AN; I just wanted to say thank you for the favourites/follow/reviews. Especially the truly creative flame. Seriously thank you for giving me a reason to keep going, spite is a wonderful thing.
This will be the longest chapter in this fic (4 parts) I couldn't bring myself to cut it back and if I had of halved it, it would have been too short.
Enjoy xx
Draco Malfoy was having a nightmare. No if buts or maybes, he was asleep and soon he would wake up surrounded by expensive pillows wrapped in Egyptian cotton. He was having a nightmare because there was no way that this was actually his life. He reached down and pinched his thigh, hard, which made him want to cry, not because of the throbbing pain, but because he felt it at all. Yes he was awake and yes he was in fact having breakfast with his father and Tom Riddle.
Tom was every authors definition of a sleaze bag. From the way his hair was combed over to the right, the fact that his tie was too thin and that his breath smelled something akin to sewerage. And there the great Lucius Malfoy was, doing everything bar licking the man's toes. Draco wanted to throw up.
"Draco." he couldn't help but think of a snake when riddle spoke. "You're father had told me much and more about you. He says that you have some, let's say alternative, views. In regard to our upcoming arrangement."
"I merely feel, that we should discuss this further with the full board of directors before jumping into anything." Draco said, trying not to grimace as the man licked his lips. "This is people's livelihoods we're discussing. Their futures."
"A merger of this magnitude can surely only mean good things for our bottom line." Riddle said with a sickening grin.
"But at what cost?" Draco argued. "You're talking about not insignificant cut backs in every department. Replacing people who have been loyal to the company, loyal to my father, for their entire careers. We should be rewarding that, not ignoring it. Not to mention the plans the two of you have for future developments. The effects they would have on the environment would be irreversible."
"Draco." His father warned. "Not the time."
"When will be the time?" Draco asked earnestly. "I'd like to add it to my diary."
"Your boy needs to learn respect Lucius." Riddles eyes didn't leave Draco.
The vein in Lucius' brow was starting to show. "Indeed."
"You mentioned something about our competition." Draco decided that the best course of action would be to move the conversation right along. "I assumed that you were referring to the Potter corporation."
"Who else?" Lucius asked with half a smirk. "We have irrevocable proof of certain wrong doings within the upper ranks. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Lily and James neglected to obtain a few too many licences and slipped the wrong people cash incentives to hush it all up. This all happened in the late 80s of course and the Potter's are long since gone so there can't be any criminal charges put forward, but the civil case before the crown should be quite the scandal. The cost to fix these, errors in judgement, would cost more than the company has in assets. They will need to sell everything. The entire empire torn apart and sold for scrap."
"What's the proof?" Draco sat there with his brow frowned. He was too young to remember what had caused the rift between their families, too young to remember the family at all, but he had heard the stories. Something had happened to when he was a child and both sides had been out for blood since. As far as he could remember though, Potter's business had always been painstakingly above board.
Riddle waved him off as if it was a non-issue. "We have a paper trail and people more than willing to speak on the record."
"How are our books? They wouldn't find one of these trails leading back to us now would they?" Draco knew that his father was in with some shady people, one of which was currently sitting with them eating crumpets. "If we go ahead with something this big, you had better know, without a glimmer of doubt, that our asses are covered from every angle."
"I have it sorted." was all Lucius said, Draco truly did wish he could believe him. He didn't.
"We'll move forward once the merger is official." Riddle said. "That should give us 6 months give or take to get all the paperwork signed off on."
"Excellent." Lucius said with a smile. "Draco I really don't need to remind you that anything we've said at this table is to remain here."
"And yet you still do." Draco rolled his eyes and looked at his watch. "We should be leaving, the board is meeting in 15. Getting there late would cause, unease."
"I'll meet you there. Tom and I have some more things to discuss." Draco took that to mean, 'Tom and I are about to discuss exactly which part of what I just said was complete fabrication. As well as some other things which are almost definitely illegal. Run along now and be pretty for the stock holders.' He decided then and there that he would find out exactly what his father was playing at.
Indulgent is what his father used to call. It was more than likely true at the time as well. He would indulge in alcohol. He would indulge in a foreign man. He would indulge in the finer things in life. Years older, he was indulging again. Only this time, he was indulging in melancholy.
He was sitting in his large corner office, spinning idly in his chair. He may have never got an official title, but his father wanted to make sure the entire building knew exactly who would be taking over. So he was given the second biggest office on the top floor and told to sit there and smile when the investors came. The board meeting had finished 20 minutes earlier and for 2 hours Draco had sat there and let his father flat out lie to every one of them. Draco had let it all happen and said nothing like a good little heir, he was disgusted with himself.
There was a knock on the door and Draco turned to see Severus Snape standing there. "Do you have a minute?"
