A Thousand Miles from Yesterday

“Wake up, Kid… Time to go." The warden gently shook Draco till he was satisfied that the boy was awake. Draco stretched and yawned and sat up asking for just a second and the warden smiled and said he could have three, but then they'll have to go. Draco took a deep breath, stood up, took a look around the cell and walked out of the small room. "Well, here I go," he whispered in a dark voice and the warden gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Best of luck, Kid… I don't wanna take you to Azkaban!" The door opened and he squeezed his eyes against the bright lights.

"Draco… Over here…" Hermione voice called from his right and he felt a hand take his and lead him to a chair in the centre. "Man… Those lights a bright!" He whispered to her and asked if she would stay close by. Hermione whispered that it was against the rules, but she would be in the back. "Good luck, Draco." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and left. Slowly his eyes focused against the light and he saw his father was sitting to the right, in front of him and Draco's eyes searched out his mother. She was sitting about four steps away and gave him a big smiled and lifted her head to indicate, "Be Proud… Be Strong!" and he smiled back.

"All rise for the Chief Warlock Tiberius Ogden," a voice called out and Ogden walked in and took his place. He hit his hammer in the desk, "In the case of the Wizarding World versus Lucius Malfoy, please read us the charges and the verdict."

A small slender witch rose and started, "In the charge of being a death eater by choice we find Lucius Malfoy – Guilty…In the charge of hurting Muggles by choice we find Lucius Malfoy – Guilty…In the charge of opening his door to He-who-must-not-be-named by choice we find Lucius Malfoy – Guilty…In the charge of using several Unforgivables by choice we find Lucius Malfoy – Guilty… All in all we find Lucius Malfoy Guilty of all charges and recommend following the recommendation made by the prosecutor in regards to the punishment."

Through this Lucius Malfoy just sneered, he didn't say a word, didn't plead for mercy and didn't look at his family. And when the Chief Warlock condemned him to the ultimate penalty, he just let out a little "Ha" and let the warden take him away without a struggle and without a second look at his wife and child. Narcissa shed a little tear, but then it was her turn.

"In the case of the Wizarding World versus Narcissa Malfoy, please read us the charges and the verdict"

A small slender witch rose again and read "In the charge of being a death eater by choice we find Narcissa Malfoy – Guilty…In the charge of hurting Muggles by choice we find Narcissa Malfoy – Not Guilty…In the charge of opening his door to He-who-must-not-be-named by choice we find Narcissa Malfoy – Guilty…In the charge of using several Unforgivables by choice we find Narcissa Malfoy – Not Guilty… All in all we find Narcissa Malfoy Guilty of two out of four charges and recommend following the pleas made by the Defender to be merciful in regards to the punishment."

Narcissa was taken-aback and was hyperventilating as the Chief Warlock frowned down at her. "Narcissa Malfoy… I sentence you to house-arrest for two years and recommend you reconsider your marriage, as I can only guess what the long-term effects of being stripped of magic can do to a man as cold as Lucius Malfoy! Next case…" Narcissa bowed before the Warlock and let out a little sigh of relieve, but then saw her son and refused to leave till she knew his fate and was allowed to stay.

"And in the final case of the Wizarding World versus Draco Malfoy, please read us the charges and the verdict."

With a sigh the small witch rose again and read, "In the charge of being a death eater by choice we find Draco Malfoy – Guilty…In the charge of hurting Muggles by choice we find Draco Malfoy – Not Guilty… In the charge of using several Unforgivables by choice we find Draco Malfoy – Not Guilty… In the charge of letting death eaters to Hogwarts Castle by choice we found Draco Malfoy – Guilty… In the charge of prejudice towards none-pureblood causing the death of Colin Creevey we find Draco Malfoy – Not Guilty… All in all we find Draco Malfoy Guilty of two out of five charges and recommend following the recommendation made by the defendant's council in regards to the punishment."

Draco looked confused. He couldn't remember Hermione recommending a punishment and wished he could see her face right now to see if this was a good thing or not. Judging from the murmur in the spectators' tribune there was mixed opinions in that matter.

