In the weeks after the disastrous meeting with Draco's parents several things had changed. Draco had asked Amelin to move in with him and to stop her work. With the first one Amelin had no problem but the other one rose to a heated discussion between the young couple which ended with them having fantastic make-up sex and Amelin giving in and making Draco pay for her education. Despite everything, his parents had not deprived him the access to the family fortune. It was Saturday morning and Amelin sat on the kitchen pantry drinking her coffee. Draco didn't like it much when she did this but he was still in bed so Amelin enjoyed this freedom. A knock on the window startled her. Draco's eagle owl sat in front of the window and knocked with its peak against the glass. Amelin jumped from the pantry and opened the window. The majestic owl flew over her head and settled right where Amelin had been sitting before. Amelin turned around, went to the bird and softly stroked his brown black feathers. When the bird had first appeared, shortly after Amelin had moved into the Manor, she had gotten a huge shock, but Draco had explained to her that this was the most convenient form of communication was for wizards. He had taken her hand so she could pet the bird and from this moment she had started to like the bird. Patiently the owl reached its foot out to Amelin. Amelin took the message from him and gave him one of the owl treats Draco stored in the kitchen. Curiously Amelin looked at the letter in her hand, she didn't know the handwriting and Draco actually only got letters from his friend Blaise. She turned the letter around and saw that it was closed with a wax seal. To resist the urge to open it, Amelin bit her lips. She heard steps behind her and the next moment Draco entered the kitchen. He still seemed tired. His blond hair stood tangled off his head and he wore only a robe over his pajama pants. Absent minded he kissed Amelin's cheek and grabbed a cub to pour himself some coffee. "Abraxas brought this for you", Amelin said handing him the letter. Draco took it, turned it around and groaned annoyed. "Does she really think I'll attend this?" he said more to himself then to Amelin and laid the letter on the pantry. "What is it?" Amelin wanted to know. "An invitation for a memorial at Hogwarts", Draco said dryly. "Memorial?" Amelin asked taking the letter into her hands. "Yeah for all those who fell in the battle, I told you about it." Amelin nodded absent minded and opened the letter. Draco didn't stop her while she skimmed over the lines. "Why don't you want to go?" Amelin asked looking at Draco. The latter ran his hand over his face in annoyance. "Amelin", Draco said taking her hands into his, "I was a Slytherin and most of them still think I'm a Death eater. "But you do advocate for the integration of Muggleborns," Amelin said in dismay. "Well some wizards are a little narrow-minded", Draco said with a tired smile. Amelin snorted, knowing that Draco could be just as pigheaded and narrow-minded. "Then", said Amelin stepped closer to Draco and laid her hands on his chest, "show them that you've changed." Draco's expression got softer and he started to twirl a strand of her hair around his finger. "And how am I supposed to do that?" he wanted to know. Amelin smiled. "Easy by showing up with me." Draco looked at her with wide eyes. "I don't know if this is possible" he said unsure. "Hogwarts has strong Muggle-Repelling Charms." Amelin kissed him fleetingly. "Then inform this Professor McGonagall I'm sure she can do something", Amelin said laughing and left the room. Draco looked after her for a while before he went to his study to write a letter to the headmistress.
To Draco's surprise McGonagall had agreed to lift the Repelling Charms for Amelin. Obviously she wanted to meet the woman who could make Draco Malfoy, the model Slytherin, rethink his thinking. So Draco apparated with Amelin to Hogsmeade on the second of May. He couldn't believe that he was really doing this. "I'm sure it's extremely romantic with snow laying here", Amelin said as they went through the village. "Yeah we can come back in winter again", Draco suggested. Amelin smiled up at him, wrapped her arms around his left arm and laid her head against his shoulder. Silently they walked up the path to the school, as the castle came into view Draco took a deep breath. He hadn't been here since the war had ended. "Is that it?" Amelin asked at his side. Draco looked down at her and could see how she pulled a face. He knew that the grand castle he saw was only a ruin for her. "Just wait", Draco said guiding her forward the school. In front of the gates he saw his former transfiguration teacher. "Hello Professor", Draco greeted her. "Mr. Malfoy good to see you", the old witch said. "You have to thank Amelin for that", Draco said mentioning at the young women beside him. "Yeah Mr. Malfoy has already to me about you. You are a Muggle?" Professor McGonagall wanted to know. "Yes Ma'am", said Amelin. McGonagall shook her head. "That I live to see Draco Malfoy with a Muggle. Well then." McGonagall draw her wand pointing with it at Amelin. The latter backed away, startled. "Don't worry dear, I only lift the Repelling Charms for you", McGonagall appeased her. A silver light appeared at the tip of her wand and Amelin was enveloped in it. She had to close her eyes because it was so bright, when she opened them again she was speechless. Where before had been a dilapidated ruin now stood a majestic castle. "Wow", breathed Amelin. Draco smiled and turned to Professor McGonagall. "Thank you Professor", he said earnestly. "It's alright Malfoy, have a nice day." Draco nodded and dragged Amelin with him. "And you really went to school here?" Amelin asked while they went across the grounds to the castle. "Yeah, but back then I didn't have an eye for how beautiful it actually is here," Draco said, looking around. "You had other things in your mind." "Yeah about that please don't wonder