Author's Note: Loving all the feedback and fan theories! Just try to keep in mind, guys, that nothing is as it seems. Just when you think you've figured out what direction we're headed, there will be a plot twist waiting for you on the other side. We have given these next thirty chapters a lot of thought. With that in mind, enjoy the chapter..

Message from DaOneInDaCorner: Really quick guys, because I don't say much, but let me just say that NatNicole, get your ass in gear, and create a damn account so we can thank you profusely for your wondrously lovely reviews. As for all the other guest reviewers who I'm not giving a shoutout to . . . umm, sorry? Look to him/her as a source for inspiration if you'd like to be mentioned, because his/her reviews have been spectacular, so yeah, my apologies, ha.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling. Thanks


CHAPTER 34: EXTINGUISHED

Draco awoke very early next day—the boys were still sleeping and it was lightly snowing out, though still evidently dark. Feeling wide awake, he reached into his bedside drawer and pulled out Dumbledore's deluminator. It had been nearly a full week since he'd been back at Hogwarts and he was yet to find out just what this strange device actually did. He had hoped Remus would have the answer but it was clear now that he would have to ask Dumbledore during tonight's lesson.

For hours, it seemed, Draco lay awake on his bed, slowly rotating the deluminator between his fingers with one hand behind his head on the pillow. His eyes were somewhat clouded over and he took deep, calm breaths as he continued to absentmindedly examine the silver object in his hand. If the version of him back from September had met him now, he doubted he would recognize himself. He truly had assimilated into the Gryffindor culture of things...the Potter ways of life. He knew his family and friends from the old timeline would cringe if they saw just how far he'd come. Though he himself wasn't yet sure how he felt about it all. All that mattered, as far as he knew, was that he had all these friends from different houses and he cared about what happened to them.

"Hey," said Sirius, slowly sitting up in his bed.

"Hey," Draco responded, his eyes still on the deluminator.

"How long you been up?"

"Dunno."

Sirius shuffled around in his bed until he grew impatient and threw down the covers. Draco kept examining the object while Sirius moved about the room, bumping into things and cursing under his breath. He finally pulled on a sweater and took a seat on Draco's bed, crossing his legs.

"What's that?" he said, pulling his socks up and shivering slightly from the cold in the room.

"It's that deluminator thing that Dumbledore gave me," Draco said quietly.

"D'you figure out what it does yet?"

Draco shook his head.

"Ask him, mate."

"Yeah, I will." Draco sat up in the bed. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Eh, if I'm up, I'm up," said Sirius, shrugging. He turned his head in the direction of the nearest window. "Looks like it's gonna snow all day."

"I don't mind it," Draco admitted. "It's kind of like a calm Saturday in that way, you know?"

Sirius nodded. He then glanced sideways at James's bed and lowered his voice. "So um, did you guys, you know...?"

"Yeah," said Draco, his eyes also on James's sleeping form. "We're good."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, I mean...you were right—he is a good friend. He wouldn't be unfair."

"Good," said Sirius. "I'm glad you've come to understand that."

Remus shifted in his bed and sighed deeply in his sleep. Draco smiled at Sirius.

"What about the haircut? Anybody say anything?"

"Nothing bad," said Sirius, running a hand through his hair. "But they might talk when I get the tattoo."

"Are you actually gonna go through with it?" said Draco. Sirius raised his eyebrows at him and Draco shrugged. "I mean, I've heard that it, you know, hurts. Like a lot."

"Nothing I haven't dealt with before," said Sirius simply.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked, a little worry in his voice.

"You've met my family."

"Yeah, but for like two weeks."

"Exactly."

"Meaning?"

There was a pause.

"Meaning that I've met them for seventeen years." He looked at Draco. "And that's enough for me."

Draco dwelled on that for a little longer, looking in the direction of the window every once in a while.

"What the hell happened, man?" he finally asked, looking Sirius in the eye.

Sirius merely shrugged. "I just haven't had the best upbringing, that's all. Like I said, you've met them yourself. Your imagination should be able to fill in the rest."

