I've never written Draco before. He always came off to me as a spoiled, whiny kid that was used for someone else's gain. The way I wrote this, he wants to be an independent person and he doesn't understand that you can be independent and be part of a family or a group at the same time. I know lots of people have a love for Draco, so I wrote him as someone who is fighting for his own identity and for finding his own place in the world. If he seems over-apologetic, I'm sorry. I don't really know what he was like after the Battle. I'd like to say he became a decent person, and this is my story so this is how I'd like to see him. I will say I had a bit of trouble with this one. I like it though, so Enjoy!

I own nothing.

Ch. 9: An Odd Conversation

Fred watched Hermione as she sat in the oversized chair in the twins living room. She peeked over her book to look at the blonde-haired man asleep on the couch. He was snoring loudly, clutching the throw pillow. He had looked halfway human when Fred walked into the living room that morning, instead of the high and mighty ferret he used to be. Fred looked at the clock. It was 8:15. He puttered around the kitchen, finishing up a hangover potion and surveying the fridge for potential breakfast. He watched the potion stop boiling, and poured in into a cup. It was time to wake up sleeping beauty.

Fred walked to the couch and sat on the arm, while Hermione put her book on the table beside her and padded across the floor to kneel in front of the couch. She pushed Draco on the shoulder 3 times, lightly, and he grumbled as he tried to roll over. "C'mon Malfoy, time to wake up, it's morning." She was trying to be nice. All Fred wanted to do was roll him out on the floor.

After another prodding from Hermione, he opened his eyes slowly and they rested immediately on Hermione's face and widened to the size of saucers. He sat bolt upright, straightened his clothes as best he could and suddenly clutched his head in pain.

"There it is. Here, drink this, mate. You'll feel better, though I will say, watching you in pain is a bit enjoyable." Fred shoved the cup at him, smirking at the wizard on his couch. Hermione shot him an unamused look.

Draco took the cup without hesitation, and drank the awful tasting liquid in one fell swoop. Though it had crossed his mind, he hadn't spiked it as a prank. He figured Hermione would be right angry, despite all this guy done to her and others over the years.

"Ughhh…", he groaned. "Thanks…Fred?" Draco peeked up at him, eyes squinted, trying to keep as much light out of them as possible, so as not to anger his headache more. Fred nodded and took the cup from Draco's outstretched hand. After a moment, Draco relaxed against the couch cushions.

"That's a great potion. Need to get the recipe from you sometime. Sorry for stealing your firewhiskey.", he said sheepishly. "Seemed like a good idea at the time. Seems like a good idea all the time anymore…"

"I'm less concerned with the whiskey and more concerned with why in the bloody hell you were in the shop? And how you got in there at all?" Fred crossed his arms with this, as Hermione went back to her chair.

Draco sighed heavily. "I was being followed actually. Two men, didn't recognize them. I was headed back to my flat here in the Alley when I noticed them. If I crossed over to the other side of the street, so did they. I saw you two leave your shop and Kingsley told me you had it warded, so before the door closed behind you, I slipped inside. I guess part of the ward was to lock from the inside when an undesirable, such as myself entered, so I was stuck here during the duration of your date. I was already drunk when I came here and I suppose I saw the bottle of Firewhiskey on the shelf and helped myself." He put his head in his hands. After noticing him in the shop and that he was too drunk to walk by himself, Fred had tossed him over his shoulder and carried him up the stairs to the flat and quite literally dropped him on the couch. Hermione had brought him a cool cloth and a bucket to throw up in. At least he hadn't vomited during the night.

Hermione leaned forward. "Draco…why were you drunk by six in the afternoon?" She looked concerned for him, something that amazed Fred.

"Because my life is shot to hell, that's why. My father is in Azkaban, I can't get a job because of my last name and this damned scar on my arm and I'm bloody sick and tired of feeling like a failure." Draco exploded. "And I don't particularly want to be talking to you two, or Harry Bloody Potter about it. And why do you give a damn about my life anyway?"

Hermione stood up then, trying her best to control her temper. "Because whether you like it or not, you and Harry are two sides of the same bloody coin. Except, he has people who care about him. Although, last time I checked, your mother loves you. And if you didn't push people away from you, and act like such a git, you'd probably have more friends. Harry has already told me he's forgiven you and you him, that you talked and fought at the Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch, so you can go ahead and give that up." This was news to Fred. He's heard they talked a bit, but not where or that there was a fight. "If you were being followed, just like I was targeted a few weeks ago, we are all in danger again, so forgive me for 'giving a damn about your life'." She sat back down when she was finished and crossed her arms in a huff, looking angrily at the fireplace.

"You're being targeted, too? How?" He looked at Fred. He knew Hermione wouldn't talk to him right now.

Fred shook his head at him at first, but relented after a few seconds. He let out a long sigh and rubbed his nose. "She rented a flat from Anton LeNeave. Harry arrested him the day she was to move in. She's been living here ever since."

Draco stared at the coffee table, wheels turning in his head. "And he's since escaped… Bloody hell. That's what Kingsley meant then, that we should all stick together. It would help if I had someone to stick to."

Hermione turned towards him then. "Where's your mother?"

