Draco groaned as light hit his eyes. The light hurt, everything hurt and he had a deep desire to slap away the hand that was petting his cheek to wake him up.

"Bugger off!" He muttered and was surprised that his voice was nothing more than a hoarse whisper.

"Mr. Malfoy." The voice said, that irritating hand still petting his cheeks.

"Gerroff me." He said hoarsely again, his voice a little better.

"Are you in pain?" The voice asked not really giving up.

It was only when he was asked did Draco realize that he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.

"Yes." He said his voice not getting better.

"Where?"

Draco kept a hand on his abdomen and was instantly administered with a potion that burned his throat.

"What the hell are you trying to do?" He demanded in a hoarse voice as he tried to get up. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Sir, you need to stay still." The unknown woman commanded, forcing him down, "You should not move so much."

"Get away from me." He growled.

"What is happening here?" Astoria Greengrass asked walking in through the door.

"He just won't stay still." The woman pointed out.

"It's okay, Jenkins." Astoria said, "You may leave. I will take care of him."

The two watched the medi-witch leave before looking at each other. Astoria was instantly at his side, gently pushing his shoulder down and kissing his forehead.

"Hey." She said softly.

"Hi." Draco replied, taking her hand in his.

"You gave me quite a scare for a while."

"I apologise."

"Merlin! I missed you!" She exclaimed, kissing his hand forcefully. "Don't you ever do something like this to me again!"

He nodded, not taking his eyes off her. Something tugged at the back of his mind. Jumbled words and disjointed scenes came rushing back. He was too exhausted to make sense of anything, but he knew that whatever he suffered through was horrible. And Astoria felt like the most potent strengthening potion. So, he let his eyes feast on her haggard face.

"You look stressed." He whispered, cupping her cheek.

"I was bound to be." She replied with a small smile, "My stress buster was lying in a coma."

"Your mind doesn't ever walk out of the gutter, does it?" He asked amusedly.

She laughed. "It doesn't have to and it doesn't want to." She quipped.

"Healer Greengrass." Jenkins called from the door, "You are required up on fourth floor. Healer Nott will be with Mr. Malfoy soon."

Astoria turned to Draco, patting his cheek lovingly as he pouted.

"Duty calls, love." She whispered, kissing his cheek softly.

"Don't go." He said petulantly, "You can be my personal healer. I would get you sexier clothes."

"Why Mr. Malfoy, I think I might be growing on you." She said with an amused smile.

"Stay with me and I will let you do a lot more." He winked suggestively at her.

She threw her head back and laughed. "You are incorrigible. But I have to go."

She leaned forward and kissed away his pout, breaking the kiss before he could stop her.

"Don't miss me too much." He whispered with a smirk.

She blew him a kiss from the door before walking away. His brow furrowed as she walked away. He had aches all over. He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose and images flashed up in a sequence, all his memories, all their words, all at once. His eyes flew open in terror, what had he done?

"Draco?" Theo asked, shaking his shoulder slightly.

"I saw- Mum- I-" He stammered his eyes wide with fear, "I remember."

Theo looked at him gravely, "I know." He said taking a seat on his bed, he had locked the doors and silenced the room.

"I- I should have died."

"And what would that have achieved?"

"I don't know." Draco said running a hand through his hair, "But I killed- I killed him. She is all alone because of me."

"I know."

"How can you sit there so calmly?" Draco asked quietly, his posture rigid and eyes trained unwaveringly at him.

"What do you want me to do then?" Theo asked raising an eyebrow, "Stay stuck in the past and refuse to move on?"

"Well, you haven't done much of moving on have you?" Draco replied snidely.

"I am trying at least." Theo shot back. "You on the other hand believe there is some poetic justice to your death."

"I killed the love of a woman who has only been kind to me." Draco replied calmly, cold fury rolling off him. "What do you think would happen once she finds out?"

"So?" Theo asked, "You think dying is the best punishment?"

"What would be a better punishment? Azkaban?"

"Merlin no! Not without the dementors." Theo said, "How about trying everyday to atone for your sins and knowing you would never be able to wash the blood on your hands?"

