Draco was stroking his neck with the back of his hand as he glanced to his side. He rolled his eyes before muttering, "Potter, stop fidgeting. I feel like I should stun you and put you out of your misery."
The two men were standing side by side in a Ministry elevator late in the evening. They were currently four levels lower than was available to the public. Harry Potter was twisting his hands nervously as he watched floors flash past through the rectangular window, proving that they were indeed sinking lower into the ground. "We shouldn't be here," Harry stuttered, his conclusion set.
"Stop being so melodramatic, Potter. We work here and we are part of an Auror investigation. We can be wherever we want to be," Draco huffed, trying to cover his amusement.
Harry huffed also, looking at Malory. "Actually, I'm part of an Auror investigation. You, Malfoy, are an accountant."
Malfoy frowned as the elevator came to a halt and the doors slid open.
Noticing the movement of the doors, Harry turned his to head to watch as the destination was revealed. Harry narrowed his eyes and tried his best to convince himself that Draco had not just stopped them on a floor filled with, what looked like, nothing but dark smoke. His first presumption that Malfoy had brought him to a dark abyss to kidnap him was interrupted by Draco's rude and low voice.
"I'm sure you'll have an amazing time tracing illegal transactions across the globe like I have been all afternoon, Mr Auror, since I forgot that was your speciality."
Draco stepped out into darkness and was suddenly no where to be seen, swallowed by the dark smoke. Harry cursed to himself because he knew Malloy had a point. He did need him for this case. Feeling slightly uncertain, Harry followed, knowing he had no choice.
Chasing the tap of Draco's expensive shoes, Harry managed to catch up with him.
"So where are we exactly?" Harry said, craning his neck trying to make something out of the murky cloud they had plunged into. He was still following the sound of Draco's shoes, which were tapping away at a steady pace ahead of him. Draco outline and bright hair were barely visible. "Can I cast Lumos?"
"No, you typical, indiscreet fool," Draco said emotionlessly, strolling as if he knew the way off by heart. Harry raised his eyebrows, stunned at the jibe. "We are on the Radon Level, named after the Minister for Magic who made it. Very few wizards know about it. We can't be complacent and wave our wands around like, I don't know, clueless Aurors stabbing at cases in the dark?"
Harry bit his tongue, repressing the urge to wandlessly jinx Draco.
Their footsteps echoed as they would if they were in outdoors; sound waves seemed to hit no boundaries. After walking in the dark for several minutes, Draco suddenly stopped, causing an unsuspecting Harry to collide into him (Malfoy had laughed and purred, "Steady on, Potter", much to Harry's dismay). Judging by faint swishing sounds of wood meeting air, Harry assumed the blonde had taken out his wand and was conducting various charms.
A piercing white glow appeared suddenly, making Harry squint. The sight was the first bit of light he had been exposed to for quite a while so it startled him.
A giant glowing golden box faded into view, standing grandly in the middle of nowhere, floating on the grey mist. The door was swung open. It was extremely vast, at least 30 metres deep. Draco and Harry walked into the vault together, stepping through the entrance. They took a moment to admire the fine interior. Quite casually, Harry ran his fingers on one of the walls near the entrance; it was a smooth as the edge of water. However, there was no doubting the fact the vault seemed-
"Empty," Harry said, clearly disappointed.
"Ha. What were expecting exactly, Potter? A flamboyant note telling you who the thief was?" Draco laughed.
Harry watched Draco quietly for a moment. "…You knew there was nothing here?" Harry asked, now irritated.
"…Kingsley may have mentioned it," Draco pondered aloud as he rolled up his white shirt sleeves.
Harry was not pleased.
"So…we came down here for nothing?" Harry shouted, jolting his head slightly as he spoke. Malfoy could not fight back the smirk that pushed itself onto his face. Harry's eyes narrowed at the expression; naturally, it fuelled his discontent. "As per usual, Malfoy, you've turned out to be a complete waste of time," Harry said, glaring at the blonde angrily. "I could be at home, doing something useful right now."
Harry stormed out of the vault and stood in the dark.
"Actually, Harriet, this was an extremely useful trip. We have confirmed the known," Draco shouted. Harry turned on his heel to face Draco. Draco could just about make him out within most from the enchanted gold glow from the vault. Harry was clearly angry. This did not stop Draco. "…which is always good to do," Draco finished, grinning unapologetically.
"I have a life I could be getting on with," Harry said, arms crossed. "You see, I don't use all my effort to annoy someone at work, Malfoy."
Draco stood gaping at Harry before he pulled himself together and stormed out of the vault dramatically, venom in his eyes. The golden door slammed shut behind him, making the entire luxurious vault disappear with a sharp pop. The sudden disappearance of the vault surprised Harry, regretting that he didn't poke around some more. Throwing precautions aside, Draco cast ' Lumos!', forcing the air around the pair to swim in warm, charmed light.
"Shut up, Potter. I do also have a life, actually," Draco snapped, looking at Harry aggressively as he further forward into the hazy glow.
"Oh really?" Harry said, with mocking disbelief. "Then what were your plans for this evening?"
