The Journal of Regulus Arcturus Black

Chapter 37. The Aftermath

Okay so technically not everything was as 'over' as Draco would have liked. After Voldemort's body had fallen, hit by his own Killing Curse deflected by a simple protego (really, it made for a very symbolic ending for the Wizarding War, once Draco could find the humor in it) everyone started to celebrate.

Draco had crumbled to the ground, finally allowing his body to relax. He had mostly been running on the highs of everyone's enthusiasm and a really unhealthy dose of adrenaline. There were multiple pops and cracks that rippled around him as the faces of his friends started to surround the small space hidden in the corner of the quad that Draco had hid in. Draco felt Theo first, the boy sitting beside him, with a hand on his shoulder squeezing him softly.

Then he felt his nerves slip and mask wash away as the rest of his group started to sit around him. Blaise resting a hand on Draco's knee and rubbing his trousers with his thumb. Pansy sat opposite him, watching Draco with a tired smile, but a very much alive brightness in her eyes. Vince pressed himself against Draco's side, letting the boy bodily lean on his sturdy friend.

Greg was standing over the group, watching them all with a guarded smile but eyes darting around the room. Like he was still afraid that they might get attacked. Millie was humming, leaning on Vince's other side.

The mad woman had managed to get a book.

"What do you have some sort of expandable charm in your pockets or something?!" Draco questioned, squinting his eyes at Millie's Hogwarts robes.

"Of course," she said with a pout as if that was the most normal thing she'd gotten up to in that year. "How do you think I've managed to get by in this friendship group? No offense lads, but you're all so awfully boring," she muttered, clearing her throat before starting to read her book. She cleared her throat only to read it quietly, chin on her hand, neck craned in an uncomfortable way just to hide her face away from everyone's glares.

The audacity.

"Potter looks like he's going to have a panic attack," Greg said.

Draco lifted his chin from Vince's shoulder, and motioned for Pansy to move her head. She rolled her eyes and just lay down on the ground, arms spread like an eagle. Draco tried to peer over the rubble but he couldn't see past the people that were surrounding Harry. Draco still couldn't see Harry even when the crowd parted after some shocked calls and shouts. There was a smug Sirius Black, grinning toothily at everyone from the parted crowd.

"I should probably go to him," Draco said. There were varying degrees of nods and mumbles. "But see," Draco leant back on Vince and closed his eyes. "Harry is very much capable of taking care of himself. That's why I'm not helping, so he can fend for himself."

"Right," Theo said, looking unconvinced. "Not because you're comfortable and tired."

"Totally," Draco yawned and nodded.

"That's so fucking rude," came a voice from behind Draco.

He almost screeched right there, feeling a warm breath on the back of his neck before Harry had taken off the hood of his invisibility cloak, giving Draco a tried but still lopsided grin. "Darling!" Draco called, letting his body fall back against Harry's chest, the cloak draping over his shoulders. "You ran away!"

"Yes, now please be quiet," Harry hushed, pulling the cloak over their heads. "They're everywhere."

"I knew I sensed you," Theo nodded, looking like someone who tried to understand what was going on.

"No you bloody well didn't," Draco hissed.

"He did," Harry said. "It's the asexuality in us."

"True," Theo snapped a finger over where Draco and Harry were. "You gonna run away from us?"