Fuck

—

Theo was sprawled on Draco's couch with scotch on his stomach, the both of them were watching a silly muggle show on the television he’d brought over. One look and his best friend knew exactly what had just happened.

He didn’t leave Draco's side for the remainder of the break. They barely spoke and when they did it was mundane, futile words. Meaningless entirely.

Draco returned to school as if nothing had changed, because it really hadn’t. He’d been the same Draco that walked through those doors when he began teaching, not the same Draco he was when he was 11. This time was different, this time was defiant.

He felt powerful knowing what he’d done. It filled him with a sense of dignity that nothing else could replicate. Unlike anything he’d ever felt before. Was it satisfaction? He thought often to himself.

The days passed on and on, he didn’t dare venture over to the history of magic classroom once. Too afraid for the reality of things. Not wanting to face her or his wants and needs and hopes and dreams just yet. wallowing in his sad satisfaction or whatever the fuck it was felt good somehow. Like licking a wound he never realized he had until it was too late. Until it all blew up in his face.

One late evening when he least expected a visitor, one came. Lena stood in the doorway of the potions room. Staring around at the ancient cavernous walls, candlelight bouncing off each and every edge. “I’ve never been down here before.” He looked up at her, startled that someone was approaching him at that hour. When he still hadn’t responded to her, she spoke again, inching closer and closer into his classroom until she stood right in front of him, “how was your break?”

“Fucking fantastic,” he said with a scoff, continuing to work on the numerous cauldrons of brewing potions behind him. multitasking helped in a way. “I’m now family-less.”

“Hey,” she said with a sad smile, “at one point or another we all are, aren’t we?”

“I guess—“ he began, turning around to face her again. “Listen, I can’t do this right now. I’ve lots of work to do—“

“I’m proud of you.” She blurted out, putting a hand gently on his shoulder, “I know it doesn’t mean much considering we’ve only just met, but it’s true. So, do your work, do your potions, whatever you need. I’ll be here.”

She gave him a light squeeze and with that she was gone.

He stood staring at the empty classroom for far longer than he should’ve.

It wasn’t Lena that made him do it. It was a combination of her and Theo and himself that made him realize family isn’t everything. Especially not his. Truth be told, he’d been waiting on his way out ever since he was nine years old and his father slapped a book out of his hands, told him reading was for poor men with no ambition. Or the time he found him brewing a potion at age twelve and laughed in his face. It was the constant belittling and obsession with class and filthy lucre. To power and tyranny. It disgusted him from the get go and he never truly realized that he didn’t have to go along with their games anymore.

At some point he realized he was a man of his own. He went to school for potions, not on his fathers merit cause gods know that would’ve taken him nowhere good. He got a job on his own word and triumph’s. built a home out of rubbles. Built a family with a dysfunctional animal and loved every bit of him. The Malfoy’s were not necessary in order for Draco to prosper. Not necessary for him to sleep at night. Not necessary for him to love himself.

Narcissa was the glue that held them together, and when she’d made the move to force him into something he didn’t want for the rest of his life all of that changed. the love a son had for his mother would never fade, but the respect he had for her did falter.

One cold evening in March he sat in the Hogs Head drinking his sorrows away with Theo, listening to the man go on and on about artifacts and this new ministry worker he’d met. Trying his hardest to give him his full attention, but something felt off inside of him.

“He’s from Canada, I guess the ministry called him for his expertises—“ Theo continued on, stopping himself short of an explicit confession that he more than likely wasn’t supposed to share with anyone. He let out a gasp and shoved Draco lightly. “Look at what the cat dragged in.”

“Theo, do you have to say that shit every time somebody—“ Draco began to bicker, but he held his tongue, and his breath too apparently, letting it out softly while saying her name, “Lena.”

She stood in the doorway of the Hogs Head in rain and sleet, her heeled boots all muddy and her trench coat soaked, ice cluttered her knitted hat. Lena was many things, but a distasteful mess was not one of those things. with a flick of her wand the snow and ice and mud was gone, and she stood in all her beautiful glory in the Hog's Head of all places.

Aberforth greeted her glumly, muttering something under his breath, handing her a key. She took a seat at the opposite end of the bar from Theo and Draco.

“Merlin,” Theo whispered to Draco, “when you said she was beautiful, I didn’t think she’d look like that.”

“Lena!” Draco said from across the room, getting her attention at last.

Her hair fell in front of her face as her head snapped up so quick to see who’d called her, then she smiled sweetly. “Draco, oh thank fuck.”

Theo feigned a cough in a failed attempt to hide his laughter. “What on earth are you doing here?” Draco asked her as she took a seat next to him.

“I took your advice and got out of there for once.”

“This is your idea of a holiday, then?” Theo butted in, “I’m Theodore Nott, by the way. I’m sure you’ve heard so much about me.”

“Oh, yes!” Lena said, lying, the two of them both knew Draco had never mentioned Theo once during any of their encounters. And yet she said so just to spare a complete stranger's feelings. “And no, not exactly, I’m waiting to hear back from someone.”

“Which one?” Draco asked.

“It’s actually in the back of devrish and bangles…?” She spoke as if she was unsure of where she might be living.

“Dervish and Banges?” Theo and Draco spouted off at the same time.

“That’s the one.” She said with a smile. “It’s like a repair shop right?”

“Yes, so why the hell would you want to live there?” Draco asked, smiling back. His mood had elevated instantly the moment she walked into the pub.

“Oh,” Theo bickered, rolling his eyes, pushing Draco physically aside, “don’t listen to him, he bought a literal barn.”

“A barn house, Theo, barn house.”

They all laughed about it for a bit, talking over her living situation. Giving her different ideas instead of a repair shop or a barn house.

After many drinks and a lot of food, Theo invited Lena over to Draco's house. He gave Draco a look that said, ‘you’re welcome’ and Draco gave him a look that said, ‘fuck you’.

But Lena was too polite, too put together and too well known to go to Draco's house with him and a nearly complete stranger, “another time I’ll take you up on that offer. In the meantime, I need sleep. It really was great meeting you, Theo, and it was very nice to see you outside of Hogwarts for once, Draco. Goodnight boys.”

She smiled that same old sweet smile of hers and went on her way up the stairs to the inn.