Draco Malfoy had seen a lot in his time. He had been a servant to the Dark Lord, witnessed the horrors of Fiendfyre, seen the Boy Who Lived die and then rise again. He had seen the opening of a supposedly mythical Chamber of Secrets, witnessed Hogwarts in its prime and at its lowest points, judged first-hand the trials of the Triwizard Tournament. He had seen death and life and freedom and slavery and a plethora of other wonderful and horrible things that most people never got to see in a lifetime. He knew good guys, bad guys, and everything in between. He had lived a full life. But never, ever, in all of his time on Earth had he ever known a person like Merlin Emrys.

He was a Hufflepuff in every sense of the word. Childish, dopey, even a little ditsy-looking, with ridiculous cheekbones and the cheekiest grin in the entire world. He was everything that Draco wasn't. Kind and caring and sentimental and loyal and an overall pansy when you got right down to it. He took his tea with plenty of sugar and then joked that he didn't need it because he was already so sweet. He laughed at his own jokes, didn't even seem to notice his homely appearance half of the time, and his ears! Draco could go on for ages about those ridiculous ears of his. They made him look like an overgrown Cornish Pixie and mixed with his dopey smile and defined cheekbones, he looked the very part of another stupid prat waiting to be picked on. The strangest thing about Merlin Emrys, though, wasn't any of peculiarities or eccentricities. It was the fact that Draco absolutely, one hundred percent adored him.

Not that he'd ever admit it out loud, of course. No, he'd leave that sentimental bullshit for people like...well, people like Merlin. But he couldn't deny there was something about the kid that made him feel a type of joy he hadn't felt in a while. Not like love or anything - no, no, Merlin was certainly not his type, though Draco was admittedly fond of how his hair always took on that just-been-shagged look. But it made him feel...warm to be around the other wizard. Almost like he had a friend. So when Merlin had introduced himself the first day on the job, Draco had let him stick around. Maybe he was a little like a clingy puppy that had been kicked too many times and abandoned for being so tragic looking, but who didn't love puppies, right?

Besides, Draco would take all the friendships he could get. After the war, he hadn't exactly been treated with what one would call "kindness". More people that he worked with hexed him than the people they were helping to track down, and though he was technically working in an important job in a department headed (and personally selected) by none other than the Chosen One himself, he didn't ever seem to get the same respect as everyone else. People hit him with Stinging and Tripping Jinxes whenever they got the chance; they whispered about him when he passed by their offices. Even his fellow Trackers (as Potter liked to call them - a stupid name, but since they weren't exactly "Aurors", he'd have to deal with it) didn't seem to like him much. The only one who would work one on one with him was Merlin. Even Potter, who had been the one to drag Draco out of the house and into the office with the friendly statement of, "It's either my department or Azkaban, Malfoy," didn't dare to work personally with him. In fact, since he'd gotten the job, he'd barely communicated with his department head at all. It was like he had been given the job out of pity and now everyone was just trying to pretend he wasn't there, which he supposed would be easier if he wasn't the best damn worker in the dump. Long story short, being Draco Malfoy didn't earn him many loyalties anymore. Even if Merlin was a little annoying and cheekier than a man with ears that size should be, he was a good person and the only one to date who could make Draco laugh in humor instead of bitterness. And that had to count for something.

"I brought you a surprise." Merlin's sing-song voice broke Draco's train of thought, and he looked up from the maps he had been surveying to see his friend standing in the door, holding two mugs. "Tea," the brunette said simply, walking into the office and placing one mug on the desk. "Made Emrys-style, just how I like it."

"You mean with enough sugar to give a giant an aneurysm and not a spot of milk?" Draco grabbed the cup in spite of himself and took a tentative sip. Merlin did have a tendency to go a little crazy when fixing up his tea (and he always used sugar, not honey, which drove him mad) but tea was tea. He'd take anything to keep him even a little more awake while he worked.

