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bottom_dracoTitle: No Rest for the Wicked
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rubytuesday5681
Prompt: Prompt #27 The lion King
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco
Summary: Almost ten years after the war, Draco is still trying to outrun the shadows of the crimes of his youth. Harry desperately needs Draco’s help, but is Draco willing to help the Ministry after all that’s been done to his family? The future of the Wizarding World just may depend on it.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own any of this. It all belongs to JKR.
Warning(s): None
Word Count: 8,739
Author's Notes: Big thanks to my Betas for the awesome last minute help!
MOD NOTE: Due to some minor technical difficulties with the website, this fic is being posted directly to the community. Once the issue has been straightened out, it will be added to the website.
Harry sighed. He’d been doing that a lot lately. He felt caught and he didn’t like it. He looked again at the papers he had strewn across his desk- notes on potions that he couldn’t decipher, files on master potions makers… He’d spent countless hours pouring over these papers in the last few weeks and kept coming to the same conclusion.
The Ministry of Magic had a problem, a serious problem. It had been a long time coming. Harry was only made aware of it in recent months as more and more Ministry Personnel were brought into the fold to try and seek a solution. It seemed that for the greater part of ten years, the powers that be had been hoping the problem would simply go away. Clearly that was not going to happen.
It was Hermione who suggested that Harry be brought on to the team. He had no idea how he was supposed to be able to help. Hermione finally explained that the problem would become more obvious to the public, and the team would need a beloved face and spokesperson- someone who could reassure the public that the Ministry would find a solution.
Luckily, things hadn’t progressed to the point where the public was in an uproar yet. Harry hoped they never did. He was down to his last wild card and he was loath to try it out. But he had too. He would do it tonight.
*-*-*
Draco was whistling that night as he cleaned up the storeroom and prepared to close up shop.
Whistling! Amazing. He realized he couldn’t remember the last time he had been in the mood to whistle.
It was a Saturday night, the end of a long week. He was ready for a day off, a day away from the shop. Despite the rain that had plagued the city all week, he felt upbeat. Business had increased in recent weeks and his boss, Master Potions Maker Timothy Pumblano, believed that the increased business had to do with some of the tweaking that Draco had done with the shop’s more popular potions.
Things were finally looking up.
The bell over the door rang in the front room and Draco wondered who would come in at this time. He hadn’t had a customer in well over an hour. Most wizards were out with their friends enjoying their Saturday night right now- something Draco hadn’t been able to do for a long time- not making potions purchases
He headed up to the front, not wanting to keep a potential customer waiting.
The man in the showroom was looking over some display cases in the front window and had his back turned, but Draco recognized Auror robes and was immediately on his guard. He quickly searched his mind to think if he’d done anything recently that might be considered a violation of his probation and came up with nothing.
Draco was silent for a moment until the man finally turned around.
Potter.
“I haven’t done anything” Draco said anxiously, he could feel his voice wavering.
“What?” Potter seemed genuinely confused.
“My probation, I haven’t done anything. I haven’t left the country or bought anything illegal. Did one of my neighbors complain? Because I haven’t been noisy or played any loud music. Always take my garbage out and keep the fire escape clean. The problem at the last place had nothing to do with me. That old bag landlady went batshit insane when she realized who I was and changed the locks before I could even get my things. Not that I had many things...” Draco realized he was rambling but his nervous brain couldn’t get his mouth to shut up. He feared what Potter had to say and somehow thought that if he kept rambling long enough, the man would grow tired of it and leave.
“I’m not here about that Malfoy, relax. As far as I know there is no problem with your probation.” Potter said calmly.
“Oh… okay.” Draco wasn’t sure what to say. “Um, can I… help you find something? Are you looking for a specific potion, or…?” Draco trailed off, gesturing vaguely around the shop with his arms.
“Actually, I am here about potions, but not to buy any.” Potter sighed somewhat awkwardly and scratched his head. “I need your help, Malfoy.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me right. I need your help. Your…” Potter waved an arm around the shop, “Potions expertise.”
“You want a consultation? What’s it concerning?”
“Well, it’s kind of complicated… I’d rather not talk about it here.” Potter said looking disparagingly around the room.
Potter’s evasion made Draco suspicious and uncomfortable, but he certainly didn’t want to piss off someone from the Ministry. “Well, we do have a conference room for consultations in the back, if you think that would do better.”
“Actually, I was hoping we could talk somewhere else, someplace neutral. The Leaky Cauldron perhaps? I… I’ll buy you a drink.” Potter offered, looking wary of pushing Draco to hard.
Draco cursed his situation. He had been feeling so good not moments ago. Now he felt his past closing in around him all over again. He was certainly not in any position to turn down an Auror requesting help. Yet, he most definitely did not trust Potter and didn’t want to get involved with him if he could help it. He needed time to get his head on straight. Potter’s request was so out of the blue, he felt completely unprepared.
“Well, when did you want to discuss it?” Don’t say now. Draco begged silently.
“I was hoping now.”
Shit. Draco did some quick thinking. “Um, actually, I can’t right now. My father has been alone all day and he gets panicky without some company. You understand, of course, after all he’s been through with my mother’s death…” Draco trailed off with a meaningful look.
Potter made an appropriate sympathetic facial expression “Oh, of course. Well, how long do you need? Could you meet me later tonight?” Potter looked hopeful.
Draco should have known Potter wouldn’t back down. He quickly weighed his options and figured it was likely better to get the conversation over with.
“I can meet you at ten for a drink, one drink only. That’s after Father goes to bed, but I can’t leave him alone all night. He still has nightmares.” Draco hoped he wasn’t going too far in trying to play on Potter’s sympathies.
“Of course, of course, you need to be there for him. I will be as quick as possible. One drink is great.” Potter seemed disproportionately relieved.
“Alright, well, I will see you at ten, then. Now, if you don’t mind, I really do need to finish up here so I can get home.” Draco said with as much confidence as he could muster while opening the door and motioning Potter out.
“Right, okay. I will see you later. Thanks, Malfoy.” Potter gave him a lingering, grateful look and then was gone.
Draco had chills from that look. What on earth could this be about? What was so important? And why in the world did Potter want his help of all people?
*-*-*
That had gone much better than he had expected, Harry mused as he walked home to change. He’d realized too late that he shouldn’t have shown up in his Auror robes. That might have been what had put Malfoy so on edge from the start. Harry had thought Malfoy would be hostile and suspicious. Well, certainly, he was suspicious, but not in an angry way. Instead, he had seemed more nervous than anything. Harry hoped by wearing his own clothes later, he might be able to set Malfoy more at ease.
Harry kicked up a pile of dead leaves in the gutter as he pondered this. He could have apparated home, but he liked being out in the crisp fall air. The rain had finally stopped while he’d been in Pumblano’s shop and now the clouds were clearing and he could just see the moon emerging from behind them to brighten up the dark night sky.
Malfoy had been through a lot, there was no question about that. His family had not fared well in the Death Eater trials after the war. Of course, the Ministry had seized all of the Malfoy assets, but additionally, Lucius and Draco had both been sentenced to time in Azkaban. Lucius served seven years for his confirmed Death Eater crimes. Draco served only three. Harry had always felt that was too much. He brought the case up for appeal, insisting that Draco had only been a child when he let Death Eaters into Hogwarts, only trying to protect his family. He gave his testimony that Draco was unable to kill Dumbledore. In the end it did no good. The original sentencing held and Draco served his time.
Narcissa had only received probation and community service, partly because there was little reliable evidence of any willing Death Eater involvement on her part, and also, of course, because of Harry’s testimony of her lie that saved his life. Her community service had involved a great deal of work in the brain maladies wing at St. Mungo’s and also in Hospice services for those with terminal brain injuries.
Harry stopped to sit down on a park bench about a block away from Grimmuald place, not quite ready to go home. It wasn’t as if anyone was waiting for him there. Still single at 27, Harry’s biggest priority in life was his work at the Ministry. He rarely spent much time at home.
Harry leaned back on the bench and stared at the moon for a moment. It was fully exposed now and lit up the field. Harry thought it might be getting close to Harvest moon time. The thought of a full moon sent chills down his spine as he remembered again why it was so important that he get Malfoy’s help now.
He remembered what Draco had said about Lucius still recovering from his wife’s death.
Narcissa had passed away- quite unexpectedly, in her sleep- a little less than a year ago. Lucius was still on house arrest as part of his parole at the time. The death had been terribly hard on them. Word was that Lucius took it worst. He woke up one morning with a corpse in his bed next to him. The magical autopsy showed that she’d had a massive aneurism. No one could have known it was coming.
Harry had come to respect Narcissa a great deal in the last few years, mostly due to her volunteer work. She had continued to put in many hours a week with the patients at St. Mungo’s even after her community service hours were finished. He regretted that he had never put forth the effort to have any kind of relationship with the woman after the trials. He had thought about it many times and kept putting it off. Now, he would never have the opportunity.
Pondering this sent Harry’s mood tumbling into depression. Something he’d felt far too often lately, and he decided it was time to head home. He needed to eat something before his meeting with Malfoy, and change out of his blasted robes. He feared he might not know the right words to convince the man to help him. He had too, though. The fate of the Wizarding world just might depend on it.
*-*-*
Draco rushed as he walked home. For some reason felt the need to get to his father much more quickly than usual. He always worried about his father during the day while he was at work. He hated that he had to leave Lucius alone so much. It wasn’t good for him after what he had been through. Draco tried to spend as much time with his father as he could when he wasn’t working.
Another reason Draco was rushing was because of the danger of the neighborhood he was walking through. After months of wandering between shelters, Draco had finally found a flat in Knockturn Alley’s North End. The landlord certainly didn’t care about Draco’s past, he was just glad to have someone who could consistently pay the rent. That had not been a problem for Draco since things had gotten better at Pumblano’s. As far as he knew, the only other tenants who consistently paid rent on time were the pimp who ran a prostitution ring on the third floor and the Felix Felicias dealer in flat 4b.
As part of his probation, Draco was not allowed to apparate. He hated the walk home every night. It just seemed to give him more time to wallow in self pity. He preferred to stay busy as much as possible, engaging his mind, so he couldn’t think about how bad things were.