"I always have more than a minute for you." Draco smiled, signalling for him to sit. "Where has my father disappeared to? I would have expected him to have turned up to complain about Diggle by now."
"Your mother has taken him to lunch." Severus sat down opposite the wide desk, a desk with nothing on it. "I must say I was taken a bit by surprise today."
"Why's that." Draco leaned back in his chair and looked at his ceiling.
"Well, it was my... understanding that you were against this partnership with Riddles firm." Severus was talking slowly, carefully.
Draco sat up straighter in his seat, his attention peaked. "What makes you say that? Surely it's my job to support my father in all of his endeavours."
"As a good son should I'm sure." Severus was studying him with his head cocked. "I was merely expressing my curiosity, the last time we spoke you were rather passionate about the company heading in a different direction entirely. A direction that a, not at unsubstantial, amount of members happen to agree with."
'What aren't you saying?' Draco thought to himself. "Some would say that it is the CEOs role to know what is best for the company. That he would only ever have what is best for it at the forefront of his mind."
"Do you truly believe that?" Severus lowered his voice. "I have known you since birth Draco and I will ask this only once, can we trust this venture?"
Draco closed his eyes and quietly said, "I honestly don't know. I know I don't trust Riddle. My father is a lot of things, but he isn't unintelligent. He would have thought this through."
"He lacks lateral thinking though, something you have in spades." Severus licked his lips. "Have you heard about the last time a merger was suggested?"
Draco frowned. "I have been made to believe that father has never entertained the idea before now."
"The archives are an interesting place aren't they?" Severus said with narrowed eyes. "They've recently started digitising everything. They are scanning everything onto the serves and shredding the hard copies. Did you know?"
"I did yes." He had heard the IT department complaining about the installation.
"Far too easy to lose things when it's all digital in my opinion. I'm just stuck in my ways though." Severus said standing. "They have decades to get through, it is a major undertaking. They are working backwards. I believe they are currently at December 1985."
"Are they really?"
"Most of it is impeccably dull of course, numbers that don't mean anything to anyone anymore. I was however, riveted, by the minutes of the January 85 board meeting." He moved to the door. "Forgive me, I tend to rattle on in my old age."
"You're not that old."
Severus winked at him before closing the door behind him. His father was at lunch with his mother that gave him at the very least, another hour.
After telling Dianne, his father's assistant, that he was off for a bite, he made his way down to the bowels of the building. Unlike his father, like much in life, Draco made a point to get to know as many people in his employees as possible. The people no one looked at twice, the faceless masses, the people who held the real power. Draco learned early on that if these people stopped turning up for work, the world would spin off its axis.
"Janis." Draco smiled at the middle aged woman who had more than likely been middle aged from birth.
"Draco, it's good to see you." She smiled up from her computer. "What have we done to deserve your wonderful presence today? Biscuit?"
He took a biscuit and made a note to never take one again, he was fairly certain they were made of cat litter. Sitting down he said, "I need a favour."
"Straight to the point, that's why I like you." She spun away from her screen. "I owe more than a few and there's little if anything I wouldn't do." Draco had given her the loan that had saved their family home a few years previous, it was a solid investment.
"I need to take a look at some records from over 20 years ago." He looked her in the eyes, not blinking. "And I need for no one to find out."
"Absolutely." She said with a nod. "Anything in particular I can pull?"
"Board meeting minutes and anything else that could be at all related to January 1985."
She typed something into her computer and then walked through the never ending rows of filing cabinets. By the time she got back, she had a neat stack of faded Manilla folders.
"They're not far off uploading this stuff." She said putting it down. "If only you could hold off a few months. It'll be much easier to go through on a computer."
'Much easier to destroy as well.' He thought to himself. "Where can I set up?"
"There's a spare desk behind that cabinet." She pointed behind her. "I can probably give you 45 before I can't keep the girls out of here anymore."
"That will be perfect." He kissed her cheek. "Thank you Janis."
Three quarters of an hour later, he put the neat stack files back on Janis' desk and kissed her cheek. He smiled at everyone he walked by and even got stuck in a pleasant conversation with the head of maintenance. For all who would look at him, he was having quite the pleasant day. Inside he was fuming, inside he was picturing his father's head on a spike. Inside he was ready for war.
As it turned out, his father was nothing but the stereotypical shady business man that the papers always accused him of being. They could have lost everything back then, still could. His mother and Lily Potter had been friends, she was distraught when Lily had died not ever having fixed things. She couldn't even go to the funeral. Harry and Draco were friends, his mother would always say that it was useless trying to keep them apart, so they just got one nanny for both of them. James had put his own company in the line to try and help his father and Lucius threw it all away. He threw it all away for Malfoy pride.