"Damn," Draco muttered. "That sucks, I'm sorry."

"I don't care, so you shouldn't either," said Sirius. "Besides, it's not your fault."

"I know, but I'm still just...sorry."

Sirius cracked a small smile. "Yeah, thanks." He paused. "You're a good friend too, Draco."

Draco smiled back.

When the boys awoke just a little over an hour later, they decided to head down to breakfast before everybody else. On the way there, Remus grabbed a notice from the common room and informed the others when they already reached the Great Hall that there was another Hogsmeade weekend coming up. But the one thing—the only thing—that the marauders seemed to be focused on that morning was the fact that Draco and James were finally talking again.

"Pass the syrup, will you?" James asked Draco directly at breakfast time and Draco handed it to him and then accepted a glass of orange juice in return.

"...so like that's what I wrote but then professor said it was wrong..." James was saying.

"...no man you've gotta list the examples because if you don't, anyone could easily confuse it for that concept she taught us on Wednesday, you know..." said Draco.

Remus just sat there, totally and completely puzzled, while Sirius and Peter both looked pleasantly surprised.

But none of the boys had any intention or desire even to bring it up or confront it. They all knew that it was better to just let it go, pretend like it never happened, and essentially move on with their lives.

When people only just started coming in to the Great Hall, at half past nine, the marauders were ready to leave. Sirius suggested they spend the day in the common room so that was exactly what they went to do. However, when they got there, Remus pulled his books out and started to spread them on a table.

"Oh no you don't," said Sirius instantly, pulling some of the books away from his friend.

"What—hey!" cried Remus. "Give it back, Sirius!"

"Nuh-uh! When I said hang out in the common room, I meant hang out in the common room. No books today!"

"But I—Sirius give that back—we have so much—James, tell him!"

James raised an eyebrow, his hands in his pockets as he stood completely still. "And since when have I become the mommy for when you two are bickering at each other?"

Peter laughed.

"Come on, guys, let's play that poker thing again," said Draco, pulling Remus's book from Sirius and placing it on the table.

Remus pushed Sirius, who snickered in return, and sprawled on the carpet by the fireplace, now shuffling a deck of cards.

It continued to snow for the entire day, and for the entire day, the marauders hung out in the common room. Pretty much most of the Gryffindors were in Gryffindor Tower that day, catching up with each other and just enjoying the weekend. Even Lily made an appearance in the common room briefly, just after lunchtime, though Draco made a point of not looking in her direction, knowing perfectly well that despite everything, James was still watching him.

And he was not about to go through this with him again.

"Hey so tell us about what went down with that muggle girl over the break," Draco asked Peter once they'd moved on to Wizard's Chess. Sirius looked up expectedly and James and Remus watched Peter too.

"Um," said Peter, looking at each of the marauders, "You know...stuff..."

"Like...?" said Sirius.

"You should tell us, mate, so we can be proud of you," Draco added.

Peter gulped nervously. "I..."

"I mean we already are," Draco continued, looking to the boys for help. They all nodded their agreement and smiled at Peter encouragingly.

"But we'd like to be even more proud," Sirius concluded.

"Yeah like...you know, just stuff..." Peter was now saying.

"Like sex?" said Sirius. "You actually shagged?"

When Peter didn't respond, Sirius leaned forward and sat up, his face glittering. "You mean to say you've gone further than these three idiots?"

James looked down at the chess board again and Remus rolled his eyes, while Draco remained neutral, trying hard not to look in James's direction.

"Y-yeah," Peter concluded.

After a short pause, Sirius slapped him on the back, making Remus jump.

"Alright, Pete!" he cried, laughing.

Draco laughed with him, encouraging Peter to laugh nervously too. Though he and Sirius knew deep down that Peter was probably making it up, they still enjoyed themselves and gave him the will and encouragement to enjoy the praise as well.

"So," Draco finally said, turning to James, "Any, um, plans or ideas you got for the upcoming game?"

James looked directly at him and shrugged. "I dunno, I mean I've thought of a couple of things over the break but not much."