Things were bad. The worst of Draco’s circumstances had little to do with his time in Azkaban, or his probation. Azkaban had actually not been a terrible experience. After the war, the prison was modernized and updated with new facilities. Draco was in the Minimum Security wing. In that wing, the inmates were able to work on special projects based on their interests. Everything Draco did was overseen by the Ministry, of course, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. No, prison wasn’t bad. In prison, he didn’t have to worry about where he would live, what he would do for work, or how he would take care of his family. Those difficulties started after Azkaban.
Most of the problems were a direct result of the rules and restrictions in place relating to the Death Eater list. The D. E. list was released to the Wizarding public quarterly via the Wizarding Wireless and included the names of all Death Eaters, suspected Death Eaters, and Death Eater sympathizers. Once your name appeared on that list, it was there forever, and everyone knew about it. Being on this list imbued Draco with so many restrictions that it felt nearly impossible to live. He couldn’t live within 100 meters of a park, toy shop, or any place that children may gather for fear that he would try to recruit them. He couldn’t work in any business that dealt with magical artifacts, books, or supplies, because he may use them for dark purposes. He managed to get around this in his employment at Pumblano’s because he was hired as a “supervised apprentice”. The rules stated that he could never be alone with potions materials. Pumblano didn’t always follow this rule, however. In fact, if Potter had really wanted to be an arse, he could have reported Draco for being alone in the shop tonight.
Draco finally made it back to his building and began climbing the stairs to his fifth floor walk-up.
The worst part of being on the D.E. List was that Draco could be fired or evicted at any time with no notice. His employers and landlords didn’t need to give any explanation. If they decided that they no longer wished to associate with someone on the D.E. List, Draco was out of luck. Knowing this made him feel like he had to constantly look over his shoulder.
He had started feeling better, more secure since things were going so well at work. He felt he had a good understanding with his landlord and was unlikely to be thrown out. But the meeting with Potter tonight had knocked him all off-kilter again.
He opened the door to the flat gradually, not wanting to startle his father. The whole place was dark, no lights on. That was not unusual. Lucius would often sit down somewhere and not notice the time passing or realize it had gotten dark outside. Draco felt awful that he wasn’t able to get home in time to turn on the lamps. It saddened him to come home and find his father sitting in the dark.
Lucius’ house arrest had ended months ago, but he almost never wanted to go out, and certainly not without Draco’s company. He was still complacent with just sitting around the flat. This worried Draco. His father was doing better in so many ways, it seemed natural that now he would want to take the next step and start living in the world again. Draco had repeatedly suggested going out, but thus far, Lucius had not been interested.
Draco quietly walked through the two-room flat and quickly saw his father sitting on the bench out on the fire escape. That was his favorite place to sit and watch evening fall. Problem was, sometimes he would get so lost in his thoughts that he forgot to get up.
“Hello Father.” Draco said gently.
Lucius looked up slowly and smiled. “Is it that time already? How was the day, today? More good sales?”
Draco sat down beside his father, relieved that he was in a lucid state tonight. His mind had been clearer and clearer as the time passed since his wife’s death. “A good day, Father, it was a good day.” Draco said with a smile. He wanted his father to know that work was going well. He didn’t want him to worry.
They sat in silence for a few moments and Draco looked down at the street. He thought he understood why his father liked to sit out here. He could look at the bright lights and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city at night, without having to be a part of it, watching from a safe distance.
Draco wondered how much he should share with his father about Potter’s visit. After considering his options, he decided the direct approach was probably best. “Had a visit from Harry Potter today.”
“Really? And what did he want?” Draco could hear the old venom creep into his father’s tone and it warmed his heart.
“He wants my help with something. Some problem he’s having. He needs my potions expertise. I’m supposed to meet him later tonight at the Leaky Cauldron to discuss it.”
Lucius looked as bewildered as Draco felt. “Why does he want your help? Doesn’t the Ministry employ plenty of its own potions masters?”
“I wondered the same thing myself.” Draco replied “I intend to have that answered tonight. Although, I got the feeling from our conversation that this may not be official Ministry sanctioned business.”
Lucius looked thoughtful at this. “Will you help him?”
“I don’t know. I want to find out more about what it is before I agree to it.” Draco explained.
“That is wise. But Draco, remember who this is. Harry Potter is the last person that you want to make angry. And as much as I still despise the man, he did a great deal on our family’s behalf by his testimony in the trials. Our name may not mean much anymore, but Malfoys don’t forget things like that. Don’t forget who you are, Draco. If you can help out a person in a position to benefit you, with no harm to yourself, you must do it. We owe him something.”
Draco considered all of that before replying. “That’s just it, though. I still don’t trust Potter. I’m not convinced that this would benefit us. Why all the secrecy? If it was above board, why wouldn’t he tell me about it in the shop?”
“Trust him or not, Potter would be a great ally. Trust and liking have little to do with acquiring allies. You are a Malfoy, you know this. Sometimes duty to one’s name and family doesn’t taste good, but you must do it just the same.”
*-*-*
Harry made sure to get to the Leakey Cauldron early. He indicated to Tom that he needed his regular corner booth for privacy and was waiting with two firewhiskeys when Malfoy came in. Harry studied him as he entered the pub and slowly made his way across the room to Harry’s booth. Malfoy looked older and wearier than he should have at 27, but Harry could not deny that he was handsome. He had let his white-blond hair grow to his chin and wore it lose now, instead of slicked back as he had done in school. His height could have made him an imposing figure if he’d stood up straight. As it was, he seemed to always be a bit hunched over, always looking down. Harry supposed that would be a normal response when most of the world didn’t want you around.
There was something in Malfoy’s eyes that started Harry when he finally sat down with a mumbled “Potter” and nod in greeting. Harry had noticed it in the shop as well. Malfoy’s eyes were clear, despite everything that had happened to him. They weren’t happy, nowhere near it, but they were not hooded with malice or twitchy with nerves either. They were forthright and honest when you could get him to look at you in the face. Harry had to admit he admired the man for not breaking or falling apart completely under the tremendous amount of pressure he lived with. Harry wasn’t sure he would be able to do the same in similar circumstances.
“Malfoy, I’m so glad you’ve come. I have to admit, I was afraid you might not show.” Harry tried to keep his voice even and congenial. He didn’t want to offend Malfoy before they’d even got started.
“Malfoys keep their word, Potter. Now what’s this all about?”
Trust Malfoy to get right to the point. Harry quickly cast a privacy charm around the table and took a deep breath before diving in. “What do you know about werewolves?”
Malfoy looked quite surprised at that query. “Very little, I’ve never been personally close to one and don’t associate with any now… that I know of.”
“I believe you know a bit more about them than that.” Harry said gently, not wanting to upset Malfoy. It didn’t work.
“What are you on about Potter? What is it you know about me?” Malfoy suddenly looked ready to jump up at any moment.
Harry quickly reached down onto the seat beside him and pulled out three thick piles of parchment and laid them out in front of Malfoy. He knew the privacy charm he’d cast would keep the other pub patrons from understanding what the papers were, yet he couldn’t help but look around anxiously to assure himself that no one was paying attention to them.
“What’s all this?” Malfoy slowly began sifting through the papers and realization dawned. “How did you get these?” He asked angrily. “They were never published, no journal would have them!”
“I have my sources. You know the Ministry keeps very close tabs on every project you work on while in Azkaban. Copies of every paper completed go straight to the Department of Mysteries.” Harry explained.
“So I did a little bit of writing during my incarceration.” Malfoy spat “So what?”
“So clearly, you know a little bit more about werewolves than you let on. And this is not just a little bit of writing. These are Master potions level papers.”
“Did you even read these papers, Potter? They are not about werewolves. I wrote about wolfsbane potion. There is a difference.”
“In fact, I did read the papers, though I will admit there was quite a bit I didn’t understand. Despite what you may contend, werewolves and wolfsbane potion have a great deal to do with one another.” Harry had to fight to keep his voice calm.
“Fine, whatever. But what is the point? What’s this got do with me helping you? Is this the ‘potions expertise’ you need? You have the papers, what do you want from me?” Malfoy’s voice was edging on hysterical now.
Harry knew no one would hear them, but he wanted Malfoy to lower his voice just the same. He made a shushing motion with his hands. “Calm down, just listen. Think back with me for a moment. Up until about ten years ago, who supervised the majority of the making of wolfsbane potion in Britain?”
“Snape did, of course. So what?”
“So, the Ministry has learned that werewolves’ responses to the full moon change in ten year cycles. Wolfsbane potion needs to be modified to counteract that change. Up until Snape died, he was the one who modified the potions.” Harry stopped there for a moment and took a sip of his firewhiskey, waiting to see if understanding would set in.
“Okay, so? Surely Snape must have kept notes. Can’t the answers be found there?”
“Actually, yes, some answers have been found there. That’s how we’ve been making the potion all this time. The problem is that we can’t find anything about how the potion should be modified with the ten year cycles. The current cycle is almost over and we are already starting to see differences in how werewolves respond to the potion. It’s not as effective as it used to be.” Harry sat back for a moment to let that sink in.
Malfoy looked down at his papers thoughtfully for a moment. “I’m still not really sure what this has to do with me. I don’t know how to modify the potion. All I did in these papers was allude to the fact that modifications needed to be made. What those modifications are was outside the scope of the project.”
“I understand that, but you could figure it out, couldn’t you?” Harry was hopeful.
“Well…” Malfoy rubbed his eyes and sighed. “It would take some time. I don’t know if I have the resources…”
“Whatever you need, the Ministry can provide it.” Harry said excitedly.
“Wait, that reminds me. There is one thing I don’t understand, Potter. Why me? Doesn’t the Ministry employ its own Master potions makers? Do you really need to seek help from a lowly supervised apprentice?”
“Despite what you may call yourself, we both know you are no apprentice. The Ministry can’t find anyone who has researched wolfsbane to the extent you have. And besides that, you knew Snape. You know something about how his mind worked. You may be able to decipher some of the notes that our experts haven’t been able to understand.”
“I don’t know about that. In many ways, Snape was a mystery even to me. I can’t promise I would understand anything.”
“But you could try!” Harry said pleadingly.
*-*-*
Draco leaned back, scratched the nape of his neck and took a deep breath. He slowly sipped a bit of his firewhiskey before closing his eyes for a moment and sighing. He needed to think.
