Draco looked around him. the loud noises of the forks and knives on the plates was the most annoying sound for a family of three, try to multiply that a thousand times and you have the Great Hall every day at 8 in the morning 12 at noon and 6 in the evening. Draco couldn't stand the noises of conversations mixed up together and snapping camera's. a lot has changed since the great war, such as new classrooms, better professors, a way better headmistress and no house-elf food. But some things stayed the same, such as the thing on Draco's arm. Harry Potter who was an attention whore and the sickening friendship of the golden trio. Draco tried to listen to the topics his fellow Slytherins were talking about of which none were directed to him. nothing was directed to him there days. Not that he wants it. Draco likes to stay in the shadows and not talk to anyone. But he thought that at least someone would wish him a happy birthday. That someone would look at him without hate or disgust.
He sighed and pushed his plate away. "not hungry?" Draco looked up and saw Pansy. "no." he said. "oh that's sad, you're not looking good." She said. "I'm fine." Draco replied. "not that I asked." she said. he sighed and stood up. "good night." He said. "I want to say it back, but everyone bets and prays that you choke in your sleep." She said. Draco tensed up. "I see why that is." His voice broke. "are you gonna cry with your mummy now?" she said. Draco walked out and took the shortest way to his dorm. He could call it his. He hadn't seen his dormmates all year, he suspected they went to sleep with other people so they didn't have to be near him.
He cracked to door open and found and owl with a package and a letter on his desk. Ha sat on the chair and opened the letter.
My dearest son
I haven't heard from you all year. But I decided to send you a cake for your birthday. I hope you're doing well. I suppose that you're too busy with your friends to be answering me. Please send me something back. I miss you. I can't wait until you return.
Your mother
That was the moment that all the emotions Draco had hidden far away came to the surface and made him cry. He cried because he failed as a friend, he failed as a son, he failed as a human.
It was deep in the night when Draco had stopped crying and conjured candles and lit them. the cake was beautiful. One of his mother's latest hobbies was baking. She had home arrest and no husband so she was bored and started knitting, cross-stitching and baking. She always sent her creations to him. and it made him smile, she was quite good at the stuff she did. "hey." A soft voice sounded. Draco looked up. "I'm sorry I'm late for your birthday, but I thought I could still give you my present." Harry stood in the doorway with a shy smile. "what are you doing here?" Draco asked. "I came to congratulate you." Harry said. "how did you come in?" he asked. "the portrait takes parseltongue." Harry said. "are you here to just brag about your stupid ability?" Draco asked. "no." Harry said. "why are you really here? because if you're here to hurt me. I'm not in the mood." He said. "why would I be here to hurt you?" Harry asked. "because you always hurt me." Draco said. "that's not true." Harry did a step forward. "do one more step and I'll hex you into another dimension." Draco said. "sorry." Harry said. Harry looked genuinely upset. "sorry, come in." Draco said. Harry smiled and walked inside. "I'm glad you're still awake, I was scared you wouldn't be and I'd wake you up." Harry said. "I can't sleep." Draco said. "why not?" Harry asked. "I don't deserve to sleep." He replied. "of course you do, why do you think that?" Harry asked. "I failed to be a good person, I failed as a friend and as a son." Draco replied. "that's not true, you didn't fail. You saved me, without you saving me. I could've never defeated him. they all would've been dead." Harry said. "you know that, but none of the others do." Draco said. Harry nodded and looked down. "why did you come?" Draco asked. "because I wanted to thank you." Harry said. "you already thanked me by being at my trial." Draco replied. "I know, but I wanted to thank you for something else." Harry said. "what's that?" Draco asked. "you made me see something." Harry said. "what might that be?" Draco asked. "you made me see, who I was. When I was a kid. I had the choice between you and Ron and Hermione." Harry said. "yeah, you didn't choose me." Draco replied. "I didn't, and I regret that." Harry said. "why?" Draco asked. "as the years passed I figured out what kind of person you really are. You're someone who likes to swim and flex with his abs, you're someone who loves his mother and would tell her the food is good even though it's bad. You're someone who would give his life for his friends and never betray them." Harry said. Draco nodded. "Ron isn't that kind of person. You remember when I was at your house last year?" Harry asked. "how could I forget?" Draco asked. "my friends told everyone we were found and couldn't escape." Harry said. "that's how it went right?" Draco asked. "there was a big price on my head. We all know the Weasleys don't have that much money." Harry said. Draco nodded. "they turned me in, Ron and Hermione." Harry said. Draco was left in shock. "I am sorry I rejected you in first year. I had no idea what kind of status it would give a person if I rejected them. I've been trying to gather my courage all year to tell you this but. I couldn't tell the wrong sort for myself and I would've loved to be your friend." Harry said. Draco smiled. "you're pretty much the only one who would want that." Draco said. "I know, I'm sorry for what happened and what people are saying to you." Harry said. "how did you know it was my birthday?" Draco asked. "you didn't make a secret when we were younger." Harry chuckled. Draco blushed. "here." he said and handed him a package. Draco opened it and saw a leather jacket. "thanks, but it isn't really my style." Draco said. "it was my godfather's Sirius. He was your family. When I picked this up my mind went to you picturing you in it. you'd pull it off. With some eyeliner and ripped jeans or tight leather trousers." Harry smiled. Draco chuckled. "maybe I can develop a better style than what I have now. Thanks." Draco said. "blow out your candles." Harry said. Draco smiled and picked up his cake with the almost melted candles. "make a wish." He smiled. Draco closed his eyes and blew them out, not making a wish. "what did you wish?" Harry asked. "nothing." Draco replied. "why?" Harry asked. "because I already have what I wished for all those years." Draco replied. "what's that?" Harry asked. "friendship from you." Draco replied. Harry grinned at him. "you flatter me." He said. Draco chuckled. "you should head back now, people are gonna notice you're gone." Draco said. Harry shook his head. "no, I'll stay here with you." Harry said. Draco smiled. "I'm gonna write a letter to my mother, if you don't mind." He said. "no worries. I'll go sleep." Harry said. Draco nodded and turned to his desk. He picked up a quill and parchment.
