Okay, this is a new story that I just can't get out of my head. I've been going with it since I'm experiencing writers block with An Unorthodox Love Story – I have the plot all planned out but I wasn't happy with how Ch 13 was being written so I'm loosening myself up with this one which has basically no planned plot so we'll see how it turns out shall we?

This disclaimer is for the whole story because I'm tired of trying to remember for every chapter in An Unorthodox Love Story. Rather annoying. Harry Potter – the world and characters – belong to JK Rowling, I am borrowing them for my own amusement and won't be making any money from it.

This follows Deathly Hallows – so spoiler alert, but if you haven't read it yet what the hell are you doing reading fanfiction? – doesn't include the epilogue. Also my sex scenes – when they happen – are not for the faint-hearted (but neither are they pornographic) just be warned.

Here we go…

Chapter 1: Where did you go?

Despite the unexpected gray gloom of this early-September day Harry Potter felt the same exhilarating rush of freedom that his anonymity in the muggle world always brought him. The clouds were so thick that the promise of rain was only minutes away and so he rushed with the rest of the bustling Londoners; his face was downcast as he weaved in and out of the crowd but a smile played on his lips with barely contained excitement. He always felt like this in muggle London – unburdened, carefree and high on life as though all his problems were left behind in the wizarding world and he was a whole new unscarred 26 year old man.

This particular trip to the muggle world had only one purpose; Hermione's birthday present. Hermione and Ron had married 4 years before and despite his best efforts there were still many things about the muggle world Ron didn't understand. He did well enough at Hermione's parents house now and the few hours Ron spent with the Granger's every week slowly turned from fascinating/potentially-life-threatening to interesting/mildly-dangerous. That being said, Ron never went so far as to attempt to buy something for Hermione's birthday in the muggle world – that was left to Harry.

This trip Harry was heading to this extraordinary book store he had stumbled across about 4 months ago and logged away for this particular reason – he knew Hermione would adore it, besides, as it was, he didn't have too long to spare today present shopping and you couldn't go wrong with books for Hermione.

He felt the rain lightly begin to splatter across his face as he stepped to the stale air of the book store. Just in time, Harry thought as he turned to the grimy window and watched the muggles scatter when the heavens opened and the rain came down in torrents.

The store was old and all of its stock was second-hand but they were almost all in immaculate condition. Harry wasn't sure exactly what he was looking for but he was certain he would know when he found it. He perused the various shelves, bypassing War History and Biographies, and settled into Classic Fiction. There were the usual characters there: Austen, Dickens, Hardy, James – Hermione had most of her favourites already and Harry didn't know enough to be able to add to her collection without getting something she already had or didn't like. He was about to move on again when a large navy blue book caught his eye. It was plain and unmarked but after pulling it off the shelf he was able to see the title written in loopy golden lettering: 'Grimm Fairy Tales'. Interesting. He opened the front cover of the heavy book to find the contents, it had all the ones he knew like Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Snow White and Cinderella, then there were others he didn't know like The Travelling Musicians, Mistress Holle and The Blue Light.

Harry was intrigued and smiling.

Hermione had given birth to her first child only 18 months before – a girl, Rose Weasley – and Harry could just imagine Hermione cuddled up with Rose at bed-time reading to her from this book. Hermione treasured the book of wizard fairy tales Dumbledore had left her in his will, the one containing the story of the Three Brothers – Harry's ancestors – and while he was certain she valued it for more than its stories, he knew she already read them to Rose and he couldn't help but feel that the book he held in his hands was actually rather perfect for her.

He checked his watch and relaxed, pleased to find he had another hour and a half before he had to be back and would be able to have an uninterrupted muggle lunch – perhaps in a quiet pub somewhere – instead of his usual 2 minute lunch which he ate cramped behind his desk at the Ministry. He had long given up trying to lunch in public in the wizarding world and had taken to avoiding most people these days – it always seemed that somebody wanted something out of him. After nearly 10 years he'd managed to work out who was worth doing favours for and who wasn't.

With the heavy book in his arms Harry walked up to the counter to pay, the store was relatively empty so it wasn't too hard to notice when a blur of white blonde hair practically ran from the little shop. Harry dropped the heavy book on the front desk just as the door slammed shut and the old man behind the checkout held up a blue plastic bag and called "Mr Black! You forgot your purchase!"

