He was back at the astronomy tower, watching Dumbledore crash out of the window, already dead. He tried to reach out but he couldn't, he was frozen.

Draco sat up with a gasp. All a dream. He put a hand to his sweaty forehead, it was something every night. Dumbledore, Hermione, Crabbe. The screams from the war echoed in his head until it woke him up. He ran his hand up into his white-blonde hair and let out a breath, that was the past, that was two years ago, it was still raw though. He swung his feet over the edge of the bed and put them on the cold floor. He lit the light in his room with a flick of his wand, wane light filling the small room he had decided to take up residence in. He padded out to the library, where he keep the whiskey. Malfoy manor was silent and cold, the only occupant shivered as the cold air hit his sweaty skin. He poured a small glass of fire whiskey, glad for the warmth it spread through his body.

He looked briefly at the family portrait on the wall, Lucius Malfoy stirred slightly to glare back. His father was locked up in Azkaban since the fall of the Dark Lord, his mother had wasted away without him. Try as Draco might, Narssica Malfoy simply faded and crumbled away until he alone was left, the sole heir of the Malfoy name. He walked silently back to his room, his feet disturbing the dust in the hall, he hadn't bothered keeping it clean, no reason to. Draco threw himself back down on his bed and pulled his dark sheets up to his head. Hopefully he could get back to sleep.

There was an insistent tapping. Draco groaned and rolled over. Now what? He muttered darkly to himself as he dragged himself out of bed again, scratching the stubble on his face. Couldn't people wait to send mail at a decent hour. He threw open the back door and harsh sunlight streamed in, maybe it was a decent hour. There was an owl waiting with a letter on its leg. Probably just another schedule change for his apprenticeship. St. Mungo's was nothing if hectic. He sent the owl off and put the letter on the counter. It could wait till after coffee. He went through his normal morning routine; shaved,dressed, glared at the dark shadows under his eyes that refused to go away, and started the coffee. He finally picked up the letter. He raised and eyebrow, it was from famous Harry Potter, odd. He turned it over and slit it open with his wand.

Malfoy. Today is Theodore Lupin's 3nd birthday and ever since Ginny mentioned he has a living cousin, he has talked about nothing except you coming to his birthday. I know you don't particularly get along with us, but it would mean a lot to my godson. It starts around 12 at Grimmauld place where I live. Think about it.

Draco paused his reading as noticed there was a weight in the bottom in envelope. "Not likely, Potter." He muttered as he dumped out the contents. Suddenly Draco felt sick, like he was being pulled through a small drain. There was a sickening, spinning feeling and then suddenly Draco collapsed on pavement. He coughed and gasped from the shock as he stood up. He was standing outside a row of houses, and he didn't have his shoes, he hadn't bothered putting on shoes. He looked back down at the letter.

I don't believe you have been here before so I have enclosed a portkey for your use.

Harry.

"Brilliant." Draco growled. He turned to apparate back to his house when the door swung open. Harry Potter stared at him with an open mouth.

"You actually came?"

Draco hurled the portkey (which was an actual key) at Potter's head. "You might want to warn people about portkeys at the beginning of the letter, Potter!" Draco spat acidly.

Harry dodged the key easily and looked down at Draco's feet. "You're not wearing shoes."

"I just woke up, you blast-ended skrewt!" Draco hissed.

Potter had the nerve to actually laugh. "Never thought I'd see the day." He stood to the side of the door and motioned Draco in. "You're already here, you might as well come in. Teddy's been asking for you."

Draco hesitated.

"You can borrow my slippers."

He still didn't move.

"We have butterbeer."

Draco finally relented with a groan and an eye roll. "Only a few minutes."

Draco immediately regretted his decision as he walked into the living room. The house was full of his least favorite people, people who didn't care for him. There was thatt Weasley girl Harry married, she looked like she was about to give birth at any moment; there was Ron Weasley, they glared at each other; there was Granger, looking at her made him uncomfortable; and there was the werewolf baby. Teddy was running around with bright blue hair and a birthday hat that was apparently enchanted to stay on his head. He stopped dead as he caught sight of Draco.

"Uncle Dwaco!" He launched himself at the unprepared man.

