Chapter 10:

There was something about squeezing around a too small table with a group of your closest mates and an abundance of alcohol. Harry knew he was grinning like an idiot but he was also well on his way to being fairly drunk and could not care less. Despite their dwindling numbers (Ginny was ill and Dean had family visiting) it was gearing up to be a pretty decent night.

Sure it had been a rocky start. Hermione, bless her soul had decided to invite Draco (after consulting Harry many, many times in the days prior to make sure it was alright of course). The second the guy had stepped into the bar, dressed immaculately as usual, they each fell silent, one at a time. Harry was the last to turn from where he was sitting with his back to the fireplace.

When Draco made his way over, Neville seemed to be the only one capable of moving. He brought the man a chair from a nearby table, clearing his throat pointedly at Seamus till he groaned and shuffled closer to Harry to make more room. Hermione was all big smiles and small talk of course and Draco politely greeted each of them in turn.

Harry hadn't miss the way his friends watched him closely to gage his reaction. He felt a rush of affection for them actually because if he had so much as breathed the words he was certain they would all have flipped the table and drawn their wands. "Hey," Harry had greeted instead with a smile, feeling the tension slowly start to ebb. "Glad you could make it."

Draco returned his smile, albeit gratefully before turning to Hermione. "Thank you for inviting me out, Hermione."

And that was that. The conversation resumed and soon Draco was laughing with the rest of them. Honestly it was kind of unnerving actually. Harry glared at his glass trying to figure out exactly what that funny twisting in his gut was. Actually perhaps he just needed to puke.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Parvati asked giving him a little nudge from beside him. She pushed a glass of water towards him which he accepted gratefully as Ron recounted a very much exaggerated story of his last raid.

"I call bullshit," Draco announced. "That is complete tosh. There is no way the aurors would have let you go anywhere near a site like that. Aren't you bound by legalities and ethics?"

Ron shrugged. "Don't ask me. Harry's the big man that signs off on all our cases." Harry was confused at first when his friend looked to him pointedly. "You remember this one, don't you?"

They were all staring at him now and Harry could feel his face heating up. "Er yeah, I remember."

Satisfied, Ron turned back to Draco. "See? I'd never lie."

Draco narrowed his eyes at him like he was trying to determine if there was a veiled threat there. One look at Ron and Harry knew that there definitely was. At this point reaching for his glass had become more of a reflex. He downed what was left of the drink and left the steering of conversation to Hermione and Luna instead.

"You better ease up with the next one, mate," Seamus slurred, nudging him so hard he ended up knocking into Parvati. "We actually want you to get in this time."

"M'fine," Harry informed him, nudging him right back. "Not even drunk a little bit."

"I know, I know," Seamus told him, taking a sip from his own drink. "But with Dean out you have to wingman for me tonight. You can't do that if you can barely stand now can you?"

Harry noticed Hermione watching him closely from across the table. She was wearing that little frown that spoke of disapproval. He wasn't surprised. She had never been a big fan of the clubbing scene. Neither had Ron who only ever accompanied Dean, Seamus and Harry on the odd occasion.

When he caught her eye her frown only deepened. Harry didn't care though. He was going to make sure he had fun tonight and if that meant sticking to coke and water for a while, so be it. What really bugged him though was the way Draco was watching him. It was with an intensity so strong Harry was sure Seamus would have felt it.

When Harry caught his eye Draco gave him a small smile. "Muggle?" he asked.

"Muggle," Seamus informed him. "The Wizarding ones are boring. Besides Harry sticks out like a sore thumb in those places."

"Hey, I can't help it!" Harry sniffed. "And those glamours are hard to keep on when you're smashed."

Seamus rolled his eyes. "We were barely in one for five minutes before word got out that Harry was here. They pushed right past Dean and I to get to him."

"It was a stupid club anyway," Harry insisted. He had left that place with lipstick stains and an abundance of phone numbers. Dean and Seamus had left with bruises and they had never let him live it down.

Draco grinned, his eyes following Harry again. Actually Harry got the distinct feeling they were doing that slightly unfocused thing they often did when Draco had a little bit much to drink.

