AN: I like this chapter a lot. I've had these kinds of impromptu sleep-overs where my family and family friends just don't go home. . . Oh, as of Chapter 15, all titles have been decided by Ripped of Sanity, my sugar-sweet beta to whom I am very grateful.

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters or anything even remotely related to the Harry Potter Franchise, except my own copies of the books and some merchandise.

What We Can Be

George had gone to check where the kids had fallen asleep, upstairs. He found Teddy and Victoire sleeping on James's bed, spooning and smiling in their sleep. George thought it was rather cute. A mattress on the floor held his son Fred and his daughter Roxanne with her head at the opposite end of the mattress. Fred looked like he may have been kicked in the stomach a couple of times by his little sister.

Rose and Hugo were sleeping in much the same way as Fred and Roxanne, on a mattress on the floor of Albus' bedroom, at opposite ends. The only difference was that Hugo and Rose were both small (as opposed to only Roxanne being small) and there was enough space. George chuckled as he saw Albus and tiny little Scorpius lying back to back on Albus's bed. He thought about how it was sweet that it was still acceptable for boys to share a bed at that age.

In Lily's room, which was the smallest, Lily was taking up her entire bed while James was lying uncomfortably on the floor, wedged between the bed and the mattress that Dominique and Louis were sharing.

George went back to James's room and quietly woke his children, taking care not to disturb Victoire and Teddy. George said goodbye to the adults downstairs and went home with his wife and children.

Harry found himself alone with Draco in the living room. The atmosphere would have been awkward under different circumstances, but after the events of the previous night/early that morning, there was a kind of amity between the old rivals.

Draco was the first to break the comfortable silence. "What a night," he commented.

Harry smirked. "You always did like causing a scene, Malfoy" Harry used his last name in a mocking but playful tone.

"Shut up" Draco laughed, thrusting the ice-pack that he was holding to his head at Harry. Harry dodged it and recovered it from the floor, handing it back to Draco with a grin.

"And you always were attacking me" Harry added.

"Well I guess nothings changed then" Draco chuckled. It was ironic because so very much had changed. Everything had changed.

"Do you think we could've been friends, back in school I mean, if things were different . . .?" Harry asked, staring at the dying fire, but not really seeing it.

"I think everything happens the way it's supposed to" Draco said philosophically. "Even the biggest regrets of my life, like being branded with this mark-" Draco lifted his sleeve of his left arm and indicated the Dark Mark that was still there, faded. "- had to happen, Harry. I learned a lot from it". Draco shook his arm and the sleeve went back down, once more covering the mark.

Harry was shocked that Draco had shared something so personal with him. Shocked that Draco trusted him enough to. "But there were things we could have avoided" Harry argued, non-aggressively.

"You're wrong" Draco said seriously, almost pleadingly. "Everything happened as it should have. It shaped us into the people we are today. Do you think you would appreciate having a family as much as you do if you hadn't had one of your own? So many people that have never known what it feels like not to have a family . . . take it for granted that they do".

Harry contemplated Draco's words.

"Do you think I would be the best father I could be to my sons, if I didn't know what it feels like to have a father that doesn't care?" Draco said solemnly.

"Being a father sure changes your whole outlook on life. It makes you a different person" Harry said.

"No. It brings out the person you truly are" said Draco quietly, giving Harry a significant look.

The men fell back into the comfortable silence, heavy with the intensity of their thoughts. After a while, Harry said, "You know, it feels like we're almost. . . friends"

Draco laughed. "Almost"

AN: It's clear in this chapter that Draco and Harry have matured since their school days. This is kind of the beginning of their friendship: the point where they've acknowledged the past and decided to move past it.

Next Chapter: Playing With Wands

"A little bit about wand-wood. You know; wood that can conduct magic".

. . .to be continued!