BETWEEN YOU AND ME

The final war is now behind them, which leaves only the future before them. The problem is, now the future is becoming rapidly unstable. With the past creeping in and shocking discoveries leaving everyone on edge, friendships, relationships and faith will be tested and not without scrutiny or angst.

//…//

DISCLAIMER: All characters, settings, and magical occurrences were all conceived and created in the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Nothing except the glorious plot is property of mine. No profits are being made from my writing.

ANOTHER WARNING: This story will contain some SLASH, as it will be the main pairing. If this bothers, offends, or just grosses you out, you can save yourself a lot of pain and heartburn and just click the back button. Otherwise, stick around. I can only hope not to disappoint. This is in the Between You And Me-verse. So brief knowledge of that might help. Other than that, I suppose it could stand alone. Lots of parts. Lots of moods. Moving right along. :)

//…//

Jealous

Draco gave a bit of a smirk at the question thrown at him. Following any of his lectures, he did a question and answer which was almost always his favorite part. People shied away usually from the harder questions and tended towards the gossip that still occasionally was caught in the tabloids. Potter Drama would just never end. Even if he hadn't been in the picture for a while. Besides, that didn't stop the sleazy reporters from making it appear as though things were as they definitely were not. He might have basked in the attention more had Ron not been patently unimpressed with the reporting.

"Now that is a popular one, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to remain cryptic. This tour isn't about my romantic life. Its concerned solely with the war so you are very welcome to pick up a copy or even a tabloid should you find yourself interested," Draco responded fluidly, the smirk never leaving his face.

There were a couple of grumbles from the audience to which he just ate up. People soon settled down and another hand reached high in the air. The brunette beneath the hand reminded him suspiciously of Lavender Brown. She had too much make-up on her face and she was the type of person you could just tell felt she was much more attractive than she actually was.

As the students began filing out of the large room, he set about gathering the rest of his things up and following them out. It was as he lifted his head to give the room a once over that he noticed Harry in the audience. Something in the back of his throat caught as he realized he would be forced to endure another encounter with his infamous ex. The first at the Burrow had been a bit stilted at best but went much better than he could've ever thought, with the slight exception of Ron's behavior afterwards though that did not prove to be too surprising.

A bit anxiously, he pushed his notes inside his bag and straightened himself out, mentally preparing for the interaction he would not be able to avoid. It was not strange for people he knew to attend the lectures on the war. Ron had come to his first one at home and had sat front row center, which though Draco never said it, soothed his nerves more than he'd expected. Hermione had come several times herself, and had taken notes and given him corrections after each time. Just specific dates and whom had been there on which evening rather than just "some hapless Gryffindors." Though he knew she was, in her way, trying to be helpful, he less than graciously took her notes and was sure they were still probably buried somewhere at home. Even Ginny had popped in once to listen to the tale that she had lived through. But never Harry. Harry who since the war had ended, would go months without even mentioning it and even then it wasn't without consequence. It was a part of his life that he liked buried and he had never expected to see the other man amongst the crowds listening to something he had lived through and loathed the memory of.

"Its strange hearing all of that from someone else. Well at least someone else who was actually there. The recounts in the Prophet hardly count as such." Draco jolted upwards, having lost himself a moment to find Harry had moved towards the stage, lingering just in front of him.

"I figure no one better than to give the real story. I won't embellish on the heroics of others as most tend to do," Draco responded briskly, finally looking down at the other man before him.

"Except for your own."

"Of course except for my own," Draco drawled at him, settling the strap of his bag across his shoulder, hoping to hurry the conversation along and to escape.

"Did you want to get lunch?" Damn.

Draco's throat suddenly grew a lump and he found it very hard to find the words he needed. Swallowing, he started down the stairs, Harry taking strides towards him as he did. "I don't really think that is such a good idea."

"Well I don't really either but I'd kind of like to talk for a bit if we can. It has been a long time since I've thought about a lot of that." Harry did sound a little wounded and though Draco claimed to have no heart at all, he knew he was stuck.

"Just something quick, I have to pick up Isabella from the Burrow," Draco countered, instantly feeling as though he had just made a very bad decision indeed. Harry's face perked up however and he settled into a healthy chatter as they left the large auditorium.

