When Harry Potter stumbled into the Ministry cafe, it was quite clear from his weary face and vacant expression that he had just returned from a trying case. It had been hell hunting down the criminal. After weeks of investigating with Ron, Harry had traced the culprit down in northern England and, when the time was finally right, Harry arrested him and brought him back to London. Mr. Potter was only 22 years old and a novice Auror at this point but he was inevitably on his way to greatness. His intuition and eagerness to be courageous continuously worked in his favour.
Now that Harry was home, he wanted nothing more than to enjoy a nice cup of coffee with his best friends, Ron and Hermione Weasley.
The Ministry of Magic cafe was one of Harry's favourite places to unwind. The cafe, named the Holly Leaf, reminded Harry of the Gryffindor common room. All the walls had wonderful brick work apart from the far wall which was entirely a window, overlooking London. The cafe was large with many round wooden tables and red chairs. Along the wall opposite the bar, numerous red corner sofas were occupied by happily chatting friends and colleagues, sipping on coffee together. Magical top-of-the-range coffee makers were along a counter made with oak stained using a deep crimson varnish. The Leaf was lively, welcoming and always bustling.
As Harry glanced around, looking for his friends, his small smile faded.
Harry spotted him almost immediately.
Leaning against a wall, speaking to a good-looking woman from accounts, was Draco Malfoy. As he spoke to the woman, his sly grin curled into place. His hands and head moved gracefully. Over the years, Malfoy had not managed to grow any taller than Harry; he remained slightly shorter, just like in the last years of school. Draco was a bit gaunt and pale but still donned that striking white blonde hair well. In the Holly Leaf, he looked like lonely piercing snow in a red autumn field. Draco knew he was chillingly handsome as well as sharp. Using these attributes, his phenomenal wealth and witty humour, Malfoy managed to climb into the Ministry's high seats where he sat proudly, boasting about his wages and how excellent he was at his job. He was well respected throughout the Ministry.
It had surprised many, given the past being so…complicated.
A part of Harry could not stand how rapidly Draco had manufactured himself into a success. It felt as though the tables had turned since Hogwarts; Draco was finally in the centre of attention whereas Harry was working to the bone. There was no favouritism in Kingsley's Auror Department. Of course, Harry was eager to prove himself the right way but the way Draco sauntered around, basking in his success, was pretty unbearable. As though he had heard his name in someone's thoughts, Malfoy shot his eyes straight into Harry's. Ignoring the woman's babbling, Draco smiled at Harry from across the café and held his gaze.
With a heavy gulp, Harry nodded back awkwardly. A loud shriek however made them both jump.
...It was definitely much easier to say Harry had heard his friends before he saw them.
Turning his head towards the edge of the room, just as Harry had suspected, sitting on a corner table at the far end of the Holly Leaf was Mr and Mrs Weasley. Harry decided to make his way towards them and, after edging around tables and ignoring the tickling feeling that he was being religiously watched, the argument became louder and clearer: something about Ron's chocolate frogs.
"I don't give a flaming hippogriff what Vicky has to say about what I eat, I'm not going to stop eating them!" Ron said, rather angrily, pulling his box of chocolate frogs towards him possesively.
An extraordinarily pregnant Hermione turned her head to scowl at Ron. When she was in this frightening state of mind, why Ron argued with her Harry would never understand. "Victor, okay, Victor is an expert herbologist and dietician," pointed out Hermione. "He has helped me keep healthy throughout these last eight months!"
"You know fully well he will always be in love with you!" Ron bit back, clutching at his chocolate frog which was trying to squirm out of his hands. "I'll never forget how he stared at you all mopey at our wedding."
Harry smirked, wondering if his friend would ever drop that.
"Oh come on, Ronald!" said Hermione, shaking her head at her husband's remark. "Even your mother agrees he's fantastic at what he does. And she also agrees that it's about time you started caring about your physique!"
