Disclaimer: Characters are, of course, owned by J.K. Rowling. I own nothing, but oh yes, I'd so love to borrow Draco indefinitely.

Warning: Draco/Harry slash. Rating for this story is T, and do expect a lot of fluff.

Author's Note :July 2017. Hey there, all my readers. Sorry for not leaving a note at the start of the fic. This is my first attempt at writing fanfiction. And I'm starting with my favorite ship, Drarry. Please be nice XD. Also, I apologize for any OOCness, and feel free to point out any mistakes! Nemesis or Lovers? is a compliant fic up to all the events until the war. Yet, it is definitely not exactly how it seems in the Harry Potter books, I have my own imaginations embedded in it. It is a Post-War fic but with all the major characters still alive. Of course I won't let my favorite characters die by the hands of a madman, now would I? So without much ado, Let's start.

Chapter 3

Maybe it's time to move on.

In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him) slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length.

"Hello," said the boy, "Hogwarts, too?"

"What the bloody hell are you staring down at me for, Potter?" Draco sneered. It was then Harry realized what he was doing. He had his arms tightly gripping Remus as he had tried to get him to answer what was happening when the floo had activated itself only to present them with Draco Malfoy. Draco Malfoy wasn't dead! He is here, right now. How? Was he dreaming? Harry mentally asked himself. But no, he wasn't. He could clearly see that blonde standing inches away from him, all well and alive. He looked the same, or did he? Wearing a well-fitted white button-down shirt along with a pair of grey 'just-the-shade-of-his-eyes pants, his hands tucked in the pant pockets, small fringes of platinum blonde hair falling all over his forehead- oh wait, what the bloody hell was he thinking!

"You're… You're alive?" Harry spluttered.

"Much to your dismay." drawled Draco as he walked past the petty onlookers brushing his body swiftly against Harry's shoulder and made his way towards the couch, sliding down to take a seat swiftly.

How is he alive? And if he's been alive all this while where had he been? Does he know about his paren- Did he just brush against me? Harry was now staring wide-eyed at Draco, his gaze following the blonde's path.

"Harry, hey, I'm so sorry Harry. We didn't know. In fact nobody knew. Severus had found him a day ago at the Manor hiding….. "

Oh Harry was far from listening to what Sirius had to say. His eyes were darting out at Draco with sheer astronishment. He had always despised his arrogance and pure-blood pride. And right now Draco was doing just that! With his pointed chin held high and sneer laced on his face, arranged comfortably in the couch with his slender legs upon the nearby table, he was looking all over the burrow, probably despising the view which was clearly evident by the now-forming frown on his face. Oh he's such a git.

". . . hence I guess we'll have to take custody of him and adopt him as our child."

Harry's head snapped back at Remus who was talking to everyone in the burrow now. "What? You have to do what. . ?" Harry repeated, aghast.

"Harry, we have to take him in with us. He's got no family left and no where to go. And with the Ministry devoted to kill all Death Eaters-" Harry's face flinched at the mention of that word. Death Eater. Draco Malfoy. "I'm afraid Harry we cannot let him stay alone. He's not safe." Remus continued .

"Bloody hell. That's not very likely. He's a MALFOY. AND A MALFOY CANNOT BE TRUSTED FOR GOD'S SAKE!" It was Ron now that had shouted, coming back to his senses, all ready to pounce on Draco and smack him right in the face. Hermione gasped and stopped her boyfriend mid—way before he could harm the boy sitting in front of them. Draco who had been oblivious of the entire situation, his mind wandering around at the distasteful, small household, now suddenly became full aware of his surroundings on hearing the word MALFOY hissed at him. And in a second his heart pounded in his chest when he saw Weasley ready to attack him. His eyes widened and his jaw clenched. Thankfully Hermione had stopped him before he could do anything. But Draco was still in shock, of course he was furious too now. Bloody Weasel.

"RONALD BILLIUS WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU SHOUT PROFANITIES IN MY HOUSE? YOU BETTER NOT OR I'LL MAKE SURE YOU'RE THE ONE THAT GETS DISOWNED, RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT!" Molly's voice was strict and spiteful.

Draco cannot help but smirk in triumph at that comment. He could see from the side of his eyes that Harr-Potter was still standing open-mouthed and fists clenched facing Lupin and Sirius. He knew Harr- God, no. Potter despised him with every fibre of his being. And he equally hated him. Or did he?

"But Snape could adopt him, of course. I bet he still is his Godfather. " Harry spoke atlast, sounding nothing but annoyed.

"No, Harry, he couldn't." snapped Remus. "Snape still works at Hogwarts as a professor. He cannot keep Draco with him at the Castle. Nor can he let Draco stay back at the Manor all by himself. That'll all be just too risky with his life." He continued softly.

Harry looked around to meet Draco's stare, again. He could see Draco had gone stiff and his face showed alarm at the way the conversation was being held. Harry couldn't help but wonder what the blonde might be thinking at the very moment. Is he afraid? Is he worried about what lay ahead for him in life? Or is he just unaffected by the qualms of the particular situation? Draco's eyes flickered a shimmer of silver when his gaze met Harry's but it was gone in a blink. Harry was rather amused at the sudden transformation. It felt like Draco was an entire different being for a moment when his eyes had beamed that brilliant shade of silver grey; but now they were back to their slate form, the old, arrogant, my-father-will-hear-about-this Dra- Malfoy. How pathetic. Harry thought and turned back around, for the first time to look at his friends. Ron was still flaring with anger and Hermione was trying all she could to hold him back so he doesn't pounce on Malfoy again. Ginny was standing besides Hermione, sharing the same worried expressions as Hermione. Fred and George looked. . surprised?

