It’s never too late to come back to my side
The first thing Draco realised upon aparating into London was that he was feeling the effects of all of the magic he’s been using. The hag in Azkaban was right; a year without magic had depleted his magical stores, and he would need to work his way up to his normal amounts of magic. After resting for a few moments, Draco decided the first thing he’d do was stop by his favourite bookshop in hopes they might have something to occupy his time. Draco was pretty certain the wizarding world would have a field day when they realised that Draco wasn’t in Azkaban anymore, so he’d be doing his best to avoid going into Diagon Alley as much as possible.
When Draco passed the building with a giant tooth, (he had to find out about that as well, he thought. Why would muggles be advertising teeth?) He knew the bookshop would be right around the corner, and he was right. In front of him was the familiar awning of Spellbound Spines, and Draco could’ve cried when he heard the familiar ding of the doorchime when he walked in.
“Welcome to Spellbound Spines! I’ll be able to help you in just a mo’, sir!” Draco heard a voice from up the ladder behind the counter, where Draco knew from past experience that the more expensive first editions and rare books were kept. Looking around, Draco saw that there were only a few people inside, so he decided to walk around and see if his usual armchair was available in the historical fiction section. As he rounded the corner from thrillers towards romances, he bumped into someone, causing a few books to spill out of the overfilled basket he was carrying.
“Oh, my apologies! I didn’t see where i was-,” but the stranger looked up, and Draco realised it wasn’t a stranger at all. How was it that the first person Draco sees in a year is Harry Fucking Potter??
“Malfoy? What are you doing here? In a muggle bookshop?”
“Isn’t the better question, ‘What are you doing, not in Azkaban?’” Draco asked sarcastically.
“… Ah well, you see, I um... I already sort of knew you’d be getting out this week. I didn’t know it was today, obviously. But I might've spoken to Kings about it. Minster Shacklebolt, I mean.”
And Draco would’ve swore, in that moment, that Harry Potter was the anonymous source who got him out early. Harry Potter saved his life again. But Draco wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a heartwarming thanks, even though Draco was actually really choked up that Potter would help him.
“What are you doing here, Potter?” Draco asked, hoping to break the awkward tension between them.
"Oh, it’s my... friend's birthday coming up, and I wanted to get him a novel, but I can’t figure out which one, so I’m sort of just... getting a bunch? Plus, Hermione asked me to meet her here so we can walk to her parents work for our weekly lunch. Since the war, we’ve tried to make sure to check on her parents, at least one of the four of us. Usually all of us, but Ron has a date, and Theo is working on a case. You remember Theo, right? Theodore Nott? He’s Hermione’s partner. Not romantically,” Harry said, not realising that Draco was very close with Theo and was certain that he would not be interested in Hermione, or any witch at that, but Draco chose to let Potter continue tripping over his words.
“Obviously not romantically; they work as curse breakers, and they’re partners. Hermione isn’t seeing anyone, and I’m pretty sure neither is Theo, but I can’t tell. He’s just so friendly, I don’t know if even he would know if he was seeing someone,” Harry blushed, and Draco slowly started tuning out Harry when he realized that his nervous babbling wasn’t going to be stopping any time soon.
“I’m also single, yup since the war. Ginny and I were going to try, you know Ginny, Ron’s sister? But it was just... not what we were looking for? Oh my god, why can’t I stop talking?" Harry said, his face turning red as he realised he was literally just spewing words in Draco’s face. When Draco finally noticed that Harry had stopped talking, he realised he needed to respond to all of that somehow.
"Well, that sounds like... a lot? Um... I'm not sure what to say to any of that, but I can help you find a book. If you want? I’ve been coming here for years, and I could probably help if you told me a bit about what your friend likes. I don’t have anything better to do, and you aren’t cursing me or trying to suck out my soul, so it beats the last year of my life.”
Harry grimaced, and Draco headed to the fantasy section of the store.
"Well, he’s really happy. All the time. And he likes dragons and music. And he is the funniest person I’ve ever met.” Harry said, the pink hue returning to his cheeks.
“Romance?” Draco asks, thinking maybe he could suggest the Princess Bride.
“We kissed once, but I don’t know if that qualifies as romance; he hasn’t brought it up since!” Harry said quietly.
“Potter, I meant does he like romance novels. Please, for the love of all that is good in the world, stop telling me your life story.”
Harry was about to continue talking when the sound of the front door slamming open interrupted them.
“Lucyyyyy, I’m homeeeee!!!!”
Draco looked up, recognising that voice instantly. Sidestepping around Harry, who was still lost in thought, Draco walked toward the front of the bookshop to where the voice came from. Standing in the doorway was Theodore Nott, Draco’s first friend.
