We keep meeting...

They're gathering 'round with all my friends

We're older now, the light is dim

And you are only just beginning

Draco Malfoy stared moodily into his mug. 

The black substance disguising itself as coffee, no longer hot and looking suspiciously watery, glared back at him reproachfully.

Or maybe it was just his own steely reflection floating on the dark little surface. 

He gave it the evil eye and then turned to stare out of the window of the little cafe he was in. It was an early September morning, a Tuesday, and Draco was in a foul mood. He had just gotten off the phone with his mother, who was trying to get him to visit his father in prison. Narcissa Malfoy was a surprisingly sentimental person and had, much to Draco's displeasure, not only not divorced his father Lucius, but continued to visit him in Azkaban. 

Honestly, Draco often secretly wished the Ministry of Magic had not reformed the terrible conditions of the Wizarding prison (damn Potter and Granger), simply so his father could live out the full extent of his sentence. A life sentence, thank Salazar. 

Draco, despite himself, felt a shiver run down his spine and settle uneasily in his stomach. He ran a slender hand roughly through his white hair, agitated, and finally took a sip of the coffee in front of him. It was foul, as predicted. He watched the passengers hurry past the window of the cafe, collars turned up against the wind and umbrellas unfolded against the drizzle. 

Draco hadn't talked to his father since the trial, 10 years ago. Now he was 28, sharing a nice flat in London with his black cat Merlin, and an editor of the daily prophet's business section. He was successful, he was happy, he was independent and under the radar.

So why did his father still bother him this much? It was frustrating.

Draco took another sip of the bitter coffee and with a sigh opened his laptop. 2 unread emails. One from his boss Immelda Zix and an ad for some potion that supposedly made your fingernails stronger. Feeling unmotivated, he pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered, "C'mon Malfoy, get it together! Productivity!"

"You alright?" 

Draco looked up and stared at the barista, who was looking at him half-amused, half-concerned. Draco blinked and stared back at the muggle.

He was cute, that was for sure. For a fleeting second, Draco envisioned himself asking this man out or maybe leaping up and grabbing him by the collar to ravish him. 

It had been a while.

He pushed down the intrusive thoughts and gave a half-hearted smile. "Oh, thriving, thanks," he responded drily.

The waiter chuckled and wiped down the counter. "Just shout if you need anything." 

Was it his imagination or did the other man just check him out. 

Draco smiled wearily and watched the other man go back to his work. He really was quite good-looking, though regrettably not his type at all. Too ginger.

Draco turned back to his screen and answered the emails, then wrote a brief one to his mother (her version of integrating into the muggle world like everyone else, was to use email instead of texting, which was oddly endearing).

Mother, 

I will not come with you to visit Lucius, but I am sorry about how I ended the phone-call. I hope we are still on for dinner next week with the Parkinsons and you can forgive me. As always, ask me if you need a good divorce-attorney (you know how I feel) and please, for all that is holy, stop asking me about Lucius. It's not going to happen, at least not soon. 

Love, Draco xx

PS: No, I do not have anyone to bring with me to the dinner. You are being nosy! 

For all her flaws, Draco loved his mother deeply. She, unlike his father, had taken it surprisingly well when he had come out to her. She hadn't made any fuss and effortlessly began asking him about his future husband instead of his future wife, and reminding him he wasn't getting any younger and neither was she. 

Draco downed his coffee in one go, sent the email, shut his laptop and began packing up. He slipped into his dark grey coat and wrapped his expensive Slytherin scarf round his throat. He paid, almost changing his mind about asking out the barista, but chickening out in the last second, and exited the cafe to the jingling of bells.

He was just out the door and in the cold, when he collided with someone. 

"Oh Godr- God, I'm sorry! I didn't see you there!" A deep voice said apologetically and the person had grabbed a hold of Draco's upper arms to stop him from falling.

"Hey, watch where you're goi-" Draco said, and then looked up and stopped in surprise. 

He was standing in front of none other than Harry Potter.

The boy who lived, the chosen one, defeater of Voldemort, defender of the weak, hero of the Wizarding world and head-Auror. 

Harry's mouth fell open, mirroring Draco's shock.

The boy who lived, or man come to think of it, was taller than he had been as a teenager, and broader around the shoulders. A little taller than Draco himself, in fact, and with the same unruly dark hair and lopsided glasses. Except his hair was wet and curling at the temples and his glasses were a slightly different model. He also had the hint of a beard, and his brown skin still brought out his startling green eyes. Harry raised his eyebrows and smiled, revealing those same dimples, except on a more sculpted face. Draco stared.

Why was Harry Potter---sexy?

Harry smirked a little and then, as if only just realising, let go of Draco's upper arms. 