"Care to share?"

He paused. "Nah, we'll just talk about it all at the next team meeting."

"Oh. Well when's that gonna be?"

"I dunno," James shrugged again. "I haven't decided yet."

Draco looked to Sirius before adding, "Well you should make it soon. Game is gonna be here before you even know it."

"Yeah I know," James mumbled, looking very preoccupied with the chess pieces in front of him.

Draco sighed deeply. No matter how much James claimed that he'd forgiven him, it just wasn't the same. Not anymore.

He spent the rest of the day trying to rebuild his relationships with each of the marauders. He asked James some more questions about Quidditch. He played countless card games with Sirius and joked about dumb stuff. He even took an interest in Remus's homework, which, after fighting Sirius, he managed to get started on.

Ever since term had started back up again, the teachers had been working the sixth years harder than ever, but even so, Remus was managing to find time for everything and stay on top of things, which Draco found to be extremely impressive. He himself wasn't having too difficult a time in staying on top of things, but only because it was his second time around. Remus was at the top of nearly every class, sharing the title with Draco and with Lily of course. Lily, he could understand. All she ever did was homework. But the marauders kept Remus as busy as they possibly could, always dragging him out on adventures. Combining that with his condition, Draco was still finding himself amazed at how well his friend was doing.

Soon, it was dinnertime and the marauders found themselves enjoying quite the feast in the Great Hall with all their fellow housemates. James and Sirius instantly got busy with talking to the seventh years, while Remus discussed something homework-related with some other fellow sixth year whom Draco did not know. Draco looked over at the Slytherin table a couple of times and even caught Severus's eye once. Regulus though, seemed more preoccupied with listening to whatever that Cattermole girl was saying. Draco smiled to himself. It was too obvious the kid was drooling over her.

After dinner, the boys returned to the common room because it was still snowing outside and considerably freezing. Draco hung out with them for a little while, just killing time until he'd have to go to Dumbledore's office for his Saturday night lesson. They actually got their books out this time and got started on a little bit of homework, upon Remus insisting. But after about twenty minutes or so, Sirius got bored with it and hauled Draco into another game of Wizard's Chess, which James soon grew occupied with watching. Then, to make things even better, Lily decided to show up.

"What's up?" Remus asked her as she sat down next to him.

"Can I borrow those arithmancy notes from you?" she said to him quietly.

"Lily Evans needs my notes?" said Remus with a smirk, handing them to her.

She rolled her eyes at him. "I want to make sure I didn't miss anything Professor Slyfield was saying, that's all."

"Knock yourself out," said Remus.

Lily opened up his notebook and bit down on her lip as she frowned at the pages of scribbling handwriting. Draco watched her briefly until he could feel James's eyes on him and then looked away and impulsively moved a chess piece.

Sirius smirked and killed it off quickly with his queen, also resulting in a perfect—

"Checkmate!" he shouted.

Draco looked slightly taken aback but managed to smile as Sirius cleaned up the board and waved his wand around, placing the pieces back in their appropriate slots.

"Another round?" he said.

"Um," said Draco, glancing at the watch on Remus's wrist, "We probably don't have time..."

"I'll play you," James offered.

Draco moved aside to let him take his place and Sirius rubbed his hands with anticipation. He then gestured for James to make the first move and James moved a pawn two squares and sat back, crossing his legs. Draco hoped that he'd beat Sirius so they could wipe that smirk off his face eventually.

"Draco," said Lily's voice.

Everyone paused, and Draco looked in James's direction awkwardly before turning to acknowledge Lily.

"Yes?" he said as neutrally as humanly possible.

"I heard that you attended the Malfoy wedding over the holiday break," Lily announced.

She was brave, he had to give her that. Definitely the most fearless girl he'd ever met, though still, he had no idea why she was doing this.

"Where did you hear that?" he managed.

She frowned. "Well I've seen the paper, you know."

"Oh." He'd forgotten about that.

"So how was it then?"

"Loud," Draco said, looking away from her and down at the chessboard.