Shaking his head in desperation, Harry let out an inaudible sigh and walked across the room over to the dinner table only to be seated with his back at the living room and his head bent down, resting on to the table top. He did not want to be a part of that stupid conversation anymore. He knew whatever he would say now was going to be useless for the ministry had already claimed Draco's security in the hands of his Godfathers and also because he knew it was quite legit that Draco needed to be protected from being killed by the hands of the Aurors that still believed he was a Death Eater. Sigh.

After what felt like a millennium of silence, Molly's voice beamed across the room, "Very well, I think the matter has been sorted now. Draco will share home with Padfoot and Moony and Harry." She said giving slight emphasis on the word Harry.

"MUM, what the-" Ron bellowed, furiously trying to escape from Hermione's tight grip.

"Don't you dare Ronald Weasley. Take a step ahead and I'll make sure you stay grounded at the house for the rest of the year. No Hogwarts. Do you understand?" It was Molly's turn to be shouting now.

"BUT. . MUM HE'S A MALFOY. AND HE'S. . "

"Go back up to your room Ron. NOW." "Hermione, my dear will you and Ginny please take him."

Harry heard footsteps stomping back from the room towards the stairs and he could only imagine Ron's heated face and balled fists. He sighed again. Maybe Ron was just over-reacting, a little? Blimey, Harry No! what are you thinking? Harry's subconscious snapped at his incredulous thoughts.

"I'll talk to him."

"Padfoot, No. Not now. Let him be for a moment. We can talk to him later when he's sorted things within his mind. Maybe then he'll be able to understand the situation much better."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Oh, come on you all now. I know Harry will be understanding, after all, he's a Potter. And what is a Potter without compassion and love?" It was Arthur Weasley. Harry smiled a little at that statement.

Of course he is a Potter. Of course he is compassionate and loving. He loved his family and his friends, way beyond anything. But being compassionate and loving with Draco Malfoy? He didn't really think he had the courage to do that. How was he supposed to forget all those years of torment and taunting and fighting he had spent with Malfoy? At one point in life, Harry was more inclined with hatred towards Malfoy than he was with Voldemort. And now suddenly that has to change? It most certainly wasn't something he could do right away. He knew he felt bad for Malfoy when he heard the news of his death and maybe cried a little too; but that was only because it was in his personality that was caring and all passionate. Furthermore he was feeling guilty because he knew Draco's mother had saved his life and he owed her that, and now her only son had died in the war that was supposed to be only Harry's. Yes, that was it. Harry thought. That was the only reason he had felt the pain and agony. Because he was guilty. It definitely had nothing to do with Harry having developed a soft corner for his arched nemesis. It just did not.

Harry was still sitting on one of the chairs at the dinning table, elbows resting on table top and his head bent over, resting in his palms when he felt a warm touch over his shoulder and a moment later he felt someone creep onto the chair beside him. He knew it was Remus.

"Harry, are you okay my boy?"

"I guess, yeah." He said still maintaining his stance.

"You know, had James been here, he would have handled this situation in a much more mature way, though he was a complete arse when it came to everything else. But he did know the meaning of having a happy family. He knew what it was like to live a happy and peaceful life filled with love and that was also because your mother, Lily was his definition to all that." Harry couldn't help but smile at the reference. Looking up, he saw a pained expression on Remus's face. And Harry knew it's hidden cause. Draco had no family, no friends and no home to go to. His life was in danger and he was still coping with the ghosts of his pasts. Remus was the closest to family he had left and he really needed a caring hand in order to live a normal life again. And what if he has really changed? Surely he seemed a little different lately. He had not insulted anybody ever since their last meeting at the manor where he had for sure saved Harry's life from Bellatrix. Also he had not retorted back to Ron when he knew for sure that Ron would punch him square in the face, rather he had look terrified. And Harry had seen that hint of difference in his eyes when they had held an eye contact, even thought that had lasted only for a millisecond. Harry was sure something has changed, changed for good; he hoped. And after all he could always take care of that nasty git had he not changed; he has tolerated him for years now and he was sure he can tolerate him for some more. And the idea of staying with his Godfathers was still exciting for him which he did not want to ruin by sulking over a Malfoy. Certainly Not.

"So when do you suppose we leave for home, Moony?" Harry asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips now.

The look that followed on Remus's face only made him smile more, a more genuine one this time.

"Tommorow Morning, I suppose." "I've already talked to Sirius and Arthur about it and they seem to agree. Arthur said he would handle the matter with Molly and make her understand how staying back here along with Draco would be a bad idea, and reviewing today's turn of events I'm sure she'll understand." Remus replied.

"That's fine. Where is Sirius by the way?" Harry asked now looking around the room and finding it empty with only the twins sitting by the couch, discussing something, seriously. Now that's something new, he thought.

"Padfoot has gone out to the garden, following Draco when he had stromed out of the house after Ron's another angry fit. He looked quite desolated though. Maybe crying too. I am not so sure, but, yeah maybe he was."

Harry stared at his Godfather's face with a blank expression when he heard the words desolated and crying. He didn't knew what to think; what to feel. He was okay with the fact that he will have to share his home and family with an arrogant, slimey git Draco Malfoy but now he was dumbstuck. How was he supposed to share anything with a Draco Malfoy that was all sad and shattered and depressed?

Harry let his eyes glance upon the kitchen window that overlooked the garden. He could see two figures sitted at a distance by the bushes. By the faint outline of those figures he could make out that one of the silhouette was leaning against the other's chest, as if clinging for its life, crying. And he felt a tinge of pain shoot across his own chest. What has happened to Draco Malfoy over the summer? Why has he changed the way he is now; silent and shattered with all gleams of silver snatched from his once-always-shining eyes? Who is this new Draco?