Chapter 72

                                        

                                              
Published: 5/21/2025
It was nearly Christmas when Blaise and Neville came back home for the school break, and Draco was glad they came back. He was happy to show them his improvement in walking. Both his official healer and muggle physical therapist said he could walk short distances without his cane. However, they stressed that if he went out, was standing up for a while or walking on unstable ground, he really needed a cane for support, though.
"Well... looks like Potter has been taking care of you," Blaise said, surly, after he hugged him. 
"Don't tease, Blaise," Neville said, hugging Draco, too, which Draco still felt surprised by his kindness.
"I wasn't!"
"Yes, you were!" 
Draco laughed. "I can handle it. Welcome home. I really appreciate you both giving me alone time with Harry."
"Yeah, of course, Blondie... but are you guys making use of it?" Blaise asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Blaise!" Neville chided.
Draco let out a breath of fake exhaustion and hoped Harry wouldn't be too upset with him, but he needed to talk to Blaise about it. "To an extent. We need to be careful and take it slow."
"Sounds like a good plan. We had to... go slow, too," Neville admitted.
"Not too slow, though, right?" Blaise said, smirking.
"Blaise! Sorry, Draco, he's a pain sometimes," Neville said, taking Draco's hand. "Did you and Harry make holiday plans, yet? You are welcome to come with us to my gran's house."
"No!" Draco said, quickly. He nearly shuddered at the idea of meeting his terrifying grandmother face-to-face. She was a Wizengamot Court member, and therefore both his condemner and avenger. "Umm... I mean, no thank you. Harry... and his friends, invited me to the Weasley home for Christmas night. We'll be spending Christmas morning at my Aunt Andy's house."
"Nice. So, you've seen her?" Blaise asked. He had known that the eldest Black daughter had been excommunicated from the Black and Malfoy families.
"Once. Harry and I went over there a few weeks ago. I met my cousin. He's a little spitfire. Never stopped talking. But she was really nice... considering. We're trying to... start over," Draco said, still unable to believe that people would so readily accept him into their lives after everything. Sure, he was damaged, but it didn't change what side of the war he was on.
"That's great!" Nevile said.
"How's Harry?" Blaise said, watching his every expression. Blaise was too damn perspective. He should have been a mind healer.
"Doing great, actually. He's been expanding his consulting to elderly care, and a new team was started at the hospital called Spell Development. They're trying to replicate his spells... cause he doesn't really say spells, just... kinda thinks them into existence."
Blaise's eyes lit up in surprise. "Wow, that's great for him."
"They also doubled his paycheck," Draco said, smiling. "Something about former hospital staff members assaulting and dosing him with illegal potions."
"He deserves it. But how is he?" Blaise asked in earnest.
"Better... he's doing better. It's hard for him to get close... after everything. We're trying, though. He... he has been sleeping over every night. We haven't... done anything," Draco said, lowering his eyes. 
Neville suddenly decided to check on his plants outside. "Well, I need to make sure that the weeping lilies are alright. You two talk."
Blaise watched him leave with a smile, and they sat at the kitchen table. "And it's too slow... or too fast for you?"