Chapter 6

"Is anyone home?" Draco called as he shut the front door behind him. "Bill? Harry?"

"In the kitchen," Bill called back, and Draco made his way down the corridor with a grin, pleased that there was someone he could share his news with.

"Guess what? "I've just – oh," he stopped, entering the kitchen and seeing Molly Weasley sitting at the table with Bill. "Hello Mrs Weasley."

"Hello Draco, dear. Please call me Molly, I'm not a great fan of formality.

"Molly," Draco echoed with a polite smile. "What brings you here?"

"Just checking up on my eldest, restocking the cupboards in this place I must say, it's a lot cleaner than I'm used to seeing it."

"Draco's a very useful house elf," Bill said with a grin, and Draco resisted the urge to poke his tongue out at the man. "You sounded like you had news?"

"Hm?" Draco asked, momentarily distracted by what else tongues were useful for. "Oh…I got a job."

"That's great news!"

"Yes, well done, dear," Molly beamed.

"It's nothing to get too excited about," Draco said, feeling embarrassed. "I've managed to pick up some shifts at the dodgy pub at the end of the street. It's just cash in hand, but – "

"Every little helps," Bill said gently. "Good for you."

Bill's quiet approval was unexpected and it sent a comforting warmth through Draco's body. He knew a few shifts at a questionable pub didn't amount to much, but it was something he had achieved and the wages would give him a small degree of independence.

"Do we have to teach you how to make cocktails?" Bill asked.

"Warm beer and stale crisps is about as far as that place stretches. I don't think I'm in any danger."

"Well I certainly hope you won't be working this coming Saturday," Molly said with a smile.

"Oh?" Draco asked, feeling a strange sense of dread creep over him.

"We're having a little get-together for Harry's birthday. I do hope you'll join us."

"I – " Draco began.

"It would mean a lot to Harry to have you there," Bill said softly.

"Well," Draco said, his mouth feeling dry, "of course I'd be happy to come. Thank you for the invitation."

"Glad that's settled," said Molly, "Saturday at The Burrow for lunch."

"Can I bring anything? Or perhaps help with – "

"You just bring yourself," Molly replied, getting up from the table, "and this one of course," she added gesturing to Bill. "Oh, by the way, how are you getting on with those recipes?" she asked as she shuffled into her coat.

"Oh…very well, thank you," Draco said, embarrassed that he hadn't thanked the woman for them before now. "It was kind of you to – "

"Oh don't mention it, I was happy to help. It's about time this one learnt how to cook," Molly said, jostling Bill's shoulder.

"I don't need to now, I have Draco," Bill said smugly. "He's becoming a decent chef."

"Don't you be taking advantage!" Molly scolded. "Draco isn't here to cater to your needs."

Well, that was an interesting mental image, Draco thought as he tried not to indulge too much. He made the mistake of making eye contact with Bill, and the man had the audacity to smirk at him. Bill would be the death of him.

"I'll be on my way then. I'll see you both on Saturday," Molly said with a smile before she disapparated away.

"You up for it?" Bill asked, and Draco looked at him in confusion. "Facing the whole Weasley clan," Bill elaborated.

"Piece of cake," Draco replied with a confidence he didn't possess.

"Well, I'll be around to make sure you don't choke on it."

Of course, Draco was thoroughly less than pleased at the prospect of spending an afternoon with the whole Weasley family, but he had little choice. It was Harry's birthday, after all, and Harry had been the friend he had sorely been in need of over the last few months. Bill had also been nothing but decent to him and he wouldn't have given the man any offence by refusing to spend time with his family.

Still, he would be lying if he said he wasn't worried. He had a chequered past with the Weasleys especially Ron, and he had no idea how Ginny felt about that little stunt his father had pulled all those years ago. Neither Bill nor Harry would let anything happen, he knew that, but that didn't mean that the whole ordeal wouldn't be thoroughly unpleasant.

He pushed it to the back of his mind for the rest of the week. He had a good distraction with his first couple of shifts at the pub, which was an experience Draco had never imagined himself having. He caught on quickly enough; pulling pints wasn't difficult, but he knew he would have to toughen up to deal with the clientele.

So far there hadn't been too much trouble, but Draco knew that all too soon they would be trying to test the new boy. He stuck out like a sore thumb with his delicate bone structure and pale hair, and his knowledge of muggles was limited at best. At least the muggles who frequented the pub were fairly basic souls. As long as the beer kept flowing and the cigarette machine worked, they were happy.

