Draco wouldn't have been caught dead admitting it, but having Black around for the remainder of the summer was the best thing that could've happened to him. He was competent and controlled and unlike everyone else his age. Perhaps best of all was that Black was intelligent. Draco wondered what could have gone wrong for Black to get himself killed because it seemed in such contrast to his cleverness.

He had a wealth of knowledge and while Draco was often frustrated with how much more information Black got in their deals, Draco couldn't deny that just having him around was for the better. Company was not rare at the manor, but company for Draco was practically non-existent especially with his task to be available to the elf. His parents had kept him even more isolated than normal, wanting him to focus. Without Black, Draco figured he would have spent the most time convening with Kreacher.

In addition, Black was interesting in ways that none of Draco's peers had been. He was smart yet reserved, and it was everything Draco respected. Everyday they'd discuss theories about what had happened with the ring and how they could bring Black back. They talked about the Dark Lord's return and how if they knew more, maybe that would help. And best of all, Black actually listened to Draco. He was never top of his class, sure he did well and while Draco was proud of his magic, he was rarely recognised for it. Not many saw past the Malfoy name, but Black could. Maybe he had suffered a similar fate with the Black family name.

Black also just happened to understand Draco sometimes, better than Draco could express. When his father had announced the yearly trip to Diagon Alley for supplies, Black had immediately gone to planning, mostly around what books would be helpful research for their project, but Draco knew that Black wouldn't be going with them.

Through gritted teeth, Draco had admitted, "I can't take you to Diagon Alley."

"What do you mean?" Black looked surprised, or at least as surprised as his stoic face would allow. "This is the best opportunity we've had for getting my body back."

"If you come with me," Draco forced the words out past the weird feeling of guilt and shame, "I'll be distracted." My father will punish me for it, was left unsaid. A moment of silence passed.

"Fine, but I'll give you a list. You have to get those things." Draco just nodded, relieved that the discussion was over.

As a general rule, Draco didn't wear the ring around his father. Black seemed to understand although Draco could tell he didn't like it. It was just one of those things they knew about each other, but did not need to say.

Another unspoken current in their relationship was that Black wouldn't talk about his past. Outside of vague mentions of abuse from his parents, Black was fairly tight lipped about it. In all of their subsequent deals, whenever Draco pressed about it, Black would give the shortest and most sterile answer imaginable. It didn't take an alchemist to piece together that Black had a shitty childhood and probably some lingering trauma from the first wizarding war. Draco had pivoted to asking questions about magic, and finding Black not only more responsive but also in a better mood, learned that maybe they were both better off leaving the past alone.

And then there was Potter. Black was weird with Potter, almost like he was obsessed but didn't want Draco to know. He latched onto every Daily Prophet about how Harry was losing his marbles. Whenever he came up in conversations, Black tried to act uncaring, but Draco knew that it was an act, and Black probably knew he knew it too.

Much like his enjoyment of Black's company, Draco would never admit that maybe Potter wasn't as terrible as he thought. When Black asked what his problem with Potter was, Draco had responded with everytime Potter had embarrassed and insulted him and his father. Draco had thought that he'd really sold how absolutely dreadful Potter was, but All Black had said was, "Well, it's not like he actually hurt you right? What do you expect from someone who has only ever been told that all Slytherins are untrustworthy and immoral?"

Those words had weighed on Draco for days, they didn't talk about it again, but Black had a point. Was it really that bad if all that had been said were some rude words said under a misguided prejudice? Not that it mattered, Potter and him were also destined to be on opposite sides.

Draco was nervous about wearing the Black ring to King's Cross. Much like his reasoning for not wearing it to Diagon Alley, he didn't want Black drawing his attention in front of his father or his classmates. Black, ever observant, recognized his hesitation for what it was. "I won't talk to you in front of others" Black has announced, and Draco didn't have the heart to leave the ring in his pocket. Black was so clearly excited to see more of the wizarding world again.

When the day arrived, Draco was side-alonged to the station. He started to regret his choice instantly. He refused to acknowledge Black, not with his father so close, but it was unsettling to have him nearby and silent. Like some angel of death looming over his shoulder. They had arrived just as the crowd was picking up. There were plenty of people already gathered.

Just as the Hogwarts express came into sight, Black broke his vow of silence, "Sirius!" Draco jerked, instincts telling him to follow Black's gaze. There was a mangy black dog following the Potter boy.

