A/N: Okay, I admit I wasn't really fast with updating, but to make up for it, it's the longest chapter until now- I hope it's enough to make you forgive me (:

And like every time, thanks to theghostinside and superioritycomplex144 for making my days a bit brighter, as well as to everyone else reading this. You guys are brilliant!

Over the next weeks, he didn't see many people, either, except for Ginny and a certain fair-haired boy, but this time it was because of his own choice. Somehow going to the pub with Seamus and Dean didn't sound so alluring, when he knew that he could just as well spend another evening at Malfoy Manor doing…well, actually, the doing-part wasn't interesting at all. Just being there was more than enough. Or more specifically, being there with Draco.

However, when Hermione asked him over for tea, he couldn't just say no, because she was his best friend, and whatever excuse he could've thought of, she would have looked through it anyway.

So he arrived exactly on time, carrying a tray of biscuits from his girlfriend just a few metres from his best friends' flat away, and before he knew he was almost knocked over by the brown-haired girl who had obviously just been waiting for him.

'Harry! I'm so glad you came!', she greeted him, voice muffled by his scarf.

'I'm happy to see you, too' he smiled, handing her the cookies as soon as she pulled away. 'They're from Ginny. She told me to say hi.'
'Tell her thanks; she always knew how much I loved her baking. Oh, sorry, you must be cold! Why haven't you put on that jumper I gave you last Christmas? Don't tell me you already lost it! Harry James-'

'I haven't, Hermione, just relax', he answered grinning at her chatter, 'It's just currently…unavailable.'
'You gave it to Ginny?'
'What? No. To Draco. Which reminds me that he actually ought to have given it back some time ago…'

His friend looked at him thoughtfully, before mumbling something he couldn't quite make out. 'How long has he had it?'

'A few weeks or so; I think.'
Hermione's eyes widened a little at the statement, 'That long?'
'Yup. Why do you want to know?'

'Oh, no special reason', she answered before starting to mutter to herself again.

'I really don't want to disturb you with whatever great secret of humankind you are about to discover, but could we go in? Because I'm really starting to get cold and Draco'd kill me if I got sick now. He's dragging me to some theatre tomorrow evening.'

She raised an eyebrow, but didn't question, instead motioned him to follow her to the flat.

'So, you and Malfoy are getting along well, I presume?', she asked as innocently as possible while setting a cup in front of Harry.

'We are. Even better than before we fought; it's kind of hard to believe that we used to despise each other. He still does sneer and make snide comments sometimes, but that's just part of him. Wouldn't change it, it'd be kind of strange if he stopped it altogether, I suppose.' Unknowingly, he smiled in a manner which could only be described as affectionate. Hermione, of course, noticed.

'Sometimes, I wonder if it could've been like this all of the time, if I had just taken his hand back in the first year. But then again, it doesn't really matter, because I can't change it anyway and it's wonderful the way it is. Just…maybe I could've helped him stand up against his parents…He seems so lonely sometimes. A couple of days ago, for example, we went to a pub-'

Harry could barely hide his excitement when talking about his new-found friend and the girl didn't have the heart to stop him. Instead she pretended to still be listening, while thinking everything over once more. The more she heard about Draco Malfoy, and the more she listened to her friend's enthusiastic description, the better it fit together. She desperately hoped the conclusion she had drawn to be wrong, for it had the potential to ruin very close to everything, but she knew from experience that the probability of that happening was rather low.

Inwardly, she groaned, hoping that Harry wouldn't notice her distress.

He did, of course, asking what was wrong with her.

'Nothing. Now, where were you again?', she lied, hoping he wouldn't notice, which he didn't because he was far to busy telling her more about his latest visit at Malfoy Manor.

Half an hour later, his chatter suddenly came to a halt when a certain ginger boy struck his head through the door, greeting his girlfriend before even noticing the other. When he did, however, no word left his mouth, instead he just glared.

Harry glared back, finding that he didn't regret a word he had said the last time he had seen Ron.

'What are you-', the redhead started, before Hermione interrupted him, not sounding all too kind.

'Ronald Weasley, isn't there anything you wanted to say to Harry? Something important?'

He looked at her helplessly, a clear Do I have to? written across his face, but the gaze she returned held no compassion whatsoever.

'I'm sorry for what happened; I shouldn't have reacted in that way when you told us about your friendship with Malfoy. It was inappropriate and childish and surely upset you, since it must have been hard to tell us all along.'

A large grin had appeared on Harry's face; the words his best friend was reciting were so clearly Hermione's, and Ron looked so incredibly miserable that he couldn't really go on being angry at him.

'It's okay. Actually, your reaction was just what I expected.'

The ginger groaned in relief, 'Thanks, mate. She's been nagging me to do this for ages.'

'I can imagine.'

'Guys', the girl interrupted them, 'There actually was something I wanted to discuss with both of you.'