"Malfoy," He said cheerfully. "Fancy bumping into you! What are you doing here?"

Draco's brain was short-circuiting.

What do you say to your ex-enemy /sexual awakening if you haven't seen him since the trial that put your father in prison and kept you and your mother out of it? What do you say to the most famous man of the Wizarding World, who you used to bully, who now occasionally graces the newspapers with some interview or other, but manages to mostly remain out of the public eye, because it had been a while and he is humble like that? What do you say to the man who saved your life more than once and whose life you had put in danger even more times? And what do you say when it turns out he is still friendly and also, side note, unbelievably attractive?

"Uhm, I, what?" Draco stammered. 

Harry laughed and Draco's stomach flipped. But only a little.

"Wow, small world, huh?" Harry mused, as if this wasn't weird at all. 

Draco closed his mouth. "Well, we do both live in London, Potter. Not that far-fetched, if you think about it."

Draco was glad the comment came out in the mild and slightly dry manner he had meant it to, instead of the haughty tone he used to use with Harry.

The other man laughed again. "Fair enough. So, do you often go to cafes now?" An amused smile and the green gaze travelling over Draco.

Draco felt his cheeks redden and prayed the cold hid it well. "Once in a while. To write."

"You write for the business section in the daily prophet, right?" 

Draco huffed in surprise. "Yeah, how-?"

Harry waved a hand dismissively. "I read," He said and grinned. "Even that devilish paper."

Draco chuckled. "Fair enough," He echoed Harry from earlier and earned another laugh, which made his ears tingle. "And you, Potter? Do you often frequent cafes?"

The other man shrugged. "Like you said, once in a while. I like being around muggles and they also make much better coffee."

Draco made a face, "Not this one, trust me. Their coffee is truly abominable."

"Any suggestions?" It had started to rain heavier now and the taller man tucked a strand of dark hair back from his face, revealing the famous scar. It hadn't faded nor gotten any less bizarre.

"There's a place two streets down called Rainy Day which makes both excellent coffee and scones," Draco said and pointed in the direction. 

"Fitting," Harry dead-panned and then gave a little shrug, "If you have time...we could go and grab some-"

"Oh, I have a meeting scheduled which I need to get to, but thank you," Draco said. It was half true. He did have a meeting, it was just in 2 hours. For the moment, it was a little overwhelming to be faced with Harry Potter like this after an entire decade. 

Harry gave him a look which he couldn't quite place, but then smiled an easy-going smile. "No worries. See you around Malfoy and thanks for the tip!"

Draco answered with a hesitant smile and watched Harry turn around and walk off towards the direction of Rainy Day.

The dark head disappeared around the corner and Draco found himself slightly disappointed, that the other man had not turned around one more time.

He sighed, feeling inexplicably a little more chipper, and turned to walk in the opposite direction, to his apartment.

***

Shit. Fuck. Bugger. Fuck. 

Draco couldn't believe it. He was late to the meeting.

He had gone home, fed Merlin, changed shirts and definitely not thought about green eyes and dimples the entire time. Then he had spent the rest of the time chatting to Merlin about his thoughts. 

Which was exactly why he was now running late for his meeting with Luna Lovegood, the owner and chief editor of The Quibbler. Because of their jobs, him and Luna had struck up a sort of odd friendship. They did not hang out a lot, outside of work, but they got along quite well and Draco never felt judged by her. He liked Luna well enough, even if he would never admit it out loud. 

Knocking on the door to her office, he breathed in deeply, then entered. 

"Sorry I'm late, Luna," He walked in sheepishly and took off his cloak. 

Luna was sitting in her massive purple velvet armchair, seated behind her desk, and typing on a muggle typewriter. Her long blonde hair was tied with golden string in two braids down her back and today she was sporting a huge pair of bright blue glasses. She looked up at him, corks dangling from her ears and bracelets and rings bedazzling her delicate hands, and smiled mildly. 

"No worries, just sit wherever you like."

Luna's office was stuffed to the brim with bookshelves, plants, paintings and lamps. It was cosy chaos, clutter-core at its finest and utterly Luna.

Draco pulled up a chair which seemed to be adorned with stuffed animals and was very comfortable. 

"Murray Mint?" Luna gestured vaguely to a jar, but Draco declined politely. 

"Anything new happening in your life, Draco?" She asked and leaned back in her armchair. The typewriter continued typing. 

Draco shrugged and ran a hand self-consciously through his hair. "I met Potter. As in Harry Potter."

"Oh, goody," Luna smiled at him and raised an eyebrow. "How was it?"

Draco laughed a little. He shrugged again and then said, "Good, actually. He's, uhm, nice."

"Yes, that is true." Luna confirmed. "And tall, isn't he?"