He had always been taught that the Malfoy name carried more weight than gold. That anyone who wasn't a Malfoy was to be pitied. A Malfoy was strong and powerful. Being a Malfoy meant dignity and respect. Right now he was ready to throw it in and become a Snape.
Lucius refused to admit that he had led the company into almost ruin. He had hidden the real numbers from investors, he told everyone that they were in the black and ready to expand. In actuality, they were significantly in the red. James Potter had proposed a merger of the two companies. Unlike this one with Riddle, that one actually made sense. Malfoy's were logical and methodical planners while the Potters were innovators and creative. It would have been beautiful.
Instead of thinking rationally, his father told the board that the Potter's were planning a hostile takeover and they had to close ranks. The merger was scrapped. Then his father did the only creative thinking in his life. He faked the numbers to a point of beauty. He took that to the government grants office and got the payout he needed to keep the company afloat. It wasn't enough though, April of 85 brought the fire. The fire in which 12 people were seriously injured. The fire that bought with it the insurance claim. That was the money that got them through the fiscal year, and they were turning a profit again 3 years later. They came out of it but now Draco didn't only have to think about insolvency. If this ever got out, his father would also be going to prison.
"Severus." Draco said to his phone once he finally made it onto the street.
"Draco where are you?" What sounded like a door closing came through the phone. "Your father's looking for you."
"I need you to cover for me." He ran a hand down his face. "I just did some interesting reading."
"Indeed?"
"Make some excuse to my father will you? I won't be back in."
"Of course."
"Also." He took a deep breath. "I'll be having my weekly breakfast with mother tomorrow. She's been dying to see you."
"I have been meaning to see her." It was all a game, Severus had seen her just 2 hours earlier. "Feel better Draco, I hear there's a nasty stomach bug around."
After hanging up, he found himself walking the streets. He let his face get lost in the crowds. No direction, no plans, just letting his feet carry him. His father had fucked up royally and now Draco had to decide what to do. Trust that his father knew what he was doing and become an active accomplice. Or turn it all over and watch his business, his family be ripped apart.
Looking around he found himself standing beneath the tower of London. Suddenly feeling very small and insignificant, he pulled out his phone and decided to break every rule in the book.
"Hello, oh fuck, hold on." A voice carried down the phone.
"James?" He asked bemused. "Are you ok?"
"Draco that you?" He could hear the other man smile. "Yeah I just dropped a hammer on my toe. Nothing unusual there."
"You're a menace to yourself." Draco chuckled.
"I stand firm that inanimate objects are out to get me."
"Sounds like I interrupted you, I can call back later." There was music blasting in the background.
"No don't stress, just let me go somewhere quiet." He heard the sounds of doors opening and closing and the music shut down.
"Where are you?"
"Broom cupboard. I'm sitting on a mop bucket that's probably going to break under my ass. You?"
"Looking at Big Ben."
"Draco it's June."
"Yes, and?"
"Nothing." James laughed. "So you like tourists then?"
"I've had an absolutely shit of a day, I needed air."
"Well done, its barely half 1."
"I excel at everything I do." Draco laughed. "Including having abhorrent days."
"Want to talk about it?"
Draco sighed. "I think I'd much rather forget if I'm honest."
"Well," James paused. "Look I know this goes against the dating handbook, Hermione explained the rules. I was a bit confused but I'm fairly certain that you just broke one first."
Draco laughed again. "That's very true. What did you have in mind?"
"I am bored out of mind and keep getting distracted. Hermione is going to murder me, I mean hiding the body and everything, if I don't get this list done. But there isn't a soul here to talk to while I hammer nails or fill in mind numbing paperwork."
"Won't I be even more of a distraction."
"Maybe but I've never been comfortable in my own." James said. "I can make you lunch."
"Well I am very good at paperwork."
"So you'll come?"
"How can I refuse. I'm on my way." he hung up the phone and absolutely did not run to the nearest cab.
"You bought me liquid nails?" James was leaning against the door frame of his club.
"Well wine seemed like a bad idea if you were using power tools." Draco said, blushing to his roots. "And flowers seemed far too corny."
"I love it." James stepped aside. "Come in."
Draco was led through the hallways of the lower level and into a store room filled with a mix of music equipment and alcohol. Next to the door there was a suspiciously fist shaped hole in the wall.
"I'm not the only one who has bad days then." Draco perched himself up on a big black box.
"Yeah I guess not." James rubbed his neck sheepishly. "I had a band back out of a contract and I was already having a shocking afternoon. Hermione bought me one of those boxing ball things afterwards."
"Your venue manager bought you exercise equipment?" The most Draco had got out of an employee was a mug on his birthday.