"What are you talking about?" Draco hissed under his breath hoping his father was too distracted to notice.

"That dog! It's Sirius. And is that-" Black started to walk over to the group. "He looks like James. Except he's so skinny."

Draco returned his eyes to his father and was surprised to find that he was also staring at Potter's dog. Deciding it was worth the risk, Draco stated, "Father, there is something wrong with that animal. Almost seems like an animagus doesn't it?"

Black was still staring at Potter and the dog, but twisted his head to glare at Draco. "Why the fuck would you tell him that?"

Draco didn't respond, Black would be able to guess it was to prove to his father that he could be useful. Draco's father hummed, "It does look to be an odd creature."

His mother seemed entirely unbothered by it all, grabbing Draco into a hug she whispered, "Have a good year." Her squeeze was firm and steadying.

"I will." Black had gone back to watching Potter and the dog, he fell over as Draco walked towards the train doors. The distance between them had reached five metres. Black recovered swiftly, brushing imaginary dust off his pants, and jogged to Draco's side.

"Get an empty compartment." Black growled into his ear.

"What?"

"I'll tell you how the Dark Mark works."

"What?"

"Is that all you know how to say? 'What?'" he mocked Draco, "I am offering a trade. Find an empty compartment. Keep it empty, and I'll tell you how the dark mark works."

Draco grit his teeth, he didn't want to be seen making a deal in front of bystanders. "Fine." The train was mercifully still somewhat empty. He was probably supposed to meet in the Prefect Carriage, so Draco headed straight to the closest regular compartment. As expected it was empty since no one wanted to start off the year getting berated by Perfects. He locked the door, pulled the blinds and turned on Black.

"You first. How does the mark work?"

"No, you first. You have to get to the Prefect meeting shortly. We may not have time for everything I want to discuss. I can tell you about the mark anytime. We need to talk now."

Draco conceded that was a good point. He should probably change into his robes now too. "Was that really Sirius?" He shed his travelling cloak.

"Pretty sure, although he never actually told me he was an animagus. I thought you said he was in hiding? Didn't he murder a bunch of people?"

It took until that exact second for the events to catch up to Draco, and then it hit him. Sirius must be innocent. It made perfect sense, and not just why Potter would be associated with a known murderer. His parents had known that Kreacher would be useful. They had known that someone was now living in the Black house and Dumbledore wouldn't be able to stomach working with Sirius if he was actually guilty..

Even the story his father told him in third year didn't make any sense. Why would a Gryffindor betray his friends like that? Draco would throw Crabbe and Goyle to the werewolves in a heartbeat to prove himself to the Dark Lord, but no Gryffindor he'd ever met would. Sirius must have been framed, Potter and his friends knew about, and they were sheltering him in his family's house.

He was a bloody idiot for not realising it sooner. At least he beat Black to the conclusion.

"Sirius is innocent."

"What? You told me he murdered 13 muggles!"

"And now I'm telling you he's innocent. Kreacher spent the whole summer spying on Dumbledore, who was operating out of the Black house. Dumbledore who wouldn't be caught dead around a dark wizard that had murdered anyone yet alone 13 muggles."

"Why does everyone think he did it?"

"Beats me. I am pretty sure they waived the trial because he was acting like a maniac. It's a bloody genius set up if you ask me. With the combination of dark magic and madness, your family would be the perfect target."

"You're telling me my brother spent 13 years in Azkaban for nothing?"

Draco shrugged. "I guess so, but he's out now and doing just fine based on how he acted as a dog! Bloody happy to be surrounded by those blood traitors and mudbloods."

"You sound like Kreacher." Draco understood he was really saying, you sound like my family. That stung a bit.

"Why do you care? Didn't your brother betray you?"

Draco knew he was crossing the don't talk out Black's history rule, but he didn't understand what the big deal was. Sirius had betrayed his family. At first Draco thought he wouldn't answer, but he spoke evenly and without emotion, "He did, but he was still my brother."

And maybe that's what Draco couldn't understand. "Why did you tell your father about Sirius?"

"Did you forget our deal? You are helping me become a Death Eater like my father. Whatever inside information you give is serving that purpose."

Black sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Fine. You're right, just ask me before you do things like that. There might be consequences you can't expect."

"Like what?"

"You might have to explain how you knew for one. Which means either outing me or trying to convince your father you know how to spot animagi. For another, if your father uncovers that it is Sirius, he'll leak it to the ministry. The ministry will publish it. People will panic again. And if you are right about Sirius being innocent, they will be panicking over nothing!"

