Hello there, thank you for the reviews I received, I have followed up with chapter 2. Chapter 3 has been written, but I am stuck on Ch.4 so there might be a delay as I finish writing up to at least chapter 7 (see, I'm trying to be organised…).

Anyway, on with the story, if you can call it that.

R&R people

RippedIntoPieces

Chapter 2:

'Seriously Potter, are you still writing that damn report?' Malfoy asked incredulously, watching Harry fill the parchment with his spidery writing, his shoulders hunched and his head down.

'Just because I put detail into my reports rather than the bare necessities so I have time to re-do my hair, doesn't give you the right to mock me.' Harry replied in a bored tone, without looking up from the report, the stinging curse Malfoy had just sent him rebounding and hitting Malfoy's wand arm, he hissed in pain, clutching his arm to his chest. Harry chuckled; it had been a long six weeks.

Harry had learnt that Malfoy was more interested in the action side of being an Auror than the paperwork, which meant that Harry had to bring up the slack when Malfoy couldn't be arsed; he didn't mind particularly, but found it rather irritating when Malfoy mocked him for explaining the crime in the reports, and the ramifications; he was only doing his job.

What he found even more annoying was Malfoy's indignation that Harry's spell work was not up to scratch; when they were patrolling the streets, or on an assignment, Draco often pointed out that Harry was failing to use the right hand movements when he prepared to use even the most basic of spells, and he scorned Harry's inability to perform a large amount of non-verbal spells. Harry had been completely unaware of Malfoy's supposed talent at charms during his Hogwarts years, but now he could see that Draco did have certain flair when it came to difficult magic. This, in Harry's mind, just made him a more formidable opponent, and not an opportune partner; dangerous enough to cause an actual threat to Harry's life if he turned back to his old ways.

'Potter, we've got an assignment to do, if you don't finish your bloody report soon I'll find a new partner and you'll be confined to nothing but paperwork.' Malfoy growled at Harry, his wand held out threateningly.

He finished his sentence and put down his pen, looking up; he smirked at the irked expression on Malfoy's face, if looks could kill Harry thought, glaring back at Malfoy with equal ferocity.

'Shall we go then?' He asked, acting impatient, gesturing to the door. Malfoy nodded robotically, still glaring at Harry, who had stood up, grabbed his cloak and was aiming for the door.

Sighing, knowing he'd failed yet again to get Harry even remotely interested in an argument, he followed him out the door and they apparated out of the Atrium.

Using the apparition co-ordinates, Harry and Draco found themselves outside a series of empty brick houses, their windows darkened with a thick layer or grime. The street was empty, the light of the day fast disappearing and the incoming dark covering the corners of the street. Draco wrinkled his nose at the setting, his pale hair contrasting to the gloom of the street.

'Do you know who we're meant to be watching?' Harry asked quietly, checking the street and road in front in case someone was watching them from a distance. Draco brought a report from under his cloak, the paper crumpled after being crushed against his body for the majority of the day.

'Well, according to a witness statement, from one of the witches that hangs round Diagon Alley lusting after various wizards, apparently he's called Andrew Cleveland, a half-blood, 6 foot tall. Has been described as having a chiselled face and er…' Draco squinted at the report 'Dreamy eyes?' He glared at the witness report, the flowing writing dotted with hearts reminded Harry of several of the women who'd sent him love letters in the recent months, 'Typical witch,' Draco seethed, 'Always flirting, even in serious situations…that's not even a proper description!' He coughed slightly, clearly waiting for an opportunity to change the subject, 'Anyway, so rather tall, medium build, striking face and er…short brown hair.' Draco finished lamely, allowing Harry to grab the report and read it himself,

'Hmmmm…suspected of smuggling contraband dark artifacts down Knockturn Alley, an ex-Death Eater, you would happen to know him would you Malfoy?' Harry asked innocently, watching Malfoy's previously calm expression change to one of extreme loathing,

'Shut it Potter, try not to act like as much of a twat as usual…if you can help it.' Draco snapped huffily, turning from Harry and leaning against the wall of the house; determined not to talk to him until their suspect showed up, if he did show up.

'Sorry Malfoy, you know I didn't mean it.' Harry apologised awkwardly, knowing Draco had taken his comment to heart. He should be used to it by now, Harry thought, recalling many of the jeers and insults Draco had been sent by people when they'd been on patrol and had been passed by members of the wizarding public. Draco had found it easy to brush off these insults, but clearly, it hurt him more when the people he worked with thought of him in the same way.

They stood in cold silence for the next few hours, Harry glancing at Draco every so often to see if his body language had relaxed, but always found Draco turned away from him, his shoulders tense. Harry was busy thinking about the wedding plans he'd been discussing with Ginny when Draco suddenly burst out with

'So what's the deal with you and the Weaslette? I thought the great Harry Potter wasn't into hero worship.' Draco sneered slightly, taking on his older persona, something Harry recognised from his school years.

