After Effects: A Draco Malfoy Fanfic

"Let's start over"

Some people had left already, going to celebrate the death of evil. Everyone who had stayed was strewn around here and there in the Great Hall. Madam Pomfrey and a few other helpers were treating the injured while people mingled with each other.

Neville and Luna were seated together at one of the tables. The Weasleys were huddled together, mourning over Fred Weasley. The golden trio were sitting, watching over everything that was going on.

Only one person sat at a table alone though. Draco Malfoy. He sat there, twirling his wand between his long fingers and thinking about what he had lost and what he had gained, which looked pretty bleak, when a shadow fell on him. He looked up and saw the last person he wanted to see.

"Well, well. If it isn't the golden boy himself," Malfoy smirked, then gasped dramatically. "Forgive me if I'm not thanking you profusely for defeating the Dark Lord."

Harry chuckled. "Once a Malfoy, always a Malfoy." He then gestured at the bench. "May I?"

Malfoy shrugged. "It's a free country."

Harry sat down beside the young Death Eater and waited for the latter to say something. Five other pairs of eyes followed their movements. After a moment of silence, Draco sighed. "Is there a reason you came over here, Potter? Cause I doubt it was to see my pretty face."

Harry thought through his next words slowly. "I heard what you said and saw what you did in the courtyard, and what you did for Molly."

"Molly...?" Draco asked, confused.

"Mrs. Weasley," Harry hastily informed him.

"Right." Draco nodded slowly.

"Well, there wasn't really time before, but, I just wanted to say, thanks," Harry said to him.

"I was just doing it so that now we're even from the fire," Draco lied, but Harry saw through that lie anyway and shook his head.

"Alright, think what you want, but, seriously, thanks," he said again sincerely.

"You're welcome," Draco said. They stayed sitting like that, side by side, for a moment. An awkward silence had settled between them before Harry broke it.

"So... What are you going to do now? Now that Voldemort's gone?"

Draco sighed. "I don't know. The obvious choice would be to go home, though I doubt I have a home to go to. My parents would no doubt disown me due to that little stunt in the courtyard, or probably they already have." He kneeled over and put his head in his hands. "Ugh, well I guess there's no going back now. Couldn't even if I wanted to."

Harry looked at him. "Do you want to?"

"Heck no!" Draco said, offended.

Harry laughed. "Well, then, you're in the right place."

Draco chuckled softly at that but then frowned at another thought. "But there's the ministry, with which then I am screwed."

"No, you're not," Harry protested and Draco scoffed at him.

"Yes, I am. I'm looking at five years in Azkaban just for being a Death Eater, plus more for being the son of one of the most ruthless Death Eaters there are."

"Again, no, you're not," Harry repeated. "You're a 17 year old, they wouldn't do that. And, besides, even if they did, I would never let that happen."

"And...why not?" Draco drawled.

"You saved my life, twice, I might add, and I know that, unlike you're father or the other Death Eaters, there's still good in you." He got up and turned to face him. "Let's start over."