Author's Notes: The only thing I really have to say as far as warnings, is that the first chunk of this chapter is a little reflective angst. Is that a thing? If not, it is now. There are some reflective inner musings that happen, some might find that boring but it is necessary for how quickly this romance seems to be happening. It has to go in the realm of possibilities for me but I do think that this will help me be alright with it. Their thoughts do go a little deep but that was intended. Also, don't kill me but Dumbledore is actually the next chapter.

"You've done it now." Draco told him as the door swung shut behind them. "He is going to make class difficult for you."

"My whole life is difficult." Harry pointed out. "Once more won't kill me." He wasn't planning on giving Snape the upper hand though. Smug, that was something he never wanted to see on the man's face. He could just imagine how much more unbearable the stoic man would become. Harry just hoped a touchup to his science knowledge would suffice.

Draco shook his head in reply but couldn't stop the fond smile from creeping up on his face.

"You have a quick tongue. I like that." Draco thought back to the way Harry had cut the two teachers down with just words. It was impressive and it reminded him of his own skills in that matter. When Harry arched his brows, Draco realized how that might have sounded. He pinked up and looked anywhere but at Harry. Damn.

"I didn't mean like that." Draco pressed as he ignored the burning heat of his face that was traveling to his neck and chest. Damn.

"Such a shame then." Harry smirked when disbelieving eyes snapped to meet his. There was a slight panic to the blonde's face that had Harry realizing that he may have pushed a little too far.

"Harry—I don't… I—" Draco wasn't sure how to articulate what exactly it was that he was feeling.

"I won't hurt you." Harry whispered as he pulled the other boy to a stop. This was all moving so fast. One minute he was escaping his relatives and the next he was meeting the person that had changed his perspective on life already. It was almost too much but not enough at the same time. How could this one person get under his skin so quickly? How could a few hours spin him in ways he didn't think were possible? It felt as if he had known Draco for years instead of hours. It was as if they had crossed paths before. It was almost his undoing as much as it was his salvation.

If there was ever a reason for the truth to be known, it would be now. Harry wouldn't allow Draco to go further than this without knowing that he meant what he said. He wouldn't hurt him. There was a fundamental sense of wrong that screamed at him from every angle at the mere thought of hurting Draco.

Draco shuddered a little as he closed his eyes. It didn't even surprise him that Harry had picked up on what he couldn't say. The boy was too smart for his own good. The thought of believing Harry, was on the heavier side of the unbelievable. It wasn't something the brunette had done, no, it was his own circumstances that led to this thought. It was his own experiences that shaped the preconceived notion that trusting someone else would only lead to pain and regret. Allowing Harry inside was asking for trouble. Allowing Harry to see the segments of himself that were kept locked away in an impenetrable part of his heart, was asking for despondency. It was serving his weakest fragments on a silver platter only to be devoured ruthlessly, leaving only heartache in its wake.

He was so tired of being hurt. So tired of being let down. Tired of being alone. Tired of everyone and everything. So tired of the jabs and the insults. Tired of the sneers and the loud gossip. So tired of the hushed whispers every time he walks into a room and the deafening silence when he exits. He was just tired. So fucking tired. But…

If there was even a remote chance, a sliver of light at the end of the everlasting tunnel of despair, then wasn't it worth taking a risk? Wasn't happiness the true goal of life? His father would say the answer was money.

Money can buy any material possession or attract endless admirers but it could never buy him happiness. Money had been one of the first words his father taught him. It was something to strive for and the greatest accomplishment in the means for success. Money was something that had never been an issue growing up. Money was something that they had in overabundance, it was something to flaunt and parade around. But money couldn't make your parents care for you. Money couldn't make people love you. Money couldn't make true friends or relationships last. Money can provide external happiness but it did nothing for the soul. It didn't provide the means for true happiness. It didn't do what really mattered.

Neither did being alone. Shutting people out in order to keep his heart intact would only bring him the bitter sting of loneliness. Going through life as he had been, was not something Draco wanted anymore. If he wanted a shot at true happiness than he was going to have to put himself out there. He was going to have to try. That alone scared him more than he wanted to admit.