"Draco Malfoy… Draco… Mind if I call you that? Good… I think we can positively say that you, young man, has been misguided and misled to listen to beliefs not truly your own. But still you have done things that can't go unpunished so therefore I accept your defenders suggestion and hereby sentence you to a year in a Residential Treatment Program, where you will be living amongst and as a Muggle and will not be allowed to do magic. If found violating the demand of a year without magic, you will be sent to Azkaban for the remaining time of your verdict. Case closed!" With a bang of his hammer Ogden left with a little smile as it seemed the young man had been stupefied by the outcome of his trial.

All around him people were cheering and chattering and yelling, but Draco just sat starring blank out into space. It wasn't that bad… Hey, he didn't have to go to Azkaban and it was only a year and… A YEAR!!! No flying, no owls, no simple magic… Manual labour?!?!? And what did that Residential Treatment Program really mean… He would stay in a Muggle re-education facility or what? "GRANGER!!!" He stood up and spun around starring at her, panic blazing in his eyes. She ran to him, "What… Are you in pain…? Or...?"

He looked desperately at her, "I… have… never… been… without… Magic!" He looked utterly terrified and no matter how hard she tried Hermione couldn't stop herself for bursting out in laughter. "Sor… Sorry… But…" She steadied herself at the look of rage building up in Draco's eyes and the so familiar sneer appeared. "So… You think it is funny, Granger… You think me panicking is funny do you?! Thanks a bunch!" He turned away and pulled his arm away as she grabbed it. "Please, Draco, I didn't mean… Stop please!" And he did but didn't turn around. When she didn't say anything right off he started to walk away again and this time she didn't stop him and he let the warden take him back to the cell.


After sometime staring up at the ceiling he heard voices come his way. And sure enough moments later Potter and Fred Weasley stood outside the bars looking at him. "So… What did you say or do to send Hermione running with tears streaming down her face?" Harry sounded really mad, but Fred gave him a shove. "Bet you wouldn't fancy being laughed at, when you've just gotten some news like his, so shut it!" Harry looked away and murmured something that almost sounded like sorry. Draco didn't even glance at them till Fred asked Harry to beat it and give Draco some space!

"Well… It could be worse you know… It's only a year and I promise to send you updates on everything wizardry… Would that help?" Fred leaned against the wall, a habit he had gotten after his leg had been crushed under the ton of bricks from the wall. It hadn't healed properly and he was left with a limp, but hell he was alive and all because of the blonde behind the bars. He grinned and Draco glared. "Oh, it wasn't about… well, yes it was… I just found a better name than ferret that's all…" Draco sat up and pushed himself into the corner, "Let me hear it then!"

"Blonde Behind Bars…" Fred grinned again and even Draco lips curled and added that to please everyone it had to be 'Blonde Babe Behind Bars.' Fred slid down on the floor with laughter, "Sti… Still see… see yourself as Slytherin Sexgod, I take it!" And Draco smirked and said, "Always!" and the two sat there laughing for awhile. "So, Weasley… Where do you think they're shipping me off to?" Draco stared at the wall memorizing the cracks and cobwebs running over the wall and ceiling.

"Well, Hermione is working on that one…" Fred sighed and gave a comforting smile, saying Molly had offered to take him in and be very strict on the non-magic thing, but had realized it would be torture being round it and not allowed to use it. "Guess it is only natural that it would be hard to find a suitable place for me… Who in their right mind would open their school or prisons or whatever for a convicted Death Eater?!" Draco kicked the wall and shook his head, making Fred frown and ask if he didn't know §5.3. Draco laughed and asked if he looked like a lawyer-wanna-be?

Fred tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, saying if one screwed up ones eyes in a certain way… Then…No! "You look like a Badass Blonde Babe Behind Bars," and once more the two young wizards were overcome with laughter until Hermione came in with a frown on her face. "Sorry it took so long, but… uh… It was harder to find a family that wanted to take you in than I had thought…" She was clearly embarrassed, but Draco gave a snorty laughter and shook his head and said, "See, told you…"

"Well, um… There is one family that has put their name up… um… But I didn't think you would… um… accept it… no one else… Sorry, Draco." It was unlike Hermione to be so nervous and speak so slow and low. Fred looked puzzled and asked if it was THAT bad. Hermione looked angry, but didn't answer and they heard the warden leading someone down the hallway towards them. Hermione stepped aside and stared anywhere but at Draco and Fred. Fred coughed and blinked from the two newcomers and back to Hermione and slowly got up. Draco looked slightly worried. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Granger… Nice to see you." Fred shook their hands and Mrs. Granger said it was nice to see him up and about and she was relieved to hear he had made it.