//…//

Draco's guilt did not subside when he arrived at the Burrow to retrieve Isabella, if it were at all possible, it seemed to grow. He'd arrived to find Ginny with the baby in her lap and Hermione beside them, chatting lightly, mostly looking annoyed that she could not seem to find a comfortable position for the life of her. Isabella perked up a little at the sight of him squirming in her aunt's lap.

"Draco, I think you've ruined this child. She doesn't seem to find you horrible at all," Ginny complained, handing her niece to him with a smirk on her face.

Draco happily accepted, pulling the small terror into his arms. "Perhaps that's because I'm not horrible at all?" He spoke mostly to the baby, with the hint of a smile at his lips.

"No, that can't be it," Ginny was quick to come back, smirking at him in a clear rivalry.

Before Draco could speak, an owl he recognized as Hermione's swooped in the window, perching itself upon the arm of the couch hooting lightly to its owner to remove its burden. Hermione started to lean over, finding this even more impossible and with a roll of his eyes, Draco stood and came to her aid, retrieving the Evening Prophet from the owl before it flew off in annoyance. As he started to hand it to her, something caught the corner of his eye. That something was him.

Shifting Isabella against his body, his attention focused on the small moving picture and the accompanying article below it. He knew he was probably three shades paler from the looks he was getting as he handed the paper to Hermione, standing there blankly. It seemed that his lunch with Harry had made quite the splash with some younger photographer who happened to snap a shot without their knowledge. Though that was no where near the worst of it. The article that followed spoke lies about how Harry and him were engaging in secret meetings much to the disdain of Ron and how it seemed a reunion was imminent. Apparently he was just "glowing to be in the company of his former beau."

Hermione gasped audibly, having noticed the article beneath the main headline that she had probably already skimmed. "Oh no, Draco. What did you do?"

"We just went to lunch. That was all. I didn't think the Prophet would be covering all of my meals," He grumbled, sitting down in an armchair, Isabella trying for some attention and eventually getting frustrated when none was awarded.

It was then that Ginny had leaned over the overly pregnant Hermione to read the article herself, eyes widening in effect. "Ron's going to go mad, you know," She announced, in an ominous tone.

"I know. I just need to engage in some damage control is all."

"You need to get him out of the country is all," Ginny went on, settling back against the couch, arms crossing over her chest in humor.

Draco thought for a hard moment. "Maybe that's it. Maybe we could just go away for a few days and then he'll see that there isn't anything going on with Harry and come back thoroughly shagged and confident," Draco thought out loud much to Ginny's dismay. She lowered her gaze.

"If you're out of the country I won't be able to witness your slow dismemberment," She groaned, slightly reminiscent of a five-year-old version of herself.

"Maybe next time then. But there is something you could watch…" Draco trailed off, eyes sinking to the bubbly baby in his lap.

"No, no, no. I have a life you know. People to see. Things to do. Certainly not babysit while my brother is off being shagged in France," She protested firmly.

"Oh come on, Ginny. You have nothing to do. Besides, you can spend the weekend polluting her mind with thoughts of how awful I am," Draco countered, Ginny was still hung up on his first part to consider the malicious plan.

"I have things to do you know. Work. And I go out with my friends."

"Of course you do," Draco quipped back at her even more to her annoyance.

"But it would be nice to take time to un-brainwash your child. That and there was this sweater I had wanted yet could not afford on my measly Ministry salary." Ginny Weasley would not concede a point with nothing. And if that meant taking advantage of her would be brother-in-law or anyone of the sort then that was just a perk.

Draco scowled at her, clearly accepting her offer much to his discontent. He needed a few days away with Ron. Especially given this whole Harry thing. They would get that sorted out and enjoy the short little break before coming back home and settling into things like normal. It could work. It would certainly need to given the Great Weasley Jealousy.

//…//

A/N: Another part completed. The first two got a little mixed up on moods. And I felt that Draco's encounter with Harry was a little more uncomfortable than Ron's jealousy as its dealt with here. Blah blah blah. I ramble. I apologize. But reviewers are wonderful and therefore, thanks so very much to SanzoGirl, Talley67, StuckInSea, and Syntic. And Talley67, not sure if you found it, but I do have a story along those lines as almost a prequel type thing (Name) to this part. Ok, so yes. There you have it. Enjoy. And reviews are lovely. Like all of you. :)