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Draco Malfoy: His Past, Present and Dreams of the Future

Former Death Eater Tells All!

Harry almost fell over when he read the headline of the Prophet as he walked to work. He had never subscribed to the damn paper, resenting how often they still mentioned him, making up stories if need be. It felt like committing a crime to pull money out of his pocket to actually buy a copy.

He wasn't the only one. Everywhere he looked, it seemed like every adult was avidly reading the article.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck...

What would Draco say about their history together? Would he mention dating? Would he talk about his new business?

Not caring that he'd be late for work, Harry detoured into a park and sat on a bench, needing to be on his own to absorb this. Taking a deep breath, Harry started reading.

...

Draco Malfoy, 28, is a man with a plan. After spending a decade living and working with muggles, he is ready to come back to the wizarding world.

But he has learned a lot from his self-imposed exile. "I grew up with a very narrow view on the world. Traveling and needing to adapt to a wide variety of situations opened my eyes. I met people from all walks of life, and actually listened to what they had to say."

Malfoy is the only child of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa (Black) Malfoy, active Death Eaters in both wizarding wars. Draco had little choice but to follow in their footsteps as a teenager. But by the end of the war, even his parents were disillusioned by the Dark Lord, as they called Voldemort.

"My parents left during the middle of the Battle at Hogwarts. I think they saw how close I had come to being killed," Draco said, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "My mother and I would probably be in Azkaban if it wasn't for the testimony of some members of the other side. I am so grateful for that."

Unfortunately, his father went to the wizard prison and died there three years later. His mother, like many Death Eaters who survived the war, left the country to live abroad.

"Despite everything, I miss my parents. My father never saw me as an adult. I hope he would be proud of me now," Draco adds. "I have kept in touch with my mother with letters, and visited her when I could afford it."

Once among our wealthiest families, the post war reclamation payments forced his family to sell the manor that had been in his family for generations and left them penniless. Draco escaped to work in the muggle world, where he wasn't recognized.

"I was completely helpless at first, dealing with their technology," Draco chuckles, running a hand through his hair. "The telephone would ring at work, and all the muggles would stare at me, urging me to pick up the receiver, and I'd be giving them back a blank look. They must have thought I was a complete idiot."

This open, self-deprecating Draco Malfoy of today is much different than Draco of his youth. "It's embarrassing now to think back on how awful I was then. I was racist against anyone who wasn't Pureblood, and took great pleasure in bullying others. It was more than just being a Slytherin. I thought my actions were justified."

When asked what caused him to change, Draco takes a minute to consider it. "Losing everything, living paycheque to paycheque, taking horrible jobs just to survive. The first couple years were awful. Then I met compassionate people who helped pull me out of the muck. I was bitter and lost, but I eventually started taking a good look at how the world really was. My eyes were fully open for the first time."

When asked what type of work he has been doing the past decade, Draco gives a dismissive wave. "Anything and everything. Eventually, working as a barista in a cafe next to a huge used bookstore. It really was my salvation."

Draco goes on to explain that he didn't have much money to do things in his off hours, so he started reading muggle books. Many of the cafe patrons were also avid readers, giving him book suggestions. "It was like an informal university degree. I read books on every topic. Great literature to pulp fiction."

Clearly passionate about the topic, his plans for his new business on Diagon Alley make complete sense. "I am opening a huge bookstore, packed full of new and used books. Muggle and wizarding."

Under construction now, Draco hopes it will open in three weeks. "Next to the shop, there is a cafe that a friend will run, and I will be holding frequent special events there in the evenings. Book signings with prominent authors, panel discussions about hot topics. I want it to be a forum for ideas to safely and openly be discussed and debated. 'Openness of mind strengthens the truth in us and removes the dross from it, if there is any.'"

When asked about his recent nightclub sightings, Draco just shrugs with a small smirk. "Hey, I'm still a relatively young man, and want to go out and have fun. It has been good spending time reconnecting with old friends, getting to meet new ones. Seeing if there are any good gay bars."

Unapologetic about his bold fashion sense or his sexuality, Draco seems like the ideal of the millennial wizard. A self-made man, ready to take on new ventures and challenge old ideas.

...