"The world would be a sadder and duller place with out you and your brother…" Mr. Granger patted Fred on the shoulder and then looked at the gapping young man in the cell "So… This is Draco Malfoy… What do you say? Fancy going home with us instead of staying here, then?" John Granger didn't look exactly friendly, but again not hostile either and Katie Granger laughed a mild and kind laugh "Oh, John, don't scare him like that." Smiling to Draco she said that her husband wasn't as tough as he liked to act and then called for the warden to come and, "Unlock this dreadful door." as she put it. John Granger offered Draco a hand to get off the floor.

Draco looked perplexed, but took his hand and got up with a glance at Hermione, who was still avoiding eye contact. "Oh, come on dear," Katie Granger said to her daughter. "You defended him… So why is it so strange that your father and I offered to take him in?!" With a tsk and a rolling of her eyes she put her arm around Hermione's shoulder and added another tsk. Draco's eyes finally caught Hermione's and saw a clear, "This is going to be weird!" look in them. He just nodded and followed the Grangers out of the cellblock.


They were met by Arthur Weasley who had the same bewildered look on his face, but didn't doubt the Grangers decision. He led them to the Chief Warlock's office with an animated chat with John about the complexity of auto drip-stop coffee makers, making Draco roll his eyes thinking this would really be hell!

With three hard knocks on the oak door Arthur explained quickly that it was only Draco and himself that was wanted, so he hoped the Grangers wouldn't mind waiting in the hall. He then grabbed Draco by the arm and pushed him inside the office making Draco stumble and hit his hip against a chair. He let out an "Ouch! Watch it Mr. Weasley" and send him an angry look as Chief Ogden coughed. Draco's eyes snapped round and met the Chief Warlock's, then they went to the floor leaving Draco's face red with shame.

"So… Young Malfoy… You have accepted John and Katie Granger's generous offer to take you in, I take it?" Ogden said in an unnaturally relaxed voice and Draco nodded. "And you are sure you understand the whole Residential Treatment Program… Look me in the eyes boy!" Draco raised his eyes and shook his head. "Ahhh, thought so… Well, Draco… You don't mind me calling you that do you… No...? Good… You see Draco, during the Residential Treatment Program you will be monitored closely, any use of magic, any sighs of violent tendencies towards Muggles, any attempts of fleeing and you go straight to Azkaban for the remaining of your sentence… Understood?"

"Yes, sir…" Draco muttered and widened his eyes as the Chief Warlock pulled out a thin silver choker and Draco cast a look of panic at Mr. Weasley. "Well as you are of age, we can't monitor you like before your 17th birthday, so… Put this on." When Draco didn't respond the Chief Warlock stood up and walked up to him and snapped the choker on Draco's neck. "There… You can go… I understand you are wandless at the moment, so that won't be a problem." Draco sneered and moved his head and neck, not liking the band at all; it made him feel like a slave, no worse, like a pet! He turned to leave the room as Ogden added, "By the way… The collar is re-programmable, so that more restrictions can be added… Or removed… Have a nice day."

Growling under his breath Draco left the office with Arthur close by. "Could just put a magical track on me… no they had to make it so bloody embarrassing… A choker… I'm a fucking pet!" He looked like a wounded basilisk when he reached the Grangers and didn't meet their eyes. Hermione's gasp of shock didn't help on his mood; his face was a grimace of repulsion and humiliation. Never in his life had he felt so low, in a flash of a thought he considered being taken to Azkaban instead, but shook it of and murmured when they were leaving, as he really needed some fresh air. "Come on… Let get out of here, we have about an hour by car till we'll be home." Draco sighed; Home… Like hell! He followed along without another word.