'Spit it out, then', the brunet told her happily. It was a great relieve to have settled things with Ron; he hated fighting with the other boy after all they had been through and fighting because of this had felt even worse. Why, he didn't quite know; somehow it had felt as if something incredibly valuable was at stake.

'Well, I've been thinking…since Harry is now on friendly terms with Malfoy, we obviously should make an effort to get to know him a bit better too. After all, it could be that you both get to know each other even more…', she looked over to the raven-haired wizard, 'intimately. So I thought we could invite him to dinner next week, with Harry. You can bring Ginny too, obviously.'
The look on the ginger's face was priceless: A mix of pure mortification, incredulity and uncertainty if his girlfriend was joking or barking mad.

'Can you please tell me that you just lost your mind and I should get you to St. Mungo's?', he croaked after he had found his voice again, 'Because if you don't, I'm afraid I've got to start screaming.'

'Ron, stop acting like a complete idiot. Of course, I'm not insane. I just think that we should respect our friend's choices and try to support him.'

'I don't want to have that ferr- Malfoy in our house! Why do we have to support each crazy choice he makes? You're acting as if he was Harry's boyfriend!', from one minute to the other, the boy went pale, as a terrible idea popped into his head. He whipped around facing his friend, 'He isn't, right?'

And then something happened, that the brunet couldn't quite explain: He hesitated. Just for a moment, really, but still.

Hermione noticed it too, while Ron thankfully was, like so often, completely oblivious. Deep down, he knew he'd have to explain it some day, although he had no idea how.

'No, of course not! What the hell did give you that idea? In case you've forgotten I'm dating your sister!'

Not only had he hesitated, his words also sounded by far not forceful enough. After all, his best friend had just practically asked him if he was gay! He should have been outraged, horrified, frustrated, confused at how the other could possibly have mistaken their friendship for something more, disgusted at the thought of having a sexual relationship with another male, but he couldn't find even one of those emotions within him.

And the strangest thing was, it didn't even scare him.

'Ah, yeah, sorry mate. Didn't mean that, 'Mione's accepting-your-choices- talk just freaked me out a bit', Ron did sound appropriately embarrassed, and the Golden Boy decided to forget about emotions and those things, in order to set his mind to more important tasks.

'Are you sure you want this?', he asked the girl who had been watching the scene with mild amusement and a look as if she knew something he didn't. 'I don't expect you to like Draco or anything, and I'm sure he doesn't either.'

'Nonsense. He's your friend, so I'm pretty sure he's at least…somewhat acceptable. Believe me, I've thought this over numerous times, since I actually didn't want to see his face ever again after the war ended. And my wonderful boyfriend', she looked at the ginger, who was mumbling angrily to himself, annoyance prominent in her gaze, 'will surely get over it, too.'
Once more he testingly glanced at Hermione, he replied, 'I can't promise he'll come, though.'

She just shrugged, 'If he doesn't, it'll be his loss.'

'They want what?'
'They want you to come over for dinner. On Tuesday', Harry answered trying hard to sound as casual as possible.

'…what kind of photos are they? Or do you have video tapes?', the blonde asked after a second.

'What?'
'Well, obviously you have evidence of something very, very horrible they've done and are blackmailing them. Can't imagine you actually threatening your precious friends. Anyway, I'm rather disappointed in you- you really should have been in Slytherin.'

'You think I'm blackmailing my two best friends?' He looked at him incredulously.

'No other explanation, is there? After all, why should the Weasel and the muggleborn want to have me in their home?'

The Golden Boy buried face in his hands. 'Sometimes I just can't believe you. Of course I'm not- wait a second.' Looking up again, he scrutinized the other boy, 'You didn't call her mudblood.'

The words shocked Draco, not only because he had actually missed out on a chance to insult the former prefect, but also, mostly, because it confirmed what he had known for some time: He had changed.

Since he had been a child, Lucius Malfoy's words had been his rules to live by, under all circumstances, and the older male had always been fairly clear on the way muggleborn were to be treated, and those instructions did not include showing them any respect or considering having dinner with them.

Defying these rules meant finally admitting that his father had been wrong. And if he had been wrong about this, it was suddenly possible for him to be wrong about other things as well, and the thought of it frightened the blonde.

However, there was no way in hell he would've told Harry; the other knew a frightening lot about him already.

'And? It means the same thing', he answered instead, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

'Whatever you say', the brunet replied, and it was clear he didn't believe one word. 'Anyway, are you going to come now, or not?'

'Do you want me to?'

'Of course I want you to! After all you're my friend, just as they are and there's no thing in the world I'd want more than for you to get along.'

The former Death-eater looked at him thoughtfully for a second, seemingly battling with himself over something important, then, biting his lip he said, 'Okay. But only under one condition.'

