Disclaimer: I do not claim any sort of authority over the characters. They were introduced either in the Harry Potter novels or were inspired through the work of J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 1: A New Life

Friday night, who moves on a Friday night, in New Orleans nonetheless? Hell if they're paying, double, I suppose I am available.

Draco Malfoy sat at the driver's seat of a moving truck waiting for a call from his new customer. Two years in New Orleans and he still hadn't gotten used to driving on 'the wrong side of the road.' The fact that he 'drove' at all was something that took getting used to. The fact that he was living in America, amongst Muggles, working to start his own Muggle business was another 'something' he would probably not get used to any time soon. But, he needed to get away from the shadows of his past so he ran away, and what else would be more poetic than to shift your life, and your residence to 'the promise land?'

Draco had moved to the United States three years ago. His first year he travelled the continental U.S. taking in the local and international culture it had to offer, the cuisines…the women. The first six months he worked odd jobs, he thought it was the best way to get around and get to know the people. The second half of the year, he pondered on what he wished for his career path to be and travelled cities, attempting to find the right fit for him to shift there. He eventually settled in New Orleans, Louisiana. Work was readily available there after the Katrina disaster, and he found that his interest in Muggles was often fulfilled when he would help them shift. Every situation was different, every family was different, he learned and received great insight on Muggle lifestyle and his magical abilities also helped him with his job. He'd cast charms on heavy furniture and move it with ease into the flats for his customers who were often amazed, impressed, and eventually tipped well. He had started in construction and eventually worked for 'Budget travel.' His goal after two years had been to start his own business, and after a year of hard work, he was almost finally there.

When he had informed his father that he wished to leave the U.K. and look for life someplace where the traces of his past did not haunt him, his father, of course, did not understand him nor support him. He was written off the will immediately. His mother did assure Draco that he would still have everything waiting for him if and when he returns, his father was hasty but his mother was excellent in taking matters into her own hands.

The phone rang, Draco looked at the display and he hit the ignore button. I'll ring her back tomorrow, I am on a job. A few seconds later, someone knocked on his passenger side window. It was his customer, Mark Black.

"Hey there, have you been waiting long?" The tall man with pale skin and auburn hair asked.

"No, not too long." Draco responded rolling down the window on the door at the passenger side, "Besides, I am on Bourbon Street; it's always fun to just people watch." Draco smiled.

"That is true, it certainly will be interesting living here." Mark responded. "So, my boyfriend is going to meet up with us soon, we can start moving the small stuff, if you're ready."

"You are paying me by the hour, so I am ready whenever you are!" Draco responded and exited the truck. The two men met at the back of the truck and opened the door. The 16 foot long truck was completely full of boxes and furniture with little to no space left.

"I still can't believe you managed to fit all of our stuff in here and you didn't even take as long as we had thought." Mark spoke with astonishment as Draco climbed up and grabbed the first box.

"It helped that your boyfriend had already packed all of his boxes and had them at your flat, it made things a lot simpler. Also, I told you before, I am working to start my own business so I can use all the positive references I can get!" Draco laughed. He placed the box on the ground and locked the back door of the truck back up. "So, show me the way, and then I can bring in the boxes while you guard the truck, and then we can tackle the furniture together, if you wish."

"Of course, this way, my boyfriend is going to be here in 15 minutes. He sent me a text saying he'll meet us at the apartment. We will get an extra pair of hands to help then. He can guard the truck while we move the stuff, although he'll probably argue that he can do it better."

"Great, I was wondering whether there really was a second half to the 'we' I was starting to think you were making him up. I've helped you move three times and never met a supposed boyfriend." Draco joked.

"Yeah it's a new relationship that kinda moved really fast. I was surprised he took me up on my offer to live together since we're both always so busy with our schedules, we don't have time for a whole lot of dating."

"Yeah, at least this time you won't try to get into my trousers." Draco winked at his customer who was also a bit like a friend now since he's helped him move so much.

"Yeah, I am very sorry about that, by the way. I still can't believe that you helped me move after...that incident."