"I think I'll head to the loo," Draco announced before Harry could ask him if he was alright. He finished the rest of the drink and stood up, wavering just a little bit before seeming to recollect his bearings. If Harry watched him leave it was only to make sure the guy made it to the men's room.

"He's not coming with us, is he?" Seamus demanded the second he was out of earshot.

"I doubt he'll make it," laughed Parvati. "Have you seen the state of him?"

Neville sighed. "It still feels odd having him around." He paused, catching Harry's gaze. "Sorry, Harry I know it must be stranger for you…"

Harry shrugged. "I've had time to get used to it. We're friends now, whatever that means." He looked around at their skeptical faces and rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, weirder things have happened."

"You were never friends, mate," Seamus informed him. "You rushed from arch enemies to boyfriends before any of us could even blink."

"I know," said Harry, resting his head on his hands as he stared into his glass. Maybe if he tried hard enough he could actually make it shatter. That could come in handy some day.

"What is that bastard up to now?" Ron demanded, making them all turn to follow his gaze. Draco was leaning by the bar with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and making wild gestures at the bartender with the other one.

Harry groaned, turning back to the glass and to his desperate attempt at shattering it. From their table they could hear raised voices but it was impossible to make out what was being said.

"We should have invited him sooner!" declared Parvati. "This kind of entertainment is hard to come by these days." She pulled an amused Luna up by the arm and the two made their way over to the bar. A red-faced Ron followed soon after.

"Well this took an interesting turn," said Neville, craning to see what was happening.

Hermione sighed. "You know I was going to join you guys at the club tonight but I might just be escorting my drunk husband home instead."

"Well," said Harry finally lifting his head up to face his friends. "You did marry him."

"He has a point," said Neville. "But I do feel sorry for whichever poor soul has to take Draco back."

Harry flinched. "I can't. We-" He turned to Seamus pleadingly.

"Oi, don't look at me 'arry," he cried. "I'd rather shove my head in a cage full of pixies. We're still going out after anyway."

"And just like that, I became the poor soul who has to take Draco back," grumbled Neville, standing up.

Harry smiled gratefully. "Thanks," he said joining him so they could get a closer look at what was happening.

"It's not my fault she didn't know what fire whiskey was!" Draco was telling Luna. "They don't even have treacle tart here!"

"Well it is a bar, Draco," giggled Parvati. Apparently they had managed to pry him away from the bar tender who was still shooting them disapproving looks. It was a wonder she hadn't kicked him out yet.

"Back in France they used to have desserts at the bar I used to go to," Draco insisted. "The best pastries… ever. Or maybe that was just 'cause I was drunk. But they had them! Desserts and now I need tarts."

"I'm sure he would appreciate just the flowers," Luna assured him. "They are lovely."

Draco grinned. "Thanks," he said in what was supposed to be a whisper for just the girls. "I made them just now."

"If you were so happy," slurred Ron, suddenly lurching forward. Harry managed to catch him in time before he knocked over both the bar stool in front of him and his drink on the counter. "If you were so happy with your French bars and your pastries, why did you come back?"

"Ron-" Harry began but Ron just swung an arm around his shoulder and put a finger to Harry's lips to silence him. Draco frowned between them, face a mixture of hurt and confusion.

"Shh mate," Ron continued to whisper (again, rather loudly) into Harry's ear. "I have your back."

"I m'ssed him," Draco said, sounding just a little bit like a petulant child. "I missed you, Harry," he added again, catching Harry's eye with a pleading look. Apparently this was the point he was expected to intervene. Harry had no idea how he was supposed to accomplish that so he just looked away, tightening his grip on Ron instead. His best friend had unsurprisingly gone from lanky to well built over the course of his auror career and it was taking everything in Harry to hold him somewhat upright.

"No," Ron snarled. "You came back because you were fucking miserable without him and so you figured you should make him just as miserable as you were."

"That's not true, Harry, tell him-"

"Yer blind if you think any of us wan' you here, Malfoy," Ron growled, taking a shaky step forward. Harry gripped him tighter. "We've moved on. Haven't we 'arry?"

Harry was thankfully saved from answering when Ron who was practically draped around him was forcefully jerked away. "Ronald," Hermione snapped. "We're leaving. Now." She pulled him with an ease that Harry found quite remarkable given that just a minute ago he had been struggling under Ron's weight. That woman never ceased to amaze him.