'Which one?'
'Next time we'll see each other… I'll come over to yours, not the other way round.'

'You…want to come over to my flat?'

Draco nodded slowly, 'You've been here so often, but I never got to see how you live. And I'd like to know.'

'Sure.'

The blonde's face lit up. 'Really? I thought you'd put up more of a fight.'

'It's fine with me, really.'

'When do I have to be there, then?'

'Seven. But if you want to, we can go together, that way you won't end up sitting around on your own.'

'Thank you. I think that'd be quite good…if you don't want me to murder the Weasel', he smirked.

'Ah, I'd rather keep him alive, if you don't mind. You could've asked two weeks ago and maybe I'd have agreed to hurting him severely', he grinned, adding, 'You know what, Draco?'

'Hm?'

'You could've just asked about coming over. I'd have liked that anyway.'

'Hey', Harry greeted him when they met up on Tuesday, a couple of streets away from Ron and Hermione's house, 'How are you feeling? Nervous?'

The blonde only scoffed. 'A Malfoy is not nervous.'

The other, however, did not believe his façade for a second. Draco's hands were twitching slightly, and every five seconds, a finger went upwards to brush a straying strand of hair out of his face. Also, his clothes made it rather obvious he had put a lot of thought in them: A pair of neatly pressed, dark grey pants with matching vest, a white shirt, whose material clung to his upper body in the most attractive way and a silken tie with green and silver stripes. Still the proud Slytherin, Harry thought amused, glad he had found something to take his mind off the fact that the fair-haired male looked absolutely stunning.

'You're completely freaking out, now aren't you?'

A sigh escaped the former Death-eater's lips. 'Yes. I've got the feeling that Weasley is going to rip me into little pieces, and I actually enjoy my current form rather much.'

'It's not going to be that bad…Ron's surely not going to kill you; Hermione wouldn't let him. It might get him into prison and spoil her carpet. Blood stains are such a bother to get out again.'

'I always suspected that Granger was the man in the relationship', he smirked and Harry knew he had successfully taken the mind of the other boy off his nervousness, 'However, I was hoping that you'd come and rescue me from your insane best friend. After all, I'm your date for tonight', his eyes twinkled and although it was completely clear that there was nothing serious in his words, the brunet's heart skipped a beat.

'Of course I would. My goddamn hero complex wouldn't allow anything else.'

'Touché', Draco replied chuckling, 'Although it is of course a great relief to know that the Golden Boy is prepared to come and save me.'

The raven-haired wizard blushed the tiniest bit, but the look on the other boy's face made it clear he had noticed.

'Anyway, we're here', he said suddenly, causing the blonde to blanch.

The house was rather small, but pretty, with a red tiled roof and a tiny garden. Even from outside, you could see that the owners had put a lot of love into it, with the flowerpots in every corner, the red curtains whose edges were visible through the windows, and the warm light radiating from it.

'God, I really have to do this, right?', the fair-haired boy groaned while he followed Harry to the front door.

'Oh yes, you are. And don't you even think of apparating out of here.'

'I won't, I won't', he said, holding his hands up in defeat, 'Just, if I should die in there, remember, it's your fault and yours alone.'

The brunet laughed and rang the bell. 'I'll live with it…But really, just act the way you do around me, and everything will be perfectly fine.'

'That's something completely different', the blonde groaned, fixing his hair once more, 'If Weasley would disappear from one moment to the other, I wouldn't give a damn.'

'But you would if I did?' There it was again, the strange flutter in Harry's stomach.

'Well, obviously', he answered, looking incredulously at his companion, 'What did you think?'

'Nothing much', he chuckled a little bit embarrassed, 'Oh wait.' Turning to the other boy again, he had noticed that his tie was crooked just the slightest bit.

'I'll help you with that', he said, reaching out in the exact moment Hermione opened the door. Both boys shied away from each other at the same time, blushing. The gesture had been a perfectly innocent one, sure, but it still felt wrong when someone else was there. She obviously had noticed it too, for she looked at them for a second with an unreadable expression on her face, before stepping forward to greet Harry with a hug, which looked close to painful to the other. He couldn't take his eyes of them, though, for he could still remember how it had felt to have the brunet's arms around him.

After a few seconds, the girl pulled away and smiled. 'Hi Harry. I'm glad you've come', turning to her other visitor, the smile not nearly as prominent anymore she said, 'Hello, Malfoy.'

Taking a deep breath, the fair-haired wizard answered, 'Hello. And please, call me Draco if that is alright with you.'

The surprise was evident in her gaze as she studied the male intently. 'You can call me Hermione then.' She held out her hand, which he took and pressed lightly against his lips, before flashing the stunned girl a, as he hoped, charming smile.