"Is that why…" Draco trailed off, not finishing his question.

Theo nodded.

"But you have saved so many lives. You are the best paediatric healer, not to mention, you handle pretty banged up cases and are successful." Draco reasoned, "You have saved more lives than you have taken."

"Doesn't change the fact that I destroyed families and lives." Theo sighed.

"That's an awful way to live." Draco said quietly.

"Andromeda knows so does Astoria." Theo replied.

"Bet they hate me." Draco sighed.

"They don't." Theo said, "Both of them have moved in with your mother to take care of her and you. Teddy is living with his Godfather for the time being."

"Why?" Draco asked horror-struck. "I killed her husband and mum thanked me for it. How could she not care about that? And Astoria has a certain hatred for those that kill."

"Why don't you ask them yourself?"

"I can't." Draco replied, trying to control his shaking hands.

"Andromeda would come to visit." Theo said, "You can't run from her forever."

"What if she takes Teddy away?"

"Now, won't that be a fitting punishment." Theo said dryly.

He frowned, Theo had always been closed off and it was starting to irritate Draco. How could Theo be so calm about everything?

"You don't want kids." Draco stated, eyeing Theo vigilantly, waiting for a slip in his façade. Theo stilled, eyes focused on the floor.

"You don't want children." Draco continued, "Because you are afraid that someone would kill them like you killed those children and you won't be able to protect them."

"No. I am afraid of being forced to watch them die." Theo whispered.

"The war is over." Draco stated.

"There are too many of them out there." Theo stated, "Too many that know how many I killed and how. Too many who now know that I was a traitor all along."

"Your case files were never released to the media." Draco said with a frown.

Theo laughed and his laugh was enough to make Draco uncomfortable. He knew Death Eaters were resourceful, they would know, somehow they would. For once he was glad that all pureblood homes were unplottable and protected by blood wards.

"Nothing would happen." Draco said quietly.

"You don't know that."

"Neither do you."

"So, it's better to be safe."

"At the cost of your life?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow. "What was the point of surviving so much if we are too afraid to live our lives?"

"Didn't you want to die a few minutes ago?"

"I did." Draco admitted, "But then I remembered Astoria needs me, especially now."

In all the time that they had been sitting together, Draco saw Theo react just then.

"How do you know?" He asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

"I heard her." Draco replied, "I think her threat that she would follow me in death was what pushed me out."

"Those couple of days were the worst." Theo admitted, "We really thought she would kill herself. I think she had decided that she would kill herself if you don't wake up."

"I don't deserve her."

"I agree but for some reason she chose you, I guess we will have to live with that."

"You care about her a lot, don't you?" Draco asked but Theo didn't reply. It wasn't in his nature to admit about caring for someone. Any emotion was a weakness and a weapon.

"How do you block the memories?" Draco asked, wanting to change the topic. Foolishly, he felt like the most Gryffindorish Slytherin right now. "Occlumency?"

Theo looked at Draco dead in the eye. "I don't block anything."

Draco held his friend's gaze. "Maybe you should try then."

"Why?"

"Just because."

"What are you? A bleeding Hufflepuff?"

Draco kicked Theo, hissing at the pain the movement caused.

Theo smirked, "You deserve the pain."

"Shut up." Draco replied moodily, rubbing his leg.

"Brat." Theo shot back, "Stop being a baby about it. It will stop hurting in a while."

"That's why you should try occlumency." Draco exclaimed, pointing a finger at Theo and then his leg.

"That curse addled your brains." Theo replied, his lips twitching. "You are anything but a Slytherin. A Gryffindor maybe."

Theo ducked out of the way of the vase Draco threw at him, smiling smugly all the while.

"I guess you will survive." Theo said, walking back to the door and undoing his spells. "Get some sleep. I am sure someone would be by your bedside when you wake up."

