Draco Malfoy was bothered. That's right - BOTHERED. Things were happening with people he cared for, and he couldn't stop any of it. Beyond that, he didn't even know what half of it was. He was missing things. He had this puzzle with ill-fitting pieces, and Draco didn't like it when things didn't fit. He was observing some disturbing behavior at home, and had a sneaking suspicion his mother knew more about that Mark in the sky business than she was letting on. He wouldn't even get started on how he was feeling about THAT bit of business.

He was distracted as the house-elf let him into Greg's flat. Draco probably should have owled to say he was coming, but where was the fun in that? Plus, he'd had other things on his mind and decided on a whim to pop in on Greg. His distraction evaporated when he saw Greg nestled up like a sick person.

"All right," Draco said evenly, waking Greg. "Let's hear it."

Greg shoved the blankets down and sat up, going for his wand as Draco's voice registered. He shook his head and motioned for Draco to have a seat, tossing his wand on the pile of blankets Luthien had forced on him again. He sat back and prayed that Draco didn't pity him. Hell, he'd take a temper tantrum or even a hexing over pity. He knew he'd have to tell all, he just hoped Draco would be patient with him. This wasn't exactly something he normally did. Might as well get the worst over with first.

"I overdosed on Somnio, Volo, and vodka."

Draco almost missed the chair he had been about to sit in. He had... WHAT? "Beg pardon?"

"I overdosed on Somnio, Volo, and vodka."

"That's what I thought you said," Draco snapped, feeling something very angry welling up inside him. "I was hoping I misheard, but do go on. Did we do this on purpose?"

Greg wasn't sure what he should do. He knew Draco would take it badly. But, the time for secrets was over. "Yes and no..." He pushed a hand through his hair and sighed heavily. "It's been five years since I did something this stupid."

"Five years?" Draco snapped, standing up to pace because he was too upset not to. "Really. How fortunate for you. I wish I could say the same. I do stupid things often, as we all know, and what the fuck do you mean yes and no," he shouted, voice becoming shrill.

He'd known something was off when he visited, but Draco had not known things were THIS off. It bothered him. This was exactly why he was never meant to be the leader of anything. Sometimes his head got so far up his own arse with his own problems that he failed to see the bigger picture. He had failed to see one of his friends was drowning. He was good at failing though, as his father had told him often. Greg had probably needed someone, and once again, Draco Malfoy had only been thinking of himself.

Greg recognized the look on Draco's face and cussed softly. "No... no... just no. Five years ago you had enough shite to deal with. We all did. I went to great lengths... both then and now... to hide what I was doing." He glared now, looking directly into Draco's eyes. "You'll not be thinking you could have done anything, you understand?"

He may not have had the stones to say any such thing to Draco before, but that was then. Now he knew who he was and what he as capable of even if he'd forgotten that for a bit. Hell, five years ago worry over his 'family' had sent him to the potions in the first place. He would have gone well and truly insane had he not been drugged out constantly. This latest episode was stupidity pure and simple.

"I'll explain the whys if you calm down and have a seat."

Draco let out a huff of air and scowled. He didn't want to have a seat. He wanted to wear a hole in the rug, but he moved back to the chair and sat down rather gingerly. The least he could do was hear him out. Wait. Five years? Five? Perhaps this was why Draco had gotten stuck with Vin as his only fellow Death Eater. Perhaps Greg had been too out of it to bother. That was a sad thought. But at the same time comforting. At least that might be why it seemed Greg had turned his back on Draco at the time. He had his own shite to deal with. It was not that Greg had left him mostly alone, because honestly, Vincent Crabbe was a crazy mother fucker who liked to set things on fire and NOT in the good way. He and Sophie would probably get on smashingly.

Ahem. So it was not that Greg had abandoned him, as Draco had always thought. It was that Greg had his own demons.

"I'll try to behave until you have out with it," Draco said evenly.

Knowing it was the best he would get, Greg shuffled through his memories looking for the best place to start. Mulling it over, he decided to leave the early causes alone for now. He just wasn't sure how much Draco already knew and what he would have to explain. "You knew my father. He was..." Time for truth, he reminded himself. "He was a sick bastard who took great joy in following that madman's orders. Vin was his shadow from the time we started Hogwarts, always kissing his arse. Father made it clear after fourth year that I still wasn't living up to his expectations. I was told to be more like you and Vin." He paused, considered, and pushed on. "When I was ordered to help you sixth year...well I broke a bit. I knew I would never follow in his footsteps. The least I could do was help you. I stole some of the potions as a precaution just before term started."

