Draco kept spiralling long after Potter left. He would deny it, of course, just like he would deny the kiss. Potter wasn't worth spiralling over, not considering everything else in his life. After the initial adrenaline wore off, Draco tried to go back to working on the cabinet. Regulus stayed nearby, clearly unsure how to deal with the situation. He was probably just as confused as Draco was.

"What happened?" Regulus asked with a sigh.

"You saw," Draco said without looking up.

"But why? I didn't even know you liked him like that."

"I don't," Draco bit out. Regulus gave him a look, so he said again firmly, "I don't."

"It would be okay if you did. I wouldn't judge you for it."

"Of courseyouwouldn't," Draco spat.

"Draco -"

"No. You probably wanted this right? You've been trying to get me to do this for ages. All this talk about 'James this' and 'James that', you've been trying to play me for a fool! I should've never kept you around." Draco was breathing heavily.

"You know I didn't," Regulus said, getting angry. "I'm surprised by what happened tonight! It's not because I did anything. You made the decision to kiss him."

"I wasn't in my right mind!"

"Maybe," he said with a Regulus not believe him?

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Regulus ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "Take off my ring."

"What?" That had not been what Draco was expecting. He was waiting for the lecture about how it was fine to be gay, or about how great it was to date a Potter.

"You need to figure this out. There is only so much I can do for you."

"Are you too ashamed to be around me anymore?" Draco scoffed.

"Don't put words in my mouth," Regulus said seriously. "Calm down. Take a night. Figure out your shit and we'll talk tomorrow."

"Fine." Draco waited for Regulus to retract the offer. When he didn't, he telegraphed his movements giving Regulus ample opportunity to call it off as he pulled off the ring. Draco was left feeling oddly exposed. He'd never been alone in the Room of Requirement before.

He sat down leaning his head against the cabinet. He couldn't quite figure out why he had done it. He was still suspicious of Regulus, it couldn't be a coincidence that he had started talking more about James recently. However, he also had to admit Regulus had a point. From the ring, he couldn't physically make Draco do anything. Part of it had been his decision.

Draco pressed his palms into his brow, letting the pressure help him think. He wasn't gay. His father would never stand for it, but then again he'd never spent much time with the girls at Hogwarts. He certainly never had a desire to be involved romantically with any of them. Pansy had been trying to get his attention for years and all she had ever gotten was a single kiss at the Yule Ball. But that didn't really mean anything.

It wasn't bad enough that he kissed a man, he had kissedHarry Potter. Someone he had been enemies with for years. Someone who had a stockpile of reasons to hate him. The Dark Lord had been trying to kill Potter for years, and Draco would be expected to aid in that effort soon enough. There was no way to look at what he'd just done and call it a good idea.

And that was the worst of it. Logically it made no sense and he had still done it. Outside of the moments when his temper got the better of him, Draco prided himself on being logical. He was smart, and that kiss went against everything he thought he was. Tonight he didn't think, he just had just acted. Maybe Potter was rubbing off on him after all.

Draco didn't know how long he sat there berating himself, but he did start to feel better. Whatever happened, only happened because he'd been stressed and hadn't been thinking clearly. It wasn't intentional. It wouldn't happen again.

He considered what his next step should be. Regulus seemed confident that Potter wouldn't retaliate, but he had taken the opportunity to screw Draco over in the past. It didn't seem like a guarantee. Ultimately his actions would come down to how Potter reacted. It felt extreme to try to silence Potter before knowing what he was going to do. If he told anyone, he'd spin the rumour to his favour. If Potter never wanted to speak to Draco again, that was easier for both of them. If he wanted to keep to his vow and help, then Draco would want to pretend like nothing ever happened.

Thinking about it now, Draco couldn't help but remember how Harry had leaned into it. Had Potter wanted it? Or was he just reacting to a kiss like any teenage boy would? He couldn't imagine a world where Potter would want to take it further. He would never stoop so low as to date a death eater.

Draco stayed in the room all night. He wanted to prove to himself that he was still talented, despite his brief lapse of judgement. Even without Regulus and without Potter he could still accomplish something. By early morning he had applied the last spell and while it wasn't perfect, the cabinet was working for the first time in months.