James nodded at him once, though no one besides Sirius seemed to notice, and then looked at the board himself.

"Knight to E5," Sirius announced.

"It must've been odd though, meeting all those people who are your family but who you've never even heard of," Lily went on.

"Um yeah, possibly," Draco muttered, still looking down at the board.

"I'm only asking because I've never attended a pureblood wedding," Lily continued. Draco finally looked up at her and she shrugged. "I mean, I'm totally against the label. I think any wedding, no matter what blood type, is special. But I do hear that those types of weddings can be quite glamorous and...well...overdone, I guess."

"It was fine," Draco said. He then pulled himself to his feet and stretched. "Well, I'm off."

"Good luck!" said Peter.

Draco smiled at him and started sidestepping some of the books on the carpet on his way to the portrait hole. Just before he got there, he heard Lily quietly say "Good luck with what?"

"He has a meeting with Dumbledore now," Remus told her as Draco crawled through the portrait hole.

The entire way there, he thought about how totally uncalled for and unnecessary it was of Lily to join them in the common room just now. She was not a stupid girl. She probably realized, on some level, James's feelings for her. And she did know that he knew about her and Draco getting on a friendlier note. Was she seriously trying to make things even more awkward between them?

By the time he'd reached Dumbledore's office, Draco was positively furious with Lily, but managed to bring down some of that anger when Dumbledore let him in and he finally saw him, one-on-one, for the first time since the holidays.

"Sit down," Dumbledore told him kindly.

Draco sat.


"How are you, Draco?"

"Tired. Really, truly, genuinely tired." He leaned forward in his chair. "Say, you think you could, uh, tell your professors to take it down a bit with all the homework lately?"

Dumbledore chuckled lightly. "Sixth year at Hogwarts is not a laughing matter, Draco."

"I never said it was, professor. If you forget, I have completed it."

"You sound resentful of having to complete it a second time."

"I'm not."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and Draco shrugged stubbornly, leaning back in his chair.

"Very well then," said Dumbledore. "How have things been since you got back?"

Draco thought about it for a minute. He'd spent the first day or so trying to convince Sirius that he still thought and felt the same things that his friends did as Gryffindors. He spent every day after that trying to convince James that there was nothing going on between him and Lily, and then trying to convince himself that Lily would back off soon. And on top of all of that, he attended classes and added to the piles of homework he already had waiting for him in his dormitory.

"Fine," he answered vaguely.

Dumbledore sighed. "Draco, these lessons are not just to improve your skills as an advanced wizard. Yes, they provide us with the time and means to prepare for the future, because neither of us knows what the future holds." Draco smirked and Dumbledore gave him a look. "You can't know that things will work out exactly the way they did in your timeline. Not with your presence here this time around. And anyhow, the point I am trying to get across is that these lessons are...opportunities for you to let your guard down, discuss your worries with me, and be Draco Malfoy." Draco looked at him at the sound of his real name. It felt unnatural at this point. Clearly realizing this, Dumbledore smiled softly. "You can't forget who you are, Draco."

"I know that," Draco muttered.

"Good, so I'll ask again," said Dumbledore pleasantly, "How are you, since our last conversation?"

Draco thought back to that night in Grimmauld Place with the fireplace and Phineas Nigellus. It already seemed like so long ago, and he definitely wasn't the same person now as he was that night.

"I'm fine, honestly," he said. "Listen, professor, that night...I was just...going through a lot. I was still in shock over Sirius and I guess I...I wasn't really thinking. I just, I don't want you to take more meaning from that night than you need to. It really wasn't a big deal. I just want to forget about it."

"I don't," said Dumbledore, eyebrows raised. "On the contrary, I'm glad you came to me in a moment of need and I hope you will continue to do so whenever you feel overwhelmed or anxious or nervous about anything, anything at all."

"Technically, I didn't come to you—a portrait did," Draco said under his breath, doubting Dumbledore had heard him. He then added, more loudly, "I hear you."

"Good," said Dumbledore, "And if you say you are fine, then I shall believe you. Let us move on."