Draco closed his eyes. This was his fault. Him and Lucius. Draco didn't know if it would make Greg feel any better to know it had taken a threat against Narcissa to get him to take the Mark or not. Even then, he'd been resistant. It was when Lucius let him know that Blaise or Pansy or any of his friends could be disposed of too, that Draco had relented. Lucius had hinted that Mr Parkinson would be all to happy to toss Pansy up as a sacrifice if it would curb Draco's slight penchant for rebelliousness.

Draco just nodded, not trusting his voice. He needed to get his mask over his face. He had a feeling they'd just touched the surface here.

Greg was on his feet, leaning over Draco in seconds, glaring threateningly. Oh, he'd never hit Draco. Draco didn't know that though. He'd heard what happened last night in Hogsmeade. Luthien had been all upset about it. "I said you couldn't have done anything. There will be no blaming yourself either. You were in the same place I was, and it wasn't the most pleasant. Look me in the eyes and tell me you aren't thinking that any of this was your fault." He scowled and added, "Don't forget that you can't lie to me anymore than Trace and Pans can."

Draco did look at him. "How can it not be? I could have done something, figured something else out, but I was too damned frightened of my fucking father and what he might do to challenge him. I was supposed to be the leader? Well, look where I've led us all. Fan-fucking-tastic, isn't it?"

It was quiet for a moment.

"And quit looming over me and get back in the soddin' bed. I'm not Trace, you know. You aren't going to glare me into not feeling guilty here, all right. Just get on with it."

Greg rolled his eyes. "We were all scared of your father, you idiot," he said dryly, in the manner of brothers the world over. "We were all too scared to do much of anything but cower, bury ourselves in vices, and pray we lived through a fucking war none of us but Vin were happy about!" He stomped across the room, knowing he looked a bit childish and not caring in the least at this point. "I won't get back into bed either. I've been coddled for a damn week now." He did sit though. "Pansy was..." he chuckled and shook his head remembering her owl. "She stayed with me." then he got serious again. "But, back then I wasn't looking to you for leadership. Honestly, you got enough of that from everyone else. If you want to blame anyone other than me...hell blame my bastard father. Yours too, hell blame Dumbledore for all I care. You got that?"

Draco was glaring. "Quit being stubborn. You're probably going to get worked up enough talking about this as it is. At least sit down or something. I won't have Pansy hexing me because you fell to harm while I'm supposed to be watching, dammit. I feel like a real twat here, all right? I thought you abandoned me. Seriously. Until just now, I thought you took off and left me with Vin. Vin the idiot that likes to violate women and light things afire. I should have known you would never do that. Should have known a lot of things. But we are NOT speaking about me, Greg. We're speaking about you."

Greg huffed, stretching out on the chaise part of his couch if only to settle Draco a bit. "I would have told people where I was going had I had the chance. I'll deny it to my dying day but McGonagall is scarier than Snape at his worst." Seeing as Draco looked a bit confused he explained. "I was high on both potions, trying to ignore my father's speeches on how I was unworthy of the Goyle name and how if Abbs had lived that she, even being a girl, would have done the family proud. The Death Eaters came for fucking dinner! I was slowly making my way down, not too keen on hearing the talk of murdering and pillaging. The hexes started before I was halfway down the main staircase. One of the elves hit me with a silencing spell and pulled me into one of the passages. I watched them murder my parents. The elf popped us out of there and to Hogwarts. The next thing I knew I'm in McGonagall's office. She and Pomfrey forced purging potions and other nasty things into me. The next thing I knew after that, McGonagall was explaining how I would be portkeyed to America. She promised to keep my family holdings from Ministry control." He died a bit inside telling Draco all of this, but it had to be said. Draco had to understand that it wasn't his fault. "I was out of it for a couple of days."

Thank you, Mei. It was only through sheer force of will that Draco did not gape about that. He could one better him on that, but it wasn't a contest. No one save himself and whomever hexed Lucius knew how Lucius Malfoy had died. And even then they'd hit him from a bit of a distance, so only Draco and Lucius knew they had been arguing and that Draco's hand had been on his father when the killing curse hit him. There was nothing to fuck you up more than having your hands on someone when they died right in front of you.