"She's more like a friend." He said as he got to work patching the hole. "Best friend I've ever had really. She pulls me up on my shit and never lets me wallow for too long. Aside from Si- my godfather, she probably knows me best."
"She sounds like Pansy." Draco smiled.
They were silent for a long while before James said. "So do you want to talk about it? Whatever got you into a right little snit?"
"Not particularly no."
"You'd rather sit here and watch me work?" James asked pulling off his overshirt to clean up what he'd spilled on the floor.
"You mean sit here and watch you slowly take off your clothes?" Draco asked amused. "No that sounds like a ghastly way to spend my afternoon."
James turned his head and winked at him. "I need to wait for that to dry. Let's go see what else I can fix, god this place is falling apart."
"Did you always want to do this?" Draco asked as James found some loose floor boards to hammer down.
"What? Try and hold a building up with hopes, dreams and nails?"
"No, own a bar."
"No, I wanted to be like my dad." James sat back on his heels. "I wanted to work in a tall building and wear a tie. I wanted to be important just like him."
"You'd look good in a tie."
"I look ridiculous in a tie." James promised before getting back to his nails. "Dad liked to think he was a musician. I have his guitar in my office, never play it though. It's probably why I went down the music route. What did you want grow up to be?"
"A cowboy."
"Bullocks!" James dropped his hammer onto his foot and glared at Draco. "You did that on purpose."
"There's a very real possibility yes." Draco tried to fight his grin.
"Seems like Pansy was right about you all along." James said, standing up.
Draco's face fell. "Whatever she said it's all a lie."
"Really?" James smiled as he picked up his tool box before walking up the stairs.
"She's a compulsive liar that one." Draco said quickly. "Can't trust her."
"Is that right?" They walked into his office. "So you're not a prickly little perfectionist shit who is actually a big softy at heart. And you're not fiercely loyal to those who manage to fight their way in?"
"Well she doesn't lie ALL the time." Draco mumbled sitting down on one of the couches.
They continued to chat while James made the pile of papers slowly get smaller. Draco even managed to help him save time on the bureaucracy of it all. They stopped for a quick snack and Draco busied himself by going through the upcoming band schedules, there were some half decent acts coming over the next few months.
"I don't think I've ever been more productive." James said as he walked Draco out. "Hermione might even give me the night off."
"We're still on for Thursday yeah?" Draco asked as his cab pulled up.
"Can't wait." James smiled at him.
Pulling away Draco was amazed at how entranced he was with the man. Usually by the third time Draco had seen someone he had learned enough to delete their numbers and hope to never cross them in the street. Not this time though. This time Draco was fascinated
"Severus, I had no idea you would be joining us today." His mother stood from the small table to greet him.
Tuesday morning breakfast had been a tradition if there's since he had started university. His father had never once joined them, it was a few hours of the week that he truly looked forward to. They only ever missed one if either of them was out of the country, even then they spoke on the phone. Everything that was said and done at breakfast was kept there. His mother's lips was more secure that the tightest if vaults. This was a safe space.
"Narcissa," Severus kissed her cheeks. "You're looking as beautiful as ever."
"Thank you, would you like to join us?" She motioned to a chair. "I'm sure Draco can share a pastry or two."
"Not on your life." Draco guarded the tray.
"As much as I would enjoy the pleasure of your company, I'm afraid I can't stay today." He turned to Draco. "I believe we have something to discuss."
"Of course." He stood up. "I'm sorry mother but this cannot wait."
"It's fine dear." She looked at him with suspicion. "Take the library, I'll make sure that you're not disturbed."
Draco opened the door and let Severus follow.
"So you read the files then?" Severus sat in one of the green leather sofas while Draco leaned against a table.
Draco buried his face in his hands. The company or the family, he needed to choose. "I did." Sighing he said. "He's planning to destroy Potter's company. He's says that they've done some dodgy dealings and has the evidence to back it up. I think their waiting to be able to destroy our records before they act on it though. Going forward now is mutually assured destruction. Riddle said 6 months, but it will probably be sooner knowing archives productivity."
Severus took a deep breath. "And who will question a couple of 20 year old files?"
Draco put his hands beside him and leant forward. "I need to ask you a frank question. If push comes to shove, where are your loyalties. To the company or my father?"
"Once upon a time they weren't mutually exclusive." Severus said. "It has always been the company though Draco. That hasn't changed."
Draco nodded and pulled out an envelope he had folded in his breast pocket. "This feels eerily like industrial espionage."
Severus opened the package and tipped the contents into the coffee table. "Draco, what is this?"
"Photos. Of everything." Draco moved to sit on the Coffee table. "He can have the originals shredded at the soft copies deleted. But I have my own."
"You know what this means don't you." Severus was fingering a photo.
"Yes." Draco frowned. "We have to work quickly and quietly."
