Two figures were calmly standing outside of a door labeled 'Personal Effects'. The shorter one, a woman, was casually leaning her shoulders blades against a wall. Her companion had a shoulder braised on the same wall, his body turned to her. Their expressions were blank and they did not move, save for breathing. The air was undisturbed by their presence.
The woman was short with long chocolate brown hair. Her jaw was a soft square and her cheekbones were high. She had a pert little nose and hazel eyes. Today, her eyes were more green than brown. She had always been told by her father that when she was extremely happy, her eyes would change to sea foam green. Her father was usually right. Her robes were regulation black Hit Wizard robes. Her yellow emblem stitched on her breast was easily identified. The woman was the picture of grace and control.
Her companion was tall and lanky. His hair hung in pitch black tendrils. His black beady eyes were forever watching their surroundings as if he was expecting someone to pop out and hex him. His skin was almost deathly pale and his long face was neutral. His hooked nose was large and a prominent feature. The man's robes were as black as his hair and would billow about his legs when he walked. His relaxed position betrayed his inner feelings of uneasiness at being in the Ministry. It had been five years and he was still worried they would haul him off.
"Severus?" the woman began quietly. A quiet grunt told her he was listening, "Do you think he will be crazy like his aunt?" an undignified snort escaped the man's lips.
"He has Black blood, Henria." Severus answered quietly. He long ago dropped his drawl around her. Summer Holidays spent with her and Kadie have made him accustomed to their annoying voices and womanly wanderings. Not to mention their complete lack of control over their mouths had been amusing to him. He knew that his self preserving drawl had been a headache to Henria and only resorted to it when he wished to cause her annoyance when she did the same to him.
Their friendship was almost complicated.
"That doesn't help." Henria pouted while she crossed her arms tightly over her midsection.
"Then you should have brought Miss Hunter to aide you with her soft words." he drawled. Her impatience was rubbing against his skull and he was seriously reconsidering being here, waiting for Draco Malfoy.
"Asshole." she muttered under her breathe. Severus answered by crossing his arms over his chest.
An almost complicated friendship indeed.
The door across the hall opened and Henria shifted her weight. They both watched the door cautiously and waited with bated breathe for the head of white blonde to exit. Some voices sounded and the man in question appeared in the doorway. He was still severely under weight, but the bags under his eyes were light blue instead of black from the last time they had set sights on him. His skin was not as ashen, but not his usual pale brilliance. His grey eyes were empty and haunted. It appeared he had relived all his nightmares for the past five years every night and all day.
An intense silence deafened the hallway. Black and hazel orbs focused on grey. The two across the hall waited patiently for the new comer to talk first. They had agreed that they would let him set the pace for how his released would go. They knew that that is what he would need to become accustomed to the outside world. Since they did not know what kind of horrors he suffered while locked up, they did not know what to look for. Henria may go collect dark wizards as her job, but she never stayed long enough to know which cell a prisoner was sent to. It turned her stomach to be at Azkaban for too long.
Draco eyed the pair of them for a moment. He took in their relaxed stance. The only signs that they were nervous to see him were subtly tense shoulders and hardened eyes. He studied their soft breathing and cool demeanor. Henria's eyes watched him carefully. She appeared to be ready if he were to strike like a snake. Severus was taking in his stiffened stance and keeping his features blank. Draco knew that they wanted him to talk first, but he had dreamed of the day he would be release so often that he did not know if this was a dream or if it was real. He was scared that if he spoke, this feeling of freedom would dissolve and he would be back in his cold, hard cell, shivering and lonely.
Five minutes passed before Draco caught Henria shifting her weight to her left foot. When the hallway did not melt away, he took a chance to see if it was real.
"Are you real?" he asked in wonder. His voice was almost hopeful. But he could not let it be. That would be asking for disappointment.
Severus heard Henria gasp almost inaudibly. Her sharp intake of breathe had him glancing down at her. He could see tears forming in the corners of her eyes. He pushed off the wall slowly and faced his godson fully.