Harry's whizzing little Auror mind never even bothered to tell him why he ran out after this stranger 'Mr Black' it just told him to go and quickly. So he did.

Darting out into the rain his eyes expertly searched for the white blonde head of hair he saw running out the door. The smudged grey sky and thick rain seemed to dull all the other colours around him except that which he searched for. Among the crowd of people this mans hair seemed luminescent and thankfully it was easy to follow. Once he'd locked eyes on him Harry knew at once who he was and why he was chasing him; Draco Malfoy. Sub-consciously Harry was probably always searching for Draco Malfoy.

You're not getting away this time, he thought.

The realization of how close he was and the thought that it may be another 9 years before he got this close again spurred him on as he pushed roughly through the crowd. The rain was still coming down but not as hard and for this Harry was so very grateful.

He watched as Malfoy turned and swiftly entered the lobby of a large glass building. Harry followed and thankfully caught him at the elevators.

"Malfoy!" he called out.

Malfoy didn't turn; instead he began to repeatedly push the up button of the elevator. Harry was crossing the lobby floor in great strides and Malfoy started eyeing the door to the staircase.

"Malfoy! Don't even try it!" Harry warned.

Malfoy tried it. He was in the stairwell, taking the stairs two at a time and was one floor on Harry almost the whole way.

"For God's sake Malfoy – STOP!" Harry screeched up the stairs as he chased the blonde.

Malfoy didn't stop. Glancing around him, Harry made sure there was no one else in the stairwell before pulling out his wand.

"Impedimenta!" he yelled. His spell hit Malfoy square between the shoulder blades – perfect aim as always. Malfoy slowed immediately barely managing another 2 more steps before Harry closed the distance between them and released him from his spell.

Yep, it was Draco Malfoy alright. His eyes were as grey and stormy as the outside sky and his face still held a certain smug haughtiness, although this time Harry could see a hint of blinding fear like a deer trapped on the wrong end of a hunter's rifle.

"I'm not here to arrest you Malfoy," Harry said trying to reassure his old schoolyard rival.

"I don't know who you are or what you're talking about," the blonde stated.

"Don't be a prat Malfoy; you're too old for that."

"My name is not Malfoy."

"This is going to get old really quickly," Harry huffed in frustration, but his tone had a threatening edge to it.

Malfoy didn't respond. Harry could see his eyes flitting around looking for the fastest escape.

"Just be straight with me Malfoy. I just want to know where you've been and why you haven't been back."

"My name isn't Malfoy and even if it were it would be absolutely none of your business where I've been." Malfoy's eyes were defiant. "Just leave me alone," he added, trying to step around Harry.

"Come on, Malfoy," Harry accentuated the other man's name to illustrate his non-compliance. "You changed your name to Black? I mean really, your mother's maiden name? You might be a little less obvious and pick something random if you didn't ever want to be found."

"If you aren't here to arrest me then push off Potter! Don't stick your nose where it isn't wanted. I can choose to live as I want." Malfoy tried to pass Harry again.

"Live as you want!? As a muggle!? The Malfoy I know would sooner die!"

"Yeah but the Malfoy you knew died with the war and was buried with his parents," Malfoy barked at Harry.

Harry felt like he'd been slapped in the face. Malfoy used Harry's dazed shock and managed to get around him this time, he didn't run up the stairs this time though but took them slowly. Harry snapped out of his trance to watch the blonde walk away, for a moment he contemplated letting him go. Unfortunately, however, when it came to Draco Malfoy Harry was never able to let anything go.

"I'm an Auror you know," he called up after him. "I work for the Ministry."

Malfoy stopped and looked down to where Harry still stood. "I guessed as much," he responded. He wasn't cold or harsh, but exhausted. Tired. Again Harry briefly considered leaving and pretending this never happened – briefly.

"You are an unsolved missing person's case," Harry continued. "I might be obliged to report this to them unless you can convince me otherwise."

Malfoy was silent for a moment; he just stared at Harry as if he was considering his options. Harry didn't prompt him, the ball was in Malfoy's court and Harry needed to wait for him to hit it back.

"You're a total bastard, Potter. Do you know that?" Malfoy finally said as he began his descent back down the stairs.

Harry could tell Malfoy was angry – furious actually – but Harry wondered if he wasn't also just a little relieved.

"I've got an hour before I have to be back at work," Harry started tentatively. "How about some lunch?"

