A/N: This is a sequel to my first published story "Day in Court" and you will need to read it to make sense of a few of the references in this story. I would love to hear your thoughts on this story, so drop me a review. I hope to add chapters every couple of weeks. Also, only the first chapter has been beta'd, so any mistakes are mine and if you see anything that needs fixed let me know..I've always sucked and seeing my own writing errors. Enjoy!

Draco studied his mother's face out of the corner of his eye. He heard her breathing in a very deliberate manner as she tried to ignore the stares they were receiving from the wizards and witches assembled to put their children on the train to Hogwarts. Draco cringed, here he was almost 20 and he would be in a school with 11 year-old children.

He'd been too late to join his classmates last year due to the trial. At the time, he'd been happy to not to have to worry about seeing the faces of the people that he had turned his back on at the final battle. Especially, after the few friends he'd had left after the battle had turned their backs to him and his family when his mother's part in Voldemort's destruction had come to light during her trial.

In a way he'd been glad to be rid of them. Their attempts to bond with him over their anger at the defeat of the Dark Lord had made his stomach turn. In truth, he was probably the one person in this world happier than Harry Potter that that..monster was gone. Well, except maybe for his mother. She really was extraordinary. She'd showed that old bastard. Draco wished that he'd had just one moment before the end to make sure that the Dark Lord knew that it was his mother who stabbed him in the back and delivered Potter to his destiny.

Draco could feel the smirk on his face and schooled it quickly when he felt his mother take his hand. He looked into her eyes as she came around to face him and place a kiss on his cheek. She had to stand on her tiptoes to reach him now. The thought made him smile. She returned it and cupped his cheek. The smile faded as worry took over her face. "Draco," she exhaled his name, "be careful, concentrate on your schooling, stay focused," he brought his hand up to cover the one on his cheek causing the worry in her face to ease a bit, "and soon your life will be your own again."

Again, as if it had ever been his own to begin with. Between his father, the Dark Lord, his trial, community service and going back to school he had rarely been able to make his own choices. His court appointed advisor suggested that he use the next year to evaluate his life and decide on his next step. He knew that a job with the Ministry was out of the question and he had no idea what he would do with his life once he completed school. He felt his mother tense again. He'd been caught up in his thoughts and neglected to answer her.

He brought her hand down and leaned in to give her kiss on each cheek. "Mother, I will do our family proud. And, you will be careful," Draco looked around quickly, "won't you?"

"Of course I will, don't worry about me." A wry smile lit her face. "I have several projects to finish at home and your father's investments to look after...I will miss you though, my Dragon." Draco felt himself blush at his childhood nickname. He looked around to make sure no one had overheard. His mother smiled at him. "You best get on before all the compartments are taken."

"Of course." He reassured her, though he had no intention of shoving himself into a room with a bunch of children who hated his guts. He'd find a seat in the emptiest car, surround himself with his belongings and do some reading on the way. Hopefully, everyone would get the message and let him be.

He grabbed his bag and with a confident voice called, "Goodbye, Mother," over his shoulder as he boarded the train.

He sincerely hoped that she didn't see his step falter at the quiet "Goodbye, Darling," that followed him through the door.

The train ride had been tolerable. He overheard the odd whisper about his presence, but his trial and sentencing had been recent enough that the older students were able to share the circumstances of his presence easily enough. He felt his nerves rise as they pulled into the station. He had begun to sweat and his heart was beating so fast that he was beginning to feel light headed as the car emptied out. He tried to make himself move and admonished himself for being ridiculous when a delighted squeal from the station caused him to startle and dump the book from his lap onto the floor of the compartment.

He closed his eyes and mind to the noise and chaos around him as he tried to bring himself under control. He put his elbows on his knees and brought his head down to rest in the palm of his upturned hands taking several deep breaths and releasing them slowly through his mouth. He finally felt his heartbeat slow and was getting ready to lift his head when he heard a familiar voice ask, "Are you alright, Draco?"

Draco lifted his head to see a concerned face staring down at him. "Longbottom?" He asked, squinting at the figure before him just in case he was wrong. The concerned face dropped and was replaced by a lopsided grin, "Yeah, it's me." Longbottom said tilting his head to the side a bit. "You okay there?" His voice was low and Draco realised that there were a couple of students standing at the exit watching them with worried looks, whispering to each other.

Draco sat up, straightening his spine and throwing his shoulders back. "Yes, I'm fine." He saw the book he had dropped on the floor and nodded toward it. "I should not have read the whole way. My eyes." He smiled tightly, as he busied himself trying to stand and gather his bags.

"Need some help?" Longbottom offered, sounding entirely too concerned for Draco's liking. Best to deal with this now. "I can get my own bags." He gritted out staring into Longbottom's eyes. Draco could see the sting of his words and regretted them when Longbottom took a small step back and looked at a loss for a moment. He recovered quickly though bringing his arms up to cross his chest. "Fine, then..um. I'm supposed to show you to your housing. Would you rather I met you there?"

Draco's eyes shot up to the end of the car where several of the students stood watching their exchange. "Do you have a carriage for us?" Draco asked, trying to sound disinterested.