Draco grumbled darkly as he settled in bed and stared at the ceiling. Guilt gnawed his insides. He would never have been able to forgive something like that. He closed his eyes to ward away the idea of Astoria being humiliated and tortured like that. Astoria was braver than him; she would have wanted a quick exit. Ted Tonks had been the same, proud and brave. Maybe she understood, maybe Andromeda understood too; that he would have preferred a quick exit. Andromeda's kindness however was a great burden on his shoulders. Maybe she understood her husband. Maybe she understood that Draco saved him from more humiliation and torture and an ugly death. But how could she forgive his death? How could she be kind to his mother? To him? Had she cut all contacts with them he would have understood. He would have grovelled at her feet for forgiveness. Draco frowned at the white ceiling, with droopy eyes. Kindness given so freely to monsters like him was the worst form of punishment; she was a Slytherin after all, she knew how to hit where it hurts. And with that last thought Draco Malfoy dozed off, to nightmares from his past.

Draco woke with a start as the Ted Tonks in his dreams morphed into Teddy looking at him accusingly.

"Woah!" Teddy shrieked as he scrambled back, but before Draco could do anything, Teddy had flung himself painfully on his chest. "You are awake!"

Draco froze, no matter how bad he wanted to; he couldn't command his hands to hug the one child who had helped him through everything. His eyes stayed on the woman at his bedside; the woman who looked uncannily like Bellatrix Lestrange but had a heart of pure gold.

"Your mother has just stepped out for a cup of coffee." Andromeda Tonks said pushing his hair away from his face in a motherly gesture. He lowered his eyes, raising his hand to push Teddy away. They shouldn't be here. Not after everything he had taken from them.

"Don't." She said softly, laying a hand on his arm.

"You shouldn't be here." Draco whispered. "You can't- You shouldn't- I don't-"

He paused taking a deep breath. "Monsters mustn't be shown mercy." He said remembering his father's words about that hippogriff.

"True." Andromeda said, "And monsters weren't shown any mercy either."

"I am one."

"No, you are not." Teddy said incredulously.

"Kid-" Draco started.

"You are not a monster." Teddy said, jutting his chin out stubbornly. "Monsters are purple with yellow eyes and horns. You are too white."

Someone snorted and Draco realized that Ginny Weasley was sitting on the couch in the far end, reading a magazine. He looked at Andromeda who was trying to hide her smile and then at Teddy who was looking at him critically.

"This isn't funny." He hissed. "How can you just forget everything? How can you forgive that?"

"Teddy." Weasley called, "Look at this."

Teddy gave one weird look to Draco, and then hopped off to join Weasley. Andromeda cast a discreet silencing charm around them.

"Draco, what do you want me to do?" Andromeda asked.

"Hate me. Us. Mum begged me to kill him as soon as he was captured." Draco said, "Aunt Bellatrix wouldn't let anyone go near him. Do you even know what he went through?"

Andromeda's face remained stoic but her eyes burned with pain.

"Your mother did him a great favour." She finally whispered. "So did you."

"Are you even listening to yourself?" Draco asked flabbergasted. "I killed him."

"Why did you kill him?"

"I- what?"

"Why did you kill him?" Andromeda asked again. "You didn't have to. Bellatrix would have killed him eventually."

"She wouldn't have." Draco replied. "She would have tortured him to the point of no return, she would have made him beg for it and then she would have left him to die slowly. He didn't deserve such humiliation. They never treated another muggleborn like they treated him."

"No other muggleborn tarnished the Black name so thoroughly." Andromeda replied.

"She thought she was punishing you by humiliating him?"

Andromeda gave him a look.

"Of course!" Draco muttered.

"We were brought up to live with pride." Andromeda answered, "Despite turning our backs to the family, Sirius and I never let go of the pride. We replaced the reason for that pride from blood purity to rebellion. Ted was just as proud as me. Even at Hogwarts, he refused to give me the respect that came with the Black name. It was one of the things that drew me to him; his refusal to acknowledge me as someone special because of my family. He treated me as his equal. Can you imagine a man like that to bow down and beg for anything?"

Draco didn't reply.