Draco had been surprised that Hermione was going back with them. He would have thought she was going with the Weasleys, but she had said he would need her to guide him in the first couple of days. She had stared out of the car-window for the first half hour and only turned to look at Draco as he moaned with nausea. "Why would someone EVER want to use these Car-things…? I feel like I'm going to puke." He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Hermione smiled and said she hadn't taken him for one to develop carsickness. "It's a common thing… It will pass when we get home… Here," she handed him a paper bag, "If you need to…" He swallowed hard taking the bag with a groan leaning his head back again whispering, "Give me a broom ANY day!" Making the Grangers laugh and Katie added, "Poor thing, we'll be there soon."

As they pulled up in front of the house Draco pushed the car-door open and nearly crawled out. He collapsed on the front lawn, almost the same colour as the grass. "Hate… Cars… Hate..." He swallowed once and put his arm over his eyes. Hermione walked by shaking her head at the pitiful sight of her old nemesis succumbing to carsickness. "I'll go get your room ready… Guess you are in no state to do anything other that whine…" Hermione rolled her eyes, this wasn't quite what she had tried to achieve when she had brought up §5.3; Draco Malfoy living in the next bedroom from hers. "Now, Hermione! It that the best way to talk to our guest!" Katie Granger looked stern at her daughter "Shame on you…" Hermione blushed, but didn't apologize and disappeared into the two story, white Art Deco house.

"Hmm, where did she get those kinds of manners… tsk!" Katie shook her head and looked down on the pale young man, still lying with eyes closed. "Well… I don't blame her, Mrs. Granger… We weren't exactly friends in school… The opposite is more like the truth… Must be hard for her to let me stay in her childhood home." Draco tried to smile, but it just turned out as a grimace. "Oh my dear… You're really under the weather aren't you? Here, let’s get you inside… We have some nausea reduction pills in the house." Helping him to his feet she supported the slightly taller young man inside with a little smile, welcoming him to the Granger House.


"Your room is upstairs, next to Hermione's… Sure you can make it up there by yourself, son?" John Granger looked slightly worried as the boy stood leaned against the wall, still a little greenish from the nausea. "I'll be fine, thanks." Draco took a deep breath and walked slowly up the stairs, feeling discomfited by the fact that an hour’s car-ride left him so completely off-colour. He guessed that the closed door on the far end off the corridor was Hermione's room "That will make this one mine for the next year," he whispered to himself as he pushed the door fully open. It looked like it had always been a spare guestroom; a little girly with lilac and white striped curtains, white walls and a bedspread with a small floral print.
With a shake of his head he entered and to have a closer look. There were a full-size mirror in the corner and a white wardrobe, making him wonder what he was suppose to wear as he hadn't brought anything. A bed sat along one wall, with a small bedside table with a funny looking thing on top, it might be a clock of some sort as it clearly showed the time of day, but not for whom it concerned. Walking over to the wardrobe he opened it, counting on finding some fresh clothes to put on, but it was empty. "Great" he murmured to himself as someone knocked on the doorpost and John Granger asked if he needed anything.

"Well, some clean trousers, socks, shirt and undies wouldn't be a bad thing and a shower would be the next best thing in the world right now." Draco said in a depressed voice making John grin. "Tough on you, son? I think it will become easier as the year passes… I'll have Katie put some fresh clean towels in the bathroom and see if I have some things you can wear until we get you some clothes in the morning, how does that sound?" Draco sighed and thanked him, saying he hadn't had a bath in days and longed to get the prison dust off him. John nodded and walked away with a "Give me five minutes…"