He turned back to Draco, watching the colour drain from his face as the flowers he held hung limply by his side. There was a part of him that wanted to say something to take away that broken look but he knew it just wasn't his place. Not right now.

He let Neville push past him and take the flowers from Draco's hand. "I think it's time we get you home as well, mate."

Draco frowned, looking past Neville. "Harry?"

Harry just shrugged. "Let Neville take you home."

Neville nodded, pursing his lips and studying Draco again. "Actually with the state you're in are you sure you want to go home? I'm sure Ginny wouldn't mind too much if you stayed at ours." He paused. "Actually yeah she may still hex you in your sleep."

"I'll go home," said Draco dejectedly. With a short nod to Harry that still looked kind of pleading, he went back to their table to collect his jacket.

Neville offered Harry the flowers he was holding but Harry just shook his head.

"We're still heading out, aren't we?" Seamus said from behind him.

"I think I may need a decent night out as well, after this," Parvati sighed.

Harry just nodded.

Kreacher, bless his elvish soul had silently left a vial of his hangover concoction, some water and a still steaming cup of coffee on his night stand at some point during the early hours of the morning. Although given that it was already eleven perhaps it hadn't been that early. Either way Harry gratefully downed the entire vial, shuddering at the taste. The relief from the dull throbbing in his head made it worth it though.

"Master Harry is wanting breakfast?" Kreacher asked as soon as he saw Harry making his way downstairs, coffee still in hand.

"Yes please," Harry smiled. "And thank you, I know I must have made quite a racket last night. Actually I don't quite remember, did you put me in a body bind or was that just a dream?"

"Kreacher was worried the muggles would hear," said the old elf, looking guiltily down at his feet before peering up at Harry again. "Kreacher meant Harry no harm. Really."

Harry laughed. "Don't worry, I did deserve it, didn't I?" Kreacher didn't say anything, just blinked up at him so Harry took that as a yes.

It had been a pretty good night. One of the first in a long time where the DJ had actually been half decent and they had made the most of it, electing to spend most of the night on the dance floor. Harry fulfilled his wingman duties rather well if he said so himself but by the end Seamus had steadily drank himself into quite a state.

It took both Parvati and Luna to haul him away from the place and they agreed to escort him home as well. Meanwhile Harry who had been judged competent enough to catch a train home by the girls was left stumbling back to Grimmauld. He remembered barely feeling the chill at all as he sang to himself.

In retrospect perhaps he had ended up singing to the entire street. Maybe that was what led Kreacher to his drastic measures. Actually no, he also vaguely remembered running into his neighbour's bin. He might even have hexed it after abusing it with his fists first of course. Merlin, he was glad his neighbours were barely ever around.

As he picked at his breakfast and worked on piecing together as much as he could of the night before, flames began to dance in his fireplace. Ron peered in, face set in a small frown. "Harry? You up mate? Yes, 'Mione, I'm trying but it's hardly my fault that some people are Merlin forbid allowed to sleep in every now and again." There was a pause. "I know he doesn't have kids to look after but I just think that one-" Harry couldn't quite make out what Hermione was saying in the background but it had Ron grinding his teeth.

"I'm here," Harry said at last, stepping into the living room with a toothy smile that he just knew would get his friend even more worked up.

"Finally! She won't stop until I apologize to you," Ron whispered, looking behind cautiously. Even Harry half expected Hermione to jump out of the flames as Ron coughed once and raised his voice. "Apparently I was rude and childish last night and I am sorry for my actions and what I said." He paused, sneaking another look behind him before lowering his voice again. "But I meant every single bit of it."

Harry snorted. "As far as apologies go that was rubbish. Besides, I'm not even the one you should be saying sorry to."

Ron narrowed his eyes. "If you think that I am going to ask for forgiveness from that nasty, spineless prat, you are-"

"Ron!"

"Bloody hell, Hermione you were in the other room! How did you even-" He paused, listening to something Harry couldn't catch. "Hermione says hi by the way and Rose wants to know when you're going to visit."

Harry smiled. "Tell Rose I miss her and maybe we can go flying this weekend."