"Just the way you hate it," Merlin responded with a grin that was far too friendly and then he took a long drink of his own sugary-death-tea. Draco tried hard to keep his expression blank, but the man sitting in front of him had a personality more infectious than any disease he'd ever encountered. He soon found himself grinning as well and taking another sip of the tea he'd been given before turning back to the maps. Merlin, a hard worker in spite of his self-diagnosed A.D.D., leaned over the desk not long afterward to see what his partner was doing. "Any leads on the Baddock case appear while I was out?"

"Not more than we already figured," Draco responded with a frown as he mentally calculated the distance between Glasglow and Irvine. The Baddock family had been plaguing the Tracking Department for the past few weeks. Their son, Malcolm, was known to have been a supporter of Voldemort's ideals before the war but had never been old enough to actually join. His parents, however, had done quite a lot for the Dark Lord and they had been on the Auror Department's list for years now. The only problem was that after Voldemort fell two years ago, they vanished off the face of the planet. Potter and company all seemed to suspect that they were somewhere in Scotland so that was where Draco had been focusing a lot of his energy. But if he knew the Formers (another new term Potter had made them all adopt, equally as stupid as the first) as well as he thought he did, then Scotland was a long shot. They'd want to get as far away from London as possible. Maybe go to France or even America or Australia. Some place no one would take the energy to explore if they didn't have to. But since Potter said Scotland, he was only given permission to explore evidence in Scotland. And as predicted, he wasn't getting any information other than that the Baddocks weren't anywhere in the country. Like they were stupid enough to just move a few hundred miles north and remain on the same bloody island as the wizards trying their damnedest to track them down. Honestly. If anyone ever listened to Draco at all -

Ah, but that was it, wasn't it? No one ever listened to Draco.

"Ah, well, sorry mate," Merlin said, his tone sympathetic. "We should be getting some information back from those Trackers Harry sent down yesterday, though. Any moment now. That should give us a new lead." Draco sighed and pushed away the maps in front of him. Unless those Trackers came back with some miracle testimonial from someone saying they were housing the Baddocks in their basement, he honestly doubted they'd be getting any information he didn't already gather himself. But he wouldn't argue. It wouldn't do much good. He would just suggest again that they look somewhere further away once the field Trackers got back to the office. Maybe then Potter would actually take him up on the offer and they could get some work done like everyone else. He had sent the most Aurors down the right road to finding their most wanted criminals. It was degrading to be restricted like this to a pointless location in one of the most troubling investigations just because he had known Malcolm when they were at Hogwarts. Shouldn't he have been given more freedom because of that? Because he'd know how a fellow Slytherin and his family would think? But of course, in their minds, Formers would be Formers and Draco just simply couldn't be trusted...

His fingers clenched around his mug as he picked it up for another drink. There was no need for him to start down that road. It just made him bitter, and when he got bitter, Merlin tended to leave to avoid being caught in the storm that was sure to follow. And since he had spent the entire morning alone, he wasn't necessarily prepared to spend the rest of the afternoon as such either.

"That it should," he responded after a while, letting out a sigh and loosening his tie as he slumped back in his seat. "Until then I guess there's really no point to stressing over these bloody maps for a single second longer."

"That's the spirit," Merlin said brightly, finishing off his tea and then dramatically slamming the mug down on the desk. "Now we can get the real party started. Who needs to do all this work-" he said the word like it was something particularly nasty, wrinkling his nose for effect "- anyway?"

"Here, here," Draco grinned, raising his own tea as though he was making a toast. "To not working!"

Merlin scrambled to grab his empty mug and then lifted it to meeting Draco's with a soft clink. "To not working!" Then the pair of them drank (or pretended to, in Merlin's case) and set their cups back down on the desk, grinning. Then they turned their heads in unison at the soft knocking on their door.

It was Potter. He was staring at the pair of them confusedly, as if he'd stepped into the wrong office and was trying to figure out how he'd managed to actually arrive there. Draco's grin immediately slipped at the sight of his childhood nemesis turned boss, though Merlin was still beaming brightly as he said, "Harry! Hey there, how can we help you?"