"Yes. We are really here and you are really free." Severus replied quietly. He noted that Henria had not moved yet.
"I'm not dreaming?" Draco's voice took an uncertain tone. It hurt Severus to see the almost confusion in his face. That Black blood was doing him no favors at the moment.
"No, Mister Malfoy. You are awake." starting with simple truths might be the best way to go.
"Then why isn't she talking? She always stays silent in my dreams. It is almost like I couldn't bear to hear her voice in my dreams because I couldn't touch her in real life. Tell me that this is real." the beginning of hysterics leaked into Draco's tone. His voice cracked as that was the most he had said in five years.
Severus sensed a panic attack coming on. He fished in his robes for a vial of Calming Draught. He saw Draco flinch at the movement and slipped the glass up his sleeve. As he brought his hand back out, he showed the young man his palms to let him see that he was not going to hurt him. That did not ease the tension in Draco's face.
"Oh Sweet Circe! I knew it was too good to be true this morning! I knew that I was dreaming when they pulled me from my cell before it was meal time. FUCK!" aggression and hysteria were molding his face into a painful grimace. Deep frown lines crinkle his forehead. His grey eyes were wild.
Henria had enough of this weak Draco Malfoy. She had been waiting to be addressed and enter the conversation. She did not like being referred to as if she were not there. She pushed from the wall and took three furious steps. The sound of her hand slapping Draco's sunken cheek was sharp and clear. Her eyes were narrowed in anger.
"Did that hurt?" she snapped. Draco recoiled from her voice. He had waited so long for that voice.
Something changed in Draco's eyes. It was like melting butter. The hysteria left and was replaced with heat. He was not angry about the slap. He had always liked Henria best when she was furious with him. Her cheeks would color to a pretty pink and her eyes would become bright. Her jaw would set and a muscle in her cheek would twitch. Draco decided he could be angry about the slap later.
"No. Have you gone soft in my absence?" his perfect Malfoy drawl slid out of his mouth in a smooth cadence. Despite trying to remember that he had just been freed, Henria's lips pursed into a thin line of anger.
"Let me try again, then? I'll make sure you can really feel the next one." she nearly growled. Severus sighed in annoyance.
"You two act like teenagers. Please, do try to act like adults, yes?" he drawled. Henria flinched, not being used to it anymore and Severus smirked.
"I don't know why I decided to come. I'm going home. When you have decided to start acting like you want me around, come find me. But I won't promise I won't have a male companion with me." she huffed and started down towards her office to collect some papers. She had reports to fill out and she would do them at home.
The two Slytherin men watched her stomp away. A slow smirk appeared on the blonde man's lips. His muscles protested as he had not worn this mask in a long time. Five years was too long to go without making any kind of expression except pain. The quirk felt good. It felt like home. It reminded him that he was still Draco Malfoy and he was still alive. The quirk of his lips told him he was finally free. And the angry figure retreating away from him was his redemption. His way of righting most of his wrongs.
"How has she been, nuncle?" Draco asked softly. He watched the last swish of her robes round the corner towards the Hit Wizard's office.
"Better than she could be. She had a tough go of it after the battle. According to Miss Hunter, she fell apart. They both didn't fair well after the loss of their friend. But her three years of Hit Wizard training helped distract her." Draco involuntarily shuddered. No one ever wanted to be a Hit Wizard. Only raving mad Henria Sownbinder would want to be a Hit Wizard.
"Why would she chose such an awful profession?" Severus started walking the opposite direction of where Henria disappeared to and Draco followed.
"I never claimed to be her best friend, boy." Severus replied impatiently, "I don't know the inner workings of a woman's mind. And that particular woman is most confusing."
Draco huffed in amusement, the ability to laugh was lost upon him. Five years without a smile will do that.
"Where will I stay?" Draco felt a shiver run down his spine with thoughts of the Malfoy Manor. There were so many bad memories and the walls were tainted with images of the Dark Lord roaming them at his leisure.
