1st November 2021

Draco–

I've been summoned to Hogwarts by the Headmistress. She said that Remus is being suspended for the remainder of the semester and that either Hermione or I have to come to get him. Apparently she fears that he might run away, so she's uncomfortable with sending him home on the train.

Hermione is at a book signing and McGonagall wasn't able to get ahold of her. I'm going to go pick the boy up then stay with him until Hermione gets home so that we can talk with him. I might be a bit late for dinner, you don't have to wait for me.

–Theo

Draco glanced up at the clock above the mantle, wondering how things were going over at Granger's house. She had a bit of a mean streak but had always had a rather large soft spot for her kids. It might be part of the problem why Remus had been suspended. The boy was a bloody nightmare, making trouble at every turn just to get a bit of attention.

Taking a sip of tea, Draco sighed as he thought back on his own childhood and how much he related to the boy. His mother, much like Granger, had spoiled him and let him do as he pleased, most likely out of guilt. Both women were reacting to things out of their control, not wanting to cause their sons more pain than they were already living with. Draco, with an abusive father and Remus having lost one of his fathers.

While what they'd experienced was vastly different, Draco did recognise the boy's tactics and understood exactly what he was doing. He was lashing out, trying to get any sort of attention he could. Though because Draco had somehow managed to make friends that helped keep him somewhat in line while in school, keeping him safe from being caught in all his wrong doings. Remus didn't have that. Instead, the boy was much like Theo had been as a child in that aspect, being a bit of a loner and rejecting any attention from his peers.

It wasn't his place to tell Theo how to raise his son, though the more he listened to Theo vent, the more it seemed that Granger and Theo were in over their heads. Just as his mother had been, and in his case, it had ended with him becoming a marked Death Eater at just sixteen. The future for Remus Theodore Potter seemed bleak at best if his parents didn't get him the professional help that he needed, and the sooner the better.

A knock at the door pulled Draco's attention away from his thoughts of Theo and his children as he stood from his chair. Draco grumbled to himself, wondering who the hell would be visiting at nearly dinner without an invitation. Though, when he swung open the door, his mind was back to Theo as he looked down at the wizard's only biological child.

"Portia, what are you doing here?"

"Theo asked me to come round for dinner. Said he'd make sure it's vegetarian." The girl answered, her lips pulled into a thin line and her body language tense.

It was remarkable how much she managed to look like both Theo and Granger, though they looked nothing alike. She had a pixie cut, with lightning bolts shaved into the sides of her head. The curls on the top fell forwards, but she had them swept to the side, so they weren't blocking her eyes. Her face was round, exactly like Grangers, but she had Theo's deep blue eyes and his more pointed nose. Much like her mother, she was small in stature, but Draco knew better than to underestimate someone based on their size alone.

"So, can I come in or are you going to have me stand on your stoop all night?" She asked, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "Excuse my language, Mr. Malfoy, but it is bloody cold."

"Oh, yes, of course," Draco stammered, finally realising that he'd been leaving an eighteen-year-old girl in the bitter November night. "Though, I should warn you that your dad isn't back yet. He had to go to your mum's to sort something out. He should be back anytime."

"He's…he's not here…" Portia trailed off, hurt flashed over her features just before she tensed her body again. Squaring her shoulders and hardening her features again, Draco could see that she was upset, but he wasn't going to push her. "If it's all the same with you Mr. Malfoy, I think I'll be–"

"Portia?"

Theo walking up the sidewalk cut his daughter off from whatever she was about to say, turning around to face her father, Draco sagged in relief for a moment. He knew that telling the girl about her brother's troubles in school wasn't his place, but he hadn't wanted her to think that Theo had just forgotten about her. By the reaction she'd had at hearing that Theo wasn't home, it must not have been the first time that he'd disappointed her.

"Theo," she quipped back, causing Theo's jaw to tick just as he stepped into the porch light. "You asked me for dinner, so here I am." The teenage girl didn't move, even when her father was standing before her, looking up into his face. The guards she had put up to protect herself from him were obvious, making Draco sigh internally.

This bloody family was more broken than he'd thought.