The pub was a dump, no doubt about it. In between serving shifty customers, Draco tried his best to clean it. He used a little surreptitious magic in his endeavours, when he was sure no one was looking, and tried his best to at least keep the floor from getting sticky. As jobs went, he could certainly do better, but it was cash in hand and it felt good to have a little money that was solely his own.

He used his first paypacket to buy himself a few new clothes. He couldn't afford anything fancy, but there were a few charity shops nearby and he found a couple of pairs of jeans and some shirts all for under £30. He hadn't worn robes in a long time and he wasn't sure exactly when he would next get the opportunity.

"Nice togs," Bill said, entering the hallway where Draco was examining his reflection in the mirror.

"Nice what?"

"Clothes," Bill said with a smile.

"Ah, I have yet to learn how to speak commoner," Draco replied, grinning when Bill gave his shoulder a shove.

"So, are you ready to face the family?"

"Don't make it sound like that," Draco said with a wince.

"It'll be fine. My family aren't that scary. Actually," Bill added thoughtfully, "they really are. I mean, the twins alone are enough to give you nightmares, and you do not want to see my mother angry. Of course, Gin's small but powerful, she's a force to be reckoned with. Then – "

"Bill," Draco said through gritted teeth, "you're not bloody helping."

"Sorry," Bill said with an apologetic smile. "Are you ready to go?"

"I don't think I have a choice. I fully believe that your mother will come and drag me there by my ear if I don't show up."

"Highly likely, I'm afraid."

Bill held out his hand and Draco tried to keep the smile from his face as he took it. Bill pulled him closer and Draco braced his hands on the man's chest. He was encircled in Bill's arms and he couldn't deny that he was enjoying it. He had to find reasons to apparate with Bill more often.

A quick pop, a shifting of reality, and Draco opened his eyes to find himself standing outside the oddest-looking building he had ever seen. They were in the middle of the countryside, the sun shining brightly as green hills rolled gently in the distance. The house itself was undoubtedly magical, levels and extensions cobbled together with architectural charms.

"I know it's not what you're used to," Bill said beside him.

"Let's not go there," Draco said with a sigh. "I'd rather be here than at the manor, that's for sure."

He felt Bill's hand settle on his shoulder and he turned to face the man with a wan smile. Bill squeezed his shoulder gently and said,

"Sounds like everyone's round in the back. Let's go and join them."

Draco nodded and followed as Bill led him through to the back garden. Everyone was indeed there, some gathered around the large tables of food, others sitting on the blankets dotted here and there. There were people there besides the Weasleys, and Draco recognised several Order members, his cousin included. She waved to him as she spotted his arrival, and he returned it awkwardly.

"Fancy something to drink?" Bill asked.

"Yes please, whatever's going," Draco replied, hoping that Bill took that to mean something alcoholic.

"Back in a sec."

Bill disappeared towards the house and Draco felt immediately exposed without the man by his side. He moved a little further into the garden and tried to steady his nerves. He knew he was in no danger, but that didn't mean that the whole thing wouldn't be hideously uncomfortable.

"Malfoy," came a voice behind him, and he turned to see Ginny standing behind him, her arms folded.

"Ginny," he said with a nod. He had decided that first names would be better; after all, it was ludicrous to use the name 'Weasley' when half the people in attendance would reply.

"Never thought I'd see you here."

"No. Me neither," Draco replied, finding it impossible to read the girl's body language.

"You and I have something in common."

"We do?" Draco asked uncertainly.

Ginny nodded and said, "We both think your father's a bastard."

Draco laughed before he could stop himself, and Ginny's face broke into a grin. "You're better off without him," she said.

"I'm starting to think so."

"Doesn't make it any easier, I guess. I can't imagine what you're going through."

He hadn't expected sympathy, least of all from her, and it threw him. He had been prepared to be combative, to be defensive, but he didn't know how to react to Ginny's kindness.

"It…it could be a lot worse," he said eventually. "In a lot of ways I've landed on my feet."

"You don't mind living with Harry and my brother then?"

"I'm getting used to it."

She gave him a strangely knowing smile, then said, "Come on, Harry's over here. I think Ron and Hermione are too."

"Oh joy," Draco said before he could stop himself.