He slept for an hour under a dusty quilt using his arm as a pillow, snuck down to the Great Hall for an early breakfast, and returned to the room. It was time to talk to Regulus.

"You look terrible. Did you sleep at all?" Regulus asked after taking a moment to recognise his surroundings.

"Gee, nice to see you too," Draco said sarcastically. Regulus seemed encouraged by Draco's mood.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes. It was a mistake and it won't happen again."

Regulus looked a little confused but didn't challenge him. "What are you going to tell Harry?"

"That it was a mistake and it won't happen again," Draco said with certainty. "That is if Potter even speaks to me again."

"He will." When Draco clearly didn't want to continue the conversation, Regulus gestured behind him. "The cabinet?"

"I got it working. Well, kind of working," Draco said, but he couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face.

"Really?" Regulus's face lit up too. "Show me."

Regulus was genuinely impressed at Draco's progress and was hopeful they could get Burke to help fix it the rest of the way. They took the rare moment of downtime to continue research on bringing Regulus back. They started making tentative plans to try and retrieve his body from the cave he died in. It might be for nothing, but if they could restore his body that would solve a lot of their complications.

Neither brought up Potter.

Slughorn's party had been on Friday night, so they were due to meet that afternoon. Draco had no idea if Potter was going to show. He honestly didn't know what he preferred, but he would let Potter decide. Draco would be there. He was rifling through a wardrobe near the entrance of the room, trying not to look at the clock when Potter appeared right on time.

"Hey," he said. Draco just stared at him, suddenly uncertain about what to say. His rehearsed words felt hollow, but he just kept repeating what was in his head.

"It was a mistake," Draco said at the same time Potter blurted out, "I like Ginny,"

They both paused, awkwardly waiting for the other. Potter went first. "About yesterday, I um, I like Ginny."

"Right." Draco had known that, but couldn't help the heat rising to his face.

Potter nodded and asked, "Did you say something?"

"It was a mistake and it won't happen again." When Potter didn't respond immediately he tacked on, "I wasn't in my right mind."

"Right," Potter looked uncomfortable. "Did you sleep? You kinda look like shit."

Draco grumbled, "Why does everyone keep telling me that?"

Potter smiled and said, "Because it's true."

"At least my hair will never be as unruly as yours regardless of my sleep schedule." It was almost strange how quickly they fell back into their normal teasing. Maybe the kiss wasn't as big of a deal as Draco thought it was.

"Whatever. Were you working on the cabinet?"

"I spent the night here."

"Oh." Potter shifted his feet. "How's it coming then?"

Draco found himself relieved at how Potter shifted onto a topic he knew how to talk about.

"I'll show you."

He led Potter to the cabinet and grabbed an old edition school book to demonstrate on. He placed it inside the cabinet and gently shut the door until he heard the soft thud of the door hitting the frame. He waited several seconds before opening it up again. When he did, he shifted to the side so Potter could see. He gasped at the empty spot where the book had been.

"Where did it go?"

Draco held up a finger and shut the door again. This time when he reopened it the book was there, albeit in tatters, but it was there.

"That's amazing!" Potter said, stepping forward to pick up the book.

"It's still broken," Draco cringed as Potter pulled out the book and the cover fell right off.

"Yeah," Potter conceded, pulling at the ripped pages, "but it's progress. You just have to fine-tune it right?"

"I suppose, but it'll be a pain to get it fully working."

"You're selling yourself short. I doubt I could've done it. Will you be working over break?"

"Possibly, but nothing more than research for obvious reasons."

"Good luck."

"What are you doing over break?" He cringed at how awkwardly it came out, but Potter didn't seem to mind.

"I'm headed to the burrow with Ron."

"And Ginny?" Draco said with a slight sneer.

Potter cringed. "Yeah." He cleared his throat and changed the subject. "Are you still wanting to meet someone at the train station? I got confirmation. And they won't tell anyone. Your privacy would be protected."