Severus squeezed Draco's knee. "It means you better be ready to take over the business. We won't have time to breathe once this is done."
"I'm aware." Draco stared darkly into the man's eyes. "Tell me, are you friendly with anyone over at Potter?"
Severus hesitated. "I wouldn't say friendly is the right word. The acting CEO and I have some history, but I don't think he'd kick my feet in the street."
"I want to meet with him."
"With Sirius Black?" Severus was taken aback. "Whatever for?"
"James Potter was onto something back then." Draco stood to pace the room. "A merger makes sense every way I look at it. It could be wonderful."
"I'll try and make contact."
"I'm also going to know who on the board we can trust." Draco added. "My father can't hear a word of this so we're going to need outside legal help."
"You'll need someone beyond good." Severus said thoughtfully. "You'll need someone who knows what they're doing with a bigger grudge against your father than Black or the Potters."
"I need Remus Lupin."
Severus nodded with a sad smile. "Yes you need Lupin. He's a professor up at Cambridge these days. I can't help you there though, our friendship was caught in the cross hairs of your fathers campaign against him. Black and him were once very friendly he's probably our only hope."
"How soon can you set up a meet?" Draco asked.
"I'll call today." Severus started flicking through the photos again. "I'll have to be careful with the board, but I should have some names to you by the end of the week."
"Thank you Severus." He said as he walked him to the front door of his parents' home. "For everything, this company owes you a lot."
They shook hands. "Your father is a powerful man Draco, but he's made a lot of enemies. You're not alone."
When he had gone he went back and found his mother sitting on a chaise near the window. "What's happening Dragon?"
He knelt down on the ground beside her and took her hands. "If I could tell you and know you would be safe, I would tell you."
She smiled forlornly. "Plausible deniability?"
He nodded and kissed her hands.
"Just be careful, please." She ran her fingers through his hair.
"I always am mum."
By the time that Thursday evening rolled around, Draco was ready to crawl into his pyjamas, eat a litre of double chocolate ice cream and forget the last two days had ever happened. Between dodging his father and having Severus tell him that Black was refusing to see him, Draco was miserable.
All he wanted was a night to sit by himself, maybe open a bottle of wine, read a book and sit in the tub. He could order in from that Thai place that he and Pansy had found. He pulled out his phone to place the order when he saw a text that was sent an hour ago.
Still on for tonight? J.
He had completely forgotten about James. He was officially the world's worst date. He looked at the clock, it was 5:15.
Absolutely! 7?
Meet me here?
Can't wait! What are we doing? I need to figure out what I'm wearing. I'm assuming the suit I'm wearing with the coffee stain isn't going to work.
Just dinner, I made reservations at my favourite place. You might want to wear jeans though, or something think. A cowboy hat could work.
In your dreams James
You have no idea
At 545 he was ready to call the whole thing off and hide under his bed. He rang Pansy and demanded that she come over immediately.
"Draco I swear this better be life or death. I have a bloody date." She called, letting herself in.
He ran out of his room in nothing but a pair of Y fronts and socks. "I have nothing to wear."
"Draco I find that hard to believe." She said following him back into his room. "No one owns more clothes than you. Where are you going?"
"I have a date with James." He started sifting through the mountain of clothing that had made its way onto his bed.
"Draco!" She slapped his shoulders. "I have spoken to you 7 times since Sunday and you didn't think to mention this?"
"Pansy please! Focus!" He held up a pink t shirt. "I have nothing to wear so I'll end up wearing a plastic garbage bag and he won't want to date me anymore."
"He'll probably love what you're wearing now."
"Pansy!"
"Alright calm down." She smiled taking the shirt off him. "Where are you going?"
"I don't know that's the problem. All he said was wear jeans or something thick, what does that even mean?" He fell backwards into his bed. "No he didn't tell me to wear them, he said I might want to. Not that I should or that it would be appropriate. That I might want to wear jeans. I never want to wear jeans."
She knelt down beside him. "You've got it bad for this guy don't you?"
"Pans," She sat up and looked imploringly at her. "I am going to be completely honest with you. I have known this man for 5 days and I'm that time I have learned something incredibly important."
"What's that then?" She asked with a soft smile.
"James is as close to perfect as you can possibly get." He said gripping her shoulders. "Unless he tells me that he's secretly a woman I don't think anything would turn him off. I am so ass backwards hot for this guy I think I'm going to actually explode."
"Oh sweetie." She said softly.
"Now please," He said firmly. "I'm begging you. Tell me what to wear."
She smiled and without even trying pulled out a green button down, black jeans, leather shoes and a belt to match.
"How did you do that?" He said jumping up and snatching the items. "I've been staring at that pile for an hour."
"It's a gift." She shrugged. "Now get dressed. When are you meeting him?"