Draco stood starring at the showerhead pouring out normal clean water. He couldn't figure out where to punch in the bubble code. Turning off the water, that he had figured out rather fast, he swore and grasped a towel and threw it round his hips. Going to the stairs he called out for John, but no one answered. Letting out a deep breath of irritation he turned around just as Hermione opened her door. "Great," he murmured to himself. "Mom and dad left to buy dinner… Um… Need something?" She had the manners to look away. Draco closed his eyes and sighed. "I can't figure out where to punch in the bubble codes in the shower," he hissed out of clinched teeth, praying nobody ever found out how helpless he was as a Muggle.
"Oh… We don't have built in bubbles, we use soap… It the bottles on the sink top… Better use the blue one, it’s for men…" She blushed and said she would take him shopping tomorrow so he could pick out one he preferred and walked back into her room quickly closing the door. "Great… just great." He shook his head and decided he needed a one-on-one conversation with John Granger about the Muggle way of personal hygiene, cause he really didn't want to learn that from Hermione Granger!
Back in the shower he enjoyed the feeling of hot water washing away the last month's dust and dirty memories. He wondered if his father had the same trouble and couldn't stop smiling at the thought of Lucius Malfoy distressed by the simple living as a Muggle. A light tap on the door followed by Hermione's voice wondering if he had drowned himself in there, made him realize he had been under the shower in a long time. "Be out in a minute!" he called out and turned off the water, taking a towel and drying up. When he was dry he went for his wand, realizing he hadn't got one. "This is gonna take some time getting use to," he growled and looked for a brush or a comb.

As he left the bathroom he had a funny smiled on his face and was staring at his fingers. They were all wrinkled like prunes. He walked into his new room and found a set of jeans, t-shirt and the rest he had asked for. He closed the door and hurried to get dressed and then laid down on the bed, letting his thoughts drift and soon drifted of to sleep.

Hermione opened the door to the guest room very slowly. She had heard Draco call out and then it all went quiet, so she had hurried to the room to check. He was clearly having a nightmare and she walked over and gently shook him. "Draco… Draco wake up… You're only dreaming… Draco?" He flung open his eyes and was breathing rapidly, looking confused as to where he was at first but then remembered and lay back down with a yawn. "Are you alright?" Hermione rested her hand on his arm and Draco just nodded. "Are your parents' home yet… Hungry." Hermione smiled and nodded, "Dinners will be ready in about fifteen… Want to come down and watch some telly? See what we Muggles waste our spare time on." Hermione grinned as she walked towards the door and turn to see Draco narrow his eyes at her in thought, then seemingly thinking what harm could it do, got up and followed her downstairs.

Hermione grabbed an object with a lot of buttons on it. "The Muggles wand… The remote, it lets you change channels on the telly without you having to leave the settee." With a few pushes on the buttons she stopped at a channel with Muggle music. "I don't really fancy the hardcore techno and rap they play on other channels. Here they play music from before we were born and from before we were school age; the 80's and 90's … I'll go see if Mom needs help in the kitchen… Here!" She threw the remote and Draco caught it with one hand, making the shirt's sleeve slip down and uncover the Death mark. "Had forgotten you had that…" With a sad smile she left the room.
Pulling the sleeve back down and placing the remote next to him on the couch, he put his feet onto the edge of the table. It wasn't like he would forget it was there… He had asked his mother if it would go away with Voldemort's death, but she didn't know. Right now he really wanted it to go away, but without magic…? "Dinner is served!" The two Granger women stood smiling in the door and the smell of something good reached his nostrils. "Finally… Thought you were planning to starve me to my sanity on that Muggle hating business I'm convicted for…" He jumped to his feet and grinned. "After you my Muggle-lawyer!" Making Katie giggle in a girlie way. "You silly boy!" And there were an almost family like atmosphere at the table that night.


The Grangers were in for a shock the next morning. They were sitting at the morning table chatting happily when they heard a bump and a groan of pain from the living room. Jumping to his feet John Granger was the first to see a pale and agonized Draco leaning on one knee next to the settee. "Sorry bout that… I'm fine… Just a little dizzy." As John grasped his arm Draco cried out in pain and John let go and took a step back. "Katie, get the first-aid box… He's bleeding…! What the hell have you done to your arm, son!" John stepped up and pulled the sleeve up and grimaced at the sight. He demanded Hermione to go back into the kitchen and looked stern at Draco, who didn't want to meet his eyes.

He dragged Draco to sit on the settee and Katie brought him the first-aid kit, a dish with temperate water and a stack of tissues. He held Draco's savagely injured lower arm tight with on hand and began cleaning it without a word. Not even Draco's pleads for him to stop made him say a word until he was finished cleaning the wound and had wrapped it tight in gauze. "Stupid…! Cutting your arm like that… Stupid, boy!" John left carrying the bowl of bloody water and Draco felt worthless. It had seemed a good idea this morning as he saw the razorblade laying there on the sink… He hadn't realised it would hurt or bleed that much, he just wanted it off. He pulled his knees up to his chest putting his arms on his knees; the gaze covered one on top and hid his head in shame.

