𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟖

Lessons Learned

Author: alaana_fair

Title: Lessons Learned

Pairing(s): Harry/Draco

Summary: James Potter is not what Draco would have expected. But then again, things rarely happen the way Draco expects them to.

Rating: R for language only

Warning(s): None

Epilogue compliant? Yes, as far as the books go. Anything else JKR has said may or may not have been adhered to.

Word Count: ~14,700

Lessons Learned

Draco laid the parchment down on his desk and swivelled his chair round to stare out the window at the beautiful summer garden. The peacocks were strutting about, no doubt looking for peahens to impress. He hated the menaces, but his mother loved them, so he let them stay without a fuss. Without much of a fuss, anyway.

He was happy in the life he'd made for himself. He had a son who was the light of his life; more precocious and stubborn than Draco had ever been, but well mannered and liked by almost everyone who knew him. He had a wife who ... well, whom he could at least tolerate on the rare occasions she was actually present. He had a profession that he thoroughly enjoyed, even if he did have to pander to the masses more than he ever thought he would. At least he wasn't in Azkaban, which was more than could be said for his father. His life was good. Or at least it had been until ten minutes ago.

The one thing Draco hated about his profession was that his success depended heavily on a few, well-placed contacts. Oh, the research part was a piece of cake; he could research potions in his sleep. But getting the ingredients he needed, and getting the potions into the hands of those who could mass-produce them and actually make a respectable profit – that was the difficult part. It demanded a considerable amount of diplomacy, which Draco abhorred but managed with a great deal of finesse.

This, however, might be more than even Draco could handle. He hadn't thought about Harry Potter in years. Not since – well, some memories were better avoided entirely. He twirled his chair back round to glare at the neatly written words, willing them to change before his very eyes. It didn't work, of course, but it never hurt to try. He sighed as he pulled out a crisp piece of parchment. Dipping his quill in jet-black ink, he penned his reply.

Dear Professor Winklestick,

Of course, I'd be honoured to be of assistance. If I can pass on even the smallest amount of knowledge to your student, it will be knowledge well shared. I look forward to meeting with him and his father on Thursday next.

Yours Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy

~~~

"Hello, Draco," Harry said as he stood in the doorway holding out his right hand.

Well, damn. What was it about Harry bloody Potter that always caught him off guard? He'd had his speech well prepared; the one that explained how he understood that Potter would be uncomfortable with Draco spending any time with his progeny. How their past would obviously hinder any progress that might be made. But Potter looked almost amicable, as though he actually wanted this to work. Draco, against his better judgement, quickly amended his speech and grasped the proffered hand in a firm grip.

"Good afternoon. Won't you both come in?"

"Thanks for doing this," Harry offered as Draco led them into the study he used on the few occasions he'd tutored Hogwarts students. "I can't imagine you were thrilled with the idea."