Ch 4: Three Years

By:

YearOfDragons

Authors Note:

Hi! Yes, I'm back, and yes I'm horrible for promising you a pot of gold but it was really cabbage. I was extremely busy with life (big life) changes and I'm sorry this story took a hit.

Also I felt like it was going to a direction I wasn't happy and instead of fixing it I was willing to just drop it. But I really like this story and what it is turning in my head so I've decided to continue. Sorry for the fickle fackle and I will try to stay on track. =) Thanks for reading!

This chapter I wanted to focus on supporting characters so you'll see a bit of those in the upcoming ones. Don't worry I've already written 3 chapters ahead but I will post them one at a time that way it seems like I'm posting regularly mwahhahah…. ok enjoy!

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The crowd was loud, a weird smell was permeating, and it was too crowded. This was all fine for Draco, this was all working for his favor. Blaise decided to take Draco in what was apparently the swankiest pub in town, Draco didn't care either way. Being out with people, even an unwanted crowd, was a welcoming feeling for him. Old Draco would have cleared the whole place and sipped his brandy in solitude, but not fresh out of Azkaban Draco, apparently this one likes unwanted company.

The noise, the buzz, the crowd, its a nestle of anonymity that Draco is basking on.

It was incredible how much things have changed since Draco's incarceration. Here he was having a drink and across his way is a poor attempt of a guy picking up a girl. What was incredible about it was that the man was a muggle and the girl was a witch. Yes, Draco has somehow stepped into the twilight zone, where muggles and wizards openly interact. Poorly, but nonetheless, interact.

"Stop staring mate," Blaise nudges Draco while he took another swig from his brandy. "They're going to think your looking for a bit of companion." Blaise wriggles his eyebrows and Draco had to suppress himself from gagging.

"Tell me Zabini," turning from his chair slowly Draco reaches for his own drink before continuing, "What happened to the code of secrecy?"

"Oh it's still there," Zabini flags down the waitress. "Another round love, and oh can I also have some chips with it." Blaise waits for the young brunette to sway away before turning his attention back to his friend. "The code is just a bit, how can I say this, loose lately. You know with the whole Voldy being gone and all." Blaise says this with such casual air that Draco was a bit envious of his dark skinned companion.

For the last three years, Draco has sat in a dark, dungy cell replaying every little thing that has went wrong with his life. They were dark times, darker than Draco would ever admit out loud. His mind was hanging like a piece of thread ready to unravel at any moment. He held it together though, as close as it was to being gone, he held it together. But why? What exactly for? Redemption? Peace? Pride? A future? Family?

Love, that's what held Draco's sanity, love.

"Here you go fellas," the young brunette sets down another round for their consumption. "What's wrong love, you look like you just got out of hell. Cheer up it's a celebration today!"

Draco couldn't even be bothered looking up, "Oh yeah why's that?"

"Oh love haven't you heard? It's all over the papers!" Just then another patron calls the young witch over and she saunters out of earshot.

"What's in the papers?" Draco still lethargic from just being recently release from the hells of Azkaban, had just realized that he hadn't even bothered to read the papers and catch up on current news.

Living with other demented convicts, one just really don't have the leisure of reading the papers. Not to mention one may not even have access to particular said paper. Draco looked up to Blaise questioningly and he knew it must be bad. Blaise all of a sudden has a very keen interest on a not so particular spot on the table. Least to say, the table was nothing but your ordinary run of the mill, beer stained table.

A lot of things didn't suit Draco, asking the same question twice was one of them. Oh yeah sure, with his stint in a depressing prison has matured Draco, one can even say he's a changed man. But some things are just ingrained into your very bones. Draco Malfoy does not ask twice, one thing his father thought him was that a man asks and waits for an answer. To demand would be barbaric and if you needed to repeat yourself they probably will not give you the answer you sought for.

It's quite amusing to see a strong built man fidgeting in their seat. At 5'11 actually squirming in their seat, Blaise Zabini was very uncomfortable to say the least. He cleared his throat and turn to face his friend, his best friend in fact. There were many things Blaise he wished he could change, wish he could keep to himself, and wish he can save Draco from. He owed the boy a lot, and all three at this moment he could not help Draco with.