"Yeah, whatever," Malfoy grumbled.

Harry Potter was one of the last people on Earth Draco wanted to run into, so today was turning out to be – well, to be honest – really shit. Julie – his rather incredible secretary who he had come to rely on heavily – had called in sick this morning so he'd spent most of the morning answering his calls directly because the temp he'd called for at 7am this morning couldn't be in until half past 11. Once the temp had arrived he'd gone for a walk to de-stress and ended up in his favourite book store which had been rather nice until he had run into Potter. Now he was leading Potter to his favourite Chinese restaurant because – as much as he loathed the idea of Potter knowing where he liked to eat – there was no way he would be sitting through this inevitable conversation unless the food was good. Something about today had to go right.

They stepped into the restaurant and Jimmy, Draco's usual waiter, lead them to Draco's usual table in a quiet back corner – away from everyone else.

"Pleased to see you again, Mr. Black," Jimmy greeted him as he subtly looked over Harry and threw him a shy smile.

"I'm having a bad day, Jimmy," Draco complained as he sat down.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Sir. Will your friend need some time with the menu?" Jimmy asked.

"Oh, yes please," Harry smiled. "Just a few minutes will be fine."

Draco pointedly ignored Harry as his eyes swept over the menu in front of him. Jimmy came back to take their order with Draco's usual Gin and Tonic.

"Ready to order yet, Sir," Jimmy asked Harry.

"Ah yes please. I'll have a Bourbon and Coke and the Chicken and Vegetables with fried noodles." Harry looked up at Jimmy and smiled. "Thanks."

"Not a problem," Jimmy nodded and walked off.

Harry looked at Draco in surprise. "Aren't you eating?" he asked.

"Jimmy knows what I want," Draco said casually.

"I take it you come here a lot then?"

"All the time so don't you even think about coming here looking for me after today. Do that and I'll hex you into next year! This place is my sanctuary and my sanity, understand?"

"Loud and clear," Harry confirmed.

"I won't have you ruin it with your presence."

"Okay, I get it I won't come back without your expressed permission!"

"Fine. Let's get on with it then," Draco huffed impatiently.

Harry hesitated, smiling as Jimmy placed his Bourbon on the table. "Okay, well start from the beginning," Harry prompted once the waiter was out of earshot. "Why did you leave?"

"Why did I leave?" Draco said mocking Harry's question. "Are you stupid?"

"You had other options, Malfoy!"

"Other options? Really? What were they? Stay and die?" he laughed sarcastically.

"You had protection," Harry said quietly knowing it wasn't completely true.

"Yeah great protection," Draco scoffed.

"I was there! I would have…" Harry's sentence trailed off into nothing.

"You were a 17 year old kid, like me. You would have gotten yourself killed too."

"I would have protected you, even if the others didn't."

"Shut up, Potter. You know why I left – next question," Draco stated firmly. He was keen to get this over with and they were already having difficulty getting past the first question.

"Okay, where did you go?"

"Tokyo," Draco answered shortly without further elaboration.

"Look Malfoy, I'm not here for one word answers. This will go a lot quicker and smoother if you just explain it all. Where you went, what you did while you were there, how long you were there for… You get the picture," Harry implored him frustrated.

"Fine," Draco agreed before continuing with his story. "I went to Tokyo, Japan – wizard Tokyo, that is – got myself a room at one of their extravagant hotels and stayed in bed for nearly a week ordering room service and feeling sorry for myself. Then I started going out into the city more indulging myself basically – drowning my sorrows in alcohol and sex. I wasn't very discrete, that's probably how they found me." Draco paused when he noticed Jimmy coming over with their food.

"Thanks," Harry nodded as his meal was placed in front of him. "Who found you?" he asked Draco.

"Who do you think!?" Draco barked at Harry quietly. "Stop asking stupid questions, Potter, I don't have the patience today!"

"Who specifically Malfoy?" Harry retorted.

"Well, take a guess Auror Potter – who in the Dark Lord's inner circle haven't you caught yet?" Draco quipped.

"The Carrows are the big ones, but there's a few others," Harry offered.

"Bingo."

"The Carrows?"

"Yes, Potter! Jesus, you are stupid aren't you!?"

"Shut up and get on with it. So they found you in Tokyo?" Harry asked, ignoring Draco's jibes at him.