"I wish..." Draco shook his head. "I'm sorry that happened. I didn't... you must know I didn't... no matter what, no matter what side I was talking to, I never gave any of them anything of any of us. You know that, right? They never believed me when they asked where you were, but I really didn't know. I'm glad you were whisked away. It's better that none of us knew. They were always so sure you'd owl me, me of all people, and then they'd have you, but then the Dark Lord got himself all turned into a stain. It didn't matter after that."

Draco looked at him. "But you kept self-medicating... didn't you? And I know I'm a fucking hypocrite. No need to point that out, but I only ever drank, and I don't do that much anymore. Why didn't you... well, I suppose you did, in your own way."

At Greg's look, Draco explained.

"Ask for help."

"Back then, no. It took Raven's grandfather to convince me to stop. This time..." he wasn't sure how to explain as he wasn't certain himself what had sent him to Pansy's that day. Then again Raven's people had taught him a lot about magic, magic he wasn't sure Draco would believe in even if he could explain it. "I dropped by Pansy's and told her things. I'm not altogether certain I was ready to come back. It...it just seemed like no one needed me anymore." He finally registered what Draco had said, about didn'ts and no matter whats. "I knew that! I knew you would never hand us over...me, Trace, Pans, Blaise... Surely you didn't think I was that thick, did you?"

"Pans thinks I gave her father up."

Greg started to speak.

"I can see it in her eyes. She doesn't trust me because she thinks I sold him out... though no deserved it more. No, the only people who have a right to be that angry with me are the Carrows, the Puceys, and the MacNairs. Specifically Amycus, Adrian, and Walden. Hell, I didn't even give my Aunt Bella up, and I have enough on that woman to get her kissed by dementors about three times over."

Draco sighed then.

"I'm furious with you. Don't you think we've lost enough? You are not allowed to do this again. I could never put up with Pans and Trace as you do. If you had managed to kill yourself, I'd have found a way to bring you back so I could kill you myself. I'm serious too. You know what sort of books we have in the Manor library. This better be it. This had better not happen again. I'll do something crazy," he sighed. "Is there more? Do I need to hear anything else? I'm listening. Still furious, but listening nonetheless."

Greg would have laughed had he not known how serious Draco was about the bringing him back only to kill him again. He held his hands up. "I'm rather furious with myself. I won't be doing this again." He smirked a bit thinking of Fred. "It's a promise I'll not be breaking. Besides...how many times can I vomit on Pansy's shoes before she kills me herself?"

Draco raised a brow. "You puked on her shoes? And she didn't kill you? I think she likes you better than me, mate. She'd have killed me."

Greg chuckled. "She made me promise to take her shopping." He shrugged. "I think I hit the high...or rather low points. I seem to be in a sharing mood so if you want to know anything else, you'd best ask. We'll deal with your issues soon enough, rest assured."

"I don't have any issues," Draco lied, thinking instantly of whomever was sending him those lovely little owls about wanting to see his head on a pike.

But there was one thing he did want to ask about.

"Since we're sharing though... why'd you hit Nott?"

Greg opened his mouth.

"I have my ways of knowing things, and you did it in a public place, Greg. People talk, you know. So... what's he done then?"

"I can't say," he replied shortly. He knew he could only push Maeve so far before she hexed him. He wasn't up for her hexing just now. He didn't like the tone of Draco's voice or the look in his eyes either. "You'll have to ask around. Don't try to change the subject either. You couldn't lie to me when we were children and you damn sure can't lie to me now. Fuck waiting to discuss it. Spill now, or I'll dig up the energy to thrash you until you give over. Am I being clear?"

Draco raised a brow. "I'm not the tweedy whelp I was in school who doesn't know how to throw a punch properly any longer, and I'll spill when you tell me what Nott's done that has you roughing him up. You know it's always tit for tat with me."

Greg considered what Maeve had said. He grinned when he found the loophole. He loved loopholes, she couldn't hex him for something he'd said before her owl. "Nothing we haven't discussed before. Now, tell me or else I'll use five years as a sparing partner for professionals to find out what you're hiding."

Draco scowled. Tracey, he nearly said aloud. Nott had done something to Tracey. Draco couldn't believe he hadn't figured it out before. All the pieces were there. Who did Greg big brother the most? Trace. Who had Tracey been upset about the first time she and Draco had spoken? Nott. Now all that was left in this puzzle was what had been done and what needed to be done about it. Draco would need to speak to Blaise. Obviously. This could get ugly, but if Nott had done something inappropriate to Tracey, he'd be dealt with. Nothing permanent. Well, maybe a limp.