Draco let out a sigh. "Yeah, let's do it." It couldn't hurt anything unless this was some elaborate plan to ambush him, but Potter probably wasn't thinking that.

They fell into their normal routine, pointing out all the weird stuff that had been left in the room. Draco's fears over what had happened the night before faded. Nothing felt different between them, but he still found himself thinking about the kiss despite knowing it didn't mean anything.

"We should talk before you leave," Regulus said sitting on the edge of his bed while Draco packed his trunk. It was a rare moment when no one else was in the dormitories.

"What do we need to talk about?"

"We need to make sure the ring has all the memories."We need to make sure the ring has your kiss with Potterwas clearly what Regulus meant. He was thankful he didn't say the words out loud.

"Right." Draco pressed the silver ring to his forehead and combed through anything important they needed to keep secret. For extra measure, he put most of his meetings with Potter away.

When he finished, he asked Regulus, "Do you think there'll be a meeting?" Now that he was officially a Death Eater he might be expected to attend them.

"I don't know but I'll be shocked if Bella isn't lurking around most days." Draco grimaced.

"That's going to be miserable, taking on and off the ring."

"You could try leaving it off for longer."

"You'd let me?" One of their first deals relied on Draco keeping on the ring for several hours a day.

"I wouldn't like it, but I can see how hard it was for you this summer."

"I'll do it if I have to, but I don't want to." Draco surprised himself with how certain he sounded. It was terrible adjusting to his memories after putting the ring back on and he still doubted Regulus's intentions when it came to him and Potter, but he had become his closest ally.

"Are you sure?"

"I don't want to be alone," Draco admitted.

"Well, it's a good thing you don't know how to get rid of me yet then." Draco couldn't help the small smile that crossed his lips.

Draco sat with his house on the train. He hadn't realised how distant he'd gotten from them. Even Pansy was barely talking to him. They were joking about classes and some dumb thing that Zabini had said that Draco couldn't even remember. He tried to laugh and comment at the right times, but it was so different from the past when he had been the one leading the conversations. Now he was just a bystander.

About halfway back, Nott leaned in across from him and asked, "Have you heard anything about your father's release?"

Draco shook his head. "I expect my mother will have more details. The post at Hogwarts is probably monitored."

Nott nodded. "The dementors are gone from Azkaban, right?"

Draco frowned. He'd suspected that as well, but the ministry never reported it, but they likely wouldn't if it had happened. He realised Nott was only asking him because he thought Draco would have insider information.

"How would I know?" Draco snapped. The others turned to look at him.

"I thought you were one ofthem," Nott said looking confused at Draco's reaction.

He ground his teeth. "So what if I am? You expect me to tell you everything? I have more important things to worry about than some cloaks at Azkaban."

Nott didn't take the reprimand well. He said voice raised, "Are you saying there are more important things than saving our fathers?"

"Of course, there are more important things!"My life,Draco thought. He stood up and challenged Nott, "The Dark Lord will return my father when he deems fit. Do you doubt him?"

"No, I am just saying it's taking a long time. I figured that was your task."

Draco fumed, "If only my task was that easy. Don't make assumptions about stuff you don't understand." He spun to glare at the rest of the cabin. "That goes for all of you."

He moved to leave. He couldn't stand being around their judgement anymore, but Pansy grabbed his hand.

"Draco, stop. We aren't and we won't." She glared at Nott. "We never get to see you anymore, just be with us for a few hours."

"Fine," he motioned for Crabbe to slide over and he took the spot farthest away from Nott.

Regulus was looking sadly at him. "They don't understand, but they will someday. You can use this as a chance to make sure they don't follow your steps."

Draco refused to respond and turned his head to the side. If he couldn't save himself, how the hell was he supposed to help others?

When the train finally came to a stop, he let his housemates leave ahead of him. No one waited. When he stepped onto the platform, he saw Potter standing a few paces away with a bunch of redheads. Potter was explaining something to their concerned faces, but they eventually waved and left. Draco was surprised they'd leave Potter unsupervised.

