A/N: Hello lovely people! I know this is a short chapter, but the next one is well under way so no worries :) In other news, hope the people who went to the premier in London had a great time! I was lucky enough to go see Deathly Hallows Part 2 that night and I can safely say, I don't think anyone will be disappointed! Also got to meet up with PerfectPureBlood and NIccoNicco briefly which made everything even more awesome ^_^ Enjoy the chapter :) xxx

Dear Draco,

I never imagined that I would ever need to write a letter such as this, especially not to my own son. But the very fact that I am compelled to write to you in such a manner appears, to me, to underline the gravity of the situation we have found ourselves in. Having sat here for a considerable amount of time, at a loss to know how to say what needs to be said, I realize that there is only one thing you need to know and only one way to say it; I am sorry Draco, for everything I have inflicted upon you, both directly and indirectly. I am sorry for net seeing what had been going on with William Southard; I am sorry for not accepting responsibility for that and refusing to believe that something needed to be change; and, above all, I am sorry for failing you as your father.

I hold no grudge against Severus, rather I am thankful that he has always, without fail, had your best interest constantly at heart. I know that, were it not for him, you might not be here now. He has been able to give you all that I have not and I will not try to keep you from him again.

I leave it entirely up to you as to whether or not you wish to return home. Mrs Snape has said that you may remain at Spinner's End as long as you want to and I will send your belongings to you as and when you require them.

Only know, Draco, that you will be welcome here whenever you chooses to return and I can only hope that you will be able to grant me another chance to be your father.

Sincerely,

Lucius Malfoy.

Eileen watched Draco closely as he read and reread his father's letter, grateful that Lucius had kept his word to write to Draco and let him come home of his own accord, rather than surprising him with an unannounced visit as she had feared he might.

The boy's expression was unreadable as his eyes flicked this way and that across his father's words, mainly due to the fact that he didn't actually know exactly how he felt. On the one hand, he felt elated that his father had promised to change, that things would be better if he decided to go home, and his first instinct was to do just that. But, on the other hand, he had made his godfather sacrifice so much so that he could stay here… If he went home now, it would all have been for nothing, and if things were to go bad again, if his father wasn't being truthful, then Draco was sure that he would not get a second chance to escape. Besides, he couldn't go back without making amends with Sir first, whether his father was sincere or not.

Carefully, Draco refolded the sheet of parchment and slipped it back inside the envelope.

"Is he being truthful?" Draco asked, looking up at Eileen. "Does Father really means what he's saying?"

The woman nodded, "Yes Draco, he does."

"Mmm…" He turned back to the envelope set before him on the kitchen table, not seeming particularly convinced by her assurance. "He's said things like that before," muttered Draco, fiddling the buttons on his shirt-sleeve. "It always goes back to the same in the end."

At a loss to know how to reassure him that this time would be different, Eileen regarded him gravely. But, for once, there were no time constraints; Draco could have as much time to recover and work things out in his head as he needed.

"He does mean it, Draco," she said simply, laying a hand upon the boy's shoulder. "But no one is going to make you go back before you are completely ready this time. There is no hurry."

"What about Sir?" Every day he begged her for information of Severus and every day she had nothing to give him.

Eileen shook her head apologetically. "Not yet, I'm sorry love. Soon though," she added as Draco sighed deeply and ran his fingers over the ornate wax-seal on Lucius' letter. "I'm sure that we will from him soon. We just have to be patient."

"Yes, I know."

That night, Draco lay awake and pondered; thoughts and plans went around and around his head until he was quite dizzy with it all. It seemed that, as soon as he came to one conclusion, another problem knocked it out the way and as soon as he had solved that one, another problem quickly appeared to take its place. But, really, Draco knew that there was no point even trying to come up with any sort of plan until Sir came back. Whenever that may be…

It had been so long now; he had forced himself to stop worrying about if and when Severus would make his appearance, although Draco still wished, every night on the big star right in front of his window, for it to be soon. Eileen's reassurance that Severus' disappearance was not his fault had, for once, worked and the boy felt as though the whole of Gringotts had been lifted from his shoulders.

It felt peculiar not having to worry about anything, Draco pondered with curiosity. Even if his father didn't mean what he wrote in his letter, he didn't have to worry about being snatched away again, it was up to him when to go, his choice… That was peculiar too, being able to choose for real what he wanted to do, not being pressured either way, not being pushed to do something he didn't want to do.

Perhaps everything really was changing…. Surely the unfamiliar sensation of complete peace was evidence enough?

Sir would know, Draco decided sleepily, taking one last peek between the curtains at his star. 'Come soon, please. Need to ask you lots of questions. Love from Draco.'

It was well past midnight when I let myself into the house, moving as silently as a kneazle that doesn't want to be caught stealing the day's leftovers. I had not planned to return home at any particular point, it had to be completely right before I was able to be around people again after the fiasco at Malfoy Manor. I felt guilty, of course, for abandoning Draco so suddenly, but consoled myself with the knowledge that he was safe and cared for at Spinner's End. Besides, I would have been no use to him at all, had I returned sooner.

But, somehow, tonight it seemed right. There is no rhyme or reason, or logical explanation as to why exactly it was so, but looking out across the Hogwarts lake at the moon and the stars, I felt compelled to return to Draco.