There was a long pause before Ron asked his ridiculously unwise question. "...Are you trying to say I'm getting fucking tubby?" Ron asked angrily, arms now folded.
Harry sighed as he tucked in his chair. He held his breath and braced himself for the explosion. Naturally, it followed.
"YOU'RE TUBBY? LOOK AT ME RONALD. I'M A BALLOON. A PLANET. A WHOLE OTHER UNIVERSE. I'M HUNGRY AND MISERABLE ALL THE TIME. SO, I AM SO SO SORRY THAT I TRY TO HAVE SOME CONCERN FOR MY HUSBAND'S WELL BEING BECAUSE ALL THIS-" Hermione reached over the table with a great amount of difficulty to yank a chocolate frog from the box which she then threw at Ron. "-WILL MAKE YOU ILL."
Hermione scrambled out of her chair, ticked off judging by the way she snatched her cup of decaffeinated tea off the table and ignored Harry. "And for the record, I would appreciate it if you did not swear at me like I'm some common shit you hardly know," Hermione said as she leaned in close to Ronald's face, who was now quivering ever so slightly. "I'M HAVING YOUR BABY."
Harry snickered.
Hermione then performed a quite horrible habit she had picked up recently: hitting Ron sharply on the forehead with the hardest part of the palm of her hand, forcing a pained "AAAAAAAAAH!" out of Ron every-time. With that, she was gone.
Ignoring the scraping of chairs as people avoided a collision with the giant Hermione stomping through the cafe or the yelp of terrified wizards and witches dodging around her, Ron rubbed his forehead. "Annoying woman," he murmured. Ron then looked at the frog in his hands and bit its head off, ignoring the chocolate legs kicking with agony.
Harry grinned and helped himself to a frog. "Seriously Ron, you might as well have said you killed a House Elf."
"I would've got the same ruddy reaction, mate," Ron replied as he dropped his hand to the table. Harry's friend then dragged a steaming cup across the table, which Harry had overlooked. "Got you your usual, mate."
"Fanks, Ronnie," squeaked Harry mockingly, as he took a generous sip.
Ron rolled his eyes. "So anyway, about this case we just closed, when did...a...time wh'..."
The voice faded into nothing, blending in easily with the clanks of cups and chit-chat from locals around them, laughing at a dirty joke, tapping their tables, sipping on hot drinks. Harry had focused on the man directly behind Ron's head, who was staring at him.
Malfoy smiled and lazily dragged a pointy tongue out his mouth to caress the left of his upper lip.
Harry felt undignified when blood rapidly dropped from his face and trailed coldly down his spine. Draco did it again, only slower, his eyes invading Harry's, locked on prey. The blood fell south even more, gathering uncomfortably in the middle of his thighs. Harry twitched slightly knowing his expression was tight, rigid and ridiculous when Malfoy's wet tongue did that lewd swiping a third time.
"Harry, you've got some froth on your lip," a concerned voice said.
"Huh...what?"
A quick yank on the shoulder stole Harry away from Draco. Rom looked at Harry cautiously before tapping his own face, right on the left side of his lip. Feeling a strong pool of embarrassment blaze his face and sink into his stomach, Harry touched his lips and inspected his finger. The frothy top of coffee sat happily at the tip of one of fingers. His face burnt a thousand times harder when he heard that sharp drawling chuckle edge through the crowd.
Ron heard it too. He turned, noticed a flash of the brightest blonde and moved back to the table, smiling slightly. "Oh, right," chuckled Ron.
That earned Ron another famous Hermione-style-thwack on the head. Harry lunged at Ron and wrestled him violently, while Ron just laughed in Harry's bright-red face.
Kingsley, head Auror, was waiting for Ron and Harry to return to their office. He was becoming very impatient.
When the pair walked in, laughing, they cut their joke short when they saw the look on Kingsley's face. Apologising profusely, the pair sat down at their respective desks.