When Draco opened his eyes and only saw patience shining in green eyes, he knew that Harry was speaking the truth. As crazy as it was, he believed him. "Alright." Draco breathed out slowly. The shy, tentative smile he received was worth it. The pain of the past few months was worth it. The sleepless nights and tears were worth it. Being alone had been worth it. Finding Harry amongst the never-ending enemies was worth it. Time may not heal all wounds but finding a friend to help you through it, is better than any stitch or Band-Aid could provide. Despite his deprecating thoughts and doubts that were whispered into his subconscious in the darkness of the night, life was worth it.

Neither one of them knew just what it was that was brimming between them. It was too new, too unstable to be considered for a label. But right now, that was just what they needed. They needed to just be and maybe they could do it together?

Harry hated the vulnerability in those beautiful eyes. Hated that such a kind person had been through so much already. Hated that people could be so cruel. Hated that family isn't always what they should be. Hated that friends can be harsher than any enemy ever could. Hated that the world was full of so many ignorant beings. He hated it all.

For someone who had had everything pulled out from underneath at the hands of friends, Harry was awed at the trust Draco was giving him. It was honest to god pure. There is a power to being trusted. It is having the capabilities of doing harm but being trusted not to. Having trust was almost more important than to have the faith in another person. It was beautiful in its own rights. Trust. Such a simple thing that other people overlook. Trust can be expected and automatically assumed. No one stops to consider what kind of devastation can happen without such unwavering faith. The chaos of skepticism and uncertainty can leave connections crumbling in the wind. Simple doubt is the seed that begins the catalyst of something much worse.

Throughout Harry's whole life he had never been trusted. Always being looked down on. Always being considered untrustworthy. Always being seen as some villain coming to do harm. Never being seen as for who he was. Never given the chance to prove himself. So, having this was almost intoxicating to know that Draco trusted him. He could take that trust and run away with it, he could take that trust and turn it into dust in just a few uttered sentences. But he wouldn't. Oh no. He couldn't.

To have anyone's trust was something sacred to Harry, but to have Draco's? It was mind blowing. He would do anything possible to keep such a gift. He would do everything he could to remain someone worthy of such trust. He would be the friend that Draco needed and anything else in between.

"Alright." Harry whispered back just as quietly. They shared an understanding of brittle emotions before linking their arms and walking forward.

For now, this was enough. For now, this is how they would be.

Draco cleared his throat. "So, did you have your welcome package on you?"

"Erm." Harry checked over the papers that the not-so-nice employee gave him downstairs. "Yes."

Their hands brushed tentatively for a moment as Draco picked up the papers from Harry's palm. A spark filtered through him and by the slight tremble of the other boy's hands, Draco knew Harry felt it too.

Draco quickly flipped through the boring and useless chunk of the paperwork on top. Why the school felt the need to bore people to tears with several pages of bragging about the aesthetics and 'pleasant' atmosphere, was beyond him. Nothing about hundreds of students shoved into confining hallways could ever be considered pleasant.

A pleased noise brought Harry's attention away from the pages and towards Draco's face.

"You are right across the hall from me." Draco ignored the part of him that whispered that that might come in handy. He refused to go there. Nope. Not happening.

Harry was pleasantly surprised by this. It would make seeing each other easier. The distance wouldn't be an issue. The thought of inviting Draco into his room to… study... was filling his mind. He had never had a friend in his personal space before. Never had a chance to be the host for another person. This would be interesting.

They made their way up two more flights of stairs. Harry was beginning to wonder just how many stair wells there were. Goodness.

"Typically, the dorm levels all go by placement but sometimes it is just availability." Draco told him as they made their way down a wide-open hallway.

The halls seemed much larger than the ones below. It was extensive and quite roomy. He noticed there seemed to be a scheme to the décor. Every floor to the different dorms were color coded. The first of the dorm floors had been yellow. It was almost too yellow. The brightness to the walls and the doors caused Harry's eyes to hurt until he looked away. He was glad that they weren't living on that floor.

The floor he was directed to was a rich green, it was almost like looking in the mirror. The color of the walls was quite similar to his own eye color. Green had always been one of his favorite colors. Partly because the Dursleys hated his eyes. Said they were too colorful, too vivid. Which was a rebellion. Anything they disliked, was automatically something he favored.

Harry furrowed his brows when he noticed something was different about this floor, besides the color. "What's with the smaller rooms?" The doors were closer together than the previous floor.

"This is the only floor that houses single rooms." There was a slight bitterness to his tone that had Harry arching a brow.

Draco could feel Harry's eyes on him and sighed. "They tend to house students based on compatibility. They use a special database that goes over your electives and how you filled out the questionnaire. From there they house two people to a room but occasionally three."