Theodore had changed quite a bit since the last time Draco saw him. Theo’s previously short, dark brown hair was now curling around his shoulders, with little natural blonde highlights. Paired with the tan that was washing over his skin, Draco assumed Theo must work outside or just got back from a vacation. He was not wearing the standard stuffy dress robes that were prevalent in both Draco and Theo’s wardrobe throughout school. Instead he was wearing a pair of dark grey trousers and a black button-down top—a very muggle outfit for the man who used to curse muggleborns like the rest of Slytherin. The most notable difference, though, was the company he chose to keep, because walking in right behind Theo was Hermione Granger.
Hermione’s hair was no longer wild and crazy but more controlled and longer, down almost to her waist. She also seemed darker, her normally golden skin tone now a deep mahogany. It always amazed Draco that they couldn't think of a better nickname for the golden girl—that is, until he saw her skin in the sun reflecting off the black lake. Pure gold. But Draco used to shake those thoughts away for the sake of his reputation. He was silver; she was gold. It wasn't worth it.
“Drake? Drake, is that you? Aren’t you supposed to be in Azkaban?” Theo said, interrupting Draco’s stare.
“Got out this morning. Guess someone important thought I was worth saving.” Draco said, glancing back to where Harry stood, casually shoving the books he was holding onto a random shelf.
"Well, I’m glad to have you back, my friend. Let me introduce you to my better half!” And with that, Theo dragged Draco by his elbow to the register, where Hermione was standing, talking to Frank, the owner of Spellboand Spines.
“Drake, meet Hermione. The love of my life, the light in the dark, the voice of reason in all my unreasonable-," but Theo was interrupted by Hermione stepping on his foot with a force Draco didn't think the tiny witch had.
“I have met Malfoy many times, Theo. We went to school together for years. And if you keep telling people you love me, they're going to start to think we are dating!”
“Only in our dreams, right, my love?”
“THEO”
“Right, sorry. Drake, Hermione and I are curse breakers together, specifically soul and body curses, sometimes blood curses—but you know how gastly those are to try to break—for St. Mungo’s. We travel together and break curses like proper heroes. Shes Batman, I’m her Robin!” Theo says. Draco wondered what bats and birds had to do with curse breaking, but rather than asking, Draco just nodded politely.
“They're superheroes in muggle comics,” Harry said from behind Draco, finally joining the three of them in their awkward reunion. ”Batman is a rich orphan who fights crime with the help of his sidekick, Robin.”
“Funny, you’d think you'd be Batman, Potter. Rich orphan fighting crime and all.”
At this, Harry turns to Theo and aggressively points at Draco.
“See THEO, even DRACO MALFOY thinks I should be Batman! I’ve told you a dozen times, Hermione is not Batman; she's too good to be Batman!” And while Theo and Harry continue their debate, Draco looks over at Hermione.
“Can I ask what you all are doing here? I’m just a little confused about how my favourite bookshop has turned into the hangout for Hogwarts graduating class of 1997.” Hermione rolled her eyes and begrudgingly answered Draco.
“I grew up coming here while my parents were at work.This was actually my first job, and I still come and help Frank and Bea on big days once in a while. Although today I’m here because Harry needed help picking out a book for a gift, and it just so happened that a book I had put in a request to get repaired was finally available. Now how did YOU find this bookstore? I didn’t peg you for a purveyor of muggle literature.”
“I’ve been coming here since the summer of fourth year. I would sneak down here when my father was in Diagon having meetings. I actually came in today because I am moving back in the area and was thinking maybe Frank and Beatrice might need some help around the store.”
“I find it hard to believe that you are on a first name basis with—“ but Hermione was cut off by a loud yelp from the upstairs.
“Drake?? Is that you down there chatting with little Mya? Drake honey, give me a mo', I’ll be right down!” And then a scattering of footsteps down the ladder led to a tiny little woman hugging Draco tightly.
“Hello Beatrice, I’m so sorry I didn't make it to see you last summer. I was out of the country,” a scoff from Hermione interrupting, “but I’m here for good now. How are you doing? Is Frank’s knee still bothering him? And how is Gracie? I haven’t seen her since I walked in.”
"Oh, my dear, it is completely okay. We just worried about you so much, and then with Mya being gone as well, it just felt so lonely last year. But you're both here now! And it seems as though you know each other? How lovely! I’m sure you must’ve run into each other at some point or another in our shop! And poor Gracie passed away at Christmas. Our store has been pretty empty without her little tail knocking over our books. But enough about us; you said you are moving to town? To London? We will have to do dinner soon! You’ll have to let me make a feast for us! And Mya and her boys should come too! And the Granger’s now that they’re back from their stay in Australia!”
Draco smiled at Beatrice’s excitement, a pleasant reminder from his younger years of being able to relax and be himself. Draco wasn’t sure if a big dinner with a bunch of Gryffindors would be the best idea, but he wanted to see Theo and catch up with Frank and Beatrice Woodridge, so Draco agreed to a dinner once he’d settled in at his new place.