every day for many years, colliding and intertwining with the bloody messes that resulted in the wake of their final moments.

Severus Snape. Fred Weasley. Their horrified expressions forever plastered, left for their loved ones to grief. Two people he never truly appreciated before they were gone.

Remus Lupin, the teacher he never publicly acknowledged to admire. Nymphadora Tonks, the cousin he was never able to meet.

Piles of bodies, regardless of their affiliations while living. Death came to all, Death Eaters and Order members alike. Why not him? Why was he still breathing?

He barely noticed when the fire died in the hearth, welcoming the subsequent chill that enveloped his body and pierced him to the bone. Was Hermione all right? Was she hungry, or cold? The image of her body, limping, frail from malnourishment and dirty from their travelling would not leave his memory anytime soon. She had no idea that night at the Manor had also left deep scars on him.

He thought he was imagining it at first. Perhaps he'd been awake for so long he'd finally died, or at least started hallucinating. Yet the eerie, purple glow he saw in the corner of his eye only increased in intensity. It was there, alright — enveloping Lilith's body while she slumbered.

As the light became brighter, Lilith began twitching and chattering. The initial subtle movements gave way to spasms and painful yowls, the sound of which made Draco spring out of his seat and run to her aid.

"Lil? Hey, Lil? What's wrong, girl?" he urged as he knelt beside her, afraid of the unknown magic taking place. He hovered his hands around her uselessly, not daring to place a single finger to prevent any disasters from happening. But her pained meows continued increasing in volume, breaking his pathetic heart in a million pieces. What kind of an owner was he if he couldn't protect her from whatever was happening?

"Fuck it all." He threw caution to the wind and quickly scooped her up into his arms, rocking her back and forth in an effort to soothe her mysterious ailment. Meanwhile, he ran all the diagnostic spells he knew, but found no evidence of any curse or physical injury. He could only hold her and wish it all away.

Lilith's heart rate decreased slowly, her spasms stopping altogether after some of the few most agonising minutes of Draco's sorry life. He sighed in relief when the ethereal glow subsided as well, feeling his soul come back into his body when she finally curled into a ball on his lap and succumbed into a deep sleep.

"Bloody hell, what the fuck happened here?"

"Hello, did you even register the fact that the bloody bird let us-"

"Hush! Where's Lilith? She could've injured herself with all these" Theo said, casting a quick Reparo to the mysterious disaster on the floor. His eyes quickly lay in the middle of the room, where a dozing Draco snored peacefully. He was sitting on the carpet, his back placed on the big settee in front of the dancing fire. On his lap, a very comfortable Lilith purred, still half-asleep.

Blaise followed the direction of his friend's gaze, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "I knew I should've bought a camera," he snickered, placing the breakfast basket on the table. After a week and a day, the unusual routine they stumbled upon was beginning to feel more natural. It was a welcome reprieve from the hostility they got from the school, a safe little haven in which they could be themselves. Blinky was very helpful and began to leave a basket ready for the three of them before every meal so the waiting time was greatly reduced, letting them spend more time together or with Lilith.

"We can go to Hogsmeade in the afternoon if you want," Theo suggested, examining the plates in search of any lingering cracks as he set the table. "Merlin knows I need a pint or a dozen after yesterday."

"How did you come in? What happened yesterday?" a zombified Draco asked while he stretched, his voice gruff. Lilith perked up at the sound, dislodging her head from her front paws before looking at him intently.

Theo and Blaise exchanged a look when they saw Lil accepting head scratches from the git, deciding to make no comments on the matter at the moment. They knew Draco would talk about their relationship development when he felt ready to. Instead, they focused on the unfinished conversation and the very important task of brewing sugary tea for three.

"Potter woke us up to interrogate us last night. Due to the previous state of the cupboard, I take he paid you a visit as well?" Blaise inquired in between bites of toast.