"Okay."

"How is young Regulus doing?"

Draco groaned. "Professor, he's not young. I mean, yes, he's just a kid in some ways, but he's already a grownup too...a grownup who should know better and who should be aware of the consequences of his actions."

"And what makes you say that?"

Shit.

"I just...I just hope he's always thinking before acting, that's all," Draco quickly mumbled.

"I see," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "And are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Thinking before acting?"

"Yeah," said Draco quickly. "I mean...well yeah."

"Alright," said Dumbledore. He thought for a minute. "How was the wedding?"

There it was. The very topic Draco had hoped to avoid.

"Um...yeah, it was...you know, like just a regular wedding and all."

"I see," said Dumbledore calmly. "But I imagine it came as quite a surprise to you when you found out it was your parents who were getting married." He paused to look at Draco. "And I'm sure you felt many things while you were there, being their son and having them not know about it, or anyone for that matter."

"What are you saying?"

"I am saying, that if you feel the need to talk about it, then—"

"I-I don't," said Draco.

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes at him again and Draco stared right back at him, being careful not to blink so he wouldn't think he was bluffing.

"If that's what you wish," said Dumbledore finally. "Just know that I am available, should you desire to—"

"I won't," said Draco quickly. "B-but thanks."

"Alright," said Dumbledore, looking thoroughly unconvinced and admittedly a little hurt. He suddenly leaned forward. "Aren't you going to ask me anything tonight, Draco?"

Draco frowned at him, and then when Dumbledore raised his eyebrows again, it clicked.

"Right!" he cried, pulling the deluminator from out of his pocket and placing it on the table before him. "So, I'm saying thanks again, for the gift. It was really...thoughtful. But I'm still having a hard time figuring out what it does."

Dumbledore smiled softly, looking down at the device and then looking back at Draco.

"I'm curious as to your thoughts," he admitted.

Draco opened his mouth and then closed it again.

"What do you think it does?" Dumbledore pressed.

Draco looked down at the device himself. "I dunno...I mean...I honestly have no clue."

"Think a little harder."

"Professor, can't you just tell me?"

"Now what good would that do?"

"It'd save me a lot of trouble and thinking."

"But this is much more fun."

Draco rolled his eyes. "You're real annoying sometimes, you know that, sir?"

Dumbledore smiled warmly. "It's one of my many attractive qualities, I've been told."

Draco sighed again, looking down at the device. "I dunno! I mean, you could at least give me a clue!"

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows again. "But haven't I already?"

"Huh?"

"The note, Draco. You're obviously forgetting about the note that was attached to the gift."

Draco swallowed. It was true. He had completely forgotten about the note and whatever Dumbledore had written inside it.

Dumbledore smiled again. "I sense, however, that that was not the thing you wanted to tell me."

"Wh...how do you mean?"

"Well, it's just a feeling, I'm an old man, I can be quite mistaken...but I do sense that there is something else you want to talk to me about...? Something confusing, possibly?"

Draco thought for a minute, his mind wandering to the drawer by his bed in the dormitory upstairs, where a black book was burning into the wood, just waiting for him to open it and write in it again, as he had been doing for two weeks now.

He thought about the death eater meeting that he'd almost walked in on at the wedding, and that sick feeling he'd felt in his stomach when he'd personally witnessed Regulus joining those...vultures...

He met Dumbledore's eyes again, which were looking back at him expectedly.

"No sir," he finally said. "Nothing."

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes at him through those half-moon spectacles and then, after a long silence, nodded.

"Very well then," he said. "If that is all that should be discussed at this time, let us then continue on with what our lesson will be."

"Yes please," said Draco, sitting up, his wand at the ready.

"Oh you won't be needing that tonight," Dumbledore said without looking at it twice. "The next form of magic that I am going to be teaching you is far more complicated than a simple incantation. It requires a lot more concentration than merely searching your mind for memories or happy thoughts." Draco frowned, fearing the worst. "Have you ever heard of fiendfyre, Draco?"