Longbottom shook his head and smiled more to himself than to Draco, "Yeah, there's a carriage for us."

"Excellent. After you." Draco nodded grabbing his bag, quickly picking up the book he had dropped when Longbottom turned to exit the car. Longbottom waved the younger students off the car with a, "Go on you lot, you'll miss the carriages," as Draco followed him off the car.

True to his word there was a carriage waiting for them. Draco put his bag on the back of the cart and tried to avoid looking at the thestrals as he boarded the carriage. Longbottom was sprawled out on one side of the carriage his legs akimbo. Draco noticed that the man had grown to the point he couldn't sit in just one seat on the carriage anymore and that the arm he had thrown over the seat met the other side of the carriage. Draco took his place across from Neville, carefully avoiding looking at the man as they followed the other carriages up the trail to the castle.

The quiet lasted for several minutes until he heard Longbottom begin, "Um.."

"Don't thank me, again." Draco pulled his eyes from the carriage window to look into Longbottom's face. "I didn't do it for you. I did it for me." Longbottom closed his mouth, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Okay, I won't. We'll just know that I am thankful to you for helping my parents," Longbottom sped up his words when he saw that Draco was going to argue with him, "for whatever reasons you might have had to do so and we'll speak no more of it then." Longbottom turned his face down and looked up a Draco through his lashes to gauge Draco's understanding. "Very well," Draco exhaled, "And, aside from showing me to my room, I expect no overtures on you part. You go on with your life and I'll go on with mine. I think that's for the best."

Draco noticed that Longbottom looked uncomfortable now. It hadn't been his intention to hurt the man, but the last thing he wanted or needed was someone hanging around out of obligation or sympathy or to pay off some debt that, to his mind, they didn't owe him. His mind whirled, as he tried to think of a way to placate the man when Longbottom said, "I may have made a decision then, that your not going to like."

Draco felt his eyebrows lift. "What?"

Longbottom shifted uncomfortably and looked down at his knee. "Well, we weren't sure where to put you. You're too old to go in with the regular students and we couldn't keep the 8th year dorms open for just one person and the professors quarters are all taken, soo.."

"Oh, God's." Draco didn't even know what was coming next but the slight panic in Longbottom's voice was setting his nerves on edge again. "What!"

"I told the Headmistress that you could stay with me in my quarters next to the Greenhouses."

When Longbottom looked at him his face was a tight grimace. Draco was speechless as he processed the words. He closed his mouth when he felt it hanging open. He looked out the window again and noticed that the carriage had diverged from the path to the castle and was headed towards the Greenhouses and the Gardner's quarters instead.

"The gardener's cottage? I thought Sprout.."

"She did, but well, she's looking to retire in the next couple of years and asked me to be her apprentice. She took a suite at the Castle, so I could get some experience tending the gardens and greenhouses full-time, while she took more time to relax and plan her retirement."

Draco exhaled slowly. When would anything ever go as planned. "There's two bedrooms, so you'll have your own space and it's quiet down here and not a lot of students hanging about, unless..," Draco regarded him, "you want to, but I'm not sure they'd let you."

"It's fine." He said quietly. He realized he must have said it too quietly or that Longbottom was too wrapped up in his self-recriminations to have heard him, because Longbottom continued, "I guess I could talk to the Headmistress. We really stopped thinking about it when I volunteered to share the cottage, so maybe,"

"It's fine!" Draco didn't mean to raise his voice but Longbottom's prattling was driving him mad. At Longbottom's shocked face, he softened his voice and bowed his head. "It's fine, we'll make due. It is probably for the best as you say and I certainly don't want to impede on the Headmistress's good graces after agreeing with the court's request that I be allowed to complete my education."

"Oh, okay." Longbottom agreed, his voice low. Draco moved toward the door as the carriage slowed to a stop and decided that he should at least try to be amicable. "Help me with my things?" He made sure that his tone conveyed that it was a request and not an order. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that it got him a small smile and he felt a slight wave of relief as he stepped down. Longbottom must have been right behind him as he walked around to the rear to grab his bad and trunk because he feel the temperature difference in the air between their two bodies.

He grabbed his bag and one side of the trunk that had made its way onto the carriage at the station somehow that was probably related to Longbottom's appearance on the train and waited as Longbottom took the other end of the trunk.

There was a lit post at the door that provided them with enough light to see by as Longbottom opened the door. "Once we drop your things we can head up for the feast and the introductions of the staff, if you like?"

Draco considered the idea for a moment as he and Longbottom struggled through the door. A lamp coming on automatically when it sensed their presence. "Actually, I think I would rather stay and get familiar with the place." He said, as they put the trunk down just inside the entryway. "Ah, alright. I could bring you something for supper?" Longbottom said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

Draco swallowed and smiled, "Yes, that would be lovely."

Longbottom's face lightened and a smile appeared. "Great then, I'll do that."