"I know you and Ron don't see eye-to-eye, but he really has grown up a lot in the last year."

"I suppose we all have," Draco said with a sigh.

They approached one of the picnic blankets, and Draco saw that Harry was lounging in the middle of it, Ron and Hermione leaning against the tree next to it and Neville, of all people, sitting cross-legged with a book in his lap.

"Found a straggler," Ginny said, flopping down on the blanket.

"Hey Draco," Harry said with a smile, cracking his eyes open.

"Hi," he said awkwardly, sitting down and trying to ignore the fact that all eyes were on him. "Busy couple of days?" he asked, as Harry hadn't been home since the previous Wednesday.

"Birthday celebrations, mostly," Harry replied, and Draco felt a little stab of hurt that he hadn't been included. "I've been staying here too, taking advantage of Molly's need to mother me."

"Shameless," Bill said as he sat down beside Draco, handing him a beer. Draco took it with a nod of thanks and downed a healthy glug, already wishing that the day was over.

"How goes the job?" Harry asked, and Draco tried not to let his defences go up all at once.

"What job?" Ron asked, looking as though he'd sensed a sore spot.

"I'm working at the pub down the road from Grimmauld," Draco replied uncomfortably.

"You? Working in a pub?" Ron said, obviously amused.

"What job have you managed to land yourself, Ron?" Bill asked, a certain bite to his voice.

"I haven't – " Ron began, but Bill cut him off.

"You haven't got a job because you're still living at home with your parents, getting looked after. Frankly, if you were spit out into the real world tomorrow I'm not sure you'd do half so well as Draco has."

Draco's eyes went to his lap. He didn't know where to look, nor how to react to Bill's defence of him. He hadn't expected such heartfelt words, and he truly appreciated them, but he didn't want to be the source of any tension between Bill and his family.

"Oh get off your high horse," Ron said with a snort. "It's just funny to think of Malfoy pulling pints. I can't imagine it somehow."

"Well," said Draco, raising his head, "stop by sometime and I'll demonstrate. I can't promise that a healthy dose of spit won't find its way into your drink though."

Ron grinned and said, "There's the git we all know and despise. And hey, I actually think it's kind of cool, especially if you give us a few free drinks."

"No chance. I'm not risking my already miniscule pay by slipping you free alcohol."

"Baby," Ron said, rolling his eyes, and Draco didn't miss the look that passed between Harry and Bill, one of relief and a strange sort of approval.

The conversation shifted and Draco listened as the others spoke of their plans now they were out of school. Everyone was in a strange state of limbo, knowing that nothing could really start while the war loomed over their heads. Things were stepping up, they were all aware of it, and they would have their parts to play.

Ginny, who still had her 7th year to complete, was frustrated by the notion that she was being left behind, but she also had enough maturity to know that desiring to be part of a war wasn't a sensible thing to do. Draco had never really talked to Ginny in the past, apart from to hurl the odd insult her way, but, as he sat and listened to her speak, he realised that he would like to get to know her better.

She was very much like Bill in many ways; she was witty and confident, with a truly wicked sense of humour. She was bright and intuitive, and Draco suspected that anyone who tried to lie to her would sorely regret it.

"What NEWTs are you taking?" Draco asked her as she and Hermione were discussing effective study methods.

"That's a hell of a list. You're not worried about burning yourself out?"

"Well, it isn't the exhaustive 12 that Percy took, but I think I'll manage."

"Gin's been top of her year for Charms since her first year," Hermione said proudly.

"Would you like to specialise?" Draco asked.

"I think I might," Ginny replied, stretching out on the blanket and giving Harry a kick to make him shift. "What about you?" she asked him. "I take it you're not planning on staying at the pub forever?"

Draco cleared his throat and felt himself falter a little under everyone's scrutiny. "I um….I think I'd like to become a Healer," he said quietly.

He waited for the others' mockery, but it never came. He looked up at them and saw Ron nod approvingly, while Hermione and Ginny smiled at him.

"I think you'd make a good Healer," Harry told him.

"That's what I've been saying," Bill said with a smile.

"Well," Draco said, feeling a little uncomfortable, "it's a long way off yet. I…I think I'll just pop and get another drink. Anyone else want anything?"

Everyone gave him their drinks order and he regretted being polite. He made his way to the house and found his way to the kitchen, stopping when he saw Molly at the sink, up to her elbows in washing up.