When he opened his eyes again, Potter was looking around the pub and Draco took a moment to study the man before him. Potter was fit, certainly that came with the Auror job. His hair, while still wild, was nothing like the mess it had been in school. And his eyes… his eyes were still that searing bright green that had always stolen Draco’s breath when they were young. The most impressive thing about Potter, though, was how palpable his power was to anyone around him. Draco doubted that Potter himself was even aware of it. It had been practically crackling all evening and Draco felt it was holding him captive. Willing him to listen to what Potter had to say.
Potter certainly seemed genuine. He also seemed desperate.
There was still a great deal Draco didn’t understand, though. “Why did the Ministry wait so long on this? I mean, why I am just now being asked about it. Surely they’ve known about the problem for years. I wrote those papers almost seven years ago.” He asked.
“That I honestly can’t tell you. I was only made aware of the problem a few months ago, myself. It’s all pretty hush-hush. Very few people at the Ministry even know what’s going on. All I know for certain is that the Ministry has exhausted all of its internal resources and has come up blank. Now we are looking for outside help.”
“How did my name come up in all of this? I’m certainly not high up on the Ministry’s list of favorite people?” Draco said acerbically.
“Actually, it was Hermione who suggested we ask for your help. She was very impressed when she read your papers.”
“Honestly? Granger suggested asking for my help? That’s pretty amazing considering how I treated her in school.” Draco often felt abashed these days when he thought of how he had behaved toward a lot of people at school. Especially considering what his life had been reduced to.
“It’s in the past, Malfoy. Leave it there.” Potter seemed to really mean that.
Draco took a few minutes to consider everything he had learned. He looked around the pub and saw that business had picked up significantly since they had come in. It was well after dinner time now and the late crowd was here.
“It’s an awfully big mess the Ministry is in, isn’t Potter? Is there anything else? Anything more you’re not telling me?” Draco had to ask, even though he wasn’t convinced he would get an honest answer.
“No, that’s everything. And it isn’t just the Ministry that’s in a mess. This is going to affect all of us, if we don’t get it solved.” Potter gave him a meaningful look with that.
It was late. Draco knew he had stayed too long. He needed to be at home in case his father awoke upset. But dammit Potter was compelling when he wanted to be.
“I don’t know. It’s late. I really do need to get back to my Father. I’m not sure I can give you an answer tonight.” Draco said honestly.
“But you will think about it, right?” Potter was sounding desperate again.
“Of course I will.” Draco answered easily.
“When can you let me know?”
“That I don’t know. I’ll need some time to consider it. What will happen if I say no?” Draco suddenly wondered.
“Nothing. Nothing will happen to you. But I will be honest with you, I don’t think we can figure this out without your help. You can go on your way if you like, but you will be in just as much danger as the rest of us in a few months when the full moon comes and wolfsbane potion is useless.” Potter said darkly.
Something about Potter’s tone finally drove home how serious he really was. “I will let you know soon, a couple of days.” Draco promised.
Draco stood up to leave when Potter suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm. The left arm where he surely knew the dark mark still stained the skin under his sleeve. “I won’t let this go, Malfoy. I will come looking for my answer. We need you.” Potter gave him one last lingering stare and squeezed his arm before letting go.
Draco stood still and stared at Potter for a moment as he looked down at the table and reached for his drink. He did not look up again. “Goodnight Potter.” Draco said. It was all he could do not to run out of the pub.
*-*-*
Harry was unable to sleep that night. He kept going over the conversation with Malfoy in his mind. He feared he had said the wrong things. Perhaps he had given up too much information? Perhaps he had not given Malfoy enough details? As it was, Harry hated thinking about the grisly details, let alone talking about them.
If this didn’t work- if they couldn’t get Malfoy to help them- well, Harry didn’t know what would happen.
Harry wished he had not been the one to approach Malfoy. He felt it was a mistake from the beginning. He thought Hermione should do it, she understood much more about potions than Harry, but for some reason she felt Harry would be better able to get through to Malfoy. She said something about them always having an electric connection, even when they hated each other. Harry had to admit that after tonight’s conversation, he was beginning to understand what she meant. He still wasn’t sure it would be enough to convince Malfoy, though.
As much as Harry appreciated how easily Malfoy had listened to him, he missed some of the old fire that he had in school. He missed Malfoy’s git attitude a bit. Talking to him now wasn’t quite like talking to the same person. Sure, there were sparks of it, but he was obviously so beat down that the old angry side of him seemed to have gotten lost somewhere.
Harry didn’t know why, but in addition to wanting Malfoy’s help, he wanted to find a way to get that old fiery side of him back a bit.
*-*-*
Draco woke feeling like death warmed over. He had lain in bed tossing and turning for hours the night before. The sky outside his window had started to lighten before he finally fell asleep. He could scarcely remember his walk home. His mind had been plagued with images of Fenrir Greyback and full moons. Werewolves and no wolfsbane potion to tame them.
He knew what he had to do, but for some reason that he did not entirely understand, he really just didn’t want to do it.
By the angle of the sunlight in the room, Draco judged it to be mid-morning. His father was sitting at the table in the corner sipping his tea and reading the paper. Draco slowly sat up and stretched. He had never been fond of sleeping on couches, but the one that had come with the flat was actually not too bad.
Draco watched his father reading the paper. He remembered watching his father read the paper when he was a little boy. Draco could never understand why the paper was interesting. Lucius tried to explain important financial news to him and would always get annoyed when Draco lost interest quickly. Now here they were, only the two of them left without his mother. Draco looked at a picture of all three of them that they had placed on an end table. It had been taken a few months before she died. They had just started feeling happy as a family again. Narcissa had been their saving grace. She had always been the glue that held the family together. Even when she wasn’t feeling well… Draco could feel the tears welling up behind his eyes and had to fight to keep them back.
“Ah, you are finally up, I see.” His father said and startled him. “I have decided that I would like to go out today.”
Draco stared at his father and said nothing.
“Yes, I would like to go out. For dinner, actually. To the Leaky Cauldron. Let’s go at eight.” At this, Lucius stood and walked out to sit on the fire escape, taking his paper with him.
*-*-*
Harry was shocked to see Draco at the Leaky Cauldron that night. And even more shocked to see that Lucius had accompanied him. Draco rarely ventured out to Wizarding establishments, certainly that was part of the reason he had seemed unsure of himself the night before. And Lucius had only been seen in public twice since his house arrest had ended almost six months ago. Both appearances had made the Daily Prophet. One time was to visit Draco at Pumblano’s shop soon after his apprenticeship had started, the other time was to visit his wife’s grave on the six month anniversary of her death.
Harry was sitting at the bar when the two came in and sat down at the booth in the corner, the very same booth he and Draco had sat in the previous night. The Malfoys did not seem to notice his presence.
He only gave it a moment of thought before he left his stool and headed over to the Malfoy’s table. He figured if he wanted to rile Draco up a bit, inviting himself to dinner would be a great way to do it.
*-*-*
The moment Draco saw Potter walking across the pub toward his table, he began wishing that at any moment he would wake up and this would all be a bad dream. He wasn’t ready to talk to Potter again yet. The man had a way of making him feel so… mundane. It was downright depressing.
Potter didn’t even ask before sitting down beside Lucius. “You don’t mind of I join you, of course? I never did like dining by myself and I see you have room here.”
Draco mustered up what little composure he had left and reminded himself of what his father had said about allies. “Good evening, Potter. You remember my father, of course.” He said, motioning his hand across the table toward his dinner companion
“Of course” Potter said cordially, extending his hand to shake with Lucius.
“It has been quite some time, Mr. Potter. You are looking well.” Lucius said, by way of greeting.
“Thank you, I feel quite well. Although, I would feel better if I had the promise of your son’s assistance with a little problem I am facing. Surely Draco has told you of the conundrum the Ministry finds itself in?”
Draco choked on the last sip of firewhiskey he had in his mouth and quickly signaled for another one. “Actually, no, Potter, I have not told my father about it. I rather thought it might upset him and I certainly don’t think it to be pleasant dinner conversation.” Draco gave Potter a look of death, hoping he would catch on and give up the line of conversation.
“Oh, well, alright then. Unsavory as it may be, it is the reality we find ourselves facing. But if you would rather, we can talk about it later.” Potter turned and looked straight at Draco, “We will talk about it later.”
Draco was glad that Tom picked this moment to come and take their dinner order. He was sure to ask that Tom keep the firewhiskeys coming. He knew he would need the liquid confidence to get through this meal.
Draco was relieved that his father didn’t inquire as to what Potter had wanted his help with. He was also a little bit saddened, though. Lucius always used to be infuriatingly curious, never leaving well enough alone. Recently, though, he was more than happy to let go of any conversation he might find upsetting. Draco felt responsible for so much of Lucius’ sadness that he often tried to shield his father from bad news. That morning, when Lucius had asked about his conversation with Potter from the night before, Draco had been able to convince him that he didn’t want to know the details. He had promised to let his father know more about it in due time.
“So, tell me Mr. Malfoy, what brings you out to the Leaky Cauldron tonight?” Potter asked, apparently tiring of the silence since Tom had left.
“Well, I decided perhaps it was finally time to start getting out again. And what better way to start than with dinner at an old familiar haunt?” Lucius said happily.
“Well, now. That is something I will drink to!” Potter exclaimed, raising his glass in what almost seemed like sincerity.
Draco lifted his, as did Lucius to a chorus of “cheers” all around.
“So how are things around the Ministry these days? The, ah, less upsetting bits, if you don’t mind.” Lucius inquired.
Harry didn’t seem to mind at all. He proceeded to talk Lucius’ ear off for the better part of an hour giving him seemingly endless details about Ministry personnel, new edicts and legislature, and even redecorating projects that had taken place around the Ministry in the last few years. Draco never would have known that Potter could talk like that. Lucius appeared to love every minutes of it. Draco thought that perhaps he was brought back to his glory days when Ministry officials ate out of his hand and he knew all the gossip as a matter of course.
Through all of this, Draco proceeded to get properly smashed.
*-*-*
Harry wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing, but he was enjoying it just the same. This was not the same Lucius Malfoy that Harry had dealt with in his younger years. This more subdued version of the man was actually quite pleasant to talk with, however phony he may be. And Harry really was glad that Lucius had finally decided to venture out again. He hoped that if he could make this dinner pleasant, Lucius might decide to go out more often.