"There was a questionnaire?" Harry wasn't even surprised that he had missed that. It would seem that Dumbledore just threw the rulebook out the window when it came to him.

The question had Draco smirking. "Yes, actually there is. It is supposedly based off of scientific means of pairing up roommates." He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know if it works well or not. I have always been on this floor."

"Do you not like being alone?" Harry wondered as they walked past several people who stopped to stare at them.

"It isn't that." Draco bit his lip. "In the beginning, I loved it. I didn't have to share my room with anyone. There was no fighting over which bed is the better one, who gets to shower first or when to give off distance. But I didn't choose to be alone. I was placed on this floor because their 'database' said that I wouldn't do well with others. The ones placed on this floor are looked at differently. As if we can't play nice with others or don't know how to blend well into society." He rolled his eyes.

"The whole thing is silly. My father was placed on this floor when he was in school and so was my grandfather. So it isn't necessarily something bad. The database just classifies us as hard to get along with when it comes to personality."

Harry wrinkled his nose at how odd the school was. Draco was right, it was silly. "Would you rather be in a room with others?"

"God no." Draco shuddered at the thought. "Maybe before I came out, I might have but there is no way I would subject myself to sharing a room with someone who was going to judge me." He paused to think it through.

"It is more the implications behind the issue that bothers me. This floor is called the Devious. They say it is based off of our personalities, that we aren't to be as trusted as much as the rest of the students. We aren't shunned per se but we aren't as readily accepted either. Which makes being a social outcast on top of a Devious that much harder."

"Devious." Harry mused with a small smirk. "I like the sound of that. It sounds unique in a way. People who do things differently and by different means. It is intriguing."

Draco grinned at the mischievous way Harry had at looking at things. "I suppose you are right. I have always preferred being Devious over the other three D's." He saw Harry's curious look and he elaborated.

"The floor we just passed, the yellow one, that is the floor of the Devoted."

Harry arched his brows. "Like religiously?"

Draco snorted loudly before breaking into several fast coughs. "No." He shook his head. "Devoted as in loyal. The database classified them as people who value fair play and have a great sense of loyalty inside of their reliability."

"I suppose those are alright traits." Harry mused but it definitely wasn't what he would choose for himself. He grinned at the knowing smirk that was sent his way.

"The next floor above us is the Discerning. Their hallway is blue and a little too much for me. Their personalities have been found to be more sophisticated. The database has defined their floor as the one to shape their insightful nature in the means of the intelligent. Usually the bookworms are roomed together on that floor. Not always but that is typically the type of people on that floor."

"That one wouldn't be so bad." Harry pointed out. Both of them were fairly smart, this much he knew.

"Hermione is a Discerning."

"Nevermind." The quick reply and vehement shake of messy hair had Draco laughing. He stopped their movement when they came to the correct door. He checked Harry's welcome package for the key.

"Last one of the colored floors is the Daring. Their walls are a ghastly shade of red. The database defines them as the ones with confidence to tackle every day life with a gutsy and adventurous attitude."

"What a load of trifle." Harry mumbled as he watched Draco open the door. "I suppose tackling life with an adventurous attitude isn't so bad but it just sounds weird. What's wrong with more than one?"

Harry stepped into the room and looked around with a soft smile. The room wasn't much but it was his and that's what mattered. It would seem that green wasn't just the color of the hallway, the room was green as well. Almost to the point of it being tacky. Did he really need a green dresser? Green lamp? Green curtains? Green carpet? At least there was shades of silver and black meshed in as well, otherwise he would've had to do some redecorating. If the toilet was green he was asking for a transfer to… anywhere. The sunset was shining through his curtains causing an odd dark green color to seep in. It was almost like a murky water. He noticed his bags had been brought up, which was a relief.

"More than one what?" Draco asked curiously as he watched Harry circle the room. Nothing had changed from this room to his own. Same standard Devious dorm room.

"Hm?" Harry looked back to the blonde and had to squint in an attempt to recall their conversation.

"I was wondering why it's all divided like that anyways? I mean, why can't I be all four? I can be Devoted… if I try. I'm already Discerning and Devious. I don't exactly have an adventurous attitude but I imagine if I had to be Daring, I could be."