"She made you promise not to tell me what he did, didn't she? That Trace. I'll find out, you realize, and then I'll use one of the fun hexes Aunt Bella taught me. If I were a real bastard, I'd just poke around in your head until I found it, but I don't do that shite to my friends... lately."

Draco knew he was being a bit of an arse now, but he was still frustrated by the whole situation here. He needed to be taking better care of his things. He was also feeling like he was the last to know with all of this, and that stung. He was not used to being the last to know. Would there have even been a note if Greg hadn't made it? Draco considered touching the surface of his friend's mind for two whole seconds before he reigned himself in.

"Draco," Greg said threateningly, getting to his feet slowly. "Start explaining, now."

Draco stood up too. "I'm not fucking Trace, Greg. I don't need to be handled here. Hell, she's a grown woman. She probably doesn't need to be taken care of as much as you're probably trying to take care of her. I do not want to discuss me. We are not talking about this... this thing. That makes it real, and I am not quite ready to face that just yet. I won't be ordered about like that, so back the fuck off."

Greg's jaw dropped, then his eyes narrowed. He got in Draco's personal space. "No matter what I'm dealing with... you will owl me, send a damn house elf or even your mother if anything bad happens. I may be a little bit fucked up but that doesn't mean I'll sit back and watch family be hurt in any way. Promise me."

Draco did not want to make that promise, but he also had not come over here to get in a fist fight with Greg. Pansy had asked him to go easy on Greg anyhow. He wasn't quite sure of all of their conversation so far qualified.

"I got myself into this. I'll handle it. You worry about you right now, all right? Stop glowering at me, and sit the fuck down. If I die, I'll have Mother divvy up my ashes, and you'll get some. Just calm down."

Greg hissed, quite literally. "You. Will. Promise." He wouldn't sit down until Draco promised him. He considered his options, finally settling on one he would actually do. "You promise or I visit the Manor and have a bit of a chat with your mother."

Why did everyone always play the mother card with him? Because it worked, that's why.

"You posturing toerag. I'm not promising because of that. Pansy asked me to go easy on you, and I can see this is making you all fussy, so fine. Fucking fine. Stubborn-arsed, overbearing git, I PROMISE if there's something that I think is noteworthy going on with me, you'll know. Happy now? Shite."

Greg shook his head. "Anything," he screwed up his face in mock disgust as he spoke, "not to include your sex life, that may in any way, shape, or form bring harm. I'm not fucking around here. Pansy's hexes are childsplay compared to some of the sick fucks still running amok out there. I didn't abandon you five years ago, and I'm not about to now." He took a deep breath to calm himself before saying one last thing. He wouldn't do well with more loss. Not well at all. In fact, another loss and he wasn't certain he could keep himself from doing something stupid. "I may even go to Blaise, the wanker, over this if you don't give me a no loopholes promise. Family matters, or has that changed?"

"That hasn't changed, but honestly, Greg, you need to worry about you right now. I can handle me. If I get in over my head, I'll ask for help. Believe it or not, I met a witch who trained me up a bit on that front. You'd like her. She's terribly mean to me. I swear I'll ask for help if I need it. Just don't ask me any more about it right now. This was never supposed to be about me. Just stop trying to watch out for me, all right. You never should have been made to in the first place."

Draco looked down, suddenly angry and trying not to just unleash. "And this is the last fucking time you get to ask me if family matters to me. Don't ever say that shite to me again. My left arm is all the proof you should ever need on how much my family means to me. I respectfully request that you never insult me with that question ever again."

Greg was taken aback. He hadn't meant it that way at all. He was still reeling from Draco's demand to not watch out for him. "I... I didn't mean it that way," he said softly. "I watch out for people. It's what I do."

Oh Merlin, oh gods. What am I supposed to do if not look out for family? He dropped onto the couch as his chin hit his chest. He hadn't meant to brass Draco off. He'd only been trying to do what he knew best. I don't know what to do other than fight and protect the people important to me. Then it hit him and he cringed. Maybe I should leave Britain. He knew he wasn't thinking straight. It wasn't as if he was going to be stupid and go looking for potions or anything. He just needed to be needed was all.

Draco sighed loudly and sat down next to Greg. Maybe he wasn't the only one who acted like a big girl sometimes. It was a bit refreshing.