He flinched as a soft hand ran over his head. "There are a couple of pain-killers on the table along with a glass of water… I'm in the kitchen if you need to talk." Katie's voice sounded soft and kind, not judgmental at all and Draco felt his heart jump. "Thanks," he murmured into his arms not looking up. He had thought himself in for the yelling of a lifetime, but instead he was met with stern, but worried concern from John, then the gentle care from Katie… If it had been back in the Manor…? Well… Lucius hadn't been that understanding! He felt someone sit down next to him and figured it had to be Hermione. She didn't say anything, didn't touch him… Just sat there! Slowly Draco lifted his eyes at looked at her, grimacing as his arm slipped. She reached for the pills and water on the table and offered him them, again wordless.

Then in a very low voice she whispered "Was…Was it because of what I said before dinner yesterday?" Tears were forming in her eyes; she was feeling so guilty that she might have been the reason he had… Draco frowned, "No… I would have blasted it off with my wand before the trial, if my mother hadn't snapped it from my hand! You thought it was…Stupid me!" He offered her his hand and pulled her close as she burst into tears. Sitting with her so close, in his arms he realized he hadn't thought off how the three of them would react to his little… well… stunt. "Shhh, Granger… Sorry… I didn't think…Shhh…" He rocked her gently till she stopped sobbing and as she sat up and dried away the last tear, she frowned and slapped him over the good arm. "Bastard!" and then she left. "Um… okay then?" Draco sat totally amazed by her mood shift. "Hurricane Granger's on the move," he whispered to himself shaking his head, he really didn't get women and their mood swings!
"Get up, boy… Time to go shopping!" John Granger had been furious when he had realized what Draco had done to himself and had taken a long walk in the neighbourhood to calm down. Now back in the house, he saw the young man sitting cross-legged on the settee, flipping through channels like this morning hadn't even taken place. It left John wondering if pain wasn't something new to Draco Malfoy and the thought made him angry once more, but this time on Draco's behalf. "Katie, sweetheart… Are you coming?" Katie came out of the kitchen with a big smile, she LOVED shopping and this time it was for a whole new wardrobe for a young man that hadn't the slightest idea of non-magical folk attire.

"Coming Twinkles?" John yelled up the stairs, being answered back with a "DAAAAD!" John looking amused, just raising his shoulders saying she had always liked the pet-name as a child. He received a telling look from Katie and a rare genuine smile from Draco, who whispered, "Here comes Hurricane Granger, watch out!" Making John burst into a laugh so true that all, but Hermione laughed. "What's so funny…? Please tell!" Hermione looked irritated at her dad who just shook his head, said she really didn't want to know and directed them to the door. Draco stopped death in his pace as he saw the car. "Can't I just walk?" This time it was Hermione that giggled and said that there were about 18 miles to the shopping centre. "Hate….cars… Hate!" Draco murmured, but got in with a look of absolute agony on his face.

To Draco's relief this time he didn't get as carsick and after a few minutes out of the car he was ready to take on a day of shopping with the Granger-girls. John had an emergency root canal to attend to, even if it was Saturday and left Draco with a warning, "Agree to try on anything they drag in, unless it is a dress… Or they will give you hell for it!" Draco had laughed and said he thought he could manage it, making John smile and whisper that he'll get wiser and left the three at the largest department store Draco had ever seen. "They don't come this big in the Wizarding World… what is it… five storeys high?" Draco counted the windows and nodded in respect when Katie said it had seven full storeys and followed the ladies already discussing where to go first.

"I think he would look nice in casual wear," Katie said in a very demanding tone. "But mom… Your idea of casual wear is sports slacks and a t-shirt… Remember who he is… THAT is not Malfoyish!" Hermione snapped back in a sharp tone. "Ladies… LADIES!" Draco yelled and the two turned around. "Thank you… Might I put in an idea…? Show me the men's department and let me see if there is something I like… Then you two can help me pick what suits me best… Fair?!" Both Katie and Hermione blushed, then smiled and each took one of Draco's arms and led him into the ground floor of the pristine, noble building.

