Chapter Seventeen: Future prospects

In the morning, Draco was already sitting at the kitchen table, leafing through the Daily Prophet in a desperate attempt to find a job. There were two problems, though: firstly, Draco wanted to become a healer (and also had the qualifications for it), but St. Mungo's wasn't really in need of new staff members. Secondly, Draco was a former Death Eater and the wounds the war had left behind were still fresh in many people's minds. It would be very difficult to find a job, but Draco had to try. He couldn't live with Potter all his life. And he doubted that the other man would let him live that long in his company. Memories of the previous night flashed through Draco's mind and the blonde shook his head as if to chase these thoughts away.

In the morning, Draco had woken up with a sore back and in the arms of the Saviour of the Wizarding World. Not to mention how much he suffered from soreness, he had woken up in HARRY POTTER'S arms. His arch enemy, the boy he had sworn to hate all his life. Of course, circumstances had changed and now, Draco had to live with Harry, share the same room with Harry, have polite conversations with Harry… . If he also had to wake up in Harry's arms, that definitely was an argument to leave quickly. Why, his conscious taunted him mercilessly, it's not like you didn't enjoy it… Enjoy was not the correct term. Needed was more like it. The last time Draco had been comforted was… an awful long time ago it seemed. It had just felt right to simply lie in another person's arms and be comforted in a friendly manner. Harry hadn't taken advantage on this situation. Not that he had a reason to. I mean, it's not like he had fallen in love with me or anything, Draco thought.

"Good morning" a tired voice greeted him from the door. Draco, who had been lost in his thoughts, hadn't noticed Harry walk in and he quickly looked away. He still managed a small reply and from the corner of his eye, observed Potter discreetly. The other man rubbed his tired eyes and stretched his arms over his head. Draco feared Harry would speak of the previous night while Draco merely wanted to forget what had happened.

"I see you've helped yourself with some tea already" he said conversely, thank God avoiding the 'taboo' subject. Draco wasn't sure if Potter was being reproachful or merely stating a fact.

"I didn't know I had to ask for permission" he said sourly, turning a page from the Prophet and realizing that he had gone through all the job ads without success. Frustrated, Draco pushed the newspaper away, which fell on the floor at Harry's feet. The raven haired man looked quizzically at his guest.

"No, I suppose not. You also live here, after all, you can of course help yourself with all you need" Harry picked the Prophet up and looked at the page, "you were looking for a job, am I right?" he asked. Draco nodded and took a small sip of his now cold tea. He forced the liquid down, grimacing as it rushed down his throat and left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

"So? Found anything?'" Draco shook his head.

"No! It seems that I'm overqualified for most of these jobs. Besides, I don't know why I even bother reading that fish wrapper" Draco said and Harry chuckled somehow. He loved how Draco fussed about everything and nothing. That was what qualified the rich prat he had known at school.

"What are your qualifications?"

"Potions! I'd like to find a job as a healer somewhere. People of my kind have caused so many deaths. I don't know how many people my father killed, but I just want to make things right again, to be the best healer I can in order to help people who have suffered from war. If I could specialize with children that would be perfect" Harry was surprised and hadn't at all expected this kind of vocation for Malfoy. He would have seen Draco work in finances, but not as a healer and definitely not as a paediatrician. On the other hand, he was really good in potions so it shouldn't surprise Harry that much.

"Well, St. Mungo's hasn't been hiring healers in a couple of years now, but Hermione told me they were in need of paediatricians"

"Granger Stran…, I mean Hermione" Harry noticed that Draco made an obvious effort to be nice to Hermione and it warmed his heart a little, "works for St. Mungo's? Well, I suppose that she's skilled enough and she certainly has a talent with other people"

"I could always ask her to get you in" Harry said, smiling at the Blonde's compliment. He was sure however, that if Hermione had been here, Draco wouldn't ever have said something of that kind. Harry made a note to tell his best friend about her apparent 'skilfulness"

"Potter, I'm a former Death Eater… you really believe that anyone would hire me?" Harry's smile vanished. He hadn't thought about that.

"Well then, how about Wales or Scotland, I'm sure they also need heal…" but Draco interrupted Harry quickly.

"The United Kingdom and Ireland has been greatly involved in war. I don't believe I will find a job here. No, if I want to start a new life, I need to get out of England and the surrounding countries. I might go to France, Australia or maybe even the United States"

So far away, Harry thought. He didn't want Draco to leave now that he had found a 'friend' in him. Harry wasn't sure if he could call Draco a friend, but after what had happened the previous night and the fact that Draco had slept in his arms all night, they certainly weren't enemies anymore.

