After another hour of talking and planning, the group had finally become aware of the late hour and Kayd and Eric had left for home. Draco watched as Ian stowed away his guitar, his hair flipping slightly forward into his eyes as he did. His friend had always been very laid back in appearance, but those who were close to him knew it was not a reflection of the person he really was. Once Ian set his mind to something, there was never a doubt that he would reach his goal and he would strive for it single-mindedly until then. It was the way he had been brought up and even a first failure never seemed to hamper his enthusiasm.

It was five years ago now that Ian had first discovered Muggle music. He had decided to take up an instrument and picked the guitar. Draco could still remember the first time he had seen it.

"What is it?" He had asked staring at the strange contraption Ian was holding.

"It’s a guitar. A Muggle instrument." Ian said proudly, running a hand over the shiny finish.

"Muggle!"

"Yeah, you wanna try it?"

Draco felt his eyes go wide as he stared at something that at any other time and place would be forbidden him. That had been the first day that Ian had given him a lesson on the instrument. He had shown him the major cords and because his friend knew little more than that himself at the time, Draco had felt as if they were learning something together. The guitar was one of the many things that had gone into sealing the bond that had grown between them their entire lives.

Kayd and Eric, having gone to the same wizarding school as Ian, though Eric was a year younger, and having much more access to the enthusiasm of their friend, had also caught the fever. It hadn’t been until last summer that they had actually thought of creating a band. Ian and Draco always owled each other regularly during the school year and the letters the Slytherin had received contained little but talk of plans, songs they were trying to write, and places they hoped to be heard.

They had struggled to get themselves organized, but had succeeded. Draco, on the other hand, had an entirely different struggle. He had hoped that Ian’s focus on the project would keep him from noticing his lack of comment on his situation at Hogwarts and at home.

Despite the rumors flying, Draco had had little to say as to the events of his sixth year, which was surprising since no one else seemed to talk of anything but. It had been the death of Voldemort after all. Really, little was known about what had actually happened. Just that Potter had lived up to his expectations and set the world free. Most of the wizarding world had rejoiced, but for Draco, it had brought him no relief from his own restraints. If anything, the bindings had only gotten more painful. One thing was for sure: he didn’t want to talk about it.

Still, it had hurt when Ian hadn’t noticed his silence on the matters that he obviously had access to. The first day at the Pierce Mansion he had been asked about his school year and gotten off with a mumbled "fine" before being pulled off for the annual summer gathering at the large estate. Ian was his best friend and even though he really didn’t want to discuss his year, he thought the other boy would have attempted to draw him into a conversation about it at least once. His feelings for Ian were strong and he was shy about them, making this lack of acknowledgement hurt all the more.

Draco realized that he had drifted off into his thoughts and looked up as he felt Ian step up behind him. He turned and was caught suddenly by the speculative look in the older boy’s eyes.

"I know things have been a little crazy around here the past few days and we haven’t had time to really talk, but since we have time now, I thought you could tell me what’s been on you’re mind."

"What?" Draco found himself squeak.

"Come off it Malfoy." Ian said affectionately as he pulled Draco out of the room. They started out the patio doors at the end of the hall and into the dimly lit garden. "I know something’s been bothering you and I have a few ideas as to what it is, but I’d like you to talk to me. And don’t pull that "everything is fine" crap with me. I won’t buy it."

"I’m sorry, it’s just…" Draco trailed off in frustration.

"You know, I heard most people were happy about the fall of He-Who-Is-Now-Ten-Feet-Under, but then I can’t be sure since I’ve never had a Death Eater for a father. Do you want to talk about it?"

He knew what Ian was referring to. The fall of the dark lord had been sudden and many of his followers had been taken down with him. The Ministry was still investigating some of the cases, but the one they had fallen upon the quickest was the connection between his father, Lucius Malfoy, and the Death Eaters. No hard evidence had been found and so the Malfoy family was left alone, but the implications were clear. The family had lost most of the respect it held in the wizarding world and this especially had affected Draco.

"I never wanted to be a Death Eater, Ian. You know that. I just wish the rest of the blasted world knew that."

"Especially the part of the population that occupies Hogwarts, right. Troubles with Potter again?"

Draco gave a noncommittal shrug, but otherwise did not answer

"I know he’s probably making life miserable for you considering your father’s little run-in with the Ministry provided all the evidence he needed to support all his assumptions about you." Ian paused to look down at him before turning down a garden path. The dark shrouded them as they conversed and for that, Draco was grateful.

Indeed, Ian was right. After his father had headlined in the Daily prophet as a Death Eater suspect, Potter and his little tag-alongs had found it very easy to throw that knowledge back in his face. Even when he had made the decision to stay out of their way, they were still there throwing accusations.

The insults came flooding back to him suddenly along with the glares, anonymous pushes and kicks while waiting in a crowded room, and the laughter behind his back. The tables had turned so quickly and though Draco would adamantly argue that all of Potter’s assumptions about him were wrong, there was one thing he could not deny having, and that was his now severely bruised pride.

"Come on Draco. You’re my best friend and I don’t like seeing you this way, but can you really blame them? I know you really aren’t the ass you pretend to be, but they have no way of knowing that your act is only a rebellion against you’re father. How can they help but take it personally?"

"I know." Draco said softly. "I just really don’t want to go back there. Can we not talk about it?"

"If that’s what you want, but don’t ever forget that I am here." Ian was looking him right in the eye now and the look caused a shiver to run up Draco’s spine. A slight nod was his only reply and then Ian was smiling and putting an arm around his shoulder.

"Come on. Let’s go for a swim."