Kingsley tossed a file towards Harry, who caught it and turned to the first page. Three blunt little words were scrawled onto the first page; the words read "The Vault Case."
'This must be the code reference given to the investigation,' Harry thought to himself. Harry peaked over the file at his boss, who was watching him carefully with a serious expression. 'Wow…very big case.'
Usually several Aurors were involved with one case. Giving code names to every case that the Auror Department faced was simply impractical. However, a coded case meant that the case had the potential of making big publicity, the type that was not good for the Ministry; it also meant the case was exclusive. Ron and Harry, having only been out of training only for a few months, had never been assigned a coded case. This was their moment to prove themselves.
After skim reading the first page of the case, Harry looked up and asked, "How much was stolen?"
Ron looked at Harry then at Kingsley, waiting for an answer. Kingsley licked his lips and quietly said, "6 million galleons."
Ron dropped his box of chocolate frogs causing a dozen of them to be set free, allowing them to hop around as they pleased. Ignoring the ribetting and croaking of sweets, Harry asked, "Why was so much money being held within the Ministry premises?"
"The Minister got back to me about that this morning," explained Kingsley. "He had 3 outstanding loans that needed to be paid off. 1.5 million owed to the Redknock family in Southampton, 2.5 million for the Harpies Quidditch team currently in Glasgow and 2 million for the French Foreign Ambassador for International Magical Trade, Mr. Justin Labro. Our number one guess is that he is behind all this. He needed money and fast. Other countries owed him also…they obviously took advantage of his wealth and generosity."
At this point, Ron was climbing a filing cabinet, trying to rescue a frog.
"No one has heard from him since the robbery yesterday evening. But this is a sensitive one. Labro has the power to influence muggles and wizards alike so-"
THUD!
Ron, the filing cabinet and a splat of chocolate were all lying on the floor, not moving. The thunderous yet unexpected sound nearly made Harry and Kingsley fall out of their chairs; the two men whisked their heads round to the fallen cabinet. Papers were flying through the air from the impact and both the other wizards were trying to restart their hearts, panting. Kingsley sighed angrily before getting up. The head Auror grabbed Ron's limp wrist, nodding to confirm that Ron was IN FACT very much still alive before turning a questioning eye towards Harry.
Harry shrugged and said, "Maybe he does have too much sugar."
Kingsley sat down again and rubbed his hands together, looking at Harry. "That is all I can tell you," he said.
Ron got up, looking nauseous and avoiding eye contact with the two men. He stumbled towards the chair, staggering dangerously, before he sat down at his desk, clutching his forehead, embarrassed and in pain.
After a moment's deliberation, Harry asked, "Does anyone else know?"
"Me, you, half of Weasley's brain, the Minister and the Head of Accounts," Kingsley said.
At the last one, Ron turned his head suddenly, grinning knowingly at Harry. Harry, ignoring Ron, added, "I'll need full details on who has access, all security and transactions to the vault."
Kingsley smiled at Harry's efficiency. "I'm sure they have the same level of initiative as you up in accounts to know exactly what you need, Mr Potter."
"I'm sure they do," Ron muttered, beaming at Harry still. Harry narrowed his eyes at his friend.
Kingsley nodded and excused himself.
As Kingsley left the room, Harry thought to himself. He knew this had to be a fast moving case. A lot of money was missing and the public was not allowed to find out at any cost. If they knew just how much money the Ministry had to borrow to keep government up and running, the backlash from the magical community would be unbelievable.
"I'm going to get the report from accounts myself," Harry told Ron as he stood up. "Merlin knows how long they'll take otherwise."
Harry tucked in his chair and made for the door as he listened to Ronald speak. "You sure are in a hurry to go running to the Head of Accounts, Harry," Ron said, tilting his head and fumbling with his quill. "Something you're not telling me?"
Harry scowled at Ron's grin and snapped, "Don't make me zap your nob off." Harry hastily left the room, leaving his chuckling friend to sit in the office alone.