"Well, no one is jumping up to offer you a place. Malfoy Manor still stands. Your mother has been taking care of it and has expressed her wishes for you to return. She is lonely with only the company of house elves." the Potions Master informed the young heir. From the grimace marring the young man's face, the Manor was not a viable solution.
"You are to stay with Kadie and I in our flat. It is not a huge Manor with little elves running about, but it is a warm bed and a hot bath." a sharp voice broke into the conversation. Draco started at the sudden intrusion. Her soft soled boots had silently made their way to the tall men.
"Gods Henria! Don't do that!" Draco exclaimed after he caught his breathe. Henria eyed him curiously with sadness.
"What happened to you?" she whispered.
"Hell." Draco muttered. Severus' left eye twitched. The only sign that he was highly upset at his godson's suffering.
"Well, then the chicken stew that Kadie is cooking will drive it away." Henria replied while pushing past the brooding men. She was determined to set everything right because that is why they deserved. They all deserved something right in their lives.
"Chicken stew?" Severus asked uncertainly.
"It is very good stew. I taught her how to make it." Henria replied over her shoulder as she marched towards the Atrim, "And I do not make horrible food!"
Another amused huff escaped Draco's lips.
"She may be infuriating, but she does cook delectable food. A bit heavy, but soothing on a rainy day." Severus said softly.
"And that is the best compliment that I have ever gotten from him. A bit sad really." Henria said as she moved towards the outbound floo.
"Perhaps if your were not so annoying, I would compliment you more. Or if you had any qualities to compliment on, then I would." the drawl came back out.
"Perhaps if you had a sense of humor, you would find me positively hilarious as opposed to dreadfully annoying. But alas, you don't. It's a shame really." Henria finally stopped walking and turned to face Severus.
"You are bothersome and aggressive. Your hot headed attitude drives people away." Severus replied sharply.
"Your ugly face and pasty skin scare people!" Henria snarled.
"You two fight like an old married couple. How long have you been blissfully wedded?" Draco felt like he was watching a Wizard's Duel. His head kept moving back and forth watching the words hit their targets.
"Shut up and get in the floo. Since no one wanted to listen to mine and Kadie's suggestions, the floo call is Hendie's Harem." an amused snort came from Draco and Henria narrowed her eyes, "It sucks that I live off of Harem Drive. And it sucks even more that when you mesh Kadie's name with mine, it sounds Indian. Now quit laughing and go through."
"This is a story I would love to hear later." Draco responded as he grabbed a handful of floo powder. He tossed it into the fireplace, "Hendie's Harem!" and spun away. Henria turned to Severus. Her previous anger was gone and worry crinkled her brow.
"Maybe we shouldn't treat him so softly. I think he needs to be handled as he usually is." she whispered. Severus responded with a nod before he stepped to the fireplace and repeated Draco's actions.
When Henria entered her flat, she smelt the aroma of chicken stew. Her stomach rolled with hunger so she made her way to the kitchen. Draco was seated with a cup of tea with Severus. A third cup was at the table and was steaming hot. Kadie had just finished stirring the stew and was replacing the lid on the pot. It felt completely comfortable.
"I'm going to shed my robes. Be back in a minute." she informed everyone. Kadie flashed her a big grin and then sat in front of the steaming cup of tea.
As soon as Henria entered the bedroom that she was planning on sharing with Kadie if Draco were to move in with them, she dropped her Hit Wizard robes to the floor haphazardly. The reports that she needed to fill out poked out of a pocket so she bent over and snatched them up. The stress of waiting for Draco and his reaction to being free had left her tense and worried. The different scenarios that had ran through her head the week before and while they were standing in the hallway waiting for him, had given her a near constant headache. The worry twisted in her gut. Her job never made her this nervous.
With a sigh, she stripped off her soft leather boots, black leggings and plain black tee. Today she had decided that she wanted to forgo jeans and a blouse. Not that anyone cared what she had under her robes, but she still liked to look professional(shocker) at work. Now only in her tank top and shorts, she rummaged around her floor looking for her long, cotton skirt. Henria had dubbed it her 'lounge skirt' as she was prone to wearing it around the house when she did not feel like wearing real clothing. After she located it under her bed, she pulled it over her shorts and let it hang from her hips. The feeling of her calves being free had her sighing in relief.
