On Saturday night, Draco waited at the Apparition point. At exactly six-thirty, Ginny appeared, followed by several other Weasleys. Draco had to work hard not to fidget. He was glad they'd chosen to meet a respectable distance from the University, as he had no idea how his presence would be received. This would give him ample time to work up to coping with the reactions. At least some of the attendees were sure to assume he was there to renew his schoolboy rivalry with Potter. The ridiculous thing about that was how far it was from the truth. After everything that had happened, Draco had no interest in doing anything whatsoever to jeopardise the security he'd built over the ten years since then.

He shook his head at the way things had played out. Here he was, surrounded by a sea of Weasleys, all willing to ensure his public safety. When had he begun trusting them, exactly? He supposed that he could thank Ginny for that. Since she'd come to work for him, he'd noticed that Granger, who worked as a solicitor and was occasionally around the Ministry, had become reasonably friendly, and even Ron had sent a friendly remark or two his direction once or twice when they'd chanced to be in the lift together. Draco found himself oddly touched by the warmth these people showed him, despite the fact that he'd never given them reason to do so. He was determined to work that much harder not to live down to the standards his father had set.

Ginny made introductions to the few whom Draco had never formally met. George and his wife, whom Ginny called Angelina, were cordial, as was the stunning blond woman who was apparently married to Ginny's eldest brother, Bill. Bill himself was cooler, but he said nothing rude or harsh. Another one of Ginny's brothers introduced himself as Charlie. He was unaccompanied, and Draco didn't know whether he was unpartnered or had simply left a significant other at home.

Draco was pleasantly surprised when Ginny's father asked after his own parents. He thought it might have been the longest conversation he'd ever had with Mr Weasley. Percy, whom Draco knew from the Ministry, was also reasonably friendly. Ron, his arm looped protectively around his very pregnant wife's shoulders, offered Draco his hand, and Hermione greeted him warmly. Relief washed over him; it was looking to be a pleasant evening after all, despite the odd circumstances.

Ginny took his arm and they walked to the University. She had warned him there would be a queue, and she'd been right to suggest arriving early. Even so, they had to wait for a considerable amount of time before being ushered into a large lecture hall. Despite the Weasleys' efforts, Draco still received several sneers and at least one muttered comment. He tried to ignore it. He'd long since accepted that it was his own doing, and he simply worked around it whenever he was out. It no longer carried the sting it once did. Where it really hurt was in the way he'd had to resign himself to the idea of remaining single for the rest of his life; after all, who would want to be tarnished by a former Death Eater? There was nothing any number of supportive Weasleys could do for that.

At last they were seated in the large lecture hall. The lights dimmed, and an impressively dressed man with a neatly cropped white beard stepped to the podium. He placed his wand to his throat, and though Draco couldn't hear the spell from where he sat, he knew the man was casting Sonorus. He made a long, rambling speech about a hero's homecoming, and Draco couldn't help rolling his eyes. It helped to imagine a very flustered Potter scowling off-stage; Draco hid a smug smile.

At last the man introduced Potter and stepped aside. A moment later, Harry Potter himself appeared on the stage and took his place behind the podium. Draco had to hold his breath to keep from gasping. The man at the front of the lecture hall was most certainly not the same Potter who had left the country six years prior. Certainly he looked more or less the same, though he appeared to have done away with his ridiculous glasses and his hair was considerably longer, pulled back and tied elegantly. But there was something else, an air of—what? confidence?—that he now possessed, and it radiated from his whole being. His voice was commanding, yet not in a way that indicated an attempt to control his audience. Everything about him exuded a kind of authority that Draco was absolutely convinced had not been there before. It was mesmerising.

Curiosity got the better of Draco and he leaned forward in his seat to listen to what Potter was saying. He was explaining where he had been for the previous six years. As it turned out, Potter had spent most of his time travelling and studying wandlore, particularly the methods used to infuse wands with some aspect of the creator's magical aura, though he didn't go into the particulars. He was trained in the detection of rare and powerful wand components and had researched various theories associated with wand allegiance. In his position at the University, he would be able to continue his work as well as provide instruction for future ministry professionals regarding effective wand use. During the University's summer holidays, he would be providing additional training for the current Aurors.