"Huh?" Ah, Potter had obviously retained the eloquence of his youth. The brunette shook his head as if clearing his thoughts, his expression softening as he grinned back at Merlin, though not nearly as brightly. More tiredly. "I was just...Checking up on...Thought I heard...No, no, I don't need anything actually. Thanks Merlin." Then he stepped out of the room just as quickly as he arrived, leaving a confused Draco and smiling Merlin to watch his retreating back.

"Well that was...odd," Draco commented quietly, turning his attention back to his co-worker.

"I think he fancies you," Merlin replied bluntly, rustling through a few of the maps Draco had pushed away, and the blond nearly choked on the breath he was taking in response.

"I beg your pardon?" he asked, his voice straining with the effort not to laugh.

"Harry," Merlin stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Fancies you. Or me. Though I'm pretty sure it's you, and if it is me, then I'm going to have to let him down easy because I'm sort of interested in someone else. So let's hope it's you because rejecting your boss is on my Uncle Gaius's list of sure-fire ways to get fired, and I'm rather liking this job. Beats being a magical stable boy, which surprisingly isn't as glamorous as you'd think."

Draco laughed. "Alright, Emrys, maybe you should take the rest of the day off. You've gone a bit mental in the course of the last five minutes..."

But Merlin just shrugged. "Hey, I could be wrong. But guys don't just barge into your office and then leave when they see you flirting with another bloke."

"We were not flirting, sorry to disappoint you-"

"Not at all, I didn't think we were. But I'm thinking from Harry's point of view here."

The two fell silent and the room remained quiet for a few minutes save for the rustling of the papers Merlin was now going through to avoid looking Draco in the eye. After a while, though, Draco finally mumbled, "Mental. Completely bonkers," before drinking the rest of his tea in one large gulp. Merlin looked as though he were thinking how to respond, so to avoid further discussing it, he quickly added, "Ramblings of a crazy person aside, midst all that nonsense did I hear something about you being interested in someone?"

Not that Draco honestly cared, but the flush that immediately rose to Merlin's cheeks told him that subjects had switched in his friend's mind and that was honestly all that mattered. Anything to get away from the terrifying idea that Harry Potter might actually be attracted to him.

"Well sort of," Merlin said with a dopey grin, eyes going a little blank as if he were replaying memories in his mind. "It's just this...well this guy I may or may not have encountered while we were searching Wales for signs of the Baddocks."

"Uh huh," Draco teased, "which explains why you came back with absolutely nothing, you horny little ass hat."

"Shut up, like you got anything from that little expedition either." Merlin's ridiculous ears were turning an even more ridiculous shade of red, and it took all of Draco's willpower not to laugh at him. "Besides, we didn't actually talk much then and there. We just ran into each other and he was...well he was actually really rude, but-"

"Let me guess. The bloke's fit, right?"

"Gives you a run for your money, if you can believe it," Merlin grinned, "but that's not all. I don't know, there's a lot more to him than just that, I think. He was being an outright prick when I ran into him but when I saw him again, he recognized me and apologized." He shrugged. "Bloke like that can't be all bad."

"So a guy apologizes to you and suddenly that means you're in love with him?" Draco said with a smirk. "Hate to think of what that means for how you feel about me."

"You frequent my dreams, Draco, in so many filthy ways," Merlin replied blankly, not missing a beat - perfect delivery from a guy who spends his days talking to everyone he encounters like they're lost kittens. "Obviously I've talked to him on more occasions than just our little trip out there, you prat. I'm not a complete moron. And don't say something along the lines of 'Could have fooled me' because that's childish, even for you."

"Even for me-what's that supposed to mean? I'm not childish."

"And I'm the next Minister for Magic, yeah?" In response to Draco's surprised and slightly offended look, Merlin just laughed. "Oh come off it, Draco, like you honestly think that you're not childish? You still think it's funny when someone burps loudly."