"Make yourself at home. I'd give a knut-tour but I've got to head up. Look around all you want. I claimed the bedroom to the left, just through there, because it gets the best light in the morning." Draco raised one eyebrow at that, which elicited a laugh from Longbottom, who continued, "and I didn't think you'd mind after the dungeon."

Draco's shoulders stiffened as his jaw clenched. "And, what is that supposed to mean, Longbottom?"

Longbottom looked momentarily confused, "The Slytherin Dungeon, not...uh." Longbottom's brows knit together and his voice sounded irritated. "I wasn't talking about the war or prison or anything like that. I wouldn't do that." Longbottom stepped towards him and Draco readied himself in case of an attack.

Longbottom stopped mid-step, shook his head again and looked down, placing his hands on his hips as he took a breath. "I'll see you after the feast, right."

Draco relaxed his body. "Yes, alright." He said, hoping his voice sounded smooth.

Longbottom looked at him like he was trying to think of something to say. Draco supposed he must have thought better of it as he suddenly turned and strode toward the door, leaving with out another word.

"That went swimmingly." He announced to the room.

The cottage was passable in Draco's opinion. At least Professor Sprout had kept the place in better shape than the Groundkeeper's Cottage had been the last time he had seen it, well the last time he had been spying on it anyway. It still had what he supposed one would call a woman's touch to it, with frilly garden themed curtains and decorations lining the wall. He laughed to himself thinking of Longbottom picking out pink curtains with dangling fringe that looked like cherries hanging from the stem.

The main living area had a couple to overstuffed chairs and a couch with a few tables covered in potted plants. There was a small kitchen that barely looked used, with a kitchen table that was also covered in potted plants and vines. He and Longbottom would have to talk about that, if he was going to stay here he'd at least need a clean table. The bath was small but workable and a bit of a relief from the common baths in the dorms.

His room was quaint with a bed that took up half the room. He would need to have a house-elf down to do some cleaning as the room smelled like moss, but it would do. He would have to spend some time in the common areas to prevent himself from going bonkers, but as long as Longbottom was wise enough to leave him to his studies he would try to make these living arrangements work.

He was mostly unpacked when he heard Longbottom heavy footfalls coming up the steps. He went to the door of the bedroom to see if Longbottom had remembered his meal. He was famished, but didn't want to seem too eager in case he'd forgotten the food. He was momentarily confused when he heard what sounded like Longbottom's foot kicking the door, then realized that if the man had brought him some supper his arms were probably occupied.

His beliefs were confirmed when he opened the door to find Longbottom balancing two plates and a glass of what appeared to be pumpkin juice . "You could have …" Draco started then stopped himself. If the man didn't know he was a wizard and could do things magically then it wasn't Draco's place to tell him.

Longbottom's eyebrows shot up, waiting for Draco to complete his sentence, but Draco simply exhaled instead and said 'thanks' as he took one of the plates and the glass of juice from Longbottom's hands. Draco couldn't help but notice that his arms were corded with muscle and slightly tanned. Attributes that Draco supposed came from his working with his hands in the sun all-day. The thought sent a strange shiver through him that he quickly dismissed as the night air coming through the door.

Draco began walking back to the kitchen area as Longbottom shut the door and rounded Draco to pick up one of the plants littering the table in the kitchen. Longbottom looked around for a moment, finding an empty surface for the plant. Draco lay his plate and juice down and when Longbottom swung around to grab another plant he handed, what appeared to be a sweets plate to Draco. "This isn't all for me, is it?" Longbottom grinned at him. "Yeah, wasn't sure what you'd like, so a bit of everything."

Draco felt color paint his cheeks. "Oh, well it's too much... join me." Draco nodded to the other seat at the table. Longbottom took the offered seat but patted his stomach and said, "I couldn't eat another bite, but thanks for the offer. Eat up."

Draco felt strange having someone besides his mother watching him eat and hesitated for a moment. "Oi, silverware!" Longbottom said interpreting Draco's hesitance, though now that it had been brought to his attention he did need a fork and a napkin. Longbottom jumped up and looked through a few drawers before finding the silverware. "Sorry," he said and through a smile over his shoulder to Draco, "I'm still finding my way around, just got settled in yesterday."

Draco forced a smile as he took the silverware and napkin from Longbottom's hand saying another quiet, "Thank you." He put his head down intending to start his meal, but halted when he felt eyes watching him. He looked up to see Longbottom smiling happily at him. He didn't seem to be catching on that he was making Draco nervous and Draco debated between ignoring the man or insulting him. "I don't normally have an audience." Draco said putting his silverware down and looking into Longbottom's eyes.

He saw spots of color pop up across Longbottom's neck and face as a mortified expression came across his face. "Ah, gods, I'm sorry Draco. I'll.." he motioned toward the main living room and stood quickly to make is way out of the room.

Draco heard Longbottom take one of the seats in the living room followed by the turning of pages in a book. Draco picked up his fork to start in, but halted when he felt the distinct pull of guilt at his conscious. Draco exhaled heavily, shook his head at his own foolishness then picked up his plate and juice and went to join Longbottom in the living room. He ignored the small huff of laughter he heard as he started his meal.