"Henria! Get your ass out here before I serve all the stew to Mister Sexy Pants and Professor Paleness! And don't think I won't!" Henria heard her tiny friend bellow. A small smile played across her features and she rushed out of the room to claim her portion of the stew.
"Love, did you get me a cup of tea?" Henria asked as she entered the kitchen, "And honestly, Mister Sexy Pants?"
"It made him smirk. And yes, you have a cup for yourself. It is by your bowl." Kadie answered as she winked at Draco.
The kitchen descended into a comfortable silence as everyone quietly ate their meat and vegetables. Much to Kadie's chagrin, Henria began reading through her papers as she sipped her tea. Kadie coughed her displeasure and Henria rolled her eyes. With a flick of her wand, Henria summoned a quill and ink pot. This time Draco cleared his throat, except Henria ignored him completely.
"Does she do this often?" Draco whispered to Severus. Without looking up from his stew, Severus nodded his head yes.
"It's not a big room. I can hear you." Henria murmured as she compared notes.
"It is highly rude to work during dinner." Draco chided Henria in a posh tone. This time Henria did look at Draco.
"Unless you want me to work tonight instead of hang out with you and be subjected to Kadie's drinking, then I suggest you let me be as I sort out this mess so you can occupy my time." she looked back at her papers and started making corrections, "Besides, Kadie just called you Mister Sexy Pants. That means she wants to sleep with you. Feel up to the challenge? As I recall, the last time you two ended up tangling body parts together, she tried to kill you."
Draco's face paled at the memory, but Kadie had turned pink in the cheeks. Her eyes were flashing dangerously at Henria's bent head.
"What do you mean, be subjected to my drinking?" the shorter woman scowled at her friend. Henria snorted in a very unlady like fashion.
"You may be fooling the Potions Master and the Slytherin bad boy, but I know that you have some rum in your cup. More rum than tea, I expect." a coy smile wiggled onto Henria's lips. Draco, feeling emboldened by the compliments, snatched the mug from beside Kadie's bowl. And before he had time to second guess himself, he took a gulp of the mix.
The burn was almost familiar, but it was strong. Henria was right in that it was more rum than tea. He could not contain the cough that came with the generous amount. A triumphant smirk from Henria told him she knew that she was right already.
"You aiming to pass out drunk, Miss Hunter?" Draco sputtered.
"Mostly." she answered as she took back her cup and downed the contents in one go.
The diners finished quietly. It was shown that Kadie was very clumsy after three cups of her 'tea'. Her sleight of hand tricks were poorly executed and made the other occupants chuckle. She pretended not have noticed the delayed movements.
Bowls were placed in the sink and Henria offered to do the dishes. She had finally finished her reports and they had been banished to her desk in her room. Severus bid everyone goodnight and before leaving told Draco to floo call him if he needed a place to stay. Although, the appeal to stay with Henria might prove to be too great for the young man.
"I didn't believe you, but you were right." Draco said quietly from the doorway to the kitchen. Kadie was in her room, gathering her clothes to bring to Henria's closet. Her inebriated concentration was perfect for the task.
"I'm normally right, but remind me why I am this time?" Henria replied arrogantly as she rinsed off the last bowl.
"The chicken stew. I didn't think it would make me feel better, but it did. Are you sure you taught her how to cook?" he responded. Henria placed the bowl in the drying rack and turned around while drying her hands on her skirt, "It seemed like she would be teaching you how to cook."
"I'm pretty sure I taught her some things. I pulled out my mom's cookbook and learned the hard way." Henria commented as she smoothed her long skirt back into place, "But you are right, she has taught me more about cooking than I let on. Want a drink stronger than tea?" Draco shook his head.
"I think I've met my limit with that one swallow I had. Is she all right?" Draco inquired as he followed Henria to the living room. They sat on the couch, their bodies turned so they could face each other.