Draco's eyes scanned Harry's face. "I have a date," Draco said smugly.
Harry's eyes narrowed. A stabbing feeling in his forehead told him that this bothered him greatly but gave no explanation why. "With who?" Harry asked instantly, in a demanding tone.
"Michael. Michael Westwood," Draco said calmly.
"Where's he from?"
"Londonderry."
"What?"
"It's in Ireland, you imbecile, what do you know exactly?"
The two men were only a mere two feet apart as they squabbled over the meaningless. Their noise, shouting and breathing flowed through the Radon level and could be heard, unknown to them, to anyone travelling between any of the two floors above. Their focus was on each other as they stood like two fireflies fighting, capturing and recapturing each others attention in the mists of a forest at night. Harry's determination to never get tooangry with Draco, in order to not humour him, had swept away in darkness. Since Harry's boundaries were down, Draco was going to enjoy it, by any means possible.
"How long have you known him?"
"Six months."
"Six months?"
"...Have all the hexes from being an Auror mean you've lost the ability to count, Potter?"
"Well, where did you meet?"
"…A-…On the underground."
There was a pause then a low chuckle. "Why, in holy fuck's name, were you in the London underground?" Harry asked, amused.
"I was on my way to visit my friend's niece. She had chicken pox," Draco replied without hesitating.
Harry leaned towards Malfoy's handsome face, feeling like he now had the upper hand. "Why didn't you apparate?"
"It was the day the Apparation system went down, which I'm sure you recall," Draco said proudly. Draco was smiling menacingly even though his mind was screaming at him, demanding to know why he had just told Harry all these things.
Harry opened his mouth to argue back but the two men heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps. The taps flowed through the grey cloud that surrounded the two men and was a sharp echo in their ears. Panicking only for a moment, Malfoy grabbed Harry's T-shirt and dragged him to where he knew there was a slot between two invisible vaults. The protection spells on the vaults would be enough to disguise them. It was a tight squeeze but they managed to both slide in.
"Stop squirming, Harry." Draco whispered as he clasped the man's waist, pulling him out of view.
Glowing wands were inspecting the area where Harry and Draco had been bickering, causing light to faintly edge around the two men, making them shine into view a tiny bit. Harry's attention was only on the intruding wizards briefly before he realised Draco's chest was pressed against his back. Draco's arm was still slid loosely around his waist. Harry let out a shaky breath as he stared at Draco's shirtless arm. He tried frantically to overlook how Draco's warm breath was caressing his neck. Harry could practically feel his own heart, it was thudding so loud. There was quiet resting everywhere as though the secretive black mist was listening to the two men pant. Goosebumps invaded every bit of exposed skin as Harry thought about their current predicament…Draco was holding him.
The curious wands moved away, causing the men to be engulfed back into complete darkness.
After a few silent moments, Draco nudged Harry out of the gap and dragged him by the arm through the sea of black air. When they reached the elevator and stepped in, neither broke the silence. Draco's shirt was creased. Both wizards were red in the face and breathing deeply, not once even glancing at the other.
Harry kept his eyes on the polished floors as the pair walked through the blue and golden Atrium. They had walked back in complete silence.
Draco made his way to the front of a fireplace made of blue bricks before turning to Harry. Dark green eye sdrowned in Draco's grey clouds. Draco's open lips said nothing as he stared unashamedly at Harry's toned face. Feeling stupid, Draco's expression pleaded with the man, begging him to be the first to say something, anything. Harry swallowed.
He's so gorgeous,' the back of Draco's mind mused.
Eventually Harry broke the silence. "Enjoy your sodding date," Harry said, his tone giving nothing away. He turned on the spot and apparated out of sight.
Harry stumbled onto his doorstep, slowly growing accustomed to now being outside rather than in dimly lit Ministry of Magic. He fumbled for his keys and unlocked the front door.
Stupid Malfoy. Stupid date.
He strolled blindly through his living room and felt his way towards the banister.
Fucking telling me, like I give a toss.
Trying to remember how many steps his staircase had, Harry stomped towards the top hallway in the dark.
Prancing around, acting like my shadow.
When Harry reached his bedroom, it was only then that he stopped walking. He stared at the sight in front of him, surprised by how much it displeased him.
Harry's bed was usually his favourite piece of furniture throughout the whole house. The frame was made of a rare dark wood only found in wizard dwelled suburbs in Africa. There was a thick throw in rich black draped over the mattress; it was the thickest cotton throw he could find in London. The duvet was cream and black. Over the last few years, Harry had indulged in dozens of cream and black cushions in every material and right now, they lay waiting for his embrace. But Harry just stared at his bed, unable to climb in.
It was black like Draco's suit.
It was cream like Draco's hair.
...It was even unique like Draco.
Ignoring how unreasonable his sudden dissatisfaction was and how, by doing this, Harry would have to question why he was so put out, so convinced he had to go out of his way to actannoyed about what had happened on the Radon Level, Harry scrambled through his cupboard for a spare duvet so he could sleep downstairs.
He refused to sleep in a bed that reminded him of Draco Malfoy.