"The United States, that's quite far away from England, isn't it? What about Scorpius' friends?" Though Harry doubted that Scorpius had many friends, he still wanted to convince Draco not to leave England.

"Pardon me, what friends? Scorpius has never been a very sociable child and he has always been really reserved"

"But what about Hogwarts, he will have to go to school someday" Harry said.

"There are very good schools everywhere in the world, I wouldn't worry about that" Draco finished his tea quickly and went to wash his mug. Harry swirled in his chair to face Draco.

"So, where would you want to go?" Draco shrugged his shoulders.

"France probably"

"France? But then Scorpius would have to go to Beauxbâtons. And Healers in France have to speak French fluently" Draco finished washing the mug and closed the tab before grabbing the towel and drying the dish.

"So?" he asked, leaning his back against the kitchen sink and facing Harry. The raven haired man lifted one eyebrow. "It's a girl school" he said, frowning as if in disgust. Draco chuckled and smiled fatherly at Harry.

"There are mostly girls, but there are also some boys, although their number is weak. Besides, the Black family has had French ancestors for centuries now. My mother taught me some French when I was young. It's no wonder the motto of the Black family is 'toujours pur'" Harry couldn't help but notice how cute Draco looked when he chuckled and smiled. And he was also surprised to know that Draco could speak French and that made him feel all weird. A little bit like when Fleur was speaking to her family. Harry had often heard her speak to her little sister and he had absolutely fallen in love with the language. It was almost like a song, although that part could have been because of Fleur's veela genes.

"But Scorpius wouldn't feel at ease. I mean, boys and men need male friends so that they can talk about male stuff, you know" It was now Draco's turn to frown.

"Pansy is my best friend and I've told her about my problems"

"Oh yes I can see that! I'm sure you told her everything about what Marcus did to you" As soon as Harry had spoken those words, he felt the strange urge to slap himself hard in the face… with a chair… an iron chair. Draco's smile vanished and his eyes were hard and glared at Harry. The other man felt slightly uneasy, considering that Draco definitely was taller and certainly stronger than him.

"You little son of a bitch, you…"

"Morning, daddy" a small voice greeted. Harry saw with amazement how quickly Draco's facial expression changed from being pissed to being loving. The younger Malfoy clutched his teddy in one hand and rubbed his eyes with the other, yawning sweetly. Teddy was just behind him and went to hug Harry.

"Hello you two, did you sleep well?" Harry asked. The two boys nodded and Scorpius stretched his arms out to his father and was almost immediately picked up into the blonde man's arms.

"Hungry, darling?" Draco asked and Scorpius nodded sleepily. Draco glared one last time at Harry and busied himself with preparing breakfast for the two boys.

"I can do that if you like, Draco. You don't have to… "

"I'm fine" the blonde snapped. Harry nodded quietly and went upstairs to take a shower. He maybe shouldn't have been so rude, but he hadn't been able to control himself. He didn't understand why, but he didn't want Draco to leave. Harry tried to tell himself that it was because if he did, Teddy and Scorpius would be separated and that would make the boys sad. But the truth was, he was beginning to like Draco very much. Mainly because the blonde didn't treat him like a hero, but like a normal person. Of course, Harry had saved Draco's life a few times and Draco was in the other man's debt, but it was still different. Harry didn't want to be treated like a hero, yet he always had.

After the war, Kingsley Shacklebolt had hired him and Ron as Aurors, but neither of them had had to pass any tests. "I'm sure that after defeating Voldemort, you don't have to pass any tests" But what if Harry wanted to pass these damn tests, just to prove that he had deserved the job? The prophet kept following his every steps, writing about whatever they thought wasn't normal with their hero. Once, Rita Skeeter had written an article about Harry in which she had speculated that the Golden Boy had an affair with his colleague Blaise Zabini. It was stupid, especially if you knew that Blaise was in a relationship with Pansy. Every single person Harry met in Diagon Alley greeted him and thanked him for saving their lives. Harry was glad he had been of any help, but some people just crossed the line… quite often. Draco was different. Draco was honest with Harry and wouldn't miss an occasion to taunt him. Not as much as he used to do at Hogwarts, but that was because of the circumstances and Harry understood. He still missed the old Draco and he would do anything to get him back.

I know it's short and that nothing really exciting happens, but this was just to describe the development of Harry and Draco's relationship. And I'm so terribly sorry for not updating sooner, the thing is I've had lots of exams and I haven't had the motivation to actually write more. Some problems have occurred and I never felt in the mood. But now, I'll try to come back more regularly with new chapters. Thanks for still faithfully reading and being patient readers. You're the very best!

TBC…