Andromeda looked at him and smiled. "He wouldn't have made out of Bellatrix's clutches alive. He wouldn't have been able to live with himself after being broken down by her. He was too proud for that. Your mother helped him the only way she could have without jeopardizing her family. She helped him take a quick exit. And you did it for her. Thank you."

"I am sure you understood all of this before I had to explain it to you." Andromeda said after a moment of silence.

Draco nodded not trusting himself with words.

"Stop worrying about it." Andromeda said, "And say something instead of nodding your head."

"I am sorry." Draco whispered.

"I am sorry too." Andromeda said squeezing his hand. "You shouldn't have been dragged into this mess."

"None of us should have been dragged into this mess." Andromeda continued quietly. "Now, let's stop this nonsense and you make up with Teddy. He really missed you."

Draco looked over to where Teddy was. His mother had joined Weasley and was listening to Teddy, as the boy talked animatedly about something. Her eyes strayed to him and she gave him a tentative smile, bowing her head imperceptibly towards Andromeda before looking back at Teddy.

"I think she has kept her distance, patiently." Andromeda said, looking at his mother. "Let's not test her patience. She wasn't the brat of the household for no reason."

"I can't believe mum could ever be a brat." Draco said, watching his mother make his way towards them, Teddy in tow.

"Potter knows?" Draco asked, eyeing Weasley.

"He knows something went wrong." Andromeda replied, "But certain things are best left alone and he understands that."

"How are you feeling?" Narcissa asked, leaning forward to cup his cheek.

"A little sore, nothing unbearable." He replied just as calmly.

"The healers say you would be up and about in no time."

"Thank Salazar."

"Indeed." Narcissa replied smiling at him.

To an outsider this entire exchange would look extremely formal. Narcissa's straight back, as she leaned forward to her son. The lofty exchange of words hardly spelled mother-son relationship. But had one looked closely they would have seen her apology and subsequent relief at being forgiven in her eyes. Purebloods of their stature were trained to communicate through looks. Looks that were exchanged between Andromeda and Narcissa of forgiveness and gratitude, of amusement as Astoria walked in and tried to hide her disappointment at not finding Draco alone, of sly understanding as the two witches suddenly craved tea and ushered Weasley and Teddy out in a hurry.

"Hey." Astoria said softly as she came to stand near his bed, rocking on her heels.

"Hi." He replied, extending his hand to pull her to his bed.

She gave in without any argument. He tugged at her arm, urging her to come close enough for him to wind his arm around her waist.

"You know don't you?" He asked quietly. She nodded, not breaking eye contact with him.

"And you still don't hate me? I killed an innocent man."

"You saved a good man from unnecessary humiliation and grief." She said, "You saved the only thing he had, his dignity."

"I can't forgive it." He said swallowing hard.

"I returned to school that morning, before the final battle and got stuck in a duel." She said, "I sent a stunning spell his way, quite sure that it wasn't powerful enough. But the stunner slipped through his defences and hit him on the chest, throwing him against a wall that crumbled. That man died instantly. Am I bad person?"

Draco shook his head. "But-"

"We both reacted the best way we could. I am sure he was grateful for everything."

"I know." He muttered, his fingers splaying on her stomach. "Stop torturing yourself. Its not your fault."

Astoria nodded tucking her hair behind her ear. She knew he was not just talking about the man she accidentally killed, he was also talking about the child she unwittingly lost. He fingers tightened around her stomach in a comforting sort of way.

"And don't you ever threaten me with death again." He said quietly, his glare communicating his anger.

She nodded, focusing on the possessive way his hand curled around her stomach. She stroked his hand, he felt like home.

"I love you." She said softly.

"I know."

"You are supposed to say you love me too, you prat." She said smacking his arm.

"What's the point in stating the obvious?" Draco asked rubbing his arm. "And you will pay for this Greengrass, wait till I get out of here."

"Can't wait." She scoffed, giving him a lecherous grin.

"Can't you think of something else for one second?" He asked amused.

"Tell me you weren't thinking of the same thing when you threatened me." She challenged.

"Bloody bloodtraitor smartass." Draco muttered.

"That's a new one." Astoria laughed. "I would have to think of a creative comeback."