Draco stared at him for a long time, trying to process the absurdity of what he had just said to him. Never, not in a million years, would Draco have ever imagined that Albus Dumbledore would offer to teach him such a dark form of magic. Legilimency was one thing. It was the opposite of Occlumency, which he already knew, so there was every reason for him to learn it as well. But this...

"Um, w-why do you ask?" he finally managed.

Dumbledore leaned forward and placed both his hands on the table. "I imagine you already know my answer."

"I mean, y-yeah I've heard of it but I've never done it—"

"Good, then we can start with a blank page."

Draco stared at him. "But...why this?"

Dumbledore frowned again. "It is a dark type of magic, that is true. But it is also foolproof against all items of dark magic discovered thus far."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that you and I do not know what the future holds. Not at this time, we don't. And, quite frankly, I do not see anything wrong with teaching you, under careful supervision of course, the absolute method for destroying dark items...or people."

"Well the killing curse is unblockable though—"

"And I should hope you would never have to use it."

"—oh but fiendfyre you would allow?"

Dumbledore paused. "I am going to teach you to harness the dark. Harness it, but not let it overcome you. The killing curse is quite different, in that there is no way to avoid it overcoming you. Once you have killed, your soul is incomplete and the damage is done. Piecing together a soul is not impossible, I imagine, but it is extremely difficult and definitely unheard of." He paused again to look at Draco and tilted his head slightly. "If you are not comfortable with this new topic I am introducing to our lessons, then—"

"No professor, that's not it!" Draco said quickly. "I just...I just don't understand why..."

"I have already told you why," said Dumbledore, still calmly. "We do not know what the future holds."

"But we do!" Draco blurted out. "I mean, I do! And if you'd just let me tell you, then you would too! And you'd realize that teaching me this is not necessary, b-but taking other steps might be."

"I already told you that the less I know, the better."

"But why?"

"Because if you tell me things, it is equivalent to me cheating my way through life, knowing exactly how each move I make could and would backfire against me, against others..." Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I do not want to be responsible for what could—"

"But what could happen?! Other than you being prepared ahead of time and being able to help me prevent bad things from happening at all?"

"You can't mess with the universe like that, Draco," Dumbledore said, sighing deeply. "Time travel is a tricky thing. That is why even the most able wizards try to avoid doing it. I do not encourage you to meddle with too many things. Yes, you have been granted this second chance at life and you should seize every moment of it and live it to the fullest. That is true. But I do not want you feeling like it is your responsibility to change every little thing you deem necessary...every thing you thought went wrong in your timeline. It is not up to you to save everyone here, Draco. Only we ourselves can do that."

"So that's why you don't want me to tell you things?" Draco concluded. "You don't want the responsibility?"

"Oh Draco," Dumbledore sighed. "I already carry the responsibility. Don't you know that by now?"

Draco didn't know what to say to that so he just looked away from Dumbledore, his eyes instead landing on the bird perched up on his dusty old dresser with books toppling out of it.

"The universe will punish you if you take it too far, and I do not want to see that happen to you," Dumbledore concluded.

Draco looked back at him. "Do you honestly believe that sort of thing?"

"Every man is entitled to his own opinion, is he not?" Dumbledore shrugged.

"Y-yeah, I suppose," said Draco, unsure.

"Just think about that," Dumbledore said to him. "And as for the lessons?"

"Um," said Draco, looking back at Fawkes, who blinked at him. "Yeah, I'm on board. I still don't get why, but I want to learn."

"Good," said Dumbledore, smiling pleasantly. "We'll start next weekend."

"Wait, why not today?"

"You've had a long week, I merely wanted to talk today." He started to get up.

"What, but that's it?" said Draco, standing with him.

Dumbledore cocked an eyebrow at him. "Unless there was something else you wanted to talk about...?"

"No, it's fine," Draco said quickly, allowing him to escort him to the office door.

"Alright then," said Dumbledore, not buying it for a second. "Well, I hope you have a good week and I'll see you back here next Saturday."

"Will do, night, professor."