To Draco's horror Teddy wrapped his arms around Draco's knees like a devil's snare vine. Draco tried to pry him off, to no avail. Whatever sticky mess was on him seemed to help him hold on. "Just get...off… let go." Draco tried shaking Teddy of his leg but that just made the toddler giggle more. Teddy grinned up at Draco and to Draco's embarrassment his hair was turning from blue to blonde to match Draco.

Someone to his left laughed. He turned a venomous glare towards Hermione. "You could help, Granger." He grit out of his teeth.

She shrugged. "He looks happy."

"Yes but I'm not happy."

Harry appeared at his side and handed him a bottle of butterbeer. "Yes, but when have you been happy, Malfoy?"

Draco rewarded him with a withering look. Harry simply smiled back. Apparently a six-year rivalry made them immune to his looks.

"Uncle Dwaco!"

Draco finally succeeded in peeling Teddy off his leg. "I am not your uncle, more like a cousin.

Teddy ran off and returned with a toy broomstick. "From Uncle Hawy!"

Draco bit back a smile. It was the exact broom he got for his third birthday.

Harry guided Teddy back over to an open space. "That's right, we still need to show you how to work this!"

Draco was finally left alone. He took a sip of the butterbeer and smoothed out his pant leg.

"Are those Harry's slippers?" Hermione was looking at his feet.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Aw, come on, ferret, it's a party! Lighten up!" Ron jammed an unwelcome birthday hat on Draco's head.

Draco tried to brush it off, apparently they all had sticking charms on them. "Get. It. Off." He growled at Ron.

"Naw." Ron declined. "It makes you look 10% less awful."

Draco reached for his wand tucked up one sleep. There was suddenly an translucent wall shimmering between the two men. Hermione sighed with exasperation. "Ron we talked about this, Malfoy is an invited guest, behave." She turned to Draco. "Malfoy, you're an invited guest, behave."

Draco put his wand away and sulkily sipped his drink again.

"Cake, Malfoy?" Ginny Weasley was entering the room with a tray. "We already cut it earlier, you missed it."

Draco eyed the cake suspiciously. "No, thanks." He drawled. He noticed Ginny wince and rub her pregnant stomach. He looked her up and down. "About a week out?"

"Yeah, and this hurts like a hippogriff is kicking around inside me." She muttered. Then she looked up surprised. "How did you know?"

"That's right!" Hermione spoke up. "You're studying to be a healer at St. Mungo's!"

"Really?" Ron snorted. "Remind me not to get sick, ow!" He rubbed his arm where Hermione sent a stinging spell at him.

"Behave!" She growed.

They were interrupted by a cheer from Harry. Teddy was hovering a few inches off the ground on his new broom. He raised his little fists in triumph and promptly fell to the floor. Harry picked him up and brushed him off. "Good enough for a first ride, we'll make a quidditch player of you yet!"

They all watched for a while longer as Teddy attempted the broom a few more times. Draco watched with a hollow pit forming in his stomach. With his hair turned blonde, Teddy looked like himself when he was young, it must be the Black in him. Draco didn't like thinking about it, being young, having his family again back before any of the war started. He put down his drink. "I think I'm going to-."

"Draco?"

Draco spun around and almost collapsed on the spot. He thought his Aunt Bellatrix had risen from the dead just long enough to make him break out into a cold sweat. "Aunt Andromeda?" He gasped slightly. Now that he looked at her, his aunt looked much less harsh than Bellatrix, she had some of the softer features that resembled his mother, that made his heart ache.

"Draco! I didn't realize you would be here! Teddy has been asking to meet you." She extended a hand to him. "I don't think we've actually met, I was cast out as a blood traitor before you were born." She chuckled at her own misfortune.

Draco hesitated and then took her hand. Before he could react, his aunt had pulled him into a hug. Draco stiffened. He couldn't remember the last time someone had hugged him. Something that felt uncomfortably like feelings welled up in his throat. He extracted himself from the hug and started backing towards the door. "It was nice to meet you, Aunt Andromeda, best wishes to Teddy, have to go." The words tumbled over each other in his rush to escape out the door. He opened it, stumbled just far enough away and apparated home. He could have sworn someone called his name, but it was lost in the whirl.