"No worries mate. If anything I was flattered. It's not the first time it happened. I get customers always trying to get me to shag them, I mean...you know what I mean" Draco corrected himself, his British slangs would still slip out once in awhile, having a British accent was troublemaking enough as it is, "It comes with the job, lots of lonely people moving in and out of places, always looking for a quick shag."

"And I bet the accent doesn't help the situation."

"You know ladies love the accent, well some gents too I suppose." Draco joked grabbing the box off the floor and followed Mark into the building where their flat was.

"Don't tell me you never took anyone up for the offer?" Mark asked.

Draco laughed.

"You have haven't you?"

"No, I haven't" Draco responded to which Mark raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "No, honestly mate. I was tempted, once quite tempted but I finally told them no. I've scheduled a move with them again for next week, I hope they don't press on it again."

"They?" Mark raised his eyebrow again.

"Yeah, they were a couple. Good looking couple too and you know, it is New Orleans, stranger things have happened. It was quite the interesting proposition, but, I took the professional route. The old me probably wouldn't have thought about it twice."

The two men had reached the third floor flat, and Mark opened the front door as Draco walked in with the big box in his hands. There stood a familiar figure holding two glasses of champagne, it seemed as though this bloke had been standing there for quite a while.

"Surprise!" The mystery figure spoke as his voice was raised with excitement then dwindled down when he took in who had just walked in through the door.

Harry James Potter almost dropped the champagne flutes when he took in the view of a familiar face with white blond hair but his skin, it wasn't as pale as Harry had remembered.

"Harry! What are you doing here already?" Mark came from around Draco and kissed Harry on the cheek as he grabbed the champagne flutes from his hands.

"I... I wanted to surprise you so I got here 30 minutes prior to what I had told you and got your...favourite...champagne." Harry answered Mark slowly, unable to take his eyes off Draco. Draco in return also stood in front of the door stunned, unmoving, holding the box in his hands. The charm was wearing off the box and Draco only came to his senses when he acknowledged that the box contained several books and was actually quite heavy.

"Harry, this is the mover friend I was telling you about." Mark gestured towards Draco, and he continued, "This is my boyfriend, Har..."

"Harry Potter. Merlin, I can't believe my eyes."

"Draco Malfoy." Harry responded with an expressionless face. Two words, and everything had come rushing back.

"Wow, small world. I never in my life thought that the two British people I'd ever meet in Louisiana would just happen to know each other."

"You didn't tell me your boyfriend was also from England." Draco placed the box on the floor next to the wall and looked up again at Harry, shock hadn't left their eyes.

"Yeah, I thought it would be a funny surprise, I didn't tell either one of you and what do you know, you two know each other, how amazing is that!?"

"Extraordinarily," replied Harry.

"Exceptionally, " answered Draco. A few moments of silence passed. "Well, the boxes aren't going to move themselves and you are paying me by the hour..." Draco began.

"Yeah, definitely, I'll catch up with you in a second. Harry do you want to come down with us and guard the truck while we move things?" Mark turned to Harry as Draco had exited the flat.

"Okay." Harry said and Mark clinked their champagne glasses and took a gulp before setting it down on the box.

Mark walked down the steps to the front of the building and Harry followed. He still couldn't believe it! Of all the cities, in all the places in all of the world, how did Draco Malfoy just walk back into my life?

oOoOoOo

Harry arrived at the moving truck where Draco and Mark were waiting. Draco seemed at ease carrying a big box whereas Mark looked as though he was quite struggling with the weight of the one in his arms. Harry gestured to Mark to hand him the box and Mark shook his head.

"Let him carry it, why don't you prop the door open?" Draco said and he looked at Harry straight into his eyes.

Harry took the box from Mark and thought it to be quite light. Harry nodded at Draco acknowledging that the charms were placed on the boxes and furniture so if someone with 'magical abilities' would carry them they wouldn't feel the weight. That's quite smart, Harry thought but he didn't dare show the expression highlighted on his face.