"Uncle Harry!" a voice cried out in the background. Soon Ron was pulled away and Rose appeared with a wide smile, Hugo next to her looking more curious than anything. He couldn't speak yet but that didn't stop him from babbling and gurgling at a mile per minute.

"Hey Princess."

"M' not a Princess anymore," Rose informed him. "Didn't Daddy tell you? I'm a Pirate now! You can call me Captain Rose and- and this is my First Mate, Hugo Blackbeard. Except Mom won't let me draw him a beard." She gave him that wide-eyed look that he had never managed to resist. "Can you ask Mom for me? Maybe she'll listen to you."

Harry laughed. "Aye, aye Captain," he said with a mock salute. "Your brother would look marrr'velous with a beard."

Rose nodded her approval and even Hugo made an affirmative noise beside her. "Uncle George is going to make us a ship that can fly like a broom!" she added suddenly with a squeal of delight.

"He most certainly is not," Ron grumbled. "Brooms are bad enough. The last thing you need is another broken arm."

Rose looked guiltily over at Harry. "Can you ask Daddy about the ship as well?" she whispered.

"Oi, I heard that," said Ron and all of a sudden Rose had disappeared from the fire leaving just Hugo peering in with a delighted laugh. Harry could hear Rose giggling wildly in the background, presumably being tickled senseless by her father. Finally after a couple minutes of squabbling Ron reappeared, scooping Hugo into his arms.

"Sorry mate, I need to go give this little monster a bath. Hope the hangover wasn't too rough."

"Kreacher gave me some of his potion," Harry explained.

Ron frowned. "Hermione wouldn't let me take anything except one of those muggle pills and water because apparently I deserve the hang over. At least Malfoy will be suffering just as badly as I am though." There must have been something in Harry's face because Ron's eyes widened. "No!" he said, apparently trying to sound threatening. It failed mainly because of the amused two-year-old he held in his arms. "You are not going to give him that potion, Harry, no! Hermione! Tell him!"

Hermione's face appeared behind her husband. "I think it's a brilliant idea actually." She frowned as Ron started to splutter indignantly. "Language."

With one last murderous look, Ron disappeared. Harry could still hear him grumbling as he went. "Don't mind him," Hermione said with a wave of her hand. "You can fill us in on the rest of your night at dinner. Rose has been begging to see you."

Harry laughed. "Sure thing."

Narcissa Malfoy answered his floo call almost immediately. Harry felt just a little bit guilty for not visiting her more often. There was a time where he felt she was the only one who understood his grief. He loved his friends, he really did but the attention they paid him was a little bit overwhelming sometimes.

Besides, it had been nice to have someone who needed looking after for a change. Everyone else used to watch him like hawks, waiting to intervene and coddle him the second he looked like he needed it. With Narcissa he would sit down with her and make her tea and then they would while away their time just accepting each other's presence.

After a while Harry began to bring board games over, the muggle ones and soon it became a tradition of sorts. A couple times a month he would show up, sometimes with Teddy and they would all play.

"Good afternoon, Harry," she smiled when the house elf who had escorted him from the floo, (a new one by the looks of it, Blinky must have finally decided to take that trip around the world she had been planning the last time Harry was here) let him step into the parlour.

"Hi," Harry said, hovering in the doorway.

"Do take a seat," said Narcissa, gesturing to one of the elegant chairs beside her. She must have seen how relieved Harry was when he rushed towards it because she looked quite amused. "I trust you had a good night?"

"It was definitely something," Harry told her somewhat sheepishly. "Actually I was wondering if Draco was up. I brought him this." He placed the vial he had been clutching down on the small table between them. "It does wonders for hangovers and well after last night…"

"Yes, he was in quite a state when he finally made it home," Narcissa told him, face unreadable.

"I am so sorry, if he woke you-"

Narcissa smiled. "Don't be. It is his fault after all for drinking more than he could handle. But do thank Neville for me," she added. "It was so kind of him to see my son home."

Harry nodded. "Of course."

He must have looked like he was looking for an escape because suddenly Narcissa leaned forward. "Now that I finally have you here again, Harry, how about we finish that game we started when you were here last. Draco is just having a shower, I'm sure he won't be too much longer."