"Oh, yes, come in, come in. I thought it might be fun if we ordered take out." Theo said, ushering his daughter inside. Making eye contact with Draco, the panic was clear, Theo really had forgotten about his dinner plans and Draco wasn't entirely sure if it was purely because of everything happening with Remus or not.

ooo

"Well, that was…"

"Awkward." Theo answered as he watched the emerald flames die down in the fireplace Portia had just left through.

"It went well as to be expected," Draco replied, clapping Theo on the shoulder as he turned to clean up the plates from dinner.

Portia had offered to help, but Theo had insisted that the two wizards could take care of it and sent her on her way home to where Granger and Remus were. She seemed anxious to get back after Theo had told her that Remus wouldn't be finishing the remainder of the semester due to an incident. An incident that he later informed Draco was selling pixie dust to fifth year students.

"She was hurt when she first heard that you weren't here. I think she was under the impression that you were standing her up. I think knowing that you weren't off sitting in your office and instead were taking care of Remus made all the difference. She clearly cares for her siblings." Draco flicked his wand and set the plates they'd used to be washed before turning to put away the leftovers. "She just doesn't want you to forget about her."

"I think you're right…" Lost in thought, Draco could see the weight of the day's events in Theo's far off stare. Even though dinner had been a bit tense, and Draco had to lead most of the conversation – asking Portia about her studies and what not – it still had been good. Draco looked Theo over, the emotions at war on his face made Draco's heart clench. He longed to help his friend, wanted to bridge the gap between them to aid in repairing the relationships with his kids, but he couldn't do it for him.

"I might head to bed; Hermione wants to trade off on someone staying with Remus for a bit to make sure he isn't getting into more trouble. McGonagall said that she wouldn't press charges, but if he's been selling the shit, then he's probably using it too." Theo rubbed a hand over his face, and Draco nodded in understanding.

"If you need help with him, just let me know." Draco said, walking away from the refrigerator and over towards the brunette. "You aren't in this alone anymore, alright?"

Draco reached out to clap Theo on the shoulder, wanting to show him that he really wasn't by himself. Though, when Draco was close enough, he paused, and found himself getting lost in the depths of the blues of Theo's eyes.

It was as if time just ceased to exist as he stood so close to Theo that he could smell the sweetness from the honey he took in his tea on his breath. Draco swallowed, not even sure what was making him feel so nervous as he continued to look at Theo.

When Theo leaned in and brushed his lips against Draco's, it was so brief and so quick that Draco wouldn't have been entirely sure that it happened, except the tingling of his lips told him it had. He stood there stunned, unable to move, though his heart was pounding in his chest. He heard Theo murmur a 'goodnight, Draco', but by the time he turned around, he was already alone.

ooo

The next evening, Draco stalked into Theo's room gripping the note that had just shot through the floo. Since Theo had spent the entire day at Granger's house instead of at work, he had to go to the ministry to try and catch up on what he'd missed the past two days. Though, when he'd asked Draco to bring in a notebook that he'd forgotten, it'd made Draco smirk.

Knowing Theo as well as he did, this request had more to do with wanting to see Draco and less about the blasted notebook he was struggling to find.

As he got down on his knees to look to see if the ruddy thing had slipped under the bed, a flicker of magic caught his eye. Curious, Draco reached outs and ran his fingers through the disillusionment spell that had been placed on a floorboard.

With his interest piqued, Draco waved his wand to release the spell. Simple enough since Theo hadn't put any wards up over it, but still why the secrecy? Touching the plank, Draco was a bit surprised when the wood gave way to his touch, because he knew that there'd been nothing wrong with the floor when Theo had moved in here.

Bottles of firewhisky, as far as he could see filled the enlarged space. Draco's jaw gripped as he pulled them out. Full, empty, and some that were partly drunk. The smell was strong, clearly also being held in by the spell that had been placed over the hiding spot.

There had been one rule that Draco had put in place when he'd invited Theo to stay with him while sorting his life out. One thing that he'd asked of his best mate, that he not bring alcohol into Draco's house. Draco didn't mind terribly when Theo went out to a pub or if he had a glass of wine at dinner, but Draco didn't want the substance in his home. The fucking shit that had been the cause of Astoria's death.