Admitting that he really was a bit snobbish in his taste, he was glad to know that his mother had opened an unlimited Goldcard in his name, as he seemed to pick some of the more expensive designs. The Grangers had taken him there to show him the crème ala crème of Muggle wear, but hadn't thought he would actually buy anything, as it was a bit pricy. So when he truly had a hard time deciding between a bluish green Armani shirt or a Ralph Lauren shirt in pure white with a thin black stripe, they looked at each other with a look saying, "What the fetch?"

"Um… there are more shops in Muggle London you know… We don't have to buy the most expensive attire." Hermione whispered into Draco's ear, making him look bewildered at her, saying he really like this design, but if she thought it was a bit too much he wouldn't buy it. "Money isn't an issue for me, Granger… But if it makes your mother and you uncomfortable we can go." Hermione smiled and said that a normal working Muggle couldn't afford more that maybe one suit from Armani or Ralph Lauren, most not even that. "Dad buys most of his cloths at Marks and Spencer… It's good quality for a much lower price." Draco smiled and hung the two shirts back, asking Hermione to lead the way to these Marks and Spencer guys. Katie smiled and said it wasn't guys, but just a name for a chain of shops, making Draco shake his head in wonder.


At the store he clearly saw that here it was almost a 10th of the price of Armani. The quality wasn't as pure as the fancy attire he held before, but it would do fine. He found two pairs of formal black trousers and a matching belt. Hermione found two smart looking casual shirts one dark green and one grey/light grey satin striped. "They both can be use as formal shirts, if one wanted… Think the grey one will match your eyes." For some reason she seemed nervous as Katie asked him to put it on and show them how it looked. They heard a grunt of displeasure and a murmured curse and then he pulled the curtain away. "Except for this ridicules pet-collar it looks all right," he said with a roll of his eyes and turned so the Granger-girls could have a look-see. "Well?" both Grangers had a peculiar smile on their faces and Katie purred, making Hermione slap her on the arm and grin. He took it as an approval and grinned. "I take it that I should buy this then?"

Soon he had bought eight pairs of jeans, stating it was the most comfy trousers he had ever worn, and therefore had to have two of each colour; black, dark blue, washed beige and dirty white. Other than that he bought a ton of t-shirts, socks and tights, denying them a peek of him wear nothing more than tights, choker and gauze. He fell in love with a short black denim jacket, but Katie demanded he remembered that winter was at their doorstep, so he chose a warm grey medium long military one instead, murmuring all sorts of swearwords as he cast a last glance at the denim jacket. The girl behind the counter looked at the heaps and heaps of cloth the three dropped on to it. "Let's see if the manager is willing to give you a discount, looks like you've bought a whole new wardrobe, Sir." She smiled at Draco and blushed bright red as he smirked and say he had to, as he was new in town and had left all his clothes at his old home.

"I… I'll just go… check." Keeping eye contact with Draco all the way till the office door, she even took a step back and giggle before closing the door behind her. Draco snickered and shook his head, turning around with a smile, which faded as he was faced with two very stern looking Grangers both tsk'ing him. "What?" he asked raising his hands in defense and Katie told him off for openly flirting with the shop-assistant. "It is rude when you don't mean anything with it." Katie shook her head in disapproval as the office door opened again and an older woman followed by the girl from before walked towards them. The older woman welcomed Draco to London and was glad to offer him a 15% discount seeing he had chosen to shop for a entire new wardrobe at their little shop and was very pleased he found their lines to his taste. Hermione felt like gagging, it was simply too sugar-coated and was glad when they left the shop, carrying about eleven bags and packages. "Oh, I need a hot cup of chocolate," Hermione whimpered as they passed a café, making Draco stop and ask if Katie was in mood for a cup too. And soon they sat in a cosy corner booth sipping a huge cup of steaming hot chocolate with wiped cream on top.