'I'd be delighted to.'
He noticed the surprised look the girl wore as she stepped aside to let them in, hoping it meant something good he walked passed her. From the corner of his eye he could see her asking Harry something in a voice so quiet he couldn't hear a thing. For a second he contemplated asking him about it, before deciding against it: There was no reason to let the other boy know he actually cared about how his friends thought of him. It was pathetic enough as it was.

Instead he went on until he reached the living room, in which a blonde girl was currently sitting, playing absentminded with her hair. While he was still trying to remember who she was, he felt the brunet rushing past him, embracing her.

'Luna! How are you? Haven't seen you for ages!', he exclaimed when letting her go again, smile firmly fixed on his face.

'Hello Harry', she replied, voice soft and dreamy, 'I am fine, thank you. You are well yourself, I hope.'

'Yeah, I'm okay', he laughed, 'By the way, I've brought Draco over.'

The girl turned to face the other male, expression surprised, but not hostile, which surprised him. 'Hello to you too.'

The former Death-eater took a deep breath, 'Good evening. You must be Luna Lovegood; it's a pleasure to meet you', he smiled at her and held out his hand, which she, after a moment, gingerly shook, 'I hope you don't mind me asking, but isn't your father running The Quibbler? I'm just asking because there was this fascinating article about ogres once, and I always wondered…'

Harry turned away smiling, and made his way to the kitchen. It was strange to see his fair-haired friend interacting so charmingly with people he would only have laughed at a year ago; strange but fascinating. Also, the thought that he was the reason Draco was trying so hard let a smile appear on his face when he opened the door. Inside, Ginny and Ron were seated around the table, while Hermione was busy stirring and cutting and cursing different ingredients.

'Hey', he greeted and let himself fall onto one of the chairs, 'How are you guys?'

The brown-haired girl just nodded in his direction before returning to viciously crushing something that he hoped were herbs; his girlfriend leaned over to give him a short kiss, before answering with a simple 'Fine'. Only his best friend didn't reply right away, instead shot him an angry glare.

'Is he here?'

'If you mean Draco, yes he is. He's in the living room, chatting with Luna.'

'Well, I suppose that answers your question', Ron answered, looking even more furious, if possible.

'Merlin, can't you just get over it?' Harry had no interest whatsoever in repeating their fight once more, but knew that he would if necessary.

'No, I can't! Not if the guy I spent years hating is sitting in my bloody living room!'

'Ron', came Hermione's voice from the stove. The word had clearly been meant as a warning, and the ginger shut up immediately. Harry made a mental note to ask the girl later what kind of tactic she had used to achieve this.

'Anyway, before you kill each other, dinner's ready', she said a few seconds later, transporting the mass of plates on the table with a flick of her wand. 'Harry, would you be so kind and fetch the others?'

'Sure', the brunet replied, happy to get out of the room for a moment- the tension between him and Ron wouldn't have lead to anything good.

Entering the room, he was pleasantly surprised to see Luna and Draco still talking; if he wasn't completely mistaken the ex-Slytherin even seemed to be enjoying himself.

'Hey guys, Hermione sent me. Dinner's ready.'

He smiled when the blonde boy motioned him to wait a second and said earnestly, 'It's been surprisingly nice talking to you, Luna.'

'Thank you. I liked it too, I never knew you were so interested in thestrals. … Maybe we can go and feed them someday. Father knows a place near our home where a group lives. I'm sure they'd like you. ' The girl gave him a lopsided, dreamy smile, got up and walked over to the door, bounce clearly visible in her steps.

'Is she always like this?', the male asked after he had stood up himself, astonishment written on his face as he stared after her.

'Oh yes, she is', the other answered grinning, 'Anyway, I never knew you were familiar with the Quibbler.'

'Familiar is probably not the right word for it', he replied, amusement evident in his voice, 'Someone forgot a copy in the Slytherin common room a few times and I picked them up when I was close to dying from boredom. I never knew I could be this happy about it one day. But apart from that, am I doing alright? Because I'd really, really like to make it out of here alive.' A bit of nervousness had seeped into Draco's voice and his fingers moved back to brushing strands of hair from his face.

It made Harry smile, but the blonde obviously misinterpreted it.

'That bad, really? Merlin…'

'No, no, you're doing fine', the Golden Boy hurried, 'Luna definitely seemed to be having a good time, and Hermione even asked me where and when you had learned to be so charming. And she said that she could understand why I liked you when you acted that way around me all the time. Although I sadly had to tell her you didn't.'

There was a strange sparkle in the fair-haired wizards eyes and a playful smile on his lips when he replied, 'What, are you jealous, Harry? Do you want me to kiss your hand too, the next time we see each other?'

'Y-You know just as well as I do that this was not what I meant', he stuttered, feeling a blush rise to his cheeks. For a second, he cursed Draco Malfoy to hell and back again.

'Do I? I wonder…' and he turned around and sauntered over to the kitchen.