"Most days she is. Other days her pain is too much to bear. That is the main reason we are living together. I don't know if you felt the charms and wards when you came in, but I had to have George Weasley come in with the charms and Hermione Granger to erect the wards. Kadie was present for the whole session. She is paranoid and still has nightmares. I normally don't use silencing charms at night because more than likely I will find the need to run into her room and soothe her screams." Henria replied with concern crinkling her nose, "Mark was the best at driving the bad things away."
"I am sorry that he past. Was he the one who pulled you off me the first time you attacked me?" Draco's tone was regretful.
"Thank you. And yes, he was the big guy who pulled me off you." Henria's eyes went dim with memories. Draco preferred them to be bright.
"Are you all right?" his voice was a whisper and Henria felt a familiar tug on her heart. His voice was sweet when he was quiet.
"Throwing horrible men and women in prison is therapeutic. I find myself adjusting quite well." she replied as she avoided his grey orbs. The truth was she hardly slept and when she did, she would wake up smothering a scream with her hand or having to run to Kadie's room and verify that she was still alive, "Shouldn't I be asking you those kinds of questions? You just got out of Azkaban. Or, as you so well put it, Hell." Draco shrugged his shoulders, "Have you decided where you want to stay? Kadie is assuming you would like to stay here. I think Severus has been assuming that you are going to stay here also."
"I haven't any clothing. It is all at the Manor." Draco shuddered at the thought of the Malfoy Manor again. He really did not want to go there. Henria caught the slight movement and frowned.
"Clothing can be obtained or bought. Professor Snape talked to your mother a few days ago and she informed him that she has checked your vault at Gringotts. He has procured your key and is waiting for you to ask him for it." Henria tucked her feet under her bottom and adjusted her position to a more relaxed state. She often forgot that she did not always have to be tense and waiting for an attack, "You don't have to stay anywhere you don't want to." she added softly.
"I'll stay here, if you will allow it. I can stop by the Manor tomorrow and collect what personal belongings I need and bring them here. I'll start looking for my own place as soon as I can." he said with a grateful look in his eyes.
"With two beautiful witches, you'll never want to leave." Henria stated with a cheeky smile.
"Probably not, but it was the thought behind what I said that counts." Draco smirked at her cheek. He liked that look second best in her features.
"Mishter Sexchy Pantss! Your room ish now ready!" Kadie presented as she swayed in hall. Her eyes were half lidded as she stood precariously on her feet. Henria sighed and rose from the couch.
"Why thank you, Miss Hunter." Draco replied trying to hide the chuckle that was worming its way from his chest.
"Pleasse, call me Kadie!" Kadie hiccuped as she braced her hand on the wall to keep from falling over.
"Too much tea, love?" Henria raised an eyebrow has she placed an arm around the drunk witch's waist.
"Never too much, Henny!" the small woman said with a sloppy grin. Henria just laughed as she guided her silly friend to their shared room.
"I'll be right back. I'm going to make sure she doesn't fall and crack her head open." she said over her shoulder to Draco.
Draco settled into the couch, relaxing his back. It felt wonderful not to have stone for a cushion. He could barely contain his eagerness to try the bed. The cot he had slept in for five years never broke in and gave him comfort. He wanted the mattress to wrap around his body and lull him to sleep. After not having comfort for so long, it felt strange to accept it so willingly. But with a full belly and no Dementors floating about, it was hard not to.
It had irritated him to internally when the two people he had dreamed about for five years treated him like a newborn babe. He would be damned if he let anyone treat him like an invalid. He still had his pride to think of. Granted, it was in short supply, what with all the happenings after Voldemort was defeated. He was still a functioning adult. He just had so many issues now that he might be a little messed in the head.
He was very appreciative that the only human contact he had had was Henria slapping his cheek. Aurors were very careful about touching any prisoner if they could avoid it at all. His cheek still burned where flesh had met flesh. Draco fingered the area lightly and shivered. Yes, touching would have to wait. It was foreign and dangerous to him now.