"Yes they found me in Tokyo and it was a rather narrow escape. It took me a while to convince myself – and another jaunt in the wizarding world in America – but eventually I came to the conclusion that I had to keep my contact with wizards to a minimum. Erase Draco Malfoy. I made friends with a muggle-born in Chicago who showed me the basics – money, electricity, lights, microwaves, fridges, toasters, cars, planes – and that was it. I bought myself a new muggle identity – papers and that – and month later I was on a flight to Sydney, Australia where I had my first 5 years as a muggle. About 4 years ago I had the opportunity to come back to London and I took it. I've been here for 3 and a half years now."

"Wow," Harry breathed. "So you work?"

"Yeah, when I was in Sydney I met my best friend Jared who was fresh out of University and cocky as hell. I'd been living off my parents' money for about 2 years and I was looking for a change – working I guess, like a normal muggle – Jared was full of ideas and I had the capital so eventually we started our own business in trade and it boomed. Over the 5 years I was in Sydney it turned into a multi-million dollar enterprise and so we expanded, when Jared brought up having an office in London I offered to head it."

"You're heading the London branch of a multi-million dollar – I mean pound – urgh, that's confusing," Harry paused as his brain tripped over currency conversions (he thought it was bad enough converting galleons and pounds, adding dollars as well was too much) and Draco rolled his eyes. "Anyway, you're heading a muggle enterprise? What do you know about muggle business?"

"I've learned some!" Draco pouted. "Besides, that's why I've got Callum! He does the 'business' side of the business; I mostly sweet talk the big-wigs and go over the major decisions with Jared."

Harry laughed. "I'm sure they'd just fall apart without you Malfoy," he teased.

"Stop calling me Malfoy, that hasn't been my name for a long time."

"Okay, sorry! Draco Black – like I said before – inconspicuous…" Harry said still teasing the blonde.

"Leo Black," Draco said frowning.

"Leo?" Harry raised his eyebrows at the name – Draco didn't exactly look like a Leo.

"It's a constellation of stars, Potter, like Draco."

"I thought Draco was Latin for 'dragon'."

"It is dim-wit, but my parents named me for the stars not the dragons," Draco said rolling his eyes again. It seemed he couldn't help himself when it came to Harry Potter – for all the maturity and world perspective he'd developed over the last 10 years as a muggle, Harry seemed to erase it all and make him a 15 year old ass-face again.

Both Harry and Draco finished off their meals and Draco got up to leave; Harry followed. Harry's stomach was full and he was sleepy and satisfied. Draco was right the food here was amazing and they served so much of it! He found himself still eating long after he should have stopped simply because it was too delicious to leave on the plate.

"So not thinking of coming back to our world then?" Harry asked curiously.

"Ask me again when you've captured the Carrows," Draco replied easily.

"Okay, okay, I get it," Harry surrendered, raising both his hands to demonstrate. "Want any gossip from our world then? I bet you're just dying to know what became of all our classmates!" Harry laughed teasingly.

"Only my friends Potter."

"Of course, who do you want to know about?" Harry asked as they pushed back on to the cool streets of London.

Harry started to walk down the path, away from Draco's office building.

"Oi, Potter! This way!" Draco called.

"Walk back to the book store with me," Harry requested. "I left the book I wanted to buy in there and so did you if I remember right."

Draco nodded and walked over to join Harry as they wandered back up towards that gem of a book shop.

"Tell me about Pansy," Draco demanded.

"Married to Terence Higgs – he's a bit older than her, was Slytherin Seeker before you. I think they have two kids, or one and one on the way. I can't remember. The first was a girl I think, don't remember her name."

"Is she happy, do you know?" Draco asked quietly.

"Yeah, I think so. Hard to tell with her though, she always looks cranky around me."

Draco laughed. "I wonder why!"

"She was the one who made me write you up as a missing person so we'd have to look for you on an official basis. Asks me about our progress every time she sees me which is about every 2 months or so – only when I bump into her at the Ministry."

Draco smiled again. "Sounds like her. You guys didn't look too hard then if you couldn't find me but they could!"

"Yeah well you were of age and we had a pretty fair idea of what happened. I mean you left me a note it wasn't as if you were kidnapped." Harry explained.

Draco lowered his eyes to the ground and watched his feet as he walked. They settled into an awkward silence. Harry imagined that mentioning the note brought back other memories too; he wondered which ones were occupying Draco's mind right now. He knew what he was thinking about.

