The Secret Author

2. A Bit of a Mess

25th August 1998

POV: HARRY

Padfoot and I left 12 Grimmauld Place early this morning to get to Diagon Ally. I heard him and Moony having what Moony calls 'a safety briefing' which consists of avoiding press, not accidentally turning into Padfoot in the middle of Madame Malkins ('Padfoot, I know we were only in our 7th year but it's not to say it can't happen again!'), and not dying among other things.

"Right Pup, where to next, have we got everything" an overly excited Padfoot asked me, "because if we have nothing left to get, let's go to the Leaky Cauldron. Moons still isn't feeling completely better after the moon, maybe we can bring him something back?"

"Yeah, I think we've got everything, let's go!"

We walked back to the Leaky Cauldron and sat down. I was facing out into the pub and Padfoot was facing away. We ordered drinks- Butterbeer because moony says we shouldn't be drinking Firewhiskey at lunch- and got some snacks. All was well, we sat, and I finished telling Padfoot the real story of what happened in the Chamber of Secrets in my second year.

We were just paying, or arguing over who was paying, when I saw out of the corner of my eye someone who I hadn't seen since the trials. The flash of blonde (although no longer a blinding white) brought up a lot of bad memories for me and I was about to look away when I noticed the rest of him. He looked a bit of a mess, a hot mess! He still had his blonde hair however it was darker now with more of a wave in it. His usually clear, porcelain skin, now almost tinted grey, marked with lines of worry and sadness. His eyes looked to hold little or no life to them and the bags underneath them was a huge give away to the man's potential lack of sleep. There wasn't any gel in his hair either, so it hung loosely over his face. He had black jeans that look rather tight and a black long-sleeved t-shirt. Overall, he looked rather... muggle. It wasn't the stuck-up git who I first met 7 years ago, the snobby brat who insulted me and my friends, the dick I grew up with, he was a man who had fought in a war on the wrong side under his father's control.

Draco was just a kid who never had the choice to be his own person.

Padfoot noticed my staring and snapped his finger to bring me back out of my thought.

"-ry... HARRY! Pup are you okay? What's wrong? Wait who you staring at- is that Narcissa's kid? What's his name? He fought on the other side of the war, didn't he?"

"Draco. His name is Draco. I testified at his trial in June. He got his wand changed, can only cast like 4 spells- none of which will do any harm to anyone, and he had to go and help rebuild parts of Hogwarts that got destroyed in the battle. I reckon McGonagall made sure we weren't in the same areas as I never saw him- probably to stop one of us killing one another if we were stuck in a room together. Narcissa and Lucius got their wands snapped and half of the Malfoy vaults got taken by the ministry. Think they're on house arrest now, not sure. I left after Draco got his sentencing." I replied, not once dropping my stare. He turned around, noticed me, and acknowledged my presence before gathering his drink and walking away.

Padfoot nodded before quite literally burning my wallet to stop me from paying for lunch and then proceeding to help me pick up all of my shopping and leave the Leaky Cauldron, heading back to see Moony in 12 Grimmauld Place.

When we got back Moony passed me a letter. I recognised the handwriting to be 'Mione's.

Harry,

Hey how you doing? How was the full moon, was Remus okay? Ron was gobsmacked when we read your last letter and you told us you were going back for 8th year. I personally think it will be good for you. Like you said it might act as closure. Neville is going back so you won't be alone. I think Seamus and Dean are as well, please remember they're together, we don't want another incident like last time!