Harry just stared at the moving image of Draco, leaning back to cross sinfully long legs clad in tight black jeans, a laughing smile on his handsome face. He had never looked better, the indigo blue fitted dress shirt skimming over his slim torso, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows to show a hint of his faded death eater tattoo. His hair was still the dark blond shade, but worn longer than Harry had ever seen it. A shaggy, tousled mess that suited him, and fit with the scruff of whiskers along his jaw.

The biggest difference was in Draco's expression. His easy, confident smile, and his open and friendly gaze. This was a man who knew who he was, and wasn't afraid to chase his dreams.

It was so fucking hot. Harry's heart was pounding in his chest, and he felt a bit breathless. This Draco was so different than the man he had known a few months ago. This man was passionate and so open, bravely facing up to his past and present, and telling the whole world he was here in a big, bad way, and they better just get used to it. He felt more attracted to him than ever before.

It also shocked Harry how casually Draco mentioned being gay and that the article didn't sensationalize it. Was this the same paper that had made Harry's life a living hell over his sexuality? Was it simply because Harry was 'outed' and already such a public figure? Or had his gay dating campaign all those months helped ease the way for other gay people?

The other shocking thing was that Draco didn't mention Harry at all. He didn't know if he should feel angry or relieved at that. Anyone who knew Draco at all in the past also knew that Harry was the one he fought with the most at Hogwarts. Knew he was the one whose testimony kept his mother and Draco out of prison.

Harry wasn't that surprised that Draco was opening a bookstore. It made perfect sense with the Draco he had come to know in the spring. His lies about his past work made sense. Saying he worked with muggles was easier than admitting to being a dom in a brothel.

Overall, he just felt thrown by Draco coming back this way. Tucking the newspaper into his messenger bag, Harry rushed to get to work in time. He felt confused, his thoughts full of Draco and trying to piece together how he had gone from the man Harry knew a few months ago to this new version.

Where had he been all this time? Why had he come back? What did he want?

It seemed like he was trying to make the foundation for a regular part of society, looking to have his past forgiven and forgotten, accepted by the wizarding world. Other death eaters had done it, when their past crimes weren't that bad. The rest had been imprisoned or fled the country.

Draco was brave, coming back and facing his past, showing that he had changed. Opening a business was a risky venture that depended on people accepting him, and becoming customers.

Was that why he hadn't contacted Harry? Was he so busy establishing himself and his business he didn't have time for Harry? Or was he simply not interested anymore? Either way, sooner or later, they were bound to cross paths. Harry wasn't sure if he was anticipating or dreading it.

...

Draco smiled drunkenly, and held up a bottle, toasting with his friends. Three young, attractive men were crowded around him, looking equally under the influence and just as determined to have a good time.

Harry gritted his teeth, folding his paper in half and shoving it into his bag. As he walked to work, he saw the newspaper everywhere, with people reading avidly and gossiping with their friends. It felt like a constant buzz of the words 'Draco Malfoy' being repeated everywhere he went.

Fine, the git was back. Fine, he was gay and seemed determined to be seen out with every wizard twink in the city. A few days ago, the newspaper had even had a paparazzi photo of him making out with some guy in a doorway. Fine, everyone seemed fascinated with this bad boy turned mostly good, and eagerly awaited the opening of his bookstore. Every time Harry passed the site, he saw it well on its way to being completed.

Flourish and Blotts was even trying to compete, offering big sales and repainting the outside. Harry felt bad for the business, battling against Draco's flashiness. Last week, he went in and bought a few cookbooks, even though they were magic-based. He rarely used his wand in food preparation.

He rushed now to the restaurant, knowing he was running late. A bit breathless, he sat down at the table with his friends, the last to arrive. "Sorry," Harry mumbled, grabbing his menu and burying his nose into it after a quick look around. He needed a minute to calm down, get himself together.

Ron patted his shoulder. "Let's get you some coffee right away." He waved to the server who was touring the restaurant with a full coffee pot.

As soon as the server left, Harry scooped up the large mug with both hands and savored the richness of the hot beverage. He sighed, trying to relax.

"You are upset by that picture in the Prophet, aren't you," Hermione gave him an understanding nod. "It will be good when his damn bookstore opens and the novelty of having him around wears off."

Harry shot Ron an outraged look.

Ron squirmed in his chair, his gaze shifting between Hermione and Harry. "I didn't mean to tell her! It just slipped out in conversation one time."