Eventually, Draco broke the silence to ask about another Slytherin and the two young men continued their conversation. Harry told Draco what had become of many of his friends – not all of the stories were good, many ended up in Azkaban – and other people Draco knew but wasn't friends with, including Ron and Hermione. Surprisingly, Draco let Harry prattle on about his pretty-much-niece Rosie without comment.

As Harry was reluctantly bidding Draco farewell and wishing him luck outside his office building they were interrupted by a rather attractive – which Harry noticed enthusiastically – young man. He was about their age, maybe a little older, and he was approaching them with a wide grin.

"Leo!" he called out.

Harry saw Draco cringe and heard him mutter something that sounded like 'Ah shit.'

"Leo, you old dog!" the man greeted. "Who's this handsome devil?"

The young man looked Harry up and down and stuck his hand out to introduce himself. Harry could tell by his accent that this man was Australian.

Gorgeous, Harry thought and presented the man with a charming smile to rival even Gilderoy Lockhart's.

"Harry Potter, nice to meet you," Harry said taking the man's hand.

"Callum Hughes." The man smiled back and shook Harry's hand firmly. "Leo never told me he had a new man."

Harry raised his eyebrows at Draco and had to suppress a laugh at the appalled expression on Draco's face. Harry was surprised too; he didn't know Draco was gay. He had guessed – they kissed once, in another life it seemed – but he didn't know for sure.

"He's not my boyfriend, Cal," Draco hissed through gritted teeth.

"No," Harry admitted. "We're old school rivals. I just bumped into – Leo – today actually. I haven't seen him in nearly 10 years."

"Interesting, interesting…" Callum mused. "Which team do you bat for then Handsome Harry?"

Harry couldn't tell if Callum was flirting for himself or sizing him up as a match for Draco. He hoped for the first, although Draco would never allow it anyway – if he dated his friend Callum it would place him uncomfortably close to Draco's everyday life. Besides that, Harry had never dated a muggle – fucked a muggle? Absolutely. Dated one? Never.

Of course this muggle looked completely shagable…

Harry laughed at Callum's very forthright question. "I'm gay," he admitted. "Tried the straight thing for a while in school, didn't work out for me."

"You should come to my birthday piss-up on Saturday," Callum invited Harry.

"NO! Absolutely not! No! Potter – get lost!" Draco snapped, pointing for Harry to leave.

"Leo, shut up! Harry, it's my birthday and I want you there!"

"What!? No! You don't even know him, Cal," Draco pleaded before turning to Harry. "He's straight anyway!" he told him.

Harry tipped his head to the side and pouted cutely to show his disappointment. "Shame," he teased Callum.

"Leo isn't the only gay hottie I know Harry, there will be plenty to choose from. Besides I know absolutely nothing about Leo's childhood. It's like he had no past when I met him. You are a miracle! I was beginning to think he was born a rich 19 year old with no family."

"NO Cal! He's not coming! I won't go if he does!" Draco whined.

"Don't chuck a tantrum Le! What are you 5 years old!? Harry is invited and he will be there, won't you?"

Callum glared at Harry with raised eyebrows and a 'you better be there' expression.

Harry nodded.

"See. And if you don't go I get to get him drunk and question him extensively about your early years unless you happen to come along to referee…"

Draco sighed. "I hate you," he said to Callum with affectionate frustration. "Right, back to work," Draco ordered, effectively breaking up their gathering.

Harry couldn't help himself, as he watched Draco lead Callum back to their office; he had to call out one last thing. He berated himself for asking as soon as he got back to his desk and had time to replay the whole situation in his head – I should have just left it – but in that moment it seemed important.

"Hey Malf – er, Leo! Hey Leo!" he called awkwardly. "Are you happy?" he asked sincerely.

Draco turned and stared at Harry for a few seconds and Callum looked on curiously. Unless he was mistaken, Harry swore he saw Draco cringe – just a little – before nodding.

Harry nodded once before turning to leave.

Okay, hope you liked it. Be patient with the updates and go nuts with the reviews – they are my happiness.

I called this 'The Kiss' because I'm super shit with titles and this story stems from a kiss Harry and Draco shared that changes both their lives dramatically – particularly Draco's if you can't half tell.

Anyway, Reviews puh-leeeaze!

xo