Draco Malfoy's POV:

Of course, my freedom didn't last long.

Stupid Pothead only spent a few minutes in there before one of the Aurors got him out. I was halfway home when they caught me again, transfigured me back and stunned me.

Pathetic idiots, wouldn't even let me visit my parents, or what was left of them anyway.

I was brought to Hogwarts this time, instead of Azkaban. The teachers wanted me to help rebuild the castle, without a wand, I might add, and do bothersome chores for Hagrid concerning the beasts on the grounds and in the forest.

I would rid the grounds of Horklumps and gnomes, get the Chizpurfles out of the cauldrons, followed by the whole area, feed Trelawneys Augurey. I also had to scare the Nifflers out of the trophy room, untie the legs of Plimpies, put up anti-Troll protection in the dungeons (A/N: I thought you'd like to know) and check on the unicorns.

Luckily, for some things, I could use magic, but they still took my wand away afterwards.

After weeks of helping Hagrid, cleaning Myrtle's bathroom and the chamber of Secrets, finding herbs for Sprout and Slughorn, manicuring Mrs Norris and rebuilding castle walls, I woke up with school robes and books on my bed, together with my wand and a note.

Mister Malfoy

Today, the other students will arrive, and school will start for you as well.

Therefore, we now give you your supplies, together with your wand.

Use them wisely, for breaking the rules will cost you more than House points.

Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall.

I smiled and took my wand, shooting a fountain of fireworks out of it. It really was my wand, the wand Pothead had taken from me last year.

I dressed and looked in the mirror, causing my happiness to fade.

My arms were covered in scars, scars I've given himself during my time in Azkaban. I scratched myself until I bled, the pain pulling me out of the memories the Dementors made me relive.

But there was more. My eyes were puffy from tears I didn't know I'd cried, though my pillow had been wet. There was a small wound on my lip, caused my Mrs Norris, who had once been enraged because I was late with her food.

And then, there were the scars on my chest, the ones Pothead had given me in our sixth year. I tried an unforgivable curse, I can't deny it, but they hurt more than Crucio would have done, because the pain never left.

I never used a spell to make the scars on my arms and chest go away when they were fresh, and now it was too late. I still tried though, despite it being pointless.

Just because it was good to have a goal, one of the rare usefull lassons my father had tought me. My father, who, despite his coldness, I had loved and looked up to. He might have been an idiot, but he did everything for those he cared about, to give them a future he considered the best. His foolishness made him hated by others but merely pitied by me. He was a victim too, for Voldemort had handled a sword that cut on both sides.

'Drakey!'

I was interrupted by a girl throwing her arms around my shoulders, nearly knocking me over.

'The old hag let us in early to see you, we got the same deal!'

Pansy Parkinson. She was one of my best friends, who loved me like a puppy. Adorable to play with, and a trusty comrade, but not her boyfriend, no matter how many times she'd kiss its nose.

I smiled, 'That's great, Pansey-boo!' Long ago, we'd made a pact. No pet names, and if someone used one, they'd get one back. It was rather silly, and of course, it was broken a lot.

'Hey mate,' Blaise Zabini said, brushing his now shoulder-length hair out of his face, 'Pans, give "Drakey" space to breathe.'

I grinned at him, 'Thanks, Zababy.'

He rolled his eyes, 'Anytime, Malfollywollywolly.'

'Blaisey-Daisy,'

'Baby Dragon,'

'Zawhiny,'

'Now,' he said, 'you have crossed a line!' Blaise faked a pout, causing me to laugh, soon followed by Pansy, and eventually the pouting 'Blaisey-Daisy'.

It was the first time I laughed in a long time, these two were truly amazing.

'Where's Goyle?' the question suddenly popped up in my mind, and my friends stopped laughing at once.

'Well, eh-' Pansy started, 'Goyle won't be here. Yesterday he-' she sighed, and Blaise finished for her.

'Goyle was heartbroken, apparently. He swallowed an overdose of Sleeping Draught and didn't wake up. There was a note, but it only said "Goodbye, my friends. I'll give Vincent your love". So yeah, he's going to be buried this weekend.'

I sighed shrugging.

'Well fuck, I mean, wow.' There was nothing else I could say, for everything seemed too dull and unmeant.

Pansy hugged me again, and I hugged back tightly.

Once, she'd offered herself as a 'Shagging partner', right after we both got the mark. She thought it could make us both forget the consequences for a while. I'd rejected then, but this time, I might've said yes.

I'd lost my parents to the Dementors, despite mother's saving of Potheads life, I'd lost Crabbe to the fire in the room of Requirement, now I'd lost Goyle to eternal sleep. I wanted to forget my fear of Blaise or Pansy being next.

'Drake, we're past that time. We need to face these things.' Pansy smiled weakly at my confusion, 'I've known you for over eighteen years, I know how to read you.'

Blaise chuckled sadly, 'Plus, she thought of the same thing, asking you to comfort her. But we all know it's a bad idea.'

I sighed, 'When did Blaisey-Daisy get so wise?'

He chuckled, honestly this time, 'I always have been, my Furry Ferret, you were just to busy to notice.'

Pansy pulled him into the hug, and for a moment, we just stood there. Three adults who've screwed up badly, with one last chance, mourning over the loss of a friend. The fourth weel, who'd kept them in balance. A big, clumsy weel, but a weel no less.

I sighed again, while Pansy pulled me even closer, hiding her face into my shirt. We only had each other, and we held onto that as if our lives depended on it.