"No, you don't." Draco said, "That's my come back for drama king."

"But that wasn't my witty best!"

"Accept defeat then." He teased playfully, tickling her sides.

She grinned as she leaned towards him, "Never." She whispered, her face inches from his.

His eyes flew to her mouth, how long had it been since he had kissed her? He looked into her blue eyes, they danced with mischief.

"Someday soon, I promise." He whispered, against her lips.

"Stop talking." She snapped, "You could better things with-mmph…"

He pressed her body to his, one hand cupping the back of her neck. She let out a muffled moan, bracing her weight on one hand as she slipped the fingers of the other in his hair.

"I see someone is living their teenage fantasy." Blaise's amused voice called from somewhere, making them jump apart in embarrassment.

"Go away, Zabini." Draco grumbled, his arm still wrapped around Astoria's waist.

"And how do you know he hasn't done this before?" Astoria asked with a wide smirk.

"Tori!" Draco groaned.

"If that is true, I am impressed." Blaise replied. "Maybe you should talk to Tracey."

"I don't want to hear this." Draco said loudly. Astoria laughed.

"No, seriously, please convince her that snarguffling at workplace is not such a bad thing."

"Is that what you children call it these days?" Astoria asked amused.

"No," Draco said firmly, "The prat likes making random words up when he is happy."

"The prat also brought you some minced pie that Tracey made especially for you." Blaise said amusedly.

"Are you sure about him?" He asked Astoria, nodding carelessly in Draco's direction, "He is awful lot like the Grinch that stole Christmas."

"The what?" Astoria asked.

"Muggle reference." Blaise said as he dodged a flying pillow from Draco. "Do you even know what the Grinch is, Malfoy?"

"No." Draco replied, "But if you are calling me that name, it must be something horrendous."

"True." Blaise said, dragging his chair to Draco's side. "So, how are you?"

"Not dead, yet." Draco answered, wincing slightly as Astoria smacked his arm. "Merlin, Woman!"

"Blaise," Astoria said, "Will you stay with him? I have to go see a patient on the third floor."

"When did you get a call for that?" Draco asked, tugging at her hand, ignoring Blaise who had pulled out a magazine and was reading it industriously.

"Just now." Astoria said, showing him a lime green band on her wrist which was flashing the ward number and floor in red.

Draco sighed, letting her go.

"So," Blaise said as Astoria walked to the door. "When will they-"

"Don't give me that look." Astoria cried, rushing back to Draco's side from the door and giving him a kiss. "I won't be able to walk away." She said, kissing his lips softly.

"Then don't go." He whispered holding on to her.

Blaise cleared his throat and muttered something about going to the cafeteria. Draco grabbed Astoria's face and kissed her greedily.

"I have to go." She moaned, as he sucked near the base of her ear.

"You don't have to do anything." He whispered huskily nibbling at her ear lobe. She moaned, burying her face on his shoulder. His hands lazily, traced the length of her back as his other hand slipped under the folds of her robes. He traced the hem of the blouse she wore underneath, letting one finger slip in and trace an arc on her skin. Her hand contracted on his chest as she sucked in a breath.

The band on her wrist gave a loud wail and Astoria jumped. "I have to go." She whispered, giving him a longing look before hurrying away.

Draco frowned at the ceiling.

"I am banning all sorts of alarms from the Manor." He said loudly, as Blaise took his seat.

"Even the security ones?"

"Yes."

Blaise shrugged, "So, when are they letting you out?"

"Not soon enough." Draco groaned, throwing another pillow at Blaise for laughing.

AN: So, I am sorry for not updating sooner but between my job, a gall bladder removal operation, fiance and wedding preparations, which is now only a month away I haven't been feeling too creative. He is a Gryffindor, I am a Ravenclaw. All of us know who is marrying in the better house- brains before brawn, always.

Anyway, leave your reviews, let me know what you think about this chapter. Maybe it was less angst than the previous one but I can't really feel any angst when I am so bloody happy, freaked out and gobsmacked.

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Much Love,

The fishes.