The move was made easy as Harry and Draco carried most of the items to the flat on the third floor. They didn't speak to each other, and barely acknowledged the other's presence when Mark wasn't around. Draco simply could not believe the coincidence and wondered if Harry was working undercover to keep an eye on Draco. Harry on the other hand wondered if the Ministry was playing some sort of cruel joke on him as he had resigned from his Auror position two years ago in hopes to travel and do charity work.

"What are you doing here Malfoy?" Harry finally asked when Mark had left to go get pizza.

"I could ask you the same thing Potter." Draco snapped "I don't owe you any answers."

"So, nothing's changed I see." Harry responded and left the room where he and Draco stood and went into the kitchen.

Draco felt odd standing in the living room alone, so he followed Harry. "What are you doing here anyway? How did you ever end up in America, in New Orleans of all the places?"

"Mark." Harry responded.

"Care to elaborate Potter?" Draco asked.

"I met Mark when I was volunteering at a free clinic in London. I had just returned from a travelling program from Botswana." Draco looked confused so Harry decided to start from the beginning. "Two years ago I had joined a program called Wizards for the betterment of Society,which helped orphaned children find families and it had stations for both the Wizarding world and the Muggle universe. So I had traveled through that program working at family care and child care in African countries and then a year of doing that, I returned to London and was living there and working at the free clinic." Harry paused to catch a breath.

"Sounds like something Granger would do." Draco added.

"Yeah, who do you think told me about it?" Harry laughed. "Anyway, and at that time Mark was working for Amnesty International. We had met at some Charity Gala and we talked about our passion for..." Harry paused again "helping people." Draco rolled his eyes and Harry thought no surprise there. Harry continued "We met up a few times but a long distance thing wasn't really in the stars, then I found a job here, working for St. Margaret's Hospital in their social work department and well, the rest I am sure you can figure out."

Draco nodded.

"The Ministry knows you're here?" Harry asked, the last time he had seen Draco was over five years ago when Draco was in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, he had then suddenly left the job and no one knew where he had gone.

"Not that it's any of your business, Potter. But yes, I have registered here with the U.S. Department of the Wizarding Expatriation Services, it's the American version of the Ministry of Magic." Draco answered with a harsh tone.

"Yes I know what it is." Harry snapped back. Harry also continued to wonder how Draco managed to get a working Visa especially if he's living and working with Muggles. He thought best to not ask Draco, as he didn't wish to pry in Draco's life nor did he care to get to know him better. He also thought it odd that Draco did not bring up the fact that Harry was living with a man.

The two men heard the door knob jiggle, Draco didn't waste any time to leave the kitchen and open the front door as Harry returned to unpack the kitchen boxes.

"So you guys catching up on old times?" Mark asked excitedly.

Draco politely smiled. "So, it looks we are all done with the moving, so I should be taking off then. I'll send you an email tomorrow with the invoice."

"You don't want to stay for the Pizza?" Mark asked disappointedly, "The best French Quarter has to offer!" Harry came out of the kitchen to join the two men in the living room.

Draco saw Harry and returned his gaze back to Mark, "No, I've actually got a date. It's Friday night and all. She's been calling nonstop to make sure I don't cancel." Draco laughed.

Mark smiled in return and shook Draco's hand "Thanks for being so fast and flexible with our schedule." He took out his wallet and removed a $100 bill and handed it to Draco "For all the trouble we caused you."

Draco wide eyed looked at the tip, it was a lot more than what he was used to receiving. "Wow, that's generous, thanks mate." He turned to Harry and gave a courteous smile "Nice to bump into you Harry, see you lot later." And just like that Draco left, thankful that the awkward moment of his blast from the past was finally over.

oOoOoOo

(A/N): Please write a review for the first chapter. This story is definitely been on my mind for over a month and is being finally put into paper. It's very fresh, there are no future chapters yet written, however, if people wish to write a review, let me know the direction they'd like to see this go perhaps I can incorporate all that in. Additionally, if you see any typos or mistakes please let me know either via review or PM. I accept all criticism good or bad or the unfriendly... Well hopefully not the unfriendlly... in any case, enjoy.