There were only a few things Draco was sure of in this world, and they were as followed;
The Dark Lord was a megalomaniac who would most likely be the death of him.
He would do everything in his power to keep those he loved safe.
If it wasn't the Dark Lord that killed him it would be Theodore Nott.
Death caused by Theo had always been a strong possibility, but as he watched him appear in their living room with Granger, Longbottom and Lovegood in tow, pleading their homelessness case it finally became a certainty. There was not a substance, healer or obliviate strong enough to erase the stress caused by being friends with Theo and Draco found himself, not for the first time, cursing the deep brotherhood they shared. His life would be so much easier if he could hate him, but unfortunately he was family, and rule two meant he would do anything for him.
He had apparated back home within minutes of hearing they had been kicked out of the Order and Theo volunteering his home to them. Like hell was that a conversation he had wished to carry on, but in typical Theo style he didn't take the hint and had appeared with the three in tow right in the middle of their living room.
He had often thought he must have been someone responsible for a mass genocide in a past life, that could be the only reason he was being constantly tortured in this one - Karma is a bitch afterall. However he wasn't sure how past-life Draco could have done anything bad enough to deserve this torment.
Those puppy dog eyes Theo was giving him weren't helping, and it was ridiculous that someone as cunning as the curly haired Slytherin could possibly look so innocent, and even more ridiculous that despite knowing him Draco still found it difficult to deny him when he gave him that look.
"Draco, they've been thrown out for what they've been doing, and we are part of that! It's only right they come stay with us!" Theo pleaded, but behind him the three past Order members looked like they wished he would stop talking as much as Draco did. Granger's eyes were trained on the ground, and he couldn't help thinking it looked like she was willing for it to open up and swallow her.
The teenage version of himself buried deep inside felt a slight bit of joy over the Golden Girl needing his help. How the times have changed.
Realising he had been silently studying her instead of answering Theo, he quickly averted his eyes and ran his hand down his face.
"I wasn't aware we were running an open house for the lost and hopeless Theo." He tried his best to add a bite to his tone.
"Well what the hell else would you call us?" Blaise chuckled as he entered the room looking far too chilled out about their three visitors, "Hardly the epitome of people who have their shit together are we?"
"Speak for yourself" Pansy added as she appeared beside Blaise.
"Where the fuck did you two come from? Was there some sort of fucking invite sent out?" Draco grumbled, "Swear to Merlin, don't even know why you guys pretend to care about my input."
Why did I ever let any of them come here… Forever teaming up on me for fuck sake.
It wasn't that Draco still felt the same resentment for the "diamond trio" as he used to, but he wasn't exactly a fan of them either. He enjoyed getting under their skin, enjoyed being able to both verbally and physically spar with Granger just to prove he could still keep up with her. But he was certain that if the two of them were to share a space they would never survive, and even if Hermione was without a wand he didn't fancy his chances against her.
How would he be able to enjoy his morning coffee with Longbottom giving him a death glare across the room? Or cope with Lovegood putting random items around his space to ward off whatever random creature she decided to invent? Not to mention the amount of sharp objects he would have to throw out just so he didn't have to sleep with one eye open, the risk of Granger impaling him on a bread knife while he slept was just too high.
"No invite, I just have this sixth sense as to when there's an opening to annoy you darling." Pansy said, wearing a smirk that was far too familiar.
"Same, it's the gift that just keeps giving." Blaise agreed.
He heard Granger and Neville snickering and it took all his willpower to ignore it, after all you shouldn't kick someone while they're down no matter how much you really wanted to. He liked to think he was a little bit more mature now, even if the temptation was strong.
"Perhaps it is a touch of sight?" Luna spoke for the first time, "Unfortunate though if that's all you can see with it, most seers have visions of things a bit more important…."
As Luna trailed off, looking lost in thought, Blaise shot her a grin and nudged Pansys arm "She hasn't been around Draco long enough to realise just how great a gift it really is clearly."
