People were always shocked to hear that he'd been there for as long as he had, and he wasn't surprised at all. Nor would he have been terribly surprised to hear that he was a far cry from the man that Scorpius knew. Draco knew that as well as anyone else; some mornings, he woke up and stared at himself in the mirror and thought about how different he was now. He thought about how, if he forgot everything overnight, he'd lash out at everyone who called themselves close to him. He'd probably reject his entire damn life, in fact.

"Yes. It is. If by 'this', you mean 'horrid and full of ugly people with knives intent on killing you and stealing what little you have," he replied, shrugging a little, his mouth twisting in distaste. "We should get off the street. This isn't really a good neighbourhood. I know a cafe by my house; it's rather good."