Draco looked up sharply. She was smirking. He rolled his eyes and then said, "Are you and him still...close?"

Luna nodded. "Of course. I mean, I'm engaged to Ginny Weasley and well, she's a package deal."

Draco's mouth dropped open. "The Weasley girl? I didn't know that, how did I not know that?"

Luna laughed and then said simply, "Not the kind of things you and I talk about really."

Draco rubbed the back of his neck. "Anything else I should know?"

"Hmmm, let me see..." Luna drummed her long green nails on the desk slowly and then said, "Ron and Hermione are obviously still dating, though you should know that what with Hermione being Deputy Minister of Magic. Neville is training to be a teacher, so he's at Hogwarts right now, Dean and Seamus are travelling for a year, Bill and Fleur - do you remember them? - are raising Teddy Lupin, Professor Lupin's son, and yeah..." She said this all in her dreamy and relaxed fashion and Draco was spell-bound.

He had decidedly cut himself out of those lives, even actively avoided them, but now he welcomed this information. But what about...

"Oh, and Harry is bisexual, single and looking to mingle," Luna chuckled. 

Draco rolled his eyes again, although the swoop in his stomach betrayed how he felt, and then mumbled, "Well, I am learning a lot today, aren't I?"

The conversation drifted back to work and when they finished and Draco was just getting up to leave, Luna suddenly said, "Draco, darling, I know we don't usually do this...but I'm going to the pub later and it would be delightful if you could make it."

Draco hesitated. "Who would be there?" He asked and met Luna's pale eyes.

She smiled kindly. "Not quite sure, but there could be some blasts from the past. I just thought we have all grown up a little and it might be nice."

He chewed his lip. His stomach was knotting itself, but somehow it wasn't with fear, but curiosity and a little anxiety. 

"Think about it, ok? I'll send you an owl or a patronus with the details and you can always change your mind," Then Luna stretched out a bejewelled hand and shook his, which was what they did instead of hugging. This was one of the things Draco appreciated in her. 

"Alright, I'll think about it, thanks." With a small smile, he spun on the spot and apparated right into his apartment, where he had already made his mind up. 

He would go.

It couldn't hurt, could it?

*** 

Draco was regretting going. He was standing outside a small dingy Wizarding pub called Triton's and questioning all his life choices. 

He knew who would be there. He knew it. 

Stamping his feet in frustration and because of the cold air, he let out a huff. His breath billowed into the night air like a plume of smoke.

Maybe he needed just that; a cigarette.

No! You'll smell like smoke!

Draco was wearing a dark blue shirt, which contrasted his pale complexion quite nicely, the sleeves rolled up at the forearms and paired with black trousers. On top of that his coat and Slytherin scarf, a ring or two and a fine silver chain around his neck, adorned with an elegant silver snake in the shape of a D. He looked good, he knew that much. It was, after all, in the little details.

He also knew who it was he was secretly hoping and fearing to bump into tonight.

Technically, he could turn around. He hadn't actually confirmed that he was coming, precisely so he had other options. 

It would also make it impossible to disappoint, as he was not expected, and only to pleasantly surprise, in the case that he went into the pub.

Tricky.

Suddenly someone exited the pub with a jangle of bells, briefly letting warm air, chatter and music stream out, and went to stand next to the wall, by the ash-tray.

It was a tall woman with dark red hair, cut short underneath her ears, wearing a navy winter-jacket. She was fumbling with a packet of cigarettes and didn't seem to notice Draco. The woman lit her cigarette with a snap of her fingers and inhaled, closing her eyes for a brief second. 

It was Ginny Weasley.

Then, as if sensing his presence, Ginny looked up and her eyes met Draco's, where he stood rooted to the spot. Her eyes widened in surprise and recognition and her mouth fell open. 

Draco couldn't move. What would she say? What would she do? Punch him? Ignore him? Yell at him? Spit at him?

"Malfoy?" She said, incredulously. 

"...yes," He answered, swallowing nervously.

A moment of silence.

Then, the red-head tucked a strand of hair behind one ear, took another drag of her cigarette and threw it on the floor. She crushed it with the toe of her doc martens and said, "Godric, it's been long." A small laugh. "You know, I almost didn't believe Luna that you and her were friends. And yet, here you are."

She let her gaze travel over him and he felt self-conscious. Say something!

"Here I am," he said lamely. "You look...different." 

"You don't really, just older."

"Thanks," he said drily and to his relief she just grinned. "I like the hair," he said, gesturing.

"Cheers, I cut it recently. Much more manageable." 

Silence. 

Then Ginny shrugged and pointed to the pub. "Shall we?" She asked and Draco looked at her in astonishment. "Well?"

He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Lead the way, Weasley."

Ginny regarded him wearily for a moment and then she turned and entered the pub. Draco followed.

The pub was full, but not uncomfortably so. There was a band playing live music, people sitting at tables, booths and the bar. Laughter, the hum of conversation and the clink of glasses. It was cosy in a dingy and warm kind of way. 

Ginny made her way through the tables and lead him to a booth in the far corner. Draco's heart was pounding. 

When they arrived, Ginny cleared her throat and the group sitting there looked up. 

Around the table were seated Luna, lovely in white with her weird radish earrings, and Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Hermione was wearing a black turtleneck and her voluminous hair was curling around her head and down her shoulders. Draco, of course, knew what she looked like, since she was the deputy Minister of Magic and he saw her in the news quite often. She was wearing a dark red lip-gloss which set off her dark skin in that classic, sensible Granger way. 

Ron, he had not seen for a while. He was still tall and lanky, limbs arranged awkwardly, one arm around Hermione. His red hair was curling around his eyes, getting a little long around the edges and he had a moustache. Draco was surprised to see that it suited him in that artsy way only few can pull off. He was still freckled and long-nosed and currently staring at Draco, as though he were a ghost.

"Blimey, Malfoy, is that you?!" The ginger exclaimed, astonished. 

Where was Harry?

"Everyone, be nice!" Luna had stood up, squeezing Ginny's hand briefly and then giving Draco a kiss on each cheek. "I invited him and I'm so glad you came!" (This last part was directed at Draco himself.)

"Thanks, again," He stammered, going pink from all the attention. "I hope I'm not intruding..:"

Ron opened his mouth as if to say something, but Hermione cut him off.

"No, not at all!" She assured him with a friendly smile. "It's...lov-surprising to see you. I mean, how long has it been?"

"10 years."

Draco spun around and stood almost pressed up against one Harry Potter. 

He jumped back a little to make space, ears burning. Harry had appeared, obviously from outside, wearing his coat and a dorky bobble hat. He grinned warmly at Draco and then turned to the group. "Sorry everyone, I was on the phone with Neville."

"Oh," Luna said, "How is he? The students are back at Hogwarts now, aren't they?"

"Yes," Harry answered, taking off his jacket and hat. His hair stuck up as if he had been electrocuted and then dragged head first through a carpet, but inexplicably it suited him. Draco let himself give him a once-over. The other man was wearing a dark-green shirt and jeans. Simple, but it did the trick. "He loves it, and says hi to you all."

The tall man leaned over and greeted all his friends across the table. Draco watched, hands in his pockets and feeling completely out of place. 

"Ron, you really need to shave the moustache!" Harry said, groaning in faux-anguish. 

Ron grinned and winked at him, taking a swig of beer and then running one large hand comically over the moustache. "I don't know what you're on about, mate," He said and puffed up his chest. "You're just jealous!"

"Jealous?" Ginny snorted with laughter. "Harry can a grow a much more magnificent beard than you, you great git!"

The others were laughing, Hermione shaking her head in amusement. Draco watched, feeling the corners of his mouth tug up, despite himself. They seemed so comfortable around each other.

Suddenly Harry met Draco's eyes. He raised an eyebrow, "Want to get a drink?"

"Uh, yeah, sounds good," Draco felt the itch of everyone's stare, but held Harry's gaze. 

"Get me another Dragon Barrel Brandy, will you Harry?" Luna called and Hermione asked for a Butterbeer. Harry nodded at them and then took Draco's arm and pulled him into the pub.

Draco let himself get dragged for a couple of steps, before half-heartedly wrenching his arm out of Harry's grip. 

"Potter, slow down," he quipped and Harry rolled his eyes. They reached the bar and Draco ordered Nettle-Wine. 

"Fancy," Harry commented and ordered a Fire-whiskey along with the other drinks.

"Just trying to stay composed tonight," Draco answered mildly. Harry turned and leaned against the bar, regarding him. He didn't say anything and Draco, feeling the pressure get to him, blurted out, "Take a picture, it'll last longer."

The other man grinned and accepted the drinks passed to him, then said casually, "I might just. You are nice to look at, Malfoy..."

Then he pushed past him, holding the drinks, a smug expression on his face. 

Draco stared after him in shock. Harry Potter had just flirted with him.

What in Salazar's-?

"One Nettle-Wine!" The barman called and Draco turned to receive his drink.

His mind was reeling. Had he imagined it?

He returned to the table and was suddenly faced with the uncomfortable situation of having to choose a place to sit. Harry hadn't sat down yet, still putting the glasses on the table. Ron was sitting snuggled up with Hermione, who was next to Ginny and then Luna. The blonde woman smiled at Draco and patted the bench next to her, while Harry slid in next to Ron, opposite Draco.

"Move your giant arse, Ron!" He complained to sounds of protest from the ginger.

"You wish you had my arse!" Ron retorted to much laughter. Draco smiled gratefully at Luna and sat down next to her. She squeezed his hand briefly in encouragement.

"So, Malfoy.." Hermione said, "What do you do these days?"

All eyes on him again. This is the most stressed out I have ever been in my life.

"I write for the business and economy section in the Daily Prophet," he answered. "And I write a little on the side-lines."

"That's how we became friends," Luna supplied and Draco felt a sudden warmth in his stomach. Friends? He looked at Luna in surprise.

"That's unexpected," Ron said, sipping from his beer. "I thought you were interested in Potions." 

Draco wondered briefly if Ron was taking a jab at him, but he looked genuine. 

"Well," he said and stared into his wine glass. "It was more my father who was interested in me being interested in Potions. You know?" He chuckled bitterly. 

"Ah well, he was always a bit of a prick," Ron said and Hermione slapped him lightly on the arm. 

"I'll drink to that," Draco took a swig of wine and could almost feel the surprise radiating from the other people sitting around the booth. He met Harry's gaze, which was now curious, and had to look away. 

"And you, Weasley?" Draco directed the question at Ron and then re-considered, "Actually, both Weasleys- I know what everyone else does, but you two...?"

Ginny nursed her glass and answered, "I'm a chaser for the Holyhead Harpies and I also paint a little on the sidelines."

"A little?" Luna exclaimed and entwined their hands. "She's brilliant, you should see her work!" Then, as if suddenly coming up with an excellent idea, she said, "Oh, maybe she can paint you some time!"

However sweet this was of Luna, Draco privately doubted that was going to happen any time soon and the look of mild exasperation on Ginny's face seemed to say the same thing. She raised her eyebrows briefly at Draco and smiled tightly. 

Draco suddenly thought back to all the times he had embarrassed the two Weasleys and their entire family, not to mention his father's treatment of their parents. Then, with a sudden onslaught of anxiety, he thought back to the names he had called most people at this table and felt profusely ashamed. 

How on Earth would he ever live that down, let alone apologise. He took another drink and said, "I never knew you painted."

Ginny raised her eyebrows even more and then said sarcastically, "Well, we weren't very close."

 Draco glanced at her and then looked at the ceiling. He cleared his throat and said quietly, "I- I know this will never make up for the total heap of pathetic trash that I was at Hogwarts and how I treated all of you, but I just wanted to apologise. I was a right asshole and I definitely do not expect any forgiveness. I just had to get that out."

You could hear a pin drop. Draco contemplated dying on the spot, it would be less awkward than this situation. 

Or maybe he would just leave. He almost couldn't bear it any longer, when Hermione said, "Why don't you take your jacket off, Draco." 

She was smiling softly. He looked at her and she did not look mad. Ginny was still staring at her drink and Ron looked caught off-guard. He couldn't look at Harry. 

"I don't hold grudges, Draco, darling," Luna said and smiled at him reassuringly. "We were teenagers caught in a war which we hadn't chosen to be in. Not really, anyways." 

She sounded like his therapist. Draco felt like crying. 

"The past is the past," Harry's deep voice rumbled. Draco looked up at him. 

"Yeah, well," Ron said. "Let's just say you owe us all a round and then the past can be the past, eh?"

Immense relief flooded Draco. He hadn't realised how much he had needed to hear one of the Weasleys accept his apology, at least a little bit. 

He emptied his wine. "Whatever you want, it's on me for the rest of the evening," He offered, feeling a little silly. It was the best he could do for now. 

Ginny's silence was noticeable, but then again he hadn't expected anyone to forgive him, so it was understandable. 

"Anyways," Hermione said, briskly. "Ronald works as a social worker for child-care and adoption, especially for muggle-born children abandoned by their parents."

"Inter-sectional muggle-and-magic adoption and child care," Ron supplied, using air-quotes. He was a bit pink in the face, a sudden shyness had come over him. "The kids are great."

"That exists?" Draco was surprised and impressed. 

"Yep, and Ron here, is excellent at it," Harry interjected, causing his best friend to look even more abashed. 

"I do what I can..:" He mumbled. 

Harry ruffled his hair fondly. 

"Godric, we've all gotten old, haven't we?" Hermione sighed suddenly and the rest of them burst out laughing. Then the tense atmosphere had finally vanished, spare Ginny who was slightly more quiet the rest of the evening. 

Draco still felt a little out of place in this formed family, so he mostly watched and listened. It was clear that these friends all adored each other very much. Harry and Ron were like brothers, bickering all the time and the two couples were very obviously in love. Two hours later the gang was all a few drinks in, on Draco's expense though he didn't mind at all. At some point Harry was urging Ginny and Luna to tell the story of how they had finally gotten together. 

"C'monnn!" He crowed, flicking one of the exploding-snap cards still scattered across the table from the game they had played (Ginny had won and Luna had lost), at the couple. "Tell Draco the story! It's adorable!!"

(They had somehow progressed into calling each other by their first names, though Ron still called him Malfoy and he still called him Weasley. It just felt more natural. Ginny hadn't directly spoken to him yet.)

She was now smiling and shaking her head in amusement. "Fine!" She called to cheering. 

She turned to Luna and said, "Do you want to tell it, babe?"

Luna shook her head and gestured at her fiancee to keep talking, totally enamoured by her. 

"So," Ginny began. "After Harry and I broke up, thank Godric ("Oi!" called Harry), I realised I liked girls and guys. So I dated around a little, but nothing lasted. Meanwhile Luna had gone and gotten herself a girlfriend, who was a total bitch."

"She wasn't that bad!" Hermione protested and the others shushed her violently. Draco couldn't stop grinning.

"As I was saying," Ginny continued. "So that witch and Luna broke up the same night that Oliver Wood hired me for the Holyhead Harpies - I was 22. And because Loony and I were best friends"

"Are best friends, Gin," Luna scolded and Ginny stuck her tongue out at her.

"Are best friends, she came over to cry her eyes out. I was obviously ecstatic about getting the job, but I didn't tell her, so I wouldn't ruin the mood."

"So I slept over at hers and Ginny made me pancakes in the morning and suddenly realised she really liked me," Luna interjected.

Ginny nodded. "Basically, I realised I was also secretly happy that Luna had broken up with the girl and that I liked her. And then it was a couple of torturous months until she came to my first game, which we won, and we kissed afterwards. Been dating ever since and we got engaged a month ago."

Luna proudly presented a ring for Draco to inspect. He oohed appropriately. 

"So cute," Hermione sighed and Ron elbowed her in the side. 

"We're cute, 'Mione!" He said and she wrinkled her nose. 

"Sure thing, honey," She said drily. "Adorable."

Ron kissed her briefly on the cheek. "We're just old news, I guess," He said, in a serious tone. Hermione grinned at him fondly. 

"And you?" Harry was looking at Draco again. Draco fiddled with his necklace.

"What, me?" He replied. 

"Are you, er, dating anyone?" Harry sounded as nonchalant as possible, which was endearing. Draco saw Hermione and Luna exchange a glance, but ignored this decidedly.

"Nope," The white-haired man let the "p" ring and shrugged. "I dated Blaise Zabini for a while after Hogwarts, believe it or not. But he was toxic." He laughed a little. "Anyways, he moved to France and now I'm living the single workaholic life." He raised his glass to the crowd with a mock melancholic expression on his face. 

"Wait a minute, what?" Ron was gaping at him. "Don't tell me...you're gay?!"

"Ronald!" Hermione groaned into her hands, but Draco had to laugh. 

"Pretty much."

"Since when?!" Ron sounded completely dumb-founded. He was looking from Luna to Harry, who were both laughing as well.

"Uhm..." Draco raised an eyebrow. "...Birth?"

"No way," Ron leaned back in his seat and stared at Draco in astonishment. "Wait...did you and Crabbe or Goyle ever-?"

"Ew! Merlin, no!" Draco almost spat out his drink and had a coughing fit. 

Now Ginny was laughing in earnest for the first time that evening. She snorted into her glass, which made them all laugh even harder. 

"Huh," Ron chuckled. "Who would have thought? Draco Malfoy: a flaming homosexual, and Harry Potter: a flaming bisexual." He shook his head with a grin and downed the rest of his Firewhiskey. 

"Not to mention Ginny and Luna," Harry added in amusement.

Draco met Harry's gaze, like the magnetic pull of...well, a magnet. He felt flustered all of a sudden and the other man looked away.

Perhaps it was the alcohol talking, but Harry was addicting to look at. He was just so stunning and imperfect in all the best ways. A crooked smile, the scar, the messy hair, the glasses balanced precariously on his nose. Draco couldn't tear his eyes away from him. 

The conversation continued into some directionless Ministry talk between Harry and Hermione and Luna and Ginny ran out for a smoke-break. 

Ron was now so drunk, he seemed to have turned to jelly.

Draco felt...content.

The alcohol sat warmly in his stomach, blurring his thoughts and soothing any anxious voices with aimless nothingness. He could just sit here forever, soaking in the warmth and the light and watching Harry talk to Hermione. The way he listened attentively and reacted emotionally, with hand gestures and face expressions.

The way his mouth curled when he smiled or his dimples deepened when he laughed. The way he occasionally had to brush a dark curl out of his face and then...

Then he rolled up his sleeves. 

Draco almost fainted.

"You have tattoos?!" He blurted out and Harry stopped mid-sentence.

"Oh, these?" He answered and gestured to his forearms. "Yeah, I have a couple."

Draco stared, entranced by the owl on Harry's forearm. "What are the others, if you don't mind me asking?" 

"Not at all," Harry looked pleased. "A lot of them aren't visible, but I have the Deathly Hallows symbol on the back my neck (he turned and revealed the black ink mark) and the phases of the moon on my other forearm." Draco leaned in close as Harry revealed his other forearm tattoo and it was indeed the phases of the moon. 

"May I?" He raised a pale finger questioningly and the two men's eyes met for a moment. Harry swallowed and shrugged and Draco gently placed his finger on the tattoo, tracing the ink and following the patterns. "Is this for Remus Lupin?" He asked softly and Harry's breath caught.

"Yes," he answered in the same soft tone. "How-?"

"I knew about him," He answered mildly and then stopped tracing the pattern and leaned back in his booth, finishing his drink. Harry looked a little flushed, hair in disarray; probably the alcohol. Draco felt a tight sadness uncoil in him on Harry's behalf. The other man had so much love to give to his friends, and so much patience to give the world, which had done nothing but take from him. 

Draco had done nothing but take from him.

Oh Salazar, the "I'm a bad person" spiral is beginning.

"Gin and I are gonna get going!" Luna, who had returned from outside with Ginny, suddenly announced, "We need to do some wedding stuff tomorrow and I would like to get some shut-eye beforehand!"

This was the catalyst for the rest of them. After Luna shook Draco's hand and Ginny waved, the two women disapparated hand in hand.

Then Hermione, half carrying Ron, turned to Draco and after a little moment of hesitation gave him a hug. Draco half raised his arms in surprise and then she had already drawn back. 

"I'm glad you turned out better, Draco," She said in her direct manner. "Hopefully we'll see each other again soon!"

Draco nodded, not knowing what to say. 

"Ginny will come around, I'm sure," Hermione said with a small smile. "Just try not to disappoint all our hopes, I guess."

She had said the last part as a joke, but Draco made it his mission. He was going to show that he had changed. That is, of course, if he got invited again.

Hermione hugged Harry and then disapparated in a whirl of cloaks, Ron clutched to her. 

Draco turned to Harry, who was holding his coat. The taller man held it up with a small grin and Draco snorted. "Very gallant, Potter."

"What can I say, old habits never die," Harry's grin deepened. 

"I wouldn't say you were very gallant in school," Draco took the coat from him and put it on, himself, wrapping his scarf around his neck. Harry shrugged on his own jacket, pushing the hat deep onto his head, so his hair poked out everywhere. The two men made their way outside the pub, paying in passing.

The moment they stepped outside, Draco drew in a clearing breath of crisp air. It wasn't raining anymore, but the street was still shining wet from the rainfalls all day. 

"Are you apparating?" Draco asked and Harry shrugged.

"I was actually hoping to bring you to your doorstep and catching up without the others," He phrased this like a question, looking shyly at Draco. 

""Very gallant of you," Draco smiled a small, slightly dry, smile. Then he turned on his heel and began walking down the street. "Are you coming?" He called.

Harry jogged to catch up and fell into step next to him. 

"So, what's new?" He asked in an amused tone. Draco laughed.

"What do you want to know?" He replied, looking sideways at the other man.

"What does your life look like?" 

"I have a cat named Merlin-"

"Merlin? But he was Ravenclaw!" Harry said in surprise.

"First of all, so?" Draco answered in a berating tone. "Second of all, he was Slytherin."

"No!" Harry laughed incredulously. 

"Yes!" Draco said with conviction. "Anyways, I have an apartment by myself and Sunday dinners with my mother. A non-existent relationship with my father, friends from work and my lovely lesbian neighbours, who are muggles and whose presence in my life I constantly fear, in case they find something out."

"Have they ever?" Harry sounded amused again.

"No, but they are nosy," Draco smiled, despite himself. Jolie and Latika had become quite good friends of his in the past years and it was kind of nice interacting with people, whose judgement couldn't be clouded by his name.

"Must be nice..." Harry mumbled. "Not having to deal with people who already know all about you." Sarcasm.

Draco nodded. "It's a breath of fresh air, alright."

The two men regarded each other as they walked, the lamplight illuminating their faces. Come to think of it, Draco and Harry shared quite a few similarities. 

A famous name, a troubled adolescence... 

Stop being dramatic.

"What about you, Potter?" Draco returned the question. "What does your life look like?"

"Do you actually want to know?" Harry asked, lifting a teasing eyebrow. "Or are you just being polite."

Draco chuckled, "Both."

Harry laughed and then fell silent, obviously thinking. "Hmm...let's see," He said and Draco found he really was curious. 

The dark-haired man looked upwards at the night sky and then said, "Well, I'm Head-Auror, which is a lot of work, that I enjoy immensely. I also live in an apartment by myself, though no pet. I didn't feel like replacing my owl Hedwig, you know?"

Draco met his honest green eyes and nodded a little. Privately he thought that he didn't know. He never did have a pet like Merlin, who he loved more than he cared to admit, before. 

Harry continued, "So no pet. I obviously still hang out with everyone, and I see the Weasley family all the time, and of course Teddy Lupin. Some interviews or news stuff occasionally, but publicity is actually fairly manageable. Extensive therapy for a long time, though now I just go because I've grown attached to my therapist." He grinned cheekily at his little joke and Draco laughed. "Watching all my friends fall in love, I suppose."

The last part was surprisingly serious. Harry looked a little surprised at his own candour. He glanced at Malfoy, almost a little embarrassed, but the moment passed almost as soon, as it came.

"Aren't we all?" Draco murmured and Harry huffed a small laugh. 

"Oh yeah," Harry added, as an after-thought. "The tattoos are new, obviously."

"How many do you actually have?" Draco asked, trying (and failing) to banish the image of Harry, tattooed and shirtless, out of his mind.

"Godric, I can't think clearly enough for that right now," Harry shrugged. "But they're all just sort of scattered over my body." 

The taller man pushed his glasses up his nose in the familiar gesture, and asked, "Do you?"

"Have tattoos?" 

"Yeah."

"Two," Draco smirked at Harry's surprised expression.

"Really, what are they?" Harry was staring at Draco, as if seeing him in a whole new light.

"Well, one is the Dark Mark," Draco rolled back his sleeve and presented the cursed image, now faded to a pale grey colour. "It's impossible to remove, but very faded by now."

He watched Harry nervously, as the taller man took his forearm and traced one thumb over the mark. 

"I haven't seen this in a while..." Harry mused, expression completely serious now. He shuddered, "Must be shit to have it as a reminder the entire time."

Draco rolled his sleeves down and shrugged, exhaling roughly in a plume of white breath. "It's the least form of punishment, and I like to have it. It helps me hold myself accountable, you know?"

That strange look in Harry's eyes again. It was like wonder, surprise and something else unreadable mixed into one confusing gaze.

"And the other one?" Was the only thing he said.

"A ferret on my ass," Draco replied casually. 

Harry choked and began coughing violently. Draco roared with laughter and Harry finally straightened up. "What the fuck?!" He gasped.

Draco grinned widely, "Of course not, who do you think I am?"

"A git," Harry rolled his eyes, but he was also laughing. 

Draco shook his head. "No, I have a rib tattoo of the date 30. June."

Harry stopped in his tracks and stared at him. There was a small silence and they heard a muggle siren in the distance.

"Dumbledore's death-day?" The brown-skinned man looked confused.

Draco nodded.

"Why?"

"It was a very important moment for me," Draco answered, truthfully. "Pivotal, I suppose."

Harry blinked slowly and opened his mouth, but then seemed to think better of what he was going to say. Instead he continued walking, falling back into step next to Draco. 

"You know, Draco..." He mused. "You are one complex person."

Draco snorted, "Is that a compliment?"

"Depends on how you interpret it."

"How did you mean it?"

"I'm not sure yet." 

A measured answer. Draco wondered what Harry had originally wanted to say, but they had reached his apartment. 

"This is me," He said, gesturing at the door. He turned and looked at Harry, who was standing there, all tall and handsome in his dorky bobble-hat, a thoughtful expression in his eyes. "Thanks for, uhm, bringing me." 

"Any time," Came the easy answer.

"And..." Draco cleared his throat. "Thanks for..everything else too." It was a bit weak, but he hoped Harry knew what he meant. 

He could always elaborate in the future. If there was a future, that is.

"Any time," This time Harry was smiling his crooked smile and his eyes crinkled warmly at the corners. Draco felt warm, despite the cold. "Don't be a stranger, Draco..." Harry said and waved, as he began walking away.

"I can't promise anything, Potter!" Draco called after the other man, with a small laugh.

Harry Potter turned around one more time, mid-step, and called back, "I'll make sure of it! And it's 'Harry' to you, Malfoy!" He was grinning as well and raised a waving hand in farewell.

"Good night, Harry!" Draco waved back, smiling like an idiot. 

Then Draco Malfoy unlocked the front door of his apartment house and mounted the steps to said apartment, feeling inexplicably like he was at the beginning of something. 

What that was, exactly? He wasn't sure.

Hey little train, wait for me

I once was blind but now I see