Harry nodded. He could barely remember the last time he was here. It had been a few months definitely. "Sure, that sounds great."

Narcissa smiled warmly. Despite everything else it seemed the years could not rob her of that regal beauty, Harry mused. "Wonderful, I shall fetch the cards."

"Oh," Harry said jumping up before she could move. "I can grab them. Um-" he ran a hand through his hair, realizing that they could be anywhere. "Are they still in the study or…?"

Narcissa nodded. "First door on the left. They should be on the desk."

The study looked like it had suffered a few natural disasters and was now blanketed in paper. Narcissa had always kept the place immaculate. In fact Harry had thought she never used it at all until he had found a book about Wizarding art history there one time and a soft blanket in the chair that had once belonged to first Lucius and then Draco Malfoy.

Apparently when Draco moved back he had taken his space back as well. It was just Harry's luck. He could barely see the wooden desk beneath the paper and parchment let alone a pack of cards. It took a few minutes of sifting before he finally found them under a pile of papers.

As he was putting the pages back where they had been something caught his eye. It wasn't Harry's fault really. He had given up on snooping, he really had. He had not meant to see the words on the paper but they were just so bold and they were even underlined! So really it was not his fault.

Contract of Sale of Real Estate – Particulars of Sale

Harry frowned down at the parchment. There was a London address printed in delicate handwriting as well as Draco's signature and that of some witness. By the address it sounded like a flat or perhaps an apartment. It took a moment for that to sink in.

"Has Harry Potter found the cards, Sir?" called a voice from the doorway. The house elf who had let him in earlier was watching him somewhat suspiciously.

"I ah-" Harry made a show of scrabbling around for the pack, before finally grabbing hold of it. "Found it, thank you." He ignored the way the house elf narrowed his eyes at him, choosing to get back to Narcissa as soon as possible instead.

Harry dealt the cards without being prompted. It was Uno as had been a tradition with them once Harry had explained that it was Draco's favourite. Harry was not quite sure why Narcissa had taken to it so much just like her son had. Perhaps because it seemed to be such a simple game on the surface but at the same time it still required strategizing. Either way it left them free to talk, unlike chess, which they usually played in silence.

Harry lasted all of about ten minutes before he found himself blurting it out. "So Draco bought a flat," he said, watching her carefully.

"Hmm?" Narcissa hummed, nothing on her face indicated she had even heard him.

"I didn't mean to read it, I just- the papers were lying there on top of the cards and wait, please tell me you already knew because if he was keeping this-" He frowned when she dropped a 'pick up two' card.

"Relax, Harry," she said with a smile. "He told me just yesterday. Although I do not believe he intended for you to find out this way."

Harry nodded. "I can pretend to be surprised," he said, trying to make light of it. "It is a big step though, leaving the Manor behind. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"Oh I won't be going anywhere," she said, finally looking up from her cards and apparently noticing Harry's confusion. "He didn't come back for me, Harry. He came back to start over. A new life without the shadow of his past hovering so close." She stared intently back down at her cards. "Besides, now that Teddy is heading off to Hogwarts I've asked my sister to move in with me."

"But-"

"I will miss having him around but I don't need him here as much as he likes to think I do. This is his way of starting a new chapter in his life and thankfully one that is closer to home."

"So he's going to-in London- he's-wow." Harry frowned down at his cards, not quite understanding what the knots in his stomach meant.

Narcissa just nodded like she understood. "He's been applying for jobs as well. Wizarding and Muggle"

"Really? What would he be doing? Writing for the papers again?"

Before Narcissa could answer the door burst open. "Mother, have you seen my-" he stopped in his tracks when he saw Harry, blinking a few times like he was trying to work out if he was seeing things. "Harry?" And then he stepped in, wringing his hands together awkwardly. "Harry I am so sorry about last night I-I don't know what to say there really was no excuse."

Harry laughed. "Well it wasn't your classiest performance."

Draco nodded. "I'll apologize to all of them, I give you my word. I shouldn't have riled Ron up."

"To be fair, Ron was also out of line but he'll be too stubborn to admit it."

"I would expect nothing less," Draco laughed nervously.