Draco was determined not to rise to the bait, and deciding enough was enough he headed out to the balcony for a cigarette. They could either agree or disagree to having some new roommates between themselves, he would not be the entertainment for this evening. After all the property may technically be his, but in everything bar paper it was home for all four of them.
It was while he was about to light his second cigarette that he heard the balcony door slide open then closed again, expecting Theo to be coming to plead his case some more he didn't bother to turn round. So he was startled when he heard a very distinct voice, one that had annoyed him to no end during his younger years constantly calling out answers just before he did.
"Do you have a lighter?" Hermione asked him, and he turned slightly to see her searching her pockets, a cigarette hung between her lips.
He raised his eyebrow at her, forgetting for a moment she didn't have a wand before he waved his and lit it for her. She had a longing look in her eyes as she watched him reholster the wand, and for a split second he almost felt sorry for her and her inability to feel the magic run from your veins straight into the wand. He had grown up with magic, always been surrounded by it, and it was almost unfathomable to imagine a life without it. The sympathy lasted for a split second, just until she nodded her thanks and he remembered just who was standing beside him.
"So, they kicked you out?" He asked.
She took a long drag of her smoke before she responded "Lupin was almost as dramatic as you were with the hippogriff."
He pushed away the smile that was threatening to pull at his mouth, fully aware of his theatrics back in the day, and still completely unashamed that it had earned him his first kiss from Pansy.
"Highly doubt it was done with as much style as I did." He replied, and Hermione was clearly shocked that he hadn't made some sort of rude remark instead.
After a few moments she threw the butt of her cigarette away and then lent against the railing.
"Oh I can confirm you are definitely better at the theatrics." The cheeky bint actually laughed at her own response, "Didn't make it suck any less though. They turned on us for doing what they couldn't to protect them, and used Harry as an excuse to do absolutely nothing when I was the one who actually knew him. Well I say they, the reality is Lupin wouldn't let us argue our case and now Merlin knows what he's told the others… "
She trailed off, almost seeming to be thinking out loud rather than actually intending to tell him anything. For the first time in all the years he had been around Granger he saw a flicker of vulnerability behind her eyes, the determination, strength and fight normally there was gone and he hated it. He didn't like Granger, she was second in line to Potter as the most annoying person he had ever met, but he damn well detested that look in her eyes at that moment.
Feeling completely uncomfortable he stubbed the end of his cigarette and opened the balcony door. It was only then he realised the group inside had moved so they had a view out onto the balcony, no doubt to make sure neither one of the occupants shoved the other over the railings.
"Fuck! Luna wins. Really thought they'd at least argue." Theo whispered so loudly he might as well have shouted.
"Subtly as always." Neville replied, shaking his head in amusement.
Of course they weren't watching us for our safety, the assholes have been betting on us.
Deciding it wasn't even worth calling them out on their gambling problems he turned and placed his hand on the handle of the balcony door. Just before closing it he caught sight of Hermione as she stared off into the distance, something clearly took possession of his mouth as before he knew it be turned to those in the living room leaving the door open so she could hear him.
"If there is really nowhere else you can all go then I guess you will have to stay. I'm keeping my room though, the rest of you can figure something out."
Luna and Theo started to excitedly talk about room arrangements while Neville offered a thank you that sounded like it physically pained him to say, but he wasn't interested at all in their responses. He wasn't even sure why he had agreed in the first place, perhaps he had finally lost the last strains of his sanity.
Taking in the group of people he now shared a home with it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that he had in fact been driven to insanity.
It was as he poured himself a large measure of fire whiskey and looked up to see Granger offer him a small smile that he realised that the sadness he had seen earlier wasn't obvious any more. For some reason, one he would later rationalise as the firewhiskey (despite the fact it hadn't touched his lips yet), seeing the spark back in her eyes made him feel a little more content with his decision.
If anyone asked he would absolutely deny it, but he definitely preferred when the lioness shone through them.