Draco hummed in thought as he laid down on Harry's bed and looked up to the ceiling. "That has been a debate since the school was founded. A lot of scholars have argued the negative impacts of dividing students. It makes some feel as if there is something wrong with them when they don't get the desired placement. Others say it is a learning experience. What you learn from your floor is supposed to 'shape' who you are." He paused to wrinkle his nose.

"I think it's all hogwash, really. I haven't learned anything special from being a Devious. Well, I guess that isn't true. When I was younger, the older students who were about to go off into higher education taught us the best evasive tactics when sneaking out. Not to mention the best methods when handling upset teachers, or how to trick the kitchen staff into giving us seconds on dessert." Draco grinned wickedly at Harry.

"There was this one time, when I first started here, I was tricked into going along with a prank. I didn't know it was a prank. I thought we were just going to sneak outside."

"You were tricked?" Harry asked doubtfully as he laid on his side on the bed, so that he could stare down at Draco.

Draco smirked. "I will take that as a compliment. In my defense, it was Severus who told me to go along with him. I didn't think he was behind the prank. Goes to show you that you can't trust anyone."

Harry arched his brows. "Snape knows how prank people?" This… this was interesting.

"Oh yes." Draco chuckled at the surprise shimmering behind curious eyes. "It was a well thought out plan too. He had mixed an unstable chemical, still won't tell me what it was, and placed it in the separate water system for the Daring team lockers in the sports center." He let out a cackle. "Their skin was died purple for two weeks!"

For some reason Harry pictured the three jerks who had messed with Draco earlier, with purple skin. The image brought a smirk that matched Draco's to a tee.

"Was it ever found out that he had been the one to do it? I mean he's a teacher."

Draco scoffed. "Like that man does anything without having several back up plans. I know for a fact that he only brought be along as a fall guy, in case something went wrong."

Harry let out a startled laugh. The way Draco was grinning, he knew the blonde wasn't upset. He shook his head a little in wonder at their type of bond. Fall guy? Who does that? "Did anything go wrong?"

"No." Draco shook his head. "It was smooth sailing. Of course, it started a prank war. The Daring just knew that it was someone of the Devious who had started it."

"When did it end? Who won?"

"End?" Draco arched a brow. "The bloody thing is still going on."

"Lovely." Harry sighed deeply before falling on his back and looking at the ceiling. He let out a startled breath. "Sweet baby Jesus, the fucking ceiling is green too."

This caused the both of them to start laughing. Draco a little harder than Harry.

Draco paused in his laughter when he heard a funny noise. He looked to Harry curiously but the brunette's attention was still on the ceiling. When there was another gurgle of something, he leaned forward and placed his ear on Harry's stomach.

"Uh, Draco?" Harry asked as he lifted a hand to run it through the blonde's hair.

The gesture had Draco's breath hitching and his eyes closing on instinct. "You are hungry." He murmured as another rumble of Harry's stomach was heard.

"I haven't eaten anything today." Harry said in a slight apology. He wasn't embarrassed, eating at the Dursley's wasn't really something he did a lot. One meal a day was pretty lucky for him. Sometimes if he was really hungry, he would eat something while Quirrell was there, so that they wouldn't complain in front of company.

Draco lifted his wrist to check the time. "Well, you are in luck. Dinner should be starting any minute. Care to join me?"

"Like a date?" Harry teased as he sat up to stretch his muscles. When there wasn't an answer he looked back and was surprised to see an intense look in Draco's eyes.

"No. Not like a date." Draco searched Harry's eyes before leaning forward and whispering in his ear, "When I take you on a date, it will be far away from here and it will not be in a dining hall full of children. You deserve more than that."

Harry felt his cheeks heat up without his permission. He looked down for a moment before turning his face a little and placing a swift kiss to a pale cheek. "Just so you know, I don't need anything fancy. I don't need money spent on me. Anywhere with you would be a date." He paused to see Draco fluster slightly. "Even to a dining hall filled with children."

"But if you want to wait, that's fine with me." Harry stood up and smiled softly at the other boy as he held up his hand.

Draco sighed internally at the kind gesture. He placed his hand in a warm palm and allowed himself to be pulled up. They were standing a little too close to be considered decent but neither one cared.

Before either one of them could attempt to say something, Harry's stomach growled again.

This time Harry was embarrassed but he relaxed at the fond smile that was quirking at the corner of pink lips.

"Do you think dinner will be good?" Harry asked as they made their way out of the room.

"Yes." Draco retorted a little reluctantly as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"What's with the cynical posture?"