Harry wondered when he had begun to care that much about the Malfoys. Of course he had cared about Narcissa and Draco since the end of the war, but he had apparently been so caught up in his own life in all the years since then that he had forgotten to follow up. Made him feel like a bit of a prat now he thought about it.
As much as Lucius was enjoying their conversation, Draco clearly was not. He had hardly touched his plate and Harry had lost count of how many firewhiskeys he had downed.
Tom came to ask if they wanted desert.
“It’s not a proper meal without desert, is it? I will have the apple cobbler, please. I hear it’s wonderful this time of year.” Lucius said happily.
Harry ordered the same, but Draco declined dessert, instead opting to order sherry.
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” Harry couldn’t help but ask.
“Not nearly enough. Not yet.” Draco replied darkly, already beginning to slur his words.
“Oh, Draco, stop being so morose.” Lucius admonished his son.
“Morose? Me, being morose? That’s funny, that’s really funny…” Draco proceeded to lower his voice and mumble into his glass as he took his last swig of firewhiskey.
“What was that, Draco?” Lucius asked airily.
“Nothing Father, nothing at all.” Draco said and sat up again. Apparently attempting to regain some composure as the sherry and cobbler arrived.
Harry and Lucius ate in silence for a few moments. The cobbler really was quite good. Harry thought he would have enjoyed it more under different circumstances. He was glad to see a bit of attitude coming out in Draco, but sad to see that he would still abandon his anger so quickly. Harry wondered what it would take to get the man to stand up for himself again.
Harry was finishing up his last bite when he looked up and realized that Draco was staring at him and he had no idea for how long.
It was a disarming, piercing, albeit drunken, gaze. Harry said nothing, suddenly put off his guard.
Draco slowly leaned forward, placed both elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands.
Harry leaned back instinctively.
“What is this about, Potter?” Draco asked quietly.
“Excuse me?”
“This, this dinner with my father. Why are you here? Why couldn’t you leave us alone?”
Harry looked at Lucius to see his reaction to the question and realized that the older man had fallen asleep. He was leaning back in the booth, eyes closed, and breathing through his open mouth. Half of his cobbler was left forgotten on the table, flies buzzing around the plate now.
Draco laughed when he saw Harry’s expression. “Yes, he does that. Often, actually. It usually only happens at home, but apparently he feels quite comfortable in your company. Either that or he’s completely exhausted from this evening’s happy performance.”
“Didn’t seem like a performance to me, Malfoy. He seemed to genuinely be enjoying himself.” Harry said softly.
“Well, perhaps some of it was genuine. I suppose that is a good thing.” Draco looked around the pub before looking at his father again. “Potter, would you mind… Would you mind casting a privacy spell? For his sake… I um… I am still not allowed to do them. I’ve a got year left of my wand being monitored. No privacy for me.” Draco gave a sad little laugh with that and turned back to his drink.
Harry wasted no time casting a privacy charm around the table. He wanted it for the conversation they were about to have, anyway.
“You asked why I am here.” Harry waited until Draco looked up before continuing. “I told you I would come looking for my answer. I didn’t come to the Leaky looking for you tonight. I simply couldn’t be bothered to cook for myself. I suppose I am just lucky that you showed up. But it wouldn’t have mattered. If I hadn’t seen you here, I would have come to the shop, and your home, and wherever else you may be until I got my answer.”
Harry stopped. There was really nothing more he needed to say. His point was clear. There was no reason for Draco to put him off any longer.
Moments of silence ticked by. Harry sipped his firewhiskey while he waited for Draco to finally respond.
“I don’t know, Potter-“
“Dammit! You do know!” Harry pounded the table with his fist, unable to control himself any longer. “You know what you have to do! Why won’t you just agree to help us? You know you may the only one who can.”
“Did it ever occur to you that perhaps you don’t want my help?!” Draco said angrily, finally abandoning control on his emotions as well. “Did you ever think that perhaps I am not the amazing potions master you’ve built me up to be? You are basing all of this on three papers I wrote seven years ago while in prison. Three purely theoretical papers, I might add. I have never even made wolfsbane potion!”
“What are you on about? Those papers were fantastic, it’s a crime they were never published. You are the only potions expert in Britain who has anywhere near the talent that Severus Snape did. You are the one who can do this.”
“You don’t want me, Potter? Just let it go.” Draco leaned back in his seat and began rubbing his eyes with the backs of his hands.
Harry sighed and lowered his voice, “What do you mean, Malfoy? Why don’t I want you?”
Draco lowered his hands, his normally clear grey eyes were bleary and bloodshot. “I killed my mother.”
“What?”
“I killed her, Potter. It was my fault.”
“What are you talking about? She died from a brain aneurism, no one could have seen it coming. It was no one’s fault.”
“That’s what you think? That’s what the magical autopsy showed, right? No. No, it was me. I gave her a headache potion. Something new I had been experimenting with.” Draco’s voice was getting higher. “I shouldn’t have even been using potions at the time. I should have just followed the damn probation rules!”
“No.” Harry said, shaking his head. “No, Malfoy, there’s no way that’s what killed her.”
“It’s true.” A tear made its way down Draco’s left cheek . “It was me. She had been having headaches for weeks and I just wanted to help her. Instead I killed her.” Draco looked down into his lap and began rapidly folding and unfolding his hands.
Harry suddenly became aware that Lucius was awake next to him. The older man sat up and reached a hand across the table toward Draco. “She had been having headaches for weeks because she was ill.” He said.
Draco looked up. “What?” He said breathlessly.
“She was ill, Draco. She had been for quite some time.”
Draco began shaking his head. “No. No, it was just stress. Just the stress of all the volunteering she was doing.”
“Draco, she told you that because she didn’t want you to worry. She had a genetic brain malady. She’d known about it all her life. It runs in the Black family. The women get it. Remember Aunt Bella? Most women with the illness tend to either go insane or die young of what looks like a brain aneurism on a magical autopsy.”
“She would have told me.” Draco argued in an anguished voice. “She would have wanted me to know.”
“She was a proud woman, son. She was so terrified of losing her mind. She only told me about it when it started affecting Bella. It’s the reason she chose to do her community service at St. Mungo’s in the brain maladies wing.” Lucius was holding both of Draco’s hands across the table now. They looked at each other for a few moments.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Draco asked, so softly it was barely audible.
“I… I don’t know. I suppose I was just so caught up in my own grief. I swear I had no idea you felt responsible. If I had known, of course I would have told you. I am so, so sorry.” As Lucius said this, silent tears began to fall down both of his cheeks. Harry had never seen the man look so human before.
They sat in silence for several moments while the revelation sank in. When Harry felt enough time had passed, he silently removed the privacy charm and motioned for Tom to put the check on his tab.
“I think it’s time to go.” Harry said gently.
Draco looked up at him, as if he had forgotten he was there. “Yes, you’re right Potter, time to go.”
*-*-*
Draco stood up slowly and helped his father on with his cloak. Then the three men walked out into the chilly fall evening.
Suddenly Potter stopped as if he had realized something. “How will you get home?” He asked.
Draco looked at him quizzically. “We’ll walk, just as we always do.”
“It’s quite a long walk to your flat, isn’t it? I’m not sure you’re father is fit to walk so far tonight in this cold wind.” Potter reasoned.
“Well, what do you propose we do instead, Potter?” Draco’s tone was icy. “We can’t apparate, our flat has no floo, and the Knight Bus certainly won’t take us. Do you happen to have a portkey on you?” Draco asked sarcastically.
“Take my arms, I will side-along apparate you.” Potter said seriously.
“Both of us?” Draco asked incredulously
“Yes, it will be fine.” Potter nodded and motioned for each of them to take an arm
Lucius and Draco were both unsure, but each took an arm just the same. Draco quickly gave Potter the address and then felt a familiar tug in his gut that he hadn’t felt in years. The next thing he knew, he was standing on the front stoop of his building.
“Father, why don’t go ahead and go upstairs, I will be up in a few moments. I need to talk to Potter a bit more.” Draco sent his father up the stairs and watched to see that he got up the first flight alright. Then he turned around and sat down on the top step of the stairs leading down to the street. He sighed and began rubbing his eyes again.
Potter sat down next to him and didn’t say anything.
Draco turned and looked at Potter, he was leaning back on his arms and gazing up at the stars. “It’ll be a full moon soon.” He said.
“I know.”
A few more moments passed.
“I don’t know what to say about tonight.” Draco finally said. “That scene, back at the pub, I’m sorry you had to see that.” Draco looked down and began folding and unfolding his hands again.
Suddenly, Potters hands were on his, stilling them. “Stop that.” He said sternly. “Apologizing is nonsense. It was fine.”
Draco looked up and saw that Potter was staring at him. Those green eyes searched his as if they were looking for something. Draco was lost in that gaze. He was lost… And then Potter was leaning forward and Draco was closing his eyes and Potter was kissing him.
And he kissed Potter back… for a moment.
He pulled back slightly and pushed Potter away. Potter didn’t say anything. He just sat there and continued staring at Draco.
“You don’t have to kiss me to get me to help you, you know? I was always going to help anyway.”
“I know that. I kissed you because I wanted to.” Potter smiled at him then, the smile even reached his eyes.
And Draco smiled back.
Author:
rubytuesday5681Prompt: Prompt #27 The lion King
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco
Summary: Almost ten years after the war, Draco is still trying to outrun the shadows of the crimes of his youth. Harry desperately needs Draco’s help, but is Draco willing to help the Ministry after all that’s been done to his family? The future of the Wizarding World just may depend on it.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own any of this. It all belongs to JKR.
Warning(s): None
Word Count: 8,739
Author's Notes: Big thanks to my Betas for the awesome last minute help!
MOD NOTE: Due to some minor technical difficulties with the website, this fic is being posted directly to the community. Once the issue has been straightened out, it will be added to the website.
Harry sighed. He’d been doing that a lot lately. He felt caught and he didn’t like it. He looked again at the papers he had strewn across his desk- notes on potions that he couldn’t decipher, files on master potions makers… He’d spent countless hours pouring over these papers in the last few weeks and kept coming to the same conclusion.
The Ministry of Magic had a problem, a serious problem. It had been a long time coming. Harry was only made aware of it in recent months as more and more Ministry Personnel were brought into the fold to try and seek a solution. It seemed that for the greater part of ten years, the powers that be had been hoping the problem would simply go away. Clearly that was not going to happen.