Potter finished speaking and the room exploded with applause. It seemed the Wizarding world was more than ready to welcome their some-time hero back home. The Minister and a few of the University faculty gave brief comments, and the public portion of the event concluded. Ginny tapped Draco lightly on the arm and said they would wait until most of the attendees had left before making their way upstairs. Draco nodded; he knew this was as much for his own good as for the sake of herding the whole dozen of them to the private party without losing sight of one another.

When there was enough space to move, Draco and the Weasleys made their way to the enchanted rooftop garden where the private party was to be held. There were a number of familiar faces from the DMLE as well as a few people Draco hadn't seen since school and several he didn't recognise at all. He looked around for Potter.

He finally spotted him by a flowering shrub, talking to an unfamiliar man in black robes. Draco couldn't help taking a sharp breath. Potter looked good. He had changed from the official indigo robes worn by University faculty into emerald-green robes, and he had untied his shoulder-length hair. Draco noted that he still wasn't wearing his glasses, meaning he hadn't simply removed them while giving his speech.

Potter looked up, and Draco tried to shrink behind the rest of the Weasleys. He figured there were enough of them there to cover for him. He had a sudden urge to back away and run from the building.

Ginny wasn't going to allow that, though. She looped her arm through his and tugged lightly in Potter's direction. When they arrived, she let go in order to take hold of Potter and give him a thorough embrace. Something twisted inside Draco's gut, and he suddenly hated himself for feeling so bothered by the warmth between Ginny and Potter. He reminded himself that his friendship with her was only recent, just before his brain helpfully reminded him that perhaps it wasn't Potter of whom he was jealous. He batted that thought away as quickly as it had arrived.

"Welcome home," Ginny breathed. "You know Teddy's going to be over the moon that you're home."

Potter laughed. "As if he hadn't just been to visit me in the States. He won't have nearly the adventures now I'm back." Potter's eyes flicked to Draco, but if he was surprised to see him, it didn't register. "Evening, Malfoy," he said casually. His voice was warm, but his smile was tight and it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Draco cleared his throat. "So. You're back."

"I am, at least for now."

"I had no idea you knew so much about wandlore," Draco blurted. He wanted to kick himself for sounding so ridiculous.

Potter only smiled again. "Until a few years ago, I had no idea I'd be any good at this either. I went into Auror training anxious to use my practical Defence skills."

Curiosity got the better of Draco. "How did you discover this hidden talent?"

"Using those practical Defence skills I mentioned turned out to be a terrible idea."

"What, didn't like saving the world?" Draco tried to keep a sneer in his voice, but dammit, he found himself genuinely wanting an answer.

"I loved it, actually. But I don't exactly have the advantage of being unknown, do I? Anyway, I decided I was tired of ruining missions with my notoriety, and I was also bloody sick of the Prophet following me everywhere I went. So I left for America."

Draco frowned. "But wouldn't they have known about you there, too?"

"Not really. We tend to think of 'the whole world' as being Britain, or possibly the Continent. But Voldemort wasn't ever much of a threat anywhere else. It was nice, being unknown."

"And that gave you the chance to start looking into wandmaking, did it?"

Potter sighed a little. "No, not wandmaking, wandlore. There's a substantial difference. I study their use. Wasn't something I'd considered until one of my colleagues mentioned it after a raid. She said I knew far more about their wands than about the criminals themselves."

"So now you're here to—what, corrupt young minds at the University?"

Potter coughed. "Naturally." He tilted his chin slightly. "Good thing we've got your department to sort them back out when I'm through with them."

Draco could have sworn he saw Potter wink, but the impression was gone before he could properly register it. His face heated up slightly, and he hoped the low light wouldn't reveal his flush. He'd been expecting Potter to take his comments personally, much like they both had done when they were younger.