He pulled up his jeans and clipped on his watch it was half six. "Fuck half an hour. Why does he live so far away?" he quickly added his belt and tried to fix his hair. "Have I mentioned I love you today?"
She hugged him tight. "Have fun. Now go."
Driving towards the venue, Draco managed to stall his car three times, run 4 red lights and narrowly missed running over a group of Japanese tourists. When he knocked on the door, he was 2 minutes early.
The back door was left unlocked, so he let himself in. He ran into Hermione in the first hallway.
"Draco, you look nice." She said with a smile. "Jamie said to tell you that he's running late but to send you up."
"Thanks." He said trying to calm his rolling stomach. He ran through the halls and up the stairs only managing to slow down once he got to the closed door of Harry's studio. Taking a deep breath, he turned the handle.
"James?" He called. The door across from him opened and Draco's mouth went dry. Out walked James in nothing but a fluffy white towel wrapped around his hips and another around his neck. There was a tiny droplet of water running down his neck, over his chest, across his toned stomach just to be absorbed by the evil malevolent towel. Draco wanted to lick the trail that was left behind, hell he wanted to be the trail. James wasn't looking at him. He made a noise in the back of his throat.
"Oh fuck Draco!" Jamie was a serial killer. He was trying to kill Draco slowly with innuendo and temptation. "Well this is awkward." there was another drop of water.
"Um yep." Draco seemed to have forgotten how to speak. James was a wanker of the highest order.
"I'm just going to," He held up his clothes and nodded to the bathroom.
Draco nodded unsure whether to be relieved of disappointed. Once James was back in the bathroom, Draco realised he was still holding onto the door knob. He quickly let go and shut the door.
"So, er, start again?" James asked with a small smile once he was dressed.
"Sure." He stood in front of him. "Hi."
"Hi back." James licked his lips, he was standing very close. "We should go."
"Yeah we really should." Draco could feel his heart rate speeding up and his breath was coming out in hard puffs.
"If we don't I'm going to," James shut his eyes, took a deep breath and pushed at Draco's chest. "Dinner."
"Right. Food. Conversation." Draco could have sworn that at some point in his life he was quite articulate.
"If we don't leave now we'll end up missing dinner." Though he said this, his fingers were moving against Draco's.
"Which would be bad." Draco couldn't actually see why. Missing dinner sounded like the best idea in the world.
"Very." James slowly moved a hand up Draco's wrist.
"Why is that again." Draco asked watching as his fingers locked with James'
"I don't actually remember." James' hand was still moving up towards Draco's shoulder.
"Right of course." he licked his lips and swallowed.
"Draco?" James' voice was deep.
"Yeah?" Draco breathed.
"I know that it's not meant to happen until the end of a date,"
"Oh thank god."
Having no idea who moved first, their lips met, and Draco was on fire. James' lips were somehow both soft and hard against his own. His teeth bit into Draco's bottom lip and his fingers were going to leave bruises along the hips they were grasping. James kissed like everything in his life was leading up to this moment. He kissed as if there was nothing else he would ever want to do again. Draco was in no way complaining.
James pulled back slightly. "Right, I believe I owe you dinner."
Draco laughed. "Yes I think dinner sounds wonderful."
As they walked down stairs hand in hand, Draco cursed his stomach for refusing to stay still. He felt 10 years younger, full of hopes and dreams for the future, going on his first grown up date. Why had he been so stressed today?
"So we'll take my car?" Draco fished out his keys. Burly man without a smile was back and grunted at them as they walked past.
James shook his head. "There's no way I'm letting you drive us around tonight. My date my rules."
Draco glared. "You're going to make me leave my baby behind?"
"Yep. This way." He twitched his head to the side where a shed stood next to another band's truck. James opened the door to reveal a large black motorbike. He handed Draco a leather Jacket and a spare helmet.
"You're fucking kidding me." Draco slipped the jacket on.
"What?" shrugging on his own and lowering his helmet.
Before Draco climbed up he opened his visor. "You do realise that you're a walking cock tease don't you?"
James laughed and revved the engine. "Hold on tight." he yelled, and they were off.
Their date was simple, laid back, fun, it was perfect. It was everything and more than what Draco was expecting. They had dinner at a local restaurant, where the owners had a great deal of entertainment at James' expense. Then they stopped by a cocktail lounge where Draco convinced James to try something pink and fizzy. They prolonged the inevitable by taking the scenic route back. Eventually, Draco was disappointed to see the familiar parking lot with its single street light.
"I had fun tonight." Draco said, leaning against the metal railing on the stairs.
"So did I." James smiled.
"So I guess that means I'm in with a chance for a second date?" Draco asked.
"Third if you count the coffee we had when you forgot your phone." James suggested.
