Chapter 8

"I want to see him Pansy, he's my brother! I have a right to see him!" Draco ran his shaking hands through his blond hair as he was pacing back and forth across his room above the Leaky Cauldron.

Pansy was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, watching him. She had just finished telling Draco all she knew about how Aquila came to be and how he became Hermione's son.

"Draco, you have to calm down if you want any chance at all of getting to know your brother."

Draco stopped his pacing and gave Pansy a glare, "How can I calm down? I thought that I didn't have anyone left, and now you tell me that I have a brother."

He walked to the bed and sat down at the foot, facing his friend.

"Then you inform me that the one person who hates me above all others is now his mother! I have no legal means to claim him and she will never let me come near him!"

He put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, facing the floor in dejection.

"Hermione doesn't hate you, Draco. If anything, she feels that you have always hated her. We talked about this very situation the day she brought Aquila home."

"What did she say, Pansy?" he lifted his face to look at her.

"I asked her what she would do if you wanted to see him. She told me it would all depend on you."

"What do you mean 'depend on me?' I don't understand!" Frustrated, Draco stood and resumed his agitated pacing.

"Well, Draco, are you going to storm her home demanding your 'rights,' or are you going to respectfully ask her permission to spend some time with her son?" Pansy gave him a questioning look, head cocked to one side.

"Oh, I see what you mean." he walked to the window overlooking Diagon Alley. He was silent for a moment as he watched all the people below.

"What is he like?"

"He is an angel!" Pansy gushed, "For someone so small, he is one of the kindest people I have ever met! He's smart and he has a great wit. Aquila has the kind of personality that draws people to him. He somehow makes me feel peaceful inside when I'm with him. I can't really explain it. Maybe it's because he's so innocent and open. I don't know, but I always feel more like myself after spending time with him. I know for sure that he is helping to heal a damaged part of Hermione's soul. He's all that she has now, well, maybe not, if this thing with Charlie Weasley works out."

"Charlie Weasley?" Draco choked, "Isn't that your fiancé's older brother?"

"Yes, they have gone out a couple of times, but he lives in Romania and she is not sure about a long distance romance. He seems smitten, though."

"Oh that's just great! Not only is my best friend marrying into the Weasleys, my brother may end up with one as a father!"

Draco snorted and stomped back over to the bed. He leaned forward, putting his forehead on the bedpost and sighed.

"Pansy, I really want to have some kind of relationship with my brother. Could you please put in a good word for me with Granger? I promise to be on my best behavior if she will too."

Pansy stood up and walked to Draco's side. She reached up and patted him on the shoulder. "Yes, I will talk to her, but you really have to clean up your act. You are a mess! If you walked into her home looking like you do right now, she would toss you out in a second!"

Draco let out a dull laugh. "Yes, I'll clean up, Pans. Could you arrange a meeting with Potter for me tomorrow? I guess I really need to clear up a lot of things with him." He paused for a moment. "Am I really free to walk around here without being arrested?"

"Yes Draco, you can go wherever you want. You still have the manor, you know. The ministry curse breakers and aurors have gone over the whole place and gotten rid of all the dark artifacts and curses left by old Voldie and your illustrious ancestors.

Undoubtedly your house elves have kept the place up for you. I'll bet it even feels better in there than it ever has. You could go home instead of staying here, you can remodel it any way you like. If things work out, you may even be able to take Aquila there for visits. It would help if you had a safe place for him to spend time with you."

"I guess I need to find out what I do have now. I figured that the ministry would take everything after what my father did. I will owl our attorneys and see what's left." Draco stood up straight and squared his shoulders. "I guess it is time to return to the land of the living again."

"Good thing, Malfoy," smirked Pansy, "I would like to get my best friend back!" She gave him a quick hug and walked to the door. "I've got to run now, Ron will be done at the store shortly."

"I promise I will talk to Hermione this evening or tomorrow. She starts back to work soon, and I want to find out how the child care search is going. I know Molly is going to watch him a couple of days a week, but Hermione doesn't want to burden her with a full time child care job. He is a pretty active two year old after all!"

"Glad you could take time out of your busy schedule to meet with me, Potter." Draco gestured to the chair on his right and Harry sat down.

"I'm surprised you were even allowed to come in this house, Malfoy. After what your family did to Mr. Ollivander, how could he even look at you?"

"Shows what you know, Potter!" Draco snarled, "I did my best to help those people trapped in our cellar. I snuck food and water to them whenever I could! Ask your friend Lovegood if you don't believe me!"

Harry stiffened in surprise, he hesitated for a moment then spoke, "Look, Malfoy, I guess I'm starting this meeting off on the wrong foot. I've been reminded recently about the error of foisting the sins of the father unto the child. I know it was used against me often enough. I apologize, please continue." Harry gestured to Draco with his hand and sat back in the chair.

"Apology accepted, Potter. I guess winding each other up is a bad habit for both of us." He let out a mild chuckle and Harry snorted while nodding his head in agreement.

"The reason I wanted to meet with you, Potter, was to thank you for taking care of my mother in my absence. I should have been here to give her a proper burial, but in my anger and grief I couldn't think past the loss of the only person who truly loved me without reservation. Pansy took me to the cemetery and told me what you did. I am in your debt, Potter. I don't think I could possibly repay you for what you did for her."

Harry watched Draco as he spoke. He could see as the emotions tightened Draco's face. It was an unusual sight, to say the least. Harry cleared his throat, "Malfoy, you don't owe me a thing. I assume that Pansy told you what your mother did for me?"

Draco nodded.

"Well, as far as I'm concerned, Malfoy, what I did was a repayment of my debt to her. And don't even mention my testimony for you during the trials. You helped me, and there was no way that you deserved punishment for doing what you had to in order to survive. We were all just kids in a terrible situation."

Harry stood and took a step towards Draco's chair. Draco stood up to meet him. Harry held out his hand, "Hi, I'm Harry Potter." Draco stared down at Harry's hand and thought back to when they were both eleven and his offer of friendship was ignored so long ago. He hesitated long enough where Harry began to draw his hand back. Draco quickly reached out and gripped his hand. "Draco Malfoy, nice to meet you."

It was a start.

…..

Sorry. It's been a long time and this is a short chapter. Been working 65-70 hrs a week at two jobs. It takes it's toll! I will try to write more as soon as I can. Thanks for your patience!