The couch dipped and Henria was sitting next to him again. Her body was relaxed in a way he had never seen her one other time. He realized that she was tense the whole time she was at Hogwarts except the night she had talked to someone and had come back slightly more than tipsy. The lack of booze on her breathe told him that she was finally shedding the tension of the war and her childhood.
"What are you thinking about?" she whispered as she stared into his grey pools of wonder.
"You." he replied truthfully. An eyebrow raised in question, "Just noticing how you've changed. It's not much, mind you. But you are more relaxed."
"Only fearing for my life and the lives of others at work helps. I come here and eat and laugh and even drink if I so choose to." Henria shrugged her shoulders non-nonchalantly, "Not that I do. Kadie needs me often that I forgo the usual alcoholism that accompanies survivors."
"How do you deal then?" Draco pressed. He did not like the answer that Severus gave him or her casual flippancy of her job being therapeutic. Not that she was one to ever discuss her problems.
"Work. Taking care of Kadie. And working." her gaze averted to the kitchen. She was avoiding looking at him in the eyes.
"Fine. I won't press. In fact, I will go to sleep and not think of it again. Because I'm never going to get straight answer out of you about it." Draco's tone had an edge to it and Henria took notice. She winced slightly at the sharpness.
Henria rethought her answers. It was not fair to expect him to be honest with her and she not return the courtesy. And she would expect him to be honest with her if he were to ever get over Azkaban. A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
"I don't." her voice was quiet, "I don't deal with anything. I wake up from nightmares, smothering screams with my hands and quietly check on Kadie. I go to work and pretend like I don't care if someone curses me. A raised wand makes my stomach jump. It doesn't matter if it is aimed at me or not. I have a few defensive spells on the tip of my tongue waiting to be thrown out wandlessly. I don't deal, Draco. I just help people and I lock up witches and wizards who mean harm. Because I saw too many people get harmed." a hand went up to rub the creases out of her brow, "I watched children be attacked by grown men and women. I killed men. I intentionally threw myself in front of an Avada Kedavra. I lost a piece of my heart.
"I go to work and take all my grievances with me. I throw myself into reports and follow ups. I keep people away from me and snap at those who look at me. I haven't said a nice thing to Minister Kingsley since he wouldn't overturn your conviction. I am avoided in the office and people will actually groan when I come back from collecting criminals unscathed. Although, it surprises me that they think I would allow anyone to harm me. I did jump in front of Voldemort's wand and lived. Surely some second rate wizard could not take me out. I sit at home and watch Kadie go about her business and monitor her when she drinks. I curl around her body at night when she wakes up screaming and sobbing. I help people so they don't help me." a deep shuddering breathe had her chest stuttering, "I don't get to deal. I do help heal."
"That's an awful existence." Draco's mind was reeling.
"You had it worse. I could at least do something if I felt the need. You were trapped in your own mind without an escape route." Henria waved off the concern. She did not need it now.
"Why did you want to help me?" Draco asked curiously.
"Because everyone deserves help." she replied as she glanced at his face. She took in the frustration behind his grey irises. He did not appreciate her skirting answers.
"You still don't let people in." his tone biting.
"Correction; I don't let many people in. I already told you, once when we were younger; there is good in everyone. I'm here to help guide out that good that you claim isn't there."
"And what of us after you accomplish, assuming you do, that?" Draco could hardly contain his disbelief. She was so fucking stubborn.
"We fall madly in love and get married." she replied with a smirk. Draco could not control the gaping look that took over his features.
"Optimism. Not something I'm used to hearing in your voice." he shook his head in disbelief.
"Oh darling, there is so much you don't know about me."
A/N: And that is that.
Thank you all so much. Since no one was calling out for a third one, I am done. Unless you want more. *Grins evilly* Because I already have a few ideas. It is fun to play around with everyone's emotions.
You all are awesome for sticking with me through all the struggles! Go and check out my other fics. They are significantly more fluffy and cuddly than this one. For now...MUHAHAHA!
Happy reading!
Henny, that lucky Penny!