By that point, Ginny had wandered off to talk with someone else. Draco glanced over to her, then back at Potter. "Just where does one become an expert in wandlore, anyway?"

"Did you know there are several good Wizarding universities in the States?" He gave an unfamiliar-sounding name. "It's part of a Muggle school. Clever, really, to hide it in plain sight."

"And now you're spending your summer working for your old department at the Ministry. However are you containing your enthusiasm?"

"I'm hardly working for the Ministry. Well, yes, technically I'm in the DMLE this summer, but I'm only doing some staff training before I begin my teaching post. That pays better, and it's lots more prestigious, too." He laughed, and the vibrations stirred something inside Draco.

"With your wonderful life of obscurity, I can't even imagine what possessed you to return here." Draco let the sarcasm drip heavily through his words.

Potter shrugged, either unaware or ignoring it. "I was ready to come home. Besides, I figured now I've earned some fame for something other than Saving the Damned World, I could embrace my status."

"Always knew you were an attention whore," Draco muttered. He cringed; he was sure Potter would whip out his wand and hex him for that.

Instead of rage, however, a wide grin spread over Potter's face. "Ah, there's the Malfoy I remember. Good to see you haven't completely given up being an arse." He patted Draco firmly on the shoulder.

Draco huffed, but he let himself grin slyly at Harry. "Even I have to keep up appearances," he said. "Couldn't let the world think I've gone soft."

"That's enough about me," Potter said firmly. " What about you? I know you're a Curse-Breaker and you work with Ginny." He paused and leaned in. "Is there something going on between the pair of you?"

Draco snorted; he couldn't help it. "Besides being colleagues, no. Potter, I'm gay. Surely even the Golden Hero knows what that means?"

Potter didn't say anything, but he quirked an eyebrow at Draco. "I wasn't aware of that."

"Of course not. You've been out of the country for the last six years. Apparently you missed the front-page story in the Prophet wherein I came out and admitted my love affair with Severus Snape."

Potter's eyebrows shot up and his mouth dropped open. After several seconds, however, he started laughing. "Oh, Merlin. You're having me on, you wanker." He punched Draco on the arm good-naturedly. "Well, fuck me," he muttered. "I do believe Draco Malfoy just made a joke at his own expense."

"Good lord, Potter. You're as bad as Ginny. It's hard to believe how crass the pair of you are."

Potter just grinned, and it made Draco's face hot again. Even after so much time had passed, Potter could still wind him up.

Ginny returned to Draco's side with two glasses of champagne, and he sighed in relief. She handed one to him and sipped the other. Potter looked at her, and it appeared he couldn't tear his eyes away.

"I'm so glad to be home," he said softly, and she smiled.

Draco wished he could hurl the glass at the pair of them and be done with it. He gave himself over to the realisation that he wasn't merely annoyed they were able to have something he was not, even if he didn't wish to follow the trail to its natural end. That thought only made him more frustrated; there was no good reason why he should be so jealous of the obvious attraction between them. After all, hadn't they once been together? Besides, Potter had never given any indication—at least, not in the previous five-minute conversation—that he wasn't interested in pursuing things further with her. It was clear Potter had asked after his and Ginny's relationship in order to be certain she was still available.

After what seemed like an eternity, the small party began breaking up. Potter claimed to be exhausted after his long trip and the public affair. He kissed Ginny on the cheek, shook hands all around, and bid a fond good night to Ron and Hermione. He offered a last smile to Draco, which resulted in nothing less than a tribe of butterflies taking up residence in Draco's stomach. Then he turned on the spot and Apparated away.

Ginny rested her hand on Draco's arm. "Thanks for coming with me," she said.

"It was my pleasure," he forced. It had been, too, until the party. He tried to smile at her. "Get some rest. You'll need it—we have a big project to tackle on Monday."

Ginny laughed. "Yes, sir."

Draco Apparated away, leaving Ginny with the rest of her family.