It was Hermione who suggested that Harry be brought on to the team. He had no idea how he was supposed to be able to help. Hermione finally explained that the problem would become more obvious to the public, and the team would need a beloved face and spokesperson- someone who could reassure the public that the Ministry would find a solution.
Luckily, things hadn’t progressed to the point where the public was in an uproar yet. Harry hoped they never did. He was down to his last wild card and he was loath to try it out. But he had too. He would do it tonight.
*-*-*
Draco was whistling that night as he cleaned up the storeroom and prepared to close up shop.
Whistling! Amazing. He realized he couldn’t remember the last time he had been in the mood to whistle.
It was a Saturday night, the end of a long week. He was ready for a day off, a day away from the shop. Despite the rain that had plagued the city all week, he felt upbeat. Business had increased in recent weeks and his boss, Master Potions Maker Timothy Pumblano, believed that the increased business had to do with some of the tweaking that Draco had done with the shop’s more popular potions.
Things were finally looking up.
The bell over the door rang in the front room and Draco wondered who would come in at this time. He hadn’t had a customer in well over an hour. Most wizards were out with their friends enjoying their Saturday night right now- something Draco hadn’t been able to do for a long time- not making potions purchases
He headed up to the front, not wanting to keep a potential customer waiting.
The man in the showroom was looking over some display cases in the front window and had his back turned, but Draco recognized Auror robes and was immediately on his guard. He quickly searched his mind to think if he’d done anything recently that might be considered a violation of his probation and came up with nothing.
Draco was silent for a moment until the man finally turned around.
Potter.
“I haven’t done anything” Draco said anxiously, he could feel his voice wavering.
“What?” Potter seemed genuinely confused.
“My probation, I haven’t done anything. I haven’t left the country or bought anything illegal. Did one of my neighbors complain? Because I haven’t been noisy or played any loud music. Always take my garbage out and keep the fire escape clean. The problem at the last place had nothing to do with me. That old bag landlady went batshit insane when she realized who I was and changed the locks before I could even get my things. Not that I had many things...” Draco realized he was rambling but his nervous brain couldn’t get his mouth to shut up. He feared what Potter had to say and somehow thought that if he kept rambling long enough, the man would grow tired of it and leave.
“I’m not here about that Malfoy, relax. As far as I know there is no problem with your probation.” Potter said calmly.
“Oh… okay.” Draco wasn’t sure what to say. “Um, can I… help you find something? Are you looking for a specific potion, or…?” Draco trailed off, gesturing vaguely around the shop with his arms.
“Actually, I am here about potions, but not to buy any.” Potter sighed somewhat awkwardly and scratched his head. “I need your help, Malfoy.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me right. I need your help. Your…” Potter waved an arm around the shop, “Potions expertise.”
“You want a consultation? What’s it concerning?”
“Well, it’s kind of complicated… I’d rather not talk about it here.” Potter said looking disparagingly around the room.
Potter’s evasion made Draco suspicious and uncomfortable, but he certainly didn’t want to piss off someone from the Ministry. “Well, we do have a conference room for consultations in the back, if you think that would do better.”
“Actually, I was hoping we could talk somewhere else, someplace neutral. The Leaky Cauldron perhaps? I… I’ll buy you a drink.” Potter offered, looking wary of pushing Draco to hard.
Draco cursed his situation. He had been feeling so good not moments ago. Now he felt his past closing in around him all over again. He was certainly not in any position to turn down an Auror requesting help. Yet, he most definitely did not trust Potter and didn’t want to get involved with him if he could help it. He needed time to get his head on straight. Potter’s request was so out of the blue, he felt completely unprepared.
“Well, when did you want to discuss it?” Don’t say now. Draco begged silently.
“I was hoping now.”
Shit. Draco did some quick thinking. “Um, actually, I can’t right now. My father has been alone all day and he gets panicky without some company. You understand, of course, after all he’s been through with my mother’s death…” Draco trailed off with a meaningful look.
Potter made an appropriate sympathetic facial expression “Oh, of course. Well, how long do you need? Could you meet me later tonight?” Potter looked hopeful.
Draco should have known Potter wouldn’t back down. He quickly weighed his options and figured it was likely better to get the conversation over with.
“I can meet you at ten for a drink, one drink only. That’s after Father goes to bed, but I can’t leave him alone all night. He still has nightmares.” Draco hoped he wasn’t going too far in trying to play on Potter’s sympathies.
“Of course, of course, you need to be there for him. I will be as quick as possible. One drink is great.” Potter seemed disproportionately relieved.
“Alright, well, I will see you at ten, then. Now, if you don’t mind, I really do need to finish up here so I can get home.” Draco said with as much confidence as he could muster while opening the door and motioning Potter out.
“Right, okay. I will see you later. Thanks, Malfoy.” Potter gave him a lingering, grateful look and then was gone.
Draco had chills from that look. What on earth could this be about? What was so important? And why in the world did Potter want his help of all people?
*-*-*
That had gone much better than he had expected, Harry mused as he walked home to change. He’d realized too late that he shouldn’t have shown up in his Auror robes. That might have been what had put Malfoy so on edge from the start. Harry had thought Malfoy would be hostile and suspicious. Well, certainly, he was suspicious, but not in an angry way. Instead, he had seemed more nervous than anything. Harry hoped by wearing his own clothes later, he might be able to set Malfoy more at ease.
Harry kicked up a pile of dead leaves in the gutter as he pondered this. He could have apparated home, but he liked being out in the crisp fall air. The rain had finally stopped while he’d been in Pumblano’s shop and now the clouds were clearing and he could just see the moon emerging from behind them to brighten up the dark night sky.
Malfoy had been through a lot, there was no question about that. His family had not fared well in the Death Eater trials after the war. Of course, the Ministry had seized all of the Malfoy assets, but additionally, Lucius and Draco had both been sentenced to time in Azkaban. Lucius served seven years for his confirmed Death Eater crimes. Draco served only three. Harry had always felt that was too much. He brought the case up for appeal, insisting that Draco had only been a child when he let Death Eaters into Hogwarts, only trying to protect his family. He gave his testimony that Draco was unable to kill Dumbledore. In the end it did no good. The original sentencing held and Draco served his time.
Narcissa had only received probation and community service, partly because there was little reliable evidence of any willing Death Eater involvement on her part, and also, of course, because of Harry’s testimony of her lie that saved his life. Her community service had involved a great deal of work in the brain maladies wing at St. Mungo’s and also in Hospice services for those with terminal brain injuries.
Harry stopped to sit down on a park bench about a block away from Grimmuald place, not quite ready to go home. It wasn’t as if anyone was waiting for him there. Still single at 27, Harry’s biggest priority in life was his work at the Ministry. He rarely spent much time at home.
Harry leaned back on the bench and stared at the moon for a moment. It was fully exposed now and lit up the field. Harry thought it might be getting close to Harvest moon time. The thought of a full moon sent chills down his spine as he remembered again why it was so important that he get Malfoy’s help now.
He remembered what Draco had said about Lucius still recovering from his wife’s death.
Narcissa had passed away- quite unexpectedly, in her sleep- a little less than a year ago. Lucius was still on house arrest as part of his parole at the time. The death had been terribly hard on them. Word was that Lucius took it worst. He woke up one morning with a corpse in his bed next to him. The magical autopsy showed that she’d had a massive aneurism. No one could have known it was coming.
Harry had come to respect Narcissa a great deal in the last few years, mostly due to her volunteer work. She had continued to put in many hours a week with the patients at St. Mungo’s even after her community service hours were finished. He regretted that he had never put forth the effort to have any kind of relationship with the woman after the trials. He had thought about it many times and kept putting it off. Now, he would never have the opportunity.
Pondering this sent Harry’s mood tumbling into depression. Something he’d felt far too often lately, and he decided it was time to head home. He needed to eat something before his meeting with Malfoy, and change out of his blasted robes. He feared he might not know the right words to convince the man to help him. He had too, though. The fate of the Wizarding world just might depend on it.
*-*-*
Draco rushed as he walked home. For some reason felt the need to get to his father much more quickly than usual. He always worried about his father during the day while he was at work. He hated that he had to leave Lucius alone so much. It wasn’t good for him after what he had been through. Draco tried to spend as much time with his father as he could when he wasn’t working.
Another reason Draco was rushing was because of the danger of the neighborhood he was walking through. After months of wandering between shelters, Draco had finally found a flat in Knockturn Alley’s North End. The landlord certainly didn’t care about Draco’s past, he was just glad to have someone who could consistently pay the rent. That had not been a problem for Draco since things had gotten better at Pumblano’s. As far as he knew, the only other tenants who consistently paid rent on time were the pimp who ran a prostitution ring on the third floor and the Felix Felicias dealer in flat 4b.
As part of his probation, Draco was not allowed to apparate. He hated the walk home every night. It just seemed to give him more time to wallow in self pity. He preferred to stay busy as much as possible, engaging his mind, so he couldn’t think about how bad things were.
Things were bad. The worst of Draco’s circumstances had little to do with his time in Azkaban, or his probation. Azkaban had actually not been a terrible experience. After the war, the prison was modernized and updated with new facilities. Draco was in the Minimum Security wing. In that wing, the inmates were able to work on special projects based on their interests. Everything Draco did was overseen by the Ministry, of course, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. No, prison wasn’t bad. In prison, he didn’t have to worry about where he would live, what he would do for work, or how he would take care of his family. Those difficulties started after Azkaban.
Most of the problems were a direct result of the rules and restrictions in place relating to the Death Eater list. The D. E. list was released to the Wizarding public quarterly via the Wizarding Wireless and included the names of all Death Eaters, suspected Death Eaters, and Death Eater sympathizers. Once your name appeared on that list, it was there forever, and everyone knew about it. Being on this list imbued Draco with so many restrictions that it felt nearly impossible to live. He couldn’t live within 100 meters of a park, toy shop, or any place that children may gather for fear that he would try to recruit them. He couldn’t work in any business that dealt with magical artifacts, books, or supplies, because he may use them for dark purposes. He managed to get around this in his employment at Pumblano’s because he was hired as a “supervised apprentice”. The rules stated that he could never be alone with potions materials. Pumblano didn’t always follow this rule, however. In fact, if Potter had really wanted to be an arse, he could have reported Draco for being alone in the shop tonight.
Draco finally made it back to his building and began climbing the stairs to his fifth floor walk-up.
