Project 137.43.M.D.

LVI. | DILIGENTIA QUAM IN SUIS REBUS

LVI.
DILIGENTIA QUAM IN SUIS REBUS
(care in his own matters)

Vigorously, Draco pushed himself off the brick facade as the front door opened.

He crossed his arms defiantly and faced the person who was now standing in front of him. The disappointment that had been simmering in him since his Memory Restoration was responsible for the fact that this encounter hadn't taken place much earlier. But now he really needed someone to ask for advice.

There was silence for a few long seconds as they just looked at each other.

„Draco?"

There was relief in the other's voice. Surprise, shame and also a touch of sadness. Draco completely ignored the latter.

„Good to know you seem to remember who I am. How... extremely reassuring."

Draco snorted to show his displeasure. Then, without being asked, he pushed past the other into the bright hallway of the apartment and was glad that he didn't hear any protest. It was still early in the morning and from the man's half-buttoned shirt, Draco assumed he had caught him just before work.

The other followed hesitantly while Draco took his time to survey the furnishings. After a few more minutes of awkward silence, he finally heard a quiet voice behind him again.

„So you got your memory back?"

Draco turned around, raised an eyebrow and eyed the other with disdain.

„Twenty points to Slytherin, Blaise."

***

The coffee calmed him down a bit. Not completely, but at least enough to let Blaise apologize five times in a row for not getting in touch after Draco had been released from Azkaban.

„I just couldn't, Draco. You know me. I can hardly keep a trivial secret. How could I have even maintained such a complicated lie?" Blaise asked with a distraught huff. „I probably would have fucked up everything with my first two sentences. And I didn't want your Rehabilitation Phase to fail just because I, of all people, screwed it up."

In fact, those words almost elicited a grin from Draco, but he stifled it, instead deciding to be mad at his former best friend for a few more minutes. It was difficult for him, but it was doable - at least as long as he didn't look Blaise straight in the face too often.

„Since the Ministry is not officially announcing the dates of the Restorations, I was just hoping that you would come straight to me as soon as you remembered. Waiting seemed like the best course of action," Blaise added ruefully.

And Draco believed him.

A few more apologies later, they were both sitting at the kitchen table. Draco's coffee cup was empty and Blaise gave him a refill.

Obviously Blaise hadn't changed much. Despite the ten years they hadn't seen each other, he looked just as youthful as Draco remembered him. His voice was still booming, his hair was still raven-black, his eyes were still ice-blue, and apparently he was still completely bedlam. When Blaise had tried to button his shirt, he had made a mistake in his haste.The counterpart for the last buttonhole on his collar was missing.

"To be honest, I was quite surprised you didn't stopped by much sooner. I could have sworn I played a part in your Substitute."

Blaise frowned and gave Draco a confused look.

"You did. Just like Pansy and Nott. But it was pretty superficial - I just remembered you as classmates. We hit it off and... that was it. Now, in hindsight, most of the memories seem strange to me. The school days were mostly..." Draco searched for the right word, "... blurry."