"Bloody hell, Greg, there's nothing wrong with watching out for the people you care about, but there's a fine line between that and becoming overbearing and smothering about it. Nobody says you have to stop doing it. It's actually nice to know you'd care if I died. I like that, but sometimes people have to do wrong things and get hurt all on their own, mate. You can't shield everybody from everything. Because then all you're doing is running around trying to save everyone but yourself. Bad things have to happen people sometimes. We have to be hurt sometimes. Because if it doesn't happen that way, we wouldn't appreciate being truly happy."

Draco paused for a second and patted Greg's knee rather awkwardly. "Perhaps you need a hobby outside of the big brother thing. I should introduce you to Blaise's new bird. She seems chock full of weird hobbies. I'll bet she knows how to knit. How do we feel about knitting?"

He probably should not be joking, but he had to let Greg know they'd figure this all out. One way or another. Also, Draco was pants at the serious stuff. He really was. He could only brood for so long before he had to start making slightly inappropriate jokes. When he stayed serious too long, he ended up crying about how shite his life was to ghosts in girls' restrooms.

"Knit? Did you just..." Greg trailed off shaking his head. He wanted to snarl, badly, but wouldn't. He would control his temper. He would also figure out just what the hell was going on with Draco. Perhaps Luthien could slip off to the Manor and have a chat with the elves there. He squared his shoulders and shot Draco a glare that would have done Snape proud. "I have a hobby, thank you very fucking much." He reined in his temper. "I beat the shite out of people... as part of a fighting team before you get any odd ideas." He grinned wickedly. "I insist on meeting Blaise's new bird though. The amusement factor alone is enough. I will not knit though. Suggest it again and there will be flying fists. As for the other... you will tell me if anything happens. I can take care of me. In fact, I will owl Healer Weasley soon about some sort of help professionally."

Draco smiled. It pleased him greatly that Greg was trusting Ginny. Mainly because he knew no matter what, Ginny would help Greg. It's what she did. She might be angry at Draco, but she'd never turn someone away just because they were friends with him.

"If you meet little Hannah and she brings knitting needles, you will grin and pretend to learn. She's a jumpy little thing with feelings that get hurt a thousand times more quickly than the ones Tracey tries to pretend she doesn't have ever could. It actually amazes me that Blaise is so patient with her. I don't get them at all. But maybe I'll bring her around next time. Just don't be alarmed when the rainbows and puppies follow her in. She'll fawn over you something awful and get teary eyed. It'd be annoyingly disgusting if she wasn't so adorable and didn't have a bit of a sharp tongue in her head every once in a while. She left a guy at the alter. Then got drunk with Blaise. It's a beautiful story that I'll make her tell you because she'll blush and stuff. Yes, I think I'll bring Hannah to meet you because Blaise would have a fit about it."

Draco grinned with lots of teeth. He would always be the one stirring up the cauldron. Always.

Greg thought of Katie and the sunshine that seemed to surround her, smiling widely. Then there was the whole annoying Blaise part of this deal. Then he thought about it. "Hannah?" he muttered disbelievingly. "The only Hannah I remember was a Hufflepuff." He laughed aloud. "T-tell me... please... really? Blaise and..." his laughter cut off his ability to speak.

"Hannah Abbott. If you ever see her in just her knickers and bra, you'll totally get it. Someone's very well made with lots of blonde hair. If she wasn't dead gone on Blaise and I wasn't... ahem... anyhow. She bakes biscuits. I'd chain her in my kitchen and make her bake for me all day... naked." Draco grinned. "No, she's very... nice, but they seem to work somehow, and he's all... different around her, and not in a bad way. I don't even think he's slept with her yet which is, like, weird for him, yeah? She's not like us, and maybe that's why she works here."

Greg knew he couldn't mention the two Gryffindors he had his eyes on currently. It did bode well for him, if... when... they made it to that point. Right now though, torturing Blaise a bit was foremost in his mind. It would boost his mood considerably to do so. "When can I meet Miss Abbott?" His grin widened. "I think I should meet her. She bakes, got drunk with Blaise, and left a bloke at the alter? You sure she was a Hufflepuff?"

"She also wears pink lacy knickers that you can see through, but yeah, she'll tell you all about her being a Hufflepuff," Draco said, smirking. "Next time I see her, I'll ask her when her day off is."

Greg snickered. "I don't need to know about her knickers. I am interested in meeting her though. Owl me with a time and place we can meet?"

"Definitely."


{SUMMARY} Draco pops by to see Greg, and they hash out a few of their issues.