"So… I think I'd like to know more about Muggle etiquette… As I seem to really have offended you two by a little harmless flirting… Enlighten me, Ladies!" Draco said leaning back against the bench, looking a bit tired, but curious at the same time. Hermione and Katie looked at each other and raised there shoulders. "Well, there are just some things you don't do… Like leading someone on to believe there is more there… Creating unwanted distractions like speaking loud when everyone else is quiet… Um… You don't laugh at people, but it’s okay to laugh with them… Hermione?" Katie passed the question to her daughter. "Well you should always leave a tip for the waiter, unless it is stated in the menu that prices includes tips… You never ask a Lady her age… You should never swear in public… Remember to say please when asking for something…" Hermione frown as she wondered why her mind was blank on this subject.

"Then if it's alright with you, could we get home soon, please?" Draco's eyes didn't show the smile that was on his face and Katie cast a look of concern at him. "Are you okay, dear?" With a tired nodded Draco sighed, "Just tired… And my arm is bothering me slightly." At the mention of his arm both Hermione and Katie began packing their thing together very fast and asked for the check. "It's on me," Draco said and slowly walked up to the bar before they could refuse.

Hermione lead then out and waved down a taxi. Letting Draco slide in first she then followed and Katie closed the door and asked the driver to take them home. Between the three of them and the eleven bags and parcels there wasn't much room in the backseat, but somehow Draco managed to find a comfortable position, his bad arm over the back of the seats, the other in the window and head leaned against the small soft piece on the side of the taxi wall. His arm hurt like hell, but he didn't want to trouble the Granger-girls with it here, when there clearly wasn't anything they could do or say to make it better. So he faked sleep for most of the drive to the Granger House, enjoying the "should-be" private talk between mother and daughter.

"So, Hermione dear… He isn't as bad as you described him to me when you were at school… Has he really changed so much?" Katie whispered and looked at the sleeping young man next to her daughter. "He changed sometime during our sixth year. Harry caught him weeping, truly desperate in a bathroom and told us how Draco couldn't kill a defenseless wizard even when it would have brought him glory amongst Voldemort's followers." Hermione turned and looked at her former enemy. "Hope the Wizarding World will let him redeem himself and won't hold his name against him. I admire that he showed up of his own freewill at the Ministry, turning himself in after they had caught Lucius and Narcissa. He knew he might end up in Azkaban… I don't think I would, mom… You know." Draco found it hard to remain still. He wanted to tell her that he knew she would have done the right thing and was glad when the taxi driver told them there had arrived. "We're home, Draco… Come." He stretched, sent the bags out to the ladies on the lawn and thanked the driver for the lift as he left.

"Have any more of those painkillers?" He asked after they had carried all the new things into his bedroom. Katie smiled and said she'll be right back with them and a new bandage. Hermione sat quietly on the bed watching him unpack the bags and place the clothes quietly in the closet and drawers and when he finished with a "Done!" she smiled. She wouldn't have believed him to be the same self-centred, snobbish, evil git she had been teased and tortured by at Hogwarts. As her mother came up with new bandages and asked Hermione if she would help him, it seemed as normal as if it had been Harry or Ron's bandages she had to change.

"Come… Sit…" She clapped on the bed and laughed when Draco asked if she also was going to ask him to roll around and play dead. He swallowed the pills, walked over and sat, feeling a little awkward, but allowed her to remove the gauze as he looked out the windows overlooking a lovely little garden. He winced as she gently removed the last layer, clinching his teeth together against the pain. "Oh, Draco!" Hermione whispered, looking mortified at the wound, tears filling her eyes as she gently, oh so gently, cleaned it and replaced the bandage. Draco didn't say anything, just kept staring out of the window. Then he frowned, "I think… Hey it's snowing!" and he was right, the fine little snowflakes were falling from the sky. Pulling his sleeve back over the bandage he jumped to the window. "I love snow… It so pretty," he murmured mostly to himself, but Hermione heard it and walk over to the window. "Guess my mother was right in asking you to buy a warmer jacket, eh!" Draco smirked, and then smiled as their eyes met. "Thanks for… well saving me from Azkaban." Draco's voice trembled with emotions he had kept hidden deep inside and when Hermione caressed his cheek, he knew he was in trouble!

"You saved Fred… It was only fair someone saved you!" she left him staring into the falling snow and on the edge of panic.