Harry frowned as he walked up the corridor and turned a corner. 'Ron ALWAYS acts this way when Accounts is involved. It really pisses me off. There's nothing going on between me and-'
And there he was, as though right on queue.
Annoyingly, Harry's breath hitched slightly when he saw a man with striking white hair and typical black-suit-white-shirt combination walking towards him. Draco had been staring at his feet as he walked but had shot his eyes up as soon as he heard Harry's gasp. Both men awkwardly stopped moving, watching each other carefully. Harru subconsciously ran his hand through his hair before stumbling to stand in front of Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy," Harry greeted politely.
"Harry," Draco said, equally as civil. He smiled broadly at Harry, as he waited for Harry to gather his thoughts.
"Um, Malfoy we need to get the case sorted as quickly as possible," Harry said in a professional manner. Draco leaned to the side until his head was resting against the wall of the corridor. He said nothing.
"So where is it?" Harry asked.
Malfoy, bemused, said, "Where's what?"
Harry looked at Malfoy, clearly annoyed at his sarcastic tone. "You know what! I assumed that's why you're in this part of the Ministry to, you know, give it to me," Harry said, angrily. He regretted his choice of words instantly as he watched Draco's mouth pull into a toothy, amused grin.
"Give it to-?" Draco started, raising his eyebrows.
Harry interrupted him, not wanting the conversation to sway down a let's-make-Harry-super-uncomfortable route. "-You know what I mean, Malfoy. Now hand it over."
With that, Harry held out the palm of his hand and gazed at Malfoy expectantly.
Malfoy still looked confused.
"Potthead, are you or are you not trying to flirt with me? Because if not, I'm getting bored," asked Draco, finding Potter's confused and angry expression which followed extremely funny. Draco blinked slowly as Harry stuttered.
"Wha-? I…No," said Harry, stuttering slightly. He gawped at Draco's amused shining grey eyes. "And what do you mean 'trying to flirt' with you?" Harry asked, still sounding wound up.
Draco shrugged before saying, "Just, if you were, it was a pitiful attempt."
Harry opened his mouth but then realised this was not worth arguing about. "Draco, I need the pa-per worrrk," Harry said, in a slow and mocking voice.
Malfoy smiled at the rare 'Draco' and bit his lip, trying to look thoughtful. "…Listen, Potter. No one told m-" Draco started to mutter but Harry cut him off.
"Why the fuck would we? Standard procedure, Malfoy. Standard! The ministry looses money; we need to paper work behind it. Super standard," Harry hissed. When he began to turn away, Draco yanked his shoulders and forced Harry to look at him.
Draco pondered, scanning the corridor's walls. He then snapped his fingers and made a bright red file appear out of nowhere, making Harry jump slightly with surprise.
"You are absolutely right, Harry. It is obvious. Stop pointing things out to people who are clearly ahead of you and your standardprocedure."
Draco smiled as Harry snatched the file.
"You know...I chose that cover especially," Draco said slowly, his tone now different.
Harry was about to open the document but he looked up at Draco when he had spoken. Draco's eyes were glazed like marble; his face was far too close. It was so close, Harry could make out the flecks of white and black in his irises. His soft jaw smoothed out his features and gave his high cheekbones justice. Draco's expression was piercing, making his face unique...but attractive.
"It's very you. Very red," Draco said slurring quietly. His face was suddenly inches from Harry's. Before Harry could enquire as to what the fuck Malfoy was doing, he words were stolen by the sharp, heavy gaze Malfoy was directing at him as he began to move even close to Harry. Harry held his breath as he glanced at Malfoy's mouth. Malfoy's sharp chin tilting towards Harry's face. Warm puffs of air caressed Harry's lips and only then Harry's focus completely disappeared. Heat washed over Harry's face as a lusty haze set in as Harry stared, with lidded eyes, at Draco's lips when-
"Until next time, Potter."