"Here's the thing mate," Blaise takes out what seems to be a pack of gum out of his waist pocket. "I've been meaning to tell you, I was just looking for the right time. Hell, I was waiting for you to be a bit more drunk to be honest. You or me, I was betting on you, seeing how you just got out of a very long prohibition. Betting you wouldn't be able to hold your liquor, so far I've been wrong I must admit…"

Draco was now slowly sipping on his drink, slower than before if that was even possible.

"You see Draco, a lot of things has changed since you went on your little mandated vacation. Look around mate, we are in a coed pub!" Blaise proceeded to transform the pack of gum to now what looks to be like a copy of the Daily Prophet.

Blaise handed to paper to Draco, dreading his reaction.

When Blaise and Draco were seven, Blaise had came into his magic. Eccentric was a mild description of Blaise. He was different, odd, and as what some high up tight class would label him, "special". However, it never really bothered Draco, he never even brought up Blaise's oddities. They were playing behind the Manor when Blaise felt a surge of energy overtake his senses. It was like someone had turned off all the lights and there was only complete darkness. Deep within him there was a fire burning which spread to the tips of his fingertips then rushing towards his brain. Blaise was so frightened, he was spinning into nothingness but then his whole body was on fire sending him further to the edge.

Blaise thought that he was going to die at that moment, he didn't know how to control his magic and in turn it consumed him. Panic spread throughout him next but no words could come out. At some point he was able to open his eyes and see Draco staring back at him baffled and utterly terrified. Draco was saying something to him but he couldn't hear, he was in too much pain, all he could do was look back at his best friend. The next thing he knew, Draco ran towards him and clung to him. He was screaming something at him but he couldn't make it out, all Blaise knew was that after some time the pain subsided, his senses came back, and his shoulder was soaked from Draco's tears. It was the first and only time Blaise Zabini has ever seen Draco Malfoy cry.

Draco also came into his magic that day.

"Wait, is this true…" Draco had to reread the front page over and over. This place was getting too loud, he couldn't think. What was that blasted song raging on the background. Draco was feeling dizzy and he had to get a grip of himself, but he couldn't put the paper down.

"Draco, mate…" Blaise watched as his best friend, savior, brother, crumpled before him. Draco's shoulder haunched in and it looked like he was having a difficult time breathing. Blaise really wanted to take at least a little of the pain Draco was feeling. For goodness sake the man just got out of prison. "I'm sorry mate, I'm sorry."

Draco's whole body is shaking, with what, he doesn't quite know. Could it be of anger? Grief? Disbelief? Or for his own foolishness? His knees buckled but Blaise was there to catch him. Draco pushes him off, bracing himself, no Draco wouldn't cry.

Malfoy's don't cry.

"How long have you known Blaise?" Steely eyes turned to face Blaise.

"Look Draco," He took a step towards Draco, but his blond companion took a step back. "I meant to tell you, you have to believe that. I was just looking for the right time."

Glasses flew down the floor, the table soon followed, so did the chair, Draco's fist and next was Blaise. He hadn't mean to do that, here was a guy who welcomed him back wholeheartedly after becoming a pariah for three years. Blaise laid down on the floor rubbing his bloody lip, he didn't try to get up or fight for that matter. Draco had lost so much and if he was really his friend he would have told him long time ago. It was the one thing he had asked of him before he was dragged away. The one time Draco had asked for a favor, this guy saved his life, and Blaise Zabini couldn't even keep his word.

"Draco wait…" It was too late, Malfoy had walked to the crowds and was quickly lost. Zabini could count in his wand hand the moments where he felt low and this was definitely one of them.

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author's note: HellllOoOoOoo i hope you enjoyed it. I really wanted to give more insights on Draco's background and his friendship with Blaise, because just like Draco, I have very few friends (and what I really mean by few is that I have none) so the betrayal Draco felt was really strong. Blaise is his best friend and he was suppose to be looking out for Draco but he failed to do so. What is the betrayal exactly? hmmmm I guess you'll just have to wait =)