"Yeah, but that wasn't him. That was actually the Weasel'' Draco spat out, lovingly placing Lilith on the floor before accioing her plate. "What's for her today?"

"Chicken, but don't evade. What did he ask you about?" Theo stared as Draco fixed her breakfast, discomfort evident on his face.

The silence stretched on. It wasn't until the three of them were sitting down that he found the courage to speak.

"Potter wanted to know if I'd seen anything suspicious. He asked where I was on Sunday and if I knew anything about Flint."

Theo shuddered. "I'd completely forgotten about that tosser's existence."

Marcus Flint had joined the Death Eaters shortly after Draco had been forced to take the Mark. He, unlike Draco, was very proud of it and frequently boasted about his crimes towards muggles and muggleborns. He was ruthless, one of the most commited new recruits and, as such, swiftly climbed the ranks until he just about reached Voldemort's inner circle.

They were frequently on missions together. He could see firsthand how the most vile curses left his wand and striked his victims without a second thought. He had mastered unforgivables easily while Draco struggled with a simple Crucio. He enjoyed every single revel, always taking pleasure in violently hurting the muggles they captured, especially women. Draco knew Flint had noticed how he always skipped them, but never let Voldemort know. That was the only thing he could be grateful for.

After the Battle of Hogwarts, he, a bunch of young Death Eaters and a few stray older ones narrowly avoided capture and had been on the run since.

"It was almost the same for us" Blaise mused, cocking his head in thought. "Although, instead of asking for him he asked about Granger, Molly Weasley and McGonagall."

Draco's head jerked up. "The Weasel also mentioned his mother, but I thought he was delusional" he muttered, side-eyeing the cupboard. "What does McGonagall have to do with all this? Isn't she at the Ministry now?"

Blaise pursed his lips and shaked his head. "I don't think so, Drake." He then proceeded to reach into the pockets of his robe and engorgioing a freshly printed magazine.

"Take a look at the article on page five. It's today's issue."

Draco reached out, lifting a single eyebrow when he read the title of the tabloid. "Again with The Quibbler?"

Theo scoffed. "Let me remind you from where we got the real information during the war, you git. Just because it has the sporadic article about nargles doesn't mean it's not useful!"

"Okay, okay, I'll read it" Draco smirked, lifting his hands in surrender as Blaise covered his mouth to suppress his sniggers.

Theo had always been defensive of the magazine and its author's daughter, Luna Lovegood. Both Blaise and Theo knew he harbored a mad crush for her, but they could never get him to admit it. Instead, they just let him fool himself that he did it because 'it was the right thing to do.'

His amusement was short-lived, however, once he began reading the aforementioned article.

Mysterious Disappearances in Our Wizarding World

It's been four months since the defeat of the Dark. Wizarding Britain has been slowly but steadily bringing itself back to life with the help of valuable members from our own community. War criminals are being trialed, buildings are being repaired and Hogwarts students went back to school on September 1st, ready for a Carrow-free school year, including the many First Years who were not able to join under Voldemort's reign.

However, where there's light there will always be shadows. Members of the Order of the Phoenix have been disappearing, one by one, starting with our very own Hermione Granger. Other key figures such as Minerva McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hestia Jones and Molly Weasley have also gone missing, despite what the Prophet and other official institutions want to make us think.

Our sources say the Ministry prefers to lay low so as not to alert the general public and cause mass panic. There's a vast recovery effort underway, so we hope they can be found safe and sound. Please keep an eye out for the following faces, and keep in mind they may have been glamoured to prevent recognition.

At the bottom of the page, five photographs, one for each person, smiled at Draco from the paper.

He swallowed the lump in his throat as he took a long look at Granger's picture. Sighing, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

"I know I told you I'd never ask for any favours ever again on Sixth Year-" he started dryly, but Blaise and Theo interrupted his speech by placing their hands on his arms in their ever-present display of support.

"Mate," Blaise whispered, "consider it done."