"I'll call you?" Draco didn't want to leave.
James bit his bottom lip before moving closer. "Or,"
"Or?" Draco's breath hitched.
James bent forward, slipped his hands around Draco's hips and into the back pockets then took the shell of Draco's ear in between his teeth. "Or."
Draco moaned. "I really like the sound of or."
"What are you doing tomorrow?" James was biting his way down Draco's neck.
"No-nothing in the morning." Draco groaned again when James found a sensitive spot above his collar bone. "Then I have meetings all afternoon."
"So you'll be sitting down all day?" James smiled as he started to back off. "Wouldn't want to make you too uncomfortable."
Draco growled as he walked James up against the wall. "I have been half hard since you got out of the shower. Please don't make me go home and take care of it myself."
James pulled his hands out and spun them around. "That would be rather cruel of me." He latched onto Draco's mouth before reaching down to wrap Draco's leg around his own. He thrust forward and only sheer force of stubborn will, kept Draco from coming then and there.
"I didn't think you'd actually wear them." James panted into Draco's neck.
"What?" Why was James still insisting on talking?
"The jeans. I thought you'd ignore me, and you'd turn up in proper suit pants." He rubbed their hips together again. "I thought you'd turn up looking perfectly put together without a hair out of place. Instead you turn up in the tightest pair of jeans you could find that make your ass look edible. And your hair looking like you've just had the best shag of your life."
"Oh." Draco's head fell back as James thrust harder.
"We should really go inside." James said biting on Draco's collar bone.
"Oh god." Draco groaned.
"We really should go upstairs." James lowered his hand to run it up the inside of Draco's shirt. Draco was about to combust.
"Oh fuck." he moaned as James' nail knocked his nipple.
"Oh my god!"
James froze. "Tell me that isn't Hermione."
"Jamie!" Hermione's shrill voice echoed through the empty carpark.
He let his head fall onto Draco's shoulder and asked, "Do me a favour? Can you check to see if there's a tall guy there, red hair, freckles."
Draco peered over James' head. "Yeah there's three gingers, a set of twins."
"Fuck I am never ever going to live this down." James lifted his head and dropped Draco's leg. "This is going on my tombstone."
"Jamie, I had no idea you were such a kinky bloke." One of the twins said.
"Where has this side been hiding?" Said another.
"I completely understand if you're too mortified to come up." James said with a red face.
Draco didn't have to think even for a second. "let's go."
As the past the gingers James called out, "You're all fired." Which just left them howling.
"I think I need to move." James said when he slammed his door closed. "Somewhere very far away where no one with the name Weasley will ever be able to find me."
"It's like they've never seen you with a date before." Draco smiled leaning against the kitchen table.
"They haven't, not like that anyway." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't usually have the time."
"I'm the same." Draco shrugged. "Someone has to really get my attention for me to want to give them what little time I do have."
James walked over and Draco instinctively opened his legs for him. "Am I interesting enough?"
"You're the most interesting person I've ever met." He raised a hand to thread it through the black hair. "I also would really appreciate it if you'd fuck me. I mean I can too if you're not into it, but I'd really like for you to,"
James put a hand over his mouth. "Yes."
Draco sucked on one of the fingers and enjoyed watching James' eyes dilate. "What were you saying about my ass down stairs?"
James pushed him down so that Draco was lying back on the table. "You mean that these jeans make it look tastier than Christmas pudding?" He flicked the top button of the jeans open with one hand and began working on the shirt with the other. "That all night I was wondering what you would look like bent over my bike? That while we were eating dinner I almost came at the thought of your mouth around my cock?"
Draco was panting hard. James was going to slowly, he needed more but he never wanted this to end. James had somehow managed to undo all of his shirt buttons and remove his jeans with Draco noticing, not caring. He was very much aware that he looked like a panting wonton whore, but he didn't much care, right now, that's what he was.
James slowly lowered his underwear down his hips and over his bulge, to be discarded with his jeans. "You're perfect." James muttered as he began mouthing the inside of Draco's thigh. "Where did you even come from."
Draco moaned as James once again didn't touch his cock.
"Turn around for me, I'll be right back." Draco nodded as he tried to regain control of his breathing. Just when he thought he almost had it, James was back.
"Lube." he out the tube in the table beside him. "Fuck you're gorgeous like this." He took a cheek in each hand and began to kneed. "Fuck Draco, I need to, oh god can I?"
"Yes." Draco almost screamed, because yes he was more than ok to be fucked right now.
Instead of feeling thick fingers however, he felt a very wet, very warm tongue slide down his crack and swirl around his opening. Draco had done this twice before. The first was with Blaise at school when they began experimenting, the second was with a man who's tongue was too dry and his lips too chapped. Like when he kissed though, James seemed to have mastered the art. He licked and nipped and sucked in exactly the right way, leaving Draco little more than a hot mess.