Draco couldn't help but snort. Harry called him out on his shite and he loved that. He needed someone to keep up with him like this.

"Weasley's mother is the home economics professor." Draco wrinkled his nose. "The class doesn't get too many people to enroll. That isn't a profession typical of the pedigree of Hogwarts." He paused for a moment. "Not that I am saying there is anything wrong with that line of work. It's just not something parents pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for their kids to take."

Harry wondered if his own father really had paid that much money for his admittance. Good lord this school better make him poop out Nobel prizes for that kind of cash.

"She has a few mixed classes of all ages but other than that, she has a lot of free time. So, she is also the head cook for the school." Draco explained.

Ahh. Harry was understanding it better. "I take it she is a good cook?"

"It's like an orgasmic delight and I can't even pretend to hate it!" Draco shook his head angrily. "I tried. Believe me, I tried. I wanted to sneer at it just on principle but it's always so good." The injustice of it still angered him.

Harry couldn't help but laugh at Draco's theatrics. "Orgasmic delight?" He mused with a chuckle. "I can't say I have ever described food with the Dursleys like that." He saw the still frustrated expression on Draco's face and rolled his eyes.

"Why did you want to hate it on principle? Because it is Weasley's mum?"

Draco sighed heavily. "Partly. The Weasley family doesn't get along with my family. It's been a feud for generations. One of their ancestors backed out of an arranged marriage with my sixth-time great grandfather." Harry winced at 'arranged marriage'.

"So, my ancestor bought their family house from the bank who owned the land and tripled their taxes till they couldn't afford to pay, then kicked them off the property."

Harry dropped his mouth open in half surprise and half horror. Draco saw the look and nodded his head.

"I know, doesn't seem like enough compensation, does it?" He kept his face straight just watch the flabbergasted expression on Harry's face.

Draco only lasted a few seconds before he doubled over laughing.

"You arse!" Harry smacked Draco's arm lightly. "I thought you were serious." He thought back to earlier during the exchange with the three boys and cocked his head to the side. "Did they ever regain their wealth?"

The question distracted Draco from his humor as they began walking again. "No, not to what it had been. At the time, they had been the top competitors in business against my ancestors. After they lost the land, it went downhill for them for a few generations. While my own families' status skyrocketed." He refused to feel guilty for something he hadn't been alive for. Nor was he going to take responsibility for something dead people did.

"It wasn't until the last century where there was a turnabout for their family. They deal in oil pipelines now."

Harry let out a low whistle. "That isn't small change." He pointed out. He couldn't imagine how much money that would bring in.

"I suppose not but it still isn't rich when you consider the rest of the students here." Draco tried to come up with a comparison. "They would be on the cusp of rich middle class." That would be the best way he could try and describe it.

"Rich middle class." Harry shook his head rapidly at that. Even rich people discriminated against other rich people.

Draco ignored Harry's words, he knew that this type of life style was new to him. "Since their status back into wealth wasn't too long ago, they haven't amassed the wealth that they once had."

"I see why Weasley was offended." Harry could see why the boy would be upset but then again, it wasn't Draco's fault that his ancestors had done them wrong.

"If you want to win a fight, you go for the jugular." Draco pointed out with a shrug. "I could have ridiculed his ugly face but I figured that was just too obvious and not very original."

Harry rolled his eyes as his lips twitched.

"Back to his mother. She has never given me the chance to be something other than the 'spawn of the devil' that she thinks I am. I understand her wariness with the Malfoy name. I would have been distrustful too. But I am not my father and that seems to be a blind spot to her. She hates me on principle so I would have kindly liked to return the favor." He clenched his fists as he pouted.

"But I couldn't even do that! If only her cooking was as poor as her ancestors." Draco shook his head in despair. "I will find something one day of hers to dislike. I will."

The promise in Draco's tone was honestly amusing. Harry didn't like that people seemed to ignore Draco's potential just because of who he is. It seemed like a recurring theme around here, it was one he didn't like.

As they walked down the stairs, a sudden thought had Harry looking to Draco curiously. "If the database places students on the floors, why was I already placed? I didn't take any questionnaires."

Draco paused at the last step as he hummed in thought. "That is a good question. I would say Dumbledore must have placed you but that doesn't make sense. There is no way he would have placed Harry Potter on the Devious floor." At the scowl Harry released, Draco gently covered the other boy's hand with his own.