"Oh, you mean about Harry loving Draco Malfoy? Isn't that common knowledge?"

Three heads whipped around to look at Luna Lovegood, who was calmly spreading clotted cream over a warm scone. She looked up, a little surprised to see everyone at the table staring at her. "Come on, you must have all known. It was obvious since sixth year."

She said it so matter-of-factly, like it was a widely accepted fact that even at Hogwarts, Harry had been gay and into Draco.

"Wasn't he into Cho or Ginny back then?" Hermione wrinkled her brow, trying to think back.

Ron shrugged. "Yeah, but he still followed Draco around. Constantly."

Thumping his mug down on to the table, Harry glared at each of them in turn. "Complete bullocks. Ginny and I got together in sixth year. I didn't even realize I was gay until years later."

"Well, whatever happened at school, we know you were involved with him earlier this year," Hermione said soothingly. "Have you been in contact at all since he's been back?"

Giving a big sigh and feeling tempted to roll his eyes, Harry just shook his head. It was better to just be open about it with his closest friends. "It hurts, knowing he is so near and wants nothing to do with me."

"Maybe he's just busy with opening up his bookstore. Promotion and all that," Hermione reached across the table to give his hand a squeeze.

Ron scoffed. "Not too busy to shove his tongue down young guys' throats."

Angry flared inside Harry at the comment, and he picked up his menu. He was sure Hermione delivered a quick kick to Ron's shin under the table to shut him up, and there was an uncomfortable silence that seemed to stretch for minutes.

"So, Luna, tell us about you new jewelry line," Hermione said with an overly cheerful tone, clearly trying to rescue the gathering.

Luna followed her lead, chatting easily about the designs that incorporated charms for safety against various unseen threats.

Harry let the words flow around him, lost in his own thoughts. Great, now three people knew he had been involved with Draco. How long before it spread to others? At least Ron didn't know that Draco had been at the brothel. At least that secret was still safe.

The server came by, and took their brunch order. Harry had calmed down enough to order Eggs Benedict, and joined in the conversation once she had left.

But the one phrase that kept popping into his thoughts for the rest of the meal was Luna calmly saying 'Harry loving Draco Malfoy'. Did he love Draco in the spring? He had been obsessed with him, lusted for him, liked him as a friend. But was it love too? Did he still love him now, despite the abrupt ending and all this time apart?

...

Draco stepped up to the raised podium, smiling at the applause and cheers from the large crowd gathered in front of the completed bookstore. He looked happy and confident, wearing a fitted steel blue suit with no tie.

"Thank you all for coming to the Grand Opening of my bookstore. I hope you will come often and reap great personal rewards from the knowledge you glean from these books.

"Some books you read. Some books enjoy. But some books swallow you up, heart and soul. They can be dangerous," he paused, giving a smile that was almost a smirk. "The best ones should be labelled 'This could change your life.'"

There were some cheers and applause to that comment, and Draco grinned widely, obviously loving the reaction. "Whoever said ignorance is bliss probably died a horrible death with a really surprised look on his face."

The joke sent laughter through the crowd, and Harry could feel people being charmed by him. Aside from Draco's old friends, and new gay club pals, there were many who came out of curiosity, wanting to see Draco first hand, and judge him for themselves. Was he truly a changed man? Had he really left behind his death eater past?

Harry stood in the shadows, hood pulled up to conceal his face. He couldn't have stayed away even if he tried. He was asking himself the same questions.

"In all the reading I've done the past decade, I want to share a line that has really stuck with me," Draco pulled out a piece of paper from his inner breast pocket. "It is from an nineteenth century American, Robert Ingersoll. 'Give me the storm and tempest of thought and action, rather than the dead calm of ignorance and faith! Banish me from Eden when you will; but first let me eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge!'"

Draco delivered the words with conviction and passion, lifting his wand to remove the obscuring spell from the sign above the store's double doors. The words 'Tempest Books' were revealed, in bold swirling text. On the right side of the sign were the stylized carvings of a stack of hardcover books with an apple perched on the top. A snake was curled beside it, it's tail twisted possessively around the base of the apple.

"Go now and read widely. Read books about all topics, with differing viewpoints. Learn as much as you can about the world. Slay ignorance and blind faith in outdated ideas! Challenge everything."