"Oh hello, love," she said as she spotted him hovering in the doorway.

"Hi. I was just coming to get some drinks."

"Help yourself, sweetheart," she said, gesturing to the array of drinks on the table opposite.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Can I help you?"

"Oh, no thank you. Don't you worry yourself."

"Please, I'd like to. You've done all this work, you shouldn't be stuck with the clean-up too."

"Sweetheart, that isn't – "

"I'll do some drying," he said, stepping forward and grabbing a tea towel. He reached for a pan from the drainer and Molly smiled at him.

"Five minutes and then you go back out to join the others."

Draco nodded and set about his task while Molly continued to wash. He glanced around the kitchen, taking in the ramshackle quality of the place. A few months ago, he would have died rather than spend any time there, but now he could appreciate the charm that The Burrow held, and the warmth and memories that were housed within its walls.

The manor had never possessed warmth of any kind. It held few precious memories and Draco realised that it had never really been a home. There had never been a family life there, not like the Weasleys had, and Draco felt, not for the first time, that he had missed out on something that he would never get to experience.

"How are you doing, dear?" Molly asked, glancing sideways at him.

"Fine, I have dried dishes before," he answered with a smile.

"You know what I mean," she said gently.

He sighed and said, "Better than I expected, in all honesty. I keep…expecting to miss home…but it turns out that there isn't anything left to miss."

"Nothing?"

He shook his head. "It's just…a place…a place that exists in my memory now. It's part of my past."

"That still makes it important."

"I know, but…you can't go back, I guess. I…haven't told the others, but…a while ago I received a letter from my father's solicitor," he trailed off, remembering how it had felt to receive the official missive.

"Nothing good, I take it?"

"No," Draco said quietly. "I've been disinherited, stripped of the Malfoy name. I was expecting it, it was inevitable, but – "

"It doesn't make it hurt any less," Molly said knowingly.

"I wish I didn't care," Draco said, glancing out of the window, watching as the others laughed and talked. He envied them their carefree laughter, the sense of security they felt around those who loved and cherished them. "I wish I didn't mean so little to my parents."

"Draco, it isn't my place to say so, but they don't deserve the title of parents," Molly said forcefully, and Draco looked at her in surprise. "Parents stand by their children no matter what, they love them through good times and bad. A parent would shift heaven and earth to save their child from pain, and they would lay down their own life before they would see their child hurt."

Draco felt tears prick his eyes and he looked away before Molly could see them. He sniffed and swallowed hard, trying to compose himself. "I hope…" he said, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat and tried again, "I hope your children realise how lucky they are to have you. I wish my own mother had been half the mother you are."

Unable to look at Molly, Draco placed the tea towel on the work surface and left the kitchen without looking back. Out in the garden, he realised he hadn't got any of the drinks he had said he would, but there was no way he could go back inside, not when his emotions were dangling by a thread as it was.

"You were taking such a long time, I thought you might have got lost," came Bill's voice, and Draco turned to see him approaching.

"I…I was helping your mum," Draco said, trying to compose himself.

"She didn't trap you, did she?" Bill asked, an apologetic note to his voice.

"No," Draco said softly, "it was nice to talk to her. She's…she's a wonderful woman."

"Ah, she must have fed you," Bill said with a teasing smile.

"Yeah," Draco said, forcing a smile, "something like that. Would…would you mind grabbing the drinks? I…I forgot them."

"Sure. Is everything ok?" Bill asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Fine," Draco lied. "I'll come and join you in a minute."

He gave another unconvincing smile then headed off towards the river. Snatches of everyone's conversations washed over him and he let the noise comfort him for a moment. It was a hollow comfort really; it only served to remind him that he wasn't really part of this strange little world.

All the people present in the garden were connected somehow, they were all family in one form or another. He was an outsider, as much as people kept making assertions to the contrary. He wanted to belong, but he couldn't shake the feeling that people were only associating with him out of pity. Harry, the Weasleys, the Order members, they were all good people and they acted out of a sense of right rather than any true feeling for him.

Admitting to Molly that he had been disinherited had brought a rush of feeling that he hadn't been prepared for. He belonged nowhere, he had no one, not that he had ever truly had anything resembling family in the first place. Molly's words about parents had hit home, and he realised that he had never truly known what family was.

"We're going to play a few rounds of quidditch, if you're interested," Harry said, coming to join him at the river.