Draco waved his wand over all the bottles, vanishing them without a second thought. If Theo wanted to go a few rounds over it, Draco would be more than happy to accommodate.

He was out of the room and through the floo before he could think better of it. Not even bothering to announce his presence before stepping into the fireplace. Hunching so he didn't hit his head on the hearth, Draco stood up to his full height and looked around the room he'd travelled to.

"Malfoy? What are you doing here?" Granger asked, setting the book she'd been reading on the arm of the chair. "Is everything alright with Theo?"

"Did you know he's an alcoholic?" The words tasted like ash in his mouth as he said them, but deep down he knew they were the truth. The amount of liquor that had been hidden; it was obvious that Theo had been drinking himself to sleep at the very least. Hell, it was possible that he was even having one before he got out of bed in the morning.

As Draco thought back on all their interactions, it was easier to see now, though he might have been purposefully trying to be ignorant before the truth was shoved in his face. The slower movements, bloodshot eyes, a slight slur to his words. He'd been so blind, not wanting to see the truth for what it was.

"Yes," Granger answered, adjusting the blanket that sat in her lap, placing her hands on top of the quilt. "I've tried to get him to go to rehab, more times than I care to count. Blaise has tried as well, but he won't do it."

"He needs help, Granger." Draco stated, crossing his arms over his chest. His tone commanded that Granger do something other than sitting in her home. But as it settled over her and she realised what he was saying, Granger's face began to turn red.

"He's a forty-two-year-old man, Malfoy. Theo has to take responsibility for himself and want to get help. I cannot make him do anything. In fact, I will not make him do anything!" Granger stood from her seat, her hair sparking as she stormed towards him, a finger pointed in his direction.

"I have four children I've got to think about! Theo is a grown adult who has to be responsible for himself and his actions!

"James is an alcoholic too, you know that. Do you want to know how many fucking times I've gotten a call to bail him out of muggle jail? Because he got so pissed that he lost his way home and ended up in a fucking fight on the streets. He's so Goddamn angry at the wizarding world that he snapped his bloody wand and lives as a muggle. Though, he can't keep a job because he can't stay sober enough to work.

"Portia is turning into Theo, she has no school-life balance. She watched him be so obsessed over his work that she's taken after him. Have you noticed the hours he keeps at work? That's been our daughter since she was eleven. She's lived with me nearly a month now and I can count on one hand how many times I've seen her.

"Remus might get kicked out of school and not graduate, he's already teetering on expulsion after having the stunt he just pulled. Not to mention he's selling fucking drugs to children. Honestly at this rate, I'm going to be thrilled if he doesn't end up in fucking Azkaban.

"And Lilian, by Circe's grace, has made friends and is doing wonderfully in school. But she's always been one to put on a happy face to make life easier on everyone around her." Granger's eyes were watering as she spoke about her children and what the toll of losing Potter had done to them. Standing directly in front of him with her finger pressed into his chest, Draco could see what Theo found so enticing about her.

Her wild brown curls now sported a few streaks of grey in them, but she didn't look old. No, in all actuality, Granger looked even more beautiful than she ever had. With her so close to him, Draco could feel her body heat radiating off her and the vanilla scent mixed with something a bit spicy was making his stomach tighten.

What was getting into him!? This was Theo's wife. Theo, the same bloke who had just kissed him the night before!

"I love Theo and I miss him something terrible, but I can't be with him like this. It's already torn our family apart. I can't save him; he has to want to save himself."

Hearing the underlying exhaustion in her tone, Draco's shackles fell away. He'd been in this position with Theo for just about two months. Granger had been at this with him for eleven years since Potter disappeared. Though, truthfully, it was more than likely the whole twenty-two years they'd been together...

Not able to stay so close to her when his arms were aching to pull her into his chest and ease her pain, Draco stepped away and back towards the fireplace. Before he reached it, he looked over his shoulder at the broken woman standing in the middle of the room watching him leave as if him going was just another cause of pain in her life.

"Your husband needs you, Granger," Draco whispered so low as he paused with the powder in his hand, he wasn't sure if she could hear him. "I can't see him like this and I…I can't lose him too."

Without waiting for an answer, Draco called out his address and was gone.