Draco pointed his wand at the doors, and they swung open dramatically. The crowd surged forward, jostling to be among the first in the bookstore. Harry saw many people he knew, including Hermione dragging along Ron.

Harry hung back in his shadow, letting the crowd disappear. His eyes were on Draco, drinking him in. It was the first time he had seen him with his own eyes since that trip.

Draco was chatting with his supporters, accepting many congratulatory handshakes and backslaps. He was smiling, his wide, friendly smile. The 'I've got nothing to hide, you can trust me' one. A wolf posing as a lamb?

Even as the thought occurred to Harry, he was dismissing it. He knew firsthand that Draco had changed. They had been together too much, talked too intimately, for that all to have been a ruse. And Harry doubted that anything that bad had happened to Draco to change him too drastically while he had been away. He thought Draco had likely gone to his mother's initially, and then found another place to quietly live while he figured things out. He now had the money to do almost anything he wanted, to start new anywhere.

Somehow, he had decided to open the bookstore on Diagon Alley, and do his best to become a part of the wizarding world again. Despite feeling hurt that Draco hadn't contacted him, Harry grudgingly acknowledged to himself that Draco was doing things right. His publicity campaign had reset his image in the public, and they were giving him a chance. Maybe Harry should just do that too.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by feeling someone staring at him. Looking around, he realized Draco was looking straight his way, even across the wide street. Seeing him despite the hood and shadows.

Cursing to himself for not disguising his features or using the Invisibility Cloak, Harry shrank back into a nearby alley. Draco took a couple steps his way, but was stopped by an older wizard's hand on his arm. He turned, engaging in some heated comments, and Harry slipped away while his attention was diverted.

...

Harry found he was breathing fast, his heart pounding, when he apparated into his house. Was it just seeing each other again, or the excitement of his escape? They were bound to cross paths occasionally, and he needed to find a way to be calmer about it. He probably should have just gone into the store with everyone else, just another face in the crowd. Maybe even shaken Draco's hand and congratulate him too. Diffused the tension between them. Let the past be in the past.

Yeah right...

Harry scoffed, and threw off the long cloak. He didn't know what to do with all this restless energy thrumming through his body. He considered relaxing in a hot bath, but it had no appeal. Getting drunk on firewhiskey? Nah. Running upstairs, he changed into some old comfortable clothes and went down to his fireplace, throwing in a pinch of floo powder and putting his face into the green flames.

"Dean?" He called out, just seeing an empty living room.

It took a couple minutes, but Dean soon appeared, giving him a big smile. "Harry! Good to see you!"

Harry felt relieved. "I'm just wondering if you wanted to get together for some quidditch. I haven't been on a broom in ages."

"Me neither. Right now?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, if we can get a few others to join us." Harry was already considering who else to contact.

Dean liked the plan, and they firmed up the details before ending the session, and contacting others.

Picking up his old Firebolt, Harry felt a twinge of excitement at having a few hours of riding around fast with friends, and likely ending the night with beer and pub grub. And none of them knew he liked Draco, so the topic probably wouldn't even come up. Just the distraction he needed.

...

-A/N:

-Quote 'Openness of mind strengthens the truth in us and removes the dross from it, if there is any.': This is from Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), the Indian activist who sucessfully led the Indian independence movement against British rule, using nonviolent civil disobedience. He inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.

-Quote: 'Some books you read. Some books enjoy. But some books swallow you up, heart and soul.' from Joanne Harris.

-Quote: 'Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled 'This could change your life' from Helen Exley.

-"Whoever said ignorance is bliss probably died a horrible death with a really surprised look on his face.": a quote from Lisa Shearin, from her book 'Armed & Magical'.

-Robert Ingersoll. 'Give me the storm and tempest of thought and action, rather than the dead calm of ignorance and faith! Banish me from Eden when you will; but first let me eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge!'
Robert Ingersoll was part of the American 'Golden Age of Freethought' (roughly 1875-1914), a philosophical movement that holds that ideas and opinions should be based on science and reason, and not restricted by authority, tradition, or religion. It was fed by Charles Darwin's 'Origin of the Species' (1859), women's suffrage movement and public speakers like Ingersoll who challenged many old ideas. As an agnostic, he was famous for his skeptical approaches to popular religious beliefs.