"Maybe later," Draco said, continuing to look forward.

"Come on, we need another decent Seeker," Harry pressed.

Draco snorted and said, "I was only on the team because my father bought my way onto it. I never really even cared about quidditch that much…I don't even support a team."

"You're still a good player, and you could still come and enjoy yourself now."

"The others don't want me there," Draco said, hating the note of petulance he could hear in his voice.

"Well, it was Ginny who suggested you, so – "

"Harry, just leave it for now. I'm here under sufferance, I'm aware of that."

Harry frowned, and Draco recognised the stubborn look in the boy's eyes. "You're here because I wanted you to be here. You're here because you're my friend."

"Friend," Draco echoed derisively.

"If you want to be. I'm not going to keep having the same conversation over and over with you, trying to convince you that I care, that you have people you can depend on. You're going to have to figure that out on your own, I can't keep trying to persuade you. I understand that I will take time, but one day you're going to have to pull your head out of your arse."

"You have such a way with words," Draco said, rolling his eyes, but still feeling his cheeks heat.

"I'm not going to beg," Harry said softly. "Come and join us if you want to."

He turned to leave and Draco reached out to grab his arm. "I…" he said awkwardly, feeling embarrassed. "Here," he said, reaching into his pocket and handing Harry a small box.

"What's this?"

"Birthday present. Sorry it's not much, but I…I don't have a lot – "

"Ooh! Cornish sea salt truffles!" Harry exclaimed, and Draco was relieved to see that the boy's smile seemed genuine.

"I didn't really know what to get you, but there's this company that hand-make them and I always really…" he trailed off, realising he was rambling. "Well…I hope you like them."

"Thank you," Harry said with a bright smile. "If you're very lucky I might even share them with you."

"You don't maintain this flawless complexion by eating chocolate," Draco told him imperiously.

"You're such a knob," Harry said with a laugh. "I'm going to go and get the game started. You know you're welcome if you change your mind."

Draco watched him go, feeling irritated with himself that he hadn't decided to join in the game. Now he'd refused, his pride wouldn't let him change his mind, so he would just have to sit and watch the others have fun. It was true that he didn't really have any interest in quidditch, but it might have been interesting to play a friendly game.

"Harry might give up that easily, but I don't," came Bill's voice in his ear, just as he felt the man's hand settle on his waist.

"What – "

"You're coming to play with us," Bill said, and Draco felt a gentle tug around his middle as the man guided him towards the makeshift pitch out in the adjacent field.

"But – "

"No arguments. We've got a Seeker!" Bill announced as they joined the others, and Draco felt the comforting hand leave his waist.

"Brill!" said Ginny with a grin. "Draco, you're on my team. Bill, pick a side."

"I'm not playing against you, I'll be on yours."

Draco was handed a broom, a very old, not terribly efficient one, but he was confident enough in his skills to think that he could make it work for him. Soon, they were all up in the air, listening as Harry and Ginny gave them instructions.

It wasn't long before his instincts took over and soon he was flying as skilfully as he always had. The broom was a little difficult to handle and was nowhere near as responsive as his old ones had been, but eventually he got the hang of it.

Ginny was an effective captain, and Draco could tell that she was fiercely competitive. He could see why Bill had no desire to be on the opposing team to her. After a little while, Draco realised that he was actually enjoying himself. He had never played a game of quidditch that didn't matter, a game that his father wouldn't punish him for not winning.

He felt himself smiling and laughing, feeling more carefree than he had done in months. He was having fun and feeling surprisingly unselfconscious about doing so. No one was judging him, no one was mocking him, they were all simply enjoying themselves and he was part of it.

In the end, Harry's team won, but it didn't matter. Draco swooped down to the ground and was immediately gathered to Bill's side in a one-armed hug.

"You play almost as well as you fight," Bill said with a grin. "I'm glad we were on the same side."

Feeling bold and exhilarated from the game, Draco deliberately pressed himself closer and said, "You should count fortunate to have me."

"I do, Mr Malfoy. I do."

AN: Sorry for the slight delay in posting, my lovelies, but I have been SO sick. I honestly don't think I've ever been this ill before and my husband has it too, so we're just shuffling around trying to look after one another! It's honestly horrendous.

Anyway, hope you like this chapter. There's a slight chance I might not post next week as I'll be on holiday, but I'm sure you can live without me for a week :)