Draco sighed, and begrudgingly admitted to himself that made sense, but Black didn't understand how badly he needed this. "Fine."

"Deal?"

"Deal. I'll consult you before sharing your intel, but that doesn't mean I have to listen."

"Deal, get changed, I see Prefects in the hall."

The Prefect Carriage was gaudy. It was charmed to be bigger than the others with a large meeting space in the middle. Pansy had spotted him the second his foot crossed the threshold.

"Draco, can you believe it? We're both prefects! I was nervous you hadn't gotten it when I didn't see you earlier." Pansy was grinning ear to ear.

"Of course I got it. My father wouldn't have allowed it to go to anyone else." He saw someone roll their eyes at him. "You got a problem with that, weasel?"

Ron opened his mouth, but Granger got to him first, grabbing his arm, "It's never worth it."

Draco just snorted and found a seat next to Pansy, while the head boy and girl started calling everyone to sit for introductions.

"Are you able to listen without reacting?" Black was standing just to the left of him. Draco gave a subtle nod.

"Good because we have more interesting things to discuss later. The dark mark is a variation of the Protean charm. At its base it ties two objects together, so when you change one it affects the other. All of the marks are attached. You touch one, the others all know, but I assume you already know that."

Draco kept his face towards the head girl as she spoke, but he gave a single node. He had already known that.

"It is unique for two reasons. The first is the form it takes. The Dark Lord is a parselmouth," Draco's breath caught at that. He held himself still, refusing to look over at Black. "He commands the snake to weave through the skull and in doing so it weaves into the bearer. Even if you cut off your arm, the mark will still be a part of you."

That Draco hadn't known, he didn't know any spells that required the snake language.

"The second is that it is meshed with the cruciatus curse, so when one mark is touched, they all burn. It's not full bodied like a normal crucio, rather it's localised to the arm. Still incredibly painful though."

The colour drained out of his face. He knew it was dark magic, and he had seen his father rubbing uncomfortably at his forearm this summer, but he had wrongly assumed it would just get a little hot or be uncomfortable. Not actual torture.

"You look pale. I assume you didn't know it hurt, did you?" Black's voice turned bitter. "It's so you remember the power he has over you. All he has to do is call you and you'll be on your knees in pain."

That made sense in a twisted way.

"So remember this Draco. When you get that mark it can never leave you and it will be painful." Draco refused to look at him, this was different from their normal conversations. Black walked further away. "I'll let you focus back in. It'll be good practice for you to follow the orders of the head boy and girl. And it looks like they are going to discuss what punishments you can do. Again good practice for when you are asked to torture someone."

Malfoy ripped off the ring trying to school the anger on his face. That would stop Black from testing him. The training continued on, but Draco had a hard time focusing, Black's words still ringing in his head. He knew he was just trying to get a rise out of him, but Draco was having a hard time ignoring the feeling in his chest.

After a few more minutes, they were dismissed and assigned shifts. Pansy led him to where the rest of his classmates were in their own compartment. The familiarity of it was comforting.

"Crabbe, Goyle. I have one of the first shifts, want to patrol with me?" Both nodded.

"Ugh I can't believe they didn't pair us together. Try not to have too much fun without me!" Pansy laughed and gave a wave, plopping down in Crabbe's now vacant spot.

"Try not to scare any first years," Zabini commented amused.

Draco rolled his eyes and motioned for Crabbe and Goyle. It didn't take long for him to find his target, Potter. This would be great for blowing off some steam, he was still pissed at Black. He pulled open the compartment.

"What?" Potter barked before Draco could even open his mouth.

"Manners, Potter. Didn't your mother ever teach you that? Oh, I guess not."

Potter glared. "Just get out of here."

"See here Potter, I, unlike you, am a Prefect. And I, unlike you, can assign punishments. Better watch that mouth of yours."

"And I, unlike you, aren't a total git."

"You forgot that we are Prefects too? You can't do anything to Harry without us doing it to you." Weasley butted in.

"You better keep your dog on a leash Potter." He emphasised the word 'dog' and Potter's face grew redder.

"Shut up Malfoy." Granger said. "And get out!"

"Touchy." Draco sniggered and left the compartment. That hadn't quite satisfied him like he'd hoped. Well at least he'd have all year to keep trying.