if some in their aren't nice to me", Draco asked. Amelin laughed softly. "You've told me everything about your time at school haven't you?" she asked looking at him challenging. Now Draco laughed as well and nodded. "You should know everything that's important." In the meantime they had reached the entry hall and Draco guided her into the great hall. The house tables had been removed and replaced with many little tables. It reminded Draco involuntarily of the Christmas Ball in his fourth year. "Normally there are four long tables", Draco said mentioning at the hall. "Like the one up there?" Amelin asked pointing at the teacher table where a buffet had been build up. "Exactly and do you see the hourglasses. They show the stand of the house points", Draco explained pointing at the four big receiver behind the buffet. "Are those real gems?" Amelin wanted to know looking up at Draco who simply nodded. "What about the ceiling?" Amelin asked. Draco looked up seeing the bright blue sky from outside. "It's enchanted to show the sky outside." "That's incredible Draco", said Amelin beaming. "I'm glad you like it", Draco replied wrapping his arms around her. Just as he was about to kiss her someone called Draco's name and he groaned annoyed. Amelin giggled and let go of Draco. "Dray what are you doing here?" Blaise asked stepping closer to the blond. "Hello Blaise", Draco said dryly. Blaise gaze wandered from Draco to Amelin at his side. "I guess I have you to thank for bringing Dray out of his shell for once," the dark-skinned wizard said, beaming. "I have the right arguments", Amelin said with a wink. Draco felt his cheeks heating up while Blaise eyed Amelin and then turned grinning to Draco. "I'm only too glad to believe that." "Shut up Zabini," Draco said annoyed. "Draco do you mind if I look around?" Amelin wanted to know. Draco shook his head but still asked her not to stay away for too long. Amelin nodded, kissed Draco's cheek and went away to the buffet. "She has wrapped you around her finger", Blaise stated while he looked after Amelin. "You have no idea how much."
When Amelin reached the buffet she looked at the various drinks and snacks but before she could decide she heard someone shout "Amy!". She turned around and shortly after a small body knocked against her legs. Amelin laughed and bend down to pick Ted up. "I'm happy to see you too Ted", she said hugging the little boy. "You're not alone here are you?" Amelin asked and looked around for the grandmother of the boy. Ted shook his head and opened his mouth to say something but it didn't even get that far. "Edward Remus Lupin you can't just run away." Ted pressed himself against Amelin and she looked from the boy to a man about her age. He had black, disheveled hair, green eyes and wore round glasses on his nose. "Excuse me", he said when he reached Amelin. "It's alright. Ted is a good boy", Amelin said stroking Ted's hair. "You know him?" the man asked confused. "Yeah my boyfriend and I watched him sometimes." The man's brow furrowed before something like realization entered his eyes. "Oh you must be Amy then, Ted told me about you." "Yeah and you are Harry aren't you?" Amlin said looking at him expectantly. Harry laughed and ran his hand over his forehead, it was something new for him that people didn't recognize him right away. "Yes I am. So you're with Draco?" Harry wanted to know. Amelin nodded. "Have you been friends?" Amelin asked and Harry laughed bitterly. He wondered what Malfoy had told her. "We couldn't stand each other. He was a Slytherin, I was a Gryffindor besides he was a spoiled brat. Although he saved my life", Harry said thoughtfully. "Well every one can change can't they?" said Amlin stroking Teds head, then she let him down because he started to squirm. "It's possible," Harry said with a shrug, watching his godson disappear into the crowd. "Listen Amy I don't want to bad mouth Draco to you, but he wasn't a good person," Harry said, turning back to Amelin. "What do you mean?" Amelin asked tilting her head. "Well", Harry started scratching his neck sheepishly. "He was a death eater, he supported Voldemort," he finally said. Amelin smiled. "I know, but have you ever wondered why he did that?" Harry looked at her thoughtfully then he shook his head. "Listen Harry, Draco told me what he had done in the past but I know that he has changed. You testified for him at his hearing, didn't you, so you must have seen it too, right?" Harry sighed looking at the ceiling. "I don't know Amy, I did it because I thought it was right but I don't know if he really changed that much", he said looking into the crows as if he was looking for something. "I'm sure he has", Amelin said smiling mysteriously. "And how can you be so sure?" Harry wanted to know and looked at Amelin again. "It's simple Harry. I'm not a witch but a muggle." Harry's mouth dropped open in surprise and he forgot for a moment how to close it again. At this moment Draco stepped beside Amelin, wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. Then he turned to Harry who still stood there with his mouth open. "Potter you should close your mouth", scoffed Draco. "Dray", Amelin said outraged. Draco just looked down at her grinning. Finally Harry caught himself. He cleared his throat so that the couple turned back to him. "It seems I was wrong about you Draco. I hope you don't mind it", Harry said reaching his hand out to Draco. "Don't worry Harry, we all make our mistakes", Draco replied taking the outreached hand. Amelin didn't quite knew what had happened between the two but she realized that something in the relationship between the two men had changed. Satisfied, she leaned against Draco. He tightened his grip around her and Harry watched the two fascinated. He would have never believed he would see a muggle woman at Draco's side, but the way he looked at her he could definitely see love in the gaze of the blond. Smiling he left the two alone he was curious where all this would lead.
