The tentative friendship slowly grew stronger. Draco was proving to Harry that he would stay by his side, and Harry was letting him. They often walked to the art room together, and they slowly began exploring the castle together on nights where they couldn't sleep. New, happy memories were being made where in their wake once stood darkness and despair.

Slowly, Harry began to smile more. He even sat in on a defense class, deciding whether or not he still wanted to take it. He much preferred this Professor Firestone to the last. She had a relaxed but stern demeanor that reminded him a lot of Minerva.

She had the class doing a lot of partner work, and decided to take the class when he realized Draco was left without a partner.

"Come back for more, have you Potter?"

"With you Malfoy? Always," Harry had retorted.

They had sparred, and Harry found enjoyment in the act for the first time in years. He had won, but it was by a slim margin. Draco accepted the hand Potter offered, only briefly considering pulling him down, telling Harry so once he was on his two feet.

"Git," Harry murmured, elbowing Draco.

"Prat," Draco retorted back, fondness just edging into his voice.

"Very impressive boys."

"Thanks Professor," Draco replied, feeling proud of his performance.

He would get Harry next time.

"I'll take it you're staying then Mr. Potter?"

"I suppose I am."

"If you have a few moments after class, I'd love to speak with you."

"Potter and I have a potions project we need to work on."

Harry appreciated the offered out. Draco knew him almost alarmingly well.

"I can spare a few moments."

"Wonderful. Don't worry Mr. Malfoy, I won't keep him from you for too long."

"That's preferred, yes."

Draco found himself dragging his feet after class.

"I'll wait for you outside, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Mr. Potter, I've already spoken with your classmates who have helped you teach this course. I'm just looking for input. What do you think is necessary for your classmates to know?"

Harry blinked, amazed that he was being asked.

"A full corporeal patronus was my end goal. Other than that, students need to practice safely, with partners they can trust. I can trust that Malfoy knows my limits, and won't push me past them. I can't really spar or duel with many other people because they seize up or don't react in time. When I move, Malfoy moves with me."

"It's almost like a dance the two of you partake in. I've heard much about your shared history. I must say, it's nice to see you've been able to form such a strong bond."

"It helps," Harry replied with a shrug. "Is that all?"

"Yes. If you have any other suggestions or critiques, please let me know. I want my class to be useful."

"Of course."

Nodding his head, Harry made his way outside of the classroom.

"Everything alright?," Draco inquired, failing at the casual tone he had tried to implement.

"Oh yeah. She just wanted to ask if I had any input on what should be taught. She seems nice."

"Assuming we don't kill each other by the end of all of this, do you think you could help me cast a patronus?"

"Of course I can."

The response was automatic, even though Harry was surprised at being asked outright.

"I do, however, want something in return."

"Do you now? Our good and noble Gryffindor bargaining for something he wants?"

"Oh shove off. I need some help with my independent research project."

"The secret one you've been working on?"

"That would be it."

"Well, don't I feel special? Tell me over lunch."

"It's not particularly something I want to discuss around other people."

"We'll have lunch somewhere else then. I'll take care of it."

Draco had quickly learned saying he was a friend of Harry Potter could open many doors for him. Particularly, the door to the kitchen where the house elves were. As soon as they heard that "the great Harry Potter" was in need of food, they outdid themselves.

Armed with a picnic basket, Draco picked Potter up from the common room, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth, no matter how many times he tried to stop it.

"Where are we going?," Harry asked, lightly bumping into Draco.

"I'm going to drown you in the Great Lake of course. Or maybe the giant squid will adopt you."

"You're giving me a parent? How kind of you!"

Draco recoiled in immediate horror, almost dropping the basket. Harry couldn't hold his laughter back. It came hard and fast, with him having to stop walking, bent over at the waist, hands on his knees.

"Yo-your fa-face," Harry choked out, tears streaming down his face.

"That was traumatizing! I'm about to uninvite you," Draco threatened.

"You're a glutton for punishment. You love my company, or else you wouldn't have tried so hard to keep it."

"I hate you."

"The feeling is mutual," Harry replied with a goofy grin, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"I do nice things for you and this is what I get."

"And I appreciate you," Harry replied honestly, throwing an arm over Draco's shoulders. "I'm just taking the piss."

"Save it for the squid. We're almost there."

They walked in silence, Harry's face tilted up towards the sun, a small smile on his face. Draco kept sneaking glances. Harry really did look better since he went away.

"What did you do while you were gone?"

"I really just needed to see my godson. Merlin, I love him to bits. He's a metamorphagus, just like his mum. There's nothing more precious than him looking up at you with his big eyes, and watching his hair color change to yours.

We don't know if he has the lycanthropy gene yet. That brings me to my secret project. Ideally, I would like to make a better Wolfsbane potion. I've been doing a lot of Herbology research, I can share it with you, but I'm terrified I'll mess up the brewing aspect."

"Potter, if you can accomplish that, this would be life changing," Draco said slowly.

"I don't think I can do it alone. I know you've got your own project-"

"Nothing half as important as yours. I was trying to-," Draco gestures to his left arm. "It doesn't matter much, in the scheme of things."

"If it's important to you, it does matter," Harry replied gently. "I'll see what I can find."

"You don't have to."

"I know. I want to," Harry replied with a smile that imprinted itself in Draco's brain.

"We're here. Tell me what you have so far while we eat," Draco implored, setting out the blanket.

"Behind the stands?"

"I come here sometimes, when I need to think. And there's flowers blooming over here still, I know you like looking at them," Draco admitted, feeling his face warm as he busied himself with lunch.

If Draco thought Harry's smile from before was beautiful, this one was breathtaking. Harry laughed, bending down to pick a flower. Instead of keeping it, he tucked it behind Draco's ear.

"Well, this is familiar."

"I dunno why I even gave you that flower, but I'm glad I did. It just felt right, when I met you on the stairs. An 'I'm sorry' of sorts I suppose. Everyone was laughing at me, but you didn't."

"I'll admit, you threw me for a loop with that. I can probably mimic what Luna did, I've watched her do it enough times."

"Maybe after we eat."

"Tell me more about what you've discovered."

Draco listened while Harry talked animatedly, taking notes while they both ate. It was nice to see Harry so passionate about something.

"I think, you've found the answer," Draco announced, stretching out the blanket.

"The answer to what?," Harry asked in confusion.

Draco loved the way Harry tilted his head when he was confused, similar to that of an animal. He found it to be quite endearing.

"The answer to what the hero does when he's won the battle. He never stops being a hero, he just finds a new battle to fight, a new cause to stand up for. This is yours."

"I'm hoping it could be ours?"

"I don't think it's advantageous for you to associate my name with this. It'll affect buyers-"

"People are still prejudiced against werewolves and other creatures. That fact alone will affect buyers. Just think about it?"

"Yes," Draco agreed.

"Thank you, that's all I ask."

"No, yes as in yes I'll help you."

"You're sure?"

"Yes Potter, I'm sure."

"Brilliant!"

"Putting the patronus issue aside, there is something I actually need help with," Draco said slowly.

"What is it?"

"Muggle studies. There are some things that I'm just not understanding."

"Like what?"

"Currency conversions to start with. Cultural differences like food and clothing. The school system for another."

"Are you doing anything this weekend?"

"Potter, I'm free every weekend," Draco replied with a laugh.

"Not anymore. We'll start Friday after class."

"Start what exactly?"

"You'll see," Harry replied with a cheeky grin.

"Should I be worried?"

"Possibly. You'll just have to trust me."

"I already do."

Harry had no idea to what degree Draco actually meant it, but soon enough he would find out.