After the Weasleys were out of sight, Potter caught him looking and not so discreetly pulled out his invisibility cloak and held it behind him. Draco sighed and started walking. When he got close he couldn't help but shove into Potter's back as he grabbed the cloak. He continued to a pillar that could obscure him from the rest of the platform, slipped on the cloak, and returned the short walk to Potter, now invisible.

"What now?" Draco said once he got within a few feet. Potter jumped and turned to where his voice had come from.

"You didn't have to push me!"

"You can take it. Be lucky we aren't on the quidditch pitch. I'd be tempted to knock you off your broom."

"You could try," Potter said with a grin. "C'mon."

Potter led them to the muggle part of the station. The first loo they crossed had an "Out of Service" sign and standing beside it was none other than his former professor, Remus Lupin. Draco stopped in his tracks.

"I am supposed to talk to him?!" Draco hissed.

Potter stopped and whispered back, "Yes. He's a member of the Order."

"I'm not talking to that wolf."

"Don't call him that. He's the best defence teacher we've had," Draco supposed that was true. "Besides, he cares about students."

"He wouldn't help a Slytherin like he would a Gryffindor."

"He already knows it's you and still showed up," Potter pointed out.

"Ugh, fine." Potter smiled and continued to where Lupin was waiting.

"Harry! Good to see you." Lupin gave Potter a quick hug. "We can meet in here," he said, opening up the "Out of Service" door. Draco slid in quickly behind Potter.

"Is your friend still meeting us?"

"Umm." Potter gestured towards vaguely where he assumed Draco had followed him. Draco took a deep breath and revealed himself.

"Ah, nice to see you, Mister Malfoy." Draco returned the pleasantry with a glare. Regulus snorted beside him.

Shifting his feet, Lupin continued, "Harry said you are trying to get refuge for you and your mother. That your father's involvement with Who Know Who has put you in danger?"

"I suppose."

"Good. I want to see you safe," Lupin said earnestly.

Draco snorted. "Safe? Nowhere is safe."

"Hogwarts is. The headquarters is. We have literalsafehouses."

"Hogwarts?" Draco scoffed, "A student was cursed earlier this year. Last year Umbridge tortured students in detention. Year before didn't a student die?"

Lupin cringed. "Well, there are dangers everywhere, but they are mitigated at Hogwarts."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Your headquarters. Is it under a single fidelius? Any other secrecy charms?"

Lupin looked surprised and glanced at Potter.

"I didn't tell him. He figured it out," Potter said with a shrug.

"Yes. It's just a single charm. The house itself has some old magic to keep undesirable people away from it. It blends into the row houses beside it, unless you are looking for it."

"And you trust the Black magic?"

Lupin's eyes grew wider. "How - "

"It doesn't matter how I know things. Just tell me if this is even worth my time," Draco said smugly, pleased about being able to surprise Lupin. He didn't want him to think he was just some helpless student.

"Yes, I trust it. No one can enter unless they have been invited by the Black Heir."

"Which is Harry right now?"

"Yes."

"And you trust a 16-year-old's judgement?" Potter scoffed, looking offended.

"Well, Dumbledore - " Lupin started to defend himself when Draco interrupted again.

"Doesn't matter. Tell me about the wards."

Lupin looked helplessly at Potter, uncertain if he should keep trying to help or if Draco was messing with them.

"Malfoy, he is trying to help. Give him a chance to speak. You are the one who insisted I couldn't answer all of your questions," Potter interjected.

"Fine. The wards?" Draco redirected the question back to Lupin. Cautiously he answered.

"We've barely added on to what was there before. They didn't want to risk anything not playing nice. The Black wards are mostly unknown." Regulus could fill him in then.

"Safe houses?"

"There are several all over England. A few others in France. We could set one up for you and your mother, but you might need to stay at headquarters until things calm down. We don't know what your leaving could trigger, but since you aren't an official Death Eater yet it shouldn't be too bad."

Potter's face twisted into a bizarre expression. Draco refused to flinch and asked, "What difference would that make?"

"The Dark Mark can't be removed. If you betray it, it'll kill you." Lupin misinterpreted Potter's distraught face and continued, "If you are thinking of leaving, you need to do it before it gets too late."