"I brought you something actually," Harry said if only to cut through the palpable awkwardness. He held the bottle up to Draco who swept across the room to take it from him. "Kreacher makes the best hangover cures and I figured after last night, you would need it."

"Thank you," said Draco as he unscrewed the lid. He looked uncertainly at it for a second.

"Whole thing," Harry told him. "It works best when you drink it all at once as well."

Draco nodded, gulping it all down in one go. He proceeded to take a seat by Narcissa's other side. "Are you playing Uno?" he asked apparently finally noticing the game set out in front of them.

Harry nodded.

"Harry and I have had competitive matches for a while now." She smiled. "Of course I tend to be the victor most of the time."

"Not true!" cried Harry. "I won that one time, when Teddy came over."

Narcissa smiled. "I was hoping to let Teddy win that round."

"Oh," Harry murmured sheepishly. He had been so proud of himself that day for besting Narcissa. Teddy when he had lost had grumbled about how much he hated this game and insisted they all go outside instead.

"You were competing with an ten year old?" Draco asked, not bothering to hide his amusement.

"I didn't know!" huffed Harry.

Draco laughed. "I'm still trying to picture it."

Harry just scowled.

"Right," said Narcissa, looking between them. "I'll leave you two to it, shall I?"

"No, no it's fine," said Harry because apparently Draco had lost the ability to speak. "I won't be here long actually. I just wanted to drop that off and make sure Draco was still alive. I'm going to see Minerva today."

"McGonagall?"

"The one and only." Both mother and son gave him matching quizzical looks. He wanted to lie and say it was for some guest lectures he was giving this year but for some reason the words stuck in his throat. There was really no harm in telling them, right? He had sent his resignation letter in on a last minute whim just before he had left for pub night yesterday. "I want to apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position this year," he breathed out all at once.

Both Malfoys seemed to take a few seconds to process this. Narcissa found her words first. "That's wonderful dear, good for you," she said, gushing in a way Harry had never expected from her. She was practically beaming at him. "Draco?"

Beside her, Draco whose gaze had been silently boring into the table in front of him looked up. "It really is," he said, finding Harry's eyes and smiling. "I'm happy for you, Harry."

"Thanks," said Harry, ducking his head a little. "It's been a long time coming, I know. But um while we're sharing big news, your mom tells me you have some for me as well?"

Draco looked to his mother, confused. "He saw the papers for your flat," Narcissa explained.

"Oh, oh," said Draco, eyes widening as they shifted back to Harry. "I wanted to tell you but just couldn't find the right time."

Harry shook his. "Don't worry about it. Good for you, Draco. It's a good start."

Draco nodded. "Thank you. It's a nice place, a little run down but I'll be fixing it up next week hopefully."

"Well, I've become an expert at home improvement if I do say so myself," Harry smiled. "Let me know if you need any help. Especially with the paint."

"Now, now, Harry," said Narcissa and Harry bit his lip because he knew exactly what was coming. "Blinky and I had to spend a good few hours getting the paint off that cushion."

Draco raised his brows questioningly. "Enchanted paint," Harry explained. "I didn't know it was following me, I swear! Long story short, as soon as I sat down the cushion took the worst of it."

"Ah," Draco smiled, still looking a mixture of confused and worried. "Perhaps you should stay away from the paint then." Harry gave him an indignant huff, which just made the guy's smile grow even wider.

"Anyway, I should be heading off now," Harry told them, rising from his seat. "If I don't get this job I might just have to go into home improvement full time. Perhaps I'll take a course on interior decorating as well."

Draco laughed. "Thank you again, Harry. For the potion."

"Not a problem," Harry told him. "What are friends for, right?"

"Of course," hummed Draco.

"It was nice seeing you again, Harry," said Narcissa with a soft smile. "Take care of yourself. And do come visit me."

Harry nodded. "We will be having a rematch soon."

Draco's face as he looked between his mother and Harry was a mixture of fond amusement and utter bewilderment. It was actually comical. His frustration when the two of them started laughing in unison was even better. In the end he just shook his head and walked Harry to the fireplace, grumbling about where his mother's loyalty truly lay.

A/N: Not going to lie, I considering scrapping this story till I had time to rewrite the entire thing but in the end decided to persevere. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter.