Kintsugi

“Pads? Are you good?” Peter set his cup down on the counter facing Sirius.

“Yeah, why?” Sirius looked up as he subconsciously flicked his empty mug with his nail.

“You look way too tense for New Years Eve?” Petter remarked as he sat down on a barstool across from Sirius, “Something up?”

“Andy is coming today.” Sirius said.

“So?” Peter raised his eyebrow quizzically, “She’s been coming to our new years parties for years now.”

Sirius massaged his temples as he held his face, “Shes coming yes, but she and Ted are coming to meet Draco. He’s looking for a place to stay.”

“Oh, I see.” Peter hummed, understanding what he meant by that, “Poor lad.”

Sirius stopped flicking his cup and nodded, “Yeah, anyways excited for tonight?”

“Absolutely!” Peter smiled, “Me and Moony are planning to kick the kids out and make them have their party in the basement so we get the whole house to ourselves!”

“Nice!” Sirius exclaimed, pumping a small fist in the air

“I’m gonna go take a nap to prepare for tonight.” Peter said

“Mate it is literally noon.”

“I know, but very rarely do I get to have a whole week off and I wanna make the most of it.” Peter nodded, “Anyways, don’t stress over the Andy stuff. It’ll all work out in the end.”

Sirius looked up and smiled at his friend as he headed back down. Peter was right, now all Sirius needed to do was believe it.

Little did Sirius know that in the room above him Draco was just as nervous (if not more) about what would happen with Andromeda later that day. So much so in fact, that many people noticed.

“Something the matter Malfoy?” Ron asked, looking up from the game of wizards chess he was playing.

“No,” Draco shook his head, “I’m fine Ron.”

This got Rons attention as he turned away from the chessboard to face Draco, “I may not like you all that much, but I’ve known Harry and Alex long enough to spot a cop out. Whats actually the matter Draco?”

This caught Draco off guard but he felt oddly safe and that what he said to Ron wouldn’t get around. “My dad kicked me out so Sirius helped me find a relative to try staying with.”

Rons expression softened as for some reason he didn’t expect Draco to open up in front of him. “I’m sorry, that sucks. Do you know who he got in contact with?”

“My moms sister, Andromeda. Have you met her?” Draco asked.

“Oh Andy!” Ron exclaimed, “She’s nice you’ll like her. And her husband is great. Super great guy.”

A small smile crept onto Draco's face, he looked down and played with his fingers, “Um, could we just keep this between us? I don’t want anyone to know about it.”

“Oh yeah obviously,” Ron nodded, “I may have been wary of you at first but I wouldn't do anything like that. Does Harry know?”

Draco looked up to meet Ron's eyes as he spoke, but when he asked that question he bows his head down as he shakes it.

Ron hummed in acknowledgment, “I get it. Won’t tell him mate. Promise.”

Draco looked up, a smile on his face, “Thanks.”

The two sat in silence for a moment before there was a knock at the door. Ron shouted a “come in” and the door opened up to reveal Remus.
Remus opened the door and smiled at the two boys, “You two excited for New Years?”

Ron quickly nodded before giving the two of them their privacy by being intensely focused on his chess game. Remus noticed and appreciated the gesture, then he turned to Draco, “They should be here any moment now? Would you like to come down?”

Draco drew a sharp breath before pushing himself onto his feet. “Yeah, lets go.”

They walked together in silence till they got to the conservatory. Remus stopped and reached an arm over to Draco, “How’re you feeling about all of this?”

“I’m kinda scared, kinda nervous,” Draco admitted, “but I’m kind of excited too.”

“I understand.” Remus said, validating the boy's contradictory feelings. There was an odd silence hanging in the room which was thankfully interrupted by the doorbell chiming.

“I’m going to get them,” Remus said, “Feel free to just hang out in the conservatory.”

Draco nodded silently and went to sit in the conservatory. He was only in there for a couple of minutes but it felt like a million years. Eventually, Draco got up to pace before being interrupted by four people entering the room.

“Draco,” Sirius said as he pulled on his sleeves, “This is Andromeda.”

“Hi,” Draco waved awkwardly before looking down at the carpet. It was silent for a minute, with the adults just staring at the young boy.

Soon enough Remus broke the silence, “Me and Sirius are going to head out.”

“Okay,” Andromeda smiled as the two men left the room. She then turned her attention back to the young boy in front of her. She smiled solemnly as she took in the boy. She let out a deep sigh before commenting, “You are just like your mother.”

This was somewhat of a shock to Draco, whos eyes moved away from the carpet and towards Andromeda, where he finally actually looked at her, “I do? People say I look like my father.”

“Its the hair,” Andromeda commented as she sat down in an armchair adjacent to the one Draco was standing in front of, “Everything else though, is your mother. Your eyes, your mannerisms, that's my Cissy.”

“I’m sorry about all of this Mrs.Ton-”

“Aunty Andy.” Andromeda remarked.

Draco looked at her puzzled , “I'm sorry what?”

“Aunty Andy,” Andromeda clarified, “Thats what your mum wanted you to call me.”

A small smile crept its way onto Draco's face, “I like that name.”

Andromeda held her head up high, “I’m glad you do.” She paused for a moment as she sighed before continuing, “I know that the circumstances are less than great, but I’m glad

I finally got to meet you Draco. It was the one thing I regretted about leaving. That I would never get to be there for Bella or Cissys kids.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” Andromeda wiped a few tears from her eyes, “How about I bring Ted in here so you could meet him too?”

Draco nodded as he watched his Aunt get up and leave the room. She was back moments later with her husband, a kind looking man with golden curls and deep blue eyes. He smiled at Draco as he walked over to him to shake his hand.

“Hey there son, I’m Ted.”

“Hi,”

He grabbed Andromeda by the waist as she said to Draco, “ If theres anything you need Draco, anything at all. We’ve got you.”

“Yeah,” Ted chimed in, “We’re here for you.”

Draco wasn't sure about what exactly caused him to cry, but it was after those words were said and he saw the look in their eyes that Draco truly felt safe. His tears rolled down his cheeks for a few moments before he tried to brush them away and blurt out a haste apology. It was quickly cut off by Andromeda and Ted calling him over which then resulted in the most loving hug that Draco thinks he's ever been a part of.

“We’ve got you,” Andromeda whispered, “Don’t worry love, we’ve got you.”

Draco cried in their arms for a few more moments before he let them go and wiped his remaining tears on his sleeve. “Sorry about that.”

“Love no,” Andromeda ran her fingers through his hair, “Don’t ever apologise for something like that. Me and Ted are in your corner, always. No matter what you need, we’ve got you, yeah?”

Draco wiped his face again as he repeated Andromeda's words, “Yeah.”

“Alright then love. We’ll let you get back to your friends then?”

Draco smiled as he nodded and left the room. He was very quickly met by Sirius and Remus who had been in the living room. Remus stood up, “Are you alright Draco? Do you wanna talk about what's happened?”

“No,” Draco said, “Please I just wanna think about something else for today. I’ll talk just not today.”

“I understand.” Remus nodded, “We can have a chat about it when we get back to the castle. Go enjoy your day.”

Draco smiled to himself, “Alright, I will.”

Draco went off to go look for Harry. Assuming that he would be in the room that they were sharing with Ron and Alex but when he opened the door nobody was there. He looked out the window to see if any of them were outside but there was also nobody there. After checking all the other floors on the house Draco finally reached the basement where he found all of the kids. Harry was the first of them to notice his arrival and quickly got up to wrap his arms around him.

“Hey love,” Harry led Draco over to the group where they were all playing uno again, “Want us to deal you in?”

“No I’m good.” Draco resting his head on Harrys shoulder, “I’m good to watch.

Harry slowly nodded, staring softly at Draco thinking about how lucky he is to have the most amazing people by his side and how every-

“HARRY ITS YOUR TURN! STOP STARING AT YOUR BOYFRIEND AND PLAY!” Ginny yelled from beside him.

“Jesus Christ Ginny!” Harry threw down a plus four, knowing that she would be the one to receive it, “happy?”

Ginny grumbled to herself as she picked up her cards. The group continued playing well into the evening until Fred and George came in holding two bottles.

“Guess who has four thumbs and scored us two bottles of firewhiskey for tonight!” George exclaimed

“These guys!” Fred replied, holding out the two bottles.

“Okay, but how do we know that the adults won’t end up coming down here and seeing us.” Draco asked.

“Your” George, pointed at Alex, “Dads are drunk. Its safe to say that everyone else is.”

Everyone laughed before the party truly began. Many drinking games ensued and Fred attempted and succeeded at multiplying one of the bottles of firewhiskey. Soon enough it was midnight. They dolled out shots for everyone and they all looked at the grandfather clock as they counted down the seconds in unison.

“10,9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!” They all cheered as they downed their shots and celebrated the new year. Nobody even noticed as Draco and Harry slipped away from the party and into one of the bedrooms.

“What is your issue?!” Harry said, still somewhat coherent having not drank as much as the others, especially Draco.

“I know that you do it.” Draco slurred.

“What?”

“Starve yourself.” Draco stumbled to the bed and finished off what was left in his cup, “You think no one notices but we do- I do.”

“What are you on about?!” Harry’s voice rose.

Draco pushed himself further onto the bed and away from Harry. “Why are you angry? Don’t be angry. I’m just scared of you and- and what you’re doing to yourself.”

Harry noticed the double meaning to the first part of Dracos grievances, whether they were intended or not and took a second to calm down, “I’m sorry. But I’m fine, ok. Just let me be.”

Harry’s tone had a sharp edge to it. The two boys stared at each other, both to hurt to add anything else. Eventually Harry walked away, leaving Draco alone.

Draco sighed and put his head against the headboard, a tear slipping from his eye. Then another, and another and they kept coming to him till he passed out.