The worst part of being on the D.E. List was that Draco could be fired or evicted at any time with no notice. His employers and landlords didn’t need to give any explanation. If they decided that they no longer wished to associate with someone on the D.E. List, Draco was out of luck. Knowing this made him feel like he had to constantly look over his shoulder.
He had started feeling better, more secure since things were going so well at work. He felt he had a good understanding with his landlord and was unlikely to be thrown out. But the meeting with Potter tonight had knocked him all off-kilter again.
He opened the door to the flat gradually, not wanting to startle his father. The whole place was dark, no lights on. That was not unusual. Lucius would often sit down somewhere and not notice the time passing or realize it had gotten dark outside. Draco felt awful that he wasn’t able to get home in time to turn on the lamps. It saddened him to come home and find his father sitting in the dark.
Lucius’ house arrest had ended months ago, but he almost never wanted to go out, and certainly not without Draco’s company. He was still complacent with just sitting around the flat. This worried Draco. His father was doing better in so many ways, it seemed natural that now he would want to take the next step and start living in the world again. Draco had repeatedly suggested going out, but thus far, Lucius had not been interested.
Draco quietly walked through the two-room flat and quickly saw his father sitting on the bench out on the fire escape. That was his favorite place to sit and watch evening fall. Problem was, sometimes he would get so lost in his thoughts that he forgot to get up.
“Hello Father.” Draco said gently.
Lucius looked up slowly and smiled. “Is it that time already? How was the day, today? More good sales?”
Draco sat down beside his father, relieved that he was in a lucid state tonight. His mind had been clearer and clearer as the time passed since his wife’s death. “A good day, Father, it was a good day.” Draco said with a smile. He wanted his father to know that work was going well. He didn’t want him to worry.
They sat in silence for a few moments and Draco looked down at the street. He thought he understood why his father liked to sit out here. He could look at the bright lights and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city at night, without having to be a part of it, watching from a safe distance.
Draco wondered how much he should share with his father about Potter’s visit. After considering his options, he decided the direct approach was probably best. “Had a visit from Harry Potter today.”
“Really? And what did he want?” Draco could hear the old venom creep into his father’s tone and it warmed his heart.
“He wants my help with something. Some problem he’s having. He needs my potions expertise. I’m supposed to meet him later tonight at the Leaky Cauldron to discuss it.”
Lucius looked as bewildered as Draco felt. “Why does he want your help? Doesn’t the Ministry employ plenty of its own potions masters?”
“I wondered the same thing myself.” Draco replied “I intend to have that answered tonight. Although, I got the feeling from our conversation that this may not be official Ministry sanctioned business.”
Lucius looked thoughtful at this. “Will you help him?”
“I don’t know. I want to find out more about what it is before I agree to it.” Draco explained.
“That is wise. But Draco, remember who this is. Harry Potter is the last person that you want to make angry. And as much as I still despise the man, he did a great deal on our family’s behalf by his testimony in the trials. Our name may not mean much anymore, but Malfoys don’t forget things like that. Don’t forget who you are, Draco. If you can help out a person in a position to benefit you, with no harm to yourself, you must do it. We owe him something.”
Draco considered all of that before replying. “That’s just it, though. I still don’t trust Potter. I’m not convinced that this would benefit us. Why all the secrecy? If it was above board, why wouldn’t he tell me about it in the shop?”
“Trust him or not, Potter would be a great ally. Trust and liking have little to do with acquiring allies. You are a Malfoy, you know this. Sometimes duty to one’s name and family doesn’t taste good, but you must do it just the same.”
*-*-*
Harry made sure to get to the Leakey Cauldron early. He indicated to Tom that he needed his regular corner booth for privacy and was waiting with two firewhiskeys when Malfoy came in. Harry studied him as he entered the pub and slowly made his way across the room to Harry’s booth. Malfoy looked older and wearier than he should have at 27, but Harry could not deny that he was handsome. He had let his white-blond hair grow to his chin and wore it lose now, instead of slicked back as he had done in school. His height could have made him an imposing figure if he’d stood up straight. As it was, he seemed to always be a bit hunched over, always looking down. Harry supposed that would be a normal response when most of the world didn’t want you around.
There was something in Malfoy’s eyes that started Harry when he finally sat down with a mumbled “Potter” and nod in greeting. Harry had noticed it in the shop as well. Malfoy’s eyes were clear, despite everything that had happened to him. They weren’t happy, nowhere near it, but they were not hooded with malice or twitchy with nerves either. They were forthright and honest when you could get him to look at you in the face. Harry had to admit he admired the man for not breaking or falling apart completely under the tremendous amount of pressure he lived with. Harry wasn’t sure he would be able to do the same in similar circumstances.
“Malfoy, I’m so glad you’ve come. I have to admit, I was afraid you might not show.” Harry tried to keep his voice even and congenial. He didn’t want to offend Malfoy before they’d even got started.
“Malfoys keep their word, Potter. Now what’s this all about?”
Trust Malfoy to get right to the point. Harry quickly cast a privacy charm around the table and took a deep breath before diving in. “What do you know about werewolves?”
Malfoy looked quite surprised at that query. “Very little, I’ve never been personally close to one and don’t associate with any now… that I know of.”
“I believe you know a bit more about them than that.” Harry said gently, not wanting to upset Malfoy. It didn’t work.
“What are you on about Potter? What is it you know about me?” Malfoy suddenly looked ready to jump up at any moment.
Harry quickly reached down onto the seat beside him and pulled out three thick piles of parchment and laid them out in front of Malfoy. He knew the privacy charm he’d cast would keep the other pub patrons from understanding what the papers were, yet he couldn’t help but look around anxiously to assure himself that no one was paying attention to them.
“What’s all this?” Malfoy slowly began sifting through the papers and realization dawned. “How did you get these?” He asked angrily. “They were never published, no journal would have them!”
“I have my sources. You know the Ministry keeps very close tabs on every project you work on while in Azkaban. Copies of every paper completed go straight to the Department of Mysteries.” Harry explained.
“So I did a little bit of writing during my incarceration.” Malfoy spat “So what?”
“So clearly, you know a little bit more about werewolves than you let on. And this is not just a little bit of writing. These are Master potions level papers.”
“Did you even read these papers, Potter? They are not about werewolves. I wrote about wolfsbane potion. There is a difference.”
“In fact, I did read the papers, though I will admit there was quite a bit I didn’t understand. Despite what you may contend, werewolves and wolfsbane potion have a great deal to do with one another.” Harry had to fight to keep his voice calm.
“Fine, whatever. But what is the point? What’s this got do with me helping you? Is this the ‘potions expertise’ you need? You have the papers, what do you want from me?” Malfoy’s voice was edging on hysterical now.
Harry knew no one would hear them, but he wanted Malfoy to lower his voice just the same. He made a shushing motion with his hands. “Calm down, just listen. Think back with me for a moment. Up until about ten years ago, who supervised the majority of the making of wolfsbane potion in Britain?”
“Snape did, of course. So what?”
“So, the Ministry has learned that werewolves’ responses to the full moon change in ten year cycles. Wolfsbane potion needs to be modified to counteract that change. Up until Snape died, he was the one who modified the potions.” Harry stopped there for a moment and took a sip of his firewhiskey, waiting to see if understanding would set in.
“Okay, so? Surely Snape must have kept notes. Can’t the answers be found there?”
“Actually, yes, some answers have been found there. That’s how we’ve been making the potion all this time. The problem is that we can’t find anything about how the potion should be modified with the ten year cycles. The current cycle is almost over and we are already starting to see differences in how werewolves respond to the potion. It’s not as effective as it used to be.” Harry sat back for a moment to let that sink in.
Malfoy looked down at his papers thoughtfully for a moment. “I’m still not really sure what this has to do with me. I don’t know how to modify the potion. All I did in these papers was allude to the fact that modifications needed to be made. What those modifications are was outside the scope of the project.”
“I understand that, but you could figure it out, couldn’t you?” Harry was hopeful.
“Well…” Malfoy rubbed his eyes and sighed. “It would take some time. I don’t know if I have the resources…”
“Whatever you need, the Ministry can provide it.” Harry said excitedly.
“Wait, that reminds me. There is one thing I don’t understand, Potter. Why me? Doesn’t the Ministry employ its own Master potions makers? Do you really need to seek help from a lowly supervised apprentice?”
“Despite what you may call yourself, we both know you are no apprentice. The Ministry can’t find anyone who has researched wolfsbane to the extent you have. And besides that, you knew Snape. You know something about how his mind worked. You may be able to decipher some of the notes that our experts haven’t been able to understand.”
“I don’t know about that. In many ways, Snape was a mystery even to me. I can’t promise I would understand anything.”
“But you could try!” Harry said pleadingly.
*-*-*
Draco leaned back, scratched the nape of his neck and took a deep breath. He slowly sipped a bit of his firewhiskey before closing his eyes for a moment and sighing. He needed to think.
When he opened his eyes again, Potter was looking around the pub and Draco took a moment to study the man before him. Potter was fit, certainly that came with the Auror job. His hair, while still wild, was nothing like the mess it had been in school. And his eyes… his eyes were still that searing bright green that had always stolen Draco’s breath when they were young. The most impressive thing about Potter, though, was how palpable his power was to anyone around him. Draco doubted that Potter himself was even aware of it. It had been practically crackling all evening and Draco felt it was holding him captive. Willing him to listen to what Potter had to say.
Potter certainly seemed genuine. He also seemed desperate.
There was still a great deal Draco didn’t understand, though. “Why did the Ministry wait so long on this? I mean, why I am just now being asked about it. Surely they’ve known about the problem for years. I wrote those papers almost seven years ago.” He asked.
“That I honestly can’t tell you. I was only made aware of the problem a few months ago, myself. It’s all pretty hush-hush. Very few people at the Ministry even know what’s going on. All I know for certain is that the Ministry has exhausted all of its internal resources and has come up blank. Now we are looking for outside help.”
“How did my name come up in all of this? I’m certainly not high up on the Ministry’s list of favorite people?” Draco said acerbically.
“Actually, it was Hermione who suggested we ask for your help. She was very impressed when she read your papers.”
“Honestly? Granger suggested asking for my help? That’s pretty amazing considering how I treated her in school.” Draco often felt abashed these days when he thought of how he had behaved toward a lot of people at school. Especially considering what his life had been reduced to.