"I didn't mean that in a bad way, towards you at least." He bit his lips in indecision. "It's just that your father was one of the most successful Hogwarts students when it comes to publicity. There are plenty of success cases throughout history but they are narrow fields in their departments. They aren't mentions that make it to papers. Mayor of London? That alone increased the enrollment tenfold."

Harry didn't like the sound of this at all. He was reminded of what Quirrell had told him.

"His only son who survived the horror that you did? You are the next publicity case for Hogwarts to cash in on. I am being completely pessimistic but also realistic. I don't doubt for a single moment that Dumbledore kept you out of the school until you could be useful."

Harry's heart clenched at that. He didn't want to be some tool for the school. He didn't want to be important by his surname. He wanted to be here because he was wanted. Fuck them.

"I'm sorry." Draco whispered. "That isn't how I see you, though."

The slight trepidation had Harry's eyes opening. "I know." He squeezed Draco's hand once before letting go. "I appreciate the honesty." His whole life was lies and carefully constructed containment. So, hearing the truth, no matter how awful it may be, was something Harry admired of Draco.

Draco nodded once and linked their arms again. "Which is why I don't think Dumbledore placed you at all. You can't be placed without some kind of questionnaire or aptitude test."

Harry jerked a little but kept the pace steady. "Aptitude test? Quirrell had me take one of those during my finals. I thought it was a punishment for calling him a slave driver and a mentally unstable, deranged, bipolar monstrosity. I didn't know the thing was actually useful."

Draco had to pause and stare at Harry in slight admiration. "Mentally unstable, deranged, bipolar monstrosity?" He let out a whistle. "I would get hundreds of detentions if I had ever called a professor that."

"Well to be fair, I wasn't entirely sure he had heard me. I like to mumble insults at him when he is being particularly hard on me. I just assumed the stupid test was a punishment."

Draco grinned widely as he pulled Harry forward. "I think Devious is right where you belong."

They came to the entrance of two giant doors. Harry was surprised that he missed this on his way in. When they walked in, he would've liked to have said the massive room was the first thing he noticed. He would've liked to have said that the wide windows near the ceiling had attracted his attention. He would've liked to have said that the four giant tables were an interesting choice. He would've liked to have said anything about the aesthetics of the room. Only he couldn't.

The Great Hall grew quiet at their entrance. It was as if all heads turned as one when they entered. All eyes on them and it was disconcerting. Harry hated it instantly. It was Privet Drive Gardens all over again.

Stares was something Draco was used to. Stares followed him everywhere but not at this level. Perhaps when he was first outed, the gazes never seemed to cease. He knew the stares were because Harry was here. He also knew it was because he was the one showing him around.

Harry looked to the right and noticed that there was a section with no people at the furthest table. He directed the both of them over there and hoped everyone went back to their food.

Once they were seated comfortably, Harry realized that had been a fool's wish. The heads just swiveled around towards them. He sighed heavily and started piling an empty plate with food.

"Mass genocide. Is that frowned upon here at Hogwarts?"

Draco let out a huff of laughter. "Unfortunately, yes." He drawled with a smirk. "However, if they don't look to their own plates soon, I shall be your accomplice."

Harry grinned widely. "You trust me enough to not make you my fall guy?"

The question had Draco letting out a soft smile. "As crazy as it sounds, I do."

"Well, alright then." Harry held out his hand. "Crime partners for life."

"For life, huh?" Draco gripped Harry's hand tightly. "We probably shouldn't discuss crime out in the open. Too many witnesses to take care of at one time."

"I knew there was a reason I picked you." Harry retorted. "You will be the brains of the operation."

"Regular old Bonnie and Clyde, eh?" Draco asked as he rolled his eyes.

"Aw, are you trying to seduce me?" Harry batted his eyelashes as he grabbed a few rolls.

"You know what they say, a couple who kills together stays together."

Harry snorted. "I don't think that's the saying at all."

"Excuse me." A little voice piped of. They both turned around to see a little boy about eight or nine. He had dark brown hair and hazel eyes.

Draco arched a brow as he tried to place who the child was. The kid looked familiar but he couldn't figure it out. The child looked scared though.

"Um." Harry watched the little kid fidget and shoot Draco a timid look. "I was told to ask you to move over there." The boy pointed at Harry and then towards a group of people a few tables away. Harry recognized Weasley and Lavender among the group.

"What did you ask for in return?" Draco sighed when the boy jumped and shot him a terrified look. He really hated the way people viewed him. The poor boy looked as if he was going to eat him for dinner.