"More disturbing than funny, Emrys."

"Ah, that explains the hiding your face thing, then. But that might be even more childish. Twenty years old, and you're afraid of someone burping? Really? Don't you have other things to be disturbed by?" Draco didn't respond. "Face it, you're still a little...childish. But that's okay. I think it's funny. Most people would think a bloke like you would have lost that whole innocent vulnerable child thing..."

"Now you're just being insulting."

"But it's one of the many things I like about you, so stop being a git and just admit that you're childish."

Draco looked abashed. "I will do no such thing, Merlin. I should hex you for even suggesting it."

If Merlin took his threat seriously at all, he certainly didn't show it. He still grinned just as brightly as ever and even had the nerve to reach over and grab Draco's hand in a familiar, friendly way. "Don't be such a drama queen, you prat," he teased. "Besides, I can't have you with your knickers in a twist. You're meeting that guy we were just talking about today, and I want you to play nice."

Merlin did that a lot - made plans with Draco without actually making plans with him. The first time he'd done it, it had taken a lot of convincing (and a reservation at Draco's favorite restaurant) to get him to agree. The second time didn't go over much better but after the third time Merlin decided that the pair of them were going to be friends outside of work without Draco's consent, he honestly just stopped fighting it. Merlin was unlike him in almost every single way, but the one thing they did share was that neither had many friends. Draco still had Pansy and occasionally Blaise, though things had been awkward since the break-up, and apparently Merlin had this Welsh guy and then a few Muggles he had grown up around, but other than that, they only really had each other. Merlin's clumsiness and tendency to be a bit overbearing didn't make very many people fond of him in anything more than an "aww, what a cute puppy" sort of way, and Draco was Draco. People weren't pushing and shoving to be able to call themselves the best friends of two blokes like them, so it just made sense that they just sort of take that spot in the others' life. Odd, maybe, as they did make an awkward pair, but natural nonetheless.

"I thought this guy lived in Wales," then, was the only thing that Draco could really say in response. Merlin had made plans; and when Merlin made plans, they were pretty much impossible to escape.

"Well he, he does," Merlin blushed. "See, funny story really...He sort of, might...think that I live in Wales, too."

Draco grinned. Oh, Merlin. Of course. "Not up for telling him that you work for the Ministry yet? What, are you afraid he might bail, thinking a Tracker like you is going to put everything about him on file?"

"Something like that." The brunette averted his gaze and Draco stared at him. He was hiding something. It was always obvious when he was trying to hide something.

"What's wrong with him?"

Merlin's eyes widened. "Oh don't say it like that, Draco, there's nothing wrong with him..."

"Yeah? Then what are you ashamed of? I mean, you were a Hufflepuff for fuck's sake, you don't get much more embarrassing than that."

"He's a Muggle," Merlin said quickly and then immediately clamped his hand over his mouth, as if he'd said something taboo. Draco stared at him. Merlin's fingers parted not long afterward and he added, "And thinks I'm a Muggle as well," before going back to attempting to keep himself quiet. Draco shook his head slowly.

"Merlin, Merlin, Merlin...How did you even manage to pull that off, with a name like yours and all? Not very Muggle, now is it?"

Merlin began to speak again, this time without parting his fingers so all that Draco got out of what he said was a lot of smothered words and awkward noises. Upon realizing this, Merlin removed his hand and said almost too quietly for Draco to hear, "Told him my mum lost a bet."

The blond shook his head again. "Merlin, Merlin, Merlin..."

"I get it, not the best way to start a relationship," he mumbled, his usually present grin noticeably absent by this point. "But it would mean a lot if you just...didn't judge me for it right now, okay? Just come with me after our shift's done and promise you'll be nice."