And that was it. It was too late already. The Order thought he was dead if he left, just like he and Regulus had. Potter was the only one who had ever thought differently. This wasn't worth his time anymore.

"That's all the questions I had." Lupin looked confused.

"But I thought - " Potter started to say.

"Shut it Potter. I'm done." He looked at Potter, willing him to understand. It was too late for Lupin to help him. The Order wouldn't take in a Death Eater. It didn't matter what protections they had in place.

"I need to get to Diagon Alley," Draco said, passing the cloak back to Potter.

"I can side-along you," Lupin offered.

"What about Potter?" Draco didn't fancy him joining.

"Moody and Tonks are outside," Lupin said. So they had never been left unsupervised.

Potter nodded and started to wheel his trunk towards the door. He gave Draco an odd look and said, "See you in a few weeks."

"Bye, Potter."

Lupin was looking between the two clearly confused by whatever was between them. He offered his arm and Draco took it bracing for the uncomfortable sensation of being apparated. They arrived at a spot near the Leaky Cauldron. As Draco pulled away, Lupin held onto his hand and twisted it. At first, Draco thought he might be trying to see if he had the mark, but soon realised he was staring at the rings on his hand.

"Where did you get this ring?" He said, holding up Regulus's ring. For the first time that day, Lupin looked a little angry.

"It's none of your business." Draco ripped his hand back. Lupin met his eye looking for something.

"If you are using Harry for any reason, in any plot, everything we discussed is immediately void. I will not see him hurt."

"Fine," Draco said, leaving quickly not wanting Lupin to ask anything else.

When he felt like he had enough distance from the wolf, he whispered to Regulus, "Why would he recognise it?"

Regulus frowned. "I'm not sure. He was close with James, but our relationship was a secret to everyone as far as I knew."

"But he probably saw you wear it?"

"Maybe. We didn't interact much. Even if he did, he shouldn't care about me… " Regulus trailed off.

"What?"

"It's nothing, just get to Borgin's, don't let Lupin or any of his friends get my ring."

Draco frowned but continued to Knockturn Alley. Why would Lupin care about the ring? Maybe James had said something after they'd broken up? Maybe he knew how powerful it was and wanted to steal it from Draco?

Thankfully, it didn't take long to get to Borgin and Burke's. Draco barged in and walked right up to the counter where Burke was analysing a pocket watch.

"It's not working," Draco loudly announced. Burke looked up unbothered.

"Did you follow my instructions?"

"Yes."

"Well, clearly not if it's still having problems." Draco opened his mouth, but Burke continued, "What's not working? Will the item disappear? Will it not come back?"

"It'll disappear and come back in pieces."

"Oh, that's better than I expected of you. When I read about a girl getting cursed the same day I gave you that necklace I assumed I was dealing with a dunce."

Draco's temper flared. Borgin, who had appeared from the back room, stepped in nervously.

"He didn't mean anything by that! We respect the Malfoy name. We know how skilled of wizards you are."

Burke snorted, but gestured for Draco. "Come here. I want to test what this one does."

Burke threw a sickle inside the cabinet in the shop and closed the doors. It never returned no matter how many times he reopened it.

"Well, looks like you've got two problems to fix. This one will be simpler. You are probably just missing a spell on the backboard. I'll write it down for you. Once that's working I can work with you at a distance to get the rest working."

"Very well." As he waited for Burke's new set of instructions, he turned to Borgin. "Any other objects come in that fit my requirements?"

"No, sir." Draco frowned, disappointed. They were running out of applications of potions. Having a cursed object still seemed like the best option for killing Dumbledore. Regulus eyed the man suspiciously, clearly, he had assumed Borgin would have something for them.

"Shame," Draco said with a sneer, "wouldn't want to let Grayback know that."

Borgin froze, while Burke passed over the parchment brow furrowed.

"And I'll need your floo," Draco announced, pocketing the instructions and giving the shop a final glance.

"Of course," Borgin brought out a pouch of powder. Draco grabbed a handful and dropped it into the flames.

"Malfoy Manor."