"I just want someone to play with."

Harry swore his heart melted at the child's earnest expression.

"They said they would show me a new game outside tonight after curfew." He whispered the last word as if it was a secret.

Draco clenched his fists. He knew there would be no meeting. It was a stupid joke played on unsuspecting kids.

"How about you play chess with the pair of us after dinner?" Draco offered. "Those kids don't really want to go outside after curfew." He saw the way the boy's eyes filled with tears and he cursed his lack of tact.

Draco shot a panicked look to Harry. He didn't know how to handle tears! When he received a shrug as a response, he opened his arms with a wince. The boy didn't even think twice, he threw himself into Draco's arms and cried into his neck.

The sight of Draco comforting the boy had Harry sighing a little besottedly. He wasn't one for children but he couldn't deny that the sight was adorable.

"They said they would be my friend if I convinced the one with messy hair to leave." Draco tried shushing the boy as he ran a comforting hand down the kids back.

"They said you were a mean monster who was going to take the life of the messy one."

Draco rolled his eyes at the insult. "Thanks kid, improves my ego."

The boy lifted up his head as he wiped his snot on a sleeve, causing Draco to wrinkle his nose in distaste. "I didn't say that. They did. I am just the messenger."

"How about you forget them and become our friends. We won't even ask for anything in return." Harry prompted. He frowned at the distrustful look in those hazel eyes. Had he said something wrong?

"Ignore him." Draco stage whispered. "If you become our friend then we ask you to allow us the pleasure of being friends with you in return."

"That's what I just said." Harry whispered to himself with furrowed brows. He scowled when the boy's distrust disappeared.

"No one asks for nothing, Harry." Draco teased with a show of maturity as he stuck out his tongue. They both grinned when a little huff of laughter came from the little brunette.

Draco set the boy down next to him. "So, now that we are friends, tell me your name little one."

"I am not little." The sassy emphasis had Draco realizing that this was a teaching revelation. He could teach the younger generation in the ways of sarcastic wit and bad behavior. This was brilliant. He could morph this little one into a miniature version of himself.

"My name is Neville Longbottom."

Draco choked on the bite of roll he had just placed in his mouth.

"Neville?" Ginny asked with pinched brows. "Isn't he the other bartender?" They all looked over as one to see Draco sitting in a chair with Neville leaning up against the back of it.

"Hello." They both uttered at the same time before sharing a smirk.

Harry grinned softly. "I didn't realize you were listening."

"Shows what kind of police officer you are." Draco teased as he placed his chin in his hands that were propped up against his thighs.

"Oi!" Harry protested when the girls' let out light laughter.

"I couldn't resist." Draco muttered as he stared into sparkling green eyes.

Harry lost himself in the love Draco always held for him, that face was a mask of indifference to everyone but him and he loved it.

"Now I see why Snape seemed to have a problem with the stares." Millicent said with a snort. "Even married you are still doing the odd pining thing."

"We are not pining." Harry and Draco said at the same time with the same indignant tone.

"Can you continue?" Neville asked impatiently. "I would like to hear more about the most important person to this story."

Draco scowled. "How are you the most important person to our love story?" The way Neville dismissed him with a silent chin in the air had Draco regretting ever teaching Neville anything. Having a miniature version of himself wasn't as cracked up as he had thought it would be.

Author's Notes:

So, thoughts? I would say not a whole lot actually happened but I did have to give a lot of back information. Which is why this chapter was needed.

I didn't want to include the houses because it would have been hard to explain the titles. The meaning behind them wouldn't have made sense for the story. Not to mention, Draco's bar is named Slytherin Seekers. But I didn't want to exclude them altogether. So I had to get a little creative. There aren't houses but there are floors. Don't get too caught up in the four D's. Because it isn't quite like the houses. It is a divide but not a very big one. The students are friends with the other floors and there is mingling at all times. I am actually kind of proud of my imagination there. I was stumped for sure.

I hope this was obvious but the Weasleys aren't broke by our standards. They are rich. Very rich. Just not rich enough to matter socially. Messed up.

So... any thoughts or theories on Neville? Anyone wondering why he is there and not spreading his wings out in another line of work?

I do believe the meeting with Dumbledore will be the next chapter. I think I was going to have it be this one but that didn't end up working out.

Let me know your thoughts and hopefully you enjoyed this chapter.

-XxTheDarkLordxX