“It’s in the past, Malfoy. Leave it there.” Potter seemed to really mean that.
Draco took a few minutes to consider everything he had learned. He looked around the pub and saw that business had picked up significantly since they had come in. It was well after dinner time now and the late crowd was here.
“It’s an awfully big mess the Ministry is in, isn’t Potter? Is there anything else? Anything more you’re not telling me?” Draco had to ask, even though he wasn’t convinced he would get an honest answer.
“No, that’s everything. And it isn’t just the Ministry that’s in a mess. This is going to affect all of us, if we don’t get it solved.” Potter gave him a meaningful look with that.
It was late. Draco knew he had stayed too long. He needed to be at home in case his father awoke upset. But dammit Potter was compelling when he wanted to be.
“I don’t know. It’s late. I really do need to get back to my Father. I’m not sure I can give you an answer tonight.” Draco said honestly.
“But you will think about it, right?” Potter was sounding desperate again.
“Of course I will.” Draco answered easily.
“When can you let me know?”
“That I don’t know. I’ll need some time to consider it. What will happen if I say no?” Draco suddenly wondered.
“Nothing. Nothing will happen to you. But I will be honest with you, I don’t think we can figure this out without your help. You can go on your way if you like, but you will be in just as much danger as the rest of us in a few months when the full moon comes and wolfsbane potion is useless.” Potter said darkly.
Something about Potter’s tone finally drove home how serious he really was. “I will let you know soon, a couple of days.” Draco promised.
Draco stood up to leave when Potter suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm. The left arm where he surely knew the dark mark still stained the skin under his sleeve. “I won’t let this go, Malfoy. I will come looking for my answer. We need you.” Potter gave him one last lingering stare and squeezed his arm before letting go.
Draco stood still and stared at Potter for a moment as he looked down at the table and reached for his drink. He did not look up again. “Goodnight Potter.” Draco said. It was all he could do not to run out of the pub.
*-*-*
Harry was unable to sleep that night. He kept going over the conversation with Malfoy in his mind. He feared he had said the wrong things. Perhaps he had given up too much information? Perhaps he had not given Malfoy enough details? As it was, Harry hated thinking about the grisly details, let alone talking about them.
If this didn’t work- if they couldn’t get Malfoy to help them- well, Harry didn’t know what would happen.
Harry wished he had not been the one to approach Malfoy. He felt it was a mistake from the beginning. He thought Hermione should do it, she understood much more about potions than Harry, but for some reason she felt Harry would be better able to get through to Malfoy. She said something about them always having an electric connection, even when they hated each other. Harry had to admit that after tonight’s conversation, he was beginning to understand what she meant. He still wasn’t sure it would be enough to convince Malfoy, though.
As much as Harry appreciated how easily Malfoy had listened to him, he missed some of the old fire that he had in school. He missed Malfoy’s git attitude a bit. Talking to him now wasn’t quite like talking to the same person. Sure, there were sparks of it, but he was obviously so beat down that the old angry side of him seemed to have gotten lost somewhere.
Harry didn’t know why, but in addition to wanting Malfoy’s help, he wanted to find a way to get that old fiery side of him back a bit.
*-*-*
Draco woke feeling like death warmed over. He had lain in bed tossing and turning for hours the night before. The sky outside his window had started to lighten before he finally fell asleep. He could scarcely remember his walk home. His mind had been plagued with images of Fenrir Greyback and full moons. Werewolves and no wolfsbane potion to tame them.
He knew what he had to do, but for some reason that he did not entirely understand, he really just didn’t want to do it.
By the angle of the sunlight in the room, Draco judged it to be mid-morning. His father was sitting at the table in the corner sipping his tea and reading the paper. Draco slowly sat up and stretched. He had never been fond of sleeping on couches, but the one that had come with the flat was actually not too bad.
Draco watched his father reading the paper. He remembered watching his father read the paper when he was a little boy. Draco could never understand why the paper was interesting. Lucius tried to explain important financial news to him and would always get annoyed when Draco lost interest quickly. Now here they were, only the two of them left without his mother. Draco looked at a picture of all three of them that they had placed on an end table. It had been taken a few months before she died. They had just started feeling happy as a family again. Narcissa had been their saving grace. She had always been the glue that held the family together. Even when she wasn’t feeling well… Draco could feel the tears welling up behind his eyes and had to fight to keep them back.
“Ah, you are finally up, I see.” His father said and startled him. “I have decided that I would like to go out today.”
Draco stared at his father and said nothing.
“Yes, I would like to go out. For dinner, actually. To the Leaky Cauldron. Let’s go at eight.” At this, Lucius stood and walked out to sit on the fire escape, taking his paper with him.
*-*-*
Harry was shocked to see Draco at the Leaky Cauldron that night. And even more shocked to see that Lucius had accompanied him. Draco rarely ventured out to Wizarding establishments, certainly that was part of the reason he had seemed unsure of himself the night before. And Lucius had only been seen in public twice since his house arrest had ended almost six months ago. Both appearances had made the Daily Prophet. One time was to visit Draco at Pumblano’s shop soon after his apprenticeship had started, the other time was to visit his wife’s grave on the six month anniversary of her death.
Harry was sitting at the bar when the two came in and sat down at the booth in the corner, the very same booth he and Draco had sat in the previous night. The Malfoys did not seem to notice his presence.
He only gave it a moment of thought before he left his stool and headed over to the Malfoy’s table. He figured if he wanted to rile Draco up a bit, inviting himself to dinner would be a great way to do it.
*-*-*
The moment Draco saw Potter walking across the pub toward his table, he began wishing that at any moment he would wake up and this would all be a bad dream. He wasn’t ready to talk to Potter again yet. The man had a way of making him feel so… mundane. It was downright depressing.
Potter didn’t even ask before sitting down beside Lucius. “You don’t mind of I join you, of course? I never did like dining by myself and I see you have room here.”
Draco mustered up what little composure he had left and reminded himself of what his father had said about allies. “Good evening, Potter. You remember my father, of course.” He said, motioning his hand across the table toward his dinner companion
“Of course” Potter said cordially, extending his hand to shake with Lucius.
“It has been quite some time, Mr. Potter. You are looking well.” Lucius said, by way of greeting.
“Thank you, I feel quite well. Although, I would feel better if I had the promise of your son’s assistance with a little problem I am facing. Surely Draco has told you of the conundrum the Ministry finds itself in?”
Draco choked on the last sip of firewhiskey he had in his mouth and quickly signaled for another one. “Actually, no, Potter, I have not told my father about it. I rather thought it might upset him and I certainly don’t think it to be pleasant dinner conversation.” Draco gave Potter a look of death, hoping he would catch on and give up the line of conversation.
“Oh, well, alright then. Unsavory as it may be, it is the reality we find ourselves facing. But if you would rather, we can talk about it later.” Potter turned and looked straight at Draco, “We will talk about it later.”
Draco was glad that Tom picked this moment to come and take their dinner order. He was sure to ask that Tom keep the firewhiskeys coming. He knew he would need the liquid confidence to get through this meal.
Draco was relieved that his father didn’t inquire as to what Potter had wanted his help with. He was also a little bit saddened, though. Lucius always used to be infuriatingly curious, never leaving well enough alone. Recently, though, he was more than happy to let go of any conversation he might find upsetting. Draco felt responsible for so much of Lucius’ sadness that he often tried to shield his father from bad news. That morning, when Lucius had asked about his conversation with Potter from the night before, Draco had been able to convince him that he didn’t want to know the details. He had promised to let his father know more about it in due time.
“So, tell me Mr. Malfoy, what brings you out to the Leaky Cauldron tonight?” Potter asked, apparently tiring of the silence since Tom had left.
“Well, I decided perhaps it was finally time to start getting out again. And what better way to start than with dinner at an old familiar haunt?” Lucius said happily.
“Well, now. That is something I will drink to!” Potter exclaimed, raising his glass in what almost seemed like sincerity.
Draco lifted his, as did Lucius to a chorus of “cheers” all around.
“So how are things around the Ministry these days? The, ah, less upsetting bits, if you don’t mind.” Lucius inquired.
Harry didn’t seem to mind at all. He proceeded to talk Lucius’ ear off for the better part of an hour giving him seemingly endless details about Ministry personnel, new edicts and legislature, and even redecorating projects that had taken place around the Ministry in the last few years. Draco never would have known that Potter could talk like that. Lucius appeared to love every minutes of it. Draco thought that perhaps he was brought back to his glory days when Ministry officials ate out of his hand and he knew all the gossip as a matter of course.
Through all of this, Draco proceeded to get properly smashed.
*-*-*
Harry wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing, but he was enjoying it just the same. This was not the same Lucius Malfoy that Harry had dealt with in his younger years. This more subdued version of the man was actually quite pleasant to talk with, however phony he may be. And Harry really was glad that Lucius had finally decided to venture out again. He hoped that if he could make this dinner pleasant, Lucius might decide to go out more often.
Harry wondered when he had begun to care that much about the Malfoys. Of course he had cared about Narcissa and Draco since the end of the war, but he had apparently been so caught up in his own life in all the years since then that he had forgotten to follow up. Made him feel like a bit of a prat now he thought about it.
As much as Lucius was enjoying their conversation, Draco clearly was not. He had hardly touched his plate and Harry had lost count of how many firewhiskeys he had downed.
Tom came to ask if they wanted desert.
“It’s not a proper meal without desert, is it? I will have the apple cobbler, please. I hear it’s wonderful this time of year.” Lucius said happily.
Harry ordered the same, but Draco declined dessert, instead opting to order sherry.
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” Harry couldn’t help but ask.
“Not nearly enough. Not yet.” Draco replied darkly, already beginning to slur his words.
“Oh, Draco, stop being so morose.” Lucius admonished his son.
“Morose? Me, being morose? That’s funny, that’s really funny…” Draco proceeded to lower his voice and mumble into his glass as he took his last swig of firewhiskey.
“What was that, Draco?” Lucius asked airily.
“Nothing Father, nothing at all.” Draco said and sat up again. Apparently attempting to regain some composure as the sherry and cobbler arrived.
Harry and Lucius ate in silence for a few moments. The cobbler really was quite good. Harry thought he would have enjoyed it more under different circumstances. He was glad to see a bit of attitude coming out in Draco, but sad to see that he would still abandon his anger so quickly. Harry wondered what it would take to get the man to stand up for himself again.
