Draco x Shrek

I kept my dreams of you (and me somewhere inside)

He knows a great deal about potions.

Well, at least that's what Draco thought.

He stares at the green-ish monster sitting in his room, glaring at him with ferocious eyes. But, there was something soft about them— unlike his fathers or aunt Bellatrix, his eyes were... Kind. Peaceful. It had the feeling of home. (Feelings... One thing home — or Malfoy mansion, could not produce.)

It had the type of feeling that Astoria gave him. (And yet, she had to be taken away. Just like everything good in his life always happens— it gets taken away. Far far away. Far enough he couldn't reach it. Far enough to make him hollow. He only has Scorpius, and yet their relationship was never enough for Scorpius nor him. He couldn't give enough love, as all of his love had been taken away with Astoria. In return, Scorpius too couldn't give him the love that Draco tried to give, but couldn't.) He missed the feeling.

It's been two hours. At first— it had been a disaster. Draco had tried to curse the monster— or Shrek, yet it was futile. The monster introduced themselves, and they had small talk. Draco had abandoned all the years of rules and regulations that his parents gave him— marry a pureblood for Astoria. Another rule was not to trust anyone. (He decided he had already abandoned the rules for Astoria; might as well for Shrek.)

"Yer house is huge. Must've cost a fortune. How much did it cost ya?" The green man says.

"Uh, yes I know. Er, around a few thousand galleons." Draco replied nonchalantly, biting his apple. They sit in silence for a few minutes. "Want an apple..?" Draco tries.

Small talk was never his forte.

(He misses the times where he had no worry— small talk was simple, the times in his first to fifth year.)

"Nah. I prefer bugs'."

Draco gives him a forced smile.

"Y'know, you don't have to force a smile. I appreciate you just enough'. You don't chase me away with pitchforks, or knives or— nothin'." Shrek says.

Draco gave him a small smile. It wasn't a forced smile like before, but it came naturally.

"I would've, but I've changed."

Shrek gave him a questioning glance. "You would've what..?"

Draco smiled. "I've told you I'm a wizard, right? Well, my family is very.. Er, conservative? No— that isn't the right word. Er, they were followers of a dark evil wizard. They had ideals, faith and a burden placed on me. I used to follow their rules. But... I changed. When I met Astoria she... Changed me."

"Who's Astoria?"

"My wife. She's dead now." He said bitterly. "I have a son too. Scorpius. But, I couldn't give him enough love as all of mine died with Astoria. Well... He has Albus anyways, why would he need me..?"

"I think ya doubt how much your son likes you. But I wouldn't know anyways'. I never felt love. All I do is sit in me swamp, and scare those kids away. But.. With you, it felt different."

Shrek said. He smiled, staring into Draco's concerningly tall ceiling of his mansion.

"You felt different. The way you spoke reminded me of those kids' n' hunters. But, your voice.. It gave me the feeling of home."

"I never felt that before, and so I stayed and didn't attack you. I mean I can't even escape but, if I could, I wouldn't."

Draco blushed.

"I.. Never thought I'd get this feeling again." He mumbled.

"I.. Shrek, do you wanna walk around my garden? There should be a lot of caterpillars and bugs for you."

Shrek nodded. "Sure, let's go."

They walked across the garden— it was beautiful and neat. Decades old vines wrapped the manor and flowerbeds stood, surrounding the old water fountain. Old oak trees stood in some corners providing shelter. An old pine swing stood in the middle of these gardens.

"Astoria and I planted those flowerbeds. She especially loved roses."

"Roses are weird. They hurt ya, and they aren't very pretty." Shrek responded. "Hope I didn't offend you."

"It's fine; I don't mind. Roses were never my taste anyways." Draco stood at the swing. "Well, about the potion I made, it supposedly was a cursed potion that could transfer people. We can make a cure, but it'll take a month or so. I'm sorry for... Dragging you into this. Never meant to."

"For now, you can stay here— at the manor. My apologies if it's not up to your...Tastes? I will serve you dinner, as payback. For free."

"I'm gonna miss my swamp, but hey, at least I get free food?" Shrek responded while trying to grab a particularly large bug.

A few weeks passed by faster than lightning. Shrek and Draco had a...Bond. They vented to each other, and cared for each other. When Shrek got sick, Draco had made a potion for him. When Draco was facing trouble with his son, Shrek would give him advice.

Throughout the process, Draco had also gotten a stronger bond with his son. He was finally happy again, he had a bond again, he was smiling again—

He learnt how to love again.

He never wanted Shrek to go. Draco loved Shrek. He'd like to think Shrek liked him too. (He knew deep down, it was foolish.)