Harry stopped abruptly once they entered the dinning room. It looked so different from the last time he had been there. The long table no longer took up the usual space. Instead was a reasonably sized glass table that could maybe seat 6 comfortably. Even the once black walls were now a cool gray, giving the room a much more modern and relaxed vibe than it had previously.

"'S'nice..." He said quietly looking over at Draco.

"I couldn't eat before. The way I was- the way it was before... I made a much needed change to this space. Now dinner shall be brought out once everyone is seated." His drawl had returned before being plucked with a hint of joy at having company for once.

"You don't get many visitors, do you?" The blonde scoffed.

"Why would I want to be bothered by others? You've imposed yourself on me now." He drawled again rolling his eyes and taking a seat at the head of the table. Scorpius spoke up at the sound of that before climbing into the seat next to his father and ignoring all signs of help. He sat triumphantly and looked over to Harry.

"My grand-mère used to visit all the time!" He spoke excitedly. "Sometimes my Aunt Pansy comes with her boyfriends, but they're never the same. And my Uncle Blaise comes to visit on Tuesdays! He helps daddy with my lessons. You should come over more 'Arry! And Teddy too! Then I could have lots of fun even when I know I've got lessons and stuff," Scorpius spoke with more and more excitement as he went on and Harry couldn't help but laugh at the small boy while they were all tucking into their meal.

"Yeah, sure, Scorp. We would need to get me a schedule too though. I teach lessons too so I can't be over all the time, and neither can Teddy." Harry had sat on the other end of the table and Teddy sat next to him so that he and Scorpius were diagonal to each other. His hair was back to its original color, but he returned his eyes to the mix-match grey and green he found he liked while at the ice cream parlor.

Harry figured the kid liked to be unique and smiled at him as well. Harry hated to stand out, even though he seemed to do that more than most.

"You're welcome anytime, Potter. I assure you. I can fix the wards around you and Teddy's signature. I mean, we are friends now, I suppose and he is family." Draco says motioning over to Teddy who was now in full conversation with Scorpius about a book they both found interesting that Harry thought could be an old textbook but he had barely cracked his own to be sure.

"I told you to call me Harry."

"Old habits, you know," Draco said giving Harry a smirk and an elegant shrug as he lifted a forkful of baked potato into his mouth. He swallowed and Harry couldn't help but watch through his lashes as he ate some of his asparagus and sipped his pumpkin juice.

"The food is pretty good, Malfoy. Remind me to thank your elves." Another noncommittal shrug from the blonde.

"I prefer to cook the asparagus a bit longer, but it is pleasing so I guess I can't be upset." Draco had his eyebrows furrowed but he nodded before looking into Harry's surprised eyes. If he noticed he didn't mention. "Would you like some wine?" Harry sputtered at Draco's calm demeanor.

"Uh, you cooked this?" Draco quickly shook his head.

"Oh, of course not. I didn't want to be too far in case the kids needed something, but I usually do prefer cooking. Now, wine?"

"Uh-yeah! I would love some."

"Red or white?" Draco asked tilting his head slightly.

"I'm not really a collector of fine wines, ya know." Draco scoffed at him.

"Well we'll just have to fix that now, won't we, Harry?" Harry smiled at him.

"Sure, Malfoy."

"You know," the blonde spoke smirking. "You could call me Draco."

"Then sure, Draco." Malfoy beamed at him and Harry couldn't help the flutter he felt at the look of a seriously happy Draco Malfoy.

They finished the first course and the elves brought out small servings of lemon sorbet for dessert. The relaxing flavor moved the conversation to more relaxing fields as well. Teddy and Scorpius discussed their impending quidditch/flying lesson for the next day while Draco gave Harry a quick rundown of life after the trials.

"I still don't have a job," Draco shrugged. "Not like I really need one, but it would be nice to go out and do something for a change. I do enjoy teaching Scor, but he's all prepared for school. Where does that leave me?"

"You could look for a job teaching..." Harry suggested closing his eyes and humming as the cool and refreshing taste washed over his tongue.

"Isn't teaching what you do?"

"Touché. Professional quidditch?"

"Too much traveling."

"Ministry work?"

"As if they'd hire an ex-you-know-what. Plus most of those jobs are either extremely boring or extremely dangerous."

"You could forge charms and jewelry, I guess." Harry shrugged. It seemed as if Draco had really thought through all his options.

"Katie Bell." Draco said looking away from Harry's eyes.

"That was actually my reason for suggesting it. You seemed to know what you were doing."

"Did you not notice the part where she almost died?" Draco looked utterly perplexed at Harry's terrible memory.

"I thought that was decidedly the point."

"That's my point! Who would want charmed jewelry from an ex-you-know-what...?" His voice lowered on the end and was practically hissed across at Harry. Scorpius looked at his father and Harry then at Teddy and nodded.

"We're going to play, Papa..." Said Teddy standing and helping Scorpius down before they both took off back up to Scorpius' room before waiting for an answer. Harry laughed but Draco still looked shaken up.

Harry stood and moved to Draco forcing him out of the seat and pulling him towards the closest sitting room he could remember. There was a large chaise lounge lined in beautiful patterned fabrics and he forced Draco to recline before sitting comfortably next to him.

"I keep trying, Harry, but it seems I only get more useless. It wouldn't be as bad if I didn't have the mark, but I'm still hiding behind my family's name. Avoiding social functions and keeping to myself...I'm a mess."

"Have you thought about being a writer?"

"No, why?"

"Well you have quite a way with words..." Harry cleared his throat and looked away. "I mean, the way you speak and stuff."

"I know you fancy me, Potter. Don't look so flustered now. I thought you Gryffindors were supposed to be brave." He smirked at the blush on Harry's cheeks before continuing their previous conversation. "What would I even write?"

"To start off, my biography," Harry said looking him in the eyes. "Rita Skeeter has been trying to get at me for ages, but I can't trust anything from her. We were never the best of friends but I don't remember you ever being excessively dishonest with me. Plus you were there so you would remember some of it and I would love for you to hear the rest." He shrugged looking into those piercing grey eyes with a smile on his face. Draco cleared his throat.

"I guess I'm a writer then, huh, Harry?" Draco smirked back at him. A smile soon breaking out and Harry couldn't help but beam back.

"Brilliant."

~~~~<~>~~~~

Happy Friday Futher Muckers
Owed you all an update

And here it is :)

so uni is almost out for the semester and im almost positive im failing

well everything, tbh

if I happen to go on hiatus
- you know why -

i shouldn't be on one for the next few weeks though, for sure

thank you all for reading

love you

-- angel janeé xoxo 💋