"I sent her to her aunt's in France. Aunt Aline was a Rosier. She stayed out of all the blood purity here, was disowned, and married a French muggle with an impressive amount of money. She'd be safe there since no one here has spoken of her after she left here in the 40's, and no one would know where to look for her. Aunt Aline contacted her shortly after Father went to prison. Apparently, she'd kept up with us though we hadn't with her. They began writing and she had invited her to visit. Seemed like the best thing for mother to do. I left the estate and got my own place after she left for good. That was about a week ago now." He hung his head. "I just hope that was the right choice and that she's safe."

Fred felt his gut twist up. He couldn't imagine sending his mum away, danger or not. He knew there was strength in numbers and that's exactly what the Malfoys didn't have: numbers. As much as he'd disliked this man, he felt bad for him and knew why he'd gotten drunk last night. Draco had had all he could handle over the last few years. He looked over at Hermione, who leaned forward to speak.

"I'm going to go get dressed and then floo Harry, okay? I'm going to tell him you're here and see if he has any ideas or new leads on LeNeave. I meant to ask him yesterday anyway, but Ginny preoccupied me with shopping and date preparations. I'll be back shortly" With that, she left for her room.

Draco's face acquired a puzzled look and he turned to Fred. "Did I hear correctly that last night was your first date? And she's living here?" Draco's face paled when he realized what he'd just insinuated. He watched as Fred stiffened up a bit, waiting for the rest of his questions. "Wait, no. That did not come out like I meant. What I meant was how did this even come about?"

Fred chuckled a bit at his stammering. 'This would be awkward for someone not in the loop. We are dating now, we are living together, but not like you'd expect. Bloody hell, I can't fault him for asking.'

"Relax, Malfoy. We've only been seeing each other for about a week. This is a three bedroom flat. George and I offered the spare room to Hermione when she didn't have a flat anymore. Harry and Gin are getting married in December, and mum's driving her nuts since she's the maid of honor. Living here got her out of the Burrow. I've fancied her for quite a while and I guess she liked me too. So, yes, last night was our first date, which you so tactfully interrupted the end of." He looked pointedly at the wizard who was still firmly planted on the couch.

"I am sorry about that, truly." Fred believed him. "I was in a right state. If it's any consideration, after this morning, I would have assumed you had been together a while. It's an odd match, but it looks like it'll work out for you. Thank you for letting me sleep here." Fred had never heard Draco say, 'I'm sorry' or 'Thank you' for anything. If Draco thought they were an odd couple and they were even having this conversation, this was a very odd morning indeed.

"Merlin knows we couldn't let you go home, mate. That was one hell of a stupor you were in." He clapped him on the shoulder, wondering if he remembered being carried up the stairs. "You hungry?"

"I am!", Hermione called from the hallway. She knelt in front of the fireplace, threw in some powder and called for Grimmauld Place. Harry's face appeared in the fireplace, but Fred couldn't hear him. He pulled Draco up from the couch and they headed for the kitchen.

After a few minutes, the fireplace glowed green and Harry stepped into the twins' flat. He followed Hermione to the kitchen, where he stood against the cabinet.

"Potter."

"Malfoy." Fred and Hermione exchanged glances before Harry spoke again, this time, a notebook in his hand. "Alright…What did the men look like?"

"They were both tall, one with medium blonde hair, the other black. Both wearing high-end robes, but they were plain black. I didn't recognize either of them from Voldemort's regime. They were trained well, though. Very inconspicuous, I only noticed them when the black haired one tripped over that basket of secondhand robes across from Madam Malkin's and when I turned to see what the noise was, he looked me right in the face. I'd seen them leave the Leaky but wasn't sure they were following until he made eye contact with me. Like he was afraid of losing me in the crowd. That's when I crossed the street and ducked in behind Fred and Granger, here." He was tossing the pear Fred had given him back and forth in his hands, as he spoke, concentrating on every detail. Suddenly he a defiant look appeared on his features. "Look, I can take care of myself. I don't need your help."

"No.", Hermione said flatly. "But do you want it?" Draco looked angrily at the floor. She looked at Harry then. Harry took the hint.

"Malfoy, we already came to an understanding. I think you need to trust us now and work with us to bring LeNeave and these men down. We can beat this, but it's going to take all of us. I'm going to run the information you gave me down to the Auror Department and then go back to Grimmauld Place. Where are you staying?"

"In my flat, down the street. I hired out Bill Weasley to ward it, so I know it's professionally done. He does good work. I am going to continue to stay there. It's really the only thing I have right now that is actually mine, so don't even ask me to leave. I will not go." He was starting to sound like his stubborn old self, not the mostly broken guy he'd been for almost a year.

"I wasn't going to ask you to move. I couldn't see you volunteering either. I would like to key your floo into Grimmauld Place, just in case. Can you concede to that?" Harry asked him, watching his reactions carefully.

Draco glared at him for a minute, then closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. "Fine, Potter. Do whatever you want."

"Glad to see you agree. I'll take this down to the ministry now and I'll meet you at your flat after. What's the address?" Harry asked as he put his notebook in his pocket.

"55 Diagon Alley. Flat C." Draco deadpanned. As Harry nodded and disappeared through the floo, Draco turned to Hermione. "Is he always going to be such a pain in the arse?"

Hermione looked pointedly at him and gave a small smile. "We can always ask the same of you, Malfoy."