'What do you mean?' Harry asked quickly, taken back slightly by the sudden intrusion of the completely unrelated subject.

'Well, I heard from one of the witches on one of the lower floors, that you'd proposed to her. She was rather disappointed, I have to say, I have no idea why…but I was rather curious as to why you've become engaged to the Weasley girl. Is it something like Gryffindor pride? Because I've never understood why you always marry the people you date at school, we Slytherin's like to broaden our horizons. Or do you enjoy having one of your biggest fans around all the time to praise your brilliance?' Draco was eagerly awaiting Harry's reaction, hoping that finally he'd argue back. If Draco was good at one thing, irritating and arguing his fellow peers was it, and as soon as he and Harry came to blows, he could get a new partner.

'Basically, I love her Malfoy, now I realise that isn't an emotion you're accustomed to seeing as you're destined to marry someone of your parents choosing, but I happen to understand it, and that's why I proposed to her. Are you done with your little interrogation now?' Harry asked irritably.

Draco was stunned by Harry's sudden outburst, and at Harry's knowledge of his arranged marriage to Astoria, he was stung slightly by his assumption that Draco didn't understand love; but to an outsider that was probably how his family was viewed.

'Yes, I'm done. Sorry for being curious about your life Potter…I was only asking.' Draco retorted tersely

'Well…' Harry struggled to think of something intelligent to say, 'Just don't' He finished with pathetically.

And with that they returned back to their original silence, purposely staring in opposite directions to avoid even the chance that they might accidentally look at each other.

After another hour, Draco was beginning to get bored, the street was completely dark, and he could just make out Harry's face about a metre away from him. Annoyingly though, he thought, I can't see his expression,

'Potter.' He addressed the raven haired boy next to him, who stiffened suddenly, obviously dreading another obnoxious conversation with Draco,

'Yes Malfoy?' He asked calmly,

Draco wasn't really sure what he was planning to say, but luckily, at that moment, the suspect apparated in the corner of the street, his cloak swished around him and he began to make his way towards them. His head was down, and in the darkness of the street, it would've been hard to spot Harry and Draco anyway. He was only a short distance away when they caught up to him, standing on either side of the man, prepared to stop him if he tried to apparate or transform.

'Mr Cleveland?' The man looked up, alarmed; as he had not noticed, the two of them sidle next to him.

'Uh…yes?' He asked quietly, fear creeping into his voice

'Hello, I'm Auror Malfoy, and this here is Auror Potter. We have reason to believe that you have been smuggling dark artifacts to people down Knockturn Alley, and unfortunately, we're going to have to bring you in for questioning.' Draco said in a slightly simpering tone.

In the dim light, the man's face might have paled, but as it was, Draco wouldn't have noticed; he was suddenly distracted by the man who had elbowed Draco in the face, causing his head to jerk back sharply, he then sent a quick-moving hex at Harry, its reddish light glowing in the air. Due to the short distance between them, Harry didn't have time to move out of the way of the curses projectile; and he was hit directly in the chest. Draco looked up at the man, whose face was sharp with fear, he stuttered out an apology before apparating directly in front of Draco, who was slightly dazed from the blow to his jaw. He crouched down next to the still form that was Harry.

'Ennervate.' He whispered quietly, hoping that Harry had just been hit by a stunning spell; Harry didn't move and Draco began to panic, 'Ennervate.' He muttered, and still Harry refused to wake up. Draco chewed his lip, if Potter doesn't wake up…I'll be blamed, Draco knew that the wizarding society would not take the accidental coma of their Golden Boy well, and no doubt they would blame Draco, because of his ex-Death Eater status.

He gritted his teeth and decided to try the spell once more, he muttered it quietly, unsure whether he had actually said it at all, before he saw the light spill from his wand, lighting up Harry's face. Harry opened his eyes and shot up, fear evident in his eyes; he grabbed Draco, pulling him close. He was muttering incoherently, and Draco clutched at him, forgetting temporarily that they were enemies. Eventually after a few seconds more muttering, Harry seemed to realise where he was and he quickly detached himself from Draco's arms. After a quick apology, he pulled himself to his feet, and Draco followed suite, glad of the dark, as it was hiding his blush. Harry glanced back at Draco,

'Did he get away?' He asked quietly, Draco nodded gravely, before adding a hushed 'yes' in case Potter couldn't see him in the dim light.

'Oh…Robard's gonna have our heads.' Harry groaned his head bowed; he pressed his palms to his eyes and blocked out Draco and the dim street; dreading the Head Auror's reaction to the news that they had failed to catch a simple civilian. Draco didn't like to see this sign of weakness, they had made a mistake, but wallowing in self pity was not something a Malfoy did, and no one who was associated with him should do it either.

'Come on Potter, we've got a criminal to catch.'