Draco sighed. Though it was true that his days of Muggle-hating were long behind him, he had never gotten comfortable with the idea of being friends with them. Which was why when Merlin was out with his friends, Draco tended to stay home or see if Pansy was in town or do something that involved anything but being seen with Muggles. Prejudices don't just disappear, and though he had been trying (mainly to keep his job, as Potter was still as bloody defensive of Muggles as ever) it was always best for him to avoid being around them if he could. But...Merlin seemed genuinely interested in the guy he was talking about, and though Draco had never been the considerate and caring friend before, he was trying it out to help rehabilitate his status after the war. If this was part of changing who you were, he supposed it wouldn't kill him to smile and play Muggle for an hour...

"Yeah, yeah, fine whatever," he muttered after a few seconds. "I'll be nice to your sodding boyfriend. But you owe me, Emrys. A normal cup of tea or something in exchange for my soul tonight seems like a fair deal."

"Again with the dramatics," Merlin said, though his grin was coming back so Draco didn't berate him for it. "You have yourself a deal, Draco."

The two then turned toward the door as they were once more interrupted by a soft knock. Again, there was Potter standing in the doorway, though this time he didn't look nearly as self-conscious as he had before, though his eyes did dart from Draco to the desk and back again several times before he spoke. "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything," he said quietly, as though he were in a library disturbing two intent readers, "but the Trackers I sent to Glasglow are back, and I figured the two of you wouldn't want to miss the meeting."

There was a pause that bordered on awkward when Merlin gave a bright, encouraging smile to Draco, as if to silently say See, I told you so, you little shit. Now everything will be okay. The two exchanged a short, silent conversation in looks alone and then Merlin turned to Harry and said brightly, "Thanks, mate. We'll be there in a second."

Harry wasn't paying attention to Merlin, though. His gaze had once more fallen back on Draco, who was staring back with what he hoped was a blank expression. But as he met Harry's eyes, he couldn't help but think of what Merlin said before. I think he fancies you. But Merlin was crazy, absolutely bonkers...

"Yeah," Draco said, "we'll be there." Potter seemed to get the message after that. He nodded and looked down at his hands before mumbling, "Good," quietly. Then he looked up at Draco once more, gave something that he guessed was supposed to be a grin, and then turned on his heel and left. Immediately, Merlin started laughing near hysterically.

"He can't even look at you!" he said between breaths, clutching onto his sides as he fell back in his chair. "He wants to shag you so - fucking - badly."

"And once more you have proven yourself to be completely mental," Draco said, slightly disgusted. "Potter does not want to," he lowered his voice, "shag me and even if he did, I'm not interested so it doesn't matter anyway."

"Yeah, and I'm-"

"If you say, 'And I'm the next Minister for Magic,' I will tear your boyfriend apart, bit by bloody, Muggle bit."

That shut up Merlin quickly enough but didn't stop manly giggles from passing through his lips every now and then as Draco began to try and make order of the mess on his desk. Eventually, though, Merlin managed to say, "He's not my boyfriend, by the way," before he stood up and helped Draco finish what he was doing. "And if we don't make it to this meeting, your boyfriend is probably going to storm back in here to make sure we're not shagging or something. So we should stop stalling and really get going."

"Merlin, it's like you want to die and that's a shame because I was growing rather fond of you."

"Yeah, yeah, big scary Former. I get it." However, Draco didn't think he did get it, because immediately after saying this, he walked over and grabbed the blonde by the shoulders. "But we have to get to that meeting. We'll tidy later. Maybe they have some good information that will lead us straight to Malcolm and company."

"Yeah and maybe I'm the next Minister for Magic," Draco said in a mocking tone but he let himself be pushed out of his office anyway, even if only for the abashed look on Potter's face when he saw the pair of them enter the conference room together. Maybe Potter fancied him and maybe he didn't. But either way, he could still have a little fun with it, right? So maybe he took the spot on Potter's immediate left on-purpose-by-coincidence and maybe he made sure that, by forcibly pulling him by the hand, Merlin was on his left. It didn't mean anything. And it certainly didn't have anything to do whatsoever with whatever was running through Merlin's mind that made him have that stupid, know-it-all smirk plastered all over his face.