Draco hurried out of the room and practically ran down the hall so as to avoid any more confrontations with Dumbledore. Once he was in the safety of Gryffindor Tower, he stopped to catch his breath and leaned against the wall. He had no idea why he felt panic rising inside of him now, but he wasn't comforted at all. He was appalled at the idea that Dumbledore would teach him something so dark. How could he possibly know that something wouldn't go wrong along the way? That he, Draco, wouldn't turn dark himself?

This was dangerous stuff they were meddling with—he knew it in his heart. But then why had he agreed?

"What are you still doing up?" he asked once he came through the portrait hole and found James sitting by himself near the fireplace, scribbling in a notebook.

"Couldn't sleep," James shrugged unconvincingly. "How was the lesson?"

"It was...are you actually doing homework?"

Draco sat down across from him and frowned at the notebook.

"Maybe," said James, smirking. "Is that so hard to believe?"

"Yeah, it actually is," Draco admitted. "What's up?"

"Nothing, I just wanna do well on these assignments, that's all," James mumbled. "I mean, I dislike learning and everything, but I also don't want to stay at Hogwarts for the rest of my life, you know what I mean? Even if I love it here."

"What are you thinking of pursuing later on?"

"I dunno...Sirius and I talked about a couple of things but haven't really decided."

"But what would sound good?"

James looked up at Draco and smirked. "Auror studies, of course."

Draco smirked back.

"So um, the lesson went well then?"

"Yeah, it was okay, it wasn't really a lesson to be honest," Draco mumbled.

"No?"

"Nah, Dumbledore just wanted to check up on me. You know, see how I'm doing and everything now that..."

"...now that you're back at Hogwarts," James finished for him, nodding. "Yeah, I mean I've only ever met Sirius's parents once and even then they didn't like me. And to be fair, I didn't like them much myself. But hearing him talk about them over the years, about how they've treated him and all...well, I can only imagine..."

"They're just as bad when you spend two weeks at their house," Draco concluded.

"Figured," said James, nodding. "Are you okay though?"

"Totally," said Draco. "I told them everything they wanted to hear. You know, so that the elf wouldn't kill me in my sleep or something of the sort."

James laughed. "Sirius absolutely loathes that elf."

"Yeah and it shows," Draco laughed. He then grew serious again. "But why are you asking me this now?"

"I dunno," James mumbled. "I guess...I realized that I never really did, you know? We weren't speaking much and we didn't exactly send letters so..."

"Yeah but whose fault was that?"

James made a face.

"Oh come on, you know it's true!" cried Draco. "If you had just come to talk to me then all of this could've been avoided and you know it."

"Yeah well," James mumbled, looking down at his lap, "Everyone is entitled to a little processing time before they confront an issue, right?"

"Yeah, I suppose," said Draco.

James looked around the common room. "Hey do you think Peter really did hook up over the break?"

"Doubt it," laughed Draco. James laughed too.

"But it's best we don't say anything on the matter," Draco added momentarily.

"Yeah, I agree, I just wish he wouldn't feel the need to lie to us about dumb stuff like that," James said. "There's no shame in being a virgin at sixteen."

"I agree. There's far more shame in being a male whore at sixteen."

"Technically, Sirius is seventeen, so therefore he is a male whore of age," said James.

They both laughed again. Then, James closed up his notebook. "So you coming up?"

"Nah, I think I'll stay a while," said Draco as James got to his feet and packed up the rest of his things.

"You sure?" his friend asked.

"Yeah, go on. I'll be up in a bit." James narrowed his eyes at him and Draco smiled. "I wanna meditate, that's all."

"Oh okay," said James quickly. "Yeah, do that. Don't want to be forgetting about your animagus."

"Trust me, I'm not."

He patted him on the back as he passed him and hurried up the spiral staircase. Once he was gone, Draco lit up a few candles in the room and sat cross-legged by the fireplace. It wasn't the same with James, that was true. But it was definitely familiar. And right now, at this point in his life, Draco could use all the familiarity he could get.

He knew that much at least.


What do you guys think...are Draco and James done fighting?