Harry was finishing up his last bite when he looked up and realized that Draco was staring at him and he had no idea for how long.
It was a disarming, piercing, albeit drunken, gaze. Harry said nothing, suddenly put off his guard.
Draco slowly leaned forward, placed both elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands.
Harry leaned back instinctively.
“What is this about, Potter?” Draco asked quietly.
“Excuse me?”
“This, this dinner with my father. Why are you here? Why couldn’t you leave us alone?”
Harry looked at Lucius to see his reaction to the question and realized that the older man had fallen asleep. He was leaning back in the booth, eyes closed, and breathing through his open mouth. Half of his cobbler was left forgotten on the table, flies buzzing around the plate now.
Draco laughed when he saw Harry’s expression. “Yes, he does that. Often, actually. It usually only happens at home, but apparently he feels quite comfortable in your company. Either that or he’s completely exhausted from this evening’s happy performance.”
“Didn’t seem like a performance to me, Malfoy. He seemed to genuinely be enjoying himself.” Harry said softly.
“Well, perhaps some of it was genuine. I suppose that is a good thing.” Draco looked around the pub before looking at his father again. “Potter, would you mind… Would you mind casting a privacy spell? For his sake… I um… I am still not allowed to do them. I’ve a got year left of my wand being monitored. No privacy for me.” Draco gave a sad little laugh with that and turned back to his drink.
Harry wasted no time casting a privacy charm around the table. He wanted it for the conversation they were about to have, anyway.
“You asked why I am here.” Harry waited until Draco looked up before continuing. “I told you I would come looking for my answer. I didn’t come to the Leaky looking for you tonight. I simply couldn’t be bothered to cook for myself. I suppose I am just lucky that you showed up. But it wouldn’t have mattered. If I hadn’t seen you here, I would have come to the shop, and your home, and wherever else you may be until I got my answer.”
Harry stopped. There was really nothing more he needed to say. His point was clear. There was no reason for Draco to put him off any longer.
Moments of silence ticked by. Harry sipped his firewhiskey while he waited for Draco to finally respond.
“I don’t know, Potter-“
“Dammit! You do know!” Harry pounded the table with his fist, unable to control himself any longer. “You know what you have to do! Why won’t you just agree to help us? You know you may the only one who can.”
“Did it ever occur to you that perhaps you don’t want my help?!” Draco said angrily, finally abandoning control on his emotions as well. “Did you ever think that perhaps I am not the amazing potions master you’ve built me up to be? You are basing all of this on three papers I wrote seven years ago while in prison. Three purely theoretical papers, I might add. I have never even made wolfsbane potion!”
“What are you on about? Those papers were fantastic, it’s a crime they were never published. You are the only potions expert in Britain who has anywhere near the talent that Severus Snape did. You are the one who can do this.”
“You don’t want me, Potter? Just let it go.” Draco leaned back in his seat and began rubbing his eyes with the backs of his hands.
Harry sighed and lowered his voice, “What do you mean, Malfoy? Why don’t I want you?”
Draco lowered his hands, his normally clear grey eyes were bleary and bloodshot. “I killed my mother.”
“What?”
“I killed her, Potter. It was my fault.”
“What are you talking about? She died from a brain aneurism, no one could have seen it coming. It was no one’s fault.”
“That’s what you think? That’s what the magical autopsy showed, right? No. No, it was me. I gave her a headache potion. Something new I had been experimenting with.” Draco’s voice was getting higher. “I shouldn’t have even been using potions at the time. I should have just followed the damn probation rules!”
“No.” Harry said, shaking his head. “No, Malfoy, there’s no way that’s what killed her.”
“It’s true.” A tear made its way down Draco’s left cheek . “It was me. She had been having headaches for weeks and I just wanted to help her. Instead I killed her.” Draco looked down into his lap and began rapidly folding and unfolding his hands.
Harry suddenly became aware that Lucius was awake next to him. The older man sat up and reached a hand across the table toward Draco. “She had been having headaches for weeks because she was ill.” He said.
Draco looked up. “What?” He said breathlessly.
“She was ill, Draco. She had been for quite some time.”
Draco began shaking his head. “No. No, it was just stress. Just the stress of all the volunteering she was doing.”
“Draco, she told you that because she didn’t want you to worry. She had a genetic brain malady. She’d known about it all her life. It runs in the Black family. The women get it. Remember Aunt Bella? Most women with the illness tend to either go insane or die young of what looks like a brain aneurism on a magical autopsy.”
“She would have told me.” Draco argued in an anguished voice. “She would have wanted me to know.”
“She was a proud woman, son. She was so terrified of losing her mind. She only told me about it when it started affecting Bella. It’s the reason she chose to do her community service at St. Mungo’s in the brain maladies wing.” Lucius was holding both of Draco’s hands across the table now. They looked at each other for a few moments.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Draco asked, so softly it was barely audible.
“I… I don’t know. I suppose I was just so caught up in my own grief. I swear I had no idea you felt responsible. If I had known, of course I would have told you. I am so, so sorry.” As Lucius said this, silent tears began to fall down both of his cheeks. Harry had never seen the man look so human before.
They sat in silence for several moments while the revelation sank in. When Harry felt enough time had passed, he silently removed the privacy charm and motioned for Tom to put the check on his tab.
“I think it’s time to go.” Harry said gently.
Draco looked up at him, as if he had forgotten he was there. “Yes, you’re right Potter, time to go.”
*-*-*
Draco stood up slowly and helped his father on with his cloak. Then the three men walked out into the chilly fall evening.
Suddenly Potter stopped as if he had realized something. “How will you get home?” He asked.
Draco looked at him quizzically. “We’ll walk, just as we always do.”
“It’s quite a long walk to your flat, isn’t it? I’m not sure you’re father is fit to walk so far tonight in this cold wind.” Potter reasoned.
“Well, what do you propose we do instead, Potter?” Draco’s tone was icy. “We can’t apparate, our flat has no floo, and the Knight Bus certainly won’t take us. Do you happen to have a portkey on you?” Draco asked sarcastically.
“Take my arms, I will side-along apparate you.” Potter said seriously.
“Both of us?” Draco asked incredulously
“Yes, it will be fine.” Potter nodded and motioned for each of them to take an arm
Lucius and Draco were both unsure, but each took an arm just the same. Draco quickly gave Potter the address and then felt a familiar tug in his gut that he hadn’t felt in years. The next thing he knew, he was standing on the front stoop of his building.
“Father, why don’t go ahead and go upstairs, I will be up in a few moments. I need to talk to Potter a bit more.” Draco sent his father up the stairs and watched to see that he got up the first flight alright. Then he turned around and sat down on the top step of the stairs leading down to the street. He sighed and began rubbing his eyes again.
Potter sat down next to him and didn’t say anything.
Draco turned and looked at Potter, he was leaning back on his arms and gazing up at the stars. “It’ll be a full moon soon.” He said.
“I know.”
A few more moments passed.
“I don’t know what to say about tonight.” Draco finally said. “That scene, back at the pub, I’m sorry you had to see that.” Draco looked down and began folding and unfolding his hands again.
Suddenly, Potters hands were on his, stilling them. “Stop that.” He said sternly. “Apologizing is nonsense. It was fine.”
Draco looked up and saw that Potter was staring at him. Those green eyes searched his as if they were looking for something. Draco was lost in that gaze. He was lost… And then Potter was leaning forward and Draco was closing his eyes and Potter was kissing him.
And he kissed Potter back… for a moment.
He pulled back slightly and pushed Potter away. Potter didn’t say anything. He just sat there and continued staring at Draco.
“You don’t have to kiss me to get me to help you, you know? I was always going to help anyway.”
“I know that. I kissed you because I wanted to.” Potter smiled at him then, the smile even reached his eyes.
And Draco smiled back.
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Date: 2009-10-18 11:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 01:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 04:17 am (UTC)It's amazing!!!!
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Date: 2009-11-14 01:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 04:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 01:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 06:24 am (UTC)Thanks!
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Date: 2009-11-14 01:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 07:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 01:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 08:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 01:32 am (UTC)Thanks for the comment! ;)
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Date: 2009-10-19 08:59 am (UTC)I liked your description of Lucius and Narcissa’s relationships immensely! They seemed a perfect couple and loving and caring parents.
Thank you for the story!
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Date: 2009-11-14 01:34 am (UTC)I was definitely going for a story that seems to end at the end of the beginning. I"m glad you liked it.
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Date: 2009-10-19 09:16 am (UTC)^^;; Too bad that it didn't go more into detail about their future relationship. And I would have liked to know how the research would have turned out. But this is just me being lazy. *emo-s*
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Date: 2009-11-14 01:35 am (UTC)I very much fell in love with this interpretation of the Malfoy family while I was writing this. I'm glad you were able to appreciate them as well.
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Date: 2009-10-19 10:50 am (UTC)Well done, <3
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Date: 2009-11-14 01:36 am (UTC)I'm glad you enjoyed it! ;)
Sequel!
Date: 2009-10-19 11:17 am (UTC)Re: Sequel!
Date: 2009-11-14 01:37 am (UTC)I'm glad you enjoyed the story!
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Date: 2009-10-20 06:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 01:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-20 12:17 pm (UTC)more than that, i like the dynamic of how this draco, who does not wallow in self-pity but rather keeps on struggling, interacts with harry, who does not have a hero complex but experiences just a right amount of abashment at his neglect of the malfoys and is determined to do something now. they make such a wonderful pair.
moreover, i love that here draco plays simba: it says so much about his character and also how harry (nala) offers him that final step to redemption. the only thing is have against this is that it ended too soon. it was so promising. i so hope to read more of this after the fest. :D
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Date: 2009-11-14 01:41 am (UTC)I really wanted Draco's determination despite his difficult situation to come through. I'm so glad you could feel that.
I know it ends abruptly. I don't know if I will be writing more or not.
Thanks again for commenting!
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Date: 2009-10-20 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 01:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-20 06:37 pm (UTC)*hugs*
Lucie x
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Date: 2009-11-14 01:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-21 03:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 01:43 am (UTC)I am thinking about continuing it.
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Date: 2009-10-22 12:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 01:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-03 01:55 am (UTC)It have an amazing plot and Harry and Draco's interactions are awesome ^ ^