Partners

Chapter Two: Family Bonding

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Harry winced and backed out of Bluestone's office rubbing the back of his head sheepishly and made his way back to his closet...ahem...office.

"Tempus," he muttered.

He had enough time to review what Ron called his Knockturn Alley List of Doom. It was a list of all those he knew or suspected of smuggling more than the occasional black market flying carpet into the country but couldn't find enough evidence to convict. In fact he was willing to bet a year's salary that Enid Merlotte was smuggling concentrated Nundu venom flakes in from Borneo into her apothecary.

In fact he got so caught up in trying, for the hundredth time, to connect the latest incident of poisoning with Madame Merlotte's shop that he completely lost track of time and was scribbling madly and muttering to himself when Bluestone came around with his new partner.

"Potter!" barked Bluestone sounding amused.

Harry felt his face grow slightly hot. Great now his new partner probably thought he was a lunatic.

"Yes, sir,"

As he stood up and tried in vain to surreptitiously flatten the tuft of hair he'd been tugging on in frustration, his eyes flicked over the woman in question.

She was tallish at about five seven and had pale unblemished skin, incredibly bright blue eyes, and her hair was white blond and very short, sculpted into spikes that looked like icicles at the back with short bangs that softened her aristocratic features without getting in her eyes. She didn't have much figure but she wore a simple white long sleeved button down and black slacks tucked into boots with a sensible heel with an easy careless grace. Her wand was in a regulation holster on her belt as was her badge and he was sure the short-sleeved regulation black robes were a modification on one of Lavender Brown's latest designs.

"Potter, this is Astoria Malfoy, your new partner. She's got a year of experience under her belt and just returned from maternity leave, have fun,"

Harry blinked at the stunned looking Mrs. Malfoy.

"I must have pissed him off more than I thought," he said finally.

"Clearly," said Mrs. Malfoy coolly.

Harry shot her a sharp look, not sure if she was being serious or sarcastic, her face, of course, gave nothing away. Clearly the woman made a perfect Malfoy.

"Gin's gonna kill me," he muttered under his breath.

He shook his head.

"Um...alright Auror Malfoy why don't you grab a seat,"

Mrs. Malfoy flicked a glance around the crowded little cubicle and set the books occupying the only chair on the floor before taking their place.

"If we're going to be partners, you should probably call me by my first name," she shrugged.

"Erm...alright, Astoria, I'm Harry,"

He said holding out her hand to shake.

"I know," she smiled, a real smile too not some smirk, "You can call me Tory, I know Astoria's a mouthful,"

"Thanks," Harry said smiling himself, her grip was firm but she wasn't out to try and crush his hand.

The room descended into awkward silence.

"I'm sorry, I've never had to break in a new partner before,"

"That's alright, can I ask what happened to your old one?"

"Nothing bad, thank Merlin, Mat Leave,"

"I thought...I'd heard you were working with Auror Weasley," said Astoria frowning.

"Yeah, his wife just had a baby but she's doing some delicate negotiating with the Department of Experimental Charms right now so Ron agreed that this time he'd take the year off work and look after the kids,"

"Wow,"

"Yeah, I'm just glad my wife didn't jump on that bandwagon, I have two boys and another on the way, what about you?"

"Just one, a son, Scorpius, this is him here with Draco," said Astoria excitedly pulling out a wallet sized snapshot of Draco Malfoy gazing down at a smiling toothless blond infant.

"These are mine, James and Albus, and my godson Teddy"

Harry turned around his favourite picture of the boys so that Astoria could see. It showed Harry with baby Albus and Teddy looking up at one year old James who was clinging to Harry's shoulders like a monkey.

Astoria laughed.

"They look like a handful,"

"They are but I love them anyway," Harry grinned, "You'll find out, as I'll take it from Malfoy's hair your Scorpius hasn't hit the terrible twos,"

"That sounds..." Astoria started.

"It's awful, but at least they sleep at night, three is really horrible cause you have trouble getting them into bed let alone sleeping, just something to look forward to,"