Draco smirked and backed away from Harry. He turned around, chuckling softly and disappeared around the corner, leaving a panting Harry standing alone in the corridor, dazed and confused.
…Stupid Malfoy.
'Why does he...act that way...? He's like a pendulum, the way he acts one way, then another. Toying with me. Standing too close. Pretending to be stupid. A big…stupid rich pendulum,' Harry thought. Remembering he was in the middle of a corridor, Harry sighed and decided he should head back to his office. Harry felt the strong burn of a blush mark his face when he turned around.
'Stop blushing. Stop blushing. Stop fucking blushing,' Harry screamed instruction in his head, willing himself to look perfectly composed when he faced Ron. When he reached the office door, Harry shook his head and told himself to just let all thoughts of Malfoy go, dismissing the blushing as simple exasperation from seeing Malfoy when he had been thinking about him. He turned the handle with a fresh mindset, ready to get his head down and work.
As Harry opened the door, he was greeted by a manically swearing Ron.
Harry was temporarily puzzled and did not react straight away when he saw the ordeal in front of him.
When Harry came to his senses, he saw his friend jumping up and down on a rapidly growing blue sweet lace. The lace was expanding and sneaking around the room at an alarming rate. Harry noticed the end had been nibble slightly as it grew bigger and squashed its way through the files and furniture. Harry shrieked when he noticed it was pushing its way out the door and around his ankles. The two grown men climbed onto their desks, screaming at the top their lungs and casting every spell they knew at the monstrous treat.
Ron had failed to read the wrapper stating it was a 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' product, a gift from his brother, George.
A very annoyed Kingsley had to rescue them, just on the verge of them suffocating against the ceiling, whilst shouting, "WEASLEY, MUST YOU EAT EVERYTHING WITHIN REACH?"
There was a long pause.
"I don't like this."
Another long pause.
"I said, I don't like this," Harry said.
"You don't like anything, Harry." Ron suddenly stopped walking. Harry Potter copied him as he looked at his friend expectantly. Ron then added, "Yes, actually, we do one person you clearly like but let's not go down that road, 'ay mate?" Ron winked and carried on walking down the corridor followed by an irritated Harry, cursing loudly.
They stopped outside a shiny black door with a very shit gold plate in the middle that read Head of Accounts.
"...I really do not like this."
Ron turned to look at his friend. "Harry, Kingsley said that whatever Malfoy will show you will apparently help. Just see what he wants and then go bugger off home, alright?"
"But that's the thing! I have no idea what he's going to show me!"
"...What would you like him to show you?" Ron said, waggling his eyebrows with a big grin.
"Ew, fuck off Ron," said Harry, wincing.
Ron looked at Harry oddly for a moment and then asked, "Are you scared of him?"
Harry huffed but made no reply.
"YOU ARE!" shouted Ron. He then boomed with laughter.
"What's there to be scared of?" Harry muttered quietly, looking around, sounding annoyed with himself. "Oh yes, I'm so scared of his big numbers and pointy chin of death."
There was a pause. "...He has a very pointy chin," Ron said, nodding.
"Yeah, I know."
After several more minutes of squabbling, Ron agreed to enter first to face the wrath of Malfoy's chin.
"Weasel, what do you want at this-...Harry...?" Draco asked when he noticed a wave of jet black hair behind Ron. Harry tilted his head at Draco as a greeting, wishing he was anywhere else on the planet.
"I just came to drop off my bud so I can go home and only half wonder what the fuck you two are up to," Ron announced cheerfully. He clapped a distraught Harry on the back before practically running towards the lift. Harry turned slowly towards Draco and nearly ran after Ron when he saw the way Malfoy was raking his eyes over him.
"These doors aren't spelled to be soundproof, you know, Potter," Draco said, clearly amused.
Harry's eyes closed slowly as he sighed. This was going to be a very uncomfortable evening.