A/N: This chapter is for xxwinterbeautyxx and I was really looking forward to this chapter. There isn't any Lily/Scor, but it is Draco and Harry. Like I said before, I think if you take Lucius Malfoy's influence away from Draco, he and Harry could have been friends and maybe Harry would have been sorted into Slytherin? Who knows. Enjoy and please leave me a line. And if you'd like to see a certain chapter, I'm totally open to adding it.

Ch. 15 The Smell of Whiskey

It was raining. And not just a calm drizzle. The sky decided to open up and pour massive amounts everywhere. Draco Malfoy only thought the weather was appropriate for the night ahead. He thought, 'The world would cry on the night I meet with Harry Potter.'

Draco was honestly surprised to receive a response from Harry. There was a small part of Draco convinced that Potter wouldn't show up at all.

The two had decided to meet in a quiet pub in muggle London. Both of them knew if they went to the Leaky Cauldron, the Daily Prophet would blast their quiet meeting on the front page. And neither of them wanted that to happen.

Draco took a seat in a small booth towards the very back of the bar. He had chosen whiskey for this occasion because he would definitely need some liquid courage to get through this unusual night.

Harry had no idea what to expect from tonight. Would they end up in a duel or could two fathers and old enemies end up getting along? Harry only hoped they wouldn't blow up the bar.

Harry walked into the bar and a bell chimed above his head, signally someone had entered the quaint establishment. Every last person sitting at the bar turned around to look at Harry. Since no one knew him, they all turned back to their drinks except one blonde man sitting in a booth in the back. Harry made his way over and slid into the booth opposite Malfoy.

"Potter, thanks for meeting me. I did order you a drink. It's muggle whiskey." Draco slid a glass over to Harry while Harry could see three empty glasses already in front of Draco.

"I see you've already started," Harry mocked. The voice inside his head chastised him for already saying something wrong. Harry laughed inwardly thinking that his inside voice sounded more and more like his wife everyday.

Draco bit back and ignored Harry's tone. He began drinking off of another glass of whiskey a waiter set down on the table. Draco had promised Astoria he would be on his best behavior tonight no matter what Potter said. Draco never liked breaking his promises to Astoria if he could help it. This was a close call.

"I'm sorry, Draco. It is hard to break old habits. I apologize," Harry then took a sip.

A pattern started to emerge. Each one would take a drink, act like they were going to say something and then take another drink. To say the atmosphere was uncomfortable would be an understatement. Four more whiskeys later and a conversation finally broke out between the two.

"Draco, I wanted to let you know that we're all are extremely proud of Scorpius during his first task of the Tournament. He held his cool especially with what happened at the end. He is a fine young man."

Draco beamed with pride. He was making the effort to be present in Scorpius' life now and he couldn't help but be glad Scorpius never fell into the Malfoy tradition of cowardice. "If I had half the courage Scorpius has then maybe things could have turned out differently for me. He is a great man. I'm just sorry he didn't know I felt that way about him until now." Draco shook his head. "How did you do it with two boys? I only have one and I find it difficult."

"Ha, well believe me, neither James or Albus make it easy on either Ginny or myself. They are two troublemakers, but I'm proud of what they are doing with their lives. James is playing professional Quidditch. Ron is beyond happy, especially because he's playing for the Canons. And I'm not quite sure what Al wants to do yet, but he has a good head on his shoulders." Harry smiled. He was insanely proud of who his sons were growing up to be. "Do you know what Scorpius wants to do after Hogwarts?" Of course Harry already knew what Scorpius wanted to do, but he wasn't going to rub that in Draco's face. No father would want to feel inferior.

"I believe Astoria told me he wants to be an Auror. Quite the opposite for someone from the Malfoy family." Draco hiccupped. "Oh, bully Potter, I think we've had a good deal to drink."

The two men laughed. Despite the awkwardness at the beginning of the night, the two felt at ease now.

"Well, Draco, I plan to help Scorpius in whatever he needs to become an Auror. It helps knowing the head Auror."

"What would my father say if he saw the pair of us together and your offer to help Scorpius." Draco laughed. He couldn't believe he was sitting here, but the hardest part seemed to be admitting that in an alternate reality he could have been friend with Harry Potter. "And now it seems the pair of us may be connected for the rest of our lives. I never thought my son would fall for a Potter. But I see the way he looks at her and he says the most wonderful things about Lily. You must be proud of her too."

"She is a wonderful person, but I have an even harder time letting her grow up. I thought it was only yesterday I heard her yelling for her daddy to fix an ouchie," it was then that Harry truly realized Lily wasn't his little girl anymore and he was going to have to share her with Scorpius.

"Oh, Potter, listen to the two of us. We sound like two old hens," Draco laughed heartily. "So what do you say to a toast. To our kids—may they always be wiser than their parents, but never realize it." The two of them clanked glasses.

"If he was any other young man I wouldn't feel comfortable with Lily dating Scorpius. But I know he will treat her the way she deserves. If not she has three brothers, three big cousins and six uncles ready to pounce on him." Harry laughed as Draco nervously nodded. He hoped Scorpius knew what he was getting into. "Well, Draco, I should probably head home to Ginny. She might be worried that we've already destroyed the bar."

They both stood up and Harry stretched out his hand. Draco met it with an unwavering civility. Harry turned to leave when Draco's words stopped him.

"Hey Potter, maybe we could make this a regular thing. No one but our wives would have to know?" Draco looked unsure. This was a huge step for him.

Harry smiled, "I think I'd like that. It would be nice to sometimes get away from someone who isn't related to me or my wife."

The two men left with a new understanding. And they would set future dates for their secret meetings. And no one beyond Ginny and Astoria knew that two great enemies were on their way to becoming friends.

A/N: No, I haven't counted incorrectly. Lily has six uncles because Uncle Dudley exists in her life. I believe Harry and Dudley would have reconnected in my wonderful Harry Potter world!