He barely noticed when the fingers entered him. Only when James was three digits deep and just managing to graze his prostate did he call out. He was starting a church he decided then and there, he would dedicate his life to worshipping James Black's tongue and fingers.
"James if you don't fuck me right now," Draco punched the table. "I'll bloody well do it myself."
James groaned into Draco's ass. "You can't say shit like that Draco. Or this will be over real bloody quick."
"Fuck me damn it." He punched the table again. James stood up, spun Draco around and had him on his back again in one swift movement.
Outraged, he pushed himself onto his elbows. "Why are you still fucking dressed."
"I got distracted." James ripped the shirt off over his head, letting Draco gaze at that hard chest again. "You weren't exactly complaining at the time."
"That was then." Draco ran a finger down James chest, making the same journey as the water droplet all those hours ago. He put his hand around the very prominent bulge. "This is now."
"You're going to get me into a lot of trouble Draco Malfoy." James kicked off his shoes and pulled down his pants.
"That's the plan." Draco covered his own hand in the clear lubricant and ran his hand slowly down the long, thick and hard length, letting his thumb catch on the foreskin. "Now I do believe that you promised to shag me."
"God you're a bossy bottom." James pushed Draco back down against the table, lining his hips he slowly pushed himself in.
"Oh fuck." Draco called out when James was fully sheathed.
"Oh fuck, fuck Draco I need to move." James panted, biting the knee he had wrapped around his neck. "Oh god please?"
Draco was able to nod once before James was off. Pulling out almost all the way before pushing back in.
"Harder." Draco begged.
James listened, he moved harder, more forceful, shorter strokes. All of which left Draco with the ability to say more than, 'Yes' 'Fuck' and 'There'.
Sweat was falling freely into their eyes but neither of them seemed to notice or care. Draco reached his arms back to grip on to the table and met James thrust for thrust.
When James managed to loosen one hand to wrap around Draco's cock, he lasted less than one stroke before coming over both of their chests. James followed almost at once pumping himself in and out, riding out his orgasm. James let Draco's legs fall and rested his head against the pale stomach beneath him.
They lay there panting for what could have been days before James lifted his head to look into Draco's eyes. Draco couldn't help but laugh.
"You have cum in your hair." He let his fingers run through it. "Lube as well I think."
James smiled dopily. "Shower?"
The next morning when Harry watched Draco drive away, he knew with absolute certainty that he was in trouble. He was in over his head and this could only and would only end in tears. The problem was, right now, he couldn't bring himself to care overly much. The feeling he got around Draco was invigorating.
He smiled to himself as he walked into his office. He was so distracted that he didn't notice someone sitting in his chair until they said, "Morning pup."
"Sirius!" He smiled at his godfather. "Did I forget you were coming?"
"Nope." He held up a thin envelope. "Something came up that I need to discuss with you."
"Alright." He sat on the corner of the desk and folded his arms. "Is it about the Gringotts contract? The guys down there are wankers but they're good at what they do."
Sirius opened the thin paper and let the contents spill onto the desk. Causing Harry to feel like he'd been slapped.
"When you told me you had started dating someone," Sirius began separating the photos. "You didn't tell me it was the Malfoy brat."
"His name's Draco." He looked at the photo beside him in outrage. They were from his date the night before. Some were innocent enough, it could be passed off as two mates having dinner. The troubling ones were taken at the back door. Draco's leg around his hip and Harry's head in his neck. "How long have you had me followed?"
"I don't, after seeing these though, maybe I should." Sirius folded his arms. "We've had the Malfoy's followed on and off for years."
"I like him." Harry said picking up a photo of Draco laughing.
"You don't know him." Sirius argued.
"No offence, but neither do you." Harry said pushing off his desk and moving to the window. "He's not his father."
Sirius stood. "Is this where you heard that Lucius had something up his sleeve?"
"He only mentioned It once, in passing." he looked at the photo in his hand, it must have been Creevey. No one else would have been this clear, focussed.
"Severus Snape has been trying to make contact with me." Sirius said. "Does the Malfoy boy know who you are?"
"No." Harry said quietly. "He just turned up here one night for a gig. I almost fell over when he said his name."
"What do you want to do?" Sirius asked. "We can either ignore this and tackle whatever Lucius is planning or we set up this meeting and gauge it."
"I need to tell Draco." Harry said softly. "You should set up a meeting with Snape but watch your back. Have a chat to some of your contacts over there first, see if he's legit."
Sirius nodded. "If shit hits the fan Harry."
"Yeah I know." He ran his hand over his dad's guitar. "I'll have to come back."
TBC
